Comparing the impact of chronic energy restriction and vitamin E supplementation on the behavior of adult rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of energy restriction and vitamin E supplementation on memory, learning, anxiety and spontaneous locomotion in adult rats. Three-month old male Wistar rats were grouped according to diet: Control (AIN 93-M; n=18), Supplemented (AIN 93-M + 1425 IU all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet; n=22) and Restricted (AIN 93-M with 30% reduction in carbohydrate energy; n=23). Sixteen weeks after, the passive avoidance (PA), elevated plus-maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests were applied. In the EPM test, the behavioral profile of the supplemented group was characterized by a lower frequency of entries into the open arms (P < 0,026), whereas the restricted group showed a lower frequency of head dipping (P < 0,003). The ratio between the time span of the shocks and the number of attempts were larger for the supplemented than for the non-supplemented animals (P = 0,0474), thus suggesting a delay in learning in the PA test. Taken together, these results suggest that a long-term combination of carbohydrate energy restriction in rats should not cause negative behavioral alterations. Compared with vitamin E supplementation, the restricted diet performed equally or better in rats as an alternate antioxidant diet.593287295Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Atenção ao idoso na estratégia de Saúde da Família: atuação do enfermeiro

Este estudo objetivou descrever a consulta de enfermagem ao idoso realizada na ESF; identificar possíveis dificuldades na atenção à saúde do idoso, bem como os cursos de qualificação profissional realizados e as necessidades de aprendizagem. Os dados foram coletados por meio da entrevista semiestruturada e submetidos à análise descritiva e temática. Foram entrevistadas 12 enfermeiras, a maioria estando na faixa etária de anos de formada (41%) em instituição particular (75%). Emergiram duas categorias temáticas: consulta de enfermagem ao idoso na ESF e qualificação profissional para a atenção à saúde do idoso. Foi considerado como desafio na realização da consulta de enfermagem a obtenção de dados fidedignos, a resolutividade e o apoio familiar. Os cursos para qualificar a atenção ao idoso ocorreram durante o período de graduação, destacando a falta de oportunidade, a pouca oferta e a necessidade de se aprofundar sobre o processo de envelhecimento.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir la consulta de enfermería realizada por el anciano en la ESF; identificar posibles dificultades en la atención a la salud del anciano, así como los cursos de calificación profesional realizados y las necesidades de aprendizaje. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de la entrevista semiestructurada y sometidos al análisis descriptivo temático. Fueron entrevistadas doce enfermeras, estando la mayoría situadas en la faja etaria de 23 a 28 años (66%), con 1-2 años de graduadas (41%) en instituciones particulares (75%). Emergieron dos categorías temáticas: consulta de enfermería del anciano en la ESF y calificación profesional para la atención de la salud del anciano. Fue considerado como desafío en la realización de la consulta de enfermería la obtención de datos fidedignos, la resolutividad y el apoyo familiar. Los cursos para calificar la atención al anciano, tuvieron lugar durante el período de graduación, destacándose la falta de oportunidad, la poca oferta y la necesidad de profundizar sobre el proceso de envejecimiento.This study aimed to describe the nursing consultation for the elderly provided at the Family Health Strategy (ESF, acronym in Portuguese); identify possible difficulties in delivering health care to the elderly, as well as the professional qualification courses performed and the learning needs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and submitted to descriptive and thematic analysis. Interviews were performed with 12 nurses, most with ages between years since graduation (41%) in private institutions (75%). Two thematic categories emerged from the analysis: nursing consultation for the elderly performed at ESF and professional qualification in health care for the elderly. Obtaining reliable data in the nursing consultation, resolution and family support were considered as challenges. The courses to qualify professionals for elderly care occurred during their graduation course, highlighting the lack of opportunity, the short supply and the need for deeper studies about the aging process

The psychosocial cost burden of cancer : A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Psychosocial costs, or quality of life costs, account for psychological distress, pain, suffering and other negative experiences associated with cancer. They contribute to the overall economic burden of cancer that patients experience. But this category of costs remains poorly understood. This hinders opportunities to make the best cancer control policy decisions. This study explored the psychosocial cost burden associated with cancer, how studies measure psychosocial costs and the impact of this burden. METHODS: A systematic literature review of academic and grey literature published from 2008 to 2018 was conducted by searching electronic databases, guided by the Institute of Medicine's conceptualization of psychosocial burden. Results were analyzed using a narrative synthesis and a weighted proportion of populations affected was calculated. Study quality was assessed using the Ottawa-Newcastle instrument. RESULTS: A total of 25 studies were included. There was variation in how psychosocial costs were conceptualized and an inconsistent approach to measurement. Most studies measured social dimensions and focused on the financial consequences of paying for care. Fewer studies assessed costs associated with the other domains of this burden, including psychological, physical, and spiritual dimensions. Fourty-four percent of cancer populations studied were impacted by psychosocial costs and this varied by disease site (38%-71%). Two studies monetized the psychosocial cost burden, estimating a lifetime cost per case ranging from CAD$427753 to CAD$528769. Studies were of varying quality; 60% of cross-sectional studies had a high risk of bias. CONCLUSIONS: Consistency in approach to measurement would help to elevate this issue for researchers and decision makers. At two-thirds of the total economic burden of cancer, economic evaluations should account for psychosocial costs to better inform decision-making. More support is needed to address the psychosocial cost burden faced by patients and their families

PD-1 Blockade Modulates Functional Activities of Exhausted-Like T Cell in Patients With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis

Patients infected by Leishmania braziliensis develop debilitating skin lesions. The role of inhibitory checkpoint receptors (ICRs) that induce T cell exhaustion during this disease is not known. Transcriptional profiling identified increased expression of ICRs including PD-1, PDL-1, PDL-2, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 in skin lesions of patients that was confirmed by immunohistology where there was increased expression of PD-1, TIM-3, and CTLA-4 in both CD4^{+} and CD8^{+} T cell subsets. Moreover, PDL-1/PDL-2 ligands were increased on skin macrophages compared to healthy controls. The proportions PD1^{+}, but not TIM-3 or CTLA-4 expressing T cells in the circulation were positively correlated with those in the lesions of the same patients, suggesting that PD-1 may regulate T cell function equally in both compartments. Blocking PD-1 signaling in circulating T cells enhanced their proliferative capacity and IFN-γ production, but not TNF-α secretion in response to L. braziliensis recall antigen challenge in vitro. While we previously showed a significant correlation between the accumulation of senescent CD8^{+}CD45RA^{+}CD27^{-} T cells in the circulation and skin lesion size in the patients, there was no such correlation between the extent of PD-1 expression by circulating on T cells and the magnitude of skin lesions suggesting that exhausted-like T cells may not contribute to the cutaneous immunopathology. Nevertheless, we identified exhausted-like T cells in both skin lesions and in the blood. Targeting this population by PD-1 blockade may improve T cell function and thus accelerate parasite clearance that would reduce the cutaneous pathology in cutaneous leishmaniasis

High birth weight as an important risk factor for infant leukemia

In this paper, we compared the birth weight distribution among 201 infant leukaemia (IL) cases with that of 440 noncancer controls enrolled in Brazil in 1999–2005. Compared with the general population and the stratum 2500–2999 g as reference, IL cases weighing 3000–3999 g presented an odds ratio (OR) of 1.68 (95% CI: 1.03–2.76), and those of 4000 g or more, an OR of 2.28 (95% CI: 1.08–4.75), Ptrend<0.01. Using hospital-based controls, the OR for 4000 g or more, compared to 2500–2999 g, was 1.30 (95% CI: 1.02–1.43) after adjusting for confounders (gender, income, maternal age, pesticide and hormonal exposure during pregnancy). The results suggest that high birth weight is associated with increased risk of IL