Description of malaria vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) in two agricultural settlements in the Western Brazilian Amazon

The majority of malaria cases in South America occur in rural areas of the Amazon region. Although these areas have a significant impact on malaria cases, few entomological studies have been carried out there. This study aimed to describe entomological parameters in settlements in Rondonia State, Brazil. Collections of anopheles were carried out using the Protected Human Attraction Technique (PHAT). The risk and the potential for malaria transmission were assessed using the human biting rate (HBR), the sporozoite rate (SR) and the entomological inoculation rate (EIR). The results confirmed that Nyssorhynchus darlingi is the predominant species in the two studied locations. Although settlement in the two study sites has occurred at different times, the species richness found was low, showing that environmental changes caused by anthropological actions have probably favor the adaptation of Ny. darlingi species. From the total of 615 anopheline mosquitoes assessed, seven (1.1%) were positive for Plasmodium sp. infections. The EIR revealed that Ny. darlingi contributes to malaria transmission in both locations, as it was responsible for 0.05 infectious bites in humans at night in the old settlement and 0.02 in the recent occupation. In the two study sites, the biting occurred more frequently at dusk. Nyssorhynchus darlingi was prevalent in areas of recent colonization but, even when present in a low density, this species could maintain the transmission of malaria in the older settlement. The entomological information obtained in this study is important and may aid the selection of vector control actions in these locations

Naturally Acquired Humoral Immunity against Malaria Parasites in Non-Human Primates from the Brazilian Amazon, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest.

Plasmodium - Plasmodium brasilianum - P. malariae - P. malariae - P. falciparum - P. vivax - Plasmodium content: - "Non-human primates (NHPs) have been shown to be infected by parasites of the genus " - ", the etiological agent of malaria in humans, creating potential risks of zoonotic transmission. " - ", a parasite species similar to " - " of humans, have been described in NHPs from Central and South America, including Brazil. The merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), besides being a malaria vaccine candidate, is highly immunogenic. Due to such properties, we tested this protein for the diagnosis of parasite infection. We used recombinant proteins of " - " MSP1, as well as of " - " and " - ", for the detection of antibodies anti-MSP1 of these parasite species, in the sera of NHPs collected in different regions of Brazil. About 40% of the NHP sera were confirmed as reactive to the proteins of one or more parasite species. A relatively higher number of reactive sera was found in animals from the Atlantic Forest than those from the Amazon region, possibly reflecting the former more intense parasite circulation among NHPs due to their proximity to humans at a higher populational density. The presence of " - " positive NHPs in the surveyed areas, being therefore potential parasite reservoirs, needs to be considered in any malaria surveillance program.

O PACIENTE COM TRANSTORNO MENTAL: A PERCEPÇÃO DE FAMILIARES CUIDADORES ACERCA DESSA CONDIÇÃO

This is a qualitative and descriptive study, whose objective was to verify the perception of caregivers about patients with mental disorders treated in the public health network in the city of Montes Claros-MG. The work was developed at the Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS). The data were obtained through a focal group and analyzed through the discourse analysis technique. After data collection, categories related to the difficulties and challenges encountered by caregivers, patient behavior and caregiver overload emerged. It was concluded that the family caregiver of the mentally ill person presents suffering and lack of information. This demonstrates the need to bring the health team closer to the caregiver, since this interaction may contribute to the process of mitigating the responsibility of caring.Trata-se de um estudo qualitativo e descritivo, cujo o objetivo foi verificar a percepção de cuidadores acerca de pacientes com transtornos mentais atendidos na rede pública de saúde na cidade de Montes Claros-MG. O trabalho foi desenvolvido no centro de atenção psicossocial (CAPS). Os dados foram obtidos através da realização de um grupo focal e analisados através da técnica de análise do discurso. Após a coleta de dados surgiram categorias relacionadas as dificuldades e desafios encontrados pelos cuidadores, comportamento do paciente e sobrecarga dos cuidadores. Concluiu-se que o familiar cuidador do portador de transtorno mental apresenta sofrimento e carência de informação. Isso demonstra a necessidade da aproximar a equipe de saúde ao cuidador, pois essa interação poderá contribuir no processo de amenização da responsabilidade do ato de cuida

Características clínicas e epidemiológicas da leishmaniose visceral em crianças internadas em um hospital universitário de referência no norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of visceral leishmaniasis in children hospitalized at a reference university hospital in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Descrever as características clínicas e epidemiológicas e o tratamento das crianças internadas com leishmaniose visceral (LV) em hospital universitário de referência no norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo e documental de crianças de 0 a 12 anos internadas com diagnóstico de LV no Hospital Universitário Clemente de Faria, Montes Claros, MG. Foram analisados os prontuários referentes ao período de janeiro de 2006 a dezembro de 2007. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas 51 crianças com LV, sendo 51% do sexo feminino e a faixa etária de maior incidência da doença foi em menores de 5 anos (74,5% dos casos). Verificou-se que 31% dessas crianças residiam em Montes Claros e 69% procediam de 20 municípios do norte de Minas Gerais, dos quais 72,5% eram originárias da zona urbana e 21,6% da zona rural. A principal manifestação clínica foi a febre (96,1%) e os principais achados clínicos na admissão foram esplenomegalia (98%) e hepatomegalia (94%). O tratamento de escolha foi Glucantime (70,6%), Anfotericina B convencional (13,7%), Anfotericina B lipossomal (2%) e Glucantime associado a Anfotericina B (15,7%). 35,4% dos casos desenvolveram processos infecciosos durante o período da internação, destacando-se as infecções de pele em 11,8%. O tempo de permanência hospitalar médio foi de 19 dias (DP = ±5,4), 96,1% receberam alta médica e 3,9% evoluíram para óbito. CONCLUSÕES: A partir das características clínicas e epidemiológicas identificadas no estudo, sugere-se uma observação mais eficaz por parte dos profissionais de saúde, visando ao reconhecimento precoce e tratamento adequado da doença e suas complicações.<br>OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and treatment of children admitted with visceral leishmaniasis (VL) to a reference university hospital in the northern part of Minas Gerais, Brazil. METHODS: Retrospective study and documentation of children aged 0 to 12 years admitted with a diagnosis of VL at the University Hospital Clemente de Faria, Montes Claros, MG. Records for the period between January 2006 and December 2007 were analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 51 children with VL, of which 51% were female, and 74.5% were under 5 years of age. Children came from Montes Claros (31%), 20 municipalities in the north of the state of Minas Gerais (69%), urban areas (72.5%), and rural areas (21.6%). The main clinical manifestation was fever (96.1%) and major clinical findings at admission were splenomegaly (98%) and hepatomegaly (94%). The treatment of choice was Glucantime (70.6%), Conventional Amphotericin B (13.7%), Liposomal Amphotericin B (2%), and Glucantime associated with Amphotericin B (15.7%). Infections developed during hospitalization in 35.4% of cases, and of those, 11.8% were skin infections. The average length of hospitalization was 19 days (SD = ± 5.4); 96.1% children received medical discharge and 3.9% progressed to death. CONCLUSIONS: From the clinical and epidemiological characteristics identified in the study, more effective monitoring by healthcare workers is recommended, aiming at early recognition and appropriate treatment of the disease and its complications

A participação da família no cuidado às crianças internadas em unidade de terapia intensiva

Objective: To understand family involvement in child care in a Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (NPICU). Methods: Qualitative exploratory and descriptive study. The study was conducted in a university hospital in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, with parents of children in NPICU. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and later underwent content analysis, which yielded two categories: experiencing the care for the child in the Intensive Care Unit and factors hindering and facilitating care. Results: It was clear that the family is not fully inserted in the care of hospitalized children. This happens due to parents’ feelings of fear and insecurity, restrictions caused by the complexity of the technology and equipment used in health care, family members’ unavailability because they need to perform other activities and live in other municipalities. The support from the staff in the sector was singled out by respondents as a factor that facilitates care. Conclusion: The study contributes to reflection on the importance of parental involvement in the care of children who need intensive care and highlights that family involvement is a necessity that must be taken into account by healthcare professionals in the comprehensive care process of pediatric patients.Objetivo: Comprender la participación de la familia en el cuidado al niño ingresado en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatal y Pediátrico (UCINP). Métodos: Investigación exploratoria, descriptiva y de naturaleza cualitativa. El estúdio se realizó en un hospital universitario del norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil, con la participación de ocho padres de niños ingresados en la UCINP. Se recogieron los datos a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas las cuales, a posteriori, fueron sometidas al análisis de contenido, generando dos categorías: vivencia del cuidado con el hijo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos y factores que facilitan y dificultan el cuidado. Resultados: Se evidenció que la familia no está totalmente involucrada con el cuidado del niño ingresado. Eso se da por los sentimientos de miedo e inseguridad de los padres, la restricción de la complejidad y tecnología de los aparatos utilizados en la asistencia, la indisponibilidad de tiempo de los familiares por dedicarse a otras funciones y por el hecho de vivir en otros municipios. El apoyo del equipo del sector fue identificado por los entrevistados como un factor que facilita el cuidado. Conclusión: El estudio refleja sobre la importancia de la participación de los padres en el cuidado del niño que está com cuidados intensivos y destaca que el envolvimiento de la família es una necesidad que debe ser considerada por los profesionales sanitarios en el proceso de la asistencia integral al cliente pediátrico.Objetivo: Compreender a participação da família no cuidado à criança internada em uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal e Pediátrica (UTINP). Métodos: Pesquisa exploratória, descritiva, de natureza qualitativa. O estudo foi realizado em um hospital universitário do norte de Minas Gerais, Brasil, e teve como participantes oito pais de crianças internadas na UTINP. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, os quais, posteriormente, foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo, originando duas categorias: vivenciando o cuidado com o filho na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva, e fatores dificultadores e facilitadores do cuidado. Resultados: Evidenciou-se que a família não está totalmente inserida no cuidado à criança hospitalizada. Isso acontece devido a sentimentos de medo e insegurança dos pais, restrição pela complexidade e tecnologia dos aparelhos utilizados na assistência, indisponibilidade de tempo dos familiares por precisarem realizar outras funções e por residirem em outros municípios. O apoio da equipe atuante no setor foi enfatizado pelos entrevistados como fator facilitador do cuidado. Conclusão: O estudo subsidia a reflexão sobre a importância da participação dos pais no cuidado à criança que requer terapia intensiva e destaca que o envolvimento da família é uma necessidade que precisa ser considerada pelos profissionais de saúde no processo de assistência integral ao cliente pediátrico

Cytokine profiling of samples positive for Chlamydia trachomatis and Human papillomavirus.

Persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is closely associated with cervical carcinoma. Co-infection in the endocervical environment with other microorganisms, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, may increase the risk of HPV infection and neoplastic progression. While in some individuals, Chlamydia trachomatis infection is resolved with the activation of Th1/IFN-γ-mediated immune response, others develop a chronic infection marked by Th2-mediated immune response, resulting in intracellular persistence of the bacterium and increasing the risk of HPV infection. This work aimed to quantify cytokines of the Th1/Th2/Th17 profile in exfoliated cervix cells (ECC) and peripheral blood (PB) of patients positive for Chlamydia trachomatis DNA, patients positive for Papillomavirus DNA, and healthy patients. Cytokine levels were quantified by flow cytometry in ECC and PB samples from patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA (n = 18), patients positive for HPV DNA (n = 30), and healthy patients (n = 17) treated at the Hospital de Amor, Campo Grande-MS. After analysis, a higher concentration of IL-17, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC; INF-γ and IL-10 (p <0.05) in PB was found in samples from patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA compared to samples from healthy patients. When comparing samples from patients positive for HPV DNA, there was a higher concentration of cytokines IL-17, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-4 (p <0.05) in ECC and IL-4 and IL-2 (p <0.05) in PB of patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA. These results suggest that induction of Th2- and Th17 mediated immune response occurs in patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA, indicating chronic infection. Our results also demonstrate a high concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ECC of patients positive for C. trachomatis DNA

Naturally acquired humoral immunity against malaria parasites in non-human primates from the Brazilian Amazon, Cerrado and Atlantic forest

Non-human primates (NHPs) have been shown to be infected by parasites of the genusPlasmodium, the etiological agent of malaria in humans, creating potential risks of zoonotic transmission.Plasmodium brasilianum, a parasite species similar toP. malariaeof humans, have been described in NHPs from Central and South America, including Brazil. The merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), besides being a malaria vaccine candidate, is highly immunogenic. Due to such properties, we tested this protein for the diagnosis of parasite infection. We used recombinant proteins ofP. malariaeMSP1, as well as ofP. falciparumandP. vivax, for the detection of antibodies anti-MSP1 of these parasite species, in the sera of NHPs collected in different regions of Brazil. About 40% of the NHP sera were confirmed as reactive to the proteins of one or more parasite species. A relatively higher number of reactive sera was found in animals from the Atlantic Forest than those from the Amazon region, possibly reflecting the former more intense parasite circulation among NHPs due to their proximity to humans at a higher populational density. The presence ofPlasmodiumpositive NHPs in the surveyed areas, being therefore potential parasite reservoirs, needs to be considered in any malaria surveillance program

Cardiac Autonomic Function and Functional Capacity in Post-COVID-19 Individuals with Systemic Arterial Hypertension

Individuals diagnosed with systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) are considered risk groups for COVID-19 severity. This study assessed differences in cardiac autonomic function (CAF) and functional capacity (FC) in SAH individuals without COVID-19 infection compared to SAH individuals post-COVID-19. Participants comprised 40 SAH individuals aged 31 to 80 years old, grouped as SAH with COVID-19 (G1; n = 21) and SAH without COVID-19 (G2; n = 19). CAF was assessed via heart rate variability (HRV), measuring R–R intervals during a 10-min supine period. Four HRV indices were analyzed through symbolic analysis: 0V%, 1V%, 2LV%, and 2UV%. FC assessment was performed by a 6-min walk test (6MWT). G1 and G2 showed no significant differences in terms of age, anthropometric parameters, clinical presentation, and medication use. G2 exhibited superior 6MWT performance, covering more distance (522 ± 78 vs. 465 ± 59 m, p p < 0.05). Shorter walking distances were observed during 6MWT in SAH individuals post-COVID-19. However, the study did not find impaired cardiac autonomic function in SAH individuals post-COVID-19 compared to those without. This suggests that while COVID-19 impacted FC, CAF remained relatively stable in this population