Plasmablastic lymphoma: an atypical cutaneous presentation of a rare entity

Plasmablastic lymphoma is a very rare B-cell lymphoma typically associated with immunosuppression: It occurs primarily in the oral cavity, although some cases were reported in other organs and tissues.To date, only 10 cases of primary cutaneous plasmablastic lymphoma have been described. Clinically, primary cutaneous plasmablastic lymphoma presents as non-specific cutaneous lesions (purple nodules, erythematous infiltrated plaques). In previously described cases, as in this case, histology and immunohistochemistry are required to make the diagnosis. Owing to the rarity of this entity, there is no established therapy, which makes its management an individualized, patient-based decision.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Obstetric care models in the Southern Region of Brazil and associated factors

The study sought to identify obstetric care models for low-risk pregnancies in the Southern Region of Brazil and to estimate factors associated with these models and maternal and neonatal outcomes. This is a cross-sectional, hospital-based study using data from the Birth in Brazil survey regarding puerperae and newborns. We identified 2,668 low-risk pregnant women. We carried out an exploratory analysis using the proportion of practices per hospital, among them inducing labor, presence of a companion, cesarean section and skin-to-skin contact, in order to obtain the care models we called Best Practice, Interventionist I and Interventionist II. We then carried out an inferential analysis of the associated characteristics. Results show that access to public or private funding, cultural factors and actions taken by health professional are associated with the care models. Public care had different contexts, one based on public policies and evidence-based practices; and another, that suggests the intentionality of vaginal delivery without considering humanization principles. Private care, on the other hand, is standardized and centered on the medical professional, with higher intervention levels. We conclude there is a predominance of interventionist obstetric care models in the Southern Region of Brazil, a type of care that goes against the best evidence, and that women who receive care in public hospitals have greater chances of benefiting from good practices

Prevalence of spontaneous, induced labour or planned caesarean section and factors associated with caesarean scetion and factors associated with caesarian section in low-risk women in southern Brazil

Objective This study aimed to examine the prevalence of spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section in low-risk women; to identify the contribution of each group to the overall caesarean section rate; and to estimate factors associated with caesarean section in low-risk women according to spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section. Design Cross-sectional hospital-based study of postpartum women and newborns, using data from the survey Birth in Brazil, Southern region. In the sample of 2,668 low-risk women, a descriptive analysis was undertaken and a Multinomial Logistic Regression model was applied to verify associations among caesarean section and spontaneous labour, induced labour and planned caesarean section in comparison with vaginal birth. Measurements and Findings The results showed the prevalence of spontaneous labour (48.0%), induced labour (14.0%) and planned caesarean sections (38.0%); these frequencies contributed to an overall caesarean section rate of 50.5%. Obstetric characteristics like previous vaginal birth or previous caesarean section were differentially associated with caesarean section, independently of the labour. Caesarean section without labour was significantly associated with age ≥ 35 years (ORadj 5.45 95%CI 3.16-9.39), economic class A and B (ORadj 3.10 95%CI 1.92-4.99), pregnancy between 37 and 38 weeks (ORadj 1.65 95%CI 1.22-2.24), same obstetrician in prenatal and childbirth (ORadj 13.83 95%CI 8.85-21.61) and private payment source at birth (ORadj 11.50 95%CI 6.64-19.93). Key conclusion For low-risk women in Southern Brazil, the results identify high planned caesarean section rates, not associated with socioeconomic, obstetric, institutional or prenatal factors that justify these rates

Topical essential fatty acid oil on wounds: local and systemic effects

FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFUNADERM - FUNDO DE APOIO À DERMATOLOGIA DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORBackground The use of medicinal plants and their derivatives is increasing, and approximately one-third of all traditional herbal medicines are intended for wound treatment. Natural products used in these treatments include vegetable oils, which are rich in essential fatty acids. Once in contact with an ulcerative surface, the oil reaches the blood and lymphatic vessels, thus eliciting systemic effects. ObjectiveThis study evaluated the local and possible systemic effects of essential fatty acids (sunflower oil) applied topically to rat wounds. Methods Cutaneous punch wounds (6 mm) were produced on the dorsa of 30 rats. Saline (SS), mineral oil (MO) or essential fatty acid (EFA) solutions were applied topically. Healing was evaluated after 2, 4 and 10 days (n = 5 per group) by visual and histological/morphometric examination, second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, and cytokine and growth factor quantification in the scar tissue (real-time PCR) and in serum (ELISA). Results MO/EFA-treated animals had higher IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression and lower serum IL-6 levels than the control (SS/MO) animals. SHG analysis showed no difference in collagen density between the animals treated with MO and EFA. Conclusion EFA treatment induces topical (observed by local IGF-1, leptin, IL-6 and IFN-gamma production) and systemic effects, lowering IL-6 levels in the serum. As the oil is widely used to shorten ulcer healing time, studies are needed to evaluate the treatment safety and possible undesired effects.141115FAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFUNADERM - FUNDO DE APOIO À DERMATOLOGIA DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORFAPESP - FUNDAÇÃO DE AMPARO À PESQUISA DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULOFUNADERM - FUNDO DE APOIO À DERMATOLOGIA DE SÃO PAULOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIOR07/59319-5015/2014043/201601P-04520-201

Good practices for a literature survey are not followed by authors while preparing scientific manuscripts

The number of citations received by authors in scientific journals has become a major parameter to assess individual researchers and the journals themselves through the impact factor. A fair assessment therefore requires that the criteria for selecting references in a given manuscript should be unbiased with respect to the authors or the journals cited. In this paper, we advocate that authors should follow two mandatory principles to select papers (later reflected in the list of references) while studying the literature for a given research: i) consider similarity of content with the topics investigated, lest very related work should be reproduced or ignored; ii) perform a systematic search over the network of citations including seminal or very related papers. We use formalisms of complex networks for two datasets of papers from the arXiv repository to show that neither of these two criteria is fulfilled in practice

Cinética de degradação da matéria seca da pastagem de milheto mantida com duas alturas.

As características estruturais da planta, principalmente a altura, podem estar associadas a diferenças relacionadas com a cinética da degradação de gramíneas e, por isto merecem ser avaliadas. As amostras de forragem que foram utilizadas para avaliação foram coletadas em um experimento de pastejo cujos tratamentos avaliados foram: pastagem de milheto mantida com altura média de 20-30 cm; pastagem de milheto mantida com altura média de 40-50 cm. O sistema de pastejo adotado foi o contínuo com lotação variável e o período de pastejo foi de dezembro de 2001 a abril de 2002. A metodologia de produção de gás ?in vitro? foi utilizada para determinar os parâmetros ligados a cinética da degradação: potencial de produção de gás, ?lag time?, taxa de degradação e produção cumulativa de gás. A pressão causada pelo acúmulo de gases provenientes das fermentação foi medida nos tempos preestabelecidos: 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 40, 48, 60, 72 e 96 horas após o início da incubação. O potencial de produção de gás foi semelhante nas três datas das avaliações, na altura de 20-30 cm. Já na altura de 40-50 cm, o potencial de produção de gás foi alto nas duas primeiras avaliações e caiu drasticamente no mês de março (P<0,01). Lag time e taxa de degradação apresentaram melhores resultados para a pastagem de milheto mantida mais baixa (20-30 cm). A técnica ?in vitro? de produção de gás parece ser uma excelente ferramenta para avaliação da cinética de degradação de forragens mantidas em pastejo