Evaluating the Association Between Depressive Symptoms and Glycemic Control Among Residents of Rural Appalachia.

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a range of co-morbid physical and psychological conditions, including depression. Yet there is a dearth of evidence regarding the prevalence of depression among those in Appalachia living with T2DM; this gap persists despite the higher regional prevalence of T2DM and challenging social determinants of health. Purpose: This study aimed to provide greater detail about the relationships between T2DM and depressive symptoms in adults living in Appalachia Kentucky. Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data derived from an ongoing study of Appalachia Kentucky adults living with T2DM. Outcome data included demographics, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, point-of-care HbA1c, and the Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities. Bivariate analysis was conducted using Pearson's correlation to determine the statistically significant relationships between variables which were then included in a multiple regression model. Results: The sample (N=365), consisted primarily of women (n=230, 64.6%) of mean age 64 years (±10.6); almost all (98%) were non-Hispanic White (n=349), and most were married (n=208, 59.1%). The majority (47.2%) reported having two comorbid conditions (n=161), including T2DM, and the mean HbA1c was 7.7% (1.7). Nearly 90% were nonsmokers (n=319). Depressive symptoms were reported in 25% (n=90) of participants. A higher number of comorbid conditions, increased age, Medicaid insurance, tobacco use, lower financial status, female sex, and disability compared to fully employed status all were correlated with a higher rate of depressive symptoms (r ≤ 0.2). The regression indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with age (ß = -0.010, p = 0.001); full-time employment status compared to those who are disabled (ß = -.0209, p = 0.18); men compared to women (ß = -0.122, p = 0.042), and those who smoke compared to nonsmokers (ß = 0.175, p = 0.038). Implications: Depressive symptoms were correlated with T2DM among this sample of Appalachian residents with poorly controlled T2DM, especially among women. Given the vast number of social determinants (e.g., poverty, food insecurity, and rurality) affecting this population, healthcare providers must assess for depression and consider its negative influence on the patient's ability to achieve glycemic control.

Prevalencia de Complicaciones de Post Exodoncia de Terceros Molares / Prevalence of Post-Extraction Complications of Third Molars

El Centro de Salud Familiar (CESFAM) de San Pedro de Atacama, es el único establecimiento de Atención de salud en la comuna y alrededores, se hace imperativo para los Cirujanos Dentistas ser resolutivos y entregar una solución efectiva a la demanda local. El objetivo de este trabajo consistió en determinar prevalencia de complicaciones postexodoncia de terceros molares de pacientes atendidos en CESFAM San Pedro de Atacama entre enero y octubre de 2020. Estudio descriptivo de corte transversal entre enero y octubre 2020, se realizó revisión retrospectiva de fichas clínicas manuales y base de datos electrónica de atenciones odontológicas realizadas en CESFAM. Se incluyeron en el estudio pacientes mayores 18 años, sistémicamente sanos o ASA II compensados, que se hayan realizado exodoncia de tercer molar superior o inferior y que hayan asistido a control clínico a los 7 días. Se excluyeron fichas clínicas ilegibles o sin evolución, pacientes que tuvieran antecedentes de pericoronaritis hasta 7 días previos y pacientes inmunocomprometidos. La frecuencia de complicaciones postoperatorias se relacionó según dificultad de la intervención (leve/moderada/alta) y si el diente era maxilar o mandibular. Se realizó un análisis descriptivo y estadístico de los datos obtenidos mediante prueba exacta de Fisher para evaluar asociación entre las variables utilizando programa estadístico STATA v. 15. Entre enero y octubre de 2020 se realizaron 146 exodoncias de terceros molares; 61 fueron de dificultad leve (41,7 %), 58 dificultad moderada (39,8 %) y 21 dificultad alta (18,5 %). El total de complicaciones postexodoncia alcanza 5,4 % (n=8) donde la complicación más frecuente es alveolitis. Las complicaciones postexodoncia se relacionan significativamente con el nivel de dificultad leve (p0,05).

The Communnity Health Center (CESFAM) of San Pedro de Atacama, is the only establishment of health assistance in the community and surroundings, it is imperative for Dental Surgeons to be decisive and deliver an effective solution to local demand. Determinate the prevalence of post-extraction complications of third molars in patients treated at CESFAM San Pedro de Atacama between January and October 2020. Descriptive cross- sectional study between January and October 2020. It has been done a retrospective review of manual clinical records and electronic database of dental care performed at CESFAM. Patients over 18 years old, systemically healthy or compensated ASA II, who had extracted an upper or lower third molar and who had attended a 7-day clinical check-up were included in the study. Were excluded Illegible or no follow up clinical records, patients with a history of pericoronitis up to 7 days previously, and immunocompromised patients. The frequency of postoperative complications was related to the difficulty of the intervention (mild / moderate / high) and whether the tooth was maxillary or mandibular. A descriptive and statistical analysis of the data obtained by Fisher's exact test was carried out to evaluate the association between the variables using the statistical program STATA v. 15. Between January and October 2020, 146 third molar extractions were performed; 61 were of mild difficulty (41.7 %), 58 of moderate difficulty (39.8 %) and 21 of high difficulty (18.5 %). The result of post-extraction complications reached 5.4 % (n = 8), where the most frequent complication was alveolitis. Post-extraction complications are significantly related to the level of mild difficulty (p 0,05).

Thermalization and Dephasing in Collisional Reservoirs.

We introduce a wide class of quantum maps that arise in collisional reservoirs and are able to thermalize a system if they operate in conjunction with an additional dephasing mechanism. These maps describe the effect of collisions and induce transitions between populations that obey detailed balance, but also create coherences that prevent the system from thermalizing. We combine these maps with a unitary evolution acting during random Poissonian times between collisions and causing dephasing. We find that, at a low collision rate, the nontrivial combination of these two effects causes thermalization in the system. This scenario is suitable for modeling collisional reservoirs at equilibrium. We justify this claim by identifying the conditions for such maps to arise within a scattering theory approach and provide a thorough characterization of the resulting thermalization process.

A firebreak placement model for optimizing biodiversity protection at landscape scale.

A solution approach is proposed to optimize the selection of landscape cells for inclusion in firebreaks. It involves linking spatially explicit information on a landscape's ecological values, historical ignition patterns and fire spread behavior. A firebreak placement optimization model is formulated that captures the tradeoff between the direct loss of biodiversity due to the elimination of vegetation in areas designated for placement of firebreaks and the protection provided by the firebreaks from losses due to future forest fires. The optimal solution generated by the model reduced expected losses from wildfires on a biodiversity combined index due to wildfires by 30% relative to a landscape without any treatment. It also reduced expected losses by 16% compared to a randomly chosen solution. These results suggest that biodiversity loss resulting from the removal of vegetation in areas where firebreaks are placed can be offset by the reduction in biodiversity loss due to the firebreaks' protective function.

Collective enhancement in dissipative quantum batteries.

We study a quantum battery made out of N nonmutually interacting qubits coupled to a dissipative single electromagnetic field mode in a resonator. We quantify the charging energy, ergotropy, transfer rate, and power of the system, showing that collective enhancements are still present despite losses, and can even increase with dissipation. Moreover, we observe that a performance deterioration due to dissipation can be reduced by scaling up the battery size. This is useful for experimental realizations when controlling the quality of the resonator and the number of qubits are limiting factors.

Efficiency Fluctuations in a Quantum Battery Charged by a Repeated Interaction Process.

A repeated interaction process assisted by auxiliary thermal systems charges a quantum battery. The charging energy is supplied by switching on and off the interaction between the battery and the thermal systems. The charged state is an equilibrium state for the repeated interaction process, and the ergotropy characterizes its charge. The working cycle consists in extracting the ergotropy and charging the battery again. We discuss the fluctuating efficiency of the process, among other fluctuating properties. These fluctuations are dominated by the equilibrium distribution and depend weakly on other process properties.

The mediating/moderating role of cultural context factors on self-care practices among those living with diabetes in rural Appalachia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine whether cultural factors, such as religiosity and social support, mediate/moderate the relationship between personal/psychosocial factors and T2DM self-care in a rural Appalachian community. METHODS: Regression models were utilized to assess for mediation and moderation. Multilevel linear mixed effects models and GEE-type logistic regression models were fit for continuous (social support, self-care) and binary (religiosity) outcomes, respectively. RESULTS: The results indicated that cultural context factors (religiosity and social support) can mediate/moderate the relationship between psychosocial factors and T2DM self-care. Specifically, after adjusting for demographic variables, the findings suggested that social support may moderate the effect of depressive symptoms and stress on self-care. Religiosity may moderate the effect of distress on self-care, and empowerment was a predictor of self-care but was not mediated/moderated by the assessed cultural context factors. When considering health status, religiosity was a moderately significant predictor of self-care and may mediate the relationship between perceived health status and T2DM self-care. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents the first known research to examine cultural assets and diabetes self-care practices among a community-based sample of Appalachian adults. We echo calls to increase the evidence on social support and religiosity and other contextual factors among this highly affected population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: US National Library of Science identifier NCT03474731. Registered March 23, 2018, www.clinicaltrials.gov .

Consideraciones clínicas para fonoaudiólogos en el tratamiento de personas con COVID-19 y traqueostomía. Parte I: Deglución / Clinical considerations for speech-language pathologists in the treatment of people with COVID-19 and tracheostomy. Part I: Swallowing

A la fecha de redacción de este artículo, más de 500 mil personas han sido afectadas por el virus SARS-CoV-2 en Chile, manifestando diferentes grados de la enfermedad COVID-19. Aquellas que sobrellevan condiciones más severas generan una condición que requiere soporte ventilatorio invasivo y tratamiento en unidades de cuidados intensivos, que de prolongarse en el tiempo deriva en la necesidad de una traqueostomía. A pesar de los beneficios que posee esta en la recuperación de personas con dificultades respiratorias, su implementación se asocia a alteraciones deglutorias que se suman a las generadas por COVID-19. Condición que supone un desafío para los/as fonoaudiólogos/as, quienes están expuestos/as al virus debido a su proceder en estructuras del tracto aerodigestivo y la realización de procedimientos potencialmente generadores de aerosol. El objetivo de este artículo es entregar orientaciones y herramientas clínicas para la intervención en la deglución de personas con traqueostomía y COVID-19. Estas emanan de un análisis pragmático de la evidencia disponible a la fecha, interpretadas bajo nuestra experiencia de atender a más de 561 personas con dicha condición. Se espera contribuir a la rehabilitación de la deglución en personas con COVID-19 y traqueostomía. Para ello se expone sobre las características de la deglución en esta población, su tratamiento, consideraciones para el uso de técnicas específicas, y orientaciones para la mejora de la calidad de vida mediante la mantención y/o recuperación de la funcionalidad deglutoria. Siempre bajo un esquema centrado en el cuidado y protección de las personas hospitalizadas y el equipo de salud.

At the time of writing this article, more than a million people have been affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Chile, displaying different degrees of COVID-19 disease. Severe infections generate a condition that requires invasive ventilatory support and treatment in intensive care units, which, when extended in time, makes necessary conducting a tracheostomy. Despite its benefits for the recovery of patients with respiratory difficulties, it is linked to swallowing disorders that add to the problems generated by COVID-19. This represents a challenge for speech pathologists, who are potentially exposed to the virus because they work on structures of the aerodigestive tract and becuase they conduct procedures that may be aerosol-generating. The aim of this article is to provide guidance and clinical tools for swallowing-intervention in people with tracheostomies and COVID-19. Thees tools spring from a pragmatic analysis of the currently available evidence , interpreted based on our experience of caring more than561 infected patients. We hope to contribute to the rehabilitation of swallowing of patients with COVID-19 and a tracheostomy. The characteristics of swallowing in this population, its treatment, considerations for the use of specific techniques, and guidelines for improving the quality of life through the maintenance and/or recovery of swallowing functionality are discussed, focused caring and protecting hospitalized patients and the health team.

Consideraciones clínicas para fonoaudiólogos en el tratamiento de personas con COVID-19 y traqueostomía. Parte II: Mejorando la fonación para facilitar la comunicación / Clinical considerations for speech-language pathologists in the treatment of people with COVID-19 and tracheostomy. Part II: Improving phonation to facilitate communicatio

La enfermedad COVID-19 fue declarada pandemia por la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Su presentación más severa genera una condición que requiere tratamiento en unidades de cuidados intensivos, condición que al prolongarse en el tiempo requiere la implementación de una traqueostomía para facilitar la entrega de soporte ventilatorio invasivo. Si bien este dispositivo posee importantes ventajas que favorecen la recuperación y rehabilitación, también es cierto que genera diversas complicaciones en la comunicación de las personas, condición que se suma a los efectos propios del COVID-19 y la frecuente historia de intubación endotraqueal previa. El objetivo de este artículo es proveer orientaciones y herramientas clínicas para el tratamiento de la fonación para la comunicación en personas con traqueostomía y COVID-19. Se considera para ello las recomendaciones de la literatura existentes a la fecha, bajo un análisis pragmático y basado en nuestra experiencia de atender a más de 561 personas con esta condición. Se exponen las características de la comunicación en esta población, su tratamiento, consideraciones para el uso de técnicas específicas y orientaciones para la mejora de la calidad de vida. Siempre con un enfoque orientado al cuidado y protección de las/os usuarias/os y el equipo de salud, en particular fonoaudiólogas y fonoaudiólogos del país.

The COVID-19 disease was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. When most severe, it generates a condition that requires treatment in intensive care units, which, when extended in time, requires implementing of a tracheostomy to facilitate invasive ventilatory support. Although ventilatory support has important advantages that favor recovery and rehabilitation, it generates various complications for patients' communication, a condition that adds to the effects of COVID-19 and the frequent history of previous endotracheal intubation. The aim of this article is to provide guidance and clinical tools for the treatment of phonation to facilitate communication in people with tracheostomy and COVID-19. For this, the recommendations of the existing available literature are considered, under a pragmatic analysis and based on our experience of treating more than 561 infected patients. The characteristics of communication in this population, its treatment, considerations for the use of specific techniques and guidelines to improve quality of life are exposed. Always with an approach oriented to the care and protection of users and the health team, in particular speech-language pathologists in the country.

Dissipative Charging of a Quantum Battery.

We show that a cyclic unitary process can extract work from the thermodynamic equilibrium state of an engineered quantum dissipative process. Systems in the equilibrium states of these processes serve as batteries, storing energy. The dissipative process that brings the battery to the active equilibrium state is driven by an agent that couples the battery to thermal systems. The second law of thermodynamics imposes a work cost for the process; however, no work is needed to keep the battery in that charged state. We consider simple examples of these batteries and discuss situations in which the charged state has full population inversion, in which case the extractable work is maximal, and circumstances in which the efficiency of the process is maximal.

Landau-Zener Lindblad equation and work extraction from coherences.

We show that the dynamics of a driven quantum system weakly coupled to a finite reservoir can be approximated by a sequence of Landau-Zener transitions if the level spacing of the reservoir is large enough. This approximation can be formulated as a repeated interaction dynamics and leads to a quantum master equation for the driven system which is of Lindblad form. The approach is validated by comparison with the numerically exact full system dynamics. To emphasize the role of coherence in the master equation, we propose a model system which shows that in its presence, work can be extracted from a thermal reservoir while if the coherences vanish, then no work can be extracted.

Stochastic thermodynamics of quantum maps with and without equilibrium.

We study stochastic thermodynamics for a quantum system of interest whose dynamics is described by a completely positive trace-preserving (CPTP) map as a result of its interaction with a thermal bath. We define CPTP maps with equilibrium as CPTP maps with an invariant state such that the entropy production due to the action of the map on the invariant state vanishes. Thermal maps are a subgroup of CPTP maps with equilibrium. In general, for CPTP maps, the thermodynamic quantities, such as the entropy production or work performed on the system, depend on the combined state of the system plus its environment. We show that these quantities can be written in terms of system properties for maps with equilibrium. The relations that we obtain are valid for arbitrary coupling strengths between the system and the thermal bath. The fluctuations of thermodynamic quantities are considered in the framework of a two-point measurement scheme. We derive the entropy production fluctuation theorem for general maps and a fluctuation relation for the stochastic work on a system that starts in the Gibbs state. Some simplifications for the probability distributions in the case of maps with equilibrium are presented. We illustrate our results by considering spin 1/2 systems under thermal maps, nonthermal maps with equilibrium, maps with nonequilibrium steady states, and concatenations of them. Finally, and as an important application, we consider a particular limit in which the concatenation of maps generates a continuous time evolution in Lindblad form for the system of interest, and we show that the concept of maps with and without equilibrium translates into Lindblad equations with and without quantum detailed balance, respectively. The consequences for the thermodynamic quantities in this limit are discussed.

Kinetics and thermodynamics of a driven open quantum system.

Redfield theory provides a closed kinetic description of a quantum system in weak contact with a very dense reservoir. Landau-Zener theory does the same for a time-dependent driven system in contact with a sparse reservoir. Using a simple model, we analyze the validity of these two theories by comparing their predictions with exact numerical results. We show that despite their a priori different range of validity, these two descriptions can give rise to an identical quantum master equation. Both theories can be used for a nonequilibrium thermodynamic description, which we show is consistent with exact thermodynamic identities evaluated in the full system-reservoir space. We emphasize the importance of properly accounting for the system-reservoir interaction energy and of operating in regimes where the reservoir can be considered as close to ideal.

Dissipation in small systems: Landau-Zener approach.

We establish a stochastic thermodynamics for a Fermionic level driven by a time-dependent force and interacting with initially thermalized levels playing the role of a reservoir. The driving induces consecutive avoided crossings between system and reservoir levels described within Landau-Zener theory. We derive the resulting system dynamics and thermodynamics and identify energy, work, heat, entropy, and dissipation. Our theory perfectly reproduces the numerically exact quantum work statistics obtained using a two point measurements approach of the total energy and provides an explicit expression for the dissipation in terms of diabatic transitions.

Impacto da dermolipectomia na melhoria da qualidade de vida em portadores de lipodistrofia abdominal / The impact of dermolipectomy in improving the quality of life in patients with abdominal lipodystrophy

INTRODUÇÃO: A valorização da aparência, aliada a padrões e parâmetros impostos pelas indústrias de beleza e moda e difundidos pelas mídias geram questionamentos sobre o real valor da beleza. Distorções nesses parâmetros levam pacientes, insatisfeitos com seus corpos, aos consultórios médicos. Concomitantemente, existem queixas físicas disfuncionais e suas consequências. A Cirurgia Plástica, nesse contexto, tem como objetivo a melhora da qualidade de vida e maior aceitação do próprio corpo. A abdominoplastia ou dermolipectomia abdominal é um procedimento cirúrgico com grande ênfase, mas ainda com poucas avaliações a respeito da imagem pessoal e qualidade de vida no pós-operatório. O objetivo é avaliar a melhoria da qualidade de vida e da imagem corporal nos pacientes submetidos à dermolipectomia abdominal como procedimento eletivo e compreender implicações físico-psicológicas relacionadas aos distúrbios corporais. MÉTODOS: Aplicação do instrumento WHOQOL bref em 15 pacientes do Ambulatório de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora e da Clínica Plastic Center, portadoras de lipodistrofia abdominal submetidas à dermolipectomia abdominal em três momentos: pré-operatório, dois e seis meses de pós-operatório. RESULTADOS: Após análise dos dados, foi observada melhora na qualidade de vida dos pacientes comparando os resultados nos estágios de pré e pós-operatório, analisados no domínio psicológico com resultados estatisticamente significativos (p < 0,05). No domínio físico, a relação entre as três etapas também é estatisticamente significativa, considerando valor p < 0,07. CONCLUSÕES: A abdominoplastia no tratamento da lipodistrofia abdominal tem impacto na melhora da qualidade de vida destes pacientes, principalmente nos aspectos físico e psicológico, concordando com literatura pré-existente.

INTRODUCTION: The valuation of appearance, combined with patterns and parameters imposed by the beauty and fashion industries, and disseminated by the media, generates questions about the real value of beauty. Distortions in these parameters lead patients, dissatisfied with their bodies, to medical clinics. Concomitantly, there are dysfunctional physical complaints and their consequences. Plastic Surgery, in this context, aims at improving the quality of life and acceptance of one's body. Abdominoplasty, or abdominal dermolipectomy, is a highly used surgical procedure. However, few evaluations regarding the personal image and the quality of life in the postoperative period exist. The objective is to evaluate the improvement of the quality of life and the body image in patients who underwent an abdominal dermolipectomy as an elective procedure, and to understand the physical-psychological implications related to body disorders. METHODS: The WHOQOL-BREF instrument was administered to 15 patients with abdominal lipodystrophy who underwent an abdominal dermolipectomy at the Clinic of Plastic Surgery at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora and Plastic Center Clinic. The instrument was administered thrice: once during the pre-operative period and then at two and six months postoperatively. RESULTS: On comparing the pre and postoperative stages, we found a statistically significant improvement in the quality of life of patients with respect to the psychological domain (p < 0.05). In the physical domain, the relationship between the three stages was also statistically significant, considering a p value < 0.07. CONCLUSIONS: The use of abdominoplasty in the treatment of abdominal lipodystrophy has an impact on the improvement of the quality of life of these patients, mainly in the physical and psychological domains; this is in agreement with previous studies.

The thermodynamic cost of driving quantum systems by their boundaries.

The laws of thermodynamics put limits to the efficiencies of thermal machines. Analogues of these laws are now established for quantum engines weakly and passively coupled to the environment providing a framework to find improvements to their performance. Systems whose interaction with the environment is actively controlled do not fall in that framework. Here we consider systems actively and locally coupled to the environment, evolving with a so-called boundary-driven Lindblad equation. Starting from a unitary description of the system plus the environment we simultaneously obtain the Lindblad equation and the appropriate expressions for heat, work and entropy-production of the system extending the framework for the analysis of new, and some already proposed, quantum heat engines. We illustrate our findings in spin 1/2 chains and explain why an XX chain coupled in this way to a single heat bath relaxes to thermodynamic-equilibrium while and XY chain does not. Additionally, we show that an XX chain coupled to a left and a right heat baths behaves as a quantum engine, a heater or refrigerator depending on the parameters, with efficiencies bounded by Carnot efficiencies.

Síndrome de Fournier: 10 anos de avaliação / Fournier´s syndrome: a 10-year evaluation study", "_e": "n

INTRODUÇÃO: A gangrena de Fournier é uma fasciite necrosante sinérgica do períneo e parede abdominal, que tem origem no escroto e pênis, no homem, e vulva e virilha, na mulher. O processo inicialmente foi descrito como idiopático, mas atualmente sabe-se que se trata de grave afecção causada por bactérias Gram positivas, Gram negativas ou anaeróbios, que pode levar a comprometimento sistêmico importante e, eventualmente, morte. MÉTODO: Foi realizado estudo retrospectivo, baseado na análise de prontuários médicos de 23 pacientes portadores de síndrome de Fournier, no período de janeiro de 2002 a janeiro de 2012. O tratamento dos pacientes incluiu intervenção precoce, com antibioticoterapia de largo espectro e desbridamentos consecutivos. O procedimento terapêutico empregado para a reconstrução variou desde a aproximação das bordas com sutura simples até uso de retalhos e enxertos, nas lesões extensas. RESULTADOS: As técnicas de reparação cutânea foram eficientes e a reparação escrotal foi também efetiva em todos os casos, obtendo-se bons resultados estéticos. Houve 3 (13%) óbitos, 2 deles em pacientes com doenças pregressas e portadores de comorbidades. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar da reconhecida gravidade da Síndrome de Fournier, as medidas terapêuticas adotadas, como rápida intervenção, desbridamento precoce e antibioticoterapia de amplo espectro, juntamente com abordagem multidisciplinar, demonstraram-se bastante eficazes no controle da doença, permitindo reconstrução cirúrgica das áreas atingidas, com baixa mortalidade.

BACKGROUND: Fournier's gangrene is a synergistic necrotizing fasciitis of the perineum and abdominal wall that develops in the scrotum and penis in men and the vulva and groin in women. This disease was initially believed to be idiopathic; however, recent studies have indicated that it is a serious condition caused by gram-positive, gram-negative, or anaerobic bacteria. It is often associated with severe and fatal systemic involvement. METHODS: A retrospective study involving a chart review of 23 patients with Fournier's syndrome treated between January 2002 and January 2012 was conducted. Prompt treatment consisted of broad-spectrum antibiotic administration and serial debridement. The reconstruction techniques ranged from edge approximation via simple sutures to the use of flaps and grafts in cases with extensive lesions. RESULTS: The skin and scrotal reconstruction techniques were effective in all cases, yielding satisfactory aesthetic results. Three (13%) patients died, including 2 patients who had previous illnesses and comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: Although Fournier's syndrome is a serious disease, therapeutic measures such as prompt intervention, with early debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy, in a multidisciplinary approach is very effective for controlling the disease, enabling surgical reconstruction of the affected areas with a low mortality rate.

Bioplastia na lipodistrofia de pacientes com HIV/AIDS / Bioplasty for lipodystrophy in patients with HIV/AIDS

INTRODUÇÃO: O início do tratamento da síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (AIDS) com a terapia antirretroviral de alta atividade (HAART), na década de 1990, aumentou, consideravelmente, a longevidade e a qualidade de vida dos portadores da doença. A redução da morbidade e da mortalidade associadas a doenças infecciosas e neoplásicas oportunistas, porém, tem sido acompanhada pelo aumento da prevalência de outras doenças, entre elas a lipodistrofia associada ao vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV). A lipodistrofia decorre da toxicidade de drogas utilizadas na terapia antirretroviral, sendo atribuída aos inibidores de protease e aos inibidores da transcriptase reversa análogos do nucleosídeo. Este trabalho aborda a lipoatrofia facial, que confere um aspecto de envelhecimento precoce e traz de volta o velho estigma da "facies da AIDS", podendo impactar negativamente na qualidade de vida dos portadores de HIV. MÉTODO: Neste estudo foram incluídos 41 pacientes apresentando lipoatrofia facial, que foram submetidos a preenchimento com polimetilmetacrilato (PMMA) no Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF) e na clínica Plastic Center, Clínica de Cirurgia Plástica em Juiz de Fora, no período entre janeiro de 2010 e fevereiro de 2012. RESULTADOS: O número de procedimentos realizados em cada paciente variou de 1 a 4, sendo respeitado um intervalo mínimo de 90 dias entre eles. A quantidade de PMMA utilizado variou de acordo com o grau e a região a serem corrigidos, ficando entre 3 ml e 18 ml por procedimento. Em todos os pacientes, o resultado obtido foi favorável esteticamente. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados obtidos pela bioplastia com PMMA foram considerados satisfatórios pelos pacientes. O material utilizado possui alta adaptabilidade às áreas receptoras, necessitando apenas da modelagem e da quantidade adequada para que apresente bom padrão estético.

BACKGROUND: When the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) began in the 1990s, it considerably increased the life expectancy and quality of life of AIDS patients. However, the decrease in morbidity and mortality associated with opportunistic infectious and neoplastic diseases was accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of other diseases, including HIV-associated lipodystrophy. Lipodystrophy is due to the toxicity of drugs used in antiretroviral therapy, including protease inhibitors and nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors. This article discusses the treatment of facial lipodystrophy, which confers an appearance of premature aging and brings back the old stigma of the "AIDS face," which negatively impacts the quality of life of HIV carriers. METHODS: Forty-one patients with facial lipoatrophy received filling with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at the Hospital Universitário da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (HU-UFJF) and at the Plastic Center Clinic, Plastic Surgery Clinic in Juiz de Fora between January 2010 and February 2012. RESULTS: Patients received 1 to 4 procedures with a minimum interval of 90 days between procedures. The amount of PMMA used ranged from 3 to 18 mL per procedure according to the degree and region to be corrected. The results were aesthetically favorable in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained through bioplasty with PMMA are considered satisfactory by patients. The material used is highly adaptable to the receiving areas, requiring only modeling and an adequate amount in order to obtain good aesthetic results.

Diffusive transport of waves in a periodic waveguide.

We study the propagation of waves in quasi-one-dimensional finite periodic systems whose classical (ray) dynamics is diffusive. By considering a random matrix model for a chain of L identical chaotic cavities, we show that its average conductance as a function of L displays an ohmic behavior even though the system has no disorder. This behavior, with an average conductance decay N/L, where N is the number of propagating modes in the leads that connect the cavities, holds for 1≪L≲√N. After this regime, the average conductance saturates at a value of O(√N) given by the average number of propagating Bloch modes of the infinite chain. We also study the weak localization correction and conductance distribution, and characterize its behavior as the system undergoes the transition from diffusive to Bloch ballistic. These predictions are tested in a periodic cosine waveguide.

Siliconomas / Siliconomas

INTRODUÇÃO: O silicone líquido industrial tem sido introduzido no organismo humano de forma clandestina, com a finalidade de corrigir defeitos, depressões, irregularidades e para aumentar volumes, tanto em mulheres como em homens ou transgêneros. Com tal uso, podem ocorrer várias complicações, tais como infecções, necroses teciduais e, mais tardiamente, a migração do produto, pelo sistema linfático, venoso ou mesmo pela força da gravidade. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 11 pacientes portadores de siliconomas, pertencentes ao ambulatório do Serviço de Cirurgia Plástica do Hospital Universitário da UFJF e da Clínica Plastic Center, em Juiz de Fora, MG, no período de janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2010. Desses, 7 eram do gênero masculino e quatro do gênero feminino, sendo que desse total, 3 eram transgêneros. Todos os pacientes referiam com clareza o material injetado em seus organismos e todos fizeram o procedimento em ambiente não hospitalar e por indivíduos leigos. CONCLUSÃO: Este artigo tem como objetivo maior esclarecer as consequências danosas que esse produto pode causar no organismo, como cicatrizes de grandes proporções e sequelas estéticas e funcionais.

INTRODUCTION: The industrial liquid silicone has been introduced in the human body in a clandestine manner, with the purpose of correcting defects, depressions, irregularities and to increase volumes in women, men or transgenders. Several complications can occur, such as infection, tissue necrosis, and later migration of the product through the lymphatic system, venous system, or even by force of gravity. METHODS: Eleven patients with siliconomas, belonging to the ambulatory service of plastic surgery of Hospital Universitário da UFJF and Clinic Plastic Center in Juiz de Fora, MG, were evaluated from January 2005 to December 2010. Of these, 7 were male and 4 female, and there were 3 transvestites. All patients clearly referred the material injected into their bodies and have done all the procedure in a non-hospital environment and by lay individuals. CONCLUSION: This article's primary goal is to clarify the harmful consequences that this product may cause to the body such as scars and major aesthetic and functional sequelae.