A systematic review of (semi-)automatic quality control of T1-weighted MRI scans.

Purpose: Artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans degrade image quality and thus negatively affect the outcome measures of clinical and research scanning. Considering the time-consuming and subjective nature of visual quality control (QC), multiple (semi-)automatic QC algorithms have been developed. This systematic review presents an overview of the available (semi-)automatic QC algorithms and software packages designed for raw, structural T1-weighted (T1w) MRI datasets.

Myeloperoxidase enzyme and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power concentrations in lean and obese dogs.

The study aimed to assess plasma Myeloperoxidase enzyme (MPO) and Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) in obese dogs and compare them with ideal body weight dogs. Thirty-two dogs were distributed into two groups according to a 9-point body condition score (BCS), as follows: Control group (n = 16), dogs with a BCS of 4 or 5; Obese group (n = 16), dogs with a BCS of 8 or 9. Plasma MPO and FRAP assays, neutrophil count, lipid profile (cholesterol and triglycerides), and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were evaluated in both groups.

COVID-19 in people with multiple sclerosis: A global data sharing initiative.

Background: We need high-quality data to assess the determinants for COVID-19 severity in people with MS (PwMS). Several studies have recently emerged but there is great benefit in aligning data collection efforts at a global scale.

Objectives: Our mission is to scale-up COVID-19 data collection efforts and provide the MS community with data-driven insights as soon as possible.

Diet quality among adolescents has deteriorated: a panel study in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, 2003-2008.

This study aimed to analyze changes in the diet quality of adolescents from public schools in Niterói, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, over a five-year period. Data on the food consumption of adolescents (12-19 years) were obtained by means of two sets of 3-day food records in two school-based, cross-sectional studies conducted in 2003 and 2008. The Brazilian Revised Healthy Eating Index (BHEI-R) was used to estimate dietary quality.

Dietary quality varies according to data collection instrument: a comparison between a food frequency questionnaire and 24-hour recall.

The objective of this study was to assess the agreement between the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index - Revised (BHEI-R), estimated by a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and multiple 24-hour recalls (24h-R). The Wilcoxon paired test, partial correlations (PC), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Bland-Altman method were used. The total BHEI-R scores and its components ("total fruits", "whole fruits", "total vegetables", "integral cereals", "saturated fat", "sodium", and "energy intake derived from solid fat, added sugar, and alcoholic beverages") were statistically different, with the ICC and PC indicating poor concordance and correlation.

Power generation and gaseous emissions performance of an internal combustion engine fed with blends of soybean and beef tallow biodiesel.

This study aimed to compare the performance of an internal combustion engine fed with blends of biodiesel produced from soybean and diesel, and blends of biodiesel produced from beef tallow and diesel. Performance was evaluated in terms of power generated at low loading conditions (0.5, 1.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with extra esophageal symptoms related to asthma.

Background: Asthma, laryngitis and chronic cough are atypical symptoms of the gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Aim: To analyze the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in the remission of extra-esophageal symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux, related to asthma.

Methods: Were reviewed the medical records of 400 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease submitted to laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication from 1994 to 2006, and identified 30 patients with extra-esophageal symptoms related to asthma.

Dietary patterns associated with anthropometric indicators of abdominal fat in adults.

This study aimed to identify dietary patterns and assess their association with abdominal fat. A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Central West Region of Brazil with a probabilistic sample of 208 adults of both sexes. Data on food intake was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire and factor analysis (principal components) was conducted to identify dietary patterns.

[Adolescents' diet quality and associated factors].

The aim of this study was to analyze adolescents' diet quality and associated factors using the Revised Diet Quality Index (DQI-R). A cross-sectional study was performed with 1,326 adolescents from public and private schools. Food intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaire.

[Factors associated with self-reported systemic arterial hypertension according to VIGITEL in 26 Brazilian capitals and the Federal District in 2008].

The scope of this article is to study the association between lifestyle, nutritional status and the prevalence of self-reported systemic arterial hypertension, weighted by the system of risk and protective factors for Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (CNCD) by telephone surveys and standardized by age and sex, in adults from 26 Brazilian state capitals and the Federal District in 2008. For each city the prevalence of hypertension was standardized by the direct method. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed between the factors of interest and the prevalence of hypertension, weighted and standardized by gender and age.

Factors associated with dietary patterns in adolescents: a school-based study in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso.

Objective: To identify dietary patterns among adolescents and to assess their association with socioeconomic and lifestyle characteristics and nutritional status.

Methods: A probabilistic clustered two-stage sample of students between 14 and 19 years old from public and private high schools from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil, was investigated (n = 1.139).

Localized prostatic cancer in patients submitted to renal transplant.

Objective: An attempt is made to evaluate the incidence of prostate cancer in patients who have previously undergone a kidney transplant surgery and to determine the best therapeutic approach to this target group.

Material And Methods: All kidney transplant male patients over 40 years of age were studied with respect to diseases unrelated to the transplants, which later affected them, mainly focusing on neoplastic disease and, more specifically, prostate cancer.

Results: Of 397 kidney-transplanted patients, 146 (37%) were males, at least 40 years old.

Clodronate for treatment of bone metastases in hormone refractory prostate cancer.

Introduction: Approximately 85% of patients who die from prostate cancer have bone metastases. Even though the radiological aspect of such metastases is osteoblastic, we currently know that these lesions are mixed, with coexisting blastic and lytic lesions, always beginning with bone lysis by osteoclast proliferation. Treatment options are palliative and have poor response, and when there is an improvement it is usually short-lived.