Effect of image resolution manipulation in rearfoot angle measurements obtained with photogrammetry

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of image resolution manipulation on the photogrammetric measurement of the rearfoot static angle. The study design was that of a reliability study. We evaluated 19 healthy young adults (11 females and 8 males). The photographs were taken at 1536 pixels in the greatest dimension, resized into four different resolutions (1200, 768, 600, 384 pixels) and analyzed by three equally trained examiners on a 96-pixels per inch (ppi) screen. An experienced physiotherapist marked the anatomic landmarks of rearfoot static angles on two occasions within a 1-week interval. Three different examiners had marked angles on digital pictures. The systematic error and the smallest detectable difference were calculated from the angle values between the image resolutions and times of evaluation. Different resolutions were compared by analysis of variance. Inter- and intra-examiner reliability was calculated by intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC). The rearfoot static angles obtained by the examiners in each resolution were not different (P > 0.05); however, the higher the image resolution the better the inter-examiner reliability. The intra-examiner reliability (within a 1-week interval) was considered to be unacceptable for all image resolutions (ICC range: 0.08-0.52). The whole body image of an adult with a minimum size of 768 pixels analyzed on a 96-ppi screen can provide very good inter-examiner reliability for photogrammetric measurements of rearfoot static angles (ICC range: 0.85-0.92), although the intra-examiner reliability within each resolution was not acceptable. Therefore, this method is not a proper tool for follow-up evaluations of patients within a therapeutic protocol.

Nutritional status, dietary intake and serum levels of vitamin C upon diagnosis of cancer in children and adolescents / El estado nutricional, la ingesta alimentaria y los niveles séricos de vitamina C en el momento del diagnóstico de cáncer en niños y adolescentes

Introduction: The prevalence of malnutrition upon diagnosis, together with reduced food intake secondary to disease and treatment, make the periodic assessment of nutritional status (including the intake of antioxidant nutrients) of considerable importance to the follow up of patients with cancer. Objectives: Assess the nutritional status and frequency of inadequate vitamin C levels among children and adolescents with cancer at the beginning of treatment and determine associated factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out with 30 patients under 18 years. Nutritional status was assessed using laboratory methods and anthropometric measurements. Vitamin C adequacy was assessed through its serum concentration and dietary intake. Results: In the sample, 10% were short for their age and 13.3% were underweight. The triceps skinfold measurement revealed fat depletion in 68% and the arm muscle circumference measurement revealed muscle depletion in 32.0%. Seventy percent of the patients had vitamin C deficiency and had greater weight loss, lower Z scores for all anthropometric indicators analyzed, lower serum albumin and higher C-reactive protein than those without vitamin C deficiency, but these differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Children with cancer may have nutritional deficits upon diagnosis. Further studies are needed on the association between serum levels of antioxidant and nutritional status in order to offer safe, effective nutritional support (AU)

Introducción: La prevalencia de desnutrición al momento del diagnóstico junto a la reducción de la ingesta de alimentos secundaria a la enfermedad y el tratamiento, condicionan que la evaluación periódica del estado nutricional, incluso la evaluación de los nutrientes antioxidantes, sea de gran importancia en el seguimiento del paciente con cáncer. Objetivo: Evaluar el estado nutricional y la frecuencia de los niveles inadecuados de vitamina C en niños y adolescentes con cáncer, en etapas tempranas del tratamiento, y determinar los factores asociados. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal con 30 pacientes menores de 18 años para evaluar el estado nutricional y la frecuencia de los niveles inadecuados de vitamina C en los pacientes de oncología pediátrica al momento del diagnóstico de la enfermedad. Se evaluó el estado nutricional por métodos de laboratorio y mediciones antropométricas, y se evaluó la vitamina C en su concentración sérica y el consumo de fuentes de alimentos. Resultados: Se obtuvo 10% de baja estatura, 13,3% de bajo peso, 68% de disminución de los pliegues cutáneos del tríceps (PCT) y 32,0% de la circunferencia muscular del brazo (CMB). El setenta por ciento de los pacientes presentaron una deficiencia de vitamina C. Estos mostraron una mayor pérdida de peso y menor puntuación Z para todos los indicadores antropométricos estudiados, media menor de albúmina sérica y media mayor de proteína C reactiva en comparación con las personas que no tienen deficiencia de vitamina C, pero las diferencias no fueron estadísticamente significativas (p > 0,05). Conclusión: Los niños con cáncer pueden presentar importantes déficits nutricionales al momento del diagnóstico de la enfermedad. Se necesitan más estudios sobre la asociación entre los niveles séricos de antioxidantes y el estado nutricional, a fin de apoyar el soporte nutricional seguro y efectivo (AU)

Efecto del bromacepam sobre el aprendizaje motor: análisis electroencefalográfico a partir del ritmo beta / Effects of bromazepan on motor learning: an electroencephalogram analysis based on the beta rythm

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