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Cashew powdery mildew is presently the most important disease of cashew trees in all Brazilian growing regions. Although it was described over a century ago, it had never threatened the Brazilian cashew industry until the first decade of the 21st century. Morphological and pathogenic evidence indicated the possibility of different pathogen species being involved in early and late types of cashew powdery mildew. This study was designed to elucidate this issue by comparing two different powdery mildew fungi occurring on cashew plants in Brazil according to the morphological characteristics, phylogenetic relationships with closely related powdery mildew fungi and pathogenic relationships. Based on morphology, molecular phylogenetics and pathogenicity on cashew, it was shown that two species of powdery mildew specimens are without question associated with cashew trees. One species, which infects young immature tissues such as shiny leaves, flowers and young fruits, is Erysiphe quercicola, while Erysiphe necator is associated exclusively with mature leaves. This is the first report of both E. quercicola and E. necator causing cashew powdery mildew, and the first detection of E. necator on cashew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, Brazilian Nuclear Programme has been reviewed and updated by government authorities in face of the demand for energy supply and its associated environmental constraints. The immediate impact of new national programmes and projects in nuclear field is the increase in the number of exposed personnel and the consequent need for reliable dosimetry services in the country. Several Technical Documents related to internal dosimetry have been released by the International Atomic Energy Agency and International Commission on Radiological Protection. However, standard bioassay procedures and methodologies for bioassay data interpretation are still under discussion and, in some cases, both in routine and emergency internal monitoring, procedures can vary from one laboratory to another and responses may differ markedly among Dosimetry Laboratories. Thus, it may be difficult to interpret and use bioassay data generated from different laboratories of a network. The main goal of this work is to implement a National Network of Laboratories aimed to provide reliable internal monitoring services in Brazil. The establishment of harmonised in vivo and in vitro radioanalytical techniques, dose assessment methods and the implementation of the ISO/IEC 17025 requirements will result in the recognition of technical competence of the network. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The human respiratory tract model (HRTM) adopted by ICRP in its Publication 66 accounts for the morphology and physiology of the respiratory tract. The characteristics of air drawn into the lungs and exhaled are greatly influenced by the morphology of the respiratory tract, which causes numerous changes in pressure, flow rate, direction and humidity as air moves into and out of the lungs. These characteristics are important to determine the fractional deposition. It is known that the morphology and physiology are influenced by environmental, occupational and economic conditions. The ICRP recommends, for a reliable evaluation of the regional deposition, the use of parameters from a local population wherever such information is available. The main purpose of this study is to verify the influence of using the morphology and physiology parameters representative of a sample of the Brazilian population on the deposition model of the ICRP Publication 66 model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seventy nine samples, including soil and rock, were collected from the agrestic region of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil. The activity concentrations of 238U and 226Ra in the samples were determined by gamma-spectrometry using an HPGe detector. The concentrations of 238U were 22 Bq . kg-1 to 22 kBq . kg-1. The concentrations of 226Ra were 14 Bq . kg-1 to 17 kBq . kg-1. The 238U/226Ra ratios in the soil were 0.7 to 3.4 (arithmetic mean 1.7). The radiometric data were evaluated to explain 238U and 226Ra migration in the soil and the possible consequences to the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence­severity relationship for cashew gummosis, caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae, was studied to determine the feasibility of using disease incidence to estimate indirectly disease severity in order to establish the potential damage caused by this disease in semiarid north-eastern Brazil. Epidemics were monitored in two cashew orchards, from 1995 to 1998 in an experimental field composed of 28 dwarf clones, and from 2000 to 2002 in a commercial orchard of a single clone. The two sites were located 10 km from each other. Logarithmic transformation achieved the best linear adjustment of incidence and severity data as determined by coefficients of determination for place, age and pooled data. A very high correlation between incidence and severity was found in both fields, with different disease pressures, different cashew genotypes, different ages and at several epidemic stages. Thus, the easily assessed gummosis incidence could be used to estimate gummosis severity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is one of the most common and disabling childhood genetic diseases. The course of DMD involves progressive muscular degeneration and weakness, leading to functional decline. The Performance of the Upper Limb scale (PUL) is a specific instrument designed to assess the upper limb function of patients with DMD., Objective: To adapt the PUL cross-culturally to Brazilian Portuguese (PUL-Br) and assess the convergent validity, structural validity, inter-rater reliability, and internal consistency for Brazilian patients with DMD METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation involved six steps: translation to Brazilian Portuguese, Brazilian Portuguese translation synthesis, back-translation to English, back-translation synthesis, an expert committee review, and a pre-final version test (n = 12). The convergent validity of the PUL-Br was evaluated by examining its correlation to the Motor Function Measure scale (MFM) using 30 patients with DMD. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to assess structural validity. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) verified the PUL-Br interrater reliability. Cronbach's alpha was calculated to verify internal consistency., Results: The PUL was cross-culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese. A strong and positive correlation was found between the PUL-Br total score and the total score on the MFM (r = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.91). The PUL-Br showed a satisfactory fit of the data to the three-factor model, excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC: 0.94), and good internal consistency (Cronbach's: 0.91)., Conclusion: The PUL-Br is valid and reliable for assessing the upper limb function of Brazilian patients with DMD., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background: Implementing scientific knowledge in clinical practice is a challenge. In this context, the effective dissemination of scientific findings is of utmost importance., Objective: The aim of this study was to develop a Practice Brief in Portuguese, Spanish and English based on a previously published Clinical Practice Guideline to promote safe and effective exercise for children and young people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and related neuropathies (CMT)., Methods: The Practice Brief was developed by eight health professionals from Brazil and Australia with English, Portuguese, and Spanish translations. The target audience chosen were the medical and allied health professionals involved in the rehabilitation of paediatric CMT. The content was based on the world first "Clinical Practice Guideline for the management of paediatric Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease" [1]. The layout of the Practice Brief was designed according to the criteria for the development of educational materials. The disclosure plan for the Practice Brief involves its publication on University and Hospital websites, www.ClinicalOutcomeMeasures.org and through social media platforms such as ResearchGate, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter, as well as in print format for CMT patient care centres., Results: The English, Portuguese and Spanish versions of the Practice Brief is organised into six sections about assessment, exercise and physical rehabilitation, of which one is focused on progressive resistance exercises for the foot dorsiflexor muscles., Conclusion: We developed a Practice Brief in three languages (English, Portuguese and Spanish), synthesising the main recommendations for exercise and related rehabilitative therapies for paediatric CMT from a published clinical guideline., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Brazilian coastal archaeology is renowned for its numerous and large shellmounds (sambaquis), which had been continuously occupied from at least 8000 to 1000 years cal BP. However, changes in their structure and material culture in the late Holocene have led to different hypotheses concerning their ecological and cultural changes. The archaeological site Galheta IV (ca. 1300 to 500 years cal BP) offers new insights into the complexity of the late coastal occupation in southern Brazil. Our attempt was to determine whether Galheta IV can be classified as a sambaqui site, or if it belongs to a Southern proto-Jê settlement. Here, we reassessed Galheta's collections and applied a multi-proxy approach using: new 14C dates, zooarchaeology, δ13C and δ15N isotopes in bulk collagen and 87Sr/86Srenamel isotopic ratios from eight human individuals, ceramics analysis, and FTIR. The results indicate an intense exploitation of marine resources, with an area designated for processing animals located at the opposite side of the funerary areas. Bone tools and specific species of animals were found as burial accompaniments. No evidence of human cremations was detected. 87Sr/86Sr results indicate that the eight human individuals always lived on the coast, and did not come from the inland. The pottery analysis confirms the association with Itararé-Taquara, but contrary to what was assumed by previous studies, the pottery seems related to other coastal sites, and not to the highlands. In light of these findings, we propose that Galheta IV can be considered a funerary mound resulting from long and continuous interactions between shellmound and Southern proto-Jê populations. This study not only enhances our understanding of the late coastal occupation dynamics in southern Brazil but also underscores its importance in reshaping current interpretations of shellmound cultural changes over time., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Mendes Cardoso et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Despite the considerable morbidity and mortality of yellow fever virus (YFV) infections in Brazil, our understanding of disease outbreaks is hampered by limited viral genomic data. Here, through a combination of phylogenetic and epidemiological models, we reconstructed the recent transmission history of YFV within different epidemic seasons in Brazil. A suitability index based on the highly domesticated Aedes aegypti was able to capture the seasonality of reported human infections. Spatial modeling revealed spatial hotspots with both past reporting and low vaccination coverage, which coincided with many of the largest urban centers in the Southeast. Phylodynamic analysis unraveled the circulation of three distinct lineages and provided proof of the directionality of a known spatial corridor that connects the endemic North with the extra-Amazonian basin. This study illustrates that genomics linked with eco-epidemiology can provide new insights into the landscape of YFV transmission, augmenting traditional approaches to infectious disease surveillance and control.

Sambaqui (shellmound) societies are among the most intriguing archaeological phenomena in pre-colonial South America, extending from approximately 8,000 to 1,000 years before present (yr BP) across 3,000 km on the Atlantic coast. However, little is known about their connection to early Holocene hunter-gatherers, how this may have contributed to different historical pathways and the processes through which late Holocene ceramists came to rule the coast shortly before European contact. To contribute to our understanding of the population history of indigenous societies on the eastern coast of South America, we produced genome-wide data from 34 ancient individuals as early as 10,000 yr BP from four different regions in Brazil. Early Holocene hunter-gatherers were found to lack shared genetic drift among themselves and with later populations from eastern South America, suggesting that they derived from a common radiation and did not contribute substantially to later coastal groups. Our analyses show genetic heterogeneity among contemporaneous Sambaqui groups from the southeastern and southern Brazilian coast, contrary to the similarity expressed in the archaeological record. The complex history of intercultural contact between inland horticulturists and coastal populations becomes genetically evident during the final horizon of Sambaqui societies, from around 2,200 yr BP, corroborating evidence of cultural change., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Lay Abstract: Insistence on sameness is common in autistic individuals and continues into adulthood. Research shows it may be a way to cope with environments because of their sensory sensitivity, intolerance to uncertainty, and anxiety. Understanding the reasons for insistence on sameness from the perspective of autistic adults is important. To study the meanings of insistence on sameness for autistic adults, we interviewed 16 Brazilian autistic adults. All 10 formally diagnosed participants were diagnosed in adulthood. Six participants identified as being on the autism spectrum without formal diagnosis. During the interviews by email, we first asked about participants' experiences with autism diagnosis, either formal diagnosis or self-diagnosis. Then, we asked about their experiences in places for eating out and grocery shopping. We found they tended to always go to the same places and use protective accessories to eat or shop comfortably. But their such behaviors were considered weird habits, first by other people and later by themselves. While trying to control their weird habits because of social pressure, they often suffered anxiety and meltdowns. When they finally learned of their autism in adulthood, they began to better understand who they are and why they experience the environment differently from others. This new understanding taught them that their so-called weird habits are actually part of their authentically autistic ways to cope with the weirder world. This study suggests that autistic adults' insistence on sameness is an authentically autistic way to exercise their right to comfortably co-exist and live as human beings and as themselves.

In recent decades, waves of yellow fever virus (YFV) from the Amazon Rainforest have spread and caused outbreaks in other regions of Brazil, including the Cerrado, a savannah-like biome through which YFV usually moves before arriving at the Atlantic Forest. To identify the vectors involved in the maintenance of the virus in semiarid environments, an entomological survey was conducted after confirmation of yellow fever (YF) epizootics at the peak of the dry season in the Cerrado areas of the state of Minas Gerais. In total, 917 mosquitoes from 13 taxa were collected and tested for the presence of YFV. Interestingly, mosquitoes of the Sabethes genus represented 95% of the diurnal captured specimens, displaying a peak of biting activity never previously recorded, between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Molecular analysis identified three YFV-positive pools, two from Sabethes chloropterus -from which near-complete genomes were generated-and one from Sa. albiprivus , whose low viral load prevented sequencing. Sa. chloropterus was considered the primary vector due to the high number of copies of YFV RNA and the high relative abundance detected. Its bionomic characteristics allow its survival in dry places and dry time periods. For the first time in Brazil, Sa. albiprivus was found to be naturally infected with YFV and may have played a role as a secondary vector. Despite its high relative abundance, fewer copies of viral RNA were found, as well as a lower Minimum Infection Rate (MIR). Genomic and phylogeographic analysis showed that the virus clustered in the sub-lineage YFV PA-MG , which circulated in Pará in 2017 and then spread into other regions of the country. The results reported here contribute to the understanding of the epidemiology and mechanisms of YFV dispersion and maintenance, especially in adverse weather conditions. The intense viral circulation, even outside the seasonal period, increases the importance of surveillance and YFV vaccination to protect human populations in affected areas.

Background: The Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease Pediatric Scale (CMTPedS) has been used to measure aspects of disability in children with all types of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)., Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the CMTPedS into Brazilian-Portuguese and determine its reliability and validity., Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation followed international guidelines recommendations. Twenty individuals with CMT were assessed. Two examiners assessed the participants for inter-rater reliability. Face validity was assessed by eight physical therapists that judged the relevance of each test item. The Bland-Altman analysis (bias) and standard error of measurement (SEM) complemented the analysis. Furthermore, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), weighted kappa (k), and internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) was determined., Results: The CMTPedS was successfully translated and cross-culturally adapted. Twenty children/youth were enrolled in the study. Of these, the majority (55%) were girls with a mean age of 13.9 (range: from 6 to 18) years. Regarding face validity, the CMTPedS-Br showed relevant items for assessing children and youth with CMT. The ICC for the total score showed excellent reliability (ICC 2.1  = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.84, 0.97). The most reliable items were grip, dorsiflexion and plantar flexion strength while the least reliable items were pinprick, vibration, and gait. The internal consistency was excellent (α = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.91, 0.99) and the agreement showed small variability (bias = 0.15, 95% CI= -4.28, 4.60)., Conclusion: The CMTPedS-Br showed adequate reliability and face validity to measure disability in individuals with CMT. This tool will allow Brazil to be part of multicentered studies on such a rare but debilitating condition., (Copyright © 2020 Associação Brasileira de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação em Fisioterapia. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Hyptis crenata, commonly known as "salva-do-Marajó", "hortelã-do-campo", and "hortelãzinha", is used in folk medicine in Northeast Brazil as tea or infusion to treat inflammatory diseases. Due to the pharmacological efficacy and the low toxicity of the essential oil of Hyptis crenata (EOHc), we decided to investigate the EOHc antiedematogenic effect in experimental models of inflammation. EOHc was administrated orally at doses of 10-300 mg/kg to male Swiss albino mice. Paw edema was induced by subcutaneous injection in the right hind paw of inflammatory stimuli (carrageenan, dextran, histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin) 60 min after administration of EOHc. EOHc significantly inhibited the induced edema. The inhibitory effect of EOHc on dextran-induced edema extended throughout the experimental time. For the 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg doses of EOHc, the inhibition was of 40.28±1.70, 51.18±2.69, and 59.24±2.13%, respectively. The EOHc inhibitory effect on carrageenan-induced edema started at 10 mg/kg at the second hour (h) and was maintained throughout the observation period. At 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg doses the inhibition started earlier, from 30 min. At the edema peak of 180 min, 56, 76, and 82% inhibition was observed for 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg doses, respectively. Additionally, the effect of EOHc on carrageenan-induced paw edema was influenced by the time of administration. The EOHc also inhibited myeloperoxidase activity. In conclusion, the EOHc showed a potent effect, both preventing and reversing the edema, consistent with its anti-inflammatory use in folk medicine.

We investigated HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) and class II (HLA-DRB1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1) alleles by NGS-based typing among 478 Brazilian individuals from two populations in the Barra Mansa city based on their self-declared skin color (Caucasian, N = 405, AFND-ID: 3729; Black, N = 73, AFND-ID: 3731) to calculate allelic and haplotypic frequencies, plus linkage disequilibrium. No locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Both populations shared the most frequent allele on HLA-A, -C, -DPA1, and -DPB1. Genotype and frequency data are available in the Allele Frequencies Net Database., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We investigated HLA class I (HLA-A, -B, and -C) and class II (HLA-DRB1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1) alleles by NGS-based typing among 759 Brazilian individuals from three populations in the Rio de Janeiro city based on their self-declared skin color (Caucasian, N = 521, AFND-ID: 3730; Parda, N = 170, AFND-ID: 3728; Black, N = 68, AFND-ID: 3727) to calculate allelic and haplotypic frequencies, plus linkage disequilibrium. Only HLA-DRB1 locus deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (in Caucasian and Black populations). The three populations shared the most frequent allele on HLA-A, -C, -DRB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1. Genotype and frequency data are available in the Allele Frequencies Net Database., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the potential role of the PTGS2 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) -1195 A>G and +8473 T>C in endometriosis' development, and characterizing their association with the prognostic features of the disease., Study Design: DNA from 254 women with endometriosis and 267 controls, recruited from two reference hospitals from the Brazilian public health system, were genotyped using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. The association between SNPs and endometriosis features was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression, using the adjusted odds ratios (OR) with their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI)., Results and Conclusion: There were significant differences between cases and controls regarding age (P < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (P = 0.001), educational level (P < 0.001), physical activity (P = 0.003), smoking status (P < 0.001), contraception use (P = 0.02), family history of endometriosis (P = 0.002) and all symptoms (P < 0.001). The distribution of -1195 A > G was statistically different between the groups, suggesting a lower risk of developing the disease for the carriers of the -1195 GG genotype (OR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.04 - 0.93). No differences were found for the +8473 T>C between the two groups and neither in prognostic features of the disease for both PTGS2 SNPs. In conclusion, PTGS2 -1195A>G SNP was negatively associated with development of endometriosis and the two groups were statistically different regarding age, BMI, educational level, physical activity, smoking status, contraception use, history of endometriosis and all endometriosis symptoms., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of this article., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

HLA genes can exhibit extensive variations in frequency, especially in highly admixed populations, such as that of Brazil. In this study, we demonstrated NGS-based HLA typing in our laboratory using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 sequencing platform and downstream analysis. We herein describe and compare the allele and haplotype frequencies of the populations in Barra Mansa (BM) and Rio de Janeiro (RJ), using the acquired genetic data. Sequences encompassing 7 HLA loci (HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-C, HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-DPA1, and HLA-DPB1) were amplified from a total of 1435 bone marrow samples donated by volunteers recruited in BM (37.56%) and RJ (62.44%) using polymerase chain reactions, and were sequenced using five distinct HiSeq 2500 runs. Alleles were analyzed to generate 2-locus haplotypes and extended haplotypes encompassing more than two loci. The most frequent haplotype was A*01:01:01~C*07:01:01~B*08:01:01~DRB1*03:01:01~DQB1*02:01:01~DPA1*01:03:01~DPB1*04:01:01 in both populations. The populations of BM and RJ exhibited a significant difference in genetic composition (P = .03) but not in genetic variance (P = .45). However, some groups of subjects, classified based on self-declared ethnicity, particularly Branca and Preta, displayed significant genetic variance (P < .05). In conclusion, these genetic data indicate no differences in HLA loci between the populations of these two cities, but were informative with respect to variations in ancestry composition., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

This epidemiological study was designed to find out the incidence and factors associated with the occurrence of intraosseous lesions diagnosed at a Reference Centre in Brazil. We included all patients diagnosed with intraosseous lesions (cyst, tumour, bone-associated lesion, and periapical disease) during the period 2006-2017, and analysed the association between some sociodemographic and clinical variables and the types of lesion. There was a total of 290 intraosseous lesions, the most common being odontogenic cysts. There was a significant association between age and odontogenic tumours (p=0.001). In relation to the histopathological diagnosis, root cysts were the most common (n=57), followed by dentigerous cysts (n=26). The lesions studied were seen most often in women between the second and fourth decades of life, odontogenic cysts being the most common type found. We know of few publications of similar epidemiological work, either in Brazil or in the rest of the world, so we suggest that more such studies are made., (Copyright © 2019 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale (ESES) is a reliable measure, in the English language, of exercise self-efficacy in individuals with spinal cord injury. The aim of this study was to culturally adjust and validate the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale in the Portuguese language., Material and Methods: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale was applied to 76 subjects, with three-month intervals (three applications in total). The reliability was appraised using the intra-class correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman methods, and the internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach´s alpha. The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale was correlated with the domains of the Quality of life Questionnaire SF-36 and Functional Independence Measure and tested using the Spearman rho coefficient., Results: The Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil presented good internal consistency (alpha 1 = 0.856; alpha 2 = 0.855; alpha 3 = 0.822) and high reliability in the test-retest (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.97). There was a strong correlation between the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil and the SF-36 only in the functional capacity domain (rho = 0.708). There were no changes in Exercise Self-Efficacy scale-Brazil scores between the three applications (p = 0.796)., Discussion: The validation of the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale questionnaire permits the assessor to use it reliably in Portuguese speaking countries, since it is the first instrument measuring self-efficacy specifically during exercises in individuals with spinal cord injury. Furthermore, the questionnaire can be used as an instrument to verify the effectiveness of interventions that use exercise as an outcome., Conclusion: The results of the Brazilian version of the Exercise Self-Efficacy scale support its use as a reliable and valid measurement of exercise self-efficacy for this population.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Propolis has been used as a folk medicine for centuries around the world due to its wide spectrum of biological activities. The red propolis, a new Brazilian variety of this apimaterial, has presented an unusual chemical composition, including isoflavones such as formononetin and biochanin A. Since both the green and red varieties of propolis are traditionally used as medicine and commercialized with no label differentiation, the study of the activities of red propolis extract has become important in order to clarify whether this product has the same activities as commercial ones. In this work, we demonstrated the potential action of the hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis (HERP) and its biomarker, formononetin, as antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory drugs on experimental models., Materials and Methods: The HERP was chemically characterised by HPLC/DAD analyses. The biological activities of the HERP (3, 10, and 30mg/kg) and formononetin (10mg/kg) were evaluated using the antinociceptive (acetic acid, formalin, and glutamate injections) and anti-inflammatory (carrageenan-induced hindpaw oedema and peritonitis) models in mice after oral administration. The open field test was also performed., Results: Formononetin, one of the main biomarker of red propolis, was identified in the HERP (21.62mg/g). Pretreatment with the HERP (10 and 30mg/kg) and formononetin (10mg/kg) produced reduction (P<0.001) in the number of abdominal writhes, but the HERP was more effective (P<0.001) than formononetin. In the formalin test, all HERP doses (3, 10, and 30mg/kg, P<0.001) inhibited the late phase (inflammatory pain) of formalin-induced licking, but the inhibition of neurogenic pain was observed only when the higher doses (10 and 30mg/kg; P<0.05) were used. Formononetin caused inhibition (P<0.001) only in the second phase of formalin-induced nociception similarly at all HERP doses in the same phase of the test. The responses in glutamate-induced model presented crescent inhibition (P<0.05) with 10 and 30mg/kg of HERP. Also, formononetin inhibited (P<0.001) the nociception induced by glutamate similarly to 30mg/kg of HERP. There were no significant differences in the open field test after HERP administration, but formononetin decrease the spontaneous motor behaviour. Regarding the anti-inflammatory assessment, the HERP (10 and 30mg/kg, P<0.05) and formononetin (P<0.001) treatments caused a significant inhibition of the oedema response. All doses of HERP (3, 10, and 30mg/kg, P<0.05) and formononetin (P<0.001) also inhibited the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration. In both cases, the results for the HERP at 30mg/kg and formononetin were similar., Conclusions: The HERP and formononetin presented significant anti-inflammatory activity. Moreover, the HERP presented antinociceptive action on inflammatory and neurogenic pain without motor side effects, possibly due to the action of other constituents present in the extract. These results, together, support the popular usage of this natural product., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Propolis is a bee product widely used in folk medicine due to its numerous pharmacological properties. However, samples from different regions can differ in chemical composition, effectiveness, and side effects. Despite the widespread use of Brazilian red propolis, which is an isoflavone-rich variety, its toxicity has not been carefully studied., Aims of the Study: To assess the acute and sub-acute toxicity of the hydroethanolic extract of red propolis (HERP) administered orally to rats., Materials and Methods: HERP for the acute (300mg/kg) and sub-acute (10, 100 and 200mg/kg) toxicity studies was administered orally to rats according to OECD Guidelines 420 and 407, respectively. Clinical signs were identified, and hematological and biochemical analyses were performed. Water and food uptake as well as body and organ weights of animals were recorded., Results and Conclusions: The acute study revealed no lethal effects at 300mg/kg of HERP, but toxic signs were observed, as HERP had an LD50 of more than 300mg/kg, indicating a warning. The most toxic signals in sub-acute studies were observed in males at a dose of 200mg/kg HERP. These results suggest estrogen-like activity, possibly from the isoflavones in HERP., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Acute gastroenteritis norovirus (NoV) in a country of continental dimensions like Brazil has resulted in under-reporting of the number of outbreaks, as well as the genotypes associated., Objectives: To demonstrate the role of NoV in outbreaks occurring in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil, we determined its prevalence, as well as the genotypes associated, and evaluated clinical and epidemiological aspects., Study Design: NoV investigation was carried out in rotavirus group A negative stool samples from 2265 patients from 741 outbreaks that occurred in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during a period of eight years (2004-2011). NoV detection and nucleotide sequencing for genotype characterization was carried by using sets of primers targeting a conservative Rd-Rp polymerase genome region and the viral capsid gene, respectively., Results: NoVs were detected in 817 stool samples (36.1%) and associated with 327 outbreaks (44.1%). NoV GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.12, GII.13, GII.14, GII.15, GII.17, GII.21; and GI.1 and GI.3 were characterized. GII.4 was the most frequently detected (72.3%), with five variants identified (Asia&#95;2003, Hunter&#95;2004, Yerseke&#95;2006a, Den&#95;Haag&#95;2006b, New Orleans&#95;2009). This study describes the first detection of GI.1 and GII.13 and GII.15 in Brazil and demonstrates NoV winter-spring seasonality in this region of the country., Conclusions: NoVs were responsible for almost 50% of outbreaks, with about 70% of them resulting from genotype GII.4 and its variants. The seasonality observed could help health authorities to establish a system of active surveillance in order to reduce NoV impact especially in congregate settings., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: 10-valent conjugate pneumococcal vaccine/PCV10 was introduced in the Brazilian National Immunization Program along the year of 2010. We assessed the direct effectiveness of PCV10 vaccination in preventing nasopharyngeal/NP pneumococcal carriage in infants., Methods: A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted in Goiania Brazil, from December/2010-February/2011 targeting children aged 7-11 m and 15-18 m. Participants were selected using a systematic sampling. NP swabs, demographic data, and vaccination status were collected from 1,287 children during home visits. Main outcome and exposure of interest were PCV10 vaccine-type carriage and dosing schedules (3p+0, 2p+0, and one catch-up dose), respectively. Pneumococcal carriage was defined by a positive culture and serotyping was performed by Quellung reaction. Rate ratio/RR was calculated as the ratio between the prevalence of vaccine-types carriage in children exposed to different schedules and unvaccinated for PCV10. Adjusted RR was estimated using Poisson regression. PCV10 effectiveness/VE on vaccine-type carriage was calculated as 1-RR*100., Results: The prevalence of pneumococcal carriage was 41.0% (95%CI: 38.4-43.7). Serotypes covered by PCV10 and PCV13 were 35.2% and 53.0%, respectively. Vaccine serotypes 6B (11.6%), 23F (7.8%), 14 (6.8%), and 19F (6.6%) were the most frequently observed. After adjusted for confounders, children who had received 2p+0 or 3p+0 dosing schedule presented a significant reduction in pneumococcal vaccine-type carriage, with PCV10 VE equal to 35.9% (95%CI: 4.2-57.1; p = 0.030) and 44.0% (95%CI: 14.-63.5; p = 0.008), respectively, when compared with unvaccinated children. For children who received one catch-up dose, no significant VE was detected (p = 0.905)., Conclusion: PCV10 was associated with high protection against vaccine-type carriage with 2p+0 and 3p+0 doses for children vaccinated before the second semester of life. The continuous evaluation of carriage serotypes distribution is likely to be useful for evaluating the long-term effectiveness and impact of pneumococcal vaccination on serotypes reduction.

Background: In Latin America, few studies have been carried out on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage in the pediatric population. We conducted a survey of nasal S. aureus carriage in neonates and in children attending the pediatric outpatient clinics in a large Brazilian city with high antimicrobial consumption., Methods: Pernasal swabs of neonates were collected upon admission and at discharge in four neonatal intensive care units and of children less than five years of age during outpatient visits. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were characterized for antibiotic susceptibility, mec gene presence, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, spa type, SCCmec-type, multilocus sequence type, and presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes., Results: S. aureus was carried by 9.1% and 20.1% of the 701 neonates and of 2034 children attending the outpatient clinics, respectively; methicillin-resistant S. aureus carriage was detected in 0.6% and 0.2%, of the these populations, respectively. Healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains found in neonates from neonatal intensive care units and outpatients were genetically related to the Brazilian (SCCmec-III, ST239) and to the Pediatric (SCCmec-IV, ST5) clones. Community-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus was only detected in outpatients. None of the methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains contained the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains related to the Brazilian clone showed multidrug resistance pattern., Conclusions: Despite the high antibiotic pressure in our area, and the cross transmission of the healthcare-associated methicillin-resistant S. aureus clones between neonatal intensive care units and outpatients, the prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus carriage is still low in our setting., (Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda.)

Background: Nasal colonization with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) has been described as a risk factor for subsequent systemic infection. In this study, we evaluated the genetic profile of CoNS isolates colonizing the nares of children admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)., Methods: We assessed CoNS carriage at admittance and discharge among newborns admitted to a NICU from July 2007 through May 2008 in one of the major municipalities of Brazil. Isolates were screened on mannitol salt agar and tryptic soy broth and tested for susceptibility to antimicrobials using the disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the species, the presence of the mecA gene, and to perform SCCmec typing. S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolated from the same child at both admission and discharge were characterized by PFGE., Results: Among 429 neonates admitted to the NICU, 392 (91.4%) had nasal swabs collected at both admission and discharge. The incidence of CoNS during the hospitalization period was 55.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 50.9-60.7). The most frequently isolated species were S. haemolyticus (38.3%) and S.epidermidis (38.0%). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was detected in 2.2% and 29.9% of the CoNS isolates, respectively at admittance and discharge (p = 0.053). The mecA gene was more prevalent among strains isolated at discharge (83.6%) than those isolated at admission (60%); overall, SCCmec type I was isolated most frequently. The length of hospitalization was associated with colonization by MDR isolates (p < 0.005). Great genetic diversity was observed among S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus., Conclusions: NICU represents an environment of risk for colonization by MDR CoNS. Neonates admitted to the NICU can become a reservoir of CoNS strains with the potential to spread MDR strains into the community.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Hydroalcoholic solutions of propolis, a resinous product produced by bees, have been currently employed in improving the cicatricial repair. Biological activity of propolis might be related to its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomudalatory properties., Aim of This Study: Investigate the suitability of the collagen-based films containing hydroalcoholic extracts of two different varieties of Brazilian propolis (green and red ones) on the dermal burn healing in rodent model., Materials and Methods: The hydroalcoholic extracts of red propolis (RP) or Green propolis (GP) were incorporated into collagen-based dressing films (COL). Burn wounds were performed in the dorsum of Wistar rats and dressing with COL, COL+GPa (0.5%), COL+GPb (1,0%) or COL+RP (0.5%). A control group (CTR) was performed keeping the wound undressed. The histological analyses were carried out after 3, 7, 14, 21 and 30 days for histological assessment of the inflammatory response, epithelization rates (ER), myofibroblastic count (MC) and collagenization pattern., Results: GPa, GPb and RP provided significant decrease of the inflammatory severity, improved the ER in GPa in 7 (p=0.000), 14 (p=0.000), 21 (p=0.005) and 30 days (p=0.015), and induced earlier replacement of type-III for type-I collagen (p<0.05) than COL and CTR. In all the groups, the MC increased progressively from 3 to 14 days, and then started to decrease slowly until 21 days. Although no significant difference was observed among the groups in 3, 7 and 30 days, the MC was significantly increased in RP in 14 (p=0.0001) and 21 days (p=0.04), as well as grosser interlacement of the collagen bundles compared with the other groups., Conclusion: The incorporation of hydroalcoholic extracts of Brazilian propolis improved the biological events associated to burn healing without toxic effects, but the red variety provided the best results. Therefore, these collagen-based containing natural apicultural products films may be considered a promising new dressing for wound occlusion and tissue repairing., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The natural transmission cycle of Yellow Fever (YF) involves tree hole breeding mosquitoes and a wide array of nonhuman primates (NHP), including monkeys and apes. Some Neotropical monkeys (howler monkeys, genus Alouatta) develop fatal YF virus (YFV) infections similar to those reported in humans, even with minimum exposure to the infection. Epizootics in wild primates may be indicating YFV circulation, and the surveillance of such outbreaks in wildlife is an important tool to help prevent human infection. In 2001, surveillance activities successfully identified YF-related death in a black-and-gold howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), Rio Grande do Sul State (RGS) in southern Brazil, and the YFV was isolated from a species of forest-dwelling mosquito (Haemagogus leucocelaenus). These findings led the State Secretariat of Health to initiate a monitoring program for YF and other 18 arboviral infections in Alouatta monkeys. The monitoring program included monkey captures, reporting of monkey casualties by municipalities, and subsequent investigations. If monkey carcasses were found in forests, samples were collected in a standardized manner and this practice resulted in increased reporting of outbreaks. In October 2008, a single howler monkey in a northwestern RGS municipality was confirmed to have died from YF. From October 2008 to June 2009, 2,013 monkey deaths were reported (830 A. caraya and 1,183 A. guariba clamitans). Viruses isolation in blood, viscera, and/or immunohistochemistry led to the detection of YF in 204 of 297 (69%) (154 A. g. clamitans and 50 A. caraya) dead Alouatta monkeys tested. The number of municipalities with confirmed YFV circulation in howlers increased from 2 to 67 and 21 confirmed human cases occurred. This surveillance system was successful in identifying the largest YF outbreak affecting wild NHP ever recorded., (© 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is a phytopathogenic fungus causing gummosis, a threatening disease for cashew plants in Brazil. In an attempt to investigate the ultrastructural features of the pathogen colonization and its response to immunofluorescence labeling, light, confocal and electron microscope studies were conducted on different severity scale patterns of diseased plants. Lasiodiplodia-antisera was checked for cross reactivity against common cashew plants fungi. Optical microscopy analysis revealed a longitudinally sectioned hyphae located within the xylem vessels, showing an extensive hyphal development in the secondary xylem tissue. SEM images demonstrated that the fungus was found in some asymptomatic samples, particularly within the xylem vessels as confirmed by the optical images. Symptomatic sample images showed an extensive distribution of the fungus along the secondary xylem, within the vessels, infecting xylem parenchyma. A closer look in the secondary xylem parenchyma reveals a heavy and profuse invasion of the cells with a distinguishable cell wall disintegration and fully hyphae dispersal. There was no reactivity of Lasiodiplodia-antisera against mycelial extracts of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, Phomopsis anardii and Pestalotiopsis guepinii. Following incubation of sections with the polyclonal antisera, the hyphae were intensely and regularly labeled. Rays, vessels and parenchyma cells were the preferred pathway for L. theobromae colonization. Artificial infection provides the information that the vascular cylinder is undoubtedly employed and used by the fungus for hyphae distribution. Immunofluorescence assay employed in situ was applied and the polyclonal antisera produced was able to recognize the fungus and proved to be a sensitive technique to detect it., (Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This is the first record of Culex (Culex) brethesi (Dyar) in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil. The species was identified from specimens collected in a sand bar vegetation with the aid of a Nasci's trap, during an expedition for surveillance of the West Nile Virus in July of 2006, in the city of Mostardas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Objectives: We have recently found a high prevalence of non-typeable pneumococcal isolates (NTPn) circulating in day-care centers in Central Brazil, besides serotype 14 isolates. We therefore examined the genetic relationship among NTPn and serotype 14 from carriage and invasive pneumococcal isolates obtained from children attending emergency rooms enrolled in a population-based surveillance., Methods: The isolates were characterized by Quellung reaction serotyping, PCR for the presence of pneumolysin and the loci for a capsule gene (cpsA) and the type 14 gene (cps14H) in all NTPn, and by multilocus sequence typing and pulsed field gel electrophoresis., Results: 87.2% of the isolates were clustered into nine clusters. The major cluster included 41 pneumococcal serotype 14 (28 carriage and 13 invasive isolates) and two NTPn related to the global pneumococcal clone Spain(9V)-3. Overall, 95.4% of the NTPn carriage strains were genetically related to carriage or invasive strains expressing serotype 14. A dominant NTPn lineage was found, that grouped 14 pneumococcal strains. Almost half of the multidrug-resistant isolates grouped into the NTPn cluster., Conclusion: These findings provide baseline data to assess the impact of the pneumococcal vaccination on the molecular epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Changes in frequency of NTPn isolates and also genetic changes should be carefully monitored post vaccination, to detect potential vaccine-escape or replacement disease by capsule switched strains, especially in areas where colonization with NTPn has been frequently observed., (Copyright © 2010 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

A survey of nasopharyngeal carriage of penicillin nonsusceptible pneumococcal (PNSp) isolates was conducted among 1192 children attending 62 day care centers in Brazil, where pneumococcal vaccination has not been routinely introduced. Nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage was detected in 686 (57.6%) infants, and 178 (25.9%) of them carried PNSp isolates. Being less than 24 months of age, hospitalization in the previous 3 months, and recurrent acute otitis media were independently associated with PNSp. Serotypes 14, 23F, 19A, 6A, 6B and 19F were the most common serotype isolated accounting for 80% of the PNSp. A high proportion (35/332) of non-(sero)typeable isolates was detected, 62.9% of them PNSp. Serotypes coverage projected for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) 13-valent vaccine (72%) was significantly higher compared with PCV7 (58.4%) and PCV 10-valent vaccine (59.3%).

Investigations regarding Staphylococcus aureus carriage among Brazilian children are scarce. We evaluated the determinants of S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage in infants attending day care centers (DCCs) and the molecular features of the MRSA strains. A total of 1,192 children aged 2 months to 5 years attending 62 DCCs were screened for S. aureus and MRSA nasal carriage. MRSA isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, spa typing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec typing and the presence of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene. Logistic regression was performed to determine risk factors associated with S. aureus and MRSA colonization. S. aureus and MRSA carriage were detected in 371 (31.1%) and 14 (1.2%) children, respectively. Variables found to be independently associated with an increased risk for S. aureus carriage included being older than 24 months (odds ratio [OR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 2.6) and previous DCC attendance (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.2). Having a mother with a high level of education was a protective factor for nasal colonization (OR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.2 to 0.8). Moreover, we observed that more children carrying MRSA had younger siblings than children not colonized by MRSA. Among the 14 MRSA strains, three SCCmec types (IIIA, IV, and V) were detected, together with a multidrug-resistant dominant MRSA lineage sharing 82.7% genetic similarity with the Brazilian clone (ST239-MRSA-IIIA; ST indicates the sequence type determined by multilocus sequence typing). Although SCCmec type V was recovered from one healthy child who had been exposed to known risk factors for hospital-associated MRSA, its genetic background was compatible with community-related MRSA. Our data suggest that DCC attendees could be contributing to MRSA cross-transmission between health care and community settings.

The intake of radioactive material by workers can occur in the radiopharmaceuticals production or during the handling of these in the medical fields (nuclear medicine). The workers who work in areas where exposures are significant are routinely monitored to demonstrate that the workers are receiving adequate protection from internal contamination. Direct measurements of whole-body and thyroid contents provide an estimate of the activity value of these radionuclides in the potentially exposed workers. The whole-body measurements of the workers, trainees and visitors are routinely performed by the In Vivo Monitoring Laboratory (LMIV) of the Energy and Nuclear Research Institute (IPEN/CNEN-SP). The frequency of measurements is defined by the Radioprotection Service (SRP) and the Dose Calculation Group of IPEN. During the period 2006-2007, 2500 measurements had been carried in workers who develop tasks related to the production of radiopharmaceuticals. The activity value of the radionuclides and the workers' tasks relationship had been evaluated.

Background: This study investigated the effect of either oral or transdermal hormone replacement therapy (HRT) on haemostatic, fibrinolytic and lipid profiles in a group of Brazilian women 3 months after beginning treatment by comparing these results with those obtained immediately before HRT., Methods: Plasma levels of TAT, DDi, F1+2, PC, PS, AT, PAI-1 and serum lipids were determined in blood samples collected from 24 women undergoing oral HRT and from 11 women undergoing transdermal HRT., Results: Significant increases in DDi and F1+2 plasma levels were observed after 3 months of oral HRT, while PS levels decreased. After transdermal HRT, a significant decrease was observed only for AT levels., Conclusion: After 3 months of oral HRT and in the absence of major genetic and acquired risk factors, women displayed a predisposition for activation of blood coagulation, and an increased activity of the fibrinolytic system. Oral HRT seemed to be more effective in predisposing haemostatic changes as compared to transdermal.

We retrospectively analyzed 98 proven cases of centipede stings admitted to Hospital Vital Brazil, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil, between 1990 and 2007. Most stings occurred at the metropolitan area of São Paulo city (n=94, 95.9%), in the domiciles of patients (n=67, 68.4%), and during the warm-rainy season (n=60, 61.2%). The mean age of the victims was 32.0+/-18.8-years-old. Cryptops and Otostigmus genera were responsible for most cases. Around 86% of the patients sought medical care within 6h after the sting. Both lower (56.1 %) and upper limbs (41.8 %) were most frequently bitten, especially the feet and hands (89.8%). The most frequent local clinical manifestations were pain (94.9%), erythema (44.9%) and edema (21.4%), and the latter was mainly observed in patients bitten by Otostigmus spp. Supportive treatment was used in only 28.6% of the patients, namely administration of local anesthesia (9.2%) and systemic analgesia (13.3%). No sequels or complications were observed in patients, and the prognostic was benign.

The extent of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in Brazilian infants is largely unknown. We evaluated the presence of MRSA nasopharyngeal (NP) carriage in 686 children younger than 5 years with respiratory tract infection (609) and meningitis (77). S. aureus was isolated in 93 (13.5%) NP specimens of which 7 (1.02%) were identified as MRSA (oxacillin MIC, >256 microg/mL) harboring SCCmec type III. The dendrogram derived from the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis gel images showed that the MRSA strains diverged from the Brazilian endemic hospital-acquired clones from 10.4% to 21.7%. Although the MRSA strains were recovered from children within the first 6 h of their admission to hospital, the presence of SCCmec type III along with the multidrug-resistant profile of the isolates raises the hypotheses that these MRSA strains may have hospital origin and are now spreading into the pediatric community as colonizing pathogens.

The contribution of mutations in the prothrombin (FII G20210A), methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (C677T) genes and factor V Leiden (FVL) to the pathogenesis of arterial thrombosis remains controversial. In this study, these polymorphisms were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in a group of 53 patients that presented arterial thrombosis other than myocardial infarction as a first thrombotic event and 275 control subjects living in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Odds ratio (OR) and chi tests were applied for statistical comparisons. Similar frequencies were detected among patients and control subjects for the C677T mutation. The 20210A mutation was present in 3.6% of the control subjects but was not detected among ischemic stroke patients. Significant differences were detected only for factor V Leiden (odds ratio 7.11; 95% confidence interval 1.55-32.73). Our data indicate that, among these genetic factors, factor V Leiden was identified as an important risk factor for arterial thrombosis in this group of patients. In addition, our results indicate regional differences in the incidence of these genetic factors in Brazil, as compared to the incidences reported in other studies.

In recent years, a viral disease on melon plants has become a serious problem in Brazil. Symptoms were principally yellowing and mottling on older leaves. Long filamentous virus particles, resembling those of carlaviruses, were seen in symptomatic leaves. In this study, the 3' terminal region of the virus genome isolated from an infected plant, including the last two ORFs, was cloned and sequenced. The sequence comprised a polyadenilated tail and two ORFs, one exhibiting similarity to potexvirus and carlavirus coat protein gene and the second to a carlavirus protein with potential nucleic acid-binding property. The sequence analysis, the genome organization and the particle morphology indicated that the virus could be classified as a novel whitefly-transmitted flexivirus. The name Melon yellowing-associated virus (MYaV) is tentatively suggested for this virus.

Bites by many species of venomous snake may result in local necrosis at, or extending from, the site of the bite. The use of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infection as a complication of local necrotic envenoming is controversial. A double-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out to assess whether antibiotic therapy is effective in this situation. Two hundred and fifty-one patients, with proven envenoming by snakes of the genus Bothrops, admitted to two hospitals in Brazil, between 1990 and 1996, were randomized to receive either oral chloramphenicol (500 mg every six hours for five days) or placebo. One hundred and twenty-two of these patients received chloramphenicol (group 1) and 129 were given placebo (group 2). There were no significant differences between the groups at the time of admission. Necrosis developed in seven (5.7%) patients in group 1 and in five (3.9%) patients in group 2 (P>0.05) while abscesses occurred in six patients (4.9%) in group 1 and in six (4.7%) patients in group 2 (P>0.05). In conclusion, the use of orally-administered chloramphenicol for victims of Bothrops snake bite with signs of local envenoming on admission, is not effective for the prevention of local infections.

Cardiovascular effects of intravenous (i. v.) treatment with the essential oil of Mentha x villosa (EOMV) were investigated in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats. Additionally this study examines whether the major constituent of EOMV, piperitenone oxide (PO), is the active principle mediating EOMV-induced changes in mean aortic pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) and whether the autonomic nervous system is involved in the mediation of these cardiovascular effects. Two samples of EOMV have been tested: one contained 62.32% of PO (sample 1) and the other contained a higher percent (95.87%) of PO (sample 2). Intravenous injections of bolus doses (1 to 20 mg/kg) of both samples of EOMV elicited immediate and dose-dependent decreases in MAP and HR. These cardiovascular responses were also observed following i. v. injections of PO (1 to 20 mg/kg). However, maximal percent decreases in MAP and HR elicited by sample 2 of EOMV were significantly greater than those evoked by sample 1 of EOMV, while they were of the same order of magnitude as those elicited by PO. Pretreatment of rats with either bilateral vagotomy or i. v. methylatropine (1 mg/kg) did not modify significantly the hypotensive and bradycardic responses to EOMV. In contrast, pretreatment with i. v. hexamethonium (30 mg/kg) partially, but significantly, reduced the bradycardic effects of EOMV without affecting hypotension. The present study shows for the first time that i. v. treatment with EOMV in pentobarbitone-anaesthetised rats induces hypotensive and bradycardic effects, which appear mostly attributed to the actions of the major constituent of EOMV, PO. These cardiovascular effects appear to be independent since EOMV-induced bradycardia appears dependent upon the presence of an intact and functional sympathetic nerve drive to the heart, while EOMV-induced hypotension appears independent of the presence of an operational sympathetic nervous system. This suggests that hypotensive activity of EOMV may result from its vasodilatory effects directly upon vascular smooth muscle.

The authors report five cases of seabather's eruption, a typical dermatitis associated predominantly to the jellyfish Linuche unguiculata (Cnidaria), that causes erythematous and pruriginous papules on areas of the skin of bathers covered by swimsuits. The rash is characteristic and the eruption is commom in the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico and Gulf States of USA. The cases are the first reported in Brazil and larvae of the jellyfish are present in the waters where the accidents happened.

Methanol extracts of propolis from six different places, five in Rio de Janeiro state and one in São Paulo state, both in the Southeast of Brazil, were investigated using high-temperature high-resolution gas chromatography (HT-HRGC) and HT-HRGC-mass spectometry. The main purpose of the study was to establish the applicability of HT-HRGC as an analytical method for systematic studies of polar propolis fractions. Several compounds, including carbohydrates, phenolic acid derivatives, and high molecular weight compounds (e.g., wax esters of long chain fatty alcohols) could be readily characterized in the crude extracts by HT-HRGC-MS. HT-HRGC and HT-HRGC-MS were shown to be quick and informative tools for rapid analysis of crude polar extracts without cleanup.

Cardiovascular effects of intravenous (i.v.) treatment with the essential oil of Croton nepetaefolius (EOCN) were investigated in rats. Additionally, this study examined the importance of the autonomic nervous system in mediation of the EOCN-induced changes in mean aortic pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR). In both pentobarbitone-anaesthetised and conscious rats, i.v. bolus injections of EOCN (1 to 50 mg/kg) elicited dose-dependent decreases in MAP and HR. Both decreases were of the same order of magnitude or duration, irrespective of whether the animal was under general anaesthesia. Pretreatment of anaesthetised rats with bilateral vagotomy reduced the magnitude of EOCN-induced bradycardia without affecting hypotension. Likewise, i.v. pretreatment of conscious rats with either methylatropine (1 mg/kg) or hexamethonium (30 mg/kg) significantly decreased the bradycardic effects of EOCN by the same order of magnitude. Neither compound influenced the hypotensive effects elicited by EOCN. This is the first physiological evidence that i.v. treatment with EOCN in either anaesthetised or conscious rats elicits hypotension and bradycardia. EOCN-induced bradycardia appears dependent upon the presence of an intact and functional parasympathetic nerve drive to the heart. However, EOCN-induced hypotension appears independent of the presence of an operational sympathetic nervous system. This suggests that EOCN may be a direct vasorelaxant agent.

Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in Brazil, is affected by severe pollution episodes and presents a high respiratory cancer incidence in comparison with the rest of the country. To monitor atmospheric pollution during the summer of 1998/1999 and to estimate the impact of organic pollution on public health, we determined the levels of two carcinogenic organic chemicals, benzo[a]pyrene and benzene, in four distinct sites throughout the city. A review of the levels recorded in other urban areas worldwide during the last ten years indicates that the benzo[a]pyrene (< or = 0.70 ng/m3) and benzene (< or = 11 micrograms/m3) concentrations found in Rio are relatively low. The highest levels were generally recorded in developing Asian countries, whereas the lowest values were found in North America. Unlike urban areas in temperate zones, pollution derived from domestic heating is minor in Rio de Janeiro, where most of the benzo[a]pyrene and benzene pollution originates from vehicular traffic. The quite distinct fuels used in light-duty vehicles in Brazil, combined with strong light incidence and increased rainfall during the summer, also contribute to diminish the levels of such pollutants.

Sterols, n-alkanols, organic carbon (OC), C/N ratios and carbon isotope data (delta 13C) were investigated in sediments of the urban Capibaribe River estuary, NE Brazil, in order to assess allochthonous and autochthonous sources of organic matter (OM). Sedimentary OC values are high, but C/N ratios and delta 13C data generally fall within the range of values reported in other riverine systems, and suggest mixed inputs from aquatic and terrestrial matter. Mean values for total 4-desmethyl sterols and high molecular weight (HMW) n-alkanols are 11.0 micrograms/g and 2.8 micrograms/g, respectively. Sterols are found at highest levels in areas of enhanced urban outfalls. They can be related to major planktonic species growing in riverine waters. Stanol/stenol ratios suggest a high degree of alteration of the autochthonous OM as a result of elevated temperatures and microbiological proliferation. Even though sterols suggest the importance of autochthonous inputs to the river, HMW n-alkanols indicate major terrigenous accumulation at the mouth and 10 km upriver. Coprostanol and epicoprostanol levels are comparable to other sewage contaminated hydrosystems, but not as high as expected given the importance of sewage outfalls and low riverine water discharge. However, high (coprostanol)/(coprostanol + cholestanol) ratio values indicate that fecal contamination is significant.

The authors have reviewed the pharmacological studies done with essential oils obtained in the state of Ceará, in Northeast of Brazil, from 15 species of aromatic plants, some of which are native to the phytogeographic semiarid region characteristic of the Northeast, the "caatingas". These studies have dealt with the effect of these oils on muscle contraction and with their antispasmodic, analgesic, antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant and antibacterial activity. The essential oils of the medicinal species have shown activity coherent with the use of these plants in folk medicine. The review is aimed primarily at summarizing the information relevant for a critical evaluation of the perspectives and potential of these oils as pharmacological and therapeutic agents.

A clinical and epidemiological study of 267 cases of envenomation by Loxosceles spp. (loxoscelism), notified to Centro de Informações Toxicológicas de Florianópolis (Santa Catarina State, Brazil), was conducted between January 1985 and December 1995. Most of the incidents occurred along the coast of the mid-southern region of the state, during the warmest months. L. laeta and L. intermedia were identified as the causative agents. Cutaneous loxoscelism was clinically diagnosed in 232 (86.9%) patients with local pain (86.5%), oedema (80.5%), hyperaemia (79.8%) and necrosis (56.9%). Cutaneous-visceral loxoscelism was detected in 35 patients (13.1%) with intravascular haemolysis, manifested by jaundice (68.6%), oliguria (45.7%), dark urine (28.6%), haemorrhage (25.7%), anuria (8.6%) and shock (2.9%), besides the cutaneous effects. Specific antivenom was given to 125 patients (46.8%) and only 8 (6.5%) had mild reactions. Acute renal failure was observed in 17 cases (6.4%); 4 patients (1.5%) died, all of whom were children under 14 years old.

The jararacuçu, one of the most dreaded snakes of Brazil, southern Bolivia, Paraguay and northeastern Argentina, is a heavily-built pit viper which may grow to a length of 2.2 m. Up to 1000 mg (dry weight) of highly-lethal venom may be milked from its venom glands on a single occasion. It has accounted for 0.8% to 10% of series of snake bites in São Paulo State, Brazil. We examined 29 cases of proven jararacuçu bites recruited over a 20-year period in two São Paulo hospitals. Severe signs of local and systemic envenoming, (local necrosis, shock, spontaneous systemic bleeding, renal failure) were seen only in patients bitten by snakes longer than 50 cm; bites by shorter specimens were more likely to cause incoagulable blood. Fourteen patients developed coagulopathy, six local necrosis (requiring amputation in one) and five local abscesses. Two became shocked and four developed renal failure. Three patients, aged 3, 11 and 65 years, died 18.75, 27.75 and 83 h after being bitten, with respiratory and circulatory failure despite large doses of specific antivenom and intensive-care-unit management. In two patients, autopsies revealed acute renal tubular necrosis, cerebral oedema, haemorrhagic rhabdomyolysis at the site of the bite and disseminated intravascular coagulation. In one survivor with chronic renal failure, renal biopsy showed bilateral cortical necrosis; the patient remains dependent on haemodialysis. Effects of polyspecific Bothrops antivenom were not impressive, and it has been suggested that anti-Bothrops and anti-Crotalus antivenoms should be given in combination.

From 1966 to 1991 91 cases of bites due to mygalomorph spiders were recorded at the Hospital Vital Brazil, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil, representing less than 1% of all spider bites. The diagnosis was confirmed by positive identification of the spider involved. Envenoming is generally mild, the main symptom is local pain, and there is minor oedema and erythema. The data confirm the assumption that these nonaggressive spiders pose no health problem.