Prevalence of self-medication in the adult population of Brazil: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the prevalence of self-medication in Brazil’s adult population.METHODS Systematic review of cross-sectional population-based studies. The following databases were used: Medline, Embase, Scopus, ISI, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, CRD, Lilacs, SciELO, the Banco de teses brasileiras(Brazilian theses database) (Capes) and files from the Portal Domínio Público (Brazilian Public Domain). In addition, the reference lists from relevant studies were examined to identify potentially eligible articles. There were no applied restrictions in terms of the publication date, language or publication status. Data related to publication, population, methods and prevalence of self-medication were extracted by three independent researchers. Methodological quality was assessed following eight criteria related to sampling, measurement and presentation of results. The prevalences were measured from participants who used at least one medication during the recall period of the studies.RESULTS The literature screening identified 2,778 records, from which 12 were included for analysis. Most studies were conducted in the Southeastern region of Brazil, after 2000 and with a 15-day recall period. Only five studies achieved high methodological quality, of which one study had a 7-day recall period, in which the prevalence of self-medication was 22.9% (95%CI 14.6;33.9). The prevalence of self-medication in three studies of high methodological quality with a 15-day recall period was 35.0% (95%CI 29.0;40.0, I2 = 83.9%) in the adult Brazilian population.CONCLUSIONS Despite differences in the methodologies of the included studies, the results of this systematic review indicate that a significant proportion of the adult Brazilian population self-medicates. It is suggested that future research projects that assess self-medication in Brazil standardize their methods.

Meta-heuristics self-parameterization in a multi-agent scheduling system using case-based reasoning

This paper proposes a novel agent-based approach to Meta-Heuristics self-configuration. Meta-heuristics are algorithms with parameters which need to be set up as efficient as possible in order to unsure its performance. A learning module for self-parameterization of Meta-heuristics (MH) in a Multi-Agent System (MAS) for resolution of scheduling problems is proposed in this work. The learning module is based on Case-based Reasoning (CBR) and two different integration approaches are proposed. A computational study is made for comparing the two CBR integration perspectives. Finally, some conclusions are reached and future work outlined.

Internal consistency of the self-reporting questionnaire-20 in occupational groups

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To assess the internal consistency of the measurements of the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) in different occupational groups. METHODS A validation study was conducted with data from four surveys with groups of workers, using similar methods. A total of 9,959 workers were studied. In all surveys, the common mental disorders were assessed via SRQ-20. The internal consistency considered the items belonging to dimensions extracted by tetrachoric factor analysis for each study. Item homogeneity assessment compared estimates of Cronbach’s alpha (KD-20), the alpha applied to a tetrachoric correlation matrix and stratified Cronbach’s alpha. RESULTS The SRQ-20 dimensions showed adequate values, considering the reference parameters. The internal consistency of the instrument items, assessed by stratified Cronbach’s alpha, was high (> 0.80) in the four studies. CONCLUSIONS The SRQ-20 showed good internal consistency in the professional categories evaluated. However, there is still a need for studies using alternative methods and additional information able to refine the accuracy of latent variable measurement instruments, as in the case of common mental disorders.

Health self-assessment by hemodialysis patients in the Brazilian Unified Health System

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To examine whether the level of complexity of the services structure and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients in hemodialysis are associated with the prevalence of poor health self-assessment. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated 1,621 patients with chronic terminal kidney disease on hemodialysis accompanied in 81 dialysis services in the Brazilian Unified Health System in 2007. Sampling was performed by conglomerate in two stages and a structured questionnaire was applied to participants. Multilevel multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. RESULTS The prevalence of poor health self-assessment was of 54.5%, and in multivariable analysis it was associated with the following variables: increasing age (OR = 1.02; 95%CI 1.01–1.02), separated or divorced marital status (OR = 0.62; 95%CI 0.34–0.88), having 12 years or more of study (OR = 0.51; 95%CI 0.37–0.71), spending more than 60 minutes in commuting between home and the dialysis service (OR = 1.80; 95%CI 1.29–2.51), having three or more self-referred diseases (OR = 2.20; 95%CI 1.33–3.62), and reporting some (OR = 2.17; 95%CI 1.66–2.84) or a lot of (OR = 2.74; 95%CI 2.04–3.68) trouble falling asleep. Individuals in treatment in dialysis services with the highest level of complexity in the structure presented less chance of performing a self-assessment of their health as bad (OR = 0.59; 95%CI 0.42–0.84). CONCLUSIONS We showed poor health self-assessment is associated with age, years of formal education, marital status, home commuting time to the dialysis service, number of self-referred diseases, report of trouble sleeping, and also with the level of complexity of the structure of health services. Acknowledging these factors can contribute to the development of strategies to improve the health of patients in hemodialysis in the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Optimização das fugas pela boca durante o CPAP nasal: banda submentoniana versus máscara facial

Introdução: O CPAP nasal é o tratamento de eleição para os pacientes com Síndrome da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono (SAOS). Com a máscara nasal podem ocorrer fugas de ar pela boca, que podem por em causa a aderência do paciente ao tratamento devido muitas vezes ao desconforto que provocam, ao aumento do trabalho respiratório e por afectarem a qualidade do sono. Objectivos: Este estudo tem como principal objectivo verificar a eficácia da banda submentoniana e da máscara facial na correcção das fugas pela boca em pacientes com SAOS. Métodos e Participantes: Uma amostra de conveniência de 15 pacientes (8 homens) com SAOS e a fazerem CPAP com máscara nasal, foi recrutada. Foram divididos em dois grupos A e B, onde no grupo A se colocou a banda submentoniana e no grupo B se alterou a interface para máscara facial. Medidas e Resultados: As variáveis avaliadas neste estudo foram as fugas, o IAH, o percentil 95 da pressão de tratamento, a Sa,O2 e os efeitos adversos das duas intervenções. O nível de fugas reduziu no grupo A de 38±11,27 para 24,55±14,30L/min (p=0,002) e no grupo B de 34,34±16,50 para 18,51±16,22L/min (p=0,008). O IAH aumentou no grupo B de 2,60±2,13 para 4,41±3,88 (p=0,016). Relativamente ao percentil 95 da pressão de tratamento aumentou nos dois grupos (Grupo A de 10,15±2,63 para 12,08±2,45cmH2O (p=0,008) e no Grupo B 10,51±1,88 para 12,64±1,29cmH2O (p=0,008)). A Sa,O2 mínima aumentou e o tempo<90% diminui no grupo A com p=0,008, p=0,031, respectivamente. Quanto ao uso auto-reportado verificaram-se poucos efeitos adversos, salientando-se apenas a facilidade de colocação da banda submentoniana, a secura da boca nos dois grupos, a pressão no queixo provocada pela banda e a dor no dorso do nariz provocada pela máscara facial. Conclusão: Ambas as estratégias provaram ser mais eficazes a reduzir a fuga que a máscara nasal. Foram bem toleradas e com poucos efeitos adversos.

Digital-domain self-calibration technique for video-rate pipeline A/D converters using Gaussian white noise

Electronics Letters Vol.38, nº 19

Quantitative description of the self-assembly of patchy particles into chains and rings

We numerically study a simple fluid composed of particles having a hard-core repulsion complemented by two patchy attractive sites on the particle poles. An appropriate choice of the patch angular width allows for the formation of ring structures which, at low temperatures and low densities, compete with the growth of linear aggregates. The simplicity of the model makes it possible to compare simulation results and theoretical predictions based on the Wertheim perturbation theory, specialized to the case in which ring formation is allowed. Such a comparison offers a unique framework for establishing the quality of the analytic predictions. We find that the Wertheim theory describes remarkably well the simulation results.

Reply to "Comment on 'Effect of polydispersity on the ordering transition of adsorbed self- assembled rigid rods'"

We comment on the nature of the ordering transition of a model of equilibrium polydisperse rigid rods on the square lattice, which is reported by Lopez et al. to exhibit random percolation criticality in the canonical ensemble, in sharp contrast to (i) our results of Ising criticality for the same model in the grand canonical ensemble [Phys. Rev. E 82, 061117 (2010)] and (ii) the absence of exponent(s) renormalization for constrained systems with logarithmic specific-heat anomalies predicted on very general grounds by Fisher [Phys. Rev. 176, 257 (1968)].

The nature of the ordered phase of the confined self-assembled rigid Rod model

We investigate the nature of the ordered phase and the orientational correlations between adjacent layers of the confined three-dimensional self-assembled rigid rod model, on the cubic lattice. We find that the ordered phase at finite temperatures becomes uniaxial in the thermodynamic limit, by contrast to the ground state (partial) order where the orientation of the uncorrelated layers is perpendicular to one of the three lattice directions. The increase of the orientational correlation between layers as the number of layers increases suggests that the unconfined model may also exhibit uniaxial ordering at finite temperatures.

Visualization of clusters in geo-referenced data using three-dimensional self-organizing maps

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação

Aprendizagem autónoma (self-directed learning): relatório de um atelier pedagógico

Educação Médica. 1994, 5(3):178-181.

On-line self-healing of circuits implemented on reconfigurable FPGAs

To boost logic density and reduce per unit power consumption SRAM-based FPGAs manufacturers adopted nanometric technologies. However, this technology is highly vulnerable to radiation-induced faults, which affect values stored in memory cells, and to manufacturing imperfections. Fault tolerant implementations, based on Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) infrastructures, help to keep the correct operation of the circuit. However, TMR is not sufficient to guarantee the safe operation of a circuit. Other issues like module placement, the effects of multi- bit upsets (MBU) or fault accumulation, have also to be addressed. In case of a fault occurrence the correct operation of the affected module must be restored and/or the current state of the circuit coherently re-established. A solution that enables the autonomous restoration of the functional definition of the affected module, avoiding fault accumulation, re-establishing the correct circuit state in real-time, while keeping the normal operation of the circuit, is presented in this paper.

A framework for self-healing radiation-tolerant implementations on reconfigurable FPGAs

To increase the amount of logic available in SRAM-based FPGAs manufacturers are using nanometric technologies to boost logic density and reduce prices. However, nanometric scales are highly vulnerable to radiation-induced faults that affect values stored in memory cells. Since the functional definition of FPGAs relies on memory cells, they become highly prone to this type of faults. Fault tolerant implementations, based on triple modular redundancy (TMR) infrastructures, help to keep the correct operation of the circuit. However, TMR is not sufficient to guarantee the safe operation of a circuit. Other issues like the effects of multi-bit upsets (MBU) or fault accumulation, have also to be addressed. Furthermore, in case of a fault occurrence the correct operation of the affected module must be restored and the current state of the circuit coherently re-established. A solution that enables the autonomous correct restoration of the functional definition of the affected module, avoiding fault accumulation, re-establishing the correct circuit state in realtime, while keeping the normal operation of the circuit, is presented in this paper.

A self-healing real-time system based on run-time self-reconfiguration

The new generations of SRAM-based FPGA (field programmable gate array) devices are the preferred choice for the implementation of reconfigurable computing platforms intended to accelerate processing in real-time systems. However, FPGA's vulnerability to hard and soft errors is a major weakness to robust configurable system design. In this paper, a novel built-in self-healing (BISH) methodology, based on run-time self-reconfiguration, is proposed. A soft microprocessor core implemented in the FPGA is responsible for the management and execution of all the BISH procedures. Fault detection and diagnosis is followed by repairing actions, taking advantage of the dynamic reconfiguration features offered by new FPGA families. Meanwhile, modular redundancy assures that the system still works correctly

CARTO-SOM - Cartogram creation using self-organizing maps

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Ciência e Sistemas de Informação Geográfica