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Data obtained from licenses of spearfishers and surveys conducted in 2004 and 2017 allowed for the analysis, for the first time, of the practice of spearfishing in the Madeira archipelago. Only a small percentage of the population practices spearfishing, mostly local young men. Most of them practice the activity with a partner throughout most of the year and along most of the island's coastal areas, although preferentially along the North and Southeast coast. Results show how, in recent years, despite the population of spearfishers decreasing, the abundance in the annual catch potentially increased, probably due to the higher investment of time in this activity. It has been observed that many fishers complement their catches with manual collecting of invertebrates. Overall, 40 teleost fishes and also 4 crustaceans and 8 molluscs were identified. The most frequently captured fish species were parrotfish and white seabream, while limpets were the most collected invertebrates in both selected periods.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a capacidade de nodulação e a especificidade de feijão (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) dos conjuntos gênicos andino e meso-americano submetidos a inóculo de Rhizobium. O experimento foi estabelecido em parcelas subdivididas em blocos ao acaso, com quatorze cultivares de feijão e três estirpes de Rhizobium (R. etli KIM 5, R. etli CIAT 632 e R. tropici CIAT 899). Somente as cultivares andinas WAF 15, WAF 7, Mineiro Precoce, WAF 6 e Antioquia 8 apresentaram especificidade na nodulação. Em relação à massa seca dos nódulos, houve diferenças significativas dos tratamentos de inoculação nas cultivares andinas WAF 15, WAF 7, WAF 6 e Diacol Andino, e na cultivar meso-americana Ouro Negro. Nenhuma das cultivares restringiu a nodulação, embora tenham sido verificadas diferenças de até 53 e 103 vezes no número e massa de nódulos por planta, respectivamente. Considerando todas as cultivares e estirpes de rizóbio, WAF 15 foi a cultivar com melhor desempenho em número e massa nodular. WAF 6 foi a cultivar de pior desempenho, chegando quase ao nível de restrição da nodulação com a estirpe R. etli CIAT 632.

Três experimentos de competição entre genótipos de feijão-fradinho (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) foram instalados em Coimbra (17 de novembro de 1993), Ponte Nova (19 de novembro de 1993) e Viçosa (1º de dezembro de 1994), municípios da Zona da Mata de Minas Gerais, com o objetivo de avaliar-lhes o comportamento na primavera-verão, nessa região. Foram testados 18 genótipos em 1993 e 10 em 1994. Foi utilizado o delineamento de blocos ao acaso, com três (1993) e quatro (1994) repetições. Os rendimentos variaram de 106 a 2.562 kg/ha. Em 1993, quando houve veranico nas três primeiras semanas de fevereiro, os rendimentos máximos foram de 1.587 (Coimbra) e 1.438 kg/ha (Ponte Nova), obtidos com a linhagem precoce e de porte intermediário IT 85F-2687. Em 1994, quando choveu regularmente até o mês de março, o rendimento máximo (2.562 kg/ha) foi alcançado com a linhagem de ciclo tardio e porte semi-ereto IT 85F-899. A mancha-café (Colletotrichum falcatum f. truncata) foi a única doença observada e as linhagens IT 85F-2687, IT 85D-34284, IT 83S-818, IT 83S-899 e IT 86D-716 foram consideradas resistentes. A primeira colheita foi realizada entre 69 e 79 dias após a emergência, e o período de colheita variou de 16 a 62 dias, dependendo do genótipo e do regime de chuvas.

It has been hypothesized that ultraviolet (UV) radiation can lead to depletion of plasma folate and B 12 vitamin, but few studies have investigated effects of other parameters of solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA). We investigated the association between four SGA parameters-interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), sunspot number (SSN), K p index, and ground shortwave solar radiation (SWR)-and three plasma B-complex vitamins-folate, B 6 , and B 12 -in 910 participants from the Normative Aging Study (NAS) between 1998 and 2017. Mixed-effects regression models were used for 1- to 28-moving day averages of SGA exposure, adjusted for covariates. We compared the impact of SGA in individuals under higher and lower B-complex supplementation (> or < 50th quartile). Our findings show that increases in solar activity variables IMF and SSN were found to be significantly associated with decreases in B 12 vitamin. IMF and SSN were associated with decrease in folate levels, especially in individuals under higher levels of B-complex supplementation. No associations were found for SWR and K p index. To our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrated the detrimental impact of solar activity on plasma B 12 and folate in a large cohort. These findings have clinical implications during periods of high solar activity., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Childhood cancer has few established risk factors and environmental influences are underexplored. This ecologic study investigated the association between domestic radon exposure and childhood cancer risk in a large sample of United States (U.S.) counties., Methods: Monthly ZIP code-level basement radon estimates from a geographic machine learning model were aggregated annually to counties, analyzed as continuous and dichotomized (cut point: 74 Bq/cubic meter (Bq/m 3 ) or 2.0 picocuries/L (pCi/L)) versions, and lagged by one year. Annual county-level counts of sex- and site-specific (all, leukemia, brain and central nervous system [CNS], and other sites) incident cancer diagnoses among those 0-19 years from 2001 to 2018 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database. Sex- and site-specific counts were modeled as zero-inflated Poisson distributions in a Bayesian spatiotemporal framework and sequentially adjusted for random and fixed confounder effects., Results: In 727 counties across 14 states, the average population aged 0-19 years was 41,599 people at baseline. Results from fully adjusted spatiotemporal statistical models indicated 1.05 (95% credible interval, CrI: 1.00, 1.09) times higher relative risks (RRs) of leukemia among both sexes and a RR of 1.06 (95%CrI: 1.00, 1.12) in males from a 50 Bq/m 3 (1.35 pCi/L) increase in radon concentration the year prior. For radon exposures ≥74 Bq/m 3 (2.00 pCi/L) the year prior, RRs were 1.08 (95%CrI: 1.02, 1.15) for both sexes and 1.12 (95%CrI: 1.04, 1.22) for females. No associations were found with other cancer sites or sexes from prior year radon exposures., Conclusions: County-level childhood leukemia risk in both sexes were associated with average radon levels below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines recommending mitigation (148 Bq/m 3 or 4.00 pCi/L). These findings warrant further investigation using population-based and individual-level study designs., 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. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Solar activity has been linked to biological mechanisms important to pregnancy, including folate and melatonin levels and inflammatory markers. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between gestational solar activity and pregnancy loss., Methods: Our study included 71,963 singleton births conceived in 2002-2016 and delivered at an academic medical center in Eastern Massachusetts. We studied several solar activity metrics, including sunspot number, K p index, and ultraviolet radiation, with data from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. We used a novel time series analytic approach to investigate associations between each metric from conception through 24 weeks of gestation and the number of live birth-identified conceptions (LBICs) -the total number of conceptions in each week that result in a live birth. This approach fits distributed lag models to data on LBICs, adjusted for time trends, and allows us to infer associations between pregnancy exposure and pregnancy loss., Results: Overall, the association between solar activity during pregnancy and pregnancy loss varied by exposure metric. For sunspot number, we found that an interquartile range increase in sunspot number (78·7 sunspots) in all of the first 24 weeks of pregnancy was associated with 14·0 (95% CI: 6·5, 21·3) more pregnancy losses out of the average 92 LBICs in a week, and exposure in weeks ten through thirteen was identified as a critical window. Although not statistically significant, higher exposure to K p index and to UV radiation across all 24 weeks of pregnancy was associated with more and less pregnancy losses, respectively., Conclusion: While exposure to certain metrics of solar activity (i.e., sunspot number) throughout the first 24 weeks of pregnancy may be associated with pregnancy losses, exposure to other metrics were not. Solar activity is a complex phenomenon, and more studies are needed to clarify underlying pathways., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Radon decay products include α-radiation emitting radionuclides that attach to airborne particles that have potential to promote oxidative tissue damage after inhalation. To assess associations between α-particle radioactivity (α-PR) with urinary biomarkers of oxidative tissue damage, 140 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had up to four 1-week seasonal assessments (N = 413) of indoor (home) and ambient (central site) PM 2.5 and black carbon (BC). Following environmental sampling, urine samples were analyzed for total and free malondialdehyde (MDA), biomarkers of lipid oxidation, and 8-hydroxyl-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage. Particle radioactivity was measured as α-activity on PM 2.5 filter samples. Linear mixed-effects regression models adjusted for urinary creatinine and other personal characteristics were used to assess associations. Indoor α-PR was associated with an increase in 8-OhdG (8.53%; 95% CI: 3.12, 14.23); total MDA (5.59%; 95% CI: 0.20, 11.71); and free MDA (2.17%; 95% CI: 2.75, 7.35) per interquartile range (IQR) of α-PR [median 1.25 mBq/m 3 ; IQR 0.64], similar adjusting for PM 2.5 or BC. The ratio of indoor/ambient α-PR was positively associated with each biomarker and associations with ambient α-PR were positive but weaker than with indoor concentrations. These findings are consistent with a contribution of radon decay products as measured by α-PR to oxidative stress in patients with COPD, with a greater contribution of indoor radon decay products., 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 © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Space weather has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases in space and flight crew. However, limited research has focused on the ground population, particularly among the elderly who are vulnerable to aging-related diseases., Objective: We evaluated the association between space weather alterations and biological aging using leukocyte telomere length as a biomarker in healthy elderly men., Methods: We used data from the Normative Aging Study, a longitudinal cohort of healthy elderly men in Massachusetts, USA. Leukocyte telomere length and health information were measured at in-person examinations approximately every three years, contributing to a total of 1,850 visits from 791 participants. Regional space weather information was collected daily, including cosmic ray-induced ionization, neutrons, sunspot number, interplanetary magnetic field, and Kp-index as our exposure of interest. We used mixed-effects models with a random intercept per individual to evaluate the associations between annual averages of space weather indicators and relative telomere length while accounting for participant demographics, environmental parameters, and secular trends., Results: The mean age at baseline was 72.36 years. A one-year increment in age is associated with a 1.21% reduction in leukocyte telomere length. In the fully adjusted model accounting for individual and environmental factors, an interquartile range (IQR) increase of annual cosmic ray induced ionization (110.0 ion pairs cm -3 sec -1 ) was associated with a 17.64% (95%CI: -27.73%, -7.55%) decrease in leukocyte telomere length, equivalent to 15-years age increment. Solar and geomagnetic activities were associated with increased leukocyte telomere length, but the association became absent after adjusting for cosmic ray indicators., Impact: Galactic cosmic rays may accelerate the aging process in populations on the Earth, despite the protection by the Earth's atmosphere and magnetic field. This research enhances our understanding of how changes in space weather can impact health, highlights potential risks from space to Earth's inhabitants, and helps inform health strategies for vulnerable populations., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.)

In 1987, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recommended installing a mitigation system when the indoor concentration of radon, a well-known carcinogenic radioactive gas, is at or above 148 Bq/m 3 . In response, tens of millions of short-term radon measurements have been conducted in residential buildings over the past three decades either for disclosure or to initially evaluate the need for mitigation. These measurements, however, are currently underutilized to assess population radon exposure in epidemiological studies. Based on two relatively small radon surveys, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory developed a state-of-the-art national radon model. However, this model only provides coarse and invariant radon estimations, which limits the ability of epidemiological studies to accurately investigate the health effects of radon, particularly the effects of acute exposure. This study involved obtaining over 2.8 million historical short-term radon measurements from independent laboratories. With the use of these measurements, an innovative spatial random forest (SRF) model was developed based on geological, architectural, socioeconomical, and meteorological predictors. The model was used to estimate monthly community-level radon concentrations for ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (ZCTAs) in the northeastern and midwestern regions of the United States from 2001 to 2020. Via cross-validation, we found that our ZCTA-level predictions were highly correlated with observations. The prediction errors declined quickly as the number of radon measurements in a ZCTA increased. When ≥15 measurements existed, the mean absolute error was 24.6 Bq/m 3 , or 26.5% of the observed concentrations ( R 2 = 0.70). Our study demonstrates the potential of the large amount of historical short-term radon measurements that have been obtained to accurately estimate longitudinal ZCTA-level radon exposures at unprecedented levels of resolutions and accuracy.

Background: Solar and geomagnetic activity have been shown to suppress melatonin and to degrade folate levels, important hormones for fetal development. We examined whether solar and geomagnetic activity were associated with fetal growth., Methods: We included 9573 singleton births with 26,879 routine ultrasounds at an academic medical center in Eastern Massachusetts from 2011 through 2016. Sunspot number and Kp index were obtained from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Three exposure windows were considered, including the first 16 weeks of pregnancy, one month prior to fetal growth measurement, and conception until fetal growth measurement (cumulative). Ultrasound scans from which we extracted biparietal diameter, head circumference, femur length, and abdominal circumference measurements were categorized as anatomic (<24 weeks' gestation) or growth scans (≥24 weeks' gestation) based on clinical practice. Ultrasound parameters and birth weight were standardized, and linear mixed models adjusted for long-term trends were fitted., Results: Prenatal exposures were positively associated with larger head parameters measured <24 weeks' gestation, negatively associated with smaller fetal parameters measured ≥24 weeks' gestation, and not associated with birth weight. The strongest associations were observed for cumulative exposure in growth scans, where an interquartile range increase in sunspot number (32.87 sunspots) was associated with a -0.17 (95 % CI: -0.26, -0.08), -0.25 (-0.36, -0.15), and -0.13 (95 % CI: -0.23, -0.03) difference in mean biparietal diameter, head circumference, and femur length z-score, respectively. An interquartile range increase in cumulative Kp index (0.49) was associated with a -0.11 (95 % CI: -0.22, -0.01) and -0.11 (95 % CI: -0.20, -0.02) difference in mean head circumference and abdominal circumference z-score, respectively, in growth scans., Conclusions: Solar and geomagnetic activity were associated with fetal growth. Future studies are needed to better understand the impact of these natural phenomena on clinical endpoints., 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 © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluated the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and periodontal healing outcomes in patients with mild or moderate periodontitis., Methods: Serum vitamin D levels and periodontal pockets and gingival bleeding were evaluated in 51 patients before and 6 months after non-surgical periodontal treatment. A t-test and chi-square test were used to analyse the data (p ≤ 0.05)., Results: The mean reduction of periodontal pocket depth was statistically significant higher in patients with vitamin D ≥30 ng/ml than those with <30 ng/ml (CI = -0.23-0.42, p = 0.05), but not clinically significant. Vitamin D level was not associated with the percentage of sites of gingival bleeding on probing at the final evaluation (OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.17-1.99, p = 0.39)., Conclusion: Lower serum vitamin D level was associated with a slightly reduced periodontal healing after non-surgical periodontal therapy, which should be further investigated in a larger population., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Little is known about the link between solar activity and variations in melatonin. In this study, we investigated if melatonin's major urinary metabolite, urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (aMT6s), is lowest under periods of intense solar activity., Methods: We investigated associations between high-energy solar particle events [Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) mass, speed and energy] on creatinine-adjusted aMT6s (aMT6sr) concentrations in 140 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using up to four seasonal urine samples (n = 440). Mixed effect models with a random intercept for each subject were used to estimate associations, including effect modification attributable to diabetes, obesity, and reduced pulmonary function., Results: Higher values of CME were associated with reduced aMT6sr concentrations, with stronger associations in patients with diabetes. An interquartile range (IQR) increase in natural log CME speed averaged through two days before urine collection was associated with a reduction of 9.3% aMT6sr (95%CI: - 17.1%, - 0.8%) in aMT6sr. There was a greater reduction in aMT6sr in patients with diabetes (- 24.5%; 95%CI: - 35.9%, - 11.6%). In patients without diabetes there was no meaningful association (- 2.2%; 95%CI: - 12%, 8.4%). There were similar associations with CME energy and CME mass . There was no effect modification attributable to reduced pulmonary function or obesity., Conclusions: This is the first study in patients with COPD to demonstrate strong detrimental impact of high-energy solar particle events on aMT6sr, with greater associations in patients with diabetes. Since melatonin is an anti-oxidant, it is possible that adverse effects of intense solar activity may be attributable to a reduction in circulating melatonin and that patients with both COPD and diabetes may be more susceptible., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

A 52-year-old male, without significant past medical history, is referred for new onset constipation, hematochezia and significant weight loss. Blood tests were unremarkable. A colonoscopy was performed, showing reddish, hematocystic and friable mucosa in a circumferential pattern in the rectum, with similar patches throughout the whole colon, one of them infiltrating the ileocecal valve. Biopsies were obtained and revealed spindle cell proliferation immunoreactive for CD34 and herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), compatible with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). HIV serologies were subsequently done, with a positive result, the patient then reporting previous heterosexual unprotected sexual activities. He was started on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and chemotherapy with liposomal doxorubicin, with a favorable outcome to this date. KS is a low-grade tumor of the vascular endothelium that requires infection with HHV-8. HIV-related KS is more commonly diagnosed in homosexual males with uncontrolled HIV infection and is associated with a variable clinical course. The gastrointestinal tract is involved in up to 51% of patients, but since the majority is clinically silent (70%), visceral involvement is probably underestimated. The treatment goal is symptomatic relief, and may range from HAART alone to a combination with systemic chemotherapy, depending on disease extent. We present this case given its endoscopic exuberance, with biopsies showing an HIV-defining condition, in a patient unaware of his diagnosis.

Background: Solar and geomagnetic activity (GA) have been linked to increased cardiovascular (CVD) events. We hypothesize that heart rate variability (HRV) may be the biological mechanism between increased CVD risk and intense geomagnetic disturbances (GMD)., Methods: To evaluate the impact of GA and intense GMD on HRV in 809 elderly men [age mean 74.5 (SD = 6.8)] enrolled in the Normative Aging Study (Greater Boston Area), we performed repeated-measures using mixed-effects regression models. We evaluated two HRV outcomes: the square root of the mean squared differences of successive normal-to-normal intervals (r-MSSD) and the standard deviation of normal-to-normal heartbeat intervals (SDNN) in milliseconds (ms). We also compared the associations between K p and HRV in patients with and without comorbidities such as diabetes and coronary heart diseases (CHD). We used data on global planetary K-Index (K p ) from middle latitudes as a GA and GMD (>75th K p ) parameters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency's Space Weather Prediction Center., Results: We found a near immediate effect of continuous and higher K p on reduced HRV for exposures up to 24 h prior to electrocardiogram recording. A 75th percentile increase in 15-hour K p prior the examination was associated with a -14.7 ms change in r-MSSD (95 CI: -23.1, -6.3, p-value = 0.0007) and a -8.2 ms change in SDNN (95 CI: -13.9, -2.5, p-value = 0.006). The associations remained similar after adjusting the models for air pollutants over the exposure window prior to the event. In periods of intense GMD, the associations were stronger in patients with CHD and non-diabetes., Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate the potential adverse effects of geomagnetic activity on reduced heart rate variability in a large epidemiologic cohort over an extended period, which may have important clinical implications among different populations., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no competing financial interests., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Aims: Cardiac arrhythmias have been associated with intense solar and geomagnetic activity (SGA) and exposures to air pollution., Methods and Results: We examined whether oscillations of SGA can modify the effect of hourly exposures to air pollutants on atrial fibrillation ≥30 s (AF) risk in patients with dual-chamber implantable cardioverter-defibrillators. The effects of SGA on ambient particulate matter <2.5 µm (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), ultrafine particles (PN), and associations with AF were assessed. Measures of SGA included solar wind proton density (SW), total interplanetary magnetic field strength (IMF), and Kp index, a measure of global geomagnetic activity. Overall time lags between 0 and 24 h, periods of increased SGA (>50th percentile in IMF, SW, and Kp index) enhanced the effects of all three air pollutants on AF, while during periods of reduced SGA the associations were considerably weaker or absent. During periods of intense SW 6 h prior to an AF event, the odds ratio (OR) for PM2.5 exposure per interquartile range (IQR) of 5.6 µg/m3 was 1.7 [95% confident interval (CI) 1.3-2.3, P = 0.0001]. For periods of reduced SW, the OR for PM2.5 exposure per IQR was 1.2 (95% CI 0.9-1.5; P = 0.27). There were similar effects for PN and BC exposures. In patients with multiple AF events per hour, the associations with air pollutants during intense SGA were even greater., Conclusion: The effects of air pollutants up to 24 h before AF events were enhanced during periods of increased SGA. Our results suggest that these effects may account for variation in AF risk., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: To understand the main situations faced by community health agents in relation to children's health in the light of permanent education actions., Method: This is a research of qualitative approach, which used the Arc of Maguerez. Ten community health agents from a Primary Health Care Unit participated in the study. The following steps were addressed: observation of reality; identification of key points, and theorization. The speeches were recorded, transcribed, and their textual content was processed in the IRAMUTEQ software, using the Descending Hierarchical Classification., Results: Five classes were formed, which composed three thematic blocks named as follows: child's social vulnerability in the territory; handling the child's health record, and vaccination schedule., Conclusion: Unveiling situations that influence the work of community health agents is essential for continuing education, as this favors assumptions applicable to daily work with resoluteness in child health.

Background Since solar activity and related geomagnetic disturbances modulate autonomic nervous system activity, we hypothesized that these events would be associated with blood pressure (BP). Methods and Results We studied 675 elderly men from the Normative Aging Study (Boston, MA) with 1949 BP measurements between 2000 and 2017. Mixed-effects regression models were used to investigate the association of average 1-day (ie, day of BP measurement) to 28-day interplanetary magnetic field intensity, sunspot number, and a dichotomized measure of global geomagnetic activity (K p index) in 4-day increments with diastolic and systolic BP. We adjusted for meteorological conditions and other covariates associated with BP, and in additional models adjusted for ambient air pollutants (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤2.5 µm, black carbon, and particle number) and ambient particle radioactivity. There were positive associations between interplanetary magnetic field, sunspot number, and K p index and BP that were greatest with these exposures averaged over 16 through 28 days before BP measurement. An interquartile range increase of 16-day interplanetary magnetic field and sunspot number and higher K p index were associated with a 2.5 (95% CI, 1.7‒3.2), 2.8 (95% CI, 2.1‒3.4), and 1.7 (95% CI, 0.8‒2.5) mm Hg increase, respectively, for diastolic BP as well as a 2.1 (95% CI, 0.7‒3.6), 2.7 (95% CI, 1.5‒4.0), and 0.4 (95% CI, -1.2 to 2.1) mm Hg increase, respectively, for systolic BP. Associations remained after adjustment for ambient air pollutants and ambient particle radioactivity. Conclusions Solar activity and solar-driven geomagnetic disturbances were positively associated with BP, suggesting that these natural phenomena influence BP in elderly men.

Solar radiation plays a major role in atmospheric photochemistry, contributing to the formation and growth of ultrafine particles (PN). PN affect global Earth's radiation balance, climate system, and human health. However, the impact of solar activity on ambient PN remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the associations between daily ambient PN concentrations [particle number (PN)/cm 3 ] and solar radio flux [solar activity index (F 10.7 in sfu)] as a solar activity parameter, shortwave solar radiation (SWR), daylight time (DL), cosmic ray-induced ionization (CRII), and air pollution [PM 2.5 , black carbon (BC) and SO 2 ] over a 19-year period in Boston, MA. We used generalized additive models adjusted for local environmental conditions. We found that F 10.7 was the strongest predictor for daily PN concentrations over all time lags (0-28 days of lags) and seasons. The effects were higher in winter and fall. In winter, an interquartile (IQR) of 60 sfu F 10.7 corresponded to an increase of 5770 PN/cm 3 in the day of PN collection. In fall, an IQR of 75.5 sfu F 10.7 was associated with an increase of 5429 PN/cm 3 . The effects of F 10.7 on PN concentrations were slightly greater when the models were adjusted for air pollution. In summer, ambient PN concentrations were statistically significantly associated with F 10.7 , SWR, and BC, with the strongest association found for PN and BC in the day of PN collection. Unlike the effects of F 10.7 , SWR and local pollutants on PN concentrations, DL and CRII were negatively associated with ambient PN in the analyses. These findings suggest that solar activity may have a significant impact on daily ambient PN concentrations that affect the Earth's climate system and human health., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Centuries of human activities, particularly housing and transportation practices from the late 19th century through the 1980's, dispersed hundreds of millions of tons of lead into our urban areas. The urban lead burden is evident among humans, wild and domesticated animals, and plants. Animal lead exposures closely mirror and often exceed the lead exposure patterns of their human partners. Some examples: Pigeons in New York City neighborhoods mimicked the lead exposures of neighborhood children, with more contaminated areas associated with higher exposures in both species. Also, immediately following the lead in drinking water crisis in Flint MI in 2015, blood lead levels in pet dogs in Flint were 4 times higher than in surrounding towns. And combining lead's neurotoxicity with urban stress results in well-characterized aggressive behaviors across multiple species. Lead pollution is not distributed evenly across urban areas. Although average US pediatric lead exposures have declined by 90% since the 1970s, there remain well defined neighborhoods where children continue to have toxic lead exposures; animals are poisoned there, too. Those neighborhoods tend to have disproportionate commercial and industrial lead activity; a history of dense traffic; older and deteriorating housing; past and operating landfills, dumps and hazardous waste sites; and often lead contaminated drinking water. The population there tends to be low income and minority. Urban wild and domesticated animals bear that same lead burden. Soil, buildings, dust and even trees constitute huge lead repositories throughout urban areas. Until and unless we begin to address the lead repositories in our cities, the urban lead burden will continue to impose enormous costs distributed disproportionately across the domains of the natural environment. Evidence-based research has shown the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of some US public policies to prevent or reduce these exposures. We end with a series of recommendations to manage lead-safe urban environments., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data., (© 2020 The Authors. Ecology © 2020 The Ecological Society of America.)

Lead adversely impacts the health of humans, animals, and the natural environment. Higher lead burdens in warm weather occur in humans, domesticated and wild animals; land and water species; urban and rural, developed and pristine environments. The array of evidence suggests that lead seasonality is multifactorial within the natural world, including humans. Seasonally higher temperatures, solar radiation, humidity and anthropogenic pollution result in lower pH (acidification) in air, water and soil. Environmental acidification increases lead's bioavailability and mobility thus intensifying human, animal and plant exposures. In addition, lead seasonality in the biosphere is influenced by higher growth rates, slightly increased exposures, and more Vitamin D metabolism. Methodologically, we applied a One Health perspective to EPA's Integrated Science Assessments of Lead to review the published literature, supplemented with subsequent and related publications to assess data on the seasonality of lead exposure across species and through the earth's systems. Our integrated assessment suggests that: 1) 'Seasonality' is a multifactorial, terrestrial phenomenon affecting the natural world; human activities have exacerbated natural cyclicities that impact lead exposures across species. 2) To be sustainable, human lead remediation strategies must consider the total environment. 3) Global warming and climate change events may increase lead exposures and toxicity to all species throughout the natural environment., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Short-term geomagnetic disturbances (GMD) driven by the quasi-periodic 11-year cycle of solar activity have been linked to a broad range of adverse health effects, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and total deaths. We conducted a large epidemiological study in 263 U.S. cities to assess the effects of GMD on daily deaths of total, CVD, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke., Methods: We employed a two-step meta-analysis approach, in which we estimated city-specific and season-stratified mortality risk associated with a GMD parameter (Kp index) in 263 U.S. cities. In addition, sensitivity analysis was performed to assess whether effect modification of particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in the prior day changed Kp index effects on daily deaths after adjusting for confounders., Results: We found significant association between daily GMD and total, CVD, and MI deaths. The effects were even stronger when we adjusted the models for 24-h PM 2.5 for different seasons. For example, in the winter and fall one standard deviation of z-score Kp index increase was associated with a 0.13 and 0.31% increase in total deaths, respectively (Winter: p = 0.01, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.24; Fall: p = 0.00001; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.4), without adjusting for PM 2.5. The effects of GMD on total deaths were also observed in spring and summer in the models without PM 2.5 (p = 0.00001). When the models were adjusted for PM 2.5 the total deaths increased 0.47% in winter (p = 0.00001, 95% CI: 0.3 to 0.65) and by 0.23% in fall (p = 0.001, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.37). The effects of GMD were also significant associated with MI deaths and CVD. No positive significant association were found between Kp and stroke. The GMD effects on deaths were higher than for 24 h-PM 2.5 alone, especially in spring and fall., Conclusion: Our results suggest that GMD is associated with total, CVD and MI deaths in 263 U. S cities. Increased mortality in the general population during GMD should be further investigated to determine whether those human physiological dynamics driven by variations in solar activity can be related to daily clinical cardiovascular observations.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of α-bisabolol (BISA)-based mouthwashes in the oral hygiene of patients submitted to oral and maxillofacial surgery., Materials and Methods: A randomized, controlled, triple-blind clinical trial was conducted with 30 patients, undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery. Three types of mouthwashes were developed, based at 0.12% chlorhexidine, 0.5% BISA, and 0.12% chlorhexidine + 0.5% BISA. The patients were evaluated in the preoperative and postoperative period, divided into three groups according to the mouthwash to be used. In the postoperative period, the oral hygiene quality of the patients was evaluated through the simplified oral hygiene index; the healing of the wounds was evaluated observing the presence of suture dehiscence and/or infection, and the pain was established using the Visual Analogue Scale. The antiseptic effect of the mouthwashes was evaluated in vitro., Results: There were no differences in the efficacy of BISA-containing mouthwashes for oral hygiene, healing, and pain, compared to chlorhexidine based at 0.12%. There were no differences in the antiseptic activity of chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine + α-bisabolol-based mouthwashes., Conclusion: The results indicate that BISA-based mouthwashes have clinical efficacy, in the improvement of oral hygiene and wound healing, as well as in the reduction of postoperative pain., Clinical Relevance: Considering that BISA has analgesic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties, it is relevant to evaluate the efficacy of BISA-based mouthwashes in the oral hygiene of patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial surgery, seeking a better postoperative recovery.

Purpose: This study aimed at identifying the course of the mandibular canal, the presence of anterior loop and accessory mental foramen, as well as verifying the association between these variables through the analysis of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) exams., Methods: CBCT images were analyzed to identify the type of mandibular canal path, classified into three types: (I) catenary; (II) progressive descending; and (III) straight. In addition, the presence of anterior loop and accessory mental foramen was analyzed. The variables were summarized by measures of absolute frequency, relative, mean and standard deviation. The Chi square and Fisher's exact tests were used in the comparative analysis of the frequency distribution. The level of significance was 5%., Results: The most frequent mandibular canal course was straight type (74.4%), followed by catenary (19.4%) and finally the progressive descending (6.2%). It was observed a prevalence of 10.2% for anterior loop and 7.9% for accessory mental foramen. There was no association between the presence of anterior loop (P = 0.798) and accessory mental foramen (P 0.480) with the mandibular canal course pattern, as well as no association between the anterior loop and the presence of the accessory mental foramen (P = 0.407)., Conclusions: The CBCT analysis is the best methodology for the investigation and localization of mandibular anatomical variations, which provides a good image quality of the bone tissue and details of the anatomical structures, reducing the risk of injury to the lower alveolar vascular-nervous bundle and, consequently, cause paralysis and hemorrhage in the anterior region of the mandible and adjacent structures.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of IL17A G197A polymorphism and serum levels with oral lichen planus (OLP) susceptibility and clinical presentation., Subjects and Methods: Eighty-three individuals diagnosed with OLP and 99 healthy controls (C) were consecutively recruited. All participants had desquamating oral mucosal cells collected and DNA isolated for IL17A (G197A) genotyping. Blood samples of 42 OLP individuals and 23 healthy controls were collected for evaluation of IL17A serum levels., Results: IL17A G197A genotypes were associated with an increased chance of having OLP (GA/AA × GG, OR = 3.44, 95% CI = 1.87-6.33, p < .001). Overall A carriers (GA or AA) were more common in OLP (38.1%) than in C (20.2%; OR = 2.43, 95% CI = 1.53-3.87, p < .001). Serum levels of IL17A were higher among patients with OLP than in healthy controls (reticular, p = .0003; erosive, p < .001), but no difference was found among the disease types., Conclusions: IL17A G197A is associated with a higher susceptibility of developing OLP and these patients seem to present a considerable increase in IL17A serum levels. These findings suggest that Th17 cells, and IL17A in particular, may play a pivotal role in OLP pathogenesis., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Intraoral pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is rare in young individuals, with only single clinical reports or small patient series reported previously., Aim: The aim of this study was to describe the clinicopathological features of PA in 4 patients under 18 years of age, and to discuss the differential diagnosis of pediatric patients presenting with intraoral submucosal nodules., Methods: Between 2000 and 2015, all patients of intraoral PA in patients aged ≤18 years diagnosed in the Oral Pathology Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Brazil, were retrieved for the study. Clinical data were recorded from the clinical charts. Histopathological slides stained with hematoxylin and eosin were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis., Results: There were 4 cases of PA in patients aged ≤18 years. All patients in this patient series were males, with a mean age of 16.7 years. Three cases occurred in the palate, and in 1 case, the upper lip was affected. All PAs appeared as a painless, smooth surface, well-circumscribed, and submucosal nodule. All patients were surgically excised and subsequent histopathological analysis revealed well-circumscribed tumors composed of cells that were arranged in ducts within a fibromyxoid stroma. No signs of recurrence were observed in 3 patients after a mean follow-up of 30 months. One patient is lost to follow-up., Conclusion: Although PAs are unusual in young patients, they should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral submucosal nodules.

The purpose of this study was to analyse the physical and technical performances of professional tennis players during official matches. The trajectories of eight players were obtained during matches, using an automatic tracking method. The distances covered and technical performances were analysed for the first and second sets. The athletes covered (mean ± standard deviation) a total of 1702.4 ± 448.2 m in the first set, 1457.6 ± 678.1 m in the second set and 3160.0 ± 880.1 in the entire match. No differences were found between the sets for the physical variables (lateral and forward displacements, distance covered per rally, per game and per set, and the percentage of time spent in each range of velocity). However, the distances covered by the athletes during the rallies in which they were serving (median = 5.2; interquartile range (IQR) = 6.7 m) were statistically smaller than when they were returning (median = 6.2; IQR = 7.7 m). Forehand ground stroke proficiency decreased from the first (mean ± standard deviation: 75.2 ± 4.11%) to the second set (mean ± standard deviation = 65.5 ± 14.3%). In conclusion, tennis players did not present reduced physical performance from the first to the second set.

The iron isotope composition was used to investigate dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) processes in an iron-rich waterlogged paddy soil, the iron uptake strategies of plants and its translocation in the different parts of the rice plant along its growth. Fe concentration and isotope composition (δ 56 Fe) in irrigation water, precipitates from irrigation water, soil, pore water solution at different depths under the surface water, iron plaque on rice roots, rice roots, stems, leaves and grains were measured. Over the 8.5-10cm of the vertical profiles investigated, the iron pore water concentration (0.01 to 24.3mg·l -1 ) and δ 56 Fe (-0.80 to -3.40‰) varied over a large range. The significant linear co-variation between Ln[Fe] and δ 56 Fe suggests an apparent Rayleigh-type behavior of the DIR processes. An average net fractionation factor between the pore water and the soil substrate of Δ 56 Fe≈-1.15‰ was obtained, taking the average of all the δ 56 Fe values weighted by the amount of Fe for each sample. These results provide a robust field study confirmation of the conceptual model of Crosby et al. (2005, 2007) for interpreting the iron isotope fractionation observed during DIR, established from a series of laboratories experiments. In addition, the strong enrichment of heavy Fe isotope measured in the root relative to the soil solution suggest that the iron uptake by roots is more likely supplied by iron from plaque and not from the plant-available iron in the pore water. Opposite to what was previously observed for plants following strategy II for iron uptake from soils, an iron isotope fractionation factor of -0.9‰ was found from the roots to the rice grains, pointing to isotope fractionation during rice plant growth. All these features highlight the insights iron isotope composition provides into the biogeochemical Fe cycling in the soil-water-rice plant systems studied in nature., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

We investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of arginine (Arg) on thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBA-RS) and on the activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in renal tissues of rats. We also studied the influence of antioxidants (α-tocopherol plus ascorbic acid) and nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME) on the effects elicited by Arg. Results showed that Arg in vitro (1.5 mM) decreased SOD activity and increased the levels of TBA-RS in the renal medulla. Acute administration of Arg [0.8 g/kg, intraperitoneal injection] decreased CAT activity, increased SOD activity and TBA-RS levels in the renal medulla, and decreased CAT activity in the renal cortex of rats. Most results were prevented by antioxidants and/or l-NAME. Data indicate that Arg causes an oxidative imbalance in the renal tissues studied; however, in the presence of antioxidants and l-NAME, some of these alterations in oxidative stress were prevented., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Study Objective: An association between rapid repeat pregnancy (RRP; occurring within a birth interval of up to 24 months) and undesirable obstetric and perinatal outcomes has been shown, especially among adolescents and women without adequate schooling. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the interaction between maternal schooling and age on the incidence of RRP. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A nonconcurrent cohort study was carried out using probabilistic record linkage techniques. The 59,400 linked records of singleton live-born infants delivered in 2002 whose mothers were up to 29 years old and lived in Rio de Janeiro City were evaluated., Results: Compared with young adults with adequate schooling, the adjusted risk ratio for RRP for adolescents with inadequate schooling was 2.1 (95% confidence interval, 1.8-2.4). The attributable proportion was 0.16 (95% confidence interval, 0.02-0.29)., Conclusion: Young maternal age and inadequate schooling interact, increasing RRP., (Copyright © 2016 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the association between dental infections and systemic diseases in the Indigenous population of Brazil. A representative sample of 225 Indigenous (≥19 years) was assessed. The T-test and bivariate and logistic models were used to assess the associations of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity with dental caries and destructive periodontal disease. After adjustments for covariates, dental caries were associated with hypertension (odds ratio = 1.95; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-3.66; P = .04). Individuals with destructive periodontal disease had a higher systolic blood pressure (124 ± 20.34 mm Hg) than those without destructive periodontal disease (117.52 ± 16.54 mm Hg; P = .01). In conclusion, dental infections were found to be associated with hypertension in the present population. Thus, patients diagnosed with hypertension should be referred for dental evaluation and vice versa., (Copyright © 2016 American Society of Hypertension. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The change in neurosensory lesions that develop after bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) was explored, and the influence of the application of combination uridine triphosphate (UTP), cytidine monophosphate (CMP), and hydroxycobalamin (vitamin B12) on patient outcomes was assessed. This was a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial. The study sample comprised 12 patients, each evaluated on both sides (thus 24 sides). All patients fulfilled defined selection criteria. Changes in the lesions were measured both subjectively and objectively. The sample was divided into two patient groups: an experimental group receiving medication and a control group receiving placebo. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Lesions in both groups improved and no statistically significant difference between the groups was observed at any time. 'Severe' injuries in the experimental group were more likely to exhibit a significant improvement after 6 months. Based on the results of the present study, it is concluded that the combination UTP, CMP, and hydroxycobalamin did not influence recovery from neurosensory disorders., (Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Adverse perinatal and infant outcomes are the leading causes of infant morbidity and mortality in developing countries like Brazil. Among the risk factors are maternal mental disorders. A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted based on passive follow-up using probabilistic record linkage to estimate the prevalence of adverse perinatal and infant outcomes in children of women admitted to a public psychiatric hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and who gave birth from 1999 to 2009. Prevalence rates were: low birth weight (27.6%), prematurity (17.4%), malformations (2.5%), stillbirths (4.8%), and neonatal deaths (3.7%). Associated factors were deficient prenatal care, schizophrenia, and low income. The results corroborate the high prevalence of adverse perinatal and infant outcomes in mothers with major mental disorders, and that screening of psychiatric symptoms and specialized care by mental health professionals are essential throughout prenatal and postpartum care.

HPV (human pappiloma virus) infection is an etiologic risk factor for esophageal carcinoma with several studies supporting its carcinogenic role. The main strains are HPV16 and 18 and the less frequent strains 11, 6, 31 and 36. We report the case of a 58 year old male, smoker, admitted to our hospital for progressive dysphagia. Previous endoscopies and biopsies were compatible with a hyperkeratotic esophagus, negative for dysplasia. Second endoscopy showed a hyperkeratotic, verrucous, esophagus with two circumferential stenosis which were dilated with TTS (Through the Scope) balloon. Biopsies revealed multiple squamous cell abnormalities, negative for dysplasia and positive for HPV 11. Symptoms recurred, and he was submitted to another upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with dilation of the stenosis and esophageal stent placement. Two months later, esophagectomy was performed, and the histopathological analysis revealed a squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (T2, N0, M0, G1). The patient died after surgery due to acute respiratory distress syndrome., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEEH y AEG. All rights reserved.)

Sporadic cases of acute viral hepatitis E have been described in developed countries, despite the more common occurrence in endemic areas and developing countries. We present the case of a 58 years old Portuguese female, with no epidemiological relevant factors, admitted with acute hepatitis with positive anti-nuclear antibodies, anti-smooth muscle antibody and high serum gamma globulin (> 1.5 fold increase). Serologies for hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, hereditary sensory neuropathy and varicella zoster virus were negative. Liver biopsy histology revealed changes compatible with autoimmune hepatitis. Prednisolone and azathioprine was started. She tested positive for immunoglobulin M anti hepatitis E virus (HEV) with detectable viremia by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. HEV-RNA was confirmed through RT-PCR in a liver specimen, establishing the diagnosis of acute hepatitis E. Immunosuppression was stopped. She clinically improved, with resolution of laboratory abnormalities. Therefore, we confirmed acute hepatitis E as the diagnosis. We review the literature to elucidate about HEV infection and its autoimmune effects.

Unlabelled: It is well known the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract in Epidermolysis Bulhosa (EB) and its consequences on both nutrition and growth. We present a case of a young girl with EB diagnosed soon after birth, admitted to our emergency room with food impactation. The endoscopy revealed a double barrel esophagus. No medical or surgical therapy was started and after 2 months of enteric feeding, spontaneous resolution was observed at endoscopy. Skin biopsy was compatible with EB Simplex. According to the literature EB Simplex is the subtype the least associated with GI tract involvement, presenting with dysphagia in only 2% of the patients, and with the lowest cumulative risk of esophageal stricturing., Conclusion: We present an unusual case of EB simplex involvement of the esophagus with spontaneous resolution of a false lumen, with clinical improvement of the patient., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier España, S.L. and AEEH y AEG. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The objectives were to investigate the prevalence of adverse birth outcomes according to maternal age range in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 2002, and to evaluate the association between maternal age range and adverse birth outcomes using additive interaction to determine whether adequate prenatal care can attenuate the harmful effect of young age on pregnancy outcomes., Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed in women up to 24 years of age who gave birth to live children in 2002 in the city of Rio de Janeiro. To evaluate adverse outcomes, the exposure variable was maternal age range, and the outcome variables were very preterm birth, low birth weight, prematurity, and low 5-minute Apgar score. The presence of interaction was investigated with the composite variable maternal age plus prenatal care. The proportions and respective 95% confidence intervals were calculated for adequate schooling, delivery in a public maternity hospital, and adequate prenatal care, and the outcomes according to maternal age range. The chi-square test was used. The association between age range and birth outcomes was evaluated with logistic models adjusted for schooling and type of hospital for each prenatal stratum and outcome. Attributable proportion was calculated in order to measure additive interaction., Results: Of the 40,111 live births in the sample, 1.9% corresponded to children of mothers from 10-14 years of age, 38% from 15-19 years, and 59.9% from 20-24 years. An association between maternal age and adverse outcomes was observed only in adolescent mothers with inadequate prenatal care, and significant additive interaction was observed between prenatal care and maternal age for all the outcomes., Conclusion: Adolescent mothers and their newborns are exposed to greater risk of adverse outcomes when prenatal care fails to comply with current guidelines., (Copyright © 2012 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: This pilot study evaluates the association of severe periodontitis with pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid artery intima-medial thickness (IMT), and clinical, metabolic, and atherogenic inflammatory markers in 79 subjects with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (hFH). All subjects were free of previous vascular disease manifestations., Methods: The body mass index (in kilograms per square meter), plasma lipids, glucose, C-reactive protein, and white blood cell counts were evaluated. After full-mouth periodontal examinations, patients were categorized into the severe periodontitis group (SPG) or non-severe periodontitis group (NSPG)., Results: The SPG showed significantly higher values of cholesterol-year scores, triglycerides, glucose, PWV, IMT, and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P ≤0.05) than the NSPG. After adjustment for traditional risk factors for atherosclerosis, only the association between severe periodontitis and DBP (odds ratio: 3.1; 95% CI: 1.1 to 8.5; P = 0.03) was confirmed., Conclusion: In individuals with hFH, severe periodontitis was associated with a higher DBP, which suggests that severe periodontitis, itself, may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk profile in this population.