Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy as a Screening Tool for Osteosarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Women.

Osteosarcopenia is a complex geriatric syndrome characterized by the presence of both sarcopenia and osteopenia/osteoporosis. This condition increases rates of disability, falls, fractures, mortality, and mobility impairments in older adults. The purpose of this study was to analyze the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy diagnostic power for osteosarcopenia in community-dwelling older women (n = 64; 32 osteosarcopenic and 32 non-osteosarcopenia). FTIR is a fast and reproducible technique highly sensitive to biological tissues, and a mathematical model was created using multivariate classification techniques that denoted the graphic spectra of the molecular groups. Genetic algorithm and support vector machine regression (GA-SVM) was the most feasible model, achieving 80.0% of accuracy. GA-SVM identified 15 wave numbers responsible for class differentiation, in which several amino acids (responsible for the proper activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin) and hydroxyapatite (an inorganic bone component) were observed. Imaging tests and low availability of instruments that allow the observation of osteosarcopenia involve high health costs for patients and restrictive indications. Therefore, FTIR can be used to diagnose osteosarcopenia due to its efficiency and low cost and to enable early detection in geriatric services, contributing to advances in science and technology that are potential "conventional" methods in the future.

Embolização percutânea de fístulas arteriovenosas pulmonares / Percutaneous embolization of pulmonary arteriovenous fistulas

Malformações arteriovenosas pulmonares são uma comunicação anormal entre uma artéria e uma veia, causando manifestações clínicas, como hipoxemia crônica e eventos embólicos. As malformações arteriovenosas eram tratadas cirurgicamente, com taxa expressiva de complicações. Na década de 1970, a primeira embolização percutânea por cateter foi realizada com molas. Descrevemos três casos nos quais técnicas de embolização percutânea foram efetivas em prevenir eventos embólicos, hemorrágicos e hipoxêmicos no seguimento dos pacientes.

Pulmonary arteriovenous malformation is an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein, causing clinical manifestations, such as chronic hypoxemia and embolic events. Arteriovenous malformations were treated surgically, with a significant rate of complications. In the 1970 ́s, the first percutaneous catheter embolization was performed with coils. We describe three cases in which percutaneous embolization techniques were effective to prevent embolic, hemorrhagic, and hypoxemic events in the follow-up of patients.

Comparison of Gingival Recession of Mandibular Incisors of Class III Patients Immediately after Compensatory or Surgical Orthodontic Treatment.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare gingival recession in mandibular anterior teeth in patients with Class III malocclusion, immediately after compensatory or surgical orthodontic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 40 patients with Class III malocclusion, divided into two groups: Group 1 (compensatory), 20 patients treated with compensatory orthodontics, with a mean initial age of 20.26 years (standard deviation [SD] . = 7.44), mean final age of 23.07 years (SD = 7.32), and mean treatment time of 2.81 years (SD =0.84). Group 2 (surgical), who undergone orthodontic-surgical treatment, with a mean initial age of 23.08 years (SD =5.48), mean final age of 25.43 years (SD =5.12), and mean treatment time of 2.35 years (SD =1.56). Intraoral photographs taken before and after removal of the fixed orthodontic appliance were used to measure the gingival recession, from the cervical of the mandibular incisors from the most cervical point of the gingival margin to the cementoenamel junction. In the initial and final cephalograms, the position of the mandibular incisors was measured. The intergroup comparison was performed using the independent t-test. RESULTS: The results showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the gingival recession at the beginning, at the end, and of changes with treatment between the compensatory and surgical groups. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that the compensatory and surgical orthodontic treatments for Class III malocclusion showed similar results regarding the gingival recession of the mandibular incisors.

Infrared spectroscopy (NIRS and ATR-FTIR) together with multivariate classification for non-destructive differentiation between female mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti recently infected with dengue vs. uninfected females.

One of the most important steps in preventing arboviruses is entomological surveillance. The main entomological surveillance action is to detect vector foci in the shortest possible stages. In this work, near and medium infrared spectra collected from female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes recently infected and not infected with dengue were used in order to build chemometric models capable of differentiating the spectra of each class. For this, computational algorithms such as Successive Projection Algorithm (SPA) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) were used together with Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). The constructed models were evaluated with sensitivity and specificity calculations. It was observed that models based on near infrared (NIR) spectra have better classification results when compared to mid infrared (MIR) spectra, as well as models based on GA present better results when compared to those based on SPA. Thus, NIR-GA-LDA obtained the best results, reaching 100.00 % for sensitivity and specificity. NIR spectroscopy is 18 times faster and 116 times cheaper than RT-qPCR. The findings reported in this study may have important applications in the field of entomological surveillance, prevention and control of dengue vectors. In the future, mosquito traps equipped with portable NIR instruments capable of detecting infected mosquitoes may be used, in order to enable an action plan to prevent future outbreaks of the disease.

Tratamiento multidisciplinario de condrosarcoma gigante de fémur proximal mediante hemipelvectomía externa y reconstrucción con colgajo pediculado tipo fillet flap: presentación de un caso clínico / Multidisciplinary treatment of giant chondrosarcoma of the proximal femur by external hemipelvectomy and reconstruction with a pedunculated fillet flap: presentation of a clinical case / Tratamento multidisciplinar do condrossarcoma gigante do fêmur proximal por hemipelvectomia externa e reconstrução com retalho fillet flap: apresentação de um caso clínico

El condrosarcoma forma parte de los tumores primarios malignos más frecuentes. Las localizaciones pélvicas y de raíz de muslo requerirán abordajes amplios con la consecuente dificultad de cobertura de partes blandas. La hemipelvectomía externa es habitualmente el procedimiento de elección para estas localizaciones. Implica la resección de la extremidad inferior en bloque asociada a la hemipelvis ipsilateral, dando como resultado un gran defecto de cobertura. En algunas circunstancias, la extensa resección de partes blandas hace imposible la utilización de colgajos rotacionales locales. La reconstrucción con colgajo tipo "Fillet flaps" ofrece a estos defectos de partes blandas la opción de lograr una adecuada cobertura. El objetivo del trabajo es mostrar la resolución de un caso poco convencional de condrosarcoma de fémur proximal y su reconstrucción de partes blandas con un método nunca antes utilizado en nuestro medio.

Chondrosarcoma is one of the most frequent malignant primary tumors. Pelvic and proximal femur locations require extensive approaches with the consequent difficulty of soft tissue reconstruction. External hemipelvectomy is usually the procedure for these locations. It involves total en bloc resection of the lower extremity associated with ipsilateral hemipelvis, resulting in a large coverage defect. In some cases, local rotational flaps are impossible. Reconstruction with fillet flaps offers an adequate coverage for soft tissue defects. The objective of this study is to show the resolution of an unconventional case of chondrosarcoma of the proximal femur and its soft tissue reconstruction with a method never before used in our country.

O condrossarcoma é um dos tumores primários malignos mais frequentes. As localizações das raízes pélvicas e da coxa exigirão amplas abordagens com a conseqüente dificuldade em cobrir os tecidos moles. A hemipelvectomia externa costuma ser o procedimento de escolha para esses locais. Envolve a ressecção do membro inferior em bloco associado à hemipelve ipsilateral, resultando em um grande defeito de cobertura. Em algumas circunstâncias, a ressecção extensa de partes moles impossibilita o uso de retalhos rotacionais locais. A reconstrução com retalhos de filé oferece a esses defeitos de tecidos moles a opção de obter uma cobertura adequada. O objetivo deste trabalho é mostrar a resolução de um caso não convencional de condrossarcoma do fêmur proximal e sua reconstrução de partes moles com método nunca antes utilizado em nosso meio.

Virtual Reality as a distraction therapy during cystoscopy: a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: to investigate whether virtual reality (VR) experience is associated with decreased pain sensation among patients who undergo rigid cystoscopy under local anesthesia. METHODS: we performed a prospective, randomized, controlled study of 159 patients who were aleatorily enrolled into two groups: VR and control. VR experience intervention consisted of using a headset with a smartphone adapted to a virtual reality glasses where an app-video was played during the procedure. Main outcomes analyzed were pain, discomfort, heart rate variability, difficulty and duration of the cystoscopy. Statistical analyses were performed using a Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square test. A P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. RESULTS: among 159 patients studied (VR group=80 patients; control group=79 patients), the mean age was 63,6 years and 107 (67,3%) were male. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. VR was significantly associated to decreased heart rate variability (6,29 vs 11,09 bpm, P<0,001) and lower duration of the procedure (5,33 vs 8,65 min, P<0,001). Also, when cystoscopies due to double-J extraction were excluded, VR experience was associated with reduced pain on the visual analog score of pain (3,26 vs 4,33 cm, P=0,023). CONCLUSIONS: the use of VR as a distraction therapy while performing outpatient cystoscopies is safe, has no side effects, is associated with less pain and discomfort, and reduces length of procedure.

Uso de aterectomia rotacional para tratamento de reestenose intra-stent com subexpansão de dupla malha de stents coronarianos. Relato de caso / Use of rotational atherectomy for treatment of in-stent restenosis with coronary double-mesh stent underexpansion. Case report

O tratamento de lesões reestenóticas intra-stent, principalmente as calcificadas, com subexpansão do stent, geralmente requer o uso de técnicas mais complexas para sua execução, como a aterectomia rotacional. O caso se trata de um paciente do sexo masculino com lesão reestenótica focal intra-stent de 99% na origem do primeiro ramo diagonal, local onde foram implantados dois stents há 14 anos. Após falha da angioplastia apenas com balões, realizou-se a ablação da placa e de parte das hastes dos stents pela técnica de aterectomia rotacional, o que possibilitou o implante de novo stent com sua expansão total.

Treatment of in-stent restenosis lesions, especially calcified lesions, with stent underexpansion, generally requires more complex techniques, such as rotational atherectomy. The case reported is a male patient with a 99% in-stent focal restenosis lesion at the origin of the first diagonal branch, where two stents were implanted 14 years ago. After failure of balloon angioplasty alone, ablation of the plaque and part of the stent struts was performed using the rotational atherectomy technique, which allowed the implantation of a new stent which was totally expanded.

Virtual Reality as a distraction therapy during cystoscopy: a clinical trial / A Realidade Virtual como terapia de distração durante cistoscopias: um ensaio clínico

ABSTRACT Objectives: to investigate whether virtual reality (VR) experience is associated with decreased pain sensation among patients who undergo rigid cystoscopy under local anesthesia. Methods: we performed a prospective, randomized, controlled study of 159 patients who were aleatorily enrolled into two groups: VR and control. VR experience intervention consisted of using a headset with a smartphone adapted to a virtual reality glasses where an app-video was played during the procedure. Main outcomes analyzed were pain, discomfort, heart rate variability, difficulty and duration of the cystoscopy. Statistical analyses were performed using a Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square test. A P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Results: among 159 patients studied (VR group=80 patients; control group=79 patients), the mean age was 63,6 years and 107 (67,3%) were male. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. VR was significantly associated to decreased heart rate variability (6,29 vs 11,09 bpm, P<0,001) and lower duration of the procedure (5,33 vs 8,65 min, P<0,001). Also, when cystoscopies due to double-J extraction were excluded, VR experience was associated with reduced pain on the visual analog score of pain (3,26 vs 4,33 cm, P=0,023). Conclusions: the use of VR as a distraction therapy while performing outpatient cystoscopies is safe, has no side effects, is associated with less pain and discomfort, and reduces length of procedure.

RESUMO Objetivos: investigar se a experiência de realidade virtual (RV) está associada à diminuição da dor em pacientes submetidos à cistoscopia rígida sob anestesia local. Métodos: foi realizado um estudo prospectivo, randomizado e controlado de 159 pacientes que foram alocados aleatoriamente em dois grupos: RV e controle. A intervenção da experiência de RV consistiu no uso de óculos de realidade virtual com smartphone adaptado e fones de ouvido, onde um vídeo foi reproduzido durante o procedimento. Os principais desfechos analisados foram dor, desconforto, variabilidade da frequência cardíaca, dificuldade e duração da cistoscopia. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas com o teste t de Student, o teste de Mann-Whitney e o teste do qui-quadrado. Um P<0,05 foi considerado como estatisticamente significativo. Resultados: entre os 159 pacientes estudados (grupo RV=80; grupo controle=79), a média de idade foi 63,6 anos e 107 (67,3%) eram do sexo masculino. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa nas características basais entre os grupos. A RV foi significativamente associada à menor variabilidade da frequência cardíaca (6,29 vs 11,09 bpm, P<0,001) e menor duração do procedimento (5,33 vs 8,65 min, P<0,001). Além disso, quando cistoscopias devido à extração de duplo J foram excluídas, a RV foi associada à redução da dor na escala visual analógica (3,26 vs 4,33cm, P=0,023). Conclusões: o uso da RV como terapia de distração durante a realização de cistoscopias ambulatoriais é seguro, não tem efeitos colaterais, está associado a menos dor e desconforto e reduz a duração do procedimento.

Pain Perception Before Endodontic Treatment: from Primary Care to Specialized Care

Abstract Objective: To analyze patients' pain perception requiring endodontic treatment referred to a Dental Specialties Center. Material and Methods: Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire for patients about their experience of pain and another for endodontists about the treatment performed. The results were analyzed descriptively using Pearson's Chi-square test and Fisher's Exact test, with Bonferroni correction (p≤0.05). Results: The median age of the patients was 39 years, and 71.1% were female. The median waiting time for treatment was five months. Pain was reported by 75.2% of patients, occurred more than one month earlier (63.6%), with moderate/severe intensity (66.9%), and most patients sought emergency treatment more than once (79.1%). In addition, pain was associated with sex (female; p=0.008); moderate/severe intensity (p<0.001); the number of times that patient had to go to the dentist because of the tooth treatment (twice or more; p=0.002); and type of tooth treated (posterior tooth; p=0.002). Conclusion: Severe pain episodes resulted in a repeated search for emergency services, which may overload the primary care service, especially if the waiting time for endodontic treatment is long.

Near-infrared spectroscopy of blood plasma with chemometrics towards HIV discrimination during pregnancy.

Prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs have been one of the hallmarks of success in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In Brazil, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy has increased, leading to a reduction in new infections among children. Currently, lifelong ART is available to all pregnant, however yet challenges remain in eliminating mother-to-child transmission. In this paper, we focus on the role of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy to analyse blood plasma samples of pregnant women with HIV infection to differentiate pregnant women without HIV infection. Seventy-seven samples (39 HIV-infected patient and 38 healthy control samples) were analysed. Multivariate classification of resultant NIR spectra facilitated diagnostic segregation of both sample categories in a fast and non-destructive fashion, generating good accuracy, sensitivity and specificity. This method is simple and low-cost, and can be easily adapted to point-of-care screening, which can be essential to monitor pregnancy risks in remote locations or in the developing world. Therefore, it opens a new perspective to investigate vertical transmission (VT). The approach described here, can be useful for the identification and exploration of VT under various pathophysiological conditions of maternal HIV. These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the potential of NIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis as a screening tool for fast and low-cost HIV detection.

Smile attractiveness in class III patients after orthodontic camouflage or orthognathic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The study's objective was to compare the smile attractiveness in patients with class III malocclusion treated with orthodontic camouflage or orthognathic surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 30 patients with class III malocclusion treated without extractions divided into two groups, according to the treatment performed: G1, orthodontic camouflage, consisting of 15 patients (9 female; 6 male) with mean initial age of 21.26 years (SD = 7.39) and mean final age of 24.52 years (SD = 7.10). The mean treatment time was 3.26 years (SD = 1.50). G2, ortho-surgical, consisting of 15 patients (8 females; 7 males), with mean initial age of 23.12 years (SD=7.37), mean final age of 25.82 years (SD = 7.14) and mean treatment time of 2.71 years (SD = 0.90). The smile attractiveness was evaluated in black and white photographs of posed smiles taken before and after treatment, with a numerical rating scale from 1 to 10, with 1 being the least attractive and 10 the greatest smile attractiveness. The smiles were evaluated in a questionnaire by 111 participants, 67 orthodontists (mean age 41.31 years, SD = 9.44) and 44 laypeople (mean age 41.41 years, SD = 14.38). Intergroup comparison was performed with independent t test. RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in the smile attractiveness with both camouflage and ortho-surgical treatments. The smile attractiveness was similar between the camouflage and surgical groups at the beginning. There was a significantly greater improvement in smile attractiveness with treatment in the surgical group than in the camouflage group, and at the end of treatment, the surgical group showed greater smile attractiveness than the camouflage group. Orthodontists considered the smiles more attractive both at the beginning and the end of treatment when compared to the assessment made by laypeople. CONCLUSION: The ortho-surgical treatment promoted a greater improvement in the smile attractiveness, and at the final stage, a greater smile attractiveness than the orthodontic camouflage. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Smile attractiveness is an important characteristic of the final result of orthodontic treatment. Knowing which treatment protocol will provide a better improvement and outcome regarding smile esthetics is essential.

Smoking Is Associated With Basal Cell Hyperplasia on Prostate Biopsy Specimens.

OBJECTIVES: To the best of our knowledge, no study has analyzed the association between cigarette smoking and prostate basal cell proliferation. Therefore, we sought to evaluate whether smoking status is associated with the presence of basal cell hyperplasia (BCH). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of 8,196 men aged 50 to 75 years with prostate-specific antigen values between 2.5 µg/mL and 10 µg/mL and prior negative biopsy who were enrolled in the (REDUCE) trial. Cigarette smoking status was divided into current, former, or never categories at enrollment. The association between smoking and baseline BCH was evaluated, with logistic regression in univariable and multivariable analysis. RESULTS: A total of 1,233 (15.1%) men were current smokers, 3,206 (39.1%) were former smokers, and 3,575 (45.8%) were never smokers. In univariable analysis, current smoking was associated with higher baseline BCH occurrence compared with never (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-3.10) and former smokers (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.06-2.95). Similar results were found after adjusting for patient characteristics (current vs never smokers: OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.14-3.26; current vs former smokers: OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.91). CONCLUSIONS: Among men undergoing prostate biopsy, all of whom had a negative biopsy result, current smoking at enrollment was independently associated with BCH in standard peripheral zone prostate biopsies.

Missed Tillaux Fracture and Syndesmosis Injury in Adult: Arthroscopic Assisted Reduction and Fixation / Fratura de Tillaux não percebida e lesão por sindesmose em adultos: Redução e fixação artroscópica assistida

Abstract Tillaux fractures are fractures of the lateral margin of the distal tibia, usually reported in children between 12 and 14 years old. As intraarticular fractures, they require anatomic reduction and fixation to avoid posttraumatic complications. Since the injury mechanism is external rotation of the foot on the leg, these injuries are commonly associated with other fractures or ligamentous lesions. Currently, arthroscopy is being increasingly used to assist and improve surgical treatment of ankle fractures. The authors describe a 12-month follow-up of a rare case of a missed Tillaux fracture associated with syndesmosis injury in a 76-year-old polytrauma patient, successfully treated by arthroscopically-assisted reduction and internal fixation.

Resumo As fraturas de Tillaux são fraturas da margem lateral da tíbia distal, geralmente relatadas em crianças entre 12 e 14 anos. Como fraturas intra-articulares, requerem redução e fixação anatômica para evitar complicações pós-traumáticas. Como o mecanismo de lesão é a rotação externa do pé na perna, essas lesões são comumente associadas a outras fraturas ou lesões ligamentares. Atualmente, a artroscopia está sendo cada vez mais utilizada para auxiliar e melhorar o tratamento cirúrgico das fraturas do tornozelo. Os autores descrevem um acompanhamento de 12 meses de um caso raro de uma fratura não percebida de Tillaux associada a lesão por sindesmose em um paciente de politrauma com 76 anos de idade, tratado com sucesso por redução e fixação interna assistida por artroscopia.

Formación de Profesores de Lengua Portuguesa en la Perspectiva de la Educación de Sordos / Portuguese Language Teachers' Education on the Perspective of Education of the Deaf

RESUMEN: Las dificultades de las personas sordas en la lengua portuguesa escrita y del docente en su enseñanza, sumadas a la escasez de investigaciones en el área, hacen relevante la revisión de estrategias en el proceso de formación docente. Se trata de una investigación cualitativa y cuantitativa con 16 profesores de los últimos años de Educación Primaria y Secundaria de la lengua portuguesa de la red de escuelas públicas que trabajaron con estudiantes Sordos en algún momento de su experiencia docente. Fueron seleccionados 8 profesores de la Educación Inclusiva y 8 de una escuela Bilingüe para Sordos. Se utilizó el software NVivo10 para el análisis de datos. En la formación inicial, los docentes no tuvieron contacto con la Lengua de Señas ni estrategias metodológicas específicas para la enseñanza de Sordos. En la educación continua, la enseñanza más eficaz fue la de otros profesores con más experiencia. Destaca una dicotomía entre los profesores de las escuelas inclusivas y los de la escuela bilingüe para Sordos, donde los primeros utilizam la Lengua Brasileña de Señales - Libras como una lengua accesoria para la enseñanza del portugués escrito, ya, los docentes de la escuela bilíngue la utilizan como lengua de instrucción con el uso del metalenguaje. En cuanto a las concepciones, los docentes sugirieron algunas prácticas en formación para trabajar con el público Sordo. Por tanto, es fundamental invertir en escuelas inclusivas y bilingües que trabajen con estudiantes Sordos, así como en la formación continua de los docentes, proponiendo grupos de estudio con todo el equipo pedagógico como parte del proceso de formación.

ABSTRACT: The difficulties of the deaf in written Portuguese and of the teacher in teaching, added to the scarcity of research in the area, make the revision of strategies in the process of teacher training relevant. This is a qualitative and quantitative research with 16 teachers from the last years of Elementary and High School of Portuguese language in the public-school network who worked with deaf students at some point in their teaching experience. Eight teachers from Inclusive Education and eight from a Bilingual School for the Deaf were selected. NVivo10 software was used for data analysis. In the initial training, the teachers did not have contact with Sign Language or specific methodological strategies for teaching the Deaf. In continuing education, the most effective teaching was that of other, more experienced teachers. There is a dichotomy between teachers from inclusive schools and those from the bilingual school for the deaf, where the former use the Brazilian Sign Language as an accessory language for the teaching of written Portuguese, whereas teachers in the bilingual school use it as the language of instruction with the use of metalanguage. Regarding the conceptions, the teachers suggested some training practices to work with the Deaf audience. Therefore, it is essential to invest in inclusive and bilingual schools that serve deaf students, as well as in the continued training of teachers, proposing study groups with the entire pedagogical team as part of the training process.

ATR-FTIR spectroscopy in blood plasma combined with multivariate analysis to detect HIV infection in pregnant women.

The primary concern for HIV-infected pregnant women is the vertical transmission that can occur during pregnancy, in the intrauterine period, during labour or even breastfeeding. The risk of vertical transmission can be reduced by early diagnosis. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new methods to detect this virus in a quick and low-cost fashion, as colorimetric assays for HIV detection tend to be laborious and costly. Herein, attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis was employed to distinguish HIV-infected patients from healthy uninfected controls in a total of 120 blood plasma samples. The best sensitivity (83%) and specificity (92%) values were obtained using the genetic algorithm with linear discriminant analysis (GA-LDA). These good classification results in addition to the potential for high analytical frequency, the low cost and reagent-free nature of this method demonstrate its potential as an alternative tool for HIV screening during pregnancy.

Spectrochemical differentiation in gestational diabetes mellitus based on attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and multivariate analysis.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a hyperglycaemic imbalance first recognized during pregnancy, and affects up to 22% of pregnancies worldwide, bringing negative maternal-fetal consequences in the short- and long-term. In order to better characterize GDM in pregnant women, 100 blood plasma samples (50 GDM and 50 healthy pregnant control group) were submitted Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, using chemometric approaches, including feature selection algorithms associated with discriminant analysis, such as Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Quadratic Discriminant Analysis (QDA) and Support Vector Machines (SVM), analyzed in the biofingerprint region between 1800 and 900 cm-1 followed by Savitzky-Golay smoothing, baseline correction and normalization to Amide-I band (~ 1650 cm-1). An initial exploratory analysis of the data by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a separation tendency between the two groups, which were then classified by supervised algorithms. Overall, the results obtained by Genetic Algorithm Linear Discriminant Analysis (GA-LDA) were the most satisfactory, with an accuracy, sensitivity and specificity of 100%. The spectral features responsible for group differentiation were attributed mainly to the lipid/protein regions (1462-1747 cm-1). These findings demonstrate, for the first time, the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis as a screening tool for fast and low-cost GDM detection.

Consumo de álcool entre universitários na cidade de Montes Claros ­ MG / Alcohol consumption among university students in the city Montes Claros ­ MG

Introdução: A partir da década de 80, inferiu-se universitários como fator de risco para o alcoolismo. A área da saúde parecem estar mais propensa aos abusos na ingestão de álcool Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência do consumo de álcool em estudantes de cursos da saúde de uma instituição pública de ensino superior da cidade de Montes Claros-MG. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo, do tipo transversal e descritivo. A amostra foi constituída de 150 universitários dos cursos de Medicina e Enfermagem da Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros-MG. Na coleta de dados foram utilizados o questionário sócio demográfico, o Teste de Identificação de Desordens Devido ao Álcool (AUDIT), o Teste de Triagem do Envolvimento com Álcool, Cigarro e Outras Substâncias (ASSIST), o Inventário de Expectativas e Crenças Pessoais Acerca do Álcool (IECPA), e a Escala de Satisfação com o Suporte Social (ESSS). Para análise dos dados, aplicou-se o programa SPSS, versão 19.0. Resultados: A maioria dos universitários foram classificados na zona de baixo risco (72,7%), a maior parte deles (73,4%) fazem uso ocasional de outras substâncias, 64,7% apresentam baixa expectativa com relação ao alcoolismo, 52% dos universitários apresentam alto suporte social. Discussão: Padrões de consumo de álcool altos estão relacionados a um nível de satisfação social mais baixo. Conclusão: Foi encontrado um número expressivo de indivíduos com risco alto e alta vulnerabilidade, cabe a universidade investir em prevenção primária para conter esses índices.

Introduction: From the 80's on, university students were inferred as a risk factor for alcoholism. Healthcare seems to be more prone to alcohol abuse. Objective: To identify a prevalence of alcohol in students of health courses of a public institution of higher education in the city of Montes Claros-MG. Methods: This is a quantitative, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The sample consisted of 150 university students from the Medicine and Nursing courses of the State University of Montes Claros-MG. On the date the demographic test was sent, the Alcohol Identifying Disorder Test (AUDIT), the Alcohol Involvement Screening Test, ASSIST, the Alcohol Personal Expectation and Belief Inventory (IECPA), and the Social Support Satisfaction Scale (ESSS). For the analysis of the data, the SPSS program, version 19.0 is applied. Results: Most of the university students were classified in the low-risk zone (72.7%), most of them (73.4%), the fashion of other substances, 64.7% had an expectation regarding alcoholism, 52% of university students have high social support. Discussion: High alcohol consumption patterns are related to a lower level of social satisfaction. Conclusion: An expressive number of individuals with high risk and high vulnerability was found, which should be one of the main sources of information.

Comparison of Profile Attractiveness between Class III Orthodontic Camouflage and Predictive Tracing of Orthognathic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the profile attractiveness between orthodontic camouflage of the Class III malocclusion and the predictive tracing simulating orthognathic surgery evaluated by dentists and laypeople. Settings and sample population. The sample consisted of 21 patients (9 male; 12 female) with Class III malocclusion treated with orthodontic camouflage and Class III intermaxillary elastics. Material and Methods. The mean initial age of the patients was 24.38 years (SD 3.32), and the mean ANB angle was -1.91° (SD 0.83°). Patients presented skeletal Class III and normal growth patterns. Initial and final lateral cephalograms of each patient were used. The initial cephalogram was used to perform the treatment simulation of orthognathic surgery, and its silhouette was compared to the silhouette obtained from the final cephalogram after Class III orthodontic camouflage. A subjective analysis of profile attractiveness was performed by 47 laypeople and 60 dentists, with scores from 1 (less attractive) to 10 (most attractive). Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare profile attractiveness between the orthodontic treatment and the predictive tracing groups and between dentists and laypeople. RESULTS: The predictive tracing of orthognathic surgery showed to be statistically significantly more attractive (mean score 4.57, SD 2.47) than that of the Class III camouflage orthodontic treatment (mean score 4.22, SD 2.40), with a mean numerical but significant difference of 0.35 (SD 2.01) (P < 0.001). Laypeople were more critical than dentists in evaluating profile attractiveness, but numerical difference between the groups was also small. CONCLUSION: The profile silhouette of predictive tracing simulating orthognathic surgery showed to be more attractive than that of Class III camouflage orthodontic treatment; however, differences were small but statistically significant. Laypeople showed to be more critical than dentists.

Spectrochemical analysis of liquid biopsy harnessed to multivariate analysis towards breast cancer screening.

Mortality due to breast cancer could be reduced via screening programs where preliminary clinical tests employed in an asymptomatic well-population with the objective of identifying cancer biomarkers could allow earlier referral of women with altered results for deeper clinical analysis and treatment. The introduction of well-population screening using new and less-invasive technologies as a strategy for earlier detection of breast cancer is thus highly desirable. Herein, spectrochemical analyses harnessed to multivariate classification techniques are used as a bio-analytical tool for a Breast Cancer Screening Program using liquid biopsy in the form of blood plasma samples collected from 476 patients recruited over a 2-year period. This methodology is based on acquiring and analysing the spectrochemical fingerprint of plasma samples by attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy; derived spectra reflect intrinsic biochemical composition, generating information on nucleic acids, carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. Excellent results in terms of sensitivity (94%) and specificity (91%) were obtained using this method in comparison with traditional mammography (88-93% and 85-94%, respectively). Additional advantages such as better disease prognosis thus allowing a more effective treatment, lower associated morbidity, fewer false-positive and false-negative results, lower-cost, and higher analytical frequency make this method attractive for translation to the clinical setting.

Spectrochemical analysis in blood plasma combined with subsequent chemometrics for fibromyalgia detection.

Fibromyalgia is a rheumatologic condition characterized by multiple and chronic body pain, and other typical symptoms such as intense fatigue, anxiety and depression. It is a very complex disease where treatment is often made by non-medicated alternatives in order to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life. Herein, we propose a method to detect patients with fibromyalgia (n = 252, 126 controls and 126 patients with fibromyalgia) through the analysis of their blood plasma using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy in conjunction with chemometric techniques, hence, providing a low-cost, fast and accurate diagnostic approach. Different chemometric algorithms were tested to classify the spectral data; genetic algorithm with linear discriminant analysis (GA-LDA) achieved the best diagnostic results with a sensitivity of 89.5% in an external test set. The GA-LDA model identified 24 spectral wavenumbers responsible for class separation; amongst these, the Amide II (1,545 cm-1) and proteins (1,425 cm-1) were identified to be discriminant features. These results reinforce the potential of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy with multivariate analysis as a new tool to screen and detect patients with fibromyalgia in a fast, low-cost, non-destructive and minimally invasive fashion.