Color discrimination in fixed saturation level of patients with acute traumatic injury.

Introduction: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important public health concern and that may lead to severe neural sequels, such as color vision deficits. Methods: We evaluated the color vision of 10 TBI patients with normal cognitive function using a color discrimination test in a fixed saturation level. We also analyzed computerized tomography scans to identify the local of the brain damages. Results: Four TBI patients that had lesions in brain areas of the ventral visual streams, five TBI patients had lesions inferred in brain areas of the dorsal visual stream, and one TBI patient had lesion in the occipital area. All the patients had cognitive and color vision screened and they had characterized the chromatic discrimination at high and low saturation. All participants had no significant cognitive impairment in the moment of the color vision test. Additionally, they had perfect performance for discrimination of chromatic stimulus at high saturation and similar to controls (n = 37 age-matched participants). Three of four TBI patients with lesions in the ventral brain and one patient with lesion in the occipital area had impairment of the chromatic discrimination at low saturation. All TBI patients with lesions in the dorsal brain had performance similar or slightly worse than the controls. Conclusion: Chromatic discrimination at low saturation was associated to visual damage in the ventral region of the brain and is a potential tool for functional evaluation of brain damage in TBI patients.

Validation of a computerized version of the MNREAD chart for children.

PURPOSE: We aimed the develop and validate a computerized version of the MNREAD for the assessment of reading speed for children. METHODS: A computerized version of the MNREAD was built in Psykinematix software using the same parameters as the physical chart. We measured the reading velocity of 104 children (n = 44 of the 3rd grade; n = 60 of the 5th grade). Bland-Altaman analysis was used to quantify agreement between two chart measurements. RESULTS: Comparison between the 3rd and 5th-grade children for physical and computerized MNREAD versions showed statistical differences in Maximum Reading Speed (F = 2669.6; p < 0.001), Critical Print Size (F = 17.49; p < 0.001), and Reading Acuity (F = 14.19; p = 0.002) with huge effect size (η2 = 0.930). No differences were found between the versions within grades. Bland-Altman analysis showed 95% of the data points within ± 2 s of the mean difference, suggesting a similarity between versions of the MNREAD parameters. CONCLUSION: Our reading speed values for children in the 5th grade were higher than previous studies, suggesting a better quality of the assessment in the computerized version. Tolerance Limits were calculated as normality references for clinical purposes.

Computational methodology to support functional vision assessment in premature infants: A viability study.

BACKGROUND: Premature newborns have a higher risk of abnormal visual development and visual impairment. OBJECTIVE: To develop a computational methodology to help assess functional vision in premature infants by tracking iris distances. METHODS: This experimental study was carried out with children up to two years old. A pattern of image capture with the visual stimulus was proposed to evaluate visual functions of vertical and horizontal visual tracking, visual field, vestibulo-ocular reflex, and fixation. The participants' visual responses were filmed to compose a dataset and develop a detection algorithm using the OpenCV library allied with FaceMesh for the detection and selection of the face, detection of specific facial points and tracking of the iris positions is done. A feasibility study was also conducted from the videos processed by the software. RESULTS: Forty-one children of different ages and diagnoses participated in the experimental study, forming a robust dataset. The software resulted in the tracking of iris positions during visual function evaluation stimuli. Furthermore, in the feasibility study, 8 children participated, divided into Pre-term and Term groups. There was no statistical difference in any visual variable analyzed in the comparison between groups. CONCLUSION: The computational methodology developed was able to track the distances traveled by the iris, and thus can be used to help assess visual function in children.

Chromatic discrimination in fixed saturation levels from tufted capuchin monkeys with different color vision genotypes.

Recent research has proposed new approaches to investigate color vision in Old World Monkeys by measuring suprathreshold chromatic discrimination. In this study, we aimed to extend this approach to New World Monkeys with different color vision genotypes by examining their performance in chromatic discrimination tasks along different fixed chromatic saturation axes. Four tufted capuchin monkeys were included in the study, and their color vision genotypes were one classical protanope, one classical deuteranope, one non-classical protanope, and a normal trichromat. During the experiments, the monkeys were required to perform a chromatic discrimination task using pseudoisochromatic stimuli with varying target saturations of 0.06, 0.04, 0.03, and 0.02 u'v' units. The number of errors made by the monkeys along different chromatic axes was recorded, and their performance was quantified using the binomial probability of their hits during the tests. Our results showed that dichromatic monkeys made more errors near the color confusion lines associated with their specific color vision genotypes, while the trichromatic monkey did not demonstrate any systematic errors. At high chromatic saturation, the trichromatic monkey had significant hits in the chromatic axes around the 180° chromatic axis, whereas the dichromatic monkeys had errors in colors around the color confusion lines. At lower saturation, the performance of the dichromatic monkeys became more challenging to differentiate among the three types, but it was still distinct from that of the trichromatic monkey. In conclusion, our findings suggest that high saturation conditions can be used to identify the color vision dichromatic phenotype of capuchin monkeys, while low chromatic saturation conditions enable the distinction between trichromats and dichromats. These results extend the understanding of color vision in New World Monkeys and highlight the usefulness of suprathreshold chromatic discrimination measures in exploring color vision in non-human primates.

Reduced eye optical quality contributes to worse chromatic thresholds in aging.

Purpose: Aging causes substantial changes in the intraocular lens, which leads to a reduction in chromatic perception. We aimed to measure the ocular light dispersion component in relation to the reduction in color vision by aging. Methods: Intraocular straylight was quantified psychophysically by C-Quant for light dispersion [Log(s)], reliability of the results (ESD), and psychometric sampling quality (Q). The Cambridge Color Test Trivector protocol measured the chromaticity thresholds for protan, deutan, and tritan color confusion axis in CIE 1976 u' v' units. We tested 224 subjects aged 24-68 years (106 men) with normal best-corrected visual acuity and without clinical evidence of cataracts. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between ocular dispersion of light and chromaticity thresholds for protan (r = 0.42; p < 0.001), deutan (r = 0.49; p < 0.001) and tritan (r = 0.51; p < 0.0001) color confusion axes with a moderate effect size (η2 = 0.39). However, a weak contribution of the logarithm of the straylight in predicting the chromaticity threshold for protan (b = 0.15; p = 0.025), deutan (b = 0.27; p = 0.001) and tritan (b = 0.21; p = 0.001) color confusion axes was verified in the regression coefficients. The other two measurement quality parameters estimated in the C-Quant were not correlated with chromaticity thresholds, suggesting that there are no problems with the quality of the measurement performed. Conclusion: An increase in ocular light dispersion that occurs physiologically with aging negatively impacts the chromaticity threshold in a similar manner across all three color confusion axes. The weak regression effects suggest that neural rather than optical processes were more related to the reduction in chromaticity in aging.

Sex-related difference in the retinal structure of young adults: a machine learning approach.

Purpose: To compare the accuracy of machine learning (ML) algorithms to classify the sex of the participant from retinal thickness datasets in different retinal layers. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 26 male and 38 female subjects. Data were acquired using HRA + OCT Spectralis, and the thickness and volume of 10 retinal layers were quantified. A total of 10 features were extracted from each retinal layer. The accuracy of various algorithms, including k-nearest-neighbor, support vector classifier, logistic regression, linear discriminant analysis, random forest, decision tree, and Gaussian Naïve Bayes, was quantified. A two-way ANOVA was conducted to assess the ML accuracy, considering both the classifier type and the retinal layer as factors. Results: A comparison of the accuracies achieved by various algorithms in classifying participant sex revealed superior results in datasets related to total retinal thickness and the retinal nerve fiber layer. In these instances, no significant differences in algorithm performance were observed (p > 0.05). Conversely, in other layers, a decrease in classification accuracy was noted as the layer moved outward in the retina. Here, the random forest (RF) algorithm demonstrated superior performance compared to the others (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The current research highlights the distinctive potential of various retinal layers in sex classification. Different layers and ML algorithms yield distinct accuracies. The RF algorithm's consistent superiority suggests its effectiveness in identifying sex-related features from a range of retinal layers.

Association between the risk perception of contracting COVID-19 and sociodemographic characteristics in a Peruvian population.

Background: The perception of risk regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been widely researched due to its association with the adoption of preventive measures. In addition, since the onset of vaccination, it has been reported that the population perceives a lower risk of getting infected. However, few studies have analyzed the factors associated with risk perception in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the risk perception of contracting COVID-19 and sociodemographic characteristics in Peruvian population. Methods: An analytical and cross-sectional study was conducted in four cities in Peru from October to December, 2021. The sample consisted of 821 individuals aged 18 years and older. A virtual questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and assess the risk perception of contracting coronavirus based on the Health Belief Model. The process of back-translation, expert judgment, and reliability analysis using split-half correlation was conducted. Student's t-tests, analysis of variance with post hoc Tukey's test, and Spearman's correlation were employed. Results: Of the participants, 53.71% were women and 73.3% had a higher education level, 45.55% are self-employed, and 40.44% did not have a family member infected with COVID-19. The risk perception of COVID-19 infection was associated with participants' family antecedent of COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Regarding the factors analyzed, perceived susceptibility to COVID-19 was associated with age (p=0.002), occupation (p<0.05), and a history of COVID-19 (p<0.05), while the perceived benefits of adopting preventive measures against this disease were associated with educational level (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The risk perception of contracting COVID-19 was higher among whose had multiple infected relatives.. Furthermore, the perception of susceptibility and the perceived benefits of using preventive measures were associated with sociodemographic characteristics.

Differences in chromatic noise suppression of luminance contrast discrimination in young and elderly people.

Aging causes impairment of contrast sensitivity and chromatic discrimination, leading to changes in the perceptual interactions between color and luminance information. We aimed to investigate the influence of chromatic noise on luminance contrast thresholds in young and older adults. Forty participants were divided equally into Young (29.6 ± 6.3-year-old) and Elderly Groups (57.8 ± 6.6-year-old). They performed a luminance contrast discrimination task in the presence of chromatic noise maskers using a mosaic stimulus in a mosaic background. Four chromatic noise masking protocols were applied (protan, deutan, tritan, and no-noise protocols). We found that luminance contrast thresholds were significantly elevated by the addition of chromatic noise in both age groups (P < 0.05). In the Elderly group, but not the younger group, thresholds obtained in the tritan protocol were lower than those obtained from protan and deutan protocols (P < 0.05). For all protocols, the luminance contrast thresholds of elderly participants were higher than in young people (P < 0.01). Tritan chromatic noise was less effective in inhibiting luminance discrimination in elderly participants.

Chromatic discrimination in fixed saturation levels from trichromats and subjects with congenital color vision deficiency.

Color vision tests use estimative of threshold color discrimination or number of correct responses to evaluate performance in chromatic discrimination tasks. Both approaches have advantages and disadvantages. In the present investigation, we compared the number of errors during color discrimination task in normal trichromats and participants with color vision deficiency (CVD) using pseudoisochromatic stimuli at fixed saturation levels. We recruited 28 normal trichromats and eight participants with CVD. Cambridge Color Test was used to categorize their color vision phenotype, and those with a phenotype suggestive of color vision deficiency had their L- and M-opsin genes genotyped. Pseudoisochromatic stimuli were shown with target chromaticity in 20 vectors radiating from the background chromaticity and saturation of 0.06, 0.04, 0.03, 0.02, 0.01, and 0.005 u'v' units. Each stimulus condition appeared in four trials. The number of errors for each stimulus condition was considered an indicator of the participant's performance. At high chromatic saturation, there were fewer errors from both phenotypes. The errors of the normal trichromats had no systematic variation for high saturated stimuli, but below 0.02 u'v' units, there was a discrete prevalence of tritan errors. For participants with CVD, the errors happened mainly in red-green chromatic vectors. A three-way ANOVA showed that all factors (color vision phenotype, stimulus saturation, and chromatic vector) had statistically significant effects on the number of errors and that stimulus saturation was the most important main effect. ROC analysis indicated that the performance of the fixed saturation levels to identify CVD was better between 0.02 and 0.06 u'v' units reaching 100%, while saturation of 0.01 and 0.005 u'v' units decreased the accuracy of the screening of the test. We concluded that the color discrimination task using high saturated stimuli separated normal trichromats and participants with red-green color vision deficiencies with high performance, which can be considered a promising method for new color vision tests based in frequency of errors.

Shoulder pain across more movements is not related to more rotator cuff tendon findings in people with chronic shoulder pain diagnosed with subacromial pain syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: People with chronic shoulder pain commonly report pain during arm movements in daily-life activities. Pain related to movement is commonly viewed as an accurate representation of tissue damage. Thus, when a person reports pain across a variety of movements, this is often understood as indicative of greater damage. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to investigate if movement-related pain that occurs across a wider variety of movements was associated with the number or severity of rotator cuff tendons reported as abnormal on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). To answer this question, this study was designed in 3 phases. METHODS: We recruited 130 individuals with chronic shoulder pain diagnosed with subacromial pain syndrome. First, a list of daily functional activities commonly reported as painful by people with chronic shoulder pain was generated from 3 well-established outcome measures with 30 individuals and a measurement tool was developed with data from further 100 individuals, which demonstrated to have acceptable content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, interrater reliability, and structural validity. Multiple linear regression was then used to evaluate the hypotheses of the study. A direct acyclic graph was used to select variables for linear regression modelling. RESULTS: There was no association between movement-related pain occurrence across movements and the MRI findings. CONCLUSION: Our study provides evidence that neither the number of rotator cuff tendons reported as abnormal nor the severity of each tendon imaging finding were associated with pain occurrence across movements and activities commonly perceived as painful by people with chronic shoulder pain.

Correlations Between Dark-Adapted Rod Threshold Elevations and ERG Response Deficits in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to characterize changes in the full-field flash electroretinogram (ERG) in association with psychophysical dark-adapted visual thresholds in patients with genetically characterized Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) either lacking Dp427 (Up 30) or at least Dp260 in addition to Dp427 (Down 30). Methods: Twenty-one patients with DMD and 27 age-similar controls participated in this study. Dark-adapted (0.01, 3.0, and 10 cd.s/m² flashes) and light-adapted (3.0 cd.s/m² flash) ERGs were recorded following International Society for Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision (ISCEV) standard protocols. Visual detection thresholds to 625-nm (cone function) and 527-nm (rod function) light-emitting diode (LED) flashes (2 degree diameter) were measured during a dark adaptation period after a 1-minute exposure to a bleaching light (3000 cd/m²). Initially, 8 minutes of interleaved 625-nm and 527-nm thresholds were measured. After an additional 5 minutes of dark-adaptation, a second set of threshold measurements to 527-nm stimuli was performed during the subsequent 6 minutes. Results: Dark-adapted b-wave amplitude was significantly reduced to all strengths of flash and a-wave in response to the strong flash stimulus was delayed (15.6 vs. 14.7 ms, P < 0.05) in patients with Down 30 compared with controls. Dark-adapted cone thresholds did not differ among the groups (-2.0, -1.8, and -1.7 log cd/m² for Down 30, Up 30, and controls, respectively, P = 0.21). In contrast, dark-adapted rod thresholds were elevated (F(2,36) = 8.537, P = 0.001) in patients with Down 30 (mean = -3.2 ± 1.1 log cd/m²) relative to controls (mean = -4.2 ± 0.3 log cd/m²). Dark-adapted b-wave amplitudes were correlated with dark-adapted rod sensitivity in patients with DMD (Spearman Rho = 0.943, P = 0.005). The changes were much smaller or absent in patients with intact Dp260. Conclusions: Dp260 is particularly required for normal rod-system function in dark adaptation.

Specificity of the chromatic noise influence on the luminance contrast discrimination to the color vision phenotype.

Many studies have examined how color and luminance information are processed in the visual system. It has been observed that chromatic noise masked luminance discrimination in trichromats and that luminance thresholds increased as a function of noise saturation. Here, we aimed to compare chromatic noise inhibition on the luminance thresholds of trichromats and subjects with severe deutan or protan losses. Twenty-two age-matched subjects were evaluated, 12 trichromats and 10 with congenital color vision impairment: 5 protanopes/protanomalous, and 5 deuteranopes/deuteranomalous. We used a mosaic of circles containing chromatic noise consisting of 8 chromaticities around protan, deutan, and tritan confusion lines. A subset of the circles differed in the remaining circles by the luminance arising from a C-shaped central target. All the participants were tested in 4 chromatic noise saturation conditions (0.04, 0.02, 0.01, 0.005 u'v' units) and 1 condition without chromatic noise. We observed that trichromats had an increasing luminance threshold as a function of chromatic noise saturation under all chromatic noise conditions. The subjects with color vision deficiencies displayed no changes in the luminance threshold across the different chromatic noise saturations when the noise was composed of chromaticities close to their color confusion lines (protan and deutan chromatic noise). However, for tritan chromatic noise, they were found to have similar results to the trichromats. The use of chromatic noise masking on luminance threshold estimates could help to simultaneously examine the processing of luminance and color information. A comparison between luminance contrast discrimination obtained from no chromatic and high-saturated chromatic noise conditions could be initially undertaken in this double-duty test.

Erratum: Longhi Bitencourt, E. et al. South American Values of the Optical Straylight Function. Vision 2020, 4, 2.

The authors wish to make the following erratum to this paper [...].

Health belief model for coronavirus infection risk determinants.

OBJECTIVE To use the advantages of a ratio scale with verbal anchors in order to measure the risk perception in the novel coronavirus infection, which causes covid-19, in a health belief model-based questionnaire, as well as its validity and reproducibility. METHOD We used the health belief model, which explores four dimensions: perceived susceptibility (five questions), perceived severity (five questions), perceived benefits (five questions), and perceived barriers (five questions). Additionally, we included a fifth dimension, called pro-health motivation (four questions). The questions composed an electronic questionnaire disseminated by social networks for an one-week period. Answers were quantitative values of subjective representations, obtained by a psychophysically constructed scale with verbal anchors ratio (CentiMax ® ). Mean time for total filling was 12 minutes (standard deviation = 1.6). RESULTS We obtained 277 complete responses to the form. One was excluded because it belonged to a participant under 18 years old. Reproducibility measures were significant for 22 of the 24 questions in our questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.883). Convergent validity was attested by Spearman-Brown's split half reliability coefficient (r = 0.882). Significant differences among groups were more intense in perceived susceptibility and severity dimensions, and less in perceived benefits and barriers. CONCLUSION Our health belief model-based questionnaire using quantitative measures enabled the confirmation of popular beliefs about covid-19 infection risks. The advantage in our approach lays in the possibility of quickly, directly and quantitatively identifying individual belief profiles for each dimension in the questionnaire, serving as a great ally for communication processes and public health education.

Modelo de crença em saúde para determinantes de risco para contaminação por coronavírus

OBJETIVO: Neste estudo buscamos utilizar as vantagens de uma escala de razão por ancoragem verbal para medidas da percepção de risco de contágio pelo novo coronavírus, causador da covid-19, em um questionário baseado no modelo de crença em saúde, assim como avaliar sua validade e reprodutibilidade. MÉTODO: Utilizamos o modelo de crença em saúde, o qual explora quatro dimensões: percepção individual de susceptibilidade percebida (cinco questões), severidade percebida (cinco questões), benefícios percebidos (cinco questões) e barreiras percebidas (cinco questões). Adicionalmente, incluímos uma quinta dimensão, a qual denominamos motivação pró-saúde(quatro questões). As questões definiram um questionário eletrônico que foi divulgado por redes sociais pelo período de uma semana. As respostas foram valores quantitativos de representações subjetivas, obtidas por meio de uma escala psicofísica de razão com ancoragem verbal (CentiMax®). O tempo médio total de preenchimento foi de 12 minutos (desvio-padrão = 1,6). RESULTADOS: Obtivemos 277 respostas completas ao formulário. Uma foi excluída por setratar de participante com menos de 18 anos de idade. Medidas de reprodutibilidade foram significantes para 22 das 24 questões de nosso questionário (α de Cronbach = 0,883). A validade convergente foi atestada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman-Brown split half (r = 0,882). Diferenças significantes entre grupos foram encontradas mais intensamente nas dimensões susceptibilidade percebida e severidade percebida, e menos intensamente para benefíciospercebidos e barreiras percebidas. CONCLUSÃO: Nosso questionário baseado no modelo de crença em saúde utilizando medidas quantitativas permitiu evidenciar as crenças populares sobre os riscos de contágio por covid-19.A vantagem de nossa abordagem é a possibilidade de se identificar os perfis de crença individuais para cada dimensão do questionário de forma rápida, direta e quantitativa, podendo ser uma grande aliada em processos de comunicação e educação em saúde pública.

Health belief model for coronavirus infection risk determinants

OBJECTIVE: To use the advantages of a ratio scale with verbal anchors in order to measure the risk perception in the novel coronavirus infection, which causes covid-19, in a health belief model-based questionnaire, as well as its validity and reproducibility. METHOD: We used the health belief model, which explores four dimensions: perceived susceptibility (five questions), perceived severity (five questions), perceived benefits (five questions), and perceived barriers (five questions). Additionally, we included a fifth dimension, called pro-health motivation (four questions). The questions composed an electronic questionnaire disseminated by social networks for an one-week period. Answers were quantitative values of subjective representations, obtained by a psychophysically constructed scale with verbal anchors ratio (CentiMax®). Mean time for total filling was 12 minutes (standard deviation = 1.6). RESULTS: We obtained 277 complete responses to the form. One was excluded because it belonged to a participant under 18 years old. Reproducibility measures were significant for 22 of the 24 questions in our questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.883). Convergent validity was attested by Spearman-Brown's split half reliability coefficient (r = 0.882). Significant differences among groups were more intense in perceived susceptibility and severity dimensions, and less in perceived benefits and barriers. CONCLUSION: Our health belief model-based questionnaire using quantitative measures enabled the confirmation of popular beliefs about covid-19 infection risks. The advantage in our approach lays in the possibility of quickly, directly and quantitatively identifying individual belief profiles for each dimension in the questionnaire, serving as a great ally for communication processes and public health education.

Longitudinal visual acuity development in ZIKV-exposed children.

PURPOSE: To follow the visual acuity development of children exposed to or infected with the Zika virus (ZIKV) during gestation and to relate potential visual acuity deficits to their clinical condition. METHODS: In this prospective study, visual acuity was measured via Teller Acuity Cards in three groups of children: (1) those with confirmed ZIKV exposure (ZE) through the mother only, (2) those with confirmed infection (ZI), and (3) unaffected controls. Visual acuity was measured 2-4 times in each child during the first 30 months of age. RESULTS: The study included 22 children in the ZE group, 11 in the ZI group, and 27 controls. Visual acuity developed normally in both patient groups, including infected patients (ZI) that did not manifest clinical symptoms. In a small subgroup of patients with characteristics consistent with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS), visual acuity was within normative values, with the exception of single child with chorioretinal atrophy. CONCLUSIONS: In this southeastern Brazil study cohort, visual acuity development seemed to progress normally in infected children without CZS symptoms.

Oxytocin & well-being as promoters of affect regulation and homeostasis: a neuroscientific review / Ocitocina & bem-estar como promotores da regulação afetiva e da homeostase: uma revisão neurocientífica / Oxitocina y bienestar como promotores de la regulación del afecto y de la homeostasis: una revisión neurocientífica

Context: The term "Well-being" [WB] has many different meanings in scientific literature. Objectives: To search specific situations and related semantics for feelings of well-being [WB] associated to oxytocin [OT] release. Data sources: A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines in PubMed, BVS Virtual (Medline, Lilacs) and SIBI-USP Portal de Busca Integrada (1970-1999 & 2014-2018). Study selection: Reviews and clinical trials (PICOS) on OT, & WB and similar concepts in humans. Data extraction: Independent selection of articles by two reviewers; selection of articles by one reviewer, using predefined criteria. Data synthesis: 46 articles were selected out of 339, with 26 additional articles. Main data referred to social situations, sensorial stimuli, trust and psychiatric and health studies. Conclusions: The identified variables involved brain-body-mind interactions, and health/disease; translational neuroscience seems to be the best theoretical reference to investigate it.

Contexto: O termo "Bem-estar" [WB] apresenta muitos significados diferentes na literatura. Objetivos: Buscar situações específicas e semânticas relacionadas a sentimentos de bem-estar [WB] ligados à ocitocina [OT]. Fontes de dados: Revisão sistemática a partir das Referências PRISMA nas bases de dados PubMed, BVS Virtual (Medline, Lilacs) and SIBI-USP Portal de Busca Integrada (1970-1999 & 2014-2018). Seleção do estudo: revisões e ensaios clínicos (PICOS) sobre OT, & WB e sinônimos, em humanos. Extração de dados: seleção independente de artigos por dois revisores. Um revisor selecionou os textos utilizando critérios pré-definidos. Síntese dos dados: Dentre 339 artigos, 46 foram selecionados, e mais 26 posteriormente adicionados. Os principais dados obtidos referiam-se a situações sociais, estímulos sensoriais, confiança e estudos psiquiátricos e de saúde. Conclusões: As variáveis identificadas envolveram interações cérebro-corpo-mente e saúde; A neurociência translacional parece ser o melhor referencial teórico para investigá-la.

Contexto: El termo "Bienestar" [WB] abarca muchos significados diferentes en la literatura científica. Objetivos: buscar situaciones y semánticas sobre sentimientos de bienestar [WB] asociados con la produccion de oxitocina [OT]. Fuentes de datos: Revisión sistemática en PubMed, BVS Virtual (Medline, Lilacs) y SIBI-USP Portal de Busca Integrada (1970-1999; 2014-2018). Selección de estudios: revisiones y ensayos clínicos (PICOS) en OT, & WB y sinónimos, en humanos. Extracción de datos: Extracion independiente de artículos por dos revisores; selección de artículos por un revisor, utilizando criterios predefinidos. Síntesis de datos: se seleccionaron 46 artículos dentre 339, y mas 26 adicionales. Los datos principales se referían a situaciones sociales, estímulos sensoriales, confianza y estudios psiquiátricos y de salud. Conclusiones: Las variables identificadas involucraron interacciones cerebro-cuerpo-mente y salud; La neurociencia traslacional parece ser el mejor marco teórico para investigarlo.

Health belief model for coronavirus infection risk determinants / Modelo de crença em saúde para determinantes de risco para contaminação por coronavírus

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To use the advantages of a ratio scale with verbal anchors in order to measure the risk perception in the novel coronavirus infection, which causes covid-19, in a health belief model-based questionnaire, as well as its validity and reproducibility. METHOD We used the health belief model, which explores four dimensions: perceived susceptibility (five questions), perceived severity (five questions), perceived benefits (five questions), and perceived barriers (five questions). Additionally, we included a fifth dimension, called pro-health motivation (four questions). The questions composed an electronic questionnaire disseminated by social networks for an one-week period. Answers were quantitative values of subjective representations, obtained by a psychophysically constructed scale with verbal anchors ratio (CentiMax ® ). Mean time for total filling was 12 minutes (standard deviation = 1.6). RESULTS We obtained 277 complete responses to the form. One was excluded because it belonged to a participant under 18 years old. Reproducibility measures were significant for 22 of the 24 questions in our questionnaire (Cronbach's α = 0.883). Convergent validity was attested by Spearman-Brown's split half reliability coefficient (r = 0.882). Significant differences among groups were more intense in perceived susceptibility and severity dimensions, and less in perceived benefits and barriers. CONCLUSION Our health belief model-based questionnaire using quantitative measures enabled the confirmation of popular beliefs about covid-19 infection risks. The advantage in our approach lays in the possibility of quickly, directly and quantitatively identifying individual belief profiles for each dimension in the questionnaire, serving as a great ally for communication processes and public health education.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Neste estudo buscamos utilizar as vantagens de uma escala de razão por ancoragem verbal para medidas da percepção de risco de contágio pelo novo coronavírus, causador da covid-19, em um questionário baseado no modelo de crença em saúde, assim como avaliar sua validade e reprodutibilidade. MÉTODO Utilizamos o modelo de crença em saúde, o qual explora quatro dimensões: percepção individual de susceptibilidade percebida (cinco questões), severidade percebida (cinco questões), benefícios percebidos (cinco questões) e barreiras percebidas (cinco questões). Adicionalmente, incluímos uma quinta dimensão, a qual denominamos motivação pró-saúde (quatro questões). As questões definiram um questionário eletrônico que foi divulgado por redes sociais pelo período de uma semana. As respostas foram valores quantitativos de representações subjetivas, obtidas por meio de uma escala psicofísica de razão com ancoragem verbal (CentiMax ® ). O tempo médio total de preenchimento foi de 12 minutos (desvio-padrão = 1,6). RESULTADOS Obtivemos 277 respostas completas ao formulário. Uma foi excluída por se tratar de participante com menos de 18 anos de idade. Medidas de reprodutibilidade foram significantes para 22 das 24 questões de nosso questionário (α de Cronbach = 0,883). A validade convergente foi atestada pelo coeficiente de correlação de Spearman-Brown split half (r = 0,882). Diferenças significantes entre grupos foram encontradas mais intensamente nas dimensões susceptibilidade percebida e severidade percebida, e menos intensamente para benefícios percebidos e barreiras percebidas. CONCLUSÃO Nosso questionário baseado no modelo de crença em saúde utilizando medidas quantitativas permitiu evidenciar as crenças populares sobre os riscos de contágio por covid-19. A vantagem de nossa abordagem é a possibilidade de se identificar os perfis de crença individuais para cada dimensão do questionário de forma rápida, direta e quantitativa, podendo ser uma grande aliada em processos de comunicação e educação em saúde pública.

Desenvolvimento e validação de medidas psicofísicas de sensibilidade ao contraste de segunda-ordem / Development and validation of second-order psychophysical contrast sensitivity measures / Desarrollo y validación de medidas de sensibilidad al contraste psicofísico de segundo-orden

A medida de Sensibilidade ao Contraste (SC) de primeira ordem é frequentemente utilizada para avaliação da percepção espacial. Nosso objetivo foi desenvolver e validar um teste de SC de segunda ordem para aplicação clínica. Modificações metodológicas foram realizadas na rotina psicofísica para redução do tempo de testagem em um primeiro experimento, validamos a nova metodologia. Em um segundo experimento, valores de normalidade foram derivados do resultado de 16 participantes e foram testados nas mesmas condições do primeiro experimento. As medidas de validade foram obtidas por meio do Spearman-Brown Split-Half Reliability Coefficient para todas as frequências espaciais testadas (r> 0,90). O desenvolvimento e a validação deste novo experimento para as medidas de SC de segunda ordem permitirão avançar nos estudos dos mecanismos básicos da percepção de espaço para estímulos complexos, assim como a aplicação clínica em diversas doenças.

The first-order Contrast Sensitivity (SC) measure is often used to assess spatial perception. Our goal was to develop and validate a second-order SC test for clinical application. Methodological changes were made in the psychophysical routine to reduce testing time and in the first experiment we validated the new methodology. In a second experiment, normal values were derived from the result of sixteen participants who were tested under the same conditions as the first experiment. Validity measures were obtained using Spearman-Brown Split-Half Reliability Coefficient for all tested spatial frequencies (r> 0.90). The development and validation of this new experiment for second-order SC measures will allow to advance in the studies of the basic mechanisms of the perception of space for complex stimuli, as well as the clinical application in several diseases.

La medida de sensibilidad al contraste (SC) de primer orden se utiliza a menudo para evaluar la percepción espacial. Nuestro objetivo era desarrollar y validar una prueba SC de segundo orden para aplicación clínica. Se realizaron cambios metodológicos en la rutina psicofísica para reducir el tiempo de prueba y en el primer experimento validamos la nueva metodología. En un segundo experimento, los valores normales se derivaron del resultado de dieciséis participantes que fueron evaluados en las mismas condiciones que el primer experimento. Las medidas de validez se obtuvieron utilizando el coeficiente de confiabilidad de la mitad dividida de Spear-man-Brown para todas las frecuencias espaciales probadas (r> 0.90). El desarrollo y validación de este nuevo experimento para medidas CS de segundo orden permitirá avanzar en los estudios de los mecanismos básicos de percepción del espacio para estímulos complejos, así como la aplicación clínica en diversas enfermedades.