Genome sequences of chikungunya virus isolates circulating in midwestern Brazil.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a reemerging arbovirus of the family Togaviridae that causes CHIKV fever, a disease that can extend from weeks to years depending on whether clinical signs of arthralgia persist. CHIKV is mainly transmitted by Aedes aegypti mosquitoes and possibly reached the Americas in 2013, causing an outbreak in Brazil in 2015. So far, two evolutionary lineages of CHIKV have been reported in Brazil: the Asian and the East-Central-South African (ECSA) lineages. In this study, six CHIKV isolates circulating in midwestern Brazil (Mato Grosso state) were isolated from patient sera, and their complete genomes were sequenced using a high-throughput sequencing platform. All of these isolates shared high nucleotide sequence similarity with CHIKV isolates from northeastern Brazil and were found to belong to the ECSA lineage. These CHIKV isolates did not contain the A226V or L210Q mutations that are associated with increased transmissibility by A. albopictus, suggesting that the CHIKV isolates circulating in midwestern Brazil are predominantly transmitted by A. aegypti.

Parotid Salivary Gland Basal Cell Adenocarcinoma in a Big-eared Opossum (Didelphis aurita).

The opossum (family Didelphidae) is a marsupial endemic to the Americas. Apart from the South American short-tailed opossum (Monodelphis domestica) and the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), there is considerable lack of knowledge about the health and diseases of most opossum species. Among these, the big-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita) is found in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Natural and experimental studies have shown this species to be susceptible to infectious agents with zoonotic potential and the animals may play a role in transmission of such agents. However, neoplasia appears to be uncommon in this species. We describe the gross, microscopical and immunohistochemical features of a parotid salivary gland basal cell adenocarcinoma in a free-living big-eared opossum. This case represents the first report of salivary gland neoplasia in opossums.

The complete genome of the tospovirus Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus.

BACKGROUND: Zucchini lethal chlorosis virus (ZLCV) causes significant losses in the production of cucurbits in Brazil. This virus belongs to the genus Tospovirus (family Bunyaviridae) and seems to be exclusively transmitted by Frankliniella zucchini (Thysanoptera). Tospoviruses have a tripartite and single-stranded RNA genome classified as S (Small), M (Medium) and L (Large) RNAS. Although ZLCV was identified as a member of the genus Tospovirus in 1999, its complete genome had not been sequenced until now. FINDINGS: We sequenced the full-length genome of two ZLCV isolates named ZLCV-SP and ZLCV-DF. The phylogenetic analysis showed that ZLCV-SP and ZLCV-DF clustered with the previously reported isolate ZLCV-BR09. Their proteins were closely related, except the non-structural protein (NSm), which was highly divergent (approximately 90 % identity). All viral proteins clustered similarly in our phylogenetic analysis, excluding that these ZLCV isolates have originated from reassortment events of different tospovirus species. CONCLUSION: Here we report for the first time the complete genome of two ZLCV isolates that were found in the field infecting zucchini and cucumber.

Reproducibility of 6- and 4-category faces pain scale to the assessment of temporomandibular joint pain and muscle in school-age children.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the levels of reproducibility between two Faces Pain Scales (FPS) of 6 and 4 categories to the assessment of pain intensity on children with and without Temporomandibular joint and muscle pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 29 children were recruited: 13 symptomatic (9.79 ± 1.36 years old) and 16 asymptomatic (8.69 ± 0.87 years old). One previously-trained examiner applied manual palpation to evaluate orofacial structures, and FPS to assess pain intensity. All children were initial evaluated using 6-category FPS and after 3 days using 4-category FPS. The children were assessed after a seven day time interval from initial and second sessions. Weighted Kappa coefficient was used to verify reproducibility levels. RESULTS: Similar levels of reproducibility (moderate and fair kappa values) have been verified with the application of the 6-category FPS on symptomatic and asymptomatic children. Similar results were verified using 4-category FPS on symptomatic and asymptomatic children (poor and fair kappa values). CONCLUSION: Higher levels of reproducibility were verified with the application of the 6-category FPS in both groups and considering symptomatic and asymptomatic as single group. In this way, the 6-category FPS should be preferred over the 4-category FPS to assess pain intensity on children's orofacial structures.

Confiabilidade da fleximetria e goniometria na avaliação da amplitude de movimento cervical em crianças / Reliability of fleximetry and goniometry for assessing cervical range of motion among children

OBJETIVO: Determinar a confiabilidade intra e interexaminadores e correlacionar os valores de amplitudes de movimentos (ADM) cervical obtidas por fleximetria e goniometria em crianças. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 106 crianças saudáveis, 49 meninos (8,91±2,09 anos) e 57 meninas (9,14±1,46 anos), com idades entre seis e 14 anos, assintomáticas para disfunção cervical. Dois examinadores previamente treinados e dois auxiliares avaliaram a ADM cervical. Os examinadores coletaram as medidas por fleximetria e goniometria (confiabilidade interexaminadores) e repetiram as avaliações, após uma semana (confiabilidade intra-examinador). Todas as medidas foram registradas três vezes por cada examinador e o valor médio foi considerado para análise estatística. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC 2,1 e 2,2) foi utilizado para verificação das confiabilidades e o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (p<0,05) foi utilizado para verificação da correlação entre as medidas obtidas por ambas as técnicas. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas confiabilidades intra-examinador moderado e excelente para a fleximetria e moderada para a goniometria. As confiabilidades interexaminadores foram moderada e excelente para a fleximetria e pobre e moderada para a goniometria. Foi verificada correlação significativa e pobre entre todas as medidas de ADM cervical obtida pelas técnicas estudadas, exceto para o movimento de rotação à esquerda. CONCLUSÕES: A correlação pobre entre as mensurações de ADM cervical obtidas por fleximetria e goniometria demonstram que as técnicas não apresentam medidas intercambiáveis e, como a fleximetria apresentou maiores níveis de confiabilidade para avaliação da ADM cervical em crianças, seu uso é recomendado em relação à goniometria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the intra and interrater reliability of fleximetry and goniometry in children and correlate the cervical spine range of motion (ROM) values obtained from these methods. METHODS: One hundred six children participated in this study: 49 males (8.91±2.09 years) and 57 females (9.14±1.46 years). Their ages ranged from six to 14 years and symptom-free to cervical dysfunction. Two previously trained raters and two assistants assessed neck ROM. The measurements were made using fleximetry and goniometry (interrater reliability) and repeated them one week later (intrarater reliability). All measurements were made three times by each rater and the mean value was used for statistical analysis. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC 2.1 and 2.2) were used to investigate reliability and Pearson's correlation coefficient (p<0.05) was used to investigate the correlation between measurements obtained from the two techniques. RESULTS: Moderate and excellent levels for intrarater reliability were observed for fleximetry and moderate reliability for goniometry. The interrater reliability was moderate and excellent for fleximetry and poor and moderate for goniometry. Significantly poor correlation was found among all neck ROM measurements obtained using both techniques, except for rotation to the left. CONCLUSIONS: The poor correlation between neck ROM measurements obtained from fleximetry and goniometry demonstrated that these techniques do not present interchangeable measurements. Since fleximetry presented higher reliability levels for assessments of neck ROM among children, the use of fleximetry rather than goniometry is recommended.

Prevalence study of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in university students.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in university students from 19 to 25 years old, male and female, through the distribution of frequency of the data obtained from a questionnaire and physical examination. The results showed that 68% of the subjects exhibited some degree of TMD, and the women were the most affected. Signs and symptoms such as articular sounds, pain to palpation of the masticatory, cervical and scapular girdle musculature, subjective sensation of emotional stress, and postural and occlusal changes were more evident in the group with TMD, although they were also present in subjects classified as TMD-free. Limitations in the mandibular movements were not found. The association of the obtained data allowed identifying a high prevalence of signs and symptoms of TMD in the Brazilian university population.

[Periodic paralysis. Clinical analysis in 20 patients]. / Paralisia periódica. Análise clínica de 20 pacientes.

Twenty patients with periodic paralysis were evaluated and the aspects studied included epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, ancillary tests, treatment and evolution. Sixteen patients had the hypokalemic form (5 familiar, 5 sporadic, 5 thyrotoxic and 1 secondary). No patient with the normokalemic form was detected. Predominance of men was found (14 patients), especially in the cases with hyperthyroidism (5 patients). No thyrotoxic patient was of oriental origin. Only 4 patients had the hyperkalemic form (3 familiar, 1 sporadic). Attacks of paralysis began during the first decade in the hyperkalemic form and up to the third decade in the hypokalemic. In both forms the attacks occurred preferentially in the morning with rest after exercise being the most important precipitating factor. Seventy five percent of the hyperkalemic patients referred brief attacks (< 12 hours). Longer attacks were referred by 43% of the hypokalemic patients. The majority of the attacks manifested with a generalized weakness mainly in legs, and its frequency was variable. Creatinokinase was evaluated in 10 patients and 8 of them had levels that varied from 1.1 to 5 times normal. Electromyography was done in 6 patients and myotonic phenomenon was the only abnormality detected in 2 patients. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, especially acetazolamide, were used for prophylactic treatment in 9 patients with good results in all. Although periodic paralysis may be considered a benign disease we found respiratory distress in 5 patients, permanent myopathy in 1, electrocardiographic abnormalities during crises in 4; death during paralysis occurred in 2. Therefore correct diagnosis and immediate treatment are crucial. This study shows that hyperthyroidism is an important cause of periodic paralysis in our country, even in non oriental patients. Hence endocrine investigation is mandatory since this kind of periodic paralysis will only be abated after return to the euthyroid state.

[Distal renal tubular acidosis presenting with rhabdomyolysis]. / Acidose tubular renal distal manifestando-se com rabdomiólise.

Severe hypokalemia is an uncommon cause of rhabdomyolysis. We describe a patient, 28-year-old woman, with distal renal tubular acidosis (DRTA) who developed severe hypokalemia and rhabdomyolysis. Muscle biopsy shows focal muscular necrosis mainly in type II muscle fibers and mild macrophagic reaction. After correcting the acidosis with oral administration of alkalinizing salts, clinical and laboratory improvement was seen. This clearly establish a causal relationship between the positive acid balance, hypokalemia and the muscular manifestation in DRTA.

[Effect of electromagnetic fields on osteogenesis: an experimental study on rats]. / Efeito do campo magnético na osteogênese: estudo experimental em ratos.

The authors studied experimentally the electromagnetic pulsing field effects in an experimental model in rats, for evaluation of the velocity of consolidation of tibial and fibular fractures. The animals were followed for a period of three weeks under continuous stimulation and there were done radiological evaluation weekly and histological study at the end of the study. There were no histological, clinical or radiological differences between the group of rats submitted to electromagnetic pulsing fields and the control group.