No abstract

Background: Current guidelines on chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) suggest a treatment based on a 3-step approach that aims at total symptom control, starting with H1-antihistamines. However, a significant number of patients present an antihistamine-resistant urticaria that must be treated with an alternative third-line therapy such as omalizumab. Methods: Patients with a history of CSU who did not respond to treatment with high doses of modern antihistamines were treated with 150 or 300 mg of omalizumab every 4 weeks. The response to treatment was recorded as complete (CR), partial (PR) or no response. A dose adjustment was proposed according to response. Results: We treated 47 CSU patients with omalizumab (40 females), of whom 39.5% had evidence of autoimmunity. The average number of treatments was 11.4 (range 2-87). All patients had been refractory to high-dose modern antihistamines. A CR was seen in 84.6% of patients who started with 300 mg and in 60% of those who started with 150 mg. Only 1 patient had no response to both the 150- and 300-mg doses. In 6 of the PR patients with 150 mg, a higher dose of 300 mg was proposed and 4 had a CR. Four patients discontinued the treatment. No severe adverse events were reported in the patients who finished the study. Discussion: Although good results were seen in both groups, CR rates were higher in those under a high-dose initial treatment. Our data strongly suggest that the therapy should be individualized.

Amongst conceptual divergences about regular press production, this article aims to propose a classification model to improve the understanding on such matter, deep-rooted on a communicational perspective, paying attention to Journalism particular rituals. Based on bibliographical research and considering empirical investigation results, systematically attained during several years, the defense here presented states that journalistic messages must be understood from two steps subdivisions: the genres and the formats subjected to them. From this point of view, the aim is to organize the parameters that orientate one of the most adopted classifications in Brazil, avoiding distorted appreciations.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially fatal allergic disease or hypersensitivity reaction with variable clinical presentation. Biomarkers in anaphylaxis could be useful to improve diagnosis, to allow endotyping of patients, and to predict risk. Objective: To investigate the role of serum basal tryptase (sBT) levels in the management of patients with anaphylaxis. Methods: Patients with at least 1 episode of anaphylaxis were selected among those who attended the Allergy Clinics of the Clinical Hospital of the Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil, upon evaluation by allergy/immunology specialists of our medical staff. Demographic and clinical data were obtained using a structured questionnaire. sBT levels were determined using the ImmunoCAP Tryptase immunoassay. Results: 57 patients (56.1% female) with a median age of 35 years (range 7–87 years) participated in the study. sBT levels ranged from 2.57 to 21.19 ng/mL (mean 5.17 ng/mL), with no significant differences in patients with anaphylaxis due to different triggers. Mean levels were 4.93; 5.2; 5.41, and 5.24 ng/mL for patients who had anaphylaxis due to Hymenoptera venom (n = 17), foods (n = 13), drugs (n = 13), and idiopathic disease (n = 14), respectively. Significantly higher sBT levels were observed in patients with severe anaphylaxis (grade IV) than in patients with mild-moderate disease (grades II/III) (mean levels 6.61 vs. 4.71 ng/mL, respectively). Conclusion: High sBT levels may help to identify patients at increased risk of more severe anaphylaxis, prompting physicians to initiate immediate therapy to avoid further acute episodes.

O texto analisa o processo histórico que originou o paradigma latino-americano de Comunicação. Mesclando os modelos norte-americanos aos postulados europeus e adaptando-os às condições peculiares às nossas sociedades e às nossas culturas, foi possível superar as dicotomias entre metodologias quantitativas e qualitativas, entre pesquisa crítica e pesquisa administrativa.Palavras-chave-, comunicação (América Latina), teoria da comunicação (América Latina). * Texto apresentado no V Simpósio de Pesquisa em Comunicação do Centro-Oeste, em Goiânia -Go, entre 20 a 22/05/99.