Microbiological quality of ready-to-eat minimally processed vegetables consumed in Brazil

Minimally processed leafy vegetables are ready-to-eat (RTE) products very attractive to consumers looking for healthy and convenient meals. However, the microbiological safety of these foods is of special concern due to the absence of lethal treatments during processing. In the present study, indicator microorganisms, Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. were determined for 162 samples of minimally processed leafy vegetables commercialized in Brazil. Psychrotrophic aerobic bacterial populations >5 log CFU/g were found in 96.7% of the samples, while total and thermotolerant coliforms were detected respectively in 132 (81.5%) and 107 (66%) of vegetables analyzed. Escherichia coil was present in 86 (53.1%) samples analyzed and Listeria spp. and Salmonella spp. were detected respectively in 6 (3.7%) and 2 (1.2%) samples. These results indicate the need of implementing quality programs in the production chain of RTE vegetables to improve shelf life and microbiological safety. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intra- and extracellular osmotic regulation in the hololimnetic Caridea and Anomura: a phylogenetic perspective on the conquest of fresh water by the decapod Crustacea

We investigate extra- and intracellular osmoregulatory capability in two species of hololimnetic Caridea and Anomura: Macrobrachium brasiliense, a palaemonid shrimp, and Aegla franca, an aeglid anomuran, both restricted to continental waters. We also appraise the sharing of physiological characteristics by the hololimnetic Decapoda, and their origins and role in the conquest of fresh water. Both species survive salinity exposure well. While overall hyperosmoregulatory capability is weak in A. franca and moderate in M. brasiliense, both species strongly hyporegulate hemolymph [Cl(-)] but not osmolality. Muscle total free amino acids (FAA) increase slowly but markedly in response to the rapid rise in hemolymph osmolality consequent to hyperosmotic challenge: 3.5-fold in A. franca and 1.9-fold in M. brasiliense. Glycine, taurine, arginine, alanine and proline constitute a parts per thousand 85% of muscle FAA pools in fresh water; taurine, arginine, alanine each contribute a parts per thousand 22% in A. franca, while glycine predominates (70%) in M. brasiliense. These FAA also show the greatest increases on salinity challenge. Muscle FAA titers correlate strongly (R = 0.82) with hemolymph osmolalities across the main decapod sub/infraorders, revealing that marine species with high hemolymph osmolalities achieve isosmoticity of the intra- and extracellular fluids partly through elevated intracellular FAA concentrations; freshwater species show low hemolymph osmolalities and exhibit reduced intracellular FAA titers, consistent with isosmoticity at a far lower external osmolality. Given the decapod phylogeny adopted here and their multiple, independent invasions of fresh water, particularly by the Caridea and Anomura, our findings suggest that homoplastic strategies underlie osmotic and ionic homeostasis in the extant freshwater Decapoda.

Sexual maturity and egg production in an unexploited population of the red squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon (Decapoda, Galatheidae) from Central America

The squat lobster Pleuroncodes monodon is one of the most common and abundant galatheid species in the deepwater fishery of Pacific coast of America. In contrast with Peru and Chile, the red squat lobster is not commercially exploited in Costa Rica. Here we estimated the size of sexual maturity and analysed egg production in P. monodon from the Pacific of Costa Rica; the results might be important for an adequate management strategy when initiating a sustainable fishery of this resource in Costa Rica. Analyses of allometric growth revealed that females and males reached their morphological sexual maturity at 26.9 and 30.4 mm CL. respectively. The percentage of immature females captured in the present study (54%) suggests that almost half of females are able to reproduce before they are caught. Egg production was positively correlated with body size; females that measured between 24.1 and 29.0 mm CL contributed roughly 90% to the offspring production of the population. Females from Costa Rica had a considerably lower average egg volume (0.039 mm(3)) and higher fecundity (9810) than females from Chile. In comparison to other American galatheids P. monodon from Costa Rica produces numerous but small eggs, a typical strategy of species with a prolonged larval development. An analysis between our results and information published about P. monodon from Chile also revealed differences in the size-frequency distribution shape of both populations. The non-exploited character of the Costa Rican P. monodon population and a latitudinal (temperature-related) cline in body size might be associated with these differences. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Can Mobile Units Improve the Strategies for Cervical Cancer Prevention?

Cervical cancer is a serious public health problem in women in developing countries because of absence or ineffectiveness of screening programs. Several biases to access medical care and inequity of public health system in a continental country like Brazil limit the implementation of adequate programs to appropriately prevent the cervical cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the results of applying the mobile unit (MU) for cervical cancer screening. From May 2003 to May 2004, a cervical cancer screening was offered to women aged 20-69 years, residing in 19 municipal districts of the Barretos county region, in Sao Paulo. Out of the 9,560 examination available, 2,964 (31%) women underwent screening. The medium distance traveled by the MU was 45 km. The medium time spent by women in the MU for completion of the questionnaire and doing the exam was 20 minutes. It was observed that 17.0% of women screened had never had the test or had not had it repeated within the last 3 years. The negative response was more common among women aged 20 to 29 years and 60 to 69 years and among women with less schooling and lower socio-economic income (P < 0.05). MU can significantly overcome the chronic deficiency of public health system accessibility offering opportunity to these women to participate in screening programs. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2010;38:727-730. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Validation of the University of Sao Paolo Sensory Phenomena Scale: Initial Psychometric Properties

Introduction: Although obsessions and compulsions comprise the main features of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), many patients report that their compulsions are preceded by a sense of ""incompleteness"" or other unpleasant feelings such as premonitory urges or a need perform action`s until feeling ""just right."" These manifestations have been characterized as Sensory Phenomena (SP). The current study presents initial psychometric data for a new scale designed to measure SP. Methods: Seventy-six adult OCD subjects were probed twice. Patients were assessed with an open clinical interview (considered as the ""gold standard"") and with the following standardized instruments: Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition Axis I Disorders, Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Dimensional Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale, Yale Global Tic Severity Scale, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Beck Depression Inventory. Results: SP were present in 51 OCD patients (67.1%). Tics were present in 16 (21.1%) of the overall sample. The presence of SP was significantly higher in early-onset OCD patients. There were no significant differences in the presence of SP according to comorbidity with tics or gender. The comparison between the results from the open clinical interviews and the University of Sao Paulo Sensory Phenomena Scale (USP-SPS) showed an excellent concordance between them, with no significant differences between interviewers. The inter-rater reliability between the expert raters for the USP-SPS was high, with K=.92. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the SP severity scores given by the two raters was .89. Conclusion: Preliminary results suggest that the USP-SPS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the presence and severity of SP in OCD subjects. CNS Spectr. 2009;14(6):315-323

Association between micronuclei frequency in pollen mother cells of Tradescantia and mortality due to cancer and cardiovascular diseases: A preliminary study in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil

The present study was designed to explore the correlation between the frequency of micronuclei in Trad-MN, measured across 28 biomonitoring stations during the period comprised between 11 of May and 2 of October, 2006, and adjusted mortality rates due to cardiovascular, respiratory diseases and cancer in Sao Jose dos Campos, Brazil, an area with different sources of air pollution. For controlling purposes, mortality rate due to gastrointestinal diseases (an event less prone to be affected by air pollution) was also considered in the analysis. Spatial distribution of micronuclei frequency was determined using average interpolation. The association between health estimators and micronuclei frequency was determined by measures of Pearson`s correlation. Higher frequencies of micronuclei were detected in areas with high traffic and close to a petrochemical pole. Significant associations were detected between micronuclei frequency and adjusted mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases (r = 0.841, p = 0.036) and cancer (r = 0.890, p = 0.018). The association between mortality due to chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases was positive but did not reach statistical significance (r = 0.640, p = 0.172), probably because of the small number of events. Gastrointestinal mortality did not exhibit significant association with micronuclei frequency. Because the small number of observations and the nature of an ecological study, the present findings must be considered with caution and considered as preliminary. Further studies, performed in different conditions of contamination and climate should be done before considering Trad-MN in the evaluation of human health risk imposed by air pollutants. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Differential display and suppression subtractive hybridization analysis of the pulp of ripening banana

The fruit of banana undergoes several important physico-chemical changes during ripening. Analysis of gene expression would permit identification of important genes and regulatory elements involved in this process. Therefore, transcript profiling of preclimacteric and climacteric fruit was performed using differential display and Suppression subtractive hybridization. Our analyses resulted in the isolation of 12 differentially expressed cDNAs, which were confirmed by dot-blots and northern blots. Among the sequences identified were sequences homologous to plant aquaporins, adenine nucleotide translocator, immunophilin, legumin-like proteins, deoxyguanosine kinase and omega-3 fatty acid desaturase. Some of these cDNAs correspond to newly isolated genes involved in changes related to the respiratory climacteric, or stress-defense responses. Functional characterization of ripening-associated genes could provide information useful in controlling biochemical pathways that would have an impact on banana quality and shelf life. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Correlation between mastitis occurrence and the count of microorganisms in bulk raw milk of bovine dairy herds in four selective culture media

Milk is the normal secretion of the mammary gland, practically free of colostrum and obtained by the complete milking of oil(? or more healthy animals. Mastitis is all inflammatory process of the mammary gland and it may cause alterations in the milk. The present work aimed to verify whether it is possible, by means of the counts of microorganism in the bulk raw milk ill four selective culture media, to establish a correlation with the occurrence of mastitis and therefore, to monitor this disease in bovine dairy herds. The following selective culture media were Used: KF Streptococcus Agar, Edwards Agar, Baird-Parker Agar, Blood Agar plus potassium tellurite. Spearman`s correlation coefficient was calculated in order to compare the Occurrence of mastitis (percentage) in each herd with respective selective culture media counts of microorganisms in bulk raw milk. Thirty-six possibilities were analysed (Tamis and CMT-positive rates were compared with the log-transformed count in four selective Culture media) and there was a negative correlation between Tamis 3 and the Baird-Parker Agar plate count. The total results of microbiological tests showed that there were three correlations of the counts in selective culture media. Fifty-two possibilities were analysed and there was a negative correlation between no-bacteria I-growth mastitis rates and log(10) of KF Streptoccocus Agar plate Count and there were two positive correlations between coagulase-positive staphylococci and log(10) of Baird-Parker Agar plate count and Blood Agar plus potassium tellurite plate count.

Educa????o do campo no Estado de S??o Paulo: an??lise do n??vel de ruralidade das escolas no desempenho escolar

Este trabalho tem como objetivo central analisar a influ??ncia da localiza????o da escola e da origem dos alunos (rural e urbano) na taxa de evas??o, na taxa de aprova????o/reprova????o, no desempenho obtido no Ideb e na Prova Brasil. Para tanto, foram considerados os alunos do 5?? ano (quarta s??rie) do ensino fundamental das redes municipais e estaduais do Estado de S??o Paulo. A tipologia do IBGE para classifica????o das escolas em rurais e urbanas e o local de moradia dos alunos foram utilizados como forma de caracterizar o n??vel de ruralidade das escolas. O trabalho organiza um diagn??stico das pol??ticas em andamento; aponta algumas diretrizes para o aperfei??oamento das futuras interven????es na ??rea espec??fica de atua????o governamental; e mostra que, em v??rias situa????es, o desempenho das escolas ???rurais???, considerando os itens analisados, ?? inferior ao desempenho das escolas urbanas

Caracterização morfodinâmica do litoral Norte Fluminense, RJ, Brasil

A morfologia das praias é reflexo da ação hidrodinfunica com o tipo de sedimento disponível. Esta interação se dá a partir da base de ação das ondas, tornando-se mais efetiva na zona de arrebentação onde a energia é dissipada, originando na zona de surfe que se estende em direção à linha de costa até Q limite do espraiamento na face de praia. O objetivo deste trabalho é apresentar as características morfodinâmicas do litoral NE do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, baseando-se na análise da variação espaço Hemporal de perfis de praia, na morfologia da plataforma continental e em fotos aéreas. Os perfis de praia foram levantados durante cinco anos pela PETROBRÁS S/A, em oito estações ao longo do litoral. O comportamento morfodinâmico distinto de setores do litoral estudado é função do padrão de ondas e direção da linha de costa, morfologia da plataforma interna controlando a extensão da zona de surfe e o número de zonas de arrebentação, características dos sedimentos e gradiente da face de praia. Foram reconhecidos quatro compartimentos morfodinâmicos distintos, com base na morfologia dos perfis praiais e plataforma interna, no índice de mobilidade da linha de praia, granulometria x gradiente da face de praia e o parâmetro Q. Os quatro compartimentos são: Atafona/Foz do Rio Paraíba do Sul - estágio morfodinâmico intermediário a dissipativo, com o maior índice de mobilidade e elevada taxa de erosão; Sul de Atafona-Cabo de São Tomé - estágio intermediário a refletivo com baixo índice de mobilidade da praia; Cabo de São Tomé - estágio refletivo a intermediário com alto índice de mobilidade da praia; Cabo de São Tomé-Cabiúnas - estágio refletivo com baixo índice de mobilidade.

Tuberculosis among HIV-1-infected subjects in a tertiary out-patient service in São Paulo city, Brazil

TB is currently considered to be the most important infectious disease among HIV-1-infected subjects in developing countries, such as Brazil. A retrospective analysis of TB cases was performed, occurring from January 1995 to December 2010 in our cohort of 599 HIV positive patients. The primary outcome was the occurrence of active TB. Forty-one TB cases were diagnosed over this period of 16 years, among 599 HIV positive patients in an open cohort setting in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. All-time lowest mean CD4 T cell count at the time of TB diagnosis was 146 and 186 cells/mm³, respectively. The mean HIV viral load was 5.19 log10 copies/mL, and 59% of the patients were on HAART. TB incidence was 1.47 per 100 person-years, for a total follow-up time of 2775 person-years. The probability of surviving up to 10 years after diagnosis was 75% for TB patients as opposed to 96% for patients with other, non-TB opportunistic diseases (p = 0.03). TB can be considered a public health problem among people living with HIV in Brazil despite of the widespread use of antiretrovirals for the treatment of HIV infection/AIDS.

A integração da Saúde Mental na estratégia saúde da família : perspectivas dos gerentes da atenção primária de São Paulo

RESUMO: Introdução: A integração da saúde mental (SM) na atenção primária (AP) é a principal garantia de acesso da população às boas práticas em SM. Embora amplamente recomendada há décadas, existem poucos modelos de integração efetiva da SM na AP. Em 2008 o Ministério da Saúde do Brasil criou o Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF), que passou a ser o responsável pela integração da SM na AP. O objetivo deste estudo é conhecer, a partir da ótica dos gerentes da AP, como se dá a integração da SM na AP, suas visões sobre o NASF e sugestões para melhorar este modelo de integração. A partir dos resultados apresentaremos recomendações para aperfeiçoar o modelo vigente de integração da SM na AP. Método: Pesquisa qualitativa, de caráter exploratório, com orientação analítica – descritiva. Foram realizadas 10 entrevistas semi-estruturadas com gerentes da AP, na região metropolitana de São Paulo. Trabalhou-se com o conceito de amostragem intencional, utilizando como critério de escolha os casos extremos ou desviantes. Foi utilizado o método da Análise Estrutural ou Framework Analysis, uma modalidade de análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os entrevistados consideraram haver mais barreiras do que facilitadores à integração da SM na AP. As barreiras e facilitadores apresentados estavam relacionados ao contexto social, fatores organizacionais, e componentes pessoais das equipes de trabalhadores. Os gerentes mostram não ter clareza sobre como operacionalizar suas ideias sobre integração da SM na AP e sobre o escopo das intervenções da SM na AP. Na visão dos gerentes a atuação do NASF ainda é incapaz de promover o cuidado integrado. Conclusões: A maior dificuldade não é criar a política de integração da SM na AP, mas viabilizar sua implementação. Recomenda-se aperfeiçoamento do processo de trabalho do NASF e investigações sobre a natureza e exequibilidade do apoio matricial no contexto da AP.--------------ABSTRACT: Introduction: The integration of mental health (MH) in primary care (PC) is the main guarantee of access to good practices in MH. Although widely recommended for decades, there are few models of effective integration of MH in PC. In 2008 the Brazilian Ministry of Health created the Core of Support for the Family Health Strategy (NASF), to be the responsible for the integration of MH in PC. This study aims understanding the PC manager’s perspective about the integration of MH in PC, their visions about the NASF and their suggestions to improve this model of integrated care. Based on results we will present recommendations to improve NASF’s model of integration MH in PC. Method: Qualitative research, exploratory and analytical descriptive study. We conducted 10 semi-structured interviews with PC managers, in the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo. We worked with the concept of intentional sampling, using as a criterion for choosing the extreme or deviant cases. We used the Framework Analysis methodological approach, a method of contente analysis. Results: The interviewees considered that there are more barriers than facilitators for the integration of MH in PC. The barriers and facilitators presented were related to the social context,organizational factors, and personal component of the PC staff. Managers’ shows not have clarity about how implement their ideas about integration of MH in PC and about the scope of the interventions of MH in PC. The NASF is still unable to promote the integrated care in managers perception. Conclusions: The biggest difficulty is not to create a policy of integration of MH in PC, but its implementation. It is recommended to improve the NASF work process and to research about the nature and feasibility of matrix support in the context of PC.

Perfil sociodemográfico e saúde mental em cuidadores informais de idosos no município de São Paulo-Brasil: desafios para as políticas públicas

RESUMO: INTRODUÇÃO: O rápido envelhecimento populacional, o aumento da prevalência de transtornos neuropsiquiátricos, o aumento das taxas de morbilidade clínica e incapacidade entre idosos de países em desenvolvimento têm trazido preocupações sobre a saúde mental e sobrecarga de cuidadores informais. Está bem estabelecida a elevada prevalência de transtornos mentais comuns (TMC) associada à adversidade socioeconômica, baixo nível educacional, estresse e gênero. Idosos e cuidadores vivendo em comunidade compartilham fatores de risco para morbilidade física e psiquiátrica. Adicionalmente, os cuidadores tem uma tripla carga, sendo simultaneamente familiares, trabalhadores leigos em saúde sem suporte dos serviços de saúde e assistência social e um paciente com necessidades não atendidas. O cuidador informal é o principal provedor de cuidado em todos os países. OBJETIVOS: Acessar perfil sociodemográfico, níveis de transtorno mental comum (TMC) e sobrecarga em cuidadores, características do cuidado e prevalência de demência e depressão no idosos, numa área carente da região oeste de São Paulo –Brasil. MÉTODO: Esta pesquisa transversal deriva do São Paulo Ageing and Health Study (SPAH) que incluiu idosos com 65 anos ou mais e seus respectivos cuidadores. Os participantes foram identificados por arrolamento domiciliar e entrevistadas em suas casas com protocolo padronizado de pesquisa. O instrumento utilizado para acessar os transtornos mentais comuns, foi o Self Rating Questionnaire SRQ-20.A sobrecarga foi quantificada pelo Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Diagnósticos psicogeriátricos foram mensurados através do SRQ-20 e critérios do CID-10 e do DSM-IV. 8 RESULTADOS: 588 cuidadores e respectivos idosos foram incluídos. Nos idosos, a prevalência de demência foi 15,9%, de depressão pelo CiD-10 9.9% e de TMC 39,25% Nos cuidadores, a prevalência de TMC foi de 55,1% e 32,8% dos cuidadores apresentaram sobrecarga elevada. O perfil do cuidador foi filha,com idade em torno dos 49 anos, casada e com baixo nível educacional.------------------ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: With the fast population aging, growing prevalence of neuropsychiatric disorders, clinical morbidity and disability among the elderly particularly in low income countries (LAMIC), has brought concerns about informal caregiver Mental Health and Burden. It is well established the high prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) associated to socioeconomic adversity, low educational attainment, stress and gender. Community-dwelling elders and caregivers share risk factors for physical and psychiatric morbidity. In addition, caregivers have a triple strain, being simultaneously, family members, lay health workers with lack of support from health and social work services and a hidden patient with unmet needs. The world main source of caregiving relies on informal caregiver. AIMS: To assess 1) the sociodemographic profile, levels of CMD and burden among caregivers, and 2) the characteristics of care and prevalence of dementia and depression in elderly in a socioeconomic underprivileged area in western region of Sao Paulo – Brazil. METHOD: The present investigation is a cross-sectional part of Sao Paulo Ageing and Health Study (SPAH) which included participants aged 65 or older and their respective caregivers. Participants were identified by household enrollment and interviewed in their homes using a standardized research protocol. The assessment of common mental disorders was performed with the Self Rating Questionnaire – 20 (SRQ-20), used to establish psychiatric caseness. The assessment of burden was performed with Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale. Dementia and psychogeriatric diagnosis were reached through ICD-10, SRQ-20 and DSM-IV criteria. 10 RESULTS: 588 caregivers and respective elderly relatives were included. Prevalence of dementia was 15.9%, ICD-10 depression 9.9% and CMD 39.3% among the elderlys. Common mental disorder prevalence in caregivers was 55.1% and high burden was reached in 32.8% of the caregiver sample. Most of the caregivers were married and co-resident daughters with a mean age of 49 years (CI 95% - 48.7 to 51).

Piranha attacks in dammed streams used for human recreation in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

In recent years, attacks by piranhas have become a common problem in dammed portions of rivers and streams in the State of Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. In two outbreaks recorded in two neighboring counties in the Northwest region of the state, 74 bathers were bitten. Only one bite per person was recorded during a short period of the year. The bites were related to parental care and/or defense of spawning territory, which confirms previous studies and demystify the attacks by these legendary fish, as they are perceived by most people. Placement of fine mesh nets and removal of aquatic vegetation stopped the attacks.

Reemergence of yellow fever: detection of transmission in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, 2008

INTRODUCTION: Following yellow fever virus (YFV) isolation in monkeys from the São José do Rio Preto region and two fatal human autochthonous cases from the Ribeirão Preto region, State of São Paulo, Brazil, two expeditions for entomological research and eco-epidemiological evaluation were conducted. METHODS: A total of 577 samples from humans, 108 from monkeys and 3,049 mosquitoes were analyzed by one or more methods: virus isolation, ELISA-IgM, RT-PCR, histopathology and immunohistochemical. RESULTS: Of the 577 human samples, 531 were tested by ELISA-IgM, with 3 positives, and 235 were inoculated into mice and 199 in cell culture, resulting in one virus isolation. One sample was positive by histopathology and immunohistochemical. Using RT-PCR, 25 samples were processed with 4 positive reactions. A total of 108 specimens of monkeys were examined, 108 were inoculated into mice and 45 in cell culture. Four virus strains were isolated from Alouattacaraya. A total of 931 mosquitoes were captured in Sao Jose do Rio Preto and 2,118 in Ribeirão Preto and separated into batches. A single isolation of YFV was derived from a batch of 9 mosquitoes Psorophoraferox, collected in Urupês, Ribeirão Preto region. A serological survey was conducted with 128 samples from the municipalities of São Carlos, Rincão and Ribeirão Preto and 10 samples from contacts of patients from Ribeirão Preto. All samples were negative by ELISA-IgM for YFV. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the circulation of yellow fever, even though sporadic, in the Sao Paulo State and reinforce the importance of vaccination against yellow fever in areas considered at risk.