Clinical treatment reverses attentional deficits in congestive heart failure

BACKGROUND: Congestive heart failure (CHF) is associated with cognitive deficits, particularly of memory and attention. The present study aims to clarify whether clinical treatment can reverse the attentional deficits of patients with CHF. METHODS: A convenience sample of 50 patients with CHF functional class IV and 30 elderly controls were recruited from a teaching hospital in Brazil. Participants received a clinical and cognitive examination that included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cambridge Cognitive Examination of the Elderly (CAMCOG), Digit Span, Digit-Symbol Substitution, and Letter Cancellation test. The cognitive performance of CHF patients was reassessed 6 weeks after the introduction of clinical treatment. RESULTS: Twenty-seven CHF subjects had MMSE<24, compared to only 10 of the controls (p = 0.07). CHF patients also had lower CAMCOG scores (mean = 71.8) than controls (mean = 82.0; p < 0.01). Digit Span, Digit Symbol and Letter Cancellation scores were lower for patients with CHF than controls (p < 0.01). Similarly patients with CHF took longer to complete the Trail Making A (p = 0.07) and B (p < 0.01). CAMCOG scores and left ventricular ejection fraction were moderately correlated (rho = 0.4, p < 0.01). Nineteen patients were lost for follow-up (11 deceased). Clinical treatment was associated with significant improvement of cognitive scores, particularly on the Digit Symbol (p < 0.01) and Letter Cancellation Tests (p < 0.01). Digit Span, Digit Symbol, Letter Cancellation and Trail Making scores of treated CHF patients and controls were similar (p > 0.10). CONCLUSIONS: CHF is associated with deficits in attention and psychomotor speed. These deficits improve with clinical treatment

Characterization of Vehicle Behavior with Information Theory

This work proposes the use of Information Theory for the characterization of vehicles behavior through their velocities. Three public data sets were used: i.Mobile Century data set collected on Highway I-880, near Union City, California; ii.Borl\"ange GPS data set collected in the Swedish city of Borl\"ange; and iii.Beijing taxicabs data set collected in Beijing, China, where each vehicle speed is stored as a time series. The Bandt-Pompe methodology combined with the Complexity-Entropy plane were used to identify different regimes and behaviors. The global velocity is compatible with a correlated noise with f^{-k} Power Spectrum with k >= 0. With this we identify traffic behaviors as, for instance, random velocities (k aprox. 0) when there is congestion, and more correlated velocities (k aprox. 3) in the presence of free traffic flow

The Kimberley assessment of depression of older Indigenous Australians: prevalence of depressive disorders, risk factors and validation of the KICA-dep scale

This study aimed to develop a culturally acceptable and valid scale to assess depressive symptoms in older Indigenous Australians, to determine the prevalence of depressive disorders in the older Kimberley community, and to investigate the sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical factors associated with depression in this population. Methods Cross-sectional survey of adults aged 45 years or over from six remote Indigenous communities in the Kimberley and 30% of those living in Derby, Western Australia. The 11 linguistic and culturally sensitive items of the Kimberley Indigenous Cognitive Assessment of Depression (KICA-dep) scale were derived from the signs and symptoms required to establish the diagnosis of a depressive episode according to the DSM-IV-TR and ICD-10 criteria, and their frequency was rated on a 4-point scale ranging from ‘never’ to ‘all the time’ (range of scores: 0 to 33). The diagnosis of depressive disorder was established after a face-to-face assessment with a consultant psychiatrist. Other measures included sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, and clinical history. Results The study included 250 participants aged 46 to 89 years (mean±SD = 60.9±10.7), of whom 143 (57.2%) were women. The internal reliability of the KICA-dep was 0.88 and the cut-point 7/8 (non-case/case) was associated with 78% sensitivity and 82% specificity for the diagnosis of a depressive disorder. The point-prevalence of a depressive disorder in this population was 7.7%; 4.0% for men and 10.4% for women. Heart problems were associated with increased odds of depression (odds ratio = 3.3, 95% confidence interval = 1.2,8.8). Conclusions The KICA-dep has robust psychometric properties and can be used with confidence as a screening tool for depression among older Indigenous Australians. Depressive disorders are common in this population, possibly because of increased stressors and health morbidities

Can physical activity improve the mental health of older adults?

The world population is aging rapidly. Whilst this dramatic demographic change is a desirable and welcome phenomenon, particularly in view of people's increasing longevity, it's social, financial and health consequences can not be ignored. In addition to an increase of many age related physical illnesses, this demographic change will also lead to an increase of a number of mental health problems in older adults and in particular of dementia and depression. Therefore, any health promotion approach that could facilitate introduction of effective primary, secondary and even tertiary prevention strategies in old age psychiatry would be of significant importance. This paper explores physical activity as one of possible health promotion strategies and evaluates the existing evidence that supports its positive effect on cognitive impairment and depression in later life

Plano de negócio de uma unidade de transformação de frutos em São Tomé e Príncipe

Entre as culturas da Ilha de São Tomé com maior destaque a nível de produção e consumo, podemos apontar a banana e a fruta-pão. A par com os cacaueiros, estas duas fruteiras são as que se encontram mais presentes nos sistemas agroflorestais. Ao longo dos anos tem-se verificado o subaproveitamento das produções frutícolas bem como das produções espontâneas e sazonais O presente trabalho tem como objetivo a elaboração de um plano de negócio para uma unidade de transformação de frutos em São Tomé e Príncipe, com o intuito de promover a segurança alimentar no país através da melhoria da qualidade dos produtos disponibilizados às populações e a valorização de produtos agrícolas, evitando o subaproveitamento dos excedentes das produções frutícolas. Atualmente, tendo em conta as estimativas de aumento de produção da banana, crê-se que a importância desta fruta para o rendimento familiar tenha aumentado, para além de constituir uma fonte de rendimento mais regular ao longo do ano, por comparação com o cacau e outras cultivares; Business Plan for a Fruit Processing Plant in São Tomé and Príncipe Abstract: Among the cultures of the island of São Tomé with greater prominence in terms of production and consumption, we can point out the banana and the breadfruit. Along with cacao trees, these two fruit are the ones that are the most present in agroforestry systems. Over the years, there has been an underuse of fruit production and, as well as spontaneous and seasonal production. The present work aims the elaboration of a business plan for a fruit processing plant in São Tomé and Príncipe. The idea is promoting food security in the country by improving the quality of the products available to the population and the valorization of agricultural products, avoiding the waste of fruit production. Currently, and taking into account the estimates the increased production of banana, one believes that the importance of this fruit for family income has increased, and it is a more regular source of income throughout the year, compared to cocoa and other cultivars

'Thompson' atemoya grafting onto Rollinia rootstocks

Este estudo teve por finalidade avaliar o índice de sobrevivência do enxerto de atemoia 'Thompson' sobre dois porta-enxertos. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2, dois porta-enxertos [araticum-de-terra-fria (Rollinia sp.) e biribá (Rollinia mucosa)] e dois métodos de enxertia (topo em fenda lateral e topo à inglesa simples), em 6 blocos, 4 tratamentos e 5 plantas por parcela, totalizando 120 plantas. Para as condições locais, verificou-se que a atemoia pode ser propagada com sucesso via enxertia, usando o porta-enxerto araticum-de-terra-fria, com diferença significativa em relação ao biribá. O melhor método de enxertia para araticum-de-terra-fria foi o inglês simples, com índice de sobrevivência do enxerto de 90%. Observou-se baixo índice de sobrevivência do enxerto, utilizando-se de ambos os métodos de enxertia para o porta-enxerto biribá. ________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis study aimed to evaluate the survival rate of atemoya 'Thompson' on two rootstocks.The experimental design used was in randomized blocks with factorial scheme 2 x 2 consisting of 6 blocks, 4 treatments and 5 replicates per parcel totaling 120 plants. Two grafting methods (side cleft graft and whip graft) and two rootstocks [araticum-de-terra-fria (Rollinia sp.) and biriba (Rollinia mucosa)] were evaluated for propagation of 'Thompson' atemoya. Scion survival rate was evaluated and analyzed by Tukey test, with 5% of significance level. Atemoya tree under local conditions can be propagated successfully by grafting using araticum-de-terra-fria rootstock. Whip graft was the best grafting method for araticum-de-terra-fria rootstock with 90% survival. Both grafting methods for biriba rootstock resulted in low scion survival rate

Reducing depression during the menopausal transition: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Background: The menopausal transition (MT) is a biological inevitability for all ageing women that can be associated with changes in mood, including depressive symptoms. There is tentative evidence that women who develop depression during the MT have greater risk of subsequent depressive episodes, as well as increased health morbidity and mortality. Thus, preventing depression during the MT could enhance both current and the future health and well-being of women. This study aims to test the efficacy of a client-centred health promotion intervention to decrease the 12-month incidence of clinically significant symptoms of depression among women undergoing the MT.Methods/Design: This randomised controlled trial will recruit 300 women undergoing the MT living in the Perth metropolitan area. They will be free of clinically significant symptoms of depression and of psychotic or bipolar disorders. Consenting participants will be stratified for the presence of subsyndromal symptoms of depression and then randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. The intervention will consist of eight telephone health promotion sessions that will provide training in problem solving and education about the MT, healthy ageing, depression and anxiety, and management of chronic health symptoms and problems. The primary outcome of interest is the onset of a major depressive episode according the DSM-IV-TR criteria during the 12-month follow-up or of clinically significant symptoms of depression, as established by a score of 15 or greater on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Secondary outcomes of interest include changes in the severity of symptoms of depression and anxiety (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, HADS), quality of life (Short Form Health Survey, SF-12), and lifestyle.Discussion: Current evidence shows that depressive symptoms and disorders are leading causes of disability worldwide, and that they are relatively common during the MT. This study will use a multifaceted health promotion intervention with the aim of preventing depression in these women. If successful, the results of this trial will have implications for the management of women undergoing the MT. Trial registration: Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12613000724774. Date registered: 1 July 2013

Enfoque integral para modelar y resolver problemas de optimización

Se presenta una colección de diez problemas de optimización, que se pueden modelar utilizando funciones reales de una variable real. Cada uno se resuelve de tres formas, complementarias entre sí: formalmente, asumiendo una metodología tomada de un texto; dinámicamente, mediante una actividad con GeoGebra, que proporciona una solución numérico-geométrica, y de forma interactiva, para lo que se aprovechan las posibilidades de animación de power point, en la que el problema se resuelve paso a paso, con un sistema de ayudas. El objetivo de este enfoque integral es contribuir al desarrollo en los estudiantes de las capacidades para resolverlos

Affective disorders, psychosis and dementia in a community sample of older men with and without Parkinson's disease

Background: Dementia and affective and psychotic symptoms are commonly associated with Parkinson's disease, but information about their prevalence and incidence in community representative samples remains sparse. Methods: We recruited a community-representative sample 38173 older men aged 65-85 years in 1996 and used data linkage to ascertain the presence of PD, affective disorders, psychotic disorders and dementia. Diagnoses followed the International Classification of Disease coding system. Age was recorded in years. Follow up data were available until December 2011. Results: The mean age of participants was 72.5 years and 333 men (0.9%) had PD at study entry. Affective and psychotic disorders and dementia were more frequent in men with than without PD (respective odds ratios: 6.3 [95%CI = 4.7, 8.4]; 14.2 [95%CI = 8.4, 24.0] and 18.2 [95%CI = 13.4, 24.6]). Incidence rate ratios of affective and psychotic disorders were higher among men with than without PD, although ratios decreased with increasing age. The ageadjusted hazard ratio (HR) of an affective episode associated with PD was 5.0 (95%CI = 4.2, 5.9). PD was associated with an age-adjusted HR of 8.6 (95%CI = 6.1, 12.0) for psychotic disorders and 6.1 (95%CI = 5.5, 6.8) for dementia. PD and dementia increased the HR of depressive and psychotic disorders. Conclusions: PD increases the risk of affective and psychotic disorders, as well as dementia, among community dwelling older men. The risk of a recorded diagnosis of affective and psychotic disorders decreases with increasing age