A conceptual framework for contemporary professional foot care practice : ''The value based digital foot care framework''

Background: A small minority of countries around the globe have podiatry as a recognized profession, hence, there are considerable differences among these countries when it comes to the curricula, the duration of training and legislation regulating the profession. The growth in research led evidence based practice, and the emerging digital landscape of health care practice, occur alongside trends in disease and health behaviours that strongly impact on foot health. As such, the changing complex role of the podiatrist requires critical reflection on current frameworks of practice and whether they are fit for purpose. This commentary presents a conceptual framework which sets the scene for further development of concepts in a podiatry context, reflecting contemporary health care beliefs and the changing expectations of health care and society. The proposed conceptual framework for podiatry practice utilizes the metaphor of an electronic circuit to reflect the vast and complex interconnections between factors that affect practice and professional behaviours. The framework helps in portraying and defining drivers of practice, actual practice as well potential barriers for current and future practice. The circuit emphasis the interconnectedness/interaction of three clusters: 1) internal factors, 2) interaction factors, 3) external factors. Conclusion: Whatever promise this new framework holds, it will only be realised through conscious development of community consensus, respectful dialogue, constructive critical appraisal, and maintaining passion and focus on improving the health of people with foot related problems

Renal amyloidosis in children

Renal amyloidosis is a detrimental disease caused by the deposition of amyloid fibrils. A child with renal amyloidosis may present with proteinuria or nephrotic syndrome. Chronic renal failure may follow. Amyloid fibrils may deposit in other organs as well. The diagnosis is through the typical appearance on histopathology. Although chronic infections and chronic inflammatory diseases used to be the causes of secondary amyloidosis in children, the most frequent cause is now autoinflammatory diseases. Among this group of diseases, the most frequent one throughout the world is familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). FMF is typically characterized by attacks of clinical inflammation in the form of fever and serositis and high acute-phase reactants. Persisting inflammation in inadequately treated disease is associated with the development of secondary amyloidosis. The main treatment is colchicine. A number of other monogenic autoinflammatory diseases have also been identified. Among them cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) is outstanding with its clinical features and the predilection to develop secondary amyloidosis in untreated cases. The treatment of secondary amyloidosis mainly depends on the treatment of the disease. However, a number of new treatments for amyloid per se are in the pipeline

Estudo das células Neuro2A sobre os biomateriais PCL e PLLA

Os biomateriais poli L-ácido lático (PLLA) e o poli caprolactona (PCL) são os polímeros mais estudadas na área dos materiais bioreabsorvíveis. Dentre as suas principais características que contribuem para a interação celular, temos a especificidade química da superfície, elétrica, hidrofobicidade e topografia. Ainda, observa-se o tempo de degradação, porosidade, biocompatibilidade com o tecido biológico, bem como, a confecção com as mais variadas formas e dimensões. Já a prática da cultura celular, tem como objetivo estudar a adesão, migração, diferenciação e a proliferação celular utilizando-se um determinado material ou substância. Contudo, poucos trabalhos utilizando os biomateriais ora supracitados e a aplicação em células neuro2A foram realizados. Sabe-se que este tipo celular é derivado de células embrionárias da crista neural, as quais originam em neurônios simpáticos e apresentam como característica a imortalidade, portanto, são excelentes modelos em ensaios in vitro. Nesse sentido, o presente estudo avalia a adesão e a proliferação desta linhagem celular sobre os biopolímeros poli caprolactona (PCL) e poli L-ácido lático (PLLA)

[Small frontal gray matter volume in first-episode depression patients]. [Ilk Atak Depresyon Hastalarinda Azalmiş Frontal Korteks Hacimleri.]

PubMed ID: 20818506Brain imaging studies have shown that depressed individuals suffer from inadequate frontal lobe functions vis à vis smaller frontal lobes. The effects of depression's recurrent nature and long-term antidepressant treatment are not definitely known. This study aimed to examine frontal lobe volume at the onset of clinical depression by including first-episode drug-naive depressed patients. The study included 23 first-episode drug-free major depression patients diagnosed according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) and 28 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Cranial magnetic resonance (MR) images were obtained in both groups using a 1.5 Tesla device. Gray and white matter volumes in the frontal lobes were measured using the Medical Image Processing Analysis and Visualization (MIPAV) computer program. Frontal gray matter volume in the patients was lower than that in the control group. White matter and total intracranial volume did not differ between the 2 groups. Small gray matter volume was not correlated with the duration or severity of illness. The results of this study indicate that frontal lobe gray matter volume is low in first-episode depressed patients and is independent of both illness severity and duration. This result suggests that the observed changes in the frontal lobe could have occurred before the clinical symptoms of depression were observed