Stability of flavoured phytosterol-enriched drinking yogurts during storage as affected by different packaging materials.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of different packaging materials on storage stability of flavoured phytosterol-enriched drinking yogurts. White vanilla (WV) and blood orange (BO) phytosterol-enriched drinking yogurts conditioned in mono-layer and triple-layer co-extruded plastic bottles were stored at +6 ± 1 °C for 35 days (under alternating 12 h light and 12 h darkness) to simulate shelf-life conditions. Samples were collected at three different storage times and subjected to determination of total sterol content (TSC), peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs). RESULTS: TSC was not significantly affected by packaging material or storage time and met the quantity declared on the label. PV was significantly influenced by yogurt type × packaging material × storage time interaction and TBARs by packaging material × storage time interaction. CONCLUSION: Between the two packaging materials, the triple-layer plastic mini bottle with black coloured and completely opaque intermediate layer offered the best protection against lipid oxidation. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Brief cognitive behavioral intervention in groups in a Brazilian assisted reproduction program.

The study's objective was to assess the effect of a cognitive behavioral group intervention on the pregnancy rates of patients submitted to in vitro fertilization (IVF) techniques or to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The study was conducted on 188 patients, 93 who participated in a group of psychological intervention before the IVF and ICSI procedures and 95 patients submitted to IVF and ICSI during the same period of time, who did not participate in the intervention (control group). Clinical pregnancy was the outcome measure. Demographic and clinical variables were compared between groups in order to assess the group's homogeneity. Participants in the psychological intervention obtained a pregnancy rate of 39.8%, significantly higher than the 23.2% rate of nonparticipants (χ(2) = 6.03, p = .01, odds ratio of 22 (CI: 1.16-4.13). The data suggest that group psychological intervention before IVF and ICSI in order to control stress seems to increase the rate of success of these procedures.

Caracterização clínica e psicossocial da clientela de um ambulatório de esterilidade / Clinical and psychosocial characterization of sterility clinic outpatientsclinic outpatients

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever características demográficas, clínicas e psicossociais da clientela de um ambulatório de esterilidade e identificar motivação para atendimento psicológico. Tratou-se de estudo retrospectivo, com 50 casais, entrevistados no início do processo de investigação médica. Constatou-se que 80 por cento dos casais estavam na primeira união conjugal, 64 por cento tinham até oito anos de casados, 72 por cento não tinham filhos e 78 por cento vinham tentando engravidar há no máximo seis anos. Desconheciam as causas da infertilidade 36 por cento dos casais, e 78 por cento nunca haviam se submetido a procedimentos de reprodução assistida. Demonstraram interesse em participar de grupo de apoio psicológico 94 por cento dos casais. Referências a medo de abortamento, malformação fetal e parto foram estatisticamente superiores aos medos relacionados à gravidez, procedimento de Reprodução Assistida e responsabilidades com o filho. Esses dados revelam variáveis importantes para a elaboração de intervenções fundamentadas no conhecimento da realidade dos pacientes.(AU)

The objective of this study was to describe the demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics of Sterility Clinic outpatients and to identify motivation for psychological care. It is a retrospective study, conducted using 50 couples, interviewed at the beginning of the medical inquiry process. Eighty percent of the couples were in their first marriage, 64 percent had been married for up to 8 years, 72 percent had no children and 78 percent had been trying to conceive for up to 6 years. The causes of infertility were unknown in thirty-six percent of the couples and 78 percent had never being subjected to Assisted Reproduction procedures. Ninety-four percent of the couples showed an interest in participating in a psychological support group. The fear of abortion, fetal malformation and delivery was statistically more frequent than fears related to pregnancy, Assisted Reproduction procedures and the responsibilities of parenthood. These data reveal significant variables for the development of interventions based on the knowledge of patients' circumstances.(AU)

Caracterização clínica e psicossocial da clientela de um ambulatório de esterilidade / Clinical and psychosocial characterization of sterility clinic outpatients

Este estudo teve como objetivo descrever características demográficas, clínicas e psicossociais da clientela de um ambulatório de esterilidade e identificar motivação para atendimento psicológico. Tratou-se de estudo retrospectivo, com 50 casais, entrevistados no início do processo de investigação médica. Constatou-se que 80 por cento dos casais estavam na primeira união conjugal, 64 por cento tinham até oito anos de casados, 72 por cento não tinham filhos e 78 por cento vinham tentando engravidar há no máximo seis anos. Desconheciam as causas da infertilidade 36 por cento dos casais, e 78 por cento nunca haviam se submetido a procedimentos de reprodução assistida. Demonstraram interesse em participar de grupo de apoio psicológico 94 por cento dos casais. Referências a medo de abortamento, malformação fetal e parto foram estatisticamente superiores aos medos relacionados à gravidez, procedimento de Reprodução Assistida e responsabilidades com o filho. Esses dados revelam variáveis importantes para a elaboração de intervenções fundamentadas no conhecimento da realidade dos pacientes.

The objective of this study was to describe the demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics of Sterility Clinic outpatients and to identify motivation for psychological care. It is a retrospective study, conducted using 50 couples, interviewed at the beginning of the medical inquiry process. Eighty percent of the couples were in their first marriage, 64 percent had been married for up to 8 years, 72 percent had no children and 78 percent had been trying to conceive for up to 6 years. The causes of infertility were unknown in thirty-six percent of the couples and 78 percent had never being subjected to Assisted Reproduction procedures. Ninety-four percent of the couples showed an interest in participating in a psychological support group. The fear of abortion, fetal malformation and delivery was statistically more frequent than fears related to pregnancy, Assisted Reproduction procedures and the responsibilities of parenthood. These data reveal significant variables for the development of interventions based on the knowledge of patients' circumstances.

Vaginal voiding: a common cause of daytime urinary leakage in girls.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the frequency of vaginal voiding as the cause of daytime urinary leakage in girls, and to study the effect of instructions intended to alleviate the problem. SETTING: Girls with vaginal voiding were identified in a group of girls referred because of daytime urinary leakage. They were evaluated by a noninvasive screening protocol. Girls with vaginal voiding were instructed on how to achieve better toilet habits. PARTICIPANTS: Twelve girls with vaginal voiding. RESULTS: Vaginal voiding was found in 12 of 39 girls with daytime urinary leakage. Their age ranged between 8.5 and 13.9 years. They all had history of small leakage immediately after voiding. A body mass index greater than the corresponding 85th percentile was noted in 5 girls, and labial fusion was noted in 2 girls. The complaint disappeared in 10 girls and improved in the remaining 2 girls after instructions on how to achieve better toilet habits. CONCLUSIONS: Vaginal voiding is common in girls. It occurs in girls at risk of overweight, in girls with labial fusion, and in girls adopting a hairpin posture while sitting on the toilet. The diagnosis is obtained by an adequate history. Proper voiding instructions resolve the problem.

Susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from outpatient children with community-acquired urinary tract infection in southern Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: Based on antimicrobial resistance patterns found in Swiss university hospitals, treatment with a third-generation cephalosporin is currently advised for Swiss children with urinary tract infection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to prospectively assess the susceptibility of Escherichia coli strains isolated from children with symptomatic community-acquired urinary tract infection. METHODS: The antimicrobial susceptibility of E coli strains causing symptomatic community-acquired urinary tract infections was assessed in outpatient children attending the emergency management unit at the Department of Pediatrics, Mendrisio and Bellinzona Hospitals, Switzerland. Strains from children receiving antimicrobial prophylaxis or prescribed antimicrobials in the previous 4 weeks were excluded. Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute methods were used for culture and identification of pathogens. E coli susceptibility testing was performed using the disk diffusion technique. RESULTS: Strains from 100 consecutive outpatient children (73 girls, 27 boys; aged 5 weeks-17 years [median, 33 months]; 100% white) were assessed. High rates of ampicillin and cotrimoxazole resistance (39 and 21 strains, respectively) and low rates of nitrofurantoin resistance (4 strains) were identified. No resistance was identified for coamoxiclav or third-generation cephalosporins. CONCLUSIONS: In these Swiss outpatient children with symptomatic community-acquired urinary tract infection, without antimicrobial prophylaxis or recent prescription of antimicrobials, uropathogenic E coli strains resistant in vitro to ampicillin and cotrimoxazole were common. However, in vitro resistance to nitrofurantoin, coamoxiclav, and third-generation cephalosporins was uncommon.

Organophosphorus pesticides residues in Italian raw milk.

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs), widely used in agriculture, can cause toxic effects to humans and animals. The main purpose of the present work was to determine the contamination in raw milk by the main organophosphorus pesticides used in Italy and to evaluate the opportunity to start specific procedures of risk management along the milk production chain. The samples, collected in 4 Italian dairy plants directly from the tank trucks during the delivering, were representative of 920 tonnes of raw milk. The isolation of the OPPs (acephate, chlorpyriphos, chlorpyriphos-methyl, diazinon, methamidophos, methidathion, phorate, pirimiphos-methyl) was performed by liquid partition followed by clean-up with solid phase extraction. The analyses were carried out by dual column gas chromatography using two nitrogen-phosphorus detectors. Among the 135 samples analysed, 37 were positive in traces and 10 showed an OPP contamination ranging from 5 to 18 microg/kg. The higher results were recorded in the samples collected during the autumn-winter period. The main pollutants detected were acephate and chlorpyriphos. In every positive sample found, the OPP contamination was lower than the maximum residue level (MRL) fixed by the European Commission.