Adjunctive inspiratory muscle training for patients with COVID-19 (COVIDIMT): protocol for randomised controlled double-blind trial.

INTRODUCTION: A significant number of patients with COVID-19 may experience dyspnoea, anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue and physical impairment symptoms, raising the need for a multidisciplinary rehabilitation approach, especially for those with advanced age, obesity, comorbidities and organ failure. Traditional pulmonary rehabilitation (PR), including exercise training, psychosocial counselling and education, has been employed to improve pulmonary function, exercise capacity and quality of life in patients with COVID-19. However, the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) in PR programmes remain unclear. This study aimed to determine whether the addition of a supervised IMT in a PR is more effective than PR itself in improving dyspnoea, health-related quality of life and exercise capacity in symptomatic patients with post-COVID-19. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This parallel-group, assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial, powered for superiority, aimed to assess exercise capacity as the primary outcome. A total of 138 are being recruited at two PR centres in Brazil. Following baseline testing, participants will be randomised using concealed allocation, to receive either (1) standard PR with sham IMT or (2) standard PR added to IMT. Treatment effects or differences between the outcomes (at baseline, after 8 and 16 weeks, and after 6 months) of the study groups will be analysed using an ordinary two-way analysis of variance. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial was approved by the Brazilian National Ethics Committee and obtained approval on 7 October 2020 (document number 4324069). The findings will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04595097.

Análise de correspondência aplicada para a identificação de plantas benéficas da região de Salinas-MG / Correspondence analysis applied for the identification of beneficial plants of the Salinas-MG region

Plantas nativas são utilizadas na alimentação humana e na cura de enfermidades. No que diz respeito às plantas medicinais, o emprego das substâncias nelas contidas, advém do conhecimento empírico. Já as PANC’s são conhecidas pela infinidade de benefícios à saúde, no entanto, há uma variedade de compostos desconhecidos por parte da comunidade científica. Diante do mencionado, objetivou-se coletar informações acerca das plantas com propriedades benéficas e, posteriormente dissipar este conhecimento. Foram feitas visitas in loco para obtenção de dados, e estes tratados pela técnica estatística de análise de correspondência. Foi feito, ainda, uma pesquisa na literatura para a comprovação dos dados encontrados na análise, e, por fim foram criadas cartilhas contendo as informações em relação a utilização das plantas endêmicas da região.

Oculomotor Status, Binocular Vision, and Stereoacuity in a Series of Keratoconus Subjects.

Purpose: A group of keratoconus subjects (KG) and a control group (CG) were evaluated for sensory and motor status. We tried to clarify the factors (best-corrected visual acuity [BCVA]), heterophorias, fusional amplitude, anisometropia, astigmatism) that may be associated with a binocular disturbance. Methods: BCVA (logMAR) was measured. Binocular vision was checked using cover tests, striate Maddox, and a 6Δ base-down prism (simultaneous perception), a prism bar (fusion and fusional convergence break point), and Titmus Fly Test (stereopsis). Results: Fifty-four subjects of the KG, 27 men (median 16 years), and 29 of the CG, 15 men (median 20 years), were evaluated. In the KG, 8 (15%) subjects had strabismus. Those whose BCVA in the worse eye was logMAR ≥0.7 had a significantly higher frequency of strabismus and absence of simultaneous perception. Spherical equivalent anisometropia ≥ 1.0 diopter (D) was significantly different in both groups as was the frequency of gross stereopsis. In comparing fine and gross stereopsis in both the KG and the CG, there was a significant difference in the frontal astigmatism between eyes in the KG (P = 0.03) and CG (P = 0.01). Conclusions: In our study, the KG presented a higher frequency of strabismus and impaired binocular vision. Frontal astigmatism was different between groups with gross and fine stereopsis, in both the CG and KG. Future studies are needed to elucidate or reinforce the factors associated with the loss of binocularity in keratoconus. Testing for stereopsis may be helpful to consider in the treatment guidelines for keratoconus.

Morphofunctional evaluation of end-to-side neurorrhaphy through video system magnification.

BACKGROUND: The surgical microscope is an essential tool for microsurgery. Nonetheless, several promising alternatives are being developed, including endoscopes and laparoscopes with video systems. However, these alternatives have only been used for arterial anastomoses so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a low-cost video-assisted magnification system in end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty rats were randomly divided into four matched groups: (1) normality (sciatic nerve was exposed but was kept intact); (2) denervation (fibular nerve was sectioned, and the proximal and distal stumps were sutured-transection without repair); (3) microscope; and (4) video system (fibular nerve was sectioned; the proximal stump was buried inside the adjacent musculature, and the distal stump was sutured to the tibial nerve). Microsurgical procedures were performed with guidance from a microscope or video system. We analyzed weight, nerve caliber, number of stitches, times required to perform the neurorrhaphy, muscle mass, peroneal functional indices, latency and amplitude, and numbers of axons. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in weight, nerve caliber, number of stitches, muscle mass, peroneal functional indices, or latency between microscope and video system groups. Neurorrhaphy took longer using the video system (P < 0.05). The amplitude was higher in the microscope group than in the video group. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to perform an end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats through video system magnification. The success rate is satisfactory and comparable with that of procedures performed under surgical microscopes.

Estudo de incidência de sepse e fatores prognósticos em pacientes queimados / Sepsis incidence study and prognostic factors in burn patients

OBJETIVOS: Identificar a incidência de sepse em pacientes com queimaduras hospitalizados nos leitos de terapia intensiva de um Centro de Tratamento de Queimados, bem como fatores prognósticos associados com a mortalidade. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um estudo retrospectivo na unidade de Terapia Intensiva de um Centro de Tratamento de Queimados. A amostra foi de conveniência, sendo analisados todos os registros de pacientes adultos queimados internados consecutivamente no período de janeiro de 2011 a dezembro de 2012. Foram coletados dados clínicos, do diagnóstico da sepse e da queimadura. RESULTADOS: Foram analisados 171 pacientes no estudo, com média de idade de 41,2 anos (DP=15,0), sendo 70,8% do gênero masculino. A média da área de superfície corporal queimada foi 28,1% (DP=17,8). Desses pacientes, 115 (67,2%) apresentaram pelo menos um episódio de sepse clinicamente comprovada. Ao avaliar os fatores de risco para morte no desfecho hospitalar, a idade, o gênero feminino e a área de superfície corporal queimada foram as variáveis clínicas que se associaram com mortalidade. CONCLUSOES: O diagnóstico de sepse apresentou frequência elevada e tendência à associação com aumento de mortalidade. Os fatores de risco para morte identificados foram as variáveis clínicas: idade, gênero feminino e área de superfície corporal queimada.

OBJECTIVES: To identify sepsis incidence in hospitalized burn patients admitted to intensive care unit of a burn center, as well as prognostic factors associated with mortality. METHODS: A restrospective study was conducted in the Intensive Care Unit of a Burn Center. A convenience sample was performed of all clinical records of patients consecutively admitted from January 2011 to December 2012. Clinical data were collected along with data about sepsis diagnosis, burn injury and prognostic scores. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy one patients were analyzed. They were predominantly male (70.8%) with mean age of 41.2 years (SD=15.0). Mean total burned surface area was 28.1% (SD=17.8). One hundred and fifteen patients (67.2%) had at least one episode of sepsis clinically documented. Evaluating risk factors for death at hospital discharge, the variables age, female gender and total burned surface area were associated with increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Sepsis diagnosis presented high frequency and a tendency to be associated with increased mortality. Age, female gender and total burned surface area were the clinical variables associated with increased risk for death.