Recrutamento de participantes no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto

OBJETIVO:Apresentar as estratégias de comunicação e recrutamento no Estudo Longitudinal de Saúde do Adulto (ELSA-Brasil) e discutir os resultados alcançados na constituição da coorte.MÉTODOS:As estratégias foram voltadas à divulgação, à institucionalização e ao recrutamento propriamente dito. As ações de comunicação pretenderam promover o fortalecimento de imagem institucional positiva para o estudo, a gestão de conhecimentos e o diálogo eficaz com seu público-alvo. Foi criado web site oficial visando dialogar com diferentes públicos, funcionar como difusor científico e contribuir para a consolidação da imagem do estudo perante a sociedade.RESULTADOS:Foram recrutados 16.435 mulheres e homens, servidores ativos e aposentados de seis instituições públicas de ensino e pesquisa para constituir a coorte de 15.105 participantes. As metas de recrutamento foram plenamente alcançadas nos seis centros, com leve predomínio de mulheres e daqueles mais jovens, e um pouco menos de servidores com menor escolarização.CONCLUSÕES:As estratégias utilizadas se mostraram adequadas e essenciais para o sucesso da captação e participação dos servidores.

Aspectos éticos em estudos longitudinais: o caso do ELSA-Brasil

Historicamente a discussão acerca da eticidade dos atos em pesquisas com seres humanos privilegiou os estudos experimentais, pelo maior potencial de danos aos sujeitos envolvidos. Todavia, os estudos observacionais também envolvem riscos e suscitam questões relevantes. Neste artigo pretende-se apresentar e discutir aspectos éticos do desenvolvimento do ELSA-Brasil, um estudo longitudinal e multicêntrico, com financiamento público, no qual os sujeitos da pesquisa e pesquisadores pertencem às mesmas instituições. São descritos os procedimentos adotados para atender às exigências e compromissos éticos e a casuística que orientou as ações segundo seus princípios norteadores (beneficência, autonomia e justiça social). São apresentados alguns problemas morais que exigiram ponderação sobre riscos e benefícios na confluência com os objetivos do estudo e comentam-se peculiaridades de um estudo longitudinal e seus potenciais benefícios.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) leaf-proteome profiles after exposure to cylindrospermopsin and a microcystin-LR/cylindrospermopsin mixture: A concentration-dependent response

The intensification of agricultural productivity is an important challenge worldwide. However, environmental stressors can provide challenges to this intensification. The progressive occurrence of the cyanotoxins cylindrospermopsin (CYN) and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) as a potential consequence of eutrophication and climate change is of increasing concern in the agricultural sector because it has been reported that these cyanotoxins exert harmful effects in crop plants. A proteomic-based approach has been shown to be a suitable tool for the detection and identification of the primary responses of organisms exposed to cyanotoxins. The aim of this study was to compare the leaf-proteome profiles of lettuce plants exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of CYN and a MC-LR/CYN mixture. Lettuce plants were exposed to 1, 10, and 100 lg/l CYN and a MC-LR/CYN mixture for five days. The proteins of lettuce leaves were separated by twodimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and those that were differentially abundant were then identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF MS). The biological functions of the proteins that were most represented in both experiments were photosynthesis and carbon metabolism and stress/defense response. Proteins involved in protein synthesis and signal transduction were also highly observed in the MC-LR/CYN experiment. Although distinct protein abundance patterns were observed in both experiments, the effects appear to be concentration-dependent, and the effects of the mixture were clearly stronger than those of CYN alone. The obtained results highlight the putative tolerance of lettuce to CYN at concentrations up to 100 lg/l. Furthermore, the combination of CYN with MC-LR at low concentrations (1 lg/l) stimulated a significant increase in the fresh weight (fr. wt) of lettuce leaves and at the proteomic level resulted in the increase in abundance of a high number of proteins. In contrast, many proteins exhibited a decrease in abundance or were absent in the gels of the simultaneous exposure to 10 and 100 lg/l MC-LR/CYN. In the latter, also a significant decrease in the fr. wt of lettuce leaves was obtained. These findings provide important insights into the molecular mechanisms of the lettuce response to CYN and MC-LR/CYN and may contribute to the identification of potential protein markers of exposure and proteins that may confer tolerance to CYN and MC-LR/CYN. Furthermore, because lettuce is an important crop worldwide, this study may improve our understanding of the potential impact of these cyanotoxins on its quality traits (e.g., presence of allergenic proteins).

A prospective study of cat-scratch disease in Lima-Peru

Cat-Scratch Disease (CSD) is a benign lymphadenitis that may progress to severe or recurrent forms, and it is occasionally associated with morbidity. Between January of 1998 and March of 1999, forty-three suspected CSD patients were assessed in the Hospital Cayetano Heredia and the Instituto de Salud del Niño, in Lima, Peru. Twelve patients had a confirmed diagnosis, 8 of whom were women, and the mean age was 10 years old. The majority (53%) of the cases were encountered in the summer. All patients reported having had contact with cats. Fever, malaise, lymphadenopathy and skin lesions were the most frequent clinical features. Twelve patients had indirect immunofluorescence antibody test titers of between 1/50 and 1/800 for Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae. Two lymph node biopsies were histologically compatible with CSD. No positive blood cultures could be obtained. This is the first Peruvian prospective study able to identify B. henselae and B. clarridgeiae in pediatric patients.

Exposure of Lycopersicon Esculentum to Microcystin-LR: Effects in the Leaf Proteome and Toxin Translocation from Water to Leaves and Fruits

Natural toxins such as those produced by freshwater cyanobacteria have been regarded as an emergent environmental threat. However, the impact of these water contaminants in agriculture is not yet fully understood. The aim of this work was to investigate microcystin-LR (MC-LR) toxicity in Lycopersicon esculentum and the toxin accumulation in this horticultural crop. Adult plants (2 month-old) grown in a greenhouse environment were exposed for 2 weeks to either pure MC-LR (100 μg/L) or Microcystis aeruginosa crude extracts containing 100 μg/L MC-LR. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured, leaf proteome investigated with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight (MALDI-TOF)/TOF, and toxin bioaccumulation assessed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS. Variations in several protein markers (ATP synthase subunits, Cytochrome b6-f complex iron-sulfur, oxygen-evolving enhancer proteins) highlight the decrease of the capacity of plants to synthesize ATP and to perform photosynthesis, whereas variations in other proteins (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large subunit and ribose-5-phosphate isomerase) suggest an increase of carbon fixation and decrease of carbohydrate metabolism reactions in plants exposed to pure MC-LR and cyanobacterial extracts, respectively. MC-LR was found in roots (1635.21 μg/kg fw), green tomatoes (5.15–5.41 μg/kg fw), mature tomatoes (10.52–10.83 μg/kg fw), and leaves (12,298.18 μg/kg fw). The results raise concerns relative to food safety and point to the necessity of monitoring the bioaccumulation of water toxins in agricultural systems affected by cyanotoxin contamination.

Temporal differences in blood meal detection from the midguts of Triatoma infestans

We used genus/species specific PCRs to determine the temporal persistence of host DNA in Triatoma infestans experimentally fed on blood from six common vertebrate species: humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, chickens, mice, and pigs. Twenty third or fourth instar nymphs per animal group were allowed to feed to engorgement, followed by fasting-maintenance in the insectary. At 7, 14, 21, or 28 days post-feeding, the midgut contents from five triatomines per group were tested with the respective PCR assay. DNA from all vertebrate species was detected in at least four of five study nymphs at seven and 14 days post-feeding. DNA of humans, domestic dogs, guinea pigs, pigs, and chickens were more successfully detected (80-100%) through day 21, and less successfully (20-100%) at day 28. Findings demonstrate that species-specific PCRs can consistently identify feeding sources of T. infestans within two weeks, a biologically relevant time interval.

Is Information Power? Using Mobile Phones and Free Newspapers during an Election in Mozambique*

African elections often reveal low levels of political accountability. We assess different forms of voter education during an election in Mozambique. Three interventions providing information to voters and calling for their electoral participation were randomized; an SMS-based information campaign, an SMS hotline for electoral misconduct, and the distribution of a free newspaper. To measure impact, we look at official electoral results, reports by electoral observers, behavioral and survey data. We find positive effects of all treatments on voter turnout. We observe that the distribution of the newspaper led to more accountability-based participation and to a decrease in electoral problems.

Scorpionism due to Tityus neoespartanus (Scorpiones, Buthidae) in Margarita Island, northeastern Venezuela

The first two cases of scorpion envenoming caused by Tityus neoespartanus (Buthidae) are described. The accidents took place within human environments (one inside a home and the other inside a school), in the village of La Sierra, Margarita Island, State of Nueva Esparta, northeastern Venezuela. Both cases were moderately severe and developed pancreatic involvement and electrocardiographic abnormalities. This report allows inclusion of Margarita Island among the endemic areas of scorpionism in Venezuela.

First case of human latrodectism in Venezuela

The first case of envenoming by Latrodectus geometricus in Venezuela is described. The accident occurred at the victim's home, in Aragua de Barcelona, Anzoátegui State. The 31-year-old female victim was bitten twice on the left scapular region, in quick succession (within seconds). She developed a hyperactive state of the central, autonomic and peripheral nervous systems with minor local symptoms.

Escritas da utopia na literatura contemporânea – da utopia à distopia

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Literatura (Especialidade em Literatura Comparada)

Literatura russa em Portugal: das vias de difusão aos sentidos de receção: o caso de Leão Tolstói

Tese de Doutoramento em Ciências da Literatura (área de especialização em Literatura Comparada).

Hypertension in a female nursing staff-pattern of occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment

OBJECTIVE: To report the pattern of occurrence, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertension in a female nursing staff of an emergency hospital. METHODS: We carried out a cross-sectional study that included interviews and blood pressure measurements of 494 nursing professionals at an emergency hospital in the city of Salvador, in the state of Bahia, Brazil. We considered hypertensive all individual with blood pressure > or = 140/90 mmHg or normal pressure if on regular treatment. RESULTS: We found a prevalence of hypertension of 36.4%. Only 18.3% of the individuals ignored their hypertensive condition, and 64.2% admitted not being having regular treatment. Of those individuals who were having treatment, 69.4% had elevated blood pressure on examination. The major reasons for not being on treatment was the occasional elevation of blood pressure (22.2%) and medical counseling (20.0%). CONCLUSION: The results point to the need to introduce hypertension control measures in this occupational group, because of the magnitude of the disease and the potential impact on diffusion of knowledge and measures to control hypertension.

Tradução: língua e comunicação no contexto diplomático

Relatório de estágio de mestrado em Tradução e Comunicação Multilingue

Critério de obesidade central em população brasileira: impacto sobre a síndrome metabólica

OBJETIVO: Identificar e propor os melhores pontos de corte da circunferência da cintura (CCp) para diagnosticar obesidade central numa população brasileira; compará-los àqueles recomendados pelo ATPIII (CC-ATPIII) e estimar diferenças nas prevalências da síndrome metabólica (SM) usando os dois critérios. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal, realizado em subgrupo populacional de 1.439 adultos, Salvador, Brasil. Foram construídas curvas ROC da circunferência da cintura (CC) para identificar diabete melito (DM) e obesidade. Valores >60% da sensibilidade e da especificidade da curva ROC e mais próximos entre si foram usados para definir o CCp. A prevalência da SM foi estimada pelos CCp e pelos CC-ATPIII. RESULTADOS: As 829 mulheres compuseram 57,7% da amostra. Os CCp selecionados foram 84 cm para mulheres e 88 cm para homens. Esses pontos detectaram DM com sensibilidade de 68,7% e 70%, respectivamente, e especificidade de 66,2% e 68,3%. Para obesidade, a sensibilidade e a especificidade foram 79,8% e 77,6% nas mulheres, e 64,3% e 71,6% nos homens. Pelos CC-ATPIII, 88 cm (mulheres) e 102 para (homens), as sensibilidades foram de 53,3% e 26,5%, para diagnosticar DM. Para obesidade, a sensibilidade foi 66,5% (mulheres) e 28,6% (homens). A prevalência da SM, pelos CCp foi 23,7%, IC 95% (21,6 - 25,9) e pelos CC-ATPIII de 19,0%, IC 95% (17,1- 20,9), 1,2 vezes maior pelo CCP. CONCLUSÃO: As CC-ATPIII foram inapropriados e subestimam a prevalência da SM nessa população, particularmente entre os homens. Sugerimos que os pontos de corte da CC de >84 cm nas mulheres e > 88 cm nos homens sejam testados em outras populações brasileiras.