Search

Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A's) occur especially in situations of strong competition, fast growth, and abundant innovation. The Theoretical Framework presents an overview of several M&A's concepts, as well as a brief historical context. The article brings companies that have been redesigned through M&A's. In addition, some Case Studies are presented. The latter, as well as some of the companies mentioned in the sector analyzes, were the subject of Weisbach's (1993) ideas. Such analyzes are then followed by the presentation of the objects contemplated, in order to facilitate reading. The model is best applied in case studies when there is an abundance of details about F & A's. In the Conclusions, there is a brief comparison between the case studies, allowing a glimpse of the strategic reasons for such operations in the light of the acquirers. The limitations of the article refer to its elaboration through the use of secondary data and to the adopted model itself. New studies may address case studies conducted using primary data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia is the most common pediatric malignant disease. Its causes are mostly unknown but some demographic and environmental factors might be playing a role in its beginning. Objective: To identify the demographic and environmental characteristics which pediatric patients were exposed prior to diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methodology: We conducted a descriptive analysis based on the cases of a case-control study aimed to determine risk factors for ALL. Patients younger than 15 years, diagnosed between January 2000 and March 2005 that consulted some institutions located in Bucaramanga and Bogotá, Colombia. Trained interviewers collected detailed information on demographic and environmental exposures. Both parents were interviewed. A p-value equal or less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: We included 99 cases in this specific analysis. The mean age at diagnosis was 6.6 years for boys and 5.7 for girls. Maternal and paternal mean ages were 26 and 30 years respectively. 67.7% of patients lived in low socioeconomic status before diagnosis. The chemicals most frequently used or stored at home of these patients were oil, gasoline, kerosene, paint thinner, (n = 19, 19.2%) and insecticides (n = 18, 18.2%). Conclusions: This study showed that these patients could be exposed to potentially carcinogenic agents before diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case report with the aim to characterize the benefits of botulinum toxin injection into salivary glands in association with swallowing therapy in patients with severe dysphagia. The medical records of five neurological patients (four male and one female, aged between 17 and 70 years) who exclusively used alternative feeding were analyzed. Four patients were tracheostomized. Inclusion criterion was to present severe dysphagia associated to clinical manifestations of drooling and/or sialorrhea with significant aspiration of saliva, restricting the improvement in swallowing rehabilitation. Data were collected before and after intervention associated with botulinum toxin injection, regarding the following aspects: mobility and strength of oropharyngeal structures (lips, tongue and cheeks), laryngeal elevation, severity degree of dysphagia, use of alternative tube feeding and tracheostomy. After swallowing therapy, four patients showed improvement in mobility and strength of the lips, tongue, cheeks and larynx. Four patients presented functional swallowing and one of them modified had the severity degree of dysphagia changed. Therefore, most patients were able to receive exclusive oral feeding, and only one remained on mixed feeding, that is, gastrostomy and oral feeding with pasty consistence. All tracheostomized patients had the tracheostomy cannula removed. The study showed that the treatment described contributed to swallowing rehabilitation, reintroduction of oral feeding, and withdrawal of the tracheostomy cannula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents three case studies of adolescents, young offenders, focusing on their family perceptions. The instruments utilized were a semi-structured interview, the genogram and the Family System Test (FAST). The results of the FAST test revealed unstable and unbalanced family structures with cohesion varying between low and average and hierarchy varying from low to high. The instruments used in this study showed that the mother and sisters were identified as support figures who were present throughout their development, representing an important protective factor. This study highlights the importance of understanding the way in which these families function, in respect to hierarchy, cohesion and educational practices, in order to propose appropriate prevention and intervention programs for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case study with the aim to evaluate swallowing pre- and post-enzyme treatment of an individual with Mucopolysaccharidosis, and to analyze whether this treatment caused swallowing improvement. It was carried out a descriptive study of a male subject with 9 years and 6 months with the severe type of the disease. The subject was observed in three distinct moments: one pre-treatment and two post-treatment assessments. It was carried out a speech-language pathology assessment of dysphagia, a pneumologist's respiratory assessment, a clinical otorhinolaryngology assessment, and a fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing. After that, results were interpreted according to the Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS), and data were descriptively analyzed. Results showed presence of dysphagia with impact on oral feeding in the pre-treatment and the first post-treatment assessments. The second post-treatment assessment did not show any signs of dysphagia, with possibilities for all consistencies, however with restriction to solid consistency due to a significant occlusal alteration. Moreover, the fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing was normal in this assessment, and there was a gradual improvement on the swallowing dynamics along the treatment. The study showed that dysphagia was present and had a negative impact on food dynamics for the subject studied, and also that the enzyme treatment for over a year improved swallowing, with positive impact on food dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationships between Psychoanalysis, Science and Universities have been discussed since Freud and gained relevance over the 21st century as an important subject for Psychoanalysis, Psychoanalysts who work in Universities are supposed to conduct research. This article comments on possible psychoanalytical research models and supports individual case clinical research through the psychoanalytical method itself, added on qualitative research elements. The authors study the psychoanalytical psychotherapy process and the mental functioning of a borderline patient treated for four years in a public university institution. Approximately 120 of 340 sessions were registered. They were read and re-read by the investigator-psychoanalyst as if they were narratives and revealed some meaningful developments from the psychoanalyst-patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]