The implementation of the Medical Regulation Office and Mobile Emergency Attendance System and its impact on the gravity profile of non-traumatic afflictions treated in a University Hospital: a research study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The public health system of Brazil is structured by a network of increasing complexity, but the low resolution of emergency care at pre-hospital units and the lack of organization of patient flow overloaded the hospitals, mainly the ones of higher complexity. The knowledge of this phenomenon induced Ribeirão Preto to implement the Medical Regulation Office and the Mobile Emergency Attendance System. The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of these services on the gravity profile of non-traumatic afflictions in a University Hospital.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 906 patients older than 13 years of age who entered the Emergency Care Unit of the Hospital of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine at Ribeirão Preto. All presented acute non-traumatic afflictions and were admitted to the Internal Medicine, Surgery or Neurology Departments during two study periods: May 1996 (prior to) and May 2001 (after the implementation of the Medical Regulation Office and Mobile Emergency Attendance System). Demographics and mortality risk levels calculated by Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>From 1996 to 2001, the mean age increased from 49 ± 0.9 to 52 ± 0.9 (P = 0.021), as did the percentage of co-morbidities, from 66.6 to 77.0 (P = 0.0001), the number of in-hospital complications from 260 to 284 (P = 0.0001), the mean calculated APACHE II mortality risk increased from 12.0 ± 0.5 to 14.8 ± 0.6 (P = 0.0008) and mortality rate from 6.1 to 12.2 (P = 0.002). The differences were more significant for patients admitted to the Internal Medicine Department.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The implementation of the Medical Regulation and Mobile Emergency Attendance System contributed to directing patients with higher gravity scores to the Emergency Care Unit, demonstrating the potential of these services for hierarchical structuring of pre-hospital networks and referrals.</p

TESTING A SUBTYPE-SPECIFIC GP41 AMPLIFICATION METHOD FOR GENOTYPING INDIVIDUALS INFECTED BY HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE-1 IN THE BRAZILIAN POPULATION OF ITAJAI, SOUTH BRAZIL

The method used by YAGYU et al. for the subtype-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the gp41 transmembrane region of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) env gene, was tested. HIV-1 proviral DNA from 100 infected individuals in Itajaí, South Brazil was used to analyze this method. Seventy individuals were determined according to this method as having PCR products at the expected size for subtypes B, C, D and F. Of these individuals, 26 (37.1%) were observed as having the expected amplification for subtype C, and 42 (60%) were observed as having the expected products for subtypes B and D. Of the subtype B and D amplicons, 16 (22.9%) were classified as subtype D, and 26 (37.1%) were classified as subtype B. Two individuals (2.9%) had amplicons that were observed after subtype F-specific amplification was performed. Sequencing and comparing the patient sequences to reference sequences confirmed the classification of sequences of subtypes C and B. However, sequences that were falsely determined as being D and F in the PCR assay were determined as being subtypes C and B, respectively, by sequence analysis. For those individuals from whom no amplified products were obtained, a low viral load that was indicated in their patient history may explain the difficulty in subtyping by PCR methods. This issue was demonstrated by the results of ANOVA when testing the effect of viral load on the success of PCR amplification. The alignment of the obtained sequences with HIV-1 reference sequences demonstrated that there is high intra-subtype diversity. This indicates that the subtype-specific primer binding sites were not conserved or representative of the subtypes that are observed in the Brazilian populations, and that they did not allow the correct classification of HIV-1 subtypes. Therefore, the proposed method by YAGYU et al. is not applicable for the classification of Brazilian HIV-1 subtypes

Facial features of patients with sickle cell anemia

Objective: To characterize the craniofacial features of patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with SCA in the north of Minas Gerais, Brazil, were evaluated using standardized photographs (front and profile) for a subjective facial analysis and digital radiographs for a computerized cephalometric analysis. To obtain linear and angular measurements, cephalometric points were marked on the digital images by a single examiner, using the program Radiocef 6.0, and facial analyses were performed by four different orthodontists. Results: Of the population studied, 28 patients were female with a mean age of 27.7 years. Most of the patients (64%) had their faces classified as esthetically acceptable, although results showed a predominance of convex profiles (72%). The mean of the SNA angle was 84.56 degrees, diagnosing proper positioning of the maxilla from the base of the skull. The prevalence of pattern II was 32%, and 31% showed maxillary protrusion; the effective length of the maxilla was reduced in 64%. Retrusion of the mandible was observed in 30%, and 76% had reduced mandibular length. Four measurements (mandibular length, maxillary length, anterior face height, and maxillomandibular difference) showed statistically significant differences between genders, where these measurements were higher for males than for females. Conclusion: Most patients did not show compensatory maxillary expansion, which was determined by the prevalence of decreased maxillary length (64%) and by the absence of maxillary protrusion in 69% of the SCA patients evaluated. (Angle Orthod. 2011;81:115-120.)811115120Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG

Lipidic characterization of Santa Ines lamb shoulder

The edible portion of the shoulder of 12 castrated and 12 non-castrated Santa Ines lambs slaughtered at different ages (84, 168, 210, 252 days) were used. The shoulders were chemically analyzed to determine the quantity of total lipids, cholesterol, and fatty acids composition. Castrated and non-castrated lambs gained body weight (p = 0.0393, p = 0.0017) and half carcass weight (p = 0.0240, p = 0.0017), respectively. The shoulder weight was increased in the carcasses of non-castrated lambs (p = 0.0110). The edible portion of the shoulder of castrated lambs presented higher total lipids (16.09 g.100 g(-1)). The cholesterol content was influenced by castration (p = 0.0001) reducing with age. Castrated animals presented higher content of C18:1 T11, CLA, and C18:0. The shoulder weight is only increased with increasing age in the carcasses of non-castrated lambs. Castration influences the cholesterol content of the shoulder; however, both castrated and non-castrated lambs had their cholesterol contents reduced with increasing age. Castration and age interfered in the estearic acid concentration of the edible portion of lamb shoulder.31250851