Occurrence of depression and assessment of functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service.

Background: Vascular diseases are associated with significant sequelae and clinical repercussions for the lives of affected patients, which are more serious among the elderly. The consequences of vascular disease, such as limb loss, chronic pain, prolonged hospitalization, and polypharmacy, reduce these patients' autonomy and independence, influencing their wellbeing and quality of life. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of depression and assess functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Vascular Surgery Service of a tertiary hospital with a non-random sample of patients selected consecutively. The geriatric depression scale short form (GDS-15) was used to assess depression and the Katz scale was used for functional assessment. Results: The prevalence of depression in these patients was 60.6%. Associations were observed between depression and consultation with a family doctor in the last 12 months, alcoholism, claudication, diabetes, and individuals who had had an amputation. Individuals' Katz index functional capacity scores were significantly associated with sociodemographic variables, conditions related to vascular disease, and hospitalization. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of depression in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a vascular surgery service and important reductions in functional capacity in some groups, such as individuals with low educational levels, those who had chronic pain in the lower limbs, patients with diabetes, and those who had had an amputation.

Treatment of bilateral popliteal artery aneurysms.

Popliteal artery aneurysms are the most frequent type of peripheral aneurysm, accounting for 85% of the all of these aneurysms. Usually asymptomatic, they are generally diagnosed during clinical examination. Incidence is higher among males and seniors. They are bilateral in 50% of the cases and 60% are associated with abdominal aortic aneurysms. This paper describes a 72-year-old male patient who presented with two bilateral pulsatile masses, one in each popliteal region, was otherwise asymptomatic, and had a history of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Clinical examination and ultrasound imaging confirmed a diagnosis of bilateral aneurysms of the popliteal arteries. Popliteal artery aneurysms can be treated with open bypass surgery, with or without aneurysm resection, or with endovascular surgery. This Therapeutic Challenge discusses these possibilities.

Anxiety and depression in patients with peripheral arterial disease admitted to a tertiary hospital.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent neuropsychiatric conditions and are associated with chronic diseases, pain, loss of autonomy, dependence on others to perform routine activities, and loneliness. Depression often has a cause-and-effect relationship with other diseases, such as: acute myocardial infarction (AMI), systemic arterial hypertension (SAH), diabetes mellitus (DM) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). OBJECTIVES: To estimate the frequency of anxiety and depression in patients of both sexes with PAD admitted to a tertiary hospital. METHODS: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, with a non-random sample selected consecutively. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to assess anxiety and depression, and the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was used to assess PAD. RESULTS: The prevalence of anxiety in these patients was 24.4%, with associations between anxiety and monthly family income, smoking, and SAH. The prevalence of depression was 27.6%, with associations between depression and the female gender, being married or in a stable relationship, living on a family income of one minimum wage or less, not being an alcoholic, and having hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: There are high prevalence rates of anxiety and depressive disorders among patients with PAD, which are underdiagnosed and, hence, not properly treated.

Prevalence of depressive symptoms among medical students taught using problem-based learning versus traditional methods.

OBJECTIVE: To compare depressive symptoms among medical students taught using problem-based learning (PBL) and the traditional method. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Beck's Depression Inventory was applied to 215 medical students. The prevalence of depression was calculated as the number of individuals with depression divided by the total number in the sample from each course, with 95% confidence intervals. The statistical significance level used was 5% (p ≤ .05). RESULTS: Among the 215 students, 52.1% were male and 47.9% were female; and 51.6% were being taught using PBL methodology and 48.4% using traditional methods. The prevalence of depression was 29.73% with PBL and 22.12% with traditional methods. There was higher prevalence among females: 32.8% with PBL and 23.1% with traditional methods. The prevalence of depression with PBL among students up to 21 years of age was 29.4% and among those over 21 years, 32.1%. With traditional methods among students up to 21 years of age, it was 16.7%%, and among those over 21 years, 30.1%. The prevalence of depression with PBL was highest among students in the second semester and with traditional methods, in the eighth. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms were highly prevalent among students taught both with PBL and with traditional methods.

True dorsalis pedis artery aneurysm: case report.

A true aneurysm of the dorsal artery of the foot is a rare medical finding and its principal causes and clinical manifestations are not well known. A 49-year-old female patient presented with a pulsatile mass on the dorsal part of her right foot. Clinical and ultrasound examinations confirmed a diagnosis of aneurysm. The aneurysm was resected after dissection, exposure and isolation of the proximal and distal stumps of the dorsalis pedis artery. Simple ligature and resection of the aneurysm is proving to be a safe treatment option in patients with a patent plantar arch.

Quality of life in patients with peripheral artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Vascular diseases have a direct influence on quality of life (QoL) and directly affect patients' biopsychosocial aspects. Quality of life is therefore an important element for evaluation of vascular interventions. OBJECTIVE: To assess QoL in inpatients with peripheral arterial disease at a vascular surgery service in a charitable tertiary hospital. METHODS: This is an exploratory study, with a cross-sectional design, conducted at a vascular surgery service in a charitable tertiary hospital, assessing patients with peripheral arterial disease using two questionnaires, one on quality of life (the WHOQOL-Bref short form) and the other on sociodemographic conditions. RESULTS: It was observed that the physical domain, environment domain and total QoL scores were the lowest for the whole sample of 127 interviewees. Additionally, an intragroup analysis showed that men scored higher in all domains when compared with women, with the exception of the social relationships domain. CONCLUSIONS: Women with peripheral arterial disease exhibited lower scores than men in all domains of the QoL questionnaire, except for social relationships.

Edentulousness in relation to remodeling of the gonial angles and incisures in dentate and edentate mandibles: morphometric study using the Image J software.

PURPOSE: The human mandible is subject to stimuli during its growth phase and also in adulthood. One of these stimuli may be absence of teeth, which gives rise to mandibular remodeling. Morphological changes may occur in different areas of this bone, such as in the gonial, condylar and ramus regions. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of edentulousness on remodeling of the gonial angle of the mandible and the angle formed by the mandibular incisure. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Eighty-five dry mandibles from adults were examined: 42 from males and 43 from females. The mandibles were photographed using a camera coupled to a static support that was positioned 20 cm from the object to be photographed. The images were digitized and transferred to the Image J 1.42q software, in which the gonial angle of the mandible and the mandibular incisure angle were measured. RESULTS: There were no differences in the mandibular and mandibular incisure angles in relation to presence or absence of teeth, or between the right and left sides. The mandibular incisure angle was greater in the women. CONCLUSION: Edentulousness did not cause remodeling of the gonial angle of the mandible or in the mandibular incisure angle.

Infraareolar access for thoracoscopic sympathectomy to treat primary hyperhidrosis.

We herein present a new technique for performing thoracoscopic sympathectomy to treat primary hyperhidrosis in both genders and all ages through the mammary infraareolar access associated with the axillary access. We believe that these points of access are feasible and safe, and result in an excellent cosmetic outcome without compromising the efficacy of the thoracoscopic sympathectomy. The existence of adhesions between the parietal and visceral pleura, the presence of large breasts, and lactation made it difficult to perform the surgery, but did not make it impossible to apply the technique using the infraareolar access. However, the presence of breast implants is a contraindication for the new access.

Frequency of multiple renal arteries in human fetuses.

PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of occurrence of multiple renal arteries in human fetuses. METHODS: Sixty kidneys from human fetuses (32 males and 28 females) were used, fixed and kept in 10% formol solution. The fetal age was estimated from the hallux-calcaneus length and ranged from 20 to 37 weeks of gestation, with a mean of 25.63 weeks. The renal arteries were dissected without the aid of optical instruments, and their number, length, topographical layout in relation to their origins in the aorta walls and distribution according to gender and kidney (left or right) were determined. RESULTS: Out of the 60 kidneys investigated, 78.33% had a single renal artery and 21.67% had multiple renal arteries. Most of the renal arteries emerged from the lateral wall of the aorta between the levels of the lower third of the twelfth thoracic vertebra and the upper third of the first lumbar vertebra. The length ranged from 0.15 to 1.5 cm and was slightly greater in females. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of findings of multiple renal arteries was 21.67%.

The Effects of Phonation Into Glass, Plastic, and LaxVox Tubes in Singers: A Systematic Review.

The present study aimed to perform a systematic literature review to assess the effects of phonation therapy on voice quality and function in singers. The systematic search was performed in February and updated in October 2017. No restriction of year, language, or publication status was applied. The primary electronic databases searched were LILACS, SciELO, PubMed, and Cochrane. Kappa coefficient was used to assess the agreement between examiners in judging article eligibility. The eligible articles were analyzed based on their risk of bias using the tools proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Mendeley Desktop 1.13.3 software package (Mendeley Ltd, London, UK) was used to standardize the references of identified articles. The general sample consisted of 1965 articles screened out of the electronic databases. Two examiners analyzed the sample in the search for eligible articles. The agreement between examiners reached excellent outcomes (kappa coefficient = 0.88). After the selection, phase 6 articles remained eligible. Together, the eligible studies accounted 141 subjects (65 men and 76 women) aged between 18 and 72 years old. Electroglottography was considered as the most common method (83.33%) of assessment of the effects of phonation therapy in singers. The most prevalent exercises within the therapies were phonation into straws and phonation into glass tubes. The phonation into glass tubes immersed in water, straws, and LaxVox tubes promoted positive effects on the voice quality in singers, such as more comfortable phonation, better voice projection, and economy in voice emission.

Metric measurements and attachment levels of the medial patellofemoral ligament: an anatomical study in cadavers.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the metric measurements and to verify the attachment levels of the medial patellofemoral ligament in human cadavers. METHODS: Seventeen knees (eight right and nine left knees) from 10 cadavers (nine male and one female) were dissected and stored in a 10% formaldehyde solution. All of the knees were whole and did not show any macroscopic signs of injuries. RESULTS: The medial patellofemoral ligament was present in 88% of the knees studied, localized transversally between the medial femoral epicondyle and the medial margin of the patella. Its dimensions were quite variable, even between the knees of the same individual. The width of the patellar insertion ranged from 16 to 38.8 mm, with a mean of 27.90 mm, and its mean length was 55.67 mm. The margins of the ligament were concave or rectilinear. At the upper margin, the concave form predominated and was better characterized, while at the lower margin, the rectilinear form predominated. CONCLUSIONS: The medial patellofemoral ligament is a very distinct structure with variable anatomical aspects and is always located in a plane inferior to the vastus medialis obliquus muscle.

Ocorrência de depressão e avaliação da capacidade funcional em pacientes com doenças vasculares internados em um serviço de cirurgia vascular / Occurrence of depression and assessment of functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service

Resumo Contexto As doenças vasculares estão associadas a importantes sequelas e repercussões clínicas nas vidas dos pacientes acometidos e, em maior relevância, entre os idosos. Consequências da doença vascular como a perda de um membro, dor crônica, internamentos prolongados e a polifarmácia geram, nesses pacientes, perda de autonomia e um grau de dependência, que vão influenciar o bem-estar e a qualidade de vida. Objetivos Determinar a ocorrência de depressão e avaliar a capacidade funcional em pacientes com doenças vasculares internados em um serviço de cirurgia vascular. Métodos Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal, prospectivo, realizado no serviço de cirurgia vascular de um hospital terciário, com uma amostra não aleatória selecionada de forma consecutiva. Para avaliar a depressão, foi utilizada a escala de depressão geriátrica resumida e, para a avaliação funcional do indivíduo, foi utilizada a escala de Katz. Resultados A prevalência de depressão nesses pacientes foi de 60,6%. Foi observada associação entre depressão e: consulta com médico do Programa de Estratégia de Saúde da Família nos últimos 12 meses, etilismo, claudicação, diabetes e indivíduos que sofreram amputação. Já em relação à capacidade funcional do indivíduo avaliado através do índice de Katz, ocorreram associações significativas entre variáveis sociodemográficas, condições relacionadas a doença vascular e internamento. Conclusões Existem uma alta prevalência de depressão em pacientes com doenças vasculares internados em um serviço de cirurgia vascular e uma redução importante da capacidade funcional em alguns grupos, como os indivíduos de baixa escolaridade, os que sentiam dor crônica nos membros inferiores, os diabéticos e aqueles que sofreram amputação.

Abstract Background Vascular diseases are associated with significant sequelae and clinical repercussions for the lives of affected patients, which are more serious among the elderly. The consequences of vascular disease, such as limb loss, chronic pain, prolonged hospitalization, and polypharmacy, reduce these patients' autonomy and independence, influencing their wellbeing and quality of life. Objectives To determine the prevalence of depression and assess functional capacity in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a Vascular Surgery Service. Methods This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out at the Vascular Surgery Service of a tertiary hospital with a non-random sample of patients selected consecutively. The geriatric depression scale short form (GDS-15) was used to assess depression and the Katz scale was used for functional assessment. Results The prevalence of depression in these patients was 60.6%. Associations were observed between depression and consultation with a family doctor in the last 12 months, alcoholism, claudication, diabetes, and individuals who had had an amputation. Individuals' Katz index functional capacity scores were significantly associated with sociodemographic variables, conditions related to vascular disease, and hospitalization. Conclusions There was a high prevalence of depression in patients with vascular diseases admitted to a vascular surgery service and important reductions in functional capacity in some groups, such as individuals with low educational levels, those who had chronic pain in the lower limbs, patients with diabetes, and those who had had an amputation.

Median artery of the forearm in human fetuses in northeastern Brazil: anatomical study and review of the literature.

A persistent median artery is a rare anomaly. It accompanies the median nerve along its course in the forearm and is of variable origin. It is associated with other local anatomical variations and may contribute significantly towards formation of the superficial palmar arch. In embryos, it is responsible mainly for the blood supply to the hand. The objective of this study was to research the frequency, type (forearm or palmar) and origin of the median artery in fetuses, correlating its presence with sex and body side. Red-colored latex was injected into 32 brachial arteries of human fetuses until its arrival in the hand could be seen. Twenty-four hours after the injection, the median arteries were dissected without the aid of optical instruments. Among the 32 forearms dissected, the median artery was present in 81.25 % (26) of the cases, and it was found more frequently in females and on the left side. Regarding origin, most of the median arteries originated in the common interosseous artery (38.5 %) and anterior interosseous artery (34.6 %). The mean length of the median arteries was 21.1 mm for the palmar type and 19.8 mm for the forearm type. The median artery has a high rate of persistence. It is important to be aware of this anatomical variation, since its presence may give rise to difficulties during routine surgical procedures on the wrist. Its presence may cause serious functional complications in the carpal tunnel, anterior interosseous nerve, round pronator syndromes, and ischemia of the hand.

Fatores de risco relacionados à ocorrência da síndrome de burnout em profissionais de saúde que atuam em maternidades públicas durante a pandemia do Coronavírus / Factors related to the occurrence of burnout syndrome in healthcare professionals working in public maternities during the Coronavirus pandemic

Introdução: os desafios da atual pandemia impuseram aos profissionais de saúde a adequação do processo de trabalho, inclusive nas maternidades, que muitas vezes estava em contradição direta com as evidências de humanização da assistência. Isso pode resultar em níveis crescentes de danos ocupacionais. Objetivo: analisar os fatores associados à Síndrome de Burnout (SB) entre profissionais de saúde que atuam na assistência às gestantes, puérperas e recém-nascidos nas maternidades públicas de Aracaju durante a pandemia do coronavírus. Metodologia: trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem quantitativa, realizado com profissionais de saúde que atuavam na assistência materno-infantil nas maternidades. Resultados: A amostra foi realizada por conveniência e contou com a participação de 218 profissionais, os achados revelaram que 98,2% dos profissionais apresentaram sintomatologia positiva ao menos em uma das três dimensões avaliadas, que sugeriram o diagnóstico da SB. Conclusão: a pandemia trouxe forte impacto à saúde emocional às equipes das maternidades estudadas o que resultou em uma alta ocorrência da SB. Com base na presença dos fatores que predispuseram ao surgimento da síndrome pode ser sugerido uma implementação de ações que busquem cuidar do ambiente de trabalho desses profissionais.

Introduction: the challenges of the current pandemic imposed on health professionals the adequacy of the work process, including in maternity hospitals, which was often in direct contradiction with the evidence of humanization of care. This can result in increasing levels of occupational damage. Objective: to analyze the factors associated with burnout syndrome (BS) among health professionals who work in the care of pregnant women, postpartum women and newborns in public maternity hospitals in Aracaju during the coronavirus pandemic. Methodology: this is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach, carried out with health professionals who worked in maternal and child care in maternity hospitals. Results: the sample was carried out for convenience and had the participation of 218 professionals, the findings revealed that 98.2% of professionals had positive symptoms in at least one of the three dimensions evaluated, which suggested the diagnosis of BS. Conclusion: the pandemic had a strong impact on the emotional health of the teams of the maternity hospitals studied, which resulted in a high occurrence of BS. Based on the presence of factors that predisposed to the emergence of the syndrome, an implementation of actions that seek to take care of the work environment of these professionals can be suggested.

Expression of Ki-67 and P16 INK4a in chemically-induced perioral squamous cell carcinomas in mice.

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the influence of Ki-67 and P16INK4a proteins immunohistochemical expressions on the clinical and morphological parameters of perioral squamous cell carcinoma induced with 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) in mice. METHODS: we topically induced the lesions in the oral commissure of ten Swiss mice for 20 weeks, determining the time to tumors onset and the average tumor volume up to 26 weeks. In histopathological analysis, the variables studied were histological malignancy grade and the immunohistochemical expression of Ki-67 and P16INK4a proteins. The correlation between variables was determined by application of the Spearman correlation test. RESULTS: the mean time to onset of perioral lesions was 21.1 ± 2.13 weeks; mean tumor volume was 555.91 ± 205.52 mm3. Of the induced tumors, 80% were classified as low score and 20% high score. There was diffuse positivity for Ki-67 in 100% of lesions - Proliferation Index (PI) of 50.1 ± 18.0. There was a strong direct correlation between Ki-67 immunoreactivity and tumor volume (R = 0.702) and a low correlation with the malignancy score (R = 0.486). The P16INK4a protein expression was heterogeneous, showing a weak correlation with tumor volume (R = 0.334). There was no correlation between the immunohistochemical expression of the two proteins studied. CONCLUSION: in an experimental model of DMBA-induced perioral carcinogenesis, tumor progression was associated with the tumor proliferative fraction (Ki-67 positive cells) and with tumor histological grading, but not with P16INK4a expression. OBJETIVO: avaliar a influência da expressão imuno-histoquímica das proteínas Ki-67 e p16INK4a sobre parâmetros clínico-morfológicos em carcinomas espinocelulares periorais quimicamente induzidos com 9,10-dimetil-1,2-benzantraceno (DMBA) em modelo murino. MÉTODOS: as lesões foram induzidas topicamente na comissura labial de dez camundongos Swiss durante 20 semanas, sendo determinado o momento de surgimento dos tumores e volume tumoral médio até 26 semanas. Na análise histopatológica, as variáveis estudadas foram gradação histológica de malignidade tumoral e expressão imuno-histoquímica das proteínas Ki-67 e p16INK4a. A correlação entre as variáveis estudadas foi determinada pela aplicação do teste de correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: o tempo médio de surgimento das lesões periorais foi 21,1±2,13 semanas. Volume tumoral médio foi de 555,91±205,52mm3. Dos tumores produzidos, 80% foram classificados como de baixo escore e 20%, alto escore. Evidenciou-se positividade difusa para Ki-67 em 100% das lesões - índice de marcação (PI) de 50,1±18,0. Verificou-se correlação direta forte entre a imunoexpressão do Ki-67 e o volume tumoral (R=0,702) e fraca correlação com o escore de malignidade (R=0,486). A expressão da proteína p16INK4a foi heterogênea, mostrando fraca correlação com o volume tumoral (R=0,334). Não houve correlação entre a expressão imuno-histoquímica das duas proteínas estudadas. CONCLUSÃO: Em modelo experimental de carcinogênese perioral DMBA-induzida, a progressão tumoral está associada à fração proliferativa do tumor (células ki-67 positivas) e com a gradação histológica tumoral, porém não com a expressão da p16INK4a.

Aging, heart rate variability and patterns of autonomic regulation of the heart.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of aging, gender and body mass index on the heart rate variability (HRV), and to compare the patterns of global autonomic regulation (GAR) and parasympathetic outflow (PO) throughout the aging process. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: CROSS-SECTIONAL: Large sample of community-based adults and elderly people. Individuals aged from 40 to 100 years, functionally independent and with satisfactory cognitive function defined as the self-capacity to interact with an interviewer (N= 1743). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled individuals of both genders, stratified into five age-groups. We did adjustments for hypertension, dyslipidemia and non-insulin-dependent diabetes, as well as the body mass index (BMI). All groups undertook long-term electrocardiograms and five time-domain HRV parameters were measured, three (SDNN, SDANN, SDNN-index) reflecting the GAR and two (rMSSD and pNN50) the PO. RESULTS: SDNN, SDANN and SDNN-index decreased linearly with age and BMI, and women had lower values than men (p<0.001). There was a U-shaped pattern of rMSSD and pNN50, with the nadir between 60 and 69 years for both genders, and women had higher values than men (p<0.001). The lowest levels of all HRV variables were found in diabetics (p<0.001). There was no influence of hypertension or dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: The GAR decreased linearly with the age in both genders. It is comparatively lower in women, diabetics and overweight individuals. The PO presented the U-shape in both genders with the nadir at the 7th decade. It was also comparatively lower in men and diabetics. Hypertension and dyslipidemia imparted no significant influence.

Morphometric study on the infraorbital foramen in relation to sex and side of the cranium in northeastern Brazil.

Detailed knowledge of the possible anatomical and morphometric variations of the infraorbital foramen (IOF) is important for ensuring safe and successful regional anesthesia, and for avoiding iatrogenic nerve injuries during surgery on the middle third of the face. To conduct a morphometric study on the IOF, correlating this with sex and side of the cranium. Two hundred forty-two crania were used (148 male and 94 female). Measurements were made with the aid of digital calipers with precision to 0.01 mm. Presence of foramina and their multiplicity was also observed. The data were analyzed descriptively and analytically. Statistical significance was stipulated as 5% (P≤0.05). The IOF was found bilaterally in all the crania, and 26 of them presented multiplicity. The distance from the IOF to the anterior nasal spine was greater in males on both sides (P<0.001). Statistical differences between the sexes were also seen in relation to the following morphometric variables: height of the left IOF (P=0.007), width of the right IOF (P=0.004), and width of the left IOF (P=0.008), and the measurements were also larger among males. The IOF was present in all the crania and on both sides. It was morphometrically larger in males, on both sides.

Burnout syndrome in professionals of the primary healthcare network in Aracaju, Brazil.

The Burnout Syndrome (SB) stems from the chronic emotional stress experienced by the worker, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and low personal accomplishment. May involve professionals whose work relates directly to the public. Aims to assess the prevalence of SB and associated factors in higher education professionals, linked to the Primary Care Network Health in the city of Aracaju / SE, who answered the sociodemographic questionnaire and the Maslach Inventory for Burnout. The average age was 44.9 years, most nurses, women, married with children and graduate. The prevalence of SB was 6.7% to 10.8%, associated factors were younger age, excessive hours of work and job dissatisfaction. There was no difference between the categories evaluated and the majority does not have the SB. However, 54.1% had a high and moderate risk of developing this syndrome, reflecting a process of illness that threatens the welfare of top-level professionals from the Primary Care Network Health Aracaju - SE. These findings point to the importance of adopting preventive and interventional measures as collateral for a better working environment.

Clinical variables associated with disability in leprosy cases in northeast Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: The clinical outcomes of leprosy include complications such as physical disabilities and deformities that vary according to the degree of impairment of nerve trunks. Knowledge of the factors that lead to the development of these complications is important for disability prevention programs. This study aimed to evaluate clinical factors associated with the occurrence of physical disability in leprosy cases. METHODOLOGY: This was a retrospective study of 2,358 cases of leprosy in Aracaju, northeast Brazil, between 2001 and 2011. Analysis was done using the Chi-square test and logistic regression model. RESULTS: Significant factors associated with disability were found to be male gender, having more than two affected nerves, multibacillary leprosy classification, leprosy reaction, and lepromatous leprosy. The multivariate analysis revealed that the associated factors included having more than two affected nerves, leprosy reaction (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36 to 3.01), the multibacillary form (aOR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.84 to 4.08), and lepromatous leprosy (aOR: 4.87, 95% CI: 2.86 to 16.08). CONCLUSIONS: The number of affected nerves, leprosy reaction, operational classification, and clinical presentation were identified as the main factors associated with the development of disability in leprosy patients.

Analysis on the acromial curvature and its relationships with the subacromial space and types of acromion.

OBJECTIVE: To correlate the acromial curvature, using the angles proposed, with the subacromial space and types of acromion. METHODS: Ninety scapulas were studied. The acromia were classified as types I, II or III. The acromial curvature was analyzed by means of the alpha, beta and theta angles. We also measured the distance between the anteroinferior extremity of the acromion and the supraglenoid tubercle (DA). The scapulas were grouped in relation to sex and age. The angles proposed were analyzed in relation to each type of acromion and also in relation to the measurements of the distance DA. RESULTS: Out of the total number of acromia, 39 (43.3%) were type I, 43 (47.7%) type II and eight (9%) type III. The mean ages for each type of acromion (I-III) were 45.6, 55.2 and 51.1 years, respectively. The proportions of the different types of acromion varied in relation to sex and age. The evaluations on the mean beta angle (p = 0.008) and theta angle (p = 0.028), with comparisons in relation to each type of acromion and measurements of the distance DA (p = 0.037), were shown to be statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The angles proposed in our study can be used for morphometric analysis on the acromion, especially regarding its curvature, and can contribute towards studies on diseases of the shoulder and aid in surgical planning and analysis of the acromial slope, by means of radiography or magnetic resonance.

OBJETIVO: Correlacionar a curvatura acromial, por meio dos ângulos propostos, com o espaço subacromial e os tipos de acrômio. MÉTODOS: Foram estudadas 90 escápulas. Os acrômios foram classificados em tipos I, II ou III. A curvatura acromial foi analisada por meio dos ângulos alfa, beta e teta. Mensuramos também a distância entre o extremo anteroinferior do acrômio e o tubérculo supraglenoidal (DA). As escápulas foram agrupadas em relação ao sexo e à idade. Os ângulos propostos foram analisados em relação a cada tipo de acrômio e também em relação à medida da distância DA. RESULTADOS: Do total de acrômios, 39 (43,3%) foram do tipo I, 43 (47,7%) do tipo II e oito (9%) do tipo III. A média de idade para cada tipo de acrômio I-III foi de 45,6 anos, 55,2 e 51,1, respectivamente. A proporção dos diferentes tipos de acrômio variou em relação ao sexo e à idade. A avaliação das médias dos ângulos ß (p = 0,008) e θ (p = 0,028), comparadas em relação a cada tipo de acrômio e às medidas da distância DA (p = 0,037), mostrou-se estatisticamente significativa. CONCLUSÃO: Os ângulos propostos no nosso trabalho podem ser usados para análise morfométrica do acrômio, em especial de sua curvatura, contribuir para os estudos das doenças do ombro e auxiliar na programação cirúrgica e na análise da inclinação acromial por meio de radiografia ou ressonância magnética.