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This study aimed to evaluate the clinical efficiency and thermal and microstructural characterization of a silicone gel used as nasal protection in newborns (NB) submitted to non-invasive ventilation (NIV). The study was divided into two stages. In the first, a control case study was performed with 11 NBs hospitalized at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of a public hospital in the South of Brazil, who required NIV with nasal silicone gel protector. The stage of the injury and the need for replacing the nasal protector were evaluated daily until the suspension of NIV. In the second stage, a sample of silicone gel was aged in the neonatal incubator simulating the conditions of use, it was submitted to thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the results were compared to a sample without aging. The incidence of the injury was 72.72%, being 75% of them of stage I, and 25% of stage II. The mean of detachment during use was 1.5 ± 1,07 times. As for the TGA, the silicone gel presented thermal stability up to 290 °C. Increased crystallinity and presence of microcracks were observed in the sample that had undergone aging. So, we concluded that the silicone gel is a little effective protector in the prevention of nasal injury in NB submitted to NIV.

This study aimed to evaluate clinically and technologically the hydrocolloid, which is a polymeric material used to prevent nasal injury in newborns (NBs) submitted to noninvasive ventilation (NIV). The study was divided into two stages. In the first, a control case study was performed with 11 NBs hospitalized at the Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) of a public hospital in the South of Brazil, and who required NIV with nasal hydrocolloid protection. The stage of the injury and the need for exchanging nasal protection were recorded daily until the suspension of NIV. In the second stage, a hydrocolloid sample was subjected to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The incidence of the injury was 36.36%, all of them being stage I. The hydrocolloid showed no detachment during the use, and did not need to be replaced. As for FTIR, the adhesive surface presented bands with characteristics of a thermoplastic elastomer and sodium carboxymethylcellulose. And the non-adhesive surface showed characteristics of a polyether urethane thermoplastic elastomer. In the TGA, the hydrocolloid presented thermal stability up to 100° C. So, we concluded that the hydrocolloid is an effective protection to prevent the nasal injury presenting good adhesion to the nasal base of the NB.

A new strain of Bacillus subtilis C 126 was isolated from sugar cane fermentation and produced an antibiotic that inhibited the growth of Micrococcus flavus. The production of the antibiotic in culture medium followed to extraction with n-butanol, thin layer chromatography, and microbiological tests indicated that a polypeptide antibiotic was produced. The fraction obtained by Sephadex G-25 column and analyzed by HPLC indicated that bacitracin complex was produced.

Although commonly used, the 1982 revised criteria for the classification of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) have not been completely evaluated in pediatric patients. This study was aimed at evaluating the sensitivity and specificity of the 1982 revised criteria when applied to pediatric patients.One hundred and three children with SLE and 101 children with other rheumatic diseases were selected from 5 rheumatology centers in Brazil. Diagnosis of SLE by the 1982 criteria were compared with our clinical diagnosis. The diagnosis of other diseases was made according to internationally accepted classification criteria or, when these were not available, according to the physician's own experienced judgement.The median number of criteria fulfilled by the patients with SLE and the controls were 6 and 1, respectively. The most common criteria observed in children with SLE were: abnormal antinuclear antibody titers (94%), arthritis (83%), immunologic disorder (83%), hematologic disorder (70%), malar rash (67%), and photosensitivity (58%). When the immunologic disorder was broken down into its constituent elements, antibodies to dsDNA and Sm were observed in 73.0% (65/89) and 31.4% (15/48), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity observed were 96% and 100%, respectively.The 1982 classification criteria can be successfully applied to children with SLE. These criteria may serve as a basis for multi-center collaborative studies on children with SLE.