Creativity and its relationship with intelligence and reading skills in children: an exploratory study.

Creativity, intelligence, and reading skills such as phonological awareness and decoding in reading can be critical to academic success, especially during childhood. Thus, this study aimed to characterize creativity, intelligence, phonological awareness, and reading decoding and verify possible relationships between creativity and these skills. The sample consisted of 75 children divided between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades of municipal public schools in the Brazilian context. The results indicated the gradual evolution of creativity, intelligence, phonological awareness, and reading decoding in children from the 1st to the 3rd year, especially for the performance of the 3rd year. Correlations between creativity with intelligence and reading skills were also evidenced for all three classes, with the 3rd year with stronger correlations, which are promising results for these relationships. The study of creativity is still a recent field for empirical investigations and deserves future investigations for a better understanding of these constructs in this population.

Creativity and its relationship with intelligence and reading skills in children: an exploratory study

Creativity, intelligence, and reading skills such as phonological awareness and decoding in reading can be critical to academic success, especially during childhood. Thus, this study aimed to characterize creativity, intelligence, phonological awareness, and reading decoding and verify possible relationships between creativity and these skills. The sample consisted of 75 children divided between the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades of municipal public schools in the Brazilian context. The results indicated the gradual evolution of creativity, intelligence, phonological awareness, and reading decoding in children from the 1st to the 3rd year, especially for the performance of the 3rd year. Correlations between creativity with intelligence and reading skills were also evidenced for all three classes, with the 3rd year with stronger correlations, which are promising results for these relationships. The study of creativity is still a recent field for empirical investigations and deserves future investigations for a better understanding of these constructs in this population. (AU)

Alimentação e Comunicação: Vídeo para Orientação de Cuidadores de Idosos / Food and Communication: Video for Guiding Elderly Caregivers

Objetivo: Analisar o conhecimento dos cuidadores formais com relação aos aspectos da alimentação e da comunicação com a pessoa idosa e elaborar um vídeo com orientações para o cuida-dor formal. Metodologia: Pesquisa realizada em instituições de longa permanência para idosos no Município de João Pessoa, Paraíba. Tornaram-se participantes 34 cuidadores de idosos. O instrumento utilizado para coleta de dados foi um questionário construído a partir das explanações da literatura sobre disfagia, linguagem e cognição. Na análise dos dados foi utilizada a es-tatística descritiva por meio da frequência absoluta, percentual e do teste de proporções. Foi elaborado o script do vídeo e as cenas avaliadas por 6 juízes. Todos concordaram com as cenas de forma unânime, sendo então o vídeo considerado confiável. Os juízes realizaram sugestões nas cenas e as mesmas foram analisadas por meio da estatística descritiva. Em seguida, foi realizada a edição do vídeo. Resultados:Os cuidadores não têm conhecimento das dificuldades de fala, audição, cognição do idoso e das estratégias que facilitam essas funções. Tam-bém, não mostram conhecer as dificuldades de alimentação dos idosos, embora realizem estratégias facilitadoras. Como produto final foi elaborado um vídeo de orientação ao profissio-nal cuidador. Conclusão: Ressalta-se a importância do vídeo para orientações com relação a alimentação e a comunicação, propiciando melhora na qualidade de vida da pessoa idosa institucionalizada. (AU)

Objective: To analyze the knowledge of formal caregivers regarding aspects of eating and communication of the elderly and to elaborate a video with guidelines for the formal caregiver. Methodology: Methodological research conducted in long-term care facilities for the elderly in the city of João Pessoa, Paraiba. 34 elderly caregivers became participants. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire built from the literature explanations on dysphagia, language and cognition. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics through the absolute frequency, percentage and the proportions test. The script of the video was elaborated and the scenes evaluated by 6 judges. Everyone agreed with the scenes unanimously, so the video was considered reliable. The judges made sugges-tions in the scenes and they were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Then, the video was edited. Results: Caregivers are unaware of the difficulties in speech, hearing, and cognition of the elderly and the strategies that facilitate these functions. They also do not show knowledge of the feeding difficulties of the elderly although they perform facilitating strategies. As a final product, a guidance video was prepared for the professional caregiver. Conclusion: We emphasize the importance of the video for guidance regarding food and communication, providing improvement in the quality of life of the institutionalized elderly, (AU)

Magnitude, tendência temporal e fatores associados à anemia em crianças do Estado da Paraíba / Magnitude, time trends and factors associate with anemia in children in the state of Paraíba, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência da anemia em crianças, sua tendência temporal e identificar fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo de corte transversal, de base populacional, envolvendo 1.108 crianças, com idade entre seis e 59 meses, de ambos os sexos, do Estado da Paraíba, em 2007. A hemoglobina foi analisada em sangue venoso com contador automático. Foram considerados para anemia valores < 11,0 g/dL, forma leve 9-11g/dL, moderada 7-9 g/dL e grave < 7,0 g/dL. As condições socioeconômicas e demográficas das crianças foram obtidas por meio de questionário aos pais ou responsáveis. As proporções foram comparadas pelo teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson, e a associação entre as concentrações de hemoglobina e potenciais fatores de riscos foi testada pelo modelo de regressão de Poisson. A tendência temporal da anemia foi avaliada pelo incremento/redução na prevalência de anemia nos anos de 1982, 1992 e 2007. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anemia foi de 36,5% (IC95% 33,7;39,3). Observa-se que 1,3% (IC95% 0,7;1,8) foi na forma grave, 11,1% (IC95% 9,4;13,5) na forma moderada e 87,6% (IC95% 79,1;91,2) na forma leve. Houve um incremento de 88,5% nos casos de anemia no período entre 1982 e1992 e uma estabilização na prevalência entre 1992 e 2007. A análise ajustada no modelo de Poisson mostrou maior suscetibilidade à anemia nas crianças de seis a 24 meses de idade, naquelas amamentadas por seis meses ou mais, que co-habitavam com mais de quatro pessoas no mesmo domicílio e moravam em casas com menos de cinco cômodos. CONCLUSÕES: A alta prevalência de anemia mostra que continua sendo um importante problema de saúde pública no Estado da Paraíba. Apesar da estabilização na prevalência entre 1992 e 2007, a anemia apresenta-se em elevado patamar, o que impõe medidas mais efetivas de prevenção e controle.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude of the anemia, to analyze the time trends and investigate the factors associated with this disturbance in children in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, of population-based, with 1108 children, aged 6 to 59 months, both sexes in the state of Paraíba. Hemoglobin (Hb) in venous blood was analyzed with an automatic counter. The social-economic and demographic characteristics of children were obtained by questionnaire. Proportions were compared by Pearson's chi-squared test, and the association between hemoglobin concentrations and potential risk factors was tested by regression model Poisson. The time trend of anemia was assessed by the increase/decreased in the prevalence of anemia, using as comparison the prevalence observed in the years 1982, 1992 and 2007. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) in the state of Paraíba was 36.5% (CI95% 33.7 to 39.3). It was observed that 1.3% (CI95% 0.7 to 1.8) were in severe form (Hb <7.0 g/dl), 11% (CI95% 9.4 to 13.5) in a moderate form and 87.6% (CI95% 79.1 to 91.2) in the mild form. There was an increase 88.5% in cases of anemia between the years 1982-1992 and stabilization in the prevalence between the years 1992-2007. The analysis adjusted Poisson model showed a greater susceptibility to anemia in children 6 to 24 months of age, those breastfed for six months or more, who co-inhabited with more than 04 people in the same household and lived in houses with less than 05 rooms. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that anemia remains an important public health problem in the state of Paraíba and despite having been shown an stabilization in the prevalence of anemia between 1992-2007, differently the prevalence observed between 1982-1992, this deficiency presents in high level, witch requires more effective measures of prevention and control.

[Magnitude, time trends and factors associate with anemia in children in the state of Paraíba, Brazil]. / Magnitude, tendência temporal e fatores associados à anemia em crianças do Estado da Paraíba.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the magnitude of the anemia, to analyze the time trends and investigate the factors associated with this disturbance in children in the state of Paraíba, Brazil. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, of population-based, with 1108 children, aged 6 to 59 months, both sexes in the state of Paraíba. Hemoglobin (Hb) in venous blood was analyzed with an automatic counter. The social-economic and demographic characteristics of children were obtained by questionnaire. Proportions were compared by Pearson's chi-squared test, and the association between hemoglobin concentrations and potential risk factors was tested by regression model Poisson. The time trend of anemia was assessed by the increase/decreased in the prevalence of anemia, using as comparison the prevalence observed in the years 1982, 1992 and 2007. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia (Hb < 11.0 g/dl) in the state of Paraíba was 36.5% (CI95% 33.7 to 39.3). It was observed that 1.3% (CI95% 0.7 to 1.8) were in severe form (Hb <7.0 g/dl), 11% (CI95% 9.4 to 13.5) in a moderate form and 87.6% (CI95% 79.1 to 91.2) in the mild form. There was an increase 88.5% in cases of anemia between the years 1982-1992 and stabilization in the prevalence between the years 1992-2007. The analysis adjusted Poisson model showed a greater susceptibility to anemia in children 6 to 24 months of age, those breastfed for six months or more, who co-inhabited with more than 04 people in the same household and lived in houses with less than 05 rooms. CONCLUSIONS: The results revealed that anemia remains an important public health problem in the state of Paraíba and despite having been shown an stabilization in the prevalence of anemia between 1992-2007, differently the prevalence observed between 1982-1992, this deficiency presents in high level, witch requires more effective measures of prevention and control.

Locus for familial migrainous vertigo disease maps to chromosome 5q35.

OBJECTIVES: Migrainous vertigo (episodic vertigo associated with migraine) is sometimes inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. However, neither disease genes nor loci that might be responsible have been reported. We sought to map the genetic locus for familial migrainous vertigo in a 4-generation family and to define the progression of disease in this family. METHODS: We studied 23 members in a family in whom migrainous vertigo was inherited as an autosomal dominant trait. Clinical information obtained included case histories and results of otolaryngological, neurologic, audiometric, and imaging evaluations. Genome-wide linkage analysis was performed with Affymetrix Genechip Human Mapping 10K microarrays. Genotyping of family members' DNA with microsatellite markers was used to further assess candidate loci identified from the whole-genome scan. RESULTS: Of 23 family members, 10 suffered from migrainous vertigo beginning after 35 years of age. Migraine headaches usually preceded the onset of vertigo by 15 to 20 years. Longitudinal audiometric studies over 12 years showed stable, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss consistent with presbycusis. Low-frequency or fluctuating hearing loss was not observed. The results of vestibular testing and imaging studies were unremarkable. Genetic analysis defined a 12.0 MB interval on chromosome 5q35 between loci rs244895 and D5S2073 that contained the disease gene (logarithm of odds score, 4.21). CONCLUSIONS: We report the first locus for familial migrainous vertigo, which mapped to 5q35.

Comparison of auditory brainstem response results in normal-hearing patients with and without tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate electrophysiologically the auditory nerve and the auditory brainstem function of patients with tinnitus and normal-hearing thresholds using the auditory brainstem response (ABR). DESIGN: Case-control study. SETTING: Ambulatory section of the Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital de Base de Brasília. PATIENTS: Thirty-seven individuals with tinnitus and 38 without tinnitus, with ages ranging from 20 to 45 years and pure-tone thresholds of 25 dB or better at frequencies between 500 and 8000 Hz. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We compared the latencies of waves I, III, and V; the interpeak intervals I-III, III-V, and I-V; the interaural latency difference (wave V); and the V/I amplitude ratio between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Among the 37 patients in the study group, abnormal results were found in 16 (43%) in at least 1 of the 8 parameters evaluated. When we analyzed the latencies, although the values were on average in the normal range used in the present study, the tinnitus group presented a significant prolongation of the latencies of waves I, III, and V when compared with the control group. Furthermore, we found the interpeak I-III, III-V, and I-V values to be within the normal limits, but the interpeak III-V value was significantly (P = .003) enlarged in the study group compared with the control group. The V/I amplitude ratio found in the tinnitus group was within normal limits; however, a significant (P = .004) difference was found when the 2 groups were compared. The averages of the interaural latency difference (wave V) did not show significant differences in relation to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that, although the averages obtained in several analyzed parameters were within normal limits, the ABR results from the patients with and without tinnitus and normal hearing are different, suggesting that ABR might contribute to the workup of these patients. Our data show that there are changes in the central pathways in the study group. The meaning of these changes must be further investigated.

Transient and distortion product evoked oto-acoustic emissions in normal hearing patients with and without tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that tinnitus begins with outer hair cell dysfunction by recording transient (TEOAE) and distortion product evoked (DPOAE) oto-acoustic emissions in patients with normal hearing with (study group, SG) and without tinnitus (control group, CG). STUDY DESIGN: Case control study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: SG had 32 patients with pure tone thresholds below 25 dB in the 500 to 8000 Hz interval. CG had 37 age- and gender-matched patients with similar thresholds. All patients had normal tympanograms and stapedial reflexes. TEOAE were recorded with wide band click in continuous mode at 80-dB peak SPL. DPOAE were recorded with f1/f2 = 1.22 and intensities of 65 dB (f1) and 55 dB (f2) SPL. RESULTS: DPOAE were abnormal in 68.4% of SG and in 50% of CG (P = 0.036). TEOAE were abnormal in 70.2% of SG and in 16.10% of CG (P = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: SG had significantly higher prevalence of abnormal TEOAE and DPOAE than CG.

Cirurgia do estribo feita por médicos residentes: resultados na Universidade de Brasília / Stapes surgery performed by residents: results in the University of Brasília

A cirurgia do estribo exige um grau de habilidade e de treinamento altos para ser executada sem riscos desnecessários para o paciente. Já de algum tempo têm aparecido artigos na literatura americana expressando preocupaçäo com os resultados de estapedectomias feitas por médicos em treinamento, alguns questionando mesmo a prática de treinar todos os residentes nesta técnica. Talvez somente os mais aptos para a microcirurgia deveriam ser iniciados na cirurgia da janela oval. No Brasil poucos relatos deste tipo têm aparecido na literatura. Nós levantamos os casos operados por residentes com supervisäo do staff de 1979 a 1992 no Hospital Universitário de Brasília e os relatamos em detalhes nesta comunicaçäo. Nossos resultados säo comparados com os publicados na literatura americana nos últimos 11 anos

Intact bridge mastoidectomy modificada / Modified intact bridge mastoidectomy

A cirurgia para cura das otites médias crônicas envolvendo ouvido médio e mastoide procuram em primeiro lugar erradicar a doença, e, em seguido lugar, preservar e, se possível, melhorar a audiçåo. Frequentemente as técnicas que preservam melhor a audiçåo (canal wall upe intact bridge mastoidectomies) såo de difícil execuçåo e diminuem a eficácia do procedimento de erradicaçåo da doença. Assim sendo é necessário continuar buscando técnicas que conciliem melhor os dois objetivos em queståo. Nessa comunicaçåo nós descrevemos uma modificaçåo da técnica conhecida como "intact bridge mastoidectomy" e apresentamos os resultados obtidos em nove pacientes operados na Clínica de Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital Universitário de Brasília segundo esta nova técnica em termos de sucesso na erradicaçåo da doença, resultados na melhora da audiçåo e incidência de complicaçÆes pós-operatórias