PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

D C Moreira Filho

Publications and source records attributed to D C Moreira Filho.

9 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Kinetics of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in islets and spleen of NOD mice.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is caused by autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells. Non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice spontaneously develop diabetes similar to the human disease. Cytokines produced by islet-infiltrating mononuclear cells may be directly cytotoxic and can be involved in islet destruction coordinated by CD4+ and CD8+ cells. We utilized a semiquantitative RT-PCR assay to analyze in vitro the mRNA expression of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma cytokine genes in isolated islets (N = 100) and spleen cells (5 x 10(5) cells) from female NOD mice during the development of diabetes and from female CBA-j mice as a related control strain that does not develop diabetes. Cytokine mRNAs were measured at 2, 4, 8, 14 and 28 weeks of age from the onset of insulitis to the development of overt diabetes. An increase in IFN-gamma expression in islets was observed for females aged 28 weeks (149 +/- 29 arbitrary units (AU), P<0.05, Student t-test) with advanced destructive insulitis when compared with CBA-j mice, while TNF-alpha was expressed in both NOD and CBA-j female islets at the same level at all ages studied. In contrast, TNF-alpha in spleen was expressed at higher levels in NOD females at 14 weeks (99 +/- 8 AU, P<0.05) and 28 weeks (144 +/- 17 AU, P<0.05) of age when compared to CBA-j mice. The data suggest that IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha expression in pancreatic islets of female NOD mice is associated with beta cell destruction and overt diabetes.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

[Treatment abandonment and tuberculosis recurrence: aspects of previous episodes, Brazil, 1993-1994].

OBJECTIVE: Recurrent patients due to treatment dropout or disease relapse have been congesting health centers and impeding treatment routines and services. The purpose is to study aspects of previous treatment and irregularities concerning the patient, medication and service organization and to evaluate the outcome of retreatment. METHODS: A descriptive study of patient's personal characteristics, previous treatment and retreatment was carried out at Campinas, São Paulo State, in 1993 and 1994. Statistics analyses were performed using 95% confidence interval with Yates correction, exact Fisher test and Mantel Haenszel qui-square for stratification. RESULTS: Retreatment sequence corroborated with the default rates (63%) that were lower, but still high among relapsed cases (28.4%). Only 34.1% of relapsed cases did not present irregularities at previous treatment. CONCLUSIONS: High proportions of retreatment and inadequate previous treatment are favouring drug resistance. Efforts should be taken to improving tuberculosis services efficiency because many irregularities are due to "failures" in health services routine.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1998

Public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in different social segments in Brazil.

PURPOSE: To assess public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in Brazilians of different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. BACKGROUND: Several studies have examined public awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy in various countries but there are no equivalent data for Brazil or South America. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have applied the survey proposed by Caveness and Gallup, with some modifications and adaptations to four groups (I-IV) of subjects: I--105 individuals accompanying patients to the Ophthalmologic outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas of the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP); II--93 students recently admitted to medical and nursing school; III--101 senior non-medical students; and IV--69 senior medical students. Group II, III, and IV were students at UNICAMP. RESULTS: Individuals with a low socioeconomic standing had a poor profile of familiarity, knowledge and attitudes toward epilepsy. The pre-university and university students had a relatively good profile when compared to the published international polls. Senior medical students had an excellent level of familiarity and knowledge, but showed no change in their objection to having a son or a daughter marry an epileptic person. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that there is a clear-cut relationship between the level of education and the individual's familiarity and attitudes toward epilepsy. Effective elimination of the prejudice toward epilepsy requires specific training and not just general, superficial information about the condition.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Back pain and nursing].

After a clinic specific evaluation performed by a interdisciplinary group, 68 female workers of the nursing staff from a University Hospital were interviewed to evaluate aspects of the back pain in nursing staff.

Back Pain↗
PubMed1993

Biological monitoring of workers occupationally exposed to carbon disulphide in a rayon plant in Brazil: validity of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) in urine samples taken in different times, during and after the real exposure period.

Fifteen workers from a rayon plant in Brazil were monitored. Air samples were taken during a mean period of 5.8 hours out of an 8 hour workshift, in three different adsorbing tubes. Five urine samples were taken at 4 hour interval from the beginning of the shift, and at the beginning of the next shift in which 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) concentration was analysed. Data from seventeen "individuals" were statistically studied, with the aim of establishing the best and the most practical sampling strategy of biological monitoring for workers occupationally exposed to CS2. For those chronically exposed to CS2, TWA air concentration lower than 30 and higher than 10 mg/m3, it was found that the higher the exposure levels, the lower was TTCA concentration in the end of shift urine samples. The results may be explained by dietary habits and/or by the small number of examined population or even eventual casualty. On the other hand they raise other hypothesis involving the chronicity of exposure which may lead to important changes in metabolism influencing the excretion rate of TTCA.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1993

[Diastolic blood pressure associated with accumulated work time among drivers and collectors].

The relationship between diastolic blood pressure and the variables "total cumulative working time" and "age" was examined by regression analysis. The study was carried out among 839 bus drivers and conductors, users of an occupational health center in Campinas, S. Paulo State, Brazil. The main results were a positive association between diastolic blood pressure and cumulative working time, as well as an interaction between this variable and the bus worker's age.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

[Occupation and hypertension].

Scientific reports on Arterial Blood Hypertension for the period from 1970 to 1989 are reviewed, with special reference to its epidemiological focusing among workers. The knowledge gained and the theoretical and methodological advances associated with it are assessed.

Blood Pressure↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Characteristics of a pediatric low-vision population.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of the causes of childhood blindness is important to develop preventive and therapeutic strategies that can reduce the incidence of visual impairment. METHODS: A retrospective survey of the clinical records of 395 consecutive children younger than 14 years of age who were attended by the Low Vision Service of State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) was conducted. Data on the age distribution, the causes of low vision, the types of low vision aids prescribed, the follow up of their use, and improvement in visual acuity were obtained. RESULTS: Congenital bilateral toxoplasmic macular scars, optic atrophy, and congenital cataracts were the major causes of low vision in this population. The optical aid most frequently prescribed was a telescope. The improvement of visual acuity with the use of aids was highly significant.

Adolescent↗