Effects of Betel Nut Chewing on Lung Function of Students in the National Capital District, Papua New Guinea

The effect of betel (areca catechu) nut chewing on the function of the normal human lungs is yet to be fully established. However, it has been noted that chewing betel nut could aggravate acute attacks of asthma in asthmatic patients. A total of 77 students in the age group 19 to 25 years selected randomly in higher learning institutes in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea underwent spirometry tests. Of the 77 students, 34 (44.2%) were males and 43 (55.8%) were females. Out of the 34 male students, 24 (70.6%) were betel nut chewers and 10 (29.4%) were non chewers. Of the 43 female students, 26 (60.5%) were betel nut chewers and 17 (39.5%) were non chewers. There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in the spirometry parameters between the chewers and non-chewers in both groups. However, negative correlations were observed between number of nuts chewed per day and FEV₁/FVC in female chewers and also between frequency of chewing and FEV₁ in male chewers.

A severe pneumonia due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus clone USA 300: implications of vertical transmission / Pulmonía severa debido al clon USA 300 del estafilococo dorado resistente a la meticilina: implicaciones de la transmisión vertical

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen in both community and healthcare associated pneumonia. We describe a case of severe pneumonia caused by the methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clone USA 300 in a 44-year old post-partum woman and the subsequent vertical transmission of this virulent organism to her neonate.

El estafilococo dorado (Staphylococcus aureus) es un patógeno importante tanto en la atención a las comunidades como en el cuidado de la salud en relación con la pulmonía. Se describe un caso de pneumonia severa causada por el clon USA 300 del estafilococo dorado resistente a la meticilina (EDRM) en una mujer de 44 anos en periodo de post-parto, y la posterior transmisión vertical de este virulento organismo a su neonato.

Contribuicao ao estudo clinico, biomicroscopico e anatomo-patologico dos cilindros vitreos. / Clinical, biomicrospic and anatompathological study of the vitreous cylinders

Esta publicacao estuda aspectos clinicos, biomicroscopicos, microscopicos e patogenicos dos cilindros vitreos em 4 casos clinicos, 3 olhos enucleados cirurgicamente e 2, em neocirurgicas. Estes cilindros sao encontrados em varios processos oculares degenerativos e inflamatorios, a toxoplasma figurado como a etiologia mais comum nos casos do autor.Os cilindros variam de aspecto ate o desaparecimento e nao sao tao raros como a literatura faz crer