Análise e Organização da Informação nas Instituições

The current information overload, the scenario of scarce resources for ST&I and the legal and socioeconomic context of Brazil motivated the use of a methodological procedure of analysis and organization of information. Through this method it was possible to define priority themes that translate into issues that highlight the attention and interest of managers and scientists, as well as in strategic technological and economic activities for Brazil, in the scope of biotechnology and genetics. The procedure of information analysis and organization consisted in the use of the Triple Helix model for the collection of information, in the carrying out of group dynamics, in the use of the GUT Matrix and in the achievement of institutional Seminars for analysis, treatment, prioritization and organization of information. The use of this procedure with relevant and quality information from formal sources helped in improving the strategic decisions in institutions and for the structure and elaboration of new actions in the field of ST&I.La actualidad de sobrecarga de información, del escenario de escasez de recursos para CT&I y del contexto legal y socioeconómico de Brasil motivó el uso de un procedimiento metodológico de análisis y organización de informaciones. Por medio de este método fue posible definir temas prioritarios que se traducen en cuestiones que suscita atención e interés de gestores y científicos, así como en actividades tecnológicas y económicas estratégicas para Brasil, en el ámbito de la biotecnología y genética. El procedimiento de análisis y organización de información consistió en la utilización del modelo de Hélice Triple para la recolección de las informaciones, y en la realización de dinámica de grupo, en el uso de la Matriz GUT y en la realización de Seminarios institucionales para análisis, tratamiento, priorización y organización de las información. El uso de este procedimiento con informaciones relevantes y de calidad a partir de fuentes de formales contribuyó a la toma de decisiones estratégicas en las instituciones ya la estructura y elaboración de nuevas acciones en el ámbito de la CT& I.A atualidade de sobrecarga de informação, do cenário de escassez de recursos para CT&I e do contexto legal e socioeconômico do Brasil motivaram o uso de um procedimento metodológico de análise e organização de informações. Por meio desse método foi possível definir temas prioritários que se traduzem em questões que suscitam atenção e interesse de gestores e cientistas, bem como em atividades tecnológicas e econômicas estratégicas para o Brasil, no âmbito da biotecnologia e genética. O procedimento de análise e organização de informação consistiu na utilização do modelo de Hélice Tríplice para a coleta das informações, e na realização de dinâmica de grupo, no uso da Matriz GUT e na realização de Seminários institucionais para análise, tratamento, priorização e organização das informações. O uso deste procedimento com informações relevantes e de qualidade a partir de fontes de formais contribuiu para tomada de decisões estratégicas nas instituições e para a estrutura e elaboração de novas ações no âmbito da CT&I

Development and Validation of a PCR-ELISA for the Diagnosis of Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Infection by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum

A kDNA PCR enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (kDNA PCR-ELISA) for the diagnosis of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) was developed. The detection limit of the reaction, precision measurements, and cut-off of the kDNA PCR-ELISA were defined in a proof-of-concept phase. A reference strain of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum and a bank of 14 peripheral blood samples from immunocompetent patients with VL were characterized using techniques considered gold standards, and 11 blood samples obtained from healthy individuals of an endemic area were also assessed. Phase II evaluation determined the performance of the assay in peripheral blood samples from 105 patients with VL (adults and children), 25 patients with Leishmania/HIV coinfection, 40 healthy individuals, and 33 asymptomatic individuals living in endemic areas. The kDNA PCR-ELISA exhibited satisfactory precision, with a detection limit of 0.07 fg of DNA from L. (L.) infantum and 1 parasite/mL blood. The overall sensitivity of the assay for all groups studied was 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 97.1–100%), and the specificity was 95% (95% CI: 83.5–98.6%). The kDNA PCR-ELISA was shown to be a useful tool for VL symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals diagnosis and its use in endemic countries may help monitor control interventions

Desafios da implantação de testes rápidos para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral em serviços de saúde de município endêmico para a doença

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever e discutir fatores facilitadores e desafios enfrentados durante o processo de incorporação de um teste rápido para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral (LV) humana em serviços de saúde de município endêmico para a doença no Brasil. Este estudo foi dividido em quatro eixos de análise, seguindo as etapas de execução do estudo: 1) Descrição do sistema de saúde local e da tecnologia a ser implantada; 2) Contexto e atividades preparatórias; 3) Resultados da avaliação da implantação, da aceitação e do desempenho do algoritmo diagnóstico; 4) Conclusões, considerações e recomendações. O estudo foi conduzido em Ribeirão das Neves, no estado de Minas Gerais; o teste rápido implantado, o IT LEISH®, executado a partir de sangue capilar. Impasses e desafios estiveram relacionados à recusa de profissionais de saúde em realizar o IT LEISH® durante as capacitações, como dificuldade no processo de compra do teste rápido e atraso na entrega, dificuldades para coleta do sangue capilar relatada por pacientes e profissionais de saúde e falta de clareza entre os profissionais sobre suas atribuições e responsabilidades nas unidades de saúde, além de evasão de pacientes para cidade de maior porte. Este estudo apontou para a viabilidade da implantação de um teste rápido que descentralizasse e favorecesse o acesso ao diagnóstico laboratorial da LV. No entanto, no período do estudo, a maioria dos casos de LV residentes em Ribeirão das Neves foi diagnosticada em outro município, Belo Horizonte. Tal constatação aponta para desarticulação interna envolvendo os serviços de saúde do município, seja no acolhimento e na identificação dos suspeitos de LV, seja na efetiva utilização dos recursos disponíveis. Mesmo assim, identificamos dois aspectos determinantes para a realização da implantação: o engajamento de profissionais lotados em setores estratégicos da gestão municipal e a existência de financiamento. Estes resultados demonstram a complexidade do processo de implantação de uma nova tecnologia e apontam para a necessidade de trabalho integrado. Do contrário, a disponibilidade de testes rápidos para LV não será suficiente para garantir acesso e redução da letalidade pela doença

Development and Evaluation of a Sensitive PCR-ELISA System for Detection of Schistosoma Infection in Feces

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease caused by worms of the genus Schistosoma. The transmission cycle requires contamination of bodies of water by parasite eggs present in excreta, specific snails as intermediate hosts and human contact with water. Fortunately, relatively safe and easily administrable drugs are available and, as the outcome of repeated treatment, a reduction of severe clinical forms and a decrease in the number of infected persons has been reported in endemic areas. The routine method for diagnosis is the microscopic examination but it fails when there are few eggs in the feces, as usually occurs in treated but noncured persons or in areas with low levels of transmission. This study reports the development of the PCR-ELISA system for the detection of Schistosoma DNA in human feces as an alternative approach to diagnose light infections. The system permits the enzymatic amplification of a specific region of the DNA from minute amounts of parasite material. Using the proposed PCR-ELISA approach for the diagnosis of a population in an endemic area in Brazil, 30% were found to be infected, as compared with the 18% found by microscopic fecal examination. Although the technique requires a complex laboratory infrastructure and specific funding it may be used by control programs targeting the elimination of schistosomiasis

Diagnosing schistosomiasis: where are we?

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-02-02T16:33:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_024.pdf: 741827 bytes, checksum: 2ac4c380c92047b5e7c3f60f36364205 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-02-02T16:34:07Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_024.pdf: 741827 bytes, checksum: 2ac4c380c92047b5e7c3f60f36364205 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2015-02-02T16:36:38Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_024.pdf: 741827 bytes, checksum: 2ac4c380c92047b5e7c3f60f36364205 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-02-02T16:36:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2014_024.pdf: 741827 bytes, checksum: 2ac4c380c92047b5e7c3f60f36364205 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilLaboratório de Parasitoses Intestinais e Malacologia. Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Laboratório de Pesquisas Clínicas. Belo Horizonte, MG, BrasilIn light of the World Health Organization’s initiative to extend schistosomiasis morbidity and mortality control programs by including a disease elimination strategy in low endemic settings, this paper reviews diagnostic tools described during the last decades and provide an overview of ongoing efforts in making an efficient diagnostic tool available worldwide. A literature search on PubMed using the search criteria schistosomiasis and diagnosis within the period from 1978 to 2013 was carried out. Articles with abstract in English and that used laboratory techniques specifically developed for the detection of schistosomiasis in humans were included. Publications were categorized according to the methodology applied (parasitological, immunological, or molecular) and stage of development (in house development, limited field, or large scale field testing). The initial research generated 4,535 publications, of which only 643 met the inclusion criteria. The vast majority (537) of the publications focused on immunological techniques; 81 focused on parasitological diagnosis, and 25 focused on molecular diagnostic methods. Regarding the stage of development, 307 papers referred to in-house development, 202 referred to limited field tests, and 134 referred to large scale field testing. The data obtained show that promising new diagnostic tools, especially for Schistosoma antigen and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) detection, which are characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, are being developed. In combination with international funding initiatives these tools may result in a significant step forward in successful disease elimination and surveillance, which is to make efficient tests accessible and its large use self-sustainable for control programs in endemic countries

Parasite load and risk factors for poor outcome among children with visceral leishmaniasis. A cohort study in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 2010-2011

Clinical and laboratory risk factors for death from visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are relatively known, but quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) might assess the role of parasite load in determining clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors, including parasite load in peripheral blood, for VL poor outcome among children. This prospective cohort study evaluated children aged ≤ 12 years old with VL diagnosis at three times: pre-treatment (T0), during treatment (T1) and post-treatment (T2). Forty-eight patients were included and 16 (33.3%) met the criteria for poor outcome. Age ≤ 12 months [relative risk (RR) 3.51; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.89-6.52], tachydyspnoea (RR 3.46; 95% CI 2.19-5.47), bacterial infection (RR 3.08; 95% CI 1.27-7.48), liver enlargement (RR 3.00; 95% CI 1.44-6.23) and low serum albumin (RR 7.00; 95% CI 1.80-27.24) were identified as risk factors. qPCR was positive in all patients at T0 and the parasite DNA was undetectable in 76.1% of them at T1 and in 90.7% at T2. There was no statistical association between parasite load at T0 and poor outcome