Controle ambiental: prevenção e manejo das doenças atópicas / Environmental control: prevention and management of atopic diseases

A asma é uma das doenças crônicas mais prevalentes no mundo, sendo que 50% a 80% dos pacientes apresentam o fenótipo alérgico. A asma resulta da interação entre predisposição genética e exposição ambiental. Os aeroalérgenos perenes, especialmente os ácaros da poeira doméstica, são considerados um dos responsáveis pelo aumento da prevalência da asma em todo mundo. O controle ambiental é uma das medidas necessárias para o tratamento e controle da asma.

Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide, and 50 to 80% of affected patients have the allergic phenotype. Asthma results from the interaction between genetic predisposition and environmental exposure. Perennial aeroallergens, especially household dust mites, are considered one of the reasons for the increase in the prevalence of asthma worldwide. Environmental control is a necessary measure to treat and control asthma.

Crop residues activity against the free-living stages of small ruminant nematodes / Atividade de resíduos de culturas contra os estágios de vida livre de nematoides de pequenos ruminantes

Abstract The nematicidal effect of different organic materials was evaluated in order to develop a non-chemical alternative soil treatment for control of the free-living stages of small ruminant gastrointestinal nematodes. The selected organic materials were residues from the juice industry of acerola, cashew, grape, guava, papaya and pineapple, as well as castor residue from the biodiesel industry. LC90 results showed that pineapple residue was the most efficient inhibitor of larval development, followed by castor, grape, cashew, acerola, guava and papaya. Castor residue was also a good source of nitrogen and was used in a greenhouse experiment to prevent larval development in contaminated goat faeces that was deposited in pots containing the grasses Brachiaria brizantha (var. Paiaguás) or Megathyrsus maximus x M. infestum (var. Massai). Castor residue caused a significant (P < 0.05) reduction (85.04%) in Paiaguás grass contamination (L3.dry mass-1) and a reduction of 17.35% in Massai grass contamination (P > 0.05), with an increase in the biomass production of Massai (251.43%, P < 0.05) and Paiaguás (109.19%, P > 0.05) grasses. This strategy, called Econemat®, with good results in vitro shows to be promising on pasture increasing phytomass production.

Resumo O efeito nematicida de diferentes materiais orgânicos foi avaliado, com o objetivo de desenvolver um tratamento alternativo não químico do solo para o controle dos estágios de vida livre de nematoides gastrintestinais de pequenos ruminantes. Os materiais orgânicos selecionados foram resíduos da indústria de suco de acerola, caju, uva, goiaba, mamão e abacaxi, além do resíduo de mamona da indústria de biodiesel. Os resultados da LC90 mostraram que o resíduo de abacaxi foi o mais eficiente inibidor do desenvolvimento larval, seguido pela mamona, uva, caju, acerola, goiaba e mamão. O resíduo de mamona também se mostrou uma boa fonte de nitrogênio, sendo usado em experimento em casa de vegetação para prevenir o desenvolvimento larval em fezes contaminadas, depositadas em vasos, contendo as gramíneas Brachiaria brizantha (var. Paiaguás) ou Megathyrsus maximus x M. infestum (var. Massai). O resíduo de mamona reduziu (85,04%) significativamente (P < 0,05) a contaminação no capim-Paiaguás (L3.dry massa-1), 17,35% no capim Massai (P> 0,05), e aumentou a produção de biomassa das gramíneas Massai (251,43%, P <0,05) e Paiaguás (109,19%, P> 0,05). Essa estratégia, chamada Econemat®, com bons resultados in vitro, mostra-se promissora nas pastagens aumentando a produção de fitomassa.

Guia prático sobre controle ambiental para pacientes com rinite alérgica / Practical guide to environmental control for patients with allergic rhinitis

A asma e a rinite alérgica são doenças frequentes e acometem parcela significativa da população, sobretudo crianças. Frequentemente a asma e a rinite coexistem e tem sido documentado que a presença de rinite potencialmente aumenta a gravidade da asma e impacta negativamente na qualidade de vida. Entre os agentes desencadeantes/agravantes dessas doenças são apontados: aeroalérgenos (ácaros do pó domiciliar, fungos, alérgenos de baratas, epitélio de animais, polens e ocupacionais), poluentes intradomiciliares e extradomiciliares (fumaça de tabaco, material particulado liberado pela cocção/aquecimento ­ gás de cozinha, fogão a lenha) e irritantes (odores fortes, arcondicionado). O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar as medidas recomendadas para reduzir a exposição de pacientes sensíveis a esses agentes. Realizou-se busca em base de dados MEDLINE, SciELO e LILACS empregando-se os descritores: environmental control, mite, cockroach, fungi, furry pets, pollen, irritants, smoking, indoor pollution, cooking. Foram revisados os principais estudos e elaborou-se um documento em que são discutidas as relações entre exposição e aparecimento de sintomas, assim como as medidas apontadas como tendo potencial para evitar a exacerbação/ agravamento das doenças alérgicas respiratórias.

Asthma and allergic rhinitis are highly prevalent diseases and they affect a significant share of the population, especially children. Very often, asthma and rhinitis coexist, and the presence of rhinitis has been shown to potentially increase the severity of asthma, with a negative impact on quality of life. Among the triggering or aggravating agents of these conditions it is possible to list: aeroallergens (house dust mites, fungi, cockroach allergens, animal epithelium, pollens and occupational allergens), indoor and outdoor pollutants (tobacco smoke, particulate matter released by cooking/heating ­ cooking gas, wood stoves), and irritants (strong odors, air conditioning). The aim of this study was to identify measures recommended to reduce the exposure of patients sensitive to these agents. A search was conducted on the MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS databases, using the following keywords: environmental control, mite, cockroach, fungi, furry pets, pollen, irritants, smoking, indoor pollution, cooking. The main studies were reviewed, and a report was prepared in which the relationships between exposure and the onset of symptoms are discussed, and measures with a potential to prevent exacerbation/ aggravation of allergic respiratory diseases are presented.

The hammock: a reservoir of allergens

INTRODUCTION: Asthma affects approximately 10 percent of the world's population. Sensitization to allergens is an important risk factor, and exposure to allergens is associated with disease severity. METHODS: We performed skin tests to evaluate allergen sensitization to mites, cockroaches, cats, dogs, and molds in 73 asthmatic patients. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay was used to assay the mite and cockroach allergens found in dust from the bedding, hammocks, bedroom floors, living rooms, and kitchens of 29 patients and 14 controls. RESULTS: Fifty patients (68.5 percent) had positive skin test responses. There were positive responses to D. pteronyssinus (52.0 percent), B. tropicalis (53.4 percent), T. putrescentiae (15.0 percent), E. maynei (12.3 percent), L. destructor (8.2 percent), B. germanica (20.5 percent), P. americana (21.9 percent), Felis catus (10.9 percent), C. herbarium (2.7 percent), A. alternata (4.1 percent), and P. notatun (1.3 percent). The exposure to mite and cockroach allergens was similar in the patients and the controls. The Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus Group 1 levels were highest in the beds and hammocks. The Blattella germanica Group 1 levels were highest in the kitchens, living rooms and hammocks. DISCUSSION: The positive skin tests to mites, cockroaches and cats were consistent with previous studies. D pteronyssinus was the most prevalent home dust mite, and hammocks were a source of allergens. To improve asthma prophylaxis, it is important to determine its association with mite allergen exposure in hammocks.

Effect of an Air Cleaner with Electrostatic Filter on the Removal of Airborne House Dust Mite Allergens

PURPOSE: The effects of air cleaners on the removal of airborne indoor allergens, especially house dust mites (HDM), are still controversial. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of an air cleaner with an electrostatic filter on the removal of airborne mite allergens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A dried HDM culture medium that contained mite body particles and excretions was dispersed in a chamber equipped with an electrostatic air cleaner. The number of airborne particles was recorded continuously by a dust spectrometer for 60 minutes. Airborne particles in the chamber were collected on a sampling filter at a flow rate of 10 L/min and the Der f 1 concentration in the filter extracts was measured by two-site ELISA. RESULTS: The air cleaner efficiently removed airborne HDM particles. The air cleaner removed airborne HDM particles (size 2-12.5 microm) 11.4 +/- 2.9 fold (cleaner operating for 15 minutes), 5.4 +/- 0.7 fold (cleaner operating for 30 minutes), and 2.4 +/- 0.2 fold (cleaner operating for 60 minutes) more than the removal of HDM particles by natural settle down. Removal kinetics differed according to the particle size of the airborne particles. The air cleaner decreased the concentration of Der f 1 in the extraction of airborne particles collected on the air sampling filter by 60.3%. CONCLUSION: The electrostatic air cleaner can remove airborne HDM allergens and may be useful as a supplementary environmental control tool for HDM sensitized respiratory allergic patients.

The design of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory and its importance in risk prevention: applicability of UV radiation

This study addressed the environmental control of an IVF laboratory and the potential repercussions that the presence of certain physical, chemical and biological agents could have on workers' health or on the tasks they carried out. The design of the laboratory and its facilities contributed to an improvement in work quality and minimised the environmental-related risks. The preventive measures adopted had an influence on the carried out actions.

Este estudo dirige-se ao controle ambiental de um laboratório "in vitro fertilization (IVF)" e das repercussões potenciais que a presença de determinados agentes físicos, químicos e biológicos possa ter na saúde nos trabalhadores' ou nas tarefas que se realizem. O projeto do laboratório e de suas facilidades contribui a uma melhoria na qualidade do trabalho e minimiza riscos ambiental-relacionados. As medidas preventivas adotadas têm uma influência nas ações realizadas.

Microbiological monitoring of clean rooms in development of vaccines

The aim of the present work was to evaluate an environmental monitoring program for clean rooms, or classified environments, involved in the filling and quality control of biological products produced by Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil. This monitoring established the quantification, characterization and seasonality of the microorganisms in air and operators and, moreover, determined the alert and action limits. The total detectable microbial number showed some contrasts in installed air purification systems and in the operational impact on adopted procedures. The typical microbial population consisted of Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Bacillus sp and Penicillium sp. The highest microorganism concentration occurred during summer and springtime. The established internal alert and action limits supported the operational procedures. Therefore, the environmental monitoring program is recommended for other laboratories involved in the production of vaccines, hyperimmune sera and biopharmaceuticals.

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar um programa de monitoramento microbiológico ambiental para áreas limpas, ou ambientes classificados, envolvidas na produção, envasamento e controle dos imunobiológicos produzidos pelo Instituto Butantan. Este monitoramento permitiu a quantificação, a caracterização e a sazonalidade da população microbiana presente no ar e nos operadores, e a determinação dos limites de alerta e ação. O número total de bactérias detectáveis revelou diferenças nos sistemas de purificação de ar instalados e o impacto operacional ocasionado pelos procedimentos realizados. A população microbiana característica foi composta por bactérias dos gêneros Staphylococcus sp, Micrococcus sp, Bacillus sp e por fungos filamentosos do gênero Penicillium sp. A maior concentração de microrganismos ocorreu nos períodos de verão e primavera. Os limites internos de alerta e ação estabelecidos asseguram os procedimentos operacionais, recomendando o monitoramento microbiológico ambiental a outros laboratórios envolvidos na produção de vacinas, soros hiperimunes e imunobiológicos.

Simulation Research on Performance of Condensing Heat Exchanger in Different Working Conditions / 航天医学与医学工程

Objective To provide a more accurate calculation method for design of condensing heat exchanger (CHX) through an in depth discussion about working conditions of the CHX commonly used in temperature and humidity control system of manned spacecraft.Methods With difference of the simplified configuration of CHX,a mathematical model was given.Specifically,the log-mean temperature difference (LMTD) method was used in dry conditions,while in wet conditions mass and energy conservation equations were used.The set of equations of the model were solved by using the shooting method provided by Matlab/Simulink program.Results The results of working conditions and the performance of heat transfer and dehumidification of CHX were determined.Analysis showed that the simulation model could evaluate performance of the CHX in different work conditions reasonably and the results were close to the physical phenomenon.Conclusion The simulation models are of significance for design and optimization of CHX both in manned spacecraft temperature and humidity control system and in aircraft environmental control system.

The Environmental Control System for a Patient with Quadriplegia

Environmental control system (ECS) is an assistive device to help the severely disabled persons to live their daily lives more independently. An 'ECS By Voice' suitable to a 54-year old C4 quadriplegic man was developed and installed in his own room for one week. The physical and psychologic impacts of the subject and caregiver were also evaluated using questionnaires including the Activity Pattern Indicator (API) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) before and after the application of the device. The results were as follows: (1) The voice recognition rate of the device was 97.5% in the laboratory and there was no difference in recognition rate according to the specific commanding words. (2) While using the device, both the dependency on the attendant care and the depression tendency of the subject were decreased. (3) While using the device, both caring time and depression tendency of the caregiver were decreased. We found the usefulness of ECS for the quadriplegics and the possibility of developing a Korean model of ECS which can be commercialized at a considerably less cost.

Environmental controls in reducing house dust mites and nasal symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis

A randomized comparison group pretest-posttest experimental design was used to quantitatively determine the effects of environmental control measures on patients with allergic rhinitis. Environmental controls included wrapping the mattress with a vinyl cover, washing the top bedding cover with 55 degrees C hot water every two weeks, removal of soft furniture, and wet cleaning of the bedroom floor every day. Thirty subjects were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The amount of house dust mites in dust samples collected from the bedroom floor, bedding and mattress, as well as the nasal symptoms of patients, were measured twice at one-month intervals. A significant decrease in house dust mites in dust samples and relief in patients' nasal symptoms were observed in the experimental group who had environmental controls.

The Development of 'ECU-1'Environmental Control units for Disabled Individuals in Their Home / 中国康复理论与实践

@#The 'ECU-1'environmental control units are applied to severely disabld individuals for operating home electrical equipments without other's help.They can freely turn on (off)lights,switch on (off)fan,watch on TV and give alarm for help,The function,principle and clinical application of 'ECU-1'is described in this paper.

Effectiveness of Home-Based Environmental Intervention Among Urban Asthmatics / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To determine whether an environmental intervention tailored to each patient's allergic sensitization and environmental risk factors could improve asthma-related outcomes. Methods Irritant or allergen sensitivity determined by the patient's exposure history and confirmed with skin test. Patients were asked to record 2-week days without symptoms, days off-work(or school) and ?2-agonist puffs. Pulmonary function was also examined. Ninety-six asthmatics with atopic asthma (aged 16-78 years) were randomly assigned to a control group, an intervention group that received an educational handout monthly for 2 months. Asthmatics of both groups inhalded budesonide at a daily dose 200-800 ?g and ?2-agonist as needed. Environmental intervention lasted six months and included education and remediation for exposure to allergens. The control group had no special recommendations. Results The intervention group had more days without symptoms compared with the control group (13.4 vs.10.1days, P