Alana Alcântara Galvão scite author profile

Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati, are roundworms that live in the intestines of dogs and cats, respectively, and are predominantly agents of human toxocariasis. Studies have suggested that Toxocara spp. seroprevalence increases levels of total and aeroallergen-specific IgE (sIgE), asthma prevalence and asthma morbidity. Nevertheless, other work reported a negative association between Toxocara spp. seropositivity with skin hypersensititity and a positive association with sIgE. The objective of the present study was to evaluate risk factors for acquiring Toxocara spp. infection and to investigate possible significant association between its seroprevalence with atopy and asthma. Students from elementary schools, residents in a small town and its surroundings of Northeast Brazil, underwent blood sampling to measure levels of anti-Toxocara spp. IgG, peripheral blood eosinophils, and specific IgE to aeroallergens. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess possible risk factors for Toxocara spp. seropositivity and its association with atopy, wheeze/asthma with asthma phenotypes, in a sample of 791 elementary school children aged 6-13 years. Toxocara spp. seroprevalence reached 63.6%; 49.9% had sIgE; 7.2% and 3.3% had atopic wheeze/asthma and non-atopic wheeze/asthma respectively. Risk factors associated with Toxocara spp. seropositivity were: contact with dogs (adj. OR 2.33; 95% CI=1.70-3.19) and cats (adj. OR 3.09; 95% CI=2.10-4.55), and male sex (adj. OR 2.21; 95% CI=1.62-3.02). The presence of anti-Toxocara IgG was statistically associated with blood eosinophils >4% and >10% (adj. OR 1.84; 95% CI=1.33-2.55 and adj. OR 2.07; 95% CI=1.45-2.97, respectively), and atopy (adj. OR 2.00; 95% CI=1.49-2.68), but it was not associated with wheeze/asthma. Concluding, the results obtained in this study showing the association of Toxocara spp. seroprevalence with sIgE may suggest a possible immunological cross-reactivity between IgE epitopes from Toxocara spp. and aeroallergens.

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Genetic and epigenetic studies of FOXP3 in asthma and allergy

Marques

Costa

et al. 2015

asthma res and pract

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Multiple factors interact to trigger allergic diseases, including individual genetic background and factors related to the environment such as exposure to allergens, air pollution and respiratory infections. The FOXP3 transcription factor is constitutively expressed in CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) and is critical for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. For example, FOXP3 is responsible for the suppression of the Th2 response following exposure to allergens. Studies have shown that expression of the FOXP3 gene is reduced in patients with asthma and allergies compared to healthy controls. Therefore, the impairment of FOXP3 function caused by genetic polymorphisms and/or epigenetic mechanisms may be involved in the etiology of asthma and other allergic diseases. This review discusses some aspects of the role of FOXP3 in the development of asthma and allergy, with a particular emphasis on genetic and epigenetic factors.

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Identificação e distribuição dos erros de dispensação em uma farmácia hospitalar: um estudo comparativo no município de Salvador Bahia

Galvão

Oliveira

Carvalho

et al. 2012

cmbio

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Introdução: A dispensação de medicamentos encontra-se no intermédio do sistema de medicação, podendo interceptar os erros de prescrição e prevenir os erros de administração. Os erros de dispensação são responsáveis por pelo menos 11% do total dos erros médicos, porém estudos sobre esse tipo de erro não são frequentes no Brasil. Objetivo: Avaliar os erros de dispensação de um hospital filantrópico no município de Salvador, comparando dados obtidos nos anos de 2009 e 2012, a fim de observar como as mudanças realizadas no sistema de medicação interferiram na prevalência dos erros de dispensação. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo de corte transversal, no hospital Santa Izabel, Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Salvador, num período de 15 dias, nos anos de 2009 e 2012, conferindo os medicamentos dispensados com o que foi solicitado na prescrição. Resultados: O erro mais prevalente foi o de omissão, 29% (2009), 41,66% (2012), os erros de concentração mantiveram-se entre os três mais prevalentes nas duas análises. Houve uma redução de pelo menos 50% no total de prescrições atendidas com erros e de itens dispensados com erro. Conclusão: As mudanças realizadas no sistema de distribuição foram benéficas para reduzir a quantidade de erros de dispensação. Abstract Background: The dispensation of medicines lies in an intermediate level of the medication system, being able to intercept prescribing errors and prevent administration mistakes. Medication errors are responsible at least for 11% of all medical error, nevertheless, these studies are incipient in Brazil. Aim: Assess dispensing errors in a charity hospital in the city of Salvador, comparing data obtained in 2009 and 2012, in order to clarify how changes performed in the system can interfere in the prevalence of dispensing errors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Santa Izabel Hospital, in a period of consecutive 15 days, in the years of 2009 and 2012, conferring the medicines dispened with the prescription requested. Results: Omission was the most prevalent error 29% (2009) and 41.66% (2012), concentration errors remained among the most prevalent in both analyzes. There was a reduction of at least 50% on the total prescriptions met with errors and items dispensed with error. Conclusion: The changes made in the distribution system were beneficial to reduce the amount of dispensing errors.

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Genetic polymorphisms in vitamin D pathway influence 25(OH)D levels and are associated with atopy and asthma

Galvão

Sena

Belitardo

et al. 2020

Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol

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Background Vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency, has been associated with atopy and lack of asthma control. Our objective was to investigate associations between variants in genes of vitamin D pathway with serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), atopy, asthma and asthma severity in teenagers from Northeast Brazil. Methods This is a cross sectional study nested in a cohort population of asthma. 25(OH)D was quantified from 968 of 11–17 years old individuals by ELISA. Asthma diagnosis was obtained by using the ISAAC Phase III questionnaire. Specific IgE was determined by ImmunoCAP; genotyping was performed using the 2.5 HumanOmni Biochip from Illumina. Statistical analyses were performed in PLINK 1.07 and SPSS 22.1. Results After quality control, 104 Single Nucleotides Variants (SNVs) in vitamin D pathway genes, typed in 792 individuals, were included in the analysis. The allele A of rs10875694 on VDR was positively associated with atopy (OR = 1.35; 95% CI 1.01–1.81). The allele C of rs9279 on VDR , was negatively associated with asthma risk (OR = 0.66; 95% CI 0.45–0.97), vitamin D insufficiency (OR = 0.78; 95% CI 0.70–0.96) and higher VDR expression. Two variants in VDR were associated with asthma severity, the allele A of rs2189480 (OR = 0.34; 95% CI 0.13–0.89) and the allele G of rs4328262 (OR = 3.18; 95% CI 1.09–9.28). The combination of variants in CYP2R1 and CYP24A1 (GAC, to rs10500804, rs12794714 and rs3886163, respectively) was negatively associated with vitamin D production ( β = − 1.24; 95% CI − 2.42 to − 0.06). Conclusions Genetic variants in the vitamin D pathway affect vitamin D serum levels and, thus, atopy and asthma.

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