Características físicas e mecânicas de misturas de solo, cimento e casca de arroz

The main objective of this work is the study of the effect of rice husk addition on the physical and mechanical properties of soil-cement, in order to obtain an alternative construction material. The rice husk preparation consisted of grinding, sieving, and the pre-treatment with lime solution. The physical characteristics of the soil and of the rice husk were determined. Different amounts of soil, cement and rice husk were tested by compaction and unconfined compression. The specimens molded according to the treatments applied to the mixtures were subsequently submitted to compression testing and to tensile splitting cylinder testing at 7 and 28 days of age and to water absorption testing. After determining its physical and mechanical characteristics, the best results were obtained for the soil + 12% (cement + rice husk) mixture. The results showed a promising use as an alternative construction material.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida em pacientes idosos um ano após o tratamento cirúrgico de fraturas transtrocanterianas do fêmur

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the impact that trochanteric hip fractures produce on life quality of elderly patients, treated surgically, during one year of monitoring. METHODS: Were selected 73 elderly with transtrochanteric femur fracture, aged equal or over than 65 years and of both sexes. All participants underwent a standardized questionnaire which obtained information on lifestyle habits, functionality, physical activity, ambulation and cognitive state. Were excluded patients who died, not walking, with neurological diseases and pathological fractures. RESULTS: The average age was 80.17 ± 7.2 years and 75% was female. When comparing the summation of activities of daily living (p = 0.04) and instrumental daily living (p = 0.004) obtained before and after fracture, the patients become more dependent after fracture. Activities of daily living that worsened after fracture were bathing (p = 0.04), toileting (p = 0.02) and dressing (p = 0.04). All instrumental activities of daily living showed a significant difference, with functional dependence after fracture, increased need for walking aid (p = 0.00002), aged (p = 0.01) and not doing housework (p = 0.01). The low score on the test Minimental was associated with a greater dependence to perform activities of daily living before (p = 0.00002) and after (p = 0.01) fracture. CONCLUSION: After a year, activities of daily living that depended on the lower limbs worsened significantly, all instrumental activities of daily living were significantly worse in more than 50% of patients and more than half of patients who walked without support lost this ability.

Derivação ventriculoperitoneal com válvula no tratamento da hidrocefalia infantil

From December-1965 to November-1969, 95 hydrocephalic infants have been operated upon using ventriculoperitoneal shunt with valve (88 cases with a Spitz-Holter valve, 6 cases with a Hakim valve and one case with a Pudenz-Heyer valve). Up to the present time (December, 1970) a total of 54 children are alive with a compensated hydrocephalus and 9 patients died, being impossible to follow-up the 32 remaining cases. The use of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt has eliminated all cardiovascular-pulmonary complications and reduced the number for surgical revisions. Besides, infections involving the draining system are less severe and more easily controlled than those occurring in the ventriculoatrial shunts. After analysis of the surgical techniques as well as complications and results the following conclusions are stated: 1) the use of a valve in the ventriculoperitoneal shunt difficults the oclusion of the peritoneal end of the draining system; 2) good results can be expected without reoperations in about 42,35% of hydrocephalus cases treated by ventriculoperitoneal shunt with valve; 3) ventriculoperitoneal shunts with valve showed better results when compared to ventriculoatrial shunts. This statement is made comparing two groups of hydrocephalic infants submitted to surgery at the same Service and in the same conditions, with the same follow-up period; 4) the cases presented permit to state that at present time the ventriculoperitoneal shunt with valve is the most suitable surgical procedure for hydrocephalus.