Sustainability in elementary education: Consciousness and learning

This work reports a didactic experience through the assumptions of Project-Based Learning, Interdisciplinarity and Significant Learning in the teaching-learning process in years initials of Elementary School, using the Design Science Reseach methodology. The study contextualizes the reflection about the necessary promotion of sustainable actions with the intention of mitigating environmental impacts. The general aim is to associate the concerns related to the Environment with the construction of events (Science Fair) and promote the integration between the curricular components and the school community. The analysis of the data showed that the student has a greater participation and involvement in daily activities when he builds his own knowledge. It can be concluded that the results obtained in this work prove the effectiveness of the adopted methodologies, which consequently contributed to the achievement of the proposed aims

Adenosine A(2A) receptor agonist (CGS-21680) prevents endotoxin-induced effects on nucleotidase activities in mouse lymphocytes

Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) released during inflammation presents proinflammatory properties. Adenosine, produced by catabolism of ATP, is an anti-inflammatory compound. Considering the role of ATP and adenosine in inflammation and the importance of ectonucleotidases in the maintenance of their extracellular levels, we investigated the effect of a selective agonist of the adenosine A(2A) receptor (CGS-21680) on ectonucleotidase activities and gene expression patterns in lymphocytes from mice submitted to an endotoxemia model. Animals were injected intraperitoneally with 12 mg/kg Lipopolyssacharide (LPS) and/or 0.5 mg/kg CGS-21680 or saline. Nucleotidase activities were determined in lymphocytes from mesenteric lymph nodes and analysis of ectonucleotidase expression was carried out by a semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. Exposure to endotoxemia promoted an increase in nucleotide hydrolysis. When CGS-21680 was administered concomitantly with LPS, this increase was prevented for ATP, adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP), and p-Nitrophenyl thymidine 5'-monophosphate (p-Nph-5'-TMP) hydrolysis. However, when CGS-21680 was administered 24 h after LPS injection, the increase was not reversed. the expression pattern of ectonucleotidases was not altered between LPS and LPS plus CGS-21680 groups, indicating that the transcriptional control was not involved on the effect exerted for CGS-21680. These results showed an enhancement of extracellular nucleotide catabolism in lymphocytes after induction of endotoxemia, which was prevented, but not reversed by CGS-21680 administration. These findings suggest that the control of nucleotide and nucleoside levels exerted by CGS-21680 could contribute to the modulation of the inflammatory process promoted by adenosine A(2A) agonists. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul (FAPERGS)Pontificia Univ Catolica Rio Grande do Sul, Programa Posgrad Biol Celular & Mol, Dept Biol Celular & Mol, Lab Neuroquim & Psicofarmacol,Fac Biociencias, BR-90619900 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Inst Ciencias Basicas Saude, Dept Bioquim, Programa Posgrad Ciencias Biol Bioquim, BR-90035003 Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Farmacol, Programa Posgrad Farmacol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista Med, Dept Farmacol, Programa Posgrad Farmacol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Promoção da saúde da criança escolar e a identificação de determinantes sociais: relato de experiência

Este estudo tem como objetivo descrever e discutir atividades de promoção de saúde realizadas junto a escolares com idades entre oito e dez anos de uma escola pública em um município mineiro. As práticas foram realizadas por estudantes dos cursos de Terapia Ocupacional, Educação Física e Nutrição no período de fevereiro de 2017 a julho de 2018, três vezes por semana. Elas consistiam em estratégias lúdicas e no emprego de tecnologias leves capazes de promover acolhimento e incentivar a expressão das crianças, possibilitando a investigação dos determinantes sociais de saúde (DSS) que permeavam suas comunidades e estilos de vida. Destacaram-se dentre os DSS: diversidade de configurações familiares, rede comunitária proximal e informal ampla; subemprego, analfabetismo, acesso descontínuo a serviços públicos, violência doméstica, distanciamento da escola e alimentação inadequada. Neste cenário, a promoção da saúde dos escolares demanda comprometimento institucional amplo, envolvimento das famílias e sensibilização das crianças para o autocuidado

Population-based seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and the herd immunity threshold in Maranhão

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. METHODS: A population-based household survey was performed, from July 27, 2020 to August 8, 2020. The estimates considered clustering, stratification and non-response. Qualitative detection of IgM and IgG antibodies was performed in a fully-automated Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on the Cobas® e601 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). RESULTS: In total, 3,156 individuals were interviewed. Seroprevalence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 40.4% (95%CI 35.6-45.3). Population adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions was higher at the beginning of the pandemic than in the last month. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were significantly lower among mask wearers and among those who maintained social and physical distancing in the last month compared to their counterparts. Among the infected, 26.0% were asymptomatic. The infection fatality rate (IFR) was 0.14%, higher for men and older adults. The IFR based on excess deaths was 0.28%. The ratio of estimated infections to reported cases was 22.2. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 estimated in this population-based survey is one of the highest reported. The local herd immunity threshold may have been reached or might be reached soon.OBJECTIVE: To estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. METHODS: A population-based household survey was performed, from July 27, 2020 to August 8, 2020. The estimates considered clustering, stratification and non-response. Qualitative detection of IgM and IgG antibodies was performed in a fully-automated Elecsys® Anti-SARS-CoV-2 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay on the Cobas® e601 analyzer (Roche Diagnostics). RESULTS: In total, 3,156 individuals were interviewed. Seroprevalence of total antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 was 40.4% (95%CI 35.6-45.3). Population adherence to non-pharmaceutical interventions was higher at the beginning of the pandemic than in the last month. SARS-CoV-2 infection rates were significantly lower among mask wearers and among those who maintained social and physical distancing in the last month compared to their counterparts. Among the infected, 26.0% were asymptomatic. The infection fatality rate (IFR) was 0.14%, higher for men and older adults. The IFR based on excess deaths was 0.28%. The ratio of estimated infections to reported cases was 22.2. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 estimated in this population-based survey is one of the highest reported. The local herd immunity threshold may have been reached or might be reached soon

Desenvolvimento de um medicamento brasileiro nanoencapsulado para o tratamento da esquistossomose

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that, according to the World Health Organization, constitutes a major public health problem associated with severe morbidity, mostly children in preschool age. The administration of drugs in children always constitutes a difficult task, especially when formulations are not developed specifically for pediatric use, when high doses of drug are required and the drug has a bitter taste, as in the case of praziquantel. Polymer nanoparticles are promising systems for development of encapsulated drugs with low water solubility and bitter taste, due to the good physical and chemical stability, adequate biocompatibility and simple manufacturing processes. Moreover, they can enhance the bioavailability and reduce variability of treatment among patients. Poly(methyl methacrylate) doped with praziquantel was produced through a miniemulsion polymerization process to compose a pediatric pharmaceutical suspension. Nanoparticles were characterized in terms of physico-chemical properties, toxicological properties and biological activity in mice, being concluded that obtained results were satisfactory. The results were encapsulation rate around 90%, absence of chemical interaction drug - polymer and the presence of biological activity. A collaborative approach was used for this development, involving national partnerships and independent funding mechanisms, a powerful pathway for development of drugs for neglected diseases.A esquistossomose é uma doença parasitária que, segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde, é um dos principais problemas de saúde pública associados à morbidade severa, sendo boa parte crianças. A administração de medicamentos em crianças constitui uma tarefa difícil, principalmente quando não há formulações pediátricas, quando altas doses de fármaco são requeridas e o fármaco apresenta um sabor amargo, como é o caso do praziquantel. Nanopartículas poliméricas são sistemas promissores para o desenvolvimento de fármacos com baixa hidrossolubilidade e gosto ruim, apresentam estabilidade físico-química, biocompatibilidade e fáceis processos de produção. Podem ainda proporcionar o aumento da biodisponibilidade e redução da variabilidade do tratamento entre pacientes. O polímero poli(metacrilato de metila) com o praziquantel encapsulado foi sintetizado pelo processo de polimerização em miniemulsão para compor uma suspensão farmacêutica pediátrica. As nanopartículas foram caracterizadas em termos das propriedades físico-químicas, toxicológicas e da atividade biológica em camundongos. Os resultados encontrados foram satisfatórios, taxa de encapsulamento de 90%, ausência de interação química fármaco - polímero e presença de atividade biológica. Uma abordagem colaborativa foi utilizada para este desenvolvimento, envolvendo parcerias nacionais e mecanismos de financiamento independentes, uma maneira nova e poderosa de desenvolver medicamentos para doenças negligenciadas

Malformações arteriovenosas: apresentações pulmonares e cerebrais

As malformações arteriovenosas (MAV) são anomalias congênitas que afetam a estrutura vascular e podem ocorrer tanto no pulmão quanto no cérebro. A fisiopatologia da MAV envolve um desvio anormal do fluxo sanguíneo arterial para as veias, sem passar pelos capilares, o que pode causar hipoxemia, insuficiência cardíaca e outras complicações. Os sintomas das malformações arteriovenosas pulmonares (MAVP) incluem dispneia, cianose, hemoptise e embolia pulmonar. Já as malformações arteriovenosas cerebrais (MAVC) podem apresentar sintomas como convulsões, cefaléia, hemorragia intracerebral e déficits neurológicos. Quanto à epidemiologia, a prevalência da MAVP é rara e ocorre duas vezes mais em mulheres do que em homens, exceto em recém-nascidos, enquanto a MAVC é mais comum, com uma prevalência estimada de varia de 1,12 a 1,42 casos por 100.000 pessoas/ano. Múltiplos fatores, como anormalidades vasculares, modificações moleculares e alterações de fluxo das artérias e veias, influenciam significativamente no desenvolvimento de MAVs. O diagnóstico da MAV envolve a realização de exames de imagem, como radiografia de tórax, tomografia computadorizada (TC) e ressonância nuclear magnética (RNM). Já a abordagem terapêutica da MAVP pode envolver embolização arterial ou cirurgia, dependendo da extensão da lesão. Já a MAVC pode ser tratada com embolização endovascular, cirurgia ou radioterapia, também dependendo das características da lesão. Assim, com o diagnóstico e tratamento adequados, muitos pacientes podem ter uma qualidade de vida satisfatória e prevenir complicações graves

Health-related quality of life in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the different geographical regions of Brazil : data from the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group

Background: In type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) management, enhancing health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is as important as good metabolic control and prevention of secondary complications. This study aims to evaluate possible regional differences in HRQoL, demographic features and clinical characteristics of patients with T1DM in Brazil, a country of continental proportions, as well as investigate which variables could influence the HRQoL of these individuals and contribute to these regional disparities. Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional, multicenter study performed by the Brazilian Type 1 Diabetes Study Group (BrazDiab1SG), by analyzing EuroQol scores from 3005 participants with T1DM, in 28 public clinics, among all geographical regions of Brazil. Data on demography, economic status, chronic complications, glycemic control and lipid profile were also collected. Results: We have found that the North-Northeast region presents a higher index in the assessment of the overall health status (EQ-VAS) compared to the Southeast (74.6 ± 30 and 70.4 ± 19, respectively; p < 0.05). In addition, North- Northeast presented a lower frequency of self-reported anxiety-depression compared to all regions of the country (North-Northeast: 1.53 ± 0.6; Southeast: 1.65 ± 0.7; South: 1.72 ± 0.7; Midwest: 1.67 ± 0.7; p < 0.05). These findings could not be entirely explained by the HbA1c levels or the other variables examined. Conclusions: Our study points to the existence of additional factors not yet evaluated that could be determinant in the HRQoL of people with T1DM and contribute to these regional disparities

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio