Effect of an intervention in storm drains to prevent Aedes aegypti reproduction in Salvador, Brazil

BACKGROUND

Aedes aegypti, the principal vector for dengue, chikungunya and Zika viruses, is a synanthropic species that uses stagnant water to complete its reproductive cycle. In urban settings, rainfall water draining structures, such as storm drains, may retain water and serve as a larval development site for Aedes spp. reproduction. Herein, we describe the effect of a community-based intervention on preventing standing water accumulation in storm drains and their consequent infestation by adult and immature Ae. aegypti and other mosquitoes.

METHODS

Between April and May of 2016, local residents association of Salvador, Brazil, after being informed of water accumulation and Ae. aegypti infestation in the storm drains in their area, performed an intervention on 52 storm drains. The intervention consisted of placing concrete at the bottom of the storm drains to elevate their base to the level of the outflow tube, avoiding water accumulation, and placement of a metal mesh covering the outflow tube to avoid its clogging with debris. To determine the impact of the intervention, we compared the frequency at which the 52 storm drains contained water, as well as adult and immature mosquitoes using data from two surveys performed before and two surveys performed after the intervention.

RESULTS

During the pre-intervention period, water accumulated in 48 (92.3%) of the storm drains, and immature Ae. aegypti were found in 11 (21.2%) and adults in 10 (19.2%). After the intervention, water accumulated in 5 (9.6%) of the storm drains (P < 0.001), none (0.0%) had immatures (P < 0.001), and 3 (5.8%) contained adults (P = 0.039). The total number of Ae. aegypti immatures collected decreased from 109 to 0 (P < 0.001) and adults decreased from 37 to 8 (P = 0.011) after the intervention. Collection of immature and adult non-Aedes mosquitoes (mainly Culex spp.) in the storm drains also decreased after the intervention.

CONCLUSION

This study exemplifies how a simple intervention targeting storm drains can result in a major reduction of water retention, and, consequently, impact Ae. aegypti larval populations. Larger and multi-center evaluations are needed to confirm the potential of citywide structural modifications of storm drains to reduce Aedes spp. infestation level.

The prognostic value of histopathological grading systems in oral squamous cell carcinomas

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the association of four histopathological grading systems (WHO grading system, malignancy grading of the deep invasive margins (MG), histological risk (HR) model, and tumor budding and depth of invasion (BD) model) with clinicopathological parameters and outcome of 113 oral squamous cell carcinomas to identify their roles in prognosis.

METHODS

Demographic and clinical features were obtained from patients' records. Sections from all paraffin-embedded blocks were evaluated according to the four grading systems. Demographic and clinical associations were analyzed using chi-square test, and correlations between the grading systems were established with the Spearman's rank correlation test. Survival curves were performed with Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate analysis based on Cox proportional hazard model was calculated.

RESULTS

Significant associations with survival were observed for WHO grading system and BD model in the univariate analysis, but only the BD model was significantly associated with disease outcome as an independent prognostic marker. Age, tumor size, and presence of regional metastasis were also independent markers of reduced survival.

CONCLUSION

A significant association between the BD model and outcome of OSCC patients was observed, indicating this new histopathological grading system as a possible prognostic tool.

Atopy patch test with Aleuroglyphus ovatus antigen in patients with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Epicutaneous test made with dust mite antigens.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of the response of the epicutaneous test with Aleuroglyphus ovatus antigen in atopic patients.

METHODS

We patch tested 119 individuals, 48 with atopic dermatitis, 50 with respiratory allergy and 21 healthy controls. We compare the positive response frequency to a closed patch test using Aleuroglyphus ovatus antigen in different concentrations and 48 and 96h reading times among those individuals.

RESULTS

Six patients with atopic dermatitis (12.5%) and 4 with respiratory atopy (8.0%) had positive reactions. None of the non-atopic controls had a positive response. As the antigen concentration raised, the number of positive reactions to epicutaneous test raised as well.

CONCLUSION

Our data suggest a positive relation between Atopy Patch Test positive responses and Aleuroglyphus ovatus antigen concentration, no matter the kind of the atopic clinical expression.

Cloning and characterization of COX18, a Saccharomyces cerevisiae PET gene required for the assembly of cytochrome oxidase

Nuclear mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae assigned to complementation group G34 are respiratory-deficient and lack cytochrome oxidase activity and the characteristic spectral peaks of cytochromes a and a(3). The corresponding gene was cloned by complementation, sequenced, and identified as reading frame YGR062C on chromosome VII. This gene was named COX18. The COX18 gene product is a polypeptide of 316 amino acids with a putative amino-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence and predicted transmembrane domains. Respiratory chain carriers other than cytochromes a and a(3) and the ATPase complex are present at near wild-type levels in cox18 mutants, indicating that the mutations specifically affect cytochrome oxidase. The synthesis of Cox1p and Cox3p in mutant mitochondria is normal whereas Cox2p is barely detected among labeled mitochondrial polypeptides. Transcription of COX2 does not require COX18 function, and a chimeric COX3-COX2 mRNA did not suppress the respiratory defect in the null mutant, indicating that the mutation does not impair transcription or translation of the mRNA. Western analysis of cytochrome oxidase subunits shows that inactivation of the COX18 gene greatly reduces the steady state amounts of subunit 2 and results in variable decreases in other subunits of cytochrome oxidase. A gene fusion expressing a biotinylated form of Cox18p complements cox18 mutants. Biotinylated Cox18p is a mitochondrial integral membrane protein. These results indicate Cox18p to be a new member of a group of mitochondrial proteins that function at a late stage of the cytochrome oxidase assembly pathway.

[Complications of arterial catheterization in children]

The radial artery catheterization with the purpose of children's monitoring has been more and more used in Pediatric Intensive Care Units, and many times, is use is indispensable, like in cardiac surgery post-operative cases. However, there are only a few articles on the subject among us.

PURPOSE

To analyse the complications of radial artery catheterization in the post-operative of cardiac surgery in children.

METHODS

We studied the complications of this procedure in 120 children in cardiac surgery post-operative range from 1 month to 2 years. The children were catheterized by percutaneous technique (n = 67) and by cutdown technique (n = 53). The following complications were analysed in relation to the placement time of the catheter and the used technique: local infection, hemorrhagic complication, ischemia, catheter occlusion and accidental catheter displacement.

RESULTS

Infection, ischemia and hemorrhage were more frequent and statistically significant in patients submitted to cutdown technique, while the catheter occlusion and accidental displacement were similar in both groups. The placement time of the catheter was an important variable in our study. All of the other infection cases occurred after 72 hours of the catheterization and the frequency of hemorrhage and ischemia was higher in the first 72 hours.

CONCLUSION

The main complications of this proceeding are related to the technic utilized, time of utilization of the catheter and to the characteristics of the patients.

[Inicial care in severe pediatric trauma]

OBJECTIVES: To present objectively the therapeutic aspects for the management of child victim of trauma.METHODS: The most relevant articles about the management of acute trauma were selected.RESULTS: Children possess great potential for recovery after a trauma, however, inappropriate resuscitation is the major cause of death preventable.Care in the opening and maintenance of the airways, adequate input of fluid to the child victim of politrauma or burns as well as prompt diagnosis and effective management to internal bleeding has improved prognosis and can reduce mortality considerably. Initial assessment and management of the injured child requires immediate procedures towards respiratory failure, shock and life-threatening thoracic injuries in order to provide efficient ventilation, oxyge-nation and perfusion until definitive treatment is performed. Concomitantly, the cervical spine should be protected against new injuries or progression of established injury.CONCLUSIONS: Effective actions in order to prevent accidents and rigorous laws to protect children and adolescents, associated to training and practice of specific procedures to the politraumatized child could surely reduce the unacceptable morbi-mortality in our country.

Frequencies of the butyrylcholinesterase K mutation in Brazilian populations of European and African origin

The frequency of the butyrylcholinesterase K mutation was calculated on the basis of data obtained by polymerase chain reaction primer-introduced restriction analysis (PCR-PIRA). The population sample was composed of 177 Brazilians: 95 whites of predominantly European ancestry and 82 admixed individuals (European and African origin). The frequencies--18.4 +/- 2.8% for whites and 17.1 +/- 2.9% for admixed--did not differ from those previously obtained in North America, Scotland, Japan, and Denmark. The occurrence of the K mutation in Europeans, East Asians, and Africans suggests a relatively old origin for this mutation, and the similar frequencies found in these populations may suggest the operation of selective forces.

Methylnalorphinium fails to reverse naloxone-sensitive stress-induced analgesia in mice

Exposure of mice to cold-restraint stress markedly decreased the number of abdominal constrictions induced by IP acetic acid. Naloxone pretreatment significantly attenuated the antinociceptive effect of cold-restraint stress, suggesting a partial mediation by opioid mechanisms. Pretreatment with the quaternary opioid antagonist methylnalorphinium did not reverse analgesia in stressed mice. Also, nociception in both stressed and non-stressed mice was not modified by pretreatment with the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor blocker yohimbine. The results suggest that cold-restraint stress promotes analgesia in mice which is mediated in part by opioid but not alpha 2-adrenoceptor mechanisms. Furthermore, the results do not substantiate a peripheral analgesic role for circulating opioids in this model of stress.