A fluorescência é uma técnica amplamente empregada na área de diagnóstico médico, com aplicações distintas. Uma de suas aplicações é a detecção de um determinado marcador que pode ser injetado no paciente. A indocianina verde (ICG) é um exemplo de marcador fluorescente que pode ser empregado para auxiliar na identificação do linfonodo sentinela. A excitação é realizada em 780 nm e a emissão detectada ao redor de 850 nm. Tais comprimentos de onda são muito favoráveis para aplicação médica por apresentarem pouca absorção por tecidos biológicos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um sistema de imagens por fluorescência de ICG. Este sistema é basicamente constituído por um dispositivo de iluminação e de aquisição e tratamento de imagem. Dois protótipos foram construídos e testados, um com excitação Laser e o segundo a LED. O dispositivo de iluminação oferece uma iluminação uniforme em uma área de 10 por 15 cm a uma distância de 30 cm. A fluorescência é captada por um sistema composto por duas câmeras perpendiculares uma à outra e um espelho dicroico angulado 45° a ambas, cuja função é separar a imagem por bandas. Uma das câmeras capta a imagem refletida do espelho no espectro visível e a outra capta a imagem transmitida pelo espelho no infravermelho. As imagens obtidas pelas câmeras recebem tratamento em uma rotina desenvolvida em plataforma LabVIEW® para destacar a região com fluorescência sobreposta na imagem sob iluminação branca em tempo real, sendo possível salvar figuras ou vídeos, dependendo da necessidade do operador. O equipamento foi testado no Hospital de Câncer de Barretos em pacientes para ressecção cirúrgica de tumores de cabeça e pescoço e de melanoma e apresentou resultados promissores. / Fluorescence is a widely used technique in medical diagnostic, with several applications. One of its applications is the screening of a particular marker that can be injected into the patient. The indocyanine green (ICG) is an example of fluorescent marker that can be used to assist the identification of the sentinel lymph node. The excitation is performed at 780 nm and the emission is detected around 850 nm. Such wavelengths are very suitable for medical applications due to their little absorption by biological tissues. The objective of this study was to develop a system of fluorescence imaging of ICG. This system is basically constituted by an irradiation and image acquisition device and a routine for image processing. Two prototypes were built and tested, the first one with Laser excitation and the second with LED. The lighting device provides uniform illumination in an area of 10 by 15 cm at a distance of 30 cm. The fluorescence is collected by a system with two cameras orthogonal to each other and a dichroic mirror angled 45 ° to both, whose function is to separate the image in bands. One of the cameras captures the image reflected from the mirror in the visible spectrum and the other captures the image absorbed by the mirror in the infrared. The images obtained by the cameras receive treatment on a routine developed in LabVIEW® platform to highlight the fluorescent region overlapping the image under white light in real time, making it possible to save pictures or videos, depending on the needs of the operator. The equipment was tested in Barretos\' Cancer Hospital in patients for surgical resection of head and neck tumors and melanoma tumors and presented promising results.

Objetivo: determinar a viabilidade da identificação do linfonodo-sentinela em pacientes com câncer invasor de colo uterino estádio Ib1. Material e Métodos: 16 pacientes consecutivas com câncer de colo uterino agendadas para histerectomia radical com linfadenectomia pélvica bilateral realizaram estudo para detecção de linfonodo-sentinela. Onze pacientes injetaram 1 mCi de tecnécio 99 (99Tc) em quatro pontos do estroma superficial do colo uterino ao redor do tumor, às 12, 3, 6 e 9 h ( 16 horas antes da cirurgia ). No dia da cirurgia, as pacientes foram submetidas ao mapeamento linfático com gamma-probe e azul patente injetado nos mesmos pontos que o 99Tc.Cinco pacientes realizaram a detecção apenas com azul patente. Resultados: foi detectado pelo menos um (1 a 3 por paciente) linfonodo-sentinela em cada uma das 15 pacientes (93,7 %) que realizaram a técnica combinada.Foi detectado pelo menos 1 linfonodo-sentinela em 4 pacientes ( 80% )com azul patente apenas. A maioria dos linfonodos-sentinela foi localizada nas regiões: obturadora (37 %), ilíaca externa (22,2 %) e inter-ilíacas (18,5 %). Seis pacientes (40 %) tiveram linfonodos-sentinela bilaterais. Dos 27 linfonodos-sentinela detectados, 11 (40,7 %) foram detectados pelo corante, 9 (33,3%) pela radioatividade e 7 (26 %) pela radioatividade e corante. O índice de detecção intra-operatória com o gamma-probe foi de 90,9 % ( 11 pacientes ). Destes, 7 linfonodos foram azul e quente (31,8 %), 6 linfonodos foram apenas azuis (27,2 %) e 9 linfonodos foram apenas quentes (40,9 %). A sensibilidade, especificidade e valor preditivo negativo para a detecção do linfonodo-sentinela foram 100%, 85,7 % e 100 % respectivamente. Conclusão: A combinação do radiofármaco 99Tc e azul patente é efetiva na detecção do linfonodosentinela em câncer de colo uterino inicial. / Objective: to establish the feasibility of sentinel lymph node identification in patients with stages Ib1 invasive cervical cancer. Material and Methods: 16 consecutive patients with cervical cancer, were scheduled for radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, were submitted to sentinel lymph node detection. Eleven patients was injected 1 mCi of technetium-99 (99Tc) into four points of the superficial cervical stroma around the tumor, at the 12, 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions (sixteen hours before surgery ). On the day of the surgery, the patients were submitted to gamma-probe-guided lymphatic mapping and patent blue dye was injected into the same points as the 99Tc. Five patients were submitted to detection with patent blue only. Results: at least one sentinel lymph node (one to three per patient) was detected in each of the 15 patients (93.7%) in whom a combination of both methods was used. At least one sentinel lymph node was detected in four patients ( 80 % ) with patent blue only. Most sentinel lymph nodes were identified in the obturator (37%), external iliac (22.2%) and interiliac (18.5%) regions. Six patients (40%) had bilateral sentinel lymph nodes. Of the 27 sentinel lymph nodes detected, 11 (40.7%) were identified by the blue-dye technique, 9 (33.3%) by radiation, and 7 (26%) by radiation and by the blue-dye technique. The intraoperative detection rate was 90.9% with gamma-probe only ( 11 patients ). Of these, 7 lymph nodes were blue-stained and hot (31.8), 6 were just blue-stained (27.2%) and 9 were just hot (40.9%). Sensitivity, specificity and the negative predictive value for sentinel lymph node detection were 100%, 85,7% and 100 % respectively. Conclusion: the combination of 99Tc and patent blue dye is effective in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes in early-stage cervical cancer.

Introdução: O diagnóstico precoce do câncer de mama tem tornado a biópsia do linfonodo sentinela (BLS) um método cada vez mais preconizado. Radiofármacos são usados para pesquisa e posterior BLS, porém ainda não existe um método padronizado. Uma das divergências refere-se ao tempo ideal da realização da injeção do material radioativo, que pode ser realizado no intra ou no pré-operatório. Objetivos: Comparar os resultados da BLS dos pacientes com câncer de mama submetidos à injeção intraoperatória de 99mTc-Dextran-500 em relação aos pacientes que realizaram injeção pré-operatória deste mesmo radiofármaco. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo por meio da revisão dos prontuários de pacientes com câncer de mama invasivo que realizaram BLS com uso de 99mTc-Dextran-500, de janeiro de 2008 a agosto de 2012, em uma única instituição. Os pacientes foram divididos segundo o momento de injeção do radiofármaco na mama acometida em grupo pré-operatório (PO) e grupo intraoperatório (IO). Os pacientes que recebiam injeção pré-operatória realizavam o mapeamento linfático por linfocintilografia. Nos dois grupos, era realizada análise da axila com auxílio do gamma probe durante o ato cirúrgico. Os grupos foram analisados quanto ao estadiamento tumoral clínico, número de focos do tumor primário, invasão vascular peritumoral, presença de receptores hormonais, resultado histológico e anatomopatológico e quantidade de linfonodos (LFs) retirados. Resultados: Foram incluídos 221 pacientes (PO=81 e IO=140). O estadiamento e a histologia tumorais, o número de focos, a invasão vascular peritumoral, bem como a idade dos pacientes eram semelhantes nos dois grupos. A média de LFs retirados foi 2,07 (+-1,33) no PO e 2,20 (+-1,13) no IO. O sucesso de identificação do LS no ato cirúrgico ocorreu em 92,59% dos casos PO e 96,42% dos casos IO. A taxa de falso negativo foi 11,1% no PO e foi 7,2% no grupo IO. A comparação destes dados não mostrou diferença significativa (considerando um nível de significância de 5%). Conclusão: Não há diferença nos resultados da BLS com uso de 99mTc-Dextran-500 no tempo pré-operatório em relação ao intraoperatório. Os dois métodos apresentaram-se eficazes e seguros. A utilização das imagens linfocintilográficas não parece ter influenciado o resultado final do exame. A injeção intraoperatória apresenta melhor logística, custo financeiro menor e extingue a dor e ansiedade do paciente. Logo, esta técnica deve ser preconizada. / Background: Early diagnosis of breast cancer has turned the sentinel node biopsy (SNB) into an increasingly advocated method. Radiopharmaceuticals are used for research and subsequent SNB, but there is still no standardized method. The time of injection, for example, can be intraoperative or preoperative. Objective: Compare the results of SNB of patients with breast cancer undergone intraoperative injection of 99mTc-Dextran-500 with patients underwent preoperative injection of the same radiopharmaceutical. Methods: Retrospective study through reviewing the medical records of patients with invasive breast cancer undergone SNB using 99mTc-Dextran-500, from January 2008 to August 2012, in a single institution. Patients were divided by the type of radiopharmaceutical injection: preoperative with lymphoscintigraphy (PO) or intraoperative (IO). All were subjected to analysis of the axilla with the aid of gamma probe during surgery. We analyzed clinical tumor staging, number of foci, peritumoral vascular invasion, pathological and histological results, number of lymph nodes removed and the presence of hormone receptors. Results: 221 patients included (IO group = 140; PO group = 81). The two groups had similar pathophysiological and etiological characteristics. The average number of lymph nodes removed was IO 2.20 (+ -1.13) and PO 2.07 (+ -1.33). The sentinel limph node (SLN) was positive for metastasis in 36% of IO and 35.8% of the PO. The successful identification of SLN during surgery was 96.42% in IO and 92.59% in PO. The false negative rate was 7.2% in the IO group and 11.1% in the PO. There was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusion: There is no difference in results between SNB using 99mTc-Dextran-500 intraoperative and preoperative. The use of intraoperative injection is effective and safe, and extinguishes the patient's pain and anxiety, improves logistics issue and costs less. Therefore, this technique can be envisaged.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / To identify the lymph node positioned along the internal mammary vessels in isolated sternum of human cadaver, to distinguish the number of lymph nodes at the second, third and forth intercostals spaces and to standardize the surgical approach to those nodes, in order to establish anatomical landmarks to be used with the current techniques of mammary gland sentinel lymph node detection. Ten sternum plates removed from unclaimed cadavers were used in this study. Sternal plates were removed using bilateral incisions of the ribs at the midclavicular lines. The characterization of the internal mammary vessels and the anatomical integrity of the parietal pleura were indispensable requirements during the procedure. The study was descriptive experimental. A total of 56 lymph nodes were removed from the second, third and forth intercostals spaces, being 30 at the right side and 26 ones at the left side. The second intercostal space was the one that shows the greatest number of lymph nodes in both sides. The lymph nodes of the chain of internal mammary vessels were dissected by a safe and practical technique, different from the one practiced by the Italian surgeons, pioneers at the dissection of the lymph nodes of the internal mammary vessels. The first stage of the dissection consisted of detaching the pectorals major muscle from its attachments to the manubrium and sternal body, exposing the sternocostal joints. Upon identification and detachment of the intercostals muscles approximately five cm from the ribs, special attention is paid to the neurovascular structures located at the superior border of the intercostal space, forming a window in a format of âUâ, exposing the internal mammary vessels and the lymph nodes to them related. The approach used is a reliable surgical technique for removing lymph node from sterna plates. The model is therefore valuable for breast surgeons training in sentinel node biopsy, an important procedure for breast cancer patients / Identificar os linfonodos localizados ao longo dos vasos mamÃrios internos em esternos isolados de cadÃveres, discriminar o nÃmero de linfonodos nos 2Â, 3Â e 4Â espaÃos intercostais e padronizar a abordagem cirÃrgica desses linfonodos, registrando os pontos de reparo a serem utilizados nas tÃcnicas atuais de pesquisa do linfonodo sentinela da mama. Estudaram-se dez esternos isolados de cadÃveres humanos. Os esternos foram obtidos atravÃs de secÃÃo bilateral do gradil costal ao nÃvel das linhas hemiclaviculares. A individualizaÃÃo e a integridade anatÃmica da pleura parietal e dos vasos mamÃrios internos foram requisitos imprescindÃveis durante a dissecÃÃo das peÃas. O estudo foi experimental descritivo. Um total de 56 linfonodos foram removidos dos 2Â, 3Â e 4Â espaÃos intercostais, sendo 30 Ã direita e 26 Ã esquerda. O 2Â espaÃo intercostal foi o que apresentou maior nÃmero de linfonodos nos lados direito e esquerdo. Os linfonodos da cadeia mamÃria interna foram abordados por uma tÃcnica segura, prÃtica e diferente da praticada pelos italianos, pioneiros na dissecÃÃo de linfonodos da cadeia mamÃria interna. Ocorre a divulsÃo do mÃsculo peitoral maior da sua inserÃÃo do manÃbrio e corpo do esterno, expondo as cartilagens esternocostais. Desinsere-se um segmento do mÃsculo intercostal de aproximadamente cinco cm a partir do bordo esternal de sua inserÃÃo no bordo superior da costela inferior do espaÃo intercostal, formando uma janela em âUâ, expondo assim os vasos mamÃrios internos e os linfonodos a eles relacionados. A abordagem cirÃrgica usada neste estudo demonstrou ser uma tÃcnica adequada para a exÃrese de linfonodos esternais. Conclui-se assim que o modelo utilizado se presta ao treinamento para o procedimento de biÃpsia de linfonodo sentinela, de grande valor na abordagem das pacientes portadoras de cÃncer de mama

O câncer de mama (CA de mama), com exceção do câncer de pele do tipo não melanoma, é o tumor de maior incidência dentre as mulheres, sendo que no Brasil são encontrados principalmente nas regiões Sul e Sudeste. Seu principal tratamento é o cirúrgico. A disseminação do tumor pode ocorrer por via linfática, acometendo linfonodos regionais. A biópsia do linfonodo sentinela (BLNS) é um procedimento altamente relevante, é altamente sensível na identificação de metástases. A técnica de linfocintilografia (LINCT) pré-operatória é essencial, pois permite avaliar a cadeia linfática acometida e possibilita a visualização do linfonodo sentinela (LNS) durante a cirurgia. O objetivo é descrever os padrões de drenagem linfática e avaliar a contribuição da LCINT na localização dos LNS em pacientes com CA de mama. No período de março de 2009 a agosto de 2011 foram estudados 70 casos sequenciais da rotina clínica, submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico do CA de mama com estudo do LNS através da técnica de LCINT. Na LCINT foram aplicadas 4 injeções intradérmicas contendo 37 MBq (1,0 mCi) do FITATO-Tecnécio99m, ao redor da aréola mamária. Após a localização do LNS foi realizado marcações na pele, nas incidências anterior, oblíqua e lateral, para auxiliar o cirurgião na abordagem cirúrgica ulterior, juntamente com a sonda gama intra-operatória e corante azul patente. Dos 70 casos submetidos ao estudo, todos são do sexo feminino (100%) com faixa etária entre 28 e 77 anos, média de 54 anos. O tamanho médio do tumor encontrado nos pacientes foi de 1,4 cm. Os tipos histológicos mais incidentes foram o carcinoma ductal invasivo com 45 (64,4%) pacientes, seguido de carcinoma ductal in situ com 16 (22,8%). No exame de LCINT, todos os pacientes apresentaram drenagem linfática do radiofármaco a partir do local da injeção. Em 43 (61.5%) pacientes, observamos drenagem para 1 LNS, em 21 (30%) para 2 LNS/LNNS (linfonodo não sentinela), em 5 (7%) para 3 LNS/LNNS e em 1 (1.5%) para 4LNS/LNNS. Dos 70 pacientes, 68 (97%) apresentaram drenagem linfática ipsilateral e 2 (3%) apresentaram drenagem linfática bilateral. Em relação aos territórios de drenagem linfática dos LNS/LNNS, em 68 (97%) pacientes apresentaram drenagem para a região axilar, 1 (1,5%) para a região mamária interna e 1 (1,5%) para as regiões axilar e mamária interna. Os LNS/LNNS presentes na cadeia mamária interna não foram retirados. No intra-operatório, os cirurgiões utilizaram o corante azul patente em 35 (50%) pacientes, destes o corante identificou os LNS/LNNS em 79% dos casos. A técnica de LCINT possibilitou a visualização de todos os LNS e em alguns casos não foi possível a visualização do LNNS, o qual foi localizado e retirado com a sonda gama. Com isso, a técnica de LCINT foi eficaz em 88,5% dos casos. Dos 69 pacientes submetidos à BLNS apenas 13 (18,8%) pacientes apresentaram LNS/LNNS metastáticos, sendo estes submetidos à linfadenectomia axilar. Conclui-se que o exame pré-operatório de LCINT foi muito eficiente para o estudo da drenagem linfática, visualizando os canais linfáticos, linfonodos funcionalmente ativos e seus respectivos territórios de drenagem. Por tanto, esta técnica auxiliou o cirurgião na abordagem cirúrgica juntamente com a sonda gama intra-operatória e corante azul patente para a realização da BLNS. / With the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer, the Breast cancer (breast CA) is the most incident cancer in women. In Brazil, the breast CA is more often found in South and Southeast regions. The main treatment of breast CA is the surgery. The main pathway for the tumor spreading is the lymphatic system, which may affect the regional lymph nodes. The sentinel node biopsy (SLNB) is of considerable importance, once it has a high sensitivity in identifying metastases. The technique of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy (LINCT) is essential because it allows evaluating the lymphatic drainage chain and enables the visualization of sentinel lymph node (SLN) during surgery. We aim here to describe the lymphatic drainage patterns and to evaluate the contribution of LCINT to the location of SLN in patients with breast CA. We evaluated 70 patients sequentially selected from the clinical routine, between march 2009 and august 2011, and that underwent the surgical treatment for breast CA, including the usage of the technique of LCINT for the SLN location. The LCINT were performed by the injection of four periareolar intradermal injections containing 37 MBq (1.0 mCi) of the radiopharmaceutical PHYTATE-99m-Technetium. Based on the LCINT images, we performed skin marks in the dermal projections of the SLN in all anterior/posterior, oblique and lateral views. Additionally, the gamma probe and blue dye were used to help surgeons in the surgical location of the SLN. All of the 70 patients of our study were female, ranging from 28 to 77 years, mean 54 years. The average tumor size was 1.4 cm. The most commonly found histological types were invasive ductal carcinoma (45 patients, 64.4%), followed by the in situ ductal carcinoma (16 patients, 22.8%). All LCINT procedures were well succeeded in demonstrating at least one SLN in our sample of patients. We observed lymphatic drainage for only one SLN in 43 patients (61.5%), for 2 SLN/SLNN in 21 (30%) (non sentinel lymph node), for 3 SLN/SLNN in 5 (7%) and for 4 SLN/SLNN in one patient (1.5%). From the 70 patients, 68 (97%) exhibited ipsilateral and 2 (3%) exhibited bilateral lymphatic drainage. Concerning the lymphatic territories, 68 patients (97%) exhibited drainage to SLN/SLNN in the axillary region, 1 patient (1.5%) in the internal mammary region and another patient (1.5%) in both axillary and internal mammary regions. The two SLN/SLNN found in the internal mammary chain were not removed. Complimentary to the LCINT, the surgeons used blue dye in 35 patients (50%), which enabled them to identify the SLN/SLNN in 79% of cases. On the other hand, LCINT allowed the visualization of all SLN (100%). In some cases, in which was not possible to visualize the SLNN, these ones were found by the use of the gamma probe. Thus, the LCINT technique was effective to localize the SLN in 88.5% of cases. From the 69 patients who underwent SLN biopsy, only 13 patients (18.8%) exhibited metastatic infiltration of the SLN/ SLNN. All these patients were submitted to the axillary dissection. We conclude that the preoperative LCINT was very effective for the study of lymphatic drainage, enabling the visualization of the lymphatic channels, functionally active nodes and their drainage areas. Therefore, this technique helped surgeons in the surgical approach with intraoperative gamma probe and patent blue dye for SLNB.

Introduction Axillary dissection has little diagnostic and therapeutic benefit in the node-positive breast cancer patients in whom axillary disease has been completely eradicated after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (ypN0). We sought to assess the efficacy of an algorithm used for the identification of the ypN0 patients consisting of intraoperative evaluation of sentinel and tattooed (initially positive) lymph nodes. Methods Included were T1 and T2 breast cancer patients with one to three positive axillary lymph nodes marked with carbon who were referred for neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by a surgery. Axillary dissection was performed only in the patients with residual axillary disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy on ultrasound or with metastases described in the sentinel or tattooed lymph nodes either intraoperatively or in the final histology. Results Out of 62 included initially node-positive patients, 15 (24%) were spared axillary dissection. The detection rate of tattooed lymph node after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 81%. The ypN0 patients were identified with 91% sensitivity and 38% specificity using ultrasound and intraoperative assessment of both sentinel and tattooed lymph node according to the final histology. Discussion/Conclusion Lymph node marking with carbon dye is a useful and...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) to monitor adverse events resulting from pharmaceutical drug use. However, this system has limitations such as not allowing real-time data collection. To address these limitations, the FDA launched the Sentinel Initiative in 2008. This comparative case study was conducted to describe perceptions of investigating the efficacy of the Sentinel Initiative compared with the FAERS. The study was based on the theory of preemption as it emphasized the need for efficient means for providing unquestionable proof that consumers suffered adverse drug effects. The sample included interivews of 20 individuals, who worked closely with the FAERS program and were familiar with the Sentinel Initiative. In-depth key-informant interviews had been conducted to determine the perceptions of the participants regarding the challenges and benefits of the Sentinel Initiative compared with FAERS. To analyze data, content analysis was used. The study concluded that the FAERS and Sentinel Initiative provided a systematic database, which included health data, that could be used to improve public health. Due to the FAERS and Sentinel Initiative, adverse effects of drugs will be recognized and the safety of the patients and the public will be prioritized. The findings of this study have potential social impact for positive change at the societal level, organizational level, and individual level in terms of overall safety of the drugs. Sentinel initiative at its present state complements the existing FAERS and leverage its benefits by connecting at a grass roots level patients to an organization level as well as stakeholders to make an impact in providing safer drugs on the market.

The United States currently provides a health care system that is neither efficient nor equitable. Despite outspending the world on health care, over three-fourths of developed countries produce better health outcomes (Auerbach et al., 2000). Simultaneously, the "Ecological School of Thought" has documented the large impact that social, economic, and environmental circumstances play in health outcomes. Unfortunately, these 'ecological" studies are frequently conducted without theoretical justification, and rely solely on a cross-sectional research design and a myriad of unrelated variables. This study represents an important step towards the development of a true theory of "ecology". More specifically, we argue that the adversity associated with socio-economic disadvantage, social disorganization, and a lack of health care resources, leads to adverse health outcomes, represented by sentinel health events. This research employs both a cross-sectional (2000) and longitudinal designs (1990 - 2000) to assess the antecedents of sentinel health events in 309 United States counties. Structural Equation Modeling was the statistical technique employed in the study. Findings revealed that socioeconomic disadvantage remains a primary contributor to sentinel health. Indeed the economic growth between 1990 and 2000 was associated with increased rates of sentinel health events. Social disorganization was identified as a primary contributor to sentinel health events at a specific time point (2000), but was not significant over time (1990 -2000). Conversely, the inadequacy of health care resources was non-significant in the cross-sectional model (2000), but significant in the longitudinal model (1990 -2000). In both models, racial characteristics were fundamentally linked to ecological predictors of health We found support for the notion that sentinel health events would be reduced through economic equity and the development of healthy environments where community ties are reinforced. Less support is found for saturating given geographical areas with health care resources in order to reduce sentinel health events. Future research should be directed by the theoretical advancements made by this study. More specifically, future studies should examine independent cross-level effects, that is, through the inclusion of behavior variables as mediating factors for ecological constructs.

This study aims at increasing the amount of data available on recent past Swedish glacier front variations, at improving the knowledge on the present behavior of these glaciers, and at contributing to the defnition of the guideline for future of glacier front observations in Sweden. To do so, the study proposes Sentinel-2 based yearly front variation measurements for 22 Swedish glaciers between 2015 and 2022, calculated based on the multicentreline approach of the MaQiT tool. It also assesses the uncertainty of Sentinel-2 based mapping by comparing it to 0.48 m spatial resolution aerial imagery based mapping and to field based mapping conducted on four northern Sweden glaciers during the end of the summer 2022: Kaskasatj SE, Kebnepakteglaciären, Mårmaglaciären, and Storglaciären. The fieldwork included handheld GNSS, UAV photogrammetry, and total station survey in order to compare the three methods in the mapping of glacier fronts. This study also compares the measured glaciers front variations to climatic factors and glaciers boundary conditions. The resulting glacier front variations in Sweden between 2015 and 2022, averaged over all glaciers studied, is −10.28 m yr−1. Small glaciers retreated on average 0.51 % of their length per year, while large glaciers retreated on average 0.35 % per year. This study highlights the importance of recording yearly front positions of a large amount of glaciers, and therefore encourages for the future the use of satellite imagery to observe all Swedish glaciers fronts on a yearly basis. It also supports the conduction of regular UAV photogrammetry surveys to provide high resolution mapping of a sample of glacier fronts chosen for their vicinity with the Tarfala Research Station, the Swedish field centre for glaciological and alpine research.

No description available.