A doença como ponto de mutação :os processos de significação em mulheres portadores de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a chronic and auto-immune disease that can affect several systems of one´s body, including the nervous system, causing several clinical evidences, which can put in risk the person´s life. Although the illness could manifest itself at any age or sex, studies indicate higher incidence among women. Its etiology points to the combination of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors. Due to the disease´s complexity, it is evident that it affects all the person´s life as a whole and not only its organic dimension. It is believed that the signification attributed to all the process of sickening influences its treatment, as well as the person´s capacity to cope with the difficulties and implicit profits involved in the process.In this study, eight women who were affected by SLE were interviewed, with the aim of examining carefully the processes of signification as well as the generation of meanings which permeate these women´s sickening processes. The analysis of their speeches evidences distinct forms of giving meaning to the process, regardless of the time of the diagnosis. The fact that the disease is incurable was shocking to all the participants, and it demanded changes in their lives, in order to detain a relative control of their condition. The majority of the participants were able to deal with these modifications, since strategies have been created to face the difficulties and thus to preserve their social life, without damaging their health. However, some of the participants did not obtain strenght to cope with the disease, eventually developing a depressive state. It is observed that not only SLE has innumerable ways of manifestation, but the experience of the illness is very subjective and dynamic. There are also several ways of expressing this experience, according to the implications in the social, cultural and economic context where the participants are inserted. This ratifies the necessity of a interdisciplinary approach to embrace SLE complexity. (310 words, 1.610 characters)

Sofrimento solitário, mal-estar compartilhado :um estudo sobre a doença dos nervos

Nerves has been perceived as generalized suffering with multiple complaints, such as pain and other physical sensations, usually followed by symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Even after medications have been prescribed, mainly psychotropic drugs to reduce these symptoms, exams aiming to discover the causes of the disorders, and a significant referral to health services, the problem tends to get progressively worse. The objective of this study is to characterize the diseases of clients who complain of nerves at the Unidade Mista de Felipe Camarão, Natal/RN, through in depth interviews, allowing for the clarification of ideas, beliefs and the meanings attributed to nerves by that person; to identify the symptoms and to know how they interfere in daily activities; to investigate the causes attributed to the problem and their relation to the biographical and psychosocial context of the patient. Thirteen women, health service clients, aged 30 to 59 years old, participated in the research. It was observed that they perceive, feel and act in unique ways with relation to symptoms, as well as to the attributed explanations and treatments given, showing the influence of life conditions, family context and their own subjectivity. Daily concerns and overwhelming responsibilities in the domestic environment, which usually stem from their precarious survival conditions, as well as marital conflicts motivated by the inequity of gender relations, contribute to trigger this type of suffering. The methodology of the research itself proved to be crucial to the comprehension and understanding of the meanings attributed to the complaints as well as to the argumenting process and the redefinition of the illness experience. Therefore, the importance of interdisciplinary intervention must be emphasize and specially the role of listening as relevant intervention resource

Corpo, doença e biomedicina: uma análise antropológica de práticas corporais e de tratamento entre pessoas com HIV/AIDS

A epidemia do HIV/AIDS tem desafiado tanto a biomedicina como a ciência de modo geral. Tecnologias vêm sendo exploradas a fim de criar uma base terapêutica consistente às pessoas infectadas. Se os tratamentos exigem o consumo diário de medicamentos, os exames laboratoriais contemplam uma rotina a ser sempre mantida. Levam a um processo de mudança e adaptação pessoal junto de uma reorganização intensiva das formas de cuidado do corpo. As práticas clínico-terapêuticas devem ser entendidas, porém, como elementos particulares de processos culturais de grande alcance. Partindo de pesquisa etnográfica no Rio de Janeiro, discuto os efeitos sociais da biomedicina como um saber e uma cultura global sobre práticas sociais locais.

Doença, ativismo biossocial e cidadania terapêutica: a emergência da mobilização de pessoas com HTLV no Brasil

O artigo aborda a emergência da mobilização social e política de pessoas infectadas pelo HTLV, na década de 2000. Com fortes vínculos com o ativismo de HIV/Aids, pessoas com HTLV e seus grupos e organizações engendraram práticas sociais, discursos e identidades que contribuem para se pensar em termos teóricos e históricos sobre a questão das biossocialidades e da cidadania terapêutica

Análise imuno-histoquímica de proteínas relacionadas às respostas Th1, Th2 e Th17 na doença periodontal

Periodontal disease is an inflammatory condition of infectious nature characterized by destruction of protecting and supporting dental tissues. It happens as a response produced by the host when attacked by microorganisms. Several factors are involved in this process. Among them, cytokines are key regulatory molecules in this immune response, playing a role either protective and/or destructive in lesion progression. Thus, this study investigated the immunohistochemical expression of IFN- , GATA-3, IL-17, IL-23, IL-6 and TGF- in gingival tissues of humans, in an attempt to gain a better understanding of the participation of Th1, Th2 and Th17 immune responses in the development of periodontal disease processes. To this end, eighty-two samples of gingival tissues were divided into three groups: Group 1 = 15 (samples of healthy gum tissue as controls), Group 2 = 36 (samples with chronic gingivitis) and Group 3 = 31 (samples with chronic periodontitis). All cases were submitted to morphological analysis from sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin and then subjected to staining by immunohistochemistry using the streptavidin-biotin method. Results showed positive labeling for all proteins. Nonetheless, we observed a greater expression of Th1 cytokines and Th17 cells in group 3. We found statistically significant difference between TGF- expression and the clinical condition of the samples (p=0.02). We conclude that Th1 and Th17 responses may act synergistically in the destructive process of periodontal tissue, overlapping the Th2 response that was also present in these tissues

Organização espacial e processo saúde-doença no bairro Guarapes, Natal/RN

La santé et la maladie sont des objets de préoccupation dans la société. Tout au long de l'histoire de l'humanité, ils ont été traités sous différents yeux. La géographie est une façon de comprendre les processus liés à des questions de santé et de maladie, de façon privilégiée dans le but d'être une science concernées par la zone géographique où cela implique non seulement une structure de la matière, mais les personnes et les flux découlant de la relation est établie Entre la société et la nature. Un lien est établi entre l'organisation spatiale de la santé-maladie est au c ur de ce travail, avec la coupe Guarapes espace du quartier, situé dans l'ouest de la Région administrative de Natal (plus bolsão pauvreté de la ville) pour la période correspondante de la 1990 par 2004 (jalon important pour le bien et la dynamique des populations de la zone d'étude) et de réduire le temps de la recherche. Au cours de l'analyse procède à l'étude des formes de production et d'organisation de l'espace vécu. Depuis comprendre le quotidien des personnes souffrant d'un réseau de relations, motivés par les besoins et la solidarité qui génèrent des formes et des contenus qui façonnent l'aire géographique. Sur la base de revue de la littérature, la recherche empirique à travers la réalisation des feuilles de route des entretiens avec le représentant des gens du quartier (résidents, des dirigeants communautaires, des coordonnateurs pédagogiques, des infirmières et des agents de santé de la PSF). Outre les visites effectuées à l'Agence de régulation des services d'assainissement de la municipalité de Noël - ARSBAN, le Secrétariat spécial pour l'Environnement et Urbanisme - SEMURB, secrétaire du Travail et de la protection sociale SEMTAS, Secrétariat municipal de la santé - SMS. Sur la base de l'espace vécu voir que les éléments du quotidien local exercer une forte influence sur la santé et La maladie de la population étudiée, avec un accent sur les problèmes découlant de chômage, sous-emploi, l'insécurité et un manque d'assiduité de certains responsables de l'USF - Guarapes. La production et l'organisation de la région convergent à l'apparition de maisons, les rues et les petits commerces non équipés de l'infrastructure de base dédiée à la prise en charge des personnes favorables à l'occupation désordonnée et non planifiée pour plusieurs zones du district, ainsi que l'apparition De vecteurs transmetteurs de maladies