Oral health-related quality of life of Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disabilities

Individuals with disabilities are regarded as a highly vulnerable population group, particularly as far as oral health is concern. However, few studies have assessed the impact of the oral condition on the quality of life of these individuals. Therefore, the aim of this study is to expand knowledge on the oral health status of the Portuguese adults with mild intellectual disability, and to assess how the patient’s oral health is related to their quality of life. A sample of 240 adults with mild intellectual disabilities linked to the Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disability, were interviewed using a previously validated version of the Oral Health Impact Profile. An oral health examination was also conducted using three oral health indexes: Clinical Oral Health Index (COHI); Clinical Oral Care Needs Index (COCNI) and the Clinical Oral Prevention Index (COPI). Sociodemographic characteristics and dental health factors were also collected, following statistical analysis. More than half of the individuals (54,9%) presented one or more problems of major to severe impact on health (COHI level 2); only 4,6% of the individuals do not need treatment or examination (COCNI level 0) and 85% of the study sample needs measures of educational or preventive action (COPI level 1). In 76,9% of the participants, oral health had impact on the quality of life. The most affected dimensions of life were physical pain with 61,9%, followed by psychological discomfort and psychological disability with 45,1% and 45%, respectively. With relation to oral health factors and sociodemographic variables it was verified that fewer teeth and higher self-perception of need for dental treatment had a negative impact on the quality of life. On the other hand, institutionalization and an increase in at least one category in the self-perception of the oral health status had a positive impact on the quality of life. Given the high burden of oral disease and the considerable impact on quality of life found in this study, the establishment of guidelines to improve the oral health and quality of life of these individuals should be regarded as imperative.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Validation of a Portuguese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile adapted to people with mild intellectual disabilities (OHIP-14-MID-PT)

Background The purpose of this study is to develop a Portuguese version of the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-14) and validate it for people with mild intellectual disability (OHIP-14-MID-PT). Methods The Portuguese version of the questionnaire was drawn up from the original English version, following internationally defined guidelines. Interviews were conducted with 240 individuals living in (or attending) institutions of the central region of Portugal that are affiliated with Humanitas (Portuguese Federation for Intellectual Disability) to measure oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL). The interview also included a sociodemographic and oral health questionnaire followed by an intraoral examination. Two types of reliability were analyzed: test-retest (ICC) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s α, inter-item and item-total correlations). Convergent and divergent validities were also assessed, and a confirmatory factor analysis was performed using the maximum likelihood method. Results The OHIP-14-MID-PT presented high reliability (ICC = 0.999; Cronbach’s α = 0.922). The inter-item correlation coefficient ranged from 0.277 to 0.749, and the item-total correlation coefficient varied between 0.529 and 0.718. Lower OHIP-14-MID-PT total scores were significantly associated with: a self-perception of better oral health status (r = -0.545, p<0,001) and reduced need for dental treatment (U = 2366.5, p<0,001), more natural teeth (χ2 = 29.74, p<0,001) and better results in the clinical oral health index (COHI) (χ2 = 18.50, p<0,001); the results support the convergent and divergent validities of the questionnaire. Conclusions OHIP-14-MID-PT has proved to be a consistent, valid and reliable instrument with good psychometric properties to determine the impact of oral health on quality of life in adults with mild intellectual disabilities in Portugal.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reflectance confocal microscopy for the diagnosis of skin infections and infestations

Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a noninvasive real-time imaging technique that has been widely used for the diagnosis of skin cancer. More recently, it has been reported as a useful tool for the diagnosis and management of several inflammatory and infectious skin disorders. This article provides an overview of the current available applications of RCM use in cutaneous infections and infestations. PubMed was used to search the following terms in various combinations: reflectance confocal microscopy, skin, hair, nail, infection, parasitosis, mycosis, virus, bacteria. All papers were accordingly reviewed. In most cutaneous infections or infestations, the main alterations are found in the epidermis and upper dermis, where the accuracy of confocal microscopy is nearly similar to that of histopathology. The high resolution of this technique allows the visualization of most skin parasites, fungi, and a few bacteria. Although viruses cannot be identified because of their small size, viral cytopathic effects can be observed on keratinocytes. In addition, RCM can be used to monitor the response to treatment, thereby reducing unnecessary treatments

Desenvolvimento de uma aplicação web para gerenciamento e visualização de termometria em silos graneleiros

TCC (graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Campus Araranguá. Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação.O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de grãos do mundo, para armazená-los, os produtores na maioria das vezes optam por utilizar os silos graneleiros, que são estruturas cilíndricas constituída de concreto, alvenaria e chapas metálicas, capazes de conservar e manter os grãos secos durante um determinado tempo. Contudo, devido ao fato dos silos situarem-se em terrenos abertos, os produtores enfrentam dificuldades durante o processo de armazenagem, tendo eventualmente problemas com a umidade, aquecimento e fungos. Para combater esses itens, existem dois processos principais, a secagem, na qual tem por objetivo de diminuir a umidade dos grãos, e o processo de aeração, responsável pelo resfriamento da massa, remoção de odores e prevenir aquecimentos no interior do silo. Estes processos são realizados com base nas informações de temperatura e umidade, coletadas manualmente no interior do silo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o desenvolvimento de uma aplicação web que gerencie as principais atividades a serem executadas em silos graneleiros, para gerar uma tomada de decisão com base nas informações obtidas, por exemplo a temperatura e a umidade, utilizando tecnologias como a linguagem PHP, e os frameworks Symfony e Doctrine, possibilitando uma melhor análise da massa de grãos armazenadas nos silos. Como conclusão deste trabalho, foi desenvolvido a aplicação web com todos os requisitos levantados durante o trabalho

CATHETER-DIRECTED THROMBOLYSIS FOR DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS IN PREGNANT WOMEN AND PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE CANCER (A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW)

Introduction: Post-thrombotic syndrome is associated with severely decreased quality of life and develops in up to 50% of patients with iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) despite effective anticoagulation. Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) use has become widespread and is supported by a growing body of scientific evidence (including randomized controlled trials). However, almost all of these trials have excluded two groups of patients in which DVT has a particularly increased burden: pregnant women and patients with active cancer. Aims: This non-systematic review of literature aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the existing evidence on the safety and efficacy of CDT for iliofemoral DVT in these subgroups of patients. Results: Endovascular treatment of iliofemoral DVT during pregnancy and puerperium seems safe and effective both for the pregnant woman and the fetus. The risks of radiation (especially in the first trimester) must be discussed and taken in consideration. CDT and pharmacomechanical thrombolysis (PMT) are both safe and effective in patients with active cancer, as long as metastatic brain lesions are excluded. However, effective anticoagulation (with low-molecular weight heparin or, in selected patients, direct oral anticoagulants) should be prescribed after the intervention to maintain patency in these patients with continued thrombophilia.  Conclusions: CDT, with or without PMT, should be offered to pregnant patients and patients with active cancer provided that a careful risk-benefit assessment is made for each individual patient

Richness of gall morphospecies along a secondary successional gradient of Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil

Galling insects have been recommended as an excellent tool to evaluate environmental changes and habitat quality. In this study, we assessed the richness of gall morphospecies, as well as host-plant richness and abundance, to detect environmental changes in six patches of secondary Atlantic Forest in Northeast Brazil. The patches of forest varied in age (between 25 and 42 yrs) and size. In each patch, the plants between 1 and 3 meters tall were evaluated for a period of one hour, totaling six hours. A total of 50 gall morphospecies were found on 37 host-plant species (88 plant individuals). We identified 27 (72%) host-plant species belonging to 19 plant families. Richness of gall morphospecies and host-plant richness and abundance were not significantly affected by the age and size of the patch. However, the richness of gall morphospecies increased significantly as the host-plant percentage of shade-tolerant trees increased. Considering that the differences observed in this study, between younger and older patches, developed in a relatively short time period of forest recovery (c. 18 yrs), and that some host-plant species occurred exclusively in older patches, this study showed that gall-inducing insects are a good tool for evaluating changes in a secondary successional gradient. The use of gall-inducing insects as bioindicators in restoration and conservation programs is not only a good opportunity to advance this type of study but is also a useful application, at local and regional scales, to monitor the successional progress of forests.(Riqueza de morfoespécies de galhas ao longo de um gradiente sucessional em trechos de floresta Atlântica secundária no nordeste do Brasil). Insetos galhadores têm sido indicados como uma excelente ferramenta para avaliar as mudanças ambientais e a qualidade do habitat. Neste estudo, a riqueza de morfoespécies de galhas como também a riqueza e abundância de plantas hospedeiras foram avaliadas para detectar possíveis mudanças ambientas em seis trechos de floresta secundária em um remanescente de Floresta Atlântica localizado no nordeste do Brasil. Os trechos apresentaram diferentes tamanhos e idades de regeneração (entre 25 e 42 anos). Em cada trecho, as plantas entre 1-3 metros de altura foram inspecionadas durante uma hora, totalizando seis horas. Um total de 50 morfoespécies foi encontrado em 37 plantas hospedeiras (88 indivíduos). Foram identificadas 27 (72%) plantas distribuídas em 19 famílias. A riqueza de morfoespécies e a riqueza e abundância de plantas hospedeiras não foram afetadas com a idade de regeneração ou pelo tamanho do trecho. Porém, a riqueza de morfoespécies aumentou significantemente aumentando a porcentagem de plantas hospedeiras tolerantes à sombra. Considerando que nossos resultados foram observados em um curto intervalo sucessional (ca. 18 anos), e que algumas das plantas hospedeiras ocorreram exclusivamente em trechos mais avançados, é possível indicar os insetos galhadores como uma eficiente ferramenta de biomonitoramento. O uso destes insetos como bioindicadores em programas de restauração e conservação não é apenas uma boa oportunidade para avançar os estudos e tornar sua aplicação viável em uma escala local e regional, mas também decisivo no monitoramento do progresso sucessional

PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITY CONTROL OF BEE HONEYS FROM CAMPOS GERAIS REGION OF PARANÁ – BRAZIL

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) honeys have been widely used for therapeutic and nutritional proposes. For evaluating the honey production, physicochemical approaches have been extensively performed to ensure that this hive product is authentic in respect to the legal requirements. The aim of this paper was to discuss the quality control of 93 samples of honey from Campos Gerais region of Paraná State – South Brazil by physicochemical parameters. Moisture, reducing sugars, sucrose, water-insoluble solids, ash, free acidity, pH, activity of diastase, hydroxymethylfurfural content and colour were performed by the standard usual methods. Samples were also classified in floral honeys or honeydew honeys according to the Kirkwood equation. A total of 71 samples (76.34%) showed values in accordance with the Brazilian legal requirements for all the achieved physicochemical parameters. Otherwise, all the studied honeys were likewise within the legislation limits only for water-insoluble solids and colour. For pH, an additional parameter that has not been provided in honey legislation, samples showed values ranging from 3.60 to 5.35. By the Kirkwood equation, 61 honeys were considered as floral products

Physical Activity Levels in Peripheral Artery Disease Patients

BACKGROUND: Increases in daily physical activity levels is recommended for patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). However, despite this recommendation, little is known about the physical activity patterns of PAD patients. OBJECTIVE: To describe the physical activity patterns of patients with symptomatic peripheral artery (PAD) disease. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 174 PAD patients with intermittent claudication symptoms. Patients were submitted to clinical, hemodynamic and functional evaluations. Physical activity was objectively measured by an accelerometer, and the time spent in sedentary, low-light, high-light and moderate-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) were obtained. Descriptive analysis was performed to summarize patient data and binary logistic regression was used to test the crude and adjusted associations between adherence to physical activity recommendation and sociodemographic and clinical factors. For all the statistical analyses, significance was accepted at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Patients spent in average of 640 ± 121 min/day, 269 ± 94 min/day, 36 ± 27 min/day and 15 ± 16 min/day in sedentary, low-light, high-light and MVPA, respectively. The prevalence of patients who achieved physical activity recommendations was 3.4%. After adjustment for confounders, a significant inverse association was observed between adherence to physical activity recommendation and age (OR = 0.925; p = 0.004), while time of disease, ankle brachial index and total walking distance were not associated with this adherence criteria (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The patterns of physical activity of PAD patients are characterized by a large amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors and a low engagement in MVPA. Younger patients, regardless of the clinical and functional factors, were more likely to meet the current physical activity recommendations

Distribution and provenance of heavy minerals from recent sediments of Green Lake, North Brazil, revisited

Geostatistical and multivariate statistical analyses were applied to heavy mineral data from an Amazonian fluvial-lake system near the Tapajós River mouth to investigate the spatial distribution and source-area of sediments. Twenty-one points were investigated, and the physical characteristics of the Green Lake deepest point were determined. Sand accumulates in the lake margins and mud quantity increases towards the lake center. Heavy mineral assemblage is composed of zircon, tourmaline, kyanite, rutile, staurolite, anatase, sillimanite, garnet, and spinel. Tourmaline, staurolite, and spinel are more abundant in the southeast area of the lake, while kyanite is dominant in the north area and zircon is in the whole lake except in its southeast area. Zircon - tourmaline and zircon - staurolite pairs are negatively correlated (r= -0.947 and -0.775, respectively), while tourmaline - staurolite and sillimanite - anatase pairs have a positive correlation (r= 0.628 and 0.675, respectively) which indicate different source rock types. Geostatistical analysis grouped the heavy minerals in three grups: Group 1 (tourmaline – staurolite – spinel - kyanite) and Group 2 (garnet – rutile – sillimanite - anatase) related to metamorphic source rocks ranging from medium to high grade, and Group 3 (zircon) related to acid igneous source rocks. The heavy mineral assemblage of Green Lake is analogous to the assemblage of the Alter do Chão Formation, indicating that this formation is the source of sediments of Green Lake