Age-specific mortality patterns in Central Mozambique during and after the end of the Civil War

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In recent years, vigorous debate has developed concerning how conflicts contribute to the spread of infectious diseases, and in particular, the role of post-conflict situations in the epidemiology of HIV/AIDS. This study details the age-specific mortality patterns among the population in the central provincial capital of Beira, Mozambique, during and after the Mozambican civil war which ended in 1992.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data was collected from the death register at Beira's Central Hospital between 1985 and 2003 and descriptively analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The data show two distinct periods: before and after the peace agreements in 1992. Before 1992 (during the civil war), the main impact of mortality was on children below 5 years of age, including still births, accounting for 58% of all deaths. After the war ended in 1992, the pattern shifted dramatically and rapidly to the 15-49 year old age group which accounted for 49% of all deaths by 2003.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>As under-5 mortality rates were decreasing at the end of the conflict, rates for 24-49 year old adults began to dramatically increase due to AIDS. This study demonstrates that strategies can be implemented during conflicts to decrease mortality rates in one vulnerable population but post-conflict dynamics can bring together other factors which contribute to the rapid spread of other infectious diseases in other vulnerable populations.</p

Oxidative stress and S-100B protein in children with bacterial meningitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bacterial meningitis is often associated with cerebral compromise which may be responsible for neurological sequelae in nearly half of the survivors. Little is known about the mechanisms of CNS involvement in bacterial meningitis. Several studies have provided substantial evidence for the key role of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species in the complex pathophysiology of bacterial meningitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the present study, serum and CSF levels of NO, lipid peroxide (LPO) (mediators for oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation); total thiol, superoxide dismutase (SOD) (antioxidant mediators) and S-100B protein (mediator of astrocytes activation and injury), were investigated in children with bacterial meningitis (n = 40). Albumin ratio (CSF/serum) is a marker of blood-CSF barriers integrity, while mediator index (mediator ratio/albumin ratio) is indicative of intrathecal synthesis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to normal children (n = 20), patients had lower serum albumin but higher NO, LPO, total thiol, SOD and S-100B. The ratios and indices of NO and LPO indicate blood-CSF barriers dysfunction, while the ratio of S-100B indicates intrathecal synthesis. Changes were marked among patients with positive culture and those with neurological complications. Positive correlation was found between NO index with CSF WBCs (r = 0.319, p < 0.05); CSF-LPO with CSF-protein (r = 0.423, p < 0.01); total thiol with LPO indices (r = 0.725, p < 0.0001); S-100B and Pediatric Glasow Coma Scores (0.608, p < 0.0001); CSF-LPO with CSF-S-100B (r = 0.482, p < 0.002); serum-total thiol with serum S-100B (r = 0.423, p < 0.01).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study suggests that loss of integrity of brain-CSF barriers, oxidative stress and S-100B may contribute to the severity and neurological complications of bacterial meningitis.</p

Oxidative stress and biochemical markers in prenatally androgenized sheep after neonatal treatment with GnRH agonist

Jandui Escari&atilde;oda N&oacute;brega,1 Joabel Tonelotto dos Santos,1 Lady K Serrano-Mujica,1 Guilherme Bochi,2 Rafael Noal Moresco,2 Vitor Braga Rissi,1 Werner Giehl Glanzner,1 Felipe W Langer,3 Alfredo Quites Antoniazzi,1 Paulo Bayard Dias Gon&ccedil;alves,1 Melissa O Premaor,3 Fabio V Comim1,3 1Laboratory of Biotechnology and Animal Reproduction &ndash; BioRep, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; 2Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; 3Department of Clinical Medicine, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brazil Background: Disruption of the balance between the production of ROS and their removal through enzymatic and non-enzymatic (antioxidant) processes has been proposed as a new mechanism in the pathology of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Evidence from animal models of PCOS (prenatally androgenized sheep) has suggested that treatment with insulin sensitizers, but not antiandrogens, can reduce increases in ROS.Materials and methods: In the present study, we investigated the effects of neonatal treatment with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist (leuprolide acetate) on prenatally androgenized sheep with testosterone propionate to determine its impact on oxidative stress molecules (ferric reducing antioxidant power [FRAP], advanced oxidation protein product [AOPP], nitric oxide [NOx], albumin) at 8, 12, and 18 months of age.Results: Androgenized ewes (but not leuprolide-treated ewes) showed reduced total cholesterol levels associated with a decrease in the ratio of visceral to subcutaneous adiposity (adjusted to abdominal area) as determined by computed tomography. In androgenized ewes at 12 months of age, an increase in subcutaneous fat and relative decrease in the visceral fat compartment did not affect the expression of REDOX markers. At 18 months of age, however, the levels of NOx metabolites decreased in androgenized animals, but remained close to normal in ewes subjected to neonatal treatment with leuprolide acetate. Other oxidative stress parameters (FRAP, AOPP, albumin) did not vary among groups.Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that the GnRH agonist leuprolide (as a single dose after birth) had weak effects on markers of the oxidative stress balance. Keywords: animal model of polycystic ovary syndrome, oxidative stress, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, sheep, metabolis

Produtividade de híbridos de tomate submetidos ao cultivo superadensado Yield of tomato hybrids subjected to a super density cropping

Os tomaticultores da região de Caçador-SC necessitam de resultados experimentais do cultivo superadensado, com os híbridos cultivados nas condições edafoclimáticas da região, para que possam decidir sobre a adoção deste sistema. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o cultivo superadensado de tomate com híbridos utilizados em Caçador. Dois experimentos foram realizados na Epagri em Caçador, durante as safras 2007/2008 e 2008/2009. Os tratamentos, na safra 2007/2008, consistiram na combinação de dois híbridos (Miramar e T92), dois métodos de tutoramento (vertical e em "V") e dois métodos de condução de plantas (uma haste por planta no espaçamento de 0,15 m entre plantas e duas hastes por planta no espaçamento de 0,3 m entre plantas). Na safra 2008/2009, os tratamentos consistiram na combinação de dois híbridos (Paron e Plutão) e dois métodos de condução de plantas superadensado (uma haste por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,15 m e duas hastes por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,3 m). Foi incluído ainda o método de condução e densidade de plantas tradicional (duas hastes por planta no espaçamento entre plantas de 0,6 m). O delineamento experimental foi de blocos completos ao acaso, com quatro repetições, no esquema de parcelas sub-subdivididas, na safra 2007/2008, e de parcelas subdivididas, na safra 2008/2009. Os tratamentos possuíam 44.444 hastes/ha, com exceção dos tratamentos com condução tradicional de plantas (22.222 hastes/ha). Foram analisados a produtividade total, comercial e descarte, massa média de frutos comerciais, frutos comerciais (%) e descarte (%) em relação ao número total de frutos e severidade de doenças foliares. Os híbridos testados não interferem nas respostas agronômicas ao adensamento de plantas. O sistema superadensado de tomate proporcionou aumento, em média, de 73,2% na produtividade comercial de frutos, em relação à densidade tradicional de plantas. A produtividade comercial de frutos no tomateiro superadensado tutorado em "V" foi 19,2% maior que o tomateiro superadensado tutorado verticalmente. A condução de uma haste por planta aumentou 10,4% a produtividade comercial de frutos em relação à condução de duas hastes por planta no tomateiro superadensado. O tomateiro superadensado proporcionou aumento da severidade foliar de pinta-preta, em relação à densidade tradicional de plantas.<br>Farmers of Caçador, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, need experimental results of tomato super density cropping system, since the ecological conditions of this region permit them decide to adopt this system or not. The aim of this work was to evaluate the tomato super density cropping system with hybrids used in Caçador. Two experiments were carried out at Epagri, Experimental Station of Caçador, during the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 harvest period. The treatments in 2007/2008 were the combination of two hybrids (Miramar and T92), two methods of staking (in vertical and "V") and two methods of training plants (one stem per plant in the spacing of 0.15 m between plants and two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.3 m between plants). In 2008/2009, the treatments were the combination of two hybrids (Paron and Plutão) and two super density methods of training plants (one stem per plant in the spacing of 0.15 m between plants and two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.3 m between plants) plus the traditional density and method of training plants (two stems per plant in the spacing of 0.6 m between plants). The experimental design was of randomized complete blocks with four replications in a split-split-plot, in 2007/2008, and a split-plot in the 2008/2009 season. All treatments had 44,444 stems/ha, except for the treatments with traditional methods of training plants (22,222 stems/ha). The variables analyzed were total, marketable and unmarketable yield, average mass of fruits, marketable and unmarketable percentage of fruits in relation to the total number of fruits, and severity of leaf diseases. The tomato hybrids do not interfere in agronomic responses to the super density of plants. The super density of plants increased, on average, 73.2% the marketable yield, in relation to the traditional density of plants. The marketable yield of the super density of plants in the "V" staking was 19.2% higher than the super density of plants in the vertically staking. The plant training with one stem per plant increased 10.4% the marketable yield in relation to the plant training with two stems per plant in the super density of plants. The super density of plants increased the leaf severity of early blight, in relation to the traditional density of plants