Effects of air pollution on children's health in a city in Southeastern Brazil

OBJECTIVE: Of the effects of air pollution on children's health, increased pneumonia admission rate is one of the most important. The study aimed at estimating the association between pneumonia admissions and increased air pollutants. METHODS: An ecological time-series study was carried out in the municipality of S?o José dos Campos, Southeastern Brazil, in the years 2000 and 2001. Daily records of pneumonia admissions, air pollutants (SO2, O3, and PM10) and weather conditions (temperature and humidity) were analyzed. The correlations between the study variables were estimated using Pearson's correlation. The associations between pneumonia and air pollutants were estimated using generalized additive Poisson regression models. The percentage increase (and their respective 95% CI) in pneumonia admission rate was estimated for the interquartile range of each air pollutant studied. RESULTS: The three pollutants analyzed presented lagged effects on pneumonia admission rate, beginning at lag 3 or 4 and lasting for no more than two days. The 8-day cumulative effect estimate showed that an increase of 24.7 mg/m3 in PM10 concentration increased pneumonia admission rate in 9.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The study corroborates that adverse health effects of air pollutants can be observed even in medium-sized cities. The magnitude of the effect was similar to that found in the city of S?o Paulo. Moreover, children are highly susceptible to air pollution exposure.     

Effect of maternal diabetes on human and rat fetal development

Diabetes is a genetically determined metabolic disease with fasting hyperglycemia due to relative or absolute absence of insulin. With the use of exogenous insulin, successful gestations are now possible. Nevertheless, there are still severe problems associated, such as spontaneous abortion, perinatal mortality and congenital malformations. Caudal regression syndrome, disclosure of the neural tube and cardiovascular alterations are the most common malformations. Gestational diabetes can induce increased fetal corporal fat and macrosomia with hyperinsulinemia, hypoglycemic, hypoxia, metabolic acidosis and perinatal death. During adult life, diabetic mothers' children can develop obesity, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes. In order to study fetuses' alterations during diabetic gestations we now have animal models of diabetes. Maternal diabetes in rats alters fetal development in a very similar manner to that of humans. Although we do not accurately know the pathogenic mechanism by which diabetes produces fetuses' abnormal development, hyperglycemia and hyperketonemia had been mentioned to have predominant roles. Hyperglycemia damages DNA and increases oxidative stress and hyperketonemia increases the rate of embryo malformations. The addition of antioxidants such as C and E vitamins can reduce this damage. During adult life, diabetic rats' cubs have alterations in glucose metabolism and in reproductive function. The understanding of mechanisms by which maternal diabetes affects fetuses development, can help us to prevent complications and improve mothers' and children's life quality.     

Association of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of advanced cancer of the head and neck]

At the Head and Neck and Roentgentherapy Services of Funda?ao Antonio Prudente, S?o Paulo, Brazil, 38 patients with advanced cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx, were divided into two groups: the first, submmited to treatment with Bleomycin and Linear Acelerator, and the second to isolated irradiation. Both groups received 7 000 rads in 32 days, and to the association group, Bleomycin was administered in dosis of 300 mgs. The authors concluded that, that Chemo-Radiotherapic association didn't increase the survival rate.     

Comparative study of the action of purified scorpion toxin (tityustoxin) on the submandibular and parotid glands of the rat

Stimulation of the salivary glands by purified scorpion toxin (tityustoxin) evoked flow of saliva and sodium, potassium and kallikrein secretion. Kallikrein secretion from the submandibular gland was up to 150 times greater than from the parotid gland. The parotid gland secretes 20–40 times more sodium than the submandibular gland. Tityustoxin is more effective in eliciting salivary flow in the parotid than in the submandibular gland and potassium secretion seems dependent on salivary flow in both glands. The mechanism of action of tityustoxin involves adrenergic and cholinergic receptors. Tityustoxin may be a suitable tool to study the physiology and pharmacology of the salivary glands.