Mid-point for open-ended income category and the effect of equivalence scales on the income-health relationship

El objetivo fue estimar el punto medio de categoría abierta de renta y el efecto de escalas de equivalencia en las asociaciones entre renta-salud. Los datos fueron obtenidos de la Pesquisa Nacional de Salud Bucal 2010 (SBBrasil). La renta fue convertida de la variable categórica a la continua (per capita y equiparada) para cada punto medio. La mediana de la categoría abierta de renta fue R$14.523,50, y la media, R$24.507,10. El porcentaje de la población por debajo de la línea de pobreza fue de 53% con renta per capita, y 15% con renta equiparada. La magnitud de las asociaciones fue similar en la escala continua, pero, al ser categorizada, la renta equiparada redujo su fuerza.To estimate the mid-point of an open-ended income category and to assess the impact of two equivalence scales on income-health associations. Data were obtained from the 2010 Brazilian Oral Health Survey ( Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal – SBBrasil 2010). Income was converted from categorical to two continuous variables ( per capita and equivalized) for each mid-point. The median mid-point was R$14,523.50 and the mean, R$ 24,507.10. When per capita income was applied, 53% of the population were below the poverty line, compared with 15% with equivalized income. The magnitude of income-health associations was similar for continuous income, but categorized equivalized income tended to decrease the strength of association.Objetivou-se estimar o ponto médio de categoria aberta de renda e o efeito de escalas de equivalência nas associações renda-saúde. Dados foram obtidos da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde Bucal 2010 (SBBrasil). A renda foi convertida da variável categórica para contínua ( per capita e equivalizada) para cada ponto médio. A mediana da categoria aberta de renda foi R$14.523,50 e a média, R$ 24.507,10. O percentual da população abaixo da linha de pobreza foi de 53% com renda per capita e 15% com renda equivalizada. A magnitude das associações foi similar na escala contínua, mas, quando categorizada, a renda equivalizada reduziu sua força

Gender and racial inequalities in trends of oral cancer mortality in Sao Paulo, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Analisar tendências recentes da mortalidade por câncer de boca, focalizando diferenças quanto a sexo e raça. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados dados oficiais de população e mortalidade na cidade de São Paulo entre 2003 e 2009 para estimar coeficientes de mortalidade por câncer de boca (C00-C10, Classificação Internacional de Doenças, 10a Revisão), com ajuste por idade e estratificação por sexo (feminino e masculino) e cor (negros e brancos). Para cálculo de tendências foi utilizado o procedimento de Prais-Winsten de autorregressão para análise de séries temporais. RESULTADOS: No período de estudo, 8.505 indivíduos residentes na cidade morreram de câncer de boca. Os coeficientes apresentaram tendência crescente para mulheres (taxa de crescimento anual = 4,4%, IC95% 1,4;7,5) e estacionária para homens, representando inversão das tendências anteriores entre os sexos, na cidade. Identificou-se tendência crescente para negros, com elevada taxa de aumento anual (9,1%, IC95% 5,5;12,9), e tendência estacionária para brancos. A mortalidade por câncer de boca em negros quase dobrou durante o período e ultrapassou a mortalidade em brancos para quase todas as categorias. CONCLUSÕES: A mortalidade entre mulheres aumentou mais do que entre homens e duplicou entre negros. A vigilância de tendências da mortalidade por câncer de boca entre os estratos de sexo e cor pode contribuir para programas de saúde que reduzam a carga de doença e atenuem diferenças em saúde que são injustas, evitáveis e desnecessárias.OBJETIVO: Analizar tendencias recientes de mortalidad por cáncer de boca, enfocando diferencias con respecto a sexo y raza MÉTODOS: Se utilizaron datos oficiales de población y mortalidad en la ciudad de Sao Paulo (Brasil) entre 2003 y 2009 para estimar coeficientes de mortalidad por cáncer de boca (C00-C10, Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, 10ª Revisión), con ajuste por edad y estratificación por sexo (femenino y masculino) y raza (negros y blancos). Para calcular las tendencias se utilizó procedimiento de Prais-Winsten de auto-regresión para análisis de series temporales. RESULTADOS: En el período de estudio, 8505 individuos residentes en la ciudad murieron por cáncer de boca. Los coeficientes presentaron tendencia creciente en mujeres (tasa de crecimiento anual = 4,4%, IC95%: 1,4;7,5) y estacionaria en hombres, representando inversión de las tendencias anteriores entre sexos, en la ciudad. Se identificó tendencia creciente en negros, con elevada tasa de crecimiento anual (9,1%, IC95%:5,5;12,9), y tendencias estacionaras en blancos. La mortalidad por cáncer de boca en negros casi se duplicó durante el período y sobrepasó la mortalidad en blancos para casi todas las categorías. CONCLUSIONES: la mortalidad entre mujeres aumentó más que en hombres y se duplicó en negros. La vigilancia de tendencias de mortalidad por cáncer de boca entre los estratos de sexo y raza puede contribuir en programas de salud que reduzcan la carga de enfermedad, y atenúen las diferencias que son injustas, evitables e innecesarias.OBJECTIVE: To analyse recent trends in oral cancer mortality, focusing specifically on differences concerning gender and race. METHODS: Official information on deaths and population in the city of Sao Paulo, 2003 to 2009, were used to estimate mortality rates from oral cancer (C00 to C10, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision), adjusted for age and stratified by gender (females and males) and race (blacks and whites). The Prais-Winsten auto-regression procedure was used to analyse the time series. RESULTS: During the study period, 8,505 individuals living in the city of Sao Paulo died of oral cancer. Rates increased for females (rate of yearly increase = 4.4%, 95%CI 1.4;7.5), and levelled off for men, which represents an inversion of previous trends among genders in the city. Increases were identified for blacks, with a high rate of yearly increase of 9.1% (95%CI 5.5;12.9), and levelled off for whites. Oral cancer mortality in blacks almost doubled during the study period, and surpassed mortality in whites for almost all categories. CONCLUSIONS: Mortality presented a higher increase among women than in men, and it doubled among backs. The surveillance of trends of oral cancer mortality across gender and racial groups may contribute to implementing socially appropriate health policies, which concurrently reduce the burden of disease and the attenuation of unfair, avoidable and unnecessary inequalities in health

Inequalities in self-rated oral health in adults

OBJETIVO Analisar a associação entre autoavaliação da saúde bucal em adultos e desigualdades sociodemográficas. MÉTODOS Estudo transversal com 2.016 adultos de 20 a 59 anos de idade, de Florianópolis, SC, em 2009. A amostra foi obtida por duplo estágio (setores censitários e domicílios). Os dados foram coletados por entrevistas domiciliares face a face. O desfecho foi autoavaliação da saúde bucal. As variáveis exploratórias foram caracterizadas em blocos demográficos, socioeconômicos, de utilização de serviços e de condições bucais autorreferidas. Foi realizada análise de regressão multivariável de Poisson e estimadas as razões de prevalências e respectivos intervalos de 95% de confiança. RESULTADOS A prevalência de autoavaliação negativa da saúde bucal foi de 33,2% (IC95% 29,8;36,6). Idade avançada, referir-se como pardo, possuir menor escolaridade, ter consultado o dentista há três anos ou mais, ter realizado a última consulta em consultório público, possuir menos de dez dentes naturais presentes em pelo menos um arco, perceber necessidade de tratamento odontológico, apresentar sensação de boca seca e dificuldade de alimentação em virtude dos dentes foram associados à autoavaliação negativa da saúde bucal na análise ajustada. CONCLUSÕES A autoavaliação da saúde bucal reflete as desigualdades em saúde e está relacionada às piores condições socioeconômicas, menor uso de serviços de saúde e pior condição bucal autorreferida.OBJETIVO Analizar la asociación entre autoevaluación de la salud bucal en adultos y desigualdades sociodemográficas. MÉTODOS Estudio transversal con 2.016 adultos de 20 a 59 años de edad, de Florianópolis, SC-Brasil, en 2009. La muestra fue obtenida en doble etapa (sectores censados y domicilios). Los datos fueron colectados por entrevistas domiciliares cara-a-cara. El resultado fue auto-evaluación de la salud bucal. Las variables exploratorias fueron caracterizadas en bloques demográficos, socioeconómicos, de utilización de servicios y de condiciones bucales auto-referidas. Se realizó análisis de regresión multivariable de Poisson y se estimaron los cocientes de prevalencias y respectivos intervalos de 95% de confianza. RESULTADOS La prevalencia de autoevaluación negativa de la salud bucal fue de 33,2% (IC95% 29,8;36,6). La edad avanzada, referirse como pardo, poseer menor escolaridad, haber consultado el dentista hace tres años o más, haber realizado la última consulta en consultorio público, poseer menos de diez dientes naturales presentes en al menos un arco, percibir necesidad de tratamiento odontológico, presentar sensación de boca seca y dificultad de alimentación en virtud de los dientes fueron asociados a la autoevaluación negativa de la salud bucal en el análisis ajustado. CONCLUSIONES La autoevaluación de la salud bucal refleja las desigualdades en salud y está relacionada con las peores condiciones socioeconómicas, menor uso de servicios de salud y peor condición bucal auto-referida.OBJECTIVE To investigate the link between self-rated oral health and socio-demographic inequalities. METHODS Cross-sectional study, carried out with 2,016 adults between 20 and 59 years of age in 2009, in Florianopolis, SC, Southern Brazil. We adopted a two-stage sampling design (census tracts and households). Data were collected through face-to-face interviews, conducted in the participants’ households. The outcome was self-rated oral health. The exploratory variables were demographic characteristics, indicators of socioeconomic position, dental service utilization and adverse self-reported oral health conditions. Analysis was performed using multivariable poisson regression, which allowed the estimation of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS The prevalence of negative self-rated oral health was 33.2% (95%CI 29.8;36.6). In the adjusted analysis, being of an older age, self-classifying as light-skinned black, lower education, the most recent dental appointment being three years or more ago, attending public dental surgeries, having less than 10 natural teeth in at least one arch, self-reporting need for dental treatment, reporting dry mouth, and difficulty eating due to tooth problems were associated with negative self-rated oral health. CONCLUSIONS Self-rated oral health reflects social inequalities in health, and it is associated with low socioeconomic status, less frequent use of dental services and poorer self-reported oral health conditions

Age, class and race discrimination: their interactions and associations with mental health among Brazilian university students

Although research on discrimination and health has progressed significantly, it has tended to focus on racial discrimination and US populations. This study explored different types of discrimination, their interactions and associations with common mental disorders among Brazilian university students, in Rio de Janeiro in 2010. Associations between discrimination and common mental disorders were examined using multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for confounders. Interactions between discrimination and socio-demographics were tested. Discrimination attributed to age, class and skin color/race were the most frequently reported. In a fully adjusted model, discrimination attributed to skin color/race and class were both independently associated with increased odds of common mental disorders. The simultaneous reporting of skin color/race, class and age discrimination was associated with the highest odds ratio. No significant interactions were found. Skin color/race and class discrimination were important, but their simultaneous reporting, in conjunction with age discrimination, were associated with the highest occurrence of common mental disorders

Socio-economic life course and obesity among adults in Florianopolis, southern Brazil

Objective: To estimate the association between socio-economic life course and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and general and abdominal obesity in adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of a population-based cohort study of 1,222 adults (aged 22-63) from Florianopolis, southern Brazil. The socio-economic life course was analysed using the educational level of participants and their parents. Height, weight and WC were measured by specially trained staff. Linear and logistic regressions were used with adjustment for confounding factors, and data were stratified according to sex. Results: Mean BMI and WC were about 2 kg/m (95% CI: −3.3 to −0.7) and 6 cm (95% CI: −9.7 to −2.9) lower in women with a high socio-economic position, while the association was reversed in men with a high socio-economic position, with WC being about 4 cm higher (95% CI: 0.1 to 7.5). In addition, women who had always been in a high socio-economic position were less likely to have abdominal obesity (OR: 0.38; 95% CI: 0.20 to 0.76) while no such association was found in men. Conclusion: Socio-economic life course influences BMI, WC and obesity, with differences between males and females, thereby indicating that public policies that contemplate a socio-economic life course approach can be effective for controlling obesity.Objetivo: Estimar la asociación entre trayectoria socioeconómica e índice de masa corporal (IMC), circunferencia de la cintura (CC) y obesidad general y abdominal en adultos. Métodos: Análisis transversal de un estudio de cohortes de base poblacional en 1222 adultos (22-63 años de edad) en Florianópolis, sur de Brasil. La trayectoria socioeconómica fue analizada mediante el nivel educativo de los padres y los propios participantes. La medición de altura, peso y CC fue realizada por personal especialmente entrenado. Se usaron modelos de regresión lineal y logística ajustando factores confusores y estratificando por sexo. Resultados: El promedio de IMC y CC fue de 2 kg/m2 (intervalo de confianza del [IC95%]: −3,3 a −0,7) y 6 cm (IC95%: −9,7 a −2,9), menor en las mujeres con mejor posición socioeconómica. Dicha asociación fue la contraria en el caso de los hombres, en los que el promedio de CC fue 4 cm mayor (IC95%: 0,1 a 7,5). Las mujeres que siempre permanecieron en mejor posición socioeconómica fueron menos propensas a tener obesidad abdominal (odds ratio: 0,38; IC95%: 0,20 a 0,76), mientras que en los hombres no se observó dicha asociación. Conclusiones: La trayectoria socioeconómica se asocia al IMC, la CC y la obesidad, con diferencias entre sexos, indicando que la aplicación de políticas públicas que contemplen la trayectoria socioeconómica puede ser efectiva para el control de la obesidad

Ornithodoros brasiliensis Aragão (Acari: Argasidae): description of the larva, redescription of male and female, and neotype designation

Ornithodoros brasiliensis is an endemic tick from Brazil and is very aggressive to humans, resulting in pain, fever and intense inflammatory response. After more than 50 years without report, this species was recently found in rural areas of São Francisco de Paula municipality, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, from where it was originally described. Herein, we describe the larva and redescribe the adults of O. brasiliensis based on scanning electron microscopy. Since the type was lost we designate the neotype specimen under the number IBSP 10409. In addition, the relationship between O. brasiliensis and other species from the Neotropical region that share the morphological characteristics of Ornithodoros with dorsal humps on tarsi, and also live under the soil and feed on hosts other than bats, are discussed. Molecular analysis inferred from a portion of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene is also provided and it placed O. brasiliensis in a cluster supported by a maximal bootstrap value (100%) with Ornithodoros parkeri, Ornithodoros rostratus, and Ornithodoros turicata.Fil: Barros Battesti, Darci M.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Onofrio, Valeria C.. Governo do Estado de Sao Paulo. Secretaria da Saude. Instituto Butantan; BrasilFil: Nieri Bastos, Fernanda A.. Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: Soares, João Fábio. Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: Marcili, Arlei. Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: Famadas, Kátia M.. Universidad Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Faccini, Joao Luiz H.. Universidad Federal Rural de Rio de Janeiro; BrasilFil: Ramirez, Diego G.. Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal; BrasilFil: Doyle, Rovaina L.. Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor; BrasilFil: Martins, João Ricardo. Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor; BrasilFil: Junior, José R.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Guglielmone, Alberto Alejandro. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Santa Fe. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe; ArgentinaFil: Labruna, Marcelo B.. Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia. Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal; Brasi

Serological evidence of hantavirus infection in rural and urban regions in the state of Amazonas, Brazil

Hantavirus disease is caused by the hantavirus, which is an RNA virus belonging to the family Bunyaviridae. Hantavirus disease is an anthropozoonotic infection transmitted through the inhalation of aerosols from the excreta of hantavirus-infected rodents. In the county of Itacoatiara in the state of Amazonas (AM), Brazil, the first human cases of hantavirus pulmonary and cardiovascular syndrome were described in July 2004. These first cases were followed by two fatal cases, one in the municipality of Maues in 2005 and another in Itacoatiara in 2007. In this study, we investigated the antibody levels to hantavirus in a population of 1,731 individuals from four different counties of AM. Sera were tested by IgG/IgM-enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay using a recombinant nucleocapsid protein of the Araraquara hantavirus as an antigen. Ten sera were IgG positive to hantavirus (0.6%). Among the positive sera, 0.8% (1/122), 0.4% (1/256), 0.2% (1/556) and 0.9% (7/797) were from Atalaia do Norte, Careiro Castanho, Itacoatiara and Labrea, respectively. None of the sera in this survey were IgM-positive. Because these counties are distributed in different areas of AM, we can assume that infected individuals are found throughout the entire state, which suggests that hantavirus disease could be a local emerging health problem.FAPEAMFAPEAMCNPqCNPqCAPESCAPESSUFRAMASUFRAM

Broadened T-cell Repertoire Diversity in ivIg-treated SLE Patients is Also Related to the Individual Status of Regulatory T-cells

Intravenous IgG (ivIg) is a therapeutic alternative for lupus erythematosus, the mechanism of which remains to be fully understood. Here we investigated whether ivIg affects two established sub-phenotypes of SLE, namely relative oligoclonality of circulating T-cells and reduced activity of CD4 + Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells (Tregs) reflected by lower CD25 surface density.Octapharma research funding; Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia postdoctoral fellowships: (SFRH/BPD/20806/2004, SFRH/BPD/34648/2007); FCT Programa Pessoa travel grant