Two studies carried out in 1982 and 1993 in the city of Pelotas, Southern Brazil, provide a unique opportunity for assessing the impact on maternal and child health of the economic and health care changes, which took place in Brazil in this period. The cohorts of mothers and infants of 1982 and 1993 were studied from the time of delivery. In both years, all mothers identified in the city's maternity hospitals answered a standardised questionnaire and their infants were examined. Over 99% of all children born in the city in each of the 2 years were included in the cohorts. Deaths occurring among these children were monitored prospectively, as well as all hospital admissions in the 1993 cohort. In the 1982 study, attempts were made to locate a 25% sample of the children at the mean age of 12 months using the addresses collected at the hospital (82% of the children were located), and all of the cohort children at the mean age of 20 months and 42 months, through a city census (87% were located in both follow-ups). In the 1993 study, 20% of all children plus all low birthweight infants were sought at 12 months of age, using the addresses collected at the hospital, and 95% were successfully traced. There was a 12% fall in the number of births occurring in 1993 (5,304 births), in comparison with 1982 (6,011 births), in spite of the increase in the population of reproductive age in the city during the decade. There was a marked difference in maternal height and weight at the beginning of pregnancy, with women giving birth in 1993 being, on average, 3.4 cm taller and 2.5 kg heavier than those who gave birth in 1982. The proportion of preterm babies (<37 weeks), measured by the date of last menstrual period, increased from 5.6% in 1982 to 7.5% in 1993. The median duration of breast feeding increased from 3.1 months in 1982 to 4.0 months in 1993. At 12 months of age, the prevalence of deficit of weight for age decreased from 5.4% in 1982 to 3.7% in 1993. The prevalence of deficit of height for age, however, increased from 5.3% to 6.1%. The perinatal mortality rate dropped 31%, from 32.2 per 1,000 births in 1982 to 22.1 deaths per 1,000 births in 1993. There was also a marked reduction in the infant mortality rate, from 36.4 per 1,000 livebirths in 1982 to 21.1 per 1,000 livebirths in 1993. The findings of the study indicate that there were improvements in the decade for most of the indicators evaluated, with the exception of birthweight and gestational age. It appears that improvements in perinatal and infant mortality rates are largely due to improvements in the health care sector.

Metabolic adaptations induced by 24 and 48 hours of fasting were investigated in male and female insectivorous bats (Molossus molossus Pallas, 1766). For this purpose, plasma glucose, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA), glycogen, protein and lipids concentrations in liver and muscles were obtained. Data presented here demonstrate that fed bats showed plasma glucose levels similar to those reported for other mammal species. In response to fasting, glycemia was decreased only in 48 hours fasted females. Plasma NEFA levels were similar in both sexes, and did not exhibit any changes during fasting. Considering the data from energy reserve variations, fed females presented an increased content of liver glycogen as well as higher breast muscle protein and limbs lipids concentrations, compared to fed males. In response to fasting, liver and muscle glycogen levels remained unchanged. Considering protein and lipid reserves, only females showed decreased values following fasting, as seen in breast, limbs and carcass lipids and breast muscle protein reserves, but still fail to keep glucose homeostasis after 48 hours without food. Taken together, our data suggest that the energy metabolism of insectivorous bats may vary according to sexual differences, a pattern that might be associated to different reproduction investments and costs between genders.Keywords: plasma glucose, glycogen, insectivorous bats, metabolism, Molossus molossus.Metabolismo energético e resposta ao jejum em morcegos insetívoros Molossus molossus (Chirpotera: Molossidae) ResumoAs adaptações metabólicas induzidas pelo jejum foram investigadas em morcegos insetívoros machos e fêmeas (Molossus molossus Pallas, 1766) alimentados e submetidos ao jejum por 24 e 48 horas. Para este propósito, análises plasmáticas de glucose, ácidos graxos livres, glicogênio, proteína e lipídios do fígado e músculos foram analisados. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que o nível de glicose plasmática em morcegos alimentados foi similar ao apresentado por outras espécies de mamíferos. No entanto, em resposta ao jejum, a glicemia de fêmeas diminuiu significativamente após 48 horas, enquanto os níveis circulantes de machos permaneceram constantes. Os níveis de ácidos graxos não esterificados no plasma foram similares em ambos os sexos, e não houve mudança durante o jejum. Em relação às reservas energéticas, fêmeas alimentadas apresentaram maior teor de glicogênio no fígado, de proteína armazenada no músculo peitoral e lipídios nos músculos dos membros anteriores e posteriores, em comparação aos machos alimentados. Em resposta ao jejum, somente as fêmeas mostraram diminuição de algumas reservas energéticas, como a reserva lipídica dos músculos dos membros anteriores e posteriores, da carcaça e da reserva proteica do músculo peitoral. Apesar desta mobilização, as fêmeas, diferentemente dos machos, demonstraram uma incapacidade de manter a homeostase da glicose após 48 horas sem o alimento. Nossos dados sugerem que o metabolismo energético de morcegos insetívoros varia de acordo c...

Real world experience with DAA therapy in Southern Brazil showed a high rate of SVR and excellent tolerability. Failure to achieve SVR was mainly observed among patients with at least one negative predictor of response: cirrhosis and/or genotypes 1a or 3.

Chelonoidis Dcarbonaria and C. denticulata are two tortoises which are widely distributed Brazil. Although they occur sympatrically in different areas, C. carbonaria prefers open areas, while C. denticulata chooses forest areas. Significant morphological variations can be observed in these species due to the fact that they occupy a vast and environmentally diverse area. Data on shell shape of captive individuals reveal important differences between the two species, mainly in the plastron scutes, carapace width, and head length. Variation in shape is greater in C. carbonaria than in C. denticulata, which may be associated to a more elaborate and complex mating ritual. The shell shape in C. denticulata is more elongated than in C. carbonaria due to ecological habits. These aspects lead to a greater restriction in shape, limiting variation and dimorphism. In C. carbonaria, the shell opening is larger than in C. denticulata, which affords greater variation in shape. A more elongated shell facilitates movements of C. denticulata in densely forested areas. Yet, this characteristic reduces shell opening, lessening the possibilities of variation in form.Keywords: tortoise, carapace, plastron, shape.Variações morfológicas e dimorfismo sexual em Chelonoidis carbonaria (Spix, 1824) e Chelonoidis denticulata (Linnaeus, 1766) (Testudinidae) ResumoChelonoidis carbonaria e C. denticulata são duas espécies de jabutis com ampla distribuição no território brasileiro. Apesar de ocorrerem em simpatria em muitos locais, C. carbonaria apresenta predileção por áreas mais abertas e C. denticulata, por áreas de florestas mais densas. Por ocuparem extensa área com grandes variações ambientais, essas espécies apresentam grande variação nas características morfológicas. Dados da forma do casco de indivíduos cativos indicam importantes diferenças entre as espécies, principalmente nos escudos do plastrão, na largura da carapaça e no comprimento cefálico. Chelonoidis carbonaria apresenta maior variação da forma que C. denticulata, o que pode ser relacionado a um ritual de acasalamento mais elaborado e complexo. Chelonoidis denticulata possui corpo mais alongado que C. carbonaria, o que é atribuído aos seus hábitos; esse aspecto leva a uma maior restrição da forma, minimizando as possibilidades de variação do seu dimorfismo. A abertura no casco de C. carbonaria é maior que em C. denticulata, o que possibilita maior variação na forma. Um casco mais alongado facilita o deslocamento de C. denticulata em áreas de floresta densa, mas reduz a abertura desse casco, diminuindo as possibilidades de variação da forma.Palavras-chave: jabuti, carapaça, plastrão, forma.

Forest fragmentation associated with the expansion of human development is a phenomenon that occurs worldwide. Studies reveal that there have been both a decline in species diversity and a decrease in Neotropical bat population size because of habitat loss. The aim of this study was to investigate whether human action has been affecting the food availability to wildlife species, which could impact the storage of body energy reserves. For this purpose, fruit-eating bats (Artibeus lituratus) were collected in two areas in Minas Gerais state, Brazil. The concentrations of plasma glucose, as well as glycogen, lipids and protein in liver in muscles were performed, in addition to adipose tissue weight and carcass fatty acids. Our results indicate that fat reserves were significantly lower in most tested tissues (muscle of the hindlimbs, breast muscles, adipose tissue and carcass) in animals collected in the region with a higher degree of human disturbance. The other parameters showed no significant differences in the groups collected at different locations. In conclusion, we suggest that human action on the environment may be affecting the storage of body fat energy reserves of this species during the autumn, particularly in metropolitan region areas of Belo Horizonte, MG -Brazil, requiring special attention to the species conservation.Keywords: bats, glucose, metabolism, forest fragmentation. Avaliação das reservas energéticas em Artibeus lituratus (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) em áreas com diferentes graus de conservação em Minas Gerais ResumoA fragmentação florestal associada à expansão do desenvolvimento humano é um fenômeno que ocorre em todo o mundo. Estudos revelam que vêm ocorrendo tanto uma diminuição da diversidade de espécies quanto uma diminuição no tamanho das populações de morcegos neotropicais em função da perda de habitat. Com o objetivo de comparar o armazenamento das reservas energéticas em duas áreas com diferentes graus de conservação, morcegos frugívoros da espécie Artibeus lituratus foram coletados durante o outono de 2009 em duas áreas no Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foram determinadas as concentrações de glicose plasmática e de glicogênio, proteína e lipídio hepáticos e musculares, além das concentrações lipídicas do tecido adiposo e ácidos graxos totais da carcaça. As reservas lipídicas apresentaram concentrações significativamente menores na maior parte dos tecidos testados (músculo das patas posteriores, músculo peitoral, tecido adiposo e carcaça) nos animais coletados na região menos preservada. Os outros parâmetros não apresentaram diferenças significativas nos grupos coletados nos diferentes locais. Em conclusão, pode-se inferir que a ação humana sobre os ambientes pode estar afetando o armazenamento de reservas energéticas corporais lipídicas de machos dessa espécie, particularmente em áreas da região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil, durante o outono.Palavras-chave: morcegos, glicose, metabolismo, floresta fragmentada.