The association between alcohol use, alcohol use disorders and tuberculosis (TB). A systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In 2004, tuberculosis (TB) was responsible for 2.5% of global mortality (among men 3.1%; among women 1.8%) and 2.2% of global burden of disease (men 2.7%; women 1.7%). The present work portrays accumulated evidence on the association between alcohol consumption and TB with the aim to clarify the nature of the relationship.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic review of existing scientific data on the association between alcohol consumption and TB, and on studies relevant for clarification of causality was undertaken.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There is a strong association between heavy alcohol use/alcohol use disorders (AUD) and TB. A meta-analysis on the risk of TB for these factors yielded a pooled relative risk of 2.94 (95% CI: 1.89-4.59). Numerous studies show pathogenic impact of alcohol on the immune system causing susceptibility to TB among heavy drinkers. In addition, there are potential social pathways linking AUD and TB. Heavy alcohol use strongly influences both the incidence and the outcome of the disease and was found to be linked to altered pharmacokinetics of medicines used in treatment of TB, social marginalization and drift, higher rate of re-infection, higher rate of treatment defaults and development of drug-resistant forms of TB. Based on the available data, about 10% of the TB cases globally were estimated to be attributable to alcohol.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The epidemiological and other evidence presented indicates that heavy alcohol use/AUD constitute a risk factor for incidence and re-infection of TB. Consequences for prevention and clinical interventions are discussed.</p

Optimizing the medium components in bioemulsifiers production by Candida lipolytica with response surface method

A response surface methodology was used to study bioemulsifier production by Candida lipolytica. A 2(4) full experimental design was previously carried out to investigate the effects and interactions of the concentrations of corn oil, urea, ammonium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate on the emulsification activity (EA) of the bioemulsifier produced by C. lipolytica. The best EA value (3.727 units of emulsification activity (UEA)) was obtained with a medium composed of 0.4 g of urea, 1.1 g of ammonium sulfate, 2.04 g of potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate, 5 mL of corn oil, 50 mL of distilled water, and 50 mL of seawater. A curvature check was performed and revealed a lack of fit of the linear approximation. The proximity of the optimum point was evident, as was the need for quadratic model and second-order designs that incorporate the effect of the curvature. Medium constituents were then optimized for the EA using a three-factor central composite design and response surface methodology. The second-order model showed statistical significance and predictive ability. It was found that the maximum EA produced was 4.415 UEA, and the optimum levels of urea, ammonium sulfate, and potassium dihydrogen orthophosphate were, respectively, 0.544% (m/v), 2.131% (m/v), and 2.628% (m/v).52657558

The prevalence of diabetes in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

OBJECTIVE - To assess the prevalence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) in the adult population of Rio de Janeiro, a two-stage cross-sectional survey was carried out in a random sample of 2,051 individuals aged 30-69 years from Rio de Janeiro city in Brazil.RESEARCH DESIGN and METHODS - Subjects were first screened by fasting capillary glycemia (FCG). All individuals who screened positive (FCG > 5.6 mmol/l) and every sixth consecutive person who screened negative (FCG 70 years of age.CONCLUSIONS - the numbers found for Rio de Janeiro are similar to those for more developed countries and lead us to conclude that the impact of diabetes on public health is the same as in those countries where this disease is considered an important health problem.UNIV HOSP CLEMENTINO FRAGA FILHO,DIV NUTROL,RIO JANEIRO,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PREVENT MED,São Paulo,BRAZILUNIV FED RIO de JANEIRO,DEPT INTERNAL MED,BR-21945 RIO JANEIRO,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PREVENT MED,São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

MULTICENTER STUDY of the PREVALENCE of DIABETES-MELLITUS and IMPAIRED GLUCOSE-TOLERANCE in the URBAN BRAZILIAN POPULATION AGED 30-69 YR

OBJECTIVE - To assess the prevalence of diabetes and IGT in the urban adult Brazilian population.RESEARCH DESIGN and METHODS- We used a two-stage, multicenter, cross-sectional survey in a random sample of 21,847 individuals aged 30-9 yr from nine large cities. Subjects were first screened by FCG. All positive screenees (FCG greater-than-or-equal-to 5.6 mM/L) and every sixth consecutive negative screenee were administered a 75 g OGTT and classified as diabetic, IGT, or normal (nondiabetic) according to WHO recommendations. OGTT findings from the negative screenees were extrapolated to all negative screenees after adjustments for potential biases.RESULTS - the overall rates were 7.6 and 7.8% for diabetes and IGT, respectively Men (7.5%) and women (7.6%) had similar rates of diabetes. Similar rates resulted with whites (7.8%) and nonwhites (7.3%). Diabetes prevalence increased from 2.7% in the 30-39-yr age-group to 17.4% in the 60-69-yr age-group. Diabetes was more prevalent among less educated people, but this difference disappeared after adjusting for age. Family history of diabetes was associated with a twofold increase in diabetes prevalence (I 2.5 vs. 5.8%); the same increase occurred with obesity (I 1.6 vs. 5.2%). Undiagnosed diabetes accounted for 46% of the total prevalence. Among previously diagnosed cases, 22.3% were not under treatment, 7.9% were on insulin, 40.7% were on oral agents, and 29.1% were on dietary treatment only. Self-reported diabetes prevalence was 0.1, 3.2, and 11.6% in the age groups 70 yr, respectively.CONCLUSIONS - the prevalence of diabetes in Brazil is comparable with that of more developed countries, where it is considered a major health problem.UNIV São Paulo,SCH MED,DIV ENDOCRINOL,HUMAN NUTR & METAB DIS LAB LIM25,São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PREVENT MED,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILESCOLA PAULISTA MED,DEPT PREVENT MED,BR-04023 São Paulo,BRAZILWeb of Scienc

Retinal fluorescein contrast arrival time of young patients with the hepatosplenic form of the Schistosomiasis mansoni

Schistosoma mansoni is responsible for lesions that can alter the hemodinamic of the portal venous circulation, lung arterial and venous sistemic systems. Therefore, hemodinamic changes in the ocular circulation of mansonic schistosomotic patients with portal hypertension and hepatofugal venous blood flow is also probable. The purpose of this study was to determine the fluorescein contrast arrival time at the retina of young patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis, clinically and surgically treated. The control group included 36 non schistosomotic patients, mean age of 17.3 years, and the case group was represented by 25 schistosomotic patients, mean age of 18.2 years, who were cared for at The University Hospital (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil), from 1990 to 2001. They underwent digital angiofluoresceinography and were evaluated for the contrast arrival time at the early retinal venous phase of the exam. Both groups were ophthalmologically examined at the same hospital (Altino Ventura Foundation, Recife, Brazil), using the same technique. There was retardation of the retinal contrast arrival time equal or more than 70 sec in the eyes of three schistosomotic patients (12%) and in none of the control group, however, the mean contrast arrival time between the two groups were not statistically different. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that there could be a delay of the eye venous blood flow drainage