Comunidades zooplanctônicas como bioindicadoras da qualidade da água de quatro reservatórios da região semi-árida do Rio Grande do Norte

The response of zooplankton assemblages to variations in the water quality of four man-made lakes, caused by eutrophication and siltation, was investigated by means of canonical correspondence analysis. Monte Carlo simulations using the CCA eingenvalues as test statistics revealed that changes in zooplankton species composition along the environmental gradients of trophic state and abiogenic turbidity were highly significant. The species Brachionus calyciflorus, Thermocyclops sp. and Argyrodiaptomus sp. were good indicators of eutrophic conditions while the species Brachionus dolabratus, Keratella tropica and Hexarthra sp. were good indicators of high turbidity due to suspended sediments. The rotifer genus Brachionus was the most species-rich taxon, comprising five species which were associated with different environmental conditions. Therefore, we tested whether this genus alone could potentially be a better biological indicator of these environmental gradients than the entire zooplankton assemblages or any other random set of five species. The ordination results show that the five Brachionus species alone did not explain better the observed pattern of environmental variation than most random sets of five species. Therefore, this genus could not be selected as a target taxon for more intensive environmental monitoring as has been previously suggested by Attayde and Bozelli (1998). Overall, our results show that changes in the water quality of man-made lakes in a tropical semi-arid region have significant effects on the structure of zooplankton assemblages that can potentially affect the functioning of these ecosystems

Estretégias de acasalamento e qualidade do espermatóforo em heliconius (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae)

Butterflies are insects known, in a variety of environments and for easy visual identification. The adult form may be frequently found in flowers looking for nectar. However, for many species of Heliconius (Lepidoptera, Nymphalidae) to visit the flower also represents the collecting of pollen, an important source of protein for adults. The protein obtained from the pollen allows the maintenance of physiological processes that increase the performance of the individual, promoting greater longevity and egg production. For males, proteins can also be part in your investment in reproductive success and fitness of offspring through a nutritional contribution that is transferred to the female in the act of mating as a nuptial present. It is known that this protein contains essential to the performance of the female oviposition, however the proportion of content and specific importance to the monogamous and polygamous species is not known yet. Whereas the species studied in this work have different patterns of mating in the strategy was to verify a significant difference in the quality of the spermatophore, and H. erato and H. melpomene, on the amount of protein present in this structure, indicating a difference in investment between the male reproductive strategies

Térmitas como bioindicadores de qualidade de habitat na caatinga, Brasil: há uma sintonia entre as variáveis estruturais dos habitats e as taxocenoses amostradas?

The composition of termite assemblages was analyzed at three Caatinga sites of the Seridó Ecological Station, located in the municipality of Serra Negra do Norte, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. These sites have been subjected to selective logging, and cleared for pasture and farming. A standardized sampling protocol for termite assemblages (30h/person/site) was conducted between September 2007 and February 2009. At each site we measured environmental variables, such as soil granulometry, pH and organic matter, necromass stock, vegetation height, tree density, stem diameter at ankle height (DAH) and the largest and the smallest crown width. Ten species of termites, belonging to eight genera and three families, were found at the three experimental sites. Four feeding-groups were sampled: wood-feeders, soil-feeders, wood-soil interface feeders and leaf-feeders. The wood-feeders were dominant in number of species and number of encounters at all sites. In general, the sites were not significantly different in relation to the environmental variables measured. The same pattern was observed for termite assemblages, where no significant differences in species richness, relative abundance and taxonomic and functional composition were observed between the three sites. The agreement between the composition of assemblages and environmental variables reinforces the potential of termites as biological indicators of habitat quality

Corpo e Velhice: um estudo da qualidade de vida de idosos da Vila Vicentina Júlia Freire em João Pessoa

The aim of this study was to follow the daily routine of elderly individuals residing at the Vila Vicentina Júlia Freire (VVJF) nursing home in João Pessoa, Brazil, observing and analyzing as much as possible, the way in which they live in a group and how they deal, through personal experiences, with their own body image and with that of others. The results were obtained from information considered relevant, according to the perspectives of the residents themselves, contained in narratives of their history and related to their quality of life. Our interest lays in how they coped with changes in their bodies at old age and adapted to the challenges of this new phase. To obtain this information, with significant expressions, we used the Narrative Interview (NI) as a research tool in order to redeem their life experience and develop an understanding of their impressions about the life experience at the current nursing home. We selected, among the housed, ten subjects - actors - to appear as a sample of the group together. The design of our sample had a hybrid model, combining two types: random sample (probability) and an intentional sample (not probability). After recording transcripts and ensuring that all the subjects showed common interests that were relevant to the group, we chose three categories for analysis as follows: a. the elderly as seen by themselves and by others; b. religiosity as a moral factor; c. intimacy and relationships. Our choice was based on the importance of the theme as a multidisciplinary topic in the quality of life of populations. The subjects, chosen as spokespersons for the VVJF, spoke, among other things, about the way in which they viewed the world, their own body and how they experienced the environment and their fellow residents, in an attitude of reflection and criticism that confirms the lucidity of an old age conditioned to an elderly institution. The method allowed us to investigate our subjects from a multidisciplinary point of view. We suggest other studies in assorted areas of the human sciences, having as principle, man at the center of all our scientific questionings. The paradigm that the elder is, necessarily, unhappy in his sheltered has been, in this job, broken through the testimonies collected, establishing multiple perspectives of the analyzed subjects by their respective narrative records. Involving the participation of researchers with major in Administration, Communication and Law, this study filled, in this aspect, the requirements of the multidisciplinarity of the Program of Pos-Graduation in Health Science

Caracteristicas sodiodemogáficas, ocupacionais e de saúde na avaliação da qualidade de vida de professores da rede municipal de Natal/RN

Objetivo: Analisar as características sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e de saúde clínica/comportamental, e o impacto desses fatores na avaliação da qualidade de vida de professores da rede municipal de Natal/RN. Métodos: Estudo descritivo-analítico com corte transversal e amostra de 242 docentes. Foram utilizados os questionários Whoqol-breve e nórdico, além de questões referentes ao trabalho do Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Os dados foram submetidos à análise estatística com nível de significância p<0,05, sendo utilizada a regressão logística binária, para análise de fatores hierarquicamente agrupados. Resultados: O domínio físico apresentou maior comprometimento entre os professores com trabalho de alta exigência (p=0,043), com mais de 02 diagnósticos de doenças (p < 0,001), atividade física inadequada (p= 0,001) e com sintomas osteomusculares (p=0.025); o domínio psicológico entre os docentes com trabalho de alta exigência (p=0,043), com carga horária maior que 28 horas semanais (p=0,034), com mais de 02 doenças (p=0,012) e que praticavam atividade física inadequadamente (p< 0,001); o de relações sociais com tempo de trabalho inferior/igual a 18 anos (p=0,036) e que residiam em bairro diferente do que trabalhavam (p=0,027); e, por último, o domínio meio ambiente apresentou maior comprometimento entre os docentes com carga horária superior a 28 horas semanais (p=0,025), que exerciam a atividade com tempo inferior/igual a 18 anos (p=0,013) e com sintomas osteomusculares (p= 0,002). Conclusões: Os professores apresentaram uma avaliação comprometida da qualidade de vida e do seu estado de saúde, tendo as atividades laborais desenvolvidas por esse grupo de trabalhadores um impacto importante sobre os resultados demonstrados. Tais achados podem comprometer a efetivação da proposta das escolas promotora de saúde

Modificações introduzidas pelos treinamentos cardiopulmonar e neuromuscular nos níveis séricos basais de fatores de crescimento insulina símile i (igf-1), cortisol, autonomia funcional e qualidade de vida de mulheres idosas

Changes introduced by cardiopulmonar and neuromuscular training on basal serum insulin-like grow factor-1 (IGF-1) and cortisol levels, functional autonomy and quality of life in elderly women The aim of this study was to compare the effects of strength and aerobic training on basal serum IGF-1 and Cortisol levels, functional autonomy (FA) and quality of life (QoL) in elderly women after 12 weeks of training. The subjects were submitted the strength training (75-85% 1-RM) with weight exercises (SG; n=12; age=66.08 ± 3,37 years; BMI=26,77 ± 3,72 kg/m2), aerobic training with aquatic exercises (AG; n=13; age=68,69 ± 4,70 years; BMI=29,19 ± 2,96 kg/m2) and control group (CG; n=10; age=68,80 ± 5,41 years; BMI=29,70 ± 2,82 kg/m2). Fasting blood was analyzed to measure basal IGF-1 and cortisol levels by chemiluminescence method. The t-Student test showed increased IGF-1 in the SG (p<0.05) for intragroup comparison. The Repeated-measure ANOVA presented increased IGF-1 (p<0.05) in the SG compared to the other two groups. There were no differences in cortisol levels. All the FA tests (GDLAM autonomy protocol) presented decreased significant in the time marked in seconds to the SG. The same results were found in the AG, except in the rise from a sitting position test. The autonomy index presented significant improvements (p<0.05) in the SG related to the AG and CG and in the AG to the CG. The SG showed increased QoL (p<0.05) (by WHOQOL-Old questionnaire) in the facet 1 (sensorial functioning) and facet 5 (death and dying). Thus, the SG obtained positive changes on IGF-1 and FA levels when compared to the AG. This suggests that strength training can indicated to decrease the effects of ageing.

Tradução, adaptação e validação da versão brasileira do questionário utian quality of life (uqol) para avaliação da qualidade de vida no climatério

The present study had as objective translates, to do equivalence and validation of the Utian Quality of Life (UQOL) for the Brazilian population through methods internationally accepted, in which the original questionnaire was translated for the Portuguese by three teachers and the consensual version was translated back for English by two American teachers (back translation). A multidisciplinary committee evaluated all versions and the final version in Portuguese was applied to climacteric women for the process of adaptation. Validation of the instrument was performed by measuring the reliability and validity properties. Construct validity was examined through the comparison between UQOL and the general measuring scale of quality of life Short Form-36 (SF-36). The final version of translation process was easily recognized by the target population, that didn't tell understanding problems. The results obtained for the reliability intra and interobserver showed significant agreement in all of the subjects. The construct validity was obtained through correlations statistically significant among the domains occupational, health and emotional of UQOL with the SF-36 domains. For the exploratory factorial analysis, it was verified that three factors explain 60% of the total variance of the data, the present study allowed concluding that UQOL was appropriately translated and adapted for applicability in Brazil, presenting high reliability and validity. In that way, the executed project provided the involvement of different areas as gynecology, psychology and physiotherapy (interdisciplinary). Thus, this instrument can be included and used in Brazilian studies to assessment the quality of life during the climacteric years

Avaliação da genotoxicidade e da qualidade das águas do açude de Lucrécia/RN

The occurrence of human cancer in the municipality of Lucrécia (RN, Brazil) has shown high frequencies (INCA, 2007). Tests of micronucleus (MN) and nuclear abnormalities (NA) were performed to assess the genotoxic potential of water from the Lucrécia dam, which is located in a semi-arid region under the influence of crop irrigation and irregular rainfall. Water samples were collected in this source for analyzing the concentration of cyanobacteria, metals and radioactivity. Erythrocytes of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) were collected in dam and cells of human oral mucosa in the urban area of this municipality for the bioassays of MN and NA. In fish were also analyzed concentrations of metals in samples of liver and gills. The genotoxicity tests with biological samples of fish and humans have shown significant increases in the frequencies of MN and NA (p ≤ 0.05) and are indicative of increased DNA damage in relation to the control groups. In conclusion, the results obtained from water samples and biological municipality of Lucrécia indicates that the presence of chemical and microbiological pollutants, and increase of genotoxic in human of this municipality. We suggest the implementation of advanced water treatment, to prevent further degradation of the aquatic environment and decrease in the life quality. This research of environmental quality assessment was performed in order to contemplate a multi and interdisciplinary character of this water resource and that can induce genotoxic damage in the organisms in this study region

Avaliação da qualidade da assistência a pessoas com úlceras venosas atendidas na estratégia saúde da família

A úlcera venosa constitui importante problema de saúde pública, gera repercussão social, econômica e mudanças nos hábitos de vida, dor, sofrimento, acarretando diminuição da qualidade de vida. O estudo objetivou avaliar a assistência prestada às pessoas com úlceras venosas atendidas pela Estratégia Saúde da Família. É um estudo analítico, transversal e quantitativo, realizado com 59 pessoas com úlceras venosas, atendidas em 36 unidades da Estratégia Saúde da Família. O estudo obteve aprovação do projeto de pesquisa pelo Comitê de Ética da Universidade Federal de Alagoas. Para a coleta dos dados utilizou-se instrumento testado, entrevista, exame físico e informações dos prontuários. Os dados foram organizados em planilha do Microsoft Excel 2007, exportados e analisados em software estatístico por meio de estatística descritiva e inferencial, considerando nível de significância estatística de ρ-valor < 0,05. As pessoas com úlcera venosa eram do sexo feminino (71,2%), ≥ 60 anos (67,8%) e estavam em tratamento > 1 ano (69,5%). Possuíam tempo de lesão > 6 meses (64,4%), dor na úlcera/membro (86,4%) e leito com ≤ 30% de granulação/epitelização (78,0%). A qualidade da assistência foi ruim (< 5 aspectos positivos) em 57,6% (ρ=0,000) e os aspectos que mais interferiram foram as seguintes inadequações: profissional que acompanha/realiza curativo (ρ=0,002, coeficiente de contingência (CC) =0,458, razão de chance (RC) =13,9), produtos nos últimos 30 dias (ρ=0,038, cc=0,334, RC=7,3) e acesso a consulta com angiologista (ρ=0,041, cc=0,305, RC=4,1). Os aspectos clínicos que contribuíram para o aumento do tempo de assistência foram: tempo de lesão >6 meses (ρ<0,001), dor (ρ=0,043), recidiva (ρ<0,001); nos aspectos assistenciais: inadequação dos produtos com 83,1% (ρ=0,036). Essas características dificultaram a cicatrização tecidual, prolongando o tempo de tratamento das lesões,que podem ter contribuído para a cronicidade das úlceras

Prevalência e fatores associados à sintomatologia dolorosa e a qualidade de vida de odontólogos da cidade de Teresina-PI

Objective: Identify the factors associated to the painful symptomatology and the quality of life and in dentists in the city of Teresina-PI. Brazil. Methods It was accomplished a cross-sectional study with 175 dentists registered with the Regional Council of Dentistry-PI from March to May, 2007. For characterization of the dentists we used a multidimensional questionnaire containing sociodemographic (age, sex) and professional information (time of service, journey to work). The evaluation of the presence of pain was performed by the Protocol of Painful Symptoms of McGILL. The WHOQOL-Bref was used to assess quality of life through physical, psychological, social and environmental domains. Results / Conclusions The painful symptomatology was reported in 69,7% of individuals, being observed in 77.3% of women and 60.3% of men. Body regions where pain was prevalent was the regions of neck (69,2%) lower back (69,7%). The dentists had high levels of self-perception of quality of life satisfaction and health. 96,0% of the individuals reported quality of life as very good, and only 16.6% reported dissatisfied with health. The Physical and Environmental domains showed values higher than the psychological and social domains. The painful symptomatology of studied dentists is associated with female sex (RP=1.28; IC95% 1.04-1.58; p<0.01). A multivariate analysis by logistic regression was performed and only the painful symptoms (OR = 2.51, IC95% 1,21-5,21) remained associated with the quality of life of these professionals when adjusted for other variables studied

Um modelo analítico da qualidade da dieta de adolescentes estudantes da rede publica de ensino de Natal, Brasil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Prática desportiva e qualidade de vida de crianças do bairro de nova descoberta Natal / RN

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the contribution of sports activities for children participating in social programs. Method: It s dealt with in a survey of a descriptive nature. The sample was composed of 51 participants from the Project Nova Descoberta, ranging in ages from 8 to 17, males (n=29) and females (n=22). A semi-directed interview was applied with 10 items over a period of 2 consecutive years (2007-2008) with children and adolescents, besides obtaining documental data in the schools that have an agreement with the Project. Results: The performance of the participants in the groups that joined and did not join in terms of schoolwork production in the year 2007 did not present statistical differences (p<0,05). A significant difference (p<0,05) was observed in the discipline of Portuguese when compared between the groups, with a higher average for the students who joined in 2008. Discussion: In the face of the context found in social sports projects, emerges a series of indicators that contribute for a reliable evaluation. The manifestation of other characteristics in the environment could be interfering in the participation and involvement in physical activity and consequently in the health and quality of life situation of the children and adolescents. Conclusion: It was confirmed that the school work performance indicators can be taken together with other indicators, such as a development of various abilities, participation in other activities, motivation for the activities, behavior and attitudes at home and at school, for evaluation of social projects

Qualidade de vida, funcionalidade e morbidade referida : avaliação em idosos na atenção básica de saúde

Demographic and epidemiological transformations have led to an increase in elderly populations in the world, and chronic diseases become the main health problem in this population, with consequences for the independence and autonomy, and interfering in the lifestyle and daily activities, and may decrease the welfare and quality of life. So, there is an urgent need for multidisciplinary research on the quality of life, understood as a multidimensional and subjective concept, as well as the associated factors, such as health habits, presence of chronic conditions and functional capacity. Thus, In qualitative terms, the Article 1 provides an assessment and perception of the elderly about their quality of life. Article 2, in turn, presents the results of more extensive quantitative research, which can be seen that age, presence of chronic diseases and depression were associated with the quality of life. Thus, we discuss the need for action was planning and health strategies, with interdisciplinary approach, considering the environmental context and reality of family elders, promoting quality in the process of aging

Análise da efetividade do transplante renal na qualidade de vida dos receptores no estado do Rio Grande do Norte

This study was developed with the aim of analyzing the effectiveness of renal transplantation on quality of life of kidney recipients in the Rio Grande do Norte State. This is a descriptive study with longitudinal design, panel type with quantitative approach to data analysis. The Quality of Life (QoL) of chronic disease kidney patients before and after kidney transplantation was assessed by the WHOQOL-bref, The population consisted of patients in pre and post-renal transplantation, the sample had 63 patients older than 18 years. The study was conducted after approval by the Research Ethics Committee of the Onofre Lopes University Hospital, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, No. CAAE 0008.0.294.000-10. Data collection was performed at a referral center for renal transplantation in Rio Grande do Norte, from May 2010 to May 2013. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in tables and graphs. For statistical analyzes, Microsoft Excel XP and SPSS 15.0 software were used. The tests used were simple variance (ANOVA), t-test, Mann-Whitney and Wilcoxon test to compare means, and Spearman correlations. P values <0.05 were considered significant. The demographic data showed a predominance of people between 18 and 45 years (68.2%) with a mean age of 39.9 years (SD 12.2), male (63.5%), married (58.7%), with children (51.0%). Regarding the education level was observed that 49.2% of participants had completed primary school, and most did not engage in any work activity (90.4%) during the study period. Hemodialysis was the predominant renal replacement therapy (96.8%) and the average waiting time for execution of transplantation was 1.9 years (SD 1.9). Comparison of QoL before and after transplantation showed significant differences in all areas analyzed, demonstrating that kidney transplantation had a positive impact on QoL in chronic renal patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Sociodemographic factors did not influence the quality of life in this group of patients, indicating that transplantation was the main factor to explain the improvement in quality of life. Thus, the alternative hypothesis of the study was accept, that there is a significant difference in quality of life before and after kidney transplant. It is expected that the results of this study may contribute to the development of strategies to encourage organ donation and kidney transplantation process

Avaliação da autopercepção estética e qualidade de vida em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS com síndrome lipodistrófica (SLD) em uso de antirretrovirais

Em 1996 com a introdução no Brasil da Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) melhorando a sobrevida e diminuindo o número de óbitos entre os portadores do HIV/Aids, surgem relatos de alterações metabólicas e morfológicas - Síndrome Lipodistrófica (SLD). Portanto, este estudo busca avaliar a partir da autopercepção estética de pessoas que vivem com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) em uso de terapia antirretroviral (TARV) o impacto da SLD na qualidade de vida. Pesquisa exploratória observacional com dados quantitativos e qualitativos, que contou com a multidisciplinaridade, a partir dos critérios de inclusão os voluntários eram captados pelo médico infectologista assistente. Foi realizada com base nos princípios da Resolução 196/96-CNP. A amostra foi composta por 48 PVHA, com idade entre 32 a 66 anos. 89,6% demonstraram interesse em mudar partes do corpo que perceberam enquanto alteradas ou comprometidas pela SLD, dado reforçado quando estes afirmam que se percebem (35,4%) e sentem (35,4%) que as outras pessoas os vêem de forma diferente. Quanto a qualidade de vida o domínio da espiritualidade, religião e crenças pessoais alcançou maior média (14,7) com DP 4,0 neste estudo. A pesquisa permitiu uma publicação internacional (Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology-JPHE) e várias participações com publicação em eventos (nacionais e internacionais). O estudo sugere que a infecção por HIV e a presença da SLD a partir da autopercepção dos sujeitos entrevistados pode afetar a qualidade de vida. E destaca a importância de ações que ressaltem o suporte social como motivador para o autocuidado