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Biomedical subjects

M F Peres

Publications and source records attributed to M F Peres.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2002

Application of headspace-mass spectrometry for differentiating sources of olive oil.

In the present work we propose the use of headspace-mass spectrometry (HS-MS) for the characterisation of monovarietal olive oils, an issue of interest when the origin of an oil has to be determined. The HS-MS procedure involves the direct introduction of the sample into a vial, headspace generation and automatic injection of the volatiles into a mass spectrometer. The results were compared with those obtained using more conventional approaches, including chromatographic, spectrophotometric and other types of analysis. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) was applied to the data obtained with both analytical methodologies to achieve the differentiation of the three types of samples. The proposed method is faster and cheaper than those usually employed for edible oil analysis and no sample preparation is required. Additionally, the measuring process is simple and the results obtained from chemometric treatment are 100% correct as regards classification and prediction, making it an appropriate method for routine control.

Food Industry↗
PubMed2001

Fibromyalgia is common in patients with transformed migraine.

Fibromyalgia (FM) and transformed migraine (TM) are common chronic pain disorders. The authors estimated the prevalence of FM in 101 patients with TM, and analyzed its relationship to depression, anxiety, and insomnia. FM was diagnosed in 35.6% of cases. Patients with FM had more insomnia, were older, and had headaches that were more incapacitating than patients without FM. Insomnia and depression predicted FM in patients with TM.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Hemicrania continua is not that rare.

BACKGROUND: Hemicrania continua is an indomethacin-responsive headache disorder characterized by a continuous, moderate to severe, unilateral headache. More than 90 cases of hemicrania continua have been reported, but there is still uncertainty about its clinical features. METHODS: The authors compared 34 new cases (24 women, 10 men) with previously reported cases. All the patients met Goadsby and Lipton's proposed criteria. The authors compared baseline (continuous background headache) and exacerbation (attacks of severe periods of headaches). RESULTS: The baseline headache was typically mild to moderate in intensity and usually not associated with severe disability. In contrast, the headache exacerbations were severe and associated with photophobia, phonophobia, nausea, and disability. At least one autonomic symptom was present in 25 patients (74%). Jabs and jolts were present in 14 patients (41%). The mean indomethacin dose was 136.7 +/- 60 mg (range 25 to 225 mg). Twenty-four patients (70.6%) met International Headache Society criteria for migraine in their exacerbation period. Occipital tenderness was observed in 23 patients (67.6%). The temporal pattern was remitting in four patients (11.8%), continuous from onset in 18 (52.9%), and continuous evolving from remitting in 12 (35.3%). CONCLUSION: Hemicrania continua is not a rare disorder. All cases of chronic unilateral daily headaches should receive an indomethacin trial early if not first in treatment.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Melatonin in the preventive treatment of chronic cluster headache.

Cluster headache is a stereotypic headache disorder marked by short-lasting bouts of severe unilateral head pain and associated autonomic symptoms. Almost pathognomonic of this condition are nocturnal attacks that usually occur during the first random eye movement sleep phase of the evening. Melatonin levels have been found to be decreased in cluster headache patients. A lack of melatonin secretion may predispose the cluster sufferer to nocturnal and, possibly, daytime attacks. Leone et al. demonstrated that melatonin could rapidly alleviate cluster attacks, but only in episodic cluster patients. We report two chronic cluster headache patients who had both daytime and nocturnal attacks that were alleviated with melatonin.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Modular headache theory.

Many people experience headaches that do not fulfil the International Headache Society's criteria for a specific headache disorder yet behave biologically like that disorder. Others fulfil criteria for one headache disorder and yet have features of another disorder. To explain these observations, we propose that groups of neurones called modules become activated to produce each symptom of a primary headache disorder, and that each module is linked to other modules that together produce an individual's headache. This theory has implications for the classification, research and treatment of primary and secondary headache patients.

Headache↗
PubMed2001

Remitting form of hemicrania continua with seasonal pattern.

Hemicrania continua is a primary headache syndrome characterized by a continuous, unilateral headache that is completely responsive to indomethacin. Hemicrania continua exists in continuous and remitting forms. Ten cases of the remitting form have been reported, none of which have had a seasonal pattern. We report a patient with remitting hemicrania continua with a clear seasonal predilection.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2001

Hypothalamic involvement in chronic migraine.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic migraine (CM), previously called transformed migraine, is a frequent headache disorder that affects 2%-3% of the general population. Analgesic overuse, insomnia, depression, and anxiety are disorders that are often comorbid with CM. Hypothalamic dysfunction has been implicated in its pathogenesis, but it has never been studied in patients with CM. The aim was to analyze hypothalamic involvement in CM by measurement of melatonin, prolactin, growth hormone, and cortisol nocturnal secretion. METHODS: A total of 338 blood samples (13/patient) from 17 patients with CM and nine age and sex matched healthy volunteers were taken. Melatonin, prolactin, growth hormone, and cortisol concentrations were determined every hour for 12 hours. The presence of comorbid disorders was also evaluated. RESULTS: An abnormal pattern of hypothalamic hormonal secretion was found in CM. This included: (1) a decreased nocturnal prolactin peak, (2) increased cortisol concentrations, (3) a delayed nocturnal melatonin peak in patients with CM, and (4) lower melatonin concentrations in patients with CM with insomnia. Growth hormone secretion did not differ from controls. CONCLUSION: These results support hypothalamic involvement in CM, shown by a chronobiologic dysregulation, and a possible hyperdopaminergic state in patients with CM. Insomnia might be an important variable in the study findings.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Episodic paroxysmal hemicrania with seasonal variation: case report and the EPH-cluster headache continuum hypothesis.

Episodic paroxysmal hemicrania (EPH) is a rare disorder characterized by frequent, daily attacks of short-lived, unilateral headache with accompanying ipsilateral autonomic features. EPH has attack periods which last weeks to months separated by remission intervals lasting months to years, however, a seasonal variation has never been reported in EPH. We report a new case of EPH with a clear seasonal pattern: a 32-year-old woman with a right-sided headache for 17 years. Pain occurred with a seasonal variation, with bouts lasting one month (usually in the first months of the year) and remission periods lasting around 11 months. During these periods she had headache from three to five times per day, lasting from 15 to 30 minutes, without any particular period preference. There were no precipitating or aggravating factors. Tearing and conjunctival injection accompanied ipsilaterally the pain. Previous treatments provided no pain relief. She completely responded to indomethacin 75 mg daily. After three years, the pain recurred with longer attack duration and was just relieved with prednisone. We also propose a new hypothesis: the EPH-cluster headache continuum.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Chronic paroxysmal hemicrania-tic syndrome.

The association of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania and ticlike pain-chronic paroxysmal hemicrania-tic (CPH-tic)-is a recently described syndrome. The authors found only two previously reported cases. They report three new cases of this rare syndrome with both chronic paroxysmal hemicrania and ticlike pain concurrently and ipsilaterally. The trigeminal-autonomic cephalalgias (TAC) are considered as differential diagnoses. CPH-tic syndrome could be a different clinical entity.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Arterial hypertension and alcoholism among workers in an oil refinery].

The role of alcohol ingestion in the incidence of arterial hypertension has not been completely established. In addition, there are few studies addressing this point in relation to populations of workers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between alcoholism and arterial hypertension among workers in an oil refinery in Mataripe, Bahia, Brazil, from 1986 to 1993. We designed a retrospective cohort study with a 7-year follow-up in a stratified systematic sample of 335 workers from the refinery. Arterial hypertension was diagnosed based on blood pressure measurements done during routine medical examinations. At the beginning of follow-up, three groups were defined using the CAGE test of alcohol dependency: nondrinkers (n = 121), CAGE-negative workers (n = 116), and CAGE-positive workers (n = 98). In comparison with the CAGE-negative group, the CAGE-positive group had both greater relative risk and greater attributable risk for developing arterial hypertension (RR = 2.58; AR = 24.95 per 1,000 person-years). The CAGE-positive group also had greater risks compared to nondrinkers (RR = 2.06; AR = 20.97 per 1,000 person-years). The attributable fractions for the same two comparisons of groups were 61% and 51%, respectively. Rate standardization by age or smoking habit did not substantially change the results. Alcoholism is an important risk factor for arterial hypertension.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The knowledge of pediatricians in Salvador, Brazil about measles vaccine].

The success of international initiatives for the eradication of measles depends in large part on knowledge about vaccination. In 1992, a cross-sectional study was carried out to evaluate knowledge about measles vaccine among pediatricians in the Brazilian city of Salvador, Bahia. Of the 506 pediatricians residing in the city, 299 (59%) could be located and responded to a questionnaire containing 15 questions that posed hypothetical situations regarding indications and contraindications for this vaccine. The average number of correct responses was 9.3 out of 15, which illustrates the pediatricians' poor knowledge of measles vaccine. Conditions commonly seen in pediatric practice in Brazil--malnutrition, upper respiratory tract infection, diarrhea, and prematurity--were often erroneously considered contraindications for immunization. More than half (62%) of the pediatricians did not know the correct way to administer the vaccine. Knowledge about the vaccine did not differ according to the length of time that had elapsed since the physicians' university training in pediatrics or as a result of working in health centers operated by the State Health Secretariat. University professors, pediatricians with a postgraduate degree, and those pursuing postgraduate studies scored slightly higher than the rest. These results point to the need to strengthen training on measles vaccination in medical schools and programs of continuing education for pediatricians.

Brazil↗
PubMed1996

The epidemiology of migraine in medical students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of migraine in medical students, as well as its clinical aspects and impact. All 595 medical students of Santa Casa School of Medicine of São Paulo, Brazil were asked if they had experienced any kind of headache in the past year. Those who responded positively were further investigated by an appropriate questionnaire. Diagnosis of migraine was based on the International Headache Society criteria of 1988. Forty percent of students suffered from some kind of headache; 40.2% of these headaches were migraine. The prevalence of migraine was 54.4% in women and 28.3% in men. Migraine headaches were unilateral in 24.2%, had a gradual onset in 69%, and were of a throbbing type in 88.3%. Migraine was considered incapacitating by 53.9% of students. Migraine with aura caused more disability than migraine without aura. Women experienced more intense migraine than men, and migraine with aura was especially more severe than migraine without aura. Photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea were more commonly encountered in migraine with aura. Despite the high prevalence, the high rate of disability, and the need for analgesic medication, only 7.1% of students with migraine had sought medical treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Cluster-tic syndrome: two case reports].

Two patients with cluster-tic syndrome are reported. The first, a 43-years-old man, complaining of trigeminal pain in the right side of the face, accompanied by homolateral autonomic signs, such as ocular injection, sweating and drooped eyelid. The cluster attack was triggered by chewing, shaving and washing the face. The periodicity of bouts was six months. The pain was relieved by carbamazepine (800 mg/day). The second patient, a 43-year-old man, with an excruciant, neuralgic pain in the left side of the face, accompanied by tearing, conjuntival injection, drooped eyelid, rhinorrhea, photophobia and phonophobia. The neurologic examination showed triggered points in the first and second division of the trigeminal nerve. The patient was treated with verapamil (160 mg/day) and prednisone (60 mg/day), with relief of his symptoms. The periodicity of bouts was once a year. The literature was reviewed and 37 cases previosly reported are considered. We conclude that there are two different groups of patients. In the first group, the patients had cluster and trigeminal bouts in different time. In the second group, with only nine cases, the patients presented both cluster and trigeminal type of pain at the same time, as in the two cases reported here.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Lead poisoning among children of Santo Amaro, Bahia, Brazil in 1980, 1985, and 1992.

A cross-sectional epidemiologic survey conducted at the beginning of 1992 evaluated the status of lead intoxication among children from 1 to 5 years of age living within 500 meters of a primary lead smelter in the Brazilian city of Santo Amaro, Bahia. A total of 103 children in this age group were initially enrolled in the study; however, 2 were later excluded because they could not be located, and 1 was excluded from the statistical analyses for reasons noted below. The results were compared with those from similar surveys made in 1980 and 1985 in the same area with children of the same age. A blood sample was obtained from each child, the child's hematocrit and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP) level were determined, and an interview questionnaire was used to collect information of clinical or epidemiologic interest from the child's mother or guardian. The geometric average ZPP was 65.5 micrograms/100 mL (geometric standard deviation = 1.7), a level far exceeding the upper limit of normality established by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of 30 micrograms/100 mL. One child was excluded from the statistical analyses because it exhibited an extremely high ZPP level (789 micrograms/100 mL). Higher average ZPP levels were found for girls, children with darker-skinned racial backgrounds, children from homes where smelter slag was commonly used around the house, children presenting pica, and children of smelter workers. Of the symptoms of lead poisoning investigated, only nervousness and easy irritability exhibited high frequencies among the children studied. However, the prevalence of above-normal ZPP levels suggestive of lead poisoning was 92.2% in 1980, 98.4% in 1985, and 97.0% in 1992. Hence, the apparent prevalence of lead poisoning continued very high in 1992, indicating that the control measures adopted were ineffective or that other unidentified and uncontrolled risk factors were playing an important role. Overall, however, the proportion of children with very high ZPP levels fell sharply, and that of children with moderately high levels also declined notably, indicating that the severity of the problem had been reduced even though new cases of intoxication continued to occur. The Santo Amaro smelter closed its doors in December 1993.

Brazil↗