The Municipality of São Gonçalo in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro-Brazil is considered an endemic area for leprosy according to the Ministry of Health. From this observation, we sought to identify with this work which actions are performed by nurses from Family Health Program (PSF) to detect leprosy and what care they provide to people affected by the disease, with the focus on humanization. Thus, we performed descriptive, qualitative and field units in the health of the family of that city, with thirty-one nurses through interviews with open questions. Two categories emerged: the detection actions made by the nurse, the care given to people affected and the humanization of care needed. It was concluded that the actions taken by the nurses do not follow a single standard and that some lack the necessary training to function with users of PSF affected by leprosy.

O Município de São Gonçalo na Região Metropolitana do Rio de Janeiro-Brasil é considerado zona endêmica para a Hanseníase segundo dados do Ministério da Saúde. A partir dessa constatação, buscou-se com o presente trabalho identificar quais as ações realizadas pelo enfermeiro do Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) para detectar a hanseníase e qual o cuidado por ele oferecido às pessoas atingidas pela doença, tendo como foco a humanização. Assim, foi realizada pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa e de campo nas unidades de saúde da família do referido município, com trinta e um enfermeiros através de entrevista com perguntas abertas. Emergindo duas categorias: as ações do enfermeiro do PSF na detecção; os cuidados ministrados às pessoas atingidas e a necessária humanização desses cuidados. Concluiu-se, que as ações realizadas pelos enfermeiros não obedecem a um padrão único e que alguns não possuem a necessária capacitação para atuar com os usuários do PSF atingidos pela hanseníase.

El municipio de São Gonçalo, en la Región Metropolitana de Río de Janeiro-Brasil es considerado una zona endémica de la lepra de acuerdo con el Ministerio de Salud. De esta observación, hemos tratado de identificar con este trabajo cuáles son las acciones realizadas por las enfermeras en El Programa de Salud Familiar (PSF) para detectar la lepra y qué tipo de atención prestan a las personas afectadas por la enfermedad, centrándose en la humanización. Así, se realizó investigación descriptiva, cualitativa y de campo en las unidades de salud de la familia de esa ciudad, con treinta y un enfermeros a través de entrevistas con preguntas abiertas. Emergiendo dos categorías: las acciones de detección de la enfermera del PSF, la atención prestada a las personas afectadas y la necesaria humanización de esos cuidados. Se concluyó que las medidas adoptadas por las enfermeras no siguen un estándar único y que algunas no tienen la capacitación necesaria para desenvolverse con los usuarios del PSF afectadas por la lepra.

We evaluated the potential neuroprotective effect of 1-100 µM of four organoselenium compounds: diphenyl diselenide, 3’3-ditri-fluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide, p-methoxy-diphenyl diselenide, and p-chloro-diphenyl diselenide, against methylmercury-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in mitochondrial-enriched fractions from adult Swiss mouse brain. Methylmercury (10-100 µM) significantly decreased mitochondrial activity, assessed by MTT reduction assay, in a dose-dependent manner, which occurred in parallel with increased glutathione oxidation, hydroperoxide formation (xylenol orange assay) and lipid peroxidation end-products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS). The co-incubation with diphenyl diselenide (100 µM) completely prevented the disruption of mitochondrial activity as well as the increase in TBARS levels caused by methylmercury. The compound 3’3-ditrifluoromethyldiphenyl diselenide provided a partial but significant protection against methylmercury-induced mitochondrial dysfunction (45.4 ± 5.8% inhibition of the methylmercury effect). Diphenyl diselenide showed a higher thiol peroxidase activity compared to the other three compounds. Catalase blocked methylmercury-induced TBARS, pointing to hydrogen peroxide as a vector during methylmercury toxicity in this model. This result also suggests that thiol peroxidase activity of organoselenium compounds accounts for their protective actions against methylmercury-induced oxidative stress. Our results show that diphenyl diselenide and potentially other organoselenium compounds may represent important molecules in the search for an improved therapy against the deleterious effects of methylmercury as well as other mercury compounds.

Endemic refers to the disease usually present among the members of a particular group in a given area, that is, present in a specific population. The study problem is: how do nurses operate in the control of endemic diseases? The goal is to identify the role of a nurse in the control of endemic diseases and discuss the training of nurses to operate in the control of endemic diseases. A descriptive, exploratory, qualitative and bibliographic study using the database of the BVS (BDENF, and LILACS) and the COC library (Fiocruz). After collecting data, pre-reading, selective reading, interpretative reading and textual analysis were carried out. The following categories emerged: The role of nurses in the control of endemic diseases, and the professional training of nurses and control of endemic diseases. Results: the role of nurses is to carry out educational and administrative activities, besides elaborating educational programs. When it comes to their training, the epidemic importance to be applied to practical experience should be emphasized. It is concluded that the nurse in charge of this area should provide techniques of prevention and promotion of health, aimed at a better quality of life for the community and that in professional training, the nurse should develop technical abilities and knowledge to control endemics.

Endemia refere-se à doença habitualmente presente entre os membros de um determinado grupo, em uma determinada área, presente em uma população definida. O problema de estudo foi reconhecer como o enfermeiro atua no controle das endemias? O objetivo é identificar a atuação do enfermeiro no controle de endemias e discutir a formação profissional do enfermeiro para atuar no controle das endemias. Estudo descritivo, exploratório, qualitativo e bibliográfico, realizado na base de dados da BVS (BDENF e, LILACS) e na biblioteca da COC (FIOCRUZ). Após a coleta dos dados realizou-se a pré-leitura, a leitura seletiva, a interpretativa e a análise textual. Emergiram as categorias: o papel do enfermeiro no controle das endemias, e a formação profissional do enfermeiro e o controle das endemias. Os resultados: o papel do enfermeiro é realizar ações educativas e administrativas, além de elaborar programas. Quanto sua formação esta deve enfatizar a importância da epidemiologia para ser aplicada à prática profissional. Conclui-se que o enfermeiro voltado para essa função deverá prover de técnicas de prevenção e promoção da saúde, visando uma melhor qualidade de vida para a comunidade e que na formação deste deverá desenvolver habilidades técnicas e conhecimento para controlar as endemias.

Endemia es la enfermedad habitualmente presente entre los miembros de un determinado grupo, en una determinada área, en una población definida. El problema del estudio fue reconocer cómo el enfermero actúa en el control de las endemias. El objetivo es identificar la actuación del enfermero en el control de endemias y discutir la formación profesional del enfermero para actuar en dicho control. Estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, cualitativo y bibliográfico, realizado en la base de datos de BVS (BDENF e, LILACS) y en la biblioteca de COC (FIOCRUZ). Tras la colecta de datos se realizó la pre-lectura, la lectura selectiva, la interpretativa y el análisis textual. Emergieron las categorías: el papel del enfermero en el control de las endemias, y la formación profesional del enfermero y el control de las endemias. Los resultados: el papel del enfermero es realizar acciones educativas y administrativas, además de elaborar programas. En cuanto a su formación esta debe enfatizar la importancia de la epidemiología para ser aplicada a la práctica profesional. Se concluye que el enfermero orientado a esa función deberá proveer de técnicas de prevención y promoción de la salud procurando una mejor calidad de vida para la comunidad y que en la formación de este deberá desarrollar habilidades técnicas y conocimiento para controlar las endemias.

The pharmacology of synthetic organoselenium compounds indicates that they can be used as antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors, neuroprotectors, anti-tumor and anti-infectious agents, and immunomodulators. In this review, we focus on the effects of diphenyl diselenide (DPDS) in various biological model organisms. DPDS possesses antioxidant activity, confirmed in several in vitro and in vivo systems, and thus has a protective effect against hepatic, renal and gastric injuries, in addition to its neuroprotective activity. The activity of the compound on the central nervous system has been studied since DPDS has lipophilic characteristics, increasing adenylyl cyclase activity and inhibiting glutamate and MK-801 binding to rat synaptic membranes. Systemic administration facilitates the formation of long-term object recognition memory in mice and has a protective effect against brain ischemia and on reserpine-induced orofacial dyskinesia in rats. On the other hand, DPDS may be toxic, mainly because of its interaction with thiol groups. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the molecule acts as a pro-oxidant by depleting free glutathione. Administration to mice during cadmium intoxication has the opposite effect, reducing oxidative stress in various tissues. DPDS is a potent inhibitor of d-aminolevulinate dehydratase and chronic exposure to high doses of this compound has central effects on mouse brain, as well as liver and renal toxicity. Genotoxicity of this compound has been assessed in bacteria, haploid and diploid yeast and in a tumor cell line.