Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.: a rich source of lipophilic phytochemicals.

The lipophilic extracts from the storage root of 13 cultivars of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) were evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with the aim to valorize them and offer information on their nutritional properties and potential health benefits.

Carcinogenic liver fluke Opisthorchis viverrini oxysterols detected by LC-MS/MS survey of soluble fraction parasite extract.

Liquid chromatography in tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) has emerged as an informative tool to investigate oxysterols (oxidized derivatives of cholesterol) in helminth parasite associated cancers. Here, we used LC-MS/MS to investigate in soluble extracts of the adult developmental stage of Opisthorchis viverrini from experimentally infected hamsters. Using comparisons with known bile acids and the metabolites of estrogens, the LC-MS data indicated the existence of novel oxysterol derivatives in O.

[Academic international cultural exchange: an experience of personal and scientific growth].

This study aimed to describe the student experience to integrate an international academic mobility program during undergraduate nursing. It is reported academic experience in Portugal, Algarve University, made possible by the Federal University of Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The experience of exchange performed within six months, enabled the acquisition of new scientific knowledge and cultural rights, including innovations in healthcare technology, development of research and academic links.

Mass spectrometry techniques in the survey of steroid metabolites as potential disease biomarkers: a review.

Mass spectrometric approaches have been fundamental to the identification of metabolites associated with steroid hormones, yet this topic has not been reviewed in depth in recent years. To this end, and given the increasing relevance of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) studies on steroid hormones and their metabolites, the present review addresses this subject. This review provides a timely summary of the use of various mass spectrometry-based analytical techniques during the evaluation of steroidal biomarkers in a range of human disease settings.

A new, lateral, continuous, combined, femoral-sciatic nerve approach via a single skin puncture for postoperative analgesia in intramedullary tibial nail insertion.

Background: The prevalence of anterior knee pain following intramedullary tibial nail insertion is high. Continuous peripheral nerve blockade is an alternative method of pain control to opiods. This case illustrates the use of femoral nerve and sciatic nerve peripheral catheters with an elastomeric infusion pump for major intramedullary nailing surgery.

Tumour-like phenotypes in urothelial cells after exposure to antigens from eggs of Schistosoma haematobium: an oestrogen-DNA adducts mediated pathway?

Chronic infection with the blood fluke, Schistosoma haematobium, is associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. Previously, it has been shown that soluble extracts of mixed sex adult S. haematobium worms (SWAP) are tumourigenic, both in vitro and in vivo.

[Antidiabetic drugs and in-patient admissions attributable to diabetes in Portugal].

Introduction: The growth of oral antidiabetic drugs spending has led to concerns questioning the health gains and benefits for the health system generated by these drugs. This study contributes to answering these questions.

Material And Methods: Initially we present estimates of the three variables central to the analysis: 1) the prevalence of treated diabetes per year and health region, based on the consumption of oral antidiabetic drugs, 2) the number of hospitalization episodes and their costs attributable to diabetes, based on the relative risks and 3) a quantitative characterization of the consumption of oral antidiabetics by calculating average vintages by year and region.

Reducing the concentration to 0.4% enantiomeric excess hyperbaric levobupivacaine (s75: r25) provides unilateral spinal anesthesia. Study with different volumes.

Background And Objectives: Unilateral spinal anesthesia may be obtained with hypobaric or hyperbaric solution. The objective of this study was to compare different doses of enantiomeric excess hyperbaric levobupivacaine to achieve unilateral spinal anesthesia.

Method: One hundred and twenty patients were randomized to receive 4 mg, 6 mg or 8 mg of 0.

[Clinical effectiveness and economical evaluation of preventive vaccination].

The value of mass vaccination as a preventive measure for infectious diseases is one of the most important advances of modern Medicine. The impact on incidence of several infectious diseases, until recently responsible for significant morbidity and mortality at world level, is well proved in a series of high quality epidemiological studies. In this scientific review we aimed firstly to briefly resume the history of mass vaccination and its scientists, responsible for synthesis and marketing of these drugs.

Objective computerized evaluation of normal patterns of facial muscles contraction.

Unlabelled: Different methods used to evaluate the movements of the face have many degrees of subjectivity and reliability. The authors discuss the ease of using these methods in clinical practice or their accuracy in scientific research.

Aim: To obtain the standard for normal facial muscles movements using an objective method - the Vicon system.

Nodular lymphocyte predominance Hodgkin lymphoma of the parotid gland: a case report.

The parotid is the most frequent site of primary salivary gland tumors. Lymphomas represent 0.2 to 0.

Keratocystic odontogenic tumors and Carnoy's solution: results and complications assessment.

Objective: Keratocystic odontogenic tumors (KOTs) can be treated with Carnoy's solution, although this treatment modality is not free from complications. It is important to verify the incidence of complications after the use of Carnoy's solution and compare these with the literature.

Materials And Methods: This study verified the effects of a complementary treatment for KOTs and assessed the incidence of such complications as recurrence, infection, sequestrum formation, mandibular fracture, dehiscence, and neuropathy.

Auditory processing performance in blind people.

Unlabelled: Hearing has an important role in human development and social adaptation in blind people.

Objective: To evaluate the performance of temporal auditory processing in blind people; to characterize the temporal resolution ability; to characterize the temporal ordinance ability and to compare the performance of the study population in the applied tests.

Methods: Fifteen blind adults participated in this study.

Manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes and smokeless tobacco consumption in Mozambique: regional differences at early stages of the tobacco epidemic.

Background: To describe the use of different types of tobacco (manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco) in the adult Mozambican population, across regions.

Methods: A representative sample of 12,902 Mozambicans aged 25-64 years was evaluated in a national household survey conducted in 2003 using a structured questionnaire. The patterns of tobacco consumption were described to highlight the sex-specific differences by age and between urban and rural settings, and between the north, where most of the country's tobacco production is concentrated, and the south of the country, where the wealthiest provinces, closer to the city capital, are located.

Antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory properties of the ethanolic extract of Combretum duarteanum in rodents.

The antioxidant, antinociceptive, and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extract from leaves of Combretum duarteanum (EEC) were assessed in rodents through in vitro tests. The antioxidant activity was investigated by using thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), hydroxyl radical-scavenging, and scavenging activity of nitric oxide assays. The antinociceptive activity was investigated by using acetic acid-induced writhing, formalin, and hot-plate tests in mice.

Can kidney deceased donation systems be optimized? A retrospective assessment of a country performance.

Background: The intensive requirement of organs for transplantation generates the need for higher rates of donation.

Methods: Using the national database of diagnosis-related groups for 2006, the global annual 2006 in-hospital mortality of 34 hospitals with organ-retrieval schemes was evaluated. Potential donors were estimated excluding patients aged <1 year or >70 years and presenting International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes that contraindicated organ donation.

Population structure and genetic diversity of wild Helianthus species from Mozambique.

The production of sunflower suffered a major decline in Mozambique after its independence in 1975. Civil war, human activities and environmental damage subjected the species to an ecological stress contributing to reduce the number and size of wild populations. As this reduction is often related to a loss of genetic variation we estimated the genetic diversity within and among populations of wild Helianthus from five districts of Mozambique using RAPD markers.

The knowledge of gynecologists and pediatricians from Recife public hospitals about high risk factors for deafness.

Unlabelled: Hearing is one of the main forms of connection between human being and the environment; however, hearing loss is still diagnosed very late in Brazil, which directly interferes with the child's development.

Aim: The aim of this study was to check the knowledge pediatricians and gynecologists have about the risk factors for the deafness, the way they acquired such knowledge and parent education about the subject.

Materials And Methods: We enrolled 119 doctors from three public hospitals of the city of Recife.

Prognostic relevance of KIT and PDGFRA mutations in gastrointestinal stromal tumors.

Background: Prediction of biological behavior is crucial for selection of new therapeutic modalities in GIST. Here, we aimed to assess whether KIT and PDGFRA mutations have survival impact in gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST).

Patients And Methods: Fifty-five Brazilian patients with completely resected GIST were examined for KIT and PDGFRA mutations.

The burden of disease and the cost of illness attributable to alcohol drinking--results of a national study.

Background And Aims: The World Health Organization estimated that 3.2% of the burden of disease around the world is attributable to the consumption of alcohol. The aim of this study is to estimate the burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption in Portugal.

Hypobaric 0.15% bupivacaine versus hypobaric 0.6% lidocaine for posterior spinal anesthesia in outpatient anorectal surgery.

Background And Objectives: Low doses of bupivacaine and lidocaine have been used for spinal anesthesia in outpatient surgery. The objective of this study was to compare hypobaric solutions of bupivacaine and lidocaine in outpatient anorectal surgery.

Methods: One hundred and fifty patients, divided in two groups, physical status ASA I-II, scheduled for anorectal surgery in the jackknife position received 3 mL (4.

Methylation status of nine tumor suppressor genes in multiple myeloma.

Aberrant methylation in promoter-associated CpG islands has been recognized as a major mechanism for tumor suppressor gene silencing in several malignancies. We determined the methylation status of nine tumor suppressor genes in 68 newly diagnosed MM patients by methylation-specific PCR. The frequency of promoter hypermethylation for individual genes was: CDH1, 50%; p16 INK4a, 42.

Kodamaea (Pichia) ohmeri fungemia in a pediatric patient admitted in a public hospital.

Kodamaea (Pichia) ohmeri is a yeast species that has not been reported to be a frequent cause of human infections. The current report describes a case of fungemia caused by K. ohmeri in a 3-year-old female patient hospitalized in the public hospital Maria Alice Fernandes, Natal, RN, Brazil.

The burden of disease attributable to smoking in Portugal.

The World Health Organization's (WHO) 2002 Annual Report estimated that about 14% of the burden of disease in wealthier countries is attributable to smoking. Smoking related diseases include cardiovascular diseases, cancer and respiratory diseases. This paper presents an estimate of the burden of disease attributable to smoking in Portugal.