Self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

SummaryPurpose:To assess self-perception of factors that precipitate or inhibit seizures in patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME).Patients and methods:Thirty-six males and 39 females with JME and mean age of 25.8±8.7 years were analysed. All patients completed a standardized questionnaire to assess for the presence or absence of precipitant or inhibitory factors for their seizures in a face-to-face interview. These data were statistically analysed through logistic and linear regression models and Phi coefficient.Results:Ninety-two percent of the patients identified at least one precipitating factor (PF). In order of frequency the following PFs were recorded: stress (83%), sleep deprivation (77%), specific thoughts/mental concentration (23%), performance of hand activities and complex finger movements (20%), flashing lights and playing games (15%), speaking out in public (11%) and alcohol intake (11%), reading (7%), calculating and writing (5%), playing musical instruments (4%), drawing (3%), and specific types of music (1%). Menstrual cycle was the third most important PF in the women (33%). Although PFs were easily recognized, 77% of the patients stated that they were unable to avoid the occurrence of the seizures.Conclusions:Structured questionnaire is useful in stimulating patients to self-report seizure precipitants. Patients with higher education and uncontrolled seizures identified them more easily. The presence of a significant number of uncommon PFs, such as mental and motor hand tasks, considered uncommon for other epileptic syndromes, suggests that the role of these factors may be under-recognized in JME

GOOD WATER, BUT FOR WHOM? A STUDY ON THE PERCEPTION OF WATER QUALITY BY AMAZONIAN POPULATIONS

In Brazil different regions have inadequate water and sewage treatment facilities, which can be made worse by the installation of large enterprises. The perception of these populations about the scenario in which they live is of great relevance in this context, the present study has the objective of analyzing the socioenvironmental profile and the perception of the water quality and its relation to health damage by populations resident from the area of Belo Monte hydropower plant. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 268 residents of two cities in the interior of Pará-Brazil and the data were obtained from the application of a semi-structured questionnaire. The results showed that the interviewees had minimal education and were low income. Most interviewees reported having running water in their home. However, 63.1% of the interviewees considered the water provided as organoleptically altered and of poor quality. Of the interviewees, 92.5% stated that their water is mainly from wells; 94.8% perceived a relationship between decreasing water quality and increasing health problems. Of these, 85.2% related to the decrease in water quality with renal problems, 75% with liver problems and 28% with hypertension. About 61.6% of respondents reported concerns about lack of basic sanitation. It is concluded that the populations studied understand the importance of quality water consumption and relate water quality to health problems. Therefore, these results serve as an alert to managers regarding the urgent need to improve the quality of life of this population. Keywords: Pará, sewage systems, drinking water, health, chronic disease.    RESUMO :No Brasil, diferentes regiões têm instalações inadequadas de tratamento de água e esgoto, o que pode ser agravado pela instalação de grandes empresas. A percepção dessas populações sobre o cenário em que vivem é de grande relevância neste contexto, o presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar o perfil socioambiental e a percepção da qualidade da água e sua relação com danos à saúde por populações residentes da área. da usina hidrelétrica de Belo Monte. Um estudo transversal foi realizado com 268 moradores de duas cidades do interior do Pará-Brasil e os dados foram obtidos a partir da aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado. Os resultados mostraram que os entrevistados tinham educação mínima e baixa renda. A maioria dos entrevistados relatou ter água encanada em casa. No entanto, 63,1% dos entrevistados consideraram a água fornecida como organoléptica- mente alterada e de má qualidade. Dos entrevistados, 92,5% afirmaram que a água é proveniente principalmente de poços; 94,8% perceberam uma relação entre diminuir a qualidade da água e aumentar os problemas de saúde. Destes, 85,2% relacionaram-se à diminuição da qualidade da água com problemas renais, 75% com problemas hepáticos e 28% com hipertensão. Cerca de 61,6% dos entrevistados relataram preocupações sobre a falta de saneamento básico. Conclui-se que as populações estudadas entendem a importância do consumo de água de qualidade e relacionam a qualidade da água a problemas de saúde. Portanto, esses resultados servem de alerta para os gestores quanto à necessidade urgente de melhorar a qualidade de vida dessa população. Palavras-chave: Pará, sistemas de esgoto, água potável, saúde, doença crônic

First polymorphic microsatellite markers for the migratory goliath catfish Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), a commercially important resource in the Amazon Basin / Primeiros marcadores microssatélites polimórficos para o bagre migratório Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae), um recurso comercialmente importante na Bacia Amazônica

The caparari (Pseudoplatystoma tigrinum) is a widely distributed species in the Amazon Basin. It has a high market value and it is commonly consumed by the local population. In order to protect the species from possible overfishing, there is a need for a better understanding of the population diversity, since knowledge regarding its biology is scarce, which makes it difficult to monitor. Seven microsatellite loci (simple sequence repeats – SSR) for the species were isolated and characterized in 46 individuals which were sampled in four locations from the Madeira River, in the Brazilian Amazon. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three to eleven. The observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0,326 to 0,705 and 0,322 to 0,758, respectively. No linkage disequilibrium between pairs of loci was detected. The seven microsatellite loci were additionally used for inter-specific amplification in other four species of Pseudoplatystoma. Therefore, this study contributes to the first molecular species-specific SSR markers, which can be used as a new tool for estimating the genetic variability of P. tigrinum and has potential for application in population-related studies

Voltammetric determination of sibutramine in beverages and in pharmaceutical formulations

A simple and sensitive method has been proposed for the determination of sibutramine-HCl in energy drinks, green tea and pharmaceutical formulations using differential pulse voltammetry performed on a hanging mercury drop electrode. In the chosen experimental condition (Mcllvaine pH 4.0 buffer, 50 mV pulse amplitude and 40 mV s-1 scan velocity), sibutramine-HCl presented a reversible behavior and a peak maximum at -80 mV. Detection limit was 0.4 mg L-1 and the working linear range extended up to 33.3 mg L-1 (r = 0.99). Analysis of real and fortified samples enabled recoveries between 91 and 102%. The electroanalytical method was compared with a HPLC method which indicated it accuracy

ERICA: prevalência de tabagismo em adolescentes brasileiros

OBJECTIVE To estimate the prevalences of tobacco use, tobacco experimentation, and frequent smoking among Brazilian adolescents. METHODS We evaluated participants of the cross-sectional, nation-wide, school-based Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), which included 12- to 17-year-old adolescents from municipalities of over 100 thousand inhabitants. The study sample had a clustered, stratified design and was representative of the whole country, its geographical regions, and all 27 state capitals. The information was obtained with self-administered questionnaires. Tobacco experimentation was defined as having tried cigarettes at least once in life. Adolescents who had smoked on at least one day over the previous 30 days were considered current cigarette smokers. Having smoked cigarettes for at least seven consecutive days was an indicator for regular consumption of tobacco. Considering the complex sampling design, prevalences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated according to sociodemographic and socio-environmental characteristics. RESULTS We evaluated 74,589 adolescents. Among these, 18.5% (95%CI 17.7-19.4) had smoked at least once in life, 5.7% (95%CI 5.3-6.2) smoked at the time of the research, and 2.5% (95%CI 2.2-2.8) smoked often. Adolescents aged 15 to 17 years had higher prevalences for all indicators than those aged 12 to 14 years. The prevalences did not differ significantly between sexes. The highest prevalences were found in the South region and the lowest ones, in the Northeast region. Regardless of sex, the prevalences were found to be higher for adolescents who had had paid jobs, who lived with only one parent, and who reported having been in contact with smokers either inside or outside their homes. Female public school adolescents were found to smoke more than the ones from private schools. CONCLUSIONS Tobacco use among adolescents is still a challenge. Intending to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among young people, especially the ones under socioeconomic vulnerability conditions, Brazil must consolidate and increase effective public health care measures.OBJETIVO Estimar as prevalências de tabagismo, experimentação e fumo frequente em adolescentes brasileiros. MÉTODOS Foram avaliados os participantes do Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes (ERICA), estudo transversal de base escolar e abrangência nacional. Participaram adolescentes de 12 a 17 anos de municípios com mais de 100 mil habitantes. A amostra foi estratificada e conglomerada e tem representatividade nacional, regional e para as 27 capitais. As informações foram obtidas usando-se questionário autopreenchível. Experimentação foi definida como: ter experimentado cigarros alguma vez na vida. Foram considerados fumantes atuais de cigarros aqueles que fumaram pelo menos um dia nos últimos 30 dias. Utilizou-se como indicador de uso frequente de tabaco ter fumado cigarros por pelo menos sete dias seguidos. Considerando-se o desenho complexo da amostra, prevalências e intervalos de confiança de 95% foram estimados segundo características sociodemográficas e socioambientais. RESULTADOS Foram avaliados 74.589 adolescentes; dentre esses, 18,5% (IC95% 17,7-19,4) fumaram pelo menos uma vez na vida, 5,7% (IC95% 5,3-6,2) fumavam no momento da pesquisa e 2,5% (IC95% 2,2-2,8) fumavam com frequência. Adolescentes de 15 a 17 anos tiveram prevalências mais elevadas de todos os indicadores comparados aos de 12 a 14 anos. As prevalências não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre sexos. Maiores prevalências foram observadas na região Sul e menores na região Nordeste. Independentemente de sexo, as prevalências foram maiores para adolescentes que tinham tido trabalho remunerado, nos que não moravam com os dois pais e que referiram ter tido contato com fumante em casa ou fora. Adolescentes do sexo feminino de escolas públicas fumavam mais do que as de escolas privadas. CONCLUSÕES O tabagismo entre adolescentes ainda é um desafio. Visando a redução da prevalência de tabagismo entre jovens, em especial os que se encontram em situação de vulnerabilidade socioeconômica, o Brasil deve consolidar e ampliar medidas de saúde pública efetivas

Vet-OncoNet: Malignancy Analysis of Neoplasms in Dogs and Cats

Analysis of canine and feline tumor malignancy data can help clinicians identify high-risk patients and make more accurate decisions. Based on a sample of 16,272 cancer records, including 3266 cats and 13,006 dogs, collected from January 2019 to December 2021 in the Vet-OncoNet Network database, this study aimed to compare the tumor malignancy profile between cats and dogs, considering animal-related factors (sex, age, and breed), topography, and geographic location using a mixed-effects logistic regression model. Cats had a higher proportion of malignant tumors (78.7%) than dogs (46.2%), and the malignancy profile was very different regarding tumors’ topographies.The mean age of malignant tumors occurred eight months later than benign ones (9.1, SD = 3.4; 9.8,SD = 3.2), in general. Species (OR = 3.96, 95%CI 3.57: 4.39) and topography (MOR = 4.10) were the two most important determinants of malignancy risk. Female dogs had a higher risk than male dogs (OR = 1.19, 95%CI 1.08: 1.31), which does not appear to be the case in cats (OR = 0.98, 95%CI0.77: 1.23). Breed contributed significantly to differences in malignancy risk in dogs (MOR = 1.56), particularly in pit bulls and boxers. District of residence was not so relevant in predicting malignancy risk (MOR = 1.14). In both species, the risk of malignancy increased by approximately 20% every three years. It could be hypothesized that species differences in genetic structure may contribute to tumor malignancy

Prediction of intensive care admission and hospital mortality in COVID-19 patients using demographics and baseline laboratory data

Introduction: Optimized allocation of medical resources to patients with COVID-19 has been a critical concern since the onset of the pandemic. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the authors used data from a Brazilian tertiary university hospital to explore predictors of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission and hospital mortality in patients admitted for COVID-19. Our primary aim was to create and validate prediction scores for use in hospitals and emergency departments to aid clinical decisions and resource allocation. Results: The study cohort included 3,022 participants, of whom 2,485 were admitted to the ICU; 1968 survived, and 1054 died in the hospital. From the complete cohort, 1,496 patients were randomly assigned to the derivation sample and 1,526 to the validation sample. The final scores included age, comorbidities, and baseline laboratory data. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were very similar for the derivation and validation samples. Scores for ICU admission had a 75% accuracy in the validation sample, whereas scores for death had a 77% accuracy in the validation sample. The authors found that including baseline flu-like symptoms in the scores added no significant benefit to their accuracy. Furthermore, our scores were more accurate than the previously published NEWS-2 and 4C Mortality Scores. Discussion and conclusions: The authors developed and validated prognostic scores that use readily available clinical and laboratory information to predict ICU admission and mortality in COVID-19. These scores can become valuable tools to support clinical decisions and improve the allocation of limited health resources