Case Report of 11 Years of Severe Malabsorption, Muscular Atrophy, Seizures, and Immunodeficiency Resolved After Proximal Intercessory Prayer.

We present the case of 11 years of severe malabsorption, muscular atrophy, seizures, and immunodeficiency resolved after proximal intercessory prayer (PIP). A male infant suffered from severe abdominal pain and impaired development with the introduction of solid food at age five months. The patient had previously appeared healthy, having been born to term and breastfed. Neocate and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) were prescribed, and the former was removed due to abdominal pain and diarrhea. Ultimately, the patient became completely dependent on TPN. It was concluded that he suffered from chronic, idiopathic, severe malabsorption. Development of neutropenia, hypogamma-globulinemia, and hypotonia was recorded. Medical records document atrophy and progressive deterioration of muscular symptoms. At five years of age, frontal lobe epilepsy was detected. Over the course of the disease, several genetic tests were performed. Doctors tried unsuccessfully to diagnose an underlying condition, with various mitochondriopathies and Shwachman-Diamond syndrome suggested as possible causes, but no prognosis of recovery was given. Eleven years following the initial presentation of symptoms, proximal intercessory prayer (PIP) was administered in a single session. The patient reported no unusual sensations during prayer. However, oral feedings were immediately tolerated without discomfort from that time onward. Post-PIP medical records indicate discontinuation of TPN, seizures, and seizure medications. Progressive improvement in the hematological disorders, BMI, and muscular symptoms was also observed. The present case report describes a novel association between PIP and the lasting resolution of multiple symptoms likely related to a genetic disorder. The results inform ongoing discussions about faith-based practices in health care and suggest the need for additional studies of PIP on health outcomes.

Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of pregnant and puerperal crack-cocaine using women: preliminary data

BACKGROUND The literature provides several studies on the effects of cocaine when exposed to the fetus. However, the majority of these data comes from animal models. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to present socio-demographic and clinical data in crack-cocaine using pregnant women and their babies, as compared to non-users. METHODS Cross-sectional study, comprised by 56 dyads of crack-cocaine using mothers-babies and 89 control dyads. In addition to the socio-demographic data and the babies’ information, data collection was based on ABIPEMI for socioeconomic level, WAIS for IQ, MINI for psychopathology and ASSIST for drug use. RESULTS Most crack users, in comparison to non-users, did not have a partner (10.52% vs 4.4%, P = 0.001) and presented lower IQ (78.15, +/-8.07 vs 84.27 +/- 9.87; P = 0.002). The prevalence of antisocial personality disorder and suicide risk in users was higher than in non-users (24.44% vs none, P < 0.001; 28.26% vs 10.46% P = 0.01). Most of the users did not participate in prenatal care (75%). The babies that the crack-cocaine using mothers gave birth to weighed significantly less than the controls (2.858 g vs 3.240 g, P = 0.002). DISCUSSION Users had a higher degree of psychopathology and lower attendance in prenatal care. There was an overlap of adverse factors, both for exposed mothers and babies. The sum of these vulnerabilities could result in significant harm to the developing infant. .

Abordagem terapêutica de puérpera usuária de crack / Therapeutic approach of a crack-user puerperal woman

Este é o relato do atendimento de uma das mães dependentes do crack e de seu bebê, que frequentam o Ambulatório de Psiquiatria da Infância e da Adolescência do HCPA. Esta específica abordagem terapêutica visa atender a gestante e o bebê, ainda antes do nascimento, a fim de preservar um de seus direitos básicos, que é o de não ser intoxicado tão prematuramente.(AU)

This is the report of the treatment of one of the crack-dependent mothers and her baby who attended the Childhood and Adolescence Psychiatry outpatient clinic of the HCPA. This specific approach aims at attending the mother and the baby, even before birth, in order to preserve one of his/her basic rights, which is: not be intoxicated so prematurely.(AU)

Prevalência da exposição pré-natal à cocaína em uma amostra de recém-nascidos de um hospital geral universitário / Prevalence of prenatal exposure to cocaine in a sample of newborns from a university teaching hospital

Objetivo: verificar a prevalência da exposição pré-natal à cocaina em uma amostra de recém-nascidos utilizando dois métodos: a fluorescência polarizada por imunoesaio no mecônio e a entrevista materna. Método: estudo transversal realizado num hospital geral universitário abrangendo todos os recém-nascidos nascidos vivos no centro obstétrico do hospital durante o pereíodo de 23 de março de 199 a 1 de junho de 1999 (847 recém-nascidos). A presença de exposição pré-natal a cocaína foi definida por um teste de fluorescência polarizada por imunoensaio positivo para benzoilecgonina no mecônio do recém-nascido e/ou por uma entrevista materna positiva. Resultados: a taxa da exposição pré-natal à cocaína foi de 16 casos (2,4 por cento), e de 25 casos (3,4 por cento) através da testagem do mecônio. Foram encontrados 34 casos, com uma prevalência de 4,6 por cento, quando os métodos para a detecção foram considerados de forma complementar. Conclusões: através desta estudo, foi observado que a testagem meconial é mais eficaz que a entrevista materna no diagnóstico da exposição pré-natal à cocaína. A entrevista aumentou, em relação à testagem do mecônio, em 26 por cento a possibilidade do diagnóstico da exposição; e a testagem do mecônio, em relação à entrevista, aumentou em 53,4 por cento o diagnóstico da exposição

Exposição pré-natal á cocaína: revisão dos efeitos neurocomportamentais / Prenatal expoure to cocaine: review of the neurobehavioral effects

Objetivos: Estudar a exposição pré-natal à cocaína com ênfase nos seus efeitos neurocomportamentais. Métodos: Revisão bibliográfica dos últimos 15 anos, abordando o tema por meio do sistema Medline e procura direta. Resultados e conclusões: Conforme os dados da literatura mundial, a exposição pré-natal à cocaína apresenta uma incidência de até 13,5 por cento e os efeitos no recém-nascido são em grande parte sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso. Os pediatras e as subespecialidades pediátricas devem conhecer as conseqüências da exposição a fim de poder diagnosticar a alterar o prognóstico a alterar o prognóstico dessas criança