Recent Articles

The customers’ particular perception of any product, service, or even brand is also the representation of mental models that underlie the customers’ feelings additionally to consequently account for customer behaviour. To amass such customer insight, this article uses a vital customer analysis tool—the Zaltman metaphor elicitation technique (ZMET) to urge the perceptual and ideal meaning of customers in thinking levels that are different through visual picture and metaphor imagination, along with further incorporate the mean – end chain theory to produce the incorporated mental map for a team of consumers within the context of online language learning, therefore offering better insight into customers behaviour.

Introduction: In Brazil it is estimated that there will be 12,500 new cases of cancer in children and adolescents (up to 19 years). It is considered the second cause of death in the kids and adolescents population,for allregions of Brazil, according to the National Cancer Institute (INCA). Even with advances in medicine and a significant increase of about 70% in the survival rate of patients, cancer is still associated with death, pain, loss and suffering, bringing family, personal and social repercussions to patients and families. Objective: This study aimed to identify the importance of religiosity and spirituality as a coping mechanism used by caregivers in relation to the diagnosis of childhood and juvenile cancer. Method: Qualitative descriptive study. Approved by the CEP of the Institute of Integral Medicine Prof. Fernando Figueira – IMIP, with CAAE 10829312.0.0000.5201. Participants were 10 caregivers of patients under going treatment at a pediatric oncolog yunitat a reference hospital in the cityof Recife / PE. Results and discussion: The reports showed the relevance of spirituality as an emotional support to caregivers, a source of Faith and hope in understanding the coping strategy used, in the face of pain, anguish and uncertainty experienced in the search for re – signification and understanding of cancer and its treatment. Conclusion: Considering the importance of the caregiver as essential in the patient’s coping with the disease and treatment, it is concluded that he experiences stress with the impact of diagnosis, seeking in religion and spirituality, an attempt to develop healthier ways of dealing with the suffering and confrontation of children and adolescentes cancer.

Introduction: Spirituality in the context of illness is used as a coping mechanism by patients, family members and health professionals; allowing the creation of meanings and assisting in the subjectivation of individuals from contents transcendent to life. Objectives: Understand how spirituality is expressed as a coping mechanism in the face of the routine of health professionals working in the pediatric oncology context in the care setting palliative. Methodology: Qualitative study performed in a hospital-school in the city of Recife, a reference in the pediatric oncology treatment. Data collection was performed with 12 health professionals between August and October 2017. Data were collected through sociodemographic questionnaires and individual semi-structured interviews, recorded in audio and subsequently submitted to the Content Analysis technique. Results and Discussion: Spirituality was the coping mechanism most reported by health professionals. Participants meant working in pediatric oncology from the will of God, as chosen people for that mission, relating to the understanding of having a purpose for it. Regarding the practice of the profession before the patients in the process of treatment and palliation, spirituality is understood as the way to deal with the innumerable losses and deaths in the hospital setting. Conclusions/considerations: The presence of spirituality promotes quality of life and helps professionals to make the environment less difficult and endowed with transcendental meanings, showing that they also need the means to give meaning to the suffering present in their daily work.

Introduction: Moebius syndrome is a rare congenital neurological disease of unknown etiology, that involves several cranial nerves. The main clinical characteristic of this syndrome is the “mask-like face”, that is, the absence of facial expression in situations of sorrow or joy. Objective: This study aims to describe the characteristics of Moebius syndrome and its main implications for dentistry. Methodology: In this study, a literature review was carried out, with searches in the following databases: scholar.google.com, pubmed and medline. Furthermore, eight articles were selected, among which three were literature reviews and five were reports of clinical cases. Results: In addition to the genetic relation of the syndrome, there are factors that lead to this disorder, such as the use of misoprostol during pregnancy, for example. Conclusion: Early care for patients with Moebius syndrome by a multidisciplinary team is extremely important, since it will attenuate the effects of this pathology.

Introduction: To review several studies and reports regarding the causes, diagnoses and characteristics of the study and development of Hutchinson-Gilford Syndrome (HGPS) or progéria. Methodology: Through articles found in the following databases: PubMed Central, Scielo, BVS, Bireme, Scientific Electronic Library Online. Discussion: The approach follows from its genetic origin to its progressive stage of incurable aging along with Therapeutic Strategies for greater well-being and longevity for the patient, in the search to minimize the various pathologies that are submitted throughout their life, trying to increase their expectation average of 13.6 years. Conclusion: Because it is a rare and incurable disease, only palliative treatments for this syndrome are found.

In this clinical case series, relative centrifugation force (RCF) and centrifugation time (CT) were reduced to produce the liquid form of platelet rich fibrin (i-PRF). The goal of this study is to histologically evaluate if the liquid form of PRF has a positive effect on vital bone formation in the grafted mandible using mineralized freeze-dried allogeneic bone. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients completed immediate bone grafting after a non-restorable endodontically treated molar tooth was extracted in preparation for future implant surgery. Each bone graft was augmented with i-PRF. To process i-PRF, relative centrifugation force (RCF) was reduced from 2,700 RPM to 700 RPM (60g). Centrifugation time was reduced from 12 minutes to 3 minutes. After an average bone graft healing time of 8 to 12 weeks, bone core samples were obtained at the time of implant surgery for histological and histomorphometric analysis. Results: Forty-two bone cores were harvested at the time of implant surgery for histological and histomorphometric analysis. The liquid form of PRF resulted in greater percentages of vital bone formation (average 87.4 %) compared to the existing published literature. Conclusion: i-PRF resulted in greater percentages of new vital bone formation compared to the published literature. This could be due to the continuous slow release and delivery of growth factors in i-PRF. Further clinical use of iPRF is needed to evaluate the full potential of bone regeneration.

African walnut and moringa seed were procured and processed into flours. Biscuits were thus produced from different blends of wheat flour (WHF), African walnut flour (AWF) and moringa seed flour (MSF) in the ratios of (WHT:AWF:MSF) 100:0:0, 77.5:20:2.5, 75:20:5, 72.5:20:7.5, 70:20:10, 90:0:10, 80:20:0 and labelled from A to G, respectively. The produced biscuits were evaluated for dietary fibre content, in-vitro starch hydrolysis and predicted glycaemic indices. The results of dietary fibre content of the biscuits revealed that sample E was significantly higher with a value of 0.72g compare to other samples. Dietary fibre content of the biscuits increased as the level of substitution with moringa seed flour increased. Results of the in-vitro starch hydrolysis of the biscuits showed that the percentage starch hydrolysed reached its peak at 120 min of digestion and after which, a reduction steps in as digestion time increases. Equilibrium concentration, hydrolysis index and predicted glycaemic indices of the biscuits reduced as the level of substitution of moringa seed flour increased. It revealed sample E with Equilibrium concentration value of 48.06, hydrolysis index of 51.66% and predicted glycaemic index of 68.07. Thus, the blends of 70:20:10 (WHT:AWF:MSF) which represented sample E could be used as medium glycaemic index food.

This study investigated the effects of aerobic exercise training programme on blood cholesterol profile as cardiovascular disease risk factor among adolescents. The study employed the true experimental of pretest post test design with one experimental and control group. The population consisted of 745 students of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti. The participants for the study were 32 students comprising 22 participants for the experimental and 10 for the control groups with equal number of male and female in each case. The instruments used for sample and data collection for the study were; stadiometer, vacutainer needles, plastic vacuum tubes, vacutainer holder, tourniquet, disinfection swabs, microspore tape, adhesive dressing, rubber gloves, lithium heparin bottles and spectrophotometer. The training programme consisted of graded activities lasting for 25-40 minutes, administered three times a week for 12 weeks. The blood samples collected were subjected to chemical analysis generated for the study. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation and range and inferential statistics of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) was employed to determine how much effect the treatment had on the cholesterol profile of the students. Statistical analysis showed significant reduction of total cholesterol, low density lipoproteincholesterol, and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol. Aerobic exercise training programme had positive effects on total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of the adolescents. It is therefore recommended that behavioural counseling will goal on way re-orientating the adolescents towards aerobic exercise training programme which will help in preventing cardio vascular diseases in adult population.

Dementia is a syndrome that occurs due to the difficulty of a patient in doing his cognitive and instrumental activities of daily life with the same performance as before, bringing him losses. This syndrome is caused by numerous primary and secondary etiologies. The most common primary cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD), which reaches almost 50% of dementia cases. The DA it consists of biological fragments of the amyloid precursor protein that are deposited in the brain 10 years or more, before the first symptoms appear. The period before the onset of symptoms is called the preclinical stage. The transition between the silence of symptoms and their appearance, usually due to memory loss for recent events, is known as the prodromal phase. Continuing the pathophysiological process, the stage of mild dementia takes place, when the patient has one more cognitive component associated with memory loss; follows the moderate, severe, profound and terminal phase of dementia.

Case report: The patient is a 36-year-old woman who was referred to our allergy-immunology clinic by her primary care physician to be assessed for a possible allergic disorder. The patient states that since early teenage she has had frequent bouts of sneezing generally preceded by nasal itching and often occurring when she first goes outdoors. She denies having a chronic cough or wheezing and has no symptoms suggestive of allergic conjunctivitis or sinusitis. She has not had urticaria or anaphylactoid reactions. Her mother and 29-year-old sister have similar complaints but have never been assessed for possible allergies. The patient’s medical history is otherwise unremarkable. On physical examination her vital signs were within normal limits. Her conjunctivae were not inflamed or edematous and she had no edema or pallor of her nasal mucosa and no tenderness of her paranasal sinuses. Her lungs were clear to auscultation and free of wheezes on deep breathing. The remainder of her exam was unremarkable. Laboratory assessment revealed a normal complete blood count and metabolic panel. Skin testing to 66 regional allergens was negative, and her serum IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE levels were within normal limits. Because she was suspected as having ACHOO, she was dark adapted and then exposed to a bright light which instantaneously precipitated her nasal itching and sneezing, confirming the diagnosis.