Longe dos partidos e perto da federação: uma avaliação dos gastos municipais na saúde pública

The institutionalization of SUS made the municipalities important players in the public health policy. Thus, it was expected that the amount of resources allocated to public health would be determinate in some measure by the political party preferences. Given these political and institutional contexts, we analyzed the importance of the political party policies at the municipality level as a determinant of the expenditure on public health, as well was other conventional determinants of the expenditures on public health (region, per capita income, GDP, etc). Applying some econometric techniques (quantile regressions and econometric decomposition), we found that the parties’ political preferences have minor influence on the allocation of resources in public health. We conclude that the constitutional regulation (Constitutional Emend 29 or EC29) seems to be a more important determinant to explain the allocation of resources in the period 2002-2006 than the supposed political preferences announced by parties.SUS, health economics, Brazil

Promoção da adesão e gestão do regime terapêutico na pessoa com DPOC

doença pulmonar obstrutiva crónica (DPOC), é uma patologia crónica de evolução lenta e progressiva, que provoca limitações funcionais e conduz à diminuição progressiva da capacidade para o autocuidado. É uma doença controlável, com efeitos extrapulmonares significativos, podendo estar sujeita a períodos de exacerbação, contribuindo para a progressão da sua gravidade. O desenvolvimento de competências para a autogestão do regime terapêutico é uma necessidade para os utentes portadores de DPOC afim de obterem um maior controle da progressão da sua doença. Contudo, a existência de regimes terapêuticos complexos origina dificuldades ao seu cumprimento e adesão por parte dos clientes. Os Enfermeiros Especialistas de Reabilitação (EEER) podem desempenhar um papel importante junto dos clientes/famílias, na gestão do regime terapêutico (GRT), sendo a educação para o autocuidado uma das estratégias, que visa o autocontrolo no domicilio, permitindo a redução de idas à urgência por agudizações ou complicações; diminuição da morbilidade e mortalidade; racionalizar a prescrição e o consumo de meios terapêuticos. O presente relatório pretende explanar o meu percurso de desenvolvimento de competências de EEER, ao longo da realização de um estágio curricular e no seu âmbito na implementação de um projeto de formação com a finalidade de promover a adesão e GRT na pessoa com DPOC. Através das experiências e aprendizagens pela prática clinica, que não se cingiram a esta temática ou ao plano inicial do projeto de formação, foi possível sumarizar a abrangência que a intervenção do EEER pode contemplar. Neste percurso, foram mobilizados e articulados conhecimentos teóricos com a prática clinica, à luz da teoria de enfermagem de Dorothea Orem, de modo a num processo dinâmico de aprendizagem e construção de saberes, traçar uma identidade profissional como futura EEER

Genotypic and phenotypic differences between nosocomial and commensal Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from northern Portugal

Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common causative agent of relapsing and persistent hospital-acquired infections, not only because this bacterium belongs to the patients’ microbiota(causing autoinfection) but also because it is easily transmitted by healthcare workers (causing cross-infections). The goal of the present study was to characterize, for the first time, the biofilm-forming ability and virulence associated traits of several S. epidermidis strains circulating in a Portuguese hospital, as well as in the Portuguese community (northern region). To achieve that, bacteria were isolated from October 2011 to January 2013 and identified by biochemical tests and rpoB sequencing. Confirmed S. epidermidis strains were then tested for biofilm formation, antimicrobial resistance and carriage of biofilm-associated genes. The majority of clinical and skin isolates were resistant to erythromycin followed by penicillin. Regarding the presence of virulence-associated genes there was an equal distribution between the clinical and commensal isolates. The aap gene was the most prevalent (48% and 50%, respectively) followed by ica operon (37% and 33%, respectively) and bhp gene (15% and 17%, respectively). These results are in agreement with the ones obtained for the biofilm formation. Our results highlight slight differences between isolates obtained from the hospital setting and those obtained from the community. The emergence of antibiotic resistance and the frequent presence of virulence-associated genes among commensal Portuguese strains, reported in this study, raises serious clinical implications and should be considered to re-evaluate preventive measures against nosocomial infections

Maximum Cut on Interval Graphs of Interval Count Four Is NP-Complete

The computational complexity of the MaxCut problem restricted to interval graphs has been open since the 80's, being one of the problems proposed by Johnson on his Ongoing Guide to NP-completeness, and has been settled as NP-complete only recently by Adhikary, Bose, Mukherjee and Roy. On the other hand, many flawed proofs of polynomiality for MaxCut on the more restrictive class of unit/proper interval graphs (or graphs with interval count 1) have been presented along the years, and the classification of the problem is still unknown. In this paper, we present the first NP-completeness proof for MaxCut when restricted to interval graphs with bounded interval count, namely graphs with interval count 4

Production of iron-peptide complexes from spent yeast for nutraceutical industry

Iron (Fe) deficiencies are a major health condition concern and over the years many solutions in the form of Fe supplementation have been investigated. Organic Fe-complexes are the most promising for Fe deficiencies remediation. The aim of present study was to value peptide rich waste streams from β-glucan and mannan production from spent yeast (Gpep and Mpep, respectively) as Fe-peptide complexes for Fe supplementation. These waste streams were first subjected to ultrafiltration treatment before assessing the capacity of these fractions to complex Fe was evaluated, without, and with nitrogen. Results have shown that Gpep> 1 kDa was the best fraction with a optimal pH of 6.0 and a time of 30 min. The resulting Fe-peptide complex was characterized using powder XDR, fluorescence, FTIR, SEM and Mastersizer Laser Diffraction. Results have shown that Gpep and Mpep waste streams have potential application as Fe supplementation in the form of Fe peptide complexes.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clavulanic acid and cephamicin c: a perspective of the biosynthesis, isolation and action mechanism

The present article reviews different aspects of the chemistry of two widely used β-lactam antibiotics Clavulanic Acid and Cephamycin C. The article discusses important details of the biosynthesis of these compounds, their action mechanism and, principally, the methods employed in their isolation and purification, in accordance with the available literature. Despite the large quantity of available articles and patents concerning β-lactam antibiotics, those which describe the isolation and purification of Clavulanic Acid and Cephamycin C are rare. Overall, the intention of this article is to discuss the up-to-date scientific research related to the compounds under review.FAPESPCNPqCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Design of concrete-filled steel tubular columns under axial loading according to NBR 8800:2008 and Eurocode 4:2004: tests results and comparisons

São apresentados os resultados experimentais de 32 pilares mistos preenchidos de seção circular, submetidos à compressão axial, para os quais foi avaliada a influência dos seguintes parâmetros: resistência à compressão do concreto, relação comprimento/diâmetro (L/D) e espessura do tubo de aço (t). Os valores experimentais de força máxima foram comparados com aqueles resultantes da aplicação da formulação apresentada na NBR 8800:2008 e no EN 1994-1-1:2004 (Eurocode 4 - EC4), extrapolando-se os resultados para valores de resistência do concreto não previstos por essas normas. Os perfis de aço com relação comprimento/diâmetro (L/D) de 3, 5, 7 e 10 foram preenchidos com concretos de resistências à compressão de 30, 60, 80 e 100MPa. Os resultados da comparação entre valores de força última experimental e teórica mostraram que as normas avaliadas apresentam bons resultados. A NBR 8800 apresenta resultados conservadores ao passo que o EC4 apresenta, em média, valores de força resistente não conservadores. A correlação tende a piorar para concretos de resistência menor.In this paper results of tests on 32 concrete-filled steel tubular columns under axial load are reported. The test parameters were the concrete compressive strength, the column slenderness (L/D) and the wall thickness (t). The test results were compared with predictions from the codes NBR 8800:2008 and EN 1994-1-1:2004 (EC4). The columns were 3, 5, 7 and 10 length to diameter ratios (L/D) and were tested with 30MPa, 60MPa, 80MPa and 100MPa concrete compressive strengths. The results of ultimate strength predicted by codes showed good agreement with experimental results. The results of NBR 8800 code were the most conservative and the EC4 showed the best results, in mean, but it was not conservative for usual concrete-filled short columns.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

Yeast as a tool to explore cathepsin D function

Cathepsin D has garnered increased attention in recent years, mainly since it has been associated with several human pathologies. In particular, cathepsin D is often overexpressed and hypersecreted in cancer cells, implying it may constitute a therapeutic target. However, cathepsin D can have both anti- and pro-survival functions depending on its proteolytic activity, cellular context and stress stimulus. Therefore, a more detailed understanding of cathepsin D regulation and how to modulate its apoptotic functions is clearly needed. In this review, we provide an overview of the role of cathepsin D in physiological and pathological scenarios. We then focus on the opposing functions of cathepsin D in apoptosis, particularly relevant in cancer research. Emphasis is given to the role of the yeast protease Pep4p, the vacuolar counterpart of cathepsin D, in life and death. Finally, we discuss how insights from yeast cathepsin D and its role in regulated cell death can unveil novel functions of mammalian cathepsin D in apoptosis and cancer.FEDER through POFC – COMPETE and by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia through projects PEst-OE/BIA/UI4050/2014 and FCTANR/BEX-BCM/0175/2012, as well as fellowships to H. Pereira (SFRH/BD/73139/2010), C.S.F. Oliveira (SFRH/BD/77449/2011), L. Castro (SFRH/BD/93589/2013) and S. Chaves (SFRH/ BPD/89980/2012).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio