This article is intended to explain core ideas resulting from processes of which Peruvian environmental legal system is derived; it is morean overview rather than a system characterization, as well as a perspective or sampling foresight representing Río +20 process meaning. In that sense, it examines the modern environmental regulations rising context and provides a brief retrospective of Peruvian environmental legal system development and prospective studies within the frame of green economy paradigms and the environmental governance, presenting only three prospective references aschallenges and trends on: Climate and Energy Law, a new legal Framework for a Green Economy and Sustainable Enterprise, and finally, stressing emphatically on mega-cities, Conurbation and Land use Planning issues given little attention usually law renders to this matters. / El ensayo pretende explicar las ideas fuerza de los procesos quedan origen al sistema jurídico ambiental peruano, una reseña antes que una caracterización del sistema, así como una perspectiva o prospectiva muestral a resultas de lo que representa el proceso denominado Río + 20. En ese sentido, da cuenta del contexto en que surge la normativa ambiental nacional moderna, igualmente ofrece una breve retrospectiva del desarrollo del sistema jurídico ambiental peruano y las prospectivas en el marco de los paradigmas de la economía verde y la gobernanza ambiental, mostrando solo tres referentes proyectivos a modo de desafíos y tendencias sobre el derecho climático y derecho energético, el imperativo de un nuevo marco legal parauna economía verde y empresa sostenible; y un gran énfasis al tema de las megaciudades, conurbación y ordenamiento territorial, con énfasis, debido a la poca atención que le suele brindar el derecho.

Made available in DSpace on 2011-05-04T12:36:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009 / O Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, unidade de pesquisa biomédica da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, quer chegar em 2015 como um Instituto de Pesquisa e Tecnologia internacional de excelência, formador de cientistas e técnicos, reconhecido pela qualidade de sua ação de referência de diagnóstico, assistência e vigilância epidemiológica e capaz de responder às demandas na área de saúde com rapidez e confiabilidade. Este trabalho apresenta uma proposta de estudo prospectivo como ferramenta indispensável de planejamento estratégico para subsidiar a tomada de decisões e a formulação das políticas institucionais que façam o Instituto Oswaldo Cruz alcançar suavisão de futuro. A metodologia utilizada envolveu a realização de revisão da literatura para a construção do referencial teórico, a análise comparativa de três estudos prospectivos realizados no país e um realizado por instituição estrangeira e a identificação dos instrumentos e ferramentas utilizados nesses estudos. O resultado foi a apresentação de uma proposta de estudo prospectivo dividido em três fases: Inicial, de coleta, tratamento e sistematização da informação; Principal, de análise e interpretação da informação e produção do conhecimento; e de Comprometimento, de disseminação dos resultados, que propiciará ao IOC alcançar a excelência descrita em sua visão de futuro. / The Oswaldo Cruz Institute, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's biomedical research unit, is aiming to reach 2015 as "a international Institute of Research and Technology of excelence, former of scientists and technicians, acknowledged by the quality of its actions of reference to diagnosis, assistance and epidemiologic surveillance, and able to respond to the demands in the health area with agility and reliability." This paper represents a proposal of prospective study as an indispensable strategic planning tool to subsidize the decision making and the formulation of institutional policies to make the Oswaldo Cruz Institute reach its vision of the future. The methodology used involved the realisation of a literature review in order to build the theoretical referential, the comparative analysis of three prospective studies made in the country and one made by a foreign institution and the identification of the instruments and tools used in these studies. The result was the presentation of a prospective study proposal divided in three phases: the Inicial one, of collection, treatment and sistematization of the information; the Principal one, of analysis and interpretation of this information and the knowledgement production; and the Commitment one, of dissemination of the results, wich will propiciate the Institute Oswaldo Cruz to reach the excelence described in its vision of the future.

No presente estudo, 30 pacientes, do sexo masculino com idade mediana de 29 anos, portadores de hérnias inguinais / inguino-escrotais, unilaterais, indiretas e primárias, sem encarceramento ou estrangulamento, foram submetidos à hernioplastia inguinal, por meio de inguinotomia, sob raqui-anestesia em regime de internação hospitalar. A técnica de correção utilizada foi a de Bassini modificada, sendo que estas modificações repousam no tipo da incisão, abordagem da fáscia transversalis e no reforço da parede posterior do canal inguinal. Os objetivos foram os de avaliar os resultados do pós-operatório mediato quanto aos eventos: intensidade e duração da dor pós-operatória e o tempo de retorno às atividades normais, estabelecendo assim a duração maior ou menor do período de convalescença. Das hérnias operadas 33,33% e 66,67% foram classificadas no intra-operatório como tipos I e II de Nyhus, respectivamente. A duração da cirurgia variou entre 45 e 85 minutos, com média de 66,46 minutos e mediana de 66,5 minutos. A permanência hospitalar foi menor que 24 horas. O índice de mortalidade foi nulo e o seguimento foi feito no 10º e 30° dias de pós-operatório. A intensidade média da dor pós-operatória atingiu seu pico máximo no 1º dia, alcançando 2,93 na escala analógica decimal, sendo que a partir do 5° dia de pós-operatório se tornou insignificante. O retorno às atividades habituais e sociais se deu em um período médio de 5,34 dias. O tempo de retorno ao trabalho alcançou a média de 11,23 dias e mediana de 5 dias. Observou-se complicação leve em dois pacientes (6,67%), que apresentaram edema de bolsa escrotal de rápida resolução. Não se observou complicações infecciosas apesar do não uso de antimicrobianos. A análise dos dados obtidos permite concluir que o procedimento é exeqüível, com boa aceitação por parte dos pacientes, apresentando resultados comparáveis aos obtidos na literatura / In the present study, 30 patients, of the male sex, with an average age of 29, victims of inguinal hernias/ inguino-scrotum, unilateral, indirect and primaries, without confinement or strangulation, were submitted to inguinal hernioplasty, thru inguinotomy, under rachianesthesia on a regimen as hospital in--patients. The correction technique used was the modified- Bassini, since these modifications lie in the kind of incision, approaching of the fascia transversalis and in the reinforcement of the posterior wall of the inguinal duct. The purposes were of evaluating the mediate post-operative results as to the events: intensity and duration of the post-operative pain in the period of time of return to the normal activities, thus determining the longer or shorter duration of the recovery period. Among the operated hernias 33.33% and 66.67% they were classified in the intra-operative as types I and II of Nyhus, respectively. The duration of the surgery varied between 45 and 85 minutes, with an average of 66.46 minutes and median of 66.5 minutes. The in-patients stay in the hospital was less than 24 hours. The mortality rate was null and the follow up was made on the 10th and 30th days of the post operative. The average intensity of the post-operative pain reached its appex on the 1st day, reaching 2.93 in the decimal analogical scale, and as of the 5th day of the post-operative it became insignificant. The return both to the usual and social activities happened in an average period of time of 5.34 days. The period of time of returning to work reached an average of 11.23 days and a median of 5 days. A slight complication was observed in two patients (6.67%), who had edema in the scrotum pouch of fast solution. No infectious complications were detected in spite of not using any anti-microbians. The analysis of the data obtained allow to conclude that the procedure is feasible, with good approval on the part of the patients, presenting results comparable to the ones obtained in the literature

Introdução: A esclerodermia é rara doença do tecido conectivo que se manifesta através da esclerose cutânea e variável acometimento sistêmico. Duas categorias de esclerodermia são conhecidas: esclerose sistêmica, caracterizada por esclerose cutânea e acometimento visceral e a esclerodermia localizada ou morfeia que classicamente apresenta evolução benigna e autolimitada, confinada a pele e/ou tecidos subjacentes. Estudos recentes demonstram que a forma localizada possa eventualmente apresentar acometimento de órgãos internos e morbidade variável. Objetivo: Neste estudo objetivamos determinar as características demográficas, a prevalência de manifestações sistêmicas e alterações laboratoriais, bem como a associação com doenças autoimunes, em pacientes com esclerodermia da face. Métodos: Pacientes com esclerodermia localizada, incluindo os casos de esclerodermia em golpe de sabre, síndrome de Parry-Romberg e morfeia em placas com acometimento facial, foram avaliados e submetidos à investigação neurológica, incluindo exame clínico neurológico e ressonância magnética de crânio, e avaliação oftalmológica. Após 3 anos, o subgrupo de pacientes disponível para seguimento foi ressubmetido à ressonância magnética. Resultados: Foram estudados 34 pacientes com esclerodermia localizada da face. Deste total, 64,7% apresentavam uma ou mais manifestações extracutâneas, sendo cefaleia a queixa mais frequente, encontrada em 61,8% dos pacientes. Dos 23 pacientes submetidos à avaliação neurológica, 56,5% apresentaram alterações neurológicas possivelmente associadas à esclerodermia. Alterações à ressonância magnética foram observadas em 50% dos casos. O achado mais frequente foi a presença de lesões parenquimatosas com alteração de sinal em 50% dos pacientes. Dos pacientes que apresentavam alteração neurológica, 80% também apresentavam alguma alteração à ressonância magnética. Doze pacientes foram ressubmetidos a novo exame após 3 anos. Em todos os pacientes os achados de imagem se mantiveram inalterados. Durante esse intervalo de 3 anos, 25% dos pacientes apresentaram sinais de atividade da esclerodermia. Quanto à avaliação oftalmológica, 67,9% dos pacientes avaliados apresentaram alteração, sendo os achados mais frequentes a ocorrência de alterações orbiculares da esclerodermia (20,6%) e xeroftalmia (10,7%). Conclusão: Pacientes com esclerodermia localizada da face apresentam alta prevalência de alterações neurológicas e oftalmológicas. Baseado nestes achados, sugerimos que todos os casos de esclerodermia localizada da face devam ser detalhadamente examinados quanto à presença de alterações sistêmicas / Introduction: Scleroderma is a rare connective tissue disease that manifests as skin sclerosis and variable systemic involvement. Two categories of scleroderma are known: systemic sclerosis, characterized by cutaneous sclerosis and visceral involvement and localized scleroderma or morphea which classically presents benign evolution and selflimited, confined to the skin and / or underlying tissue. Recent studies show that the localized form may possibly course with involvement of internal organs and variable morbidity. Objective: This study aimed to determine the demographic characteristics, the prevalence of systemic manifestations and laboratory findings, as well as the association with autoimmune diseases, in patients with scleroderma of the face. Methods: Patients with localized scleroderma, including cases of scleroderma en coup de sabre, Parry-Romberg syndrome and morphea plaque with facial involvement were evaluated and underwent neurological examination, including neurologic examination and magnetic resonance imaging, and ophthalmology evaluation. After 3 years, the subgroup of patients available for follow-up was subjected again to MRI. Results: We studied 34 patients with localized scleroderma of the face. Of this total, 64,7% had one or more extracutaneous manifestation, headache being the most frequent complaint found in 61,8% of patients. Of the 23 patients undergoing neurological evaluation, 56,5% had neurological changes possibly associated with scleroderma. MRI changes were observed in 50% of cases. The most frequent was the presence of parenchymal lesions with signal alteration in 50% of patients. Of the patients who had neurological deficits, 80% also had a change to MRI. Twelve patients were subjected again to another MRI scan after 3 years. In all patients, imaging findings were unchanged. During this interval of 3 years, 25% of patients showed signs of activity of scleroderma. As for ophthalmologic evaluation, 67,9% of patients showed abnormalities, with the most frequent findings being the occurrence of orbicular changes of scleroderma (20.6%) and xerophthalmia (10.7%). Conclusion: Patients with localized scleroderma face have a high prevalence of neurological and ophthalmological changes. Based on these findings, we suggest that all cases of localized scleroderma of the face should be thoroughly examined for the presence of systemic changes

A doença de Wilson é um distúrbio da excreção biliar de cobre devido a um defeito na proteína ATP7B. Em caráter pioneiro na América do Sul, seqüenciou-se o gene ATP7B em 60 pacientes brasileiros pertencentes a 46 famílias; os resultados foram relacionados com aspectos demográficos e fenotípicos. Detectaram-se 25 mutações, 12 das quais novas. A 3402delC (34,8%) e a L708P (14,1%) ocorreu em 58,3% das famílias de São Paulo e em 44,4% das de Minas Gerais, respectivamente. As substituições novas, pesquisadas por RFLP ou PCR alelo-específica, não ocorreram em 60 indivíduos controle; portanto, não são polimorfismos comuns. O estudo comparativo de haplótipos dos portadores da L708P da coorte atual e de Gran Canaria sugeriu um efeito-fundador comum para ambos os grupos. O fenótipo variou amplamente para genótipos idênticos / ATP7B protein. As the first study of its kind in South America, the ATP7B gene was sequenced and the results were related to demographic and phenotypic aspects of 60 Brazilian patients, from 46 distinct families. Twenty-five mutations were detected, 12 of which are novel. The 3402delC (34.8%) and the L708P (14.1%) occurred in 58.3% of the families from Sao Paulo and in 44.4% of those from Minas Gerais, respectively. The novel substitutions were shown not to be common polymorphisms by RFLP or allele-specific PCR studies performed in 60 control subjects. Haplotype analysis comparing carriers of the L708P from this cohort study with patients from Gran Canary suggests the same founder-effect for both groups. Phenotype varied widely for identic genotypes.

INTRODUÇÃO: A utilização de enxertos arteriais na revascularização cirúrgica do miocárdio já está bem estabelecida atualmente pelos cirurgiões cardiovasculares, e sua esqueletização tem apresentado algumas vantagens, a princípio com a artéria torácica interna esquerda. OBJETIVO: Com o objetivo de analisar esse método de dissecção na artéria radial, foram avaliados os desempenhos funcional e hemodinâmico bem como as características morfoanatômicas e histológicas dos enxertos aortocoronários de artéria radial, esqueletizados ou com tecidos adjacentes, na revascularização cirúrgica do miocárdio. MÉTODOS: Foram comparados 40 pacientes, distribuídos randomicamente em dois grupos. No grupo I foi utilizada artéria radial esqueletizada (20 pacientes) e no grupo II, artéria radial com tecidos adjacentes (20 pacientes), para os ramos marginais da artéria coronária esquerda. No total, 39 pacientes foram submetidos a cinecoronariografia e fluxometria com cateter-guia Doppler de 12 MHz (0,014 polegada, Flowire, Jometrics Inc.), no pós-operatório imediato. RESULTADOS: Os dois grupos apresentaram características demográficas semelhantes. As variáveis intra-operatórias principais da artéria radial também foram semelhantes, com comprimento de 17,1 cm no grupo I e de 16,3 cm no grupo II, e débito livre de 80,3 ml/min no grupo I e de 95,5 ml/min no grupo II. Não foram observadas diferenças morfoanatômicas e histológicas nos grupos comparados. Os diâmetros dos enxertos de artéria radial, calculados por meio de angiografia quantitativa no pós-operatório, foram semelhantes (2,66 mm no grupo I e 2,53 mm no grupo II), assim como as variáveis fluxométricas (fluxo sanguíneo de 54,9 ml/min no grupo I e de 44,28 ml/min no grupo II, e reserva de fluxo de 2,12 no grupo I e de 2 no grupo II). Por outro lado, a cinecoronariografia revelou presença de oclusão em um enxerto e estenose em cinco enxertos no grupo II, enquanto o grupo I apresentou estenose em apenas um enxerto de artéria radial (p = 0,091). CONCLUSÕES: Os enxertos aortocoronários de artéria radial tiveram bom desempenho funcional e hemodinâmico precoce. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto ao desempenho funcional e hemodinâmico precoce, e quanto às características morfoanatômicas e histológicas. / BACKGROUND: The use of artery grafts in the surgical revascularization of the myocardium is currently a well-established procedure by cardiovascular surgeons, and its skeletonization has posed some advantages, in principle, with the left internal thoracic artery. OBJECTIVE: With the purpose of analyzing this radial artery harvest method, the study evaluated the functional and hemodynamic early performance, as well as the morphological anatomic and histological features of the aortic coronary grafts of the radial artery, skeletonized or with surrounding tissues, in the surgical revascularization of the myocardium. METHODS: The study compared 40 patients, randomly distributed in two groups. In Group I, we employed a skeletonized radial artery (20 patients), and in Group II, the radial artery with surrounding tissues (20 patients), for the marginal branches of the left coronary artery. In total, 39 patients underwent cinecoronariography and fluxometry with a 12-MHz Doppler guide catheter (0.014 in., Flowire, Jometrics Inc.), in the immediate postoperative period. RESULTS: Both groups presented similar demographic features. The main intra-surgical variables of the radial artery were also similar, with an extension of 17.1 cm in Group I, and 16.3 cm in Group II, and the free flow was of 80.3 ml/min in Group I, and of 95.5 ml/min in Group II. No morphological anatomic and histological differences were observed in the compared groups. The diameters of the radial artery grafts, which were calculated by quantitative angiography in the postoperative period, were similar (2.66 mm in Group I, and 2.53 mm in Group II), as well as the flow variables (blood flow of 54.9 ml/min in Group I, and of 44.28 ml/min in Group II, and a flow reserve of 2.12 in Group I, and of 2 in Group II). On the other hand, the cinecoronariography revealed the presence of an occlusion in one graft, and of stenosis in five grafts of Group II, while Group I presented stenosis in only one radial artery graft (p = 0.091). CONCLUSIONS: The aortic coronary grafts of the radial artery displayed good functional and hemodynamic early performance. There was no difference between the groups regarding functional and hemodynamic early performance, and the morphological anatomical and histological features.

INTRODUÇÃO: O tratamento e o seguimento do carcinoma papilífero de tireoide (CPT) são individualizados pelos riscos de recorrência e mortalidade. A indicação do iodo radioativo (iodo-131) para ablação de remanescente tireóideo captante é controversa em casos classificados como de baixo risco. Por diminuir a massa tireóidea remanescente, a dose ablativa com iodo-131 (DAIR) facilita o seguimento pós-operatório, mas tem riscos e onera o tratamento. Não se encontrou na literatura estudo demonstrando a evolução da captação cervical do iodo-131 e da concentração sérica de tireoglobulina (TG) em pacientes submetidos à tireoidectomia total por CPT de riscos muito baixo e baixo, sem DAIR. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a evolução da captação cervical do iodo-131 e da concentração sérica de TG em pacientes com CPT de baixo e muito baixo risco, após tireoidectomia total e não submetidos a DAIR. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado estudo prospectivo não randomizado em pacientes com CPT de baixo e muito baixo risco submetidos a tireoidectomia total, atendidos no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo no período setembro de 2008 novembro de 2011. Após a tireoidectomia foi ministrada levotiroxina na dose necessária para manter a concentração de hormônio tireo-estimulante (TSH) entre 0,5 e 1,0 U/ml. Dosagem sérica de TG, pesquisa de corpo inteiro com iodo-131 (PCI) e dosagem de iodo urinário foram realizadas sob estímulo de TSH endógeno elevado por interrupção da reposição hormonal com levotiroxina, por 30 dias, e dieta pobre em iodo por 15 dias. Foram realizadas ultrassonografias cervicais três e 12 meses após a tireoidectomia. As concentrações séricas de TSH e tiroxina livre sem supressão do TSH foram realizadas seis, nove e 12 meses após a tireoidectomia. RESULTADOS: Dos 26 pacientes incluídos, 22 eram do sexo feminino (84,6%), e quatro, do masculino (15,4%), com idade variando de 27 a 45 anos (média de 38,5 anos e mediana de 39,5 anos). Onze pacientes (42,3%) foram estratificados como de muito baixo risco, e 15 (57,7%), como de baixo risco. Todos os pacientes estavam em hipotireoidismo, no momento da avaliação inicial e final (TSH > 30?U/ml), e os exames realizados seis, nove e 12 meses após a operação, com ingestão de levotiroxina, mostraram as medianas da concentração de TSH de 3,4 ?U/mL, 0,3 ?U/mL e 1,5 ?U/mL, respectivamente. A média da captação de iodo-131 caiu de 1,9% na avaliação inicial para 0,5% na final, e a média da concentração sérica de TG estimulada caiu de 3,1 ng/mL para 1,9 ng/ml. CONCLUSÃO: Houve diminuição estatisticamente significativa da captação cervical do iodo-131 e da concentração sérica de TG sem DAIR nos pacientes submetidos a tireoidectomia total por CPT de baixo e muito baixo risco, sem supressão do TSH / INTRODUCTION: The treatment and follow-up of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are individualized according to the risk of recurrence and mortality. Radioiodine ablation of thyroid remnant is controversial in low-risk patients. By reducing the thyroid remnant, ablation with radioiodine facilitates the follow-up, but it adds risks and increases the cost of the treatment. We found no published study showing the outcome of cervical uptake of radioactive iodine and the serum concentration of thyroglobulin (TG) in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy for PTC classified as very low risk and low risk who did not undertake ablative dose of radioactive iodine. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to document changes in the cervical uptake of radioiodine and changes in TG concentrations in low-risk and very low-risk PTC patients not submitted to radioiodine remnant ablation (RRA). METHODS: We conducted a prospective non-randomized study in patients with PTC classified as low risk and very low risk undergoing total thyroidectomy at the General Hospital of the University of Sao Paulo, School of Medicine, from September 2008 to November 2011. Levothyroxine was administered after thyroidectomy at a dose required to maintain the concentration of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between 0.5 and 1.0 ?U/ml. Serum thyroglobulin, whole body scan with iodine-131 and urinary iodine were evaluated under high endogenous TSH stimulation after 30 days levothyroxine withdrawal and iodine-poor diet for 15 days. Neck ultrasounds were performed three and 12 months after thyroidectomy. The concentration of serum TSH and free thyroxine without TSH suppression were measured six, nine and 12 months after thyroidectomy. RESULTS: Of the 26 patients included, 22 were female (84.6%) and four were male (15.4%), aged ranged from 27 to 45 years (mean 38.5 years, median 39.5 years). Eleven patients (42.3%) were classified as very low risk and 15 (57.7%) as low risk. All subjects were hypothyroidism at the time of the initial and final evaluations (TSH> 30 ?U/ml). Tests performed six, nine and 12 months after the operation with levothyroxine showed the median concentration of TSH 3.4 ?U/ml, 0.3 U/ml and 1.5 ?U/ml, respectively. The average uptake of iodine-131 dropped 1.9% at baseline to the end of 1.5% and higher mean serum thyroglobulin fell from 3.1 ng/mL to 1.9 ng/ml. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant reduction in cervical radioiodine uptake and in stimulated TG level over one year\'s observation of low-risk and very low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma patients who were not treated with RRA, even in the absence of TSH suppression

Em um estudo prospectivo sobre o tratamento das artroplastias de quadril infectadas, com perdas ósseas e fístulas ativas, 25 pacientes foram tratados em dois tempos e 36 pacientes foram tratados em dois tempos com espaçador de cimento impregnado com vancomicina. O acompanhamento médio foi de dois anos e onze meses. A taxa de recidiva infecciosa foi de 29,2% nos tratados em dois tempos e de 8,8% nos tratados com espaçador. O Escore de Harris para Quadril médio passou de 19,3 para 69,0 pontos nos casos tratados em dois tempos e de 19,7 para 72,2 pontos nos pacientes tratados com espaçador. Ao final do estudo, 86,1% dos tratados com espaçador e em 33,3% dos tratados em dois tempos tinham próteses em bom funcionamento e sem infecção. O espaçador de cimento com antibiótico é o tratamento de escolha nas próteses infectadas de quadril / We report a prospective study of 61 patients with chronically deep infected hip replacements with actively discharging sinuses, treated with a two-stage revision protocol, with and without a cement spacer impregnated with vancomycin. The average follow-up was two years and eleven months. Twenty-five patients were treated without a spacer and seven had recurrence of infection. Thirty-three patients were treated with a spacer and three had recurrence of infection. The average Harris Hip score increased from 19,3 to 69,0 on the non-spacer patients and from 19,7 to 75,2 on the spacer group. At the end of the study, the success rate was 86,1% for the spacer group and 33,3% for the non-spacer group. The use of the spacer increased the results of the two-stage chronic infected hip replacements

Background: Cognitive impairment is prevalent in survivors of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and increases risk for poor outcomes. Lifestyle changes are recommended to patients after ACS to reduce their risk for recurrent events, but cognitively impaired patients may encounter difficulties initiating these changes. This dissertation had three aims: (1) to examine cognitive status as a predictor of lifestyle changes after ACS, (2) to examine whether caregiver support moderates the association of cognitive status and initiation of lifestyle changes, and (3) to assess the reliability of self-reported lifestyle changes in cognitively impaired patients through comparison of their reports of lifestyle change with those from their caregivers. Methods: For aims 1 and 2, Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to examine the association of cognitive status and caregiver support with patient-reported initiation of five lifestyle changes (improving diet, increasing exercise, quitting smoking, reducing stress, and attending cardiac rehabilitation) in 881 patients from TRACE-CORE, a prospective longitudinal observational study of outcomes in ACS. For aim 3, pilot data from 78 patient-caregiver dyads from TRACE-CARE, an ancillary substudy, were used to examine whether patient-caregiver congruence on reports of lifestyle changes varied according to patients’ cognitive function. Results: Patient-reported rates of lifestyle change did not vary according to cognitive status, except for participation in cardiac rehabilitation. Caregiver support improved patient-reported rates of lifestyle change among cognitively intact patients but not cognitively impaired patients. Patients’ cognitive function was positively associated with patient-caregiver congruence on reports of initiation of lifestyle changes and patients with decreased cognitive function tended to over-report initiation of lifestyle changes compared to reports by their caregivers. Conclusion: Although cognitive status was not associated with initiation of most lifestyle changes and the influence of caregiver support on initiation of lifestyle changes was only beneficial to cognitively intact patients in this cohort of ACS patients, these null findings may be explained by the questionable validity of self-report in cognitively impaired patients. This dissertation yields new knowledge about secondary prevention in ACS patients and provides insight into the challenges of conducting patient-reported outcomes research in cognitively compromised populations.

Acrylamide is a common dietary exposure that crosses the human placenta. It is classified as a probable human carcinogen, and developmental toxicity has been observed in rodents. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations between prenatal exposure to acrylamide and birth outcomes in a prospective European mother-child study. METHODS: Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts of acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide were measured in cord blood (reflecting cumulated exposure in the last months of pregnancy) from 1,101 singleton pregnant women recruited in Denmark, England, Greece, Norway, and Spain during 2006-2010. Maternal diet was estimated through food-frequency questionnaires. RESULTS: Both acrylamide and glycidamide Hb adducts were associated with a statistically significant reduction in birth weight and head circumference. The estimated difference in birth weight for infants in the highest versus lowest quartile of acrylamide Hb adduct levels after adjusting for gestational age and country was -132 g (95% CI: -207, -56); the corresponding difference for head circumference was -0.33 cm (95% CI: -0.61, -0.06). Findings were similar in infants of nonsmokers, were consistent across countries, and remained after adjustment for factors associated with reduced birth weight. Maternal consumption of foods rich in acrylamide, such as fried potatoes, was associated with cord blood acrylamide adduct levels and with reduced birth weight. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary exposure to acrylamide was associated with reduced birth weight and head circumference. Consumption of specific foods during pregnancy was associated with higher acrylamide exposure in utero. If confirmed, these findings suggest that dietary intake of acrylamide should be reduced among pregnant women.