[The way out of discrimination: a process of social change].

When dealing with stigmatisation, it is necessary to work on destigmatisation. The group as a community has social values of which "stigma" is an indicator. Psychiatry professionals have a major role to play in the process of destigmatisation.

Eyebrow reconstruction in dormant keratosis pilaris atrophicans.

A novel and successful case of eyebrow reconstruction, in dormant keratosis pilaris atrophicans, is presented. Keratosis pilaris atrophicans is a benign hereditary disorder of unknown aetiology. Grouped keratotic follicular papules and perifollicular erythema affect the cheeks and eyebrows, with a subsequent atrophic stage that results in scarring and alopecia.

Recommendations for management of Chagas disease in organ and hematopoietic tissue transplantation programs in nonendemic areas.

The substantial immigration into Spain from endemic areas of Chagas disease such as Latin America has increased the number of potential donors of organs and tissues. In addition, an increasing number of patients with advanced Chagas heart disease may eventually be eligible to receive a heart transplant, a universally accepted therapeutic strategy for the advanced stages of this disease. Therefore, it is necessary to establish protocols for disease management.

Observation of slow light in the noise spectrum of a vertical external cavity surface-emitting laser.

The role of coherent population oscillations is evidenced in the noise spectrum of an ultralow noise laser. This effect is isolated in the intensity noise spectrum of an optimized single-frequency vertical external cavity surface-emitting laser. The coherent population oscillations induced by the lasing mode manifest themselves through their associated dispersion that leads to slow light effects probed by the spontaneous emission present in the nonlasing side modes.

Analysis of the attitudes and motivations of the Spanish population towards organ donation after death.

Starting with the relevance of the Spanish experience, this study analyses the population's disposition towards organ donation after death by means of a representative survey of the adult Spanish population (N = 1206, estimated error ±2.87%, P < 0.05).

Venous thromboembolic events after cerebral vein thrombosis.

Background And Purpose: After cerebral vein and dural sinus thrombosis (CVT), there is an increased risk of further venous thromboembolic events (VTEs). Time to a second cerebral or systemic venous thrombotic event and risk factors for recurrence have not been investigated in large prospective studies.

Methods: We used the International Study on Cerebral Vein and Dural sinus Thrombosis, which included 624 patients with CVT followed up for a median of 13.

Intermediate hair follicles: a new more clinically relevant model for hair growth investigations.

Background: Alopecia causes widespread psychological distress, but is relatively poorly controlled. The development of new treatments is hampered by the lack of suitable human hair follicle models. Although intermediate and vellus hair follicles are the main clinical targets for pharmacological therapy, terminal hair follicles are more frequently studied as smaller hair follicles are more difficult to obtain.

A quick snip - A study of the impact of outpatient tongue tie release on neonatal growth and breastfeeding.

A prospective study (62 neonates) of ankyloglossia and breastfeeding difficulty is presented. At 2 weeks post-frenulotomy, there were significant improvements in weight (15+/-1.2 centiles) and breastfeeding, including number of sessions/24h (19%) and bottle top-ups/24h (81%) (p<0.

Juvenile paracoccidioidomycosis in urban area: report of two cases.

We present two cases of juvenile form of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis frequently found in rural areas, whose prognosis is poor in children and young adults. They are a 14-year-old boy and a 25-year-old woman, both residents in an urban area in São Paulo - Brazil, without any history of travelling to an endemic area. They have been admitted to the hospital due to fever, weight loss and lymphadenopathy.

Measurement of the coupling constant in a two-frequency VECSEL.

We measure the coupling constant between the two perpendicularly polarized eigenstates of a two-frequency Vertical External Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VECSEL). This measurement is performed for different values of the transverse spatial separation between the two perpendicularly polarized modes. The consequences of these measurements on the two-frequency operation of such class-A semiconductor lasers are discussed.

New hosts of Myrothecium SPP. In brazil and a preliminary In Vitro assay of fungicides.

Myrothecium roridum and M. verrucaria are two plant pathogenic species causing foliar spots in a large number of cultivated plants. This paper aims to study the causal agents of foliar spots in vegetable crops (sweet pepper, tomato, cucumber), ornamental plants (Spathiphyllum, Solidago canadensis, Anthurium, Dieffenbachia) and a solanaceous weed plant (Nicandra physalodes).

Attitude of health professionals toward cadaveric tissue donation.

Introduction: A positive attitude toward organ donation would be expected among health professionals from transplant centers with active donor activities. However, acceptance and knowledge about cadaveric tissue donation has been insufficiently studied.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the knowledge and attitude of health professionals toward cadaveric tissue donation.

European quality system for tissue banking.

Aim: The aims of this project were to analyze the factors that influence quality and safety of tissues for transplantation and to develop the method to ensure standards of quality and safety in relation to tissue banking as demanded by European Directive 2004/23/EC and its technical annexes. It is organized in 4 Working Groups, the objectives of each one being focused in a specific area.

Standards: The Guide of Recommendations for Tissue Banking is structured into 4 parts: (1) quality systems that apply to tissue banking and general quality system requirements, (2) regulatory framework in Europe, (3) standards available, and (4) recommendations of the fundamental quality and safety keypoints.

Equilibrium and surface rheology of monolayers of insoluble polycations with side chains.

We have studied monolayers of poly(n-tetradecyl 4-vinylpyridinium-co-4-vinylpyridine) bromide with different degrees of quaternization at the air-water interface. The isotherms (surface pressure vs area) present several phase transitions: at low monolayer coverage, there is a phase transition over a characteristic area that increases on increasing the quaternization degree. This behavior can be rationalized in terms of a mean-field theory of 2D semiflexible polymeric chains and could be an indication of a disorder-order transition from a 2D isotropic liquid (IL) at low surface concentration to a 2D nematic phase (N) at higher concentrations.

Community-acquired pneumonia in patients with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyse the possible differences, especially those regarding mortality, between patients hospitalized for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the risk factors related to mortality in the COPD group.

Methods: 710 patients with CAP were included in a prospective multicenter observational study. 244 of the patients had COPD confirmed by spirometry.

Two stage study of wound microorganisms affecting burns and plastic surgery inpatients.

This study was designed to identify wound microorganisms and the reasons for differing prevalence between the wards, burns unit and intensive care unit (ICU) in a regional centre for burns and plastic surgery. Antibiotic sensitivities of the 10 most prevalent microorganisms cultured from inpatient wound swabs were also investigated. Inpatient wound swab data were collected retrospectively using notes and departmental database information between January and June 2007.

[Organ donors in Spain: evolution of donation rates per regions and determinant factors].

Background And Objective: Analysis of the evolution of the donation rates in different Spanish regions within the last years. Description of the factors with more specific weight related to the number of donors.

Material And Method: Retrospective descriptive study, including numbers about donation, population, population aged 70 or more, traffic mortality, interviews for donation and refusals, according to the region between 2001 and 2006.

Self-perceived memory impairment and cognitive performance in an elderly independent population with age-related white matter changes.

Objectives: To determine whether self-perceived memory impairment is associated with the severity of white matter changes (WMC) and is related to cognitive impairment.

Methods: Data were drawn from the multinational Leukoaraiosis and Disability Study (LADIS), which investigates the impact of WMC on global functioning. WMC severity was rated using the Fazekas scale.

An exploration of spousal separation and adaptation to long-term disability: six elderly couples engaged in a horticultural programme.

The main objective of the present study was to explore the impact of separation on couples where one spouse lives in a skilled nursing facility and the other spouse lives alone in the community. Six couples participated in a 10-week gardening group. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the beginning of the study and observations were made and discussions engaged through the 10-week horticultural programme.

Design and validation of a specialized training model for tissue bank personnel as a result of the European Quality System for Tissue Banking (EQSTB) project.

The main objective of European Quality System for Tissue Banking (EQSTB) project was to analyze throughout different working areas the factors that may influence the final tissue quality and safety for transplantation, providing greater benefit to recipients. Fifteen national organizations and tissue establishments from 12 European countries took part in this project. The Sanco-EQSTB project was organized in four Working Groups.

Secondary amyloidosis in a needle phobic intra-venous drug user.

A case of acute-on-chronic renal failure is presented that is the sequela of secondary (AA) amyloidosis in a hepatitis positive intravenous drug user (IVDU) with chronic venous ulceration. The importance of groin examination is stressed when upper limb veins in a suspected IVDU are normal. Recent epidemiological data is discussed that suggests geographical location and the subcutaneous (SC) route of drug administration are both contributing factors to the development of AA amyloidosis and not chronic infection with HIV, HBV or HCV.

Oxidation of trichloroethene over metal oxide catalysts: kinetic studies and correlation with adsorption properties.

The performance of bulk chromium oxide is compared with that of a Mn commercial catalyst for the deep oxidation of trichloroethene (1000-2500ppmv, 55h(-1) space velocity) in air, in dry and wet (20000ppm of H(2)O) conditions, in terms of activity, selectivity and stability. Chromium oxide was found to be more active (on a catalyst weight basis), however its activity decreases continuously with time on stream. The presence of water increases its stability, the Mn catalyst showing the opposite behaviour.