Ausência de associação do polimorfismo IL4 e características clínicas do acidente vascular encefálico hemorrágico / Absence of association of IL4 polymorphism and clinical characteristics of hemorrhagic stroke / Ausencia de asociación de polimorfismo IL4 y características clínicas del accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico

Objetivo: investigar a associação entre o polimorfismo do tipo VNTR, do gene IL4, localizado na região do intron 3, em pacientes diagnosticados com acidente vascular encefálico hemorrágico (AVEH) ou aneurisma intracerebral em uma amostra do Distrito Federal. Método: Tratou-se de um estudo observacional, retrospectivo, transversal, com 55 indivíduos, dos quais foram anotadas as características clínicas do prontuário e realizada análise da genotipagem por meio da estratégia de PCR. As frequências genotípicas foram estimadas por contagem direta. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5% e o teste estatístico utilizado foi o Qui-Quadrado. Resultados: Foi verificado que o genótipo mais frequente foi o B1/B2 (50,9%; n=28), seguido pelo genótipo ancestral B1/B1 (27,3%, N=15), sendo que o menos frequente foi o genótipo B2/B2 (21,8%, N=12). Não foi encontrada associação estatística entre as variáveis hipertensão arterial sistêmica, diabetes, tabagismo e etilismo e a presença do polimorfismo no grupo estudado. Conclusão: A presença do polimorfismo IL4 INTRON 3 VNTR teve associação com a variável sexo, demonstrando que na amostra estudada, o AVEH é mais frequente em mulheres do que em homens, divergindo de estudos nos quais indivíduos do sexo masculino são mais propensos a desenvolverem AVE.

Objective: to investigate the association between The IL4 gene VNTR polymorphism, located in the intron 3 region, in patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic stroke (Stroke) or intracerebral aneurysm in a sample from the Federal District. Method: This was an observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study with 55 individuals, from which the clinical characteristics of the medical records were recorded and genotyping analysis was performed using the PCR strategy. Genotypic frequencies were estimated by direct counting. The level of significance adopted was 5% and the statistical test used was Chi-Square. Results: It was verified that the most frequent genotype was B1/B2 (50.9%; n=28), followed by the ancestral genotype B1/B1 (27.3%, N=15), and the least frequent was genotype B2/B2 (21.8%, N=12). No statistical association was found between the variables systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption and the presence of polymorphism in the studied group. Conclusion: The presence of IL4 INTRON 3 VNTR polymorphism was associated with the gender variable, demonstrating that in the sample studied, AVEH is more frequent in women than in men, diverging from studies in which males are more likely to develop a VENa

Objetivo: investigar la asociación entre el polimorfismo VNTR del gen IL4, localizado en la región intrón 3, en pacientes diagnosticados de accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico (Stroke) o aneurisma intracerebral en una muestra del Distrito Federal. Método: Estudio observacional, retrospectivo, transversal, con 55 individuos, del cual se registraron las características clínicas de las historias clínicas y se realizó un análisis de genotipado mediante la estrategia de PCR. Las frecuencias genotípicas se estimaron mediante conteo directo. El nivel de significancia adoptado fue del 5% y la prueba estadística utilizada fue Chi-Cuadrado. Resultados: Se verificó que el genotipo más frecuente fue B1/B2 (50,9%; n=28), seguido del genotipo ancestral B1/B1 (27,3%, N=15), y el menos frecuente fue el genotipo B2/B2 (21,8%, N=12). No se encontró asociación estadística entre las variables hipertensión arterial sistémica, diabetes, tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol y la presencia de polimorfismo en el grupo estudiado. Conclusión: La presencia del polimorfismo IL4 INTRON 3 VNTR se asoció con la variable género, demostrando que en la muestra estudiada, AVEH es más frecuente en mujeres que en hombres, divergiendo de los estudios en los que los varones tienen más probabilidades de desarrollar una VENa.

Polimorfismo do gene IL1B - 511 (rs16944) em pacientes brasileiros diagnosticados com acidente vascular encefálico hemorrágico / IL1B - 511 gene polymorphism (rs16944) in Brazilian patients diagnosed with haemorrhagic stroke / Polimorfismo del gen IL1B - 511 (rs16944) en pacientes brasileños diagnosticados con accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico

Objetivo: aferir a possível relação do polimorfismo IL1B (-511 C/T) com o prognóstico do AVEH. Método: Para avaliar este questionamento, usou-se uma amostra de 81 indivíduos diagnosticados com AVEH, na qual passaram por análise do polimorfismo IL1B -511 C/T, pela técnica da PCR-RFLP. A análise estatística adotou um nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: a pesquisa mostrou que a presença dos genótipos CC ou CT/TT não resultam uma associação estatística entre o polimorfismo da IL1B com o aparecimento do AVEH (P= 0,174). Conclusão: O estudo demonstrou que a variação de C e T no polimorfismo do gene rs16944 não está associada com os aspectos clínicos selecionados. Também mostrou não haver associação estatística com a manifestação da doença e a variação genotípica.

Objective: To assess the possible relationship between IL1B (-511 C / T) polymorphism and the prognosis of HS. Method: To evaluate this questioning, we used a sample of 81 individuals diagnosed with HS, who underwent analysis of the IL1B-511 C / T polymorphism by the PCR-RFLP technique. Statistical analysis adopted a significance level of 5%. Results: Research has shown that the presence of CC or CT / TT genotypes does not result in a statistical association between IL1B polymorphism and the appearance of HS (P = 0.174). Conclusion: The study demonstrated that C and T variation in rs16944 gene polymorphism is not associated with the selected clinical aspects. It also showed no statistical association with disease manifestation and genotypic variation.

Objetivo: evaluar la posible relación entre el polimorfismo IL1B (-511 C / T) y el pronóstico de AVEH. Método: Para evaluar este cuestionamiento, utilizamos una muestra de 81 individuos diagnosticados con AHV, que se sometieron a análisis del polimorfismo IL1B-511 C / T mediante la técnica PCR-RFLP. El análisis estadístico adoptó un nivel de significación del 5%. Resultados: La investigación ha demostrado que la presencia de genotipos CC o CT / TT no da como resultado una asociación estadística entre el polimorfismo IL1B y la aparición de AVEH (P = 0.174). Conclusión: El estudio demostró que la variación de C y T en el polimorfismo del gen rs16944 no está asociada con los aspectos clínicos seleccionados. Tampoco mostró asociación estadística con la manifestación de la enfermedad y la variación genotípica.

Avaliação do polimorfismo do gene TP53 Arg72Pro e sua Relação com Acidente Vascular Encefálico Hemorrágico em Pacientes Brasileiros / Evaluation of the TP53 Arg72Pro gene polymorphism and its relationship with hemorrhagic stroke in Brazilian patients / Evaluación del polimorfismo del gen TP53 Arg72Pro y su relación con el accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico en pacientes brasileños

Objetivo: investigar a associação entre o polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro em pacientes diagnosticados com acidente vascular encefálico hemorrágico (AVEH) ou aneurisma intracerebral em uma amostra do Distrito Federal. Método: Tratou-se de um estudo caso-controle, com 162 indivíduos equitativamente divididos nos grupos, com anotações das características clínicas do prontuário e análise da genotipagem por meio da estratégia de PCR. As frequências genotípicas foram estimadas por contagem direta. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Foi verificado que a presença do alelo Arg do polimorfismo do TP53 Arg72Pro atuou como fator do risco para a ocorrência do AVEH/aneurisma intracerebral. A presença do genótipo Arg/Arg aumentou o risco para o prognóstico ruim (ERM >3) em pacientes portadores do AVEH/aneurisma (P<0,01; OR= 6,07). Não houve associação estatística entre HAS, diabetes, tabagismo e etilismo e a presença do polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro no grupo estudado. Conclusão: Concluiu-se que a presença do alelo Arg do polimorfismo do TP53 Arg72Pro está associada ao aumento do risco de ocorrência do AVEH/aneurisma intracerebral.

Objective: to investigate the association between the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism in patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic stroke (HS) or intracerebral aneurysm in a sample from Distrito Federal. Method: This was a case-control study, with 162 individuals equally divided into groups, with notes on the clinical characteristics of the medical record and analysis of genotyping using the PCR strategy. Genotype frequencies were estimated by direct counting. The level of significance adopted was 5%.Results: we found that the presence of the Arg allele of the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism acted as a risk factor for the occurrence of HS/intracerebral aneurysm. The presence of the Arg/Arg genotype increased the risk for poor prognosis (ERM> 3) in patients with HS/aneurysm (P <0.01; OR = 6.07). There was no statistical association between SAH, diabetes, smoking and alcohol consumption and the presence of the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism in the studied group. Conclusion: It was concluded that the presence of the Arg allele of the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of occurring HS/intracerebral aneurysm.

Objetivo: investigar la asociación entre el polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro en pacientes diagnosticados de accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico (AVEH) o aneurisma intracerebral en una muestra del Distrito Federal. Método: Este fue un estudio de casos y controles, con 162 individuos igualmente divididos en grupos, con notas sobre las características clínicas de la historia clínica y el análisis de genotipado utilizando la estrategia de PCR. Las frecuencias de genotipo se estimaron por conteo directo. El nivel de significación adoptado fue del 5%. Resultados: Se encontró que la presencia del alelo Arg del polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro actuó como un factor de riesgo para la aparición de AVEH/aneurisma intracerebral. La presencia del genotipo Arg / Arg aumentó el riesgo de mal pronóstico (ERM> 3) en pacientes con AVEH/aneurisma (P <0.01; OR = 6.07). No hubo asociación estadística entre SAH, diabetes, tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol y la presencia del polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro en el grupo estudiado. Conclusión: se concluyó que la presencia del alelo Arg del polimorfismo TP53 Arg72Pro se asocia con un mayor riesgo de aparición de AVEH/aneurisma intracerebral.

Associação do polimorfismo genético no gene BCL2 no Acidente Vascular Cerebral Hemorrágico/Aneurisma / Association of genetic polymorphism in the BCL2 gene in/with Hemorrhagic Stroke/Aneurysm / Asociación de polimorfismo genético en el gen BCL2 en/con el accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico/aneurisma

Objetivo: Verificar a distribuição do polimorfismo do gene BCL2 (rs1801018), em sua região codante, em pacientes portadores de Acidente Vascular Cerebral Hemorrágico (AVCh)/Aneurisma. Além de associar o presente polimorfismo as manifestações clinicas da doença. Método: O estudo foi conduzido com 158 participantes de pesquisa. Os grupos foram pareados quanto ao sexo e idade. A genotipagem foi conduzida pela técnica PCR-RFLP. Após o cálculo das frequências alélicas e genotípicas de cada grupo, foram utilizados testes estatísticos apropriados para cada tipo de comparação. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: Os dados indicaram que a frequência dos genótipos apresentou uma diferença estatisticamente significante entre o grupo caso e controle, encontrando-se o genótipo ala43ala na maioria dos participantes de ambos os grupos. Conclusão: A presença do alelo mutante (trh) foi vista como um fator protetor para AVCh/aneurisma. Porém, estudos em outras populações devem ser realizados para se obter uma melhor compreensão sobre a doença AVCh/aneurisma.

Objective: Verify the distribution of the BCL2 gene polymorphism (rs1801018), located in its coding region, in patients with Hemorrhagic Stroke (HS)/Aneurysm (A). Furthermore, to associate this polymorphism with the HS/A clinical manifestations. Method: The study was conducted with 158 research participants and the groups matched by sex and age. Genotyping was done by the PCR-RFLP technique. After calculating the allele and genotype frequencies of each group, appropriate statistical tests were performed for each comparison type with the adopted significance level of 5%. Results: The data indicated that the frequency of the genotypes showed a statistically significant difference between the case and control group, and the ala43ala genotype was found in most participants in both groups. Conclusion: The presence of the mutant allele (trh) was observed as a protective factor for HS/A. However, studies in other populations should be performed to obtain a better understanding of this disease.

Objetivo: Objetivo: Verificar la distribución del polimorfismo del gen BCL2 (rs1801018), en ubicado su región de codificación, en pacientes con accidente cerebrovascular hemorrágico (ACVh)/aneurisma. Asimismo, asociar el presente polimorfismo con las manifestaciones clínicas de la enfermedad. Método: El estudio se realizó con 158 participantes, y los grupos fueron agrupados por sexo y edad. La determinación del genotipo se realizó mediante la técnica PCR-RFLP. Después de calcular las frecuencias de alelos y genotipos de cada grupo, se realizaron pruebas estadísticas apropiadas para cada tipo de comparación con el nivel de significación adoptado de 5%. Resultados: Los datos indicaron que la frecuencia de los genotipos mostró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre el grupo caso y el control, con el genotipo ala43ala encontrado en la mayoría de los participantes de ambos grupos. Conclusión: La presencia del alelo mutante (trh) fue visto como un factor protector para el ACVh/aneurisma. Sin embargo, se deben realizar más estudios en otras poblaciones para obtener una mejor comprensión de la enfermedad de ACVh/aneurisma.

Polimorfismo do gene CYP2D6 1846 G/A em associação com o Acidente Vascular Encefálico/Aneurisma em uma população do Distrito Federal (Brasil) / CYP2D6 1846 G/A gene polymorphism in association with Hemorrhagic Stroke/Aneurysm in patients from the Federal District (Brazil)

Objetivo: Investigar uma possível associação do gene CYP2D6 1846 G/A em pacientes que possuem AVEH/Aneurisma, residentes no Distrito Federal (Brasil) além de cruzar as informações obtidas com as manifestações clinicas e o prognóstico. Método: Tratou-se de um estudo caso-controle de base populacional, envolvendo 81 casos com AVEH e/ou Aneurisma. Para a genotipagem dessas amostras utilizou-se a técnica laboratorial PCR-RFLP e adotou-se o nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: Ao associar as frequências genotípicas e alélicas em relação ao AVEH/Aneurisma, percebeu-se que não houve diferença estatística. Em relação à média de glicemia, participantes com genótipo GG, apresentavam índices elevados desse marcador no grupo caso quando comparado ao grupo controle. Conclusão: A presença do polimorfismo CYP2D6 1846 G/A deve ser amplamente estudada em pesquisas futuras, pois é necessário esclarecer se tais polimorfismos representam associações ao AVEH/Aneurisma.

Objective: To investigate a possible association of the CYP2D6 1846 G/A gene in HS/aneurysm patients residing in the Federal District (Brazil), as well as to crosscheck the information obtained with clinical manifestations and prognosis. Method: The investigation was a population-based case-control study involving 81 cases with HS/aneurysm. The samples genotyping employed the PCR-RFLP technique with a significance level of 5%. Results: The attempt to associate genotypic and allelic frequencies to the HVA/Aneurysm resulted in no statistical difference. Nevertheless, in patients with the GG genotype and hypertension, the risk for HS increased 44 times. Participants with GG genotype also had statistically higher glycemia mean levels in the case group. Conclusion: The presence of the CYP2D6 1846 G/A polymorphism should be extensively, as it is necessary to clarify whether such polymorphisms represent associations with HS and Intracerebral Aneurysm.

Food insecurity of HIV/AIDS patients at a unit of outpatient healthcare system in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil / Insegurança alimentar de pacientes com HIV/AIDS atendidos em uma unidade ambulatorial do sistema de saúde em Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil

INTRODUCTION: Food security remains to be one of the world's biggest problems and is found to be related to HIV/AIDS. The objective was to examine food insecurity in HIV/AIDS patients from Brasilia, Brazil. METHODS: Short version of the Food Security Scale was applied to patients with HIV/AIDS. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients participated (65 HIV+ and 38 with AIDS). Food insecurity was found in 33.8% of HIV+ patients and 36.8% of patients with AIDS. A relation between food insecurity and low educational and social levels was established. CONCLUSIONS: Food security should be an important component in HIV/AIDS treatment programs.

INTRODUÇÃO: Insegurança alimentar é um dos maiores problemas da população mundial e a AIDS está intimamente relacionada a esta condição. O objetivo foi verificar insegurança alimentar em pacientes adultos com HIV/AIDS em Brasília, Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi aplicada a versão curta da Escala de Segurança Alimentar a pacientes com HIV/AIDS. RESULTADOS: Participaram 103 pacientes (65 HIV+ e 38 com AIDS). Insegurança alimentar foi verificada em 33,8% dos pacientes HIV+ e 36,8% dos pacientes com AIDS. Foi observada relação entre insegurança alimentar e baixo nível educacional e social. CONCLUSÕES: Segurança alimentar deve ser parte importante nos programas de HIV/AIDS.

Prevalência e fatores associados à depressão entre idosos institucionalizados: subsídio ao cuidado de enfermagem / Prevalence and factors associated with depression among institutionalized elderly individuals: nursing care support / Prevalencia y factores asociados a la depresión en ancianos institucionalizados: soporte a la atención de enfermería

Este estudo teve como objetivo a verificação de depressão entre idosos institucionalizados. Empregou-se o método transversal utilizando-se a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica de Yesavage em cinco instituições de longa permanência do Distrito Federal para verificar sintomas de depressão. Foram estudados ao todo 299 indivíduos. Destes, 181 não atenderam os critérios de inclusão e 16 se recusaram a participar do estudo. Dos 102 idosos com condições de participar do estudo, 49,0% apresentavam depressão. Destes, 36,3% com depressão leve a moderada e 12,7% com depressão severa. Verificou-se associações entre sintomas de depressão e aumento da idade, sexo feminino, limitação/dependência e insatisfação com a instituição. Houve ainda associação significativa entre depressão e insônia, taquicardia, parestesia, tontura e suor excessivo. A depressão é altamente prevalente entre idosos institucionalizados, é mais comum entre as mulheres, e relaciona-se a uma série de sinais e sintomas que podem auxiliar em um diagnóstico precoce, subsidiando uma assistência de enfermagem mais efetiva.

The objective of this study was to verify depression among institutionalized elderly individuals. The cross-section method and Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale were utilized in five geriatric long-term care facilities located in the Federal District to verify symptoms of depression. A total of 299 individuals were studied, 181 of whom did not meet the inclusion criteria. Sixteen individuals declined to participate. Considering the 102 individuals found suitable to participate in the study, 49.0% presented symptoms of depression; 36.3% suffered from mild to moderate depression and 12.7% showed symptoms of severe depression. Associations were found between depression symptoms and increased age, female gender, physical limitations/dependence and dissatisfaction with the institution. A significant association was also found between depression and insomnia, tachycardia, paresthesias, dizziness and excessive sweating. Depression is highly prevalent among institutionalized elderly individuals, more common among women, and correlated with a series of signs and symptoms that may help in making an early diagnosis, thus offering support to providing more effective nursing care.

Se objetivó verificar la depresión en ancianos institucionalizados. Se empleó el método transversal, utilizando la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de Yesavage en cinco hogares geriátricos del Distrito Federal, para verificar sintomatología depresiva. Fueron estudiados en total 299 individuos, 181 no atendieron los criterios de inclusión y 16 recusaron su participación. De los 102 ancianos participantes del estudio, 49,0% presentaba depresión: 36,3% de leve a moderada, 12,7% depresión severa. Se verificaron asociaciones entre síntomas depresivos y aumento etario, sexo femenino, limitación/dependencia e insatisfacción con la institución. Existió inclusive asociación significativa entre depresión e insomnio, taquicardia, parestesia, mareos y sudoración excesiva. La depresión es altamente prevalente entre ancianos institucionalizados, es más común entre las mujeres, y se relaciona a una serie de signos y síntomas que pueden cooperar a un diagnóstico precoz, facilitándose una atención de enfermería más efectiva.

Description of color/race in Brazilian biomedical research.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Over recent years, the terms race and ethnicity have been used to ascertain inequities in public health. However, this use depends on the quality of the data available. This study aimed to investigate the description of color/race in Brazilian scientific journals within the field of biomedicine. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study with systematic search for scientific articles in the SciELO Brazil database. METHODS: A wide-ranging systematic search for original articles involving humans, published in 32 Brazilian biomedical scientific journals in the SciELO Brazil database between January and December 2008, was performed. Articles in which the race/ethnicity of the participants was identified were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 1,180 articles were analyzed. The terms for describing race or ethnicity were often ambiguous and vague. Descriptions of race or ethnicity occurred in 159 articles (13.4%), but only in 42 (26.4%) was there a description of how individuals were identified. In these, race and ethnicity were used almost interchangeably and definition was according to skin color (71.4%), ancestry (19.0%) and self-definition (9.6%). Twenty-two races or ethnicities were cited, and the most common were white (37.3%), black (19.7%), mixed (12.9%), nonwhite (8.1%) and yellow (8.1%). CONCLUSION: The absence of descriptions of parameters for defining race, as well as the use of vague and ambiguous terms, may hamper and even prevent comparisons between human groups and the use of these data to ascertain inequities in healthcare.

Anticonvulsant and anxiolytic activity of the peptide fraction isolated from the venom of the social wasp Polybia paulista.

BACKGROUND: Arthropod venoms have attracted interest because they represent a source of neuroactive compounds that can be useful tools in neuroscience and pharmacological investigations. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and behavioral effects of the peptide fraction separated from venom of the social wasp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The low- molecular-weight compounds of the venom were separated by ultrafiltration and the bioassays were performed to test anticonvulsant and anxiolytic effects, as well as alterations in the spontaneous behavior of the animals. RESULTS: Intracerebroventricular injections of the compounds induced dose-dependent anticonvulsant effects and a potent anxiolytic activity. Regarding behavioral effects, no significant differences were observed in relation to the saline control group. CONCLUSION: The low-molecular-weight compounds of the venom of Polybia paulista include neuroactive peptides that can be used as pharmacological resources for anticonvulsant and anxiolytic drug research.

Food insecurity of HIV/AIDS patients at a unit of outpatient healthcare system in Brasilia, Federal District, Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Food security remains to be one of the world's biggest problems and is found to be related to HIV/AIDS. The objective was to examine food insecurity in HIV/AIDS patients from Brasilia, Brazil. METHODS: Short version of the Food Security Scale was applied to patients with HIV/AIDS. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients participated (65 HIV+ and 38 with AIDS). Food insecurity was found in 33.8% of HIV+ patients and 36.8% of patients with AIDS. A relation between food insecurity and low educational and social levels was established. CONCLUSIONS: Food security should be an important component in HIV/AIDS treatment programs.

[Prevalence and factors associated with depression among institutionalized elderly individuals: nursing care support]. / Prevalência e fatores associados à depressão entre idosos institucionalizados: subsídio ao cuidado de enfermagem.

The objective of this study was to verify depression among institutionalized elderly individuals. The cross-section method and Yesavage's Geriatric Depression Scale were utilized in five geriatric long-term care facilities located in the Federal District to verify symptoms of depression. A total of 299 individuals were studied, 181 of whom did not meet the inclusion criteria. Sixteen individuals declined to participate. Considering the 102 individuals found suitable to participate in the study, 49.0% presented symptoms of depression; 36.3% suffered from mild to moderate depression and 12.7% showed symptoms of severe depression. Associations were found between depression symptoms and increased age, female gender, physical limitations/dependence and dissatisfaction with the institution. A significant association was also found between depression and insomnia, tachycardia, paresthesias, dizziness and excessive sweating. Depression is highly prevalent among institutionalized elderly individuals, more common among women, and correlated with a series of signs and symptoms that may help in making an early diagnosis, thus offering support to providing more effective nursing care.

Description of color/race in Brazilian biomedical research / Descrição de cor/raça em pesquisas biomédicas brasileiras

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Over recent years, the terms race and ethnicity have been used to ascertain inequities in public health. However, this use depends on the quality of the data available. This study aimed to investigate the description of color/race in Brazilian scientific journals within the field of biomedicine. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive study with systematic search for scientific articles in the SciELO Brazil database. METHODS: A wide-ranging systematic search for original articles involving humans, published in 32 Brazilian biomedical scientific journals in the SciELO Brazil database between January and December 2008, was performed. Articles in which the race/ethnicity of the participants was identified were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 1,180 articles were analyzed. The terms for describing race or ethnicity were often ambiguous and vague. Descriptions of race or ethnicity occurred in 159 articles (13.4%), but only in 42 (26.4%) was there a description of how individuals were identified. In these, race and ethnicity were used almost interchangeably and definition was according to skin color (71.4%), ancestry (19.0%) and self-definition (9.6%). Twenty-two races or ethnicities were cited, and the most common were white (37.3%), black (19.7%), mixed (12.9%), nonwhite (8.1%) and yellow (8.1%). CONCLUSION: The absence of descriptions of parameters for defining race, as well as the use of vague and ambiguous terms, may hamper and even prevent comparisons between human groups and the use of these data to ascertain inequities in healthcare.

CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: Nos últimos anos os termos raça e etnia têm sido usados para verificar iniquidades em saúde pública. Entretanto, o uso dos termos depende da qualidade dos dados disponíveis. O presente estudo teve como objetivo verificar a descrição de cor/raça em revistas científicas brasileiras da área biomédica. TIPO DE ESTUDO E LOCAL: Estudo descritivo com busca sistemática de artigos científicos da base de dados SciELO Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi realizada uma ampla busca sistemática de artigos originais envolvendo seres humanos, publicados em 32 revistas científicas biomédicas brasileiras da base de dados SciELO Brasil, publicados no período de janeiro a dezembro de 2008. Foram analisados artigos em que as raças/etnias dos participantes da pesquisa foram identificadas. RESULTADOS: Ao todo foram analisados 1.180 artigos. Os termos para descrever a raça ou etnia foram frequentemente ambíguos e vagos. A descrição da raça ou etnia ocorreu em 159 (13,4%) artigos, mas somente em 42 (26,4%) havia a descrição de como os indivíduos foram identificados. Nestes, raça e etnia foram usados praticamente como sinônimos e a definição ocorreu pela cor da pele (71,4%), ancestralidade (19,0%) e autodefinição (9,6%). Foram citadas 22 raças/etnias, sendo as mais comuns a branca (37,3%), a negra (19,7%), a parda (12,9%), a não-branca (8,1%) e a amarela (8,1%). CONCLUSÃO: A ausência de descrição de parâmetros para definir raça, bem como termos vagos e ambíguos, pode dificultar e mesmo inviabilizar a comparação de grupos humanos e a utilização desses dados para verificar iniquidades em saúde.

Afro-derived Brazilian populations: male genetic constitution estimated by Y-chromosomes STRs and AluYAP element polymorphisms.

The genetic constitution of Afro-derived Brazilian populations is barely studied. To improve that knowledge, we investigated the AluYAP element and five Y-chromosome STRs (DYS19, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392, and DYS393) to estimate ethnic male contribution in the constitution of four Brazilian quilombos remnants: Mocambo, Rio das Rãs, Kalunga, and Riacho de Sacutiaba. Results indicated significant differences among communities, corroborating historical information about the Brazilian settlement. We concluded that besides African contribution, there was a great European participation in the constitution of these four populations and that observed haplotype variability could be explained by gene flow to quilombos remnants and mutational events in microsatellites (STRs).

Genomic ancestry in urban Afro-Brazilians.

Brazil is the result of interethnic crosses of European, African and Amerindian populations. Allelic frequencies for seven STR loci (TH01, TPOx, CSF1PO, vWA, FES/FPS, F13A1 and CD4), obtained from a sample of 70 individuals identified as Afro-Brazilian and 150 as mulatto, are presented here. Based on the frequencies of these genetic markers, estimates of interethnic admixture showed 62%, 26% and 12% of European, African and Amerindian contribution, respectively, for the mulatto sample and 37% and 63% of European and African contribution, respectively, for the Afro-Brazilian sample.

Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms in Brazilian African descendants.

The glutathione S-transferase gene family has an important role in the biotransformation and detoxification of different xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. Two polymorphic genes of this family, GSTM1 and GSTT1, present null alleles that consequently do not produce the respective enzyme when the genotype is homozygous. These polymorphisms are also interesting for population dynamics studies because they have great frequency variations among different ethnic groups and have been reported worldwide. The distribution of these alleles in urban and Amerindian populations in Brazil has been described, but none of those studies reported on African-descended rural populations. The aim of this study was to analyze the genotype frequency distribution of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null alleles in an urban sample from the Federal District (n = 91) and in four semi-isolated African-descended populations: Mocambo (n = 55), Rio das Rãs (n = 117), Riacho de Sacutiaba (n = 34), and Kalunga (n = 68). The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype frequencies in these populations range from 17% to 35% for GSTM1 and from 22% to 44% for GSTT1. These values are similar to those described in other African and African-descended populations. Despite this range, there is no distribution difference among the analyzed populations. Combined GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype frequencies range from 6% to 13% and are similar to European-derived populations, suggesting admixture with this ethnic group. This can be interpreted as a European contribution to these African-descended populations. Regarding the urban population in the Federal District, our results suggest an important African and European contribution.

Neurotoxins from invertebrates as anticonvulsants: from basic research to therapeutic application.

Invertebrate venoms have attracted considerable interest as a potential source of bioactive substances, especially neurotoxins. These molecules have proved to be extremely useful tools for the understanding of synaptic transmission events, and they have contributed to the design of novel drugs for the treatment of neurological disorders and pain. In this context, as epilepsy involves neuronal substrates, which are sites of action of many neurotoxins; venoms may be particularly useful for antiepileptic drug (AED) research. Epilepsy is a chronic disease whose treatment consists of controlling seizures with antiepileptics that very often induce strong undesirable side effects that may limit treatment. Here, we review the vast, but yet unexplored, world of neurotoxins from invertebrates used as probes in pharmacological screening for novel and less toxic antiepileptics. We briefly review (1) the molecular basis of epilepsy, as well as the sites of action of commonly used anticonvulsants (we bring a comprehensive review of the elements from invertebrate venoms which are mostly studied in neuroscience research and may be useful for drug development); (2) peptides from conus snails; (3) peptides and polyamine toxins from spiders and wasps; and (4) peptides from scorpions.

Genomic ancestry of a sample population from the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Allelic frequencies of eight autosomal short-tandem repeat (STR) loci (TH01, TPOx, CSF1PO, vWA, FES/FPS, F13A1, F13B, and CD4) were determined in 400 individuals born in the State of São Paulo. No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were found in any loci analyzed. The Unweighted Pair-Group Method with Arithmetic Mean (UPGMA) tree constructed based on genetic distances revealed that the present population was grouped with Europeans, and separated from African and Amerindian populations. Estimates of admixture components based on the gene identity method revealed 79% European, 14% African, and 7% Amerindian contributions to this Brazilian population sample.

Y-STR diversity and ethnic admixture in White and Mulatto Brazilian population samples

We investigated 50 Mulatto and 120 White Brazilians for the Y-chromosome short tandem repeat (Y-STR) markers (DYS19, DYS390, DYS391, DYS392 and DYS393) and found 79 different haplotypes in the White and 35 in the Mulatto sample. Admixture estimates based on allele frequencies showed that the admixture of the white sample was 89 percent European, 6 percent African and 5 percent Amerindian while the Mulatto sample was 93 percent European and 7 percent African. Results were consistent with historical records of the directional mating between European males and Amerindian or African females.