Allergic sensitization to Storage Dust Mites: a prospective study of patients with respiratory allergy

Summary: Objectives. To describe the prevalence of allergic sensitization to Storage Dust Mites (SDM), access whether the place of living and occupational exposure were determinants for SDM sensitization and study association between Lepidoglyphus destructor and other SDM sensitization. Methods. Prospective analysis of patients evaluated for suspected allergic rhinitis and/or asthma that performed Skin Prick Tests (SPT) to SDM between January and December 2018 in our Department. Results. Two hundred consecutive patients were evaluated for rhinitis and/or asthma in our outpatient consultation: 123 (61.5%) presented positivity for at least one SDM, 68.3% were female and the mean age was 33.1 ± 12.12. Lepidoglyphus destructor (69.9%) was the most prevalent, followed by Tyrophagus putrescentiae (50.4%), Blomia tropicalis and Glycyphagus domesticus (48.8%) and Acarus siro (24.4%). Living in a rural place was not associated with a higher prevalence of sensitization to SDM, except for Acarus siro (p = 0.032), and working in a place with storage areas was not associated with sensitization to any of SDM. Sensitization to Lepidoglyphus destructor was associated with sensitization to Blomia tropicalis, Glycyphagus domesticus and Tyrophagus putrescentiae (p less than 0.005), but not with Acarus siro.Conclusions. Our study suggests that our population, independently of their occupational exposure and place of residency, are sensitized to SDM and that evaluation of sensitization to SDM should be considered as standard practice.

Short and extended provocation tests have similar negative predictive value in non-immediate hypersensitivity to beta-lactams in children.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Drug provocation tests (DPTs) are the gold-standard method to diagnose non-immediate hypersensitivity reactions (NIHSR) to beta-lactam antibiotics (BL) in children. Our aim was to compare the negative predictive value (NPV) of one-day (short) DPT versus 3-7 days (extended) DPT for the diagnosis of NIHSR to BL in paediatric age. A secondary aim was to compare confidence on drug re-exposure after short and extended negative DPTs. METHODS: The occurrence of HSR on drug re-exposure and drug refusal after negative diagnostic DPTs were evaluated in children/adolescents with a history of NIHSR to BL using a questionnaire performed six months to ten years after DPT. Patients were divided into two groups according to the protocol performed: short DPT vs. extended DPT. RESULTS: We enrolled 212 children and adolescents (86 females, 126 males, mean age at DPT 5.52 years, p25=3 years, p75=7.25 years): 69 tested with short DPT, and 143 with extended DPT. The NPV of both types of DPT together was 95.2%. The NPV of short DPT was 97.5% and the NPV of extended DPT was 93.8% (p=0.419). After negative DPT, beta-lactams were refused by carers in 14.75% of the children requiring subsequent treatment, 6.98% in the short DPT group and 18.99% in the extended DPT group (p=0.074). CONCLUSIONS: In our paediatric sample, prolonging drug administration did not increase the NPV of diagnostic DPT for NIHSR to BL or reduce drug refusal. Altogether, the data here reported suggest that, however intuitive, prolonging DPT is not beneficial in the parameters analysed.

Genomic and epidemiological monitoring of yellow fever virus transmission potential.

The yellow fever virus (YFV) epidemic in Brazil is the largest in decades. The recent discovery of YFV in Brazilian Aedes species mosquitos highlights a need to monitor the risk of reestablishment of urban YFV transmission in the Americas. We use a suite of epidemiological, spatial, and genomic approaches to characterize YFV transmission. We show that the age and sex distribution of human cases is characteristic of sylvatic transmission. Analysis of YFV cases combined with genomes generated locally reveals an early phase of sylvatic YFV transmission and spatial expansion toward previously YFV-free areas, followed by a rise in viral spillover to humans in late 2016. Our results establish a framework for monitoring YFV transmission in real time that will contribute to a global strategy to eliminate future YFV epidemics.

[Maternal mortality in a midsize city, Brazil, 1997]. / Mortalidade materna em cidade de médio porte, Brasil, 1997.

INTRODUCTION: The real magnitude of maternal mortality in the city of Uberlândia, Brazil, is fairly unknown. The aim is to identify the characteristics of maternal mortality in the city during 1997. METHODS: Death certificates of women between 10-49 years old from Uberlândia were used as a main data source with additional interviews with family members. Only women between 10- 49 years of age at time of death were included. Maternal deaths were further confirmed at the health services level by checking medical records and interviewing physicians. All maternal deaths occurring up to one year after delivery were investigated. Data was collected on delivery conditions, frequency of prenatal care visits, gestational age at death, previous pregnancy complications, site of death, and any avoidable conditions. Maternal mortality rates (MMR) per 100,000 newborns were calculated. RESULTS: There were a total of 204 deaths, but only 173 were from Uberlândia residents. Six maternal deaths were registered, four (66.7%) up to 42 days after delivery, and two (33.3%) up to 43 days to 1 year. Direct obstetric causes (toxemia- 60%; haemorrhage- 40%) were associated with 5 deaths (83.3%), and indirect (16.7%) with 1 death (cardiac disease). The MMR calculated from death certificates was 22.2 but the adjusted rate was 66.6. CONCLUSIONS: The MMR is above the expected. It is necessary to pay more attention to the quality of prenatal and delivery care as well as to the correct way of filling out death certificates.

[Vitamin A deficiency in children of rural areas of the semi-arid region in Bahia]. / Hipovitaminose A em criancas de areas rurais do semi-árido baiano.

The distribution and magnitude of vitamin A deficiency and dietary consumption of 161 children at 6 to 72 months of age in rural zones in Cansancao-Bahia-Brazil were evaluated. The serum retinol levels were measured by the spectrophotometric method (Bassey-Lowry modified by Araujo and Flores). The serum retinol average was found to be distributed homogeneously throughout the different age groups. Inadequate serum retinol levels (<20,0 mu g/dl) were detected in 44.7% of the children, which characterized the deficiency as constituting a public health problem. The serum retinol levels showed no statistically significant association as between the sex and age of the children; however the children of less than 24 months showed a higher prevalence of inadequate serum retinol levels. The main available source of vitamin A for these children was represented by carotenoids, especially beta-carotene. Foods regarded as being rich in vitamin A were consumed by all age groups. The greatest diversification of consumption of foodstuffs with moderate and low vitamin A content was observed in the group of children of from 24 to 72 months of age, through this was no guarantee of adequate serum retinol levels in this group however.