The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding and its associated factors in Cape Verde.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 months of life is essential for maternal and child health. Breast milk is considered the most suitable food for the child in early years of life. Studies carried out in Cape Verde (INE; MSSS, Apresentação dos Principais Resultados Preliminares do IDSR-III, 2018) showed prevalence of EBF below the values recommended by the (WHO & UNICEF, Global Breastfeeding Scorecard, 2018. Enabling Women To Breastfeed Through Better Policies And Programmes, 2019). However, the determinants of EBF across the country have never been identified. The objective of this study is to estimate prevalence and identify the determinants of EBF in Cape Verde. METHODS: This is a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study carried out between July 2018 and March 2019. The study population consisted of 1717 mothers of children aged less than or equal to 2 years, users of the Health Centers of the islands of Santo Antão, S. Vicente, Sal, Santiago and Fogo. A structured questionnaire was applied to mothers through an interview. The prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding was estimated by frequency analysis. The chi-square test was used to assess the association between the duration of EB and the variables maternity leave, mother's education, family income and health care variables. In order to identify the determinants of EBF, a binary logistic regression analysis was used. RESULTS: At the time of data collection, 32.50% of mothers practiced EBF. The present study shows that exclusive breastfeeding is influenced by several factors. The most representatives are maternal age (OR = 0.001*), level of education (OR = 0.028*), parity (OR = 0.004*) and number of prenatal consultations (OR = 0.019*). Receiving breastfeeding counseling was the only health care variable that was associated with the duration of EBF (p = 0.029). CONCLUSION: In Cape Verde, the prevalence of EBF can be considered reasonable. The present study shows that EBF in the country is influenced by maternal age, level of education, parity and number of prenatal consultations.

Effect of oral urea supplementation on the endometrial transcriptome of mares.

An intravenous large dose of protein led to an increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), resulting in a lesser uterine pH and altered uterine gene expression in mares. The objective of the present study was to evaluate effects of a more physiological methodology to increase BUN on the endometrium of mares. Mares were fed hay and a treatment or control diet (n = 11 mares/treatment) in a crossover design starting at time of ovulation detection (D0) and continuing until D7. Mares of the treated group were fed urea (0.4 g/kg BW) with sweet feed and molasses, and those of the control group were fed sweet feed and molasses. Blood samples were collected daily, 1 hour after feeding, for BUN determination. Uterine and vaginal pH were determined after the last feeding on D7, and endometrial biopsies were performed. The RNA sequencing of the endometrium of a subset of mares (n = 6/treatment) was conducted. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between treatments were calculated (FDR-adjusted P-value<0.1). Urea-treated mares had greater BUN (P < 0.05), with no differences in uterine and vaginal pH compared to control mares. A total of 60 DEGs were characterized, those with largest fold change were SIK1, ATF3, SPINK7, NR4A1 and EGR3. Processes related to necrosis and cellular movement were predicted with the DEGs. Dietary administration of urea resulted in transcriptomic changes in the endometrium of mares related to necrosis, tissue remodeling and concentration of lipids. The observed changes in gene expression after an increased BUN might result in a disruption to the endometrium.

The effect of ovariectomy and 2 antiresorptive therapeutic agents on bone response in rats: A 3-dimensional imaging analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD) and microarchitecture in femurs and maxillary bones of ovariectomized (OVX) rats treated or not treated with alendronate (ALD) or odanacatib (ODN). STUDY DESIGN: Twenty rats were divided into groups: SHAM, OVX, OVX/ALD, and OVX/ODN. After 12 weeks, the femurs and maxillae were removed and subjected to 3-dimensional analysis by micro-computed tomography. Results were analyzed with 1-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). RESULTS: OVX decreased maxillary and femoral BMD and altered femoral microarchitecture (P < .05). The drugs increased BMD of both types of bones, but only ALD maintained the phenotype similar to the SHAM group. The action of ALD was limited to the femoral trabecular separation (Tb.Sp). OVX and the drugs had no effect on the microarchitecture of the maxilla (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: ALD and ODN therapy increased BMD in both bones after ovariectomy. ALD was more successful than ODN in preserving the morphology of bone similar to the SHAM group. ALD maintained the phenotype for Tb.Sp in the femur, but ODN did not. In the maxillae, neither ovariectomy nor the 2 antiresorptive drugs had significant effects on microarchitecture.

Expanded Endoscopic Endonasal Transtuberculum / Transplanum Approach to the Suprasellar Area: A Stepwise Approach / Abordagem via endoscópica expandida transtuberculum - transplanum para a região supraselar: os passos da abordagem

The Expanded Endoscopic Endonasal Transtuberculum / Transplanum (EEETT) approach emerged as an amenable option to remove midline lesions, such as giant pituitary tumors, craniopharyngiomas, and tuberculum sellae meningiomas. Herein, the author's aim is to show a stepwise approach to the suprasellar area by EEETT and a case illustration.

A abordagem endoscópica endonasal expandida (AEEE) trans- tubérculo/ trans-plano têm se mostrado uma opção favorável para lesões da linha média para lateral, como tumores da hipófise, craniofaringiomas gigantes e meningiomas selares. O objetivo do autor é demonstrar os passos desta abordagem para a região suprasellar, por AEEE e um caso de ilustração.

Avaliação do medo de cair em idosos em atendimento ambulatorial / Evaluation of fear of falling in elderly in ambulatory care

Objetivo: avaliar medo de cair em idosos atendidos num ambulatório de geriatria. Método: estudotransversal descritivo, compondo 120 sujeitos acima dos 60 anos, de ambos os sexos. A coleta de dados foirealizada mediante entrevista utilizando-se instrumento estruturado. Os dados foram analisados pelos testesde Qui-quadrado de associação e de Igualdade de proporções. O projeto de pesquisa foi aprovado pelo Comitêde Ética com o CAAE 0129.0.126.000 – 11. Resultados: dos 120 idosos, 97 (80%) relataram medo de cair; osidosos não relataram considerável preocupação nas atividades de vida diárias (AVDs) e sociais. Entretanto, nasque envolviam esforço físico relataram muita preocupação. Conclusão: há necessidade de atenção especial àsaúde do idoso que relata medo de cair, visto que, este tende a restringir suas atividades habituais, causandodiminuição da autonomia e da qualidade de vida.

In vitro mutagenicity and blood compatibility of paclitaxel and curcumin in poly (DL-lactide-co-glicolide) films.

Curcumin is considered to be a potential component for drug-eluting stents due to its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study we compared the mutagenicity and blood compatibility of curcumin to first generation drug eluting stent components: paclitaxel and sirolimus. The Ames test was used to assess mutagenicity. Blood compatibility was tested by measuring platelet activation and fibrinogen adsorption on poly (DL-lactide-co-glycolide, PLGA) films. We discovered that there was no significant increase in the number of revertants/plate following treatment with curcumin (up to 0.5mg/plate) or sirolimus (up to 0.5 µg/plate). However, a significant induction in the frequency of bacterial his(+) revertant colonies by paclitaxel at concentrations of 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 µg/plate was observed. We also discovered a significant reduction in platelet activation by PLGA films containing 30% and 50% by weight curcumin. A similar reduction in platelet activation was also observed for PLGA films containing 1% by weight paclitaxel. In addition, we observed an increase of fibrinogen adsorption to PLGA-films containing curcumin. This would compromise the potential use of curcumin as a component of drug-eluting stents. Moreover, our data challenges the current view that paclitaxel does not significantly induce mutagenesis.