Epidemiology and genetics of endemic goiter. I. Epidemiological aspects

This study dealt with approximately 2,000 children and their parents living in a hyperendemic goiter area in Central Brazil, which is bounded by the jungle to the north and by a large plain to the south. The determination of goiter was made according to the methods and classification adopted by WHO. Conspicuous forms of goiter were found in 41% of the children examined. Multiple linear regression analysis showed an increase with age in the frequency of goiter in both sexes. Although data from the literature show that Mulattoes and Negroes have statistically higher frequencies of goiter than do Whites, our multiple linear regression analysis revealed no evidence for an effect of race on the endemism. There was no significant association with socioeconomic level. The presence of goiter in parents was shown to be statistically associated with its occurrence in the children.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen batches from the same isolate show immunological and biochemical differences

We investigated the occurrence of antigenic and biochemical variability among Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen batches prepared according to the same protocol. Initially (experiment 1), we analyzed two antigen lots of two human isolates (Bt1 and Bt2), cultured in two media (PYG: bactopeptone, yeast extract, glucose; MMM: McVeigh and Morton medium) in SDS-PAGE and in two immunological tests (immunodiffusion-ID and footpad swelling test-FPT). Afterwards (experiment 2), we compared the antigenic profile of three antigen hatches from three human isolates (Bt1, Bt2 and Bt3) by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis (2 D-IEP) against a reference system for P. brasiliensis antigens. In experiment 1, there were important intra- and inter-strain antigenic differences between batches of the fungal isolates cultured on both media. The block titration of the antigen batches for the immunological tests revealed correlation between protein concentration and biological activity in ID and no correlation in FPT. In experiment 2, the reference system for P brasiliensis showed 26 antigen peaks. There were important differences between batches prepared from the same isolate and between batches from different isolates. Our data suggested the occurrence of instability in the synthesis of antigenic components by a same P. brasiliensis isolate, under controlled incubation conditions.

Preliminary core sets of measures for disease activity and damage assessment in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile dermatomyositis

Objective. To identify preliminary core sets of outcome variables for disease activity and damage assessment in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). Methods. Two questionnaire surveys were mailed to 267 physicians from 46 different countries asking each member to select and rank the response variables used when assessing clinical response in patients with JSLE or JDM. Next, 40 paediatric rheumatologists from 34 countries met and, using the nominal group technique, selected the domains to be included in the disease activity and damage core sets for JSLE and JDM. Results. A total of 41 response variables for JSLE and 37 response variables for JDM were selected and ranked through the questionnaire surveys. In the consensus conference, domains selected for both JSLE and JDM activity or damage core sets included the physician and parent/patient subjective assessments and a global score tool. Domains specific for JSLE activity were the immunological tests and the kidney function parameters. Concerning JDM, functional ability and muscle strength assessments were indicated for both activity and damage core sets, whereas serum muscle enzymes were included only in the activity core set. A specific paediatric domain called 'growth and development' was introduced in the disease damage core set for both diseases and the evaluation of health-related quality of life was advised in order to capture the influence of the disease on the patient lifestyle. Conclusions. We developed preliminary core sets of measures for disease activity and damage assessment in JSLE and JDM. The prospective validation of the core sets is in progress.

The value of intraocular pressure asymmetry in diagnosing glaucoma

PURPOSE

La industria aceitera en la Argentina: un caso de expansión productiva orientada al mercado mundial

Incluye Bibliografía

Posibilidades de complementación económica entre la Argentina y Bolivia: informe final

Incluye Bibliografía

Subsistema aceites vegetales

Incluye Bibliografía

Cambio climático, distribución del ingreso y la pobreza: El caso de México

Incluye bibliografía.

Cambio climático y actividades agropecuarias en América Latina

El presente documento tiene como objetivo presentar una síntesis de la evidencia de los efectos potenciales del cambio climático sobre el sector agropecuario, con énfasis en América Latina. Su publicación pretende ser un aporte para el diseño de políticas públicas que contribuyan a reducir dichos efectos y favorezcan los procesos de adaptación.

Política nacional de educação ambiental: contradições e disputas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

As muitas plumagens do pássaro vermelho: resistência e assimilação na obra de Zitkala-Sa

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Lugares de identidade: manifestações do literário

Nesta coletânea de ensaios procura-se analisar produções literárias de diversas partes do mundo - romances e contos, principalmente - para distinguir como o discurso literário trabalha algumas práticas politicamente legitimas em determinados contextos, e como questões culturais, ideológicas e religiosas encontram signos na expressão do literário. Organizada por Giséle Manganelli Fernandes, Norma Wimmer e Roxana Guadalupe Herrera Alvarez, a obra abarca um espectro geográfico e temporal amplo. Os escritores em foco vão da norte-americana Zitkala-Sa, cuja obra trata especialmente da situação das mulheres indígenas nos EUA, à argelina Assia Djebar, que tem obras escritas em francês, passando pela brasileira Ana Miranda e seu memorialismo e pelo irlandês Oscar Wilde, cuja clássica peça teatral A importância de ser prudente é dissecada do ponto de vista da identidade do autor e a partir das relações dos personagens com a sociedade vitoriana do fim do século XIX. Os ensaístas reproduzem trechos das obras analisadas para exemplificar o que querem demonstrar, o que dá ritmo um sabor literário ao livro.

Kallen-Lehmann representation of noncommutative quantum electrodynamics

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