Model-Independent Diagnostics of Highly Reddened Milky Way Star Clusters: Age Calibration

The next generation near- and mid-infrared Galactic surveys will yield a large number of new highly obscured star clusters. Detailed characterization of these new objects with spectroscopy is time-consuming. Diagnostic tools that will be able to characterize clusters based only on the available photometry will be needed to study large samples of the newly found objects. The brightness difference between the red clump and the main-sequence turn-off point have been used as a model-independent age calibrator for clusters with ages from a few 10$^8$ to 10$^{10}$ yr in the optical. Here we apply for the first time the method in the near-infrared. We calibrated this difference in $K$-band, which is likely to be available for obscured clusters, and we apply it to a number of test clusters with photometry comparable to the one that will be yielded by the current or near-future surveys. The new calibration yields reliable ages over the range of ages for which the red clump is present in clusters. The slope of the relation is smoother than that of the corresponding $V$-band relation, reducing the uncertainty in the age determinations with respect to the optical ones.Comment: 5 pages, 5 eps figure, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Investigation of human bocavirus associated with acute respiratory infection in patients treated in health unit in Guarapuava – PR / Investigação de bocavírus humano associado à infecção respiratória aguda em pacientes atendidos em unidade de sáude do Município de Guarapuava - PR

Human Bocavirus (HBoV) is a parvovirus in human respiratory secretions isolates from symptomatic patients. Its prevalence varies from 1.5 to 19% and the most common age for a primary infection is between 6 to 24 months age. HBoV has been associated with infections in the upper and lower children respiratory tract, little is known about HBoV infections among adults and the elderly. The present study objective was to investigate the HBoV occurrence in children and adults with acute respiratory symptoms. One hundred and eighty-theree nasal swab samples from symptomatic patients that are attended in the public health services in Guarapuava city, in Paraná State between 2014 and 2015. The patients´ mean age included in the essay was 35 years old and the 33 years median, varying from less than 1 year and up to 82 years age. The most commonly observed symptoms were coryza, cough and fever. The samples were tested for HBoV DNA presence by standard PCR methodology. No positive samples were detected for HBoV. Thus, we did not demonstrate the HBoV circulation in Guarapuava - PR, but more studies are necessary, taking into account that these new viruses may be important pathogens in respiratory diseases in Brazil

Impact of rotavirus vaccination in Brazil

Modelo do estudo: Revisão sistemática da literatura.Objetivo: Revisar a literatura sobre estudos realizados no Brasil comparando as taxas de infecção,hospitalização, mortalidade e genótipos circulantes de rotavírus durante o período pré e pós-vacinal.Metodologia: Durante o mês de setembro de 2011 foram consultadas as bases de dados do Pubmede Scielo sobre estudos com os descritores: rotavírus, Brasil e infecção; rotavírus, Brasil e hospitaliza-ção; rotavírus, Brasil e mortalidade; rotavírus, Brasil e genótipos.Resultados: Os resultados demonstraram que as infecções por rotavírus continuam a causar doençasignificativa, apesar da grande redução nas taxas de infecção (7,4 a 77%), hospitalização (12,3 a 55,4%)e mortalidade (22 a 50%). Contudo, após a introdução da vacina foi demonstrada importante alteraçãode genótipos circulantes de rotavírus, com substituição em diversas regiões do país do genótipo G1P8por G2P4.Conclusão: Após o início da vacinação contra rotavírus no Brasil houve importante redução nas taxas deinfecção, hospitalização e mortalidade por diarréia, concomitante à alteração na circulação de genótiposde rotavírus, que aponta para a necessidade de monitoramento sobre uma possível atualização de novos genótipos na composição dos imunizantes como forma de garantir a continuidade de sua eficácia.Study Design: Sistematic Review of literature.Aims: In this work, national studies were reviewed in the literature by key words infection, hospitalization,mortality, and rotavirus genotypes during pre e postvaccinal periods.Methodology: Pubmed and Scielo databases were searched for associated descriptors: rotavirus, Braziland infection; rotavirus, Brazil and hospitalized; rotavirus, Brazil and mortality; rotavirus, Brazil and genotypes.Results: Results appointed for significant reduction of infection (7.4-77%), hospitalization (12.3-55.4%),and mortality (22-50%), besides rotavirus gastroenteritis continue to be an important disease. Afterintroduction to immunization practices, great changes of rotavirus genotypes were described, with G2P4predominance in substitution to G1P8.Conclusion: The started of rotavirus vaccination results important impact of rotaviruses infection, concomitant to alteration of rotavirus genotype circulation implicating to need for molecular surveillance tochange of rotavirus genotypes compounds in vaccine to efficacy guaranteed

TECNOLOGIAS DA INFORMAÇÃO E COMUNICAÇÃO E SEU USO NA SAÚDE PÚBLICA: CONTRIBUIÇÕES AOS OBJETIVOS DO DESENVOLVIMENTO SUSTENTÁVEL – ODS 3

O uso das tecnologias da informação e comunicação - TICs está, a cada dia, mais alinhado com a saúde pública, o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida das pessoas, contribuindo com a ODS 3 ONU. As TICs poderão causar impactos positivos na saúde pública, promovendo o diálogo e fortalecendo a relação pacientes, profissionais e gestão pública. Este estudo teve por objetivo geral analisar a utilização da tecnologia de informação e comunicação e seu uso na Saúde Pública e sua aceitação pelos usuários na saúde pública no Município de Guarapuava/Paraná – Brasil, contribuindo com os objetivos do desenvolvimento sustentável. Foi realizado um survey com 156 pesquisados no município. Conclui-se que os boletins informativos, divulgados nas redes sociais pelo município são eficazes e úteis na busca de informações sobre pandemia, vacinação, número de casos ativos, óbitos e atualização sobre matriz de risco. O aplicativo “Fala Saúde”, disponível vem sendo utilizado pela população, mas ainda não possui a mesma efetividade junto aos participantes

Comparison of a rapid cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia assay revealed by immunofluorescence to an in-house assay revealed by immunoperoxidase for diagnosis in solid organ transplant recipient patients

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia is still one of the two major assays available for diagnosis and monitoring of CMV infections. A commercial rapid test recently available in Brazil for quantification of human cytomegalovirus pp65 antigenemia revealed by immunofluorescence technique was compared with the original in-house method revealed by immunoperoxidase in patients receiving solid organ transplants. Of 80 blood samples tested for CMV antigenemia, 34 (42.5%) were positive: commercial assay detected 33 (97%) and in-house assay detected 20 (58.8%) samples. The numbers of positive cells in the two assays were different, with a median of 4.5 and 12 positive cells obtained by in-house and commercial kit, respectively. Discrepancies between assays occurred in 15 specimens from patients with low-grade antigenemia (median 6 positive cells). The assay-time was reduced in approximately 50% compared to in-house methodology. In conclusion, besides comparable results obtained for both assays, the commercial antigenemia assay provides more rapid and sensitive results.Hospital Albert Einstein Clinical Laboratory Microbiology SectionUNIFESP Infectious Diseases Department Clinical Virology LaboratoryUNIFESP, Infectious Diseases Department Clinical Virology LaboratorySciEL

Risk factors for poor immune response to influenza vaccination in elderly people

Influenza vaccination of elderly people is efficacious and cost effective for the prevention of influenza and its complications. Some studies have pointed out low immunogenicity in this group. Health status has been poorly investigated as a risk factor that may influence the immune response to influenza vaccine. We established an immunization response study of a highly-matched elderly population in a nursing home. One-hundred-twenty subjects of Ashkenazian origin had their vaccine-induced antibody response assessed. Good response was obtained in 30.8% (37/120), and 31.7% (38/120) did not react. A lack of good response was found to be associated with dementia (P=0.016) in a multivariate analysis. In addition to dementia, malnutrition was frequently observed among poor responders, suggesting that these factors should be considered in vaccination studies. Chemoprophylaxis in addition to vaccination for elderly presenting dementia should be considered, particularly for those people living nursing homes.Federal University of São Paulo Department of Infectious Diseases Laboratory of Clinical VirologyFederal University of São Paulo Federal University of São PauloUNIFESP, Department of Infectious Diseases Laboratory of Clinical VirologyUNIFESP, UNIFESPSciEL

Infections with human coronaviruses NL63 and OC43 among hospitalised and outpatient individuals in São Paulo, Brazil

The incidence and clinical features of human coronaviruses (HCoVs) among Brazilian patients with respiratory illness are not well known. We investigated the prevalence of HCoVs among Brazilian outpatients and hospitalised patients with respiratory illnesses during 2009 and 2010. To identify the HCoVs, pancoronavirus and species-specific reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assays were performed. Five of 394 samples were positive for HCoVs (1.2%): 1/182 (0.5%) outpatients and 4/212 (1.8%) hospitalised patients. The OC43 and NL63 HCoVs were identified. Two patients were admitted to the intensive care unit. Underlying chronic disease was reported in cases and one diabetic adult died. HCoVs can cause lower respiratory infections and hospitalisation. Patients with pre-existing conditions and respiratory infections should be evaluated for HCoV infections.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Medicina Laboratório de Virologia ClínicaUNIFESP, Depto. de Medicina Laboratório de Virologia ClínicaSciEL

Rotavirus genotypes as etiological agents of diarrhoea in general populations of two geographic regions of Brazil

Rotavirus is the main global cause of severe childhood diarrhoea among children. In 2006, Rotarix® (G1P[8]) was introduced into Brazil’s National Immunization Program. The vaccine coverage rate was 84.4% in 2009. Evidences of increasing G2P[4] after 2006 opened up the discussion about the vaccine effectiveness to non-G1 strains. The aim of this study was to identify the circulating rotavirus genotypes in two Brazilian regions during 2009. A total of 223 positive samples by immunochromatography and latex agglutination assay from the Northeast (Bahia/Pernambuco States) and Southeast (São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro States) regions were included in the study. The samples were submitted to genotyping by nested-PCR according to VP7(G) and VP4(P) and 175 samples (78.5%) were able to be characterized. Considering the characterization of VP7, the G-types detected were G1, G2, and G4 in the Northeast, and G2, G3, G5, and G9 in the Southeast. Considering the characterization of VP4, the P-types detected were P[4], P[8], and P[6]/P[9] in the Northeast and the Southeast. The most frequent mixed types found were G2P[4]/G2P[NT](81.4%), G2P[6](5.2%), G1P[6](5.2%) in the Northeast, and G2P[4]/G2P[NT](78.8%), G2P[6](8.2%), G9P[8](4.7%) in the Southeast. Among immunized individuals whose age ranged from 0-4 years, the G2P[4]/G2P[NT] genotype was identified in 91,0% of cases, and among non-immunized individuals of the same age, the G2P[4]/G2P[NT] genotype was identified in 85.7% of the cases. In accordance with the high level of vaccine coverage, the data suggest that the circulation of G2P[4] in these regions had a considerable increase after the introduction of Rotarix®

Pandemic H1N1 illness prognosis: evidence from clinical and epidemiological data from the first pandemic wave in São Paulo, Brazil

OBJECTIVES: The pandemic of 2009 H1N1 influenza A emerged in February 2009, with high morbidity and mortality, and rapidly spread globally. São Paulo was among the most affected areas in Brazil. This study compares the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness between outpatients and hospitalized patients and evaluates the impact of oseltamivir therapy on the outcome of 2009 H1N1 influenza A patients. METHODS: This is a case series study comparing the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of influenza-like illness between outpatients attended at Hospital São Paulo in August 2009 (the peak of the first pandemic wave) and those patients hospitalized between May and September 2009 (the entire first pandemic wave). RESULTS: The 1651 patients evaluated were predominantly female (927×686, p<0.001) and aged 31.71±16.42 years, with 148 reporting chronic pulmonary disease. Dyspnea was presented by 381 (23.4%) patients and was more frequent among those aged 30 years or more (p<0.001). Hospitalization occurred at 3.73±2.85 days, and antiviral treatment started 2.27±2.97 days after the onset of first symptoms. A delay of more than 5 days in starting oseltamivir therapy was independently associated with hospitalization (p<0.001), a stay in the ICU (p<0.001) and a higher risk of dying (OR = 28.1, 95% CI 2.81-280.2, p = 0.007). CONCLUSION: The 2009 pandemic of H1N1 influenza A affected young adults, presented a significant disease burden and produced severe cases with a significant fatality rate. However, promptly starting specific therapy improved the outcome.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Laboratório de Virologia ClínicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de MedicinaHospital São Paulo Unidade de Doenças InfecciosasUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de MedicinaUNIFESP, EPM, Laboratório de Virologia ClínicaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de MedicinaHospital São Paulo Unidade de Doenças InfecciosasSciEL