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The impact of the Antarctic Ozone Hole Influence over Southern Brazil in October 2015 was analyzed using daily mean data of the Total Column Ozone (TCO), Ultraviolet Index (UVI) and Radiative Cloud Fraction (RCF) from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument satellite instrument. Vertical profiles and fields of ozone content and Potential Vorticity available from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast reanalysis, air masses backward trajectories from the HYbrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model and channel 3 water vapor images from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite GOES-13 were also analyzed. The five identified events showed an -7.4±2.3% average TCO reduction, leading to an +16.6±54.6% UVI increase even with a predominance of partly cloudy days. Other impacts were observed in the ozone profiles, where the most significant anomalies occurred from 650 K reaching 1.2 ppmv at the 850 K level. In the ozone fields at 700 K, the presence of a polar origin tongue was observed causing negatives anomalies between -0.2 and 0.4 ppmv in a transient system format forced with eastward-traveling Rossby waves passing through the Southern of Brazil and Uruguay.

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Dogs are the most popular pet animals worldwide, but on the other hand, they are main hosts of pathogens potentially transmissible to humans. The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of intestinal parasites in free- roaming and owned dogs in an urban area in southeastern Brazil and to identify the hookworm species infecting them. Faecal samples (80 from free-roaming and 53 from owned dogs) were examined for intestinal parasites using concentration methods. DNA extracted from hookworm microscopy-positive samples were tested by PCR targeting the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and the amplicons retrieved were sequenced. Intestinal parasites were detected in 43.60% (58/133) of the dogs and hookworm infection was found at the highest prevalence rate (38.30%), followed by Toxocara canis (10.50%), Trichuris vulpis (2.25%), Giardia spp. (0.75%) and Cystoisospora spp. (0.75%). Out of the 51 samples positive for hookworm eggs, 26 (50.90%) were successfully amplified and sequenced. Single infections with Ancylostoma caninum and Ancylostoma braziliense were recorded in 18 (69.20%) and two (7.70%) isolates, respectively, and mixed infections were found in the remaining six samples (23.10%). Both species were found infecting free-roaming and owned animals, but A. caninum was more common. These findings highlight the public health relevance of dogs as reservoirs of zoonotic parasites, with emphasis on hookworm species commonly implicated in cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) in poor and deprived areas.

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Classical quantification of gastric emptying (GE) and orocaecal transit (OCT) based on half-life time T$ _{50} $, mean gastric emptying time (MGET), orocaecal transit time (OCTT) or mean caecum arrival time (MCAT) can lead to misconceptions when analyzing irregularly or noisy data. We show that this is the case for gastrointestinal transit of control and of diabetic rats. Addressing this limitation, we present an artificial neural network (ANN) as an alternative tool capable of discriminating between control and diabetic rats through GE and OCT analysis. Our data were obtained via biological experiments using the alternate current biosusceptometry (ACB) method. The GE results are quantified by T$ _{50} $ and MGET, while the OCT is quantified by OCTT and MCAT. Other than these classical metrics, we employ a supervised training to classify between control and diabetes groups, accessing sensitivity, specificity, $ f_1 $ score, and AUROC from the ANN. For GE, the ANN sensitivity is 88%, its specificity is 83%, and its $ f_1 $ score is 88%. For OCT, the ANN sensitivity is 100%, its specificity is 75%, and its $ f_1 $ score is 85%. The area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) from both GE and OCT data is about 0.9 in both training and validation, while the AUCs for classical metrics are 0.8 or less. These results show that the supervised training and the binary classification of the ANN was successful. Classical metrics based on statistical moments and ROC curve analyses led to contradictions, but our ANN performs as a reliable tool to evaluate the complete profile of the curves, leading to a classification of similar curves that are barely distinguished using statistical moments or ROC curves. The reported ANN provides an alert that the use of classical metrics can lead to physiological misunderstandings in gastrointestinal transit processes. This ANN capability of discriminating diseases in GE and OCT processes can be further explored and tested in other applications.

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Pharmacomagnetography involves the simultaneous assessment of solid dosage forms (SDFs) in the human gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the drug plasmatic concentration, using a biomagnetic technique and pharmacokinetics analysis. This multi-instrumental approach helps the evaluation, as GI variables can interfere with the drug delivery processes. This study aimed to employ pharmacomagnetography to evaluate the influence of omeprazole on the drug release and absorption of metronidazole administered orally in magnetic-coated tablets. Magnetic-coated tablets, coated with Eudragit® E-100 (E100) and containing 100 mg of metronidazole, were produced. For the in vivo experiments, 12 volunteers participated in the two phases of the study (placebo and omeprazole) on different days to assess the bioavailability of metronidazole. The results indicated a shift as the pH of the solution increased and a delay in the dissolution of metronidazole, showing that the pH increase interferes with the release processes of tablets coated with E100. Our study reinforced the advantages of pharmacomagnetography as a tool to perform a multi-instrumental correlation analysis of the disintegration process and the bioavailability of drugs.

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ABSTRACT Introduction: The treatment of hemorrhoidal disease by conventional technique is associated with significant morbidity, mainly represented by the postoperative pain and the late return to daily activities. A technique of hemorrhoidal dearterialization associated with rectal mucopexy is a minimal invasive surgical option that has been used to treat the hemorrhoidal disease and reduce its inconveniences. Objective: To analyze the seven-year results of hemorrhoidal dearterialization associated with rectal mucopexy in the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. Methods: This study analyzed 407 patients with hemorrhoids grade II, III and IV, who underwent the technique of hemorrhoidal dearterialization in the Luzia de Pinho Melo Hospital, during the period between December 2010 and December 2017. Twenty-seven patients (6.6%) had hemorrhoidal disease of the grade II, 240 (59.0%) grade III, and 117 (28.8%) grade IV. In 23 patients (5.7%), the grade was not found. All patients were operated by the same surgeon under spinal anesthesia. The 407 patients underwent dearterialization, with a varying ligation of one to six arterial branches followed by rectal mucopexy by uninterrupted suture. Eighty-two (20.14%) required removal of concomitant perianal piles or external hemorrhoids and/or fibrosed. In the postoperative follow-up the following parameters were evaluated: pain, tenesmus, bleeding, prolapse, thrombosis, and recurrence. Results: The tenesmus was postoperative complaint reported by 93.6% of patients. Forty-three (10.5%) presented intense tenesmus and 44 (22%), moderate to intense pain. Four (0.98%) patients presented more intense bleeding in postoperative follow up; none of the patients required blood transfusions. The prolapse occurred in 18 (4.42%) patients, thrombosis in 11 (2.7%), and there were 19 (4.67%) recurrences that were reoperated in this period. Conclusion: The hemorrhoidal dearterialization technique presents good results, with light and easy-to-resolve complications and little postoperative pain.

RESUMO Introdução: O tratamento da doença hemorroidária pelas técnicas convencionais cursa com significante redução da qualidade de vida do doente, principalmente relacionada à dor pós-operatória e ao considerável tempo de afastamento do trabalho. A técnica de desarterialização hemorroidária associada à mucopexia retal é uma opção cirúrgica pouco invasiva, a qual é utilizada com o objetivo de tratar a doença hemorroidária e reduzir seus inconvenientes. Objetivo: Analisar os resultados encontrados após sete anos de seguimento em doentes submetidos à técnica da desarterialização hemorroidária associada à mucopexia para o tratamento da doença hemorroidária. Método: Foram estudados 407 portadores de doença hemorroidária de graus II, III e IV, submetidos à técnica da desarterialização hemorroidária no Hospital das Clínicas Luzia de Pinho Melo de Mogi das Cruzes, durante o período de Dezembro de 2010 a Dezembro de 2017. Vinte e sete doentes (6,6%) apresentavam doença hemorroidária de grau II, 240 (59,0%) do grau III e 117 (28,8%) do grau IV. Em 23 doentes (5,7%) não foram encontradas a classificação nos prontuários. Todos os doentes foram operados pelo mesmo cirurgião e sob anestesia raquidiana. Os 407 doentes foram submetidos à desarterialização, variando de um até seis ramos arteriais seguidos de mucopexia por sutura contínua. Oitenta e dois (20,14%) necessitaram ressecções associadas por plicomas ou hemorroidas externas. No pós-operatório foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: dor, tenesmo, sangramento, prolapso, trombose e recidiva. Resultados: O tenesmo foi a queixa pós-operatória referida por 93,36% dos doentes. Quarenta e três (10,5%) apresentaram tenesmo intenso e 44 (22%) de moderado a intenso. Quatro (0,98%) doentes apresentaram sangramento de maior intensidade no pós-operatório e em 1 (0,5%) houve necessidade de hemostasia cirúrgica, em nenhum deles houve necessidade de reposição sanguínea. O prolapso ocorreu em 18 (4,42%) doentes, trombose em 11 (2,7%) e houve 19 (4,67%) recidivas reoperados durante o período. Conclusão: A desarterialização hemorroidária apresenta bons resultados, complicações leves e de fácil resolução e pouca dor pós-operatória.

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BACKGROUND: Several species of protozoa cause acute or chronic gastroenteritis in humans, worldwide. The burden of disease is particularly high among children living in developing areas of the world, where transmission is favored by lower hygienic standards and scarce availability of safe water. However, asymptomatic infection and polyparasitism are also commonly observed in poor settings. Here, we investigated the prevalence of intestinal protozoa in two small fishing villages, Porto Said (PS) and Santa Maria da Serra (SM), situated along the river Tietê in the State of São Paolo, Brazil. The villages lack basic public infrastructure and services, such as roads, public water supply, electricity and public health services. METHODS: Multiple fecal samples were collected from 88 individuals in PS and from 38 individuals in SM, who were asymptomatic at the time of sampling and had no recent history of diarrheal disease. To gain insights into potential transmission routes, 49 dog fecal samples (38 from PS and 11 from SM) and 28 river water samples were also collected. All samples were tested by microscopy and PCR was used to genotype Giardia duodenalis, Blastocystis sp., Dientamoeba fragilis and Cryptosporidium spp. RESULTS: By molecular methods, the most common human parasite was Blastocystis sp. (prevalence, 45% in PS and 71% in SM), followed by D. fragilis (13.6% in PS, and 18.4% in SM) and G. duodenalis (18.2% in PS and 7.9% in SM); Cryptosporidium spp. were not detected. Sequence analysis revealed large genetic variation among Blastocystis samples, with subtypes (STs) 1 and 3 being predominant, and with the notable absence of ST4. Among G. duodenalis samples, assemblages A and B were detected in humans, whereas assemblages A, C and D were found in dogs. Finally, all D. fragilis samples from humans were genotype 1. A single dog was found infected with Cryptosporidium canis. River water samples were negative for the investigated parasites. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a high carriage of intestinal parasites in asymptomatic individuals from two poor Brazilian villages, and highlighted a large genetic variability of Blastocystis spp. and G. duodenalis.

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