Background:  Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is effective and safe in the treatment of allergic rhinitis. However, there is no meta‐analysis in asthma treatment. Methods:  The clinical efficacy of SLIT for asthma was evaluated through a systematic review with meta‐analysis. MEDLINE (1966–2005), EMBASE (1974–2005), LILACS (1982–2005), and the Cochrane Library were searched for related literature in any language. Randomized‐controlled clinical trials (RCT) on SLIT in asthma treatment for adults and children were selected. From 119 citations, 25 studies with 1706 patients were included in this meta‐analysis. For each report, quality scores were assigned and data were extracted in relation to the outcomes analyzed: asthmatic symptoms, use of asthma medications, lung function, and bronchial provocation. Results:  According to the Jadad quality method, 64% of the studies were assigned scores of 4 or 5. Immunotherapy was seen to significantly reduce asthma severity when parameter compositions were all analyzed by categorical outcomes. There was a nonsignificant reduction in asthma symptoms when analyzed using standardized mean differences. No severe reactions were observed. Conclusions:  This meta‐analysis found that SLIT is beneficial for asthma treatment albeit the magnitude of the effect is not very large. Moreover, it is a safe alternative to the subcutaneous route. More RCT with standardization of symptom scores and medications are needed in order to contribute further to this subject.

A significant favorable association was found between these patients and HLA B*50, and between the presence of anti-TPO and ANA. The greater prevalence of HLA B*50 in these patients and the association between ANA and anti-TPO reinforce the possibility that an immunogenic mechanism may be the triggering factor for CSU.

The findings observed in this study corroborate previous findings in similar studies, thus demonstrating that the prevalence of risk factors for CVDs among patients with psoriasis is greater than in the general population, but that a large proportion of such patients do not undergo treatment for this. We did not find any possible association between the inflammatory process and the genesis of risk factors for CVDs, although the magnitude of this evidence is not strong. These findings serve to alert dermatologists to remain attentive to these factors, among patients with psoriasis.

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AIMS: To analyze the level of knowledge and the life overload of caregivers of elderly people with dementia, correlating these variables with sociodemographic aspects and type of relationship between caregiver and elderly.METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2016 and 2017, with caregivers of elderly people with dementia seen at the Geriatrics outpatient clinic of the Hospital das Clínicas, Medical School of Marília, in Marília / SP, Brazil. The study included caregivers who accompanied the elderly to the consultations and participated in an important way in their care, comprising family caregivers and contractors without kinship ties. The data were collected through two instruments: the first was the Caregiven Burden Scale questionnaire, which evaluates the subjective impact of overload on the caregiver, and whose overall score can vary from 01 (lower overload) to 04 (higher overload). The second was a questionnaire prepared by the authors, which evaluated the caregiver's usual knowledge about the practice of care, whose scores ranged from zero (no correct answers) to 08 (all correct answers). The distribution curve of the variables was analyzed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the correlations were analyzed by the Spearman test and the comparison of the means used the Analysis of Variance. The results were considered statistically significant when p<0.05.RESULTS: Fifty-two caregivers were included in the study, with a mean age of 55.9±14.4 years, of which 85% were female. Forty-four (84.6%) caregivers had some degree of kinship with the elderly. Regarding knowledge about the practice of care, the mean number of correct answers was 5.5±1.8. There was a positive correlation with statistical significance between the caregiver's level of education and the practical knowledge about care. In the assessment of the caregivers overload, the overall mean was 1.83±0.16. The dimension with the highest mean (2.06±0.37) was the general tension, which refers to the difficulties of solving problems when caring for the elderly. Regarding the type of relationship between caregiver and elderly, the highest overload (2.48±0.53) was identified in the wives.CONCLUSIONS: The higher level of education of the caregiver was associated with better quality of care. The greatest caregiver life overload was identified in wives.

BACKGROUND: An association between class I and II alleles of the major histocompatibility complex and idiopathic chronic urticaria has previously been observed in different populations, but there are still no studies on Brazilian populations in this regard. OBJECTIVE: The involvement of the major histocompatibility complex classes I and II (loci A, B and DR) in Brazilian patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and a positive autologous serum skin test was investigated and compared with a healthy population group. METHODS: DNA was extracted from the blood of 42 patients with idiopathic chronic urticaria and major histocompatibility complex classes I and II alleles were determined using the polymerase chain reaction and a laboratory test for oligonucleotide hybridization using a single-filament probe. The frequencies of these alleles in patients with chronic urticaria were compared with the frequencies in 1000 genetically unrelated voluntary blood donors from the same region of Brazil. The diagnosis of idiopathic chronic urticaria was based on the patients' clinical history and routine laboratory tests. Only the patients with positive autologous serum skin test were selected. The allele distribution resulted from the patient and control groups were analyzed using odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found between the positive autologous serum skin test patients with chronic urticaria and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We found that in this population group, there was no specific association between the HLA alleles studied and chronic urticaria. We believe that further population studies are needed in order to investigate the possible existence of this association. Keywords: Genes, MHC class I; Genes, MHC class II; HLA antigens; Skin tests; Urticaria Resumo: FUNDAMENTOS: A associação entre os alelos do MHC classe I e II e a urticária crônica idiopática tem sido previamente constatada em diferentes populações, sendo que na população brasileira ainda não existem estudos a este respeito. OBJETIVOS: Foi estudado o envolvimento do MHC classe I e II (locci A, B e DR) em pacientes brasileiros com urticária crônica idiopá-tica e teste cutâneo do soro autólogo positivo, comparando-se com um grupo populacional saudável. MÉTODOS: O DNA foi extraído do sangue de 42 pacientes com urticária crônica idiopática e o MHC classe I e II determinado por reação em cadeia da polimerase e teste laboratorial de hibridização de oligonucleotídeo com sonda de filamento único. A freqüência destes alelos em pacientes com urticária crônica idiopática foi comparada com a de 1000 doadores de sangue voluntários e geneticamente não relacionados, da mesma região do Brasil. O diagnóstico de urticária crônica idiopática foi baseado na história clínica do paciente e exames laboratoriais de rotina; foram selecionados apenas os pacientes com teste cutâneo do soro autólogo positivo. O resultado da distribuição alélica entre o grupo de pacientes e o grupo controle foi analisado atravé...

ARTIGO ORIGINALRESUMO ABSTRACT | Context:The work of the Military Police is exhausting because they experience dangerous situations in performing their duties. Their working conditions cause damage and contribute to functional aging and absenteeism. Objectives: To identify the causes of absenteeism in military police duties and to understand the working conditions related to functional aging. Methods: This is a quantitative-qualitative, retrospective and transversal study. The research subjects were the Military Policemen of a Battalion in São Paulo's countryside, the Fire Combat Team, the Environmental Police and Road Police seen at the Integrated Health Unit (IHU). Data was collected from medical records (n=285) from the year 2012. A semi-structured interview was used to understand the perception of the police force about their working conditions and relating them to functional aging. Results: There was a predominance of absenteeism caused by orthopedic trauma and problems. As regards to the interviews, complaints related to the stress of the job were found to be a major factor for functional aging. Conclusion: This research made it possible to verify the absenteeism and working conditions of the Military Police seen at IHU. Knowing these factors is relevant to proposing health policies. The search for related literature has shown a lack of studies in this area.

Adverse drug reactions when occurring unexpectedly, within recommended dosages and routes, are called hypersensitivity reactions. They may be due to immunological or non-immunological mechanisms. When immune mechanisms are involved they are called allergic reactions. The drug hypersensitivity reactions are historically grouped according to the well-established classification of Gell and Coombs; however, more recent studies have been able to incorporate new knowledge into the already existing traditional model, enabling a better understanding of these reactions. The review of the various pathophysiological mechanisms involved in the drug hypersensitivity response is fundamental for an adequate diagnostic investigation and clinical driving in these cases. This article will allow the reader to review, in a succinct and updated way, this subject, which is of great relevance in the health field.