Duffy blood group genotypes among malaria patients in Rondônia, Western Brazilian Amazon

We have compared Duffy blood group genotype distribution, as determined by polymerase chain reaction with allele-specific primers, in 68 Plasmodium vivax-infected patients and 59 non-vivax malaria controls from Rondônia, Brazil. Homozygosity for the allele Fy, which abolishes Duffy antigen expression on erythrocytes, was observed in 12% non-vivax controls but in no P. vivax patient. However, no significant association was found between Fy heterozygosity and protection against P. vivax. The Fy x allele, which has recently been associated with very weak erythrocyte expression of Duffy antigen, was not found in local P. vivax patients.

Prostate innervation and local anesthesia in prostate procedures

The nerve supply of the human prostate is very abundant, and knowledge of the anatomy contributes to successful administration of local anesthesia. However, the exact anatomy of extrinsic neuronal cell bodies of the autonomic and sensory innervation of the prostate is not clear, except in other animals. Branches of pelvic ganglia composed of pelvic (parasympathetic) and hypogastric (sympathetic) nerves innervate the prostate. The autonomic nervous system plays an important role in the growth, maturation, and secretory function of this gland. Prostate procedures under local anesthesia, such as transurethral prostatic resections or transrectal ultrasound-guided prostatic biopsy, are safe, simple, and effective. Local anesthesia can be feasible for many special conditions including uncomplicated prostate surgery and may be particularly useful for the high-risk group of patients for whom inhalation or spinal anesthesia is inadvisable.

Evaluation of local immune response to Fasciola hepatica experimental infection in the liver and hepatic lymph nodes of goats immunized with Sm14 vaccine antigen

Protection against Fasciola hepatica in goats immunized with a synthetic recombinant antigen from Schistosoma mansoni fatty acid-binding protein 14 (rSm14) was investigated by assessing worm burdens, serum levels of hepatic enzymes, faecal egg count and hepatic damage, which was evaluated using gross and microscopic morphometric observation. The nature of the local immune response was assessed by examining the distribution of CD2+, CD4+, CD8+ and γ´+ T lymphocytes along with IgG+, IL-4+ and IFN-γ+ cells in the liver and hepatic lymph nodes (HLN). The goats used consisted of group 1 (unimmunized and uninfected), group 2 [infected control - immunized with Quillaia A (Quil A)] and group 3 (immunized with rSm14 in Quil A and infected), each containing seven animals. Immunization with rSm14 in Quil A adjuvant induced a reduction in gross hepatic lesions of 56.6% (p < 0.001) and reduced hepatic and HLN infiltration of CD2+, CD4+, CD8+ and γ´+ T lymphocytes as well as IL-4+ and IFN-γ+ cells (p < 0.05). This is the first report of caprine immunization against F. hepatica using a complete rSm14 molecule derived from S. mansoni. Immunization reduced hepatic damage and local inflammatory infiltration into the liver and HLN. However, considering that Quil A is not the preferential/first choice adjuvant for Sm14 immunization, further studies will be undertaken using the monophosphoryl lipid A-based family of adjuvants during clinical trials to facilitate anti-Fasciolavaccine development.

Predictors of local malaria outbreaks: an approach to the development of an early warning system in Colombia

Risk factor surveillance is a complementary tool of morbidity and mortality surveillance that improves the likelihood that public health interventions are implemented in a timely fashion. The aim of this study was to identify population predictors of malaria outbreaks in endemic municipalities of Colombia with the goal of developing an early warning system for malaria outbreaks. We conducted a multiple-group, exploratory, ecological study at the municipal level. Each of the 290 municipalities with endemic malaria that we studied was classified according to the presence or absence of outbreaks. The measurement of variables was based on historic registries and logistic regression was performed to analyse the data. Altitude above sea level [odds ratio (OR) 3.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-9.98], variability in rainfall (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.40-2.44) and the proportion of inhabitants over 45 years of age (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.08-0.38) were factors associated with malaria outbreaks in Colombian municipalities. The results suggest that environmental and demographic factors could have a significant ability to predict malaria outbreaks on the municipal level in Colombia. To advance the development of an early warning system, it will be necessary to adjust and standardise the collection of required data and to evaluate the accuracy of the forecast models.

GLOBAL AND LOCAL REACTIVITY DESCRIPTORS FOR PICLORAM HERBICIDE: A THEORETICAL QUANTUM STUDY

In this work, we studied the reactivity of picloram in the aqueous phase at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) and MP2/6-311++G(2d,2p) levels of theory through global and local reactivity descriptors. The results obtained at the MP2 level indicate that the cationic form of picloram exhibits the highest hardness while the anionic form is the most nucleophilic. From the Fukui function values, the most reactive site for electrophilic and free radical attacks are on the nitrogen in the pyridine ring. The more reactive sites for nucleophilic attacks are located on the nitrogen atom of the amide group and on the carbon atoms located at positions 2 and 3 in the pyridine ring.

Assesment of the treatment of earlobe keloids with triamcinolone injections, surgical resection, and local pressure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the combined treatment of ear lobe keloids. METHODS: We studied 46 consecutive patients with 81 ear lobe keloids. Patients underwent local infiltration of triamcinolone acetonide (TCN) at concentrations of 40mg/ml (Group 1), 20 mg/ml (Group 2) and 10mg/ml (Group 3). The volume of TCN infiltrate varied according to the size of the lesion. Treatment consisted of three monthly injections before surgery, excision of keloid in the fourth month and perioperative infiltration, followed by two more leaks TCN within two months. Patients used earrings pressure on the scar after operation for four months. The pressure exerted by earrings in the ear lobe was measured electronically. Post-treatment follow-up of patients was 24 months. RESULTS: TCN at concentrations of 20mg/ml and 40mg/ml were effective for the treatment of keloids, no difference between the groups (p = 0.58). However, patients in which TCN was infiltrated the 10mg/ml had poor involution of keloid and the study of this group was stopped. CONCLUSION: the combination of infiltration TCN month to 20 mg/mL (1.2mg to 2.0mg per mm3 TCN injury), surgical excision and pressure application device is effective for treatment of keloid ear lobe.

Paradigma da disseminação local do carcinoma epidermóide da base de língua

OBJETIVO: Analisar o padrão de disseminação local através da delimitação clínica da extensão da lesão primária assim como os subsítios invadidos. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico retrospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram analisados os prontuários de 290 pacientes com carcinoma epidermóide de base de língua no Departamento de Cirurgia de Cabeça e Pescoço e Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital Heliópolis, Hosphel, São Paulo - Brasil, de 1977 a 2000, sendo estadiados pelo TNM da UICC, e os resultados analisados pelo teste do Quiquadrado para tabelas Z x N (Cochran) para estudo da associação dos sítios e dimensão da neoplasia em relação à invasão da linha média. RESULTADOS: Com predomínio dos homens (8:1) e da 6ª década de vida (41,0%), 83,8% eram etilistas e tabagistas e em 4,7% os hábitos estavam ausentes. Quanto aos sintomas, odinofagia (37,6%), linfonodo (21,7%) e a média de tempo entre o 1º sintoma e o diagnóstico de 6 meses (62,0%). Quanto ao estadiamento, tivemos T1-T2 (18,3%), T3 (32,4%), T4(50,7%). Quanto à disseminação local, em direção à valécula (25,3%), epiglote (18,7%), glote (2,7%), anteriormente para o v lingual em (22,4%) e póstero lateralmente para a prega faringloepiglótica (6,6%) e seio piriforme (2,2%). Quanto a ultrapassagem da linha média, isso ocorreu em 66,2% dos casos, sendo 42,2% (T2), 54,2% (T3) e 82,9% (T4). CONCLUSÃO: o carcinoma epidermóide no estádio T4 ultrapassa a linha média da base da língua em 82,9%.

Multi-level governance and social cohesion in the European Union: the assessment of local agents, a study case inside Galicia

Implementing multi-level governance has been a key priority in EU cohesion policy. This study assesses the perceived achievements and shortcomings in implementing European Social Fund by analyzing the deficits and weaknesses as well as the poor participation of local agents who are in direct contact with the beneficiaries in order to design and implement this fund, which is the main financial instrument of EU social policy.

Understanding local governance: an international perspective

Enormous change and innovation in governmental practices are occurring throughout the world. Local governance, in particular, has become a concern in many countries. Processes such as redemocratization and decentralization and imperatives of international lending agencies have focused attention on developing good governance practices. Improvement in local government remains a high priority in most countries, but unless the relationship between citizens and government is more fully developed the actions of local government will not necessarily lead to improvement in the conditions of people's lives. This paper will explore the concept of governance and propose an analytical framework for the study of local governance in an international context. The article concludes with recommendations on strategies to improve governance systems and government performance.

The rights approach to local public management: experiences from Brazil

The Fundação Getulio Vargas, São Paulo, Public Management and Citizenship Program was set up in 1996 with Ford Foundation support to identify and disseminate Brazilian subnational government initiatives in service provision that have a direct effect on citizenship. Already, the program has 2,500 different experiences in its data bank, the results of four annual cycles. The article draws some initial conclusions about the possibilities of a rights-based approach to public management and about the engagement of other agencies and civil society organizations.

FATORES QUE AFETAM A TRANSFERÊNCIA DA APRENDIZAGEM PARA O LOCAL DE TRABALHO

O treinamento visa responder às necessidades de desenvolvimento das pessoas e das organizações (Grohmann & Kauffeld, 2013). Baseado no modelo de Holton, realizou-se um estudo que procura identificar e compreender os fatores envolvidos no processo de transferência de aprendizagem para o posto de trabalho de duas ações de treinamento distintas quanto ao design e às competências. O estudo decorreu numa organização portuguesa e envolveu 98 participantes. Realizaram-se entrevistas com ex-formandos com o objetivo de explorar os fatores que facilitaram ou dificultaram a transferência das aprendizagens e aplicou-se o Inventário do Sistema de Transferência da Aprendizagem, versão portuguesa (Holton, Bates, Seyler & Carvalho, 1997; Velada & Caetano, 2009). Os resultados sugerem que o modelo de Holton model (2005) mostra o que os treinandos identificaram como importante para a transferência da aprendizagem e que há diferenças em relação aos fatores de transferência de acordo com o tipo de treinamento.

DETERMINANTS OF THE SUCCESS OF GLOBAL AND LOCAL BRANDS IN LATIN AMERICA

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper is to address the issue of the implementation of global and local brands in Latin America by drawing on contingency theory to develop and test hypotheses relating to how product category characteristics affect the success of global and local brands in the region. Hypotheses are tested using data obtained from top brands rankings reported in five Latin American markets (Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean and Central America, Chile and Mexico). The study design considers estimating a logistic regression on a binomial dependent variable measuring whether 475 top brands are global or local brands, with product category characteristics as independent variables. Results reveal that product categories related to subscriptions, local tastes, high-tech, and global citizenship do have an impact on the success of global and local brands in Latin America.

Proposta para construção de um índice local de preços de imóveis a partir dos lançamentos imobiliários de condomínios residenciais

Este artigo propõe um modelo para construção de índices de mercados locais a partir das informações fornecidas nos lançamentos imobiliários residenciais, pois construir um índice de preços nacional para unidades residenciais em um país de dimensões continentais e com uma diversidade cultural e econômica como a do Brasil é muito difícil. Além disso, mesmo nas grandes regiões metropolitanas, faltam informações sobre os preços reais praticados nas transações imobiliárias e sobre as características dos imóveis negociados.