Analysis of osseointegration of implants with macrogeometries with healing chambers: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: To verify the influence of macrogeometry with healing chambers on the osseointegration of dental implants by analyzing implant stability quotient (ISQ) and evaluate the correlation between insertion torque and ISQ insertion with different macrogeometries. METHODS: In total, 26 implants were installed in the posterior mandible of eight patients with sufficient bone height for the installation of implants measuring 3.5 mm in diameter and 9.0 mm in length. The implants were categorized according to two types of macrogeometry: a test group (GT) with 13 conical implants with healing chambers and a control group (GC) with 13 conical implants with conventional threads. To insert the implants, a bone drilling protocol was used up to a diameter of 3 mm with the last helical bur. The insertion torque of the implants was evaluated, followed by the measurement of ISQ at 0 (T-0), 7 (T-7), 14 (T-14), 21 (T-21), 28 (T-28), and 42 (T-42) days. RESULTS: The mean insertion torque was 43 Ncm in both groups, without a significant difference. Moreover, no significant difference in the ISQ values was found between the groups at different time points (p > 0.05), except at T-7 (GT = 69.87±1.89 and GC = 66.48±4.49; p = 0.01). Although there was no significant difference, ISQ median values were higher in the GT group than GC group at 28 days (GT = 67.98 and GC = 63.46; p = 0.05) and 42 days (GT = 66.12 and GC = 60.33; p = 0.09). No correlation was found between the insertion torque and ISQ insertion (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Furthermore, implants with a 3.5 mm diameter macrogeometry, with or without healing chambers, inserted with a drilling protocol up to 3 mm in diameter of the last helical bur, led to a similar secondary stability, with no difference in ISQ values. Although, implants with healing chamber demonstrates ascending values in the graph of ISQ, having a trend of faster osseointegration than implants without healing chambers. Both macrogeometries provide a similar primary stability to implants. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered retrospectively in ReBec (brazilian registry of clinical trials) under the number RBR-96n5×69, on the date of 19/06/2023.

National registry for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review for structuring population registries of motor neuron diseases.

BACKGROUND: This article comprises a systematic review of the literature that aims at researching and analyzing the frequently applied guidelines for structuring national databases of epidemiological surveillance for motor neuron diseases, especially Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). METHODS: We searched for articles published from January 2015 to September 2019 on online databases as PubMed - U.S. National Institutes of Health's National Library of Medicine, Scopus, Science Direct, and Springer. Subsequently, we analyzed studies that considered risk factors, demographic data, and other strategic data for directing techno-scientific research, calibrating public health policies, and supporting decision-making by managers through a systemic panorama of ALS. RESULTS: 2850 studies were identified. 2400 were discarded for not satisfying the inclusion criteria, and 435 being duplicated or published in books or conferences. Hence, 15 articles were elected. By applying quality criteria, we then selected six studies to compose this review. Such researches featured registries from the American (3), European (2), and Oceania (1) continent. All the studies specified the methods for data capture and the patients' recruitment process for the registers. DISCUSSIONS: From the analysis of the selected papers and reported models, it is noticeable that most studies focused on the prospect of obtaining data to characterize research on epidemiological studies. Demographic data (ID01) are present in all the registries, representing the main collected data category. Furthermore, the general health history (ID02) is present in 50% of the registries analyzed. Characteristics such as access control, confidentiality and data curation. We observed that 50% of the registries comprise a patient-focused web-based self-report system. CONCLUSION: The development of robust, interoperable, and secure electronic registries that generate value for research and patients presents itself as a solution and a challenge. This systematic review demonstrated the success of a population register requires actions with well-defined development methods, as well as the involvement of various actors of civil society.

Biomedical signals and machine learning in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: The use of machine learning (ML) techniques in healthcare encompasses an emerging concept that envisages vast contributions to the tackling of rare diseases. In this scenario, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves complexities that are yet not demystified. In ALS, the biomedical signals present themselves as potential biomarkers that, when used in tandem with smart algorithms, can be useful to applications within the context of the disease. METHODS: This Systematic Literature Review (SLR) consists of searching for and investigating primary studies that use ML techniques and biomedical signals related to ALS. Following the definition and execution of the SLR protocol, 18 articles met the inclusion, exclusion, and quality assessment criteria, and answered the SLR research questions. DISCUSSIONS: Based on the results, we identified three classes of ML applications combined with biomedical signals in the context of ALS: diagnosis (72.22%), communication (22.22%), and survival prediction (5.56%). CONCLUSIONS: Distinct algorithmic models and biomedical signals have been reported and present promising approaches, regardless of their classes. In summary, this SLR provides an overview of the primary studies analyzed as well as directions for the construction and evolution of technology-based research within the scope of ALS.

A rare case of bilateral occipital condyle fractures associated with inferior clivus separation fracture resulting in craniocervical dislocation: a case report and modification of the Anderson and Montesano classification is proposed.

The authors report a very rare case of bilateral occipital condyle fractures (OCF) that was associated with complete separation fracture of the inferior clivus resulting in craniocervical dislocation alongside dissociation of C1-C2 joint complex. Also, a new type of the Anderson and Montesano classification system is presented with two subtypes of injuries. Type IVA occurs when the OCF is associated a clivus avulsion fracture, while Type IVB occurs when the OCF is associated with complete "en piece" separation fracture of the inferior clivus. Both Type IV injuries are considered highly unstable, and surgical fixation is the recommended treatment option.

Vasopressin versus Norepinephrine in Patients with Vasoplegic Shock after Cardiac Surgery: The VANCS Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Vasoplegic syndrome is a common complication after cardiac surgery and impacts negatively on patient outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether vasopressin is superior to norepinephrine in reducing postoperative complications in patients with vasoplegic syndrome. METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted at the Heart Institute, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil, between January 2012 and March 2014. Patients with vasoplegic shock (defined as mean arterial pressure less than 65 mmHg resistant to fluid challenge and cardiac index greater than 2.2 l · min · m) after cardiac surgery were randomized to receive vasopressin (0.01 to 0.06 U/min) or norepinephrine (10 to 60 µg/min) to maintain arterial pressure. The primary endpoint was a composite of mortality or severe complications (stroke, requirement for mechanical ventilation for longer than 48 h, deep sternal wound infection, reoperation, or acute renal failure) within 30 days. RESULTS: A total of 330 patients were randomized, and 300 were infused with one of the study drugs (vasopressin, 149; norepinephrine, 151). The primary outcome occurred in 32% of the vasopressin patients and in 49% of the norepinephrine patients (unadjusted hazard ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.38 to 0.80; P = 0.0014). Regarding adverse events, the authors found a lower occurrence of atrial fibrillation in the vasopressin group (63.8% vs. 82.1%; P = 0.0004) and no difference between groups in the rates of digital ischemia, mesenteric ischemia, hyponatremia, and myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: The authors' results suggest that vasopressin can be used as a first-line vasopressor agent in postcardiac surgery vasoplegic shock and improves clinical outcomes.

Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) Following Neoadjuvant Chemoradiation for Rectal Cancer: Outcomes of Salvage Resection for Local Recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) has been considered an alternative for selected patients with rectal cancer following neoadjuvant chemoradiation (CRT). Immediate total mesorectal completion for all patients with unfavorable pathological features would result in unnecessary protectomies in a significant proportion of patients. Instead, salvage total mesorectal excision (TME) could be restricted for patients developing local recurrence. The aim of the present study is to determine oncological outcomes of salvage resection for local recurrences following CRT and TEM. METHODS: Consecutive patients undergoing TEM following neoadjuvant CRT for rectal cancer were reviewed. Patients with "near" complete response to CRT (≤3 cm; ycT1-2N0) were offered TEM. Salvage surgery was attempted in the event of a local recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were managed by CRT followed by TEM. Unfavorable pathological features were present in 36 patients (68 %). None of the patients underwent immediate completion TME. There were 12 patients who developed local recurrence resulting in a 2-year local recurrence-free survival of 77 % (95 % CI, 53-100 %). Of these patients, 9 developed exclusively local recurrences, and all had at least 1 unfavorable pathological feature in the specimen after TEM (100 %). Eight patients (8 of 9) underwent salvage resection (abdominoperineal resection [APR] in 87 %) with CRM+ in 7 of 8 patients (87 %). Four patients developed local re-recurrence after a median 36 months of follow-up. The 2-year local re-recurrence free survival was 60 %. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage resection for local recurrence following CRT and TEM is associated with high rates of R1 resection (CRM+) and local re-recurrence. Immediate completion of TME should be considered for patients with unfavorable pathological features after TEM.

Pharmacological, toxicological and phytochemical analysis of Spondias dulcis parkinson.

Spondias dulcis Parkinson have been used in traditional medicine in Asia, Oceania, and South America, for different diseases conditions and as a functional food. The scientific literature described as different potential pharmacology such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, thrombolytic and enzymatic inhibitor. This study aimed to: (1) establish the pharmacological activity in intestinal motility in vivo and antioxidant activity in vitro; (2) perform the acute toxicology test in mouse; (3) characterize the phytochemical profile based on counter-current chromatography (CCC) and NMR analysis. The results revealed a laxative effect of S. dulcis extract and a high antioxidant activity (IC50 = 5.10 for DPPH assay and 14.14 for hydrogen peroxide scavenging test). No side effects were observed in the oral acute toxicity test for a dose up to 2000 mg/kg. The chemical profile was identified by CCC and NMR, and the comparison of the data obtained with previous literature revealed the presence of the flavonoid rutin (Quercetin-3-O-rutinoside) in the extract.

Chemical characterisation, thermal analysis, and antibacterial activity of honeys from Caatinga stingless bees of Melipona spp.

In the present study, chemical characterisation, thermal analysis and antibacterial activity of honeys from Melipona spp. with occurrence in Caatinga biome of Brazil. The honeys presented pH from 4.07 to 4.14, density of 1.41 g/cm3 and °Brix value of 79.90. The thermogravimetry (TG) analysis presented six-seven events and differential thermal analysis (DTA) presented three-four endothermic peaks. HPLC fingerprint revealed a predominant presence of gallic acid and vanillin. Antioxidant activity evaluated using in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) radical scavenging with IC50 values in the range of 14.5404 to 15.2454 mg/mL. The honeys also showed antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a modified agar diffusion and microdilution method. The results of the present study demonstrate that the honey from stingless bees by Caatinga biome indicate polyphenol compounds, antioxidant activity and in vitro antimicrobial potential. The analytical methos permitted of fingerprint of samples.

In vitro and In vivo Activity of a New N-Oxide Derivative for Acne Vulgaris Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Furoxan and benzofuroxan are compounds containing an N-oxide function, known for their diverse pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial and antiinflammatory effects. This study aimed to investigate these activities using an in-house library of N-oxide compounds. METHOD: Twenty compounds were tested against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), a microorganism implicated in the development of acne vulgaris. One compound, (E)-4-(3-((2-(3-hydroxybenzoyl)hydrazone)methyl)phenoxy)-3- (phenylsulfonyl)-1,2,5-oxadiazol-2-N-oxide (compound 15), exhibited selective antimicrobial activity against C. acnes, with a Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 2 µg/mL. Indirect measurement of Nitric Oxide (NO) release showed that compound 15 and isosorbide dinitrate, when treated with L-cysteine, produced nitrite levels of 20.1% and 9.95%, respectively. Using a NO scavenger (PTIO) in combination with compound 15 in a culture of C. acnes resulted in reduced antimicrobial activity, indicating that NO release is part of its mechanism of action. Cytotoxicity assessments using murine macrophages showed cellular viability above 70% at concentrations up to 0.78 µg/mL. RESULTS: Measurements of Interleukin-1 beta (IL1-ß) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) indicated that compound 15 did not reduce the levels of these pro-inflammatory cytokines. Sustained NO production by inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS) in macrophages or neutrophils has been found to be involved in the inflammatory process in acne vulgaris and lead to toxicity in surrounding tissues. Nitrite levels in the supernatant of murine macrophages were found to be decreased at a concentration of 0.78 µg/mL of compound 15, indicating an anti-inflammatory effect. In vivo studies were conducted using Balb/c nude mice inoculated subcutaneously with C. acnes. Cream and gel formulations of compound 15 were applied to treat the animals, along with commercially available anti-acne drugs, for 14 days. Animals treated with a cream base containing 5% of compound 15 exhibited less acanthosis with mild inflammatory infiltration compared to other groups, highlighting its anti-inflammatory properties. CONCLUSION: Similar results were observed in the benzoyl peroxide group, demonstrating that compound 15 presented comparable anti-inflammatory activity to the FDA-approved drug. These promising results suggest that compound 15 has a dual mechanism of action, with selective antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and notable anti-inflammatory properties, making it a potential prototype for developing new treatments for acne vulgaris.

Digital dual test syphilis/HIV detection based on Fourier Descriptors of Cyclic Voltammetry curves.

BACKGROUND: Effective and timely detection is vital for mitigating the severe impacts of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI), including syphilis and HIV. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) sensors have shown promise as diagnostic tools for these STI, offering a pathway towards cost-effective solutions in primary health care settings. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to pioneer the use of Fourier Descriptors (FDs) in analyzing CV curves as 2D closed contours, targeting the simultaneous detection of syphilis and HIV. METHODS: Raw CV signals are filtered, resampled, and transformed into 2D closed contours for FD extraction. Essential shape characteristics are captured through selected coefficients. A complementary geometrical analysis further extracts features like curve areas and principal axes lengths from CV curves. A Mahalanobis Distance Classifier is employed for differentiation between patient and control groups. RESULTS: The evaluation of the proposed method revealed promising results with classification performance metrics such as Accuracy and F1-Score consistently achieving values rounded to 0.95 for syphilis and 0.90 for HIV. These results underscore the potential efficacy of the proposed approach in differentiating between patient and control samples for STI detection. CONCLUSION: By integrating principles from biosensors, signal processing, image processing, machine learning, and medical diagnostics, this study presents a comprehensive approach to enhance the detection of both syphilis and HIV. This setts the stage for advanced and accessible STI diagnostic solutions.

Trends and Application of Chemometric Pattern Recognition Techniques in Medicinal Plants Analysis.

Medicinal plants have been used and studied for ages, from very old registers to modern ethnopharmacology, which encompasses analytical chemistry, foods, and pharmacy. Based on international norms and governmental organizations of health, phytomedicine-for example, herbal drugs-needs to guarantee the quality control of products and identify contaminants, biomarkers, and chemical profiles, among other issues. In this sense, is necessary to develop advanced analytical methods that show interesting possibilities and obtain a great amount of data. In order to treat the data, a set of mathematical and statistical procedures named chemometrics is necessary. In terms of herbal drugs, chemometric tools may be used to identify the following in plants: parts, development stages, processing, geographic origin, authentication, and chemical markers. This review describes applications of chemometric pattern recognition tools to analyze herbal drugs in different conditions associated with analytical methods in the last six years (2015-2020).

Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in Brazil: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: The world has been suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Some COVID-19 patients develop severe viral pneumonia, requiring mechanical ventilation and measures to treat refractory hypoxemia, such as a protective ventilation strategy, prone positioning, and the use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV-ECMO). We describe a case series of 30 COVID-19 patients who needed VV-ECMO at the Hospital Alemão Oswaldo Cruz, located in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: We included all patients who required VV-ECMO due to COVID-19 pneumonia between March of 2020 and June of 2021. RESULTS: Prior to VV-ECMO, patients presented with the following median scores: SOFA score, 11; APPS score, 7; Respiratory ECMO Survival Prediction score, 2; and Murray score, 3.3. The 60-day-in-hospital mortality was 33.3% (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: Although our patients had a highly severe profile, our results were similar to those of other cohort studies in the literature. This demonstrates that VV-ECMO can be a good tool even in a pandemic situation when it is managed in an experienced center.

Digital Alternative Communication for Individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: What We Have.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is a disease that compromises the motor system and the functional abilities of the person in an irreversible way, causing the progressive loss of the ability to communicate. Tools based on Augmentative and Alternative Communication are essential for promoting autonomy and improving communication, life quality, and survival. This Systematic Literature Review aimed to provide evidence on eye-image-based Human-Computer Interaction approaches for the Augmentative and Alternative Communication of people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The Systematic Literature Review was conducted and guided following a protocol consisting of search questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and quality assessment, to select primary studies published between 2010 and 2021 in six repositories: Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, and PubMed. After the screening, 25 primary studies were evaluated. These studies showcased four low-cost, non-invasive Human-Computer Interaction strategies employed for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. The strategies included Eye-Gaze, which featured in 36% of the studies; Eye-Blink and Eye-Tracking, each accounting for 28% of the approaches; and the Hybrid strategy, employed in 8% of the studies. For these approaches, several computational techniques were identified. For a better understanding, a workflow containing the development phases and the respective methods used by each strategy was generated. The results indicate the possibility and feasibility of developing Human-Computer Interaction resources based on eye images for Augmentative and Alternative Communication in a control group. The absence of experimental testing in people with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis reiterates the challenges related to the scalability, efficiency, and usability of these technologies for people with the disease. Although challenges still exist, the findings represent important advances in the fields of health sciences and technology, promoting a promising future with possibilities for better life quality.

Robotic Myotomy and Partial Fundoplication for Achalasia.

Laparoscopic Heller myotomy is currently considered the standard definitive treatment of achalasia. With the advancements in technology, robotic Heller myotomy has emerged as an alternative approach to traditional laparoscopy due to three-dimensional (3D) visualization, fine motor control, and improved ergonomics provided by the robot. Although there is a lack of randomized controlled trials, robotic-assisted Heller myotomy seems to be associated with lower rates of intraoperative perforations compared to the laparoscopic approach. A robotic approach may also improve surgical outcomes by providing a more complete myotomy. Here, we describe the detailed steps of robotic myotomy and partial fundoplication for achalasia.

Digital health solution for monitoring and surveillance of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in Brazil.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a complex and rare neurodegenerative disease given its heterogeneity. Despite being known for many years, few countries have accurate information about the characteristics of people diagnosed with ALS, such as data regarding diagnosis and clinical features of the disease. In Brazil, the lack of information about ALS limits data for the research progress and public policy development that benefits people affected by this health condition. In this context, this article aims to show a digital health solution development and application for research, intervention, and strengthening of the response to ALS in the Brazilian Health System. The proposed solution is composed of two platforms: the Brazilian National ALS Registry, responsible for the data collection in a structured way from ALS patients all over Brazil; and the Brazilian National ALS Observatory, responsible for processing the data collected in the National Registry and for providing a monitoring room with indicators on people diagnosed with ALS in Brazil. The development of this solution was supported by the Brazilian Ministry of Health (MoH) and was carried out by a multidisciplinary team with expertise in ALS. This solution represents a tool with great potential for strengthening public policies and stands out for being the only public database on the disease, besides containing innovations that allow data collection by health professionals and/or patients. By using both platforms, it is believed that it will be possible to understand the demographic and epidemiological data of ALS in Brazil, since the data will be able to be analyzed by care teams and also by public health managers, both in the individual and collective monitoring of people living with ALS in Brazil.

Evaluation of massive education in prison health: a perspective of health care for the person deprived of freedom in Brazil.

Education, with an emphasis on prison health, has acted as a policy inducing changes in work processes, which the Brazilian National Health System (SUS) has used, and which is present in permanent health education, which promotes health care for people deprived of liberty. This article aims to present an analysis of the impacts of the strategy of massive education on prison health in Brazil from the perspective of health professionals and other actors operating in the Brazilian prison system. The data used in the study come from a questionnaire consisting of 37 questions applied nationwide between March and June 2022. Responses were collected from students who completed the course "Health Care for People Deprived of Freedom" of the learning pathway "Prison System", available in the Virtual Learning Environment of the Brazilian Health System (AVASUS). This course was offered nationally, whose adhesion (enrollment) occurred spontaneously, i.e., the course was not a mandatory. The data collected allowed us to analyze the impacts of massive education on prison health. The study also shows that the search for the course is made by several areas of knowledge, with a higher incidence in the health area, but also in other areas, such as humanities, which also work directly with the guarantee of the rights of people deprived of liberty, which are professionals in the areas of social work, psychology, and education. The analysis based on the data suggests that the massive education mediated by technology through the courses of the learning pathway, besides disseminating knowledge-following the action plan of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-, are an effective tool to promote resilience in response to prison health and care demands of people deprived of liberty.

Computational methods applied to syphilis: where are we, and where are we going?

Syphilis is an infectious disease that can be diagnosed and treated cheaply. Despite being a curable condition, the syphilis rate is increasing worldwide. In this sense, computational methods can analyze data and assist managers in formulating new public policies for preventing and controlling sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Computational techniques can integrate knowledge from experiences and, through an inference mechanism, apply conditions to a database that seeks to explain data behavior. This systematic review analyzed studies that use computational methods to establish or improve syphilis-related aspects. Our review shows the usefulness of computational tools to promote the overall understanding of syphilis, a global problem, to guide public policy and practice, to target better public health interventions such as surveillance and prevention, health service delivery, and the optimal use of diagnostic tools. The review was conducted according to PRISMA 2020 Statement and used several quality criteria to include studies. The publications chosen to compose this review were gathered from Science Direct, Web of Science, Springer, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, and PubMed databases. Then, studies published between 2015 and 2022 were selected. The review identified 1,991 studies. After applying inclusion, exclusion, and study quality assessment criteria, 26 primary studies were included in the final analysis. The results show different computational approaches, including countless Machine Learning algorithmic models, and three sub-areas of application in the context of syphilis: surveillance (61.54%), diagnosis (34.62%), and health policy evaluation (3.85%). These computational approaches are promising and capable of being tools to support syphilis control and surveillance actions.

Osteoporosis screening using machine learning and electromagnetic waves.

Osteoporosis is a disease characterized by impairment of bone microarchitecture that causes high socioeconomic impacts in the world because of fractures and hospitalizations. Although dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the gold standard for diagnosing the disease, access to DXA in developing countries is still limited due to its high cost, being present only in specialized hospitals. In this paper, we analyze the performance of Osseus, a low-cost portable device based on electromagnetic waves that measures the attenuation of the signal that crosses the medial phalanx of a patient's middle finger and was developed for osteoporosis screening. The analysis is carried out by predicting changes in bone mineral density using Osseus measurements and additional common risk factors used as input features to a set of supervised classification models, while the results from DXA are taken as target (real) values during the training of the machine learning algorithms. The dataset consisted of 505 patients who underwent osteoporosis screening with both devices (DXA and Osseus), of whom 21.8% were healthy and 78.2% had low bone mineral density or osteoporosis. A cross-validation with k-fold = 5 was considered in model training, while 20% of the whole dataset was used for testing. The obtained performance of the best model (Random Forest) presented a sensitivity of 0.853, a specificity of 0.879, and an F1 of 0.859. Since the Random Forest (RF) algorithm allows some interpretability of its results (through the impurity check), we were able to identify the most important variables in the classification of osteoporosis. The results showed that the most important variables were age, body mass index, and the signal attenuation provided by Osseus. The RF model, when used together with Osseus measurements, is effective in screening patients and facilitates the early diagnosis of osteoporosis. The main advantages of such early screening are the reduction of costs associated with exams, surgeries, treatments, and hospitalizations, as well as improved quality of life for patients.

Artificial intelligence applied to analyzes during the pandemic: COVID-19 beds occupancy in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.

The COVID-19 pandemic is already considered one of the biggest global health crises. In Rio Grande do Norte, a Brazilian state, the RegulaRN platform was the health information system used to regulate beds for patients with COVID-19. This article explored machine learning and deep learning techniques with RegulaRN data in order to identify the best models and parameters to predict the outcome of a hospitalized patient. A total of 25,366 bed regulations for COVID-19 patients were analyzed. The data analyzed comes from the RegulaRN Platform database from April 2020 to August 2022. From these data, the nine most pertinent characteristics were selected from the twenty available, and blank or inconclusive data were excluded. This was followed by the following steps: data pre-processing, database balancing, training, and test. The results showed better performance in terms of accuracy (84.01%), precision (79.57%), and F1-score (81.00%) for the Multilayer Perceptron model with Stochastic Gradient Descent optimizer. The best results for recall (84.67%), specificity (84.67%), and ROC-AUC (91.6%) were achieved by Root Mean Squared Propagation. This study compared different computational methods of machine and deep learning whose objective was to classify bed regulation data for patients with COVID-19 from the RegulaRN Platform. The results have made it possible to identify the best model to help health professionals during the process of regulating beds for patients with COVID-19. The scientific findings of this article demonstrate that the computational methods used applied through a digital health solution, can assist in the decision-making of medical regulators and government institutions in situations of public health crisis.

Translational research in health technologies: A scoping review.

Introduction: The current debate on the process of technological innovation points out as a challenge for universities consolidation of competencies that allow the generation and transfer of knowledge to society. The Translational Research (TR) approach has as one of its main objectives the acceleration of the innovation process, based on the transposition from basic science to applied science and innovation, which comprises the different stages of research, development and innovation. The literature points out that the dynamics of translation, which results in new technologies, are complex, transdisciplinary, inter-institutional, systemic, and non-linear. The main objective of this review is to contribute to the adoption of institutional strategies and the formulation of public policies aimed at solving today's social and economic challenges, ensuring access to technologies and sustainability for the health system. The specific objectives were: (i) to systematize studies that characterized translational research in medical devices; (ii) map the challenges for the implementation of translational health research; (iii) contribute to the design of institutional strategies; and (iv) support the formulation of public policies. Methods: This study used the scoping review technique, according to PRISMA-ScR and the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. Concerning the extraction of relevant articles, the journals indexed in Bireme, Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were consulted for selecting relevant articles. The search was carried out on November 28, 2021, updated on April 29, 2022, and there were no restrictions as to the year of publication, language or type of analysis. Studies that did not answer the research question were excluded, as they dealt exclusively with the pharmaceutical segment, the translation of knowledge into clinical practice, or addressed the process of translational research applied to specific diseases or technologies. Results: Thirty-three articles were included indicating that the approach of translation of research is multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary and encompasses knowledge and aspects that go beyond basic and applied research and incorporates final steps concerning regulatory aspects, clinical research, market analysis, technology transfer, production and incorporation of technologies into the health system.