Use of the ML-Flow test as a tool in classifying and treating leprosy

FUNDAMENTOS: O tratamento da hanseníase é definido pela classificação de pacientes em paucibacilares (PB) e multibacilares (MB). A OMS (Organização Mundial de Saúde) classifica os doentes de acordo com o número de lesões, mas Ridley-Jopling (R&J) utiliza também exames complementares, porém é de difícil utilização fora dos serviços de referência. Em 2003 foi desenvolvido um teste denominado ML-Flow, uma alternativa à sorologia por ELISA para auxiliar na classificação de pacientes em PB e MB e auxiliar na decisão terapêutica. OBJETIVOS: Observar a concordância entre o teste de ML-Flow e baciloscopia de linfa, exame já consagrado para detecção de MB. Analisar a utilidade do teste de ML-Flow em campo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo avaliando prontuário de 55 pacientes virgens de tratamento, diagnosticados como PB ou MB por R&J. Submetidos à baciloscopia e ao teste de ML-Flow. RESULTADOS: Nos MB, a baciloscopia foi positiva em 80% dos casos, o ML-flow foi positivo em 82,5%. Entre os PB, o ML-Flow foi positivo em 37,5% e a baciloscopia do esfregaço foi negativa em 100% dos casos. A concordância entre os resultados da baciloscopia do esfregaço e ML-Flow foi de 87,5%, kappa=0,59, p<0,001. CONCLUSÃO: Nenhum teste laboratorial é 100% sensível e específico para a correta classificação de todas as formas de hanseníase. O ML-Flow é um teste rápido, de fácil manuseio em campo, menos invasivo que a baciloscopia podendo ser útil para auxiliar na decisão terapêutica em locais de difícil acesso a serviços de referência.BACKGROUND: The treatment of leprosy is defined by the classification of patients as paucibacillary (PB) or multibacillary (MB). The WHO (World Health Organization) classifies patients according to the number of lesions, but Ridley-Jopling (R & J) also uses complementary exams, which are difficult to use outside reference services. In 2003, a test called ML-Flow, an alternative to Elisa serology, was developed to help classify patients as PB or MB and decide about their treatment. OBJECTIVES: To assess the agreement between the ML-Flow test and slit skin smears, already largely used for MB detection, and to observe the efficacy of the ML-Flow test in the field. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study evaluating the medical records of 55 patients who had not undergone previous treatment, diagnosed as PB or MB according to R & J and subjected to slit skin smears and the ML- Flow test. RESULTS: In MB patients, slit skin smears were positive in 80% of the cases, the ML-flow was positive in 82.5%. Among PB patients, the ML-Flow was positive in 37.5% and slit skin smears were negative in 100% of the cases. The agreement between skin smear and ML-Flow results was 87.5%, with a kappa value of 0.59, p <0.001. CONCLUSION: No laboratory test is 100% sensitive and specific for the correct classification of all forms of leprosy. The ML-Flow test is faster, easier to use, and less invasive than slit skin smears and therefore may be useful when making therapeutic decisions in areas of difficult access to reference services

DYNAMICS OF WOODY SPECIES IN DRY TROPICAL FOREST (CAATINGA), BRAZIL

Studying selected floristic changes in dry forests is fundamental to foster conservation and sustainability strategies. Objective: to analyze the occurrence of woody species in a tropical forest with a history of use. In 2008, 40 permanent plots were installed and wood with a circumference of 1.30 m at a breast height (CAP) ≥ 6 cm were measured. In 2012, newly established individuals (those that did not meet the size requirements in 2008 but did in 2012) and mortality of the remaining individuals were analyzed by computer. Where applicable, the density, frequency, and absolute dominance, importance value, newly established individuals, mortality, and gross growth for each species, along with the Shannon index were estimated. The floristic composition and diversity remain unchanged. After four years, there were few differences between species, while in most cases the growth in the basal area was positive and sometimes the number of newly established individuals exceeded the mortality. After 24 years of logging, the analyzed forest area did not reach its initial basal area stock when compared to other areas of the Caatinga that do not have a history of disturbance

Surveillance of the first cases of COVID-19 in Sergipe using a prospective spatiotemporal analysis: the spatial dispersion and its public health implications

Introduction: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global public health emergency with lethality ranging from 1% to 5%. This study aimed to identify active high-risk transmission clusters of COVID-19 in Sergipe. Methods: We performed a prospective space-time analysis using confirmed cases of COVID-19 during the first 7 weeks of the outbreak in Sergipe. Results: The prospective space-time statistic detected "active" and emerging spatio-temporal clusters comprising six municipalities in the south-central region of the state. Conclusions: The Geographic Information System (GIS) associated with spatio-temporal scan statistics can provide timely support for surveillance and assist in decision-making

Características del dolor en víctimas de traumatismo en un servicio de urgencia

Artigo disponível em português e inglêsObjectives: to characterize the victims of trauma assisted in an emergency service and identify the most frequent type of pain. Method: this is a descriptive and transversal study with a quantitative approach carried out in an emergency service of Hospital de Urgency in Aracaju, Sergipe, Brazil, with 90 victims assisted between June and July 2011, after the approval by the Research Ethics Committee of Federal University of Sergipe, under CAAE 0008.0.107.107-11. The data were analyzed through the software SPSS, version 18.0. The chi-square test was used, with a 5% significance level. Results: we observed that 73.3% of the participants were male, the most frequent age group was from 20 to 29 years and 38.9% were from Aracaju. The onset of pain at the time of trauma was found in 93.3% of cases, out of which 50% reported severe pain. In 61.1% analgesia was used, 45% remained with severe pain after the analgesic peak, 22.5% experienced moderate pain, and only 12.5% had complete relief of pain. Conclusion: inadequate evaluation combined to a treatment different from the gold standard represents negligence in pain control._________________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMO: Objetivos: caracterizar as vítimas de traumatismo atendidas num serviço de emergência e identificar o tipo de dor mais frequente. Método: trata-se de estudo descritivo e transversal com abordagem quantitativa desenvolvido em um serviço de emergência do Hospital de Urgência da cidade de Aracaju-SE com 90 vítimas atendidas entre junho e julho de 2011, após a aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, sob o CAAE n. 0008.0.107.107-11. Os dados foram analisados no software SPSS, versão 18.0. Foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado, com nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: verificou-se que 73,3% eram do sexo masculino, a faixa etária mais frequente foi entre 20 a 29 anos e 38,9% eram provenientes de Aracaju. O início da dor no momento do traumatismo foi evidenciado em 93,3%, dos quais 50% relataram dor intensa. Em 61,1% foi instituída analgesia, 45% permaneceram com dor intensa após o pico analgésico, 22,5% sentiram dor moderada e somente 12,5% obteve alívio completo da dor. Conclusão: a avaliação inadequada associada ao tratamento fora do padrão recomendado representa negligência no controle da dor._________________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMEN: Objetivo: caracterizar las víctimas de traumatismo atendidas en un servicio de urgencia e identificar el tipo de dolor más frecuente. Método: esto es un estudio descriptivo y transversal con abordaje cuantitativo desarrollado en un servicio de urgencia del Hospital de Urgência de Aracaju, Sergipe, Brasil, con 90 víctimas atendidas entre junio y julio de 2011, después de la aprobación del Comité de Ética en Investigación de la Universidade Federal de Sergipe, bajo el CAAE 0008.0.107.107-11. Los datos fueron analizados en el software SPSS, versión 18.0. Fue utilizada la prueba chi-cuadrado, con nivel de significación de 5%. Resultado: se verificó que 73,3% eran del sexo masculino, la franja etaria más frecuente fue de 20 hasta 29 años y 38,9% eran provenientes de Aracaju. El inicio del dolor en el momento del traumatismo fue evidenciado en 93,3%, de los cuales 50% relataron dolor intenso. En 61,1% fue utilizada analgesia, 45% permanecieron con dolor intenso después del pico analgésico, 22,5% sintieron dolor moderado y sólo 12,5% obtuvieron alivio completo del dolor. Conclusión: la evaluación inadecuada asociada al tratamiento diferente del estándar recomendado representa negligencia en el control del dolor

Profile Of Burn Victims Attended By An Emergency Unit

Objectives: to identify the sociodemographic and health profile of burn victims, knowing the characteristics of the events and detecting the major analgesics prescribed in the emergency department. Methods: descriptive, exploratory and quantitative study with 16 burn victims treated at a Burn Treatment Unit from October 2015 to May 2016. Results: the average age of participants was 31.8 years (± 14.1). Mostly, the subjects were male (62.5%), single (43.8%), brown (68.8%), economically active (75.0%) and coming from Aracaju and its surroundings (62.5%). Injuries from burns were mostly of second degree (93.8%) and reached the lower limbs (68.8%). The average burned body surface was 15.8% (± 11.5). The circumstances surrounding burns occurred mainly at home (50.0%), on Sundays (25.0%) and in the shifts morning (37.5%) and night (37.5%). The main etiological agent was alcohol (31.3%). All patients received analgesia in the emergency department, but the minority had pain documented (18.8%). The physician was the only professional who reported pain in their records, but did incompletely (18.8%). Conclusion: due to the negative effects of burns, it is crucial to adopt educational and preventive measures to change the current scenario of epidemiology of such trauma. Keywords: Burns; Epidemiology; Analgesia; Emergency

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel imidazolidine derivatives as candidates to schistosomicidal agents

Introduction: Schistosomiasis is an infectious parasitic disease caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, which threatens at least 258 million people worldwide and its control is dependent on a single drug, praziquantel. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-Schistosoma mansoni activity in vitro of novel imidazolidine derivatives. Material and methods: We synthesized two novel imidazolidine derivatives: (LPSF/PTS10) (Z)-1-(2-chloro-6-fluorobenzyl)-4-(4-dimethylaminobenzylidene)-5-thioxoimidazolidin-2-one and (LPSF/PTS23) (Z)-1-(2-chloro-6-fluoro-benzyl)-5-thioxo-4-(2,4,6-trimethoxy-benzylidene)-imidazolidin-2-one. The structures of two compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods. During the biological assays, parameters such as motility, oviposition, mortality and analysis by Scanning Electron Microscopy were performed. Results: LPSF/PTS10 and LPSF/PTS23 were considered to be active in the separation of coupled pairs, mortality and to decrease the motor activity. In addition, LPSF/PTS23 induced ultrastructural alterations in worms, after 24 h of contact, causing extensive erosion over the entire body of the worms. Conclusion: The imidazolidine derivatives containing the trimetoxy and benzylidene halogens showed promising in vitro schistosomicidal activity

Morphologic and agronomic characterization of basil accessions

O manjericão (Ocimum basilicum L.) pode ser considerado cultura anual ou perene, conforme o local de cultivo. Existem diversas finalidades para seu uso na culinária, como planta ornamental, medicinal e aromática, sendo o seu oleo essencial valorizado no mercado internacional pelo teor de linalol. Caracterizou-se morfológica e agronômicamente, acessos de Ocimum sp. visando a seleção de genótipos com alto rendimento de óleo essencial rico em linalol. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, com duas repetições, avaliando 55 genótipos do Banco de Germoplasma de Ocimum da UFS. Avaliou-se a altura de plantas, peso da matéria seca da parte aérea, teor e rendimento de óleo essencial. Observou-se grande diversidade entre os genótipos para todas as variáveis morfológicas e agronômicas avaliadas. Houve grande amplitude entre os genótipos quanto ao teor de óleo essencial, variando de 0,202 a 2,536 ml/100g e para o rendimento de óleo essencial, variando de 1,103 a 21,817 l/ha. Avaliando as variáveis teor e rendimento de óleo essencial de O. basilicum pode-se selecionar os genótipos NSL6421, PI197442, PI358464, PI414194, PI531396 e 'Fino Verde' para o programa de melhoramento genético que visa a obtenção de novas cultivares de manjericão com alto rendimento de óleo essencial rico em linalol. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT: The sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.), can be an annual or a perennial plant depending on the place where it is grown. This plant has several culinary, ornamental, medicinal and aromatic uses. The value of its essential oil in the international market depends on the percentage of linalool. We characterized the morphologic and agronomic qualities of the Ocimum accessions, to select genotypes with higher yield of essential oil rich in linalool. Experiment design consisted of randomized blocks with two replications, evaluating 55 genotypes of the Germplasm Bank of Ocimum from the Universidade Federal do Sergipe, Brazil. The plant height, dry matter of the aerial plant parts, essential oil content and yield were evaluated. A wide diversity among the genotypes was observed for all morphological and agronomical traits evaluated. A large amplitude occurred among genotypes regarding the content of essential oil from 0,202 to 2,536 ml/100g. For the essential oil yield an amplitude from 1,103 to 21,817 l/ha was observed. Evaluating the traits content and yield of O. basilicum essential oil the genotypes NSL6421, PI197442, PI358464, PI414194, PI531396 and 'Fino Verde' can be selected for breeding programs to obtain cultivars with a high yield of essential oil rich in linalool

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Hyptis pectinata (l.) Poit.

Essential oil was extracted from leaves of Hyptis pectinata using hydrodistillation, and its composition determined using GC-FID and GC-MS. Chemical analysis showed that there was a predominance of sesquiterpenes, of which β-caryophyllene (18.34%), caryophyllene oxide (18.00%) and calamusenone (24.68%) were measured for the first time in the genus Hyptis. Twenty-one compounds were identified, and calamusenone was isolated using preparative thin layer chromatography with a silica gel plate (60 PF254). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal microbicidal concentration (MMC) were determined for various pathogenic microorganisms. H. pectinata oil was most effective against Gram (+) bacteria and yeasts