Most congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in highly seropositive populations occur in infants born to women with preexisting CMV seroimmunity. Although essential for developing prevention strategies, CMV shedding patterns in pregnant women with nonprimary infections have not been characterized. We investigated correlates of CMV shedding in a cohort of seropositive pregnant women. In a prospective study, saliva, urine, vaginal swabs, and blood were collected from 120 CMV-seropositive women in the first, second, and third trimesters and 1 month postpartum. Specimens were tested for CMV DNA by polymerase chain reaction. We analyzed the contribution of the specific maternal characteristics to viral shedding. CMV shedding was detected at least once in 42 (35%) women. Mothers living with or providing daily care to young children (3–6 years) were twice as likely to shed CMV at least once compared to women with less exposure to young children (58% vs 26%; adjusted relative risk [aRR], 2.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.37–3.56). Living in crowded households (≥2 people per room) was associated with viral shedding (64% vs 31%; aRR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.26–3.13). Sexual activity as indicated by the number of sexual partners per year or condom use was not found to be a correlate of viral shedding. CMV shedding is relatively frequent in seropositive pregnant women. The association between virus shedding and caring for young children as well as crowded living conditions may provide opportunities for increased exposures that could lead to CMV reinfections in seropositive women.

Objective: To describe adolescents’ everyday activities and emotional consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: Qualitative study grounded in Alfred Schütz’s social phenomenology, involving 22 students at two public schools in a municipality in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Interviews were conducted, had their audio recorded, and were analyzed according to a thematic categorization. Results: Five categories emerged from the accounts: i) adolescents’ reaction before the COVID-19 pandemic; ii) emotional consequences; iii) concern about the family; iv) adolescents’ adaptation; and v) fragmentation of social support networks. Feelings such as uncertainty, fear, anguish, anxiety, and lack of motivation, depressive symptoms, and extreme suicidal ideation were reported. Conclusion: Paying attention to adolescents’ psychosocial needs is essential, especially in face of the possibility of post-traumatic stress as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals’ technical competence combined with sensibility, strengthening of social support networks, and engagement of different community sectors are fundamental for promoting adolescent mental health in the current transition and resignification period following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resumo Objetivos Identificar a prevalência do início da atividade sexual em adolescentes e a prática de sexo seguro entre os mesmos. Método Estudo transversal realizado com 499 adolescentes, em Pouso Alegre, Minas Gerais, de fevereiro a abril de 2017, por meio de um questionário autoaplicado e semiestruturado, contemplando iniciação, práticas sexuais, conhecimento sobre contracepção, prevenção de infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e participação em atividades educativas sobre o tema. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva, as diferenças estatísticas avaliadas pelo teste X2 de Pearson. Resultados A prevalência da atividade sexual foi 47,3%, com idade média da sexarca de 14,1 anos, e tendência de iniciação sexual precoce no sexo masculino. Um terço das primeiras relações sexuais foram desprotegidas (33,9%). As participantes do sexo feminino apresentavam maior conhecimento a respeito de contracepção e prevenção de doenças, menor adesão ao uso de preservativos e maior utilização de contraceptivos orais e de emergência. Conclusão e implicações para a prática O estudo mostrou início precoce de vida sexual entre adolescentes, e um terço das relações sexuais sem proteção. Há necessidade de ações de saúde e educação que garantam a aquisição de conhecimento e acesso a métodos contraceptivos.

Objetivos: identificar os conhecimentos de adolescentes sobre práticas sexuais seguras e identificar as necessidades de informação dos adolescentes sobre infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e gravidez. Método: estudo transversal realizado com 499 adolescentes de escola pública, de fevereiro a abril de 2017, por meio de questionário au-toaplicado e semiestruturado. Resultados: o método mais conhecido foi o preservativo masculino (94,4%); dentre os adolescentes do sexo masculino, 22,7% julgaram desnecessário o uso de preservativo em todas as relações se-xuais (p<0,01) e 24,6% afirmaram que contraceptivos orais protegiam contra infecções sexualmente transmissíveis (p=0,04). Conclusão: os adolescentes apresentaram concepções prévias e eventualmente superficiais a respeito da prevenção de IST e da gravidez. As participantes do sexo feminino apresentaram maior conhecimento a respeito dos métodos contraceptivos, infecções sexualmente transmissíveis e práticas de sexo seguro. A identificação de de-ficiência no conhecimento apresentada pelo grupo investigado recomenda a realização de atividades relacionadas ao tema da educação sexual nas escolas.Descritores:Saúde do Adolescente.Educação Sexual. Gravidez na Adolescência. Infecções Sexualmente Transmissíveis.

The aim of study was to understand care strategies for homeless women, focusing on aspects of sexual and reproductive health from the perspective of Street Outreach Office strategy professionals. This is a qualitative study carried out in a large city in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from December 2020 to April 2021 through semi-structured interviews, and the results were obtained through content analysis and thematic modality. Nine health professionals participated in this study, and the analysis of the interviews allowed identifying three thematic categories: (i) being female and sex on the streets (violence and oppression); (ii) gynecology as a gateway to comprehensive care for homeless women; and (iii) pregnancy, puerperium and motherhood in the context of the streets. This study contributes to the reflection of professional practices within the Street Outreach Office, allowing the understanding of challenges in assisting homeless women, aiming to raise awareness of professionals and services that make up the health care network.

Gliomas are responsible for more than 60% of all primary brain tumors. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a grade IV tumor (WHO), is one of the most frequent and malignant gliomas. Despite two decades of advances in the discovery of new markers for GBM, the chemotherapy of choice falls to temozolomide after surgery and radiotherapy, which are not enough to increase the survival of patients to more than 15 months. It is urgent to discover new anti-glioma compounds. Many compounds derived from natural products have been used in the development of anti-tumor drugs. In this work, we have screened six low molecular weight sesquiterpene lactones, isolated from Eremanthus spp., and studied their function as anti-proliferative agents against GBM strains. We demonstrated that two of them, goyazensolide and lychnofolide, were effective in reducing cell viability, preventing the formation of anchorage-dependent colony and were able to pass through a mimetic blood-brain barrier making them candidates for glioma therapy, being more potent than temozolomide, according to in vitro assays for the cell lines tested. Proteomic analysis revealed a number of altered proteins involved in glycolytic metabolism and cellular catabolism.