Effects of delayed cord clamping on hemoglobin values in infants born to anemic and non anemic mothers

OBJETIVO: avaliar o efeito do clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical nos níveis de hemoglobina (Hb) em crianças aos três meses de vida segundo o status de hemoglobina materna. MÉTODO: realizou-se estudo de intervenção, em hospital público do município de São Paulo em 2006, com 325 mães e crianças nascidas a termo, de parto vaginal e sem patologias. Realizaram-se dosagens de Hb da mãe no pré-parto e de Hb do cordão umbilical. Foram avaliadas 210 crianças (64,6%) em ambulatório por volta dos 3 meses de vida, incluindo-se informações sociais, antropométricas, de alimentação e dosagem de Hb por meio de coleta de sangue venoso. A análise dos dados foi realizada por modelos de regressão linear múltipla para mães anêmicas (Hb &lt; 11,0 g/dL) (42) e não anêmicas (168). A variável desfecho constituiu-se no percentual da diferença entre os valores de Hb da criança ao nascer e aos três meses de idade ([Hb 3meses - Hb cordão)/ Hb cordão]x100) e a variável explanatória no tipo de clampeamento do cordão umbilical. RESULTADOS: as crianças nascidas de mães não anêmicas submetidas ao clampeamento tardio do cordão umbilical apresentaram ganho de hemoglobina aos três meses de idade, em torno de 4%. CONCLUSÃO: o efeito positivo de clampear tardiamente o cordão umbilical, nos níveis de hemoglobina das crianças aos três meses de idade foi observado somente entre aquelas nascidas de mães não anêmicas.OBJECTIVE: to assess the effect of delayed clamping of the umbilical cord on hemoglobin concentrations in infants up to three months of age born to anemic and non anemic mothers. METHODS: Mothers and infants born of vaginal delivery, full-term and no abnormalities (325 pairs) were recruited at a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2006. Maternal hemoglobin concentration at delivery, umbilical cord hemoglobin and ferritin were collected. At approximately three months of age, 210 (64.6%) infants had their hemoglobin concentrations, socioeconomic, anthropometric and infant feeding practices collected. The data were analyzed by multiple linear regression models for anemic mothers (< 11.0 g/dL) (42) and non-anemic mothers (168). The dependent and explanatory variables include ([hemoglobin at three months - umbilical cord hemoglobin / umbilical cord hemoglobin]*100) and immediate/delayed cord clamping, respectively. RESULTS: the infants born to non anemic mothers who received delayed cord clamping have achieved an increase in hemoglobin at three months, around 4%. CONCLUSION: The delayed cord clamping benefits the hemoglobin status of infants, especially those born to non anemic mothers

Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains

Ruiz JC, D'Afonseca V, Silva A, et al. Evidence for Reductive Genome Evolution and Lateral Acquisition of Virulence Functions in Two Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis Strains. PLoS ONE. 2011;6(4): e18551.Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

Considerações sobre o problema da difusão do vírus HIV no sistema penitenciário brasileiro = Consideration on the problem of dissemination of the HIV virus in the brazilian penitantiary system

“Os presídios brasileiros têm se tornado verdadeiros focos de contaminação pelo HIV, revelando-se, por conseguinte, de fundamental importância a implementação de mecanismos de prevenção, ante a inexistência de tratamentos curativos. A superação dos obstáculos, entretanto, depende da vontade política dos governantes e de sua fundamentação jurídica, haja vista que o contexto carcerário exige maiores critérios no combate à infecção pelo vírus; para tanto, a fim de que não sejam violados os direitos da comunidade de detentos, há que se ter em vista a idéia da redução de danos e a regra da proporcionalidade.”“Brazilian penitentiary has become real focus of contamination by HIV, showing this way the fundamental importance of the implementation of preventing mechanisms in face of the inexistent curative treatment. However, overcoming the obstacles depends on the political willing of governments and their juridical basements, once the prison context demands better criteria in the combat of infection by the virus. Thus, in order not to be violated the detentioned community rights we must have in mind the idea of damages reduction and the rule of proportionality.

PLoS ONE

p. 1-15Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a Gram-positive, facultative intracellular pathogen, is the etiologic agent of the disease known as caseous lymphadenitis (CL). CL mainly affects small ruminants, such as goats and sheep; it also causes infections in humans, though rarely. This species is distributed worldwide, but it has the most serious economic impact in Oceania, Africa and South America. Although C. pseudotuberculosis causes major health and productivity problems for livestock, little is known about the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. Methodology and Findings: We characterized two C. pseudotuberculosis genomes (Cp1002, isolated from goats; and CpC231, isolated from sheep). Analysis of the predicted genomes showed high similarity in genomic architecture, gene content and genetic order. When C. pseudotuberculosis was compared with other Corynebacterium species, it became evident that this pathogenic species has lost numerous genes, resulting in one of the smallest genomes in the genus. Other differences that could be part of the adaptation to pathogenicity include a lower GC content, of about 52%, and a reduced gene repertoire. The C. pseudotuberculosis genome also includes seven putative pathogenicity islands, which contain several classical virulence factors, including genes for fimbrial subunits, adhesion factors, iron uptake and secreted toxins. Additionally, all of the virulence factors in the islands have characteristics that indicate horizontal transfer. Conclusions: These particular genome characteristics of C. pseudotuberculosis, as well as its acquired virulence factors in pathogenicity islands, provide evidence of its lifestyle and of the pathogenicity pathways used by this pathogen in the infection process. All genomes cited in this study are available in the NCBI Genbank database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ genbank/) under accession numbers CP001809 and CP001829

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved