Qualidade de vida de pacientes submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica: estudo transversal

Purpose: Analyze factors that influenced the quality of life (QoL) of patients after bariatric surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out, involving 307 adult bariatric surgery patients between 2012 and 2014. Data was obtained from the electronic patient records and telephone interviews. To assess the QoL, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Bref (WHOQOL-bref) was used. A simple linear regression model was constructed, adjusted by sociodemographic variables, with p<0.05. Results: The domains with the worst scores were the physical (mean=58.45; SD±10.42) and environmental (mean=65.19; SD±11.36). The best domains were the social (mean=76.51; SD±15.71) and psychological (mean=68.70; SD±15.71). In the linear regression model, it was observed that time since the surgery was inversely associated with the physical health domain. For each month post-bariatric surgery, the patient’s average score dropped by 2.66 points, adjusted by sex and age. Conclusions: Time since the surgery could be an important determinant of the physical domain score of quality of life. Identifying the quality of life after bariatric surgery and influential factors is fundamental to prepare these patients for the changes deriving from the weight loss.Objetivo: Analizar los factores que influyeron en la calidad de vida (CV) de los pacientes después de la cirugía bariátrica. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en el que participaron 307 pacientes adultos con cirugía bariátrica entre 2012 y 2014. Se han obtenido los datos de los registros electrónicos de los pacientes y de sus entrevistas telefónicas. Después se construyó un modelo de regresión lineal simple, ajustado por variables sociodemográficas, con p <0.05. Para evaluar la CV, se utilizó la Calidad de Vida Breve de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHOQOL-bref). Resultados: Los dominios con las peores puntuaciones fueron el físico (media = 58,45; SD ± 10,42) y ambiental (media = 65,19; SD ± 11,36). Los mejores dominios fueron el social (media = 76.51; SD ± 15.71) y psicológico (media = 68.70; SD ± 15.71). En el modelo de regresión lineal, se observó que el tiempo desde la cirugía se asoció inversamente con el dominio de la salud física. Por cada mes posterior a la cirugía bariátrica, el puntaje promedio del paciente se redujo en 2.66 puntos, ajustado por sexo y edad. Conclusión: El tiempo transcurrido desde la cirugía puede ser un determinante importante de la puntuación del dominio físico de la calidad de vida. Identificar la calidad de vida después de la cirugía bariátrica y los factores influyentes es fundamental para preparar a estos pacientes para los cambios derivados de la pérdida de peso.Objetivo: Analisar os fatores que influenciaram a qualidade de vida (QV) dos pacientes após a cirurgia bariátrica. Método: Realizado um estudo transversal envolvendo 307 pacientes adultos submetidos à cirurgia bariátrica, no período de 2012 a 2014. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de prontuário eletrônico e entrevistas telefônicas. Para avaliar a QV, foi utilizada a World Health Organization Quality of Life-bref (WHOQOL-bref). Um modelo de regressão linear simples foi construído, ajustado por variáveis sociodemográficas, com p <0,05.Resultados: Os domínios com os piores escores foram físico (média = 58,45; DP ± 10,42) e ambiental (média = 65,19; DP ± 11,36). Os melhores domínios foram o social (média = 76,51; DP ± 15,71) e o psicológico (média = 68,70; DP ± 15,71). No modelo de regressão linear, observou-se que o tempo desde a cirurgia foi inversamente associado ao domínio saúde física. Para cada mês pós-cirurgia bariátrica, a pontuação média do paciente caiu em 2,66 pontos, ajustada por sexo e idade. Conclusão: O tempo desde a cirurgia pode ser um importante determinante do escore do domínio físico de QV. Identificar a QV após a cirurgia bariátrica e fatores que a influenciam é fundamental para preparar esses pacientes para as mudanças decorrentes da perda de peso

Field Theory for a Deuteron Quantum Liquid

Based on general symmetry principles we study an effective Lagrangian for a neutral system of condensed spin-1 deuteron nuclei and electrons, at greater-than-atomic but less-than-nuclear densities. We expect such matter to be present in thin layers within certain low-mass brown dwarfs. It may also be produced in future shock-wave-compression experiments as an effective fuel for laser induced nuclear fusion. We find a background solution of the effective theory describing a net spin zero condensate of deuterons with their spins aligned and anti-aligned in a certain spontaneously emerged preferred direction. The spectrum of low energy collective excitations contains two spin waves with linear dispersions -- like in antiferromagnets -- as well as gapped longitudinal and transverse modes related to the Meissner effect -- like in superconductors. We show that counting of the Nambu-Goldstone modes of spontaneously broken internal and space-time symmetries obeys, in a nontrivial way, the rules of the Goldstone theorem for Lorentz non-invariant systems. We discuss thermodynamic properties of the condensate, and its potential manifestation in the low-mass brown dwarfs.Comment: 19 LaTeX pages; v2: 2 refs added, JHEP versio

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Special Interest Group at OMERACT 11: outcomes of importance for patients with PMR

We worked toward developing a core outcome set for clinical research studies in polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) by conducting (1) patient consultations using modified nominal group technique; (2) a systematic literature review of outcome measures in PMR; (3) a pilot observational study of patients presenting with untreated PMR, and further discussion with patient research partners; and (4) a qualitative focus group study of patients with PMR on the meaning of stiffness, using thematic analysis. (1) Consultations included 104 patients at 4 centers. Symptoms of PMR included pain, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. Function, anxiety, and depression were also often mentioned. Participants expressed concerns about diagnostic delay, adverse effects of glucocorticoids, and fear of relapse. (2) In the systematic review, outcome measures previously used for PMR include pain visual analog scores (VAS), morning stiffness, blood markers, function, and quality of life; standardized effect sizes posttreatment were large. (3) Findings from the observational study indicated that asking about symptom severity at 7 AM, or "on waking," appeared more relevant to disease activity than asking about symptom severity "now" (which depended on the time of assessment). (4) Preliminary results were presented from the focus group qualitative study, encompassing broad themes of stiffness, pain, and the effect of PMR on patients' lives. It was concluded that further validation work is required before a core outcome set in PMR can be recommended. Nevertheless, the large standardized effect sizes suggest that pain VAS is likely to be satisfactory as a primary outcome measure for assessing response to initial therapy of PMR. Dissection of between-patient heterogeneity in the subsequent treatment course may require attention to comorbidity as a potential confounding factor

Challenges in clinical and laboratory diagnosis of androgen insensitivity syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Androgen is a generic term usually applied to describe a group of sex steroid hormones. Androgens are responsible for male sex differentiation during embryogenesis at the sixth or seventh week of gestation, triggering the development of the testes and penis in male fetuses, and are directed by the testicular determining factor: the gene <it>SRY </it>(sex determining region on Y chromosome) located on the short arm of chromosome Y. The differentiation of male external genitalia (penis, scrotum and penile urethra) occurs between the 9th and 13th weeks of pregnancy and requires adequate concentration of testosterone and the conversion of this to another more potent androgen, dihydrotestosterone, through the action of 5α-reductase in target tissues.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>This report describes the case of a teenage girl presenting with a male karyotype, and aims to determine the extension of the mutation that affected the AR gene. A Caucasian girl aged 15 was referred to our laboratory for genetic testing due to primary amenorrhea. Physical examination, karyotype testing and molecular analysis of the androgen receptor were critical in making the correct diagnosis of complete androgen insensitivity syndrome.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sex determination and differentiation depend on a cascade of events that begins with the establishment of chromosomal sex at fertilization and ends with sexual maturation at puberty, subsequently leading to fertility. Mutations affecting the <it>AR </it>gene may cause either complete or partial androgen insensitivity syndrome. The case reported here is consistent with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome, misdiagnosed at birth, and consequently our patient was raised both socially and educationally as a female. It is critical that health care providers understand the importance of properly diagnosing a newborn manifesting ambiguous genitalia. Furthermore, a child with a pseudohermaphrodite phenotype should always undergo adequate endocrine and genetic testing to reach a conclusive diagnosis before gender is assigned and surgical interventions are carried out. Our results show that extreme care must be taken in selecting the genetic tools that are utilized for the diagnosis for androgen insensitivity syndrome.</p

Raised interferon β, type 3 interferon and interferon stimulated genes - evidence of innate immune activation in neutrophilic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Interferons play an important role in innate immunity. Previous studies report deficiency in virus-induction of interferon (IFN)-α, -β and -λ in bronchial epithelial and bronchial lavage cells in atopic asthmatics. It is now recognized that asthma is a heterogeneous disease comprising different inflammatory phenotypes, some of which may involve innate immune activation in the absence of overt infection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was investigate if the severity of asthma or a specific cellular sputum pattern may be linked to evidence of innate immune activation. METHODS: Here we investigate the expression of IFN-β, IFN-λ1 (IL-29), IFN-λ2/3 (IL-28A/B) and the interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) myxovirus resistance 1 (Mx1), oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS) and viperin in unstimulated sputum cells in 57 asthmatics (including 16 mild, 19 moderate and 22 severe asthma patients) and compared them with 19 healthy subjects. RESULTS: We observed increased expression of IFN-β, IFN-λ1/IL-29, OAS and viperin in asthmatic compared to healthy subjects while IL-28 was not expressed in any group. The overexpression was restricted to neutrophilic asthmatics (sputum neutrophils ≥ 76%) while eosinophilic asthmatics (sputum eosinophils ≥ 3%) did not differ from healthy subjects or even showed a lower expression of Mx1. No difference in interferon or ISG expression was seen according to clinical asthma severity. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Neutrophilic, but not eosinophilic, asthmatics display overexpression of IFN-β, IFN-λ1/IL-29 and ISGs in their sputum cells that may reflect ongoing innate immune activation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

The nuclear envelope protein, LAP1B, is a novel protein phosphatase 1 substrate

Protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) binding proteins are quintessential regulators, determining substrate specificity and defining subcellular localization and activity of the latter. Here, we describe a novel PP1 binding protein, the nuclear membrane protein lamina associated polypeptide 1B (LAP1B), which interacts with the DYT1 dystonia protein torsinA. The PP1 binding domain in LAP1B was here identified as the REVRF motif at amino acids 55-59. The LAP1B:PP1 complex can be immunoprecipitated from cells in culture and rat cortex and the complex was further validated by yeast co-transformations and blot overlay assays. PP1, which is enriched in the nucleus, binds to the N-terminal nuclear domain of LAP1B, as shown by immunocolocalization and domain specific binding studies. PP1 dephosphorylates LAP1B, confirming the physiological relevance of this interaction. These findings place PP1 at a key position to participate in the pathogenesis of DYT1 dystonia and related nuclear envelope-based diseases.publishe