Obstacles in the detection and reporting of tuberculosis cases: a discursive analysis / Barreras en la detección y notificación de los casos de tuberculosis: un análisis discursivo / Barreiras na detecção e notificação dos casos da tuberculose: uma análise discursiva

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the discourses of health professionals about the obstacles in the process of detection and reporting of tuberculosis cases in Mozambique. Method: Qualitative exploratory study with a theoretical-methodological approach of Discourse Analysis of French matrix. The study was conducted in Mozambique in 2014 at three levels: central, provincial and district. The study included 15 health professionals, 4 physicians, 6 technicians and 5 nursing professionals, who worked in the National Tuberculosis Control Program, with more than 1 year of experience. Result: The following discursive blocks emerged: Detection of tuberculosis cases in laboratories; Underreporting of tuberculosis cases; Obstacles to detect cases of tuberculosis: long distances and lack of transport; and Reporting of cases for decision making. Final considerations: The discourses analyzed point to the ideological affiliation that includes the lack of investment policies in the health sector and the political commitment as basic obstacles in the detection and reporting of tuberculosis cases.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar los discursos de los profesionales de salud acerca de las barreras en el proceso de detección y notificación de los casos de tuberculosis en Mozambique. Método: Estudio exploratorio cualitativo con abordaje teórico-metodológico del Análisis de Discurso de matriz francesa. El estudio fue realizado en Mozambique, en el año 2014, en tres niveles: central, provincial y distrital. Quince profesionales de la salud participaron en el estudio, siendo 4 médicos, 6 técnicos y 5 profesionales de enfermería, que actuaban en el Programa Nacional de Control de la Tuberculosis, con más de 1 año de experiencia. Resultado: Los siguientes bloques discursivos emergieron: Detección de los casos de la tuberculosis en laboratorios; Subnotificación de los casos de la tuberculosis; Barreras para la detección de los casos de la tuberculosis: largas distancias y falta de transporte; Y notificación de los casos para la toma de decisión. Consideraciones finales: Los discursos analizados apuntan a la filiación ideológica que comprende la falta de políticas de inversión en el sector de la salud y del compromiso político como barreras básicas en la detección y notificación de los casos de la tuberculosis.

RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar os discursos dos profissionais de saúde acerca das barreiras no processo de detecção e notificação dos casos de tuberculose em Moçambique. Método: Estudo exploratório qualitativo com abordagem teórico-metodológica da Análise de Discurso de matriz francesa. O estudo foi realizado em Moçambique, no ano de 2014, em três níveis: central, provincial e distrital. Fizeram parte do estudo 15 profissionais de saúde, sendo 4 médicos, 6 técnicos e 5 profissionais de enfermagem, que atuavam no Programa Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose, com mais de 1 ano de experiência. Resultado: Emergiram os seguintes blocos discursivos: Detecção dos casos da tuberculose em laboratórios; Subnotificação dos casos da tuberculose; Barreiras para detecção de casos de tuberculose: longas distâncias e falta de transporte; e Notificação dos casos para a tomada de decisão. Considerações finais: Os discursos analisados apontam para a filiação ideológica que compreende a falta de políticas de investimento no setor da saúde e do comprometimento político como barreiras basilares na detecção e notificação dos casos da tuberculose.

Characterization of a thermostable endoglucanase produced by Isoptericola variabilis sp. IDAH9

Abstract This study aimed to isolate and evaluate the cellulase activity of cellulolytic bacteria in hot springs of Dehloran, Ilam province, Iran. Water and sludge samples were collected from the hot springs and the bacterial enrichment was performed in a medium containing rice barn and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC). The cultures were incubated at 50 °C in aerobic conditions. The bacteria were isolated on CMC agar (1%) medium. Cellulase assay of the isolates was measured by the evaluation of endoglucanase enzyme activity, which is also called as carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase). The isolated thermotolerant bacteria were then identified and optimized for the production of CMCase. Moreover, stabilizing elements of the enzyme were identified with in silico approach. The chosen isolate was identified as Isoptericola variabilis sp. IDAH9. The identified strain produced the most thermostable CMCase at a concentration of 5.6 g/L of ammonium sulfate, 9 g/L CMCase or 12 g/L rice bran, 0/6% Tween-80, and 0.2% sucrose. The produced enzyme showed 80% of the residual activity after 1 h of incubation at 65 °C. In silico data indicated that the remaining residual activity was due to the redundant stabilizing elements in the protein structure. Consequently, I. variabilis can be isolated from the extreme environment and has a thermostable endoglucanase which may be used for various applications after studying them.

Acciones gubernamentales para la detección temprana del cáncer de mama en América Latina: Retos a futuro / Government actions for the early detection of breast cancer in Latin America: Future challenges

Se presenta investigación documental realizada en 2009 que pretende documentar el marco normativo y los programas vigentes para la detección temprana del cáncer mamario en América Latina y establecer los retos más importantes para contener la epidemia en la región. Se identificaron diversas iniciativas emprendidas por las autoridades gubernamentales de salud para contrarrestar el crecimiento de la morbi-mortalidad por esta causa mediante estrategias de detección temprana, atención e investigación. A pesar de los avances en el diseño de políticas, programas, protocolos y guías de manejo clínico, persisten importantes retos para lograr los objetivos propuestos y la contención de este problema.

Documentary research carried out in 2009 aims to document the regulatory framework and existing programs for the early detection of breast cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean in order to establish the most important challenges for the containment of the epidemic in the region. The governments of the region have developed diverse efforts and initiatives to confront the rise in mortality due to said cause, including early detection, treatment and research strategies. Despite advances in the early detection of breast cancer, the challenge remains to link efforts to ensure continuity of care (diagnostic confirmation, treatment and monitoring) in order to achieve higher efficiency, effectiveness and benefits for women with this disease.

Evaluation of the concomitant use of two different EIA tests for HIV screening in blood banks

OBJECTIVE: In 1998, the Brazilian Ministry of Health made it mandatory for all blood banks in the country to screen donated blood for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) concomitantly using two different enzyme immunoassay (EIA) tests. Concerned with the best use of available resources, our objective with this study was to evaluate the usefulness of conducting two EIA screening tests instead of just one. METHODS: We analyzed data from 1999 through 2001 obtained by testing 698 191 units of donated blood using two EIA HIV screening tests concomitantly at the Pro-Blood Foundation/Blood Center of Säo Paulo (Fundaçäo Pró-Sangue/Hemocentro de Säo Paulo), which is a major blood center in the city of Säo Paulo, Brazil. All samples reactive in at least one of the two EIA tests were submitted for confirmation by a Western blot (WB) test, and the persons who had donated those samples were also asked to return and provide a follow-up sample. RESULTS: Out of the 698 191 blood units that were donated, 2 718 of them (0.4 percent) had to be discarded because they were reactive to at least one of the EIA tests. There were two WB-positive donation samples that were reactive in only one HIV EIA screening test. On their follow-up samples, both donors tested WB-negative. These cases were considered false positive results at screening. Of the 2 718 donors who were asked to return and provide a follow-up sample, 1 576 of them (58 percent) did so. From these 1 576 persons, we found that there were two individuals who had been reactive to only one of the two EIA screening tests and who had also been negative on the WB at screening but who were fully seroconverted on the follow-up sample. We thus estimated that, in comparison to the use of a single EIA screening test, the use of two EIA screening tests would detect only one extra sample out of 410 700 units of blood. CONCLUSIONS: Our data do not support the use of two different, concomitant EIA screening tests for HIV. The great majority of HIV-positive donors have already seroconverted and will be detected using only a single EIA screening test. Only persons who are going through the process of seroconversion may be missed by using a single EIA test and detected using two EIAs for screening. To screen out these individuals and decrease the residual risk of HIV transmission from the blood donated in our center, the use of other techniques, such as nucleic acid testing (NAT) or a p24 antigen assay, would be more effective