Effect of a formalised discharge process which includes electronic delivery of prescriptions to pharmacies on the incidence of delayed prescription retrieval.

BACKGROUND: Lack of prescription adherence after discharge from the inpatient hospital setting is a barrier to the delivery of optimal patient care. Non-adherence to medication for cardiac diseases can lead to substantial morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Electronic delivery of prescriptions by fax is a potential method of improving patient satisfaction and reducing pharmacy wait times. METHODS: This study was completed in the cardiology inpatient wards at a hospital in London, Ontario, Canada. 'Delayed prescription retrieval' was defined as the retrieval of a prescribed medication by a patient from their local pharmacy after the documented calendar day of discharge. The current discharge process on the cardiology wards was assessed and an initial monitoring period of study participants was completed to determine the baseline delayed prescription retrieval rate (preintervention group). A formalised discharge process, which included electronic delivery of prescriptions to pharmacies by fax, was implemented for study participants (postintervention group). The rate of delayed prescription retrieval was assessed in both groups. RESULTS: 15 of 42 patients (35.7%) in the preintervention group and 9 of 72 (14.3%) in the postintervention group had delayed prescription retrieval suggesting relative and absolute risk reductions of 65% and 23.2% (p=0.0045). Of the participants with delayed prescription retrieval, 100% in the preintervention group and 77.8% in the postintervention group were due a new prescribed medication on the day of discharge. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who experienced a formalised discharge process, which included electronic delivery of prescriptions by fax, at the time of discharge from cardiac inpatient care had a lower rate of delayed prescription retrieval. Future studies are required to examine the impact of formal discharge processes on patient morbidity and mortality.

A versatile optoelectronic aid for low vision patients.

The purpose of this work is to describe a versatile optoelectronic aid for low vision rehabilitation based on reconfigurable hardware. This aid is easily adaptable to diverse pathologies (with different associated processing tasks) and to the progression of the visual impairment. This platform has a mobile configuration that uses a see-through head-mounted display (Nomad). We have implemented different types of vision enhancement on this versatile platform, and briefly summarize here their computational costs (in terms of hardware resource requirements). We have evaluated two representative capabilities of this aid (Augmented View and digital zoom) with measurements of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity and visual field. We have tested the Nomad head-mounted display and the Augmented View modality, in eight subjects with retinitis pigmentosa: the digital zoom was tested in six low vision subjects and nine normally-sighted subjects. We show that the Nomad display with Augmented View configuration does not impair the residual vision; and that there is an increase in visual acuity (VA) with the digital zoom configuration. The major advantage of this platform is that it can easily embed different image processing tasks and since it is based on a FPGA device, it can be specifically configured to tasks requiring real-time processing.

A phase-based stereo vision system-on-a-chip.

A simple and fast technique for depth estimation based on phase measurement has been adopted for the implementation of a real-time stereo system with sub-pixel resolution on an FPGA device. The technique avoids the attendant problem of phase warping. The designed system takes full advantage of the inherent processing parallelism and segmentation capabilities of FPGA devices to achieve a computation speed of 65megapixels/s, which can be arranged with a customized frame-grabber module to process 211frames/s at a size of 640x480 pixels. The processing speed achieved is higher than conventional camera frame rates, thus allowing the system to extract multiple estimations and be used as a platform to evaluate integration schemes of a population of neurons without increasing hardware resource demands.

Evolutionary algorithms for multiobjective and multimodal optimization of diagnostic schemes.

This paper addresses the optimization of noninvasive diagnostic schemes using evolutionary algorithms in medical applications based on the interpretation of biosignals. A general diagnostic methodology using a set of definable characteristics extracted from the biosignal source followed by the specific diagnostic scheme is presented. In this framework, multiobjective evolutionary algorithms are used to meet not only classification accuracy but also other objectives of medical interest, which can be conflicting. Furthermore, the use of both multimodal and multiobjective evolutionary optimization algorithms provides the medical specialist with different alternatives for configuring the diagnostic scheme. Some application examples of this methodology are described in the diagnosis of a specific cardiac disorder-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.

Is poor quality sleep present in older adults with worse social and health status? / Se presenta sueño de mala calidad en adultos mayores con peor nivel social y de salud? / Sono de má qualidade está presente em idosos com pior nível social e de saúde?

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the relationship among sleep and sociodemographic aspects, health, frailty, performance in activities of daily living, cognitive performance and depressive symptoms of older residents in the community. Method: a cross-sectional, quantitative study was conducted with 81 older adults residents in the area covered by a Family Health Unit in the city of São Carlos (SP), Brazil. Data collection occurred in 2019, through the application of the following instruments: questionnaire for socioeconomic and health characterization of the older adult, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Frailty Phenotype proposed by Linda Fried, Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, Katz Index and Lawton Scale. Participants were divided into comparative groups according to sleep quality scores. Fisher's exact and Pearson's χ2 were used. A significance level of 5% was adopted. Results: 50.6% of the older adults had poor quality sleep (n=41), followed by 33.3% of older adults with good quality sleep (n=27) and 16.1% had sleep disorders (n=13). There was a relationship between sleep quality and sex (p=0.008), work status (p=0.001), self-assessment of health (p=0.013), falls (p=0.034), pain (p=0.012), frailty level (p=0.026) and the slow gait criterion (p<0.001). Conclusion: there was a higher prevalence of poor quality sleep and sleep disorders in older patients, who do not work outside the home, who evaluated their health as regular or poor, who suffered falls in the last year and who complained of pain, frailty and slow gait.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar la relación entre sueño y aspectos sociodemográficos, salud, fragilidad, desempeño en actividades de la vida diaria, desempeño cognitivo y síntomas depresivos en adultos mayores residentes en comunidad. Método: estudio transversal, cuantitativo, realizado con 81 adultos mayores residentes en el área de cobertura de una Unidad de Salud de la Familia en la ciudad de São Carlos (SP), Brasil. La recolección de datos se llevó a cabo en 2019, mediante la aplicación de los siguientes instrumentos: cuestionario para la caracterización socioeconómica y de salud del adulto mayor, Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh, Fenotipo de Fragilidad propuesto por Linda Fried, Mini Examen del Estado Mental, Escala de Depresión Geriatríca, Índice de Katz y Escala de Lawton. Los participantes se dividieron en grupos comparativos según las puntuaciones de calidad del sueño. Se utilizaron la exacta de Fisher y la χ2 de Pearson. Se adoptó un nivel de significancia del 5%. Resultados: el 50,6% de los adultos mayores tenía mala calidad del sueño (n=41), seguido por el 33,3% de los ancianos con buena calidad de sueño (n=27) y el 16,1% con trastornos del sueño (n=13). Hubo relación entre la calidad del sueño y el género (p=0,008), situación laboral (p=0,001), salud autoevaluada (p=0,013), caída (p=0,034), dolor (p=0,012), nivel de fragilidad (p=0,026) y el criterio de lentitud de la marcha (p <0,001). Conclusión: hubo una mayor prevalencia de sueño de mala calidad y trastornos del sueño en mujeresmayores, que no trabajan fuera del hogar, que calificaron su salud como regular o mala, que sufrieron caídas en el último año, que se quejaron de dolor, frágil y lentitud de la marcha.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a relação entre sono e aspectos sociodemográficos, de saúde, fragilidade, desempenho em atividades de vida diária, desempenho cognitivo e sintomas depressivos de idosos residentes na comunidade. Método: estudo transversal, quantitativo, realizado com 81 idosos residentes na área de abrangência de uma Unidade de Saúde da Família do município de São Carlos (SP), Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu em 2019, mediante a aplicação dos seguintes instrumentos: questionário para caracterização socioeconômica e de saúde do idoso, Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh, Fenótipo de Fragilidade proposto por Linda Fried, Mini Exame do Estado Mental, Escala de Depressão Geriátrica, Índice de Katz e Escala de Lawton. Os participantes foram divididos em grupos comparativos segundo os escores de qualidade do sono. Foram utilizados Exato de Fisher e χ2 de Pearson. Adotou-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: 50,6% dos idosos apresentaram sono de má qualidade (n=41), seguidos de 33,3% de idosos com sono de boa qualidade (n=27) e 16,1% com distúrbios do sono (n=13). Houve relação entre qualidade do sono e sexo (p=0,008), situação laboral (p=0,001), autoavaliação de saúde (p=0,013), queda (p=0,034), dor (p=0,012), nível de fragilidade (p=0,026) e o critério lentidão da marcha (p<0,001). Conclusão: houve maior prevalência de sono de má qualidade e de distúrbios do sono em mulheres idosas, que não trabalham fora de casa, que avaliaram a sua saúde como regular ou ruim, que sofreram quedas no último ano, que se queixaram de dor, frágeis e com lentidão da marcha.

Identification of active compounds in vegetal extracts based on correlation between activity and HPLC-MS data.

We propose a method identifying candidates for active compounds in vegetal extracts. From a collection of samples, the method requires, for each sample, a HPLC-MS analysis and a measurement of the activity. By applying a correlation analysis between the activity and the chromatographic area for each interval of elution time and m/z ratio, the peaks corresponding to candidates for active compounds can be identified. Additionally, when peaks are identified, a model can be estimated to predict the activity in new samples. Both methods are evaluated in one experiment involving the phenolic extract (PE) from 22 samples of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) where the activity is a cytotoxicity index against JIMT-1 breast cancer cells. In this experiment, the samples were separated into two disjunct partitions: one was used for training (identification of candidates and estimation of prediction model), while the other was used for validation (by comparing the predicted and the measured activities). Three compounds were identified as candidates to be responsible for the cytotoxicity of the EVOO-PE against JIMT-1 cells. The prediction model provided an accurate estimation of the activity.

Proceso de enfermería aplicado al diabético. evaluación de retorno de la clientela asistida / Nursing care of diabetic patients: assessent of patients' return to subsequent visits

En el presenta trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio sobre la consulta de Enfermería que se sigue desarrollando en el ambulatorio de Diabetes del Hospital Universitario "Walter Cantidio" de la Universidad Federal del Ceará, teniendo como objetivo principal la evaluación del retorno de los clientes diabéticos a la consulta señalada. La recolección de datos fue realizada en el período comprendido entre septiembre de 1989 y octubre de 1990. Los resultados evidenciaron que la consulta de Enfermería ya ocupa su espacio ante la clientela y el equipo multiprofesional, ya que el retorno del cliente a la consulta señalada se cumplió en un gran porcentaje (AU)

Proceso de enfermería aplicado al diabético: evaluación de retorno de la clientela asistida / Nursing care of diabetic patients: assessment of patients' return to subsequent visits

En el presenta trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio sobre la consulta de Enfermería que se sigue desarrollando en el ambulatorio de Diabetes del Hospital Universitario "Walter Cantidio" de la Universidad Federal del Ceará, teniendo como objetivo principal la evaluación del retorno de los clientes diabéticos a la consulta señalada. La recolección de datos fue realizada en el período comprendido entre septiembre de 1989 y octubre de 1990. Los resultados evidenciaron que la consulta de Enfermería ya ocupa su espacio ante la clientela y el equipo multiprofesional, ya que el retorno del cliente a la consulta señalada se cumplió en un gran porcentaje (AU)

Proceso de enfermería aplicado al diabético: evaluación de retorno de la clientela asistida / Nursing care of diabetic patients: assessment of patients' return to subsequent visits

En el presenta trabajo se realiza un estudio exploratorio sobre la consulta de Enfermería que se sigue desarrollando en el ambulatorio de Diabetes del Hospital Universitario "Walter Cantidio" de la Universidad Federal del Ceará, teniendo como objetivo principal la evaluación del retorno de los clientes diabéticos a la consulta señalada. La recolección de datos fue realizada en el período comprendido entre septiembre de 1989 y octubre de 1990. Los resultados evidenciaron que la consulta de Enfermería ya ocupa su espacio ante la clientela y el equipo multiprofesional, ya que el retorno del cliente a la consulta señalada se cumplió en un gran porcentaje

Consulta de enfermagem na área materno-infantil: estudo descritivo dos procedimentos em Centros Municipais de Saúde na cidade do Rio de Janeiro / Nursing consultation in Centres of Rio de Janeiro City

A Consulta de Enfermagem é uma das atividades recentemente institucionalizadas nos Centros Municipais de Saúde da cidade do Rio de Janeiro e que vem sendo desenvolvida com maior ênfase na área Materno-Infantil. Devido a sua recente institucionalizaçäo, resolveu-se realizar este estudo, cujo objetivo principal consistiu em verificar os procedimentos utilizados pelas enfermeiras, como também a assistência recebida pela clientela, a fim de propor um roteiro como subsídio à implantaçäo ou aperfeiçoamento de tal atividade. A pesquisa desenvolveu-se através da aplicaçäo de questionários com doze enfermeiras atuantes em seis Centros de Saúde selecionados e com 75 clientes dos Consultórios de Pré - Natal e Pediatria. Os resultados encontrados permitiram constatar que o preparo das enfermeira para a Consulta e alguns procedimentos säo ainda precários, evidenciando que esta atividade continua diretamente ligada a rotina das instituiçöes, motivando algumas sugestöes para maior eficiência e qualidade da atividade.