Gestational risk classification based on maternal death profile 2008-2013: an experience report from the municipality of Porto Seguro, Bahia, Brazil. / Classificação de risco gestacional baseada no perfil de óbitos maternos ocorridos de 2008 a 2013: relato de experiência no município de Porto Seguro, Bahia.

OBJECTIVE: to portray the creation of a gestational risk classification based on the profile of maternal deaths in a municipality where the rate of these deaths is high, and its use in prenatal care. METHODS: the profile was prepared using records of maternal deaths that occurred between 2008 and 2013, considering age, schooling, race/skin color, place of residence, pre-existing disease, reproductive history. RESULTS: maternal death was most frequent in women of brown/black skin color, aged 30-39, with low schooling, living in socially vulnerable districts and with heart disease as the main pre-existing disease; gestational risk was classified based on this profile, whereby points (1-3) were assigned to each lowest/highest frequency and care priorities (P) were defined - PI=regular risk (4-9pt: routine consultation/examination), PII=high risk (10-16pt: reduce waiting time for consultation/examination by 50%), and PIII=very high Risk (≥17pt: access to consultation/examination within 7 days). CONCLUSION: the new classification improved healthcare professionals' awareness of determinants surrounding maternal death and the need to prioritize access to prenatal care according to risk.

The Portuguese Severe Asthma Registry: Development, Features, and Data Sharing Policies.

The Portuguese Severe Asthma Registry (Registo de Asma Grave Portugal, RAG) was developed by an open collaborative network of asthma specialists. RAG collects data from adults and pediatric severe asthma patients that despite treatment optimization and adequate management of comorbidities require step 4/5 treatment according to GINA recommendations. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of RAG, its features, and data sharing policies. The contents and structure of RAG were defined in a multistep consensus process. A pilot version was pretested and iteratively improved. The selection of data elements for RAG considered other severe asthma registries, aiming at characterizing the patient's clinical status whilst avoiding overloading the standard workflow of the clinical appointment. Features of RAG include automatic assessment of eligibility, easy data input, and exportable data in natural language that can be pasted directly in patients' electronic health record and security features to enable data sharing (among researchers and with other international databases) without compromising patients' confidentiality. RAG is a national web-based disease registry of severe asthma patients, available at asmagrave.pt. It allows prospective clinical data collection, promotes standardized care and collaborative clinical research, and may contribute to inform evidence-based healthcare policies for severe asthma.

Integração ensino-serviço-comunidade nos cenários de práticas na formação interdisciplinar em Saúde: uma experiência do Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde (PET-Saúde) no sul da Bahia, Brasil / Integración enseñanza-servicio-comunidad en los escenarios de prácticas en la formación interdisciplinaria en salud: una experiencai del Programa de Educación por el Trabajo para la Salud (PET / Salud) / Teaching-service-community integration in practice scenarios of interdisciplinary Health Education: an experience of the Work Education for Health Program (PET-Health) in Southern Bahia

A proposta do Programa de Educação pelo Trabalho para a Saúde (PET-Saúde) da Universidade Federal do Sul da Bahia (UFSB) focaliza as relações entre saberes e práticas acadêmicas, profissionais e populares, desenvolvendo uma postura crítica e reflexiva na formulação de problemas com base nas demandas concretas da comunidade, por meio do trabalho em equipe, fortalecendo a articulação entre universidade e Rede de Atenção à Saúde. O objetivo foi relatar a experiência do PET-Saúde em um curso de Bacharelado Interdisciplinar em Saúde na UFSB, em Porto Seguro, sul da Bahia, no período entre maio de 2016 e março de 2017. Valoriza-se aqui a importância do processo ensino-aprendizagem vinculado aos cenários das práticas na formação em saúde. A experiência relatada esteve orientada pelos princípios da pesquisa-ação na elaboração do diagnóstico participativo da situação de saúde do território para mudanças no contexto social e sanitário e debate da relevância social do ensino na formação para o exercício profissional.(AU)

La propuesta del PET-Salud de la Universidad del Sur de Bahia (UFSB) se enfoca en las relaciones entre saberes y prácticas académicas, profesionales y populares, desarrollando una postura crítica y reflexiva en la formulación de problemas con base en las demandas concretas de la comunidad, por medio del trabajo en equipo, fortaleciendo la articulación entre la universidad y la Red de Atención a la Salud. El objetivo fue relatar la experiencia del PET-Saluden un curso de Formación Interdisciplinaria en Salud en la UFSB, en Porto Seguro, sur del estado de Bahía, en el período entre mayo de 2016 y marzo de 2017. Aquí se valoriza la importancia del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje vinculado a los escenarios de las prácticas en la formación en salud. La experiencia relatada estuvo orientada por los principios de la investigación-acción en la elaboración del diagnóstico participativo de la situación de salud del territorio para cambios en el contexto social y sanitario y debate de la relevancia social de la enseñanza en la formación para el ejercicio profesional.(AU)

ABSTRACT The proposal of the PET-Health program program, at the Federal University of Southern Bahia (UFSB) and municipal health secretariats, addresses relationships among academic, professional and popular knowledge and practices, developing a critical and reflexive conduct in the formulation of problems based on concrete demands of communities through teamwork, and strengthening integration between the university and the healthcare network. The objective of this study was to report the PET-Health program experience in an interdisciplinary health undergraduate course at the UFSB, in Porto Seguro, state of Bahia, between May 2016 and March 2017. It considered the importance of the teaching-learning process associated with practice settings in health education. The reported experiences were oriented by the research-action principles in the formulation of participatory diagnoses of the Brazilian health situation to promote changes in the social and health context and in the discussion of the social relevance of teaching in theeducation process for professional practice.(AU)

Evaluación de la sensibilización a Der p 1 y Der p 2 en una población pediátrica del Norte de Portugal / Evaluation of sensitization to Der p 1 and Der p 2 in a pediatric population of the North of Portugal

INTRODUCCIÓN: En Portugal los datos del papel de Der p 1 y Der p 2 en niños con alergia al ácaro del polvo son escasos. La inmunoterapia específica (IE) con alérgenos es el único tratamiento que mejora los síntomas, reduce la necesidad de terapia farmacológica y modifica la historia natural de la enfermedad. Con este trabajo, los autores estudian la epidemiología local y buscan aclarar si el análisis molecular de los alérgenos principales es una ventaja para decidir y/o modificar la decisión de iniciar IE en niños con indicación clínica y sensibilizados a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de los niños con asma y/o rinitis. Período de estudio: enero de 2013 a diciembre de 2016. CRITERIOS DE INCLUSIÓN: 1) prick-test positivo a Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; y 2) enfermedad clínicamente relevante bajo tratamiento. Los valores de Der p 1 y Der p 2 ≥ 0,35kUA/l fueron considerados positivos. La significación estadística se estableció en p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron en el estudio 279 pacientes. Edad media 9,55 años (min. 4-máx. 17). El asma estuvo presente en 199 niños (71,3%) y rinitis en 245 (87,8%). Der p 1 y Der p 2 fue<0,35kUA/l en 29 (10,4%) pacientes. Der p 1/Der p 2 se correlacionó con el tamaño de la pápula de prick-test, con el valor de los eosinófilos y la IgE total. CONCLUSIONES: Der p 1 y Der p 2 son alérgenos dominantes en nuestra población y puede haber beneficios en la determinación de estos niveles de alérgenos moleculares en pacientes con un prick-test positivo e indicación clínica para IE

INTRODUCTION: In Portugal, data on the role of Der p 1 and Der p 2 in patients with house dust mite (HDM) allergy are scarce. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (sIT) is the only treatment that improves symptoms, reduces the need for pharmacological therapy and modifies the natural history of the disease. With this study, the authors aim to understand the local epidemiology and to clarify if the molecular assay of major allergens is advantageous in deciding and/or modifying the decision to initiate sIT in children with clinical indication which are sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. METHODS: Retrospective study with analysis of patients with asthma and/or rhinitis. Study period: January/2013-December/2016. Inclusion criteria: 1) positive prick-test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; and 2) clinically relevant disease under treatment. Assay Der p 1 and Der p 2 values ≥ 0.35 kUA/L were considered positive. Statistical significance was set at P < .05. RESULTS: The clinical files of 279 patients. Mean ages 9.55 years (min.4-max.17). Asthma was present in 199 children (71.3%) and rhinitis in 245 (87.8%). Der p 1 and Der p 2 was < 0.35kUA/L in 29 (10,4%) patients. The value of Der p 1/Der p 2 correlated with the size of the prick-test papule, the value of the eosinophils and the total IgE. CONCLUSIONS: Der p 1 and Der p 2 are dominant allergens in our population and there may be benefits in determining these molecular allergen levels in patients with a positive prick-test and a clinical indication for sIT prior to a decision of initiating sIT or not

[Evaluation of sensitization to Der p 1 and Der p 2 in a pediatric population of the North of Portugal]. / Evaluación de la sensibilización a Der p 1 y Der p 2 en una población pediátrica del Norte de Portugal.

INTRODUCTION: In Portugal, data on the role of Der p 1 and Der p 2 in patients with house dust mite (HDM) allergy are scarce. Allergen-specific immunotherapy (sIT) is the only treatment that improves symptoms, reduces the need for pharmacological therapy and modifies the natural history of the disease. With this study, the authors aim to understand the local epidemiology and to clarify if the molecular assay of major allergens is advantageous in deciding and/or modifying the decision to initiate sIT in children with clinical indication which are sensitized to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus. METHODS: Retrospective study with analysis of patients with asthma and/or rhinitis. STUDY PERIOD: January/2013-December/2016. INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1) positive prick-test to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; and 2) clinically relevant disease under treatment. Assay Der p 1 and Der p 2 values ≥0.35 kUA/L were considered positive. Statistical significance was set at P<.05. RESULTS: The clinical files of 279 patients. Mean ages 9.55 years (min.4-max.17). Asthma was present in 199 children (71.3%) and rhinitis in 245 (87.8%). Der p 1 and Der p 2 was <0.35kUA/L in 29 (10,4%) patients. The value of Der p 1/Der p 2 correlated with the size of the prick-test papule, the value of the eosinophils and the total IgE. CONCLUSIONS: Der p 1 and Der p 2 are dominant allergens in our population and there may be benefits in determining these molecular allergen levels in patients with a positive prick-test and a clinical indication for sIT prior to a decision of initiating sIT or not.

Particularities in a Child With Cashew Nut Allergy.

Food allergy affects many young children and tree nut allergy is accountable for a large number of severe, life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Cross-reactivity can occur not only with foods that are in the same biological family but also between certain fruits or vegetables and latex (latex-fruit syndrome). We present the case of a previous healthy 5-year-old girl referred to Pediatric/Allergology Consultation after an episode of sialorrhea, perioral urticarial rash, tongue swelling, and immediate vomiting after oral contact with cashew nut. Investigation revealed the following: positive skin prick test to walnut and positive specific IgE for cashew nut, walnut, hazelnut, and almond. ImmunoCAP ISAC was positive for storage proteins of walnut and hazelnut (Jug r 1 e Cor a 9) and for a specific allergen of latex (Hev b 3). It is interesting that anaphylaxis was the first manifestation of allergy in a healthy child. Also, we emphasize the importance to latex sensitization with potential future clinical relevance and the sensitization to Hev b 3, which is not documented to be involved in cross-reactivity phenomena/latex-fruit syndrome or present in an otherwise healthy child.

Caracterización fenotípica y molecular de neisseria meningitidis del serogrupo C asociada con un brote en Bahia, Brasil / Phenotypic and molecular characterization of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis associated with an outbreak in Bahia, Brazil

Objetivo Caracterizar las cepas de Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) aisladas de cinco pacientes con Enfermedad Meningocócica (EM) asociada a un brote epidémico en Trancoso - BA, que ocurrió en octubre del 2009, luego de una fiesta en zona rural y en la que participaron 1000 jóvenes .Todos los casos fueron secundarios al caso primario a excepción de un paciente varón de 39 años. Materiales y métodos El Servicio de Vigilancia Epidemiológica del Estado de Bahia realizó la investigación epidemiológica y las cepas de Nm se caracterizaron en el Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia para Meningitis, Instituto Adolfo Lutz - São Paulo mediante métodos convencionales (sero - subtipificación y prueba de sensibilidad a los antimicrobianos) y métodos moleculares (electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado- PFGE y Multilocus Sequence Typing - MLST).Resultados La PFGE mostró dos perfiles de restricción estrechamente relacionados designados como PFGE tipos A y A1 con 92% de relación entre sí. Ambos tipos fueron clasificados como ST-3780 mediante MLST, y pertenecientes al complejo clonal ST-103. Todos los aislados mostraron el fenotipo C: 23: P1.5 y eran susceptibles a todos los antibióticos testados. Conclusiones Este es el primer brote de EM reportado asociado a cepas de Nm serogrupo C del complejo clonal ST-103 y relacionado con el consumo de drogas en Brasil (AU)

Objective To characterize meningococcal strains isolated from five cases of meningococcal disease (MD) associated with an outbreak in Trancoso - BA, occurred in October 2009. All cases, with the exception of a 39-year-old male, attended a dance party with approximately 1000 youngsters in a rural site. Materials and methods The epidemiological investigation was conducted by the Epidemiological Surveillance Service of Bahia State. Meningococcal strains were characterized at Adolfo Lutz Institute, the Brazilian National Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis by conventional techniques (serotype, serosubtype and antimicrobial susceptibility test) and by molecular methods (Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis - PFGE and Multilocus Sequence Typing - MLST).Results The PFGE showed 2 closely related restriction profiles, designated as PFGE types A and A1, having 92% relatedness to each other. MLST characterization showed both A and A1 clones were ST-3780, which belongs to the ST-103 complex. All isolates displayed the phenotype C:23:P1.5 and were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. Conclusions This is the first reported MD outbreak associated with serogroup C ST-103 complex in Brazil, as well as the party and illicit drug-use associated outbreak (AU)

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of serogroup C Neisseria meningitidis associated with an outbreak in Bahia, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize meningococcal strains isolated from five cases of meningococcal disease (MD) associated with an outbreak in Trancoso - BA, occurred in October 2009. All cases, with the exception of a 39-year-old male, attended a dance party with approximately 1000 youngsters in a rural site. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The epidemiological investigation was conducted by the Epidemiological Surveillance Service of Bahia State. Meningococcal strains were characterized at Adolfo Lutz Institute, the Brazilian National Reference Laboratory for Bacterial Meningitis by conventional techniques (serotype, serosubtype and antimicrobial susceptibility test) and by molecular methods (Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis - PFGE and Multilocus Sequence Typing - MLST). RESULTS: The PFGE showed 2 closely related restriction profiles, designated as PFGE types A and A1, having 92% relatedness to each other. MLST characterization showed both A and A1 clones were ST-3780, which belongs to the ST-103 complex. All isolates displayed the phenotype C:23:P1.5 and were susceptible to all antibiotics tested. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first reported MD outbreak associated with serogroup C ST-103 complex in Brazil, as well as the party and illicit drug-use associated outbreak.

The lag structure and the general effect of ozone exposure on pediatric respiratory morbidity.

Up to now no study has investigated the lag structure of children's respiratory morbidity due to surface ozone. In the present study, we investigate the lag structure and the general effect of surface ozone exposure on children and adolescents' respiratory morbidity using data from a particularly well suited area in southern Europe to assess the health effects of surface ozone. The effects of surface ozone are estimated using the recently developed distributed lag non-linear models, allowing for a relatively long timescale, while controlling for weather effects, a range of other air pollutants, and long and short term patterns. The public health significance of the estimated effects is higher than has been previously reported in the literature, providing evidence contrary to the conjecture that the surface ozone-morbidity association is mainly due to short-term harvesting. In fact, our data analysis reveals that the effects of surface ozone at medium and long timescales (harvesting-resistant) are substantially larger than the effects at shorter timescales (harvesting-prone), a finding that is consistent with all children and adolescents being affected by high surface ozone concentrations, and not just the very frail.