Association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with leprosy susceptibility.

BACKGROUND: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is a soluble pattern recognition receptor that plays a crucial role in modulating the inflammatory response and activating the complement system. Additionally, plasma PTX3 has emerged as a potential biomarker for various infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of PTX3 gene polymorphisms and PTX3 plasma levels with susceptibility to leprosy and clinical characteristics. METHODS: Patients with leprosy from a hyperendemic area in the Northeast Region of Brazil were included. Healthy household contacts and healthy blood donors from the same geographical area were recruited as a control group. The rs1840680 and rs2305619 polymorphisms of PTX3 were determined by real-time PCR. Plasma levels of PTX3 were determined by ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 512 individuals were included. Of these, 273 were patients diagnosed with leprosy; 53 were household contacts, and 186 were healthy blood donors. No association was observed between PTX3 polymorphisms and susceptibility to leprosy or development of leprosy reaction or physical disability. On the other hand, plasma levels of PTX3 were significantly higher in patients with leprosy when compared to household contacts (p = 0.003) or blood donors (p = 0.04). It was also observed that PTX3 levels drop significantly after multidrug therapy (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that PTX3 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of leprosy and point to the potential use of this molecule as an infection marker.

Palliative therapy for malignant gastric outlet obstruction: how does the endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy compare with surgery and endoscopic stenting? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: The gold-standard procedure to address malignant gastric outlet obstruction (MGOO) is surgical gastrojejunostomy (SGJJ). Two endoscopic alternatives have also been proposed: the endoscopic stenting (ES) and the endoscopic ultrasound-guided gastroenterostomy (EUS-G). This study aimed to perform a thorough and strict meta-analysis to compare EUS-G with the SGJJ and ES in treating patients with MGOO. Materials and Methods: Studies comparing EUS-G to endoscopic stenting or SGJJ for patients with MGOO were considered eligible. We conducted online searches in primary databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Lilacs, and Central Cochrane) from inception through October 2021. The outcomes were technical and clinical success rates, serious adverse events (SAEs), reintervention due to obstruction, length of hospital stay (LOS), and time to oral intake. Results: We found similar technical success rates between ES and EUS-G but clinical success rates favored the latter. The comparison between EUS-G and SGJJ demonstrated better technical success rates in favor of the surgical approach but similar clinical success rates. EUS-G shortens the LOS by 2.8 days compared with ES and 5.8 days compared with SGJJ. Concerning reintervention due to obstruction, we found similar rates for EUS-G and SGJJ but considerably higher rates for ES compared with EUS-G. As to AEs, we demonstrated equivalent rates comparing EUS-G and SGJJ but significantly higher ones compared with ES. Conclusion: Despite being novel and still under refinement, the EUS-G has good safety and efficacy profiles compared with SGJJ and ES.

Spacial distribution of fertigated coffee root system / Distribuição espacial do sistema radicular do cafeeiro fertirrigado

ABSTRACT The development of coffee plant root system changes when subjected to drip irrigation and fertigation. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of fertigation on the development of coffee root system by drip irrigation in western Bahia. The experiment was carried out with Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 coffee plants, of about 3.5 years of age, in the "Café do Rio Branco" farm, located in Barreiras - BA, and consisted of a complete randomized blocks design with 3 replicates. Treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilization (900/800, 600/500 and 300/250 kg ha-1 year-1 N and K2O), weekly distributed, by means of fertigation, throughout the process. After the fourth harvest, coffee root system was evaluated, and root length density (RLD) and root density (RD) were determined at different sampled layers. The highest root concentration, root length density (RLD), and root density (RD) were observed in the superficial layers of soil (0-20 cm), and under the dripline (30 and 70 cm from the orthotropic branch). Results showed that the lower the N and K2O levels, the higher was the development (RLD and RD) of the coffee root system.

RESUMO O desenvolvimento do sistema radicular do cafeeiro é alterado quando submetido à irrigação localizada e fertirrigação. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de fertirrigação sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular do cafeeiro irrigado por gotejamento na região Oeste da Bahia. Realizou-se o trabalho na fazenda Café do Rio Branco, localizada em Barreiras - BA, em cafeeiros de aproximadamente 3,5 anos de idade, da variedade Catuaí IAC 144. O experimento foi montado em um esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo três níveis de adubação nitrogenada e potássica (900/800, 600/500 e 300/250 kg ha-1 ano-1 de N e K2O), em 3 parcelamentos mensais de fertirrigação (2, 4 e 8 vezes). Após a quarta safra, o sistema radicular do cafeeiro foi avaliado e a densidade de comprimento radicular (DCR) e densidade radicular (DR) em diferentes camadas amostradas foram determinadas. A maior concentração de raízes, densidade de comprimento radicular (DCR) e densidade radicular (DR) foi obtida nas camadas superficiais (0-20 cm) e sob a linha lateral (30 e 70 cm de distância do ramo ortotrópico). As menores doses de N e K2O propiciaram maior desenvolvimento (DCR e DR) do sistema radicular do cafeeiro.

A educação ambiental como estratégia da Atenção Primária à Saúde / Environmental education as Primary Health Care strategy / Educación ambiental como estrategia de la Atención Primaria de Salud

A Educação Ambiental não deve discutir somente o meio ambiente físico, mas também deve contextualizar a saúde local, destacando os cuidados com a prevenção de doenças e gestão dos fatores ambientais deletérios a saúde. Objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia da Educação Ambiental como estratégia da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) num pequeno núcleo urbano isolado no Município de Uberaba. Método: Foi realizado um diagnóstico socioambiental no período de agosto/2009 a janeiro/2010 por meio da aplicação de questionário semiestruturado de pesquisa quantitativa e qualitativa sobre saúde, meio ambiente e desenvolvimento social. Com base nos resultados do diagnóstico, foram elaboradas atividades que envolveram reuniões, palestras e eventos culturais que discutiam os problemas verificados no diagnóstico. A avaliação da eficácia das intervenções foi realizada por meio da verificação de ações comunitárias que surgiram após as atividades. Resultados: Obteve-se a mobilização da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde quanto à qualidade da água de consumo humano e a mobilização comunitária na organização e enfrentamento dos problemas vivenciados, relacionados à educação, assistência médica e representação comunitária. Essas ações não se devem exclusivamente ao trabalho de educação realizado, mas foram motivadas e incentivadas por ele. Conclusão: Verifica-se que a Educação Ambiental é uma estratégia viável para a Atenção Primária à Saúde que pode ter alcance comunitário e trabalhar questões socioambientais que interferem na condição de saúde das pessoas.

Environmental education should not only discuss the physical environment, but also contextualise the local health care with emphasis on the disease prevention and management of environmental factors detrimental to health. Objective: This paper aims highlight the strategic importance of environmental education for the work in Primary Health Care in an isolated small urban center in the city of Uberaba. Method: Socio-environmental diagnosis was made in the period of August/2009 January/2010 through the application of semi-structured questionnaire for quantitative and qualitative research on health, environment and social development. Based on the results of the diagnosis, were prepared activities involving meetings, lectures and cultural events that discussed the problems in diagnosis. The assessment of efficacy was performed by verifying community action that arose after the activities. Results: Obtained the mobilization of the Municipal Health on the quality of drinking water and the community mobilization for organization and dealing with problems experienced related to education, health care and community representation. These actions are not due exclusively to the work carried out education, but were motivated and encouraged by it. Conclusion: It appears that environmental education is a viable strategy for Primary Health Care to may have community outreach and working environmental issues that affect the health status of people.

La educación ambiental no sólo se debe discutir el medio ambiente físico, sino también contextualizar los servicios locales de salud con énfasis en la prevención de enfermedades y manejo de los factores ambientales perjudiciales para la salud. Objetivo: El presente trabajo pretende estudiar la importancia estratégica de la educación ambiental para el trabajo en Atención Primaria de Salud en un pequeño centro urbano en la ciudad de Uberaba. Método: Se realizó diagnóstico socio-ambiental en el período de Agosto/2009 hasta Enero/2010 con la aplicación de cuestionario semi-estructurado para la investigación cuantitativa y cualitativa sobre la salud, el medio ambiente y el desarrollo social. Basándose en los resultados del diagnóstico, se prepararon actividades relacionadas con reuniones, conferencias y eventos culturales que se discutieron los problemas en el diagnóstico. La evaluación de la eficacia se realizó mediante la verificación de la acción comunitaria que surgió después de las actividades. Resultado: Se obtuvo la movilización de la Salud Municipal para mejora de la calidad del agua potable y tambien obtuvo la movilización de la comunidad para organización y tratamiento de los problemas experimentados en relación con educación, la salud y la representación social. Estas acciones no se deben exclusivamente a la labor llevada a cabo por la educación, pero estaban motivados y animados por la misma. Conclusión: Hay encontrado que la educación ambiental es una estrategia viable para la Atención Primaria de Salud que puede alcanzar a la comunidad y trabajar las cuestiones ambientales que afectan el estado de salud de las personas de las personas.