Outbreak of Glomerulonephritis Caused by Streptococcus zooepidemicus SzPHV5 Type in Monte Santo de Minas, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Streptococcus zooepidemicus is an emerging and opportunistic zoonotic pathogen which plays an important role in the development of severe and life-threatening diseases and is potentially capable of triggering large glomerulonephritis outbreaks. Between December 2012 and February 2013, 175 cases of glomerulonephritis were confirmed in the town of Monte Santo de Minas, MG, Brazil. During the outbreak, 19 isolates of S. zooepidemicus were recovered, 1 from ice cream, 2 from the oropharynx of food handlers, and 16 from patients affected by acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis (APSGN). All S. zooepidemicus isolates involved in the outbreak amplified the same sequence of the hypervariable region of the SzP protein (SzPHV5) and presented indistinguishable banding patterns with high similarity (>99%) to each other by the repetitive element sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) technique. Inspection programs on the milk supply chain should be strengthened and continuously encouraged so that the health of consumers is preserved.

Is intake of vitamin D and calcium important for cardiovascular health in elderly obese patients?

There is compelling evidence that bariatric weight loss reduces cardiovascular complications; however, these still tend to be the most common cause of late death after surgical intervention. In a prospective cohort study, correlations of dietary nutrients with indexes of vascular health were sought, with emphasis on vitamin D and calcium. Clinically stable obese outpatient subjects (>60 years old, N = 44) were interviewed about dietary macro and micronutrients. Nutritional assessment targeted anthropometric and bioimpedance analysis (BIA), hematologic counts, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and inflammatory markers. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD), along with related vascular measurements, were documented, and results were correlated by uni- and multivariate analysis, corrected for known risk factors. IMT, FMD, and also brachial basal flow were positively influenced by vitamin D (P < 0.001). Calcium appeared beneficial for brachial basal flow only (P = 0.010). No association with IMT occurred, and a negative result for FMD was elicited. Also, vitamins A and B12 were advantageous for FMD, whereas iron was deleterious for IMT. Intake of many micronutrients including calcium and vitamin D did not meet recommendations. Vitamin D displayed a beneficial profile regarding vascular health, and more attention to this nutrient should be given, especially concerning obese patients with cardiometabolic risk. Calcium exhibited less straightforward results but deserves focus as well, along with antioxidant vitamin A as well as the B-complex which were mostly deficient in this experience.

Is intake of vitamin D and calcium important for cardiovascular health in elderly obese patients?

Abstract There is compelling evidence that bariatricweight loss reduces cardiovascular complications; however,these still tend to be the most common cause of late deathafter surgical intervention. In a prospective cohort study,correlations of dietary nutrients with indexes of vascularhealth were sought, with emphasis on vitamin D and calcium.Clinically stable obese outpatient subjects (>60 yearsold, N044) were interviewed about dietary macro andmicronutrients. Nutritional assessment targeted anthropometricand bioimpedance analysis (BIA), hematologiccounts, lipid profile, glucose homeostasis, and inflammatorymarkers. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and brachialflow-mediated dilation (FMD), along with related vascularmeasurements, were documented, and results were correlatedby uni- and multivariate analysis, corrected for knownrisk factors. IMT, FMD, and also brachial basal flow werepositively influenced by vitamin D (P<0.001). Calciumappeared beneficial for brachial basal flow only (P00.010). No association with IMT occurred, and a negativeresult for FMD was elicited. Also, vitamins A and B12 wereadvantageous for FMD, whereas iron was deleterious forIMT. Intake of many micronutrients including calcium andvitamin D did not meet recommendations. Vitamin D displayeda beneficial profile regarding vascular health, andmore attention to this nutrient should be given, especiallyconcerning obese patients with cardiometabolic risk.Calcium exhibited less straightforward results but deservesfocus as well, along with antioxidant vitamin A as well asthe B-complex which were mostly deficient in thisexperience.