Salutis Scientia

5

Authors: Luis Janeiro; Luisa Nazaré

In contrast to the attention paid to many different critical issues of the exam, the conditions for image visualization in digital mammography do not receive the same level of attention from those who play some role in the process. Therefore, there is, in Portugal, the need to design protocols to warrant the optimal visualization conditions, without which it is not possible to maximize the potential of the whole image acquisition and processing chain. In the present paper we aim to underline the importance of such protocols, referring some international guidelines which importance made them unavoidable. In addition, we grasp from these guidelines some points that must be addressed when designing the protocols.

8

Authors: Mariana Girão, Sandra Alves

Physiotherapy is an autonomous profession, which has a wide field of intervention, ranging from health promotion to disease prevention. Its contribution should be considered as a separate action, integrated at all levels of care. Palliative care focus on promoting the comfort, dignity and quality of life to people of any age group with diseases incurable, progressive and in advanced stage that exclude the possibility of recovery. Although there is little scientific evidence mentioning the role of the physiotherapist in palliative care, it is possible to conclude that the participation of the physiotherapist in this area contributes positively on quality of life, relieving pain and promoting the welfare of users. In Portugal, we are still not acting according to the principles, assumptions and key concepts of this area, with a lower percentage of health professionals than it should be, according to the recommendations of the Portuguese Association of Physiotherapists (APF). It is intended, in this literature review, to analyze the state of the art of the importance of physiotherapy in palliative care.

12

Authors: Raquel Barros, Carina Neves, Diana Fernandes, Paula Pinto, Cristina Bárbara

Background: After the detection of airway obstruction it is common to administrate a bronchodilator and then evaluate the response to the therapeutic. Most societies consider that a positive response to the bronchodilator exists when FEV1 and/or FVC increased 12% and 200mL. Objeticve: To characterize the response to the bronchodilator according to criteria found in the literature. Method: Cross-sectional study. The sample included 52 subjects who performed lung function tests, and in whom an airway obstruction was detected with subsequent administration of bronchodilator. The sample was divided according to criteria of bronchodilator response and pulmonary hyperinflation proposed by ATS/ERS (Miller et al., 2005a; Miller et al., 2005b). Results: For the totality of the sample, the criterion which was able to detect the largest number of subjects with positive response to the bronchodilator was the increase of FEF25-75% ≥10% (63,5%). For the group with the presence of ATS/ERS criteria it was the increase of IC≥10% (76,9%) and for the group without this criteria it was the increase of FEF25-75% ≥10% (61,5%). For the group with pulmonary hyperinflation the best criteria were the increase of FEF25-75% ≥10% (66,7%) and the reduction of RV≥10% (66,7%), and for those without pulmonary hyperinflation it was the increase of FEF25-75% ≥10% (62,2%). Conclusion: The criterion which was able to detect the largest number of positive responses to bronchodilator was the increase of FEF25-75% ≥10%. However due to the existence of other criteria with good discriminative capacities we suggest a combination of several criteria for the correct characterization of airway reversibility.