The importance of knowing the home conditions of patients receiving long-term oxygen therapy

Purpose: Long-term oxygen therapy (LTOT) is one of the main treatments for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Patients receiving LTOT may have less than optimal home conditions and this may interfere with treatment. The objective of this study was, through home visits, to identify the characteristics of patients receiving LTOT and to develop knowledge regarding the home environments of these patients.Methods: Ninety-seven patients with a mean age of 69 plus or minus 10.5 years were evaluated. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive analysis. Data were collected during an initial home visit, using a questionnaire standardized for the study. The results were analyzed retrospectively.Results: Seventy-five percent of the patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and 11% were active smokers. The patients' mean pulse oximetry values were 85.9% plus or minus 4.7% on room air and 92% plus or minus 3.9% on the prescribed flow of oxygen. Most of the patients did not use the treatment as prescribed and most used a humidifier. The extension hose had a mean length of 5 plus or minus 3.9 m (range, 1.5-16 m). In the year prior to the visit, 26% of the patients received emergency medical care because of respiratory problems. Few patients reported engaging in leisure activities.Conclusion: The home visit allowed us to identify problems and interventions that could improve the way LTOT is used. The most common interventions related to smoking cessation, concentrator maintenance and cleaning, use of a humidifier, and adjustments of the length of the connector hose. Therefore, the home visit is a very important tool in providing comprehensive care to patients receiving LTOT, especially those who show lack of adequate progress and those who show uncertainty about the treatment method.

Magnetoresistive sensors in a new biomagnetic instrumentation for applications in gastroenterology

Anisotropic Magnetoresistive (AMR) sensors shows a new possibility to detect magnetic fields produced by magnetic particles present in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A system that uses excitation and detection of magnetic field was developed using AMR sensor. A magnetic flux concentrator was also studied to increase the sensitivity of AMR in this work.

Espectrofotometria de longo caminho óptico em espectrofotô metro de duplo-feixe convencional: uma alternativa simples para investigações de amostras com densidade óptica muito baixa

We describe the design and tests of a set-up mounted in a conventional double beam spectrophotometer, which allows the determination of optical density of samples confined in a long liquid core waveguide (LCW) capillary. Very long optical path length can be achieved with capillary cell, allowing measurements of samples with very low optical densities. The device uses a custom optical concentrator optically coupled to LCW (TEFLON® AF). Optical density measurements, carried out using a LCW of ̃ 45 cm, were in accordance with the Beer-Lambert Law. Thus, it was possible to analyze quantitatively samples at concentrations 45 fold lower than that regularly used in Spectrophotometric measurements.

Avaliação da eficiência térmica de um coletor solar tipo tubo evacuado modificado

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Mecânica - FEB

Gerenciador de consumo e demanda de energia elétrica em baixa tensão

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Sistema de supervisão e controle de irrigação utilizando técnicas de inteligência artificial

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Construção e avaliação térmica de um sistema concentrador parabólico com seguidor solar

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Analisys of thermal efficiency of a modified solar collector type evacuated tube

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Determinações territoriais da agricultura mundializada: a soja nos espaços rurais e urbanos de Uruçuí-PI

Pós-graduação em Geografia - IGCE