Cardiac and digestive forms of chronic Chagas disease in Brazilian social welfare, 2004-2016.

Introduction: Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease with a chronic clinical course and high rates of morbidity and mortality. Despite a drastic reduction in the disease's incidence in Brazil in recent decades, older cases still impact the national social welfare system.

Objectives: To analyze the sociodemographic characteristics of Brazilian social welfare beneficiaries affected by the cardiac and digestive forms of chronic Chagas disease between 2004 and 2016.

Survival analysis of Chagas disease patients, beneficiaries of social security and social assistance in Brazil, 1942-2016.

Objective: To analyze the survival of patients with Chagas disease, beneficiaries of social security and social assistance, in Brazil, from 1942 to 2016.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study with data from the Brazilian Ministry of Social Security. The event of interest was death, and the survival functions were estimated by the Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression methods.

Survey of Rickettsia spp. in ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) infesting opossums (Didelphis albiventris) and capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) from an urban park in southeastern Brazil.

Ticks are hematophagous arthropods and, during feeding, may transmit pathogens to vertebrate hosts, including humans. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected between 2010 and 2013 from free-ranging capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) and opossums (Didelphis albiventris) that inhabit Sabiá Park in Uberlândia, Brazil.

Chagas disease and social welfare: characterization of the disease in the Brazilian social security and social assistance, 2004-2016.

Objective: To characterize the sociodemographic profile of beneficiaries of Brazilian social welfare affected by Chagas disease and identify factors associated with the granting of assistance benefits, 2004 to 2016.

Methods: Cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the Ministry of Labor and Social Security. Logistical regression was performed to estimate crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).

Chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy: characterization of cases and possibilities of action in primary healthcare.

Despite the drastic decrease in the incidence of Chagas disease in Brazil, past cases still greatly impact health services in the country. Thus, this study aimed to characterize Chagas disease cases regarding their cardiac staging and death prognosis and, based on that, to propose primary healthcare (PHC) case follow-ups. This is a cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the medical records of patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC).

A Vulnerability Analysis for the Management of and Response to the COVID-19 Epidemic in the Second Most Populous State in Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to affect all individuals, however in a heterogeneous way. In this sense, identifying specificities of each location is essential to minimize the damage caused by the disease. Therefore, the aim of this research was to assess the vulnerability of 853 municipalities in the second most populous state in Brazil, Minas Gerais (MG), in order to direct public policies.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning visceral leishmaniasis among residents of a sporadic transmission area in southeast Brazil.

Background: In the last four decades, visceral leishmaniasis (VL) has undergone an urbanization process in Brazil. This research aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices concerning VL among residents of a sporadic transmission urban area in southeast Brazil.

Methods: A community-based, cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted.

Aids and Brazilian social welfare: analysis of benefits granted in social security and social assistance, 2004-2016.

The study explores the distribution of AIDS through sociodemographic variables, within the scope of Brazilian social security and social assistance. Twenty-seven federal units were used for data spatialization and analysis. Data were stratified according to gender, age group, area of residence, social welfare membership, type of benefit received and grant method for the beneficiaries.

Association of low concentrations of pyriproxyfen and spinosad as an environment-friendly strategy to rationalize Aedes aegypti control programs.

The association of low concentrations of pyriproxyfen and Spinosad, a naturally-occurring insecticide, was evaluated as an environment-friendly strategy to rationalize Aedes aegypti control programs by reducing larvicide consumption, saving financial costs and increasing residual effect against mosquitoes development. Firstly, the ecotoxicological parameters of the mixture was performed on non-target species Daphnia magna and the results confirmed that the low concentrations used in this larvicide mixture were not able to alter the reproductive parameters of chronically exposed microcrustaceans. In contrast, the mixture altered the behavior and development of Aedes aegypti, effectively inhibiting the emergence of adult insects for a long period.

Social welfare related to AIDS in Brazil: factors associated with social assistance and social security, 2004 - 2016.

Objective: To describe the occurrence of social welfare benefits related to AIDS in Brazil and to compare the characteristics of the beneficiaries of social assistance and social security in 2004 - 2016.

Methods: This was an observational, analytical study based on secondary data obtained from the Ministry of Social Security of Brazil. Sociodemographic and epidemiologic characteristics of the beneficiaries of AIDS-related social assistance and social security were analyzed.

Ribosomal and non-ribosomal PCR targets for the detection of low-density and mixed malaria infections.

Background: The unexpected high proportion of submicroscopic malaria infections in areas with low transmission intensity challenges the control and elimination of malaria in the Americas. The current PCR-based assays present limitations as most protocols still rely on amplification of few-copies target gene. Here, the hypothesis was that amplification of different plasmodial targets-ribosomal (18S rRNA) and non-ribosomal multi-copy sequences (Pvr47 for Plasmodium vivax and Pfr364 for Plasmodium falciparum)-could increase the chances of detecting submicroscopic malaria infection.

Evaluation of toxicity and environmental safety in use of spinosad to rationalize control strategies against Aedes aegypti.

Spinosad is a naturally-occurring insecticide used for the management of Ae. aegypti larvae. The assessment of ecotoxicological parameters of spinosad is required for verifying the environmentally-friendly behavior of the compound and for evaluating toxicity values on non-target species.

HIGH PREVALENCE OF HYPOTHYROIDISM IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS WITHOUT AN INCREASE IN CIRCULATING ANTI-THYROID ANTIBODIES.

Objective: Because routine investigations are necessary for the early detection of thyroid disease, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of autoimmune thyroid disease (ATD) and thyroid dysfunction (TD) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Seventy-nine SLE patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) and 159 control patients with no diagnosis of autoimmune diseases (except for ATD) were consecutively evaluated regarding changes in laboratory assessments of thyroid function and the presence of ATD.

Results: ATD was detected in 11.

Multilocus genotyping of Giardia duodenalis in Brazilian children.

Background: Giardia duodenalis is a parasite of several mammalian species, including humans, distributed worldwide. This research aimed to identify the molecular assemblages/sub-assemblages of G. duodenalis and to determine the intra-assemblage genetic variation of the different genes of assemblages A and B in pre-school children in the cities of Araguari and Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Toxicological assessment of spinosad: Implications for integrated control of Aedes aegypti using larvicides and larvivorous fish.

Integration of larvivorous fish and biolarvicides at low concentrations to control of mosquito larvae in field situations may result in a safer and more effective tool. However, the usefulness of integrated approach depends upon survival and ecological fitness of fish employed. Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the genotoxic effects of combining different sublethal concentrations of spinosad, a naturally occurring neurotoxic insecticide, with male adult poecilid larvivorous guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) fish on Aedes larvae mosquitos.

Effects of piperonyl butoxide on the toxicity of the organophosphate temephos and the role of esterases in the insecticide resistance of Aedes aegypti.

Introduction: The effects of piperonyl butoxide (PBO) on the toxicity of the organophosphate temephos (TE) and the role of esterases in the resistance of Aedes aegypti to this insecticide were evaluated.

Methods: A. aegypti L4 larvae susceptible and resistant to TE were pre-treated with PBO solutions in acetone at concentrations of 0.

Seroprevalence of Toxocara spp. in children with atopy.

Background: Epidemiological studies around the world suggest that infection with Toxocara spp. can contribute to the development or worsening of atopic diseases, especially in children. This study investigated the seroprevalence of toxocariasis in atopic children treated at the pediatric clinic of the Federal University of Uberlândia Clinical Hospital, identifying possible relationships with risk factors.

Plasmodium ovale malaria in Brazil: report of an imported case with a prolonged incubation period.

We report the first case of imported Plasmodium ovale in Brazil, confirmed using both conventional microscopy and PCR-based protocols. The patient was a 36-year-old Brazilian male who had been working as a miner in Cabinda Province, Angola. Based on his travel history, the parasite was dormant for at least two years.

Submicroscopic malaria parasite carriage: how reproducible are polymerase chain reaction-based methods?

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods for the diagnosis of malaria infection are expected to accurately identify submicroscopic parasite carriers. Although a significant number of PCR protocols have been described, few studies have addressed the performance of PCR amplification in cases of field samples with submicroscopic malaria infection. Here, the reproducibility of two well-established PCR protocols (nested-PCR and real-time PCR for the Plasmodium 18 small subunit rRNA gene) were evaluated in a panel of 34 blood field samples from individuals that are potential reservoirs of malaria infection, but were negative for malaria by optical microscopy.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis and risk factors in women treated at public health units in Brazil: a transversal study.

Background: Studies have revealed high prevalence rates of Trichomonas vaginalis in men and women worldwide. In Brazil, where reporting is not mandatory, the true prevalence rate is unknown. This study determined the prevalence of the parasite in women attending public health units in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil, identifying possible risk factors for infection, and also compared three diagnostic techniques for detecting the parasite.

Survey of sandfly fauna (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 2003-2004.

We analyzed the sandflies around houses and domestic animal shelters located in residences close to forests in localities on the banks of the Araguari River, Uberlândia, MG, from February 2003 to November 2004. The phlebotomines were captured in the peridomiciliary area, where Shannon traps were utilized in the peridomicile and CDC traps in animal shelters. 2,783 specimens of sandflies were captured, 2,140 females (76.

Prevalence and risk factors for intestinal protozoa infection in elderly residents at Long Term Residency Institutions in Southeastern Brazil.

This study determined the prevalence of intestinal protozoa in Long Term Residency Institutions for the Elderly (ILPI) in elders, nurses and food handlers, identifying the risk factors associated with the infections. Stool samples taken from the elderly (n = 293), nurses (63) and food handlers (19) were studied. Questionnaires were used with questions related to sociodemographic variables, health, behavior and health characteristics.