Este estudo busca analisar a efetividade das medidas de segurança no trânsito (cinto de segurança, dispositivos de redução de velocidade e faixa de pedestre), usando como parâmetro a diminuição da freqüência de casos ou da gravidade do traumatismo crâniencefálico (TCE). MÉTODOS: Estudo epidemiológico descritivo e analítico, baseado na avaliação dos dados secundários sobre trauma no Distrito Federal. Os dados foram analisados em dois períodos, um anterior (1992) e outro posterior (1997) a adoção das medidas de segurança no trânsito. RESULTADOS: No estudo comparam-se os índices (por 100.000 habitantes) de vítimas entre os dois períodos. Em 1992 houve 125,5 casos (grupo 1), enquanto que em 1997 houve 155,8 (grupo 2). Deste total, no Grupo 1 tivemos 26,2 casos de TCE com 5,2 óbitos pelo agravo, no Grupo 2 tivemos 62,1 casos com 4,1 óbitos, ou seja, o TCE foi responsável por 82,5% do óbitos no primeiro período e por 79,4% no segundo. Quanto à gravidade no grupo 1, tivemos 9,6 casos e no Grupo 2 foram 8,1 casos de TCE moderado e grave. CONCLUSÃO: Houve um aumento relativo e absoluto do número de casos de TCE devido a acidentes automobilísticos no período, contudo foi reduzida a morbimortalidade hospitalar do traumatismo, sugerindo que as medidas de segurança não foram efetivas para diminuir o número de casos, mas possam ter sido satisfatórias para reduzir a morbimortalidade decorrente deles.

BACKGROUND: The study analyzed the effectiveness of safety measures (seat belt, velocity control) in traffic. The parameters were the decrease in number and severity in head injury trauma (HIT).METHODS: Epidemiological study, based on the evaluation of secondary data about head injury. The data were analyzed between two periods, before (1992) and after (1997) measures implementation.RESULTS: We compared the indices (per 100.000 population) of victims in the two periods. In 1992 there were 125.5 victims, and in 1997 there were 155.8. From this total in group 1 we had 26.2 cases of HIT with 5.2 deaths, in 1997 we had 62.1 with 4.1 deaths. About severity: in the first period were 9.6 cases severe or moderate head injury, in group 2 there were 8.1 cases.CONCLUSIONS: There was an increase in the number of victims of HIT caused by automobile accidents in this period, however the severity of the trauma showed a small decrease, possibly security measures were not efficiently in reducing the number of cases but may have been successful in reducing deaths related to this accidents.

In the animal model of leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis there is a complex mechanism of the host-parasite interaction. The present study was performed to interfere with the inflammatory reaction to the parasites, through immune modulation. Female C5BL/6 isogenic mice were used, some of which were inoculated on the right ear and others on the right footpad with 3.10(6) stationary phase promastigotes of the MHOM/BR/PH8 strain of L. (L.) amazonensis, and were allocated in three groups: the first received pentoxifylline 8mg/kg every 12 h, since the first day; the second one received the same dose since the 40th day of infection and a control group that did not receive any treatment. All the ears excised were analyzed to determine the variation in weight between both ears and for histopathological analyses. A quantification of the parasites was done using the limiting dilution assay. A significant reduction of the number of parasites, was observed among the animals treated which had an accordingly significant reduction on the weight of the ears. Pentoxifylline reduced the macrophages propensity to vacuolation and induced a more effective destruction of the parasites by these cells. Moreover, the group that began the treatment later did not show the same effectiveness.