Cerebrospinal fluid in the diagnosis of spinal schistosomiasis

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) changes in spinal shistosomiasis have been described. Its characteristic features are mild to moderate pleocytosis, presence of eosinophils, slight to moderate protein increase, elevated gamma globulin concentration and a positive immune assay. Nevertheless, these abnormalities are not always present together and therefore difficulties may arise in the assessment of the diagnosis. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the importance of each CSF alteration concerning the diagnosis in 22 cases of spinal shistosomiasis. According to the results, only 20% of the cases had all the five feature that are considered to be characteristic of spinal shistomiasis. Abnormal cell count was present in 86%, protein increase in 77.3%, immunoglobulin G increase in 60,8%, eosinophils were present in 36.8% and indirect fluorescent antibody test was positive in 68.2%. In three cases all CSF parameters studied were within the normal limits. As the most specific test among those described was the indirect fluorescent antibody test, it should be regarded for the diagnosis.As três espécies de esquistossoma podem comprometer o sistema nervoso. O S. mansoni é responsável pela esquistossomose no Brasil, sendo a mielopatia uma forma grave desta helmintose. O propósito deste trabalho é analisar as alterações do líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) para dar mais subsídios para o diagnóstico da esquistossomose raquimedular. Fizeram parte deste estudo 22 amostras de LCR de pacientes com esquistossomose espinal. Os resultados das análises destas amostras mostraram que a associação de alterações do LCR com quadro inflamatório e RIFI-IgM positiva ocorreu em 88% dos pacientes, que o eosinófilo esteve presente em apenas 7 amostras (36,8%), e que 3 dos 22 pacientes estudados apresentaram LCR normal. Conclui-se que o exame de LCR é coadjuvante muito útil para o diagnóstico da neuroesquistossomose.Universidade Estadual de Londrina Centro de Ciências da SaúdeUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas Departamento de Análises ClínicasUNIFESPSciEL

Understanding the experiences of caregivers of children with tuberculosis in directly observed therapy

Objective To understand the situations and communications experienced by caregivers of children with tuberculosis (TB) with regard to directly observed therapy (DOT). Method A descriptive exploratory study with a qualitative approach was applied and developed in the ambulatory of Programa Einstein na Comunidade de Paraisópolis (PECP). The data were collected using semi-structured interviews of 13 caregivers of children with TB in DOT. The Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method was used to analyze the data. Results Seven CSDs were identified and grouped into four categories: "Living in a difficult situation", "Changing the family routine", "Responsibility almost always fall son the mother", and "Adapting to the DOT". Conclusions The difficulties faced by the caregiver of the child at the beginning of DOT significantly changed the familiar routine. The responsibility for its continuity was assigned to the mother, who must adapt to the demands of the treatment and face the situation

O significado da velhice e da experiência de envelhecer para os idosos Significado de la vejez y de la experiencia de envejecer para los ancianos The meaning of old age and the aging experience of in the elderly

O estudo objetivou conhecer e analisar o significado da velhice e da experiência de envelhecer para os idosos moradores da zona rural do Estado do Ceará. Pesquisa descritiva-exploratória, realizada com 48 idosos, homens e mulheres, cadastrados e atendidos na estratégia saúde da família da zona rural do Ceará, no primeiro semestre de 2005. Os discursos dos idosos revelaram que a velhice traz muitas perdas, principalmente quando acometidos pelo adoecimento. No entanto, relatam que, hoje, são felizes pelas conquistas pessoais e materiais, além da família que conseguiram formar. A experiência de envelhecer e a velhice para o grupo pesquisado revelam-se como acontecimento positivo, comparado aos mitos e preconceitos oriundos do meio urbano.<br>El estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer y analizar el significado de la vejez y de la experiencia de envejecer para los ancianos habitantes de la zona rural del Estado de Ceará. Investigación descriptivo-exploratoria, realizada con 48 ancianos, hombres y mujeres, censados y atendidos en la estrategia Salud de la Familia de la zona rural de Ceará, durante el primer semestre de 2005. Las declaraciones de los ancianos revelaron que la vejez acarrea muchas pérdidas, principalmente cuando están afectados por alguna enfermedad. Aún así, relatan que hoy son felices por las conquistas personales y materiales, y también por la familia que consiguieron formar. La experiencia de envejecer y la vejez para el grupo investigado se manifiestan como acontecimientos positivos en comparación a los mitos y preconceptos originados en el medio urbano.<br>The objective of the present study was to identify and analyze the meaning of old age and the experience of aging for elderly individuals living in the rural area of Ceará state. This descriptive, exploratory study was performed with 48 aged men and women, registered in the family health strategy of the rural zone of Ceara, in the first semester of 2005. The statements of the elderly revealed that old age brings many losses, mainly when they fall ill. They also reported, however, that, today, they are happy for the personal and material achievements, and for the family that they have. For the study group, the experience of aging and old age itself appeared to be a positive event when compared to myths and preconceptions of the urban environment

Inhibitory effect of the Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Spreng) R.M. King & H. Rob. aqueous extract on human lymphocyte proliferation and IFN-γ and TNF-α production in vitro

Pseudobrickellia brasiliensis (Asteraceae) is a plant commonly known as arnica-do-campo and belongs to the native flora of the Brazilian Cerrado. The alcoholic extract of the plant has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in folk medicine, but the biological mechanism of action has not been elucidated. The present study evaluated the composition of P. brasiliensis aqueous extract and its effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation. The extracts were prepared by sequential maceration of P. brasiliensis leaves in ethanol, ethyl acetate, and water. Extract cytotoxicity was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion assay, and apoptosis and necrosis were measured by staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide. The ethanolic (ETA) and acetate (ACE) extracts showed cytotoxic effects. The aqueous extract (AQU) was not cytotoxic. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate and ionomycin and treated with AQU (100 mu g/mL) showed reduced interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha expression. AQU also inhibited lymphocyte proliferative response after nonspecific stimulation with phytohemagglutinin. The aqueous extract was analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and mass spectrometry. Quinic acid and its derivatives 5-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,5dicaffeoylquinic acid, as well as the flavonoids luteolin and luteolin dihexoside, were detected. All these compounds are known to exhibit anti-inflammatory activity. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that P. brasiliensis aqueous extract can inhibit the pro-inflammatory cytokine production and proliferative response of lymphocytes. These effects may be related to the presence of chemical substances with anti-inflammatory actions previously reported in scientific literature.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Univ Fed Vales Jequitinhonha & Mucuri, Programa Multictr Posgrad Ciencias Fisiol, Diamantina, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Vales Jequitinhonha & Mucuri, Ctr Integrado Posgrad & Pesquisa Saude Vale Jequi, Lab Imunol, Diamantina, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Vales Jequitinhonha & Mucuri, Dept Farm, Lab Farmacognosia, Diamantina, MG, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Farmaceut, Lab Insumos Nat & Sintet, Diadema, SP, BrazilLaboratório de Insumos Naturais e Sintéticos, Departamento de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Diadema, SP, BrasilWeb of Scienc