A importância da atividade física regular como estratégia complementar na promoção de resiliência de idosas e sua importância para suas vidas

O conceito de saúde, na concepção mais abrangente, é uma condição multidimensional de bem-estar físico, psicológico e social e não apenas a inexistência de enfermidades. Os benefícios da atividade física são tão relevantes quanto os benefícios psicológicos, porque ambos contribuem para a saúde. A literatura aponta um conjunto de ligações diretas e indiretas entre a atividade física e a qualidade de vida. Apesar destes benefícios, o processo de envelhecimento é caracterizado por grandes perdas biopsicossociais, que geram várias situações de adversidades que causam preocupação e podem colocar em risco a saúde do idoso. Deste modo, surge a resiliência como um conjunto de processos sociais e intrapsíquicos, que possibilitam o desenvolvimento saudável do idoso, mesmo diante de experiências negativas. Nesta direção, observou-se a necessidade de executar uma pesquisa de conhecimento multidisciplinar conciliando a Educação Física com a Psicologia, a Medicina, a Terapia Ocupacional e a Gerontologia, com o objetivo de investigar o efeito da atividade física sobre os níveis de resiliência em mulheres idosas, bem como conhecer a importância desta atividade para suas vidas. Para tanto, realizou-se um estudo comparativo descritivo, de caráter transversal. Assim sendo, 230 mulheres idosas foram divididas em dois grupos: ativas (n=115; 65,8±5,8 anos de idade), constituído por idosas matriculadas em um programa de atividade física orientada para idosos com período de prática igual ou superior a dois anos, e sedentárias (n=115; 69,2±7,2 anos de idade). Em seguida, foram submetidas à avaliação do nível de resiliência psicológica e da aptidão física (resistência muscular de membros superiores e inferiores, flexibilidade e resistência aeróbia). As idosas ativas apresentaram valores significativamente (p=0,001) maiores do fator 3 da resiliência psicológica quando comparados àqueles do grupo de idosas sedentárias, o qual está relacionado à autoconfiança e à capacidade de adaptação a situações diversas. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (p>0,05) entre os grupos para os demais fatores (1 e 2). Quando comparados os testes de aptidão física com o nível de resiliência psicológica moderada (n=28) e alta (n=202) do fator 3, observou- se que idosas com nível de resiliência psicológica alta apresentaram maior flexibilidade (p=0,004). E para a avaliação da percepção da importância da atividade física para as idosas foi aplicado um questionário semiestruturado. A partir da Análise de Conteúdo proposto por Bardin (2009) os resultados foram: saúde/prevenção (85%), interação (47%), autonomia (40%), alegria/felicidade (33%), resiliência (33%), lazer (15%). E para avaliar a resiliência utilizou-se a Escala de resiliência de Wagnild e Young (1993). Quanto aos níveis de resiliência os resultados demonstraram que todas idosas apresentaram alto nível. Considerando os achados do presente estudo, sugere-se o emprego da atividade física como método de intervenção para melhora da saúde mental e, por conseguinte, da resiliência psicológica na população em questão, uma vez que os resultados apontam que idosas fisicamente ativas apresentam escores de resiliência psicológica superiores àquelas estratificadas como sedentárias. O resultado desse estudo possibilitou também concluir que a importância da atividade física parece estar relacionada, na sua maioria, às características de saúde/prevenção, interação social, autonomia, resiliência, alegria/felicidade e lazer. Além disso, as mulheres do presente estudo apresentaram um alto nível de resiliência quando comparado à tabela normativa

Síndrome metabólica e fatores de risco relacionados em crianças e adolescentes com excesso de peso na cidade do Natal

Nas últimas décadas, houve grande aumento da prevalência de obesidade, inclusive na faixa etária pediátrica. Com isso, aumentou o número de crianças e adolescentes afetados por síndrome metabólica (SM), diabetes tipo 2 (DM2) e doenças cardiovasculares (DCV), doenças anteriormente consideradas quase exclusivas de adultos. Os objetivos do estudo foram identificar e correlacionar marcadores antropométricos (IMC- índice de massa corpórea, CA- circunferência abdominal, RCQ- razão cintura/quadril, RCArazão cintura altura e PSE- prega subescapular), PAS e PAD- pressão arterial sistólica e diastólica, respectivamente, e laboratoriais (CT- colesterol total, HDL, LDL, TGL- triglicérides, I/G- razão insulina glicose, HOMA- homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance) de risco para o desenvolvimento de SM e observar a sua prevalência em crianças e adolescentes com excesso de peso. Foi conduzido estudo transversal, em amostra aleatória, de conveniência, onde foram avaliadas 60 crianças e adolescentes com excesso de peso, atendidas no ambulatório de endocrinologia pediátrica do Hospital de Pediatria da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) com idade mínima e máxima de 7 e 15 anos, de maio de 2009 a abril de 2010. Foram admitidos os indivíduos que apresentavam sobrepeso (IMC P > 85 e < 95) ou obesidade (IMC P > 95) (CDC, 2000) e história familiar positiva para DM2 em parentes de primeiro ou segundo grau ou algum dos sinais de resistência insulínica (acantose, hipertensão arterial, dislipidemia, síndrome de ovários policísticos). 2 O componente individual para SM mais prevalente foi o percentil da CA ≥ 90 (58,3%), seguido de HDL ≤ 40 mg/dl (36,6%). Na regressão linear simples, observaram-se as variações para mais nos parâmetros laboratoriais e de PA para cada unidade de aumento de IMC, CA, RCA, RCQ e PSE, sendo significantes as seguintes correlações: CA com TGL, HOMA IR, I/G, PAS e PAD; RCQ com TGL, HOMA, I/G, LDL e glicemia; RCA com TGL; PSE com TGL, HOMA-IR, I/G e PAS; e IMC com HOMA IR, I/G, PAS e PAD. De acordo com os critérios da IDF (Federação Internacional de Diabetes International Diabetes Federation) 2007, o diagnóstico de SM foi encontrado em seis indivíduos (10%). Do total, oito (13,3%), estavam em situação de sobrepeso e 52 (86,6%), obesos. As evidências de correlação CA e RCQ, medidas de obesidade centrípeta, com vários marcadores como TGL e HOMA, já sabidamente relacionados à SM, chamam atenção para a necessidade de utilização dessas medidas de forma mais rotineira na prática pediátrica, por serem de fácil obtenção, baixo custo e método não invasivo. Os valores de CA, RCQ, RCA e PSE, quando elevados devem justificar maior detalhamento na avaliação laboratorial de possível resistência insulínica. É importante a identificação de crianças e adolescentes que preencham os requisitos para o diagnóstico da SM, pois são indivíduos de maior risco metabólico e devem ser adequadamente acompanhados.

Avaliação da prevalência de Síndrome Metabólica, Microalbuminúria e Risco Cardiovascular em mulheres com Síndrome dos Ovários Policísticos

Avaliar fatores de risco cardiovascular em mulheres brasileiras com síndrome dos ovários policísticos (SOP), através da utilização de múltiplos parâmetros, incluindo a determinação da prevalência de síndrome metabólica e seus componentes e pesquisa de microalbuminúria como marcador de um possível dano renal precoce nessas pacientes. Métodos: Foram avaliadas 102 mulheres de 20-34 anos de idade, com diagnóstico de SOP pelo Consenso de Rotterdam, tendo sido analisados parâmetros clínicos, antropométricos, bioquímicos e hormonais. Para diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica, foram adotados critérios do National Cholesterol Education Program s Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III). Para avaliação da microalbuminúria foi utilizada a relação albumina/creatinina (A/C), calculada a partir dos níveis de albumina e creatinina em amostra isolada de urina. Foram realizados testes estatísticos para avaliar associações e correlações entre variáveis, bem como comparação de médias ou medianas, adotando-se nível de significância de 5%. Resultados: A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi de 28,4% (29 em 102 pacientes), estando associada ao aumento do índice de massa corporal (IMC). Quanto à análise da prevalência dos componentes individuais da síndrome metabólica, evidenciou-se: HDL-colesterol < 50 mg/dl em 69,6%, circunferência da cintura ≥ 88 cm em 57,9%, triglicerídeos ≥150 mg/dl em 31,7%, pressão arterial ≥130/85 mmHg em 18,6% e glicemia de jejum ≥110 mg/dl em 2,9%. Quando definida pelos limites convencionais para a relação A/C (3,5 35 mg/mmol), a microalbuminúria esteve presente em apenas três pacientes (3,3%). Entretanto, considerando diferentes limites de corte estabelecidos em recentes estudos que demonstraram aumento do risco cardiovascular associado a níveis muito baixos da relação A/C, a prevalência em mulheres com SOP foi alta, variando de 17,7 a 43,3% (para valores ≥ 0,58 e ≥ 0,37 mg/mmol, respectivamente). Mulheres com intolerância à glucose apresentaram nível significativamente mais elevado da relação A/C, quando comparadas às mulheres com normoglicemia. Os valores de microalbuminúria não apresentaram correlação significativa com IMC, níveis pressóricos, índices de sensibilidade insulínica ou perfil lipídico. Conclusões: Os dados evidenciam uma alta prevalência de síndrome metabólica e seus componentes individuais em mulheres brasileiras com SOP. Além do mais, observou-se elevado percentual de mulheres com níveis de excreção urinária de albumina em faixas significativamente associadas com aumento do risco para eventos cardiovasculares. Em conjunto, esses dados alertam para a necessidade da abordagem interdisciplinar e multidisciplinar das pacientes com SOP, visando à instituição de medidas voltadas para a prevenção primária cardiovascular

Prevalência e fatores associados à dor em professores de educação física em academias de ginástica da cidade do Salvador-BA

Physical Education professionals are usually exposed to excessive physical workloads that evolve into painful symptomatology and muscle and bone disorders that originate from the work-related exercises. Purposo: The goal of this study was to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with pain painful symptomatology in teachers in gymnastics academies. An analytical transversal cut study was performed involving 163 gymnastics teachers working in the main gyms in the city of Salvador-BA. For evaluation of pain, validated versions in Portuguese of the McGill Protocol and the Wisconsin Pain Inventory were used. For obtain results of descriptive statistical analysis of the collected data was performed, followed by TStudent, and Pearson and Spearman correlation tests to verify possible correlations between the presence of pain and other variables which were considered independent. Finally, for the identification of potential risk factors associated with pain, a binary logistic regression analysis was performed. For all statistical analysis, we cnsidered p< 0.05. Results: The painful symptoms was reported by 88.3% of the subjects surveyed. High pain levels were observed in 63.8% of the interviewed professionals, where the intensity varied from moderate to severe. Pain in the lumbar region was present in 55.2% of subjects. Positive correlations were found between the level of pain intensity and the variables related with the workload activity and daily life of the teachers in almost all body joints analyzed. Some factors had been verified associates to the painful sintomatologia as the age of the professionals, the daily hours load of labor work, and the lack of interval of rest between the lessons. Conclusions: We found a high prevalence in gym teachers working in the city of Salvador-BA, which interfered in various daily activities of their home and professional lives. The most affected region was the lumbar region, followed by the knees, neck, shoulders, ankles, hands, hips, feet, elbows and forearms. The factors associated with development of painful symptomatology were the age of the professionals, daily hours of work and the lack of rest intervals between lessons. The high prevalence of pain in Physical Education teachers can be regarded as a serious occupational health problem, which would demand the urgent deployment of preventive intervention programs to minimize the impact of pain among these professionals

Candidíase vulvovaginal: sintomatologia, fatores de risco e colonização anal concomitante

Post-menarche patients with clinical signs of vulvovaginitis were analyzed in this study, whose aims were the following: identify the frequency of C. albicans and non C. albicans species and negative results, correlate the vaginal culture for yeast with risk factors and symptomatology; compare positive and negative results for yeast in the vaginal and anal cultures; compare the positive results for C. albicans with other results found in the vaginal and anal cultures; and compare concomitant positivity for C. albicans and non C. albicans in the vaginal and anal cultures. Sample selection occurred between May, 2003 and May, 2005, and included 99 patients from Natal, Brazil. The laboratory methods used consisted of CHROMagar Candida culture medium, thermotolerance test at 42-45°C and hypertonic NaCL, in addition to the classic methods of carbohydrate assimilation and fermentation. We used absolute numbers, percentages, means of central tendency, chi-squared test (χ2) with Yates correction, Fisher s exact test and odds ratio for statistical analysis. The most frequent species was C. albicans in 69% of the cases. The positivity for Candida spp showed an association with the use of tight-fitting intimate clothing and/or synthetics, allergic diseases and the occurrence of itching, leukorrhea and erythema. Anal colonization increased the likelihood of vaginal contamination by 2.8 and 4.9 times, respectively, for Candida spp and C. albicans. When compared to the other species, C. albicans-positive anal colonization increased by 3.7 times the likelihood of vaginal positivity. These data suggest likely vaginal contamination originating in the anus

Estrutura econômica, mercado de trabalho e evolução sócio-ocupacional no Rio Grande do Norte 2001 a 2008: reflexo de uma condição mercantil e estruturalmente periférica

The aim of this thesis was to investigate the evolution of the socio-occupational status in Rio Grande do Norte from 2001 to 2008, based on the characterization of the socio-economic status of this State from the analysis of labor market norte-rio-grandense . The study, specifically, drew a comparison between the dynamics of the labor market in Rio Grande do Norte and the capital city, Natal. From this perspective, the purpose was to make a relationship between the social division of labor and its effects on the socio-spatial division, represented in the "macro scale" by the federal unit and the "micro level" for the capital; locus of economic and population concentration. The collection of data on the labor market had as a major source PNAD/IBGE, characterizing the labor market in many ways: people of working age, economically active population and employed and unemployed people, classified by age, sex, color, education, income and social protection condition. However, as for the socio-occupational division, we follow the methodology used by the research group on national television, based in IPPUR /UFRJ, called Monitoring of the Metropolis," which rallied twenty-four groups that aggregate the occupations found in the PNAD/IBGE, in eight groups of socio-occupational categories, according to the similarity between them. It was used in the socio-spatial cutting two relevant discussions, which are inter-related and were characterized as crucial points in developing the research problem: the former was related to the influence of the hegemony of merchant capital in the labor market in Rio Grande North and, the latter, it referred the socio-economic relations between the territory and the variable occupation. Lastly, the results all indicated that in Rio Grande do Norte, as a peripheral state, has suffered the devastating influence of the hegemony of capital purely commercial basis, where "wealth" of capitalism is generated through the sphere of mere movement of goods and services rather than a productive process due to the social relations of production more advanced. We have a little advanced economic structure, with a tertiary sector that has propagated under-employment or disguised unemployment. Similarly, the agricultural sector has been presented as an example of greater social degradation of working conditions in the state. The secondary sector, in turn, also was not behind this uncertainty; on the contrary, confirmed that condition, with poor levels of income, low education of the workforce and a high degree of social helplessness, even in the state capital, space full urban area, which although always appear with a favorable condition compared to Province, in practically most of the variables studied, was also reflected at the same time the author of a structurally underdeveloped condition

Efeito do ácido alfa-lipóico sobre biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo, inflamação e fatores de risco cardiovascular em hipertensos

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a potent antioxidant with favourable anti-inflammatory, metabolic and endothelial effects, and has been widely investigated due to its potential against cardiovascular risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oral ALA supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers, inflammation and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with hypertension. This is a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial, where the intervention was evaluated prospectively comparing results in both groups. The sample consisted of 64 hypertensive patients who were randomly distributed into ALA group (n = 32), receiving 600 mg / day ALA for twelve weeks and control group (n = 32), receiving placebo for the same period. The following parameters were evaluated before and after intervention: lipid peroxidation, content of reduced glutathione (GSH), enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismustase, ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), triglycerides, total cholesterol and fractions, fasting glucose and anthropometric indicators. There was a statistically significant reduction (p <0.05) in serum concentrations of total cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides and blood glucose. There was a reduction in body weight and waist, abdominal and hip circumferences in the group that received ALA. In addition, there was a statistically significant increase (p <0.05) in the contents of reduced glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the group receiving ALA. Oral administration of ALA appears to be a valuable adjuvant therapy, which may contribute to decrease the damage caused by oxidative stress and other risk factors associated with the atherosclerotic process

Modelo de avaliação de risco : São o crescimento e a estequiometria dos girinos afetados pelo efeito interativo entre a presença do predador e da densidade de coespecíficos?

Many prey organisms change their phenotype to reduce the predation risk. However, such changes are associated with trade-offs, and can have negative effects on prey growth or reproduction. Understand how preys assess the predation risk is essential to evaluate the adaptive value of predator-induced phenotypic and its ecological consequences. In this study, we performed a mesocosm experiment to test: i) if growth and stoichiometry of Lithobates catesbeianus tadpoles is altered in response to giant water bug presence (Belostoma spp.); ii) if these responses depend on tadpoles density in environment. Here, we show that tadpoles growth and stoichiometry are not changed by predator presence, neither in low nor in high densities. Our results suggest that tadpoles exposed to predation risk regulate their physiology to preserve the elemental stoichiometric homeostase of their body and excretion. Further, point out to need for future studies that elucidate under what conditions growth and stoichiometry are changed in response to predation risk

Mercado de trabalho e estrutura sócio-ocupacional: estudo comparativo entre as regiões metropolitanas de Fortaleza, Recife e Salvador 2001-2008

The economic transformations in the world, the end of World War II, listing significant changes in production structures and labor market in the world. Initially developed countries realize these changes and subsequently developing countries. The changes in production patterns, especially with the crisis of Fordism, peripheral countries further accentuated the problems in the workplace. Flexible accumulation, in turn, was responsible for significant changes in the labor market at the periphery of global capitalism. This restructuring process, in Brazil, begun from the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, being more accentuated the impacts on the labor market in the poorest regions of the country, particularly the Northeast. In that sense, this thesis aims to evaluate the job market in the metropolitan areas of Fortaleza, Recife and Salvador in light of the transformation process in the production structures and labor market and its influences in the 2000s. The time frame are the years 2001-2008. Data are from the National Household Sample Survey - PNAD and were drawn from the study proposal developed by the Centre of the Metropolis. The study shows that the labor market of the three metropolitan areas continues to be affected by the restructuring process of the late twentieth century. It found high rates of unprotected busy at work is more precarious conditions of employment for non-whites, women, adolescents / young and old. We also highlight the high percentage of employed persons earning income up 1.00 minimum wage, and a large number of persons employed in the tertiary and tertiary non-specialist. With the picture observed in the three metropolitan areas you can see the major problems in the labor market that proliferate, especially in the metropolitan context of the Northeast, with characteristics similar to those observed in the literature that investigated the labor market in 1990

Efeitos de um programa de intervenção precoce baseado no modelo mais que palavras - HANEN, para crianças menores de três anos com risco de autismo

In the last decades, studies on early intervention involving children with autism have suggested that there is no single intervention model capable of addressing the needs of all individuals in the spectrum. The role of parents as active intervention agents is, however, highly recommended. The More Than Words-HANEN Program has been specifically created for parents of children, under five years of age, who are in the autism spectrum. This intervention aims at improving the social competence and language comprehension of the child, as well as their parents empowerment. Until now only three studies have been performed in order to evaluate the effectiveness of the HMTW program. The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of an early intervention program inspired on HMTW model on the level of caregiver responsiveness and child communication skills. The present study adds to the existing research literature on family-centered early intervention that uses a developmental paradigm. A two year boy in risk for autism, his mother and nanny took part in this investigation, which was carried out in the child´s home in Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte. The caretakers were given one fifty-two hours of training, divided into thirteen weekly meetings. A quasi-experimental A-B-C design (baselineintervention- follow-up) showed improvement in the caretakers level of responsiveness and meaningful social-communicative gains in the child´s response

Herdabilidade de preditores do risco cardiovascular

genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of cardiovascular risk and that influence can be differentiated by factors characteristic of each population, age and sex. Aim: To investigate the heritability of anthropometric and biochemical markers as predictors of cardiovascular risk in men and women of different age groups, using the method of twins. Methods: A sample of 88 subjects and of these 52 children and adolescents (08-17 years old) 32 monozygotic (20 female and 12 male) and 20 dizygotic (12 female and 08 male) and 36 adults (18-28 years age) 24 monozygotic (08 female and 16 male) and 12 dizygotic (06 female and 06 male), living in the metropolitan region of Natal / RN, Brazil. Anthropometric measures were taken as the height, body mass, waist circumference (WC), sum of skinfolds (ΣDC), fat percentage CUN-BAE, BMI and conicity. Biochemical markers analyzed were: fasting glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (COL), HDL-C, LDL-C and triglycerides (TG). After processing the data the index of heritability (h2) = (S ² MZ) / S ² DZ (DZ S ²) X100 was applied disaggregated by sex and age. Results: The variables showed differential heritability of behavior for men and women, depending on age. The variables with the highest heritability values were ΣDC, GLU, HDL, TG, in men and BMI, WC, ΣDC, GLU, HDL-C and TG in women. And more influenced by the environment variables were: body mass, BMI, Chol, LDL-C in men; body mass and LDL-C in women. Conclusion: Differences index of heritability by gender for cardiovascular risk predictors may assist in planning specific intervention strategies according to gender and stage of life of that individual. It is from the level of environmental influence that can run interventions for changes of components related to cardiovascular risk

Úlcera de pressão em pacientes internados em um hospital universitário em Natal/RN: condições predisponentes e fatores de risco

The pressure ulcers (PU), also known as decubitus ulcers, are defined as injuries caused by the constant pressure exerted on a particular point of the body, causing impairment of blood supply with a decrease or interruption of tissue irrigation, causing occlusion of blood vessels and capillaries, ischemia and cell death. This is a descriptive study with longitudinal design, and panel type, with quantitative approach that aimed to examine the association between predisposing conditions (PC), intrinsic factors (IF) and extrinsic factors (EF) with the occurrence of PU, in hospitalized patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), pain clinical, surgical clinical and neurology wards of a university hospital. The study population was composed of all patients who were restricted to bed during the period from December 2007 to February 2008. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of HUOL / UFRN (No 135/07). The data-collection took place through a structured formulary of observation, data from medical records and physical examination of patients skins. The results were organized in SPSS 15.0 software, tabulated, categorized and analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. Of the 30 patients studied, 43.3% had been hospitalized in the pain clinical and surgical clinic wards, 20.0% in the ICU, 20.0% in the ICU / ward and 16.7% in neurology, being the length of hospitalization in those units of 7 to 18 days (63.3%) and from 19 to 30 days (36.7%), predominantly female and aged ≥ 60 years (60.0%). 19 PU were diagnosed in 43.3% of patients monitored, being 38.5% with one PU between 7 to 18 days and 46.2% with two or more between 19 to 30 days of hospitalization, showing significant relationship (ρ-value = 0029) between length of hospital stay and the number of PU. Was found an association of 35.7% of the PC (cardio-respiratory, hematological, metabolic and psychogenic), IF (age group, oedema, skin changes in humidity and change of body temperature) and EF (type of mattress and strength of body pressure) for all patients studied, statistically significant (ρ-value = 0001), between the average scores in patients with and without PU, with reason chance to 12.0 for the development of PU and there was moderate correlation ( r = 0618) in the presence of this association. Results show the influence of the multiplicity of factors and conditions on the occurrence of PU, which brings us to reflect on the assistance focused on prevention and reduction of these injuries which will encourage the reduction of hospitalization length, physical and psychological suffering, and the possibility of improving the clinical condition of the patient.

Hipertensão arterial e fatores de risco em servidores atendidos pelo departamento de assistência da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Systemic arterial hypertension is a multifactorial disease that contributes to the country´s high cardiovascular morbi-mortality rates. Considering that hypertension affects individuals in their most productive age while facing work and living risk factors, it is important to investigate its occurrence and predisposing factors in different occupational segments. The objective of this study was to identify the prevalence of hypertension among workers attended to in a medical service of a public university, their hypertension levels, the risk factors present, and their knowledge of the factors that influence the arterial pressure. The epidemiologic study was conducted in the Health Department of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte with 102 workers that sought care in the medical clinic during the months of March to May 2009. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and measurements of systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (SAP and DAP) that were classified in stages according to the Brazilian Society of Hypertension and the degree of risk for cardiovascular events according to the criteria of the Brazilian Society for Cardiology. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The workers were, on average, 54 years of age; the majority (67%) was male and had primary or middle educational level; they worked mainly in supplemental units and deanship offices conducting different functions such as security guards, administrative assistants, health auxiliaries and constructions workers; 48 (47%) of the workers identified themselves as hypertensive for 8 years on average, with the majority executing hard labor and administrative functions. Among the workers with hypertension, the number of the pressure levels classified as pre-hypertensive, stage I and II were: (12% in the SAP and 20% in the DAP); (16% in the SAP and 9% in the DAP); and (15% in the SAP and 5% in the DAP), respectively. The workers that did not identify themselves as hypertensive presented classifications with greater frequencies were: normal (16% in the SAP and 30% in the DAP); and pre-hypertensive (21% in the SAP and 16% in the DAP). The risk factors identified in more than 50% of the workers were: tobacco smoking, alcohol consumption and indices of being overweight, although physical activities are also present. Of the 48 workers diagnosed as hypertensive, those that had 5 risk factors present and limitrophic pressure levels (12%), in stage I hypertension (16%) and stage II hypertension (15¨%) were categorized as being in high risk for vascular events. The number of workers that indicated they had knowledge of the factors that influence their hypertension was less than 39% for each factor. It is concluded that there is a high prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension in the university workers, even amongst those already under treatment. They constitute a population at risk considering their age group, their work functions, and their inadequate life habits. Health care of these hypertensive workers that seek attention in the Health Department is an important aspect of the internal workers health policy in the institution. Educational interventions are recommended for the improvement of quality of life and of work in these workers

Assistência de enfermagem e o risco para úlceras de pressão medido pela Escala de Braden em unidade de terapia intensiva

The problem facing the incidence of pressure ulcers (UP) in the hospital environment especially in the intensive care unit (ICU), although it is an old and frequent event in our professional practice, it is not notified in the researches as much as it should be. We observed a tendency to invest in therapeutical and in studies about the production of sophisticated new bandages. Few, however, are the investments in research on preventive measures in order to prevent or at least slow down the development of lesions. In this sense, the study aimed to analyze the correlation between nursing care and the risk of developing UP measured by the Braden scale in ICU patients. This is a descriptive study of longitudinal quantitative approach. The project obtained a favourable opinion from the Ethics Committee of HUOL (no 486/10). Data collection was carried out in the Hospital of Unimed in Natal during six months in 2011. The sample was of 32 patients hospitalized in ICU for over four days. The results were processed in SPSS 15.0 for descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. We identified that, only 9.4% of our sample developed UP, being predominantly male, elderly people aged above 60 years, Caucasian, with diagnostic hypothesis at the time of hospitalization of sepsis, were clinical patients, who presented hemodynamic instability, using orotracheal tube (TOT), enteral probe (SNE), vesical probe delay (SVD) and had values of albumin and hemoglobin levels below normal. In addition, these patients had a longer hospital stay, longer usage of TOT, SNE, SVD, increased use of sedation and drain than those who did not develop UP and were all at risk for developing these injuries second Braden scores. 66.7% of the lesions developed were located in the sacral region, limiting the degree I and all patients that developed were considered serious, 100.0% of them have evolved since the death. Small were the differences between the averages of Braden scores between patients with and without UP, 11,9+2,4 against 12,4+2,6 with p = 0.627. The clinical aspects of the patients in the study were instrumental in the development of UP, once, these findings were statistically significant through the Mann-Whitney test, and appropriateness of nursing conduct was decisive for the prevention of pressure ulcers in critical patients, since many were those classified as at risk (28) and few who have developed lesions (03)

Ergonomia e Odontologia: determinantes da postura corporal dos estudantes da clínica-escola de uma Universidade Federal

Posture is one of the most worrying problems dentists face. That is because of the high incidence of low back pathologies regarding the professional activity, despite the development on the field of Dental Ergonomics. This work took place at the dental schoolclinic at a Federal University, and it was grounded on the Ergonomic Principles in the workplace. Its main objective was to analyze the determinants of inadequate posture adopted by students inasmuch as the adoption of non ergonomic methods at the school-clinic may influence them to develop inadequate postures in their working environment. The analysis of the activity showed us that it requires some complex procedures in the patient s mouth. Thus, when the students carry out the activity, they start to adopt, although unconsciously, inadequate postures which will make easier the visual accuracy and the access to the operation focus. In case there is no internal (body awareness) or external warning mechanisms (the professor s or the partner s counseling) regarding posture or possible risks which lead them to self-correction, the students become vulnerable to osteomuscle disorders. The time pressure, because the students are expected to perform their task in a predetermined clinical time. The facts related to each patient s variability as well as the stress caused by the expectations to get their work done in time make the students to advance it believing they will waste time if they help their partners or using an indirect view. We could also notice that there was no assistant to perform the job of minor ones, as well as there was no professor who could actually connect the knowledge on Ergonomics to its working practice. The conclusions of this work stand out the need of widen the discussion at the academic environment regarding health professionals in places such as universities. The ergonomic principles in the workplace aim a multidisciplinary analysis based on the experience of students, professors, staff members and janitors that can contribute to some reflection upon the issue and consequently actions which will bring positive changes at the working environment