Health information systems and pesticide poisoning at Pernambuco.

Introduction: Understanding the epidemiologic profile of a particular disease is key to undertake health actions. To that end, information systems that present quality data help in the decision-making process and demonstrate the impact of the problems.

Objective: To analyze the contribution of health information systems for the characterization of pesticide poisoning through SINAN, CEATOX and SIM in the State of Pernambuco.

An improved intragastric balloon procedure using a new balloon: preliminary analysis of safety and efficiency.

Background: The authors developed a new intragastric balloon procedure with the objective of making it safer, faster, and less expensive than the established ones. The proposed procedure uses a new gastric balloon with technical improvements in the placement and removal procedures.

Methods: From June 2006 to July 2007, 52 patients were submitted to the new treatment with the Silimed Gastric Balloon (SGB), as part of a multidisciplinary program involving clinical, psychological, and behavioral approaches.

[Binge eating disorder in a population of morbid obese candidates to bariatric surgery at the Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital in Recife, PE].

Objectives: To analyze the frequency of binge eating disorder (BED) and of the main psychiatric disorders associated with morbid obesity in individuals on the waiting list for bariatric surgery.

Method: Cross sectional study. Interviews with patients from the Surgery for Obesity Program of Oswaldo Cruz University Hospital were conducted evaluating socio-demographic profile, quality of life (SF-36 scale), BED (Binge Eating Scale BES) and psychiatric disorders (M.

The influence of periportal (pipestem) fibrosis on long term results of surgical treatment for schistosomotic portal hypertension.

Aim: To evaluate the degree of influence that periportal fibrosis has on clinical development and the long term results of surgical treatment on patients with hepatic-splenic schistosomiasis with previous gastrointestinal hemorrhages.

Methods: During the period of 1992-1998, 111 patients underwent surgical treatment for the treatment of hepatic-splenic schistosomiasis with previous gastrointestinal hemorrhages. The degree of fibrosis was classified as: degree I - the portal spaces show a rich increase of young connective cells, a slight collagen production and a varying presence of inflammatory infiltrate.