Patrícia M. Reis

Amavadine as a catalyst for the peroxidative halogenation, hydroxylation and oxygenation of alkanes and benzene

Synthetic amavadine models, [V(HIDPA)2]2− and [V(HIDA)2]2− [where HIDPA and HIDA stand for the basic forms of 2,2′-(hydroxyimino)dipropionic and 2,2′-(hydroxyimino)diacetic acid, respectively], exhibit haloperoxidase- or peroxidase-type activities, and act as catalysts for the selective peroxidative monohalogenation, hydroxylation or oxo-functionalization of alkanes or aromatic compounds such as benzene and mesitylene at room temperature.

Anthropometric aspects of body seated in school

This study aimed to assess the student-furniture interface from anthropometric parameters of the sitting posture. The sample was composed of 887 students from two public schools in the State of Parana-Brazil, which attended children from 7 to 17 years of age. The data collection used anthropometric measures of the sitting position, a questionnaire containing a human body diagram for indication of discomfort areas and photographic records to verify postural and ergonomic inadequacies in classroom. The following anthropometric variables were measured: popliteal height, sacro-popliteal length, hip width, lumbar support height, and elbow and thigh height. Percentiles 5 and 95 of anthropometric variables showed differences statistically significant, with variation coefficient greater than 30%. In relation to body discomfort, the highest occurrences were recorded for ankle, knees and shoulder joints as well as for spine and buttocks. It was concluded that children use school furniture that does not meet their anthropometric standards, which favored the adoption of incorrect postures and contributed to the emergence of musculoskeletal problems that can interfere with their educational process.

A complex case of hepatitis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Abstract: Liver involvement in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is considered rare. Previous treatment with potentially hepatotoxic drugs or viral hepatitis have usually been implicated as the main causes of liver disease in SLE patients. On the other hand, even after careful exclusion of these aetiologies, the problem remains whether to classify the patient as having a primary liver disease with associated autoimmune clinical and laboratory features resembling SLE, such as autoimmune hepatitis, or as having liver disease as a manifestation of SLE.  We report the case of an elderly woman who presented with acute hepatitis, who had been diagnosed with SLE 14 years ago and who also had Sjo¨gren’s syndrome and anti-phospholipid’s syndrome for several years. The histology depicted chronic active hepatitis and, after drug-induced hepatitis and viral hepatitis were excluded, the serological and clinical features were shown to be typical of liver damage caused by SLE. The patient was treated with azathioprine 100mg/d and prednisone 30 mg/d. The clinical symptoms resolved in 10 days and the laboratory values were normal at the end of the first month of therapy. Prednisone was progressively reduced, during a period of 4 months, to 10 mg/d but azathioprine was kept to the same dose. One year after the diagnoses the patient is still in remission.  Although uncommon, hepatic involvement is well recognised in SLE. The interest of this case lies in the differential diagnosis and recognition of this condition, which deserves an agressive treatment.

Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy with myositis associated with rheumatoid arthritis

SummaryWe report a case of facioscapulohumeral dystrophy with myositis, rheumatoid arthritis and serologic findings suggestive of autoimmune disease. To our present knowledge this is the first time this association has been observed.

Osteoporosis in adult men.

Osteoporosis in men, despite being a less important public health problem than osteoporosis in women, should not be neglected as it has many deleterious effects as well as social and economic costs. Finding the cause of osteoporosis is more complex in men than in women, and prevention should be based on an early evaluation of the various possible risk factors and on taking up measures that tend to maximise the peak bone mass. Further studies need to be carried out in order to establish the differences and similarities that characterise this phenomenon when considering different sexes.