Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2001"
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- Mental disturbances and perceived complexity of nursing care in medical inpatients: results from a European studyPublication . Jonge, P; Zomerdijk, M; Huyse, F; Fink, P; Herzog, T; Lobo, A; Slaetz, J; Harolt, V; Balogh, N; Cardoso, G; Rigatelli, MAIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The relationship between mental disturbances - anxiety and depression, somatization and alcohol abuse - on admission to internal medicine units and perceived complexity of care as indicated by the nurse at discharge was studied. The goal was to study the utility of short screeners for mental disturbances to select patients for case-management on admission. DESIGN: The study had a cohort design: patients were included on admission and followed through their hospital stay until discharge. The study was conducted within the framework of the European Biomed 1 Risk Factor study. RESEARCH METHODS AND INSTRUMENTS: In the first 3 days of admission the patients were interviewed by a trained health care professional, who scored the SCL-8D, a somatization questionnaire based on the Whiteley-7 and the CAGE. At discharge, nurses rated the complexity of the patient's care. RESULTS: Patients with high scores on anxiety and depression (SCL-8D) and on somatization received higher ratings on perceived nursing complexity than those with low scores, with and without control for age, severity of illness and chronicity. The actual nursing intensity and medical care utilization, as measured daily by means of a checklist, could not explain these relations. No differences were found between patients with high or low scores on alcohol abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a potential use of screeners for mental disturbances to detect patients for whom nurses might need additional help. However, mental disturbance is not the sole criterion: functional status and other variables that predict medical and nursing care utilization should be included in a screening strategy for case-management programmes
- Care complexity in the general hospital: results from a European studyPublication . de Jonge, P; Huyse, F; Lobo, A; Slaets, J; Herzog, T; Lyons, J; Opmeer, B; Stein, B; Arolt, V; Balogh, N; Cardoso, GThere is increasing pressure to effectively treat patients with complex care needs from the moment of admission to the general hospital. In this study, the authors developed a measurement strategy for hospital-based care complexity. The authors' four-factor model describes the interrelations between complexity indicators, highlighting differences between length of stay (LOS), objective complexity (such as medications or consultations), complexity ratings by the nurse, and complexity ratings by the doctor. Their findings illustrate limitations in the use of LOS as a sole indicator for care complexity. The authors show how objective and subjective complexity indicators can be used for early and valid detection of patients needing interdisciplinary care.
- Involuntary rhythmic leg movements time-locked with the respiratory cyclePublication . Leal, A; Calado, EInvoluntary rhythmic leg movements in childhood is an uncommon condition, the generators of which remain unknown. We report on a male 3 years of age with distinct features providing important clues concerning the location of one of these generators. At the age of 7 months, the previously healthy young male started with low frequency, rhythmic, and continuous (both during wakefulness and sleep) flexion/extension movements of the lower limbs. Movements interfered significantly with gait acquisition, and, despite normal cognitive development, he was able to walk only at age 2 years, 4 months. The neurologic examination revealed the absence of automatic stepping in the neonatal period, but was otherwise normal. A polygraphic electroencephalogram/electromyogram (EEG/EMG) recording, at the age of 2 years, 9 months, revealed rhythmic and synchronous legs with EMG activity at 0.5 Hz. A more complete polygraphic recording at the age of 3 years, 10 months, showed a lower frequency (0.35 Hz) for the movements, which were time-locked with the respiratory cycle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed an increased T(2) signal in the upper medulla-lower pons regions. The generator of the rhythmic legs movements is postulated to be the respiratory center, connecting with the reticulospinal projecting neurons through an aberrant pathway.
- Prevenção secundária no enfarte agudo do miocárdioPublication . Ferreira, R; Ferreira, D; Correia, M; Sá, ME; Sousa, J; Sousa, J; Tavares, M
- Behavioral response to headache: a comparison between migraine and tension-type headache.Publication . Martins, I; Parreira, EOBJECTIVE: To compare patients with migraine and tension-type headache in their behavior during the attacks and the maneuvers used to relieve the pain. BACKGROUND: Patients with headache often perform nonpharmacological measures to relieve the pain, but it is not known if these behaviors vary with the diagnosis, clinical features, and pathogenesis. METHODS: One hundred consecutive patients with either migraine (n = 72 ) or tension-type headache (n = 28) were questioned (including the use of a checklist) concerning their usual behavior during the attacks and nonpharmacological maneuvers performed to relieve the pain. The results of the two types of headache were compared. RESULTS: Patients with migraine tended to perform more maneuvers than individuals with tension-type headache (mean, 6.2 versus 3). These maneuvers included pressing and applying cold stimuli to the painful site, trying to sleep, changing posture, sitting or reclining in bed (using more pillows than usual to lay down), isolating themselves, using symptomatic medication, inducing vomiting, changing diet, and becoming immobile during the attacks. The only measure predominantly reported by patients with tension-type headache was scalp massage. However, the benefit derived from these measures was not significantly different between the two groups (except for a significantly better response to isolation, local pressure, local cold stimulation, and symptomatic medication in migraineurs). CONCLUSIONS: The behavior of patients during headache attacks varies with the diagnosis. Measures that do not always result in pain relief are performed to prevent its worsening or to improve associated symptoms. These behavioral differences may be due to the different pathogenesis of the attacks or to different styles of dealing with the pain. They can also aid the differential diagnosis between headaches in doubtful cases.
- A retrospective study of B19 positive antigen blood donationsPublication . Mercês, A; Estevens, A; Barradas, A; Barra, A; Baptista, F; Soares, FBetween August and December 2000 using ID-Parvovirus B19 – DiaMed, we studied 708 blood donations to detect b19 Ag on the plasma kept in our serum colletion, we found a prevalence of 0,424% positive donations. Globoside, a P blood group antigen, is the major red blood cell receptor used by b19 for attachment and entry into the cell. This is why we have included it in our study. We performed the retrospective study in this blood components: Obtained results in blood donors (see poster). Obtained results of transfused patients with blood components from those donors (see poster). Conclusions: As it is possible to see in our results, one of the patients was infected recently by one blood unit. Our objective is not to transfuse this positive blood components to patients in risk, like individuals with underlying haemolytic disorders, immunocompromised patients, immunodeficient individuals, pregnant women, fetus and newborns. Other measures may be implemented, like: deferral permanently those donors, or researche P Ag in all patients?
- Granulomatose de WegenerPublication . João, C; Santos, E; Leite, A; Miranda, C; Serra, I; Revés, L; Brandão, T; Martins, F; Freitas, PT; Dutschmann, LA granulomatose de Wegener corresponde a uma vasculite sistémica com atingimento das artérias de pequeno e médio calibre, em particular das vias aéreas superiores e inferiores e do rim, incluindo-se no diagnóstico diferencial das síndromas pulmão-rim. Os AA apresentam o caso clínico de uma senhora de 59 anos, internada na Unidade de Cuidados Intensivos Polivalente (UCIP) do Hospital Fernando da Fonseca com um quadro de insuficiência respiratória, hemoptises e insuficiência renal. Descreve-se o estudo etiológico desta situação, concluindo tratar-se de um caso de granulomatose de Wegener. A propósito deste caso são discutidos aspectos relevantes do diagnóstico, terapêutica e seguimento destes doentes.
- Consultation-Liaison psychiatric service delivery: results from a European studyPublication . Huyse, F; Herzog, T; Lobo, A; Malt, U; Opmeer, B; Stein, B; Jonge, P; Dijck, R; Creed, F; Crespo, MD; Cardoso, GThe reported findings of the European Consultation-Liaison Workgroup (ECLW) Collaborative Study describe consultation-liaison service delivery by 56 services from 11 European countries aggregated on a C-L service level. During the period of 1 year (1991), the participants applied a standardized, reliability tested method of patient data collection, and data were collected describing pertinent characteristics of the hospital, the C-L service, and the participating consultants. The consultation rate of 1% (median; 1.4% mean) underscores the discrepancy between epidemiology and the services delivered. The core function of C-L services in general hospitals is a quick, comprehensive emergency psychiatric function. Reasons to see patients were the following. deliberate self-harm (17%), substance abuse (7.2%), current psychiatric symptoms (38.6%), and unexplained physical complaints (18.6%) (all means). A significant number of patients are old and seriously ill. Mood disorders and organic mental disorders are most predominant (17.7%). Somatoform and dissociative disorders together constitute 7.5%. C-L services in European countries are mainly emergency psychiatric services and perform an important bridge function between primary, general health, and mental health care.
- Detecção de Ag B19 numa população de dadores de sanguePublication . Barradas, A; Mercês, A; Barra, A; Baptista, F; Pereira, F; Santos, F; Soares, F; Pereira, TObjecto do estudo: Prevalência do Ag B19 numa população de dadores de sangue. Métodos utilizados: Entre Agosto e Dezembro de 2000 foram analisados no Serviço de Imuno-hemoterapia do Hospital Fernando da Fonseca 708 dadores para a detecção do Ag B19. O teste utilizado foi um teste de hemaglutinação em gel, utilizando células sensibilizadas, que na presença de partículas do B19 (contidas no soro/plasma do dador) aglutinam (ID-Parvovírus B19-DiaMed). Os dadores estudados tinham idades compreendidas entre os 18 e os 65 anos, sendo maioritariamente do sexo masculino, todos foram submetidos a consulta pré-dádiva e aprovados pelo médico. As amostras colhidas foram submetidas a controlo analítico para antigenémia do HBV, ac. anti-HBc, ac. Anti-HBs, ac.anti-HCV, ac. anti-CMV, ac. anti-HIV 1 e 2, VDRL, ALT (GPT) e PCR para o HCV. Resultados: Três dadores tiveram testes positivos para os AgB19 (0,424%), pertencendo todos ao sexo masculino e com idades compreendidas entre os 40 e os 49 anos, como marcadores concomitantemente positivos, havia um com acs. Positivos para o CMV, outro com GPT elevada e acs. anti-HBc, anti-HBs e anti-CMV positivos, o terceiro era negativo para todos os marcadores. Conclusões: Do nosso estudo não podemos concluir que exista uma correlação entre antigenémia positiva para o Parvovírus B19 e positiva para outros marcadores. Temos que, no futuro, avaliar da pertinência da execução deste teste em rotina de Banco de Sangue, aquando da transfusão de grávidas, recém-nascidos ou doentes imunodeprimidos.
- Neuronal migration defects in the Dreher (Lmx1a) mutant mouse: role of disorders of the glial limiting membranePublication . Costa, C; Harding, B; Copp, ADreher (dr(J)) is an autosomal recessive mutation in the newly identified LIM homeobox gene, Lmx1a. The homozygous mutant phenotype includes misplaced neurons (heterotopia) in the cerebral cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus, which mimic the mild end of the spectrum of neuronal migration disorders in humans. Heterotopic neurons are found mainly in the normally cell-sparse layer I within the cerebral hemispheres of dr(J) homozygotes. Neu-N immunostaining confirms the neuronal nature of these heterotopic cells, while bromodeoxyuridine-birthdating shows that the misplaced neurons are generated predominantly during the late stages of corticogenesis (E15-E17), suggesting an over-migration of neurons destined for layer II. Immunohistochemistry for laminin, and staining of reticulin fibres, reveals disruption of the glial limiting membrane specifically overlying the areas of heterotopic neurons. Factor VIII (von Willebrand factor) staining shows an abnormal vascular network in layer I, associated with the fragmented glial limiting membrane. Layer I astrocytes, recognized by immunostaining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, exhibit attachment of their end feet to the fragmented glial limiting membrane. We suggest that disruption of the glial limiting membrane is central to the pathogenesis of heterotopic neurons in dreher, perhaps via defective radial glial-guided neuronal migration.