Lung cancer: psychological and psychiatric aspects

According to the literature, lung cancer patients experience greater emotional distress than other cancer patients, with scores as high as 61,6%. Poor prognosis, guilt and stigma associated with a history of smoking, may be related with this morbidity. Several studies mention the prevalence of depression to be between 16 and 22%. As distress affects the family as well, mostly those members involved in the patient care, they should not be forgotten and must be involved in the treatment plan. The authors conclude that lung cancer patients' distress is highly prevalent and interferes with quality of live and, possibly, prognosis. Therefore, psychosocial care should be integrated early in cancer treatment

Interferon Side Effects: When Somatization Betrays You - A Case Report

Neuropsychiatric symptoms are widely reported in association with both hepatitis C and IFNα treatment [1]its sequelae, and its treatment. In particular, interferon, a primary component of treatment for chronic hepatitis C, has been strongly associated with depressive symptoms. This review summarizes current knowledge about the etiology, course, and treatment of europsychiatric problems associated with hepatitis C and interferon alpha (IFN-alpha and lead to discontinuation of interferon in up to 13% of cases [2]. When on interferon treatment, cognitive, affective and behavioral symptoms are not easily distinguished from each other or from depression [2,3] mechanism, course, and treatment of neuropsychiatric problems associated with interferon alfa (IFN-alpha. The challenge is even higher if in somatoform cases. We describe a case of somatoform disorder while on classic therapy for hepatitis C and discuss the management of the patient main complaints and evolution

ANCA-positive vasculitis: Clinical implications of ANCA types and titers

INTRODUCTION: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs, the kidney being one of the most affected. Apart from the diagnostics value of ANCA, they have also been advocated as biomarkers of the disease activity. Recently, the genetic changes found in polyangiitis associated with serine-protease proteinase 3 (PR3)-ANCA or myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA raised the possibility of immune-pathogenic and therapeutic differences. OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in the number of relapses, inflammatory markers, outcomes and renal histology related to the types of ANCA. To analyze the implications of ANCA titers in prognosis. METHOD: A retrospective observational study in a Portuguese tertiary hospital. RESULTS: There were no differences in the progression of renal function, histological pattern and initial treatment with regard to ANCA subtypes. As for the evaluated parameters, there were no significant differences according to the types of ANCA, except for mean CRP values within the normal range, which was 6.3±1.3 mg/L for MPO-ANCA and 12.4±10.14 mg/L for PR3-ANCA (p=0.04). We found that 66.7% of the MPO-ANCA-positive showed no relapses versus 40% in the case of PR3-ANCA-positive. There was no correlation between the ANCA titers at presentation, during remission, and in the last evaluation, and the number of relapses. CONCLUSION: PR3-ANCA patients have a mean CRP value within the normal range significantly higher than that of MPO-ANCA patients (p=0.04), which seems to reveal greater inflammatory activity in the first.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ISO 14001 standard: Benefits, motivations and difficulties throughout the implementation process

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a summary of the benefits, motivations and difficulties in implementing the ISO 14001 standard, which is the key reference in the field of corporate environmental management. Design/methodology/approach- A literature research was carried out in order to get understanding about the key concepts of ISO 14001, to investigate the reason why companies feel motivated to adopt this EMS and to identify the associated benefits and difficulties in the implementation. Findings This paper shows the benefits found by certified companies can be classified in internal, external and relations benefits. The impact of the certification on financial and organizational performances showed to be positive. Enhancement of internal processes, strengthening of results, prevention of potential problems and a larger number of stakeholders are pointed as important performance improvements. Originality/value - This paper focuses on the ISO 14001 certification motivation and importance. Thus, this paper contribution lies on providing information regarding possible benefits and difficulties that may occur due to EMS implementation.(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Congenital syphilis: a sentinel event in antenatal care quality.

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Nucleic acid derived indices or instantaneous growth rate as tools to determine different nutricional condition in cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis, linnaeus 1758) hatchlings

Two groups of 100 cuttlefish hatchlings each were used to determine the duration of the yolk reserves, during which growth can be obtained with no food supply. One group was fed live grass shrimp ad libitum from the 3rd day of life onwards, while the other was starved during the whole experiment. The experiment lasted 7 days, because this was the 1st day where a negative growth rate was obtained. Nucleic acid derived indices and instantaneous growth rates (IGR) were used as a way to describe their condition, when all the yolk reserves would be exhausted and to determine the most accurate tool to express growth and condition. RNA/DNA ratios described clearly the differences (P 0.05) between groups and did not displayed a clear pattern with increasing age. Correlation between IGR and DNA was only attained for the fed population (R −0.90; P 0.0374). RNA concentration values were different from day 5 onwards. Any of the nucleic acid derived indexes were not accurate enough to express growth and condition, so IGR seems to be the most accurate and inexpensive way to describe hatchlings growth and condition in controlled conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

18F-FDG-PET/CT in diagnosis of Q fever endocarditis

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio