Psychological adjustment in children with episodic migraine: a population-based study

We investigated psychological adjustment in a preadolescent pediatric population as a function of headache diagnosis. Children from a city public education system were enrolled in this study. Parents were interviewed using validated headache questionnaires and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), which measures psychological adjustment. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were obtained using a binary regression model. The relative risk [RR] of SDQ items and scores were modeled as a function of headache diagnosis in adjusted analyses. Multivariate models estimated determinants of psychological adjustment characteristics in children with migraine. The sample consisted of 846 children (65.9% of the target sample) from 5 to 12 years old (50.5% girls). Relative to children without headache, children with episodic migraine (EM) were more likely to have abnormal scores on the following SDQ scales: emotional symptoms (RR = 3.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.51-4.69), conduct problems (RR = 1.96, 95% CI = 1.37-2.79), total difficulties (RR = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.59-3.13), and total impact (RR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.15-7.11). The multivariate analysis showed that total difficulties in psychological adjustment in children with EM were significantly influenced by headache frequency (p < .05), analgesic intake (p < .001), and the occurrence of nausea (p < .01) and vomiting (p < .05) in headache attacks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reported in the literature to identify determinants of the association between migraine and difficulties in psychological adjustment in preadolescent children. Providers and educators should be aware of this association, and studies that address causality should be conducted71334

Cefaleias incomuns na população pediátrica

Headache is one of the most common symptoms in children and adolescents and headache syndromes respond to an important reason for medical consulting. According to the second edition of the International Classification of Headache Disorders there are 196 possible headache diagnoses of which 113 have been described in pediatric population. Herein we focus on unusual pediatric headache syndrome. We group them in headaches with migraine features, short-duration headaches with autonomic features, short duration headaches without autonomic features and potentially ominous forms of headaches. Although rare as single entities, providers focusing on pediatric headaches will certainly face some of these headaches and need to be comfortable on the diagnostic approach.A cefaleia é um dos sintomas mais comuns em crianças e adolescentes e uma causa frequente de consulta médica nessa faixa etária. Na segunda edição da Classificação Internacional das Cefaleias (ICHD-II), constam 196 possíveis condições diagnósticas de cefaleia, das quais 113 já foram descritas na população pediátrica. Neste artigo, focamos as cefaleias incomuns na infância e adolescência. Por razões didáticas nós as dividimos em quatro subgrupos: cefaleias incomuns com características de migrânea, cefaleias de curta duração associadas a manifestações autonômicas, cefaleias de curta duração sem manifestações autonômicas e cefaleias incomuns de causa potencialmente grave. Embora raras enquanto condições clínicas isoladas, os clínicos que atendem crianças e adolescentes com cefaleia certamente irão deparar com algumas dessas cefaleias e precisam estar preparados paradiagnosticá-las e tratá-las.&nbsp

Clinical approach to headaches in children

A cefaléia é um dos sintomas mais freqüentes da infância e apresenta dificuldades diagnósticas específicas. Nesta revisão, analisam-se tais dificuldades e revêem-se os principais tipos de cefaléia, na infância: agudas, crônicas recorrentes e crônicas progressivas; na discussão das cefaléias crônicas, recorrentes, são comentadas as limitações do uso de critérios, diagnósticos de migrânea infantil, propostos pela Sociedade Internacional de Cefaléia, e se propõe um roteiro para o diagnóstico e tratamento da migrânea, na infância.Headache is one of the most frequent symptons in children and it has specific diagnostic problems. In this review, there problems are analyzed and main types of headache in children are discussed - acute, chronic recurrent and chronic progressive. In the discussion of chronic recurrent headaches, limitations of diagnostic criteria of the International Society of Headache for child migraine are commented and a diagnostic and therapeutic guides for migraine in children is proposted

Proteomic analysis of Chromobacterium violaceum and its adaptability to stress

Chromobacterium violaceum (C. violaceum) occurs abundantly in a variety of ecosystems, including ecosystems that place the bacterium under stress. This study assessed the adaptability of C. violaceum by submitting it to nutritional and pH stresses and then analyzing protein expression using bi-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and Maldi mass spectrometry. Chromobacterium violaceum grew best in pH neutral, nutrient-rich medium (reference conditions); however, the total protein mass recovered from stressed bacteria cultures was always higher than the total protein mass recovered from our reference culture. The diversity of proteins expressed (repressed by the number of identifiable 2-DE spots) was seen to be highest in the reference cultures, suggesting that stress reduces the overall range of proteins expressed by C. violaceum. Database comparisons allowed 43 of the 55 spots subjected to Maldi mass spectrometry to be characterized as containing a single identifiable protein. Stress-related expression changes were noted for C. violaceum proteins related to the previously characterized bacterial proteins: DnaK, GroEL-2, Rhs, EF-Tu, EF-P; MCP, homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase, Arginine deiminase and the ATP synthase β-subunit protein as well as for the ribosomal protein subunits L1, L3, L5 and L6. The ability of C. violaceum to adapt its cellular mechanics to sub-optimal growth and protein production conditions was well illustrated by its regulation of ribosomal protein subunits. With the exception of the ribosomal subunit L3, which plays a role in protein folding and maybe therefore be more useful in stressful conditions, all the other ribosomal subunit proteins were seen to have reduced expression in stressed cultures. Curiously, C. violeaceum cultures were also observed to lose their violet color under stress, which suggests that the violacein pigment biosynthetic pathway is affected by stress. Analysis of the proteomic signatures of stressed C. violaceum indicates that nutrient-starvation and pH stress can cause changes in the expression of the C. violaceum receptors, transporters, and proteins involved with biosynthetic pathways, molecule recycling, energy production. Our findings complement the recent publication of the C. violeaceum genome sequence and could help with the future commercial exploitation of C. violeaceum

Communication in health practices: integrative literature review

Objectivethis study aims to describe the main thematic axes explored in the communication field in health practices in the scenarios of the Unified Health System (SUS). Methodintegrative literature review conducted by means of search for articles in the databases Latin American Literature on Health Sciences (LILACS), International Literature on Health Sciences (MedLine), and Science Direct, using the descriptors: health communication or communication. A crossing of the descriptors communication and health education was provided. Resultfour themes were constructed: 1) communication to establish relationships between health professionals and users; 2) (in)communication: barriers to the communicative act, 3) communication and health professional education; and 4) communicative health models: search for the dialogic model. Conclusionby understanding dialogic communication, which must be observed in communication, the new requirements posed by the legalization of SUS have shown weaknesses of the single-line and vertical communication model and the need to provide health professionals, since the undergraduate course, with knowledge that enable dialogic communication practices. The challenge of reflective and participatory experiences in the various health care settings still remains, in order to promote a sharing of knowledge that leads to understanding between the interlocutors involved in the communicative act.Objetivoeste artigo tem por objetivo descrever os principais eixos temáticos explorados no campo da comunicação nas práticas em saúde nos cenários do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Métodorevisão integrativa da literatura realizada a partir da busca de artigos nas bases de dados Literatura Latino-Americana em Ciências da Saúde (Lilacs), Literatura Internacional em Ciências da Saúde (MedLine) e Science Direct, utilizando os descritores: comunicação em saúde ou comunicação. Procedeu-se ao cruzamento dos descritores comunicação e educação em saúde. Resultadoforam construídas quatro temáticas: 1) a comunicação no estabelecimento de relações entre profissionais da saúde e usuários; 2) (des)comunicação: barreiras ao ato comunicativo; 3) comunicação e formação do profissional da saúde; e 4) modelos comunicativos em saúde: a busca pelo modelo dialógico. Conclusãoa partir do entendimento da comunicação dialógica, que deve estar presente na comunicação, as novas demandas da legalização do SUS vêm mostrando fragilidades do modelo unilinear e verticalizado de comunicação e a necessidade de instrumentalizar os profissionais da saúde, desde a graduação, com saberes que proporcionem práticas comunicativas dialógicas. Persiste o desafio de vivências reflexivas e participativas nos vários cenários de assistência à saúde, de forma a promover um compartilhamento de saberes que conduza ao entendimento entre os interlocutores envolvidos no ato comunicativo.Universidade Federal de PernambucoUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Centro de Desenvolvimento do Ensino Superior em SaúdeUniversidade Federal de Pernambuco Departamento de EnfermagemUNIFESP, Centro de Desenvolvimento do Ensino Superior em SaúdeSciEL

Direct analysis of Antarctic krill by slurry sampling: determination of copper, iron, manganese and zinc by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Slurry sampling in combination with flame atomic absorption spectrometry was employed for the direct determination of four essential trace elements, namely Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in Antarctic krill. The effect of instrumental operating conditions and slurry sampling preparation on the analytical signal was investigated. For the determination of Cu, Fe and Zn, samples were suspended in a solution containing 2 mol L-1 HNO3. In the case of Mn, 4 mol L-1 HNO3 was necessary for the preparation of the slurry. The precision between sample replicates was better than 5%. The method was applied to the direct determination of Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn in Antarctic krill samples using aqueous reference solutions to prepare the calibration curves. The results obtained were in good agreement with those achieved by FAAS and ICP-AES after microwave-assisted wet digestion of the krill samples. The detection limits were 4.5, 1.0, 4.9 and 8.4 mug L-1 for Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe, respectively.A técnica de amostragem de suspensão aliada à espectrometria de absorção atômica com chama foi empregada para a determinação direta de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn em matrizes de Krill antártico. O efeito dos parâmetros instrumentais e o preparo das suspensões foram estudados em função do sinal analítico. Para a determinação de Cu, Fe e Zn, as amostras foram suspensas em uma solução de HNO3 2,0 mol L-1 e para a determinação de Mn, o krill foi suspenso em uma solução de HNO3 4,0 mol L-1. A precisão entre as replicas foi melhor que 5 %. A metodologia foi aplicada para a determi-nação direta de Cu, Fe, Mn e Zn em amostras de krill antártico, usando padrões aquosos no preparo das curvas analíticas. Os resultados obtidos estão concordantes com os encontrados na determinação por FAAS e ICP-AES, depois da digestão das amostras em um forno de microondas. Os limites de detecção foram 4,5; 1,0; 4,9 e 8,4 mig L-1 para Cu, Zn, Mn e Fe, respectivamente.365370Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Vermicompost as a natural adsorbent material: characterization and potentialities for cadmium adsorption

Vermicompost (humic material) samples were submitted to characterization by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, thermogravimetric analysis, electron microscopy etc. In addition, its cation exchange capacity (CEC) was determined. Factorial experiments were designed in order to elucidate the interaction mechanisms between Cd2+ and the adsorptive sites of vermicompost. The maximum adsorptive capacity for cadmium was evaluated by a Langmuir isotherm. The characterization revealed that vermicompost exhibits high CEC values (ca. 72.9 meq per 100 g), high surface area (porous material), chelating groups and a maximum adsorptive capacity for Cd (38.6 mg g-1) at pH 5.0. This potential application was exploited in the analysis of synthetic and real (mineral water) samples with Cd concentrations of ca 5 mug L-1, requiring a preconcentration step. An enrichment factor of 100 was attained.Amostras de vermicomposto (material húmico) foram submetidas à caracterização por espectroscopia de infravermelho, difractometria de raios-X, termogravimetria, microscopia eletrônica, entre outras; adicionalmente, foi determinada a capacidade de troca catiônica (CTC). Empregou-se planejamento fatorial para estudar os mecanismos de interação da espécie Cd2+ com os sítios adsortivos do vermicomposto e, posteriormente, foi avaliada a máxima capacidade adsortiva de cádmio empregando isoterma de Langmuir. A caracterização revelou que o vermicomposto exibe CTC tão elevada quanto 72,9 meq por 100 g, grande área superficial (substância porosa), grupos quelantes e máxima capacidade adsortiva para Cd (38,6 mg g-1) em pH 5,0. Esta potencialidade foi explorada em análises de amostras sintéticas e reais (água mineral) apresentando concentrações de cádmio próximas a 5 mig L-1 e requerendo etapas de pré-concentração. Um fator de enriquecimento de 100 foi obtido.3947Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of Ca, K and Mg from in vitro citrus culture

An ultrasound extraction procedure for Ca, K and Mg from in vitro plant cultures is proposed, comparing cultures of different embryogenic levels of Citrus sinensis and Citrus limonia, employing ultrasound energy. Parameters related to metals extraction, such as plant material sampling, acid concentration and sonication time were investigated. For accuracy check, the proposed ultrasound extraction procedure was compared with a microwave-assisted digestion procedure and no differences in the results were verified at 95% of the confidence level. With this simple and accurate extraction procedure, it was possible to determine differences in Ca, K and Mg concentrations during Citrus embryo formation/development and between cultures (embryogenic and non-embryogenic). Finally, the ultrasound extraction method demonstrated to be an excellent alternative for handless sampling and operational costs.Apresenta-se um procedimento para extração de Ca, K e Mg de amostras de cultivo in vitro de plantas, comparando-se culturas de calo com diferentes potenciais embriogênicos de Citrus sinensis e Citrus limonia, com o emprego de energia ultra-som. Foram investigados os parâmetros relacionados com a extração de metais, tais como tipo de amostragem do material, concentração do ácido e tempo de sonicação. Visando a comprovação da exatidão, o procedimento de extração ultra-sônica foi comparado com o de digestão ácida assistida por microondas, e não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas significativas em um nível de confiança de 95%. Com este procedimento de extração simples e preciso, foi possível estabelecer diferenças nas concentrações de Ca, K e Mg durante a formação/desenvolvimento dos embriões de Citrus, bem como entre as culturas (embriogênicas e não-embriogênicas). Finalmente, a extração ultra-sônica demonstrou-se uma excelente alternativa para menor manipulação das amostras e redução de custos operacionais.470474Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Reproductibilidad de un cuestionario que valora la actividad física en adolescentes escolares

Introducción: Los cuestionarios de actividad física por lo general son los instrumentos más sencillos y fáciles de aplicar a grandes poblaciones, sin embargo, la capacidad de reproductibilidad varía entre las poblaciones. Objetivo: Analizar la fiabilidad de un cuestionario que valora la Actividad Física en una muestra de escolares adolescentes que viven a elevada altitud por medio de consistencia interna y test re-test. Diseño: Descriptivo-Transversal (Survey). Institución: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Perú. Participantes: Adolescentes escolares de 12 a 17 años. Intervenciones: Fueron seleccionados de forma sistemática 109 escolares de ambos sexos. Se valoró las medidas antropométricas de peso, estatura, estatura sentada y circunferencia del abdomen. Además se aplicó un cuestionario de actividad física con 11 preguntas (test y re-test) con un intervalo de 7 días. Principales medidas: Valoración de la capacidad de reproductibilidad por consistencia interna y estabilidad. Resultados: Los valores de alpha de Cronbach (Consistencia interna) mostraron valores de 0,73 a 0,77 para ambos sexos. El Error Técnico de Medida (ETM) fue de 0,50 a 1,61% y el coeficiente de correlación de Spearman  osciló entre 0,91 a 0,95. Conclusión: El cuestionario de actividad física muestra altos valores de confiabilidad, tanto en su consistencia interna como en la estabilidad de las medidas. Introduction: Physical activity questionnaires usually are the most simple and easy to apply to large populations, however, reproducibility capacity varies between populations. Objective: To analyze the reliability of a questionnaire to assess physical activity in a sample of school adolescents living at high altitude through internal consistency and test re-test. Design: Descriptive, transversal (Survey). Institution: Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru. Participants: School Teens 12 to 17 years. Interventions: There were systematically selected 109 students of both sexes. We evaluated anthropometric measurements of weight, height, sitting height and circumference of the abdomen. In addition we applied a physical activity questionnaire with 11 questions (test and re-test) with an interval of 7 days. Main measures: capacity rating for internal consistency, reproducibility and stability. Results: Cronbach's alpha values ??(internal consistency) showed values ??from 0.73 to 0.77 for both sexes. Measuring technical error (SEM) was from 0.50 to 1.61% and the Spearman correlation coefficient ranges from 0.91 to 0.95. Conclusion: The physical activity questionnaire shows high values ??of reliability, consistency both internally and in the stability of the measures

Multicopy plasmid integration in Komagataella phaffii mediated by a defective auxotrophic marker

Background: A commonly used approach to improve recombinant protein production is to increase the levels of expression by providing extra-copies of a heterologous gene. In Komagataella phaffii (Pichia pastoris) this is usually accomplished by transforming cells with an expression vector carrying a drug resistance marker following a screening for multicopy clones on plates with increasingly higher concentrations of an antibiotic. Alternatively, defective auxotrophic markers can be used for the same purpose. These markers are generally transcriptionally impaired genes lacking most of the promoter region. Among the defective markers commonly used in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is leu2-d, an allele of LEU2 which is involved in leucine metabolism. Cells transformed with this marker can recover prototrophy when they carry multiple copies of leu2-d in order to compensate the poor transcription from this defective allele. Results: A K. phaffii strain auxotrophic for leucine (M12) was constructed by disrupting endogenous LEU2. The resulting strain was successfully transformed with a vector carrying leu2-d and an EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) reporter gene. Vector copy numbers were determined from selected clones which grew to different colony sizes on transformation plates. A direct correlation was observed between colony size, number of integrated vectors and EGFP production. By using this approach we were able to isolate genetically stable clones bearing as many as 20 integrated copies of the vector and with no significant effects on cell growth. Conclusions: In this work we have successfully developed a genetic system based on a defective auxotrophic which can be applied to improve heterologous protein production in K. phaffii. The system comprises a K. phaffii leu2 strain and an expression vector carrying the defective leu2-d marker which allowed the isolation of multicopy clones after a single transformation step. Because a linear correlation was observed between copy number and heterologous protein production, this system may provide a simple approach to improve recombinant protein productivity in K. phaffii