Suicide and meteorological factors in São Paulo, Brazil, 1996-2011: a time series analysis

Objective: Considering the scarcity of reports from intertropical latitudes and the Southern Hemisphere, we aimed to examine the association between meteorological factors and suicide in São Paulo. Method: Weekly suicide records stratified by sex were gathered. Weekly averages for minimum, mean, and maximum temperature (°C), insolation (hours), irradiation (MJ/m2), relative humidity (%), atmospheric pressure (mmHg), and rainfall (mm) were computed. The time structures of explanatory variables were modeled by polynomial distributed lag applied to the generalized additive model. The model controlled for long-term trends and selected meteorological factors. Results: The total number of suicides was 6,600 (5,073 for men), an average of 6.7 suicides per week (8.7 for men and 2.0 for women). For overall suicides and among men, effects were predominantly acute and statistically significant only at lag 0. Weekly average minimum temperature had the greatest effect on suicide; there was a 2.28% increase (95%CI 0.90-3.69) in total suicides and a 2.37% increase (95%CI 0.82-3.96) among male suicides with each 1 °C increase. Conclusion: This study suggests that an increase in weekly average minimum temperature has a short-term effect on suicide in São Paulo.

Suicide and meteorological factors in São Paulo, Brazil, 1996-2011: a time series analysis.

OBJECTIVE:: Considering the scarcity of reports from intertropical latitudes and the Southern Hemisphere, we aimed to examine the association between meteorological factors and suicide in São Paulo. METHOD:: Weekly suicide records stratified by sex were gathered. Weekly averages for minimum, mean, and maximum temperature (°C), insolation (hours), irradiation (MJ/m2), relative humidity (%), atmospheric pressure (mmHg), and rainfall (mm) were computed. The time structures of explanatory variables were modeled by polynomial distributed lag applied to the generalized additive model. The model controlled for long-term trends and selected meteorological factors. RESULTS:: The total number of suicides was 6,600 (5,073 for men), an average of 6.7 suicides per week (8.7 for men and 2.0 for women). For overall suicides and among men, effects were predominantly acute and statistically significant only at lag 0. Weekly average minimum temperature had the greatest effect on suicide; there was a 2.28% increase (95%CI 0.90-3.69) in total suicides and a 2.37% increase (95%CI 0.82-3.96) among male suicides with each 1 °C increase. CONCLUSION:: This study suggests that an increase in weekly average minimum temperature has a short-term effect on suicide in São Paulo.

Improvement of blood inflammatory marker levels in patients with hypothyroidism under levothyroxine treatment.

BACKGROUND: There are several specific inflammatory and oxidative correlates among patients with hypothyroidism, but most studies are cross-sectional and do not evaluate the change in parameters during the treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of levothyroxine replacement therapy on biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS) and systemic inflammation in patients with hypothyroidism. METHODS: In this prospective open-label study, 17 patients with recently diagnosed primary hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis who were not taking levothyroxine were included. The following parameters were measured before and at 6 and 12 months of levothyroxine treatment with an average dose of 1.5 to 1.7 µg/kg/day: thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine (FT4), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin 1 (IL-1), IL-6, IL-10, interferon gamma (INF-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), activity of aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D), nonprotein and total thiol (NP-SH and T-SH) groups, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). Generalized estimating equation (GEE) modeling was used to analyze the effects of LRT (at pre-treatment, 6 months and 12 months) on those variables. The hypothyroidism status (i.e., overt or subclinical hypothyroidism) was included as a confounder in all analyses. An additional GEE post hoc analysis was made to compare time points. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in TSH over time (P < 0.0001), (initial levels were on average 32.4 µIU/mL and 10.5 µIU/mL at 12 months). There was a significant increase in FT4 (P < 0.0001) (initial levels were on average 0,8 ng/dL and 2.7 ng/dL at 12 months). There were significant changes in interleukin levels over time, with a significant increase in IL-10 (P < 0.0001) and significant decreases in IL-1 (P < 0.0001), IL-6 (P < 0.0001), INF-γ (P < 0.0001) and TNF-α (P < 0.0001). No significant difference in hs-CRP over time was observed (P < 0.284). There was a significant reduction in NP-SH (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study observed significant changes in the inflammatory profile in hypothyroid patients under treatment, with reduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokine. In these patients, a decrease in low-grade chronic inflammation may have clinical relevance due to the known connection between chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events.

Prevalence and incidence of dengue virus and antibody placental transfer during late pregnancy in central Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Maternal dengue antibodies are considered to play a significant role in dengue pathogenesis among infants. Determining the transplacental specific antibody transfer is invaluable for establishing the optimal vaccination age among infants in endemic regions. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among pairs of maternal and corresponding umbilical cord blood samples in public hospitals. The prevalence and incidence of dengue infection were determined in 505 pairs of pregnant women and neonates during a large outbreak (2009-2010) in central Brazil. The women were interviewed at late pregnancy to assess current or past symptoms of dengue. All parturients and their neonates were screened using Dengue IgG Indirect ELISA (Panbio) to assess previous dengue exposure. A semi-quantitative measurement of the IgG antibody expressed by the index ratio was calculated using optical density (OD) values according to the manufacturer's instructions. The studied population of parturients and their offspring was also screened for recent dengue infection by the Dengue IgM-capture ELISA (Panbio). Those participants with history of fever and two or more symptoms of dengue at least 10 days before the delivery were also tested for the dengue NS1 antigen using the Dengue Early ELISA (Panbio) and RT-PCR. RESULTS: The mean maternal age was 25.8 (SD = 6.4), and 83.6% of deliveries were between 37 and 41 weeks. Approximately half of the 505 women and neonates were IgG-seropositive, yielding 99.3% co-positive mother-child frequency of antibody transfer (Kappa = 0.96). The incidence of dengue infection was 2.8% (95% CI 1.4-4.4%) among the women considering 14 IgM-positive results and one DENV2 detected by RT-PCR. The dengue NS1 antigen was undetectable in the matched pairs. CONCLUSION: This study provides critical data on the prevalence of transplacental transferred maternal-infant anti-dengue antibodies and incidence of infection. The design of future vaccine trials should consider diverse regional epidemiological scenarios.

Estimated prevalence of childhood end-stage renal disease in the state of São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pediatric end-stage renal disease and evaluate demographics and renal disease characteristics in state of São Paulo over the year 2008. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study based on a population sample with subjects < 18 years. The data collecting assumed three forms: 1. A questionnaire for dialysis units; 2. Search in the Transplant Center to determine the number and characteristics of patients who had been in a transplant waiting list over the study period; 3. Search in the database of patients registered at the Latin American Collaborative Registry of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation. RESULTS: Data from 301 patients aged 9.0 ± 5.8, including 140 girls (46.5%), resulting in an estimate prevalence of 23.4 cases per million age-related population (pmarp). The age group most frequently found was 10 to 15 years (32.2%), and urinary tract malformation was the most usual known etiology (24.9%). Most children underwent kidney transplantation (62.1%) and among subjects on dialysis, hemodialysis was predominant (71.2%). The Sistema Único de Saúde - Unified National Health System - (SUS) provided the financial support for treatments. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of 23.4 cases pmarp found by the authors is lower than that reported in Western world. We believe data were underestimated in the present study, as few dialysis units returned the completed questionnaire. This potential bias does not invalidate the exploratory character of results. Further mechanisms for retrospective and earlier data collecting on pediatric chronic renal disease (CRD) are needed so that the burden of this serious health condition can be appropriately sized up.

Prevalência estimada da doença renal crônica terminal em crianças no estado de São Paulo / Estimated prevalence of childhood end-stage renal disease in the state of São Paulo

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência da doença renal crônica terminal (DRCT) pediátrica e avaliar os dados demográficos e as características nefrológicas dessa doença no Estado de São Paulo no ano de 2008. MÉTODOS: Estudo observacional, descritivo e transversal com base em amostra da população de indivíduos < 18 anos. A coleta de casos ocorreu de três formas: 1. Questionário para as unidades de diálise; 2. Consulta junto à Central de Transplantes para determinar o número e as características de pacientes que estiveram em fila de transplante renal; 3. Consulta ao banco de dados dos pacientes registrados no Estudo Colaborativo do Registro Latino-Americano de Transplantes Renais Pediátricos. RESULTADOS: Dados de 301 pacientes, com idade de 9,0±5,8 anos, sendo 140 meninas (46,5 por cento), resultando em estimativa de prevalência de 23,4 casos por milhão da população com idade compatível (pmpic). A faixa etária mais representada foi a dos 10 a 15 anos (32,2 por cento), e as malformações do trato urinário representaram a etiologia conhecida mais comum (24,9 por cento). A maioria das crianças recebeu transplante renal (62,1 por cento), e entre os indivíduos em diálise predominou a hemodiálise (71,2 por cento). O SUS foi o financiador mais importante dos tratamentos. CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de 23,4 casos pmpic que encontramos é inferior à reportada no mundo ocidental. Acreditamos que haja subestimativa de dados em nosso estudo, pois poucas unidades de diálise responderam o questionário. Tal viés não invalida o caráter exploratório dos resultados. É imperativo mecanismos de captação de dados sobre a DRC pediátrica de maneira prospectiva e nos estágios mais precoces da doença para dimensionarmos esse grave problema de saúde em nosso meio.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pediatric end-stage renal disease and evaluate demographics and renal disease characteristics in state of São Paulo over the year 2008. METHODS: Observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study based on a population sample with subjects < 18 years. The data collecting assumed three forms: 1. A questionnaire for dialysis units; 2. Search in the Transplant Center to determine the number and characteristics of patients who had been in a transplant waiting list over the study period; 3. Search in the database of patients registered at the Latin American Collaborative Registry of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation. RESULTS: Data from 301 patients aged 9.0 ± 5.8, including 140 girls (46.5 percent), resulting in an estimate prevalence of 23.4 cases per million age-related population (pmarp). The age group most frequently found was 10 to 15 years (32.2 percent), and urinary tract malformation was the most usual known etiology (24.9 percent). Most children underwent kidney transplantation (62.1 percent) and among subjects on dialysis, hemodialysis was predominant (71.2 percent). The Sistema Único de Saúde - Unified National Health System - (SUS) provided the financial support for treatments. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of 23.4 cases pmarp found by the authors is lower than that reported in Western world. We believe data were underestimated in the present study, as few dialysis units returned the completed questionnaire. This potential bias does not invalidate the exploratory character of results. Further mechanisms for retrospective and earlier data collecting on pediatric chronic renal disease (CRD) are needed so that the burden of this serious health condition can be appropriately sized up.

The effects of air pollution on cardiovascular diseases: lag structures.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the lag structure between air pollution exposure and elderly cardiovascular diseases hospital admissions, by gender. METHODS: Health data of people aged 64 years or older was stratified by gender in São Paulo city, Southeastern Brazil, from 1996 to 2001. Daily levels of air pollutants (CO, PM10, O3, NO2, and SO2) , minimum temperature, and relative humidity were also analyzed. It were fitted generalized additive Poisson regressions and used constrained distributed lag models adjusted for long time trend, weekdays, weather and holidays to assess the lagged effects of air pollutants on hospital admissions up to 20 days after exposure. RESULTS: Interquartile range increases in PM10 (26.21 microg/m(3)) and SO2 (10.73 microg/m(3)) were associated with 3.17% (95% CI: 2.09-4.25) increase in congestive heart failure and 0.89% (95% CI: 0.18-1.61) increase in total cardiovascular diseases at lag 0, respectively. Effects were higher among female group for most of the analyzed outcomes. Effects of air pollutants for different outcomes and gender groups were predominately acute and some "harvesting" were found. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that cardiovascular diseases in São Paulo are strongly affected by air pollution.

The effects of air pollution on cardiovascular diseases: lag structures / Efeitos da poluição do ar nas doenças cardiovasculares: estruturas de defasagem

OBJECTIVE: To assess the lag structure between air pollution exposure and elderly cardiovascular diseases hospital admissions, by gender. METHODS: Health data of people aged 64 years or older was stratified by gender in São Paulo city, Southeastern Brazil, from 1996 to 2001. Daily levels of air pollutants (CO, PM10, O3, NO2, and SO2) , minimum temperature, and relative humidity were also analyzed. It were fitted generalized additive Poisson regressions and used constrained distributed lag models adjusted for long time trend, weekdays, weather and holidays to assess the lagged effects of air pollutants on hospital admissions up to 20 days after exposure. RESULTS: Interquartile range increases in PM10 (26.21 mug/m³) and SO2 (10.73 mug/m³) were associated with 3.17 percent (95 percent CI: 2.09-4.25) increase in congestive heart failure and 0.89 percent (95 percent CI: 0.18-1.61) increase in total cardiovascular diseases at lag 0, respectively. Effects were higher among female group for most of the analyzed outcomes. Effects of air pollutants for different outcomes and gender groups were predominately acute and some "harvesting" were found. CONLUSIONS: The results show that cardiovascular diseases in São Paulo are strongly affected by air pollution.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a estrutura de defasagem entre exposição à poluição do ar e internações hospitalares por doenças cardiovasculares em idosos, separada por gênero. MÉTODOS: Os dados de saúde de pessoas com mais de 64 anos de idade foram estratificados por gênero, na cidade de São Paulo, entre 1996 e 2001. Os níveis diários de poluentes do ar (CO, PM10, O3, NO2, SO2) e os dados de temperatura mínima e umidade relativa do ar foram também foram analisados. Foram utilizados modelos restritos de distribuição polinomial em modelos aditivos generalizados de regressão de Poisson para estimar os efeitos dos poluentes no dia da exposição e até 20 dias após, controlando-se para sazonalidades de longa e curta durações, feriados e fatores meteorológicos. RESULTADOS: Variações interquartis de PM10 (26,21 mig/m³) e SO2 (10,73 mig/m³) foram associados com aumentos de 3,17 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 2,09-4,25) nas admissões por insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e de 0,89 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 0,18-1,61) para admissões por todas as doenças cardiovasculares no dia da exposição, respectivamente. Os efeitos foram predominantemente agudos e maiores para o gênero feminino. Além disso, foi observado efeito colheita. CONCLUSÕES: Os achados mostraram que as doenças cardiovasculares em São Paulo são fortemente afetadas pela poluição do ar.

Air pollution effects on myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: Myocardial infarction is an acute and severe cardiovascular disease that generally leads to patient admissions to intensive care units and few cases are initially admitted to infirmaries. The objective of the study was to assess whether estimates of air pollution effects on myocardial infarction morbidity are modified by the source of health information. METHODS: The study was carried out in hospitals of the Brazilian Health System in the city of São Paulo, Southern Brazil. A time series study (1998-1999) was performed using two outcomes: infarction admissions to infirmaries and to intensive care units, both for people older than 64 years of age. Generalized linear models controlling for seasonality (long and short-term trends) and weather were used. The eight-day cumulative effects of air pollutants were assessed using third degree polynomial distributed lag models. RESULTS: Almost 70% of daily hospital admissions due to myocardial infarction were to infirmaries. Despite that, the effects of air pollutants on infarction were higher for intensive care units admissions. All pollutants were positively associated with the study outcomes but SO2 presented the strongest statistically significant association. An interquartile range increase on SO2 concentration was associated with increases of 13% (95% CI: 6-19) and 8% (95% CI: 2-13) of intensive care units and infirmary infarction admissions, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: It may be assumed there is a misclassification of myocardial infarction admissions to infirmaries leading to overestimation. Also, despite the absolute number of events, admissions to intensive care units data provides a more adequate estimate of the magnitude of air pollution effects on infarction admissions.

Air pollution effects on myocardial infarction

OBJETIVO: O infarto do miocárdio é uma doença cardiovascular grave que tem como indicação a internação em unidades de terapia intensiva, com poucos indicados para admissão em enfermarias. O objetivo do estudo foi investigar se as estimativas dos efeitos da poluição atmosférica nas internações por infarto do miocárdio são modificadas de acordo com a fonte de informações de saúde. MÉTODOS: Em hospitais do Sistema Unico de Saúde (SUS), na cidade de São Paulo, foi realizado estudo de séries temporais (1998-1999) tendo como desfechos as internações por infarto em unidades de terapia intensiva e em enfermarias, em pessoas acima de 64 anos. Foram utilizados modelos lineares generalizados, controlados para sazonalidade (de longa e curta duração) e variáveis climáticas. Foram construídos modelos distribuídos de defasagem polinomial de terceiro grau, para avaliar os efeitos acumulados nos oito dias anteriores à exposição.RESULTADOS: Aproximadamente 70 por cento das internações por infarto no miocárdio ocorreram em enfermarias. Apesar disso, os efeitos da poluição sobre os casos foram maiores nas internações em unidades de terapia intensiva. Todos os poluentes mostraram uma associação positiva com os desfechos, mas o SO2 apresentou uma associação mais robusta e estatisticamente significante. O aumento do intervalo interquartil para as concentrações observadas do SO2 foi associado ao aumento em 13 por cento (IC 95 por cento: 6-19) e 8por cento (IC 95por cento: 2-13) nas internações em unidade de terapia intensiva e enfermarias, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Pode-se supor que exista um erro de classificação das internações por infarto nas enfermarias, superestimando o número de internações. No entanto, o menor número de internações por infarto do miocárdio em unidades de terapia intensiva, é o indicador mais adequado para estimar os efeitos da poluição atmosférica nas internações por infarto.

The impact of sugar cane-burning emissions on the respiratory system of children and the elderly.

We analyzed the influence of emissions from burning sugar cane on the respiratory system during almost 1 year in the city of Piracicaba in southeast Brazil. From April 1997 through March 1998, samples of inhalable particles were collected, separated into fine and coarse particulate mode, and analyzed for black carbon and tracer elements. At the same time, we examined daily records of children (<13 years of age) and elderly people (>64 years of age) admitted to the hospital because of respiratory diseases. Generalized linear models were adopted with natural cubic splines to control for season and linear terms to control for weather. Analyses were carried out for the entire period, as well as for burning and nonburning periods. Additional models were built using three factors obtained from factor analysis instead of particles or tracer elements. Increases of 10.2 microg/m3 in particles

[Breast cancer mortality in women of Southern Brazil, 1980-1999]. / Mortalidade por câncer de mama em mulheres na Baixada Santista, 1980 a 1999.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze time and geographical trends of breast cancer mortality. METHODS: Annual mortality rates per 100,000 female inhabitants aged 20 to 59 years for the Baixada Santista metropolitan area, the city and state of São Paulo and Brazil, from 1980 to 1999, were standardized by age groups and analyzed. The analyses included regression models to estimate and compare time trends of each area.? RESULTS: Increasing mortality rate trends were observed for all areas. However, intrametropolitan variations have higher baselines and time trends than the other areas. Santos had standardized mortality rates between 25 and 35 per 100,000 women, which were the highest in the study. Differences between Santos rates and the rates of other cities included in the study were statistically significant (p<0.001). The cities of São Vicente, Cubatão and Peruíbe of the Baixada Santista metropolitan area also showed increased mortality rates trends and higher rates than those for the state of São Paulo and Brazil. CONCLUSIONS: A similar increasing trend in mortality rates was observed in all cities of the study area and higher rates were seen in Santos. There is a need for further studies in order to identify the determinant conditions for this trend.

Mortalidade por câncer de mama em mulheres na Baixada Santista, 1980 a 1999 / Breast cancer mortality in women of Southern Brazil, 1980-1999

OBJETIVO: Analisar as tendências têmporo-espaciais da mortalidade por câncer de mama. MÉTODOS: Os coeficientes de mortalidade por 100 mil habitantes do sexo feminino entre 20 e 59 anos, no período entre 1980 e 1999, foram padronizados por faixa etária, nos municípios da Região Metropolitana da Baixada Santista, no Estado e capital de São Paulo e no Brasil. Para cada área foram construídos modelos de regressão linear para avaliar e comparar a tendência temporal. RESULTADOS: Foram identificadas tendências de crescimento dos coeficientes tanto na Região Metropolitana quanto nas outras áreas. Entretanto, foi constatada uma variação intrametropolitana que parte de patamares e ritmos de crescimento temporal maiores do que o estadual e o nacional. Santos apresenta coeficientes padronizados entre 25 e 35 casos por 100 mil mulheres, superiores aos encontrados nas demais cidades da Baixada Santista e também àqueles encontrados na cidade e no Estado de São Paulo e no Brasil. Essas diferenças foram estatisticamente significantes (p<0,001). São Vicente, Cubatão e Peruíbe, localizadas na Baixada Santista, também apresentam tendência de crescimento e coeficientes superiores aos do Estado e do Brasil. CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se padrão consistente de aumento nas taxas de mortalidade em todos os municípios da região ao longo do período estudado; sendo que a cidade de Santos apresentou os maiores coeficientes. Esses resultados demandam a realização de estudos específicos que possam identificar as causas deste padrão.

[Hospital admissions and mortality: association with air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil, 1993 to 1997]. / Internações e óbitos e sua relação com a poluição atmosférica em São Paulo, 1993 a 1997.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate short-term effects of air pollution on respiratory morbidity of children under 15 and elderly mortality. METHODS: The study was carried out in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Daily hospital admissions due to respiratory conditions in children under 15 and mortality of adults over 64 years of age were obtained for the period ranging from 1993 to 1997. Daily levels of PM10, CO and O3 were collected for the same period. Poisson regression analysis was used in generalized additive models, which were adjusted for temporal trends, seasonality, day of the week, temperature and relative humidity as well as serial autocorrelation. RESULTS: A 10th to 90th percentile variation of pollutants was significantly associated with respiratory admissions of children and PM10 (%RR=10.0), CO (%RR=6.1), and O3 (%RR=2.5). Similar results were observed for mortality in elderly people and PM10 (%RR=8.1) and CO (%RR=7.9). CONCLUSIONS: The study results are consistent with other studies showing an association of short-term variations of air pollution and increase of morbidity and mortality in large urban centers.

Internações e óbitos e sua relação com a poluição atmosférica em São Paulo, 1993 a 1997 / Hospital admissions and mortality: association with air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil, 1993 to 1997

OBJETIVO: Investigar efeitos de curto prazo da poluição atmosférica na morbidade respiratória de menores de 15 anos e na mortalidade de idosos. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Foram analisadas as contagens diárias de admissões hospitalares, de menores de 15 anos e de mortes de idosos (>64 anos) no período de 1993 a 1997, em relação às variações diárias de poluentes atmosféricos (PM10, CO, O3). Foi utilizada para análise a regressão de Poisson em modelos aditivos generalizados. Os modelos foram ajustados para efeitos da tendência temporal, sazonalidade, dias da semana, fatores meteorológicos e autocorrelação. RESULTADOS: Variações do 10º ao 90º percentil dos poluentes foi significativamente associada com o aumento de admissões por doenças respiratórias em menores de 15 anos para PM10 ( por cento RR=10,0), CO ( por cento RR=6,1) e O3 ( por cento RR=2,5). Associação similar foi encontrada para mortalidade em idosos e PM10 ( por cento RR=8,1) e CO ( por cento RR=7,9). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados encontrados são coerentes com os estudos que apontam associação entre variações de curto prazo dos poluentes atmosféricos e incremento na morbidade e mortalidade nos grandes centros urbanos.

Priority for children in cadaveric kidney sharing: the strategy adopted in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Early kidney transplantation is crucial in order to accomplish both optimal mental development and the best adult height in children with end-stage renal disease. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the child priority policy for cadaveric kidney sharing adopted in the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil). We performed a retrospective study of data collected by the Government Transplant Department in São Paulo, involving all patients included in the waiting list from August 13, 1998 to December 31, 2001. During the study period, the child priority policy had been changed giving: period A--from the outset up to March 14, 2001, where the rule was to direct cadaveric kidneys obtained from children <12 yr, to recipients <12 yr; period B--from March 14, 2001 onwards, where the policy had been broadened to include cadaveric donors <18 yr, destined for recipients <18 yr. We performed the analysis of the data comprising 8940 patients, 8622 being adults (mean age = 48.6 +/- 14.1 yr, 3594 females) and 318 children (mean age = 11.9 +/- 5.1 yr, 156 females). Over the 3.5-yr follow-up there were 1964 deaths [1933 adults and 31 children, odds ratio (OR) 0.37; 95% CI 0.25-0.55], 1032 living donor kidney transplants (963 adults and 69 children, OR 2.20; 95% CI 1.66-2.93), and 556 cadaveric kidney transplants (444 adults and 112 children, OR 10.11; 95% CI 7.75-12.94). Three and a half years after being enrolled on the list, 24% of the children and 75% of the adults, respectively, were still awaiting a cadaveric kidney transplant (log rank test = 539, p < 0.00001). The analysis of period A vs. period B, suggests that the raising of the inclusion age upper limit to 18 yr, resulted in a twofold increase in the percentage of children being grafted within 6 months of enrollment. Overall, our data shows a slow rate of cadaveric kidney transplantation activity in Sao Paulo. Children's chances of receiving a living donor kidney almost doubled. Moreover, 19.5% of pediatric recipients had received their kidney within the first year of being enrolled on the waiting list. The scheme adopted in Sao Paulo is encouraging, but the results remain less favorable than those observed in other countries. The adoption of the priority policy did not result in an unacceptable increase of adult waiting time, given that the number of adults on our waiting list outweighs by far the number of children.

Proteomic identification, nucleotide sequence, heterologous expression and immunological reactivity of the triosephosphate isomerase of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis.

An antigen of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb) was gel isolated and characterized. Endoproteinase Lys-C-digested peptides of the purified protein, which presented a molecular mass of 29 kDa and pI of 5.8, were subjected to sequence analysis of their amino acids. Searches at databases comparing the sequence of amino acids from the three peptides of the native protein revealed strong homology to triosephosphate isomerase (TPI: E.C. 5.3.1.1) from several sources. The complete cDNA and gene encoding PbTPI were obtained and both contained an open reading frame predicted to encode a 249-amino acid protein that presented all the peptides characterized in the native PbTPI. The Pbtpi gene contained six exons interrupted by five introns. Analysis performed with the deduced PbTPI suggested its usefulness in providing phylogenetic relatedness, as well as evidencing the correlation between the phylogeny provided by the deduced protein and intron positions in the cognate genes. The immunological reactivity of PbTPI was examined. The complete coding cDNA of PbTPI was overexpressed in an Escherichia coli host to produce high levels of recombinant fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase (GST) that had been purified by affinity chromatography. The purified recombinant TPI was recognized by sera of patients with confirmed paracoccidioidomycosis and not by sera of healthy individuals. Thus, recombinant PbTPI can be a valuable addition to the still small arsenal of P. brasiliensis immunoreactive proteins, which could be tested for incorporation into assays for serodiagnosis of the disease.

Parasitoids of Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae): fly of medical-sanitary importance collected in State of Goiás, Brazil.

The objective of the study was to report the first occurrence of the parasitoid Brachymeria podagrica in pupae of Ophyra aenescens, a fly of medical-sanitary importance. Human feces was used as bait to collect the insects. In the study 20 pupae of Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae) were obtained, of which 20% of the total yielded the parasitoid Brachymeria podagrica (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae).

Parasitoids of Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae): fly of medical-sanitary importance collected in State of Goiás, Brazil

The objective of the study was to report the first occurrence of the parasitoid Brachymeria podagrica in pupae of Ophyra aenescens, a fly of medical-sanitary importance. Human feces was used as bait to collect the insects. In the study 20 pupae of Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Muscidae) were obtained, of which 20 percent of the total yielded the parasitoid Brachymeria podagrica (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae)

[Finding of Hemencyrtus herbertii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasite breeding in Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) in Brazil]. / Encontro do parasita Hemencyrtus herbertii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) em Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) no Brasil.

This is the first report of the occurrence of Hemencyrtus herbertii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) parasitizing pupae of Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae) in human feces in Brazil.