Pulmonary Innate Immune Response and Melatonin Receptors in the Perinatal Stress

Objective. To analyze the cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response and the capacity for local response to melatonin according to the perinatal stress. Methods. 49 cases of pediatric autopsies were evaluated, divided according to cause of death, perinatal stress, gestational age, and birth weight. The percentages of IL-6, C-reactive protein (CRP), IL-1β, TNF-α, and melatonin receptor were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results. The IL-6 expression was higher in the children showing chronic stress, anoxia, and infection. The IL-6 expression showed a progressive increase according to the relation between weight and GA. There was no significant difference in the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. The CRP expression was higher in the cases showing chronic stress and premature cases. The expression of melatonin receptors was significantly higher in the cases showing chronic stress, being more evident in the cases showing infection. Conclusion. The cause of death and the type of stress influence the expression in situ of melatonin and cytokines of the innate immune pulmonary response. The evaluation of IL-6 and CRP may contribute to the understanding of the evolution of neonates with chronic stress. The greater sensitivity of the lung to melatonin in these cases may indicate an attempt at controlling the immunological response, in an attempt to diminish the harmful effects of stress

DESCRIÇÃO DA CAPACIDADE FUNCIONAL DE IDOSOS INSTITUCIONALIZADOS

O presente trabalho tem como objetivo descrever a capacidade funcional dos idosos residentes no asilo São Vicente de Paula, Uberaba-MG. É um estudo transversal, realizado entre os anos de 2005 e 2006, com avaliação de um total de dezenove prontuários foram analisados como instrumento de medida para as atividades de vida diária (AVD), utilizando-se a escala de Spirduso para a coleta de dados. As faixas etárias mais freqüentes foram de 60-70 anos e 70-80 anos, sendo 58,0% do sexo feminino e 42,0% do sexo masculino. Apresentaram dependência para lavar e passar roupas, bem como para realizar atividades de limpeza de casa 73,7% dos idosos asilados, sendo de 84,2% o índice de dependência para os cuidados com os pés e unhas, independente do gênero e da faixa etária. Pelos resultados obtidos, deve-se ressaltar a importância do desenvolvimento de programas terapêuticos que priorizem o cuidado com as enfermidades e programas de intervenção, a fim de prevenir e melhorar a capacidade funcional, além de permitir uma melhor qualidade devida deste coletivo

DESCRIÇÃO DA CAPACIDADE FUNCIONAL DE IDOSOS INSTITUCIONALIZADOS

This paper aims to describe the functional capacity of the elderly in the nursing home at city of Uberaba-MG. It is a cross-sectional study, conducted between 2002 and 2003, assessing a total of nineteen charts that were analyzed as a measuring tool for the activities of daily living (ADLs), using the scale Spirduso to collect data. The most frequent age groups were 60-70 years and 70-80 years, 58.0% female and 42.0% male. Presented dependence for washing and ironing, as well as to carry out cleanup activities from home 73.7% of the institutionalized elderly, with 84.2% of the dependency ratio for the care of the feet and nails, regardless of gender and age. From the results obtained, it is concluded that most of the elderly residents in long-stay institutions have difficulties in daily activities requiring physical effort and joint overload. Therefore, it is necessary to follow up this study as a way to increase knowledge about health problems of the elderly as well as their abilities and functional limitations that increasingly can meet the real needs of this population that has been growing in recent years