Displasia Torácica

Os autores descrevem um caso clínico referente a uma criança que apresentava ao nascer uma marcada desproporção toraco-abdominal,por diminuição do diâmetro torácico. O Recém-nascido (RN) fez um Síndrome de Dificuldade Respiratória (SDR) precoce com necessidade de ventilação mecânica, tendo-se verificado dificuldade na entubação traqueal. Após a extubação manteve crises frequentes de polipneia e cianose. Na sequência da investigação etiológica, verificou-se que tinha uma estenose sub glótica importante. Associando os achados clínicos verificamos tratar-se de um síndrome de Barnes, forma rara de displasia torácica

Acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia in renal homograft recipients.

In a series of 301 renal homograft recipients, 17 (5.6%) had acute pancreatitis at some time after transplantation. Eleven of these patients died, for a mortality of 64.7%. In each instance, pancreatitis was a major factor in a complex chain of lethal events to which immunosuppression invariably contributed. An additional 43 patients (14.3%) developed asymptomatic hyperamylasemia after transplantation and, undoubtedly, some of these recipients also had pancreatitis. The factors causing pancreatitis in the renal transplantation patient include uremia, hyperparathyroidism, pancreatic injury by drugs, infections resulting from chronic immunosuppression, gallstones, and operative trauma to the pancreas. In cases of preexisting pancreatitis, transplantation is not necessarily precluded, but efforts should be made to find a specific cause of the pancreatitis and take corrective measures, such as biliary tract surgery or parathyroidectomy if indicated, in advance of transplantation

Iguais ou diferentes? Cuidados de saúde materno-infantil a uma população de imigrantes

Os concelhos de Amadora e Sintra constituem um território de fortes características de identidade na Área Metropolitana de Lisboa que resultam, entre outros aspectos, da elevada densidade populacional (sobretudo Amadora), do marcado crescimento na última década (sobr etudo Sintra, onde a população residente aumentou cerca de 40% entre 1991 e 2001) e, principalmente, da sua diversidade social, cultural e étnica. D e facto, a proporção de imigrantes nestes concelhos atinge um dos v alores mais elevados do país. A equidade na pr estação de cuidados tem sido demonstrada como factor de r edução das disparidades na saúde que determina a morbilidade e a mortalidade decorrentes da assimetria das populações. Na Unidade de Saúde D (Hospital Fernando Fonseca e 9 Centr os de Saúde da Amadora e Sintra), não tinha ainda sido desenvolvida uma investigação científica estruturada sobre os níveis de saúde e o acesso e utilização dos serviços e que sustentem políticas ajustadas às vulnerabilidades deste grupo. Este conhecimento possibilita a reorganização dos serviços de cuidados de saúde e é fundamental para (r e)pensar processos de planeamento e modelos de inter venção que culminem numa integração de sucesso para o século XXI.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

On similarities in infrared spectra of complex drugs

A chromatographic separation of active ingredients of Combivir, Epivir, Kaletra, Norvir, Prezista, Retrovir, Trivizir, Valcyte, and Viramune is performed on thin layer chromatography. The spectra of these nine drugs were recorded using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This information is then analyzed by means of the cosine correlation. The comparison of the infrared spectra in the perspective of the adopted similarity measure is possible to visualize with present day computer tools, and the emerging clusters provide additional information about the similarities of the investigated set of complex drugs

Diversity of Coxiella-like and Francisella-like endosymbionts, and Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii as pathogens in the tick populations of Slovakia, Central Europe

Ticks are important vectors of pathogens affecting humans and animals worldwide. They do not only carry pathogens but diverse commensal and symbiotic microorganisms are also present in ticks. A molecular screening for tick-borne pathogens and endosymbionts was carried out in Ixodes ricinus, Dermacentor reticulatus and Haemaphysalis inermis questing ticks collected in Slovakia. The presence of Rickettsia spp., Coxiella burnetii, Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms was evaluated by PCR in 605 individuals and by randomly sequencing 66 samples. Four species of rickettsiae (R. raoultii, R. slovaca, R. helvetica and R. monacensis) were identified and reported with an overall prevalence range between 0.4 and 50.3% (±8.0) depending on tick species, sex and locality. Partial sequencing of the gltA gene of 5 chosen samples in H. inermis showed 99% identity with Candidatus Rickettsia hungarica. The total prevalence of C. burnetii in ticks was 2.2 ± 1.7%; bacteria were confirmed in I. ricinus and D. reticulatus ticks. The sequences from 2 D. reticulatus males and 1 I. ricinus female ticks were compared to GenBank submissions and a 99.8% match was obtained with the pathogenic C. burnetii. Coxiella–like endosymbionts were registered in all three species of ticks from all studied sites with an average prevalence of 32.7 ± 3.7%. A phylogenetic analysis of this Coxiella sp. showed that it does not group with the pathogenic C. burnetii. The prevalence of Francisella-like microorganisms in questing ticks was 47.9 ± 3.9%, however H. inermis (n = 108) were not infested. Obtained sequences were 98% identical with previously identified Francisella-like endosymbionts in D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. Coxiella-like and Francisella-like microorganisms were identified for the first time in Slovakia, they might be considered as a non-pathogenic endosymbiont of I. ricinus, D. reticulatus and H. inermis, and future investigations could aim to assess their role in these ticks. However, this work provided further data and broadened our knowledge on bacterial pathogens and endosymbionts present in ticks in Slovakia to help understanding co-infestations, combined treatments and public health issues linked to tick bites.</p

Perspectives on the Trypanosoma cruzi-host cell receptor interaction

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The critical initial event is the interaction of the trypomastigote form of the parasite with host receptors. This review highlights recent observations concerning these interactions. Some of the key receptors considered are those for thromboxane, bradykinin, and for the nerve growth factor TrKA. Other important receptors such as galectin-3, thrombospondin, and laminin are also discussed. Investigation into the molecular biology and cell biology of host receptors for T. cruzi may provide novel therapeutic targets

Autism as a disorder of neural information processing: directions for research and targets for therapy

The broad variation in phenotypes and severities within autism spectrum disorders suggests the involvement of multiple predisposing factors, interacting in complex ways with normal developmental courses and gradients. Identification of these factors, and the common developmental path into which theyfeed, is hampered bythe large degrees of convergence from causal factors to altered brain development, and divergence from abnormal brain development into altered cognition and behaviour. Genetic, neurochemical, neuroimaging and behavioural findings on autism, as well as studies of normal development and of genetic syndromes that share symptoms with autism, offer hypotheses as to the nature of causal factors and their possible effects on the structure and dynamics of neural systems. Such alterations in neural properties may in turn perturb activity-dependent development, giving rise to a complex behavioural syndrome many steps removed from the root causes. Animal models based on genetic, neurochemical, neurophysiological, and behavioural manipulations offer the possibility of exploring these developmental processes in detail, as do human studies addressing endophenotypes beyond the diagnosis itself

How equal is equality? Discussions about same-sex marriage in Portugal

In Portugal, public and political discussions about same-sex marriage have been going on since the 1990s. In 2010, same-sex marriage was legalized under intense dispute since it excludes same-sex couples from adoption and reproductive rights. During parliamentary debates, political parties and civil organizations linked to the Catholic Church resorted to conflicting ideas of ‘equality’ and ‘difference’ to advance their claims. In this article, we analyse the contents of petitions, bills and parliamentary proceedings concerning the legal recognition of same-sex unions, highlighting the presence of conflicting notions of equality linked to pervasive beliefs about the inadequacy of homo-erotic desire and practices