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Biomedical subjects

R M da Silva

Publications and source records attributed to R M da Silva.

16 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Ascaris-Trichuris association and malnutrition in Brazilian children.

This work was designed to evaluate the role of intestinal parasites on nutritional status in three rural areas of Brazil. A total of 520 children aged 1-12 years were studied through a questionnaire concerning housing, socio-economic conditions and a 24-h food intake recall. Measurements of weight and height were also performed, and three stool samples were collected on consecutive days for parasitological analysis. Scores of the standard deviation (z-scores) for the weight-for-height and height-for-age were used to characterise the growth profile. A high prevalence of intestinal parasites was detected, with Giardia lamblia (44%), Endolimax nana (43%), Ascaris lumbricoides (41%) and Trichuris trichiura (40%) being the most prevalent. Eleven per cent of the children were classified as showing stunting. Inadequate daily caloric intake was observed in 78% of the population and the proportion of those with inadequate protein intake was 34%. Logistic regression analysis was employed for the multivariate study. Stunting was significantly associated with estimators of low economic income, inadequate protein intake and polyparasitism, especially the association between Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1998

A comparative study on IgG-ELISA, IgM-IFT and Kato-Katz methods for epidemiological purposes in a low endemic area for schistosomiasis.

The high sensitivity and the possibility of automation of the enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay (ELISA) has indicated this technique as one of the most useful serological test for epidemiological studies. In the present study, an ELISA for detection of IgG antibodies against adult worm antigens (IgG-ELISA) was investigated for epidemiological purposes, in a rural area of the municipality of Itariri (São Paulo, Brazil). Blood on filter paper (1,180 samples) from about 650 schoolchildren were submitted to ELISA and the data compared to the results of the parasitological method of Kato-Katz and also to the IgM-IFT (immunofluorescence test for IgM antibodies to gut associated antigens). The prevalence rates respectively of 8.5%, 43.0% and 56.2% by the Kato-Katz, IgG-ELISA, and IgM-IFT methods suggest the poor sensitivity of the parasitological method for detection of Schistosoma mansoni eggs in individuals with low worm burden, situation commonly observed in low endemic areas. These results can partially explain the poor degree of agreement between the IgG-ELISA and the Kato-Katz, as suggested by the Kappa index of 0.170. Otherwise, the Kappa index of 0.675 showed substantial agreement between the two serological tests. Some discrepancy of results between the two serological techniques must be better investigated.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

[Catheter ablation of ectopic incessant atrial tachycardia using radiofrequency. Reversion of tachycardiomyopathy].

A 8-year-old female patient with refractory incessant atrial tachycardia, very symptomatic and with left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.25. Electrophysiological study and endocardial mapping localized the site of the origin of atrial tachycardia in the superior right atrium. In this site 2 applications of radiofrequency current (25V, 20 and 50 seconds) resulted in termination of the atrial tachycardia. She was discharged off antiarrhythmic drugs and after 2 months ejection fraction was 0.52. She was completely asymptomatic 6 months after ablation procedure.

Catheter Ablation↗
PubMed1993

[Catheter ablation of tachycardia of the outlet right ventricle using radiofrequency as power source].

Two female patients, 54 and 38 years-old with refractory ventricular tachycardia were undertaken to electrophysiologic study for diagnosis and radiofrequency ablation of their arrhythmias. The tachycardias were only inducible with intravenous isoproterenol infusion. The site of the origin of ventricular tachycardia was localized in the right ventricular outflow tract in both cases. Radiofrequency current was delivered at 40V (40-60s) in each patient and was followed by complete abolition of ventricular arrhythmias.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The meaning of parenteral nutrition for the hospitalized patient].

The need to understand the meaning of parenteral nutrition to the client in hospital context has come from my personal questioning on nursing care. Participative observations have been made as well as interviews and diligences with seven clients in hospital, who have been having parental nutrition. These information have been analysed through interactive approach, showing the situation faced by patients who have hospital assistance; how they say parental nutrition within this context; and what meaning has been given to it. This study revealed feelings, behaviours and attitudes related to the biological, emotional and social cultural aspects of the patient. All of them have been linked to parental nutrition. The limits faced by parental nutrition and its obstacles in the nursing assistance were finally understood.

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occurrence of Taenia sp. in the population seen at the Central Laboratory of the Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil (1960/1989)].

Monthly and yearly reports of the Seção de Enteroparasitoses of the Instituto Adolfo Lutz (São Paulo, SP, Brazil) from 1960 to 1989 with 1,519,730 parasitological stool examinations were studied. There were also 355 identifications of Taenia sp. proglottids. Using Hoffman, Pons & Janer's method, 7,663 (0.5%) cases of taeniasis were diagnosed, and 311 (87.60%) of the 355 proglottids were on easy terms to be specified, 273 (87.80%) of them were from Taenia saginata.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

A comparative epidemiologic study of specific antibodies (IgM and IgA) and parasitological findings in an endemic area of low transmission of schistosoma mansoni.

The diagnostic potential of circulating IgM and IgA antibodies against Schistosoma mansoni gut-associated antigens detected by the immunofluorescence test (IFT) on adult worm paraffin sections was evaluated comparatively to the fecal parasitological method, for epidemiological purposes in low endemic areas for schistosomiasis. Blood samples were collected on filter paper from two groups of schoolchildren living in two different localities of the municipality of Itariri (São Paulo, Brazil) with different histories and prevalences of schistosomiasis. The parasitological and serological data were compared to those obtained for another group of schoolchildren from a non-endemic area for schistosomiasis. The results showed poor sensitivity of the parasitological method in detecting individuals with low worm burden and indicate the potential of the serological method as an important tool to be incorporated into schistosomiasis control and vigilance programs for determining the real situation of schistosomiasis in low endemic areas.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Detection of IgM antibodies to Schistosoma mansoni gut-associated antigens for the study of the dynamics of schistosomiasis transmission in an endemic area with low worm burden.

For a period of 2 years, five follow-up measures of prevalence and incidence rates were estimated in a prospective study of S. mansoni infection in a group of schoolchildren who were living in a rural area of the Municipality of Itariri (São Paulo, Brazil), where schistosomiasis is transmitted by Biomphalaria tenagophila. Infection was determined by the examination of three Kato-Katz stool slides, and the parasitological findings were analyzed in comparison to serological data. In the five surveys, carried out at 6-month intervals (March-April and September-October), the prevalences were, respectively, 8.6, 6.8, 9.9, 5.8 and 17.2% by the Kato-Katz, and 56.5, 52.6, 60.8, 53.5 and 70.1% by the immunofluorescence test (IFT). Geometric mean egg counts were low: 57.8, 33.0, 35.6, 47.3 and 40.9 eggs per gram of feces, respectively. Of the total of 299 schoolchildren, who submitted five blood samples at 6-month intervals, one for each survey, 40% were IFT-positive throughout the study, and 22% were IFT-negative in all five surveys. Seroconversion from IFT negative to positive, indicating newly acquired S. mansoni infection, was observed more frequently in surveys carried out during March-April (after Summer holidays), than during September-October. Seasonal trends were not statistically significant for detection of S. mansoni eggs in stool. The results indicate that the use of IgM-IFT is superior to parasitological methods for detection of incidence of S. mansoni infection in areas with low worm burden.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)].

A comparative study on the occurrence of Strongyloides stercoralis larvae in 554 patients with AIDS and in 142 patients suffering from infectious diseases other than AIDS was conducted during the period from January 1987 to December 1988. The two groups was constituted by male individuals in-patients at Emílio Ribas Hospital--São Paulo. Faeces samples from 696 patients were submitted to spontaneous sedimentation method and Rugai method. The data obtained from the present investigation demonstrated a similar prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis in both groups (p > 0.05) indicating no significant statistical differences.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of severity of illness in the emergency service of the university hospital of UFSC].

In order to determine whether emergency wards are inappropriately used we undertook a prospective study to evaluate the severeness of condition of patients seen at the UFSC University Hospital Emergency Ward. The time required for adequate therapeutic intervention was used as the main criterion of severity. Patients considered themselves to be emergencies in 16.6% of cases, whereas physicians thought so in only 2.6% (initial evaluation) and 1.0% (final evaluation) of cases. Sixty five percent of the patients could have been taken care of at a primary care site. The main reasons that prevented the use of a primary care unit were the more rapid and more convenient emergency room facilities. We conclude that the UFSC University Hospital Emergency Room is inappropriately used and suggest possible measures to improve health care delivery to the general public.

Brazil↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Women and health: their concerns].

This investigation is part of a transcultural research project on women and health, which has as its conceptual framework women's life experiences. This research is qualitative in nature, and the methodology utilized is a content analysis of the documented discourses of a group of lower class women in Ribeirão Preto (SP). The results demonstrate that for these women, health is much more than the absence of disease". Their health concerns are biological, interpersonal, social and economic in nature, and are based more upon their personal experiences and social perceptions than on the concept of health and disease. The importance of this research is its relevance for quality nursing care which takes into consideration the many aspects of being a woman.

Adolescent↗