Understanding Electrical Conduction and Nanopore Formation During Controlled Breakdown.

Controlled breakdown has recently emerged as a highly appealing technique to fabricate solid-state nanopores for a wide range of biosensing applications. This technique relies on applying an electric field of approximately 0.4-1 V nm-1 across the membrane to induce a current, and eventually, breakdown of the dielectric. Although previous studies have performed controlled breakdown under a range of different conditions, the mechanism of conduction and breakdown has not been fully explored. Here, electrical conduction and nanopore formation in SiNx membranes during controlled breakdown is studied. It is demonstrated that for Si-rich SiNx , oxidation reactions that occur at the membrane-electrolyte interface limit conduction across the dielectric. However, for stoichiometric Si3 N4 the effect of oxidation reactions becomes relatively small and conduction is predominately limited by charge transport across the dielectric. Several important implications resulting from understanding this process are provided which will aid in further developing controlled breakdown in the coming years, particularly for extending this technique to integrate nanopores with on-chip nanostructures.

THORACIC ORIGIN OF THE RIGHT RENAL ARTERY: AN INCIDENTAL FINDING.

Thoracic origin of a single renal artery with a normal position of the kidney is a very rare anatomical variant with just a dozen cases depicted in the medical literature. In this case report we describe an incidental finding of a main renal artery arising from the thoracic aorta at the 11th thoracic vertebral level in an asymptomatic 57 year-old man in a routine computed tomography (CT) on follow-up for chronic pancreatitis.

Aceitação de um programa mHealth para prevenção da obesidade em adolescentes: estudo misto sequencial / Acceptance of an mHealth program for obesity prevention in adolescents: mixed sequential study / Aceptación de un programa de mHealth para la prevención de la obesidad en adolescentes: estudio mixto secuencial

Enquadramento: A área da saúde tem-se adaptado ao uso de tecnologia, recorrendo a esta como um aliado relevante em programas de monitorização e prevenção da obesidade e problemas associados. Objetivo: Avaliar a aceitação do programa e-terapêutico TeenPower em adolescentes. Metodologia: Estudo misto sequencial realizado em 47 alunos do 6º ao 8º ano de escolaridade em Portugal. Na primeira fase, os dados foram recolhidos através de questionário incluindo dados sociodemográficos, questionário de aceitação, escolhas alimentares, (in)satisfação com a imagem corporal, perfil do estilo de vida e e-literacia em saúde. A segunda fase incluiu uma sessão interativa online com fórum de discussão, seguida de análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: A aceitação do programa TeenPower por parte dos adolescentes apresenta um valor médio positivo nos 4 fatores avaliados pela escala. Verificou-se ainda que a e-literacia em saúde está positivamente relacionada com a perceção de utilidade do TeenPower. Conclusão: A aceitação favorável de programas e-terapêuticos pode permitir a inovação e melhoria na prevenção da obesidade, respondendo eficazmente às expectativas e necessidades dos adolescentes.

Background: The health area has been adapting to the use of technology, using it as an important ally in programs for monitoring and preventing obesity and associated problems. Objective: To assess the acceptance of the TeenPower e-therapeutic program in adolescents. Methodology: Sequential mixed-method study with 47 students in grades 6, 7, and 8 in Portugal. In the first phase, data were collected through a questionnaire consisting of sociodemographic data, acceptance questionnaire, food choices, body image (dis)satisfaction, lifestyle profile, and eHealth literacy. The second phase included an interactive online session with a discussion forum, followed by Bardin's content analysis. Results: The acceptance of the TeenPower program by adolescents had a positive mean score in the 4 factors assessed on the scale. eHealth literacy was also positively associated with the perceived usefulness of the TeenPower program. Conclusion: The successful acceptance of e-therapeutic programs can lead to innovation and improvement in obesity prevention, thus providing an effective response to the adolescents' expectations and needs.

Marco contextual: El área de la salud se ha adaptado al uso de la tecnología y la ha utilizado como aliada relevante en los programas de monitorización y prevención de la obesidad y los problemas asociados. Objetivo: Evaluar la aceptación del programa terapéutico electrónico TeenPower en adolescentes. Metodología: Estudio mixto secuencial realizado en 47 estudiantes de 6.º a 8.º año de escolaridad en Portugal. En la primera fase se reunieron datos mediante un cuestionario que incluía datos sociodemográficos, cuestionario de aceptación, elecciones de alimentos, (in)satisfacción con la imagen corporal, perfil del estilo de vida y alfabetización electrónica en materia de salud. La segunda fase incluyó una sesión interactiva en línea con un foro de debate, seguida de un análisis del contenido de Bardin. Resultados: La aceptación del programa TeenPower por parte de los adolescentes presenta un valor positivo promedio en los 4 factores evaluados por la escala. También se constató que la alfabetización electrónica en materia de salud se relaciona positivamente con la percepción de la utilidad del TeenPower. Conclusión: La aceptación favorable de los programas terapéuticos electrónicos puede permitir la innovación y la mejora en la prevención de la obesidad, respondiendo así eficazmente a las expectativas y necesidades de los adolescentes.

Dependent person in self-care: analysis of care needs.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the self-care dependency levels of the dependent person at the time of home discharge and its relationship between (1) the degree of dependency of each self-care domain; (2) the previous dependency levels; and (3) the gender of the dependent person. It also aims to assess the relationship between the degree of dependency of each self-care domain, the length of admission, the length of dependency and the age of the dependent person at the time of discharge. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample comprised hospitalised adults and elderly in the medical services of a Portuguese hospital during the months of March, April and May of 2018. The data were collected by an interview conducted at the time of home discharge from the hospital medical ward. RESULTS: The average age of dependent people of the sample is 80.7 years (±10.1) with the majority being women (51.7%), with no statistical difference in the mean age according to gender (U = 2205.500; p > 0.05). They were hospitalised on average 11.4 days (±33.2), most of them (44.0%) due to respiratory problems (85% of which were due to pneumonia). There were no statistically significant differences between the length of the hospital stay, the length of dependency and the participants' gender (U = 2200.500, p > 0.05; U = 1688.000, p > 0.05). Medication intake was the highest dependency domain amongst participants (41.3%), followed by instrumental activities of daily living (40.6%) and bathing (39.9%). CONCLUSION: The amount of support required may vary according to the domain that the person is dependent. Thus, it is important to use a robust and reliable assessment tool that will be able to assess the degree of dependency on the various domains of self-care.

[Smoking Cessation after Bladder Cancer Diagnosis]. / Cessação Tabágica após o Diagnóstico de Cancro da Bexiga.

INTRODUCTION: Smoking is an important risk factor for the development, recurrence and progression of bladder cancer. Our aim was to analyze smoking habits after diagnosis in bladder cancer patients. Additionally, we evaluated patient knowledge about smoking as a risk factor and the urologist role in promoting abstinence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, observational and descriptive study was performed in bladder cancer patients, diagnosed between January 2013 and September 2015 (n = 160) in Braga Hospital, in Portugal. RESULTS: Smoking history was present in 71.9% of the sample, with 21.9% current smokers, (40.7% of abstinence after diagnosis). Smoking was acknowledged as a risk factor by 74.4% of the sample, with only 51.3% of ever smokers and 24.4% of non-smokers recognizing smoking as the leading risk factor (p = 0.008). The presence of other household smokers were significantly higher in patients who continued smoking (40%) than in ex-smokers after diagnosis (4.2%) (p = 0.005). The majority of smokers at diagnosis (83.1%) were advised to quit by their urologist, but only one smoker (1.7%) was offered any specific intervention to aid in cessation. DISCUSSION: Smoking is not recognized as the leading risk factor for bladder cancer. This limited awareness, associated with the known difficulties in quitting smoking and the observed lack of smoking cessation interventions, may account for the high current smoking prevalence, albeit in line with other studies. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the need for efficient smoking cessation programs directed to bladder cancer patients.

Introdução: O tabagismo é um importante fator de risco para o desenvolvimento, recorrência e progressão do cancro da bexiga. Este estudo pretendia analisar os hábitos tabágicos após o diagnóstico em doentes com cancro da bexiga. Adicionalmente, foi avaliado o reconhecimento do tabagismo como fator de risco e a atuação médica na promoção da cessação tabágica. Material e Métodos: Estudo transversal, observacional e descritivo realizado em doentes com cancro da bexiga, diagnosticados entre janeiro de 2013 e setembro de 2015 (n = 160) no Hospital de Braga. Resultados: História tabágica estava presente em 71,9% da amostra, com 21,9% de tabagismo atual (40,7% de abstinência após o diagnóstico). O tabagismo foi reconhecido como fator de risco por 74,4% dos doentes, mas apenas 51,3% dos doentes com história tabágica e 24,4% dos não fumadores referem o tabagismo como a principal causa etiológica (p = 0,008). A presença de outros fumadores em casa foi significativamente maior em doentes que mantiveram tabagismo (40%) do que em ex-fumadores após o diagnóstico (4,2%) (p = 0,005). A maioria dos fumadores (83,1%) refere ter sido aconselhada a deixar de fumar, mas apenas um (1,7%) recebeu apoio específico para a cessação. Discussão: O tabagismo não é adequadamente reconhecido como a principal etiologia de cancro da bexiga. Este desconhecimento, aliado à reconhecida dificuldade na abstinência tabágica e ao défice de estratégias promotoras de cessação tabágica observados, poderá justificar a elevada prevalência de fumadores atuais, todavia, em linha com outros estudos. Conclusão: Este estudo evidencia a necessidade de programas de cessação tabágica eficientes dirigidos a pacientes com cancro da bexiga.

Association between treatment adherence and quality of life among overweight adolescents.

Overweight is an extra burden for adolescent development and can trigger severe physical and psychosocial problems. This cross-sectional correlational study aimed to analyze the association between treatment adherence and obesity-related quality of life among overweight adolescents. The sample consisted of 94 adolescents attending a specialized Pediatric Obesity Clinic in Portugal, 48.94% of whom were boys and 51.06% girls, with a median age of 14.17 years (SD = 1.51). A positive correlation was found between obesity-related quality of life and adherence to weight control. The influence of parents and caregivers on the adherence to weight control is significantly associated with increased physical comfort, better social life and family relations. These results highlight the importance of behavioral change and adherence to weight control as pillars of a better quality of life among overweight adolescents. Obesity management programs need to focus on multiple criteria of treatment effectiveness, such as obesity-related quality of life.

Association between treatment adherence and quality of life among overweight adolescents / Associação entre adesão terapêutica e qualidade de vida em adolescentes com sobrepeso / Asociación entre adhesión terapéutica y calidad de vida en adolescentes con sobrepeso

Overweight is an extra burden for adolescent development and can trigger severe physical and psychosocial problems. This cross-sectional correlational study aimed to analyze the association between treatment adherence and obesity-related quality of life among overweight adolescents. The sample consisted of 94 adolescents attending a specialized Pediatric Obesity Clinic in Portugal, 48.94% of whom were boys and 51.06% girls, with a median age of 14.17 years (SD = 1.51). A positive correlation was found between obesity-related quality of life and adherence to weight control. The influence of parents and caregivers on the adherence to weight control is significantly associated with increased physical comfort, better social life and family relations. These results highlight the importance of behavioral change and adherence to weight control as pillars of a better quality of life among overweight adolescents. Obesity management programs need to focus on multiple criteria of treatment effectiveness, such as obesity-related quality of life.

O sobrepeso representa um ônus adicional para o desenvolvimento do adolescente e pode provocar problemas físicos de psicossociais. Este estudo correlacional transversal teve como objetivo analisar a associação entre adesão terapêutica e qualidade de vida associada à obesidade entre adolescentes com sobrepeso. A amostra consistia em 94 adolescentes que frequentavam uma clínica pediátrica especializada em obesidade em Portugal (48,94% meninos; 51,06% meninas), com mediana de idade de 14,17 anos (DP = 1,51). Foi demonstrada uma correlação positiva entre qualidade de vida relacionada à obesidade e adesão ao controle de peso. O estudo mostra uma associação positiva entre a influência dos pais e cuidadores sobre a adesão ao controle de peso e o aumento do conforto físico e a vida social e relações familiares. Os resultados destacam a importância de mudanças comportamentais e adesão ao controle de peso como pilares para uma melhor qualidade de vida entre adolescentes com sobrepeso. Os programas para o manejo da obesidade devem priorizar múltiplos critérios de efetividade terapêutica, tais como qualidade de vida relacionada à obesidade.

El sobrepeso representa una carga adicional para el desarrollo del adolescente y puede provocar problemas físicos y psicosociales. Este estudio correlacional transversal tuvo como objetivo analizar la asociación entre adhesión terapéutica y calidad de vida, asociada a la obesidad entre adolescentes con sobrepeso. La muestra consistía en 94 adolescentes que frecuentaban una clínica pediátrica, especializada en obesidad en Portugal (48,94% niños; 51,06% niñas), con una media de edad de 14,17 años (DP = 1,51). Se demostró una correlación positiva entre calidad de vida relacionada con la obesidad y adhesión al control de peso. El estudio muestra una asociación positiva entre la influencia de los padres y cuidadores sobre la adhesión al control de peso y el aumento de confort físico, la vida social y relaciones familiares. Los resultados destacan la importancia de cambios comportamentales y de adhesión al control de peso como pilares para una mejor calidad de vida entre adolescentes con sobrepeso. Los programas para el manejo de la obesidad deben priorizar múltiples criterios de efectividad terapéutica, tales como calidad de vida relacionada con la obesidad.

Body-image and obesity in adolescence: a comparative study of social-demographic, psychological, and behavioral aspects.

In current society, body and beauty's cult emerge as one of the main factors of adolescence. That leads adolescents to be dissatisfied with their own appearance, to psychological maladjustment, and nutritional disorders. This quantitative, exploratory, and cross-sectional research evaluates how adolescents perceive their weight and the prevalence of obesity in a sample of adolescents from the district of Viseu (Portugal). It also attempted to compare the relation of body-image and obesity with sociodemographic (school, sex, age, socioeconomic status, family functioning), psychological (self-concept, depression, school success) and behavioral aspects (physical inactivity). After data analyses, it was verified that the prevalence of obesity was 8.8% but 12.7% considered themselves obese. These adolescents had higher physical inactivity, poorer family functioning, a lower self-concept, and a higher depression index. The really obese adolescents were older and had poorer academic results. Obesity was higher in boys, but girls perceived themselves more as being obese. In conclusion, it is essential to evaluate weight perception in addition to body mass index (BMI), because the main problem could be related not only to being obese, but also to the perception of having a higher than ideal weight.

Body-Image and Obesity in Adolescence: A Comparative Study of Social-Demographic,Psychological, and Behavioral Aspects

In current society, body and beauty’s cult emerge as one of the main factors of adolescence. That leads adolescents to be dissatisfied with their own appearance, to psychological maladjustment, and nutritional disorders. This quantitative, exploratory, and cross-sectional research evaluates how adolescents perceive their weight and the prevalence of obesity in a sample of adolescents from the district of Viseu (Portugal). It also attempted to compare the relation of body-image and obesity with sociodemographic (school, sex, age, socioeconomic status, family functioning), psychological (self-concept, depression, school success) and behavioral aspects (physical inactivity). After data analyses, it was verified that the prevalence of obesity was 8.8% but 12.7% considered themselves obese. These adolescents had higher physical inactivity, poorer family functioning, a lower self-concept, and a higher depression index. The really obese adolescents were older and had poorer academic results. Obesity was higher in boys, but girls perceived themselves more as being obese. In conclusion, it is essential to evaluate weight perception in addition to body mass index (BMI), because the main problem could be related not only to being obese, but also to the perception of having a higher than ideal weight (AU)

En la sociedad actual, el culto al cuerpo y la belleza emergen como uno de los principales factores en la adolescencia. Esto lleva a los adolescentes a sentirse insatisfechos con su propio aspecto, al desajuste psicológico y a los trastornos de alimentación. Esta investigación cuantitativa, exploratoria y transversal evalúa cómo los adolescentes perciben su peso y la prevalencia de la obesidad en una muestra de adolescentes del distrito de Viseu (Portugal). También intenta comparar la relación entre imagen corporal y obesidad con aspectos sociodemográficos (escuela, sexo, edad, nivel socioeconómico, funcionamiento familiar), psicológicos (autoconcepto, depresión, eventos escolares) y comportamentales (inactividad física). Después de analizar los datos, se verificó que la prevalencia de la obesidad era de 8,8% pero que un 12,7% se consideraban obesos. Estos adolescentes tenían un mayor nivel de sedentarismo, un funcionamiento familiar peor, autoconcepto más bajo y un alto índice de depresión. Los adolescentes realmente obesos eran mayores y tenían peores resultados académicos. La obesidad era más alta entre los chicos pero las chicas se percibían como obesas. En conclusión, es fundamental evaluar la percepción del peso además del índice de masa corporal porque el problema principal podría estar relacionado no sólo con ser obeso, sino también con la percepción de tener un peso mayor que el peso ideal (AU)