Nasopharyngeal carriage of Streptococcus pneumoniae among Brazilian children: Interplay with viral co-infection.

Nasopharyngeal transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae is a prerequisite for the development of pneumococcal diseases. Previous studies have reported a relationship between respiratory viruses and S. pneumoniae infections.

Fructose supplementation shifts rat brain metabolism in experimental migraine.

Aims: We have previously demonstrated that fructose supplementation (FS), given in a scheme used for inducing metabolic syndrome (MS), elicited pain relief in the nitroglycerin (NTG)-elicited rat migraine model. Herein, we evaluated whether FS could reestablish the impaired metabolic pathways in NTG-injected rats.

Main Methods: Male Wistar rats (N = 40) were divided into two groups for receiving 10 % FS or tap water.

Effects of boric acid on alveolar sockets filling after dental extraction in rats.

Purpose: After extraction, dental alveolus filling aims to reduce bone loss and maintain the alveolus volume during patient rehabilitation. Boric acid (BA) is a boron-derived compound with osteogenic properties and an interesting candidate for alveoli filling. This study aims to investigate the osteogenic capacity of the local application of BA in dental socket preservation.

Smoking in adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate: prevalence and associated factors.

Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with smoking in adolescents with cleft lip and/or palate.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, developed in a Brazilian public and tertiary hospital between November 2018 and August 2019. Adolescents aged between 12 and 19 years old, previously submitted to cheiloplasty and/or palatoplasty surgeries were included.

Antimicrobial and bone repair effects of boric acid in a rat model of dry socket (alveolar osteitis) following dental extraction.

Background: Alveolitis occurs after dental extraction without blood clot formation, leading to an inflammatory process and bacterial contamination. Boric acid (BA) demonstrates anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and osteogenic properties. This study aims to evaluate the possible antimicrobial effects and bone repair of BA in a rat model of alveolitis (dry socket).

Characterization of Associated Nonclassical Phenotypes in Patients with Deletion in the WAGR Region Identified by Chromosomal Microarray: New Insights and Literature Review.

WAGR syndrome (Wilms' tumor, aniridia, genitourinary changes, and intellectual disability) is a contiguous gene deletion syndrome characterized by the joint deletion of and genes, located in the short arm of chromosome 11. However, most deletions include other genes, leading to multiple associated phenotypes. Therefore, understanding how genes deleted together can contribute to other clinical phenotypes is still considered a challenge.

Does fructose have a protective role on migraine?-experimental evidence in a rat model of metabolic syndrome under omega-3 supplementation.

Background: Migraine is a highly disabling disease, for which current therapies are limited to symptom alleviation. There is compelling evidence linking migraine with metabolic disorders, but the causal relationship is not clear. Omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties, with clear benefits in metabolic disorders, but its effects on migraine remains to be tested.

Religiosity, spirituality, and self-esteem in adolescents with cleft lip and palate: a correlational study.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between religiosity, spirituality, and self-esteem in adolescents with uni- and bilateral cleft lip and palate.

Method: Correlational and cross-sectional study developed in a public and tertiary hospital in Brazil between July 2018 and February 2019. The sample comprised 100 adolescents divided into two groups: G1 (unilateral cleft, 50 participants) and G2 (bilateral cleft, 50 participants).

Polymyxin NP tests (from colonies and directly from blood cultures): accurate and rapid methodologies to detect polymyxin B susceptibility among Enterobacterales.

Detection of polymyxins susceptibility is challenging. We aimed to evaluate Rapid Polymyxin NP from colonies (NP-colony) and directly from positive blood bottles (NP-bottle), using polymyxin B instead of colistin among Enterobacterales. Both had similar and acceptable accuracy.

Enterococci from Wild Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) as an Indicator of Marine Ecosystem Health and Human Impact.

Enterococci are commensals that proliferated as animals crawled ashore hundreds of millions of years ago. They are also leading causes of multidrug-resistant hospital-acquired infections. While most studies are driven by clinical interest, comparatively little is known about enterococci in the wild or the effect of human activity on them.

Polymyxin B broth disk elution: a feasible and accurate methodology to determine polymyxin B susceptibility in Enterobacterales.

Determination of polymyxins susceptibility by clinical laboratories is a nightmare, mainly because of physicochemical properties of the drug. Elution tests have already been proposed for colistin, but not for polymyxin B. We aimed to evaluate accuracy of Polymyxin B broth disk elution (PBDE) to determine the susceptibility to this drug.

Thimerosal-containing vaccines and deficit in child development: Population-based study in southern Brazil.

Background: The discussion on the safety of thimerosal-containing vaccines (TCVs) and their impact on child development it́s very relevant.

Methods: This is a cohort study with mother-child dyads who received prenatal care in the Unified Health System. The domains of motor, cognitive and language development were evaluated in children between 24 and 36 months of age.

Questions of informal caregivers of children regarding the postoperative period of cochlear implant.

Objective: To identify the main questions of informal caregivers of children with hearing impairments on the postoperative care of cochlear implant.

Method: Cross-sectional study developed in a public and tertiary hospital of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The sample consisted of 48 informal caregivers who were monitoring children subjected to cochlear implant.

Characterisation of isolates from invasive disease in adults following the introduction of PCV10 in Brazil.

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in the elderly is an important public health issue due to the increased proportion of this population in many countries including Brazil. We aimed to characterise pneumococci isolates in adults >50 years with IPD, following the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) as part of the National Childhood Immunisation Program for children ≤2 years in March 2010. Between 2013 and 2015, pneumococcal isolates were collected and serotypes were determined using multiplex PCR and/or Quellung reaction.

Characteristics of serogroup 20 S.pneumoniae isolates from Brazil.

Background: Although serogroup 20 is not part of any conjugate pneumococcal vaccine, its serotype 20A, but not 20B, belongs to the polysaccharide 23-valent formula. Little is known about its clinical, laboratorial and epidemiological characteristics.

Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the bacterial genotypes (by PFGE and MLST), clinical characteristics of patients (from review of medical records) and antimicrobial susceptibility of serogroup 20 isolates which were recovered from patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) from 2007 to 2012.

Molecular epidemiology of heteroresistant vancomycin-intermediate Staphylococcus aureus in Brazil.

To determine the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of 12 Staphylococcus aureus isolates presenting heteroresistance to vancomycin in laboratories of two cities in Santa Catarina, southern Brazil. Epidemiological data, including the city of isolation, health institution, and date of isolation were considered, as well as the associated clinical specimen. For molecular characterization, we analyzed the staphylococcal cassette chromosome types, the erm gene presence, and the genomic diversity of isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

MRSA from Santa Catarina State, Southern Brazil: intriguing epidemiological differences compared to other Brazilian regions.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the most frequently isolated agents in both nosocomial and community settings. It is a constant challenge for antibacterial therapy. Therefore, it becomes essential to understand the epidemiology of MRSA isolates in the institution and/or region to guide empirical therapy.

Streptococcus pneumoniae appendicitis in an adult patient.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a rare cause of appendicitis.We report apneumococcal appendicitis with secondary peritonitis in a human immunodeficiency virus–positive adult, with favorable outcome after surgery and antibiotic therapy. Secondary peritonitis is frequently complication of S pneumoniae appendicitis in the few reported cases,and no specific risk factor has been identified so far.

Serotypes and genotypes of invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae before and after PCV10 implementation in southern Brazil.

To reduce the burden of pneumococcal diseases, different formulations of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) have been introduced in many countries. In Brazil, PCV10 has been available since 2010. We aimed to analyze the serotype and genetic composition of invasive pneumococci from Brazil in pre- and post-vaccination periods (2007-2012).