Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2011-01"
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- THE RED DOT SYSTEM: Emergency Diagnosis Impact and Digital Radiology Implementation - A reviewPublication . Coelho, J.; Rodrigues, P.Radiographer abnormality detection schemes (RADS) were introduced in the early 1980s to assist emergency departments. The development of PACS systems are affecting health professionals forcing them to evolve along, reviewing images on a computer monitor rather than on radiographic film. This article reviewed published articles that evaluated the impact of the use of a Red Dot System in patient outcome of emergency trauma patients and assessed the implementation of a Red Dot System in a Radiology Department with digital radiography and PACS. Few articles addressed the implementation issues and use of a Red Dot system in Computed Radiology. Radiographer skeletal red dot studies, had sensitivity and specificity of, respectively, 0.71 and 0.96 pre-training, and 0.81 and 0.95 post-training, compared with a reference standard. The use of radiographer abnormality detection schemes such as Red Dot and reporting has the potential to improve the diagnosis and outcome of emergency patients. The arrival of Information Technologies (IT) to healthcare and the introduction of Digital Radiography have limited the functionality of RADS due to incompatibility of new technology with the standard practice. New image technology solutions in Radiology should enhance the development and utilization of radiographer skills in RADS environments.
- Perceptions in Living Kidney Donation: What ProtagonistsThink and FeelPublication . Frade, I.C.; Lopes, A.; Teixeira, L.; Rodrigues, J.; Almeida, M.; Dias, L.; Henriques, A.C.Abstract Background Although donor perceptions of donation have been evaluated in several programs, evaluation of associated recipients has not been as frequent. Purpose Our aim was to evaluate and compare after transplantation, donor and recipient perceptions of donation. Methods After transplantation 35 recipients and 45 donors completed a sociodemographic and a donation perception questionnaire. We applied the Fisher test to descriptive (absolute and relative frequency) data. Results 57.8% of donors were female and 62.9% of recipients male. 53.3% of donors were siblings, 44.5% parents, and 2.2% a daughter. Most recipients (71.9%) thought that the donation was the donors' initiative and 21.9% that it was suggested by medical team. 96.4% responded that it was the donor's wish that determined their decision; 51.4% had serious or some doubts about accepting the option, but for 48.6% it was an easy decision. Among the donors, 88.9% decided by themselves and 8.9% were asked for donation. For 91.1%, their wish was the main reason of the decision, but 8.9% felt a moral obligation; 77.8% thought it was an easy decision, and 17.8% hesitated a little 84.4% were not worried about their future health. Conclusions Altruistic motivations were predominant in both groups. Most recipients thought that the motivation for donation was self-determined, a finding that agreed with donor perceptions. Perceptions about the quality of and changes in emotional relationship were the same in both groups. Donors and recipients referred to the donation process as positive, but there were some negative emotions and perceptions.
- Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis among patients with hepatitis B virus infection in northern Portugal with reference to the viral genotypes.Publication . Mota, A.; Areias, J.; Cardoso, M.J Med Virol. 2011 Jan;83(1):71-7. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis among patients with hepatitis B virus infection in northern Portugal with reference to the viral genotypes. Mota A, Areias J, Cardoso MF. SourceICBAS Abel Salazar Biomedical Institute, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal. Abstract The prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus in Portugal is around 1% of the population; 20-30% of those infected typically develop cirrhosis. The study focuses on the epidemiological profile of patients with hepatitis B infection and liver damage, in particular, cirrhosis. Of the 358 individuals that comprised the study, a liver biopsy was performed in 249 to identify the presence of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was observed in 59 patients (23.7%) The Child-Pugh classification was used to assess the prognosis of cirrhosis: 3 out of the 59 patients were classified as Child-Pugh grade C, the most severe, 17 (28.8%) as grade B, and 39 (66.2%) as grade A. Patients classified as grade B were older, drank more, and showed higher levels of AST and alkaline phosphatase when compared with individuals classified as grade A. Genotypes A and D were predominant, and no significant differences with respect to genotype distribution were observed. Analysis of the hematological parameters showed that patients classified as Child's grade B had lower levels of platelets and higher levels of prothrombin time than those classified as Child's grade A. The profile of the patients with cirrhosis, including an extended number of individual characteristics, provides useful information, however, only a prospective study could evaluate definitively if liver disease is influenced by these factors. Future studies would benefit from the analysis of the impact of genotypes on liver disease, particularly genotypes A and D, the most predominant genotypes in northern Portugal. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
- Depression and anxiety in living kidney donation: evaluation of donors and recipients.Publication . Lopes, A.; Frade, I.C.; Teixeira, L.; Oliveira, C.; Almeida, M.; Dias, L.; Henriques, A.C.Transplant Proc. 2011 Jan-Feb;43(1):131-6. Depression and anxiety in living kidney donation: evaluation of donors and recipients. Lopes A, Frade IC, Teixeira L, Oliveira C, Almeida M, Dias L, Henriques AC. SourceLyaison-Psychiatry and Health Psychology Unit, Oporto Hospital Centre, Oporto, Portugal. lopealice@gmail.com Abstract BACKGROUND: Psychosocial status of donors before and after living kidney donor transplantation has been an important concern. Investigations of psychosocial issues in related recipients are not frequent. AIM: The aims of this study were to evaluate and compare psychopathologic dimensions in donors and recipients before and after transplantation. METHODS: Thirty-five recipients and 45 donors completed a psychosocial evaluation before and after transplantation. We applied Pearson chi-square, McNemar, Fisher, Wilcoxon, and Mann-Whitney tests as well as linear and logistic regression statistical methods. RESULTS: Before transplantation 100% of the recipients presented total anxiety, compared with 64.4% of donors, with higher anxiety levels in all dimensions (P < .001). Also, 38.7% of recipients and 16.3% of donors had moderate/serious depression (P = .029). Men showed higher levels of cognitive anxiety before transplantation (odds ratio [OR] = 4.3; P = .008). After versus before transplantation central nervous system and cognitive anxiety had diminished in recipients (P = .031; P = .035, respectively); there were higher levels of cognitive anxiety than among the donors (P = .007). Depression showed no significant changes in recipients or donors; the differences were no longer significant. There were less severely depressed recipients but an increase among severely depressed donors. Male recipients and donors showed greater cognitive anxiety (P = .02; P = .04, respectively) at both times. Female recipients presented with more severe depression (P = .036). CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is an important symptom. Surgery had a positive impact to lower anxiety in recipients. Most protagonists displayed little or no depression; it was more prevalent among recipients. Donors and recipients maintained some psychopathologic symptoms after surgery. We defined vulnerable groups among these cohorts. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.