Prevalence and health promotion actions related to hyposalivation and mouth discomfort in a nursing homesfor elders

Objectiveto verify the prevalence of hyposalivation inan institutionalized elder population and its relationship with oral discomfort. A cross-sectional study was conducted with older people living in a Nursing Homein Fortaleza-Brazil. Data collection occurred through the application of sociodemographic questionnaire; sialometry examination, test for evaluating the salivary flow speed; and by a subjective quantification of dry mouth intensity (Visual Analog Scale). Results: sixty-five older people aged between 61 and 91 years (mean74.5±8.0) were evaluated, 30(46.2%) were women and 35(53.8%) men. The majority had low monthly income (55;84.6%) and low schooling (44;67.7%). The mean salivary flow was 0.4 ±0.2, withvery low flow (0.1-0.3 ml/min) being more prevalent; females presented lower salivary flow (p=0.033) than males; there was an association between salivary flow and dry mouth sensation (p<0.001) and halitosis (p<0.001). The correlation between sialometry and VAS showed that the lower the salivary flow, the greater the perception of dry mouth sensation. Health promotion actions and treatment (proper hydration; tooth brushing; saliva stimulants) can be performed in order to minimize dry mouth/ hyposalivation impact on elders’ quality of life. Conclusion: Low salivary flow was prevalent in the study subjects. It interferes in oral discomfort and causes dry mouth sensation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Development of software for quantitative image processing in magnetic resonance

O uso de análise quantitativa em radiologia médica tem sido de grande valia na detecção de alterações não acessíveis à análise visual simples, dita qualitativa, seja por serem muito sutis, seja por não estarem presentes nas técnicas de imagem de ressonância magnética convencional. Porém, certos tipos de quantificação exigem a aquisição softwares e de plataformas computacionais de alto custo, além de mão de obra especializada com conhecimento técnico em computação para operar em ambientes não intuitivos. Neste cenário o objetivo deste trabalho foi a implementação de um software para análise de transferência de magnetização em imagens de ressonância magnética nuclear que funcionasse na plataforma IBM-PC e em sistemas operacionais livres como GNU/Linux. Com este intuito foi elaborado um algoritmo para leitura de imagens codificadas no padrão DICOM 3.0, um algoritmo para a construção dos mapas de Razão de Transferência de Magnetização do volume adquirido e um visualizador com interface amigável para a segmentação e análise dos resultados. Ao final, software possibilitou a abertura da imagem DICOM. Também construiu de maneira eficiente, os mapas de diferença de porcentagem entre as imagens sem e com o pulso de transferência de magnetização (MTR), possibilitando, inclusive, correções de artefatos de movimentos, quando pouco intensos. Permitiu o delineamento de regiões de interesse irregular, com boa visibilidade dos resultados. Como controle padrão, os resultados foram comparados com o conjunto de ferramentas da Universidade McGill (Brain Imaging Center, McGuill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canadá), amplamente testado em artigos publicados.The use of quantitative analysis in medical radiology has been of great value in the detection of not accessible alterations in the simple visual analysis, said qualitative, for being very subtle, or for not being present in conventional magnetic resonance image techniques. However, certain types of quantification demand the acquisition of high cost softwares and computational platforms, beyond specialized workmanship, with technical knowledge in computation, to operate in non intuitive environments. In this scenery the objective of this work was the implementation of a software for analysis of transference of magneti zation in nuclear magnetic resonance images that works in IBM-PC platform and free operational systems as GNU/Linux. So, an algorithm for reading of standard DICOM 3.0 codified images was elaborated, an algorithm for the construction of Magnetization Transfer Ratio maps of acquired volume, and a visualizer with friendly interface for segmentation and analysis of the results. Finally the software made the opening of DICOM image possible. It also generated in efficient way the maps of percentage difference among the images without and with the pulse of magnetization transfer (MT), also making devices of movement corrections possible, when they are not very intense. It allowed the delineation of regions of irregular interest, with good visibility of the results. As standard control, the results were compared with the set of tools of the McGill University (Brain Imaging Center, McGuill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada), widely tested in published articles. The elaborated program took care of the considered objectives

Development of software for quantitative image processing in magnetic resonance

O uso de análise quantitativa em radiologia médica tem sido de grande valia na detecção de alterações não acessíveis à análise visual simples, dita qualitativa, seja por serem muito sutis, seja por não estarem presentes nas técnicas de imagem de ressonância magnética convencional. Porém, certos tipos de quantificação exigem a aquisição softwares e de plataformas computacionais de alto custo, além de mão de obra especializada com conhecimento técnico em computação para operar em ambientes não intuitivos. Neste cenário o objetivo deste trabalho foi a implementação de um software para análise de transferência de magnetização em imagens de ressonância magnética nuclear que funcionasse na plataforma IBM-PC e em sistemas operacionais livres como GNU/Linux. Com este intuito foi elaborado um algoritmo para leitura de imagens codificadas no padrão DICOM 3.0, um algoritmo para a construção dos mapas de Razão de Transferência de Magnetização do volume adquirido e um visualizador com interface amigável para a segmentação e análise dos resultados. Ao final, software possibilitou a abertura da imagem DICOM. Também construiu de maneira eficiente, os mapas de diferença de porcentagem entre as imagens sem e com o pulso de transferência de magnetização (MTR), possibilitando, inclusive, correções de artefatos de movimentos, quando pouco intensos. Permitiu o delineamento de regiões de interesse irregular, com boa visibilidade dos resultados. Como controle padrão, os resultados foram comparados com o conjunto de ferramentas da Universidade McGill (Brain Imaging Center, McGuill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canadá), amplamente testado em artigos publicados.The use of quantitative analysis in medical radiology has been of great value in the detection of not accessible alterations in the simple visual analysis, said qualitative, for being very subtle, or for not being present in conventional magnetic resonance image techniques. However, certain types of quantification demand the acquisition of high cost softwares and computational platforms, beyond specialized workmanship, with technical knowledge in computation, to operate in non intuitive environments. In this scenery the objective of this work was the implementation of a software for analysis of transference of magneti zation in nuclear magnetic resonance images that works in IBM-PC platform and free operational systems as GNU/Linux. So, an algorithm for reading of standard DICOM 3.0 codified images was elaborated, an algorithm for the construction of Magnetization Transfer Ratio maps of acquired volume, and a visualizer with friendly interface for segmentation and analysis of the results. Finally the software made the opening of DICOM image possible. It also generated in efficient way the maps of percentage difference among the images without and with the pulse of magnetization transfer (MT), also making devices of movement corrections possible, when they are not very intense. It allowed the delineation of regions of irregular interest, with good visibility of the results. As standard control, the results were compared with the set of tools of the McGill University (Brain Imaging Center, McGuill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada), widely tested in published articles. The elaborated program took care of the considered objectives

Magnetization transfer ratio as a predictor of malignancy in breast lesions: Preliminary results

MRI is an important tool for investigating breast cancer. Although recognized as the method of choice for screening highrisk patients, and for other indications the role of MRI for lesion characterization remains controversial. Recently some authors have advocated the use of morphologic and postcontrast features for this purpose. Quantitative breast MRI techniques have not been applied extensively in breast diseases. Magnetization transfer (MT) is a quantitative MR technique commonly used to investigate neurological diseases. In breast diseases the use of MT has been limited to improving visualization of areas of enhancement in postcontrast images. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and utility of MT in discriminating benign from malignant breast lesions. Fifty-two lesions, Bl-RADS 4 and 5, from 49 patients, were prospectively evaluated using the MT ratio (MTR). Patients were divided into two groups: benign and malignant lesions. The MTR of fat, pectoralis major muscle, fibroglandular tissue, and breast lesions were calculated. A statistically significant difference was found between MTR from benign and malignant lesions (P < 0.001). Preliminary results suggest that MT can be used to evaluate breast lesions. Further studies are necessary to better define the utility and applicability of this technique