Análisis de los factores relacionados con la carga del cuidador de personas con parálisis cerebral / Analysis of factors related to caregiver burden in carers of persons with cerebral palsy

Objetivo Estudio de prevalencia que describe la percepción de la carga de los cuidadores de los pacientes con parálisis cerebral que asistieron a un centro de rehabilitación neurológica. Material y métodos Esta investigación se realizó en un centro de neurorrehabilitación de Cali, Colombia, en la que participaron 117 cuidadores de pacientes con parálisis cerebral. Se recogió información sobre la percepción de carga del cuidador, sus características sociodemográficas y las clínicas de los pacientes, entre los meses de junio a agosto de 2017. La información sobre la carga del cuidador fue obtenida con el cuestionario de carga de Zarit. Esta variable se categorizó en 2 grupos (carga leve a moderada y carga moderada a severa) para el análisis bivariado. Resultados La mayoría de los cuidadores presentaron carga leve a moderada (74%); se observó un incremento de la probabilidad de carga del cuidador moderada a severa en cuidadores de mujeres (OR 1,35; p>0,05), de niños de 6 a 10 años (OR 1,9; p>0,05), y con mayor compromiso en la función motora gruesa, clasificados en nivel iv y v según GMFCS (OR 1,60 y 1,11, respectivamente; p>0,05). También hubo incremento de carga en cuidadores con edades entre 20 a 39 años (OR 7,92; p<0,05), que se encuentran separados, divorciados o viudos (OR 2,38; p>0,05), y con formación básica secundaria incompleta (OR 2,86; p>0,05). Conclusiones Este estudio evidencia que la percepción de carga del cuidador varía principalmente según el sexo, la edad y la afectación del paciente con parálisis cerebral, así como la edad, el estado civil y el nivel educativo del cuidador (AU)

Objective Prevalence study describing the perception of burden among the caregivers of patients with cerebral palsy attending a neurological rehabilitation centre. Material and methods This study was carried out in a neuro-rehabilitation centre in Cali, Colombia, with the participation of 117 caregivers of cerebral palsy patients. Information was gathered on caregiver burden, caregivers’ sociodemographic characteristics and the patients’ clinics between June and August 2017. Information on caregiver burden was collected with the Zarit Burden Interview. Burden was classified into 2 groups (light to moderate burden and moderate to severe burden) for the bivariate analysis. Results Most caregivers experienced light to moderate burden (74%); an increase in the probability of burden among caregivers with moderate to severe burden was observed in the caregivers of women (OR 1.35; P>.05), children aged 6 to 10 years (OR 1.9; P>.05), and those with greater gross motor function involvement, classified in level iv and v according to the GMFCS (OR 1.60 and 1.11, respectively; P>.05). Burden was also higher in caregivers who were separated, divorced or widowed (OR 2.38; P>.05), and those with incomplete basic secondary education (OR 2.86; P>.05). Conclusions This study suggests that perceived burden among caregivers varies mainly according to the age, sex, and disability of patients with cerebral palsy, as well as the age, marital status and educational level of the caregiver (AU)

[Analysis of factors related to caregiver burden in carers of persons with cerebral palsy]. / Análisis de los factores relacionados con la carga del cuidador de personas con parálisis cerebral.

OBJECTIVE: Prevalence study describing the perception of burden among the caregivers of patients with cerebral palsy attending a neurological rehabilitation centre. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study was carried out in a neuro-rehabilitation centre in Cali, Colombia, with the participation of 117 caregivers of cerebral palsy patients. Information was gathered on caregiver burden, caregivers' sociodemographic characteristics and the patients' clinics between June and August 2017. Information on caregiver burden was collected with the Zarit Burden Interview. Burden was classified into 2 groups (light to moderate burden and moderate to severe burden) for the bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Most caregivers experienced light to moderate burden (74%); an increase in the probability of burden among caregivers with moderate to severe burden was observed in the caregivers of women (OR 1.35; P>.05), children aged 6 to 10 years (OR 1.9; P>.05), and those with greater gross motor function involvement, classified in level iv and v according to the GMFCS (OR 1.60 and 1.11, respectively; P>.05). Burden was also higher in caregivers who were separated, divorced or widowed (OR 2.38; P>.05), and those with incomplete basic secondary education (OR 2.86; P>.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that perceived burden among caregivers varies mainly according to the age, sex, and disability of patients with cerebral palsy, as well as the age, marital status and educational level of the caregiver.

Causes and Pathology of Equine Pneumonia and Pleuritis in Southern Brazil.

We document the causes and pathological findings in 50 cases of equine pneumonia and pleuritis in Southern Brazil. Suppurative (17/50), pyogranulomatous (14/50), aspiration (5/50), mycotic (4/50), bronchointerstitial (3/50), embolic (3/50) and eosinophilic granulomatous pneumonia (1/50) and pleuritis (3/50) were the main conditions identified. Streptococcus spp. were identified in 11 cases of suppurative pneumonia. Suppurative pneumonia was further divided into acute (8/17), subacute (6/17) and chronic (3/17) based on the morphological pattern of lesions. Rhodococcus equi was identified in all cases of pyogranulomatous pneumonia and exclusively affected young foals.

Swine Influenza Virus and Association with the Porcine Respiratory Disease Complex in Pig Farms in Southern Brazil.

Despite the putative endemic status of swine influenza A virus (swIAV) infections, data on the occurrence of swine influenza outbreaks are scarce in Brazil. The aim of this study was to detect and subtype swIAVs from six outbreaks of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in southern Brazil. Nasal swabs were collected from 66 piglets with signs of respiratory disease in six herds. Lung tissue samples were collected from six necropsied animals. Virus detection was performed by PCR screening and confirmed by virus isolation and hemagglutination (HA). Influenza A subtyping was performed by a real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR) to detect the A(H1N1)pdm09; other swIAV subtypes were determined by multiplex RT-PCR. In lung tissues, the major bacterial and viral pathogens associated with PRDC (Pasteurella multocida, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis and PCV2) were investigated. In some affected pigs, clinico-pathological evaluations were conducted. Influenza A was detected by screening PCR in 46 of 66 swab samples and from five of six lungs. Virus was recovered from pigs of all six herds. Subtype A(H1N1)pdm09 was detected in four of six herds and H1N2 in the other two herds. In lung tissues, further agents involved in PRDC were detected in all cases; Pasteurella multocida was identified in five of six samples and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in three of six. Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (1/6), Haemophilus parasuis (1/6) and PCV2 (1/6) were also detected. These findings indicate that subtypes A(H1N1)pdm09 and H1N2 were present in pigs in southern Brazil and were associated with PRDC outbreaks.

Pneumocystis sp. in bats evaluated by qPCR.

Molecular techniques have revealed a high prevalence of Pneumocystis colonization in wild mammals. Accurate quantification of Pneumocystis sp. is essential for the correct interpretation of many research experiments investigating this organism. The objectives of this study were to detect the presence of Pneumocystis sp. in bats by qPCR, and to distinguish colonization from infection. Probes and primers for real time PCR (qPCR) were designed based on the gene of major surface glycoprotein (MSG) of Pneumocystis sp., in order to analyze 195 lung tissue samples from bats captured (2007-2009). All samples were also analyzed by nested PCR, using oligonucleotide primers designed for the gene encoding the mitochondrial small subunit rRNA (mtSSU rRNA) to confirm the results. The qPCR assay was standardized using a standard curve made with the DNA extracted from bronchoalveolar lavage positive for Pneumocystis jirovecii. The average Ct was found to be between 13 and 14 (calibration curve) for the detection of infection with Pneumocystis sp. and above these values for colonization. It was considered as negative samples the ones that had Ct values equal to 50. Out of the total 195 samples, 47 (24.1%) bat lung DNA samples were positive for Pneumocystis sp. by qPCR. The most common bat species found were: Tadarida brasiliensis (23.4%), Histiotus velatus (17.0%), Desmodus rotundus (14.9%) and Molossus molossus (8.5%). The average cycle threshold of the positive samples (bats) was 25.8 and standard deviation was 1.7. The DNA samples with Ct values greater than 14 suggest that these animals might be colonized by Pneumocystis sp. Results obtained in this study demonstrated the usefulness of the qPCR procedure for identification of Pneumocystis sp. and for distinction between its colonizing or infectious status in bats.

Effects of metaraminol bitartrate on intraocular pressure in dogs under halothane anesthesia.

The effects of metaraminol bitartrate on intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied in dogs anesthetized with halothane. Forty-five healthy, adult, mixed-breed dogs, of both sexes, were divided into three groups of 15 dogs each (GI, GII and GIII) and maintained under general anesthesia with halothane after tranquilization with levomepromazine and induction with thiopental. Saline (0.9%) was administered intravenously (IV) to GI through continuous infusion, at a velocity of 0.125 mL kg-1 min-1. GII and GIII received metaraminol 0.004% IV, at a dose of 5 &mgr;g kg-1 min-1, at 0.125 mL kg-1 min-1 and at a dose of 2 &mgr;g kg-1 min-1, at 0.06 mL kg-1 min-1, respectively. IOP was measured by applanation tonometry (Tono-Pen) before and during anesthesia. Results showed that IOP decreased in GI, increased in GII, and remained at basal levels in GIII. Continuous infusion of metaraminol at 2 &mgr;g kg min-1 maintained IOP at pretest levels, while infusion at 5 &mgr;g kg-1 min-1 produced an elevation of IOP.