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to map the characteristics and purposes of Virtual Reality (VR) technologies for the elderly in the community., scoping review, according to JBI recommendations and described according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Ten databases and four platforms referring to gray literature were included. Studies were selected after duplicates were removed and individual and peer reviews were carried out. Similarity analysis was used to identify competition between words and their results., 20 studies on VR for the elderly were mapped, the majority of which used non-immersive devices. The main purpose of using VR with the elderly is to improve and/or rehabilitate functions that decline with aging, either physiologically or as a result of illness or injury. VR devices are a potential tool for the prevention of falls and cognitive decline and favor the performance of instrumental activities of daily living. Similarity analysis resulted in the generation of a maximum tree, which identified the interrelationship between the terms "virtual reality" and "elderly" as the central and intermediate elements, respectively., it is recommended that further studies be carried out in other environments, which could allow for a wider use of VR by health professionals, especially nurses, in the care provided to the elderly.

Aim: To compare the performance of the SARC-F and SARCCalf questionnaires in sarcopenia screening and their relationship with clinical and sociodemographic aspects of older adults., Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study carried out with 739 elderly people in the community. Clinical, sociodemographic, anthropometric data and screening for signs suggestive of sarcopenia were obtained using the SARC-F and SARCCalf., Results: Evaluation by method showed a difference in the proportion of positive results for the SARC-F regarding female sex (71.7; p = 0.001), among older adults who did not have a partner (49.7; p < 0.001), and osteoarticular diseases (13.4; p < 0.001). On the other hand, the SARCCalf identified a higher proportion of positive results among older adults at risk of malnutrition (12.2; p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The performance of the instruments varied according to the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of the population, and it is up to professionals to consider these aspects when using them., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: to develop interactive gerontechnology for the prevention of falls in the elderly at home., Methods: an exploratory and descriptive study that consisted of gerontechnology development and evaluation by experts and the target audience. For evaluation, researchers used the Agreement Index (AI), considering values greater than 80%., Results: the three-dimensional virtual scale model was elaborated through the SketchUp program, with the distribution of rooms and floors, constituting Prototype 1 (P1). Fifty-four judges evaluated the P1, and all presented agreement above the established, with a minimum AI of 88% and a maximum of 100%, producing Prototype 2 (P2). Thirty elderly participants from a philanthropic institution evaluated Prototype 2. On all items, AI ranged from 83% a 100%, resulting in the final version., Conclusions: the product of this research reveals itself as an innovative and scientifically based tool aimed at preventing falls in the elderly.

Objectives: to develop and test a board game for fall prevention in older adults in the community., Methods: a descriptive study, carried out through the use of game design elements (narrative, mechanics, aesthetics and technology), the Health Promotion Model, assessment by experts and testing with older adults. For assessment, the Concordance Index was used, considering it greater than 80%., Results: three prototypes and the final version were developed. The game's narrative was based on promotion model, comprising individual aspects, benefits and barriers in behavior to prevent falls. The mechanics outlined goals and rules. Aesthetics encompassed layout and illustrations. The technology involved board, cards, pin, roulette and instruction manual. The game was assessed by 36 experts and 31 older women from the community, with a Concordance Index of 93.22% and 99%, respectively., Conclusions: the game developed and tested was considered an adequate educational strategy for fall prevention.

Objectives: to assess factors associated with vulnerability and fragility in the elderly., Methods: crosssectional study with 384 elderly people in Fortaleza, Ceará. The Vulnerable Elders Survey and Clinical-Functional Vulnerability Index - 20 were used. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used for associations. In the analysis of the combined influence of risk factors, the stepwise logistic regression and multinomial regression methods were adopted., Results: 251 (65.4%) non-vulnerable and 133 (34.6%) vulnerable elders. From the vulnerable elders analyzed, 42 (30.9%) are at high risk for frailty. Factors associated with vulnerability: age, gender, presence of comorbidities, hypertension, diabetes, osteoporosis and use of polypharmacy. There is a 30% increase in the chance of vulnerability for each additional drug. Physical activity reduces the chance of vulnerability by 60%. Factors associated with frailty: educational level; self-perception of health; comorbidities; polypharmacy., Conclusions: it is important to pay attention to the presence of arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, polypharmacy, and encourage the practice of physical activity.

Objective: Evaluate a three-dimensional educational gerontotechnology for the prevention of falls in the elderly at home., Methods: Cross-sectional, descriptive study, involving the Development of gerontotechnology; Evaluation by specialists and target audience, took place in Fortaleza, State of Ceara, Brazil, from June 2017 to October 2018. For the development, it was used the steps adopted in a booklet and the Casa Segura project for the elderly. 16 specialists and 30 elderly participated in the evaluation, using the Health Promotion Model, by Nola Pende., Results: The scale model has an area of 160 cm2, with four rooms made of Medium Density Fiberboard . Specialists consider technology adequate, with a level of compliance of 87.7% IC95% [87,71-88,42]. All the elderly related that the scale model looked their homes, and 13 of them (43.3%) suggested the construction of a backyard, a possible second floor, corridors, and stairs., Conclusion: Gerontotechnology was considered fit to be used in the prevention of falls in the elderly.

Objectives: To describe the profile of Brazilian older adults who use the Internet, the means of Internet access and the purpose of Internet use and to verify the existence of association between socio-demographic variables and variables related to Internet use., Method: Cross-sectional study with Brazilian older adults who used the social networks Facebook and WhatsApp. Descriptive, univariate, and bivariate analysis were conducted., Results: 384 older adults participated in the study, mostly women (52.08%), with a mean age of 64.6 years old and who used the Internet to address health concerns (65.36%). The main activities on the internet were reading, listening to music, playing games, watching videos and photos (37.30%). The main benefits pointed out were interaction (74.5%), learning (19.2%) and entertainment (19.25%). There were statistically significant differences between time spent online and the variables gender, age, and civil status., Conclusion: This study showed characteristics of older adults who use the Internet and revealed the possibility of using digital technologies to optimize health care for this population.

Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and attitudes of Family Health Strategy nurses regarding sexuality in old age., Method: Cross-sectional, exploratory, descriptive, quantitative study with nurses of the Family Health Strategy of the city of Sobral-CE. The instruments used were a socio-demographic and professional questionnaire and the Aging Sexual Knowledge and Attitudes Scale, Brazilian version. Data were processed in GraphPad Prism 5®, and the significance level was set at p<0.05., Results: The participants were 56 nurses, most of them female, young adults, who reported they were able to provide orientations about sexuality. The mean score in the knowledge dimension was 29.95 (SD=2.21), in a range of 20 to 60; the mean score in the attitude dimension was 27.14 (SD=2.19), in a range of eight to 40. Participants who declared receiving permanent health education and conducting health education on sexuality presented a significantly favorable knowledge, but no statistically significant attitude., Conclusion: Nurses have adequate knowledge about sexuality in old age, but still present conservative attitudes. Investing in processes of continuing health education can improve the knowledge and practice of nurses.

The serodiagnosis of human tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) presents some problems, such as the low level of antileishmanial antibodies found in most of the patients, as well as the cross-reactivity in subjects infected by other trypanosomatids. In the present study, an immunoproteomic approach was performed aimed at identification of antigens in total extracts of stationary-phase promastigote and amastigote-like forms of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis using sera from TL patients. With the purpose of reducing the cross-reactivity of the identified proteins, spots recognized by sera from TL patients, as well as those recognized by antibodies present in sera from noninfected patients living in areas where TL is endemic and sera from Chagas disease patients, were discarded. Two Leishmania hypothetical proteins and 18 proteins with known functions were identified as antigenic. The study was extended with some of them to validate the results of the immunoscreening. The coding regions of five of the characterized antigens (enolase, tryparedoxin peroxidase, eukaryotic initiation factor 5a, β-tubulin, and one of the hypothetical proteins) were cloned in a prokaryotic expression vector, and the corresponding recombinant proteins were purified and evaluated for the serodiagnosis of TL. The antigens presented sensitivity and specificity values ranging from 95.4 to 100% and 82.5 to 100%, respectively. As a comparative antigen, a preparation of Leishmania extract showed sensitivity and specificity values of 65.1 and 57.5%, respectively. The present study has enabled the identification of proteins able to be employed for the serodiagnosis of TL., (Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

We revise the taxonomy of the exclusively Neotropical Myrmicinae ant genus Blepharidatta (Attini), redescribing the known species (B. brasiliensis and B. conops), and describing two new species, B. delabiei sp. n. (Brazil: Bahia) and B. fernandezi sp. n. (Colombia: Amazonas). We also describe worker sting apparatuses, larvae, males, and ergatoid gynes of all species, except for B. fernandezi, known only from few worker specimens; we provide a key for identifying workers, present distribution maps for all species and summarize the knowledge on the biology of Blepharidatta species.

Unlabelled: Mucocutaneous Leishmaniasis (ML) can lead to serious sequela; however, early diagnosis can prevent complications., Aim: To evaluate clinical markers for the early diagnosis of ML., Materials and Methods: A series study of 21 cases of ML, which were evaluated through clinical interview, nasal endoscopy, biopsy and the Montenegro test., Results: A skin scar and previous diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were reported in 8(38%) patients, and 13(62%) of them denied having had previous CL and had no scar. Nasal/oral symptom onset until the ML diagnosis varied from 5 months to 20 years, mean value of 6 years. In the Montenegro test, the average size of the papule was 14.5 mm, which did not correlate with disease duration (p=0.87). The nose was the most often involved site and the extension of the injured mucosa did not correlate with disease duration. The parasite was found in 2 (9.52%) biopsy specimens., Conclusions: ML diagnosis was late. Finding the parasite in the mucosa, cutaneous scar and/or previous diagnosis of CL were not clinical markers for ML. ML diagnosis must be based on the Montenegro test, chronic nasal and/or oral discharge and histological findings ruling out other granulomatous diseases.