Mensuração da qualidade de vida de indivíduos com a doença de Parkinson por meio do questionário PDQ-39

INTRODUÇÃO: A doença de Parkinson (DP) é caracterizada por uma degeneração progressiva seletiva de neurônios localizados na pars compacta da substância negra. Ela compõe-se por um conjunto de quatro sintomas motores: tremor, rigidez, bradicinesia e instabilidade postural. OBJETIVO: O estudo objetivou investigar os fatores relacionados à queda na percepção da qualidade de vida de indivíduos com DP. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 25 indivíduos com diagnóstico de doença de Parkinson, classificados entre os estágios um e cinco da escala de estadiamento de Hoen e Yahr, tendo a sua qualidade de vida avaliada segundo o Parkinson Disease Questionary-39 (PDQ-39). RESULTADOS: Os 25 indivíduos (12 homens e 13 mulheres) apresentaram idade média de 71,2 ± 8,5 anos, variando entre 53 a 85 anos, e tempo de evolução da doença de 6,54 ± 7,71, variando entre 1 e 39 anos de doença. Verificou-se que as piores percepções sobre a qualidade de vida estão relacionadas ao domínio mobilidade, com média de 55% de comprometimento, e ao domínio atividade de vida diária, com 52,78% de comprometimento. Ficou também constatada uma alta correlação entre o escore total do PDQ-39 com os domínios atividade de vida diária, bem-estar emocional e mobilidade. CONCLUSÕES: A partir dos resultados obtidos, é possível constatar que carências de origem motora associadas aos sinais e sintomas e às complicações secundárias da DP interferem negativamente sobre a percepção da qualidade de vida dos indivíduos.

High volume peritoneal dialysis vs daily hemodialysis: A randomized, controlled trial in patients with acute kidney injury

There is no consensus in the literature on the best renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI), with both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) being used as AKI therapy. However, there are concerns about the inadequacy of PD as well as about the intermittency of HD complicated by hemodynamic instability. Recently, continuous replacement renal therapy (CRRT) have become the most commonly used dialysis method for AKI around the world. A prospective randomized controlled trial was performed to compare the effect of high volume peritoneal dialysis (HVPD) with daily hemodialysis (DHD) on AKI patient survival. A total of 120 patients with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) were assigned to HVPD or DHD in a tertiary-care university hospital. The primary end points were hospital survival rate and renal function recovery, with metabolic control as the secondary end point. Sixty patients were treated with HVPD and 60 with DHD. The HVPD and DHD groups were similar for age ( 64.2 +/- 19.8 and 62.5 +/- 21.2 years), gender ( male: 72 and 66%), sepsis ( 42 and 47%), hemodynamic instability ( 61 and 63%), severity of AKI ( Acute Tubular Necrosis-Index Specific Score (ATN-ISS): 0.68 +/- 0.2 and 0.66 +/- 0.2), Acute Physiology, Age, and Chronic Health Evaluation Score (APACHE II) (26.9 +/- 8.9 and 24.1 +/- 8.2), pre-dialysis BUN (116.4 +/- 33.6 and 112.6 +/- 36.8mg per 100 ml), and creatinine ( 5.8 +/- 1.9 and 5.9 +/- 1.4 mg per 100 ml). Weekly delivered Kt/V was 3.6 +/- 0.6 in HVPD and 4.7 +/- 0.6 in DHD ( P<0.01). Metabolic control, mortality rate ( 58 and 53%), and renal function recovery ( 28 and 26%) were similar in both groups, whereas HVPD was associated with a significantly shorter time to the recovery of renal function. In conclusion, HVPD and DHD can be considered as alternative forms of RRT in AKI.

Continuous peritoneal dialysis compared with daily hemodialysis in patients with acute kidney injury

Background: In some parts of the world, peritoneal dialysis is widely used for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute kidney injury (AKI), despite concerns about its inadequacy. It has been replaced in recent years by hemodialysis and, most recently, by continuous venovenous therapies. We performed a prospective study to determine the effect of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD), as compared with daily hemodialysis (dHD), on survival among patients with AKI.Methods: A total of 120 patients with acute tubular necrosis (ATN) were assigned to receive CPD or dHD in a tertiary-care university hospital. The primary endpoint was hospital survival rate; renal function recovery and metabolic, acid-base, and fluid controls were secondary endpoints.Results: of the 120 patients, 60 were treated with CPD (G1) and 60 with dHD (G2). The two groups were similar at the start of RRT with respect to age (64.2 +/- 19.8 years vs 62.5 +/- 21.2 years), sex (men: 72% vs 66%), sepsis (42% vs 47%), shock (61% vs 63%), severity of AKI [Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATNISS): 0.68 +/- 0.2 vs 0.66 +/- 0.22; Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II: 26.9 +/- 8.9 vs 24.1 +/- 8.2], pre-dialysis blood urea nitrogen [BUN (116.4 +/- 33.6 mg/dL vs 112.6 +/- 36.8 mg/dL)], and creatinine (5.85 +/- 1.9 mg/dL vs 5.95 +/- 1.4 mg/dL). In G1, weekly delivered Kt/V was 3.59 +/- 0.61, and in G2, it was 4.76 +/- 0.65 (p < 0.01). The two groups were similar in metabolic and acid-base control (after 4 sessions, BUN < 55 mg/dL: 46 +/- 18.7 mg/dL vs 52 +/- 18.2 mg/dL; pH: 7.41 vs 7.38; bicarbonate: 22.8 +/- 8.9 mEq/L vs 22.2 +/- 7.1 mEq/L). Duration of therapy was longer in G2 (5.5 days vs 7.5 days; p = 0.02). Despite the delivery of different dialysis methods and doses, the survival rate did not differ between the groups (58% in G1 vs 52% in G2), and recovery of renal function was similar (28% vs 26%).Conclusion: High doses of CPD provided appropriate metabolic and pH control, with a rate of survival and recovery of renal function similar to that seen with dHD. Therefore, CPD can be considered an alternative to other forms of RRT in AKI.

Risco de queda em idosos da comunidade: avaliação com o teste Timed up and go

Risco de queda em idosos pode ser avaliado por meio de um teste simples de mobilidade. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o equilíbrio de idosos usando o teste Timed up and go. MÉTODO: Os indivíduos tiveram o tempo medido desde o momento em que se levantaram de uma cadeira, caminharam 3 metros para a frente e retornaram à cadeira. Os idosos também responderam questões sobre desequilíbrio, tontura e queda. RESULTADOS: Cerca de 69% dos sujeitos realizaram o teste em até 19 segundos. Houve correlação significativa entre desequilíbrio, tempo dispendido e queda, assim como entre tontura e queda. CONCLUSÃO: A maior parte dos idosos mostrou baixos valores no teste, o que sugere boa mobilidade funcional. Entretanto, um número expressivo de indivíduos com valores mais elevados estão, provavelmente, mais propensos a quedas e à dependência menor ou maior nas atividades da vida diária.

Ovarian superstimulatory response and embryo production in mares treated with equine pituitary extract twice daily

Equine pituitary extract (EPE), has been reported to induce multiple ovulation in mares, however ovulation rates are poor in comparison to those obtained in other species. Attempts to improve the effectiveness of EPE for induction of superovulation in cyclic mares has focused on daily frequency of EPE treatment. Two experiments were performed to compare the ovarian response of cyclic mares given EPE once or twice-daily. Mares were assigned to one of two treatment groups 6 to 8 days after ovulation: prostaglandin was given once and EPE (25 mg) was given once daily (Group 1) or twice daily (Group 2). In Experiment 1, more (P < 0.05) follicles 35 mm were detected in mares treated with EPE twice daily (6.1 +/- 3.1) than in mares treated once a daily (2.0 +/- 0.6). In a second experiment, the embryo recovery rates of mares given the two EPE protocols used in Experiment 1 were compared. The number of ovulations per mare was higher (P < 0.05) for mares treated twice-daily (7.1 +/- 5.1, range 3 to 18) than for mares treated once daily (2.4 +/- 1.8, range 1 to 6). The number of embryos produced per mare was higher (P < 0.05) in mares in Group 2 (3.5) than in Group 1 (1.6).Although it is not clear whether the increased ovulation rate is due specifically to dose or frequency, twice-daily administration of a high dose of EPE significantly improved follicular development, ovulation and embryo recovery over the standard treatment of once-daily injection. (C) 2001 by Elsevier B.V.

Mobility, Aesthetic, Implants, and Satisfaction of the Ocular Prostheses Wearers

During the process of facial rehabilitation, the mobility of ocular prostheses must be considered. Whereas some factors depend exclusively on the dentist, such as molding techniques and selection of material for denture construction, regarding ocular rehabilitation, factors, such as type of surgery, whether to adopt implants, and the use of lubricants, deserve special attention owing to their integration and their association with other factors pertaining exclusively to the patient. To establish harmony, and with the intention of aiding the dentist, after a discerning evaluation, the authors of this study report the factors that provide greater or less mobility to ocular prostheses and conceal the prosthesis in a more natural way, thereby contributing toward achieving a favorable aesthetic result in rehabilitations.

The influence of daily application of fluoride products on subsurface bovine enamel lesions stored in saliva substitutes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Episodes of water deprivation enhance daily hypertonic NaCl intake in rats

Water and 1.8% NaCl intake was recorded daily in adult male rats (N = 6) submitted to four water deprivations plus four sodium appetite tests, each at the end of each 7-day interval, or in controls (non-deprived, N = 6). Water deprivation was achieved by removing water and 1.8% NaCl for 24 h. Water was then offered for 2 h. At the end of this period, 1.8% NaCl was also offered in addition to water (sodium appetite test). Average daily 1.8% NaCl intake was enhanced from 5.2 ± 1.0 to 15.7 ± 2.5 ml from the first to the fifth week in the experimental group and was unchanged in the control group. Daily water intake was not altered in either group. Thus, repeated episodes of water deprivation enhance daily NaCl intake.

Orchidopexy restores morphometric-stereologic changes in the caput epididymis and daily sperm production in cryptorchidic mice, although sperm transit time and fertility parameters remain impaired

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

Foraging Behavior of the Swarm-founding Wasp Polybia (Trichothorax) sericea (Hymenoptera, Vespidae): Daily Resource Collection Activity and Flight Capacity

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Quality of life (QoL) in relation to disease severity in Brazilian Parkinson's patients as measured using the WHOQOL-BREF

This study aimed at evaluating and describing the QoL and its association with the severity of disease among Brazilian Parkinson's disease (PD) patients. In this cross-sectional study 68 PD patients were interviewed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) and the Hoehn-Yahr (HY) scale. Analysis of variance, chi(2), Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U-tests, Spearman and Cronbach reliability coefficients were used to analyze the data. The results indicate: (1) physical capacity was the domain that showed the most deterioration; (2) severity of PD is associated with QoL measured by WHOQOL-BREF; (3) overall QoL, working capacity, activities of daily living (ADL) and self-esteem are affected in both transitional periods in the progression of PD (mild to moderate and moderate to advanced). Satisfaction with general health, pain, energy, positive feelings, personal relationship and satisfaction with home are affected in the first period of transition while mobility, body image, sexual activity and access to information are affected in the second. This study mainly shows specific facets that are affected depending on the specific periods of PD progression, which can help to understand the impact of the disease, the effectiveness of care, and the demand for health care resources. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Daily cleaning activity and diversity of clients of the barber goby, Elacatinus figaro, on rocky reefs in southeastern Brazil

Gobies of the genus Elacatinus are regarded as the most specialised cleaner fishes in the western tropical Atlantic, yet there are no studies on these cleaners in the southern portion of West Atlantic. We studied the diversity of clients and the daily cleaning activity of the barber goby, Elacatinus figaro, on rocky reefs in southeastern Brazil (23-24 degrees S). A total of 34 fish client species in 16 families were recorded over 484 cleaning events. The most frequent clients were damselfishes, Pomacentridae (37.9% of cleaning events) and grunts, Haemulidae (16.9%). Planktivores were the most frequently attended trophic category, and two species in that category accounted for about a half (44%) of the total cleaning events. Size of clients ranged 4.5-55 cm and most individuals were medium-sized (12-30 cm); as the barber goby ranged 2-4.5 cm, clients were 1.5 to 15 times larger than the cleaner was. Cleaning activity started at dawn and ended shortly before nightfall, the highest frequency of interactions occurring at early morning (nocturnal clients) and mid-afternoon (diurnal clients). By midday the frequency of cleaning events decreased and their duration increased. A total of 109 +/- 3 cleaning events and 30 +/- 1 min of cleaning activity were estimated per cleaning station per day, both figures low when compared to those recorded for cleaner fishes in tropical areas of the western Atlantic and Indo-Pacific.