Objective: The aim was to describe the effects of the use of citric acid in the healing process of chronic leprosy wounds. Approach: This is a case series, carried out with 5 people with chronic leprosy wounds, under continuous care in an outpatient center wound care in the center-south region of Brazil. The intervention protocol consisted of topical application of 3% citric acid (ointment), on the wound bed, in a thin layer of approximately 2 mm, on alternate days, and followed up for a total period of 8 weeks and secondary coverage rayon and gauze. The cases were analyzed regarding wound dimensions, histology and clinical observation. Results: It was observed in all cases better aspect of the wound bed, presence of granulation tissue and decrease of the inflammatory process with predominance of lymphocytes, reduction of bacterial colonies, increase and verticalization of type I collagen fibers, reduction of type III collagen and increased areas of epithelialization. Innovation: There was also a reduction in the level of pain and exudation after the treatment protocol. Conclusions: Therefore, the use of citric acid in leprosy neuropathic wounds is promising and may be a treatment option, considering its cost, clinical management and possible effect on the chronic inflammatory process.
Assess the nutritional and biochemical state of patients with Alzheimer Disease (AD) compared to a control group. This is an observational, case-control and descriptive type study, based on the recruiting of 22 elderly individuals with a clinical diagnosis of AD considered as the case group, and 22 other elderly individuals considered as the control group. Evaluations were made using the results from the following scales Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), anthropometric measurements for obtaining the body mass index (BMI) and biochemical analyses. The analyses were performed on the program SPSS version 20.0, using absolute and relative measures, T test for independent samples for measurement comparisons and the Spearman correlation test. In the cognitive evaluation MMSE, those participants with AD present higher risk of cognitive decline (81.8%), greater risk of malnutrition according to MNA (45.5%) and altered levels of leptin (90.9%). Upon performing the comparison analysis between the group with AD and the control group, there existed noteworthy differences between the means for the variables MNA (4.40; BMI95% 2.75 – 6.06), MMSE (10.54; BMI95% 7.09 – 13.99) and doses of HDL (High Density Lipoproteins) (14.53; BMI95% 6.18 – 22.88). As well as differences in the p-value < 0.09 in the leptin doses (11.54; BMI95% (-24.98 – 1.89) and transferrin dose (-72.31; BMI95% -159.48 – 14.84). The Spearman correlation demonstrated that the cognitive decline in the group of senior citizens with AD was strongly associated with nutritional conditions MNA (R 0.484) and the leptin dose (R 0.590). Senior citizens with AD present worse nutritional conditions, cognitive decline and biochemical alterations when compared to senior citizens in the control group. As such, the study demonstrated the need for an integrated healthcare assistance concerning senior citizens with AD.
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