Scientific research is a systematic process aimed to build knowledge through a set of structured evaluations, thus generating the development of both the individual that performs research and the society in which it is developed. The objective of research is to produce knowledge, possibly applicable inside and outside researchers´ environments, and perhaps generate practical actions. Research methodology should be reproducible and its results may be taken into real world scenarios, generating outcomes for the entire community. […]

For the fourth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV),() sexual dysfunctions are defined by the presence of pain or an alteration during one or more of the phases of the linear sexual response cycle (desire – arousal – orgasm – resolution). In the fifth edition of this manual, DSM-5,() published in 2013, sexual dysfunctions were considered gender-specific, in which the difficulties with desire and arousal of the woman constitute a single dysfunction (female sexual interest/arousal […]

Objective To define donors’ profile of an Organ and Tissue Procurement Center and compare the family consent for tissue donation before and after modification of the Donation Term. Methods A descriptive, documentary and quantitative study performed in an Organ and Tissue Procurement Center, analyzed 111 feasible donors’ charts in the period from March 13 to September 13, 2010 (1st period), and from September 14, 2010 to March 14, 2011 (2nd period), based on the modification date. Results The mean age […]

Objective To evaluate the learning effect of computerized cognitive testing in the elderly. Methods Cross-sectional study with 20 elderly, 10 women and 10 men, with average age of 77.5 (±4.28) years. The volunteers performed two series of computerized cognitive tests in sequence and their results were compared. The applied tests were: Trail Making A and B, Spatial Recognition, Go/No Go, Memory Span, Pattern Recognition Memory and Reverse Span. Results Based on the comparison of the results, learning effects were observed […]

Objective To evaluate the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with valvular heart disease who arrived decompensated at the emergency department of a university hospital in Brazil. Methods A descriptive analysis of clinical and echocardiographic data of 174 patients with severe valvular disease, who were clinically decompensated and went to the emergency department of a tertiary cardiology hospital, in the State of São Paulo, in 2009. Results The mean age of participants was 56±17 years and 54% were female. The […]

Objective To determine the relation between the degrees of chronic pain and drowsiness levels. Methods The study was conducted with 115 patients, who answered the questionnaire as diagnostic criteria in the survey. After evaluation based on the protocol of chronic pain registry RDC/TMD− Axis II, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale was applied to assess drowsiness levels. Results Among the participating patients, there were more females (80%), and the type of pain more prevalent was chronic (70.4%). Concerning the grades of chronic […]

Objective To compare the endometrial echo values obtained by transvaginal ultrasonography with the body mass index of postmenopausal patients; to verify if there is higher prevalence of endometrial thickening in women with body mass index ≥30. Methods This is an analytical and cross-sectional study that evaluated 294 patients. Postmenopausal women were included, and those on hormone therapy were excluded. The variables evaluated were body mass index (considering obesity if >30), number of pregnancies, years since menopause, and age. These variables […]

Objective To determine the efficacy of stress urinary incontinence treatments adding pelvic floor muscle training to vaginal electrical stimulation. Methods Forty-eight women with stress urinary incontinence were randomized into 2 groups: 24 underwent isolated vaginal electrical stimulation, and 24 vaginal electrical stimulation plus pelvic floor muscle training. History, physical examination, voiding diary, perineum strength test, and urodynamic study were assessed. Comparisons were made for adherence to treatment, muscle strength improvement, urinary symptoms, and degree of satisfaction immediately, 12 and 96 […]

Objective To analyse the progression of body mass index in eating disorders and to determine the percentile for establishment and resolution of the disease. Methods A retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study. Review of clinical files of adolescents with eating disorders. Results Of the 62 female adolescents studied with eating disorders, 51 presented with eating disorder not otherwise specified, 10 anorexia nervosa, and 1 bulimia nervosa. Twenty-one of these adolescents had menstrual disorders; in that, 14 secondary amenorrhea and 7 menstrual irregularities […]

Objective This retrospective study evaluated the results of sclerotherapy with low doses of ethanol for treatment of head and neck venous malformations. Methods We treated 51 patients, 37 females. Median age was 23 years. Patients were treated with percutaneous intralesional injection of alcohol every two weeks and followed up prospectively for a median period of 18 months. Most lesions affected the face and cosmetic disfigurement was the most frequent complaint. Results We performed a median of 7 sessions of sclerotherapy. […]

Objective To describe a new surgical technique to treat pectus excavatumutilizing low hardness solid silicone block that can be carved during the intraoperative period promoting a better aesthetic result. Methods Between May 1994 and February 2013, 34 male patients presentingpectus excavatum were submitted to surgical repair with the use of low hardness solid silicone block, 10 to 30 Shore A. A block-shaped parallelepiped was used with height and base size coinciding with those of the bone defect. The block was […]

Objective To test and validate a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction method for bloodstream infections, as well as to compare the results with conventional blood culture. Methods A total of 114 consecutive patients with clinical evidence of sepsis were submitted to blood culture and LightCycler™ SeptiFast tests. Results More positive specimens (23; 20.2%) were detected using the LightCycler™ SeptiFast than the blood culture (17; 14.9%), with an agreement of 86.8%. Discordant results were seen in four patients positive only to […]

Objective To analyze intra and interobserver agreement of two radiographic methods for evaluation of posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis. Methods Twenty patients undergoing instrumented posterolateral fusion were evaluated by anteroposterior and dynamic lateral radiographs in maximal flexion and extension. The images were evaluated initially by 6 orthopedic surgeons, and after 8 weeks, reassessed by 4 of them, totaling 400 radiographic measurements. Intra and interobserver reliability were analyzed using the Kappa coefficient and Landis and Koch criteria. Results Intra and interobserver agreement regarding […]

Objective To validate the minimal criteria of the histopathologic diagnosis of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease, based on the histopathologic classification of the National Institutes of Health and correlate them with clinical features. Methods Forty-one specimens containing both oral mucosa and salivary glands were analyzed in slides stained with hematoxylin-eosin. The histological specimens were blindly examined by two trained pathologists using criteria recommended for the histopathologic diagnosis of chronic graft-versus-host disease proposed by the National Institutes of Health Consensus. The clinical […]

Objective To analyze the nursing staff opinion about the continuous quality improvement program at a University Hospital. Methods A descriptive study designed as a case study, analyzing the quality program at a University Hospital, with the opinion of a sample stratified by nursing team category through a self-administered questionnaire, from May to July 2012. The answers were submitted to factor analysis, having the dialectical and historical materialism as the theoretical-methodological reference. Results The factor analysis grouped the variables in six […]

Objective To identify indicators of required nursing workload for pediatric patients care in an emergency department. Methods This cross-sectional quantitative study was carried out in a pediatric short-stay unit at a public hospital in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. The patient classification system and activity times of nursing care proposed by the Brazilian Federal Nurse Council were applied to all patients admitted over a 1-month period. The instruments were applied by two nurses in populations of 500 and 453 patients, respectively. […]

Objective : To estimate the direct costs of hospital stay for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, in a public hospital. Methods : A cost estimate study conducted between 2009 and 2011, in which direct hospital costs were estimated for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, with 22 to 36 6/7 gestational weeks, and treated at the neonatal unit of the hospital. Results : In 2006, there were 5,180 deliveries at this hospital, and 17.8% (922) were newborns of adolescent mothers, of […]

Apophyseal ring fractures are rare injuries that may be associated with lumbar disc herniation in young patients. We report a unique case in the literature of a 15-year-old male patient who played football and was admitted at our service complaining of sciatica radiating into the left leg. An apophysial ring injury of L5 vertebral body was observed. This injury caused two extruded disc herniation in adjacent levels. Surgical procedure was indicated after failure of conservative treatment.

A full-term male neonate with anorectal anomaly and external perineal anomalies was referred to our service. Physical examination showed an epithelized perineal mass with cutaneous orifices, which had urine fistulization, hipotrofic perineal musculature, bilateral congenital clubfoot, hipospadic urethra, criptorquidy bilateral with nonpalpable testis and imperforate anus. A colostomy was constructed immediately after birth. The child underwent excision of perineal mass, bilateral orchidopexy, Duplay neourethroplasty and coloanal anastomosis at 3 months of age. The histopathological examination of the perineal mass revealed […]

Coral reef aorta is described as an uncommon entity characterized by the presence of coarse calcifications, which are developed in the visceral aorta. These calcifications grow toward the lumen of the artery and can result in significant stenosis, so that causing malperfusion of the lower limbs, visceral ischemia or hypertension secondary to renal involvement. We report here a case of a 54-year-old patient with coral reef aorta and symptomatic. The clinical presentation of the patient required the surgical approach. A […]