Free-Floating Thrombi in the Right Atrium Causing Pulmonary Embolism

A 74-year-old man presented to our Emergency Department with acute dyspnoea. His electrocardiogram showed atrial flutter with 2:1 block and a rate of 150 bpm. Initial investigations revealed a D-dimer level of 6.01 mg/dl. Based on the patient’s complaints and the high D-dimer level, computed tomography pulmonary angiography was immediately performed. This showed no evidence of pulmonary embolism, but there were pneumatic changes in the right upper lung lobe. Antibiotics treatment was started with pipracillin/tazobactam, after which the patient’s condition improved. However, on the third day after admission he developed acute dyspnoea, diaphoresis and cardiopulmonary instability immediately after defecation. To promptly confirm our clinical suspicion of pulmonary embolism, a transthoracic echocardiography was carried out. This demonstrated a worm-like, mobile mass in the right heart. The right ventricle was enlarged, and paradoxical septal motion was present, indicating right ventricular pressure overload. The systolic tricuspid valvular gradient was 56 mmHg. The patient was treated with thrombolysis. His condition was greatly clinically improved after 3 hours. After 10 days of hospitalization, the patient was discharged.

THE PHYSICS OF IDEAS: INFERRING THE MECHANICS OF OPINION FORMATION FROM MACROSCOPIC STATISTICAL PATTERNS

In a microscopic setting, humans behave in rich and unexpected ways. In a macroscopic setting, however, distinctive patterns of group behavior emerge, leading statistical physicists to search for an underlying mechanism. The aim of this dissertation is to analyze the macroscopic patterns of competing ideas in order to discern the mechanics of how group opinions form at the microscopic level. First, we explore the competition of answers in online Q&A (question and answer) boards. We find that a simple individual-level model can capture important features of user behavior, especially as the number of answers to a question grows. Our model further suggests that the wisdom of crowds may be constrained by information overload, in which users are unable to thoroughly evaluate each answer and therefore tend to use heuristics to pick what they believe is the best answer. Next, we explore models of opinion spread among voters to explain observed universal statistical patterns such as rescaled vote distributions and logarithmic vote correlations. We introduce a simple model that can explain both properties, as well as why it takes so long for large groups to reach consensus. An important feature of the model that facilitates agreement with data is that individuals become more stubborn (unwilling to change their opinion) over time. Finally, we explore potential underlying mechanisms for opinion formation in juries, by comparing data to various types of models. We find that different null hypotheses in which jurors do not interact when reaching a decision are in strong disagreement with data compared to a simple interaction model. These findings provide conceptual and mechanistic support for previous work that has found mutual influence can play a large role in group decisions. In addition, by matching our models to data, we are able to infer the time scales over which individuals change their opinions for different jury contexts. We find that these values increase as a function of the trial time, suggesting that jurors and judicial panels exhibit a kind of stubbornness similar to what we include in our model of voting behavior.

Violência intrafamiliar contra a criança: intervenção de enfermeiros da estratégia saúde da família

Objetivou analisar a atuação dos enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família frente à violência intrafamiliar contra a criança, visando identificar ações de prevenção do problema. Pesquisa descritiva e exploratória de cunho qualitativo, cujos dados foram analisados conforme análise de conteúdo. Participaram do estudo 14 enfermeiros da Estratégia de Saúde da Família do município de Mossoró-RN. Dados coletados utilizando-se questionário semiestruturado. As ações de promoção à saúde são atividades educativas desenvolvidas após detecção de casos. O medo de represálias do agente agressor, a sobrecarga de trabalho, a falta de apoio dos gestores e a dificuldade para a materialização da interdisciplinaridade, intersetorialidade e integralidade da atenção foram mencionadas como barreiras ao enfrentamento do problema

STRESS AND INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURHSIP: The dark side of international entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship attracts people with high job satisfaction and financial independence. Unfortunately, being deceived by this image, people do not pay attention to side effects of entrepreneurship. This ignorance usually turns into devastating results for entrepreneur’s health and venture performance. Therefore, it is required to seek ways to avoid these situations. The interest of the study lies in understanding of stress influence on international entrepreneurs by considering stress as a negative side effect of international entrepreneurship. To cover the concept of entrepreneurial stress completely, the study was divided into three section presented by following research questions: 1. What are the antecedents of entrepreneurial stress? 2. What are the consequences of entrepreneurial stress? 3. What coping strategies are applied to address entrepreneurial stress? Systematic literature review has been chosen as scientific approach to answer above questions due to the reason that it enables to minimise inconsistencies of both concepts of international entrepreneurship and stress. This method has afforded an opportunity to distinguish such stress causes as role conflict, overload, and ambiguity. Additionally, the study has covered the notion of stress moderators. The author argues that entrepreneurial traits, venture environment, and social support can have influence on degree of stress perception. Further, it has been proven that unaddressed stress could lead to reduction of entrepreneur’s psychological and physiological health. It should be taken into consideration that degree of both job satisfaction and performance would depend on the level of perceived stress. The last part of study emphasises the coping strategies. The author argues that it is important for an international entrepreneur to comprehend his or her and others’ emotions in order to overcome negative consequences of stress. In addition, the author suggests that an international entrepreneur needs to practise job sharing to reduce the amount of work to be completed. Moreover, it is believed that job sharing can help to overcome work-family conflict that prevails among entrepreneurs. The author anticipates that results of study can be beneficial for entrepreneurs who aim to achieve great results.

Hepcidin and Ferritin Levels in Fever of Unknown Origin: Is There a New Biomarker?

Background and objectives: Significantly elevated serum ferritin levels are associated with both iron overload and some inflammatory conditions. Hepcidin is a protein that interferes with iron absorption in inflammatory states and acts as an acute-phase reactant. Materials and methods: Here we report the case a 33-year-old patient who presented with high fever, skin lesions and arthralgia lasting for 2 weeks. His ferritin level was 13,800 µg/l and his hepcidin level was 61 ng/dl. Results: The final diagnosis was adult onset Still's disease. The condition evolved satisfactorily with steroid treatment, but after several weeks the patient presented with an unexpected recurrence. Conclusions: Hepcidin is a good inflammatory marker that could be useful in the differential diagnosis of hyperferritinaemia.

CAREGIVING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Objective: To know the perception of informal caregivers regarding the care for a family member with head and neck cancer. Methods: Qualitative study conducted between March and May 2014 in the radiotherapy outpatient center of the Centro de Alta Complexidade em Oncologia – CACON (Oncology High Complexity Center) of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília – HUB (University Hospital of Brasília) using semi-structured interviews with nine caregivers about the experience of caring for family members. Data underwent Content Analysis and four units of meaning were identified: “Representation of cancer in the Family”, “The care as debt, individual reward or reconstruction of family ties”, “Repercussions of cancer on the caregiver’s personal life” and “Social support and network used by caregivers”. Results: Feelings of sadness and surprise at the moment of diagnosis were attributed to cancer, as well as the idea of punishment. The care was seen as personal satisfaction, accomplishment and opportunity for family rapprochement. Work overload and change in routine were altered functions. Religiosity, exchange of experience in the waiting room and institutional support appeared as coping strategies. Conclusion: The experience of caring for family members with head and neck cancer directly interferes in the lives of caregivers. Pointing out the institutional embracement as a strategy within the social network reinforces the importance of integrating the caregivers as a significant part of the health care plan developed by the health team.

PERCEPTIONS AND EXPERIENCES OF FAMILY CAREGIVERS OF BEDRIDDEN ELDERLY

Objective: To know the perceptions and experiences of family caregivers of bedridden elderly. Methods: A qualitative descriptive exploratory study conducted in January 2015 with four caregivers in a Family Health Center in the municipality of Araripe, CE. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and the information was organized using the content analysis technique. A total of three categories emerged from the analysis of the reports of caregivers: the dependence process of the elderly; daily difficulties experienced by the caregiver; and satisfaction with the home care service. Results: The dependence process of the elderly took place as a consequence of pathological processes such as neoplasm, cerebrovascular accident and dementia. However, it could also be observed that physiological phenomena – common in old age – can also make individuals dependent on caregivers. As to the difficulties faced by the caregivers, they reported the need for greater involvement by the family, given that the centralization of work generates an overload and hence affects the care of the elderly. Teamwork in the home care context is fundamental, given that it allows a complementary and comprehensive care to the ledrely/caregiver binomial. Conclusion: Healthy aging is a major challenge to be overcome given that the development of a healthy lifestyle is difficult in all social strata. It is necessary to improve home care in order to provide support to caregivers so that the quality of life of bedridden elderly and caregivers is improved.

Editorial

Se inicia el curso lectivo de 1995 con la charla de la Máster Rita Jiménez, quien compartió su experiencia como bibliotecóloga en la Biblioteca del Congreso de los Estados Unidos. Se refirió a la sobrecarga de información que deben afrontar los bibliotecólogos, porque cada mes deben aprender el manejo de una nueva base de datos.

Nivel de sobrecarga y factores asociados de los cuidadores primarios de los/as pacientes del centro de atención ambulatoria 302 del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, Cuenca Ecuador, 2014

OBJETIVOS: Identificar el nivel de sobrecarga y sus factores asociados en los cuidadores primarios de los /as pacientes del Centro de Atención Ambulatoria 302 del IESS. METODOLOGÍA: Es un estudio cuantitativo analítico-transversal, cuyo universo es 222 cuidadores primarios de adultos mayores, controlados en el Centro de Atención Ambulatoria 302 del Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social, Cuenca Ecuador. Los datos se obtuvieron del formulario que consta de un apartado sociodemográfico, variables de estudio, Índice de Katz y Escala del Nivel de Sobrecarga de Zarit. Se tabuló y analizó la información obtenida exponiéndola en los resultados. RESULTADOS: En promedio los cuidadores tienen 53 años, en su mayoría de sexo femenino, 52% de ellos casados, casi el 60% son hijos y un 11% conyugues del adulto mayor. La mayoría los cuida 12 horas en el día, los 7 días de la semana y llevan cuidándolos al menos 5 años. Se observó que 26% de adultos mayores tiene una dependencia moderada y el 38% dependencia severa. De acuerdo al test de Zarit el 18,7% de cuidadores tienen sobrecarga leve y el 14% sobrecarga intensa. CONCLUSIONES: El 18,7% de los cuidadores primarios presentan una sobrecarga leve y el 14% perciben una sobrecarga intensa.

Trabalho e família: um estudo da interação de papéis com secretários executivos

The balance between the demands of two important spheres of human life, work and family, has become a challenge due to the pressures of the contemporary that is expanding around the difficulties of reconciling these two comínios. In this sense, this research aimed to understand the work-family interaction in the perception of executive secretaries. The analysis approach used was qualitative research, by worrying about a reality that can not be quantified due to the subjectivity of his goal. The data collection technique used was the semistructured interview to twenty executive secretaries, servants of a Federal Institution of Higher Education. For the understanding and interpretation of the data, we used the technique of content analysis. The results of both analyzes identified the existence of conflict as enrichment in this interaction. The time was identified as the largest generator of conflict work. The overload, relationship stress and conflict emerged as elements common to both domains. As main implications of labor disputes, were revealed: problamas health for secretaries and stress. As main implications of family conflicts emerged: motivation for work, lower performance and lack of concentration. The attempt at balance was identified as the strategy most used by secretaries to minimize work-family conflict. The work-family enrichment was seen as resources that contribute to improving the lives of the secretary in both domains. The opportunity to add knowledge was highlighted as enriching element of work and family values ​​as elements enriching family. The support and experience emerged as enrichment items common to both domains. Regarding the implications of enrichment resulting from the interaction of work and family, the more perceived by respondents were: increased knowledge and skills, material and psychological benefits, improved quality of life and personal and professional fulfillment. From the perception of executive secretaries, work and family spheres of human life are essential and complementary, and that help is contrary, however, this relationship is the primary management of conflicts, ie, how the individual sees and manages the negative side of the work-family

Influence of magnesium on biochemical parameters of iron and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes

Introduction: Studies have shown that oxidative stress, found in patients with type 2 diabetes, may be due to changes in the metabolism of minerals, such as magnesium and iron. Data related to compartmentalization of these minerals in diabetes are scarce and controversial. Objective: This study assessed the influence of magnesium on biochemical parameters of iron and oxidative stress in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: A case-control study in male and female subjects aged 27-59 years, divided into two groups: type 2 diabetes (n=40) and control (n=48). Intake of magnesium and iron was assessed by three-day food record. Plasma, erythrocyte and urinary levels of magnesium, serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, insulin, creatinine clearance and plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were analyzed. Results and Discussion: Magnesium intake and plasma magnesium were lower in diabetic subjects. There was low urinary magnesium excretion, with no difference between groups. Although normal, the diabetic group had lower serum iron and ferritin concentrations compared to control subjects. Plasma TBARS in diabetic patients was higher than control while creatinine clearance was lower. An inverse correlation between erythrocyte magnesium and serum iron and ferritin was observed in the diabetes group. Conclusions: Diabetes induced hypomagnesemia and this, associated with chronic hyperglycemia, may have enhanced oxidative stress. Erythrocyte magnesium may have contributed to prevent iron overload and worsening of oxidative stress and hyperglycemic status.

Inverse kinematics for upper limb compound movement estimation in exoskeleton-assisted rehabilitation

Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation (RAR) is relevant for treating patients affected by nervous system injuries (e.g., stroke and spinal cord injury) -- The accurate estimation of the joint angles of the patient limbs in RAR is critical to assess the patient improvement -- The economical prevalent method to estimate the patient posture in Exoskeleton-based RAR is to approximate the limb joint angles with the ones of the Exoskeleton -- This approximation is rough since their kinematic structures differ -- Motion capture systems (MOCAPs) can improve the estimations, at the expenses of a considerable overload of the therapy setup -- Alternatively, the Extended Inverse Kinematics Posture Estimation (EIKPE) computational method models the limb and Exoskeleton as differing parallel kinematic chains -- EIKPE has been tested with single DOFmovements of the wrist and elbow joints -- This paper presents the assessment of EIKPEwith elbow-shoulder compoundmovements (i.e., object prehension) -- Ground-truth for estimation assessment is obtained from an optical MOCAP (not intended for the treatment stage) -- The assessment shows EIKPE rendering a good numerical approximation of the actual posture during the compoundmovement execution, especially for the shoulder joint angles -- This work opens the horizon for clinical studies with patient groups, Exoskeleton models, and movements types --

Arquitetura de rede com suporte à mobilidade de fluxo IP e ao gerenciamento de Mobilidade Distribuído (DMM)

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Tecnologia, Departamento de Engenharia Elétrica, 2016.

Qualidade de vida no trabalho nos serviços de maior turnover do Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário, E.P.E.

O desempenho de uma atividade laboral prende-se, de um modo geral, com a necessidade de realização pessoal e profissional e a necessidade de subsistência. A qualidade de vida no trabalho envolve fatores fundamentais, desde as condições físicas do local de trabalho à progressão na carreira que, por sua vez vão influenciar a produtividade, a motivação e os custos associados à falta de qualidade dos cuidados. Cabe a cada Organização ser responsável pela manutenção e melhoria qualidade de vida dos seus colaboradores e, deste modo, com o desenvolvimento de pessoal especializado e motivado, a Organização consegue diminuir os custos e aumentar a produtividade. Esta investigação pretende identificar quais os fatores que influenciam a qualidade de vida no trabalho dos enfermeiros que desenvolvem os seus cuidados nos Serviços com maior turnover do Hospital Nossa Senhora do Rosário, E.P.E. (HNSR, E.P.E.), que são: o Serviço de Cirurgia, Medicina e a Urgência Geral. Foi elaborado um questionário dirigido aos enfermeiros prestadores de cuidados com o intuito de recolher dados relativos aos fatores que influenciam a qualidade de vida e as suas consequências (turnover, acidentes de trabalho e stress ocupacional). Os enfermeiros destacaram como principais fatores influenciadores da qualidade de vida no trabalho a sobrecarga de trabalho e a motivação para a realização do trabalho e como consequências da falta de qualidade de vida no trabalho a desmotivação e o desgaste físico e psicológico. ABSTRACT: The requirement of an employment is closely related to personal and professional fulfilments, and also to subsistence matters. The quality of life of the employee depends upon factors like physical labor conditions to range from career development. These factors will affect the performance and motivation of the employee. Each institution should be responsible for the maintenance and improvement of the quality of life of their employees. This will allow for the development of specialized staff which in turn may lead to a reduction on costs and to higher productivity. The aim of this research project is to identify the factors that have a great influence on the quality of life of nurses working on HNSR, E.P.E. departments with higher turnover. The departments with higher turnover are: surgery, medicine and emergency. ln order to collect information about the different factors influencing quality of life and their ultimate consequences, such as turnover, labor accidents and occupational stress, a questionnaire was set up. Afterwards, this questionnaire was sent to nursing care staff of HNSR, E.P.E. The nurses mention as major indicators influencing their quality of life at their job: the overload of work and motivation to care. The main stated consequences of the lack of quality life at work were: demotivation and burnout.

Aportación de la bioimpedancia espectroscópica en el estado nutricional y de hidratación del paciente en hemodiálisis: impacto en la morbi-mortalidad

Aportación de la bioimpedancia espectroscópica en la valoración del estado de nutrición e hidratación del paciente en hemodiálisis. Impacto en la morbimortalidad. Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica tienen una mortalidad muy superior a la población general, siendo la principal causa la cardiovascular (Foley et al. 2005; Locatelli et al. 2004). Como consecuencia del gran impacto que tienen el estado nutricional ( Pifer et al. 2002; Gracia Iguacel et al. 2013) y la sobrehidratación (Kalantar Zadeh et al. 2009; Wizemann et al. 2009; Agarwal et al. 2010; Chazot et al. 2012) en la mortalidad, en los ultimos años se han desarrollado distintos métodos de análisis de la composición corporal, entre los cuales se encuentra la Bioimpedancia Espectroscópica (BIS). Esta herramienta permite cuantificar los diversos compartimentos del cuerpo (fundamentalmente masa magra, masa grasa y agua corporal) proporcionando al clínico información útil para la toma de decisiones, fundamentalmente en lo que respecta a la sobrecarga de volumen, aspecto fundamental en el manejo del paciente en hemodiálisis (López Gómez et al. 2011). La justificación de esta investigación se basa en existen pocos estudios longitudinales que analicen la evolución en el tiempo de marcadores nutricionales bioquímicos clásicos así como parámetros de bioimpedancia y su asociación con la morbimortalidad; no existiendo aún consenso sobre si los distintos marcadores pronósticos son mas predictivos con medidas basales o con medidas de seguimiento en el tiempo, por lo que nuestro trabajo puede contribuir a clarificar este aspecto. Además, existe un desconocimiento sobre el estado inflamatorio, la prevalencia de DPE y de sobrehidratación en la población en hemodiálisis de nuestro entorno por lo que consideramos importante analizarla para saber dónde estamos y en qué podemos mejorar. Objetivos: 1.- Impacto de la composición corporal así como de marcadores nutricionales bioquímicos e inflamatorios seguidos en el tiempo, sobre la morbimortalidad (evento compuesto muerte-hospitalización). 2.- Prevalencia del Síndrome de Desgaste Proteico Energético en función de distintas herramientas utilizadas para su valoración (criterios ISRNM, score MIS, y bioimpedancia).3.-Correlación entre los parámetros de bioimpedancia y parámetros bioquímicos nutricionales e inflamatorios. 4.- Análisis de la evolución en el tiempo de los parámetros bioquímicos, antropométricos y de bioimpedancia en el global de la muestra y en distintos grupos atendiendo al sexo, presencia de diabetes y grado de inflamación.. Diseño: Estudio observacional prospectivo de 15 meses de duración (Octubre/2013-Dic/2014) en pacientes prevalentes en hemodiálisis. Se ha realizado un corte transversal con los datos del primer mes de inclusión del paciente en el estudio (basal), a partir del cual se ha iniciado el seguimiento en el tiempo cada 2 meses. La mediana de seguimiento del estudio ha sido de 12 meses (RI 10-13 m). Pacientes y métodos: el nº de pacientes incluidos en el estudio fue de 169. Se incluyeron los pacientes estables, con mas de 3 meses en HD, excluyendose pacientes con ingreso reciente, proceso infeccioso o inflamatorio en 3 meses previos, neoplasia activa, marcapasos unipolar o con umbral de sensibilidad desconocido. Todos los pacientes firmaron el consentimiento informado. La prevalencia de DPE se analizó en el momento inicial y final del estudio. Para el análisis de la morbimortalidad se consideraron todos los ingresos de causa no programada, así como los éxitus por cualquier causa. Las funciones de supervivencia se calcularon mediante el análisis de Kaplan-Meier Para la identificación de las variables predictoras independientes del evento compuesto (muerte y / u hospitalización) se realizó un modelo de Cox univariante con las variables analíticas ( basal, media, mediana, máximo y mínimo) y demográficas y un modelo de Cox ajustado por edad,sexo e IMC con los parámetros de bioimpedancia . Las variables que dieron significativas en estos modelos (P < 0,05) se introdujeron en un modelo de Cox multivariante. Resultados. La prevalencia de DPE según criterios del ISRNM fue del 9.3 % en el momento basal, y del 4,3% en el momento de finalización del estudio. La prevalencia de sobrehidratación medida como AvROH fue del 20,1%. Durante el periodo de seguimiento se produjeron cambios significativos fundamentalmente en el índice de tejido graso (ITG) y en la sobrehidratación en los meses de verano (AvROH y TAFO). El 26% de la población de estudio tuvo al menos un ingreso hospitalario. 21 pacientes fallecieron durante el seguimiento (12,4% de la población). La principal causa de ingreso y éxitus fue la cardiovascular; consituyendo el 35% de los ingresos y el 57% de los éxitus. Los parámetros que presentaron asociación con el evento compuesto fueron: TAFO mínimo (HR 1.319: IC 95% 1.029-1.691; p= 0.029), PCR mediana (HR 1.032; IC 95% 1.014-1.050; p=0.001), albúmina máxima (HR 0.286; IC95% 0.085-0.966), colesterol total (HR 1.011; IC 95% 1.003-1.019; p=0.007) y nivel de 25 OH vit D (HR 0.947; IC 95% 0.915-0.981); p= 0.002). Conclusiones: El principal resultado de nuestro trabajo fue que la sobrehidratación, (medida como TAFO) se asoció de forma independiente con la morbimortalidad, y que las medidas seguidas en el tiempo (TAFO mínimo) tuvieron un mayor poder predictivo que las medidas basales. Adicionalmente; el estado nutricional e inflamatorio, medido mediante parámetros individuales, supuso un mayor impacto en la morbimortalidad que parámetros agrupados, como el score MIS o el síndrome DPE según criterios ISRNM. En nuestro estudio hemos encontrado importantes diferencias en la prevalencia de DPE en función de la herramienta utilizada (criterios ISRNM, MIS y parámetros de bioimpedancia). Finalmente, la periodicidad de la medición de las diferentes variables a lo largo del seguimiento nos ha permitido apreciar los cambios estacionales en los parámetros de bioimpedancia, los cuales se han acompañado de cambios en sentido inverso de algunos de los parámetros bioquímicos nutricionales.