Níveis de eosinófilos na fase aguda da doença de Chagas experimental

Eosinophil dynamics, in bone marrow, blood and peritoneal exudate, of resistant C57B1/6 (C57) and susceptible A/Snell (A/Sn) mice was comparatively studied during the acute phase of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain. A decline was observed in bone marrow eosinophil levels in A/Sn, but not in C57 mice, soon after infection, those of the former remaining significantly below those of the latter up to the 4th day of infection. Bone marrow eosinophil levels of C57 mice declined subsequently to levels comparable to those of A/Sn mice, the number of these cells in this compartment remaining 50% those of non infected controls, in both strains, up to the end of the experiment on the 14th day of infection. The fluctuations in eosinophil levels in blood and peritoneal space were similar in both mice strains studied. Concomitantly with depletion of eosinophils in the marrow, depletion in blood and a marked rise of these cells in the peritoneal space, initial site of infection, occurred in both strains. The difference in eosinophil bone marrow levels, between C57 and A/Sn mice, observed in the first four days of infection, suggests a higher eosinopoiesis capacity of the former in this period, which might contribute to their higher resistance to T. cruzi infection.A dinâmica de eosinófilos, na medula óssea, sangue e exsudato peritoneal, de uma linhagem de camundongos resistente (C57B1/6) e de uma susceptível (A/Snell) foi comparativamente estudada durante a fase aguda da infecção com a cepa Y do Trypanosoma cruzi. Foi observada uma queda nos níveis de eosinófilos da medula óssea nos camundongos A/Sn, mas não nos C57, logo após a infecção, os dos primeiros permanecendo significativamente abaixo dos níveis dos últimos até o 4? dia de infecção. Os níveis de eosinófilos da medula óssea nos camundongos C57 caíram subseqüentemente a níveis próximos aos dos camundongos A/Sn, o número destas células neste compartimento permanecendo em torno de 50% daqueles dos controles não infectados, em ambas as linhagens, até o término do experimento, no 14º dia. As flutuações nos níveis de eosinófilos no sangue e cavidade peritoneal foram semelhantes nas duas linhagens de camundongos estudadas. Concomitantemente com a depleção na medula, ocorreram depleção destas células no sangue e significativo aumento na cavidade peritoneal, foco inicial da infecção, em ambas linhagens de camundongos. A diferença nos níveis de eosinófilos da medula óssea entre os camundongos C57 e A/Sn, observada nos 4 primeiros dias de infecção, sugere uma maior capacidade de eosinopoiese dos primeiros nesse período, o que poderia contribuir para sua maior resistência à infecção pelo T. cruzi

Eosinophil levels in the acute phase of experimental chagas' disease

Eosinophil dynamics, in bone marrow, blood and peritoneal exudate, of resistant C57B1/6 (C57) and susceptible A/Snell (A/Sn) mice was comparatively studied during the acute phase of infection by Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain. A decline was observed in bone marrow eosinophil levels in A/Sn, but not in C57 mice, soon after infection, those of the former remaining significantly below those of the latter up to the 4th day of infection. Bone marrow eosinophil levels of C57 mice declined subsequently to levels comparable to those of A/Sn mice, the number of these cells in this compartment remaining 50% those of non infected controls, in both strains, up to the end of the experiment on the 14th day of infection. The fluctuations in eosinophil levels in blood and peritoneal space were similar in both mice strains studied. Concomitantly with depletion of eosinophils in the marrow, depletion in blood and a marked rise of these cells in the peritoneal space, initial site of infection, occurred in both strains. The difference in eosinophil bone marrow levels, between C57 and A/Sn mice, observed in the first four days of infection, suggests a higher eosinopoiesis capacity of the former in this period, which might contribute to their higher resistance to T. cruzi infection

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya virus and living conditions in Feira de Santana, Bahia-Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an arbovirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which emerged in the Americas in 2013 and spread rapidly to almost every country on this continent. In Brazil, where the first cases were detected in 2014, it currently has reached all regions of this country and more than 900,000 cases were reported. The clinical spectrum of chikungunya ranges from an acute self-limiting form to disabling chronic forms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of chikungunya infection in a large Brazilian city and investigate the association between viral circulation and living condition. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a population-based ecological study in selected Sentinel Areas (SA) through household interviews and a serologic survey in 2016/2017. The sample was of 1,981 individuals randomly selected. The CHIKV seroprevalence was 22.1% (17.1 IgG, 2.3 IgM, and 1.4 IgG and IgM) and varied between SA from 2.0% to 70.5%. The seroprevalence was significantly lower in SA with high living conditions compared to SA with low living condition. There was a positive association between CHIKV seroprevalence and population density (r = 0.2389; p = 0.02033). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The seroprevalence in this city was 2.6 times lower than the 57% observed in a study conducted in the epicentre of the CHIKV epidemic of this same urban centre. So, the herd immunity in this general population, after four years of circulation of this agent is relatively low. It indicates that CHIKV transmission may persist in that city, either in endemic form or in the form of a new epidemic, because the vector infestation is persistent. Besides, the significantly lower seroprevalences in SA of higher Living Condition suggest that beyond the surveillance of the disease, vector control and specific actions of basic sanitation, the reduction of the incidence of this infection also depends on the improvement of the general living conditions of the population

Delays in obtaining hospital care and abortion-related complications within a context of illegality.

Abortion, particularly when illegal, highlights inequities in different populations. Although abortion-related mortality is lower compared to other obstetric causes, abortion complications tend to be more lethal. Delays in seeking and obtaining care are determinants of negative outcomes. This study, nested within the GravSus-NE, analyzed healthcare delays and their association with abortion-related complications in three cities of northeastern Brazil (Salvador, Recife and São Luís). Nineteen public maternity hospitals were involved. All eligible women ≥18 years old hospitalized between August and December 2010 were evaluated. Descriptive, stratified and multivariate analyses were performed. Youden's index was used to determine delay. One model was created with all the women and another with those admitted in good clinical conditions, thus determining complications that occurred during hospitalization and their associated factors. Of 2,371 women, most (62.3%) were ≤30 years old (median 27 years) and 89.6% reported being black or brown-skinned. Most (90.5%) were admitted in good condition, 4.0% in fair condition and 5.5% in poor/very poor condition. Median time between admission and uterine evacuation was 7.9 hours. After a cut-off time of 10 hours, the development of complications increased considerably. Black women and those admitted during nightshifts were more likely to experience a wait time ≥10 hours. Delays were associated with severe complications (OR 1.97; 95%CI: 1.55-2.51), including in the women admitted in good condition (OR 2,56; 95%CI: 1.85-3.55), and even following adjustment for gestational age and reported abortion type (spontaneous/induced). These findings corroborate the literature, highlighting the social vulnerability of women hospitalized within Brazil's public healthcare system in a situation of abortion. The study strongpoints include having objectively measured the time between admission and uterine evacuation and having established a cut-off time defining delay based on conceptual and epidemiological criteria. Further studies should evaluate other settings and new measurement tools for effectively preventing life-threatening complications

Avaliação da qualidade da atenção ao aborto: protótipo de questionário para usuárias de serviços de saúde

No Brasil, são escassas as pesquisas sobre a qualidade da atenção ao aborto inseguro. O presente artigo visa a apresentar a primeira etapa da construção de instrumento para estudo sobre a assistência hospitalar prestada pelo Sistema Único de Saúde em três cidades. Foram definidas quatro dimensões essenciais da atenção – acolhimento e orientação, qualidade técnica do cuidado, continuidade da atenção, insumos/ambiente físico – e respectivos critérios. Procedeu-se à adaptação transcultural de conjunto de itens propostos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde. Para dar conta de dimensões e critérios não contemplados pelo conjunto original de perguntas, optou-se por adaptar questões de outros estudos e adicionar outras elaboradas pela própria equipe. O questionário foi pré-testado em 52 usuárias, nas três cidades, para avaliar a aceitação e compreensão, o tempo de aplicação e ajustes finais. O instrumento totalizou 55 itens, organizados segundo os momentos assistenciais, cujo uso mais amplo depende de avaliações psicométricas em desenvolvimento e que se seguirão em outros artigos