2Purpose: A study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of three different strategies aiming at 3 increasing spontaneous eyeblink rate (SEBR) during computer use. 4Methods: A total of 12 subjects (5 female) with a mean age of 28.7 years were instructed to 5 read a text presented on a computer display terminal during 15 minutes. Four reading sessions 6 (reference and three "blinking events" [BE]) were programmed in which SEBR was digitally 7 recorded. "Blinking events" were based on either a slight distortion of the text characters or on 8 the presentation of a white screen instead of the text, with or without accompanying blinking 9 instructions. All BE had a duration of 20 ms and occurred every 15 s. Participants graded the 10 intrusiveness of each BE configuration, and the number of lines participants read in each 11 session was recorded. 12Results: Data from 11 subjects was analysed. A statistically significant difference in SEBR was 13 encountered between the experimental configuration consisting on a white screen plus 14 blinking instructions (7.8 blinks/min) and both reference (5.2 blinks/min; p = 0.049) and white 15 screen without blinking instructions (4.8 blinks/min; p = 0.038). All three BE had superior levels 16 of intrusiveness than reference conditions, although the performance of participants (line 17 count) was not compromised. 18

An ultrasound score to predict the presence of papillary thyroid carcinoma. Preliminary report Background: Thyroid nodules are common and associated to a low risk of malignancy. Their clinical assessment usually includes a fine neddle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). Aim: To identify ultrasonographic characteristics associated to papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and generate a score that predicts the risk of PTC. Material and methods: Retrospective review of all fine needle aspiration biopsies of the thyroid performed in a lapse of two years. Biopsies that were conclusive for PTC were selected and compared with an equal amount of randomly selected biopsies that disclosed a benign diagnosis. Results: One hundred twenty two biopsies of a total of 1,498 were conclusive for PTC. Univariate analysis showed associations with PTC for the presence of micro-calcifications (Odds ratio (OR) 49.2: 95% confidence intervals (CI) 18.7-140.9), solid predominance (OR 25.1; 95% CI 6-220), hypoechogenicity (OR 23.5, irregular borders (OR 17,, lymph node involvement (OR 12.3,(95)(96)(97)(98)(99)(100)(101)(102)(103)(104)(105)(106)(107)(108)(109)(110)(111)(112) central vascularization (OR 12.2,, local invasion and hyperechogenicity (OR 0.2; CI 95% CI 0.03-0.6). Multivariate analysis disclosed microcalcifications (OR 28.1; hypoechogenicity (OR 9.4; as the variables independently associated with the presence of PTC. The prevalence of PTC in the presence of the three variables was 97.6% (Likelihood ratio (LR) 45) and 5.4% in their absence (LR 0.06). Conclusions: This scale predicts the presence or absence of PTC using simple ultrasound characteristics (Rev Méd Chile 2009; 137: 1031-6). (

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract