Plasmodium vivax resistance to chloroquine (R2) and mefloquine (R3) in Brazilian Amazon region

We report for the first time a patient with malaria due to Plasmodium vivax who showed R2 resistance to chloroquine and R3 resistance to mefloquine in the Brazilian Amazon region based on WHO clinical criteria for diagnosis of malaria resistance. Failure was observed with unsupervised oral chloroquine, chloroquine under rigorous supervision and mefloquine in the same scheme. Finally, the patient was cured with oral artesunate.

The seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C in an Amerindian population in the southwestern Brazilian Amazon

We have investigated the seroprevalence of hepatitis B and C among Karitiana Indians (n = 119) living in the State of Rondônia, southwestern Brazilian Amazon. The prevalences of anti-HBs and anti-HBc were 16.1% and 35.3%, respectively, with HBsAg being found in only four (3.4%) subjects. Anti-HCV antibodies were detected in two subjects (1.7%). Age-stratified prevalence data suggest that both vertical and horizontal (the last among adults) routes of HBV transmission are important in this community.

Policies to improve the lives of Slum Dwellers – from international agreements to local contexts. The Brazilian case-study

Last decades economic development induced massive international and regional migration flows directed to the urban spaces. The magnitude and swiftness of these processes determined that several cities’ authorities would fail to respond to the increasing demands of many social services. The right to an “adequate housing” emerged as a political concern, leading governments and institutions to develop housing programmes directed to improve the lives of slum dwellers. This paper presents a diachronic evolution of these specific housing policies in the paradigmatic case-study of Brazil, critically analysing the evolving roles played by the multiple levels of decision (from international institutions to local communities) in the development and implementation of such measures.

How prevalent is Plasmodium malariae in Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon?

We have compared results of Plasmodium species identification obtained with conventional on-site microscopy of Giemsa-stained thick smears (GTS) and a semi-nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 96 malaria patients from Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon. Mixed-species infections were detected by PCR in 30% patients, but no such case had been found on GTS. Moreover, P. malariae infections were detected in 9 of 96 patients (10%) by PCR, but were not identified by local microscopists. The potential impact of species misidentification on malaria treatment and control is discussed.

Business plan analysis of a Brazilian software company

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Ecology of Phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera, Psychodidae) in Brazilian Atlantic Forest

The phlebotomine sandfly fauna of a primary forest reserve at Morretes (eastern Paraná State) was studied, using CDC-like light traps, one night per month, at canopy and ground level, between April 1995 and March 1996. A total of 3,106 insects were collected, identified as belonging to nine species. Lutzomyia ayrozai and Lu.geniculata were predominant, seven other species also being present. Monthly mean temperature, rainfall and the temperature of the collection night significantly influenced the numbers of Lu. ayrozai while the two first factors influenced the numbers of Lu. geniculata, besides the collected quantities of females of the two species. The influence of the factors on Lu. ayrozai numbers was more immediate than in those of Lu. geniculata. Numbers of both species and of the females of Lu. geniculata collected in different seasons, but not at the different heights, varied significantly. Differences between the behaviour of Lu. ayrozai in Morretes and in other regions could be attributed to environmental differences and/or to regional variations in the species, which could constitute species complexes. Hourly variations of collections were different in the species and seasons.

Corporate strategy development: International distance model for the Brazilian market

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Estimativa de parâmetros genéticos, correlações fenotípicas e ambientais no girassol do cerrado do Distrito Federal.

RESUMO: O propósito deste trabalho foi avaliar a estima - tiva de parâmetros genéticos, correlações fe - notipicas e ambientais no girassol do Cerrado do Distrito Federal. Os caracteres analisados foram: rendimento de grãos, tamanho do ca - pítulo, peso de mil aquênios, altura de plantas e dias para floração inicial. Foram constatadas diferenças altamente significativas entre os ge - nótipos para todas as características morfoa - gronômicas avaliadas. Para o coeficiente CVr a maioria dos valores foram superior a 1 nos dois anos considerados, indicando que para a maioria dos caracteres aferidos há a possibi - lidade de êxito na seleção fenotípica uma vez que a variância genética superou a ambiental. Na herdabilidade, a maior estimativa verifica - da foi para o caráter PMA (98,76%) em 2013 e para DFI (99,68%) em 2014. Foram cons - tatadas diferenças altamente significativas en - tre os genótipos para todas as características morfoagronômicas avaliadas. O alto coeficiente de variação genético destaca a possibilidade de obter ganhos genéticos para todas as caracte - rísticas analisadas salvo em tamanho de capi - tulo. Materiais genéticos com potencial para as características agronômicas pesquisadas foram identificados no trabalho, podem ser indicadas ao sistema de produção irrigado no Cerrado. abstract: The purpose of this study was to estimate ge - netic parameters, phenotypic and environmen - tal correlations in sunflower of Brazilian savan - nah. The characters analyzed were: grain yield, chapter length, weight of a thousand achenes, plant height and days to start flowering. Hi - ghly significant differences were observed among genotypes for all morphoagronomic cha - racteristics evaluated. For the most CVr coe - fficient values were higher than 1 in the two years under consideration, indicating that for the majority of measured characters there is the possibility of successful phenotypic selection once the genetic variance exceeded the envi - ronmental. The heritability estimate was the hi - ghest for the PMA character (98,76%) in 2013 and DFI (99,68%) in 2014. Highly significant differences were observed among genotypes for all morphoagronomic characteristics evalu - ated. The high coefficient of genetic variation show the possibility of obtaining genetic gain for all examined characteristics except in chap - ter length. Genetic material with potential for the researched agronomic characteristics were identified in the work, can be indicated to the irrigated production system in the Brazilian sa - vannah.

New perspectives on the history of brazilian agriculture.

One of the objectives of this book has been to highlight the importance of the history of agriculture in today's food production and consumption patterns, recovering parts of this history which are not easily found or which have been forgotten or neglected, but which have had a large impact on what we are today.

Duffy blood group genotypes among malaria patients in Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon

We have compared Duffy blood group genotype distribution, as determined by polymerase chain reaction with allele-specific primers, in 68 Plasmodium vivax-infected patients and 59 non-vivax malaria controls from Rondônia, Brazil. Homozygosity for the allele Fy, which abolishes Duffy antigen expression on erythrocytes, was observed in 12% non-vivax controls but in no P. vivax patient. However, no significant association was found between Fy heterozygosity and protection against P. vivax. The Fy x allele, which has recently been associated with very weak erythrocyte expression of Duffy antigen, was not found in local P. vivax patients.

Internationalization strategy of Origama to Brazil

A Work Project, presented as part of the requirements for the Award of a Masters Degree in Management from the NOVA – School of Business and Economics

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV): differential pathological and immunological profiles of two Brazilian variants.

2015

Identification of CNVs on the genome of Brazilian chicken lines.

2016

Brazilian spotted fever: description of a fatal clinical case in the State of Rio de Janeiro

We describe a case of Brazilian spotted fever in a previously healthy young woman who died with petechial rash associated to acute renal and respiratory insufficiency 12 days following fever, headache, myalgia, and diarrhea. Serologic test in a serum sample, using an immunofluorescence assay, revealed reactive IgM/IgG.

In vitro evaluation of verapamil and other modulating agents in Brazilian chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum isolates

Verapamil, was assayed to record its modulating effect upon Brazilian Plasmodium falciparum isolates resistant to chloroquine. Other cardiovascular drugs known to be modulating agents in resistant malaria and/or multidrug-resistant neoplasias, including nifedipine, nitrendipine, diltiazem and propranolol, were also evaluated. Concentrations similar to those for cardiovascular therapy were used in the in vitro microtechnique for antimalarial drug susceptibility. Intrinsic antiplasmodial activity was observed from the lowest concentrations without a significant modulating action. Other reported modulating agents, such as the antipsychotic drug trifluoperazine and the antidepressants desipramine and imipramine, demonstrated similar responses under the same experimental conditions. Results suggest a much higher susceptibility of Brazilian strains, as well as an indifferent behaviour in relation to modulating agents.