Umbral Methods and Harmonic Numbers

The theory of harmonic based function is discussed here within the framework of umbral operational methods. We derive a number of results based on elementary notions relying on the properties of Gaussian integrals.Comment: 6 page

Lacunary generating functions of Hermite polynomials and symbolic methods

We employ an umbral formalism to reformulate the theory of Hermite polynomials and the derivation of the associated lacunary generating functions

Auditory training: assessment of the benefit of hearing aids in elderly individuals

BACKGROUND: hearing impairment has a negative impact on communication. This impact can be minimized by hearing aids fitting and auditory training. AIM: to verify the effectiveness of auditory training in elderly individuals, new users of hearing aids, regarding the benefit in fitting. METHOD: forty-two individuals with mild to moderate neurosensorial hearing loss, ranging in age from 60 to 90 years, were selected. Individuals were new users of bilateral hearing aids and were divided in two groups: Experimental Group (EG) and Sham Group (SG). The EG was submitted to training in an acoustic cabin during six sessions. Both groups were assessed through the following tests: Speech in Noise, Dichotic Digits and the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit Aphab self-assessment questionnaire, without the hearing aids, four and eight weeks after they were fitted. RESULTS: there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in both of the used tests, and for the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit Aphab in the second and third assessments in the sub-scales of: Communication Easiness, Reverberation and Environmental Noise. CONCLUSION: auditory training favored the improvement in the auditory processing abilities and benefited the hearing aid fitting process.TEMA: a deficiência auditiva acarreta dificuldades na comunicação, as quais podem ser minimizadas por meio da adaptação de próteses auditivas e do treinamento auditivo. OBJETIVO: o objetivo geral deste estudo foi verificar a efetividade do treinamento auditivo em idosos novos usuários de próteses auditivas, quanto ao benefício no processo de adaptação. MÉTODO: foram selecionados 42 indivíduos, portadores de deficiência auditiva neurossensorial de grau leve a moderado, com idades entre 60 e 90 anos, novos usuários de próteses auditivas bilaterais, distribuídos em dois grupos: Grupo Experimental (GE) e Grupo Sham (GS). O GE foi submetido a um programa de treinamento auditivo em cabina acústica durante seis sessões. Ambos os grupos foram avaliados com os testes de Fala com Ruído, Escuta com Dígitos, e questionário de auto-avaliação Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB), em três momentos: sem próteses (primeira avaliação), quatro semanas (segunda avaliação), e oito semanas (terceira avaliação), após a adaptação das próteses. RESULTADOS: houve diferença estatisticamente significante para os dois testes aplicados, e para o questionário Aphab (quanto ao benefício) na segunda e na terceira avaliações, nas subescalas: Facilidade de Comunicação, Reverberação e Ruído Ambiental. CONCLUSÃO: o programa de treinamento auditivo em cabina acústica foi efetivo com relação ao benefício durante o processo de adaptação das próteses auditivas.Empresa Phonak do Brasil Sistemas Audiológicos LtdaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de FonoaudiologiaUSP Departamento de Fisioterapia, Fonoaudiologia e Terapia OcupacionalUNIFESP, Depto. de FonoaudiologiaSciEL

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in real-world patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Brazil: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-infected patients at Brazilian reference centers. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-interferon, ribavirin, and either boceprevir (n=158) or telaprevir (n=557) between July 2013 and April 2014 at 15 reference centers in Brazil. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse events data were collected during treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 715 patients, 59% had cirrhosis and 67.1% were treatment-experienced. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained viral response was 56.6%, with similar effectiveness in both groups (51.9% for boceprevir and 58% for telaprevir, p=0.190). Serious adverse events occurred in 44.2% of patients, and six deaths (0.8%) were recorded. Cirrhotic patients had lower sustained viral response rates than non-cirrhotic patients (46.9% vs. 70.6%, p 465 years, diagnosis of cirrhosis, and abnormal hemoglobin levels/platelet counts prior to treatment were associated with serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: Although serious adverse events rates were higher in this infected population, sustained viral response rates were similar to those reported for other patient cohorts.Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Molestias Infecciosas & Parasitarias, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilCtr Referencia & Treinamento DST Aids, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilCDH, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHosp Fed Servidores Estado Rio de Janeiro HFSE, Setor Gastrohepatol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Fac Med, Dept Gastroenterol & Hepatol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Gastroenterol, EPM, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina Infectol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, FMRP, Dept Clin Med, Div Gastroenterol, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil| Univ Fed do Maranhao UFMA, HUPD, Ctr Pesquisa Clin, Sao Luis, MA, BrazilUniv Fed Estado Rio de Janeiro UNIRIO, Disciplina Clin Med & Gastroenterol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio do Grande Sul UFRGS, Dept Med Interna, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Ambulatorio HIV AIDS Hepatites Virais, Vitoria, ES, BrazilSMS, Ctr Orientacao & Aconselhamento, Foz Do Iguacu, PR, BrazilUniv Estado Rio de Janeiro UERJ, Serv Gastroenterol, Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilIMT, Lab Virol LIM 52, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, Disciplina Gastroenterol, EPM, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo UNIFESP, EPM, Disciplina Infectol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in real-world patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 1 infection in Brazil: a multicenter study

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors for the treatment of genotype 1 hepatitis C virus-infected patients at Brazilian reference centers. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional study included hepatitis C virus genotype 1 monoinfected patients treated with Peg-interferon, ribavirin, and either boceprevir (n=158) or telaprevir (n=557) between July 2013 and April 2014 at 15 reference centers in Brazil. Demographic, clinical, virological, and adverse events data were collected during treatment and follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 715 patients, 59% had cirrhosis and 67.1% were treatment-experienced. Based on intention-to-treat analysis, the overall sustained viral response was 56.6%, with similar effectiveness in both groups (51.9% for boceprevir and 58% for telaprevir, p=0.190). Serious adverse events occurred in 44.2% of patients, and six deaths (0.8%) were recorded. Cirrhotic patients had lower sustained viral response rates than non-cirrhotic patients (46.9% vs. 70.6%,

Effect of RNS60 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a phase II multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background and purpose Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options. RNS60 is an immunomodulatory and neuroprotective investigational product that has shown efficacy in animal models of ALS and other neurodegenerative diseases. Its administration has been safe and well tolerated in ALS subjects in previous early phase trials. Methods This was a phase II, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. Participants diagnosed with definite, probable or probable laboratory-supported ALS were assigned to receive RNS60 or placebo administered for 24 weeks intravenously (375 ml) once a week and via nebulization (4 ml/day) on non-infusion days, followed by an additional 24 weeks off-treatment. The primary objective was to measure the effects of RNS60 treatment on selected biomarkers of inflammation and neurodegeneration in peripheral blood. Secondary objectives were to measure the effect of RNS60 on functional impairment (ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised), a measure of self-sufficiency, respiratory function (forced vital capacity, FVC), quality of life (ALS Assessment Questionnaire-40, ALSAQ-40) and survival. Tolerability and safety were assessed. Results Seventy-four participants were assigned to RNS60 and 73 to placebo. Assessed biomarkers did not differ between arms. The mean rate of decline in FVC and the eating and drinking domain of ALSAQ-40 was slower in the RNS60 arm (FVC, difference 0.41 per week, standard error 0.16, p = 0.0101; ALSAQ-40, difference -0.19 per week, standard error 0.10, p = 0.0319). Adverse events were similar in the two arms. In a post hoc analysis, neurofilament light chain increased over time in bulbar onset placebo participants whilst remaining stable in those treated with RNS60. Conclusions The positive effects of RNS60 on selected measures of respiratory and bulbar function warrant further investigation

Cohort profile : demographic and clinical characteristics of the MILESTONE longitudinal cohort of young people approaching the upper age limit of their child mental health care service in Europe

Purpose: The presence of distinct child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult mental health services (AMHS) impacts continuity of mental health treatment for young people. However, we do not know the extent of discontinuity of care in Europe nor the effects of discontinuity on the mental health of young people. Current research is limited, as the majority of existing studies are retrospective, based on small samples or used non-standardised information from medical records. The MILESTONE prospective cohort study aims to examine associations between service use, mental health and other outcomes over 24 months, using information from self, parent and clinician reports. Participants: Seven hundred sixty-three young people from 39 CAMHS in 8 European countries, their parents and CAMHS clinicians who completed interviews and online questionnaires and were followed up for 2 years after reaching the upper age limit of the CAMHS they receive treatment at. Findings to date: This cohort profile describes the baseline characteristics of the MILESTONE cohort. The mental health of young people reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS varied greatly in type and severity: 32.8% of young people reported clinical levels of self-reported problems and 18.6% were rated to be ‘markedly ill’, ‘severely ill’ or ‘among the most extremely ill’ by their clinician. Fifty-seven per cent of young people reported psychotropic medication use in the previous half year. Future plans: Analysis of longitudinal data from the MILESTONE cohort will be used to assess relationships between the demographic and clinical characteristics of young people reaching the upper age limit of their CAMHS and the type of care the young person uses over the next 2 years, such as whether the young person transitions to AMHS. At 2 years follow-up, the mental health outcomes of young people following different care pathways will be compared. Trial registration number: NCT03013595