Hollow viscus perforation in blunt abdominal trauma: A 14-year experience from a trauma center.

BACKGROUND: Isolated perforations of hollow viscus (HV) represent less than 1% of injuries in blunt abdominal trauma (BAT). When they do present, they are generally due to high-impact mechanisms in the segments of the intestine that are fixed. The aim of this study is to determine the incidence of major HV injuries in BAT at the "Dr. Domingo Luciani" General Hospital (HDL), and address the literature gap regarding updated HV perforations following BAT, especially in low-income settings. METHODS: A retrospective review was conducted on the medical records of patients admitted to our trauma center with a diagnosis of complicated BAT with HV perforation over 14 years. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Seven hundred sixty-one patients were admitted under the diagnosis of BAT. Of them, 36.79% underwent emergency surgical resolution, and 6.04% had HV perforation as an operative finding. Almost half (44.44%) of these cases presented as a single isolated injury, while the remaining were associated with other intra-abdominal organ injuries. The most common lesions were Grade II-III jejunum and Grade I transverse colon, affecting an equal proportion of patients at 13.33%. In recent years, an increased incidence of HV injuries secondary to BAT has been observed. Despite this, in many cases, the diagnosis is delayed, so even in the presence of negative diagnostic studies, the surgical approach based on the trauma mechanism, hemodynamic status, and systematic reevaluation of the polytraumatized patient should prevail.

A Technical Note of Improvement of the Elnady Technique for Tissue Preservation in Veterinary Anatomy.

Teaching veterinary anatomy has been subjected to changes and restrictions that have promoted the development of new techniques for preserving organs and cadavers. The Elnady technique is a recent method for the conservation of tissues. Specimens produced with this technique are realistic, durable, soft, and flexible, but an undesirable feature is the discoloration of tissues. In the present study, we describe modifications of the Elnady technique for organ and tissue preservation. Specimens were prepared on the theoretical basis of the Elnady technique, but at low temperatures and with longer durations for the fixation, dehydration, glycerin impregnation and curing processes. Furthermore, the tissues were pigmented with a red vegetable pigment before dehydration or in the glycerin impregnation process. The results show high-quality specimens with minimal shrinkage and natural color aspects. The modified Elnady technique is adequate for producing specimens of better contrast for education purposes.

Morphometrical Study of the Lumbar Segment of the Internal Vertebral Venous Plexus in Dogs: A Contrast CT-Based Study.

The internal vertebral venous plexus (IVVP) is a thin-walled, valveless venous network that is located inside the vertebral canal, communicating with the cerebral venous sinuses. The objective of this study was to perform a morphometric analysis of the IVVP, dural sac, epidural space and vertebral canal between the L1 and L7 vertebrae with contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Six clinically healthy adult dogs weighing between 12 kg to 28 kg were used in the study. The CT venographic protocol consisted of a manual injection of 880 mgI/kg of contrast agent (587 mgI/kg in a bolus and 293 mgI/mL by continuous infusion). In all CT images, the dimensions of the IVVP, dural sac, and vertebral canal were collected. Dorsal reconstruction CT images showed a continuous rhomboidal morphological pattern for the IVVP. The dural sac was observed as a rounded isodense structure throughout the vertebral canal. The average area of the IVVP ranged from 0.61 to 0.74 mm2 between L1 and L7 vertebrae (6.3-8.9% of the vertebral canal), and the area of the dural sac was between 1.22 and 7.42 mm2 (13.8-72.2% of the vertebral canal). The area of the epidural space between L1 and L7 ranged from 2.85 to 7.78 mm2 (27.8-86.2% of the vertebral canal). This CT venography protocol is a safe method that allows adequate visualization and morphometric evaluation of the IVVP and adjacent structures.

Factores diferenciales entre las etapas evolutivas de la isquemia mesentérica aguda / Differential factors between the acute mesenteric ischemia evolutive stages

RESUMEN Fundamento: la isquemia mesentérica aguda tiene una elevada letalidad debido a la rápida evolución de su etapa temprana a la tardía, la larvada sintomatología en su fase inicial y por la complejidad del tratamiento. Objetivo: determinar las diferencias clínicas, de laboratorio, imagenológicas y evolutivas entre las etapas de la isquemia mesentérica aguda. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, analítico transversal que incluyó un universo de 32 pacientes con isquemia mesentérica aguda, desde diciembre de 2015 a marzo de 2018, en el Hospital General Universitario Vladimir Ilich Lenin. Resultados: la reacción peritoneal se asoció de forma muy significativa a la etapa avanzada. La mayor parte de los pacientes con isquemia intestinal no presentaron niveles hidroaéreos, al contrario de los diagnosticados con necrosis. Todos los afectados con fibrilación auricular se encontraron en la etapa tardía. El valor medio del pH fue mayor en la etapa inicial, mientras que el valor del lactato en la fase tardía duplicó el valor medio de los casos isquémicos. La diferencia de medias de estos valores entre ambas fases de la enfermedad fue estadísticamente muy significativa. Fallecieron todos los casos con necrosis intestinal y más de dos tercios de los afectados con isquemia intestinal. Conclusiones: el retardo en el diagnóstico se asoció a una elevada mortalidad. La sospecha clínica temprana de abdomen agudo, la valoración de parámetros hemodinámicos y la identificación de factores de riesgo como la fibrilación auricular, favorecen el tratamiento oportuno en etapa isquémica y la posibilidad de supervivencia.

ABSTRACT Background: the acute mesenteric ischemia is a highly lethal disease, mainly due to the rapid evolution from its premature stage to the late one, the symptomatology in its start-up period and for the complexity of its management. Objective: to determine the clinical, laboratory, imagenological and evolutionary differences between the stages of the disease. Methods: an analytical transversal study was carried out. The universe was composed by 32 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia positive diagnosis in the period from December 2015 to March 2018, in Vladimir Ilich Lenin General Hospital. Results: peritoneal reaction is linked to the advanced stage in a highly significant way. There were no air-fluid levels in most of the ischemic patients, unlike the nechrosis stage, where levels were present in most of the patients. The difference between the pH and lactate average values in both of disease phases were statistically highly significant. All the cases with atrial fibrillation were dianosed in the late stage. All the patients with intestinal necrosis and more than 2/3 of the affected with intestinal ischemia perished. Conclusions: the delay in diagnosis was associated with high mortality. The early clinical suspicion of an acute abdomen, the assessment of hemodynamic parameters and the identification of risk factors such as atrial fibrillation, favor timely treatment in the ischemic stage and the possibility of survival.

Living Senior Labs, ecosistemas de co-creación e innovación abierta con personas mayores: revisión sistemática de la literatura en Ciencias Sociales / Living Senior Labs, co-criação e ecossistemas de inovação aberta com idosos: revisão sistemática da literatura em Ciências Sociais / Living Senior Labs, ecosystems of co-creation and open innovation with older people: a systematic review on Social Science literature

Los Living Labs son experiencias colaborativas que buscan implicar a la ciudadanía en la gobernanza científica y la evaluación de tecnologías. A pesar de su interés, se sabe muy poco sobre estas comunidades, su funcionamiento, tipología y características. Por ello, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura sobre de un tipo particular de Living Lab, orientado hacia las personas mayores: los Living Senior Labs. A partir de una búsqueda general en las principales bases de datos científicas (WOS y Scopus), y de la aplicación de criterios de inclusión preestablecidos tras la primera selección quedaron finalmente seleccionados 19 estudios sobre Senior Labs (2010 y 2021). Los resultados proporcionan un mejor conocimiento de este tipo de ecosistemas y crean una base firme para avanzar en el conocimiento de este campo. (AU)

Os Living Labs são experiências colaborativas que procuram envolver os cidadãos na governança científica e na avaliação tecnológica. Apesar de seu interesse, muito pouco se sabe sobre essas comunidades, seu funcionamento, tipologia e características. Portanto, foi realizada uma revisão sistemática da literatura sobre um tipo particular de Living Lab, orientado para os idosos: os Living Senior Labs. Com base em uma pesquisa geral nos principais bancos de dados científicos (WOS e Scopus) e na aplicação de critérios de inclusão pré-estabelecidos, foram selecionados 19 estudos sobre os Senior Labs (2010 a 2021). Os resultados proporcionam uma melhor compreensão deste tipo de ecossistema e criam uma base firme para o avanço do conhecimento neste campo. (AU)

Living Labs are collaborative experiences that seek to involve citizens in scientific governance and technology assessment. In spite of their interest, very little is known about these communities, their functioning, typology and characteristics. Thus, a systematic literature review was carried out about a particular type of Living Lab, oriented towards the elderly: Living Senior Labs. Based on a general search in the main scientific databases (WOS and Scopus), and the application of pre-established inclusion criteria, 19 studies about Senior Labs were selected (2010 to 2021). The results provide a more comprehensive understanding of this type of ecosystem and create a strong foundation for progress in the knowledge of this area. (AU)

Long-Term Effects of Altered Photoperiod During Pregnancy on Liver Gene Expression of the Progeny.

Experimental and epidemiological studies have revealed a relationship between an adverse intrauterine environment and chronic non-communicable disease (NCD) like cardiovascular disease (CVD) in adulthood. An important risk factor for CVD is the deregulation of the fibrinolytic system particularly high levels of expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (Pai-1). Chronic exposure to altered photoperiod disrupts the circadian organization of physiology in the pregnant female, known as gestational chronodisruption, and cause long-term effects on the adult offspring's circadian physiology. The Pai-1 expression is regulated by the molecular components of the circadian system, termed clock genes. The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of chronic photoperiod shifts (CPS) during pregnancy on the expression of the clock genes and the fibrinolytic system in the liver of adult male offspring. Our results using an animal model demonstrated statistically significant differences at the transcriptional level in males gestated under CPS. At 90 days of postnatal age, the liver transcript levels of the clock gene Bmal1 were downregulated, whereas Rorα, Rorγ, Nfil3, and Pai-1 were upregulated. Our data indicate that CPS during pregnancy affects gene expression in the liver of male adult progeny, showing that alteration of the photoperiod in the mother's environment leads to persistent effects in the offspring. In conclusion, these results reveal for the first time the long-term effects of gestational chronodisruption on the transcriptional activity of one well-established risk factor associated with CVD in the adult male offspring.

Genetic diversity, virulence genotype and antimicrobial resistance of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolated from sows.

BACKGROUND: Urinary tract infections (UTI) cause severe losses to the swine industry worldwide and uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the main agent isolated from UTI in sows. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the virulence genes, assess the phylogenetic background, clonal diversity, and the pattern of resistance to antimicrobials in 186 isolates of UPEC isolated from sows in Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Urine samples from 300 sows of three herds with clinical signs from São Paulo State (Brazil) were screened for UTI; samples with suggestive results were submitted to bacterial isolation. E. coli strains isolated were characterized using disk diffusion technique, polymerase chain reaction and Single-enzyme amplification fragment length polymorphism (SE-AFLP). RESULTS: Virulence genes focH and papC were present in 78.5% and 58% of strains, respectively, followed by cnf1 (23.2%), afa (13.4%), sfa (11.3%), iucD (6.9%), and hlyA (1.6%). No clonal relatedness was found by SE-AFLP. A total of 98% of isolates (182/186) were multidrug resistant, and the highest levels of resistance were to sulfonamides, tetracycline, florfenicol, and ampicillin. Isolates were classified in phylogenetic group B1 (34.4%), followed by D (33.9%), E (30.1%) and A (1.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The data obtained suggest that pigs from clinically affected herds may serve as a reservoir of uropathogenic and multidrug-resistant E. coli strains.

Tamoxifen as a new therapeutic tool for neutrophilic lung inflammation.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Neutrophilic asthma is an important disease subgroup, including patients with severe phenotypes and erratic responses to standard treatments. Tamoxifen (TX), a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used as treatment of human breast cancer, has been shown to induce early apoptosis of equine blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) neutrophils in vitro. Equine recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a naturally occurring neutrophilic condition, closely related with human asthma. Our purpose was to investigate the therapeutic potential of tamoxifen in horses with neutrophilic lung inflammation. METHODS: Twelve horses underwent acute lung inflammation through exposure to allergens known to cause RAO, after which they received treatment with either tamoxifen or dexamethasone. Outcome measures included evaluation of clinical signs, BALF cytology, and early apoptosis of blood and BALF neutrophils. RESULTS: Tamoxifen treatment decreased BALF neutrophil counts (65.3 ± 19.38% before treatment; 7.6 ± 4.5% 2 days post-treatment,; and 13.6 ± 9.3% 5 days post-treatment). A similar decrease was observed with dexamethasone treatment (48.6 ± 5.88% before treatment; 11.5 ± 8.1% 2 days post-treatment; 14.6 ± 10.3% 5 days post-treatment). Clinical and endoscopic scores improved in both treatment groups. Tamoxifen treatment significantly increased early apoptosis of peripheral blood neutrophils at 5 days post-treatment (27.04 ± 15.2%), and in BALF neutrophils at 2 and 5 days post-treatment (42.11 ± 11.67% and 48.98 ± 2.6%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Tamoxifen treatment in horses with induced acute pulmonary inflammation promoted early apoptosis of blood and BALF neutrophils, reduction in BALF neutrophils and improvement in the animals' clinical status.

Participation of T regulatory cells in equine recurrent airway obstruction.

Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is an equine immune-mediated disease with a high incidence worldwide. The aim of this work was to contribute to the understanding of RAO pathogenesis by studying T cells bearing regulatory markers in peripheral blood (PB) and in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) recovered from the same group of susceptible horses before and after exposure to moldy hay, which has been shown to induce RAO signology in our horse herd. With this purpose, mononuclear cells were obtained from the BALF and PB from horses before and after antigenic challenge and were stained with fluorochrome-conjugated antibodies against CD4, CD25 and Foxp3 and subsequently analyzed by flow cytometry. The results indicated that the percentage of CD4+, Foxp3+ cells clearly increased in PB and BALF obtained from horses with RAO. In addition, the percentage of CD4+, CD25(high) cells was greatly augmented in BALF of RAO positive horses compared with a baseline. No changes were observed in the PB compartment. The percentage of CD4+, CD25(high), Foxp3+ cells in BALF increased in horses with active disease compared to horses in remission; this cell population also does not show changes in the PB compartment when RAO positive and RAO negative horses were compared. On the other hand, when the percentage of CD4, Foxp3 positive cells were compared with the percentage of CD4+, CD25(high) cells, the numbers were very similar. This observation was true for PB and BALF cells from non exposed horses as well as horses exposed to antigen. In all the experimental situations studied, the population expressing all of the markers CD4+, CD25(high), Foxp3+ represent only a minor percentage of CD4+, CD25(high) or CD4+, Foxp3 subpopulations; therefore, an significant number of CD4+, CD25(high), Foxp3- and CD4+, CD25(null), Foxp3+ cells must exist. Finally, we conclude that horses with RAO show an airway accumulation of T cells bearing regulatory markers that probably are modulating the course of this disease, and that these T cells may be involved in the resolution of immune-mediated bronchial inflammation.

Aborto provocado: representações sociais de mulheres / Induced abortion: social representations of women / Aborto inducido: representaciones sociales de mujeres

Estudo com abordagem quantitativa, fundamentado na Teoria das Representações Sociais. A pesquisa teve como objetivo apreender o conteúdo e a estrutura das representações sociais de mulheres sobre o aborto provocado. Os sujeitos foram 147 mulheres que provocaram aborto tendo como locus uma maternidade pública, Salvador-BA. Utilizou-se o Teste de Associação Livre de Palavras, em 2007. Os dados foram processados pelo software EVOC-2000. A estrutura das representações encontra-se sustentada pelos elementos do núcleo central que qualificam o ato do aborto provocado (crime e pecado), motivam a prática (coragem e situação de cada um) e expressam as consequências da realização (dor, arrependimento, culpa, morte e tristeza) e pelos elementos do núcleo periférico (remédio, preconceito, maldade, fraca, raiva e difícil). Os profissionais de saúde podem desenvolver ações a fim de ressignificar tais representações, que resultam no adoecimento dessas mulheres, e pensar estratégias que garantam um atendimento livre de julgamentos.

Quantitative study based on the Theory of Social Representations. This piece of research aimed at analyzing contents and identifying structure of social representations of women on induced abortion. Subjects enrolled consisted of 147 women with abortion induced at a public maternity, Salvador, BA, Brazil. A free word association test was used in 2007. Data was analyzed on the EVOC-2000 software. The structure of the representations is supported by elements of the central nucleus and by those of the peripheral nucleus. The first ones qualify the abortion act (crime and sin), motivate action (courage andspecificity of individual’s condition), and express consequences of the act (pain, regret, guilt, death, and sadness); and the peripheral elements are expressed as remedy, preconception, wickedness, weakness, anger, and difficulty. Health professionals can develop actions to reframe such representations, which result in illness to those women, and can think of strategies that assure judgment-free care.

Estudio cuantitativo, apoyado en la Teoría de las Representaciones Sociales. Tuvo como objetivo aprehender elcontenido y la estructura de las representaciones sociales de mujeres sobre el aborto inducido. Los sujetos fueron 147 mujeres que inducieron el aborto en una maternidad publica en Salvador-BA-Brasil. Se utilizó um teste de asociación libre de palabras, en 2007. Los datos fueron procesados por el software EVOC-2000. La estructura de las representaciones encuentran se sustenidas por los elementos del nucleo central que califican el acto del aborto inducido (delito y pecado), motivan la practica (coraje y situación de cada uno) y expresan las consecuencias de la realización (dolor, arrepentimiento, culpa, muerte y tristeza) y por los elementos del núcleo periférico (remedio, prejuicio, maldad, flaca, ravia y difícil). Los profesionales de la salud pueden desarrollar acciones para reformular estas representaciones, que se traducen en la enfermedad de estas mujeres, y las estrategias de pensamiento que garantizan un cuidado libre de juicios.

Aborto provocado e violência doméstica entre mulheres atendidas em uma maternidade pública de Salvador-BA / Voluntary abortion and domestic violence among women attended at a public maternity hospital of Salvador-BA / Aborto provocado y violencia doméstica entre mujeres asistidas en una maternidad pública de Salvador-BA

Estudo quantitativo, com o objetivo de estudar a violência doméstica em mulheres em situação de aborto provocado. Foram entrevistas 147 mulheres internadas por aborto provocado numa maternidade pública, na cidade de Salvador-BA. Os sujeitos foram, na maioria, mulheres jovens, negras, com baixa escolaridade, dependentes economicamente dos cônjuges, que vivenciam violência psicológica, física e sexual cometida pelos cônjuges. Quase metade das mulheres vivenciou violência doméstica durante a gravidez atual, sendo este o motivo do aborto para 67% delas. Conclui-se que existe uma associação entre a vivência de violência doméstica e o aborto provocado. Isso repercute na saúde mental das mulheres, que desenvolvem sintomas do transtorno de estresse pós-traumático. Necessita-se, portanto, de um olhar por parte dos profissionais de saúde de modo a identificar a violência doméstica enquanto agravo e associá-la ao aborto provocado, o que requer transformação no modelo de formação, incorporando a violência doméstica como objeto da saúde.

Quantitative study in order to study domestic violence in women with induced abortion. Interviews were conducted with 147 women hospitalized for induced abortion in a public maternity hospital in Salvador, Bahia. The subjects are characterized by mostly women, black, poorly educated, economically dependent on spouses, experienced psychological abuse, physical and sexual abuse committed by their spouses. Almost half of the women were victims of domestic violence during the current pregnancy, and that was the reason for inducing abortion for 67% of them. The study reveals an association between experience of domestic violence and induced abortion. As mental health consequences, they developed symptoms of post trauma stress disorder. It is necessary that the health professionals consider the cues to identify domestic violence as a health problem associated with induced abortion, which requires a transformation on the training model, including domestic violence as a health issue.

Estudio cuantitativo, que tuvo como objetivo estudiar la violencia doméstica en mujeres con aborto inducido. Se realizaron entrevistas con 147 mujeres internadas por aborto inducido en una maternidad pública de Salvador-BA. Los sujetos se caracterizaran por ser, en su mayoría mujeres jóvenes, negras, con un bajo nivel educativo, dependientes económicamente de los conyugues, con experiencia de abusos psicológicos, físicos y sexuales cometidos por los cónyuges. Casi la mitad de las mujeres fueron víctimas de violencia doméstica durante el embarazo actual, siendo este el motivo de aborto para 67% de ellas. El estudio reveló una asociación entre la experiencia de violencia doméstica y el aborto inducido, con consecuencias para la salud mental de las mujeres, que desarrollan síntomas de trastorno de estrese post traumático. Es necesaria una mirada por parte de los profesionales de la salud para identificar la violencia doméstica como un problema de salud asociado con el aborto inducido, lo que requiere una transformación del modelo de formación, que incorpore la violencia doméstica como un tema de salud.

Modificación de conocimientos sobre su dieta alimenticia en madres de lactantes / Modification to knowledge on nourishing diet of infant mothers

Se realizó una intervención educativa sobre aspectos relacionados con la alimentación, dirigida a 25 madres de lactantes que pertenecían a un consultorio médico del Policlínico Universitario 30 de Noviembre de Santiago de Cuba, desde junio de 2008 hasta octubre de 2009, para lo cual se desarrolló un programa de clases durante 3 meses. Los encuentros sistemáticos garantizaron modificar positivamente los conocimientos de la mayoría de las progenitoras sobre la adecuada selección de los componentes de su dieta para alimentar y nutrir a sus neonatos a través de la lactancia materna. Se recomendó efectuar a largo plazo una investigación para evaluar el impacto de ese adiestramiento en el crecimiento y desarrollo de sus hijos.

An educational intervention on aspects related to nourishment addressed to 25 infant mothers belonging to a doctor's office at 30 de noviembre University Polyclinic in Santiago de Cuba was carried out from June, 2008 to October, 2009, in which case a class program was performed during 3 months. Systematic encounters guaranteed the positive modification to knowledge of most mothers about the appropriate selection of their diet components to feed and nourish their neonates through breastfeeding. It was recommended to perform a long-term research to assess the impact of that training for the growth and development of their children.

Increased apoptosis of CD4 and CD8 T lymphocytes in the airways of horses with recurrent airway obstruction.

Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO, also known as equine heaves) is an inflammatory condition similar to human asthma caused by exposure of susceptible horses to poorly ventilated stable environments. The disease is characterized by neutrophilic airway inflammation, mucus hypersecretion and reversible bronchoconstriction. This inflammatory process is mediated by several factors, including antibodies, cytokines, resident cells of the airway and inflammatory cellular components that arrive in the respiratory tract. An increasing body of evidence has lent support to the concept that a dysregulation of T cell apoptosis may play a central role in the development of airway inflammation and the associated asthma. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate early and late apoptosis of CD4 and CD8 T cell subpopulations obtained from the airways of acute RAO-positive animals after exposure to hay/straw. The percentages of CD4 and CD8 T cells and their associated frequencies of apoptosis were quantified using flow cytometry. Hay/straw exposure induced clinical airway obstruction, airway neutrophilia and increased airway mucus production in RAO-positive horses. In addition, allergen exposure increased the percentage of CD4 T cells in RAO-positive horses as well as the frequency of early and late apoptosis in both CD4 and CD8 lymphocyte subpopulations. These results suggest that the higher frequency of lymphocyte apoptosis may play a role in disease progression of horses afflicted with RAO and may partially explain the characteristic remission of this pathological condition once the allergen source is removed. However, further studies are needed to clarify the role of T cell apoptosis in RAO-affected horses.

Novel and sensitive ELISA for the rapid quantification of recombinant p64K protein.

The antigenic P64k protein from the pathogenic bacterium Neisseria meningitidis has been used as an immunological carrier in several conjugated vaccines. The aim of this report was to develop and validate a sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantification of recombinant p64k protein, to perform both manufacturing process and identification in different vaccine preparations. Validation studies were performed according to the guidelines of the International Conference of Harmonization (ICH). The reference curve showed to be precise and accurate over the entire linear range of 1.25 and 20ng/mL with a limit of quantification validated to 1.25ng/mL. The intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation ranged from 0.35 to 6.65% and 4.70 to 10.63%, respectively. The ANOVA test used in the specificity/interference study revealed parallelism among curves (p>0.1), which indicates the lack of interference in the working range. Recovery obtained from the accuracy test, using three concentration levels, varied between 94 and 111%, confirming the assay's reliability. The short-term study shown the P64k is stable to -20°C up to 1-week. This ELISA was fully used to assess its manufacturing process and molecular interaction issues in several vaccine preparations. Thus, this immunoassay could be an excellent analytical choice to characterize the quality of that recombinant protein in several contexts as manufacturing process and molecular conjugates.

[Voluntary abortion and domestic violence among women attended at a public maternity hospital of Salvador-BA]. / Aborto provocado e violência doméstica entre mulheres atendidas em uma maternidade pública de Salvador-BA.

Quantitative study in order to study domestic violence in women with induced abortion. Interviews were conducted with 147 women hospitalized for induced abortion in a public maternity hospital in Salvador, Bahia. The subjects are characterized by mostly women, black, poorly educated, economically dependent on spouses, experienced psychological abuse, physical and sexual abuse committed by their spouses. Almost half of the women were victims of domestic violence during the current pregnancy, and that was the reason for inducing abortion for 67% of them. The study reveals an association between experience of domestic violence and induced abortion. As mental health consequences, they developed symptoms of post trauma stress disorder. It is necessary that the health professionals consider the cues to identify domestic violence as a health problem associated with induced abortion, which requires a transformation on the training model, including domestic violence as a health issue.

El comentario medico en las evoluciones de las historias clinicas: analisis critico / Medical commentaries in the evolution of medical records: a critical analysis

Se analizaron los comentarios medicos en 50 historias clinicas seleccionadas aleatoriamente de pacientes fallecidos por bronconeumonia en el Hospital Militar Central "Carlos J. Finlay" durante el primer semestre de 1994 para investigar cuantitativamente y cualitativamente los comentarios realizados en un grupo de historias clinicas. El 15,4 por ciento considero sin valor; el 32,9 por ciento de poco valor; el 21,3 por ciento aceptable; el 7,4 por ciento justificativo; el 18,2 por ciento valioso y el 4,8 por ciento de rediscusion. Se hallo una diferencia significativa (p=0,00024) entre los sin valor, de poco valor y aceptables en relacion con los valiosos y de rediscusion. Se analizan las posibles causas que pudieron influir en la pobreza general de los comentarios medicos evolutivos y se considera que intervienen la poca atencion, jerarquizacion y exigencia por parte de los jefes de grupos basicos de trabajo, especialistas y residentes de anos superiores

Tumores mediastinales: experiencia en 15 años / Mediastinal tumors: experience in 15 years

Se realizó un análisis de los tumores del mediastino tratados en 15 años en el hospital y se comprobó que de los 29 casos la localización más frecuente fue el mediastino inferior, se encontró ligera preferencia en el sexo femenino. La mayoría de los pacientes no presentaban síntomas y fueron diagnosticados en exámenes de despitaje o chequeo. Todos los tumores pudieron ser resecados y hubo un caso fallecido. Los quistes pericárdicos entre los quistes y el timona y los tumores neurogénicos, entre los sólidos,fueron los más frecuentes

Quistes no parasitarios del bazo: a propósito de un quiste verdadero / Non-parasitic spleen cysts: report of a true cyst

Se revisó la nomenclatura de los quistes del bazo y se hizo énfasis en los quistes no parasitarios de este órgano así como sus peculiaridades anatomopatológicas. Se presenta el caso interesante de un joven de 21 años que presentaba un quiste no parasitario del bazo que resultó ser un quiste verdadero y que curó con el tratamiento

Invaginación intestinal crónica / Chronic intestinal invagination

Se presentó un caso de interés en una anciana que presentaba un adenocarcinoma del ciego que causó un cuadro de invaginación crónica iliocecoapendicocólica de 5 años de evolución y fue tratada quirúrgicamente