Variation rhythms of lymphocyte subsets during healthy aging.

Immunological alterations associated with aging (immunosenescence) do not represent a simple unidirectional decline in all functions but develop as a complex remodeling of the immune system, involving multiple reorganization and developmentally regulated changes. In general, most data available about aging were obtained at particular age intervals and most of them come from Caucasian individuals from either Europe or the United States. Here, we report the frequencies of major lymphocyte subsets in healthy Brazilian individuals from 2 distinct geographic regions (Southeast and South) at several age intervals spanning a lifetime period (0-86 years). Overall, we demonstrated that changes in the frequencies of cells related to both innate and adaptive immunity clearly occur with aging in these individuals. These changes were not progressive and equally steady for all cell populations tested but instead showed an oscillatory or rhythmic behavior that was distinctive of each population at different age intervals. We also observed that abrupt changes in the frequencies of immune cells may occur in healthy individuals over 75 years old, suggesting there is an impaired flexibility of the immune system at late stages of life to sustain homeostasis via immune mechanisms. We presented reference ranges for healthy Brazilian individuals at all ages. The knowledge of these parameters in further detail will allow interventions to optimize immune function in advanced age and to improve the quality of life in the elderly.

Impacto do Treinamento de Habilidades de Comunicação e do Registro Médico na Prática do Método Clínico de Atendimento Integral à Pessoa / Impact of Communication Skills Training and Medical Records in the Practice of Patient-Centered Care

RESUMO Introdução A prática do atendimento clínico integral à pessoa é um desafio enfrentado pelo educador médico, por instituições de ensino e por pesquisadores que tentam contribuir para que os estudantes desenvolvam competências educacionais que sintetizem conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes para esse modelo. Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto do treinamento de habilidades de comunicação na prática do método clínico de atendimento integral à pessoa, com ou sem o uso de registro específico para o atendimento. Métodos Participaram do estudo 46 estudantes do sétimo período do curso de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG). Uma combinação de atividades educacionais foi utilizada para propiciar a aquisição de habilidades de comunicação para o atendimento clínico integral à pessoa, como modeling example, seguido de reflexão individual e discussão, aula expositiva interativa e uso de formulário de registro específico para o atendimento clínico integral à pessoa (RACIP). O estudo foi dividido em quatro fases: (1) pré-treinamento: filmagem de atendimento clínico em ambiente simulado, realizado pelos 46 estudantes, com a utilização do modelo de registro de consulta vigente no HC-UFMG; (2) treinamento: os estudantes foram divididos em três grupos: G1 - submetidos à atividade educacional não relacionada ao atendimento clínico; G2 e G3 - submetidos a treinamento de habilidades de comunicação; (3) avaliação: filmagem de consulta em ambiente simulado, realizada por todos os grupos, sendo que G1 e G3 utilizaram o RACIP, e G2, o modelo de registro vigente; (4) feedback e oportunidade de mesma aprendizagem para todos os grupos. Os vídeos dos atendimentos clínicos realizados pelos estudantes, pré e pós-treinamento, foram avaliados por uma banca constituída por três avaliadores, utilizando-se o instrumento AVACIP (avaliação de atendimento clínico integral à pessoa), levando-se em consideração cinco domínios: início da consulta; expectativas do paciente sobre a consulta; perspectiva do paciente sobre sua doença; comportamento e hábitos de vida; uso de propedêutica complementar e aliança terapêutica. Resultado O escore total de atitudes positivas de cada grupo foi maior na Fase 3 em relação à 1 (p = 0,001), mostrando que todas as estratégias promoveram a melhora das habilidades de comunicação, mas não houve diferença entre os grupos em cada fase (p > 0,310). Quando os escores foram analisados por domínio, observou-se que o G3 apresentou melhor desempenho do que os outros. Conclusão O treinamento de habilidades em comunicação e o uso de modelo de registro específico para o atendimento melhoram o desempenho dos estudantes em relação ao atendimento clínico integral à pessoa.

ABSTRACT Introduction The practice of comprehensive clinical care of the individual is a challenge faced by medical educators, educational institutions, and researchers seeking to contribute to the development of students' educational skills that combine knowledge, skills and attitudes for this model. Objective To evaluate the impact of communication skills training in the practice of the clinical method of comprehensive clinical care, with or without the use of a specific medical record. Methods Forty-six students in the 7th Period of medical school participated in the study. A combination of educational activities was used to facilitate the acquisition of communication skills for comprehensive clinical care, including: a modeling example, followed by individual reflection and discussion, an interactive lecture, and the use of a specific medical appointment for comprehensive clinical care of the individual (RACIP). The study was divided into four Phases: Phase 1 − Pre-training: filming of clinical care in a simulated environment, carried out by the 46 students, using the current medical appointment in the HC-UFMG. Phase 2 − Training: students were divided into three groups: G1: performed an educational activity not related to clinical care; G2 and G3: received communication skills training. Phase 3 − Evaluation: filming of a consultation in a simulated environment, performed by all the groups, with G1 and G3 using RACIP, and G2, the current medical appointment model. Phase 4 − Feedback and learning opportunity for all the groups. The videos of the clinic visits performed by the students, pre- and post-training, were evaluated by a panel consisting of three evaluators, using the AVACIP instrument (evaluation of comprehensive clinical care of the individual). This takes into account five domains: the initial approach to the consultation; the patient's expectations; the patient's perspective of his/her illness; behavior and lifestyle habits; use of complementary propaedeutic and therapeutic alliance. Results The total positive attitude score for each group was higher in Phase 3 than in Phase 1 (p = 0.001), showing that all the strategies promoted an improvement in communication skills, but there were no differences between groups in each phase (p > 0.310). Analyzing the scores by domain, it was observed that G3 performed better than the others. Conclusion The communication skills training and the use of the RACIP improved the students' performance in relation to comprehensive clinical care of the individual.

Improving communication skill training in patient centered medical practice for enhancing rational use of laboratory tests: The core of bioinformation for leveraging stakeholder engagement in regulatory science.

Requests for laboratory tests are among the most relevant additional tools used by physicians as part of patient's health problemsolving. However, the overestimation of complementary investigation may be linked to less reflective medical practice as a consequence of a poor physician-patient communication, and may impair patient-centered care. This scenario is likely to result from reduced consultation time, and a clinical model focused on the disease. We propose a new medical intervention program that specifically targets improving the patient-centered communication of laboratory tests results, the core of bioinformation in health care. Expectations are that medical students training in communication skills significantly improve physicians-patient relationship, reduce inappropriate use of laboratorial tests, and raise stakeholder engagement.