Intestinal Angioedema: A Mimic of an Acute Abdomen.

Visceral angioedema presents with features mimicking an acute abdomen, causing a great challenge in the diagnosis of the disease thus delaying the treatment. A high degree of radiological suspicion and clinical correlation will help in identifying this less-known entity, avoiding unnecessary surgery. CT scanning is the preferred investigation, but concomitant ultrasonography improves the diagnostic efficacy of CT scanning.

Adesão de mães de bebês prematuros com indicadores clínicos de saúde emocional à grupos psicoeducativos / Adherence of mothers of premature babies with clinical indicators of emotional health to psychoeducational groups / Adhesión de madres de prematuros con indicadores clínicos de salud emocional a grupos psicoeducativos

Diversos fatores podem interferir na saúde emocional materna e, dentre eles, o nascimento prematuro do bebê. Este estudo pretendeu: a) descrever e comparar a saúde emocional de mães de bebês prematuros que aderiram ou não a grupos psicoeducativos, com indicadores clínicos de ansiedade, estresse e depressão pós-parto e, b) identificar quais variáveis sociodemográficas influenciaram a saúde emocional das participantes de cada um dos grupos. A amostra foi composta por 42 mães de bebês prematuros que apresentaram indicadores clínicos de saúde emocional, que foi avaliada por meio de inventários de estresse, ansiedade e depressão. Elas compuseram dois grupos: 22 mães que participaram dos grupos e 20 que não participaram. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre as variáveis sociodemográficas e nem entre os indicadores de saúde emocional entre os dois grupos. Todavia, é importante identificar os indicadores emocionais clínicos de mães de bebês e oferecer intervenções para minimizá-los, enquanto medidas preventivas de saúde mental da população feminina e, consequentemente, infantil.

Several factors can interfere in maternal emotional health and, among them, the premature birth of the baby. This study aimed: a) to describe and compare the emotional health of mothers of premature babies who joined or not to psychoeducational groups, with clinical indicators of anxiety, stress and postpartum depression and, b) identify which sociodemographic variables influenced the emotional health of participants in each of the groups. The sample consisted of 42 mothers who presented clinical indicators of emotional health, which was assessed through inventories of stress, anxiety and depression. They composed two groups: 22 mothers who participated in the groups and 20 who did not. No significant differences were observed between sociodemographic variables or between emotional health indicators between the two groups. However, it is important to identify the clinical emotional indicators of mothers of premature babies and offer interventions to minimize them, as preventive measures for mental health in the female population and, consequently, in children.

Varios factores pueden interferir con la salud emocional materna y, entre ellos, el nacimiento prematuro del bebé. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo: a) describir y comparar la salud emocional de madres de bebés prematuros que ingresaron o no a grupos psicoeducativos, con indicadores clínicos de ansiedad, estrés y depresión posparto y, b) identificar qué variables sociodemográficas influyeron en la salud emocional de las madres en cada uno de los grupos. La muestra estuvo conformada por 42 madres de bebés prematuros que presentaron indicadores clínicos de salud emocional, la cual fue evaluada a través de inventarios de estrés, ansiedad y depresión. Compusieron dos grupos: 22 madres que participaron en los grupos y 20 que no. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre variables sociodemográficas ni entre indicadores de salud emocional entre los dos grupos. Sin embargo, es importante identificar los indicadores clínicos emocionales de las madres de bebés prematuros y ofrecer intervenciones para minimizarlos, como medidas preventivas para la salud mental de la población femenina y, en consecuencia, de los niños.

Small airway imaging phenotypes in biomass- and tobacco smoke-exposed patients with COPD.

Biomass and functional small airway disease http://ow.ly/gXu730abpKu.

Quantitative computed tomography imaging in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease having small airway inflammation, emphysema, and pulmonary hypertension. It is now clear that spirometry alone cannot differentiate each component. Quantitative computed tomography (QCT) is increasingly used to quantify the amount of emphysema and small airway involvement in COPD. Inspiratory CT guides in assessing emphysema while expiratory CT identifies areas of air trapping which is a surrogate of small airway inflammation. By constructing a three-dimensional model of airways, we can also measure the airway wall thickness of segmental and subsegmental airways. The aim of this review is to present the current knowledge and methodologies in QCT of the lung that aid in identifying discrete COPD phenotypes.

Brazilian gorgonians: a source of odoriferous compounds?

Abstract The gorgonian Phyllogorgia dilatata Esper is an octocoral known to be source of biologically active terpenes. In this study, odoriferous compounds present in P. dilatata tissues were investigated, due to their exotic olfactory notes. The search of volatile compounds was performed in a dichloromethane/methanol extract submitted to a silica gel vacuum chromatography and HPLC, yielding the isomers (Z,E) and (E,E)-germacrones, identified by GC/MS, 1 and 2D NMR. The stereochemistry of (E,E)-germacrone, as well as its preferred conformation, was confirmed by NOESY. Sensory analysis of the two isomers revealed a fragrant, citrus, woody and weak marine odor, similar to the odor of the natural gorgonian, and (E,E)-germacrone has a three times more intense aroma than the (Z,E) isomer.

Quantification of Emphysema in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Volumetric Computed Tomography of Lung.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous disease with small airway inflammation and emphysema. Emphysema is permanent enlargement of air spaces distal to terminal bronchioles accompanied by destruction of alveolar walls. These morphological changes can be studied on quantitative computed tomography (CT). METHODS: Thirty-four patients diagnosed to have COPD as per Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines underwent chest CT using full inspiration with low dose radiation protocol. Pulmo-CT software was used to analyse the scans. The primary aim was to quantify emphysema and emphysema clusters and secondary aim was to assess correlation between percentage emphysema and lung function. RESULTS: Their mean [standard deviation (SD)] age was 66.4 (7.0) years; 11 (32.4%) were current smokers (median pack years 45.5). Their mean (SD) forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) was 55.6 (17.6), mean (SD) %emphysema was 26.8 (11.1), mean (SD) lung density was -848.35 (29.5) Hounsfield units (HU), median (interquartile range) %cluster class 4 emphysema was 22.4 (13.5-32.6). There was no significant difference in %low attenuation volume (%LAV) in current and exsmokers (p=0.4); across various severity grades of COPD (p=0.15). Further, no significant correlation was observed between %emphysema and post-bronchodilator FEV1%. CONCLUSIONS: Volumetric CT can detect and quantify emphysema. Majority of emphysema clusters in COPD are >25mm. The %emphysema does not correlate to the severity of the disease. Quantitative CT is a good objective method to study emphysema and can be used to phenotype COPD radiologically.

Bilateral thalamic necrosis following ingestion of ridge gourd infested with coelomycete fungi (Diplodia).

Bilateral thalamic lesions detected on magnetic resonance imaging have a wide differential diagnosis. This report describes a previously healthy young man who developed bilateral thalamic necrosis with seizures, vomiting, hepatitis, neutrophilic leukocytosis and metabolic acidosis following consumption of raw dried fruits of the ridge gourd plant (Luffa acutangula) prescribed by a traditional medicine practitioner. These fruits were subsequently shown to be infested with spores and conidiomata of Diplodia, a coelomycete fungus known to cause neurotoxicity in farm animals. The patient made a partial recovery with supportive care, and has persistent deficits consistent with bilateral medial thalamic damage. This is the first report of neurological toxicity attributable to Diplodia in humans, and this entity should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bilateral thalamic lesions in the appropriate clinical setting.