[Evolution of the neonatal screening program in the state of Tocantins]. / Evolução do programa de triagem neonatal no estado do Tocantins.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Neonatal Screening Program in the State of Tocantins from 1995 to 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was conducted by means of interviews with those responsible for the service, by the analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH) that were enrolled in the program, and by interviews with parents and/or guardians of the patients monitored. RESULTS: Program coverage increased from 32.3% to 76.6% after the implementation of the National Newborn Screening Program (PNTN). The prevalence of PKU and CH was 1:28,309 and 1:4,632 live births, respectively. The mean ages at the collection of the first blood sample (PKU: 9.6 ± 6.3 days; CH: 13.3 ± 10.3 days) and at the beginning of the treatment (PKU: 57.0 ± 17.6 days; CH: 95,6 ± 57.6 days) were greater than recommended by the Ministry of Health. The quality of monitoring was considered satisfactory by 100% of the parents. CONCLUSION: Although there have been great developments in neonatal screening program in this state, there is need for greater government incentives to optimize the program and to make the PNTN advance to its next phases.

Evolução do programa de triagem neonatal no estado do Tocantins / Evolution of the neonatal screening program in the state of Tocantins

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o Programa de Triagem Neonatal do Estado do Tocantins de 1995 a 2011. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio de entrevista com os responsáveis pelo serviço, por análise de prontuários de pacientes com diagnóstico de fenilcetonúria (PKU) ou hipotireoidismo congênito (HC) atendidos pelo programa e por entrevista com pais e/ou responsáveis por pacientes em acompanhamento. RESULTADOS: A cobertura de triagem neonatal aumentou de 32,3% para 76,6% depois da implantação do Programa Nacional de Triagem Neo­natal (PNTN). A prevalência de PKU e de HC no período analisado foi de 1:28.309 e de 1:4.632 nascidos vivos, respectivamente. A idade média das crianças na coleta da primeira amostra de sangue (PKU: 9,6 ± 6,3 dias; HC: 13,3 ± 10,3 dias) e no início do tratamento (PKU: 57,0 ± 17,6 dias; HC: 95,6 ± 57,6 dias) foi superior às preconizadas pelo Ministério da Saúde. A avaliação dos pais sobre a qualidade do acompanhamento realizado foi classificada como satisfatória por 100% dos entrevistados. CONCLUSÃO: Embora tenha havido grande evolução do programa de triagem neonatal deste Estado, há necessidade de maior incentivo governamental para que o programa seja otimizado e possa avançar para as fases seguintes do PNTN.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the Neonatal Screening Program in the State of Tocantins from 1995 to 2011. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data collection was conducted by means of interviews with those responsible for the service, by the analysis of medical records of patients diagnosed with phenylketonuria (PKU) and congenital hypothyroidism (CH) that were enrolled in the program, and by interviews with parents and/or guardians of the patients monitored. RESULTS: Program coverage increased from 32.3% to 76.6% after the implementation of the National Newborn Screening Program (PNTN). The prevalence of PKU and CH was 1:28,309 and 1:4,632 live births, respectively. The mean ages at the collection of the first blood sample (PKU: 9.6 ± 6.3 days; CH: 13.3 ± 10.3 days) and at the beginning of the treatment (PKU: 57.0 ± 17.6 days; CH: 95,6 ± 57.6 days) were greater than recommended by the Ministry of Health. The quality of monitoring was considered satisfactory by 100% of the parents. CONCLUSION: Although there have been great developments in neonatal screening program in this state, there is need for greater government incentives to optimize the program and to make the PNTN advance to its next phases.

Aplicação de microrganismos endofíticos na agricultura e na produção de substâncias de interesse econômico / Application endophytic microorganisms in agriculture and production of substances of economic interest

Os microrganismos que vivem no interior de plantas e habitam de modo geral suas partes aéreas, como folhas e caules, mas não causam aparentemente nenhum dano a seus hospedeiros, são chamados de endofíticos. Além de exercerem diversas funções de importância para o hospedeiro, esses microrganismos são potencialmente úteis na agricultura e na indústria, sobretudo na farmacêutica e de defensivos agrícolas.Por se constituírem em potenciais substitutos de produtos químicos, ao exercerem ações de biocontrolee/ou promoção de crescimento de plantas, favorecendo a preservação do ambiente, vem sendo apontadoscomo alternativa viável para sistemas de produção agrícola ecológica e economicamente sustentáveis. Aobtenção de substâncias de interesse econômico, como enzimas, antibióticos e outros fármacos, a partir de microrganismos endofíticos, tem sido frequentemente relatada na literatura científica. Exemplo disso é o taxol, poderoso anticancerígeno que anteriormente era obtido apenas da exploração da planta Taxusbrevifolia e, agora pode ser obtido de diferentes gêneros de fungos endofíticos. Avanços como estereforçam a grande potencialidade biotecnológica de tais microrganismos. Este trabalho visa apresentar um panorama sobre potenciais aplicações de microrganismos endofíticos na agricultura e na produção de substâncias de interesse econômico.

Endophytic microorganisms are mainly fungi and bacteria that live inside plants, generally inhabiting aerial parts such as leaves and stems, without causing any apparent damage to their hosts. In addition to many important functions for the host, the endophytic microorganisms are potentially useful in agriculture and industry, especially in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. By forming themselves into substitutes for chemicals by exercising stock biocontrol and/or promotion of plant growth, favoring the environmental preservation, has been appointed as a viable alternative agricultural production systems for environmentally and economically sustainable. Obtaining substances of economic interest, suchas enzymes, antibiotics and other drugs from endophytic microorganisms has often been reported in the scientific literature. One example is taxol, a powerful anti-cancer substance that was previously obtained only from the exploitation of the plant Taxus brevifolia, and can now be obtained fromdifferent genera of endophytic fungi. Advances like this reinforce the great biotechnological potential of such microorganisms. This study presents an overview of potential applications of endophytic microorganisms in agriculture and production of substances of economic interest.(