Flávia Márcia Oliveira

Skin hypersensitivity to banana and risk for latexfruit syndrome in healthcare professionals

Latex-fruit syndrome occurs because of a cross-reaction between antigens present in latex and those present in certain fruits, such as bananas. Healthcare professionals are at a risk because of the constant occupational exposure to latex. The aim of this study is to determine skin sensitivity to bananas and the risk factors for the manifestation of latex-fruit syndrome in healthcare professionals. A convenience sample was tested, comprised of 150 professionals registered in the healthcare services network of the city of Lagarto, Sergipe, Brazil. A skin prick test was performed, and a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and working conditions as well as history of signs and symptoms of allergies was administered. The hypersensitivity skin test results were found to be positive for banana in 12.7% (n=19) of the individuals. The majority of the individuals who were hypersensitive to banana had a moderate-to-high profile of occupational latex exposure (89.5%; n=17). In addition, symptomatic latex-fruit syndrome was observed in 4% (n=6) of the individuals. However, personal and/or family history of allergies and occupational latex exposure profiles were not associated with hypersensitivity to banana. It is recommended that the skin prick test be performed to evaluate individuals belonging to the risk groups in order to prevent more severe reactions and improve the quality of life through strategies to reduce signs and symptoms of allergies.

Material didático para inclusão de estudantes com deficiência visual nas aulas práticas sobre o processo de cicatrização

Resumo As pessoas com deficiencia visual podem se beneficiar do processo de aprendizagem, de forma diferencial, por meio da utilizacao de estimulos e ativacao de canais sensoriais diversos e da organizacao metamodal do sistema nervoso. O presente trabalho consiste em apresentar o processo de construcao de um material didatico para a inclusao de estudantes com deficiencia visual nas aulas praticas sobre o processo de cicatrizacao. A elaboracao do material didatico foi sistematizada em etapas caracterizadas pela selecao dos recursos e materiais; selecao das estruturas e processos fundamentais a serem traduzidos da estimulacao luminosa para mecânica; padronizacao dos componentes a serem estudados; dinâmica para a utilizacao do material e avaliacao a curto, medio e longo prazo. Optou-se pela representacao do processo de cicatrizacao em modelos didaticos confeccionados com papel Parana como base e materiais diversos para estimulacao do tato discriminativo considerando os aspectos do relevo, textura, tamanho e distância adequados. Concluiu-se que o recurso didatico produzido despertou motivacao, mobilizou estruturas cognitivas para compreensao tatil e possibilitou a construcao de um mecanismo mental do conteudo gerando, inclusive, memoria a curto, medio e longo prazo. Os impactos que a introducao do material exerceu no estudante nao foi apenas na “aquisicao” de conteudos e notas, mas tambem na promocao da resiliencia. Portanto, a inclusao, considerando este conteudo da microscopia, foi efetiva. Palavras-chave: Recursos didaticos, Deficiencia visual, Microscopia, Cicatrizacao.

Ethanol affects the absorption and tissue distribution of orally administered antigens in mice

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of ethanol on the adsorption and tissue distribution of orally administered antigens in mice. Results showed that ethanol reduced the level of anti-ovalbumin IgA antibodies in intestinal fluid for the mice treated orally with a palmitoyl-ovalbumin conjugate. Ethanol was administered intragastrically to mice at 5 g/kg body weight for 14 days (chronic treatment), or 10 g/kg body weight every 7th day up to 14 days (acute treatment). Thereafter, 99mtechnetium-labeled antigens were administered and lymphoid tissues were collected. Ethanol interfered with the transport of ovalbumin to the liver. Moreover, the transport of palmitoyl-ovalbumin to mesenteric lymph nodes was reduced 6 h after the antigen administration. In conclusion, there was a relationship between the suppression of ethanol-mediated specific local IgA responses and the decreased transport of palmitoyl-ovalbumin to mesenteric lymph nodes.

Expression of costimulatory molecules in antigen-activated peritoneal macrophages treated with either ovalbumin or palmitoyl-ova conjugates

One of the mechanisms by which adjuvants are believed to promote T-cell activation and prevent induction of oral tolerance is by up-regulating the expression of co-stimulatory molecules on antigen presenting cells. Mice treated orally with palmitoyl-ovalbumin conjugates become immunized, while those treated with native ovalbumin (Ova) become tolerant. Cells from the peritoneal cavity of B6D2F1 mice were cultured in the presence of 0.01, or 0.1 mg/100ml of either Ova, or palmitoyl-Ova and tested for the presence of cell markers. PE-conjugated anti-mouse CD80, CD86, and CD11b antibodies as well as biotin-PE were used to stain the antigen-activated peritoneal cells. A significant increase in the expression of CD86 and CD80 was observed following in vitro stimulation with palmitoyl-Ova; additionally, both Ova and palmitoyl-Ova induced the basal expression of CD11b. These findings could be related with the strong T-cell proliferative response induced by palmitoyl-Ova.