Perceived health in the Portuguese population aged ? 35

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the exploratory relationship between determinants of health, life satisfaction, locus of control, attitudes and behaviors and health related quality of life in an adult population. METHODS Observational study (analytical and cross-sectional) with a quantitative methodological basis. The sample was composed oy 1,214 inhabitants aged ≥ 35 in 31 civil parishes in the County of Coimbra, Portugal, 2011-2012. An anonymous and voluntary health survey was conducted, which collected the following information: demographic, clinical record, health and lifestyle behaviors; health related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study, Short Form-36); health locus of control; survey of health attitudes and behavior, and quality of life index. Pearson’s Linear Correlation, t-Student, Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney; One-way ANOVA; Brown-Forsythe’s F; Kruskal-Wallis; Multiple Comparisons: Tukey (HSD), Games-Howell and Conover were used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS Health related quality of life was shown to be lower in females, in older age groups, in obese/overweight individuals, widows, unassisted, those living alone, living in rural/suburban areas, those who did not work and with a medium-low socioeconomic level. Respondents with poor/very poor self-perceived health (p < 0.0001), with chronic disease (p < 0.0001), who consumed < 3 meals per day (p ≤ 0.01), who were sedentary, who slept ≤ 6 h/day and had smoked for several years revealed the worst health results. Health related quality of life was positively related with a bigger internal locus, with better health attitudes and behaviors (physical exercise, health and nutritional care, length of dependence) and with different areas of life satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS Better health related quality of life was associated with certain social, psychological, family and health characteristics, a satisfactory lifestyle, better socioeconomic conditions and a good internal locus of control over health attitudes and behaviors.

Alterations in psychosocial health of people affected by asbestos poisoning

OBJECTIVE To analyze the state of psychosocial and mental health of professionals affected by asbestos.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with 110 professionals working in the Ferrolterra region of Spain, who were affected by asbestos poisoning. This group was compared with a group of 70 shipyard workers with no manifestation of work-related diseases. All the participants were male with a mean age of 67 years. This study was conducted in 2013, between January and June, and used the SCL-90 questionnaire by Derogatis as its primary measure for research. This questionnaire consists of 9 variables that measure psychosomatic symptoms. In addition, an overall index of psychosomatic gravity was calculated. The participants were also asked two questions concerning their overall perception of feeling good. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and logistic regression.RESULTS Participants affected by asbestos poisoning showed high occurrence rates of psychological health variables such as somatization, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety, hostility, phobic anxiety, paranoid ideation, psychoticism, and global severity index.CONCLUSIONS Social interaction as a differentiating factor between workers affected by work-related chronic syndromes as compared to healthy participants will possibly aid in the development of intervention programs by improving the social network of affected individuals.

Performance evaluation of hospitals that provide care in the public health system, Brazil

OBJECTIVE To analyze if size, administrative level, legal status, type of unit and educational activity influence the hospital network performance in providing services to the Brazilian Unified Health System.METHODS This cross-sectional study evaluated data from the Hospital Information System and the Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde (National Registry of Health Facilities), 2012, in Sao Paulo, Southeastern Brazil. We calculated performance indicators, such as: the ratio of hospital employees per bed; mean amount paid for admission; bed occupancy rate; average length of stay; bed turnover index and hospital mortality rate. Data were expressed as mean and standard deviation. The groups were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Bonferroni correction.RESULTS The hospital occupancy rate in small hospitals was lower than in medium, big and special-sized hospitals. Higher hospital occupancy rate and bed turnover index were observed in hospitals that include education in their activities. The hospital mortality rate was lower in specialized hospitals compared to general ones, despite their higher proportion of highly complex admissions. We found no differences between hospitals in the direct and indirect administration for most of the indicators analyzed.CONCLUSIONS The study indicated the importance of the scale effect on efficiency, and larger hospitals had a higher performance. Hospitals that include education in their activities had a higher operating performance, albeit with associated importance of using human resources and highly complex structures. Specialized hospitals had a significantly lower rate of mortality than general hospitals, indicating the positive effect of the volume of procedures and technology used on clinical outcomes. The analysis related to the administrative level and legal status did not show any significant performance differences between the categories of public hospitals.

Relationship of health workers with their organization and work: a cross-cultural study

ABSTRACT We analyzed the differences, by Student’s t-test and ANOVA, between nurses and physicians from Portugal, Poland, Spain, and United Kingdom regarding their relationship with their work and organization. In total, 1,401 professionals answered the HSA-QHPR questionnaire. There are different levels of connection between physicians and nurses. The United Kingdom has the lowest levels of connection with the work while Portugal has the highest levels of relationship with the organization. The results provide guidelines for the development of policies and differential strategies aimed at improving the quality of healthcare service.

Malaria serology: performance of six Plasmodium falciparum antigen extracts and of three ways of determining serum titers in IgG and IgM-ELISA

The study evaluated six Plasmodium falciparum antigen extracts to be used in the IgG and IgM enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), for malaria diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Results obtained with eighteen positive and nine negative control sera indicated that there were statistically significant differences among these antigen extracts (Multifactor ANOVA, p< 0.0001). Urea, sodium deoxycholate and Zwittergent antigen extracts performed better than did the three others, their features being very similar for the detection of IgG antibodies. Urea, alkaline and sodium deoxycholate antigen extracts proved to be better than the others for the detection of IgM antibodies. A straight line relationship was found between the optical densities (or their respective log 10) and the log 10 of antibody dilutions, with a very constant slope. Thus serum titers could be determined by direct titration and by two different equations, needing only one serum dilution. For IgM antibody detections, log 10 expression gave results that better correlated with direct titration (95% Bonferroni). For IgG antibody detections, the titer differences were not significant. The reproducibility of antibody titers and antigen batches was also evaluated, giving satisfactory results.

REPRODUCIBILITY OF ALKALINE ANTIGENS OF Leishmania major-LIKE AND Leishmania (V.) braziliensis EVALUATED BY IgG-ELISA. COMPARISON OF ANTIGENS ADDED OF A PROTEIN INHIBITOR (PMSF) OR NOT

This paper deals with the analysis of 10 batches of L.major-like and L.(V.) braziliensis antigens added or not of a proteases inhibitor evaluated by means of an IgG-ELISA on three consecutive days using positive standard sera from patients with diagnosis of American Leishmaniasis previously tested for the presence of IgG antibodies by means of ELISA. The statistical analysis showed that for L. (V.) braziliensis the PMSF-containing antigen did not show any difference among batches or days of testing; the L.(V.) braziliensis antigen without PMSF showed statistical significance for differences among batches and a two-way ANOVA showed significant differences between antigens. L.major-like antigen prepared with or without PMSF showed differences among batches; all 3 days of testing displayed differences for the PMSF antigen but only for days 1 and 2 for the antigen without inhibitor. A two-way ANOVA showed differences among batches of the antigens but not for antigens with and without the protein inhibitor. According to the statistical analysis the L.major-like antigen added or not of PMSF has shown that it is the choice antigen for mucocutaneous leishmaniasis serology.

TESTING A SUBTYPE-SPECIFIC GP41 AMPLIFICATION METHOD FOR GENOTYPING INDIVIDUALS INFECTED BY HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS TYPE-1 IN THE BRAZILIAN POPULATION OF ITAJAÍ, SOUTH BRAZIL

The method used by YAGYU et al. for the subtype-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the gp41 transmembrane region of the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) env gene, was tested. HIV-1 proviral DNA from 100 infected individuals in Itajaí, South Brazil was used to analyze this method. Seventy individuals were determined according to this method as having PCR products at the expected size for subtypes B, C, D and F. Of these individuals, 26 (37.1%) were observed as having the expected amplification for subtype C, and 42 (60%) were observed as having the expected products for subtypes B and D. Of the subtype B and D amplicons, 16 (22.9%) were classified as subtype D, and 26 (37.1%) were classified as subtype B. Two individuals (2.9%) had amplicons that were observed after subtype F-specific amplification was performed. Sequencing and comparing the patient sequences to reference sequences confirmed the classification of sequences of subtypes C and B. However, sequences that were falsely determined as being D and F in the PCR assay were determined as being subtypes C and B, respectively, by sequence analysis. For those individuals from whom no amplified products were obtained, a low viral load that was indicated in their patient history may explain the difficulty in subtyping by PCR methods. This issue was demonstrated by the results of ANOVA when testing the effect of viral load on the success of PCR amplification. The alignment of the obtained sequences with HIV-1 reference sequences demonstrated that there is high intra-subtype diversity. This indicates that the subtype-specific primer binding sites were not conserved or representative of the subtypes that are observed in the Brazilian populations, and that they did not allow the correct classification of HIV-1 subtypes. Therefore, the proposed method by YAGYU et al. is not applicable for the classification of Brazilian HIV-1 subtypes.

Perfil sociodemográfico, epidemiológico e comportamental de mulheres infectadas pelo HTLV-1 em Salvador-Bahia, uma área endêmica para o HTLV

O objetivo foi descrever as características sociodemográficas, epidemiológicas e comportamentais de mulheres infectadas (64) e não infectadas (66) pelo HTLV-1 em Salvador, Bahia. O diagnóstico sorológico foi obtido por ELISA, WB e Imunofluorescência. Dados epidemiológicos e sociodemográficos foram coletados utilizando questionário padronizado. O Qui-quadrado ou teste de Fisher foi usado para dados categóricos e ANOVA ou Kruskall Wallis (3 grupos) e teste T ou Mann Whitney (2 grupos) para os dados contínuos. As variáveis associadas foram ajustadas por regressão logística. Mais da metade (57,8%) das mulheres soropositivas eram assintomáticas. As sintomáticas (com PET/MAH) tinham menor escolaridade. A comparação entre mulheres soropositivas e soronegativas mostrou que a hemotransfusão, a prática de sexo anal, coitarca antes dos 18 anos e ter mais de 3 parceiros sexuais na vida foram fatores de risco para infecção pelo HTLV-1. A prevenção da transmissão sexual e vertical (aleitamento materno) deve ser reforçada e triagem no pré-natal mandatória.

Efeito da farinha de resíduo de Peixe e de Frango no desempenho e na composição corporal de juvenis de Tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum (Cuvier, 1818)

Este trabalho teve como objetivos testar o efeito de rações com um nível de farinha de resíduo de peixe e um de resíduo de frango, assim como a combinação de dois níveis desses ingredientes sobre o ganho de peso e composição corporal de juvenis de tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos (rações experimentais) cada um com quatro repetições. As rações experimentais possuíam as seguintes formulações: R1 = 21% de farinha de resíduo de peixe; R2 = 14% de farinha de resíduo de peixe + 7% farinha de resíduo de frango; R3 = 7% de farinha de resíduo de peixe + 14% farinha de resíduo de frango e R4 = 21% de farinha de resíduo de frango. Em cada um dos 16 tanques, foram estocados 16 peixes distribuídos homogeneamente entre os tratamentos (p>0,05) com peso médio inicial de 13,9±0,4g, por um período de 120 dias. Os resultados para o desempenho e composição corporal dos peixes não apresentaram diferença significativa entre os tratamentos (ANOVA p>0,05), sendo que esses parâmetros mostraram melhores resultados quando houve a combinação das duas farinhas de resíduo.

Feeding of the Brycon cephalus, Triportheus elongatus and Semaprochilodus insignis (osteichthyes, characiformes) larvae in Solimões/Amazonas River and floodplain areas.

Information on larval fish feeding is essential for understanding their trophic relations, including the management in conditions totally or partially controlled by humans. An experiment was designed to evaluate the larval diets of three commercially important species. Four varzea-lakes and the adjacent river were sampled with bongo and hand nets from January 1993 to November 1995. Larval diets were evaluated by length-classes and capture sites, and were tested by two factor ANOVA. The larvae were feeding in all habitats, except in the flooded forests. The three species had different diets, which varied with their length and lake. The rotifers were the main initial food item of the three species, replaced by fish larvae in Brycon cephalus, cladocerans in Triportheus elongatus and detritus in Semaprochilodus insignis. The increase of the ingestion limit, as the larvae grew, was higher than the increase in the consumed prey size for the three species.

A alimentação de juvenis de matrinxã, Brycon amazonicum (Pisces, Characidae), em áreas inundadas da Ilha de Marchantaria, Amazonas, Brasil

Estudou-se a dieta de 44 exemplares de juvenis de Brycon amazonicum (de 15 a 50mm de C.P), em áreas inundadas da Ilha de Marchantaria, no rio Solimões. Os peixes foram capturados com rede-de-mão com 30cm de diâmetro e cabo de 2 metros de comprimento. As análises foram baseadas em Freqüência de Ocorrência (%) e no número de presas. A dieta foi analisada pelo tamanho (C.P. (mm)) e por data de captura usando uma ANOVA com dois fatores. A data de captura explicou a oscilação no número de presas ingeridas pelos juvenis. A análise qualitativa mostrou poucas mudanças na dieta nesta fase de desenvolvimento. Verificou-se que B. amazonicum apresenta amplo espectro alimentar e que regula o número de presas na dieta de acordo com a disponibilidade dessas presas no ambiente.

Avaliação de acessos de milho para resistência a Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) em laboratório

Avaliou-se uma coleção de milho para resistência à lagarta de Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E.Smith) (Lepidóptera: Noctuidae) em testes de laboratório da UFRA. Utilizou-se 25 acessos de milho proveniente do banco de germoplasma da Embrapa Milho e Sorgo, em um experimento inteiramente ao acaso com três repetições. Observou-se diariamente o desenvolvimento dos insetos durante as fases de larva e pupa, para registrar as alterações biológicas promovidas pelos acessos de milho. Os dados observados foram submetidos à ANOVA, as médias foram comparadas pelo teste SNK e através da análise de regressão linear, determinou-se o grau de dependência entre o consumo foliar de S. frugiperda na fase larval e a respectiva biomassa do inseto na fase pupal. Os resultados mostraram que houve influência dos acessos de milho sobre o desenvolvimento da lagarta-do-cartucho do milho. Os acessos que promoveram a menor percentagem de viabilidade de lagartas foram AM 013, RO 009 e MA 002, enquanto RR 168 e PA 110 foram os menos consumidos pelas lagartas de S. frugiperda.

Estrutura de florestas secundárias após dois diferentes sistemas agrícolas no nordeste do estado do Pará, Amazônia Oriental

O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar e comparar a estrutura de florestas secundárias com quatro anos de idade, que foram formadas após a utilização de dois diferentes sistemas de eliminação da cobertura vegetal - o sistema alternativo (SA) que tritura a biomassa e o sistema tradicional (ST) que utiliza o fogo. O estudo foi conduzido na região Bragantina que está localizada no nordeste do Pará. Para tal, foram selecionadas três áreas amostrais para cada sistema de uso da terra. Dentro de cada área amostral foram alocadas aleatoriamente quatro parcelas de 15 m² (3 x 5 m), totalizando 60 m² por área de estudo e 180 m² por sistema de uso. Foi encontrada uma diversidade média (H') de 2,94 para o SA e 3,32 para o ST, a densidade média foi 459.556 ind. ha-1 no SA e 466.833 ind. ha-1 no ST, a área basal do estrato superior do SA foi de 8,48 m² ha-1 e a do ST 3,07 m² ha-1, a biomassa seca estimada para o SA foi de 6,68 ton ha-1 e 2,80 ton ha-1 para o ST. Ocorreram diferenças estatísticas (ANOVA; P < 0,05) em parâmetros da estrutura vertical e biomassa indicando que o SA facilita o desenvolvimento do componente arbóreo das florestas.

Eficiência de Inseticidas no Controle de Pragas em Sementes e Mudas de Pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora Ducke), em Viveiros, Manaus, Amazonas

O pau-rosa (Aniba rosaeodora) é conhecido pela presença do álcool linalol, que fornece um odor forte e perfumado em todas as partes da planta. A sua exploração na Amazônia ao longo dos últimos anos, para utilização do linalol como fixador de perfumes, coloca o pau-rosa em risco de extinção, a sua frutificação irregular aumenta a dificuldade em se obter sementes para a produção de mudas e, além disso, parte de sua produção é perdida face ao ataque de pragas nas sementes. Em razão desses fatores o presente estudo teve como objetivo realizar a aplicação de inseticidas nas sementes e mudas em viveiro a fim de evitar ou minimizar o ataque de pragas, aumentando, assim, a produção de mudas. Utilizou-se um total de 300 sementes, distribuídas em 2 tratamentos e 1 testemunha. Cada tratamento (n = 100) foi constituído por 4 repetições (bandejas) com 25 sementes. O inseticida utilizado nos tratamentos foi acetamiprid e fipronil nas concentrações de 0,09 mg/planta e 0,18 mg/planta, respectivamente, para o tratamento 1 (T1) e o tratamento 2 (T2), distribuídos na forma de sachês. O T1 recebeu a aplicação de 1 sachê e o T2 a aplicação de dois sachês, enterrados com areia lavada nas sementeiras. Para avaliar os resultados foi feita uma análise de Variância (ANOVA), usando o programa Systat 9 e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey em nível de 5%. As taxas de germinação foram: testemunha com 62%; T1 com 73% e T2 com 79%. Houve ataque de insetos em sementes apenas na testemunha com 23% do total (n = 100) e os resultados foram estatisticamente significativos (F = 31,263; p < 0,001). Houve diferenças significativas apenas entre a altura das plântulas nos tratamentos T1 e T2 e a testemunha (F = 15,090; p < 0,001). A principal praga identificada atacando as sementes foi Heilipus odoratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Recomenda-se, portanto, a concentração de 0,09 mg de acetamiprid e fipronil distribuídos em sachês nas sementeiras e no transplantio para diminuir o ataque de pragas em sementes e mudas de pau-rosa em viveiros.

Suplementação de metionina e/ou lisina em rações para juvenis de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818)

Foi avaliado o efeito da redução dos níveis de proteína e a suplementação de metionina e/ou lisina em rações sobre a excreção de amônia em juvenis de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com esquema fatorial de duas entradas: 2 níveis protéicos (25 e 20%) e 4 níveis de inclusão de aminoácidos: a) 0% de suplementação, b) DL-Metionina (3% da PB), c) L-lisina (5% da PB) e d) Dl-Metionina (3% da PB) + L-lisina (5% da PB), com duração de 55 dias. A coleta de água das unidades experimentais ocorreu em três momentos (1º dia, 27º dia e 55º dia) durante o período experimental. Nestes dias, foram realizadas 3 coletas de amostras de água para análise de amônia de cada unidade experimental (08:00 , 14:00 e 20:00 horas). Os dados de excreção de amônia foram analisados por ANOVA com medidas repetidas no tempo a 5% do nível de significância. A redução em 5% do nível de proteína na dieta gerou uma diminuição de 28,4% na excreção de amônia. Contudo, a suplementação de lisina e metionina não influenciaram esta diminuição.