Putting the Mess in Order: (and Not ) Is the Etiological Agent of Sisal Bole Rot Disease in Brazil.

Approximately 75% of the worldwide production of hard natural fibers originates from sisal, an industrial crop from arid and semiarid tropical regions. Brazil is the world's largest producer of sisal fiber, accounting for more than 40% of the worldwide production, and sisal bole rot disease has been the main phytosanitary problem of this crop. All previous studies reporting as the causal agent of the disease were based on the morphological features of fungal isolates from infected plant tissues in pure cultures.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells reverse the sensorial diabetic neuropathy via modulation of spinal neuroinflammatory cascades.

Background: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is a frequent and debilitating manifestation of diabetes mellitus, to which there are no effective therapeutic approaches. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) have a great potential for the treatment of this syndrome, possibly through regenerative actions on peripheral nerves. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of MSC on spinal neuroinflammation, as well as on ultrastructural aspects of the peripheral nerve in DN-associated sensorial dysfunction.

Dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors among adolescents: systematic review and meta-analysis.

This study systematised and synthesised the results of observational studies that were aimed at supporting the association between dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors among adolescents. Relevant scientific articles were searched in PUBMED, EMBASE, SCIENCE DIRECT, LILACS, WEB OF SCIENCE and SCOPUS. Observational studies that included the measurement of any CMR factor in healthy adolescents and dietary patterns were included.

Immunocastration of goats using anti-gonadotrophin releasing hormone vaccine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immuno-sterilizing action of anti-gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (anti-GnRH) vaccine in goats. Eighteen male goats were randomly distributed to receive three treatments: T1 (control) - whole animals, and T2 and T3 - application of 0.5 and 1.

Limited Evidence for Infection of Urban and Peri-urban Nonhuman Primates with Zika and Chikungunya Viruses in Brazil.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) emerged in the Americas in 2013. Limited antigenic variability of CHIKV and ZIKV may restrict urban transmission cycles due to population protective immunity. In Africa, sylvatic transmission cycles involving nonhuman primates (NHP) are known for CHIKV and ZIKV, causing cyclic reemergence in humans.

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater.

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0 ± 3.4 kg.

Follicular response and oocyte production following variations in ovarian stimulation in goats.

In this study, goats were subjected to ovarian stimulation protocols to evaluate possible differences in ovarian follicular responses and oocyte production. Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of hormonal protocol duration (seven or twelve days) and number of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) applications (one or five doses). All animals received intravaginal sponges saturated with 60 mg medroxyprogesterone acetate and an application of 125 μg cloprostenol 72 h before the sponges were removed.

Palm kernel cake obtained from biodiesel production in diets for goats: feeding behavior and physiological parameters.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of palm kernel (Elaeis guineensis) cake in diets for goats on feeding behaviors, rectal temperature, and cardiac and respiratory frequencies. Forty crossbred Boer male, non-castrated goats (ten animals per treatment), with an average age of 90 days and an initial body weight of 15.01 ± 1.

Metal accumulation in soils derived from volcano-sedimentary rocks, Rio Itapicuru Greenstone Belt, northeastern Brazil.

Many countries and some Brazilian regions have defined the guideline values for metals in soils. However, the local geological features may be so heterogeneous that global or even regional guideline values cannot be applied. The Greenstone Belts are worldwide geological formations of vast extension, containing mineralization of various metals (e.

Acute infection with an avirulent strain of Toxoplasma gondii causes decreasing and atrophy of nitrergic myenteric neurons of rats.

In the enteric nervous system (ENS), nitrergic neurons produce and use nitric oxide (NO) as an inhibitory motor neurotransmitter in response to parasitic infections, including those caused by Toxoplasma gondii. However, damage to the host caused by NO has been reported by various authors, and the role of NO in protection or cytotoxicity continues to be extensively studied. In this study, nitrergic neurons were investigated in the myenteric plexus of the jejunum and the distal colon of rats infected with 500 oocysts of the M7741 strain of T.

Predictors of Recurrent Falls in People with Parkinson's Disease and Proposal for a Predictive Tool.

Background: Falls are a debilitating problem for people with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objectives: To compare clinical and functional characteristics of non-fallers, single and recurrent fallers (≥2 falls); to determine predictors of time to second fall; and to develop a predictive tool for identifying people with PD at different categories of falls risk.

Methods: Participants (n = 229) were assessed by disease-specific, self-report and balance measures and followed up for 12 months.

The Role of MAPT Haplotype H2 and Isoform 1N/4R in Parkinsonism of Older Adults.

Background And Objective: Recently, we have shown that the Parkinson's disease (PD) susceptibility locus MAPT (microtubule associated protein tau) is associated with parkinsonism in older adults without a clinical diagnosis of PD. In this study, we investigated the relationship between parkinsonian signs and MAPT transcripts by assessing the effect of MAPT haplotypes on alternative splicing and expression levels of the most common isoforms in two prospective clinicopathologic studies of aging.

Materials And Methods: using regression analysis, controlling for age, sex, study and neuropathology, we evaluated 976 subjects with clinical, genotyping and brain pathology data for haplotype analysis.

Number of Daily Steps to Discriminate Abdominal Obesity in a Sample of Brazilian Children and Adolescents.

Purpose: Weight status-referenced pedometer step-count guidelines for young people have been developed for populations from high-income countries and may not be applicable to middle- and low-income countries. The objectives of this study were 1) to develop cut-off points for pedometer-determined step count in young Brazilians using waist circumference (WC) as a reference criterion, and 2) to analyze the capacity of previous recommendations to discriminate abdominal obesity in the sample studied.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,044 schoolchildren (456 boys) aged 6-17 years from Northeastern Brazil.

Comparison of Self-report and Performance-Based Balance Measures for Predicting Recurrent Falls in People With Parkinson Disease: Cohort Study.

Background: Balance confidence and fear of falling are factors associated with recurrent falls in people with Parkinson disease (PD). However, the accuracy for predicting falls on the basis of self-report measures has not been widely investigated.

Objective: The study objectives were: (1) to compare the accuracy of the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale (ABC) and the Falls Efficacy Scale-International (FES-I) with that of the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), Dynamic Gait Index (DGI), Functional Reach Test (FRT), and Timed "Up & Go" Test (TUG) for predicting recurrent falls in people with PD and (2) to explore the ability of combinations of up to 3 tests to predict recurrent falls.

Severity of Periodontitis and Metabolic Syndrome: Is There an Association?

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major factor for the occurrence of cardiovascular events. Causal factors for MetS are not well defined or yet unidentified. Preliminary investigations suggest that infections and inflammation may be involved in the etiology of this syndrome.

Relationship Among Mothers' Glycemic Level, Periodontitis, and Birth Weight.

Background: The aim of this study is to determine the influence of glycemic level on the relationship between periodontitis and low birth weight (LBW).

Methods: A case-control study was conducted with 372 females divided into cases (109 mothers of newborns with birth weight < 2,500 g) and controls (263 mothers of newborns with birth weight ≥ 2,500 g). The birth weight of children was obtained from medical records, whereas information on sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health characteristics of the participants was obtained through an interview.

Cut-off values for step count and TV viewing time as discriminators of hyperglycaemia in Brazilian children and adolescents.

Background: The use of step count and TV viewing time to discriminate youngsters with hyperglycaemia is still a matter of debate.

Aim: To establish cut-off values for step count and TV viewing time in children and adolescents using glycaemia as the reference criterion.

Subjects And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1044 schoolchildren aged 6-18 years from Northeastern Brazil.

The effectiveness of intervention programs in the prevention and control of obesity in infants: a systematic review.

Objective: This study aims to conduct a literature review to evaluate the effectiveness of intervention programs in the prevention and control of obesity in children and to map the locations where the studies were carried out.

Methods: A systematic review using the PubMed / MEDLINE and LILACS databases to trace the published literature on intervention programs for prevention and control of obesity in the period of January 2004 to October 2013. The initial search was conducted using the terms "body mass index", " Intervention" and "children" or "adolescent" and only articles published in English, Spanish or Portuguese were selected.

Asian genotypes of dengue virus 4 in Brazil.

Dengue virus, commonly transmitted by mosquitoes, causes a human disease of significant social impact and presents a serious public health problem in Brazil. This report describes the unusual emergence of DENV-4 in northern Brazil after a nearly 30-year-long absence. DENV-4 genotype I is of Asian origin and was identified in the serum of patients receiving treatment at a hospital serving the Salvador area (Brazilian state of Bahia).

Effectiveness of the Brazilian Conditional Cash Transfer Program--Bolsa Alimentação--on the variation of linear and ponderal increment in children from northeast of Brazil.

Background: Social programs can improve the conditions required for families provide sufficient care and attention for an adequate health and nutrition.

Objective: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Brazilian's conditional cash transfer program - Bolsa Alimentacao (PBA) on children anthropometric status.

Methods: A cohort of 1847 children, followed for 12 months: 1615 PBA children; 232 non-PBA.

Sociodemographic determinants of university students' lifestyles.

Objective: It has been observed during recent decades that a large percentage of the population has an inadequate lifestyle and that there is a need for identifying factors determining such behavior pattern. This study was thus aimed at determining the association between lifestyle and sociodemographic variables of freshmen attending a state university in southern Brazil.

Methods: The sample consisted of 716 students (59.

Metabolic syndrome and associated factors in children and adolescents of a Brazilian municipality.

Background: the risk factors associated to metabolic syndrome (MS) have been extensively studied in adults, but in children and adolescents it is poorly explored.

Objective: To identify the prevalence of MS and associated factors in children and adolescents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study with 540 children and adolescents from 7 to 14 years of age.