Biomechanical and biochemical investigation of erythrocytes in late stage human leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which can cause lipid changes in the erythrocyte membrane. Optical tweezers were used to characterize rheological changes in erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis in the late stage. Biochemical methods were also used for quantification of plasma lipid, erythrocyte membrane lipid, and evaluation of liver function. Our data showed that the mean elastic constant of erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis was around 67% higher than the control (healthy individuals), indicating that patient's erythrocytes were less elastic. In individuals with leptospirosis, several alterations in relation to control were observed in the plasma lipids, however, in the erythrocyte membrane, only phosphatidylcholine showed a significant difference compared to control, increasing around 41%. With respect to the evaluation of liver function of individuals with leptospirosis, there was a significant increase in levels of alanine transaminase (154%) and aspartate transaminase (150%), whereas albumin was 43.8% lower than control (P<0.01). The lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase fractional activity was 3.6 times lower in individuals with leptospirosis than in the healthy individuals (P<0.01). The decrease of the erythrocyte elasticity may be related to the changes of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids composition caused by disturbances that occur during human leptospirosis, with phosphatidylcholine being a strong candidate in the erythrocyte rheological changes.

Biomechanical and biochemical investigation of erythrocytes in late stage human leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira, which can cause lipid changes in the erythrocyte membrane. Optical tweezers were used to characterize rheological changes in erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis in the late stage. Biochemical methods were also used for quantification of plasma lipid, erythrocyte membrane lipid, and evaluation of liver function. Our data showed that the mean elastic constant of erythrocytes from patients with leptospirosis was around 67% higher than the control (healthy individuals), indicating that patient's erythrocytes were less elastic. In individuals with leptospirosis, several alterations in relation to control were observed in the plasma lipids, however, in the erythrocyte membrane, only phosphatidylcholine showed a significant difference compared to control, increasing around 41%. With respect to the evaluation of liver function of individuals with leptospirosis, there was a significant increase in levels of alanine transaminase (154%) and aspartate transaminase (150%), whereas albumin was 43.8% lower than control (P<0.01). The lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase fractional activity was 3.6 times lower in individuals with leptospirosis than in the healthy individuals (P<0.01). The decrease of the erythrocyte elasticity may be related to the changes of erythrocyte membrane phospholipids composition caused by disturbances that occur during human leptospirosis, with phosphatidylcholine being a strong candidate in the erythrocyte rheological changes.

[Factors associated with jejunostomy complications]. / Factores asociados a complicaciones de yeyunostomía.

BACKGROUND: There are few studies in the literature that analyze jejunostomy complications and their associated factors. AIMS: To describe the rate of complications and analyze the factors associated with their development in a tertiary reference center in Mexico. METHODS: A retrospective study was carried out on patients that underwent Witzel jejunostomy within the time frame of January 2002 to December 2011. Patient demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected at the time of hospital admission and during follow-up. The factors associated with the development of complications were analyzed using the chi square test for categorical variables and the Student's t test for the continuous variables. Statistical significance was considered with a p<.05. RESULTS: One hundred and twelve patients (57 men) with a mean age of 54.2 years were included in the study. Forty-eight patients (42.9%) presented with postoperative complications. The most frequent surgical complications were severe sepsis (11.6%) and septic shock (7.14%) and the most frequent medical complications were pleural effusion (7.14%) and aspiration pneumonia (6.25%). The factors that were significantly associated with the development of complications were obesity, lymphocytopenia, and hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: Jejunostomy is associated with an elevated medical, as well as surgical, complication frequency. Even though it has been established as a better alternative to parenteral nutrition, its associated morbidity should be taken into consideration before establishing its routine use as a means of nutritional support, especially in patients with factors associated with the development of complications.

Screening stress factors survey in an institute of advanced studies: health and safety integrated plans.

The current paper presents the study of organizational stressors survey carried out in a military institute, responsible for researches of high demand on aerospace technology. The study considered the theoretical framework of Organizational Ergonomics, combined with the technical guidelines of Psychology applied to Work Safety. The participatory approach was used on daily work assessment and decision making, aiming the adoption of corrective and preventive measures, considering possible distortions and imbalances between prescribed and actual activities. Thus, it was sought to engage and encourage the participation of the Institute's workers in the reflection/creation of better solutions to daily problems and to achieve productivity, without prejudice in the occupational health and safety.

Influência do concentrado protéico de soro na composiçäo do requeijäo em barra com teor reduzido de gordura / Influence of the whey protein concentrate on the composition of low fat hard requeijäo

O presente trabalho teve como objetivos elaborar um processamento de requeijäo em barra com teor reduzido de gordura utilizando-se concentrado protéico de soro como substituto da gordura e avaliar suas características físico-químicas. O requeijäo foi fabricado a partir da adiçäo de três níveis (tratamentos) do concentrado, 0,2, 1,0 e 2,0 por cento, e um com teor integral de gordura (controle). As amostras foram analisadas na primeira semana de fabricaçäo para pH, acidez ( por cento de ácido lático), teor de umidade (g/100 g), teor de gordura (g/100 g), teor de proteína (g/100 g) e teor de cinzas (g/100 g). Somente o teor de gordura apresentou diferença significativa entre o grupo-controle e os demais tratamentos (P<0,05)