A lower bound for set-coloring Ramsey numbers.

The set-coloring Ramsey number Rr,s(k) is defined to be the minimum n such that if each edge of the complete graph Kn is assigned a set of s colors from {1,…,r}, then one of the colors contains a monochromatic clique of size k. The case s=1 is the usual r-color Ramsey number, and the case s=r-1 was studied by Erdos, Hajnal and Rado in 1965, and by Erdos and Szemerédi in 1972. The first significant results for general s were obtained only recently, by Conlon, Fox, He, Mubayi, Suk and Verstraëte, who showed that Rr,s(k)=2Θ(kr) if s/r is bounded away from 0 and 1. In the range s=r-o(r), however, their upper and lower bounds diverge significantly. In this note we introduce a new (random) coloring, and use it to determine Rr,s(k) up to polylogarithmic factors in the exponent for essentially all r, s, and k.

Diagnosis and Endoscopic Treatment of Hemobilia Due to Biliary Angiodysplasia: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Hemobilia is described as bleeding from the intra- or extrahepatic biliary tree expressed through the major duodenal papilla into the duodenum, with angiodysplasia of the major biliary duct as a rare etiological factor with few cases reported in the literature. Cholangioscopy plays a pivotal role in diagnosing and making therapeutic decisions regarding biliary tract lesions. We report a case of the diagnosis and treatment of hemobilia secondary to bleeding from angiodysplasia of the major biliary duct, which was resolved after the placement of a fully covered metallic stent, with a review of the literature.

Clinical and Radiological Profiles of COVID-19 Patients with Neurological Symptomatology: A Comparative Study.

Patients with COVID-19 can require radiological examination, with chest CT being more frequent than neuro-imaging. The objective is to identify epidemiological, clinical and radiological factors considered as predictors of neurological involvement in patients with COVID-19 assessed by neuroimaging and to describe the neuroimaging findings. This retrospective study was performed with 232 consecutive confirmed COVID-19 patients, from two radiological units, which were divided into two groups: (1) those who underwent a brain CT/MRI scan (n = 35) versus (2) those who did not undergo the brain CT/MRI scan, but underwent only chest CT (n = 197). There was a statistically significant difference with associations regarding the COVID-19 brain scan group for: admission to ICU, greater severity of lung injuries, the use of a mechanical ventilator and sepsis. Statistical tendency was found for chronic renal failure and systemic arterial hypertension. Forty-percent of COVID-19 patients from the brain scan group were abnormal on brain CT and/or brain MRI (22.9% of the cases with bleeding or microbleeding, 8.6% with restricted diffusion lesions). One ischemic stroke case was associated with irregularity at the M1 segment of the right middle cerebral artery. There was a case of left facial nerve palsy with enhancement of the left geniculate ganglia. An analysis of the olfactory bulbs was possible in 12 brain MRIs and 100% had enhancement and/or microbleeding. In conclusion, a more severe COVID-19 disease from ICU, a more severe form of lung disease, the use of mechanical ventilator and sepsis were associated to the COVID-19 patients with neurological involvement who had undergone brain scans. Microvascular phenomenon was a frequent finding in the brain and olfactory bulbs evaluated by neuroimaging.

Electromyographic analysis of masseter muscle in newborns during suction in breast, bottle or cup feeding.

BACKGROUND: When breastfeeding is difficult or impossible during the neonatal period, an analysis of muscle activity can help determine the best method for substituting it to promote the child's development. The aim of this study was to analyze the electrical activity of the masseter muscle using surface electromyography during suction in term newborns by comparing breastfeeding, bottle and cup feeding. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on healthy, clinically stable term infants, assigned to receive either breast, or bottle or cup feeding. Setting was a Baby Friendly accredited hospital. Muscle activity was analyzed when each infant showed interest in sucking using surface electromyography. Root mean square averages (RMS) recorded in microvolts were transformed into percentages (normalization) of the reference value. The three groups were compared by ANOVA; the "stepwise" method of the multiple linear regression analysis tested the model which best defined the activity of the masseter muscle in the sample at a significance level of 5%. RESULTS: Participants were 81 full term newborns (27 per group), from 2 to 28 days of life. RMS values were lower for bottle (mean 44.2%, SD 14.1) than breast feeding (mean 58.3%, SD 12.7) (P = 0.003, ANOVA); cup feeding (52.5%, SD 18.2%) was not significantly different (P > 0.05). For every gram of weight increase, RMS increased by 0.010 units. CONCLUSIONS: Masseter activity was significantly higher in breastfed newborns than in bottle-fed newborns, who presented the lowest RMS values. Levels of masseter activity during cup-feeding were between those of breast and bottle feeding, and did not significantly differ from either group. This study in healthy full term neonates endorses cup rather than bottle feeding as a temporary substitute for breastfeeding.

Profile of international air passengers intercepted with illegal animal products in baggage at Guarulhos and Galeão airports in Brazil.

Protection against biological material entering a country or region through airports is important because, through them, infectious agents can quickly reach exotic destinations and be disseminated. Illegal products of animal origin may contain hazardous infectious agents that can compromise animal and public health. The aim of this study was to identify associations between possession of illegal animal products in baggage and demographic characteristics of the passengers, as well as characteristics of their travel plans in the two main Brazilian international airports. A total of 457 passengers were divided into two groups: passengers identified as carrying illegal animal products and control. Passengers identified as carrying illegal animal products not stated on the accompanied baggage declaration completed a questionnaire, to aid in profiling. Nationality, origin, age and residency of passengers were analyzed using chi square, logistic regression and odds ratios. Passengers from Eastern Europe were the most likely to enter with animal products as were those aged between 35 and 55 years. When evaluating the departure point, the highest frequency was seen in those coming from Portugal. Passenger group, reasons for travel, amount and type of baggage were available only for passengers identified as carrying illegal animal products, noting that they prefer traveling alone, for leisure, bringing few bags. Such information can contribute to the early identification of passengers that have illegal animal products in baggage at Brazilian airports.

Paratireoidectomia subtotal no tratamento do hiperparatireoidismo secundário à doença renal crônica / Subtotal parathyroidectomy in the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism to chronic renal disease

Objetivos: apresentar os resultados obtidos com a paratireoidectomia (PTX) subtotal em pacientes com hiperparatireoidismo (HPT) secundário àinsuficiência renal crônica (IRC), enfocando a contribuição e as dificuldades técnicas da cirurgia. Pacientes e Métodos: no período de janeiro de 1998 ajunho de 2005 foram operados consecutivamente no Hospital Universitário Antonio Pedro, 33 pacientes renais crônicos portadores de HPT secundário. Ascirurgias foram realizadas pelo mesmo cirurgião e a mesma equipe de nefrologista se encarregou do controle pré e pós-operatório. Esse grupo foiconstituído por 19 homens e 14 mulheres com idade média de 40,5 (16/68) anos e todos se encontravam em tratamento dialítico regular, com tempo médiode diálise de 113 (20/189) meses. Além dos cuidados habituais, todos os pacientes receberam calcitriol após as três últimas sessões de diálise queantecederam a cirurgia. Resultados: os resultados mais expressivos se refletiram sobre o aparelho músculo-esquelético e foram muito significativas as remissões das queixas de dor ósteo-articular, fraqueza e prurido; as calcificações não vasculares foram reabsorvidas e sinais de remineralização ósseaforam identificados após a cirurgia. As complicações pós-operatórias mais freqüentes foram a rouquidão transitória (21%), a hiperpotassemia (12%) e osangramento pós-operatório (12%). Nesse grupo há uma recidiva comprovada e já reoperada e dois pacientes encontram-se em fase de investigação, por provável insucesso na cirurgia, já que o PTH continua elevado. Os resultados menos favoráveis foram mais freqüentes nos casos onde foram encontradas apenas três glândulas paratireóides. Não houve mortalidade operatória. Conclusões: a PTX subtotal pode ser realizada com segurança e é efetiva para a remissão de diversas manifestações do HPT secundário, desde que continuem sob rigoroso controle clínico para evitar possíveis recidivas por hiperplasia do resíduo glandular.

Objective: to report the results obtained with subtotal parathyroidectomy (PTX) in patients with hyperparathyroidism (HPT) secondary to chronic renaldisease (CRD), focusing on the contribution and technical difficulties of the surgery. Methods: From January of 1998 to June of 2005, thirty-three end-stagerenal disease (ESRD) patients consecutively underwent PTX in the university hospital. Their mean age was 40.5 years; Nineteen were male, and 14 female.Mean time on dialysis was 113 months. Surgeries were accomplished by the same surgeon and the same nephrologist was in charge of the pre- andpostoperative care of the whole patients. Among the clinical manifestations those related to the osteopathy were the most prevalent ones. All patientsunderwent preoperative care and received calcitriol after the last three dialysis sessions that preceded the surgery. Results: the most expressiveimprovements pertained to the muscle-skeletal system. The alleviation of bone pain, joint pain, muscle weakness and itch were marked. Extra-vascularcalcifications were reabsorbed and radiological signs of bone remineralization were identified after the surgery. The most frequent postoperativecomplications were temporary hoarseness (21%), hyperkalemia (12%), and postoperative bleeding (12%). So far, we have faced one proven recurrencethat was managed by a surgical reintervention. In addition, PTH continues to be high in two patients who are undergoing prepare for a new surgery. Bad results seemed to be more frequent on patients in which only three parathyroid glands were found during the operation. Surgery was not associated to fatalities. Conclusions: subtotal PTX can be accomplished with safety in ESRD patients being effective for the alleviation of several manifestations of the secondary HPT. Patients should be maintained under strict clinical control to monitor for recurrences due to hyperplasia of the residual glandular tissue.