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By examining barriers to care, health professionals can better understand what disparities exist between groups and who may be at greater risk for poor primary care. Researchers have highlighted the need for additional research that focuses on the extent of unmet needs for U.S. children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the differences between parents who are in a SCD support group and those who are not. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the chronic care model and social support theory. A total of 128 parents of children with SCD completed the study survey. The sampling occurred by e-mail, phone, and face-to-face conversations. Selection criteria for potential participants in both groups were based on their children being diagnosed with SCD. Seventy-four participants (57.8%) were members of a SCD support group, and 54 participants (42.4%) were not members of a SCD support group. In this study, the independent variables were parents attending or not a SCD support group. The t test and MANCOVA was used to assessed the association between perceptions of barriers to care and support group status. However, statistical analysis showed no significant results. The null hypothesis was not rejected. Therefore, the positive social change implication is to further explore potential factors that may shape perceptions of barriers to care for those with SCD so that perceived barriers to care can be overcome.

By examining barriers to care, health professionals can better understand what disparities exist between groups and who may be at greater risk for poor primary care. Researchers have highlighted the need for additional research that focuses on the extent of unmet needs for U.S. children with sickle cell disease (SCD). The purpose of this quantitative study was to compare the differences between parents who are in a SCD support group and those who are not. The theoretical framework of this study is based on the chronic care model and social support theory. A total of 128 parents of children with SCD completed the study survey. The sampling occurred by e-mail, phone, and face-to-face conversations. Selection criteria for potential participants in both groups were based on their children being diagnosed with SCD. Seventy-four participants (57.8%) were members of a SCD support group, and 54 participants (42.4%) were not members of a SCD support group. In this study, the independent variables were parents attending or not a SCD support group. The t test and MANCOVA was used to assessed the association between perceptions of barriers to care and support group status. However, statistical analysis showed no significant results. The null hypothesis was not rejected. Therefore, the positive social change implication is to further explore potential factors that may shape perceptions of barriers to care for those with SCD so that perceived barriers to care can be overcome.

The major physiological function of hemoglobin (Hb) is to bind, transport and deliver oxygen to tissues; made efficient by endogenous effectors, such as protons and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate. Synthetic allosteric effectors of Hb (AEHs) are also known to modulate Hb oxygen affinity, showing potential for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD) and ischemic-related diseases. In this project, AEHs which increase Hb affinity for oxygen, including derivatives of the anti-sickling compounds, 5HMF and benzaldehydes, as well as an AEH that decreases Hb affinity for oxygen, RSR-13, were synthesized for their effects on Hb oxygen binding property and their capability to release NO from substituted nitrate ester moieties. Compounds that were found to increase Hb affinity for oxygen were further tested for their anti-sickling activities. Structural studies were carried out to gain insight into the compound’s mode of action. Development of these agents could be a therapeutic strategy for SCD or ischemic-related diseases.

The rapid growth in opioid therapy for non-cancer pain has occurred without an adequate appreciation of the consequences of this growth. Few studies provide patient-centered evidence that can be used to inform the current proposed standards for efficacious (safe and effective) opioid prescribing in non-cancer pain. Furthermore, different terms may be used interchangeably in the literature to refer to opioid-taking behaviors, resulting in imprecise or vague interpretation of existing evidence. We therefore sought to explore patterns of opioid-taking behavior and their biopsychosocial-spiritual determinants in African-American adults with sickle cell disease (SCD). Many questions surround opioid use for non-cancer pain, but little has been published about behavioral patterns of taking opioids in these conditions. The main objective of this study was to develop a disease-specific scale for describing prescribed opioid taking in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). As part of a multiphase, mixed-methods study, we used an adaptation of several published methods to construct 9 sequential, chronological steps for developing a new scale. We report here wide-ranging quantitative and semi-structured, qualitative interviews of 13 male and 11 female African-American adults with SCD, average age 36 years, from various socioeconomic and educational levels. We used grounded theory, priori and posteriori procedures to analyze the qualitative data, and to conduct an appraisal of translational validity. Scale development results have led to inclusion in the draft scale of new concepts namely momentary medication-taking behavior. The scale also captures concrete patterns of adherence for as-needed and scheduled medication and allows for several discovered conceptual domains that explain observed opioid-taking behaviors. These concepts challenge the current theories and models of medication-taking behavior and adherence. In summary, we found that contextual factors may drastically affect opioid-taking behaviors. Together, These uncovered phenomena raise new hypotheses that may challenge current theories and models of medication-taking behaviors and methods of assessing adherence. These hypotheses call for a new round of research on opioid-taking behavior, and need to be rigorously tested in future research

A doença falciforme constitui um grupo de hemoglobinopatias hereditárias caracterizadas por uma mutação de ponto na cadeia da globina ?, que resulta em uma hemoglobina anormal denominada HbS. Apesar de sua importância para a saúde pública mundial e seu grande impacto social, a doença falciforme ainda apresenta muitas questões fisiopatológicas não esclarecidas e desafios terapêuticos. Paralelamente, existe a necessidade da descoberta de novos biomarcadores fisiopatológicos da doença falciforme e de biomarcadores de resposta terapêutica. O objetivo desse trabalho foi quantificar, em amostras de soro de indivíduos sadios (N=19) e de pacientes com doença falciforme sem tratamento (N=14) ou tratados com hidroxiuréia (N=15), transfusão crônica (N=15) ou transplante alogênico de células-tronco hematopoéticas (N=21), biomarcadores de ativação endotelial (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectina, P-selectina, HGF, FGF, VEGF-A, endothelina-1, CXCL4/PF4, TGF-? e óxido nítrico), biomarcadores de ativação plaquetária (von Willebrand e trombomodulina), biomarcadores de inflamação (IL-1?, pentraxina-3, IL-18, IL-6, IL-8, IL-2, IL-17A, TNF-?, INF-?, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL4/MIP-1?, IL-12p70, IL-33, IL-27, GM-CSF, CD163, osteopontina, BAFF, APRIL e heme) e biomarcadores relacionados à imunomodulação (arginase-1 e IL-10). De acordo com os resultados obtidos e as análises de correlação, os pacientes com doença falciforme sem tratamento, tratados com transfusão crônica ou transplante apresentaram perfis mais inflamatórios que os pacientes tratados com hidroxiuréia. Os tratamentos com transfusão crônica e transplante não foram capazes de diminuir os níveis séricos dos biomarcadores de inflamação, de ativação endotelial e plaquetária para níveis similares aos dos indivíduos sadios. Os pacientes tratados com transfusão crônica apresentaram o perfil mais inflamatório de todos os grupos analisados. Apesar dos pacientes tratados com hidroxiuréia apresentarem os menores níveis séricos de biomarcadores de inflamação e de ativação endotelial e plaquetária, estes continuaram apresentando níveis séricos elevados de heme e da citocina pró-inflamatória IL-18. Os pacientes transplantados apresentaram perfil inflamatório intenso, com níveis elevados de P-selectina, trombomodulina e IL-8 (relacionados à ativação endotelial, ativação plaquetária e inflamação, respectivamente) em comparação com todos os grupos analisados. Porém, os pacientes transplantados apresentaram níveis séricos de IL-18 significativamente menores que os pacientes com doença falciforme sem tratamento. Os pacientes transplantados apresentaram níveis séricos da citocina anti-inflamatória IL-10 similares aos de indivíduos sadios, porém, significativamente maiores que os pacientes tratados com hidroxiuréia. Os resultados obtidos nesse trabalho podem direcionar estudos futuros para o monitoramento laboratorial de respostas terapêuticas aos diferentes tratamentos atualmente utilizados para doença falciforme e para o desenvolvimento de novos tratamentos ou de terapias complementares às que estão atualmente disponíveis. / Sickle cell disease is a group of hereditary hemoglobinopathies characterized by a point mutation in the ? globin chain, which results in an abnormal hemoglobin named HbS. Despite its importance for global public health and its great social impact, sickle cell disease still presents many unclarified pathophysiological issues and therapeutic challenges. In parallel, there is a need for the discovery of new pathophysiological biomarkers of sickle diseases and biomarkers of therapeutic response. The aim of this study was to quantify serum samples from healthy subjects (N = 19) and patients with sickle cell disease (N = 14) or treated with hydroxyurea (N = 15), chronic transfusion (N = 15) or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (N = 21) endothelial activation biomarkers (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, P-selectin, HGF, FGF, VEGF-A, endothelin-1, CXCL4 / PF4, TGF-? and nitric oxide), platelet activation biomarkers (von Willebrand and thrombomodulin), inflammatory biomarkers (IL-1?, pentraxin-3, IL-18, IL-6, IL-8, IL-2, IL-17A, TNF-?, INF-?, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL4/MIP-1?, IL-12p70, IL-33, IL-27, GM-CSF, CD163, osteopontin, BAFF, APRIL and heme) and immunomodulatory biomarkers (arginase-1 and IL-10). According to the obtained results and correlation analyzes, patients with sickle disease without treatment, treated with chronic transfusion or transplantation presented more high inflammatory profiles than patients treated with hydroxyurea. Patients treated with chronic transfusion and transplantation were not able to decrease the elevated serum biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial and platelet activation similar to healthy subjects levels. Patients treated with chronic transfusion presented the most inflammatory profile of all groups analyzed. Although patients treated with hydroxyurea had the lowest serum levels of inflammatory and endothelial/platelet activation biomarkers, they continued to have high serum levels of heme and proinflammatory cytokine IL-18. Transplanted patients presented a high inflammatory profile, with elevated levels of P-selectin, thrombomodulin and IL-8 (related to endothelial activation, platelet activation and inflammation, respectively) compared to all groups analyzed. However, transplant patients had significantly lower serum IL-18 levels than patients with untreated sickle cell disease. Notably, transplanted patients had levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 similar to those of healthy subjects, but significantly higher than patients treated with hydroxyurea. The results obtained in this study may pave the way for future studies for the laboratory monitoring of therapeutic responses to different sickle cell disease treatments and for the development of new or complementary treatments to the currently available therapies.

La drépanocytose (SCD) et l’athérosclérose sont deux maladies très diffèrentes et distinctesqui partagent les même caractéristiques. La drépanocytose est une maladie autosomalerécessive appartenant à la classe des hémoglobinopathies causée par la mutation del’hémoglobine (Hb) A en HbS. En réponse à des stress physiques tels que l’hypoxie,l’acidose, la déshydratation ou l’hyperthermie, HbS devient plus vulnérable à lapolymérisation et favorise le processus de falciformation des globules rouges. La répétitiondes cycles de polymérisation et dépolymérisation de HbS altère la forme saine desérythrocytes et conduisent aux manifestations cliniques principales de la drépanocytose:anémie, épisodes vaso-occlusifs aigus et crises hémolytiques. Il est aujourd’hui largementadmis que le stress oxydatif et l’inflammation jouent un rôle majeur dans la pathogènèse et lesconséquences physiopathologiques de la drépanocytose. L’athérosclérose, quant à elle, estune maladie inflammatoire chronique qui se caractérise par l’accumulation de plaques àl’intérieur des parois vasculaires au niveau de l’endothélium. Le stress oxydatif et la mise enjeu de phénomènes inflamatoires sont impliqués dans l’oxydation des lipides de faible densité(LDL), étape essentielle dans la pathogenèse de cette maladie.D’autre part, l’activité physique est un mécanisme important de modulation bénéfique dustress oxydatif et de l'inflammation au travers de plusieurs voies d'adaptation : l’améliorationdes enzymes antioxydantes, de la vasodilatation et des cytokines anti-inflammatoires, et labaisse des contraintes de cisaillement. Nous avons donc cherché à déterminer dans ce travailde thèse comment le contrôle du stress oxydatif et de l’inflammation par l’activité physiquepourrait réduire les complications de ces 2 pathologies (SCD et athérosclérose). / Sickle cell disease (SCD) and atherosclerosis are two very different and distinct diseases thatshare similar underlying characteristics. Sickle cell disease is a hemoglobinopathycharacterized by a genetic mutation which causes the normal blood cells to become rigid andweak. The resulting pathophysiological effects, including sickling, vaso-occlusion, andadhesion, involve the production of oxidative stress and inflammation. Atherosclerosis is achronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by plaque buildup within the vessel walls.An initial step in the pathogenesis of this disease involves the oxidation of lipids, which notonly produces inflammation, but more oxidative stress as well. We sought to determine howthe control of oxidative stress and inflammation could ameliorate complications stemmingfrom the disease.Exercise training is an important mechanism for the beneficial modulation oxidative stressand inflammation through several adaptive pathways: antioxidants, shear stress, vasodilation,and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The purpose of this thesis was to determine if thesebeneficial effects of exercise training could improve oxidative stress and consequentlyinflammation in sickle cell trait (SCT) and atherosclerosis.

Introdução: a doença falciforme é uma alteração hereditária, que causa malformação nas hemácias com consequências vaso-oclusivas de potencial dano auditivo. Os estudos que tratam da relação entre alteração auditiva e doença falciforme apresentam grande disparidade de resultados. Em todos os trabalhos consultados, não foram encontrados artigos sobre o potencial evocado auditivo com estímulo de fala nesta população. Objetivo: analisar as respostas obtidas pelos potenciais evocados auditivos em crianças, adolescentes e jovens com a doença falciforme. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, com amostra de sujeitos com diagnóstico de doença falciforme, advindos de um ambulatório de hemoglobinopatia de um hospital público, localizado no sul do país. A avaliação audiológica ocorreu após liberação médica e foi realizada por meio dos seguintes procedimentos: anamnese, audiometria tonal liminar, audiometria tonal de altas frequências, timpanometria, emissão otoacústica evocada transiente, potencial evocado auditivo de tronco encefálico com estímulo clique (PEATE) e com estímulo de fala (PEATE-f). Resultados: a amostra foi constituída de 54 sujeitos, com idade entre seis e 24 anos. Em relação ao PEATE, verificou-se alteração em 88,9% da amostra, com diferença estatisticamente significativa no aumento da latência absoluta da onda V (p=0,009) e no interpico I-III (p=0,004), no grupo do sexo masculino (p=0,028). A faixa etária em que a alteração mais se evidenciou foi a dos adolescentes (12 a 18 anos) (p=0,017). Quanto ao PEATE-f, 98,1% da amostra apresentaram alguma alteração, mas não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa entre os gêneros. A latência da onda A foi mais tardiamente detectada na orelha esquerda, na faixa etária da adolescência (p=0,021). Conclusões: verificou-se que a maior parte dos sujeitos da amostra apresentou alterações no PEATE e PEATE-f, apesar de possuir limiares auditivos, medidas de imitância acústica e emissões otoacústicas evocadas transientes normais. É recomendável, portanto, que a avaliação auditiva dos indivíduos com a doença falciforme inclua a pesquisa de potenciais evocados auditivos, visando ao diagnóstico e ao encaminhamento para tratamento específico, tendo em vista a adequada capacidade de compreensão de fala e a prevenção de distúrbios linguísticos, biopsicoemocionais e sociais. / Introduction: sickle cell disease is a hereditary disorder that causes malformation in the red blood cells with vaso-occlusive consequences of potential hearing damage. Studies that deal with the relationship between auditory alteration and sickle cell disease present a great disparity of results. In all the studies consulted, no articles on the auditory evoked potential with speech stimulus in this population were found. Objective: to analyze the responses obtained by evoked auditory brainstem response in children, adolescents and young people with sickle cell disease. Methods: it is an observational, cross-sectional study with a sample of subjects with sickle cell disease diagnosed from a hemoglobinopathy outpatient clinic located in the south of the country. The audiological evaluation occurred after medical release and was performed through the following procedures: anamnesis, tonal threshold audiometry, high frequency tone audiometry, tympanometry, transient evoked otoacoustic emission, evoked auditory brainstem response (ABR) and peech-evoked auditory brainstem response (cABR). Results: the sample consisted of 54 subjects, from six to 24 years old. In relation to ABR, there was change in 88,9% of the sample, with a statistically significant difference in the increase of the absolute latency of the V wave (p = 0.009) and in the interpeak I-III (p = 0.004) in the male group (p = 0.028). The age group in which the change was most evident was the adolescent (12 to 18 years) (p = 0.017). Concerning cABR, 98,1% of the sample had some alteration, but there was no statistically significant difference between the genders. The latency of wave A was later detected in the left ear in the adolescence age group (p = 0.021). Conclusions: It was verified that most of the subjects of the sample presented alterations in ABR and cABR, despite having auditory thresholds, acoustic immitance measures and normal transient evoked otoacoustic emissions. It is recommended, therefore, that the auditory evaluation of individuals with sickle cell disease should include the search for auditory evoked potentials, aiming at diagnosis and referral for specific treatment, in view of the adequate ability to understand speech and the prevention of language disorders, biopsychological and social.