Factors associated with non-treatment of hypertension and gender differences at baseline in the ELSA-Brasil cohort

The treatment of arterial hypertension (AH) contributes to the reduction of morbidity and mortality. Gender differences are likely to play a role, as non-treatment is associated with clinical and sociodemographic aspects. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with non-treatment of AH and gender differences in hypertensive individuals from the ELSA-Brasil cohort. The study was conducted with 5,743 baseline hypertensive cohort participants. AH was considered if there was a previous diagnosis or if systolic blood pressure (SBP) was ≥140 and/or diastolic BP (DBP) was ≥90 mmHg. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, lifestyle, comorbidities, and use of antihypertensive medications were evaluated through interviews and in-person measurements. Treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) or other antihypertensive medications and non-treatment were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression. Non-treatment was observed in 32.8% of hypertensive individuals. Of the 67.7% treated individuals, 41.1% received RAASi. Non-treatment was associated with alcohol consumption in women (OR=1.41; 95%CI: 1.15-1.73; P=0.001), lowest schooling level in men (OR=1.70; 95%CI: 1.32-2.19; P<0.001), and younger age groups in men and women (strongest association in males aged 35-44 years: OR=4.58, 95%CI: 3.17-6.6, P<0.001). Among those using RAASi, a higher proportion of white, older individuals, and with more comorbidities was observed. The high percentage of non-treatment, even in this civil servant population, indicated the need to improve the treatment cascade for AH. Public health policies should consider giving special attention to gender roles in groups at higher risk of non-treatment to reduce inequities related to AH in Brazil.

Factors associated with non-treatment of hypertension and gender differences at baseline in the ELSA-Brasil cohort.

The treatment of arterial hypertension (AH) contributes to the reduction of morbidity and mortality. Gender differences are likely to play a role, as non-treatment is associated with clinical and sociodemographic aspects. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors associated with non-treatment of AH and gender differences in hypertensive individuals from the ELSA-Brasil cohort. The study was conducted with 5,743 baseline hypertensive cohort participants. AH was considered if there was a previous diagnosis or if systolic blood pressure (SBP) was ≥140 and/or diastolic BP (DBP) was ≥90 mmHg. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data, lifestyle, comorbidities, and use of antihypertensive medications were evaluated through interviews and in-person measurements. Treatment with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) or other antihypertensive medications and non-treatment were evaluated with multivariate logistic regression. Non-treatment was observed in 32.8% of hypertensive individuals. Of the 67.7% treated individuals, 41.1% received RAASi. Non-treatment was associated with alcohol consumption in women (OR=1.41; 95%CI: 1.15-1.73; P=0.001), lowest schooling level in men (OR=1.70; 95%CI: 1.32-2.19; P<0.001), and younger age groups in men and women (strongest association in males aged 35-44 years: OR=4.58, 95%CI: 3.17-6.6, P<0.001). Among those using RAASi, a higher proportion of white, older individuals, and with more comorbidities was observed. The high percentage of non-treatment, even in this civil servant population, indicated the need to improve the treatment cascade for AH. Public health policies should consider giving special attention to gender roles in groups at higher risk of non-treatment to reduce inequities related to AH in Brazil.

Unravelling the fungal darkness in a tropical cave: richness and the description of one new genus and six new species.

Caves are special environments that harbour an incredible diversity of life, including fungal species. Brazilian caves have been demonstrated to be biodiversity hotspots for known and unknown fungal species. We investigated the richness of culturable fungi in a tropical cave in Brazil by isolating these microorganisms from the sediment and air. The fungal abundance of colony-forming units (CFUs) was 3 178 in sediment and 526 in air. We used morphological features and phylogenetic analyses of actin (actA), calmodulin (cmdA), internal transcribed spacer regions and intervening 5.8S rRNA (ITS), large subunit (LSU) rDNA, RNA polymerase II second largest subunit (rpb2), translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1), and ß-tubulin (tub2) genes to identify these isolates. Forty-one species belonging to 17 genera of Ascomycota and two of Basidiomycota were identified, and the genus Aspergillus was most commonly observed in the cave (13 taxa). Twenty-four species were found in sediment (16 exclusives) and 25 species were found in air (17 exclusives). In this study, we introduced a new genus (Pseudolecanicillium gen. nov.) in the family Cordycipitaceae and six new species (14 % of the total taxa identified) of fungal isolates obtained from sediment and air: Aspergillus lebretii sp. nov., Malbranchea cavernosa sp. nov., Pseudohumicola cecavii sp. nov., Pseudolecanicillium caatingaense sp. nov., Talaromyces cavernicola sp. nov., and Tritirachium brasiliense sp. nov. In addition, we built a checklist of the fungal taxa reported from Brazilian caves. Our results highlight the contribution of Brazilian caves to the estimation of national and global fungal diversity. Citation: Alves VCS, Lira RA, Lima JMS, Barbosa RN, Bento DM, Barbier E, Bernard E, Souza-Motta CM, Bezerra JDP (2022). Unravelling the fungal darkness in a tropical cave: richness and the description of one new genus and six new species. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 10: 139-167. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2022.10.06.

Animal welfare and meat quality: the perspective of Uruguay, a "small" exporter country.

Public sensitivity towards animal welfare has risen in recent years. Uruguay is a primary meat exporter. Therefore, it is compulsory not only to provide good quality and safe meat, but also to project a welfare friendly image. Uruguayan meat production systems are mainly based on rangeland pastures but, due to international meat prices and the opening of new markets, intensive fattening systems increased. These systems include a wide range of feeding alternatives between pasture and concentrate utilization, involving differences in terms of animal welfare, carcass and meat quality, that require to be studied. Accordingly, some husbandry practices associated mainly with extensive systems must be evaluated, as well as their applicability to international recommendations related to pre-slaughter handling which may not be suitable for local conditions. In the present paper we share scientific results related to the impact of different production systems, husbandry practices and pre-slaughter procedures associated to animal welfare and meat quality in Uruguayan conditions.

Growth, carcass traits and palatability: can the influence of the feeding regimes explain the variability found on those attributes in different Uruguayan genotypes?

It is well known what genetic and nutritional factors affect growth and meat quality, but there is less information related to interactive importance of them during the productive process. These systems are mainly based on rangelands affecting animal growth in early stages of life thus producing smaller cattle and reduced retail yield comparing with well grown calves. During the last ten years, Uruguayan livestock production systems have been intensified using improved pastures, concentrates and better genetic. The main breeds in Uruguay are Hereford, Angus and their crosses. These British breeds are under genetic evaluation programs which consider carcass trait parameters. It is important for beef industry to know if interactions between genotype and nutrition during growth and fattening phases are influencing production, efficiency, carcass weight and meat quality attributes. The aim of this article is to present information obtained under different feeding strategies during the post weaning and fattening and their influence on those attributes.

Progresso metodológico e sua influência na produção in vitro de embriões bovinos no Brasil / Influence of methodology progress on in vitro production of bovine embryo in Brazil

A produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE) bovinos apresenta significativa expressão nacional em níveiscomercial e científico, sendo responsável pela produção de aproximadamente 250 mil embriões ao ano. Obteveseus primeiros produtos em 1977 no Japão e em 1982 nos Estados Unidos, ao passo que o primeiro bezerrobrasileiro foi produzido anos mais tarde, em 1994. A partir daí, como uma técnica consolidada, vemapresentando estudos para o melhoramento de sua metodologia acerca de diversos temas, como maturaçãooócitária, capacitação espermática, aditivos para os meios de cultura, entre outros. Esta revisão teve comoobjetivo elencar os avanços nas metodologias que marcaram a história contribuindo para o aumento da eficiêncianas taxas de bovinos produzidos in vitro no Brasil. Adicionalmente, serão abordados aspectos históricosnecessários para o desenvolvimento da produção in vitro de embriões bovinos no Brasil e aspectos atuais queainda se apresentam como um empecilho na elevação da eficiência dessa biotécnica. Mesmo sendo uma técnicabem estabelecida e amplamente utilizada, ainda é perceptível a necessidade de avanços em determinadas etapas,principalmente em relação à maturação.

The first products resulting from the in vitro production of bovine embryos (IVP) were obtained in 1977in Japan, 1982 in the United States of America and some years later in Brazil (1994). Since these events thetechnique has been seen as successful it is importance to the science and industry. Nowadays the Brazilianproduction of in vitro products is about 250,000 embryos per year. Although widely used, this biotechnologyneeds to be updated constantly to ensure more efficiency in its stages. Thus, the purposes of this review are tolist in chronological order the advances which have marked the history, contributing to increasing the efficiencyof IVP in Brazil and current aspects that still stand as an obstacle to improve this technique.

Progresso metodológico e sua influência na produção in vitro de embriões bovinos no Brasil / Influence of methodology progress on in vitro production of bovine embryo in Brazil

A produção in vitro de embriões (PIVE) bovinos apresenta significativa expressão nacional em níveiscomercial e científico, sendo responsável pela produção de aproximadamente 250 mil embriões ao ano. Obteveseus primeiros produtos em 1977 no Japão e em 1982 nos Estados Unidos, ao passo que o primeiro bezerrobrasileiro foi produzido anos mais tarde, em 1994. A partir daí, como uma técnica consolidada, vemapresentando estudos para o melhoramento de sua metodologia acerca de diversos temas, como maturaçãooócitária, capacitação espermática, aditivos para os meios de cultura, entre outros. Esta revisão teve comoobjetivo elencar os avanços nas metodologias que marcaram a história contribuindo para o aumento da eficiêncianas taxas de bovinos produzidos in vitro no Brasil. Adicionalmente, serão abordados aspectos históricosnecessários para o desenvolvimento da produção in vitro de embriões bovinos no Brasil e aspectos atuais queainda se apresentam como um empecilho na elevação da eficiência dessa biotécnica. Mesmo sendo uma técnicabem estabelecida e amplamente utilizada, ainda é perceptível a necessidade de avanços em determinadas etapas,principalmente em relação à maturação.(AU)

The first products resulting from the in vitro production of bovine embryos (IVP) were obtained in 1977in Japan, 1982 in the United States of America and some years later in Brazil (1994). Since these events thetechnique has been seen as successful it is importance to the science and industry. Nowadays the Brazilianproduction of in vitro products is about 250,000 embryos per year. Although widely used, this biotechnologyneeds to be updated constantly to ensure more efficiency in its stages. Thus, the purposes of this review are tolist in chronological order the advances which have marked the history, contributing to increasing the efficiencyof IVP in Brazil and current aspects that still stand as an obstacle to improve this technique.(AU)

Effects of feeding strategies including different proportion of pasture and concentrate, on carcass and meat quality traits in Uruguayan steers.

Eighty four steers were randomly assigned to three pasture treatments with increasing levels of grain (T1: 0%; T2: 0.6%; T3: 1.2% of live weight) and to an ad libitum concentrate treatment, T4, to study the effects on carcass and meat quality. Animals were slaughtered with 500 kg of average live weight per treatment. Average daily gain increased with increasing levels of energy, determining different slaughter dates. Intermediate treatments showed higher carcass weight than T1. T4 and T3 had a higher weight of valuable cuts than T1 and T4. Pistolas from T4 had a higher fat proportion and lower bone percentage. Increasing levels of energy in diet decreased fat yellowness. After 20 days of aging, T4 had the lowest muscle a(∗) values and shear force was higher for T4 than for T1. With pastures finishing strategy, no adverse effects on meat quality were detected and tenderness was enhanced.

Reliability of isoelectrofocusing for the detection of Hb S, Hb C, and HB D in a pioneering population-based program of newborn screening in Brazil.

Out of 128,326 newborns in the first 6-month period of a population-based screening program in Minas Gerais, Brazil, a second sample was obtained at the age of 6 months from 4,635 carriers of Hbs AS, AC, and AD which were detected by isoelectrofocusing. Discordance in results occurred in only 27 cases (0.6%): in seven there was a history of hemotransfusion; errors during pipetting or transcription of results occurred in seven cases; it was difficult to differenciate between Hbs S and D in eight patients; and the causes were not elucidated in five patients. The incidence of Hbs FS and FSC for the total population was 1:2,800 and 1:3,450, respectively. Isoelectrofocusing is a very reliable method for distinguishing AS, AC, or AD carriers from patients presenting with [corrected] variant hemoglobin and beta(+)-thalassemia combinations, and may be widely used in massive newborn screening programs.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Brazil: 1998 national survey.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the epidemiologic characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in Brazil in 1998. METHOD: Structured Clinical Report Forms (CRFs) sent to 2,505 Brazilian neurologists from January to September 1998 to be filled with demographic and clinical data regarding any ALS patient seen at any time during that year. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty CRFs were returned by 168 neurologists. Data on 443 patients meeting the criteria of probable or definite ALS according to El Escorial definition were analysed: 63 probable (14.2%) and 380 definite (85. 8%). Two hundred and fifty-nine (58.5%) of the patients were male, mean age of onset was 52. Spinal onset occurred in 306 patients (69%); bulbar onset in 82 (18.5%), and both in 52 (11.7%). Twenty-six (5.9%) had a family history of ALS. Two hundred and fifty-nine (58.6%) were seen by private practitioners, and 178 (40. 2%) at a hospital clinic. Age-ajusted incidence shows a peak incidence at the 65-74 years old range. CONCLUSIONS: The disease's characteristics are similar to those described in international studies, except for age of onset (Brazilian patients are younger). This difference is not confirmed when figures are age-adjusted.

[Mansonic neuroschistosomiasis: clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects]. / Neuroesquistossomose mansônica: aspectos clínicos, laboratoriais e terapêuticos.

The authors report 16 patients bearing the meningomyeloradicular form of Mansonic neuroschistosomiasis diagnosed according to clinical, laboratorial and image criteria. Patients have been observed at the Neurology Ambulatory of the Federal University of Bahia, within the period of April/91 to December/93. They have been treated with praziquantel, associated to corticosteroids. The aim has been to evaluate the drug's efficiency and safety in decreasing the neurological signs and symptoms.

[Reduction in glucose concentration in the brain of mice inoculated with cerebrospinal fluid from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis]. / Redução na concentração de glicose no cérebro de camundongos inoculados com líquido cefalorraquiano de pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica.

Using chromatographic analysis the authors studied glucose concentration in the brain of Swiss mice inoculated with CSF of four patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. They found reduction in the levels of glucose, suggesting the existence of an exogenous factor transferred by CSF.

Reduçäo na concentraçäo de glicose no cérebro de camundongos inoculados com líquido cefalorraquiano de pacientes com esclerose lateral amiotrófica / Reduction on glucose concentration in the brain of mice inoculated with cerebrospinal fluid from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Os autores analisam, por técnica cromatográfica, as concentraçöes de glicose no cérebro de camundongos inoculados com LCR de 4 pacientes com ELA. Foi encontrada reduçäo na concentraçäo do carboidrato no material estudado, sugerindo a presença de fator extrínseco veiculado pelo LCR

[A measure to evaluate estimates from the population census]. / Avaliacao dos efeitos de reducao da fracao de amostragem no censo demografico.

"A measure of efficiency loss for the precision of estimates implied by sampling fractions reduction is described here....A study of the sampling fractions needed to guarantee a given precision level to estimate characteristics...is also performed. An application of the methodology suggested is included. The example is based on household characteristics investigated in [Brazil's]... Census of 1980, with estimates published at a county level and for the set of alternative sampling fractions for the 1990... Census." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

Alteraçöes bioquímicas e hematológicas em indivíduos ocupacionalmente exposto ao hexacloro ciclo hexano e ao DDT / Biochemical and hematological changes in workers exposed to haxachloro cycle hexane and DDT

Cento e cinquenta e sete indivíduos adultos, do sexo masculino, foram divididos em 04 grupos: Grupo 01: 51 aplicadores de BHC a 1,5% na lavoura cacaueira; Grupo 02: 29 aplicadores de DDT; Grupo 03: 27 trabalhadores de depósitos de praguicidas de escritórios próximos; Grupo 04: 50 pessoas sem exposiçäo ocupacional a praguicidas. Foram coletadas amostras de sangue e realizadas determinaçöes de inseticidas organoclorados, proteínas, albumina, globulinas, TGP, TGO, colesterol, fosfatase alcalina, colesterol e hemograma. Os resultados experimentais demonstraram alteraçöes significativas (p < 0,05), nos níveis de TGP em trabalhadores expostos ao BHC a 1,5% (Hexaclorociclohexano comercial) durante jornadas de trabalho de 2 a 3 dias, apresentado respectivamente, níveis séricos de HCH total de 20,19 ñ 8,56 ppb e de 28,17 ñ 14,76 ppb. Foram detectados níveis significativamente mais elevados (p < 0,01) de fosfatase alcalina em aplicadores de BHC a 1,5%, durante 03 dias, em trabalhadores de depósitos e de escritórios vizinhos aos mesmos. Foi constatada diminuiçäo significativa (p < 0,05) de globulinas em todos os grupos expostos ao DDT, em um dos grupos com exposiçäo crônica a BHC a 1,5% e em trabalhadores de depósitos de praguicidas e de escritórios vizinhos aos mesmos. No que se refere `as alteraçöes hematológicas pudemos observar que no grupo de aplicadores de BHC a 1,5%, após 3 dias de exposiçäo sem uso de máscara, com níveis de HCL total de 136,31 ñ 37,48 ppb e de gama-HCL (lindano) de 15,79 ñ 9,56 ppb, havia um aumento significativo (p < 0,05) nos níveis de segmentos e diminuiçäo (p < 0,05) do número de linfócitos. Nos aplicadores de DDT com exposiçäo atual e antiga (de cerca de 5-20 anos) foi encontrada diminuiçäo significativa no número de leucócitos quando comparado ao grupo controle. Para os demais parâmetros bioquímicos e hematológicos estudados e para os grupos näo mencionados, näo foram encontradas alteraçöes estatisticamente significativas