Determinantes envolvidos na resposta imune celular humana à infecção por Leishmania infantum chagasi

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease caused by protozoa of the Leishmania donovani complex, whose infection has clinical spectrum ranging from asymptomatic infection to active disease characterized by fever, cachexia, hepatosplenomegaly, and immunosuppression. The healing or protective immunity require an antigen-specific type 1. The Montenegro skin test (DTH) has been interpreted as a marker of protective immunity. However, there is no known correlation between the DTH response to type 1 and DTH and immunity of type 1 are maintained in the long term. Thus, a longitudinal study of 8 years, nested in a cohort family held in Brazil, documented the status of DTH and cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in response to antigen-specific stimulation. This study was the interdisciplinary approach of physicians, biochemists, nutritionists, veterinary medicine, biology and statistics. The results show that 46.2% of subjects were analyzed DTH positive at baseline. The prevalence of positive and DTH induration size increased with age (p = 0.0021). 15.7% of individuals positive DTH "retro-converted" the negative and 50.4% (64) of individuals negative DTH became positive. The size of DTH induration was correlated significantly with the antigen-induced production of IFN-γ (r = 0.6186, p = 0.0001). IL-6 was secreted at higher levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of individuals who "retro-converted" DTH positive to negative than individuals who remained stable DTH status (p = 0.005). Thus, IFN-γ produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells, may be a surrogate marker for protective immunity instead of the DTH response. In addition, differences in innate immune response may determine whether individuals maintain or eliminate the infection by Leishmania infantum chagasi in asymptomatic patients

Aspectos clínicos e imunológicos da infecção por Leishmania Infantum Chagasi em cães do Rio Grande do Norte / Paula Vivianne Souza de Queiroz. Natal/RN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Aspectos ambientais e sociais envolvidos na transmissão da L. chagasi no município de Parnamirim/RN

Visceral leishmaniasis hás adapted in the past 20 years to periurban and urban areas, and in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, it became endemic. Thid study aimed to evaluate the environmental and social aspectsof Leishmania chagasi infection and its epidemiologic transmission chain in an urban, periurban and rural area of Parnamirim-RN. A study with three sections was conducted: Section 1: Sectional study of the human and canine infection by L. chagasi and its environmental and social determinants. Section 2: Observational longitudinal cohort to evaluate the dynamics of the canine infection. Section 3: Longitudinal study to evaluate the behavior of Lu. Longipalpis vector and the seasonal factors related to its dynamics. To include in the study the hauses were randomly selected and georreferenciated. Montenegro skin test was done in the human population and blood samples were collected for anti-Leishmania antibody detection. The canine population was examinated for L. chagasi infection by RIFI, ELISA and ELISA for rK39. An entomologic surveillance was monthly done with CDC light trapsin 10 houses of each locality. Quantitative and qualitative analyses was done using STATISC 6.0. Probality and prediction maps were done using ArcGis 9.0 model. In the human population L. chagasi infection was associated with the area of the hause, age, sex, population densyti, vegetation, kind of the floor of thr hause, water and resides destiny. In the canine population L. chagasi infection was associated with the breed, size, time of living in the hause, presence of dogs in the neighborhood, presence of horses and donkeys in the neighborhood, vegetation, kind of the floor and walls of the hause. The human infection was associated with canine infction only when analyzed taking into account the locality. In the prospective study, serum conversion and antibody lost observed in 30,8% and 22% of the animals examined, respectively. The human infection rate by L. chagasi was 24,6%, by the presence of anti-Leishmania antibody and 38,6% by the Montenegro skin test. The canine infection rate 32,5% by the presence of anti-Leishmania antibody. The vector Lu longipalpis showed an atypical behavior. These results indicate that environmental and social factors are important variables associated with L. chagasi infection in humans and canines, with punctual association of thr last two. Control measures of the infection on the studied points are necessary, in the aim to reduce the endemic focus of the disease in the study area. This research was carried out in a multidisciplinary involving the categories of: doctor, biologist, veterinarian, statistical, pharmaceutical and biochemical

O exame neurológico do recém-nascido pré-termo não complicado: avaliação pela escala de saint-anne dargassies, e screening pelas escalas de amiel-barrier-shnider modificada e prechtl ao termo

This study compared the evolution of posture, tone and neonatal reflexes in preterm infants without clinical or neurological complications before and after the age of term using the scale of Saint-Anne Dargassies. To reach the age of the term, was applied Scales Amiel-Barrier-Shnider changed and the Prechtl, traditionally used in the evaluation of term newborns, looking for possible changes to the term, while also evaluating the sensitivity of these scales. We studied 20 non-complicated preterm infants, both sexes aged 32-36 weeks, born in Januário Cicco Maternity School, from August 2006 to August 2007. Was applied to the scale of Saint-Anne Dargassies every two weeks until reach the term, and the range of Amiel-Barrier-Shnider changed and the Prechtl, after reaching 39 and 41 weeks. The evaluation result of articular angles was subjected to the test of Friedman ANOVA, significant differences between the three measurements of the scale of Saint-Anne Dargassies only for angles heel-to-ear to term. Neonatal reflexes changed in the period of prematurity were the cardinal points reflexes, Moro reflexes, cross extensions reflex and the automatic walking reflexes. The posture was the parameter which remained unchanged in the three scales. Considering a significance level of 5% by applying Cochran Q Test, it was found that the scale of Saint-Anne Dargassies is more sensitive to detect suspects. With this methodology and the results it was possible to prepare a manuscript: The neurological examination of non-complicated preterm newborns using the Sanit-Anne Dargssies Scale from birth to term: normal or altered? In which we describe that despite the good clinical condition, the RNP show changes in tone and neonatal reflexes. These data are important because though non-complicated RNP need further attention its maturation process, enabling us to detect and intervene early. With these results we can build a scale simplified neurological assessment made with items found most altered during the application of three scales. The development of this project has a multidisciplinary approach, because it involved Paediatric Neurologist, Physiotherapist and Neonatologist, as recommended by PPGCSA

IL-10 na patogênese da infecção por Leishmania infantum

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Efeitos do exercício físico aeróbio na modulação autonomica da frequência cardíaca de mulheres com sindrome dos ovários policisticos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Estudo epidemiológico das parasitoses oculares na população de escolares da cidade de Natal-RN, Brasil

The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of Ocular Toxocariasis, Diffuse Unilateral Subacute Neuroretinitis (DUSN), Toxoplasma gondii infection and Ocular Toxoplasmosis in a student population in Natal-RN/Brazil and relate it to demographic, epidemiologic and socio-economic risk factors. The incidence of DUSN was observed in patients at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte Ophthalmology Service and the Prontoclinica de Olhos Ophthalmology clinic in Natal. In cases where a worm was found in the subretinal space, the result of treatment with photocoagulation using Green Laser (Eye Light ALCON) was evaluated in relation to final visual result. The sample was randomly selected among the schools of the four districts of Natal, according to the type of institution (public or private), its level (elementary or secondary), and study period (morning, afternoon or evening). The school population was studied from March to May, 2001. Initially, the students answered a questionnaire to evaluate demographic, epidemiologic and socio-economic risk factors. Afterwards, the following procedures were carried out: blood samples were taken for Toxoplasmosis (IgG, IgM) serology, hemogram, ophthalmological examination, consisting of clinical history, measurement of visual acuity, refraction under cycloplegia, biomicroscopy of the anterior segment and annexa, funduscopy and examination of extrinsic motility. The prevalence of Toxocariasis was 0.2% or 2 per one thousand students. The sample was insufficient to estimate the prevalence of DUSN. Seventy patients with DUSN diagnosis were examined from January, 2001 to January, 2003. A live worm was found in the subretinal space of all four patients in the acute phase, and these were treated with laser photocoagulation. After follow-up (average = 11.5 months), visual acuity improved in three eyes and remained unaltered in one eye. Worms were found in 22 of the 66 patients in the chronic phase, and these also were treated with laser photocoagulation. After a follow-up period of 13.1 months, on average, visual acuity improved in two of the patients, remained unchanged in 19 and worsened in one. The comparison of visual result before and after treatment was not statistically significant (p = 0.302). The diagnosis of DUSN in the acute phase, followed by prompt localization and destruction of the worm by photocoagulation, can improve the patient s vision. However, destruction of the worm by laser photocoagulation in eyes with DUSN in the chronic phase does not improve visual acuity. Seroprevalence for IgG was 46% (Confidence Interval CI 95%-42.9-49.2%) and for IgM it was 1.4% (CI 95% = 0.8-2.4%). The prevalence of ocular lesion was 1.15% (CI 95% = 0.6 - 2.0%). Socio-economic conditions were determinants in the prevalence of Systemic and Ocular Toxoplasmosis in the bivaried analysis and confirmed in the multivaried analysis (mother s scholarity illiterate/ OR = 2.9 and p < 0.001). The T. gondii infection prevalence, although high, was less than that found in studies performed in the South and Southeast of Brazil and that of Ocular Toxoplasmosis was completely discrepant, varying from 5 to 17 times less. Although important epidemiological variables such as owning a cat, drinking unfiltered water, and coming into contact with rivers or lakes showed an association in the preliminary analysis, they lost their influence when included in the logistic model. Future studies are scheduled to begin in March, 2004, in collaboration with other Brazilian and American universities in an attempt to discover the reason for these findings, as well as identifying the different strains of Toxoplasma gondii, and studying the sources of water utilized by the population of Natal Brazil

Efeitos da deficiência de vitamina A na função pulmonar de crianças após infecção respiratória viral

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Ensaio clínico duplo-cego controlado e randômico, comparando a eficácia da Clofazimina com a Cloroquina, no tratamento das lesões cutâneas do Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico

PURPOSE: To evaluate the capacity of clofazimine (CFZ) to control cutaneous activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), compared with chloroquine diphosphate (CDP). METHODS: A prospective, randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trial was carried out in thirty-three patients with SLE and cutaneous lesions (malar rash and/or discoid lupus and/or subacute cutaneous lupus), after approval by the respective Ethics Committee. Sixteen patients received clofazimine - 100mg/day (CFZ group) and 17 received chloroquine diphosphate - 250mg/day (CDP group), during six months. Both groups applied broad-spectrum sunscreens twice a day. The dose of prednisone was kept stable during the study. Cutaneous lesions were evaluated by 2 blinded observers and photographed at baseline and at months 1, 2, 4 and 6. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients began and 27 completed the 6 months of treatment. The groups were homogeneous and comparable in terms of demographic and clinical characteristics. Five CFZ-patients and one CDP-patients dropped out due to severe flare of disease requiring other treatment. At the end of the study, 12 CFZ-patients (75%) and 14 CDP-patients (82,4%) presented complete or near-complete remission of skin lesions; intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant difference in the response rates between groups. Side effects in both groups were frequent, but patients didn t have to discontinue the drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Clofazimine and chloroquine were effective in controlling cutaneous lesions in SLE patients

Análise do vetor de impedância bioelétrico na avaliação da suplementação de zinco em crianças prepuberais e sadias

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Estudo de polimorfismos em genes relacionados ao metabolismo do ácido fólico e sua associação com o desenvolvimento de fendas orais não-sindrômicas

The congenital facial clefts are characterized by incomplete formation of the structures that separate the oral and nasal cavity. It is known that several environmental and genetic factors are involved in its development, among these, polymorphisms associated with folic acid metabolism have been investigated. In this sense, the objective was to observe the frequency of polymorphisms C677T and A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR), methionine synthase A2756G of (MTR), A66G of methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) A80G and the reduced folate carrier (RFC1) in patients with non-syndromic oral clefts, trying to match them with their development. Methods: We studied 140 patients with non-syndromic oral clefts and their mothers and 175 control subjects with their mothers, who underwent a questionnaire to obtain family information. Were collecting blood for DNA extraction from patients and their mothers to identify the genotypes of both by PCRRFLP, in addition to carrying out the determination of glucose, AST, ALT and serum creatinine, folic acid and vitamin B12 Serum and plasma homocysteine, and the hemogram. Results: Most patients have cleft lip and palate (55.8%), followed by isolated cleft palate (24.2%) and cleft lip (20%). Regarding gender, 62% of patients were male and 48% female and, after subdivision of the type of screwdriver according to sex was found a prevalence of males in the cracks of the type lip and palate (69 %) and lip (69.2%) and in the case of cleft palate was a female predominance (59%). The average concentration of serum folate in the group of mothers of cleft patients was significantly lower (13.8 ± 2.4 ng / mL) compared with the group of mothers of control subjects (18.8 ± 3.4 ng / mL) This was also observed for the group of cleft children as compared to controls, the dosage of folic acid had a significant difference with values of 15.6 ± 0.6 (ng / mL) and 17.9 ± 0.6 (ng / mL), respectively. For the biochemical measurements of glucose, AST, ALT and creatinine were not statistically different, nor was observed for haematological parameters performed. In assessing the frequency of polymorphisms C677T and A1298C MTHFR, A2756G MTR, MTRR A66G and A80G of the RFC1 there was no statistically significant difference in genotype distribution between cases and controls both for mothers and in the cleft. Conclusion: Although not observed association of polymorphisms with the development of cracks, the decrease in serum folate in the group of cleft patients and their mothers may reflect a disturbance in the metabolism of this metabolite, necessitating further studies such as studies methylation and expression to further elucidate the involvement of folate in the development of oral clefts

Histórias de leituras e de leitores: práticas e representações de leitura em narrativas de professores de diferentes disciplinas escolares

Nous avons pris comme point de départ le préssuposé que en exerçant ses practiques de lecture en salle de classe, les professeurs récuperent des signes de ses expériences socioculturelles par rapport à la lecture, construites au long de ses trajectoires. Indépendemment de sa discipline scolaire, la mémoire de ces expériences interviennent certainement, de manière positive ou négative, dans la médiation de la formation de l élève lecteur. C est donc, par l articulation entre les perspectives de ses études qui parlent sur l histoire de la lecture, narratives (auto)biographiques et formation du professeur que je prétends récupérer et reconstruire, par les narratives de lectures racontées par les professeurs de différentes disciplines scolaires, les processus d appropriation de la lecture en considérant ses tactiques d accès et d utilisation des matériels écrits en circulation dans les groupes sociaux auxquels ils appartennaient. Pour ça ce travail s inquérit : Quels models de lectures émergent dans les narratives de professeurs de différentes disciplines scolaires ? Comment se manifestent-elles les représentations sur sa performance pour la formation de l élève lecteur ? L objectif central est d inférer les rapports existants entre des expériences de lecture et la médiation dans la formation de lecteurs. Douze professeurs de l éducation de base des écoles de la ville de Belém y ont participé. Le corpus est constitué par les transcriptions de deux genres d instruments: douze interviews narratives et deux groupes de débats. Les analyses montrent deux grandes fases de la rencontre avec la lecture : une antérieure à l école et l autre à partir de l école. Ces fases montrent des pratiques et des représentations de lecture hétérogènes différenciés par rapport à ses aspects fonctionnaux. Elles revellent encore que la formation du lecteur professeur et élève se lie, d abord, à la constitution culturelle de l homme, marquée, fondamentalement, par son interlocution avec l autre. La famille, l école et le lieu de travail se présentent comme des espaces qui impriment des marques profondes dans le rapport avec la lecture. Malgré ça, le même matériel écrit, un fois mis en scène le lu dans ces espaces n ont pas de significat coincidents pour les différentes personnes qui s en approprient. Cette raison montre la possibilité de la construction d une histoire de la lecture, basée pas exclusivement à la description des matériels lus pendant le cours de leurs vies, mais surtout, sur les indicateurs de ses différentes manières de lire. Cette trajectoire exerce de cette façon une forte influence sur la prise de décision et les manifestations du travail du professeur en situation de salle de classe. Comme ça on peut conclure, premièrement, que les représentations et pratiques de lecture se sont constitués et se sont (re)configurés dans des différentes formes, concepts, temps et espaces, dans un entrecroisement de différents discours. Deuxièmement que la reflexion sur les mémoires de lecture a resulté un nouveau regard des participants sur son travail de professeur et a confirmé l hipothèse selon laquelle la production des narratives autoréférencées offre, à qui les narre, la possibilité de transformation des représentations du sujet avec lui-même, avec l autre et avec le monde, ce qui démontre l importance de la recherche (auto)biographique comme méthode d investigation en éducation et sa contribuition pour la formation des formateurs de lecteurs dans des différents domaines de la connaissance , comme territoires constitutifs du sujet et de ses pratiques sociales, à l école et ailleurs

O atendimento educacional especializado no processo de inclusão escolar, na rede municipal de ensino de Mossoró/RN

This dissertation aims to analyze the specialized educational services(AEE, Portuguese) implemented in four municipal schools of Mossoró/RN, with attention to the process of collaboration between regular classroom teachers and multifunctional resource classroom teachers. We use as theoretical reference the works of Vygotsky and others authors that write about education and collaboration. To accomplish the research we chose a qualitative approach, using as a methodological resources: study of cases, bibliographical, documental and field research. For the field research we make observations in regular and multifunctional classrooms. We produce group intervieus with regular and multifunctional teachers. From the analysis performed we identify that the concepts and the practices of teachers in regular classrooms changes, with integrationist predominance. The AEE s teachers had more inclusive conceptions and greater investment in continuing education than the regular classroom teachers. The practices of regular classroom teachers are more traditional, what makes the learning process more difficult for the students, even more for the students with disabilities and pervasive developmental disorders. Teachers of AEE was more interactive and creative, however, the attention to the students was more individual. In three of the four schools surveyed stand out the efforts of the teachers of specialist classroom to collaborate with regular school teachers, by notes, e-mails, phone calls and resource sharing. In one of the four was noted a good collaborative interactive between the AEE teachers and the regular school teachers. The school with the worst improvement was that in which the actions of the teachers of the AEE were limited to actions in multifunctional resource classroom. The resistance to these professionals was identified in the statements of the regular classroom teachers. Another issue raised was the lack of time for teachers to conduct AEE actions that contribute to the process of school students, because their working hours is restricted to the opposite turn in school. Transport difficulties for the students to attend the resource classroom multifunctional and the lack of dialogue with the health sector was challenges for the four schools. The families were with a practically constant interest to interact with the AEE teachers in the four schools. Thus, we believe that the presence of AEE school can make contributions to the educational process, however, it is necessary more attention to the collaborative process between teachers and the school community

Hospital de Pediatria da UFRN: resgatando memórias na construção da história

This study deals with a historical, descriptive and exploratory approach aiming to recall the origin and trajectory of the Pediatrics Hospital at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte. This research also deals with the insertion of the nursing department in the same Hospital. This was realized through existing records and discourse collected through interview of professionals-doctors, nurses, midwifes, nursing attendants and psychologists. Thus, a network was established and consisted of qualified informants, composed through reference analysis. Data treatment and analysis was performed based on the collection of oral data. The data was considered according to the font s context, all of which depending on process of comprehension and interpretation. The research was based on the main theme, through oral history used in order to build a historical background. These main themes were then subdivided and other discourses were made present such as: the historical scene, the dream came true and the insertion of nursing, present in the history construction; all of which enabled the research. Thus, in this process, it was possible to identify the most important characters of the origin of children s health services organization and assistance at Rio Grande do Norte. It was possible to perceive that this institution aimed to initiate health services that dealt with an education for future generations. This was observed through the creation of the Faculty of Medicine of Natal and as a consequence, the installation of a Pediatrics Hospital that dealt with medical education. The research made evident that the nursing contributed for a structuring of quality health assistance towards children, even though the resources and working conditions were scarce, extensive work shifts and low professional qualification. It was observed that the there was change in the category s profile, once nurses were introduced in the service. Once this happened, changes in mentality, and innovative processes as well as professional conducts were established. The distinctive relation between acting and doing of doctors and nurses were also dealt with. Thus, the first item is done towards the idealization, projection and prescription. The second issue deals with concretization in realization of something that was not projected and realized, causing suffering and unsatisfaction. At the end, it was possible to confirm that oral history is a very rich element and it is possible through subjects that build history, through their perceptation of the facts and the context in that their are inside

Análise de estruturas de superfície delgadas axissimétricas via método dos elementos finitos com utilização de elemento retilíneo

The present work deals with the linear analysis of bi-dimensional axisymmetric structures, through development and implementation of a Finite Element Method code. The structures are initially studied alone and afterwards compatibilized into coupled structures, that is, assemblages, including tanks and pressure vessels. Examples are analysed and, in order to prove accuracy, the results were compared with those furnished by the analytical solutions