OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the IgE serum levels in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to evaluate possible associations with clinical and laboratory features, disease activity and tissue damage. METHODS: The IgE serum concentrations in 69 consecutive juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients were determined by nephelometry. IgG, IgM and IgA concentrations were measured by immunoturbidimetry. All patients were negative for intestinal parasites. Statistical analysis methods included the Mann-Whitney, chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, as well as the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: Increased IgE concentrations above 100 IU/mL were observed in 31/69 (45%) juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients. The mean IgE concentration was 442.0 ± 163.4 IU/ml (range 3.5-9936.0 IU/ml). Fifteen of the 69 patients had atopic disease, nine patients had severe sepsis and 56 patients presented with nephritis. The mean IgE level in 54 juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients without atopic manifestations was 271.6 ± 699.5 IU/ml, and only nine of the 31 (29%) patients with high IgE levels had atopic disease. The IgE levels did not statistically differ with respect to the presence of atopic disease, severe sepsis, nephritis, disease activity, or tissue damage. Interestingly, IgE concentrations were inversely correlated with C4 levels (r = -0.25, p = 0.03) and with the SLICC/ACR-DI score (r = -0.34, p = 0.005). The IgE concentration was also found to be directly correlated with IgA levels (r = 0.52, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated for the first time that juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patients have increased IgE serum levels. This increase in IgE levels was not related to allergic or parasitic diseases. Our results are in line with the hypothesis that high IgE levels can be considered a marker of immune dysregulation.

o objetivo deste artigo é verificar o nível de pressão sonora nas salas de aula e sua interferência na inteligibilidade de fala dos professores. A metodologia utilizada foi do tipo descritivo e exploratório, de natureza qualiquantitativa e efetuada em etapas, a saber: 1) Avaliação do conforto/desconforto; 2) Avaliação acústica; e 3) Avaliação do desempenho vocal. Como resultado, 94,6% dos professores afirmaram que é necessário aumentar o tom de voz para haver inteligibilidade de fala; os níveis de pressão sonora variaram entre o mínimo de 46,60 dB (A) e o máximo de 87,90 dB (A) e o desempenho vocal dos professores esteve entre 49,01 e 83,75 dB (A). Concluiu-se que o baixo rendimento acústico faz com que o professor necessite falar com mais esforço, o que provoca fadiga de fala nos docentes; a origem desse rendimento está vinculada a fontes internas e externas e ao grande número de alunos nas salas de aula.

The goal of this research is to verify the pressure of noise levels in classrooms and its interference on the intelligibility of teachers' speech. The methodology used was of a descriptive and exploratory, quali-quantitative nature undertaken in stages, namely: 1) Evaluation of the comfort/discomfort; 2) Acoustic evaluation and 3) vocal performance evaluation. The findings showed that 94.6 per cent of the teachers said that is necessary to raise the tone of voice for speech to be intelligible; the level of noise pressure varied between a minimum of 46.60 dB (A) and a maximum of 87.90 dB (A); and the vocal performance of the teachers ranged between 49.01 and 83.75 dB (A). It concludes that poor acoustics obliges teachers to speak more strenuously, which causes fatigue in the teachers' speech. The cause of this situation is linked to the internal and external sources and the excess of students in classrooms.

OBJETIVO: Fazer um estudo retrospectivo, correlacionando os diagnósticos citopatológicos obtidos por punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) com os diagnósticos histopatológicos de lesões da região bucomaxilofacial, de pacientes que foram atendidos no Serviço de Cirurgia e Traumatologia Bucomaxilofacial do Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro/UFF, entre maio de 1999 e maio de 2004. MÉTODO: Foram analisados os laudos cito e histopatológicos emitidos pelo Serviço de Anatomia Patológica (SAP-HUAP), de quarenta e cinco pacientes submetidos à a punção aspirativa por agulha fina (PAAF) por apresentar lesão na região bucomaxilofacial. RESULTADOS: Foi obtida uma precisão diagnóstica da citopatologia a partir da PAAF de 77,8% (35 casos), e especificidade e sensibilidade da técnica de 100%, não havendo nenhum resultado falso-positivo e falso-negativo. CONCLUSÃO: A citopatologia realizada a partir da PAAF é um método diagnóstico inicial eficiente, de baixo custo, praticamente indolor e rápido de ser realizado, que contribui para a identificação da natureza da lesão proporcionando um melhor planejamento terapêutico.

BACKGROUND: To establish a prospective study to verify the correlation between the cytopathologic diagnosis obtained through FNA and the hystopathologic diagnosis of the lesions from the maxillofacial region of patients at the Buco-Maxilofacial Surgery and Traumatology Service. METHOD: Analysis of the results from cytologic and histopathological diagnosis issued by the Pathologic Anatomy Service of the Antônio Pedro University Hospital (UFF, Niterói-RJ, Brazil). Forty-five patient who underwent FNA followed by incisional or excisional biopsy, were selected. Cases in which information was incomplete were excluded. RESULTS: The total number of cases selected was 45. The diagnostic accuracy obtained was of 77.8% (35) in FNA cytopathology, with a 100% in specificity and sensibility. CONCLUSION: The cytopathology performed through FNA is an efficient initial diagnostic method, with low cost, painless, and quickly accomplished, which helps the identification of the lesion's nature and allows the professional a more accurate evaluation for the surgical or therapeutic approach.

Um ambiente ergonômico ideal para exercer-se atividades bancárias precisa estar termicamente adequado, principalmente segundo a percepção térmica daqueles que realmente promovem a produtividade: os seres humanos. Esta pesquisa possibilitou conhecer-se as características termoambientais destas atividades e, a partir dos dados coletados, aplicou-se o método da Regressão Linear e a técnica exploratória Análise Discriminante para determinar quais variáveis térmicas representam melhor a sensação térmica declarada pelo trabalhador. Para isso, determinaram-se as variáveis do balanço térmico e a sensação térmica de cada trabalhador, baseando-se em normas internacionais. Constatou-se que a temperatura de bulbo seco foi a variável que representou melhor estas preferências e, em situação de conforto, 23,79ºC é a temperatura ideal para que estas atividades sejam exercidas com satisfação térmica.

An ergonomically ideal environment for bank services needs to be thermally adequate, mainly according to the thermal perceptions of those responsible for the productivity, namely, human beings. This research has made it possible to recognize the relevant thermo-environmental characteristics of these activities and, based on the collected data, to apply the Linear Regression method and Discriminant Analysis exploratory technique to determine the thermal variables that may best represent the employee's reported thermal sensations. For this purpose, the variables of thermal balance and sensation of each worker were determined, based on available international standards. It was found that the dry bulb temperature was the one that better represented these preferences. In the comfort situation, 23.79ºC was the ideal temperature for these activities to be performed with thermal satisfaction.

This paper discusses current evidence for the relationship between polyclonal lymphocyte activation, specific immunossupression with decreased resistance, and autoimmune pathology, that are all often found associated with infections by a variety of virus, bacteria and parasites . The central question of class determination of immune effector activities is considered in the context of the cellular targets for nonspecific mitogenic activities associated with infection. A model is presented to integrate these findings: mitogenens produced by the microorganism or the infected cells are preferentially active on CD5 B cells, the resulting over-production of IL-10 will tend to bias all immune activities in to a Th-2mode of effector functions, with high titers of polyclonal antibodies and litle or no production of gamma IFN and other "inflamatory"lymphokines that often mediate resistance. In turn these conditions allow for parasite persistence and the corresponding long-term disregulation of self-directed immune reactivities, resulting in autoimmunity in the chronic phase. This model would predict that selective immunization with the mitogenic principles involved in desregulation, could stand better chances than strategies of vaccination based on immunopotentiation against othere, functionally neutral antigenic epitopes. It is argued, however, that the complexity of immune responses and their regulation together with our ignorance on the genetic controls of class-determination, offer poor prospects for a scientifically-based, rational development of vaccines in the near future. It is suggested that empirically-based and technologically developed vaccines might suceed, while basic scientific approaches are reinforced and given the time provide a better understanding of those process.