Hemoglobin and platelets with Bone Mineral Density / Hemoglobina e plaquetas com Densidade Mineral Óssea

Background: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the association between hemoglobin and platelets with bone mineral density (BMD) in men between the ages of 40 and 80 in the Boa Vista, the capital of the Brazilian state of Roraima. The population study conducted in this study was based on the WHO tool [Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX®)] nomogram model proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Specifically, the current work focuses on (i) determining the inverse correlation between the hemoglobin and femur score and between the hemoglobin and spine score by the WHO tool (FRAX®) nomogram and by using the linear regression model, and (ii) correlating the risk factors with different categorical variables and continuous variables using statistical methods.Methods: This cohort and cross-sectional study involve both quantitative and qualitative data obtained in the field from 272 patients. However, for this paper, only quantitative findings from screening are described.Results: The mean Frax score and the hemoglobin level across the group were significantly different. The Frax score of the femur was significantly associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis of the spine. All the data obtained in this study were analyzed using SPSS version 21, and a p-value of ?0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Conclusions: Hemoglobin and platelets strongly associate with the BMD and the key risk factors for the association between hemoglobin and platelets with BMD includes BMI, smoking and alcohol habit, and vitamin-D and serum calcium level

Evaluation of the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the public restrooms in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil / Avaliação das condições higiénicas e sanitárias dos lavabos públicos em Boa Vista, Roraima, Brasil

Background: This paper evaluates the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the public’s restrooms in Boa Vista, Roraima, Brazil.Methods: The study used questionnaires to collect information on hygiene and sanitation of public toilets. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate raw data in this study to evaluate hygienic and sanitary conditions of the public’s restrooms in Boa Vista, Brazil.Results: A good number of the public toilets had basic facilities such as water, paper towel, and port liquid soap and fitted with signalling tools. About, 19 (38%) toilets were clean while 13 (26%) were not clean.Conclusions: To ensure that public toilets have the necessary sanitary and hygiene conditions, maintenance and cleaning should be carried out by strategic spatial policy makers within local administrations. Public toilets that are accessible, and have basic facilities in good working condition, odourless, dry floor and meets user needs is a fundamental for good health

Antimicrobial effect of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts against oral pathogens and cellular viability in human leukocytes / Efeito antimicrobiano de adutos de Morita-Baylis-Hillman contra patógenos orais e viabilidade celular em leucócitos de humanos

The aim of this work was to evaluate Morita-Baylis-Hillman adduct (MBHA) antimicrobial effect against oral pathogens and related cell viability in human leukocytes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using microdilution method. Cell viability was assessed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) using the resazurin assay. For S. aureus (ATCC 15656) and S. mutans (UA 159) MIC values of 2,000 ?g/mL were reported for the A1 Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts. The MICs of the A2 and A3 adducts were not found for the bacterial strains. MIC values for the A1 adduct was 125 ?g/mL, A2 1,000 ?g/mL and A3 to 15.6?g/mL against the C. albicans strain (ATCC 11006). PBMCs showed cell viability greater than 50 % when in contact with concentrations 10x higher than MIC of MBHA. It is concluded that MBHA A1, A2 and A3 present potential antimicrobial effects against C. albicans without presenting substantial cytotoxic effects in human cells, highlighting adduct A3 for future therapeutic applications

Identificação de patologias presentes nas estruturas da ponte Dom Affonso Felippe Gregory: Identification of pathologies found in the Dom Affonso Felippe Gregory bridge’s structures

O presente artigo busca identificar e apresentar as manifestações patológicas existentes na ponte Dom Affonso Felippe Gregory situado na divisa do estado do Maranhão e Tocantins sendo um importante corredor econômico para as cidades da região. Para identificação de patologias em pontes ou qualquer outro tipo de estrutura, é necessário a realização de inspeções periódicas, devendo esta análise ser realizada de forma integral, sendo inspecionada a superestrutura, a mesoestrutura e a infraestrutura. Esta identificação patológica na ponte Dom Affonso Felippe Gregory recorreu-se a estudos de bibliografias relacionadas ao tema, além de coleta de dados realizada por meio de visitas, utilizando os métodos visuais e registros fotográficos. Os resultados mostram as patologias existentes sendo elas a exsudação na estrada, buracos na estrada, desagregação do concreto, desgaste do concreto por abrasão, fissuras na estrutura, falhas nas juntas de dilatação, corrosão das armaduras de aço. Pode-se concluir que a maioria dos problemas encontrados decorrem da falta de manutenção e da má execução da ponte

Alterações neurológicas em uma cadela com anaplasmose e erliquiose - relato de caso: Neurological changes in a female dog with anaplasmosis and erlichiosis - case report

A erliquiose e anaplasmose são hemoparasitoses que vem acometendo cães e gatos atendidos em clínicas e hospitais veterinários do Brasil. Essas doenças parasitárias têm como principal vetor o carrapato-marrom (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), principal ectoparasito que infesta cães e gatos, podendo até parasitar acidentalmente os seres humanos. Esse ixodídeo ao realizar o repasto sanguíneo em seus hospedeiros pode inocular bactérias do gênero Ehrlichia sp. e Anaplasma sp., as quais irão se disseminar por células do sistema circulatório, podendo gerar diversas patologias. Devido à complexidade clínica de alguns casos, o objetivo desse trabalho é relatar as alterações neurológicas em uma cadela com anaplasmose e erliquiose. Foi atendido pela equipe do Laboratório de Doenças Parasitárias dos Animais da Universidade Federal de Sergipe, campus do Sertão, uma cadela, errante, de cinco anos de idade, pesando 17 kg, com historico de alterações neurológicas há cerca de 30 dias. Ao exame físico foi observado ataxia, disfunção neuromotora e vestibular, tremores, vocalização, desidratação, mucosas hipocoradas, hiperqueratose nos coxins, petéquias no abdômen, além da presença de carrapatos. Exames hematológicos revelaram anemia, trombocitopenia, além de mórulas de bactérias E. canis e A. platys. Não foram detectados anticorpos do tipo IgM para o vírus da cinomose canina. Como tratamento terapêutico foi utilizado antibioticoterapia associado a suplementação de vitaminas e controle dos ectoparasitos

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) wide-spread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications