Risk behaviors for sexually transmitted diseases among crack users / Comportamentos de risco para doenças sexualmente transmissíveis em usuários de crack / Conductas de riesgo para enfermedades de transmisión sexual entre usuarios de crack

AbstractObjectives: to investigate the prevalence and risk behaviors by means of reporting of sexually transmitted diseases among crack users.Method: cross-sectional study carried out with 588 crack users in a referral care unit for the treatment of chemical dependency. Data were collected by means of face-to-face interview and analyzed using Stata statistical software, version 8.0.Results: of the total participants, 154 (26.2%; 95% CI: 22.8-29.9) reported antecedents of sexually transmitted diseases. Ages between 25 and 30 years (RP: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.0-4.0) and over 30 years (RP: 3.8; 95% CI: 2.1-6.8), alcohol consumption (RP: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.1-3.3), antecedents of prostitution (RP: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.3-2.9) and sexual intercourse with person living with human immunodeficiency virus/AIDS (RP: 2.7; 95% CI: 1.8-4.2) were independently associated with reporting of sexually transmitted diseases.Conclusion: the results of this study suggest high risk and vulnerability of crack users for sexually transmitted diseases.

ResumoObjetivos:investigar a prevalência e comportamentos de risco através do relato de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis em usuários de crack.Método:estudo transversal, realizado com 588 usuários de crack, de uma unidade de referência para tratamento de dependência química. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevista face a face e analisados em programa estatístico Stata, versão 8.0.Resultados:do total de participantes, 154 (26,2%; IC 95%: 22,8-29,9) referiram antecedentes de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis. Idade entre 25 e 30 anos (RP: 2,1; IC 95%: 1,0-4,0) e superior a 30 anos (RP: 3,8; IC 95%: 2,1-6,8), consumo de álcool (RP: 1,9; IC 95%: 1,1-3,3), antecedentes de prostituição (RP: 1,9; IC 95%: 1,3-2,9) e relação sexual com pessoa vivendo com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana/aids (RP: 2,7; IC 95%: 1,84,2) foram independentemente associados ao relato de doenças sexualmente transmissíveis.Conclusão:os resultados deste estudo sugerem elevado risco e vulnerabilidade dos usuários de crackpara as doenças sexualmente transmissíveis.

ResumenObjetivos:investigar la prevalencia y las conductas de riesgo a través del informe de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual entre los usuarios de crack.Método:estudio transversal con 588 usuarios de crack, de una unidad de referencia para el tratamiento de la dependencia química. Los datos fueron obtenidos a través de entrevista cara a cara y se analizaron utilizando el programa estadístico Stata, versión 8.0.Resultados:del total de participantes, 154 (26,2%; IC 95%: 22,8-29,9) informaron antecedentes de enfermedades de transmisión sexual. Edad entre 25 y 30 años (RP: 2,1; IC9 5%: 1,0-4,0) y superior a 30 años (RP: 3,8; IC 95%: 2,1-6,8), consumo de alcohol (OR: 1,9; IC 95%: 1,1-3,3), antecedentes de prostitución (RP: 1,9; IC 95%: 1,3-2,9) y relaciones sexuales con persona viviendo con el virus de inmunodeficiencia humana/ SIDA (RP: 2,7; IC 95%: 1,8-4,2) se asociaron de forma independiente con la notificación de las enfermedades de transmisión sexual.Conclusión:los resultados de este estudio sugieren alto riesgo y la vulnerabilidad de los usuarios de crackpara las enfermedades de transmisión sexual.

Hospitalizations for cardiovascular diseases and the coverage by the family health strategy / Internações por doenças cardiovasculares e a cobertura da estratégia saúde da família / Internaciones por enfermedades cardiovasculares y la cobertura de la estrategia salud de la familia

AbstractObjective: to verify the correlation between the rates of hospitalization for primary care-sensitive cardiovascular diseases and the coverage by the Family Health Strategy of residents of the State of Paraná, by regional health divisions, from 2000 to 2011.Method: ecological study developed from data of the Hospital Information System of the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) and the Department of Primary Care of the Ministry of Health. The rates of hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases were correlated with the annual coverage by the Family Health Strategy using Pearson's and Spearman's correlation coefficients.Result: there was a strong and negative correlation in the State of Paraná (r=-0.91; p <0.001) and in most regional health divisions, with the highest correlations observed in the Metropolitan and Toledo (r =-0.93; p<0.001) and Paranaguá (r=-0.92, p<0.001) regional health divisions.Conclusion: the results suggest that the increase in the coverage by the Family Health Strategy was an important factor for decrease in the hospitalizations for cardiovascular conditions among residents of the State of Paraná and in most regional health divisions. Other studies should be performed to analyze the factors and causes in regional health divisions where there was no correlation with increase in the Family Health Strategy.

ResumoObjetivo:verificar a correlação entre taxas de internação por doenças cardiovasculares sensíveis à atenção primária e a cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família de residentes no estado do Paraná, por regionais de saúde, no período de 2000 a 2011.Método:estudo ecológico, desenvolvido a partir de dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares do Sistema Único de Saúde e do Departamento de Atenção Básica do Ministério da Saúde. Correlacionaram-se as taxas de internação por doenças cardiovasculares com as coberturas anuais da Estratégia Saúde da Família, utilizando-se os coeficientes de correlação de Pearson e Spearman.Resultado:houve correlação negativa e forte no estado do Paraná (r=-0,91; p<0,001) e na maioria das regionais de saúde, sendo maior na Metropolitana e Toledo (r=-0,93; p<0,001) e Paranaguá (r=-0,92; p<0,001).Conclusão:os resultados sugerem que o aumento da cobertura da Estratégia Saúde da Família foi fator importante para a diminuição das internações por condições cardiovasculares em residentes no estado do Paraná e na maioria das regionais de saúde. Outros estudos devem ser realizados para analisar fatores e causas nas regiões do estado onde não houve correlação com incremento da Estratégia Saúde da Família.

ResumenObjetivo:verificar la correlación entre tasas de internación por enfermedades cardiovasculares sensibles a la atención primaria y la cobertura de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia de residentes en el estado de Paraná, por regionales de salud, en el período de 2000 a 2011.Método:estudio ecológico, desarrollado a partir de datos del Sistema de Informaciones Hospitalarias del Sistema Único de Salud y del Departamento de Atención Básica del Ministerio de la Salud. Se correlacionaron las tasas de internación por enfermedades cardiovasculares con las coberturas anuales de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia, utilizando los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson y Spearman.Resultado:hubo correlación negativa y fuerte en el estado de Paraná (r=-0,91; p<0,001) y en la mayoría de las regionales de salud, siendo mayor en la Metropolitana y Toledo (r=-0,93; p<0,001) y Paranaguá (r=-0,92; p<0,001).Conclusión:los resultados sugieren que el aumento de la cobertura de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia fue un factor importante para la disminución de las internaciones por condiciones cardiovasculares en residentes en el estado de Paraná y en la mayoría de las regionales de salud. Otros estudios deben ser realizados para analizar factores y causas en las regiones del estado en donde no hubo correlación con incremento de la Estrategia Salud de la Familia.

Validation of the content of the prevention protocol for early sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiaein newborns / Validação de conteúdo do protocolo de prevenção da sepse precoce porStreptococcus agalactiae em recém-nascidos / Validación de contenido del protocolo de prevención de la sepsis precoz por Streptococcus agalactiaeen recién nacidos

AbstractObjective: to validate the content of the prevention protocol for early sepsis caused by Streptococcus agalactiaein newborns.Method: a transversal, descriptive and methodological study, with a quantitative approach. The sample was composed of 15 judges, 8 obstetricians and 7 pediatricians. The validation occurred through the assessment of the content of the protocol by the judges that received the instrument for data collection - checklist - which contained 7 items that represent the requisites to be met by the protocol. The validation of the content was achieved by applying the Content Validity Index.Result: in the judging process, all the items that represented requirements considered by the protocol obtained concordance within the established level (Content Validity Index > 0.75). Of 7 items, 6 have obtained full concordance (Content Validity Index 1.0) and the feasibility item obtained a Content Validity Index of 0.93. The global assessment of the instruments obtained a Content Validity Index of 0.99.Conclusion: the validation of content that was done was an efficient tool for the adjustment of the protocol, according to the judgment of experienced professionals, which demonstrates the importance of conducting a previous validation of the instruments. It is expected that this study will serve as an incentive for the adoption of universal tracking by other institutions through validated protocols.

ResumoObjetivo:validar o conteúdo do protocolo de prevenção da sepse precoce porStreptococcus agalactiaeem recém-nascidos.Método:estudo transversal, descritivo, do tipo metodológico, com abordagem quantitativa. A amostra foi composta por 15 juízes, oito médicos obstetras e sete pediatras. A validação ocorreu por intermédio da avaliação de conteúdo do protocolo pelos juízes, os quais receberam o instrumento de coleta de dados - checklist - contendo sete itens, que representam requisitos a serem contemplados no protocolo. A validação de conteúdo foi atingida mediante aplicação do Índice de Validade de Conteúdo.Resultado:no processo de julgamento, todos os itens que representam requisitos contemplados no protocolo obtiveram concordância dentro do nível estabelecido (Índice de Validade de Conteúdo >0,75). Dos sete itens, seis obtiveram concordância total, (Índice de Validade de Conteúdo 1.0) e o item exequibilidade obteve Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de 0,93. A avaliação global dos instrumentos obteve Índice de Validade de Conteúdo de 0,99.Conclusão:a validação de conteúdo realizada foi ferramenta eficaz para adequação do protocolo, de acordo com o julgamento de profissionais experientes, demonstrando a importância em se realizar validação prévia de instrumentos. Espera-se que, este estudo incentive a adoção do rastreio universal por outras instituições, mediante protocolos validados.

ResumenObjetivo:validar el contenido del protocolo de prevención de la sepsis precoz porStreptococcus agalactiaeen recién nacidos.Método:estudio transversal, descriptivo, del tipo metodológico, con un enfoque cuantitativo. La muestra fue conformada por 15 jueces, ocho obstetras y siete pediatras. La validación se dio a través de la evaluación de contenido del protocolo por los jueces, los cuales recibieron el instrumento de recolección de datos - checklist - conteniendo siete ítems, que representan los requisitos para ser incluidos en el protocolo. La validación de contenido se logró a través de la aplicación del Índice de Validez de Contenido.Resultado:en el proceso de evaluación, todos los ítems que representan los requisitos contemplados en el protocolo obtuvieron una concordancia dentro del nivel establecido (Índice de Validez de Contenido > 0,75). De los siete ítems, seis obtuvieron una concordancia total (Índice de Validez de Contenido 1,0), y el ítem viabilidad obtuvo un Índice de Validez de Contenido de 0,93. La evaluación global de los instrumentos obtuvo un Índice de Validez de Contenido de 0,99.Conclusión:la validación de contenido realizada fue una herramienta eficaz para la adecuación del protocolo, según la evaluación de profesionales expertos, demostrando así la importancia de realizar la validación previa de los instrumentos. Se espera que este estudio fomente la adopción del cribado (screening) universal por otras instituciones, mediante protocolos validados.

Interleukin-17 gene expression and serum levels in acute rejected and non-rejected liver transplant patients

Interleukin-17 [IL-17], as a potent proinflammatory cytokine, has a critical role in post liver transplant outcomes. However, there is not much information about the effects of IL-17 cytokine on acute liver rejection. To evaluate the role of IL-17 in post-liver transplant acute rejection. Ninety seven adult liver transplant patients who enrolled in this cross sectional study were divided into Non- Acute Rejected [Non-AR] and Acute Rejected [AR] patient groups. Three blood samples were collected from each patient in days 1, 4 and 7 post liver transplantation. The IL-17 mRNA levels were evaluated using an in-house real time PCR protocol. IL- 17 protein levels were also analyzed in Non-AR, AR and also control groups using ELISA method. The IL-17 mRNA expression level continuously increased in AR patients in all days of follow-up post liver transplantation. IL-17 expression was, however, down regulated after day 4 post-transplant follow-up in Non-AR patients. Both IL-17 mRNA expression and protein levels were also significantly increased in AR patients compared with Non-AR ones. Based on these findings, significant increase of IL-17 mRNA and protein levels in AR patients highlights the important role of IL-17 in acute liver rejection

Gene Therapy Using Hepatocyte Growth Factor Expressing Adenovirus Improves Skin Flap Survival in a Rat Model

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that can stimulate the production of blood vessels in ischemic tissue. We investigated whether gene therapy using HGF-expressing adenovirus could enhance skin flap survival. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups. Rats were subdermally injected with HGF-expressing adenovirus (HGF virus group), recombinant HGF (rhHGF group), or phosphate buffered saline (PBS group) 2 days before and immediately after 3 x 9 cm caudal flap elevation. The survival area of the skin flap, the ratio of blood flow, CD31-positive vessels and, VEGF expression were examined. Skin flap viability was significantly increased in the HGF virus group compared to the rhHGF and PBS groups (71.4% +/- 5.9%, 63.8%+/- 6.4%, and 39.2% +/- 13.0%, respectively) (P = 0.025). Furthermore, the blood flow ratio was significantly increased in the HGF virus group. In the HGF virus group, the number of CD31-positive vessels and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression were significantly increased. Gene therapy using HGF-expressing adenovirus increase VEGF expression, the number of viable capillaries, and blood flow to the flap, thereby improving skin flap survival.

Association of interleukin-10, interferon-gamma, transforming growth factor-beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms with long-term kidney allograft survival

Single nucleotide polymorphisms within promoter or other regulatory sequences of cytokine genes mainly influence the level of production and secretion of proteins. A large amount of evidence has shown that cytokine gene variations alter graft survival length after kidney transplantation. We studied the association of gene polymorphisms in the interlekin-10 gene [IL10;-1082 G/A], interferon-gamma gene [IFNG; +874 T/A], transforming growth factor-beta gene [TGFB; +869 T/C], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene [TNFA;-308 A/G] with kidney allograft survival. The IL10 [-1082 G/A], IFNG [+874 T/A], TGFB [+869 T/C], and TNFA [-308 A/G] genotypes were determined in 32 kidney allograft recipients with graft rejection during the 1st posttransplant year and 52 without rejection in 5 posttransplant years, using allele-specific oligonucleotides-polymerase chain reaction method. The IFNG +874 A/T genotype showed a significantly higher frequency among kidney recipients of the rejection group than the control group [odds ratio, 2.64, 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 6.74; P=.04]. Comparisons between the rejection and control groups in IL10 [-1082 G/A], IFNG [+874 T/A], TGFB [+869 T/C], and TNFA [-308 A/G] single nucleotide polymorphisms showed no significant difference. Based on the finding of this study, it seems polymorphisms in the genes that regulate IL-10, IFN-gamma, TGF-beta, and TNF-alpha cytokines do not play a major role in kidney allograft survival, and other potential factors in this regard should be considered

Association of CCR5-59029 A/G and CCR2-V64I variants with renal allograft survival

Despite advances in the medical care of renal transplant recipients which have led to an improvement in allograft survival, renal allograft rejection is still a major obstacle to successful organ transplantation. Understanding the mechanisms contributing to allograft rejection will be of great importance for the development of efficient antirejection strategies. The aim of current investigation was to study the impact of polymorphisms of CCR5 delta 32, CCR5- 59029 A/G and CCR2-V64I on renal allograft survival. Using PCR and PCR-RFLP methods in 84 renal transplant recipients, the influence of CCR5 delta 32, CCR5- 59029 A/G and CCR2-V64I polymorphisms on renal allograft survival in two rejector and non-rejector groups were examined. Rejector group was defined as having rejection before 1 year and non-rejector group had stable graft function at least for 5 years. Significant reductions were found in the risk of renal transplant rejection in recipients possessing the CCR2-64I [A] allele [p=0.03] or 59029-A allele [p=0.03] compared to non-rejector group. There were no significant differences in the frequency of CCR5 DELTA 32 polymorphism in rejector group compared to non-rejector group [p>0.05]. It was possible to conclude that the chemokine receptors CCR2-V64I [A] and CCR5- 59029 A alleles may influence renal allograft survival

Delayed allograft rejection by the suppression of class II transactivator

We examined the effect of class II transactivator (CIITA) down-modulation on allograft rejection. To inhibit the function of CIITA, we constructed a series of CIITA mutants and found one exhibiting the dominant-negative effect on the regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression. To test whether the CIITA dominant-negative mutant reduces immunogenecity, CIITA-transfected melanoma cells were injected into allogeneic host and assessed for immune evading activity against host immune cells. We demonstrated that the CIITA dominant-negative mutant allowed tumor nodules to develop earlier in the lung than control by this tumor challenge study. Furthermore, skin grafts deficient for CIITA also survived longer than wild-type in allogeneic hosts. Both the tumor challenge and skin graft studies suggest the inhibition of CIITA molecules in donor tissue would be beneficial to the control of allo-response.