This article aims to bring visibility to the use of humor as a mechanism of structural racism and the marks left on the body-territory of black adolescent girls who are students in a public school in the city of Governador Valadares, MG. The study draws on authors who discuss race and black feminist authors, conceptually operating with recreational racism, intersectionality, and body-territory. Empirical material was produced in thematic workshops, and the narratives brought by the 12 students participating in the research were analyzed through episodic analysis. The narrated episodes denounce the marks on the body-territory of these adolescents, as well as the naturalization of race and gender oppression, instrumentalized by recreational racism that appears in daily school life. This presence creates and reaffirms stereotypes about the category "black woman", provokes desires to stay away from school to avoid being the target of "jokes" and/or "pranks", and questioning their own humanity, reflecting if their appearances resemble the animals used to "insult" them. The adolescents denounce the silencing of the school in the face of this type of "humor", putting pressure on its naturalization and challenging us, as educators, to take a stance against these silences that engender exclusions and the naturalization of racism, among other mechanisms, disguised as humor but need to be named as recreational racism.

O objetivo deste artigo é trazer à visibilidade a utilização do humor como mecanismo do racismo estrutural e as marcas deixadas nos corpos-território de adolescentes negras, estudantes da educação básica de uma escola pública da cidade de Governador Valadares — MG. O estudo apoiou-se em autores que discutem raça e autoras do feminismo negro, operando conceitualmente com racismo recreativo, interseccionalidade e corpo-território. O material empírico foi produzido em oficinas temáticas e as narrativas trazidas pelas 12 estudantes, participantes da pesquisa, foram analisadas por meio da análise episódica.  Os episódios narrados denunciam as marcas nos corpos-território dessas adolescentes, assim como a naturalização de opressões de raça e gênero, instrumentalizadas pelo racismo recreativo que comparece no cotidiano escolar. Esse comparecimento cria e reafirma estereótipos sobre a categoria “mulher negra”, provoca desejos de afastamento da escola para não serem alvo de “piadas” e/ou “brincadeiras”, e questionamentos sobre sua própria humanidade, ao refletirem se suas aparências se assemelham aos animais utilizados para “xingá-las”. As adolescentes denunciam os silenciamentos da escola frente a esse tipo de “humor”, tensionando a sua naturalização e nos provocam, como educadores/as, a posicionarmos contra esses silenciamentos que engendram exclusões e a naturalização do racismo, entre outros mecanismos, os disfarçados de humor, mas que precisam ser nomeados como racismo recreativo.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The clinical manifestations of cryptococcosis are usually associated with the infecting agents Cryptococcus neoformans (CN) and C. gattii (CG) species complexes and the host. In this study, non-HIV-infected patients, at a university hospital in southeastern Brazil, had epidemiological and clinical data associated with cryptococcal disease and isolated Cryptococcus species: CN - 24 patients and CG - 12 patients. METHODS: The comparison was comprised of demographic data, predisposing factors, clinical and laboratory manifestations, and outcomes of cryptococcosis patients treated between 2000 and 2016. Immunocompetent and immunosuppressed patients were also compared, irrespective of the infecting species. Cryptococcus spp. were genotyped by PCR-RFLP analysis of the URA5 gene. RESULTS: Infections by the CN species complex (100% VNI genotype) were associated with drug immunosuppression and fungemia, and patients infected with the CG species complex (83% VG II and 17% VGI genotypes) had more evident environmental exposure and higher humoral response. CN and CG affected patients with or without comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes mellitus, other chronic non-infectious diseases, and alcoholism were likely predisposing factors for infection by both CN and CG species. Immunocompetent patients, independent of the infecting Cryptococcus species complexes, showed a higher occurrence of meningitis and a trend toward less fungal dissemination and longer survival than immunosuppressed hosts.

ABSTRACT Paracoccidioidomycosis caused by Paracoccidioides lutzii is endemic in the Midwest of Brazil and its clinical spectrum is still little known due to the recent identification of this fungal species. A patient resident in Southeast Brazil, but who had lived for many years in the Midwest region, presented with skin injuries, chronic cough and bilateral adrenal involvement. Paracoccidioides spp. was isolated in culture from a skin lesion biopsy. This isolate was later identified as P. lutzii using gene sequencing. A favorable initial response to treatment with itraconazole was observed, but a few weeks later, the patient developed respiratory failure and worsening of lung lesions. Evaluation by computed tomography and echocardiography were suggestive of pulmonary arterial hypertension, and a bronchoscopic biopsy showed peribronchial remodeling. The patient completed the antifungal treatment but maintained the respiratory dysfunction. The reported case shows that P. lutzii can be isolated from patients in a geographic area far from the place of infection acquisition and that, as P. brasiliensis , it can cause adrenal injury and cardio-respiratory complications as a consequence of excessive necrosis and fibrosis.

Abstract INTRODUCTION: The therapeutic efficacy of daily amphotericin B infusion is related to its maximum concentration in blood; however, trough levels may be useful in intermittent regimens of this antifungal drug. METHODS : High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to determine the minimum concentration (Cmin) of amphotericin B in the serum of patients receiving deoxycholate (D-Amph) or liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis (n=28), histoplasmosis (n=8), paracoccidioidomycosis (n=1), and leishmaniasis (n=1). RESULTS: Daily use of D-Amph 30 to 50 mg or L-AmB 50 mg resulted in a similar Cmin, but a significant increase ocurred with L-AmB 100 mg/day. The geometric mean Cmin tended to decrease with a reduction in the dose and frequency of intermittent L-AmB infusions: 357 ng/mL (100 mg 4 to 5 times/week) > 263 ng/mL (50 mg 4 to 5 times/week) > 227 ng/mL (50 mg 1 to 3 times/week). The impact on Cmin was variable in patients whose dose or therapeutic scheme was changed, especially when administered the intermittent infusion of amphotericin B. The mean Cmin for each L-AmB schedule of intermittent therapy was equal or higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration of amphotericin B against Cryptococcus isolates from 10/12 patients. The Cmin of amphotericin B in patients with cryptococcal meningitis was comparable between those that survived or died. CONCLUSIONS: By evaluating the Cmin of amphotericin B, we demonstrated the therapeutic potential of its intermittent use including in the consolidation phase of neurocryptococcosis treatment, despite the great variability in serum levels among patients.

Abstract Phylogenetic species of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis complex (S1a and S1b, PS2, PS3, and PS4) and Paracoccidioides lutzii are agents of paracoccidioidomycosis, an endemic fungal disease in Latin America. P. restrepiensis (PS3 genotype) was classified as monophyletic and geographically restricted to Colombia and neighboring territories. BAT (or Pb-327B) was isolated from a patient living in the southeast region of Brazil but with genotype similar to Colombian Paracoccidioides spp. strains. This study aimed to define the phylogenetic species of BAT isolate by using additional genotyping methods, as well as reviewing the epidemiological and clinical studies related to P. restrepiensis isolates. Genomic DNA of BAT isolate and reference strains of P. brasiliensis sensu stricto (S1b), P. americana (PS2), P. restrepiensis (PS3), and P. lutzii were analyzed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of partial gp43 exon 2 loci, by PCR-RFLP technique of tub1 gene, and by sequencing of the whole gp43 exon 2 loci. Here, we show that BAT isolate belongs to P. restrepiensis species, which is an unusual identification in southeastern Brazil, where P. brasiliensis sensu stricto is the prevalent genotype. This identification has relevance for geographical distribution and propagation of the genus Paracoccidioides in South America.

ABSTRACT Fluconazole is extensively used for the treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcosis. Among other factors, successful treatment is related to appropriate fluconazole levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. In the present study, fluconazole levels were determined in 15 patients, 14 of whom had AIDS and 13 had neurocryptococcosis. The only selection criterion was treatment with fluconazole, which was performed with a generic or similar form of the drug. Fluconazole level was determined by high performance liquid chromatography and the susceptibility profile of Cryptococcus spp. isolated from the patients was assessed by broth microdilution. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid fluconazole levels were found to be related to the fluconazole daily dose, and exceeded the minimum inhibitory concentration of this antifungal for the Cryptococcus spp. isolates. A good correlation was observed between serum and cerebrospinal fluid drug concentration. In conclusion, treatment with non-original fluconazole under usual medical practice conditions results in appropriate blood and cerebrospinal fluid levels of the drug for inhibiting Cryptococcus spp. susceptible to this antifungal drug. The relatively common failures of neurocryptococcosis treatment appear not to be due to insufficient fluconazole levels in the cerebrospinal fluid, especially with the use of daily doses of 400–800 mg.

ABSTRACT One of the factors causing treatment failure in cryptococcosis is the resistance of Cryptococcus spp. to antifungal drugs, which has motivated the susceptibility assessment of isolates from patients with cryptococcosis, different clinical conditions and infections outcomes. Clinical isolates of Cryptococcus spp. from three different groups of patients were studied in the present investigation: 19 HIV-positive patients with relapsing and/or refractory meningitis (Group 1), 30 HIV-positive patients who experienced a single and limited episode of cryptococcosis (Group 2), and 19 HIV-negative patients with cryptococcosis (Group 3). Eighty C. neoformans var. grubii isolates and 7 C. gattii isolates were studied. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B, azole drugs and flucytosine was determined for Cryptococcus spp. by broth microdilution test and E-test. The MIC50 and MIC90 were 0.25 and 0.50 µg/mL for amphotericin B, 4.0 and 8.0 µg /mL for fluconazole, 0.06 and 0.25 µg/mL for itraconazole, 0.25 and 0.50 µg/mL for voriconazole, and 8.0 and 16.0 µg/mL for flucytosine, respectively. Amphotericin B and itraconazole showed higher MICs for C. neoformans var. grubii and C. gattii, respectively. The MICs of fluconazole and itraconazole obtained with the E-test were higher than those obtained with broth microdilution. Isolates from non-HIV coinfected were less sensitive to the azoles. There was no difference in the susceptibility of C. neoformans var. grubii isolates from patients with a favorable or unfavorable outcome or along the episodes of relapsing and/or refractory meningitis.

O Cerrado Rupestre corresponde a uma formação savânica do bioma Cerrado, ocorre em relevos acidentados e em meio a afloramentos rochosos, apresenta elevada biodiversidade e várias espécies endêmicas e funciona como barreira para a expansão agrícola. No estado de Goiás, ocorrências expressivas dessa fitofisionomia são encontradas no Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros (PNCV). O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma nova abordagem metodológica para discriminar Cerrado Rupestre do PNCV com base em imagens multitemporais do satélite Landsat. Sete cenas do referido satélite foram convertidas para reflectância de superfície terrestre com suporte do algoritmo de correção atmosférica denominado FLAASH (Fast Line-of-Sight Atmospheric Analysis of Spectral Hypercubes). Em seguida, os valores de reflectância de cada cena foram somados e as imagens resultantes foram processadas por meio da técnica de segmentação de imagens por crescimento de regiões. Os segmentos foram exportados para o formato shape e os polígonos correspondentes ao Cerrado Rupestre foram identificados por meio de análise visual na tela do computador da composição colorida falsa-cor das bandas 3, 4 e 5. Foram mapeados 24.451 hectares de Cerrado Rupestre, o que corresponde a 37% da área do parque. A exatidão global do mapeamento foi de 85%. Como continuação desta linha de pesquisa, recomenda-se a inclusão de um número maior de cenas, principalmente da estação chuvosa, a integração dos dados de sensoriamento remoto com modelos digitais de elevação e a análise sinergística entre os sensores ETM+ e TM do Landsat com calibração cruzada.

The Rupestrian Cerrado (Cerrado Rupestre) corresponds to a shrub-like vegetation of the Brazilian tropical savanna biome, occurs mainly over hilly topography and rocky outcrops, presents high biodiversity and several endemic species, and acts as barrier for agricultural expansion. In the State of Goias, large occurrences of this type of vegetation are found in the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (PNCV - Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Veadeiros). Rupestrian Cerrado mapping using remotely sensed data is difficult because of the spectral confusion with other phytophysiognomies, especially with Dry Forest in dry season images and with Cerrado strictu sensu in wet season images. The goal of this study was to develop a new approach to discriminate Rupestrian Cerrado based on multitemporal Landsat satellite images. The study area was the PNCV. Seven Landsat scenes were converted into surface reflectances with support of FLAASH (Fast Line-of-Sight Atmospheric Analysis of Spectral Hypercubes) atmospheric correction algorithm. The reflectances from each ETM+ band were summed and the resulting images were processed through the image segmentation technique by growing region. The segments were exported into shapefile format and the polygons related to the Rupestrian Cerrado were identified by visual analysis of the false color composite of bands 3, 4 and 5 in the computer screen. We found 24,451 hectares of Rupestrian Cerrado, which corresponds to 37% of total area of the park. The global accuracy of the mapping was 85%. As ongoing research, we recommend the inclusion of a higher number of scenes, mainly from wet season, the data integration of satellite images with digital elevation models, and the synergistic analysis of cross-calibrated Landsat ETM+ and TM data sets.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as características microbiológicas em farinhas de mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) simples e temperadas, armazenadas durante 180 dias. Os materiais consistiram de cinco amostras, sendo uma de farinha de mandioca sem mistura (simples) e as demais de farinhas de mandioca temperadas. A farinha simples foi embalada em sacos de polietileno de baixa densidade com capacidade de 1,0kg e as farinhas temperadas foram embaladas em sacos plásticos de polipropileno pigmentado, com capacidade 0,5kg. Em todas as amostras, foram realizadas contagens de coliformes fecais, Staphylococcus aureus, bactérias mesófilas, bolores e leveduras e pesquisa de Salmonella sp. As análises foram realizadas em intervalos de 30 dias. Não foram detectadas diferenças entre as características microbiológicas das amostras simples e das temperadas. O armazenamento não alterou os padrões microbiológicos das amostras. As amostras apresentaram esterilidade para coliformes fecais, Salmonella sp. e Staphylococcus aureus. Os valores encontrados para coliformes fecais, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, bactérias mesófilas e para bolores e leveduras estavam dentro dos padrões fixados pela legislação brasileira.

This work was accomplished with the aim of evaluating the microbiological characteristic in cassava flours (Manihot esculenta Crantz) simple and temperate, stored during 180 days. The materials consisted of five samples, being one of cassava flour without mixture (simple) and the others of temperate cassava flours. The simple flour was packed in polyethylen bags of low density with capacity of 1,0kg and the temperate flours were packed in colored polipropilen bags, with capacity of 0.5kg. In all the samples fecal coliformes, Staphylococcus aureus, mesophile bacterias, yeasts counting and Salmonella sp research were accomplished. The analyses were accomplished in intervals of 30 days. Differences were not detected among the microbiological characteristic of the simple samples and the temperate ones. The storage didn’t affect the microbiological standard of the samples. The samples presented sterility for fecal coliformes, Salmonella sp. and Staphylococcus aureus. The values found for fecal coliformes, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, mesophile bacterias and yeasts were inside the patterns fastened by the Brazilian legislation.