Pulmonary Surfactant in Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis: The Role in Pathogenesis and Clinical Implications

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection, and the most frequent reason for hospitalization among infants throughout the world. In addition to the acute consequences of the disease, RSV bronchiolitis in early childhood is related to further development of recurrent wheezing and asthma. Despite the medical and economic burden of the disease, therapeutic options are limited to supportive measures, and mechanical ventilation in severe cases. Growing evidence suggests an important role of changes in pulmonary surfactant content and composition in the pathogenesis of severe RSV bronchiolitis. Besides the well-known importance of pulmonary surfactant in maintenance of pulmonary homeostasis and lung mechanics, the surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D are essential components of the pulmonary innate immune system. Deficiencies of such proteins, which develop in severe RSV bronchiolitis, may be related to impairment in viral clearance, and exacerbated inflammatory response. A comprehensive understanding of the role of the pulmonary surfactant in the pathogenesis of the disease may help the development of new treatment strategies. We conducted a review of the literature to analyze the evidences of pulmonary surfactant changes in the pathogenesis of severe RSV bronchiolitis, its relation to the inflammatory and immune response, and the possible role of pulmonary surfactant replacement in the treatment of the disease. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2011; 46:415-420. (c) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A Influência do atributo de segurança na segmentação dos consumidores de carne suína da região fronteira noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul

This document constitutes itself a thesis for a master¿s, partial fulfillment for getting a master¿s degree in Public and Business Management. The subject is a research on the influence of the attribute of safety in the segmentation of pork in the northwest border of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, involving a bibliographic review related to the theme, and also an explorative research in order to identify the characteristics of the sector. From this information, a descriptive research is carried out from data collected in stores wich commercialize pork products in Santa Rosa, reaching a comprehensive undestanding on the subject. The main results of the research are the theoretical building of the thematic support concerning the safety of the food; the use of interviews aiming at verifying the importance of different attributes of pork which the consumer consider important and also the identification of segments based on these assessments. The conclusions from the research show that the consumers in general consider of high importance the safety of the food, and it is due to the fact that pork is still considered a product which offers a high risk at consumption. Consumers still have a preconceived idea about pork, because years ago, hog breeding was conducted with precarious standards of hygiene. It is imperative that the related business and producers divulge the advances of the sector in order to destroy this negative concept. The study identified three segments of market to the consumer of in natura pork: the first emphasized attributes are the inspection and the presentation of the product (cluster 1), flavour and softness stand out as the second ones. Finally, the third most important attributes that consumers consider when picking a pork product are its price and its aspect. It also favours further studies wich can provide the formulation of new marketing strategies to order products that form part of this agrolimentary system, giving this segment opportunity to boost its business and improve its approach to its consumer.

Alinhamento estratégico de TI: avaliando as percepções de executivos de negócio e TI

The Information Technology (IT) is a concept which has gained importance for organizations. It is expected that the strategic use of IT not only sustain the business operations of enterprises, but mainly leverage the initiative of new competitive strategies. However, these expectations on the earnings with the IT not have been achieved and questions arise about the return of the investments in IT. One of the causes is credited to the lack of alignment between the strategies of business and IT. The search of strategic alignment between IT and business takes to the necessity of measure it. This assessment can help identify whether the perceptions of business executives and IT executives, about the strategic alignment of IT, are similar or different. The objective of this work is to investigate the perceptions of business executives and IT executives in relation to the IT strategic alignment implemented in a selected organization. It was conducted a case study, in a company that provides services to the financial market. As a result, this work identified that there is no statistically significant difference between the perceptions of business executives and IT executives, related to the level of IT strategic alignment maturity implemented in the organization, and highlighted factors that promote this alignment: (a) senior management supports the IT (b) IT takes part of strategic planning, (c) IT understands the business of the company, and (d) there is a partnership between business and IT executives. Additionally, it was proposed that these similar perceptions result from the sharing of assumptions, knowledge and common expectations for the IT strategic alignment between the two groups of executives interviewed, and that led the company to achieve a higher level of IT strategic alignment. Each Practice of Strategic Alignment was examined separately. Although not have statistically significant differences between the perceptions of business executives and IT executives, the practices of Communication, Measures of Value and Competence, and Skills were better assessed by business executives and the practices of Governance and Partnerships have been better perceived by IT executives. The practice of Scope and Architecture and the IT Strategic Alignment, showed no differences in perceptions between the two groups of executives.

As competências essenciais dos profissionais em vendas de bens perecíveis: um modelo genérico de competências

Esta tese estuda as competências essenciais requeridas dos profissionais em vendas de bens perecíveis diante das mudanças ambientais e novas estratégias de relacionamento entre as indústrias de alimentação e seus canais de marketing. Há revisões teóricas sobre marketing e venda pessoal no lado da Administração e sobre competências no lado da Psicologia. Da revisão teórica foram selecionadas 16 competências chave para compor um dicionário, convenientes ao atual contexto de relacionamento entre comprador e vendedor. A pesquisa foi conduzida entre participantes de comitês do Movimento ECR Brasil, funcionários de supermercados e de indústrias de alimentação (n = 192). Empregaram-se as técnicas estatísticas da análise fatorial exploratória e da análise fatorial confirmatória e o modelo teórico foi gerado com três dimensões - suporte à competitividade, relacionamento eficaz e integração operacional - abrangendo 12 competências essenciais. Foram testadas as validades convergente, discriminante e nomológica dos constructos do modelo teórico. Quanto às medidas de ajustamento global do modelo teórico mais o índice esperado de validação cruzada (ECVI) foi possível constatar que o modelo demonstrou consistência com os dados e teve uma boa aproximação da população (X² = 68,15, DF = 51, p = 0,054, RMSEA = 0,042). A avaliação dos resultados do modelo de medidas revelou evidência parcial quanto à validade dos constructos e baixa fidedignidade quanto aos indicadores do modelo teórico.

Implementação de sistemas de gestão integrados no setor de construção: estudo de casos brasileiros

As pressões de mercado, os programas de abertura financeira, a desregulamentação da atividade produtiva e a diminuição de barreiras protecionistas afetam significativamente a competitividade da indústria nacional. Outras mudanças, não apenas econômicas, mas sociais, políticas e tecnológicas, também pressionam as organizações a adotar novas estratégias empresariais e deixam claro que modelos de gestão tradicionais já não são mais suficientes para enfrentar estes novos desafios. Na busca de diferenciais competitivos, as empresas têm adotado sistemas de gestão da qualidade, de gestão ambiental e de gestão da saúde e segurança do trabalhador. Como forma de evidenciar a terceiros sua preocupação simultânea com estas três disciplinas, as empresas têm buscado a certificação integrada destes sistemas por meio das normas ISO 9001, ISO 14001 e OHSAS 18001. Surgem, assim, os Sistemas de Gestão Integrados (SGIs), objetos de pesquisa deste estudo. O recorte é setorial, sendo que o setor de construção foi escolhido devido a características como singularidade de seus produtos, alto impacto ambiental e alto índice de acidentes de trabalho. Com o objetivo de investigar como os SGIs foram implementados no setor de construção, foram escolhidos três casos de empresas sabidamente adotantes deste modelo de gestão. Foram analisadas as motivações, o processo de implementação e certificação do sistema, os fatores críticos de sucesso, as dificuldades encontradas e os benefícios colhidos com a adoção de SGIs. A pesquisa confirmou estudos anteriores que demonstram que a motivação, dependendo do contexto em que as empresas se inserem, pode ser por necessidade de maior competitividade, de legitimação, ou ainda, por responsabilidade ambiental de sua liderança. Os fatores críticos de sucesso são, dentre outros, comprometimento da alta administração, comunicação eficiente com as partes interessadas, disponibilidade de recursos e maturidade das equipes. As dificuldades encontradas foram a valorização excessiva de resultados econômico-financeiros, a complexidade do modelo adotado, a utilização burocrática do sistema, a falta de maturidade e preparo dos profissionais, o porte dos projetos, o perfil de competências dos profissionais e variados tipos de resistências. A adoção do SGI nas empresas estudadas esteve condicionada a situações do cenário econômico, do alto índice de terceirização verificado no setor e às dificuldades com a qualificação da mão-de-obra. Não obstante as dificuldades e os condicionantes, o SGI trouxe vários benefícios para as organizações e, um dado relevante, é que ele pode desencadear reações positivas ao longo da cadeia de valor, uma vez que as empresas adotantes de SGI passam a ser mais exigentes em relação a seus fornecedores.

Desempenho dos serviços de atenção primária do município de Natal/RN para o diagnóstico e controle da tuberculose

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important health problems being faced worldwide. In Brazil, the responsibility for the actions of to diagnosis and control of this disease was transferred to the municipalities within the Primary Health Care (PHC), aiming at improvement in epidemiological indicators, requiring reorientation of the practice of family health teams and requiring methodologies to analyze the extent to which components of the PHC are being achieved. Thus, this study aims to analyze the performance of primary care services in the city of Natal-RN for the diagnosis and control of TB, from the perspective of health professionals (doctors and nurses). The study is descriptive, cross-sectional and quantitative. Data collection was conducted from March to July 2011 and involved 121 health professionals working in 52 health units (family health unit, basic health unit and mixed units). The instrument is structured based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), validated and adapted to assess attention to TB in Brazil, and includes questions regarding the Structure and Process components of health services. For quantitative analysis, it was constructed indicators, whose response patterns are followed according to the Likert scale between one and five, which meant the degree of preference relation (or agreement) of the claims. Values between 1 and 3 were considered unsatisfactory for the indicator, between 3 and less than 4, regular, and between 4 and 5, satisfactory. With regard to inputs and equipment, the units had satisfactory condition for form (  = 4.26), consultation (  = 4.02) and basic basket (  = 4.24); regular condition to pot (  = 3.56) and unsatisfactory conditions for transportation tickets (  = 1.50) and sputum smear microscopy (  = 2.42) and X-rays (  = 1.07). In relation to actions, there was satisfactory development for those focused on the individual patient. Actions aimed at the collective level, as the search for respiratory symptoms (RS), monitoring of contacts and guidelines for the community ranged from regular to unsatisfactory (  = 3.16 -  = 1.34). With regard to training, 94,2% received training to identify RS. As regards the time for diagnosis, the median time elapsed between the identification of RS and the beginning of treatment it was 22 days. In relation to the difficulties faced by professionals in the diagnosis of TB, 56,2% reported that they are related only to health services, especially for the failure in the rearguard laboratory and in the specialized services reference, the lack of human and material resources and low performing an active search. The professionals perceive the performance of diagnosis and control of TB, permeated with limitations and barriers to organizational and operational character of various sizes, emerging the need for effective coordination of various sectors and key stakeholders of TB care, to adoption of a new intersectoral strategies that aim to increase the responsiveness of the PHC, providing the best performance in service delivery to the user, family and community, and ensuring effective action and resolving the needs of this population group.

Apropriação de novas mídias por estudantes universitárias

It is an investigation that seeks to reveal, record and analyze the process of appropriation and use of digital media by university students, aged between 40 and 60 years. Interested in studying how changes are perceived in the educational sphere for students Whois have gone through liberal/traditional school, ie, effected the first contact with technological devices media as adults, in the university. This investigation sought to contribute to the knowledge on the use of new learning strategies imposed by digital media by recording and analyzing the reports surveyed sample. Allowed to know the cultural universe of these women, revealing the context in which receive mediated messages and uses that maré these learning strategies within their daily academic life. Gathered in this work, reflexions guided by studies of media reception and role played by digital media as builders images and facilitators in knowledging acquisitions, it was chosen to work two main theorical notions: communication media and digital inclusion. As the research methodology, it was used the exploratory descriptive technical together with other appropriate tecniques. In ordem to approach the problem can be observed two phases: a quantitative one, which was used an investigative procedure, a survey data with closed questions; and a qualitative phase, which was used to collect data through a diary from situations encountered in the classroom. The main objective of analyzing how digital media are received, appropriated and used by university women has been fulfilled and it is remarkable that they access with dificulty and can not be considered included digitally. The results show that the problem of these agents is not the access, there are was of appropriation of digital media offered at IES, and it was possible to note that they seek to integrate to the technological world, and they even have devices that can insert them on this world. Insertion in cyberculture sets up the ability to find a favorable way to be aware of reality and production of knowledge and liberating and dignifying practices, in this case refers to an appropriation of citizenship through the field of technological devices offered as a perspective that they can interact

Probióticos e prebióticos na atenção primária ao câncer de cólon

CONTEXTO: As neoplasias de cólon são a terceira forma mais comum de câncer atualmente. Seus tratamentos ainda estão associados a elevado risco de complicações, ressaltando, assim, a necessidade de elaborar novas estratégias de tratamento. A ingestão de probióticos, prebióticos ou a combinação de ambos (simbióticos), representa nova opção terapêutica. Diante da importância do equilíbrio quantitativo e qualitativo da microbiota intestinal para saúde humana e com objetivo de melhor elucidar o papel dos probióticos e prebióticos, o tema citado procura abordar a importância destes como coadjuvantes na prevenção e tratamento de câncer de cólon. METODOLOGIA: Foi realizada pesquisa em bancos de dados científicos (Medline, Lilacs, PubMed, Ovid, Scielo) através de levantamento de artigos científicos, além da busca direta aos periódicos, priorizando-se os mesmos do período de 2003 a 2008. Foram, também, coletadas informações através de sites da internet, como forma de melhor compreender a epidemiologia, conceitos e tratamentos dessa patologia. RESULTADOS: Estudos apontam relação inversa entre o consumo de probióticos e prebióticos e o diagnóstico de câncer de cólon, sendo que alguns dos possíveis mecanismos englobam: aumento da resposta imune, redução da resposta inflamatória, inibição de formação de células tumorais e da conversão de substâncias pré-carcinogênicas em carcinogênicas. CONCLUSÃO: Através da realização desta revisão literária foi possível obter respostas positivas quanto ao uso de probióticos e prebióticos na carcinogênese, colocando seu uso como recomendado de forma adequada.

Modulation of host cell signaling pathways as a therapeutic approach in periodontal disease

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Implication of RNA-Binding Protein La in Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Lymph Node-Metastasized Hypopharyngeal SCC Cells

The 5-year survival rate for oral cavity cancer is poorer than for breast, colon or prostate cancer, and has improved only slightly in the last three decades. Hence, new therapeutic strategies are urgently needed. Here we demonstrate by tissue micro array analysis for the first time that RNA-binding protein La is significantly overexpressed in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Within this study we therefore addressed the question whether siRNA-mediated depletion of the La protein may interfere with known tumor-promoting characteristics of head and neck SCC cells. Our studies demonstrate that the La protein promotes cell proliferation, migration and invasion of lymph node-metastasized hypopharyngeal SCC cells. We also reveal that La is required for the expression of beta-catenin as well as matrix metalloproteinase type 2 (MMP-2) within these cells. Taken together these data suggest a so far unknown function of the RNA-binding protein La in promoting tumor progression of head and neck SCC.

Seasonal variation in natural populations of Drosophila spp. (Diptera) in two woodlands in the State of São Paulo, Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax: a review

The genetic diversity of Plasmodium vivax has been investigated in several malaria-endemic areas, including the Brazilian Amazon region, where this is currently the most prevalent species causing malaria in humans. This review summarizes current views on the use of molecular markers to examine P. vivax populations, with a focus on studies performed in Brazilian research laboratories. We emphasize the importance of phylogenetic studies on this parasite and discuss the perspectives created by our increasing understanding of genetic diversity and population structure of this parasite for the development of new control strategies, including vaccines, and more effective drugs for the treatment of P. vivax malaria.

O transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas como opção no tratamento de doenças não hematológicas

Nesta revisão são abordadas as doenças em que existem dados e perspectivas do uso de transplante de células-tronco hematopoéticas em suas diversas modalidades. São apresentados também os aspectos referentes aos regimes de condicionamento empregados, e sua relação com toxicidade e taxa de mortalidade ligadas ao transplante. São apresentadas as doenças autoimunes e particularizados dados específicos do lúpus eritematoso sistêmico, esclerose sistêmica e esclerose múltipla e diabetes mellitus tipo 1. A base do procedimento nas doenças autoimunes é a reprogramação imunológica. Aparentemente o procedimento tem sua indicação nas doenças em que os tratamentos convencionais de imunossupressão tenham falhado, e o dano orgânico não tenha sido definitivo, mas tenha chance de ocorrer caso não seja realizado o transplante. A modalidade aparentemente indicada no momento deve ser o transplante de células-tronco autogênico com regimes de condicionamento não mieloablativo para se obter sobrevivência estimada em mais de 50% em todas as doenças, com baixa toxicidade e com mortalidade nula ligada ao transplante. São apresentados também os resultados nos tumores sólidos, que são discutíveis, e particularidades no câncer de mama. A aparente indicação para os tumores sólidos é transplante de células-tronco alogênico e se baseia no tratamento intensivo com doses mieloablativas com a finalidade de se induzir o efeito enxerto contra o tumor. Os regimes não mieloablativos são preconizados com a finalidade de redução da toxicidade e indução de imunossupressão, sendo os dados insuficientes e discutíveis, o que obriga a introdução de novas estratégias terapêuticas baseadas na terapia imune e celular.

Inflammation-induced modulation of cellular galectin-1 and-3 expression in a model of rat peritonitis

Objective and design: To investigate the effect of galectin-1 (Gal-1) and -3 (Gal-3) on leukocyte migration and analyze the expression of both galectins in inflammatory cells using a model of rat peritonitis.Material or Subjects: Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 4 per group).Treatment: Peritonitis was induced in animals through intraperitoneal injection of carrageenin (1.5 mg/kg) and rat mesenteries were analyzed at different time points (0, 4, 24 and 48h). For pharmacological treatment, rats received intravenous injection of Gal-1 or -3 (3 mu g/kg) followed by carrageenin.Methods: Western blotting and immunoelectron microscopy analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA followed by Bonferroni test.Results: Pharmacological treatment with Gal-1, but not Gal-3, inhibited (similar to 50%) leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity at 4h time-point. In this early phase, immunogold staining of mesenteries showed a diminished Gal-3 expression in degranulated mast cells and Gal-1 in transmigrated neutrophils (similar to 20% reduction compared to intravascular cells). In the later phases (24 and 48 h), leukocyte turnover was associated with augmented Gal-1 expression in neutrophils and macrophages and Gal-3 in mast cells and macrophages.Conclusions: These results point to a balanced expression of cell-associated-Gal-1/Gal-3 and might impact on the development of new therapeutic strategies for inflammatory diseases.

Gene discovery in Boophilus microplus, the cattle tick - the transcriptomes of ovaries, salivary glands, and hemocytes

The quest for new control strategies for ticks can profit from high throughput genomics. In order to identify genes that are involved in oogenesis and development, in defense, and in hematophagy, the transcriptomes of ovaries, hemocytes, and salivary glands from rapidly ingurgitating females, and of salivary glands from males of Boophilus microplus were PCR amplified, and the expressed sequence tags (EST) of random clones were mass sequenced. So far, more than 1,344 EST have been generated for these tissues, with approximately 30% novelty, depending on the the tissue studied. To date approximately 760 nucleotide sequences from B. microplus are deposited in the NCBI database. Mass sequencing of partial cDNAs of parasite genes can build up this scant database and rapidly generate a large quantity of useful information about potential targets for immunobiological or chemical control.