Crack Cocaine Use and its Relationship with Violence and Hiv

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate crack cocaine use practices, risk behaviors associated with HIV infection among drug users, and their involvement with violence. INTRODUCTION: HIV infections are frequent among drug users due to risky sexual behavior. It is generally accepted that crack cocaine use is related to increased levels of violence. Several reports point to an increase in violence from those involved in drug trafficking. Although HIV infections and risky sexual behavior among drug users have been quite well studied, there are few studies that evaluate violence as it relates to drugs, particularly crack. METHODS: A total of 350 drug users attending drug abuse treatment clinics in São Paulo, Brazil were interviewed about their risky behaviors. Each patient had a serological HIV test done. RESULTS: HIV prevalence was 6.6% (4.0 to 10.2). Violence was reported by 97% (94.7 to 99.1) of the subjects (including cases without personal involvement). Acts of violence such as verbal arguments, physical fights, threats, death threats, theft, and drug trafficking were significantly higher among crack users. A decrease in frequency of sexual intercourse was observed among users of injected drugs, though prostitution was observed as a means of obtaining drugs. A high number of crack cocaine users had a history of previous imprisonment, many for drug-related infractions. DISCUSSION: The data presented are in accordance with other reports in the literature, and they show a correlation between drug use, imprisonment, violence, and drug trafficking. CONCLUSION: A high HIV prevalence and associated risky sexual behaviors were observed among crack cocaine users. The society and the authorities that deal with violence related to crack users and drug trafficking should be aware of these problems

Preferred Formation of Minority Concomitant Polymorphs in 2D Self‐Assembly under Lateral Nanoconfinement

Control over polymorph formation in the crystallization of organic molecules remains a huge scientific challenge. Now, preferential formation is presented of one polymorph, formed by chiral molecules, in controlled two‐dimensional (2D) nanoconfinement conditions at a liquid–solid interface. So‐called nanocorrals to control concomitant polymorph formation were created in situ via a nanoshaving protocol at the interface between 1‐phenyloctane and covalently modified highly‐oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The preferentially formed polymorphs, which were less stable in the large‐scale monolayers, could be selected simply by varying the orientation of the square nanocorrals with respect to the HOPG lattice

Direito à Saúde e Critérios de Aplicação

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Direito à Saúde e Critérios de Aplicação

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Evidence-based guidelines for the use of biochemical markers of bone turnover in the selection and monitoring of bisphosphonate treatment in osteoporosis: a consensus document of the Belgian Bone Club

OBJECTIVES: To review the clinical value of bone turnover markers (BTM), to initiate and/or monitor anti-resorptive treatment for osteoporosis compared with bone mineral density (BMD) and to evaluate suitable BTM and changes in BTM levels for significance of treatment efficiency. METHODOLOGY: Consensus meeting generating guidelines for clinical practice after review and discussion of the randomised controlled trials or meta-analyses on the management of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. RESULTS: Although the correlation between BMD and BTM is statistically significant, BTM cannot be used as predictive markers of BMD in an individual patient. Both are independent predictors of fracture risk, but BTM can only be used as an additional risk factor in the decision to treat. Current data do not support the use of BTM to select the optimal treatment. However, they can be used to monitor treatment efficiency before BMD changes can be evaluated. Early changes in BTM can be used to measure the clinical efficacy of an anti-resorptive treatment and to reinforce patient compliance. DISCUSSION: Determining a threshold of BTM reflecting an optimal long-term effect is not obvious. The objective should be the return to the premenopausal range and/or a decrease at least equal to the least significant change (30%). Preanalytical and analytical variability of BTM is an important limitation to their use. Serum C-terminal cross-linked telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), procollagen 1 N terminal extension peptide and bone specific alkaline phosphatase (BSALP) appear to be the most suitable. Conclusion: Consensus regarding the use of BTM resulted in guidelines for clinical practice. BMD determines the indication to treat osteoporosis. BTM reflect treatment efficiency and can be used to motivate patients to persist with their medication.Consensus Development ConferenceJournal ArticlePractice GuidelineResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tReviewSCOPUS: cp.jFLWOAinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Avaliação física de ovos de codorna em diferentes períodos de armazenamento

O ovo é um dos alimentos mais consumidos em todo o mundo, e contribui com uma proteína de alta qualidade e com 13 minerais e vitaminas, aliados a uma baixa concentração calórica e baixo custo. No entanto, como qualquer produto de origem animal, os ovos de codorna também são alimentos perecíveis e começam a perder sua qualidade interna imediatamente após a postura. O objetivo do trabalho é avaliar as perdas de peso em ovos de codorna armazenados sob temperatura de refrigeração, com 11, 30 e 45 dias após a postura, e analisar as alterações físicas em ovos com 1 dia de postura e após 45 dias de estocagem. Ao final do período de estudo, foi observado que: ocorre perda de peso nos ovos de codorna, sendo que essa perda é maior conforme aumenta o período de armazenamento; as determinações de relações e volumes que envolviam as claras apresentaram decréscimo e as determinações das gemas aumentaram; quanto aos índices que determinam a qualidade da clara e gema, ambos apresentaram decréscimo. Palavras-chave: Ovos de codorna; avaliação física; armazenamento. Abstract Physical evaluation of quail eggs in different storage times The egg is one of the most consumed foods in the world, and it contributes with high quality protein and with 13 minerals and vitamins all together with a low caloric concentration and low cost. Nevertheless, as any product of animal origin, quail eggs are also perishable and start to lose its internal qualities right after posture. The objective of this work was to evaluate the weigh losses in quail eggs under refrigeration in 11, 30 and 45 days of posture, and to analyze physical alteration 1 day after posture and after 45 days of storage. In the end of the study period it was observed: that weigh loss occurs, and the greater the time in storage the bigger the loss; the determination of relation and volumes that involve the albumen decreased and the yolk determination increased; and the index that showed the quality of yolk and albumen both decreased. Key-words: Quail eggs; physical evaluation; storage

Austempering in Zamak bath : influence of austempering time and austenitizing temperature on ductile cast iron properties

The combination of the austempered ductile iron mechanical properties strongly depend on the parameters used on the austempering cycle. On this study, the influence of austempering time and austenitizing temperature on the properties of a ductile iron were evaluated. A metallic bath of Zamak at 380°C was used as an austempering mean. A set of ductile iron blocks were austenitized at 900°C for 90 minutes and submitted to different austempering times in order to determine the best combination of microstructural and mechanical properties. After the definition of the time of austempering, the reduction of the austenitizing temperature was evaluated. The best combination of properties was obtained with austenitizing at 860°C and austempering during 60 minutes