RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Geographical differences in asthma prevalence are currently accepted, but evidence is sparse due to the lack of multicentre studies using the same protocol. OBJECTIVES: To compare the prevalence of asthma and atopy among schoolchildren from Portuguese speaking countries (ISAAC and Portuguese Study) and evaluate some environmental variables, such as house dust mite exposure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Significant random samples of schoolchildren studied with standard validated methods--questionnaires, skin prick tests, methacholine bronchial challenge tests; dust bed sampling for analysis of mite antigens. RESULTS: In the ISAAC study, in the 13-14 year-old age group, statistical significant differences were found, with higher wheezing prevalence in Brazil than in Portugal (two-fold). In the Portuguese Study, atopy prevalence ranged between 6.0 and 11.9% in Sal and S. Vicente (Cape Verde), up to 48.6 and 54.1% in Macau and Madeira. Active asthma had the higher values in Madeira (14.6%), and the lower in Macau (1.3%). Cape Verde had intermediate asthma prevalence (10.6 and 7.0%). The bronchial challenge test was positive in 25, 66 and 70% of asthmatic children from Sal, S. Vicente and Madeira respectively. Significant HDM antigen concentrations (Der p1) were found in Cape Verde and Madeira. CONCLUSIONS: There are significant variations in asthma and atopy prevalence between these pediatric populations. The reasons remain under discussion, but genetics linked to race, seem to play a central role, modulated by environmental and lifestyle variables.
Assuntos
Asma/epidemiologia , Adolescente , África Ocidental/epidemiologia , Brasil/epidemiologia , Humanos , Hipersensibilidade/epidemiologia , Macau/epidemiologia , Portugal/epidemiologia , PrevalênciaRESUMO
Clinical assessment of the blood clotting mechanism is usually made by measuring the time necessary for a sample of plasma to clot. In this work a semi-automatic method for measuring coagulation time is evaluated. It employs ultrasound, at 2.7 MHz, for monitoring variations of the viscosity in a plasma sample undergoing coagulation. The evaluation is performed by comparing measurements obtained by two well-known methods, the manual tilt tube and the fibrometer, with those obtained using the ultrasonic method. A total of 330 plasma samples from individuals with normal and altered homeostatic process were analysed. The experimental protocol follows two standard tests: the prothrombin time (141 samples) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (189 samples). The agreement between the three different methods is estimated statistically and it is shown that all the three can be used interchangeably for clinical purposes.
Assuntos
Tempo de Tromboplastina Parcial , Tempo de Protrombina , Ultrassom , Adolescente , Adulto , Biometria , Testes de Coagulação Sanguínea/instrumentação , Testes de Coagulação Sanguínea/estatística & dados numéricos , Criança , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Feminino , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-IdadeRESUMO
This paper speaks about the utilization of research as an instrument in the nursing professional practice in the areas of assistance, administration, and teaching. It situates science as a process and emphasizes nursing responsibility in the production and utilization of the scientific knowledge. Also stands out factors that have same positive or negative influence in the scientific research, besides ethic aspects involved.
Assuntos
Pesquisa em Enfermagem Clínica , Difusão de Inovações , Pesquisa em Administração de Enfermagem , Cuidados de Enfermagem/métodos , Pesquisa em Educação em Enfermagem , Ética em Enfermagem , Humanos , Modelos de Enfermagem , Processo de EnfermagemRESUMO
PIP: Interviews were conducted in Salvador, BA, Brazil, to verify how nurses working with clients are prepared to answer questions about family planning. 56% of those interviewed had not received any training in family planning. 90% desired to increase their knowledge about contraceptive methods. The group that desires to learn more about contraceptive methods is younger and has less experience than the group that does not desire such information (pvalue .05). 74% of nurses reported inquiries about contraceptive methods by clients and 80% reported to give such information. 80% practiced any kind of contraception, with a significant difference between usage and marital status, but not with usage and religion. Some suggestions are presented to increase the nurse's ability to answer the necessary client inquiries about family planning.^ieng