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.

Breast cancer diagnosis based on mammary thermography and extreme learning machines

Abstract: Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and one of the major causes of death from cancer among female around the world. The early detection and treatment are the major way to healing. The use of mammary thermography in Mastology is increasing as a complementary imaging technique to early detect lesions. Its use as a screening exam to identify breast disorders has been investigated. The aim of this study is to investigate the behavior of different classification methods while grouping the thermographic images into specific types of lesions. Methods To evaluate our proposal, we built classifiers based on artificial neural networks, decision trees, Bayesian classifiers, and Haralick and Zernike attributes. The image database is composed by thermographic images acquired at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Pernambuco. These images are clinically classified into the classes cyst, malignant and benign. Moments of Zernike and Haralick were used as attributes. Results Extreme Learning Machines (ELM) and Multilayer Perceptron networks (MLP) proved to be quite efficient classifiers for classification of breast lesions in thermographic images. Using 75% of the database for training, the maximum value obtained for accuracy was 73.38%, with a Kappa index of 0.6007. This result indicated to a sensitivity of 78% and specificity of 88%. The overall efficiency of the system was 83%. Conclusion ELM showed to be a promising classifier to be used in the differentiation of breast lesions in thermographic images, due to its low computational cost and robustness.

Valve-in-Valve Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Versus Redo Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate early results of valve-in-valve (ViV) transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) versus redo surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) fo...

El proceso de preparación y administración de medicamentos: identificación de problemas para proponer mejoras y prevenir errores de medicación

Abstract: Estudio exploratorio que analizo el proceso de preparacion y administracion de medicamentos en los servicios clinicos de cuatro hospitales brasilenos localizados en las regiones del sureste, centro-oeste y noreste del Brasil. Fueron identificados problemas que pueden contribuir en la ocurrencia de errores de medicacion y se propusieron medidas de mejoria. Los datos fueron recolectados a traves de observacion directa y no participante de las actividades de los profesionales de enfermeria durante una semana. Los resultados revelaron problemas como: el ambiente en el hospital B, fallas en la preparacion relacionadas a la tecnica y a la preparacion anticipada de los medicamentos en el C y en el D, fallas en la tecnica, comunicacion e identificacion del paciente en el hospital A. La formacion de una comision multidisciplinaria para evaluar el sistema, grupos de discusion entre enfermeria, mejoria en el ambiente, cursos de capacitacion continua y presencia efectiva de la enfermera en el proceso, son algunas de las sugerencias para mejorar la calidad y la seguridad en la atencion a los pacientes.

The use of socioeconomic factors in mapping tuberculosis risk areas in a city of northeastern Brazil.

Abstract: In Brazil the challenge of meeting the needs of those living in deprived areas has generated discussions on replacing the existing approach to epidemiological surveillance with an integrated public health surveillance system. This new approach would supplant the traditional focus on high-risk individuals with a method for identifying high-risk populations and the areas where these persons live. Given the magnitude of the problem that tuberculosis (TB) poses for Brazil, we chose that disease as an example of how such a new, integrated public health surveillance system could be constructed. We integrated data from several sources with geographic information to create an indicator of tuberculosis risk for Olinda, a city in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco. In order to stratify the urban space in Olinda and to check for an association between the resulting TB risk gradient and the mean incidence of the disease between 1991 and 1996, we applied two different methods: 1) a "social deprivation index" and 2) principal component analysis followed by cluster analysis. Our results showed an association between social deprivation and the occurrence of TB. The results also highlighted priority groups and areas requiring intervention. We recommend follow-up that would include treating acid-fast bacilli smear-positive pulmonary TB cases, tracing of these persons' contacts, and monitoring of multidrug-resistant cases, all in coordination with local health services.

Leishmaniases diagnosis: an update on the use of immunological and molecular tools

Abstract: Leishmaniases are caused by obligate intracellular protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. They cause a spectrum of diseases, most notably visceral (VL), cutaneous (CL), and mucosal (ML) leishmaniasis, which affect millions of people around the world, each year. Despite scientific advances, leishmaniases cases are expanding, constituting an important public health problem. Immunological and molecular diagnostic tools have been increasingly applied for the early detection of these parasitic infections, since the existence of limitations in clinical and parasitological examinations may provide false results, thus interfering in epidemiological research and diseases control. Although there is a great diversity of available immunological assays, important common deficiencies persist, which explains the current exploration of the molecular biology in research fields, especially the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and its variants, such as real-time quantitative PCR. However, in the last years, significant results have also been reached inside of immunological context (especially by Flow Cytometry), for humans and dogs, demonstrated by research works of the New and Old worlds. In spite of their potential to clarify and minimize the present global situation of the diseases, the implementation of molecular or immunological innovative reference assays for VL and CL at health services is still a challenge due to several reasons, including lack of standardization among laboratories and structural concerns. In this article we bring classical and current information about technological advances for the immunological and molecular leishmaniases diagnosis, their features, and applications.