Quick Reads, October 4, 2010

IDPH Quick Reads is an electronic newsletter produced by the Director’s Office at the Iowa Department of Public Health. IDPH Quick Reads are published every three to four weeks.

Friday Facts, February 4, 2011, Vol. 87

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Friday Facts, March 4, 2011, Vol. 91

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

La qualité des soins dans les consultations ambulatoires pédopsychiatriques du canton de Vaud: résultats d'une enquête de satisfaction

It is common knowledge that patients' satisfaction influences their compliance with the proposed treatment and their future use of health services, and that the therapeutic alliance represents a recognised factor in the success of psychotherapeutic management. In May and June 2011 we conducted an enquiry in all the paedopsychiatric outpatient units of the Canton of Vaud in Switzerland, from which we gathered 1261 questionnaires from consulting children and their parents. The questions covered inter alia overall satisfaction concerning the quality of the care on off er, perception of the therapeutie alliance and the helpfulness of the varions types of treatment. The instruments used are recognised and validated internationally (HAQII and CSQS). The results reve al a high degree of satisfaction and a good perception of the therapeutic alliance's quality: an average of 4.9 for children and 5.9 for parents concerning the therapeutic alliance, on a scale from 1 (totally disagree) to 6 (totally agree), and concerning patient satisfaction an average of 3.2 for children and 3.4 for parents on a scale of 1 to 4. Regarding perception of the benefit derived from different forms of treatment, individual and family interviews were overwhel~ningly approved (3.2 out of 4), while compliance with drug treatment was less recognised as helpful to children (2.3 out of 4).

Healthy Aging Update, June 2, 2008, Vol. 3, no. 4

This bimonthly electronic newsletter will provide information and resources on nutrition and health promotion and disease prevention. The Healthy Aging Update is produced for informal and educational purposes only. The newsletter will be distributed electronically and posted on the Department’s website at www.state.ia.us/elderaffairs.

Calagem em latossolo amarelo distrófico da amazônia e sua influência em atributos químicos do solo e na produtividade de culturas anuais

A produção agrícola contínua na região amazônica requer a correção da acidez dos solos, o que exige a avaliação do efeito dos corretivos em experimentos de longa duração. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a influência do calcário e seu efeito residual sobre os atributos do solo e a produtividade de culturas anuais, em Latossolo Amarelo distrófico textura média da Amazônia. No período de 2003 a 2008, foram conduzidos dois experimentos no nordeste do Pará, um no município de Terra Alta e outro no município de Tracuateua. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi em blocos ao acaso com uma testemunha e 10 doses de calcário entre 0,1 e 2 Mg ha-1 em Terra Alta e quatro doses entre 1 e 4 Mg ha-1 em Tracuateua, aplicadas em 2003. Neste último local, nas subparcelas foram avaliadas, em cada ano, duas variedades de cada cultura (milho e feijão-caupi) utilizadas na sucessão. Em Terra Alta, foram realizados quatro cultivos de milho (2003-2006) e três de feijão-caupi (2004-2006), em rotação. As maiores produtividades de grãos de milho em Terra Alta foram obtidas com doses de calcário em torno de 1 Mg ha-1, enquanto para o feijão-caupi a dose foi inferior a esse valor. Em Tracuateua, a resposta do feijão-caupi ao calcário só iniciou-se em 2005, com produtividade máxima obtida com a aplicação de 1 Mg ha-1 de calcário, observando-se diferença entre as variedades. O aumento da produtividade média das culturas esteve associado ao aumento dos teores de Ca + Mg e à redução da saturação por Al no solo. Em ambos os locais houve diminuição dos teores de Ca + Mg e aumento da saturação por Al no solo, com o tempo após a aplicação do calcário, sendo mais acentuados em Tracuateua. Para o milho, plantado em 2007 e 2008 em Tracuateua, as respostas foram lineares até a dose residual de 4 Mg ha-1 de calcário. A observação conjunta dos resultados sugere que a dose apropriada de calcário para milho, nesses solos, deverá reduzir a saturação por Al para um valor menor que 11 %. Para feijão-caupi, a saturação por Al tolerada pelas variedades avaliadas esteve entre 13 e 32 %, devendo-se considerar, portanto, a variedade utilizada.

Aluminum in corn plants: influence on growth and morpho-anatomy of root and leaf

Aluminum (Al) toxicity is one of the most limiting factors for productivity. This research was carried out to assess the influence of Al nutrient solution on plant height, dry weight and morphoanatomical alterations in corn (Zea mays L.) roots and leaves. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with five treatments consisting of Al doses (0, 25, 75, 150, and 300 µmol L-1) and six replications. The solutions were constantly aerated, and the pH was initially adjusted to 4.3. The shoot dry matter, root dry matter and plant height decreased significantly with increasing Al concentrations. Compared to the control plants, it was observed that the root growth of corn plants in Al solutions was inhibited, there were fewer lateral roots and the development of the root system reduced. The leaf anatomy of plants grown in solutions containing 75 and 300 µmol L-1 Al differed in few aspects from the control plants. The leaf sheaths of the plants exposed to Al had a uniseriate epidermis coated with a thin cuticle layer, and the cells of both the epidermis and the cortex were less developed. In the vascular bundle, the metaxylem and protoxylem had no secondary walls, and the diameter of both was much smaller than of the control plants.

Structural and magnetic characterization of maghemites prepared from Al-substituted magnetites

Synthetic aluminum-substituted maghemites were characterized by total chemical analysis, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Mössbauer spectroscopy (ME), and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The aim was to determine the structural, magnetic, and hyperfine properties of 47;-Fe2-xAl xO3 as the Al concentration is varied. The XRD results of the synthetic products were indexed exclusively as maghemite. Increasing Al for Fe substitution decreased the mean crystalline dimension and shifted all diffraction peaks to higher º2θ angles. The a0 dimension of the cubic unit cell decreased with increasing Al according to the equation a o = 0.8385 - 3.63 x 10-5 Al (R²= 0.94). Most Mössbauer spectra were composed of one sextet, but at the highest substitution rate of 142.5 mmol mol-1 Al, both a doublet and sextet were obtained at 300 K. All hyperfine parameters from the sub-spectra were consistent with high-spin Fe3+ (0.2 a 0.7 mms-1) and suggested a strong superparamagnetic component associated with the doublet. The magnetic hyperfine field of the sextets decreased with the amount of Al-substitution [Bhf (T) = 49.751 - 0.1202Al; R² = 0.94] while the linewidth increased linearly. The saturation magnetization also decreased with increasing isomorphous substitution.

Relação entre o alumínio extraível com KCl e oxalato de amônio e a mineralogia da fração argila, em solos ácidos brasileiros

Em solos ácidos de ambiente mais tropical com esmectitas, assim como em solos altamente tamponados de ambiente subtropical, contendo esmectita com hidroxi-Al entrecamadas (EHE) e, ou, vermiculita com hidroxi-Al entrecamadas (VHE), os teores de Al-KCl podem ser excepcionalmente altos; entretanto, em alguns casos não se manifestam efeitos fitotóxicos do elemento nas culturas. O Al "trocável" é tradicionalmente quantificado no extrato da solução de KCl 1 mol L-1 (Al-KCl), mas nem sempre esse elemento provém unicamente de formas trocáveis. Este trabalho objetivou investigar relações entre o Al extraído com solução de KCl e de oxalato de amônio com a mineralogia da fração argila. A quantificação do Al nos extratos de KCl e oxalato de amônio foi feita, respectivamente, por titulação com NaOH 0,02 mol L-1 padronizado e por espectrofotometria de absorção atômica. Foram utilizadas amostras de dois horizontes (A e B) de 12 perfis de solo de cinco estados brasileiros (AC, PE, BA, RS e SC), com diferentes características mineralógicas, todos com teores de Al-KCl superior a 4 cmol c kg-1 no horizonte B. Dois perfis de SC (Rancho Queimado e Curitibanos), com níveis mais baixos de Al-KCl, foram incluídos para comparação. Os altos teores de Al-KCl evidenciaram-se relacionados com a mineralogia dos solos estudados. Nos solos ácidos com mais esmectitas, drenagem moderada ou imperfeita e oscilação do lençol freático houve evidências morfológicas, confirmadas pelas análises mineralógicas, de que no clima atual ocorre um processo de destruição de argilas, liberando Al que precipita como compostos amorfos. A alta concentração salina da solução de KCl dissolve parcialmente tais compostos, superestimando as formas trocáveis desse elemento, principalmente nos horizontes subsuperficiais. Nos solos ácidos do ambiente subtropical, os teores de Al-KCl também foram altos, embora com valores mais baixos do que nos com predomínio de esmectitas. Parte do Al-KCl nesses solos parece provir da dissolução de compostos orgânicos e de Al presente em entrecamadas de argilominerais 2:1. Os resultados demonstraram que o KCl 1 mol L-1 não foi adequado para estimar o Al "trocável" na maioria dos solos estudados.

Footnotes, June 2012, Vol.37, no.4-6

Monthly newsletter of State Library

Synaptic plasticity and the Warburg effect.

Functional brain imaging studies show that in certain brain regions glucose utilization exceeds oxygen consumption, indicating the predominance of aerobic glycolysis. In this issue, Goyal et al. (2014) report that this metabolic profile is associated with an enrichment in the expression of genes involved in synaptic plasticity and remodeling processes.

Predictors of death among patients who completed tuberculosis treatment: a population-based cohort study.

Background: Mortality among patients who complete tuberculosis (TB) treatment is still high among vulnerable populations. The objective of the study was to identify the probability of death and its predictive factors in a cohort of successfully treated TB patients. Methods: A population-based retrospective longitudinal study was performed in Barcelona, Spain. All patients who successfully completed TB treatment with culture-confirmation and available drug susceptibility testing between 1995 1997 were retrospectively followed-up until December 31, 2005 by the Barcelona TB Control Program. Socio-demographic, clinical, microbiological and treatment variables were examined. Mortality, TB Program and AIDS registries were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier and a Cox regression methods with time-dependent covariates were used for the survival analysis, calculating the hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Among the 762 included patients, the median age was 36 years, 520 (68.2%) were male, 178 (23.4%) HIV-infected, and 208 (27.3%) were alcohol abusers. Of the 134 (17.6%) injecting drug users (IDU), 123 (91.8%) were HIV-infected. A total of 30 (3.9%) recurrences and 173 deaths (22.7%) occurred (mortality rate: 3.4/100 person-years of follow-up). The predictors of death were: age between 4160 years old (HR: 3.5; CI:2.15.7), age greater than 60 years (HR: 14.6; CI:8.924), alcohol abuse (HR: 1.7; CI:1.22.4) and HIV-infected IDU (HR: 7.9; CI:4.713.3). Conclusions: The mortality rate among TB patients who completed treatment is associated with vulnerable populations such as the elderly, alcohol abusers, and HIV-infected IDU. We therefore need to fight against poverty, and promote and develop interventions and social policies directed towards these populations to improve their survival.

Mometasone and desloratadine additive effect on eosinophil survival and cytokine secretion from epithelial cells

Although antihistamines and topical corticosteroids are used in combination to treat allergic rhinitis, their additive effect has not been yet demonstrated. The aim was investigate the antiinflammatory additive effect of mometasone and desloratadine on cytokine and sICAM-1 secretion by epithelial cells, and on eosinophil survival stimulated by human epithelial cells secretions from nasal mucosa and polyps. Methods Epithelial cells obtained from nasal mucosa or polyps were stimulated with 10% fetal bovine serum in presence of mometasone (10-11M-10-5M) with/without desloratadine (10-5M). Cytokine and sICAM-1 concentrations in supernatants were measured by ELISA. Peripheral blood eosinophils were incubated during 4 days with epithelial cell secretions with (10-11M-10-5M) and/or desloratadine (10-5M) and survival assessed by Trypan blue. Results are expressed as percentage (mean &#177; SEM) compared to control. Results Fetal bovine serum stimulated IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF and sICAM-1 secretion. In mucosa and polyp epithelial cells, mometasone inhibited this induced secretion while desloratadine inhibited IL-6 and IL-8. The combination of 10-5M desloratadine and 10-9M mometasone reduced IL-6 secretion (48 &#177; 11%, p < 0.05) greater extent than mometasone alone (68 &#177; 10%) compared to control (100%). Epithelial cell secretions induced eosinophil survival from day 1 to 4, this effect being inhibited by mometasone. At day 4, the combination of mometasone (10-11M) and desloratadine (10-5M) provoked an increased inhibition of eosinophil survival induced by cell secretions (27 &#177; 5%, p < 0.01) than mometasone (44 &#177; 7%) or desloratadine (46 &#177; 7%) alone. Conclusions These results suggest that the combination of desloratadine and mometasone furoate have a greater antinflammatory effect in an in vitro model of eosinophil inflammation than those drugs administered alone.

Chagas Disease among the Latin American Adult population attending in a primary care center in Barcelona, Spain

Background/Aims: The epidemiology of Chagas disease, until recently confined to areas of continental Latin America, has undergone considerable changes in recent decades due to migration to other parts of the world, including Spain. We studied the prevalence of Chagas disease in Latin American patients treated at a health center in Barcelona and evaluated its clinical phase. We make some recommendations for screening for the disease. Methodology/Principal Findings: We performed an observational, cross-sectional prevalence study by means of an immunochromatographic test screening of all continental Latin American patients over the age of 14 years visiting the health centre from October 2007 to October 2009. The diagnosis was confirmed by serological methods: conventional in-house ELISA (cELISA), a commercial kit (rELISA) and ELISA using T cruzi lysate (Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics) (oELISA). Of 766 patients studied, 22 were diagnosed with T. cruzi infection, showing a prevalence of 2.87% (95% CI, 1.6-4.12%). Of the infected patients, 45.45% men and 54.55% women, 21 were from Bolivia, showing a prevalence in the Bolivian subgroup (n = 127) of 16.53% (95% CI, 9.6-23.39%). All the infected patients were in a chronic phase of Chagas disease: 81% with the indeterminate form, 9.5% with the cardiac form and 9.5% with the cardiodigestive form. All patients infected with T. cruzi had heard of Chagas disease in their country of origin, 82% knew someone affected, and 77% had a significant history of living in adobe houses in rural areas. Conclusions: We found a high prevalence of T. cruzi infection in immigrants from Bolivia. Detection of T. cruzi¿infected persons by screening programs in non-endemic countries would control non-vectorial transmission and would benefit the persons affected, public health and national health systems.

Novel Chemotherapy Combinations in Advanced Gastric Cancer: an Updated Meta-Analysis

Combination chemotherapy is widely accepted for patients with advanced gastric cancer, but uncertainty remains regarding the choice of the regimen. Objectives: To assess the effect of: Comparison 1) irinotecan versus non-irinotecancontaining regimens, comparison 2) docetaxel versus non-docetaxel-containing regimens, comparison 3) regimens including oral 5-FU prodrugs versus intravenous fluoropyrimidines, comparison 4) oxaliplatin versus cisplatin-containing regimens on overall survival. Search Strategy: We searched: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, proceedings from ECCO, ESMO, ASCO until December 2009. Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials on the above mentioned chemotherapy regimens in advanced or metastatic denocarcinoma of the stomach or GE-junction. Results: The meta-analysis of overall survival for comparison 1) included 4 trials, 640 patients, and results in a HR of 0.86 (95% CI 0.73-1.02) in favour of the irinotecancontaining regimens. For comparison 2) 4 trials with a total of 924 patients have been included in the analysis of overall survival. The resulting HR is 0.93 (95% CI 0.79-1.09) in favour of the docetaxel-containing regimens, with moderate heterogeneity (I2 =7%). For comparison 3 and 4, one major relevant study (Cunningham 2008) could not be included in this meta-analysis after discussion because it included patients with squamous cell cancer of the esophagus as well. Thus, for comparison 3) one relevant study (Kang 2009; 316 patients) comparing capecitabine versus 5-FU in combination with cisplatin is eligible. The resulting HR is 0.85 (95%CI 0.65-1.11) in favour of the oral regimen. For comparison 4) two eligible trials were identified (Al Batran 2008, Popov 2008; 292 patients) with a resulting HR of 0.82 (95% CI 0.47-1.45) in favour of the oxaliplatin-based regimens. For three further trials data is incomplete at present. Conclusions: Chemotherapy combinations including irinotecan, oxaliplatin, docetaxel or oral 5-FU prodrugs are alternative treatment options to cisplatin/5-FU or cisplatin/ 5-FU/anthracycline-combinations, but do not provide significant advantages in overall survival. Supported by: KKS Halle, grant number [BMBF/FKZ 01GH01GH0105]. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.