Molecular survey of atheromatous plaques for the presence of DNA from periodontal bacterial pathogens, archaea and fungi.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Chronic infections, such as periodontitis, have been associated with the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The mechanisms through which this occurs have yet to be elucidated. This study was carried out to detect periodontopathic bacteria as well as archaea and fungi in atheromatous plaques and search for factors associated with their occurrence in atheromas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out including 30 patients diagnosed with atherosclerosis in the carotid, coronary or femoral arteries. Plaques were collected during surgery and analysed using PCR to detect Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and members of the Synergistetes group. Samples were also surveyed with universal primers for bacterial, archaeal and fungal DNA. Patients responded to a questionnaire to determine factors associated with PCR results. RESULTS: All dentate individuals (66.7%) had periodontal disease, 95% of which was severe and 65% extensive. None of the targeted periodontopathic bacteria was found in the atheromas. No sample yielded positive results for fungal and archaeal DNA. Four samples (13%) were positive for the presence of bacterial DNA. Of these, three participants were dentate (two with severely chronic generalized periodontitis and one with severely chronic localized periodontitis). CONCLUSION: This study did not confirm previous findings of periodontal pathogens in atheromas, making it impossible to establish factors associated with their presence in plaques. Presence of bacterial DNA in some samples indicates that periodontal or nonoral bacterial species other than the ones targeted in this study may be involved with some cases of atherosclerosis.

[AIDS' feminization: a question of gender?]. / A feminilização da AIDS: uma questão de gênero?

Based on the data presented in the AIDS Epidemical Report published by the Health State Department, we notice that throughout the trajectory of this epidemic in our country, the data relating to women remained invisible (although present), the vulnerability of feminine population was hidden amongst the other categories, and that shows the need of understanding AIDS as a disease of both men and women, and its prevention, thought and improved within a perspective of gender.

[Feminist theory: the challenge of turning into a paradigm]. / Teoria feminista: o desafio de tornar-se um paradigma.

From crisis of traditional paradigm and having feminist criticism as an epicentre, this work attempts to present the challenge feminist theory faces for becoming a new paradigm and for that, a bibliographical research is accomplished, sustained by literature regarding to this theme. It is evidentiated that the challenge of being a paradigm in ascension makes this theory to face theoretical, conceptual and methodological problems which need a joined effort to be deepened and solved. However, this theory development depend not only on the academic world but is also linked to changes in social structure for it will more easily emerge, from a more equalitary society, knowledge with no domination of gender.

[Telling a beautiful story: the trajectory of the Brazilian Nurses Association-Bahia]. / Contando uma bela história: a trajetória da ABEn-Bahia.

This study presents the story of the Brazilian Association of Nursing in Bahia federal state. It parallels the trajectory of this association to the history of the National Brazilian Association of Nursing, pointing out the most important events in its fifty-three years of work. It is clear that the history of the Brazilian Association of Trained Nurses (ABED)/ABEn-Bahia begins with the foundation of the Nursing School of the Federal University of Bahia. Teachers at this university, who were nurses in their home states, and had participated in other associations previously, were motivated to create a new branch of ABEn in Bahia. The branch of ABEn in the city of Feira de Santana-Bahia, had a similar trajectory, since it was also founded after the creation of the State University of Feira de Santana. The branch of ABEn in Bahia is considered a democratic association, which is attentive to the claims of the nursing professionals, the health of the Brazilian population and also to the strengthening of the organization.

Importância da correlação do exame citológico com a captura híbrida II no diagnóstico de lesoes intraepiteliais cervicais relacionadas ao HPV1 / Correlation of hybrid II capture cytologic exam in diagnosis of cervical lesions related to HPV

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was confront the results of the cytological examination with hybrid capture II in the diagnosis of induced cervical intraepithelial lesion-HPV, correlating the cytological findings with biomoleculares. METHODS: The research was carried through in a group of 160 sexually active women who had espontaneamente looked its gynecologists for consultation of routine, having been submitted to the collection of cervicovaginal material for cytology and for examination of hybrid capture II in the Centro de Patologia Clínica and the Hospital e Maternidade Promater, in the city of the Natal-RN. RESULTS: The results had shown to relatively high numbers of positive cases for HPV using hybrid capture II (41.87%) and the cytology (23.75%). The agreement between the two studied methods relatively was raised (59.38%). It was evident also that the viruses with high oncogênico potential had presented found in the compatible cytology with Lesion of low risk (11.88%), followed of Lesion of high risk (NIC II and III); already the viruses with low oncogênico potential were more associates the Lesion of low risk (6.25%), followed of Lesion of high risk. CONCLUSION: The cytology, exactly with its limitations, is an important method in the detention of attributable patologias to the HPV, emphasizing that the molecular method comes to complement it and to consolidate the cytological findings.