SAFIIRA: A heavy-ion multi-purpose irradiation facility in Brazil.

This work describes the new facility for applied nuclear physics at the University of Sao Paulo, mainly for irradiation of electronic devices. It is a setup composed of a quadrupole doublet for beam focusing/defocusing plus multiple scattering through gold foils to produce low intensity, large-area, and high-uniformity heavy-ion beams from 1H to 107Ag. Beam intensities can be easily adjusted from 102 particles cm2/s to hundreds of nA for an area as large as 2.0 cm2 and uniformity better than 90%. Its irradiation chamber has a high-precision motorized stage, and the system is controlled by a LabViewTM environment, allowing measurement automation. Design considerations and examples of use are presented.

A system to measure isomeric state half-lives in the 10 ns to 10 µs range.

The Isomeric State Measurement System (SISMEI) was developed to search for isomeric nuclear states produced by fusion-evaporation reactions. The SISMEI consists of 10 plastic phoswich telescopes, two lead shields, one NaI(Tl) scintillation detector, two Compton suppressed HPGe γ-ray detectors, and a cone with a recoil product catcher. The new system was tested at the 8 UD Pelletron tandem accelerator of the University of São Paulo with the measurement of two known isomeric states: (54)Fe, 10(+) state (E = 6527.1 (11) keV, T(1/2) = 364(7) ns) and the 5/2(+) state of (19)F (E = 197.143 (4) keV, T(1/2) = 89.3 (10) ns). The results indicate that the system is capable of identifying delayed transitions, of measuring isomeric state lifetimes, and of identifying the feeding transitions of the isomeric state through the delayed γ-γ coincidence method. The measured half-life for the 10(+) state was T(1/2) = 365(14) ns and for the 5/2(+) state, 100(36) ns.

Dangerous waters: outbreak of eye lesions caused by fresh water sponge spicules.

PURPOSE: To describe an extremely uncommon outbreak of eye lesions in a specific area of the Brazilian Amazonia. METHODS: Prospective noncomparative case series. Fifty-nine patients who developed eye lesions after swimming in the Araguaia river of Tocantins state in Brazil were examined. A team of ophthalmologists equipped with a slit-lamp, gonioscopic lenses, and indirect ophthalmoscopy performed full eye examination. Analysis of the flora and fauna of the river water was undertaken by a group of experts. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Eighty-three eyes were affected. The most common lesions were corneal opacities seen in 34 eyes and conjunctival nodules diagnosed in 12 eyes. Severe visual acuity loss was detected in seven children with unilateral anterior chamber lesions. Spicules of the sponge species Drulia uruguayensis and Drulia ctenosclera were found inside three blind eyes that have been enucleated for diagnostic purposes. All eye lesions could be attributed to an outbreak of foreign bodies from fresh water sponges. Organic enrichment of the water resulting from the absence of sanitation probably was the key factor, which initiated a cycle of ecological imbalance that provoked human disease.

Trachoma among the Yanomami Indians.

The Yanomami are one of the last primitive groups of Indians living in Brazil. They have almost no contact with other cultures. The epidemiology of eye disease among Yanomami is virtually unknown. For the first time, a trachoma survey was conducted among Yanomami Indians in the State of Amazonas near the Venezuelan border of the Brazilian rain forest. Ophthalmic examination was carried out on a total of 613 individuals (338 males and 275 females) from eight Yanomami villages along the Maraui River located in the upper Rio Negro Basin. Age was classified into three categories (children, adults, and elderly) and trachoma was classified into five grades: follicular, inflammatory intense, cicatricial, trichiasis, and corneal opacity. Trachoma was endemic in all villages visited. Overall, 30.3% of the subjects had trachoma. Females were significantly more affected (37.4%) than males (23.9%). The inflammatory trachoma rate reached 24.9% in children and the cicatricial form increased with age, reaching 13.9% among adults and 35.21% among the elderly. Trichiasis or corneal opacities were not detected and treatment of the entire population was initiated with 1 g azithromycin. The detection of endemic trachoma among the Yanomami is relevant for the understanding of the epidemiology of this disease in the Brazilian rain forest and underscores the necessity for a program of trachoma control in this region.

Trachoma among the Yanomami Indians

The Yanomami are one of the last primitive groups of Indians living in Brazil. They have almost no contact with other cultures. The epidemiology of eye disease among Yanomami is virtually unknown. For the first time, a trachoma survey was conducted among Yanomami Indians in the State of Amazonas near the Venezuelan border of the Brazilian rain forest. Ophthalmic examination was carried out on a total of 613 individuals (338 males and 275 females) from eight Yanomami villages along the Marauiá River located in the upper Rio Negro Basin. Age was classified into three categories (children, adults, and elderly) and trachoma was classified into five grades: follicular, inflammatory intense, cicatricial, trichiasis, and corneal opacity. Trachoma was endemic in all villages visited. Overall, 30.3 percent of the subjects had trachoma. Females were significantly more affected (37.4 percent) than males (23.9 percent). The inflammatory trachoma rate reached 24.9 percent in children and the cicatricial form increased with age, reaching 13.9 percent among adults and 35.21 percent among the elderly. Trichiasis or corneal opacities were not detected and treatment of the entire population was initiated with 1 g azithromycin. The detection of endemic trachoma among the Yanomami is relevant for the understanding of the epidemiology of this disease in the Brazilian rain forest and underscores the necessity for a program of trachoma control in this region

[Epidemiological surveillance of trachoma in a school in a city of southeast Brazil]. / Vigilância epidemiológica do tracoma em instituição de ensino na cidade de São Paulo, SP.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological surveillance activities undertaken after the detection of an active trachoma case in the APAE-SP are described. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A total of 1,009 pupils, employees and household contacts had an eye examination. Treatment control was carried out at the institution 4 times at 45 day-intervals. RESULTS: The overall prevalence was of 5.9%, 5.1% being of follicular trachoma (TF), 0.3% of intense trachoma (TF/TI) and 0.5% of cicatricial trachoma (TS). At the first control exercise 45.5% of the trachoma cases had no signs of the disease and 40.0% underwent treatment. At the last control exercise 20% were found to have been cured with no vestigial scars. Non-attendance was of 38.2%. The distribution of secondary cases showed great dispersion, suggesting dissemination throughout Greater S. Paulo. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: The trachoma control activities do not show satisfactory results, perhaps due to the prolonged duration of the treatment and follow-up. The development of strategies of clinical intervention should be implemented for better control of the disease.

[Analysis of direct immunofluorescence tests for trachoma diagnosis]. / Análise de exames de imunofluorescência direta para o diagnóstico de tracoma.

For the confirmation of trachoma foci in places where no previous cases had been reported, the State Health Secretariat of S. Paulo makes provision for the realization of laboratory exams, particularly because the disease was considered to have been eradicated from the State in the seventies. During the epidemiological investigations, conjunctival scrapings were collected from the subjects with inflammatory trachoma (TF/TI), clinically diagnosed. The results of the immunofluorescence (DFA) exams were analysed in the light of the frequency of the appropriate exams and their positive results, by the quantity of elementary bodies (EB) found. A total of 385 slides were studied, the criteria for positivity being 5 or more EBs. The test's sensitivity was 19.9%. The DFA test is considered to be the best laboratorial exam to be used in field work, though it does not show a sufficient sensitivity to confirm all clinically diagnosed cases of trachoma; it can only confirm the circulation of the aetiological agent within a community. In endemic areas the clinical diagnosis continues to be the criterion for case confirmation.

The prevalence of trachoma in preschool and school children in Olimpia, Guaraci and Cajobi, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

A school-based prevalence survey of trachoma was conducted in three rural municipalities in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 1989. A total of 950 children aged 4-11 years were examined. The prevalence of inflammatory trachoma was found to be 6.3%, peaking at 24.1% in the 4 year-old age group. The prevalence of trachomatous scarring was 2.7% and was more prevalent in older children. Risk factors included household sleeping arrangements and nasal discharge.

PIP: In December 1989, researchers gathered data on 950 4-11 year old children attending preschool or primary schools in the rural municipalities of Olimpia, Guaraci, and Cajobi in northwestern Sao Paulo State, Brazil to measure prevalence of active trachoma and to identify its risk factors. Overall prevalence of trachoma was 8.6%. Physicians treated all trachoma cases with topical 1% tetracycline twice daily for 6 weeks and examined them later at a local health care center. Prevalence of inflammatory trachoma stood at 6.3%. This was similar to its prevalence in an Olimpia's neighboring town called Bebedouro. Prevalence of trachomatous scarring was 2.7%. Thus the northwestern part of Sao Paulo state was an important focus of endemic trachoma infection. Inflammatory trachoma was highest among the 4 year olds (24.1%) and fell to 0 by age 11. On the other hand, trachomatous scarring was relatively rare in 4-5 year olds then increased to 7% in 10-11 year old children. In fact, the mean age for inflammatory trachoma was 6.6 years and for trachomatous scarring 8.5 years. Perhaps the recently implemented trachoma control activities in Olimpia explained the lowest prevalence of inflammatory trachoma (5.4%). Guaraci experienced the highest prevalence rate (9.6%), but did not have any cases of trachomatous scarring. Children who slept with others were significantly more likely to have inflammatory trachoma than were those who slept alone (p.005). Sleeping pattern was the only personal hygiene variable significantly associated with inflammatory trachoma. Not even face washing was significantly associated with it. The only clinical symptom significantly associated with inflammatory trachoma was nasal discharge (p.001). A considerable community-based epidemiological survey would qualify these results.

Epidemiology of trachoma in Bebedouro State of São Paulo, Brazil: prevalence and risk factors.

Trachoma was considered to have been 'eradicated' from the state of São Paulo, Brazil, until 1982 when a number of new cases of trachoma were reported in preschool children in Bebedouro, a small town in northwestern São Paulo. A household survey was undertaken to assess the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of trachoma. A total of 2939 people of all ages was examined having been selected from a two-stage probalilistic household sampling frame based on census data. Overall, 7.2% of the population had evidence of one or more signs of trachoma and 2.1% had inflammatory trachoma. Inflammatory trachoma was more common in children aged one to ten years, especially in the peripheral urban and rural areas, and was more common in boys. The presence of chlamydia was confirmed by direct fluorescent antibody cytology. No cases of blindness due to trachoma were seen. A number of socioeconomic and hygiene variables were studied in order to determine the independent risk factors for trachoma in a household. Variables significantly associated with the occurrence of trachoma in the household were the number of children in the house aged one to ten years, the 'per capita' water consumption, the frequency of garbage collections, source of water, and the educational level of the head of household. Clustering of trachoma in different parts of this community was entirely explained by the concentration of households with these characteristics.