Knowledge of and adherence to standard precautions in a hemodialysis unit: a cross-sectional study

Abstract BACKGROUND: Standard precautions (SPs) are recommended safety measures for healthcare professionals to follow, with a view to preventing healthcare-related infections (HCRIs) and for their own protection. Inadequate adherence to these measures can lead to occurrences of occupational accidents and HCRIs. OBJECTIVES: To ascertain the knowledge of and adherence to SP measures among the nursing staff of a hemodialysis service and the relationship of these variables to occurrences of work accidents with biological material. DESIGN AND SETTING: Descriptive cross-sectional and correlational study with a quantitative approach developed in a hemodialysis clinic in Minas Gerais. METHODS: Data were collected through sociodemographic questionnaires and questionnaires on knowledge of and adherence to SPs. RESULTS: 29 professionals participated in the study. It is noteworthy that all of them had already participated in training related to SPs. However, no relationship was identified between knowledge of (15.17 points) and adherence to (71.86 points) SPs. In addition, inferential analysis showed that there was a relationship between suffering a work accident with biological material and the sociodemographic data and knowledge of and adherence to standard precautions. CONCLUSION: Knowledge of the SPs that had been established did not mean mastery of the subject. Despite positive results regarding adherence, factors requiring improvement were observed. It was possible to infer the characteristics that gave rise to greater risk of occurrences of accidents at work. Thus, this study showed the importance of assessing knowledge of and adherence to SP, in order to optimize and direct continuing education towards resolving occupational exposure.

Presence of langerhans cells, regulatory T cells (Treg) and mast cells in asymptomatic apical periodontitis

Abstract Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis is essentially an inflammatory disease of microbial aetiology. Association and function of the cell components involved, or specific inductive factors and growth mediators associated with development, maintenance and resolution of the periapical lesions are still unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of Regulatory T cells (FoxP3+; Treg), Langerhans cells (CD1a+; LC) and mast cells in asymptomatic apical periodontitis. 73 cases were selected: 30 periapical granulomas, 29 radicular cysts and 14 residual cysts. All groups were submitted to morphological analysis for classification of inflammatory infiltrate and thickness of the epithelial lining as well as to immunohistochemical analysis for detection of LC and Treg cells. Toluidine blue staining was used for detecting mast cells. Analysis showed higher mean numbers of LC (8.2 cells/0.2mm2), and Treg cells in radicular cysts (5.910 cells/0.2mm2). As for mast cells, it was found that radicular cysts had a higher mean number of these cells compared to other periapical lesions (12.68 cells/0.2mm2). The association between thickness of the epithelial lining and inflammatory cells showed that the presence of hypertrophic epithelium in radicular cysts presented higher density of LC. The number of LC and Treg cells play an important role in the control of the inflammatory micro-environment in periapical granulomas and radicular cysts, respectively. The presence of mast cells in radicular cysts may be associated with progression of the lesion. Knowledge regarding the inflammatory cell profile is therefore essential for a better understanding of the pathogenesis of asymptomatic periapical periodontitis.

Osteomas cutâneos miliares múltiplos da face - relato de caso / Multiple cutaneous miliary osteomas of the face: a case report

Introdução: Osteoma cutâneo miliar múltiplo é doença rara, caracterizada por tecido ósseo ectópico na derme e/ou hipoderme. Usualmente ocorre na face, em pessoas entre 17 e 79 anos. A etiologia é ainda desconhecida. Relata-se caso de paciente do sexo feminino, apresentando placa papulosa de coloração castanho-escura, endurecida, acometendo regiões malares e mentoniana, mal delimitada, com superfície irregular, formada por lesões papulonodulares, hipercrômicas, algumas branco-amareladas, há dois anos, referindo acne, desde os 16 anos de idade, não tratada, tendo o diagnóstico sido confirmado histopatologicamente e apresentado resultado terapêutico satisfatório com uso de tretinoína creme 0,1%.

Summary: Multiple cutaneous miliary osteoma is a rare condition characterized by ectopic bone tissue in the dermis and/or hypodermis. It usually occurs on the face, in individuals of 17 to 79 years old. Its etiology is still unknown. The present article reports the case of a female patient affected by a hardened, poorly delimited, papular plaque of dark brown hue and irregular surface, affecting the malar and mentonian regions. The patient sought medical care two years before the publication of this study, describing untreated acne since the age of 16. The papular plaque was composed of hyperchromic papular nodular lesions ­ some with white-yellowish hue. The diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically. Satisfactory therapeutic results were achieved with the use of 0.1% tretinoin cream.

Estudo da expressão imunoistoquímica das proteínas não-colágenas da matriz extracelular óssea e dos fatores de transcrição CBFA1 e sox9 em osteossarcomas condrossarcomas de maxila e mandíbula / Study of the immunohistochemical expression of bone extracelular matriz non-colagen proteins and transcription factores Cbfa1 and Sox9 in jawbones osteosarcoma and chondrosarcomas

Osteossarcoma e condrossarcoma de maxila e mandíbula podem apresentar aspecto histopatológico semelhaente o que dificulta o diagnóstico diferencial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a expressão imunoistoquímica das principais proteínas não-colágenas da matriz extracelular óssea, a saber osteonectina (ONC), osteopontina (OPN), sialoproteina óssea (BSP) e osteocalcina (OCC), e dos fatores de transcrição Cbfa1 e Sox9 em 42 casos de osteossarcoma e 6 de condrossarcoma...