Revisiting the History of Chagas Disease: "Live to tell"

Abstract In 1907, Carlos Chagas was designated to fight paludism in the Rio das Velhas region along the Central do Brasil railroad. During his field research, Chagas discovered a hematophagous insect ( Panstrongylus megitus ) carrying a new trypanosomatide, which he named Trypanosoma cruzi . On April 14th, 1909, he found the same parasite in the blood of a febrile child, submitting the announcement of his discoveries to the Brasil Médico scientific journal. Here, we discuss the early stages in the establishment of a new human morbid entity during the first decades after its discovery with a definite influence from its discoverer, Carlos Chagas, as well the first collaborators. Moreover, we cover the importance of the Center for the Study and Prophylaxis of Chagas Disease in Bambuí (MG), unraveling the most advanced developments in research within the disease's habitat and the widening perspectives for modern research that have emerged after the 1960s and continue to improve to this day. In this revisitation to the history of Chagas disease, we begin at Manguinhos (RJ ), making our way to Lassance (MG), where the discovery took place. Then, we travel back to Rio de Janeiro in the beginning of the twentieth century and Brazilian republic until the current day, revealing milestone publications that settled Chagas disease both as a source of pride for Brazilian medicine and as a challenge with important aspects that remain to be clarified. Any similarities to our country's politics and economy in the twentieth century are not mere coincidences.

Use of Dietary Supplements and Determinants of Taking Dietary Supplements by Gender in the Korean Population: Using the 4(th) Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009) / 대한지역사회영양학회지

OBJECTIVES: Although dietary supplements use in Korea has been rapidly increasing and women are more likely to take dietary supplements more than men, only a few studies have been conducted to investigate factors contributing to gender differences in dietary supplement use in the Korean population. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of dietary supplement use and also identify gender-specific key factors that contribute to it using the data of the 4th KNHANES. METHODS: Subjects were divided into user and non-user groups according to the answer given to the question that asked whether they had used any dietary supplement for more than 2 weeks on a regular basis during the previous year. Factors related to dietary supplement use were examined by general characteristics, health behavior and eating behavior. RESULTS: Prevalence of dietary supplement use was 13.6% for men and 20.6% for women. Users were more likely to be middle-aged, have higher income and education, have a spouse, or reside in dong areas in both men and women. Regarding health behaviors, men with desirable lifestyle behavior were more likely to take dietary supplements, while men who smoked were less likely to take dietary supplements. Regarding disease history, both men and women with a current disease had higher odds of taking supplements. With regard to dietary behavior, frequent eating out and nutrition attitude were associated with higher odds of taking supplements in both men and in women. CONCLUSIONS: Health or dietary behavior related factors that were associated with taking supplements differed by gender. These findings can be useful for planning gender-specific dietary education and health programs.

A (in)salubridade do cárcere e outras causa mortis na Casa de Correção de Porto Alegre, 1855-1888 / The (in)salubrity of prison life and other causes of death in Porto Alegre Prison, 1855-1888

O artigo analisa o fluxo das sensibilidades penais em relação aos cuidados médico-sanitários dispensados aos presos da Casa de Correção de Porto Alegre entre 1855-1888. São observadas a interiorização e a instrumentalização de conceitos como “humanidade” e “civilização”, sobretudo por parte daqueles indivíduos envolvidos diretamente ou com fortes chances de influenciar transformações concernentes às questões penais. Com efeito, além de gerar opinião pública favorável, as apreciações de governantes e notáveis levavam ao desenvolvimento de medidas e práticas concretas que aumentavam os mínimos vitais oferecidos à massa reclusa. Esse processo, entretanto, esteve longe de ser linear e harmônico como demonstram as doenças e a precariedade do cárcere.

The article analyzes the flow of penal sensitivities in relation to medical and health care provided to prisoners in Porto Alegre Prison between 1855 and 1888. The internalization and the instrumentalization of concepts such as “humanity” and “civilization,” especially by those individuals involved directly or with strong chances of influencing changes pertaining to penal issues, are observed. Indeed, in addition to generating favorable public opinion, the concerns of governing authorities and leading lights led to the development of concrete measures and practices that increased the minimum subsistence offered to the imprisoned class. This process, however, was far from linear and harmonic as witnessed by the diseases and the precariousness of prison life.

Fronteira, cana e tráfico: escravidão, doenças e mortes em Capivari, SP, 1821-1869 / Frontier, sugarcane and trafficking: slavery, disease and death in Capivari, São Paulo, 1821-1869

Abordam-se as mortes e doenças de escravos no município canavieiro paulista de Capivari, associando as causas atribuídas a esses falecimentos ao contexto social e econômico e às características das comunidades escravas locais. Enfatiza-se o impacto da malária, relacionando-o às faixas etárias, ao ambiente criado pela lavoura canavieira e à evolução da ocupação do local, inicialmente fronteira expansiva. Explora-se o relacionamento entre doença e processos de trabalho, assim como a mortalidade pós-desembarque de africanos e a possibilidade de crises de mortalidade entre os cativos da cana. Os resultados conduzem à discussão sobre o impacto do habitat e dos deslocamentos e choques atlânticos.

The deaths and diseases of slaves in the São Paulo State sugarcane municipality of Capivari are addressed, associating the causes attributed to these deaths to the social and economic context and characteristics of the local slave communities. The impact of malaria, relating it to the age brackets, the environment created by work on the sugarcane plantations and the evolution of the occupation of the area, initially by expanding frontiers, is emphasized. The relationship between illness and work processes, as well as the post-disembarkation mortality of Africans and the possibility of mortality crises among the sugarcane captives is explored. The results lead to a discussion of the impact of habitat and Atlantic displacement and the difficulty in acclimatizing.

Celiac Disease: A Disorder Emerging from Antiquity, Its Evolving Classification and Risk, and Potential New Treatment Paradigms

Celiac disease is a chronic genetically based gluten-sensitive immune-mediated enteropathic process primarily affecting the small intestinal mucosa. The disorder classically presents with diarrhea and weight loss; however, more recently, it has been characterized by subclinical occult or latent disease associated with few or no intestinal symptoms. Diagnosis depends on the detection of typical histopathological biopsy changes followed by a gluten-free diet response. A broad range of clinical disorders may mimic celiac disease, along with a wide range of drugs and other therapeutic agents. Recent and intriguing archeological data, largely from the Gobleki Tepe region of the Fertile Crescent, indicate that celiac disease probably emerged as humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer groups to societies dependent on agriculture to secure a stable food supply. Longitudinal studies performed over several decades have suggested that changes in the prevalence of the disease, even apparent epidemic disease, may be due to superimposed or novel environmental factors that may precipitate its appearance. Recent therapeutic approaches are being explored that may supplement, rather than replace, gluten-free diet therapy and permit more nutritional options for future management.

The Trend and Prospect of Studies of East Asian Medical History in Korea / 의사학

Studies of East Asian medical history in Korea have progressively accumulated in the last twenty years. First, Korean scholars broadened the focus of research from China-centered research to East Asian research. Studies of Toyo medical history in Korea mainly concentrated on Chinese medical history. Toyo medical history originated from Japanese orientalism and imperialism. Today the studies of East Asian medical history in Korea include Korea, China and Japan, and attempt to deal with East Asia as a single conceptual category. Second, researchers in East Asian medical history are steadily increasing. They study Chinese medical history or Japanese medical history from universities. As they continue their research in academic positions, successive researchers emerge. Third, the number of Korean scholars remains relatively small, but they pursue original research. Their interests are in the discourse of East Asian medical history, colonial modernity, environmental history, oral history, and history of disease.

A Case-Control Study of Primary Liver Cancer and Liver Disease History / 예방의학회지

The relationship between past liver disease history and the risk of primary liver cancer was analyzed in a hospital-based case-control study conducted in Seoul on 165 patients with histologically or serologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma and individually age-and sex-matched 165 controls in hospital for ophthalmologic, ontologic, or nasopharyngeal problems. Significant association were observed for liver diseases occurring 5 or more years before liver cancer diagnosis[OR, 4.9;97% confidence interval(CI), 1.6~14.0) and family history of liver disease(OR, 9.0;95% CI, 2.1~38.8). These associations were mot appreciably modified by allowance for major identified potential confounding factors, From these results, it is possible to speculate that liver cell injuries caused by Considering the significant effect of family history of liver diseases on PLCA risk after adjusting past liver disease history, there might be genetic susceptibility in the carcinogenic mechanism of liver cancer. Further investigations are needed to clarify the effect of family history of liver disease on PLCA risk.