Dataset for additional information on the evaluation of thermal properties of thin films by IR radiometry using a comprehensive set of Zr-O-N thin films.

This paper provides additional negative data regarding the paper Evaluation of thermal properties of thin films by IR radiometry using a comprehensive set of Zr-O-N thin films [1]. In that paper, a matrix of samples was prepared to evaluate the so-called Extremum method for the analysis of Infrared (IR) radiometry data. Such matrix was composed by 3 types of films with 4 different thickness in 3 types of substrates, totalizing 36 samples in total. The data of this paper can be divided into three separate categories: i) lack of adhesion of the films deposited on Teflon, simultaneously to the films deposited on other substrates. ii) Improvement of the signal and signal-to-noise ratio on samples that did not present an extremum (minimum or maximum) using the initial (more conventional) way of measurement. iii) It is also presented a failed fitting of the IR radiometry data created with entangled material parameters. All this data is relevant for researchers devoted to measurement of thermal properties of thin films by IR radiometry that employ the two layer model and Extremum Method.

An Interregional, Transdisciplinary and Good Practice-Based Approach for Frailty: the Mind&Gait Project.

Social facilities such residential structures and day-centres increasingly seek integrated, structured, adapted, creative, dynamic and economic strategies to prevent frailty. The arising need of an aged and frail population requires innovative interventions and products to prevent cognitive and physical decline. The interregional MIND&GAIT project aims to promote independent living in frail older adults by improving cognition and gait ability by using assistive products. This transdisciplinary strategy within a 24-months period expects as project' deliverables: i) a structured and good practice-based combined intervention (CI) consisting of a cognitive stimulation programme and a physical exercise programme; ii) an auto-blocking mechanism for rolling walkers with biofeedback acquisition (ABMRW); iii) a randomized clinical trial to assess CI' effectiveness; and iv) a web-platform to be used as a repository that will support and disseminate the intervention materials, covering the action-line of translational research. Positive benefits are expected in prevention and maintenance of frail older adults' capacities. Preliminary results showed positive effects on the improvement of cognitive and physical functions, functionality and depressive symptomatology. The interregional geographical coverage induced by MIND&GAIT underlines the potential replicability of the project extension to the community in the Centro and Alentejo regions of Portugal. MIND&GAIT network supports actions and provides learning opportunities and emergence of locally-embedded support systems towards social innovation for older adults.

Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults: An Innovative Good Practice Supporting Successful Aging and Self-Care.

The project Cognitive Stimulation in Older Adults: Intervention on Cognitive Frailty and Promotion of Self-Care (in brief the ECOG project) arises in a context of worldwide demographic aging, and is fostered by the need to provide a sustainable solution to the progressive increase in the prevalence of age-related cognitive impairment. The main goal of the ECOG project is to promote active citizenship in old age through the empowerment for autonomy and self-care. Namely, the ECOG team is working on the development of evidence-based programs and tools that promote gains in health in cognitively frail and cognitively impaired older adults from the community. It is also working on the transfer of ECOG products to the practice of health and social care, promoting active involvement of geriatric care institutions in the implementation of the ECOG programs and tools, and ensuring appropriate training of professionals. Finally, the ECOG team is deploying a digital platform to reach out to the broadest audience possible and support the remote access and scaling up of the ECOG products. The impacts expected at an individual level include improvements in cognition, functionality, and autonomy of older adults, with simultaneous reduction of depressive symptomatology, and increase in quality of life of both person cared and his/her caregiver. Regarding societal gains, we anticipate an increase in life expectancy and significant postponement of institutionalization associated with geriatric problems. We also believe that the wide implementation of the ECOG products will reduce the costs of interventions for cognitively impaired citizens, contributing to sustainability and efficiency of health systems.

A Study Protocol for Development and Validation of a Clinical Prediction Model for Frailty (ModulEn): a new European Commitment to Tackling Frailty.

There is a growing need to implement and evaluate the technological solutions that allow the early detection of age-related frailty and enable assessment of the predictive values of frailty components. The broad use of these solutions may ensure an efficient and sustainable response of health and social care systems to the challenges related to demographic aging. In this paper, we present the protocol of the ModulEn study that aims to develop and validate a predictive model for frailty. For this purpose, the sample composed by older adults aged 65-80 years and recruited from the community will be invited to use an electronic device ACM Kronowise® 2.0. This device allows proactive and continuous monitoring of circadian health, physical activity, and sleep and eating habits. It will be used during a period of seven to ten days. The participants will also be given the questionnaires evaluating the variables of interest, including frailty level, as well as their experience and satisfaction with the device use. Data provided from these two sources will be combined and the relevant associations will be identified. In our view, the implications of this study' findings for clinical practice include the possibility to develop and validate tools for timely prevention of frailty progress. In the long term, the ModulEn may contribute to the critical reduction of frailty burden in Europe.

Knowledge Representation and Management: a Linked Data Perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Biomedical research is increasingly becoming a data-intensive science in several areas, where prodigious amounts of data is being generated that has to be stored, integrated, shared and analyzed. In an effort to improve the accessibility of data and knowledge, the Linked Data initiative proposed a well-defined set of recommendations for exposing, sharing and integrating data, information and knowledge, using semantic web technologies. OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this paper is to identify the current status and future trends of knowledge representation and management in Life and Health Sciences, mostly with regard to linked data technologies. METHODS: We selected three prominent linked data studies, namely Bio2RDF, Open PHACTS and EBI RDF platform, and selected 14 studies published after 2014 (inclusive) that cited any of the three studies. We manually analyzed these 14 papers in relation to how they use linked data techniques. RESULTS: The analyses show a tendency to use linked data techniques in Life and Health Sciences, and even if some studies do not follow all of the recommendations, many of them already represent and manage their knowledge using RDF and biomedical ontologies. CONCLUSION: These insights from RDF and biomedical ontologies are having a strong impact on how knowledge is generated from biomedical data, by making data elements increasingly connected and by providing a better description of their semantics. As health institutes become more data centric, we believe that the adoption of linked data techniques will continue to grow and be an effective solution to knowledge representation and management.

Quality of life in youth with bipolar disorder and unaffected offspring of parents with bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: There have been few studies investigating quality of life (QoL) in pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) patients and none comparing it with that observed in unaffected offspring of parents with BD and healthy controls. METHODS: The self-report Youth Quality of Life Instrument-Research version (YQoL-R) was administered in 26 pediatric BD patients, 17 unaffected offspring of parents with BD, and 24 individuals with no history of DSM-IV Axis I psychiatric disorders. All diagnoses were determined through interviews based on the Kiddie Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children-Present and Lifetime Version. RESULTS: There were statistical differences among the groups for all YQoL-R domains. Pairwise comparisons showed that perceived QoL was significantly worse in the BD group than in the unaffected offspring and healthy subjects, a difference that persisted even when only euthymic subjects were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the unaffected offspring and healthy subjects for any YQoL-R domain. LIMITATIONS: Our sample was small. There was no QoL report from subjects parents nor data about family environment or BD parents' mood state. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for studies to investigate in greater detail the relationship between QoL and psychological resilience, particularly in the unaffected offspring of parents with BD.

TNF-alpha and IL-8: serum levels and gene polymorphisms (-308G>A and -251A>T) are associated with classical biomarkers and medical history in children with sickle cell anemia.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a disorder characterized by a heterogeneous clinical outcome. In the present study, we investigated the associations between Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) -308G>A and Interleukin 8 (IL-8) -251A>T gene polymorphisms, medical history and classical biomarkers in children with steady-state SCA. In total, 210 SCA patients aged 2-21 years and 200 healthy controls were studied. Gene polymorphisms, betaS-globin haplotypes and a 3.7-kb deletion in alpha2-thalassemia (α2-thal3.7 kb) were investigated by PCR/RFLP analysis, and cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Splenomegaly (p=.032) was more prevalent among children younger than 5 years of age. The A allele of the TNF-alpha -308G>A gene polymorphism and the presence of α2-thal3.7 kb were associated with an increase risk of splenic sequestration events (p=.001; p=.046), while the T allele of the IL-8 -251A>T gene polymorphism was considered to be a protective factor for splenomegaly events (p=.032). Moreover, the A allele of the TNF-alpha -308G>A gene polymorphism was associated with high TNF-alpha levels (p=.021), and the hemoglobin F and hemoglobin S haplotypes were correlated with serum levels of IL-8. The logistic regression analysis showed significant effects of the TNF-alpha and IL-8 gene polymorphisms, beta(S)-globin gene haplotypes and α2-thal3.7 kb on the occurrence of splenic sequestration events. Our study emphasizes that the identification of new genetic and immunological biomarkers and their associations with classical markers is an important strategy to elucidate the underlying causes of different SCA phenotypes and their effects on patient outcome.

Use of fluorescent probes as a useful tool to identify resistant Schistosoma mansoni isolates to praziquantel.

The use of chemotherapy on a mass scale in endemic areas may lead to the appearance of resistant isolates through the mechanism of selective drug pressure. Studies have demonstrated that praziquantel (PZQ) is able to inhibit the excretory activity and to cause tegumental damage in Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. The use of the probe resorufin to evaluate excretory activity, as well as the probe Hoechst 33258 to detect tegumental damage in adult worms, may represent a method to identify resistant (or less susceptible) isolates. The purpose of the present work was to compare the changes caused by PZQ in the function of the excretory system and in the integrity of the tegument of adult worms from the LE isolate (susceptible to PZQ) and the LE-PZQ isolate (less susceptible to PZQ). Worms from the isolate LE-PZQ showed less severe tegumental lesions, in both in vitro and in vivo experiments, detected by labelling with Hoechst 33258 and continued to have a functional excretory system as shown by labelling with resorufin in vitro.

Folate, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine levels in neonates from Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To determine folates, vitamin B12 and total homocysteine levels among neonates from mothers of low or high socioeconomic status. DESIGN: We carried out a cross-sectional transversal study comprising 143 neonates from two maternity hospitals in the city of Salvador, Northeast of Brazil. Cord blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery from newborns from low (group 1, n=77) or high (group 2, n=66) socioeconomic status. The vitamin B12 and folates were analyzed by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay and by a competitive test using a natural folate-binding protein (FBP), respectively. Total homocyteine levels were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Maternal environmental risk factors for pregnancy complications were obtained from all mothers. RESULTS: Only 2% of women from group 1 received prenatal care/vitamin supplementation, whereas almost all mothers from group 2 (96%) were properly followed. Anemia and/or infections pre- or during pregnancy was more prevalent among mothers of babies from group 1. Folate levels among newborns from group 1 and 2 were 7.38+/-2.71 and 8.83+/-4.06 ng/ml, respectively. No difference in the vitamin B12 levels was determined between groups. In addition, tHcy serum levels were higher among newborns from group 1 compared to those from group 2 (8.54+/-4.06 vs 6.35+/-1.33 micromol/l, respectively; P=0.005). CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that unprivileged young woman has limited accesses to prenatal care, present high-risk factors that hamper both maternal and newborn health. Maternal and newborn health status could be improved by simply reinforcing the use of folate-enriched diet. The work presented illustrates the challenges that developing countries have to face in order to provide preventive adequate health care to the population at large.

alpha-Thalassemia 2, 3.7 kb deletion and hemoglobin AC heterozygosity in pregnancy: a molecular and hematological analysis.

alpha-Thalassemia is a synthesis hemoglobinopathy with a worldwide distribution. alpha-thalassemia-23.7kb (alpha-Thal23.7kb) was investigated by PCR and standard hematologic analysis techniques in 106 pregnant women - 53 heterozygous for hemoglobin (Hb) A and C (AC) and 53 homozygous for the normal Hb A (AA) with similar ages and race ancestry. Eleven (21%) of AC women were alpha-Thal23.7kb heterozygous and 1 (2%) was homozygous, while 12 AA women (23%) were heterozygous. In the AA group, the MCV differed among those with normal alpha genes and those with alpha-Thal23.7kb (P = 0.031). Statistical analysis of AC group patients with normal alpha genes and alpha-Thal23.7kb carriers showed differences in MCV (P = 0.001); MCH (P = 0.003) and Hb C concentrations (P = 0.011). Analysis of AA and AC group patients with normal alpha genes showed differences in RBC (P = 0.033), Hb concentration (P = 0.003) and MCHC (P < 0.0001). There were no statistically significant differences for any hematologic parameters between AC and AA group patients with the alpha-Thal23.7kb genotype. The AC alpha-Thal23.7kb homozygous women had low hematologic parameters. Serum ferritin levels were normal among the groups studied. These results emphasize the importance of diagnosis and follow-up of patients with hemoglobinopathy carriers during pregnancy in order to administer adequate therapy and avoid further complications for mothers and newborns.

Acrylic bone cement induces the production of free radicals by cultured human fibroblasts.

Arthroplasty with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) bone cement induces late loosening phenomena that compromise the prosthetic stability. As free radicals are inflammatory mediators and cytotoxic, it seemed useful to investigate whether PMMA induces the liberation of free radicals and/or cytotoxicity. The effect of PMMA interaction on cultured human fibroblasts was accessed by the cell viability test (MTT), and by the measurement of lipoperoxides in the incubation medium. The incubation with the medium exposed to PMMA induced a significant reduction in the viability and a significant increase in lipoperoxide liberation (vs control). These data suggest that PMMA is cytotoxic. This effect seems to be mediated by lipoperoxide and possibly by other free radicals, and may explain the peri-implant loosening phenomena that compromise the prosthetic stability.

Infarction after fine needle aspiration. A report of four cases.

BACKGROUND: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a well-established and safe method for the rapid diagnosis of palpable and deep-seated masses. A few clinically important complications, including bleeding, pneumothorax, infection and inflammatory reactions, result from FNA. Little attention has been focused on tissue changes resulting from FNA. In a small number of cases FNA has been followed by varying degrees of necrosis. This has occurred in thyroid nodules, salivary glands, breast fibroadenomas, lymph nodes and renal cell carcinoma. CASES: Four cases of infarction followed FNA biopsy. All 4 (1 papillary carcinoma of the thyroid, 1 pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland and 2 fibroadenomas of the breast) were diagnosed by FNA. Subsequent histologic study of the surgical specimens revealed massive necrosis of the neoplasms. CONCLUSION: Necrosis associated with infarction may cause diagnostic problems in two settings. FNA yielding necrotic debris may result in a false negative diagnosis in repeat aspiration. Alternatively, post-FNA infarction may obscure the nature of a neoplasm diagnosed by FNA, making histologic confirmation difficult.

Tratamento cirurgico do carcinoma de esofago. / Surgical treatment of carcinoma of the esophagus

O carcinoma de esofago e uma neoplasia de dificil abordagem e de terrivel prognostico. O cirurgiao que recebe um paciente com carcinoma esofagiano ja o recebe em estado avancado, nada podendo fazer para cura-lo a unica conduta que pode ter e para a paliacao, pois quando sintomaticos, esses se apresentam com cerca de 2/3 da circunferencia do orgao comprometidos. Em nosso Servico, tivemos cerca de 89 pacientes, num periodo de 1968-1981, que foram submetidos a tratamento cirurgico do carcinoma esofagiano. Destes, cerca de 23 pacientes tiveram um procedimento menos cruento, sendo submetidos a ostomia - 17 gastrostomias e 6 gastrostomias associadas a esofagostomias. Os restantes 66 pacientes tiveram uma cirurgia paliativa por by-pass com ou sem resseccao do tumor. Dos 66, cerca de 34 pacientes foram submetidos somente ao by-pass e os outros 32 pacientes tiveram o by-pass e resseccao tumoral, pois estavam dentro dos criterios de ressecabilidade que usamos no Servico. A taxa de mortalidade hospitalar (13,5%) e morbidade sao comparaveis a de outros autores