Listeriosis in the far South of Brazil: neglected infection?

Listeriosis is an under-diagnosed and under-reported infection; however, listeriosis is not a compulsorily notifiable disease in Brazil. We provide an overview of the rates of listeriosis in the United States of America (USA), Europe, Latin America, and Brazil during the past decade. We also report a case of miscarriage caused by listeriosis in which there was no suspicion of this infection. This overview and the case we report serve as reminders of the often-neglected threat of listeriosis and its potential to cause miscarriage while highlighting the necessity of recognizing listeriosis as a compulsorily notifiable disease in Brazil.

As dificuldades dos pequenos restaurantes do norte do Brasil: um estudo de caso no Sabor & Arte na cidade de São Miguel do Guamá

Este trabalho é um estudo de caso que ilustra o cenário da maioria das empresas de serviços alimentícios no norte do Brasil em que, geralmente, os estabelecimentos das pequenas e médias empresas não cumprem os padrões legalmente exigidos para funcionamento. Descreve a consultoria realizada no restaurante Sabor & Arte, localizado na cidade de São Miguel do Guamá, Pará, Brasil, na sequência de um pedido endereçado ao SEBRAE pelos responsáveis da empresa. Através de check-lists baseados na legislação relativa a este tipo de estabelecimento, verificaram-se as deficiências e não conformidades mais aparentes da empresa. Além disso, foram realizadas pesquisas descritivo-conclusivas para que se chegasse a conclusões concretas sobre a realidade da organização. Os resultados dessas pesquisas apontaram as necessidades e falhas do empreendimento. Esses dados foram a base para a criação de um plano de ação que corrigisse os problemas identificados a fim de incrementar a lucratividade do negócio. Para o estudo adotou-se o modelo de Gestão Integrada por Resultados com Foco em Competências (GIRFC), desenvolvido pela empresa de consultoria Gestão e Inovação Empresarial (Belém, Pará, Brasil) que objetiva ultrapassar deficiências no âmbito do negócio, bem como instruir a padronização dos estabelecimentos de acordo com as exigências da lei, intervindo assim em diferentes áreas de funcionamento: Finanças, Marketing, Processos, Gestão de Pessoas e Conformidades da Lei. O processo envolveu mudanças em todos os segmentos da empresa e como resultado espera-se o incremento da qualidade em geral, a implementação de diferenciais inovadores e a orientação do foco empresarial, direcionando estrategicamente os esforços do negócio para a obtenção de uma vantagem competitiva no mercado e retorno dos investimentos financeiros.

Paracoccidioidomycosis in a western Brazilian Amazon State: Clinical-epidemiologic profile and spatial distribution of the disease

Introduction: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic infection caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. PCM is considered one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. Methods: This is a clinical, epidemiological, retrospective, quantitative study of PCM cases in patients attending the National Health Service in the State of Rondônia in 1997-2012. The examined variables included sex, age group, year of diagnosis, education level, profession, place of residence, diagnostic test, prior treatment, medication used, comorbidities and case progress. Results: During the study period, 2,163 PCM cases were registered in Rondônia, and the mean annual incidence was 9.4/100,000 people. The municipalities with the highest rates were located in the southeastern region of Rondônia, and the towns of Pimenteiras do Oeste and Espigão do Oeste had the highest rates in the state, which were 39.1/100,000 and 37.4/100,000 people, respectively. Among all cases, 90.2% and 9.8% were observed in men and women, respectively, and most cases (58.2%) were observed in patients aged between 40 and 59 years. Itraconazole was used to treat 91.6% (1,771) of cases, followed by sulfamethoxazole in combination with trimethoprim (4.4% [85] of cases). One hundred thirty-one (6%) patients died. Conclusions: The State of Rondônia has a high incidence of PCM, and the municipalities in the southeastern region of the state were found to have the highest incidence rates of this disease. Our findings suggest that Rondônia is the state in the northern region with the highest mortality rate for PCM.

Effectiveness of miltefosine-pentoxifylline compared to miltefosine in the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in C57Bl/6 mice

Introduction The treatment of leishmaniasis ischallenging, given the difficulties in drug administration and resistance. Therefore, we chose to test the efficacy of miltefosine combined with pentoxifylline. Methods Twenty-seven isogenic C57Bl/6 mice were infected with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, and equally divided into three groups: miltefosine (200mg/kg/day), miltefosine (200mg/kg/day) with pentoxifylline (8mg/kg/day), and untreated. Response to treatment was evaluated using paw diameter and parasitological criteria. Results The number of viable Leishmania reduced significantly within the miltefosine-pentoxifylline group (p < 0.05). Conclusions There is hope that a viable treatment exists for Leishmania infection.

Role of sympathetic innervation in obesity

Part of the results presented in this thesis were published in the following reference (DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2015.08.055): Wenwen Zeng*, Roksana M. Pirzgalska*, Mafalda M.A. Pereira, Nadiya Kubasova, Andreia Barateiro, Elsa Seixas, Yi-Hsueh Lu, Albina Kozlova, Henning Voss, Gabriel G. Martins, Jeffrey M. Friedman and Ana I. Domingos. Sympathetic Neuro-adipose Connections Mediate Leptin-Driven Lipolysis. Cell 163, 84-94 (2015). The work was also presented through poster presentations at iMED Conference 6.0 (Lisbon, 2014), Sociedade Portuguesa de Bioquímica Meeting (Coimbra, 2014) and Sociedade Portuguesa de Neurociências Meeting (Póvoa de Varzim, 2015).

Dengue in Brazil and Colombia: a study of knowledge, attitudes, and practices

Introduction This study was conducted in Brazil and Colombia,where dengue is endemic and vector control programs use chemical insecticides. Methods We identified knowledge, attitudes, and practices about dengue and determined the infestation levels of Aedes aegypti in one Brazilian and four Colombian communities. Results The surveys show knowledge of the vector, but little knowledge about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Vector infestation indices show Brazil to have good relative control, while Colombia presents a high transmission risk. Conclusions Given the multidimensionality of dengue control, vertical control strategies are inadequate because they deny contextualized methods, alternative solutions, and local empowerment.

Produção de pão com recurso a pré-fermentos Desenvolvimento de produtos numa unidade de panificação

A tendência atual da produção de pães em larga escala é de facilitar o processo em termos de mecanização, uso de melhorantes de farinha e produtos do tipo mix (farinhas combinadas com outros ingredientes e aditivos a que basta adicionar água). Muito embora a produção com estas características possa minimizar custos, proporcionar maior produtividade e aumentar o tempo de validade dos pães, resulta numa variedade reduzida de produtos, em geral pães sem qualquer diferencial e personalidade. A utilização de massas pré-fermentadas (iscos) na elaboração de pães é uma prática ancestral que contribui para um maior desenvolvimento de sabor e uma crosta mais estaladiça. Porém o seu uso é bastante restrito, verificando-se particularmente no âmbito da produção artesanal de pães de qualidade superior, conferindo-lhes uma maior complexidade e profundidade de sabor. O trabalho descrito nesta dissertação teve como objetivo a aquisição de conhecimentos sobre o processo de produção de pão com recurso a iscos. Para tal foi realizado um estágio numa unidade produtora de pão de alta qualidade (Tartine- Padaria & Restaurante), que produz uma vasta gama de pães para uma loja própria, assim como para vários restaurantes e hotéis. Durante o estágio houve oportunidade de contatar com todas as fases do processo de produção de pão e uma grande variedade de ingredientes e técnicas. Uma segunda fase do estágio teve como objetivo a aplicação do conhecimento adquirido para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos. Foram desenvolvidos em contexto laboral três novos pães - pão integral de forma, pão de mistura com isco de centeio, e pão brasileiro - com o objetivo de atender a necessidades específicas de clientes e oferecer aos mesmos produtos com características inovadoras. A aceitação dos produtos desenvolvidos foi ainda avaliada através de testes de análise sensorial realizados com o recurso a um painel de provadores não treinados.

Twenty-eight years of Aedes albopictus in Brazil: a rationale to maintain active entomological and epidemiological surveillance

INTRODUCTION: Aedes albopictus was first detected in Brazil in 1986. This mosquito species presents a major threat to public health because Brazilian populations have shown substantial vector competence for arboviruses such as dengue and chikungunya. METHODS: We updated the records of Ae. albopictus in several States of Brazil, focusing on areas in which its presence had been reported after 2002. RESULTS: Twenty-eight years after its arrival in Brazil, Ae. albopictus has been detected in 24 of 27 States. CONCLUSIONS: The rapid spread of this species and its high vector competence demonstrate the danger of Ae. albopictus in Brazil.

Numerical simulation of blast effects on fibre grout RC panels

The main purpose of the present dissertation is the simulation of the response of fibre grout strengthened RC panels when subjected to blast effects using the Applied Element Method, in order to validate and verify its applicability. Therefore, four experimental models, three of which were strengthened with a cement-based grout, each reinforced by one type of steel reinforcement, were tested against blast effects. After the calibration of the experimental set-up, it was possible to obtain and compare the response to the blast effects of the model without strengthening (reference model), and a fibre grout strengthened RC panel (strengthened model). Afterwards, a numerical model of the reference model was created in the commercial software Extreme Loading for Structures, which is based on the Applied Element Method, and calibrated to the obtained experimental results, namely to the residual displacement obtained by the experimental monitoring system. With the calibration verified, it is possible to assume that the numerical model correctly predicts the response of fibre grout RC panels when subjected to blast effects. In order to verify this assumption, the strengthened model was modelled and subjected to the blast effects of the corresponding experimental set-up. The comparison between the residual and maximum displacements and the bottom surface’s cracking obtained in the experimental and the numerical tests yields a difference of 4 % for the maximum displacements of the reference model, and a difference of 4 and 10 % for the residual and maximum displacements of the strengthened model, respectively. Additionally, the cracking on the bottom surface of the models was similar in both methods. Therefore, one can conclude that the Applied ElementMethod can correctly predict and simulate the response of fibre grout strengthened RC panels when subjected to blast effects.

Epidemiological aspects of Toxoplasma gondii infection in riverside communities in the Southern Brazilian Amazon

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii infection is widely prevalent in humans and other animals worldwide. Information on the prevalence of T. gondii infection is scarce in some regions of Brazil, including riverside communities along the Amazon River basin. M METHODS: The prevalence of T. gondii in 231 people, aged 1-85 years, who were living in four riverside communities along the Purus River, Lábrea, State of Amazonas, Brazil, was determined. Antibodies against T. gondii were assayed using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The hearts and brains of 50 chickens, which were raised free-range in the communities, were pooled according to the community of origin and bioassayed in mice. The isolates were genotyped using polymorphisms at 12 nuclear markers (SAG1, 5' and 3'-SAG2, alt.SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, GRA6, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico and CS3). RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 56.7% (131/231). IgG antibodies were presented by 117 (89.3%) and IgM by 14 (10.7%) of the 131 positive individuals. No association between age group and gender with prevalence was observed (chi-square test, p > 0.05); however, the comparison between localities showed that the seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly lower among the individuals living in the Boca do Ituxi (p < 0.05) community. Five isolates of T. gondii were obtained in the mouse bioassay, and genotyping revealed two complete genotypes that had not been described previously and three mixed isolates. CONCLUSIONS: These results support previous findings that T. gondii population genetics are highly diverse in Brazil and that T. gondii infection is active in these riverside communities.

Expression of annexin A1 in Leishmania-infected skin and its correlation with histopathological features

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTION:The aim of this study was quantify annexin A1 expression in macrophages and cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) + and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8)+ T cells from the skin of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (n=55) and correlate with histopathological aspects.METHODS:Infecting species were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and expression of annexin A1 was analyzed by immunofluorescence.RESULTS:All patients (n = 55) were infected with Leishmania braziliensis . Annexin A1 was expressed more abundantly in CD163 + macrophages in infected skin (p < 0.0001) than in uninfected skin. In addition, macrophages in necrotic exudative reaction lesions expressed annexin A1 at higher levels than those observed in granulomatous (p < 0.01) and cellular lesions p < 0.05). This difference might be due to the need to clear both parasites and necrotic tissue from necrotic lesions. CD4 + cells in cellular lesions expressed annexin A1 more abundantly than did those in necrotic (p < 0.05) and granulomatous lesions (p < 0.01). Expression in CD8 + T cells followed the same trend. These differences might be due to the pervasiveness of lymphohistiocytic and plasmacytic infiltrate in cellular lesions.CONCLUSIONS:Annexin A1 is differentially expressed in CD163 + macrophages and T cells depending on the histopathological features of Leishmania -infected skin, which might affect cell activation.

Uso da Detecção Remota na Caracterização da Paisagem do Município de Humpata, Angola

O desenvolvimento da tecnologia em Sistemas de Informação Geográfica (SIG) bem como da Detecção Remota como ciências técnicas apresentam grande valor aplicacional no Ordenamento do Território e, de forma particular, o uso de certas ferramentas analíticas permitem analisar as alterações ou mudanças que ocorrem na paisagem. A presente dissertação tem como objectivo principal caracterizar e avaliar a Paisagem no município de Humpata, Angola. A análise da paisagem desenvolveu-se a partir de uma abordagem metodológica, centrada em duas componentes fundamentais: a estrutura e as funções da paisagem. Para a referida análise, recorreu-se a quantificação de alguns índices referente a métricas de área, forma, agregação e diversidade ao nível da «mancha», «classe» e da «paisagem» em quatro quadrantes (Noroeste, Nordeste, Sudeste e Sudoeste) referentes à área de estudo. Da análise dos resultados, e tendo em conta os objectivos propostos, podemos compreender como as manchas variam nas distintas classes discriminadas na carta de ocupação do solo entre os quadrantes acima referenciados, ao nível da «mancha», «classe» e da «paisagem». A abordagem aplicacional suportou a análise comparada do padrão espacial paisagem considerando as diferenças existentes entre a área da paisagem, forma da paisagem, número de manchas, distâncias entre manchas, de entre outras. Os resultados permitiram avaliar a diversidade e heterogeneidade da paisagem tendo em conta a dominância de classes de ocupação do solo no município de Humpata (2013)

Temporal distribution of tuberculosis in the State of Amazonas, Brazil

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the infectious diseases that contributes most to the morbidity and mortality of millions of people worldwide. Brazil is one of 22 countries that accounts for 80% of the tuberculosis global burden. The highest incidence rates in Brazil occur in the States of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro. The aim of this study was to describe the temporal distribution of TB in the State of Amazonas. Between 2001 and 2011, 28,198 cases of tuberculosis were reported in Amazonas, distributed among 62 municipalities, with the capital Manaus reporting the highest (68.7%) concentration of cases. Tuberculosis was more prevalent among males (59.3%) aged 15 to 34 years old (45.5%), whose race/color was predominantly pardo (64.7%) and who had pulmonary TB (84.3%). During this period, 81 cases of multidrug-resistant TB were registered, of which the highest concentration was reported from 2008 onward (p = 0.002). The municipalities with the largest numbers of indigenous individuals affected were São Gabriel da Cachoeira (93%), Itamarati (78.1%), and Santa Isabel do Rio Negro (70.1%). The future outlook for this region includes strengthening the TB control at the primary care level, by expanding diagnostic capabilities, access to treatment, research projects developed in collaboration with the Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado Tropical Medicine Foundation .;Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD).; and financing institutions, such as the project for the expansion of the Clinical Research Center and the creation of a hospital ward for individuals with transmissible respiratory diseases, including TB.

Occurrence of Mansonella ozzardi diagnosed using a polycarbonate membrane in a riverside population of Lábrea in the Western Brazilian Amazon

Abstract: INTRODUCTION Mansonella ozzardi is a widely distributed filaria worm in the Amazon region. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of M. ozzardi infection in riverine communities of Lábrea municipality, Amazonas State, Brazil. METHODS A diagnostic blood filtration method in a polycarbonate membrane was used. RESULTS M. ozzardi was found in 50.3% of the sample, with the highest prevalence in farmers/fishermen (69.4%; χ 2 = -19.14, p<0.001). The prevalence was higher in longer-term residents (≥11 years; 60.2%). CONCLUSIONS M. ozzardi infection rates are high near the Purus River, much greater than those previously reported based on diagnosis using thick blood smears.