Respiratory virus detection among healthcare professionals in Brazil: work-related contact and episode recurrence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVES: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, changes in the circulation of respiratory viruses have been observed after measures to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 were implemented. In this sense, we aimed to understand the circulation of the respiratory virus and its impact in a controlled healthy population of healthcare professional (HCP) volunteers in phase III of the clinical trial of the ChadOx nCoV1 conducted in São Paulo, Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: This was a nested observational cohort study within a clinical trial. METHODS: We performed RT-qPCR to detect SARS-CoV-2, influenza virus A and B (IVA and IVB), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human rhinovirus (HRV), human metapneumovirus (hMPV), human coronaviruses (hCoVs: HKU-1, NL63, OC43, and 229-E), parainfluenza virus (PiV) I-IV, and q-PCR for adenovirus in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples obtained from HCP enrolled in the clinical trial to assess respiratory viruses infection among vaccinated and non-vaccinated. RESULTS: From July 2020 to January 2022, 876 samples were included from 737 volunteers (median age: 33 years, 62.9% female). New episodes were registered for 119 individuals. We observed an overall positivity of 37.7% for SARS-CoV-2 and 16.4% for other respiratory viruses; HRV was the second most detected virus (8%), followed by RSV (2.4%). Fully vaccinated individuals accounted for 53.3% of collected samples, and 52.9% presented at least one respiratory virus infection, with SARS-CoV-2 being the most predominant etiologic agent (62.3%). Influenza and hMPV were not detected among the tested samples. Among the subjects that presented more than one episode, SARS-CoV-2 and HRV infections were related to direct contact with patients (P < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Data show high infection rates among HCPs even under mask policies and contact precautions, highlighting the need for improvement in infection control measures in this population regardless of the vaccination program.

Higher prevalence of clinical cardiovascular comorbidities in postmenopausal women with self-reported premenopausal hirsutism and/or oligo-amenorrhea.

Hirsutism is a common condition, being present in about 5-15% of women. It is characterized by the growth of terminal hair in a pattern typical for men, like as hair growth in upper lip, chin, cheek and lower and upper abdomen. Not infrequently, hirsutism is followed by other signs of hyerandrogenism such as alopecia, acne, and seborrhea. The current study evaluated the association between a self-reported history of hirsutism and oligo-amenorrhea during reproductive age and the presence of several comorbidities in women after menopause. A total of 1057 women were investigated in a cross-sectional study, and information on the age at menarche, menstrual history, complaints about excessive hair growth, and disease development was obtained. Participants from the study were postmenopausal women aged >55 y who attended ac primary care service at least once during the 24-month period. Exclusion criteria included the presence of cognitive impairment and/or communication difficulties. Main outcomes were the presence of comorbidities after menopause. The prevalence of comorbidities was significantly higher in women with a history of hirsutism and/or oligo-amenorrhea [OR = 1.6 (95% CI 1.1-2.4), p = 0.002] or isolated hirsutism [OR 2.0 (95% CI 1.3-3.2), p = 0.004]. The prevalence of stroke, angina or myocardial infarction, cardiac failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and osteoarthritis were significantly higher in postmenopausal women who had experienced hirsutism and/or oligomenorrhea (p < 0.03). Limitations of the study came from the absence of a clear differentiation between hirsutism and hypertrichosis. According our results, the presence of hirsutism and oligo-amenorrhea during the female reproductive period may indicate susceptibility to important diseases at old age.

Germinação de sementes de Aspidosperma subincanumMart. ex A. DC em diferentes temperaturas / Germination of Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. ex A. DC seeds at different temperatures

RESUMO : Aspidosperma subincanum é uma espécie arbórea utilizada em projetos de recuperação de áreas degradadas e como planta medicinal. Levando-se em consideração a importância da espécie, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo definir a temperatura ideal para a germinação de suas sementes. O material vegetal foi coletado na região do Pantanal de Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul. As sementes foram colocadas em caixas plásticas transparentes em câmara de germinação e submetidas às temperaturas constantes de 20, 25, 30 e 35°C e alternadas de 20-30 e 25-35°C. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repetições por tratamento, sendo as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5%. A temperatura ideal para a germinação de Aspidosperma subincanum foi a 25°C, com o maior índice de velocidade de germinação, 18,8. Temperaturas mais elevadas (30 e 35°C) causaram a morte dos embriões

ABSTRACT Germination of Aspidosperma subincanum Mart. ex A. DC seeds at different temperatures. The Aspidosperma subincanumem is a tree species used in the recovery of degraded areas projects and as a medicinal plant. Taking into account the importance of the species, the current study aimed to determine which would be the ideal temperature for the germination of their seeds. The plant material was collected in the Pantanal of Miranda, Mato Grosso do Sul. The seeds were placed in transparent boxes in germination chambers and submitted to constant temperatures of, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C and alternated at 20-30 and 25- 35°C, with four replicates per treatment. The statistical design was a completely randomized one. The averages were compared by Tukey test at 5%. The ideal temperature for germination of Aspidosperma subincanum was 25°C. The high temperatures (30 and 35°C) have caused the death of embryos

Desenvolvimento corporal e relação entre biometria e peso de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados na Amazônia / Growth of Santa Inês lambs until weaning and relationship between biometric measurements and body weight, when raised in the Amazonia climate

Objetivou-se com este trabalho descrever as medidas biométricas de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados em condições amazônicas; estabelecer relação entre a idade e as medidas corporais; bem como correlacionar essas medidas biométricas com o peso corporal. Utilizaram-se 75 animais criados em sistema semi-intensivo, submetidos a mensurações do peso corporal (PC), comprimento corporal (CC), altura do anterior (AA) e do posterior (AP), perímetro torácico (PT), largura da garupa (LG) e do peito (LP), comprimento da perna (CP), perímetro da perna (PP) e compacidade corporal (COMPC), ao nascer e aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias de idade. Somente as medidas LG e PP demonstraram regressões com R2 abaixo de 0,70 em relação à idade dos cordeiros. Todas as medidas corporais utilizadas nesta pesquisa, individualmente, demonstraram r positivo com o peso corporal. As variáveis biométricas que melhor compuseram a equação de predição do peso dos cordeiros utilizados neste estudo foram CC, AP, PT, LG e PP. Concluiu-se que a idade de cordeiros pode ser utilizada como preditora do peso e de algumas medidas biométricas corporais e que o peso pode ser estimado por meio de algumas medidas biométricas.(AU)

This study aimed to 1) describe the biometric measurements of Santa Inês lambs until weaning, when raised in the Amazonia conditions; 2) establish the relationship between age and body measurements; and 3) correlate these biometric measurements to body weight. 75 animals submitted to semi-intensive breeding were used, and underwent measurements of body weight (BW), body length (BL), height of the forelimb (HF) and hindlimb (HH), thoracic perimeter (TP), width of rump (WR) and chest (WC), length of leg (LL), perimeter of leg (PL) and more body compacity (COMP), at birth and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of age. As a result, the WR and PL measurements demonstrated regressions with R2 below 0.70 in relation to age of lambs. All biometrical measurements used in this study individually demonstrated positive r with body weight. Biometric variables that compose the equation for predicting weight of lambs used in this study were BL, HH, TP, WR and PL. It was concluded that the age of lambs can be used as a predictor of weight and some body biometric measurements. The weight can also be estimated by some biometric measurements.(AU)

Desenvolvimento corporal e relação entre biometria e peso de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados na Amazônia / Growth of Santa Inês lambs until weaning and relationship between biometric measurements and body weight, when raised in the Amazonia climate

Objetivou-se com este trabalho descrever as medidas biométricas de cordeiros lactantes da raça Santa Inês criados em condições amazônicas; estabelecer relação entre a idade e as medidas corporais; bem como correlacionar essas medidas biométricas com o peso corporal. Utilizaram-se 75 animais criados em sistema semi-intensivo, submetidos a mensurações do peso corporal (PC), comprimento corporal (CC), altura do anterior (AA) e do posterior (AP), perímetro torácico (PT), largura da garupa (LG) e do peito (LP), comprimento da perna (CP), perímetro da perna (PP) e compacidade corporal (COMPC), ao nascer e aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias de idade. Somente as medidas LG e PP demonstraram regressões com R2 abaixo de 0,70 em relação à idade dos cordeiros. Todas as medidas corporais utilizadas nesta pesquisa, individualmente, demonstraram r positivo com o peso corporal. As variáveis biométricas que melhor compuseram a equação de predição do peso dos cordeiros utilizados neste estudo foram CC, AP, PT, LG e PP. Concluiu-se que a idade de cordeiros pode ser utilizada como preditora do peso e de algumas medidas biométricas corporais e que o peso pode ser estimado por meio de algumas medidas biométricas...

This study aimed to 1) describe the biometric measurements of Santa Inês lambs until weaning, when raised in the Amazonia conditions; 2) establish the relationship between age and body measurements; and 3) correlate these biometric measurements to body weight. 75 animals submitted to semi-intensive breeding were used, and underwent measurements of body weight (BW), body length (BL), height of the forelimb (HF) and hindlimb (HH), thoracic perimeter (TP), width of rump (WR) and chest (WC), length of leg (LL), perimeter of leg (PL) and more body compacity (COMP), at birth and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of age. As a result, the WR and PL measurements demonstrated regressions with R2 below 0.70 in relation to age of lambs. All biometrical measurements used in this study individually demonstrated positive r with body weight. Biometric variables that compose the equation for predicting weight of lambs used in this study were BL, HH, TP, WR and PL. It was concluded that the age of lambs can be used as a predictor of weight and some body biometric measurements. The weight can also be estimated by some biometric measurements...

Acetogenins in Annona muricata L. (annonaceae) leaves are potent molluscicides.

An ethanolic extract of the leaves of Annona muricata was shown to be toxic to adult forms of the snail Biomphalaria glabrata (LC50 9.32 microg mL(-1)) and to larvae of the brine shrimp Artemia salina (LC50 0.49 microg mL(-1)). Activity-guided fractionation of the extract gave rise to a sample with high molluscicidal activity that contained the acetogenins, annonacin (90%), isoannonacin (6%) and goniothalamicin (4%).

Prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from urban, periurban and rural areas of the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais--Brazil.

In Brazil there are few reports on the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from urban, periurban and rural areas. Serum samples from 450 dogs, 300 from urban, 58 from periurban and 92 from rural areas, were tested for the detection of anti-N. caninum IgG antibodies using IFAT: indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT, > or =50). Antibodies were observed in 63 (14%) of the 450 serum samples analyzed, with 32 (10.7%) in dogs coming from the urban area, 11 (18.9%) from the periurban area and 20 (21.7%) from the rural area. Statistical differences were seen between the occurrences in animals from the urban area and those of the rural area (P = 0.01). The antibody titers found were: 1:50 in 20 dogs, 1:100-1:800 in 41 dogs, and 1:3200 in two dogs. In the female dogs, a smaller prevalence of dogs with antibodies was observed in those from the urban area (7.5%) in comparison with those of the rural (21.0%) (P = 0.05) and periurban (23.3%) (P = 0.01) areas. There were growing levels of antibody prevalence with the increase in age of the dogs in all three areas studied. Although this increase was not significant, it indicates a tendency towards more infections with age, suggesting post-natal exposure to N. caninum. However, a significant difference (P = 0.05) was observed in the occurrence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs with ages = 2 years in urban (13.1% urban) versus rural environments (27.1% rural). Among the other age brackets studied the difference was not significant. The results confirm the presence of N. caninum in the region and reveal the important role of dogs in the parasite's epidemiology.

Leucorreia causada por bacilo de Doderlein. / Leucorrhea caused by Doderlein bacillus

Os autores estudaram 500 mulheres com corrimento vaginal cronico sem causa aparente. Foram divididas em seis grupos de idade incluindo gravidas e nao gravidas. Esfregaco, bacteriologia e cultura da secrecao foram procedimentos de rotina. Baseados em estudos previos, testes de glicose foram tambem realizados. O principal achado neste estudo foi de bacilos de Doderlein como causa do corrimento mencionado anteriormente. Grande numero de pacientes, especialmente as gravidas e as que se encontravam na menopausa, apresentaram condicoes pre-diabeticas ou diabeticas (em torno de 96%). Inflamacao concomitante por Trichomonas, monilia e outros agentes foi rara