Associação Brasileira de Estatística
Repositório da Produção USP (Univ. de São Paulo)Not a member yet
45573 research outputs found
Sort by
Molecular identification of Plasmodium spp. and blood meal sources of anophelines in environmental reserves on São Luís Island, state of Maranhão, Brazil
No full textAbstract
Background
Considering the diversity of feeding habits that females of some species of anophelines present, it is important to understand which vertebrates are part of blood food sources and how important is the role of each in the ecoepidemiology of malaria. There are many vector species for Plasmodium spp. in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. In São Luís Island, Anopheles aquasalis is the main vector for human malaria; this species is abundant in areas with primates that are positive for Plasmodium. Anopheles aquasalis has natural exophilic and zoophilic feeding behavior, but in cases of high density and absence of animals, presents quite varied behavior, and feeds on human blood. In this context, the objective of the present study was to identify Plasmodium spp. and the blood meal sources of anophelines in two environmental reserves on São Luís Island, state of Maranhão, using molecular methods.
Methods
Between June and July 2013, female anophelines were collected in the Sítio Aguahy Private Reserve, in the municipality of São José de Ribamar, and in the Sítio Mangalho Reserve, located within the Maracanã Environmental Protection Area, in the municipality of São Luís. CDC-type light traps, Shannon traps and protected human bait were used during three consecutive hours in peridomestic and wooded areas. Pools of anophelines were formed using mosquitoes of the same species that had been caught at the same site on the same date. A genus-specific amplification protocol based on the 18S rRNA gene was used for qPCR and cPCR.
Results
A total of 416 anophelines were collected, of the following species: An. aquasalis (399), An. mediopunctatus (3), An. shannoni (1), An. nuneztovari (sensu lato) (1), An. goeldii (1), An. evansae (2) and An. (Nyssorhynchus) sp. (9), comprising 54 pools. Two pools were positive for Plasmodium (2/54) based on the 18S rRNA gene. In the phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method, based on a 240 bp fragment of the 18S rRNA gene, it was found that the sequences of Plasmodium sp. amplified from pools of An. aquasalis (pool 2) and An. nuneztovari (s.l.) (pool 10) were phylogenetically related to a clade of P. falciparum isolates from India, and to a clade of Plasmodium sp. isolates from psittacines in Brazil, respectively. Cat, dog and human DNA were identified in the blood meals of the anophelines sampled.
Conclusion
The species An. aquasalis was the most abundant anopheline species in São Luís Island. Plasmodium spp. DNA was detected, thus confirming the importance of this species as the main vector on São Luís Island, Brazil. In addition, the presence of An. nuneztovari (s.l.) with DNA positive for Plasmodium spp. confirms its importance as a secondary vector
Stage and tissue expression patterns of Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like proteins SmVAL 4, 13, 16 and 24
No full textAbstract\ud
\ud
Background\ud
\ud
Schistosoma mansoni venom allergen-like protein (SmVAL) is a gene family composed of 29 members divided into group 1 encoding proteins potentially secreted, and group 2 encoding intracellular components. Some members were found to be upregulated in the transition of germ ball - cercariae - day 3 schistosomula, suggesting that group 1 SmVAL proteins are associated with the invasion of the human host, although their functions are not completely established. Recently, we have described the localization of SmVAL7 (group 1) and SmVAL6 (group 2) transcripts in the oesophageal gland and in the oral and ventral suckers of adult parasites, respectively. The expression patterns of the two genes suggest that SmVAL7 protein plays a role in the blood-feeding process while SmVAL6 is associated with the parasite attachment and movement in the vasculature. In this way, searching for additional secreted SmVAL proteins that could be involved in key processes from skin penetration to the beginning of blood-feeding, we investigated the tissue localization of SmVAL4, 13, 16 and 24 by whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH).\ud
\ud
\ud
Results\ud
We report here the localization of group 1 SmVAL4 and 24 transcripts in the pre-acetabular glands of developing germ balls. Time course experiments of in vitro cultured schistosomula after cercariae transformation demonstrated that SmVAL4 protein is secreted during the first 3 h of in vitro culture, correlating with the emptying of acetabular glands as documented by confocal microscopy. In addition, the localization of SmVAL13 transcripts in adult male anterior oesophageal gland suggests that the respective protein may be involved in the first steps of the blood-feeding process. SmVAL16 was localized close to the neural ganglia and requires further investigation.\ud
\ud
\ud
Conclusions\ud
Our findings demonstrate that SmVAL proteins have localizations that place them in strategic positions to be considered as potential vaccine candidates as some members are exposed to interaction with the immune system and may participate in key processes of mammalian invasion and parasitism establishment.We are grateful for funding provided by Fundação Butantan and Fundação\ud
de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP - 2012/23124–4) to\ud
LCCL and LPF, and by fellowships from FAPESP to RSF\ud
(FAPESP -2010/18486-9) and from CAPES to MMFB
The burden of obesity in the current world and the new treatments available: focus on liraglutide 3.0 mg
No full textAbstract
The prevalence of obesity increases worldwide. Treating obesity and its associated health problems has a significant economic impact on health care systems. The unsatisfactory long-term outcomes observed in the obesity treatment are due to its complex pathophysiology and the inherent difficulties associated with maintenance of lifestyle modifications. Determined by genetic and environmental factors, obesity has been officially recognized as a chronic disease, an action that allowed the recognition of anti-obesity drugs as legitimate therapeutic options to address the growing obesity endemic. Like other chronic diseases, obesity requires long-term treatment. Pharmacological interventions, when used as an adjunct to lifestyle changes, are useful to facilitate clinically meaningful weight loss, which may impact on obesity-associated comorbid conditions. In the past, medications for weight reduction were limited. However, the landscape has changed and new drugs provide additional options for weight management. Among the new drugs, liraglutide is the most studied, especially regarding its effects on the limbic system. As an adjunct to a reduced-calorie diet and increased physical activity, treatment with liraglutide 3.0 mg provides a statistically significant and clinically meaningful weight loss. Liraglutide is a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that shares 97% homology to native GLP-1. Receptor agonists of GLP-1, including liraglutide, have emerged as effective therapies for type 2 diabetes and obesity. This review will address the major findings concerning the central regulation of appetite and the main studies that evaluated new drugs for obesity treatment, with a greater focus on liraglutide 3.0 mg
The influence of gender and body mass index on the FPI-6 evaluated foot posture of 10- to 14-year-old school children in São Paulo, Brazil: a cross-sectional study
No full textAbstract\ud
\ud
Background\ud
Adolescence is marked by changes to the body, including the feet. The Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) stands out from other foot type classification methods as valid, reliable, and multidimensional. However, the current literature differs according to age group, with little consolidation of normative data in school children, largely due to the influence of such factors as sex, age and body mass index (BMI). Thus, this study assesses foot posture in adolescents according to age, sex and BMI.\ud
\ud
\ud
Methods\ud
The study evaluated 1.394 adolescents from Amparo and Pedreira regions in São Paulo, Brazil. Subjects were positioned barefoot on a wooden base and each foot was assessed by FPI-6 criteria. Each criterion was scored on a scale of −2 to +2, negative for supinated and positive for pronated posture. Initially the data were assessed for normality using the Shapiro-Wilk test and descriptive statistics were calculated. To investigate and compare the scores of FPI-6 with regards to age and body mass index, analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used, followed by post hoc Tukey. To compare the FPI-6 with regard to gender, an independent student t test was used. All data were analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 and the 5% significance level.\ud
\ud
\ud
Results\ud
Boys had higher scores than girls (p = 0.037) for the right foot, and the group with normal BMI values scored higher than the obese group (p = 0.001). For the left foot, 11- and 13-year-olds differed (p = 0.024) with respect to age in general. The overweight and obese group scored lower than the normal BMI group (p = 0.039; p = 0.001, respectively).\ud
\ud
\ud
Conclusions\ud
Overall, the feet in this study were classified as normal, with a tendency to pronation, particularly in boys. There were differences between the 11 and 13 year groups and, with regard to BMI, there were higher scores for the group with normal BMI. Therefore, a higher BMI in adolescence is not indicative of a pronated foot type.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP process\ud
2013/25774-9) and CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)- financial support
The odd log-logistic logarithmic generated family of distributions with applications in different areas
No full textAbstract\ud
We introduce and study general mathematical properties of a new generator of continuous distributions with three extra parameters called the odd log-logistic logarithmic generated family of distributions. We present some special models and investigate the asymptotes and shapes. The new density function can be expressed as a linear combination of exponentiated densities based on the same baseline distribution. Explicit expressions for the ordinary and incomplete moments, quantile and generating functions, Shannon and Rényi entropies and order statistics, which hold for any baseline model, are determined. We discuss the estimation of the model parameters by maximum likelihood. Further, we introduce the new family in long-term survival models. We illustrate the potentiality of the proposed models by means of four applications to real data
Fatal factitious Cushing syndrome (Münchhausen’s syndrome) in a patient with macroprolactinoma and silent corticotrophinoma: case report and literature review
No full textAbstract\ud
Münchhausen’s syndrome (MS) is a chronic factitious disorder characterized by the intentional production of clinical symptoms without external incentive. One type of MS is factitious Cushing syndrome, an extremely rare clinical situation in which the diagnosis is challenging mainly due to interference of the exogenous medication in cortisol immunoassays. We described a 26-year-old woman who was originally diagnosed with a macroprolactinoma and during follow-up developed clinical and laboratorial hypercortisolism. A transsphenoidal surgery was performed and immunohistochemistry revealed positive and diffuse staining for both hormones. Four years later, her hypercortisolism recurred and the confirmation of factitious Cushing syndrome was delayed due to conflicting laboratorial results.\ud
There are few cases in the literature of factitious Cushing syndrome, and only one had a fatal outcome. The diagnosis of this condition is complex and includes cyclic Cushing syndrome in the differential diagnosis. These patients have high morbidity and increased mortality risk and are likely to have other psychiatric disorders. Prednisone was identified as the culprit in the majority of the cases.We would like to thank Dr. Wagner Farid Gattaz and Dr. Jose Gallucci Neto,\ud
from the Psychiatric Division, for providing assistance during hospitalization.\ud
This work was partially supported by grants from Conselho Nacional de\ud
Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – CNPq (301339/2008-9 to B.B.M.)
Month-wise variation and prediction of bulk tank somatic cell count in Brazilian dairy herds and its impact on payment based on milk quality
No full textAbstract\ud
\ud
Background\ud
Payment programs based on milk quality (PPBMQ) are used in several countries around the world as an incentive to improve milk quality. One of the principal milk parameters used in such programs is the bulk tank somatic cell count (BTSCC). In this study, using data from an average of 37,000 farms per month in Brazil where milk was analyzed, BTSCC data were divided into different payment classes based on milk quality. Then, descriptive and graphical analyses were performed. The probability of a change to a worse payment class was calculated, future BTSCC values were predicted using time series models, and financial losses due to the failure to reach the maximum bonus for the payment based on milk quality were simulated.\ud
\ud
\ud
Results\ud
In Brazil, the mean BTSCC has remained high in recent years, without a tendency to improve. The probability of changing to a worse payment class was strongly affected by both the BTSCC average and BTSCC standard deviation for classes 1 and 2 (1000–200,000 and 201,000–400,000 cells/mL, respectively) and only by the BTSCC average for classes 3 and 4 (401,000–500,000 and 501,000–800,000 cells/mL, respectively). The time series models indicated that at some point in the year, farms would not remain in their current class and would accrue financial losses due to payments based on milk quality.\ud
\ud
\ud
Conclusion\ud
The BTSCC for Brazilian dairy farms has not recently improved. The probability of a class change to a worse class is a metric that can aid in decision-making and stimulate farmers to improve milk quality. A time series model can be used to predict the future value of the BTSCC, making it possible to estimate financial losses and to show, moreover, that financial losses occur in all classes of the PPBMQ because the farmers do not remain in the best payment class in all months.We thank the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior\ud
(CAPES) for the scholarship granted and the Animal Science Department of the\ud
College of Agriculture “Luiz de Queiroz”/University of São Paulo – ESALQ/USP\ud
for the knowledge acquired. We also thank the Clinica do Leite – ESALQ/USP,\ud
who provided the database and made this research possible
Health outcomes, education, healthcare delivery and quality – 3051. Profiles of diagnosis and treatment of asthma in the public health system in Brazil
No full textBuilding a resistance to ignition testing device for sunglasses and analysing data: a continuing study for sunglasses standards
No full textAbstract\ud
\ud
Background\ud
Sunglasses popularity skyrocketed since its advent. The ongoing trend led to the creation of standards to protect consumers from injuries and secondary hazards due to spectacles use. In Brazil, the corresponding standard is NBR ISO 12312-1:2015 and since there is no mandatory testing, evaluating sunglasses performance provides an insight into compliance with the standard. In a continuing revision of sunglasses standards requirements, resistance to ignition is one of the concerns, since sunglasses should be protected from burning into flames at a pre-determined temperature, which may protect user of getting their sunglasses into flames if some, cigarette sparks reaches the spectacles, as an example. This paper describes the building of a resistance to ignition system and the results of 410 samples that have been tested accordingly to ISO 12312-1.\ud
\ud
\ud
Methods\ud
The procedure is in accordance with the resistance to ignition test. It consists of heating a steel rod to 650 °C and pressing it against the sample surface for 5 s, with a force equivalent to the rod weight. For carrying out the assessments, we have build resistance to ignition testing system and assured the testing requirements of the standard. The apparatus has an electrical furnace with a temperature acquisition circuit and electronic control that maintains the temperature of the steel rod at 650 °C. A linear actuator was designed for the project to drive the steel rod vertically and pressing it against the sunglasses samples. The control system is composed by a Freescale development board FRDM-KL25Z with an ARM Cortex-M0 embedded. We have also provided a LabView PC interface for acquiring, displaying, and storing data as well as added a physical control panel to the equipment for performing the evaluations. We assessed 410 sunglasses frames at the built apparatus, where the 410 lenses came out to be in accordance with the guidelines provided by the ignition to resistance test. Out of the 410 tested frames, 50% were made of polyamide (nylon 12); 10% were made of polyamide (nylon 11, mamona oil); 5% were made of cellulose acetate; 15% were made of ABS and 20% were made of polycarbonate. Out of the 410 tested lenses, 80% were polycarbonate; 2% were polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); 5% CR-39 (with polarizing filter inside); 12.8% polyamide; 0.2% glass.\ud
\ud
\ud
Results\ud
For all the 410 tested spectacles frames and lenses, none burst into flames or continued to melt at the end of the procedure, being in compliance with ISO 12312-1:2013.\ud
\ud
\ud
Conclusions\ud
The evidences show that all the tested thermoplastic and thermosetting materials are exceptionally resistant to ignition and all samples assessed comply with the resistance to ignition test. The analysis of the sunglasses made herein assures that most of sunglasses currently available to population are made of safe material.The authors are grateful to Capes and FAPESP (2014/16938-0, coordinator: Liliane Ventura), which fnancially support our research
Plasmodium falciparum uses vitamin E to avoid oxidative stress
No full textAbstract\ud
\ud
Background\ud
\ud
Plasmodium falciparum is sensitive to oxidative stress in vitro and in vivo, and many drugs such as artemisinin, chloroquine and cercosporin interfere in the parasite’s redox system. To minimize the damage caused by reactive radicals, antioxidant enzymes and their substrates found in parasites and in erythrocytes must be functionally active. It was shown that P. falciparum synthesizes vitamin E and that usnic acid acts as an inhibitor of its biosynthesis. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that protects polyunsaturated fatty acids from lipid peroxidation, and this activity can be measured by detecting its oxidized product and by evaluating reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.\ud
\ud
\ud
Results\ud
Here, we demonstrated that ROS levels increased in P. falciparum when vitamin E biosynthesis was inhibited by usnic acid treatment and decreased to basal levels if exogenous vitamin E was added. Furthermore, we used metabolic labelling to demonstrate that vitamin E biosynthesized by the parasite acts as an antioxidant since we could detect its radiolabeled oxidized product. The treatment with chloroquine or cercosporin of the parasites increased the ratio between α-tocopherolquinone and α-tocopherol.\ud
\ud
\ud
Conclusions\ud
Our findings demonstrate that vitamin E produced endogenously by P. falciparum is active as an antioxidant, probably protecting the parasite from the radicals generated by drugs.R.A.C.S. and W.L.F. are fellows from the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do\ud
Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP). This research was supported by grants from\ud
FAPESP and CNPq