Parasites and allergy: observations from Brazil.

Brazil is a middle-income country undergoing the epidemiological transition. Effects of changes in daily life habits, and access to clean water, sanitation and urban services on a growing urban population have contributed to a double burden of both infectious and non-communicable chronic diseases. Studies have indicated that parasite infections may modulate the human immune system and influence the development of allergic conditions such as asthma. However, there is no consensus in the published literature on the effects of parasitic infections on allergy, perhaps as a consequence of factors determining the epidemiology of these infections that vary between populations such as age of first infection, duration and chronicity of infections, parasite burden and species, and host genetic susceptibility. In this review, we discuss the observations from Brazil concerning the relationship between parasite infections and allergy. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Areas of natural occurrence of melipona scutellaris Latreille, 1811(Hymenoptera: Apidae) in the state of Bahia, Brazil.

The bee Melipona scutellaris is considered the reared meliponine species with the largest distribution in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil, with records from the state of Rio Grande do Norte down to the state of Bahia. Considering the importance of this species in the generation of income for family agriculture and in the preservation of areas with natural vegetation, this study aimed at providing knowledge on the distribution of natural colonies of M. scutellaris in the state of Bahia. Literature information, interviews with stinglessbee beekeepers, and expeditions were conducted to confirm the natural occurrence of the species. A total of 102 municipalities showed records for M. scutellaris, whose occurrence was observed in areas ranging from sea level up to 1,200-meter height. The occurrence of this species in the state of Bahia is considered to be restricted to municipalities on the coastal area and the Chapada Diamantina with its rainforests. Geographic coordinates, elevation, climate and vegetation data were obtained, which allowed a map to be prepared for the area of occurrence in order to support conservation and management policies for the species

WSB1 and IL21R Genetic Variants Are Involved in Th2 Immune Responses to Ascaris lumbricoides.

Genetic and epigenetic factors are considered to be critical for host-parasite interactions. There are limited data on the role of such factors during human infections with Ascaris lumbricoides. Here, we describe the potential role of genetic factors as determinants of the Th2 immune response to A. lumbricoides in Brazilian children. Stool samples were collected from the children to detect A. lumbricoides by microscopy and peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) were cultured in whole blood cultures for detection of cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, and IL-13) in vitro. Levels of anti-A. lumbricoides IgE and IgG4 were measured in plasma. DNA was extracted from PBLs and genotyped using Illumina 2.5 Human Omni Beadchip. Candidate genes associated with A. lumbricoides responses were identified and SNVs in these selected genes associated with the Th2 immune response to A. lumbricoides. Haplotype, gene expression, and epigenetic analyses were done to identify potential associations with Th2 immune responses. GWAS on samples from 1,189 children identified WSB1 as a candidate gene, and IL-21R was selected as a biologically relevant linked gene for further analysis. Variants in WSB1 and IL21R were associated with markers of Th2 immune responses: increased A. lumbricoides-specific IgE and IL-5/IL-13 by PBLs from infected compared to uninfected individuals. In infected children, WSB1 but not IL21R gene expression was suppressed and increased methylation was observed in the WSB1 promoter region. This is the first study to show an association between genetic variants in WSB1 and IL21R and Th2 immune responses during A. lumbricoides infections in children. WSB1/IL21R pathways could provide a potential target for the treatment of Th2-mediated diseases

Physical characterisation of an alginate/lysozyme nano-laminate coating and its evaluation on ‘coalho’ cheese shelf life

This work aimed at the characterisation of a nanolaminate coating produced by the layer-by-layer methodology and its evaluation on the preservation of ‘Coalho’ cheese. Initially, five alternate layers of alginate and lysozyme were assembled in an aminolysed/charged polyethylene terephthalate (A/C PET) and physically characterised by UV/VIS spectroscopy, contact angle, water vapour (WVTR) and oxygen (OTR) transmission rates and scanning electron microscopy. Afterwards, the same methodology was used to apply the nano-laminate coating in ‘Coalho’ cheese and its shelf life was evaluated during 20 days in terms of mass loss, pH, lipid peroxidation, titratable acidity and microbial count. UV/VIS spectroscopy and contact angle analyses confirmed the layers’ deposition and the successful assembly of nano-laminate coating on A/C PET surface. The coating presented WVTR and OTR values of 1.03×10−3 and 1.28× 10−4 g m−2 s−1, respectively. After 20 days, coated cheese showed lower values of mass loss, pH, lipidic peroxidation, microorganisms’ proliferation and higher titratable acidity in comparison with uncoated cheese. These results suggest that gas barrier and antibacterial properties of alginate/lysozyme nanocoating can be used to extend the shelf life of ‘Coalho’ cheese.The author Bartolomeu G. de S. Medeiros is recipient of a scholarship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES-Brazil). The author Marthyna P. Souza is recipient of a scholarship from Fundacao de Amparo a Ciencia e Tecnologia do Estado de Pernambuco (FACEPE, Brazil) and was recipient of a scholarship from Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES/PDEE-Brazil). The authors Ana C. Pinheiro, Ana I. Bourbon and Miguel A. Cerqueira are recipients of a fellowship (SFRH/BD/48120/2008, SFRH/BD/73178/2010 and SFRH/BPD/72753/2010, respectively), supported by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, POPH-QREN and FSE (FCT, Portugal). Maria G. Carneiro-da-Cunha express is gratitude to the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) for research grant. The present work was supported by CAPES/PROCAD/NF/1415/2007. The support of EU Cost Action FA0904 is gratefully acknowledged

Concepts of Health in Nursing Education in Undergraduate Schools of Brazil and Portugal

This article represents an extract of my PhD research regarding the concepts of health present in undergraduate schools of nursing of Brazil and Portugal. The objective of this research was to comprehend how the concepts of health are explicit in the documents of undergraduate courses and how they are expressed in the discourses of the nursing professors and students. For this, thematic content analysis was used to analyze the professional education of the nurses and the concepts of health present in the nursing courses. The presentation of the results was performed using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. The results showed that in the state of Santa Catarina in Brazil, the concepts of health follow the National Curriculum Guidelines and there is an emphasis directed towards reflection on the Brazilian National Health System (SUS); while in the city of Porto, in Portugal, these concepts follow the Study Plans of the Nursing courses and emphasize nursing care both for the healthy and the sick person. The data also reveal a concern in the construction of the concept of people-centered healthcare.Este artículo representa una parte de la investigación que realicé durante el doctorado sobre las concepciones de salud presentes en escuelas de graduación en enfermería de Brasil y Portugal. El objetivo de esta investigación fue comprender como las concepciones sobre la salud están explícitas en los documentos de los cursos de graduación y de qué forma se expresan en los discursos de los profesores y estudiantes de enfermería. Para esto, utilizamos el análisis de contenido temático sobre la educación profesional de los enfermeros y sobre las concepciones de la salud presentes en los cursos de enfermería. La presentación de los resultados fue realizada a través del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo. Los resultados apuntaron que, en el estado de Santa Catarina, en Brasil, las concepciones de salud siguen las Directrices Curriculares Nacionales y existe un énfasis dirigido a reflexionar sobre el Sistema Único de Salud; en cuanto en la ciudad de Porto, en Portugal, esas concepciones siguen los Planos de Estudios de los cursos de Enfermería y se enfatiza el cuidado de Enfermería tanto a la persona saludable como a la enferma. Los datos revelan, también, una preocupación en la construcción del concepto de salud centrado en las personas.Este artigo representa um recorte de pesquisa de doutorado a respeito das concepções de saúde, presentes em escolas de graduação em enfermagem do Brasil e de Portugal. O objetivo foi compreender como as concepções de saúde estão explícitas nos documentos dos cursos de graduação e de que forma se expressam nos discursos dos professores e estudantes de enfermagem. Para tanto, utilizou-se análise de conteúdo temática sobre a educação profissional dos enfermeiros e sobre as concepções de saúde presentes nos cursos de enfermagem. A apresentação dos resultados foi realizada através do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Os resultados apontaram que, no Estado de Santa Catarina, no Brasil, as concepções de saúde seguem as Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais e há ênfase dirigida à reflexão sobre o Sistema Único de Saúde; enquanto na cidade do Porto, em Portugal, tais concepções seguem os Planos de Estudos dos Cursos de Enfermagem e se enfatiza o cuidado de Enfermagem tanto à pessoa saudável quanto à doente. Os dados revelam, ainda, preocupação na construção do conceito de saúde centrado na pessoa

Who Benefits Most from a University Degree?: A Cross-National Comparison of Selection and Wage Returns in the US, UK, and Germany

Recent research on economic returns to higher education in the United States suggests that those with the highest wage returns to a college degree are least likely to obtain one. We extend the study of heterogeneous returns to tertiary education across multiple institutional contexts, investigating how the relationship between wage returns and the propensity to complete a degree varies by the level of expansion, differentiation, and cost of higher education. Drawing on panel data and matching techniques, we compare findings from the US with selection into degree completion in Germany and the UK. Contrary to previous studies, we find little evidence for population level heterogeneity in economic returns to higher education

Understanding and controlling asthma in Latin America: A review of recent research informed by the SCAALA programme.

Asthma is an important health concern in Latin America (LA) where it is associated with variable prevalence and disease burden between countries. High prevalence and morbidity have been observed in some regions, particularly marginalized urban populations. Research over the past 10 years from LA has shown that childhood disease is primarily non-atopic. The attenuation of atopy may be explained by enhanced immune regulation induced by intense exposures to environmental factors such as childhood infections and poor environmental conditions of the urban poor. Non-atopic symptoms are associated with environmental and lifestyle factors including poor living conditions, respiratory infections, psychosocial stress, obesity, and a diet of highly processed foods. Ancestry (particularly African) and genetic factors increase asthma risk, and some of these factors may be specific to LA settings. Asthma in LA tends to be poorly controlled and depends on access to health care and medications. There is a need to improve management and access to medication through primary health care. Future research should consider the heterogeneity of asthma to identify relevant endotypes and underlying causes. The outcome of such research will need to focus on implementable strategies relevant to populations living in resource-poor settings where the disease burden is greatest

O ambiente educacional do curso de Graduação em Enfermagem na perspectiva dos estudantes

RESUMO Objetivo Avaliar o ambiente educacional da Escola de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo, na perspectiva do estudante. Método Abordagem quantitativa com desenho exploratório. Participaram do estudo, 176 estudantes que responderam a uma escala Likert, com graduação de 1 a 5 para avaliação do ambiente educacional. Os dados foram submetidos à análise fatorial exploratóriae testes estatísticos inferenciais; a confiabilidade do instrumento foi constatada pelo Alpha de Cronbach. Resultados A análise de dimensionalidade estabeleceu quatro fatores: Suporte à aprendizagem prática, com média de escore 3,64; Atitudes durante a aprendizagem, escore médio 2,92; Clima de aprendizagem, média 3,58 e Fragilidades da aprendizagem com 3,04. Conclusão O fator mais favorável do ambiente foi o Suporte à aprendizagem. As competências atitudinais atingiram escores mais baixos, sugerindo a necessidade de fortalecer esses aspectos durante a graduação