Aptidão física relacionada à saúde de escolares Norte- Rio-Grandenses

O sedentarismo é cada vez mais acentuado entre os adolescentes em todo o mundo. Objetivou-se neste estudo analisar o estado nutricional e a aptidão física de escolares norte-rio-grandenses. Participaram 2065 sujeitos, selecionados aleatoriamente (Masc = 1066, Fem = 999) (Natal n=1158; Mossoró n= 312; Lajes n= 231), divididos em três grupos etários pelos estágios maturacionais: 10 a 12 anos, 13 a 14 anos e _ 15 anos. Foi avaliada a composição corporal (IMC, dobras cutâneas tríceps e subescapular); o hábito alimentar (questionário de prevalência do consumo por grupo alimentar); o índice de atividade física (questionário Baeck) e o nível de aptidão física (testes do salto em distância, flexibilidade, resistência abdominal e cardiovascular). Utilizando-se a estatística descritiva, testes de médias pela análise dos intervalos de confiança, o teste de Kruskall-Wallis, teste t, o Qui2 e o coeficiente de contingência. Encontraram-se diferenças significativas com p < 0001 na distribuição do índice de massa corporal (n = 1701); Região Leste Potiguar (RLP) com excesso de peso e obesidade de 16,8 % e 15,2 %, a Região Oeste 16,3% e 9,6 % e a Região Central 10,4 % e 3,9 %, com as escolas privadas contribuindo significativamente na prevalência dessas variáveis nas RLP e ROP com p < 0,003 e p < 0,001 respectivamente. O hábito alimentar demonstrou que 98,3% dos sujeitos consomem alimentos do grupo das massas 98,3%; cereais 97,7%; laticínios 94,7%; frutas 92,3%; gorduras 88,3% e as hortaliças 61,6%, não havendo diferenças significativas no consumo alimentar entre o tipo de escolas e gênero (n = 300). No índice de atividade física habitual há diferenças entre esses respectivos extratos: 2,65±0,78 e 2,81±0,80 (p < 0,014) e 2,89±0,82 e 2,57±0,78 (p < 0,001), com as práticas de atividades esportivas, programas de exercícios físicos e lazer ativo mais significativo em escolas privadas 2,85 ± 1,06 e 3,37±1,26 (p < 0,001) em prol do sexo masculino com 3,47±1,24 e 2,75±1,03 (p <0,001). Resistência abdominal ( =19) e força de membros inferiores ( =128,5 cm) foram classificadas como muito fraco , a flexibilidade ( =26,9 cm) razoável e resistência geral ( =1439 m) como bom . Conclui-se que o hábito alimentar e o baixo índice de atividade física habitual influenciam negativamente os índices da aptidão física relacionada à saúde dos escolares, com menor incidência em instituições privadas em função das práticas esportivas. Este estudo apresenta relação de interface multidisciplinar, tendo o seu conteúdo uma aplicação nos campos da Medicina, Nutrição e Educação Física

Análise do vetor de impedância bioelétrico na avaliação da suplementação de zinco em crianças prepuberais e sadias

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Uso sustentável da Copernicia prunifera (Miller) H. E Moore no semiárido potiguar: valorização de saberes e conservação dos recursos genéticos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Avaliação da capacidade de caminhar do portador de obesidade mórbida utilizando teste de caminhada de 6 minutos

Introduction: The ability to walk is impaired in obese by anthropometric factors (BMI and height), musculoskeletal pain and level of inactivity. Little is known about the influence of body adiposity and the acute response of the cardiovascular system during whole the 6-minute walk test (6mWT). Objective: To evaluate the effect of anthropometric measures (BMI and WHR waist-to-hip ratio), the effort heart and inactivity in ability to walk the morbidly obese. Materials and Methods: a total 36 morbidly obese (36.23 + 11.82 years old, BMI 49.16 kg/m2) were recruited from outpatient department of treatment of obesity and bariatric surgery in University Hospital Onofre Lopes and anthropometric measurements of obesity (BMI and WHR), pulmonary function, pattern habitual physical activity (Baecke Questionnaire) and walking capacity (6mWT). The patient was checking to measure: heart rate (HR), breathing frequency (BF), peripheral oxygen saturation, level of perceived exertion, systemic arterial pressure and duplo-produto (DP), moreover the average speed development and total distance walking. The data were analysed between gender and pattern of body adiposity, measuring the behavior minute by minute of walking. The Pearson and Spearmam correlation coefficients were calculated, and stepwise multiple Regression examined the predictors of walking capacity. All analyses were performed en software Statistic 6.0. Results: 20 obese patients had abdominal adiposity (WHR = 1.01), waist circumference was 135.8 cm in women (25) and 139.8 cm in men (10). Walked to the end of 6mWT 412.43 m, with no differences between gender and adiposity. The total distance walked by obesity alone was explained by BMI (45%), HR in the sixth minute (43%), the Baecke (24%) and fatigue (-23%). 88.6% of obese (31) performed the test above 60% of maximal HR, while the peak HR achieved at 5-minute of 6mWT. Systemic arterial pressure and DP rised after walking, but with no differences between gender and adiposity. Conclusion: The walk of obese didn´t suffers influence of gender or the pattern of body adiposity. The final distance walked is attributed to excess body weight, stress heart, the feeling of effort required by physical activity and level of sedentary to obese. With a minute of walking, the obeses achieved a range of intensity cardiovascular trainning

Estágio menopausal e níveis hormonais no desenvolvimento muscular e funcional em mulheres de meia idade: um estudo transversal

Introduction: Hypoestrogenism is the main characteristic of female aging. It promotes significant changes in body composition, both in fat mass as in lean body mass, leading to a decrease in muscle strength and physical performance. Objective: The aim of this study was to test whether menopausal status and hormone levels are associated with muscular strength and physical performance in middle-aged women. Methods: In a cross-sectional study it was collected sociodemographic data, gynecological history, anthropometric and biochemical measures in women aged 40 to 65 years in Parnamirim-RN. The menopause status (pre, peri and post menopause) was determined by menstrual history. All women underwent three dimensions of physical performance assessment: handgrip dynamometry, gait speed and chair stands test - Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB). Categorical data were presented as absolute and relative frequencies. Quantitative data were showed as mean and standard deviation and the normality of distribution was verified with Kolmogorov-Smirnov (KS) test. Biochemical measures of estradiol and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) were transformed to log10. ANOVA with Tukey post-test for comparison of variables between the groups pre, peri and post-menopausal was performed and then multiple linear regression analyzes. Results: Two hundred and seventy eight women aged 50.2 (±5.58) years composed this study, being 50 women in premenopausal status (18%), 122 in perimenopausal (43.9%), and 106 postmenopausal stage (38.1%). The groups were different in age (p=0.001), marital relationship duration (p <0.001), number of pregnancies (p=0.001) and parity (p=0.001). Differences in biochemical measures were observed among the groups: estradiol (p<0.001), FSH (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p=0.001). There were no differences in gait velocity between menopausal status. Values in mean of grip strength decreased by postmenopausal women to perimenopausal and premenopausal ones (24.5 ± 5.1, 25.6 ± 5.4, 26.9 ± 4.9 for post-stage, pre and peri menopausas, respectively, p = 0.02) and the performance of chair stands test was better in premenopausal women compared with that in peri and postmenopausal status (p = 0.02). In multiple linear regression for muscle strength, the variables that remained were: age, estradiol and somatic symptoms measured by Menopause Rating Scale-MRS (R2=0.15). While for the xiv chair-stands test the predictors were number of births and FSH values (R2=0.04). Conclusion: There is a relationship between the stages of menopause and muscle performance in measures of grip strength and sit-up test and these are influenced by the fall of estrogens levels. Data suggest that the decrease in muscle strength and physical performance already appear in the transition to menopause stage, pointing to the need for more research in this area and appropriate preventive interventions

Prospecção de genes associados ao processo de floração em tomateiro.

Flowering is a process marked by switch of shoot apical meristem to floral meristem, and it involves a complex regulation by endogenous and environmental factors. Analyses of key flowering genes have been carried out primarily in Arabidopsis thaliana and have provided a foundation for understanding the underlying molecular genetic mechanisms controlling different aspects of floral development. Several homologous have been found in other species, but for crops species such as tomatoes this process is not well known. The aim of this work was to use the genetic natural variation associated to the flowering process and use molecular tools such as subtractive libraries and real time PCR in order to identify and analyze the expression from genes that may be associated to flowering in these two species: L. esculentum cv Micro-Tom and L. pimpinellifolium. Our results showed there were identified many genes related to vegetative and possibly to the flowering process. There were also identified many sequences that were unknown. We ve chosen three genes to analyze the expression by real time PCR. The histone H2A gene gave an expression higher in L. pimpinellifolium, due to this the expression of this gene may be associated to flowering in this specie. It was also analyzed the expression of an unknown gene that might be a key factor of the transition to flowering, also in L. pimpinellifolium. For the elongation factor 1-α expression, the expression results were not informative, so this gene may have a constitutive expression in vegetative and flowering state. The results observed allowed us to identify possible genes that may be related to the flowering process. For further results it will be necessary a better characterization of them.

Ecologia alimentar do boto cinza, sotalia guianensis (van banédén, 1864), no litoral do rio grande do norte (rn)

This study investigated factors that influence the group size during the behavior foraging of estuarine dolphin Sotalia guianensis in the coast south of the state Rio Grande do Norte (RN), it also characterized the diet of estuarine dolphins and elaborated an otoliths catalog for aid in the identification of the preys found in the stomach contents. In relation to the group size during behaviour foraging, inside of the Curral Bay, larger frequency of solitary hunt was observed. Factors as tide variation, group composition and seasons didn't present correlation with the number of animals observed during a feeding episode. Capture success for participant was shown significantly larger when the animals hunted alone, what possibly explains the largest frequency of solitary hunt inside of the Curral Bay. About diet, were identified 18 bone fishes species, with predominance of species the families Haemulidae and Sciaenidae and five cephalopods species, including two new species in the diet of Sotalia guianensis in Brazil. Our results indicated that estuarine dolphin in the coast oriental from Rio Grande do Norte (RN) feeds predominantly of fish that form shoal, of habitat estuarino and producing of sounds. The analysis of the images, otoliths of 43 species of coastal fish of the coast of the state of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), aided by the offered descriptions, demonstrated to be an effective methodology for the knowledge of those structures, as well as it represented a form of reducing the subjectivity in the identification of the bone fishes found in stomach content

Síntese, caracterização e estudo das propriedades magnéticas de ortoferritas de lantânio dopadas com manganês

Orthoferrites AFeO3 (A = rare earth) are an important class of perovskite oxides that exhibit weak ferromagnetism. These materials find numerous applications as chemical sensors, cathodes for fuel cells and catalysis, which make them interesting from the standpoint of science and technology. Their structural, electrical and magnetic properties are dependent on many factors such as the preparation method, heat treatment conditions, chemical composition and replacement of cations in sites A and/or B. In this paper, LaFe1-xMnxO3 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) orthoferrites-type was prepared by Pechini method and Microwave-assisted combustion reaction in order to evaluate the influence of synthesis route on the formation of oxide, as well as the effect of parcial replacement of iron by manganese and heat treatment on the magnetic properties. The precursor powders were calcined at 700°C, 900°C, 1100°C and 1300°C for 4 hours and they were characterized by the techniques: Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X ray diffraction (XRD), Refinement by Rietveld method, Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Reduction temperature programmed (RTP) and Magnetic hysteresis measurements performed at room temperature. According to the XRD patterns, the formation of perovskite phase with orthorhombic structure was observed for the systems where 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.5 and rhombohedral for x = 1. The results also showed a decrease of lattice parameters with the parcial replacement of iron by manganese and consequently a reduction in cell volume. The hysteresis curves exhibited weak ferromagnetism for the systems prepared by both synthesis methods. However, a dependence of magnetization as a function of dopant content was observed for samples produced by Pechini method. As for the systems prepared by combustion reaction, it was found that the secondary phases exert a strong influence on the magnetic behavior

Ecologia de comunidades e comportamento reprodutivo de anfíbios anuros em savana amazônica

The Amazon savannas occur as isolated patches throughout extensive areas of forest in the states of Amapá, Amazonas, Pará, and Roraima. There is a considerable variation in the composition of anuran assemblages in the localities and phytophysiognomies of Amazon savannas and given the absence of studies on reproductive behavior, a systematic and geographically wide sampling has been carried out in the Amapá savanna, located in the Eastern Amazon. The study was conducted in a savanna area in the state of Amapá to examine the composition, ecology, and reproductive behavior of anuran amphibians. We carried out 24 field trips in each phytophysiognomy (gramineous-woody savana, gramineous-herbaceous-woody savana, park savana, and arboreal savanna); for analysis of reproductive behavior observations were made during the period January to December 2013, lasting four consecutive days. Samples were collected by active and acoustic search along 20 plots of 100x50 meters. Twenty-one anuran species were recorded, of which four are new records for the state of Amapá: Dendropsophus walfordi, Scinax fuscomarginatus, Pseudopaludicola boliviana e Elachistocleis helianneae. The KruskalWallis ANOVA revealed significant differences between richness and species diversity in the phytophysiognomies (p < 0.05). The Bray-Curtis similarity coefficient divided the phytophysiognomies into three groups: arboreal savana, gramineous-woody savanna and gramineous-herbaceous-woody savanna, and park savanna. According to the non-metric multidimensional scaling, the structure of the anuran community resulted in a separation into three phytophysiognomies, with significant differences in the structure of communities (ANOSIM, R = 0.823; p < 0.001). In the study of community ecology, the results obtained for spatial, temporal, and trophic niche breadth suggest that the assemblage of anurans of the Amapá savanna is not composed of predominantly generalist species. Also, the presence of other specialist anurans may explain the processes of speciation associated with the isolation of habitats, resulting in heterogeneity and spatial discontinuity in the phytophysiognomies with open formations. The null model analysis revealed that the community is structured based on temporal and trophic niche, indicating a significant influence of contemporary ecological factors on the assemblage. The absence of structure based on spatial niche might be explained by the spatial segregation in the distribution and occupation of anurans in the different phytophysiognomies of the Amapá savanna. Regarding the reproductive behavior of anurans, 11 species were classified as having a long breeding season, intrinsically associated with the rainy season and the reproductive mode of most species that lay egg clutches in lentic water bodies. Six reproductive modes were recorded and parental care was observed in Leptodactylus macrosternum and L. podicipinus, whose reproductive mode is characterized by foam nests. Regarding behavioral reproductive strategies, calling males were observed in all species of anurans, satellite males were recorded only for D. walfordi, Hypsiboas multifasciatus, S. nebulosus and S. fuscomarginatus; active search for females was observed for Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis and L. fuscus, and male displacement was recorded only for Rhinella major and R. margaritifera. Of the reproductive behaviors observed, throat and vocal sac display is associated with courtship and territorial behavior exhibited by males. In addition to courtship behavior, visual signals associated with courtship strategies were recorded for the anurans of the Amapá savanna.

Diversidade cromossômica e padrões ecomorfológicos em Gobiidae (Perciformes) no litoral e ilhas oceânicas do Brasil

A família Gobiidae é a mais diversificada no ambiente marinho, onde tamanha diversidade parece ter sido acompanhada por alterações cromossômicas significativas, a tornando um modelo biológico importante. Em geral apresentam ampla distribuição geográfica com características comportamentais e reprodutivas que as tornam propícias aos efeitos de barreiras biogeográficas. Comparados a outros representantes da ordem Perciformes apresenta características morfológicas reduzidas, com simplificações e perdas que dificultam estudos filogenéticos e tornam imprescindível a associação de novas metodologias para melhor entendimento dos processos ecológicos e evolutivos que garantiram tamanha diversificação. Dados citogenéticos para espécies presentes no litoral brasileiro são ínfimos. Os resultados aqui apresentados, abrangendo um maior espectro taxonômico e profundidade de análises, identificaram marcante diversidade cariotípica estrutural interespecífica para Coryphopterus glaucofraenum, Bathygobius mystacium, Bathygobius soporator, Bathygobius sp., Ctenogobius smaragdus, Ctenogobius boleosoma, Gobionellus oceanicus, Gobionellus stomatus, Microgobius meeki e Evorthodus lyricus. As espécies estudadas fazem parte de uma fauna críptica pouco percebida e estudada, frequentemente impactadas, mesmo por eventos locais estocásticos. Análises por morfometria geométrica indicaram variação significante na morfologia corporal de espécies do gênero Bathygobius e o reconhecimento de padrões de variação de forma corporal referentes ao sexo, com populações mais dimórficas em menores latitudes. Técnicas citogenéticas moleculares resolutivas aplicadas em estudos populacionais no litoral e em ilhas oceânicas identificaram diferenciações locais e reconheceram uma nova espécie para o gênero Bathygobius, residente no Atol das Rocas e Arquipélago de Fernando de Noronha. As análises ainda possibilitaram a descrição de cromossomos sexuais XY nas duas espécies do gênero Gobionellus e a participação de elementos repetitivos na diferenciação deste sistema. Os dados aqui apresentados dão suporte ao alto grau de diversificação evolutiva da família, ampliam o conhecimento citogenético para o grupo, permitem identificar estruturações populacionais e respostas evolutivas das espécies às variações geográficas. Como modelo biológico a família Gobiidae representa um útil contraponto evolutivo em relação aos padrões genéticos vigentes às espécies de grande vagilidade.

Protótipo de rastreador solar de um eixo baseado em microcontrolador

The increase in the efficiency of photo-voltaic systems has been the object of various studies the past few years. One possible way to increase the power extracted by a photovoltaic panel is the solar tracking, performing its movement in order to follow the sun’s path. One way to activate the tracking system is using an electric induction motor, which should have sufficient torque and low speed, ensuring tracking accuracy. With the use of voltage source inverters and logic devices that generate the appropriate switching is possible to obtain the torque and speed required for the system to operate. This paper proposes the implementation of a angular position sensor and a driver to be applied in solar tracker built at a Power Electronics and Renewable Energies Laboratory, located in UFRN. The speed variation of the motor is performed via a voltage source inverter whose PWM command to actuate their keys will be implemented in an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) device and a TM4C microcontroller. A platform test with an AC induction machine of 1.5 CV was assembled for the comparative testing. The angular position sensor of the panel is implemented in a ATMega328 microcontroller coupled to an accelerometer, commanded by an Arduino prototyping board. The solar position is also calculated by the microcontroller from the geographic coordinates of the site where it was placed, and the local time and date obtained from an RTC (Real-Time Clock) device. A prototype of a solar tracker polar axis moved by a DC motor was assembled to certify the operation of the sensor and to check the tracking efficiency.

Resposta de ovinos naturalmente infectados por nematoides gastrintestinais em pastos de capim-massai

The aim of this study was to evaluate the crossbred sheep Santa Ines response to natural infections by gastrointestinal nematodes in Panicum maximum cv. pastures Massai at different times of grazing. For this it was used 36 crossbred sheep Santa Inês, divided into four groups and randomly distributed in massai-grass pickets naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. In the period from October 2013 to May 2014, the animals were weekly monitored for hematology tests (packed cell volume) and parasitological (egg counts per gram of feces and fecal culture) in order to monitor the level of infection of sheep and they were assessed for weight, body condition score and staining ocular mucosa by FAMACHA© method. Furthermore infective larvae was recovery from pasture in times of pre-and post-grazing pasture. At 35 kg body weight, the animals were slaughtered and necropsied to collect the contents of the abomasum and small and large intestines to recover the adult parasites, carrying out the count and identification. The animals on pasture with a height of 40 cm pre-grazing obtained low nematode eggs in feces (1608 eggs / g) and 33 cm those in pre-grazing the highest average (2,539 eggs / g). The animals in different groups showed mean values of packed cell volume less than 23% (P> 0.05). Regarding to FAMACHA, the animals belonging to the groups 40 and 50 cm pre-grazing remained over 50% of individuals between FAMACHA 1 and 2 , and those to 33 and 45 cm pre-grazing showed mostly between FAMACHA 3, 4 and 5 (69.06% and 58.93%, respectively). In the culture of larvae in feces and recovery of pasture larvae before and after grazing the following genera were found, in order of prevalence: Haemonchus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagostomum and Strongyloides. The pasture with 33 cm of pre-grazing provided the highest number of larvae recovered both in the pre and post-grazing (1,081 and 715 L3 / 100 g of green matter, respectively). Among the different groups, the sheep had an average weight of between 23 and 26 kg and variation between the body 1 and 3 scores with scores greater frequency of 1.5 to 2.It can be observed that the animals kept at different times of grazing got different answers on the parasite load. Animals kept in 40 cm pre-grazing expressed a satisfactory answer than the other groups (33, 45 and 50 cm), best supporting the action of endoparasites. Moreover, this same height, was recovered fewer infective larvae on pasture in pre and post-grazing.

Modelos matemáticos para estimativa do consumo máximo de oxigênio pela ventilometria de esforço em indivíduos saudáveis

The relation between metabolic demand and maximal oxygen consumption during exercise have been investigated in different areas of knowledge. In the health field, the determination of maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is considered a method to classify the level of physical fitness or the risk of cardiocirculatory diseases. The accuracy to obtain data provides a better evaluation of functional responses and allows a reduction in the error margin at the moment of risk classification, as well as, at the moment of determination of aerobic exercise work load. In Brasil, the use of respirometry associated to ergometric test became an opition in the cardiorespiratory evaluation. This equipment allows predictions concerning the oxyredutase process, making it possible to identify physiological responses to physical effort as the respiratory threshold. This thesis focused in the development of mathematical models developed by multiple regression validated by the stepwise method, aiming to predict the VO2max based on respiratory responses to physical effort. The sample was composed of a ramdom sample of 181 healthy individuals, men and women, that were randomized to two groups: regression group and cross validation group (GV). The voluntiars were submitted to a incremental treadmill test; objetiving to determinate of the second respiratory threshold (LVII) and the Peak VO2max. Using the método forward addition method 11 models of VO2max prediction in trendmill were developded. No significative differences were found between the VO2max meansured and the predicted by models when they were compared using ANOVA One-Way and the Post Hoc test of Turkey. We concluded that the developed mathematical models allow a prediction of the VO2max of healthy young individuals based on the LVII

Marcas dermatoglíficas, Antropometria e as qualidades físicas básicas dos escolares da rede municipal da cidade de Manaus

The objective of this study of comparative descriptive character went aimed at to analyze the characteristics dermatoglyphics, anthropometrics and the basic physical qualities, in 180 selected scholars in a stratified way, distributed like this: 10 year-old boys = 32; 09 years = 32; 08 years = 32; 10 year-old girls = 28; 09 years = 28; 08 years = 28), studying the fundamental teaching of the School Good Municipal Hope, located in the area east, in the Neighborhood of the Crowned, in the city of Manaus, Amazon. For identification of the dermatoglyphics characteristics collected, was the fingerprints; for evaluation of the corporal mass, height and IMC, they were used a digital scale with an estadiometer of the mark Filizola. The tests: to sit down and to reach flexibility); Horizontal Impulse or I jump in distance stopped (force of inferior members); Flex and extension of the trunk (it Forces abdominal); Flexion and extension of the arms in suspension in the bar (Force of superior members); 30 meters (Speed) and 9 minutes (Resistance applied aerobic) was to evaluate the basic physical qualities. The results demonstrated that differences didn't exist among the goods, in most of the studied variables, and the existent differences among the ages of 8, 9 and 10 years, they demonstrate a normality tendency in the infantile development

Sintomatologia depressiva e avaliação de níveis de TNFα IL-2 em indivíduos idosos e com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica

The aim of the present study was to assess the presence of depressive symptomatology among elderly residents in long-stay institutions (LSI) and in the community of Recife, Brazil. In total, 81 long-stay elderly patients (mean age of 75.55 ± 9.18 years) and 132 elderly (mean age of 73.14 ± 8.27 years) individuals from the community were evaluated. Depressive symptomatology was assessed by the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), cognitive status by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and capacity to perform the activities of daily living (ADL) by the Katz Index. Comorbities and the use of medication were recorded. The LSI elderly exhibited more depressive symptoms (p < 0.001) and more dependency (p< 0.001). We observed no differences in MMSE (p = 0.058). The elderly in the community displayed more comorbidities and the LSI elderly consumed more medication (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). According to multivariate analysis (logistic regression), being male, having no spouse and having a low schooling level are risk factors for depressive symptoms. In conclusion, most elderly with depressive symptoms received no medication fordepression.