Qualitative Analysis of Attitudes, Knowledge, and Interest in Research of People with Parkinson's Disease and Their Care Partners Receiving Accessible Research Education.

Background: People with Parkinson's disease (PWP) and their care partners (CP) are underrepresented in research. Methods: As an eight-week research advocacy training program, TeleDREAMS was designed to increase understanding of, and participation in, clinical research by older adults through topics on the research process. Qualitative analysis was conducted to explore themes from 365 thirty-minute semistructured phone interviews with 32 PWP and 17 CP TeleDREAMS participants. Interviews gauged progress, motivation, and information retention after each weekly module. Results: Eight salient themes were identified from the interviews, including Understanding the Importance of Advocacy and Becoming Cognizant of Past Advocacy Experiences. Conclusions: While some findings aligned with weekly module topics, others, such as stated learning preferences and knowledge acquisition of older adults in an educational program, were unexpected. TeleDREAMS may increase interest in community engagement, research participation, and advocacy roles in marginalized and underrepresented participants.

Implementation of a Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional (BALANCE) Program for improvement on quality of diet and secondary prevention of cardiovascular events: A randomized, multicenter trial

Background Complex percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with higher ischemic risk, which can be mitigated by long-term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT). However, concomitant high bleeding risk (HBR) may be present, making it unclear whether short- or long-term DAPT should be prioritized. Objectives This study investigated the effects of ischemic (by PCI complexity) and bleeding (by PRECISE-DAPT [PRE dicting bleeding Complications in patients undergoing stent Implantation and Sub sequent Dual Anti Platelet Therapy] score) risks on clinical outcomes and on the impact of DAPT duration after coronary stenting. Methods Complex PCI was defined as ≥3 stents implanted and/or ≥3 lesions treated, bifurcation stenting and/or stent length >60 mm, and/or chronic total occlusion revascularization. Ischemic and bleeding outcomes in high (≥25) or non-high (<25) PRECISE-DAPT strata were evaluated based on randomly allocated duration of DAPT. Results Among 14,963 patients from 8 randomized trials, 3,118 underwent complex PCI and experienced a higher rate of ischemic, but not bleeding, events. Long-term DAPT in non-HBR patients reduced ischemic events in both complex (absolute risk difference: −3.86%; 95% confidence interval: −7.71 to +0.06) and noncomplex PCI strata (absolute risk difference: −1.14%; 95% confidence interval: −2.26 to −0.02), but not among HBR patients, regardless of complex PCI features. The bleeding risk according to the Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction scale was increased by long-term DAPT only in HBR patients, regardless of PCI complexity. Conclusions Patients who underwent complex PCI had a higher risk of ischemic events, but benefitted from long-term DAPT only if HBR features were not present. These data suggested that when concordant, bleeding, more than ischemic risk, should inform decision-making on the duration of DAPT. (AU)

Injectable and Gellable Chitosan Formulations Filled with Cellulose Nanofibers for Intervertebral Disc Tissue Engineering.

The development of non-cellularized injectable suspensions of viscous chitosan (CHI) solutions (1.7⁻3.3% (w/w)), filled with cellulose nanofibers (CNF) (0.02⁻0.6% (w/w)) of the type nanofibrillated cellulose, was proposed for viscosupplementation of the intervertebral disc nucleus pulposus tissue. The achievement of CNF/CHI formulations which can gel in situ at the disc injection site constitutes a minimally-invasive approach to restore damaged/degenerated discs. We studied physico-chemical aspects of the sol and gel states of the CNF/CHI formulations, including the rheological behavior in relation to injectability (sol state) and fiber mechanical reinforcement (gel state). CNF-CHI interactions could be evidenced by a double flow behavior due to the relaxation of the CHI polymer chains and those interacting with the CNFs. At high shear rates resembling the injection conditions with needles commonly used in surgical treatments, both the reference CHI viscous solutions and those filled with CNFs exhibited similar rheological behavior. The neutralization of the flowing and weakly acidic CNF/CHI suspensions yielded composite hydrogels in which the nanofibers reinforced the CHI matrix. We performed evaluations in relation to the biomedical application, such as the effect of the intradiscal injection of the CNF/CHI formulation in pig and rabbit spine models on disc biomechanics. We showed that the injectable formulations became hydrogels in situ after intradiscal gelation, due to CHI neutralization occurring in contact with the body fluids. No leakage of the injectate through the injection canal was observed and the gelled formulation restored the disc height and loss of mechanical properties, which is commonly related to disc degeneration.

Evaluation of the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of filling pastes used for pulp therapy on deciduous teeth using the micronucleus test on bone marrow from mice (Mus musculus).

Pulp therapy is the last resort for preserving deciduous teeth. However, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of many products used in this therapy are not well established. The aim of this study was to use the micronucleus test on bone marrow from mice to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of four filling pastes: zinc oxide, calcium hydroxide P.A., mineral trioxide aggregate and an iodoform paste (iodoform + camphorated + paramonochlorophenol + rifamycin + prednisolone). Male Swiss mice were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals, each exposed to one of the pastes, and were subdivided according to the dilutions tested: 1/10, 1/50, 1/500 and 1/1000 administered intraperitoneally (0.1ml/10g of weight). Cyclophosphamide was the positive control. The negative controls were dimethylsulfoxide and buffered saline solution. Five animals were killed 24h and five 48h after the treatment. The material was processed in accordance with Schmid (1976) and micronuclei were counted in 1000 polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE), under an optical microscope in a blinded test. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the PCE/normochromatic erythrocyte (NCE) ratio in 200 erythrocytes. The micronucleus analysis results were evaluated using the conditional test for comparing proportions in situations of rare events. Analysis of variance and Tukey's test were used to evaluate the PCE/NCE ratio. There was significantly greater occurrence of micronuclei in the animals treated with iodoform paste at all the dilutions tested, at both sacrifice times. Greater occurrence of micronuclei was observed among the animals treated with zinc oxide and sacrificed 48h after the treatment, at the dilutions 1:50; 1:500 and 1:1000. Calcium hydroxide P.A. and mineral trioxide aggregate did not present any genotoxic or cytotoxic effects. The genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of zinc oxide and iodoform paste revealed here constitute an initial step towards their contraindication, but additional studies will be necessary in order to securely establish the risks involved in their use.

A model considering light reabsorption processes to correct in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence spectra in apples.

Chlorophyll-a contained in the peel of Granny Smith apples emits fluorescence upon excitation with blue light. The observed emission, collected by an external detector and corrected by its spectral response, is still distorted by light reabsorption processes taking place in the fruit skin and differs appreciably from the true spectral distribution of fluorescence emerging from chlorophyll molecules in the biological tissue. Reabsorption processes particularly affect the ratio of fluorescence intensities at 680 nm and at 730 nm. A model to obtain the correct spectral distribution of the emission, from the experimental fluorescence recorded at a fluorometer detector and corrected for the detector spectral sensitivity, is developed in the present work. Measurements of the whole fruit reflectance, the peel transmittance and the flesh reflectance allow the calculation of the reabsorption-corrected spectra. The model is validated by comparing the corrected emission spectra with that obtained for a thin layer of apple-peel-chloroplasts, where no reabsorption takes place. It is recommended to correct distortions in emission spectra of intact fruits due to light reabsorption effects whenever a correlation between the physiological state of the fruit and its fluorescence spectra is investigated.

Beneficial effect of retinoic acid on the outcome of experimental acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Retinoic acid (RA) exerts beneficial effects on vascular remodelling and experimental nephritis, and plays a role in kidney development. Pathological changes caused by acute renal failure (ARF) result in high mortality. We determined whether RA ameliorates ARF-induced pathology caused by potassium dichromate (PD). METHODS: Adult Wistar female rats (210-250 g) were randomly allocated to four groups: (i) an ARF group that received PD [15 mg/kg body weight (bw), single dose subcutaneously]; (ii) a group that received PD plus RA (1 mg/kg bw) beginning at 5 days before PD and that continued for 14 additional days; (iii) a group that received PD plus thyroxine (T(4); 8 micro g/100 g bw) with RA; and (iv) a group that received only the vehicle for PD (saline solution). We evaluated functional, biochemical and morphological characteristics of the kidneys. RESULTS: PD-induced alterations in serum creatinine, creatinine clearance (C(cr)) and fractional excretion of sodium (FeNa) were less severe when rats received RA. PD increased lipoperoxidation and this alteration was partially blocked by RA. Animals undergoing ARF showed severe histological injury (brush border loss, acidophilia, oedema, pyknosis, karyorhexis, cell detachment and disruption of the basement membrane). These alterations were less severe in RA-treated rats, indicating a protective effect on functional and morphological alterations. Alterations in urinary sediment were reduced by RA. The simultaneous administration of T(4) with RA did not produce additional protection. CONCLUSION: RA exerted beneficial effects on the duration and severity of renal damage induced by PD in a model of renal failure resembling ARF in humans. The protective effect of RA may be mediated by diminished lipoperoxidative damage.

Labor preventiva binomio médico-enfermera en la reducción de accidentes: Estudio comparativo 1991 a 1994 en un área de salud / Work preventive binomial medical nurse in the reduction of comparative accidents: Study of 1991 to 1994 in an area of health

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo,retrospectivo y transversal sobre los accidentes ocurridos en los niños menores de 14 años, labor preventiva del binomio médico-enfermera de la familia del Policlínico" 28 de Septiembre",Santiago de Cuba.Estudio comparativo de los años 1991 a 1994.El universo estuvo constituido por la población infantil menor de 14 años para un total de 2580 niños.La muestra estuvo constituida por 48 niños accidentados en 1991 y 15 en 1994; en el estudio realizado encontramos en 1991, 22 accidentes en niños de 11 a 14 años para un 45,8 por ciento y en 1994, 6 para el 40 por ciento de la muestra estudiada, con relación al sexo, predominó el femenino con 28 para el 53,3 por ciento en 1994 predominó el sexo masculino con 9 para un 60 por ciento, las causas en 1991 fue la ingestión de sustancias medicamentosas con 15 niños, el 31,2 por ciento,en 1994 prevaleció las caidas de altura y bicicletas con 6 respectivamente, lo que representa el 40 por ciento.Al relacionar ambos años, se nota una disminución de accidentes

Labor preventiva binomio médico-enfermera en la reducción de accidentes.Estudio comparativo 1991 a 1994 en un área de salud / Work preventive binomial medical nurse in the reduction of comparative accidents. Study of 1991 to 1994 in an area of health

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo,retrospectivo y transversal sobre los accidentes ocurridos en los niños menores de 14 años, labor preventiva del binomio médico-enfermera de la familia del Policlínico" 28 de Septiembre",Santiago de Cuba.Estudio comparativo de los años 1991 a 1994.El universo estuvo constituido por la población infantil menor de 14 años para un total de 2580 niños.La muestra estuvo constituida por 48 niños accidentados en 1991 y 15 en 1994; en el estudio realizado encontramos en 1991, 22 accidentes en niños de 11 a 14 años para un 45,8 por ciento y en 1994, 6 para el 40 por ciento de la muestra estudiada, con relación al sexo, predominó el femenino con 28 para el 53,3 por ciento en 1994 predominó el sexo masculino con 9 para un 60 por ciento, las causas en 1991 fue la ingestión de sustancias medicamentosas con 15 niños, el 31,2 por ciento,en 1994 prevaleció las caidas de altura y bicicletas con 6 respectivamente, lo que representa el 40 por ciento.Al relacionar ambos años, se nota una disminución de accidentes

Estudios sobre una prueba biologica en la esquizofrenia / Studies about a biological test in schizophenia

La presencia de antigeno del virus Herpes Simplex Hominis Tipo I en neuronas del sistema limbico de pacientes esquizofrenicos fallecidos, en fetos de madres esquizofrenicas y en embriones de pollo experimentalmente inoculados con liquido cefalico-raquideo, nos hizo considerar la posibilidad del desarrollo de una prueba biologica diagnostica y pronostica de la enfermedad a partir de marcadores perifericos: sangre y liquido cefalo-raquideo. En este ultimo caso la proximidad anatomica y fisiologica con el Sistema Nervioso Central aumenta su valor en la interpretacion de los resultados. La prueba consiste en la obtencion de una pequena muestra de liquido cefaloraquideo la que se incuba con antisueros especificos y sueros secundarios marcados con oro coloidal. La positividad encontrada hasta el momento predice su utilizacion con fines diagnosticos y pronosticos en pacientes y en poblaciones de alto riesgo, en la investigacion de la enfermedad, asi como en el perfeccionamiento de la misma a partir de metodos microanaliticos. El examen del liquido amniotico de embriones de pollo experimentalmente inoculados constituyen un elemento complementario ni solo para el diagnostico positivo, sino para futuros ensayos en el tratamiento preventivo de la enfermedad

Estudios sobre una prueba biológica en la esquizofrenia / Studies about a biological test in schizophenia

La presencia de antígeno del virus Herpes Simplex Hominis Tipo I en neuronas del sistema límbico de pacientes esquizofrénicos fallecidos, en fetos de madres esquizofrénicas y en embriones de pollo experimentalmente inoculados con líquido cefálico-raquideo, nos hizo considerar la posibilidad del desarrollo de una prueba biológica diagnóstica y pronóstica de la enfermedad a partir de marcadores periféricos: sangre y líquido céfalo-raquídeo. En este último caso la proximidad anatómica y fisiológica con el Sistema Nervioso Central aumenta su valor en la interpretación de los resultados. La prueba consiste en la obtención de una pequeña muestra de líquido céfaloraquídeo la que se incuba con antisueros específicos y sueros secundarios marcados con oro coloidal. La positividad encontrada hasta el momento predice su utilización con fines diagnósticos y pronósticos en pacientes y en poblaciones de alto riesgo, en la investigación de la enfermedad, así como en el perfeccionamiento de la misma a partir de métodos microanalíticos. El examen del líquido amniótico de embriones de pollo experimentalmente inoculados constituyen un elemento complementario ni sólo para el diagnóstico positivo, sino para futuros ensayos en el tratamiento preventivo de la enfermedad (AU)

Intracytoplasmic inclusions in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia: an ultrastructural study

Se realizó el estudio de un paciente que presenta un síndrome mieloproliferativo. En el análisis ultraestructural se encontraron inclusiones intracitoplasmáticas de aspectos alargado y constituidas por unidades poliédricas. El patrón de difracción electrónica realizado a las mismas no arrojó patrón típico de algún elemento y el microanálisis por dispersión de energía de rayos x presentó pequeñas cantidades de dilicio, magnesio y potasio. Consideramos con los elementos de que disponemos que estas inclusiones intracitoplasmáticas corresponden a una asociación capricnhosa de macromoléculas

Intracytoplasmic inclusions in acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia: an ultrastructural study

Se realizó el estudio de un paciente que presenta un síndrome mieloproliferativo. En el análisis ultraestructural se encontraron inclusiones intracitoplasmáticas de aspectos alargado y constituidas por unidades poliédricas. El patrón de difracción electrónica realizado a las mismas no arrojó patrón típico de algún elemento y el microanálisis por dispersión de energía de rayos x presentó pequeñas cantidades de dilicio, magnesio y potasio. Consideramos con los elementos de que disponemos que estas inclusiones intracitoplasmáticas corresponden a una asociación capricnhosa de macromoléculas (AU)