La organización de los servicios de salud en la eliminación de la Lepra en municipios del Estado de São Paulo

Este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar as ações de controle da hanseníase desenvolvidas em nove municípios do Estado de São Paulo e uma coordenadoria de saúde da Capital, selecionados a partir de sua população, localização geográfica e coeficientes de prevalência. Foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética nº 514/05 e foram aplicados instrumentos por meio de entrevistas em 59 profissionais e 17 interlocutores. Os dados foram analisados utilizando o programa SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists). Verificou-se que a prevalência apresenta declínio e a detecção permanece estável. As ações de prevenção de incapacidade física, educação em saúde e a busca ativa são pouco desenvolvidas. Os profissionais mais capacitados encontram-se nas unidades de referência, há fragilidade quanto ao trabalho em equipe.The present study aims to analyze actions to control Hansen's disease developed in nine municipalities of the State of São Paulo and one of the health authorities of the city of São Paulo, selected based on their population, geographic location and prevalence coefficients. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee nº 514/05 and instruments were administered by means of interviews to 59 professionals, 17 interlocutors and 9 managers. Data were analyzed using the program SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists). It was verified that prevalence is on the decline and detection remains stable. The physical incapacity prevention actions, health education and active search have not been satisfactorily developed. The most qualified professionals are in the reference units and teamwork is fragile.El objetivo de este trabajo fue analizar las acciones de control de la Lepra realizadas en nueve Municipios del Estado de Sao Paulo y en una coordinación de salud de la capital, seleccionados a partir de su población, localización geográfica y coeficientes de prevalencia. Este estudio recibió aprobación del Comité de Ética nº 514/05. Se entrevistaron 59 profesionales y 17 coordinadores de área. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó el programa SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Scientists). Se verificó un declive en la prevalencia, pero la detección permaneció estable; las acciones de prevención de incapacidad física, educación en salud y la busca activa fueron poco ejecutadas; los profesionales más capacitados pertenecían a las unidades de referencia. Hubo fragilidad en cuanto al trabajo en equipo.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Percepções sobre a igualdade entre homens e mulheres na Polícia Militar do Rio Grande do Sul

This article seeks to analyze and understand the gender perceptions of military policewoman's in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and if the affirmation of professional equality between the sexes is consistent with the corporation's egalitarian discourse; to this end, the historical-social context about the constructions of the female gender and their space for professional performance within the scope of military police institutions will be addressed. The qualitative research realized in 2018 used focus groups composed of policewoman's who occupy a Soldier's position in the Military Police of Rio Grande do Sul (Military Brigade) as a data collection technique. It was observed that the interviewed policewoman's suffer situations of oppression and face professional difficulties due to gender, which goes against the corporation's discourse.Este artigo busca analisar e compreender as percepções de gênero das mulheres policiais militares do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul e se a afirmação de igualdade profissional entre os sexos é consistente com o discurso igualitário da corporação; para tanto, será abordado o contexto histórico-social acerca das construções do gênero feminino e o seu espaço de atuação profissional no âmbito das instituições policiais militares. A pesquisa qualitativa, realizada em 2018, utilizou como técnica para a coleta de dados grupos focais compostos por mulheres policiais que ocupam o cargo de soldado na Polícia Militar do Rio Grande do Sul (Brigada Militar). Observou-se que as policiais entrevistadas sofrem situações de opressão e enfrentam dificuldades profissionais em razão do gênero, o que contraria o discurso da corporação

Warfare-induced mammal population declines in Southwestern Africa are mediated by species life history, habitat type and hunter preferences

Civil wars often coincide with global biodiversity hotspots and have plagued the everyday reality of many countries throughout human history. However, how do civil wars affect wildlife populations? Are these impacts the same in savannah and forest environments? How persistent are the post-war consequences on wildlife populations within and outside conflict zones? Long-term monitoring programs in war zones, which could answer these questions, are virtually nonexistent, not least due to the risks researchers are exposed to. In this context, only a few methodologies can provide data on wild populations during war conflicts. We used local ecological knowledge to assess the main consequences of a prolonged civil war (1975-2002) in Southwestern Africa on forest and savannah mammals. The post-war abundance in 20 of 26 (77%) mammal species considered in this study was lower in open savannah compared to the closed-canopy forest environments, with some species experiencing a decline of up to 80% of their pre-war baseline abundance. Large-bodied mammals were preferred targets and had been overhunted, but as their populations became increasingly depleted, the size structure of prey species gradually shifted towards smaller-bodied species. Finally, we present a general flow diagram of how civil wars in low-governance countries can have both positive and negative impacts on native wildlife populations at different scales of space and time

La atención básica a la salud y la asistencia a la Lepra en servicios de salud de un municipio del Estado de São Paulo

Este é um estudo descritivo desenvolvido em um município do Estado de São Paulo. Objetivo: identificar e caracterizar as ações do Programa de Controle da Hanseníase nos serviços de saúde municipais. Metodologia: entrevistas gravadas com gestor municipal de saúde e profissionais da assistência à hanseníase. Resultados: a política pública municipal em saúde prioriza o desenvolvimento da atenção básica com ênfase na saúde pública. As ações são realizadas por profissionais capacitados e experientes em hanseníase. Ve rificou-se a não realização da busca ativa dos casos, necessária para o real conhecimento da situação epidemiológica, e das ações de educação em saúde, importante para a redução do estigma e aproximação do sujeito à nova situação de vida e enfrentamento de limitaçõesThis descriptive study was carried out in a municipality of Sao Paulo State. The objective was to identify and to characterize the Leprosy Control Program in primary care in the city of research. Methodology: the interviews were conducted with professionals responsable for care in Hansen's Disease and with manager of public health policies. Results: the public health policies prioritize the development of primary care and emphasis on the public health. The control actions are held by trained and experient professionals. It emphasizes absence of active search for cases which undermines the real epidemiological situation, and the important health education to the reduction of stigma and bring the subject of adjustments necessary in new situation of life and overcome limitationsEste estudio descriptivo es una investigación que analizó la situación de la atención de la Lepra en un municipio del Estado de Sao Paulo. Objetivo: identificar y caracterizar las acciones del Programa de Control de Lepra de los servicios de salud de ese municipio. Metodología: se entrevistaron a los profesionales encargados de la atención de lepra y al director municipal de políticas de salud. Resultados: las políticas públicas municipales de salud priorizaron el desarrollo de la atención básica, con énfasis en la salud pública tradicional. Las acciones de control de lepra son realizadas por trabajadores capacitados y con significativa experiencia profesional. Se resalta la ausencia de busca activa de los casos, necesaria para un conocimiento real de la situación epidemiológica y la importancia de educación en salud, para reducir el estigma y aproximar el sujeto a las adaptaciones necesarias en la nueva situación de vida para afrontar las limitaciones

Immunoassays for scarce tumour-antigens in exosomes: Detection of the human NKG2D-Ligand, MICA, in tetraspanin-containing nanovesicles from melanoma

Abstract Background Tumour-derived exosomes can be released to serum and provide information on the features of the malignancy, however, in order to perform systematic studies in biological samples, faster diagnostic techniques are needed, especially for detection of low abundance proteins. Most human cancer cells are positive for at least one ligand for the activating immune receptor NKG2D and the presence in plasma of NKG2D-ligands can be associated with prognosis. Methods Using MICA as example of a tumour-derived antigen, endogenously expressed in metastatic melanoma and recruited to exosomes, we have developed two immunocapture-based assays for detection of different epitopes in nanovesicles. Although both techniques, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Lateral flow immunoassays (LFIA) have the same theoretical basis, that is, using capture and detection antibodies for a colorimetric read-out, analysis of exosome-bound proteins poses methodological problems that do not occur when these techniques are used for detection of soluble molecules, due to the presence of multiple epitopes on the vesicle. Results Here we demonstrate that, in ELISA, the signal obtained was directly proportional to the amount of epitopes per exosome. In LFIA, the amount of detection antibody immobilized in Au-nanoparticles needs to be low for efficient detection, otherwise steric hindrance results in lower signal. We describe the conditions for detection of MICA in exosomes and prove, for the first time using both techniques, the co-existence in one vesicle of exosomal markers (the tetraspanins CD9, CD63 and CD81) and an endogenously expressed tumour-derived antigen. The study also reveals that scarce proteins can be used as targets for detection antibody in LFIA with a better result than very abundant proteins and that the conditions can be optimized for detection of the protein in plasma. Conclusions These results open the possibility of analyzing biological samples for the presence of tumour-derived exosomes using high throughput techniques.This work has been supported by Grants from Madrid Regional Government [IMMUNOTHERCAN-CM (S2010/BMD-2326)] and the Spanish Ministry of Economy [SAF2015-69169-R (MINEICO/FEDER) and MAT2017-84959-C2-1-R.; the Network of Excellence for Research in Exosomes, Rediex (MINEICO/FEDER); the Consejería de Economía y Empleo del Principado de Asturias (Plan de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2013-2017), under the Grant GRUPIN14-022. SL-C was a recipient of a FPU fellowship (MECD), and a travel fellowship from the Spanish Group of Extracellular Vesicles (GEIVEX); CC-S was a recipient of a master’s fellowship from “Postgrado de la Fundación Ramón Areces-UAM

NKG2D-CAR memory T cells target pediatric T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia in vitro and n vivo but fail to eliminate leukemiai nitiating cells

[Introduction]: Refractory/relapsed pediatric acute leukemia are still clinically challenging and new therapeutic strategies are needed. Interactions between Natural Killer Group 2D (NKG2D) receptor, expressed in cytotoxic immune cells, and its ligands (NKG2DL), which are upregulated in leukemic blasts, are important for anti-leukemia immunosurveillance. Nevertheless, leukemia cells may develop immunoescape strategies as NKG2DL shedding and/or downregulation. [Methods]: In this report, we analyzed the anti-leukemia activity of NKG2D chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) redirected memory (CD45RA-) T cells in vitro and in a murine model of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We also explored in vitro how soluble NKG2DL (sNKG2DL) affected NKG2D-CAR T cells’ cytotoxicity and the impact of NKG2D-CAR T cells on Jurkat cells gene expression and in vivo functionality. [Results]: In vitro, we found NKG2D-CAR T cells targeted leukemia cells and showed resistance to the immunosuppressive effects exerted by sNKG2DL. In vivo, NKG2D-CAR T cells controlled T cell leukemia burden and increased survival of the treated mice but failed to cure the animals. After CAR T cell treatment, Jurkat cells upregulated genes related to proliferation, survival and stemness, and in vivo, they exhibited functional properties of leukemia initiating cells. [Discussion]: The data here presented suggest, that, in combination with other therapeutic approaches, NKG2D-CAR T cells could be a novel treatment for pediatric T-ALL.This work was supported by a grant from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III to LF PI21/01049, the II and V awards from UNOENTRECIENMIL Foundation, and a grant from CRIS FOUNDATION to Beat Cancer as part of the projects “Cell therapy based on NKG2D-CAR for pediatric leukemia” and “NKG2D-CAR as treatment for pediatric patients suffering from acute leukemia and juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia”. AF, MI-N, AN-Z and CF have been supported by Personnel research grants from CRIS Foundation to beat cancer. CM has been supported by Personnel PhD student grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), PFIS (FI19/00176). MVG is funded by grant PID2021-123795OB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation [Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (MCIN)/Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) / 10.13039/501100011033 and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)-A way of making Europe] and belongs to cancer-Hub CSIC. MI lab is funded by grant PID2020-114148RB-I00 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033,which was in part granted with FEDER funding (EC)

QUALIDADE PÓS-COLHEITA DE FRUTOS DE MARACUJAZEIRO-AMARELO PRODUZIDOS EM MATO GROSSO

O maracujazeiro-amarelo (Passiflora edulis Sims) é a espécie mais cultivada entre os maracujazeiros no Brasil, devido a sua importância para consumo in natura ou como suco. O estado de Mato Grosso tem condições edafoclimáticas favoráveis à cultura, porém com pouca tradição e resultados quanto ao cultivo do maracujazeiro. Diante disso, objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade pós-colheita dos frutos de cultivares de maracujazeiro-amarelo produzidos no estado de Mato Grosso. Foram utilizadas cinco cultivares comerciais, em experimento conduzido nos municípios de Terra Nova do Norte, Cáceres e Tangará da Serra. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 3 × 5, com quatro blocos e dez plantas por parcela, para avaliação das seis centrais. Foram avaliados 10 frutos de cada genótipo, de cada bloco, em cada município. As análises físico-químicas consistiram em determinação do comprimento, diâmetro, espessura de casca, massa do fruto, massa da casca, teor de sólidos solúveis totais, acidez total titulável, ratio e vitamina C dos frutos.Palavras-chave: Passiflora edulis, cultivares, maracujá POST-HARVEST QUALITY OF YELLOW PASSION FRUIT PRODUCED IN MATO GROSSO STATE ABSTRACT:The yellow passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) is the most cultivated species among passion fruit in Brazil, due to its importance for consumption in natura or as juice. The state of Mato Grosso has favorable soil and climatic conditions, but with little tradition and results regarding the cultivation of passion fruit. The aim of this study was to evaluate the post-harvest quality of fruits of yellow passion fruit cultivars produced in the state of Mato Grosso. Five commercial cultivars were used in an experiment conducted in the municipalities of Terra Nova do Norte, Cáceres and Tangará da Serra. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design in a 3 × 5 factorial scheme, with four replications and ten plants per plot, to evaluate the six plants. Ten fruits of each genotype were evaluated, from each block in each municipality. The physico-chemical analysis consisted of determination of the length, diameter, bark thickness, fruit mass, bark mass, total soluble solids content, total titratable acidity, fruit ratio and vitamin C.Keywords: Passiflora edulis, cultivars, passion fruit. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5935/2318-7670.v05nespa0

3D printed carboxymethyl cellulose scaffolds for autologous growth factors delivery in wound healing

This work aims to use carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as main structural and functional component of 3D printed scaffolds for healing of diabetic wounds. Differently from previous inks involving small contents in CMC, herein sterile (steam-heated) concentrated CMC solely dispersions (10–20%w/v) were screened regarding printability and fidelity properties. CMC (15%w/v)-citric acid inks showed excellent self-healing rheological properties and stability during storage. CMC scaffolds loaded with platelet rich plasma (PRP) sustained the release of relevant growth factors. CMC scaffolds both with and without PRP promoted angiogenesis in ovo, stem cell migration in vitro, and wound healing in a diabetic model in vivo. Transparent CMC scaffolds allowed direct monitoring of bilateral full-thickness wounds created in rat dorsum. CMC scaffolds facilitated re-epithelialization, granulation, and angiogenesis in full-thickness skin defects, and the performance was improved when combined with PRP. Overall, CMC is pointed out as outstanding component of active dressings for diabetic woundsS