A Technological-Based Platform for Risk Assessment, Detection, and Prevention of Falls Among Home-Dwelling Older Adults: Protocol for a Quasi-Experimental Study

Background: According to the United Nations, it is estimated that by 2050, the number of people aged 80 years and older will have increased by 3 times. Increased longevity is often accompanied by structural and functional changes that occur throughout an individual’s lifespan. These changes are often aggravated by chronic comorbidities, adopted behaviors or lifestyles, and environmental exposure, among other factors. Some of the related outcomes are loss of muscle strength, decreased balance control, and mobility impairments, which are strongly associated with the occurrence of falls in the elderly. Despite the continued undervaluation of the importance of knowledge on fall prevention among the elderly population by primary care health professionals, several evidence-based (single or multifaceted) fall prevention programs such as the Otago Exercise Program (OEP) have demonstrated a significant reduction in the risk of falls and fall-related injuries in the elderly within community settings. Recent studies have strived to integrate technology into physical exercise programs, which is effective for adherence and overcoming barriers to exercise, as well as improving physical functioning. Objective: This study aims to assess the impact of the OEP on the functionality of home-dwelling elderly using a common technological platform. Particularly, the impact on muscle strength, balance, mobility, risk of falling, the perception of fear of falling, and the perception of the elderly regarding the ease of use of technology are being examined in this study. Methods: A quasi-experimental study (before and after; single group) will be conducted with male and female participants aged 65 years or older living at home in the district of Porto. Participants will be recruited through the network COLABORAR, with a minimum of 30 participants meeting the study inclusion and exclusion criteria. All participants will sign informed consent forms. The data collection instrument consists of sociodemographic and clinical variables (self-reported), functional evaluation variables, and environmental risk variables. The data collection tool integrates primary and secondary outcome variables. The primary outcome is gait (timed-up and go test; normal step). The secondary outcome variables are lower limb strength and muscle resistance (30-second chair stand test), balance (4-stage balance test), frequency of falls, functional capacity (Lawton and Brody - Portuguese version), fear of falling (Falls Efficacy Scale International - Portuguese version), usability of the technology (System Usability Scale - Portuguese version), and environmental risk variables (home fall prevention checklist for older adults). Technological solutions, such as the FallSensing Home application and Kallisto wearable device, will be used, which will allow the detection and prevention of falls. The intervention is characterized by conducting the OEP through a common technological platform 3 times a week for 8 weeks. Throughout these weeks, the participants will be followed up in person or by telephone contact by the rehabilitation nurse. Considering the COVID-19 outbreak, all guidelines from the National Health Service will be followed. The project was funded by InnoStars, in collaboration with the Local EIT Health Regional Innovation Scheme Hub of the University of Porto. Results: This study was approved on October 9, 2020 by the Ethics Committee of Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto (ESEP). The recruitment process was meant to start in October, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was suspended. We expect to restart the study by the beginning of the third quarter of 2021. Conclusions: The findings of this study protocol will contribute to the design and development of future robust studies for technological tests in a clinical context.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Protocol for a Scoping Review Abstract

©Sílvia Rego, Ana Rita Henriques, Sofia Silvério Serra, Teresa Costa, Ana Maria Rodrigues, Francisco Nunes. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols (https://www.researchprotocols.org), 26.10.2023.BACKGROUND: Clinical trials often use digital technologies to collect data continuously outside the clinic and use the derived digital endpoints as trial endpoints. Digital endpoints are also being developed to support diagnosis, monitoring, or therapeutic interventions in clinical care. However, clinical validation stands as a significant challenge, as there are no specific guidelines orienting the validation of digital endpoints. OBJECTIVE: This paper presents the protocol for a scoping review that aims to map the existing methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints. METHODS: The scoping review will comprise searches from the electronic literature databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus (including conference proceedings), Embase, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Xplore, ACM (Association for Computing Machinery) Digital Library, CENTRAL (Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), Web of Science Core Collection (including conference proceedings), and Joanna Briggs Institute Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. We will also include various sources of gray literature with search terms related to digital endpoints. The methodology will adhere to the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review and the Guidance for Conducting Systematic Scoping Reviews. RESULTS: A search for reviews on the existing evidence related to this topic was conducted and has shown that no such review was previously undertaken. This review will provide a systematic assessment of the literature on methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints and highlight any potential need for harmonization or reporting of methods. The results will include the methods for the clinical validation of digital endpoints according to device, digital endpoint, and clinical application goal of digital endpoints. The study started in January 2023 and is expected to end by December 2023, with results to be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSIONS: A scoping review of methodologies that validate digital endpoints is necessary. This review will be unique in its breadth since it will comprise digital endpoints collected from several devices and not focus on a specific disease area. The results of our work should help guide researchers in choosing validation methods, identify potential gaps in the literature, or inform the development of novel methods to optimize the clinical validation of digital endpoints. Resolving these gaps is the key to presenting evidence in a consistent way to regulators and other parties and obtaining regulatory acceptance of digital endpoints for patient benefit. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/47119.publishersversionpublishe

SOBRE A INFREQUÊNCIA DE ALUNOS NO ENSINO MÉDIO NUMA ESCOLA PÚBLICA ESTADUAL DO MARANHÃO

O presente trabalho aborda a infrequência de alunos do ensino médio numa escola pública estadual do Maranhão. Trata-se da necessidade de analisar esse problema, diagnosticar as principais causas e propor medidas que diminuam ou erradiquem a infrequência na rede escolar. A pesquisa é de caráter qualitativo, realizada por meio de questionário, com a coleta de informações junto aos alunos. Esta investigação apontou que a infrequência dos alunos, nessa escola, é proveniente de causas diversas – econômica, social, motivacional – ao demonstrar a complexidade desta problemática. Para a resolução desse problema, faz-se necessária a conscientização e uma ação conjunta dos profissionais educacionais, alunos e família sobre a importância da educação e o quanto a infrequência é prejudicial para o processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Palavras-chave: Infrequência. Educação. Escola. Família.Abstract This paper addresses the infrequency of high school students in the State Public network. This is the need to analyze this problem, diagnose root causes and propose measures that reduce or eradicate infrequency in this school. The research is qualitative, conducted through a questionnaire, to collect information from students. This research showed that the infrequency of students in this school has several aspects, economic, social, motivational, to demonstrate the complexity of this problem. To solve this problem, it is necessary awareness and joint action by educational professionals, students and family about the importance of education and how the infrequency is detrimental to the teaching-learning process. Keywords: Infrequency. Education. School. Family.

HARMED - O abuso de idosos: determinantes sociais, económicas e de saúde

Dias I, Lopes A, Henriques A, et al. HARMED - O abuso de idosos: determinantes sociais, económicas e de saúde Socio-economic and health determinants of elder abuse. Porto: Universidade do Porto. Faculdade de Letras; 2020

The Combination of Gefitinib With ATRA and ATO Induces Myeloid Differentiation in Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Resistant Cells

In approximately 15% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), total and phosphorylated EGFR proteins have been reported to be increased compared to healthy CD34(+) samples. However, it is unclear if this subset of patients would benefit from EGFR signaling pharmacological inhibition. Pre-clinical studies on AML cells provided evidence on the pro-differentiation benefits of EGFR inhibitors when combined with ATRA or ATO in vitro. Despite the success of ATRA and ATO in the treatment of patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), therapy-associated resistance is observed in 5-10% of the cases, pointing to a clear need for new therapeutic strategies for those patients. In this context, the functional role of EGFR tyrosine-kinase inhibitors has never been evaluated in APL. Here, we investigated the EGFR pathway in primary samples along with functional in vitro and in vivo studies using several APL models. We observed that total and phosphorylated EGFR (Tyr992) was expressed in 28% and 19% of blast cells from APL patients, respectively, but not in healthy CD34(+) samples. Interestingly, the expression of the EGF was lower in APL plasma samples than in healthy controls. The EGFR ligand AREG was detected in 29% of APL patients at diagnosis, but not in control samples. In vitro, treatment with the EGFR inhibitor gefitinib (ZD1839) reduced cell proliferation and survival of NB4 (ATRA-sensitive) and NB4-R2 (ATRA-resistant) cells. Moreover, the combination of gefitinib with ATRA and ATO promoted myeloid cell differentiation in ATRA- and ATO-resistant APL cells. In vivo, the combination of gefitinib and ATRA prolonged survival compared to gefitinib- or vehicle-treated leukemic mice in a syngeneic transplantation model, while the gain in survival did not reach statistical difference compared to treatment with ATRA alone. Our results suggest that gefitinib is a potential adjuvant agent that can mitigate ATRA and ATO resistance in APL cells. Therefore, our data indicate that repurposing FDA-approved tyrosine-kinase inhibitors could provide new perspectives into combination therapy to overcome drug resistance in APL patients

A efetividade do decúbito ventral na Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome: revisão sistemática

Background: prone Position is a well-established evidence-based clinical practice in patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome undergoing invasive mechanical ventilation. Little evidence in non-intubated patients is known. Due to the increasing rate of acute respiratory distress syndrome, the need to know the effectiveness in non-intubated patients has emerged. Objective: to know the effectiveness of prone position in the treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome in non-intubated adults. Methodology: Systematic reviews based on the manual of Joanna Briggs Institute and carried out using PICO strategy. Research conducted in August 2021 in the access platforms Web of Science, PubMed, and EBSCO Host. Selection was done after elimination of duplicates, title reading, reading of abstracts, and full texts according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses diagram Results: 741 results were identified, and seven were included in the review. Conclusion: Early prone position is advantageous in non-intubated patients with mild and moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome. A risk intervention in non-intubated patients with Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Mortality/survival, physiological/clinical, adverse events/effects and functioning outcomes were identified as predictors of success/failure of prone position.Marco contextual: posición prona es una práctica clínica, basada en evidencia, conocida en pacientes con Síndrome de Dificultad Respiratoria Aguda con ventilación mecánica invasiva. Hay poca evidencia en pacientes no entubados. La creciente tasa de síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo originó la necesidad de desarrollar esfuerzos para conocer su efectividad en pacientes no intubados. Objetivo: conocer la efectividad del decúbito prono en el tratamiento del síndrome de distrés respiratorio agudo en adultos no intubados. Metodología: revisión sistemática basadas en el manual del Instituto Joanna Briggs y mediante la estrategia PICO. La búsqueda ocurrió en agosto 2021 en las plataformas de acceso Web of Science, PubMed y EBSCO Host. Selección realizada por previa eliminación de duplicados, lectura de títulos, resúmenes y textos completos de acuerdo con el diagrama Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Resultados: se identificaron 741 resultados, siete incluyeron la revisión. Conclusión: la posición prona temprana demostró ser ventajosa en pacientes no intubados con Síndrome de Dificultad Respiratoria Aguda leve y moderado. Intervención riesgosa en pacientes no intubados con Síndrome de Dificultad Respiratoria Aguda grave. Indicadores de mortalidad/supervivencia, fisiológicos/clínicos, de eventos/efectos adversos e indicadores funcionales, fueron identificados como predictores de éxito/fracaso de la posición prono.Enquadramento: o decúbito ventral é uma prática clínica baseada na evidência que se encontra bem estabelecida em pacientes com Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome submetidos a ventilação mecânica invasiva. Porém, existe parca evidência em pacientes não intubados. Face ao aumento da taxa de Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, emergiu a necessidade de conhecer a sua eficácia em pacientes não intubados. Objetivo: conhecer a efetividade do decúbito ventral no tratamento da Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome em adultos não intubados. Metodologia: revisão sistemática fundamentada no manual de Joanna Briggs Institute, com recurso à estratégia PICO. Pesquisa realizada em agosto de 2021, nas plataformas de acesso Web of Science, PubMed e EBSCO Host. Seleção realizada após eliminação de duplicados, leitura do título, de resumos e textos integrais de acordo com o diagrama Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Resultados: identificaram-se 741 resultados, sendo sete os incluídos na revisão. Conclusão: O decúbito ventral precoce revelou-se vantajoso em pacientes não intubados com Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ligeira e moderada. É uma intervenção de risco em pacientes não intubados com Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome grave. Foram identificados indicadores de mortalidade/ sobrevida, fisiológicos/ clínicos, de eventos/ efeitos adversos e indicadores funcionais como preditores de sucesso/ insucesso do decúbito ventral

O olhar sociológico sobre a sociedade civil, economias alternativas e o voluntariado

Através de uma revisão da literatura, este artigo procura sistematizar as especificidades da análise sociológica que trata da “sociedade civil, economias alternativas e o voluntariado”. Não se pretendeu ser exaustivo na abordagem proposta, mas ilustrar a diversidade dos contributos sociológicos dentro de um campo de investigação recente e em crescimento de há 3 décadas a esta parte. Importa assumir que se trata de um objeto multidisciplinar pelo que a especificidade da análise sociológica pode surgir dissolvida. É na fronteira com a economia, a gestão e a ciência política, passando por diversas outras disciplinas, que os sociólogos, académicos e profissionais, têm dado vários contributos para a afirmação do campo. Em Portugal, a investigação sociológica, apesar de escassa, tem contribuído para o desenvolvimento e a institucionalização, tardia, do próprio campo. Em remate conclusivo, salientamos que existe um legado sociológico específico para o conhecimento e intervenção neste campo e que, tal como sucede noutros domínios, ele denota a variabilidade teórica e empírica de diferentes tradições e contextos geográficos.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Proposta de relatório do plano de gestão da ZEC Guadiana. Documento elaborado no âmbito do projeto CP/08/2021/ICNF/SEDE “Elaboração de 38 planos de gestão de habitats naturais, da fauna e da flora selvagens, de áreas classificadas no âmbito da rede Natura 2000 (lote 4)” - Operação POSEUR-03-2215-FC-000005

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Exploring the use of games in palliative care: A scoping review

Objective There has been increasing recognition of the potential of games in health; however, knowledge of their application in palliative care is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to identify and map the available evidence on the use of games in palliative care, analyzing how research has been conducted on this topic and identifying gaps in knowledge. Method A scoping review was carried out. The literature search was conducted using the respective descriptors and search syntax appropriate to each of the databases searched. The review included all study types with no time limits. Results Of the 685 articles initially identified, 53 were included for final analysis. Several different game types were identified, with the majority of studies using role-play (n = 29) and card games (n = 17). The games analyzed were essentially aimed at empowering patients (n = 14), and in some cases, extended to families or caregivers, as well as to medical and nursing students. The analysis of the articles in this review resulted in two major themes: Role-playing for training in palliative care and card games to discuss end-of-life care. Significance of results Games allow space for the expression of emotions and promote creativity. They can be applied both in a training context, to enable health professionals to develop essential skills in palliative care, and for patients, families, and caregivers, allowing them to talk about serious things while playing.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio