COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance Among Latino/a Immigrants: The Role of Collective Responsibility and Confidence.

Research on COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy has been sparse among Latino/a immigrants, a population at high risk for infection. This exploratory study examines rates of vaccine acceptance and its association with psychological antecedents of vaccination among Latino/a immigrants. A cross-sectional telephone survey on perceptions of COVID-19 was administered between October 2020 to February 2021 in South Florida to 200 adult Latino/a immigrants. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis, and logistic regression were employed to determine the influence of independent variables on vaccine acceptance. Most participants indicated a willingness to get vaccinated. Participants with higher confidence (aOR = 10.2, 95% CI: 4.8-21.8) and collective responsibility scores were (aOR = 3.1, 95%CI:1.3-6.9) more likely to report vaccine acceptance than those with lower scores. No other psychological antecedents or demographic variables were significantly associated with vaccine acceptance. Study results provide insights into motivating factors for vaccination that can inform culturally tailored education campaigns to increase vaccine acceptability in this population.

Pneumocystis jirovecii multilocus genotyping profiles in patients from Portugal and Spain.

Pneumonia caused by the opportunistic organism Pneumocystis jirovecii is a clinically important infection affecting AIDS and other immunocompromised patients. The present study aimed to compare and characterise the frequency pattern of DNA sequences from the P. jirovecii mitochondrial large-subunit rRNA (mtLSU rRNA) gene, the dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS) gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear rRNA operon in specimens from Lisbon (Portugal) and Seville (Spain). Total DNA was extracted and used for specific molecular sequence analysis of the three loci. In both populations, mtLSU rRNA gene analysis revealed an overall prevalence of genotype 1. In the Portuguese population, genotype 2 was the second most common, followed by genotype 3. Inversely, in the Spanish population, genotype 3 was the second most common, followed by genotype 2. The DHPS wild-type sequence was the genotype observed most frequently in both populations, and the DHPS genotype frequency pattern was identical to distribution patterns revealed in other European studies. ITS types showed a significant diversity in both populations because of the high sequence variability in these genomic regions. The most prevalent ITS type in the Portuguese population was Eg, followed by Cg. In contrast to other European studies, Bi was the most common ITS type in the Spanish samples, followed by Eg. A statistically significant association between mtLSU rRNA genotype 1 and ITS type Eg was revealed.

Interactive effects of immunoglobulin gamma and human leucocyte antigen genotypes on clearance and persistence of infection with hepatitis C virus.

Particular alleles of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and immunoglobulin gamma (GM) and immunoglobulin kappa (KM) allotypes (polymorphic determinants of IgG heavy chains and kappa-type light chains, respectively) are associated with the outcome of several infections. To examine their role in the outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, we genotyped 50 individuals with resolved and 117 with persistent HCV infection. None of the GM, KM or HLA-C genotypes by themselves were associated with the resolution or persistence of HCV infection. However, particular combinations of HLA and GM genotypes were associated significantly with the outcome of HCV infection. Subjects with the HLA C1C1 genotype, in the absence of GM ff, were more than seven times [odds ratio (OR) 7.15] as likely to have persistent infection as the subjects who lacked both these genotypes. The presence of GM ff, in the absence of HLA C1C2, was associated with the resolution of infection (OR 0.27). The absence of GM fz, in the presence of HLA C2C2, was also associated with the resolution of infection (OR 0.27). Compared to the subjects who lacked both these genotypes, subjects with GM fz, in the absence of HLA C1C2, were almost four times as likely to have persistent infection (OR 3.91); similarly, subjects with HLA C1C2, in the absence of GM fz, were almost three times as likely to have persistent infection (OR 2.80). These results show, for the first time, interactive effects of GM and HLA genotypes in the outcome of HCV infection.

Dynamic colonisation by different Pneumocystis jirovecii genotypes in cystic fibrosis patients.

Although asymptomatic carriers of Pneumocystis jirovecii with cystic fibrosis (CF) have been described previously, the molecular epidemiology of P. jirovecii in CF patients has not yet been clarified. This study identified the distribution and dynamic evolution of P. jirovecii genotypes based on the mitochondrial large-subunit (mt LSU) rRNA gene. The mt LSU rRNA genotypes of P. jirovecii isolates in 33 respiratory samples from CF patients were investigated using nested PCR and direct sequencing. Three different genotypes were detected: 36.3% genotype 1 (85C/248C); 15.1% genotype 2 (85A/248C); 42.4% genotype 3 (85T/248C); and 6% mixed genotypes. Patients studied during a 1-year follow-up period showed a continuous colonisation/clearance cycle involving P. jirovecii and an accumulative tendency to be colonised with genotype 3.

CCL2-2518 A/G and CCR2 190 A/G do not influence the outcome of hepatitis C virus infection in the Spanish population.

AIM: To assess whether CCL2 or interactions between this chemokine and its receptor (CCR2) are associated with outcomes of chronic hepatitis C and with responses to antiviral therapy. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty-four patients with chronic hepatitis C and 193 non-infected matched controls were included in this study. Patients were categorized according to their Scheuer score of hepatic fibrosis as F0-F2 (n = 202) or F3-F4 (n = 82) and according to their response to anti-Hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy as sustained response (SR, n = 101) or non-sustained response (NSR, n = 98). Genotyping of the -2518 (A/G) CCL2 was performed using PCR-RFLP, genotyping of the 190 (A/G) CCR2 using a PCR-ARMS system, and genotyping of the rs3138042 (G/A) CCR2 using Taqman probes. RESULTS: Univariate analyses identified 4 parameters (infection duration time, viral genotype, gender and AST levels) that tended to influence fibrosis and 7 parameters (CCL2G, CCL2ACCR2A, viremia levels, fibrosis stage, viral genotype, infection duration time and AST levels) that significantly influenced or tended to influence response to treatment. Multivariate analysis identified gender and AST levels as parameters that independently influenced fibrosis stage and viral genotype and infection duration time were the two parameters that independently influenced response to treatment. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the mutations studied in the gene pair CCL2/CCR2 do not play a major role in the outcome and response to treatment for HCV infection in the Spanish population.

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonisation in patients with interstitial lung disease.

A prospective study was conducted to determine the prevalence of colonisation by Pneumocystis jirovecii in 80 consecutive patients who required bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) following suspicion of interstitial lung disease (ILD). The mtLSU rRNA gene of P. jirovecii was identified by nested PCR in BAL samples. Patients with ILDs were divided into three groups: group A comprised those with idiopathic interstitial pneumonias; group B comprised those with sarcoidosis; and group C comprised those with other ILDs. The overall prevalence of P. jirovecii carriage was 33.8%, with colonisation rates of 37.8%, 18.8% and 37% in groups A, B and C, respectively (p not significant). There were more smokers among the carriers, but there were no other significant differences between carriers and non-carriers. The high prevalence of P. jirovecii carriers found among immunocompetent patients with ILDs in Spain suggests a possible role of P. jirovecii in the natural history of these diseases.

Prevalence of colonisation and genotypic characterisation of Pneumocystis jirovecii among cystic fibrosis patients in Spain.

Pneumocystis jirovecii colonisation may occur among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients because of their underlying pulmonary disease. A wide epidemiological analysis was performed among CF patients from Spain to assess the prevalence of P. jirovecii colonisation and the distribution of different genotypes. P. jirovecii was identified by nested PCR targeting the mitochondrial large-subunit rRNA gene from sputum samples or oropharyngeal washes. The genotype was determined by direct sequencing. The prevalence of P. jirovecii colonisation among 88 consecutive CF patients was 21.5%. The polymorphisms identified were 85C/248C (45.4%), 85T/248C (27.2%) and 85A/248C (18.1%); in one case, a mix of genotypes was found. Colonisation was more frequent in subjects aged < 18 years (25.5% vs. 15.1%). Among the patients studied, 20.8% received treatment with azithromycin; all of these patients were colonised with P. jirovecii, but none developed Pneumocystis pneumonia (PcP) during a 1-year follow-up period. Concordance in the colonisation status of siblings suggested a common source of infection or person-to-person transmission.

Pneumocystis jiroveci genotypes in the Spanish population.

This study describes the genotype distribution of Pneumocystis jiroveci in 79 respiratory samples obtained from 15 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with P. jiroveci pneumonia and 64 human immunodeficiency virus-negative subjects with different chronic pulmonary diseases. The genotyping was based in analysis of 2 independent genetic loci: the mitochondrial large subunit ribosomal RNA (mt LSU rRNA) fragment (assessed by direct sequencing) and the gene for dihydropteroate synthase (DHPS; assessed by restriction fragment-length polymorphism). The mt LSU rRNA analysis revealed the presence of 3 different polymorphisms for both populations. The major genotype, 85C/248C, was found to be significantly higher in patients with AIDS and P. jiroveci pneumonia than in patients with pulmonary disease. The rate of genotypes 85A/248C and 85T/248C was similar in both groups. The analysis of DHPS genotypes assesses the prevalence of its 4 possible genotypes, with 35.5% of genotypes related to sulfa resistance. The data suggest a common source of infection between both groups.

Hereditary spherocytosis associated with mutations in HFE gene.

We report on a Spanish family in which three members of different generations were diagnosed with hereditary spherocytosis (HS). Additionally, one of them II-I (44-years-old), presented iron overload with hepatic deposit and needed treatment with periodic phlebotomies. The rest of the family members presented normal analytical values in iron metabolism. To investigate the presence of H63D and C282Y mutations in the HFE gene, patient II-I was found to be compound heterozygous and was the only family member presenting HS and this genetic condition in HFE. We propose a synergistic effect of HS and mutations in HFE as the cause of the iron deposits.

Climatic factors and Pneumocystis jiroveci infection in southern Spain.

The modes of infection and transmission of Pneumocystis jiroveci remain unclear. This study explored the relationship between the incidence of infection and climatic factors. In total, 536 cases of P. jiroveci infection were identified in the period 1994-1998, with an inverse correlation between the incidence of Pneumocystis pneumonia and the minimum mean ambient temperature (Spearman correlation coefficient: r - 0.30; p 0.02; ARIMA model: r - 0.250, p 0.07). The highest number of cases occurred in winter (anova test, p < 0.05), and there was a clear season-related incidence of P. jiroveci infection.

Epidemiology of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in southern Spain.

In order to investigate the impact of Pneumocystis carinii infection in southern Spain following the introduction of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), all cases of pneumocystosis between 1998 and 1999 were identified from data compiled by the national surveillance system. In total, 498 cases of pneumocystosis were recorded, of which 87% involved HIV-positive patients. The mean age, length of hospital stay and mortality were higher for HIV-negative patients. There was a higher number of cases in winter. Despite HAART implementation, pneumocystosis remains a significant health problem for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients.

[The school health program in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto]. / O programa de saúde escolar no município de Ribeirão Preto.

The present article reports on the trajectory of the Primary School Health Care Program (PROASE) at the municipality of Ribeirão Preto and describes some reflections about this proposal.

[Detection of visual and auditory problems in Ribeirao Preto school children. A comparative study by socio-economic level]. / Detecção de problemas visuais e auditivos de escolares em Ribeirão Preto: estudo comparativo por nível sócio-econômico.

The evaluation of visual and auditive functions of students entering the first degree of elementary school is considered a basic action of the student health. The child, upon entering the elementary school, begins or continues learning the alphabet which is considered one of the most important process of the educational area. The child needs normal vision and hearing (or with adequate correction) to carry on this process in the easiest way. In this paper, we tried to study the visual and auditive problems in elementary school students in the city of Ribeirão Preto, from different social layers concerning early detection of cases and resolution of problems (or not) found by the family and school.

[Sexuality in adolescence: a bibliographic study]. / Sexualidade na adolescência: um estudo bibliográfico.

This is a bibliographical study that aimed at pointing out the history of sexuality as well as its cultural, social and religious influences. The goals were to find out in literature the causes of the difficulties faced by the actual men to approach themes related to sexuality mainly with their adolescent children that need this orientation in order to live a safer and healthier sexuality.

[A survey of the knowledge and contact with drugs in the community of firstgraders in public and private schools in Ribeirão Preto]. / Levantamiento del conocimiento y del contacto con drogas en la comunidad de alumnos de 1er, grado de enseñanza pública y privada en Ribeirão Preto.

This study refers to an essay concerning knowledge and contact with drugs among students, first grade, in private and public schools in the city of Ribeirão Preto, in different social layers. Looking for a better understanding of our data, we decided to work in this empirical survey with the concept of social stratum: a group of person with determined measurable features in common, that is, common status and that can be defined by distinct criteria. Schools were sorted according to the kind of student they had: after, schools were divided in four groups and we drew lots of each school. We used a questionnaire to collect data with opened and closed questions. According to data obtained we concluded that all students, no matter what socio-economic level, have a superficial knowledge about the subject: 48.2% said they knew people addicted to drugs in their neighbourhood; 8.8% of the children said they had offerings of drugs and the drugs were: cocaine, marijuana, haxixe, cigarettes and toxic pencil; and 63% of the remaining group said they never had an orientation related to drugs.

[In search of a definition of current guidelines for outlining studies on children's and school-age adolescents' health]. / Em busca da definição de pautas atuais para o delineamento de estudos sobre a saúde da criança e do adolescente em idade escolar.

This work is a reflection of the search for a definition of current guidelines for outlining studies on the assistance to the child's and school-age adolescent's health based on current literature and on the discussion among professionals in the fields of Health and Education. The guidelines: Assistance to the child's and school-age adolescent's health; Education, Health and Society--current historical transformation; Health, Education and Life Conditions lead to the following questions: how to promote the child's and school-age adolescent's health within the principles of the Unified Health System (SUS) and how to deal with issues such as Health and Education in an inter-sectorial, multi-professional and interdisciplinary fashion by taking into account the New National Curricular Standards? In the conclusion, actions are proposed to eradicate the idea that students are at fault in relation to school failure as well as to change the vision based on current concepts and standings by considering all the changes that have taken place in the field of education with the new Law of Bases and Directives and the recent introduction and application of the New National Curricular Standards.

[Accumulation of data about adolescence by nurses: period from 1983 to 1996]. / A produção do conhecimento sobre adolescência na enfermagem: período 1983 a 1996.

In the last ten years adolescence has been object of study of many researchers and considered by National and International Organizations as an age band with priority to actions of promotion, prevention and protection. Many factors contributed to this concern with adolescence, between them, we can emphasize the importance of this populational contingent that represents 30% of world population, besides the questions of precocious pregnancy, AIDS and drugs. As nurse researchers, we are interested in experiencing and characterizing quantitatively and qualitatively the scientific production about adolescence in nursing, using as source of data collection the national specific nursing periodicals. Data obtained in this research show that the adolescence theme is not explored by the nursing staff, and the most important aspects are related to sexuality.

[Importance of oral health for adolescents from different social levels in the municipality of Ribeirao Preto]. / A importância da saúde bucal para adolescentes de diferentes estratos sociais do município de Ribeirão Preto.

The objective of the present study is to know the importance of buccal health for adolescents of different social strata, identifying the importance of dental aesthetics, and the care that these students take in relation to their buccal health. The methodological process adopted in this investigation is of qualitative nature, using as technique of collection of data the semistructured interview. We know the importance of buccal health in several contexts of their lives, as in their personal appearance, sexuality, employment, and general health. This investigation allows us to know the motivations of adolescents to preserve their buccal health, and we believe to be so valid to develop health promotion through health education.