Managing systemic reactions and venom immunotherapy in vespid-venom allergy: observations from a retrospective study of Portuguese patients.

Summary: Background. Vespula spp. and Polistes spp. are relevant species in South Europe, with Vespa velutina nigrithorax (VVN) being considered a public health problem. We aimed to characterize a cohort of Portuguese patients referred for large local reaction (LLR) and/or systemic reaction (SR) to vespids. In patients treated with venom immunotherapy (VIT), induction protocol and frequency of adverse reactions were evaluated. Methods. Retrospective study including patients with LLR and SR to vespids referred to our Immunoallergology Department (2008-2022). Results. A total of 129 patients were evaluated, the majority were male adults (n = 77, 59.7%), from rural areas. From these, 51 patients had SR (Mueller classification: 7.8% grade I, 19.6% grade II, 37.3% grade III, 35.3% grade IV). We found no differences regarding the levels of total serum IgE, basal serum tryptase value, sIgE levels to the eliciting venom or their molecular components, regarding the severity of the SR that motivated the referral to our clinic. In the SR group, previous LLR Hymenoptera sting were reported in 15.7%. Thirty-eight patients (74.5%) initiated VIT: 22 with wasp venom, 14 with paper wasp venom and 2 with Vespa velutina venom. There was one mild systemic reaction, not requiring adrenaline and 4 LLR. Re-stings after VIT occurred in 16 patients, without any systemic or local reactions. Currently, eleven patients remain under VIT. Conclusions. Most vespid-venom allergic patients are male adults from rural areas. Sensitization to wasp venom was present in 52.9%, paper wasp in 33.3% and Vespa velutina in 13.7%. The frequency of adverse reactions during both induction and maintenance phases appears to be low. Despite a reduced sample size, our experience with VVN VIT, suggests its safety.

Mouse organoids as an in vitro tool to study the in vivo intestinal response to cytotoxicants.

Cross-species comparison of drug responses at the organoid level could help to determine the human relevance of findings from animal studies. To this end, we first need to evaluate the in vitro to in vivo translatability of preclinical organoids. Here, we used 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as an exemplar drug to test whether the in vivo gut response to this cytotoxicant was preserved in murine intestinal organoids. Mice treated with 5-FU at 20 or 50 mg/kg IV (low and high dose, respectively) displayed diarrhea at clinically relevant exposures. 5-FU also induced intestinal lesions, increased epithelial apoptosis, and decreased proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To enable comparison between the in vitro and in vivo response, top nominal in vitro drug concentrations that caused significant cytotoxicity were chosen (dose range 1-1000 µM). The inferred intracellular concentration in organoids at 1000 µM was within the tissue exposure range related to intestinal toxicity in vivo. 5-FU at ≥ 100 µM decreased ATP levels and increased Caspase-3 activity in intestinal organoids. In keeping with the in vivo findings, 5-FU increased the percentage of Caspase-3-positive cells and reduced Ki67 staining. At the transcriptome level, there was an overlap in the activity of pathways related to 5-FU's mode of action, lipid and cholesterol metabolism and integrin signaling across in vivo gut and organoids. The predicted activity state of upstream regulators was generally well preserved between setups. Collectively, our results suggest that despite their inherent limitations, organoids represent an adequate tool to explore the intestinal response to cytotoxicants.

[Analysis of mammograms performed in a public imaging center in Santiago, Metropolitan Region Chile 2008-2018]. / Estudios mamográficos en un centro metropolitano de referencia en imágenes mamarias: Chile 2008-2018 ¿Vamos por el camino correcto?

BACKGROUND: Mammograms are one of the most effective preventive means for the early detection of breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: To describe the features of patients and results of mammograms performed at a public breast imaging service of the Santiago Metropolitan Area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the reports of mammograms performed on 174,017 women and 18 men, between 2008 and 2018 in an Imaging Center. The BI-RADS classification was used in the reports. RESULTS: Forty-six percent of mammograms (75,781) were reported as BI-RADS 2. The high proportion of BI-RADS 4 reports (674 reports) was seen in patients aged 40 to 49 years, corresponding to 30% of reports in this age range. Among patients aged 50 to 59 years, there were 779 BI-RADS 4 reports (35%). BI-RADS 5 reports were more common among patients aged 50 to 59 years (50 reports, 30%) and among patients aged 70 years or older (83 reports, 28%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a significant number of women between 40 and 49 years of age with a BI-RADS 4 mammography result stands out; being an opportunity to develop new clinical research and public health strategies within the framework of the Universal Health Care policy for breast cancer in Chile.

Racial disparity and prognosis in patients with mouth and oropharynx cancer in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Oral and oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Populations in situations of social vulnerability tend to have higher incidences of cancer, a higher proportion of late diagnosis, greater difficulties in accessing health services, and, consequently, worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between race/skin color and OPC prognosis in Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study using OPC data from the National Cancer Institute between the years 2000 and 2019. The selected variables were: gender, race/skin color, age, education, smoking and alcohol consumption, stage of the disease and disease status at the end of the 1st treatment. RESULTS: 154,214 cases were recorded. Black men, in the 6th decade of life, were the most affected population. Blacks had a lower level of education when compared to non-blacks (p<0.001). Blacks were more exposed to smoking and alcohol consumption (p<0.001). At the time of diagnosis, the black population was at the most advanced stage when compared to non-blacks (p<0.001). At the end of the 1st treatment, more black patients had disease in progression, as well as more black patients died (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Blacks had a worse prognosis for OPC in Brazil. Despite the limitations, these results are important to elucidate the scenario of health disparities in relation to the race/skin color of the Brazilian population.

The extrinsic nature of double broadband photoluminescence from the BaTiO3 perovskite: generation of white light emitters.

The electronic properties of BaTiO3 perovskite oxides are not completely understood, despite their excellent electro-optical performance and potential for light generation. Particularly, when there is multiple peak formation in the photoluminescence spectra, their origins are not discussed. Their luminescence spectra reveal an unexpected thermodynamic relationship between the core excitonic states and the surface of the BaTiO3. These results give a broad insight into the origins of the emission properties of perovskite oxides. The self-trapped excitons contribution to the broadbands highlights their extrinsic origin. Through spectroscopy techniques and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) modeling, we demonstrate that additional broadbands are sensitive to extrinsic defects, type ν-CH3, a product of decomposition of 2-propanol. The presence of C-H bonds shows the dependence with the calcination temperature and the increase of the lattice expansion coefficient until 4.7 × 10-6 K-1 resulting in the contribution to the change of band gap with the temperature ((dEg/dT)P). In this work, we correlated the electronic properties of BaTiO3 with intrinsic and extrinsic defects and elucidated the presence of additional broadbands. This approach differentiates the contributions of excitonic states and surfaces, which is necessary to understand the electronic properties of perovskite oxides.

High prevalence of oral potentially malignant disorders and risk factors in a semi-urban brazilian city: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Oral Potentially Malignant Disorders (OPMDs) are defined as lesions with a greater likelihood of progressing to cancer. Population-based studies that evaluate the prevalence of OPMDs are scarce in Brazil. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of OPMDs and associated risk factors in a semi-urban Brazilian population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study, whose universe included individuals aged 40 years or older residing in a medium-sized city of northeastern Brazil. Data collection was divided into two steps: interview and oral examination. The outcome variable was the presence of OPMDs. The predictor variables were sociodemographic characteristics and risk habits. The bivariate analysis was performed through chi-square test. The crude prevalence ratios (PR) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was used to calculate adjusted PRs and 95% CI. RESULTS: Three hundred fourteen individuals were included in the study. When asked about risk habits, 58.9% reported being current smokers or ex-smokers and 62.2% reported being current drinkers or ex-drinkers. The prevalence of OPMDs was 7.6% and was significantly higher among individuals with black skin color (p < 0.001), alcohol users (p = 0.017), and individuals with both tobacco and alcohol habits (p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the population in the present study had a high frequency of risk habits associated with PMDs of the oral cavity.

Propagation phase-contrast micro-computed tomography allows laboratory-based three-dimensional imaging of articular cartilage down to the cellular level.

OBJECTIVE: High-resolution non-invasive three-dimensional (3D) imaging of chondrocytes in articular cartilage remains elusive. The aim of this study was to explore whether laboratory micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) permits imaging cells within articular cartilage. DESIGN: Bovine osteochondral plugs were prepared four ways: in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or 70% ethanol (EtOH), both with or without phosphotungstic acid (PTA) staining. Specimens were imaged with micro-CT following two protocols: 1) absorption contrast (AC) imaging 2) propagation phase-contrast (PPC) imaging. All samples were scanned in liquid. The contrast to noise ratio (C/N) of cellular features quantified scan quality and were statistically analysed. Cellular features resolved by micro-CT were validated by standard histology. RESULTS: The highest quality images were obtained using propagation phase-contrast imaging and PTA-staining in 70% EtOH. Cellular features were also visualised when stained in PBS and unstained in EtOH. Under all conditions PPC resulted in greater contrast than AC (p < 0.0001 to p = 0.038). Simultaneous imaging of cartilage and subchondral bone did not impede image quality. Corresponding features were located in both histology and micro-CT and followed the same distribution with similar density and roundness values. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional visualisation and quantification of the chondrocyte population within articular cartilage can be achieved across a field of view of several millimetres using laboratory-based micro-CT. The ability to map chondrocytes in 3D opens possibilities for research in fields from skeletal development through to medical device design and treatment of cartilage degeneration.

Acquired hepatocerebral degeneration and hepatic encephalopathy: one or two entities?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Acquired hepatocerebral degeneration (AHD) and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) are neurological complications of chronic liver disease (CLD) with portosystemic shunt. While HE is common, AHD is a rare entity, and the clinical imaging relationships observed in small series lack validation in large patient cohorts. The aim of this study was to characterize a cohort of AHD patients and to explore possible associations with HE coexistence. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with a working AHD diagnosis, between 2008 and 2019. Clinical, laboratory, imaging and neuropsychological results at first neurological observation were reviewed and compared between the 'AHD' group and the 'AHD with HE' group. RESULTS: A total of 76 patients were recruited. The most frequent neurological manifestations were neuropsychiatric (93.4%) and extrapyramidal (84.2%). Only 38% of patients had hypermanganesemia. Compared with the AHD group, the AHD with HE group had more hyperkinetic movement disorders (71.4% vs. 38.5%; P = 0.05), a higher number of patients on the dementia spectrum (57.7% vs. 20%; P = 0.04), higher median ammonia levels (P = 0.014) and more widespread cortico-subcortical and pyramidal involvement on brain magnetic resonance imaging. Nineteen patients underwent liver transplantation, with significantly improved survival (P = 0.006). DISCUSSION: Hepatic encephalopathy and AHD often coexist in the same patient. Seventy-six patients with CLD and AHD were evaluated, making this one of the largest reported AHD cohorts. Blood manganese level was a weak diagnostic marker in AHD. Early liver function restoration through liver transplantation improved survival. Our report provides a detailed description of the phenotype and long-term outcome of AHD, with relevance for diagnosis and treatment.

Understanding the electronic properties of BaTiO3 and Er3+ doped BaTiO3 films through confocal scanning microscopy and XPS: the role of oxygen vacancies.

Photonic and electronic properties exist inherently in ferroelectric barium titanate (BaTiO3); severe luminescence quenching also exists due to the insufficient confinement of excitons. In this sense, high optical emission can only be achieved by its chemical and structural modification. Thin BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 films were grown by the spin coating method on a glass substrate at room temperature. Self-trapping of excitons in the thin BaTiO3 film and its structural modification due to the doping with Er3+ ions (Er:BaTiO3) are verified using scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy (SCFM), where self-trapping excitons never occured in its pure state. By thermal treatment and doping (BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3) we obtained localization of the excitons, which would further induce lattice strain around the surface defects, to accommodate the self-trapped excitons. With such a self-trapped state, the structure of BaTiO3 generates broadband emission of several overlapping bands between 1.95 and 2.65 eV at room temperature, while the structure Er:BaTiO3 showed defined emission bands at 2.24 and 2.35 eV, with very weak contributions of the emission due to the self-trapping state. The influence of the variation of the excitation wavelength using 1PE and 2PE on the emission bands of BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 is also investigated. The results of enhanced emission bands suggest a clear dependence of the emission intensity on the excitation energy, where a ∼3 fold enhancement in emission has been demonstrated under Er3+ (1.55 eV) excitation, which can be attributed to effective energy transfer between the Er3+ ions. As a result, it is concluded that the developed BaTiO3 and Er:BaTiO3 can pave the way for future photonic devices.

Utility of stent double palliation for esophageal cancer with airway involvement: the extremis of care.

Primary esophageal cancer (EC) frequently presents as a locally advanced disease with airway involvement. Placement of combined esophageal and airway stents has been reported in small series to be an effective palliation strategy. Our aims are to present the largest cohort of EC patients who underwent double stent palliation and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this approach. Longitudinal cohort study of patients with primary EC undergoing two-stage esophageal and airway stent placement at an oncology referral institute (January 2000-January 2019). Assessments: baseline demographics and clinical variables; baseline and week 2 dysphagia, dyspnea and performance status (PS) scores; baseline and week 8 body mass index (BMI); overall survival. Statistics: paired t-test; Kaplan-Meier method. Seventy patients (89% men, mean age 60.20 ± 8.41) underwent double stenting. Esophageal stent was placed for esophageal stenosis and dysphagia (n = 41; placement of a second stent due to recurrence in nine cases) or esophagorespiratory fistulas (ERFs) (n = 29); airway stent was required for ERF sealing (n = 29 + 7 new ERFs after esophageal stent) and to ensure airway patency due to malignant stenosis (n = 29; placement of a second stent due to recurrence in 13 cases) or compression (n = 5). There were 13, endoscopically managed, major complications after esophageal stent [hemorrage (n = 1), migration (n = 5) and new fistulas (n = 7)]. As for airway stents, four major complications were recorded [hemorrage (n = 1) and three deaths due to respiratory infection and ultimately respiratory failure 3-7 days after the procedure]. Overall, patients showed significant improvement in dysphagia and dyspnea symptoms (3.21 vs. 1.31 e 15.56 vs. 10.87; P < 0.001). There was a PS improvement for 89.2% (n = 58) of the patients. BMI at week 8 was comparable to baseline records. Mean survival was 137.83 ± 24.14 days (95% CI: 90.51-185.15). Survival was longer for better PS (PS1, 249.95 days; PS2, 83.74 days; PS3, 22.43 days; PS4, 30.00 days). This is the largest comprehensive assessment of double stent palliation in advanced incurable EC. For both esophageal or airway stenosis and fistula, placement of combined esophageal and airway stents was a feasible, effective, fast-acting and safe modality for symptom palliation and body mass maintenance. Patient autonomy followed symptom improvement. Since it is impossible to provide treatment for cure in most of these cases, this endoscopic strategy, performed in differentiated units with the required technical capacity, may guarantee treatment for the relief of palliative EC.

Climatic variables drive temporal patterns of α and ß diversities of dung beetles.

Understanding the mechanisms underpinning spatiotemporal diversity patterns of biological communities is a major goal of ecology. We aimed to test two ecological hypotheses: (i) temporal patterns of ß-diversity will mostly be driven by nestedness, with a loss of species from summer to winter, and (ii) nestedness values will correlate with climatic variables instead of turnover values, indicating either a loss of species during winter or a gain of species during summer. We sampled dung beetles using standardized sampling protocols along a year in four Atlantic forest sites: two at the northwest and two at the central region of Rio Grande do Sul state, southern Brazil. We partitioned temporal patterns of ß-diversity into turnover and nestedness in order to investigate if community changes are driven by species substitution or gain/loss across time. Our results highlighted five main findings: (i) dung beetle composition varied more with sites than site geographic position; (ii) there was almost one and a half 'true' dung beetle assemblages regarding the spatial distribution of species weighed by abundance; (iii) we found a positive influence of mean temperature and a negative influence of relative humidity on both species richness and abundance; (iv) both spatial and temporal dissimilarity among sites were dominated by species replacement, while the relative importance of nestedness was higher in temporal than spatial patterns; (v) there was an effect of precipitation and relative humidity on temporal patterns of ß-diversity components, but these effects were site-dependent. Contrary to our expectations, the ß-diversity component of turnover dominated both spatial and temporal patterns in dung beetle dissimilarity among sites and months. Distinct climatic variables affected differently the α-diversity and ß-diversity components of dung beetle assemblages. Partitioning ß-diversity into temporal components is a promising approach to unveil patterns of the community dynamics and to produce insights on mechanisms underlying such patterns.

Eating behaviour patterns are associated with excessive weight gain after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Weight gain and obesity are important issues in liver transplant (LTx) recipients. Although dietary habits are probably related to excessive weight gain after LTx, some studies have failed to demonstrate these associations. The present study aimed to assess eating behaviour and verify its association with weight gain and excessive weight among LTx recipients. METHODS: The investigation comprised a cross-sectional study. Post-LTx patients, aged >18 years were evaluated about their eating behaviour [Three Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21 (TFEQ-R21)]. The scores of the TFEQ-R21 [uncontrolled eating (UE), cognitive restraint (CR) and emotional eating (EE)] were determined. Excessive weight was classified as body mass index ≥25 kg/m² and obesity ≥30 kg/m². RESULTS: In total, 270 patients (age 58.0 years; range 20.0-77.0 years; 64.1% men) were assessed. Average weight gain was 8.0 kg (range -16.0 to 41.0 kg). Of the patients, 64.1% (n = 173) had excessive weight and 23.3% (n = 63) were obese. Post-LTx weight gain was significantly correlated with UE (r = 0.311, P < 0.001) and EE (r = 0.287, P < 0.001). Patients with excessive weight had significantly higher scores than others: CR (61.0; range 0-122.0 versus 44.0; range 0-116.0) (P = 0.003) and EE (11.0; range 0-100.0 versus 0.0; range 0-100.0) (P = 0.030). Patients with obesity had higher scores than non-obese UE (22.0; range 0-77.0 versus 14.0; range 0-85.0; P = 0.028), CR (55.0; range 11.0-116.0 versus 50.0; range 0-122.0) (P = 0.017) and EE (16.0; range 0-100.0 versus 5.0; range 0-100.0) individuals (P < 0.001). The greatest quartiles of weight gain had higher scores on the eating behaviours of UE and EE, especially those with weight gain ≥14 kg. UE was associated with weight gain. CR was associated with being overweight. EE was associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: Uncontrolled eating is associated with weight gain, CR was associated with excessive weight and EE was associated with obesity after LTx.

Adenosine A2A receptor regulation of microglia morphological remodeling-gender bias in physiology and in a model of chronic anxiety.

Developmental risk factors, such as the exposure to stress or high levels of glucocorticoids (GCs), may contribute to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders. The immunomodulatory role of GCs and the immunological fingerprint found in animals prenatally exposed to GCs point towards an interplay between the immune and the nervous systems in the etiology of these disorders. Microglia are immune cells of the brain, responsive to GCs and morphologically altered in stress-related disorders. These cells are regulated by adenosine A2A receptors, which are also involved in the pathophysiology of anxiety. We now compare animal behavior and microglia morphology in males and females prenatally exposed to the GC dexamethasone. We report that prenatal exposure to dexamethasone is associated with a gender-specific remodeling of microglial cell processes in the prefrontal cortex: males show a hyper-ramification and increased length whereas females exhibit a decrease in the number and in the length of microglia processes. Microglial cells re-organization responded in a gender-specific manner to the chronic treatment with a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, which was able to ameliorate microglial processes alterations and anxiety behavior in males, but not in females.

Detection of bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates from Brazilian donors by molecular amplification of the ribosomal 16S gene.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our work was to establish a semi-automated high-throughput DNA amplification method for the universal screening of bacteria in platelet concentrates (PCs). BACKGROUND: Among cases of transfusion transmission of infectious agents, bacterial contamination ranks first in the number of events, morbidity and mortality. Transmission occurs mainly by transfused PCs. Automated culture is adopted by some blood banks for screening of bacterial contamination, but this procedure is expensive and has a relatively long turnaround time. METHODS: PCs were spiked with suspensions of five different bacterial species in a final concentration of 1 and 10 colony-forming units (CFU) per millilitre. After incubation, the presence of bacteria was investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by the Enhanced Bacterial Detection System (eBDS, Pall) assay as a reference method. Real-time PCR amplification was performed with a set of universal primers and probes targeting the 16S rRNA gene. Co-amplification of human mitochondrial DNA served as an internal control. RESULTS: Using the real-time PCR method, it was possible to detect the presence of all bacterial species tested with an initial concentration of 10 CFU mL-1 24 h after contamination, except for Staphylococcus hominis. The PCR assay also detected, at 24 h, the presence of Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae with an initial concentration of 1 CFU mL-1 . CONCLUSIONS: The real-time PCR assay may be a reliable alternative to conventional culture methods in the screening of bacterial contamination of PCs, enabling bacterial detection even with a low initial concentration of microorganisms.

Oral findings in Williams-Beuren syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS; OMIM #194050) is a developmental disorder characterized by congenital heart disease, intellectual disability, dysmorphic facial features and ophthalmologic abnormalities. Oral abnormalities are also described in clinical manifestations of the disease. This paper describes orofacial features in patients with WBS. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with a confirmed molecular diagnosis of WBS were examined for oral abnormalities through clinical oral evaluations and panoramic radiography. RESULTS: Malocclusion, specifically with dental midline deviation, and high-arched palate were the most common findings. CONCLUSIONS: The present results contribute to knowledge on the orofacial manifestations of WBS. Since such patients with WBS may develop severe oral abnormalities, early detection and treatment can help improve their quality of life.

The causes of burn wounds among adult patients treated at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital, Bloemfontein.

BACKGROUND: Burn injuries account for approximately 180 000 deaths per annum, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. METHOD: This was a prospective, cross-sectional study. The target population consisted of adult patients, hospitalised for burn wounds at Pelonomi Tertiary Hospital in Bloemfontein, between July 2016 and early January 2017. Relevant data was collected by means of a structured interview using a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 49 patients were interviewed during the study period. Almost two-thirds of the patients were male (65.3%, n=32). The median age was 33 years (range 18 to 64 years). In most cases, the injury occurred at home (77.6%, n=38). Three quarters of the reported incidents (77.6%, n=38) were considered accidental of which 68.4% (n=26) were related to domestic activities. At the time of the accidental incident, 39.5% (n=15) patients had consumed alcohol. Eleven (22.4%) of the incidents were intentional with 63.6% (n=7) attributed to assault. The two main causes of burn injuries were flames including flaming liquids (59.2%, n=29) and hot liquids (22.5%, n=11). The most frequent area of injury was the left front thigh. CONCLUSION: The predominant cause of burn wounds was flames including flaming liquids, and injuries were mostly accidental in nature. Alcohol consumption and domestic activities were common in accidental burns.

Occurrence, genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance of Arcobacter sp. in a dairy plant.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence, diversity and resistance to antibiotics of Arcobacter sp. in a dairy plant samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 75 samples from dairy plant surfaces and materials and several food products collected in different steps of the cheese production process were analysed by culture, under aerobic and microaerobic atmospheric conditions, and by enrichment molecular detection. Isolates were identified and genotyped by ERIC-PCR, and their susceptibility to nine antibiotics was evaluated by agar dilution. Global prevalence of Arcobacter sp. was 42·7%, where 20 of the 42 food samples analysed were positive for A. butzleri by both culture and molecular detection, one for A. marinus by culture and one for A. cryaerophilus by molecular detection only; 10 of the 30 analysed materials and plant surfaces were positive for A. butzleri. All A. butzleri isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid and showed high resistance rates to ampicillin (56·2%) and cefotaxime (97·9%), being all strains susceptible to gentamicin and erythromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Contamination of dairy plant environment with A. butzleri and its progression along cheese production process were observed, however, the cheese ripening process may have a relevant role in the reduction of the contamination. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study showed the presence of Arcobacter sp. in a dairy plant, displaying its high prevalence and genetic diversity and highlighting its high resistance rates. The data obtained could contribute to further acknowledge the Arcobacter food contamination as a potential health hazard.

Brassica aphid (Hemiptera: Aphididae) populations are conditioned by climatic variables and parasitism level: a study case of Triângulo Mineiro, Brazil.

Cosmopolitan pests such as Brevicoryne brassicae, Lipaphis pseudobrassicae, and Myzus persicae (Aphididae) cause significant damage to Brassicaceae crops. Assessment of the important biotic and abiotic factors that regulate these pests is an essential step in the development of effective Integrated Pest Management programs for these aphids. This study evaluated the influence of leaf position, precipitation, temperature, and parasitism on populations of L. pseudobrassicae, M. persicae, and B. brassicae in collard greens fields in the Triângulo Mineiro region (Minas Gerais state), Brazil. Similar numbers of B. brassicae were found on all parts of the collard green plants, whereas M. persicae and L. pseudobrassicae were found in greatest numbers on the middle and lower parts of the plant. While temperature and precipitation were positively related to aphid population size, their effects were not accumulative, as indicated by a negative interaction term. Although Diaeretiella rapae was the main parasitoid of these aphids, hyperparasitism was dominant; the main hyperparasitoid species recovered from plant samples was Alloxysta fuscicornis. Parasitoids seem to have similar distributions on plants as their hosts. These results may help predict aphid outbreaks and gives clues for specific intra-plant locations when searching for and monitoring aphid populations.