Microbiological and parasitological monitoring in the lettuce production chain of family farming

Lettuce is a vegetable consumed raw and can be a vehicle for diseases caused by microrganisms and parasites. The objective of this work was to carry out microbiological and parasitological monitoring in the production chain of lettuce, determining the main points of contamination during cultivation, harvest and handling. Microbiological analyses were performed on samples of organic compost, irrigation water, waste water from the wash tank, water that supplies the wash tank, lettuce, lanyard hands, surfaces of the wash tank and harvest box, during six production cycles. Parasite analyzes were performed on organic compost, water samples and lettuce. The irrigation water proved to be of excellent quality. The organic compost used for fertilization did not meet the microbiological limits established by current legislation and all samples presented Entamoeba spp cysts. E.coli was detected in the hand of the harvester (3rd cycle), in the harvest box (5th cycle) and in the samples of residual water from the pre-wash and water that supplies the pre-wash tank. The contamination points detected were not directly related to the contamination of the harvested lettuce. Of the lettuce samples analyzed, only 3% showed unacceptable quality according to current legislation.A alface é um vegetal consumido cru, podendo ser um veículo de doenças causadas por microrganismos e parasitas. O objetivo desse trabalho foi efetuar o monitoramento microbiológico e parasitológico na cadeia de produção de alface crespa, determinando os principais pontos de contaminação durante o cultivo, colheita e manuseio. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas em amostras de composto orgânico,água de irrigação, água residual do tanque de lavagem, água que abastece o tanque de lavagem, alfaces, mãos do colhedor, superfícies do tanque de lavagem e caixa de colheita, durante seis ciclos produtivos. Análises de parasitas  foram realizadas no composto orgânico, amostras de água e alface. A água de irrigação mostrou-se de ótima qualidade microbiológica e parasitológica. O composto orgânico utilizado para adubação não atendeu os limites microbiológicos estabelecidos pela legislação vigente e todas amostras apresentaram cistos de Entamoeba spp. Escherichia coli foi detectada  na mão do colhedor (3º ciclo), na caixa de colheita (5º ciclo) e nas amostras de água residual da pré-lavagem e água que abastece o tanque de pré-lavagem. Foi detectado Entamoeba spp em alfaces (1º e 3º ciclos). Os pontos de contaminação detectados não apresentaram relação direta com a contaminação da alface colhida. Das amostras de alface analisadas apenas 3% apresentaram qualidade inaceitável de acordo com a legislação vigente

Laboratory animals and respiratory allergies: The prevalence of allergies among laboratory animal workers and the need for prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE: Subjects exposed to laboratory animals are at a heightened risk of developing respiratory and allergic diseases. These diseases can be prevented by simple measures such as the use of personal protective equipment. We report here the primary findings of the Laboratory Animals and Respiratory Allergies Study regarding the prevalence of allergic diseases among laboratory animal workers, the routine use of preventive measures in laboratories and animal facilities, and the need for prevention programs. METHODS: Animal handlers and non-animal handlers from 2 Brazilian universities (University of São Paulo and State University of Campinas) answered specific questionnaires to assess work conditions and symptoms. These subjects also underwent spirometry, a bronchial challenge test with mannitol, and skin prick tests for 11 common allergens and 5 occupational allergens (rat, mouse, guinea pig, hamster, and rabbit). RESULTS: Four hundred fifty-five animal handlers (32±10 years old [mean±SD], 209 men) and 387 non-animal handlers (33±11 years old, 121 men) were evaluated. Sensitization to occupational allergens was higher among animal handlers (16%) than non-animal handlers (3%,

PRODUÇÃO DE PASTILHAS DECORATIVAS A PARTIR DE GARRAFAS PET DESCARTADAS

Introdução: A sociedade atual busca incessantemente soluções para facilitar sua vida corrida e a tecnologia, por sua vez, nos apresenta todos os dias uma variedade de soluções práticas que nos auxiliam, porém, podem ser altamente prejudiciais ao ambiente. As garrafas pets são produzidas a partir de politereftalato de etileno, o que as faz ser leves, resistente, flexíveis e de baixo custo, além de serem apropriadas para usos diversos. Porém, a composição que faz dela uma embalagem tão eficaz, a torna um dos poluentes mais difíceis de degradar no ambiente e, portanto, bastante agressivo, já que levam cerca de 10 décadas para se decompor. No Brasil, apenas 53% das nove bilhões de garrafas PET produzidos anualmente são reaproveitadas, sendo que o restante é descartado ao ar livre, em lagos, igarapés e mares causando grandes prejuízos à população. Objetivo: Recolher e reaproveitar garrafas pets descartadas no ambiente e utilizar esses resíduos plásticos na produção de pastilhas para revestimento. Método: foi realizada a coleta de garrafas pet descartadas na região da cidade de Coari, AM. Após serem coletadas, as garrafas pet foram higienizadas com água e sabão neutro. Inicialmente as garrafas pets foram picadas em pedaços de 3 a 4 cm e 400g de plástico de pet colocadas em uma panela de alumínio com 180ml de óleo, em seguida foram levados ao fogo durante 10 min até se transformar em uma mistura homogênea. Ao retirar o recipiente com a mistura do fogo colocou-se em forma para modelar. Aguardou-se esfriar e desenformou-se. Resultado: Obteve-se como resultado a redução e a prevenção de impactos ambientais, além de pastilhas feitas com resíduos plásticos das garrafas pets, que são resistentes, duradouras, leves e com design atrativo e podem ser utilizadas de diferentes formas na decoração de ambientes. Conclusão: Foi possível obter um produto de boa qualidade a partir de resíduo plástico e entendeu-se que toda forma de reciclagem se faz válida quando o impacto é positivo, devendo-se usar a criatividade para reciclar, incentivar a coleta seletiva e investigar novas formas de reutilização da garrafa pet, visto que, o reaproveitamento agrega uma nova valorização deste material

A ingestão de substâncias cáusticas na infância: A construção e divulgação de vídeo educativo sobre medidas de prevenção / The ingestion of caustic substances in childhood: The construction and dissemination of an educational video on prevention measures

A ingestão de substâncias cáusticas na infância é um problema de saúde pública e acarreta alta morbidade aos pacientes, que geralmente desenvolvem estenose esofágica. Os tratamentos disponíveis para estenose cáustica são pouco satisfatórios e por isso realizamos um trabalho para divulgação de medidas de prevenção. Trata-se de vídeo explicativo sobre os perigos da ingestão de substâncias cáusticas e como evitar tais acidentes com crianças. O vídeo foi produzido a partir do relato de familiares de pacientes vítimas da ingestão acidental de soda cáustica

Trajetórias da Educomunicação nas Políticas Públicas e a Formação de seus Profissionais

Esta obra é composta com os trabalhos apresentados no primeiro subtema, TRAJETÓRIA – Educação para a Comunicação como Política pública, nas perspectivas da Educomunicação e da Mídia-Educação, do II Congresso Internacional de Comunicação e Educação. Os artigos pretendem propiciar trocas de informações e produzir reflexões com os leitores sobre os caminhos percorridos, e ainda a percorrer, tendo como meta a expansão e a legitimação das práticas educomunicativas e/ou mídia-educativas como política pública para o atendimento à formação de crianças, adolescentes, jovens e adultos, no Brasil e no mundo

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK.

BACKGROUND: A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. METHODS: This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. FINDINGS: Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0-75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4-97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8-80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3-4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. INTERPRETATION: ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials. FUNDING: UK Research and Innovation, National Institutes for Health Research (NIHR), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Lemann Foundation, Rede D'Or, Brava and Telles Foundation, NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, Thames Valley and South Midland's NIHR Clinical Research Network, and AstraZeneca

Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK

Background A safe and efficacious vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), if deployed with high coverage, could contribute to the control of the COVID-19 pandemic. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in a pooled interim analysis of four trials. Methods This analysis includes data from four ongoing blinded, randomised, controlled trials done across the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Participants aged 18 years and older were randomly assigned (1:1) to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine or control (meningococcal group A, C, W, and Y conjugate vaccine or saline). Participants in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group received two doses containing 5 × 1010 viral particles (standard dose; SD/SD cohort); a subset in the UK trial received a half dose as their first dose (low dose) and a standard dose as their second dose (LD/SD cohort). The primary efficacy analysis included symptomatic COVID-19 in seronegative participants with a nucleic acid amplification test-positive swab more than 14 days after a second dose of vaccine. Participants were analysed according to treatment received, with data cutoff on Nov 4, 2020. Vaccine efficacy was calculated as 1 - relative risk derived from a robust Poisson regression model adjusted for age. Studies are registered at ISRCTN89951424 and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04324606, NCT04400838, and NCT04444674. Findings Between April 23 and Nov 4, 2020, 23 848 participants were enrolled and 11 636 participants (7548 in the UK, 4088 in Brazil) were included in the interim primary efficacy analysis. In participants who received two standard doses, vaccine efficacy was 62·1% (95% CI 41·0–75·7; 27 [0·6%] of 4440 in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group vs71 [1·6%] of 4455 in the control group) and in participants who received a low dose followed by a standard dose, efficacy was 90·0% (67·4–97·0; three [0·2%] of 1367 vs 30 [2·2%] of 1374; pinteraction=0·010). Overall vaccine efficacy across both groups was 70·4% (95·8% CI 54·8–80·6; 30 [0·5%] of 5807 vs 101 [1·7%] of 5829). From 21 days after the first dose, there were ten cases hospitalised for COVID-19, all in the control arm; two were classified as severe COVID-19, including one death. There were 74 341 person-months of safety follow-up (median 3·4 months, IQR 1·3–4·8): 175 severe adverse events occurred in 168 participants, 84 events in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group and 91 in the control group. Three events were classified as possibly related to a vaccine: one in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group, one in the control group, and one in a participant who remains masked to group allocation. Interpretation ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 has an acceptable safety profile and has been found to be efficacious against symptomatic COVID-19 in this interim analysis of ongoing clinical trials

Monitoramento de micro-organismos indicadores de higiene em linha de abate de bovinos de um matadouro-frigorífico habilitado à exportação no oeste do Paraná

Indicators microorganisms can be used as a method for evaluating the sanitary quality of food products, indicating the suitability of conditions for obtaining, processing and storage of food. This study sought to evaluate surface contamination of cattle carcasses that come from a slaughter plant under Federal Inspection in western Parana by mesophilic bacteria (AM), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), coliform at 35 degrees C (TC) and E. coli (EC). Surface samples were collected from 25 carcasses, each at 4 different points of slaughter, for non-destructive method. The samples were diluted in decimal scale and incubated in Petrifilm (R) plates. Were found averages of 1.46; 0.3; 0.23 and 0.21 log CFU / cm (2) for AM, EB, CT and EC, respectively. The values to be found were well below those recommended by the decision 471/2001 of the European Union and several other authors surveyed, indicating the effectiveness of the hygienic process industry