ALFESIO LUIS FERREIRA BRAGA
Projetos de Pesquisa
Unidades Organizacionais
LIM/05 - Laboratório de Poluição Atmosférica Experimental, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina
17 resultados
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Agora exibindo 1 - 10 de 17
- O ozônio diminui a qualidade do sêmen em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico(2016) FARHAT, Juliana; FARHAT, Sylvia Costa Lima; BRAGA, Alfesio Luis Ferreira; COCUZZA, Marcello; BORBA, Eduardo Ferreira; BONFA, Eloisa; SILVA, Clovis ArturObjective: To investigate the deleterious effects of air pollutants exposure in the Sao Paulo metropolitan region on semen quality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: A seven-years longitudinal repeated-measures panel study was performed at the Laboratory of Experimental Air Pollution and Rheumatology Division. Two semen samples from 28 post-pubertal SLE patients were analyzed. Daily concentrations of air pollutants exposure: PM10, SO2, NO2, ozone, CO, and meteorological variables were evaluated on 90 days before each semen collection dates using generalized estimating equation models. Results: Intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCYC) and ozone had an association with a decrease in sperm quality of SLE patients. IVCYC was associated with decreases of 64.3 million of spermatozoa/mL (95% CI 39.01-89.65; p = 0.0001) and 149.14 million of spermatozoa/ejaculate (95% CI 81.93-216.38; p = 0.017). With regard to ozone, the most relevant adverse effects were observed from lags 80-88, when the exposure to an interquartile range increase in ozone 9-day moving average concentration led to decreases of 22.9 million of spermatozoa/mL (95% CI 5.8-40.0; p = 0.009) and 70.5 million of spermatozoa/ejaculate (95% CI 12.3-128.7; p = 0.016). Further analysis of 17 patients that never used IVCYC showed association between exposure to ozone (80-88 days) and decrease of 30.0 million of spermatozoa/mL (95% CI 7.0-53.0; p = 0.011) and 79.0 million of spermatozoa/ejaculate (95% CI 2.1-155.9; p = 0.044). Conclusion: Ozone and IVCYC had a consistent adverse effect on semen quality of SLE patients during spermatogenesis. Minimizing exposure to air pollution should be taken into account, especially for patients with chronic systemic inflammatory diseases living in large cities.
- Air pollution and low birth weight in an industrialized city in Southeastern Brazil, 2003-2006(2017) REIS, Marcelo Moreno dos; GUIMARÃES, Mariana Tavares; BRAGA, Alfésio Luís Ferreira; MARTINS, Lourdes Conceição; PEREIRA, Luiz Alberto AmadorABSTRACT: Introduction: Birth weight is an important indicator of several conditions that manifest earlier (as fetal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, inhibited growth and cognitive development) and later in life such as chronic diseases. Air pollution has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objective: Retrospective cohort study investigated the association between low birth weight (LBW) and maternal exposure to air pollutants in Volta Redonda city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 2003 to 2006. Methods: Birth data was obtained from Brazilian Information System. Exposure information (O3, PM10, temperature and humidity) was provided by Governmental Air Quality Monitoring System. Linear and Logistic models, adjusted for sex, type of pregnancy, prenatal care, place of birth, maternal age, parity, education, congenital anomalies and weather variables were employed. Results: Low birth weight (LBW) represented 9.1% of all newborns (13,660). For an interquartile range increase in PM10 it was found OR2 ndTrimester = 1.06 (95%CI 1.02 - 1.10), OR3 rdTrimester = 1.06 (95%CI 1.02 - 1.10) and, in O3 it was found OR2 ndTrimester = 1.03 (95%CI 1.01 - 1.04), OR3 rdTrimester = 1.03 (95%CI 1.02 - 1.04). The dose-response relationship and a reduction in birth weight of 31.11 g (95%CI -56.64 - -5.58) was observed in the third trimester of pregnancy due to an interquartile increase of O3. Conclusion: This study suggests that exposures to PM10 and O3, even being below the Brazilian air quality standards, contribute to risks of low birth weight.
- Occupational effect of sugarcane biomass burning on the conjunctival mucin profile of harvest workers and residents of an adjacent town - A Brazilian panel study(2020) MATSUDA, Monique; BRAGA, Alfesio L. F.; MARQUEZINI, Monica Valeria; MONTEIRO, Mario L. R.; SALDIVA, Paulo H. N.; SANTOS, Ubiratan dePre-harvest burning of sugarcane fields produces large amounts of air pollutants which are known to cause health problems, including ocular surface abnormalities. In this study, we evaluated the effect of biomass burning on mucus quality and mucin gene expression (MUC1, MUC5AC, MUC16) in the conjunctiva of sugarcane workers (SWs) and residents of an adjacent town (RTs). Impression cytology samples of the inferior tarsal and bulbar conjunctiva of 78 SWs and 32 RTs were collected before (T1) and immediately after (T2) a 6-month harvest period. The neutral, acid and total mucus content of goblet cells was determined by PAS and AB staining. The levels of MUC5AC, MUC1 and MUC16 mRNA in the conjunctiva were measured by real-time PCR. Compared to RTs, SWs had higher levels of bulbar acid mucus and MUC16 mRNA and tarsal MUC5AC mRNA at T2 and lower levels of neutral mucus at T1 and T2. In the SW group, MUC1 mRNA levels were higher at T2 than at T1, but the levels of neutral and acid mucus were similar. In the RT group, acid mucus decreased and neutral mucus increased in the bulbar and tarsal conjunctiva at T2. In conclusion, our findings show that sugarcane harvesting is associated with abnormalities in mucus quality and content and changes in mucin mRNA levels on the ocular surface. This may help explain the ocular inflammatory signs and symptoms observed in subjects exposed to air pollutants and high temperatures from sugarcane biomass burning.
- Ambient levels of air pollution induce clinical worsening of blepharitis(2012) MALERBI, Fernando Korn; MARTINS, Lourdes Conceicao; SALDIVA, Paulo Hilario Nascimento; BRAGA, Alfesio Luis FerreiraBackground: Even though air pollutants exposure is associated with changes in the ocular surface and tear film, its relationship to the clinical course of blepharitis, a common eyelid disease, had not yet been investigated. Our objective was to investigate the correlation between air pollution and acute manifestations of blepharitis. Method: We recorded all cases of changes in the eyelids and ocular surface, and rated clinical findings on a scale from zero (normal) to two (severe alterations). Daily values of carbon monoxide, particulate matter smaller than 10 mu m in diameter and nitrogen dioxide concentrations and meteorological variables (temperature and relative humidity) in the vicinity of the medical service were obtained. Specific linear regression models for each outcome were constructed including pollutants as independent variables (single pollutant models). Temperature and humidity were included as confounding variables. Results: increases of 28.8 mu g/m(3) in the concentration of particulate matter and 1.1 ppm in the concentration of CO were associated with increases in cases of blepharitis on the day of exposure (5 cases, 95% CI: 1-10 and 6 cases, 95% CI: 1-12, respectively). Conclusion: Exposure to usual air pollutants concentrations present in large cities affects, in a consistent manner, the eyes of residents contributing to the increasing incidence of diseases of the eyelid margin.
- Effects of ambient levels of traffic-derived air pollution on the ocular surface: Analysis of symptoms, conjunctival goblet cell count and mucin 5AC gene expression(2014) TORRICELLI, Andre Augusto Miranda; MATSUDA, Monique; NOVAES, Priscila; BRAGA, Alfesio Luiz Ferreira; SALDIVA, Paulo Hilario Nascimento; ALVES, Milton Ruiz; MONTEIRO, Mario Luiz RibeiroPurpose: To quantify ocular symptoms, goblet cells (GC) and mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) gene expression on the conjunctiva of healthy subjects exposed to ambient levels of traffic-derived air pollution and to estimate its correlation with NO2 and particulate matter smaller than 2.5 mu m (PM2.5) levels. Methods: Twenty-one taxi drivers or traffic controllers were assessed with the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire and conjunctival impression cytology. MUC5AC mRNA levels were determined based on the cytology of the right eye, and GC density was assessed based on the cytology of the left eye. Mean individual levels of 24-h NO2 and PM2.5 exposure were assessed the day before examination. Possible associations between NO2 or PM2.5 levels, OSDI scores, GC densities and MUC5AC mRNA levels were verified. Results: The subjects were exposed to mean PM2.5 levels of 35 +/- 12 mu g/m(3) and mean NO2 levels of 189 +/- 47 mu g/m(3). OSDI scores were low (7.4 +/- 8) and GC densities were 521 +/- 257 and 782 +/- 322 cell/mm(2) on the bulbar and tarsal conjunctivas, respectively. The mean GC-derived MUC5AC mRNA expression was 14 +/- 7 fM/mu g of total RNA. A significant and positive correlation was observed between MUC5AC mRNA levels and tarsal GC density (p=0.018). A trend toward association between PM2.5 levels and tarsal GC cell density (p=0.052) was found. Conclusion: Exposure to ambient levels of air pollution impacts conjunctival GC density. An increase in MUC5AC mRNA levels may be part of an adaptive ocular surface response to long-term exposure to air pollution.
- Influence of air pollution on renal activity in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus(2020) GOULART, Maria Fernanda Giacomin; ALVES, Andressa Guariento Ferreira; FARHAT, Juliana; BRAGA, Alfesio Luis Ferreira; PEREIRA, Luiz Alberto Amador; LICHTENFELS, Ana Julia de Faria Coimbra; CAMPOS, Lucia Maria de Arruda; SILVA, Clovis Artur Almeida da; ELIAS, Adriana Maluf; FARHAT, Sylvia Costa LimaBackground Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is an autoimmune and multifactorial disease that can affect the renal system. Exposure to air pollution can trigger systemic inflammation in cSLE patients and increase risk of disease activity. We evaluated effects of individual real-time exposure to air pollutants on renal activity in cSLE patients using the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000. Methods Longitudinal panel study of 108 repetitive measures from 9 pediatric lupus patients. Over three consecutive weeks, daily individual levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured, as well as weekly clinical evaluation and laboratory tests. This was repeated every 10 weeks over a 1-year period. Specific generalized estimating equation models were used to evaluate the impact of these pollutants on risk of nephritis and anti-dsDNA > 20 UI/mL and on 24-h urine protein and serum complement (C3) levels. Results An interquartile range (IQR) increase of 18.12 mu g/m(3) in PM2.5 daily concentration was associated with increased risk of nephritis and positive results for anti-dsDNA. Moreover, increase in 24-h urine protein and decrease in C3 serum levels also associated with exposure to pollutants. An IQR increase in PM(2.5)7-day moving average was associated with increased risks of leukocyturia (3.4; 95% CI 2.6:4.3), positive anti-dsDNA (3.1; 95% CI 2.1:4.0), and 36.3-mg increase (95% IC 20.2:52.3) in 24-h urine protein. An IQR increase (63.1 mu g/m(3)) in 7-day cumulative NO2 levels was associated with decreased serum C3 levels. Conclusions This prospective study suggests exposure to air pollution can trigger renal activity in cSLE patients.
- Environmental air pollution: respiratory effects(2021) SANTOS, Ubiratan de Paula; ARBEX, Marcos Abdo; BRAGA, Alfesio Luis Ferreira; MIZUTANI, Rafael Futoshi; CANCADO, Jose Eduardo Delfini; TERRA-FILHO, Mario; CHATKIN, Jose MiguelEnvironmental air pollution is a major risk factor for morbidity and mortality worldwide. Environmental air pollution has a direct impact on human health, being responsible for an increase in the incidence of and number of deaths due to cardiopulmonary, neoplastic, and metabolic diseases; it also contributes to global warming and the consequent climate change associated with extreme events and environmental imbalances. In this review, we present articles that show the impact that exposure to different sources and types of air pollutants has on the respiratory system; we present the acute effects-such as increases in symptoms and in the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths-and the chronic effects-such as increases in the incidence of asthma, COPD, and lung cancer, as well as a rapid decline in lung function. The effects of air pollution in more susceptible populations and the effects associated with physical exercise in polluted environments are also presented and discussed. Finally, we present the major studies on the subject conducted in Brazil. Health care and disease prevention services should be aware of this important risk factor in order to counsel more susceptible individuals about protective measures that can facilitate their treatment, as well as promoting the adoption of environmental measures that contribute to the reduction of such emissions.
- Air pollution in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A review(2011) FARHAT, Sylvia C. L.; SILVA, Clovis A.; ORIONE, Maria Angelica M.; CAMPOS, Lucia M. A.; SALLUM, Adriana M. E.; BRAGA, Alfesio L. F.Air pollution consists of a heterogeneous mixture of gasses and particles that include carbon monoxide, nitrates, sulfur dioxide, ozone, lead, toxic by-product of tobacco smoke and particulate matter. Oxidative stress and inflammation induced by inhaled pollutants may result in acute and chronic disorders in the respiratory system, as well as contribute to a state of systemic inflammation and autoimmunity. This paper reviews the mechanisms of air contaminants influencing the immune response and autoimmunity, and it focuses on studies of inhaled pollutants triggering and/or exacerbating rheumatic diseases in cities around the world. Remarkably, environmental factors contribute to the onset of autoimmune diseases, especially smoking and occupational exposure to silica in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. Other diseases such as scleroderma may be triggered by the inhalation of chemical solvents, herbicides and silica. Likewise, primary vasculitis associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) may be triggered by silica exposure. Only few studies showed that air pollutants could trigger or exacerbate juvenile idiopathic arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In contrast, no studies of tropospheric pollution triggering inflammatory myopathies and spondyloarthropathies were carried out. In conclusion, air pollution is one of the environmental factors involved in systemic inflammation and autoimmunity. Further studies are needed in order to evaluate air pollutants and their potentially serious effects on autoimmune rheumatic diseases and the mechanisms involved in the onset and the exacerbation of these diseases.
- The association between air pollution and blood pressure in traffic controllers in Santo Andre, Sao Paulo, Brazil(2011) CHIARELLI, Paulo Sergio; PEREIRA, Luiz Alberto Amador; SALDIVA, Paulo Hilario do Nascimento; FERREIRA FILHO, Celso; GARCIA, Maria Lucia Bueno; BRAGA, Alfesio Luis Ferreira; MARTINS, Lourdes ConceicaoBackground: Urban air pollutants are associated with cardiovascular events. Traffic controllers are at high risk for pollution exposure during outdoor work shifts. Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between air pollution and systemic blood pressure in traffic controllers during their work shifts. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled 19 male traffic controllers from Santo Andre city (Sao Paulo, Brazil) who were 30-60 years old and exposed to ambient air during outdoor work shifts. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings were measured every 15 min by an Ambulatory Arterial Blood Pressure Monitoring device. Hourly measurements (lags of 0-5 h) and the moving averages (2-5 h) of particulate matter (PM(10)), ozone (O(3)) ambient concentrations and the acquired daily minimum temperature and humidity means from the Sao Paulo State Environmental Agency were correlated with both systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Statistical methods included descriptive analysis and linear mixed effect models adjusted for temperature, humidity, work periods and time of day. Results: Interquartile increases of PM(10) (33 mu g/m(3)) and O(3) (49 mu g/m(3)) levels were associated with increases in all arterial pressure parameters, ranging from 1.06 to 2.53 mmHg. PM(10) concentration was associated with early effects (lag 0), mainly on systolic blood pressure. However, O(3) was weakly associated most consistently with diastolic blood pressure and with late cumulative effects. Conclusions: Santo Andre traffic controllers presented higher blood pressure readings while working their outdoor shifts during periods of exposure to ambient pollutant fluctuations. However, PM(10) and O(3) induced cardiovascular effects demonstrated different time courses and end-point behaviors and probably acted through different mechanisms.
- Evaluation of peak expiratory flow in adolescents and its association with inhalable particulate in a Brazilian medium-sized city(2018) MISSAGIA, Suelem; AMARAL, Camila Alves Silva do; JESUS, Alessandra Santos de; ARBEX, Marcos Abdo; SANTOS, Ubiratan de Paula; ANDRÉ, Carmem Diva Saldiva de; ANDRÉ, Paulo Afonso de; SALDIVA, Paulo Hilário do Nascimento; MARTINS, Lourdes Conceição; BRAGA, Alfésio Luís Ferreira; PEREIRA, Luiz Alberto AmadorABSTRACT: Introduction: High particulate matter (PM10) concentrations are associated with increased incidence of respiratory symptoms and decreased lung function. This study evaluates the air pollution effects in children’s and adolescents’ lung function using peak expiratory flow (PEF) measurements over a given period, in an area exposed to industrial emissions. Methodology: This was a panel study. The effects of air pollution on respiratory symptoms and PEF were investigated in 117 children and adolescents from three public schools in areas of exposure to air pollution from a mining company in a Brazilian medium-sized city, from 2008 to 2009. The average daily PM10, temperature and humidity were recorded by the monitoring network in the region. Association between daily records of PEF and PM10 was assessed in mixed-effect regression models, controlling for temperature, humidity, and body mass index. Results: About 60,000 PEF measurements were performed. Increases of 14µg/m3 in PM10 were associated with decreased PEF in the morning (-1.04%, 95%CI -1.32; -0.77) and evening (-1.2%, 95%CI -1.49, -0.92). Discussion: We found a significant negative association between particulate matter and peak expiratory flow rate in this population, and these remained significant even after adjusted for temperature, humidity, body mass index, coughing, wheezing and coryza. Conclusion: Adverse effects were found and it suggests an association between increase in PM10 and reduced lung function.