Assessing knowledge on fibromyalgia among internet users

OBJECTIVE: To assess knowledge on fibromyalgia in a sample of patients, their families, and professionals interested on the theme from some Brazilian states. METHODS: Analysis of the results of an electronic fibromyalgia knowledge questionnaire completed by 362 adults who had access to the the support group for fibromyalgia site (www.unifesp.br/grupos/fibromialgia). The answers were grouped according to age, sex, years of schooling, and type of interest in the condition. RESULTS: 92% of the responders were women and 62% had higher educational level. The worst results were observed in the joint protection and energy conservation domain, followed by the medication in fibromyalgia domain. The best results were recorded in the exercises in fibromyalgia domain. The answers differed significantly between sexes, and women achieved a higher percentage of correct answers. The female sex accounted for a statistically superior result in five statistical analyses (four questions and one domain). CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests the need for a strategic planning for an educational approach to fibromyalgia in BrazilOBJETIVO: Analisar o nível de conhecimento sobre fibromialgia em uma amostra incluindo pacientes, familiares e profissionais de vários estados do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Análise dos resultados de 362 adultos que acessaram o site do Grupo de Apoio à Fibromialgia (www.unifesp.br/grupos/fibromialgia) e responderam a um questionário eletrônico de conhecimento sobre a síndrome. As respostas foram avaliadas em relação a idade, sexo, nível de escolaridade e tipo de interesse no Grupo. RESULTADOS: 92% eram mulheres e 62% haviam completado o ensino superior. O pior resultado foi no domínio proteção articular e conservação de energia, seguido pelo domínio conhecimento sobre medicação. O melhor resultado ocorreu no domínio exercícios para fibromialgia. Houve diferença significativa entre os gêneros, sendo as mulheres responsáveis por um porcentual maior de acertos. O gênero feminino foi responsável por um resultado estatisticamente superior em cinco análises estatísticas (quatro perguntas e um domínio). CONCLUSÕES: O estudo sugere a necessidade de um planejamento estratégico para ações educativas sobre fibromialgia no BrasilUNIFESP Centro Cochrane do BrasilUniversidade Federal do ABCUNIFESPCentro CochraneUNIFESP, Centro Cochrane do BrasilUNIFESPSciEL

Humoral autoimmune response heterogeneity in the spectrum of primary biliary cirrhosis

To compare autoantibody features in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and individuals presenting antimitochondria antibodies (AMAs) but no clinical or biochemical evidence of disease.A total of 212 AMA-positive serum samples were classified into four groups: PBC (definite PBC, n = 93); PBC/autoimmune disease (AID; PBC plus other AID, n = 37); biochemically normal (BN) individuals (n = 61); and BN/AID (BN plus other AID, n = 21). Samples were tested by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) on rat kidney (IIF-AMA) and ELISA [antibodies to pyruvate dehydrogenase E2-complex (PDC-E2), gp-210, Sp-100, and CENP-A/B]. AMA isotype was determined by IIF-AMA. Affinity of anti-PDC-E2 IgG was determined by 8 M urea-modified ELISA.High-titer IIF-AMA was more frequent in PBC and PBC/AID (57 and 70 %) than in BN and BN/AID samples (23 and 19 %) (p < 0.001). Triple isotype IIF-AMA (IgA/IgM/IgG) was more frequent in PBC and PBC/AID samples (35 and 43 %) than in BN sample (18 %; p = 0.008; p = 0.013, respectively). Anti-PDC-E2 levels were higher in PBC (mean 3.82; 95 % CI 3.36-4.29) and PBC/AID samples (3.89; 3.15-4.63) than in BN (2.43; 1.92-2.94) and BN/AID samples (2.52; 1.54-3.50) (p < 0.001). Anti-PDC-E2 avidity was higher in PBC (mean 64.5 %; 95 % CI 57.5-71.5 %) and PBC/AID samples (66.1 %; 54.4-77.8 %) than in BN samples (39.2 %; 30.9-37.5 %) (p < 0.001). PBC and PBC/AID recognized more cell domains (mitochondria, nuclear envelope, PML/sp-100 bodies, centromere) than BN (p = 0.008) and BN/AID samples (p = 0.002). Three variables were independently associated with established PBC: high-avidity anti-PDC-E2 (OR 4.121; 95 % CI 2.118-8.019); high-titer IIF-AMA (OR 4.890; 2.319-10.314); antibodies to three or more antigenic cell domains (OR 9.414; 1.924-46.060).The autoantibody profile was quantitatively and qualitatively more robust in definite PBC as compared with AMA-positive biochemically normal individuals.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Research and Development Department of Fleury Medicine and HealthConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Div Rheumatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilFleury Med & Hlth Labs, Div Res & Dev, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Sch Med, Dept Gastroenterol, São Paulo, BrazilUniv São Paulo, Inst Trop, Lab Med Invest LIM 06, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Hosp Servidor Publ Estadual Francisco Morato Oliv, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Stat, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Div Rheumatol, BR-04023900 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Hosp Servidor Publ Estadual Francisco Morato Oliv, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, Dept Stat, São Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2009/51887-0CNPq: 476356/2008-3Web of Scienc

Occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Brazilian indians from Umutina Reservation, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is associated with periodontal disease, especially localized aggressive periodontitis, produces a potent leukotoxin and its distribution is influenced by ethnic characteristics of the population. Objective: Using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, this study evaluated the occurrence of this microorganism and the distribution of leukotoxic strains isolated from Indians belonging to the Umutima Reservation, Mato Grosso, Brazil. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty-eight native Brazilians with gingivitis and 38 with chronic periodontitis, belonging to Umutina, Paresi, Bororo, Bakairi, Kayabi, Irantxe, Nambikwara and Terena ethnicities, were studied. Subgingival, supragingival and saliva samples of each patient were collected and transferred to VMGA III medium and to ultra pure Milli Q water. Bacteria were grown on TSBV agar and incubated in anaerobiosis (90% N2 + 10% CO2) at 37ºC for 72 h. The presence of the ltx promoter was determined by PCR, and a 530 bp deletion in the promoter was evaluated by using specific primers. RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival samples from patients with gingivitis and from 18.42% of saliva and supragingival biofilm, and 26.32% subgingival biofilm from patients with chronic periodontitis. By PCR, the bacterial DNA was detected in 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival biofilms from patients with gingivitis and from 23.68% of saliva, 28.95% supragingival biofilm and 34.21% subgingival biofilm from patients with periodontitis. All strains were grouped as non-JP2 clones based on the absence of deletion in the leukotoxin promoter. Differences among the microbial and clinical parameters in patients were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that A. actinomycetemcomitans can be related to the attachment loss in this population, but the presence of minimally leukotoxic strains, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of the periodontitis in these native Brazilians need to be further investigated

About the limits classical and semi classical spin-boson model.

Estudamos o modelo spin-boson, principalmente no limite semiclassico (muitos fotons) e classico (muitos atomos), e as estatisticas dos niveis de energia nnd e DELTA IND.3 a ele relacionadas. No caso classico, encontramos que o comportamento caotico do sistema para baixas energias esta fortemente relacionado com polarizacao nula e quase nenhum foton presente no estado inicial.The spin-boson model, its classical (many atoms) and semiclassical (many fotons) limits are studied. The NND and IND. 3 statistics of the energy are showed in a quantum and semiclassical calculations. In the classical case, the chaotic behaviour of the system for low energies is related to the fact that, in the initial states, the atoms have zero polarization and no fotons are included

About the inverse scattering method applied to the nonlinear schrodinger equation

Sobre o método de espalhamento inverso aplicado a equação de schrodinger não linearAbout the inverse scattering method applied to the nonlinear schrodinger equatio

About the limits classical and semi classical spin-boson model.

Estudamos o modelo spin-boson, principalmente no limite semiclassico (muitos fotons) e classico (muitos atomos), e as estatisticas dos niveis de energia nnd e DELTA IND.3 a ele relacionadas. No caso classico, encontramos que o comportamento caotico do sistema para baixas energias esta fortemente relacionado com polarizacao nula e quase nenhum foton presente no estado inicial.The spin-boson model, its classical (many atoms) and semiclassical (many fotons) limits are studied. The NND and IND. 3 statistics of the energy are showed in a quantum and semiclassical calculations. In the classical case, the chaotic behaviour of the system for low energies is related to the fact that, in the initial states, the atoms have zero polarization and no fotons are included

Analysis of the indicators of the Family Health Program in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo

<div><p>ABSTRACT Objective To analyze the Family Health Program replaced by the Family Health Strategy in 2011, based on health indicators and diseases classified as primary care sensitive. Methods This was a descriptive, analytical and documental study carried out in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo between 2002 and 2007. We analyzed data from Health observatory for the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. Pearson’s correlation and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 17.0 were used to calculate data associations. Results We used 30 of the 31 health indicators of 24 from the 39 studied municipalities. A total of 720 (100%) health primary care sensitive indicators were analyzed in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo. Conclusion Percentages of improvements and worsening were low. In addition, some data were not presented. The majority of indicators remained stable.</p></div

Occurrence of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in Brazilian indians from Umutina Reservation, Mato Grosso, Brazil

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is associated with periodontal disease, especially localized aggressive periodontitis, produces a potent leukotoxin and its distribution is influenced by ethnic characteristics of the population. Objective: Using culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques, this study evaluated the occurrence of this microorganism and the distribution of leukotoxic strains isolated from Indians belonging to the Umutima Reservation, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Material and Methods: Forty-eight native Brazilians with gingivitis and 38 with chronic periodontitis, belonging to Umutina, Paresi, Bororo, Bakairi, Kayabi, Irantxe, Nambikwara and Terena ethnicities, were studied. Subgingival, supragingival and saliva samples of each patient were collected and transferred to VMGA III medium and to ultra pure Milli Q water. Bacteria were grown on TSBV agar and incubated in anaerobiosis (90% N(2) + 10% CO(2)) at 37 degrees C for 72 h. The presence of the ltx promoter was determined by PCR, and a 530 bp deletion in the promoter was evaluated by using specific primers. Results: A. actinomycetemcomitans was isolated from 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival samples from patients with gingivitis and from 18.42% of saliva and supragingival biofilm, and 26.32% subgingival biofilm from patients with chronic periodontitis. By PCR, the bacterial DNA was detected in 8.33% of saliva, supragingival and subgingival biofilms from patients with gingivitis and from 23.68% of saliva, 28.95% supragingival biofilm and 34.21% subgingival biofilm from patients with periodontitis. All strains were grouped as non-JP2 clones based on the absence of deletion in the leukotoxin promoter. Differences among the microbial and clinical parameters in patients were analyzed by using the Mann-Whitney, Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Conclusions: The present results suggest that A. actinomycetemcomitans can be related to the attachment loss in this population, but the presence of minimally leukotoxic strains, as well as its role in the pathogenesis of the periodontitis in these native Brazilians need to be further investigated.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP