Search

Abstract Background The arthropod-borne Mayaro virus (MAYV) causes ‘Mayaro fever’, a disease of medical significance, primarily affecting individuals in permanent contact with forested areas in tropical South America. Recently, MAYV has attracted attention due to its likely urbanization. Currently, there are no licensed drugs against most mosquito-transmitted viruses. Here, we investigated the in vitro anti-MAYV activity of the flavonoids quercetin and its derivatives from the Brazilian shrub Bauhinia longifolia (Bong.) Steud. Methods Flavonoids were purified by chromatographic fractionation from leaf extracts of B. longifolia and chemically identified as quercetin and quercetin glycosides using spectroscopic techniques. Cytotoxicity of purified flavonoids and of EtOAc- and n-BuOH-containing flavonoid mixtures was measured by the dye-uptake assay while their antiviral activity was evaluated by a virus yield inhibition assay. Results The following flavonoids were purified from B. longifolia leaves: non-glycosylated quercetin and its glycosides guaijaverin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and hyperin. EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions containing these flavonoids demonstrated the highest antiviral activity of all tested substances, while quercetin had the highest antiviral activity amongst purified flavonoids. Quercetin, EtOAc, or n-BuOH fractions inhibited MAYV production by more than 90% at 25 μg/mL, displaying a stronger antiviral effect than the licensed antiviral ribavirin. A mixture of the isomers isoquercitrin and hyperin had a modest antiviral effect (IC90 = 104.9), while guaijaverin and quercitrin did not show significant antiviral activity. Conclusions B. longifolia is a good source of flavonoids with anti-Mayaro virus activity. This is the first report of the activity of quercetin and its derivatives against an alphavirus.

Introduction: Mumps virus infection is a public health concern mainly in low- and middleincome countries and has been associated with complications such as spontaneous abortion and post-pubertal orchitis that may result in testicular atrophy and, consequently, infertility. Mumps vaccination is not currently implemented in Tanzania, and the data regarding its magnitude is limited, with no data among women with spontaneous abortions. Objective: This study aimed to determine seropositivity and factors associated with specific mumps virus IgG antibodies among women with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza, Tanzania. Methodology: From July to August 2022, a laboratory-based analytical cross-sectional study involving 212 sera collected between 2015 and 2019 from women with spontaneous abortions in Mwanza was conducted. Mumps IgG antibodies were detected by an indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Descriptive data analysis was done using Stata version 15. Results: The median age of enrolled participants was 27 [IQR: 24-32] years. The overall seroprevalence of mumps virus IgG antibodies was 117/212(55.19%) [95% CI: 48.39-61.80]. Being an urban resident (OR: 3.23, 95% CI 1.83-5.96, P= 0.000) and an increase in the number of household members (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.01-1.38, P=0.040) predicted seropositivity of mumps IgG antibodies among women with spontaneous abortion in Mwanza, Tanzania. Conclusion: More than half of the women with spontaneous abortion live in the urban settings in the city of Mwanza, Tanzania, and those living in houses with a high number of household members are Mumps virus IgG seropositive. More studies on the causal effect relationship between women with spontaneous abortion and mumps virus are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the operation of coal-fired power plants (CFPPs), the generation of particulate matter (PM) is monitored using a continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS); this data is useful for emission dispersion, planning, and reduction. However, due to local variability in the coal used, control technologies, and policies, emission factors need to be established. Notably, no PM emission factor has been derived or can be applied to CFPPs owned by the National Electricity Company of Indonesia/PT PLN (Persero) and other CFPPs. This study considered 52 CEMS-equipped CFPP units with emission factor values differing according to the boiler type, installed capacity, and air pollution control device (APCD). The PM concentration, volumetric flow rate, coal consumption, and electricity production data were assessed to determine PM emission factors for these units. A correlation test was also conducted to determine the effect of various parameters (based on the boiler type, installed capacity, and APCD type) on the PM emission factor by categorizing the CFPP units into two or three similar subcategories.Furthermore, using calorific values and carbon contents, dynamic emission factors were developed – expressed in terms of a simple or multiple linear regression equation – and their accuracy was determined. The different configurations of the 52 investigated CFPP units led to variations in the obtained emission factor values. The precision of the PM emission factors was enhanced by grouping the CFPP units based on similarities in the boiler type, installed capacity, or APCD type. The boiler type (represented by the superficial gas velocity) has the largest influence on the emission factor (in g PM/kg coal), with a moderate positive correlation, followed by the type of APCD installed (represented by the theoretical PM removal efficiency) and the installed capacity (represented by the heat rate or specific coal consumption). The dynamic PM emission factor is expressed by the equation y = 0.763 + (−0.016x), where only the fixed carbon content (from the proximate analysis results) – the independent variable on the x-axis – has a significant correlation with it.

The major goal of this study is to examine how Project Play affects young children's creativity. This was accomplished using a quasi-experimental design and a quantitative research methodology. A total of 30 kids were enrolled in the study, and a sample size of 24 was split into two groups: 12 were in the experimental group and 12 were in the control group. The experimental group's data analysis included descriptive statistical techniques and a non-parametric assessment of the children's creative abilities. A test statistic of -3.063 and a two-tailed p-value of 0.002—both less than the significance level of 0.05—showed a significant difference in originality between the groups. These findings imply that children exposed to Project Play activities that used natural materials as a medium demonstrated greater creativity than the control group. In conclusion, engaging in project play activities with natural materials has a significant impact on the creativity of children at Wahyu Kindergarten.

Recurrent outbreaks of oral infection and isolated cases characterize the new epidemiological scenario of Chagas disease (CD) in the Brazilian Amazon. Acute Chagas disease (ACD) is common in Pará and Amazonas, Northeastern and Northwestern Brazilian Amazonia. In the present study, we describe the first molecularly characterized autochthonous case of ACD in Rondônia, Southwestern Amazonia. The patient, a 39-year-old male resident in the small city of Cujubim, presented typical ACD symptoms: fever, asthenia, myalgia, progressive dyspnea, swelling of the legs, and tiredness at minimal efforts, all compatible with ACD and indicative of cardiac involvement. A thick blood drop test revealed trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi genotyped as TcIV. An epidemiological investigation ruled out oral infection, and support for vectorial transmission included the finding of Panstrongylus geniculatus positive for T. cruzi (TcIII and TcIV) inside the tent used by the patient when harvesting forest timber, and a circular cutaneous lesion resembling a chagoma of inoculation. Treatment with benznidazole led to blood parasite clearance as confirmed by molecular tests. Altogether, our findings fitted well into the ecological scenario where deforestation and colonization of forested areas represent an important risk factor to the adaptation of P. geniculatus to human habitats, favoring vectorial transmission of CD in the Amazonian region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• El “techo de cristal” se ha hecho notar con más claridad, considerado un vestigio más del lamentable machismo de antaño, vislumbrando una desigualdad meramente marcada por el género. • Los presentes autores han creado una escala, titulada como “Escala de Evaluación de Artículos con Metodologías Heterogéneas para Revisiones Integrativas” (EAMH). • Un elemento interesante de destacar es la exposición de la problemática cuantificada a través del “Índice Techo de Cristal (ITC)”. • Las mujeres enfermeras tienen más dificultades, barreras o limitantes que los hombres para acceder a cargos directivos, con una aparente etiología marcada meramente por el género. Introducción: El fenómeno “techo de cristal”, es un término denominado de esta forma por un movimiento feminista de los años ochenta en los Estados Unidos, el cual hace referencia a la barrera “invisible” que impide el progreso de las mujeres en su carrera laboral. Objetivo: Analizar en el estado del arte disponible, la presencia del fenómeno techo de cristal en enfermería. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión integrativa basada en las cinco etapas de Crossetti, utilizando descriptores (enfermería, consejo directivo, supervisión de enfermería, liderazgo, inequidad de género y sexismo) validados en el tesauro DeCS y unidas con el booleano AND, en las bases de datos WOS, PUBMED, SCOPUS, SCIELO y BVS. Resultados: Tras la aplicación de los descriptores y estrategias de búsqueda se localizaron 133 artículos, posterior a la aplicación de filtros se seleccionan 43 artículos, tras aplicar criterios de inclusión y exclusión se obtuvieron 6 artículos, luego se complementó con una búsqueda manual localizando 2 artículos, conformándose una muestra de 8 documentos, se aplicó una propuesta de escala que asegura la calidad de la muestra, quedando 7 artículos. Discusión: Todos los artículos seleccionados expresaban una escasa representatividad femenina de enfermería en puestos directivos, se destaca que los hombres son mejor recompensados en términos de remuneración, avance profesional, ocupación de puestos mejores y más prestigiosos. Conclusiones: Los artículos analizados muestran la presencia del fenómeno techo de cristal, donde las mujeres enfermeras presentan más dificultades que los hombres para acceder a cargos directivos, con una aparente etiología marcada meramente por el género. Como citar este artículo: Valencia-Contrera Miguel Andrez, Orellana-Yañez Alda Ester. Fenómeno techo de cristal en enfermería: revisión integrativa. Revista Cuidarte. 2022;13(1):e2261. http://dx.doi.org/10.15649/cuidarte.2261

Background. Stillbirth adversely affects pregnancy outcomes in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Viral infections have been implicated as one of the causes of stillbirths. Despite high rates of stillbirths and high viral prevalence in LMICs, there is limited information regarding their association. This study investigated the magnitude of herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) among women with macerated stillbirth. Methods. A cross-sectional hospital-based study was conducted involving 279 women with macerated stillbirth between July and August 2018 at different health facilities in Mwanza, Tanzania. Detection of HSV-2 was done by immunochromatographic test while that of HCMV was done using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Descriptive data analysis was done using STATA version 13. Results. A total of 28 (10.04%, 95% CI: 6.8-13.9) tested positive for HSV-2 IgG antibodies with only 4 (1.43%, 95% CL: 0.3-2.8) testing positive for HSV-2 IgM antibodies. HCMV IgG antibodies were detected in 131 (77.98%, 95% CI: 71-84) of 168 women tested. By multivariate logistic regulation analysis, advanced age (OR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.87-0.99, p=0.025) was significantly associated with negative HSV-2 IgG antibodies. By log multinomial regression analysis, only urban residence (RRR.4.43: 95% CI 1.53-12.80, p=0.006) independently predicted HCMV IgG seropositivity among women with stillbirth. Twenty-one (30.9%) of women with positive HCMV IgG antibodies had low avidity index (

Background: The arthropod-borne Mayaro virus (MAYV) causes ‘Mayaro fever’, a disease of medical significance, primarily affecting individuals in permanent contact with forested areas in tropical South America. Recently, MAYV has attracted attention due to its likely urbanization. Currently, there are no licensed drugs against most mosquito-transmitted viruses. Here, we investigated the in vitro anti-MAYV activity of the flavonoids quercetin and its derivatives from the Brazilian shrub Bauhinia longifolia (Bong.) Steud. Methods: Flavonoids were purified by chromatographic fractionation from leaf extracts of B. longifolia and chemically identified as quercetin and quercetin glycosides using spectroscopic techniques. Cytotoxicity of purified flavonoids and of EtOAc- and n-BuOH-containing flavonoid mixtures was measured by the dye-uptake assay while their antiviral activity was evaluated by a virus yield inhibition assay. Results: The following flavonoids were purified from B. longifolia leaves: non-glycosylated quercetin and its glycosides guaijaverin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin, and hyperin. EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions containing these flavonoids demonstrated the highest antiviral activity of all tested substances, while quercetin had the highest antiviral activity amongst purified flavonoids. Quercetin, EtOAc, or n-BuOH fractions inhibited MAYV production by more than 90% at 25 μg/mL, displaying a stronger antiviral effect than the licensed antiviral ribavirin. A mixture of the isomers isoquercitrin and hyperin had a modest antiviral effect (IC90 = 104.9), while guaijaverin and quercitrin did not show significant antiviral activity. Conclusions: B. longifolia is a good source of flavonoids with anti-Mayaro virus activity. This is the first report of the activity of quercetin and its derivatives against an alphavirus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]