Abstract The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of dextrose-prolotherapy with other substances for pain relief in patients with primary knee osteoarthritis. The literature screening was done in January 2021 through Medline (PubMed), EMBASE, and Database of the National Institute of Health based on the following criteria: randomized clinical trials that subjected patients with primary knee osteoarthritis who underwent treatment with dextrose-prolotherapy and other substances for pain relief. Paired reviewers independently identified 3381 articles and included 8 trials that met the eligibility criteria. According to the findings of this review, participants that underwent dextrose-prolotherapy showed improvements between baseline and posterior assessments and when compared to saline injections, but when compared to other substances, the results were not clear. Although dextrose-prolotherapy is a useful treatment method by itself, it is still not possible to clearly affirm that it is superior or inferior to its counterparts. There is an urgent need for further studies to bring more evidence to the field. HIGHLIGHTS Dextrose injections promote deposition of collagen into injured structures through growth factors and inflammatory cells. Dextrose-prolotherapy is a useful treatment method, but it is not superior or inferior to its counterparts.

Abstract Introduction: The increase in the incidence of pancreatic and biliary cancers has attracted the search for methods of early detection of diseases and biomarkers. The authors propose to analyze new findings on the association between microbiota and Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) or Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Methods: This systematic review was carried out according to the items of Preferred Reports for Systematic Reviews and Protocol Meta-Analysis (PRISMA-P). This study was registered by the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), identification code CRD42020192748 before the review was carried out. Articles were selected from the PUBMED, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases. Results: Most studies (86.67%) used 16s rRNA as a sequencing method. The main comorbidities found were diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Many studies were limited by the small number of participants, but the biases were mostly low. There was very little concordance about the composition of the microbiome of different sites, for both case and control groups when compared to other studies’ results. Bile sample analysis was the one with a greater agreement between studies, as three out of four studies found Escherichia in cases of CCA. Conclusion: There was great disagreement in the characterization of both the microbiota of cases and control groups. Studies are still scarce, making it difficult to adequately assess the data in this regard. It was not possible to specify any marker or to associate any genus of microbiota bacteria with PDAC or CCA.

RESUMO Embasamento: A eficácia na reabilitação da voz em pacientes com doença de Parkinson está bem estabelecida. Tendo em vista as dificuldades de lidar com a locomoção de casa para centros de tratamento, o uso da telerreabilitação pode representar uma ferramenta inestimável para muitos pacientes. Objetivo: Analisar a influência do desempenho cognitivo na aceitação da telerreabilitação. Métodos: Participaram cinquenta pacientes em estágios 2-4 de acordo com a escala de Hoehn-Yahr, com idade entre 45 e 87 anos, escores cognitivos de 19 a 30 no Mini-Exame do Estado Mental e escolaridade entre 4-17 anos. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação da intensidade da voz antes e depois do tratamento pelo Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) e foram convidados a responder um questionário sobre suas preferências entre duas opções de tratamento. Resultados: O tratamento resultou em aumento médio de 14dBNPS. Quando questionados sobre a possibilidade de aceitação para participar de um futuro programa de telerreabilitação, 38 indivíduos concordaram e 12 não. Em relação a estes dois grupos, a competência tecnológica foi referida em 26% e 17%, respectivamente. A aceitação à telerreabilitação foi positivamente relacionada com anos de estudo e estado cognitivo. Conclusão: As respostas ao Questionário após a conclusão do LSVT tradicional mostraram que a maioria dos pacientes (76%) concordaria em participar de uma futura telerreabilitação. Idade, sexo, estágio da doença ou competência tecnológica não pareceu influenciar na adesão à telerreabilitação enquanto que outros fatores, como estado cognitivo e anos de escolaridade foram positivamente relacionados com a aceitação da nova forma de terapia.

ABSTRACT Background: The need for efficacy in voice rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease is well established. Given difficulties traveling from home to treatment centers, the use of telerehabilitation may represent an invaluable tool for many patients. Objective: To analyze the influence of cognitive performance on acceptance of telerehabilitation. Methods: Fifty patients at stages 2-4 on the Hoehn-Yahr scale, aged 45-87 years old, with cognitive scores of19-30 on the Mini-Mental State Examination, and 4-17 years of education were enrolled. All patients were submitted to evaluation of voice intensity pre and post in-person treatment with the Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) and were asked to fill out a questionnaire regarding their preferences between two options of treatment and evaluating basic technological competence. Results: Comparisons between pre and post-treatment values showed a mean increase of 14dBSPL in vocal intensity. When asked about potential acceptance to participate in future telerehabilitation, 38 subjects agreed to take part and 12 did not. For these two groups, 26% and 17% self-reported technological competence, respectively. Agreement to engage in remote therapy was positively associated with years of education and cognitive status. Conclusion: Responses to the questionnaire submitted after completion of traditional in-person LSVT showed that the majority of patients (76%) were willing to participate in future telerehabilitation. Age, gender, disease stage and self-reported basic technological skills appeared to have no influence on the decision, whereas other factors such as cognitive status and higher school education were positively associated with acceptance of the new therapy approach.

RESUMO A doença de Parkinson (DP) é uma moléstia neurodegenerativa associada a significantes prejuízos motores, neuropsicológicos e sensoriais. Alterações na qualidade da voz são frequentes durante o curso da doença e os pacientes enfrentam obstáculos no acesso a serviços de reabilitação fonoaudiológica adequada. A telerreabilitação é uma possível solução para esse problema, uma vez que pode ser implementada a distância, com recursos de telemedicina, via tecnologias de comunicação e informação. Objetivo: Investigar a eficiência da telerreabilitação da voz em pacientes com DP. Métodos: Participaram 20 pacientes com DP e queixas de voz. A telerreabilitação síncrona (em tempo real) ocorreu a partir de videoconferência (Adobe Connect 8), os pacientes foram telerreabilitados pela versão estendida do Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT-X) e avaliados, antes e depois dessa intervenção por meio de análise perceptual da qualidade vocal pela Escala GRBASI. No final da intervenção, todos responderam a questionário estruturado sobre a experiência com a telerreabilitação. Resultados: As análises revelaram diminuição na magnitude das alterações da qualidade da voz após a intervenção, indicando melhoria do padrão vocal. Todos os pacientes relataram satisfação e preferência pela telerreabilitação em comparação com a reabilitação presencial, assim como positiva percepção de áudio e vídeo. Algumas adversidades tecnológicas foram identificadas, mas não impediram as abordagens de avaliação e tratamento. Conclusão: Os resultados sugerem que a telerreabilitação seja uma intervenção eficiente para os sintomas da qualidade da voz associados à DP e pode ser indicada para pacientes com acesso a tecnologias e dificuldades no alcance de profissionais ou centros especializados.

ABSTRACT Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition associated with motor, neuropsychological, sensorial, and vocal symptoms. It has been suggested that eventual obstacles faced by many patients to reach speech therapy rehabilitation centers could be overcome with the use of synchronous telerehabilitation (real time) approach employing communication technologies. Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of vocal telerehabilitation in PD patients. Methods: Twenty patients diagnosed with PD and with vocal complaints participated in this study. Patients were evaluated by videoconference (Adobe Connect 8) before and after treatment. Evaluation method consisted of perceptual analysis of vocal quality measured by the GRBASI scale. Treatment was conducted following the extended version of Lee Silverman method (LSVT-X). At the end of treatment all patients were requested to fill a questionnaire to assess their experience with telerehabilitation. Results: Analysis revealed decrease in magnitude of voice quality changes after the intervention, indicating improvement of vocal pattern. All patients reported satisfaction and preference for telerehabilitation compared to face-to-face rehabilitation, as well as positive perception of audio and video. Some technological adversities have been identified but did not prevent the approaches to assessment and treatment. Conclusion: Present results suggest that telerehabilitation methods can be considered as an effective treatment for speech symptoms associated with PD and can be indicated to patients presenting limited access to speech therapy centers and technological readiness.

OBJETIVO: Após ter sido introduzida como disciplina eletiva (não obrigatória) no segundo semestre de 2002, a acupuntura tem sido ensinada na Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (FMUSP) desde então. Esse estudo foi realizado com o intuito de verificar o interesse e a aceitação da acupuntura entre os estudantes de medicina da FMUSP e se, de alguma forma, ela poderia influenciá-los positivamente, contribuindo para melhorar as suas competências. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi conduzido durante o período de 2002 a 2007, utilizando-se métodos de estatística descritiva. RESULTADOS: A média de todos os estudantes que concluíram a disciplina foi de 24,9 alunos por semestre, sendo que a média de estudantes de medicina por semestre é de 87,5 (28% de todos os estudantes de medicina nos 7º e 8º semestres). Após o primeiro semestre de formação básica em acupuntura, apenas oito alunos por grupo são promovidos (após seleção) para a Liga Médica Acadêmica de Acupuntura, que tem a duração de dois anos. Em todos os semestres, as oito vagas são preenchidas. Entre os estudantes que concluíram o curso, 98% consideraram-no de boa ou muito boa qualidade, 85% consideravam-se parcialmente capazes para empregar a acupuntura e 79% consideraram que o curso contribuiu para a sua educação médica. CONCLUSÃO: Existe um real interesse para a aprendizagem da acupuntura, pois em torno de 30% de todos os alunos quiseram passar por um breve treinamento em acupuntura, alguns deles optando por uma formação de dois anos em reconhecimento à importância da acupuntura como parte da capacitação profissional. Os resultados sugerem que a acupuntura deve ser incluída como uma disciplina eletiva para alunos de medicina.

OBJECTIVE: Since being introduced as an elective discipline (non-obligatory) in the second semester of 2002, acupuncture has been taught in the University of São Paulo School of Medicine. We conducted this study to verify interest and acceptance among under graduate medical students and to discern a positive influence contributing to improveing their skills. METHODS: The study was conducted from 2002 to 2007 using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS: The average number of students who concluded the discipline is 24.9 students per semester with an average number of medical students per semester of 87.5 (28% of all medical students in the 7th and 8th semesters). After a semester of basic training in acupuncture, only eight students per group are promoted (after selection) to the Medical Academic League of Acupuncture which lasts for two years. Every semester, all eight vacancies are filled. Among the students who concluded the course, 98% described course quality as good or very good, 85% considered themselves at least partially able to use acupuncture and 79% stated that the course influenced them in their medical education. CONCLUSION: There is a genuine interest to learn acupuncture, almost 30% of all students volunteer for a brief training in acupuncture while some of them choose additional training of two years indue to the importance of acupuncture as part of professional skills. Results indicate that acupuncture should be included as an elective discipline for medical students.