Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure and neurological impairment at 10 years of age among children born extremely preterm: a prospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between prenatal tobacco smoke exposure and neurological impairment at 10 years of age among children born extremely preterm (<28 weeks of gestation). DESIGN: The Extremely Low Gestational Age Newborn (ELGAN) Study, a prospective cohort. SETTING: Ten-year follow-up of extremely preterm infants born at 14 US hospitals between 2002 and 2004. METHODS: Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was defined as a mother's report at enrolment of active (i.e. maternal) and passive smoking during pregnancy. Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations was used. Models adjusted for mother's age, race/ethnicity, education, insurance, pre-pregnancy body mass index, US region, multiple gestation and infant's sex; and in sensitivity analysis, gestational age at delivery and clinical subtype of preterm birth, given their classification as intermediate and non-confounding variables. MAIN OUTCOMES: Neurological impairment at 10 years, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Of 1200 ELGAN study survivors, 856 were assessed at 10 years of age with neurological outcomes, of whom 14% (118/856) had active tobacco exposure during pregnancy and 24% (207/852) had passive tobacco exposure. Compared with children who were not exposed prenatally to tobacco, children exposed to active tobacco use during pregnancy had a higher risk of epilepsy (14% versus 5%; adjusted relative risk: 1.68, 95% CI 1.45-1.92). This risk remained after adjustment for gestational age at delivery and clinical subtype of preterm birth. Prenatal tobacco smoke exposure was not associated with other assessed neurological outcomes, including cerebral palsy and multiple measures of cognitive impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Among children born extremely preterm, prenatal active tobacco smoke exposure was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy at 10 years of life. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Among infants born before 28 weeks of gestation, prenatal active tobacco smoke exposure was associated with an increased risk of epilepsy at 10 years of life.

Socio-economic inequalities and COVID-19 incidence and mortality in Brazilian children: a nationwide register-based study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to estimate the incidence and mortality rates of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Brazilian children and to analyze its relationship with socio-economic inequalities in a state-level analysis. STUDY DESIGN: This is a nationwide register-based study. METHODS: To estimate the incidence and mortality rates of COVID-19 in Brazilian children aged 0-19 years, we extracted data of confirmed cases and deaths from the de-identified microdata catalog and official bulletins of the 27 Brazilian states' health department websites until September 3, 2020. Social and economic inequalities were evaluated using the Social Vulnerability Index and Gini coefficient, respectively. The relationship between COVID-19 rates in Brazilian children and socio-economic vulnerability at the state level was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation. RESULTS: Of the 3,998,055 individuals with COVID-19 included in our database, 335,279 (8.4%) were children aged 0-19 years. Eight hundred deaths in children were registered, which accounts for about 0.7% of the deaths related to COVID-19 in the country. There were important differences in the incidence and mortality rates among Brazilian regions, and a correlation between mortality rates and social (ρ = 0.519; P-value = 0.007; effect magnitude: moderate) and economic (ρ = 0.615; P-value < 0.001; effect magnitude: strong) inequalities was found in a state-level analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study showed important regional differences in COVID-19 estimates for children in Brazil and a relationship between mortality rates and socio-economic inequalities. The knowledge of sociogeographic differences in the estimates of COVID-19 is crucial to planning societal strategies and local decision-making to mitigate the effects of disease in the pediatric population.

Role of cell wall polysaccharides in water distribution during seed imbibition of Hymenaea courbaril L.

Seed water imbibition is critical to seedling establishment in tropical forests. The seeds of the neotropical tree Hymenaea courbaril have no oil reserves and have been used as a model to study storage cell wall polysaccharide (xyloglucan - XyG) mobilization. We studied pathways of water imbibition in Hymenaea seeds. To understand seed features, we performed carbohydrate analysis and scanning electron microscopy. We found that the seed coat comprises a palisade of lignified cells, below which are several cell layers with cell walls rich in pectin. The cotyledons are composed mainly of storage XyG. From a single point of scarification on the seed surface, we followed water imbibition pathways in the entire seed using fluorescent dye and NMRi spectroscopy. We constructed composites of cellulose with Hymenaea pectin or XyG. In vitro experiments demonstrated cell wall polymer capacity to imbibe water, with XyG imbibition much slower than the pectin-rich layer of the seed coat. We found that water rapidly crosses the lignified layer and reaches the pectin-rich palisade layer so that water rapidly surrounds the whole seed. Water travels very slowly in cotyledons (most of the seed mass) because it is imbibed in the XyG-rich storage walls. However, there are channels among the cotyledon cells through which water travels rapidly, so the primary cell walls containing pectins will retain water around each storage cell. The different seed tissue dynamic interactions between water and wall polysaccharides (pectins and XyG) are essential to determining water distribution and preparing the seed for germination.

Análise termográfica aplicada na produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ manejadas em diferentes microclimas / Thermographic analysis applied to body heat production of F1 HxZ cows managed in different microclimates

Avaliou-se a produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ manejadas em diferentes microclimas. Foram avaliadas 48 vacas, divididas em três grupos, manejadas em pastos e microclimas diferentes. Cada grupo foi subdividido em três grupos de suplementação fornecida durante a ordenha. Os registros termográficos dos flancos direito e esquerdo ocorreram com os animais a pasto. As temperaturas do olho e retal foram mensuradas após a ordenha. O ITGU caracterizou sinal de perigo para o microclima 1 no período da tarde (81,7) e para o microclima 2 nos turnos da manhã e da tarde (81,6 e 83,8, respectivamente). No microclima 2, houve diferença da temperatura do flanco direito para animais do grupo 2 em relação aos animais do grupo 3. A temperatura do flanco esquerdo foi superior para os animais do grupo 1. O microclima 1 foi caracterizado de conforto térmico, e o 2 de desconforto nos períodos da manhã e da tarde. A suplementação não influenciou na produção de calor dos animais. As médias da temperatura retal e do olho não diferiram entre os grupos, e a correlação apresentou valores baixos e moderados para os microclimas 1 e 2, respectivamente. A oferta de diferentes fontes de suplementação não interfere na produção de calor corporal de vacas F1 HxZ, mesmo quando fornecido em ambiente climático em que o ITGU é próximo a 84.(AU)

Body heat production of F1 HxZ cows managed in different microclimates was evaluated. We evaluated 48 cows, divided into two groups, managed in different pastures and microclimates. Each group was subdivided into three groups of supplementation provided during milking. The thermographic records of the right and left flanks occurred with the animals on the grass. Eye and rectal temperatures were measured after milking. The BGT had a danger signal for microclimate 1 in the afternoon (81.7) and microclimate 2 in the morning and afternoon shifts (81.6 and 83.8, respectively). In microclimate 2, there was difference in the temperature of the right flank for animals in group 2 in relation to the animals in group 3. The temperature of the left flank was higher for the animals in the group 1. Microclimate 1 was characterized by thermal comfort and 2 was discomfort in the morning and afternoon. Supplementation did not influence the heat production of the animals. Rectal and eye mean averages did not differ between groups and the correlation presented low and moderate values for microclimate 1 and 2, respectively. The supply of different sources of supplementation does not interfere with the production and body heat of F1 HxZ cows even when supplied in a climatic environment in which the BGT is close to 84.(AU)

Infecção de sítio cirúrgico em revascularizações do miocárdio: estudo retrospectivo / Surgical site infection in myocardial revascularization: a retrospective study

Objetivo: analisar a incidência de infecção do sítio cirúrgico em revascularizações do miocárdio. Métodos: estudo quantitativo com 314 prontuários de pacientes submetidos às revascularizações no período de 2014 a 2016, do serviço de cirurgia cardíaca. Foram avaliadas as relações de variáveis operatórias com o aparecimento de infecção de sítio cirúrgico para determinar os fatores significativos. Para a coleta dos dados utilizou-se as fichas de circulação extracorpórea e para a análise as definições estabelecidas pela Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária. Resultados: 66,2% eram do sexo masculino; 62,1%, brancos; 47,3%, hipertensos; 22,8%, diabéticos e 91,7%, cirurgias eletivas. Evidenciou-se que febre, edema local em 24 horas, dor, necrose em lesão operatória e (re)abordagem cirúrgica são os principais fatores para incidência de infecções relacionada ao tempo médio de circulação extracorpórea e de cirurgia. Conclusão: a infecção de sítio cirúrgico em revascularizações está relacionada com o tempo de cirurgia e de circulação extracorpórea.

Objective: to analyze the incidence of surgical site infection in myocardial revascularizations.Methods: a quantitative study with 314 medical records of patients submitted to revascularizationin the period from 2014 to 2016, of the cardiac surgery service. The relationships of operativevariables with the appearance of surgical site infection were evaluated to determine the significantfactors. Data collection was done using the cardiopulmonary bypass records and for the analysis thedefinitions established by the National Sanitary Surveillance Agency. Results: 66,2% were male;62,1% white; 47,3% hypertensive and 22,8% diabetic; 91.7% were elective surgeries. It was evidencedthat fever, local edema in 24 hours, pain, necrosis in operative lesion and surgical intervention are the main factors for the incidence of infections related to the mean time of extracorporealcirculation and surgery. Conclusion: the surgical site infection in revascularizations is related to thetime of surgery and extracorporeal circulation.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies from Maranhão and surrounding states in the northeastern region of Brazil.

Although many outbreaks of rabies have been reported in northern Brazil, few epidemiological studies of these outbreaks have been undertaken. In this study, molecular epidemiological analyses were performed using 41 rabies virus samples isolated in the Maranhão (MA), Pará (PA), and Tocantins (TO) states of northeastern Brazil. A 599-bp region of the glycoprotein (G) gene was first amplified from each sample by RT-PCR, then sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis. A phylogenetic tree divided the 41 isolates into two clades: Clade I was associated with terrestrial carnivores and Clade II was associated with vampire bats. The Clade I isolates were further sub-divided into two groups. The first group was closer to carnivore isolates that predominate in central Brazil, whereas the second group more closely resembled wild fox isolates from the northeastern coastal state of Paraíba (PB). MA isolates of Clade II formed an entirely separate group. These results demonstrate that bat- and dog-transmitted rabies occur in northwestern Brazil.

Patterns of expression of cell wall related genes in sugarcane

A busca por genes relacionados ao metabolismo da parede celular no banco de dados SUCEST-FAPESP resultou em 459 potenciais genes ("clusters") que correspondem a 3283 clones ("reads"), o que corresponde a cerca de 1.1 por cento do número total de clones. Foram construídos mapas de superfície para correlacionar os genes com as bibliotecas dos diferentes tecidos. Foram encontradas correlações positivas ou neutras entre os genes em uma mesma biblioteca. Os genes relacionados à síntese de celulose (família CesA) foram os de maior expressäo na planta, embora a maior expressäo esteja associada à raiz e colmo. Entre as hidrolases, ß-1,3-glucanases, xiloglucano endo-ß-transglicosilase, ß-glucosidase e endo-ß-mananase foram os genes com o maior número de clones. Análise de correlaçäo (por mapas de superfície) revelou que a expressäo dos genes relacionados à biossíntese parece estar associada à hidrólise de hemicelulose, enquanto as hidrolases de pectina estäo relacionadas principalmente às hidrolases de xiloglucano. O padräo de expressäo de genes relacionados à parede celular, baseado no número de "reads" por "cluster" refletiu bem as características fisiológicas esperadas para cada tecido. Este é o primeiro trabalho que fornece uma visäo geral do metabolismo de parede celular através da expressäo dos genes em vários tecidos ao mesmo tempo. Por exemplo, inflorescências em desenvolvimento se comportaram de forma semelhante a tecidos meristemáticos e à regiäo de transiçäo folha-raiz. Estes dados serviräo tanto para pesquisas em fisiologia e desenvolvimento de cana, como também para o desenvolvimento de processos industriais.