Association between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in Brazil, January to May, 2016: preliminary report of a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The microcephaly epidemic, which started in Brazil in 2015, was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by WHO in 2016. We report the preliminary results of a case-control study investigating the association between microcephaly and Zika virus infection during pregnancy. METHODS: We did this case-control study in eight public hospitals in Recife, Brazil. Cases were neonates with microcephaly. Two controls (neonates without microcephaly), matched by expected date of delivery and area of residence, were selected for each case. Serum samples of cases and controls and cerebrospinal fluid samples of cases were tested for Zika virus-specific IgM and by quantitative RT-PCR. Laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection during pregnancy was defined as detection of Zika virus-specific IgM or a positive RT-PCR result in neonates. Maternal serum samples were tested by plaque reduction neutralisation assay for Zika virus and dengue virus. We estimated crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs using a median unbiased estimator for binary data in an unconditional logistic regression model. We estimated ORs separately for cases with and without radiological evidence of brain abnormalities. FINDINGS: Between Jan 15, 2016, and May 2, 2016, we prospectively recruited 32 cases and 62 controls. 24 (80%) of 30 mothers of cases had Zika virus infection compared with 39 (64%) of 61 mothers of controls (p=0·12). 13 (41%) of 32 cases and none of 62 controls had laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection; crude overall OR 55·5 (95% CI 8·6-∞); OR 113·3 (95% CI 14·5-∞) for seven cases with brain abnormalities; and OR 24·7 (95% CI 2·9-∞) for four cases without brain abnormalities. INTERPRETATION: Our data suggest that the microcephaly epidemic is a result of congenital Zika virus infection. We await further data from this ongoing study to assess other potential risk factors and to confirm the strength of association in a larger sample size. FUNDING: Brazilian Ministry of Health, Pan American Health Organization, and Enhancing Research Activity in Epidemic Situations

Association between microcephaly, Zika virus infection, and other risk factors in Brazil: final report of a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: A Zika virus epidemic emerged in northeast Brazil in 2015 and was followed by a striking increase in congenital microcephaly cases, triggering a declaration of an international public health emergency. This is the final report of the first case-control study evaluating the potential causes of microcephaly: congenital Zika virus infection, vaccines, and larvicides. The published preliminary report suggested a strong association between microcephaly and congenital Zika virus infection. METHODS: We did a case-control study in eight public maternity hospitals in Recife, Brazil. Cases were neonates born with microcephaly, defined as a head circumference of 2 SD below the mean. Two controls without microcephaly were matched to each case by expected date of delivery and area of residence. We tested the serum of cases and controls and the CSF of cases for detection of Zika virus genomes with quantitative RT-PCR and for detection of IgM antibodies with capture-IgM ELISA. We also tested maternal serum with plaque reduction neutralisation assays for Zika and dengue viruses. We estimated matched crude and adjusted odds ratios with exact conditional logistic regression to determine the association between microcephaly and Zika virus infection. FINDINGS: We screened neonates born between Jan 15 and Nov 30, 2016, and prospectively recruited 91 cases and 173 controls. In 32 (35%) cases, congenital Zika virus infection was confirmed by laboratory tests and no controls had confirmed Zika virus infections. 69 (83%) of 83 cases with known birthweight were small for gestational age, compared with eight (5%) of 173 controls. The overall matched odds ratio was 73·1 (95% CI 13·0-∞) for microcephaly and Zika virus infection after adjustments. Neither vaccination during pregnancy or use of the larvicide pyriproxyfen was associated with microcephaly. Results of laboratory tests for Zika virus and brain imaging results were available for 79 (87%) cases; within these cases, ten were positive for Zika virus and had cerebral abnormalities, 13 were positive for Zika infection but had no cerebral abnormalities, and 11 were negative for Zika virus but had cerebral abnormalities. INTERPRETATION: The association between microcephaly and congenital Zika virus infection was confirmed. We provide evidence of the absence of an effect of other potential factors, such as exposure to pyriproxyfen or vaccines (tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis, measles and rubella, or measles, mumps, and rubella) during pregnancy, confirming the findings of an ecological study of pyriproxyfen in Pernambuco and previous studies on the safety of Tdap vaccine administration during pregnancy. FUNDING: Brazilian Ministry of Health, Pan American Health Organization, and Enhancing Research Activity in Epidemic Situations

NÚMERO CROMOSSÔMICO DE Lippia gracilis Schauer (VERBENACEAE) OCORRENTES NO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE, BRASIL

The genus Lippia (Verbenaceae) comprises about 200 species of pantropical distribution. Lippia gracilis Schauer, popularly known as the mountain balm, is an aromatic plant, native of northeastern Brazil, used in folk medicine as an antiseptic and to treat dermatitis. Although cytogenetic serve as a tool in taxonomy rate, cytogenetical studies of genus Lippia are restricted. Given the above, the present study aimed to determine, at the first time, the chromosome number of copies of L. gracilis, and thereby contribute to a better taxonomic understanding of this genus. In this sense root tips collected from newly planted specimens were pretreated with a solution of 2mM 8-hydroxyquinoline for 4 hours, fixed in Carnoy 3:1 (ethanol: acetic acid) for 24 hours and stored in the same fixative for later analysis. The roots were hydrolyzed in 5N HCl for 20 minutes and the slides, prepared by squashing in acetic acid (45%) and stained with 2% Giemsa. The best metaphases were photographed and pointed to the chromosome number 2n = 24. Moreover, were observed metacentric and submetacentric chromosomes. Because there are several chromosome numbers in the genus, from n=10 to n=30, and as the same is little known cytogenetically, f more comprehensive cytogenetic studies are necessary, involving a larger number of species, so these data may help to clarify taxonomic inconsistencies in the family Verbenaceae

Tipo de estaca e substrato na propagação vegetativa de Lippia gracilis Schauer

RESUMO: Lippia gracilis é uma planta nativa da Caatinga, rica em óleo essencial com atividade antimicrobiana. O trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito de diferentes tipos de estacas e substratos na propagação vegetativa de L. gracilis . O experimento foi montado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo 3 tipos de estacas (apical, mediana e basal) e 3 tipos de substratos (areia + húmus, argila + húmus e areia + argila + húmus), com 5 repetições cada. Aos 40 dias foram avaliadas: porcentagem de estacas brotadas e enraizadas, número médio de brotos, comprimento da maior raiz e biomassa seca dos brotos e raízes. Em todas as variáveis as estacas medianas e basais apresentaram melhores resultados do que as apicais. O substrato influenciou apenas na biomassa seca dos brotos, sendo o composto de argila + húmus superior ao areia + argila + húmus e igual, em significância, ao areia+ húmus

Abrigos para crianças vítimas de violência doméstica: funcionamento relatado pelas crianças e pelos dirigentes

Los abrigos para niños víctimas de la violencia familiar fueran tema de muchos estudios en Brasil, sobretodo en la década de 1980, debido a la escasez de la cualidad en el cuidado con los niños. Después de la promulgación del Estatuto del Niño y del Adolescente, los abrigos fueran gradualmente cambiados y los estudios concentraron sus investigaciones para el estudio de la calidad de la estructura y cuidado a los niños de las instituciones. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la rutina de funcionamiento de los abrigos de las ciudades de Curitiba y Santos. La colecta de datos fue realizada por medio de una entrevista con los dirigentes y con los niños, además fueran utilizadas actividad de juegos temáticos buscando a complementación de los datos. Los resultados indicaron que el número reducido de niños por monitor era respetado en la mayoría de los casos. Todavía otros puntos como el respecto a la individualidad y inserción en la comunidad aún no fueron cumplidos por todas las instituciones

O papel do Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família na coordenação assistencial da Atenção Básica: limites e possibilidades

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi o de analisar como o Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família tem colaborado com as Equipes de Saúde da Família na sua função de coordenação assistencial. Realizou-se um estudo qualitativo do tipo estudo de caso no município de Camaragibe, Pernambuco. A coleta de dados cobriu o período de janeiro a maio de 2015 e aplicou grupos focais, análise documental e observação participante. Os resultados evidenciam que o Núcleo de Apoio à Saúde da Família, atuando segundo a lógica do apoio matricial, pode colaborar com o fortalecimento da função de coordenação assistencial da Atenção Básica

In Vitro Propagation of Heliconia bihai (L.) L. from Zygotic Embryos

(In vitro Propagation of Heliconia bihai L. from Zygotic Embryos). The internal morphology of embryos from immature and mature fruits of Hcliconia bihai (L.) L. cv. Lobster Claw Two was examined. Embryos were inoculated into MS media (full MS and 1/2 MS) and GA(1) (0.2.5 and 5 mg L(-1)) with either sucrose or glucose. These plantlets were then replicated and transferred to MS medium (full MS or 1/2 MS) with 0 or 2.5 mg L(-1) BAP and their multiplication was evaluated 30 and 45 days after inoculation. The genetic variability of the multiplied plants was estimated using isoenzyme analyses. The internal morphology of the mature embryos revealed their tissues to be in more advanced stages of differentiation than immature embryos. In the conversion phase, 85% of the inoculated embryos developed into plants in the 1/2 MS medium with sucrose, in contrast to only 41% of the embryos that were cultivated with glucose. In the multiplication phase, plants cultivated in 1/2 MS medium with 2.5 mg L(-1) BAP demonstrated more buds. Isoenzyme analyses showed pattern changes in terms of the color intensity and the migration of some of the bands. These results may be associated with differences in the ages of the mother plants and of the plantlets obtained in vitro

Avaliação do potencial fungicida de extratos etanólicos de Senna alata contra Monosparacus cannonballus Evaluation of the fungicide potential of ethanolic extracts of Senna alata against Monosporascus cannonballus

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, avaliar in vitro a atividade dos extratos alcoólicos de Senna alata (L.) Roxb. sobre Monosporascus cannonballus. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com esquema fatorial 3 x 6 + 1, sendo constituído por três partes da planta (caule, raiz e vagem), por seis concentrações (0,25; 0,50; 50; 75; 250; 500 ppm ) mais a testemunha, com quatro repetições por tratamento. As variáveis avaliadas foram: taxa de crescimento micelial (TCM), inibição do crescimento micelial (ICM) e área abaixo da curva do crescimento micelial (AACCM). A concentração de 500 ppm foi a mais eficiente, nas três partes vegetais avaliadas. O porcentual de inibição na referida concentração foi de 28,60%, 36,70% e 27,99% para caule, raiz e vagem respectivamente. Diante dos resultados, observa-se que os extratos de S. alata indicam um forte potencial de controle para o fungo Monosporascus cannonballus.The aim of this work was to evaluate the activity in vitro of the ethanolic extracts of Senna alata (L.) Roxb. over Monosporascus cannonballus. The experimental design was entirely randomized with factorial scheme 3 x 7 + 1, being constituted by three parts of the plant (root, stalk and green bean) for six different concentrations (0.25; 0.50, 50, 75, 250,500 ppm) plus the control, with four repeatitons for treatment. The available variables were: rate of micelial growth (TCM), inhibition of the growth micelial (ICM) and area under the curve of the growth micelial (AACCM). The concentration of 500 ppm was the most efficient ,in the three available vegetal parts. The percentual of inhibition in the concentration was of 28.60%, 36.70% e 27.99% for stalk, root and green bean respectively. Before of the results, the extracts of S. alata display high control potential for Monosporascus cannonballus fungi

Avaliação de diferentes meios nutritivos para a germinação assimbiótica de <i>Cattleya</i> <i>labiata</i>

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a germinação in vitro de Cattleya labiata, cultivada em diferentes meios nutritivos, a fim de determinar o meio mais adequado para o desenvolvimento da espécie