Predictive Factors for Aortic Graft Infection: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Graft infections are one of the most serious complications in vascular surgery, with high mortality rates. Few studies addressed risk factors associated with a higher susceptibility to infection. The aim of this study is to identify perioperative factors associated with aortic graft infections (AGI).

Microbial evolution of vascular graft infections in a tertiary hospital based on positive graft cultures.

Background: Vascular graft infections are a serious complication in vascular surgery. Correct antibiotic therapy targeted to the most likely infecting species is essential to treat these patients, although the bacterial epidemiology and pathogenesis are still not completely understood. We analyzed the behavior of vascular graft infections and the microbiologic patterns of resistance.

WATER INGESTION DYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH ACHALASIA: INFLUENCE OF SEX AND AGE.

Background: Achalasia is a disease that affects esophageal bolus transit due to the absence of esophageal peristaltic contractions and impaired or absent relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter.

Objective: The objective of this investigation was: a) to evaluate the dynamics of water ingestion in patients with achalasia, idiopathic or caused by Chagas' disease; b) to evaluate the influence of sex and age on water ingestion dynamics.

Methods: The investigation was conducted with 79 patients with achalasia (27 idiopathic and 52 Chagas' disease) and 91 healthy volunteers, all evaluated by the water-drinking test.

VIDEOFLUOROSCOPIC EVALUATION OF SWALLOWS IN ANOREXIA NERVOSA.

Background: There are some studies in the literature about the feeding behavior and masticatory process in patients with feeding disorders; however, it is not very well known if there are alterations in oral-pharyngeal swallowing dynamics in subjects with anorexia nervosa.

Objective: To evaluate the oral and pharyngeal bolus transit in patients with anorexia nervosa.

Methods: The study was conducted with 8 individuals clinically diagnosed and in treatment for restricting-type anorexia nervosa (seven women and one man), and 14 healthy individuals with no digestive or neurological symptoms (10 women, 4 men).

POSTFUNDOPLICATION DYSPHAGIA CAUSES SIMILAR WATER INGESTION DYNAMICS AS ACHALASIA.

Background: - After surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease dysphagia is a symptom in the majority of patients, with decrease in intensity over time. However, some patients may have persistent dysphagia.

Objective: - The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the dynamics of water ingestion in patients with postfundoplication dysphagia compared with patients with dysphagia caused by achalasia, idiopathic or consequent to Chagas' disease, and controls.

Influence of age on swallows of a highly viscous liquid bolus.

Background: Swallow function has a decline with aging, mainly in those over 80 years old. In the population over 69 years, about 11% of subjects reported symptoms indicative of significant dysphagia.

Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the hypothesis that older asymptomatic subjects before 80 years old have compensations to sustain a safe and efficient swallow, at least with swallows of liquid bolus.

The influence of maxillary and mandibular osteoporosis on maximal bite force and thickness of masticatory muscles.

The aim of this study was to examine the bite force and masseter and temporal muscle thickness in individuals with maxillary and mandibular osteoporosis. 72 individuals were distributed into two equal groups: (1) facial osteoporosis and (2) healthy controls. Bite force on the right and left molar regions was recorded with a dynamometer and the highest value out of three measurements was recorded as the maximal bite force.

Oral and pharyngeal bolus transit in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: Patients with respiratory diseases, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may have swallowing dysfunction.

Objective: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing in patients with COPD.

Methods: We studied 16 patients with clinical manifestations and pulmonary function tests diagnosis of COPD (mean age: 68 years) and 15 nonsmoking healthy volunteers (mean age: 65 years) with normal pulmonary function tests.

Effect of bolus volume and consistency on swallowing events duration in healthy subjects.

Background/aims: Swallowing is a complex function with the control of the swallowing center being located in the brain stem. Our aim in this investigation was to evaluate, in healthy volunteers, the oral and pharyngeal transit of 2 bolus volumes and 2 consistencies, and the influence of these boluses on the proportion of pharyngeal clearance duration/hyoid movement duration.

Methods: Videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallows was performed in 30 healthy volunteers, aged 29-77 years (mean 58 years).

Timing of Pharyngeal Swallow Events in Chagas' Disease.

Background: Esophageal involvement by Chagas' disease causes a significative decrease in the number of neurons of the esophageal myenteric plexus, causing an impairment of esophageal motility with the same alterations described in primary esophageal achalasia. There is also a longer duration of pharyngeal transit, which might be consequent of the involvement of the central control of swallowing by the disease, or an adaptation of the pharynx to the difficult bolus transit through the esophagus, which could contribute to the complaint of dysphagia.

Methods: We studied, by videofluoroscopy, the sequence and timings of pharyngeal bolus transit in 16 patients with esophageal involvement by Chagas' disease and 12 healthy volunteers.

Variability of Oral and Pharyngeal Transit Between Two Consecutive Swallows in Chagas' Disease.

Background: Chagas' disease causes dysphagia, regurgitation and retention of food in the esophageal body. Patients have longer pharyngeal clearance, which might be consequent of the involvement of the central nervous system or an adaptation to the esophageal transit impairment. If there is central nervous system involvement by the disease, we expect a larger difference in the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing between two consecutive swallows than that seen in controls.

All on Four® fixed implant support rehabilitation: a masticatory function study.

Background: Fixed implant-supported prostheses according to All-on-Four® (Nobel Biocare, Goteborg, Sweden) principles have become an accepted treatment modality in totally edentulous patients, whereas the functional effect of this therapy is limited.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the muscular function of patients totally rehabilitated with All-on-Four.

Materials And Methods: This study evaluated 63 patients.

Factors associated with nosocomial pneumonia in hospitalized individuals.

Objective: To identify factors associated with nosocomial pneumonia in individuals admitted to a public hospital in Feira de Santana, Bahia.

Methods: This case control study was carried out in 211 adult individuals (46 cases and 165 controls), of a mean age of 41 years, treated at clinical wards, surgical wards or the adult intensive care unit of Cleriston Andrade General Hospital in Feira de Santana. The cases comprised individuals who developed respiratory tract infections (nosocomial pneumonia) after hospital admission.

[Health risk behaviors and psychosocial distress indicators in high school students].

The purpose of this article was to examine the association between health risk behaviors (tobacco, alcohol, and drug use) and psychosocial distress indicators among high school students. The sample consisted of 4,210 adolescent students from public schools in Pernambuco State, Brazil. The Global School-based Student Health Survey was used to collect personal (demographic and socioeconomic) and behavioral data and to obtain measures of psychosocial distress indicators (outcome variables).

Possible interaction of gender and age on human swallowing behavior.

Context: The swallowing behavior is affected by age and possibly by gender. However, the interaction of the effects of age and gender on swallowing is not completely known.

Objectives: To evaluate the possibility of interaction of gender and age on human swallowing behavior.

The relationship between the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing.

Objective: This study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between the duration of the oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing.

Introduction: The oral and pharyngeal phases of swallowing are independent from each other but may be related.

Methods: We used videofluoroscopy to evaluate 30 healthy volunteers between 29 and 77 years of age who swallowed 5- and 10-ml liquid and paste boluses in duplicate.

Evaluation of liquid ingestion after bariatric surgery.

Context: Bariatric surgery is an effective treatment for obesity; however, after surgery the patient may have difficulty in swallowing liquid and solid foods.

Objectives: To evaluate liquid ingestion in patients who had undergone bariatric surgery.

Method: We studied 43 volunteers with normal body mass index (BMI) (BMI: 18.

Effect of age on proximal esophageal response to swallowing.

Context: It has been demonstrated that the ageing process affects esophageal motility.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the age on the proximal esophageal response to wet swallows.

Method: We measured the proximal esophageal response to swallows of a 5 mL bolus of water in 69 healthy volunteers, 20 of them aged 18-30 years (group I), 27 aged 31-50 years (group II), and 22 aged 51-74 years (group III).

Videofluoroscopic evaluation of swallowing in Chagas' disease.

Dysphagia is the most common digestive symptom reported by patients with Chagas' disease. The condition results from abnormalities of esophageal motility. Our hypothesis is that there are also alterations of oral and pharyngeal transit during swallowing.

Abdominal obesity in adolescents: prevalence and association with physical activity and eating habits.

Background: Abdominal obesity in adolescents is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, but its prevalence and the factors associated with its occurrence are unknown.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of abdominal obesity in adolescents, and to evaluate whether the indicators of physical activity and dietary habits are associated with the occurrence of abdominal obesity in adolescents.

Methods: The sample included 4138 high school students (14-19 years), selected by cluster sampling in two stages.

[Prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors among adolescents commuting to school].

The aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of physical inactivity and associated factors among adolescents commuting to school. This was an epidemiological study based on secondary data from a sample of 4,207 adolescents (14-19 years). Data were collected through a previously validated questionnaire (GSHS-WHO).

Periodontitis and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infection: preliminary findings.

Aim: To evaluate the possible association between periodontitis and nosocomial lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI).

Material And Methods: A case-control study was conducted at a General Hospital in Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil. The sample consisted of 103 individuals: 22 cases (presence of nosocomial LRTI) and 81 controls (absence of nosocomial LRTI).

Effect of gender on swallow event duration assessed by videofluoroscopy.

There are data suggesting that women swallow liquids at a lower flow rate and ingest smaller volumes in each swallow than men. Our objective in this work was to compare swallowing in asymptomatic men and women by videofluoroscopy. We studied 18 men [age = 33-77 years, mean = 61 (10) years] and 12 women [age = 29-72 years, mean = 53 (15) years] who swallowed in duplicate 5 and 10 ml of liquid and paste barium boluses.

Gender effect on the clinical measurement of swallowing.

Background: Swallowing coordination is affected by cortical and subcortical inputs from the central nervous system. Our hypothesis is that the swallowing dynamics may be influenced by gender.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of gender on water swallowing dynamics.