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In Brazil, cardiovascular diseases account for 33% of deaths and the prevalence of hypertension is of approximately 22%. The Santos and São Vicente Estuarine System is the most important example of environmental degradation by chemicals from industrial sources. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors in the population of this estuary in the period 2006-2009. A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the aforementioned prevalence of hypertension in the evaluated areas, as well as risk factors for this disease in four contaminated areas located in the Estuary, and one area outside Estuary, the city of Bertioga. Associations between categorical variables were tested using Pearson's chi-square test incorporating Yates' correction, or Fisher's exact test. Single and multiple logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the risk factors for hypertension. The highest prevalence of hypertension was found in Continental São Vicente (28.4%). The risk factors for hypertension were the following: living in Center of Cubatão (OR: 1.3; IC95%: 1.0 - 1.6) and Continental São Vicente (OR: 1.4; IC95%: 1.1 - 1.8); illiterate (OR: 1.9; IC95%: 1.1 - 3.2); living in the area for more than 20 years (OR: 1.2; IC95%: 1.0 - 1.5); group of people aged 36-60 years (OR: 3.9; IC95%: 3.3 - 4.6) and who have had past occupational exposure (OR: 1.3; IC95%: 1.1 - 1.6). Results indicate that living in contaminated areas, especially for a longer time, is a risk factor for hypertension.

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The Santos and São Vicente Estuary has suffered extensively over the years from irregular industrial deposits. The present study aimed to evaluate liver disease prevalence and potential associated risk factors in four of the Estuary's areas (Pilões and Água-Fria, Cubatão Center, Continental São Vicente, and Guarujá) and a reference area (Bertioga). This study consisted of a cross-sectional study design, in which a questionnaire was used to collect information in 820 households at each of the study areas. The proportion of total liver diseases, hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer (liver, biliary tract, and pancreas) per area were estimated. Pearson's chi-square test and two proportion differences test were applied in order to evaluate associations between disease occurrence and areas and to test differences between two proportions, respectively. Single and multiple logistic regression models were applied to assess associations between disease prevalence and the different study areas. Liver disease prevalence was 1.5 % among all inhabitants and 1.4 % among those without any type of exposure. Among those who reported the presence of liver disease, a higher percentage of the participants that reported hepatitis (27.7 %) or other liver disease (48.7 %) did not report occupational or alcohol exposures. Hepatitis (77.8 %) was the most reported disease, and a statistical association between living in Pilões and Água-Fria and the occurrence of hepatitis was observed (Pearson's χ (2): z = 18.1; p = 0.001). The consumption of locally-produced groceries (2.88; CI: 1.24-6.70) and water (5.88; CI: 2.24-15.45) were shown to be risk factors for the occurrence of liver disease. Thus, environmental exposure is still a public health problem present in the estuary region.

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BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic widespread pain and sleep disturbances. Overweight and obesity, which lead to metabolic changes, are additional comorbidities that are rarely explored, although they are highly prevalent in patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: We compared the plasma levels of leptin and acylated ghrelin in 17 women with fibromyalgia (patients) and 16 healthy women (controls) with similar age, anthropometric measurements and levels of physical activity. We also investigated the relationships between these two neuropeptides and sleep and various pain characteristics in patients with fibromyalgia. Anthropometric measurements were recorded, and physical activity levels were assessed using a questionnaire. Pain intensity was measured using visual analogue scales (weekly general and mean pain scores). Sleep was assessed using an accelerometry technique. RESULTS: Compared to the control group, the patient group had increased leptin levels (patients: 22.4 ± 10.6 vs. controls: 13.3 ± 17.9 ng/mL; p < 0.01) and decreased acylated ghrelin levels (patients: 126.7 ± 47.8 vs. controls: 183.3 ± 102.2 pg/mL; p = 0.048). The leptin level was not significantly correlated with any of the variables. Acylated ghrelin level was inversely correlated with the weekly mean pain score (r = -0.67, p < 0.01) and the weekly general pain score (r = -0.67, p < 0.01). Multiple regression analysis revealed that the variations in acylated ghrelin levels accounted for 35% of the weekly general pain and 29% of the weekly mean pain variability. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the decreased acylated ghrelin levels in women with fibromyalgia are related to pain intensity.

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The uncertainty of aflatoxin M(1) concentration in milk, determined by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with visual and densitometric quantification of the fluorescence intensities of the spots, was estimated using the cause-and-effect approach proposed by ISO GUM (Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement) following its main four steps. The sources of uncertainties due to volume measurements, visual and densitometric TLC calibration curve, allowed range for recovery variation and intermediary precision to be taken into account in the uncertainty budget. For volume measurements the sources of uncertainties due to calibration, resolution, laboratory temperature variation and repeatability were considered. For the quantification by visual readings of the intensity of the aflatoxin M(1) in the TLC the uncertainty arising from resolution calibration curves was modelled based on the intervals of concentrations between pairs of the calibration standard solutions. The uncertainty of the densitometric TLC quantification arising from the calibration curve was obtained by weighted least square (WLS) regression. Finally, the repeatability uncertainty of the densitometric peak areas or of the visual readings for the test sample solutions was considered. For the test samples with aflatoxin M(1) concentration between 0.02 and 0.5 µg l(-1), the relative expanded uncertainties, with approximately 95% of coverage probability, obtained for visual TLC readings were between 60% and 130% of the values predicted by the Horwitz model. For the densitometric TLC determination they were about 20% lower. The main sources of uncertainties in both visual and densitometric TLC quantification were the intermediary precision, calibration curve and recovery. The main source of uncertainty in the calibration curve in the visual TLC analysis was due to the resolution of the visual readings, whereas in the densitometric analysis it was due to the peak areas of test sample solutions followed by the intercept and slope uncertainties of the calibration line.

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RESUMO Com o objetivo de conhecer-se a freqüência sorológica antileptospírica em cães e sua correlação com roedores e fatores ambientais, na área territorial urbana de 32 km2 do Município de Botucatu, SP, colheram-se 1.000 amostras de sangue de cães, em 20 postos homogeneamente distribuídos. A prova diagnóstica utilizada foi a de soroaglutinação microscópica (SAM), com 24 sorovares de Leptospira spp. Das 1.000 amostras submetidas à prova, 17,9% foram reagentes. Os cães reagentes que tiveram contato com roedores (23,68%) mostraram-se significativos (p < 0,05) em relação aos reagentes que não tiveram contato (15,37%). Na correlação entre animais de residências ligadas (18,10%) ou não ligadas (13,63%) à rede pública de esgoto e a soropositividade, não se observou significância estatística (p > 0,05). Ocorreram reações para 20 sorovares, com maior importância para: castellonis (28,68%), autumnalis (19,12%), pyrogenes (17,65%), icterohaemorrhagiae (11,03%) e canicol (9,56%).

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to ascertain the antileptospirosis serological frequency in dogs and its correlation with rodents and environmental factors in a 32 km2 urban area of Botucatu, SP, Brazil. One thousand blood samples were collected from dogs at 20 homogenously distributed stations. The microscopic serum agglutination diagnostic test (SAM) was used with 24 Leptospira spp. serovars. From the 1,000 samples tested, 17.9% were reactive. Reactive dogs who had contact with rodents (23.68%) were significant (p < 0.05) in relation to those without contact (15.37%). There was no statistical significance (p > 0.05) between seropositive animals from homes connected (18.10%) and not connected (13.63%) to the public sewage system. There were reactions to 20 serovars, the most important were: castellonis (28.68%), autumnalis (19.12%), pyrogenes (17.65%), icterohaemorrhagiae (11.03%), and canicola (9.56%).

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A total of 540 individuals with clinical signs suggestive of cystic fibrosis (CF) was studied. The sweat chloride was measured and the DF508, G542X, R553X, and W1282X mutations of the CF gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). With this approach the diagnosis of CF was confirmed in 12 children, while 7 additional cases, who are heterozygous for the DF508 mutation, have had minor clinical signs. The frequency of the DF508 allele among the 540 individuals was approximately 3%. The mean age of children diagnosed with CF was 1.81 years, which is significantly earlier than in other studies of the Brazilian population. We also demonstrated that this approach has important clinical implications for earlier and adequate treatment, which was shown to be fundamental for increasing significantly the quality of life and life expectancy. This is particularly true in countries such as Brazil where most CF cases remain undiagnosed, mainly in families of low socio-economical status.

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