Hepatitis C virus prevalence among men who have sex with men : a cross-sectional study in 12 Brazilian cities

Background Despite the preventive policies adopted, reduction in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among men who have sex with men (MSM) has been limited. The risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has increased among the most vulnerable population groups, including MSM. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV infection and to assess risky practices among MSM from 12 Brazilian cities. Methods This study was carried out from June to December 2016 using respondent driven sampling (RDS). Partici‑ pants completed a self-administered questionnaire to collect behavioral, socioeconomic, and demographic variables. In addition, the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for HCV was ofered. Positive results were sent to Instituto Adolfo Lutz for confrmation. Results A total of 4,176 participants were recruited and 23 samples were sent for confrmation. Of these, 16 were confrmed, resulting in a prevalence of 0.7% (95% CI: 0.3%—1.7%). The Southeast region showed a prevalence of 0.9% (95% CI: 0.3—2.6), followed by the South region, with 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2—2.1). The Northeast region had a prevalence of 0.3% (95% CI: 0.1—1.0) and the Midwest 0.1% (95% CI: 0.0—0.7). No positive cases were found in the North. Single men aged 40 years or older were the majority of participants exposed to HCV. High levels of alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, irregular condom use, in addition to infection with other STIs, were associated with exposure to HCV. Conclusions STIs continue to be important health problems in Brazil and globally. Many STIs are inapparent for many years until they bring more serious consequences. Extra investment in HCV is also warranted, given that it can be eliminated. Relying solely on clinical data to provide information about inapparent infection, especially in stigmatized populations, will make that goal more difcult to achieve. Surveillance studies, such as the one reported here need to be repeated over time to demonstrate trends and to provide information for evaluation, program and policies. Investments in the most vulnerable populations are critical to achieve the World Health Organization global health goals including the elimination of viral hepatitis by 2030

Biomethanation potential of biological and other wastes

Anaerobic technology has been traditionally applied for the treatment of carbon rich wastewater and organic residues. Anaerobic processes can be fully integrated in the biobased economy concept for resource recovery. After a brief introduction about applications of anaerobic processes to industrial wastewater treatment, agriculture feedstock and organic fraction of municipal solid waste, the position of anaerobic processes in biorefinery concepts is presented. Integration of anaerobic digestion with these processes can help in the maximisation of the economic value of the biomass used, while reducing the waste streams produced and mitigating greenhouse gases emissions. Besides the integration of biogas in the existing full-scale bioethanol and biodiesel production processes, the potential applications of biogas in the second generation lignocellulosic, algae and syngas-based biorefinery platforms are discussed.(undefined

Autonomous Irrigation Management in Decision Agriculture

In this chapter, the important application of autonomous irrigation management in the field decision agriculture is discussed. The different types of sensor-guided irrigation systems are presented that includes center pivot systems and drip irrigation systems. Their sensing and actuator components are with detailed focus on real-time decision-making and integration to the cloud. This chapter also presents irrigation control systems which takes, as an input, soil moisture and temperature from IOUT and weather data from Internet and communicate with center pivot based irrigation systems. Moreover, the system architecture is explored where development of the nodes including sensing and actuators is presented. Finally, the chapter concludes with comprehensive discussion of adaptive control systems, software, and visualization system design

Fetal deaths in Brazil: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE To review the frequency of and factors associated with fetal death in the Brazilian scientific literature. METHODS A systematic review of Brazilian studies on fetal deaths published between 2003 and 2013 was conducted. In total, 27 studies were analyzed; of these, 4 studies addressed the quality of data, 12 were descriptive studies, and 11 studies evaluated the factors associated with fetal death. The databases searched were PubMed and Lilacs, and data extraction and synthesis were independently performed by two or more examiners. RESULTS The level of completeness of fetal death certificates was deficient, both in the completion of variables, particularly sociodemographic variables, and in defining the underlying causes of death. Fetal deaths have decreased in Brazil; however, inequalities persist. Analysis of the causes of death indicated maternal morbidities that could be prevented and treated. The main factors associated with fetal deaths were absent or inadequate prenatal care, low education level, maternal morbidity, and adverse reproductive history. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal care should prioritize women that are most vulnerable (considering their social environment or their reproductive history and morbidities) with the aim of decreasing the fetal mortality rate in Brazil. Adequate completion of death certificates and investment in the committees that investigate fetal and infant deaths are necessary

Prevalência de internação hospitalar e fatores associados em Pelotas, RS

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência de hospitalizações e identificar características associadas à internação hospitalar. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com indivíduos de ambos os sexos, de 20 a 69 anos, residentes na zona urbana de Pelotas, RS, entre 1999 e 2000. Foi utilizado questionário padronizado e pré-codificado. Foi realizada análise estratificada entre os sexos e controle de fatores de confusão por meio de Regressão de Poisson. Foram incluídas na análise variáveis socioeconômicas, demográficas, hábitos de vida, morbidades e consulta com médico no último ano. RESULTADOS: Dos 1.916 indivíduos, 146 (7,6%, IC95%:6,4;8,8) haviam sido hospitalizados no último ano desde a entrevista. Entre os homens, as características que se mostraram associadas a internação foram: idade de 50 anos ou mais, entre cinco e sete anos de escolaridade, ex-fumantes, distúrbios psiquiátricos menores e consulta com médico no último ano. Entre as mulheres com idade entre 60 e 69 anos, entre cinco e sete anos de escolaridade e consulta médica no período de um ano antes da entrevista, ocorreram maiores prevalências de hospitalização. As mulheres que consumiam menos de 30 g/dia de álcool mostraram menor freqüência de hospitalização. A prevalência de internação por causas sensíveis à atenção primária foi de 13,0% (IC 95%: 7,6;18,5). CONCLUSÕES: Homens e mulheres apresentaram prevalências semelhantes de internação hospitalar. Foi encontrada associação entre escolaridade e internação, mas não entre renda e internação

A sensitive flow cytometric methodology for studying the binding of L. chagasi to canine peritoneal macrophages

BACKGROUND: The Leishmania promastigote-macrophage interaction occurs through the association of multiple receptors on the biological membrane surfaces. The success of the parasite infection is dramatically dependent on this early interaction in the vertebrate host, which permits or not the development of the disease. In this study we propose a novel methodology using flow cytometry to study this interaction, and compare it with a previously described "in vitro" binding assay. METHODS: To study parasite-macrophage interaction, peritoneal macrophages were obtained from 4 dogs and adjusted to 3 × 10(6 )cells/mL. Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi parasites (stationary-phase) were adjusted to 5 × 10(7 )cells/mL. The interaction between CFSE-stained Leishmania chagasi and canine peritoneal macrophages was performed in polypropylene tubes to avoid macrophage adhesion. We carried out assays in the presence or absence of normal serum or in the presence of a final concentration of 5% of C5 deficient (serum from AKR/J mice) mouse serum. Then, the number of infected macrophages was counted in an optical microscope, as well as by flow citometry. Macrophages obtained were stained with anti-CR3 (CD11b/CD18) antibodies and analyzed by flow citometry. RESULTS: Our results have shown that the interaction between Leishmania and macrophages can be measured by flow cytometry using the fluorescent dye CFSE to identify the Leishmania, and measuring simultaneously the expression of an important integrin involved in this interaction: the CD11b/CD18 (CR3 or Mac-1) β2 integrin. CONCLUSION: Flow cytometry offers rapid, reliable and sensitive measurements of single cell interactions with Leishmania in unstained or phenotypically defined cell populations following staining with one or more fluorochromes

PRODUTIVIDADE DO EUCALIPTO, ATRIBUTOS FÍSICOS DO SOLO E FRAÇÕES DA MATÉRIA ORGÂNICA INFLUENCIADAS PELA INTENSIDADE DE TRÁFEGO E RESÍDUOS DE COLHEITA

O número de passadas das máquinas, os tipos de rodados e a alta umidade do solo durante as operações de colheita agravam o processo de compactação, devendo-se conhecer esses impactos e quais alternativas para reduzí-los. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto de diferentes frequências de tráfego doforwarder e o efeito de condições distintas de resíduos da colheita do eucalipto ao fim da rotação subsequente na produtividade, nos atributos físicos do solo e nos teores de matéria orgânica de um Latossolo Vermelho (LV), localizado em São João Evangelista, MG, e um Latossolo Amarelo (LA), localizado em Belo Oriente, MG. Os tratamentos consistiram de um esquema fatorial 2 × 3, sendo: duas ou oito passadas na entrelinha sobre resíduo da colheita sem casca; com casca; e sem resíduo. A perda de produtividade dos plantios pela compactação do solo proveniente das passadas doforwarder é atenuada com a permanência dos resíduos da colheita especialmente com a manutenção da casca na área. A remoção de resíduo, particularmente quando há remoção da casca, leva à redução dos teores de C orgânico total e de frações mais lábeis de C e N do solo. O tráfego doforwarder na colheita do eucalipto da rotação anterior sobre solo sem resíduos promove perdas na qualidade física do solo, com aumento da densidade do solo e resistência à penetração, e redução na porosidade e condutividade hidráulica do solo. Esses efeitos negativos perduraram até o final da rotação seguinte