Body surface infrared thermometry in patients with central venous cateter-related infections.

Objective: To evaluate if body surface temperature close to the central venous catheter insertion area is different when patients develop catheter-related bloodstream infections.

Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Using a non-contact infrared thermometer, 3 consecutive measurements of body surface temperature were collected from 39 patients with central venous catheter on the following sites: nearby the catheter insertion area or totally implantable catheter reservoir, the equivalent contralateral region (without catheter), and forehead of the same subject.

URINARY LOSS OF MICRONUTRIENTS IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING A TERTIARY HOSPITAL SERVICE.

Background/aims: micronutrient deficiency may contribute to a poorer control of diabetes. Thus, the objective of the present study was to assess the urinary excretion of micronutrients in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: patients with diabetes and controls were assessed regarding food intake, anthropometry, urinary loss of micronutrients and compared by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and serum homocysteine levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background/aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a metabolic disorder characterized by hepatic fat accumulation in the absence of alcohol consumption. Hyperhomocysteinemia is considered an independent risk factor for liver diseases, and the genetic polymorphisms C677T and A1298C in the MTHFR gene have been linked to hyperhomocysteinemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentrations and the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms as risk factors for the development of NAFLD.

Niacin metabolite excretion in alcoholic pellagra and AIDS patients with and without diarrhea.

Objective: Malnourished patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) can develop pellagra-like manifestations such as dermatitis, diarrhea, and dementia; therefore, we tested the hypothesis that patients with AIDS and diarrhea would have niacin depletion. This study compared 24-h urine excretion of N1-methyl-nicotinamide (N1MN) among patients with pellagra and patients with AIDS who did and did not have diarrhea.

Methods: Three groups were studied: G1 (patients with AIDS and diarrhea, n = 5); G2 (patients with AIDS and no diarrhea, n = 7), and G3 (patients with alcoholic pellagra and without the human immunodeficiency virus, n = 8).