Experimental Basis and New Insights for Cell Therapy in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Unicentric study of cell therapy in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease/pulmonary emphysema

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Is the Thoroughbred race-horse under chronic stress?

Thoroughbred fillies were divided into three groups according to age: group 1, 7 fillies aged 1 to 2 years (G1) starting the training program; group 2, 9 fillies aged 2 to 3 years (G2) in a full training program; group 3, 8 older fillies 3 to 4 years of age (G3) training and racing. Blood samples were collected weekly from July to December. Cortisol was quantified using a solid phase DPC kit. The intra- and interassay coefficients of variation were 12.5% and 15.65% and sensitivity was 1.9 ± 0.2 nmol/ l. The semester average of cortisol levels varied between groups: G1 = 148.8 ± 6.7, G2 = 125.7 ± 5.8, G3 = 101.1 ± 5.4 nmol/l, with G3 differing statistically from the other groups. The lower cortisol levels observed in the older fillies leads us to propose that the stress stimulus, when maintained over a long period of time, may become chronic and result in a reduction of hypophyseal corticotropin-releasing hormone receptors. The secretion of endogenous opioids may also lead to low serum cortisol levels.

Ultrastructural study of the lateral lobe of the prostate of Wistar rats submitted to experimental chronic alcohol ingestion

Alcoholism is considered today one of the most serious social and medical problems. Different investigators have demonstrated that chronic exposure to alcohol causes morphological and physiological changes in the testes and in the accessory sex glands, in the prostate in particular. In the present study, experimental rats were divided into groups receiving sugar cane brandy diluted to 30° G.L. (30%, v/v) and Purina ration ad libitum for 60, 120, 180, 240 and 300 days, respectively. At the end of each period the animals were sacrificed and the lateral lobe of the prostate was collected for histological examination. The results showed atrophied epithelium, accumulation of lipidic droplets and rupture of the microvilli that line the cell surface facing the lumen of cells of the secretory epithelium of the lateral lobe of the prostate.

Effects of Chronic Physical Activity and of Ultrasound Treatment on Bone Consolidation

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of ultrasound treatment and physical exercise on the velocity of bone consolidation and resistance to deformation. We performed osteotomy in the upper third of the right tibia of rats. Physical training consisted of swimming 1 h per day with a load of 5% b.w. for 30 days. Therapy with medium-intensity ultrasound was applied daily on the damaged area. Wistar rats were divided into the following groups: osteotomized sedentary animals with no ultrasound treatment (1.OSnUS), osteotomized trained animals with no ultrasound treatment (2.OTnUS), osteotomized sedentary animals with ultrasound treatment (3.OSwUS). and osteotomized trained animals with ultrasound treatment (4.OTwUS). The animals were sacrificed for the following analyses: muscle glycogen, serum alkaline phosphatase at the 5th, 10th, 20th, and 30th days, test of maximum resistance to flexion, rupture flexion and mean tibial rigidity at the 30th day. Muscle glycogen was increased at the 20th day: alkaline phosphatase was elevated at the 5th and 20th days in groups 3.OSwUS and 4.OTwUS. and decreased at the 10th day. Groups1.OSnUS and 2.OTnUS did not show significant variations. In the mechanical resistance tests, we noted that ultrasound therapy and the association of physical activity used in the present study showed significant differences in bone resistance and bone rigidity after 30 days of treatment. These facts suggest that ultrasound or physical activity, or their combination may accelerate the process of bone tissue repair.

The silent period in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis

Silent period was evaluated in 20 adult male patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. Readings were obtained by supramaximal stimulus to the median nerve, during maximum isometric effort of the abductor pollicis brevis muscle against resistance. Two types of abnormalities were observed, motor neuron hypoexcitability with elongated silent period, and motor neuron hyperexcitability with reduction or absence of silent period. Some abnormalities are probably linked with dialysis duration, but show no correlation to presence or absence of peripheral neuropathy. The silent period alterations described in this study could possibly correlate with some other clinical feature frequently seen in patients with chronic renal failure such as hypereflexia of the deep tendon reflexes.

Absence motivated by illness: A non-concurrent prospective study of physical education teachers in the municipal education system of the city of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

The object of this investigation was to identify and analize aspects of the health status related to absenteism in physical education teachers in the municipal education system of the city of Campinas, Brazil, as related to the medical leave program. The non-concurrent prospective study was accomplished by means of a comparison with teachers who work only in the classroom, refering to a three year period. In the variables of greatest interest, the Pearson non-parametric chi-square (X2) statistical test was adopted. Calculations of relative risk and level of confidence were made using the Epi-info computer program. Significant differences were observed in the following diagnostic groups favoring the not exposed group: i) Supplementary Classification of factors that exercise influence over the health status and access to health services and ii) Digestive system illness; while the physical education teachers showed a significant difference in: i) diseases of the musculoskeletal and connective tissue system and ii) Injuries and poisoing. Possible explications for some of the adverse effects as well as the protective ones that were observed include physical activity as a way of life along with being a physical education teacher and on the other side, peculiar behavior of epidemiological descriptive characteristics, like sex and age, within the socio-economic context of the country. © Copyright Moreira Jr. Editora.

Effects of active smoking on airway and systemic inflammation profiles in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: The markers that characterize local and systemic inflammation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) remain unclear, as do their correlations with smoking status and presence of disease. The aim of this study was to assess markers of inflammation in the peripheral blood and airways of current smokers without COPD, of current smokers with COPD and of ex-smokers with COPD. METHODS: In this study, 17 current smokers with COPD (mean age: 58.2 ± 9.6 years; mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second [FEV1]: 56.1 ± 15.9%), 35 ex-smokers with COPD (mean age: 66.3 ± 7.3 years; mean FEV1: 47.9 ± 17.2%) and 20 current smokers without COPD (mean age: 49.1 ± 6.2 years; mean FEV1: 106.5 ± 15.8%) were evaluated. Spirometry findings, body composition and serum/induced sputum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and IL-10, together with serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, were assessed. RESULTS: Serum TNF-α concentration was higher in all current smokers than in ex-smokers with COPD. In current smokers without COPD, serum CRP level was lower than in ex-smokers with COPD and significantly lower than in current smokers with COPD. Sputum TNF-α concentration was higher in current and ex-smokers with COPD than in current smokers without COPD. Multiple regression analyses showed that serum TNF-α was associated with active smoking, and serum CRP and sputum TNF-α were associated with COPD diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking is associated with higher systemic inflammation in patients with COPD. Current findings also support the hypothesis that smoking and COPD have different effects on the regulation of airway and systemic inflammatory processes. © 2013 Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

Evolução dos marcadores diagnósticos e prognósticos de pacientes com DPOC no período de três anos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade do atendimento aos pacientes com hanseníase no ambulatório de um Hospital Universitário do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos de instruções, treino de relato verbal e treino de automonitoração sobre o seguimento de regras nutricionais em crianças com obesidade ou sobrepeso

A obesidade é uma doença crônica definida como o acúmulo de gordura anormal ou excessiva que pode prejudicar a saúde. Torna-se necessário intervir no seu combate e prevenção, especialmente entre as crianças. A literatura da área indica que, em geral, intervenções apenas com crianças ou com cuidadores, ou com ambos, apresentam resultados favoráveis. Neste estudo foram avaliados os efeitos de instruções, do treino de relato verbal (TRV) e do treino de automonitoração (TA), aplicados com e sem a participação do cuidador principal, sobre o seguimento de regras nutricionais em crianças com obesidade ou sobrepeso. Participaram duas crianças (9 e 11 anos) e suas cuidadoras primárias. O ambiente foi um consultório do ambulatório de psicologia de um hospital universitário. Foram utilizados: Prontuário dos pacientes, Roteiro de entrevista inicial, Inventário de estilos parentais (IEP), Roteiro de entrevista 2, Recordatório 24 horas, Manual informativo sobre obesidade e alimentação saudável, Teste de conhecimentos, Protocolo de orientação nutricional para crianças, Protocolo de automonitoração, Roteiro para análise do protocolo de automonitoração, jogos e brinquedos e Roteiro de entrevista final. O procedimento de coleta ocorreu em 10 sessões distribuídas em aproximadamente 15 semanas e consistiu de análise dos prontuários; entrevista no ambulatório com o cuidador e com a criança para assinatura do Termo de Consentimento Livre e Esclarecido, aplicação do roteiro de entrevista inicial e do IEP; inserção dos participantes em uma de duas condições (Condição 1, apenas a criança [P1] presente; Condição 2, tanto a criança [P2] quanto seu cuidador primário [C2] estavam presentes); aplicação do Roteiro de entrevista 2 seguido da aplicação do Recordatório 24 horas (Linha de Base 1 [LB1]); aplicação do Manual informativo sobre obesidade e alimentação saudável e do Teste de conhecimentos; TRV (Linha de Base 2 [LB2]); TA; entrevista de acompanhamento e entrevista de encerramento. Quanto aos efeitos das instruções, os resultados indicam que P1 manteve a mesma classificação em todos os itens, enquanto P2 melhorou seu desempenho nos itens conhecimento e seguimento das orientações nutricionais e C2 apresentou melhora no conhecimento sobre obesidade ao final do estudo. Os Índices de adesão à dieta obtidos por P2 foram mais elevados do que os obtidos por P1 em todas as fases da pesquisa. Comparando-se a média obtida pelos dois participantes em LB1 e LB2, observou-se aumento de 39,77% indicando mudança com significância clínica após intervenção. A combinação de variáveis nesta pesquisa mostrou-se favorável a ampliação do repertório dos participantes em relação ao comportamento alimentar, tendo como referência o próprio sujeito ao longo do estudo. Os resultados sugerem que há maior eficácia quando crianças e cuidadores são alvo de intervenção.

A pílula mágica e o (pré)conceito: a realidade e o impacto da leucemia mielóide crônica na vida do paciente

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Acute respiratory infection and influenza-like illness viral etiologies in Brazilian adults

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

Qualidade de vida de crianças e adolescentes com epilepsia no município de Maringá

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Teaching medical students about dementia: a brief review

Underdeveloped nations have the largest absolute number of the world's elderly population. Approximately 10.7% of the Brazilian population comprises aged individuals. Aging populations are associated with a higher incidence of chronic degenerative diseases such as dementia. Demented individuals place a high burden of care on healthcare systems and family members. General practitioners should be able to diagnose the most common elderly diseases such as dementia since they act as gatekeepers to specialized care. In Brazil, many medical students work as general practitioners upon graduating. The present study shows some scenarios of medical schools worldwide, including Brazilian, regarding teaching on dementia.