Evaluation of seroepidemiological toxoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS patients in the south of Brazil

A toxoplasmose é considerada uma das infecções oportunistas em indivíduos com a Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida (SIDA), constituindo importante causa de morbidade e mortalidade. Este trabalho objetivou conhecer a prevalência de neurotoxoplasmose, toxoplasmose ocular e de anticorpos para Toxoplasma gondii, em pacientes HIV positivos em atendimento no SAE (Serviço de Assistência Especializada em HIV/AIDS) além de correlacionar seu perfil sorológico com dados epidemiológicos e clínicos. Foram analisados 250 pacientes no período de dezembro de 2009 a novembro de 2010. A análise sorológica foi realizada pela técnica de imunofluorescência indireta, os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos pela aplicação de um questionário e o histórico clínico, pela análise dos prontuários. A prevalência de soropositividade foi de 80%, com histórico de neurotoxoplasmose em 4,8% e de toxoplasmose ocular em 1,6%. Observou-se que 32% dos pacientes não faziam uso regular de HAART, 18,4% apresentaram contagem de linfócitos T CD4+ inferior a 200 céls/mm³ e 96,8% desconheciam os modos de transmissão da doença. Conclui-se que o risco de toxoplasmose clínica grave é alto na população estudada, tanto por reativação da infecção nos soropositivos que não fazem uso regular do HAART, quanto por primoinfecção dos soronegativos, agravado pela desinformação sobre as formas de infecção constatada na pesquisa.Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the opportunistic infections for individuals with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and is also a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of neurotoxoplasmosis, ocular toxoplasmosis and antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii in HIV-positive patients attending the SAE (Specialized Assistance Service for HIV/AIDS), as well as to associate their serological profile with epidemiological and clinical data. A total of 250 patients participated in the study from December, 2009 to November, 2010. Serological analysis was performed using the indirect immunofluorescent technique; epidemiological data were gathered by a questionnaire, and clinical history was based on the analysis of medical charts. Prevalence of seropositivity was 80%, with history of neurotoxoplasmosis in 4.8% and of ocular toxoplasmosis in 1.6% of the patients. The Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART) was not used by 32% of the patients, 18.4% of the patients had CD4+ T- lymphocyte count less than 200 cells/mm³ and 96.8% of them were not aware of the modes of disease transmission. These findings led us to conclude that the study population is at high risk of clinical toxoplasmosis, because of both reactivation of infection in the seropositive patients who do not make a regular use of HAART, and primo-infection in seronegative patients worsened by an unawareness of the modes of infection reported in this study

Evaluation of seroepidemiological toxoplasmosis in HIV/AIDS patients in the south of Brazil

Toxoplasmosis is considered one of the opportunistic infections for individuals with the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and is also a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of neurotoxoplasmosis, ocular toxoplasmosis and antibodies for Toxoplasma gondii in HIV-positive patients attending the SAE (Specialized Assistance Service for HIV/AIDS), as well as to associate their serological profile with epidemiological and clinical data. A total of 250 patients participated in the study from December, 2009 to November, 2010. Serological analysis was performed using the indirect immunofluorescent technique; epidemiological data were gathered by a questionnaire, and clinical history was based on the analysis of medical charts. Prevalence of seropositivity was 80%, with history of neurotoxoplasmosis in 4.8% and of ocular toxoplasmosis in 1.6% of the patients. The Highly Active Antiretroviral Treatment (HAART) was not used by 32% of the patients, 18.4% of the patients had CD4+ T- lymphocyte count less than 200 cells/mm³ and 96.8% of them were not aware of the modes of disease transmission. These findings led us to conclude that the study population is at high risk of clinical toxoplasmosis, because of both reactivation of infection in the seropositive patients who do not make a regular use of HAART, and primo-infection in seronegative patients worsened by an unawareness of the modes of infection reported in this study

Logit estimation of conditional cooperation in a repeated public goods experiment

A conditional cooperator in a public goods game wants to match his partners' expected contribution. We investigate theoretically and empirically whether (and to what extent) conditional cooperation can explain how individual contributions evolve in a repeated two-person public goods experiment using a perfect strangers design. To identify a random utility model including non-pecuniary preferences we elicit participants' beliefs. Our econometric results show that the distribution of preferences in the population can be captured by a latent-class mixed logit specification with three subpopulations, and that 55% of participants can be regarded as conditional cooperators. Thus, the decline in average contribution levels may be attributed to the presence of conditional cooperators who have to revise their expectations about the others' behavior.Conditional cooperation, Quantal response equilibrium, Latent class logit, Belief learning

Parametric nonstationary correlation models

Stochastic processes observed over space often exhibit nonstationarity. Possible causes of nonstationarity include mean drift, heterogeneity of responses, or a correlation pattern that is not simply a function of the Euclidean distance between two spatial locations. This paper considers the latter. The need for nonstationary correlation models has been demonstrated in several application areas, including environmental monitoring of pollutants, and modeling of semiconductor fabrication processes. We present parametric nonstationary correlation models for capturing the effect of point sources. For example, if the response variable is carbon monoxide, then a smoke stack producing carbon monoxide would be considered a point source, and it is unreasonable to believe that correlation would not depend on proximity to the smoke stack. Our parametric models allow the consideration of multiple-point sources, as well as testing the strength of a particular source. These models have the usual anisotropic and isotropic exponential correlation functions as special cases.Anisotropy Point source Pollution monitoring Positive semidefinite kernel Positive semidefinite matrix Semi-conductor fabrication

Actionable Information - Research Briefs - Stringency Index

Includes both static PDF version and the dynamic web version.Explore the association between the government's response to contain the pandemic and measurements of mobility reduction, economic activity, and unemployment

Actionable Information - Research Briefs - Excess Mortality

Includes both static PDF version and the dynamic web version.Compare the total deaths per week during the 2020 pandemic against the expected deaths according to the reported in the previous four years