Comparison of techniques for extracting viral RNA from isolation-negative serum for dengue diagnosis by the polymerase chain reaction.

Aiming at the improvement of the molecular diagnosis of dengue, three well-established methods of RNA extraction from serum of patients with clinical symptoms of dengue were compared. The methods were based on the QIAamp Viral RNA kit, the Chomczynski-Sacchi technique and TRIzol. One hundred samples were examined using the same protocol for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Out of the 100 samples tested, none was positive by either the Chomczynski-Sacchi technique or TRIzol, and six were positive using the QIAamp viral RNA kit. Of the six positive samples, only one was collected before 5 days of the beginning of the disease, and it was also positive for viral isolation. These results were confirmed later by serology (MAC-ELISA) that showed that 19 samples were positive for IgM antibodies against dengue. These data indicate that PCR is a useful method for detection of dengue virus infections in IgM-positive samples, and the best method of RNA extraction from clinical samples, to be used for dengue diagnosis by PCR is the QIAamp Viral RNA kit.

[Profile of the elderly in a metropolitan area of southeastern Brazil: results of a domiciliary survey]. / Perfil do idoso em área metropolitana na região sudeste do Brasil: resultados de inquérito domiciliar.

A multicentre study concerned with the health needs of the elderly population living in urban areas and coordinated by the Panamerican Health Organization was undertaken in 6 Latin-American countries. In Brazil, 1,602 elderly residents (of 60 years of age and over) in the District of S. Paulo, constituting a multistage random sample stratified by socioeconomic status, participated in a household survey using a multidemensional functional assessment questionnaire. The results showed a highly deprived population (70% had a per capita income of less than US $ 100 per month), living mostly in multigenerational households (59% were living with children and/or grandchildren), with a high prevalence of chronic physical illnesses (only 14% referred no illness) and psychiatric disorders (27% were considered psychiatric cases), a high proportion of them showing a loss of autonomy (47% needed help in performing at least one of the activities of daily living). The results are put into perspective concerning future needs in terms of specialized health services and social support for the growing population of elderly people in Brazil.

[Risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases: a domiciliary survey in the municipality of São Paulo, SP (Brazil). Methodology and preliminary results]. / Factores de risco para doenças crônicas não-transmissíveis: inquérito domiciliar no município de São Paulo, SP (Brasil). Metodologia e resultados preliminares.

The non-communicable chronic diseases are important causes of death in Brazil, mainly in the great urban centres. There are various risk factors related to these diseases, whose remotion or attenuation would contribute to a fall in mortality. The methodology of the first comprehensive multicenter study into risk factors of non-communicable chronic diseases carried out in Latin America is explained. In Brazil, this study was carried out in the cities of S. Paulo, SP and Porto Alegre, RS. Preliminary results from the city of S. Paulo as to the prevalence of arterial hypertension (22.3%), tabagism (37.9%), obesity (18.0%), alcoholism (7.7%) and sedentarism (69.3%) are presented. These results are compared with existing data from Brazil and other countries, and the relationship between various risk factors and the mortality from cardiovascular diseases in S. Paulo and some developed countries is discussed.