National Assessment of Human Health Effects of Climate Change in Portugal: Approach and Key Findings

In this study we investigated the potential impact of climate change in Portugal on heat-related mortality, air pollution–related health effects, and selected vectorborne diseases. The assessment used climate scenarios from two regional climate models for a range of future time periods. The annual heat-related death rates in Lisbon may increase from between 5.4 and 6 per 100,000 in 1980–1998 to between 8.5 and 12.1 by the 2020s and to a maximum of 29.5 by the 2050s, if no adaptations occur. The projected warmer and more variable weather may result in better dispersion of nitrogen dioxide levels in winter, whereas the higher temperatures may reduce air quality during the warmer months by increasing tropospheric ozone levels. We estimated the future risk of zoonoses using ecologic scenarios to describe future changes in vectors and parasites. Malaria and schistosomiasis, which are currently not endemic in Portugal, are more sensitive to the introduction of infected vectors than to temperature changes. Higher temperatures may increase the transmission risk of zoonoses that are currently endemic to Portugal, such as leishmaniasis, Lyme disease, and Mediterranean spotted fever

Raloxifene: Mechanism of Action, Effects on Bone Tissue, and Applicability in Clinical Traumatology Practice

Raloxifene, a member of the class of selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), reproduces the beneficial effects of estrogens on the skeletal systems, without the negative effects estrogens on breast and endometrium

Smoking behaviour predicts tobacco control attitudes in a high smoking prevalence hospital: A cross-sectional study in a Portuguese teaching hospital prior to the national smoking ban

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several studies have investigated attitudes to and compliance with smoking bans, but few have been conducted in healthcare settings and none in such a setting in Portugal. Portugal is of particular interest because the current ban is not in line with World Health Organization recommendations for a "100% smoke-free" policy. In November 2007, a Portuguese teaching-hospital surveyed smoking behaviour and tobacco control (TC) attitudes before the national ban came into force in January 2008.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Questionnaire-based cross-sectional study, including all eligible staff. Sample: 52.9% of the 1, 112 staff; mean age 38.3 ± 9.9 years; 65.9% females. Smoking behaviour and TC attitudes and beliefs were the main outcomes. Bivariable analyses were conducted using chi-squared and MacNemar tests to compare categorical variables and Mann-Whitney tests to compare medians. Multilogistic regression (MLR) was performed to identify factors associated with smoking status and TC attitudes.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Smoking prevalence was 40.5% (95% CI: 33.6-47.4) in males, 23.5% (95% CI: 19.2-27.8) in females (p < 0.001); 43.2% in auxiliaries, 26.1% in nurses, 18.9% among physicians, and 34.7% among other non-health professionals (p = 0.024). The findings showed a very high level of agreement with smoking bans, even among smokers, despite the fact that 70.3% of the smokers smoked on the premises and 76% of staff reported being frequently exposed to second-hand smoke (SHS). In addition 42.8% reported that SHS was unpleasant and 28.3% admitted complaining. MLR showed that smoking behaviour was the most important predictor of TC attitudes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Smoking prevalence was high, especially among the lower socio-economic groups. The findings showed a very high level of support for smoking bans, despite the pro-smoking environment. Most staff reported passive behaviour, despite high SHS exposure. This and the high smoking prevalence may contribute to low compliance with the ban and low participation on smoking cessation activities. Smoking behaviour had greater influence in TC attitudes than health professionals' education. Our study is the first in Portugal to identify potential predictors of non-compliance with the partial smoking ban, further emphasising the need for a 100% smoke-free policy, effective enforcement and public health education to ensure compliance and promote social norm change.</p

Synthesis of neutral and cationic tripyridylporphyrin-D-galactose conjugates and the photoinactivation of HSV-1

Neutral and cationic tripyridylporphyrin-D-galactose conjugates were synthesized and their antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) was evaluated. At non-cytotoxic concentrations the studied compounds show significant antiviral activity after photoactivation. The influence of photoactivation on drug treated cells was also analyzed, at different times of infection with HSV-1, for a neutral (1b) and a cationic glycoporphyrin (3b) derivative. The results show that the inhibition of the viral yield is more dependent on photoactivation for compound 1b than for compound 3b. These two compounds also differ in the inhibitory effect during the viral replicative cycle: while compound 3b inhibits the viral yield at all the addition times assayed, compound 1b is more efficient in later times of infection. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effect of Antimalarials over the Different Domains of the Damage INDEX in Latin American SLE Patients

GLADEL, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaGLADEL Consultant, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaUniv Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL USAGLADEL, Lima, PeruHosp Italiano Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaHosp Italiano Buenos Aires, Internal Med Serv, CABA, Rheumatol Unit, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaGLADEL, Medellin, ColombiaGLADEL, Mexico City, DF, MexicoInst Nacl Ciencias Med & Nutr Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City, DF, MexicoHosp Gen Occidente Seguro Social, Guadalajara, Jalisco, MexicoInst Nacl Cardiol Ignacio Chavez, Rheumatol, Mexico City, DF, MexicoCtr Med ABC, Mexico City, DF, MexicoHosp Especialidades 25, Inst Mexicano Seguro Social, Serv Reumatol, Monterrey, MexicoCtr Invest Med Quirurg, Havana, CubaGLADEL, Havana, CubaUniv Antioquia, Fac Med, Grp Inmunol Celular & Inmunogenet, Medellin, ColombiaMedicarte IPS, Medellin, ColombiaHosp Univ Caracas, Ctr Nacl Enfermedades Reumat, Serv Reumatol, Caracas, VenezuelaGLADEL, Caracas, VenezuelaHosp Nacl Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, Lima, PeruHosp Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen, EsSalud, Rheumatol, Lima, PeruGLADEL, Santiago, ChileUniv Chile, Fac Med, Hosp Salvador, Rheumatol Unit, Santiago, ChileUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rheumatol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Rheumatol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilGLADEL, Sao Paulo, BrazilGLADEL, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilGLADEL, Pernambuco, BrazilGLADEL, Goias, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Rheumatol, Sao Paulo, BrazilHosp Italiano Buenos Aires, Internal Med Serv, Rheumatol Unit, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaUniv Cordoba, Hosp Privado, Rheumatol, Rheumatol Unit, Cordoba, ArgentinaCentro Med Codoba, Rheumatol, Cordoba, ArgentinaInst Invest Med Alfredo Lanari, Rheumatol Unit, Buenos Aires, DF, ArgentinaHIGA Gen San Martin Plata, Rheumatol, La Plata, ArgentinaGLADEL, Cordoba, ArgentinaEmory Univ, Sch Med, Div Rheumatol, Atlanta, GA USASanatorio Britanico, Rosario, Santa Fe, ArgentinaGLADEL, Mar Del Plata, ArgentinaGLADEL, Medellin, ColombiaUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Rheumatol Div, Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Identification of a new putative functional IL18 gene variant through an association study in systemic lupus erythematosus

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disorders. In this study, we aimed to determine the potential role of the IL18 gene in SLE. To define the genetic association of the IL18 and SLE, we have genotyped nine SNPs in an independent set of Spanish cases and controls. The IL18 polymorphisms were genotyped by PCR, using a predeveloped TaqMan allele discrimination assay. Two SNPs were still significant after fine mapping of the IL18 gene. The SNP (rs360719) surviving correction for multiple tests was genotyped in two replication cohorts from Italy and Argentina. After the analysis, a significance with rs360719 C-allele remained across the sets and after the meta-analysis (Pooled OR 5 1.37, 95% CI 1.21-1.54, combined P 5 3.8E-07, Pc 5 1.16E-06). Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess IL18 mRNA expression in PBMC from subjects with different IL18 rs360719 genotypes. We tested the effect of the IL18 rs360719 polymorphism on the transcription of IL18 by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and western blot. We found a significant increase in the relative expression of IL18 mRNA in individuals carrying the rs360719 C-risk allele; in addition we show that the polymorphism creates a binding site for the transcriptional factor OCT-1. These findings suggest that the novel IL18 rs360719 variant may play an important role in determining the susceptibility to SLE and it could be a key factor in the expression of the IL18 gene. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved