Preserving Ethnoveterinary Medicine (EVM) along the Transhumance Routes in Southwestern Angola: Synergies between International Cooperation and Academic Research.

This study delves into the ethnoveterinary medicine (EVM) practiced by pastoralists along the transhumance routes in southwestern Angola. Within the framework of three cooperation projects, we conducted 434 interviews, collecting information on 89 taxa used for treating 16 livestock diseases. The most cited species was Ptaeroxylon obliquum (132 citations), followed by Salvadora persica (59) and Elaeodendron transvaalense (49). Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) was the disease most cited (223 citations; 44 species), followed by wounds (95; 20) and Newcastle (86; 14). We found that 30 species and 48 uses have not been previously reported in the ethnoveterinary literature. Jaccard index (mean value = 0.13) showed a greatly diversified knowledge among the ethnic groups: Kuvale and Nyaneka were the most knowledgeable and should be included in the various strategies for disseminating EVM in the area. Most informants recognized that abundance of some species decreased in the last years as a result of human activities and climatic changes. Finally, we discuss challenges in preserving the EVM in the area. Our findings suggest that preservation of the EVM in southwestern Angola is widely impacted by the access to biomedicine. Future studies should investigate the opportunity to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream development projects, which is crucial for decolonizing the veterinary sector in Angola.

Is age a risk factor for liver disease and metabolic alterations in ataxia Telangiectasia patients?

BACKGROUND: Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Insulin resistance (IR), type 2 diabetes and the risk for development of cardiovascular disease was recently associated as an extended phenotype of the disease. We aimed to assess IR; liver involvement; carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and metabolic alterations associated to cardiovascular risk in A-T patients, and relate them with age. RESULTS: Glucose metabolism alterations were found in 54.6% of the patients. Hepatic steatosis was diagnosed in 11/17 (64.7%) A-T patients. AST/ALT ratio > 1 was observed in 10/17 (58.8%). A strong positive correlation was observed between insulin sum concentrations with ALT (r = 0.782, p < 0.004) and age (r = 0.818, p = 0.002). Dyslipidemia was observed in 55.5% of the patients. The apolipoprotein (Apo-B)/ApoA-I ratio (r = 0.619; p < 0.01), LDL/HDL-c (r = 0.490; p < 0.05) and the Apo-B levels (r = 0.545; p < 0.05) were positively correlated to cIMT. CONCLUSIONS: Metabolic disorders implicated in cardiovascular and liver diseases are frequently observed in adolescent A-T patients and those tend to get worse as they become older. Therefore, nutritional intervention and the use of drugs may be necessary.

Growth velocity and weight gain in prepubertal asthmatic children.

OBJECTIVE:: To evaluate the stature growth rate (GR) and the weight gain of prepubertal asthmatic children. METHOD:: A retrospective cohort study evaluating medical records of 85 children diagnosed with asthma, aged less than 9 years, of both sexes, with at least one year of follow-up in the allergy outpatient clinic. The data on the disease, weights and heights were collected through a standardized questionnaire on two occasions, with an interval of one year. The curves proposed by Tanner were applied for the analysis of the GR, and the Z-score of the GR (ZGR) was calculated. RESULTS:: Excess weight (risk for overweight, overweight and obesity) was observed in 31.8% (27/85) of the patients, but there was no association with the severity of asthma. Low GR (ZGR < -2) was found in 13.9% (11/79) of patients, most frequently among children with moderate/severe persistent asthma compared to persistent mild and intermittent forms (7/11 - 63.6% vs. 21/68 - 30.2%, respectively, p=0.047). Use of steroids (dose, type and time of use) was not associated with GR. CONCLUSION:: GR was most affected in children with moderate/severe asthma.

Alimentação no primeiro ano de vida e prevenção de doenças alérgicas: evidências atuais / Feeding in the first year of life and prevention of allergic diseases: current evidence

A prevalência de doenças alérgicas aumentou significantemente nos últimos anos. Devido a este rápido aumento, surgiu o interêsse em se identificar estratégias de prevenção ou redução do risco de se desenvolver alergia. Acredita-se que esta alta prevalência seja consequência de mudanças ambientais modernas, como o desenvolvimento industrial, mudanças climáticas e de hábitos alimentares que poderiam afetar a função imunológica, independente do seu caráter genético. O presente estudo tem como objetivo discutir o papel da alimentação no primeiro ano de vida sobre a prevenção de doenças alérgicas, através de revisão bibliográfica com base em artigos publicados entre 2003 e abril de 2014, disponíveis nos bancos de dados PubMed, SciELOe LILACS. Com relação ao aleitamento materno, existem poucas evidências do seu efeito protetor para o desenvolvimento de alergia. A recomendação de manter o aleitamento materno exclusivo por período de 4 a 6 meses deve-se a outros benefícios associados a esta prática. Há dados suficientes para a indicação da utilização de fórmulas parcialmente ou extensamente hidrolisadas, com alergenicidade reduzida comprovada, para aqueles com alto risco de desenvolvimento de atopia, quando a amamentação exclusiva não for possível. O início da alimentação complementar é recomendado após 4-6 meses, com atenção à variedade dos alimentos. A alimentação no primeiro ano de vida parece ser importante para a modulação do desenvolvimento do sistema imunológico e prevenção de alergias...

The prevalence of allergic diseases has significantly increased in recent years. Such rapid increase has stimulated research into strategies to prevent or reduce the risk of allergy. It is believed that this high prevalence may be due to recent environmental changes, including industrial development, climate change, and dietary habits, all of which may affect imune function, regardless of genetic background. The aim of the present study was to discuss the role played by feeding in the first year of life in the prevention of allergic diseases. In order to do that, the literature was browsed for articles published between 2003 and April 2014 and available in the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases. With regard to breast feeding, there is little evidence of a protective effect of this practice against the development of allergy. The recommendation of maintaining exclusive breast feeding for 4-6 months is based on other associated benefits. Conversely, there is sufficient evidence to recommend the use of partially or extensively hydrolyzed formula, with proven low allergenic activity, in infants at high risk of developing atopy when exclusive breast feeding is not possible. The initiation of complementary feeding is recommended after 4-6 months, and the variety of foods should be selected with care. Feeding in the first year of life appears to be important to modulate the development of the immune system and to prevent allergies...

Determination of lead in whole blood: comparison of the LeadCare blood lead testing system with Zeeman longitudinal electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry.

This study compares the efficiency of blood lead level analysis by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) and the portable LeadCare Blood Lead Testing System (LCS). Recoveries of two added lead concentrations of 22 and 42 micrograms/dL ranged from 102.4 to 105.5% for LCS and from 96.3 to 97.2% for GFAAS. Measurement of a certified sample (Certified Danish Whole Blood) at a blood lead concentration of 26.2 micrograms/dL gave within- and between-run coefficients of variation which were both approximately 8% by LCS and 2% by GFAAS. Comparison of the tested method (LCS) versus GFAAS from analysis of 76 samples of blood lead collected from workers in different industrial sectors showed imperfect overall correlation (r = 0.95). The LCS is quite suitable for screening purposes, but requires the use of non-frozen blood collected less than 24 h before. Conservative threshold values should be applied when using the LCS for initial screening in the field.