Bias and unfairness in machine learning models: a systematic literature review

One of the difficulties of artificial intelligence is to ensure that model decisions are fair and free of bias. In research, datasets, metrics, techniques, and tools are applied to detect and mitigate algorithmic unfairness and bias. This study aims to examine existing knowledge on bias and unfairness in Machine Learning models, identifying mitigation methods, fairness metrics, and supporting tools. A Systematic Literature Review found 40 eligible articles published between 2017 and 2022 in the Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and Google Scholar knowledge bases. The results show numerous bias and unfairness detection and mitigation approaches for ML technologies, with clearly defined metrics in the literature, and varied metrics can be highlighted. We recommend further research to define the techniques and metrics that should be employed in each case to standardize and ensure the impartiality of the machine learning model, thus, allowing the most appropriate metric to detect bias and unfairness in a given context

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

ETNOICTIOLOGIA DOS PESCADORES ARTESANAIS DA VILA CACHOEIRA, ILHÉUS - BA

O presente estudo foi desenvolvido na comunidade de pescadores artesanais do Bairro Vila Cachoeira, localizado na margem direita do estuário do rio Cachoeira, município de Ilhéus, Bahia, nordeste do Brasil, com o objetivo de estudar o conhecimento e a percepção deles, no que se refere à ictiologia local. Os principais instrumentos da metodologia empregada foram entrevistas livres, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e observação in loco. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram que os pescadores percebem as modificações no ambiente, que respeitam os períodos climáticos e que se preocupam com a poluição das águas, bem como conhecem o comportamento das espécies que pescam. Estes resultados fornecem informações sobre o estado atual da cultura pesqueira da comunidade pesquisada e demonstram a importância de mantê-la preservada. Os dados também mostram que o conhecimento dos pescadores pode ser útil nos estudos de conservação e preservação do Estuário do Rio Cachoeira

Pênfigo vegetante: relato de caso Pemphigus vegetans: case report

Pênfigo é uma doença bolhosa auto-imune. É uma doença rara, mas potencialmente fatal. Existem quatro variantes clínicas e patológicas: o pênfigo vulgar (PV), o pênfigo vegetante (PVg), o pênfigo foliáceo (PF), o pênfigo eritematoso. Ao exame histo-patológico o achado comum a todos os tipos de pênfigo é a acantólise. Relatamos o caso de um paciente de 43 anos com lesões ano-perineais cujo diagnóstico final foi de pênfigo vegetante, associado à HPV (Papiloma Vírus Humano), com revisão da literatura.<br>Pemphigus is a bollous auto-immune disease. It's a rare disease, but potentially fatal. There are four clinical and pathological variants: pemphigus vulgaris, pemphigus vegetans, pemphigus foliaceus and pemphigus erythematosus. Through the histopathological exam, the common characteristic to all types of pemphigus is the acantholyse. It's reported a case of a pacient of 43 years old with anal and perineal blesses witch final diagnosis was pemphigus vegetans, associated to HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), with literature review