Subsistence swine farming: seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Lawsonia intracellularis infection in the state of Minas Gerais Brazil in 2016.

Although it is considered an economically relevant and prevalent disease, little information is available on the epidemiology and risk factors of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in commercial pigs, and no publication is available on subsistence pig farming. The objectives of this study were to estimate the seroprevalence of L. intracellularis and identify associated risk factors in backyard pigs in the 12 mesoregions of the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood from pigs between 2 months and 6 years of age were sampled; an epidemiological questionnaire was applied to 288 properties investigated in 2016. Serum samples were tested for the presence of anti-L. intracellularis antibodies using an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. The seroprevalence of L. intracellularis was 97.7% (CI 95%: 96.7-98.4), and there was no statistical difference among the prevalence of the sampled mesoregions. Only 3 of the 12 risk factors were significant when samples were analyzed from strongly seropositive animals (≥ 1:120) in a Poisson multivariate regression model. There was an interaction between properties in peri-urban areas and extensive production systems. This interaction demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 3.7 times (95%CI: 2.4-5.8). Properties close to dumps demonstrated an increase in prevalence rates by 2.2 times (95%CI: 0.99-4.8). In conclusion, anti-L. intracellularis antibodies were widely dispersed in subsistence pig farming's in Minas Gerais, indicating a wide circulation of the agent in this type of production system. The interactions of animals raised close to peri-urban areas, extensively, and close to landfills are risk factors for spread of PPE.

Caracterização do gene do choque térmico (HSP-70. 1) e sua relação com características de produção em bovinos leiteiros criados no semiárido brasileiro / Characterization of the thermal shock gene (HSP-70. 1) and its relationship with production characteristics in dairy cattle reared in the Brazilian semiarid

Objetivou-se com este trabalho avaliar a diversidade genética do gene HSP-70.1 e associar os polimorfismos encontrados com a performance de vacas leiteiras das raças Holandesa, Girolando (5/8H-G) e Sindi criadas em região do semiárido brasileiro. Os polimorfismos foram identificados e avaliados pela técnica de PCR-RFLP, usando-se a enzima de restrição EcoRII. Avaliou-se a variabilidade genética por meio do índice de diversidade padrão e da análise de variância molecular (AMOVA). Os polimorfismos identificados foram avaliados sobre as características de produção de leite. Foram identificados sete alelos, os quais demonstraram que houve polimorfismo para a região gênica analisada, e alguns alelos foram compartilhados entre os rebanhos. As raças bovinas Holandesa e Sindi foram similares geneticamente para o gene analisado. A AMOVA demonstrou que há variação genética entre os rebanhos e dentro deles, com a maior parte da variação ocorrendo dentro dos rebanhos para todos os grupos avaliados. Houve efeito dos alelos identificados sobre a produção de leite dos rebanhos das raças Holandesa (P<0,0001) e Girolando (P<0,0117). O gene HSP-70.1 foi polimórfico na população de bovinos leiteiros estudada, sendo, portanto, um marcador molecular promissor para avaliar a produção de leite de raças criadas em região semiárida.(AU)

The objective of this work was to evaluate the genetic diversity of the HSP-70.1 gene and to associate the polymorphisms found with the performance of Holstein, Girolando (5/8H-G) and Sindi dairy cows raised in region of the Brazilian semiarid. Polymorphisms were identified and evaluated using the PCR-RFLP technique using the EcoRII restriction enzyme. Genetic variability was evaluated using the standard diversity index and molecular variance analysis (AMOVA). The identified polymorphisms were evaluated on the characteristics of milk production. They were identified from the seven alleles, demonstrating that there was polymorphism for the analyzed gene region and some alleles were shared among the herds. The Holstein and Sindi bovine breeds were genetically like the analyzed gene. AMOVA demonstrated that there is genetic variation between and within the herds, with most of the variation occurring within the herds for all groups evaluated. There was effect of the alleles identified on the production of milk herds of Holstein and (P<0.0001) Girolando (P<0.0117) breeds. The HSP-70.1 gene was polymorphic in the population of dairy cattle studied, and therefore a promising molecular marker to evaluate milk production of breeds created in semiarid regions.(AU)

Thymidylate synthase and methylenetetrahy-drofolate reductase gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility in a population of Northern Brazil.

The folate metabolic pathway, which is involved in DNA synthesis and methylation, is associated with individual susceptibility to several diseases, including gastric tumors. In this study, we investigated four polymorphisms [thymidylate synthase enhancer region, single nucleotide polymorphism thymidylate synthase 5' (TS5'), TS3' untranslated region, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C> T] in 2 genes related to the folate pathway, TS and MTHFR, and their possible association with the risk gastric cancer development in a population from Pará state, Brazil. For the TS enhancer region, TS3' untranslated region, and single nucleotide polymorphism TS5' polymorphisms, no significant results were obtained. For the MTHFR 677C>T polymorphism, TT genotype carriers had a higher risk of developing tumors in the antrum (P = 0.19 vs CC and P = 0.02 vs CT) and intestine (odds ratio = 4.18, 95% confidence interval = 0.66-26.41; P = 0.252 vs CC and odds ratio = 2.25, 95% confidence interval = 0.32-15.75; P = 0.725 vs CT). Those carrying at least 1 T allele had an increased risk of lymph node metastasis (odds ratio = 3.00, 95% confidence interval = 0.88-10.12; P = 0.133). Our results suggest that polymorphisms in MTHFR affect the susceptibility to gastric tumors in the Brazilian population and may be a factor causing poor prognosis in such patients.

Performance of immunoblotting in diagnosis of visceral Leishmaniasis in human immunodeficiency virus-Leishmania sp.-coinfected patients.

This study evaluated the performance of immunoblotting with Leishmania infantum soluble antigens for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and immunocompetent patients and assessed the humoral responses of patients coinfected with HIV and Leishmania. In this work, the results of the immunoblot analysis were compared to those of parasitological examination (Giemsa-stained smears and/or parasite isolation in Novy, Nicolle, and MacNeal medium from bone marrow) and indirect immunofluorescence and counterimmunoelectrophoresis techniques. Patients were considered to be infected if one or more of the comparison techniques gave a positive result. Immunoblotting was considered to be positive if at least one band was present. For 198 HIV-positive patients with a clinical suspicion of visceral leishmaniasis, immunoblot analysis had a sensitivity of 70.6%, a specificity of 73.2%, and an accuracy of 72.7%. For a separate group of 40 immunocompetent patients not infected with Leishmania, the immunoblot analysis was negative for all patients (100% specificity), and for a third group of 32 immunocompetent patients with confirmed visceral leishmaniasis, the immunoblot analysis was positive for all patients (100% sensitivity). Sera of coinfected patients recognized few bands and recognized bands at lower intensities compared with sera from immunocompetent patients. The most frequently detected band was 63 to 66 kDa (55.9%), with the difference being statistically significant compared to frequency of detection of the other bands. This study confirms that the humoral response in patients coinfected with HIV and Leishmania is much lower than that in immunocompetent patients and that the immunoblot method is a sensitive, noninvasive, and specific serological technique for the diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in immunocompromised patients.

Creating the future. Nurses can shape their profession by getting involved in healthcare reform.

To remain relevant in a reformed healthcare system, nurses will have to redefine and remake themselves. Three aspects of the new healthcare age--megahospitals, managed care, and redefined professional roles--will have a significant impact on healthcare professions, including nursing. Across the United States hospitals are merging to form sophisticated networks that provide a continuum of care. Under this delivery model, nurses will play a variety of new roles and work collaboratively with the entire spectrum of health social service professionals. A related development--the growth of managed care--is an increasingly attractive option among large employers. It will also accelerate changes in the way healthcare professionals work. Managed care will force physicians to enter into appropriate group affiliations and hospitals to reconfigure themselves to meet the needs of a dynamic system that no longer requires yesterday's beds or management structures. The future will force healthcare professionals to go through regular, radical changes in their job requirements. But it will also allow nurses and others to emerge from their task-oriented past and take on work that requires them to think, judge, and intervene.

Physicians' attitudes, recommendations and practice of male and female sterilization in São Paulo.

While prevalence of vasectomy is low in Brazil, female sterilization is very high. The potential for growth of vasectomy services may be related to attitudes and practices of physicians. In 1984, 660 physicians at seven major hospitals in São Paulo were randomly selected from a total population of 2207 physicians in these hospitals. They were interviewed about their attitudes towards family planning in general, and specifically towards voluntary sterilization. A high degree of vasectomy among this medical community is indicated by its relatively high prevalence among married physicians and their spouses; about one in ten reported that either they or their spouse had had a vasectomy. Half of the physicians who perform sterilizations perform vasectomies: 22% of obstetricians and gynecologists, 85% of surgeons, and all urologists. In general, physicians would recommend vasectomy and tubal ligation equally often to their clients. Depending on the circumstances, up to 85% of all physicians recommend some sterilization procedure. Recommendation was modified by the type of procedure a physician performed, and by the patient's characteristics. Physician's recommendations of sterilization increased with age and parity of patient and was related to the health conditions and socioeconomic circumstances of the couple.

[Antimicrobial substances of superior plants. 45. Primary observations of 2 new quinoids isolated from Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth(Labiatae)]. / Substáncias antimicrobianas de plantas superiores. Communicação XLV. Primeiras observações sobre dois novos quinonoides isolados de Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth. (Labiatae)

The authors present the first observations on the isolation of two quinonoid compounds from Hyptis fructicosa Salzm ex Benth; Labiatae. The referred naturally compounds present antimicrobial and antineoplastic activity against Gram-positive microrganisms and mouse Erlich carcionama, respectivelly.