A randomized trial to evaluate the use of text messaging, letter, and telephone call reminders to improve return of blood donors with reactive serologic tests.

BACKGROUND: Low return rates for notification and counseling among donors with reactive serologic screening tests have been reported worldwide. A randomized trial to test the effectiveness of text message, letter, or telephone call reminders to improve return among nonresponding first-time blood donors with reactive serologic tests was conducted. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Donors with serologically reactive screening test results who had a cell phone and resided in the metropolitan telephone area code of São Paulo in the period from August 2013 through July 2014 were eligible. A consecutive sample of first-time donors with reactive screening tests who had not responded to a standard letter requesting the donor return to the blood center were randomly assigned to receive a text, a new letter, or a telephone call requesting return for notification and counseling. Return rates were measured over the subsequent 30 days. RESULTS: The return rate after a phone call reminder was better than that for a text message (39.8% vs. 28.4%; odds ratio [OR], 1.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-2.64) but not better than that for a letter (39.8% vs. 34.4%; OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.80-1.99). Older age was a predictor of higher rate of return with each year increase in age associated with a 2% increase in the odds of return (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04). CONCLUSION: In nonresponding serologic reactive donors, telephone call led to a higher return rate than text message. The results of this study suggest that use of text messages, while attractive for its simplicity, will not lead to increased donor notification success after serologically reactive marker results from blood donation in Brazil.

Quality of diet plans for weight loss featured in women's magazines. A cross-sectional descriptive study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE:: Brazil has the fifth largest population of obese individuals in the world. Women's magazines publish a large number of diet plans, and therefore the objective of this study was to assess the quality of these plans. DESIGN:: Cross-sectional descriptive study. METHODS:: We included the Brazilian women's magazines of highest circulation published between January and June 2014 that advertised diets for weight loss on their covers. We extracted the quantities of macro and micronutrients from each of these diet plans and compared these quantities with the World Health Organization nutritional guidelines for adult women. We also checked the total energy quantities of these plans, and any recommendations about water intake and physical activity. RESULTS:: We identified 136 potentially eligible magazine issues; 41 were excluded and 95 issues of 6 different magazines were included in the study. We found that 83.1 % of the plans had carbohydrate and fiber levels below the recommendations. On the other hand, the protein and saturated fatty acid levels were above the recommendations in 97.8% and 95.7% of the plans, respectively; 75.7% of the diets had inadequate calcium levels and 70.5% had low iron levels. Only 30 plans specified the total daily quantity of dietary energy and in 53.3% of these, the information was inconsistent with our estimates; 20% of the plans had no recommendations on daily water intake and 37.5% did not give recommendations regarding physical activity practices. CONCLUSION:: The diet plans for weight loss featured in Brazilian women's magazines are of low quality.

Esthetic perception of changes in facial profile resulting from orthodontic treatment with extraction of premolars: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The authors conducted a systematic review to assess changes in patients' facial profiles resulting from orthodontic treatment with and without extraction of 4 premolars and to identify cephalometric parameters that can assist decision making in borderline cases. TYPES OF STUDIES REVIEWED: The authors conducted a systematic review of randomized clinical trials and observational studies comparing the 2 types of treatment (with and without premolar extraction) in terms of the changes in facial profile. The authors conducted an electronic search of the databases the Cochrane Library, PubMed MEDLINE, Embase, and Latin-American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature. RESULTS: The authors identified 1 clinical trial with 26 participants and 5 observational cohort studies, collectively involving 362 participants. The authors assessed cephalometric parameters and esthetic outcomes. Four studies used linear regression analysis to investigate esthetic interaction between treatment strategy and initial lower lip protrusion. The 4 studies determined that if the initial lip protrusion was beyond a determined point, esthetic preferences favored extraction, and if the initial lip protrusion was not to that point, esthetic preferences favored conservative treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of the authors' systematic review found no significant differences between the groups in terms of the esthetic outcomes. The cephalometric parameter of initial lip protrusion can help with decision making in borderline cases.

Quality of diet plans for weight loss featured in women's magazines. A cross-sectional descriptive study / Qualidade de planos dietéticos para perda de peso veiculados em revistas femininas. Um estudo descritivo transversal

ABSTRACT CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: Brazil has the fifth largest population of obese individuals in the world. Women's magazines publish a large number of diet plans, and therefore the objective of this study was to assess the quality of these plans. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. METHODS: We included the Brazilian women's magazines of highest circulation published between January and June 2014 that advertised diets for weight loss on their covers. We extracted the quantities of macro and micronutrients from each of these diet plans and compared these quantities with the World Health Organization nutritional guidelines for adult women. We also checked the total energy quantities of these plans, and any recommendations about water intake and physical activity. RESULTS: We identified 136 potentially eligible magazine issues; 41 were excluded and 95 issues of 6 different magazines were included in the study. We found that 83.1 % of the plans had carbohydrate and fiber levels below the recommendations. On the other hand, the protein and saturated fatty acid levels were above the recommendations in 97.8% and 95.7% of the plans, respectively; 75.7% of the diets had inadequate calcium levels and 70.5% had low iron levels. Only 30 plans specified the total daily quantity of dietary energy and in 53.3% of these, the information was inconsistent with our estimates; 20% of the plans had no recommendations on daily water intake and 37.5% did not give recommendations regarding physical activity practices. CONCLUSION: The diet plans for weight loss featured in Brazilian women's magazines are of low quality.

RESUMO CONTEXTO E OBJETIVO: O Brasil tem a quinta maior população de obesos do mundo. Revistas femininas publicam um grande número de planos dietéticos. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade desses planos. TIPO DE ESTUDO: Estudo descritivo transversal. MÉTODOS: Incluímos as revistas femininas brasileiras de maior circulação publicadas entre janeiro e junho de 2014 que tivessem uma chamada de dieta para perda de peso em sua capa. De cada plano dietético, foi extraída a quantidade de macro e micronutrientes. Comparamos esses valores com as diretrizes nutricionais da Organização Mundial de Saúde para mulheres adultas. Verificamos também a quantidade total de energia, se o plano recomendava consumo de água e prática de atividade física. RESULTADOS: Um total de 136 exemplares potencialmente elegíveis foi identificado; 41 foram excluídos e 95 exemplares de 6 revistas diferentes foram incluídos no estudo. A análise mostrou que 83,1 % dos planos apresentaram valores de carboidratos e de fibras menores do que os recomendados. Por outro lado, o teor de proteína e de ácidos graxos saturados foi maior do que o recomendado em 97,8% e 95,7% dos planos, respectivamente, e 75,7% dos planos tinham teor inadequado de cálcio e 70,5% de ferro. Apenas 30 planos especificaram a quantidade total de energia diária e em 53,3% desses, a informação foi discordante com nossas estimativas; 20% dos planos não recomendavam consumo diário de água, 35,7% não recomendavam a prática de atividade física. CONCLUSÃO: A qualidade dos planos dietéticos para perda de peso veiculados em revistas femininas brasileiras é baixa.