Seroprevalence of hepatitis C in type 2 diabetes: evidence for a positive association

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a growing body of literature on the relationship of Hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there are certain gaps in literature and the data is inconclusive. This study was, therefore, carried out to determine the prevalence of HCV infection in diabetic patients and to elucidate the presence of any possible relationship between HCV and T2DM in this region.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Serologic testing for anti-HCV antibody was done on a sample of 3000 individuals with T2DM visiting Diabetes Clinic of Nishtar Medical College Hospital, Multan and 10,000 volunteer blood donors visiting blood bank of the same hospital during the study period using Accurate rapid immunochromatographic kits which was later confirmed by using Chemelex S.A third generation ELISA kit for positive cases. Data about various variables was collected from diabetic patients using a structured questionnaire after taking informed consent.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Prevalence rate of 13.7% for HCV infection was recorded among subjects having T2DM with seropositivity rate of 4.9% among the control group of volunteer blood donors without diabetes. The patients with T2DM were more likely to have HCV infection as compared to the control group (OR = 3.03, 95%CI = 2.64-3.48, p = 0.001). Diabetic patients with age above 55 years had higher prevalence rate as compared to younger individuals. Male patients had significantly high seropositivity as compared to female patients (15.3% vs. 12.4%, p = 0.02). Those with duration of diabetes 11 years and above and the ones with good glycemic control had higher seroprevalence rates of 18.2% and 18.7% respectively. There was no statistically significant difference among subjects when the distribution of HCV was studied on the basis of marital status, locality, or family history of diabetes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results show that there is a strong association between HCV and T2DM in the region as evident from significantly higher prevalence of HCV infection in diabetics as compared to the control group in the present study.</p

Probiotic lactobacilli inhibit early stages of Candida albicans biofilm development by reducing their growth, cell adhesion, and filamentation

We evaluated the inhibitory effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus species on different phases of Candida albicans biofilm development. Quantification of biofilm growth and ultrastructural analyses were performed on C. albicans biofilms treated with Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus casei, and Lactobacillus acidophilus planktonic cell suspensions as well as their supernatants. Planktonic lactobacilli induced a significant reduction (p\ua0\ua00.05), but significantly reduced the early stages of Candida biofilm formation (p\ua

Representações sociais sobre cirrose hepática alcoólica elaboradas por seus portadores Representaciones sociales sobre cirrosis hepática alcohólica elaboradas por sus portadores Social representations on alcoholic liver cirrhosis elaborated by its carriers

O abuso do álcool pode levar à cirrose hepática alcoólica, problema de saúde pública e de alto custo social. Objetivou-se apreender as representações sobre cirrose hepática alcoólica elaboradas por seus portadores. Metodologia: estudo descritivo, exploratório, com abordagem qualitativa desenvolvido em duas instituições públicas no município de Fortaleza-CE. Participaram quinze sujeitos com diagnóstico de cirrose hepática alcoólica. Aplicou-se entrevista semi-estruturada, e foi utilizada técnica de análise de conteúdo temática. Resultados : Emergiram cinco categorias, porém apresentaremos três: Concepções sobre cirrose, Percepções sobre cirrose e Conseqüências da cirrose, que evidenciaram a cirrose representada como doença que destrói e causa morte. A vivência é permeada por dificuldades, principalmente sócio-econômicas e emocionais. Conclusões: Faz-se necessária uma mudança de atitude do profissional de saúde, para humanizar o cuidado e assim minimizar o sofrimento destes pacientes.<br>El abuso del alcohol puede llevar a cirrosis hepática alcohólica, problema de salud pública y de alto costo social. Intentó aprehender las representaciones sobre cirrosis hepática alcohólica elaboradas por sus portadores. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, exploratorio, con abordaje cualitativo desarrollado en dos instituciones públicas en el municipio de Fortaleza-CE (Brasil). Participaron quince sujetos con diagnóstico de cirrosis hepática alcohólica. Aplicó entrevista semiestructurada y fue utilizada la técnica de análisis de contenido temático. Resultados: Se construyeron cinco categorías, pero presentaremos tres: Concepciones sobre cirrosis, Percepciones sobre cirrosis y Consecuencias de la cirrosis, que evidenciaron la cirrosis representada como una enfermedad que destruye y causa la muerte. La vivencia es traspasada por dificultades, sobre todo, socioeconómicas y emocionales. Conclusiones: Es necesario un cambio de actitud del profesional de la salud para humanizar el cuidado y minimizar el sufrimiento de estos pacientes.<br>The abuse of the alcohol can take the alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis, problem of public health and high social cost. It was objectified to apprehend the representations on alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis elaborated by its carriers. Methodology: descriptive, exploratory study, with qualitative approach developed in two public institutions in the city of Fortaleza-CE (Brazil). Fifteen citizens with diagnosis of alcoholic hepatic cirrhosis had participated. It was applied a half structured interview, and used the technique of thematic analysis of content. Results: Five categories had emerged, however we will show three of them: Conceptions on cirrhosis, Perceptions on cirrhosis, and Consequences of the cirrhosis, which showed the cirrhosis represented as illness that destroys, and causes death. Living had been observed, permeated by difficulties, mainly, emotional social and economics. Conclusions: Consequently, the need arises for a change of attitude by the health professional to humanize the care, and thereby minimize the suffering of these patients

Índice de publicação dos trabalhos apresentados no XXIV Congresso Brasileiro de Cirurgia

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o índice de publicação a nível internacional (Index Medicus-Medline-PubMed) dos trabalhos apresentados no XXIV Congresso Brasileiro de Cirurgia. MÉTODO: A publicação dos trabalhos foi pesquisada por consulta à base de dados de publicações biomédicas a nível mundial (Index Medicus-Medline-PubMed), a partir da lista de autores e co-autores e palavras-chave dos títulos dos trabalhos. RESULTADOS: Do total de 1133 trabalhos apresentados, 29 (2,6%) foram publicados-nove temas livres (2,0%), um vídeo livre (1,6%), dois fórum de pesquisa (12,5%) e 17 pôsteres (2,8%). Dos 2638 autores identificados, 71 (2,7%) publicaram seus trabalhos. CONCLUSÕES: O índice de publicações dos trabalhos apresentados ainda é baixo