Implementing a multisector public-private partnership to improve urban hypertension management in low-and middle- income countries

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease presents an increasing health burden to low- and middle-income countries. Although ample therapeutic options and care improvement frameworks exist to address its prime risk factor, hypertension, blood pressure control rates remain poor. We describe the results of an effectiveness study of a multisector urban population health initiative that targets hypertension in a real-world implementation setting in cities across three continents. The initiative followed the "CARDIO4Cities" approach (quality of Care, early Access, policy Reform, Data and digital technology, Intersectoral collaboration, and local Ownership). METHOD: The approach was applied in Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia, Dakar in Senegal, and Sao Paulo in Brazil. In each city, a portfolio of evidence-based practices was implemented, tailored to local priorities and available data. Outcomes were measured by extracting hypertension diagnosis, treatment and control rates from primary health records. Data from 18,997 patients with hypertension in primary health facilities were analyzed. RESULTS: Over one to two years of implementation, blood pressure control rates among enrolled patients receiving medication tripled in Sao Paulo (from 12.3% to 31.2%) and Dakar (from 6.7% to 19.4%) and increased six-fold in Ulaanbaatar (from 3.1% to 19.7%). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides first evidence that a multisectoral population health approach to implement known best-practices, supported by data and digital technologies, and relying on local buy-in and ownership, can improve hypertension control in high-burden urban primary care settings in low-and middle-income countries

Use of the microalga Scenedesmus obliquus to remove cadmium cations from aqueous solutions

The ability of a wild strain of Scenedesmus obliquus, isolated from a heavy metal-contaminated environment, to remove Cd2+ from aqueous solutions was studied at several initial concentrations. Viable biomass removed metal to a maximum extent of 11.4 mgCd/g at 1 mgCd/l, with most Cd2+ being adsorbed onto the cell surface. A commercially available strain (ACOI 598) of the same microalga species was also exposed to the same Cd concentrations, and similar results were obtained for the maximum extent of metal removal. Heat-inactivated cells removed a maximum of 6.04 mgCd/g at 0.5 mgCd/l. The highest extent of metal removal, analyzed at various pH values, was 0.09 mgCd/g at pH 7.0. Both strains of the microalga tested have proven effective in removing a toxic heavy metal from aqueous solutions, hence supporting their choice for bioremediation strategies of industrial effluents.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Globalização e blocos regionais: considerações teóricas e conclusões de política econômica

O artigo procura  discutir os argumentos teóricos embutidos nas diferentes posições sobre liberalização econômica e globalização financeira, de forma a destacar, ao confrontá-las, as justificativas para as diferentes prescrições favoráveis e contrárias à sua adoção. A análise enfatizará o lado  monetário,  porque um dos traços marcantes do atual processo de globalização é a liberalização financeira e a negociação livre de moedas  como ativos financeiros. Esta discussão, realizada na primeira  parte  do trabalho, é retomada na segunda e nas conclusões, para tratar a questão da formação de blocos regionais como  um  processo em que a liberalização entre os  países do bloco se amplia.The paper analyses the differences in the  theoretical frameworks that support or not the defence of  financial liberalization and globalization. The monetary aspects of the discussion will be emphasized since the main characteristic of the contemporary process of globalization is its financial aspect and the speculation in the international money markets. This general discussion is developed to observe the formation of economic areas as a process of intensification of the liberalization inside the area

Epulorhiza epiphytica sp. nov. isolated from mycorrhizal roots of epiphytic orchids in Brazil

 Epulorhiza epiphytica sp. nov. isolated from the roots of two Brazilian native epiphytic orchid species is described. In culture, it differs from the known species of Epulorhiza in the minute size of monilioid cells with foveate surfaces. This is the first report of an orchid mycorrhizal fungus from Brazil