282 research outputs found
A Rare Cause of Abdominal Pain: Intestinal Angioedema
Angioedema with evidence of mucosal swelling is a rare condition that can be caused by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The authors describe a case of a 28-year-old woman medicated with lisinopril 2 months before, with abdominal pain associated with nausea, vomiting and a onetime watery stool. A small volume of ascites was found in the abdominal ultrasound and the parietal thickening of the middle ileum in the abdominal computed tomography (CT). The complementary study was negative. The symptoms stopped after drug withdrawal. The authors intend to warn to this diagnosis, which has non-specific symptoms and if not suspected, can lead to a great morbidity for patients. The authors also intend to identify various signs that can be clues for its correct diagnosis.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
Stroke rehabilitation and research: consideration of the role of the cortico-reticulospinal system
A cerebrovascular accident, otherwise known as stroke, has the potential to damage multiple areas within the brain affecting descending motor control via a multitude of pathways resulting in a wide variety of movement problems. The cortico-reticulospinal system, one of the largest motor systems, is frequently affected, compromising its output, resulting in postural control deficits. The identification of clinically relevant instruments and scales to document and evaluate recovery in post-stroke patients is vital. However, the availability of such measures and scales which take into consideration the role of postural control as an integral component of functional movement performance are scarce. This paper will critically discuss the importance of integrating current neuroscience and motor control knowledge in order to better understand and describe the clinical presentation of persons post-stroke such that the effectiveness of stroke rehabilitation can be appropriately measured.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio
REVIEW OF “OXFORD TEXTBOOK OF PUBLIC HEALTH”
The fifth edition of the “ Oxford textbook of public health” , edited by Roger Detels, Robert Beaglehole, Mary Ann Lansang and Martin Gulliford, consists of 12 sections grouped into three volumes: scope, methods, and practices of public health. This edition deals with the development and application of science of disease prevention, increased longevity and health promotion by community action, to promote the physical, psychological and mental well-being of subjects, involving technology, social sciences, and politics. Each chapter describes public health problems, how to avoid them by early identification, suggestions, presentation of strategies for solving these problems, and evaluations of actions’ effectiveness. The entire book addresses public health in developed, emerging, and developing countries. Volume I presents the history of public health, determinants of health and disease, policies, laws and their ethics. In the first section, public health actions are described in different countries
Educação em saúde para prevenção do câncer de pênis: relato de experiência / Health education for the prevention of penile cancer: experience report
O câncer de pênis é uma neoplasia rara que pode causar efeitos físicos e mentais devastadores nos pacientes. Este artigo relata ação educativa em grupo de homens visando buscar melhor compreensão sobre o câncer de pênis e as medidas de prevenção e detecção precoce. Os resultados apontam que o conhecimento sobre câncer de pênis ainda precisa ser melhor trabalhado entre os homen
Antimicrobial properties of membrane-active dodecapeptides derived from MSI-78
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics known by their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes and their low tendency to induce bacterial resistance, arising as excellent candidates to fight bacterial infections. In this study we aimed at designing short 12-mer AMPs, derived from a highly effective and broad spectrum synthetic AMP, MSI-78 (22 residues), by truncating this peptide at the N- and/or C-termini while spanning its entire sequence with 1 amino add (aa) shifts. These designed peptides were evaluated regarding antimicrobial activity against selected gram-positive Staphylococcus strains and the gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The short 12-mer peptide CEM1 (GIGMFLKKAKICF) was identified as an excellent candidate to fight P. aeruginosa infections as it displays antimicrobial activity against this strain and selectivity, with negligible toxicity to mammalian cells even at high concentrations. However, in general most of the short 12-mer peptides tested showed a reduction in antimicrobial activity, an effect that was more pronounced for gram-positive Staphylococcus strains. Interestingly, CEM1 and a highly similar peptide differing by only one aa-shift (CEM2: IGKFLKKAKICFG), showed a remarkably contrasting AMP activity. These two peptides were chosen for a more detailed study regarding their mechanism of action, using several biophysical assays and simple membrane models that mimic the mammalian and bacterial lipid composition. We confirmed the correlation between peptide helicity and antimicrobial activity and propose a mechanism of action based on the disruption of the bacterial membrane permeability barrier
<b>Somatic embryogenesis in anthurium (<i>Anthurium andraeanum</i> cv. Eidibel) as affected by different explants</b> - doi: 10.4025/actasciagron.v36i1.16557
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD): screening, treatment and survival analysis in a Brazilian series
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical features, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) screening, treatment modalities, and Overall Survival (OS) in a series of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma (NAFLD-HCC) Brazilian patients.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study at the Instituto do Cancer do Estado de São Paulo, at the Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo with the approval of the local research ethics committee. NAFLD patients with HCC diagnosed, from May 2010 to May 2019, were included.
Results: A total of 131 patients were included. Risk factors for NAFLD were present in 94.7% of the patients. Only 29% of patients were in the HCC screening program before diagnosis. HCC treatment was performed in 84.7% of patients. Cumulative survival at the end of the first year was 72%, second-year 52%, and fifth-year 32%. HCC screening before diagnosis was not significantly associated with higher cumulative survival. The independent factors associated with shorter general survival were BCLC C-D, p < 0.001, and the size of the largest nodule > 42 mm, p = 0.039.
Conclusions: Although the efficacy of screening in our population regarding overall survival was hampered due to the sample size (29% had screening), BCLC stages C‒D and the size of the largest nodule larger than 42 mm were identified as independent factors of worse prognosis
Improvement of in vivo anticancer and antiangiogenic potential of thalidomide derivatives
AbstractThe strategy of antiangiogenic drugs is based on inhibiting formation of new blood vessels as alternative to limit cancer progression. In this work, we investigated the antitumor and antiangiogenic potential of eight thalidomide derivatives. Most of the molecules was not cytotoxic but 2a, 2d and 3d revealed weak antiproliferative activity on HL-60, Sarcoma 180 (S180) and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Thalidomide, 2a and 2b were able to inhibit tumor growth (53.5%, 67.9% and 67.4%, respectively) in S180-bearing mice and presented moderate and reversible toxicity on liver, kidneys and spleens. Both analogs (2a and 2b) inhibited cell migration of endothelial (HUVEC) and melanoma cells (MDA/MB-435) at 50μg/mL. Immunohistochemistry labeling assays with CD-31 (PECAM-1) antibody showed microvascular density (MVD) was significantly reduced in thalidomide, 2a and 2b groups (30±4.9, 64.6±1.8 and 46.5±19.5%, respectively) (p<0.05). Neovascularization evaluated by Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay (CAM) with compounds 2a and 2b showed reduction of vessels’ number (12. 9±2.3 and 14.8±3.3%), neovascularization area (13.1±1.7 and 14.3±1.7%) and total length of vessels (9.2±1.5 and 9.9±1.9%). On the other hand, thalidomide did not alter vascularization parameters. Consequently, addition of thiosemicarbazone pharmacophore group into the phthalimidic ring improved the in vivo antitumor and antiangiogenic potential of the analogs 2a and 2b
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