GROWTH OF VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT PRETERM UNTIL 12 MONTHS OF CORRECTED AGE

Introduction: facing the progressive increase in the survival of premature ta infants, a concern for health professionals would be related to the possible consequences arising from prematurity, among them the growth changes. Objectives: to describe the anthropometric variables of newborns Premature Very Low Birth Weight in the follow-up monitoring. Methods: observational, longitudinal and retrospective study, involving 71 children who left Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), with a weight lower than 1500 g who were treated between 2006 and 2013. They should have at least three outpatient visits within twelve months of corrected age after NCAU discharge, in the following periods: period I up to 3 months of corrected age; period II between 4-6 months of corrected age and period III between 7-12 months of corrected age. Results: the mean Gestational Age (GA) was 29.4 weeks, 51% male, birth weight 1073.2 g, 70% with appropriate GA. The hospitalization stay was 68.73 days. Weight Z score at birth -0.95; at discharge -3.05; in period I -2.4; period II -1.8; period III -1.2. Height at birth -1.21, at discharge -2.23; -2.5; -1.8 and -1.1 for the periods I, II and III , respectively. Regarding the PT Z score at birth -0.71; at discharge -1.5; and monitoring -1.1; - 0.8 and -0.5 respectively in the periods I, II and III. Conclusions: despite of the great Z score reduction in NICU, there was a progressive improvement during follow-up in the Z score in the three anthropometric variables

Bayesian Inference in Processing Experimental Data: Principles and Basic Applications

This report introduces general ideas and some basic methods of the Bayesian probability theory applied to physics measurements. Our aim is to make the reader familiar, through examples rather than rigorous formalism, with concepts such as: model comparison (including the automatic Ockham's Razor filter provided by the Bayesian approach); parametric inference; quantification of the uncertainty about the value of physical quantities, also taking into account systematic effects; role of marginalization; posterior characterization; predictive distributions; hierarchical modelling and hyperparameters; Gaussian approximation of the posterior and recovery of conventional methods, especially maximum likelihood and chi-square fits under well defined conditions; conjugate priors, transformation invariance and maximum entropy motivated priors; Monte Carlo estimates of expectation, including a short introduction to Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.Comment: 40 pages, 2 figures, invited paper for Reports on Progress in Physic

Use of cognitive enhancers for mild cognitive impairment: protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elderly individuals who have memory problems without significant limitations in activities of daily living are often diagnosed as having mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Some of these individuals progress to dementia. Several cognitive enhancers (for example donepezil, galantamine, rivastigmine, memantine) have been approved for use in people with Alzheimer’s dementia but their use in patients with MCI is unclear. We aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness, safety, and cost of cognitive enhancers for MCI through a systematic review and network (that is, indirect comparisons) meta-analysis.</p> <p>Design/Methods</p> <p>We will include studies that examine the use of cognitive enhancers compared to placebo, supportive care, or other cognitive enhancers among patients diagnosed with MCI. Outcomes of interest include cognition and function (primary outcomes), as well as behavior, quality of life, safety, and cost (secondary outcomes). We will include all experimental studies (randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials), quasi-experimental studies (controlled before-after, interrupted time series), and observational studies (cohort, case–control). Studies will be included regardless of publication status (that is, we will include unpublished studies), year, or language of dissemination.</p> <p>To identify potentially relevant material, we will search the following electronic databases from inception onwards: MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Ageline. The electronic database search will be supplemented by scanning the reference lists of included studies, searching Google and organization websites for unpublished or difficult to locate material literature, and contacting experts.</p> <p>Two reviewers will independently screen the studies for inclusion using the eligibility criteria established <it>a priori</it> and independently extract data. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool for experimental and quasi-experimental studies and the Newcastle Ottawa Scale for observational epidemiology studies. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis are planned, if the studies are deemed statistically, methodologically, and clinically homogenous.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>Our systematic review will provide important information regarding the benefits, costs, and harms of cognitive enhancers for patients with MCI. This information can be used to assist healthcare providers, policy-makers, MCI patients and their family regarding the use of these agents.</p> <p>PROSPERO registry number</p> <p>CRD42012002234</p