Zika virus as a new pathogenic agent within the Toxoplasma gondii, Rubella virus, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex (TORCH) virus family: where do we stand?

Viral infections in low-income countries such as Brazil pose a significant challenge for medical authorities, with epidemics such as Zika virus infection having lasting effects. The increase in microcephaly among newborns has prompted investigations into the association between Zika virus and this congenital syndrome. The severity and prevalence of microcephaly led to the declaration of national and international emergencies. Extensive research has been conducted to understand the teratogenic effects of Zika virus, particularly its impact on neural progenitor cells in the fetal brain. Various pre- and postnatal imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and postnatal computed tomography (CT), have played crucial roles in diagnosing and monitoring malformations linked to congenital Zika virus infection in the central nervous system (CNS). These modalities can detect brain parenchymal abnormalities, calcifications, cerebral atrophy, and callosal anomalies. Additionally, three-dimensional ultrasound and fetal MRI provide detailed anatomical images, while CT can identify calcifications that are not easily detected by other methods. Despite advancements in imaging, there are still unanswered questions and ongoing challenges in comprehending the long-term effects and developmental impairments in children affected by Zika virus. Radiologists continue to play a crucial role in diagnosing and assisting in the management of these cases.

Sisvan food intake markers: structure and measurement invariance in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the internal structure of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) form of food intake markers for individuals over 2 years of age and to investigate measurement invariance between Brazilian macro-regions, life stages and over the years. METHODS: A parallel analysis with factor estimation was carried out, complemented with exploratory factor analysis using all Sisvan records with valid responses in the country in 2015 (n = 298,253). Only the first record per individual was considered. Next, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate configural, metric and scalar invariance between the five macro-regions (Midwest, Northeast, North, Southeast, South) and life stages (children, adolescents, adults, elderly) in the same reference year. Invariance was evaluated longitudinally using valid individual records from 2015 to 2019 (n = 4,578,960). The adequacy of fit indices was observed at each step. RESULTS: Acceptable fit indices and adequate factor loadings were found for a two-dimensional model, which grouped ultra-processed foods (factor 1) and unprocessed or minimally processed foods (factor 2). The two-dimensional structure, with the respective items in each factor underlying the set of markers, was equivalent across macro-regions, life stages and longitudinally, confirming the configural invariance. The weights of each item and its scale were homogeneous for all groups of interest, confirming metric and scalar invariances. CONCLUSIONS: The internal structure of the Sisvan form of food intake markers adequately reflected its conceptual foundation, with stability of factors related to healthy and unhealthy eating in configuration, weights and scale in the investigated categories. These findings qualify food and nutritional surveillance actions, enhancing the use of Sisvan food intake markers in research, monitoring, individual guidance, and care production in the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional para crianças de seis a 23 meses: análise crítica e evidências de validade / Food intake markers from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System for children aged six to 23 months: critical analysis and evidence of validity

Introdução: O formulário de marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (Sisvan) para crianças de seis a 23 meses integra os esforços para avaliação contínua do perfil alimentar da população brasileira. Embora proposto para uso nacional em 2015 com 17 itens, o instrumento não apresenta evidências quanto às características de estrutura interna e estabilidade de mensuração na fase da alimentação complementar. Objetivo: Explorar a estrutura fatorial do formulário de marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sisvan para crianças de seis a 23 meses e analisar a invariância de mensuração entre grupos etários, macrorregiões brasileiras e longitudinalmente. Métodos: Foram utilizados os microdados de consumo alimentar do Sisvan, no período de 2015 a 2019, cedidos pela Coordenação Geral de Alimentação e Nutrição do Ministério da Saúde. Avaliou-se a adequação da amostra, sendo aceitos valores de teste de esfericidade de Bartlett com p<0,05 e Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin >0,50. Realizou-se a análise fatorial exploratória, sendo aceitos itens com cargas fatoriais ≥ 0,30 e <0,85 e comunalidade >0,20. Considerou-se a adequação segundo índices de ajuste (índice de Tucker-Lewis [TLI] >0,90, raiz do erro quadrático médio de aproximação [RMSEA] <0,08 e o menor valor do critério de informação Bayesiano). Ações corretivas via análise crítica, agrupamento e exclusão de itens inadequados foram propostas para adequação dos índices de ajuste. Posteriormente, efetuou-se análise fatorial confirmatória multigrupo em três modelos sequencialmente restritivos para avaliação da invariância configural (aceita se RMSEA <0,08, TLI e índice de ajuste comparativo [CFI] >0,90), métrica e escalar (aceitas se ΔRMSEA <0,015 e ΔCFI <0,01, comparando-se ao modelo anterior), considerando três grupos etários (6 a <12 meses, 12 a <18 meses e 18 a <24 meses), cinco macrorregiões e os anos no período entre 2015 e 2019. Resultados: Após análise crítica, itens do formulário original foram agrupados (legumes e verduras de folha; carnes ou ovos e fígado) e excluídos (comida de sal, mingau e arroz/batata/inhame/mandioca/farinha/macarrão). O modelo exploratório final composto por 12 itens apresentou índices de ajuste adequados (TLI=0,918, RMSEA=0,071) e compreendeu três fatores: alimentação complementar saudável (fruta inteira, hortaliças, vegetal ou fruta de cor alaranjada ou folhas verdes escuras, carnes, vísceras ou ovo, e feijão); alimentação ultraprocessada (iogurte, hambúrguer e/ou embutidos, bebidas adoçadas, macarrão instantâneo, salgadinhos de pacote ou biscoitos salgados, e biscoito recheado, doces ou guloseimas); e alimentação láctea (leite do peito e outro leite que não peito). A estrutura interna do instrumento reformulado foi estável entre grupos etários, macrorregiões e longitudinalmente. Conclusão: As evidências apontaram necessidade de reformulação, incluindo agrupamento e exclusão, de determinados itens do formulário. Com essas alterações, os três fatores identificados do instrumento para essa faixa etária apreendem aspectos relevantes da alimentação complementar, com equivalência de mensuração entre grupos etários, macrorregiões e longitudinalmente, subsidiando seu uso em nível nacional.

Introduction: The form of food intake markers from the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) for children aged six to 23 months is part of the efforts for the continuous assessment of food patterns among the Brazilian population. Although proposed for national use in 2015 with 17 items, there is no evidence to date regarding characteristics of the internal structure and measurement stability of the instrument for the stage of complementary feeding. Objective: To explore the factorial structure of the Sisvan form of food intake markers for children aged six to 23 months and to analyze its measurement invariance between age groups, Brazilian macroregions, and longitudinally. Methods: Sisvan food intake microdata, from 2015 to 2019, were used, as provided by the General Coordination of Food and Nutrition of the Ministry of Health. The adequacy of the sample was evaluated, accepting Bartlett's sphericity test values p<0.05 and Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin >0.50. Exploratory factor analysis was performed, items with factor loadings ≥ 0.30 and <0.85 and commonality >0.20 were accepted. Considering adequacy according to fit indices (Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] >0.90, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] <0.08, and the lowest value of the Bayesian information criterion). Corrective actions via critical analysis, grouping and exclusion of inappropriate items were proposed to adapt the fit indices. Subsequently, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was performed on three sequentially restrictive models to assess configurational invariance (accepted if RMSEA <0.08, TLI and comparative fit index [CFI] >0.90), as well as metric and scalar invariances (accepted if ΔRMSEA <0.015 and ΔCFI <0.01, comparing to the previous model), considering three age groups (6 to <12 months, 12 to <18 months and 18 to <24 months), five Brazilian macro-regions and the years in the period between 2015 and 2019. Results: After critical analysis, items from the original form were grouped (vegetables and leafy greens; meat or eggs and liver) and excluded (salt food, porridge, and rice/potato/yam/cassava/flour/pasta). The final exploratory model composed of 12 items presented adequate fit indices (TLI=0.918, RMSEA=0.071) and comprised three factors: healthy complementary food (whole fruits, vegetables, vegetable or fruit with orange color or dark green leaves, meat, viscera or egg, and beans); ultra-processed food (yogurt, hamburgers and/or sausages, sweetened drinks, instant noodles, packaged snacks or crackers, and stuffed biscuits, sweets or other treats); and milk feeding (breast milk and milk other than breast milk). The internal structure of the reformulated instrument was stable across age groups, macro-regions and longitudinally. Conclusion: The evidence points to the need for reformulation, including grouping and exclusion of certain items of the Sisvan form. Following these modifications, the three factors identified in the instrument for this age group captured relevant aspects of complementary feeding, with measurement equivalence between age groups, Brazilian macro-regions and over the years, supporting its use at the national level.

Sisvan food intake markers: structure and measurement invariance in Brazil / Marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sisvan: estrutura e invariância de mensuração no Brasil

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To characterize the internal structure of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System (Sisvan) form of food intake markers for individuals over 2 years of age and to investigate measurement invariance between Brazilian macro-regions, life stages and over the years. METHODS A parallel analysis with factor estimation was carried out, complemented with exploratory factor analysis using all Sisvan records with valid responses in the country in 2015 (n = 298,253). Only the first record per individual was considered. Next, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to investigate configural, metric and scalar invariance between the five macro-regions (Midwest, Northeast, North, Southeast, South) and life stages (children, adolescents, adults, elderly) in the same reference year. Invariance was evaluated longitudinally using valid individual records from 2015 to 2019 (n = 4,578,960). The adequacy of fit indices was observed at each step. RESULTS Acceptable fit indices and adequate factor loadings were found for a two-dimensional model, which grouped ultra-processed foods (factor 1) and unprocessed or minimally processed foods (factor 2). The two-dimensional structure, with the respective items in each factor underlying the set of markers, was equivalent across macro-regions, life stages and longitudinally, confirming the configural invariance. The weights of each item and its scale were homogeneous for all groups of interest, confirming metric and scalar invariances. CONCLUSIONS The internal structure of the Sisvan form of food intake markers adequately reflected its conceptual foundation, with stability of factors related to healthy and unhealthy eating in configuration, weights and scale in the investigated categories. These findings qualify food and nutritional surveillance actions, enhancing the use of Sisvan food intake markers in research, monitoring, individual guidance, and care production in the Brazilian Unified Health System.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Caracterizar a estrutura interna do formulário de marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional (Sisvan) para indivíduos maiores de 2 anos de idade e analisar evidências de invariância de mensuração entre macrorregiões brasileiras, fases do curso da vida e ao longo do tempo. MÉTODOS Realizou-se análise paralela com estimação de fatores complementada com análise fatorial exploratória a partir de todos os registros de primeiro acompanhamento do Sisvan com respostas válidas no país em 2015 (n = 298.253). A seguir, empregou-se a análise fatorial confirmatória multigrupo para investigação de evidências de invariância configural, métrica e escalar entre as cinco macrorregiões (Centro-Oeste, Nordeste, Norte, Sudeste e Sul) e fases do curso da vida (crianças, adolescentes, adultos e idosos), no mesmo ano de referência. Avaliou-se a invariância longitudinalmente a partir de registros individuais válidos de 2015 a 2019 (n = 4.578.960). A adequação de índices de ajuste foi observada a cada etapa. RESULTADOS Verificaram-se índices de ajuste aceitáveis e valores de carga fatorial adequados para um modelo bidimensional, que agrupou alimentos ultraprocessados (fator 1) e alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados (fator 2). A estrutura bidimensional, com os respectivos itens em cada fator subjacente ao conjunto de marcadores, foi equivalente entre macrorregiões, fases do curso da vida e longitudinalmente, confirmando a invariância configural. Os pesos de cada item e sua escala foram homogêneos para todos os grupos de interesse, confirmando as invariâncias métrica e escalar. CONCLUSÕES A estrutura interna do formulário de marcadores do consumo alimentar refletiu adequadamente seu embasamento conceitual, com estabilidade dos fatores relacionados à alimentação saudável e não saudável em configuração, cargas e escala nos recortes investigados. Esses achados qualificam ações de vigilância alimentar e nutricional, potencializando o uso dos marcadores do consumo alimentar do Sisvan em pesquisas, monitoramento, orientação individual e produção de cuidado no Sistema Único de Saúde.

Zika virus and pregnancy in Brazil: What happened?

The recent epidemic of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection in Central and South America is one of the most serious global public health emergencies since the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. In Brazil, especially in the north, northeast, and southeast parts of the country, the ZIKV outbreak is a cause of concern for pregnant women because ZIKV intrauterine infection has been found to be associated with multiple brain malformations and microcephaly. In Brazil, the number of newborns with confirmed microcephaly per year recorded during the ZIKV outbreak, has been approximately 15 times greater than previously reported. Considering that the infection is self-limiting and symptomatic, it is usually diagnosed at the time of routine prenatal scan, especially in the third trimester. In other cases, the disease is detected after childbirth through neuroimaging. This study provides an insight into the history and evolution of ZIKV in Brazil, including current knowledge concerning the transmission, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of the infection. In addition, this review describes the pre- and postnatal neuroimaging findings obtained using ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography.

A metodologia da problematização na Escola de Posturas da UFPB: um processo emancipatório na prática da educação gerontológica / Methodology of the posture school problem study: an emancipation process in gerontology education practice / Metodología de la problematización en la escuela de posturas: un proceso de la emancipación en la práctica de la educación gerontológica

O crescente aumento da população idosa no Brasil despertou o interesse dos profissionais que atuam na promoção da saúde. Entre as modificações que ocorrem nesta fase, as alterações posturais vêm sendo uma das causas mais freqüentes de queixas, devido às complicações e às limitações funcionais que acarretam, restringindo a participação social deste grupo etário. Este estudo tem como objetivos: descrever o processo de educação postural à luz do Método do Arco e analisar a eficácia desta alternativa metodológica problematizadora no processo de educação postural na terceira idade. Pesquisa de natureza qualitativa, exploratória descritiva, realizada entre março/ maio de 2006 na Clínica Escola de Fisioterapia da UFPB, e teve como participantes, dez indivíduos idosos. O material empírico foi obtido através das discussões e grupos focais realizados no decorrer da Oficina Problematizadora e a análise dos dados se deu segundo a perspectiva de Fiorin. A eficácia da Metodologia Problematizadora foi constatada diante da ação transformadora na prática das atividades da vida diária dos participantes, por meio da ausência ou diminuição considerável das dores, melhora da capacidade funcional, sensação de bem-estar físico e mental e pela aquisição do conhecimento construído ativamente entre os sujeitos, estimulando o despertar de uma consciência crítica e reflexiva.

The rising increase of the elderly population in Brazil has aroused the professionals? interest from the most varied s especially those working as health professionals. The posture changes, among others in this phase, have been the most common complaint due to the complications and the functional limitations that cause and restricting elderly people`s social participation. The objectives of this study: describing the posture education process and at analyzing the effectiveness of the alternative problem study methodology in the third age posture education process. Research of qualitative nature, exploratory descriptive, carried out from march to may of 2006 at the Physiotherapy School Clinic of UFPB with ten elderly participants. The empirical evidence was achieved by means of discussions and focal groups held during the Problem Workshop and the speeches were analyzed under the Fiorin perspective. The effectiveness of the Problem Study Methodology was verified as the changing effects on the participants´ daily activities showed the absence or the considerable reduction of pain, improvement in their functional capability and a sense of physical and mental well-being as well as the stimulus to the awakening of a critical and reflective conscience originated in the interaction of the individuals.

El aumento de la población envejecida en Brasil ha despertado el interés de los profesionales que actúan en la promoción de la salud. Entre los cambios que ocurren en esta fase, las alteraciones de postura han sido una de las causas de las quejas más comunes debido a las complicaciones y a las limitaciones funcionales que causan, restringiendo la participación social de este grupo etario. Este estudio tiene como objetivos: describir el proceso de la educación postural a la luz del método del arco y analizar la eficacia de la alternativa metodológica problematizadora en el proceso de educación postural en la tercera edad. La investigación cualitativa, descriptiva exploratoria, realizada entre marzo/ mayo de 2006 en la Clínica Escuela de Fisioterapia de la UFPB con diez participantes de la tercera edad. El material empírico fue alcanzado por medio de discusiones y grupos focales realizados el Taller Problematizador y los datos fueron analizados según la perspectiva de Fiorin. La eficacia de la metodología Problematizadora fue constatada ante la acción transformadora en la práctica de las actividades da vida diaria de los participantes, por medio de la ausencia o la reducción de dolores, mejora de la capacidad funcional, sensación de bienestar físico y mental, y la adquisición del conocimiento construido activamente entre los sujetos, estimulando el despertar de una conciencia crítica y reflexiva.

Grupo Focal: Método e Aplicação em Pesquisas Qualitativas / Focal Groups: Method and Aplication in Qualitative Research

Este artigo de natureza bibliográfica tem por objetivo o de abordar o método e aplicação da técnica de grupo focal em pesquisas qualitativas. As autoras destacam aspectos relevantes para a operacionalização da referida técnica, como por exemplo: finalidade, vantagens, número de participantes, duração média do grupo, papel do moderador, procedimentos para apreensão e análise de dados. Ressaltam, também, alguns estudos qualitativos no campo da Saúde, aos quais utilizaram o grupo focal como método de coleta de dados.