O orçamento de defesa dos EUA: racionalidade X pressões domésticas

Ao longo das últimas décadas, gastos substanciais com defesa têm sido mantidos pelos EUA. Essas despesas simbolizam uma reação do país a condições sistêmicas, mas também se relacionam com os interesses de agentes domésticos que trabalham para sua manutenção. Neste artigo, pretende-se examinar como funcionou a combinação dessas pressões no período que marcou o fim da Guerra-Fria, por meio da comparação entre os orçamentos de defesa da primeira gestão de Reagan (1981-1984) e da Administração Bush (1989-1992).

A demonstração do resultado econômico e sistemas de custeamento como instrumentos de evidenciação do cumprimento do princípio constitucional da eficiência, produção de governança e accountability no setor público: uma aplicação na Procuradoria-Geral do Município de São Paulo

Este artigo discorre sobre a demonstração do resultado econômico e sistemas de custeamento como instrumentos de evidenciação do cumprimento do princípio constitucional da eficiência, produção de governança e accountability no setor público para a minimização da assimetria informacional entre o Estado e a sociedade. O referencial teórico tem por base os ensinamentos do seminal paper de Ronald Coase (1937), A natureza da firma, transpostos para a administração pública. A pesquisa é descritivo-quantitativa, e os dados, referentes ao exercício financeiro de 2006, foram coletados por meio de análise documental na Procuradoria-Geral do Município de São Paulo (PGMSP). A pesquisa empírica sugere que a demonstração do resultado econômico (R$ 184.836.115,11) possibilita a evidenciação do cumprimento do princípio constitucional da eficiência, ao comparar a receita econômica produzida (R$ 302.894.295,11) aos custos e despesas incorridos na sua prestação (R$ 118.058.180,00), e cria novo paradigma relacionado aos aspectos de governança e accountability na gestão pública, capaz de produzir informação à sociedade e ao administrador público para a tomada de decisões gerenciais

Nobreza e riqueza no Antigo Regime ibérico setecentista

Este artigo analisa a ideia de nobreza na península e ultramar ibéricos. Recorrendo a balanço historiográfico, ele analisa as estratégias de ascensão de vários grupos sociais, mas particularmente dos comerciantes e mineiros que recorriam a seu patrimônio para servir às monarquias, comprar títulos de nobreza e hábitos das ordens militares. O estudo enfatiza as particularidades regionais, mas destaca como a riqueza tornou-se um potente motor para o enobrecimento de plebeus nas sociedades do Antigo Regime setecentistas.

Prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in rural villages of the Bolivian Amazon

Cervical cancer constitutes a major health problem in developing countries like Bolivia. The roles of certain genotypes of human papillomaviruses (HPVs) in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer is well established. The prevalence of HPV infection among sexually active women varies greatly. Information regarding HPV infection in Bolivia is very much scarce, specially in regions like the Amazonian lowland. We studied 135 healthy women living in four rural localities of the Bolivian Amazon. Presence of HPV in DNA extracted from cervical swabs was analyzed using a reverse line hybridization assay. The estimated overall HPV infection prevalence among the studied rural localities was 5.9% (ranging from 0-16.6%). These values were unexpectedly low considering Bolivia has a high incidence of cervical cancer. The fact that Amazonian people seem to be less exposed to HPV, makes it likely that some other risk factors including host lifestyle behaviors and genetic background may be involved in the development of cervical cancer in this population.

Determination of human cytomegalovirus genetic diversity in different patient populations in Costa Rica

Seroprevalence of HCMV in Costa Rica is greater than 95% in adults; primary infections occur early in life and is the most frequent congenital infection in newborns. The objectives of this study were to determine the genetic variability and genotypes of HCMV gB gene in Costa Rica. Samples were collected from alcoholics, pregnant women, blood donors, AIDS patients, hematology-oncology (HO) children and HCMV isolates from neonates with cytomegalic inclusion disease. A semi-nested PCR system was used to obtain a product of 293-296 bp of the gB gene to be analyzed by Single Stranded Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP) and sequencing to determine the genetic polymorphic pattern and genotypes, respectively. AIDS patients showed the highest polymorphic diversity with 14 different patterns while fifty-six percent of HO children samples showed the same polymorphic pattern, suggesting in this group a possible nosocomial infection. In neonates three genotypes (gB1, gB2 and gB3), were determined while AIDS patients and blood donors only showed one (gB2). Of all samples analyzed only genotypes gB1, 2 and 3 were determined, genotype gB2 was the most frequent (73%) and mixed infections were not detected. The results of the study indicate that SSCP could be an important tool to detect HCMV intra-hospital infections and suggests a need to include additional study populations to better determine the genotype diversity and prevalence.

Study of antiretroviral mutants in HIV patients with treatment failures and the effect of risk factors in the virological failures

INTRODUCTION: Information about HIV phenotypes of resistant to available ART and the influence of different risk factors on virological failures (VF) in Costa Rican HIV positive patients prior or during HAART is unknown. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty nine samples, 72 VF and 17 basal (before treatment) were analyzed by examining resistant mutants in reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PT) regions using Trugene or LIPA genotyping kits. Sixty eight control patients were selected and relevant information was collected in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Poor adherence, presence of resistant mutations and number of treatment's changes were the only significant factors found (p = 0.006, 0.04 and 0.01 respectively). From 66 sequenced samples, 78%, 50% and 50% showed resistance to NRTI (nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors), NNRT (non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors) and PI (protease inhibitors), respectively. The most frequent mutations were M41L, M184V, and T215FY in RT and L62PI, L10FIRV and M36I in PT. DISCUSSION: The most important factor related to treatment response in this study was adherence to treatment. Mutations in RT were related to the treatment failure while the ones found in PT were secondary mutations which have been previously described to influence the selection of primary resistance mutations in these regions. The study reveals the urgency to detect resistant mutations in VF to be considered by physicians for selection of treatment schedule, to analyze basal HIV patients for monitoring of the spread of resistant mutations and the importance to reinforce the adherence in the patients for overall treatment outcome.

Infecções bacterianas tratadas com Ro 6-2580

Nova combinação medicamentosa composta de sulfametoxazól e trimetoprim ("Bactrim"), com efeito bactericida sobre germes Gram negativos e Gram positivos, foi ensaiada no tratamento de 15 casos de salmonelose e 9 casos de infecções bacterianas. Os resultados foram favoráveis, tanto nas salmoneloses, como em infecções por estafilococos, shigelas, pneumococos e coliformes. A remissão do estado tóxico nos casos de febre tifóide foi observada dentro de 48 horas, e o tempo médio para desaparecimento da febre e demais sintomas, nessa infecção, foi de 3 dias. Foram constatados efeitos secundários em alguns pacientes, tais como hipertermia medicamentosa, farmacodermia, vômitos, linfomonocitose e eosinofilia, possivelmente relacionados a posologia excessiva, e todos remissíveis. Os autores concluem pela utilidade do novo medicamento na terapêutica de salmoneloses, estafilococcias e outras infecções.

Esparganosis humana en el ecuador: informe de un caso en la província de esmeraldas

Se informa el segundo caso de esparganosis humana en Ecuador, en unpaciente de sexo masculino, indígena Chachi, procedente de la província de Esmeraldas, quien presentó una nodulación localizada en la region escapular izquierda, En su extirpation se demostró la presencia de un céstodo clasificado como Spirometra, no siendo posible determinar la especie.

Intestinal helminthiases in Ecuador: the relatíonship between prevalence, genetic, and socioeconomic factors

Prevalence of infection with the intestinal helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale and Strongyloides stercoralis was examinedin 632 residents of communities in Esmeraldas province of Ecuador. These communities were divided into two groups according to area of habitation which reflected different socioeconomic circumstances. Attempts were made to correlate infection status with race and ABO blood group phenotype. The racial groups included blacks, Chachi amerindians, and mixed-race mestizos. Greater prevalences of infection were seen in the area oflower socioeconomic status. No racial or blood group associations with helminth infection were seen controlling for socioeconomic status.

Evaluation of a direct immunofluorescent antibody (difma) test using Leishmania genus - specific monoclonal antibody in the routine diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis

A direct immunofluorescent antibody (DIFMA) test using a Leishmania genus- specific monoclonal antibody was evaluated in the routine diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Ecuador. This test was compared with the standard diagnostic techniques of scrapings, culture and histology. Diagnostic samples were taken from a total of 90 active dermal ulcers from patients from areas of Ecuador known to be endemic for cutaneous leishmaniasis. DIFMA was positive in all lesions. It was shown to be significantly superior to standard diagnostic methods either alone or in combination. The sensitivity of DIFMA did not diminish with chronicity of lesions. This test proved to be extremely useful in the routine diagnosis of CL because it is highly sensitive, is easy to use and produces rapid results.

Severe digestive pathology associated with chronic Chaga's disease in Ecuador: report of two cases

DNA extracted from peripheral blood of two Ecuadorian patients showing severe digestive pathology was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using a Trypanosoma cruzi specific oligonucleotide primers derived from the primary sequence of a cDNA encoding for a 24 kDa excretory/secretory protein. The positive PCR results together with the clinical findings confirmed that both patients had a digestive pathology due to Chagas' disease. This pathology could be more frequent than previously described in the chagasic endemic regions of Andean countries.

Macrofilaricidal effects of chloroquine on adult Onchocerca volvulus by local infiltration of palpable onchocercal nodules

The macrofilaricidal effects of local infiltration of high concentrations of chloroquine into the capsule of onchocercal nodules on adult worms of Onchocerca volvulus was determined. Six weeks post infiltration, histological examination of single nodules showed all adult worms to be dead. With nodule conglomerates, there was localized action of chloroquine only on the adult worms in the infiltrated nodule, with no diffusion of the drug to adjacent nodules. Chloroquine infiltration of young, recently formed nodules to reduce the adult worm load of infected individuals may be an alternative method to costly nodulectomy.

Características da reação tipo 1 e associação com vírus B e C da hepatite na hanseníase

O episódio reacional tipo 1 ou reação reversa é ocorrência inflamatória aguda que atinge a pele e nervos periféricos, encontrada em até 30% dos pacientes com hanseníase, sendo causa comum de incapacidade física. Fatores de risco associados incluem uso de poliquimioterapia e infecções virais. Neste estudo, foram avaliados 620 pacientes com hanseníase. Reação reversa foi diagnosticada em 121 (19,5%) casos, sendo mais freqüente nos indivíduos borderlines (48%). Início da poliquimioterapia foi considerado fator de risco para reação reversa, com 52% dos casos apresentando o primeiro episódio neste momento. Neurite foi documentada em 73% dos casos. A presença de vírus B ou C da hepatite foi documentada em 9% de 55 pacientes com reação reversa e em nenhum dos 57 pacientes sem reação (p = 0, 026; teste exato de Fisher), sugerindo possível papel destes agentes como fatores de risco para desenvolvimento de reação reversa na hanseníase.