Medidas de morbidade referida e inter-relações com dimensões de saúde

OBJETIVO: Analisar as inter-relações entre auto-avaliação de saúde, percepção de doença de longa duração e diagnóstico de doenças crônicas. MÉTODOS: Na Pesquisa Mundial de Saúde, realizada no Brasil em 2003, foram entrevistados 5.000 indivíduos com 18 anos ou mais, selecionados a partir de amostra estratificada em três estágios. Foi utilizado o questionário original adaptado ao contexto brasileiro, abordando a presença de doença de longa duração ou incapacidade, a auto-avaliação de saúde (geral e dos vários domínios) e o diagnóstico de seis doenças crônicas (artrite, angina, asma, depressão, esquizofrenia e diabetes mellitus). Para comparar as relações entre a auto-avaliação de saúde, percepção de doença de longa duração e as doenças crônicas avaliadas foram utilizados teste estatístico de homogeneidade de proporções e modelos de regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: A auto-avaliação de saúde "não boa" e a percepção de ser portador de doença de longa duração foram significativamente mais freqüentes entre mulheres, indivíduos com 50 anos ou mais e aqueles com alguma das doenças pesquisadas. Os entrevistados com diagnóstico de diabetes mellitus apresentaram as piores avaliações de saúde: 70,9% referiram doença de longa duração e 79,3% avaliaram sua saúde como "não boa". Verificou-se pior avaliação de saúde com a associação de duas ou mais doenças. O efeito da auto-avaliação de saúde sobre a percepção de doença de longa duração foi maior que o número de doenças. CONCLUSÕES: As três formas de aferição da morbidade mostraram inter-relações significativas. A auto-avaliação de saúde "não boa" apresentou efeito mais importante para a percepção de doença de longa duração, sugerindo que as medidas subjetivas do estado de saúde possam ser mais sensíveis para estabelecer e monitorar o bem-estar do indivíduo.

Giardia duodenalis: INTER-STRAIN VARIABILITY OF PROTEINS, ANTIGENS, PROTEASES, ISOENZYMES AND NUCLEIC ACIDS

Giardia duodenalis isolates from asymptomatic or symptomatic patients and from animals present similarities and differences in the protein composition, antigenic profile, pattern of proteases and isoenzymes, as well as in nucleic acids analysis. In the present overview, these differences and similarities are reviewed with emphasis in the host-parasite interplay and possible mechanisms of virulence of the protozoon.

Scientific authorships and collaboration network analysis on Chagas disease: papers indexed in PubMed (1940-2009)

Chagas disease is a chronic, tropical, parasitic disease, endemic throughout Latin America. The large-scale migration of populations has increased the geographic distribution of the disease and cases have been observed in many other countries around the world. To strengthen the critical mass of knowledge generated in different countries, it is essential to promote cooperative and translational research initiatives. We analyzed authorship of scientific documents on Chagas disease indexed in the Medline database from 1940 to 2009. Bibliometrics was used to analyze the evolution of collaboration patterns. A Social Network Analysis was carried out to identify the main research groups in the area by applying clustering methods. We then analyzed 13,989 papers produced by 21,350 authors. Collaboration among authors dramatically increased over the study period, reaching an average of 6.2 authors per paper in the last five-year period. Applying a threshold of collaboration of five or more papers signed in co-authorship, we identified 148 consolidated research groups made up of 1,750 authors. The Chagas disease network identified constitutes a "small world," characterized by a high degree of clustering and a notably high number of Brazilian researchers.

SOUTH AMERICAN COLLABORATION IN SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS ON LEISHMANIASIS: BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN SCOPUS (2000-2011)

Objectives: Evaluate the production and the research collaborative network on Leishmaniasis in South America. Methods: A bibliometric research was carried out using SCOPUS database. The analysis unit was original research articles published from 2000 to 2011, that dealt with leishmaniasis and that included at least one South American author. The following items were obtained for each article: journal name, language, year of publication, number of authors, institutions, countries, and others variables. Results: 3,174 articles were published, 2,272 of them were original articles. 1,160 different institutional signatures, 58 different countries and 398 scientific journals were identified. Brazil was the country with more articles (60.7%) and Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) had 18% of Brazilian production, which is the South American nucleus of the major scientific network in Leishmaniasis. Conclusions: South American scientific production on Leishmaniasis published in journals indexed in SCOPUS is focused on Brazilian research activity. It is necessary to strengthen the collaboration networks. The first step is to identify the institutions with higher production, in order to perform collaborative research according to the priorities of each country.

HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS 1 (HTLV-1) AND HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS 2 (HTLV-2): GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH TRENDS AND COLLABORATION NETWORKS (1989-2012)

Publications are often used as a measure of research work success. Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type 1 and 2 are human retroviruses, which were discovered in the early 1980s, and it is estimated that 15-20 million people are infected worldwide. This article describes a bibliometric review and a coauthorship network analysis of literature on HTLV indexed in PubMed in a 24-year period. A total of 7,564 documents were retrieved, showing a decrease in the number of documents from 1996 to 2007. HTLV manuscripts were published in 1,074 journals. Japan and USA were the countries with the highest contribution in this field (61%) followed by France (8%). Production ranking changed when the number of publications was normalized by population (Dominican Republic and Japan), by gross domestic product (Guinea-Bissau and Gambia), and by gross national income per capita (Brazil and Japan). The present study has shed light on some of the defining features of scientific collaboration performed by HTLV research community, such as the existence of core researchers responsible for articulating the development of research in the area, facilitating wider collaborative relationships and the integration of new authors in the research groups.

Inter-relation of sylvatic and domestic transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi in areas with and without domestic vectorial transmission in Minas Gerais, Brazil

During the period 1980-1986, we captured triatomine bugs and mammalian reservoir hosts from sylvatic and domestic situations in different municipalities of the State of Minas Gerais. Trypanosoma cruzi was isolated from captured bugs, mammals and patients. After cultivation in LIT medium, the electrophoretic enzyme profiles were determined. We obtained atotal of 32 parasite isolates from regions with active domestic transmission, and 24 isolates form areas under control. For the first areas the results suggest introduction of T. cruzi from sylvatic habitats, through incursion of infected opossums and/or sylvatic T. sordida, which appears to have given rise to at least one acute human infection. Of particular interest is the finding of sylvatic opossums and a T. sordida nymph infected with ZB, that could indicate return of parasites from chronic human infections to sylvatic transmission cycles. For the areas under control we also interpret the results as interaction between sylvatic and domestic cycles of transmission, here through the invasion of houses by bugs carrying the Z1 zymodeme from the sylvatic environment. The Multivariate Correspondence Analysis gives a spatial description between the different parasite isolates and confirms the existence of a bridge in the opposite direction in the region with active vectorial transmission including the exporting of Z2 through the peridomestic environment into the sylvatic cycle. For the others areas this bridge corresponds especially to Panstrongylus megistus, importing Z1 into the domestic environment.

Inter-specific and developmental differences on the array of antennal chemoreceptors in four species of triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

The aim of the work was to investigate the pattern of chemoreceptor sensilla in adults and fifth stage nymphs of Rhodnius prolixus, R. neglectus, Triatoma infestans and T. sordida in order to study differences and similarities between genera and species. Three types of sensilla were analyzed by light microscopy: thin-walled trichoidea, thick-walled trichoidea and basiconica. The number of sensilla of each three types were counted. The length of the antennal segments were also used as a variable for the analysis. The statistical analysis showed that the number of these antennal chemoreceptors had significant differences between species and between adults and nymphs of each species. Discriminant analysis separates incompletely the fifth stage nymphs of the four species and showed similarity between them. Discriminant analysis performed with 12 variables of the antennae, allowed a complete separation of the adults of the four species.

Diferenças e inter-relações dos conceitos de governança e gestão de redes horizontais de empresas: contribuições para o campo de estudos

Neste artigo, discutem-se as diferenças e inter-relações entre os conceitos de governança e gestão de redes horizontais de empresas. Argumenta-se quanto à necessidade de aprofundamento conceitual, caracterizando-os como duas dimensões imprescindíveis para a constituição e o desenvolvimento das redes. A governança consiste na definição de regras, critérios para a tomada de decisão, responsabilidades e limites de autonomia e ação dos participantes. É criada pelas organizações envolvidas e ao mesmo tempo as afeta, pois implica a definição de regras que elas próprias devem cumprir. O papel da governança não é gerir, mas delimitar a gestão. Dentro dos limites definidos pela governança, os gestores têm liberdade para usar seus conhecimentos e habilidades visando a alcançar os objetivos coletivos. A gestão é caracterizada pela flexibilidade e pela adequação das práticas para atender às necessidades das estratégias coletivas, enquanto a governança tem natureza menos transitória. Ainda que a governança seja a definidora dos limites da gestão, o nível de eficiência alcançado por essa última pode levar à necessidade de revisões no sistema de governança. Existem, portanto, interrelações e mútuas influências entre essas dimensões. O trabalho é finalizado com sugestões para estudos futuros, que verifiquem empiricamente como essas duas dimensões são empregadas em redes horizontais sob diferentes condições.

Networks in Argentine agriculture: a multiple-case study approach

Argentina is among the four largest producers of soybeans, sunflower, corn, and wheat, among other agricultural products. Institutional and policy changes during the 1990s fostered the development of Argentine agriculture and the introduction of innovative process and product technologies (no-till, agrochemicals, GMO, GPS) and new investments in modern, large-scale sunflower and soybean processing plants. In addition to technological changes, a "quiet revolution" occurred in the way agricultural production was carried out and organized: from self-production or ownership agriculture to a contract-based agriculture. The objective of this paper is to explore and describe the emergence of networks in the Argentine crop production sector. The paper presents and describes four cases that currently represent about 50% of total grain and oilseed production in Argentina: "informal hybrid form", "agricultural trust fund", "investor-oriented corporate structure", and "network of networks". In all cases, hybrid forms involve a group of actors linked by common objectives, mainly to gain scale, share resources, and improve the profitability of the business. Informal contracts seem to be the most common way of organizing the agriculture process, but using short-term contracts and sequential interfirm collaboration. Networks of networks involve long-term relationships and social development, and reciprocal interfirm collaboration. Agricultural trust fund and investor-oriented corporate structures have combined interfirm collaboration and medium-term relationships. These organizational forms are highly flexible and show a great capacity to adapt to challenges; they are competitive because they enjoy aligned incentives, flexibility, and adaptability.

The association between need for touch and desire for unique products and consumer (inter)dependent problem-solving

Some people cannot buy products without first touching them, believing that doing so will create more assurance and information and reduce uncertainty. The international consumer marketing literature suggests an instrument to measure consumers' necessity for pohysical contact, called Need for Touch (NFT). This paper analyzes whether the Need for Touch structure is empirically consistent. Based on a literature review, we suggest six hypotheses in order to assess the nomological, convergent, and discriminant validity of the phenomenon. Departing from these, data supported four assumptions in the predicted direction. Need for Touch was associated with Need for Input and with Need for Cognition. Need for Touch was not associated with traditional marketing channels. The results also showed the dual characterization of Need for Touch as a bi-dimensional construct. The moderator effect indicated that when the consumer has a higher (vs. lower) Need for Touch autotelic score, the experiential motivation for shopping played a more (vs. less) important role in impulsive motivation. Our Study 3 supports the NFT structure and shows new associations with the need for unique products and dependent decisions.

Tendências dos estudos com idosos mais velhos na comunidade: uma revisão sistemática (inter)nacional

O estudo objetivou identificar e analisar as tendências e tipos de estudos, publicados no país e no exterior, envolvendo idosos >80 anos residentes na comunidade. Realizou-se uma revisão sistemática da literatura nacional nas bases de dados LILACS e SciELO e internacional nas bases PUBMED e EMBASE, nas duas últimas décadas. Selecionaram-se 162 referências internacionais e 12 nacionais. Predominou a área das ciências biológicas, tanto no nível nacional (50%) quanto internacional (74,1%). Todos os trabalhos nacionais foram observacionais, sendo 91,7% de estudos transversais. Dentre os internacionais, 93,3% foram observacionais. Destes, 48,1% de estudos transversais e 37,6% de estudos de corte. Os Estados Unidos foram responsáveis por 41,4% do total de publicações internacionais. O Brasil e a China foram os únicos países em desenvolvimento a apresentar produções internacionais. Apesar do significativo aumento no número de produções científicas internacionais a partir de 2005, o mesmo ainda não foi constatado em nível nacional.

The organizational culture of a Brazilian public hospital

The objective of this research was to analyze the organizational culture of a Brazilian public hospital. It is a descriptive study with quantitative approach of data, developed in a public hospital of São Paulo State, Brazil. The sample was composed by 52 nurses and 146 nursing technicians and auxiliaries. Data were collected from January to June 2011 using the Brazilian Instrument for Assessing Organizational Culture – IBACO. The analysis of the organizational values showed the existence of hierarchical rigidity and centralization of power within the institution, as well as individualism and competition, which hinders teamwork. The values concerning workers’ well-being, satisfaction and motivation were not highly valued. In regard to organizational practices, the promotion of interpersonal relationship, continuous education, and rewarding practices were not valued either. It becomes apparent that traditional models of work organization support work practices and determine the organizational culture of the hospital.


Polymorphism, inter-population and inter-specific variation in Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) (Diptera, Psychodidae, Phlebotominae)

Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva) and Nyssomyia neivai (Pinto) are morphologically very close and both present great variation in some structures. The objective of this study is a description of the variation among the females of these species in populations from the States of Minas Gerais and São Paulo. The morphological structures studied were the number of horizontal teeth in the cibarium and the number of rings and the shape of the terminal knob of the spermathecae. The spermatheca rings are significantly more numerous in N. intermedia than in N. neivai and the simple shape of the terminal knob predominated in both species. Regarding the cibarium, eight to eleven teeth have been found in both species, with up to twelve teeth in the latter. The number of horizontal teeth and the shape of the terminal knob of the spermathecae were variable throughout the populations of both species and all structures were polymorphic in the populations studied.

Resistência inter e intra-agregados em ensaios de cisalhamento direto de um nitossolo vermelho distrófico

Para solos agregados, a envoltória da resistência ao cisalhamento pode ser dividida em dois segmentos, com declividades e interceptos diferentes. Um primeiro segmento mais inclinado e com intercepto menor representaria a envoltória de ruptura definida pelo atrito e coesão interagregados, enquanto o segundo segmento, menos inclinado e com intercepto maior, seria a envoltória definida pelo atrito e coesão intra-agregados. O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar se a envoltória de resistência ao cisalhamento de agregados do horizonte superficial de um Nitossolo Vermelho pode ser subdividida em segmentos distintos, com coeficientes angulares diferentes, e se isso está relacionado à existência de agregados nele. Inicialmente, amostras coletadas na superfície de um Nitossolo Vermelho distrófico latossólico de textura argilosa foram submetidas ao ensaio de cisalhamento direto com pressões normais de 24,4; 48,9; 98,2; 196,4; 294,6; 392,8 e 491,8 kPa. Posteriormente, o ensaio foi realizado com amostras de agregados de cinco classes de diâmetro: < 0,25; 0,25-0,50; 0,50-1,00; 1,00-2,00 e 2,00-4,00 mm, empregando-se pressões normais de 24,4; 48,9; 73,5; 147,3; 294,6; 441,9; 589,2 e 736,6 kPa. Em todos os ensaios, verificou-se que as envoltórias obtidas podem ser divididas em dois segmentos de reta. Os resultados indicam que a agregação deve ser considerada na definição das cargas normais a serem utilizadas no ensaio de cisalhamento direto, bem como na análise dos resultados, pois ela tem efeitos sobre a envoltória de resistência ao cisalhamento. Para o Nitossolo Vermelho distrófico usado neste estudo, constatou-se que, na umidade em que as amostras foram ensaiadas, os agregados definem a resistência ao cisalhamento do solo para cargas normais de até 294,6 kPa.