Scalable amplification of strand subsets from chip-synthesized oligonucleotide libraries.

Synthetic oligonucleotides are the main cost factor for studies in DNA nanotechnology, genetics and synthetic biology, which all require thousands of these at high quality. Inexpensive chip-synthesized oligonucleotide libraries can contain hundreds of thousands of distinct sequences, however only at sub-femtomole quantities per strand. Here we present a selective oligonucleotide amplification method, based on three rounds of rolling-circle amplification, that produces nanomole amounts of single-stranded oligonucleotides per millilitre reaction. In a multistep one-pot procedure, subsets of hundreds or thousands of single-stranded DNAs with different lengths can selectively be amplified and purified together. These oligonucleotides are used to fold several DNA nanostructures and as primary fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. The amplification cost is lower than other reported methods (typically around US$ 20 per nanomole total oligonucleotides produced) and is dominated by the use of commercial enzymes.

Fatores associados a quedas recorrentes em uma coorte de idosos / Factors associated with recurrent falls in a cohort of elderly people

Resumo Introdução Quedas de idosos configuram-se como importante causa de morbimortalidade. Objetivo Verificar a reincidência de quedas e identificar fatores associados a quedas e a quedas recorrentes. Metodologia Estudo de seguimento de 4 anos, por meio de duas ondas de inquérito (2010 e 2014/2015), com uma coorte de 218 idosos, de ambos os sexos e não institucionalizados em Juiz de Fora, MG. Utilizou-se regressão logística multinomial para estimar a associação de cada variável independente com os desfechos analisados. No modelo final foram mantidas as variáveis com p ≤ 0,05. Para cálculo de odds ratio (OR), foi considerado intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados 33,5% das pessoas relataram ter caído no ano anterior ao primeiro inquérito. No segundo inquérito, essa frequência foi de 38,5%. Durante o seguimento, 44,5% não relataram quedas, 39% sofreram queda em pelo menos um dos inquéritos e 16,5% manifestaram ter sofrido queda nas duas ondas. Não foram encontradas associações para queda recorrente. Queda no seguimento associou-se a sexo feminino e idade (71 a 80 anos). Conclusão Os resultados evidenciam e ratificam a magnitude com que quedas e quedas recorrentes atingem a população idosa e apontam para a necessidade de estratégias preventivas a partir da identificação de grupos de riscos.

Abstract Introduction For the elderly, falling constitute an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Objective Verify the recurrence of falls and identify factors associated with falls and recurrent falls. Methodology A 4-year follow-up study using two survey waves (2010 and 2014/2015), with a cohort of 218 elderly people, both genders and non-institutionalized, in Juiz de Fora-MG. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association of each independent variable with the outcomes analyzed. In the final model, variables with p ≤ 0.05 were maintained. Odds Ratio (OR) was calculated with a 95% confidence interval. Results 33.5% of the participants reported falling in the prior year of the first inquiry. In the second inquiry, the frequency was 38.5%. During the follow-up study, 44.5% did not report falls, 39% suffered a fall in at least one of the surveys, and 16.5% reported falling in both waves. No associations for recurrent falls were found. In the follow-up, falls were associated with female gender and age (71 to 80 years old). Conclusion The results demonstrate and confirm the magnitude with which falls and recurrent falls affect the elderly population, and indicate the need for preventive strategies based on the identification of groups at risk.

Canine visceral leishmaniasis: seroprevalence and risk factors in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil.

In Brazil, canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is endemic and the number of cases in humans and dogs has increased in the Midwest region. A transversal study was carried out in endemic areas from Cuiabá, State of Mato Grosso, to assess data on seroprevalence and risk factors associated to canine infection. Four hundred and thirty (430) dogs were randomly evaluated through indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) considering variables related to the animals, the environment and the knowledge by owners on CVL aspects and control. From 430 dogs, 95 (22.1%) were seroreagent for leishmaniasis and animals living in rural environments present risk 1.9 times higher for acquiring the disease than those in urban environments (p = 0.01; OR 1.9). Factors related to animals' habits, such as free access to the street and guard function were considered indicators to predict infection by Leishmania sp. (p < 0.05) by statistical univariate analysis. The presence of agricultural activities was also a fact that contributed for the insurgence of the infection (p = 0.02; OR 1.68). The results contributed to the knowledge on the aspects of CVL in Cuiabá and point to an urgent need to include educational and sanitary programs in the city, since the region presents favorable characteristics for spreading the infection of CVL as already observed in other Brazilian cities.

Fatores epidemiológicos da infestação por Otodectes cynotis em cães no município de Cuiabá

Dentre os fatores causadores da otite externa destaca-se o ácaro Otodectes cynotis, parasito encontrado frequentemente noouvido de cães e gatos, com relevante importância na clínica médica de pequenos animais. Trezentos e vinte cães, residentesno município de Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, sendo 160 oriundos de um abrigo de cães e 160 de atendimentos clínicos no HospitalVeterinário da Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso tiveram seus condutos auditivos examinados, por otoscopia e peloexame do swab parasitológico, com o objetivo de se determinar a prevalência do parasitismo pelo ácaro O. cynotis. Osexames dos cães revelaram uma prevalência de 67,5% de animais portadores de otocariose na população do abrigo, contra21,5% dos cães atendidos no Hospital Veterinário, evidenciando uma diferença significativa (p 0,001) na prevalência entreas duas populações.