INTRODUÇÃO: Infecções pelo HIV, HBV, HCV e Treponema pallidum encontram no sistema prisional um ambiente favorável para suas propagações e representam grave problema de saúde pública. Neste estudo buscamos conhecer o perfil epidemiológico dos reeducandos de uma unidade prisional e a dinâmica do seu comportamento associado às infecções estudadas. Foram medidas as prevalências dessas infecções e suas coinfecções, investigados os potenciais fatores de risco, assim como medido o padrão de uso de drogas no presídio com ênfase no crack. MÉTODOS: Estudo epidemiológico transversal realizado de fevereiro a dezembro de 2007, na Penitenciária I de São Vicente. Realizada uma análise descritiva utilizando medidas de frequência, médias e desvio padrão. Foram considerados apenas os diagnósticos sorológicos para definição das infecções. Utilizado o OR (odds ratio) como medida de associação com nível de significância de 5% (?). Utilizada a regressão logística para estimar OR ajustado por algumas variáveis. RESULTADOS: Participaram das entrevistas 546 (84,1%) reeducandos e 514 (94,1%) realizaram as sorologias. Apresentaram um perfil jovem com idade média de 29,8 anos. 52,0% (283) referiram relacionamento conjugal com média de dois filhos. Declararam ser de cor parda 51,5% (280). O tempo médio de prisão foi de 10,5 anos. As prevalências identificadas foram: HIV 1,8% [IC95% = 0,1- 3,3], HBV 21,0% [IC95% = 17,8-25,1], HCV 5,3% [IC95% = 3,5-7,6], e 5,3% [IC95% =3,5-7,6] para a infecção pelo Treponema pallidum. Os fatores de risco associados com a infecção pelo HIV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=15,38), > 30 anos (OR=13,3), uso de cocaína na vida (OR= 5,36) e uso de crack na vida (OR= 5,21). Nas análises multivariadas as variáveis que se mantiveram associadas com o HBV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=3,36), ter referido DST (OR= 2,28), > de 30 anos (OR=1,86) e mais de cinco anos de prisão (OR= 2,17); com o HCV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=9,65), uso de maconha na prisão (OR=2,91) e idade >30 anos (OR=8,41); com o Treponema pallidum foram: relação homossexual (OR=11,92) e ter referido sífilis (OR=10,88). As prevalências das coinfecções foram: 0,8% [IC95%= 0,2-2,0] para HIV/HBV, 1,4% [IC95%=0,5-2,8], para HBV/Treponema pallidum, 1,8% [IC95%= 0,8-3,3] para HBV/HCV, e para a tripla infecção 0,4% [IC95%= 0,5-1,4]. Confirmaram o uso de crack na vida 25,0% (136) dos entrevistados. Idade média de início de uso de drogas ilícitas foi de 15,4 anos. Na prisão, o uso de álcool foi relatado por 8,4% (45), tabaco por 62,0% (318), maconha por 36,5 % (194), cocaína por 9,0% (48), e crack por 11,7% (15), sendo seu uso diário referido por 2,3% (3). Uso de drogas injetáveis na vida foi referido por 5,9% (32) e nenhum uso nos últimos seis meses. As situações de violência relacionadas com drogas para 14,3% (28) foram de ameaças de morte, 16,7% (57) agressões físicas e 27,3% (3) sofreram agressão sexual. Para 15,8% (30) o crack esteve relacionado com estas situações. O seu uso com outras drogas foi referido por 41,5% (54). CONCLUSÃO: As prevalências encontradas na população confinada continuam maiores que as observadas na população geral. O consumo de drogas e praticas sexuais desprotegidas foram mantidas no período de confinamento. O tempo de confinamento mostrou-se fator importante na análise de risco. Os fatores de riscos identificados aparecem como importantes indicadores para a estruturação de estratégias de controle dessas infecções junto à população confinada. / INTRODUCTION: Infection by HIV, HBV, HCV and Treponema pallidum are common in the prison system due to an environment favorable to their propagation and represent a serious public health problem. This study aims to understand the epidemiological profile of the inmates in a prison unit and the behaviors associated with the infectious diseases studied. We estimated the prevalence of these infections and their co-infections, investigated potential risk factors, as well as identified the pattern of drug use in prison, especially crack use. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted from February to December 2007 at the São Vicente Penitentiary . A descriptive analysis using frequency measures, means and standard deviations was conducted. We considered only the setting for serological diagnosis of infections. Odds ratio (OR) with a significance level of 5% (?) was used as a measure of association and a logistic regression was applied to estimate adjusted OR for some variables. RESULTS: A total of 546 prisoners were interviewed (84.1%). Of these, 514 (94.1%) underwent serological analysis. Results showed a profile of young men with an average age of 29.8 years. Fifty-two percent (283) reported marital relationship with an average of two children, and 51.5% (280) reported being of mixed ethnicity. The average time of arrest was 10.5 years. The prevalences were identified: HIV 1.8% [95% CI = 0.1 - 3.3], HBV 21.0% [95% CI 17.8 to 25.1], HCV 5.3% [95% CI = 3.5 to 7.6] and 5.3% [95% CI = 3.5 to 7.6] for infection with Treponema pallidum. The risk factors associated with HIV infection were injected-drug use (OR = 15.38), > 30 years (OR = 13.3), cocaine use (OR = 5.36) and use of crack during lifetime (OR = 5.21). According to multivariate analyzes, variables associated with HBV were: injected-drug use (OR = 3.36), reported any STD (OR = 2.28), > 30 years (OR = 1.86) and more than five years in prison (OR = 2.17); the variables associated with HCV were: injected-drug use (OR = 9.65), marijuana use in prison (OR = 2.91) and age> 30 years (OR = 8.41); the variables associated with Treponema pallidum were: homosexual intercourse (OR = 11.92) and have referred syphilis (OR = 10.88). The prevalence of co-infections were 0.8% [95% CI = 0.2 to 2.0] for HIV / HBV, 1.4% [95% CI = 0.5 to 2.8] for HBV / Treponema pallidum, 1.8% [95% CI = 0.8 to 3.3] for HBV / HCV infection and for the triple infection 0.4% [95% CI = 0.5 to 1.4]. Average age of onset of illicit drug use was 15.4 years. The use of crack during lifetime was reported by 25.0% (136) of respondents. In prison, alcohol use was reported by 8.4% (45), tobacco by 62.0% (318), marijuana by 36.5% (194), 9.0% for cocaine (48), and crack by 11.7% (15), with the daily use of crack reported by 2.3% (3). Injected-drug use during lifetime was reported by 5.9% (32), but no use in the last six months was reported. Drug-related violence episodes reported were death threats 14.3% (28), 16.7% (57) assaults and 27.3% (3) suffered sexual assault. To 15.8% (30) of the respondents, crack use was associated with violence episodes. The use of crack-cocaine in association with other drugs was reported by 41.5% (54). CONCLUSION: The prevalence found in the confined population is still larger than those observed in the general population. Drug use and unprotected sexual practices were maintained during the period of confinement. The confinement time proved to be an important factor in the analysis of risk of infection. The identified risk factors appear to be important indicators for developing strategies to control these infections in the prison environment.

INTRODUÇÃO: Infecções pelo HIV, HBV, HCV e Treponema pallidum encontram no sistema prisional um ambiente favorável para suas propagações e representam grave problema de saúde pública. Neste estudo buscamos conhecer o perfil epidemiológico dos reeducandos de uma unidade prisional e a dinâmica do seu comportamento associado às infecções estudadas. Foram medidas as prevalências dessas infecções e suas coinfecções, investigados os potenciais fatores de risco, assim como medido o padrão de uso de drogas no presídio com ênfase no crack. MÉTODOS: Estudo epidemiológico transversal realizado de fevereiro a dezembro de 2007, na Penitenciária I de São Vicente. Realizada uma análise descritiva utilizando medidas de frequência, médias e desvio padrão. Foram considerados apenas os diagnósticos sorológicos para definição das infecções. Utilizado o OR (odds ratio) como medida de associação com nível de significância de 5% (?). Utilizada a regressão logística para estimar OR ajustado por algumas variáveis. RESULTADOS: Participaram das entrevistas 546 (84,1%) reeducandos e 514 (94,1%) realizaram as sorologias. Apresentaram um perfil jovem com idade média de 29,8 anos. 52,0% (283) referiram relacionamento conjugal com média de dois filhos. Declararam ser de cor parda 51,5% (280). O tempo médio de prisão foi de 10,5 anos. As prevalências identificadas foram: HIV 1,8% [IC95% = 0,1- 3,3], HBV 21,0% [IC95% = 17,8-25,1], HCV 5,3% [IC95% = 3,5-7,6], e 5,3% [IC95% =3,5-7,6] para a infecção pelo Treponema pallidum. Os fatores de risco associados com a infecção pelo HIV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=15,38), > 30 anos (OR=13,3), uso de cocaína na vida (OR= 5,36) e uso de crack na vida (OR= 5,21). Nas análises multivariadas as variáveis que se mantiveram associadas com o HBV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=3,36), ter referido DST (OR= 2,28), > de 30 anos (OR=1,86) e mais de cinco anos de prisão (OR= 2,17); com o HCV foram: uso de droga injetável (OR=9,65), uso de maconha na prisão (OR=2,91) e idade >30 anos (OR=8,41); com o Treponema pallidum foram: relação homossexual (OR=11,92) e ter referido sífilis (OR=10,88). As prevalências das coinfecções foram: 0,8% [IC95%= 0,2-2,0] para HIV/HBV, 1,4% [IC95%=0,5-2,8], para HBV/Treponema pallidum, 1,8% [IC95%= 0,8-3,3] para HBV/HCV, e para a tripla infecção 0,4% [IC95%= 0,5-1,4]. Confirmaram o uso de crack na vida 25,0% (136) dos entrevistados. Idade média de início de uso de drogas ilícitas foi de 15,4 anos. Na prisão, o uso de álcool foi relatado por 8,4% (45), tabaco por 62,0% (318), maconha por 36,5 % (194), cocaína por 9,0% (48), e crack por 11,7% (15), sendo seu uso diário referido por 2,3% (3). Uso de drogas injetáveis na vida foi referido por 5,9% (32) e nenhum uso nos últimos seis meses. As situações de violência relacionadas com drogas para 14,3% (28) foram de ameaças de morte, 16,7% (57) agressões físicas e 27,3% (3) sofreram agressão sexual. Para 15,8% (30) o crack esteve relacionado com estas situações. O seu uso com outras drogas foi referido por 41,5% (54). CONCLUSÃO: As prevalências encontradas na população confinada continuam maiores que as observadas na população geral. O consumo de drogas e praticas sexuais desprotegidas foram mantidas no período de confinamento. O tempo de confinamento mostrou-se fator importante na análise de risco. Os fatores de riscos identificados aparecem como importantes indicadores para a estruturação de estratégias de controle dessas infecções junto à população confinada. / INTRODUCTION: Infection by HIV, HBV, HCV and Treponema pallidum are common in the prison system due to an environment favorable to their propagation and represent a serious public health problem. This study aims to understand the epidemiological profile of the inmates in a prison unit and the behaviors associated with the infectious diseases studied. We estimated the prevalence of these infections and their co-infections, investigated potential risk factors, as well as identified the pattern of drug use in prison, especially crack use. METHODS: A cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted from February to December 2007 at the São Vicente Penitentiary . A descriptive analysis using frequency measures, means and standard deviations was conducted. We considered only the setting for serological diagnosis of infections. Odds ratio (OR) with a significance level of 5% (?) was used as a measure of association and a logistic regression was applied to estimate adjusted OR for some variables. RESULTS: A total of 546 prisoners were interviewed (84.1%). Of these, 514 (94.1%) underwent serological analysis. Results showed a profile of young men with an average age of 29.8 years. Fifty-two percent (283) reported marital relationship with an average of two children, and 51.5% (280) reported being of mixed ethnicity. The average time of arrest was 10.5 years. The prevalences were identified: HIV 1.8% [95% CI = 0.1 - 3.3], HBV 21.0% [95% CI 17.8 to 25.1], HCV 5.3% [95% CI = 3.5 to 7.6] and 5.3% [95% CI = 3.5 to 7.6] for infection with Treponema pallidum. The risk factors associated with HIV infection were injected-drug use (OR = 15.38), > 30 years (OR = 13.3), cocaine use (OR = 5.36) and use of crack during lifetime (OR = 5.21). According to multivariate analyzes, variables associated with HBV were: injected-drug use (OR = 3.36), reported any STD (OR = 2.28), > 30 years (OR = 1.86) and more than five years in prison (OR = 2.17); the variables associated with HCV were: injected-drug use (OR = 9.65), marijuana use in prison (OR = 2.91) and age> 30 years (OR = 8.41); the variables associated with Treponema pallidum were: homosexual intercourse (OR = 11.92) and have referred syphilis (OR = 10.88). The prevalence of co-infections were 0.8% [95% CI = 0.2 to 2.0] for HIV / HBV, 1.4% [95% CI = 0.5 to 2.8] for HBV / Treponema pallidum, 1.8% [95% CI = 0.8 to 3.3] for HBV / HCV infection and for the triple infection 0.4% [95% CI = 0.5 to 1.4]. Average age of onset of illicit drug use was 15.4 years. The use of crack during lifetime was reported by 25.0% (136) of respondents. In prison, alcohol use was reported by 8.4% (45), tobacco by 62.0% (318), marijuana by 36.5% (194), 9.0% for cocaine (48), and crack by 11.7% (15), with the daily use of crack reported by 2.3% (3). Injected-drug use during lifetime was reported by 5.9% (32), but no use in the last six months was reported. Drug-related violence episodes reported were death threats 14.3% (28), 16.7% (57) assaults and 27.3% (3) suffered sexual assault. To 15.8% (30) of the respondents, crack use was associated with violence episodes. The use of crack-cocaine in association with other drugs was reported by 41.5% (54). CONCLUSION: The prevalence found in the confined population is still larger than those observed in the general population. Drug use and unprotected sexual practices were maintained during the period of confinement. The confinement time proved to be an important factor in the analysis of risk of infection. The identified risk factors appear to be important indicators for developing strategies to control these infections in the prison environment.

Les amibes sociales sont des organismes eucaryotes présents dans le sol de presque toutes les zones climatiques. Ils sont remarquables pour leur passage d'un état unicellulaire à un état multicellulaire en réponse à la carence en nutriments. En période de carence, des millions de cellules forment des agrégats qui constituent chacun un nouvel organisme multicellulaire, contenant des spores, cellules reproductives, et des cellules de tige, cellules mortes qui favorisent la dispersion des spores. Ce comportement, de par le coût payé par les cellules de tige, a permis d'utiliser les amibes sociales en tant que système-modèle pour aborder des questions majeures de l'évolution de la coopération et de la multicellularité. Dans cette étude, nous examinons trois aspects différents du comportement des amibes sociales; agrégation, non-agrégation et compétition, et nous analysons comment ces aspects contribuent à notre compréhension de la coopération chez les amibes et systèmes microbiens en général.Nous avons exploré le fait bien connu mais négligé qu'en phase de carence nutritive, une fraction des cellules ne participent pas à la formation des agrégats pas et ne sont pas engagées dans le développement multicellulaire. Nous décrivons les facteurs phénotypiques et génétiques qui déterminent la fraction de cellules hors-agrégats chez D. discoideum. Les deux stratégies, d'agrégation et de non-agrégation, sont coûteuses ou bénéfiques d'un point de vue évolutif selon la durée de la phase de carence. Nous avons développé un modèle pour simuler ce processus. Nous proposons que le partitionnement de la population dans des états unicellulaire et multicellulaire est adaptative dans des environnements fluctuants avec une durée imprévisible des périodes de carence nutritive. Les amibes sociales sont donc situées à l'intersection de deux thèmes émergents en évolution microbienne, la coopération et le "placement des paris".Dans la deuxième partie, nous proposons un nouveau cadre pour aborder les observations a priori contradictoires de la diversité génétique dans les populations naturelles d'amibes sociales et une faible diversité nécessaire pour la coopération. Nous proposons que le cycle de vie complexe des amibes sociales fournit plusieurs points de compétition qui peut servir à la fois comme stabilisateur de la diversité et de la coopération. Nous explorons cette hypothèse expérimentalement avec un modèle en analysant la compétition entre 6 isolats naturels de D. discoideum. Notre simulation-modèle indique que la compétition à différents stades du cycle de vie peut conduire à l'exclusion des "gagnants sociaux". Toutefois nous n'avons pas réussi à expliquer la coexistence à long terme de souches génétiquement distinctes. Bien que préliminaires, nos résultats soulignent l'importance d'intégrer l'écologie des espèces dans les études de coopération microbienne.Enfin, nous nous concentrons sur une nouvelle dynamique d'agrégation chez P. pallidum observée dans notre laboratoire. L'agrégation est un processus au niveau de la population au cours duquel la population se divise en nombreuses sous-populations (agrégats) qui font face à la sélection de manière indépendante. Un tel fractionnement de la population peut avoir de fortes conséquences évolutives du point de vue de la coopération qui n'ont pas encore été explorées expérimentalement. Nous décrivons la dynamique des populations qualitativement et proposons plusieurs mesures quantitatives de partitionnement de la population en agrégats. Nos résultats préliminaires suggèrent qu'il existe une préférence pour les agrégats d'une certaine taille, mais qu'il n'existe aucune organisation spatiale des agrégats. / Social amoebae are eukaryotic organisms that inhabit soil of almost every climate zone. They are remarkable for their switch from unicellularity to multicellularity as an adaptation to starvation. When starved, millions of single cells aggregate and form a multicellular fruiting body, which contains reproductive spore cells and dead stalk cells, which help in spore dispersion. This costly behavior made social amoebae a model system for addressing major questions of the evolution of cooperation and multicellularity. In this study we look at three different aspects of social amoebae behavior; aggregation, non-aggregation and competition, and ask how they contribute to our understanding of cooperation in social amoebae and microbial systems in general.We explored the known but neglected observation that, upon starvation, not all cells aggregate and engage in multicellular development. We describe phenotypically and genetically non-aggregating cell proportion in D. discoideum species. Both aggregating and non-aggregating strategy are costly or beneficial depending on duration of starvation. With our computational model we propose that partitioning the population into unicellular and multicellular states is adaptive in fluctuating environments with unpredicted duration of starvation periods. Social amoebae may therefore lie at the intersection of cooperation and bet-hedging. In the second part, we provide a new framework for addressing the contrasting observations of high genetic diversity in natural populations of social amoebae and experimentally suggested low diversity-high relatedness required for cooperation. We propose that complex life cycle of social amoebae provides multiple competition points that can possibly play an important role in maintaining diversity and cooperation. We explore this experimentally and computationally by looking at competition over the whole life cycle between 6 natural isolates of D. discoideum. Our simulation model indicates that competition at different stages of the life cycle can lead to exclusion of “social winners”. Though we failed to explain strain coexistence. Although preliminary, our results emphasize the importance of integrating species ecology in cooperative studies.Finally, we focus on a new aggregation dynamics in P. pallidum species observed in our lab. Aggregation is a population level process during which population gets divided into numerous subpopulations/aggregates that face selection independently. Such population partitioning can have strong evolutionary consequences on cooperation that have not yet been explored experimentally. We describe the population dynamics qualitatively and propose several quantitative measurements of population partitioning into aggregates. Our preliminary results suggest that there is a preference for aggregates of certain size, but there is no spatial organization of aggregates.

The knowledge of the forest dynamics in gaps is important for the best understanding of the forest environment, serving as subsidy for elaboration and application of sustainable forest management techniques. This work had as objective evaluates the population dynamics of Protium pallidum Cuatrec. in two levels: in the natural regeneration (height > 10cm and DAP < 5cm) and in the individuals with DAP > 5cm. This study was accomplished in the period of June from 1998 to June of 2001, in an area of forest management located in the Oriental Amazonian Embrapa Experimental Field in the municipal district of Moju in Pará, that suffered selective forest exploration in 1997. Of that exploration they arose several gaps, among which nine were used in this study, with size varying between 231m2 and 748m2. Each gap had his certain center and starting from the border four strips of 10m x 50m were marked in the directions North, South, East and West. For the evaluation of the natural regeneration, three portions of 2m x 2m were implanted in each strip, in the distances of 0, 20 and 40m respectively. After that, the mathematical models denominated Natural Regeneration Rate (TR%), Entrance (I%) and Mortality (M%) were used. For the evaluation of the individuals population dynamics with DAP > 5cm, five portions of 10m x 10m were implanted in each strip, where they were appraised the variables: Abundance, Entrance (I%), Mortality (M%) and the Annual Average Growth (ICA) in diameter. The data were analyzed in the program SYSTAT 10, through the analysis of variance of three factors (directions, distances and the period of three years). There was not significant difference of the values of TR% in function of the distances, of the directions and of the years, however that TR% it had the largest values registered for the South direction and in the portion to 40m of distance inside the sub-forest and it grew in elapsing of the three years of studies. For the individuals with DAP > 5cm, the species had an index of initial entrance of 16.6%, with null mortality in the 1st year. The species presented the largest values of diameter growth in the directions North and South, showing tendency to the stabilization and distribution diamétrica usually found at natural forests, with larger number of individuals in the smallest size classes. The natural regeneration didn't suffer influence of the directions, nor either of the distances. The diameter growth was influenced by these factors. The white pitch, in the general, showed typical behavior of tolerant species to the shadow. / O conhecimento da dinâmica florestal em clareiras é importante para o melhor entendimento do ambiente florestal, servindo como subsídio para elaboração e aplicação de técnicas de manejo florestal sustentável. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a dinâmica populacional de Protium pallidum Cuatrec. em dois estágios: na regeneração natural (altura > 10cm e DAP < 5cm) e nos indivíduos com DAP > 5cm. Este estudo foi realizado no período de junho de 1998 a junho de 2001, em uma área de manejo florestal localizada no Campo Experimental da Embrapa Amazônia Oriental no município de Moju no Pará, que sofreu exploração florestal seletiva em 1997. Dessa exploração originaram-se diversas clareiras, dentre as quais nove foram utilizadas neste estudo, com tamanho variando entre 231m2 e 748m2. Cada clareira teve seu centro determinado e a partir da borda foram marcadas quatro faixas de 10m x 50m nas direções Norte, Sul, Leste e Oeste. Para a avaliação da regeneração natural, foram implantadas três parcelas de 2m x 2m em cada faixa, nas distâncias de 0, 20 e 40m respectivamente. Após isso, utilizaram-se os modelos matemáticos denominados Taxa de Regeneração Natural (TR%), Ingresso (I%) e Mortalidade (M%). Para a avaliação da dinâmica populacional dos indivíduos com DAP > 5cm, foram implantadas cinco parcelas de 10m x 10m em cada faixa, onde foram avaliadas as variáveis: Abundância, Ingresso (I%), Mortalidade (M%) e o Crescimento Corrente Anual (ICA) em diâmetro. Os dados foram analisados no programa SYSTAT 10, através da análise de variância de três fatores (direções, distâncias e o período de três anos). Não houve diferença significativa dos valores de TR% tanto em função das distâncias, das direções e dos anos, porém essa TR% teve os maiores valores registrados para a direção Sul e na parcela a 40m de distância no interior do subbosque e cresceu no decorrer dos três anos de estudos. Para os indivíduos com DAP > 5cm, a espécie teve um índice de ingresso inicial de 16.6%, com mortalidade nula no 1º ano. A espécie apresentou os maiores valores de crescimento diamétrico nas direções Norte e Sul, mostrando tendência à estabilização e distribuição diamétrica normalmente encontradas em florestas naturais, com maior número de indivíduos nas menores classes de tamanho. A regeneração natural não sofreu influência das direções, nem tampouco das distâncias. O crescimento diamétrico foi influenciado por estes fatores. O breu branco, no geral, mostrou comportamento típico de espécie tolerante à sombra.

Thèse (Ph.D.) -- Université Laval, 1997. / Bibliogr.: f. 225-294. Publié aussi en version électronique.

Projections from the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc) to the Ventral Pallidum (VP) play a critical role in motivation and reward. Rewards and reward-associated cues are thought to alter this pathway by suppressing GABA release to the VP, however, the role of the NAc to VP pathway has never been investigated with regard to nicotine self-administration. We hypothesized that increasing GABAergic signaling from the NAc to the VP would decrease the reinforcing effects of nicotine. To increase GABA release, CRE dependent DREADD was expressed in the NAc of male rats. Administration of low dose clozapine activated the DREADD receptor and showed a reduction in responding for nicotine suggesting that activation of the NAc to VP pathway reduced reinforcement. However, a nonspecific effect was observed leading to future investigation of locomotor activity. Immunohistochemistry and microdialysis were used to confirm DREADD expression in the NAc and increased extracellular GABA in the VP.

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Yaws is a skin debilitating disease caused by Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue with most cases reported in children. World Health Organization (WHO) aims at total eradication of this disease through mass treatment of suspected cases followed by an intensive follow-up program. However, effective diagnosis is pivotal in the successful implementation of this control program. Recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), an isothermal nucleic acid amplification technique offers a wider range of differentiation of pathogens including those isolated from chronic skin ulcers with similar characteristics such as Haemophilus ducreyi (H. ducreyi). We have developed a RPA assay for the simultaneous detection of Treponema pallidum (T. pallidum) and H. ducreyi (TPHD-RPA). The assay demonstrated no cross-reaction with other pathogens and enable detection of T. pallidum and H. ducreyi within 15 min at 42 °C. The RPA assay was validated with 49 clinical samples from individuals confirmed to have yaws by serological tests. Comparing the developed assay with commercial multiplex real-time PCR, the assay demonstrated 94% and 95% sensitivity for T. pallidum and H. ducreyi, respectively and 100% specificity. This simple novel TPHD-RPA assay enables the rapid detection of both T. pallidum and H. ducreyi in yaws-like lesions. This test could support the yaws eradication efforts by ensuring reliable diagnosis, to enable monitoring of program success and planning of follow-up interventions at the community level.

Les hommes ayant des relations sexuelles avec d'autres hommes (HARSAH) ont un risque accru d'infections sexuellement transmissibles (IST). Les données sur les IST chez les HARSAH sont rares au Bénin. Cette étude visait à évaluer la prévalence et les facteurs associés à Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) et Treponema pallidum (TP) chez 204 HARSAH VIH-négatifs de Cotonou au Bénin initiant la prophylaxie préexposition en prévention du VIH. Un questionnaire a été complété et un médecin a réalisé un examen physique des participants. Des échantillons de sang, anaux, pharyngés et urinaires ont été prélevés. Les prévalences des IST ont été présentées avec un intervalle de confiance à 95% et la régression de Poisson a permis d'identifier leurs déterminants. La prévalence était de 18,6%, 15,2%, 9,8% et 27,9% pour CT, NG tous sites confondus, NG anorectal et l'infection par NG ou CT (NG/CT) respectivement. Les IST étaient généralement asymptomatiques (84,2% pour NG/CT) et de localisation extra-génitale (61,4% pour NG/CT). Un seul cas de syphilis non confirmée a été observé. En analyse multivariée, le fait d'avoir moins de 25 ans, de ne pas être célibataire et d'avoir plus de quatre partenaires féminines étaient associés à CT et NG/CT alors qu'un faible revenu mensuel était associé à NG/CT seulement. Le jeune âge, le sexe anal réceptif et ne pas avoir de rapports sexuels payants étaient associés à NG. Seul, le sexe anal réceptif était associé à NG anorectal. Les infections à NG et à CT sont fréquentes chez les HARSAH VIH-négatifs de Cotonou au Bénin. Leur caractère asymptomatique et extra-génital rend la prise en charge syndromique inefficace et le dépistage aux sites anal et pharyngé nécessaire. La syphilis est rare chez ces HARSAH. Les interventions de contrôle et de prévention des IST devraient cibler particulièrement les jeunes HARSAH et leurs partenaires sexuelles féminines. / Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Data on STIs among MSM are scarce in Benin. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Treponema pallidum (TP) among 204 HIV-negative MSM in Cotonou, Benin initiating pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. A questionnaire was completed, and participants underwent a physical examination by a physician. Blood, anal, pharyngeal, and urinary samples were collected. Prevalences are presented with a 95% confidence interval. Poisson regression was used to determine factors associated with STIs. The prevalence was 18.6%, 15.2%, 9.8% and 27.9% for CT, NG-all sites, anorectal NG, and infection by either NG or CT (NG/CT) respectively. STIs were generally asymptomatic (84.2% for NG/CT) and of extra-genital location (61.4% for NG/CT). Only one case of unconfirmed syphilis was observed. In multivariate analysis, younger age, not being single, having more than four female sexual partners were associated with CT and NG/CT while lower monthly income was associated with NG/CT alone. Younger age, receptive anal sex and paid sex were associated with NG. Only receptive anal sex was associated with anorectal NG. NG and CT infections are common among HIV-negative MSM in Cotonou, Benin. Their asymptomatic and extra-genital nature makes syndromic management ineffective and screening at anal and pharyngeal sites necessary. Syphilis is rare among these MSM. STI control and prevention interventions should target young MSM and their female sexual partners.

Submitted by Cleide Dantas (cleidedantas@ufpa.br) on 2014-02-13T12:08:13Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SoroepidemiologiaChlamydiaTrachomatis.pdf: 714575 bytes, checksum: 150b98376e7d5179deaf87cc15123665 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Rosa Silva (arosa@ufpa.br) on 2014-04-16T14:00:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SoroepidemiologiaChlamydiaTrachomatis.pdf: 714575 bytes, checksum: 150b98376e7d5179deaf87cc15123665 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-04-16T14:00:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 23898 bytes, checksum: e363e809996cf46ada20da1accfcd9c7 (MD5) Dissertacao_SoroepidemiologiaChlamydiaTrachomatis.pdf: 714575 bytes, checksum: 150b98376e7d5179deaf87cc15123665 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / As bactérias do gênero Chlamydia estão associadas à diversas doenças, como cegueira, infecções genitais e pneumonia. Existem poucos dados sobre como a Chlamydia e o Treponema pallidum afetam indígenas na Amazônia brasileira. Este estudo objetivou determinar a soroprevalência das infecções pela Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae e Treponema pallidum nas aldeias indígenas Bakajá, Apyterewa, Xingu e Mrotdidjãm, no município de Altamira, Pará, Brasil. O estudo incluiu 270 amostras de sangue coletadas no ano de 2007. A detecção de anticorpos das classes IgM e IgG anti-Chlamydia foi realizada empregando-se o ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA), e selecionada de forma aleatória amostragem de 36, entre os positivos, para determinar a sorotipagem pela microimunofluorescência. Para detecção de anticorpos anti-T. pallidum foi utilizado um teste treponêmico (ELISA) e as amostras positivas foram submetidas a um teste não treponêmico (RPR). A prevalência geral de anticorpos anti-Chlamydia foi de 26,7%, com prevalência de 100% para C. trachomatis entre as amostras testadas pela MIF. Para a C. pneumoniae a prevalência foi de 61,1% e a prevalência de anticorpos contra Treponema pallidum foi baixa. As bactérias do estudo circulam nas comunidades indígenas da Amazônia brasileira estudada, o que requer uma resposta urgente das autoridades de saúde pública, pois estas bactérias podem causar doenças graves, mas são sensíveis a tratamento específico, quando diagnosticadas adequadamente. / Bacteria from the genius Chlamydia are associated with several diseases including blindness, reproductive tract infections and pneumonias. There is little data about Chlamydia and Treponema pallidum affects on native Indian population in the Brazilian Amazon region. This study determined the prevalence of infections by Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Treponema pallidum in Altamira, Para- Brazil among the native Indian populations Bakaja, Apyretewa, Mrotidjam, Xingu and included 270 plasma samples collected in 2007; they were tested using an enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the detection of IgM and IgG antibodies to Chlamydia and random samples (36) was chosen from the positives for serotyping through a microimmunofluorescence assay (MIF). Antibodies anti-Treponema were detected using a treponemal (ELISA) test and the positive samples were subjected to a non-treponemal test (RPR). The overall prevalence of antibodies to Chlamydia was 26.7% with a 100% prevalence of C. trachomatis tested through MIF. Prevalence of antibodies to C.pneumoniae was 61.1% and the prevalence of antibodies to T. pallidum was low. This study of bacteria circulating in the Brazilian Amazon indigenous communities confirms that it is necessary for an urgent response from public health authorities, because these bacteria’s can cause serious illness. With adequate diagnoses these bacteria’s can be treated because they are sensitive to specific treatment.