Environment & Health: perspectives and challenges

The concept of health and environmental health is a historical-conceptual relation with the twentieth century. In this article, environmental health is discussed as a of intersectional and transdisciplinary practices dedicated to the reflections, in human health, of the ecogeossocial relations of man with the environment, aiming well-being, life quality and sustainability, in order to guide public policies formulated using the available knowledge and with social participation and control. In this context, infectious diseases play a key role in the comprehension of environmental health in Brazil and worldwide

Study of Natural Cytotoxicity Receptors in Patients with HIV/AIDS and Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

The NCR receptors play a fundamental role in the cytotoxicity mediated by NK cells against tumor cells. In the current study, we investigated possible HIV/AIDS-related changes in the expression of the NCR receptors comparing healthy donors, HIV/AIDS patients, and HIV/AIDS patients with cancer (HIV/AIDSWC). The NCRs were quantified in NK cells (NKdim and NKbright) and T lymphocytes from peripheral blood samples by flow cytometry. We found a significant decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp46 in HIV/AIDS group (p=0.0012). There was a decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp46 in the HIV/AIDSWC group; however, this was not statistically significant. We found a significant decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp30 in the HIV/AIDS group (p=0.0144). There was a decrease in the frequency of NK cells expressing NKp30 and in the HIV/AIDSWC group, but this was not statistically significant. There were no changes in the distribution of NK cells and their subtypes in both groups

Benefits of Whole-Body Vibration, as a Component of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation, in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Narrative Review with a Suitable Approach

Background. Appropriate management, including pulmonary rehabilitation, associated with correct diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in patients can contribute to improving clinical conditions of these patients. Physical activity is recommended for COPD patients. Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a modality of physical activity. Putting together the biological effects and safe use of WBV, it may be a potentially feasible intervention to add to pulmonary rehabilitation. The purpose of this investigation was to systematically review studies regarding the effects of WBV, as a component of the pulmonary rehabilitation, in patients with COPD. Results. A total of six publications met inclusion for review. There was evidence to support the beneficial use of WBV to improve functional performance of the lower limbs and quality of life. However, the appropriateness of and descriptors of WBV methods were poorly described. Conclusions. The results of this review support the use of WBV as a component of pulmonary rehabilitation to assist management of patients with COPD. However, future research should examine the dose-response curve and optimal dosing regimen of WBV according to standard reporting recommendations for people with COPD. Such an approach will allow comparison among studies and the potential of meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Biomonitoramento indica poluição do Rio Guandu por compostos cancerígenos

O rio Guandu é responsável pelo fornecimento de água potável para mais de 10 milhões de pessoas da região metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro. Entretanto, diversos estudos têm demonstrado que esse rio apresenta elevados níveis de contaminação por substâncias que podem causar mutações e câncer. Portanto, é de extrema importância que providências sejam tomadas para melhorar a qualidade da água dessa bacia hidrográfica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial do uso da enzima etoxiresorufina O-desetilase (EROD) hepática de tilápias (Oreochromis niloticus) como biomarcadora no monitoramento da qualidade da água do rio Guandu. A atividade da enzima foi determinada através de fluorimetria em frações microssomais e pós-mitocondriais de tilápias capturadas no rio Guandu e em dois sítios controles. Nossos resultados mostraram que a EROD hepática de tilápias capturadas no rio Guandu apresentou atividade 700% maior do que daquelas capturadas nos sítios controles. Esta elevada atividade da EROD nos fígados das tilápias do rio Guandu indica grande indução da subfamília de CYP1A. Diversos autores têm demonstrado que a indução desta isoforma de citocromo P-450 está associada à presença dos contaminantes bifenilas policloradas (PCB)  e dioxinas, que apresentam atividade cancerígena. Frente a estes resultados, não recomendamos o consumo de peixes capturados no rio Guandu, e sugerimos que outras pesquisas sejam feitas para que a origem destes contaminantes ambientais seja esclarecida.   Palavras-chave: Citocromo P-450, Monitoramento, Poluição, Rio Guandu, Tilapia