Validation of atmospheric aerosols parallel sampling in a multifold device.

In this work, particulate matter was collected using an active sampling system consisting of a PM10 (<10 µm) inlet coupled to a multifold device containing six channels, connected to a vacuum pump. Each channel was equipped with a filter holder fitted with adequately chosen filters. The system was fixed on a metallic structure, which was placed on the roof of the laboratory building, at the Faculty of Sciences, in Lisbon. Sampling took place under flow-controlled conditions. Aerosols were extracted from the filters with water, in defined conditions, and the water-soluble fraction was quantified by ion chromatography (IC) for the determination of inorganic anions (Cl(-), NO3 (-) and SO4 (2-)). Equivalent sampling through the various channels was validated. Validation was based on the metrological compatibility of the content results for the various filters. Ion masses are metrologically equivalent when their absolute difference is smaller than the respective expanded uncertainty. When this condition is verified, the studied multifold device produces equivalent samples.

Social network, presence of cardiovascular events and mortality in hypertensive patients.

The aim of this study was to ascertain the relationship between social network and the appearance of mortality (cardiovascular events (CVEs)) in patients with arterial hypertension (AHT). This is a cohort study of 236 patients with a 9-year follow-up. Measurements included age, sex, blood pressure (BP), diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, marital status, social network, social support, stage of family life cycle (FLC), mortality and CVEs. Patients with a low social network registered higher global mortality (hazards ratio (HR) 2.6 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3; 5.5)) as did the oldest patients (HR 5.6 (1.9; 16.8)), men (HR 3.5 (95% CI 1.3; 9.3)) and subjects in the last FLC stages (HR 4.3 (95% CI 1.3;14.1)). Patients with low social support registered higher cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.6 (95% CI 1.1; 6.1)) as did the oldest patients (HR 12.4 (95% CI 2.8; 55.2)) and those with diabetes (HR 3.00 (95% CI 1.2; 7.6)). Patients with a low social network registered more CVEs (HR 2.1 (95% CI 1.1; 4.1)) than patients with an adequate network, as did the oldest patients (HR 3.1 (95% CI 1.4; 6.9)), subjects who presented with a higher grade of severity of AHT (HR 2.7 (1.3; 5.5)) and those in the last FLC stages (HR 2.5 (95% CI 1.0; 6.2)). A low social network is associated with mortality and the appearance of CVEs in patients with AHT. Low functional social support is associated with the appearance of cardiovascular mortality.

Identification of Dirofilaria immitis-infected dogs with a coagglutination assay.

The presence of Dirofilaria immitis excretory-secretory (ES) products was detected in the urine of infected dogs using a coagglutination assay. Urine samples from 30 naturally infected dogs were positive. Seventeen of them were microfilaremic, whereas 13 had become amicrofilaremic after receiving 2 courses of diethylcarbamazine. Urine samples from 20 dogs infected with other parasites, Dipetalonema reconditum (7), Toxocara canis (5), and Ancylostoma caninum (8), and urine samples from 20 healthy dogs were negative. The assay detected 200 ng/ml or more of ES products. This assay is simple, easy to perform with minimum training, and requires no equipment. Therefore it should be useful to detect canine filariasis under field conditions.

Usefulness of the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in AIDS patients.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) is a mayor cause of central nervous system infection in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Toxoplasma antibodies were detected in 56 of 79 patients with AIDS (71%), in the present study. Fourteen out of 57 seropositive patients developed TF (25%) and had Toxoplasma gondii antigen detected in their urine. For this, most of them received an effective therapy, with the subsequent disappearance of the symptoms and discontinuity of excretion of the T. gondii antigens. Our results suggest that the monitoring of T. gondii antigen in the urine of AIDS patients may be useful to decide on the proper time for therapy, as well as to avoid the beginning of neurologic signs in these patients.

[Cultural adaptation and validation of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey questionnaire (MOS-SSS)]. / Adaptação cultural e validação da versão Portuguesa Questionário Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS).

The aim of this study was the assesment of psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the instrument "Medical Outcomes Study - Social Support Survey (MOSSSS)". This questionnaire has been translated and adapted in a Portuguese sample of 101 patients with chronic illness of a rural health centre in Portugal. The average age of patients was 63.4 years, 56.4% female. 29% were illiterate and 2% had completed high school. 78% had arterial hypertension and the 56.4% had diabetes mellitus type 2. The internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory and Confirmatory factor analysis were performed in order to confirm reliability and validity of the scale and its multidimensional characteristics. The 2-week test-retest reliability was estimated using weighted kappa for the ordinals variables and intraclass coefficient correlation for the quantitative variables. Cronbach's alphas for the subscales ranged from 0.873 to 0.967 at test, and 0.862 to 0.972 at retest. Exploratory factor analysis revealed the existence of four factors (emotional, tangible, positive interaction and affection support) that explain the 72.71% of the variance. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the existence of four factors that allowed the application of the scale with original items. The goodness-of-fit measures corroborate the initial structure, with chi2/ df=2.01, GFI=0.998, CFI=0.999, AGFI=0.998, TLI=0.999, NFI=0.998, SRMR=0.332, RMSEA=0.76. The 2-weeks test-retest reliability of the Portuguese MOS-SSS as measured by the intraclass correlation coefficient was ranged from 0.941 to 0.966 for the four dimensions and the overall support index. The weighted kappa was ranged from 0.67 to 0.87 for all the items. The MOS-SSS Portuguese version demonstrates good psychometric properties and seems to be useful to measure multidimensional aspects of social support in the Portuguese population.

[Identification of mosquitoes' human food source by using the co-agglutination technique]. / Identificación de una fuente humana de alimentación de mosquitos mediante la técnica de coaglutinación.

The utilization of a coagglutination technique for the identification of a human source for feeding mosquitoes is described. The dilution of ingested blood samples in filter paper was performed in 2 mL of a sodium chloride solution at 0.85%. It was used a suspension of sensibilized Staphylococcus aureus with rabbit's serum, human plasmatic anti-proteins, and human anti-IgG rabbit's serum discriminated well between human and non human blood. No agglutination was observed with the negative control. This technique proved to be sensitive to identify 100% of the human blood samples taken to the paper 24 hours after the mosquitoes completed their feeding at a temperature of 26 to 28 degrees C. Among mosquitoes fed and collected in the fields the test had a satisfactory result. Therefore, it may be used in routine work in the fields. The results showed the sensitivity and specificity of this method for identifying human blood ingested by mosquitoes.

[Toxoplasma gondii: the characterization of an anti-P30 monoclonal antibody]. / Toxoplasma gondii: caracterización de un anticuerpo monoclonal anti-P30.

A specific monoclonal antibody was characterized to Toxoplasma gondii. The hybridoma produced IgG immunoglobulins. The western blot analysis showed that the monoclonal antibody was specific for the antigen of an apparent molecular mass of 30 kd, which was present on the antigen surface. The monoclonal antibody was purified starting from mouse's ascitic fluid and it was matched with sepharose 4B. This immunoabsorbent was used to purify the specific parasitic antigen. The monoclonal antibody studied may be useful for those techniques contributing to the toxoplasmosis diagnosis.

Technique for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in mouse urine.

A simple and rapid staphylococcal coagglutination test for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens in mice urine is described. A suspension of protein-A containing Staphylococcus aureus coated with rabbit hyperimmune serum was used as reagent. The sensitivity of the antigen assay was found to be at least 118 ng of the antigen protein per ml. No coagglutination was observed when the reagent was challenged against antigenic solutions of other parasites. The suitability of the method for detecting antigens of T. gondii in urine samples was studied by experimental toxoplasma infection in mice. Before the staphylococcal test, the urine samples were double serially diluted in 0.1 M PBS. From the second day on all samples from infected mice were positive at 1/16 dilution. At this dilution, all samples from non infected mice were negative or did not produce coagglutination. This method might be used in the rapid etiological diagnosis also in human cases of acute toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii antigenuria in patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

A longitudinal study was performed with sera and urine of patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), taken before, during and after clinically Toxoplasma infection. The tested patients were followed for an average of two years. The titres of the specific IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and the appearance of circulating antigens of T. gondii was determined in 36 urine samples of 13 patients with neurotoxoplasmosis by means of the coagglutination test. The presence of T. gondii antigens in the urine of AIDS patients by this test was correlated with the immunoblot technique, with clinical symptoms and also with pathological findings. Our results indicate that the detection of T. gondii antigens in the urine of AIDS patients can be regarded as a rapid and efficient method for the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis.

[Influence of social support on patients with essential hypertension]. / Influencia del apoyo social en pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether social support affects blood pressure control in patients diagnosed with essential Hypertension. DESIGN: Observational, prospective study, with a year's follow-up. SERRING: Mariñamansa-A Cuña Health Centre, Ourense (Galicia), Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 236 patients diagnosed with essential hypertension in health centre controls. MEASUREMENTS: During the one-year follow-up the following clinical variables were measured: age, sex, blood pressure, severity of hypertension, tobacco consumption, alcohol consumption, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolaemia, Body Mass Index and compliance with treatment. Social and family variables were: marital status, cultural level, economic and social status, type of family, stressful vital events and social support. RESULTS: Mean age was 63.51 (62.05-64.96); 66.1% were women. Predominant kind of family was nuclear (64.3%). 30.2% had low social network (0-1 social contacts). We found 22% poor functional social support. Social support remained stable throughout the study. Hypertense patients with poor social networks had, after control for possible confusing variables, their systolic pressure 9.59 mm Hg (2.6716,51) and diastolic pressure 4.29 mm Hg (0.448.15) higher than hypertense patients with broader social networks. CONCLUSION: Hypertense patients with a poor social network had higher blood pressure figures than hypertense patients with wider social networks.

Specific cellular and humoral immune response in Balb/c mice immunised with an expression genomic library of Trypanosoma cruzi.

An expression genomic library of Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) constructed using pcDNA3 plasmid was used for the immunisation (25 micrograms) of Balb/c mice. Expression of T. cruzi antigens in the muscle of inoculated mice was detected by indirect immunofluorescence 7 days after immunisation. Specific IgG antibodies were significatively increased (P < 0.05) in animals that were reimmunized with 50 micrograms of the genomic library. An antigen specific lymphoproliferative response was detected in one animal of the group inoculated with one dose of the library.

Variables familiares asociadas al incumplimiento de las citas programadas en pacientes con hipertensión arterial / Family variables linked to non-compliance with schedule appointments of patients with hypertension

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Influencia del apoyo social en pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencial / Influence of social support on patients with essential hypertension

Objetivo. Determinar si el apoyo social influye en el control de la presión arterial en pacientes diagnosticados de hipertensión arterial esencial. Diseño. Estudio observacional, prospectivo, de seguimiento a un año. Emplazamiento. Centro de saúde Mariñamansa-A Cuña. Ourense (Galicia). España. Participantes. Un total de 236 pacientes diagnosticados de hipertensión arterial esencial en control en el centro de salud. Mediciones. Durante el año de seguimiento se midieron las variables clínicas: edad, sexo, presión arterial, gravedad de la hipertensión, consumo de tabaco, consumo de alcohol, presencia de diabetes mellitus, hipercolesterolemia, índice de masa corporal y cumplimiento del tratamiento. Asimismo, se determinaron las siguientes variables sociofamiliares: estado civil, nivel cultural, nivel socioeconómico, tipo de familia, acontecimientos vitales estresantes y el apoyo social. Resultados. La edad media fue de 63,51 (rango, 62,05-64,96) años, y el 66,1 por ciento fueron mujeres. La tipología familiar predominante es la familia nuclear (64,3 por ciento).El 30,2 por ciento de los pacientes refería una baja red social (0-1 contactos sociales).Detectamos un 22 por ciento de bajo apoyo social funcional. El apoyo social se mantuvo estable a lo largo del estudio. Los hipertensos con redes sociales bajas presentan, tras controlar por las posibles variables de confusión, un incremento de la presión arterial sistólica de 9,59 mmHg (rango, 2,67-16,51) y de 4,29 mmHg (rango, 0,44-8,15) en la diastólica, respecto de los pacientes hipertensos con redes sociales más amplias. Conclusión. Los hipertensos con una baja red social presentan un incremento de las cifras de presión arterial respecto de los hipertensos con redes sociales amplias (AU)