International Medical Publisher Journals (iMedPub)
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Characterization of bacterial isolates cultured from the nasopharynx of children with sickle cell disease (SCD)
Get PDFBackground: We characterized bacterial isolates from the nasopharynx of 84 Sickle cell disease patients 78 of whom were HbSS and 6 HbSC aged 4 four months to 15 years at Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, southwestern Nigeria between February – September, 2014.Method:  Sterile cotton-tipped initially dipped into sterile saline thereafter was  introduced into nasopharynx of each patient and  thereafter  applied onto sterile thioglycolate medium and  incubated at 370 C for 24 hr, When growth was noticed, samples were inoculated onto  enriched, selective and differential bacteriologic media. Bacterial colonies that grew on such media were picked and characterized by gram reaction, cultural, morphologic and biochemical methods. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were determined by the disc diffusion method. Demographic data relating to severity of SCD were provided.Results: Altogether, 119 isolates were cultured from the nasopharynx. Gram positive bacteria predominated (65.54%)   and Corynebacterium spp (44.53%) dominated comprising of 19 (35.84%) Corynebacterium xerosis 11 (20.75%) Corynebacterium diphtheriae, 10(18.86) Corynebacterium pseudodiphtheriticum, 8(15.09%) Corynebacterium ulcerans, 3(6.66%) Corynebacterium spp and 2(3.77%) Corynebacterium jeikeium. Other Gram positive rods cultured were Arcanobacterium haemolyticum 6(5%).  Bacillus subtilis was   3 (2.5%), Actinomyces isrealli 3 (2.5%) and Norcadia asteroids 1 (0.84%). Low frequency of nasopharyngeal colonization recorded for Haemophilus influenzae 4.2%, and S. pneumoniae 2.5% and S. aureus 4(3.36%) and multiresistance was widespread for most isolates.Conclusion: Indigenous microflora Corynebacterium spp predominated and low rate of nasopharyngeal colonization with H. influenzae, and S. pneumoniae recorded attributable to prophylactic use of penicillin and vaccines administration probably suppressed growth of organisms  and inevitably increased resistance to many antibiotics
Rupture of Meckel’s diverticulum after a blunt abdominal trauma: a case report
No full textBackground: Meckel’s diverticulum is relatively rare in the general population. Generally, symptoms are extremely varied and prior diagnosis is difficult because of the abnormality being an occasional finding in laparotomies. This report describes the unusual possibility of diverticulum rupture, even after low-impact abdominal trauma. The case is unusual because of the low frequency of small bowel injury in abdominal contusions, except in trauma with high kinetic energy, such as high-speed car crashes, and the unexpected finding of a ruptured diverticulum. Usually, the lesions occur at relatively fixed structures, specifically in the angle of Treitz or ileocecal region, after undergoing stretching.Case presentation: A 32-year-old male patient presented at another service after incurring a trauma in a car crash about 5 hours earlier. He complained of abdominal pain of moderate intensity and intense thirst. Bruises were found on the mesogastric region. Ultrasonography and computed tomography suggested the presence of a small amount of free fluid in the cavity and pneumoperitoneum. Emergency exploratory laparotomy was performed because of the blood and faecal content in the peritoneal cavity. A single lesion, the contusion in Meckel’s diverticulum, was observed. Excision of the segment was performed with thorough washing of the cavity. Conclusion: Patients with Meckel’s diverticulum may be more susceptible to hollow viscus rupture and can be a finding in exploratory laparotomy
Personalized Reduced 3-Lead System formation methodology for Remote Health Monitoring Applications and Reconstruction of Standard 12-Lead system
Get PDFRemote Health Monitoring (RHM) applications encounter limitations from technological front viz. bandwidth, storage and transmission time and the medical science front i.e. usage of 2-3 lead systems instead of the standard 12-lead (S12) system. Technological limitations constraint the number of leads to 2-3 while cardiologists accustomed with 12-Lead ECG may find these 2-3 lead systems insufficient for diagnosis. Thus, the aforementioned limitations pose self-contradicting challenges for RHM. A personalized reduced 2/3 lead system is required which can offer equivalent information as obtained in S12 system, thus, S12 system can be accurately reconstructed from the reduced system for diagnosis.In this paper, we propose a personalized reduced 3-lead (R3L) system formation methodology which employs principal component analysis, thereby, reducing redundancy and increasing SNR ratio, hence, making it suitable for wireless transmission. Accurate S12 system is made available using personalized lead reconstruction methodology, thereby, addressing medical constraints. Mean R2 statistics values obtained for reconstruction S12 system from the proposed R3L system using PhysioNet’s PTB and TWA databases were 95.63% and 96.37% respectively. To substantiate the superior diagnostic quality of reconstructed leads, root mean square error (RMSE) metrics obtained upon comparing the ECG features extracted from the original and reconstructed leads, using our recently proposed Time Domain Morphology and Gradient (TDMG) algorithm, have been analyzed and discussed. The proposed system does not require any extra electrode or modification in placement positions and hence, can readily find application in computerized ECG machines
The Effectiveness of a Program of Physical Activity and Diet to Modify Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients with Severe Mental Illness (CAPiCOR Study)
Get PDFBackground: Patients with severe mental disorders have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Obesity and sedentarism are cardiovascular risk factors and their control reduces morbidity and mortality. Thus, interventions directed toward decreasing weight and/ or increasing the level of physical activity are necessary.Objectives: The aim of this study would be to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention focused on diet and physical activity in order to change the amount of physical activity, Body Mass Index and waist circumference in these patients.Design: Randomized clinical trial with a control group with one-year follow-up.Setting: Outpatient Mental Health Teams of Barcelona and a residence for patients with severe mental disorders.Participants: Patients between 18 and 65 years of age diagnosed with schizophrenia, a schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder in treatment with antipsychotic medication and a low level of physical activity (240 patients in each randomized group).Intervention group: Physical activity group educational program of 24 sessions over 12 weeks and diet (16 sessions in the fist 8 weeks) carried out by nurses and physical activity specialists.Control group: Usual practice with regular checks and the usual treatment of their disease.Main outcome measures: Level of physical activity (IPAQ questionnaire), weight, Body Mass Index and waist circumference.Other outcomes: Cardiovascular risk, quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), tobacco consumption, dietary habit (PREDIMED questionnaire), blood pressure and laboratory parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose).Evaluations will be masked and will be made at 0, 3, 6 and 12 months.Data analysis: Intention to treat analysis. Analysis of variance for repeated measures to adjust for differences attributable to the effect of the intervention for potential confounders (drug treatment, care level of intervention and mental status of the patient).Ethical aspects: The project has been evaluated and approved by the ethics committee (CEIC) of the Primary Healthcare-University Research Institute IDIAP Jordi Gol, with registration number P11/64.Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT01729650
Translational Cardiology: defining limits and targets at the International Archives of Medicine
Get PDFThe Merriam-Webster dictionary reports the first use of “Translational Research†as early as 1986 and the definition given for this term was: “medical research that is concerned with facilitating the practical application of scientific discoveries to the development and implementation of new ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat disease, called also translational medicine†.The adjective “translational†stems from Classical Latin “translatioâ€, then probably Middle French â€translationâ€, to reach Middle English “translaciounâ€. The idea is to make a transfer from one idiom to another, yet keeping the intimate significance and sense, which is common to language translation methods. It properly stresses the relation to the transfer of scientific knowledge into practical applications. It is obvious how, in less than 30 years, translational research has pervaded all Science domains and how large is the interest of scientists and lay people for this subjec
Modern strategy for new medicine research: study of pharmacological activities of riachin, A non-cyanogenic cyanoglucoside extracted from bauhinia pentandra
Get PDFOver the years the search for new molecules is growing, the success of new discoveries often occurs with molecules arising from the nature that subsequently pass through chemical improvements. Unfortunately many of the identified and isolated substances do not reach on to become a drug, a few times a discontinuity of research or possibly the lack of interest of researchers in some structures. Knowing that the Brazilian Flora is very diverse and still has a great variety of species not studied, each year new substances from nature are identified, many of these, possibly with the potential to become a new drug. In Northeast Brazil is not different and among the numerous plant species studied are those that make up the genus Bauhinia that has aroused the interest of researchers, among the most popular is the Bauhinia forficata
Bioethics Inserted in Oncologic Palliative Care: a Systematic Review
Get PDFIntroduction: Bioethics emerges in oncologic palliative care from the reflctions of that care at the end of life for cancer patients are usually inadequate because the individuals has little relief of symptoms, adverse reactions to treatment, threats of physical, social and psychological destruction and loss of functions.Material and Findings: Systematic review in MEDLINE, IBECS, LILACS and SciELO from 1 st January, 2006 to 10th January. The searchvwas conducted with the descriptors "CuidadosPaliativos" (DeCS);"Oncologia" (DeCS); "Morte e Morrer" (Keyword); and "Bioética" (DeCS) during the month of December 2013. The literature points out that physicians should not accept something as absolute truth; and to help them in their choices at the moment comes to bioethics, which does not provide ready answers, but, with its pluralistic view, makes us exercise the capacity for reflction in choosing the best conduits for the patient. It is necessary to rescue more widely the value of the care that was in the background before the search for the cure of diseases, which in a broader sense, encompasses human, spiritual and social aspects. In Brazil, the practice of euthanasia or assisted suicide are illegal conduct that typify the crime of murder, however, the suspension of therapeutic effort is not prohibited (SET), extensively comment, orthothanasia.Conclusion: Despite the possible philosophical and ideological differences, it is necessary that health professionals to really take care of severe patients, prove conscious and attentive to the rights of the individual, the real meaning of the concepts of health and disease, issues the lack of therapeutic possibilities, extreme old age and death
The Lipodystrophy Syndrome as a Risk Marker for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with HIV/AIDS Treated with HAART
Get PDFIntroduction: The classic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in healthy individuals are well known, however, it lacks in the literature the mechanisms that predicts cardiovascular disease in the population living with HIV-AIDS treated with HAART and presenting syndrome lipodystrophy. We aimed to investigate the risk of cardiovascular disease in HIV-AIDS patients treated with HAART and lipodystrophy syndrome. Methods: A search was performed in Medline, SciELO, Lilacs and Cochrane using the intersection between the keywords: "cardiovascular disease", "HIV", "AIDS", "HAART" and "lipodystrophy syndrome". Results: The selected studies demonstrated that metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, central adipose hypertrophy and peripheral lipoatrophy, besides the metabolic syndrome and lipodystrophy are maker clear risks of developing cardiovascular disease in these individuals. Conclusion: The metabolic alterations in HIV-AIDS treated with HAART and presenting lipodystrophy syndrome may potentiate the development of cardiovascular diseases
The development of Resistance to Antiretroviral Therapy for HIV Infected Individuals:a Systematic Review
Get PDFBackground: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) has reduced morbidity and mortality due to AIDS. However, treatment options can be impaired by the development of antiretroviral drug resistance. Resistant virus strains can be transmitted to new hosts and, subsequently, can lead to antiretroviral treatment failure.Methods: Th A systematic review of articles on resistance to antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected individuals, published from January 1, 2014 to June 16, 2014, on SCOPUS and PUBMED databases wascarried out. Search terms were "AIDS" (Medical Subject Headings [MeSH]), "HIV" (MeSH), “treatment†(keyword), “resistance†(keyword) and "antiretroviral therapy" (MeSH). Of the 118 retrieved studies, 24 met the eligibility criteria.Results: The main classes of antiretroviral drugs are Non Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NNRTIs), Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs), and Protease Inhibitors (PIs). Antiretroviraltreatment selects for drug resistance. Resistant strains become prevalent in the population and are transmitted to new patients.Discussion: A higher prevalence of certain mutations are present and characterize resistant strains that are prevalent in the population making it more diffiult to treat these infected individuals. Poor compliance with antiretroviral therapy increases the potential for developing these and other resistant strains.Conclusions: Knowledge of drug resistance generated by mutations is useful for optimizing treatment regimens and to get better responses. Promoting compliance is important to limiting the selection of new resistant strains
Autonomic Nervous System and Allergic Diseases: Integrative Literature Review
Get PDFIntroduction: Allergic diseases have their incidence constantly increased especially asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema or atopic dermatitis. The causes related with the appearance of these diseases such as the environment, hereditary and others are unable to explain certain behaviors. Changes in the autonomic nervous system (ANS) are cited as one of the factors that may contribute to the onset of exacerbations. Objective: Identify the autonomic nervous system´s behavior in allergic diseases. Methods: Integrative literature review conducted from the following databases: Scielo, Lilacs and PubMed. The keywords used were autonomic nervous system, asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema in Portuguese, English and Spanish languages. Four articles were selected for this review. Results: The selected articles point to an increased activity of the parasympathetic nervous system or decreased activity of the sympathetic system in cases of allergic rhinitis. With asthma, it is believed that the changes in the ANS are secondary to diseases. Articles about atopic eczema were not found using the selected words to search. Conclusion: There is evidence of changes in the ANS in allergic diseases, however, there is so far no study that states which system excels, only that the parasympathetic is more active or that the sympathetic is in underactivity