"Eu sou a força de puxar": o encontro interepistêmico com Maria Luiza Marcelino, mestra quilombola e umbandista / "I am the pulling strength": the inter-epistemic encounter with Maria Luiza Marcelino, quilombola and umbandista master

Resumo Este artigo traz um breve relato e um comentário acerca de uma experiência em curso na Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), no âmbito do Programa de Formação Transversal em Saberes Tradicionais. Desde 2014, esse programa tem promovido o diálogo entre os saberes dos povos afro-brasileiros e indígenas e o conhecimento acadêmico. Tendo como mote inicial a caracterização do modo de vida quilombola feito por Maria Luiza Marcelino, Zeladora do Centro Espírita Caboclo Pena Branca, em Ubá (MG), descrevemos como se deu esse encontro interepistêmico que colocou em diálogo o conhecimento científico e os saberes orientados pelas entidades espirituais da Umbanda (caboclos, pretas e pretos velhos). As noções de cura e adoecimento, muito além do horizonte delimitado pela biomedicina, permearam a interlocução entre esses dois universos.

Abstract This article brings a brief report and comment about an ongoing experience at the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), within the Transversal Program in Traditional Knowledge. Since 2014, this program has promoted dialogue between the knowledge of Afro-Brazilian and indigenous peoples and the academic knowledge. Taking as our starting point the characterization of the quilombola way of life by Maria Luiza Marcelino, caretaker of the Caboclo Pena Branca Spiritist Center in Ubá (MG), we describe how this inter-epistemic encounter took place, which brought into dialogue scientific knowledge and the knowledge guided by the Umbanda spiritual entities (caboclos, pretas and pretos velhos). The notions of healing and illness, far beyond the horizon delimited by biomedicine, permeated the interlocution between these two universes.

Gallic acid anti-myotoxic activity and mechanism of action, a snake venom phospholipase A2 toxin inhibitor, isolated from the medicinal plant Anacardium humile.

Snakebite envenoming is the cause of an ongoing health crisis in several regions of the world, particularly in tropical and neotropical countries. This scenario creates an urgent necessity for new practical solutions to address the limitations of current therapies. The current study investigated the isolation, phytochemical characterization, and myotoxicity inhibition mechanism of gallic acid (GA), a myotoxin inhibitor obtained from Anacardium humile. The identification and isolation of GA was achieved by employing analytical chromatographic separation, which exhibited a compound with retention time and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra compatible with GA's commercial standard and data from the literature. GA alone was able to inhibit the myotoxic activity induced by the crude venom of Bothrops jararacussu and its two main myotoxins, BthTX-I and BthTX-II. Circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence spectroscopy (FS), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and interaction studies by molecular docking suggested that GA forms a complex with BthTX-I and II. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) kinetics assays showed that GA has a high affinity for BthTX-I with a KD of 9.146 × 10-7 M. Taken together, the two-state reaction mode of GA binding to BthTX-I, and CD, FS and DLS assays, suggest that GA is able to induce oligomerization and secondary structure changes for BthTX-I and -II. GA and other tannins have been shown to be effective inhibitors of snake venoms' toxic effects, and herein we demonstrated GA's ability to bind to and inhibit a snake venom PLA2, thus proposing a new mechanism of PLA2 inhibition, and presenting more evidence of GA's potential as an antivenom compound.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of chronic Chagas disease from Southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, present a higher risk of developing other chronic diseases, which may contribute to CD severity. Since CD is underreported in the southern state of Paraná, Brazil, we aimed to characterize clinical and epidemiological aspects of individuals chronically infected with T. cruzi in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A community hospital-based study was performed, recording clinical/demographic characteristics of 237 patients with CD from Southern Brazil. To estimate the association between different forms of CD and sociodemographic and clinical variables, multiple logistic regression models were built using the Akaike information criterion. RESULTS: Mean age was 57.5 years and 59% were females. Most patients' (60%) place of origin/birth was within Paraná and they were admitted to the CD outpatient clinic after presenting with cardiac/digestive symptoms (64%). The predominant form of CD was cardiac (53%), followed by indeterminate (36%), and digestive (11%). The main electrocardiographic changes were in the right bundle branch block (39%) and left anterior fascicular block (32%). The average number of comorbidities per patient was 3.9±2.3; systemic arterial hypertension was most common (64%), followed by dyslipidemia (34%) and diabetes (19%); overlapping comorbidities were counted separately. Male sex was associated with symptomatic cardiac CD (OR=2.92; 95%CI: 1.05-8.12; p=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided greater understanding of the distribution and clinical profile of CD patients in Southern Brazil, indicating a high prevalence of comorbidities among these patients who are a vulnerable group due to advanced age and substantial risk of morbidity.

Plasmodium falciparum purine nucleoside phosphorylase as a model in the search for new inhibitors by high throughput screening.

Studies have shown that inhibition of Plasmodium falciparum Purine Nucleoside Phosphorylase (PfPNP) blocks the purine salvage pathway in vitro and in vivo. In this study, PfPNP was evaluated as a model in the search for new inhibitors using surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Its expression, purification, oligomeric state, kinetic constants, calorimetric parameters and kinetic mechanisms were obtained. PfPNP was immobilized on a CM5 sensor chip and sensorgrams were produced through binding the enzyme to the substrate MESG and interactions between molecules contained in 10 fractions of natural extracts. The oligomeric state showed that recombinant PfPNP is a hexamer. The true steady-state kinetic parameters for the substrate inosine were: KM 17 µM, kcat 1.2 s-1, VMax 2.2 U/mg and kcat/KM 7 × 10-4; for MESG they were: KM 131 µM, kcat 2.4 s-1, VMax 4.4 U/mg and kcat/KM 1.8 × 10-4. The thermodynamic parameters for the substrate Phosphate were: ΔG - 5.8 cal mol-1, ΔH - 6.5 cal mol-1 and ΔS - 2.25 cal mol-1/degree. The ITC results demonstrated that the binding of phosphate to free PfPNP led to a significant change in heat and association constants and thermodynamic parameters. A sequential ordered mechanism was proposed as the kinetic mechanism. Three plant extracts contained molecules capable of interacting with PfPNP, showing different levels of affinity. The identification of plant extract fractions containing molecules that interact with recombinant PfPNP using SRP validates this target as a model in the search for new inhibitors. In this study, we showed for the first time the true steady-state kinetic parameters for reactions catalyzed by PfPNP and a model using PfPNP as a target for High-throughput Screening for new inhibitors through SPR. This knowledge will allow for the development of more efficient research methods in the search for new drugs against malaria.

Isolation and structural characterization of bioactive compound from Aristolochia sprucei aqueous extract with anti-myotoxic activity.

A bioactive compound isolated from the stem extract of Aristolochia sprucei through High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) was identified via Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) as the aristolochic acid (AA). This compound showed an inhibitory effect over the myotoxic activity of Bothrops jararacussu and Bothrops asper venoms, being also effective against the indirect hemolytic activity of B. asper venom. Besides, AA also inhibited the myotoxic activity of BthTX-I and MTX-II with an efficiency greater than 60% against both myotoxins. Docking predictions revealed an interesting mechanism, through which the AA displays an interaction profile consistent with its inhibiting abilities, binding to both active and putative sites of svPLA2. Overall, the present findings indicate that AA may bind to critical regions of myotoxic Asp 49 and Lys49-PLA2s from snake venoms, highlighting the relevance of domains comprising the active and putative sites to inhibit these toxins.

Clinical and epidemiological aspects of chronic Chagas disease from Southern Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Patients with Chagas disease (CD), caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, present a higher risk of developing other chronic diseases, which may contribute to CD severity. Since CD is underreported in the southern state of Paraná, Brazil, we aimed to characterize clinical and epidemiological aspects of individuals chronically infected with T. cruzi in Southern Brazil. METHODS: A community hospital-based study was performed, recording clinical/demographic characteristics of 237 patients with CD from Southern Brazil. To estimate the association between different forms of CD and sociodemographic and clinical variables, multiple logistic regression models were built using the Akaike information criterion. RESULTS: Mean age was 57.5 years and 59% were females. Most patients' (60%) place of origin/birth was within Paraná and they were admitted to the CD outpatient clinic after presenting with cardiac/digestive symptoms (64%). The predominant form of CD was cardiac (53%), followed by indeterminate (36%), and digestive (11%). The main electrocardiographic changes were in the right bundle branch block (39%) and left anterior fascicular block (32%). The average number of comorbidities per patient was 3.9±2.3; systemic arterial hypertension was most common (64%), followed by dyslipidemia (34%) and diabetes (19%); overlapping comorbidities were counted separately. Male sex was associated with symptomatic cardiac CD (OR=2.92; 95%CI: 1.05-8.12; p=0.040). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided greater understanding of the distribution and clinical profile of CD patients in Southern Brazil, indicating a high prevalence of comorbidities among these patients who are a vulnerable group due to advanced age and substantial risk of morbidity.

MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF LETTUCE SALADS AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPP.

INTRODUCTION: self-service restaurants in which food is served ready to be consumed are liable to have some products contaminated by pathogenic microorganisms causing food-transmitted diseases. AIM: evaluates the microbiological quality of lettuce salads in restaurants in Pelotas RS Brazil by counts of thermo-tolerant coliforms, E. coli, Staphylococcus spp. and detection of Salmonella spp. Antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus spp. isolates are also assessed. METHODS: thirty-six samples of lettuce salads were collected from nine restaurants and thermotolerant coliforms, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus spp. were quantified, coupled to a research on Salmonella spp., following methodology by the Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Staphylococcus spp. isolates underwent antimicrobial resistance test by the disc-diffusion method. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: results showed that 61.1% of the salad samples contained more thermotolerant coliforms than allowed by Brazilian legislation and E. coli was confirmed in 5.6% of the samples. Positive and negative coagulase Staphylococcus occurred respectively in 5.6% and 77.8% of isolates, but no sample had Salmonella spp. Further, 56.7% of the thirty isolates of Staphylococcus spp. tested were resistant to penicillin; 46.7% to oxacillin; 26.7% to erythromycin and 23.3% were multi- resistant. CONCLUSION: inadequate quality of the salad was due to pathogenic microorganisms, while Staphylococcus spp. isolates had a high percentage of antimicrobial resistance.

Introducción: la procura por estabelecimientos que ofrecen alimentos prontos para consumo ha aumentado, sin embrago, los alimentos disponibles en estos locales pueden estar contaminados con microorganismos patogénicos, pudiendo causar enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos. Objetivos: evaluar la calidad microbiológica de las ensaladas de lechuga en los restaurantes de Pelotas RS Brasil, a través de los recuentos de coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp. y la detección de Salmonella spp. Resistencia a los antimicrobianos de Staphylococcus spp. también se evalúan. Métodos: fueron colectadas 36 muestras de ensaladas de lechuga en nueve restaurantes y realizada la cuantificación de coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia coli y Staphylococcus spp. e investigación de Salmonella spp., siguiendo la metodología del Bacteriological Analytical Manual. Los aislados de Staphylococcus spp. fueron sometidos al examen de resistencia a antimicrobianos por el método de difusión con discos. Resultados y discusión: de las 36 muestras de ensalada de lechuga, 61,1% presentaron cuantificación de coliformes termotolerantes superiores a lo permitido por la legislación brasileña, y hubo confirmación de E. coli en 5,6% de las muestras. La cuantificación de Staphylococcus coagulasa positiva representó 5,6% de los aislados y Staphylococcus coagulasa negativa representó 77,8%. Todas las muestras presentaron ausencia de Salmonella spp. De los 30 aislados de Staphylococcus spp. examinados, 56,7% fueron resistentes a penicilina, 46,7% a oxacilina, 26,7% a eritromicina y 23,3% fueron multirresistentes. Conclusión: la calidad microbiológica de las ensaladas de lechuga se mostró inadecuada debido a la presencia de microorganismos patogénicos, y los aislados de Staphylococcus spp. presentaron elevado porcentaje de resistencia antimicrobiana.

Perfil e evolução do estado nutricional de pacientes que frequentam um ambulatório de nutrição do Sul do Brasil / Profile and challenges of nutritional status of patients attending anout patient nutrition southern Brazil

Introdução: O acompanhamento nutricional e modificações nos hábitos de vida são fundamentais para a prevenção e tratamento das doenças crônicas não transmissíveis. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil e a evolução do estado nutricional de pacientes atendidos em um Ambulatório de Nutrição do Sul do Brasil. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo analítico que utilizou dados secundários, obtidos através da análise dos prontuários dos pacientes atendidos entre janeiro de 2007 e junho de 2012. Foram incluídos no estudo 785 pa cientes, de ambos os sexos, com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas através do pacote estatístico Stata® 11.1 e foram considerados significativos valores de p ≤ 0,05. Resultados e discussão: Dos 785 pacientes, 578 (73,7%) era do sexo feminino, com idade média de 46,4 mais o menos 15,4 anos. A prevalência de sobrepeso/obesidade foi de mais de 85%, tanto na primeira, quanto na última consulta. Cerca de 18% das mulheres e 20% dos homens melhoraram seu estado nutricional. A porcentagem de perda ou ganho de peso variou significativamente de acordo com o nú- mero de consultas (p = 0,008), com o intervalo de tempo entre a 1ª e última consulta (p = 0,012) e com o IMC inicial (p = 0,003). Tanto o IMC inicial quanto o final variaram significativamente de acordo com o sexo (p = 0,003 e 0,026, respectivamente). Conclusão: Os resultados demonstram a importância da orientação nutricional e da inserção do profissional nutricionista no ambiente ambulatorial, onde a mudança de hábitos deve ser propagada entre os pacientes, diminuindo e prevenindo a ocorrência e as consequências de doenças crônicas (AU)

Introduction: The nutritional and changes in life habits are key to the prevention and treatment of noncommunicable chronic diseases. Objective: To evaluate the characteristics and evolution of the nutritional status of patients seen in an Outpatient Nutrition in Southern Brazil. Methods: Analytical study using secondary data obtained through analysis of medical records of patients treated between January 2007 and June 2012, 785 patients of both sexes, aged were included in the study was performed 18 years. Statistical analyzes were performed using Stata ® 11.1 and values were considered significant at p ≤ 0.05. Results e discussion: Most patients (73.7%) were female, mean age 46.4 greater than or equal to 15.4 years. The prevalence of overweight / obesity was more than 85% in both the first and in the last query. About 18% of women and 20% men improved their nutritional status. The percentage of loss or weight gain varied significantly according to the number of consultations (p = 0.008), with the time interval between the 1st and last visit (p = 0.012), and the initial BMI (p = 0.003). Both the initial BMI as the final varied significantly according to sex (p = 0.003 and 0.026, respectively). Conclusion: The results demonstrate the importance of nutritional counseling and insertion of professional dietitian in an outpatient setting, where the change of habits should be propagated among patients, reducing and preventing the occurrence and consequences of chronic diseases (AU)

Biodiversity as a source of bioactive compounds against snakebites.

Snakebites are a frequently neglected public health issue in tropical and subtropical countries. According to the World Health Organization, 5 million people are bitten annually including up to 2.5 million envenomations. Treatment with antivenom serum remains the only specific therapy for snakebite envenomation. However, it is heterologous and therefore liable to cause adverse reactions, such as early anaphylactic, pyrogenic and delayed reactions. In order to develop alternatives to the current therapy, researchers have been looking for natural products and plant extracts with antimyotoxic, anti-hemorrhagic and anti-inflammatory properties. Especially due to the role the physiopathological processes triggered by snake toxins, play in paralysis, bleeding disorders, kidney failure and tissue damage. Considering the fact that studies involving snake toxins and specific inhibitors, particularly on a molecular level, are the main key to understand neutralization mechanisms and to propose models or prototypes for an alternative therapy, this article presents efforts made by the scientific community in order to produce validated data regarding 87 compounds and plant extracts obtained from 79 species. These plants, which belong to 63 genera and 40 families, have been used by traditional medicine as alternatives or complements to the current serum therapy.

Latex allergy: an emerging / Alergia ao látex: um problema emergente / Alergia al latex: an emergentes

Objectives: The current review presents the pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic and therapeutic and preventive measures to avoid the development of complications related to latex allergy. Method: Literature search electronically from articles already published on the basis of the NCBI / PUBMED / MEDLINE. Results: Manifestations of latex allergy are related to immediate hypersensitivity such as urticaria, angioedema, asthma or even anaphylaxis, or delayed hypersensitivity by a mechanism such as allergic contact dermatitis or primary irritation. Conclusion: Prevention of exposure, replacement and use of latex-free products such as synthetic gloves are essential for those affected. Adjustments in the workplace should be done with gloves without talc, low in allergens or synthetic gloves. These preventive measures significantly reduce the prevalence of allergic reactions.

Objetivos: A revisão atual apresenta os mecanismos imunopatológicos, diagnóstico e medidas terapêuticas e preventivas para evitar o desenvolvimento de complicações relacionadas à alergia ao látex. Método: Pesquisa bibliográfica por meio eletrônico a partir de artigos já publicados, na base do NCBI/PUBMED/MEDLINE. Resultados: As manifestações de alergia ao látex estão relacionadas com hipersensibilidade imediata como a urticária, o angioedema, a asma ou até anafilaxia, ou por mecanismo de hipersensibilidade tardia como a dermatite de contato alérgica ou por irritação primária. Conclusão: Prevenção à exposição, substituição e utilização de produtos livres de látex, como luvas sintéticas são essenciais para os afetados. Adaptações no local de trabalho devem ser feitas com uso de luvas sem talco, com baixo teor de alérgenos ou luvas sintéticas. Estas medidas preventivas reduzem significativamente a prevalência de reações alérgicas.

Objetivos: En esta revisión presentamos los mecanismos patogénicos, diagnóstico y medidas terapéuticas y preventivas para evitar el desarrollo de complicaciones relacionadas con la alergia al látex. Método: La búsqueda bibliográfica electrónica de artículos ya publicados sobre la base de la Revista / PubMed / MEDLINE. Resultados: Las manifestaciones de la alergia al látex se relacionan con la hipersensibilidad inmediata como urticaria, angioedema, asma o incluso anafilaxia o hipersensibilidad retardada por un mecanismo como la dermatitis de contacto alérgica o irritación primaria. Conclusión: Prevención de la exposición, la sustitución y el uso de látex libres de productos tales como guantes sintéticos son esenciales para las personas afectadas. Ajustes en el lugar de trabajo se debe hacer con guantes sin talco, con bajo contenido de alergenos o guantes sintéticos. Estas medidas preventivas reducen significativamente la prevalencia de las reacciones alérgicas.

Evaluation of the Hypoglycemic Properties of Anacardium humile Aqueous Extract.

The antihyperglycemic effects of several plant extracts and herbal formulations which are used as antidiabetic formulations have been described and confirmed to date. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of the aqueous extract of Anacardium humile. Although the treatment of diabetic animals with A. humile did not alter body weight significantly, a reduction of the other evaluated parameters was observed. Animals treated with A. humile did not show variation of insulin levels, possibly triggered by a mechanism of blood glucose reduction. Levels of ALT (alanine aminotransferase) decreased in treated animals, suggesting a protective effect on liver. Levels of cholesterol were also reduced, indicating the efficacy of the extract in reestablishing the balance of nutrients. Moreover, a kidney protection may have been achieved due to the partial reestablishment of blood glucose homeostasis, while no nephrotoxicity could be detected for A. humile. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of A. humile extracts in the treatment of alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Therefore, A. humile aqueous extract, popularly known and used by diabetic patients, induced an improvement in the biochemical parameters evaluated during and following treatment of diabetic rats. Thus, a better characterization of the medicinal potential of this plant will be able to provide a better understanding of its mechanisms of action in these pathological processes.

Scripts para o palco das entrevistas de emprego / Scripts for the stage of job interviews

O objetivo deste estudo é explorar a institucionalização do trabalho no século XXI e seu impacto sobre o objeto da Psicologia Organizacional a partir da análise do conteúdo de publicações brasileiras na internet que se propõem a dar conselhos àqueles que se submeterão a uma entrevista de emprego. Foram estabelecidas quatro categorias distintas de conselhos, segundo o conteúdo que expressam: afetiva, emocional, estética e ética. Foram identificados três afetos como os mais recorrentemente citados: a lealdade, o interesse e o respeito. No que tange às emoções, os conselhos estabelecem emoções negativas que devem ser ocultadas (insegurança e ódio) e emoções positivas a serem manifestadas (principalmente o entusiasmo). Os scripts estéticos abordam a vestimenta, a fala e os estigmas corporais. São elitistas e postulam, de forma reificante, os trabalhadores como mercadorias contidas em embalagens. Os scripts éticos, por seu turno, são confusos e prescrevem a ética do cinismo racional. De forma geral, a análise dos scripts para as entrevistas de emprego evidencia que o tipo de relação prescrito para os trabalhadores com o mercado de trabalho é o adaptativo aos afetos, às emoções, à estética e à ética demandada: pressões ingênuas da ideologia da adaptação constituem o material de que são feitos esses scripts, tentativas de pré-formar subjetividades não reflexivas, poder exercido pela sociedade instituída.(AU)

The aim of this study is to explore the institutionalization of work in the twenty-first century and its impacts on the object of Organizational Psychology analyzing the content of Brazilian publications on the Internet that purport to give advice to those who will undergo a job interview. It was established four separate categories of advices, according to the expressed content: affective, emotional, aesthetic and ethical. It was identified three affections as the most widely cited: the loyalty, the interest and the respect. With regard to emotions, the advice is that negative emotions should be hidden (insecurity and anger) and positive emotions expressed (mainly the enthusiasm). The aesthetic scripts deal with the dressing, speech and body stigmas. They are elitist and postulate, reifying, workers as commodities contained in packages. Ethical scripts, in turn, are confusing and prescribe the ethics of rational cynicism. In general, the analysis of the scripts for job interviews shows that the kind of relationship prescribed for workers on the job market is adaptive to the affects, emotions, aesthetics and ethics demanded: naive pressures from the ideology of adaptation are the material they are made from, attempts to pre-form non-reflective subjectivity, power exercised by the instituted society.(AU)

Scripts para o palco das entrevistas de emprego / Scripts for the stage of job interviews

O objetivo deste estudo é explorar a institucionalização do trabalho no século XXI e seu impacto sobre o objeto da Psicologia Organizacional a partir da análise do conteúdo de publicações brasileiras na internet que se propõem a dar conselhos àqueles que se submeterão a uma entrevista de emprego. Foram estabelecidas quatro categorias distintas de conselhos, segundo o conteúdo que expressam: afetiva, emocional, estética e ética. Foram identificados três afetos como os mais recorrentemente citados: a lealdade, o interesse e o respeito. No que tange às emoções, os conselhos estabelecem emoções negativas que devem ser ocultadas (insegurança e ódio) e emoções positivas a serem manifestadas (principalmente o entusiasmo). Os scripts estéticos abordam a vestimenta, a fala e os estigmas corporais. São elitistas e postulam, de forma reificante, os trabalhadores como mercadorias contidas em embalagens. Os scripts éticos, por seu turno, são confusos e prescrevem a ética do cinismo racional. De forma geral, a análise dos scripts para as entrevistas de emprego evidencia que o tipo de relação prescrito para os trabalhadores com o mercado de trabalho é o adaptativo aos afetos, às emoções, à estética e à ética demandada: pressões ingênuas da ideologia da adaptação constituem o material de que são feitos esses scripts, tentativas de pré-formar subjetividades não reflexivas, poder exercido pela sociedade instituída.

The aim of this study is to explore the institutionalization of work in the twenty-first century and its impacts on the object of Organizational Psychology analyzing the content of Brazilian publications on the Internet that purport to give advice to those who will undergo a job interview. It was established four separate categories of advices, according to the expressed content: affective, emotional, aesthetic and ethical. It was identified three affections as the most widely cited: the loyalty, the interest and the respect. With regard to emotions, the advice is that negative emotions should be hidden (insecurity and anger) and positive emotions expressed (mainly the enthusiasm). The aesthetic scripts deal with the dressing, speech and body stigmas. They are elitist and postulate, reifying, workers as commodities contained in packages. Ethical scripts, in turn, are confusing and prescribe the ethics of rational cynicism. In general, the analysis of the scripts for job interviews shows that the kind of relationship prescribed for workers on the job market is adaptive to the affects, emotions, aesthetics and ethics demanded: naive pressures from the ideology of adaptation are the material they are made from, attempts to pre-form non-reflective subjectivity, power exercised by the instituted society.

Antinociceptive action of ethanolic extract obtained from roots of Humirianthera ampla Miers.

Humirianthera ampla Miers is a member of the Icacinaceae family and presents great amounts of di and triterpenoids. These chemical constituents in roots of Humirianthera ampla sustain not only the ethnopharmacological use against snake venom, but also some anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of the plant. In this study we investigated the antinociceptive action of the ethanolic extract (EE) from roots of the Humirianthera ampla in chemical and thermal models of pain in mice. The oral treatment with ethanolic extract dose-dependently inhibited glutamate-, capsaicin- and formalin-induced licking. However, it did not prevent the nociception caused by radiant heat on the tail-flick test. The ethanolic extract (30 mg/kg) caused marked inhibition of the nociceptive biting response induced by glutamate, (+/-)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD), N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) and substance P. The antinociception caused by ethanolic extract was significantly attenuated by naloxone, l-arginine, WAY100635, ondansetron or ketanserin, but not by caffeine or naloxone methiodide. In conclusion, the ethanolic extract from roots of Humirianthera ampla produces antinociception against neurogenic and inflammatory models of nociception. The mechanisms of antinociception involve nitric oxide, opioid, serotonin and glutamate pathways. Therefore, our results support the ethnopharmacological use of the Humirianthera ampla against inflammatory and painful process caused by snake venom.

[Consumer satisfaction study in philanthropic hospital health plans]. / Estudo de satisfação dos beneficiários de planos de saúde de hospitais filantrópicos.

This paper presents the findings of research aimed at identifying and analyzing the argumentation and rationale that justify the satisfaction of consumers with their health plans. The qualitative method applied used the focus group technique, for which the following aspects were defined: the criteria for choosing the health plans which were considered, the composition of the group and its distribution, recruitment strategy, and infrastructure and dynamics of the meetings. The health plan beneficiaries were classified into groups according to their social class, the place where they lived, mainly, the relationship that they established with the health plan operators which enabled us to develop a typology for the plan beneficiaries. Initially, we indicated how the health plan beneficiaries assess and use the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), and, then, considering the types of plans defined, we evaluated their degree of satisfaction with the different aspects of health care, and identified which aspects mostly contributed explain their satisfaction.

Estudo de satisfação dos beneficiários de planos de saúde de hospitais filantrópicos / Consumer satisfaction study in philanthropic hospital health plans

Este trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa que tem por objetivo identificar e analisar os argumentos e raciocínios que justificam a satisfação dos beneficiários com os planos. A metodologia de pesquisa qualitativa utilizada no estudo se baseia na técnica de discussão em grupo (focus group) para cuja realização foram definidos: os critérios para a escolha dos planos analisados pelos grupos de discussão, a definição da distribuição e da composição dos grupos, a técnica de recrutamento, a infra-estrutura e a dinâmica dos encontros. Os beneficiários podem ser classificados em grupos de acordo com a classe social que pertencem, o local de moradia e, principalmente, a relação que estabelecem com a administração do plano, o que nos possibilitou elaborar uma tipologia de beneficiários dos planos. Inicialmente, apresentamos como os beneficiários vêem e utilizam o SUS e, a partir dos tipos de planos, foi possível avaliarmos a satisfação dos beneficiários com os diversos aspectos do serviço de saúde e identificar que aspectos mais contribuem para a satisfação dos usuários.

This paper presents the findings of research aimed at identifying and analyzing the argumentation and rationale that justify the satisfaction of consumers with their health plans. The qualitative method applied used the focus group technique, for which the following aspects were defined: the criteria for choosing the health plans which were considered, the composition of the group and its distribution, recruitment strategy, and infrastructure and dynamics of the meetings. The health plan beneficiaries were classified into groups according to their social class, the place where they lived, mainly, the relationship that they established with the health plan operators which enabled us to develop a typology for the plan beneficiaries. Initially, we indicated how the health plan beneficiaries assess and use the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), and, then, considering the types of plans defined, we evaluated their degree of satisfaction with the different aspects of health care, and identified which aspects mostly contributed explain their satisfaction.

The type of occlusion in adolescents of the fulni-ô indian community, Pernambuco - Brazil

A presença de má oclusão afeta a mastigação, a fala, o visual o pode se tornar uma desordem social, física e emocional para os pacientes.A pesquisa objetivou avaliar a prevalência do padrão oclusal dos membros da comunidade indígena Fulni-ô do nordeste do Brasil entre 12 e 15 anos de idade. Os dados foram coletados atravpes de um exame intra-oral por dois examinadores calibrados e a oclusão classifcada em oclusão normal e má oclusão: Classe I, II e III (classificão de Angle). Oitenta e um por cento da amostra apresentou má-oclusão e a maioria (43,6 por cento) má oclusão de Classe I. A prevalência de má oclusão de Classe II E Classe III foi mais alta no gênero masculino que no feminino. Uma alta prevalência de oclusão normal foi encontrada no gênero feminino (20.6por cento), (p<0.05). Os resultados presentes sugeriram que a má oclusão está relacionada ao gênero e idade. Fatores culturais e sócio-econômicos podem influenciar na prevalência da má oclusão, desde que este grupo alvo possui suas próprias crenças e hábitos alimentares, os quais podem interferir no desenvolvimento da oclusão e da face. Outras pesquisas precisam ser realizadas para um melhor entendimento dos fatores que devem afetar no padrão oclusal dos Fulni-ô.

A política externa dos Estados Unidos: da primazia ao extremismo / The United States outside politic: from the primacy to extremism

O artigo sugere que, com a vitória dos Estados Unidos na Guerra Fria, sua política de expansão adquiriu uma dinâmica mais fácil e mais acelerada. Contudo, a velha noção de "contenção" do comunismo perdeu seu caráter de legitimação da política externa norte-americana. O conceito de "primazia" passou a fazer parte das análises sobre o novo contexto; mas é evidente que a realidade da primazia requeria alguma legitimidade. O governo Clinton foi uma bem-sucedida experiência de primazia. Em comparação, a política externa do atual governo significa um retrocesso, por sua ênfase militar, sua constante demonstração de "arrogância do poder" e pelas conseqüências repressivas internas. Trata-se de um extremismo e é provável que a elite norte-americana não o tolere por muito tempo.

Hospital-associated funguria: analysis of risk factors, clinical presentation and outcome

Fungal urinary tract infections are an increasing problem in hospitalized patients. Funguria may be a result of contamination of the urine specimen, colonization of hte urinary tract, or may be indicative of true invasive infection. In this study, we report the risk factors, clinical features, treatments and outcome in a group of 68 hospitalized patients (adults and children) with fungal isolates recovered from 103 urinary samples. Underlying medical conditions were present in most patients. In the pediatric group, urinary tract abnormalities (86) and prematurity (19)accounted for the majority of the cases. Diabetes mellitus (28), nephrolithiasis, and benign prostatic hyperplasia were the most common diseases in adults. Indwelling urethral catheters were noted in 38 of the pediatric patients and in 43 of adults during hospitalization. Candida albicans strains were responsible for 97 and 75 of positive cultures in children and adults, respectively. Symptoms such as fever, dysuria, frequency and flank pain were generally absent in both groups. Fluconazole was the most frequent antifungal utilized (61) in children and ketoconazole in the adult group (42). Removing the urinary catheter was attempted in 6 pediatric patients (29) and in only 8 adults (17). One patient (4) in the pediatric group died compared to 10 in the adult group (21, p=0.04). Successful diagnosis and treatment of funguria depends on a clear understanding of the risk factors and awareness of fungal epidemiology.

Frequência de óbito por câncer bucal em Pernambuco no período de 1979 a 1995 / Oral cancer mortality frequency in Pernambuco from 1979 to 1995

A partir da década de 80, as neoplasias ocuparam o segundo lugar entre as causas de óbitos por doenças. Esta mudança está relacionada a uma série de fatores, entre elas as mudanças sócio econômicas e uma maior exposição a fatores de risco, principalmente, o tabagismo e o consumo de bebidas alcoólicas. Este trabalho tem como objetivo identificar e analisar a distribuição de óbitos por cancer bucal no estado de Pernambuco, no período de 1979 a 1995, em relação ao sexo, faixa etária, grau de escolaridade, bem como alertar o cirurgião-dentista para os fatores de risco do câncer bucal. Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo com a utilização de dados secundários do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade do Ministério da Saúde. O número de óbitos por câncer bucal foi de 973 casos, sendo o sexo masculino (70,3 por cento) e a faixa etária entre os 45 e 75 anos os mais acometidos. Aproximadamente 40 por cento da população afetada apresentou o 1º grau incompleto ou nenhuma instrução. Observa-se que há a necessidade da incorporação do cirurgião-dentista em programas de prevenção com diagnóstico precoce e inclusão, nos prontuários, da abordagem sobre os malefícios, principalmente, do consumo de fumo e álcool como principais fatores de risco do câncer bucal