Introduction: Prebiotics positively affect gut microbiota composition, thus improving gut function. These properties may be useful for the treatment of constipation. Objectives: This study assessed the tolerance and effectiveness of a prebiotic inulin/partially hydrolyzed guar gum mixture (I-PHGG) for the treatment of constipation in females, as well as its influence on the composition of intestinal microbiota and production of short chain fatty acids. Methods: Our study enrolled 60 constipated female health worker volunteers. Participants reported less than 3 bowel movements per week. Volunteers were randomized to treatment with prebiotic or placebo. Treatment consisted of 3 weeks supplementation with 15 g/d IPHGG (fiber group) or maltodextrin (placebo group). Abdominal discomfort, flatulence, stool consistency, and bowel movements were evaluated by a recorded daily questionnaire and a weekly interview. Changes in fecal bacterial population and short chain fatty acids were assessed by real-time PCR and gas chromatography, respectively. Results: There was an increased frequency of weekly bowel movements and patient satisfaction in both the fiber and placebo groups with no significant differences. Total Clostridium sp significantly decreased in the fiber group (p = 0.046) and increased in the placebo group (p = 0.047). There were no changes in fecal short chain fatty acid profile. Conclusions: Consumption of I-PHGG produced clinical results comparable to placebo in constipated females, but had additional protective effects on gut microbiota by decreasing the amount of pathological bacteria of the Clostridium genera.

Introducción: Los prebióticos influyen positivamente en la composición de la microbiota intestinal, mejorando así la función intestinal. Estas propiedades pueden ser útiles para el tratamiento del estreñimiento. Objetivos: Este estudio evaluó la tolerancia y la eficacia de una mezcla de prebiótico inulina con la goma guar parcialmente hidrolizada (I-PHGG) para el tratamiento de mujeres con estreñimiento, así como su influencia en la composición de la microbiota intestinal y la producción de ácidos grasos de cadena corta. Métodos: Nuestro estudio contó con la participación de 60 mujeres voluntarias con estreñimiento y profesionales de la salud. Las participantes informaron tener menos de tres evacuaciones por semana y fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a tratamiento con prebióticos o placebo. El tratamiento consistió en 3 semanas de suplementación con 15 g d I-PHGG (grupo de fibras) o maltodextrina (grupo placebo). Malestar abdominal, flatulencia, consistencia de las heces, y los movimientos intestinales se evaluaron mediante un cuestionario de registro diario y una entrevista semanal. Cambios en la población de bacterias fecales y los ácidos grasos de cadena corta fueron evaluados por PCR en tiempo real y cromatografía de gases, respectivamente. Resultados: Hubo un aumento en la frecuencia de las evacuaciones intestinales por semana y la satisfacción del paciente, tanto en la fibra y el grupo placebo, sin diferencias significativas. El total de Clostridium sp disminuyó significativamente en el grupo de fibras (p = 0,046) y aumentó en el grupo placebo (p = 0,047). No hubo cambios en el perfil fecal de ácidos grasos de cadena corta. Conclusiones: El consumo de I-PHGG ha producido resultados clínicos comparables a placebo en mujeres con estreñimiento, pero ofreció otros efectos protectores sobre la microbiota intestinal al disminuir la cantidad de bacterias patológicas de lo género Clostridium.

OBJETIVO: Identificar os principais estressores ambientais, conforme a percepção de familiares de pacientes internados em uma UTI-G de adultos de um hospital público universitário. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal descritivo com familiares de pacientes gravemente enfermos internados na UTI de um hospital escola. Para a coleta de dados, utilizou-se uma escala contendo 25 itens relacionados a eventos da referida UTI. Para análise dos resultados, as respostas foram classificadas como estressores ambientais, referentes à equipe, ao paciente e à visita. RESULTADOS: Participaram 53 familiares, 67,9% mulheres, com média de idade de 39,7 anos. Os fatores relacionados ao paciente foram mais estressantes do que aqueles referentes à equipe e ao ambiente (p < 0,005). Os eventos mais estressantes para os familiares estiveram relacionados à insegurança e ao medo quanto ao estado clínico do paciente, dentre esses, o motivo e o tempo de internação e ver o paciente em coma. CONCLUSÃO: A internação de um parente próximo na UTI foi considerada pelos familiares que efetivamente participaram desse processo um evento estressante. Todos os participantes indicaram pelo menos um evento causador de estresse capaz de provocar diferentes reações emocionais. Conhecer tais eventos pode facilitar as estratégias de humanização hospitalar, propiciando alternativas para reduzir os níveis de estresse e alterações psiquiátricas subsequentes.

OBJECTIVE:To identify main environment stressors according to the perception of relatives of patients hospitalized in an adult ICU in a university public hospital. METHOD: It is a transversal descriptive study involving family members of critically ill patients hospitalized in an ICU of a school hospital. To collect data we used a 25-item scale related to the referred ICU. For result analysis, answers were classified as environmental stressors concerning the team, patients, and visits. RESULTS: There were 53 family-member participants where 67.9% were women averaging 39.7 years of age. Factors related to patients were more stressing than those concerning the hospital team and the environment (p < 0.005). The most stressed events for the family members were related to uncertainty and fear of the clinical state of the patient, among them reason and length of hospital stay, and witness the patients in a coma. CONCLUSION: Hospital ICU stay of a relative was considered by the close to kin, who actually participated in the process, a stressful event. All participants indicated at least one event that causes stress as capable of provoking diverse emotional reactions. Knowing such events can favor hospital humanization strategies thus providing alternatives to reduce stress levels and subsequent psychiatrical disorder.

In 1999, on the occasion of the application of the first vaccine dose during the state vaccination campaign against hepatitis B virus (HBV), 390 individuals from the town of Rio Branco, Acre, aged two or more years were selected for the determination of the seroprevalence of HBV and HCV. HBV markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc IgG) were determined on this occasion and anti-HBs antibodies were also assessed 30 days after the third vaccine dose. At the time of vaccination, 39% of the individuals were still susceptible to HBV, while 61% presented serologic evidence of previous HBV contact or previous vaccination. The individuals with previous HBV contact were significantly older (p<0.001) than those without HBV markers. Of the 192 individuals who returned for reexamination, 30 days after the third dose, 158 (82.3%) had received three vaccine doses, and only 60 (31.2%) belonged to the group without HBV markers. In these individuals, the seroconversion rate after the third dose was 92% (55/60). In conclusion, we found considerable HBV in this population, indicating the need for pursuing the immunization programs. We also found high rates of vaccination coverage in the Western Brazilian Amazon region.

Objectives: a) to determine the prevalence of anti-ribosomal P antibodies in patients with ESL in our setting; b) to determine if there are associations between clinical signs of ESL and these autoantibodies; c) to analyze if there is any correlation between the presence of anti-P in patients with ESL and the results of other routine lab tests; and d) to assess the usefulness of implementing as routine test the determination of anti-P antibodies. Material and methods: The study included 60 patients diagnosed of ESL and 61 healthy subjects as the control group. ELISA was used to determine anti-ribosomal antibodies. Chi-square, Fisher and Student t tests were used for the statistical analyses. Results: Of the 60 patients with SLE, 29 (48%) had anti-P antibodies as determined by ELISA. No association was observed between the presence of anti-P antibodies and psychosis, depression, hepatic failure, renal failure or any other clinical signs of ESL. A correlation was found between the levels of anti-P antibodies as determined by ELISA and anti-histone, ANA and AMA antibodies. Conclusions: The prevalence of anti-P antibodies was high among our ESL patients (48%). Their presence was not significantly associated with any clinical sign; however, an association was found with other lab markers related to the presence of active disease.

Objetivos: a) determinar la prevalencia de anticuerpos anti-ribosomales P en pacientes con LES en nuestro medio; b) averiguar si existen asociaciones entre manifestaciones clínicas en el LES y estos autoanticuerpos; c) analizar si existe correlación entre la presencia de anti-P en pacientes con LES y otros parámetros de laboratorio determinados habitualmente, y d) valorar la utilidad de introducir, como determinación habitual los anticuerpos anti-P. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron en el estudio 60 pacientes diagnosticados de LES y 61 individuos sanos como grupo control. La determinación de anticuerpos anti-ribosomales se realizó mediante ELISA. En el análisis estadístico se utilizaron los test de Chi-cuadrado, Fisher y t de Student. Resultados: De los 60 pacientes con LES, 29 (48%) tenían anticuerpos anti-P mediante ELISA. No se observó asociación entre la presencia de anticuerpos anti-P y psicosis, depresión, afectación hepática, afectación renal o cualquier otra manifestación clínica del LES. Se encontró correlación entre los niveles de anticuerpos anti-P determinados por ELISA y los anticuerpos anti-histonas, ANA y AMA. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de los anticuerpos anti-P en nuestros enfermos de LES es elevada (48%). Su presencia no se asoció significativamente con ninguna manifestación clínica, pero sí con otros marcadores de laboratorio relacionados con la presencia de enfermedad activa.

By fitting the Bethe formula to experimental data available in the literature, we determined the integrated oscillator strength for the Ar8+ formation by electronic collision on neutral Argon. The results are compared with a previous empirical calculation and with a set of experimentally obtained multiple ionisation data.

Os perfis eletroforéticos de proteínas ligadoras de penicilina (PLPs) e proteínas de membrana externa (PMEs) de Yersinia pestis EV 76 foram determinados após crescimento in vivo em câmaras de difusão implantadas na cavidade peritoneal de camundongos. Em contraste com o observado em amostras de Y. pestis crescidas in vitro em condições que ativem a resposta ao baixo nível de cálcio (RBC), não houve mudanças qualitativas ou quantitativas no perfil de PLPs de Y. pestis durante o crescimento em câmaras de difusão por até 72 h após a implantação em camundongos. Três PMEs, com peso molecular de 100, 60 e 58 kDa, foram expressas por células de Y. pestis em 24 h, mas não em 48 e 72 h, após a implantação das câmaras de difusão. Estes resultados indicam que o crescimento de células de Y. pestis em câmaras de difusão intraperitoniais podem resultar na ativação de genes relevantes para o crescimento no hospedeiro mamífero.

The electrophoretic profiles of penicillin binding proteins (PBPs) and outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Yersinia pestis EV 76 were determined following in vivo growth in diffusion chambers implanted in the peritoneal cavity of mice. In contrast to Y. pestis grown under in vitro conditions which activate the low calcium response (LCR) regulon there was no significant qualitative or quantitative change of the PBP profile of Y. pestis cells during growth in diffusion chambers for up to 72 h following implantation in mice. Three OMPs, with molecular weight of 100, 60 and 58 kDa, were expressed in Y. pestis cells grown for 24 h, but not at 48 h or at 72 h, in diffusion chambers. These results indicate that growth of Y. pestis in intraperitoneal diffusion chambers activates genes which might be relevant to the growth in the mammal host.