Understanding the clinical spectrum of complicated Plasmodium vivax malaria: a systematic review on the contributions of the Brazilian literature

The resurgence of the malaria eradication agenda and the increasing number of severe manifestation reports has contributed to a renewed interested in the Plasmodium vivax infection. It is the most geographically widespread parasite causing human malaria, with around 2.85 billion people living under risk of infection. The Brazilian Amazon region reports more than 50% of the malaria cases in Latin America and since 1990 there is a marked predominance of this species, responsible for 85% of cases in 2009. However, only a few complicated cases of P. vivax have been reported from this region. A systematic review of the Brazilian indexed and non-indexed literature on complicated cases of vivax malaria was performed including published articles, masters' dissertations, doctoral theses and national congresses' abstracts. The following information was retrieved: patient characteristics (demographic, presence of co-morbidities and, whenever possible, associated genetic disorders); description of each major clinical manifestation. As a result, 27 articles, 28 abstracts from scientific events' annals and 13 theses/dissertations were found, only after 1987. Most of the reported information was described in small case series and case reports of patients from all the Amazonian states, and also in travellers from Brazilian non-endemic areas. The more relevant clinical complications were anaemia, thrombocytopaenia, jaundice and acute respiratory distress syndrome, present in all age groups, in addition to other more rare clinical pictures. Complications in pregnant women were also reported. Acute and chronic co-morbidities were frequent, however death was occasional. Clinical atypical cases of malaria are more frequent than published in the indexed literature, probably due to a publication bias. In the Brazilian Amazon (considered to be a low to moderate intensity area of transmission), clinical data are in accordance with the recent findings of severity described in diverse P. vivax endemic areas (especially anaemia in Southeast Asia), however in this region both children and adults are affected. Finally, gaps of knowledge and areas for future research are opportunely pointed out

Structural phase transitions of multiferroic Bi0.7La0.3FeO3

Bi0.7La0.3FeO3 has received special attention in the last years, since it exhibits ferroelectricity and ferromagnetism at room temperature. Issues including understanding of the mechanisms related to ferroelectric and magnetic phase transitions and the correlation of structure, magnetism, and ferroelectricity are still under debate. Though, first PND data obtained in ISIS allow for an acceptable discussion of its structure, key information is still missing. The aim of this proposal is to carry out a high-resolution neutron diffraction experiment in HRPD across the phase transition, to ascertain crucial details of its structure, closing in this way the first obtained HRPD data. From this study, we envisage to fully determining symmetry and lattice distortions towards phase transitions, and highlight the main underlying mechanisms, especially the role of spin-lattice couplin

The Scientific Explorations for Deep-Sea Fishes in Brazil: The Known Knowns, the Known Unknowns, and the Unknown Unknowns

The deep sea is the largest and one of the most extreme environments on Earth. It is estimated that 10–15% of all fish species are dwelling in the deep sea, most of which have unique morphological and physiological adaptations. Biological expeditions to sample the deep ocean off Brazil started with the British HMS Challenger Expedition (1872–1876), followed by a few fishery stations made by the German RV Ernst Haeckel (1966) and the North-American MIV Oregon II (1957–1975), the cruises of the French RVs Marion Dufresne (1987) and Thalassa (1999, 2000), the Brazilian RV Atlântico Sul (1996–1999), the FV Diadorim and FV Soloncy Moura (1996–2002), OSB Astro Garoupa (2003), and, more recently, the American RV Luke Thomas and Seward Johnson (2009, 2011), the French RV Antea (2015, 2017), and the Brazilian RV Alpha Crucis. A total of 712 species of deep-sea fishes were recorded, including five species of Myxini, six species of Holocephali, 81 species of Elasmobrachii, and 620 species of Actinopteri. As in other parts of the world, the Brazilian deep-sea ichthyofauna struggles under severe anthropogenic impacts caused by the commercial fishing, and the extraction of oil and gas. The deep ocean is a delicate environment and its recovery is considerably slower than an equivalent in shallow water habitat. Therefore, increasing the research efforts is needed to avoid that part of its diversity disappear without our accurate knowledge.https://nsuworks.nova.edu/occ_facbooks/1102/thumbnail.jp

Enfermagem de nível superior no Brasil e vida associativa Enfermería de nivel superior en Brasil y vida asociativa Superior Nursing in Brazil and associative life

Este estudo, de cunho histórico-crítico, discute as inter-relações entre a Associação Brasileira de Enfermagem e os cursos superiores de enfermagem na sociedade brasileira. A inserção da enfermagem na universidade brasileira iniciou-se no final da década de 30; em meados do século 20 tal movimento foi favorecido pela política federal de ensino superior, e veio a completar-se com a implantação da Reforma Universitária de 1968. O alcance de um maior grau de cientificização da enfermagem, como área de domínio do conhecimento, constituiu-se no maior desafio que a área de enfermagem teve que enfrentar para firmar sua reputação na comunidade científica nacional e internacional.<br>Este estudio, de cuño histórico crítico, discute las interrelaciones entre la Asociación Brasileña de Enfermería (Aben) y los cursos superiores de enfermería en la sociedad brasileña. La inserción de la enfermería en la universidad brasileña se inició a finales de la década del 30; a mediados del siglo 20 este movimiento fue favorecido por la política federal de la enseñanza superior, y vino a completarse con la implantación de la Reforma Universitaria de 1968. El alcance de un mayor grado científico de la enfermería, como área de dominio del conocimiento, se constituye en el mayor desafío que la area de enfermería tuve que enfrentar para signar su reputación en la comunidad científica nacional e internacional.<br>This historical-critical study discusses the interrelations between the Brazilian Nursing Association and the baccalaureate nursing courses in the Brazilian society. The insertion of nursing in Brazilian university began in the late 1930's. Such a movement was favored by the federal policy of higher education in the mid-twentieth century and it was accomplished by the University Reform of 1968. The achievement of a higher degree in scientification of nursing, as a mastery of knowledge field, had become the biggest challenge the field of nursing had to face in order to consolidate its reputation in the international and national scientific community