Determining outcomes and predictors of mortality following discharge from tuberculosis (TB) hospitalization is crucial to establish health policies. The objective of this study was to analyze outcomes and, secondarily, predictors of mortality following discharge from TB hospitalization. This was a prospective cohort study of patients diagnosed with TB (all forms) discharged from the hospital who began treatment during hospitalization. Out of 169 subjects included, 38 died during the 13-months of follow-up, within a median of 3 months (95%CI: 1.49-4.51). In the multivariate analysis, the variables independently associated with death were age (HR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.001), presence of sputum production (HR=2.18, 95%CI: 1.09-4.34, P=0.027), and Charlson Comorbidity Index (HR=1.19, 95%CI: 1.04-1.36, P=0.015). In conclusion, post-discharge mortality in subjects hospitalized for TB was 22.5%, with mean survival of 4.6 months. The mortality was higher in older subjects, in those who reported sputum production, and in those with a high comorbidity index.

Resumo Este trabalho tem como objetivo introduzir e discutir a metodologia de Shaw-Deser para descrever a interação entre matéria e radiação via simetria de calibre (abeliana/não abeliana). Nas entrelinhas, a mensagem que pretendemos passar é como a “impressão digital” da simetria de calibre local está contida na simetria de calibre global, por meio de uma interação corrente-campo (Dirac/Schwinger) e uma análise mais algébrica (iterativa), complementando a abordagem geométrica de Yang-Mills/Utiyama.

Abstract The aim of this work is to present and discuss the Shaw-Deser methodology to describe the interaction between matter and radiation by gauge symmetry (abelian/non-abelian). Between the lines, the message we intend to convey is how the “ fingerprint ” of local gauge symmetry is contained in global gauge symmetry, through a current-field interaction (Dirac/Schwinger) and a more algebraic (iterative) analysis, complementing the geometrical approach of Yang-Mills/Utiyama.

RESUMO Os objetivos deste estudo foram relatar a dinâmica folicular ovariana e a concentração plasmática de progesterona durante ciclos estrais de duração irregular em cabras da raça Alpina. Vinte e nove cabras tiveram sua atividade ovariana monitorada diariamente por ultrassonografia transretal durante um, dois ou três períodos interovulatórios consecutivos. Amostras de sangue foram coletadas para análise da concentração plasmática de progesterona. Dos 47 ciclos avaliados, 28 (59,57%) foram de duração normal (17 a 25 dias), sete (14,89%) de curta duração (<17 dias) e 12 (25,53%) de longa duração (>25 dias). Os ciclos estrais de curta duração tiveram 6,14±0,69 dias e uma onda folicular que emergiu no dia 0,43±1,13. Os ciclos estrais de longa duração tiveram entre 26 e 79 dias, com duas a nove ondas foliculares. Os ciclos estrais de curta duração ocorreram durante a estação reprodutiva e foram associados à regressão prematura do corpo lúteo (CL). Os ciclos estrais de longa duração ocorreram na transição entre o anestro e a estação reprodutiva e foram associados principalmente à persistência do CL ou à fase folicular prolongada.

Levamisole has been increasingly used as an adulterant of cocaine in recent years, emerging as a public health challenge worldwide. Levamisole-associated toxicity manifests clinically as a systemic vasculitis, consisting of cutaneous, hematological, and renal lesions, among others. Purpura retiform, cutaneous necrosis, intravascular thrombosis, neutropenia, and less commonly crescentic nephritis have been described in association with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCAs) and other autoantibodies. Here we report the case of a 49-year-old male who was a chronic cocaine user, and who presented spontaneous weight loss, arthralgia, and 3 weeks before admission purpuric skin lesions in the earlobes and in the anterior thighs. His laboratory tests on admission showed serum creatinine of 4.56 mg/dL, white blood count 3,800/μL, hemoglobin 7.3 g/dL, urinalysis with 51 white blood cells/μL and 960 red blood cells/μL, and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio 1.20. Serum ANCA testing was positive (>1:320), as well as serum anti-myeloperoxidase and anti-proteinase 3 antibodies. Urine toxicology screen was positive for cocaine and levamisole, with 62.8% of cocaine, 32.2% of levamisole, and 5% of an unidentified substance. Skin and renal biopsies were diagnostic for leukocytoclastic vasculitis and pauci-immune crescentic glomerulonephritis, respectively. The patient showed a good clinical response to cocaine abstinence, and use of corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide. Last serum creatinine was 1.97 mg/dL, white blood cell count 7,420/μL, and hemoglobin level 10.8 g/dL. In levamisole-induced systemic vasculitis, the early institution of cocaine abstinence, concomitant with the use of immunosuppressive drugs in severe cases, may prevent permanent end organ damage and associate with better clinical outcomes.

HIV infection has a broad spectrum of renal manifestations. This study examined the clinical and histological manifestations of HIV-associated renal disease, and predictors of renal outcomes. Sixty-one (64% male, mean age 45 years) HIV patients were retrospectively evaluated. Clinical presentation and renal histopathology were assessed, as well as CD4 T-cell count and viral load. The predictive value of histological lesion, baseline CD4 cell count and viral load for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or death were determined using the Cox regression model. The outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and ESRD or death were evaluated by baseline CD4 cell count. The percent distribution at initial clinical presentation was non-nephrotic proteinuria (54%), acute kidney injury (28%), nephrotic syndrome (23%), and chronic kidney disease (22%). Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (28%), mainly the collapsing form (HIVAN), acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) (26%), and immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis (ICGN) (25%) were the predominant renal histology. Baseline CD4 cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 was a protective factor against CKD (hazard ratio=0.997; 95%CI=0.994-0.999; P=0.012). At last follow-up, 64% of patients with baseline CD4 ≥200 cells/mm3 had eGFR >60 mL·min-1·(1.73 m2)-1 compared to the other 35% of patients who presented with CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (log rank=9.043, P=0.003). In conclusion, the main histological lesion of HIV-associated renal disease was HIVAN, followed by AIN and ICGN. These findings reinforce the need to biopsy HIV patients with kidney impairment and/or proteinuria. Baseline CD4 cell count ≥200 cells/mm3 was associated with better renal function after 2 years of follow-up.

RESUMO:O presente estudo descreve as características morfo-anatômicas dos órgãos vegetativos e do pó da Piper ovatum Vahl de modo que os dados obtidos possam ser utilizados como referência em análises de controle de qualidade de amostras de fármacos, a fim de verificar sua autenticidade. As raízes, caules, pecíolos e folhas foram fixadas, seccionadas à mão livre e coradas, as secções transversais e paradérmicas foram analisadas por microscopia óptica e a superfície do limbo foi observada, também, por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV). Os órgãos vegetativos da P. ovatumapresentam morfologia e anatomia similar às outras espécies dePiper. No entanto, não foram observadas inclusões celulares nas folhas de P. ovatum. Análises por MEV mostraram a presença de tricomas glandulares constituídos de pedúnculo unicelular e porção secretora globóide igualmente unicelular recoberto por cutícula, na epiderme abaxial das folhas. Também foi observada a presença de uma cutícula espessa e que origina crostas no limite entre uma célula e outra, em ambas as superfícies foliares. No mesófilo foi observada a presença de idioblastos oleíferos característica marcante de outras espécies de Piperaceae. Além disso, na microscopia do pó foram observados hipoderme e idioblastos oleíferos em fragmentos do limbo, fragmentos de fibras esclerenquimáticas do caule, além de células esclerosas isoladas ou em grupos no pecíolo. O perfil cromatográfico do extrato hidroetanólico das folhas de P. ovatum foi obtido por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE). Nas análises por CLAE foram identificados como substâncias majoritárias do extrato as amidas piperovatina e piperlonguminina nos tempos de retenção de 10,25 e 10,81 min., respectivamente.

ABSTRACT:The present study describes the morphological and anatomical characteristics of vegetative organs and powder of the Piper ovatum Vahl, in order to use the obtained data as reference in the quality control tests of pharmaceutical samples, investigating their authenticity. The roots, stems, petioles and leaves were fixed, freehand sectioned and stained according to usual microtechniques. The transverse and paradermal sections were analyzed by optical microscopy and the leaf surface was also observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The vegetative organs of the P. ovatum show morphology and anatomy similar to other species of Piper. However, cellular inclusions were not observed in the P. ovatumleaves. The SEM analysis showed the presence of glandular trichomes consisting of a unicellular stalk and globular secretory portion covered by cuticle on the abaxial surface of the leaves. The SEM also had shown one thick cuticle forming crusts in the limit of the epidermal cells, on both leaf surfaces. In the mesophyll, we observed oil idioblasts, which are typical features of other species of Piperaceae. Moreover, in the powder of the P. ovatumwe observed hypodermis and oil idioblasts in leaf fragments, fragments of sclerenchyma fibers from the stem and isolated sclereids or in petiole groups. The chromatographic profile of the hydroethanolic extract of the P. ovatum leaves was obtained by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In this analysis, we identified the amides piperovatine and piperlonguminine in the retention times of 10.25 and 10.81 min., respectively, as majority compounds present in the extract.

O presente estudo mostra uma relação entre o comportamento das espécies ativas do plasma com as propriedades superficiais do titânio. Para tanto, espécies ativas como N2+ (391,4 nm) e O (844,6 nm) foram analisadas por espectroscopia de emissão óptica (OES) em plasma produzido por uma mistura de gases N2 - Ar - O2. O fluxo de nitrogênio e argônio foram fixados em 1 e 4 sccm (centímetro cúbico padrão), respectivamente e o fluxo de oxigênio foi variado entre 2 e 4 sccm. Este processo apresentou uma não linearidade da intensidade da espécie N2+(391,4 nm) com o aumento do fluxo de O2, onde no fluxo de 3 sccm apresentou maior intensidade comparado com os demais fluxos utilizados. Foi observado que as espécies ativas influenciam na modificação das propriedades após o tratamento a plasma. As espécies N2+ (391,4 nm) mostraram ser mais efetivas na formação de fases de nitreto. Os parâmetros de rugosidade foram mais altos quando as espécies N2+ (391,4 nm) apresentavam maior intensidade. A dureza foi maior para o fluxo onde houve maior intensidade da espécie N2+ (391,4 nm). Medidas de tensão superficial também apresentaram maiores valores para o fluxo onde as espécies N2+ (391,4 nm) estavam em maior evidência. Enquanto, a espécie N2+ (391,4 nm) influenciou na componente dispersiva, a espécie O (844,6 nm) teve influência na componente polar.

The present study correlates plasma active species with titanium surface properties. This was achieved by performing optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analysis of N2+ (391.4 nm) and O (844.6 nm) within a N2-Ar-O2 plasma. The fluxes of gases were established to be 1 and 4 sccm (standard cubic centimeter) for nitrogen and argon, while that of oxygen was varied between 2 and 4 sccm. A non-linearity of the intensity of N2+ (391.4 nm) species with the increase on O2 flux was observed with an intensity peak at 3 sccm. It was also concluded that the active species influence the modification of properties after the plasma treatment. The N2+ (391.4 nm) species were more effective to form nitrides and the surface roughness was bigger when those species presented higher intensity. Surface hardness and surface stress were also higher whenever using higher intensity fluxes of N2+ (391.4 nm). Furthermore, while the N2+ (391.4 nm) specie influenced the dispersive component, the O (844.6 nm) specie influenced the polar component.

The efficiency of microbiological culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Salmonella Typhimurium is compared in fecal samples of Holstein calves experimentally infected with 10(9) CFU of Salmonella Typhimurium. Seventy-two fecal samples were analyzed by microbiological culture and PCR associated with selenite cystine (SC) and Muller-Kauffmann tethrationate (TMK) selective enrichment broths. Regardless of the selective enrichment broth, the microbiological culture was significantly better than PCR for detection of positive samples of Salmonella Typhimurium. The selective enrichment broths SC and TMK had no effect on the efficiency of the microbiological culture. The SC broth was the best option as selective enrichment associated to PCR.

In this work, the treatment of synthetic wastewaters containing Methyl Green (MG) by anodic oxidation using Ti/PbO2 anodes was investigated. Galvanostatic electrolyses of MG synthetic wastewaters have led to the complete decolourization removal at different current density values (10, 20 and 40 mA cm-2), temperatures (25, 40 and 60°C) and agitation rate (100, 200 and 300 rpm). According to the experimental results obtained in this work, the electrochemical oxidation process is suitable for removing TOC and decolourising wastewaters containing MG dye, due to the electrocatalytic properties of Ti/PbO2 anode. In general, the energy requirements for removing color during galvanostatic electrolyses of MG synthetic solutions depends mainly on the applied current density; it passes from 0.29 kWh at 10 mA cm-2 to 1.64 kWh at 40 mA cm-2 per volume of treated effluent removed (m-3). The results are described and discussed in the light of the existing literature.

The efficiency of the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) combined with selective enrichment broth was compared with the standard microbiological techniques for detection of Salmonella Dublin in fecal samples of 10 to 15-days-old Holstein calves, experimentally infected with 10(8) CFU of Salmonella Dublin. Seventy-six fecal samples were analyzed using PCR associated with selenite cystine (SC) and Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate (TMK) broths and standard microbiological techniques. Regardless of the selective enrichment broth used, the standard microbiological techniques were significantly better than PCR in detection of positive samples of Salmonella Dublin. However, the simultaneous use of both techniques provided detection of a larger number of positive samples. The SC broth was the best option as selective enrichment in both techniques.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo isolar e identificar a microflora bacteriana aeróbica presente na mucosa da cavidade oral e da cloaca de exemplares de jacarés-de-papo-amarelo (Caiman latirostris) nascidos e criados em cativeiro no Parque Zoológico Arruda Câmara, localizado na cidade de João Pessoa - PB. As bactérias mais freqüentes foram Staphylococcus sp. (14,74%), Corynebacterium sp.(13,68%), Escherichia coli (13,68%) e Shigella sp. (11,58%), e as menos prevalentes foram Citrobacter sp.(1,05%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1,05%) e Salmonella sp. (1,05%). Ressalta-se a importância da participação desses microrganismos em processos infecciosos (septicemias) e em feridas provocadas por crocodilianos.

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify the aerobic bacterial microflora from the oral cavity mucosa and cloaca's samples, collected from Broad-snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris), born and bred in captivity at Parque Zoológico Arruda Câmara, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. The most common bacteria were Staphylococcus sp. (14.74%), Corynebacterium sp. (13.68%), Escherichia coli (13.68%) and Shigella sp. (11.58%), and the less common were Citrobacter sp. (1.05%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.05%) and Salmonella sp. (1.05%).This emphasizes the importance of these microorganisms' participation in infectious processes (sepsis) and injuries caused by crocodilians.

RESUMO Com o objetivo de estudar a freqüência de agentes bacterianos envolvidos nos processos inflamatórios clínicos e subclínicos da glândula mamária de búfalas e realizar o perfil de sensibilidade dos agentes isolados, foram estudadas 128 búfalas em lactação, totalizando 512 quartos mamários. Realizou-se o “California Mastitis Test” para diagnóstico da freqüência de casos subclínicos e o exame físico da glândula mamária e teste da caneca telada para identificar os casos clínicos. As amostras de leite foram colhidas dos quartos que apresentaram reação ao C.M.T. (escores 1+, 2+, 3+) e daqueles com mastite clínica, sendo posteriormente realizados os exames microbiológicos para a identificação dos agentes envolvidos, além dos testes de sensibilidade a antimicrobianos. Observaram-se bactérias isoladas e associações destas em casos clínicos e subclínicos da doença, destacando-se o Staphylococcus coagulase negativa como o mais freqüente. Os testes de sensibilidade in vitro demonstraram maior eficácia para os antibióticos gentamicina (97,98%), florfenicol (93,94%) e enrofloxacina (90,90%). A gentamicina apresentou 100% de eficácia no tratamento dos casos clínicos, sendo considerada uma boa opção para o controle da doença no rebanho estudado.

ABSTRACT With the objective of examining the frequency of bacterial agents involved in the clinical and subclinical inflammatory processes of the mammary glands of buffalos and to study the sensitivity profile of the isolated agents 128 lactating buffalos (a total of 512 mammary quarters) were examined. The “California Mastitis Test” was the method used for the diagnosis of frequency of subclinical cases and physical examination of the udder and a screened mug test for identification of the clinical cases. Samples of milk were collected from the quarters that showed a reaction to CMT (scores 1+, 2+, 3+) and from those with clinical mastitis. All samples were previously microbiologically tested for the identification of the agents involved together with the sensitivity tests and antimicrobials. The results indicated that the bacteria isolated and associated in the clinical and subclinical cases of the disease were mainly Staphylococcus coagulase negative.The in vitrosensitivity tests showed greater efficacy for gentamicin antibiotics (97.98%), florfenicol (93.94%) and enrophloxine (90.90%). Gentamicin showed 100% efficacy in the treatment of the clinical cases and was considered the best treatment for the control of the disease in the herd in this study.

RESUMO A mastite, inflamação da glândula mamária, é uma das principais doenças da bovinocultura de leite tendo como principal agente infeccioso bactérias do gênero Staphylococcus spp. que comumente apresentam resistência aos antibióticos utilizados no tratamento da mastite. Desta forma, objetivouse com este estudo traçar o perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana de 59 cepas de estafilococos coagulase positivo, isolados de amostras de leite de vaca com mastite. Os testes de sensibilidade antimicrobiana foram realizados através da técnica de difusão com discos para 13 antibióticos, verificando-se que os mais eficazes foram a vancomicina com 100% de sensibilidade e a norfloxacina com 96%. O menos eficaz foi a penicilina com 20% de sensibilidade. Em alguns municípios estudados as cepas de estafilococos apresentaram resistência múltipla para 6 a 9 antibióticos simultaneamente. Conclui-se que a análise da sensibilidade antimicrobiana in vitro deve ser considerada pelos proprietários antes da tomada de decisões para a escolha do tratamento adequado para reduzir perdas na produção de leite e em programas de controle da doença em questão.

ABSTRACT Mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland, is one of the main diseases of milk cattle, having as the main infectious agent the Staphylococcus spp. bacteria, which commonly presents resistance to the antibiotics used in the treatment of mastitis. For this reason, this study was aimed at drawing the profile of anti-microbial sensibility of 59 strains of coagulase-positive staphylococcus, isolated from samples of cow milk with mastitis. The tests of anti-microbial sensibility were accomplished through a diffusion technique with disks for 13 antibiotics, it being verified that the most effective were vancomycin with 100% of susceptibility and norfloxacin with 96%. The least effective was penicillin with 20% of susceptibility. In some of the studied coutries the staphylococcus strains presented multiple resistance to from 6 to 9 antibiotics simultaneously. The conclusion is that the analysis of the anti-microbial susceptibility in vitro should be considered by the proprietors before taking decisions about the choice of the appropriate treatment in order to reduce losses in the production of milk and in control programs of the disease in question.