Gli infortuni sul lavoro in Brasile. Studio nello Stato di San Paolo del Brasile, regione di Botucatu, utilizzando il metodo dell'albero delle cause

This paper discusses, within the prevaling Brazilian situation, the possibility of applying 'Causal Tree' (CT) method in investigating occupational accidents by safety personnel in the public health services and workers' unions. The method was developed during the seventies in France, for use by plant safety personnel. The authors used this method in Botucatu, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in order to investigate 40 serious occupational accidents that occurred in industrial plants during the second half of 1993, that had been registered by Social Security. In these cases, the predominance of situations in which the lack of safety measures were identified by inspection indicates that in most instances, the use of CT is unnecessary. However, the authors discuss its use by safety personnel from the public health services and workers' unions to investigate certain accidents to contribute to the knowledge base and help overcome the cultural based guilt which, in Brazil, has turned the victim into the person responsible for the accident.

Absentismo laboral por patología odontológica y médica en una industria de gran porte del sector mecánico y mueblero

Introduction: The current Brazilian legislation states that health services must be performed by the Specialized Service of Safety Engineering and Labor Medicine (SESMT). Objective: To analyze the dental and medical reasons for absenteeism, checking the interference of factors such as age, gender and position of the worker, and most of the reasons that led the employee to miss work. Material and methods: The research appears as a descriptive study with a quantitative approach. The dental and medical certificates and statements of attendance were analyzed, duly approved, lodged in a acrylic industry in the city of Araçatuba-SP, from January to July 2011. Results: Of the total number of certificates (n = 1841), only 103 (5.6%) were for dental reasons. Predominance of the age group of 20-29 years, males and with non-administrative function. The reasons most dental and medical certificates stated that led the workers to miss working days were "inclusive and impacted teeth" and "diarrhea and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin", respectively. As to factors related to absenteeism, there was a severity index of 2.83, 1.33 frequency and average duration of absences of 2.12. Conclusions: It is concluded that dental reasons had little weight on total absences due to illness that caused the temporary leave of the worker for a shorter period. The age and function variables influence the occurrence of work absenteeism.

The determination of iron, lead, copper and zinc in the hair of children between 22 and 85 months old

In this study the levels of Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, determined in hair of healthy children (25-85 months), living at Araraquara (São Paulo, Brasil) are reported. Analytical determinations were carried out by using atomic absorption spectrometry employing an air acetylene flame. The results obtained are discussed with regard to effect of sex and age, as well compared with others analogous studies.

La suplementación pre-ejercicio con carbohidrato de alta concentración perjudica el rendimiento en el ejercicio de alta intensidad en bicicleta

Objectives. To evaluate the effects of pre-exercise high concentration carbohydrate supplementation on performance, cardiovascular, metabolic and hormonal responses during high intensity cycling exercise. Method. Seven male cyclists (28.7 ± 5.4 years; 65.2 ± 4.7 kg body weight), who performed two continuous exercise trials under placebo (PLA) or carbohydrate (CHO) ingestion at a work rate of 80% VO 2max until exhaustion, participated in the study. The cyclists received 5 ml.kg-1 of a maltodextrin solution diluted at a concentration of 10% (CHO) or placebo (PLA) at 60, 45 and 30 min pre-exercise. Results. A 5.4% reduction in the time to exhaustion was observed in the CHO trial compared to the PLA trial. In both trials, glucose and lactate levels were higher in the post-trial condition compared to pre-exercise values (p < 0.05). Free fatty acid levels were lower in the CHO group than in the PLA group both before and after the trial (p < 0.05). Insulinemia was higher during the pre-trial in the CHO group (42.7 ± 3.6 μU.ml-1) compared to the PLA condition (11.8 ± 3.3 μU.ml-1) (p < 0.05), and even decreased to 23.8 ± 5.1 μU.ml-1 during exercise after CHO intake (p < 0.05). No significant differences in plasma cortisol were observed between the two trials (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Pre-exercise high concentration CHO supplementation resulted in impaired performance in high intensity cycling exercise and decreased free fatty acid levels. © 2010 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.

Entrenamiento continuo vs. interválico corriendo en piscina profunda: Efectos sobre la salud de las mujeres obesas

Objectives. To search intermittent and continous trainning (IT and CT, respectively) effects through deep water running for the control and prevention of excessive body fat accumulation and improvement of quality of life. Methods. Experimental study composed by 30 women, aged between 34 to 58 years old, during 12 weeks, three sessions per week, 47 minutes each. Body composition, cardiorespiratory condition and Quality of Life by WHOQOL-Brief were considered. Student's and Wilcoxon's non parametric tests were applied at 5% significance level. Results. With the only exception for social domain of quality of life, all investigated variables revealed improvement in both groups for IT in comparison to CT. Conclusion. Deep water running contributes to body fat reduction, physical fitness evolution and improvement of WHOQOL-Brief domains, regardless of the trainning type conducted. © 2012 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.

Dermatoglyphics in sports sciences: Understanding the distribution of quantitative indicators in non-athletes and athletes of basketball according to their performance

Objectives. One of the concerns of Sports Sciences is the search for methodologies that can help discover potential athletes. In this sense, some initiatives have been taken in an attempt to identify and characterize the genetic profile of dermatoglyphic marks (fingerprints). The present work has the objective of understanding the distribution of quantitative dermatoglyphic indicators in basketball players with different levels of performance compared to non-players. Methods. The subjects observed constituted 125 individuals, divided into five numerically equal groups, three of which were composed of professional basketball players according to their level of participation (Brazilian Team, National Championship and São Paulo Championship) and the last two formed by weekend players and non-players, respectively. Eleven dermatoglyphic variables were analysed in the descriptive level by means of measurement of position, variability and limits of confidence of the median, and, in inferential terms, the Kruskal-Wallis statistical test was adopted. Results. The more expressive ones were: TRC, counting lines a-b and A'-d, behave differently between athletes and non-athletes. Conclusion. Studies about this kind of analysis should be continued, calling on resources that take into consideration all variables simultaneously as a multivariate study. © 2012 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.

Muscular strength, bone density and body composition of a woman with systemic lupus erythematosus submitted to a resistance training program: A case report

Introduction. Physical activity can provide long-term benefits for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Objective. This study sought to demonstrate the effects of progressive resistance training on the muscular strength, bone mineral density (BMD) and body composition of pre-menopausal women with SLE undergoing glucocorticoid (GC) treatment. Materials and Methods. This is the case report of a 43-year-old African-South American premenopausal woman with non-extensive SLE and low bone density. A six-month program with three bimonthly cycles of 70%, 80%, and 90% intensity according to the 10 maximum-repetition test was used. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) was used to measure the BMD, T-scores and body composition, and indirect fluorescence was used to measure the levels of antinuclear antibodies. Student's t-test was used. Results. Statistical improvement was noted in all strength exercises, including the 45° leg press (Δ%=+50%, p<0.001) and knee extension (Δ%=+15%, p=0.003) to maintain the BMD of the L2-L4 lumbar (Δ%=+0.031%; p=0.46) as well as the trochanter (Δ%=+0.037%; p=0.31) and BMI (Δ%=-0.8, p=0.54). Conclusion. In this case study, the presented methodology had a positive effect on strength and contributed to the maintenance of BMD and body composition in a woman with SLE undergoing GC treatment. © 2012 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.

Relação entre idade cronológica, indicadores de adiposidade corporal e aptidão física relacionada à saúde em meninos e meninas

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between adiposity indicators, age and physical fitness related to health. Methods. The sample involved 43 boys and 53 girls. The tests applied were: the Sit-up (S), Modified Pull-up (MP) and Run/Walk (RW) tests. Fat indicators were: Body Mass Index (BMI), subscapular (SB), triceps (TR), and calf (C) skinfolds; the skinfolds sum (Σ) and percentage of fat mass (%F). Results. The results indicated negative correlation between MP and TR, MC, Σ and %F for boys and girls (r = -0,42 a r = -0,52, P ≤ 0,01). There was positive correlation among the S test and age for both groups (r = 0,35, P ≤ 0,05 a r = 0,52, P ≤ 0,01), and negative on the S test with SB, MC and %F for the girls (r = -0,28 a r = -0,29, P ≤ 0,05). Negative correlation also was verified between RW with TR for the boys (r = -0,30, P < 0,05). Conclusion. Age seemed to be related with better performance, and adiposity with weaker performance, mostly in the MP where it is necessary to support their own body mass. Thus, these factors should be considered in the interpretation of results and when establishing criteria for health-related tests with these characteristics. © 2013 Revista Andaluza de Medicina del Deporte.

Working postures of dental students: ergonomic analysis using the Ovako Working Analysis System and Rapid Upper Limb Assessment

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)