Distal clavicle fractures in children.

Objective: To analyze fractures of the distal clavicle region in pediatric patients.

Methods: Ten patients between the ages of five to eleven years (mean of 7.3 years) were observed.

Personality traits in the differentiation of major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder during a depressive episode.

The aim of this study was to determine the differences in personality traits between individuals with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) and Bipolar Disorder (BD) during a depressive episode, when it can be hard to differentiate them. Data on personality traits (NEO-FFI), mental disorders (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus) and socioeconomic variables were collected from 245 respondents who were in a depressive episode. Individuals with MDD (183) and BD (62) diagnosis were compared concerning personality traits, clinical aspects and socioeconomic variables through bivariate analyses (chi-square and ANOVA) and multivariate analysis (logistic regression).

Association between perception of maternal bonding styles and social anxiety disorder among young women.

Objective: To evaluate the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and perceived maternal bonding styles among young women during pregnancy and 30 months after childbirth.

Methods: A cohort of young women from the city of Pelotas, Brazil was followed up from pregnancy to 30 months postpartum. The Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus was used to assess SAD and the Parental Bonding Instrument was administered to measure maternal bonding styles.

Cocaine abuse and effects in the serum levels of cytokines IL-6 and IL-10.

Background: Cocaine abuse is capable of activating the innate immune system in the CNS resulting in deregulation of homeostasis between pro and antiinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of pro and antiinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 and IL-10 respectively, in cocaine users from a young population-based sample.

Methods: This is a case-control study nested in a cross-sectional population-based survey, with individuals of 18 and 35 years old.

Cognitive and language performance in children is associated with maternal social anxiety disorder: A study of young mothers in southern Brazil.

Background: It has been shown that maternal mental health is associated with poorer skills development in the offspring. However, the evidence evaluating the association between social anxiety disorder (SAD) and cognitive or language development, is scarce.

Aim: To evaluate the association between maternal SAD and performance in cognitive and language tests in 30-month old children.

Clinical aspects of patients with traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus following surgical treatment.

Objective: To evaluate sociodemographic and clinical aspects of patients undergoing operations due to traumatic lesions of the brachial plexus.

Method: This was a retrospective study in which the medical files of a convenience sample of 48 patients operated between 2000 and 2010 were reviewed. The following were evaluated: (1) range of motion (ROM) of the shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand, in degrees; (2) grade of strength of the shoulder, elbow and wrist/hand; (3) sensitivity; and (4) visual analogue scale (VAS) (from 0 to 10).

Association of interleukin-10 levels with age of onset and duration of illness in patients with major depressive disorder.

Objective: To investigate peripheral levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD) and evaluate the relationship between IL-10, age of disease onset, and duration of illness.

Methods: Case-control study nested in a population-based cohort of 231 individuals (age 18-24 years) living in Pelotas, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Participants were screened for psychopathology using the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID-I).

Biological Rhythm and Bipolar Disorder: Twelve-Month Follow-Up of a Randomized Clinical Trial.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of psychoeducation on biological rhythm and in the reduction of depressive, anxious, and manic symptoms at 12 months' follow-up. This was a randomized clinical trial with young adults aged 18 to 29 years, diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Biological rhythm was assessed with the Biological Rhythm Interview Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN).

Functioning in bipolar disorder with substance abuse/dependence in a community sample of young adults.

Aim: To assess the functional impairment of young adults with bipolar disorder with substance abuse/dependence comorbidity.

Method: Cross-sectional study within a community sample. Bipolar Disorder was assessed by qualified psychologists using The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview - PLUS (MINI-PLUS).

Cognitive psychotherapy treatment decreases peripheral oxidative stress parameters associated with major depression disorder.

Introduction: Studies have already pointed out the contribution of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the oxidative-antioxidative systems in MDD and in response to cognitive psychotherapies. Oxidative stress were analyzed in 49 MDD patients at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up; and 49 control subjects without history of psychiatric disorders.

A Multi-Center, Randomized, Controlled, Pivotal Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of a Selective Cytopheretic Device in Patients with Acute Kidney Injury.

Objective: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a highly morbid condition in critically ill patients that is associated with high mortality. Previous clinical studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the Selective Cytopheretic Device (SCD) in the treatment of AKI requiring continuous renal replacement therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Design, Setting, Patients: A randomized, controlled trial of 134 ICU patients with AKI, 69 received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) alone and 65 received SCD therapy.

Mental disorders among health workers in Brazil.

The scope of this article is to deter mine the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and Depression among Community Health Agents (CHA) and employees of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). It is a cross-sectional descriptive study involving the target population of Community Health Workers and Psychosocial Care Center workers, linked to the Municipal Health Department of Pelotas in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul. The presence of common mental disorders was considered when the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ) was > 7 and the occurrence of depression when BDI > 12.

The Met allele of BDNF Val66Met polymorphism is associated with increased BDNF levels in generalized anxiety disorder.

Background: Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common psychiatric disorder characterized by long-term worry, tension, nervousness, fidgeting, and symptoms of autonomic system hyperactivity. The neurobiology of this disorder is still unclear, although it has been shown consistently that the environment and the genetic profile could increase its risk. We examined whether a polymorphism in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, which plays a role in neuroplasticity and memory, could increase the vulnerability to this disorder.

Designing valid and optimised standard addition calibrations: Application to the determination of anions in seawater.

A strategy for designing valid standard addition calibrations and for optimising their uncertainty is presented. The design of calibrations involves the development of models of the sensitivity and precision of the instrumental signal, in a wide range of analyte concentration (or any other studied quantity), and the definition of sample dilution and standard addition procedures that allow fulfilling the assumptions of the linear unweighted regression model in, typically, a smaller range of standard addition calibrations. Calibrators are prepared by diluting the sample and adding analyte with negligible uncertainty to fit in a concentration range where signals are homoscedastic.

Seasonal variation in the populations of Polyphagotarsonemus latus and Tetranychus bastosi in physic nut (Jatropha curcas) plantations.

Studies on the seasonal variation of agricultural pest species are important for the establishment of integrated pest control programs. The seasonality of pest attacks on crops is affected by biotic and abiotic factors, for example, climate and natural enemies. Besides that, characteristics of the host plant, crop management, location and the pests' bioecology also affect this seasonality.

Physical benefits and reduction of depressive symptoms among the elderly: results from the Portuguese "National Walking Program".

The aim of this study was to investigate alterations in physical fitness and anthropometric parameters as well as depression symptoms among the elderly after participation in the "National Walking Program" (Portugal). The sample consisted of 26 elderly people over six months with a total of 72 exercise sessions. The exercise sessions consisted of aerobics (walking and running) and strength and flexibility exercises.

Increased serum neurotrophin levels related to alcohol use disorder in a young population sample.

Background: The diagnosis of alcohol use disorder is based on clinical signs and on the measurement of biological markers. However, these markers are neither sufficiently sensitive, nor specific enough, for determining the effects of alcohol abuse on the central nervous system. Serum neurotrophins are important regulators of neural survival, development, function, and plasticity and have been found to be reduced in alcohol use disorder.

Leptin in depressive episodes: is there a difference between unipolar and bipolar depression?

Objective: The present study investigated whether peripheral leptin levels are associated with current depressive episodes in a cross-sectional study nested within a population-based study.

Methods: The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) 5.0 was used to assess the presence of current depressive episodes.

Brief psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: impact on quality of life in young adults in a 6-month follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

There are scarce follow-up studies evaluating the role of psychoeducation in the treatment of bipolar disorder, especially in a young sample, with a recent diagnosis and that probably received a few previous interventions. This was a randomized clinical trial with young adults aged 18-29 years, who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder through the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM (SCID). The evaluation of quality of life was carried out using the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (MOS SF-36).

Practice of leisure-time physical activities and episodes of mood alteration amongst men and women.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of leisure-time physical activity and episodes of mood alteration in a population-based sample of adults, and its relation with gender.

Method: This is a cross-sectional population-based study with young adults aged between 18 and 35 years old. Sample selection was performed by clusters.

The impact of anxious symptoms in the remission of depressive symptoms in a clinical trial for depression: follow-up of six months.

Background: Studies show high comorbidity between anxiety disorder and depression. Little is known regarding how anxiety symptoms affect prognosis in depression treatment, suggesting the importance of studying the impact of anxiety symptoms in the treatment of depression. We evaluated the impact of anxiety symptoms in the remission of depressive symptoms after brief psychotherapies for depression.

The influence of psychoeducation on regulating biological rhythm in a sample of patients with bipolar II disorder: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Changes in biological rhythm are among the various characteristics of bipolar disorder, and have long been associated with the functional impairment of the disease. There are only a few viable options of psychosocial interventions that deal with this specific topic; one of them is psychoeducation, a model that, although it has been used by practitioners for some time, only recently have studies shown its efficacy in clinical practice.

Aim: To assess if patients undergoing psychosocial intervention in addition to a pharmacological treatment have better regulation of their biological rhythm than those only using medication.