Design and descriptive results of the "Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study In preSchoolers": The GENESIS Study

BACKGROUND: The Growth, Exercise and Nutrition Epidemiological Study in preSchoolers (GENESIS) attempts to evaluate the food and nutrient intakes, as well as growth and development of a representative sample of Greek toddlers and preschool children. In the current work the study design, data collection procedures and some preliminary data of the GENESIS study are presented. METHODS: From April 2003 to July 2004, 1218 males and 1156 females 1 to 5 years old, stratified by parental educational level (Census 1999), were examined from 105 nurseries in five counties. Approximately 300 demographic, lifestyle, physical activity, dietary, anthropometrical and DNA variables have been recorded from the study population (children and parents). RESULTS: Regarding anthropometrical indices, boys were found to be taller than girls at all ages (P < 0.05) and heavier only for the age period from 1 to 3 years old (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between genders regarding the prevalence of at risk of overweight (16.5% to 18.6% for boys and 18.5 to 20.6 % for girls) and overweight (14.0% to 18.9% for boys and 12.6% to 20.0% for girls). Additionally, boys older than 2 years of age were found to have a higher energy intake compared to girls (P < 0.05). A similar tendency was observed regarding the mean dietary intake of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates and protein with boys exhibiting a higher intake than girls in most age groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of overweight in the current preschool population is considerably high. Future but more extensive analyses of the GENESIS data will be able to reveal the interactions of the parameters leading to this phenomenon

Autoantibodies against type I IFNs in patients with life-threatening COVID-19

Interindividual clinical variability in the course of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is vast. We report that at least 101 of 987 patients with life-threatening coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia had neutralizing immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies (auto-Abs) against interferon-w (IFN-w) (13 patients), against the 13 types of IFN-a (36), or against both (52) at the onset of critical disease; a few also had auto-Abs against the other three type I IFNs. The auto-Abs neutralize the ability of the corresponding type I IFNs to block SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. These auto-Abs were not found in 663 individuals with asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2 infection and were present in only 4 of 1227 healthy individuals. Patients with auto-Abs were aged 25 to 87 years and 95 of the 101 were men. A B cell autoimmune phenocopy of inborn errors of type I IFN immunity accounts for life-threatening COVID-19 pneumonia in at least 2.6% of women and 12.5% of men

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

Ensaio para a determinação de dosagem tóxica do fungicida tebuconazole (folicur 200 ce) sobre alevinos e juvenis de tilápia (tilapia rendalli) e de pacu (piaractus mesopotamicus)

A qualidade dos aquíferos de superfície e subterrâneos são constantemente ameaçados pelas atividades de origem agrícola, em especial no que se refere ao uso de agrotóxicos, que podem afetar a saúde do homem e dos animais, bem como afetar o meio ambiente. Este trabalho teve como objetivos: a) determinar a dosagem letal do fungicida Folicur (tebuconazole) para alevinos e juvenis de tilápia (Tilapia rendalli) e de pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus); b) descrever os sintomas e comportamentos observados quando da aplicação do fungicida. O experimento foi realizado no período de março a maio de 2002, no Centro Regional Universitário de Espírito Santo do Pinhal (CREUPI), Estado de São Paulo, no laboratório de Aquacultura. As diferentes dosagens foram testadas em 7 tratamentos (diferentes concentrações em ppm do fungicida tebuconazole), com 5 repetições, sendo cada peixe considerado uma repetição. A escolha deste fungicida deu-se em função do seu uso contínuo em lavouras de café, pois trata-se da cultura de maior expressão no município de Espírito Santo do Pinhal, local da realização dos ensaios. Em relação aos resultados, observou-se que, quando se considera a concentração de 3,88 ppm, em alevinos de comprimento médio de 4,3 a 8,5 cm, a espécie Tilapia rendalli apresenta uma resistência maior ao produto, se comparada a alevinos da espécie Piaractus mesopotamicus. Juvenis da espécie Tilapia rendalli, com comprimento entre 15 e 17 cm, em presença de concentração de 3,88 ppm do produto, são resistentes ao mesmo. Os juvenis da espécie Piaractus mesopotamicus apresentam uma sobrevivência de 20% quando expostas a concentração de 3,88 ppm do produto testado. Tanto a espécie Tilapia rendalli, quanto a espécie Piaractus mesopotamicus mostraram-se resistentes quando expostas a concentração de 1,94 ppm do fungicida Tebuconazole. Palavras-chave: fungicida, peixes, tilápia, pacu, comportamento. ABSTRACT Some of the agricultural practices are given water qualitative risks especially by the use of agrochemicals can cause health and environmental damage. This trial had as an objective to determine the influence of tebuconazole doses on the behaviour of Tilapia rendalli and Piaractus mesopotamicus. The trial was carried out at fish laboratory on march, 2002 at Centro Regional Universitário de Espírito Santo do Pinhal â CREUPI at São Paulo state, Brazil. The treatments tested were different doses of tebuconazole fungicide, that is very used on coffee crop in order to control plant diseases. The results showed difference among tebuconazole doses on the behavior of Tilapia rendalli and Piaractus mesopotamicus, except at 1,94 ppm concentration when both were resistant. Key words: fungicide, fishes, Tilapia rendalli, Piaractus mesopotamicus, behaviour

Efeito do uso do efluente de reator anaeróbio compartimentado na fertirrigação da beterraba

O uso do efluente proveniente dos sistemas anaeróbios de tratamento de águas residuárias, na irrigação de hortículas e outras culturas é uma alternativa interessante, diante da possibilidade do aproveitamento de nutrientes presentes. O experimento foi realizado em canteiros de beterraba, no Departamento de Olericultura do Centro Regional Universitário de Espírito Santo do Pinhal â UNIPINHAL, plantados em espaçamento padrão, sendo utilizados seis (6) tratamentos com quatro (4) repetições. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que: a) A água residuária apresenta um teor maior de NPK em relação à água da torneira; b) O efluente do reator anaeróbio compartimentado (água residuária), influenciou no peso das raízes de beterraba, quando estes tratamentos foram combinados com 100% da adubação química recomendada para a cultura, bem como sua metade e na ausência da adubação química; c) O baixo conteúdo nutricional da água captada de nascente, proporcionou às raízes de beterraba os menores pesos; d) Os resultados mostram que o uso de água residuária sem qualquer tipo de adubação, foi estatisticamente igual ao resultado obtido quando foi utilizada a adubação convencional, evidenciando assim a importância do uso do referido efluente; e) Quanto mais enriquecido nutricionalmente for o efluente e se ele estiver mineralizado, provavelmente maior será o seu aproveitamento pelas plantas. Palavras-chave: Beterraba, dejetos de suínos, reator anaeróbio compartimentado. ABSTRACT Some researchs about wastewater treatment have been show efficiency on DQO removal, however Nitrogen and Phosphorus removal are smaller than other nutrients. The use of wastewater as nutrient source can be interesting due high nutrients amount. This trial was carried out on Suggar beet plants at Horticulture Department of Centro Regional Universitário de Espírito Santo do Pinhal â UNIPINHAL, by using wastewater associated or no with fertilizer at different rates comparing with normal water. The results obtained showed that wastewater has higher amount of nutrients than normal water and increased the sugar beet root weight when associated or no with fertilizer NPK. Key words: wastewater, suggar beet

Uso de leitos cultivados de vazão subsuperficial na remoção de macronutrientes de efluentes de tanques de piscicultura

Visando avaliar o desempenho de leitos cultivados na remoção de macronutrientes presentes em águas de escoamento de tanques de piscicultura, foi instalado um experimento em caixas de cimento-amianto, preenchidas com brita n.º 3, onde foram cultivadas macrófitas aquáticas emergentes conhecidas como Taboa (Typha spp.) em sistema de monocultivo. Foram mensuradas durante a avaliação as remoções de Nitrogênio, Fósforo, Enxofre, Cálcio, Potássio e Magnésio. Durante a fase experimental obteve-se os seguintes valores: Nitrogênio Total, remoção média de 36,15%, Fósforo Total remoção média de 43,30%, Enxofre remoção média de 28,20%, Potássio remoção média de 31,61% e a remoção média de Magnésio foi de 16,20%. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que: a) o desempenho do sistema na remoção de Nitrogênio Total foi inferior às obtidas por outros autores, os quais trataram efluentes de esgoto doméstico e de suinocultura; b) a remoção de Fósforo Total pode ser considerada satisfatória quando comparada a outros trabalhos que utilizaram os leitos cultivados como forma de tratamento de efluentes; c) foi baixo o desempenho do sistema na remoção de Enxofre, Cálcio, Magnésio e Potássio. Palavras chave: Typha spp., leitos cultivados, piscicultura. ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of a subsurface flow constructed wetland onthe removal of fish water macronutrients, a experiment was carried out at cimento-amianto box cultivated with Thypha spp on monocultive system. The parameters evaluated were: Nitrogen removal, Phosphors removal, Sulfur removal, Calcium removal, Potassium removal and Magnesium removal. The results showed 36,15% of Nitrogen removal, 43,30% of Phosphors removal, 28,20% of Sulfur removal, 26,30% of Calcium removal, 31,61% of Potassium removal and 16,20% of Magnesium removal. As conclusions, the performance of the system on Nitrogen total removal was smaller whem comparated with other autors; the phosphorous removal was considered satisfactory and the performance of the system on Sulfur, Calcium, Magnesium and Potassium removal was low. Key Words: Typha spp., wastewater treatment, constructed wetland, fish water

Human Brucellosis in Northwest Ecuador: Typifying Brucella spp., Seroprevalence, and Associated Risk Factors

Human brucellosis in Ecuador is underreported and based only on passive surveillance. Since 2008, brucellosis was removed from the list of communicable diseases in the country. Until now, the true human brucellosis picture has not yet been determined. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of the disease, identify risk factors associated with brucellosis seropositivity in humans, and isolate circulating strains of Brucella spp. in the northwestern part of Ecuador. Between 2006 and 2008, a large transect survey was conducted, based on blood sampling of people from the northwestern part of Ecuador (n=3733) together with an epidemiological inquiry. On the basis of three diagnostic tests used in parallel, the overall seroprevalence was estimated as 1.88% (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.48-2.38). Based on a multivariable random effects logistic regression analysis, the main risk factors associated with human brucellosis seropositivity were contact with livestock (odds ratio [OR]=3.0; CI 1.25-7.08), consumption of fetus and placenta (OR=2.5; CI 1.18-5.22), and involvement in activities at risk for brucellosis infection (OR=1.8; CI 1.00-3.35). Noticeable variation in brucellosis seropositivity among humans within cantons was observed. The circulating strain was Brucella abortus biotype 4. This study emphasized that contact with livestock, consumption of fetus and placenta, and occupational hazard group were all significant risk factors for the transmission of brucellosis among individuals in the northwestern part of Ecuador. Alongside encouraging the launching of educational campaigns against brucellosis, especially in rural areas where 36% of the population lives, controlling this zoonotic disease in animals will directly benefit its prevention in humans, especially because there is no safe and efficacious vaccine against brucellosis in humans