Spatio-temporal analysis of the visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil / Análise espacial-temporal da leishmaniose visceral no estado de Alagoas

Visceral leishmaniosis is a neglected tropical disease. We evaluated the spatial distribution of cases of visceral leishmaniosis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. All cases of VL, registered by the health department, were analyzed and georeferenced. Results: Between 2008 and 2017, 97.1% of the municipalities presented sporadic classification of transmission. With temporal evolution, the incidence of cases of visceral leishmaniosis was concentrated in most municipalities in the microregion of Santana do Ipanema-AL. Space-time analysis, if considered, may promote the improvement of surveillance and control actions of visceral leishmaniosis.

A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença tropical negligenciada. Foram avaliadas a distribuição espacial dos casos de leishmaniose visceral no estado de Alagoas. Todos os casos de LV, registrados pela secretaria de saúde, foram analisados e georreferenciados. Entre 2008 e 2017, 97,1% dos municípios apresentaram classificação esporádica de transmissão. Com a evolução temporal, a incidência de casos de leishmaniose visceral se concentrou na maioria dos municípios da microrregião de Santana do Ipanema-AL. A análise espaço-tempo, se considerada, pode promover o aprimoramento das ações de vigilância e controle da leishmaniose visceral.

Microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infections in a reference hospital in northeastern Brazil

Abstract Routine blood culture is used for the detection of bloodstream infections by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and by common pathogenic yeasts. A retrospective study was conducted in a public hospital in Maceió-AL, by collecting data of all medical records with positive blood cultures. Out of the 2,107 blood cultures performed, 17% were positive with Staphylococcus coagulase negative (51.14%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (11.21%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.32%). Gram-positive bacteria predominated among positive blood cultures, highlighting the group of Staphylococcus coagulase-negative. While Gram-negative bacteria had a higher number of species among positive blood cultures.

Resumo A cultura sanguínea de rotina é usada para a detecção de infecções na corrente sanguínea por bactérias aeróbias e anaeróbias e por leveduras patogênicas comuns. Estudo retrospectivo realizado em hospital público de Maceió-AL, por meio da coleta de dados de todos os prontuários com culturas sanguíneas positivas. Das 2.107 culturas sanguíneas realizadas, 17% foram positivas com Staphylococcus coagulase negativo (51,14%), seguido por Staphylococcus aureus (11,21%) e Klebsiella pneumoniae (6,32%). As bactérias Gram-positiva predominaram entre as culturas de sangue positivas, destacando-se o grupo das Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo. Enquanto as bactérias Gram-negativas apresentaram um número maior de espécies entre as culturas de sangue positivas.

Spatio-temporal analysis of the visceral leishmaniasis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

Abstract Visceral leishmaniosis is a neglected tropical disease. We evaluated the spatial distribution of cases of visceral leishmaniosis in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. All cases of VL, registered by the health department, were analyzed and georeferenced. Results: Between 2008 and 2017, 97.1% of the municipalities presented sporadic classification of transmission. With temporal evolution, the incidence of cases of visceral leishmaniosis was concentrated in most municipalities in the microregion of Santana do Ipanema-AL. Space-time analysis, if considered, may promote the improvement of surveillance and control actions of visceral leishmaniosis.

Resumo A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença tropical negligenciada. Foram avaliadas a distribuição espacial dos casos de leishmaniose visceral no estado de Alagoas. Todos os casos de LV, registrados pela secretaria de saúde, foram analisados e georreferenciados. Entre 2008 e 2017, 97,1% dos municípios apresentaram classificação esporádica de transmissão. Com a evolução temporal, a incidência de casos de leishmaniose visceral se concentrou na maioria dos municípios da microrregião de Santana do Ipanema-AL. A análise espaço-tempo, se considerada, pode promover o aprimoramento das ações de vigilância e controle da leishmaniose visceral.

Microbiological characteristics of bloodstream infections in a reference hospital in northeastern Brazil / Características microbiológicas de infecções da corrente sanguínea em hospital de referência no nordeste do Brasil

Abstract Routine blood culture is used for the detection of bloodstream infections by aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and by common pathogenic yeasts. A retrospective study was conducted in a public hospital in Maceió-AL, by collecting data of all medical records with positive blood cultures. Out of the 2,107 blood cultures performed, 17% were positive with Staphylococcus coagulase negative (51.14%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (11.21%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6.32%). Gram-positive bacteria predominated among positive blood cultures, highlighting the group of Staphylococcus coagulase-negative. While Gram-negative bacteria had a higher number of species among positive blood cultures.

Resumo A cultura sanguínea de rotina é usada para a detecção de infecções na corrente sanguínea por bactérias aeróbias e anaeróbias e por leveduras patogênicas comuns. Estudo retrospectivo realizado em hospital público de Maceió-AL, por meio da coleta de dados de todos os prontuários com culturas sanguíneas positivas. Das 2.107 culturas sanguíneas realizadas, 17% foram positivas com Staphylococcus coagulase negativo (51,14%), seguido por Staphylococcus aureus (11,21%) e Klebsiella pneumoniae (6,32%). As bactérias Gram-positiva predominaram entre as culturas de sangue positivas, destacando-se o grupo das Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo. Enquanto as bactérias Gram-negativas apresentaram um número maior de espécies entre as culturas de sangue positivas.

Evaluation of rats´ soleus muscle submitted to remobilization protocol with therapeutic ultrasound associated with static stretching

Despite the deleterious effects, immobilization, is still often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, even with the occurrence of muscular atrophy, its reversal is a major challenge to rehabilitation. The aim of this study was evaluate the tropism of rats soleus muscle submitted to remobilization with static stretching, preceded by ultrasound, thermal and non thermal. We used 28 rats divided into four groups: G1‑immobilized and remobilized with static stretching, G2-remobilized with stretching preceded by ultrasound 1.0 W.cm–²; G3 – ultrasound at 0.5 W.cm–² , G4 – ultrasound with 0.2 W.cm–². All animals were immobilized in plantarflexion, producing shortening of the right soleus muscle for 15 days. For the groups subjected to remobilization with ultrasound doses were used according to the group, for 3 minutes, for 10 days with an interval of 2 days after the 5th treatment. After treatment with ultrasound (or not for the G1), the animals were subjected to 3 sets of 30 seconds, with 30 seconds interval between them, of static stretching of the soleus. The soleus were dissected, weighed and processed for preparation of histological slides in cross section, and evaluated the smallest diameter of 100 fibers per muscle. There was significant reduction in weight between left and right muscles in all groups, for diameters G3 showed no difference. Conclusion: stretching with or without ultrasound, was unable to reverse the deleterious effects of immobilization on muscle weight, but in the mean dose there was protective effect on the diameter of the fibers.

Aspectos clínicos y morfológicos de los dientes supernumerarios / Clinical and morphological aspects of the supernumerary teeth

La hiperdoncia es una anomalía dentaria de causa desconocida, caracterizada por el aumento del número de dientes. Ocurre con mayor frecuencia en la maxila, de preferencia en el sexo masculino, siendo más común en la dentición permanente. La presencia de dientes supernumerarios puede ser responsable por alteraciones en la dentición permanente, como por ejemplo, el atraso en la erupción y dislocamientos. Además, el paciente puede presentar oclusión anormal, reabsorción de dientes adyacentes y formación de quistes. El presente artículo describe en un paciente de sexo masculino, de 9 años de edad, la presencia de dos incisivos laterales superiores derechos y un incisivo lateral superior izquierdo, permanentes, parcialmente erupcionados. El examen radiológico reveló un segundo incisivo lateral superior izquierdo, no erupcionado. Se debe resaltar que tanto en la zona de la pieza 1.2 como en la 2.2, los dientes presentaron anatomía normal y no el aspecto conoide comúnmente observado en los dientes supernumerarios. En nuestro caso, con el propósito de efectuar tratamiento de ortodoncia, fue indicado extracción quirúrgica de los dientes mencionados.

The hyperdontia teeth is an anomaly of unknown cause, characterized by increased numbers of teeth. It occurs more frequently in the maxilla, preferably in males, and is more common in permanent dentition. The presence of supernumerary teeth can be responsible for alterations in the permanent dentition, such as the delay in the eruption and dislocations. In addition, the patient may have abnormal occlusion, resorption of adjacent teeth and cyst formation. This article describes in a male patient, 9 years old, the presence of two upper right lateral incisor and one upper left lateral incisor, permanent, partially erupted. Radiological examination revealed a second left upper lateral incisor, unerupted. It should be noted that both, in the region of the 1.2 as in 2.2, the teeth showed normal anatomy and not the conoid appearance commonly observed in supernumerary teeth. In our case, in order to perform orthodontic treatment surgical removal of the teeth noted above was indicated.

The effect of thyroid hormones on the white adipose tissue gene expression of PAI-1 and its serum concentration

Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) overexpression may play a significant role in this process. A positive correlation between adipose tissue gene expression of PAI-1 and its serum concentration has been reported. Furthermore, high serum levels of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) and PAI-1 have been observed in obese children. The present study evaluates the impact of thyroid hormone treatment on white adipose tissue PAI-1 gene expression and its serum concentration. Male Wistar rats (60 days old) were treated for three weeks with T4 (50 µg/day, Hyper) or with saline (control). Additionally, 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated for 24 h with T4 (100 nM) or T3 (100 nM). PAI-1 gene expression was determined by real-time PCR, while the serum concentration of PAI-1 was measured by ELISA using a commercial kit (Innovative Research, USA). Both the serum concentration of PAI-1 and mRNA levels were similar between groups in retroperitoneal and epididymal white adipose tissue. Using 3T3-L1 adipocytes, in vitro treatment with T4 and T3 increased the gene expression of PAI-1, suggesting non-genomic and genomic effects, respectively. These results demonstrate that thyroid hormones have different effects in vitro and in vivo on PAI-1 gene expression in adipocytes.

Correlation of serum leptin and insulin levels of pregnant protein-restricted rats with predictive obesity variables

During pregnancy and protein restriction, changes in serum insulin and leptin levels, food intake and several metabolic parameters normally result in enhanced adiposity. We evaluated serum leptin and insulin levels and their correlations with some predictive obesity variables in Wistar rats (90 days), up to the 14th day of pregnancy: control non-pregnant (N = 5) and pregnant (N = 7) groups (control diet: 17 percent protein), and low-protein non-pregnant (N = 5) and pregnant (N = 6) groups (low-protein diet: 6 percent). Independent of the protein content of the diet, pregnancy increased total (F1,19 = 22.28, P < 0.001) and relative (F1,19 = 5.57, P < 0.03) food intake, the variation of weight (F1,19 = 49.79, P < 0.000) and final body weight (F1,19 = 19.52, P < 0.001), but glycemia (F1,19 = 9.02, P = 0.01) and the relative weight of gonadal adipose tissue (F1,19 = 17.11, P < 0.001) were decreased. Pregnancy (F1,19 = 18.13, P < 0.001) and low-protein diet (F1,19 = 20.35, P < 0.001) increased the absolute weight of brown adipose tissue. However, the relative weight of this tissue was increased only by protein restriction (F1,19 = 15.20, P < 0.001) and the relative lipid in carcass was decreased in low-protein groups (F1,19 = 4.34, P = 0.05). Serum insulin and leptin levels were similar among groups and did not correlate with food intake. However, there was a positive relationship between serum insulin levels and carcass fat depots in low-protein groups (r = 0.37, P < 0.05), while in pregnancy serum leptin correlated with weight of gonadal (r = 0.39, P < 0.02) and retroperitoneal (r = 0.41, P < 0.01) adipose tissues. Unexpectedly, protein restriction during 14 days of pregnancy did not alter the serum profile of adiposity signals and their effects on food intake and adiposity, probably due to the short term of exposure to low-protein diet.

Comparison of counterimmunoelectrophoresis, latex agglutination and bacterial culture for the diagnosis of bacterial meningitis using urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples

Urine, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 98 children with clinical and laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis were evaluated by counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and latex agglutination (LA) methods and the results compared to those obtained with bacterial cultures of the CSF samples. Antigens of Neisseria meningitidis groups A, B and C, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Streptococcus pneumoniae were determined by both immunological methods. Serum was diluted (1:4) with 0.1 M sodium EDTA pH 7.5, and held at 80 grade C for 10 min before assay. Polysaccharide of the urine samples was precipitated overnight using an equal volume of 1:1 ethanol-acetone followed by a heat-treatment with 0.1 M sodium EDTA, pH 7.5, at 80 grade C for 10 min. Sensitivity indices were 0.772 (CSF), 0.595 (urine) and 0.317 (serum) for CIE, and 0.914 (CSF), 0.930 (urine) and 0.683 (serum) for LA in relation to the 42 positive bacterial cultures. The optimal diagnostic efficacy reached 52% for CIE and 72% for LA when urine was concentrated 20-to 30-fold. These data show that immunological tests of urine samples were more effective than bacterial culture for diagnosing bacterial meningitis and may be indicated when negative results are obtained for tested by bacterial culture and immunoassay methods