A prospective study of Toxoplasma-positive pregnant women in southern Brazil: a health alert

We evaluated anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM-reactive pregnant women seen at a high-risk pregnancy outpatient clinic. From March 2005 to January 2008 in Paraná, Brazil, pregnant women seen by the Brazilian Public Health System, in any gestational period, who were anti-T. gondii IgM-positive, were followed. Clinical symptoms were noted, and tests performed including IgA, IgG avidity, ultrasonogram, and amniocentesis (PCR/inoculation in mice). Of 75 patients, 8 showed low, 3 intermediate and 31 high IgG avidity. Of those who underwent the avidity test, 31 (70.5%) were in the second trimester of pregnancy. Thirty-two (42.7%) pregnant women received specific treatment. Six received triple combination treatment; in three, tachyzoites were isolated, although only one was PCR-positive, showing changes in the cerebral sonogram, borderline IgA, and the Sabin tetrad. One fetus died, and one non-reactive IgM pregnant woman showed ocular recurrence. The municipality of residence, contact with cats during adulthood, and ingestion of unpasteurized milk were shown to be important risk factors. Congenital toxoplasmosis was observed in a pregnancy referred late for treatment. Follow-up of children born to mothers with diagnosed or suspected acute toxoplasmosis is crucial in the management of the changes that toxoplasmosis may cause.     

冠心病危险因素与冠状动脉病变程度的相关性研究

目的:探讨冠心病危险因素与冠状动脉病变程度的关系.方法:选取150例冠心病患者行冠状动脉造影术及各项化验检查,冠状动脉病变程度以Gensini积分值表示,对冠心病危险因素和冠状动脉病变程度进行统计分析.结果:经多因素线性回归证实:非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇为冠状动脉病变程度的独立危险因素(P=0.030),而性别、年龄、空腹血糖、糖尿病、高血压、吸烟、家族史及甘油三酯、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇均与冠状动脉病变程度无明确相关.结论:非高密度脂蛋白胆固醇对冠状动脉病变严重程度具有重要的影响.     

Adolescent alcohol initiation: A review of psychosocial risk factors

Longitudinal research studies focused on alcohol use initiation in adolescence were reviewed to determine which variables function as antecedent predictors or risk factors. Only studies that focused on time-1 abstainers were included. Classes of risk factors examined include sociodemographic, family, peer, personality, and behavioral variables. The most consistent antecedent risk factors for starting to drink in adolescence were parental and peer approval and models for drinking and drug use as well as adolescents’ own prior involvement in delinquent behavior. There was little evidence for gender differences in risk factors for alcohol use initiation. Secondary analyses of existing longitudinal data sets are encouraged to examine whether there are ethnic/racial differences in the risk factors for starting to drink and to establish those factors that serve a protective or buffering function, delaying onset of alcohol use in adolescence.     

旋转复位配合矫形鞋治疗退变性腰椎侧弯

退变性腰椎侧弯(degenerative lumbar scoliosis,DLS)是继发于腰椎间盘及腰椎骨关节退变的成人脊柱侧弯,较一般典型的腰椎骨性关节炎症状重,同时伴有明显旋转侧弯畸形,常规治疗方法疗效差。2003年9月-2005年9月采用脊柱(定点)旋转复位手法结合矫形鞋治疗77例DLS患者,近期效果满意,总结报告如下。1临床资料本组77例中,男29例,女48例;平均年龄56.5岁(45~76岁)。病程平均6个月(2个月~10年)。所有患者均有腰痛及下肢疼痛,同时伴有明显的腰脊柱侧弯,站立、行走疼痛明显,其中48例(82.3%)需要药物控制疼痛,间歇性跛行者26例(33.8%),直腿抬高试验…     

原发性高血压病患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度与血清胆红素水平的相关性研究

目的 探讨高血压病患者颈动脉粥样硬化程度与血清胆红素水平的关系.方法 158 例高血压病患者行双侧颈动脉超声多普勒检查,根据检测结果分为颈动脉粥样硬化组和正常颈动脉组.记录各组年龄、性别、体重指数、吸烟史、糖尿病史和血压,测定血清总胆红素及其他生物化学指标.结果 颈动脉粥样硬化组的血清总胆红素水平(8.37±3.53)μmol/L显著低于正常颈动脉组(14.53±4.61)μmol/L(P＜0.05).多因素回归分析显示低胆红素血症与颈动脉粥样硬化呈显著正相关(χ2wald=4.41,P=0.029,OR=3.72).结论 低胆红素血症是高血压病患者发生颈动脉粥样硬化的独立危险因素.     

Mammaplasty: Shape,volume, and scar size

Recently many mammaplasty techniques have been presented with special attention paid to the resulting scar's size and its position. The surgeon should try to hid the scar, and if the inverted T incision is used, its horizontal branch should be as short as possible and kept in the breast area. Neverthelss, excessive concern about the final scar size should not interfere with the final results of the mammaplasty as far as shape, volume and lasting results are concerned. The author presents his experience in mammaplasty with respect to the volume, the shape, and the scar size interrelationships.     

Risk Factors for a First Febrile Seizure: A Matched Case-Control Study

Summary We conducted a matched casecontrol study to identify risk factors for first febrile seizures, with special emphasis on characteristics of the acute illness episode. Cases were identified through hospital emergency departments; controls were identified through outpatient clinics and emergency departments. Sixtynine children with first febrile seizures and no history of previous unprovoked seizures were matched for age (±6 months), site of routine pediatric care, and date of visit (±weeks) with 1 or 2 febrile controls who had no history of previous febrile or unprovoked seizures. Medical records for the index visit were reviewed, and parents were interviewed by telephone. Illness characteristics examined included height of temperature, type of underlying illness, contact with a physician during the illness but before the index visit, and use of acetaminophen or decongestants. Family history of febrile and of unprovoked seizures, sociodemographic characteristics, daycare use, and selected preand perinatal variables were also studied. On multivariable analysis, significant independent risk factors were height of temperature, history of febrile seizures in a firstor in a higher degree relative. Gastroenteritis as the underlying illness had a significant inverse (i.e., protective) association with febrile seizures. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was a marginally significant predictor of febrile seizures.     

High-Risk Drinking across the Transition from High School to College

Alcohol use and related problems were studied from the senior year in high school to the first autumn in college for 366 heavy drinking students. Four risk factors-subject sex, family history of drinking problems, prior conduct problems, and type of college residence-were evaluated as predictors of: (1) differential changes in drinking rates, (2) differential changes in alcohol-related problems, and (3) alcohol dependence symptoms during the first college term. Results suggest that both dispositional and environmental factors are associated with changes in drinking rates and the existence of dependence symptoms. Increases in the frequency of drinking were specifically and strongly associated with residence in a fraternity (men) or sorority (women). Three risk factors were associated with increased quantity of drinking: male gender, residence in a fraternity or sorority, and a history of conduct problems. Prior conduct problems were also consistently associated with dependence symptoms during the first term in college. A family history of alcohol problems was not consistently related to changes in use rates or problems, although some analyses suggest interactive effects. Early interventions on college campuses should target individuals using additive risk profiles.     

Is obesity still a risk factor in renal transplantation?

At our center, since 1982, a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30 has been a prerequisite for placing a patient on the waiting list for renal transplantation. This decision was made because obese transplant recipients seemed to have a less than favorable post-transplant outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether this requirement is still justified. Forty-six patients with a BMI above 30 underwent primary cadaveric renal transplantation between 1972 and 1993. For each of these obese patients, five consecutive non-obese (BMI 20–25) control patients were selected. Patient and graft survival, causes of graft loss, and acute rejection rate were evaluated for the two patient groups before and after the year 1982. Within the first 30 post-transplant days, one patient (2 %) and 11 grafts (24 %) were lost in the group of obese patients whereas seven patients (3 %) and 36 grafts (16 %) were lost in the control group. Among the obese patients, renal circulatory complications were a major cause of graft loss. In the period 1973–1981, the 1-year patient survival rate was 65 % among obese patients versus 75 % among controls from 1982 to 1993, this was 90 % versus 93 %. From 1973 to 1981, the 1-year graft survival rate was 25 % among obese patients versus 53 % among controls (P < 0.05); from 1982 to 1993, it was 68 % versus 84 % (P = NS). Multivariate analysis showed that the immunosuppressive regimen, age of the patient, BMI, and cold ischemia time of the graft had a significant influence on graft survival. The acute rejection rate within the first 30 days was 28 % among obese patients and 35 % among controls (P = NS). We conclude that a BMI below or equal to 30 is still justified as a prerequisite for placement on the waiting list for renal transplantation, for despite an overall improvement, the outcome of renal transplantation in obese patients remains worse than that in non-obese patients. Received: 3 February 1997 Received after revision: 4 April 1997 Accepted: 8 April 1997