[Not Available].

Background: The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a screening test for peripheral arterial occlusive disease and it can also be used to assess cardiovascular risk. However, in diabetics it can be difficult to interpret because the index may be excessively high because of calcification of the arterial tunica media.

Objective: To determine the frequency of high ABI in diabetics and to test for associations with sociodemographic variables.

Hepatitis B virus prevalence and vaccination response in health care workers and students at the Federal University of Bahia, Brazil.

Unlabelled: BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE FOR THE STUDY: Hepatitis B (HB) is one of the most prevalent occupational infections in health attendance environments. According to the Brazil Ministry of Health, health professionals must be vaccinated against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) and provide laboratory proof of immunization.

Aims: To evaluate the seroprevalence of HBV infection and to analyze the response to vaccine by measuring serum antibodies against HBV surface antigen (anti-HBs) levels in a sample of students and health professionals at the Federal University of Bahia.

Adherence of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli to the ileal and colonic mucosa: an in vitro study utilizing the scanning electron microscopy.

Context: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains have been associated with persistent diarrhea in several developing countries. In vivo procedures with animal models, in vitro assays with cellular lines and in vitro organ culture with intestinal fragments have been utilized to study these bacteria and their pathogenicity.

Objective: The present experimental research assessed the pathogenic interactions of three enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains, using the in vitro organ culture, in order to show the adherence to different regions of both, the ileal and the colonic mucosa and demonstrate possible mechanisms that could have the participation in the prolongation of diarrheiogenic process.

Persistent diarrhea: still an important challenge for the pediatrician.

Objective: To provide recent guidelines to reduce the incidence of diarrheal diseases. We discuss the definition, clinical aspects, pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prevention of persistent diarrhea.

Sources: Electronic search of the MEDLINE database, Google search.

Pathophysiology of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli infection: an experimental model utilizing transmission electron microscopy.

Context: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains have been associated with persistent diarrhea in several developing countries. In vivo procedures with animal models as rat, rabbit and gnotobiotic piglets intestinal loops, in vitro assays with cellular lines like T84, Caco 2, HT29, HeLa e HEp-2 and in vitro organ culture with intestinal fragments have been applied to study these bacteria and their pathogenicity.

Objectives: The present experimental research assessed the pathogenic interactions of three enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strains, using the in vitro organ culture, in order to observe and compare alterations in different regions of both, the ileal and the colonic mucosa.

[Asthma and ascariasis in children aged two to ten living in a low income suburb].

Objective: To assess the relation between children with asthma and ascariasis in the low income neighborhood of Pedregal, in Campina Grande (Paraíba, Brazil).

Material And Method: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISSAC) standard questionnaire was distributed to 1,095 children but only 742 of them answered it and provided stool samples for parasite examination. The cross-sectional study included those 742 children, whose age ranged from 2 to 10 years.