Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:24:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eduardo de Carvalho Cassimiro.pdf: 1020935 bytes, checksum: 5f58f40cd77d7501317d1d1802e15821 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-08-27 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / Through this research, its author investigated the reasons why there were some errors in the essays written by his students in a foreign language. They were all adult, Brazilian learners of English at a language institute. Such errors used to make those students communication in written English quite difficult, and this fact would leave them bothered and bitterly frustrated. In the author s research group, papers whose focus was exactly like his, which brought up methodological and institutional implications, were scarce. This is a qualitative and interpretative case study that can be placed in the Applied Linguistics field, and its theoretical bases are the studies by Moita Lopes (2006), Lantolf (2006), Terra (2004), Bagno (2002), Vygostky (2000) and Corder (1981), among others. The evidence seems to warrant the conclusion that those learners of English used to write their essays in the foreign language in accordance with their linguistic awareness of their mother tongue (Portuguese), and such awareness of language had been built , developed, social--historically, throughout their experiences in their native tongue / O autor desta pesquisa investigou as razões da existência de agramaticalidades nas redações escritas em inglês pelos seus alunos adultos numa escola de idiomas. Tais agramaticalidades dificultavam a comunicação desses aprendizes em língua estrangeira, o que os incomodava e frustrava bastante. No grupo de pesquisa do autor, eram escassos trabalhos cujo foco fosse igual ao deste, que teve implicações metodológicas e institucionais. Trata-se de um estudo de caso qualitativo e interpretativo que se insere no campo da Lingüística Aplicada e se fundamenta nos trabalhos de.Moita Lopes (2006), Lantolf (2006), Terra (2004), Bagno (2002), Vygotsky (2000) e Corder (1981), dentre outros. Os resultados parecem revelar que os discentes-participantes norteavam a sua produção escrita em língua estrangeira pelos conhecimentos construídos socioistoricamente em língua materna

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T19:34:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Miguel Eugenio Almeida.pdf: 2012057 bytes, checksum: 57591740c1882533be0a51fa3dcc567f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-02-26 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / In ALFREDO CLEMENTE PINTO AND HIS CONTRIBUUTIONS TO THE TEACHING OF PORTUGUESE LANGUAGE: AN HISTORIOGRAPHIC STUDY, we work the conception of grammar, tongue, language and teaching in the pseudo etymological period of Portuguese, especially of Pedagogical Grammar, The Mother Language, by Alfredo Clemente Pinto. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to develop a historiographic study of author s works in question. Thus, we follow Koerner and Swigger s Linguistic Historiography, where they point out the base-procedures of the methodology in question, which are described this way: 1) Contextualization it points to the epoch conceptions of the different philosophical, political, economic, scientific and artistic currents which in one way or another influenced each other in the determined historical period and, especially, the linguistic ideation and the social environment in general. 2) Immanence it seeks to evidence the internal elements of the language. 3) Suitability from the previous methodological procedures it advances in the attempt to approach the historical occurrences and the modern theories of linguistics in order to establish continuity and discontinuity relationships. We basically divide the work of this research into topics denominated like these: I - Historiography applied to Clemente Pinto s Didactic Works. We present a general view of the models of the historical doing, and under the methodological aspect, we stress Koerner s Linguistic Historiography (1966). II - Historical moment of two Brazilian Grammarians. We point out the possible relationships which contextualize, in Clemente Pinto and Eduardo Carlos Pereira, by seeking to show in general their historic and social context and, especially to visualize the link of Clemente Pinto and Eduardo Carlos Pereira to their educational activity and their projection in the teaching of the native language by means of the use of their didactic works. III - Language, Grammar and C.P. s and E.C.P s Grammar works. In this topic we seek to present the following points: 1) philological aspect of the writing which is pertinent to the research corpus; 2) notional aspects on language and grammar, demonstrating C.P. s and E.C.P. s position; 3) C.P. s works; 4) E.C.P. work. IV - Confrontation between Grammar and Grammatical Notes in Selecta, by Clemente Pinto. In this topic we notice what Selecta points out in the footnotes about questions of prosody, orthoepy, spelling, lexicology and syntax; and, next, we confront the occurrences with the grammars The Mother Tongue: Second Course (C.P.) and Expositive Grammar: Elementary Course (E.C.P.). At the following stage we achieve temporal approach of the past moment of the grammars (C.P./ E.C.P.) to the present moment by using the Modern Portuguese Grammar (Bechara) / Em ALFREDO CLEMENTE PINTO E SUAS CONTRIBUIÇÕES PARA O ENSINO DA LÍNGUA PORTUGUESA: UM ESTUDO HISTORIOGRÁFICO, trabalhamos a concepção de gramática, de língua, de linguagem e de ensino no período pseudo-etimológico do português, a partir, principalmente, da Gramática Pedagógica A Língua Materna, de Alfredo Clemente Pinto. Portanto, a meta desta pesquisa está orientada para o seguinte ponto: desenvolver um estudo historiográfico a partir do resgate de obras do autor em questão. Para tanto, seguimos o modelo da Historiografia Lingüística de Koerner e Swiggers que apontam os procedimentos-base da metodologia em questão, assim descritos: 1) Contextualização a mesma aponta para as concepções de época das diferentes correntes filosóficas, políticas, econômicas, científicas e artísticas que se interfluenciam, mais ou menos, no período histórico determinado e, em especial, o ideário lingüístico e o meio social em geral. 2) Imanência procura evidenciar os elementos internos da língua. 3) Adequação a partir dos procedimentos metodológicos anteriores - a mesma avança na tentativa de fazer a aproximação histórica das ocorrências com as teorias modernas da lingüística, para estabelecer relações de continuidade e descontinuidade . Dividimos, basicamente, o trabalho desta pesquisa em tópicos, assim denominados: I - Historiografia Aplicada às Obras Didáticas de Clemente Pinto. Apresentamos uma visão geral dos modelos do fazer histórico; e, sob o aspecto metodológico, enfatizamos a Historiografia Lingüística, de Koerner (1966). II - Momento Histórico de dois Gramáticos Brasileiros. Apontamos as possíveis relações que contextualizam, em Clemente Pinto e em Eduardo Carlos Pereira, procurando mostrar o contexto histórico e social, em geral, destes; e, de modo especial, visualizar o vínculo de Clemente Pinto e Eduardo Carlos Pereira com a sua atividade educacional e sua projeção no ensino da língua vernácula com a utilização de suas obras didáticas. III Linguagem, Língua, Gramática e as Obras de Gramática (C.P. / E.C.P.). Buscamos, nesse tópico, apresentar os seguintes pontos: 1) aspecto filológico da ortografia pertinente ao corpus da pesquisa; 2) percurso histórico do interesse humano por questões de linguagem; aspectos nocionais sobre a língua e a gramática evidenciando a posição de C.P. e E.C.P; 3) as obras de C.P; 4) a obra de E.C.P. IV - Confronto entre a Gramática e as Notas Gramaticais na Seleta, de Clemente Pinto. Nesse tópico, verificamos o que aponta a Seleta, em suas notas de rodapé, sobre questões de prosódia, ortoepia, ortografia, lexiologia e syntaxe; e, em seguida, confrontamos as ocorrências com as gramáticas A Língua Materna: 2º Curso (C.P.) e a Grammatica Expositiva: Curso Elementar (E.C.P.). Na etapa seguinte, fazemos a aproximação temporal do momento pretérito das gramáticas (C.P./ E.C.P.) com momento presente utilizando a Gramática Moderna Portuguesa (Bechara)

This thesis deals with the problematics of the work of a novice teacher, who has a pupil with a different mother tongue in his class. Its aim is to identify the specifics that usually accompany the work of novice teachers when integrating these pupils. The text is structured into two parts, each of which is further divided into several chapters. The first, theoretical, part compiles and then presents expert knowledge on migration, inclusion and then education of pupils with a different mother tongue and, last but not least, the role of the school as well as teachers in the process of integration of these children. It also sets out the criteria that affect and influence pupil integration with a different mother tongue. The second part of the thesis is practical. It contains an analysis of the work of two teachers who currently have pupils with a different mother tongue in their class and are trying to integrate them. It is focused on the specifics of working with them. The analysis of their work is carried out on the criteria set out at the end of the theoretical part of this thesis. These criteria are based on the study of professional literature. The result of the thesis is the description of teaching strategies and procedures of these pedagogues, the analysis of their approaches to teaching in a...

Au cours des dernières décennies, les capteurs et les biocapteurs électrochimiques ont connu un développement considérable en raison de leur simplicité, fiabilité, rapidité et sélectivité. Ils ont constitué les alternatives les plus séduisantes pour les méthodes analytiques classiques dans des domaines aussi variés que l'agro-alimentaire, la médecine et la biologie clinique, ou le contrôle de la qualité de l'environnement. Dans ce travail de recherche, nous nous sommes intéressés, dans un premier volet, aux développements des immunocapteurs et capteurs électrochimiques à base des polymères à empreintes moléculaires (MIPs) pour le contrôle de la qualité des miels. La première partie de ce volet concerne le développement des immunocapteurs sur des structures dites Bio-MEMS basées sur des microélectrodes en or. L'élaboration de ces immunocapteurs a été dédiée à la détection des résidus d'antibiotiques à savoir la sulfapyridine (SPy) et la tétracycline (TC). Une nouvelle structure des nanoparticules magnétiques (MNPs) revêtues du copolymère poly (acide pyrrole-co-pyrrole-2-carboxylique) a été exploitée dans ces travaux pour leur réseau d'immobilisation tridimensionnel ainsi que pour leur stabilité pendant de longues périodes. La détection de la SPy et de la TC a été réalisée par différentes approches compétitives en utilisant des anticorps polyclonaux. Dans la deuxième partie de ce volet, nous avons fabriqué des capteurs à base des MIPs pour la détection de la sulfaguanidine, la doxycycline et le chloramphénicol dans le miel. Ces dispositifs ont été développés sur la surface des électrodes sérigraphiées en or en employant une matrice polymérique du polyacrylamide en présence des molécules empreintes. Les performances de ces capteurs et biocapteurs (limite de détection, sélectivité, reproductibilité, application dans les milieux réels) ont ensuite été évaluées. Dans un deuxième volet, nous nous sommes parvenus à appliquer un dispositif de la langue électronique voltammétrique (Langue-EV) pour des analyses agroalimentaires et biomédicales. Dans un premier temps, nous avons discriminé les miels issus de quatorze régions de la France et du Maroc par le dispositif de la Langue-EV. Nous nous sommes aussi parvenus à démontrer la fiabilité de ce dispositif à prédire les résultats des différents paramètres physico-chimiques d'après les réponses des méthodes analytiques utilisées. Dans un deuxième temps, nous sommes passés à l'application du dispositif de la Langue-EV en analyse biomédicale dans le but de discriminer les urines des patientes souffrants des infections urinaires avec celles des femmes saines / In recent decades, the use of electrochemical sensors and biosensors have grown considerably due to their simplicity, reliability, rapidity, and selectivity. They were the most attractive alternative tools for conventional analytical methods in various fields such as food control, medicine, and clinical biology or environmental control. In this research works, we focused, in the first part, on the development of immunosensors and electrochemical sensors based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the quality control of honey. In the second part, we managed to apply a voltammetric electronic tongue (VE-tongue) for food monitoring and biomedical analyzes. The first part of our research work concerns the development of immunosensors based on gold microelectrodes of the Bio-MEMS devices. The development of these immunosensors was dedicated to the detection of antibiotic residues namely sulfapyridine (SPy) and tetracycline (TC). A new structure of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with the poly (pyrrole-co-pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid) copolymer has been exploited in this work for their three-dimensional immobilization network as well as for their stability for long periods. The detection of SPy and TC was performed by different competitive approaches using polyclonal antibodies. In this part, we have also synthesized the MIP sensors dedicated to the detection of sulfaguanidine, doxycycline, and chloramphenicol in honey. These devices have been developed on the surface of the screen-printed gold electrodes by employing a polyacrylamide matrix in the presence of the target molecules. The performances of these sensors and biosensors (limit of detection, selectivity, reproducibility, applications in real samples) were then evaluated. Regarding the second part of our research works, it involved the discrimination between honeys from fourteen regions from France and Morocco. We have succeeded in demonstrating the reliability of this device in predicting the results of the different physico-chemical parameters of honey samples according to the responses of the used analytical methods. In other steps, we proceeded to the application of the VE-tongue in biomedical analyzes to discriminate urine specimens of patients suffering from urinary tract infections and those of healthy subjects

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-05T18:10:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 5 / Nenhuma / Esta pesquisa é norteada pelo pressuposto de que o dicionário é um potencial instrumento didático, para o ensino da língua materna, e que o proveitoso uso pedagógico do dicionário está relacionado à escolha de uma obra lexicográfica adequada ao nível de ensino e aprendizagem dos alunos. Diante disso, este trabalho analisa e compara 13, dos 18 dicionários selecionados pelo Ministério da Educação e Cultura (MEC), no âmbito do Programa Nacional do Livro Didático (PNLD, 2006), visando salientar as características peculiares de cada obra para poder sugerir aquela, ou aquelas obras, mais adequadas a cada situação de aprendizagem. Os dicionários selecionados pelo MEC são considerados como importante material didático de apoio ao ensino e aprendizagem da língua materna, nos dois primeiros ciclos do Ensino Fundamental. A seleção determinou 2 acervos, um destinado ao 1º ciclo, que é composto de 1ª e 2ª série, período em que os alunos se encontram em fase de alfabetização, e outro para o 2º ciclo do Ensino Fundamental, / This research is guided by the supposition that the dictionary is a potential didactic tool for the mother’s tongue education and that the pedagogic benefit of the use of the dictionary is related to the choice of a lexical work, suitable to the level of education and learning of the students. According to this, this study analyses and compares 13, of the 18 dictionaries selected by MEC (Ministry of Education and Culture), in the ambit of the National Program of the Didactic Book (PNLD, 2006), emphasizing the special characteristics of each work that can be able to suggest that one, or those works, more suitable to each learning situation. The dictionaries selected by MEC are considered as a very important didactic material support to the mother’s tongue education and learning, on the two first cycles of Elementary Education. The selection has determined 2 quantities, one destinated for the 1st cycle and another one for the 2nd cycle. This study has considered two profiles of pupils: the ones that are in t

Les systèmes de nez et de langues électroniques à base de capteurs chimiques et électrochimiques constituent une solution avantageuse pour la caractérisation des odeurs et des saveurs émanant des produits agroalimentaires. La sélectivité croisée de la matrice des capteurs couplée aux méthodes de reconnaissance de formes est l'élément clé dans la conception et le développement de ces systèmes. Dans cette optique, nous avons démontré la capacité d'un dispositif expérimental de nez électronique à discriminer entre les différents types de drogues, à analyser la fraîcheur des fromages, à identifier entre les fromages adultérés et à différentier entre les eaux potables et usées. Nous avons également réussi à classifier correctement les eaux potables (minérales, de source, gazeuse et de robinet) et usées par utilisation d'une langue électronique potentiométrique. Cette étude a été validée par la Chromatographie en Phase Gazeuse couplée à la Spectrométrie de Masse (CPG-MS). En outre, nous avons développé une langue électronique voltammétrique à base d'une électrode de Diamant Dopé au Bore pour différencier les phases de traitement des eaux usées domestiques et hospitaliers et pour identifier les différents métaux lourds (Pb, Hg, Cu, Cd, Ni et le Zn) contenus dans l'eau du fleuve Rhône. La Voltammétrie à Redissolution Anodique à Impulsion Différentielle (DPASV) a été utilisée comme une méthode électrochimique pour caractériser les eaux étudiées. Enfin, les systèmes multicapteurs hybrides se sont avérés un bon outil analytique pour caractériser les produits de l'industrie agroalimentaire tels que les jus tunisiens et les huiles d'olives marocaines / Electronic noses and tongues systems based on chemical and electrochemical sensors are an advantageous solution for the characterisation of odours and tastes that are emanating from food products. The cross-selectivity of the sensor array coupled with patter recognition methods is the key element in the design and development of these systems. In this context, we have demonstrated the ability of an electronic nose device to discriminate between different types of drugs, to analyse cheeses freshness, to identify adulterated cheeses and to differentiate between potable and wastewaters. We have also succeeded to correctly classify drinking waters (mineral, natural, sparkling and tap) and wastewaters by using a potentiometric electronic tongue. This study was validated by Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Furthermore, we have developed a voltammetric electronic tongue based on a Diamond Doped Boron electrode to differentiate treatment stages of domestic and hospital wastewaters and to identify different heavy metals (Pb, Hg, Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn) contained in Rhône river. The Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (DPASV) was used as an electrochemical method to characterise the studied waters. Finally, the hybrid multisensor systems have proven to be good analytical tools to characterise the products of food industry such as Tunisian juices and Moroccan olive oils

INTRODUÇÃO: A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é um problema de saúde pública, com grande prevalência e graves consequências. O tratamento considerado padrão-ouro para AOS grave é a aplicação do aparelho de pressão positiva aérea contínua (CPAP) durante o sono. Porém a adesão ao CPAP é baixa, em especial nos pacientes com ronco primário e AOS leve. Estudo prévio do nosso laboratório demonstrou que a terapia miofuncional orofacial (TMO) é efetiva em pacientes com AOS moderada (Guimaraes et. al, AJRCCM 2009:(179);962-966). No entanto, no trabalho inicial o número de pacientes foi relativamente pequeno (n=31), avaliou-se apenas pacientes com AOS moderada. Adicionalmente, a quantidade de exercícios orofaríngeos realizados foi relativamente grande (n=10) dificultando a adesão ao tratamento e os potenciais mecanismos de ação da terapia não foram elucidados. OBJETIVO: O objetivo primário do trabalho é avaliar a efetividade na redução da gravidade da AOS de um programa com um número reduzido de exercícios de TMO (6 exercícios) em pacientes com ronco primário, AOS leve, moderada e grave. Os objetivos secundários foram avaliar o impacto da TMO no índice de apneia hipopneia (IAH) em pacientes estratificados pelo IAH basal, a anatomia da via aérea superior (VAS) por meio da ressonância magnética (RM), a fisiologia da VAS por meio da força e fadiga da língua e a pressão crítica de fechamento (Pcrit). METODOLOGIA: Foram incluídos pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 20 e 65 anos, recentemente diagnosticados com ronco primário, AOS leve, moderada ou pacientes com AOS grave que se recusaram a utilizar o CPAP. Foram excluídos pacientes com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) >= 35 kg/m2, malformações craniofaciais, desdentados, uso regular de medicação hipnótica, doença obstrutiva nasal grave, pacientes já submetidos a outros tipos de tratamentos e pacientes com indisponibilidade de comparecimento semanal durante o estudo. Os pacientes foram avaliados no início e final do estudo por questionário de sonolência (Epworth, variando de 0 a 24 pontos), qualidade de sono (Pittsburgh, variando de 0 a 21 pontos), avaliação fonoaudiológica específica para AOS (variando de 0 a 20 pontos), RM da via aérea superior, força e fadiga de língua, Pcrit e polissonografia. Os pacientes foram sorteados para 3 meses de TMO (6 exercícios) ou controle (dilatador nasal durante o sono e exercícios respiratórios inespecíficos). Todos os pacientes foram acompanhados semanalmente por uma fonoaudióloga e orientados a realizar os exercícios três vezes por dia. Foi realizada ANOVA de dois caminhos para medidas repetidas para avaliar a eficácia dos tratamentos nos diferentes desfechos. Secundariamente também avaliamos o efeito dos tratamentos por meio do teste t pareado. RESULTADOS: Inicialmente 251 pacientes foram avaliados, e após avaliação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 60 pacientes entraram no estudo, sendo que 30 foram randomizados para TMO e 30 para o grupo Controle. Os dois grupos foram semelhantes para todos os parâmetros na entrada. Finalizaram o estudo 58 pacientes (58,6% do sexo masculino, média de idade 45,9 ± 12,2 anos, IMC 28,8 ± 4,3 kg/m2, IAH=18,4 ± 12,6 eventos/h e saturação mínima de oxigênio 84,6 ± 6,4%). O grupo Controle não teve modificações em nenhuma das variáveis ao longo do estudo. O grupo TMO não modificou o IMC e não apresentou mudança significativa nos questionários Epworth e Pittsburgh. Em relação ao início do estudo, o grupo TMO apresentou uma redução significativa na circunferência cervical (38,8±3,3 vs 38,4±4 cm), índice de despertar (21,3±10,9 vs 16,9±7,9 despertares/h), IAH (19,5 ± 14,2 vs 15 ± 10,2 eventos/h) e avaliação fonoaudiológica específica para AOS (9,3 ± 2,9 vs 3,6 ± 2,4). O efeito da TMO sobre o IAH foi significativo somente nos pacientes que apresentavam na entrada AOS moderada (23,8 ± 5,2 vs 17,7 ± 5,2) e grave (43,9 ± 19,5 vs 24,7 ± 21,4). Não foram observadas modificações significativas quando avaliado por meio do teste de ANOVA de duas vias para medidas repetidas na RM da via aérea superior em 24 pacientes (10 Controle e 14 TMO) e fisiologia avaliados por força e fadiga de língua em 38 pacientes (19 Controle e 19 TMO) e Pcrit em 17 pacientes (7 Controle e 10 TMO). No entanto, observamos uma redução significativa (teste t pareado) com diminuição do volume da língua (p=0.031), quantidade de gordura da língua (p=0.008) e aumento significativo da força da língua (p=0,046) no grupo TMO. CONCLUSÃO: Um programa reduzido de TMO é efetivo e capaz de reduzir a gravidade da apneia do sono em pacientes com AOS moderada e grave. A tendência ao aumento da força de língua e redução da gordura de língua podem auxiliar a explicar os efeitos benéficos da TMO em pacientes com AOS / INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a public health problem, with high prevalence and severe consequences. The gold standard treatment for severe OSA is the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during sleep. However, adherence to CPAP is low, especially in patients with primary snore and mild OSA. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated that oropharyngeal exercises are effective in patients with moderate OSA (Guimaraes et. al, AJRCCM 2009:(179);962-966). Nonetheless, in this first study the number of patients included in the randomized trial was relatively small (n=31) and evaluated only patients with moderate OSA. Moreover, the number of oropharyngeal exercises the patients had to do 3 times a day was large (n=10) and raised doubt about the compliance to treatment, and the mechanism by which the therapy was effective was not elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness to reduce OSA severity of a short program of oropharyngeal exercises (6 exercises) in patients with primary snore, mild, moderate and severe OSA. The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of reduced oropharyngeal exercises program on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in patients stratified by baseline AHI, the anatomy of upper airway by magnetic resonance (MR), strength and fatigue of the tongue and critical closing pressure (Pcrit). METHODOLOGY: Patients of both sexes, with age between 20 and 65 years old, recently diagnosed with primary snore, mild, moderate or severe OSA who refused to use CPAP were included. Patients with body mass index (BMI) >= 35kg/m2, craniofacial deformities, edentulous, regular use of hypnotic medication, severe nasal obstruction, patients undergoing other treatments for OSA and patients with unavailability to comply with the protocol were excluded. The patients were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study by questionnaire of daytime sleepiness (Epworth, ranging from 0 to 24 points), quality of sleep (Pittsburgh, ranging from 0 to 21 points), oral myofunctional evaluation for OSA (ranging from 0 to 20 points), MR of the upper airway, tongue strength and fatigue, critical closing pressure (Pcrit) and polysomnography. The patients were randomized to 3 months of oropharyngeal exercises (6 exercises) or Control (use of nasal dilator strip and respiratory non specific respiratory exercises). All patients were instructed to perform the exercises 3 times a day and evaluated by a speech pathologist once a week. The primary endpoints were evaluated primarily by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. A paired t test was also used as a secondary evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 251 patients were evaluated and 60 patients were randomized. The 2 groups (n=30) were similar at study entry for all the parameters and 58 patients completed the study (58.6% males, age: 45.9±12.2 years, BMI: 28.8±4.3 kg/m2, AHI=18.4±12.6 events/h and minimum saturation84.9±6.4%). All variables remained unchanged in the Control group. There were no changes in Epworth and Pittsburgh questionnaires as well as BMI in patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises. As compared to study entry, there was a significantly reduction on neck circumference (38.8 ± 3.3 vs 38.4±4.4cm), arousals index (21.3 ± 10.9 vs 16.9 ± 7.9 arousals/h), AHI (19.5 ± 14.2 vs 15 ± 10.2 events/h), oral myofunctional evaluation for OSA (9.3 ± 2.9 vs 3.6 ± 2.4) in the patients randomized for oropharyngeal exercises. Oropharyngeal exercises only reduced AHI significantly among patients with moderate OSA (23.8 ± 5.2 vs 17.7 ± 5.2) and severe OSA (43.9 ± 19.5 vs 24.7 ± 21.4) at study entry. No significantly changes as evaluated by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA were observed on upper airway MR anatomy (10 Control and 14 oropharyngeal exercises), tongue force and fatigue (19 Control and 19 oropharyngeal exercises) and Pcrit (7 Control and 10 oropharyngeal exercises). As compared to study entry there was a significant reduction as evaluated by paired T test on tongue volume (p=0.031), tongue fat (p=0.008) and a significant increase of tongue strength (p=0.046) of patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises. CONCLUSION: A short program of oropharyngeal exercises is effective to reduce OSA severity in patients with moderate and severe OSA. The trend to increase tongue strength and reduce tongue fat may explain the beneficial effects of oropharyngeal exercises

INTRODUÇÃO: A apneia obstrutiva do sono (AOS) é um problema de saúde pública, com grande prevalência e graves consequências. O tratamento considerado padrão-ouro para AOS grave é a aplicação do aparelho de pressão positiva aérea contínua (CPAP) durante o sono. Porém a adesão ao CPAP é baixa, em especial nos pacientes com ronco primário e AOS leve. Estudo prévio do nosso laboratório demonstrou que a terapia miofuncional orofacial (TMO) é efetiva em pacientes com AOS moderada (Guimaraes et. al, AJRCCM 2009:(179);962-966). No entanto, no trabalho inicial o número de pacientes foi relativamente pequeno (n=31), avaliou-se apenas pacientes com AOS moderada. Adicionalmente, a quantidade de exercícios orofaríngeos realizados foi relativamente grande (n=10) dificultando a adesão ao tratamento e os potenciais mecanismos de ação da terapia não foram elucidados. OBJETIVO: O objetivo primário do trabalho é avaliar a efetividade na redução da gravidade da AOS de um programa com um número reduzido de exercícios de TMO (6 exercícios) em pacientes com ronco primário, AOS leve, moderada e grave. Os objetivos secundários foram avaliar o impacto da TMO no índice de apneia hipopneia (IAH) em pacientes estratificados pelo IAH basal, a anatomia da via aérea superior (VAS) por meio da ressonância magnética (RM), a fisiologia da VAS por meio da força e fadiga da língua e a pressão crítica de fechamento (Pcrit). METODOLOGIA: Foram incluídos pacientes de ambos os sexos, com idade entre 20 e 65 anos, recentemente diagnosticados com ronco primário, AOS leve, moderada ou pacientes com AOS grave que se recusaram a utilizar o CPAP. Foram excluídos pacientes com índice de massa corpórea (IMC) >= 35 kg/m2, malformações craniofaciais, desdentados, uso regular de medicação hipnótica, doença obstrutiva nasal grave, pacientes já submetidos a outros tipos de tratamentos e pacientes com indisponibilidade de comparecimento semanal durante o estudo. Os pacientes foram avaliados no início e final do estudo por questionário de sonolência (Epworth, variando de 0 a 24 pontos), qualidade de sono (Pittsburgh, variando de 0 a 21 pontos), avaliação fonoaudiológica específica para AOS (variando de 0 a 20 pontos), RM da via aérea superior, força e fadiga de língua, Pcrit e polissonografia. Os pacientes foram sorteados para 3 meses de TMO (6 exercícios) ou controle (dilatador nasal durante o sono e exercícios respiratórios inespecíficos). Todos os pacientes foram acompanhados semanalmente por uma fonoaudióloga e orientados a realizar os exercícios três vezes por dia. Foi realizada ANOVA de dois caminhos para medidas repetidas para avaliar a eficácia dos tratamentos nos diferentes desfechos. Secundariamente também avaliamos o efeito dos tratamentos por meio do teste t pareado. RESULTADOS: Inicialmente 251 pacientes foram avaliados, e após avaliação dos critérios de inclusão e exclusão, 60 pacientes entraram no estudo, sendo que 30 foram randomizados para TMO e 30 para o grupo Controle. Os dois grupos foram semelhantes para todos os parâmetros na entrada. Finalizaram o estudo 58 pacientes (58,6% do sexo masculino, média de idade 45,9 ± 12,2 anos, IMC 28,8 ± 4,3 kg/m2, IAH=18,4 ± 12,6 eventos/h e saturação mínima de oxigênio 84,6 ± 6,4%). O grupo Controle não teve modificações em nenhuma das variáveis ao longo do estudo. O grupo TMO não modificou o IMC e não apresentou mudança significativa nos questionários Epworth e Pittsburgh. Em relação ao início do estudo, o grupo TMO apresentou uma redução significativa na circunferência cervical (38,8±3,3 vs 38,4±4 cm), índice de despertar (21,3±10,9 vs 16,9±7,9 despertares/h), IAH (19,5 ± 14,2 vs 15 ± 10,2 eventos/h) e avaliação fonoaudiológica específica para AOS (9,3 ± 2,9 vs 3,6 ± 2,4). O efeito da TMO sobre o IAH foi significativo somente nos pacientes que apresentavam na entrada AOS moderada (23,8 ± 5,2 vs 17,7 ± 5,2) e grave (43,9 ± 19,5 vs 24,7 ± 21,4). Não foram observadas modificações significativas quando avaliado por meio do teste de ANOVA de duas vias para medidas repetidas na RM da via aérea superior em 24 pacientes (10 Controle e 14 TMO) e fisiologia avaliados por força e fadiga de língua em 38 pacientes (19 Controle e 19 TMO) e Pcrit em 17 pacientes (7 Controle e 10 TMO). No entanto, observamos uma redução significativa (teste t pareado) com diminuição do volume da língua (p=0.031), quantidade de gordura da língua (p=0.008) e aumento significativo da força da língua (p=0,046) no grupo TMO. CONCLUSÃO: Um programa reduzido de TMO é efetivo e capaz de reduzir a gravidade da apneia do sono em pacientes com AOS moderada e grave. A tendência ao aumento da força de língua e redução da gordura de língua podem auxiliar a explicar os efeitos benéficos da TMO em pacientes com AOS / INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a public health problem, with high prevalence and severe consequences. The gold standard treatment for severe OSA is the application of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) during sleep. However, adherence to CPAP is low, especially in patients with primary snore and mild OSA. A previous study from our laboratory demonstrated that oropharyngeal exercises are effective in patients with moderate OSA (Guimaraes et. al, AJRCCM 2009:(179);962-966). Nonetheless, in this first study the number of patients included in the randomized trial was relatively small (n=31) and evaluated only patients with moderate OSA. Moreover, the number of oropharyngeal exercises the patients had to do 3 times a day was large (n=10) and raised doubt about the compliance to treatment, and the mechanism by which the therapy was effective was not elucidated. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to evaluate the effectiveness to reduce OSA severity of a short program of oropharyngeal exercises (6 exercises) in patients with primary snore, mild, moderate and severe OSA. The secondary objective was to evaluate the impact of reduced oropharyngeal exercises program on apnea hypopnea index (AHI) in patients stratified by baseline AHI, the anatomy of upper airway by magnetic resonance (MR), strength and fatigue of the tongue and critical closing pressure (Pcrit). METHODOLOGY: Patients of both sexes, with age between 20 and 65 years old, recently diagnosed with primary snore, mild, moderate or severe OSA who refused to use CPAP were included. Patients with body mass index (BMI) >= 35kg/m2, craniofacial deformities, edentulous, regular use of hypnotic medication, severe nasal obstruction, patients undergoing other treatments for OSA and patients with unavailability to comply with the protocol were excluded. The patients were evaluated at the beginning and end of the study by questionnaire of daytime sleepiness (Epworth, ranging from 0 to 24 points), quality of sleep (Pittsburgh, ranging from 0 to 21 points), oral myofunctional evaluation for OSA (ranging from 0 to 20 points), MR of the upper airway, tongue strength and fatigue, critical closing pressure (Pcrit) and polysomnography. The patients were randomized to 3 months of oropharyngeal exercises (6 exercises) or Control (use of nasal dilator strip and respiratory non specific respiratory exercises). All patients were instructed to perform the exercises 3 times a day and evaluated by a speech pathologist once a week. The primary endpoints were evaluated primarily by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA. A paired t test was also used as a secondary evaluation. RESULTS: A total of 251 patients were evaluated and 60 patients were randomized. The 2 groups (n=30) were similar at study entry for all the parameters and 58 patients completed the study (58.6% males, age: 45.9±12.2 years, BMI: 28.8±4.3 kg/m2, AHI=18.4±12.6 events/h and minimum saturation84.9±6.4%). All variables remained unchanged in the Control group. There were no changes in Epworth and Pittsburgh questionnaires as well as BMI in patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises. As compared to study entry, there was a significantly reduction on neck circumference (38.8 ± 3.3 vs 38.4±4.4cm), arousals index (21.3 ± 10.9 vs 16.9 ± 7.9 arousals/h), AHI (19.5 ± 14.2 vs 15 ± 10.2 events/h), oral myofunctional evaluation for OSA (9.3 ± 2.9 vs 3.6 ± 2.4) in the patients randomized for oropharyngeal exercises. Oropharyngeal exercises only reduced AHI significantly among patients with moderate OSA (23.8 ± 5.2 vs 17.7 ± 5.2) and severe OSA (43.9 ± 19.5 vs 24.7 ± 21.4) at study entry. No significantly changes as evaluated by two-way repeated-measures ANOVA were observed on upper airway MR anatomy (10 Control and 14 oropharyngeal exercises), tongue force and fatigue (19 Control and 19 oropharyngeal exercises) and Pcrit (7 Control and 10 oropharyngeal exercises). As compared to study entry there was a significant reduction as evaluated by paired T test on tongue volume (p=0.031), tongue fat (p=0.008) and a significant increase of tongue strength (p=0.046) of patients randomized to oropharyngeal exercises. CONCLUSION: A short program of oropharyngeal exercises is effective to reduce OSA severity in patients with moderate and severe OSA. The trend to increase tongue strength and reduce tongue fat may explain the beneficial effects of oropharyngeal exercises

Demographic behaviour of the Vietnamese people in the Czech Republic Abstract The Vietnamese have been living on the Czech territory for many years, even for several generations. Besides the Ukrainians and the Slovaks, the Vietnamese are the third largest group of foreigners in the Czech Republic. Even though the Vietnamese are nowadays an integral and common part of the Czech population, they have not yet received much demographic attention based on national data sources. This diploma thesis is focused on demographic issues of this minority. The thesis also deals with demographic differences between the Czech and Vietnamese population living in the Czech Republic. In addition, the thesis offers selected demographic features through which demographic disparities between the two parts of the population are analysed. The theoretical part of the thesis is focused on the legislative issues of terms such as: citizenship, nationality and mother tongue, as it is very important to understand and distinguish these terms, especially for the analytical part of the thesis. Each term is defined and described in the introduction, so the differences between terms are explained. However, more attention is paid to the term citizenship, as the analytical part of the thesis is based primarily on this term. In the theoretical...

Abstract Tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) are linked to the invasion of oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC). We modified THP-1 leukemia cells to M1 (inflammatory), M2 (TAM-like) and R848 (imidazoquinoline-treated) type macrophages in order to examine their interactions with OTSCC-cells (HSC-3) by using different kinds of in vitro migration and invasion models. We observed that interaction of TAM-resembling M2-type macrophages with HSC-3 cells induced invasion and migration, whereas the influence of M1 macrophages reduced them. Patient response to chemoradiotherapy is highly reliant on the characteristics such as the aggressiveness and stage of the cancer. Therefore, new methods for treatment testing are needed in order to design personalized therapies. We tested the applicability and consistency of human TME mimicking tissue methods for analyzing the effects of chemoradiation using commercial OTSCC cell lines. Based on our trials, both our human uterine leiomyoma tissue -based matrix models provide viable platforms for future in vitro chemoradiotherapy testing. Conventionally pro-tumorigenic activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9 have been linked with oral squamous cell carcinoma, but recently its tumor-suppressor role has also been revealed. Our study provides strong evidence that MMP9 also has an anti-invasive effect in OTSCC and is a potential mediator of the protective effects of arresten in tongue cancer cells. / Tiivistelmä Makrofageilla on yhteys kielen levyepiteelikarsinooman invaasioon eli syöpäkasvaimen tunkeutumiseen ympäröivään kudokseen. Tutkimuksessamme muokkasimme ihmisen THP-1 leukemiasoluja kemiallisesti tulehdusreittejä aktivoiviksi M1-makrofageiksi, kasvaimeen liittyvien makrofagien kaltaisiksi M2-makrofageiksi sekä imidatsokinoliini-käsitellyiksi R848-makrofageiksi. Tarkoituksenamme oli tutkia makrofagien ja kielisyöpäsolujen vuorovaikutuksia erilaisilla in vitro migraatio- ja invaasiomalleilla. Anti-inflammatoristen, syövän etenemistä edesauttavien TAM-makrofagien kaltaisiksi erilaistetut M2-tyypin makrofagit lisäsivät HSC-3 kielikarsinoomasolujen invaasiota ja migraatiota, kun taas M1-tyypin makrofagien vaikutus oli päinvastainen. Potilaan vaste kemosädehoitoon riippuu syöpäkasvaimen ominaisuuksista, kuten syöpäsolujen aggressiivisuudesta ja syövän levinneisyysasteesta. Tämän vuoksi on tarve uusille menetelmille, joiden avulla voidaan ottaa huomioon potilaan sekä syöpätyypin yksilölliset ominaisuudet hoitoa suunniteltaessa. Testasimme syöpäkasvaimen mikroympäristöä mallintavien, ihmiskudokseen perustuvien menetelmien käyttökelpoisuutta ja luotettavuutta kemosädehoidon vaikutusten arvioimiseen. Testiemme perusteella myoomakudokseen pohjautuvat menetelmät voivat auttaa kemosädehoidon vaikutusten testauksessa. Matriksin metalloproteinaasi (MMP) 9:n on pitkään uskottu olevan yksinomaan syövän etenemistä edesauttava molekyyli. Viimeaikaisissa tutkimuksissa on myös havaittu, että MMP9:llä voi olla syövältä suojaavia vaikutuksia. Tutkimme MMP9:n vaikutusta kielisyöpäsoluihin ja havaitsimme, että MMP9:llä on myös invaasiota hillitseviä vaikutuksia. Lisäksi MMP9 saattaa toimia verisuonten muodostumista estävän arresten-molekyylin syövältä suojaavien mekanismien välittäjänä.