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This study was conducted with users from the subsidized health regime living in district 16, in the city of Medellin, Colombia, 2010. Objective: to understand the experiences and meanings that users of the subsidized health regime living in district 16 have regarding the quality of care in health services. Methodology: qualitative and ethnographic research. Ten users of the subsidized regime were interviewed. They were over 18 and from either sex. Results: the meaning of quality emerges from the experiences of these users when using health care services. To facilitate their understanding, the health care process was divided into 4 stages: pre-care, initial care, care per se and post-care. For users, quality is dictated by three factors: how humanely they have been treated, whether the problem was solved or not and the extent to which their expectations have been met. Conclusion: Experiences vary throughout the stages of the process and condition the users' meaning of quality. For users, humane treatment, equity and participation are vital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autotransporters ( ATs) are proteins secreted by Gram-negative bacteria that often play a role in virulence. Eight different ATs have been identified in N eisseria meningitidis, but only six of them have been characterized. AutA is one of the remaining ATs. Its expression remains controversial. Here, we show that the aut A gene is present in many neisserial species, but its expression is often disrupted by various genetic features; however, it is expressed in certain strains of N . meningitidis. By sequencing the autA gene in large panels of disease isolates and Western blot analysis, we demonstrated that AutA expression is prone to phase variation at AAGC nucleotide repeats located within the DNA encoding the signal sequence. AutA is not secreted into the extracellular medium, but remains associated with the bacterial cell surface. We further demonstrate that AutA expression induces autoaggregation in a process that, dependent on the particular strain, may require extracellular DNA ( eDNA). This property influences the organization of bacterial communities like lattices and biofilms. In vitro assays evidenced that AutA is a self-associating AT that binds DNA. We suggest that AutA-mediated autoaggregation might be particularly important for colonization and persistence of the pathogen in the nasopharynx of the host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to determine the demographic, social and economic factors associated with the abuse of elderly people in 2012. Methodology: using a descriptive and retrospective study, demographic, economic and mental health factors of the elderly population of Antioquia for 2012 were charaterized in order to contribute to the analysis of their health situation and living conditions. The study was based on the results of the instrument applied by the CES university to 4,215 adults aged 60 and older in which I inquire about perceived abuse, cognitive functioning, level of depression, anxiety level, social support scale, social resources, etc. Results expanded to 654,473 adults in the Department. Results: 72.8% of adults in the Department are women, 53.7% live in Medellin, 55% have not completed elementary school, 72.9% belonged to 1 and 2 socioeconomic strata, 45.1% reported no income in the last month, 26.3% are at risk of depression and 34.4% are at risk of anxiety, 2.5% reported having suffered neglect, 5.0% reported having emotional needs that are ignored, 1.7% suffered some form of physical assault, 0.4% had been assaulted sexually and 1.3% claimed to have suffered financial abuse. The socioeconomic variables housing type, ethnicity, risk of depression, anxiety, risk, risk of cognitive decline and support network were the most helpful in explaining the presence of abuse. Conclusion: addressing this problem requires comprehensive attention to the needs of older adults involving all sectors of society and transgenerational consciousness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential of visible-near infrared spectroscopy to predict glucosinolates and total phenolic content in rocket (Eruca vesicaria) leaves has been evaluated. Accessions of the E. vesicaria species were scanned by NIRS as ground leaf, and their reference values regressed against different spectral transformations by modified partial least squares (MPLS) regression. The coefficients of determination in the external validation (R2VAL) for the different quality components analyzed in rocket ranged from 0.59 to 0.84, which characterize those equations as having from good to excellent quantitative information. These results show that the total glucosinolates, glucosativin and glucoerucin equations obtained, can be used to identify those samples with low and high contents. The glucoraphanin equation obtained can be used for rough predictions of samples and in case of total phenolic content, the equation showed good correlation. The standard deviation (SD) to standard error of prediction ratio (RPD) and SD to range (RER) were variable for the different quality compounds and showed values that were characteristic of equations suitable for screening purposes or to perform accurate analyses. From the study of the MPLS loadings of the first three terms of the different equations, it can be concluded that some major cell components such as protein and cellulose, highly participated in modelling the equations for glucosinolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cruciferous vegetables are well known and worldwide consumed due to their health benefits and cancer prevention properties. As a desirable cruciferous plant, Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) and its glucosinolate sinigrin were tested in the in vivo Drosophila melanogaster (SMART) and the in vitro HL60 (human promyelocytic leukaemia cell line) systems. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of plant samples confirmed the presence of sinigrin as principal B. carinata glucosinolate. SMART was performed by feeding D. melanogaster larvae either with different concentrations of plant/compound samples or combining them with hydrogen peroxide (a potent oxidative mutagen) being both antimutagenics. HL60 assays showed the tumoricidal activity of plant samples (IC50 = 0.28 mg·mL-1) and the breakdown products of sinigrin hydrolysis (IC50 = 2.71 μM). Our results enhance the potential of B. carinata as health promoter and chemopreventive in both systems and the leading role of sinigrin in these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Rocket accessions were used to test genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of metal(oid)s. [•] Three efficient metal excluding accessions of rocket were identified. [•] Metal and isothiocyanates were the modulator agents of their biological activity. [•] SMART and cytotoxicity tests, offer an effective first-step screening to assess toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To identify the causes of breastfeeding abandonment and the success factors associated with relactation in mothers with children attended in a specialised health institution. Methodology: Descriptive transversal design through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, with 100 mothers and their children. A structured survey was used and central tendency measurements and frequencies were analysed. The study was approved by the Ethics committee of the School of Health Sciences at the University Pontificia Bolivariana. Results: The average age was 26.8 years; 73% had a low socioeconomic level; 59% were cohabitating; 46% were housewives; 32% had a high school degree; 57% were first-time mothers; 74% had a high obstetric risk; and 59% had children by caesarean section. Causes of breastfeeding abandonment were newborn hospitalization (79%) and low birth weight (52%). Health professionals suggested substitutes for hypogalactia in 18% of the mothers. Incorrect maternal posture: 66.1 and 61% with no previous experience. Relactation success factors were: chronological age under one month (48%); effective newborn breast sucking (89%); good newborn breast grasping (71%). During the non-breastfeeding period, 72% received mixed milk, 82% did not breastfeed between 8 and 30 days, 98% of the mothers were willing to relactate, 91% considered the support of their families and health professionals as good. Conclusion: Children hospitalization was the main cause of breastfeeding abandonment and the main success factors for relactation were effective breast sucking, mothers' readiness and support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ageing population entails a growing international problem of osteoarthritis. Best practices for education of these patients are lacking. This study focused on empowering education in Northern ( Finland, Iceland, Lithuania and Sweden) and Southern Europe ( Cyprus, Greece and Spain). The aim was to analyse associations between expected knowledge and background factors. The data were collected from European arthroplasty patients with the Knowledge Expectations of hospital patients- scale, (KEhp- scale), including bio-physiological, functional, experiential, ethical, social and financial dimensions. Patients had essential bio-physiological and functional knowledge expectations. Women expected more than men, employed less than retired, unemployed or who worked at home. Generally, patients in Northern countries expected more than in Southern countries. However, highest expectations were found in Sweden and Greece, lowest in Spain and Cyprus. There are differences in knowledge expectations based on patients' backgrounds. Development of common standards in European patient education needs further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Eruca sativa (rocket) contains a wide range of compounds with nutraceutical and organoleptical properties. This research aimed to characterise the nutraceutical interest of four rocket accessions by analysis of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, phenolics, carotenoids and carbohydrates. Different methods based on chromatographic separation with ultraviolet absorbance or mass spectrometry detection were used. RESULTS The total content of glucosinolates ranged from 14.02 to 28.24 µmol g−1 of dry weight. Glucoraphanin represented up to 52% of the total glucosinolates in leaves of one accession. Accessions showed differences in the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin to the isothiocyanate sulforaphane. No correlation between these compounds was observed, which insisted differences in the myrosinase activity within accessions. Rocket leaves had variable phenolic profiles represented by quercetin-3-glucoside, rutin, myricetin, quercetin and ferulic and p-coumaric acids. A high variability was observed for the total carotenoids ranged from 16.2 to 275 µg g−1 with lutein as the main carotenoid. Glucose was the predominant sugar, representing >70% of the total soluble carbohydrates. CONCLUSIONS Some accessions could be candidates for future breeding programmes because of their pattern of beneficial compounds for human health. However, further research is essential to evaluate the biological activity of these accessions before designing functional food. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of drug-eluting stent (DES) and bare-metal stent (BMS) use in chronic total occlusion (CTO) recanalization. Background: The long-term effectiveness and safety of DES use in CTO recanalization are unclear, and performance of randomized clinical trials in the field is complex. Methods: Major electronic information sources were explored for articles comparing outcomes with DES and BMS use among patients with CTO. Assessed clinical outcomes were death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization, major adverse cardiac events, and stent thrombosis; angiographic outcomes were stent restenosis and stent reocclusion. Results: Fourteen comparative studies were identified (a total of 4,394 patients). When compared with BMS, DES significantly reduced risk of major adverse cardiac events (relative risk [RR]: 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.34 to 0.60, p < 0.001) and TVR (RR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.28 to 0.58, p < 0.001) without increasing death (RR: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.66 to 1.16, p = 0.88) or myocardial infarction (RR: 0.89, 95% CI: 0.54 to 1.46, p = 0.80). This benefit was sustained at ≥3 years of follow-up. Lower RRs for restenosis (RR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.16 to 0.41, p < 0.001) and stent reocclusion (RR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.18 to 0.49, p < 0.001) were also observed in the DES group. A strong trend toward a higher rate of stent thrombosis was documented in DES-treated patients (RR: 2.79, 95% CI: 0.98 to 7.97, p = 0.06). Conclusions: DES use in CTO recanalization is associated with significantly fewer major adverse cardiac events and fewer occurrences of target vessel revascularization, restenosis, and stent reocclusion than with BMS. Although a statistical trend toward a higher risk of stent thrombosis was observed, the use of DES in this context seems to be safe, with an overall benefit sustained in the long term. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]