Antígenos da forma amastigota de Leishmania chagasi identificados por dupla varredura da biblioteca de cDNA

Control of human visceral leishmaniasis in endemic regions is hampered in part by the lack of knowledge with respect of the role reservoirs and vector. In addition, there is not yet an understanding of how non-symptomatic subclinical infection might influence the maintenance of infection in a particular locality. Of worrisome is the limited accessibility to medical care in places with emerging drug resistance. There is still no available protective vaccine either for humans or other reservoirs. Leishmania species are protozoa that express multiple antigens which are recognized by the vertebrate immune system. Since there is not one immunodominant epitope recognized by most hosts, strategies must be developed to optimize selection of antigens for prevention and immunodiagnosis. For this reason, we generated a cDNA library from the intracellular amastigote form of Leishmania chagasi, the causative agent of South American visceral leishmaniasis. We employed a two-step expression screen of the library to systematically identify T and T-dependent B cell antigens. The first step was aimed at identifying the largest possible number of clones producing an epitope-containing polypeptide with a pool of sera from Brazilians with documented visceral leishmaniasis. After removal of clones encoding heat shock proteins, positive clones underwent a second step screen for their ability to cause proliferation and IFN-γ responses of T cells from immune mice. Six unique clones were selected from the second screen for further analysis. The clones encoded part of the coding sequence of glutamine synthetase, transitional endoplasmic reticulum ATPase, elongation factor 1γ, kinesin K-39, repetitive protein A2, and a hypothetical conserved protein. Humans naturally infected with L. chagasi mounted both cellular and antibody responses to these protein Preparations containing multiple antigens may be optimal for immunodiagnosis and protective vaccines against Leishmania

Agregação familiar e resultados maternos e perinatais da pré-eclâmpsia severa em população do Rio Grande do Norte

To determine whether there is familiar aggregation of severe preeclampsia in a Brazilian population from Rio Grande do Norte and to characterize the maternal and perinatal outcomes in the studied population. Methods: A case control study was performed with 412 participants who were admitted at Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco (MEJC) for medical care. Of these, 264 subjects presented normal blood pressure and 148 were cases. Cases were composed of eclampsia (n=47), HELLP Syndrome (n=85) and Eclampsia associated with HELLP syndrome (n=16). The diagnosis of these illness were based on the citeria developed by National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working (2000). An interview was performed with each subject and questions related to personal and familiar history of hypertension, preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and eclampsia. Statistical analysis was performed and comparison of median and mean between cases and controls were performed, with the level of significance of 5%. The Odds-Ratio was determined to estimate the risk of preeclampsia within the families. Results: There were no difference in the demographic data between cases and controls. Previous history of chronic hypertension and preeclampsia was more frequent in the case group. Headaches were more frequent in eclampsia and epigastric pain in the HELLP syndrome cases. Bleeding and oliguria were more frequently found in the eclampsia associated with HELLP syndrome cases. Acute Renal insufficiency was a common complication in the case group, but these cases did not evolve to chronic renal insufficiency. The maternal mortality was 0.4% and the perinatal mortality was high, 223 per 1,000 live births. The 111 risk of a woman to develop preeclampsia whose mother has hypertension or had preeclampsia was respectively 2.5 and 3.5. This risk was increased 5 times, when a sibling has hypertension and 6 times when both sibling and mother had previous history of preeclampsia. Conclusions: This study confirms that there is familiar aggregation of preeclampsia in this Brazilian population. The potential for cardiovascular complications due to development of chronic hypertension indicates the need of closely follow up of women who develop preeclampsia

A mediação como instrumento concretizador do direito fundamental à saúde: uma alternativa à judicialização de conflitos Natal 2013

In Brazil, the 1946 Constitution enshrined the right to health, having it defined as the possession of the best state of health that the individual can achieve. Already the Federal Constitution of 1988 lifted that right to the status of fundamental social right, which transcends the effectiveness and cure of the disease is based on the joint liability of public entities for the provision of a quality service, efficient and prioritize human dignity and comprehensive evaluation of patients. According to the World Health Organization, the definition of health, first characterized as the mere absence of disease, has become recognized as the need to search for preventive mechanisms to ensure the welfare and dignity of the population. Garantista this context, the growing seem lawsuits that deal with the implementation of public policies, especially in the area of the right to health, the omission of which the Government can result in the risk of death. Hence the concern of law professionals about whether or not the intervention of the judiciary in cases that deal with providing material benefits of health care. It claims to break the principle of separation of powers, disobedience to the principle of equality and the impossibility of judicial intervention in the formulation of public policy to try and exclude the liability of public entities. In contrast, the judiciary has repeatedly guardianships granted injunctions or merit determining the supply of materials indicated by the medical benefits that accompany the treatment of patients who resort to a remedy. In this context, mediation, object of study and resolution presented in this work, is presented as an instrument conciliator between the reserve clause and the right to financially possible existential minimum, as it seeks to serve all through rationalization of health services , avoidance of negativistic influence of the pharmaceutical industry, with prioritizing the welfare of the individual and the quality of relationships. This is alternative way to judicialization that in addition to encouraging and developing active citizen participation in public policy formulation also allows the manager to public knowledge of community needs. It is in this sense that affirms and defends the right to health is no longer the mere provision of medical care and prescription drugs, but a dialogue conscious existential minimum to guarantee a dignified life

Acompanhando o crescimento e o desenvolvimento da criança : uma intervenção integrada entre enfermagem e família

The accompanying the growth and development of the child is the guiding line of basic health measures directed at this public, acting within the scope of health monitoring and inferring positively in the rate of infant morbidity and mortality, which are still a preoccupation worldwide and in Brazil. However, mostly, this practice is based on the biomedical model of care, individualized, with emphasis on the medicalization and complaints, favoring the passivity of users. Given this issue, aim to develop accompanying the growth and development of the child in a Basic Unit Family Health, through a collective approach of medical care next to a health team, especially nurses and caregivers. This is a qualitative study, with the research-action method. Involved the four nurses and twenty-six of children's caregivers of the area of Basic Unit Family Health of Cidade Nova, in Natal, in the period from February to July 2010. The results were analyzed following the direction of the thematic analysis of Freire. In the situation analysis of the current reality of the accompanying the growth and development the children in the Basic Unit Family Health, through participant observation and applying a questionnaire to the nurses, we realize that despite these professionals have a knowledge tied to the paradigm of health promotion, in practice the monitoring of child is done through individual consultations in outpatient room, based on complaints brought by caregivers, with little solvability in actions employed. Given the need for change in medical care model, we decided jointly, in the focal group, for the collective monitoring of children's the growth and development, featuring then this proposal to the multidisciplinary team, discussing the participation of professional categories and planned collectively the actions. In the implementation stage of collective action, we contemplate the execution by the caregivers of anamnesis and physical examination, recording data in the Child Health Handbook and discussion of clinical findings, under the supervision of nurses and facilitators. In the evaluation, we found that this collective accompanying strategy allowed to caregivers learn new knowledge, exchange experiences, assistance in home care, beyond reduce the waiting time for medical care and creating opportunity of more time for debate about the children‟s health situation, differing of ambulatory care. As difficulties, we face with a high rate of defaulters (53.8%), lack of motivation and passivity of the users, little participation of other health professionals and nurses' involvement in other activities, technical and bureaucratic in the moment of care. Thus, we note also a strong rooting of individual clinical model on the way of thinking and acting of nurses and caregivers

Reflexões sobre a política de descentralização em saúde: uma análise a partir do Hospital Monsenhor Walfredo Gurgel em Natal (RN)

The process of decentralization of health policy in Brazil has evolved throughout the second half of the twentieth century, advancing by leaps and bounds in the last two decades. The various public institutions have assumed the function of responding to a growing demand for medical care and hospital. Monsenhor Hospital Walfredo Gurgel - H.M.W.G. fits into this context as an institution par excellence-oriented service the demand for medium and high complexity. This paper presents some questions about the process of decentralization and devolution occurred in Brazil. To do so is a brief historical background and politics, showing the concepts of reform and counter-reform and how the processes mentioned in the Country Correlates develop local social development of the decentralization process and discusses the modifications in policies social intervention in recent decades and the state health policies. Presents the implementation of a Health System in Brazil and the state showing how the decentralization of health policy occurs in Rio Grande do Norte. Finally, it explores the role of H.M.W.G. in health policy in RN. For this, portrays the institution and is located within the decentralized structure of health policy in the state and capital. An analysis of the demand for hospital care and the budget situation is realized at the close of work, correlating the role of HMWG with the decentralization of health policy in Brazil and Rio Grande do Norte. The methodology used for the preparation of this work was based on documentary research, systematic nonparticipant observation, field diary and analysis of data, documents and content. This set shows a quantitative and qualitative methodology that strips the institution, enabling the understanding of their role, boundaries, threats and opportunities

Travestis na atenção primária: o cuidado em saúde na cidade de Natal

Among the deviant a heteronormative ideal, transvestites are the ones that suffer abuse and discrimination. Have been found that health services often present themselves as places that maintains and reproduce such discrimination, which makes transvestites only sought medical care in the latter case. Based on the guidelines of the SUS and the National Humanization Policy as well as the inclusion and leadership of the users, we conducted a qualitative study seeking to understand the experience of transvestites in seeking health care within primary care in Natal-RN. We use as techno-methodological instruments in depth interview and workshop with use of "scenes". For interpretative analysis of the narratives we use to Hermeneutics-Dialectic. From the dialogue with the narrative we come to the following themes: 1) Understanding the meaning of being a transvestite; 2) The experience transvestite in search of health; 3) Transvestites and humanized health care. In the first point they reveal the daily struggle of transvestites between prejudice and the search for respect, as well as the meanings of being a transvestite, who appeared as: Being gay, being feminine, not transsexual and accept themselves as they are. In the second axis, expressed difficulties in access to and use of health services: the embarrassment by not using the social name; fear of going out during the day; the association of transvestites to HIV; and pain caused by discrimination from health professionals. It was also possible to identify simple demands such as illnesses from day to day, the demand for hormone therapy, which involves treatment needs as well as the vital need to have their rights XVII respected. The third axis, for the range of a humanized care identified that the respectful gaze guarantee their dignity and their right to health in a humane way, but it identified some necessary changes: Training of professionals, dialogue with the social movement, publicity campaigns and rapprochement with the transvestite. Finally, it is expected that the research will contribute to the field of knowledge know-how in health care transvestites, inside and outside of the university

O atendimento ao idoso na unidade de saúde da família: um estudo de representações sociais

The attention to health issues in aging has increased and it becomes a challenge for public policies directed to the elderly. This study aimed at learning the social representations built by seniors about the service in the Family Health Unit. It is an exploratory study, funded by the Theory of Social Representations of Moscovici. It was held at the Health Unit of the Family Felipe Shrimp, located in the neighborhood Felipe Shrimp in the city of Natal / RN-Brazil. The participants were one hundred and two elderly / as, served by the Family Health Strategy. The data collection period was extended from July to September 2014. Data were collected through the Word Free Association Test and Interview semi-structured, and analyzed with the help of EVOC software. Interviews were conducted with 20 elderly and subjected to content analysis. The research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University Hospital Research Onofre Lopes, in the opinion 704,323. It was possible to apprehend negative connotations regarding attendance, listing it as bad and disrespectful, and the limited hours of service, difficult to schedule appointments and tests and inadequate infrastructure, the most marked aspects. Seniors express satisfaction with the medical care, however, they understand that it is necessary that all services are properly integrated to a qualified service. The statements reveal that the service in the drive needs to implement new strategies host for users to participate more in educational and health promotion. It is noted, the need of integrated care, the host of qualified hearing in the health services that they address the elderly seeking care at the clinic of the family, so sticking to the principles of the Unified Health System.

Utilização de mapas conceituais como ferramenta de ensino para o desenvolvimento do raciocínio clínico no curso de medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

BACKGROUND: Among the wide range of skills displayed by a medical doctor is undoubtedly the need to use cohesive and well grounded clinical reasoning in order for medical care to be indeed effective. It is in this respect that conceptual maps emerge; these are a methodological innovation that allows a comprehensive, panoramic and associative outlook of theoretical content, making it more practical and applicable to the reality of clinical observation. Promoting learning, learning resources and a feedback system between professor and students, as well as assessing and monitoring the performance of students during their academic training, are the main features of this tool. OBJETIVE: Assess the use of conceptual maps as a teaching-learning tool in the training of undergraduate medical students at Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). METHODOLOGY: Interventional, randomized, cross-sectional study conducted with students from the 3rd and 5th periods of the medical course at UFRN, during the second semester of 2014, totaling 86 participants, divided into two groups: GI (intervention – clinical case resolution with a conceptual map) and GII (control – clinical case resolution without a conceptual map) in each period. RESULTS: The use of conceptual maps to teach liver failure syndrome resulted in a statistically significant cognitive gain for G1 students from the 5th period (GI: 6.8±1.6 and 8.0±1.5, p = 0.024; GII: 7.2±2.1 and 8.0±1.7, p = 0.125, pre and post-intermediate means, respectively), a result not observed in the period 3rd (GI: 7.7±1.3 and 8.0±1.4, p = 0.501; GII: 6.7±1.8 and 7.8±1.8; p=0.068, pre and post-intermediate means, respectively). Students in the 3 rd period gave better responses to the first clinical case, with a larger number of suitable concepts and crosslinks, when they used conceptual maps (GI: 91.3±13.15 and GII: 64.84±22.84, p=0,002). Students in the 5th period exhibited better clinical reasoning and more complete responses using the tool (p=0,01). Most of the students were not aware of the tool (53.8% from the 3rd period and 65.3% from the 5th period). Among those who knew about conceptual maps, most (59.3%) had only used them during high school, 14.8% had never used them and only seven students (25.9%) used them during the medical course. Analysis of open responses, obtained in process assessment showed clear satisfaction and enthusiasm with learning about the new tool, and frequent suggestions to use it at other moments in the course. Assessment of learning profile, using the VARK questionnaire, showed that most students from both periods exhibited a multimodal style. CONCLUSION: Despite their scant knowledge regarding the tool, good acceptability and understanding was observed in the study participants. The conceptual maps allowed cognitive gains, better responses and clinical reasoning in teaching liver failure syndrome to 5th period students.

Efeitos da terapia laser de baixa intensidade associada ao exercício aeróbio no reparo de tenotomia do tendão de aquiles de ratos diabéticos

Diabetes Mellitus (DM ) is a complex disease that requires continuous medical care for the reduction of risk factors in addition to glycemic control. The typical hyperglycemia of this disease produces glycosylation of proteins and so the consequence is the accumulation of glycosylation final products in various human tissues, among them, the tendon. The aerobic exercise (AE) and the low level laser therapy (LLLT) have been used to treat tendinopathies in individuals with or without DM. Objective: The aim of this study was to watch the effect of the LLLT and the AE, in association, in partial tenotomy of the tissue repair of the Achilles tendon (AT) of diabetic rats. Methods: 91 animals were utilized and divided in to the following groups: control group (GC), injured control group (GCL), diabetic group (GD), diabetic group LLLT (GD – TLBI), diabetic group trained (GD - EX) and diabetic group trained laser (GD-EX+TLBI). The animals were submitted to intervention with AE, using a protocol with a progressive increase of time (12 to 60 min) and speed of (4 to 9 m/min), and the LLLT (660 nm laser, 10mW, 4 J/cm², single point for 16 seconds, three times for week). It was analyzed morphological, biomechanical and molecular characteristics. For data showing normal distribution was used one-way ANOVA test and post hoc Tukey and data without normal distribution was used Mann Whitney test and post hoc Dunn's. It was accepted p <0.05 for statistical significance Results: The biomechanical tests indicated major improvement in the GC and GD-EX+TLBI groups when compared with the diabetic groups in the following variables: maximum load, strain, absorbed energy, stress, cross section area, elastic modulus and energy density (p<0.05). The analysis through molecular biology indicated that the association of aerobic exercise and LLLT generated an increase of the collagen I gene expression and modulated the expression of the MMP2 and MMP9 (p<0.05). No observed any major improvement in the morphological variable studied. Conclusion: the LLLT associated with aerobic exercise promotes and increase of the mechanical properties, in the control of collagen I gene expression and of the MMP2 and MMP9 of the diabetic rats.