Word-stem completion: stimuli for use in Brazil

Stem-completion tests are commonly used to assess memory. In Brazil, however, there are no publications that propose adequate stimuli for use in this type of task. Our objective was to select adequate word-stems to maximize memory assessment using this task in Brazil. We obtained chance-completion profiles of 137 word-stems that completed at least 10 common words in Portuguese from Brazil and manipulated factors that could influence memory estimates using these stems. We found that depending on the chance-completion of the most frequently used word to complete a stem it is not possible to show memory effects; that is, completion with familiar stimuli (seen before) is not distinguishable from baseline. Guidelines are proposed for the selection of adequate stems and stimuli to maximize the acquisition of memory estimates using indirect stem-completion tasks.Testes de complementação de letras (em inglês ''stem-completion tests'') são amplamente utilizado na literatura internacional para avaliar memória. Não existem no Brasil, porém, trabalhos que propõem estímulos adequados para uso nesse tipo de teste. O objetivo do presente experimento foi selecionar conjuntos de três letras (tríades) que completam palavras em português do Brasil adequadas para maximizar a verificação de memória. Foram obtidos padrões de complementação ao acaso de 137 tríades que completam pelo menos 10 outras palavras comuns em nosso idioma e manipulados fatores que poderiam influenciar nas estimativas de memória usando essas tríades. Verificou-se que, dependendo da probabilidade de complementação das tríades com a palavra mais freqüentemente utilizada ao acaso, não é possível verificar efeitos de memória; ou seja, a taxa de complementação de estímulos familiares (previamente expostos) não é distinguível da linha de base. Foram propostas diretrizes para a seleção de tríades e estímulos adequados para maximizar a obtenção de índices de memória em testes indiretos de complementação.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Instituto Dante PazzaneseUNIFESP, Instituto Dante PazzaneseSciEL

Fatores associados à implantação de programas de prevenção ao uso de drogas nas escolas

OBJECTIVE To analyze if characteristics of managers, schools, and curriculum are associated with the implementation of programs for drug abuse prevention in elementary and high schools. METHODS Cross-sectional study, with random sample of 263 school managers. Data were collected between 2012 and 2013 by a program that sends forms via internet. A closed self-filling questionnaire was applied online. Statistical analysis included Chi-square tests and logistic regression models. The outcome variable was the presence of program for drug abuse prevention inserted in the daily life and educational program of the school. The explanatory variables were divided into: demographic data of the manager; characteristics of the school and of the curriculum; health education; and drug use in the school. RESULTS We found that 42.5% (95%CI 36.1–49.1) of the evaluated schools had programs for drug abuse prevention. With the multiple logistic regression model, we observed that the more time the manager has worked with education, the chance of the school having a program increased at about 4.0%. Experimenting with innovative teaching techniques also increased at about six times the chance of the school developing a program for drug abuse prevention. The difficulties in the implementation of the programs were more present in state and municipal schools, when compared with private schools, due to, for instance: lack of teaching materials, lack of money, and competing demands for teaching other subjects. CONCLUSIONS The implementation of programs for drug abuse prevention in the city of Sao Paulo is associated with the experience of the manager in education and with the teaching strategies of the school.OBJETIVO Analisar se características dos dirigentes, das escolas e do currículo escolar estão associadas à implantação de programas de prevenção ao uso de drogas nas escolas do ciclo fundamental II e médio. MÉTODOS Estudo transversal, com amostra aleatória sistemática de 263 dirigentes escolares. Os dados foram coletados nos anos de 2012 e 2013 por meio de um programa de envio de formulários pela internet. Aplicou-se questionário fechado, de autopreenchimento on-line. A análise estatística incluiu testes Qui-quadrado e modelos de regressão logística. A variável desfecho foi a presença de programa de prevenção ao uso de drogas inserido no cotidiano e no programa pedagógico da escola. As variáveis explicativas foram divididas em: dados demográficos do dirigente; características da escola e do currículo; educação em saúde; e consumo de drogas na escola. RESULTADOS Constatou-se que 42,5% (IC95% 36,1–49,1) das escolas avaliadas possuíam programa de prevenção ao uso de drogas. Com o modelo de regressão logística múltipla, observou-se que, a cada ano de atuação do dirigente na educação, a chance de a escola ter um programa aumentava em aproximadamente 4,0%. O fato de experimentar técnicas de ensino inovadoras também aumentou em cerca de seis vezes a chance de a escola desenvolver um programa de prevenção ao uso de drogas. As dificuldades na implantação dos programas foram mais presentes nas redes estadual e municipal, quando comparadas à rede privada, destacando-se: a falta de material didático, a falta de dinheiro e as demandas concorrentes para ensino de outras disciplinas. CONCLUSÕES A implantação de programas de prevenção ao uso de drogas no município de São Paulo está associada à experiência do dirigente escolar na educação e nas estratégias de ensino da escola

The impact of syncope during clinical presentation of sustained ventricular tachycardia on total and cardiac mortality in patients with chronic Chagasic heart disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of syncope during sustained ventricular tachycardia on total and cardiac mortality in patients with chronic chagasic heart disease. METHODS: We assessed 78 patients with sustained ventricular tachycardia and chronic Chagas' heart disease. The mean age was 53±10 years, 45 were males, and the mean ejection fraction was 49.6±13%. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence (GI=45) or absence (GII=33) of syncope during sustained ventricular tachycardia. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 49 months, total mortality was 35% (28 deaths), 22 deaths having a cardiac cause (78.6%). No difference was observed in total (33.3% x 39.4%) and cardiac (26.7% x 30.3%) mortality, or in nonfatal sustained ventricular tachycardia between GI and GII patients (57.6% x 54.4%, respectively). However, the presence of syncope during recurrences was significantly greater in those patients who had had the symptom from the beginning (65.4% x 18.1%, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: Syncope during the presentation of sustained ventricular tachycardia is not associated with an increase in total or cardiac mortality in patients with chronic Chagas' heart disease. However, syncope during the recurrence ventricular tachycardia is greater in patients experiencing syncope in the first episode, of sustained ventricular tachycardia.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de MedicinaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Setor de Eletrofisiologia ClínicaUNIFESP, EPM, Setor de Eletrofisiologia ClínicaSciEL

Decrease of upper eyelid levator muscle function after involutional ptosis and dermatochalasis surgery

PURPOSE: To evaluate the differences between upper eyelid levator muscle function (UELMF), margin reflex distance (MDR1), and eyelid crease height (ECH) before and after ptosis and dermatochalasis surgery. METHODS: Forty-four patients with blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis were enrolled. Intervention: An exploration of the levator tendon (LT) during a blepharoplasty procedure in patients with blepharoptosis and dermatochalasis and in case of its disinsertion, the tendon was reattached to the tarsus. Measured outcome: The differences between UELMF, MDR1, ECH before and after surgery were evaluated bilaterally. Dependency between both eyes was corrected by generalized estimating equations. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the dependency of the two eyes regarding UELMF, MDR1 and ECH. RESULTS: There was a statistical significant difference between the measures of UELMF before and after surgery with excursion decreasing by a mean value of 1.1 mm after the procedure (P0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Upper eyelid levator muscle function decreases after ptosis surgery.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a diferença da função do músculo levantador da pálpebra superior (FMLPS), distância margem reflexo (DMR1) e altura do sulco palpebral (AS) antes e depois da cirurgia de blefaroplastia superior associada à correção de ptose palpebral. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e quatro pacientes com blefaroptose e dermatocálase foram incluídos. Intervenção: exploração do tendão do músculo levantador da pálpebra superior (MLPS) durante a blefaroplastia, em portadores de blefaroptose e dermatocálase. Nos casos de desinserção, o tendão foi refixado ao tarso. Desfechos analisados: foram analisados de forma bilateral a diferença entre FMLPS, DMR1 e AS antes e depois da intervenção. A dependência entre os olhos foi corrigida por meio de equações de estimativa generalizada. Foi utilizada a correlação de Pearson para quantificar a dependência entre os olhos para FMLPS, DMR1 e AS. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença significante entre as medidas de FMLPS antes e depois da cirurgia, havendo redução da excursão do MLPS após a cirurgia, diminuindo, em média, 1,1 mm (P0,01). CONCLUSÃO: A função do músculo levantador da pálpebra superior diminui após a cirurgia para a correção da ptose.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de OftalmologiaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Achieving efficient water management at the Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

In 2015, the water crisis affecting the São Paulo Metropolitan Region reached its peak. The Federal Government published an Ordinance stablishing good practices in the management and use of water and electricity. This work aimed to verify if the management actions performed at the Universidade Federal de São Paulo were effective for water consumption reduction. It was analyzed secondary data of the monthly water consumption at campuses and Rectory, from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analyses were carried out comparing the water consumption between the periods pre- and post-intervention, which occurred in February 2015. The results show that the intervention reduced per capita water consumption by 33% in 2015 and 35% in 2016, saving up more than 65,000 m3 of water. These management actions were effective, and helped the academic population to achieve a more efficiently use of water and financial resources, becoming more sustainable.In 2015, the water crisis affecting the São Paulo Metropolitan Region reached its peak. The Federal Government published an Ordinance establishing good practices in the management and use of water and electricity. This work aims to verify if management actions performed at the Federal University of São Paulo were effective for water consumption reduction. We assessed measures such as awareness campaigns, water reuse, water pressure regulator installation, identification of leaks, irrigation and washing of floors reduction. It was analyzed secondary data of the monthly water consumption at campuses and Rectory, from 2014 to 2016. Statistical analyses were carried out comparing the water consumption between the pre and post-intervention periods, which occurred in February 2015. The results show that the intervention reduced per capita water consumption by 33% in 2015 and 35% in 2016, saving up more than 65,000 m3 of water. These management actions proved to be effective, and the academic population achieved a more efficient use of water and financial resources, becoming more sustainable

The impact of tibial torsion measurements on gait analysis kinematics

Objective:To measure and compare tibial torsion values as assessed by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics. In addition, the impact of each one of these measurements on kinematic and kinetic results for normal gait was determined.Methods:Twenty-three healthy and fully ambulatory patients were assessed, 11 women and 12 men, from 20 to 40 years old. Data were collected at a laboratory for the three-dimensional analysis of movement with 10 cameras and two force plates. Tibial torsion measurements were obtained using goniometry and three-dimensional kinematics based on the Plug-in Gait model. Afterwards, both procedures were compared, and the impact of each result was assessed on the kinematic and kinetic modeling of the knee and ankle.Results:Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (r=0,504) showed a moderate correlation between the three-dimensional kinematics and goniometry, and between the changes in the measurements. Regarding the processed kinematic and kinetic results for every torsion position, no significant differences were noticed among any of the studied variables (p>0.05).Conclusion:Although statistical correlation among tibial torsion angles by goniometry and three-dimensional kinematic were moderate, kinematic and kinetic analysis of the joints did not reveal any significant changes. Level of Evidence I, Diagnostic Studies - Investigating a Diagnostic Test.Universidade Nove de JulhoUniversidade de São PauloHospital Israelita Albert EinsteinUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Inspiratory fraction and exercise impairment in COPD patients GOLD stages II-III

The inspiratory-to-total lung capacity ratio or inspiratory fraction (inspiratory capacity (IC)/total lung capacity (TLC)) may be functionally more representative than traditional indices of resting airflow limitation and lung hyperinflation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).In the present retrospective study, a comparison was made of the individual performance of post-bronchodilator IC, IC/TLC and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in predicting a severely reduced peak oxygen uptake (V'o(2); < 60% predicted) in 44 COPD patients Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stages II-III (post-bronchodilator FEV1 ranging from 31-79% pred).Patients with lower IC/TLC values (<= 0.28) showed increased lung volumes and reduced exercise capacity as compared with other subjects. Following a multiple linear regression analysis, only IC/TLC and FEV1 remained as independent predictors of V'o(2) (r(2)=0.33). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed that an IC/TLC <= 0.28 had the highest specificity (89.6%), positive predictive value (80%) and overall accuracy (86.3%) in identifying patients with V'o(2)< 60% pred. in addition, the area under the ROC curve tended to be higher for IC/TLC than IC.In conclusion, post-bronchodilator total lung capacity-corrected inspiratory fraction provides useful information in addition to forced expiratory volume in one second and inspiratory capacity, to estimate the likelihood of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients to present with severely reduced maximal exercise capacity.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Pulm Funct & Clin Exercise Physiol Unit, Resp Div,Dept Med,EPM, BR-04020050 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Paulista Sch Med, Pulm Funct & Clin Exercise Physiol Unit, Resp Div,Dept Med,EPM, BR-04020050 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc