Household and family characteristics of street children in Aracaju, Brazil

Aims: To describe the family background of street children in Aracaju, Brazil, their parents' perception of street life, and the reasons for the high prevalence of males observed among street children. Methods: Cross sectional study using semi-structured interviews and qualitative focus group discussions with parents of purposively selected index street children. Results: Fifty eight families were enrolled. Most participants were single parent, female headed families living in slums or low cost housing, with high levels of illiteracy, drug use, unemployment, and a history of migration. Most parents reported receiving financial support from their children and were aware of the dangers of the street. Many parents had lived in the street, worked from an early age, and had been adolescent parents themselves. Parents perceived that the street was more dangerous for girls than for boys. Besides economic reasons, parents highlighted the role of peers and drug use in pulling their children to the street. A total of 187 siblings were identified. Siblings had poor school performance with high school drop out rates. Twenty per cent of the adolescent girl siblings were not living at home. Gender determined the type of work undertaken by children and adolescents. Males worked in the streets and females worked as housemaids, shop assistants, and in restaurants and bars. Conclusion: Family disintegration, poverty, drug use, adolescent pregnancy, peer pressure, and socially constructed gender roles determine the characteristics of children in the street. There is an urgent need for increased social support in this area

Quantitative Assessment of Sensory Integration and Balance in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Cross-Sectional Study

Postural stability is dependent on the interpretation of external inputs acquired by sensory information processes, such as visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems, in order to accomplish neuromuscular control, balance maintenance, and appropriate motor response. A defect in any of these systems, or in the integration of information given by these systems, might threaten their capacity to maintain balance. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the sensory integration and balance using the Biodex balance system (BBS) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during the static posture. Seventy-four children from both sexes, 38 with ASD matched with 36 typically developed (TD) children as a control group, were included in the study. Using the Biodex balance system, the postural sway was evaluated through the modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (m-CTSIB) during quiet standing. In this test, four different situations were considered from standing position: eyes open/firm surface, eyes closed/firm surface, eyes open/foam surface, and eyes closed/foam surface. ASD children showed a significant increase in postural sway under all tested conditions when compared to the TD children group, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory inputs were disrupted (p-value < 0.05). These results provide evidence that postural stability decreased in ASD children. Under static postural challenges, the current study’s findings imply that children diagnosed with ASD have postural control deficiencies, especially for the conditions in which visual and somatosensory input was disrupted. Further research must be conducted to find the best balance training program for ASD cases using the Biodex balance system and considering its impact on motor skills

Balance and Fall Risk Assessment in Community-Dwelling Older Adults after Recovery from COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: SARS-CoV-2 atypical symptoms in older persons include falls, confusion, dizziness, and unusual weariness. Falls and their consequences are among the most prevalent causes of disability among older adults, significantly lowering quality of life and resulting in the loss of independence as well as impaired psychosocial functioning. The study purpose was to examine the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 infectious disease on balance in community-dwelling older adults. Methods: Sixty-four older adults aged ≥ 60 years from both sexes, 31 treated for SARS-CoV-2 infection and 33 matched normal controls participated in the study. The Biodex Stability System (BSS) and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used for evaluation of balance and fall risk. The correlation between the Biodex overall stability index and the Berg Balance Scale score was investigated. Results: When compared to controls, the SARS-CoV-2 group had significantly higher values of the Biodex overall stability index (OSI) (p = 0.011), anterior–posterior stability index (APSI) (p = 0.013), mediolateral stability index (MLSI) (p = 0.018), and fall risk index (FRI) (p = 0.008), as well as statistically lower scores on the Berg balance scale (p = 0.003). A moderate negative correlation was found between the two assessment tools in the SARS-CoV-2 group. Conclusion: Balance impairment and an increased risk of falling are among the outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in community-dwelling older adults

Isolation of a New Efficient Dye Decolorizing White Rot Fungus <em>Cerrena </em> Sp. WICC F39

399-404Lignin degrading system of white rot fungi and its exploitation in the decolorization of synthetic dyes has been used in a wide array for human benefits. In this study, decolorization of two model synthetic dyes, Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Methylene Blue (MB) with the ability of Kraft lignin degradation were investigated using new fungal isolates from Malaysian soils. The most potent isolates WICC F38 and WICC F39 were selected for further investigation along with reference strain P. chrysosporium DSMZ 6909. To prove their dye decolorization capabilities, the qualitative and quantitative methods were conducted, while their potential for biodegradation of kraft lignin was carried out using gravimetric method. The degree of lignin degradation, dyes decolorization (dyes intensity reduction) and productivity of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase were studied. It was noticed that 86-88% of decolorization rate for both synthetic dyes was obtained by WICC F38 and WICC F39; respectively. However, MB showed a more decolorization rate than RB5 by the selected isolates. The efficiency of the selected fungal isolates comparisons with reference strain for decolorization rate of synthetic dyes could be ordered as follows; WICC F39> P. chrysosporium DSMZ 6909> WICC F38. The fungal decolorization capabilities in the present study were concomitant with the production of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. The isolates under the study were identified as Phanerochaete sp. WICC F38 (ac., KU141330) and Cerrena sp. WICC F39 (ac., KU141331) using molecular identification strategy

Isolation of a New Efficient Dye Decolorizing White Rot Fungus Cerrena Sp WICC F39

Lignin degrading system of white rot fungi and its exploitation in the decolorization of synthetic dyes has been used in a wide array for human benefits. In this study, decolorization of two model synthetic dyes, Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Methylene Blue (MB) with the ability of Kraft lignin degradation were investigated using new fungal isolates from Malaysian soils. The most potent isolates WICC F38 and WICC F39 were selected for further investigation along with reference strain P. chrysosporium DSMZ 6909. To prove their dye decolorization capabilities, the qualitative and quantitative methods were conducted, while their potential for biodegradation of kraft lignin was carried out using gravimetric method. The degree of lignin degradation, dyes decolorization (dyes intensity reduction) and productivity of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase were studied. It was noticed that 86-88% of decolorization rate for both synthetic dyes was obtained by WICC F38 and WICC F39; respectively. However, MB showed a more decolorization rate than RB5 by the selected isolates. The efficiency of the selected fungal isolates comparisons with reference strain for decolorization rate of synthetic dyes could be ordered as follows; WICC F39> P. chrysosporium DSMZ 6909> WICC F38. The fungal decolorization capabilities in the present study were concomitant with the production of lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. The isolates under the study were identified as Phanerochaete sp. WICC F38 (ac., KU141330) and Cerrena sp. WICC F39 (ac., KU141331) using molecular identification strategy

The sick placenta - The role of malaria

The human placenta is an ideal site for the accumulation of Plasinodium falciparum malaria parasites, and as a consequence serious health problems arise for the mother and her baby. The pathogenesis of placental malaria is only partially understood, but it is clear that it leads to a distinct epidemiological pattern of malaria during pregnancy. The objectives of this review are: (1) To review recent data on the epidemiology of malaria in pregnancy, with emphasis on placental malaria; (2) to describe the pathological changes and immunological factors related to placental malaria; and (3) to discuss briefly the functional consequences of this infection for the mother and her baby. The review attempts to bring together local events at the maternal-fetal interface which encompass immunological and pathological processes which relate to the epidemiological pattern of malaria in pregnancy in areas of both high and low malaria transmission. An integrated understanding of the epidemiological, immunological and pathological processes must be achieved in order to understand how to control malaria in pregnancy. The yearly exposure of at least 50 million pregnancies to malaria infection makes it the commonest and most recurrent parasitic infection directly affecting the placenta. These statistics and our limited understanding of its pathogenesis suggest the research priorities on this subject. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved