Development of an emulgel for the treatment of rosacea using quality by design approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to develop an emulgel for the treatment of rosacea, applying quality by design (QbD).Methods: An emulgel designed to release the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), metronidazole and niacinamide, via an emollient formulation that favors residence time and attenuates facial redness would be an excellent vehicle to develop to treat rosacea. It was decided to design first a vehicle presenting the attributes established in the quality target product profile, and then, after selecting the best formulation, to load the APIs in it to optimize the final emulgel. A design of experiments was introduced to study the effect of formulation variables on quality attributes (adhesion, phase separation by mechanical stress and viscosity) of the emulgels. Response surface methodology and desirability functions were applied for data analysis. After optimization, the final emulgel was further characterized by assay and in vitro release of APIs, attenuation of facial redness, and compared to commercially available metronidazole products regarding API release.Results: The final emulgel gradually released both APIs, reaching approximately 88% within the first 4 h, and their profiles were well described by the Higuchi model. Only a light attenuation effect to conceal facial redness was achieved.Conclusions: A metronidazole and niacinamide emulgel, also providing cosmetic assistance, was developed using QbD. The emulgel releases metronidazole faster than the creams, but more gradually than the commercially available gel, providing a realistic time frame of drug delivery in accordance with the expected time of residence of the adhesive emulgel over the affected facial area.

Selection of fragrance for cosmetic cream containing olive oil.

Perceptions of essences for potential use in the development of a line of cosmetic emulsions containing olive oil were studied. Six cream samples prepared with six essences selected in a preliminary study were evaluated for overall liking and intention to purchase by a 63-women sample. A check-all-that-apply (CATA) question consisting of 32 terms was used to gather information about consumer perceptions of fragrance, affective associations, effects on the skin, price, target market, zones of application, and occasions of use. Hierarchical cluster analysis led to the identification of two consumer clusters with different frequency of use of face creams. The two clusters assigned different overall liking scores to the samples and used the CATA terms differently to describe them. A fragrance with jasmine as its principal note was selected for further development of cosmetic creams, as it was awarded the highest overall liking scores by respondents of the two clusters, and was significantly associated with cosmetic features including nourishing, moisturizing, softening, with a delicious and mild smell, and with a natural image, as well as being considered suitable for face and body creams. The use of CATA questions enabled the rapid identification of attributes associated by respondents with a cosmetic cream's fragrance, in addition to contributing relevant information for the definition of marketing and communication strategies.

Sensory characterization of virgin olive oil-based cosmetic creams.

The influence of olive oil concentration and sensory profile on the odor of virgin olive oil-based cosmetic creams was studied. Four olive oils were selected on the basis of different intensities of positive and defective odor attributes: two extra virgin olive oils, one virgin olive oil, and one ordinary virgin olive oil. Thirty cosmetic creams were prepared, by both cold and hot processing methods, using each of the above oils at concentrations of 3%, 5%, and 10%, in addition to mineral oil controls. A trained sensory panel evaluated the fruitiness and defectiveness intensities in the odor of creams, using unstructured 10-cm scales ranging from "none at all" to "much." The fruity and defective attributes perceived in the odor of creams were significantly influenced by the sensory profile of the starting olive oil, oil concentration, and preparation method. Overall, these findings suggest that virgin olive oils of only slightly fruity odor may be conveniently used for the preparation of cold-processed cosmetic creams, whereas ordinary virgin olive oils appear to be suitable for the preparation of cosmetic creams only by hot processing of the emulsion at a low oil concentration.

Comparison of neuropsychological performance between students from public and private Brazilian schools.

Neuropsychological assessment reveals that certain cognitive changes that take place during the neural development process may be associated with biopsychosocial issues. A substantial body of research has focused on cognitive development in children and adults, but few such studies have been carried out on adolescents. Therefore, research into the processing of neuropsychological functions in adolescents, taking into account the role of major socio-cultural factors such as school type (public vs. private), is highly relevant. The present study sought to assess whether differences in neuropsychological development exist between adolescent students of public (government-funded) and private schools. A total of 373 grade-matched students between the ages of 12 and 18, 190 from public schools and 183 from private schools, took part in the study. All subjects had no self-reported neurologic or psychiatric conditions and sensory disorders. The NEUPSILIN Brazilian Brief Neuropsychological Assessment Battery was administered to this sample. Comparison of mean scores (one-way ANCOVA with socioeconomic score and age as covariates) showed that adolescents attending private schools generally outperformed their public-school peers in tasks involving sustained attention, memory (working and visual), dictated writing, and constructional and reflective abilities. We conclude that school type should be taken into account during standardization of neuropsychological assessment instruments for adolescent and, probably, child populations.

Cognitive estimation abilities in healthy and clinical populations: the use of the Cognitive Estimation Test.

Estimation abilities are a group of processes that involve functions such as planning, attention, abstract reasoning, and also mnemonic processes, like semantic and working memory. They are allocated in order to solve problems for which the answers are not readily available. Estimation abilities can be measured using the Cognitive Estimation Test (CET). The aim of this article was to review the use of the CET and other tests of cognitive estimation in healthy and pathological populations. We discussed studies examining correlations between the CET and other measures of executive functions and the importance of the standardization of measures that assess estimation abilities.

Freshness evaluation of refreshing creams: influence of two types of peppermint oil and emulsion formulation.

The aim of the present work was to study the influence of emulsion composition and two types of peppermint oil (common and dementholated) on freshness perception (skin feel) of refreshing creams, as evaluated by trained assessors and two consumer panels. Both common peppermint oil (PO) and dementholated peppermint oil (DPO) were added in a 1% concentration to two base emulsions formulated with high (emulsion A) and low (emulsion B) concentration of apolar components. The samples' freshness was evaluated by a panel of trained assessors and by consumers. Results showed that the freshness sensation was higher when formulation B was considered, which indicates that its low proportion of apolar components might have enhanced peppermint oil liberation and penetration into the skin, increasing freshness perception. On the other hand, no significant differences in freshness intensity after 5 min of application were found between creams formulated containing DPO or PO, suggesting that other components different from menthol might have contributed to the immediate perception of freshness. Results from the present work showed that emulsion formulation has a great effect on freshness perception, suggesting that different formulations should be considered and tested when developing refreshing cosmetics.

Developing and improving after-school programs to enhance youth's personal growth and adjustment: a special issue of AJCP.

Participating in after-school programs (ASPs) has become a common experience for children. This special issue provides a perspective on the current status of research on ASPs. This introductory article overviews the historical and current context of ASPs and then describes a developmental ecological model to guide research in this area. The model offers a framework from which to organize and synthesize the research presented in this issue. Key principles include a holistic view of development that recognizes interrelations between multiple domains of youth adjustment, attention to multiple, relevant factors within and outside of youth that affect development, examining the dynamic interplay between persons, program features, and other contexts over time, and understanding the active role of youth in affecting their own development. These principles are examined in relation to five main areas: youth characteristics, social ecologies, program features, participation, and short- and long-term outcomes. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Reduced incidence of aspiration with spoon-thick consistency in stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Dysphagia and aspiration occur frequently in stroke patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate 2 consistencies (liquid and spoon-thick/pudding-like) regarding the risk of aspiration and to determine the usefulness of a bedside speech therapy assessment to predict risk of aspiration. METHODS: This randomized, crossover clinical trial was carried out April to August 2001 at a university hospital. Sixty-one inpatients diagnosed with acute phase or prior stroke received liquid and spoon-thick (pudding-like) feeds during nasoendoscopy and bedside clinical assessment. RESULTS: Aspiration occurred in only 3 patients with the spoon-thick consistency vs 21 with the liquid consistency (relative risk=0.13; 95% confidence interval=0.04-0.39; P<.001). The bedside assessment had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 70.8% to detect risk of aspiration. CONCLUSIONS: The use of a spoon-thick consistency reduced the risk of aspiration compared with the liquid consistency. Clinical assessment was useful to predict aspiration, although the probability of dysphagia in the presence of a negative clinical assessment (29%) is a reason for concern.

Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery - MEC B: reliability and validity.

PURPOSE: Search for reliability and validity evidence for the Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery (MEC B) for adults with right brain damage. METHODS: Three hundred twenty-four healthy adults and 26 adults with right brain damage, aged 19-75 years, with two or more years of education were evaluated with MEC B. The MEC B Battery contains nine tasks that aim to evaluate communicative abilities as discourse, prosody, lexical-semantic and pragmatic process. Two sources of reliability evidence were used: internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and interrater reliability. Construct validity was evaluated comparing the Montreal Communication Evaluation Battery (MEC), expanded version and MEC B tasks. RESULTS: Internal consistence was satisfactory and the interrater reliability was considered excellent, as were correlations between MEC Battery and MEC B Battery tasks. CONCLUSION: The MEC B Battery showed satisfactory reliability and validity evidences. It can be used as outcome measure of intervention programs and assist speech therapists to plan rehabilitation programs.

Assessment of swallowing sounds by digital cervical auscultation in children.

OBJECTIVES: There is a lack of studies regarding swallowing sounds in children 3 to 11 years of age. This study aimed to assess swallowing sounds by digital cervical auscultation in children of this age group without symptoms of oropharyngeal dysphagia. METHODS: Digital cervical auscultation was performed in 118 subjects by use of a piezoelectric microphone. The children swallowed 5 mL of liquid and yogurt. The components of perceptual acoustic analysis were discrete initial signal (DIS), main signal of swallowing sound (MS), discrete final signal (DFS), and expiratory return (ER). Duration in seconds was the objective parameter of the swallowing sound signal analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-six boys and 62 girls were evaluated at a mean (+/- SD) age of 6.9 +/- 2.03 years. A complete DIS-MS-DFS-ER swallowing sequence was found in 60% of the children. There was no significant difference in swallowing sound duration between both food consistencies (p = .189) or between genders either for liquid (p = .327) or yogurt (p = .792). There was no correlation between age and duration of the swallowing sound for liquid or yogurt. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that digital cervical auscultation was able to provide objective information about the swallowing process that could contribute to methodological standardization in children.

Brazilian version of the Protocole Montréal d'Evaluation de la Communication (Protocole MEC): normative and reliability data.

The lack of standardized instruments to evaluate communication disorders related to the right hemisphere was verified. A new evaluation tool was developed: Protocole Montréal d'Evaluation de la Communication--Protocole MEC, adapted to Brazilian Portuguese--Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação--Bateria MAC (Montreal Evaluation of Communication Battery). The purpose was to present stratified normative data by age and educational level, and to verify the reliability parameters of the MEC Battery. 300 individuals, between the ages of 19 and 75 years, and levels of formal education between 2 and 35 years, participated in this study. They were divided equally into six normative groups, according to three age categories (young adults, intermediary age, and seniors) and two educational levels (low and high). Two procedures were used to check reliability: Cronbach alpha and reliability between evaluators, Results were established at the 10th percentile, and an alert point per task for each normative group. Cronbach's alpha was, in general, between .70 and .90 and the average rate of agreement between evaluators varied from .62 to .94. Standards of age and education were established. The reliability of this instrument was verified. The psychometric legitimization of the MEC Battery will contribute to the diagnostic process for communicative disorders.

Lexical-retrieval and semantic memory in Parkinson's disease: The question of noun and verb dissociation.

The dissociation between the processing of verbs and nouns has been debated in light of the Embodied Cognition Theory (EC). The objective of this paper is to verify how action and verb processing deficits of PD patients are modulated by different tasks with different cognitive demands. Action and object lexical-semantic processing was evaluated in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and cognitively healthy controls through three different tasks (verbal fluency, naming and semantic association). Compared to controls, PD patients presented worse performance in naming actions and in the two semantic association tasks (action/object). Action verbal fluency performance was significantly associated with PD severity whereas object semantic association deficits and noun verbal fluency scores were associated to lower scores in measures of global cognitive functioning. Our data suggest that semantic deficits are related to the type of cognitive processing and this is in the line with more flexible EC accounts.

Free-choice-profile descriptive analysis of sticks with conditioning agents.

Nine formulations to be used as stick bases were manufactured using sodium stearate, propyleneglycol, and water, adding different concentrations of the following conditioning agents: octyldodecanol, PPG-5-ceteth-20, and PPG-15-stearyl ether. Free-choice-profile methodology was used to select the most adequate concentration of the agents in order to improve sensory properties. The sensory descriptors were grouped into four categories: stick aspect, sensations during application, sensations immediately after application, and sensations five minutes after application. Formulations containing 4% and 6% octyldodecanol and 2% PPG-15-stearyl ether were considered inadequate, since they showed unwanted qualities such as exudation, a slow absorption rate, high oiliness, and residue. Formulations containing 2% octyldodecanol; 2%, 4%, and 6% PPG-5-ceteth-20; and 4% and 6% PPG-15-stearyl ether presented different characteristics regarding the four categories of descriptors evaluated, all of them being acceptable considering the properties sought.

História de vida e formação continuada: análise de uma experiência de ensino sobre as atividades circenses / History of life and continued training: analysis of an experience of teaching on circus activities / Historia de vida y formación continuada: análisis de una experiencia de enseñanza sobre las actividades circenses

Introdução: As atividades circenses foram inseridas no currículo do município estudado como conteúdo obrigatório, mas a indisponibilidade de material e formação específica não possibilitou a aderência entre os docentes. No entanto, apenas uma professora tematizou este conteúdo, oportunizando vivências tanto teóricas quanto práticas. Objetivo: Desta forma, nosso objetivo foi analisar as aulas sobre atividades circenses de uma professora de educação física. Método: Os instrumentos de coleta utilizados foram: observação das aulas com diário de campo, entrevista semiestruturada com a docente e questionário com os alunos. Conclusão: Podemos destacar que a busca por uma formação profissional e aspectos da trajetória docente potencializam boas práticas no ensino da educação física escolar.

Introduction: The circus activities were inserted in the curriculum of the studied city as mandatory content, but the unavailability of material and specific training did not allow the adherence among the teachers. However, one teacher thematized this content, offering both theoretical and practical experiences. Objective: In this way, our objective was to analyze the classes about circus activities of a physical education teacher. Method: The instruments of collection used were the observation of the classes and with field diary, semi-structured interview with the teacher and questionnaire with the students. Conclusion: We can highlight that the search for a professional formation and aspects of the teacher trajectory potentiate good practices in the teaching of school physical education.

Introducción: Las actividades circenses fueron insertadas en el currículo del municipio estudiado como contenido obligatorio, pero la indisponibilidad de material y formación específica no posibilitó la adherencia entre los docentes. Sin embargo, sólo una profesora tematizó este contenido, oportunizando vivencias teóricas y prácticas. Objetivo: De esta manera, nuestro objetivo era analizar las clases sobre las actividades de circo de un profesor de educación física. Método:Los instrumentos de recolección fueron: observación de las clases con diario de campo, entrevista semiestructurada con la profesora y cuestionario con los alumnos. Conclusión: Podemos destacar que la búsqueda por una formación profesional y aspectos de la trayectoria docente potencian buenas prácticas en la enseñanza de la educación física escolar.

Study of sensory properties of emollients used in cosmetics and their correlation with physicochemical properties.

Eight liquid emollients (mineral oil, sunflower oil, squalane, decyl oleate, isopropyl myristate, octyldodecanol, dimethicone, and cyclomethicone) were characterized by instrumental and sensory methods and evaluated to determine the relationship between sensory and instrumental measures. Sensory analysis was carried out by a panel of 14 assessors, who evaluated the following attributes: difficulty of spreading, gloss, residue, stickiness, slipperiness, softness, and oiliness. The physicochemical properties measured were spreadability (at one-half minute and at one minute), viscosity, and superficial tension. Data collected were statistically analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA), and linear partial least squares regression analysis (PLS). In consideration of their physicochemical characteristics, the studied emollients were sorted into three groups, in which the silicones distinctly separate from the rest. Sensory characteristics enabled the discrimination of four groups of emollients where, besides the two silicones, isopropyl myristate was also differentiated. PLS revealed that emollient sensory attributes could be well predicted by instrumental measurements.

Construção e Avaliação para 15 Listas de Palavras Baseadas no Paradigma Deese-Roediger-McDermott / Construction and Evaluation for 15-Word Lists Based on the Deese-Roediger-McDermott Paradigm

Resumo Com base nos estudos conduzidos de acordo com o paradigma Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM), em quais palavras de uma lista tendem a evocar outros itens relacionados, utilizado em pesquisas de falsas memórias, neste estudo elaborou-se 15 listas de palavras semanticamente relacionadas para o português. Para a elaboração das listas, foram considerados critérios como frequência de palavras no corpus de português brasileiro e extensão de palavras. A pré-seleção guiada por características linguísticas visava controlar possíveis vieses por parte dos voluntários. Testes de associação semântica e concretude de palavras foram realizados para apurar a conveniência dos itens selecionados, e um teste de recordação livre foi conduzido para avaliar características de evocação. Sugerimos a utilização das listas de palavras em pesquisas que avaliem falsas memórias.

Abstract Based on studies conducted in accordance with the Deese-Roediger-McDermott (DRM) paradigm, in which words of a list tend to evoke other related items, used in false memory research, this study produced 15 lists of semantically related words for Brazilian Portuguese. For the preparation of the lists, certain criteria were considered, such as word length and frequency of words in a Brazilian Portuguese corpus. Pre-selection guided by linguistic characteristics aimed to control possible biases among volunteers. Semantic association and concreteness tests were carried out to determine the suitability of the selected items, and a free recall test was performed to evaluate evocation characteristics. We suggest using word lists in researches that evaluate false memories.

Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery: evidence of criterion validity from patients with aphasia.

BACKGROUND: The Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery - Brazilian version (MTL-BR) provides a general description of language processing and related components in adults with brain injury. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed at verifying the criterion-related validity of the Montreal-Toulouse Language Assessment Battery - Brazilian version (MTL-BR) by assessing its ability to discriminate between individuals with unilateral brain damage with and without aphasia. METHODS: The investigation was carried out in a Brazilian community-based sample of 104 adults, divided into four groups: 26 participants with left hemisphere damage (LHD) with aphasia, 25 participants with right hemisphere damage (RHD), 28 with LHD non-aphasic, and 25 healthy adults. RESULTS: There were significant differences between patients with aphasia and the other groups on most total and subtotal scores on MTL-BR tasks. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed strong criterion-related validity evidence for the MTL-BR Battery, and provided important information regarding hemispheric specialization and interhemispheric cooperation. Future research is required to search for additional evidence of sensitivity, specificity and validity of the MTL-BR in samples with different types of aphasia and degrees of language impairment.

Relationship between the Brazilian version of the Montreal-Toulouse language assessment battery and education, age and reading and writing characteristics. A cross-sectional study.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE: There is growing concern about understanding how sociodemographic variables may interfere with cognitive functioning, especially with regard to language. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between performance in the Brazilian version of the Montreal-Toulouse language assessment battery (MTL-BR) and education, age and frequency of reading and writing habits (FRWH). DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in university and work environments in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHOD: The MTL-BR was administered to a group of 233 healthy adults, aged 19 to 75 years (mean = 45.04, standard deviation, SD = 15.47), with at least five years of formal education (mean = 11.47, SD = 4.77). RESULTS: A stepwise multiple linear regression model showed that, for most tasks, the number of years of education, age and FRWH were better predictors of performance when analyzed together rather than separately. In separate analysis, education was the best predictor of performance in language tasks, especially those involving reading and writing abilities. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that the number of years of education, age and FRWH seem to influence performance in the MTL-BR, especially education. These data are important for making diagnoses of greater precision among patients suffering from brain injuries, with the aim of avoiding false positives.

Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery - MEC B: reliability and validity / Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação Breve - MAC B: fidedignidade e validade

ABSTRACT Purpose Search for reliability and validity evidence for the Montreal Communication Evaluation Brief Battery (MEC B) for adults with right brain damage. Methods Three hundred twenty-four healthy adults and 26 adults with right brain damage, aged 19-75 years, with two or more years of education were evaluated with MEC B. The MEC B Battery contains nine tasks that aim to evaluate communicative abilities as discourse, prosody, lexical-semantic and pragmatic process. Two sources of reliability evidence were used: internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha) and interrater reliability. Construct validity was evaluated comparing the Montreal Communication Evaluation Battery (MEC), expanded version and MEC B tasks. Results Internal consistence was satisfactory and the interrater reliability was considered excellent, as were correlations between MEC Battery and MEC B Battery tasks. Conclusion The MEC B Battery showed satisfactory reliability and validity evidences. It can be used as outcome measure of intervention programs and assist speech therapists to plan rehabilitation programs.

RESUMO Objetivo Buscar evidências de validade e fidedignidade da Bateria Montreal de Avaliação da Comunicação Breve (MAC B) para adultos com lesão do hemisfério direito. Método Trezentos e vinte e quatro adultos saudáveis e 26 adultos com lesão cerebral direita, com idades de 19 a 75 anos, com dois ou mais anos de escolaridade, foram avaliados com a Bateria MAC B. Essa bateria contém nove tarefas que visam avaliar habilidades comunicativas, como: discurso prosódia; processo léxico-semântico e pragmática. Duas fontes de evidências de fidedignidade foram utilizadas, ou seja, a consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach) e a concordância entre avaliadores. A validade foi avaliada comparando as tarefas da Bateria MAC na versão expandida e da MAC B. Resultados Em relação à fidedignidade, a consistência interna foi satisfatória e as taxas de concordância entre os avaliadores foram consideradas excelentes, assim como as correlações entre as tarefas da Bateria MAC e Bateria MAC B. Conclusão A Bateria MAC B apresentou evidências de fidedignidade e validade satisfatórias, podendo ser usada como medida para resultado de programas de intervenção, e também auxiliar o fonoaudiólogo a planejar o programa de reabilitação.

Acoustic analysis of voice in multiple sclerosis patients.

The objective is to investigate the presence of dysphonic symptoms in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and to compare quantitative acoustic parameters in multiple sclerosis patients and normal individuals. The method of study was an 8-month controlled cross-sectional that was carried out with 106 individuals (30 MS, 76 controls). Both groups included males and females from 20 to 55 years. Exclusion criteria were prior vocal disorder, laryngeal microsurgery, recent endotracheal intubation, tumors, laryngeal, lung or mediastinal metastases, respiratory disease, and other associated neurological diagnoses. For dysphonic symptoms (qualitative variables), associations were assessed using Mantel-Haenszel's chi2 test, with Yates correction or the Fisher exact test when necessary. Statistical significance was set at p< or =0.05. Dysphonia was observed in 70% of MS individuals versus 33% of controls (p=0.01). Association was found between MS and dysphonia (OR: 2.2, CI 95%: 1.13-4.25). Fundamental frequency was higher among MS patients (p=0.01). Fundamental frequency deviation was significantly higher in MS women (but not men) than controls (p=0.00). Jitter was higher in MS men than in all other groups (p=0.00). Results suggest that evaluation and treatment of MS patients should be revised, evaluating voice alterations in relation to other signs. MS seems to intensify gender effect on fundamental frequency deviation, noise, and jitter, with MS women presenting fewer voice variations than men.