Abstract: Introduction: The Progress Test was created to address the necessity of measuring the level of knowledge consolidation along the years of Medical school. The test is administered periodically to all students in a curriculum, assessing the student’s cognitive growth throughout their journey at undergraduate level. In addition to assessing the student individually, the test evaluates the institution, showing in which areas its curriculum base should be improved. The aim is to assess the Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense student’s perception of the Progress Test. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Data was collected through questionnaires created by the researchers and applied to medical students - the ones who took the Progress Test at least once - from October 15th to November 30th, 2018. The statistical analysis was performed with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A response rate of 70.41% was obtained, with a total of 424 questionnaires being included in the research. Demographic data showed a predominance of female gender (60,4%) and white ethnicity (96,2%) in the population and a mean age of 23 years. In all semesters (early, intermediate and final ones) the participants knew the goal of the progress test, and most students consider it important. It was also observed that the majority of the students considered clinical surgery and collective health as their worst performance in the test. In clinical medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology-obstetrics, the students of the intermediate and final semesters were satisfied with their level of knowledge. “To evaluate the student’s progress/performance” was highlighted as the most positive point. Among the negative ones “decrease the number of questions so the test is not as extensive” was emphasized. Conclusion: The students of the sample consider the Progress Test important and know about its purpose. The final third of the Medical School is the one who feels most prepared to face the test. The main fields to which the students attributed their worst performance were clinical surgery and collective health. Regarding clinical medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and obstetrics the students were satisfied with their knowledge.

Abstract: Introduction: The Progress Test was created to address the necessity of measuring the level of knowledge consolidation along the years of Medical school. The test is administered periodically to all students in a curriculum, assessing the student’s cognitive growth throughout their journey at undergraduate level. In addition to assessing the student individually, the test evaluates the institution, showing in which areas its curriculum base should be improved. The aim is to assess the Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense student’s perception of the Progress Test. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed. Data was collected through questionnaires created by the researchers and applied to medical students - the ones who took the Progress Test at least once - from October 15th to November 30th, 2018. The statistical analysis was performed with a 95% confidence interval. Results: A response rate of 70.41% was obtained, with a total of 424 questionnaires being included in the research. Demographic data showed a predominance of female gender (60,4%) and white ethnicity (96,2%) in the population and a mean age of 23 years. In all semesters (early, intermediate and final ones) the participants knew the goal of the progress test, and most students consider it important. It was also observed that the majority of the students considered clinical surgery and collective health as their worst performance in the test. In clinical medicine, pediatrics, and gynecology-obstetrics, the students of the intermediate and final semesters were satisfied with their level of knowledge. “To evaluate the student’s progress/performance” was highlighted as the most positive point. Among the negative ones “decrease the number of questions so the test is not as extensive” was emphasized. Conclusion: The students of the sample consider the Progress Test important and know about its purpose. The final third of the Medical School is the one who feels most prepared to face the test. The main fields to which the students attributed their worst performance were clinical surgery and collective health. Regarding clinical medicine, pediatrics, gynecology, and obstetrics the students were satisfied with their knowledge.

ABSTRACT Objective: Necrotizing pneumonia (PNZ) is a severe and rare complication of a community-acquired pneumonia, affecting mainly children. We aimed to analyze medical records of children undergoing surgical treatment for PNZ and compare our results with those found in the medical literature. Methods: Retrospective analysis of children’s medical charts who underwent an operation for PNZ, between July 2006 and July 2016, in two hospitals in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results: A total of 26 children with a median age of 2.70 years and mostly females (61.5%) were included in the current study. The main symptoms were fever (88.5%) and cough (65.4%). There was an average use of 4.31 antibiotics per patient. The primary etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (23.1%), but cultures were negative in 69% of the patients. Decortication and debridement of necrotic areas were performed in 23 patients (88.5%). The mean postoperative pleural drainage was 8.12 days. The presence of bronchopleural fistula occurred in 50.0% in the preoperative period and 46.2% in the postoperative. The total length of hospital stay was, on average, 27.52 days and the postoperative length of stay was 12.60 days (mean). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 children and there was no mortality. Conclusion: The surgical approach is indicated to patients with no response to clinical treatment. Late surgical intervention is associated with progressive parenchyma infection and higher rates of complications. Surgery can lead to better clinical outcomes and earlier recovery.

ABSTRACT Objective: Necrotizing pneumonia (PNZ) is a severe and rare complication of a community-acquired pneumonia, affecting mainly children. We aimed to analyze medical records of children undergoing surgical treatment for PNZ and compare our results with those found in the medical literature. Methods: Retrospective analysis of children’s medical charts who underwent an operation for PNZ, between July 2006 and July 2016, in two hospitals in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results: A total of 26 children with a median age of 2.70 years and mostly females (61.5%) were included in the current study. The main symptoms were fever (88.5%) and cough (65.4%). There was an average use of 4.31 antibiotics per patient. The primary etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (23.1%), but cultures were negative in 69% of the patients. Decortication and debridement of necrotic areas were performed in 23 patients (88.5%). The mean postoperative pleural drainage was 8.12 days. The presence of bronchopleural fistula occurred in 50.0% in the preoperative period and 46.2% in the postoperative. The total length of hospital stay was, on average, 27.52 days and the postoperative length of stay was 12.60 days (mean). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 children and there was no mortality. Conclusion: The surgical approach is indicated to patients with no response to clinical treatment. Late surgical intervention is associated with progressive parenchyma infection and higher rates of complications. Surgery can lead to better clinical outcomes and earlier recovery.

ABSTRACT Objective: Necrotizing pneumonia (PNZ) is a severe and rare complication of a community-acquired pneumonia, affecting mainly children. We aimed to analyze medical records of children undergoing surgical treatment for PNZ and compare our results with those found in the medical literature. Methods: Retrospective analysis of children’s medical charts who underwent an operation for PNZ, between July 2006 and July 2016, in two hospitals in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results: A total of 26 children with a median age of 2.70 years and mostly females (61.5%) were included in the current study. The main symptoms were fever (88.5%) and cough (65.4%). There was an average use of 4.31 antibiotics per patient. The primary etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (23.1%), but cultures were negative in 69% of the patients. Decortication and debridement of necrotic areas were performed in 23 patients (88.5%). The mean postoperative pleural drainage was 8.12 days. The presence of bronchopleural fistula occurred in 50.0% in the preoperative period and 46.2% in the postoperative. The total length of hospital stay was, on average, 27.52 days and the postoperative length of stay was 12.60 days (mean). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 children and there was no mortality. Conclusion: The surgical approach is indicated to patients with no response to clinical treatment. Late surgical intervention is associated with progressive parenchyma infection and higher rates of complications. Surgery can lead to better clinical outcomes and earlier recovery.

ABSTRACT Objective: Necrotizing pneumonia (PNZ) is a severe and rare complication of a community-acquired pneumonia, affecting mainly children. We aimed to analyze medical records of children undergoing surgical treatment for PNZ and compare our results with those found in the medical literature. Methods: Retrospective analysis of children’s medical charts who underwent an operation for PNZ, between July 2006 and July 2016, in two hospitals in southern Santa Catarina, Brazil. Results: A total of 26 children with a median age of 2.70 years and mostly females (61.5%) were included in the current study. The main symptoms were fever (88.5%) and cough (65.4%). There was an average use of 4.31 antibiotics per patient. The primary etiological agent was Staphylococcus aureus (23.1%), but cultures were negative in 69% of the patients. Decortication and debridement of necrotic areas were performed in 23 patients (88.5%). The mean postoperative pleural drainage was 8.12 days. The presence of bronchopleural fistula occurred in 50.0% in the preoperative period and 46.2% in the postoperative. The total length of hospital stay was, on average, 27.52 days and the postoperative length of stay was 12.60 days (mean). Postoperative complications occurred in 13 children and there was no mortality. Conclusion: The surgical approach is indicated to patients with no response to clinical treatment. Late surgical intervention is associated with progressive parenchyma infection and higher rates of complications. Surgery can lead to better clinical outcomes and earlier recovery.

Abstract The mining industry can be one of the most impacting human activities. In the southern region of Santa Catarina (Brazil), open pit coal mining has left an extensive environmental impact. Since there was no topsoil in the abandoned open pit sites, it is necessary to provide a substrate for vegetation growth. However, the selection of the best substrate between multiple options is difficult. Thus, a fuzzy logic-based model is proposed. The proposed model was compared to reference models and to experts’ knowledge. Statistical analysis and validation were carried out with a correlation coefficient, a Kappa coefficient, along with the Accuracy, Precision, Sensibility Specificity, F-Score and Mathews correlation coefficients. The data set used to assess the proposed model presented a wide range of data, but for values such as aluminum saturation, higher values were common. The fuzzy logic-based expert system presented better results when assessing the behavior of the defuzzified output values with the crisp input values. The fuzzy model also followed the trend of the reference models (with R2 between 0.3639 and 0.5250). The comparison to the experts’ opinion demonstrated that agreement comes easily with extreme values (such as not suitable and suitable). However, using a Winner-Takes-All approach, the proposed fuzzy model had high scores for suitable soils for land reclamation’s soil construction. The proposed model can be used to define the best substrate for land reclamation. Some improvements, such as different parameters and increases in the number of interviews rounds, should be also tested.

Abstract The mining industry can be one of the most impacting human activities. In the southern region of Santa Catarina (Brazil), open pit coal mining has left an extensive environmental impact. Since there was no topsoil in the abandoned open pit sites, it is necessary to provide a substrate for vegetation growth. However, the selection of the best substrate between multiple options is difficult. Thus, a fuzzy logic-based model is proposed. The proposed model was compared to reference models and to experts’ knowledge. Statistical analysis and validation were carried out with a correlation coefficient, a Kappa coefficient, along with the Accuracy, Precision, Sensibility Specificity, F-Score and Mathews correlation coefficients. The data set used to assess the proposed model presented a wide range of data, but for values such as aluminum saturation, higher values were common. The fuzzy logic-based expert system presented better results when assessing the behavior of the defuzzified output values with the crisp input values. The fuzzy model also followed the trend of the reference models (with R2 between 0.3639 and 0.5250). The comparison to the experts’ opinion demonstrated that agreement comes easily with extreme values (such as not suitable and suitable). However, using a Winner-Takes-All approach, the proposed fuzzy model had high scores for suitable soils for land reclamation’s soil construction. The proposed model can be used to define the best substrate for land reclamation. Some improvements, such as different parameters and increases in the number of interviews rounds, should be also tested.

ABSTRACT Objective To know the modifications of the sleep pattern in chronic benzodiazepine users after the introduction of trazodone. Methods In a group of 11 patients, a gradual withdrawal of benzodiazepine (BZD) was introduced with progressive introduction of trazodone. Two polysomnograms were performed, the first with BZD usual dose of the patient and the second after BZD suppression and with 150 mg of prolonged release trazodone. Sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh), daytime sleepiness (Epworth) and depressive (Hamilton) and anxious (Beck) symptoms were applied. Results Five subjects completed the study and were followed up for at least six weeks. In these patients, trazodone significantly increased sleep efficiency and REM sleep and decreased wakefulness after sleep onset. There was an improvement in sleep quality, but there was no change in depressive and anxious symptoms. Conclusion Prolonged release trazodone has been shown to be a therapeutic option for chronic insomnia patients with benzodiazepines with effective withdrawal of the anxiolytic drug. There was improvement in sleep quality by questionnaire and polysomnography. More patients will be needed to determine the benefits of trazodone in this type of intervention.

ABSTRACT Objective To know the modifications of the sleep pattern in chronic benzodiazepine users after the introduction of trazodone. Methods In a group of 11 patients, a gradual withdrawal of benzodiazepine (BZD) was introduced with progressive introduction of trazodone. Two polysomnograms were performed, the first with BZD usual dose of the patient and the second after BZD suppression and with 150 mg of prolonged release trazodone. Sleep quality questionnaires (Pittsburgh), daytime sleepiness (Epworth) and depressive (Hamilton) and anxious (Beck) symptoms were applied. Results Five subjects completed the study and were followed up for at least six weeks. In these patients, trazodone significantly increased sleep efficiency and REM sleep and decreased wakefulness after sleep onset. There was an improvement in sleep quality, but there was no change in depressive and anxious symptoms. Conclusion Prolonged release trazodone has been shown to be a therapeutic option for chronic insomnia patients with benzodiazepines with effective withdrawal of the anxiolytic drug. There was improvement in sleep quality by questionnaire and polysomnography. More patients will be needed to determine the benefits of trazodone in this type of intervention.