Seroprevalence and risk factors for human toxoplasmosis in northeastern Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most prevalent parasitic infections in humans, causing severe clinical complications in immunocompromised patients or in foetuses. Estimates on the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence in human populations vary widely, even within the same region. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in the municipality of Santa Cruz, State of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, and identify the risk factors for toxoplasmosis. T. gondii IgG antibodies were measured in 66.2% of the studied population. The factors associated with infection were as follows: age above 45 years (OR = 7.4; 95% CI = 3.7-14.8); illiteracy (OR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.6-5.0); the presence of more than three cats in the home (OR 2.0; 95% CI = 1.2-3.5); no water tank (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.4-3.1); and consumption of raw or unpasteurized milk (OR = 2.0; 95% CI = 1.3-3.0). The risk factors identified were predominantly related to the ingestion of oocysts. This study may contribute to public health knowledge of toxoplasmosis and the definition of control programs, particularly for pregnant women from regions similar to the area studied

Effects Of Local Alendronate Administration On Bone Defect Healing. Histomorphometric And Radiological Evaluation In A Rabbit Model

Purpose: To performed a histomorphometric and radiological study to evaluate the effects of alendronate sodium administered locally in mandibular bone defects created in rabbits. Methods: Two circular defects 5 mm in diameter were created bilaterally in the mandibular corpus of 20 New Zealand rabbits (i.e., four defects per animal). Each defect received one of four treatments: no treatment (EC group), alendronate irrigation (AL group), autogenous bone grafting (AG group), or alendronate irrigation with autogenous bone grafting (AL+AG group). Histomorphometric and radiological assessments were conducted at 4 and 8 weeks after surgery. Results: Between-group comparisons of the new bone area, the value of the AL+AG group was significantly lower thanthe remaining three groups at 4 weeks postoperatively. In all groups, the new bone area was significantly larger at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks. The residual graft area at 4 and 8 weeks was significantly higher in the AL+AG group than in the AG group, although it was significantly smaller at 8 weeks than at 4 weeks in both these groups. Conclusion: The use of alendronate sodium in conjunction with autogenous bone grafting improves the osteoconductive properties of the graft, enhances graft retention in the defect, and improves ossification.WoSScopu