Abstract Leptospirosis remains as a major public health problem nowadays, mainly affecting vulnerable communities with low socioeconomic resources. In this study, the molecular detection of pathogenic leptospires from environmental samples (water and mud) from northern Argentina (Formosa, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Misiones and Chaco provinces) is described. Samples were obtained from regions with varied climatological features, all inhabited by vulnerable communities. From the 89 samples that were analyzed, 24.7% showed molecular evidence of the presence of pathogenic leptospires. Prevalence by sample type was: 27.8% in water samples and 11.8% in mud samples. All the sampled regions showed at least one positive sample. This result highlights the need of further research regarding leptospirosis in different regions of Argentina.

Resumen La leptospirosis continúa siendo hoy en día un problema para la salud pública, principalmente en poblaciones de bajos recursos socioeconómicos. En este trabajo se presenta la detección de leptospiras patógenas en muestras ambientales (aguas y barros) provenientes de regiones del norte argentino (provincias de Formosa, Salta, Santiago del Estero, Misiones y Chaco) con variadas características climatológicas habitadas por poblaciones vulnerables. De las 89 muestras analizadas, en el 24,7% fue posible detectar molecularmente la presencia de leptospiras patógenas. La prevalencia por tipo de muestra fue de 27,8% para las aguas y 11,8% para los barros. Todas las localidades muestreadas presentaron al menos una muestra positiva a alguna de las pruebas realizadas, por lo que el presente trabajo refleja la necesidad de profundizar los estudios de la leptospirosis en distintas regiones de la Argentina.

Abstract Molecular tools have improved conventional veterinary diagnosis. Acid nucleic extraction is a key step for downstream applications. This work aimed to compare the DNA extraction method Chelex-100 resin (M1) with Whatman® cards (M2), phenol-chloroform (M3), or commercial kits (M4), and to determine the most sensitive and inexpensive one for its diagnosis of animal pathogens that, despite their economic or zoonotic relevance, receive little attention. DNA was isolated from urine, organs, semen, blood and intestinal mucous, from the bacteria Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona Pomona (by M1 and M2), Brucella melitensis (by M1, M3 and M4), and Salmonella ser. Abortusequi (by M1 and M4), and the parasites Leishmania spp. (by M1, M3 and M4), and Eimeria spp. (by M1 and M3), respectively. The sensitivity of each method was assayed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The M1 showed similar sensitivity for Salmonella ser. Abortusequi, Leishmania spp., and Eimeria spp., being better for L. interrogans serovar Pomona Pomona and slightly lower for B. melitensis. For the first time, a simple and economic method was successfully employed for extracting DNA from these animal pathogens, especially important in low-resource settings, contributing to the diagnosis of leptospirosis, brucellosis, leishmaniasis, and coccidiosis; as well as to the molecular epidemiology of salmonellosis in stallion from semen samples.

Bovine leptospirosis is an important zoonotic disease whose molecular diagnosis is widely reported. However, there is not a unique method of extraction of DNA for pathogenic leptospires using clinical samples. In this study, bovine urine was contaminated with pure culture of L. interrogans serovar Pomona Pomona in order to compare three of them: M1.) Chelex-100 resin, M2.) FTA Whatman paper and M3.) boiling of the sample (in-house protocol), being the first one the most sensitive when used in diagnostic PCR, detecting up to 2x102 leptospiras/mL. The methodology proposed in this study turned out to have good performance for the detection of leptospires in animal clinical samples, although it should be applied to a greater number of samples and in different stages of the pathology.

La leptospirosis bovina es una importante enfermedad zoonótica cuyo diagnóstico molecular está ampliamente divulgado. Sin embargo, no existe un método único de extracción de ADN para leptospiras patógenas a partir de muestras clínicas. En este trabajo se utilizó orina bovina contaminada con cultivo de L. interrogans serovar Pomona Pomona para analizar el mejor método comparando: M1.) resina Chelex-100, M2.) papel FTA Whatman y M3.) hervido de la muestra (protocolo casero). De estas tres técnicas, la primera (M1) presentó la mayor sensibilidad al realizar la PCR de diagnóstico, detectándose hasta 2x102 leptospiras/mL. La metodología aquí planteada resultó tener buen rendimiento para la detección de leptospiras en muestras clínicas animales, aunque es necesario su validación con mayor número y diversidad de muestras.

Biofilme nas linhas d'água de equipos odontológicos pode propagar contaminando microbiana na água. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a contaminando microbiana da água de abastecimentos e equipos odontológicos antes e após a implementando de um protocolo para melhoria e manutenndo da qualidade microbiològica da água de equipos dontológicos. Avaliou-se a carga microbiana da água de 27 torneiras e equipos (reservatórios, seringas tríplice e alta rotando sem as penas de mdo) de uma clínica odontológica por meio do sistema PetrifilmT (bacterias aeróbias totais e fungos) e meios de cultura convencionais (enterobactérias e Legionella spp.). A carga bacteriana em amostras de água das torneiras e reservatórios estava dentro do paràmetro estabelecido pela legislando brasileira (<500 UFC/mL), mas a carga bacteriana das seringas tríplices e das saídas dos alta rotando sem as penas de mdo ndo estava. A implementando do protocolo para manutenndo da qualidade da água dos equipos reduziu a carga bacteriana nas saídas dos alta rotando sem as penas de mdo (p=0,004). Enterobactérias e Legionella spp. ndo foram isoladas de qualquer das amostras de água das torneiras e dos equipos odontológicos.

Biofilm on dental unit waterlines can spread microbial contamination in the water. The aim of this study was to investigate microbial contamination of water from supplies and dental units before and after the implementation of a protocol for microbial quality improvement and maintenance of dental unit water. The microbial load was evaluated in water from 27 taps and dental units (reservoirs, air-water syringes and highspeed outputs without handpieces) using the PetrifilmT system (total aerobic bacteria and fungi) and conventional culture media (enterobacteria and Legionella spp.). The bacterial load in water samples from taps and reservoirs was within the parameter established by Brazilian legislation (<500CFU/mL); but the bacterial load in samples from air-water syringes and high-speed outputs without handpieces was not. The implementation of the protocol for the maintenance of microbial quality in dental unit water reduced bacterial load in highspeed outputs without handpieces (p=0.004). Enterobacteria and Legionella spp. were not isolated from any of the water samples from taps and dental units.

Abstract A Solar Neutron Telescope (SNT) was installed at the summit of Sierra Negra volcano, Pue., Mexico (19.0º N, 97.3º W, 4580 m above sea level); it is in operation since 2004. In this work, values of barometric pressure, dynamic pressure, ambient temperature and relative humidity, obtained by a meteorological station close to the SNT were used, to calculate the coefficients of atmospheric correction to the registered cosmic ray flux. Once the cosmic ray data are free from variations of atmospheric origin, the time profiles observed by the SNT during five selected Forbush type decreases during the period 2011-2013 were analysed. Results obtained by several energy deposition channels (30, 60, 90 MeV) are discussed to establish the reliability of the SNT for this type of events.

Resumen Un Telescopio de Neutrones Solares (TNS) fue instalado en la cima del volcán Sierra Negra, Pue., México (19.0º N , 97.3º W, 4580 m sobre el nivel del mar); el cual se encuentra en operación desde el 2004. En este trabajo, utilizamos los valores de la presión barométrica, de la presión dinámica, de la temperatura ambiental y de la humedad relativa obtenidos por una estación meteorológica cercana al TNS, para calcular los coeficientes de corrección atmosféricos para el flujo registrado de rayos cósmicos. Cuando los datos de rayos cósmicos están libres de las variaciones de origen atmosférico, analizamos los perfiles de tiempo observados por el TNS durante seis decrecimientos tipo Forbush seleccionados para el período 2011-2013. Los resultados obtenidos por varios canales de depósito de energía (30,60,90 MeV) son discutidos para establecer la confiabilidad del TNS para este tipo de eventos.

ABSTRACT. The objective of the current investigation work was to compare body condition score (BCS) to reproductive performance in milking dairy cows in Paraguay. We used 1169 dairy cows of 13 farms from October 2013 to August 2015. Data were analyzed using SAS Enterprise Guide version 4.3. BCS in early and mid lactation period were lower than in the late period (p < 0.05), although it had large variation. In addition, daily milk yields of Holstein cows were higher than cows mixed with various breed (p < 0.01); however, BCS between two breeds was mostly similar. In addition, we compared BCS between cows on farm with the calving interval less than 365 days (n = 243, good reproduction) and other cows (n = 710) except 6 farms without reproductive record. In cows with good reproductive performance, calving interval (p < 0.0001) and days open (p < 0.0001) were shorter and daily milk yield was lower (p < 0.0001) than cow of other farms. During the all lactation period, BCS of cows with good reproductive performance were higher than others (p < 0.05). In addition, BCS of cows with good reproductive performance did not decrease after calving, whereas BCS of cows on other farms decreased during early and peak lactation period compared with dry period (p < 0.05). Moreover, BCS did not differ between cows with higher and lower milk yield. In conclusion, the results under the running conditions of the experiment indicate that BCS affect reproductive performance of Holstein and crossbreed milking cows in eastern region of Paraguay. Our data suggests that controlling the decrease of BCS after calving for milk production may improve the reproductive performance.

RESUMEN. El objetivo del presente trabajo de investigación fue evaluar la condición corporal (CC) de vacas en lactación y comparar la CC de vacas con buen desempeño reproductivo (alta tasa de preñez) con vacas que tuvieron menor tasa de preñez en la Región Oriental del Paraguay. Fueron evaluadas 116 vacas de 13 diferentes establecimientos. Los datos obtenidos fueron analizados usando el programa SAS Enterprise Guide versión 4.3. A pesar de la gran variación en la CC durante el periodo evaluado, la CC fue menor en la fase temprana y media de la lactación que en la fase tardía (p <0,05). La producción de leche fue mayor en vacas de fenotipos lecheros y otros fenotipos (p<0,01); sin embargo los cambios en la CC observados en las cruzas Holando y en las razas híbridas durante el presente trabajo fueron casi similares. Las vacas con mayor calificación de la CC tuvieron mejor desempeño reproductivo (intervalo entre partos y días abiertos más cortos) (p<0,0001), y la producción diaria de leche fue menor en vacas con mejor CC de otros tambos. Durante el periodo de lactación, la CC de vacas con buen desempeño reproductivo fue mayor que aquellas con baja CC. Además, la CC de vacas con buen desempeño reproductivo no se redujo después del parto, mientras la CC de vacas con menor desempeño reproductivo se redujo durante la fase temprana y el pico de lactación, comparado con el periodo seco (p<0,05). No se han observado diferencias en la CC entre vacas con mayor o menor producción de leche. Los resultados obtenidos bajo las condiciones experimentales, sugieren que la condición corporal afecta el desempeño reproductivo en vacas de fenotipos lecheros y de otros fenotipos, controlando la disminución de la CC en el periodo post-parto debido al efecto de la lactación se puede mejorar el desempeño reproductivo en vacas lecheras.

ABSTRACT In irrigated soils, a continuous state of high moisture reduces resistance of the soil to applied external forces, favouring compaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the susceptibility to compaction of developed calcareous soils in irrigated annual and perennial cropping systems of the Apodi Plateau, located in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Four areas of irrigated crops were evaluated: banana after two (B2) and 15 (B15) years cultivation, pasture (P), and a corn and beans succession (MB), as well as the reference areas for soil quality and corresponding natural vegetation (NVB2, NVB15, NVP and NVMB). Samples were collected at layers of 0.00-0.10 and 0.20-0.30 m; and for B2 and B15, samples were collected in the row and inter-row spaces. The following properties were determined: degree of compactness (DC), preconsolidation pressure (σp), compression index (Cc), maximum density (ρmax), critical water content (WCcrit), total organic carbon (TOC) and carbon of light organic matter (Clom). Mean values were compared by the t-test at 5, 10, 15 and 20 % probability. An increase was seen in DC at a layer of 0.20-0.30 m in MB (p<0.15), showing the deleterious effects of preparing the soil by ploughing and chiselling, together with the cumulative traffic of heavy machinery. The TOC had a greater influence on ρmax than the stocks of Clom. Irrigation caused a reduction in Cc, and there was no effect on σp at field capacity. The planting rows showed different behaviour for Cc, ρmax, and WCcrit,, and in general the physical properties displayed better conditions than the inter-row spaces. Values for σp and Cc showed that agricultural soils display greater load-bearing capacity and are less susceptible to compaction in relation to soils under natural vegetation.

Os antissepticos bucais sao utilizados mundialmente como adjuvantes da escovacao para melhoria do halito e prevencao de doencas bucais infeciosas. O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar in vitro a Diluicao Inibitoria Maxima (DIM) de 3 antissepticos bucais com diferentes principios ativos contra estreptococos do grupo mutans (EGM). Os produtos analisados foram PeriogardR, CepacolR e PlaxR FreshMint. A atividade antibacteriana foi avaliada em duplicata em placas de microtilulacao de 96 pocos contra 36 isolados clinicos de EGM. Cada antisseptico bucal foi submetido a diluicao dupla seriada (1/2,5 a 1/5120) com o emprego de concentracao dupla de TryptoseSoyBrothwith adicionado de 1,0% de extrato de levedura. O volume final em cada poco foi de 100 mL mais 5 mL da suspensao bacteriana equivalente a 107 UFC/mL. A incubacao foi realizada em microaerofilia a 37oC por 48 horas e a DIM deteminada. PeriogardR e CepacolR apresentaram DIM de 1/320, e PlaxR de 1/20. Os resultados submetidos asanalises estatisticas revelaram que a DIM do PeriogardR nao foi diferente do CepacolR (p>0,05) sendo maior que do PlaxR (p<0,05). Em conclusao, os antissepticos bucais contendo clorexidina (PeriogardR) e cloreto de cetilpiridinio (CepacolR) demonstraram maior atividade antibacteriana in vitro (DIM) contra os EGM do que o antisseptico bucal contendo triclosan (PlaxR) de acordo com o metodo microbiologico utilizado.

Mouthwashes are used as an adjunct to tooth brushing for improving breath and preventing oral diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro Maximum Inhibitory Dilution (MID) of 3 mouthwashes with different active ingredients against mutans streptococci (MS). The products analyzed were PeriogardR, CepacolR and PlaxR Fresh Mint. Their antibacterial activity was assessed in duplicate in 96-well microtiter plates against 36 clinical isolates of MS. Each mouthwash was submitted to a serial two-fold dilution (1/2.5 to 1/5120) using double concentration of Tryptose Soy Broth with 1.0% yeast extract. The final volume in each well was 100 mL plus 5 mL of a bacterial suspension, equivalent to 107 CFU/mL. They were incubated microaerobically at 37oC for 48 hours and the MIDs determined. MID was 1/320 for PeriogardR and CepacolR, and 1/20 for PlaxR. Statistical analysis revealed that the MID of PeriogardR MID did not differ from that of CepacolR (p>0.05), and was higher than that of PlaxR (p<0.05). In conclusion, the antiseptic mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine (PeriogardR) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CepacolR) had higher in vitroantibacterial activity (MID) against MS than the antiseptic mouthwash containing triclosan (PlaxR), according to microbiological method employed.

Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) may cause severe complications after haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Monitoring this virus and providing precise, rapid and early diagnosis of related clinical diseases, constitute essential measures to improve outcomes. A prospective survey on the incidence and clinical features of HHV-6 infections after HSCT has not yet been conducted in Brazilian patients and the impact of this infection on HSCT outcome remains unclear. A rapid test based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has been optimised to screen and quantify clinical samples for HHV-6. The detection step was based on reaction with TaqMan® hydrolysis probes. A set of previously described primers and probes have been tested to evaluate efficiency, sensitivity and reproducibility. The target efficiency range was 91.4% with linearity ranging from 10-106 copies/reaction and a limit of detection of five copies/reaction or 250 copies/mL of plasma. The qPCR assay developed in the present study was simple, rapid and sensitive, allowing the detection of a wide range of HHV-6 loads. In conclusion, this test may be useful as a practical tool to help elucidate the clinical relevance of HHV-6 infection and reactivation in different scenarios and to determine the need for surveillance.

A crescente demanda humana por alimentos, matérias-primas e energia modificou radicalmente a paisagem e os ciclos biogeoquímicos de inúmeras bacias hidrográficas no mundo. A interferência das atividades humanas na Biosfera é tão grande que já duplicou a quantidade de nitrogênio reativo com a produção industrial de fertilizantes, a queima de combustíveis fósseis e a mudança de uso da terra no século XX. A Bacia do Prata brasileira contribui para a alteração do ciclo do nitrogênio na América do Sul, por causa da sua extensa área e da marcante ocupação agrícola e pecuária, que atende à demanda de seus grandes centros urbanos - São Paulo, por exemplo - e de mercados fora do Brasil. Neste estudo, foram estimados os valores das principais entradas e saídas de N atuais em razão da ação antrópica na bacia. O complexo da soja desempenha um papel importante, pois contribui com uma entrada anual de quase 1.8 TgN por causa da fixação biológica na bacia. Além disso, a exportação de produtos oriundos da soja é estimada em 1.0 TgN, um valor maior que a exportação de nitrogênio total dos rios Paraná, Paraguai e Uruguai (na porção de área brasileira) juntos. Também foram tomadas como hipóteses situações futuras para o comportamento do ciclo de N na bacia, considerando-se dois cenários de mudanças climáticas para o período 2070-2100 (baseados em A2 e B2, do IPCC), que poderão influenciar o uso da terra, as entradas e as perdas de N na bacia. Por fim, é discutido como tais cenários irão alterar o bem-estar da população, pois há uma conexão entre o ciclo do nitrogênio e os serviços ecossistêmicos, tais como a produção de alimentos e a regulação climática.

The increasing human demand for food, raw material and energy has radically modified both the landscape and biogeochemical cycles in many river basins in the world. The interference of human activities on the Biosphere is so significant that it has doubled the amount of reactive nitrogen due to industrial fertiliser production (Haber-Bosch), fossil fuel burning and land-use change over the last century. In this context, the Brazilian La Plata Basin contributes to the alteration of the nitrogen cycle in South America because of its huge agricultural and grazing area that meets the demands of its large urban centres - Sao Paulo, for instance - and also external markets abroad. In this paper, we estimate the current inputs and outputs of anthropogenic nitrogen (in kg N.km-2.yr-1) in the basin. In the results, we observe that soybean plays a very important role in the Brazilian La Plata, since it contributes with an annual entrance of about 1.8 TgN due to biological nitrogen fixation. Moreover, our estimate indicates that the export of soybean products accounts for roughly 1.0 TgN which is greater than the annual nitrogen riverine exports from Brazilian Parana, Paraguay and Uruguay rivers together. Complimentarily, we built future scenarios representing changes in the nitrogen cycle profile considering two scenarios of climate change for 2070-2100 (based on IPCC's A2 and B2) that will affect land-use, nitrogen inputs, and loss of such nutrients in the basin. Finally, we discuss how both scenarios will affect human well-being since there is a connection between nitrogen cycle and ecosystem services that affect local and global populations, such as food and fibre production and climate regulation.

O Plasma Rico em Plaquetas (PRP) é um preparado do sangue total que contém diversos fatores de crescimento responsáveis pela proliferação e diferenciação celular, angiogênese, como também pelo aumento da produção da matriz extracelular. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do presente estudo foi testar 10 protocolos diferentes de centrifugação para obtenção de PRP a partir do sangue total de equinos hígidos. Para isso foram utilizadas 10 amostras de 27mL de sangue total de cinco animais, as quais foram centrifugadas conforme cada protocolo proposto. Os resultados revelaram que os protocolos com menor força de centrifugação relativa resultaram em maior (p<0,05) concentração de plaquetas e, que não houve (p>0,05) influência do tempo de centrifugação em relação a essa variável. A influência do tempo foi observada apenas no número de leucócitos em protocolos com menor força de centrifugação relativa (FCR). Os quatro melhores protocolos, que obtiveram as maiores concentrações de plaquetas, foram submetidos à análise pelo teste de ELISA para dosar a quantidade de TGF-β que não revelou diferença (p>0,05) entre os protocolos.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a prepared of the whole blood which contains several growth factors responsible for cellular proliferation and differentiation, angiogenesis, and for the increase of the extracellular matrix. Thus, the aim of this study was to test 10 different centrifugation protocols to obtain PRP from the whole blood of healthy equines. Ten samples of 27mL of the whole blood of 5 healthy equines were used, which were centrifuged in accordance to the proposed protocols. The results showed that the protocols with less relative centrifugation force resulted in greater (p<0,05) platelets concentration. Also, platelets concentration was not influenced by varying the time of centrifugation. However, time did affect the number of leukocytes in some protocols. The best four protocols were analyzed by ELISA test to quantitate the amount of TGF-β, which revealed no difference (p> 0.05) between the protocols.

OBJETIVO: Descrever os dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e os fatores associados ao controle da asma em pacientes asmáticos seguidos em um ambulatório pediátrico especializado. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de pacientes asmáticos ambulatoriais, para os quais eram fornecidas medicações profiláticas. A classificação da asma, as etapa de tratamento e a avaliação do controle seguiram a IV Diretrizes Brasileiras para o Manejo da Asma, de 2006. Os fatores avaliados foram: outras alergias, obesidade, imunodeficiências, refluxo gastresofágico e sensibilização alérgica, sendo comparados pacientes com asma controlada ou não com relação à etapa do tratamento, à obesidade e à sensibilização alérgica. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 300 pacientes com asma (1,38M:1F), com mediana de idade de 10,8 anos, e de início dos sintomas de 1,0 ano. A atopia estava presente em 78% dos pais e/ou irmãos. Antecedentes pessoais de doenças alérgicas ocorreram em 292 pacientes (96% rinite, 27% dermatite atópica, 18% conjuntivite alérgica, 6% alergia alimentar). Foram diagnosticados sete casos de deficiência de IgA (DIgA) e quatro de IgG2; obesidade em 37/253 (15%), sendo que sobrepeso e obesidade estiveram associados à falta de controle (p=0,023). Em 118 pacientes com multissensibilização, predominaram casos não controlados (22 (19%) casos; p=0,049; OR 1,9; IC95% 1,03-3,50). Entre os 180 casos (60%) em tratamento nas etapas 3 e 4, 122 (45%) estavam controlados e 112 (41%) parcialmente controlados. CONCLUSÕES: A rinite foi a alergia mais associada à asma e a prevalência de DIgA foi 20 vezes maior do que na população geral. O controle parcial ou total dos sintomas da asma foi obtido em 85% dos casos. Obesidade/sobrepeso e multissensibilização foram associadas à falta de controle da asma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiological and clinical data and factors associated with asthma control of asthmatic patients followed at a pediatric reference center. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including asthmatic outpatients receiving prophylactic medications from the institution. For classification of asthma, steps of treatment and control evaluation, the IV Brazilian Guidelines for the Management of Asthma (2006) were adopted. The presence of other allergies, obesity, immunodeficiency, gastroesophageal reflux and allergic sensitization were evaluated and compared between patients with or without asthma control according to the treatment step, obesity and allergic sensitization. RESULTS: 300 patients with asthma (1.38M:1F) were included; median age=10.8 years; median age at onset of symptoms=1.0 year. Among parents and/or siblings, 78% reported atopy. Personal history showed other allergic diseases in 292 patients (96% rhinitis, 27% atopic dermatitis, 18% allergic conjunctivitis, 6% food allergy). IgA deficiency was diagnosed in seven cases and IgG2 deficiency in four. Obesity was noted in 34/233 patients (15%) and overweight/obesity were associated with asthma poor control (p<0.023). Among 118 patients multisensitizated, the frequency of poor asthma control was greater (22 (19%) cases; p=0.049, OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.03-3.50). Among the patients, 180 (60%) were treated according steps 3 and 4; 122 children (45%) were considered controlled and 112 (41%) were partially controlled. CONCLUSIONS: Allergic rhinitis was the allergic disease more associated with asthma. The prevalence of IgA deficiency was 20 times higher than in the general population. Total or partial control of asthma symptoms was obtained in 85% of the cases. Overweight/obesity and multisensitization were associated to poor asthma control.

OBJETIVO: Describir los datos epidemiológicos, clínicos y los factores asociados al control del asma en pacientes asmáticos seguidos en ambulatorio pediátrico especializado. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de pacientes asmáticos ambulatoriales, para los que se suministraban medicaciones profilácticas gratuitamente. La clasificación del asma, las etapas de tratamiento y la evaluación del control siguieron las IV Directrices Brasileñas para el Manejo del Asma, 2006. Los factores evaluados fueron: otras alergias, obesidad, inmunodeficiencias, reflujo gastroesofágico y sensibilización alérgica, siendo comparados pacientes controlados o no respecto a la etapa del tratamiento, obesidad y la sensibilización alérgica. RESULTADOS: Se analizaron a 300 pacientes con asma (1,38M:1F); mediana de edad de 10,8 años, mediana del inicio de los síntomas de 1,0 año. La atopía estaba presente en el 77,8% de los padres y/o hermanos. Antecedentes personales de enfermedades alérgicas ocurrieron en 292 pacientes (95,6% rinitis, 27% dermatitis atópica, 18,3% conjuntivitis alérgica, 6% alergia alimentar). Se diagnosticaron 7 casos de deficiencia de IgA (2,3% de DIgA) y 4 de IgG2; obesidad en 37/253 (14,6%), siendo que el sobrepeso y la obesidad estuvieron asociados a la falta de control (p=0,023). En 118 pacientes con multisensibilización predominaron casos no controlados (18,6% frente a 9,8%) (p=0,049; OR 1,9; IC95% 1,03-3,50). Entre los 180 casos (60,2%) en tratamiento en las etapas 3 y 4, 122 estaban controlados (45,0%) y 112 (41,3%), parcialmente controlados. CONCLUSIONES: La rinitis fue la alergia más asociada al asma y la prevalencia de DIgA fue 20 veces superior a la población general. El control parcial o total de los síntomas del asma se obtuvo en el 86,3% de los casos. Obesidad/sobrepeso y multisensibilización fueron asociadas a la falta de control del asma.

Cadmium (Cd) in air, drinking water and food has the potential to affect the health of people, mainly those who live in highly industrialized regions. Cd affects placental function, can cross the placental barrier and directly modify fetal development. Once the organism is particularly susceptible to the exposition to the Cd during the perinatal period, and that this metal can be excreted in the milk, the aim of the present work was to study the effects of the constant exposition to drinkable water containing low levels of Cd during the lactation, on the salivary glands of the rat. Female rats received ad libitum drinking water containing 300mg/l of CdCl2 throughout the whole lactation. Control animals received a similar volume of water without Cd. Lactant rats (21 day old) were killed by lethal dose of anesthetic. The salivary glands were separated, fixed in "alfac" solution for 24 h, and serially sectioned. The 6µm thick sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Nuclear glandular parameters were estimated, as well as cytoplasm and cell volume, nucleus/cytoplasm ratio, number and surface density, diameters and cell thickness. Mean body weight was 34.86 g for the control group and 18.56 g for the Cd-treated group. Histologically, the glandular acini were significantly smaller, the gland ducts were similar in both groups studied. The connective tissue was more abundant. In conclusion, the salivary glands (submandibular, parotid and sublingual) showed retarded growth after Cd intoxication.

El cadmio (Cd), presente en el aire, agua potable y alimentos, tiene potencial para afectar la salud humana, principalmente en las regiones altamente industrializadas. El Cd además de afectar la función placentaria, puede atravesar la barrera placentaria y perjudicar directamente el desarrollo fetal. En virtud de que el organismo es particularmente susceptible a la exposición al Cd durante el período perinatal, y que ese metal puede ser excretado en la leche, el objetivo del presente trabajo fue estudiar los efectos de la exposición continua a agua potable conteniendo bajos niveles de Cd durante la lactancia sobre las glándulas salivales de la rata. Ratas hembra recibieron agua potable conteniendo 300mg/l de CdCl2 ad libitum durante toda la lactancia. Animales control recibieron un volumen similar de agua potable sin Cd. Las ratas lactantes (21 días de edad) fueron sacrificadas con una dosis letal de anestésico. Las glándulas salivales fueron separadas, fijadas en "alfac" por 24 h, y cortadas seriadamente. Cortes de 6 µm de espesor fueron teñidos con hematoxilina y eosina. Fueron estimados los parámetros nucleares, los volúmenes citoplasmático y celular, la relación núcleo/citoplasma, densidad numérica, densidad superficial, diámetros y espesor de las paredes de las estructuras glandulares. El peso medio corporal fue 34,86 g para la rata control y 18,56 g para la tratada. Histológicamente, los adenómeros glandulares fueron significativamente menores y los conductos glandulares fueron similares en ambos grupos. La estroma fue más abundante en los animales tratados. En conclusión, las glándulas salivales (submandibular, parótida y sublingual) mostraron retardo del crecimiento en los animales intoxicados por Cd.

Cobalt is one of the main components of cast metal alloys broadly used in dentistry. It is the constituent of 45 to 70% of numerous prosthetic works. There are evidences that metal elements cause systemic and local toxicity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of cobalt on the junctional epithelium and reduced enamel epithelium of the first superior molar in rats, during lactation. To do this, 1-day old rats were used, whose mothers received 300mg of cobalt chloride per liter of distilled water in the drinker, during lactation. After 21 days, the rat pups were killed with an anesthetic overdose. The heads were separated, fixed in "alfac", decalcified and embedded in paraffin. Frontal sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin were employed. Karyometric methods allowed to estimate the following parameters: biggest, smallest and mean diameters, D/d ratio, perimeter, area, volume, volume/area ratio, eccentricity, form coefficient and contour index. Stereologic methods allow to evaluate: cytoplasm/nucleus ratio, cell and cytoplasm volume, cell number density, external surface/basal membrane ratio, thickness of the epithelial layers and surface density. All the collected data were subjected to statistic analysis by the non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test. The nuclei of the studied tissues showed smaller values after karyometry for: diameters; perimeter, area, volume and volume/area ratio. Stereologically, it was observed, in the junctional epithelium and in the reduced enamel epithelium, smaller cells with scarce cytoplasm, reflected in the greater number of cells per mm3 of tissue. In this study, cobalt caused epithelial atrophy, indicating a direct action on the junctional and enamel epithelium.

El cobalto es uno de los principales componentes de las aleaciones metálicas fundidas, usadas frecuentemente en odontología. El metal es el constituyente de 45 a 70% de los trabajos protéticos. En virtud de la existencia de evidencias que elementos metálicos pueden causar toxicidad sistémica y local, este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar los efectos del cobalto sobre el epitelio de unión y el epitelio del esmalte del primer molar superior de rata, durante la lactancia. Con esa finalidad fueron usadas ratas con 1 día de vida postnatal, cuyas madres recibieron 300 mg de cloruro de cobalto por litro de agua destilada en el bebedero, durante a la lactancia. Al cabo de 21 días, las crías fueron sacrificadas con sobredosis anestésica. Las cabezas fueron separadas, fijadas en "alfac", descalcificadas e incluidas en parafina. Fueron utilizados cortes frontales seriados teñidos con hematoxilina y eosina. Fueron estimados los siguientes parámetros nucleares: diámetros mayor, menor y geométrico medio, relación entre diámetros, perímetro, área, volumen, relación entre volumen y área, excentricidad, coeficiente de forma e índice de contorno. Mediante métodos estereológicos fueron evaluados: relación núcleo/citoplasma, volumen celular, densidad numérica celular, relación superficie externa/camada basal, espesor de las camadas epiteliales y densidad de superficie. Todos los datos obtenidos fueron sometidos a análisis estadístico mediante la prueba no-paramétrica de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney. Los núcleos de los tejidos estudiados mostraron valores menores para diámetros, perímetro, área, volumen y relación volumen/área. Estereológicamente, fue posible observar en el epitelio de unión y en el epitelio reducido del esmalte, células menores con citoplasma más escaso, lo que se refleja en mayor número de células por mm³ de tejido. En este estudio, el cobalto ocasionó un cuadro de atrofia epitelial, sugiriendo una acción directa sobre los epitelios de unión y del esmalte.