Rotavirus strain surveillance for three years following the introduction of rotavirus vaccine into Belém, Brazil.

The monovalent human rotavirus (RV) vaccine, RIX4414 (Rotarix™, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals) was introduced into Brazil's Expanded Program on Immunization in March 2006. One year after vaccine introduction, the G2P[4] strain was found to be predominant, with an apparent extinction of many non-G2 strains. This study investigated the diversity of circulating strains in the three years following RIX4414 introduction. Between May 2008 and May 2011, stool samples were collected from children aged ≥12 weeks who were hospitalized for severe lab confirmed RV-gastroenteritis (≥3 liquid or semi-liquid motions over a 24-h period for <14 days, requiring ≥1 overnight hospital stay and intravenous rehydration therapy) in Belém, Brazil. RV-gastroenteritis was detected by ELISA and the G- and P-types were determined by RT-PCR assays. During the first year of surveillance nucleotide sequencing was used for typing those samples not previously typed by RT-PCR. A total of 1,726 of 10,030 severe gastroentertis hospitalizations (17.2%) were due to severe RVGE. G2P[4] was detected in 57.2% of circulating strains over the whole study period, however it predominated during the first 20 months from May 2008 to January 2009. G1P[8] increased in the last part of the study period from May 2010 to May 2011 and represented 36.6% (112/306) of the circulating strains. G2P[4] was the predominant RV strain circulating during the first 20 months of the study, followed by G1P[8]. These findings probably reflect a natural fluctuation in RV strains over time, rather than a vaccine-induced selective pressure.

Amazon Rainforest Hidden Volatiles-Part I: Unveiling New Compounds from Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen Essential Oil.

Motivated by the culinary and ethnopharmacological use of Acmella oleracea (L.) R.K. Jansen, this study aimed to unveil new chemical compounds from its essential oil (EO). Acmella oleracea, known for its anesthetic and spicy properties, has been used in traditional medicine and cuisine, particularly in Northern Brazil. Through a detailed GC-MS analysis, 180 constituents were identified, including 12 tentatively identified long-chain α-keto esters of various acids. Additionally, 18 new esters were synthesized for structural verification. This research expands the known chemical diversity of A. oleracea EO, providing a basis for potential pharmacological applications. The identification of new natural products, including homologs and analogs of acmellonate, underscores the EO's rich chemical profile and its potential for novel bioproduct development.

Ocorrência de adenovírus em crianças com gastrenterite aguda grave na cidade de Belém, Pará, Brasil / Detection of adenoviruses in children with severe acute gastroenteritis in the City of Belém, Pará State

As gastrenterites são uma das principais causas de doença infantil em todo mundo. Estudos epidemiológicos detectaram adenovírus em 2 por cento a 22 por cento dos casos de diarreia aguda infantil em hospitais e ambulatórios clínicos. Eles são responsáveis por 50 por cento dos casos de intussuscepção intestinal pediátrica. O objetivo do estudo foi detectar a presença desses vírus nas amostras fecais de 380 crianças menores de 3 anos de idade, com quadro de gastrenterite, em Belém, com ênfase no sorotipo 40/41. As amostras foram provenientes de um estudo de vigilância hospitalar e ambulatorial realizado pelo Instituto Evandro Chagas no período de março a setembro de 2003. Foram usadas as técnicas de EIA e imunocromatografia para triagem; e cultura de células e PCR para tipagem. Os adenovírus foram encontrados em 6,3 por cento (24/380) das amostras. Já o adenovírus entérico (AdE) estava presente em 3,7 por cento (14/380) das amostras testadas, equivalendo a 58,3 por cento (14/24) dos casos positivos, o que demonstrou que esse vírus é causa de grande parte dos casos de gastrenterites em crianças. A técnica mais sensível foi a PCR, sendo capaz de definir sorotipos de cinco amostras que estavam sem definição. Os AdEs predominaram na faixa etária de 18-24 meses e o maior número de casos ocorreu no mês de março de 2003, com tempo de hospitalização de maior frequência em torno de seis dias. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo confirmam a circulação desse vírus na cidade de Belém, Pará, demonstrando a importância deles como causa de gastrenterite em crianças.

Gastroenteritis is one of the major childhood diseases worldwide. Epidemiological studies have detected adenoviruses in 2 per cent to 22 per cent of cases of acute infantile diarrhea in hospitals and outpatient clinics. Adenoviruses are responsible for 50 per cent of cases of pediatric intestinal intussusception. The aim of this study was to detect the presence of these viruses in stool samples from 380 children younger than three years old with symptoms of gastroenteritis in Belém, with an emphasis on serotype 40/41. The samples came from a surveillance study conducted by the hospital and outpatient clinic of the Instituto Evandro Chagas from March to September 2003. We used EIA and an immunochromatographic technique for screening, and cell culture and PCR for typing. Adenoviruses were found in 6.3 per cent (24/380) of the samples. Enteric adenoviruses (EAds) were present in 3.7 per cent (14/380) of tested samples, which corresponded to 58.3 per cent (14/24) of positive cases. This demonstrated that this virus is the cause of the majority cases of gastroenteritis in children. The most sensitive technique was PCR, which was able to define the serotypes of five samples that were not defined by other methods. EAds predominated in the age group of 18-24 months, and the highest number of cases occurred in March 2003. The average time of hospitalization was approximately six days. The results of this study confirm the circulation of the virus in Belém, Pará State, demonstrating theimportance of adenoviruses as a cause of gastroenteritis in children