What is the preferred concentration of ethanolamine oleate for sclerotherapy of oral vascular anomalies?

BACKGROUND: This study compared three different concentrations of EO (1.25%, 2.5% and 5%) for the treatment of oral vascular anomalies (OVAs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective comparative analysis of patients with OVAs treated with EO. Anomalies smaller than 20 mm were included. The patients were treated with 1.25% (G1), 2.5% (G2), and 5% (G3) and clinical data were obtained. The number of sessions, the final volume and dose of EO were statistically analyzed to verify effectiveness and safety of the treatment. The different concentrations of EO were compared considering the number of sessions, the final volume and total dose of EO. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the influence of covariates on the outcomes. A p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Nineteen women and 11 men with a median age of 54 years were included. The OVAs were most frequent in the lip (n=14) and cheek (n=9). All lesions exhibited complete clinical healing within 28 days. Patients of G3 required fewer sessions than those of G2 (p=0.017), a lower final volume compared to the other groups (p<0.001), and a lower total dose than G1 (p<0.001). Patients of G1 used a lower total dose than G2 (p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The concentration of 5% EO performed better than 1.25% and 2.5% for sclerotherapy of OVAs measuring up to 20 mm. This preliminary result should be the preferred concentration of EO to provide an effective and safe treatment of OVAs.

The taxonomic distinctness of macroinvertebrate communities of Atlantic Forest streams cannot be predicted by landscape and climate variables, but traditional biodiversity indices can / A distinção taxonômica de comunidades de macroinvertebrados de córregos da Mata Atlântica não pode ser previsto pela paisagem e por variáveis climáticas, mas os índices de biodiversidade tradicional podem

Predicting how anthropogenic activities may influence the various components of biodiversity is essential for finding ways to reduce diversity loss. This challenge involves: a) understanding how environmental factors influence diversity across different spatial scales, and b) developing ways to measure these relationships in a way that is fast, economical, and easy to communicate. In this study, we investigate whether landscape and bioclimatic variables could explain variation in biodiversity indices in macroinvertebrate communities from 39 Atlantic Forest streams. In addition to traditional diversity measures, i.e., species richness, abundance and Shannon index, we used a taxonomic distinctness index that measures the degree of phylogenetic relationship among taxa. The amount of variation in the diversity measures that was explained by environmental and spatial variables was estimated using variation partitioning based on multiple regression. Our study demonstrates that taxonomic distinctness does not respond in the same way as the traditional used in biodiversity studies. We found no evidence that taxonomic distinctness responds predictably to variation in landscape metrics, indicating the need for the incorporation of predictors at multiple scales in this type of study. The lack of congruence between taxonomic distinctness and other indices and its low predictability may be related to the fact that this measure expresses long-term evolutionary adaptation to ecosystem conditions, while the other traditional biodiversity metrics respond to short-term environmental changes.

Prever como as atividades antrópicas podem influenciar os vários componentes da biodiversidade é essencial para encontrar maneiras de reduzir a perda de diversidade. Este desafio envolve: a) a compreensão de como os fatores ambientais influenciam a diversidade em diferentes escalas espaciais e, b) desenvolver formas de medir essas relações de uma maneira rápida, econômica e de fácil comunicação. Neste estudo, nós investigamos se a paisagem e as variáveis bioclimáticas podem explicar a variação nos índices de biodiversidade em comunidades de macroinvertebrados de 39 riachos de Mata Atlântica. Adicionalmente às medidas tradicionais de diversidade, por ex.: riqueza de espécies, abundância e índice de Shannon, nos utilizamos índice de distinção taxonômica que mede o grau de relação filogenética dentre os taxa. A quantidade de variação nas medidas de diversidade que foi explicado por variáveis ambientais e espaciais foi estimada utilizando a variação particionada baseada em regressão múltipla. O presente estudo demonstra que o índice de distinção taxonômica não responde da mesma maneira que os índices tradicionais utilizados em estudos de biodiversidade. Nós não encontramos nenhuma evidência de que a distinção taxonômica responde previsivelmente à variação métricas da paisagem, indicando a necessidade de incorporação de preditores em múltiplas escalas neste tipo de estudo. A falta de congruência entre a distinção taxonômica e outros índices e sua baixa previsibilidade pode estar relacionada com o fato de esta medida expressar adaptações evolutivas de longo prazo para as condições ambientais, enquanto as outras métricas tradicionais respondem às alterações ambientais de curto prazo.

Atopic disease and body mass index / Enfermedad atópica e índice de masa corporal

Background: Obesity and atopy are two increasingly important population health issues. Excess weight and obesity are potential risk factors for atopy (specifically asthma). Objective and methods: To determine the body mass index (BMI) in children with atopic disease compared with nonatopic children, and to determine whether obesity is associated to more severe disease. Children aged 5 to 16 years with diagnosed atopic disease that attended the Ambulatory Hospital Center where eligible as cases. Children aged 5 to 16 years without atopic disease from a school in the same geographic area were used as controls. Results: A total of 228 children where included in the analysis: 112 children with atopy (75.9 % asthma, 21.4 % rhinitis and 2.7 % eczema) and 116 children without atopy. The median age was 10.5 and 10.3 years for the atopic and non-atopic children, respectively. The prevalence of overweight or obese subjects was significantly greater in the atopic group (44.6 % vs 31.9 %, p < 0.05). The obese asthmatic children had a significantly higher prevalence of sleep disturbances due to wheezing in the last 12 months (45.5 % vs 15.9 %, p < 0.05). They also reported dry cough at night more often (50 % vs 28.6 %, p = 0.07), and a higher number of wheezing attacks in the past 12 months (72.7 % vs 50.8 %, p = 0.074), than the non-obese asthmatic children. Most of the obese atopic children were already overweight or obese at the time of the diagnosis (66.6 %). None of the associations were significantly different for boys or girls. Discussion: There is some evidence of an association between excess body weight or obesity and atopy - particularly asthma

Antecedentes: obesidad y atopia son dos importantes problemas de salud en aumento. El sobrepeso y la obesidad son potenciales factores de riesgo para la atopia, especialmente el asma. Objetivo y Métodos: determinar el índice de masa corporal (IMC) en niños con enfermedad atópica, comparándolo con niños no atópicos, y ver si la obesidad se asocia con una mayor gravedad de la enfermedad. Se seleccionaron niños de edad comprendida entre 5 y 16 años diagnosticados de enfermedad atópica, atendidos en el Ambulatorio del Centro Hospitalario. Como controles se seleccionaron niños entre 5 y 16 años, de una escuela de la misma área geográfica que los atópicos. Resultados: un total de 228 niños se incluyeron en el análisis: 112 niños atópicos (75,9% asma, 21,4% rinitis y 2,7% eccema), y 116 niños no atópicos. La edad media fue 10,5 y 10,3 años, respectivamente de ambos grupos. La prevalencia de sobrepeso o de obesidad fue significativamente mayor en el grupo de atópicos (44,6% vs 31,9%, p<0.05). La prevalencia de trastornos del sueño, por disnea, en los últimos 12 meses, había sido significativamente mayor en los asmáticos obesos (45.5% vs 15.9%, p<0.005). También tuvieron tos seca por la noche con mayor frecuiencia(50% vs 28.6%, p=0.07), y mayor número de crisis de asma en los últimos 12 meses (72.7% vs 50.8%, p=0.074), que los asmáticos no obesos. Muchos de los niños atópicos obesos eran ya obesos o tenían sobrepeso cuando fueron diagnosticados de su enfermedad (66,6%). En ninguno de estos hallazgos hubo diferencia entre varones o niñas. Discusión: hay alguna evidencia de asociación entre el exceso de peso corporal o la obesidad, con la atopia, especialmente asma