Support networks and people with physical disabilities: social inclusion and access to health services / Redes de apoio e pessoas com deficiência física: inserção social e acesso aos serviços de saúde

This study seeks to identify the formation of social support networks of people with physical disabilities, and how these networks can help facilitate access to health services and promote social inclusion. It is a cross-sectional study, with data collected via a form applied to physically disabled persons over eighteen years of age registered with the Family Health Teams of the municipal district of João Pessoa in the state of Paraíba. It was observed that the support networks of these individuals predominantly consist of family members (parents, siblings, children, spouses) and people outside the family (friends and neighbors). However, 50% of the interviewees declared that they could not count on any support from outside the family. It was observed that the support network contributes to access to the services and participation in social groups. However, reduced social inclusion was detected, due to locomotion difficulties, this being the main barrier to social interaction. Among those individuals who began to interact in society, the part played by social support was fundamental.

Este estudo objetiva identificar a constituição das redes de apoio social das pessoas com deficiência física e como estas podem contribuir para facilitar o acesso aos serviços de saúde e a inclusão social das mesmas. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, com dados coletados através de um formulário, aplicado em pessoas com deficiência física maiores de dezoito anos, cadastradas nas Equipes de Saúde da Família do município de João Pessoa (PB). Constatou-se que as redes de apoio dessas pessoas estão constituídas principalmente pelos componentes da dimensão familiar (pais, irmãos, filhos, cônjuges) e extrafamiliar (amigos e vizinhos). No entanto, 50% dos entrevistados relataram não contar com qualquer apoio fora da família. Verificou-se que a rede de apoio contribui para o acesso aos serviços e para a participação em grupos sociais. Evidenciou-se, porém, uma reduzida inserção social, decorrente da dificuldade de locomoção, sendo esta a principal barreira para a interação social. Entre as pessoas que começaram a interagir na sociedade o apoio social foi fundamental.

Purification and Partial Characterization of a Non-specific Acid Phosphatase Degrading NAD from Aspergillus oryzae NRRL447.

A non specific acid phosphatase from Aspergillus oryzae NRRL447 catalyzes the phosphate hydrolysis from nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide forming nicotinamide riboside, adenosine and Pi as the final products of the reaction. The enzyme was purified to homogeneity by a sequential treatment of acetone fractionation, DEAE-cellulose chromatography and gel filtration chromatography. The enzyme was purified 400-fold. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of the purified enzyme showed a single protein band of MW 52 kDa. The enzyme displayed maximum activity at pH 5.0 and 40 °C with NAD as substrate. The enzyme activity appeared to be stable over pH 2.0–5.0 and up to 40 °C. The enzyme activity was enhanced slightly by Mg2+, Ca2+ whereas inhibited strongly by F-, Mo04 -, Cu2+ and Fe2+. The enzyme hydrolyzes several phosphate esters, suggesting a probable non-specific nature. The substrate concentration-activity relationship is the hyperbolic type and the apparent Km for NAD+ was 6.25 x 10-4 M.

Bioconversion and saccharification of some lignocellulosic wastes by aspergillus oryzae ITCC-4857.01 for fermentable sugar production

The recent interest in bioconversion of agricultural and industrial wastes to chemical feedstock has led to extensive studies on cellulolytic enzymes produced by microorganisms. In the present study three lignocellulosic substrates viz. sugarcane bagasse, sawdust and water hyacinth were pre-treated with alkali and enzyme and their effect on bioconversion has been investigated. The ability of selected substrates for induction of cellulase enzyme by A. oryzae ITCC 4857.01 and for the potentiality of the induced enzyme to saccharify the substrates were also assessed. The maximum degree of conversion of substrate (0.415 percent) and improved specific substrate consumption (0.99 g substrate/g dry biomass) was exhibited in sugarcane bagasse after alkali treatment at 96 hrs. Both alkali-treatment and enzyme-treatment, water hyacinth was the best for cellulase induction and showed maximum endoglucanase activity of 11.42 U/ml. Reducing sugar yield ranged from 1.12 mg/ml for enzyme treated sawdust at 48 hrs to 7.53 mg/ml for alkali treated sugarcane bagasse at 96 hrs. Alkali-treated sugarcane bagasse gave the highest saccharification rate of 9.03 percent after 96 hrs. The most resistant substrate was sawdust which produced 5.92 percent saccharification by alkaline treatment. The saccharification of lignocellulosic substrates by enzyme produced by A. oryzae ITCC 4857.01 indicates the enzymes specificity towards the substrates. The use of such enzyme in lingo-cellulose hydrolysis will lead to efficient conversion of cellulose materials to other important products.