Diagnostic accuracy of pelvis multiparametric MRI against CT virtual hysterosalpingography: a prospective study of tubal patency through female infertility assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of MRI-hysterosalpingogram (HSG) with semiquantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion, against the virtual multislice CT hysterosalpingogram (VHSG) as a reference standard. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this prospective study, 26 women (age >18 years) searching for infertility causes and with VHSG physician request. Thereafter, the assessment performance of both techniques was determined by two reader analyses. k statistics were used for the assessment of tubal patency. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to compare the capability for tubal patency assessment between both exams on a per-patient and per-tube basis. The McNemar test was used to compare the diagnostic accuracy measures. RESULTS: Tubal patency, uterine morphological, ovarian, and extrauterine abnormalities were evaluated through both exams in all 26 women. There was no significant difference between diagnostic performance measurements between the methods. The ROC curve of VHSG was 0.852 for both per-patient and per-tube analyses, and one and 0.938 for MRI-HSG. Sensitivity and specificity for per-patient and per-tube for VHSG were 95.2 and 97.7, 80 and 87.5%, and for MRI-HSG 100% for both analyses and 100 and 87.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of diagnosing tubal patency through MRI, using a semi-quantitative dynamic contrast-enhanced perfusion sequence, and the satisfactory diagnosing of the uterine morphology, ovarian abnormalities, and ovarian and deep endometriosis. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE: Multiparametric MRI with a perfusion real-time sequence as a HSG method can be used in the evaluation not only for uterine and ovarian abnormilities but also tubal patency.

Exposição a agrotóxicos e associação com sintomas físicos e auditivos de trabalhadores rurais / Pesticide exposure and association with physical and hearing symptoms of rural workers

A exposição crônica e combinada de agrotóxicos pode causar danos a saúde do trabalhador rural, inclusive à audição. O propósito do estudo foi caracterizar os trabalhadores rurais quanto aos aspectos sociodemográficos e de exposição aos agrotóxicos, assim como analisar a relação entre esta exposição e a ocorrência de sintomas físicos e auditivos. Pesquisa de natureza quantitativa, com alcance descritivo e explicativo, com delineamento transversal, realizada com 71 trabalhadores rurais, do sexo masculino, expostos a agrotóxicos. A coleta de dados foi realizada por duas formas: (i) instrumento de coleta para caracterização do contato aos agrotóxicos, sintomas físicos e auditivos (ii) triagem auditiva para a pesquisa dos limiares auditivos aéreos. A análise dos dados deu-se através da estatística descritiva e por meio do teste de Wilcoxon e da correlação de Spearman. Foi considerado nível de 5% de significância para os testes estatísticos. Sobre os sintomas físicos associados ao uso de agrotóxicos, prevaleceu a dor de cabeça (31,0%). Quanto ao resultado da triagem auditiva, 31 (43,7%) trabalhadores rurais falharam em ambas as orelhas, 28 (39,4%) obtiveram o resultados de “passa” e 12 (16,9%) falharam em apenas uma orelha. Ao analisar-se a associação entre o resultado da triagem auditiva e variáveis quanto a exposição aos agrotóxicos, o tempo de exposição foi a única variável que mostrou associação significativa. Os achados esclarecem que a atividade profissional dos agricultores oferece risco à audição, porém, é preciso considerar que outros fatores, como ruído e vibração, podem ser agravantes da perda auditiva nesta população.(AU)

hearing. The purpose of the study was to characterize rural workers in terms of sociodemographic aspects and exposure to pesticides, as well as to analyze the relationship between this exposure and the occurrence of physical and auditory symptoms. This was a quantitative study, with a descriptive and explanatory scope, using a cross-sectional design, carried out with 71 rural workers, males, exposed to pesticides. Data collection was performed in two ways: (i) a collection instrument for characterizing contact with pesticides, physical and auditory symptoms (ii) auditory screening for the investigation of aerial hearing thresholds. Data analysis was performed through descriptive statistics and through the Wilcoxon test and Spearman’s correlation. The level of significance was set at 5% for statistical tests. Among the physical symptoms associated with the use of pesticides, headaches prevailed (31.0%). As for the result of auditory screenings, 31 (43.7%) rural workers failed in both ears, 28 (39.4%) obtained the results of “passing” and 12 (16.9%) failed in only one ear. When analyzing the association between the results of auditory screenings and variables regarding exposure to pesticides, exposure time was the only variable that showed a significant association. The findings clarify that the professional activity of farmers poses a risk to hearing, however, it is necessary to consider that other factors, such as noise and vibration, can aggravate hearing loss in this population.(AU)

Risco de quedas associado a terapia medicamentosa em pacientes hospitalizados / Risk of falls associated with drug therapy in hospitalized patients

Risco de quedas associado a terapia medicamentosa em pacientes hospitalizados.(AU)

Risk of falls associated with drug therapy in hospitalized patients.(AU)

Costs and benefits of Papacarie in pediatric dentistry: a randomized clinical trial.

Papacarie gel is an agent that eliminates the need for local anesthesia and reduces the need for using a drill. However, there is no information regarding the cost per procedure. Therefore we analyzed the cost, per procedure, of Papacarie gel compared to the traditional method (drilling), and performed a comparison between these methods of carious tissue removal. A randomized clinical trial was performed with 24 children with an average age of 5.9 years old. Of these children, 12 were boys and 12 were girls, which resulted in a total of 46 restorations. Patients were separated into: Papacarie group (caries removal with the chemical-mechanical method - Papacarie gel) and Drill group (caries removal with the traditional method - drilling). Values of the materials used in the procedures, heart rate (before, 5 minutes during, and after dental treatment), and the total consultation duration were recorded. A level of significance of 5% was adopted. Papacarie had a lower cost per procedure ($ 0.91) when compared to the traditional method ($ 1.58). Papacarie provided a cost reduction of 42% compared to the traditional method. Using local anesthesia ($ 2.17), the cost reduction increased to 58%. In the procedure using drill + Papacarie ($ 1.37), the cost reduction was 33%. Heart rate, consultation duration, and number of restorations were not statistically different. Papacarie shows an excellent cost benefit for minimally invasive removal of carious tissue and is a feasible alternative for public health care.

Prevalence of condom use and associated factors in a sample of university students in southern Brazil.

This article focuses on the frequency of condom use and associated factors in university students, based on a cross-sectional study of 633 students in 2006. Associations were investigated using a logistic regression model with 5% significance. Condom use prevalence was 60%. Having candidiasis was a protective factor for condom use in both sexual initiation (OR = 0.49; 95%CI: 0.31-0.79) and the most recent sexual intercourse (OR = 0.39; 95%CI: 0.24-0.65). Condom use was associated with single marital status (OR = 2.89; 95%CI: 1.60-5.23) and having a sex partner from the health field (OR = 0.50; 95%CI: 0.34-0.75). Condom use was high in all sexual relations in this sample of university students. Single marital status and having a sex partner from a health-related course were positively associated with condom use in the most recent intercourse. Self-reported genital candidiasis was protective for condom use during early sexual activity and in the most recent sexual relation. Belonging to the health field did not show a significant impact on the use of male condoms.

Prevalence of condom use and associated factors in a sample of university students in southern Brazil / Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de preservativos masculinos entre universitários no Sul do Brasil

This article focuses on the frequency of condom use and associated factors in university students, based on a cross-sectional study of 633 students in 2006. Associations were investigated using a logistic regression model with 5 percent significance. Condom use prevalence was 60 percent. Having candidiasis was a protective factor for condom use in both sexual initiation (OR = 0.49; 95 percentCI: 0.31-0.79) and the most recent sexual intercourse (OR = 0.39; 95 percentCI: 0.24-0.65). Condom use was associated with single marital status (OR = 2.89; 95 percentCI: 1.60-5.23) and having a sex partner froim the health field (OR = 0.50; 95 percentCI: 0.34-0.75). Condom use was high in all sexual relations in this sample of university students. Single marital status and having a sex partner from a health-related course were positively associated with condom use in the most recent intercourse. Self-reported genital candidiasis was protective for condom use during early sexual activity and in the most recent sexual relation. Belonging to the health field did not show a significant impact on the use of male condoms.

Este estudo verificou a freqüência e fatores associados ao uso de preservativos em universitários, por meio de estudo transversal com 633 estudantes, em 2006. Para avaliar associação foi utilizado o modelo de regressão logística em nível de 5 por cento de significância. A prevalência do uso de preservativos foi de 60 por cento. Ter candidíase foi um fator de proteção tanto para uso de preservativos na primeira (OR = 0,49; IC95 por cento: 0,31-0,79) quanto na última relação sexual (OR = 0,39; IC95 por cento: 0,24-0,65). O uso de preservativos na última relação sexual foi associado à relação marital não-estável (OR = 2,89; IC95 por cento: 1,60-5,23) e parceiro(a) pertencer à área da saúde (OR = 0,50; IC95 por cento: 0,34-0,75). Concluindo, a freqüência do uso de preservativos, em todas as relações sexuais, entre os estudantes universitários é alta. A relação marital não-estável e possuir parceiro do curso da área da saúde relacionaram-se positivamente ao uso de preservativos durante a última relação sexual. Relato de ter candidíase genital demonstrou proteção para uso de preservativos no início da atividade sexual e na última relação sexual. Pertencer à área da saúde não influenciou significativamente o uso de preservativos masculinos.