In vitro chloroquine resistance modulation study on fresh isolates of Brazilian Plasmodium falciparum: intrinsic antimalarial activity of phenothiazine drugs

Phenothiazine drugs - fluphenazine, chlorpromazine, methotrimeprazine and trifluoperazine - were evaluated as modulating agents against Brazilian chloroquine-resistant fresh isolates of Plasmodium falciparum. Aiming to simulate therapeutic schedules, chloroquine was employed at the concentration used for sensitive falciparum malaria treatment and anti-psychotic therapeutic concentrations of the phenothiazine drugs were adopted in two-fold serial dilutions. The in vitro microtechnique for drug susceptibility was employed. Unlike earlier reported data, the phenothiazine modulating effect was not observed. However, all the drugs demonstrated intrinsic antiplasmodial activity in concentrations lower than those described in the literature. In addition, IC50 estimates have been shown to be inferior to the usual anti-psychotic therapeutic concentrations. Statistical analysis also suggested an increase in the parasitaemia rate or, even, a predominant antiparasitic effect of phenothiazine over chloroquine when used in combination.

Mammographie-Screening in der Schweiz: eine retrospektive Analyse zur Umsetzung

[Table des matières] 1. Problemstellung. 1.1. Programme in anderen Ländern. 1.2. Situation in der Schweiz. 2. Methodisches Vorgehen. 2.1. Dokumentationsanalyse. 2.2. Experteninterviews. 3. Resultate : Beschreibung der wesentlichen Aktivitäten zur Programmentwicklung. 3.1. Wesentliche Aktivitäten in der Schweiz vor der Einführung des KVG. 3.2. Grundeinstellung zum organisierten Mammographie-Screening. 3.3. Gesetzliche Grundlagen. 3.4. Strukturen im schweizerischen Gesundheitswesen. 3.5. Finanzierung. 3.6. Rollen und Kompetenzen. 3.7. Wirksamkeit. 3.8. Internationale Expertise. 4. Lösungsansätze.

Kallikrein genes are associated with lupus and glomerular basement membrane-specific antibody-induced nephritis in mice and humans.

Immune-mediated nephritis contributes to disease in systemic lupus erythematosus, Goodpasture syndrome (caused by antibodies specific for glomerular basement membrane [anti-GBM antibodies]), and spontaneous lupus nephritis. Inbred mouse strains differ in susceptibility to anti-GBM antibody-induced and spontaneous lupus nephritis. This study sought to clarify the genetic and molecular factors that maybe responsible for enhanced immune-mediated renal disease in these models. When the kidneys of 3 mouse strains sensitive to anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis were compared with those of 2 control strains using microarray analysis, one-fifth of the underexpressed genes belonged to the kallikrein gene family,which encodes serine esterases. Mouse strains that upregulated renal and urinary kallikreins exhibited less evidence of disease. Antagonizing the kallikrein pathway augmented disease, while agonists dampened the severity of anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis. In addition, nephritis-sensitive mouse strains had kallikrein haplotypes that were distinct from those of control strains, including several regulatory polymorphisms,some of which were associated with functional consequences. Indeed, increased susceptibility to anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis and spontaneous lupus nephritis was achieved by breeding mice with a genetic interval harboring the kallikrein genes onto a disease-resistant background. Finally, both human SLE and spontaneous lupus nephritis were found to be associated with kallikrein genes, particularly KLK1 and the KLK3 promoter, when DNA SNPs from independent cohorts of SLE patients and controls were compared. Collectively, these studies suggest that kallikreins are protective disease-associated genes in anti-GBM antibody-induced nephritis and lupus.

Multiple miscarriages are associated with the risk of ovarian cancer: results from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

While the risk of ovarian cancer clearly reduces with each full-term pregnancy, the effect of incomplete pregnancies is unclear. We investigated whether incomplete pregnancies (miscarriages and induced abortions) are associated with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. This observational study was carried out in female participants of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). A total of 274,442 women were followed from 1992 until 2010. The baseline questionnaire elicited information on miscarriages and induced abortions, reproductive history, and lifestyle-related factors. During a median follow-up of 11.5 years, 1,035 women were diagnosed with incident epithelial ovarian cancer. Despite the lack of an overall association (ever vs. never), risk of ovarian cancer was higher among women with multiple incomplete pregnancies (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.70; number of cases in this category: n = 23). This association was particularly evident for multiple miscarriages (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.99, 95% CI: 1.06-3.73; number of cases in this category: n = 10), with no significant association for multiple induced abortions (HR(≥4vs.0): 1.46, 95% CI: 0.68-3.14; number of cases in this category: n = 7). Our findings suggest that multiple miscarriages are associated with an increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer, possibly through a shared cluster of etiological factors or a common underlying pathology. These findings should be interpreted with caution as this is the first study to show this association and given the small number of cases in the highest exposure categories.

Obstacles à une gestion pertinente et efficace de l'absentéisme

Un processus de réinsertion professionnelle pertinent sous-entend une gestion pertinente des travailleurs absents et leur prise en charge rapide et coordonnée. Dans le cadre d'un projet de recherche, des problèmes lors de l'identification des cas ont été rencontrés. Différents éléments faisant clairement obstacle au processus de sélection instauré dans les entreprises partenaires ont été mis en évidence. Ceux-ci doivent être considérés de manière plus large comme des freins à l'dentification précoce des individus à risque d'invalidité et ainsi au processus de réinsertion professionnelle. [Auteurs]

Pre-diagnostic concordance with the WCRF/AICR guidelines and survival in European colorectal cancer patients: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND Cancer survivors are advised to follow lifestyle recommendations on diet, physical activity, and body fatness proposed by the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute of Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) for cancer prevention. Previous studies have demonstrated that higher concordance with these recommendations measured using an index score (the WCRF/AICR score) was associated with lower cancer incidence and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between pre-diagnostic concordance with WCRF/AICR recommendations and mortality in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. METHODS The association between the WCRF/AICR score (score range 0-6 in men and 0-7 in women; higher scores indicate greater concordance) assessed on average 6.4 years before diagnosis and CRC-specific (n = 872) and overall mortality (n = 1,113) was prospectively examined among 3,292 participants diagnosed with CRC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort (mean follow-up time after diagnosis 4.2 years). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality. RESULTS The HRs (95% CIs) for CRC-specific mortality among participants in the second (score range in men/women: 2.25-2.75/3.25-3.75), third (3-3.75/4-4.75), and fourth (4-6/5-7) categories of the score were 0.87 (0.72-1.06), 0.74 (0.61-0.90), and 0.70 (0.56-0.89), respectively (P for trend <0.0001), compared to participants with the lowest concordance with the recommendations (category 1 of the score: 0-2/0-3). Similar HRs for overall mortality were observed (P for trend 0.004). Meeting the recommendations on body fatness and plant food consumption were associated with improved survival among CRC cases in mutually adjusted models. CONCLUSIONS Greater concordance with the WCRF/AICR recommendations on diet, physical activity, and body fatness prior to CRC diagnosis is associated with improved survival among CRC patients.

Índice de segurança técnica da equipe de enfermagem da pediatria de um hospital de ensino

O estudo teve por objetivo identificar o Índice de Segurança Técnica (IST) da equipe de enfermagem da Unidade de Pediatria do Hospital Universitário da USP, no período de 2001 a 2005. Os percentuais de cada tipo de ausência, dos profissionais de enfermagem, foram obtidos junto ao Departamento de Enfermagem ou calculados com base nas equações propostas na literatura. O percentual de ausências por folgas correspondeu ao maior percentual de cobertura dos trabalhadores de enfermagem. Os percentuais totais de ausências não previstas foram inferiores àqueles referentes às ausências previstas, contrariando o discurso das enfermeiras que relacionam esse tipo de ausência como o principal responsável pela insuficiência de pessoal nas instituições de saúde. A variação dos ISTs apontou a importância de serem realizadas avaliações sistemáticas das ausências da equipe de enfermagem, assim como de se identificarem índices específicos das unidades, como subsídio para a avaliação do quadro de pessoal nas organizações de saúde.

Tempo de assistência de enfermagem em instituição hospitalar de ensino

Estudo de abordagem quantitativa, exploratório-descritivo, elaborado com o objetivo de identificar e analisar o comportamento do tempo médio de assistência de enfermagem dispensado aos pacientes das Unidades de Internação do HU-USP, no período de 2001 a 2005. A identificação do tempo médio de assistência de enfermagem dispensado aos pacientes dessas Unidades foi efetivada por meio da aplicação de uma equação matemática proposta na literatura, após levantamento dos dados junto ao Serviço de Arquivo Médico e Estatístico (SAME) e às escalas mensais dos profissionais de enfermagem. Os dados foram analisados por meio de estatística descritiva. O tempo médio de assistência de enfermagem observado na maioria das Unidades, apesar de algumas variações, manteve-se equilibrado durante o período analisado. Pelo equilíbrio observado, pode-se concluir que o quadro de pessoal de enfermagem das Unidades de Internação do HU-USP tem sido avaliado continuamente, de forma a possibilitar a manutenção do tempo médio de assistência e, conseqüentemente, da qualidade da assistência prestada.

Wear of two artificial tooth materials in vivo: a 12-month pilot study.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Wear of methacrylate artificial teeth resulting in vertical loss is a problem for both dentists and patients. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to quantify wear of artificial teeth in vivo and to relate it to subject and tooth variables. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-eight subjects treated with complete dentures received 2 artificial tooth materials (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)/double-cross linked PMMA fillers; 35%/59% (SR Antaris DCL, SR Postaris DCL); experimental 48%/46%). At baseline and after 12 months, impressions of the dentures were poured with improved stone. After laser scanning, the casts were superimposed and matched. Maximal vertical loss (mm) and volumetric loss (mm(3)) were calculated for each tooth and log-transformed to reduce variability. Volumetric loss was related to the occlusally active surface area. Linear mixed models were used to study the influence of the factors jaw, tooth, and material on adjusted (residual) wear values (alpha=.05). RESULTS: Due to drop outs (n=5) and unmatchable casts (n=3), 69% of all teeth were analyzed. Volumetric loss had a strong linear relationship to surface area (P<.001); this was less pronounced for vertical loss (P=.004). The factor showing the highest influence was the subject. Wear was tooth dependent (increasing from incisors to molars). However, these differences diminished once the wear rates were adjusted for occlusal area, and only a few remained significant (anterior versus posterior maxillary teeth). Another influencing factor was the age of the subject. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical wear of artificial teeth is higher than previously measured or expected. The presented method of analyzing wear of artificial teeth using a laser-scanning device seemed suitable.

Financiamento dos Sistema de Saude

Este Relatório sobre a Saúde no Mundo foi produzido sob a direcção geral de Carissa Etienne, Assistente do Director-Geral, Sistemas e Serviços de Saúde e Anarfi Asamoa-Baah, Director Geral Adjunto. Os redactores principais froam David B Evans, Riku Elovainio e Gary Humphreys; com contribuições de Daniel Chisholm, Joseph Kutzin, Sarah Russell, Priyanka Saksena e Ke Xu. Contribuições sob a forma de caixas de texto e análises foram fornecidos por: Ole Doetinchem, Adelio Fernandes Antunes, Justine Hsu, Chandika K. Indikadahena, Jeremy Lauer, Nathalie van de Maele, Belgacem Sabri, Hossein Salehi, Xenia Scheil-Adlung (ILO) and Karin Stenberg. Sugestões e comentários foram recebidos dos Directores Regionais, Assistentes do Director-Geral e respectivas equipas. Análises, dados e revisões da organização do texto, vários rascunhos ou secções específicas foram fornecidos por (em adição às pessoas jáacima mencionadas): Dele Abegunde, Michael Adelhardt, Hector Arreola, Guitelle Baghdadi-Sabeti, Dina Balabanova, Dorjsuren Bayarsaikhan, Peter Berman, Melanie Bertram, Michael Borowitz, Reinhard Busse, Alexandra Cameron, Guy Carrin, Andrew Cassels, Eleonora Cavagnero, John Connell, David de Ferranti, Don de Savigny, Varatharajan Durairaj, Tamás Evetovits, Josep Figueras, Emma Fitzpatrick, Julio Frenk, Daniela Fuhr, Ramiro Guerrero, Patricia Hernandez Pena, Hans V Hogerzeil, Kathleen Holloway, Melitta Jakab, Elke Jakubowski, Christopher James, Mira Johri, Matthew Jowett, Joses Kirigia, Felicia Knaul, Richard Laing, Nora Markova, Awad Mataria, Inke Mathauer, Don Matheson, Anne Mills, Eduardo Missoni, Laurent Musango, Helena Nygren-Krug, Ariel Pablos-Mendez, Anne-Marie Perucic, Claudia Pescetto, Jean Perrot, Alexander Preker, Magdalena Rathe, Dag Rekve, Ritu Sadana, Rocio Saenz, Thomas Shakespeare, Ian Smith, Peter C Smith, Alaka Singh, Ruben Suarez Berenguela, Tessa Tan-Torres Edejer, Richard Scheffler, Viroj Tangcharoensathien, Fabrizio Tediosi, Sarah Thomson, Ewout van Ginneken, Cornelis van Mosseveld e Julia Watson. A redacção do Relatório foi informada por muitos indivíduos de várias instituições que forneceram documentos de suporte; estes documentos de suporte podem ser encontrados em: http://www.who.int/healthsystems/topics/financing/healthreport/whr_background/en Michael Reid editou as cópias do Relatório, Gaël Kernen produziu as figuras e Evelyn Omukubi forneceu o valioso apoio secretarial e administrativo. O desenho e paginação foi feito por Sophie Guetaneh Aguettant e Cristina Ortiz. Ilustração por Edel Tripp (http://edeltripp.daportfolio.com). A tradução foi realizada por Jorge Cabral e Aurélio Floriano e revista por Aurélio Floriano e Paulo Ferrinho, do Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, da Universidade Nova de Lisboa - Lisboa, Portugal. A publicação foi produzida com o apoio da Comunidade dos Países de Língua Portuguesa (CPLP), sob autorização do Director Geral da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). As informações contidas neste Relatório não podem, de forma alguma, ser tomadas como a expressão das posições da CPLP

Situação Mundial da Infância

O risco de morte materna registrado em Níger é mais alto do que em qualquer outro país no mundo: uma em sete. No mundo desenvolvido, o risco comparável é de uma em oito mil. Desde 1990 – ano de referência para os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento do Milênio –, estima-se em 10 milhões o número de mulheres que morreram devido a complicações relacionadas à gravidez e ao parto; e em cerca de 4 milhões o número de recém-nascidos que morrem a cada ano antes de completar 28 dias de vida. Os avanços nas condições de saúde materna e neonatal não acompanharam os avanços na sobrevivência infantil, que resultaram em uma redução de 27% na taxa global de mortalidade de menores de 5 anos entre 1990 e 2007. O relatório Situação Mundial da Infância 2009 focaliza a saúde materna e neonatal, e identifica as intervenções e ações que devem ser ampliadas para salvar vidas. A maioria das mortes de mães e recém-nascidos pode ser evitada por meio de intervenções cuja eficácia já foi comprovada – inclusive nutrição adequada, melhores práticas de higiene, atendimento pré-natal, partos assistidos por agentes de saúde especializados, atendimento obstétrico e neonatal de emergência, e visitas à mãe e ao recém-nascido no período pós-natal. Esses atendimentos devem ser prestados na forma de um continuum de cuidados que liguem as famílias e as comunidades aos sistemas de saúde. As pesquisas indicam que cerca de 80% das mortes maternas são evitáveis, desde que as mulheres tenham acesso a serviços essenciais de maternidade e de cuidados básicos de saúde.

Interdisciplinary intervention for work-related musculoskeletal disorders

The proposed research aims to address the work-related MSD management issue through an interdisciplinary intervention involving clinical and occupational health competencies (rheumatology, occupational medicine, ergonomics). Workers enduring MSD (especially back-pain) and absent from work are selected from volunteering companies (construction, hospitals, public transport, delivery networks). The workers are randomly placed into two groups : the control group benefits from an usual MSD management strategy and the intervention group benefits from a case-management strategy including workhardening treatment (work oriented reeducation) and ergonomic intervention in the workplace. The comparison of health and work-related variables prior and after intervention in the two groups will be used to assess the intervention efficiency and its economic benefits. We expect to produce new strategies for the management of MSD and workplace rehabilitation as well as guidelines for both authorities and companies.

Intervenções de enfermagem em pediatria: contribuição para a mensuração da carga de trabalho

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar e validar as intervenções/atividades desenvolvidas pela equipe de enfermagem em unidade pediátrica. Método Pesquisa descritiva, transversal, observacional, desenvolvida na Clínica Pediátrica do Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil, organizada nas etapas: identificação das atividades realizadas pela equipe (registros em prontuários e observação direta); mapeamento e validação das atividades identificadas em intervenções, segundo a Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC). Resultados As 275 atividades identificadas foram mapeadas em 63 intervenções, 22 classes e sete domínios da NIC, 25 atividades associadas e 13 pessoais. Após validação, o número de atividades passou para 244, correspondendo a 53 intervenções, 20 classes e seis domínios da NIC, 30 atividades associadase nove pessoais. Conclusão A identificação das intervenções/atividades executadas pela equipe de enfermagem favorece a mensuração da carga de trabalho, constituindo importante contribuição para a superação das dificuldades relacionadas à operacionalização do processo de dimensionamento de profissionais na área de pediatria.