Avalia-se o uso das unidades básicas e de urgências do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) de Belo Horizonte (BH). Objetivos: identificar o principal problema de saúde que o cidadão leva à Unidade de Pronto-atendimento (UPA) e à Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS), considerando as especificidades dos níveis de atenção; caracterizar os principais procedimentos de atenção básica e de média complexidade utilizados nesses serviços, comparativamente. Pesquisa do tipo survey, com aplicação direta de questionário fechado a 997 entrevistados, distribuídos em 10 UBSs e 7 UPAs. A demanda que chega aos serviços investigados é por consultas médicas e por procedimentos de enfermagem, motivada por afecções leves, passíveis de atendimento na atenção básica. Os usuários vão à UBS por ser um serviço próximo da residência, de rápido atendimento e de fácil deslocamento, caracterizando boa oferta e capilaridade da Saúde da Família. Verificou-se duplicidade na utilização dos serviços, o que contribui para outras investigações.

The use of the Primary Care and Emergency Units of Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - Brazilian National Health System) was evaluated in the city of Belo Horizonte (Southeastern Brazil). Objectives: to identify the main health problem that the citizen takes to the Emergency Unit and to the Primary Care Unit, considering the specificities of the health care levels; to characterize the main primary level and second level procedures that are used in these services, comparatively. This is a survey in which a closed questionnaire was administered to 997 interviewees from 10 Primary Care Units and 7 Emergency Units. The demand that arrives at the investigated services is for medical consultations and nursing procedures, motivated by minor affections which can be assisted in the Primary Care Unit. Users go to the Primary Care Unit because it is a service that is close to their homes and provides quick assistance, characterizing good offer and capillarity of the Family Health Program. Duplicity in services utilization was verified, which contributes to further investigations.

Avalia-se o uso das unidades básicas e de urgências do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) de Belo Horizonte (BH). Objetivos: identificar o principal problema de saúde que o cidadão leva à Unidade de Pronto-atendimento (UPA) e à Unidade Básica de Saúde (UBS), considerando as especificidades dos níveis de atenção; caracterizar os principais procedimentos de atenção básica e de média complexidade utilizados nesses serviços, comparativamente. Pesquisa do tipo survey, com aplicação direta de questionário fechado a 997 entrevistados, distribuídos em 10 UBSs e 7 UPAs. A demanda que chega aos serviços investigados é por consultas médicas e por procedimentos de enfermagem, motivada por afecções leves, passíveis de atendimento na atenção básica. Os usuários vão à UBS por ser um serviço próximo da residência, de rápido atendimento e de fácil deslocamento, caracterizando boa oferta e capilaridade da Saúde da Família. Verificou-se duplicidade na utilização dos serviços, o que contribui para outras investigações.

The use of the Primary Care and Emergency Units of Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS - Brazilian National Health System) was evaluated in the city of Belo Horizonte (Southeastern Brazil). Objectives: to identify the main health problem that the citizen takes to the Emergency Unit and to the Primary Care Unit, considering the specificities of the health care levels; to characterize the main primary level and second level procedures that are used in these services, comparatively. This is a survey in which a closed questionnaire was administered to 997 interviewees from 10 Primary Care Units and 7 Emergency Units. The demand that arrives at the investigated services is for medical consultations and nursing procedures, motivated by minor affections which can be assisted in the Primary Care Unit. Users go to the Primary Care Unit because it is a service that is close to their homes and provides quick assistance, characterizing good offer and capillarity of the Family Health Program. Duplicity in services utilization was verified, which contributes to further investigations.

A peptide (SmB2LJ; r175-194) that belongs to a conserved domain from Schistosoma mansoni SmATPDase 2 and is shared with potato apyrase, as predicted by in silico analysis as antigenic, was synthesised and its immunostimulatory property was analysed. When inoculated in BALB/c mice, this peptide induced high levels of SmB2LJ-specific IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes, as detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, dot blots were found to be positive for immune sera against potato apyrase and SmB2LJ. These results suggest that the conserved domain r175-194 from the S. mansoni SmATPDase 2 is antigenic. Western blots were performed and the anti-SmB2LJ antibody recognised in adult worm (soluble worm antigen preparation) or soluble egg antigen antigenic preparations two bands of approximately 63 and 55 kDa, molecular masses similar to those predicted for adult worm SmATPDase 2. This finding strongly suggests the expression of this same isoform in S. mansoni eggs. To assess localisation of SmATPDase 2, confocal fluorescence microscopy was performed using cryostat sections of infected mouse liver and polyclonal antiserum against SmB2LJ. Positive reactions were identified on the external surface from the miracidium in von Lichtenberg's envelope and, in the outer side of the egg-shell, showing that this soluble isoform is secreted from the S. mansoni eggs.

In this paper, we showed for the first time that the conserved domains within Schistosoma mansoni ATP diphosphohydrolase isoforms, shared with potato apyrase, possess epitopes for the IgG1 and IgG4 subtypes, as 24 (80%) of the 30 schistosomiasis patients were seropositive for this vegetable protein. The analyses for each patient cured (n = 14) after treatment (AT) with praziquantel revealed variable IgG1 and IgG4 reactivity against potato apyrase. Different antigenic epitopes shared between the vegetable and parasite proteins could be involved in susceptibility or resistance to S. mansoni AT with praziquantel and these possibilities should be explored.