Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the Yale Pharyngeal Severity Rating Scale.

This study aimed to validate the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale's European Portuguese version and investigate the impact of rater experience. The scale measures the severity of residue in the vallecula and pyriform sinus. Ninety Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing images were selected after consensus and proposed to 13 raters who were asked to assess the severity of pharyngeal residue (PR) in each image in two moments with an interval of two weeks. The raters were divided by years of experience conducting the Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing and in experience using severity scales for residues. Construct validity, inter-rater, and intra-rater reliability were assessed by kappa statistics. The original English scale was translated into European Portuguese using a forward-backward method for validation. The scale reliability was strong, with an elevated intra-rater internal consistency for vallecula (Cronbach's alpha = 0.982) and pyriform sinus (Cronbach's alpha = 0.922). Inter-rater reliability for raters was equally significant and high for vallecula (0.613 for first assessment and 0.604 for second assessment) and pyriform sinus (0.558 for first assessment and 0.509 for second assessment) or for raters with experience using Yale Pharyngeal Severity Rating Scale (vallecula with 0.832 for first assessment and 0.717 for second assessment and pyriform sinus with 0.856 for first assessment and 0.714 for second assessment).The European Portuguese version of the Yale Pharyngeal Severity Rating Scale is a valid, reliable instrument for scoring the location and severity of pharyngeal residue in the context of fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing.

Characterization of variables related to high stability of raw cow milk.

This research paper analyzes the stability of raw cow milk in the alcohol test and seeks to understand to know the factors that influence milk stability and the occurrence of unstable non-acid milk. Milk samples were collected from the cooling tanks of rural farmers in the state of Paraná twice in summer and twice in winter. The farms were classified according to the production system: pasture with supplementation and feedlot. The following variables were analyzed: stability in the alcohol test, titratable acidity, ionized calcium concentration (iCa), chemical composition of milk, somatic cell count and standard plate count. The results showed that milk stability was greater in winter vs. summer, when the milk contained higher iCa, and in the feedlot vs. pasture system. The Pearson Correlation between variables (ethanol stability, milk composition, iCa, cooling tank temperature, milk volume, number of milking, number of cows milked, fat/protein ratio, distance and travel time) were analyzed. Stability was negatively correlated with iCa concentration and positively with lactose content. Logistic regression of the risk of unstable non-acid milk at 72% alcohol (UNAM72) showed that only iCa and lactose were determinants, while evaluation of the same risk at 78% alcohol revealed iCa, titratable acidity, lactose and milk urea nitrogen as risk factors. Under the dairy farming conditions of Paraná state, the frequency of UNAM72 was low (12.16%) and was higher in summer and in pasture systems with supplementation. In conclusion, in dairy herds bred with high technological level, with adequate nutritional and health management, the frequency of UNAM is low and is related to nutritional management abnd, perhaps, heat stress, factors that alter iCa and lactose levels.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the European Portuguese Dysphagia Handicap Index.

The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is a valid Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) 25-item questionnaire assessing the physical, functional, and emotional aspects of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD), of heterogeneous etiologies. The purpose of this study is to translate and validate the European Portuguese-DHI (EP-DHI). This is a prospective study that was carried out at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto). The generated EP-DHI was administered to 132 patients with OD and 112 healthy control subjects. 132 patients undergoing fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing (FEES). 15 patients were contacted by phone, 2 or 3 weeks later after the first interview to repeat the questionnaire. The validity of concurrent criteria was evaluated by comparing the results of the EP-DHI score with the score attributed to the pathological findings found in FEES and, consequently, Functional Oral Intake Scale (FOIS). The internal consistency of EP-DHI was successful: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for total EP-DHI was 0.874. The test-retest reliability for the total and the three EP-DHI subscales obtained a Pearson's correlation coefficient ranged from 0.990 to 0.712. This study demonstrates that EP-DHI is a valid tool for self-assessment of the handicapping effect of dysphagia on physical, functional, and emotional aspects of patient's quality of life, among an European Portuguese sample.

Treatment of a severely compromised endodontically treated tooth with a 2-piece premanufactured glass-fiber post: A clinical report.

A 2-piece premanufactured glass-fiber post-and-core for a child with a severely compromised endodontically treated tooth to restore dental form, function, and esthetics, is described. A shorter chair time than for the conventional options was needed, and the post provided an adequate biomechanical response with a reduced intracanal cement thickness.

Oncological Surgery During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effectiveness of Preoperative Screening and Factors Associated with Postoperative SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

BACKGROUND: Routine preoperative screening of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) may reduce in-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission. METHODS: This was a prospective, observational, cohort study. The endpoints were the incidence of asymptomatic patients with positive preoperative RT-PCR results and the incidence and factors associated with postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cancer referred for elective surgery. Patients with elective surgery between May and October 2020 were included. RT-PCR of nasopharyngeal swabs was performed preoperatively for all patients. Postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed within 30 postoperative days. RESULTS: A total of 1636 preoperative screening RT-PCR tests were performed. Of these, 102 (6.2%) cases were positive, and 1,298 surgical procedures were analyzed. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was 0.9%. The length of stay (odds ratio [OR] 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.11; p < 0.001), surgical time (OR 1.004; 95% CI 1.001-1.008; p = 0.023), intensive care unit admission (OR 7.7; 95% CI 2.03-29.28; p = 0.003), and hospital readmissions (OR 9.56; 95% CI 2.50-36.56; p = 0.001) were associated with postoperative coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Using unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression, length of stay (OR 1.08; 95% CI 1.04-1.11; p < 0.001), and readmission (OR 9.02; 95% CI 2.30-35.48; p = 0.002) were independent factors of postoperative COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Screening patients preoperatively may reduce in-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Length of stay and readmission were independently correlated with postoperative COVID-19.

Suffering experiences of people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A meta-ethnographic study.

This meta-ethnography had the objectives of identifying, evaluating, and summarizing the findings of qualitative studies regarding the suffering experiences of people undergoing chemotherapy, as well as developing an explanatory conceptual structure regarding what affects these experiences. A systematic literature review was carried out, covering the past 10 years, in the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, LILACS and Scopus. By using meta-ethnographic synthesis methods, the following themes were found: the pain of loss; evaluating, measuring, and neutralizing the threat; and social contours of suffering. The experience of living with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy was synthesized into a theoretical-explanatory model with a structure that resembles barbed-wire loops. The model expresses people's suffering experiences as marked by the feeling of loss, restraint of emotions, and resilience. While transcendent movements broke the cycle of suffering, resilience emerged as a learning experience that made patients more resistant to the pain of loss. The results indicated a complex and diverse set of factors that influence suffering, which confirmed that experiences are individual, comprehensive, and continuously reinterpreted.

Esthetic planning with a digital tool: A clinical report.

This clinical report describes digital planning and execution using a novel software tool to enhance digital workflow. The proposed treatment, integrated with the face of the patient, was presented before clinical treatment. The patient was rehabilitated with ceramic veneers. The virtual design contributed to a satisfactory and predictable esthetic outcome.

Mini fiberglass post for composite resin restorations: A clinical report.

Threaded metal pins have been used to create additional retention for large composite resin restorations. However, their dark appearance may compromise esthetic outcome. The use of small fiberglass posts has been advocated as an alternative. This clinical report describes a mini fiberglass post (MFP) used to provide additional retention in a fractured anterior tooth that received a composite resin restoration. The MFP represents a promising option for creating additional retention for large composite resin restorations.

Instruments to Assess Evidence-Based Practice Among Health Care Professionals: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The use of measurement instruments to assess the use of Evidence-Based Practice by health professionals has been frequently reported in studies. AIMS: This systematic review aimed to summarize, describe, and evaluate the measurement properties of the instruments that evaluate the use of Evidence-Based Practice in health professionals. METHODS: The search was carried out in four databases considering three groups of search terms: evidence-based practice, evaluation, and measurement proprieties. Studies were included that described the use of instruments to assess Evidence-Based Practice in health professionals, with the full-text publication, which analyzed the measurement properties, in English. The methodological quality of the studies was evaluated using COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments. RESULTS: In total, 6,429 were found and only 92 were eligible for data analysis. Forty new instruments were identified most were developed for nursing and physical therapist. The investigators performed at least 1 type of validity test on 73% of the instruments. Reliability was tested at 90%, through internal consistency. Responsiveness was tested on less than half of the instruments (30%). Most of the instruments identified are reliable and valid to measure evidence-based practice in health professionals. CONCLUSION: Although the Fresno Test remains the most complete instrument, and adequate for use. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist classified 7 (seven) instruments as suitable for the target audience.

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections versus knowledge, attitudes and practices of male residents in Brazilian urban slums: a cross-sectional study.

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are neglected diseases caused by helminths and protozoa, with the relationships between parasite, host and environment having the potential to produce high morbidity and incapacity to work and mortality in vulnerable areas. This study assessed the prevalence of IPIs concerning socio-environmental conditions and analyzed the knowledge, attitudes and practices related to these diseases among men living in the slums of Rio de Janeiro city, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted in an agglomeration of urban slums between 2018 and 2019, with men aged between 20 and 59 years. A socioeconomic status questionnaire and an IPIs knowledge, attitudes and practices questionnaire (KAPQ) were applied. Coproparasitological diagnoses (n=454) were performed using four methods and samples of water for household consumption (n=392) were subjected to microbiological and physicochemical analysis. A total of 624 participants were enrolled. About 40% of the households had "water unsuitable for consumption". Only one Major Area, MA 3 was not statistically significant for IPIs (AOR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.30-1.88; p=0.55). The overall prevalence of IPIs was 23.8%. Endolimax nana (n=65, 14.3%) and hookworm (n=8, 1.7%) were the most frequently identified parasites. The analysis of the frequency of responses to the KAPQ has shown that men reported to seeking medical care if they were suspicious of IPIs, and around 35% would self-medicate. The results have shown the need to adopt integrated health education practices targeting male residents in urban slums to qualify the care with water for human consumption and promote self-care about IPIs. The household can be considered strategic for Primary Health Care activities for men.

Nursing process for a patient with needle phobia: a case study.

OBJECTIVES: to report a clinical case of needle phobia which culminated in cardiac arrest and describe the outcome of a care plan based on fear and anxiety diagnoses, using the Roy adaptation model as the framework. METHODS: case study conducted in a chemotherapy outpatient unit in Rio de Janeiro. Care was guided by the nursing process and the use of instruments to assess the venous network, anxiety and fear. RESULTS: the Roy adaptation model enabled proposing nursing interventions that allowed the study subject to adapt to the external and internal stimuli triggered by vasovagal syndrome. The instruments indicated the choice of an adequate semi-implanted venous access device and led to improved levels of anxiety and fear. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: after carrying out the nursing activities, anxiety was reduced, and the patient achieved greater control over fear.

Distress and the religious and spiritual coping of Brazilians living with cancer: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To analyze the relationship between the subjective experience of distress and the use of religious and/or spiritual coping by adult chemotherapy patients. METHOD: A cross-sectional study conducted in 2018, with 100 patients undergoing chemotherapy. The data were collected through three tools: a characterization form, the Inventory of Subjective Distress Experiences in Illness, and the Brief Religious/Spiritual Coping Scale. The analysis was based on descriptive and inferential statistics, using the Spearman correlation test (p < 0.05), ANOVA, the Kruskall-Wallis test, and negative binomial regression. RESULTS: A low level of overall, physical, existential, psychological and sociorelational distress was observed. The dimension of positive distress experiences, however, was above the intermediate level in the scale. With respect to coping, use of positive and negative facets was moderate and low, respectively. Very weak positive correlations were noted between negative coping and physical, existential, and overall distress. The regression analysis indicated a higher risk of distress with increasing age and greater negative religious coping. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample, higher means were found in the dimension of positive distress experiences; negative coping, although utilized less, had greater potential to exacerbate distress after adjustment for age, in contrast to that expected for positive coping, which did not manifest significant effects in alleviating it.

The impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on diabetic painful neuropathy.

INTRODUCTION: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes mellitus; however, in contrast to other countries, there are no scientific studies in Portugal evaluating the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics of this pathological entity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender, metabolic control, age of diabetic patients, as well as time of disease progression, the appearance of complaints related to neuropathic pain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre study with a non-probabilistic, convenience sample of 359 patients was performed employing the quantitative method, using the Statistical Package for Social Science 24 software. The p-value of p < 0.05 was defined to consider a result statistically significant. The Spearman correlation coefficient (r) was determined to determine the relationship between categorical variables. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of DN between genders (p = 0.633 and r = 0.025). There was a statistically significant relationship between the value of HbA1c and DN, with p = 0.010 and r = 0.136. There is a relationship between age and complaints of neuropathic pain, with p = 0.034 and r = 0.112. The variable, time of disease progression, is also correlated with the appearance of complaints of neuropathic pain with p = 0.020 and r = 0.112. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of neuropathic pain in subjects with diabetes is not negligible and is associated with modifiable risk factors that can be identified, possibly modified and prevented. The correct approach for these patients, which involves screening and early treatment, is decisive improving functionality and quality of life.

Wastewater-Based Epidemiology (WBE) and Viral Detection in Polluted Surface Water: A Valuable Tool for COVID-19 Surveillance-A Brief Review.

SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Disease clinical manifestations range from asymptomatic to severe multiple organ damage. SARS-CoV-2 uses ACE2 as a cellular receptor, which is abundantly expressed in the small intestine, allowing viral replication in the gastrointestinal tract. Viral RNA has been detected in the stool of COVID-19 patients and viable viruses had been isolated in some of these samples. Thus, a putative role of SARS-CoV-2 fecal-oral transmission has been argued. SARS-CoV-2 is shed in human excreta and further disposed in the sewerage or in the environment, in poor basic sanitation settings. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a valuable population level approach for monitoring viral pathogens and has been successfully used in different contexts. This review summarizes the current global experience on SARS-CoV-2 WBE in distinct continents and viral detection in polluted surface water. The advantages and concerns of this strategy for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance are discussed. Outcomes suggest that WBE is a valuable early warning alert and a helpful complementary surveillance tool to subside public health response, to tailor containment and mitigation measures and to determine target populations for testing. In poor sanitation settings, contaminated rivers could be alternatively used as a source for environmental surveillance.

Rainfall seasonality predicts the germination behavior of a tropical dry-forest vine.

Seed dormancy is considered to be an adaptive strategy in seasonal and/or unpredictable environments because it prevents germination during climatically favorable periods that are too short for seedling establishment. Tropical dry forests are seasonal environments where seed dormancy may play an important role in plant resilience and resistance to changing precipitation patterns. We studied the germination behavior of seeds from six populations of the Neotropical vine Dalechampia scandens (Euphorbiaceae) originating from environments of contrasting rainfall seasonality. Seeds produced by second greenhouse-generation plants were measured and exposed to a favorable wet environment at different time intervals after capsule dehiscence and seed dispersal. We recorded the success and the timing of germination. All populations produced at least some dormant seeds, but seeds of populations originating from more seasonal environments required longer periods of after-ripening before germinating. Within populations, larger seeds tended to require longer after-ripening periods than did smaller seeds. These results indicate among-population genetic differences in germination behavior and suggest that these populations are adapted to local environmental conditions. They also suggest that seed size may influence germination timing within populations. Ongoing changes in seasonality patterns in tropical dry forests may impose strong selection on these traits.

A conservative region of the mercuric reductase gene (mera) as a molecular marker of bacterial mercury resistance.

The most common bacterial mercury resistance mechanism is based on the reduction of Hg(II) to Hg(0), which is dependent of the mercuric reductase enzyme (MerA) activity. The use of a 431 bp fragment of a conservative region of the mercuric reductase (merA) gene was applied as a molecular marker of this mechanism, allowing the identification of mercury resistant bacterial strains.

Cordoma Sacral: Relato de uma Rara Neoplasia Maligna / Sacral Chordoma: Report of a Rare Malignant Neoplasm / Cordoma Sacral: Relato de uma Rara Neoplasia Maligna

Introdução: O cordoma é um tipo de sarcoma cuja malignidade óssea primária se origina da notocorda e se localiza no eixo espinhal entre o clivus e o sacro. A primeira descrição dessa patologia foi em 1857. Na epidemiologia da doença, são mais afetados pacientes entre 40 e 60 anos, sendo o principal sítio de acometimento a região sacrococcígea. O quadro clínico é variável conforme o local acometido com sintomas geralmente inespecíficos, gerando atrasos no diagnóstico feito por biópsia. Entre as opções de tratamento, o principal método é a ressecção cirúrgica com margens, que pode ser associada à radioterapia ou à radiocirurgia quando necessário; os sítios de metástases mais comuns são pulmões, ossos, fígado e linfonodos locais. Relato do caso: Paciente, sexo feminino, 62 anos, iniciou com quadro de dor em região coccígea com piora ao sentar-se e surgimento de lesão nodular com crescimento progressivo recebendo diagnóstico de cordoma, após biópsia da lesão, depois de três anos. Em razão da lesão extensa, optou-se inicialmente por tratamento com quimio e radioterapia para citorredução. Pela pouca responsividade, foi submetida ao tratamento de sacralectomia com sucesso, porém apresentou como complicação deiscência de ferida operatória e necessidade de reabordagem, desde então sem recorrência no seguimento clínico. Conclusão: Assim, evidencia-se a necessidade de novas pesquisas sobre o cordoma, um tumor raro e de baixa responsividade aos tratamentos não cirúrgicos, visando a melhorar a terapêutica quimioterápica dessa neoplasia potencialmente deformante.

Introduction: Chordoma is a type of sarcoma, a primary bone malignancy that originates from the notochord and is located on the spinal axis between the clivus and the sacrum. The first description of this pathology occurred in 1857. Patients between 40 and 60 years old are the most affected according to the disease's epidemiology, the main site involved is the sacral/coccygeal region. The clinical condition is variable depending on the site affected, with generally nonspecific symptoms, delaying the diagnosis made by biopsy. Among the treatment options, surgical resection with margins is currently the main method, and may be associated with radiotherapy or radiosurgery when necessary; the most common metastatic sites are lungs, bones, liver and local lymph nodes. Case report: A 62-year-old female patient had pain in the coccygeal region, worsening while sitting and the appearance of a nodular lesion with progressive growth, diagnosed as a chordoma three years later, after biopsy of the lesion. Due to the extensive lesion, initially she was submitted to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for cytoreduction, but because of the poor response, she was successfully submitted to sacralectomy, however, dehiscence of the surgical wound was detected, and the patient underwent a new approach; since then, no recurrence in the clinical follow-up. Conclusion: Apparently, it is clear the necessity for further investigations on chordoma, a rare tumor with poor response to non-surgical treatments, in order to improve the chemotherapy for this potentially deforming neoplasm.

Introducción: El cordoma es un tipo de sarcoma, una malignidad ósea primaria que se origina en la notocorda y se localiza en el eje espinal entre el clivus y el sacro. La primera descripción de esta patología fue en 1857. En la epidemiología de la enfermedad, los pacientes entre 40 y 60 años son los más afectados, siendo el principal sitio de afectación la región sacrocoxígea. El cuadro clínico es variable según el sitio afectado, con síntomas generalmente inespecíficos, lo que provoca retrasos en el diagnóstico realizado mediante biopsia. Entre las opciones de tratamiento, la resección quirúrgica con márgenes es actualmente el principal método, pudiendo asociarse a radioterapia o radiocirugía cuando sea necesario; los sitios más comunes de metástasis son los pulmones, los huesos, el hígado y los ganglios linfáticos locales. Informe del caso: Paciente, sexo femenino, de 62 años inició con dolor en la región coccígea, empeorando al sentarse y aparición de una lesión nodular con crecimiento progresivo, recibiendo diagnóstico de cordoma, luego de biopsia de la lesión, después de tres años. Debido a la extensión de la lesión optó inicialmente por tratamiento con quimio y radioterapia para citorreducción, por la poca reactividad fue sometida con éxito al tratamiento de sacralectomía, pero presentó como complicación dehiscencia de la herida quirúrgica y necesidad de reabordaje. Desde entonces sin recurrencia en el seguimiento clínico. Conclusión: Por lo tanto, es evidente la necesidad de seguir investigando sobre el cordoma, un tumor poco frecuente con escasa respuesta a los tratamientos no quirúrgicos, con el fin de mejorar la terapia de quimioterapia para esa neoplasia potencialmente deformante.