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The article is based on the idea of human formation in its broadest sense, which includes the formation of the senses, corporeality, habits and practices, emotional life, the cultivation of relationships and of reflection on the existential meaning of the singular human life. It is assumed that the postulate is accepted that education is a specific and intentional process of human formation, with the same wide-ranging formative objectives of such formation. The article situates this understanding of education in the Brazilian educational field and presents a curriculum component designed to promote the human formation of young people and adults in technological training establishments in Brazil, over 18 weekly meetings of three hours each. This curriculum component was implemented and evaluated with 206 students from different technological courses by means of pre-and post-testing with a questionnaire, using a Likert technique, drawn up especially for this research study. It is designed to gauge (a) the understanding of relationships and emotions, (b) the understanding and cultivation of the virtues, and (c) the predisposition to take responsible decisions and actions. The results showed a statistically significant difference in the three subscales between pre and post-testing, with the higher scores being achieved in the latter.

Despite advances in neonatology, neonatal mortality from preventable causes remains high in the North and Northeast regions of Brazil. This study aimed to analyze the determinants associated with neonatal and postneonatal mortality in newborns admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit. A cohort study was carried out in a capital in the Brazilian Northeast from 2013 to 2018. The outcome studied was death. Poisson regression was performed in the multivariate analysis of variables. Four hundred and eighty newborns were eligible, and 8.1% (39 newborns) died. Among them, 34 died in the neonatal period. The determinants that remained significantly associated with neonatal and postneonatal mortality in the final adjustment model (p < 0.05) were history of abortion, perinatal asphyxia, early neonatal sepsis and umbilical venous catheterization. All causes of this outcome were preventable. The neonatal mortality rate, although it did not include twins, neonates with malformations incompatible with life and other conditions, was 3.47 deaths per thousand live births (95% CI:1.10−8.03‰), well below the national average. In this study, pregnant women from different social classes had in common a private plan for direct access to health services, which provided them with excellent care throughout pregnancy and postnatal care. These results indicate that reducing neonatal mortality is possible through public policies with strategies that promote improvements in access to health services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Evidenciação Contábil & Finanças is the property of Revista Evidenciacao Contabil & Financas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: We carried out this work with the aim of assessing the effectiveness of a set of interventions over time for the administration of antibiotics. Design: Prospective observational study. Setting: Patients admitted to the emergency room and ICU of the hospital where the study was conducted are evaluated daily for some sociodemographic and clinical variables. Among them are some quality indicators, such as the time between the diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock until the start of the infusion of antibiotics. This indicator reflects several aspects related to a set of assistance measures (adequacy of antibiotic dispensation, rapid response team (RRT), sepsis care quality improvement program, antimicrobial management program, improvements in emergency department assistance). Patients or participants: Patients with sepsis or septic shock were admitted to the ICU of a university and public hospital in southern Brazil. Main variables of interest: The time between the diagnosis of sepsis or septic shock and the beginning of the infusion of antibiotics. Results: Between 2013 and 2018, 1676 patients were evaluated. The mean time for antibiotic infusion decreased from 6.1 ± 8.6 hours to 1.7 ± 2.9 hours (p < 0.001). The percentage of patients who received antibiotics in the first hour increased from 20.7 to 59.0% (p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this study, we demonstrated that a set of actions adopted in a large tertiary hospital was associated with decreased time to start antibiotic therapy in septic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over the last decades, enormous successes have been achieved in reducing malaria burden globally. In Latin America, South East Asia, and the Western Pacific, many countries now pursue the goal of malaria elimination by 2030. It is widely acknowledged that Plasmodium spp. infections cluster spatially so that interventions need to be spatially informed, e.g. spatially targeted reactive case detection strategies. Here, the spatial signature method is introduced as a tool to quantify the distance around an index infection within which other infections significantly cluster. Methods: Data were considered from cross-sectional surveys from Brazil, Thailand, Cambodia, and Solomon Islands, conducted between 2012 and 2018. Household locations were recorded by GPS and finger-prick blood samples from participants were tested for Plasmodium infection by PCR. Cohort studies from Brazil and Thailand with monthly sampling over a year from 2013 until 2014 were also included. The prevalence of PCR-confirmed infections was calculated at increasing distance around index infections (and growing time intervals in the cohort studies). Statistical significance was defined as prevalence outside of a 95%-quantile interval of a bootstrap null distribution after random re-allocation of locations of infections. Results: Prevalence of Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum infections was elevated in close proximity around index infections and decreased with distance in most study sites, e.g. from 21.3% at 0 km to the global study prevalence of 6.4% for P. vivax in the Cambodian survey. In the cohort studies, the clustering decreased with longer time windows. The distance from index infections to a 50% reduction of prevalence ranged from 25 m to 3175 m, tending to shorter distances at lower global study prevalence. Conclusions: The spatial signatures of P. vivax and P. falciparum infections demonstrate spatial clustering across a diverse set of study sites, quantifying the distance within which the clustering occurs. The method offers a novel tool in malaria epidemiology, potentially informing reactive intervention strategies regarding radius choices of operations around detected infections and thus strengthening malaria elimination endeavours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Enfermagem Digital Cuidado e Promoção da Saúde is the property of Revista Enfermagem Digital Cuidado e Promocao da Saude and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hand-foot syndrome (HFS), or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia, is characterised by erythema, oedema and dysesthesia, which can progress to blistering and ulceration. This condition is described as a common adverse effect of the chemotherapeutic agent capecitabine. The study set out to evaluate real-world incidences; assess severity based on clinical criteria, such as local symptoms, dyschromia, erythema, oedema and ulcerations; and associated factors, such as type of solid tumour, chemotherapy regimen, number of cycles, sex, age and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Scale of HFS, related to the use of capecitabine. This is a single-centre prospective cohort study carried out jointly by the departments of clinical oncology and dermatology of a university hospital in the southeast of Brazil. The study showed a 34% incidence of HFS, with most cases classified as mild. There was statistical significance in the correlation of the syndrome with sex and performance scores. HFS is the most common and limiting adverse reaction to capecitabine, and causes significant functional and quality impairments in patients with cancer. With this study, we have reinforced the importance of multidisciplinary assessment for early diagnosis and adequate follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Portuguese Journal of Mental Health Nursing / Revista Portuguesa de Enfermagem de Saúde Mental is the property of Portuguese Society of Mental Health Nursing and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Breast Cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide and, although 70% of patients are responsive to selective Estrogen Receptor (ER) modulators such as Tamoxifen (Tam), patients' survival is comprised by resistance to endocrine therapy. Brazilian flora, especially the Amazon biome, is one of the richest global sources of native species with potentially bioactive compounds. Arrabidaea chica is a plant native to the Amazon that has been used in the treatment of different diseases. However, its action on BC remains unclear. Methods: Herein the biological effects of the chloroform extract of A. chica (CEAC) were evaluated on BC cells and in in vivo model. After confirmation of CEAC antioxidant capacity, cells were treated with CEAC and Tam, alone and with CEAC+Tam. The cell viability was evaluated by MTT and hormone receptor transcripts levels were assessed (ESR1, ESR2 and AR). Finally, anticarcinogenicity of CEAC was recorded in Drosophila melanogaster through Epithelial Tumor Test (ETT). Results: The study confirmed the antioxidant activity of CEAC. CEAC was selective for MCF-7, downregulating ESR2 and AR transcripts and upregulating ESR2 expression. The modulatory effects of CEAC on ERs did not differ between cells treated with Tam and with CEAC+Tam. Interestingly, previous treatment with CEAC, followed by treatment with Tam promoted a significant decrease in cell viability. The extract also presented anticarcinogenic effect in in vivo assay. Conclusion: The bioassays on breast tumor cells demonstrated the antiproliferative activity of the extract, which modulated the expression of hormone receptors and sensitized luminal tumor cells to Tam. These results suggest that CEAC could be a complementary treatment for BC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: analyze the association between drug use and body dissatisfaction among adolescents in three Brazilian cities. Method: cross-sectional study, using a nested randomized controlled trial to evaluate the drug use prevention program #TamoJunto2.0 of the Ministry of Health in Brazilian schools. The sample consisted of 5,213 students from 73 schools in three Brazilian cities. The outcome body satisfaction was analyzed using the Stunkard scale and the explanatory variables were drug use and sociodemographic data. Results: the adolescents were between 12 and 14 years old; about 69.9% of them reported body dissatisfaction, and 35.67% used alcohol in the previous year. Dissatisfaction due to overweight was higher among girls (41.5%) and dissatisfaction due to underweight was higher among boys (33.1%). Adolescents who used marijuana were 39% (OR=1.39) more likely to feel dissatisfied due to underweight and being a girl increased the chances of feeling dissatisfied due to overweight by 24% (OR=1.24). Conclusion: the levels of body dissatisfaction deserve attention in hebiatric nursing care and reinforce the importance of educational strategies addressing body image and drug use, relating them to the various subjective attributes that can affect the health of adolescents, whether in the community or at school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Texto & Contexto Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pos-Graduacao de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: to analyze the spatial distribution of fetal deaths before and after implementation of surveillance for this event in the city of Recife, in the Northeast Region of Brazil. Methods: an ecological study whose spatial analysis unit was the 94 neighborhoods. The gross fetal mortality rates were calculated and the local empirical Bayesian estimator was adopted to smooth out random fluctuations of such rates. To analyze the spatial autocorrelation, the Global Moran's Index was used, and spatial clusters were located by the Local Moran's Index. Results: during the period before implementation of death surveillance, 1,356 fetal deaths were reported, a coefficient of 9.9 deaths per thousand births. During the second period, 1,325 fetal deaths occurred, a coefficient of 9.6 deaths per thousand births. The Global Moran's Indexes (I) were I=0.6 and I=0.4 for the first and second periods, respectively, with statistical significance (p<0.05). For both periods analyzed, spatial clusters of high-risk neighborhoods were identified in the northern and eastern regions of the city. Conclusion: the spatial analysis indicated areas that persist as priorities for planning surveillance and health assistance actions to reduce fetal mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Paulista de Enfermagem is the property of Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Along with other countries in America, plague reached Brazil through the sea routes during the third pandemic. A brief ports phase was followed by an urban phase that took place in smaller inland cities and finally, it attained the rural area and established several foci where the ecological conditions were suitable for its continued existence. However, the geographic dispersion of plague in Brazil is still poorly studied. To better understand the disease dynamics, we accessed satellite-based data to trace the spatial occurrence and distribution of human plague cases in Pernambuco, Northeastern Brazil and using the municipality of Exu as study case area. Along with the satellite data, a historical survey using the Plague Control Program files was applied to characterize the spatial and temporal dispersion of cases in the period of 1945–1976. Kernel density estimation, spatial and temporal clusters with statistical significance and maximum entropy modeling were used for spatial data analysis, by means of the spatial analysis software packages. The use of geostatistical tools allowed evidencing the shift of the infection from the urban to the wild-sylvatic areas and the reemergence of cases after a period of quiescence, independent of the reintroduction from other plague areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigacion & Educacion en Enfermeria is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Enfermeria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Gaucha de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Fisioterapia e Pesquisa is the property of Universidade de Sao Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Psychoactive substance use associated with tuberculosis is an urgent public health issue in the contemporary world. Objective: To characterize the profile and psychoactive substance use ofpatients undergoing tuberculosis treatment and to analyze the association between health-related variables, consumption, and treatment adherence, from the perspective of Brief Interventions (BI). Methodology: Descriptive correlational epidemiological study, with 114 patients, from 2016 to 2017. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test were used. Results: Smokers who drank alcohol (p = 0.058) and those who reported not having chronic diseases (p = 0.024) had a need to receive BI. Cannabis use was more frequent among smokers (p = 0.009). As for the frequency of treatment adherence, 40% of participants smoked, 21.1% drank alcohol, 10.5% used cannabis, and 13.7% used cocaine. Conclusion: These results demonstrated the vulnerability of this population to psychoactive substance use based on treatment adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Eletrônica de Enfermagem is the property of Revista Eletronica de Enfermagem and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this work is to investigate the interaction between the climate indices precipitation concentration degree (PCD), precipitation concentration period (PCP), and oceanic patterns associated with drought disasters in the Northeast of Brazil (NEB). The average values of drought disasters were situated at the semi-arid zone, while the hotspots between 95 and 99% of significance were more centralized, particularly in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, and Pernambuco, where significant areas were located. The PCD patterns showed that precipitation was concentrated in the north of this region and the wettest quarter happened from February to April, in accordance with PCP patterns. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) A showed evidence of the variability of PDC and PCP in relation to the well-known variability modes of the oceans. However, only two areas of NEB presented statistical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Northeast Brazil's semiarid region is characterized by water deficit. However, little is known about the trends in joint water loss by evaporation and transpiration (evapotranspiration) in the region. Thus, this study aimed to analyze indications on the linear trend of reference evapotranspiration (ET0) in the monthly, annual, and interdecadal scales in irrigated agricultural areas in the microregions of Juazeiro, Bahia State (9° 24' S; 40° 26' W and 375.5 m), and Petrolina, Pernambuco State (09° 09' S, 40° 22' W, and 376 m). For this purpose, we used a set of daily meteorological data, collected from January 1, 1976, to December 31, 2014. Daily ET0 values were estimated by the FAO's Penman-Monteith equation (ET0PM). The main statistical tests used were the nonparametric Mann-Kendall test, the Sen test to detect the magnitude of the trend, and the Pettitt test to detect the start of the trend. For all tests, statistical significance was 5% and/or 1%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also applied to identify significant differences between the mean interdecadal values for each season. The results showed a significant decreasing trend for ET0 in both Juazeiro (α = 5%) and Petrolina (α = 1%), with declines of 14.5 mm/year (Juazeiro) and 7.7 mm/year (Petrolina) and that this trend started in 1996. Probably, the ET0 decrease was associated with the increase in the irrigated agricultural areas, and the lake formed upstream from the areas by the construction of Sobradinho Dam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the MD (marginal discrepancy) on the calcinable copings in abutments for cemented prostheses with three luting agents. Methods. Sixty-four analogs of CeraOne-type abutments (NACONIH code, Titanium Fix Implant Sytem SP, Brazil) were divided into four groups (n = 16). The copings were cast and placed on the CeraOne abutment analogs and cemented with eugenol-free zinc oxide (EfZO) (n = 16), with glass ionomer (GI) (n = 16), and with zinc phosphate (ZP) (n = 16), and as a control group, there were CeraOne plastic copings (NACOC code, Titanium Fix Implant Sytem SP, Brazil) (n = 16) which were not cemented with any material. After 24 hours, the MD of the four groups was measured. MD was evaluated using a stereoscopic microscope (Leica EZ4 W, Leica Microsystems, Germany) with an increase of ×100. MD was measured at four predetermined and equidistant sites with respect to the marginal line of the cast adaptation. The measurement was made from the distance between the free edge of the cast cylinder and the margin of preparation of the titanium abutment, with a level of statistical significance of p<0.05. Results. Of the three fixing agents, the ZP was found to have the highest MD (53.59 ± 14.21 μm); however, the lowest MD (41.72 ± 9.10 μm) was found in the GI group. These differences are statistically significant at p<0.001. Conclusions. In summary, according to our results, it was found that ZP cement showed the highest MD after cementation, followed by the glass ionomer, while EfZO showed the lowest MD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol is an easily accessible legal drug, widely used, and considered a public health problem worldwide. Therefore, there is a growing concern with this consumption among employees of educational institutions. Objective: To identify the pattern of consumption of alcohol among employees of a public university. Methodology: A cross-sectional study. Fifty-three online questionnaires were applied to administrative technicians and lecturers of a public university in northern Brazil, evaluated through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test were used, with a p-value of ≤ 0.05 to test the level of significance of the variables and the AUDIT score. Results: Among the participants, 68% have a low-risk use or do not consume alcohol, 24% present a risky use, 2% harmful consumption, and 6% probable dependence. Only the children variable showed a statistical association with the problematic use of alcohol. Conclusion: The results suggest a problematic consumption of alcohol in a significant portion of the sample studied, resulting in the need for the implementation of brief interventions in the population studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to characterize and determine the polypharmacy prevalence in patients with chronic diseases and to identify the factors associated, in order to improvement of pharmaceutical care focused on patient safety. Methods: cross-sectional study included 558 patients, covered by primary health care, using a household and structured questionnaire. We analyzed the data on polypharmacy and its clinical and socioeconomic factors. Poisson regression analysis with robust variance was applied, with results expressed in prevalence ratio. Results: the results showed that polypharmacy (consumption of four or more drugs) was of 37.6%. The prevalence ratio analyses identified independent variables associated with polypharmacy: age (3.05), economic strata (0.33), way of medication acquisition through a combination of out-ofpocket and Brazilian public health system (1.44), diabetes and hypertension (2.11), comorbidities (coronary artery disease 2.26) and hospital admission (1.73). In the analyses, inappropriate medication use of the 278 patients (≥ 65 years) was associated with polypharmacy (prevalence ratio 4.04). Conclusion: polypharmacy study becomes an opportunity to guide the strategies for the patient safety to promote the medication without harm in chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question Does an educational program with instructions for performing ‘the Knack’ improve voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, reduce reports of urinary incontinence, improve sexual function, and promote women’s knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles? Design Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessors. Participants Ninety-nine women from the local community. Intervention The experimental group (n = 50) received one lecture per week for 4 weeks, and instructions for performing ‘the Knack’. The control group (n = 49) received no intervention. Outcome measures The primary outcome was maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles measured using manometry. Secondary outcomes were: ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles measured using vaginal palpation; severity of urinary incontinence measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) scored from 0 to 21; self-reported sexual function; and knowledge related to the pelvic floor. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results The intervention did not significantly improve: maximum voluntary contraction (MD 2.7 cmH 2 O higher in the experimental group, 95% CI –0.5 to 5.9); ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.49 to 9.65); or self-reported severity of urinary incontinence (MD 1 point greater reduction in the experimental group, 95% CI –3 to 1). Sexual function did not significantly differ between groups, but very few of the women engaged in sexual activity during the study period. The educational program did, however, significantly increase women’s knowledge related to the location, functions and dysfunctions of the pelvic floor muscles, and treatment options. Conclusion Education and teaching women to perform ‘the Knack’ had no significant effect on voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, urinary incontinence or sexual function, but it promoted women’s knowledge about the pelvic floor. Trial registration Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-95sxqv. [de Andrade RL, Bø K, Antonio FI, Driusso P, Mateus-Vasconcelos ECL, Ramos S, Julio MP, Ferreira CHJ (2018) An education program about pelvic floor muscles improved women’s knowledge but not pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence or sexual function: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 64: 91–96] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to investigate the associations of preoperative anxiety and depression symptoms with postoperative complications and with sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients submitted to the first coronary artery bypass graft. Method: observational, analytical and longitudinal study. A consecutive non-probabilistic sample consisted of patients submitted to coronary artery bypass graft. To evaluate the symptoms, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used. tracheal intubation for more than 48 hours, hemodynamic instability, sensorineural deficit, agitation, hyperglycemia, infection, nausea, vomiting, pain and death were classified as complications. The Mann-Whitney and Spearman Correlation tests were used, with a significance level of 0.05. Results: a total of 75 patients participated. The group that presented hemodynamic instability in the postoperative period had a greater median for the anxiety symptoms (p = 0.012), as well as the women (p = 0.028). The median of the depression symptoms was higher in the group presenting nausea (p = 0.002), agitation (p <0.001), tracheal intubation for more than 48 hours (p = 0.018) and sensorineural deficit (p = 0.016). Conclusion: there was association of the symptoms of preoperative anxiety with hemodynamic instability in the postoperative period and with the female gender, as well as association of depression symptoms with the following complications: nausea, agitation, time of intubation in the postoperative period and sensorineural deficit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Question Among women in labour, does sequential application of non-pharmacological interventions relieve labour pain, shorten labour, and delay pharmacological analgesia use? Design Randomised trial with concealed allocation, assessor blinding, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants Eighty women admitted in labour at the end of a low-risk pregnancy. Intervention Participants in the experimental group received three interventions for up to 40 minutes each in particular stages of labour: exercise on a Swiss ball at 4 to 5 cm of cervical dilation; lumbosacral massage at 5 to 6 cm dilation; and a warm shower at >7 cm dilation. Participants in the control group received usual maternity unit care. Participants in both groups were encouraged to try not to avoid or delay use of pharmacological analgesia. Outcome measures Pain severity was reported on a visual analogue scale. Maternal and neonatal data were collected from official birth records. Satisfaction with care was recorded with a questionnaire. Results Some participants took analgesic medication before the study was complete, so pain was analysed with a last observation carried forward approach. In this analysis, the experimental group had significantly lower pain severity immediately after: exercises (MD 24 mm, 95% CI 15 to 34), massage (14 mm, 95% CI 4 to 25), and showering (17 mm, 95% CI 5 to 29), which allowed delayed and reduced use of analgesic medication. Other significant benefits included: faster expulsion (MD 18 minutes, 95% CI 5 to 30), improved neonatal status, and higher maternal satisfaction. No adverse effects were identified. Conclusion This sequence of non-pharmacological interventions significantly reduced labour pain from 4 cm to beyond 7 cm of cervical dilation, as reflected in decreased and delayed use of analgesic medication. Women in labour could be encouraged to use these interventions, especially if they seek to minimise or delay use of analgesic medication. Trial registration NCT01389128. [Gallo RBS, Santana LS, Marcolin AC, Duarte G, Quintana SM (2018) Sequential application of non-pharmacological interventions reduces the severity of labour pain, delays use of pharmacological analgesia, and improves some obstetric outcomes: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 64: 33–40] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent evidence suggests that vitamin D deficiency is associated with CVD, impaired kidney function and proteinuria. To date, no study has evaluated these associations in renal transplant recipients (RTR) adjusting for body adiposity assessed by a ‘gold standard’ method. This study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status and its association with body adiposity, CVD risk factors, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and proteinuria in RTR, living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (a low-latitude city (22°54'10"S)), taking into account body adiposity evaluated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). This cross-sectional study included 195 RTR (114 men) aged 47·6 (sd 11·2) years. Nutritional evaluation included anthropometry and DXA. Risk factors for CVD were hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemia and the metabolic syndrome. eGFR was evaluated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration was used to define vitamin D status as follows: 10 % (n 19) had vitamin D deficiency (<16 ng/ml), 43 % (n 85) had insufficiency (16–30 ng/ml) and 47 % (n 91) had sufficiency (>30 ng/ml). Percentage of body fat (DXA) was significantly associated with vitamin D deficiency independently of age, sex and eGFR. Lower 25(OH)D was associated with higher odds of the metabolic syndrome and dyslipidaemia after adjustment for age, sex and eGFR, but not after additional adjustment for body fat. Hypertension and diabetes were not related to 25(OH)D. Lower serum 25(OH)D was associated with increasing proteinuria and decreasing eGFR even after adjustments for age, sex and percentage of body fat. This study suggests that in RTR of a low-latitude city hypovitaminosis D is common, and is associated with excessive body fat, decreased eGFR and increased proteinuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Therapeutic high-frequency ultrasound, microcurrent, and a combination of the two have been used as potential interventions in the soft tissue healing process, but little is known about their effect on the immune system. Objective: To evaluate the effects of therapeutic high frequency ultrasound, microcurrent, and the combined therapy of the two on the size of the wound area, peritoneal macrophage function, CD4+ and CD8+, T lymphocyte populations, and plasma concentration of interleukins (ILs). Method: Sixty-five Wistar rats were randomized into five groups, as follows: uninjured control (C, group 1), lesion and no treatment (L, group 2), lesion treated with ultrasound (LU, group 3), lesion treated with microcurrent (LM, group 4), and lesion treated with combined therapy (LUM, group 5). For groups 3,4 and 5, treatment was initiated 24 hours after surgery under anesthesia and each group was allocated into three different subgroups (n=5) to allow for the use of the different therapy resources at on days 3, 7 and 14 Photoplanimetry was performed daily. After euthanasia, blood was collected for immune analysis. Results: Ultrasound increased the phagocytic capacity and the production of nitric oxide by macrophages and induced the reduction of CD4+ cells, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and the plasma concentration of IL-1β. Microcurrent and combined therapy decreased the production of superoxide anion, nitric oxide, CD4+-positive cells, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio, and IL-1β concentration. Conclusions: Therapeutic high-frequency ultrasound, microcurrent, and combined therapy changed the activity of the innate and adaptive immune system during healing process but did not accelerate the closure of the wound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The heart rate variability (HRV) and surface electromyography (sEMG) are important tools in the evaluation of cardiac autonomic system and neuromuscular parameters, respectively. The aim of the study was to evaluate the behavior of HRV and sEMG of the vastus lateralis in two exercise protocols on a cycle ergometer at 60 and 80 rpm. Eight healthy men cyclists who have trained for at least two years were evaluated. Reduction was observed followed by stabilization of RMSSD and SDNN indices of HRV (p<0.05) along with increases in the amplitude of the sEMG signal (p<0.05) in both protocols. Significant correlations were observed between the responses of HRV and sEMG in the cadence of 60 rpm (RMSSD and sEMG: r = -0.42, p=0.03; SDNN and sEMG: r = -0.45, p=0.01) and 80 rpm (RMSSD and sEMG: r = -0.47, p=0.02; SDNN and sEMG: r = -0.49, p=0.01), yet no difference was observed for these variables between the two protocols. We concluded that the parasympathetic cardiac responses and sEMG are independent of cadences applied at the same power output. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of study were to analyze the relationship between muscle mass and anthropometric parameters in elderly women and to develop a mathematical model to predict muscle mass based on anthropometric parameters. The study included 63 elderly women (71.4 ± 4.4 years). Body weight, height, arm, waist, hip and calf circumferences were measured. Muscle mass was estimated using a densitometry. The muscle mass index was calculated using the equation (muscle mass index = muscle mass [kg] / height [m]²). A significant correlation was found between muscle mass and body weight (r = 0.782), arm (r=0.688), waist (r=0.467), hip (r=0.629) and calf circumferences (r=0.592) withp<0.05 for all. Regression analysis indicated that body mass and calf circumference were independent predictors of muscle mass (r=0.81, r²=0.65, F=55.7). The prediction model obtained was muscle mass (kg) =-0.543 + (0.162 x body mass) + (0.151 x calf circumference). No differences were observed between the amount of muscle mass and muscle mass index estimated by densitometry and by equation (p>0.05). The results of this study indicated that body mass, body mass index, arm, waist, hip and calf circumferences are related to muscle mass elderly women. The muscle mass can be adequately predicted based on data from body mass and calf circumference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate a based on games teaching systematization of soccer for young players. The study was realized at a soccer school of a professional soccer club cited in São Paulo state - Brazil. It has 16 volunteers, who underwent 37 lessons organized into three different modules, with specific content. The analysis regarding the evolution of the participant's learning was based on tactical assessment system called FUT-SAT. This instrument considers the tactical action performed, the location of the occurrence, as well as its practical outcome, generating a Tactical Performance Index (IPT), and a number of Tactical Actions (NAT) for each player analyzed. To evaluate and compare the development of tactical learning of the participants, four tests were performed, one as a control function, during the first class, and the other three during the last class of each teaching module. Comparing the mean values of the offensive, defensive and game IPT obtained in 1th recording, named pre -intervention, with the values of the 4th recording, or post-intervention, there was a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05). From the data obtained, the systematization of teaching proposed in this study provided an opportunity significant positive development in learning tactical players involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to verify the factorial and internal validity of the Brazilian version of Exercise Motivation Inventory-2 (EMI-2) and compare the main reasons for exercise training considering the contexts of health clubs and personal training. A total of 588 exercisers of Pelotas city / RS / Brazil (405 from health clubs and 183 from personal training) filled the EMI-2, which consists of 51 items grouped into 14 motives (factors) for exercise. The factorial validity of the EMI-2 was tested by conducting confirmatory factorial analyzes and the internal validity by computing Cronbach's alpha. To verify the effect of the context on the motives it was used the MANOVA test and calculated the effect-size. The results obtained support the EMI-2 original structure of 14 factors in this sample. There was a significant mul-tivariate effect of the context on the motives for exercising [Wilks' λ = 0.912, F(14, 573.000) = 3.9, p < 0.001, η² = 0.088]. The motives of "Pleasure", "Strength and Endurance", "Challenge", "Socialization", "Competition" and "Social Recognition" were significantly higher in the context of health clubs and the motives of "Agility" and "Prevention of Diseases" were significantly higher in the context of personal training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol extract and fractions obtained from leaves of Solanum lycocarpum were examined in order to determine their phenolic composition, antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic potential. High performance liquid chromatography coupled with DAD analysis indicated that the flavonoids apigenin and kaempferol were the main phenolic compounds present in dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively The antioxidant activity was significantly more pronounced for dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and hydroethanol fractions than that of the commercial antioxidant 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol. The hexane and dichloromethane fractions were more active against the tested bacteria. The hydroethanol fraction exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity at the dose of 75 and 150 mg/kg in the later phase of inflammation. However, the antiedematogenic effect of the higher dose of the ethyl acetate fraction (150 mg/kg) was more pronounced. The ethyl acetate fraction also presented a less cytotoxic effect than the ethanol extract and other fractions. These activities found in S. lycocarpum leaves can be attributed, at least in part, to the presence of phenolic constituents such as flavonoids. This work provided the knowledge of phenolic composition in the extract and fractions and the antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities of leaves of S. lycocarpum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of topical retinoids to treat skin disorders and ageing can induce local reactions, while oral retinoids are potent teratogens and produce several unwanted effects. This way, efforts to explore complementary care resources should be supported. Based on this, we evaluate the antiageing effects of a supercritical CO2 extract from Bidens pilosa L. (BPE-CO2A) containing a standardized multicomponent mixture of phytol, linolenic, palmitic, linoleic, and oleic acids. BPE-CO2A was assessed for its effects on human dermal fibroblasts (TGF-β1 and FGF levels using ELISA; collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan by colorimetric assays, and mRNA expression of RXR, RAR, and EGFr by qRT-PCR) and human skin fragments (RAR, RXR, collagen, elastin, and glycosaminoglycan by immunohistochemical analysis). Levels of extracellular matrix elements, TGF-β1 and FGF, and EGFr gene expression were significantly increased by BPE-CO2A. The modulation of RXR and RAR was positively demonstrated after the treatment with BPE-CO2A or phytol, a component of BPE-CO2A. The effects produced by BPE-CO2A were similar to or better than those produced by retinol and retinoic acid. The ability to stimulate extracellular matrix elements, increase growth factors, and modulate retinoid and rexinoid receptors provides a basis for the development of preparation containing BPE-CO2A as an antiageing/skin-repair agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between physical activity (PA) and total body (BLM), leg (LLM) and arm lean mass (ALM) in menopausal women. Sixty two 62 menopausal women were included (61.2±7.6 years). Their practice of PA was assessed by Actigraph GT3X accelerometer, and is reported as minutes per week of light or moderate-vigorous PA, and total PA. The sample was dichotomized into two groups according to their weekly practice of PA moderate-vigorous; physically active (≥150 minutes) and insufficiently active (<150 minutes). Body composition measures were assessed by DXA and were reported as percentages. Comparisons between the groups of PA and total and segmentai lean body mass were performed by independent t test. Association between the tertile of BLM and the groups of PA were performed by chi-square test. Physically active women showed significantly higher mean values for BLM (52.8±5.4 vs 49.8±4.7; p=0.028) and LLM (17.1 ±2.2 vs 15.9±1.8; p=0.026), whereas the difference in the ALM was not significant. When the BLM was categorized into tertiles, it was significantly greater in physically active women (higher tertile=44.7%), compared with the insufficiently active women (higher tertile = 16.7%). Menopausal women who spent more minutes engaged in moderate-vigorous PA can showed higher BLM and LLM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the effects of an educational self-care program of spine in the control of pain and disability in actives older adults with chronic non-specific low back pain (LBP). They were divided in an experimental group (EG n = 17) and a control group (CG n = 13). The intervention consisted of delivering an educational booklet and also attending a workshop. Dependent variables were: 1. pain intensity (EVN), 2. functional capacity related to LBP (RMQ), 3. amount of pain points, 4. medication for LBP, 5. frequency of medication for LBP. There was evaluation pre and after 1 month of the first evaluation. The intragroup evaluation was observed in EG significant reduction of all parameters (all p < 0.05) was not observed in CG. Regarding the analysis between groups showed significant improvement with moderate to large effect sizes in EG to EVN (p=0.003, TE=0.53), RMQ (p=0.037, TE=0.38) and pain points (p=0.006, TE=0.49). The results highlight the booklet as a useful tool, capable of generating independence in the self-care for active older adults with chronic LBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of flaxseed on choroid–sclera complex thickness and on LDL oxidation in the sclera, choroid and retina of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits. New Zealand male albino rabbits (n 21) were divided into two groups: group 1 (G1; n 11), fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet, and group 2 (G2; n 10), fed a hypercholesterolaemic diet enriched with flaxseed flour. The serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol, TAG and fasting blood glucose were determined at the start of the experiment and on the day of killing (8th week). Choroid and sclera samples were subjected to haematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses with the anti-oxidised LDL antibody. Sensory retina samples were subjected to an immunohistochemical analysis with the primary monoclonal nitrotyrosine antibody. At the end of the experiment, a significant increase was observed in TC and LDL-C concentrations in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P= 0·008 and P= 0·02, respectively). HE staining revealed a significant increase in choroid–sclera complex thickness in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P< 0·001). Immunohistochemical analysis of choroid and sclera samples with the anti-oxidised LDL marker revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P< 0·001). Immunohistochemical analysis of sensory retina samples with the anti-nitrotyrosine marker revealed a significant increase in immunoreactivity in G1 rabbits when compared with G2 rabbits (P= 0·002). Flaxseed reduced the choroid–sclera complex thickness of diet-induced hypercholesterolaemic rabbits and the expression of oxidised LDL in the choroid–sclera complex as well as the expression of nitrotyrosine in the sensory retina. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This study analyzed the body composition and bone mineral density of elite Brazilian soccer players and compared its differences according to the player position. Eighty-two soccer players competing at Brazilian first division were split according to their field positions: Goalkeepers (GK, n= 10), Backfielders (BF, n= 10), Lateral-midfielders (LM, n= 15), Central-midfielders (CM, n= 25), Forwards (FW, n= 22), and a Control Group (CG, n= 72) of university students. To estimate fat free mass (FFM), fat mass (FM), percentage of body fat (%FM), fat free mass of legs (FFM-Legs) and bone mineral density (BMD), a DEXA was selected. The positions LM (10.5 ± 5.2), CM (9.7 ± 4.0) and FW (9.9 ± 4.4) had lower values of FM and %FM than the GK (17.3 ± 6.0) and the control group (15.0 ± 5.3). Compared to the other positions, FFM was higher in the GK (68.2 ± 10.9) and BF (64.6 ± 6.8) (p< 0.05). All the soccer players were different from the CG (p< 0.05). Soccer players have an FFM, FFM-Legs and BMD significantly higher and FM and %FM lower than the control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) are geriatric conditions well known to be associated with negative outcomes in the elderly. However, its association with functional capacity needs to be further investigated. The purpose of the study was to verify the association among muscle strength, sarcopenia and SO with functional performance in older women. 137 women (67.76±5.67 years; 64.63±10.79 kg; 154.13±0.06 cm) underwent body composition evaluation through DXA. Functional performance was evaluated by tests as chair stand, Timed Up & Go, Arm Curl, and 6-Minute Walk. Muscle strength was evaluated with isokinetic dynamometry and hand grip strength. The prevalence of sarcopenia and SO were 13.9% and 23.4%, respectively. None of the functional variables differed according to sarcopenia classifications. Although volunteers classified as SO presented higher body fat percentage and lower fat-free mass, there was no difference compared to the functional tests. Conversely, both muscle strength measurements (i.e., knee extensors isokinetic and hand grip) were significantly associated to the functional tests. In summary, there was no association between the evaluated classifications of sarcopenia and SO with functional capacity. Nevertheless, muscle strength presented a significant and positive relationship with the functional tests in older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to verify the association between anthropometric parameters and aerobic fitness with vascular reactivity of blood pressure (VRBP) at healthy male subjects. It was assessed in forty apparently healthy male (27.3 ± 6.3 years; 77.2 ± 11.5 kg; 175.7 ± 6.9 cm) the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-rip ratio (WRR), body fat (%BF), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max) and a VR test of BP (Cold Pressor Test - CPT) with immersion of hand in the water (4º Celsius during 1 min). There was no association between aerobic fitness (VO2max below or above of mean and relationship test) and VRBP (p> 0.05). Anthropometric indicators as BMI (r= 0.31 / 0.54), WC (r= 0.30 / 0.49), WRR (r= 0.30 / 0.36) and %BF (r= 0.31 / 0.35) showed positive relationships with VRBP (p< 0.05). However, only WC during the CPT (β= 0.30 / 0.43) and BMI after the CPT (β= 0.54 / 0.81) were predictors of VRBP (p≤ 0.05). We conclude that anthropometric indicators showed independents relationships with VRBP. Nevertheless, only the WC (during) and BMI (after) were significant predictors of VRBP, suggesting that body adiposity, independent of aerobic fitness, have an important role as a cardiovascular risk factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze the effects of remobilization by means of physical exercise on bone tissue in rats and elderly adults. A total of 80 male Wistar rats were split into two groups, aged five months to 15 months for adults and elderly; each one was further split into 4 subgroups: control (G1 and G5), immobilized groups (G2 and G6), remobilized groups free (G3 and G7), remobilized groups through exercise (G4 and G8). The immobilized groups were euthanized immediately after removal of immobilization, which lasted for 14 days. The remobilized groups remained free for seven days in collective cages after removal immobilization, followed by euthanasia. The exercise groups underwent swimming for 25 min/day during 7 days and then were euthanized. It was observed that groups remobilized G3/G7 and G4/G8, had an increase in bone mass compared to the G1/G5 and G2/G6. With respect to mechanical analysis, in the adult group was statistically significance when compared G2 and G3. The immobilization process caused a reduction in the bone mineral density, likewise reducing their mechanical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance is the property of Brazilian Journal of Kineanthropometry & Human Performance and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: to compare the ability and performance of Basic Activities of Daily Living of dependent elderly individuals cared for in a geriatric healthcare center. Method: cross-sectional, observational study with quantitative approach. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) was applied in 109 elderly individuals cared for in a geriatric healthcare center. Of these, 60 individuals were classified as dependent in the case of basic activities of daily living described according to the International Classification of Functionality, Disability and Health (ICF). The process of triangulation reinforced reliability of data, which included information provided by patients and caregivers and that contained in medical files and objective assessment. Results: the average age was 81.0±7.1 with a predominance of women. The difference between ability and performance was statistically significant (p<0.05) in most daily tasks. Conclusion: the contribution of this study in using ICF was semi-quantitatively interpreting its qualifiers, which enabled more objective comparisons and inferences, and revealed a clear distance between the performance and ability of these individuals in most of the assessed activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: this study aimed to analyze the interaction of gender in the association between decision time for seeking healthcare services and the sociodemographic and clinical variables. Method: this exploratory, cross-sectional study was performed with 100 individuals interviewed in hospitals in Salvador, Bahia. The chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and the robust linear regression model were used in the analysis. A statistical significance of 5% was adopted. Results: men and women presented long decision times. The decision time was less for smokers and those with constant and/or severe pain. There was an interaction between gender and smoking and between gender and pain radiating to the neck or jaw for the decision time outcome. Conclusion: decision times were long and were influenced by clinical and gender variables. The study provides support for nursing care practices focused on the specificity of these factors and of the genders aiming to reduce the decision time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]