Reprodutibilidade, objetividade e validade do instrumento de avaliação do nível de atividade física de idosos ­ Curitibativa (INAFI) / Reproducibility, objectivity and validity of the instrument measuring the level of physical activity in the elderly - Curitibativa (INAFI)

O estudo propôs verificar a autenticidade científica do Instrumento de Avaliação do Nível de Atividade Física de Idosos (INAFI). Participaram 64 idosos, com 69,37 ± 6,70 anos (mulheres) e 70,5 ± 3,54 anos (homens). O instrumento adotado foi o acelerômetro GT3X, Actigraph (USA). Na análise geral do instrumento, comparação entre os grupos A e B (reprodutibilidade, mesmo entrevistador), o INAFI apresentou bom desempenho, p = 0,6956, grupos B e C (objetividade, entrevistadores diferentes), o instrumento foi razoável, p = 0,5047. No diagrama de dispersão observou-se que o viés A e B (= 0,5), B e C (= 6,61), é muito próximo de Zero, demonstrando que há concordância na maneira de aplicar as entrevistas. Na comparação, INAFI X acelerômetro foi necessário homogeneizar a diferença no tamanho das escalas, dividindo as variáveis pelas suas respectivas médias. Os resultados das análises: total/INAFI (MET/min/sem) X counts/min eixo1; total/INAFI (MET/min/sem) X counts/min vetor magnitude; total/atividade leve/INAFI, (< 3 METs) X total/light e lifestyle/acelerômetro (1,5-2,9 METs); total/atividade moderada/INAFI (> 3 METs) X total/atividade moderada/acelerômetro (3-5,9 METs) obteve-se um viés (= zero), portanto existe uma forte concordância entre as medidas dos dois instrumentos. Podemos afirmar que o INAFI se mostrou eficiente ao propósito para qual foi construído, portanto possui autenticidade científica. (AU)

The study proposed to verify the scientific authenticity of the Instrument Measuring the Level of Physical Activity in the Elderly (INAFI). Sixty-four elderly individuals participated, with 69.37 ± 6.70 years (women) and 70.5 ± 3.54 years (men). The instrument adopted was the GT3X accelerometer, Actigraph (USA). In the general analysis of the instrument, comparison between groups A and B (reproducibility, same interviewer), INAFI presented good performance, p = 0.6956, groups B and C (objectivity, different interviewers), the instrument was reasonable, p = 0.5047. In the dispersion diagram it was observed that the bias A and B (= 0.5), B and C (= 6.61), is very close to Zero, demonstrating that there is agreement in the way of applying the interviews. In the comparison, INAFI X accelerometer was necessary to homogenize the difference in the size of the scales, dividing the variables by their respective means. The results of the analyzes: total / INAFI (MET / min / without) X counts / min axis1; total / INAFI (MET / min / without) X counts / min vector magnitude; total / light activity / INAFI, (<3 METs) X total / light and lifestyle / accelerometer (1.5-2.9 METs); total / moderate activity / INAFI (> 3 METs) total X / moderate activity / accelerometer (3-5.9 METs) was obtained a bias (= zero), therefore there is a strong agreement between the measurements of the two instruments. We can say that INAFI was efficient for the purpose for which it was built, so it has scientific authenticity. (AU)

Detection of human papillomavirus in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have reported a human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence of 20% to 30% in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), although clinical data on HPV involvement remain largely inconsistent, ascribed by some to differences in HPV detection methods or in geographic origin of the studies. OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and formal meta-analysis of the literature reporting on HPV detection in LSCC. METHODS: Literature was searched from January 1964 until March 2015. The effect size was calculated as event rates (95% confidence interval [CI]), with homogeneity testing using Cochran's Q and I(2) statistics. Meta-regression was used to test the impact of study-level covariates (HPV detection method, geographic origin) on effect size. Potential publication bias was estimated using funnel plot symmetry. RESULTS: One hundred seventy nine studies were eligible, comprising a sample size of 7,347 LSCCs from different geographic regions. Altogether, 1,830 (25%) cases tested HPV-positive considering all methods, with effect size of 0.269 (95% CI: 0.242 to 0.297; random-effects model). In meta-analysis stratified by the 1) HPV detection technique and 2) geographic study origin, the between-study heterogeneity was significant only for geographic origin (P = .0001). In meta-regression, the HPV detection method (P = .876) or geographic origin (P = .234) were not significant study-level covariates. Some evidence for publication bias was found only for studies from North America and those using non-polymerase chain reaction methods, with a marginal effect on adjusted point estimates for both. CONCLUSIONS: Variability in HPV detection rates in LSCC is explained by geographic origin of study but not by HPV detection method. However, they were not significant study-level covariates in formal meta-regression. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Fatores que interferem na qualidade do DNA extraído de amostras biológicas armazenadas em blocos de parafina / Factors that affect the quality of DNA extracted from biological samples stored in paraffin blocks

Os avanços tecnológicos e metodológicos da biologia molecular criaram a possibilidade de obter DNA de amostras teciduais estocadas em blocos de parafina, alternativa esta que permite estudos retrospectivos de grandes bancos de tecidos contendo inúmeras doenças raras. O objetivo deste trabalho foi a realização de uma breve revisão de alguns fatores inerentes à qualidade do produto extraído proveniente de blocos de parafina armazenados. Os processos envolvidos nas fases de prefixação, fixação, pós-fixação apresentam aspectos que são causa de resultados de produtos finais insatisfatórios. Na fase de prefixação, alterações bioquímicas influenciam na preservação das macromoléculas. As mudanças moleculares causadas pelos fixadores para evitar autólise celular podem ser um limitante no momento da extração de DNA. A qualidade do DNA obtido nas duas primeiras fases é considerada importante para os procedimentos de pós-fixação (extração e purificação do DNA). Existem na literatura vários protocolos, com diferentes passos que podem ser modificados, para a obtenção de DNA de material parafinado. Assim, a compreensão das reações em cada fase é importante para solucionar ou minimizar problemas, que influenciam na qualidade das macromoléculas de DNA.

Technological and methodological advances in molecular biology have enabled the obtainment of DNA from paraffin embedded tissue, thus allowing the use of extensive pathological archive sources and samples of uncommon diseases in retrospective studies. The aim of this work was to carry out a brief review of some factors inherent in the quality of product from paraffin embedded material. The processes involved in the pre-fixation, fixation and post-fixation phases have several aspects that may result in unsatisfactory final products. In the pre-fixation phase, biochemical changes influence the preservation of macromolecules. The molecular changes caused by fixation, an attempt to prevent cell autolysis, may be a limiting factor at the time of DNA extraction. The quality of DNA obtained in the first two phases is regarded important for post-fixation procedures (DNA extraction and purification). In the literature there are several protocols whose steps can be modified to obtain DNA from paraffin embedded material. Therefore, the understanding of reactions at each stage is important in order to solve or minimize problems that interfere in the quality of DNA macromolecules.