Community health agents training on hearing health: effectiveness of videoconference.

Background: training of Community Health Agents on hearing health through videoconference.

Aim: to verify the effectiveness of a training program for community health agents, through videoconference, on child hearing health.

Method: participants of the study were 50 professionals who were randomly divided in two groups: 31 community health agents were physically present in the training program and 19 participated via videoconference.

Training proposal for community health agents in hearing health.

Background: training of community health agents in hearing health.

Aim: to verify the effectiveness of a training program regarding the hearing health of children for Community Health Agents of a Family Health Program.

Method: research sample consisted of two groups: Group A, constituted by 31 community health agents, from Bauru, SP, and Group B, constituted by 75 community health agents, from Sorocaba, SP.

Titratable mandibular repositioner appliances for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: are they an option?

Mandibular repositioning appliances (tMRAs) designed with a titratable mechanism are effective to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) but are not widely used, although many studies have proven their value. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of tMRAs in the treatment of OSAS on the criteria of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM; apnea/hypopnea index [AHI] < 5). Three hundred consecutive patients with a polysomnographic diagnosis of OSAS were referred for treatment with tMRAs between 2000 and 2003.

Correlation between surgical lung biopsy and autopsy findings and clinical data in patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates and acute respiratory failure.

Introduction: Surgical lung biopsy is an invasive procedure performed when other procedures have failed to provide an urgent and specific diagnosis, but there may be reluctance to perform it in critically ill patients with diffuse pulmonary infiltrates.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy, the changes in therapy and survival of patients with diffuse lung infiltrates, mostly presenting acute respiratory failure, who underwent surgical biopsy.

Methods: We retrospectively examined medical records and surgical lung biopsies from 1982 to 2003 of 63 patients older than 18 years with diffuse infiltrates.

Clinical co-morbidities in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome treated with mandibular repositioning appliance.

Introduction: Intraoral mandibular repositioner appliances (IOMRAs) are designed to enlarge pharyngeal airway space advancing the mandible and increasing genioglossus tone during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treatment with IOMRAs is beneficial, but there is a lack of studies in the literature defining the target population more inclined to respond to this treatment.

Methods: We contacted by telephone 188 previously treated patients with IOMRA, detecting 20 not improved patients (Study Group).