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1.
J Acoust Soc Am ; 153(2): 1204, 2023 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36859154

ABSTRACT

The intensive use of personal protective equipment often requires increasing voice intensity, with possible development of voice disorders. This paper exploits machine learning approaches to investigate the impact of different types of masks on sustained vowels /a/, /i/, and /u/ and the sequence /a'jw/ inside a standardized sentence. Both objective acoustical parameters and subjective ratings were used for statistical analysis, multiple comparisons, and in multivariate machine learning classification experiments. Significant differences were found between mask+shield configuration and no-mask and between mask and mask+shield conditions. Power spectral density decreases with statistical significance above 1.5 kHz when wearing masks. Subjective ratings confirmed increasing discomfort from no-mask condition to protective masks and shield. Machine learning techniques proved that masks alter voice production: in a multiclass experiment, random forest (RF) models were able to distinguish amongst seven masks conditions with up to 94% validation accuracy, separating masked from unmasked conditions with up to 100% validation accuracy and detecting the shield presence with up to 86% validation accuracy. Moreover, an RF classifier allowed distinguishing male from female subject in masked conditions with 100% validation accuracy. Combining acoustic and perceptual analysis represents a robust approach to characterize masks configurations and quantify the corresponding level of discomfort.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Female , Male , Humans , Acoustics , Machine Learning , Personal Protective Equipment , Random Forest
2.
Chemosphere ; 317: 137818, 2023 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36640971

ABSTRACT

The recovering of trivalent Lanthanides from aqueous solutions, by biosorption process onto Galdieria sulphuraria lifeless cells, was investigated. Potentiometry, UV-Vis, FTIR-ATR spectroscopy and SEM-EDS analysis were used. All the experiments were performed at 25 °C, in 0.5 M NaCl. Ln3+ biosorption is greater in the 5-6 pH range with values ranging from 80 µmol/g to 130 µmol/g (dry weight). The adsorbed Ln3+ ions can be recovered at higher acidity (pH<1) and the biosorbent can be reused. Specific molecular interactions between Ln3+ ions and the functional groups on G. sulphuraria surface were highlighted. Particularly, proteins are involved if Ln3+=Pr3+, Sm3+, Eu3+, Tb3+, Dy3+, Tm3+, while Ce3+, Ho3+, Er3+ form bonds with carbohydrates. Finally, both proteins and carbohydrates are involved if Gd3+ and Yb3+. A Surface Complexation approach, with a good graphical fitting to potentiometric experimental collected data, was used to describe the biosorption mechanism. This study could be of great applicative utility for removing of trivalent actinides, from waste aqueous solutions, by biosorption. As well known the lanthanides were used as model to simulate the chemical behaviour of actinides in the same oxidation state.


Subject(s)
Actinoid Series Elements , Lanthanoid Series Elements , Rhodophyta , Lanthanoid Series Elements/chemistry , Ions
3.
J Physiol Pharmacol ; 73(1)2022 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35639037

ABSTRACT

Risk factors for Peyronie's disease (PD) are serum lipid abnormalities, hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Oxidative stress and inflammation are key-players in the pathogenesis of arterial diseases, leading to insulin resistance (IR), which is a major determinant of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We studied the potential relationship between PD, IR, and NAFLD. Forty-nine male patients were enrolled, fulfilling the well-accepted diagnostic criteria of stable PD. Fifty male individuals without PD, well-matched for age and BMI, were selected as the control group. Comorbidities (T2DM and hypertension), as well as the lipid profile and the glucometabolic asset, were evaluated. The triglycerides/HDL ratio (TG/HDL-C ratio) with a cut-off of ≥3 and the triglycerides-glucose index (TyG) with an optimal cut-point of 8.5 were used for diagnosis of IR and NAFLD, respectively. NAFLD diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of bright liver at ultrasonography. Hypertension was found more frequently in PD patients than in no-PD subjects (P=0.017), independently of age (P=0.99). Both IR and NAFLD were significantly associated with the presence of PD in our population of men (P=0.043 and 0.0001, respectively), no matter how old (P=0.11 and 0.74, respectively). At logistic regression, NAFLD was the only predictor of the PD presence (p=0.021). The AUROC of TyG to predict PD was 0.7437 (sensitivity 67.35% and specificity 80%) with a percentage of correctly classified patients of 73.74%. Oxidative stress markers were significantly associated with NAFLD. Testosterone level was significantly low in the subjects with NAFLD in cross-sectional analyses. Both factors, i.e., oxidative stress and hypogonadism, are central to PD pathogenesis. In conclusion, NAFLD and IR are strongly associated with PD. The pathogenic link between these conditions and the underlying mechanisms are only hypothetical and thoroughly summarized in the discussion.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Hypertension , Insulin Resistance , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease , Penile Induration , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Glucose , Humans , Male , Penile Induration/complications , Pilot Projects , Triglycerides
4.
Actas Urol Esp (Engl Ed) ; 45(3): 207-214, 2021 04.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34017152

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The suspension of most elective surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic caused the lengthening of urology surgical waiting lists. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urology surgical waiting list in a high-volume hospital. Methods: An observational descriptive study was designed. All patients included in the urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center on May 1st 2020 (46 days after the suspension of elective surgery) were analyzed. Baseline variables, priority on the waiting list, main urological disease, type of scheduled surgery, and waiting time were recorded. Other variables recorded were the presence of a urinary catheter, number of accesses to the emergency department, evidence of COVID-19 infection, number of deaths and their cause. The waiting time for each disease was compared with the time to surgery in 2019. Results: A total of 350 patients were included. The mean (SD) time on the waiting list was 97.33 (55.47) days. Priority 1 patients, who normally should undergo surgery within 30 days, were on the waiting list for a mean (SD) time of 60.51 (20.14) days. They were mainly patients with ureteral lithiasis (25.6%), high-risk or muscle-invasive bladder cancer (20.9%) and high-risk prostate cancer (13.9%). The mean waiting time had already significantly exceeded the mean time to surgery in 2019 for radical cystectomy (p = 0.04) and URS (p = 0.003). Conclusions: The suspension of most elective surgeries due to COVID-19 had a significant impact on urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center, especially in priority 1 group.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Elective Surgical Procedures , Urologic Diseases/surgery , Urologic Surgical Procedures , Waiting Lists , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Health Priorities , Hospitals, High-Volume , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
5.
Actas urol. esp ; 45(3): 207-214, abril 2021. tab, graf
Article in Spanish | IBECS | ID: ibc-216922

ABSTRACT

Introducción: La suspensión de la mayoría de las cirugías electivas durante la pandemia por COVID-19 ha aumentado las listas de espera de cirugía urológica. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar el impacto de la pandemia COVID-19 en la lista de espera de cirugía urológica en un hospital de alto volumen.MétodosSe diseñó un estudio descriptivo observacional. Se analizaron todos los pacientes incluidos en la lista de espera de cirugía urológica de nuestro centro de alto volumen el 1 de mayo de 2020 (46 días después de la suspensión de la cirugía electiva). Se registraron las características basales, prioridad en la lista de espera, enfermedad urológica principal, tipo de cirugía programada y tiempo de espera. Otras variables registradas fueron la presencia de catéter urinario, el número de visitas al servicio de urgencias, evidencia de infección por COVID-19, el número de muertes y su causa. El tiempo de espera de cada enfermedad se comparó con el tiempo de espera para la cirugía en 2019.ResultadosUn total de 350 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio. El tiempo medio (DE) en la lista de espera fue de 97,33 (55,47) días. Los pacientes de prioridad 1, que normalmente deben ser operados en un plazo de 30 días, estuvieron en la lista de espera por un tiempo medio de 60,51 (20,14) días. Eran principalmente pacientes con litiasis ureteral (25,6%), cáncer de vejiga de alto riesgo o músculo-invasivo (20,9%) y cáncer de próstata de alto riesgo (13,9%). El tiempo medio de espera superaba significativamente el tiempo medio (DE) de espera para cistectomía radical (p = 0,04) y URS (p = 0,003) en 2019.ConclusionesLa suspensión de la mayoría de las cirugías electivas debido a la pandemia por COVID-19 tuvo un impacto significativo en la lista de espera de cirugía urológica de nuestro centro de alto volumen, especialmente en el grupo de prioridad 1. (AU)


Introduction: The suspension of most elective surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic caused the lengthening of urology surgical waiting lists. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urology surgical waiting list in a high-volume hospital.MethodsAn observational descriptive study was designed. All patients included in the urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center on May 1st 2020 (46 days after the suspension of elective surgery) were analyzed. Baseline variables, priority on the waiting list, main urological disease, type of scheduled surgery, and waiting time were recorded. Other variables recorded were the presence of a urinary catheter, number of accesses to the emergency department, evidence of COVID-19 infection, number of deaths and their cause. The waiting time for each disease was compared with the time to surgery in 2019.ResultsA total of 350 patients were included. The mean (SD) time on the waiting list was 97.33 (55.47) days. Priority 1 patients, who normally should undergo surgery within 30 days, were on the waiting list for a mean (SD) time of 60.51 (20.14) days. They were mainly patients with ureteral lithiasis (25.6%), high-risk or muscle-invasive bladder cancer (20.9%) and high-risk prostate cancer (13.9%). The mean waiting time had already significantly exceeded the mean time to surgery in 2019 for radical cystectomy (p = 0.04) and URS (p = 0.003).ConclusionsThe suspension of most elective surgeries due to COVID-19 had a significant impact on urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center, especially in priority 1 group. (AU)


Subject(s)
Humans , Cystectomy/statistics & numerical data , Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus , Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Hospitals , Prostatic Hyperplasia/epidemiology , Ureteral Calculi/epidemiology , Elective Surgical Procedures , Pandemics , Spain/epidemiology
6.
Actas Urol Esp (Engl Ed) ; 45(3): 207-214, 2021 Apr.
Article in English, Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33546905

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The suspension of most elective surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic caused the lengthening of urology surgical waiting lists. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on urology surgical waiting list in a high-volume hospital. METHODS: An observational descriptive study was designed. All patients included in the urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center on May 1st 2020 (46 days after the suspension of elective surgery) were analyzed. Baseline variables, priority on the waiting list, main urological disease, type of scheduled surgery, and waiting time were recorded. Other variables recorded were the presence of a urinary catheter, number of accesses to the emergency department, evidence of COVID-19 infection, number of deaths and their cause. The waiting time for each disease was compared with the time to surgery in 2019. RESULTS: A total of 350 patients were included. The mean (SD) time on the waiting list was 97.33 (55.47) days. Priority 1 patients, who normally should undergo surgery within 30 days, were on the waiting list for a mean (SD) time of 60.51 (20.14) days. They were mainly patients with ureteral lithiasis (25.6%), high-risk or muscle-invasive bladder cancer (20.9%) and high-risk prostate cancer (13.9%). The mean waiting time had already significantly exceeded the mean time to surgery in 2019 for radical cystectomy (p = 0.04) and URS (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The suspension of most elective surgeries due to COVID-19 had a significant impact on urology surgical waiting list of our high-volume center, especially in priority 1 group.


Subject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Pandemics , Urologic Surgical Procedures/statistics & numerical data , Waiting Lists , Aged , Analysis of Variance , Cystectomy/statistics & numerical data , Elective Surgical Procedures , Female , Health Priorities , Hospitals, High-Volume , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/epidemiology , Male , Prostatic Hyperplasia/epidemiology , Prostatic Neoplasms/epidemiology , Spain/epidemiology , Statistics, Nonparametric , Time Factors , Ureteral Calculi/epidemiology , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/epidemiology , Withholding Treatment/statistics & numerical data
8.
Orthod Craniofac Res ; 20(1): 21-29, 2017 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28102014

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate possible changes and/or device-related impairments in phonetic habits produced by rapid maxillary expansion (RME). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients scheduled for RME were divided into two groups: Group A (banded two-arm Hyrax) and Group B (banded four-arm Hyrax). Speech samples were collected at six time points, before, during and after RME removal. Acoustical analysis was performed using PRAAT and BioVoice analysis tools. Ten volunteers completed a questionnaire on the acceptability of patient's speech. Maxillary dimensions and palatal volume were measured on dental casts before and after expansion using a digital gauge. RESULTS: Voice analysis showed an increase in the peak frequency of fricative consonants (/s/,/ʃ/) after expansion, whereas there was no change of formant frequencies of palatal consonants (/ɲ/,/ʎ/). Vowel /i/ displayed a lowering of the first formant frequency, and an increase in the second and third formant frequencies. After bonding, Group B showed both a greater reduction in the peak frequency of fricatives and a greater increase in the formant frequencies of palatal consonants than Group A. CONCLUSION: Rapid maxillary expansion causes a slight phonetic change in the acoustical parameters of both consonants and vowels. The two-arm Hyrax caused less speech impairment than the four-arm Hyrax during the treatment.


Subject(s)
Palatal Expansion Technique , Phonetics , Speech Acoustics , Adolescent , Child , Female , Humans , Male
9.
J Voice ; 31(1): 111.e1-111.e7, 2017 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27068549

ABSTRACT

Smartphone technology provides new opportunities for recording standardized voice samples of patients and sending the files by e-mail to the voice laboratory. This drastically improves the collection of baseline data, as used in research on efficiency of voice treatments. However, the basic requirement is the suitability of smartphones for recording and digitizing pathologic voices (mainly characterized by period perturbations and noise) without significant distortion. In this experiment, two smartphones (a very inexpensive one and a high-level one) were tested and compared with direct microphone recordings in a soundproof room. The voice stimuli consisted in synthesized deviant voice samples (median of fundamental frequency: 120 and 200 Hz) with three levels of jitter and three levels of added noise. All voice samples were analyzed using PRAAT software. The results show high correlations between jitter, shimmer, and noise-to-harmonics ratio measured on the recordings via both smartphones, the microphone, and measured directly on the sound files from the synthesizer. Smartphones thus appear adequate for reliable recording and digitizing of pathologic voices.


Subject(s)
Acoustics/instrumentation , Biomedical Research/instrumentation , Mobile Applications , Smartphone , Speech Acoustics , Speech Production Measurement/instrumentation , Speech-Language Pathology/instrumentation , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Voice Quality , Humans , Materials Testing , Predictive Value of Tests , Reproducibility of Results , Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted , Sound Spectrography , Voice Disorders/physiopathology , Voice Disorders/therapy
10.
Int J Surg ; 21 Suppl 1: S22-5, 2015 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26123387

ABSTRACT

Pancreatic Cancer (PC) is the fourth cause of death for tumors in Western countries. Symptoms are not specific, and can vary according to the tumor size and place. Diagnostic workup includes CA 19-9, CT and MRI. Surgery is the only treatment for PC, associated to radio-chemo therapy. Laparoscopic approaches are actually used for PC treatment in few specialized centers, and could be an alternative to laparotomic surgery. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopy for PC treatment compared to laparotomy. We reviewed 19 articles in literature to assess the feasibility and efficacy of Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy (LDP) and Laparoscopic Pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD). The results have shown that LDP is nowadays a safe technique, and the outcomes are comparable to laparotomic surgery. Regarding to LPD instead, results are controversial and the data are still not sufficient to consider this technique as a valid alternative to laparotomic surgery.


Subject(s)
Laparoscopy/methods , Pancreatectomy/methods , Pancreatic Neoplasms/surgery , Pancreaticoduodenectomy/methods , Humans , Treatment Outcome
11.
Res Vet Sci ; 96(2): 371-6, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24461336

ABSTRACT

Two protocols to immobilise free-ranging Pampas foxes for ear-tagging or radio-collaring were evaluated. One hundred fifteen foxes were injected with ketamine-xylazine (K-X) and thirteen with tiletamine-zolazepam (T-Z). The use of both T-Z and K-X combinations typically resulted in a smooth induction and recovery. In 86% of the cases K-X protocol was judged effective (mean±SD, K: 10.7±3.3mg/kg, X: 1.0±1.0mg/kg) while T-Z protocol was judged effective in 92% of the cases (T: 3.6±1.05mg/kg, Z: 3.6±1.05mg/kg). The primary differences between the two drug combinations were that the time necessary for the complete recovery was longer with T-Z, and thermic problems were found more frequently with K-X. Additionally, our results suggest that thermic stress may be a relatively frequent complication for Pampas foxes. This study provides baseline data on some physiologic variables in Pampas foxes captured with different methods and drugs in field conditions.


Subject(s)
Anesthetics/pharmacology , Foxes/physiology , Immobilization/veterinary , Ketamine/pharmacology , Tiletamine/pharmacology , Xylazine/pharmacology , Zolazepam/pharmacology , Animals , Argentina , Body Temperature/physiology , Body Weight/physiology , Chi-Square Distribution , Drug Combinations , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Immobilization/methods , Male , Respiratory Rate/physiology
12.
Microvasc Res ; 88: 42-7, 2013 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23538315

ABSTRACT

The presence of dysautonomia in diabetic neuropathy is correlated with impairment of vasomotor activity that drives blood microcirculation. Microcirculation, in turn, plays an important role in thermoregulation. In this work, we investigate the changes between two different physiological conditions of diabetic patients, induced by FREMS application, in the control of skin temperature, using a minimally invasive experiment. Skin is warmed up to a fixed temperature (44 °C) for a few minutes, then the heat source is turned off, letting the skin recover its physiological temperature. Both temperature and local blood flow, the latter measured with laser Doppler, are monitored during the experiment. A simple model of the cooling phase is used to evaluate the time constants involved in the process. Results indicate that significant differences exist in the model parameters between the two conditions.


Subject(s)
Blood Flow Velocity , Body Temperature Regulation/physiology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Diabetic Neuropathies/blood , Microcirculation/physiology , Regional Blood Flow/physiology , Aged , Female , Hemodynamics , Humans , Laser-Doppler Flowmetry , Male , Middle Aged , Models, Theoretical , Normal Distribution , Skin Temperature , Temperature , Time Factors
14.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol ; 269(4): 1195-203, 2012 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22210475

ABSTRACT

Spasmodic dysphonia voices form, in the same way as substitution voices, a particular category of dysphonia that seems not suited for a standardized basic multidimensional assessment protocol, like the one proposed by the European Laryngological Society. Thirty-three exhaustive analyses were performed on voices of 19 patients diagnosed with adductor spasmodic dysphonia (SD), before and after treatment with Botulinum toxin. The speech material consisted of 40 short sentences phonetically selected for constant voicing. Seven perceptual parameters (traditional and dedicated) were blindly rated by a panel of experienced clinicians. Nine acoustic measures (mainly based on voicing evidence and periodicity) were achieved by a special analysis program suited for strongly irregular signals and validated with synthesized deviant voices. Patients also filled in a VHI-questionnaire. Significant improvement is shown by all three approaches. The traditional GRB perceptual parameters appear to be adequate for these patients. Conversely, the special acoustic analysis program is successful in objectivating the improved regularity of vocal fold vibration: the basic jitter remains the most valuable parameter, when reliably quantified. The VHI is well suited for the voice-related quality of life. Nevertheless, when considering pre-therapy and post-therapy changes, the current study illustrates a complete lack of correlation between the perceptual, acoustic, and self-assessment dimensions. Assessment of SD-voices needs to be tridimensional.


Subject(s)
Botulinum Toxins, Type A/administration & dosage , Dysphonia/physiopathology , Speech Perception/physiology , Speech Production Measurement/methods , Vocal Cords/physiopathology , Voice Quality/physiology , Botulinum Toxins, Type A/therapeutic use , Dysphonia/diagnosis , Dysphonia/drug therapy , Female , Humans , Injections , Male , Middle Aged , Neuromuscular Agents/administration & dosage , Neuromuscular Agents/therapeutic use , Reproducibility of Results , Severity of Illness Index , Speech Acoustics , Surveys and Questionnaires , Treatment Outcome , Voice Quality/drug effects
15.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol ; 269(4): 1205-12, 2012 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22218847

ABSTRACT

Quality of substitution voicing-i.e., phonation with a voice that is not generated by the vibration of two vocal folds-cannot be adequately evaluated with routinely used software for acoustic voice analysis that is aimed at 'common' dysphonias and nearly periodic voice signals. The AMPEX analysis program (Van Immerseel and Martens) has been shown previously to be able to detect periodicity in irregular signals with background noise, and to be suited for running speech. The validity of this analysis program is first tested using realistic synthesized voice signals with known levels of cycle-to-cycle perturbations and additive noise. Second, exhaustive acoustic analysis is performed of the voices of 116 patients surgically treated for advanced laryngeal cancer and recorded in seven European academic centers. All of them read out a short phonetically balanced passage. Patients were divided into six groups according to the oscillating structures they used to phonate. Results show that features related to quantification of voicing enable a distinction between the different groups, while the features reporting F(0)-instability fail to do so. Acoustic evaluation of voice quality in substitution voices thus best relies upon voicing quantification.


Subject(s)
Phonation/physiology , Speech Acoustics , Vocal Cords/physiopathology , Voice Disorders/diagnosis , Voice Quality , Electronic Data Processing , Female , Humans , Male , Reproducibility of Results , Sound Spectrography , Voice Disorders/physiopathology
16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23366544

ABSTRACT

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are complex developmental disabilities that cause problems with social interaction and communication. ASD are associated with motor development problems, more or less blurred, and with perceptual and sensory brain areas. Crying is the infant's earliest form of communication and recent studies connect this original "language" form with autism disturbs. Being completely non-invasive, cry analysis is an appealing approach for early ASD diagnosis to improve rehabilitation. To this aim, we have developed an automatic system to record newborn cry and movements, during the first six months of life with a specific recording protocol. In this work we present first results of acoustic cry analysis in newborns classified as high-risk subjects being siblings of children already diagnosed as autistics. The work aims at finding possible early ASD signs in high-risk subjects as compared to a group of control subjects based on the fundamental frequency and the vocal tract resonance frequencies. Also, voiced and unvoiced parts of signal and cry-episodes duration are analyzed.


Subject(s)
Autistic Disorder/diagnosis , Crying/physiology , Early Diagnosis , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant Behavior/physiology , Infant, Newborn , Male
17.
Acta Paediatr ; 101(1): e27-32, 2012 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21732978

ABSTRACT

AIM: To evaluate the impact of the new European paediatric regulatory framework on the activities of Ethics Committees operating in Europe and to assess their involvement and interest in paediatric research. METHODS: Task-force in Europe for Drug Development for the Young Network of Excellence and Relating Expectations and Needs to the Participation and Empowerment of Children in Clinical Trials project set up an inventory of Ethics Committees existing in Europe and conducted a survey on their approach to paediatric trials. RESULTS: Ethics Committees operating in 22 European Countries participated in this survey. Results showed a high lack of knowledge, understanding and awareness of the current European paediatric regulatory framework and a lack of involvement of Ethics Committees in paediatric research, especially in terms of training and education, demonstrated also by the decreasing number of Ethics Committees answering exhaustively to the whole questionnaire. The majority of participating Ethics Committees expressed interest in future initiatives related to paediatric research. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a limited knowledge and understanding of the current paediatric regulatory framework, a significant number of Ethics Committees operating in Europe show interest in initiatives related to paediatric research. Networking may be an essential tool to be used to enhance Ethics Committees role in supporting paediatric research. Any initiative should be undertaken at European level in collaboration with European Union Institutions.


Subject(s)
Clinical Trials as Topic/ethics , Ethics Committees , Pediatrics/legislation & jurisprudence , Bioethical Issues , Child , European Union , Humans
18.
Rev. bras. plantas med ; 12(3): 322-332, jul.-set. 2010. ilus, tab
Article in Portuguese | LILACS | ID: lil-578971

ABSTRACT

Este estudo objetivou identificar as espécies arbóreas medicinais das matas ciliares de três pequenas propriedades rurais do município de Urubici-SC, e estabelecer relações entre as características ecológicas das mesmas com as possibilidades de emprego para restauração de ambientes ciliares degradados. Empregou-se o método dos quadrantes, para levantamento dos indivíduos com CAP>15 cm. Os indivíduos amostrados foram herborizados, depositados no Herbário LUSC e categorizados quanto ao uso medicinal, parte usada, freqüência, síndrome de dispersão (anemocórica, autocórica e zoocórica), grupo ecológico (pioneira, secundária inicial, secundária tardia) e uso para restauração florestal. Dos 240 indivíduos amostrados, 197 indivíduos pertencentes a 22 espécies de 15 famílias botânicas apresentaram potencialidades medicinais. As famílias Euphorbiaceae, Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapindaceae, Lauraceae e Anacardiaceae foram as mais abundantes. Mais de 85 por cento das espécies com potencial medicinal amostradas apresentaram síndrome de dispersão zoocórica; cerca de 78 por cento foram incluídas nos grupos ecológicos das secundárias iniciais e pioneiras e cerca de 88 por cento são recomendadas para restauração. As espécies arbóreas medicinais são bastante freqüentes nas matas ciliares degradadas do Rio Canoas, podendo ser fonte de recursos genéticos para a restauração e adequação das APPs à legislação ambiental, além de se constituírem em produtos florestais não madeireiros passíveis de exploração.


This study aimed to identify the medicinal arboreal species from riparian forests at three small farms in Urubici Municipality, Santa Catarina State, Brazil, and relate their ecological features to the possibilities of their use for restoration of degraded riparian environments. In order to survey individuals with circumference at breast height (CBH) >15 cm, the quadrant method was adopted. The sampled specimens were herborized, incorporated into the Herbarium LUSC and categorized according to their medicinal use, employed part, frequency, dispersal syndrome (anemochory, autochory and zoochory), ecological group (pioneer, early secondary, late secondary) and use for forest restoration. Of the 240 sampled specimens, 197 belonging to 22 species of 15 families were potentially medicinal. The most abundant families were Euphorbiaceae, Rosaceae, Myrtaceae, Sapindaceae, Lauraceae and Anacardiaceae. More than 85 percent potentially medicinal species had zoochoric dispersal syndrome, around 78 percent were categorized as early secondary and pioneer, and around 88 percent were recommended for restoration. Medicinal arboreal species are quite common in degraded riparian forests along Canoas River. They can provide genetic resources for restoration and adequacy of permanent preservation areas (PPAs) to the environmental legislation; moreover, they are exploitable non-timber forest products.


Subject(s)
Trees/classification , Plants, Medicinal , Environmental Restoration and Remediation/analysis , Brazil , Forests , Conservation of Natural Resources
20.
Clin Neurophysiol ; 120(7): 1282-90, 2009 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19505849

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the temporal relationship between cerebral and autonomic activities before and during periodic limb movements in NREM and REM sleep (PLMS). METHODS: Patterns of EEG, cardiac and muscle activities associated with PLMS were drawn from polysomnographic recordings of 14 outpatients selected for the presence of PLMS both in NREM and REM sleep. PLMS were scored during all sleep stages from tibial EMG. Data from a bipolar EEG channel were analyzed by wavelet transform. Heart rate (HR) was evaluated from the electrocardiogram. EEG, HR and EMG activations were detected as transient increase of signal parameters and examined by analysis of variance and correlation analysis independently in NREM and REM sleep. Homologous parameters in REM and NREM sleep were compared by paired t-test. RESULTS: The autonomic component, expressed by HR increase, took place before the motor phenomenon both in REM and NREM sleep, but it was significantly earlier during NREM. In NREM sleep, PLM onset was heralded by a significant activation of delta-EEG, followed by a progressive increase of all the other bands. No significant activations of delta EEG were found in REM sleep. HR and EEG activations positively correlated with high frequency EEG activations and negatively (in NREM) with slow frequency ones. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggested a heralding role for delta band only in NREM sleep and for HR during both NREM and REM sleep. Differences in EEG and HR activation between REM and NREM sleep and correlative data suggested a different modulation of the global arousal response. SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, time-frequency analysis and advanced statistical methods enabled an accurate comparison between brain and autonomic changes associated to PLM in NREM and REM sleep providing indications about interaction between autonomic and slow and fast EEG components of arousal response.


Subject(s)
Autonomic Nervous System/physiology , Electroencephalography , Electromyography , Nocturnal Myoclonus Syndrome/physiopathology , Sleep, REM/physiology , Sleep/physiology , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Female , Heart Rate/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Movement/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Polysomnography
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