BACKGROUND: Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) could provide protection from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in sexually active persons at risk. Limited data are available in Zimbabwe with regard to the perceptions about PrEP amongst female sex workers (FSWs OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge levels of oral PrEP and the likelihood of its use amongst FSWs. METHOD: This was a cross-sectional study in the peri-urban areas of Harare, Zimbabwe. Human immunodeficiency virus-negative FSWs were interviewed to assess their awareness of and likelihood to use PrEP. The relative importance index was used to evaluate the levels of knowledge and the likelihood of, and barriers to, PrEP use. A set of 10 questions was designed and validated that evaluated participants' understanding of PrEP. A bivariate logistic regression model was utilised to identify predictors of PrEP use. RESULTS: A total of 131 FSWs with a median age of 25 years (interquartile range: 21-31) participated in this study. Of the 71 (54%) FSWs who had heard about PrEP, 46 (35%) participants had adequate knowledge of its use. A total of 102 (78%) participants revealed that they would be willing to continuously use PrEP if it was provided free of cost. Increasing age of the participants was associated with an increase in the likelihood of using PrEP (r = 0.0033, p = 0.038). More knowledge about PrEP increased the likelihood of its use (r = 0.21, p = 0.0153). This likelihood increased amongst participants with an unprotected sexual intercourse encounter in the preceding 3 months (r = 0.0448, p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Knowledge of PrEP amongst FSWs was low. To increase the uptake of PrEP, there is a need to further sensitise FSWs about this intervention. Programmes should also promote awareness training in FSW subgroups that are less likely to use PrEP.

ABSTRACT Introduction. Recurrence of HCV infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) at the time of liver transplantation is nearly universal and reduces the likelihood of graft and patient survival. Materials and methods. We evaluated outcomes of 17 patients (16 with HCV genotype 1 and 1 with genotype 4) who received up to 12 or 24 weeks of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir plus ribavirin prior to or up to the time of liver transplant in the SOLAR-1 and SOLAR-2 trials. In all patients, HCV RNA was < 15 lU/mL prior to transplant. At screening, 6 patients were Child-Pugh-Turcotte (CPT) class B and 11 were CPT class C. Seven patients underwent transplant prior to completing assigned treatment, with 4 treated for < 12 weeks. The primary endpoint was posttransplant virologic response 12 weeks after transplant (pTVRI 2) in patients with HCV RNA < 15 lU/mL at their last measurement prior to transplant. Results. Overall, 94% (16/17) achieved pTVR12. All who achieved pTVR12 received at least 11 weeks of treatment. The single patient who did not achieve pTVRI 2 discontinued study drug on day 21 and underwent liver transplant the following day. The patient had HCV RNA < 15 lU/mL at post-transplant week 2 but died 15 days post-transplant because of multi-organ failure and septic shock. Conclusion. Among a small population of HCV patients with decompensated cirrhosis, virologic response to ledipasvir / sofosbuvir plus ribavirin prior to liver transplantation was maintained after transplantation, even if treatment was stopped early. Administration of ledipasvir / sofosbuvir plus ribavirin before liver transplant can prevent post-transplant HCV recurrence.

Sol-gel method was used to prepare Ce a8Sm a2Ir yCoj_yO3_ä (CSIC) (y = 0.03 and 0.04). All materials were characterized using powder X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, infrared (IR) spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The materials were then tested as cathodes in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The XRD data showed distinct peaks for samarium-doped ceria and iridium oxide while Raman data confirmed the presence of perovskite and pyrochlore phases. Materials calcined at 1000 °C had the highest power density of 0.287 W cm-2 and 0.222 W cm-2 at 500 °C for the materials with y = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively, when tested in SOFC button cells.

The greatest current threat to terrestrial fauna is continuous and severe landscape modification that destroys and degrades animal habitats. This rapid and severe modification has threatened species, local biological communities, and the ecological services that they provide, such as seed dispersal, insect predation, and pollination. Bats are important pollinators of the Cerrado (woodland savanna) because of their role in the life cycles of many plant species. However, there is little information about how these bat species are being affected by habitat loss and fragmentation. We used radio-tracking to estimate the home ranges of Glossophaga soricina (Pallas, 1776) and Lonchophylla dekeyseri Taddei, Vizotto & Sazima, 1983. The home range of G. soricina varies from 430 to 890 ha. They combine shortrange flights of up to 500 m to nearby areas with longer flights of 2 to 3 km that take them away from their core areas. The maximum flight distance tracked for L. dekeyseri was 3.8 km, and its home range varies from 564 to 640 ha. The average distance travelled by this species was 1.3 km. Our data suggest that G. soricina and L. dekeyseri are able to explore the fragmented landscape of the Central Brazilian Cerrado and that they are likely to survive in the short- to medium-term. The natural dispersal ability of these two species may enable them to compensate for continued human disturbance in the region.

La propagación de material de ñame de buena calidad es esencial para incrementar la producción sostenible de este cultivo. El presente trabajo tuvo como propósito optimizar el medio de cultivo de micropropagación de Dioscorea alata L. clon Caraqueño a través de los siguientes objetivos: determinar el efecto de diferentes antioxidantes (carbón activado 0,5 g/L-1 ; carbón activado 1,0 g/L-1 ; cisteína 10 mg/L-1 , 20 mg/L-1 y 30 mg/L-1 ) y concentraciones de sales de Murashige y Skoog (MS) (25, 50, 75 y 100 %) en el medio de cultivo durante el establecimiento y la multiplicación de las plantas in vitro, y evaluar la utilización de distintas combinaciones de ácido naftalenacético (0,01; 0,1 mg/L-1 ) y bencilaminopurina (0,01; 0,1 mg/L-1 ) en el mejor medio de cultivo de multiplicación obtenido en el experimento anterior. A los 35 días se seleccionaron 40 plantas in vitro, a las cuales se les determinaron las siguientes variables: longitud en cm del vástago; número de nudosde novo por explantes; número de hojas por explante y porcentaje de fenolización. Se evaluó además, en el experimento con los reguladores de crecimiento, el número de raíces y longitud de la raíz de mayor tamaño. Se aplicó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorio con análisis de varianza bifactorial y clasificación simple. Se realizó la prueba de comparación de medias de Tukey para un nivel de significación del 5%. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que las sales MS al 75% de su concentración, el carbón activado (0,5 g/L-1 ) o la cisteína (10 mg/L-1 ), en combinación con los reguladores de crecimiento ANA/BAP (0,01/0,01 mg/L-1 ) en el medio de cultivo MS, incrementaron los indicadores de desarrollo de las plantas in vitrol tales como número de nudosde novo (3,5), longitud del vástago (4,1 cm), número de hojas (3,8), número de raíces (5,7) y longitud de las raíces (6 cm).

The material propagation of good quality yam is essential to increase the sustainable production of this cultivation. In the present work the optimization of culture medium ofDioscorea alata L. clone Caraqueño micropropagation was carried out through the following objectives: to determine the effect of different anti-oxydants (activated charcoal 0,5 g.L-1 ; activated charcoal 1,0 g.L-1 ; cysteine 10 mg.L-1 , 20 mg.L-1 and 30 mg.L-1 ) and Murashige and Skoog salts concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100%) in the culture medium during the in vitrol plants establishment and the multiplication, and to evaluate the use of different combinations of naftalenacetic acid (0,01; 0,1 mg.L-1 ) and benzylaminopurine (0,01; 0,1 mg.L-1 ) in the best multiplication medium obtained in the above experiment. At 35 days, 40 in vitro plants were selected. The following vari- ables were determined in these plants: shoot length, cm; leaf and bud explant number; and oxydation phenolic percentage. In the experiment of plant growth regulators was also evaluated, the roots number and greater size root length. A totally randomized experimental design with one and two factor variance analysis and the Tukey test for means comparison at 5% significance level were applied. The obtained results showed that the salts MS at 75% concentration, the activated charcoal (0,5 g. L-1 ) or the cysteine (10 mg. L-1 ), in combination with the growth regulators ANA/BAP (0,01/0,01 mg.L-1 ) in the MS culture medium, increase the development of the in vitro plants, number of novo buds (3,5), shoot length (4,1 cm), number of leaves (3,8), number of roots (5,7) and greater size root length (6 cm).

In this study, we report an efficient method for conservation in vitro of Dioscorea alata L. clone caraqueño during 9 and 12 months based on the culture medium modification (MS to 75% + vitamins MS + sucrose 30 g.L-1 + activated charcoal 2 g.L-1) with different manitol (0; 0,5 and 1,5%) and BAP (0; 0,1 mg.L-1) levels. At 9 and 12 months of in vitro conservation, the following evaluations were determined: survival (%), leaf senility (%), shoot length, buds and microtuber explant count. Plant regeneration (%), shoot length, leaf number and bud explant count were determined at 8 weeks of the nodal cutting regeneration (from vitroplants conserved for 9 and 12 months) in the culture medium (MS to 75% + vitamins MS + sucrose 30 g.L-1 + activated charcoal 2 g.L-1). .Shoot length, leaf number and bud explant count were evaluated at 5 weeks during the conventional micropropagation. The cultivation variants formed by media MS to 75% + vitamins MS + sucrose 30 g.L-1 + activated charcoal 2 g.L-1 and MS to 75% + vitamins MS + sucrose 30 g. l-1 + activated charcoal 2 g.L-1 + BAP 0, 1 mg.L-1 allowed an effective way the conservation of in vitro plants from nodal cutting of clone caraqueño yam during 9 and 12 months with high survival percentages, a significant number of microtubers, smallest leaf senility percentages and 100% regeneration in whole plants with a normal growth in micropropagation conditions.

El trabajo tuvo como objetivo establecer, para Dioscorea alata L. clon caraqueño, un método eficiente para la conservación in vitro de durante 9 y 12 meses basado en la modificación del medio de cultivo (MS al 75% + vitaminas MS + sacarosa 30 g.L-1 + carbón activado 2 g.L-1) con distintos niveles de manitol y BAP. Los tratamientos consistieron en la adición en el medio de cultivo de manitol (0; 0,5 y 1,5%) y BAP (0; 0,1 mg.L-1). A los 9 y 12 meses de conservación in vitro se realizaron las siguientes evaluaciones: supervivencia (%), senescencia foliar (%), numero de nudos, longitud del vástago, número de microtubérculos. A las 8 semanas de la regeneración de los segmentos nodales (procedentes de vitroplantas conservadas a 9 y 12 meses) en el medio de cultivo (MS al 75% + vitaminas MS + sacarosa 30 g.L-1 + carbón activado 2 g.L-1) se determinó la regeneración de plantas completas (%), número de nudos, número de hojas y longitud del vástago. A las 5 semanas durante la micropropagación convencional se determinó el número de nudos, número de hojas y la longitud del vástago. Las variantes de cultivo formadas por el medio MS al 75% + vitaminas MS + sacarosa 30 g.L-1 + carbón activado 2 g.L-1 y el MS al 75% + vitaminas MS + sacarosa 30 g.L-1 + carbón activado 2 g.L-1 + BAP 0,1 mg.L-1 permitió de manera efectiva la conservación de vitroplantas a partir de segmentos uninodales de D. alata clon caraqueño durante 9 y 12 meses con altos porcentajes de supervivencia, un número significativo de microtubérculos, los menores porcentajes de senescencia foliar y 100% de regeneración en plantas completas con un crecimiento normal en condiciones de micropropagación.

O processo de climatizacao de um concreto de alta resistencia mecanica (VHSC) foi estudado e comparado com o de um concreto comum. O concreto VHSC apresenta resistencia a compressao muito maior que 100 MPa apos sete dias de cura. A resistencia a compressao aumenta com a diminuicao do valor da relacao agua/cimento e melhorando a distribuicao de tamanho de particula dos inumeros graos anidros residuais de clinquer e dos agregados de quartzo. Uma proporcao de 15% do cimento e substituida por residuo de silica nao condensada, que consiste de particulas esfericas de silica amorfa de 0,1 µm de diametro, com a vantagem de preencher o espaco entre as particulas de clinquer. Outra vantagem e densificar a zona interfacial entre a pasta de cimento e os agregados. Apos 28 dias de cura, as amostras de concreto VHSC consistem de agregados de quartzo e residuos de particulas anidras de clinquer ligadas umas as outras com uma pasta composta principalmente de hidrato silicato de calcio (C-S-H). Amostras de concreto VHSC foram imersas em agua destilada continuamente renovada sob atmosfera inerte. Apos dois meses de exposicao, ocorreram mudancas quimicas, mineralogicas e texturais em uma zona na superficie. A profundidade da zona degradada foi 300 µm. Este valor e muito menor que a profundidade da zona degradada formada em uma argamassa comum (800 µm) ou em uma pasta comum (1500 µm) submetida a mesma condicao. Na superficie das amostras climatizadas de concreto VHSC, as particulas anidras de clinquer dissolveram e o vazio resultante de 10 µm de diametro permaneceu vazio. Na fronteira entre o interior isolado e a zona climatizada da superficie os vazios resultantes da dissolucao das particulas de clinquer foram preenchidos com C-S-H secundario. Como conclusao, a baixa porosidade do concreto VHSC foi benefica para a resistencia a compressao e tambem para a durabilidade. A presenca de inumeras particulas anidras de clinquer nao resultou em problema.

We studied the weathering process of a very high strength concrete (VHSC) and compared it with that of a usual concrete. VHSC has compressive strengths much above 100 MPa after seven days of curing. The compressive strength is increased by lowering the value of the water/cement ratio and by improving the particle size distribution of the numerous residual anhydrous grains of clinker and of the quartz aggregates. A proportion of 15% of the cement is replaced by non-condensed silica fume, which consists of spherical particles of amorphous silica, 0.1 µm in diameter. This has the advantage to fill the space between clinker particles. Another advantage is to densify the interfacial zone between cement paste and aggregates. Afters 28 days of curing, the VHSC samples consist of quartz aggregates and residual anhydrous clinker particles linked to each other with a paste mainly composed of calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H). Samples of VHSC were immersed in continuously renewed distilled water under inert atmosphere. After two months of exposure, chemical, mineralogical and textural changes have occurred in a superficial zone. The depth of the degraded zone is 300 µm. This value is much lower than the depth of the degraded zone formed in an usual mortar (800 µm) or in a common paste (1500 µm) leached in the same condition. At the surface of the weathered samples of VHSC, the anhydrous clinker particles have dissolved and the resulting holes of 10 µm diameter remained empty. At the frontier between the safe core and the weathered superficial zone, the holes resulting from the dissolution of clinker particles were filled with secondary C-S-H. As a conclusion, the low porosity of VHSC is a benefit for the compressive strength but also for the durability. The presence of numerous anhydrous clinker particles is not a problem.

Cimento é um material de ampla utilização que pode ser sujeito a modificação pelo tempo. A modificação química do cimento em meio natural é principalmente caracterizada por lixiviação de CaO e adição de CO2. As diferentes zonas de resistência que se desenvolvem às custas do cimento podem ser previstas com os diagramas de fase do potencial químico; estes diagramas simulam o comportamento de sistemas abertos a alguns elementos químicos. Alguns componentes têm o chamado status inerte, significando que o sistema é fechado para estes componentes, seu teor no sistema permanece constante; alguns outros componentes tem um status móvel, significando que estes componentes podem ser trocados com o meio exterior, seu teor podendo variar de uma região da amostra para outra. Os componentes móveis são representados no modelo pelos potenciais químicos (ligados às suas concentrações) que variam no meio exterior. Os principais aspectos da resistência ao tempo de um sistema cementício aberto a CaO e CO2 são previstos em um diagrama de fases com µCaO e µCO2 como eixos do diagrama. Do centro para a extremidade observa-se o desaparecimento de portlandita, ettringita e monosulfoaluminato de cálcio, a precipitação de calcita e sílica amorfa, a modificação da composição de minerais CSH (silicatos de cálcio hidratados) que tem o decréscimo da razão c/s (CaO/SiO2) do centro para a extremidade da amostra. Para os minerais CSH, forma separadas as soluções sólidas contínuas em três composições definidas por diferentes razões CaO/SiO2, denominadas fases 1, 2 e 3: CaO = 0,8, 1,1, 1,8, respectivamente para 1 mol SiO2 sabendo que H2O varia nas três composições.

Cement is a ubiquitous material that may suffer hazardous weathering. The chemical weathering of cement in natural environment is mostly characterized by the leaching of CaO and the addition of CO2. The different weathering zones that develop at the expense of the cement may be predicted by the help of chemical potential phase diagrams; these diagrams simulate the behaviour of systems open to some chemical elements. Some components have a so-called inert status, that is to say the system is closed for these components, their amount in the system remains constant; some other components have a mobile status, that is to say these components can be exchanged with the outside of the system, their amount can vary from one sample zone to another. The mobile components are represented in the model by their chemical potentials (linked to their concentrations) that are variable in the external environment. The main features of the weathering of a cement system open to CaO and CO2 are predicted in a phase diagram with µCaO et µCO2 as diagram axes. From core to rim, one observes the disappearance of portlandite, ettringite and calcium monosulfoaluminate, the precipitation of calcite and amorphous silica, the modification of the composition of the CSH minerals (hydrated calcium silicates) that see a decrease of their c/s ratio (CaO/SiO2) from the core to the rim of the sample. For the CSH minerals, we have separated their continuous solid solution into three compositions defined by different CaO/SiO2 ratios and called phases 1, 2 and 3: CaO = 0.8, 1.1, 1.8 respectively for one mole of SiO2 knowing that H2O varies in the three compositions.

Ossos bovinos calcinados são utilizados na fabricação de porcelana de ossos, consistindo em mais de 50% em peso das matérias-primas. A fabricação deste tipo especial de porcelana ainda é inédita no Brasil. Neste trabalho investigou-se a influência das etapas de calcinação, moagem e lavagem sobre as características físico-químicas das partículas de cinza de ossos. Os pós calcinados a temperaturas entre 700 e 1000 ºC foram analisados quanto às suas distribuições de tamanho de partículas, composições químicas, composições de fases, densidades, área de superfície específica, grupos funcionais superficiais antes e depois de moídos e lavados. Os resultados indicam que os ossos processados nas temperaturas de 700, 800 900 e 1000 °C apresentam grande homogeneidade tanto química (composição química e mobilidade eletroforética) como física (tamanhos de partículas e composição de fases) antes e depois da moagem e lavagem. Contudo, apresentam um leve aumento no tamanho médio de partículas com o aumento de temperatura de calcinação. Outro fato relevante na qualidade da superfície do pó obtido é que estes devem ser calcinados sob atmosferas oxidantes para eliminação de espécies adsorvidas que podem prejudicar a formação de barbotinas estáveis.

Calcined bovine bones comprise the main raw material for the fabrication of bone china (more than 50 wt.%). This special kind of porcelain has never been produced in Brazil. In this paper was investigated the influence of the following preparation steps: firing, grinding, and washing of the bones, on the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained bone ash particles. Powders calcined at temperatures between 700 and 1000 ºC, washed and ground, were analyzed in terms of their particle size distribution (laser scattering), chemical composition (X-ray fluorescence), density (He picnometry), specific surface area (BET method), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-DRIFT), and were also observed by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that bones processed at different temperatures exhibit great homogeneity either in chemical terms (chemical composition and electrophoretic mobility) or in physical terms (particle size and phase composition), show slight increase in particle size with increasing firing temperatures, and must be calcined under oxidizing atmospheres in order to develop good processing characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To compare postoperative vaginal incision separation and healing in patients undergoing posterior repair with perforated porcine dermal grafts with those that received grafts without perforations. Secondarily, the tensile properties of the perforated and non-perforated grafts were measured and compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a non-randomized retrospective cohort analysis of women with stage II or greater rectoceles who underwent posterior repair with perforated and non-perforated porcine dermal grafts (PelvicolTM CR Bard Covington, GA USA). The incidence of postoperative vaginal incision separation (dehiscence) was compared. A secondary analysis to assess graft tensile strength, suture pull out strength, and flexibility after perforation was performed using standard test method TM 0133 and ASTM bending and resistance protocols. RESULTS: Seventeen percent of patients (21/127) who received grafts without perforations developed vaginal incision dehiscence compared to 7% (5/71) of patients who received perforated grafts (p = 0.078). Four patients with vaginal incision dehiscence with non-perforated grafts required surgical revision to facilitate healing. Neither tensile strength or suture pull out strength were significantly different between perforated and non-perforated grafts (p = 0.81, p = 0.29, respectively). There was no difference in the flexibility of the two grafts (p = 0.20). CONCLUSION: Perforated porcine dermal grafts retain their tensile properties and are associated with fewer vaginal incision dehiscences.

Ossos bovinos calcinados são utilizados na fabricação de porcelana de ossos (bone china), consistindo em mais de 50% em peso das matérias-primas. A fabricação deste tipo especial de porcelana ainda é inédita no Brasil. Neste trabalho investigou-se a influência das etapas de calcinação, moagem e lavagem sobre as características físico-químicas das partículas de cinza de ossos. Os pós calcinados a temperaturas entre 700 e 1000 ºC foram analisados quanto às suas distribuições de tamanho de partículas, composições químicas, composições de fases, densidades, área de superfície específica, grupos funcionais superficiais antes e depois de moídos e lavados. Os resultados indicam que os ossos processados nas temperaturas de 700, 800 900 e 1000 °C apresentam grande homogeneidade tanto química (composição química e mobilidade eletroforética) como física (tamanhos de partículas e composição de fases) antes e depois da moagem e lavagem, Contudo, apresentam um leve aumento no tamanho médio de partículas com o aumento de temperatura de calcinação. Outro fato relevante na qualidade da superfície do pó obtido é que estes devem ser calcinados sob atmosferas oxidantes para eliminação de espécies adsorvidas que podem prejudicar a formação de barbotinas estáveis.

Calcined bovine bones comprise the main raw material for the fabrication of Bone China (more than 50 wt.%). This special kind of porcelain has never been produced in Brazil. In this paper, the influence of the following preparation steps: firing, grinding, and washing of the bones, on the physicochemical characteristics of the obtained bone ash particles was investigated. Powders calcined at temperatures between 700 and 1000 ºC, washed and ground, were analyzed in terms of their particle size distribution, chemical composition (X-ray fluorescence), density (He picnometry), specific surface area (BET method), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR-DRIFT), and also in a scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that bones processed at different temperatures exhibit great homogeneity either in chemical terms (chemical composition and electrophoretic mobility) or in physical terms (particle size and phase composition), show slight increase in particle size with increasing firing temperatures and must be calcined under oxidizing atmospheres in order to develop good processing characteristics.

A variabilidade de isolados de Ralstonia solanacearum, provenientes de tomateiros (Lycopersicon esculentum) do Estado do Amazonas, foi estudada com relação à agressividade, à sensibilidade a bacteriocinas e às características bioquímicas. Três experimentos foram estabelecidos em áreas naturalmente infestadas com R. solanacearum sendo um em terra firme, em 1998, e dois em uma mesma área de várzea, em 1998 e em 2000. Em cada experimento, 200 mudas de tomateiros da cv Yoshimatsu (resistente) e 200 da cv. Santa Cruz Kada (suscetível) foram plantadas alternadas em um espaçamento de 1 m entre fileiras e 0,5 m entre plantas. Semanalmente, isolou-se a bactéria, a partir de plantas apresentando sintomas de murcha. Obtiveram-se, nos três experimentos, 267 isolados pertencentes aos biovares 1 (67,8%) e 3 (32,2%). Em terra firme, 80,4% dos isolados obtidos eram do biovar 1 enquanto que em várzea, os isolados do biovar 1 foram 37,4 e 87,8%, nos ensaios de 1998 e de 2000, respectivamente. Com base na sensibilidade a bacteriocinas os isolados foram divididos em sete grupos, sendo que dois deles englobaram 80,5% do total dos isolados. Através da reação apresentada por 15 plantas de tomate, de berinjela (Solanum melongena) e de pimentão (Capsicum annuum) , inoculadas um mês após a semeadura, a agressividade de isolados selecionados foi avaliada. Os isolados do biovar 1 foram mais agressivos sobre tomateiros que os do biovar 3. Estes últimos, no entanto, foram mais agressivos sobre pimentão e berinjela. Em várzea, as plantas da cv. Yoshimatsu tiveram 50,5% de mortalidade contra 22,5%, em terra firme, comprovando a importância do fator ambiente na ocorrência da doença.

The variability of Ralstonia solanacearum isolates obtained from tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) plants in the Amazonas State was studied for pathogen aggressiveness, bacteriocin sensitivity and for biochemical characteristics. Three experiments were established in areas naturally infested with R. solanacearum. These were: (i) in a non-flooded area of a field in 1998, (ii) in an periodically-flooded area, in 1998, and (iii) in the same periodically-flooded area in 2000. In each experiment there were 200 resistant tomato plants (cv. Yoshimatsu) and 200 susceptible (cv. Santa Cruz Kada) planted by alternating resistant and susceptible cultivars. From the 267 isolates obtained from plants exhibiting wilt symptoms, 67.8% belonged to biovar 1 and 32.2% to biovar 3. In the non-flooded soil, 80.4% of he isolates collected were found to be biovar 1, whereas in fields periodically-flooded, the percentage of biovar 1 isolates was 37.4 and 87.8% for the 1998 and 2000 experiments, respectively. Based on bacteriocin sensitivity classification, isolates were divided into seven groups and two of these groups accounted for 80.5% of the isolates. The aggressiveness of selected isolates was evaluated in tomato, eggplant (Solanum melongena) and sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum) plants. Biovar 1 isolates were more aggressive on tomato than biovar 3 isolates. Biovar 3, however, was more aggressive on sweet pepper and eggplant than biovar 1. In fields subject to periodic flooding, cv. Yoshimatsu had 50.5% mortality versus 22.5% mortality in the non-flooded field. This indicates the importance of this environmental factor on disease occurrence.

Objective: To develop a rapid field assessment methodology to address the burden of malaria during pregnancy and the options for intervening within the existing antenatal care system in Kenya. Methods: Surveys consisting of questionnaires, sampling of blood for parasitaemia and anaemia, and birth outcome assessment were conducted in antenatal clinics, delivery units, and in the community in Kisumu and Mombasa, Kenya. Findings: The rates of maternal anaemia and severe anaemia, were, respectively, 79% and 8% in Kisumu, and 95% and 24% in Mombasa. The rates of placental parasitaemia were 27% and 24% and the rates of low birth weight were 18% and 24% in Kisumu and Mombasa, respectively. Women with placental parasitaemia had a higher incidence of low birth weight compared with women without placental parasitaemia in both Kisumu (28% vs 16%, P=0.004) and Mombasa (42% vs 20%, P=0.004). A total of 95% and 98% of women in Kisumu and Mombasa, respectively, reported attending an antenatal clinic during their previous pregnancy. Conclusion: This methodology can be used by ministries of health to collect data for decision-making regarding malaria control during pregnancy; it can also provide a baseline measurement on which to evaluate subsequent interventions.

Objetivo: Desarrollar un método de evaluación rápida sobre el terreno para hacer frente a la carga de paludismo durante el embarazo y determinar las opciones de intervención dentro del sistema de atención prenatal existente en Kenya. Métodos: Se llevaron a cabo encuestas en una serie de consultorios de atención prenatal, en unidades de parto y en las comunidades de Kisumu y Mombasa (Kenya); las encuestas se basaron en cuestionarios, análisis de muestras de sangre para determinar la parasitemia y la anemia, y evaluaciones del resultado de los partos. Resultados: Las tasas de anemia materna y anemia grave, fueron, respectivamente, del 79% y el 8% en Kisumu, y del 95% y el 24% en Mombasa. Las tasas de parasitemia placentaria fueron del 27% y el 24%, y las tasas de bajo peso al nacer, del 18% y el 24% en Kisumu y Mombasa, respectivamente. La incidencia de nacimientos de niños con bajo peso fue mayor entre las mujeres con parasitemia placentaria que entre las mujeres sin parasitemia placentaria, tanto en Kisumu (28% frente a 16%, P = 0,004) como en Mombasa (42% frente a 20%, P = 0,004). En total el 95% y el 98% de las mujeres de Kisumu y Mombasa, respectivamente, declararon haber acudido a un consultorio de atención prenatal durante su embarazo anterior. Conclusión: Esta metodología puede ser utilizada por los ministerios de salud para reunir datos de valor decisional en la lucha contra el paludismo durante el embarazo, y puede proporcionar además unos valores de referencia para evaluar las intervenciones posteriores.

Objectif: Elaborer une méthodologie d'évaluation rapide sur le terrain pour examiner la charge représentée par le paludisme pendant la grossesse et les options d'intervention dans le cadre du système existant de soins anténatals au Kenya. Méthodes: Des enquêtes avec questionnaires, prélèvements de sang pour la recherche de la parasitémie et de l'anémie et évaluation de l'issue de la grossesse ont été réalisées dans des dispensaires de soins anténatals, dans des maternités et dans la communauté à Kisumu et Mombasa (Kenya). Résultats: Les taux d'anémie et d'anémie sévère chez la mère étaient respectivement de 79 % et 8 % à Kisumu et de 95 % et 24 % à Mombasa. Les taux de parasitémie placentaire étaient de 27 % et 24 % et les taux de faible poids de naissance étaient de 18 % et 2 % à Kisumu et Mombasa respectivement. Chez les enfants dont la mère présentait une parasitémie placentaire, l'incidence du faible poids de naissance était accrue par rapport à ceux dont la mère ne présentait pas de parasitémie, à Kisumu (28 % contre 16 %, p = 0,004) comme à Mombasa (42 % contre 20 %, p = 0,004). Au total, 95 % des femmes ont indiqué avoir fréquenté un dispensaire de soins anténatals au cours de leur précédente grossesse à Kisumu et 98 % à Mombasa. Conclusion: Cette méthodologie peut être utilisée par les ministères de la santé pour recueillir des données en vue de la prise de décision concernant la lutte contre le paludisme pendant la grossesse ; elle peut également fournir des données de référence qui serviront à évaluer de futures interventions.