Ultrastructure of Zika virus particles in cell cultures.

Zika virus (ZIKV) has infected thousands of Brazilian people and spread to other American countries since 2015. The introduction of ZIKV brought a strong impact to public health in Brazil. It is of utmost importance to identify a susceptible cell line that will enable the isolation and identification of the virus from patient samples, viral mass production, and testing of drug and vaccine candidates. Besides real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction diagnosis for detecting the viral genome, virus isolation in cell lines was useful in order to study the structure of the viral particle and its behaviour inside cells. Analysis of ZIKV infected cell lines was achieved using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Blood was obtained from a Brazilian patient during the first days after presenting with signs of the disease, and ZIKV from the patient's blood was isolated in the C6/36 mosquito cell line. Afterwards, Vero cells were inoculated with the viral suspension, fixed six days after inoculation, embedded in polymers, and ultra-thin cut. Like dengue viruses, this flavivirus showed numerous virus particles present inside cellular vesicles thereby confirming the susceptibility of the Vero cell line to ZIKV replication. TEM is a unique technique available to make the virus visible.

Assessment of enamel-dentin caries lesions detection using bitewing PSP digital images.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection of enamel-dentin occlusal caries using photostimulable phosphor plates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ability to detect enamel-dentin occlusal caries in 607 premolars and molars from 47 patients between 10 and 18 years old, referred to the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, was evaluated based on clinical and radiographic examinations, using the criteria proposed in a previous study. A total of 156 bitewing digital images were obtained using Digora® (Soredex Medical Systems, Helsinki, Finland) phosphor plates. The plates were scanned and the images were captured and displayed on a computer screen. Image evaluation was done using Digora® for Windows 2.1 software, Soredex®. The radiologists were allowed to use enhancement tools to obtain better visibility during scoring of the teeth based on the radiographic criteria proposed in a previous study. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared proportion tests were done at 5% significance level. RESULTS: The results of clinical examination showed a higher prevalence of teeth with a straight dark line or demineralization of the occlusal fissure (score 1) and a lower prevalence of sealed teeth (score 5). In the bitewing digital images, 47 teeth presented visible radiolucency, circumscribed, in dentin under occlusal enamel (enamel-dentin caries lesions). CONCLUSIONS: Correlating the clinical and radiographic findings, it was found that in the majority of teeth diagnosed by radiographic images as having enamel-dentin caries, no caries could be detected by clinical examination.

Influence of physical activity and different sensory conditions on static and dynamic balance of pregnant women

Abstract BACKGROUND Physical activity during pregnancy provides countless benefits to pregnant women and results in a smaller number of falls during pregnancy. Thus, this study aims to verify the influence of physical activity and test conditions on the static and dynamic balance of pregnant women. METHODOLOGY The study was an analytical, transversal, and comparative study with a sample of 99 pregnant women divided into two groups, with physical activity as the grouping factor. The evaluation included questions about the type and frequency of physical activity and investigation of postural balance (Balance Master System(r)). For statistical analysis, we used the following tests: Shapiro Wilk, Mann-Whitney, ANOVA One Way and Wilcoxon. RESULTS No relationship was found between physical activity and postural balance (F > 0.40, P > 0.07). However, the test conditions alter the sway velocity (P = 0.001) and directional control movement (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Results suggest that: (1) physical activity does not influence variables related to postural balance in active and sedentary pregnant women; and (2) postural sway velocity and directional control of movement are related to the test conditions used during balance evaluation.

Ultrastructure of Zika virus particles in cell cultures

Zika virus (ZIKV) has infected thousands of Brazilian people and spread to other American countries since 2015. The introduction of ZIKV brought a strong impact to public health in Brazil. It is of utmost importance to identify a susceptible cell line that will enable the isolation and identification of the virus from patient samples, viral mass production, and testing of drug and vaccine candidates. Besides real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction diagnosis for detecting the viral genome, virus isolation in cell lines was useful in order to study the structure of the viral particle and its behaviour inside cells. Analysis of ZIKV infected cell lines was achieved using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Blood was obtained from a Brazilian patient during the first days after presenting with signs of the disease, and ZIKV from the patient’s blood was isolated in the C6/36 mosquito cell line. Afterwards, Vero cells were inoculated with the viral suspension, fixed six days after inoculation, embedded in polymers, and ultra-thin cut. Like dengue viruses, this flavivirus showed numerous virus particles present inside cellular vesicles thereby confirming the susceptibility of the Vero cell line to ZIKV replication. TEM is a unique technique available to make the virus visible.

Anthropometric profile of sedentary women with and without hypothyroidism / Perfil antropométrico de mujeres sedentarias con y sin hipotiroidismo / Perfil antropométrico de mulheres sedentárias com e sem hipotireoidismo

Objective: To compare the anthropometric characteristics of sedentary women beginners in a physical exercise program in the gym, which had clinical diagnosis of hypothyroidism, with women who did not have hypothyroidism. Methods: The sample consisted of eighty women aged between 23 and 45 years who started in a gym at an interval of two years and who had hypothyroidism and the control group, without this pathology, selected in a simple random way. Anthropometric measurements, such as body mass, height, body mass index, abdominal circumference and waist, and body fat percentage were performed. Student's t-test was applied for independent samples between groups and Pearson correlation within groups. The statistical significance adopted was p < 0.05. Results: The group with hypothyroidism showed significant difference (p = 0.05) compared to control group for the body fat percentage just for women above 35 years, just like women with hypothyroidism above 35 years showed strong association of anthropometric variables with waist hip ratio (r ≥ 0.70). Conclusion: Sedentary women, above 35 years and affected by hypothyroidism, showed greater association of anthropometric variables with the predisposition to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease compared to their peers without the condition, and below this age range

Objetivo: Comparar las características antropométricas de mujeres sedentarias principiantes en un programa de ejercicio físico en un gimnasio, que presentaban un cuadro clínico diagnosticado de hipotiroidismo, con mujeres que no tenían dicha afección. Métodos: La muestra fue constituida por 80 mujeres con edades entre los 23 y los 45 años que empezaron en un gimnasio en un intervalo de dos años y que presentaban hipotiroidismo, y el grupo control, sin esta dolencia, seleccionadas de manera aleatoria simple. Se tomaron medidas antropométricas, tales como la masa corporal, la estatura, el índice de masa corporal, la circunferencia de abdomen y de cintura y el porcentaje de grasa corporal. Se aplicó el test t de Student para muestras independientes entre los grupos, así como la correlación de Pearson dentro de los grupos. Se adoptó una significación de p < 0.05. Resultados: El grupo con hipotiroidismo presentó una diferencia significativa (p ≤ 0.05) en relación con el grupo control para la variable de porcentaje de grasa corporal en mujeres mayores de 35 años, y las mujeres con hipotiroidismo mayores de 35 años mostraron una fuerte asociación de las variables antropométricas con el índice cintura/cadera (r ≥ 0.70). Conclusión: Las mujeres sedentarias mayores de 35 años y afectadas por hipotiroidismo mostraban mayor asociación de las variables antropométricas, con predisposición a mayor riesgo de desarrollar enfermedades cardiovasculares, en relación con sus compañeras sin dicha dolencia, y por debajo de este rango de edad

Objetivo: Comparar as características antropométricas de mulheres sedentárias iniciantes em um programa de exercício físico em academia, que apresentavam quadro clínico diagnosticado de hipotireoidismo, com mulheres que não apresentavam hipotireoidismo. Metodologia: A amostra foi constituída por oitenta mulheres com idade entre 23 e 45 anos que ingressaram em academia de ginástica em um intervalo de dois anos e que apresentavam hipotireoidismo e o grupo controle, sem a patologia, selecionada de maneira aleatória simples. Foram realizadas medidas antropométricas, tais com massa corporal, estatura, índice de massa corpórea, circunferência de abdômen e de cintura, e percentual de gordura corporal. Aplicou-se teste t de Student para amostras independentes entre os grupos, bem como correlação de Pearson intragrupo, adotando-se uma significância de p < 0.05. Resultados: O grupo com hipotireodismo apresentou diferença significativa (p≤0.05) em relação ao grupo controle para a variável do percentual de gordura corporal apenas para as mulheres maiores que 35 anos, bem como as mulheres com hipotireoidismo acima de 35 anos apresentaram forte associação das variáveis antropométricas com o índice de cintura e quadris (r≥0.70). Conclusão: Mulheres sedentárias, acima dos 35 anos e acometidas por hipotireoidismo, apresentam maior associação das variáveis antropométricas com a predisposição ao risco de desenvolver doenças cardiovasculares em relação aos seus pares sem a patologia, e abaixo desta faixa estaria

Avaliação de protocolo molecular em amostras alternativas e métodos sorológicos no diagnóstico laboratorial do Zika

Em 2015, foi relatada a primeira transmissão autóctone do vírus Zika no Brasil. O vírus foi detectado através do método de RT-PCR e confirmado por sequenciamento do DNA. O diagnóstico laboratorial é um fator desafiante por conta da baixa viremia e reatividade cruzada com outros flavivirus. A utilidade de um diagnóstico correto e diferencial entre Zika, dengue, chikungunya e febre amarela contribui para o prognóstico dos pacientes, melhorando a vigilância do ZIKV e de outras arboviroses circulantes no país. O diagnóstico laboratorial na fase aguda é fundamental, pelo fato de que as manifestações são semelhantes clinicamente entre os vírus. O uso de urina e fluido oral como amostras alternativas ao soro são de fácil obtenção e que podem auxiliar os programas de vigilância na confirmação da infecção por Zika. Determinamos sensibilidade e especificidade dessas amostras comparadas ao soro no protocolo de qRT-PCR para detecção de ZIKV, considerando os dias de doença e encontramos maior sensibilidade na detecção do vírus entre o terceiro e quinto dia para urina e saliva. No diagnóstico sorológico avaliamos sensibilidade e especificidade do método in house MAC-ELISA versus o comercial da marca Euroimmun anti-IgM ZIKV e a concordância entre eles Nossos resultados apontaram o teste MAC-ELISA como mais sensível e o Euroimmun mais específico. Avaliamos as reações cruzadas em testes de dengue (NS1 e IgM) e anti-IgM e IgG de Zika, e suas correlações com os dias de doença. Nas análises para NS1, observamos que o teste da marca Focus apresentou maior reatividade cruzada do que o da marca Platelia. O teste da marca Panbio para IgM de dengue também apresentou reatividade cruzada para Zika, assim como os testes anti-IgG Euroimmun de Zika frente ao dengue (sorotipos 1,2,3 e 4), febre amarela e malária (P.falciparum). Concluímos que urina e fluido oral se mostraram eficientes na detecção do ZIKV e que podem ser uma opção complementar ao diagnóstico do ZIKV, porque aumenta a possibilidade de detecção do vírus em períodos diferenciados do curso da doença quando utilizados com o soro

Assessment of enamel-dentin caries lesions detection using bitewing PSP digital images

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the detection of enamel-dentin occlusal caries using photostimulable phosphor plates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The ability to detect enamel-dentin occlusal caries in 607 premolars and molars from 47 patients between 10 and 18 years old, referred to the School of Dentistry of the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil, was evaluated based on clinical and radiographic examinations, using the criteria proposed in a previous study. A total of 156 bitewing digital images were obtained using Digora® (Soredex Medical Systems, Helsinki, Finland) phosphor plates. The plates were scanned and the images were captured and displayed on a computer screen. Image evaluation was done using Digora® for Windows 2.1 software, Soredex®. The radiologists were allowed to use enhancement tools to obtain better visibility during scoring of the teeth based on the radiographic criteria proposed in a previous study. Descriptive analysis and chi-squared proportion tests were done at 5 percent significance level. RESULTS: The results of clinical examination showed a higher prevalence of teeth with a straight dark line or demineralization of the occlusal fissure (score 1) and a lower prevalence of sealed teeth (score 5). In the bitewing digital images, 47 teeth presented visible radiolucency, circumscribed, in dentin under occlusal enamel (enamel-dentin caries lesions). CONCLUSIONS: Correlating the clinical and radiographic findings, it was found that in the majority of teeth diagnosed by radiographic images as having enamel-dentin caries, no caries could be detected by clinical examination.