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Hyperthyroidism is associated with elevated plasma levels of endothelium-derived proteins such as von Willebrand factor (vWF), fibronectin (FN) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). This study was designed to characterize the mechanisms involved in this phenomenon at the cellular level. vWF, FN and ET-1 secretion and mRNA expression were measured in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to tri-iodothyronine (T3) for 13 +/- 1 days, using ELISA, Western blot, RIA and Northern blot analysis respectively. Exposure of HUVECs to T3 significantly increased vWF secretion (50 ng T3/ml: 117 +/- 5%, P < 0.01; 100 ng T3/ml: 127 +/- 26%, P < 0.01) as well as vWF mRNA expression (50 ng/ml: 116 +/- 13%, P < 0.001; 100 ng/ml: 136 +/- 30%, P < 0.002) (results are means +/- S.D. analysed by the Wilcoxon signed rank test). FN secretion was significantly affected by 50 (145 +/- 42% of control, P < 0.05) and 100 (116.8 +/- 16% of control, P < 0.05) ng T3/ml, and FN mRNA expression by 50 ng T3/ml (123 +/- 20%, P < 0.05). Long-term incubation with T3 increased both ET-1 secretion (25 ng/ml: 124 +/- 25%, P < 0.001; 50 ng/ml: 165 +/- 53%, P < 0.05; 100 ng/ml: 116 +/- 17%, P < 0.05) and prepro-ET-1 mRNA expression (25 ng/ml: 112 +/- 16%, P < 0.05; 50 ng/ml: 134 +/- 43%, P < 0.02; 100 ng/ml: 120 +/- 20%, P < 0.02). Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms epsilon and beta II were not significantly affected by T3, whereas PKC alpha was increased in whole cell lysates and in membrane fractions of cells incubated with 100 but not 50 ng T3/ml. Prepro-ET-1 mRNA stability, cell numbers and proliferation, measured by [3H]thymidine assays, remained unaffected in HUVECs after exposure to T3. These data indicate thyroid hormone-induced upregulation of mRNA expression and protein synthesis of vWF, FN and ET-1, by PKC alpha-, beta II- and epsilon-independent pathways, explaining, at least in part, increased plasma concentrations of endothelial proteins and peptides in the hyperthyroid state.

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BackgroundNeeds for care in service users with schizophrenia are often defined by professionals and focus on basic needs for health and social care rather than broader existential issues.AimsTo examine the perceptions of users and formal and informal carers of the needs of people with non-affective psychosis.MethodA qualitative study was conducted involving focus groups of service users and informal and formal carers in a major Brazilian city Results Existential needs were the most important theme for people with psychotic disorders. Informal and formal carers mainly regarded such needs as secondary to needs for health, housing, leisure and work. Carers usually reduced the existential questioning of the ill person to symptoms or the result of a privation such as lack or failure of medication and its consequences.ConclusionsWe require an approach to service users wherein respect and understanding are prized as the first needs from which all others will naturally follow. We also need to give greater priority to existential issues in validated schedules that measure needs in clinical work and research.

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RESUMO. O estudo investigou sujeitos com esquizofrenia, famili ares e colegas de atividade/trabalho na busca do entendimento dos fatores que dificultam ou contribuem para a inclusão ocupacional de pessoas com este transtorno mental. Utilizou-se a metodologia qualitativa, por meio de entrevistas narrativas, na busca de conhecer a percepção destes sujeitos sobre a temática de interesse. Foram feitas entrevistas individuais com 20 sujeitos. Estas foram gravadas e, posteriormente, transcritas para análise de conteúdo. Três temáticas emergiram dos discursos. Na categoria ad erência ao tratamento, os participantes falam da importância do diagnóstico e do tratamento clínico/medicamentoso para a manutenção de um funcionamento saudável. Na categoria estigma e exclusão, os sujeitos apontam para as dificuldades de participar da vida social após o diagnóstico; o preconceito e as dificuldades funcionais são relacionados a este achado; assim como sentimentos de inutilidade e baixa autoestima. Na categoria ocupação e sentido da vida, os participantes apontam para o resgate do desejo de desfrutar a vida e se realizar como pessoa a partir da possibilidade de exercer atividades significativas; os sujeitos refletem sobre o impacto da atividade ocupacional nos relacionamentos familiares e comunitários, além de enfatizarem a melhora no padrão de funcionamento e desempenho após a experiência de inclusão. Conclui-se que devem ser feitos esforços no sentido de ampliar as oportunidades de inclusão ocupacional para pessoas com esquizofrenia e outros transtornos mentais graves e de longa evolução. Palavras-chave: inclusão ocupacional; esquizofrenia; estigma.

Pacientes de longa permanência em um hospital psiquiátrico no sul do Brasil ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To describe the demographic profile, social functioning, and quality of life of a population of long-stay care patients in a psychiatric hospital. METHODS:A study was carried out in Porto Alegre, Southern Brazil, in 2002. A total of 584 (96%) long-stay patients were assessed by means of the following instruments: the World Health Organization Quality of Life, the Social Behavior Schedule, the Independent Living Skills Survey, the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and another instrument for assessing disability (Questionnaire for Assessing Physical Disability). RESULTS:The average hospital stay was 26 years (SD: 15.8) and 46.6% of inpatients had no physical disability. Patients had their social functioning skills and autonomy largely impaired. Few of them (27.7%) answered the instrument for assessing quality of life, and showed significant impairments in all domains. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale evidenced a low prevalence of positive symptoms in this population. CONCLUSIONS:The institutionalized population studied presented significantly impaired social functioning, autonomy, and quality of life. These aspects need to be taken into consideration while planning for their deinstitutionalization. KEYWORDS

Autonomia de pacientes em internação prolongada em hospital psiquiátrico ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE:To assess personal autonomy of long-stay psychiatric inpatients, to identify those patients who could be discharged and to evaluate the impact of sociodemographic variables, social functioning, and physical disabilities on their autonomy was also assessed. METHODS:A total of 584 long-stay individuals of a psychiatric hospital (96% of the hospital population) in Southern Brazil was assessed between July and August 2002. The following instruments, adapted to the Brazilian reality, were used: independent living skills survey, social behavioral schedule, and questionnaire for assessing physical disability. RESULTS:Patients showed severe impairment of their personal autonomy, especially concerning money management, work-related skills and leisure, food preparation, and use of transportation. Autonomy deterioration was associated with length of stay (OR=1.02), greater physical disability (OR=1.54; p=0.01), and male gender (OR=3.11; p<0.001). The risk estimate of autonomy deterioration was 23 times greater among those individuals with severe impairment of social functioning (95% CI: 10.67-49.24). CONCLUSIONS:In-patients studied showed serious impairment of autonomy. While planning these patients' discharge their deficits should be taken into consideration. Assessment of patients' ability to function and to be autonomous helps in identifying their needs for care and to evaluate their actual possibilities of social reinsertion. KEYWORDS