Resumo Os adenomas secretores de prolactina (PRL) estão associados à alta incidência de cefaleia. O papel da hiperprolactinemia no contexto da dor de cabeça não está claro, nem o efeito da redução dos níveis da PRL na cefaleia. Métodos: O presente estudo longitudinal avaliou pacientes hiperprolactinêmicos (69), quanto à presença e às características da cefaleia antes e após o tratamento da hiperprolactinemia. Resultados: Cefaleia foi relatada por 45 (65,2%) pacientes, independente da etiologia da hiperprolactinemia. O fenótipo de enxaqueca foi mais prevalente (66,6%). Os medicamentos usados no tratamento da cefaleia não foram alterados durante o estudo. A primeira linha de tratamento da hiperprolactinemia foram os agonistas dopaminérgicos. Na última reavaliação, o nível de PRL sob tratamento estava dentro da faixa de referência em 54,7% dos casos, observando-se resolução completa ou parcial da cefaleia em 75% dos casos. A mediana de PRL neste momento em pacientes com resolução completa da cefaleia foi de 17 ng/mL, nos que relataram recuperação parcial foi de 21 ng/mL, e naqueles em que a cefaleia não se alterou foi de 66 ng/mL, com uma diferença significativa entre o grupo com resolução completa da cefaleia versus o grupo com cefaleia inalterada (p=0,022). Nos casos com resolução completa da cefaleia, a queda mediana nos níveis de PRL foi de 89% e nos casos com resolução parcial de cefaleia de 86%, ambos significativamente diferentes (p<0,001) da queda nos casos com cefaleia inalterada. Conclusão: Os dados permitem concluir que, nesta série, na maioria dos casos, a redução do nível de PRL foi seguida pela cessação ou alívio da dor.

Abstract Prolactin (PRL) secreting adenomas are associated with high incidence of headache. The role of hyperprolactinemia in the headache context is not clear, nor is the effect of its treatment on headache. Methods: The present longitudinal study evaluated hyperprolactinemic patients (69), in terms of presence and characteristics of headache before and after hyperprolactinemia treatment. Results: Headache was reported by 45 (65.2%) patients, independent of the etiology of hyperprolactinemia. The migraine phenotype was the most prevalent (66.6%). Medications used in the treatment of headache not changed during the study. The first line of treatment of hyperprolactinemia was dopaminergic agonists. In the last reevaluation, PRL level under treatment was within the reference range in 54.7% of the cases, and it was observed complete or partial resolution of the headache in 75% of the cases. The median PRL at this time in patients with complete headache resolution was 17 ng/mL, in those who reported partial recovery was 21 ng/mL, and in those in whom the headache did not change was 66 ng/mL, with a significant difference between the group with complete headache resolution vs. the group with unchanged headache (p=0.022). In the cases with complete headache resolution, the median fall on PRL levels was 89% and in those cases with partial headache resolution 86%, both significantly different (p<0.001) from the fall in the cases with an unchanged headache. Conclusion: Data allow us to conclude that, in this series, in the majority of cases the reduction in the level of PRL was followe3d by cessation or relief of the pain.

ABSTRACT Introduction Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is one of the major causes of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver transplantation. Treatment using direct-acting antivirals has revolutionized the treatment of hepatitis C virus, increasing long-term prognosis after cure. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of direct-acting antivirals in a Public Health System in southern Brazil. Methods A retrospective study evaluated all patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection who underwent treatment at one center of the Public Health Department of the State of Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil, according to the Brazilian Clinical Protocol and Therapeutic Guidelines. The effectiveness was assessed in terms sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of treatment. Results A total of 1002 patients who were treated for chronic hepatitis C virus infection were evaluated. The mean age was 58.6 years, 557 patients (55.6%) were male and 550 (54.9%) were cirrhotic. Overall sustained virological response was observed in 936 (93.4%) patients. There was a difference in sustained virological response rate varied according to sex, 91.6% in men and 95.7% in women (p= 0.009), length of treatment in genotype 1, 92.7% with 12 weeks and 99.1 with 24 weeks (p= 0.040), and genotype, 94.7% in genotype 1, 91.7% in genotype 2, and 91.4% in genotype 3 (p= 0.047). Conclusion The treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus infection for genotypes 1, 2 or 3 with the therapeutic regimens established by the Brazilian guidelines showed high rates of SVR, even in cirrhotic patients.

RESUMO Neste trabalho, membranas de polisulfona com adição de 3% em massa de argila montmorilonita natural, sódica e lítio, oriundas do estado da Paraíba, foram desenvolvidas pelo método de inversão de fases. Utilizou-se o N-metil-2 pirrolidona (NMP) como solvente na proporção de 80% e 20% de sólido. As argilas e membranas foram caracterizadas por difração de raios-X (DRX) e espectroscopia na região do infravermelho com transformada de Fourier (FTIR). Além disso, as membranas foram estudadas por microscopia eletrônica de varredura (MEV), porosidade e permeação a vapor d'água, a fim de se estudar seu comportamento para aplicação na separação de gás. Os DRX das argilas evidenciaram bandas de cristalinidade características de montmorilonita. Os difratogramas de DRX das membranas indicaram que possivelmente ocorreu a formação de uma estrutura intercalado/esfoliado devido à ausência das bandas referentes às argilas. Por FTIR das argilas foi visualizado as mesmas bandas características da montmorilonita, diferenciando pelos cátions que foram trocados na estrutura. O FTIR das membranas apresentaram bandas características da polisulfona, e para os híbridos estas bandas podem ser também das argilas por apresentarem as mesmas faixas de número de onda. As fotomicrografias de MEV evidenciaram a formação de uma camada densa na pele filtrante e na parte inferior foi observada uma estrutura de fingers que pode ter influenciado na permeação. O ensaio de porosidade indicou que a presença de argila na membrana reduziu a quantidade de poros e o ensaio de permeação a vapor d'água ilustrou que houve uma diminuição da permeação com a adição de argila em comparação com a membrana de polisulfona pura. A membrana aditivada de argila com lítio apresentou uma redução da permeação a vapor d'água em 53%, indicando melhores propriedades de barreira.

ABSTRACT In the present study, polysulfone membranes with addition of 3% by mass of natural montmorillonite clay, sodic and lithium, from the state of Paraiba, were developed by phase inversion method. The N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) was used as a solvent in the proportion of 80% and 20% solid. The clays and membranes were also characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). In addition, the membranes were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), porosity and vapor permeation of water in order to study their behavior in gas separation applications. The XRD of the clays showed peaks of crystallinity characteristic of montmorillonite. The XRD diffractograms of membranes showed that it has possibly occurred the formation of a structure intercalated/exfoliated due to the absence of peaks related clays. By FTIR of the clays were visualized the same bands characteristic of the montmorillonite, differentiating by the cations that were changed in the structure. The FTIR of the membranes presented bands characteristic of polysulfone, and for the hybrids these bands can also be of the clays because they present the same ranges of wave number. The SEM photomicrographs showed the formation of a dense layer on the filter skin and on the inferior surface was observed fingers structures that may have influenced the permeation. The porosity test indicated that the presence of clay in membranes reduced the amount of pores and the permeation test using water vapor showed that there was a decrease in the permeation by adding clay in comparison to pure polysulfone membrane. The membrane with additives of clay with lithium presented a 53% reduction of gas permeation, indicating better barrier properties.

Sisal fibers are among the natural lignocellulosic ones with great impact resistance for potential use in polymer composites. This work evaluates the ballistic efficiency of the distinct individual components of a multilayered armor. These include the front ceramic, the back metallic sheet and the intermediate layer as either the conventional aramid fabric or a novel sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composite. Sisal fibers incorporated in epoxy resin plates with volume fraction of 30% were ballistic tested using the 7.62 caliber ammunition. The fibers were embedded under pressure in the epoxy resin matrix and cured at room temperature for 24 hours. The tested specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy.

INTRODUÇÃO: A mobilização neural é uma técnica que visa a restauração do movimento e da elasticidade do sistema nervoso; contudo, ainda são poucos os estudos que avaliam sua eficácia sobre variáveis clínicas. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a força de preensão palmar em indivíduos submetidos à intervenção com mobilização neural. Metodologia: Estudo cruzado em que compuseram a amostra 20 sujeitos, com média de idade de 19,5 ± 0,92 anos, divididos em dois grupos (G1 e G2) que receberam, a cada semana, uma sessão única de intervenção de forma que o G1 recebeu mobilização neural e o G2 alongamentos convencionais para o supraespinal na primeira semana; o inverso aconteceu na segunda semana, em que o G1 recebeu alongamentos convencionais para o supraespinal e o G2 a mobilização neural. Os alongamentos para o supraespinal serviram apenas como placebo e não impuseram tensão aos nervos em estudo. As mobilizações neurais foram aplicadas nos nervos radial, mediano e ulnar. A força de preensão palmar foi avaliada por meio de um dinamômetro de preensão palmar em vários momentos: antes e imediatamente, 20 minutos e uma hora após cada intervenção. RESULTADOS: Não houve resultados significativos para a mobilização neural, nem para o alongamento. CONCLUSÃO: A mobilização neural não foi eficaz para produzir o aumento da força de preensão palmar em indivíduos saudáveis.

INTRODUCTION: Neural mobilization is a technique that seeks the restoration of motion and elasticity of the nervous system; however, there are few studies evaluating its effectiveness on clinical variables. OBJECTIVE: To assess hand grip strength among individuals undergoing intervention with neural mobilization. Methodology: a crossover study in which 20 subjects were sampled, mean age 19.5 ± 0.92 years, divided in two groups (G1 and G2) that received each week a single intervention session so that G1 received neural mobilization and G2 was submitted to conventional stretching exercises for the supraspinal in the first week. The opposite happened on the second week, in which G1 was submitted to conventional stretching exercises for the supraspinal and G2 received neural mobilization. Stretching for the supraspinal served only as placebo and did not impose tension to the nerves under study. The neural mobilization was applied in the radial, median and ulnar nerves. The hand grip strength was assessed using a grip dynamometer at various times: before and immediately after, 20 minutes and one hour after each intervention. RESULTS: no significant results were found for the neural mobilization or the stretch. CONCLUSION: Neural mobilization was not effective to produce increase in hand grip strength in healthy subjects.