Clinical, ultrasound and molecular biomarkers for early prediction of large for gestational age infants in nulliparous women: an international prospective cohort study

Objective: To develop a prediction model for term infants born large for gestational age (LGA) by customised birthweight centiles. Methods: International prospective cohort of nulliparous women with singleton pregnancy recruited to the Screening for Pregnancy Endpoints (SCOPE) study. LGA was defined as birthweight above the 90th customised centile, including adjustment for parity, ethnicity, maternal height and weight, fetal gender and gestational age. Clinical risk factors, ultrasound parameters and biomarkers at 14–16 or 19–21 weeks were combined into a prediction model for LGA infants at term using stepwise logistic regression in a training dataset. Prediction performance was assessed in a validation dataset using area under the Receiver Operating Characteristics curve (AUC) and detection rate at fixed false positive rates. Results: The prevalence of LGA at term was 8.8% (n = 491/5628). Clinical and ultrasound factors selected in the prediction model for LGA infants were maternal birthweight, gestational weight gain between 14–16 and 19–21 weeks, and fetal abdominal circumference, head circumference and uterine artery Doppler resistance index at 19–21 weeks (AUC 0.67; 95%CI 0.63–0.71). Sensitivity of this model was 24% and 49% for a fixed false positive rate of 10% and 25%, respectively. The addition of biomarkers resulted in selection of random glucose, LDL-cholesterol, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), but with minimal improvement in model performance (AUC 0.69; 95%CI 0.65–0.73). Sensitivity of the full model was 26% and 50% for a fixed false positive rate of 10% and 25%, respectively. Conclusion: Prediction of LGA infants at term has limited diagnostic performance before 22 weeks but may have a role in contingency screening in later pregnancy

Present state and future perspectives of using pluripotent stem cells in toxicology research

The use of novel drugs and chemicals requires reliable data on their potential toxic effects on humans. Current test systems are mainly based on animals or in vitro–cultured animal-derived cells and do not or not sufficiently mirror the situation in humans. Therefore, in vitro models based on human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have become an attractive alternative. The article summarizes the characteristics of pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic carcinoma and embryonic germ cells, and discusses the potential of pluripotent stem cells for safety pharmacology and toxicology. Special attention is directed to the potential application of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for the assessment of developmental toxicology as well as cardio- and hepatotoxicology. With respect to embryotoxicology, recent achievements of the embryonic stem cell test (EST) are described and current limitations as well as prospects of embryotoxicity studies using pluripotent stem cells are discussed. Furthermore, recent efforts to establish hPSC-based cell models for testing cardio- and hepatotoxicity are presented. In this context, methods for differentiation and selection of cardiac and hepatic cells from hPSCs are summarized, requirements and implications with respect to the use of these cells in safety pharmacology and toxicology are presented, and future challenges and perspectives of using hPSCs are discussed

Úlcera por pressão em idosos institucionalizados: análise da prevalência e fatores de risco Ulcera por presión en ancianos institucionalizados: análisis de la prevalencia y factores de riesgo Pressure ulcers in the elderly: analysis of prevalence and risk factors

As inquietações sobre o tema surgiram a partir de estudos sobre a prevalência de úlcera por pressão e pela convivência com idosos com lesões durante a prática profissional em instituições de longa permanência para idosos. Objetivou-se analisar a prevalência e os fatores de risco das úlceras por pressão em idosos institucionalizados. Estudo retrospectivo, de natureza quantitativa, realizado em uma instituição de longa permanência para idoso pública, na cidade de Fortaleza, Ceará. Amostra constituída por 300 prontuários de idosos no período de 2006 a 2009. Utilizou-se para coleta dos dados um formulário. Respeitaram-se os preceitos éticos. Os fatores de riscos mais prevalentes foram: acidente vascular encefálico (60%) e hipertensão arterial (74,3%). A média da prevalência de úlcera por pressão no período foi de 18,8%, com variação de 11,1% a 23,2%. As recomendações para a prevenção das úlceras por pressão incluem a elaboração de um programa de prevenção para promover um envelhecimento ativo.<br>Las inquietudes sobre el tema surgieron a partir de estudios sobre la prevalencia de úlcera por presión y por la convivencia con ancianos con lesiones durante la práctica profesional en instituciones de larga permanencia para ancianos. Se objetivó analizar la prevalencia y los factores de riesgo de las úlceras por presión en ancianos institucionalizados. Estudio retrospectivo, de naturaleza cuantitativa, realizado en una institución de larga permanencia para ancianos pública, en la ciudad de Fortaleza, Ceará. Amuestra constituida por 300 prontuarios de ancianos en el periodo de 2006 a 2009. Se utilizó para coleta de los datos un formulario. Se respetaron los preceptos éticos. Os factores de riesgo más prevalentes fueron: accidente vascular encefálico (60%) e hipertensión arterial (74,3%). La media de la prevalencia de úlcera por presión en el periodo fue de 18,8%, con variación de 11,1% a 23,2%. Las recomendaciones para la prevención de úlceras por presión incluyen la elaboración de un programa de prevención para promover un envejecimiento activo.<br>Concerns have emerged from studies on the prevalence of pressure ulcer, as well as living with elderly people with injuries during practice in long-stay institutions for the elderly. Aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors of pressure ulcer in the institutionalized elderly. This is a retrospective study, quantitative, held in a public long-stay institutions for the elderly in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. The sample consisted of 300 medical records of elderly in the period 2006 to 2009. It was used for data collection form. The ethical guidelines were followed. The most prevalent risk factors were: stroke (60%) and hypertension (74.3%). The mean prevalence of pressure ulcers in the period was 18.8%, ranging from 11.1% to 23.2%. The recommendations for the prevention of pressure ulcers include the development of a prevention program to promote active aging

Fibrose pulmonar idiopática: características clínicas e sobrevida em 132 pacientes com comprovação histológica Pulmonary idiopathic fibrosis: clinical findings and survival in 132 histologically-proven patients

Com o objetivo de avaliar as características clínicas e sobrevida de pacientes portadores de fibrose pulmonar idiopática, foram analisados 132 casos com confirmação histológica, internados no Pavilhão Pereira Filho entre 1970 e 1996. O diagnóstico foi realizado em 120 casos por biópsia a céu aberto e em 12 casos por biópsia transbrônquica. A idade média do grupo estudado foi de 56 anos; 78 eram do sexo masculino; 126 eram brancos e 6, negros. O tabagismo estava presente em 61 casos. A duração média dos sintomas antes do diagnóstico foi de 22,7 meses. O hipocratismo digital esteve presente em 75 pacientes e estertores teleinspiratórios foram verificados em 100 casos. Dispnéia só não foi constatada em dois pacientes e tosse esteve presente em 89 casos. As provas de função pulmonar apresentaram os seguintes valores médios: CVF, 62%; VEF1, 70%; DCO, 43,4%; CPT, 76,7%; PaO2, 67,3mmHg; PaCO2, 39,1mmHg e SaO2, 92,3%. O lavado broncoalveolar apresentou os seguintes valores médios: macrófagos, 83,8%; neutrófilos, 9,1%; linfócitos; 6,1% e eosinófilos, 0,6%. Na radiologia convencional de tórax, foi observado faveolamento em 79 casos, redução da capacidade pulmonar total em 107 e alargamento da traquéia intratorácica em 50. Na TC de tórax, o grau médio de profusão do padrão reticular foi de 42,3% e do padrão de granularidade, de 43,6%. O padrão histológico usual esteve presente em 128 casos, sendo apenas quatro pacientes portadores de padrão descamativo. Em 121 casos foram obtidas informações quanto à sobrevida em dezembro de 1997. A sobrevida média total desta série foi de 28 meses, sendo de 24 meses para os pacientes que foram a óbito. Os pacientes desta série apresentaram características associadas a um estágio avançado da doença. Este fato, mais a presença maciça de pacientes com padrão usual e a rígida seleção de casos muito provavelmente contribuíram para os resultados encontrados quanto à sobrevida.<br>In order to evaluate the clinical findings and survival of pulmonary idiopathic fibrosis patients, 132 cases with histologically-proven biopsy were studied, coming from Pavilhão Pereira Filho Hospital, from 1970 to 1996. The diagnosis was made in 120 patients by open lung biopsy and in 12 cases by transbronchial lung biopsy. The average age was 56 years; 78 were male and only 6 were black. Smoking was observed in 61 cases. Mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 22.7 months. Digital clubbing was present in 75 patients and teleinspiratory crackles in 100. Dyspnea was observed in all but two patients and cough was present in 89 cases. Lung function test values were: FVC, 62%; FEV1, 70%; DLCO, 43.4%; TLC, 76.7%; PaO2, 67.3 mmHg; PaCO2, 39.1 mmHg and SaO2, 92.3%. Bronchoalveolar cellularity values were: macrophages, 83.8%; neutrophils, 9.1%; lymphocytes, 6.1% and eosinophils, 0.6%. In X-ray, honeycombing was present in 79 cases, reduced total lung capacity in 107 and intrathoracic tracheal widening in 50. In CT, the mean reticular pattern profusion was 42.3% and the mean granular pattern profusion was 43.6%. The usual histologic pattern was found in 128 cases, and the descamative pattern in only 4. Information about survival was found in 121 cases until December 1997. The mean survival rate of all patients was 28 months and for dead patients was 24 months. Patient characteristics in this study were associated with advanced stage of disease, which was confirmed by small survival rates of those cases. The strong predominance of usual pattern and better patient selection may have contributed to these results

Prevention of sternal dehiscence with the Sternum External Fixation (Stern-E-Fix) corset – a randomized trial in 750 patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The main objective of this study will be to determine the effects of a new advanced sternum external fixation (Stern-E-Fix) corset on prevention of sternal instability and mediastinitis in high-risk patients.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This prospective, randomized study (January 2009 – June 2011) comprised 750 male patients undergoing standard median sternotomy for cardiac procedures (78% CABG). Patients were divided in two randomized groups (A, n = 380: received a Stern-E-Fix corset postoperatively for 6 weeks and B, n = 370: control group received a standard elastic thorax bandage). In both groups, risk factors for sternal dehiscence and preoperative preparations were similar.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Wound infections occurred in n = 13 (3.42%) pts. in group A vs. n = 35 (9.46%) in group B. In group A, only 1 patient presented with sternal dehiscence vs. 22 pts. in group B. In all 22 patients, sternal rewiring followed by antibiotic therapy was needed. Mediastinitis related mortality was none in A versus two in B. Treatment failure in group B was more than five times higher than in A (p = 0.01); the mean length of stay in hospital was 12.5 ± 7.4 days (A) versus 18 ± 15.1 days (B) (p=0.002). Re-operation for sternal infection was 4 times higher in group B. Mean ventilation time was relatively longer in B (2.5 vs. 1.28 days) (p = 0.01). The mean follow-up period was 8 weeks (range 6 – 12 weeks).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We demonstrated that using an external supportive sternal corset (Stern-E-Fix) yields a significantly better and effective prevention against development of sternal dehiscence and secondary sternal infection in high-risk poststernotomy patients.</p

Ascorbic acid for the healing of skin wounds in rats

BACKGROUND: Healing is a complex process that involves cellular and biochemical events. Several medicines have been used in order to shorten healing time and avoid aesthetic damage. OBJECTIVE: to verify the topical effect of ascorbic acid for the healing of rats' skin wounds through the number of macrophages, new vessels and fibroblast verifications in the experimental period; and analyse the thickness and the collagen fibre organization in the injured tissue. METHODS: Male Rattus norvegicus weighing 270 ± 30 g were used. After thionembutal anesthesia, 15 mm transversal incisions were made in the animals' cervical backs. They were divided into two groups: Control Group (CG, n = 12) - skin wound cleaned with water and soap daily; Treated Group (TG, n = 12) - skin wound cleaned daily and treated with ascorbic acid cream (10%). Samples of skin were collected on the 3rd, 7th and 14th days. The sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and picrosirius red for morphologic analysis. The images were obtained and analysed by a Digital Analyser System. RESULTS: The ascorbic acid acted on every stage of the healing process. It reduced the number of macrophages, increased the proliferation of fibroblasts and new vessels, and stimulated the synthesis of thicker and more organized collagen fibres in the wounds when compared to CG. CONCLUSION: Ascorbic acid was shown to have anti-inflammatory and healing effects, guaranteeing a suiTable environment and conditions for faster skin repair