Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Rui"
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- 131I therapy in thyroid cancer and benign thyroid diseases: personal dose equivalent HP(10) assessment in patient’s close family membersPublication . Raminhas Carapinha, Maria João; Costa, Gracinda; Ferreira, Teresa C.; Salgado, Lucília; Vaz, Sofia; Ferreira, Rui; Isidoro, Jorge; Rézio, Teresa; Nunes, Carla; Tavares, António Barata; Vaz, PedroIntroduction - The aim is to quantify the personal dose equivalent HP(10) in the family members (FMs) of the patients (PATs) undergoing iodine-131 thyroid cancer (TC) therapy and benign thyroid diseases (BTD) and to compare the HP(10) values of children and adults. Methods - An observational study with convenience sampling was performed, including 83 FMs (59% ♂) of 48 PATs (72.9% ♀). All FMs wore a whole body TLD for 21 days and received instructions on radiation protection, based on Euratom recommendations. All FMs were provided with relevant instructions for TLD use and answered a questionnaire. Two groups were defined: Group-TC, included 65 FMs (5 children below the age of 10) of 37 PATs treated for TC with average (ᾱ) activity of 3434MBq (range 1110–5920MBq); Group-BTD included 18 FMs adults of 11 PATs treated for BTD with ᾱ activity of 336.4MBq (range 185–555MBq). The in-PATs of Group-TC were discharged 48h after therapy. All ethical principles of the investigation were respected. Results - When the PATs of Group-TC were discharged the ᾱ effective dose rate measured at a 1-metre distance was 10.4μSv/h (range 2–28μSv/h). The ᾱ value of HP(10) in FMs were: 0.14mSv (range 0.00-3.37mSv) for Group-TC and 0.37mSv (range 0.01-2.40mSv) for Group-BTD. The HP(10) value depended on the degree of relationship (p=0.008) and the age of the FMs (p=0.007). HP(10) of the FMs were moderately associated to administered activity (ρsp=-0.319; p=0.010) in Group-TC. No association was found between HP(10) FMs and the administered activity in Group-BTD (ρsp=0.139; p=0.583). Conclusions - The FMs of the PATs submitted 131I therapy for BTD received higher doses when compared to FMs of TC PATs. The HP(10) of the FMs depended to the degree of relationship and the age of the FMs. In the PATs submitted 131I therapy for BTD, the HP(10) of the FMs is not associated with the administered activity. The personal dose equivalent in these FMs does not reach the dose limits recommended by ICRP 97 and ICRP 94.
- Avaliação da qualidade de vida em doentes com insuficiência cardíaca refractária submetidos a terapêutica de prevenção de morte súbitaPublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Silva, Nogueira da; Feliciano, Joana; Cunha, Pedro; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Alves, Sandra; Silva, Nélia Rebelo da; Ferreira, RuiTem sido documentado o impacto da terapêutica com cardioversor-desfibrilhador (CDI) e ressincronização cardíaca (TRC) na qualidade de vida, em doentes com insuficiência cardíaca congestiva grave (ICC). No entanto, permanece controverso o efeito mantido destas modalidades de tratamento nas diferentes dimensões que constituem a qualidade de vida. Objectivo: avaliar o impacto da TRC e do CDI na qualidade de vida de doentes com ICC refractária à terapêutica farmacológica optimizada em análises sequenciais consecutivas nos primeiros 6 meses pós-implantação destes dispositivos.
- Avaliação da qualidade de vida em doentes com insuficiência cardíaca submetidos a terapêutica com cardioversor desfibrilhador implantávelPublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Silva, Nogueira da; Feliciano, Joana; Cunha, Pedro; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Alves, Sandra; Silva, Nélia Rebelo da; Ferreira, RuiObjectivos do estudo: a) avaliar o efeito mantido da terapêutica por CDI na qualidade de vida dos doentes com insuficiência cardíaca; b) avaliar a relação da esperança com a qualidade de vida.
- Avaliação da qualidade de vida em doentes com insuficiência cardíaca submetidos a terapêutica com cardioversor desfibrilhador implantávelPublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Nogueira da Silva, M.; Feliciano, Joana; Cunha, Pedro; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Alves, Sandra; Silva, Nélia Rebelo da; Ferreira, RuiO cardioversor desfibrilhador implantável (CDI) tem sido associado à redução da morte súbita. O impacto nas dimensões da qualidade de vida (QV) permanece controverso. Método: 36 doentes foram submetidos a implantação de CDI. Foram avaliados antes da intervenção e após ao 3º e 6º mês pelo Kansas City Cardiomiophathy Questionnaire. Resultados: Os sintomas e conhecimento da situação clínica não se modificaram. Ao 3º mês, houve melhoria das actividades de vida diária, funcionalidade e QV, não mantida aos 6 meses. Aos 3º e 6º meses houve melhoria da percepção da satisfação com a vida e estilo de vida. A esperança associou-se à melhoria da percepção da satisfação com a vida. Conclusão: A implantação de CDI, associa-se a um benefício mantido na dimensão social e de percepção pessoal da QV e a um benefício transitório da condição física e percepção global da QV, sem influenciar os sintomas e conhecimento da condição clínica.
- ECG biometrics using a dissimilarity space representationPublication . Ferreira, Rui; Fred, Ana; Lourenço, André Ribeiro; Carreiras, Carlos; Marques, FranciscoElectrocardiogram (ECG) biometrics are a relatively recent trend in biometric recognition, with at least 13 years of development in peer-reviewed literature. Most of the proposed biometric techniques perform classifi-cation on features extracted from either heartbeats or from ECG based transformed signals. The best representation is yet to be decided. This paper studies an alternative representation, a dissimilarity space, based on the pairwise dissimilarity between templates and subjects' signals. Additionally, this representation can make use of ECG signals sourced from multiple leads. Configurations of three leads will be tested and contrasted with single-lead experiments. Using the same k-NN classifier the results proved superior to those obtained through a similar algorithm which does not employ a dissimilarity representation. The best Authentication EER went as low as 1:53% for a database employing 503 subjects. However, the employment of extra leads did not prove itself advantageous.
- ECG signals for biometric applications: are we there yet?Publication . Carreiras, Carlos; Lourenço, André; Fred, Ana Luísa Nobre; Ferreira, RuiThe potential of the electrocardiographic (ECG) signal as a biometric trait has been ascertained in the literature over the past decade. The inherent characteristics of the ECG make it an interesting biometric modality, given its universality, intrinsic aliveness detection, continuous availability, and inbuilt hidden nature. These properties enable the development of novel applications, where non-intrusive and continuous authentication are critical factors. Examples include, among others, electronic trading platforms, the gaming industry, and the auto industry, in particular for car sharing programs and fleet management solutions. However, there are still some challenges to overcome in order to make the ECG a widely accepted biometric. In particular, the questions of uniqueness (inter-subject variability) and permanence over time (intra-subject variability) are still largely unanswered. In this paper we focus on the uniqueness question, presenting a preliminary study of our biometric recognition system, testing it on a database encompassing 618 subjects. We also performed tests with subsets of this population. The results reinforce that the ECG is a viable trait for biometrics, having obtained an Equal Error Rate of 9.01% and an Error of Identification of 15.64% for the entire test population.
- Empreendedorismo e literacia financeira no 1º Ciclo do Ensino BásicoPublication . Pina, José; Ferreira, Rui; G Dias, Alfredo; Leite, TeresaO Projeto de Empreendedorismo e Literacia Financeira (E.L.F.) tem sido desenvolvido desde 2010, de uma forma sistemática e com recurso a didáticas integradas, conduzindo ao envolvimento dos alunos em atividades que têm em linha de conta as especificidades e os recursos do meio e valorizando o conhecimento das raízes culturais e locais. Para tal, faz um uso claro de dinâmicas de grupo em mini-empresas, com vista ao desenvolvimento das competências do empreendedorismo, necessárias a uma aquisição mais eficaz dos aspetos curriculares, promovendo deste modo a inclusão e o sucesso escolar. O projeto tem vindo a ser aplicado a duas turmas do primeiro ciclo do ensino básico (1º CEB), em escolas de meio rural na região de Lisboa e Vale do Tejo, usando como base o empreendedorismo cruzado com o currículo nacional de forma integrada, dando-lhe uma maior expressão relativamente ao potencial de aplicação no quotidiano e procurando levar os alunos a tomar consciência da importância da sequência com que o mesmo é abordado. Visa-se, assim, tornar as aprendizagens mais significativas e fornecer uma visão verdadeiramente global da interligação entre as várias áreas curriculares. O projeto orientou-se para dois objetivos principais: determinar se um projeto de integração curricular no primeiro ciclo pode contribuir para (i) o desenvolvimento de competências associadas ao empreendedorismo; (ii) a centralização da escola na comunidade, dando origem a dois estudos. Os resultados obtidos vão no sentido de demonstrar que as experiências associadas ao empreendedorismo contribuíram para o desenvolvimento pessoal dos alunos e valorização das raízes locais, resultando ainda numa diminuição do insucesso escolar. É possível perceber que os alunos se tornaram mais conscientes das etapas necessárias a percorrer para a obtenção de sucesso no processo de tomada de decisão, a nível do seu futuro pessoal e académico.
- Evaluating the quality of life in patients with refractory chronic heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization regarding the type of therapeutic responsePublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Silva, Nogueira da; Feliciano, Joana; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Alves, Sandra; Ferreira, RuiThe benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the quality of life have been largely demonstrated in selected patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the differences between responders and non-responders, with regard to the effect of CRT in the various dimensions of quality of life is still a matter of discussion. Objective: to evaluate the impact of CRT on the quality of life of patients with CHF refractory to optimal pharmacological therapy, within 6 months after CRT.
- Happiness, hope and affection as predictors of quality of life and functionality of individuals with heart failure at 3 month follow upPublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Silva, Nogueira da; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Ferreira, RuiIntroduction: Meeting the actual role of positive psychology, begins to be recognized the contribution of positive variables in health outcomes. Objective: To know the contribution of happiness, hope and affection individually and as a whole in the quality of life and functionality of individuals with heart failure. Population and Methodology: 128 individuals with heart failure, 98 men and 30 women, 61.9±12,1 years of age, 6,6±3,9 years of school and 74,2% retired because of this disease. 56,3% were in Class III of New York Heart Association, with poor left ventricular ejection fraction (25,3±6,2%). The clinical history was of 9,4±8,5 years for this heart disease and had at least one hospitalization due to heart failure with 51,6% having ischemic heart disease.
- Health related quality of life in patients with refractory chronic heart failure undergoing cardiac resynchronization: type of therapeutic responsePublication . Nave Leal, Elisabete; Pais-Ribeiro, José Luís; Oliveira, Mário; Nogueira da Silva, M.; Feliciano, Joana; Soares, Rui; Santos, Sofia; Alves, Sandra; Ferreira, RuiThe benefits of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in the health-related quality of life (HRQL) are largely demonstrated in selected patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF). However, the differences between responders and non-responders, with regard to the effect of CRT in the various dimensions that constitute HRQL are still a matter of discussion. Objective: To evaluate the impact of CRT on the HRQL of patients with CHF refractory to optimal pharmacological therapy, within 6 months after CRT. Methods: 43 patients, submitted to successful implantation of CRT, were evaluated in hospital just before intervention and in the outpatient clinic within 6 months after CRT. HRQL was analyzed based on the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ). Patients were classified as super-responders (ejection fraction of left ventricle - LVEF - ≥45% post-CRT), n=15, responders (sustained improvement in functional class and LVEF increased by 15%), n=19, and non-responders (no clinical or LVEF improvement), n=9. Results: In the group of super-responders, CRT was associated with an improvement in HRQL for the various fields and sums assessed (ρ<0.05); in responders, CRT has been associated with an improvement of HRQL in the various fields and sums, except in the self-efficacy dimension (ρ<0.05); in non-responders, CRT was not associated with improvement of HRQL. Conclusion: In a population with severe CHF undergoing CRT, the patients with clinical and echocardiographic positive response, obtained a favorable impact in all dimensions of HRQL, while the group without response to CRT showed no improvement. These data reinforces the importance of HRQL as a multidimensional tool for assessment of benefits in clinical practice.