Imunização contra influenza no Brasil: racionalidade e desafios

Campanhas de vacinação contra influenza na população idosa têm sido conduzidas no Brasil desde 1999. De acordo com levantamento da literatura realizada sobre influenza no Brasil, concluiu-se que dados sobre carga de doença são ainda escassos e imprecisos. Essas informações parecem indicar que a vacinação tem produzido algum impacto nas regiões Sul e Sudeste do País, mas não em outras regiões. Foram discutidas racionalidade técnica e científica para a imunização contra influenza, e argumentou-se que a atual estratégia de vacinação em todo o território nacional não levou em conta possíveis diferenças na ocorrência da doença causada por influenza entre as regiões do País. Foram sugeridas algumas atividades relacionadas à vigilância epidemiológica de influenza que se julgou necessárias para responder importantes questões referentes à vacinação e seu impacto no Brasil.Mass vaccination campaigns against influenza in the elderly have been conducted in Brazil since 1999. A search of the literature on influenza in Brazil indicated that data on disease burden are still scarce and inaccurate. Published data seem to indicate that vaccination has produced some impact in the southern and southeastern regions but not in other regions of Brazil. A discussion of the technical and scientific rationale for mass immunization against influenza is presented and it is argued that the current strategy has not taken into account potential differences in disease occurrence in different areas. It is suggested some epidemiological surveillance actions needed to address major concerns regarding mass influenza vaccination and its impact in Brazil

Sistema intensivo de produção de ovinos

O artigo relata o sistema de produção de ovinos de corte do Instituto de Zootecnia, em Nova Odessa, Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que se baseia na manutenção das matrizes em pastagens de forrageiras de alta produtividade e alto valor nutritivo (Panicum maximum, cv. Aruana e Tanzânia),manejadas intensivamente em sistema rotacionado, aliado à cria e ao acabamento dos cordeiros em confinamento. Esse sistema, queprevê a utilização de reprodutores selecionados de raças especializadas para corte, em cruzamento com matrizes deslanadas a cada 8meses, possibilita a obtenção de cordeiros abatidos precocemente, com elevado desempenho ponderal e boa conformação de carcaça, atingindo o peso ideal de abate (28 a 30kg) em torno dos 100 dias de idade

Impactos do trabalho remoto na saúde mental: reflexões à luz de Nightingale

The aim was to analyze the impacts of remote work on employees' mental health considering Florence Nightingale's environmentalist theory. The methodology adopted was a study of critical reflection, using Nightingale's principles as a theoretical basis. A comprehensive literature review was carried out using databases such as LILACS, MedLine, Google Scholar, and SciELO, with thematic analysis of the studies selected according to Bardin's approach. The results revealed three thematic categories: "Isolation and loneliness in the remote work environment", "Psychological and emotional impacts of remote work" and "Strategies for promoting mental health in remote work". Discussions highlighted the need for organizational policies that promote in-person social interactions and emotional support to mitigate the adverse effects of social isolation. The need for an integrative approach that values ​​both technology and human sensitivity is emphasized to create a healthier and more sustainable virtual work environment, aligned with the principles of environmental theory.Objetivou-se analisar os impactos do trabalho remoto na saúde mental dos colaboradores à luz da teoria ambientalista de Florence Nightingale. A metodologia adotada foi um estudo de reflexão crítica, utilizando como base teórica os princípios de Nightingale. Realizou-se uma revisão abrangente da literatura utilizando bases de dados como LILACS, MedLine, Google Scholar e SciELO, com análise temática dos estudos selecionados conforme a abordagem de Bardin. Os resultados revelaram três categorias temáticas: "Isolamento e solidão no ambiente de trabalho remoto", "Impactos psicológicos e emocionais do trabalho remoto" e "Estratégias de promoção da saúde mental no trabalho remoto". Discussões destacaram a necessidade de políticas organizacionais que promovam interações sociais presenciais e suporte emocional como forma de atenuar os efeitos adversos do isolamento social. Enfatiza-se a necessidade de uma abordagem integrativa que valorize tanto a tecnologia quanto a sensibilidade humana para criar um ambiente de trabalho virtual mais saudável e sustentável, alinhado com os princípios da teoria ambientalista

Identification of strain-specific B-cell epitopes in Trypanosoma cruzi using genome-scale epitope prediction and high-throughput immunoscreening with peptide arrays

BACKGROUND: The factors influencing variation in the clinical forms of Chagas disease have not been elucidated; however, it is likely that the genetics of both the host and the parasite are involved. Several studies have attempted to correlate the T. cruzi strains involved in infection with the clinical forms of the disease by using hemoculture and/or PCR-based genotyping of parasites from infected human tissues. However, both techniques have limitations that hamper the analysis of large numbers of samples. The goal of this work was to identify conserved and polymorphic linear B-cell epitopes of T. cruzi that could be used for serodiagnosis and serotyping of Chagas disease using ELISA. METHODOLOGY: By performing B-cell epitope prediction on proteins derived from pair of alleles of the hybrid CL Brener genome, we have identified conserved and polymorphic epitopes in the two CL Brener haplotypes. The rationale underlying this strategy is that, because CL Brener is a recent hybrid between the TcII and TcIII DTUs (discrete typing units), it is likely that polymorphic epitopes in pairs of alleles could also be polymorphic in the parental genotypes. We excluded sequences that are also present in the Leishmania major, L. infantum, L. braziliensis and T. brucei genomes to minimize the chance of cross-reactivity. A peptide array containing 150 peptides was covalently linked to a cellulose membrane, and the reactivity of the peptides was tested using sera from C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with the Colombiana (TcI) and CL Brener (TcVI) clones and Y (TcII) strain. FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 36 peptides were considered reactive, and the cross-reactivity among the strains is in agreement with the evolutionary origin of the different T. cruzi DTUs. Four peptides were tested against a panel of chagasic patients using ELISA. A conserved peptide showed 95.8% sensitivity, 88.5% specificity, and 92.7% accuracy for the identification of T. cruzi in patients infected with different strains of the parasite. Therefore, this peptide, in association with other T. cruzi antigens, may improve Chagas disease serodiagnosis. Together, three polymorphic epitopes were able to discriminate between the three parasite strains used in this study and are thus potential targets for Chagas disease serotyping

Spatial risk of tuberculosis mortality and social vulnerability in Northeast Brazil

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis (TB) is the most common infectious disease in the world. We aimed to analyze the spatial risk of tuberculosis mortality and to verify associations in high-risk areas with social vulnerability. METHODS: This was an ecological study. The scan statistic was used to detect areas at risk, and the Bivariate Moran Index was used to verify relationships between variables. RESULTS: High-risk areas of tuberculosis mortality were statistically significantly associated with domain 2 of the Social Vulnerability Index (I=0.010; p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence regarding areas with high risk and that vulnerability is a determinant of TB mortality.publishersversionpublishe

Seroprevalence and Seroconversion of Dengue and Implications for Clinical Diagnosis in Amazonian Children

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of serum IgG dengue in children in an Amazonian population, to assess the seroconversion rate in 12 months, and to estimate how many seropositive children had a prior clinical diagnosis of dengue. We conducted a population-based study between 2010 and 2011, with children aged 6 months to 12 years that were living in the urban area of a small town in the Brazilian Amazon. The prevalence of IgG antibodies against dengue antigens was determined by indirect ELISA technique, and seronegative children were reexamined after 12 months to determine seroconversion rates. Results showed seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against dengue type of 2.9%, with no significant association between age, race, and sex. In seropositive children, only 8.4% had received a clinical diagnosis of dengue, and the ratio of clinically diagnosed cases and subclinical cases was 1 : 11. The seroconversion rate between 2010 and 2011 was 1.4% (CI 3.8% to 35.1%). The seroprevalence of dengue in this pediatric population was low, and the vast majority of cases were not clinically detected, suggesting a difficulty in making the clinical diagnosis in children and a high frequency of asymptomatic infections

Acute Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Exercise on Pain Level, Functionality, and Rating of Exertion of Elderly Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Individuals: A Randomized Study

Introduction: Among chronic diseases, knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a joint disease that causes important progressive alterations in the articular and periarticular structures, including synovial inflammation. Exercise has been suggested as an intervention to KOA individuals, and studies suggest that whole-body vibration (WBV) exercise decreases pain levels and favours the functionality of KOA individuals. Objective: The aim of the present study is to analyze the acute effects of WBV exercise on pain levels, functionality (Timed Up and Go (TUG test), anterior trunk flexion (ATF)), and rating of exertion of elderly obese KOA individuals. Methods: Thirty-seven individuals with KOA were allocated to a WBV exercise group (WBVEG), n = 19 (15 females/4 males), and a control group (CG), n = 18 (15 females/3 males). WBVEG performed one session of WBV exercise (11 min, using 5 Hz, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mm, 0.12, 0.25, and 0.37 g). Three bouts were performed (working time of 3 min and rest time of 1 min) using a side-alternating vibrating platform (VP). The same position was used in CG; however, the VP was turned off and there was equipment coupled to the VP that emitted a sound like the vibrations. The pain level was evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS). Functionality was evaluated with a TUG test and ATF. The rating of subjectively perceived exertion was measured with the category ratio CR-10 (BORG Scale CR-10), Results: A reduction of pain levels in WBVEG after the intervention (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.041) was found. A decrease of TUG test time in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.045) was found, while no statistical changes were observed in the Borg Scale score. Significant improvements of flexibility in both groups (p = 0.001) and intergroups (p = 0.043) were found. Conclusion: One session of WBV exercise can lead to important improvements in individuals with KOA, possibly triggered by physiological responses. However, more studies are needed, in this clinical context, to confirm these results

BRSMG Realce: Common bean cultivar with striped grains for the state of Minas Gerais

The common bean cultivar “BRSMG Realce”, recommended for the state of Minas Gerais, has high yield potential and resistance to powdery mildew, bacterial wilt and to anthracnose pathotypes 65, 73, 77, 81, 91, 475 and 479. The plants and pods are high, resulting in lower loss during mechanical harves