Use of antibiotics during pregnancy is associated with infection in children at four years of age in Portugal.

AIM: To assess the association between taking antibiotics in pregnancy and the occurrence of infections in children at four years of age. METHODS: We studied children who participated in the follow-up of the birth cohort Generation XXI, Porto-Portugal, at the age of four years. We evaluated the associations between the use of antibiotics by the mother at any time in pregnancy with the occurrence of infections. Data were analysed using logistic regression, controlling for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: We studied 7459 children (50.7% boys). The use of antibiotics at any stage of pregnancy, and not only in the third trimester, was associated with the occurrence of tonsillitis at four years, even after controlling for potential confounders (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.03-1.38). Other infections did not show association. CONCLUSION: Maternal use of antibiotics during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of tonsillitis reported at four years of age. Antibiotics could favour the potential transmission of an unfavourable microbiome from mother to child.

Aedes aegypti immature forms distribution according to type of breeding site.

More than 2.5 billion people, in more than 100 countries, are estimated to live in risk areas for the transmission of dengue. We investigated the production of Aedes aegypti immature forms in different types of containers. Larvae and pupae presence were inspected in 747 containers in 300 dwellings in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The statistical significance of the differences of immature forms was calculated for different groups of recipients and classified according to the type of use, volume, and material. Containers used to store water and those classified as garbage enclosed 90.2% of the larvae and 88.9% of the pupae. We concluded that a wider covering of more regular water supply, as well as regular garbage collection, are decisive factors for an effective control of dengue vector.

[Two decades of research on tuberculosis in Brazil: state of the art of scientific publications]. / Duas décadas de pesquisa em tuberculose no Brasil: estado da arte das publicações científicas.

The trends of scientific articles about tuberculosis in Brazil published between 1986 and 2006 were analyzed. This analysis included Capes database-indexed dissertations and theses and papers indexed in Medline and SciELO. Papers containing the word "tuberculosis" and authors affiliated to Brazilian institutions were included in the assessment. The analysis showed initially case report and review publications, and later it shifted to original articles on science, technology and innovation. These changes may reflect the strengthening of scientific research activities and new attitudes regarding tuberculosis research objectives in academic institutions in recent years. Although many theses used qualitative methodology, few qualitative publications were found, possibly because of the quantitative orientation of many journals. Qualitative versus quantitative research and education versus research-oriented publications are discussed, together with public policies and strategies to include research as a tool to control diseases. The use of the same methodology is suggested to assess the trends in research on other neglected diseases.

Duas décadas de pesquisa em tuberculose no Brasil: estado da arte das publicações científicas / Two decades of research on tuberculosis in Brazil: state of the art of scientific publications

A tendência das publicações brasileiras em tuberculose referente ao período de foi analisada no período 1986 a 2006. Esta análise incluiu dissertações e teses registradas da Capes e artigos indexados na base de dados Medline e no SciELO. A seleção das publicações foi realizada por busca pela palavra "tuberculose" e instituições brasileiras a que se afiliavam os autores. A análise mostrou inicialmente publicações do tipo relatos de caso e revisões, e posteriormente artigos originais em ciência, tecnologia e inovação científica. Estas mudanças podem refletir o incremento das atividades de pesquisa nas instituições acadêmicas e novas atitudes relativas aos objetivos da pesquisa em tuberculose nos últimos anos. Embora muitas teses tenham utilizado metodologia qualitativa, poucos artigos nessa modalidade foram encontrados, possivelmente refletindo a orientação quantitativa das revistas. Discutem-se pesquisa quantitativa versus qualitativa e educação versus pesquisa, assim como políticas públicas e estratégias para incluir a pesquisa como instrumento de controle das doenças. Sugere-se a utilização da mesma metodologia para analisar as tendências da pesquisa em outras doenças negligenciadas.

The trends of scientific articles about tuberculosis in Brazil published between 1986 and 2006 were analyzed. This analysis included Capes database-indexed dissertations and theses and papers indexed in Medline and SciELO. Papers containing the word "tuberculosis" and authors affiliated to Brazilian institutions were included in the assessment. The analysis showed initially case report and review publications, and later it shifted to original articles on science, technology and innovation. These changes may reflect the strengthening of scientific research activities and new attitudes regarding tuberculosis research objectives in academic institutions in recent years. Although many theses used qualitative methodology, few qualitative publications were found, possibly because of the quantitative orientation of many journals. Qualitative versus quantitative research and education versus research-oriented publications are discussed, together with public policies and strategies to include research as a tool to control diseases. The use of the same methodology is suggested to assess the trends in research on other neglected diseases.

Desenvolvendo um sistema de informação geográfico para vigilância ambiental em saúde / Developing a geographical information system for environmental health surveillance

Os autores propõem o desenvolvimento de um sistema de informação que permita a tomada de decisão através da avaliação integral dos riscos ambientais a que uma população está exposta. Este sistema deverá ter a capacidade de integrar as informações disponíveis nos sistemas já desenvolvidos e que estão sendo utilizados pelos órgãos de controle ambiental de forma individualizada, cruzar as informações, visualizá-las cartograficamente e, através de indicadores, permitir a avaliação da situação de saúde da população, o desempenho da vigilância ambiental e a efetividade das intervenções aplicadas. Basicamente a estrutura do sistema deverá ser modular, composto de um módulo central cuja função será de coletar e sistematizar os dados e informações disponíveis nos módulos periféricos e processar as informações de acordo com a necessidade do usuário. Este sistema irá favorecer e facilitar a implantação do Sistema Nacional de Vigilância Ambiental em Saúde nos dois níveis de Gestão da Saúde, municipal e estadual. Este sistema deverá ser desenvolvido em ambiente Web, com acesso através da internet ou intranet.