Validation of the European Portuguese Version of the Yale Pharyngeal Severity Rating Scale.

This study aimed to validate the Yale Pharyngeal Residue Severity Rating Scale's European Portuguese version and investigate the impact of rater experience. The scale measures the severity of residue in the vallecula and pyriform sinus. Ninety Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing images were selected after consensus and proposed to 13 raters who were asked to assess the severity of pharyngeal residue (PR) in each image in two moments with an interval of two weeks.

Characterization of variables related to high stability of raw cow milk.

This research paper analyzes the stability of raw cow milk in the alcohol test and seeks to understand to know the factors that influence milk stability and the occurrence of unstable non-acid milk. Milk samples were collected from the cooling tanks of rural farmers in the state of Paraná twice in summer and twice in winter. The farms were classified according to the production system: pasture with supplementation and feedlot.

Treatment of a severely compromised endodontically treated tooth with a 2-piece premanufactured glass-fiber post: A clinical report.

A 2-piece premanufactured glass-fiber post-and-core for a child with a severely compromised endodontically treated tooth to restore dental form, function, and esthetics, is described. A shorter chair time than for the conventional options was needed, and the post provided an adequate biomechanical response with a reduced intracanal cement thickness.

Instruments to Assess Evidence-Based Practice Among Health Care Professionals: A Systematic Review.

Background: The use of measurement instruments to assess the use of Evidence-Based Practice by health professionals has been frequently reported in studies.

Aims: This systematic review aimed to summarize, describe, and evaluate the measurement properties of the instruments that evaluate the use of Evidence-Based Practice in health professionals.

Methods: The search was carried out in four databases considering three groups of search terms: evidence-based practice, evaluation, and measurement proprieties.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the European Portuguese Dysphagia Handicap Index.

The Dysphagia Handicap Index (DHI) is a valid Health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) 25-item questionnaire assessing the physical, functional, and emotional aspects of patients with oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD), of heterogeneous etiologies. The purpose of this study is to translate and validate the European Portuguese-DHI (EP-DHI). This is a prospective study that was carried out at Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto (CHUPorto).

Direct guided restorations from planning to definitive restoration: A clinical report.

A direct composite resin placed by using digitally planned prototyped 3D guides and retained with a digitally guided fiberglass micropin was used to restore an extensively damaged maxillary left central incisor.

Suffering experiences of people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy: A meta-ethnographic study.

This meta-ethnography had the objectives of identifying, evaluating, and summarizing the findings of qualitative studies regarding the suffering experiences of people undergoing chemotherapy, as well as developing an explanatory conceptual structure regarding what affects these experiences. A systematic literature review was carried out, covering the past 10 years, in the following databases: CINAHL, Embase, Medline, LILACS and Scopus. By using meta-ethnographic synthesis methods, the following themes were found: the pain of loss; evaluating, measuring, and neutralizing the threat; and social contours of suffering.

Nursing process for a patient with needle phobia: a case study.

Objectives: to report a clinical case of needle phobia which culminated in cardiac arrest and describe the outcome of a care plan based on fear and anxiety diagnoses, using the Roy adaptation model as the framework.

Methods: case study conducted in a chemotherapy outpatient unit in Rio de Janeiro. Care was guided by the nursing process and the use of instruments to assess the venous network, anxiety and fear.

The impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on diabetic painful neuropathy.

Introduction: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most devastating complications of diabetes mellitus; however, in contrast to other countries, there are no scientific studies in Portugal evaluating the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics of this pathological entity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of gender, metabolic control, age of diabetic patients, as well as time of disease progression, the appearance of complaints related to neuropathic pain.

Material And Methods: A multicentre study with a non-probabilistic, convenience sample of 359 patients was performed employing the quantitative method, using the Statistical Package for Social Science 24 software.

Rainfall seasonality predicts the germination behavior of a tropical dry-forest vine.

Seed dormancy is considered to be an adaptive strategy in seasonal and/or unpredictable environments because it prevents germination during climatically favorable periods that are too short for seedling establishment. Tropical dry forests are seasonal environments where seed dormancy may play an important role in plant resilience and resistance to changing precipitation patterns. We studied the germination behavior of seeds from six populations of the Neotropical vine (Euphorbiaceae) originating from environments of contrasting rainfall seasonality.

Tb II-I, a Fraction Isolated from Scorpion Venom, Alters Cytokines': Level and Induces Seizures When Intrahippocampally Injected in Rats.

Scorpion venoms are composed of several substances with different pharmacological activities. Neurotoxins exert their effects by targeting ion channels resulting in toxic effects to mammals, insects and crustaceans. Tb II-I, a fraction isolated from scorpion venom, was investigated for its ability to induce neurological and immune-inflammatory effects.

Perinatal effects of scorpion venoms: maternal and offspring development.

Scorpion envenomation is a public health problem, especially in tropical and subtropical countries. Considering the high incidence of scorpionism in some areas, pregnant women and nursing mothers may be possible victims. Scorpion stings alter the release of neurotransmitters and some cytokines.

Esthetic planning with a digital tool: A clinical report.

This clinical report describes digital planning and execution using a novel software tool to enhance digital workflow. The proposed treatment, integrated with the face of the patient, was presented before clinical treatment. The patient was rehabilitated with ceramic veneers.

Evaluation of the mercaptobenzothiazole degradation by combined adsorption process and Fenton reaction using iron mining residue.

The present study investigated the degradation of mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), evaluating homogeneous and heterogeneous systems. An iron mineral residue from the desliming step of iron mining was used as a source in the Fenton-like reaction (advanced oxidation process). A granulometric analysis of the residue was performed and yielded fractions with high hematite (FeO) and low quartz content in sieves from 74 to below 44 mm.

Effect of maternal exposure to Tityus bahiensis scorpion venom during lactation on the offspring of rats.

Scorpion stings are a public health problem in Brazil and lactating women may be affected. We aimed to study the effects of Tityus bahiensis venom in the offspring of rats treated during lactation. Mothers received a subcutaneous injection of saline (1.

Mini fiberglass post for composite resin restorations: A clinical report.

Threaded metal pins have been used to create additional retention for large composite resin restorations. However, their dark appearance may compromise esthetic outcome. The use of small fiberglass posts has been advocated as an alternative.

Antigenicity and protective efficacy of a Leishmania amastigote-specific protein, member of the super-oxygenase family, against visceral leishmaniasis.

Background: The present study aimed to evaluate a hypothetical Leishmania amastigote-specific protein (LiHyp1), previously identified by an immunoproteomic approach performed in Leishmania infantum, which showed homology to the super-oxygenase gene family, attempting to select a new candidate antigen for specific serodiagnosis, as well as to compose a vaccine against VL.

Methodology/principal Findings: The LiHyp1 DNA sequence was cloned; the recombinant protein (rLiHyp1) was purified and evaluated for its antigenicity and immunogenicity. The rLiHyp1 protein was recognized by antibodies from sera of asymptomatic and symptomatic animals with canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), but presented no cross-reactivity with sera of dogs vaccinated with Leish-Tec, a Brazilian commercial vaccine; with Chagas' disease or healthy animals.

Impaired sympathoadrenal axis function contributes to enhanced insulin secretion in prediabetic obese rats.

The involvement of sympathoadrenal axis activity in obesity onset was investigated using the experimental model of treating neonatal rats with monosodium L-glutamate. To access general sympathetic nervous system activity, we recorded the firing rates of sympathetic superior cervical ganglion nerves in animals. Catecholamine content and secretion from isolated adrenal medulla were measured.

Bacterial secretion chaperones.

Many Gram-negative bacteria are able to invade hosts by translocation of effectors directly into target cells in processes usually mediated by two very complex secretion systems (SSs), named type III (T3) and type IV (T4) SSs. These syringe-needle injection devices work with intervention of specialized secretion chaperones that, unlike traditional molecular chaperones, do not assist in protein folding and are not energized by ATP. Controversy still surrounds secretion chaperones primary role, but we can say that these chaperones act as: (i) bodyguards to prevent premature aggregation, or as (ii) pilots to direct substrate secretion through the correct secretion system.

Autonomic activity and glycemic homeostasis are maintained by precocious and low intensity training exercises in MSG-programmed obese mice.

Current research employed electrical records from superior vagus and sympathetic nerve branch that supply fat retroperitoneal tissue (RS nerve) to investigate whether very moderate swim training in obese-programmed mice would change sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system activities. Neonatal mice were treated with monosodium L: -glutamate (MSG), during their first 5 days of life, to induce obesity. Mice started training on weaning, comprising free swimming 3 days/week, 15 min/day for 10 weeks.

Tissue Doppler imaging as a long-term prognostic index in left ventricular systolic dysfunction.

Background: Tissue Doppler parameters correlate with left ventricular (LV) filling pressure and can be useful as prognostic indexes for patients with heart failure.

Objective: Determine whether tissue Doppler parameters can predict events during long term follow-up of outpatients with LV systolic dysfunction.

Methods: Retrospective study with 73 patients (aged 60.

[Newborn hearing screening program: association between hearing loss and risk factors].

Background: Hearing loss in newborns.

Aim: To verify the prevalence of auditory alterations in newborns of Hospital São Paulo (hospital), observing if there are any correlations with the following variables: birth weight, gestational age, relation weight/gestational age and risk factors for hearing loss.

Method: A retrospective analysis of the hospital records of 1696 newborns; 648 records of preterm infants and 1048 records of infants born at term.

The action of extracellular NAD+ on gluconeogenesis in the perfused rat liver.

In the rat liver NAD+ infusion produces increases in portal perfusion pressure and glycogenolysis and transient inhibition of oxygen consumption. The aim of the present work was to investigate the possible action of this agent on gluconeogenesis using lactate as a gluconeogenic precursor. Hemoglobin-free rat liver perfusion in antegrade and retrograde modes was used with enzymatic determination of glucose production and polarographic assay of oxygen uptake.

Tissue Doppler imaging identifies asymptomatic normotensive diabetics with diastolic dysfunction and reduced exercise tolerance.

Background: Early recognition of heart disease in diabetics is a highly desirable goal, and diastolic dysfunction, one of its earliest manifestations, can be readily assessed by tissue Doppler imaging. We tested in normotensive diabetics without signs of coronary artery disease whether tissue Doppler imaging would improve the diagnosis of diastolic dysfunction beyond classical criteria and identify patients already presenting impaired cardiac performance.

Methods: We studied 79 patients (56 males, 55 type-2 diabetes mellitus) who underwent Doppler echocardiography, and exercise testing.