Acute respiratory infection by human metapneumovirus in children in southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) has been described as an etiologic agent of acute respiratory infections (ARI), mainly in pediatric patients. Viral isolation is difficult and has low sensitivity, and consequently RT-PCR assays are currently used for detection. OBJECTIVES: Detect hMPV in ARI in hospitalized children in Southern Brazil; standardize a RT-PCR for routine hMPV diagnosis; validate a positive control for molecular tests; and perform phylogenetics analyses. STUDY DESIGN: Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) from 156 hospitalized children were studied. A conserved region of the nucleoprotein gene was cloned, characterized and used to standardize an RT-PCR assay. Phylogenetic analyses were performed. Clinical data were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: hMPV was detected in 6.4% of the samples. Dyspnea and wheezing were frequently reported symptoms and the most common diagnoses were bronchiolitis, acute respiratory insufficiency or laryngotracheobronchitis. Nucleotide sequence alignment revealed 97.7% identity with genotype A1 of hMPV. The detection limit of hMPV genomes by RT-PCR in clinical samples was 180 copies/microL. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of the detection and genetic characterization of hMPV infections in children with lower ARI in Southern Brazil.     

Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy and Their Association with Gestational Weight Gain and Anthropometric Measurements at Birth

Maternal and Child Health Journal - Dietary patterns can influence maternal and child health outcomes. The study aims to characterize dietary patterns during pregnancy as well as to identify their...     

Machine learning and national health data to improve evidence: Finding segmentation in individuals without private insurance

ObjectiveIndividuals without private health insurance have less access to healthcare, therefore are more prone to experience poor health when compared to those who have. Segmentation is an approach to find homogenous groups of people with the purpose of tailoring services and products. In public policy, segmentation might be used to identify characteristics and needs of specific groups and deliver targeted programs and spare costs. We aim to identify and describe segments within the uninsured population to aid targeted policy actions and improve health.MethodsWe used secondary data collected from a representative, nationwide health survey (n=18,204). For the purpose of our analysis, we included data from individuals who answered “no” to the question: “Do you have private health insurance?” (n=12,134). Variables pertaining information on socio-demographic, health status, access and care were used. A multiple correspondence analysis was performed to find principal components followed by a hierarchical cluster.ResultsWe found three clusters. The first (54.12% of our sample) composed by a group of young, middle aged and professionally active individuals without health problems. The second (36.70%), a cluster of aging individuals composed especially by elderly women, either retired or fulfilling domestic tasks, with a long-term health problem. The last (9.17%) composed by elder people, with long-term health problem and scoring low in mental health related questions.ConclusionOur study found three clusters (profiles of individuals) among the uninsured. Ultimately, our findings aim to support policy makers to deliver customized actions to improve health and provide cost-effective policies.     

Photobiomodulation therapy on expression of HSP70 protein and tissue repair in experimental acute Achilles tendinitis

Lasers in Medical Science - The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy on the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and tissue repair in...     

Effect of photobiomodulation therapy on the proliferation phase and wound healing in rats fed with an experimental hypoproteic diet

Lasers in Medical Science - Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has been indicated for enforcement on healing skin wounds. This study evaluated the effects of PBMT on the healing of skin wounds...     

Orofacial evaluation of individuals with temporomandibular disorder after LED therapy associated or not of occlusal splint: a randomized double-blind controlled clinical study

Lasers in Medical Science - This study compared the effects of LED therapy associated with occlusal splint (OS) on the signs and symptoms of temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In this randomized,...     

A capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for species-specific detection of Bothrops venoms

A direct sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), employing affinity purified antivenom antibodies specifically recognizing the homologous venom, was developed for species-specific detection of bothropic venom. The method is based on a two-step affinity purification of the specific antibodies. A species monovalent antivenom is adsorbed onto a venom adsorbent containing heterologous venoms from the Bothrops, Crotalus and Lachesis genera. The species-specific antibodies obtained, are then adsorbed onto a second venom adsorbent containing only the homologous venom for the removal of non antivenom antibodies. Venom concentrations of 0.1 and 1,000 ng/ml were specifically identified for Bothrops jararacussu and B. alternatus venom respectively.     

Increased susceptibility to vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus intestinal colonization persists after completion of anti-anaerobic antibiotic treatment in mice.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotic-associated disruption of the indigenous intestinal microflora may persist beyond the treatment period. Although piperacillin/tazobactam inhibits the establishment of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) stool colonization in mice during treatment, we hypothesized that this agent and other anti-anaerobic antibiotics would increase susceptibility to colonization during the period of recovery of the intestinal microflora. DESIGN: Mice received 10(4) colony-forming units of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium by orogastric inoculation 2, 5, or 10 days after completing 5 days of subcutaneous antibiotic treatment, or both during and 2 days after the completion of treatment. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) was performed to assess changes in the intestinal microflora. RESULTS: Anti-anaerobic antibiotics (ie, piperacillin/ tazobactam, cefoxitin, and clindamycin) caused significant disruption of the indigenous microflora (mean DGGE similarity indices < or = 27% in comparison with saline controls) and promoted the establishment of high-density colonization when VRE was inoculated 2 or 5, but not 10, days following treatment (P < .001). Piperacillin/tazobactam exhibited a biphasic effect on the establishment of colonization (ie, inhibition when exposed to VRE during treatment and promotion when exposed to VRE after discontinuation of treatment), resulting in greater overall promotion of colonization than did agents with minimal anti-anaerobic activity (ie, levofloxacin, cefepime, and aztreonam) when VRE was inoculated both during and 2 days after treatment (P < .001). CONCLUSION: Patients receiving anti-anaerobic antibiotics, including piperacillin/tazobactam, may be susceptible to the establishment of high-density VRE colonization during the period of recovery of the anaerobic microflora.     

Evidence for dual effects of nitric oxide in the forced swimming test and in the tail suspension test in mice

L-Arginine (L-Arg), a substrate for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) at a dose of 250-500 mg/kg, i.p., significantly reduced the duration of immobility both in the forced swimming test (FST) and in the tail suspension test (TST), two models of depression in mice, without changing locomotion in an open field. Paradoxically, a similar effect was observed with the administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) (0.3-10 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of NOS. However, higher doses of L-Arg (750-1000 mg/kg) and L-NNA (30 mg/kg) did not produce any anti-immobility effect in FST and TST. The inactive isomers D-Arg (100-1000 mg/kg, i.p.) and D-NNA (0.3-30 mg/kg, i.p.) did not affect immobility duration in either the FST and TST. Preadministration of L-NNA (30 mg/kg, i.p.), but not of D-NNA completely blocked the anti-immobility effect of L-Arg (500 mg/kg, i.p.) in the FST. Similarly, L-Arg (750 mg/kg, i.p.), but not D-Arg blocked the anti-immobility effect of L-NNA (3 mg/kg, i.p.) in the FST. The results indicate that either the synthesis of NO or the inhibition of its synthesis may produce antidepressant-like effects when assessed in the FST and TST. The physiological meaning of this finding is still obscure, but it could indicate that NO has a dual role in the modulation of depression.