Field work, narrative and knowledge production in contemporary ethnographic research: a contribution to the field of health

In this article I reflect on the peculiarities of contemporary ethnographic research, highlighting some challenges inherent to this process. The discussion focuses in particular on the following aspects: the limits imposed by the clear reduction in immersion time in the field; the challenges in learning about ethnographic work, either in the process of observation or interaction in the field, or in the task of textual production; issues of an epistemological and ethical nature that deserve particular attention on the part of practitioners of the ethnographic approach and the scientific community in general. It is especially appropriate to foster debate around the ethnographic method, addressing its peculiarities, operational complexity and potential as a tool for knowledge production, in the sphere of health/public health, bearing in mind the marked increase of this approach in this field.     

Antinociceptive and antiedematogenic effects of the aqueous extract of Hyptis pectinata leaves in experimental animals

The aqueous leaf extract of Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit (Lamiaceae), popularly known in Brazil as "sambaicatá" or "canudinho", was tested for its antinociceptive effects using the abdominal writhing, hot plate and formalin test models, and for its aniedematogenic effects using the carrageenin and arachidonic acid-induced rat paw edema. The aqueous extract of Hyptis pectinata administered orally at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg had a significant antinociceptive effect in the test of acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing, with 43, 51 and 54% reduction of writhes, respectively, compared to the control. An increase in hot-plate latency of 47 and 37.5% was also observed in animals receiving doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. when placed on a hot plate. In the formalin test, doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, p.o. had no significant effect during the first phase of the test (0-5 min), while the dose of 200 mg/kg, p.o. reduced the nociceptive effect by 70% during the second phase (20-25 min). At the dose of 600 mg/kg, p.o., the aqueous extract inhibited carrageenin-induced rat paw edema by 34.1%, and the dose of 300 mg/kg administered intraperitoneally inhibited the rat paw edema induced by subplantar injection of arachidonic acid by 32.8%. These results suggest that the aqueous extract from the Hyptis pectinata leaves produces antiedematogenic and antinociceptive effects. The antinocipetion observed with the hot-plate test probably involves the participation of the opioid system.     

Efficacy of long‐ and short pulse alexandrite lasers compared with an intense pulsed light source for epilation: a study on 532 sites in 389 patients

BACKGROUND: Undesirable hair growth presents a significant problem for many patients, and photoepilation has become a very popular procedure in aesthetic and cosmetic practice. Among the systems used are the long‐ and short‐pulsed alexandrite lasers (LP‐Alex, SP‐Alex) and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources. The present study retrospectively examined the outcome of these systems from the viewpoint of efficacy and side effects.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred and eighty‐nine patients (370 females and 19 males, mean age 36.4?yrs, skin types II–V) were admitted to the study, with a total of 532 treated sites. They were treated either with the LP‐Alex, SP‐Alex or IPL. Subjective evaluation and interview of the patients was held prior to every treatment session. Six to eight treatments were required with the alexandrite lasers, 2.4–2.8 months between treatments, and the IPL source required 8–9 treatments, 2–2.5 months apart.

RESULTS: No significant difference was seen between the LP‐ and SP‐Alex, or between both of them and the IPL source, although the period to regrowth was longer for the lasers. Erythema and oedema were more noticeable with the LP‐Alex, as were crusting and hyper‐ and hypopigmentation. Discomfort was greatest with the LP‐Alex and the IPL source. Hair induction at the borders of the treated area on the face and neck was seen only with the LP‐Alex, and correlated statistically significantly with any episode of severe erythema, crusting or hyperpigmentation.

CONCLUSIONS: There was no statistically significant difference between the LP‐, SP‐Alex and IPL photoepilation with regard to efficacy. Transient side effects were highest with the LP‐Alex, and least with the IPL system. In the LP‐Alex treated face and neck sites, 3.1% had hair induction in the borders of the treated areas.     

Toll-like receptor 4 contributes to blood pressure regulation and vascular contraction in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Activation of TLRs (Toll-like receptors) induces gene expression of proteins involved in the immune system response. TLR4 has been implicated in the development and progression of CVDs (cardio-vascular diseases). Innate and adaptive immunity contribute to hypertension-associated end-organ damage, although the mechanism by which this occurs remains unclear. In the present study, we hypothesize that inhibition of TLR4 decreases BP (blood pressure) and improves vascular contractility in resistance arteries from SHR (spontaneously hypertensive rats). TLR4 protein expression in mesenteric resistance arteries was higher in 15-week-old SHR than in age-matched Wistar controls or in 5-week-old SHR. To decrease the activation of TLR4, 15-week-old SHR and Wistar rats were treated with anti-TLR4 (anti-TLR4 antibody) or non-specific IgG control antibody for 15 days (1 μg per day, intraperitoneal). Treatment with anti-TLR4 decreased MAP (mean arterial pressure) as well as TLR4 protein expression in mesenteric resistance arteries and IL-6 (interleukin 6) serum levels from SHR when compared with SHR treated with IgG. No changes in these parameters were found in treated Wistar control rats. Mesenteric resistance arteries from anti-TLR4-treated SHR exhibited decreased maximal contractile response to NA (noradrenaline) compared with IgG-treated SHR. Inhibition of COX (cyclo-oxygenase)-1 and COX-2, enzymes related to inflammatory pathways, decreased NA responses only in mesenteric resistance arteries of SHR treated with IgG. COX-2 expression and TXA2 (thromboxane A2) release were decreased in SHR treated with anti-TLR4 compared with IgG-treated SHR. Our results suggest that TLR4 activation contributes to increased BP, low-grade inflammation and plays a role in the augmented vascular contractility displayed by SHR.     

Conditions and work process in the daily of the Family Health Program: coherency with health humanization principles

This study analyzes humanization at work in the context of the Family Health Program (FHP), inquiring: what is the role that infrastructure assumes in the construction of humanized work in the FHP? Does the course of staff work reveal coherency with health humanization principles? In order to find out answers to these questions, it was explored the perception of FHP' professionals about their work routine, considering concrete conditions whereby it occurs besides involved relationships, practices and products. It is a multiple case study, both qualitative and quantitative (with primacy of the first approach), developed through questionnaires and focal-groups with FHP' teams of selected areas. The results indicate that infrastructure fragilities and low investment in training of staffs are factors that contribute for the persistence of work conditions and practices that are far away from health humanization principles. Despite of the difficulties, it was evidenced, by the staffs, in general way, great engagement to their work and great sensibility to population needs and problems.     

Horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis: CT and MR findings

Horizontal gaze palsy with progressive scoliosis (HGPPS) is a rare congenital disorder characterized by absence of conjugate horizontal eye movements and progressive scoliosis developing in childhood and adolescence. We present a child with clinical and neuroimaging findings typical of HGPPS. CT and MRI of the brain demonstrated pons hypoplasia, absence of the facial colliculi, butterfly configuration of the medulla and a deep midline pontine cleft. We briefly discuss the imaging aspects of this rare entity in light of the current literature.     

Prolonged lymphocytosis as the first manifestation of Hodgkin-like adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma

Hodgkin-like ATLL is a rare variant of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), a disease caused by human T-cell lymphotropic virus type-1 (HTLV-1). At admission, a 46-year-old female presented with lymphadenomegaly, lymphocytosis, slight elevation of LDH blood level, and acid-alcohol resistant bacilli in sputum and was being treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (Tb). She had lymphocytosis in the previous 20 months. Serology for HTLV-1 was positive. Lymph node was infiltrated by medium-sized lymphocytes with scattered Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg-like cells CD30+, CS1-4+, and CD79a+. Background cells were CD4+ and CD25+. A clinical diagnosis of favorable chronic ATLL was given. She was treated with chemotherapy but later progressed to acute ATLL and ultimately died. Hodgkin-like ATLL should be considered in the histological differential diagnosis with Hodgkin lymphoma since treatment and prognosis of these diseases are distinct. It is also important to search for HTLV-1 infection in patients with unexplained prolonged lymphocytosis.