Family dynamics, stages of the elderly with Alzheimer disease, and stages experienced by the family in relation to home care

A qualitative research carried out with relatives who take care of elderly people with Alzheimer disease, it aimed at describing the experiences of these family members in living with the elderly and analyzing aspects that interfere with the transformations of family dynamics since the onset of the disease. The concept of dialogical education was applied to produce data in the dynamics of creativity and sensitivity Subjects shared the reality of living with the diseased person in the most diverse situations of life, their feelings, their anguish, interpersonal relationship, their expectations and family members' strategies in home co-existence. It was commented that the different stages of the diseased person and his/her family members, respectively, even though not always coinciding, are interpenetrated, thus generating transformations and re-configuration in family dynamics.     

Ultraviolet irradiation of blood prevents transfusion-induced sensitization and marrow graft rejection in dogs

In a canine model using DLA-identical littermate pairs, we have shown that a regimen of three transfusions of donor blood given 24, 17, and 10 days before transplant uniformly leads to marrow graft rejection, presumably due to sensitization to minor (non-DLA) histocompatibility antigens. Untransfused dogs uniformly achieve sustained engraftment. In the present study, we investigated whether the exposure of blood to ultraviolet (UV) light (220-300 nm) prior to transfusion prevented sensitization of the recipient and allowed for successful marrow engraftment. Ten dogs were each given three pretransplant transfusions from the marrow donor. Each transfusion consisted of 50 mL of whole blood exposed in vitro to UV light for a total of 1.35 J/cm2. All ten dogs achieved engraftment. In contrast, all four dogs that had received sham-exposed transfusions rejected their grafts. In vitro studies revealed that although cell viability was not affected, leukocytes contained in UV-exposed blood were unable to function as stimulator cells in mixed leukocyte cultures or as accessory cells in mitogen- stimulated cultures. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that accessory cells are involved in transfusion-induced sensitization. We conclude that in vitro exposure of blood to UV light before transfusion prevents sensitization and allows for subsequent marrow engraftment.     

Tratamiento laparoscópico de la ureterolitiasis: nuestra experiencia

ObjectiveAnalyze technical details and results of laparoscopic treatment of ureterolithiasis.Materials and methodsBetween January 2005 and August 2008 it was performed laparoscopic ureterolithotomy in 22 patients in our service. Two (9%) by retroperitoneal access and 20 (91%) by transperitoneal access. Mean size of the calculi was 15 mm. with a variation from 8 mm to 23 mm. The calculus were in the upper tract in 18 patients (81,8%) and in mid ureter in 4 patients (18,2), any of the calculus were in lower ureter. Most of calculi were obstructive stones for more than 2 months. Eight patients were submited a previous section of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and 2 by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy plus ureterolithotripsy as a calculi treatment attempt. Twelve patients had a laparoscopic ureterolithotomy as a primary indication for treatment.ResultsLaparoscopic ureterolithotomy was successful for 20 patients (90,9%), and the fails occurred in the beginning of our experiment. Mean operative time was 145 minutes with range from 70 to 240 minutes. The indwelling ureteral stent was used in 03 cases; 02 preoperative, and 01 postoperative. The ureteral suture was performed with absorbable 4.0 separated stitches in all patients. The global average of permanence in hospital was 3,3 days and the drain permanence was 7,2 days. The global complication rate was 13,6%. The global rate of stone free was 91%, and there were residual stone in 2 patients.ConclusionsThe laparoscopic treatment of ureterolithiasis besides minimally invasive, it is viable, secure and very effective. It should have taken into consideration as a procedure to extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy and ureteroscopy. But, in cases where there are obstructive stones for a long time, in selected patients and, in special, in patients with just one kidney, it can be considered as a first line treatment. About the access, if retroperitoneal or transperitoneal; it is not still possible to affirm which would be the best one, the option must take into account the surgeon preference and experience.     

Analysis of Aspergillus nidulans germination, initial growth and carbon source response by flow cytometry

In this work, flow cytometry was utilized to analyze the initial vegetative growth of the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans as measured by the number of events increasing size and internal complexity. It was established the ideal parameters for the analysis of conidial populations, whose growth was followed after germination in glucose or sucrose. While glucose in culture increased growth several magnitudes in comparison to control cultures in saline, growth was less intense in cultures amended with sucrose. Results indicated that flow cytometry could be a useful tool to study fungal germination and initial growth since it allowed rapid identification of different populations by means of their increasing in size and granularity with good reproducibility and without the need for direct observation and count of individual cells.     

Adherence rate to inhaled corticosteroids and their impact on asthma control

Background:  Poor asthma control is associated to high morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess the association between adherence rates to beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and the degree of asthma control.
Methods:  A cohort concurrent study was carried out for 12 months with 122 asthmatic patients, aged 3–12 years, randomly selected in a pediatric pulmonology outpatient clinic, who received BDP free of charge. Adherence rates were verified by pharmacy records. Clinical control was assessed through a scoring system comprised four variables (nocturnal and morning symptoms, limitation of physical activities and exacerbations). Total score was 16 points. Patients whose score was below or equal to two were considered controlled (group 1), and patients whose score was above or equal to three were considered uncontrolled (group 2). For patients able to perform spirometry, we considered as controlled the patients with forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁) equal to or above 80% of the predicted value, and as uncontrolled the patients with FEV₁ below 80%.
Results:  Fewer than half (40.3% maximum) of the 122 patients maintained asthma control. Median adherence rate of groups 1 and 2 were 85.5% and 33.8%, ( P  < 0.001) in the 4th month, 90.0% and 48.0% ( P  < 0.001) in the 8th month and 84.4% and 47.0% in the 12th month ( P  < 0.001), respectively.
Conclusion:  In all periods, there were statistically significant differences in adherence rates for maintaining or not maintaining the asthma control. Optimal asthma control entailed adherence rate higher than 80%. Strategies for reducing asthma morbidity should include a regular monitoring of adherence to inhaled steroids.     

Skoura – a genetic island for congenital insensitivity to pain and anhidrosis among Moroccan Jews, as determined by a novel mutation in the NTRK1 gene

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) or hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type IV is a rare, autosomal recessive neurologic disorder, characterized by absence of reaction to painful stimuli, mental retardation, self- mutilating behavior, anhidrosis, and recurrent episodes of hyperthermia. Mutations in the neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1, a receptor phosphorylated by nerve growth factor, have been documented in diverse ethnic groups. We identified the same novel nonsense mutation in two unrelated families of Moroccan Jewish descent, each with two affected siblings. This possible founder mutation may trace to the rural Jewish village in southern Morocco from where both these families originated. Genetic screening for the causative mutation among 300 unrelated Moroccan Jews did not reveal carriers for the causative mutation, thus excluding high risk for CIPA in this ethnic subpopulation.     

Body mass index is superior to other body adiposity indexes in predicting incident hypertension in a highly admixed sample after 10‐year follow‐up: The Baependi Heart Study

Hypertension is the leading cause of overall mortality in low‐ and middle‐income countries. In Brazil, there is paucity of data on the determinants of incident hypertension and related risk factors. We aimed to determine the incidence of hypertension in a sample from the Brazilian population and investigate possible relationships with body adiposity indexes. We assessed risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, including adiposity body indexes and biochemical analysis, in a sample from the Baependi Heart Study before and after a 10‐year follow‐up. Hypertension was defined by the presence of systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg or the use of antihypertensive drugs. From an initial sample of 1693 participants, 498 (56% women; mean age 38 ± 13 years) were eligible to be included. The overall hypertension incidence was 24.3% (22.3% in men and 25.6% in women). Persons who developed hypertension had higher prevalence of obesity, higher levels for blood pressure, higher frequency of dyslipidemia, and higher body adiposity indexes at baseline. The best prediction model for incident hypertension includes age, sex, HDL‐c, SBP, and Body Mass Index (BMI) [AUC = 0.823, OR = 1.58 (95% CI 1.23‐2.04)]. BMI was superior in its predictive capacity when compared to Body Adiposity Index (BAI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI). Incident hypertension in a sample from the Brazilian population was 24.3% after 10‐year follow‐up and BMI, albeit the simpler index to be calculated, is the best anthropometric index to predict incident hypertension.