Abstract Background The prevalence of pain in patients with multiple sclerosis is remarkable. Fibromyalgia has been considered as one of the forms of chronic pain encompassed in multiple sclerosis, but data are restricted to studies from Europe and North America. Objective To assess the prevalence of fibromyalgia in a series of Brazilian patients with multiple sclerosis and the characteristics of this comorbidity. Methods The present cross-sectional study included 60 consecutive adult patients with multiple sclerosis. Upon consent, participants underwent a thorough evaluation for disability, fatigue, quality of life, presence of fibromyalgia, depression, and anxiety. Results The prevalence of fibromyalgia was 11.7%, a figure similar to that observed in previous studies. Patients with the comorbidity exhibited worse scores on fatigue (median and interquartile range [IQR]: 68 [48–70] versus 39 [16.5–49]; p < 0.001), quality of life (mean ± standard deviation [SD]: 96.5 ± 35.9 versus 124.8 ± 28.8; p = 0.021), anxiety (mean ± SD: 22.7 ± 15.1 versus 13.8 ± 8.4; p = 0.021), and depression (median and IQR: 23 [6–28] versus 6 [3–12.5]; p = 0.034) indices than patients without fibromyalgia. There was a strong positive correlation between depression and anxiety scores with fatigue (r = 0.773 and r = 0.773, respectively; p < 0.001). Conversely, a moderate negative correlation appeared between the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), fatigue, and depression scores with quality of life (r= −0.587, r= −0.551, r= −0.502, respectively; p < 0.001). Conclusion Fibromyalgia is a comorbidity of multiple sclerosis that can enhance fatigue and decrease quality of life, although depression, anxiety, and disability are factors that can potentiate the impact of the comorbidity.

Resumo Antecedentes A prevalência de dor em pacientes com esclerose múltipla é significativa. A fibromialgia é considerada uma forma de dor crônica encontrada na esclerose múltipla, mas os dados são restritos a estudos europeus e da América do Norte. Objetivo Avaliar a prevalência de fibromialgia em uma série de pacientes com esclerose múltipla e as características desta comorbidade. Métodos O presente estudo transversal incluiu consecutivamente 60 pacientes adultos com esclerose múltipla. Após o consentimento, os participantes foram submetidos à avaliação para determinação de incapacidade, fadiga, qualidade de vida, presença de fibromialgia, depressão e ansiedade. Resultados A prevalência de fibromialgia foi de 11,7%, similar ao observado em estudos prévios. Pacientes com a comorbidade apresentaram piores escores de fadiga (mediana e intervalo interquartil [IIQ]: 68 [48–70] versus 39 [16,5–49]; p < 0,001], qualidade de vida (média ± desvio padrão [DP]: 96,5 ± 35,9 versus 124,8 ± 28,8; p = 0,021), ansiedade (média ± DP: 22,7 ± 15,1 versus 13,8 ± 8,4; p = 0,021) e depressão (mediana e IIQ: 23 (6–28) versus 6 (3–12,5); p = 0,034] do que pacientes sem fibromialgia. Houve correlação positiva forte dos escores de depressão e de ansiedade com a fadiga (r = 0,773 e r = 0,773, respectivamente; p < 0,001). Concomitantemente, houve correlação negativa moderada entre os escores de escala de estado de incapacidade expandida, fadiga e depressão com a qualidade de vida (r = - 0,587, r = - 0,551, r = - 0,502, respectivamente; p < 0,001). Conclusão A fibromialgia é uma comorbidade de esclerose múltipla que pode aumentar a fadiga e diminuir a qualidade de vida, embora depressão, ansiedade e incapacidade sejam fatores potencializadores dessa morbidade associada.

Mari-mari (Cassia leiandra Benth.) is an Amazonian native fruit that is highly appreciated in the northern region of Brazil, but there are few studies regarding its chemical composition and/or biological properties. A phytochemical study was conducted on the extracts of the pulp, peel and seeds; and their antioxidant, cytotoxic and antimicrobial potential were also determined. Methanol and acetone extracts from different fruit parts were subjected to total phenolic, 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and FeIII reducing capacity (FRAP) assays. From the peel extracts, the engeletin and astilbin could also be isolated and characterized based on nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. A quantification using ultra-fast liquid chromatography of acetone dry crude extracts (DCE) of the peel showed that engeletin was the main compound (532.77 mg g-1 DCE). Astilbin content was also determined (131.53 mg g-1 DCE). The antibacterial and antiproliferative activities were evaluated and the methanol extract of the peel showed higher growth inhibition activity against all tested bacteria. Engeletin showed a relevant antimicrobial effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. Acetone and methanol peel extracts exhibited a relevant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7), with no toxicity to the normal cell line (NIH/3T3).

Abstract: Introduction: The pharmacodermias are a health problem with increasing annual incidence, especially due to the growing craze for self-medication and polypharmacy. Drug-associated skin reactions present degrees of severity and despite representing a latent health risk, there is little information on the Mexican population, which makes necessary their epidemiological characterization. Material and methods: Observational, descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study. Hospitalized patients at Hospital Ángeles Pedregal, older than 15 years, with clinical suspicion of adverse effects to systemic drugs with mucocutaneous manifestations, were included in a period from January 2016 to December 2018. Results: 35,592 individuals were studied, a cumulative incidence of 5.28 cases per 1,000 hospitalized patients was identified, most of them female sex (63%) with an average age of 49.1 (± 17) years. The most frequent symptom was pruritus, associated to maculopapular rash, angioedema, urticaria and anaphylactic shock. With antibiotics identified as the main cause (40.4%). Conclusions: The results obtained agree with what has been stated internationally pointing to antibiotics, as part of the drugs most frequently associated with the presence of adverse events. The incidence in the presentation of these manifestations reached up to 0.49% of the hospitalized population and 1 in 62 patients with an adverse event will suffer from a life-threatening drug reaction.

Resumen: Introducción: Las farmacodermias representan un problema de salud, con incidencia anual en aumento debido a la automedicación y polifarmacia. Las reacciones cutáneas presentan grados de severidad y a pesar de representar un riesgo sanitario latente, existe poca información en la población mexicana, lo que hace necesaria su caracterización epidemiológica. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, retrospectivo y transversal. Se incluyeron a pacientes hospitalizados en el Hospital Ángeles Pedregal, mayores de 15 años, con sospecha de efectos adversos a fármacos sistémicos con manifestaciones mucocutáneas, en un periodo comprendido de enero de 2016 a diciembre de 2018. Resultados: Se estudiaron 35,592 individuos, se identificó una incidencia acumulada de 5.28/1,000 pacientes hospitalizados, con predominio del sexo femenino (63%), edad promedio de 49.1 (± 17) años. El síntoma más frecuente fue prurito, asociado con exantema maculopapular, angioedema, urticaria y choque anafiláctico. Los fármacos involucrados en primer lugar fueron los antibióticos. Conclusiones: Los resultados concuerdan con la literatura internacional, señalando los antibióticos, especialmente las cefalosporinas y fluoroquinolonas, como parte de los fármacos más frecuentemente asociados con farmacodermias. La incidencia de estas manifestaciones alcanzó hasta 0.49% de la población hospitalizada y uno de cada 62 pacientes padecerán de una reacción medicamentosa que ponga en riesgo la vida.

Abstract A new low-cost material is presented for the first time, aiming to study the sorption process for the stir-bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) technique. The bars were made using a composition of a commercial epoxy resin and montmorillonite, under different compositions and a final ratio of 70% (epoxy) and 30% (montmorillonite) was employed, providing the best mechanical and chemical resistance. A PTFE support was developed to hold the bars permitting the magnetic stirring, without turbulent behavior even under long times of stirring at 1000 rpm. The bars were employed to study the sorption of the herbicide atrazine (ATZ), and the best extraction conditions were: sample volume 20.0 mL, pH 6.0, extraction time of 15 min, room temperature, stirring speed of 100 rpm, and 10.0% (w v-1) NaCl. This preliminary evaluation suggests that the modified bars could be employed for ATZ sorption, affording close to 71% of ATZ removal, and presented robust characteristics to be used at least 80 times.

OBJECTIVE: To obtain the vocal self-assessment rates of individuals without vocal complaints and relate them to gender, occupation, and age range. METHODS: This is an observational, analytical, and cross-sectional study. In this study, 601 individuals without vocal complaints, 241 men and 360 women, aged between 18 and 59 years (mean of 30.1 years) were included. The individuals were divided into following age groups: 18-29 years (n=353; 58.7%), 30-44 years (n=159; 26.5%), and 45-59 years (n=89; 14.8%); 136 individuals (22.6%) were voice professionals and 465 (77.4%) were nonprofessionals. The individuals answered a questionnaire with identification data and the protocols Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), Voice Handicap Index (VHI), and Voice Activity and Participation Profile (VAPP). The data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Mean scores obtained in the V-RQOL, VHI, and VAPP were 95.5, 5.37, and 3.06, respectively. If we transfer these values to the base 100, differences were found in the scores of the VHI and VAPP. Women presented significantly lower scores in the V-RQOL and VHI. Moreover, there were no differences in the mean scores obtained by the different age groups. Regarding professional vocal use, there were differences in the VHI and VAPP, and the "nonprofessionals" presented lower VHI than professionals. CONCLUSION: The type of the instrument, gender, and profession variables can influence the vocal self-assessment results.

INTRODUÇÃO: Após o declínio observado na prevalência de tabagismo entre estudantes de Medicina entre as décadas de 1960 e 1980, parece estar ocorrendo, atualmente, uma estabilização nessa prevalência. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as tendências temporais de tabagismo entre estudantes de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Pelotas (RS) nos últimos dezessete anos, e alguns dos fatores associados ao hábito de fumar desses estudantes. MÉTODO: Estudos transversais com metodologias comparáveis foram conduzidos em 1986, 1991, 1996 e 2002. Questionários auto-aplicáveis foram utilizados. Definiu-se como fumante o indivíduo que fumava mais de um cigarro por dia há mais de um mês. Foram realizadas análises descritivas iniciais, análises brutas com utilização dos testes de qui-quadrado para heterogeneidade e tendência linear, e regressão de Poisson para avaliar o efeito do ano cursado sobre a freqüência de tabagismo, com controle para a idade do estudante. RESULTADOS: A prevalência atual de tabagismo entre os estudantes foi de 10,1%, valor estatisticamente similar ao dos levantamentos de 1991 e 1996. Não foram encontradas diferenças na prevalência de tabagismo por sexo, idade, tabagismo materno ou paterno. A freqüência de tabagismo aumentou durante a faculdade. CONCLUSÕES: A tendência de declínio na prevalência de tabagismo em estudantes de Medicina da Universidade Federal de Pelotas parece estar sendo substituída por uma estabilização em torno de 10% a 15%. O combate ao fumo ainda parece indispensável em ambientes universitários, especialmente nas escolas de Medicina.

BACKGROUND: Although the prevalence of smoking among medical students declined steadily between the 1960s and 1980s, it seems to have stabilized in recent years. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate temporal trends, over the last 17 years, in the smoking habits of medical students at the Universidade Federal de Pelotas, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and to identify some possible risk factors for smoking. METHOD: Cross-sectional surveys with comparable methodologies were conducted in 1986, 1991, 1996 and 2002. Self-administered questionnaires were used. Smokers were defined as those who were smoking at least one cigarette per day for at least one month. Descriptive analyses were carried out, as well as crude evaluations using chi-square tests for heterogeneity and linear trend. In addition, Poisson regression, adjusted for age, was used in order to evaluate the effect of medical school class year on the incidence of smoking. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking among UFPel medical students was 10.1%, statistically similar to values found in 1991 and 1996. No differences in smoking frequency were found relating to sex, age, or parental smoking. The prevalence of smoking was found to increase progressively over the course of medical school. CONCLUSIONS: The downward trend in smoking prevalence among UFPel medical students is being replaced by a stable rate of approximately 10-15%. Anti-smoking campaigns are still necessary in university environments, especially in medical schools.