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Intuitive eating is defined as being connected to internal hunger, satiety, and appetitive cues and flexibly using these cues to determine when, what, and how much to eat. The Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2) is a widely used measure of facets of intuitive eating. However, the scale has shown unstable factor structure in several validation studies and there is a lack of studies investigating the measurement invariance of the IES-2 beyond sex. We aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the IES-2, testing several factor structures among Brazilian and U.S. samples of men and women; to test measurement invariance across country of origin, ethnicity, sex, and sexual orientation; and to evaluate its internal consistency. Three models of the latent structure of the IES-2 were tested using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) in a total of 1072 young adults (452 Brazilians and 620 Americans), aged 18-35 years. Results demonstrated that only a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2 showed adequate fit to the data for both countries. This model demonstrated scalar invariance across sex and sexual orientation, but only configural invariance was found across country of origin and ethnicity. Good internal consistencies were found for both the Brazilian and American samples. The present study provides support for a 3-factor solution with 11 items of the IES-2, to Brazilian and American samples. The study also offers evidence of internal consistency, and invariance between sex (i.e., male and female) and sexual orientation (i.e., heterosexual participants and sexual minority participants)., 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 © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: This study aimed to compare the nasopharynx and oropharynx airway dimensions of Caucasians, Blacks, Japanese, Japanese Brazilians, and Black Caucasians., Methods: A sample of 216 lateral radiographs of untreated young Brazilian subjects (mean age of 12.94 years; SD 0.88) were divided into five groups: Black Caucasian, Black, Caucasian, Japanese, and Japanese Brazilian. Lateral radiographs were used to measure the oropharynx (from the midpoint on the soft palate to the closest point on the anterior pharyngeal wall) and the nasopharynx (from the intersection of the posterior border of the tongue and the inferior border of the mandible to the closest point on the posterior pharyngeal wall). Analyses of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's test were performed (p< 0.05)., Results: The linear dimension of the oropharynx was similar among the different ethnic groups. Caucasian individuals presented a significantly greater linear dimension of the nasopharynx than Black Caucasian and Black individuals., Conclusions: All the groups had similar buccopharyngeal values. However, Caucasian individuals had significantly higher values when compared to Black Caucasians and Black individuals.

The origins of treponemal diseases have long remained unknown, especially considering the sudden onset of the first syphilis epidemic in the late 15th century in Europe and its hypothesized arrival from the Americas with Columbus' expeditions 1,2 . Recently, ancient DNA evidence has revealed various treponemal infections circulating in early modern Europe and colonial-era Mexico 3-6 . However, there has been to our knowledge no genomic evidence of treponematosis recovered from either the Americas or the Old World that can be reliably dated to the time before the first trans-Atlantic contacts. Here, we present treponemal genomes from nearly 2,000-year-old human remains from Brazil. We reconstruct four ancient genomes of a prehistoric treponemal pathogen, most closely related to the bejel-causing agent Treponema pallidum endemicum. Contradicting the modern day geographical niche of bejel in the arid regions of the world, the results call into question the previous palaeopathological characterization of treponeme subspecies and showcase their adaptive potential. A high-coverage genome is used to improve molecular clock date estimations, placing the divergence of modern T. pallidum subspecies firmly in pre-Columbian times. Overall, our study demonstrates the opportunities within archaeogenetics to uncover key events in pathogen evolution and emergence, paving the way to new hypotheses on the origin and spread of treponematoses., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Studies in the United States have shown that minority students might face a trade-off between better academic performance and peer acceptance, which has been termed "acting White." This paper investigates racial differences in the relationship between grades and popularity in five Brazilian schools. Popularity is measured using friendship ties among students, assigning a higher value to students more central in the network. The racial composition of friendship ties is generally diverse, although they tend to favor racial peers, especially among Black students. We find a positive correlation between grades and popularity of non-White students that is driven by their friendships with their White classmates. This contrasts with patterns associated with acting White, where a negative correlation between minorities' grades and their popularity among racial peers is not compensated by their status among White students. We also investigate how academic performance is associated with racial identity choice conditional on skin color, finding a weak negative relationship between higher grades and the odds of classification as mixed race.

Immigration can improve economic status and access to education compared to the country of origin, but it challenges access to health and preventive care. Assess Brazilian immigrants' overall health conditions and dietary intake in New Jersey (US). This pilot study assessed health conditions and dietary intake. Brazilians immigrants were interviewed through their communities. Trained dietitians interviewed them using a questionnaire and three days of 24H recall. Dietary intake was analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research software. A sample of 118 individuals completed the protocol, majority female and overweight/obese, living in the US for 11.3 years with 21.1% declaring having Noncommunicable Diseases. The average number of daily meals was 2.20 ± 1.04. Energy intake does not correlate with time in the US. Obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are the most prevalent Noncommunicable Diseases, demanding interventions that include managing saturated fat, cholesterol, and sodium intake., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC part of Springer Nature.)

The COVID-19 pandemic threatens indigenous peoples living in suburban areas of large Brazilian cities and has thus far intensified their pre-existing socio-economic inequalities. We evaluated the epidemiological situation of SARS-CoV-2 infection among residents of the biggest urban multiethnic indigenous community of the Amazonas state, Brazil. Blood samples of 280 indigenous people living in the surrounding area of Manaus were tested for the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA or IgG antibodies. The risk factors and sociodemographic information were assessed through an epidemiological questionnaire. We found a total positivity rate of 64.64% (95% CI 59.01-70.28) for SARS-CoV-2 infection. IgA and IgG were detected in 55.71% (95% CI 49.89-61.54) and 60.71% (95% CI 54.98-66.45) of the individuals, respectively. Over 80% of positive individuals were positive for both IgA and IgG.No significant difference in positivity rates between genders or age groups was observed. Moreover, the age group ≥ 60 years old showed the highest antibody ratios (IgA mean ratio = 3.080 ± 1.623; IgG mean ratio = 4.221 ± 1.832), while the age groups 13-19 and 20-29 showed the lowest IgA (mean ratio = 2.268 ± 0.919) and IgG ratios (mean ratio = 2.207 ± 1.246), respectively. Individuals leaving the home more frequently were at higher risk of infection (Odds ratio (OD) 2.61; 95% CI 1.00-1.49; p = 0.048). Five or more individuals per household increased fivefold the risk of virus transmission (OR 2.56; 95% CI 1.09-6.01; p = 0.019). The disproportionate dissemination of SARS-CoV-2 infection observed among the study population might be driven by typical cultural behavior and socioeconomic inequalities. Despite the pandemic threat, this population is not being targeted by public policies and appears to be chronically invisible to the Brazilian authorities., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Background: Among several lipid ratios available, the triglyceride/HDL-cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) may detect individuals at risk of cardiometabolic diseases. However, its reference values for different ethnicities are not well established., Objective: To define sex- and ethnicity-specific reference values for TG/HDL-C ratio in a large sample of healthy multiethnic adults and test its association with cardiometabolic conditions., Methods: An apparently healthy sample (n = 2,472), aged 35-74, free of major cardiovascular risk factors, was used to generate the reference values for the TG/HDL-C. Exclusion criteria were diabetes, elevated blood pressure, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, severe hypertriglyceridemia, and smoking history. Cut-offs based on the reference values were tested in the whole ELSA Brasil study (n = 13,245), stratified by sex and ethnicity, to identify cardiometabolic conditions., Results: TG/HDL-C ratio was higher in men than women, and did not change significantly with age, regardless of sex and ethnicity. Also, black individuals showed lower levels of TG/HDL-C as compared to other ethnic groups. ROC curve showed that the cut-off based on the 75th percentile displayed better sensitivities and specificities for men and women, regardless of ethnicity. Also, the sex- and ethnicity-specific cut-offs based on the 75th percentile were significantly associated with all tested cardiometabolic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance). Also, we observed that the use of a single sex-specific cut-off (men: 2.6; women: 1.7) could be used for the different ethnicities with good reliability., Conclusion: The defined TG/HDL-C cut-offs (men: 2.6; women: 1.7) are reliable and showed good clinical applicability to detect cardiometabolic conditions in a multiethnic population., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest RDS has received honoraria related to consulting, speaker activities, or research from Abbott, Ache, Amgen, Astra Zeneca, Esperion, EMS, Getz pharma, Kowa, Libbs, Novo-Nordisk, Novartis, Merck, MSD, Pfizer, PTC Therapeutics, and Sanofi outside the present work. All other authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Our study aimed to assess the change in the sleep patterns during the Coronavirus lockdown in five regions (Austria/Germany, Ukraine, Greece, Cuba and Brazil), using online surveys, translated in each language. Part of the cohort (age 25-65, well-educated) was collected directly during lockdown, to which retrospective cross-sectional data from and after lockdown (retrospective) questionnaires were added. We investigated sleep times and sleep quality changes from before to during lockdown and found that, during lockdown, participants had (i) worse perceived sleep quality if worried by COVID-19, (ii) a shift of bedtimes to later hours during workdays, and (iii) a sleep loss on free days (resulting from more overall sleep during workdays in non-system relevant jobs), leading to (iv) a marked reduction of social jetlag across all cultures. For further analyses we directly compared system relevant and system irrelevant jobs, because it was assumed that the nature of the lockdown's consequences is dependent upon system relevance. System relevant jobs were found to have earlier wake-up times as well as shorter total sleep times on workdays, leading to higher social jetlag for people in system relevant jobs. Cultural differences revealed a general effect that participants from Greece and Ukraine had later bedtimes (on both work and free days) and wake-up times (on workdays) than Cuba, Brazil and Austria, irrespective of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions., (Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on Brazil. Brazil's social, health and economic crises are aggravated by strong societal inequities and persisting political disarray. This complex scenario motivates careful study of the clinical, socioeconomic, demographic and structural factors contributing to increased risk of mortality from SARS-CoV-2 in Brazil specifically. We consider the Brazilian SIVEP-Gripe catalog, a very rich respiratory infection dataset which allows us to estimate the importance of several non-laboratorial and socio-geographic factors on COVID-19 mortality. We analyze the catalog using machine learning algorithms to account for likely complex interdependence between metrics. The XGBoost algorithm achieved excellent performance, producing an AUC-ROC of 0.813 (95% CI 0.810-0.817), and outperforming logistic regression. Using our model we found that, in Brazil, socioeconomic, geographical and structural factors are more important than individual comorbidities. Particularly important factors were: The state of residence and its development index; the distance to the hospital (especially for rural and less developed areas); the level of education; hospital funding model and strain. Ethnicity is also confirmed to be more important than comorbidities but less than the aforementioned factors. In conclusion, socioeconomic and structural factors are as important as biological factors in determining the outcome of COVID-19. This has important consequences for policy making, especially on vaccination/non-pharmacological preventative measures, hospital management and healthcare network organization., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Human pigmentation is a complex trait, probably involving more than 100 genes. Predicting phenotypes using SNPs present in those genes is important for forensic purpose. For this, the HIrisPlex tool was developed for eye and hair color prediction, with both models achieving high accuracy among Europeans. Its evaluation in admixed populations is important, since they present a higher frequency of intermediate phenotypes, and HIrisPlex has demonstrated limitations in such predictions; therefore, the performance of this tool may be impaired in such populations. Here, we evaluate the set of 24 markers from the HIrisPlex system in 328 individuals from Ribeirão Preto (SP) region, predicting eye and hair color and comparing the predictions with their real phenotypes. We used the HaloPlex Target Enrichment System and MiSeq Personal Sequencer platform for massively parallel sequencing. The prediction of eye and hair color was accomplished by the HIrisPlex online tool, using the default prediction settings. Ancestry was estimated using the SNPforID 34-plex to observe if and how an individual's ancestry background would affect predictions in this admixed sample. Our sample presented major European ancestry (70.5%), followed by African (21.1%) and Native American/East Asian (8.4%). HIrisPlex presented an overall sensitivity of 0.691 for hair color prediction, with sensitivities ranging from 0.547 to 0.782. The lowest sensitivity was observed for individuals with black hair, who present a reduced European contribution (48.4%). For eye color prediction, the overall sensitivity was 0.741, with sensitivities higher than 0.85 for blue and brown eyes, although it failed in predicting intermediate eye color. Such struggle in predicting this phenotype category is in accordance with what has been seen in previous studies involving HIrisPlex. Individuals with brown eye color are more admixed, with European ancestry decreasing to 62.6%; notwithstanding that, sensitivity for brown eyes was almost 100%. Overall sensitivity increases to 0.791 when a 0.7 threshold is set, though 12.5% of the individuals become undefined. When combining eye and hair prediction, hit rates between 51.3 and 68.9% were achieved. Despite the difficulties with intermediate phenotypes, we have shown that HIrisPlex results can be very helpful when interpreted with caution.

Background: Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) is a serious public health problem with a high rate of infection and chronic disabling manifestations that has affected more than 2 million people worldwide since 2005. In spite of this, epidemiological data on vulnerable groups such as Indigenous people are scarce, making it difficult to implement public policies in order to prevent this disease and assist these populations., Objective: To describe the serological and epidemiological profile of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in two Indigenous populations in Northeast Brazil, as well as in an urbanized control community, and to explore associations between CHIKV and anthropometric variables in these populations., Methodology/principal Findings: This is a cross-sectional ancillary study of the Project of Atherosclerosis among Indigenous Populations (PAI) that included people 30 to 70 years old, recruited from two Indigenous tribes (the less urbanized Fulni-ô and the more urbanized Truká people) and an urbanized non-Indigenous control group from the same area. Subjects underwent clinical evaluation and were tested for anti-CHIKV IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serological profile was described according to ethnicity, sex, and age. The study population included 433 individuals distributed as follows: 109 (25·2%) Truká, 272 (62·8%) Fulni-ô, and 52 (12%) from the non-Indigenous urbanized control group. Overall prevalence of CHIKV IgG in the study sample was 49.9% (216; 95% CI: 45·1-54·7). When the sample was stratified, positive CHIKV IgG was distributed as follows: no individuals in the Truká group, 78·3% (213/272; 95% CI: 72·9-83·1) in the Fulni-ô group, and 5.8% (3/52; 95% CI: 1.21-16) in the control group., Conclusions/significance: Positive tests for CHIKV showed a very high prevalence in a traditional Indigenous population, in contrast to the absence of anti-CHIKV serology in the Truká people, who are more urbanized with respect to physical landscape, socio-cultural, and historical aspects, as well as a low prevalence in the non-Indigenous control group, although all groups are located in the same area., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

This paper intends to analyse the current political and social situation in Brazil and show how this context has influenced the management of the public health crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. To this end, the authors conducted an investigation into Brazil's historical roots, which have not only engendered deep class differences but, also, social psychopathologies such as dissociation and perversion. Finally, this paper presents a symbolic analysis of social exclusion and how the mythical figure of Sophia can inspire a renewed movement of inclusion and tolerance., (© 2021, The Society of Analytical Psychology.)

In Brazil, Black women are disproportionately denied access to timely care and are made vulnerable to death by avoidable obstetric causes. However, they have not been at the center of recent initiatives to improve maternal health. This paper contends that the effectiveness of Brazilian maternal and infant health policy is limited by failures to robustly address racial health inequities. Multi-sited ethnographic research on the implementation of the Rede Cegonha program in Bahia, Brazil between 2012 and 2017 reveals how anti-Blackness structures iatrogenic harms for Black women as well as their kin in maternal healthcare. Building on the work of Black Brazilian feminists, the paper shows how Afro-Brazilian women experience anti-Black racism in obstetric care, which the paper argues can be better understood through Dána-Ain Davis' concept of obstetric racism . The paper suggests that such forms of violence reveal the necropolitical facets of reproductive governance and that the framing of obstetric violence broadens the scales and temporalities of iatrogenesis.

Objective: To analyse the association between social inequalities and the leprosy burden in a low endemicity scenario in the state of São Paulo, Brazil., Methods: This ecological study was carried out in the city of Ribeirão Preto, state of São Paulo, Brazil, considering leprosy cases notified from 2006 to 2016. Regarding social inequalities, dimensions related to high household density, literacy, home occupation conditions, health conditions, household income, ethnicity and age were considered. The generalised additive model for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS) was used to verify the association between the social inequalities and leprosy burden., Results: The increase in men and women with no education and people with an income of 1 to 2 minimum wages was associated with a relative increase in the number of leprosy cases (7.37%, 7.10% and 2.44%, respectively). Regarding the ethnicity variables, the increase in the proportion of men (black) and women (mixed race) with no schooling was associated with a relative increase in the number of cases of the disease (10.77% and 4.02%, respectively). Finally, for people of mixed race or ethnicity, the increase in the proportion of households with 1/2 to 1 minimum wage was related to a relative decrease in the total number of cases (-4.90%)., Conclusion: The results show that the determinants associated with the increase in leprosy cases are similar to those in Brazilian hyperendemic regions, and that even in cities with low endemicity, social inequality is one of the main determinants of the disease., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Beginning in 2015, Brazil witnessed the births of thousands of children with neurological abnormalities linked to the Zika virus. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2016 and 2018 with parents of children with congenital Zika syndrome in Salvador da Bahia, this article attends to how one of Brazil's most overused obstetric technologies-cesarean section-was mobilized to mitigate the uncertainties of Zika's reproductive consequences. I argue that during the epidemic, C-section constituted a form of what I call interventive care, in which others interceded on behalf of pregnant women to secure surgical delivery. In dialogue with scholarship problematizing autonomy in reproductive decision making, I show how my Bahian interlocutors understood such intercessions, and the C-sections themselves, as forms of appropriate, concerned care. I suggest, furthermore, that interventive care highlights the ways in which reproductive decisions are distributed among people rather than autonomous, particularly in contexts of heightened uncertainty., (© 2020 by the American Anthropological Association.)

Background: In the Brazilian Amazon, a new epidemiological profile of Chagas disease transmission, the oral route, has been detected and cited as being responsible for the increase in acute cases in Brazil. The clinical evaluation of acute Chagas disease (ACD) has been a challenge since it can progress to a chronic phase with cardiac alterations, and the follow-up by modern diagnostic methods is very difficult due to the socio-geographical characteristics of the Brazilian Amazon. Thus, alternatives should be sought to alleviate this problem. We conducted a study to evaluate subjects with ACD using the 12-lead ECG QRS score (Selvester score) as an estimative of myocardial injury progression before and after ACD treatment., Methods: The study included indigenous subjects from the Amazon region with ACD in clinical follow-up at the Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD) Chagas Disease outpatient clinic in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers with no history of heart disease and no reactive serology for Chagas disease. Baseline ECG was performed in all subjects. The Selvester scoring method was performed according to the standardized guide (< 3 points: no myocardial injury,> 3: points × 3% = % of the predicted LV infarction)., Results: A total of 62 subjects were included, 31 as cases and 31 as controls. The mean follow-up of the case group was 17 months. The control group presented normal ECG. The case group presented 13 alterations before treatment and 11 after. Nineteen individuals presented scores > 3 points, 6 before and 13 after. In 19.36% of subjects, myocardial injury was found before treatment and in 41.94% after treatment., Conclusion: This is the first study that uses the Selvester score (SS) to predict myocardial injury in subjects with ACD. The results of this study suggest the significant presence of myocardial injury from the beginning of treatment to the period post treatment of ACD, which demonstrates that the SS can be applied for stratification and follow-up of Chagas disease in the Amazon region.

Brazil has a cesarean rate of 56% and low use of Intrapartum Evidence-based Practices (IEBP) of 3.4%, reflecting a medically centered and highly interventionist maternal health care model. The Senses of Birth (SoB) is a health education intervention created to promote normal birth, use of EBP, and reduce unnecessary c-sections. This study aimed to understand the use of intrapartum EBP by Brazilian women who participated in the SoB intervention. 555 women answered the questionnaire between 2015 and 2016. Bivariate analysis and ANOVA test were used to identify if social-demographic factors, childbirth information, and perceived knowledge were associated with the use of EBP. A qualitative analysis was performed to explore women's experiences. Research participants used the following EBP: birth plan (55.2%), companionship during childbirth (81.6%), midwife care (54.2%), freedom of mobility during labor (57.7%), choice of position during delivery (57.2%), and non-pharmacological pain relief methods (74.2%). Doula support was low (26.9%). Being a black woman was associated with not using a birth plan or having doula support. Women who gave birth in private hospitals were more likely not to use the EBP. Barriers to the use of EBP identified by women were an absence of individualized care, non-respect for their choices or provision of EBP by health care providers, inadequate structure and ambiance in hospitals to use EBP, and rigid protocols not centered on women's needs. The SoB intervention was identified as a potential facilitator. Women who used EBP described a sense of control over their bodies and perceived self-efficacy to advocate for their chosen practices. Women saw the strategies to overcome barriers as a path to become their childbirth protagonist. Health education is essential to increase the use of EBP; however, it should be implemented combined with changes in the maternal care system, promoting woman-centered and evidence-based models., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Objective: A previous survey investigated postmenopausal vaginal atrophy in a sample of women across Latin America. To help implement a tailored approach to improve postmenopausal care and outcomes in Brazil, we consider results from the survey for this country., Methods: A total of 2509 postmenopausal women resident in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, or Mexico completed an online questionnaire. The Brazilian cohort comprised 504 women., Results: Over half of the Brazilian cohort (56%) reported experiencing symptoms of vaginal atrophy; most described them as moderate or severe (76%), and almost half (48%) experienced symptoms for at least 1 year. Three-quarters of the Brazilian cohort (75%) were unaware of the chronic nature of the condition. Upon experiencing symptoms of vaginal atrophy, 92% had visited a health-care provider to discuss treatment options. Overall, 56% were aware of some form of local hormone therapy and 40% of those affected by vaginal atrophy had used such treatment., Conclusion: Postmenopausal women in Brazil are likely to benefit from increased awareness of the symptoms of vaginal atrophy. Health-care providers can potentially improve outcomes by helping women to understand the chronic nature of the condition and available treatment options. Women may be open to education pre menopause, before symptoms occur.

Participation of racial/ethnic minority and immigrant populations in research studies is essential to understand and address health disparities. Nonetheless, these populations are often underrepresented in research because of limited participation that may be due to barriers to participation such as fear and mistrust of research, lack of or limited access to healthcare and social services, time and employment constraints, participation-associated costs (e.g., travel costs), language barriers, undocumented status, and cultural differences. Brazilians comprise a rapidly growing immigrant population group in the United States (US), and there is a need to identify and understand factors affecting the health status of Brazilian immigrants that are amenable to intervention. Therefore, this paper presents effective strategies and lessons learned from outreach and recruiting Brazilian immigrants living in the US to enroll in maternal and child health research studies. Using a data recruitment log, we collected quantitative and qualitative data on recruitment strategies that were employed to recruit pregnant women and parents into six health research studies. Direct recruitment strategies included personal contacts of research staff and recruiting partners, and on-site, in-person outreach and recruitment at faith- and community-based events (e.g., meeting participants after church services, at faith-based community events), and private and social events (e.g., household parties) conducted by bilingual, bicultural research assistants who were members of the priority population. We also used snowball sampling as a recruitment strategy by asking enrolled participants to share information about our studies and encourage their family and friends to participate. Indirect recruitment methods included posting flyers at local businesses, social service agencies, faith-based and healthcare organizations, and posting announcements on social media (Facebook). Direct recruitment methods in combination with snowball sampling were the most successful strategies for recruiting Brazilian immigrant parents, while social media was an effective indirect method for recruiting first-time pregnant women. In addition, analyses of qualitative data found that research staff's understanding of the sociocultural context of the target population combined with the use of linguistically and culturally sensitive recruitment strategies tailored to meet the needs of Brazilian immigrants was important for overcoming barriers to participation and facilitating successful recruitment and enrollment of participants. Study findings provide information on a suite of effective strategies and lessons learned for reaching, recruiting, and enrolling Brazilian immigrants in maternal and child health research. Future studies should continue to purposefully collect information on recruitment strategies and disseminate the findings, which will be instrumental in researchers' efforts to increase participation of ethnic minority and immigrant populations such as Brazilians in health research.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ocotea odorifera (Vell.) Rohwer has been used in traditional medicine in the south of Brazil for the treatment of inflammatory-related conditions, such as rheumatism. However, there is not any scientific evidence for popular use., Aims of the Study: To investigate the O. odorifera anti-inflammatory potential and identification of the main active compounds through metabolomic approaches., Materials and Methods: In order to in vivo evaluate the inhibition of the main inflammatory pathways, the leaf decoction, leaf extract, its fractions and the essential oils from leaves and branches were submitted to the ear oedema and the neutrophils recruitment assays. The samples were chemically investigated by UHPLC-HRMS or GC-MS. The multivariate statistical analysis (PLS-DA) was used to determine the substances correlated with the anti-inflammatory properties., Results: The in vivo studies indicated a promissory anti-inflammatory effect on both oedema and neutrophil recruitment for some samples including the decoction; hydroethanolic, ethyl acetate, and chloroform fractions; and the essential oils. According to the PLS-DA, the S-(+)-reticuline was evidenced as one of the three compounds of the plant most correlated with both anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Thus, S-(+)-reticuline was isolated and the anti-inflammatory activity was confirmed. Moreover, for the first time, the dual inhibition of oedema and neutrophil recruitment was uncovered and reported. Another compound positively correlated with the anti-inflammatory activity is likely to be a new compound since zero hit on the comprehensive mass database were encountered. The compounds found in the essential oils also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity, and thus indeed the plant has different classes of active substances., Conclusions: The decoction of O. odorifera and different fractions from its ethanolic extract demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity through dual inhibition of oedema and neutrophil recruitment. Thus, corroborating the popular medicinal use of the decoction of leaves from O. odorifera as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Besides, reticuline, one of the main active compounds, was isolated and proved to display the dual mechanism of action, indicating the O. odorifera as a promising source of active compounds for the treatment of inflammatory conditions., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Propolis has been used in folk medicine for thousands of years and, in the past few decades, it has attracted renewed interest. Although propolis has been traditionally used in many communities worldwide against parasitic diseases, its effect against Schistosoma mansoni infection remains unclear., Aim of the Study: To demonstrate the effects of Brazilian red propolis on Schistosoma mansoni ex vivo and in an animal model of schistosomiasis., Materials and Methods: In vitro, we monitored phenotypic and tegumental changes as well as the effects of the crude extract of propolis on pairing and egg production. In a mouse infected with either immature (early infection) or adult (chronic infection) worms, propolis was administered by oral gavage and we studied the influence of this natural product on worm burden and egg production., Results: Propolis 25 μg/mL reduced motility and caused 100% mortality of adult parasites ex vivo. Further analysis revealed a pronounced reduction in oviposition after exposure to propolis at sub-lethal concentrations. In addition, scanning electron microscopy showed morphological alterations in the tegument of schistosomes. In the animal model, propolis markedly reduced worm burden and egg production in both early and chronic S. mansoni infection when compared to untreated control animals., Conclusions: The efficacy of Brazilian red propolis in both in vitro and in vivo studies suggests its potential anthelmintic properties against S. mansoni infection., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Brazilians comprise a rapidly growing immigrant Latino group in the USA, yet little research has focused on health issues affecting Brazilian children in immigrant families. As increasing evidence is documenting fathers' influential role in their children's eating behaviours and ultimately weight status, the current study sought to explore the Brazilian immigrant fathers' perspectives and practices related to child's feeding practices and their preschool-aged children's eating., Design: Qualitative study using in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Interviews were conducted in Portuguese by native Brazilian research staff using a semi-structured interview guide. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analysed thematically using a hybrid approach that incorporated deductive and inductive analytical approaches., Setting: Massachusetts., Participants: Twenty-one Brazilian immigrant fathers who had at least one child aged 2-5 years., Results: Results revealed fathers' awareness of the importance of healthy eating for their children, their influence as role models and their involvement in feeding routines of their preschool-aged children. Moreover, fathers were receptive to participating in family interventions to promote their children's healthy eating. Nearly all fathers reported wanting to learn more and to do 'what's right' for their children., Conclusions: The current study provides new information about Brazilian immigrant fathers' views about factors influencing their children's healthy eating behaviours and paternal feeding practices. Future research should quantify fathers' feeding styles and practices and solicit fathers' input in the design of culturally appropriate family interventions targeting the home environment of preschool-aged children of Brazilian immigrant families.

Objective: To discuss the fundamental aspects in the establishment of preventive measures to tackle covid-19 among indigenous people in view of the motivations for seeking health care in villages of the Terra Indígena Buriti, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil., Methods: Theoretical-reflective study based on assumptions of the National Health System and previous ethnographic research that enabled the identification of the motivations to seek health care in Buriti villages., Results: Indigenous people seek health centers for health care programs assistance, treatment of cases they cannot resolve and to chat. Such motivations were the basis for discussing the indigenization process in the confrontation of the new coronavirus pandemic in indigenous lands., Final Considerations: The motivations for seeking health care show the physical and social vulnerability of the Terena ethnicity. The effectiveness of the social isolation measure in the villages depends on the dialogue with indigenous leaders, professional engagement and intersectoral actions.

Background: Suriname has accomplished a steep decline in malaria burden, even reaching elimination levels. Plasmodium serology data are not available for Suriname and even extremely scarce within the region, therefore malaria serology testing was introduced, country customized cut-off values were determined and a study was performed to explore the antibody status for Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium malariae., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between July 2017 and March 2018 in two areas of the interior with different malaria settings: Stoelmanseiland, representing Maroon villages and Benzdorp, a gold mining area, with mostly Brazilian miners. Dried blood spots (DBS) were collected (n = 197) and antibody presence against seven Plasmodium antigens was detected using a multiplex bead-based, IgG antibody assay. Demographic information was gathered through a questionnaire. Country customized cut-off values were generated from a Surinamese malaria-naïve reference population (n = 50)., Results: Serological analysis for the reference population revealed cut-off values ranging from 14 MFI for LSA-1 to 177 MFI for PmMSP-1 19 . Seroprevalence against any of the three MSP-1 19 antibodies was similar in both regions and surpassed 75%. Single seropositivity against PfMSP-1 19 antibodies was higher in Stoelmanseiland (27.0%) than Benzdorp (9.3%), in line with the historical malaria burden of Stoelmanseiland, while the reverse was observed for PvMSP-1 19 antibodies. Despite sporadic reports of P. malariae infections, PmMSP-1 19 antibody presence was 39.6%. A more detailed examination of P. falciparum serology data displayed a higher seroprevalence in villagers (90.7%) than in Brazilians (64.6%) and a highly diverse antigenic response with 22 distinct antibody combinations., Conclusions: The results on the malaria antibody signature of Maroon villagers and Brazilian miners living in Suriname displayed a high Plasmodium seroprevalence, especially for P. falciparum in villagers, still reflecting the historical malaria burden. The seroprevalence data for both regions and the observed combinations of P. falciparum antibodies provided a valuable dataset from a historically important region to the international malaria serology knowledge. First insight in malaria serology data for Suriname indicated that the use of other target groups and assessment of age-dependent seroprevalence are required to successfully use malaria serology as tool in the national elimination strategy.

Reduced function alleles in the TPMT and NUDT15 genes are risk factors for thiopurine toxicity. This study evaluated the influence of Native ancestry on the distribution of TPMT (rs1142345, rs1800460 and rs1800462) and NUDT15 (rs116855232) polymorphisms and compound metabolic phenotypes in 128 healthy males from the Brazilian Amazon. The average proportion of Native and European ancestry differed greatly and significantly between self-declared Amerindians and non-Amerindians, although extensive admixture in both groups was evident. Native ancestry was not significantly associated with the frequency distribution of the TPMT or NUDT15 polymorphisms investigated. The apparent discrepancy with our previous results for NUDT15 rs116855232 in the Ad Mixed American superpopulation of the 1000 Genomes Project is ascribed to the diversity of the Native populations of the Americas. Based on the inferred TPMT/NUDT15 compound metabolic phenotypes, the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium recommendations for starting thiopurine therapy with reduced doses or to consider dose reduction applied respectively to 3-5% and to 12-20% of the study cohorts.

The Atlantic Forest is considered the fourth most important biodiversity hotspot. Although almost 96% of its original area has been devastated, a large part of its remaining conserved area is inhabited by traditional communities. This research focused on two Quilombola communities who reside within the Núcleo Picinguaba of the Serra do Mar State Park, State of São Paulo, Brazil. The objective was to use a combination of ethnoecological and ecological approaches to select priority species for which to develop participatory conservation and sustainable management plans in protected areas in Brazil. We collaborated with community members to collect ethnobotanical and ethnoecological data and then measured the abundance of native species in local forests through phytosociological sampling. We used this information to assess the degree of threat to useful species using the Conservation Priority Index, adding an additional layer of analysis based on habitat successional categories. We then overlayed those useful species identified as highest risk locally with those federally listed as threatened or endangered. Based on this, we identified three species as priority for the development of sustainable management plans: Virola bicuhyba, Cedrella fissilis and Plinia edulis., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Although many genes have been shown to be associated with human pigmentary traits and forensic prediction assays exist (e.g. HIrisPlex-S), the genetic knowledge about skin colour remains incomplete. The highly admixed Brazilian population is an interesting study population for investigation of the complex genotype-phenotype architecture of human skin colour because of its large variation. Here, we compared variants in 22 pigmentary genes with quantitative skin pigmentation levels on the buttock, arm, and forehead areas of 266 genetically admixed Brazilian individuals. The genetic ancestry of each individual was estimated by typing 46 AIM-InDels. The mean proportion of genetic ancestry was 68.8% European, 20.8% Sub-Saharan African, and 10.4% Native American. A high correlation (adjusted R 2  = 0.65, p < 0.05) was observed between nine SNPs and quantitative skin pigmentation using multiple linear regression analysis. The correlations were notably smaller between skin pigmentation and biogeographic ancestry (adjusted R 2  = 0.45, p < 0.05), or markers in the leading forensic skin colour prediction system, the HIrisPlex-S (adjusted R 2  = 0.54, p < 0.05). Four of the nine SNPs, OCA2 rs1448484 (rank 2), APBA2 rs4424881 (rank 4), MFSD12 rs10424065 (rank 8), and TYRP1 1408799 (rank 9) were not investigated as part of the HIrisPlex-S selection process, and therefore not included in the HIrisPlex-S model. Our results indicate that these SNPs account for a substantial part of the skin colour variation in individuals of admixed ancestry. Hence, we suggest that these SNPs are considered when developing future skin colour prediction models.

Tacuarembó is a department located in northeastern Uruguay, whose population is the result of several migration waves from Europe and Near East, as well as Africans and Afro-descents mostly from Brazil; these waves settled with the territory's various Native ethnic groups (Charrúa, Minuán, and Guaraní). In the past, this population has been the focus of genetic studies showing this trihybrid origin, with greater contributions of Natives and Africans than in other Uruguayan regions. In this study we analyzed eight Alu insertions (A25, ACE, APOA1, B65, D1, F13B, PV92, TPA25) to provide valuable information for ancestrality and genetic differentiation and to compare with both previous studies on the Tacuarembó population and Alu frequencies in other Uruguayan populations. The European contribution to Alu and classical markers was almost equal to that of a previous study using 22 classical markers (63% vs. 65%), while African contribution was higher (30% vs. 15%), and Native American contribution shows an important difference in Alu : 7% versus 20%. We found no significant differences in genetic differentiation between Tacuarembó and Montevideo but significant differences between Tacuarembó and Basque descendants from Trinidad. Our results support previous findings obtained with classical markers that demonstrate the trihybrid composition of the Tacuarembó population, correlated with historical records. Thus, Alu insertions provide interesting information in light of the admixture process in the Uruguayan population.

Background: A specific particularity of neurological diseases in Asia is the relative commonality of neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and Asian type MS (OSMS). Both conditions also occur in South American patients. The Brazilian population differs from the European and the Asian populations due to the mixture of ancestralities between European colonizers and African slaves. To better know the clinical characteristics of Brazilian patients with Asian type MS this study aimed to analyze the clinical, radiological and serological data that would help to distinguish between OSMS and NMO and clarify, in a Non-Asian population, if OSMS is an MS phenotype, an NMO spectrum disorder by 2015 classification, or a complement activating antibody to myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG-IgG) antibody-related disease., Methods: We selected cases retrospectively with NMO and OSMS in the medical registry of patients with idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating diseases under follow-up since 1997 in Federal Hospital da Lagoa, the principal reference center for MS treatment in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. OSMS has selective involvement of the optic nerve and spinal cord with no cerebral or cerebellar symptoms associated with small spinal cord lesions and negativity for the aquaporin-4 antibody (AQP4-IgG). NMO full-filled the revised criteria (2006) associated with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM). We recorded the following data: ethnicity/skin color, neurologic impairment "at nadir" and "at recovery" of the index events (optic neuritis and transverse myelitis), long term disability, mortality, health quality of life scores by the SF-36 questionnaire, CSF IgG oligoclonal bands and serological AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG antibodies tested by Cell-based assay. The last brain MRIs were classified as either satisfying or not satisfying MAGNIMS radiologic criteria for MS or typical or not typical for NMOSD. The new classification of NMO spectrum disorders (2015) was applied., Results: Forty-one OSMS and 122 NMO cases were analyzed. OSMS affected mainly young white women, causing unilateral optic neuritis and partial myelitis with excellent recovery. After a mean disease duration of 20 years, 90% of the patients had free ambulation, and 70% had a mild disability or no disability. Only 7.2% presented a secondary progressive course, and no deaths occurred. All cases had negativity to AQP4-IgG and MOG-IgG biomarkers. 95% had resonance criteria for MS. OSMS differed from NMO by ethnicity, morbidity, and mortality: most were African descendants, with severe motor and visual dysfunction, and one third died. Only NMO cases full-filled the new NMOSD classification (52 AQP4-IgG positive, 29 AQP4-IgG negative, and 41 AQP4-IgG unknown)., Conclusion: In Brazilian patients, OSMS and NMO are different immune-mediated diseases. OSMS is a milder MS phenotype., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have any conflict of interest with the subject of the study., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: to compare the metabolic, anthropometric, tobacco and alcohol consumption indicators considered as risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, as well as the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics between indigenous from Rio Negro, Sateré-Mawé, mixed-race/black and white people living in the city of Manaus., Methods: a cross-sectional observational study guided by the STROBE tool. There was a sample of 191 adults of both sexes. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and biochemical analyzes were performed. Statistical test was applied to cross color/race/ethnicity variable with the investigated variables., Results: indigenous had better metabolic and anthropometric indicators related to cardiovascular diseases than mixed-race/black and white, as well as Sateré-Mawé in relation to Rionegrinos (from Rio Negro)., Conclusions: the main differences were obesity, dyslipidemia, pre-systemic arterial hypertension/systemic arterial hypertension, and increased circumferences, with a worse situation for mixed-race/black people. The findings indicate differences in risk factors between race/color and ethnicity groups evaluated.

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) comprise a heterogeneous group of autosomal dominant disorders. The relative frequency of the different SCA subtypes varies broadly among different geographical and ethnic groups as result of genetic drifts. This review aims to provide an update regarding SCA founders in the American continents and the Caribbean as well as to discuss characteristics of these populations. Clusters of SCAs were detected in Eastern regions of Cuba for SCA2, in South Brazil for SCA3/MJD, and in Southeast regions of Mexico for SCA7. Prevalence rates were obtained and reached 154 (municipality of Báguano, Cuba), 166 (General Câmara, Brazil), and 423 (Tlaltetela, Mexico) patients/100,000 for SCA2, SCA3/MJD, and SCA7, respectively. In contrast, the scattered families with spinocerebellar ataxia type 10 (SCA10) reported all over North and South Americas have been associated to a common Native American ancestry that may have risen in East Asia and migrated to Americas 10,000 to 20,000 years ago. The comprehensive review showed that for each of these SCAs corresponded at least the development of one study group with a large production of scientific evidence often generalizable to all carriers of these conditions. Clusters of SCA populations in the American continents and the Caribbean provide unusual opportunity to gain insights into clinical and genetic characteristics of these disorders. Furthermore, the presence of large populations of patients living close to study centers can favor the development of meaningful clinical trials, which will impact on therapies and on quality of life of SCA carriers worldwide.

A growing body of literature suggests that OT administration may affect not only prosocial outcomes, but also regulate adversarial responses in the context of intergroup relations. However, recent reports have challenged the view of a fixed role of OT in enhancing ingroup favoritism and outgroup derogation. Studying the potential effects of OT in modulating threat perception in a context characterized by racial miscegenation (Brazil) may thus afford additional clarification on the matter. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study, White Brazilian participants completed a first-person shooter task to assess their responses towards potential threat from racial ingroup (White) or outgroup (Black) members. OT administration enhanced the social salience of the outgroup, by both increasing the rate at which participants refrained from shooting unarmed Black targets to levels similar to White targets, and by further increasing the rate of correct decisions to shoot armed Black targets (versus White armed targets). In summary, our results indicate that a single dose of OT may promote accurate behavioral responses to potential threat from members of a racial outgroup, thus offering support to the social salience hypothesis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Ethnobotanical studies that include participatory methods aim to engage residents in different steps to promote the strengthening and perpetuation of local culture, and empowerment in making decisions about the use of available environmental resources. Thus, the aim of this project was to perform an ethnobotanical survey based on traditional knowledge of medicinal plants with the active participation of residents living in Bairro do Cambury, Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil., Materials and Methods: During meetings held between the researchers and community members, locally used plants were regarded as an important means for preserving local knowledge for future generations. Some residents showed interest in participating as local partners, and training courses for collecting ethnobotanical data were offered. Local partners and researchers from São Paulo Federal University (Universidade Federal de São Paulo) utilized ethnobotanical methods to select and interview the specialists in medicinal plants for 80 days between 2016 and 2018. Data on plant use were recorded, and plants were collected and deposited in two herbaria. Furthermore, participant observation and fieldwork diaries were used by the researchers, aiding the data analysis., Results: Three local partners participated in objective definitions, data collection, analysis and publication. Nine local specialists were interviewed by the local partners and indicated the use of 82 plant species in 90 recipes for 55 therapeutic uses. These uses were grouped into 12 categories. In addition, a video and booklet were created., Conclusions: Data obtained during participatory research show that training local communities in the registration of their own knowledge is feasible and necessary since they register knowledge based on local perceptions, as well as valuing knowledge and approaching the current discussion about intellectual property is a global concern., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Ethnographies of bodies have become entry points for understanding the sensorially rich ways that worlds are generated and lived. Here, I adduce a slow-paced ethnographic mode that centers how bodily pain and touch orient attention , with a focus on gendered and racialized violence in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. In doing so, I make explicit the expectation in Rio's urban governance that resilience means toughening through pain. In turn, I detail how Pentecostal practices of 'healing touch' link pain and hope together, demonstrating the religious work, care, and governance involved in producing and maintaining hope under conditions of violence.

The expressions resilience and posttraumatic growth represent metaphorical concepts that are typically found in Euro-American contexts. Metaphors of severe adversity or trauma and the expressions of overcoming it vary across cultures-a lacuna, which has not been given much attention in the literature so far. This study aimed to explore the metaphorical concepts that the Indigenous Pitaguary community in Brazil uses to talk about adaptive and positive responses to severe adversity and to relate them to their socio-cultural context. We carried out 14 semi-structured interviews during field research over a one-month period of fieldwork. The data were explored with systematic metaphor analysis. The core metaphors included images of battle, unity, spirituality, journeys, balance, time, sight, transformation, and development. These metaphors were related to context-specific cultural narratives that underlie the Pitaguary ontological perspective on collectivity, nature, and cosmology. The results suggest that metaphors and cultural narratives can reveal important aspects of a culture's collective mindset. To have a contextualized understanding of expressive nuances is an essential asset to adapt interventions to specific cultures and promote culture-specific healing and recovery processes.

Objective: To use the spatial distribution of the sickle cell trait (SCT) to analyze the frequency of hemoglobin S (HbS) carriers in Sergipe., Methods: The sample consisted of all individuals born in Sergipe from October 2011 to October 2012 who underwent neonatal screening in the public health system. Tests were carried out in basic health units and forwarded to the University Hospital laboratory, where they were analyzed. We used spatial autocorrelation (Moran's index) to assess the spatial distribution of heterozygous individuals with hemoglobinopathies., Results: Among 32,906 newborns, 1,202 showed other types of hemoglobin besides Hemoglobin A. We found a positive correlation between the percentage of black and multiracial people and the incidence of SCT. Most SCT cases occurred in the cities of Aracaju (n=273; 22.7%), Nossa Senhora do Socorro (n=102; 8.4%), São Cristóvão (n=58; 4.8%), Itabaiana (n=39; 4.2%), Lagarto (n=37; 4.01%), and Estância (n=46; 4.9%)., Conclusions: The spatial distribution analysis identified regions in the state with a high frequency of HbS carriers. This information is important health care planning. This method can be applied to detect other places that need health units to guide and care for sickle cell disease patients and their families.

Nutrition transition theory describes a progressive substitution of local staples for industrialized processed foods in local diets, a process documented diversely across world regions, and increasingly observed in rural areas of the global south. Here we examine the role of conditional cash transfer programs, in particular the emblematic Brazilian Bolsa Família (BFP), in driving nutritional transition in rural areas of the Amazon. Based on ethnographic research with both participating and nonparticipating women in the Amanã Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR), our analysis integrates Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ), seasonal 24-hour food intake recalls, and stable isotope ratios in fingernails to examine dietary behavioral change. Contrary to dietary changes observed elsewhere in the Amazon, participation in the BFP is not associated with a significant substitution of local staples for industrialized processed foods in Amanã. While an increase in the consumption of some industrialized foods was observed, it has been selective and it has not changed the structure of diets. Factors such as social and cultural value of local staples, resident's involvement with the SDR, their relationship with lake and upland forest and agricultural environments, and limited market access have buffered the expansion of industrialized processed foods as observed elsewhere.

Psychoanalysis has produced an ensemble of institutions, expertise, procedures, and practices for rendering the psychoanalytic subject legible and, through this, psychic life as an actionable site of intervention, dislocation, and struggle. This article examines how diverse psychoanalytic communities in Buenos Aires have produced unique grammars that influence how individuals articulate ideas about health and well-being. Descriptive, culturally specific, historically informed, and always provisional, this grammar is empirically grounded in lived experience. Through presenting several case studies, I flesh out how this grammar, as a deictic expression of/for the unconscious is deployed, reworked, and embodied in everyday interactions. I demonstrate how psychic life is enmeshed within social and political experience. In doing so, I consider how interpersonal, existential, environmental, social, and political contingencies shape divergent notions of well-being and structure desires of what it means to live "a good life.", (© 2019 by the American Anthropological Association.)

Background: Urinary parameters, anti-dsDNA antibodies and complement tests were explored in patients with childhood-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (cSLE) early-onset lupus nephritis (ELN) from a large multicenter cohort study., Methods: Clinical and laboratory features of cSLE cases with kidney involvement at presentation, were reviewed. Disease activity parameters including SLEDAI-2 K scores and major organ involvement at onset and follow up, with accrued damage scored by SLICC-DI, during last follow up, were compared with those without kidney involvement. Autoantibodies, renal function and complement tests were determined by standard methods. Subjects were grouped by presence or absence of ELN., Results: Out of the 846 subjects enrolled, mean age 11.6 (SD 3.6) years; 427 (50.5%) had ELN. There was no significant difference in the ELN proportion, according to onset age, but ELN frequency was significantly higher in non-Caucasians (p = 0.03). Hematuria, pyuria, urine casts, 24-h proteinuria and arterial hypertension at baseline, all had significant association with ELN outcome (p < 0.001). With a similar follow up time, there were significantly higher SLICC-DI damage scores during last follow up visit (p = 0.004) and also higher death rates (p < 0.0001) in those with ELN. Low C3 (chi-square test, p = 0.01), but not C3 levels associated significantly with ELN. High anti-dsDNA antibody levels were associated with ELN (p < 0.0001), but anti-Sm, anti-RNP, anti-Ro, anti-La antibodies were not associated. Low C4, C4 levels, low CH50 and CH50 values had no significant association. High erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was associated with the absence of ELN (p = 0.02)., Conclusion: The frequency of ELN was 50%, resulting in higher morbidity and mortality compared to those without ELN. The urinary parameters, positive anti-dsDNA and low C3 are reliable for discriminating ELN.

Background: Overweight and obesity are important risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases, and their prevalence is on the rise worldwide. This study seeks to describe the prevalence and predictors of overweight and obesity in Brazilian immigrants living in Massachusetts, United States of America (USA)., Methods: Modeled after a survey on behavioral risk factors for chronic disease conducted annually in Brazil (Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico: Vigitel), Brazilian immigrants aged 18+ (n = 361) were surveyed between December 2013 and March 2014. Information was obtained from consenting participants regarding their demographic characteristics, physical activity, dietary and lifestyle habits, and other behavioral risk factors. Weight status was estimated from body mass index (BMI), calculated from self-reported height and weight data. Participants were categorized as overweight/obese if their BMI was ≥25; overweight and obese categories were combined to ensure appropriate sample size. Prevalence of overweight/obesity was estimated using STATA, and significant predictors were identified via multi-variable logistic regression. Odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) and p-values were determined., Results: The overall prevalence of overweight/obesity in the sample was 47.6%. Significant predictors of overweight and obesity were gender (men OR 2.30, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.78; women are comparison group), working in the 3 months prior to the survey (OR 2.90, 95% CI: 1.01, 8.30), and longer duration living in the USA (OR per additional year 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11). Significant dietary predictors of overweight/obesity included 5 or more days per week of consumption of red meat (OR red meat 3.70, 95% CI: 1.47, 9.26) or of sweetened beverages, like soft drinks also known as soda (OR soda 2.40, 95% CI: 1.00, 5.78) compared with less frequent consumption of these foods., Conclusions: This study suggests that long duration of time lived in the USA increases odds of overweight and obesity for Brazilian immigrants living in Massachusetts. Efforts to curb increases in overweight and obesity in this population should focus not only on the men and those who work but also the women. Possible intervention measures should target soda (soft drink) and red meat consumption in Brazilian immigrants.

The aim of this study was to determine and compare the ergonomic requirements in the use of desktop computers and laptops. For comparison, postures in the sagittal and transversal planes involved while performing a typing and editing task on a desktop and laptop computers were verified. Thus, a case study was conducted with a Brazilian male of medium height, who works around 20 hours per week in a computer. Nine spherical markers of 2.5 cm in diameter were joined up with duct tape on the right side of the participant and the positions adopted by the subject were analyzed in the use of a desktop and a laptop computer, through direct observation and filming, using the videography technique. It is concluded that the use of desktop computers has lesser biomechanical demands since it showed angles closer to a neutral position and consequently having a lower risk of musculoskeletal complaints.

Recent migrants to the United States face various stressors, including adjustment to new community norms and practices. To ease this transition, migrant groups have traditionally formed enclaves where they might live in close proximity and access institutions designed to serve their cultural interests. For newer migrant groups, such as Brazilians residing in New England, neighborhood social cohesion may therefore be particularly important for buffering against serious psychological distress. We use representative data from the 2007 Boston Metropolitan Immigrant Health and Legal Status Survey to estimate the association of serious psychological distress with neighborhood-level social cohesion among foreign-born Brazilian adults. We find that serious psychological distress is inversely related to neighborhood social cohesion (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.46, 0.94). Annual earnings were also negatively associated with distress (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.93, 0.99). Our findings suggest that neighborhood social ties may buffer against serious psychological distress for Brazilian migrants in New England.