Comparison of topographical changes associated with overnight wear of inverted silicone hydrogel contact lenses of different powers

Purpose: Previously conducted studies have demonstrated significant topographical changes following overnight wear of both normally configured (non-inverted) and inverted -6.00D silicone hydrogel lenses. Further, a distinct difference in topography was realized between eyes wearing the inverted vs non-inverted lenses. These results suggest that silicone hydrogel lenses may be sufficiently rigid to potentially effect predictable changes in corneal topography following overnight wear. This investigation was designed to study the effects of overnight wear of -9.00D silicone hydrogel lenses to evaluate changes in corneal topography and to compare these results with previously collected data to determine if they result in greater changes in topography due to increased rigidity of the lenses. Methods: Baseline corneal topography data was collected for N = 11 subjects. The subjects were then fit with -9.00D Focus Night & Day (CibaVision) silicone hydrogel lenses. All subjects, who were recruited based on their participation in the initial study, wore a non-inverted lens on one eye and an inverted lens on the other eye, to match the conditions of the previous study, which was determined by a randomization schedule. Lenses were removed following 12hrs of continuous wear, including 8hrs of overnight wear. Following removal of the contact lenses, corneal topography data was collected, and a comfort survey was completed comparing the subjects\u27 perception of comfort with both the non-inverted and inverted contact lenses. Results: The inverted -9.00D lens resulted in significantly (p Conclusions: Greater corneal flattening was realized with inverted silicone hydrogel contact lenses vs non-inverted lenses. Further, the effect was greater with higher powered minus lenses. These data suggest that planned corneal reshaping to correct for refractive error may occur with appropriately designed silicone hydrogel lenses. Both inverted and non-inverted contact lenses were well-tolerated during overnight wear

Blood and urinary measures of hydration status during progressive acute dehydration

Dissertação de mestrado em Psicologia (Psicologia Forense), apresentada à Faculdade de Psicologia e de Ciências da Educação da Universidade de CoimbraO abuso sexual de crianças é uma realidade cada vez mais presente no nosso dia-a-dia. A população está mais conhecedora e alerta para esta problemática, sendo importante conhecer os seus discursos sociais. Muitas vezes, estes discusos são influenciados e deturpados por mitos e crenças que a sociedade persiste em manter. O presente estudo teve como principal objetivo identificar as representações sociais sobre o abuso sexual de crianças e a decisão de denúncia numa amostra de adultos da comunidade em geral (N=87). Para este estudo foram utilizados quatro questionários de auto-resposta – o Questionário de Representações sobre o Abuso Sexual de Crianças – Histórias (QRASC-HIS), o Questionário sobre Abuso Sexual de Crianças – Causas, Manutenção e Resolução (QCSA – FMR), a Escala de Crenças sobre o Abuso Sexual (ECAS) e a Escala de Desejabilidade Social de Marlowe- Crowne (MCSDS). Os resultados obtidos apontam para a não legitimação dos comportamentos sexualmente abusivos. Foram analisadas variáveis como o sexo, a idade e as habilitações académicas sendo encontradas apenas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em função do sexo, com os participantes do sexo masculino a legitimarem/tolerarem mais as situações de abuso sexual de crianças do QRASC-HIS.Children sexual abuse is a reality that we face in our dayto- day. People have more knowledge and are alert to this problem and it is important to know their social speeches. Often these speeches are influenced and distorted by myths and beliefs that society persists in keeping. This study aims to compare the social representations of the children sexual abuse and the decision of denunciation in a sample of adults from the general community (N = 87). For this study we used four self-report questionnaires - the Representations Questionnaire on Sexual Abuse of Children - Stories (QRASC-HIS), the Questionnaire on Sexual Abuse of Children - Causes, Maintenance and Resolution (QCSA - FMR), the Beliefs Scale on Sexual Abuse (ECAS) and the Social Desirability Scale Marlowe-Crowne (MCSDS). The results point to the non-legitimacy of abusive behavior. The variables analyzed were sex, age and educational qualifications and was only found statistically significant differences with males legitimating more the sexual abuse of children

Maternal markers for detecting early-onset neonatal infection and chorioamnionitis in cases of premature rupture of membranes at or after 34 weeks of gestation: a two-center prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Accurate prediction of infection, including maternal chorioamnionitis and early-onset neonatal infection, remains a critical challenge in cases of preterm rupture of membranes and may influence obstetrical management. The aim of our study was to investigate the predictive value for early-onset neonatal infection and maternal histological and clinical chorioamnionitis of maternal biological markers in routine use at or after 34 weeks of gestation in women with premature rupture of membranes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a two-center prospective study of all women admitted for premature rupture of membranes at or after 34 weeks of gestation. The association of C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, vaginal sample bacteriological results, and a prediction model at admission, for early-onset neonatal infection and maternal chorioamnionitis were analyzed by comparing areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves and specificity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study included 399 women. In all, 4.3% of the newborns had an early-onset neonatal infection and 5.3% of the women had clinical chorioamnionitis. Histological chorioamnionitis was detected on 10.8% of 297 placentas tested. White blood cell counts and C-reactive protein concentrations were significantly associated with early-onset neonatal infection and included in a prediction model. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of this model was 0.82 (95% CI [0.72, 0.92]) and of C-reactive protein, 0.80 (95% CI [0.68, 0.92]) (p = 1.0). Specificity was significantly higher for C-reactive protein than for the prediction model (48% and 43% respectively, p < 0.05). C-reactive protein was associated with clinical and histological chorioamnionitis, with areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.61 (95% CI [0.48, 0.74]) and 0.62 (95% CI [0.47, 0.74]), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The concentration of C-reactive protein at admission for premature rupture of membranes is the most accurate infectious marker for prediction of early-onset neonatal infection in routine use with a sensitivity > 90%. A useful next step would be a randomized prospective study of management strategy comparing CRP at admission with active management to assess whether this more individualized care is a safe alternative strategy in women with premature rupture of membranes at or after 34 weeks.</p