Diseases chronicles do not encephalopathies in the elderly: knowledges and actions from community health agents

Objective: To analyze the knowledge and actions performed by Community Health Agents (CHA), related to chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) in elderly patients. Method: Qualitative and descriptive research. The data collection occurred through interviews with 20 ACS. The information was analyzed following the steps of content analysis. Results: The data converged for the construction of two categories. One is about knowledge for CHA performance, and the other the educative actions performed by CHA with the elderly population. Final considerations: They were identified limitations in the knowledge and actions developed by CHA regarding the CNCD in elderly, restricting the care concerning diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. This condition reflects in the work of these professionals, but it can be modified with educational actions intended to CHA, for which they can qualify their practices along with the elderly population

Rodent arena tracker (RAT): A machine vision rodent tracking camera and closed loop control system

Video tracking is an essential tool in rodent research. Here, we demonstrate a machine vision rodent tracking camera based on a low-cost, open-source, machine vision camera, the OpenMV Cam M7. We call our device the rodent arena tracker (RAT), and it is a pocket-sized machine vision-based position tracker. The RAT does not require a tethered computer to operate and costs about $120 per device to build. These features make the RAT scalable to large installations and accessible to research institutions and educational settings where budgets may be limited. The RAT processes incoming video in real-time at 15 Hz and save

Diseases chronicles do not encephalopathies in the elderly: knowledges and actions from community health agents

Objetivo: Analisar os saberes e as ações realizados por Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) relativos às Doenças Crônicas Não-Transmissíveis (DCNT) em idosos. Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista junto a 20 ACS. As informações foram analisadas seguindo os passos da análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os dados convergiram para a construção de duas categorias. Uma versa acerca do saber para a atuação dos ACS e a outra, as ações educativas executadas pelos ACS junto à população idosa. Considerações finais: Identificam-se limitações no saber e nas ações desenvolvidas pelos ACS referentes às DCNT em idosos, restringindo o cuidado para doenças como diabetes e hipertensão. Esta condição reflete no trabalho destes profissionais, mas pode ser modificada com ações educativas destinadas aos ACS, para que estes possam qualificar suas práticas junto à população idosa. Descritores: Idoso, Doença crônica, Agentes comunitários de saúde, Promoção da saúde

Diseases chronicles do not encephalopathies in the elderly: knowledges and actions from community health agents

Objetivo: Analisar os saberes e as ações realizados por Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) relativos às Doenças Crônicas Não-Transmissíveis (DCNT) em idosos. Métodos: Pesquisa qualitativa e descritiva. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista junto a 20 ACS. As informações foram analisadas seguindo os passos da análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os dados convergiram para a construção de duas categorias. Uma versa acerca do saber para a atuação dos ACS e a outra, as ações educativas executadas pelos ACS junto à população idosa. Considerações finais: Identificam-se limitações no saber e nas ações desenvolvidas pelos ACS referentes às DCNT em idosos, restringindo o cuidado para doenças como diabetes e hipertensão. Esta condição reflete no trabalho destes profissionais, mas pode ser modificada com ações educativas destinadas aos ACS, para que estes possam qualificar suas práticas junto à população idosa. Descritores: Idoso, Doença crônica, Agentes comunitários de saúde, Promoção da saúde

Monitoring Temporal Changes in the Specificity of an Oral HIV Test: A Novel Application for Use in Postmarketing Surveillance

BACKGROUND: Postmarketing surveillance is routinely conducted to monitor performance of pharmaceuticals and testing devices in the marketplace. However, these surveillance methods are often done retrospectively and, as a result, are not designed to detect issues with performance in real-time. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Using HIV antibody screening test data from New York City STD clinics, we developed a formal, statistical method of prospectively detecting temporal clusters of poor performance of a screening test. From 2005 to 2008, New York City, as well as other states, observed unexpectedly high false-positive (FP) rates in an oral fluid-based rapid test used for screening HIV. We attempted to formally assess whether the performance of this HIV screening test statistically deviated from both local expectation and the manufacturer's claim for the test. Results indicate that there were two significant temporal clusters in the FP rate of the oral HIV test, both of which exceeded the manufacturer's upper limit of the 95% CI for the product. Furthermore, the FP rate of the test varied significantly by both STD clinic and test lot, though not by test operator. CONCLUSIONS: Continuous monitoring of surveillance data has the benefit of providing information regarding test performance, and if conducted in real-time, it can enable programs to examine reasons for poor test performance in close proximity to the occurrence. Techniques used in this study could be a valuable addition for postmarketing surveillance of test performance and may become particularly important with the increase in rapid testing methods

Lipid defect underlies selective skin barrier impairment of an epidermal-specific deletion of Gata-3

Skin lies at the interface between the complex physiology of the body and the external environment. This essential epidermal barrier, composed of cornified proteins encased in lipids, prevents both water loss and entry of infectious or toxic substances. We uncover that the transcription factor GATA-3 is required to establish the epidermal barrier and survive in the ex utero environment. Analysis of Gata-3 mutant transcriptional profiles at three critical developmental stages identifies a specific defect in lipid biosynthesis and a delay in differentiation. Genomic analysis identifies highly conserved GATA-3 binding sites bound in vivo by GATA-3 in the first intron of the lipid acyltransferase gene AGPAT5. Skin from both Gata-3−/− and previously characterized barrier-deficient Kruppel-like factor 4−/− newborns up-regulate antimicrobial peptides, effectors of innate immunity. Comparison of these animal models illustrates how impairment of the skin barrier by two genetically distinct mechanisms leads to innate immune responses, as observed in the common human skin disorders psoriasis and atopic dermatitis

Immunization expands B cells specific to HIV-1 V3 glycan in mice and macaques.

Broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies protect against infection with HIV-1 in animal models, suggesting that a vaccine that elicits these antibodies would be protective in humans. However, it has not yet been possible to induce adequate serological responses by vaccination. Here, to activate B cells that express precursors of broadly neutralizing antibodies within polyclonal repertoires, we developed an immunogen, RC1, that facilitates the recognition of the variable loop 3 (V3)-glycan patch on the envelope protein of HIV-1. RC1 conceals non-conserved immunodominant regions by the addition of glycans and/or multimerization on virus-like particles. Immunization of mice, rabbits and rhesus macaques with RC1 elicited serological responses that targeted the V3-glycan patch. Antibody cloning and cryo-electron microscopy structures of antibody-envelope complexes confirmed that immunization with RC1 expands clones of B cells that carry the anti-V3-glycan patch antibodies, which resemble precursors of human broadly neutralizing antibodies. Thus, RC1 may be a suitable priming immunogen for sequential vaccination strategies in the context of polyclonal repertoires

Interobserver agreement of estimating the extent of intestinal metaplasia in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis

The extent of gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) can be used to determine the risk of gastric cancer. Eleven international gastrointestinal expert pathologists estimated the extent of GIM on haematoxylin and eosin (H&E)- and Alcian blue-Periodic acid Schiff (AB-PAS)-stained slides of 46 antrum biopsies in 5% increments. Interobserver agreement was tested with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Correlation between standard deviation and extent of GIM was evaluated with the Spearman correlation. The interobserver agreement was very good (ICC = 0.983, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.975–0.990). The use of AB-PAS did not increase the agreement (ICC = 0.975, 95% CI 0.961–0.985). Cases with a higher amount of metaplastic epithelium demonstrated a higher standard deviation (rs = 0.644; p < 0.01), suggesting lower diagnostic accuracy in cases with extensive GIM. In conclusion, estimating the extent of GIM on H&E-stained slides in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis can be achieved satisfactorily with high interobserver agreement, at least among international expert gastrointestinal pathologists.Open access funding provided by Medical University of Graz.https://www.springer.com/journal/428am2023Anatomical Patholog