A systematic review of the intergenerational aspects and the diverse genetic profiles of Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare progressive and fatal neurogenetic degenerative disease, characterized by movement and personality disorders and by progressive dementia. Its prevalence varies by ethnic origin and different genetic profiles predisposing individuals to HD in each population. The prevalence of HD is 5-10 per 100,000 individuals in Caucasian populations of North America and Western Europe. It is an autosomal dominant disease associated with the expansion of CAG-type repetitive DNA sequences in the HTT gene. This gene, located on the short arm of chromosome 4, encodes the protein huntingtin. In this study, we reviewed 17 articles about HD that report data from 2400 affected individuals from various countries around the world, including Venezuela, China, Croatia, Turkey, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Spain, Taiwan, India, the Netherlands, Russia, and the USA, with a focus on genetic profiles and intergenerational expansions or contractions of expanded alleles responsible for causing HD. We discuss the genetic characteristics of HD in different populations and any atypical cases reported in these studies.

[Analysis of attitudes of nurses and nursing students concerning computer use in Paraiba-BR]. / Análise das atitudes de enfermeiros e estudantes de enfermagem na Paraíba-BR quanto à utilização do computador.

In this study an attempt was made to analyze the attitudes of both nurses and Nursing students in relation to computer use. Demographic data and attitudinal scaling were used. Three factors were found for nurses: obstacles to computer use; the computer as a work tool; the effectiveness of information to Nursing. As to Nursing students, in addition to these three factors, another one was also found: the need for educational training in computer technology applied to Nursing. Nurses' and students' attitudes were similar. It was, therefore, concluded that both groups have moderate attitudes concerning computer use, although the students showed more familiarity.

[Integration between epidemiology and Internet]. / Integração entre epidemiologia e Internet.

The objective of this study is to present some theoretical reflections on Internet as an integration tool in an epidemiology service. Considering this perspective, it focuses epidemiology and Internet; Internet and cooperative research, and the importance of Internet in the epidemiological communication process. The integration between the epidemiological knowledge and the use of Internet to globalize knowledge is emphasized as one of the most important benefits this technology brings. However, it is indicated that this technology by itself is not the solution for functional problems in the health information system.

[Continuing education in nursing: knowledge, activities and limitations found in a maternity school]. / Educação continuada em enfermagem: conhecimentos, atividades e barreiras encontradas em uma maternidade escola.

The purpose of the present study was to verify the knowledge, activities and the principal challenges of a group of 16 nurses regarding continuing education. As results, many important activities in nursing continuing education were developed, for example: speeches, instructions, courses etc, and we found out that there are many difficulties and barriers to develop a continuing education program at the mentioned institution.

[Satisfaction and unsatisfaction factors in patients assisted by the SUS]. / Fatores de satisfação e insatisfação entre os pacientes assistidos pelo SUS.

This study has the purpose to identify the factors that cause satisfaction and dissatisfaction to the patients who are interns in hospitals which have agreements with "Sistema Unico de Saúde-SUS", based on the assistance rendered during the period of internment. The samples were constituted of 170 patients. To obtain the data, there was used a questionnaire containing 47 closed questions. The results obtained revealed several aspects that compromise the quality of the service rendered, such as: service doctors, nutrition, nurse and the environment. Thus, concludes there is dissatisfaction of the patients with the service offered by SUS.

Addiction medicine and continuing medical education.

Addictive disorders are one of the most common problems encountered by primary care physicians. In the last decades there has been a significant effort by organizations, universities, and private foundations to increase the teaching of alcohol and drug abuse issues to medical students, residents and practitioners. Still, up to now, the subject has not been presented appropriately at either the undergraduate or graduate medical education level and the majority of physicians in practice have not been adequately instructed in addiction medicine. This article reviews the literature on addictive disorders and medical education, exploring issues concerning continuing medical education (CME) in particular. The authors discuss the problems relative to this subject and the educational techniques and methods most appropriate to changing attitudes and behaviors of physicians. They also design an approach to a CME program on addictive disorders for primary care physicians that incorporates multiple teaching/learning methodologies.

[Use of a brainstorming technique for decision making by a public health nursing team]. / Uso da técnica de Brainstorming para tomada de decisões na equipe de enfermagem de saúde pública.

The study focuses on the use of brainstorming tool for consensual decision making in nursing services. A qualitative research has been developed with focus group technique use involving 6 workers from a basic health unit in Joao Pessoa city which belongs to the state network of Paraíba State Health Secretary. The results showed the method application plausibility as a strategy to nursing services quality improvement.

HTLV-I/II as a common etiology of myelopathies in Bahia, Brazil.

Infection by human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with a myelopathy known as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). The prevalence of HTLV-I infection was found to be high in a pilot study in Bahia, Brazil. In the present study, among patients with myelopathy of unclear etiology, 27% (17/62) were immunoblot reactive to HTLV-I/II (serum and CSF), but none of 40 consecutive patients seen at the neurological clinic and having a well-established neurological diagnosis had detectable antibodies against those viruses (discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II was not possible with the tests we used). The clinical syndrome of typical TSP with upper limb hyperreflexia was found to be a significant feature among the HTLV-I/II-seropositive patients compared to seronegative individuals. The 17 HTLV-I/II-reactive individuals had negative tests for syphilis, toxoplasmosis and schistosomiasis. TSP was also associated with female gender (P = 0.001). We conclude that TSP is strongly associated with HTLV-I/II infection in women in Bahia.

HTLV-I/II as a common etiology of myelopathies in Bahia, Brazil

Infection by human T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (HTLV-I) is associated with a myelopathy known as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). The prevalence of HTLV-I infection was found to be high in a pilot study in Bahia, Brazil. In the present study, among patients with myleopathy of unclear etiology, 27 per cent (17/62) were immunoblot reactive to HTLV-I/II (serum and CSF), but none of 40 consecutive patients seen at the neurological clinic and having a well-established neurological diagnosis had detectable antibodies against those viruses (discrimination between HTLV-I and HTLV-II was not possible with the tests we used). The clinical syndrome of typical TSP with upper limb hyperreflexia was found to be a significant feature among the HTLV-I/II-seropositive patients compared to seronegative individuals. The 17 HTLV-I/II-reactive individuals had negative tests for syphilis, toxoplasmosis and schistosomiasis. TSP was also associated with female gender (P=0.001). We conclude that TSP is strongly associated with HTLV-I/II infection in women in Bahia.

[The estimate of nursing personnel: a study of 2 methods]. / Cálculo de pessoal de enfermagem: estudo de dois métodos.

This study aimed at analysing two methods for the calculation of nursing personnel (traditional formula and nursing progressive care), from statistics information on the atendly of the University Hospital of UFPB, in order to choose the most adequate method. The obtained results showed the nursing progressive care method as being the most viable one, provided is made a study in terms of hospital beds occupation, nursing hours per type of care and personnel performance.