Microplastics as contaminants in the Brazilian environment: an updated review.

Microplastics have long been present in marine and terrestrial environments and have emerged in recent decades as a global environmental concern. This pollutant has been detected with increasing frequency in Brazilian territory and herein primarily highlights current information and developments about the quantity, distribution, techniques of identification, origins, and sources of microplastics and related pollutants in the Brazilian environment. We evaluated 79 publications from 2018 to December 2022, and some aspects can be highlighted: 27% of studies were published in the Journal Marine Pollution Bulletin; 22% of all studies were conducted in São Paulo city; and 52% of all microplastics found were collected from biota followed by sediment samples. According to the findings given here, microplastics in Brazilian habitats, which can reach concentrations of 4367 to 25,794 items m-2 in sediments, are becoming a serious problem in the Anthropocene age, and some topics regarding the open questions in this area were pointed out in this review.

Perspectives on a psychiatric outpatient service for immigrants and refugees in São Paulo, Brazil over a 15-year period.

BACKGROUND: Immigrants and refugees have specific mental health needs. Studies of immigrant/refugee psychiatric patients in Latin America are scarce. AIMS: Present the profile of patients from an outpatient psychiatric service in Sao Paulo (Brazil) to better inform mental health service planning for immigrants and refugees in the Global South. METHODS: Exploratory study to characterize the sociodemographic and mental health profile of refugees and immigrants attending outpatient psychiatric service from 2003 to 2018. Chi-square tests and logistic regressions were used to examine the association of demographic variables, exposure to violence, and immigrant status with psychiatric diagnosis. Cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups within the sample. RESULTS: A total of 162 immigrants and refugees referred to the service obtained treatment. Of these patients, 57.4% were men, 59.8% were refugees/asylum seekers, 51.9% were Black, 48.8% were single, 64.2% had 10 years of education, and 57.4% were unemployed; the mean age of the sample was 35.9. Half of the sample (52.5%) was exposed to violence. The most common diagnosis was depression (54.2%), followed by PTSD (16.6%). Approximately 34% of the participants sought psychiatric care within 6 months of arrival. Logistic regressions showed that men had lower odds of presenting with depression (OR = 0.34). Patients with PTSD were more likely to be refugees (OR = 3.9) and not have a university degree (OR = 3.1).In the cluster analysis, a cluster of patients with PTSD included almost all Black refugee men exposed to violence. Most patients diagnosed with psychotic disorders were also Black refugee men. CONCLUSION: Immigrants and refugees represent a vulnerable group. The majority of the sample was Black, refugee men, who were also more likely to present with PTSD. Future studies are needed to better understand issues in treatment adherence in relation to socioeconomic characteristics.

Significados atribuídos à vacinação contra o HPV por responsáveis legais de meninas / Meanings attributed to HPV vaccination by girls legal guardians

Trata-se de pesquisa descritiva e qualitativa, cujo objetivo foi descrever os significados atribuídos à vacinação contra HPV por responsáveis legais de meninas, a partir do processo de interação social no contexto do câncer do colo do útero. Realizada em locais próximos a escolas, ruas, praças, residências, no período entre maio e julho de 2018. Foram entrevistadas 10 responsáveis legais de meninas. Foram atendidas as exigências do Conselho Nacional de Saúde e o projeto foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro sob o n.º 2.449.934. A análise foi baseada nos pressupostos da Grounded Theory, por oferecer elementos para a discussão dos dados de modo comparativo constante dos resultados, e do interacionismo simbólico, que possibilita que a pesquisa qualitativa atinja o objetivo de pesquisar o sentido que os indivíduos propõem aos objetos, pessoas e símbolos com os quais interagem no meio social. Emergiram cinco categorias: Categoria 1 Aderindo à vacinação contra HPV, Categoria 2 Sentindo preocupação e medo em relação a comentários sobre reações adversas pela vacina contra HPV, Categoria 3 Considerando escassas as informações veiculadas sobre a vacinação contra HPV, Categoria 4 Preferindo vacinar por conhecer a gravidade da doença, e Categoria 5 - Escolhendo esperar a criança amadurecer para tratar de assuntos relacionados ao sexo, assim como, optar pela vacinação contra HPV. Evidenciou-se que a vacinação contra HPV causa preocupações e inseguranças nas pessoas por a considerarem uma vacina recente, o que gera muita especulação social, contribuindo para veiculação de boatos. Observou-se também a carência de informações que os responsáveis legais de meninas alegam ter acerca da vacinação no contexto do câncer uterino, trazendo à tona diversas solicitações de mais informação sobre o tema. Trata-se de um assunto delicado, pois se refere a prevenção de uma doença sexualmente transmissível em crianças e adolescentes, o que é tabu para alguns responsáveis legais. Evidenciou se maior dificuldade de articulação do diálogo e de adesão na idade de 9 anos, pois os responsáveis legais consideram suas crianças muito jovens para tratar assuntos inerentes ao sexo. Por outro lado, muitos responsáveis legais mantiveram a decisão de vacinar suas filhas, referindo satisfação da implementação da campanha pelo Ministério da Saúde.

This is a descriptive and qualitative research, whose objective was to describe the meanings attributed to HPV vaccination by legal guardians of girls, from the process of social interaction in the context of cervical cancer. Held in places close to schools, streets, squares, residences, in the period between May and July 2018. Ten legal guardians of girls were interviewed. The requirements of the National Health Council were met, and the project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the State University of Rio de Janeiro under Number 2,449,934. The analysis was based on the Grounded Theory assumptions, as it offers elements for the discussion of data in a constant comparative way of results, and symbolic interactionism, which enables qualitative research to reach the objective of researching the sense that individuals propose to objects, people and symbols with which they interact in the social environment. Five categories emerged: Category 1 adhering to HPV vaccination, Category 2 feeling concern and fear in relation to comments on adverse reactions by HPV vaccine, Category 3 Considering scarce the information conveed about the Vaccination against HPV, category 4 preferring to vaccinate for knowing the severity of the disease, and category 5-choosing to wait for the child to mature to deal with sex-related subjects, as well as , opt for HPV vaccination. It was evidenced that vaccination against HPV causes concerns and insecurities in people because they consider it a recent vaccine, which generates a lot of social speculation, contributing to the dissemination of rumors. It was also observed the lack of information that legal guardians of girls claim to have about vaccination in the context of uterine cancer, bringing to the fore several requests for more information on the subject. This is a delicate matter, as it refers to the prevention of a sexually transmitted disease in children and adolescents, which is taboo for some legal guardians. It was evidenced that greater difficulty in articulating dialogue and adherence at the age of 9 years, because legal guardians consider their children to be very young to treat issues inherent to sex. On the other hand, many legal guardians maintained the decision to vaccinate their daughters, referring to the satisfaction of the implementation of the campaign by the Ministry of Health

Coffee has hepatoprotective benefits in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C even in lower daily consumption than in American and European populations

The potential role of coffee as a hepatoprotective substance for chronic liver diseases has been widely discussed. Our main aim was to evaluate the effect of coffee intake regarding clinical, biochemical tests and liver biopsy data in treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C. One hundred and thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C, diagnosed through liver biopsy, or by means of clinical, ultrasound or endoscopic signs of cirrhosis, were assessed by determination of biochemical tests, metabolic and morphological alterations. Food frequency was scrutinized by using a structured questionnaire. Coffee intake represented more than 90% of the total daily caffeine, and the 75th percentile was 4-Brazilian coffee-cup/day (>255mL/day or >123mg caffeine/day). According to caffeine intake, patients were divided into two groups (< or >123mg caffeine/day). Patients with higher ingestion of caffeine had lower serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (× upper limit of normal) (1.8±1.5 vs 2.3±1.5, p=0.04), lower frequencies of advanced (F3, F4) fibrosis (23.5% vs 54.5%, p<0.001) and of histological activity grade (A3, A4) observed in liver biopsies (13.8% vs 36.9%, p<0.001). By multivariate logistic regression, fibrosis was independently associated with caffeine intake (OR- 0.16; 95%CI - 0.03-0.80; p=0.026), γ-glutamil transferase serum levels and morphological activity. But only fibrosis was associated with histological activity. In conclusion caffeine consumption greater than 123mg/day was associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis. In addition, this study supports the assumption that coffee intake has hepatoprotective benefits for Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C, even in lower doses than that of American and European population intake.

Coffee has hepatoprotective benefits in Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C even in lower daily consumption than in American and European populations.

The potential role of coffee as a hepatoprotective substance for chronic liver diseases has been widely discussed. Our main aim was to evaluate the effect of coffee intake regarding clinical, biochemical tests and liver biopsy data in treatment naïve patients with chronic hepatitis C. One hundred and thirty-six patients with chronic hepatitis C, diagnosed through liver biopsy, or by means of clinical, ultrasound or endoscopic signs of cirrhosis, were assessed by determination of biochemical tests, metabolic and morphological alterations. Food frequency was scrutinized by using a structured questionnaire. Coffee intake represented more than 90% of the total daily caffeine, and the 75th percentile was 4-Brazilian coffee-cup/day (≥ 255 mL/day or ≥ 123 mg caffeine/day). According to caffeine intake, patients were divided into two groups (< or ≥ 123 mg caffeine/day). Patients with higher ingestion of caffeine had lower serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (× upper limit of normal) (1.8 ± 1.5 vs 2.3 ± 1.5, p=0.04), lower frequencies of advanced (F3, F4) fibrosis (23.5% vs 54.5%, p<0.001) and of histological activity grade (A3, A4) observed in liver biopsies (13.8% vs 36.9%, p<0.001). By multivariate logistic regression, fibrosis was independently associated with caffeine intake (OR- 0.16; 95%CI - 0.03-0.80; p=0.026), γ-glutamil transferase serum levels and morphological activity. But only fibrosis was associated with histological activity. In conclusion caffeine consumption greater than 123 mg/day was associated with reduced hepatic fibrosis. In addition, this study supports the assumption that coffee intake has hepatoprotective benefits for Brazilian patients with chronic hepatitis C, even in lower doses than that of American and European population intake.

Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in the differentiation of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and healthy individuals.

CONTEXT: Due to its good correlation to glycemic clamp, HOMA-IR has been widely utilized as insulin resistance index in clinical and epidemiological studies involving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease carriers. However, values used for this parameter have shown large variability. OBJECTIVE: To identify the HOMA-IR cut value that best distinguishes non-diabetic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients from a control group. METHODS: One hundred sixteen non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients were studied, diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, and liver image or biopsy criteria, and 88 healthy individuals, without any liver disease and testing for oral glucose tolerance within normality. These groups did not differ in age and gender. All were submitted to oral glucose tolerance test and blood samples were collected for glucose and insulin measurements by immunofluorometric method. HOMA-IR was calculated according to the formula: fasting insulin (microU/L) x fasting glucose (nmol/L)/22.5. RESULTS: NAFLD patients showed higher insulin, glycemia, and HOMA-IR values than control group, even when excluding glucose intolerant and diabetes mellitus patients by their glycemic curves. HOMA-IR 75th percentile for control group was 1.78 and the best area under the curve index was obtained for HOMA-IR values of 2.0 [AUC= 0.840 (0.781-0.899 CI 95%), sensitivity (Se): 85%, specificity (Sp): 83%] while value 2.5 showed best specificity without important loss in sensitivity [AUC=0,831 (0.773-0.888) Se = 72%, Sp = 94%]. CONCLUSION: HOMA-IR values above or equal to 2.0 or 2.5 show enhanced diagnostic value in distinguishing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease carriers from control group individuals.

Nutritional follow-up of patients with ulcerative colitis during periods of intestinal inflammatory activity and remission.

CONTEXT: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease involving superficial inflammation of the mucosa of the colon, rectum, and anus, sometimes including the terminal ileum. When in clinical activity, the disease is characterized by various daily evacuations containing blood, mucus and/or pus alternating periods of remission. OBJECTIVE: To compare nutritional parameters (dietary, biochemical and anthropometric) among patients with ulcerative colitis followed up on an outpatient basis over a period of 1 year and during periods of intestinal inflammatory activity and remission. METHODS: Sixty-five patients were studied over a period of 1 year and divided into two groups: group 1 with inflammatory disease activity (n = 24), and group 2 without disease activity (n = 41). Anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, quantitative food intake, and qualitative food frequency were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant reduction in body mass index and weight and in the intake of energy, proteins, lipids, calcium, iron and phosphorus was observed in the group with inflammatory activity (group 1) when compared to the period of clinical remission. The most affected food groups were cereals, legumes, oils, and fats. In contrast, in group 2 significant differences in triceps and sub scapular skin fold thickness, total protein, hemoglobin and hematocrit were observed between the first and final visit. Calcium and vitamin B6 intake, as well as the consumption of legumes, meat and eggs, and sugar and sweets, was significantly higher than on the first visit. CONCLUSION: Patients with ulcerative colitis followed up on an outpatient basis tend to be well nourished. However, the nutritional aspects studied tend to worsen during the period of inflammatory disease activity.

Insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) in the differentiation of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and healthy individuals / Índice de resistência insulínica (HOMA-IR) na diferenciação entre pacientes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica e indivíduos saudáveis

CONTEXT: Due to its good correlation to glycemic clamp, HOMA-IR has been widely utilized as insulin resistance index in clinical and epidemiological studies involving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease carriers. However, values used for this parameter have shown large variability. OBJECTIVE: To identify the HOMA-IR cut value that best distinguishes non-diabetic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients from a control group. METHODS: One hundred sixteen non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients were studied, diagnosed by clinical, biochemical, and liver image or biopsy criteria, and 88 healthy individuals, without any liver disease and testing for oral glucose tolerance within normality. These groups did not differ in age and gender. All were submitted to oral glucose tolerance test and blood samples were collected for glucose and insulin measurements by immunofluorometric method. HOMA-IR was calculated according to the formula: fasting insulin (µU/L) x fasting glucose (nmol/L)/22.5. RESULTS: NAFLD patients showed higher insulin, glycemia, and HOMA-IR values than control group, even when excluding glucose intolerant and diabetes mellitus patients by their glycemic curves. HOMA-IR 75th percentile for control group was 1.78 and the best area under the curve index was obtained for HOMA-IR values of 2.0 [AUC= 0.840 (0.781-0.899 CI 95 percent), sensitivity (Se): 85 percent, specificity (Sp): 83 percent] while value 2.5 showed best specificity without important loss in sensitivity [AUC=0,831 (0.773-0.888) Se = 72 percent, Sp = 94 percent]. CONCLUSION: HOMA-IR values above or equal to 2.0 or 2.5 show enhanced diagnostic value in distinguishing non-alcoholic fatty liver disease carriers from control group individuals.

CONTEXTO: Pela sua boa correlação com o "clamp" glicêmico, o HOMA-IR tem sido largamente utilizado como índice de resistência insulínica em estudos clínicos e epidemiológicos em pacientes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica. Porém os valores utilizados para esse parâmetro têm sido muito variáveis. OBJETIVO: Identificar o valor de corte do HOMA-IR que melhor diferencie pacientes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica não-diabéticos, de um grupo controle. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 116 pacientes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica, diagnosticados por critérios clínicos, bioquímicos e de imagem ou biopsia hepática e 88 indivíduos saudáveis, sem doença hepática e com teste de tolerância oral à glicose dentro da normalidade. Esses grupos não diferiam quanto à idade e gênero. Todos foram submetidos ao teste de tolerância oral à glicose e coletadas amostras de sangue para dosagem de glicemia e de insulina através de método imunofluorimétrico. Foi feito o cálculo do HOMA-IR de acordo com fórmula = insulina de jejum (µU/L) x glicemia de jejum (nmol/L)/22.5. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica apresentaram valores mais elevados de insulina, glicemia e HOMA-IR que o grupo controle, mesmo quando excluídos os pacientes com diagnóstico de intolerância à glicose ou de diabetes mellitus pela curva glicêmica. O percentil 75 para HOMA-IR no grupo controle foi de 1.78 e o melhor índice de área sob a curva foi obtido para os valores de HOMA-IR de 2,0 [ASC = 0,840 (0,781-0,899 IC95 por cento), sensibilidade: 85 por cento, especificidade: 83 por cento] enquanto o valor de 2,5 foi o que apresentou melhor especificidade, sem perda importante de sensibilidade [ASC = 0,831 (0.773-0.888) sensibilidade: 72 por cento, especificidade: 94 por cento] . CONCLUSÃO: Valores de HOMA-IR acima ou iguais a 2.0 ou 2.5 mostram elevado valor diagnóstico na distinção entre os doentes com doença hepática gordurosa não-alcoólica...

Nutritional follow-up of patients with ulcerative colitis during periods of intestinal inflammatory activity and remission

CONTEXT: Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease involving superficial inflammation of the mucosa of the colon, rectum, and anus, sometimes including the terminal ileum. When in clinical activity, the disease is characterized by various daily evacuations containing blood, mucus and/or pus alternating periods of remission. OBJECTIVE: To compare nutritional parameters (dietary, biochemical and anthropometric) among patients with ulcerative colitis followed up on an outpatient basis over a period of 1 year and during periods of intestinal inflammatory activity and remission. METHODS: Sixty-five patients were studied over a period of 1 year and divided into two groups: group 1 with inflammatory disease activity (n = 24), and group 2 without disease activity (n = 41). Anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, quantitative food intake, and qualitative food frequency were analyzed. RESULTS: A significant reduction in body mass index and weight and in the intake of energy, proteins, lipids, calcium, iron and phosphorus was observed in the group with inflammatory activity (group 1) when compared to the period of clinical remission. The most affected food groups were cereals, legumes, oils, and fats. In contrast, in group 2 significant differences in triceps and sub scapular skin fold thickness, total protein, hemoglobin and hematocrit were observed between the first and final visit. Calcium and vitamin B6 intake, as well as the consumption of legumes, meat and eggs, and sugar and sweets, was significantly higher than on the first visit. CONCLUSION: Patients with ulcerative colitis followed up on an outpatient basis tend to be well nourished. However, the nutritional aspects studied tend to worsen during the period of inflammatory disease activity.

CONTEXTO: A retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica compreende uma das doenças inflamatórias intestinais, com características de inflamação superficial da mucosa do cólon, reto, ânus, podendo incluir o íleo terminal. Caracteriza-se por várias exonerações diárias, com a presença de sangue e/ou pus, cursando em períodos de atividade e remissão inflamatória intestinal. OBJETIVO: Comparar os parâmetros nutricionais (alimentares, bioquímicos e antropométricos) em pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica acompanhados em ambulatório, durante a atividade e remissão da doença inflamatória, no período de 1 ano. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 65 pacientes durante 1 ano e divididos em dois grupos: grupo 1 com atividade inflamatória da doença (n = 24) e grupo 2 sem atividade da doença (n = 41), e analisadas as medidas antropométricas, os exames bioquímicos, o consumo alimentar quantitativo e a frequência alimentar qualitativa. RESULTADOS: O grupo com atividade inflamatória (grupo 1) apresentou redução estatisticamente significante no índice de massa corpórea, peso, no consumo de energia, proteínas, lipídios, cálcio, ferro e fósforo, em relação ao período de remissão clínica. Os grupos alimentares com significado prejuízo foram os cereais, as leguminosas, os óleos e as gorduras. Já no grupo 2, foram observadas alterações com significância estatística na dobra cutânea tricipital e subescapular, nos valores de proteínas totais, hemoglobina e hematócrito da consulta inicial para a final. Encontrou-se consumo de cálcio e vitamina B6, assim como na ingestão do grupo das leguminosas, carnes e ovos, açúcares e doces maiores significativamente do que na consulta inicial. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes com retocolite ulcerativa inespecífica, acompanhados em ambulatório, tendem a ser bem nutridos, mas na fase de atividade inflamatória da doença, há tendência na piora dos aspectos nutricionais estudados.

Anesthetic conduct in cesarean section in a parturient with unruptured intracranial aneurysm.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The anesthetic management of a parturient with unruptured intracranial aneurysm scheduled to undergo cesarean section is interesting, since it has several particularities associated with pregnancy-related physiologic changes that are associated with the risk of aneurismal rupture during the anesthetic procedure. Studies on this subject are rare in the literature and, therefore, the dissemination of those cases is important. CASE REPORT: This is a 31-year old female at term with unruptured intracranial aneurysm scheduled for cesarean section under epidural block. The procedure evolved without maternal or fetal intercurrences. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence-based recommendations for obstetric anesthesia in patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm are lacking. Experimental or clinical data confirming or refuting general anesthesia or regional blocks in this context do not exist. Thus, the decision of which technique should be used is individual, considering the risks and benefits of each procedure and the experience of the anesthesiologist.

Conduta anestésica em cesariana em gestante com aneurisma intracraniano não roto / Conducta anestésica en cesárea en embarazada con aneurisma cerebral íntegro / Anesthetic conduct in cesarean section in a parturient with unruptured intracranial aneurysm

Justificativa e objetivos: O manuseio anestésico para cesariana programada em gestante com aneurisma intracraniano não roto é particularmente interessante, pois apresenta diversas particularidades relacionadas às alterações fisiológicas da gestação acrescida dos riscos de ruptura do aneurisma durante o procedimento anestésico. A literatura é escassa nesse assunto, sendo assim importante a divulgação dos casos. .

Background and objectives: The anesthetic management of a parturient with unruptured intracranial aneurysm scheduled to undergo cesarean section is interesting, since it has several particularities associated with pregnancy-related physiologic changes that are associated with the risk of aneurismal rupture during the anesthetic procedure. Studies on this subject are rare in the literature and, therefore, the dissemination of those cases...

Justificativa y objetivos: El manejo anestésico para la cesárea programada en embarazada con aneurisma cerebral íntegro es particularmente interesante, porque presenta diversas particularidades relacionadas con las alteraciones fisiológicas del embarazo y por añadidura, con los riesgos de ruptura del aneurisma durante el procedimiento anestésico. La literatura es parca en ese asunto, siendo muy importante la divulgación...

[Weight, educational achievement, basic sanitation, alcoholism, smoking and eating habit in patients with gastric cancer]. / Variação de peso, grau de escolaridade, saneamento básico, etilismo, tabagismo e hábito alimentar pregresso em pacientes com cancêr de estômago.

BACKGROUND: About 35% of the cancer patients are involved in factors coming from the diet and others like alcohol, smoking, sunlight, chemical agents and infections caused by virus. The stomach cancer is the second cause of cancer in the world with 9.9 % of all diagnosis and about 12.1 % of death cases. AIMS: Evaluate the body weight, educational achievement, basic sanitation, smoking, alcoholism and eating habit among patients with gastric cancer and a control group. METHODS: Seventy patients with gastric cancer were paired with 70 subjects without cancer. Data on the weight and height, educational attainment, basic sanitation, smoking, alcoholism and eating habits of the patients were collected from the clinical records and from interviews. RESULTS: Forty two patients were men, the mean age were 60 years old. The actual weight and body mass index of the patients were smaller when compared to the controls. Within the group of patients with gastric cancer, 21 never attended school, and for those who attended, 55% did not finish the elementary school. Among the patient group, 32.9% of them lived in housing with basic sanitation and 37.1% with electricity, against 68.6% of the controls, and 58.6% of the patients lived in rural area, against only 7.1% of the controls. Among the test group, 65.7% of the patients were smokers, whereas in the control group, 44.3% were smokers. In addition, there was also difference in the duration of smoking habit. Alcoholism was also more frequent in the cancer group (44% vs 19%). Food rich in salt, condiments, nitrates, saturated fat, complex carbohydrates, refined sugar and fried salted food had been more used by gastric cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The patients with gastric cancer presented with: less weight, low quality of life as indicated by lower or no access to basic sanitation, electricity and schooling, lived predominantly in rural area, high incidence of alcohol intake and higher intake of high fat foods and industrialized foods.

Variação de peso, grau de escolaridade, saneamento básico, etilismo, tabagismo e hábito alimentar pregresso em pacientes com cancêr de estômago / Weight, educational achievement, basic sanitation, alcoholism, smoking and eating habit in patients with gastric cancer

RACIONAL: Cerca de 35 por cento dos casos de câncer estão envolvidos com fatores advindos da dieta e de outros como o álcool, o fumo, a luz solar, agentes químicos e infecções por vírus. O câncer de estômago é o segundo tipo de câncer mais diagnosticado no mundo, sendo responsável por cerca de 9,9 por cento de todos os diagnósticos e cerca de 12,1 por cento das mortes. OBJETIVOS: Comparar o peso corpóreo atual e habitual, grau de escolaridade, saneamento básico, tabagismo, etilismo e freqüência pregressa de consumo de alimentos entre pacientes com câncer de estômago e população controle. MÉTODO: Setenta pacientes com câncer gástrico foram pareados a outros 70 indivíduos sem diagnóstico de neoplasia. Foram coletados peso, altura, informações sobre grau de escolaridade, saneamento básico, tabagismo e etilismo e preenchido um questionário de freqüência alimentar pregressa. RESULTADOS: Dos 75 pacientes elegíveis para o estudo, 42 eram homens, com média de idade de 59,5 anos. O grupo de pacientes com câncer apresentou menor peso e índice de massa corporal atual do que o grupo controle. Em relação ao grau de escolaridade, verificou-se que, no grupo de pacientes com câncer, 21 indivíduos nunca ingressaram na escola e dos que estudaram, cerca de 55 por cento não conseguiram concluir o primeiro grau. Nesse grupo, 32,9 por cento dos indivíduos tiveram acesso ao saneamento básico e 37,1 por cento à eletricidade no passado; no grupo controle, esse percentual foi de 68,6 por cento para cada uma das variáveis. No grupo caso, 58,6 por cento dos pacientes moraram na zona rural, enquanto no grupo controle apenas 7,1 por cento. No grupo caso, 65.7 por cento eram fumantes versus 44.3 por cento, no grupo controle. Observou-se também que os pacientes com câncer fumaram por período maior. O alcoolismo também foi mais freqüente entre os pacientes com câncer (45 por cento versus 19 por cento). Verificou-se que, entre os pacientes com câncer, houve maior consumo...

BACKGROUND: About 35 percent of the cancer patients are involved in factors coming from the diet and others like alcohol, smoking, sunlight, chemical agents and infections caused by virus. The stomach cancer is the second cause of cancer in the world with 9.9 percent of all diagnosis and about 12.1 percent of death cases. AIMS: Evaluate the body weight, educational achievement, basic sanitation, smoking, alcoholism and eating habit among patients with gastric cancer and a control group. METHODS: Seventy patients with gastric cancer were paired with 70 subjects without cancer. Data on the weight and height, educational attainment, basic sanitation, smoking, alcoholism and eating habits of the patients were collected from the clinical records and from interviews. RESULTS: Forty two patients were men, the mean age were 60 years old. The actual weight and body mass index of the patients were smaller when compared to the controls. Within the group of patients with gastric cancer, 21 never attended school, and for those who attended, 55 percent did not finish the elementary school. Among the patient group, 32.9 percent of them lived in housing with basic sanitation and 37.1 percent with electricity, against 68.6 percent of the controls, and 58.6 percent of the patients lived in rural area, against only 7.1 percent of the controls. Among the test group, 65.7 percent of the patients were smokers, whereas in the control group, 44.3 percent were smokers. In addition, there was also difference in the duration of smoking habit. Alcoholism was also more frequent in the cancer group (44 percent vs 19 percent). Food rich in salt, condiments, nitrates, saturated fat, complex carbohydrates, refined sugar and fried salted food had been more used by gastric cancer patients. CONCLUSION: The patients with gastric cancer presented with: less weight, low quality of life as indicated by lower or no access to basic sanitation, electricity and schooling, lived...

Avaliação da microinfiltração marginal em cavidades classe II restauradas com resina composta auto e fotopolimerizável / Microleakage evaluation in cavity II preparation Restored with autopolymerizing and photopolymerizing composite resins

O objetivo deste trabalho de pesquisa foi avaliar in vitro a microinfiltração marginal em cavidades classe II, com margem gengival em cemento, quando estas são restauradas apenas com resina composta fotopolimerizável ou associando resina composta auto/fotopolimerizável. As cavidades foram confeccionadas em molares humanos recém-extraídos e após os procedimentos de preparo cavitário os espécimes foram divididos em dois grupos, onde um grupo foi restaurado apenas com a resina composta fotopolimerizável Surefil (Dentsply) e o outro grupo com a resina composta autopolimerizável Adaptic (Dentsply) na parede gengival e o restante da cavidade preenchido pela resina composta fotopolimerizável. Em seguida, os corpos-de-prova foram submetidos à ciclagem térmica, imersos em solução corante de nitrato de prata a 50% e seccionados em uma máquina de corte para avaliação da microinfiltração com o auxílio de uma lupa estereoscópica. Os dados obtidos foram tabelados e submetidos à análise estatística pelo teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis, observando-se não haver diferença estatisticamente significante entre as duas técnicas restauradoras avaliadas no que diz respeito ao nível de microinfiltração marginal apresentado por elas. Dessa forma, constatou-se desnecessário o uso da resina composta autopolimerizável como incremento gengival em cavidades classe II, já que este material restaurador não foi capaz de impedir a ocorrência de microinfiltração marginal

Importância da albumina sérica na avaliação nutricional e de atividade inflamatória em pacientes com doença de Crohn / Importance of serum albumin values in nutritional assessment and inflammatory activity in patients with Crohn's disease

BACKGROUND: The serum albumin concentration has frequently been regarded as an indicator of nutritional status, although the hypoalbuminemia may reflect an acute phase protein response during inflammation mediated by cytokines. Both hypoalbuminemia and malnutrition are observed in Crohn's disease. OBJECTIVES: To correlate the serum albumin values to disease activity and also to nutritional status in patients with Crohn's disease. PATIENTS/METHODS: Thirty six patients were studied. Nutritional status was assessed by anthropometry measures and inflammatory activity determined by Harvey's simple clinical index and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. RESULTS: No correlation was found between malnutrition and hypoalbuminemia. The serum albumin levels correlated inversely with the disease activity. Hypoalbuminemia was 100% sensitive for detection of disease activity. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that serum albumin concentration is a very sensitive marker of inflammatory activity and not good indicator of the nutritional status in Crohn's disease. It is necessary a suitable laboratorial parameter for routine nutrition assessment in patients with this inflammatory bowel disease.

Avaliaçäo do estudo nutricional e conduta dietoterapica aplicada em pacientes com doenças do aparelho digestivo / Assessment of Nutritional State and Diet Therapy for Children with Digestive System Disorders

Este trabalho foi realizado a partir do acompanhamento nutricional de 38 pacientes portadores de patologias gastricas malignas e benignas, atraves da avaliacao do estado nutricional , acompanhamento da ingestao alimentar e composicao quimica das dietas padronizadas. Teve-se como finalidade avaliar a eficacia do tratamento dietoterapico. Observou-se que o tratamento dietoterapico individualizado favorece tanto a evolucao clinica quanto o estado nutricional dos pacientes estudados.

Hipomagnesemia em cirróticos alcoólicos näo relacionada ao uso de diuréticos de alça / Hypomagnesemia in alcoholic cirrhotics not related to loop diuretic use

Os valores séricos de magnésio obtidos por método colorimétrico automatizado foram avaliados em 31 pacientes portadores de cirrose de etiologia alcoólica com hipertensäo portal e que näo faziam uso de diuréticos de alça e correlacionados com a avaliaçäo clínica, bioquímica e nutricional e os valores séricos de cálcio, fósforo, potássio e zinco. A avaliaçäo antropométrica foi feita pela medida da prega cutânea tricipal (PCT), circunferência do braço (CB) e circunferência muscular do braço (CMB). Dos pacientes avaliados, 16 apresentavam valores de magnésio estavam reduzidos em 20 por cento ou mais. Hipocalcemia e hipopotassemia foram observadas em apenas um paciente, cada uma. Hipofosfatemia e reduçäo do zinco sérico foram observadas em dois pacientes. Foram detectadas significantes associaçöes entre a hipomagnesemia e menor tempo de abstinência alcoólica, medidas antropométricas da CB e da CMB, o nível de albuminemia e o grau de disfunçäo hepática medido pela classificaçäo de Child-Pugh. Isoladamente, os valores de CMB se correlacionaram significativamente com os níveis de magnésio (r=0,51p<0,01). Estes resultados sugerem que, mesmo em cirróticos alcoólicos que näo estejam utilizando diuréticos de alça, a hipomagnesemia leve e moderada seja frequente e que a desnutriçäo, a disfunçäo hepática avançada e o alcoolismo estejam associados aos baixos valores séricos deste íon