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Objective: To assess prescription patterns for short-acting β2 agonists (SABAs) and other asthma medications in asthma patients treated by specialists and participating in the SABA use IN Asthma (SABINA)studyin Brazil. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study conducted at five sites in different regions of Brazil. The primary endpoints were to record SABA prescriptions and obtain data on over-the-counter (OTC) SABA purchases at the pharmacy. Results: Data on 218 asthma patients were analyzed. Of those 218 patients, 80.3% were prescribed SABAs in addition to their maintenance therapy, with a mean of 11.2 SABA canisters in the previous 12 months. Of those patients, 71.4% were prescribed ≥ 3 canisters and 42.2% were prescribed ≥ 10 canisters. None of the patients were prescribed SABA monotherapy. A total of 14.2% of the patients reported purchasing SABAs OTC at a pharmacy without a prescription. Of those, 48.4% purchased ≥ 3 SABA canisters. A fixed-dose combination of an inhaled corticosteroid and a long-acting β2 agonist was prescribed to 95.0% of the patients. In the year before the study visit, 45.0% of the patients received at least one course of oral corticosteroid burst treatment. Asthma was well controlled in 43.1% of the patients, partly controlled in 34.9%, and uncontrolled in 22.0%. Patients reported a mean of 1.1 severe asthma exacerbations, with 49.1% experiencing 1 or more severe exacerbations. Conclusions: Overprescription and OTC purchases of SABAs are common in Brazil, possibly leading to the need for courses of oral corticosteroids. The health care community should collaborate to implement evidence-based recommendations and promote health education to improve asthma management in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporotrichosis is a neglected fungal zoonosis with significant impacts on human and animal health. Accurate diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of the transmission dynamics of Sporothrix species are essential for mitigating the spread of sporotrichosis. This study aimed to identify the Sporothrix species involved in the ongoing outbreaks of animal sporotrichosis in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and analyse the phylogenetic relationships between pathogenic species to investigate the outbreak origin. Additionally, to better understand the evolution of the disease, we conducted a retrospective survey of positive feline and canine cases from November 2017 to July 2021 with proven cultures for Sporothrix. A significant increase in animal cases over the last 4 years was observed, with cats being the most affected host. Sporothrix brasiliensis was the predominant agent in 100% of the clinical isolates (n = 180) molecularly identified. Phylogenetic and haplotype analysis points towards the cases isolated from Minas Gerais sharing the haplotype originating from a long‐lasting outbreak of cat‐transmitted sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, however, with a secondary contribution from genotypes circulating in other outbreaks in Brazil. Thus, we present clear evidence of the circulation of different S. brasiliensis genotypes associated with animal sporotrichosis in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte. Genetic monitoring can contribute to understanding the causal agent for zoonotic sporotrichosis in epidemiological processes and help to implement disease prevention and control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Jurídica (0103-3506) is the property of Revista Juridica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper aims at quantifying natural and artificial radionuclides, trace and major elements in sediments collected along the Tietê River basin. The results obtained for Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn, indicated that the region of "High Tietê" is highly polluted, followed by the region of "Middle Tietê" and the region of "Low Tietê" does not present evidence of contamination. The natural radionuclide concentrations were of the same order of magnitude of world average values and can be defined as basal levels of the region. Cesium-137 activity concentration ranged from 0.22 ± 0.08 Bq kg−1 to 0.96 ± 0.12 Bq kg−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: Severe maternal morbidity (SMM) is already known to be associated with adverse neonatal outcomes, however, its association with long-term deficits of weight and height, and impairment in neurodevelopment among children was not yet fully assessed. We aim to evaluate whether SMM has repercussions on the weight and height-for-age and neurodevelopmental status of the child. Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis with women who had SMM events in a tertiary referral center in Brazil. They were compared to a control group of women who had not experienced any SMM. Childbirth and perinatal characteristics, weight and height-for-age deficits and neurodevelopmental impairment suspicion by Denver II Test were comparatively assessed in both groups using RR and 95% CI. Multiple regression analysis was used addressing deficit of weight-for-age, height-for-age and an altered Denver Test, estimating their independent adjusted RR and 95% CI. Results: 634 women with perinatal outcomes available (311 with SMM and 323 without) and 571 children were assessed. Among women with SMM, increased rates in perinatal deaths, Apgar lower than 7 at five minutes, shorter breastfeeding period, preterm birth (49.0% × 11.1%), low birthweight (45.8% × 11.5%), deficits of weight-for-age [RR 3.11 (1.60–6.04)] and height-for-age [RR 1.52 (1.06–2.19)] and altered Denver Test [RR 1.5 (1.02–2.36)] were more frequently found than in the control group. SMM was not identified as independently associated with any of the main outcomes. Conclusion: SMM showed to be associated with a negative impact on growth and neurodevelopment aspects of perinatal and infant health. These findings suggest that effective health policies directed towards appropriate care of pregnancy may have an impact on the reduction of maternal, neonatal and infant morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional is the property of Universidade Estadual de Campinas - Portal de Periodicos Eletronicos Cientificos and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

An astonishing narrative exercise is proposed in Não se pode morar nos olhos de um gato, by Ana Margarida de Carvalho, a novel that dives into late-Nineteenth-Century Brazil within its social contradictions after slavery abolition. The narrative project is presented as a two fold construction, which are both distinct and yet complementary, billowed out around the diegetic space: a clandestine ship that shipwrecks in the Brazilian Coast and a miniscule seashore that is engulfed by the tides as the environment of a few survivors. In this article, I reflect the propensity to excess -a trademark of Portuguese Literature, by the way - constructed by the narrative voices and their gradual process of uncovering an intricate back-and-forth hide and reveal textual challenge, as the sea itself, an omnipresent element of the text, from the initial chapter in the ship and the second chapter that dives into the consequences of the shipwreck and introduces the character Nunzio. Both chapters are an example of a configuration which extrapolates the classic narrative typologies and demands new perspectives on the narratology. Contradicting the less-is-more narrative frugality, Não se pode morar nos olhos de um gato, exercises the excess and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To assess quality of life (QOL) in women who experienced a severe maternal morbidity (SMM) event and associated factors, in comparison to those who did not. Study Design. Retrospective cohort study performed at the maternity of the University of Campinas in Brazil, including 801 women with or without SMM, within 6 months to 5 years after delivery. Women were interviewed by phone and data were electronically stored, using the Brazilian version of the SF36 to assess women’s self-perception of quality of life. To analyze a possible relationship between SMM and perceived impairment in quality of life, χ2 and Fisher’s Exact tests were used. Multiple analysis using Generalized Linear Models was applied to identify factors independently associated with the general health score. The main outcome measures were general and domain-specific SF36 scores on quality of life. Results. Maternal morbidity conditions were associated with lower scores of patient perceptions of quality of life in the following domains: physical functioning, role-limiting physical, pain, and general health status. A lower level of school education, not having a partner, caesarean section, and history of previous clinical conditions were associated with a worse perception of general health and quality of life. Conclusion. Health professionals should know the association between life conditions, previous chronic health conditions, and SMM for women during prenatal care to beyond 42 weeks postpartum. Longitudinal and interdisciplinary actions should be put into practice to provide healthcare for these women, with special emphasis on the effective reduction in health inequities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed an Ecopath model for the Estuary of Sirinhaém River (SIR), a small-sized system surrounded by mangroves, subject to high impact, mainly by the sugar cane and other farming industries in order to describe the food web structure and trophic interactions. In addition, we compared our findings with those of 20 available Ecopath estuarine models for tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, aiming to synthesize the knowledge on trophic dynamics and provide a comprehensive analysis of the structures and functioning of estuaries. Our model consisted of 25 compartments and its indicators were within the expected range for estuarine areas around the world. The average trophic transfer efficiency for the entire system was 11.8%, similar to the theoretical value of 10%. The Keystone Index and MTI (Mixed Trophic Impact) analysis indicated that the snook ( Centropomus undecimalis and Centropomus parallelus ) and jack ( Caranx latus and Caranx hippos ) are considered as key resources in the system, revealing their high impact in the food web. Both groups have a high ecological and commercial relevance, despite the unregulated fisheries. As result of the comparison of ecosystem model indicators in estuaries, differences in the ecosystem structure from the low latitude zones (tropical estuaries) to the high latitude zones (temperate system) were noticed. The structure of temperate and sub-tropical estuaries is based on high flows of detritus and export, while tropical systems have high biomass, respiration and consumption rates. Higher values of System Omnivory Index (SOI) and Overhead (SO) were observed in the tropical and subtropical estuaries, denoting a more complex food chain. Globally, none of the estuarine models were classified as fully mature ecosystems, although the tropical ecosystems were considered more mature than the subtropical and temperate ecosystems. This study is an important contribution to the trophic modeling of estuaries, which may also help the knowledge of the role of key ecosystem processes in SIR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering the growth of the Brazilian prison population and the fact that the imprisonment impacts not only the prisoner, but alsotheir relatives, we investigate the paternal experience of 41 inmates serving time in a penitentiary of Sao Paulo. As a qualitativeapproach we used an Interactive Narrative followed by a group discussion, to explore the affective-emotional meanings that theexperience of fatherhood may take in prison. The children are featured as an incentive to change the inmate's life, and as mainemotional support in this condition of vulnerability. Feelings of guilt, impotence and regret set the tone for the participants'narratives, beyond the concern with their children's future. Contentious marital relationships and institutional demands contributeto weaken the father-son bond. This study indicates the potential benefits that the strengthening of familial bonds may revert to thewell being of the children and to the social reintegration of the inmate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Paulista de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Flood pulse and biotic interrelationships control the food web dynamics of river floodplain systems. The Pantanal Plain in the Paraguay River Basin (Brazil) occupies 140,000km2 of periodically flooded areas and is divided into 12 subregions with different characteristics related to the flood pulse duration, the vegetation, the type of soil, and the resources used in activities, particularly fishing. In this study, we used Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) to model three oxbow lakes in the South Pantanal Plain, where there is no fishing activity, to test the similarity of the ecosystems, to identify the keystone species and the types of food web controls, and to determine whether these environments can support moderated fishing pressure. We found that the food webs of the oxbow lakes are similar to each other because, although they depend mainly on the presence or absence of predators, flood pulses similarly homogenize the lakes. The results highlight the importance of detritus in these food webs. In addition, the highest values of the keystoneness species index in the three models highlight the role of top predators (Hoplias malabaricus, Serrasalmus spp., Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum, birds, and mammals). Therefore, we suggest that the food webs in the three systems are subjected to an alternated control process: detritus controls the food web during the flood season and by the top predators during the dry season. The simulation outputs indicate that these oxbow lakes can sustain only moderate fishing because increasing the fishing pressure reduces the biodiversity and can negatively impact the top predators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To compare the occurrence of sleep complaints among senior citizens resident in the local communities of two municipalities with differing Human Development Indices (HDIs): Campinas, State of Säo Paulo (IDH = 0.852) and Parnaiba, State of Piaui (IDH = 0.674). Method: Descriptive study as part of the multicentric project going by the name of Frailty among Brazilian Senior Citizens (Fragilidade em Idosos Brasileiros - FIBRA). A total of 988 senior citizens were analysed, making use of a social and demographic questionnaire about sleep problems (Nottingham Health Profile); questions about naps (Minnesota Leisure Activity Questionnaire). The Chi-Square and Mann-Whitney tests were used in the analysis of the data, at a significance level of 5% (p<0.05). Results: The chronologically advantaged individuals in Parnaiba showed a higher incidence of sleep complaints when compared to the senior citizens of Campinas. There was a significant association between municipality and the following variables: number of sleep complaints, non-restoring sleep, precocious awakening, difficulty in falling and staying asleep. Conclusion: The nursing staff must intervene in favour of the promotion of health with actions that either reduce or prevent these sleep-related problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the effects of home-based exercise for patients with chronic heart failure and sleep apnoea and to compare two different training programmes.Design: A randomized, prospective controlled trial.Setting: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital, Brazil.Subjects: Fifty chronic heart failure patients with sleep apnoea were randomized in three groups: Group 1 (aerobic training, n = 18), Group 2 (aerobic with strength training, n = 18), and Group 3 (untrained, n = 14).Interventions: The training programme for Groups 1 and 2 began with three supervised exercise sessions, after they underwent three months of home-based exercise. Patients were followed by weekly telephone call and were reviewed monthly. Group 3 had the status of physical activity evaluated weekly by interview to make sure they remained untrained.Main outcome measures: At baseline and after three months: cardiopulmonary exercise testing, isokinetic strength and endurance, Minnesota living with heart failure questionnaire and polysomnography. Adherence was evaluated weekly.Results: Of the 50 patients enrolled in the study, 45 completed the programme. Clinical events: Group 1 (one death), Group 2 (one myocardial infarction), Group 3 (one death and two strokes). None were training related. Training groups showed improvement in all outcomes evaluated and the adherence was an important factor (Group 1 = 98.5% and Group 2 = 100.2%, P = 0.743). Untrained Group 3 demonstrated significant decrease or no change on measurements after three months without training.Conclusion: Home-based exercise training is an important therapeutic strategy in chronic heart failure patients with sleep apnoea, and strength training resulted in a higher increase in muscle strength and endurance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Damming of rivers is one of the main human interferences in natural ecosystems. With the purpose to analyze food webs in 30 reservoirs of the state of Paraná, southern Brazil, we built standardized models (same number of compartments) for each reservoir in the software Ecopath. We tested the existence of an association among eight attributes described in Odium's theory (estimated by the models built in Ecopath and summarized in a Principal Component Analysis—PCA) and some characteristics of the reservoirs, such as age and area. Compartments were categorized in two groups: ‘non-fish’ (phytoplankton, periphyton, rotifers, copepods, cladocerans, bacteria, protozoans, benthos and detritus) and ‘fish’ (omnivorous, insectivorous, piscivorous, herbivorous, detritivorous and invertivorous). To balance the models, diet (main food items) and biomass of some groups (especially periphyton) were modified to get values of ecotrophic efficiency lower than one. We found that Axis 1 of the PCA (which represented 37.1% of the variability of the original data matrix) was significantly correlated with three categories from Odium's theory: community energetics, homeostasis and structure. Axis 2 (20.2%) was not correlated with the attributes, whereas axis 3 (15.6%) was significantly correlated with nutrient cycling and life history. Reservoir age was negatively correlated with axis 1; hence, older reservoirs seemed to be more developed (or senesced) than younger ones. Thus, it is possible to conclude that maturity (or senescence) is an inherent characteristic of reservoir aging, regardless of human interference, reservoir area or number of species. Therefore, the results presented here are additional evidence of the importance to improve Odium's central theory of ecosystem development. In spite of some limitations, we believe that the Ecopath model applied to these reservoirs is a feasible tool for interdisciplinary environmental studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Local shrimp productivity and economic infrastructure may vary among small fishery communities, which can lead to unequal conditions for fishers. Consequently, the domestic market value for shrimp landing can be different and decentralized in space and time. Small-scale fisheries (SSF) have several characteristics, including the spatial and temporal interactions, which add uncertainty to fishery statistics. Bayesian hierarchical models allow parameters to vary on several levels using random effects or other means of randomization, which leads to better estimation of multilevel uncertainty compared to other methods. This study tests the influence of space and time on shrimp production prices in Sergipe State, Brazil, using a Bayesian hierarchical modelling approach. We also tested whether there is a relationship between capture per unit effort and production value. We described landings of Litopenaeus schmitti and Xiphopenaeus kroyeri in 27 locations in the State of Sergipe between 2010 and 2016. Shrimp production (kg) remained relatively stable (200–300 ton/year). Using the Bayesian approach, we found that prices of both species varied among landing points within and between years, and this variation has spatial and temporal dependence. The model enhanced our understanding of which factors affect price variability in landings. In particular, our models indicated that catch per unit of effort, location, and time affected the price variability in coastal landings within the State of Sergipe. However, the seasonal monthly effects were not as important as the yearly effects, since the variance within years was found to be low. This could indicate that economic activities (tourism) do not play an important role for shrimp prices in this region. Yet, biological factors (abundance and reproduction period) can affect the prices for some locations. Improving the estimates by using methods that can account for the human dimension of fishing activities is paramount in its management, enhancing the decision-making process. • Bayesian analysis improved our estimates by dealing with spatial and temporal dependence. • Our models indicated that CPUE, location, and time affected the shrimp's price variability. • Seasonality do not play an important role for shrimp prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire was planned to answer questions about the distribution of asthma. Our objective was to determine the cultural equivalence of the ECRHS into the Brazilian-Portuguese language. Methods. We translated the ECRHS according to international criteria. Results. Small cultural adaptations were necessary. Among the 80 participating patients, the Cronbach indices were higher (0.98-1.00) and the Kappa indices varied from 0.77 to 1.00. Conclusion. The study suggests that the Brazilian version of the ECRHS is conceptually equivalent to the original and similarly reliable and may be used in international studies involving Portuguese-speaking respiratory patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several common-use artifacts (coins, faience, cult objects, etc.) coming from two excavations sites near Rio de Janeiro, two sugar farms Historico do Rochedo and Cruzeiro, have been the subject of this investigation, which aimed to integrate physico-chemical characterizations with the identification of degradation mechanisms, and the proposal of innovative conservation methods, such as PECVD deposition of SiO2-like films for protection of metallic artifacts. For the microchemical, micromorphological and microstructural analysis, optical microscopy-OM, X-ray diffraction XRD, X-ray fluorescence-XRF, and scanning electron microscopy equipped with electron microprobe-SEM+EDS have been employed. A cleaning step followed by a consolidation step has been carried out on glassy artefacts, while on metallic artefacts the mechanical cleaning has been followed by a stabilization treatment when necessary. For long-term protection the deposition by PECVD of SiO2-like films has been performed on a series of copper-based alloys in a home made reactor fed with an tetraethoxysilane-oxygen-argon mixture. The coatings show a good barrier effect against the diffusion of water and oxygen from the environment to the metal surface, that increases with increasing the oxygen to monomer ratio in the feeding gas mixture and the input power density. Moreover, the coating adhesion increases if the deposition process is performed after a hydrogen plasma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The determination of the surface energy balance fluxes (SEBFs) and evapotranspiration ( E T ) is fundamental in environmental studies involving the effects of land use change on the water requirement of crops. SEBFs and E T have been estimated by remote sensing techniques, but with the operation of new sensors, some variables need to be parameterized to improve their accuracy. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the performance of algorithms used to calculate surface albedo and surface temperature on the estimation of SEBFs and E T in the Cerrado-Pantanal transition region of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Surface reflectance images of the Operational Land Imager (OLI) and brightness temperature ( T b ) of the Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) of the Landsat 8, and surface reflectance images of the MODIS MOD09A1 product from 2013 to 2016 were combined to estimate SEBF and E T by the surface energy balance algorithm for land (SEBAL), which were validated with measurements from two flux towers. The surface temperature ( T s ) was recovered by different models from the T b and by parameters calculated in the atmospheric correction parameter calculator (ATMCORR). A model of surface albedo ( a s u p ) with surface reflectance OLI Landsat 8 developed in this study performed better than the conventional model ( a c o n ) SEBFs and E T in the Cerrado-Pantanal transition region estimated with a s u p combined with T s and T b performed better than estimates with a c o n . Among all the evaluated combinations, SEBAL performed better when combining a s u p with the model developed in this study and the surface temperature recovered by the Barsi model ( T s b a r s i ). This demonstrates the importance of an a s u p model based on surface reflectance and atmospheric surface temperature correction in estimating SEBFs and ET by SEBAL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses research done in Brazil employing the projective technique for the measurement of human motivation developed in the U.S. The general purpose of the research was to evaluate the technique by applying it to individuals who belong to a culture different from the one in which the method was developed. The results confirm the hypothesis that the projective method of measuring achievement motivation under study yields results similar to those obtained in the U.S. More specifically, giving Brazilian students experiences of success and failure has similar effects on their achievement imagery, when it is defined in terms of competition with a standard of excellence. In spite of the cultural determination of such standards, the scoring definition is apparently sufficiently general to detect the same experimental effects on fantasy in Brazil. Of course the universal applicability of the scoring definition can only be admitted after satisfactory results have been obtained in a number of cultures. On the other hand, the results of the present study are sufficiently encouraging to support the belief that it will be possible to study the intensity of the achievement motive itself as it varies from culture to culture.

Background: The principal aim of this study was to understand how communication between parents and health professionals concerning prematurity occurs, from delivery to admission to the neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Methods: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative methodology. Data were collected using tape-recorded and Focal Groups technique interview with mothers of premature newborns and health professionals involved in caring for preterm infants, at southeast Brazil. Results: The word “premature” was not said or heard during prenatal care. From the narratives, it was observed that there was a lack of information available to pregnant women about preterm birth, failure in medical care regarding signs and symptoms reported by pregnant women, and lack of communication between the medical teams, mothers and family during delivery and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) admission. Conclusion: There is a fine line between born too soon and die too soon, that increases stress, fear and distance impacting negatively over communication between mothers and health professionals during antenatal care, childbirth and NICU admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigeons are known for their capacity to harbor and spread several zoonotic agents. Studies have suggested that pigeons are also relevant disseminators of multidrug-resistant strains. In this study, pigeons surrounding a veterinary hospital were sampled and tested for the presence of pathogenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile. E. coli isolates from 19 (40.4%) pigeons tested positive for the E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1)-encoding gene. The intimin-encoding gene (eae) of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was found in one isolate (2.1%). Salmonella spp. were found in nine (19.1%) pigeons, all from the first capture event (P < 000.1). S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg were isolated from six and three pigeons, respectively. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-PCR) of the Salmonella spp. isolates suggested that eight of the nine strains had a high genetic similarity, supporting the hypothesis of an outbreak of salmonellosis in these pigeons. Twenty (42.5%) staphylococcal isolates were recovered from 18 (38.3%) pigeons. Eight different species were detected, with S. xylosus being the most frequent. Two (4.3%) C. difficile strains were isolated. Three isolates, one each of S. Typhimurium, S. aureus, and C. difficile, were classified as multidrug-resistant strains. The present research suggested that pigeons residing in urban areas can act as reservoirs and disseminators of pathogenic bacteria, including nosocomial pathogens, such as diarrheagenic E. coli and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus spp., C. difficile, and Salmonella spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macroalgal bloom events have been frequent in recent years. Eutrophication and overexploitation fishing may favor blooms through nutrient availability and capturing top predators. We aim to investigate the drivers of the macroalgae blooms and their consequences on the food web of the two tropical coastal ecosystems: Porto do Mangue (with high macroalgae production) and Baía Formosa (control environment, without macroalgae), both exploited by artisanal fisheries in northeastern Brazil. The food webs are modeled using the Ecopath with Ecosim (EwE) approach. Our results suggest that fishing did not favor macroalgae blooms but rather the high concentration of nutrients added to the semi-arid conditions. Furthermore, the macroalgae bloom showed low trophic impact, so much of their biomass is transferred into detritus. However, when it decomposes, this accumulation of matter alters the structure and functioning of the ecosystem, affecting its main fish resources: shrimp and piscivorous fish. Investigating blooms is key to management. • Macroalgae bloom can affect coastal food web and fishery production. • We compare two tropical marine food webs, with and without macroalgae production. • A high nutrient load causes the macroalgae bloom. • The macroalgae bloom are little consumed by the fauna, being deposited in the sediment as detritus. • Macroalgae bloom have reduced biomass of shrimp, piscivorous fish, and trophic complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate drug use among mothers during the postpartum period after a severe pregnancy-related complication.Methods: A retrospective cohort study of maternal morbidity including maternal near-miss and control groups conducted in a tertiary hospital in Campinas, Brazil, between July 2008 and June 2012. The Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was used to assess drug use during lifetime, pregnancy, and in the previous 3 months.Results: Of 638 women evaluated, drug use was reported by 165 (25.8%). Alcohol was the most common substance used (n=133, 20.6%), followed by tobacco (n=85, 13.2%), and cocaine (n=15, 2.3%). The highest risk for postpartum drug use was among those using drugs during pregnancy. There were no differences between the morbidity and control groups, but there was a significant difference in the need for intervention to reduce alcohol consumption in the severe maternal morbidity group. Risk for substance abuse intervention increased three-fold in women with PTSD criteria, and all aspects of quality of life were worse among drug users.Conclusion: Drug use during pregnancy and maternal complications are linked to postpartum drug abuse. These women should be managed during pregnancy; postpartum follow-up requires updated guidance and must go beyond family planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have explored dolphins feeding ecology in coastal ecosystems; However, research gauging the predatory effects of delphinid on ecosystems, which can be applied to management and conservation efforts, is still lacking. The northwestern section of the bay of Santa Catarina Island, locally known as North Bay, in Southern Brazil, inhabits the southernmost population of the Guiana dolphin (Sotalia guianensis). This small and resident population is structured in a single and highly cohesive group, using a small home range restricted to the western section of the bay. Like many other coastal dolphins, this dolphin population negatively interacts with fisheries, with frequent bycatch events or by sharing feeding resources. To explore the ecological role of dolphins in the North Bay ecosystem, we constructed an Ecopath food web model to estimate ecosystem and compartmental attributes. Mixed trophic impact and keystoneness index were used to assess the predatory effects of the species in the ecosystem. As a complementary approach to Ecopath, we used ecological network analysis (ENA) to determine the ecological role of the compartments using control analysis and the throughflow centrality. According to our model, North Bay is a mature detritus-based ecosystem. Dolphins showed the highest keystoneness index score among all functional groups, while control analysis showed they are also the most controlled component in the ecosystem. The dolphins rely mainly on the Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri), a hub species showing the greatest centrality of flows. We concluded that the Guiana dolphin inhabiting the North Bay is a crucial compartment in the ecosystem. It shows the greatest ecosystem impact per biomass unit among all functional groups, while it is the most vulnerable compartment. • The ecological role of Sotalia guianensis was highlighted using food-web models. • Dolphins showed the highest keystoneness index in North Bay (South of Brazil). • Control analysis showed dolphins are the most controlled component in the ecosystem. • Micropogonias furnieri is a hub species in the food web and should be managed. • Sotalia guianensis is a critical and highly vulnerable species in the North Bay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess functioning and disability related to severe maternal morbidity (SMM) via the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0).Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, women with or without a history of SMM who delivered at a tertiary public hospital in Brazil between July 2008 and June 2012, completed the WHODAS 2.0 questionnaire by individual interview between August 2012 and November 2013. General WHODAS scores were evaluated by maternal and neonatal characteristics, and specific domain scores according to SMM event.Results: Overall, 638 women were enrolled (315 with SMM and 323 without SMM). The mean general WHODAS score was higher among women with SMM (19.04±16.18) than among women without SMM (15.77±14.46; P=0.015). Domain scores were also higher in the SMM group for mobility (16.00±20.22 vs 11.63±17.51; P=0.003), household activities (26.79±30.16 vs 20.09±26.08; P=0.005), participation (23.55±21.72 vs 17.27±19.17; P<0.001), and work/school activities for women currently studying or working (20.52±26.64 vs 11.66±19.67; P=0.001). Excluding SMM, a parity of two or more was the only factor significantly associated with higher scores overall (P=0.013) and for domain 4 (getting along with people; P=0.017).Conclusion: By comparison with women without childbirth complications, SMM impaired self-reported functioning among women 1-5years after delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A trophic web is a network of complex interactions and energy links between species. These interactions can be simplified into trophodynamic models, such as Ecopath (EP) and EcoTroph (ET), important tools providing the holistic view needed for the ecosystem approach to fisheries. We described food web structure and trophic interactions by developing an EP model for the Santa Cruz Channel (SCC), a large tropical estuarine system in northeastern Brazil, surrounded by mangroves and highly subject to the impacts of domestic pollution, industry, artisanal fisheries, and aquaculture. In addition, considering ecological and fisheries perspectives, we developed ET models in three neighboring Brazilian estuaries (SCC; Sirinhaém – SIR and Mamanguape – MAM) to explore levels of exploitation that affect their trophic functioning. Our EP and ET models consisted of 32 compartments (three primary producers, six invertebrates, 22 fish, and detritus). Keystone Index and Mixed Trophic Impact analysis pointed that several groups of commercial relevance are also ecologically relevant and lack fishing regulations, such as Snooks (Centropomus spp.), Jacks (Caranx spp.) and Barracudas (Sphyraena spp). Fishery impacts across the trophic level spectrum differ between ecosystems, which causes top-down effects depending on the exploitation dynamics of each system. The fishing pressure affects mainly the low and intermediate Trophic Level (TLs) in MAM and SCC and high TLs in the SIR estuary. Consequently, a decrease of biomass for low and high TL was found with the increasing of fishing effort, respectively. These findings are an important contribution to the trophic modelling of tropical estuaries, indicating that both EP and ET approaches can be effective tools to improve the understanding of the trophic functioning and fishery effect on estuarine ecosystems. Additionally, increasing the knowledge of key ecosystem processes in estuarine systems may help to enhance conservation initiatives for sustainable use of the ecosystem, such as protected areas, temporal control of fishing, and the catch size limit. • Santa Cruz Channel estuary, Northeast Brazil, is an immature and resilient ecosystem. • The snooks, jacks and Barracudas, were key species in Santa Cruz Channel estuary. • Filter-feeders and invertebrates had the highest catches reducing the TL of the catch. • Fishery impacts in the trophic level spectrum differ between ecosystems. • The fishing pressure affects mainly the low and intermediate TLs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aquatic invertebrates use antioxidant systems to endure intertidal environments, where temperature, oxygen availability and radiation incidence vary greatly. The upregulation of antioxidants during oxygen-limiting conditions, such as intertidal aerial exposure (AE), is known as preparation for oxidative stress (POS). Preparation for oxidative stress has been commonly reported for animals exposed to hypoxia in the lab, but few studies have investigated it under ecologically relevant natural settings. Here, we studied metabolic enzymes, antioxidants, and oxidative stress markers in Brachidontes solisianus mussels exposed to a natural tidal cycle in a rocky beach in Southern Brazil. Animals were collected at 6 time-points throughout the tidal cycle: after 2 h of AE; then after 1 h, 3 h, and 7 h of immersion; followed by 0.5 h and 4 h of AE. The activities of malate dehydrogenase, isocitrate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate kinase were unaffected by aerial exposure. Similarly, the acitivities of enzymes of the antioxidant system, catalase, glutathione transferase, glutathione reductase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase did not change significantly throughout the tidal cycle. In contrast, total and reduced glutathione levels significantly increased at 4 h AE by 47% and 64%, respectively, compared with those in submerged mussels (1 h, 3 h, and 7 h immersion groups combined). Lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein levels significantly increased after 4 h of AE compared with those in mussels underwater for 7 h. Our results indicate the occurrence of POS in B. solisianus mussels exposed to air under natural conditions during tidal cycles. [Display omitted] • B. solisianus suffers oxidative stress after air exposure (4 h) in natural conditions. • Air exposure elicited increases in total (47%) and reduced glutathione (64%) levels. • No changes were observed in the activity of metabolic and antioxidant enzymes. • Results indicate the occurrence of "preparation for oxidative stress" in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]