Avaliação da reprodutibilidade das medidas da camada de fibras nervosas retiniana e da cabeça do nervo óptico pela tomografia de coerência óptica

OBJETIVO: Determinar a reprodutibilidade da espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina peripapilar e dos parâmetros da cabeça do nervo óptico em olhos normais, utilizando a tomografia de coerência óptica de domínio espectral (SD-OCT). MÉTODOS: Trinta e quatro olhos de 34 indivíduos saudáveis foram incluídos no estudo. O protocolo do cubo do disco óptico 200x200 do OCT Cirrus foi utilizado para gerar 3 imagens de cada olho para avaliar a reprodutibilidade. O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse (ICC) foi calculado para as medidas da espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina e da cabeça do nervo óptico. RESULTADOS: A correlação foi excelente para todas as medidas da espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina (ICC entre 0,87 e 0,98). O mesmo ocorreu com os parâmetros da cabeça do nervo óptico que, com exceção da razão E/D vertical (ICC 0,56), apresentou ICC entre 0,83 e 0,99. CONCLUSÃO: As medidas de espessura da camada de fibras nervosas da retina peripapilar e os parâmetros da cabeça no nervo óptico demonstraram uma excelente reprodutibilidade com o OCT Cirrus, indicando que este aparelho poderá ser uma ferramenta útil no estudo do glaucoma. Este estudo apresenta algumas limitações, como o pequeno número de casos avaliados, sendo necessários maiores estudos para corroborar nossos achados.

Personal and Social Performance (PSP) scale for patients with schizophrenia: translation to Portuguese, cross-cultural adaptation and interrater reliability

INTRODUCTION: Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder associated with impairment in social functioning. The most widely used scale to measure social functioning is the GAF (Global Assessment of Functioning), but it has the disadvantage of measuring at the same time symptoms and functioning, as described in its anchors. OBJECTIVES:Translation and cultural adaptation of the PSP, proposing a final version in Portuguese for use in Brazil. METHODS: We performed five steps: 1) translation; 2) back translation; 3) formal assessment of semantic equivalence; 4) debriefing; 5) analysis by experts. Interrater reliability (Intraclass correlation, ICC) between two raters was also measured. RESULTS: The final version was applied by two independent investigators in 18 adults with schizophrenia (DSM-IV-TR). The interrater reliability (ICC) was 0.812 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The translation and adaptation of the PSP had an adequate level of semantic equivalence between the Portuguese version and the original English version. There were no difficulties related to understanding the content expressed in the translated texts and terms. Its application was easy and it showed a good interrater reliability. The PSP is a valid instrument for the measurement of personal and social functioning in schizophrenia.

Adaptação cultural e validação da Underwood's Daily Spiritual Experience Scale - versão brasileira

Este estudo objetivou adaptar culturalmente e analisar as propriedades psicométricas da versão brasileira da Underwood's Daily Spiritual Experience Scale (DSES). A adaptação seguiu as etapas internacionalmente recomendadas e a versão adaptada manteve equivalência com a original, após ajustes na redação de cinco itens. Na aplicação a 179 pacientes médico-cirúrgicos mostrou evidências de consistência interna (alfa de Cronbach=0,91), estabilidade temporal (ICC=0,94 no teste e reteste) e validade de construto convergente, na correlação com a subescala Religiosidade Intrínseca do instrumento DUREL (r=0,56; p<0,001). A análise fatorial exploratória extraiu três componentes, explicando 60,5% da variância do total. A versão brasileira da DSES apresenta evidências de confiabilidade e validade junto a pacientes hospitalizados. São necessários mais estudos para confirmar a sua composição fatorial e testar a sua aplicabilidade em diferentes populações.

Effect of image resolution manipulation in rearfoot angle measurements obtained with photogrammetry

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of image resolution manipulation on the photogrammetric measurement of the rearfoot static angle. The study design was that of a reliability study. We evaluated 19 healthy young adults (11 females and 8 males). The photographs were taken at 1536 pixels in the greatest dimension, resized into four different resolutions (1200, 768, 600, 384 pixels) and analyzed by three equally trained examiners on a 96-pixels per inch (ppi) screen. An experienced physiotherapist marked the anatomic landmarks of rearfoot static angles on two occasions within a 1-week interval. Three different examiners had marked angles on digital pictures. The systematic error and the smallest detectable difference were calculated from the angle values between the image resolutions and times of evaluation. Different resolutions were compared by analysis of variance. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability was calculated by intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). The rearfoot static angles obtained by the examiners in each resolution were not different (P > 0.05); however, the higher the image resolution the better the inter-examiner reliability. The intra-examiner reliability (within a 1-week interval) was considered to be unacceptable for all image resolutions (ICC range: 0.08-0.52). The whole body image of an adult with a minimum size of 768 pixels analyzed on a 96-ppi screen can provide very good inter-examiner reliability for photogrammetric measurements of rearfoot static angles (ICC range: 0.85-0.92), although the intra-examiner reliability within each resolution was not acceptable. Therefore, this method is not a proper tool for follow-up evaluations of patients within a therapeutic protocol.

Adaptação cultural cruzada e validação da versão do Índice Funcional de Espondilite Anquilosante de Bath (BASFI) para o português do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Conduzir uma adaptação cultural cruzada do Índice Funcional de Espondilite Anquilosante de Bath (BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index) para o português do Brasil e avaliar suas propriedades de medição. MéTODOS: O BASFI foi traduzido por quatro reumatologistas e três professores de língua inglesa. O questionário traduzido foi aplicado a pacientes com espondilite anquilosante por observadores treinados e autoaplicado em três momentos, dias 1, 2 e 14. A validade foi estimada analisando-se a associação do BASFI e as medidas de capacidade funcional (rotação cervical, distância intermaleolar, teste de Schober e distância occipito-parede). A consistência interna foi testada pelo coeficiente α de Cronbach, e a confiabilidade pelo teste-reteste (coeficiente de correlação intraclasse [CCI]). RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos 60 pacientes com espondilite anquilosante: 85% do gênero masculino, com idade média de 47 ± 12 anos e duração média da doença de 20 ± 11 anos. A confiabilidade intraobservador no teste-reteste (intervalo de duas semanas) revelou alto ICC (0,999; 95% IC: 0,997-0,999), além de alta consistência interna (coeficiente α de Cronbach: 0,86; 95% IC: 0,80-0,90). Considerando-se a validade, os índices do BASFI foram correlacionados com a rotação cervical (0,53; P < 0,001) e a distância intermaleolar (0,50; P < 0,001). CONCLUSÃO: A versão do BASFI para o português do Brasil é confiável e válida para avaliação de pacientes com espondilite anquilosante.

Análise da confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade da goniometria em relação à fotogrametria na mão

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a confiabilidade intra e interexaminadores e a reprodutibilidade da goniometria em relação à fotogrametria na mão, comparando os ângulos da abdução de polegar, flexão da AIFP do II dedo e flexão da AMCF do V dedo. MÉTODOS: PARTIciparam deste estudo 30voluntários foram divididos em 3 grupos, um grupo de 10 estudantes de Fisioterapia, outro por 10 fisioterapeutas e o terceiro com 10 terapeutas da mão. Cada avaliador realizou as medidas no mesmo molde de mão, utilizando o goniômetro e em seguidadois softwares de fotogrametria, o CorelDraw® e o ALCimagem®. RESULTADOS: Os resultados revelaram que os grupos e os métodos propostos apresentam confiabilidade interexaminadores no geral classificada como excelente (ICC 0,998 I.C. 95% 0,995 - 0,999). Na avaliação intraexaminadores, foi encontrado excelente nível de confiabilidade entre os três grupos. Na comparação entre os grupos para cada ângulo e cada método, observou-se que não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos para a maioria das medidas. CONCLUSÃO: A goniometria e a fotogrametria são métodos confiáveis e reprodutíveis para avaliação de medidas na mão. Porém, pela escassez de referências semelhantes, necessita-se de estudos aprofundados para definição de parâmetros de normalidade entre os métodos nas articulações da mão. Nível de Evidência II, Estudo Diagnóstico.

Aspetti diagnostici, strategie terapeutiche ed esito clinico dei tumori primitivi colangiocellulari insorti su cirrosi

Background: The recent increasing incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC) in cirrhosis increased the problem of noninvasive differential diagnosis between ICC and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhosis. In literature there isn’t data about treatment and prognosis of ICC in cirrhosis. Aim: To investigate the role of the different imaging techniques in the diagnosis of ICC in cirrhosis; to analyze treatments and prognosis with particular attention to factors associated with survival. Methods: The data of 30 cirrhotic patients with ICC were retrospectively collected; patients were referred to Liver Units (S.Orsola-Malpighi and S.Matteo Hospitals) between 2005 and 2011. The results of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) were evaluated; the enhancement pattern at different imaging techniques were analysed, with particular attention to misdiagnosis of HCC. We evaluated the different treatments and survival of the study group and then we performed the survival analysis of different clinico-pathologic factors. Results: Twenty-five patients underwent CEUS, 27 CT and 10 MR. In 3 cases (12%) CEUS misdiagnosed ICC for HCC, in 7 cases (26%) CT misdiagnosed ICC and in 1 case (10%) MR misdiagnosed ICC. Patient were followed for a mean of 30 months (range:4-86), with a mean survival of 30 months. Twenty-four out of 30 patients were treated with curative approach, while the other 6 underwent TACE (n=4), radioembolization (n=1) or systemic treatment with Gemcitabine (n=1). The univariate analysis revealed that CA19-9 levels, surveillance program and nodule size were significantly related with survival. By multivariate analysis only nodule size £ 40mm was significant (p=0,004). Conclusion: Diagnosis of ICC in cirrhosis remains difficult because there isn’t a typical enhancement pattern and in some cases it cannot be distinguished from HCC by the different imaging techniques. The study of survival related factors shows that nodule size ≤ 40mm is correlated with improved survival.

Implicit computational complexity and probabilistic classes

The thesis applies the ICC tecniques to the probabilistic polinomial complexity classes in order to get an implicit characterization of them. The main contribution lays on the implicit characterization of PP (which stands for Probabilistic Polynomial Time) class, showing a syntactical characterisation of PP and a static complexity analyser able to recognise if an imperative program computes in Probabilistic Polynomial Time. The thesis is divided in two parts. The first part focuses on solving the problem by creating a prototype of functional language (a probabilistic variation of lambda calculus with bounded recursion) that is sound and complete respect to Probabilistic Prolynomial Time. The second part, instead, reverses the problem and develops a feasible way to verify if a program, written with a prototype of imperative programming language, is running in Probabilistic polynomial time or not. This thesis would characterise itself as one of the first step for Implicit Computational Complexity over probabilistic classes. There are still open hard problem to investigate and try to solve. There are a lot of theoretical aspects strongly connected with these topics and I expect that in the future there will be wide attention to ICC and probabilistic classes.

Monismo e dualismo nei rapporti tra Cedu e ordinamento costituzionale interno. Fonti e processi interpretativi

La tesi analizza i rapporti tra l’ordinamento italiano e la Cedu, in particolare la collocazione della Cedu all’interno del sistema delle fonti alla luce della modifica dell’art. 117, comma 1 Cost. Si tratta di un tema molto dibattuto in dottrina, specialmente a seguito dell’entrata in vigore del Trattato di Lisbona. Questa tematica risulta strettamente connessa al profilo dell’interazione tra la Corte di Strasburgo e la Corte costituzionale e i giudici ordinari. L’analisi del profilo statico concernente lo status della Cedu nel sistema italiano deve quindi essere accompagnata dall’esame del profilo dinamico, relativo al ruolo della giurisprudenza della Corte di Strasburgo nell’esperienza dell’ordinamento nazionale. Entrambi i profili di indagine sono esaminati alla luce delle indicazioni provenienti dalla giurisprudenza della Corte costituzionale, della Corte di Cassazione e della Corte di Strasburgo. Prima di essere esaminate singolarmente, queste tematiche richiedono la preliminare ricognizione dei termini della dicotomia tra i due modelli concettuali di riferimento in tema di rapporti interordinamentali: il monismo e il dualismo. Trasferite nel peculiare contesto del sistema Cedu, tali categorie dogmatiche si arricchiscono di ulteriori profili, che esorbitano dalla sistemazione del rapporto tra fonti. La tenuta dei due paradigmi concettuali, che sono nati ed operano nel contesto della teorica delle fonti, deve essere verificata anche rispetto all’attuale fenomeno della produzione europea di diritto giurisprudenziale ed alla capacità paradigmatica assunta dalla giurisprudenza di Strasburgo. Il diritto e le istituzioni giuridiche tendono ad assumere sempre più sembianze giurisdizionali, generando un’osmosi che porta a trasferire il focus dai rapporti interordinamentali ai rapporti tra giurisprudenze.

An examination chair to measure internal rotation of the hip in routine settings: a validation study

OBJECTIVE: To determine the performance of a newly developed examination chair as compared with the clinical standard of assessing internal rotation (IR) of the flexed hip with a goniometer. METHODS: The examination chair allowed measurement of IR in a sitting position simultaneously in both hips, with hips and knees flexed 90 degrees, lower legs hanging unsupported and a standardized load of 5 kg applied to both ankles using a bilateral pulley system. Clinical assessment of IR was performed in supine position with hips and knees flexed 90 degrees using a goniometer. Within the framework of a population-based inception cohort study, we calculated inter-observer agreement in two samples of 84 and 64 consecutive, unselected young asymptomatic males using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and determined the correlation between IR assessed with examination chair and clinical assessment. RESULTS: Inter-observer agreement was excellent for the examination chair (ICC right hip, 0.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89-0.95; ICC left hip, 0.90, 95% CI 0.86-0.94), and considerably higher than that seen with clinical assessment (ICC right hip, 0.65, 95% CI 0.49-0.77; ICC left hip, 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.80, P for difference in ICC between examination chair and clinical assessment

Reproducibility and validity of video screen measurements of gait in children with spastic cerebral palsy

PURPOSE: To determine the reproducibility and validity of video screen measurement (VSM) of sagittal plane joint angles during gait. METHODS: 17 children with spastic cerebral palsy walked on a 10m walkway. Videos were recorded and 3d-instrumented gait analysis was performed. Two investigators measured six sagittal joint/segment angles (shank, ankle, knee, hip, pelvis, and trunk) using a custom-made software package. The intra- and interrater reproducibility were expressed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurements (SEM) and smallest detectable difference (SDD). The agreement between VSM and 3d joint angles was illustrated by Bland-Altman plots and limits of agreement (LoA). RESULTS: Regarding the intrarater reproducibility of VSM, the ICC ranged from 0.99 (shank) to 0.58 (trunk), the SEM from 0.81 degrees (shank) to 5.97 degrees (trunk) and the SDD from 1.80 degrees (shank) to 16.55 degrees (trunk). Regarding the interrater reproducibility, the ICC ranged from 0.99 (shank) to 0.48 (trunk), the SEM from 0.70 degrees (shank) to 6.78 degrees (trunk) and the SDD from 1.95 degrees (shank) to 18.8 degrees (trunk). The LoA between VSM and 3d data ranged from 0.4+/-13.4 degrees (knee extension stance) to 12.0+/-14.6 degrees (ankle dorsiflexion swing). CONCLUSION: When performed by the same observer, VSM mostly allows the detection of relevant changes after an intervention. However, VSM angles differ from 3d-IGA and do not reflect the real sagittal joint position, probably due to the additional movements in the other planes.

In vitro detection of secondary caries associated with composite restorations on approximal surfaces using laser fluorescence

This study evaluated the performance of the DIAGNOdent pen laser fluorescence device (LFpen) in comparison with visual examination (VE), bitewing radiographs (BW) and visual examination combined with bitewing radiographs (VEBW) in detecting secondary approximal caries associated with composite restorations. In total, 60 approximal surfaces from 43 permanent molars with composite restorations were assessed twice by two examiners using the LFpen, VE, BW and VEBW. After histological preparation and hardness measurements, the sample was assigned to either a crown or root caries group, depending on the location of the lesions as the gold standard. For crown caries at D1, the highest values of specificity and sensitivity were observed for the LFpen at a cutoff value of 18 (1.00) and for the VEBW (0.89). At D3 (cutoff of 30), the LFpen showed the highest values of sensitivity and specificity. For root caries, the LFpen and VEBW showed the highest values of specificity (0.54), sensitivity (0.81) and accuracy (0.69). The Spearman rank correlation coefficients for crown/root caries with histology were 0.54/0.37 (LFpen), 0.29/0.10 (BW), 0.29/0.18 (VE) and 0.23/0.37 (VEBW). For the LFpen, the ICC varied from 0.80 (interexaminer) to 0.97 (intraexaminer B); the kappa value was 0.19 for BW and 0.35 for VE (interexaminer). Intraexaminer kappa values for BW were 0.25 (A) and 0.29 (B), and those for VE were 0.31 (A) and 0.32 (B). The LFpen device exhibited a performance comparable to that of conventional methods but with higher interexaminer reproducibility. Therefore, the LFpen should be considered an auxiliary method for the detection of secondary approximal caries associated with composite restorations.

Performance of laser fluorescence devices, visual and radiographic examination for the detection of occlusal caries in primary molars

The aim of this in vitro study was to compare the performance of two laser fluorescence devices (LF, LFpen), conventional visual criteria (VE), ICDAS and radiographic examination on occlusal surfaces of primary teeth. Thirty-seven primary human molars were selected from a pool of extracted teeth, which were stored frozen at -20°C until use. Teeth were assessed twice by two experienced examiners using laser fluorescence devices (LF and LFpen), conventional visual criteria, ICDAS and bitewing radiographs, with a 2-week interval between measurements. After measurement, the teeth were histologically prepared and assessed for caries extension. The highest sensitivity was observed for ICDAS at D(1) and D(3) thresholds, with no statistically significant difference when compared to the LF devices, except at the D(3) threshold. Bitewing radiographs presented the lowest values of sensitivity. Specificity at D(1) was higher for LFpen (0.90) and for VE at D(3) (0.94). When VE was combined with LFpen the post-test probabilities were the highest (94.0% and 89.2% at D(1) and D(3) thresholds, respectively). High values were observed for the combination of ICDAS and LFpen (92.0% and 80.0%, respectively). LF and LFpen showed the highest values of ICC for interexaminer reproducibility. However, regarding ICDAS, BW and VE, intraexaminer reproducibility was not the same for the two examiners. After primary visual inspection using ICDAS or not, the use of LFpen may aid in the detection of occlusal caries in primary teeth. Bitewing radiographs may be indicated only for approximal caries detection.

Test-retest reliability of the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and electrical pain thresholds after single and repeated stimulation in patients with chronic low back pain

Recent studies have shown that the nociceptive withdrawal reflex threshold (NWR-T) and the electrical pain threshold (EP-T) are reliable measures in pain-free populations. However, it is necessary to investigate the reliability of these measures in patients with chronic pain in order to translate these techniques from laboratory to clinic. The aims of this study were to determine the test-retest reliability of the NWR-T and EP-T after single and repeated (temporal summation) electrical stimulation in a group of patients with chronic low back pain, and to investigate the association between the NWR-T and the EP-T. To this end, 25 patients with chronic pain participated in three identical sessions, separated by 1 week in average, in which the NWR-T and the EP-T to single and repeated stimulation were measured. Test-retest reliability was assessed using intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (CV), and Bland-Altman analysis. The association between the thresholds was assessed using the coefficient of determination (r (2)). The results showed good-to-excellent reliability for both NWR-T and EP-T in all cases, with average ICC values ranging 0.76-0.90 and average CV values ranging 12.0-17.7%. The association between thresholds was better after repeated stimulation than after single stimulation, with average r (2) values of 0.83 and 0.56, respectively. In conclusion, the NWR-T and the EP-T are reliable assessment tools for assessing the sensitivity of spinal nociceptive pathways in patients with chronic pain.

Reliability, construct and criterion validity of the KIDSCREEN-10 score: a short measure for children and adolescents' well-being and health-related quality of life

Background To assess the criterion and construct validity of the KIDSCREEN-10 well-being and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) score, a short version of the KIDSCREEN-52 and KIDSCREEN-27 instruments. Methods The child self-report and parent report versions of the KIDSCREEN-10 were tested in a sample of 22,830 European children and adolescents aged 8–18 and their parents (n = 16,237). Correlation with the KIDSCREEN-52 and associations with other generic HRQoL measures, physical and mental health, and socioeconomic status were examined. Score differences by age, gender, and country were investigated. Results Correlations between the 10-item KIDSCREEN score and KIDSCREEN-52 scales ranged from r = 0.24 to 0.72 (r = 0.27–0.72) for the self-report version (proxy-report version). Coefficients below r = 0.5 were observed for the KIDSCREEN-52 dimensions Financial Resources and Being Bullied only. Cronbach alpha was 0.82 (0.78), test–retest reliability was ICC = 0.70 (0.67) for the self- (proxy-)report version. Correlations between other children self-completed HRQoL questionnaires and KIDSCREEN-10 ranged from r = 0.43 to r = 0.63 for the KIDSCREEN children self-report and r = 0.22–0.40 for the KIDSCREEN parent proxy report. Known group differences in HRQoL between physically/mentally healthy and ill children were observed in the KIDSCREEN-10 self and proxy scores. Associations with self-reported psychosomatic complaints were r = −0.52 (−0.36) for the KIDSCREEN-10 self-report (proxy-report). Statistically significant differences in KIDSCREEN-10 self and proxy scores were found by socioeconomic status, age, and gender. Conclusions Our results indicate that the KIDSCREEN-10 provides a valid measure of a general HRQoL factor in children and adolescents, but the instrument does not represent well most of the single dimensions of the original KIDSCREEN-52. Test–retest reliability was slightly below a priori defined thresholds.