Universidade de Pernambuco

About: Universidade de Pernambuco is a education organization based out in Recife, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Artificial neural network. The organization has 6147 authors who have published 6948 publications receiving 73648 citations.

Skeletonized left internal thoracic artery is associated with lower rates of mediastinitis in diabetic patients.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Mediastinitis is a serious complication of median sternotomy and is associated to significant morbidity and mortality. Diabetes is a feared risk factor for mediastinitis and viewed with caution by cardiovascular surgeons. OBJECTIVE: To identify risk factors for mediastinitis in diabetics undergoing CABG surgery with use of unilateral ITA in the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery of Pronto Socorro Cardiologico de Pernambuco - PROCAPE. METHODS: Retrospective study of 157 diabetics operated between May 2007 and April 2010. Nine preoperative variables, five intraoperative variables and seven postoperative variables possibly involved in the development of postoperative mediastinitis were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: The incidence of mediastinitis was 7% (n=11), with a lethality rate of 36.1% (n=4). Variables associated with increased risk of mediastinitis were: use of pedicled ITA (OR 8.25, 95% CI 2.03 to 66.10, P=0.016), postoperative renal complications (OR 5.10, 95% CI 1.03 to 25.62, P=0.049) and re-operation (OR 7.45, 95% CI 1.24 to 42.17, P=0.023). In multivariate analysis using backward logistic regression, only one variable remained as independent risk factor: use of pedicled ITA (OR 7.64, 95% CI 1.95 to 61.6, P=0.048), in comparison to skeletonized ITA. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that diabetics should be considered for strategies to minimize risk of infection. In diabetics that undergo unilateral ITA, the problem seems to be related to how ITA is harvested. Diabetics should always be considered for use of skeletonized ITA.

Detection of Delaminations in Sunlight-Unexposed Concrete Elements of Bridges Using Infrared Thermography

Abstract: Infrared thermography is a non-destructive test used in the inspection of structures. However, its use for bridge inspection is still under development and in many cases its application may be limited to bridge sections exposed to direct sunlight. This study aims to evaluate infrared thermography test for the detection of delaminations in different types of concrete not exposed directly to sunlight. The experimental methodology uses two concrete specimens with water/cement ratios (w/c) equal to 0.5 and 0.6, through the insertion of polystyrene plates of different thicknesses (3, 6 and 12 mm) and depths (25, 50 and 75 mm), in order to simulate defects within the concrete and evaluate the capacity of infrared thermography to detect them. The results show that detection is possible, but limited to short periods of time. In relation to the concrete quality, defects were more easily detected in the test specimen with lower w/c ratio. It can be said that the nearer to the surface and larger the delamination, the easier it is to detect. Also, the better the quality of the concrete, the more effective the technique becomes.

Elicitation of Communication Inherent Risks in Distributed Software Development

Abstract: The lack of risk management, communication and understanding of the requirements are actually the main factors related to the low rate of success in software development, more specifically in distributed projects given the characteristics of this type of development. Considering distributed software projects, the main goal of this paper is to show communication inherent risks empirically identified in such type of project, and the strategies and recommendations adopted to mitigate them. For example, we found that to solve misunderstandings that may occur due to the cultural diversity and language we must encourage frequent communication. This frequent communication does not only increases the communication effectiveness, but also develops the cohesion among the distributed teams, resulting in an improvement of the informal communication and establishment of the confidence among members of the distributed team. These findings were obtained from an exploratory empirical qualitative research that collected interview data from project leaders and managers from several software projects from distinct companies. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the influence of communication process in DSD. It also contributes to the industrial practice so that they can use the results to improve the communication management, minimizing potential problems.

Evaluation of lidocaine and mepivacaine for inferior third molar surgery

Abstract: Objective: The aim of this study was to compare 2% lidocaine and 2% mepivacaine with 1:100,000 epinephrine for postoperative pain control. Study design: A group of 35 patients, both genders were recruited, whose had ages ranged from 13 to 27 years-old and had two inferior third molars in similar positions to be extracted. The cartridges were distributed to the patients according to a randomised pattern, where lidocaine was in the control group and mepivacaine in the experimental group. Results: Results showed no significant association between the anesthetics and postoperative pain, pulp sensibility after one hour, gender, tooth position and duration of the surgical procedure. Conclusions: It was shown that lidocaine and mepivacaine have similar time of anesthesia, they are adequate for surgical procedures that last one hour, and there was no difference between the two anesthetics in relation to the severety of post-operative pain.