The carragenophyte Kappaphycus alvarezii has been introduced into tropical regions, including Brazil, for aquaculture purposes. Our study estimated the biomass loss of farmed cuttings, the establishment of cuttings outside the rafts, the occurrence of spores, and evaluated the invasive potential of K. alvarezii at three sites in Rio de Janeiro state. Temperature, salinity, water transparency, wind velocity and direction (hydrodynamic indicator) and solar radiation (irradiance availability indicator) varied spatially. We found no spores in cultivated cuttings and no verified spore recruitment on artificial substrata. Biomass loss of cuttings varied temporally; however, it was restricted to the cultivation management area of one site and was low compared to native algal biomass. The establishment of cuttings was apparently limited by herbivory at Ilha Grande Bay and controlled by water transparency, hydrodynamics and temperature at Sepetiba Bay. The invasive potential of K. alvarezii was considered remote. However, the use of environmental protocols for cultivation activities is necessary to prevent environmental impacts, mainly in tropical regions.

Os corticosteroides são fármacos anti-inflamatórios amplamente utilizados na prática clínica e as reações de hipersensibilidade, com apresentação imediata ou tardia têm sido cada vez mais descritas na literatura. As reações de hipersensibilidade podem ocorrer devido aos corticosteroides ou aos excipientes utilizados nas suas preparações. Os testes cutâneos podem auxiliar na confirmação diagnóstica e na identificação de uma alternativa terapêutica. O presente trabalho tem como objetivo a revisão do conhecimento atual sobre a apresentação clínica, a avaliação e abordagem diagnóstica das reações de hipersensibilidade imediata e tardia a corticosteroides.

The assessment of quality of life in asthmatic children and adolescents is important, as severe asthma, or its uncontrolled symptoms, prevents the participation of these individuals in sports activities, disturbs sleep and, consequently, the regular school performance. However, the disease does not have an impact only on the patients, but it also affects the quality of life of their parents. Objective: To evaluate the quality of life of asthmatic children and the perception of their parents/tutors regarding their children’s quality of life before and after a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP). Patients and Methods: 5 male children, with a mean age of 8.16 ±1.83 years, were studied and 6 parents/tutors, before and after a 24-session PRP. All the children had a clinical diagnosis of mild and moderate asthma. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire was applied to the children, whereas a second and specific questionnaire was applied to the parents. The absolute scores of the questionnaires before and after the PRP were compared by Wilcoxon’s test with p<0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in the comparison of the results of the children’s questionnaire, before and after PRP. However, absolute improvement was verified in the majority of the questions in both questionnaires. Conclusion: The quality of life questionnaires applied to the asthmatic children and their parents did not detect any significant variation regarding the analyzed questions. However, the absolute variations in several items, involving the two instruments, suggest a clinical improvement in the quality of life shown by both questionnaires.

Introduction: The assessment of quality of life in asthmatic children and adolescents is important, as severe asthma, or its uncontrolled symptoms, prevents the participation of these individuals in sports activities, disturbs sleep and, consequently, the regular school performance. However, the disease does not have an impact only on the patients, but it also affects the quality of life of their parents. Objective: To evaluate the quality of life of asthmatic children and the perception of their parents/tutors regarding their children's quality of life before and after a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (PRP). Patients and Methods: 5 male children, with a mean age of 8.16 ±1.83 years, were studied and 6 parents/tutors, before and after a 24-session PRP. All the children had a clinical diagnosis of mild and moderate asthma. The Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) was applied to the children, whereas a second and specific questionnaire was applied to the parents. The absolute scores of the questionnaires before and after the PRP were compared by Wilcoxon's test with p<0.05. Results: There was no significant difference in the comparison of the results of the children's questionnaire, before and after PRP. However, absolute improvement was verified in the majority of the questions in both questionnaires. Conclusion: The quality of life questionnaires applied to the asthmatic children and their parents did not detect any significant variation regarding the analyzed questions. However, the absolute variations in several items, involving the two instruments, suggest a clinical improvement in the quality of life shown by both questionnaires. KEYWORDSasthma/rehabilitation, quality of life, child RESUMO Introdução: A determinação da qualidade de vida de crianças e adolescentes asmáticos é importante, pois a asma grave ou com sintomas mal controlados, impede a participação desses indivíduos em esportes, prejudica o sono e, conseqüentemente, o rendimento escolar. Entretanto a doença não tem somente um impacto sobre os pacientes, mas também afeta a qualidade de vida de indivíduos ligados a eles. Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida das crianças asmáticas e a percepção dos pais/responsáveis quanto à qualidade de vida de seus filhos antes e após um programa de reabilitação pulmonar (RP). Materiais e Métodos: Foram estudadas 5 crianças, sexo masculino, com idade média de 8,16 ± 1,83 anos e 6 pais/responsáveis, antes e após um programa de reabilitação de 24 sessões. Todas as crianças tinham diagnóstico clínico de asma leve e moderada. Foi aplicado o questionário Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (PAQLQ) para as crianças e um segundo questionário específico para os pais. As pontuações numéricas dos questionários pré e pós RP, foram comparadas pelo teste de Wilcoxon, sendo considerado um p < 0,05. Resultado: Não houve diferença significativa, na comparação dos resultados pré e pós RP Entretanto, verificou-se melhora absoluta na maioria das questões em ambos os questionários. Conclusão: Os ...