Danielle Ribeiro de Moraes

Postnatal acquired toxoplasmosis patients in an infectious diseases reference center

Infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, toxoplasmosis, is one of the most frequent zoonoses in the world; it normally affects both genders equally. Humans are one of several possible intermediate hosts, and the disease is oligosymptomatic in most cases. Vertical transmission is an important cause of fetal malformation and sequels in newborns. Approximately 10% of postnatal cases present multiple manifestations, ranging from low fever and mild lymphadenopathy to severe encephalitis. In moderate cases, lesions such as retinochoroiditis may emerge during acute infection or even years later. We analyzed 313 cases of toxoplasmosis from 1992 to 2004, including 261 acute cases. Most patients were women (68.1%), and 39% of these were pregnant. Among acute infection cases, 64.8% presented symptomatic disease; the most frequent manifestations were lymphadenomegaly (59.8%), fever (27.2%), headache (10.7%), asthenia (10%), weight loss (8.4%), myalgia (8%), retinochoroiditis (3.4%) and hepatosplenomegaly (1.5%). Although ocular lesions by T. gondii are well documented as a possible consequence of postnatal infection, two patients developed retinochoroiditis only two years after primary infection. This demonstrates the need for toxoplasmosis case surveillance, even long after acute manifestations.

Distintos enfoques sobre esteroides anabolizantes: riscos à saúde e hipermasculinidade

Abordam-se dois enfoques sobre o uso de esteroides anabolicos androgenicos (EAA): o primeiro encontra-se na literatura biomedica, centrada em seus efeitos na saude de homens jovens; o segundo refere-se aos proprios usuarios, focalizando os aspectos socioculturais do consumo. Foi utilizada metodologia qualitativa a partir da analise de dois tipos de material: (i) artigos da area biomedica; (ii) material de pesquisas realizadas entre 2001 e 2004, incluindo etnografia e entrevistas semiestruturadas com 19 homens praticantes de jiu-jitsu no Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados indicam um descompasso entre o enfoque biomedico, que condena o uso considerado nao terapeutico de EAA e as representacoes e praticas dos usuarios que recorrem a essas substâncias com o objetivo de aprimoramento da forca e da musculosidade. Conclui-se que a relacao entre o consumo de substâncias anabolizantes e a construcao social da masculinidade precisa ser mais estudada no âmbito da saude publica.

“Não” para jovens bombados, “sim” para velhos empinados: o discurso sobre anabolizantes e saúde em artigos da área biomédica

The article addresses the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic drugs whose abuse has been characterized as a public health problem, operated in the opposition between “medical” and “non-medical” uses. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the text in 76 biomedical articles published from 2002 to 2012. The discourse shows a persistent ban on non-medically regulated use of AAS by young people, while the limits on clinically qualified use appear to expand among older people, even given the contradictions straining the argument on the prevention of health risks. Moralizing biopolitical stances appear, based on gender distinctions or under the aegis of criminalizing drug use.

O gerencialismo utilitarista na produção acadêmica em saúde coletiva: a importância de ensaios críticos

1.Antes de tudo, consideramos que a critica nao necessariamente esta obrigada a veicular uma postu-ra “propositiva” – ate porque, em muitas circunstân-cias, esta pode tender a uma perspectiva instrumen-tal capaz de incidir em um certo reformismo, que nao altera o processo problematico em sua estrutura, apenas o ajusta. Isso faz lembrar, mesmo parcialmen -te, a maxima que reduz as margens de vislumbrar avancos politicos substantivos por ser a politica “a arte do possivel”...Parece haver uma assuncao de que nao temos alternativas maiores diante da atual realidade acade-mica que produz injuncoes aparentemente inesca-paveis que definem e assumem uma inexorabilidade quanto a mudancas maiores, que escapem a pers-pectiva utilitarista dominante. Inspirados em Zizek

Distintos enfoques sobre los esteroides anabólicos: riesgos para la salud e hipermasculinidad

Abordam-se dois enfoques sobre o uso de esteroides anabolicos androgenicos (EAA): o primeiro encontra-se na literatura biomedica, centrada em seus efeitos na saude de homens jovens; o segundo refere-se aos proprios usuarios, focalizando os aspectos socioculturais do consumo. Foi utilizada metodologia qualitativa a partir da analise de dois tipos de material: (i) artigos da area biomedica; (ii) material de pesquisas realizadas entre 2001 e 2004, incluindo etnografia e entrevistas semiestruturadas com 19 homens praticantes de jiu-jitsu no Rio de Janeiro. Os resultados indicam um descompasso entre o enfoque biomedico, que condena o uso considerado nao terapeutico de EAA e as representacoes e praticas dos usuarios que recorrem a essas substâncias com o objetivo de aprimoramento da forca e da musculosidade. Conclui-se que a relacao entre o consumo de substâncias anabolizantes e a construcao social da masculinidade precisa ser mais estudada no âmbito da saude publica.

Terapeuticalização e os dilemas preemptivistas na esfera da saúde pública individualizada

This essay aims to address the preemptive approach in the field of preventive health practices, especially regarding the idea of anticipatory attack in dealing with risks that threaten us. There is a concern that purports that the concept of “medicalization” is affected by lack of theoretical precision. Even being an arguable point of view, we propose the term “therapeuticalization” to describe such practices, with special emphasis on health self-tracking technologies, that collect data that allow people to perform a constant follow-up of biological functions as a somatic self-enterprise. There seems to be a gradual expansion of the use of self-monitoring that tends to grow, as an increasing number of organizations and authorities realize the potential of the data gathered from these practices. Self-monitoring can be seen as an utilitarian biopolitical strategy that put the liberal self as a responsible citizen, willing and able to take care of himself/herself, his/her happiness, his/her self-interests.

Therapeuticalization and preemptive dilemmas within individualized public health

This essay aims to address the preemptive approach in the field of preventive health practices, especially regarding the idea of anticipatory attack in dealing with risks that threaten us. There is a concern that purports that the concept of “medicalization” is affected by lack of theoretical precision. Even being an arguable point of view, we propose the term “therapeuticalization” to describe such practices, with special emphasis on health self-tracking technologies, that collect data that allow people to perform a constant follow-up of biological functions as a somatic self-enterprise. There seems to be a gradual expansion of the use of self-monitoring that tends to grow, as an increasing number of organizations and authorities realize the potential of the data gathered from these practices. Self-monitoring can be seen as an utilitarian biopolitical strategy that put the liberal self as a responsible citizen, willing and able to take care of himself/herself, his/her happiness, his/her self-interests.

Therapeuticalization and preemptive dilemmaswithin individualized public health

This essay aims to address the preemptive approach in the field of preventive health practices, especially regarding the idea of anticipatory attack in dealing with risks that threaten us. There is a concern that purports that the concept of “medicalization” is affected by lack of theoretical precision. Even being an arguable point of view, we propose the term “therapeuticalization” to describe such practices, with special emphasis on health self-tracking technologies, that collect data that allow people to perform a constant follow-up of biological functions as a somatic self-enterprise. There seems to be a gradual expansion of the use of self-monitoring that tends to grow, as an increasing number of organizations and authorities realize the potential of the data gathered from these practices. Self-monitoring can be seen as an utilitarian biopolitical strategy that put the liberal self as a responsible citizen, willing and able to take care of himself/herself, his/her happiness, his/her self-interests.

“No” a los jóvenes cachas, “sí” a los viejos cachondos: el discurso sobre agentes anabólicos y salud en artículos biomédicos

The article addresses the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic drugs whose abuse has been characterized as a public health problem, operated in the opposition between “medical” and “non-medical” uses. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the text in 76 biomedical articles published from 2002 to 2012. The discourse shows a persistent ban on non-medically regulated use of AAS by young people, while the limits on clinically qualified use appear to expand among older people, even given the contradictions straining the argument on the prevention of health risks. Moralizing biopolitical stances appear, based on gender distinctions or under the aegis of criminalizing drug use.

“No” for stacked young bodybuilders, “yes” for manthers: the biomedical discourse on anabolic steroids and health

The article addresses the use of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS), synthetic drugs whose abuse has been characterized as a public health problem, operated in the opposition between “medical” and “non-medical” uses. A qualitative approach was used to analyze the text in 76 biomedical articles published from 2002 to 2012. The discourse shows a persistent ban on non-medically regulated use of AAS by young people, while the limits on clinically qualified use appear to expand among older people, even given the contradictions straining the argument on the prevention of health risks. Moralizing biopolitical stances appear, based on gender distinctions or under the aegis of criminalizing drug use.