Pregnancy outcome in patients with β-thalassemia intermedia at two tertiary care centers, in Beirut and Milan

CAMASCHELLA C, 1995, HAEMATOLOGICA, V80, P58; Cappellini MD, 2000, BRIT J HAEMATOL, V111, P467, DOI 10.1046-j.1365-2141.2000.02376.x; DIVON MY, 1992, CLIN OBSTET GYNECOL, V35, P156, DOI 10.1097-00003081-199203000-00021; Levy A, 2005, EUR J OBSTET GYN R B, V122, P182, DOI 10.1016-j.ejogrb.2005.02.015; Martins Junior L. M., 2007, Archivos de Zootecnia, V56, P103; Moratelli S, 1998, J PEDIATR ENDOCR MET, V11, P915; Nassar AH, 2006, AM J HEMATOL, V81, P499, DOI 10.1002-ajh.20654; Nassar AH, 2006, J THROMB HAEMOST, V4, P1413, DOI 10.1111-j.1538-7836.2006.01912.x; Pakbaz Z, 2007, PEDIATR BLOOD CANCER, V49, P329, DOI 10.1002-pbc.21275; Skordis N, 1998, J PEDIATR ENDOCR MET, V11, P935; Taher A, 2006, THROMB HAEMOSTASIS, V96, P488, DOI 10.1160-TH06-05-0267; Taher A, 2006, BLOOD CELL MOL DIS, V37, P12, DOI 10.1016-j.bcmd.2006.04.00

Saúde bucal em meninas adolescentes da Vila Sabiá no município de Sorocaba, São Paulo

A adolescência compreende o período da vida que se estende dos 10 aos 19 anos, é uma fase de transformações biopsicossociais profundas. Em decorrência disso, é comum os adolescentes apresentarem comportamentos negligentes em relação aos seus cuidados com saúde e esse período é tido como de risco aumentado para o aparecimento de cárie dentária e outras afecções bucais, devido ao controle precário da placa e menor cuidado com a escovação. Objetivo: Fomentar uma ação educativa visando à redução de riscos aos quais esse segmento populacional encontra-se exposto. Materiais e métodos: Este é um estudo transversal e qualitativo com 10 adolescentes do sexo feminino, na faixa etária de 10 a 14 anos e que fazem parte do grupo que frequenta o Território Jovem, Vila Sabiá, no município de Sorocaba, São Paulo. Utilizaram-se estratégias para formar vínculo com as adolescentes e depois foi avaliado seu conhecimento prévio sobre conceitos importantes como: saúde bucal; placa bacteriana; escovação; fio dental; flúor; sangramento da gengiva; piercing oral e mau hálito. Em seguida foi promovida uma intervenção que visou a aumentar o conhecimento sobre os temas propostos para reduzir os riscos e agravos à saúde oral e geral das adolescentes. Resultados e Conclusões: Percebe-se que houve um ganho incipiente de conhecimento das adolescentes, mas existe a necessidade de um tempo maior para orientá-las de forma a fixarem os conteúdos apresentados. Também é necessário que haja um aproveitamento melhor dos espaços que o território oferece para disseminar informações sobre saúde bucal e, assim, criar vínculo entre os profissionais de odontologia e as adolescentes

Modificaciones fosildiagenéticas en Toxodon platensis Owen, 1837 (Notoungulata, Toxodontidae) del Pleistoceno Tardío de la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina

Se analizaron las características fosildiagenéticas, incluyendoaspectos mineralógicos, geoquímicos y paleohistológicos, presentesen costillas de Toxodon platensis Owen (Mammalia, Notoungulata,Toxodontidae). Los restos analizados provienen de los depósitos dellanura de inundación de la Formación Toropí/Yupoí asignados alPleistoceno Tardío, aflorantes en la provincia de Corrientes (RegiónMesopotámica, Argentina). Los componentes minerales principales delas costillas incluyen hidroxiapatita y dahllita. El color negro reconocidoen algunos ejemplares está relacionado a impregnaciones debido a laprecipitación de óxidos de hierro. La microestructura ósea evidenciaun grado de preservación bueno, aunque en todos los ejemplares sereconoció el desarrollo de numerosas microgrietas radiales asociadasa las osteonas secundarias. Los óxidos de hierro rellenan la mayoríade las cavidades correspondientes a los elementos microestructurales(canales de Havers y Volkmann, lagunas de osteocitos y canalículos) ylas microgrietas radiales, y también generaron reemplazos en distintossectores de la matriz ósea. La información obtenida permite inferirque las historias tafonómicas de los materiales analizados tienen unaestrecha relación con las características del ambiente de preservación.Fil: Tomassini, Rodrigo Leandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Miño Boilini, Ángel Ramón. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Zurita, Alfredo Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Centro de Ecología Aplicada del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Montalvo, Claudia I.. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa; ArgentinaFil: Cesaretti, Nora Noemi. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentin

Pregnant women affected by thalassemia major: a controlled study of traits and personality

Background: The reproductive and sexual health issues concerning persons affected by thalassemia major are complex. The study was planned to investigate the psychological attitudes and expectations in a group of thalassemic pregnant women attending hospital for regular blood transfusion. Methods: This is a preliminary cross-sectional study involving 20 consecutive thalassemic patients and a control group of 42 healthy pregnant volunteers. The personality structure was evaluated by Rorschach's test and the presence of psychic symptoms by SCL-90-R and STAI. Results: Narcissism and sexual traumas are significantly higher in thalassemic women with respects to the control group. Also the percent of anxiety and depression observed with the SCL-90-R was significantly higher than in control group (45% vs. 3%, p < 0.001, mean and SD values are 1.65 \ub1 0.15 vs. 0.43 \ub1 0.18 for anxiety; 55% vs. 12%, p < 0.001, mean and SD values are 1.76 \ub1 0.18 vs. 0.85 \ub1 0.25 for depression). The score observed with the STAI shows that the trait of anxiety differed between thalassemic pregnant women and the control group, even though the score values aren't pathologic in neither group (87% vs. 42%, p < 0.05, mean and SD values are 33 \ub1 0.8 vs. 22 \ub1 0.2). Conclusions: This study addresses the need for developing, implementing and evaluating proper psychological support for thalassemic pregnant patients. Moreover, psychological screening and support prior to, during and following pregnancy would be indicated

PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION IN PREGNANT WOMEN AFFECTED BY THALASSEMIA MAJOR: TRAITS AND PERSONALITY

Background. The reproductive and sexual health issues concerning persons affected by thalassemia major are complex. The study was planned to investigate the psychological attitudes and expectations in a group of thalassemic pregnant women attending hospital for regular blood transfusion.&#13; Methods. The study included 20 consecutive thalassemic patients and a control group of 42 healthy pregnant volunteers. We evaluated the personality structure by Rorschach's test and the presence of psychic symptoms by SCL-90-R and STAI. &#13; Results. Narcissism and sexual traumas are significantly higher in thalassemic women with respects to the control group. Also the percent of anxiety and depression observed with the SCL-90-R was significantly higher than in control group. The score observed with the STAI shows that the state of anxiety changed significantly between thalassemic pregnant women and the control group, even though the scores values aren’t pathologic in neither group.&#13; Conclusions. This study addresses the need for developing, implementing and evaluating proper psychological support for thalassemic pregnant patients. The limit of this study is to analyze just thalassemic women because it doesn’t consider other pathologies; so the results can’t be extended to other pathologies different from thalassemic. Moreover, psychological screening and support prior to, during and following pregnancy would be indicated. Since not there are psychological studies in literature on the pregnancy in the thalassemic patients, the evaluation of the effects of pregnancy on the thalassemic disease will be the aim of future psychological investigations

Palynofacies analysis and palynology of the Agua de la Mula Member (Agrio Formation) in a sequence stratigraphy framework, Lower Cretaceous, Neuquén Basin, Argentina

Variations in the sedimentary organic matter were documented throughout the Agua de la Mula Member (late Hauterivian) of the Agrio Formation, at a combined section in the type area of the Agrio Formation;the base at Agrio del Medio and the middle to top at Bajada del Agrio. A main organic-rich interval wasidentified in the basal Agua de la Mula Member, dominated by marine-derived Amorphous Organic Matter (AOM), coinciding with the highest Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content, between 1.4 and 3.8 wt.%,suggesting dysoxic conditions. The rest of the Member is predominantly characterized by terrestriallyderived organic matter, mainly phytoclasts, with low TOC values, around 1% or lower, indicating predominantly oxic depositional settings. By integrating stacking pattern and shell beds analysis, four depositional sequences SQ1eSQ4 were recognized. The organic-rich, finely laminated bituminous black shales of the Spitidiscus riccardii zone constitute a mayor and rapid inundation defining a Transgressive System tract (TST), related to a third order asymmetrical mesosequence dominated by a thick High System Tract (HST). It represents the most widespread and important flooding episode within the Neuquén Basin during the late Hauterivian. Inside sequences of higher frequency (SQ1, SQ2, SQ3, SQ4) of probably fourth order were recognized and analysed including several ammonids zones (Spitidiscus riccardii, Crioceratites schlagintweiti, C. diamantensis and Paraspiticeras groeberi). With the exception of the oxygen-controlled, basinal and outer ramp settings indicated for the TST1, which is equivalent to the TST of a lower order sequence, and the lower TST2, respectively, the prevalence of well oxygenated, inner to middle ramp depositional environments, is suggested for the rest of the sedimentary succession and emphasized in HST of SQ2, SQ3 and SQ4. Thus, a shallowing-upward trend with improved oxygenation is recorded through the Agua de la Mula Member, reflected by decreasing TOC, AOM content and preservation state of the organic matter. Based on the whole rock fluorescence analysis of the two selected organic-rich intervals from the Spitidiscus riccardii and the lowermost Crioceratites diamantensis zones,the presence of hydrocarbons suggests a very early in situ generation.Fil: Guler, Maria Veronica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Lazo, Dario Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Pazos, Pablo Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Borel, Claudia Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Ottone, Eduardo Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; ArgentinaFil: Tyson, R. Getech; Reino UnidoFil: Cesaretti, Nora Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto Geológico del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Geología. Instituto Geológico del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Aguirre-Urreta, Maria Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentin

A Translational Approach to Spinal Neurofibromatosis: Clinical and Molecular Insights from a Wide Italian Cohort

Spinal neurofibromatosis (SNF), a phenotypic subclass of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), is characterized by bilateral neurofibromas involving all spinal roots. In order to deepen the understanding of SNF's clinical and genetic features, we identified 81 patients with SNF, 55 from unrelated families, and 26 belonging to 19 families with at least 1 member affected by SNF, and 106 NF1 patients aged &gt;30 years without spinal tumors. A comprehensive NF1 mutation screening was performed using NGS panels, including NF1 and several RAS pathway genes. The main features of the SNF subjects were a higher number of internal neurofibromas (p &lt; 0.001), nerve root swelling (p &lt; 0.001), and subcutaneous neurofibromas (p = 0.03), while hyperpigmentation signs were significantly less frequent compared with the classical NF1-affected cohorts (p = 0.012). Fifteen patients underwent neurosurgical intervention. The histological findings revealed neurofibromas in 13 patients and ganglioneuromas in 2 patients. Phenotypic variability within SNF families was observed. The proportion of missense mutations was higher in the SNF cases than in the classical NF1 group (21.40% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.007), conferring an odds ratio (OR) of 3.34 (CI = 1.33-10.78). Two unrelated familial SNF cases harbored in trans double NF1 mutations that seemed to have a subclinical worsening effect on the clinical phenotype. Our study, with the largest series of SNF patients reported to date, better defines the clinical and genetic features of SNF, which could improve the management and genetic counseling of NF1

A Translational Approach to Spinal Neurofibromatosis: Clinical and Molecular Insights from a Wide Italian Cohort

Spinal neurofibromatosis (SNF), a phenotypic subclass of neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1), is characterized by bilateral neurofibromas involving all spinal roots. In order to deepen the understanding of SNF&rsquo;s clinical and genetic features, we identified 81 patients with SNF, 55 from unrelated families, and 26 belonging to 19 families with at least 1 member affected by SNF, and 106 NF1 patients aged &gt;30 years without spinal tumors. A comprehensive NF1 mutation screening was performed using NGS panels, including NF1 and several RAS pathway genes. The main features of the SNF subjects were a higher number of internal neurofibromas (p &lt; 0.001), nerve root swelling (p &lt; 0.001), and subcutaneous neurofibromas (p = 0.03), while hyperpigmentation signs were significantly less frequent compared with the classical NF1-affected cohorts (p = 0.012). Fifteen patients underwent neurosurgical intervention. The histological findings revealed neurofibromas in 13 patients and ganglioneuromas in 2 patients. Phenotypic variability within SNF families was observed. The proportion of missense mutations was higher in the SNF cases than in the classical NF1 group (21.40% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.007), conferring an odds ratio (OR) of 3.34 (CI = 1.33&ndash;10.78). Two unrelated familial SNF cases harbored in trans double NF1 mutations that seemed to have a subclinical worsening effect on the clinical phenotype. Our study, with the largest series of SNF patients reported to date, better defines the clinical and genetic features of SNF, which could improve the management and genetic counseling of NF1