Medicinal Plants in Pregnancy and Lactation: Perception of the Health Risk and Practical Educational Group in Araraquara, São Paulo State, Brazil

The use of medicinal plants among pregnant women and lactating is a common practice in diverse countries. However, many medicinal plants are contraindicated during pregnancy and lactating, due to various adverse effects, such as teratogenic, embryotoxic and abortive effects, exposing these women, their fetus and babies to health unknown risks. Thus, the purpose of this commentary, was to analyze the perception about the use of medicinal plants by pregnant women and lactating registered in the "baby on board" NGO, Araraquara, São Paulo state, Brazil, between 2010 at 2013. The group was constituted by 48 women, between the first and last trimester of pregnancy or whilst breastfeeding. Information was collected during group meetings by oral interview, using a questionnaire, as script. The nature of the study was a qualitative analysis. The results were based on reports about the use of medicinal plants by pregnant women during group meetings: use, indication of use, knowledge about risks. All participants received written and oral information about the study and they gave a written informed consent. The use of medicinal plants is a reality among pregnant and lactating women of the "baby on board" NGO. They reported that they feel that "natural" products are not harmful for their health. The primary information sources for the majority of women about medicinal plants during pregnancy are family, neighbors and herbalists. The plants most cited were: senna, chamomile, boldo, lemon balm, lemon grass. They were used mainly for: nausea, heartburn, indigestion, flatulence, intestinal and abdominal pain, anxiety, intestinal constipation and low milk production. The pregnant and lactating women lacked knowledge about the health risks of the use of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in pregnancy and lactation. They also reported difficulties in clarifying some questions about the use of medicinal plants with their doctors. The results of the present study showed that educative actions about the rational use of medicinal plants in pregnancy and breastfeeding could be part of the operating protocols to promote the maternal and child health programs in Araraquara. Thus, our results also suggest the importance of creating institutionalized places, to the implementation of continued education programs about rational use of medicinal plants in pregnancy and lactation. These targeted programs are not only for health professionals, but also for community members, pregnant women and breastfeeding. Our results pointed out the importance of guidance of doctors and healthcare professionals on the scientific studies about medicinal plants and herbal medicines and the risk/benefit of using herbs during pregnancy. Finally, it is noted the importance of the health professionals to inform women of childbearing on risks to their health, as well as on possibilities of utilization of herbs during fertile period, giving special attention to the potential risk of self-medication

Risks associated with a double-cropping production system – a case study in southern Brazil

This study assessed the risk exposure of the production system of a typical farm in southern Brazil. Five possible production systems were analyzed, combining three crops (soybeans, corn seasons and wheat) in different crop-year combinations, for example: “Summer soybeans followed by corn” and “Autumn corn followed by winter wheat”. Five different production systems were created based on the intensity of land use for each of the crops. Primary data were collected from a typical farm in the producing region over eight seasons (2006/07 to 2013/14). The Monte Carlo simulation technique was used to evaluate negative Net Operating Revenue (NOR) risk. The results showed that the production system with soybean and first season corn had a higher NOR and lower risk when compared with the other four production systems, which intensified the land use in the second season. When the production system had a higher rate of corn and/or wheat, the NOR and the risk to the production system increased for the first or second crop. Both corn and wheat in the second crop increased the risk to the production system on the typical farm in Cascavel, in the state of Parana (PR)

CONFIGURAÇÃO DO PROGRAMA INSTITUCIONAL DE BOLSA DE INICIAÇÃO À DOCÊNCIA (PIBID): EXPANSÃO E IMPACTOS NA UFPEL

O Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência (PIBID) é um Programa do Ministério da Educação, gerenciado pela CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior), cujo objetivo maior é o incentivo à formação de professores para atuarem na educação básica e a elevação da qualidade das escolas públicas. A Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel) mesmo já tendo institucionalizado o PIBID desde 2010, no ano de 2014 expande significativamente suas ações, e novas áreas foram incorporadas ao trabalho na perspectiva de fomentar as ações de impacto social no universo da rede pública de educação. Esta pesquisa busca mapear as ações que estão sendo realizadas nos diferentes segmentos do Projeto Institucional do PIBID/UFPEL (2014-2017), e como estratégia metodológica utilizou-se a análise documental e o estudo de caso. Particularmente trazemos o caso do Curso de Educação Física da Escola Superior de Educação Física (ESEF) que atualmente conta com 68 bolsistas, onze supervisores que são professores de Educação Física da rede pública de ensino e quatro coordenadores de área, atuando em quatro escolas públicas municipais e estaduais. Os resultados preliminares apontam que com a expansão das ações na ESEF/UFPel, há uma aproximação dos bolsistas com o universo da escola tendendo a favorecer o processo de construção de suas identidades profissionais, bem como fortalecer suas aprendizagens

Interaction between humic substances and metallic ions: a selectivity study of humic substances and their possible therapeutic application

The complexation capacity of humic substances extracted from peat samples taken from the Mogi River in Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil, was determined using metal ions (Al(III), Pb(II), Cr(VI) and Cd(II)), yielding the following order of affinity: Cr(VI)< Cd(II)<Pb(II)<Al(III). An oral LD50 test showed that these humic substances are nontoxic up to a maximum concentration of 512 mg kg-1. These findings reinforce the possibility of using humic substances as a metal detoxicant. ©2007 Sociedade Brasileira de Química

Toxocaríase humana: inquérito soroepidemiológico no município de Campinas (SP), Brasil

The occurrence of human Toxocara infection was evaluated in three neighborhoods of the periphery of the Campinas municipality (Jardim Santa Mônica, Jardim São Marcos and Jardim Campineiro) in 1999. Forty residences and 138 residents were randomly selected by drawing lots and were submitted to a seroepidemiological survey, which included blood collection for the immunoenzymatic detection (ELISA) of anti-Toxocara antibodies and a blood count, and the application of a semi-structured questionnaire for the evaluation of epidemiological data. Significant levels of anti-Toxocara antibodies were detected in 23.9% of the 1999 samples. No significant difference in the frequency of infection according to age was observed. Environmental contamination with Toxocara eggs was observed in 12.3 and 14.0% of 57 soil samples collected in the same region in December 1998 and July 1999, respectively. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression of the data obtained from the questionnaires and of the results of the serological tests, suggest a significant influence of socioeconomic variables on the frequency of human infection with Toxocara under the conditions prevalent in the study area.Estudou-se a ocorrência de infecção humana por Toxocara em três bairros da periferia do município de Campinas (Jardim Santa Mônica, Jardim São Marcos e Jardim Campineiro). Em 1999 sortearam-se aleatoriamente 40 domicílios e 138 moradores foram submetidos a inquérito soroepidemiológico, que incluiu coleta de sangue para teste imunoenzimático (E.L.I.S.A.) visando pesquisa de anticorpos anti-Toxocara e hemograma, além de aplicação de questionário semi-estruturado para avaliação de dados de interesse epidemiológico. Observou-se presença de anticorpos anti-Toxocara em 23,9% das amostras, sem ocorrência de diferença significativa quando se considerou a idade ou sexo dos indivíduos examinados. Em 57 amostras de solo da mesma região, coletadas em dezembro de 1998 e novamente em julho de 1999, estudou-se a contaminação ambiental por ovos de Toxocara, verificando-se sua presença em, respectivamente, 12,3% e 14,0% das amostras. Análises univariada e multivariada por regressão logística dos dados obtidos a partir dos questionários e dos resultados da sorologia anti-Toxocara mostraram influência significativa de variáveis de ordem sócio-econômica na prevalência de infecção humana por Toxocara, nas condições presentes na área estudada

ANÁLISE DA PREVALÊNCIA DE DOENÇAS CRÔNICO-DEGENERATIVAS DE MORADORES DA CIDADE DE SANTO ANASTÁCIO – SP ATENDIDOS PELO PROJETO DE EXTENSÃO “MUTIRÃO DA SAÚDE”.

O objetivo do estudo foi identificar a prevalência de doenças crônico-degenerativas (DCD) dos habitantes da cidade de Santo Anastácio-SP, atendidos pelo projeto “Mutirão da Saúde”. Este estudo analisou 94 indivíduos, homens e mulheres, através do “Standard Health Questionnaire” (SHQ). A DCD de maior prevalência em homens foi hipertensão arterial e em mulheres, doenças osteomusculares. Quanto à idade, indivíduos acima de 40 anos apresentaram maior prevalência de todas as doenças. Ao estratificar por sexo/idade, mulheres acima de 40 anos apresentam maior prevalência de hipertensão arterial, doenças metabólicas e osteomusculares. Todos os achados nas estratificações citadas não apresentam relação direta dos participantes com sua hereditariedade. Conclui-se que há maior prevalência de hipertensão arterial em homens, doenças osteomusculares em mulheres, todas as patologias em indivíduos acima de 40 anos de idade e maior prevalência de hipertensão arterial, doenças cardiovasculares e osteomusculares em mulheres acima de 40 anos de idade

Antegrade versus retrograde lung perfusion in pulmonary preservation for transplantation in a canine model of post-mortem lung viability

A doação pulmonar após parada cardiocirculatória tem sido estudada experimentalmente na obtenção de órgãos para transplante, porém a severa lesão isquêmica/reperfusão exigem métodos de preservação que permitam viabilidade pulmonar. A perfusão do enxerto com solução cristalóide hipotérmica via anterógrada (artéria pulmonar) é o método de preservação mais utilizado, porém esta via não perfunde a circulação brônquica, permitindo a retenção sanguínea neste território capaz de desencadear fenômenos de lesão de reperfusão. Isto nos levou a testar os efeitos da perfusão anterógrada versus retrógrada (via átrio esquerdo, capaz de perfundir a circulação brônquica) em modelo canino de transplante unilateral cujos pulmões foram extraídos 3 horas após parada cardiorrespiratória. Doze cães doadores foram sacrificados com tiopental sódico e mantidos à temperatura ambiente sob ventilação mecânica durante 3 horas, após as quais os animais foram randomizados e os blocos cardiopulmonares perfundidos via retrógrada (n = 6) ou anterógrada (n = 6) com solução de Euro-Collins modificada e extraídos. Os receptores (n = 12) foram anestesiados, pneumonectomizados e submetidos a transplante pulmonar esquerdo recebendo enxertos perfundidos por via retrógrada (grupo I) ou anterógrada (grupo II). Após a reperfusão do enxerto, os animais foram mantidos sob ventilação mecânica (FiO2 = 1) por 6 horas, sendo então sacrificados. Durante este período obtiveram-se medidas hemodinâmicas e gasometrias arteriais, além de amostras de tecido pulmonar para dosagem de ATP intracelular. As medidas hemodinâmicas não diferiram entre os grupos. Nos animais do grupo I a PaO2 e PaCO2 foram superiores às do grupo II (p = 0,016 e p = 0,008, respectivamente). O ATP intracelular não diferiu entre os grupos, embora tenha se reduzido nas amostras obtidas na extração do enxerto do doador quando comparados aos valores após a reperfusão (p = 0,01) e ao término do período de avaliação (p = 0,01). Os autores concluem que, neste modelo experimental, a perfusão retrógrada hipotérmica resulta em função superior do enxerto após 3 horas de isquemia normotérmica sob ventilação mecânica.Lung retrieval following cardio-circulatory arrest has been studied experimentally, however severe ischemia/reperfusion injury requires improved methods of graft preservation. Allograft perfusion with crystalloid solution delivered via pulmonary artery (antegrade perfusion) remains the standard procedure, however it does not provide adequate washout of the blood retained within the bronchial circulation which may trigger reperfusion injury. This has led the authors to test the impact of antegrade versus retrograde (via left atrium) perfusion of lung grafts submitted to 3 hours of warm ischemia after cardio-circulatory arrest in a dog model of left lung allotransplantation. Twelve donor dogs were sacrificed with thiopental sodium and kept under mechanical ventilation at room temperature for 3 hours. They were randomized and the heart-lung blocks harvested after being perfused in a retrograde (group I, n = 6) or antegrade (group II, n = 6) fashion with modified Euro-Collins solution. Twelve recipient animals were submitted to a left lung transplant receiving the grafts from both groups and the assessment was performed during 6 hours. Hemodynamic parameters were similar for animals in both groups. The gas exchange (arterial PaO2 and PaCO2) in recipients of group I (retrograde perfusion) was significantly better when compared to recipients of grafts perfused via pulmonary artery. Intracellular ATP did not show difference between the groups, however there was a measurable drop in its values when samples obtained upon extraction were compared to those measured after reperfusion and at the end of the assessment. The authors concluded that retrograde perfusion yields better pulmonary function after 6 hours of reperfusion in this animal model of left lung allotransplantation following 3 hours of normothermic ischemia under mechanical ventilation

Pre-exposure prophylaxis among Brazilian men who have sex with men: a comparative study between migrants and non-migrants

IntroductionInvestigating the use and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in MSM is a global health priority in the fight against HIV. Strategies must be capable of increasing usage and reaching not only the population living in the country but also those who immigrate, who face additional vulnerabilities. Based on this, in this observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study, our aim is to analyze the use of PrEP among Brazilian men who have sex with men, whether they are migrants or not. We aim to highlight preventive opportunities and strategies for the global health scenario.MethodsWe utilized a sample of Brazilians living in the country and Brazilian immigrants residing in Portugal, one of the main destinations for Brazilians in recent years. To estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) of PrEP use, we employed the Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation using a covariance matrix.ResultsA total of 1,117 Brazilian MSM PrEP users participated in this study, with 788 residing in Brazil and 328 in Portugal. Multivariate analysis was conducted in three stages: overall, and for subgroups of residents in Brazil and immigrants in Portugal. We identified four convergent factors that increased the prevalence of PrEP use in Brazilians regardless of migration status: having two or more casual sexual partners per month, engaging in challenging sexual practices as the receptive partner, disclosing serological status on apps, and being single. Among native Brazilians, four unique factors stood out: being in a polyamorous relationship, having sexual relations with unknown casual partners, and having higher levels of education.DiscussionThis study highlights the need to implement strategies to strengthen PrEP adherence in Brazil and create international programs that facilitate its usage among populations migrating between these two countries

Adherence to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) among Men Who Have Sex with Men (MSM) in Portuguese-Speaking Countries

Funding Information: National Research Council–CNPq. Process: 159908/2019-1. Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.Strengthening strategies to improve adherence to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in key populations constitutes a global health priority to be achieved across countries, especially in countries that share a high flow of people such as Brazil and Portugal. This study aimed to analyze the factors associated with adherence to PrEP among MSM from two Portuguese-speaking countries, highlighting the opportunities and preventive strategies for the global health scenario. This was a cross-sectional analytical online survey conducted from January 2020 to May 2021 with MSM in Brazil and Portugal. For analysis of the data, the Poisson regression model was used to estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) for developing a model to evaluate the associated factors in both countries in a comparative and isolated way. Adherence to PrEP use corresponded to 19.5% (n = 1682) of the overall sample: 18.3% (n = 970) for Brazil and 21.5% (n = 712) for Portugal. Having more than two sex partners in the last 30 days (aPR: 30.87) and routinely undergoing HIV tests (aPR: 26.21) increased the use of this medication. Being an immigrant (PR: 1.36) and knowing the partner’s serological status (PR: 1.28) increased adherence to PrEP in Portugal, whereas, in Brazil, it was being an immigrant (PR: 0.83) and not knowing the serological status (PR: 2.24) that promoted the use of this medication. Our findings reinforce the need to invest in programs and strategies to improve access and adherence to PrEP, especially in key populations.publishersversionpublishe

POÉTICAS DO ISOLAMENTO

Esta obra é composta por textos de um grupo de professores, que no ano de 2020, reinventaram-se em suas ações pedagógicas, buscando por meio da extensão dar continuidade ao ensino com a comunidade acadêmica e externa. O momento de distanciamento, em função da pandemia do Coronavírus, nos levou a busca de meios que possibilitassem o desenvolvimento das ações pedagógicas a distância. Então, iniciamos o processo de ampliar o nosso repertório digital para aplicá-lo no desenvolvimento das aprendizagens propostas por meio de minicursos, seminários, palestras e performances artísticas