A Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture filtrate enriched with mannose-containing proteins was resolved by 2-DE gel. After ConA ligand blotting, 41 proteins were identified by mass spectrometry as putative glycoproteins with 34 of them new probably mannosylated proteins. These results contribute to the construction of the ConA affinity glycoprotein database of M. tuberculosis, and provide useful information for understanding the biological role of glycoproteins in mycobacteria.

BackgroundDifferent studies have shown the advantages of abstinence from cigarette smoking during pregnancy to promote full fetal development. Given that pregnant women do not always abstain from smoking, this study aimed to analyze the effect of different intensities of smoking on birth weight of the newborn.MethodsA cross-sectional study was adopted to explore smoking in a population of pregnant women from a medium-sized city in São Paulo state, Brazil, who gave birth between January and June of 2012. Data were collected from maternal and pediatric medical files and, where data were absent, they were collected by interview during hospitalization for delivery. For data analysis, the effect of potential confounding variables on newborn birth weight was estimated using a gamma response model. The effect of the identified confounding variables was also estimated by means of a gamma response regression model.ResultsThe prevalence of smoking during pregnancy was 13.4% in the study population. In full-term infants, birth weight decreased as the category of cigarette number per day increased, with a significant weight reduction as of the category 6 to 10 cigarettes per day. Compared with infants born to non smoking mothers, mean birth weight was 320 g lower in infants whose mothers smoked 6 to 10 cigarettes per day and 435 g lower in infants whose mothers smoked 11 to 40 cigarettes per day during pregnancy.ConclusionsBased on the study results and the principle of harm reduction, if a pregnant woman is unable to quit smoking, she should be encouraged to reduce consumption to less than six cigarettes per day.

Background Composition of the vaginal microbiome is strongly related to a woman's reproductive health and risk of sexually transmitted infections. Ethnoracial, behavioral, and environmental factors can influence microbiome. The Brazilian population is unique in terms of miscegenation of ethnic groups and behavioral characteristics across different regions. We aimed to characterize the vaginal microbiome of women from 5 geographical regions of Brazil. Methods We sequenced V3–V4 regions of 16S rRNA gene in vaginal samples of 609 reproductive-aged women. We performed logistic regression analyses to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between sociodemographic and behavioral factors with Lactobacillus-depleted microbiome (community state type [CST] IV). Results Vaginal samples were grouped into 5 CST: CST I (L. crispatus predominant, 30.5%), CST II (L. gasseri predominant, 4.4%), CST III (Lactobacillus iners predominant, 36.5%), CST IV (Lactobacillus-depleted, 27.4%), and CST V (L. jensenii predominant, 1.2%). Several factors were independently associated with CST IV, such as smoking (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.02–3.18), number of partners (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.20–3.70), and vaginal douching (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.34–3.74). A protective effect was observed for milk/dairy intake (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27–0.82) and sitz bathing (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19–0.98). Conclusions Nearly two thirds of Brazilian women may be at an increased risk for adverse outcomes associated with a vaginal microbiota characterized by the depletion of Lactobacillus or dominance by L. iners, whose protective role has been widely questioned. Several factors related to sexual behavior and intimate hygiene were associated with CST IV.

BackgroundThe knowledge and practices of health professionals have a recognized role in behaviors related to the health of their patients. During pregnancy, this influence can be even stronger because there is frequent contact between women and doctors/nurses at periodic antenatal visits. When trained, supported and motivated, these professionals can act as health promoters. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a focused educational intervention on improving the knowledge and practices of health professionals concerning diet and physical activity during pregnancy.MethodsA controlled, non-randomized study was performed to assess the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge and practices of nurses and doctors who provide primary care to pregnant women. The intervention group, doctors and nurses (n = 22) from the family health units in a medium-sized city of São Paulo State, Brazil, received 16 h of training comprising an introductory course and three workshops, whereas the control group, doctors and nurses (n = 20) from traditional basic health units in Botucatu, did not. The professionals’ knowledge was assessed at two time points, 1 month prior to and 1 year after the beginning of the intervention, using an ad hoc self-report questionnaire. The increases in the knowledge scores for walking and healthy eating of the intervention and control groups were calculated and compared using Student’s t-test. To analyze the professionals’ practice, women in the second trimester of pregnancy were asked whether they received guidance on healthy eating and leisure-time walking; 140 of these women were cared for by professionals in the intervention group, and 141 were cared for by professionals in the control group. The percentage of pregnant women in each group that received guidance was compared using the chi-square test and the Prevalence Ratio (PR), and the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CI) were calculated.ResultsThe intervention improved the professionals’ knowledge regarding leisure-time walking (92 % increase in the score, p < 0.001). The women who were cared for by the intervention group were more likely to receive guidance regarding leisure-time walking (PR = 2.65; 95 % CI = 1.82-3.83) and healthy eating (PR = 1.76; 95 % CI = 1.34-2.31) when compared to the control group.ConclusionIt is possible to improve the knowledge and practices of health professionals through the proposed intervention aimed at primary health care teams providing antenatal care.

A more intense inflammatory host response occurs for AV than for BV when compared with normal flora. Furthermore, the increased sialidase activity in AV and BV indicates that both abnormal vaginal flora types can be harmful to the maintenance of a healthy vaginal environment.

Objective: To study the trends and patterns of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for under-6-month-old infants in the city of Bauru, Brazil. Methods:Data from three methodologically equivalent crosssectional surveys integrating the project for monitoring breastfeeding indicators in São Paulo state were compared. Infants aged zero to 6 months who attended one of the two phases of the Multivaccination Campaign in 1999, 2003 and 2006, respectively 496, 674 and 509 infants, were studied. Descriptive statistics were presented to compare the prevalence of EBF according to age (in months) and for the set of children under 6 months. The differences in prevalence were expressed in percentage-points and submitted to statistical tests (Pearson's chisquare and tendency), adopting p < 0.05 as the critical level. Factors associated with EBF interruption in 2006 were also studied by uni-and multivariate analysis.Results: Increase in EBF prevalence was found in under-6-month-old infants: in the 1999-2003 period, increase of 9.1 percentage-points; in the 2003-2006 period, increase of 6.6 percentage-points, thus reaching the annual increase rate of 2.3 percentage-points in the first period and 2.2 percentage-points in the second period. Significant inverse association was observed between EBF and the use of pacifiers (hazard ratio = 2.03; 95% confidence interval 1.44-2.84).Conclusion: EBF prevalence in under-6-month-old infants in the city of Bauru, Brazil, increased almost threefold in the studied period, changing from 8.5% in 1999 to 24.2% in 2006, which represents an increase of 184.7%. The use of pacifiers was the only factor associated with greater chances of EBF interruption.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2009;85(3):201-208: Breastfeeding, epidemiology, cross-sectional studies, child nutrition, human milk. ResumoObjetivo: Estudar a tendência e os determinantes do aleitamento materno exclusivo no município de Bauru (SP). Resultados: Detectou-se aumento da prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo em menores de 6 meses: no período 1999-2003, acréscimo de 9,1 pontos percentuais; no período 2003-2006, aumento de 6,6 pontos percentuais, alcançando taxa de crescimento anual de 2,3 pontos percentuais no primeiro período e de 2,2 pontos percentuais no segundo. Observou-se associação inversa significativa entre aleitamento materno exclusivo e uso de chupeta (razão de prevalência = 2,03; intervalo de confiança de 95% 1,44-2,84). Métodos Conclusão:A prevalência de aleitamento materno exclusivo em menores de 6 meses no município de Bauru quase triplicou no período estudado, passando de 8,5% em 1999 para 24,2% em 2006, aumento de 184,7%. O uso de chupeta foi o único fator associado com maior chance de interrupção do aleitamento materno exclusivo.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2009;85(3):201-208 Não foram declarados conflitos de interesse associados à publicação deste artigo.Como citar este artigo: Parizoto GM, Parada CM, Venâncio SI, Carvalhaes MA. Trends and patterns of exclusive breastfeeding for under-6-month-old children.

Diagnóstico da situação do aleitamento materno em área urbana do Sudeste do Brasil: utilização de metodologia simplificada* Rev. Saúde Pública, 32 (5): 1998 Resumo IntroduçãoO diagnóstico da situação do aleitamento materno em populações é necessário para a definição de metas e avaliação de programas de promoção e apoio a esta prática. Neste sentido, testou-se a viabilidade de realizar tal diagnóstico concomitante à Campanha Nacional de Multivacinação, no Município de Botucatu, SP, Brasil. MétodoUtilizou-se um questionário simplificado (3 questões tipo sim/ não) para estudar a alimentação atual de 1.550 crianças menores de um ano (91,8% de cobertura) que compareceram aos postos de vacinação, em 19 de agosto de 1995. As medianas e freqüências das três categorias de aleitamento materno foram calculadas pela técnica de análise de probitos. ResultadosAs medianas obtidas foram: aleitamento materno exclusivo = 17 dias (IC: 4,6 -28,7); aleitamento materno completo = 64 dias (IC: 53,0 -74,5) e aleitamento materno = 167 dias (IC:153,7 -182,2). O bom ajuste dos três modelos foi evidenciado pelos valores de R 2 e pelos testes de Kolmogorov-Smirnov (p < 0,05). ConclusõesOs resultados confirmaram a necessidade do programa no município. A metodologia simplificada revelou-se viável. Recomenda-se sua utilização na monitorização da tendência do aleitamento materno e em estudos sobre o impacto de intervenções.Aleitamento materno, estatística e dados numéricos. Promoção da saúde. Diagnóstico da situação de saúde.

Greater participation of A vaginae, Megasphaera sp. and Leptotrichia sp. in vaginal bacterial community did not indicate a less severe form of BV; moreover, it was associated with increased sialidase activity.