Research on tuberculosis: 75 years of IBIT contributions

Abstract

In 1937, the foundation year of the Brazilian Institute for Tuberculosis Research, three questions persisted in the researchers' mind: "What is the real value of BCG? How to solve the problem of the chest register of large communities? When will we have a specific drug for the treatment of tuberculosis?" Along with this line of thought, the author presents a list of the Institute's main contributions, by pointing out the following topics: different diagnoses between pulmonary tuberculosis and pulmonary schistosomiasis; innocuity of iodine salts in pulmonary tuberculosis; relative value of Weltmann and Takata-Ara's reactions, and of blood and lipase rates in bacillosis; the value of the bacteriologic diagnosis (method of precipitation, standardization of drug sensitivity tests; identification of non-pathogenetic germs not only in the sputum but also in gastric Broncho-Alveolar Lavage, playing an important role in the infection tropics; probable protective role of BCG in tuberculin positive individuals; increase in awareness of the value of tuberculin; comparative studies of several types of tuberculin; clinical and epidemiological importance of nontoxic drugs; tuberculin surveys in Salvador and Feira de Santana cities; proposed classification of clinical forms of pulmonary tuberculosis; increase in the value of selective miniature chest radiography; standardization of radiological shadows; and tests on the therapeutic value of the drugs. To SILVEIRA, IBIT'S contribution can be summarized in eight points: importance of bacteriology in the diagnosis and therapeutic procedures; increase in the value of tuberculin tests; selective miniature chest radiography; possibility of replacing the hospital by an ambulatory care center; BCG vaccination; wide and general indispensability of a well-done and well-balanced therapeutic scheme; simplified treatment; progressive shortening of the treatment program; no over optimism about the first victories in the bacilli therapy.

Responsibilities of Regency/Municipal Governments in Managing Basic Education Affairs

“…Meanwhile, in the context of the regional government system, the word government contains two meanings at once, namely (1) as the subject of government administration, and also (2) as the process of administering government. 13 Juridically what is meant by regional government is the regional head as an element of regional government organizers who leads the implementation of government affairs which are the authority of the autonomous region. The head of the province is called the governor, the head of the district/city is called the regent/mayor.…”