Systematic Review on Information Technology Approaches to Evaluate the Impact of Public Health Campaigns: Real Cases and Possible Directions.

Evaluating the success of a public health campaign is critical. It helps policy makers to improve prevention strategies and close existing gaps. For instance, Brazil's "Syphilis No!" campaign reached many people, but how do we analyze its real impact on population awareness? Are epidemiologic variables sufficient? This study examined literature on using of information technology approaches to analyze the impact of public health campaigns.

Toxicity of the swainsonine-containing plant Ipomoea carnea subsp. fistulosa for goats and sheep.

In order to determine the toxicity of swainsonine present in Ipomoea carnea for goats and sheep, 12 goats and 12 sheep were divided into 3 groups of 4 goats (G1, G2 and G3) and 3 groups of 4 sheep (S4, S5 and S6) each. Groups G1 and S4 were used as controls; G2 and S5 received 1 mg/kg body weight of swainsonine from plant material and G3 and S6 received 3 mg/kg. Groups G2 and G3 presented the first clinical signs, on average, after the 54th and 39th days of ingestion of the plant, respectively.

Depressed cardiac autonomic modulation in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: A dysfunctional autonomic nervous system (ANS) has also been recognized as an important mechanism contributing to the poor outcome in CKD patients, with several studies reporting a reduction in heart rate variability (HRV).

Objective: Evaluate the sympathovagal balance in patients with chronic kidney disease on conservative treatment.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, patients with CKD stages 3, 4 and 5 not yet on dialysis (CKD group) and age-matched healthy subjects (CON group) underwent continuous heart rate recording during two twenty-minute periods in the supine position (pre-inclined), followed by passive postural inclination at 70° (inclined period).

Inhibitory activity of liposomal flavonoids during oxidative metabolism of human neutrophils upon stimulation with immune complexes and phorbol ester.

Context And Objective: The massive production of reactive oxygen species by neutrophils during inflammation may cause damage to tissues. Flavonoids act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, liposomes loaded with these compounds were evaluated as potential antioxidant carriers, in attempt to overcome their poor solubility and stability.

Study of quercetin-loaded liposomes as potential drug carriers: in vitro evaluation of human complement activation.

Liposomes have been employed as potential drug carriers. However, after their in vivo administration, they can be destabilized by proteins of complement system, contributing to the clearance of vesicles from blood circulation. Antioxidant flavonoids such as quercetin have been reported to be beneficial to human health, but their low water solubility and bioavailability limit their enteric administration.

In vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activity of liposomal flavonols by the HRP-H2O2-luminol system.

Considering that antioxidant flavonols have been reported to be beneficial to human health, but that their low water solubility and bioavailability limit their administration through systemic route, the development of suitable flavonol-carriers is of great importance for clinical therapeutics. The aim of this study was to prepare liposomes containing flavonols or not and evaluate their antioxidant activity. Vesicles were obtained by ethanol injection method and characterized in terms of entrapment efficiency, size and zeta potential.

Clinical significance of transient left ventricular dilation assessed during myocardial Tc-99m sestamibi scintigraphy.

Objective: To assess the clinical significance of transient ischemic dilation of the left ventricle during myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with stress/rest sestamibi.

Methods: The study retrospectively analyzed 378 patients who underwent myocardial perfusion scintigraphy with stress/rest sestamibi, 340 of whom had a low probability of having ischemia and 38 had significant transient defects. Transient ischemic dilation was automatically calculated using Autoquant software.

A simple method to study the activity of natural compounds on the chemiluminescence of neutrophils upon stimulation by immune complexes.

Introduction: Neutrophils (PMNs) are the main effector cells involved in the immune response to microorganisms. However, in various noninfectious states, such as autoimmune and immune complex (ICs) diseases, ICs are found to be deposited in various organs, leading to recruitment and activation of PMNs at these sites of deposition. Consequently, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lysosomal enzymes are extensively released by activated PMNs into the extracellular milieu, leading to host tissue injury.