Measurement of the Bottom-Strange Meson Mixing Phase in the Full CDF Data Set

We report a measurement of the bottom-strange meson mixing phase \beta_s using the time evolution of B0_s -> J/\psi (->\mu+\mu-) \phi (-> K+ K-) decays in which the quark-flavor content of the bottom-strange meson is identified at production. This measurement uses the full data set of proton-antiproton collisions at sqrt(s)= 1.96 TeV collected by the Collider Detector experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron, corresponding to 9.6 fb-1 of integrated luminosity. We report confidence regions in the two-dimensional space of \beta_s and the B0_s decay-width difference \Delta\Gamma_s, and measure \beta_s in [-\pi/2, -1.51] U [-0.06, 0.30] U [1.26, \pi/2] at the 68% confidence level, in agreement with the standard model expectation. Assuming the standard model value of \beta_s, we also determine \Delta\Gamma_s = 0.068 +- 0.026 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps-1 and the mean B0_s lifetime, \tau_s = 1.528 +- 0.019 (stat) +- 0.009 (syst) ps, which are consistent and competitive with determinations by other experiments.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. Lett 109, 171802 (2012

Chronotropic incompetence and a higher frequency of myocardial ischemia in exercise echocardiography

Background Exercise echocardiography (EE) is an established method to diagnose coronary artery disease (CAD). Chronotropic incompetence (CI) during the EE may be a marker of myocardial ischemia. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the additive value of CI during EE in CAD diagnosis. Methods Between 2000 and 2006, 4042 patients (1900 men with a mean age of 56 ± 11 years) were evaluated by EE. Based on the heart rate (HR) reached during the exercise test, the subjects were divided into two groups: G1 group – 490 patients who failed to achieve 85% of the maximal age-predicted HR, and G2 group – 3552 patients who were able to achieve 85% of the maximal age-predicted HR. Clinical characteristics, left ventricular wall motion abnormalities – wall motion score index (WMSI) – and coronary angiography (CA) were the parameters compared between the two groups. Results The left ventricular wall motion abnormalities were more frequent in G1 group than in G2 group (54% versus 26%; P < 0.00001). WMSI was higher in G1 group than in G2 group, both at rest (1.06 ± 0.17 versus 1.02 ± 0.09; P < 0.0001) and after exercise (1.12 ± 0.23 versus 1.04 ± 0.21; P < 0.0001). In G1 group, 82% of the patients with positive EE for myocardial ischemia presented obstructive coronary, compared to 71% (P = 0.03) in G2 group. Conclusion CI is associated with a higher frequency of myocardial ischemia during EE, reinforcing the concept that CI is a marker of the severity of myocardial ischemia

Factors associated with the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among elderly residents of São Paulo city, Brazil

The aim of this study was to analyze the prevalence of hypertension and control practices among the elderly. The survey analyzed data from 872 elderly people in São Paulo, Brazil, through a cluster sampling, stratified according to education and income. A Poisson multiple regression model checked for the existence of factors associated with hypertension. The prevalence of self-reported hypertension among the elderly was 46.9%. Variables associated with hypertension were self-rated health, alcohol consumption, gender, and hospitalization in the last year, regardless of age. The three most common measures taken to control hypertension, but only rarely, are oral medication, routine salt-free diet and physical activity. Lifestyle and socioeconomic status did not affect the practice of control, but knowledge about the importance of physical activity was higher among those older people with higher education and greater income. The research suggests that health policies that focus on primary care to encourage lifestyle changes among the elderly are necessary.O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a prevalência de hipertensão e práticas de controle em idosos. Inquérito transversal analisou dados de 872 idosos de São Paulo, Brasil, por meio de uma amostra por conglomerados, estratificada segundo escolaridade e renda. O modelo de regressão múltiplo de Poisson verificou a existência de fatores associados à hipertensão. A prevalência de hipertensão referida entre os idosos foi de 46,9%. As variáveis associadas à hipertensão foram autopercepção de saúde, consumo de álcool, sexo e hospitalização no último ano, independentemente da idade. As três medidas mais adotadas para o controle da hipertensão, embora pouco praticadas, são tomar medicação oral de rotina, dieta sem sal e atividade física. O estilo de vida e a condição socioeconômica não influenciaram a prática de controle, mas o conhecimento sobre a importância da atividade física foi maior entre os idosos com mais escolaridade e renda. Fazem-se necessárias políticas de saúde com foco na atenção primária que incentivem mudanças no estilo de vida dos idosos.El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la prevalencia de hipertensión y prácticas de control en ancianos. Un estudio transversal analizó los datos de 872 ancianos de São Paulo, Brasil, mediante una muestra por conglomerados, estratificada según la escolaridad y renta. El modelo de regresión múltiple de Poisson verificó la existencia de factores asociados a la hipertensión. La prevalencia de hipertensión referida a los ancianos fue de un 46,9%. Las variables asociadas a la hipertensión fueron: autopercepción de salud, consumo de alcohol, sexo y hospitalización durante el último año, independientemente de la edad. Las tres medidas más adoptadas para el control de la hipertensión, aunque poco practicadas, son: tomar medicación oral de rutina, dieta sin sal, y actividad física. El estilo de vida y la condición socioeconómica no influenciaron la práctica de control, sin embargo, el conocimiento sobre la importancia de la actividad física fue mayor entre los ancianos con mayor escolaridad y renta. Se necesitan políticas de salud enfocadas a la atención primaria que incentiven cambios en el estilo de vida de los ancianos.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde PúblicaUniversidade Estadual de Campinas Faculdade de Ciências MédicasUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de BotucatuUniversidade Estadual Paulista Faculdade de Medicina de Botucat

Sporothrix schenckii and sporotrichosis

For a long time sporotrichosis has been regarded to have a low incidence in Brazil; however, recent studies demonstrate that not only the number of reported cases but also the incidence of more severe or atypical clinical forms of the disease are increasing. Recent data indicate that these more severe forms occur in about 10% of patients with confirmed diagnosis. The less frequent forms, mainly osteoarticular sporotrichosis, might be associated both with patient immunodepression and zoonotic transmission of the disease. The extracutaneous form and the atypical forms are a challenge to a newly developed serological test, introduced as an auxiliary tool for the diagnosis of unusual clinical forms of sporotrichosis.Durante muito tempo a esporotricose foi descrita como uma doença de baixa incidência no Brasil, no entanto, relatos recentes mostram que não só o número de casos descritos vem aumentando como a incidência de formas clínicas mais graves ou atípicas da doença vem ocorrendo com maior frequência. Dados recentes apontam que este grupo clínico já constitui cerca de 10% dos casos de esporotricose com diagnóstico confirmado. Apresentações clínicas mais raras, principalmente a esporotricose osteoarticular, podem estar associadas tanto a quadros de imunodepressão do paciente quanto à transmissão zoonótica desta doença. O diagnóstico da forma extracutânea ou de formas atípicas é um desafio que tem como ferramenta auxiliar o desenvolvimento recente de um teste sorológico para o diagnóstico das diferentes formas clínicas da esporotricose

Inequalities in access to and utilization of dental care in Brazil: an analysis of the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL 2009)

Abstract published in English and Portuguese English title: Inequalities in access to and utilization of dental care in Brazil: an analysis of the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL 2009)This study aimed to evaluate access to and utilization of various types of dental services by individuals 18 years or older in Brazil's State capitals. We gathered data from the Telephone Survey Surveillance System for Risk and Protective Factors for Chronic Diseases (VIGITEL) in 2009 (n = 54,367). More than half of the target population reported the need for dental treatment in the previous year; of these, 15.2% lacked access to dental services when needed. The private sector provided 61.1% of all dental appointments. The share of services provided by the Unified National Health System (SUS) ranged from 6.2% in the Federal District to 35.2% in Boa Vista, in the North. Multivariate Poisson regression models showed higher prevalence of dental treatment needs among women, middle-aged adults, and individuals with more schooling. Lack of access to dental care was more frequent among women, young adults, less educated individuals, and among lightener-skinned blacks. Our findings highlight sharp inequalities in the use of and access to dental services in the Brazilian State capitals.= Pretendeu-se descrever o padrão de utilização, acesso e tipo de serviço odontológico utilizado por adultos e idosos das capitais brasileiras segundo características sociodemográficas. Foram utilizados dados do Sistema de Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL) de 2009 (n = 54.367). Mais da metade da população revelou necessitar de tratamento odontológico no último ano e desta, 15,2% não conseguiram atendimento. O uso de serviço odontológico privado foi de 61,1%. A participação do Sistema Único de Saúde variou de 6,2% no Distrito Federal a 35,2% em Boa Vista. Análises multivariáveis de Poisson revelaram que as maiores prevalências de percepção de necessidades de tratamento ocorreram nas mulheres, nos adultos de meia idade e nos mais escolarizados. Falta de acesso aos serviços odontológicos foram mais prevalentes em mulheres, nos mais jovens, nos menos escolarizados e nos pardos. Os resultados deste estudo revelam a existência de marcantes iniquidades na utilização e acesso de serviços odontológicos nas capitais brasileiras.Marco A. Peres, Betine Pinto Moehlecke Iser, Antonio Fernando Boing, Renata Tiene de Carvalho Yokota, Deborah Carvalho Malta, Karen Glazer Pere

Detection of dengue virus serotype 3 by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae) captured in Manaus, Amazonas

The detection of dengue virus serotypes from Aedes aegypti in Manaus, state of Amazonas was carried out using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction technique. Fourteen pools out 82 (17.1%) were positive for DENV3, providing a minimal infection rate of 2.1% of all analyzed infected female specimens of three different areas of the city