What risk do Brucella vaccines pose to humans? A systematic review of the scientific literature on occupational exposure.

Background: Currently, vaccination of livestock with attenuated strains of Brucella remains an essential measure for controlling brucellosis, although these vaccines may be dangerous to humans. The aim of this study was to review the risk posed to humans by occupational exposure to vaccine strains and the measures that should be implemented to minimize this risk.

Methods: This article reviewed the scientific literature indexed in PubMed up to September 30, 2023, following "the PRISMA guidelines".

Nutrition-related risk indexes and long-term mortality in noncritically ill inpatients who receive total parenteral nutrition (prospective multicenter study).

Background: Malnutrition in hospitalized patients is associated with an increased risk of death, in both the short and the long term.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to determine which nutrition-related risk index predicts long-term mortality better (three years) in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

Methods: This prospective, multicenter study involved noncritically ill patients who were prescribed TPN during hospitalization.

Hypoglycemia in noncritically ill patients receiving total parenteral nutrition: a multicenter study. (Study group on the problem of hyperglycemia in parenteral nutrition; Nutrition area of the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition).

Objective: Hypoglycemia is a common problem among hospitalized patients. Treatment of hyperglycemia with insulin is potentially associated with an increased risk for hypoglycemia. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of hypoglycemia (capillary blood glucose <70 mg/dL) in hospitalized patients receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN).

Attitudes of oncologists towards palliative care and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) at an Ontario cancer center in Canada.

Background: Cancer Care Ontario promotes the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) for standardized systematic screening and assessment of symptoms across cancer centers in Ontario, Canada. Attitudes of medical oncologists (MOs), radiation oncologists (ROs), and general practitioners in oncology (GPOs) toward palliative care, and the ESAS were surveyed in Ottawa.

Methods: A four-part questionnaire was developed, drawing on items from similar studies.

Prevalence of diabetes, prediabetes, and stress hyperglycemia: insulin therapy and metabolic control in patients on total parenteral nutrition (prospective multicenter study).

Objective: The prevalence of carbohydrate metabolism disorders in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN) is not well known. These disorders can affect the treatment, metabolic control, and prognosis of affected patients. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence in noncritically ill patients on TPN of diabetes, prediabetes, and stress hyperglycemia; the factors affecting hyperglycemia during TPN; and the insulin therapy provided and the metabolic control achieved.

Single-port Roux-en-Y gastric bypass: toward a less invasive procedure with the same surgical results and a better cosmesis.

Background: The current tendency to use increasingly less aggressive procedures has facilitated the development of new minimally invasive techniques. In this context, single-port (SP) access procedures can become an alternative to the conventional laparoscopic approach.

Methods: A total of 22 morbidly obese patients were submitted to pure SP Roux-en-Y gastric bypass without additional ports.

Parenteral nutrition-associated hyperglycemia in non-critically ill inpatients increases the risk of in-hospital mortality (multicenter study).

Objective: Hyperglycemia may increase mortality in patients who receive total parenteral nutrition (TPN). However, this has not been well studied in noncritically ill patients (i.e.

Aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxin in cocoa.

This paper reports the occurrence of aflatoxigenic fungi and the presence of aflatoxins in 226 cocoa samples collected on Brazilian farms. The samples were taken at various stages of fermentation, drying and storage. A total of 819 potentially aflatoxigenic fungi were isolated using Dichloran 18% Glycerol agar after surface disinfection, and identified by standard techniques.

Consensus recommendations for the management of constipation in patients with advanced, progressive illness.

Constipation is a highly prevalent and distressing symptom in patients with advanced, progressive illnesses. Although opioids are one of the most common causes of constipation in patients with advanced, progressive illness, it is important to note that there are many other potential etiologies and combinations of causes that should be taken into consideration when making treatment decisions. Management approaches involve a combination of good assessment techniques, preventive regimens, appropriate pharmacological treatment of established constipation, and frequent monitoring.

Ochratoxigenic fungi and ochratoxin A in cocoa during farm processing.

This study investigated the occurrence of fungi with the potential to produce ochratoxin A (OTA), and the occurrence of OTA, in Brazilian cocoa beans. Two hundred and twenty two samples of cocoa were evaluated, taken at various stages of fermentation, drying and storage. Samples were collected from Bahia, the main cocoa producing region in Brazil.

Intragastric balloon-induced satiety is not mediated by modification in fasting or postprandial plasma ghrelin levels in morbid obesity.

Background: The BioEnterics Intragastric Balloon (BIB) has been proposed as an adjuvant therapy for the short-term treatment of obesity. The temporal pattern of BIB-induced satiety and whether this effect is mediated by modification of ghrelin levels is unknown.

Methods: Patients with treatment-resistant morbid obesity were invited to participate in a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial of 4-month duration.

[Study of heart valve function on obese patients treated with sibutramine].

Background: Some anorectic drugs have been related with he development of heart valve lesions. Sibutramine is a new anorectic drug used for the treatment of obesity. Although data reported to date suggest that sibutramine does not induce heart valve lesions, there are no published reports performing longitudinal echocardiographic studies before and after treatment with sibutramine.