The association between glaucoma treatment adherence with disease progression and loss to follow-up.

Prospective cohort study from Brazil to evaluate glaucoma treatment adherence using a medication event monitoring system (MEMS) device and correlate with glaucoma progression and loss to follow-up (LTF) after one year of follow up. We included primary open glaucoma (POAG) patients treated with at least one ocular hypotensive eye drop. MEMS devices was used to monitor adherence for 60 days and evaluate the percentage of doses prescribed taken within the 60-day period. We classified patients according to rates of adherence: low adherence (less than 75% from MEMS measurements) and high adherence (more than 75% from MEMS measurements). We applied a questionnaire to investigated self-reported behavior towards treatment behaviors (glaucoma treatment compliance assessment tool, GTCAT). We also correlated rates of treatment adherence with clinical, demographical variables and the occurrence of glaucoma progression or LTF after one year of observation. We included 110 POAG patients and found that 28.18% of them were considered low adherent. We identify several variables associated with poor adherence such as glaucoma progression, LTF, younger age, low educational and income levels, absence of health insurance, years of disease and peak intraocular pressure. Several constructs from the self-reported GTCAT were also correlated with the rates of treatment adherence. To date, this is the first study in Latin America to evaluate glaucoma treatment adherence with MEMS devices and correlate adherence rates with glaucoma progression and LTF. We found a low-adherence rate of 28.18% and several additional risk factors were statistically associated with poor adherence.

What does desmin do: A bibliometric assessment of the functions of the muscle intermediate filament.

Intermediate filaments were first described in muscle in 1968, and desmin was biochemically identified about 10 years afterwards. Its importance grew after the identification of desminopathies and desmin mutations that cause mostly cardiopathies. Since its characterization until recently, different functions have been attributed to desmin. Here, we use bibliometric tools to evaluate the articles published about desmin and to assess its several putative functions. We identified the most productive authors and the relationships between research groups. We studied the more frequent words among 9734 articles (September 2021) containing "desmin" on the title and abstract, to identify the major research focus. We generated an interactive spreadsheet with the 934 papers that contain "desmin" only on the title that can be used to search and quantify terms in the abstract. We further selected the articles that contained the terms "function" or "role" from the spreadsheet, which we then classified according to type of function, organelle, or tissue involved. Based on the bibliographic analysis, we assess comparatively the putative functions, and we propose an alternative explanation for the desmin function.

Alimentação e obesidade de crianças na fase pré-escolar: significados atribuídos pelos pais / Children's food and obesity in the pre-school phase: meanings assigned by parents / Alimentos y obesidad de los niños en la fase preescolar: significados por los padres

Objetivos: Avaliar a percepção dos pais de crianças com sobrepeso ou obesidade, em relação à qualidade da alimentação dos seus filhos, na fase pré-escolar. Método: Estudo descritivo e qualitativo, realizado por meio de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com pais de crianças com sobrepeso ou obesas matriculadas em um Centro Municipal de Educação Infantil (CEMEI) e cadastrado nas Estratégias de Saúde da Família (ESF's) do município de Divinópolis-MG. Resultados: Em relação à caracterização dos pais, todos eram do sexo feminino. A faixa etária alternou entre 22 a 45 anos. A partir da análise dos dados, as categorias elencadas foram: Alimentação inadequada; Tecnologia e sedentarismo; A subestimação do sobre peso; Prevenção e tratamento da obesidade infantil nas ESF. Conclusão: Identificou-se a necessidade de um melhor preparo por parte dos profissionais de saúde em relação a correta nutrição das crianças e também um envolvimento entre esses profissionais, os pais e a escola.(AU)

Objectives: To evaluate the perception of parents of overweight or obese children, in relation to the quality of their children's food, in the preschool phase. Method: Descriptive and qualitative study, carried out through semi-structured interviews, with parents of overweight or obese children enrolled in a Municipal Center for Early Childhood Education (CEMEI) and registered in the Family Health Strategies (ESF's) in the municipality of Divinópolis -MG. Results: Regarding the characterization of the parents, all were female. The age group alternated between 22 to 45 years. From the data analysis, the categories listed were: Inadequate food; Technology and sedentary lifestyle; The underestimation of overweight; Prevention and treatment of childhood obesity in the FHS. Conclusion: There was a need for better preparation by health professionals in relation to the correct nutrition of children and also an involvement between these professionals, parents and the school.(AU)

Objetivos: Evaluar la percepción de los padres de niños con sobrepeso u obesidad, en relación a la calidad de la alimentación de sus hijos, en la etapa preescolar. Método: Estudio descriptivo y cualitativo, realizado a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas, con padres de niños con sobrepeso u obesidad inscritos en un Centro Municipal de Educación Infantil (CEMEI) y registrados en las Estrategias de Salud de la Familia (ESF's) del municipio de Divinópolis. -MG. Resultados: En cuanto a la caracterización de los padres, todos fueron del sexo femenino. El grupo de edad alternaba entre 22 y 45 años. Del análisis de datos, las categorías enumeradas fueron: Alimentos inadecuados; Tecnología y estilo de vida sedentario; La subestimación del sobrepeso; Prevención y tratamiento de la obesidad infantil en la ESF. Conclusión: Se identificó la necesidad de una mejor preparación por parte de los profesionales de la salud en relación a la correcta nutrición de los niños y también una participación entre estos profesionales, los padres y la escuela.(AU)

The complement system: importance in clinical practice / O sistema complemento: importância para a prática clínica

The complement system is a fundamental component of the host immune response. In addition to its effector activity against pathogens, it possesses functions such as opsonization and phagocytosis, removal of immune complexes and activation of the inflammatory process. The knowledge of the complement system is important in the investigation of numerous diseases that can be observed in cases of deficiencies in cascade proteins, their receptors, or regulatory proteins. Clinical and experimental evidence demonstrate the association between the complement system and several inflammatory conditions, as well as a greater susceptibility to infection among patients with complement system dysfunction. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to describe the three complement system pathways - the activation and effector mechanisms and their biochemical characteristics - and correlate them to certain clinical conditions.

Malária por Plasmodium falciparum: estudos proteômicos / Plasmodium falciparum malaria: proteomic studies

A despeito dos avanços no tratamento e das campanhas de prevenção e de controle da malária nos distintos continentes nos quais a moléstia grassa, a entidade mórbida permanece com significativa relevância no mundo contemporâneo. O Plasmodium falciparum é o grande responsável pela malária grave, caracterizada por distúrbios em diferentes órgãos e sistemas, com possibilidade de evolução ao óbito. Embora incipientes, os estudos proteômicos na malária têm trazido boas perspectivas para melhor compreensão dos aspectos biológicos do Plasmodium, assim como dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos, diagnósticos, terapêuticos e profiláticos da enfermidade. Desse modo, o objetivo do presente artigo é apresentar uma breve revisão das aplicações da análise proteômica na malária por P. falciparum.

Despite advances in treatment and campaigns for prevention and control of malaria on the various continents where it is still rampant, this disease remains significantly relevant to the contemporary world. Plasmodium falciparum is the organism that is mainly responsible for severe malaria, which is characterized by disturbances in different organs and systems, with possibly fatal outcomes. Although incipient, proteomic studies of malaria have yielded favorable prospects for elucidating the biological aspects of Plasmodium as well as the pathophysiological, diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic mechanisms of the disease. Thus, the aim of the present article is to present a brief review of the applications of proteomic analysis in P. falciparum malaria.

Linfócitos T CD4+CD25+ e a regulação do sistema imunológico: perspectivas para o entendimento fisiopatológico da sepse / CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes and regulation of the immune system: perspectives for a pathophysiological understanding of sepsis

A resposta inflamatória sistêmica representa o evento patogênico central da sepse, subjazendo às manifestações clínicas e aos achados laboratoriais presentes nos enfermos. Inúmeras pesquisas têm demonstrado que os linfócitos T CD4+CD25+ - também conhecidos como células T reguladoras (Treg) - participam dos processos de desenvolvimento da sepse, em virtude de sua capacidade de suprimir a resposta imune. Com base nessas ideias, propôs-se, no presente artigo, a discussão do papel dos linfócitos Treg na sepse, com base na revisão da literatura com estratégia de busca definida (LILACS, PubMed e SciELO), tendo em vista duas abordagens principais: a participação dessas células nos processos de inflamação e imunidade, e as perspectivas de investigação fisiopatológica computacional da condição mórbida.

The systemic inflammatory response represents the core pathogenic event of sepsis, underlying clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in patients. Numerous studies have shown that CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes, also known as regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg), participate in the development of sepsis due to their ability to suppress the immune response. The present article discusses the role of Treg lymphocytes in sepsis based on a specific search strategy (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences / Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde - LILACS, PubMed, and Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO) focusing on two main topics: the participation of Treg cells in inflammation and immunity as well as perspectives in the computational physiological investigation of sepsis.

CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes and regulation of the immune system: perspectives for a pathophysiological understanding of sepsis. / Linfócitos T CD4+CD25+ e a regulação do sistema imunológico: perspectivas para o entendimento fisiopatológico da sepse.

The systemic inflammatory response represents the core pathogenic event of sepsis, underlying clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in patients. Numerous studies have shown that CD4+CD25+ T lymphocytes, also known as regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg), participate in the development of sepsis due to their ability to suppress the immune response. The present article discusses the role of Treg lymphocytes in sepsis based on a specific search strategy (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences / Literatura Latino-americana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde - LILACS, PubMed, and Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO) focusing on two main topics: the participation of Treg cells in inflammation and immunity as well as perspectives in the computational physiological investigation of sepsis.

Plasmodium falciparum malaria: proteomic studies. / Malária por Plasmodium falciparum: estudos proteômicos.

Despite advances in treatment and campaigns for prevention and control of malaria on the various continents where it is still rampant, this disease remains significantly relevant to the contemporary world. Plasmodium falciparum is the organism that is mainly responsible for severe malaria, which is characterized by disturbances in different organs and systems, with possibly fatal outcomes. Although incipient, proteomic studies of malaria have yielded favorable prospects for elucidating the biological aspects of Plasmodium as well as the pathophysiological, diagnostic, prophylactic, and therapeutic mechanisms of the disease. Thus, the aim of the present article is to present a brief review of the applications of proteomic analysis in P. falciparum malaria.