Comparison between carbon monoxide poisoning from hookah smoking versus other sources.

Introduction: Carbon monoxide exposure is a relatively unknown risk of smoking hookah. Dozens of cases of hookah-associated carbon monoxide toxicity have been described over the past decades, but smoking hookah is generally perceived as safe. Only recently have larger series of hookah-associated carbon monoxide toxicity been published. This study evaluates the incidence of hookah-associated carbon monoxide toxicity over 4 years, and compares the exposures from hookah against other carbon monoxide sources.Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients with carbon monoxide toxicity referred for hyperbaric oxygen therapy at an urban hyperbaric oxygen referral center from January 2015 through December 2018. Cases of hookah-associated carbon monoxide toxicity were compared to patients exposed to other carbon monoxide sources, with an analysis of patient comorbidities, symptomatology, and laboratory evaluation.Results: Over a 48-month period, 376 patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy for carbon monoxide exposure. After exclusions, 265 patients with carbon monoxide toxicity from various sources were analyzed. There were 58 patients with hookah-associated carbon monoxide toxicity (22%). The proportion of hookah-associated carbon monoxide cases increased markedly in the latter years: 2015: 9.5%, 2016: 8.6%, 2017: 24.1%, 2018 41.6%. In the final 2 years analyzed, hookah smoking was the most frequent source of carbon monoxide toxicity referred for therapy. Hookah-associated carbon monoxide patients were younger(28.1 vs. 45.0 years, mean difference 16.8 years, 95% confidence interval: 11.5, 22.1 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to be female (60% vs. 46.6%, p = 0.06) than patients exposed to other carbon monoxide sources. The mean difference in carboxyhemoglobin concentration between hookah associated and those exposed to other carbon monoxide sources was 4.6% (mean 20.1% vs. 24.6%, 95%CI: 1.7, 7.5, p = 0.002).Conclusion: A substantial portion of patients with severe carbon monoxide toxicity was exposed through smoking hookah. The incidence of hookah-related carbon monoxide toxicity appears to be increasing.

Prevalence of contamination by intestinal parasites in vegetables (Lactuca sativa L. and Coriandrum sativum L.) sold in markets in Belém, northern Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have recorded a high prevalence of intestinal parasites in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) destined for human consumption. This study determined the prevalence of contamination by intestinal parasites in these two plants sold in two street markets and two supermarkets in the city of Belém, northern Brazil. RESULTS: A total of 200 plant samples were analyzed (100 of each species). The samples were collected randomly between August and October 2018, examined by the spontaneous sedimentation method with two washes, and stored for 24 h. The analysis found that 89% (89/100) of the lettuce samples and 86% (86/100) of the coriander samples were contaminated. Polyparasitism was more frequent in lettuce, but monoparasitism predominated in the coriander. A total of 226 intestinal parasites were found in the lettuce, with a predominance of non-pathogenic parasites in the supermarket samples and more pathogenic parasites in the samples from street markets. In the coriander samples, 172 intestinal parasites were identified, with a predominance of pathogenic parasites in samples from both types of market. In the case of the protozoans, the most prevalent species was Endolimax nana, followed by Blastocystis hominis, in both vegetables. In the helminths, hookworms predominated in the lettuce, and Trichuris trichiura in the coriander. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the need for the monitoring of parasite contamination in vegetables destined for human consumption. Public health initiatives should include educational campaigns on the importance of disinfecting vegetables prior to consumption. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

Memoria de figuras com conteudo emocional em pacientes com doenca de Alzheimer / Figure memories with emotional content in patients with Alzheimer's disease

O presente trabalho consiste de um relato preliminar de um projeto de estudo sobre o processamento de estimulos visuais com conteudo emocional em pacientes com demencia do tipo Alzheimer. Foram avaliados 14 pacientes com provavel demencia de Alzheimer e 14 sujeitos controles pareados de acordo com a idade e anos de escolaridade. Foram apresentadas 16 figuras-alvo com diferentes conteudos emocionais (paisagens, pessoas mutiladas, figuras com criancas, figuras de sexo e figuras geometricas, entre outras); imediatamente apos a apresentacao das figuras foi dada uma tarefa distratora de 30 minutos, e em seguida foi feito o reconhecimento das figuras-alvo dispersas entre outras 34; de cada figura-alvo reconhecida foi solicitada a identificacao e classificacao como agradavel, desagradavel ou indiferente...