Vitamin A Supplementation For Postpartum Women

In areas where vitamin A deficiency (VAD) is a public health concern, the maternal dietary intake of vitamin A may be not sufficient to meet either the maternal nutritional requirements, or those of the breastfed infant, due the low retinol concentrations in breast milk. Objectives To evaluate the effects of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant health. Search methods We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (8 February 2016), LILACS (1982 to December 2015), Web of Science (1945 to December 2015), and the reference lists of retrieved studies. Selection criteria Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or cluster-randomised trials that assessed the effects of vitamin A supplementation for postpartum women on maternal and infant health (morbidity, mortality and vitamin A nutritional status). Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently assessed trials for inclusion, conducted data extraction, assessed risk of bias and checked for accuracy. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE approach. Main results Fourteen trials of mainly low or unclear risk of bias, enrolling 25,758 women and infant pairs were included. The supplementation schemes included high, single or double doses of vitamin A (200,000 to 400,000 internation units (IU)), or 7.8 mg daily beta-carotene compared with placebo, no treatment, other (iron); or higher (400,000 IU) versus lower dose (200,000 IU). In all trials, a considerable proportion of infants were at least partially breastfed until six months.Cochrane Editorial Unit, U

Coastal urbanization leads to remarkable seaweed species loss and community shifts along the SW Atlantic

Coastal urbanization is rapidly expanding worldwide while its impacts on seaweed communities remain poorly understood. We assessed the impact of urbanization along an extensive latitudinal gradient encompassing three phycogeographical regions in the SW Atlantic. Human population density, number of dwellings, and terrestrial vegetation cover were determined for each survey area and correlated with diversity indices calculated from seaweed percent cover data. Urban areas had significantly lower calcareous algal cover (-38%), and there was significantly less carbonate in the sediment off urban areas than off reference areas. Seaweed richness averaged 26% less in urban areas than in areas with higher vegetation cover. We observed a remarkable decline in Phaeophyceae and a substantial increase of Chlorophyta in urban areas across a wide latitudinal gradient. Our data show that coastal urbanization is causing substantial loss of seaweed biodiversity in the SW Atlantic, and is considerably changing seaweed assemblages

Seasonal and depth-driven changes in rhodolith bed structure and associated macroalgae off Arvoredo island (southeastern Brazil)

Rhodoliths are formed by coralline red algae and can form heterogeneous substrata with high biodiversity. Here we describe a rhodolith bed at the southern limit of the known distribution of this habitat in the western Atlantic. We characterized rhodolith and macroalgal assemblages at 5, 10 and 15. m depth during summer and winter. Lithothamnion crispatum was dominant amongst the six rhodolith-forming species present. Most rhodoliths were spheroidal in shape indicating high mobility due to water movement. Rhodolith density decreased with increasing depth and during winter. Turf-forming seaweeds accounted for 60% of the biomass growing on rhodoliths. Macroalgae increased abundance and richness in the summer, but was similar between 5 and 15. m depth. They were less abundant and diverse than that recorded in rhodolith beds further north in Brazil. Both, season and depth, affected the structure of the macroalgae assemblages. We conclude that Lithothamniom is the most representative genus of Brazilian rhodolith beds. Summer is responsible for increasing the diversity and richness of macroalgae, as well as increasing rhodolith density. © 2013 Elsevier B.V

Pyogenic Liver Abscesses Derived From Dental Disease in an Immunocompetent Patient

Introduction: Pyogenic liver abscess of odontogenic origin is extremely rare. The authors report a case of pyogenic liver abscesses with oral origin caused by Prevotella denticola and Streptococcus anginosus, in an immunocompetent adult. Case Report: A 54-year-old healthy female was presented to our hospital with fever, pain in the right hypochondriac region, constipation, anorexia and history of toothache with gingival swelling. Abdominal X-ray presented showed signs of intestinal obstruction and computed tomography suggested two liver abscesses. The larger one, with 113 mm, was drained under percutaneous ultrasound guidance. Abscess culture isolated Prevotella denticola and Streptococcus anginosus. Under antibiotic therapy, the most common causes for liver abscess were excluded. Dental evaluation found multiple septic foci. Root extractions, dental restorations and periodontal treatments were performed. In this case, abscess culture result is highly suggestive of a dental origin, as species isolated are common oral pathogens. Along with the clinical findings, we are reassured about the original source of infection. Conclusion: This case illustrates the underestimated risk associated with untreated dental diseases. We believe oral infectious foci removal is imperative as primary care. Due to the increase of the cryptogenic liver abscess, we find a systematic dental evaluation is required for the etiological diagnosis of liver abscess.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Integral field spectroscopy of massive young stellar objects in the N113 H II region in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The Spitzer Surveying the Agents of Galaxy Evolution (SAGE) survey has allowed the identification and analysis of significant samples of Young Stellar Object (YSO) candidates in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). However, the angular resolution of Spitzer is relatively poor meaning that at the distance of the LMC, it is likely that many of the Spitzer YSO candidates in fact contain multiple components. We present high-resolution K-band integral field spectroscopic observations of the three most prominent massive YSO candidates in the N113 H II region using Very Large Telescope/Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observations in the Near Infrared (VLT/SINFONI). We have identified six K-band continuum sources within the three Spitzer sources and we have mapped the morphology and velocity fields of extended line emission around these sources. Br γ, He I and H2 emission is found at the position of all six K-band sources; we discuss whether the emission is associated with the continuum sources or whether it is ambient emission. H2 emission appears to be mostly ambient emission and no evidence of CO emission arising in the discs of YSOs has been found. We have mapped the centroid velocities of extended Br γ emission and He I emission and found evidence of two expanding compact H II regions. One source shows compact and strong H2 emission suggestive of a molecular outflow. The diversity of spectroscopic properties observed is interpreted in the context of a range of evolutionary stages associated with massive star formation

Etiologic Evaluation and Investigation of Global Development Delay and Intellectual Disability

Developmental Delay (DD) and Intellectual Disability (ID), depending on the affected individual being under or above five years-old, result from environmental or genetic causes during the developmental period, that manifest as a subnormal functioning of intellectual abilities. In western countries there is a prevalence of about 3%, with a great impact in the individuals, their families, as well as in the society. Etiologic diagnosis remains unknown in about 65-80% of the cases. It is a clinically heterogeneous condition as it can be sporadic or familiar, encompassing an autosomal dominant, recessive or X-linked transmission. Etiologic investigation emphasizes the importance of the clinical and family history as well as the physical examination, with special care for dysmorphologic evaluation. The authors reviewed DD/ ID focusing not only on clinical diagnosis but mostly on genetic causes and etiologic investigation. The protocol presented is followed by the Medical Genetics Department of Coimbra’s Paediatrics Hospital, in accordance to the international consensus

A survey for low mass spectroscopic binary stars in the young clusters around sigma Orionis and lambda Orionis

We have obtained multi-epoch, high-resolution spectroscopy of 218 candidate low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the young clusters around sigma Ori and lambda Ori. We find that 196 targets are cluster members based on their radial velocity, the equivalent width of their NaI 8200 lines and the spectral type from their TiO band strength. We have identified 11 new binary stars among the cluster members based on their variable radial velocity and an additional binary from the variation in its line width and shape. The sample covers the magnitude range Ic=14-18.9 (mass =~ 0.55-0.03 Msun), but all of the binary stars are brighter than Ic=16.6 (mass =~ 0.12Msun) and 10 are brighter than Ic=15.5 (mass =~ 0.23Msun). There is a significant lack of spectroscopic binaries in our sample at faint magnitudes even when we account for the decrease in sensitivity with increasing magnitude. We can reject the hypothesis that the fraction of spectroscopic binaries is a uniform function of Ic magnitude with more than 99% confidence. The spectroscopic binary fraction for stars more massive than about 0.1Msun (Ic < 16.9) is f_bright=0.095(+0.012)(-0.028). The 90% confidence upper limit to the spectroscopic binary fraction for very low mass (VLM) stars (mass < 0.1Msun) and brown dwarfs (BDs) is f_faint < 7.5%. The hypothesis that f_bright and f_faint are equal can be rejected with 90% confidence. We conclude that we have found strong evidence for a change in the fraction of spectroscopic binaries among young VLM stars and brown dwarfs when compared to more massive stars in the same star-forming region. This implies a difference in the total binary fraction between VLM stars and BDs compared to more massive stars or a difference in the distribution of semi-major axes, or both. (Abridged

Anatomical and histochemical analysis of vegetative organs of Vernonia ferruginea Less. (Asteraceae)

Vernonia ferruginea Less. is a perennial shrub species, present in several regions of Brazil, especially in the savanna. It is popularly used as a phytotherapic. This fact justifies the need to anatomically characterize the plant for its accurate identification and to conduct histochemical studies with the aim of identifying the chemical nature of its cellular constituents. The species-specific data will contribute significantly to pharmaceutical quality control and also provide information about the sites of specific chemical compounds. Samples of V. ferruginea vegetative organs were collected and submitted to the usual plant anatomy and histochemical techniques. The leaves are anfihipoestomática with anomocytic stomata; have tector and glandular trichomes that store essential oils. The stem has collateral-type vascular bundles arranged in a eustele structure; it also has glandular and tector trichomes. The root has brachysclereids, endoderm with various chemical compounds and vascular bundles having axial elements and rays. Few differences were found in the structure of vegetative organs in relation to other species of the genus, confirming the importance of the details shown.Key words: Plant anatomy, assapeixe-branco, essential oils