Levantamento epidemiológico visando à comparação das prevalências de Brucelose bovina através de “Ring Test” no município de Carmo-RJ, após 9 anos de vacinação de bezerras de 3 a 8 meses de idade / Epidemiological survey to compare the prevalence of bovine Brucellosis through a Ring Test in the city of Carmo-RJ, after 9 years of vaccination of heifers from 3 to 8 months of age

A equipe técnica do Centro Estadual de Pesquisa em Sanidade Animal Geraldo Manhães Carneiro (CEPGM), da Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecuária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PESAGRO-RIO), realizou em 2009, levantamento epidemiológico para Brucelose através do teste de triagem Teste do Anel do Leite (TAL) no município de Carmo. Foram testados 30 tanques de expansão, entre eles, comunitários, da Cooperativa e Laticínio local e tanques individuais. Como resultado do teste realizado no CEPGM, observou-se a prevalência de 38% para Brucelose bovina no município, indicando expressiva necessidade de aplicação de medidas de profilaxia e controle. Assim, foi instituída vacinação gratuita no município, em março de 2009. Durante 9 anos e 6 meses ininterruptos, foram vacinadas 18.777 bezerras. Em agosto de 2018, um novo levantamento epidemiológico foi realizado, procurando atingir os mesmos pontos de coleta do levantamento de 2009. Foi observada a prevalência de 6,6% para Brucelose, representando a expressiva redução de 83% na prevalência da doença nos rebanhos do município em questão.

Inter-laboratory ring trial to evaluate real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction methods used for detection of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in Chile

Background: Infectious Pancreatic Necrosis Virus (IPNV) is the etiological agent of a highly contagious disease that affects salmonids. In Chile, the second worldwide salmon producer, IPNV causes great economic loss and is one of the most frequently detected pathogens. Due to its high level of persistence and the lack of information about the efficiency of its diagnostic techniques, the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for IPNV in Chile performed the first inter-laboratory ring trial, to evaluate the sensitivity, specificity and repeatability of the qRT-PCR detection methods used in the country. Results: Results showed 100% in sensitivity and specificity in most of the laboratories. Only three of the twelve participant laboratories presented problems in sensitivity and one in specificity. Problems in specificity (false positives) were most likely caused by cross contamination of the samples, while errors in sensitivity (false negatives) were due to detection problems of the least concentrated viral sample. Regarding repeatability, many of the laboratories presented great dispersion of the results (Ct values) for replicate samples over the three days of the trial. Moreover, large differences in the Ct values for each sample were detected among all the laboratories. Conclusions: Overall, the ring trial showed high values of sensitivity and specificity, with some problems of repeatability and inter-laboratory variability. This last issue needs to be addressed in order to allow harmonized diagnostic of IPNV within the country. We recommend the use of the NRL methods as validated and reliable qRT-PCR protocols for the detection of IPNV.

Consumer profile and problems associated with uninspected raw milk consumption in western Paraná / Perfil dos consumidores e problemas associados ao consumo de leite cru informal no oeste do Paraná

The objectives of this study were to analyze consumer profile; to identify the main reasons for raw milk consumption; and to analyze in laboratory samples of uninspected raw milk from five towns in the western region of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The types of milk most frequently consumed were: 42.3% ultra-high temperature (UHT), 38.3% pasteurized milk, 17.6% uninspected raw milk, and 1.7% powered milk. The frequencies of households that preferred uninspected raw milk were, according to the town, 32.7% in Iporã, 29.2% in Marechal Cândido Rondon, 18.9% in Assis Chateaubriand, 17.6% in Palotina, and 10% in Toledo. Flavor was the main reason for uninspected raw milk consumption, and the purchase of this product was more frequent in households whose income was between one to four minimum wages. It was observed that the sales of uninspected milk are more financially advantageous to the producer than sales of inspected milk. All samples analyzed showed lack of compliance with at least one parameter, 60.9% for mesophilic counts, 56.6% for non-fat dry matter, 52.1% for freezing point, 43.5% for acidity, 23.9% for density, 23.9% for the casein macropeptide, 17.4% for fat content, 8.7% were reactors in the milk ring test, and 2.2% were reactors in microbial growth inhibitor test. Fraud by addition of water was observed in 20% of the samples. Uninspected raw milk analyzed in this study involved a low-quality product that is a financial hazard as it may be adulterated, and that poses risk to consumer health.(AU)

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram verificar o perfil, identificar os principais motivos para o consumo e avaliar laboratorialmente as amostras de leite cru informal de cinco municípios do oeste do estado do Paraná, Brasil. Os tipos de leite mais frequentemente consumidos foram: 42,3% ultra-high temperature (UHT), 38,3% pasteurizado, 17,6% leite cru informal e 1,7% em pó. As frequências de consumidores que preferiram leite cru informal, por cidade, foram: 17,6% em Palotina, 29,2% em Marechal Cândido Rondon, 18,9% em Assis Chateaubriand, 17,6% em Palotina e 10% em Toledo. Sabor foi o principal motivo que influenciou o consumo de leite cru informal, e famílias com renda familiar de um a quatro salários mínimos foram as que mais consumiram esse tipo de leite. A comercialização informal de leite foi mais vantajosa financeiramente para o produtor em relação à comercialização formal. Todas as amostras analisadas apresentaram-se em desacordo em pelo menos um parâmetro, sendo 60,9% para mesófilos, 56,6% para estrato seco desengordurado, 52,1% para índice crioscópico, 43,5% para acidez, 23,9% para densidade, 23,9% para índice de caseíno macropeptídeo, 17,4% para teor de gordura, 8,7% reagente ao teste do anel em leite (TAL), e 2,2% reagente para presença de inibidor de crescimento bacteriano. A adulteração encontrada foi a adição de água em 20% das amostras analisadas. O leite cru informal avaliado nesta pesquisa envolveu a comercialização de um produto sem qualidade e que constitui um perigo financeiro, em razão do consumo de produtos adulterados, além do risco à saúde do consumidor.(AU)

Concordancia entre analistas de laboratorios de latinoamérica para la determinación de la apariencia de grano de arroz pulido mediante el uso de imágenes digitales

La determinación de la apariencia del grano de arroz es un aspecto clave para evaluar su calidad. Generalmente, este análisis es realizado de manera visual empleando analistas expertos, sin embargo debido a la naturaleza subjetiva de su determinación, los resultados pueden ser divergentes. Con el objetivo de evaluar la concordancia entre analistas de laboratorios latinoamericanos de calidad de arroz en la determinación de la apariencia del grano de arroz pulido con ayuda de imágenes digitalizadas, se realizó un ensayo interlaboratorio con diez analistas e imágenes de 90 granos, capturadas mediante scanner de alta resolución. Los granos fueron clasificados en cuatro categorías incluyendo grano traslúcido, grano yesoso, grano panza blanca y granos dañados. La categorización fue analizada mediante la moda, frecuencia, concordancia relativa y coeficiente de concordancia Kappa. Adicionalmente, se elaboró una galería referencial de imágenes de granos típicos de cada categoría, basada en la frecuencia de modas. Los resultados revelaron un valor de Kappa de 0,49 que corresponde a una reproducibilidad moderada, atribuida a la subjetividad del análisis visual de las imágenes. Los resultados evidencian la necesidad de uniformizar criterios de evaluación entre analistas para mejorar la confiabilidad en la determinación de la apariencia de granos de arroz.

Concordance among analysts from Latin-american laboratories for rice grain appearance determination using a gallery of digital images. The appearance of rice grain is a key aspect in quality determination. Mainly, this analysis is performed by expert analysts through visual observation; however, due to the subjective nature of the analysis, the results may vary among analysts. In order to evaluate the concordance between analysts from Latin-American rice quality laboratories for rice grain appearance through digital images, an inter-laboratory test was performed with ten analysts and images of 90 grains captured with a high resolution scanner. Rice grains were classified in four categories including translucent, chalky, white belly, and damaged grain. Data was categorized using statistic parameters like mode and its frequency, the relative concordance, and the reproducibility parameter kappa. Additionally, a referential image gallery of typical grain for each category was constructed based on mode frequency. Results showed a Kappa value of 0.49, corresponding to a moderate reproducibility, attributable to subjectivity in the visual analysis of grain images. These results reveal the need for standardize the evaluation criteria among analysts to improve the confidence of the determination of rice grain appearance.

Implementación de la prueba del anillo en leche y elisa indirecto para el diagnóstico de brucelosis en rebaños doble propósito del estado Lara, Venezuela / The ring test and indirect elisa for brucella detection in milk on dual purpose bovine herds in the state of Lara, Venezuela

El control eficiente de la brucelosis bovina requiere la detección oportuna de la enfermedad en los rebaños. Tradicionalmente, la Prueba del Anillo de Leche (PAL) o Ring Test se ha utilizado para realizar vigilancia epidemiológica de brucelosis a nivel de rebaños lecheros, no obstante, esta técnica presenta resultados variables dependiendo del número de animales que aportan leche a la muestra y presencia de leche de vacas con mastitis o de calostro en la muestra. Además, la PAL es una prueba subjetiva producto de la apreciación visual del analista. Como método alternativo se han desarrollado diversos estuches de ELISA indirecto (ELISAi) que permiten el diagnóstico de la brucelosis en muestras de leche. Los formatos de ELISAi muestran una gran sensibilidad y sus resultados son medidos por un espectofotómetro, lo que disminuye el error de apreciación humano. En Venezuela, la mayor parte de la producción de leche se obtiene a partir de animales mestizos de doble propósito, generalmente criados bajo condiciones sanitarias deficientes y con gran variación en el número de animales que componen los rebaños, aunado a importantes tasas de mastitis y un escaso control del periodo de retiro del calostro. Se realizó un estudio para conocer el status de la brucelosis en el estado Lara, Venezuela, tomando 510 muestras de leche en 258 Unidades de Producción, para realizar PAL y ELISAi, encontrándose que el 27,25% eran No Negativas a la PAL y el 13,14% eran positivas a ELISAi. Ambas pruebas indican la presencia de la enfermedad en los predios analizados. Se observó una sensibilidad relativa de la prueba de la PAL al compararla con ELISAi del 56,72%, mientras que la especificidad relativa alcanzó el 77,20%. La baja sensibilidad de PAL permite que ocurra un alto número de muestras falsas negativas, lo que conlleva a fallas del sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica.

The efficient control of the Bovine Brucellosis needs the opportune detection of the disease in the herds. Traditionally the Ring Test has served to realize epidemiological alertness of Brucellosis to level of dairy herds, nevertheless, this technology presents changeable behaviors depending on the number of animals that contribute milk sample and presence of milk of cows with mastitis or colostrum in the sample. In addition, the Ring Test is a subjective test, product of the visual appraisal of the analyst. As alternative method there have developed diverse kits of indirect ELISA (ELISAi) that allow the diagnosis of the Brucellosis in samples of milk. ELISAi’s formats show a great sensibility and results are measured by a spectrophotometer, which diminishes the human mistake of appraisal. In Venezuela most of the milk production is obtained from half-caste animals of dual purpose, generally raised under sanitary deficient conditions and by great variation in the number of animals that compose the herds, united to important rates of mastitis and a scanty control the period of withdrawal of the colostrum. A study was realized to know the status of the Brucellosis in the Edo. Lara - Venezuela, taking 510 samples of milk in 258 Units of Production, to fulfil Ring test and ELISAi, thinking that 27.25% was Not Negative to the Ring Test and 13.14 were positive to ELISAi. Both tests indicate that in the analyzed herds of the Lara State the disease exists. It was observed a relative sensibility of the Ring Test on having compared it with ELISAi of 56.72%, whereas the relative specificity reached 77.20%. This low sensibility carries in a high number of false negative samples, which is translated in faults of the epidemiological system of alertness.

Neonatal screening program for G6PD deficiency in India: Need and feasibility.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is a common genetic disorder affecting approximately 400 million people worldwide. In India, 390,000 children are born annually with this disorder causing significant morbidity and mortality in childhood. A National Neonatal Screening program for presumptive screening of all neonates using modified Formazan ring test method could be introduced. The test requires blood sample obtained using simple heel prick in the first 48 hours of life, and can be carried out using basic laboratory equipment and reagents. The screening program could be introduced in all institutional deliveries at tertiary hospitals in the major metropolitan cities and then gradually scaled up to cover institutional deliveries over the entire country. After field trials, the program can be expanded to cover home deliveries as well. Increased funding for the health sector under the National Rural Health Mission can provide the required financial support to the program.

Global Standard for Acupuncture from Japan / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

In Japan we are rushing into an era of aging society. People will need acupunctureand moxibustion more and more in the future. ”So, to be loved by people indeed, therapists have to setour sights on“ People have acupuncture and moxibustion on a high level at any therapist. ”And we have to makeeffort to progress our stuff and technique that therapists are made of. At first, we have to make it in mind“ Do non-pain acupuncture ”to dispel anxieties and dread of patients and to feel good for their treatment. On that account, therapists have to devote aurself to our studies of traditional Japanese medicine and delicate Japanese acupuncture with Japanesque fine needles. I believe the true acupuncture and moxibustion should be the medicine to work on the life force with the technique of “Ho” and “Sha” to the acupoints on the meridians. And I believe that we should send this all over the world as a Global Standard for acupuncture. I know it is possible to have clinical effect without pricking needles, through my long experience. I can evidence it with Bi-Digital O-Ring Test. I can get clinical effect with only affixing aneedle in a specific direction. With this treatment, patients feelcomplete non-pain because they don't be pricked.I call it“ Vector Effect Needle (VEN) ” I deliver a lecture on this acupuncture.

A study on imaging of meridians and acupoints by the use of bi-digital o-ring test(ORT) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

So far when the ORT has been used for identification of meridians and acupoints a piece of the palm of the test person.<br>In the present study we examined the usefullness of adding a neurotransmitter (dopamine, adrenalin, noradrenalin, GABA, serotonin, acetylcholine) to the tissue sample.<br>It was found that this procedure led to an increased accuracy in the identification of meridians and acupoints.<br>The study suggests that sdding neurotransmitters to the tissue sample improves the usefullness of the ORT.