Ruy Alberto Caetano Corrêa Filho

Scope and efficiency of the newborn screening program in identifying hemoglobin S

Background In 2001, the Brazilian Ministry of Health added hemoglobinopathies to the National Neonatal Screening Program to be implemented in three steps. In order to meet the proposed goals, it is crucial to establish periodic assessments of this program with the aim of monitoring its implementation. Objective To assess the scope and the efficiency of the stages of the National Newborn Screening Program in identifying hemoglobin S. Methods A cross-sectional study was developed with the results of the heel prick test using the high performance liquid chromatography method for babies born in Mato Grosso do Sul from 2006 to 2010. The following variables were investigated: year, number of live births, total screening, coverage ratio, prevalence, time between the child birth and the blood collection; age at diagnosis; age at the time of the first consultation; and time between the diagnosis and the first appointment. Results Over the five years of the study, the mean coverage rate was 91.77%. The prevalences of hemoglobin FAS and hemoglobin FS were 1.65% and 0.011%, respectively. Blood samples from 43.48% of children were collected from the second to the seventh day. The age at diagnosis was within the first 28 days in 87.80% of the screened children. The lowest mean indices for the first consultation and the time between the diagnosis and the first appointment (58.8 and 46.4 days, respectively) occurred in 2010. Conclusions The scope of the National Neonatal Screening Program for hemoglobinopathies is good, with a large number of individuals being tested. Efficiency is a suitable indicator to assess the program steps. Three points are recommended: the training of the individuals involved, studies to assess the assistance provided to the affected child, and genetic counseling to the mothers.

Situação do pênfigo foliáceo endêmico em Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil, 1990-1999

307 cases were examined to characterize epidemiological aspects of endemic pemphigus foliaceus. The disease was predominantly identified in rural workers between 10 and 42 years old. Incidence was higher in the December, January, February, March and May (average: 30.7 cases/year). Our findings identified a corridor, coinciding with the state watershed.

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis and treatment adherence among patients with chronic kidney disease in Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul

INTRODUCTION The primary strategy for tuberculosis control involves identifying individuals with latent tuberculosis. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients who were undergoing hemodialysis in Campo Grande, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, to characterize the sociodemographic and clinical profiles of patients with latent tuberculosis, to verify the association between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and the occurrence of latent tuberculosis, and to monitor patient adherence to latent tuberculosis treatment. METHODS This epidemiological study involved 418 CKD patients who were undergoing hemodialysis and who underwent a tuberculin skin test. RESULTS The prevalence of latent tuberculosis was 10.3%. The mean patient age was 53.43±14.97 years, and the patients were predominantly men (63.9%). The population was primarily Caucasian (58.6%); half (50%) were married, and 49.8% had incomplete primary educations. Previous contact with tuberculosis patients was reported by 80% of the participants. Treatment adherence was 97.7%. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that the prevalence of latent tuberculosis in our study population was low. Previous contact with patients with active tuberculosis increased the occurrence of latent infection. Although treatment adherence was high in this study, it is crucial to monitor tuberculosis treatment administered to patients in health services to maintain this high rate.

Ovopel® and carp pituitary extract for induction of reproduction in Colossoma macropomum females

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of the hormonal inducers Ovopel® and carp pituitary extract (CPE) for induction of reproduction in Colossoma macropomum females. The treatments were CPE at the dose of 5.5 mg/kg divided into two applications (10%; and 90% after 12 h) and Ovopel® at doses of 0.2 and 0.4 pellet/kg body weight in a single application. Eight replicates were used in each of the three treatments, totaling 24 experimental units. The females spawned when treated with the 0.2 pellet of Ovopel® (100.0%), 0.4 pellet of Ovopel® (62.5%), and CPE (87.5%), but there were no significant differences among the treatment groups in spawning rate. When there was treatment with Ovopel® spawning occurred with greater (P < 0.05) degree-hours (average water temperature × number of hours until spawning; 0.2 pellet: 417.7; 0.4 pellet: 412.3) in relation to the CPE treatment (268.9). The total oocyte weight was similar when there was treatment with Ovopel® (0.2 pellet: 832.3 g; 0.4 pellet: 798.9 g) and CPE (688.3 g). By contrast, the production index was greater (P < 0.05) with the Ovopel® treatments (0.2 pellet: 8.8%; 0.4 pellet: 9.0%) as compared with CPE (6.7%). Fertility and hatching rates were similar among the treatment groups. Ovopel® and CPE are efficient in induction of reproduction in C. macropomum females. Of the two Ovopel® treatments assessed in this study, the dose of 0.2 pellet/kg body weight is sufficient for effective induction of reproductive processes.

Genetic Variability of Brycon hilarii in a Repopulation Program

Brycon hilarii, popularly called piraputanga in Brazil, is a species distributed throughout the whole basin of the river Paraguay. In recent years, the species has been on a repopulation program due to its remarkable decline as a wild species in the region. Assessment of the genetic diversity of broodstock and fingerling stocks in repopulation programs is basic to avoid genetic impacts on wild populations. The genetic variability of the wild population and of the broodstock and fingerling stocks of B. hilarii in a repopulation program in the river Itiquira MT Brazil will be determined. Seven microsatellite loci produced 52 polymorphic alleles and heterozygosity revealed rates between 0.5794 and 0.7204. FIS did not register any endogamy in the broodstock but it was present in fingerlings and wild populations. Intra- and inter-specific genetic variability rates were higher within each combination but not between groups. Grouping in fingerling groups had a lower density when compared to the others. There is a higher genetic proximity between the natural population and broodstock (0.0237) when the distance between populations was analyzed, even though the two were greatly distant from the fingerling group (0.2622 - 0.2617). Results show that the wild population and the broodstock had high genetic variability and low genetic divergence; contrastingly, fingerlings showed mild genetic variability and great divergence when compared to other groups, indicating that they were not adequately constituted.

Colossoma macropomum females can reproduce more than once in the same reproductive period

The aim of the present study was to evaluate induced reproduction in Colossoma macropomum females at the beginning of the reproductive period and 75 days after the first spawning in which reproduction was induced. The experiment was conducted in Nova Mutum, MT, Brazil. Eight 4-year-old C. macropomum females with an average body weight of 6.7 ± 2.4 kg were used. Hormonal induction was performed at the beginning of the reproductive period and repeated 75 days after the first spawning. The following variables were then evaluated: weight of released oocytes, production index, absolute fecundity, oocyte diameter, fertilization rate, and hatching rate. Of the eight females that spawned during the first hormonal induction, three (37.5%) spawned again 75 days after the first spawning. Two females died after the first induced spawning. None of the means of the evaluated variables differed between the two induced spawnings, except for fertilization rate, which was greater (P <  0.05) with the first spawning (88.8 ± 6.1%) than in the second (74.1 ± 10.4%). The results of the present study indicate that C. macropomum females can reproduce again 75 days after a first induced spawning.

Production performance of cachara and hybrid cachapinta

This study aimed to compare the growth performance of surubins (cachara Pseudoplatystoma reticulatum and hybrid cachapinta P. reticulatum × Pseudoplatystoma corruscans) produced in cages. The experiment had a randomized design with two treatments and three replicates, with one cage comprising an experimental unit, i.e., six cages in total. Fingerlings of the two genetic groups (cachara and hybrid cachapinta) were fed twice a day with extruded feed for carnivorous fishes. After 216 days of production, the growth parameters were evaluated, including total length, final weight, final biomass, biomass gain, survival, and apparent feed conversion values. No differences were found between cachara and cachapinta in the variables analyzed. In conclusion, cachara and cachapinta produced in cages exhibit the same growth performances.

Grupo genético e ordem de parto no desempenho produtivo e reprodutivo de matrizes suínas

The objective of this paper was toevaluate the effect of genetic group (GG) and parity order (PO) of 400 sows on productive and reproductive traits. Were used three GG (GG1, GG2 and GG3) and two PO (PO1 and PO2). The dependent variables evaluated were litter weight at birth (LWB), litter weight at weaning (LWW), litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), lactation length (LL), number of litters/female / year (L/F/Y), number of piglets weaned / female / year (P/W/F), daily weight gain of each piglet (DWG), average daily gain of piglets (ADGP), weaning to estrus interval (WEI), average non-productive days (ANP) and number of services per conception (NSPC). The interaction between GG and PO was significant for LWW, LL, L/F/Y, DWG, WEI e ANP. For the other variables (LWB, LSB, LSW and P/W/F) no interaction or effect of GG and PO was observed. There was effect of GG independent of PO in the variables except ADGP and NSPC. The GG 3 was considered superior, since it showed better performance in relation to others in most of characteristics evaluated. It was not possible to determine the best PO, because this varied according to GG and the dependents variables.

Live weight and metabolic hormone profile in steers moved in drives

The objective was to determine the effects of driving on the growth of steers during 55 days of moving by drive and 84 days after the arrival. Twenty-five steers were randomly chosen from a herd of 1,000 Nellore cattle, which were evaluated in two periods: the driving period, in which animals were moved a distance of 700 km on foot for 55 d; and the post-driving period, which lasted 84 d. Serum samples were obtained for hormone dosing (T3, T4, cortisol, and IGF-I) by radioimmunoassay using commercial kits. The data was collected at different time points during the experiment. No changes in live weight were observed between days 0 and 55. During the post-driving period, on the 28th, 56th, and 84th d, the average weights were 226.10 kg, 224.28 kg, and 242.6 kg, respectively; differences in weight were observed on the 84th d when compared with the 56th d. There were no changes in insulin and T3 levels in either periods; the lowest T4concentration was observed during the driving period. The serum T4concentration increased after 56 d of post-driving, and it was greater than the concentrations detected on the other days. The highest levels of cortisol were identified after 28 d of post-driving. An increase in IGF-I concentration was observed after 56 and 84 d of post-driving. Moving cattle by driving does not alter the weight of the animals and weight gain occurs during the post-driving period due to an increase in the T4 and IGF-I levels.