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The occurrence of acute paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) in urban areas of the Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, has emerged in recent years. Therefore, young populations, including pregnant women, are at a higher risk of infection. Furthermore, young women undergoing itraconazole treatment for PCM have increased chances to get pregnant because this medication may reduce the effectiveness of contraceptives. Acute PCM is invasive, reaching abdominal organs, posing a maternal-fetal risk. PCM treatment in pregnant women is also challenging due to the teratogenicity associated with the currently available oral drugs. There are scarce studies on PCM and pregnancy, mainly consisting of case reports and experimental murine models that highlight the severity of this association. We conducted a database research at a PCM reference center in Rio de Janeiro state from 1980 to 2020. We included patients diagnosed with PCM who were pregnant shortly before, at admission, or at any moment of their PCM follow-up care. Data related to pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn were obtained from the Brazilian official public databases. We also reviewed the epidemiological and clinical features of these patients. During the study period, we identified 18 pregnant patients, with a median age of 26 years (range: 16–38). Among these cases, six (33.3%) were detected in the last 5 years, and 14 (77.8%) presented acute PCM, supporting the recent shift in the epidemiological profile towards acute PCM. Most pregnancies occurred during PCM treatment (n = 11, 61.1%), which led to challenges in the therapeutic management. Maternal-fetal complications occurred in some of these cases, including vaginal bleeding (n = 1), preeclampsia (n = 1), prematurity (n = 2), low birth weight (n = 4), and fetal deaths (n = 2). PCM during pregnancy presents a significant public health concern in the context of the emergence of acute PCM in urban areas. Author summary: Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a fungal infection that is common in Brazil and other parts of Latin America. There are two clinical forms: the chronic, which affects rural workers and the acute, which is usually more severe and tends to affect young people. The Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, is endemic for PCM, and juvenile cases have increased in the recent years. This is concerning for pregnant women since they could also be affected. In addition, young women could get pregnant during the PCM treatment because itraconazole, the main medication to treat PCM, may reduce the effectiveness of contraceptives. This could represent a risk to both mother and fetus because acute PCM is more invasive, reaching abdominal organs. PCM treatment in pregnant women is a challenge because the available oral drugs to treat this mycosis can be harmful to the fetus. There is little information about this important issue in the literature. Therefore, we investigated cases of PCM in pregnancy performing a search in the databases of a PCM specialized center in Rio de Janeiro state. We found 18 pregnant patients in the period of 1980–2020, most of them presenting acute PCM (n = 14, 77.8%) with a moderate to severe clinical profile. Most pregnancies occurred during PCM treatment (n = 11, 61.1%), which created difficulties in the management of both conditions. Some of these cases experienced complications, including prematurity, low birth weight, and two fetal deaths. PCM in pregnancy is an important public health issue and the authors hope to contribute with the knowledge of this subject, to improve care for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current climate change scenario caused by anthropogenic activities has resulted in novel environmental pressures, increasing the occurrence and severity of fungal infections in the marine environment. Research on fungi in several taxonomic groups is widespread although not the case for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays). In this context, the aim of the present study was to screen the oral fungal microbiota present in artisanally captured Rioraja agassizii, a batoid that, although endangered, is highly fished and consumed worldwide. Oropharyngeal samples were obtained by swabbing and the samples were investigated using morphological and phenotypic methods by streaking on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) and subculturing onto CHROMagar Candida (BD Difco) and CHROMagar Candida Plus (CHROMagarTM), as well as molecular techniques by amplification of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 ribosomal DNA region and a MALDI-TOF MS assessment. The findings indicated the presence of Candida parapsilosis (seven isolates), Candida duobushaemulonii (one isolate) and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (three isolates), several of these reported for the first time in Rioraja agassizii. In addition, a 100% agreement between the MALDI-TOF results and partial ITS region sequencing was noted, demonstrating that the MALDI-TOF MS is a rapid and effective alternative for yeast identification in Rioraja agassizii isolates and potentially in other elasmobranch species. These findings highlight the need for further research to determine the potential impact on elasmobranch health, ecology, and commercial fisheries. Furthermore, this research is paramount in a One Health framework and may be employed to predict elasmobranch responses to an evolving ocean, keep healthy populations in check, monitor species, and assess the public health consequences of consuming these species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activity directly or indirectly causes climate change, promoting changes in the composition of the atmosphere. This change is beyond the variation of the natural climate. In this manner, climate change could create an environmental pressure which is enough to trigger new fungal diseases. In addition to climate alterations, the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has also been associated with the emergence of fungal pathogens. Fungi showed that an inability to grow at high temperatures limits the capacity of fungi to infect mammals. However, fungi can develop thermotolerance, gradually adapting to rising temperatures due to climate change, and generating a greater number of disease-causing organisms. In the present study, we reported the detection and identification of Candida palmioleophila isolates recovered from raw sewage samples in Niteroi city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, during a monitoring program for measuring SARS-CoV-2 presence and concentration. Using polyphasic taxonomy to identify the species and evaluating some virulence aspects of this species, such as biofilm formation and extracellular enzyme production, our data highlight this species as a possible emerging pathogen in Brazil, especially in the pandemic context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Feline sporotrichosis is enzootic in different regions of Brazil, especially in Rio de Janeiro. This study compared the genotype profiles of Sporothrix sp. isolated from cats in Rio de Janeiro between 1998 and 2018 and evaluated their association with clinical and epidemiological characteristics. One hundred nineteen Sporothrix sp. isolates from a cohort of cats with sporotrichosis seen at INI/Fiocruz were included. Clinical and epidemiological data were obtained from the medical records of the animals. T3B PCR fingerprinting was used for molecular identification of the Sporothrix species. All isolates were characterized as Sporothrix brasiliensis, with the observation of low intraspecific variation in 31 isolates (31.3%). The interval between lesion onset and first medical visit at INI/Fiocruz, as well as treatment duration until clinical cure, was longer in cats from the first decade of the epizootic. In addition, the frequency of the variables "good general status" and "presence of lymphadenomegaly" was higher among cats whose strains did not exhibit intraspecific variation. So far, S. brasiliensis has been the only species identified in feline cases of sporotrichosis since the beginning of the epizootic in Rio de Janeiro at INI/Fiocruz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Tropical Medicine & International Health is the property of Wiley-Blackwell 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.)

Background: There have been several recent changes in the taxonomy of Sporothrix schenckii as well as new observations regarding the clinical aspects of sporotrichosis. In this study, we determined the identification of the Sporothrix species associated with both classic and unusual clinical aspects of sporotrichosis observed in the endemic area of sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Methodology/Principal Findings: To verify whether S. brasiliensis is associated with clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis, a cross-sectional study was performed in which Sporothrix isolates from 50 patients with different clinical manifestations were analyzed and their isolates were studied by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Data from these patients revealed a distinct clinical picture and therapeutic response in infections caused by Sporothrix brasiliensis (n = 45) compared to patients with S. schenckii sensu stricto (n = 5). S. brasiliensis was associated with disseminated cutaneous infection without underlying disease, hypersensitivity reactions, and mucosal infection, whereas patients with S. schenckii presented with less severe and more often localized disease, similar to the majority of previously described sporotrichosis cases. Interestingly, S. brasiliensis-infected patients overall required shorter durations of itraconazole (median 16 weeks) compared to the individuals with S. schenckii (median 24 weeks). Conclusions/Significance: These findings suggest that Sporothrix species are linked to different clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis and that S. brasiliensis is effectively treated with oral itraconazole. Author Summary: Sporothrix brasiliensis is a dimorphic fungus that is responsible for an ongoing epidemic of cat-transmitted sporotrichosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. More than 4,100 human cases have been diagnosed in only one health institution since 1998. Most patients are children or housewives with frequent contact with domestic and/or stray cats. The patients usually live under poverty conditions in suburban regions of the metropolitan area with poor access to health care and unsanitary living conditions. For instance, most patients report that they need to have cats in their houses as a control against invasion by rodents. It is important to study the clinical aspects of S. brasiliensis infection in order to improve patient management, including optimizing therapeutic and prophylactic approaches. We have found that S. brasiliensis is responsible for some unusual clinical manifestations of sporotrichosis, such as disseminated infection in immunocompetent patients and hypersensitivity reactions. Also, treatment with itraconazole appears to be extremely effective in most cases of infection by S. brasiliensis. Our study will contribute for the management of the infection caused by S. brasiliensis, bringing benefits to the patients with sporotrichosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus, manganese, sulfur (S), lead, and strontium of atmospheric total suspended particulate matter, sampled during the rainy season and the dry season 2002 at the Ilha Grande Island (Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) have been analyzed by XRF techniques. The results showed total mean concentrations of 27 ± 16 ng P m, 11 ± 7 ng Mn m, 159 ± 126 ng S m, 4.3 ± 2.6 ng Pb m, and 208 ± 148 ng Sr m. Generally, there is no clear influence of the two different climatic periods on the concentrations of most analyzed trace elements, with exception of sulfur the mean concentration of which, during the dry season, is about 60% higher than during the rainy season. This is probably due to biomass burning, a common practice in the Brazilian Southeast and Amazon region and/or to the presence of marine aerosols. The linear correlation coefficients strongly suggest the same source for P, Pb, and Mn. Some Pb, Mn, and P concentrations are in the range of typical values of urban areas. Potential sources of such elements are the urban and industrial emissions from the States of Rio de Janeiro and/or São Paulo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: to check the time of transition from the feeding tube to oral feeding in newborns with Bronchopulmonar Dysplasia (BPD); observe the difficulties occurred during the oral feeding. Methods: the speech pathology department reviewed thirty-two past cases of newborns born in the Pedro Ernesto Hospital of Rio de Janeiro State University. The first group was composed of eighteen newborns with BPD, while a second group was composed of eighteen healthy newborns born between 29 and 32 weeks used as a control group. We observed in both groups the following items: time it took for the newborns to transition from the feeding tube to the oral one, the difficulties presented during feeding periods, and finally the type of oral alimentation used by the discharge time. Results: the mean and standard deviation of the sample were 18.22 days and 14.79, respectively; for the control group it was 6.50 and 3.68, respectively (p=0.002). The group with BPD showed respiratory stress, lack of coordination between suctions, breathing and swallowing, and suction dysfunction. They also fell asleep during alimentation, showing extreme physical strain and defensive behaviors. Despite these results, 10 newborns (52.63%) were discharged on exclusive breastfeeding and 3 (15,78%) on mixed feeding (cupfeeding with breastfeeding). Conclusion: patients with BPD need extended time (18 days) to learn oral feeding, and moreover, they are susceptible to intercurrence during feeding. Nevertheless, it was possible to testify an exclusive breastfeeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By playing, children understand their environment, learn by complicating their daily tasks and develop themselves. Among those who have an illness such as cancer, playing has an additional role as it helps them to face situations that are difficult to control, such as hospitalization, being away from family, friends and school, and being submitted to invasive and painful procedures. Little is known about the role of playing in the life of the child when the treatment continues at home. The study investigates the play of the child with cancer under treatment at an outpatient clinic in the community, with the aim of describing and analyzing the mediators used in plays and games. The qualitative research was carried out through the creative and sensitive method, with 12 schoolchildren under treatment for cancer at an outpatient clinic. The scenario was a hospital in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The process of analysis led to the theme of play mediators, which unfolded in two subthemes: the first is related to instruments and symbols used in play and games, and the second refers to social interaction (people and environment) in play and games. The children attributed little significance to the possible limits of having an illness in plays and games. They try to normalize their lives, they are open to relationships with their peers and transform different settings in places for playing. Providing spaces so that they can express their preferred plays means recognizing that their development needs are part of the therapeutic plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to describe the adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adolescents followed-up in Rio de Janeiro. This cross-sectional study included all adolescents (aged 10-19 years) followed at Instituto de Puericultura e Pediatria Martagão Gesteira and Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho. Adherence was determined by selfreport (number of missed ART doses in three days prior to the interview). Adherence was categorized as taking ⩾95% of the ARTs (adherent), or <95% (non-adherent). Variables related to demographics and treatment were evaluated and if P value ⩽0.15, they were selected for a logistic regression analysis. One hundred and one adolescents were interviewed. The mean time on ART was 91 months and the mean adherence was 94% of this, 21 were non-adherent, and 80 adherent. The risk factors associated with non-adherence were: if the patient was not concerned about ART, odds ratio (OR) = 3.47 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.13- 10.68); if they do not carry an extra dose of ART, OR = 6.63 (95% CI = 1.73-25.47); if a health-care worker taught them how to take ART, OR = 0.27 (95% CI = 0.08-0.93). Adherence among adolescents was higher than expected. Factors associated with lack of adherence were: interviewees being unaware of ARTs and lack of commitment to the treatment. Interventions involving these factors must be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The first case of meningoencephalitis-associated Penicillium spp. • Case report of brain injury caused by Penicillium chrysogenum in a patient who is immunocompetent. • The need for studies to determine treatment for severe forms of invasive infections. Fungal infections of the central nervous system present a variety of clinical syndromes, such as meningitis, encephalitis, raised intracranial pressure with a nonspecific presentation, and, in the last two decades, have increased the incidence of these fungal infections. Fungal meningoencephalitis is frequently associated with Cryptococcus , but this report stands out for presenting one species of Penicillium genus. Here, we present the first case of meningoencephalitis associated with brain injury caused by Penicillium chrysogenum , in a patient who is immunocompetent and was admitted to Hospital Naval Marcílio Dias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To identify the fungal species, we performed phenotypic and genotypic methodologies, from the culture to the sequencing of internal transcribed spacer region, and β-tubulin gene, a rare fungus in cerebrospinal fluid cultures, belonging to the genus Penicillium , was identified. We highlight the importance of the first report of meningoencephalitis caused by P. chrysogenum in a patient who is immunocompetent, registered in Brazil. We also emphasize the need for further studies to determine an effective treatment with the least possible side effects for patients infected by fungi that are rarely related to the most severe forms of invasive infections. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geophysical surveys have been widely used for geological mapping, and with appropriate ground calibration the database can be converted to radiometric surveys. Herein we present a case study of a high resolution map of the City of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, constructed by integrating aerial and in situ (ground) measurements. This allowed assessing the influence of urbanization observed between 1978 and 2009 on radiation external exposure. Radiometric, geological and demographics databases were integrated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) facility. The average absorbed dose rate recorded for the city was 96 ± 0.3 nGy h−1 and ranged from 22 to 152 nGy h−1 among districts. The corresponding annual effective dose was determined as 0.09 ± 0.01 mSv. The number of people at risk per year according to the estimated natural radiation levels was 17 ± 1.4, among the 28,000 new cases estimated by the INCA (Brazilian National Cancer Institute) within a population of approximately 6.3 million people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We present here an investigation of the depositional processes of 7Be-carrying aerosols in the troposphere through an analysis of the isotope concentration variability measured at Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) during 2008 and 2009, with weekly resolution. By adopting a simplified description of the equilibrium scenario in the troposphere and combining our isotopic data with regional meteorological parameters and numerical CRAC:Be7 model of cosmogenic production, it was possible to quantitatively reproduce the observed seasonal variability and estimate the typical 7Be-aerosols residence time in the lower troposphere (t r ∼1day) as well as the washout coefficient for each season (wet: Λ =0.029; and dry: Λ =0.023h−1). These results allowed us to discuss the origin of the seasonal patterns of 7Be concentrations, indicating that the wet deposition modulation, caused by changes in the regional weather condition, is the most important forcing in both seasons. Even an anomaly in isotopic short-term measured variability can be explained when a detailed air-mass dynamic is considered. Our results indicate that anomalous events of tropospheric dynamic, such as occurrence of strong downward air flux, imprint information about air masses 3-D movement in the near-ground air 7Be data, making 7Be a useful tracer of its peculiar dynamics at local and synoptic scales in the troposphere. This study, limited to a single location and one year time interval, illustrates the potential of the method. A more detailed general study is planned for the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Lack of information about lavender growth and essential oil (EO) in tropical climates. • Phosphorus (P) fertilizers can improve lavender growth and EO yield. • Phosphorus fertilization improve linalool and linalyl acetate content of EO. True lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) belongs to the genus Lavandula and is the most cultivated and commercialized species in the world. This specie is used in perfumery industry, but also presents medicinal properties. The production of these metabolites can be affected by several factors, among which is the supply of mineral nutrients. The proposal of this study was to evaluate the adaptability of plants and the mineral complementation of phosphorus in the plant growth and essential oil (EO) yield and quality of lavender in tropical climate, in the north of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The seeds were germinated and planted in 20 L pots previously fertilized with five levels of phosphorus (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mg/dm3). Two harvests were evaluated, between 2018 and 2019. Lavandula angustifolia Mill. plants showed adaptability to tropical climate, being the best growth results obtained in the second harvest. All the characteristics evaluated in the second harvest showed influence of phosphate fertilization. The nutritional levels allowed to establish the order of accumulation of K > N>Ca > Mg > P > S for macronutrients and Fe > Mn > Zn > B>Cu > Ni > Mo for micronutrients. The significant equations obtained allowed the calculation of the dose of 77 mg/dm3 of P for maximum EO production, with adequate characteristics as for the chemical profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present here an evidence that cosmogenic 7 Be isotopes produced in the lower stratosphere were measured in near-ground air at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after the southern hemispheric Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) of 2002. The analysis presented here is based on a comparison of 7 Be data measured around Angra Nuclear Power Station (23°S 44°W) during the last three decades and a model estimate of the near-ground air 7 Be concentration using the CRAC: 7 Be model of cosmogenic production together with a simplified model for atmospheric 7 Be deposition that assimilates the regional precipitation data. Our results indicate that an anomalous stratosphere–troposphere coupling associated to the unique SSW of 2002 allowed stratospheric aerosols carrying 7 Be to reach the ground level very quickly. This methodology points to an important use of 7 Be as a quantitative tracer for stratospheric influence on near-ground air patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]