Constraints on palaeodrainage evolution induced by uplift and exhumation on the southern flank of the Zagros-Iranian Plateau

Foreland sedimentary rocks from the northern Fars region of Iran contain a record of deformation associated with the Cenozoic collision between Arabia and Eurasia that resulted in formation of the Zagros orogen. The timing of the deformation associated with this event is poorly known. To address this we conducted a study of Miocene foreland sedimentary rocks (19.7-14.8 Ma) of the Chahar-Makan syncline using clast composition, clay mineralogy and low-temperature fission-track dating. The results showed that most of the sedimentary rocks were sourced from ophiolitic rocks. Detrital apatite fission-track (AFT) age signatures of Miocene sedimentary rocks record exhumation in the hanging wall of the Main Zagros Thrust and confirm that the change from underthrusting of the stretched Arabian margin to widespread crustal thickening and deformation in the Zagros region is no younger than 19.7 Ma. A transition from Late Oligocene to Mesozoic-Eocene AFT detrital age signatures between 19.7-16.6 Ma and 16.6-13.8 Ma is interpreted to reflect a possible rearrangement of palaeodrainage distribution that resulted from folding and expansion-uplift of the Zagros-Iranian Plateau region.

Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of a novel radioligand for αvβ3 integrin receptor imaging: [(18)F]FPPA-c(RGDfK).

The development of RGD-based antagonist of αvβ3 integrin receptor has enhanced the interest in PET probes to image this receptor for the early detection of cancer, to monitor the disease progression and the response to therapy. In this work, a novel prosthetic group (N-(4-fluorophenyl)pent-4-ynamide or FPPA) for the (18)F-labeling of an αvβ3 selective RGD-peptide was successfully prepared. [(18)F]FPPA was obtained in three steps with a radiochemical yield of 44% (decay corrected). Conjugation to c(RGDfK(N3)) by the Cu(II) catalyzed Huisgen azido alkyne cycloaddition provided the [(18)F]FPPA-c(RGDfK) with a radiochemical yield of 29% (decay corrected), in an overall synthesis time of 140min.

Aconselhamento sobre modos saudáveis de vida na Atenção Primária e práticas alimentares dos usuários

Trata-se de estudo seccional para verificar a realização de aconselhamento sobre modos saudáveis de vida por profissionais de saúde e sua associação com a adoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis em serviço de Atenção Primária à Saúde. Participaram 417 usuários, a maioria mulheres (78,9%), com mediana de idade de 39 anos, elevada prevalência de excesso de peso (59,1%) e inadequações alimentares importantes, contrastando com a baixa frequência de aconselhamento (40,8%). Mas, ainda assim, os usuários aconselhados apresentaram maior adequação no consumo de balas/goma de mascar (p=0,031), refrigerante comum (p=0,036), salgados (p=0,037), temperos industrializados (p=0,005) e ovos (p=0,010). A adoção de práticas alimentares saudáveis foi mais frequente entre os mais velhos e as mulheres (p<0,05). Apesar da importância de aconselhamento frente ao perfil alimentar e de saúde identificado, este foi pouco frequente, sugerindo a necessidade de maior atuação dos profissionais de saúde, visando à prevenção, ao controle de agravos e à promoção da saúde.

Prevalência de lesões por fricção em pacientes hospitalizados com câncer

Esse estudo objetivou identificar a prevalência de lesões por fricção (LF) em pacientes hospitalizados com câncer e avaliar os fatores demográficos e clínicos associados ao seu desenvolvimento. Estudo epidemiológico, de corte transversal, realizado no Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo Octavio Frias de Oliveira. Todos os pacientes adultos, internados entre 10 e 18 de abril de 2010, foram avaliados por meio de entrevista e exame físico. Utilizou-se o teste Qui-Quadrado para comparação das variáveis demográficas e clínicas entre pacientes com e sem LF. Foram avaliados 157 pacientes: cinco apresentaram nove LF, acarretando prevalência de 3,3%. Quanto às variáveis demográficas, houve diferença estatisticamente significativa somente para o número de filhos (p=0,027). Clinicamente, pacientes com LF apresentaram menores escores na escala de Karnofsky (p=0,031) e na Escala de Braden (p=0,026), além de comportamento pouco colaborativo (p=0,042). Esse estudo contribui para um melhor conhecimento acerca das LF em pacientes com câncer.

Serum ferritin levels are associated with a distinct phenotype of chronic hepatitis C poorly responding to pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin therapy.

Elevated serum ferritin levels may reflect a systemic inflammatory state as well as increased iron storage, both of which may contribute to an unfavorable outcome of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We therefore performed a comprehensive analysis of the role of serum ferritin and its genetic determinants in the pathogenesis and treatment of CHC. To this end, serum ferritin levels at baseline of therapy with pegylated interferon-alpha and ribavirin or before biopsy were correlated with clinical and histological features of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including necroinflammatory activity (N = 970), fibrosis (N = 980), steatosis (N = 886), and response to treatment (N = 876). The association between high serum ferritin levels (> median) and the endpoints was assessed by logistic regression. Moreover, a candidate gene as well as a genome-wide association study of serum ferritin were performed. We found that serum ferritin ≥ the sex-specific median was one of the strongest pretreatment predictors of treatment failure (univariate P < 0.0001, odds ratio [OR] = 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.34-0.60). This association remained highly significant in a multivariate analysis (P = 0.0002, OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.20-0.61), with an OR comparable to that of interleukin (IL)28B genotype. When patients with the unfavorable IL28B genotypes were stratified according to high versus low ferritin levels, SVR rates differed by > 30% in both HCV genotype 1- and genotype 3-infected patients (P < 0.001). Serum ferritin levels were also independently associated with severe liver fibrosis (P < 0.0001, OR = 2.67, 95% CI = 1.68-4.25) and steatosis (P = 0.002, OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.35-3.91), but not with necroinflammatory activity (P = 0.3). Genetic variations had only a limited impact on serum ferritin levels. Conclusion: In patients with CHC, elevated serum ferritin levels are independently associated with advanced liver fibrosis, hepatic steatosis, and poor response to interferon-alpha-based therapy.

Improved smoking cessation in smokers given ultrasound photographs of their own atherosclerotic plaques.

BACKGROUND: We examined whether making smokers aware that they had developed peripheral atherosclerosis would improve smoking cessation. METHODS: Smokers selected from the general population were randomly allocated to undergo high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography of their carotid and femoral arteries. All smokers received quit-smoking counseling. Smokers with > or =1 atherosclerotic plaque were given two photographs of a plaque with a relevant explanation. Quit rates were assessed by telephone 6 months later. RESULTS: Seventy-nine smokers did not undergo ultrasonography (A). Among the 74 smokers submitted to ultrasonography, 20 had no plaque (B) and 54 had > or =1 plaque (C). Quit rates were, respectively, 6.3, 5.0, and 22.2% in groups A, B, and C. Quit rates were higher in smokers submitted to ultrasonography (B + C vs A; P = 0.031) and in those receiving photographs (C vs A + B; P = 0.003). Smoking cessation was independently associated with intervention C (OR = 6.2; 95% CI = 1.8-21) and a white-collar job but not with age or gender. CONCLUSIONS: Providing smokers with photographs demonstrating atherosclerosis on their own person was an effective adjunct to physician's advice to quit smoking. Since ultrasonography is used increasingly often in clinical practice for cardiovascular risk stratification, this can provide an additional opportunity and means to deter smokers from smoking.

Le Créole du Cap-Vert Étude Grammaticale Descriptive et Contrastive

Cette étude linguistique porte sur les parlers de Santiago et de São Vicente, les deux variétés les plus représentatives du créole du Cap-Vert. Elle traite aussi bien des niveaux phonétique et phonologique que morphologique et syntaxique. Une approche contrastive inclut également la langue portugaise, d’où le créole capverdien tire l’essentiel de son origine. Elle s’interroge sur l’autonomisation du créole par rapport à sa langue source et pose des hypothèses sur les aspects socio-historiques qui auraient influencé son auto-régulation structurale. L’ouvrage s’adresse aux étudiants et chercheurs capverdiens ainsi qu’aux chercheurs spécialistes de la créolistique.

Age-related differences in the use of guideline-recommended medical and interventional therapies for acute coronary syndromes: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the use of guideline-recommended medical and interventional therapies in older and younger patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACSs). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Fifty-five hospitals in Switzerland. PARTICIPANTS: Eleven thousand nine hundred thirty-two patients with ACS enrolled between March 1, 2001, and June 30, 2006. ACS definition included ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina pectoris (UA). MEASUREMENTS: Use of medical and interventional therapies was determined after exclusion of patients with contraindications and after adjustment for comorbidities. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) per year increase in age. RESULTS: Elderly patients were less likely to receive acetylsalicylic acid (OR=0.976, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.969-0.980) or beta-blockers (OR=0.985, 95% CI=0.981-0.989). No age-dependent difference was found for heparin use. Elderly patients with STEMI were less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) or thrombolysis (OR=0.955, 95% CI=0.949-0.961). Elderly patients with NSTEMI or UA less often underwent PCI (OR=0.943, 95% CI=0.937-0.949). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients across the whole spectrum of ACS were less likely to receive guideline-recommended therapies, even after adequate adjustment for comorbidities. Prognosis of elderly patients with ACS may be improved by increasing adherence to guideline-recommended medical and interventional therapies.

Parent perceived quality of life is age-dependent in children with food allergy.

Food allergy in children significantly affects their quality of life. Its impact can be analyzed by quality of life questionnaires. The aim of our study was to validate the French version of disease-specific questionnaires and to evaluate the quality of life in children with IgE-mediated food allergy. Two validated food allergy-specific questionnaires for quality of life, the parent's and children's forms (FAQLQ-PF and FAQLQ-CF), were translated from English to French and submitted to children with food allergy and their parents. Questionnaires were analyzed in terms of emotional impact, food anxiety, and social and food limitations. NCT 01480427. Sixty-two parents of children aged 0-12 yrs answered the FAQLQ-PF, and 32 children aged 8-12 yrs the FAQLQ-CF. Construct validity of both questionnaires was assessed by correlation between the FAQLQs and FAIM (r = 0.85 and 0.84, respectively). Both FAQLQs had good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.748 and 0.67, respectively). Young children (0-3 yrs old) showed better quality of life scores than older children (FAQLQ-PF global score: p = 0.02). Worse scores were also shown among children with previous severe systemic reactions (FAQLQ-PF global score: p = 0.039), the ones with an allergic mother (FAQLQ-PF global score: p = 0.002), or allergic siblings (FAQLQ-PF emotional impact score: p = 0.034), the ones with multiple food allergy (more than 1 food) (FAQLQ-PF anxiety score: p = 0.04) and among the girls (FAQLQ-CF global score: p = 0.031). Older children, the ones with severe systemic reactions, or with mothers or siblings also affected by allergies, as well as girls, and children with multiple food allergies show worse quality of life scores.

Diabetes mellitus and cancer risk in a network of case-control studies.

Diabetes has been associated to the risk of a few cancer sites, though quantification of this association in various populations remains open to discussion. We analyzed the relation between diabetes and the risk of various cancers in an integrated series of case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland between 1991 and 2009. The studies included 1,468 oral and pharyngeal, 505 esophageal, 230 gastric, 2,390 colorectal, 185 liver, 326 pancreatic, 852 laryngeal, 3,034 breast, 607 endometrial, 1,031 ovarian, 1,294 prostate, and 767 renal cell cancer cases and 12,060 hospital controls. The multivariate odds ratios (OR) for subjects with diabetes as compared to those without-adjusted for major identified confounding factors for the cancers considered through logistic regression models-were significantly elevated for cancers of the oral cavity/pharynx (OR = 1.58), esophagus (OR = 2.52), colorectum (OR = 1.23), liver (OR = 3.52), pancreas (OR = 3.32), postmenopausal breast (OR = 1.76), and endometrium (OR = 1.70). For cancers of the oral cavity, esophagus, colorectum, liver, and postmenopausal breast, the excess risk persisted over 10 yr since diagnosis of diabetes. Our data confirm and further quantify the association of diabetes with colorectal, liver, pancreatic, postmenopausal breast, and endometrial cancer and suggest forthe first time that diabetes may also increase the risk of oral/pharyngeal and esophageal cancer. [Table: see text] [Table: see text].

Frequency and Type of Side Effects of Immunomodulating Medication in the Swiss Inflammatory Bowel Disease Cohort

Background: Medical treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is becoming more and more complex, as several classes of immuno-modulating drugs (IMD) are often used simultaneously. Thus, the probability of adverse effects is greatly increased. Most studies reporting on adverse effects focus on single therapy, and studies providing a global survey of side effects for multiple treatments are lacking. Aim: To assess the type and frequency of adverse events in IBD patients treated with single and multiple IMD therapy. Methods: Analysis of data from the Swiss IBD Cohort Study (SIBDCS) that collects data on a large sample of IBD patients from hospitals and private practices across Switzerland. The following IMD categories were analyzed: 5-ASA, azathioprine (Aza), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), methotrexate (MTX), anti-TNF (infliximab, adalimumab, certolizumab-pegol), cyclosporine, tacrolimus, and steroids. The following side effects were assessed: hepatitis, pancreatitis, leucopenia, thrombopenia, nephritis, allergic reaction, pneumonitis, infections (including tuberculosis), osteoporosis, abdominal pain/diarrhea (unrelated to IBD activity), cataract, diabetes, exanthema, hirsutism, lupus-like syndrome, myalgias, depression/psychosis, tumor development. Results: A total of 1,961 patients were analyzed (977 [50%] female, mean age 42.1 ± 14.4 years): 1,119 with Crohn's disease (CD), 800 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 42 with indeterminate colitis (IC). Three-hundred eighteen (16.2%) patients were not treated with any of the above-mentioned medications, while 650 (33.2%), 569 (29%) and 424 (21.6%) patients had one-, two-, and three- or more- IMD therapy, respectively. Of the 1,643 patients treated with IMD, 535 (32.6%) patients reported at least one side effect. We found a significant correlation between the number of drugs used by a patient and the frequency of side effects (17.4% side effects for one drug, 29% for 2 drugs, and 60.6% for three or more drugs, p < 0.001). The frequency of side effects for the different IMD classes were as follows: 5-ASA (n = 980 treated patients) 10.8%, Aza/6-MP (n = 636) 51.9% (pancreatitis in 57 = 9%, hepatitis in 17 = 2.7% of treated patients), MTX (n = 146) 42.5% (hepatitis in 4 = 2.7% of treated patients), anti-TNF (n = 255) 23.1%, cyclosporine (n = 49) 10.2%, tacrolimus (n = 5) 20%, steroids (systemic or topical, n = 1,150) 9.6%. Conclusion: IBD treatment is associated with a significant number of side effects. A direct correlation between the number of IMD used simultaneously and the frequency of side effects was observed. The results of this study indicate that treating physicians should be vigilant for the occurrence of side effects in IBD patients under single and/or multiple drug therapy.

Biología y pesquería del lenguado paralichthys adspersus, con especial referencia al área norte del litorial peruano, departamento de Lambayeque

El lenguado común, Paralichthys adspersus (Steindachner), es una especie que se captura frecuentemente en la pesca artesanal costera y se distribuye latitudinalmente a lo largo del litoral peruano; longitudinalmente puede alejarse hasta la isóbata de 200 m, por influencia del calentamiento de las aguas, sobre todo durante los eventos El Niño. Dado el interés comercial que este lenguado representa se consideró conveniente efectuar un estudio biológico-pesquero, el mismo que se realizó en el Laboratorio IMARPE de San José, durante los años de 1991 a 1997, a base de muestreos realizados en el área de pesca de Lambayeque (6° a 7°20' 5). Se le determinó como pez predador de las especies de peces que comparten su habitat. En las muestras capturadas no se registró el estadía gonadal inmaduro (I). La mayor frecuencia del estadío desovante (VI) ocurre entre los meses de octubre y febrero (primavera-verano), considerada como la época de reproducción. siendo la talla media de desove de 60,4 cm para las hembras y 43,1 cm para los machos. En las muestras no se hallaron peces con edades de 1 y 2 años, posiblemente debido a la selectividad de las redes de pesca. En los machos e registraron tallas menores, con edades hasta de 5 años; y las hembras tuvieron tallas mayores y edades hasta de 9 años. Los parámetros de crecimiento fueron calculados en L = 87,8 cm; P = 9,118 g; K= 0,20 y to = 0,46. Los índices de abundancia relativa, estimados como captura/viaje, por caletas o lugar de desembarque, fueron calculados entre 1 78,1 kg en Puerto Pizarro y O, 9 kg en Parachique y con promedios generales por caleta de 21,8 kg/viaje de pesca, 14,5 kg/ día de pesca y 314 kg/mes-caleta. Para el área de Lambayeque los índices variaron de 70,1 a 31,5 kg/lancha-mes y de 30,8 a 11,8 kg/viaje-mes, para los años 1991-1997, siendo los años de 1996 y 1997 los que presentaron los más bajos índices.

Resultados de la pesca exploratoria de 1979/80 y desembarque de cefalópodos pelagicos en el litoral peruano

El trabajo comprende un análisis de los desembarques de "ca amar" y "pota" desde 1964 a 1981 así como de los resultados de la pesca exploratoria de setiembre 1979 a abril 1 980. las principales especies de cafalópados que se comercializan en Perú bajo la nominación de calamares ( y calamaretes) pertenecen a la familia Loliginidae y de potas o jibias a la familia Ommastrephidae. El promedi o anual de desembarque de 1964 a 1971 de calamarés y potas fue de 243 y 313 toneladas respectivamente, de 1972 a 1981 continúa el desembarque regular de calamares pero no el de potas . Las mejores capturas de calamares y potas se producen en otoño durante los meses de mayo y junio y también en el verano durante los meses de enero y febrero . Casi la totalidad de desembarques de calamares se efectúan en el Callao, Huacho, Chimbote, Paita y el 78% de potas se desembarcan en el Callao y caletas aledañas. La pesca exploratoria de cefalópodos pelágicos efectuada principalmente a bordo del B/P japonés Rhyusho Maru Nº 25, de diciembre a abril 1980, cubrió todo el litoral peruano hasta las 500 mill as afuera. Se efectuaron 128 estaciones de pesca con el sistema y equipos especificas para la captura de calamares; se obtuvo una extracción de 18 toneladas de potas que correspondió a la especie oceánica Dosidicus gigas, con un promedi o de 140 kg por noche y amplitud entre 4 y 830 kg por noche de operación. Los niveles de la población de D. gigas durante la exploración estuvieron bajos, sin embargo las mejores concentraciones de esta especie se ubicaron en la zona norte a partir de las 30 millas hacia afuera en los meses de febrero y marzo( 246 y 224 kg/noche), observándose regu­lares focos a 350 millas afuera de Atico (16°10'8) en marzo (202 kg/noche) .