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Abstract Chagas disease (CD) is considered a typical low-income population sickness of the developing countries in Latin America. Given the historical relevance of CD in individuals in southern Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil, the aim of this study was to identify the knowledge of the CD and its vectors by cardiac patients, and the prevalence of anti-T cruzi antibodies in these individuals in Pelotas, city located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. The subjects with cardiac disease were submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire as well as two serological tests in order to detect anti-T. cruzi IgG antibodies. Of the individuals that born in municipalities showing the highest triatomine infestation rates in recent decades, 81.8% were able to recognize the vector insect (p = 0.0042; OR = 5.9), and 83.3% reported either themselves or someone in their families to have CD (p = 0.043, OR = 5.2). Of the 54 patients submitted to serological analysis, only 01 patient (1.9%) was positive for anti-T. cruzi antibodies, a 55 year old man from the rural area of Canguçu county. This study provides support for the evaluation to be extended to other cardiology centers, given the importance of Chagas disease in Brazil. Resumo A doença de Chagas (DC) é considerada uma doença típica da população de baixa renda dos países em desenvolvimento da América Latina. Dada a relevância histórica da DC em indivíduos do sul do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS), o objetivo deste estudo foi identificar o conhecimento da doença de Chagas (DC) e seus vetores em pacientes cardíacos, e a prevalência de anticorpos anti-T cruzi nesses indivíduos, em Pelotas, cidade localizada no Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brasil. Os pacientes cardiopatas foram submetidos a um questionário semiestruturado, e também a dois testes sorológicos para detecção de anticorpos anti-T. cruzi IgG. Dos indivíduos que nasceram em municípios com as maiores taxas de infestação por triatomíneos nas últimas décadas, 81,8% foram capazes de reconhecer o inseto vetor (p = 0,0042; OR = 5,9), e 83,3% relataram que eles próprios ou alguém em suas famílias tem DC (p = 0,043, OR = 5,2). Dos 54 pacientes submetidos à análise sorológica, apenas 01 paciente (1,9%) foi positivo para anticorpos anti-T.cruzi, um homem de 55 anos da área rural do município de Canguçu. Este estudo fornece subsídios para que a avaliação seja estendida a outros centros de cardiologia, devido à importância da doença de Chagas no Brasil.

Chagas disease (CD) is considered a typical low-income population sickness of the developing countries in Latin America. Given the historical relevance of CD in individuals in southern Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil, the aim of this study was to identify the knowledge of the CD and its vectors by cardiac patients, and the prevalence of anti-Z cruzi antibodies in these individuals in Pelotas, city located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. The subjects with cardiac disease were submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire as well as two serological tests in order to detect anti-71 cruzi IgG antibodies. Of the individuals that born in municipalities showing the highest triatomine infestation rates in recent decades, 81.8% were able to recognize the vector insect (p = 0.0042; OR = 5.9), and 83.3% reported either themselves or someone in their families to have CD (p = 0.043, OR = 5.2). Of the 54 patients submitted to serological analysis, only 01 patient (1.9%) was positive for anti-T. cruzi antibodies, a 55 year old man from the rural area of Cangucu county. This study provides support for the evaluation to be extended to other cardiology centers, given the importance of Chagas disease in Brazil.

Background Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) is not a disease subject to mandatory reporting in Brazil, and the prevalence rate of this genital infection varies according to the region in which studies are conducted, as well as by the detection technique employed. Ct has been associated with persistence of Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the facilitation of cervical carcinoma development. We evaluated the Chlamydia trachomatis infection and its association with cytology, p16/Ki-67 dual-stained cytology and cervical intraepithelial lesions status in a screening cohort in Brazil. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 1481 cervical samples from asymptomatic women aged 18 to 64. Samples were collected for liquid-based cytology and Ct detection by polymerase chain reaction. p16/Ki-67 double staining was performed on samples with abnormal cytology. Statistical analysis was by chi-square and likelihood-ratio tests. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were determined. Results The frequency of Ct was 15.6% and its presence was not associated with detection of p16/Ki-67 [OR = 1.35 (0.5–3.4)]. There was also no association between abnormal cervical cytology and Ct -positivity [OR = 1.21 (0.46–3.2)]. Associations were observed between p16/Ki-67 and high-grade lesions detected by cytology and in biopsies [OR = 3.55 (1.50–8.42) and OR = 19.00 (0.6–7.2), respectively]. Conclusions The asymptomatic women in our study had a high frequency of Ct infection but this was not associated with p16/Ki-67 detection in samples with abnormal cytology. The expression of p16/Ki-67 was highest in women with high-grade CIN ( p  = 0.003).

Abstract Chagas disease (CD) is considered a typical low-income population sickness of the developing countries in Latin America. Given the historical relevance of CD in individuals in southern Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State, Brazil, the aim of this study was to identify the knowledge of the CD and its vectors by cardiac patients, and the prevalence of anti-T cruzi antibodies in these individuals in Pelotas, city located in Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state, Brazil. The subjects with cardiac disease were submitted to a semi-structured questionnaire as well as two serological tests in order to detect anti-T. cruzi IgG antibodies. Of the individuals that born in municipalities showing the highest triatomine infestation rates in recent decades, 81.8% were able to recognize the vector insect (p = 0.0042; OR = 5.9), and 83.3% reported either themselves or someone in their families to have CD (p = 0.043, OR = 5.2). Of the 54 patients submitted to serological analysis, only 01 patient (1.9%) was positive for anti-T. cruzi antibodies, a 55 year old man from the rural area of Canguçu county. This study provides support for the evaluation to be extended to other cardiology centers, given the importance of Chagas disease in Brazil.

IntroductionTrichomoniasis is a common sexually transmitted infection caused by the protozoan Trichomonasvaginalis (TV). In Brazil, trichomoniasis is not a reportable infection and the prevalence is underestimated, due to the poor sensitivity of routinely used diagnostic tests. Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are the most sensitive and specific tests available for TV detection, but TV NAATs are rarely used in Brazil. The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence of TV infection and compare the performance of the US FDA-cleared APTIMA TV NAAT (Hologic, San Diego, USA) with wet mount microscopy, Gram stained microscopy and culture for diagnosis of TV infection in women in Pelotas, Brazil.MethodsFrom August 2015 to December 2016, 499 asymptomatic and symptomatic women attending the Gynaecology and Obstetrics Outpatient Clinic of the Maternal and Child Health Department at the School of Medicine, Federal University of Pelotas, Brazil were enrolled. Vaginal swabs were collected for examination with wet mount and Gram stained microscopy, culture, and Aptima TV assay. The Aptima TV assay was used as gold standard.ResultsParticipants’ mean age was 37 years, the majority were white, had a steady sexual partner and low levels of education. The Aptima TV assay, culture, wet mount microscopy and Gram stained microscopy detected 4.2% (21/499), 2.4% (12/499), 1.2% (6/499), and 0% (0/499), respectively, of women as TV infected. The sensitivity and specificity of wet mount microscopy and culture were 28.57% and 100%, and 57.14% and 99.79%, respectively. The positive predictive value for wet mount microscopy was 100% and negative predictive value was 96.95% while for culture, these values were 92.30% and 98.14%, respectively.ConclusionTrichomoniasis was prevalent (4.2%) in our population and the routine diagnostic test, wet mount microscopy, had very low (28.6%) sensitivity compared to the Aptima TV NAAT. Improved diagnostic tests and enhanced testing of also asymptomatic patients are crucial to mitigate the transmission of TV infection.

Backgroundgenital infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis are a serious public health problem worldwide and are related with several negative outcomes in the pregnancy as preterm birth. In Brazil there is a growing trend in preterm birth due to several factors. Despite the probability of association with this outcome and Chlamydia trachomatis infection, there is few Brazilian population-based studies on its prevalence and factors associated in pregnant women. This study aims to improve the knowledge about the current situation of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women in Brazil.Methodsthis is a cross-sectional study with pregnant women seen in all hospitals in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Data was obtained from 361 pregnant women, bellow 30 years of age, interviewed between December 2011 and January 2013. Information on sociodemographic and behavioural factors were obtained through structured questionnaires and gestational age at delivery was obtained by medical examination. The status of Chlamydia infection was assessed by analysis of vaginal secretion, processed by Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA) BD ProbeTec(TM) system.Resultsthe prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 15%. Pregnant women without steady partners were 2.2 times more likely to test positive to Chlamydia infection. We could not find statistically significant association between Chlamydia infection and the woman's age, smoking, alcohol use, drug use and preterm birth (gestational age less than or equal to 36 weeks).Conclusionalthough preliminary, our results show that the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among young pregnant women is high. Until the moment, we could not find association between infection and preterm birth, however it is necessary that the study be completed to better assess this relationship. Even thought our results contribute to reinforce the idea that routine test for Chlamydia trachomatis should be added to the recommended antenatal tests, at least for young pregnant women in Brazil.

Background genital infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis are a serious public health problem worldwide and are related with several negative outcomes in the pregnancy as preterm birth. In Brazil there is a growing trend in preterm birth due to several factors. Despite the probability of association with this outcome and Chlamydia trachomatis infection, there is few Brazilian population-based studies on its prevalence and factors associated in pregnant women. This study aims to improve the knowledge about the current situation of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in pregnant women in Brazil. Methods this is a cross-sectional study with pregnant women seen in all hospitals in the city of Pelotas, southern Brazil. Data was obtained from 361 pregnant women, bellow 30 years of age, interviewed between December 2011 and January 2013. Information on sociodemographic and behavioural factors were obtained through structured questionnaires and gestational age at delivery was obtained by medical examination. The status of Chlamydia infection was assessed by analysis of vaginal secretion, processed by Strand Displacement Amplification (SDA) BD ProbeTec™ system. Results the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection was 15%. Pregnant women without steady partners were 2.2 times more likely to test positive to Chlamydia infection. We could not find statistically significant association between Chlamydia infection and the woman’s age, smoking, alcohol use, drug use and preterm birth (gestational age ≤ 36 weeks). Conclusion although preliminary, our results show that the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis among young pregnant women is high. Until the moment, we could not find association between infection and preterm birth, however it is necessary that the study be completed to better assess this relationship. Even thought our results contribute to reinforce the idea that routine test for Chlamydia trachomatis should be added to the recommended antenatal tests, at least for young pregnant women in Brazil.

A high-resolution record of atmospheric methane from 40,000 to 8,000 years ago from the GRIP ice core in Greenland is presented. Atmospheric methane concentrations were found to be in phase with variations in Greenland's climate.