Detection of enteroparasites in foliar vegetables commercialized in street- and supermarkets in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.

Foliar vegetables contaminated with fecal residues are an important route of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of parasitic forms of protozoa and helminths on lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and collard greens (Brassica oleracea) sold in street- and supermarkets in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. A total of 30 samples of each vegetable (15 samples from each supermarkets and street markets) was analyzed. All samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation method and centrifugal flotation. In 45% of the samples, immature forms of intestinal parasites were identified with 66.7% helminths eggs and 33.3% protozoan cysts or oocysts. Significantly more lettuce samples were contaminated with eggs, cysts or oocyst of at least one parasite than collard green samples (U=216; Z=-3.45; P <0.001). The parasitic forms were identified morphologically up to the family level with eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae and Taeniidae, or oocysts of Eimeriidae, to the genus with Cystoisospora sp. and Toxocara sp., and to the species level with Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. The presence of these infective agents in lettuce and collard green from both street- and supermarkets highlights the high risk of spreading parasites by eating raw vegetables sold in Aparecida de Goiânia.

Exploiting the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between CdTe quantum dots and Au nanoparticles for the determination of bioactive thiols.

This work focused the implementation of FRET processes between CdTe quantum dots (QDs), acting as donors, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), behaving as acceptors, for the determination of several bioactive thiols such as captopril, glutathione, l-cysteine, thiomalic acid and coenzyme M. The surface chemistry of the QDs and AuNPs was adjusted with adequate capping ligands, i.e. mercaptopropionic acid and cysteamine, respectively, to guarantee the establishment of strong electrostatic interaction between them and promoting the formation of stable FRET assemblies. Under these circumstances the fluorescence emission of the QDs was completely suppressed by the AuNPs. The assayed target analytes were capable of disrupting the donor-acceptor assemblies yielding a concentration-related reversion of the FRET process and restoring QDs fluorescence emission. Distinct mechanisms, involving enhancing of the QDs quantum yield (QY), AuNPs agglomeration, nanoparticles detachment, etc., could be proposed to explain the referred FRET reversion. The developed approach assured good analytical working ranges and demonstrate adequate sensitivity for the assayed compounds, anticipating great prospective for implementing rapid, simple and reliable sensing methodologies for the monitoring of pharmaceutical, food and environmental species. However, selectivity could be a hindrance in the detection of these bioactive thiols in more complex matrices such as environmental and food samples. This problem could be circumvented through the employment of multivariate chemometric methods for the analysis and processing of whole fluorometric response. Moreover, the proposed methodology shows a great analytical versatility since it is possible to easily adapt the surface chemistry, of both QDs and AuNPs, to the chemical nature of the target analyte.

Portuguese households' diet quality (adherence to Mediterranean food pattern and compliance with WHO population dietary goals): trends, regional disparities and socioeconomic determinants.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate households' diet-quality trends and regional disparities, as well as to identify the influence of its socioeconomic determinants. METHODS/SUBJECTS: Two dietary indexes were applied: a revised Healthy Diet Indicator version (HDIr) and the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI). The socioeconomic differences between households with low-diet quality (if their scoring in HDIr or MAI was below the national median) and the remaining ones were analysed by means of logistic regression. Representative samples of households among each region were analysed. RESULTS: Adherence to a Mediterranean diet was poor in all Portuguese regions; the proportion of households adhering to it has diminished in the North, Centre, Lisbon and Tejo valley. The proportion of households with high HDIr decreased in the North, Centre, Lisbon and Tejo valley and Algarve. In multivariate analysis, households whose head had secondary or higher education, living in semi-urban or urban areas, from the Azores region, within the higher income or outside home food expenditures groups were more likely to be in low-quality diet. CONCLUSIONS: The decreasing adherence to a Mediterranean food pattern and the diminishing compliance with World Health Organization dietary goals show that Portuguese households have reduced their diet quality. The observed influence of urbanization and region on diet quality highlights the importance of considering regional nutrition strategies.

Detection of enteroparasites in foliar vegetables commercialized in street- and supermarkets in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil / Detecção de enteroparasitas em hortaliças comercializadas em feiras e supermercados em Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil

Foliar vegetables contaminated with fecal residues are an important route of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of parasitic forms of protozoa and helminths on lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and collard greens (Brassica oleracea) sold in street- and supermarkets in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. A total of 30 samples of each vegetable (15 samples from each supermarkets and street markets) was analyzed. All samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation method and centrifugal flotation. In 45% of the samples, immature forms of intestinal parasites were identified with 66.7% helminths eggs and 33.3% protozoan cysts or oocysts. Significantly more lettuce samples were contaminated with eggs, cysts or oocyst of at least one parasite than collard green samples (U=216; Z=-3.45; P <0.001). The parasitic forms were identified morphologically up to the family level with eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae and Taeniidae, or oocysts of Eimeriidae, to the genus with Cystoisospora sp. and Toxocara sp., and to the species level with Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. The presence of these infective agents in lettuce and collard green from both street- and supermarkets highlights the high risk of spreading parasites by eating raw vegetables sold in Aparecida de Goiânia.

Hortaliças contaminadas com resíduos fecais são importantes vias de transmissão de parasitas intestinais ao homem. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de formas parasitárias de protozoários e helmintos em alface (Lactuca sativa) e couve (Brassica oleracea) vendidas em feiras e supermercados na cidade de Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. Um total de 30 amostras de cada vegetal (15 amostras de supermercados e 15 de feiras livres) foi analisado. Todas as amostras foram processadas pelos métodos de sedimentação espontânea e centrífugo-flutuação. Em 45% das amostras foram identificadas formas imaturas de parasitas intestinais sendo 66,7% ovos de helmintos e 33,3% de cistos ou oocistos de protozoários. Significativamente, mais amostras de alface estavam contaminadas com ovos, cistos ou oocistos de pelo menos um parasita do que as amostras de couve (U = 216; Z = -3,45; P <0,001). As formas parasitárias foram identificadas morfologicamente ao nível de família com ovos de Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae e Taeniidae ou oocistos de Eimeriidae, dos gêneros Cystoisospora sp. e Toxocara sp., e ao nível de espécies com Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum e Hymenolepis nana. A presença desses agentes infecciosos em alface e couve, provenientes tanto de feiras quanto de supermercados, ressalta o alto risco de veiculação de parasitas pela ingestão de hortaliças cruas comercializadas em Aparecida de Goiânia.

Detection of enteroparasites in foliar vegetables commercialized in street- and supermarkets in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil / Detecção de enteroparasitas em hortaliças comercializadas em feiras e supermercados em Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil

Foliar vegetables contaminated with fecal residues are an important route of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of parasitic forms of protozoa and helminths on lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and collard greens (Brassica oleracea) sold in street- and supermarkets in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. A total of 30 samples of each vegetable (15 samples from each supermarkets and street markets) was analyzed. All samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation method and centrifugal flotation. In 45% of the samples, immature forms of intestinal parasites were identified with 66.7% helminths eggs and 33.3% protozoan cysts or oocysts. Significantly more lettuce samples were contaminated with eggs, cysts or oocyst of at least one parasite than collard green samples (U=216; Z=-3.45; P <0.001). The parasitic forms were identified morphologically up to the family level with eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae and Taeniidae, or oocysts of Eimeriidae, to the genus with Cystoisospora sp. and Toxocara sp., and to the species level with Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. The presence of these infective agents in lettuce and collard green from both street- and supermarkets highlights the high risk of spreading parasites by eating raw vegetables sold in Aparecida de Goiânia.

Hortaliças contaminadas com resíduos fecais são importantes vias de transmissão de parasitas intestinais ao homem. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de formas parasitárias de protozoários e helmintos em alface (Lactuca sativa) e couve (Brassica oleracea) vendidas em feiras e supermercados na cidade de Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. Um total de 30 amostras de cada vegetal (15 amostras de supermercados e 15 de feiras livres) foi analisado. Todas as amostras foram processadas pelos métodos de sedimentação espontânea e centrífugo-flutuação. Em 45% das amostras foram identificadas formas imaturas de parasitas intestinais sendo 66,7% ovos de helmintos e 33,3% de cistos ou oocistos de protozoários. Significativamente, mais amostras de alface estavam contaminadas com ovos, cistos ou oocistos de pelo menos um parasita do que as amostras de couve (U = 216; Z = -3,45; P <0,001). As formas parasitárias foram identificadas morfologicamente ao nível de família com ovos de Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae e Taeniidae ou oocistos de Eimeriidae, dos gêneros Cystoisospora sp. e Toxocara sp., e ao nível de espécies com Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum e Hymenolepis nana. A presença desses agentes infecciosos em alface e couve, provenientes tanto de feiras quanto de supermercados, ressalta o alto risco de veiculação de parasitas pela ingestão de hortaliças cruas comercializadas em Aparecida de Goiânia.

Detection of enteroparasites in foliar vegetables commercialized in street- and supermarkets in Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil

Abstract Foliar vegetables contaminated with fecal residues are an important route of transmission of intestinal parasites to humans. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of parasitic forms of protozoa and helminths on lettuces (Lactuca sativa) and collard greens (Brassica oleracea) sold in street- and supermarkets in the city of Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil. A total of 30 samples of each vegetable (15 samples from each supermarkets and street markets) was analyzed. All samples were processed by spontaneous sedimentation method and centrifugal flotation. In 45% of the samples, immature forms of intestinal parasites were identified with 66.7% helminths eggs and 33.3% protozoan cysts or oocysts. Significantly more lettuce samples were contaminated with eggs, cysts or oocyst of at least one parasite than collard green samples (U=216; Z=-3.45; P 0.001). The parasitic forms were identified morphologically up to the family level with eggs of Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae and Taeniidae, or oocysts of Eimeriidae, to the genus with Cystoisospora sp. and Toxocara sp., and to the species level with Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum and Hymenolepis nana. The presence of these infective agents in lettuce and collard green from both street- and supermarkets highlights the high risk of spreading parasites by eating raw vegetables sold in Aparecida de Goiânia.

Resumo Hortaliças contaminadas com resíduos fecais são importantes vias de transmissão de parasitas intestinais ao homem. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a presença de formas parasitárias de protozoários e helmintos em alface (Lactuca sativa) e couve (Brassica oleracea) vendidas em feiras e supermercados na cidade de Aparecida de Goiânia, Goiás, Brasil. Um total de 30 amostras de cada vegetal (15 amostras de supermercados e 15 de feiras livres) foi analisado. Todas as amostras foram processadas pelos métodos de sedimentação espontânea e centrífugo-flutuação. Em 45% das amostras foram identificadas formas imaturas de parasitas intestinais sendo 66,7% ovos de helmintos e 33,3% de cistos ou oocistos de protozoários. Significativamente, mais amostras de alface estavam contaminadas com ovos, cistos ou oocistos de pelo menos um parasita do que as amostras de couve (U = 216; Z = -3,45; P 0,001). As formas parasitárias foram identificadas morfologicamente ao nível de família com ovos de Ancylostomatidae, Strongyloididae, Ascarididae e Taeniidae ou oocistos de Eimeriidae, dos gêneros Cystoisospora sp. e Toxocara sp., e ao nível de espécies com Cystoisospora canis, Dipylidium caninum e Hymenolepis nana. A presença desses agentes infecciosos em alface e couve, provenientes tanto de feiras quanto de supermercados, ressalta o alto risco de veiculação de parasitas pela ingestão de hortaliças cruas comercializadas em Aparecida de Goiânia.

A new food guide for the Portuguese population: development and technical considerations.

The methodological approach used for the development of a new food guide for the Portuguese population is discussed. The new food guide, composed of seven groups, was achieved with the assistance of an expert panel, using existing international recommendations and nutrient composition tables. A range of recommended food portions was established for the groups of fats and oils; milk and dairy products; meat, fish, seafood, and eggs; pulses; potatoes, cereals, and cereal products; vegetables; and fruits. Posters and leaflets were produced and presented to the media with the support of health authorities and the scientific community. The dissemination materials were freely distributed to institutions and professionals responsible for health promotion.

Association of the HLA-DRB1*0301 and HLA-DQA1*0501 alleles with Graves' disease in a population representing the gene contribution from several ethnic backgrounds.

Graves' disease (GD) is the most frequent cause of hyperthyroidism. Although the etiology is not completely elucidated, there are several lines of evidence suggesting multifactorial mechanisms. Genetic, constitutional, and environmental factors are involved in its pathogenesis. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II alleles have been associated with GD in several populations of distinct ethnic backgrounds and there is increasing evidence supporting an association between GD and HLA-DR3 in Caucasian populations. The MHC class II alleles were evaluated in 75 Brazilian patients presenting with GD and in 166 control individuals from the same geographic area. HLA-DRB, DQB, and DQA alleles were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified DNA hybridized with sequence-specific probes. The HLA-DRB1*0301 allele was significantly increased in patients (34/75, 45.3%) as compared with controls (37/166, 22.3%, p = 0.009), conferring a relative risk (RR) of 2.8 and an etiologic fraction (EF) of 0.287. The HLA-DQA1*0501 allele was also overrepresented in patients (48/71, 67.6%) in relation to controls (24/71, 33.8%; p = 0.004), conferring an RR of 3.74 and an EF of 0.351. The susceptibility conferred by HLA-DQA1*0501 was independent of the HLA-DRB1*0301 allele. On the other hand, the HLA-DQB1*0602 allele was significantly decreased in patients (6/75, 8.0%) in relation to controls (53/166, 31.9%, p = 0.0008), conferring an RR of 0.18 and a preventive fraction of 0.267. Although the Brazilian population comprises individuals of several ethnic backgrounds, these results corroborate the participation of the HLA-DRB1*0301 and HLA-DQA1*0501 alleles as susceptibility markers for GD, and emphasize the participation of the HLA-DQB1*0602 allele as conferring protection against the development of the disease.

Comparison of the specificity of PCR and the histopathological detection of leishmania for the diagnosis of American cutaneous leishmaniasis.

More precise and rapid diagnostic methods for American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL) are necessary because of the growing number of cases observed in Brazil, including the northeastern region of the State of São Paulo. We applied PCR to 54 skin or mucosal biopsies from patients with a clinical and/or laboratory diagnosis of ACL using primers 13A and 13B, with positive results being obtained for 82% of the samples. When the PCR results were compared to those of histopathological leishmania detection, PCR showed superior results with 81.5% sensitivity and 95% CI of 68.0-95.1%. The Montenegro skin test (MST) was positive in 88.7% of patients. Since MST cannot be used as a diagnostic tool in endemic areas, the present results strongly suggest the use of PCR for the etiological confirmation of ACL, with emphasis on the mucosal form.

Hepatitis C virus infection in a Brazilian population with sickle-cell anemia.

Patients with sickle-cell anemia submitted to frequent blood transfusions are at risk of contamination with hepatitis C virus (HCV). Determination of HCV RNA and genotype characterization are parameters that are relevant for the treatment of the viral infection. The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of HCV infection and the positivity for HCV RNA and to identify the HCV genotype in patients with sickle-cell anemia with a history of blood transfusion who had been treated at the Hospital of the HEMOPE Foundation. Sera from 291 patients were tested for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA 3.0 and RIBA 3.0 Chiron and for the presence of HCV RNA by RT-PCR. HCV genotyping was performed in 19 serum samples. Forty-one of 291 patients (14.1%) were anti-HCV positive by ELISA and RIBA. Both univariate and multivariate analysis showed a greater risk of anti-HCV positivity in those who had started a transfusion regime before 1992 and received more than 10 units of blood. Thirty-four of the anti-HCV-positive patients (34/41, 82.9%) were also HCV RNA positive. Univariate analysis, used to compare HCV RNA-negative and -positive patients, did not indicate a higher risk of HCV RNA positivity for any of the variables evaluated. The genotypes identified were 1b (63%), 1a (21%) and 3a (16%). A high prevalence of HCV infection was observed in our patients with sickle-cell anemia (14.1%) compared to the population in general (3%). In the literature, the frequency of HCV infection in sickle-cell anemia ranges from 2 to 30%. The serological screening for anti-HCV at blood banks after 1992 has contributed to a better control of the dissemination of HCV infection. Because of the predominance of genotype 1, these patients belong to a group requiring special treatment, with a probable indication of new therapeutic options against HCV.