Efficacy and safety of percutaneous radiofrequency thermal ablation in the treatment of lung cancer lesions.

INTRODUCTION: In this study, we reviewed a clinical series composed by all malignant lung lesions submitted to computed tomography-guided percutaneous thermal radiofrequency ablation, in our hospital, a rather recent technique that has been gaining scientific recognition. MATERIAL AND METHODS: For data purposes, all radiofrequency ablation and corresponding clinical records were retrospectively analysed. A computed tomography scan was performed before and after each procedure to evaluate the tumour's features, and at a second step to assess results and complications. The frequency of local recurrence and disease progression were determined based on imaging follow-up. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to estimate survival. Univariate analysis recognized clinical and pathological factors affecting survival. These were also tested by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 28 malignant lung lesions, 20 primary and 8 metastatic, from 28 patients (78.6% male; mean age 62 ± 17 years old), were submitted to computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation between January 2004 and July 2010. Total necrosis was achieved in 74.1% of the lesions. Immediate radiofrequency ablation-related complications were observed in half of the procedures. Among major complications, death occurred in one patient only. Median overall survival was 43.0 months for a mean 2-years follow-up.Median progression-free survival was 31.6 months. Lesion's size smaller than 35 mm, stage III disease by the TNM classification and previous treatment attempts were significantly associated with better outcomes. Disease-related mortality was 46.4%. DISCUSSION: This procedure proved to be efficient to treat lung cancerous lesions, with a low-rate of major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Computed tomography-guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that appears to be valuable in the treatment of lung cancer lesions

Produção integrada de ovinos para carne na região dos Inhamuns, município de Tauá, Ceará: Projeto Piloto.

Resumo: A Produção Integrada (PI) emprega tecnologias baseadas nas Boas Práticas Agropecuárias (BPA) que permitem o controle efetivo de todo o sistema produtivo. O objetivo da PI é a obtenção de alimentos livres de contaminação e com qualidade, produzidos com princípios de responsabilidade social e ao meio ambiente. O projeto tem a finalidade de melhorar a integração da cadeia produtiva, organizar a logística da unidade produtiva, os manejos, gestão sócio-ambiental utilizando-se de registros e normas padronizadas conforme as instituições oficiais. Na implantação do projeto em 2006, diversas reuniões foram realizadas para a sensibilização dos técnicos e produtores. Até o momento foi criado o comitê gestor, editados 04 livros sobre BPA, um capítulo de livro, realizados 08 treinamentos para técnicos e 08 para produtores perfazendo 64 pessoas, 08 reuniões técnicas, 12 visitas técnicas, aplicação de 130 questionários nas propriedades visando avaliar os sistemas de produção, reforma de unidade de processamento de produtos cárneos, um seminário, implantação de três Unidades de Referência Técnica servindo como vitrine de produção de ovinos e divulgação do projeto através de artigos. O estabelecimento de uma agenda de ações com as instituições parceiras está em andamento. As informações alcançadas visam melhorar a gestão na propriedade rural, o sistema produtivo, o processamento adequado de produtos e derivados de caprinos e ovinos e a comercialização

Optical doping and damage formation in AIN by Eu implantation

AlN films grown on sapphire were implanted with 300 keV Eu ions to fluences from 3×1014 to 1.4×1017 atoms/cm2 in two different geometries: “channeled” along the c-axis and “random” with a 10° angle between the ion beam and the surface normal. A detailed study of implantation damage accumulation is presented. Strong ion channeling effects are observed leading to significantly decreased damage levels for the channeled implantation within the entire fluence range. For random implantation, a buried amorphous layer is formed at the highest fluences. Red Eu-related photoluminescence at room temperature is observed in all samples with highest intensities for low damage samples (low fluence and channeled implantation) after annealing. Implantation damage, once formed, is shown to be stable up to very high temperatures.FCT - POCI/FIS/57550/2004FCT - PTDC/FIS/66262/2006FCT - PTDC/CTM/100756/200

Trapoeraba: problema para a produção e comercialização de semente de capim.

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Decline in duration, satisfaction and sleep quality among informal caregivers of stroke survivors, 18-months post-stroke

Background. Data on stroke caregivers’ sleep is scarce. We aimed to assess changes in duration, satisfaction and sleep quality among informal caregivers of stroke survivors. Methods. Informal caregivers (n = 126) of stroke survivors hospitalized between September 2018 and August 2019 in the 12 Stroke Units of the North of Portugal were invited to participate in the study, 18 months’ post-stroke. Sociodemographic and sleep characteristics (duration, satisfaction and quality) were collected through structured questionnaires. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated through logistic regression, adjusted for age and sex. Answers to open-ended questions were synthetized using content analysis. Results. Due to care provision, informal caregivers reported sleeping, on average (SD), significantly less hours (7.0 (1.7) vs. 6.4 (1.8); p < 0.001). Since its beginning, caregivers’ satisfaction with their sleep decreased approximately 30%. Changes in sleep quality, namely difficulties in falling asleep and constant interruptions during sleep, were reported by almost 70% of caregivers. Only 6.4% described the prescription of medication to sleep after beginning care provision. Participants who returned to work (adjusted OR = 0.34; 95%CI:0.16-0.76) and with a monthly income above 1000€ (adjusted OR = 0.29; 95%CI:0.13-0.66) were less likely to report changes in sleep quality. Conclusions. A decline in duration, satisfaction and sleep quality of informal caregivers of stroke survivors, 18 months’ post-stroke, was observed. Changes in sleep quality revealed socioeconomic inequalities, highlighting the need to prevent adverse health outcomes related to sleep disturbance

Portuguese validation of the Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (AC-QoL)

Background. Assuring informal carers' quality of life (QoL) must be a priority for public health policies and practices. The Adult Carer Quality of Life Questionnaire (AC-QoL) is a recent and valid instrument, overpassing limitations of previous tools, and being already used among informal stroke carers. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, reliability and validity of the AC-QoL among Portuguese informal carers of stroke survivors. Methods. The linguistic adaptation of the AC-QoL was performed. Informal carers (n = 212) of stroke survivors hospitalized between September 2018 and August 2019 in all Stroke Units of the North of Portugal (n = 12) were invited to participate, 18 to 24 months post-stroke. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, psychological profile, burden and QoL were collected using a structured questionnaire. The psychometric properties of the AC-QoL were investigated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency. Construct validity was assessed through the association of the overall score of AC-QoL with anxiety and depressive symptoms, burden and sociodemographic characteristics. Results. Exploratory factor analysis supported the original eight-factor structure of the AC-QoL, revealing an adequate goodness of fit to the study sample (X2(674)=1145.926; CFI=0.916; TLI=0.908; RMSEA=0.058). The AC-QoL showed a high degree of reliability, with Cronbach's scores for the subscales ranging from 0.64 to 0.97 and a Cronbach's alpha of 0.91 for the overall score. Anxiety symptoms (p < 0.001), depression symptoms (p < 0.001) and burden (p < 0.001) were inversely associated with the overall score of AC-QoL. Younger (p = 0.032) and employed (p = 0.021) informal carers presented more frequently higher scores of overall QoL, than those older and unemployed. Conclusions. The Portuguese version of the AC-QoL is a comprehensive, simple, reliable and valid instrument to assess informal stroke carers' QoL

Composition and luminescence studies of InGaN epilayers grown at different hydrogen flow rates

Indium gallium nitride (In(x)Ga(1-x)N) is a technologically important material for many optoelectronic devices, including LEDs and solar cells, but it remains a challenge to incorporate high levels of InN into the alloy while maintaining sample quality. A series of InGaN epilayers was grown with different hydrogen flow rates (0-200 sccm) and growth temperatures (680-750 °C) to obtain various InN fractions and bright emission in the range 390-480 nm. These 160-nm thick epilayers were characterized through several compositional techniques (wavelength dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry) and cathodoluminescence hyperspectral imaging. The compositional analysis with the different techniques shows good agreement when taking into account compositional gradients evidenced in these layers. The addition of small amounts of hydrogen to the gas flow at lower growth temperatures is shown to maintain a high surface quality and luminescence homogeneity. This allowed InN fractions of up to ~16% to be incorporated with minimal peak energy variations over a mapped area while keeping a high material quality