Examining subjective sleep quality in adults with hoarding disorder.

Hoarding disorder (HD), characterized by difficulty parting with possessions and functionally impairing clutter, affects 2-6% of the population. Originally considered part of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), HD became a distinct diagnostic entity in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013. While sleep impacts OCD, little is known about sleep in HD. As HD patients often report poor sleep in clinical settings, understanding global subjective sleep quality and disturbances may lead to novel therapeutic targets. To address this gap, the authors used a sample of convenience: an existing data set designed to screen research study eligibility and explore the psychopathology and phenomenology of OCD and HD. The data set included information collected from individuals with HD (n = 38), OCD (n = 26), and healthy participants (n = 22) about insomnia, sleep quality, and mood using interviews and structured instruments including the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). In this data set, HD and OCD groups reported significantly greater insomnia symptoms and poorer sleep quality compared with healthy controls while controlling for depression, age, and gender. A sizable minority of HD and OCD individuals met criteria for comorbid sleep disorders. OCD and HD groups differed in delayed sleep phase prevalence. To our knowledge, this is the first study examining subjective sleep quality and insomnia in HD as compared to healthy individuals and those with OCD, while controlling for relevant clinical characteristics. Given that there are evidence-based treatments for insomnia and other sleep disorders, our study raises the possibility that treatment interventions targeting sleep may improve HD outcomes.

Cassava biopolymer polyamide hydrogel accelerates healing of induced skin woundsin rats / Hidrogel de biopolímero de poliamido de mandioca acelera o processo de cicatrização em feridas cutâneas induzidas em ratos

This study aimed to macroscopically and microscopically evaluate the healing of skin wounds induced in rats by topical application of cassava polyamide biopolymer hydrogel. In total, 32 rats were used and divided into four groups (n= 8): negative control - saline solution; positive control - use of commercial ointment; experimental group - I - ointment + cassava hydrogel; experimental group - II - cassava hydrogel. A 1cm2 wound induced on the animals dorsum was treated and evaluated. At day 21 post-operation, the animals were sacrificed by anesthetic overdose, and then 1cm2 of cicatricial skin from the wound region was collected. The material was cut to evaluate healing. In the macroscopic evaluation, complete healing was observed at the end of 21 days. Re-epithelialization was observed histologically; the connective tissue in the negative control, positive, and experimental - I groups was characterized by an abundance of collagen fibers, fibroblasts, and blood vessels. In experimental group - II additional healing was observed, as evidenced by the arrangement of collagen fibers and fibroblasts, and the reduction of neoformed vessels. Thus, we concluded that the hydrogel can assist in healing skin wounds, especially in the remodeling phase.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar macro e microscopicamente a cicatrização de feridas cutâneas induzidas em ratos, a partir da aplicação tópica do hidrogel de biopolímero de poliamido de mandioca. Trinta e dois ratos foram divididos em quatro grupos (n= 8): controle negativo, tratado com solução salina; controle positivo, com pomada comercial; grupo experimental - I, com pomada + hidrogel de mandioca; grupo experimental - II, com hidrogel de mandioca. Feridas induzidas de 1cm 2 no dorso dos animais foram tratadas e avaliadas em intervalos de três a quatro dias. No 21º dia do pós-operatório, os animais foram mortos por aprofundamento anestésico, em seguida foi coletado 1cm 2 de pele da região cicatricial. O material foi cortado, corado pelas técnicas de hematoxilina-eosina e azocarmine-G, para avaliação da cicatrização. Na avaliação macroscópica, foi observada cicatrização completa no final do período de 21 dias. Histologicamente, observou-se reepitelização, o tecido conjuntivo no grupos controle negativo, positivo e experimental - I se caracterizou pela abundância de fibras colágenas, fibroblastos e vasos sanguíneos. No grupo experimental - II, a cicatrização sugere avanço de etapas, evidenciado pelo arranjo das fibras colágenas, pela redução de fibroblastos e dos vasos neoformados. Assim, foi possível concluir que o hidrogel de biopolímero de amido de mandioca pode auxiliar na cicatrização de feridas cutâneas, principalmente na fase de remodelação.(AU)

Comparison of plasma antioxidant levels in middle-aged and old male with idiopatic osteoporosis: preliminary data.

OBJECTIVES: With the purpose of evaluating the role of oxidative stress (OS) in male idiopatic osteoporosis, we have evaluated plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in patients classified according to age (< 65 or ≥ 65 yrs), with normal hormone values and in age-matched healthy control subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: TAC was evaluated with a colorimetric method, using the system metamyoglobin-H2O2 and the chromogen ABTS; the latency time (LAG, sec) in the appearance of ABTS radical species is proportional to antioxidant content of the system. RESULTS: We found slightly increased LAG values in middle-aged patients, compared with age-matched controls, probably expression of a compensatory mechanism to OS; on the contrary aged patients showed significantly lower LAG values in comparison with age-matched controls, suggesting a defective compensatory mechanism and, therefore, a risk for oxidative damage. CONCLUSIONS: OS could be a possible mechanism underlying male osteoporosis, both in middle-aged and aged patients, but compensatory mechanisms seem to be defective in the last group.

Porfiria cutanea tarda y hepatitis / Porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis

Se ha estudiado la incidencia del virus de la hepatitis B y C en ochentaicuatro casos de porfiria cutánea tardía (PCT) sintomática; incluyendo pacientes argentinos (ARG) (n=50; 11 mujeres y trientainueve varones, PCT familiar N=19; edad media =59,9 años, oscilando entre 22 y 74 años) y españoles (ESP) ( N=34; 2 del sexo femenino y 32 del sexo masculino; PCT familiar N=5,edad media =51.2 años, oscilando entre los 25 y 79 años). 23 ARG y 22 ESP tenían una ingesta mayor de 60 g de alcohol / día. Se han evidenciado diferencias significativas ( p mayor 0.005) en la incidencia de HBsAg+ en el grupo ARG (20por ciento) con resdpecto al grupo ESP (8,8por ciento). Los niveles de transaminasas fueron significativamente más elevados en los enfermos con PCT y HBsAg+ español (AST=53, U/L;ALT=74,9 U/I;GGT=97,5 U/I) que en el argentino (AST=47,3 u/L; ALT =68,7 u/L ;GGT =94,8 u/L).Las diferencias en los niveles de porfirinas totales urinarias entre ambos grupos (ARG = 4174 ug/24h, oscilando entre 654 y 16900 ug/24; ESP =2071 ug/24, oscilando entre 546 y 4347 ug/24); se debería al método empleado para la determinación de las mismas. La incidencia de marcadores de virus de hepatitis en la PCT fué para B; similar en ambos grupos:ARG=48por ciento y ESP=47por ciento; mientras que para el grupo C: el grupo ARG=46por ciento fue significativamente inferior al grupo ESP=58.8por ciento. Dada la alta incidencia de marcadores VHB (47.5 por ciento) y VHC (51.2por ciento) en pacientes con PCT sería importante incluir el estudio de ellos en todos los casos de PCT. De acuerdo a estos resultados tanto la infección por VHB como por VHC podrían actuar como factor desencadenante de PCT en individuos con un deficit de uroporfirinógeno decarboxilasa subclínico (PCT latente).

Porfiria cutanea tarda y hepatitis / Porphyria cutanea tarda and hepatitis

Se ha estudiado la incidencia del virus de la hepatitis B y C en ochentaicuatro casos de porfiria cutánea tardía (PCT) sintomática; incluyendo pacientes argentinos (ARG) (n=50; 11 mujeres y trientainueve varones, PCT familiar N=19; edad media =59,9 años, oscilando entre 22 y 74 años) y españoles (ESP) ( N=34; 2 del sexo femenino y 32 del sexo masculino; PCT familiar N=5,edad media =51.2 años, oscilando entre los 25 y 79 años). 23 ARG y 22 ESP tenían una ingesta mayor de 60 g de alcohol / día. Se han evidenciado diferencias significativas ( p mayor 0.005) en la incidencia de HBsAg+ en el grupo ARG (20por ciento) con resdpecto al grupo ESP (8,8por ciento). Los niveles de transaminasas fueron significativamente más elevados en los enfermos con PCT y HBsAg+ español (AST=53, U/L;ALT=74,9 U/I;GGT=97,5 U/I) que en el argentino (AST=47,3 u/L; ALT =68,7 u/L ;GGT =94,8 u/L).Las diferencias en los niveles de porfirinas totales urinarias entre ambos grupos (ARG = 4174 ug/24h, oscilando entre 654 y 16900 ug/24; ESP =2071 ug/24, oscilando entre 546 y 4347 ug/24); se debería al método empleado para la determinación de las mismas. La incidencia de marcadores de virus de hepatitis en la PCT fué para B; similar en ambos grupos:ARG=48por ciento y ESP=47por ciento; mientras que para el grupo C: el grupo ARG=46por ciento fue significativamente inferior al grupo ESP=58.8por ciento. Dada la alta incidencia de marcadores VHB (47.5 por ciento) y VHC (51.2por ciento) en pacientes con PCT sería importante incluir el estudio de ellos en todos los casos de PCT. De acuerdo a estos resultados tanto la infección por VHB como por VHC podrían actuar como factor desencadenante de PCT en individuos con un deficit de uroporfirinógeno decarboxilasa subclínico (PCT latente).(AU)