RCAAP Repository

Introduction – Depression is one of the major potentially treatable psychiatric disorders affecting geriatric patients. At primary care facilities up to 30-50% of depressed patients are misdiagnosed and therefore not treated adequately. Recognition of depression is best improved by routine screening using efficient and easily applicable instruments. One of the most widely used instruments, the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), has been sufficiently validated in samples from specialized or out-sourced services. However, few studies, none of them from Brazil, have evaluated the performance of the GDS at the level of primary care in which most geriatric patients with depression are treated, making it hard to generalize existing results to this context. Objectives – 1) to determine the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and likelihood ratio in relation to the GDS comparing findings to structured clinical interviews for disorders of Axis I of the DSM-IV (SCID-I); 2) to build a Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve (ROC) determining the ideal cut-off point for primary care patients; 3) to determine the prevalence of episodes of major depression in geriatric primary care patients; 4) to identify the socio-demographic profile of geriatric primary care patients; 5) to examine geriatric patients presenting with episodes of depression and/or dysthymic disorders while taking anti-depressants. Method – cross-sectional study involving 220 geriatric patients from four health facilities. A questionnaire providing a global profile of the study population was applied, as well as the GDS and structured clinical interviews for disorders in Axis I of the DSM-IV (SCID-I). The first two instruments were applied by a trained interviewer and the SCID (gold standard) was applied by a trained psychiatrist. Results – The prevalence of episodes of major depression and/or dysthymic disorders was 17.27%. The best cut-off point with GDS-30 was 10/11 (case/non-case) with a sensitivity of 92.1% (CI 77.5–97.9), specificity 79.7% (CI = 72.9–85.1), accuracy 81.8% and likelihood ratio 4.5. The best cut-off point with GDS-15 was 4/5 with a sensitivity of 86.8% (CI = 71.1–95.1), specificity 82.4% (CI = 75.9–87.5), accuracy 83.1% and likelihood ratio 4.9. The best cut-off point with GDS-4 was 0/1 with a sensitivity of 84.2% (CI = 68.1–93.4), specificity 74.7% (CI = 67.7–80.7), accuracy 76.30% and likelihood ratio 3.9. With GDS-1 the sensitivity was 52.6% (CI = 36.0–68.7%). Conclusions – GDS-30 is an excellent screening instrument for episodes of major depression and/or dysthymic disorders at primary care facilities due to its high sensitivity and high negative predictive value. Reduced versions with 15 and 4 items proved good screening tests requiring less time to be applied. The systematic use of GDS at primary care facilities is recommended in order to identify a greater number of cases of depression and thereby offer a more adequate treatment.

Rationale: Non-invasive ventilation (NIV) is defined as a ventilatory support technique using an interface (usually a mask) instead of tracheal intubation to adapt the patient’s respiratory system to the ventilator. Although it is as efficacious as the invasive method in terms of improving gas exchange in patients with respiratory failure due to various etiologies, it remains associated with considerable failure rates. Despite the association between interface and low tolerance to NIV, few studies have been published evaluating the efficacy and safety of each type of interface. interfaces are best studied on healthy subjects avoiding the interference of confounding factors related to respiratory failure. Objective: To evaluate and compare three types of masks used as NIV interface on healthy volunteers with regard to frequency and type of adverse events and level of comfort. Method: A randomized, crossover clinical trial was conducted to evaluate and compare nasal (N), facial (F), and total face (TF) masks adapted to healthy volunteers using a flow generator ventilator with a circuit exhalation valve. The three masks were tested on all subjects in random sequence during 10 minutes each, equally divided between two levels of expiratory and inspiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP; IPAP) in bilevel ventilation: a low-pressure (LoP) setup (IPAP: 11cmH2O; EPAP: 6cmH2O) and a moderate to high-pressure (MoHiP) setup (IPAP=15cmH2O; EPAP=10cmH2O). At the end of each 5-min period, the subjects were given a standardized written questionnaire on adverse events including questions about uncomfortable pressure and pain at contact points between mask and face, unpleasant perception of air leaks, nasal and oral mucosal dryness and claustrophobia. They also recorded sensations of comfort on a 10-cm visual analogical scale (10=absence of discomfort; 0=maximum discomfort). A 10-min interval of spontaneous, mask-free breathing was allowed between each period of NIV. The respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (TV), pulse oxymetry (SpO2) and end-tidal CO2 volume (EtCO2), measured between mask and exhalation valve, were monitored during the entire protocol. While categorized variables were analyzed with Pearson’s Chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and McNemar’s test, continuous variables were analyzed with ANOVA and least-squares regression. Results: The study included 24 healthy volunteers (12 women) aged 18 to 35 (mean age: 25.7 years). The following was observed with regard to adverse events while using the LoP setup: a) The incidence of one or more adverse events by subject was 91.7% for N and TF and 95.8% for F; b) The number of adverse events per subject was smaller for N than for F (3.58 vs. 5.0; p=0.002) or TF (3.58 vs. 4.71; p=0.03); c) The most frequently reported adverse event was “mask pressure” (N=54.2%; F=66.7%; FT=66.7%); d) Pain at points of mask contact was less frequently reported for TF than for F (37.5% vs. 66.7%; p=0.01), but no significant difference was observed between TF and N; e) The incidence of unpleasant air leak perception around the eyes or mouth was lower for TF than for N (41.7% vs. 75%; p=0.03) but no significant difference was observed between N and F; f) Complaints of nasal or oral dryness were much less frequent for N than for F (25% vs. 62.5%; p=0.01) or TF (25% vs. 75%; p<0.001); g) Claustrophobia was more frequently reported for TF than for N (33.3% vs. 8.3%; p=0.07). The higher airway pressure of the MoHiP setup resulted in: a) The incidence of one or more adverse events per subject remained high (95.8% for both N and TF; 100% for F); b) On the average, N continued to be associated with the lowest number of adverse events per subject, the difference between N and F being statistically significant (4.75 vs. 6.04; p=0.009); c) Mask pressure remained the most common complaint (N=62.5%; F=70.8%; FT=75%); d) No significant difference was observed concerning pain; e) Reports of unpleasant air leak perception increased more for F than for TF (83.3% vs. 54.2%; p=0.09); f) N continued to be associated with the lowest incidence of dryness (N=41.7% vs. F=66.7%; p=0.03; and N=41.7% vs. TF=79.2%, p=0.02); g) The incidence of claustrophobia remained higher for TF than for N, though not statistically so (33.3% vs. 8.3%; p=0.07); h) On the average, pressure augmentation induced a higher number of adverse events per subject in all 3 mask types. The increase was statistically significant in the case of N (3.58 vs. 4.75; p=0.003) and F (5.0 vs. 6.04; p=0.007) and tended to be so for TF (4.71 vs. 5.33; p=0.07); i) No significant difference was observed between the masks with regard to comfort, but the MoHiP setup was reportedly less comfortable than the LoP setup for all mask types: N (7.54 vs. 7.1; p=0.01), F (7.50 vs. 6.54; p<0.001) and TF (7.25 vs. 6.50; p=0.001). Physiological variations observed during the protocol could not account for the adverse events or comfort sensation reported. Interestingly, the CO2 curve remained undetected by the capnograph while using TF, probably because the exhaled CO2 was completely eliminated through orifices in the mask. Conclusions: All three mask types presented a high incidence of adverse events in healthy volunteers. The nasal (N) mask was associated with a lower mean number of adverse events per subject, especially with regard to dryness. Although the total face (TF) mask seemed to be associated with fewer reports of pain and with a lower incidence of unpleasant air leak perception, claustrophobia was also more frequently reported. The masks were equally efficacious in terms of comfort. Higher pressure levels in the bilevel mode were associated with increased reports of discomfort and adverse events in healthy volunteers.

Introduction: The Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by different stages of chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema with air trapping and dynamic hyperinflation. These conditions lead to respiratory muscles fatigue and need of ventilator support. Noninvasive positive pressure support ventilation (NIPPV) is the treatment of choice for COPD exacerbations with mortality reduction. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) effects on hyperinflation is controversy; it can worsen, attenuate or have no effect. Imaging methods can facility the comprehension of CPAP effects on COPD patients, including regional effects on lung parenchyma. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of CPAP application by NIPPV-CPAP on pulmonary hyperinflation in COPD patients. Patients and Method: This is a prospective and interventionist study that evaluated 11 patients with COPD. All patients were evaluated by high resolution CT (HRCT), without and with NIPPV-CPAP (5, 10 and 15 cmH2O) applied by nasal mask. The pressures sequence was randomized and the HRCT images were done in Functional Residual Capacity. HRCT images were done in three regions for each level of pressure: apex (2 cm above the aortic arc), hilar (1cm below the carina) and basis (2 cm above the diaphragm). The units with densities lower than -950 UH were considered hyperinflated. For analysis the results were divided in full lung and in regions: apex, hilar and basis and ventral, medial and dorsal. Results: It was observed a pulmonary density reduction and an increase of pixels on hyperinflated areas with application of CPAP levels greater than 10 cmH2O in all analyses (p<0,05). In grouped lung analysis the mean density was reduced gradually from -846 UH (without CPAP), -849 UH (5 CPAP of cmH2O), -859 UH (10 CPAP of cmH2O) to -869UH (15 CPAP of cmH2O) (p<0,05). In subdivisions, comparing without CPAP and with CPAP of 15 cm cmH2O: in apex it was observed reduction from -840 to -871UH (p<0,05), in hilar region from -848 to -882 UH (p<0,05), in basis from -848 to -876 UH (p<0,05), in ventral region from -859 to -885 UH (p<0,05), in medial region from -848 to -864 UH (p<0,05) and in dorsal region from -832 to -860UH (p<0,05). It was also noted an increase of the percentage of pixels on hyperinflated areas in the majority of analyses with CPAP of 10 and 15 cmH2O (p<0,05). In 2 patients it was observed elevation of mean pulmonary density with CPAP of 5 cmH2O. It was observed that pulmonary parenchyma aeration was distributed in a non homogeneous way with predominance of the apex area comparing with basis of the lung and of the ventral area comparing with dorsal area. Conclusion: The CPAP application by NIPPV resulted in increase of pulmonary hyperinflation with levels of CPAP of 10 and 15 cmH2O detectable by HRCT. However this was not homogeneous, a subgroup of patients had aeration reduction with CPAP of 5 cmH2O. The distribution of aeration induced by CPAP is heterogeneous inside pulmonary parenchyma and follows the heterogeneous basal hyperaeration.

MACIEL, Wellington Ricardo Nogueira. O aeroporto de Fortaleza: usos e significados contemporâneos. Fortaleza-CE, 2006. 154 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2006.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) became a challenge for everyone who is devoted to study liver diseases. The multifactorial etiopathogenesis, not totally explained yet, the lack of consensus around the terminology, classification and treatment, especially in the morbidly obese group, are a few of some aspects that could be cited to justify the growing interest. Since the beginning, obesity has been said to be an important factor associated to the development of NAFLD. In fact, it is an important point since obesity has become a problem of great concern all over the world. It was determined the prevalence of NAFLD and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), in a sample of morbidly obese patients, who underwent surgical gastroplasty, in whom other causes of liver disease were excluded. The aim was yet, to identify demographic, anthropometric and laboratorial factors associated with the spectrum of the disease. The study shows a high prevalence of NAFLD, 95% (57/60). Steatosis was used as a minimum criterion to the histopathologic diagnosis of NAFLD and NASH demands the presence of steatosis, lobular inflammation and hepatocellular ballooning as found minimally, to the histologic diagnosis. We found that the prevalence of NASH, was particularly elevated in the studied group, 66,7% (40/60). However, it was observed mild grade in 80% (32/40) of the cases of NASH. Fibrosis staging was only seen in 7,5% (3/40) of the NASH sample and cirrhosis was not found in any particular patient. The following parameters were associated with steatosis degree in univariate analysis: age, metabolic syndrome, waist circumference, HDL-C (inversely), triglycerides, ALT, GGT and serum ferritin. After submitting these variables at the logistic regression analysis, only GGT was significantly e independently associated with steatosis degree. The following categorical and continuous variables were associated with NASH in univariate analysis: diabetes combined with raised fasting plasma glucose; triglycerides and ALT. Using logistic regression none of these variations remained significant. In summary, it was found a high prevalence of NAFLD, and, specifically, a high prevalence of NASH in this population of morbidly obese patients. Since NASH patients are at major risk of progressing to cirrhosis, liver biopsy must be performed as a routine part of the operative procedure to access prognostic information and to select patients that may benefit from inclusion in therapeutic protocols treatments. As an extent careful hepatic clinical follow up for all this group is advisable.

GOTLIB, Nádia Battella. Nos bastidores da pesquisa em torno da Fotobiografia de Clarice Lispector. Revista de Letras, Fortaleza, v. 1-2, n. 29, p. 25-31, 2008.

This report deals with applications of Graph Theory to Group Theory. Once we construct the graph associated to a finite group, we get several interesting results on the group structure by analysing its associated graph with the help of various standard graph-theoretic tools. More precisely, the chromatic and independence numbers of the graph of a finite group allows us to estimate the maximal cardinality of an abelian subgroup of it, as well as the minimal size of a subset of the group, all of whose elements don’t commute in pairs; for finite abelian groups, we also study their free-sum subsets.

INTRODUÇÃO. O rápido envelhecimento populacional traz desafios para que os indivíduos atinjam uma longevidade ativa e saudável. Os cânceres de pele são problemas clínicos comuns e quando não identificados prontamente são causa importante de morbidade e mortalidade na população geriátrica. A identificação mais sistemática de casos de câncer de pele na prática clínica torna-se, então, fundamental, particularmente no nível primário de atenção à saúde. OBJETIVO. Avaliar o desempenho dos médicos do Programa de Saúde da Família na de identificação de casos de câncer de pele em idosos do município de Fortaleza, Ceará. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS. Realizou-se estudo transversal para avaliar o desempenho na identificação de câncer de pele por médicos do Programa de Saúde da Família de duas maneiras. Primeiro, por meio do exame clínico de uma amostra de 200 pacientes com idade igual ou superior a 60 anos, atendidos nas Unidades Básicas de Atenção à Saúde da Família e Comunidade, que foi independentemente examinada por 20 médicos do Programa de Saúde da Família e por um dermatologista, O exame do dermatologista e o exame histopatológico das lesões foram utilizados como padrão-ouro de referência. Segundo, mediante a análise, por 33 médicos residentes em Medicina de Família e Comunidade, de 14 fotografias de lesões cutâneas de pacientes idosos. RESULTADOS. O exame clínico realizado por médicos do Programa de Saúde da Família, como teste diagnóstico da presença de câncer de pele, apresentou uma sensibilidade de 21,4% (IC de 95%, 0,0%-42,9%), uma especificidade de 82,3% (IC de 95%, 76,8%-87,8%), valor preditivo positivo de 8,3 % (IC de 95%, 0,0% - 17,4%) e valor preditivo negativo de 93,3% (IC de 95%, 82,6% - 100,0%). O desempenho dos médicos residentes de Medicina de Família e Comunidade na identificação de casos positivos teve uma sensibilidade de 62,77% (IC de 95%, 56,2%-69,3%) e uma especificidade de 71,8% (IC de 95%, 65,6%-78,1%), valor preditivo positivo de 8,3 % (IC de 95%, 14,0%-29,2%) e valor preditivo negativo de 95,9% (IC de 95%, 95,1%-96,8%). Por meio da análise de fotografias, observou-se com uma sensibilidade média de 51,5% para identificação de carcinoma basocelular, de 62,1% na identificação de carcinoma espinocelular, e de 87,8% na identificação de melanoma. CONCLUSÃO. O desempenho dos médicos do Programa de Saúde da Família na identificação de câncer de pele requer aperfeiçoamento, dado que a grande maioria dos casos não está sendo diagnosticada quando da consulta médica. O treinamento destes profissionais no reconhecimento de lesões neoplásicas de pele pode efetivamente contribuir para redução da morbidade e eventual mortalidade destas condições clínicas.

We give lower bounds for the fundamental of open sets in submanifolds with locally bounded mean curvature in N X R, where N is an n-dimensional complete Riemannian manifold with radial sectional curvature KN is less than or equal to the curvature of space form. When the immersion is minimal our estimates are sharp.

VIANA, Waldiane Sampaio. Manifestações homofóbicas em espaços públicos: praças da Gentilândia em Fortaleza. 2009. 140 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2009.

PONTE, Vanessa Paula. Somos nós que fazemos a vida como der, ou puder, ou quiser: beleza e construção do corpo em narrativas biográficas de mulheres. 2008. 244 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2008.

SILVA, V. V. Religiosidade juvenil em movimento: um estudo de caso Batista Regular. 2009. 132 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2009.

This dissertation seeks to analyze the literary construction of Fortaleza from the perspective presented in the novel A Afilhada, written by Oliveira Paiva, an author of the Brazilian state of Ceará, which was wrote in footnotes of Libertador, an abolitionist newspaper, published in the 1880’s, at Ceará. Basically forgotten by the history of Ceará’s literature, the novel makes a curious profile of a city in an initial process of modernization, at the end of the XIX century. The work is divided in three chapters. In the first moment, I seek to present historical aspects of the studied novel, its creation context, as well as I present some elements of economical and cultural transformations that Fortaleza city was passing through in the period characterized in the novel. I add these information to my theoretical-methodological referential. At the second chapter, I discuss the relation between the intellectual and the modern city and between this and the emergence of the novel, as well I present a summary defense about the importance of the narrative. Besides, at the second chapter, I do a brief comparison between the novel A Afilhada and A Normalista. The last one, written by another author of Ceará, Adolfo Caminha, was published in 1893. I argue that, although they are contemporaries, they construct similar cities, but with significant distinctions. At the third chapter, I present an intellectual profile of Oliveira Paiva, who participated in important publications in the history of Ceará literary-scientific production. Through the writing, as a disseminator of ideas and ideals, he made effort to transform the province in a place more civilized and close to the modernity. A lover of the science and the letters, Oliveira Paiva believed knowledge and words compose the two main weapons to eliminate the ignorance and delay presents in the city. Although fragments of the novel A Afilhada are present in almost the entire dissertation, at the third chapter I analyze more substantively the continent of the book. I defend the hypothesis that the city constructed by Oliveira Paiva is marked by an excess of natural elements that interferes in his possibility of ascension. Part of population, like the protagonist, doesn’t follow the grow of the modern city. The Fortaleza of Oliveira Paiva lacks also of citizens compromised to take care of the city like a father takes care of his daughter.

ANDRADE, Tânia Márcia Oliveira de. Mediação e conflitos em espiral: encontros e desencontros do estado e dos movimentos sociais no Pontal do Paranapanema. 2006. 421f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2006.

Although a public health practice since the early 20th century, home visits by health care teams from the newly implanted family health program have become increasingly popular over the past decade. The present study looks into users’ perceptions of home visits within the context of the family health program with respect to completeness and humanization of care. The study was explorative and qualitative. Based on hermeneutic phenomenology and within a critical-interpretive perspective, the study contrasts the phenomenon under investigation with its own materiality in search of transforming elements. To this end 21 interviews were carried out in depth with users receiving home visits by family health teams within the six administrative health districts of Fortaleza. The empirical evidence of the study consisted of taped and transcribed interviews. An analysis of the interviews revealed the existence of three core themes: 1) Health professional/user relationships, i.e. users’ perceptions of completeness and humanization of care during visits. This theme was divided into three items: perception of health professional/user relationships, humanization of care and the meaning of completeness; 2) Characterization of visits, with emphasis on priorities and operationalization. The theme was divided into two items: frequency/duration of visits and patient selection; and 3) User/health facility association, with focus on health facility management and integration with other services, divided into three items: health facility management, equity and integration of care. In conclusion, the study suggests that home visiting practices may be improved by enhancing the aspects of closeness, conversation and constant negotiation between professionals, users and the community.

SOARES, Silvério dos Santos. Timor-Leste: representações dos estudantes Timorenses, no Brasil, sobre o Estado do Timor-Leste. 2009. 133f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2009.

CASTRO, Simone Oliveira de. Memórias da cantoria: palavra, performance e público. 2009. 264 f. Tese (Doutorado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2009.

Let alfa be an algebraic number which is not a root of a racional number. We show that the discriminant of alfa n tends to infinity with n tending to infinity and give a lower bound for this discriminant in terms of the degree of alfa, its Mahler’s measure and n.

The disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) is a serious opportunistic infection caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, often seen in aids patients in advanced immunosuppression treated in health care service for people living with HIV/aids in Fortaleza, Ceará. Like other opportunistic infections, histoplasmosis can be identified early by the presence of specific manifestations in the oral cavity. To know the frequency and characteristics of oral manifestations of DH aids-associated it was carried out a cross-sectional study in adult patients who were suspected or confirmed to have DH, from August 2009 to March 2010. The data were collected through questionnaire, oral clinical examination, histocyto-pathological examinations, photographs and observation of medical records. Twenty-two cases of DH were diagnosed in the total of fifty-six patients. Five out of the twenty-two patients (5/22, 22.7%) had oral lesions with clinical features of histoplasmosis and in four out of the twenty-two (4/22, 18.9%) the fungus was detected through biopsy and exfoliative cytology, in fragments and smears examined by staining with Grocott, PAS (Periodic Acid-Schiff) and Giemsa. Nine patients were defined as possible cases of DH (based on pathological background and clinical manifestations) and two of those presented, in the same way, oral lesions with clinical features of histoplasmosis, however, these were not biopsied. Ulcer with hemorrhagic crust on the lip mucosa was the most frequent (60%), followed by granulomatous form with multiple lesions on the palate and gums (20%) and ulcerated lesion on the tongue (20%). DH patients had a median of 36.5 cells / mm³ of lymphocyte T CD4 and significantly higher levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; p= 0.0001) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST/TGO; p= 0.0002), as well as significantly lower levels of hemoglobin (p= 00.2), leukocytes (p= 0.04) and platelets (p= 0.001). Odynophagia was reported by all patients with DH(p = 0.000), and dysphagia was present in ten (45.4%, p = 0.011). Dysphonia was observed in a patient who presented histoplasmosis of the larynx. Pseudomembranous candidiasis, followed by the erythematous form was associated with DH in 45.5% and 4.5% of the patients, respectively. The prevalence of gingivitis was 38.3% and in 57.4% of the patients was identified calculus dental which indicates poor oral health and significant need for dental services.

CASTELO, Sander Cruz. A ética revolucionária: utopia e desgraça em Terra em transe (1967). 2010. 345f. Tese (Doutorado em Sociologia) – Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia, Fortaleza-CE, 2010.