Fatores associados ao consumo regular de refrigerante não dietético em adultos de Pelotas, RS

OBJETIVO: Analisar fatores associados ao consumo regular de refrigerantes não dietéticos por adultos. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional com 972 adultos (20 a 69 anos) do município de Pelotas, RS, realizado em 2006. A freqüência de consumo nos 12 meses anteriores à pesquisa foi medida por meio da pergunta: "em geral desde o regular de refrigerante não dietético a freqüência de cinco ou mais vezes por semana. A associação entre o desfecho e variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, comportamentais e nutricionais foi analisada pelo teste qui-quadrado para heterogeneidade e tendência linear e a análise multivariável foi realizada por meio de regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta. RESULTADOS: Cerca de um quinto da população adulta de Pelotas (20,4%) ingeria regularmente refrigerante não dietético. Indivíduos do sexo masculino (RP 1,50; IC95%: 1,20;2,00), fumantes atuais (RP 1,60; IC95%: 1,20;2,10) e que consumiam semanalmente lanches (RP 2,10; IC95%: 1,60;2,70) apresentaram maior prevalência de consumo de refrigerantes não dietéticos na análise ajustada. A análise estratificada por sexo mostrou que o consumo regular de frutas, legumes e verduras foi fator protetor ao consumo de refrigerantes entre mulheres (RP 0,50; IC95%: 0,30;0,90). CONCLUSÕES: A freqüência do consumo regular de refrigerantes não dietéticos na população adulta foi elevada, particularmente entre homens, jovens e fumantes.

Uso regular de serviços odontológicos entre adultos e idosos em região vulnerável no sul do Brasil

OBJETIVO: Estimar a prevalência do uso regular de serviços odontológicos por adultos e idosos em comunidade vulnerável e identificar fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base populacional com 3.391 adultos e idosos de áreas de vulnerabilidade social de Porto Alegre, RS, de julho a dezembro de 2009. Foi utilizada amostragem sistemática com probabilidade proporcional ao tamanho de cada um dos 121 setores censitários. O desfecho "utilização regular de serviços odontológicos" foi definido consultar com o dentista regularmente, tendo ou não problemas de saúde bucal. Foi aplicado questionário padronizado, que incluiu variáveis demográficas, socioeconômicas, tipo de local procurado, autopercepção de saúde bucal e necessidades autopercebidas. Utilizou-se teste qui-quadrado para heterogeneidade na análise bivariada e na análise ajustada regressão de Poisson, com variância robusta e teste de heterogeneidade de Wald. RESULTADOS: A prevalência do uso regular de serviços odontológicos foi de 25,7%. A prevalência foi maior entre os indivíduos com escolaridade > 12 anos (RP 2,48 [IC95% 1,96;3,15]), mais ricos (RP: 1,95 [IC95% 1,03;1,53]), que utilizaram serviços privados de saúde (RP1,43 [IC95% 1,20;1,71]), com ótima autopercepção de saúde bucal (RP 4,44 [IC95% 3,07;6,42]) e autopercepção de necessidade de consultas para fins de revisão (RP 2,13 [IC95% 1,54;2,96]). CONCLUSÕES: Observam-se desigualdades na utilização regular de serviços odontológicos. Ações que contribuam para aumentar o conhecimento sobre a saúde bucal e melhoria do autocuidado, além de acesso a serviços odontológicos que visem à integralidade da atenção, podem contribuir para o aumento do uso regular dos serviços odontológicos.

Effects of an exercise program on the functional capacity of patients with chronic Chagas' heart disease, evaluated by cardiopulmonary testing

INTRODUCTION: Despite all efforts to restrict its transmission, Chagas' disease remains a severe public health problem in Latin America, affecting 8-12 million individuals. Chronic Chagas' heart disease, the chief factor in the high mortality rate associated with the illness, affects more than half a million Brazilians. Its evolution may result in severe heart failure associated with loss of functional capacity and quality of life, with important social and medical/labor consequences. Many studies have shown the beneficial effect of regular exercise on cardiac patients, but few of them have focused on chronic Chagas' heart disease. METHODS: This study evaluated the effects of an exercise program on the functional capacity of patients with chronic Chagas' disease who were treated in outpatient clinics at the Evandro Chagas Institute of Clinical Research and the National Institute of Cardiology, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The exercises were performed 3 times a week for 1 h (30 min of aerobic activity and 30 min of resistance exercises and extension) over 6 months in 2010. Functional capacity was evaluated by comparing the direct measurement of the O2 uptake volume (VO2) obtained by a cardiopulmonary exercise test before and after the program (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Eighteen patients (13 females) were followed, with minimum and maximum ages of 30 and 72 years, respectively. We observed an average increase of VO2peak > 10% (p = 0.01949). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest a statistically significant improvement in functional capacity with regular exercise of the right intensity.

Unusual abdominal tumors with intracardiac extension. Two cases with successful surgical resection

Abdominal tumors that can grow through vascular lumen and spread to the right heart are rare. Although these tumors have different histologic aspects, they may cause similar abdominal and cardiac symptoms and are a serious risk factor for pulmonary embolism and sudden death when they reach the right atrium and tricuspid valve. The best treatment is radical surgical resection of the entire tumor using cardiopulmonary bypass with or without deep hypothermia and total circulatory arrest. We report the cases of two patients, the first with leiomyosarcoma of the inferior vena cava and the other with intravenous leiomyomatosis of the uterus that showed intravascular growth up to right atrium and ventricle, who underwent successful radical resection in a one-stage procedure with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. We discuss the clinical and histologic aspects and imaging diagnosis and review the literature.

Range extension of Centronycetris maximiliani (Mammalia: Chiroptera) for southern Amazonia

Bat species of the genus Centronycteris are some of the rarest Neotropical Emballonuridae and fewer than 50 specimens have been deposited in scientific collections. The aim of this study is to extend the distribution of Centronycteris maximiliani. Three C. maximiliani specimens were recorded in the Brazilian Amazonia, providing the first record of the species for the state of Rondônia, the southernmost record of the species for the Amazon biome in Brazil, and an additional record for the state of Pará. Although these new records of C. maximiliani reinforce the idea that this species is widely distributed throughout the Amazon biome, its low capture rate reflects the rarity of this species, since only three specimens were collected during three to four year field effort.

Cardiac extension of primary mediastinal seminoma compressing the right ventricular outflow tract

We report the case of a 33-year-old male with primary seminoma of the anterior mediastinum with initial clinical manifestations suggestive of heart disease.

Uso crônico e regular de estatina previne fibrilação atrial no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca

FUNDAMENTO: Fibrilação atrial é uma complicação frequente no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca. O uso prévio de estatinas pode reduzir a incidência dessa arritmia. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se o uso crônico e regular de estatina, por um período de seis meses, previne fibrilação atrial no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca eletiva. MÉTODOS: Estudo realizado em 107 pacientes submetidos à cirurgia cardíaca, 66% do sexo masculino e com idade média de 60,4 anos (25 a 84). Avaliou-se a presença de fibrilação atrial entre os pacientes que usavam ou não estatina de forma regular no pré-operatório. Foram excluídos pacientes com cirurgia cardíaca de urgência, insuficiência renal, doenças inflamatórias, fibrilação atrial prévia, portadores de tireoidopatia e aqueles em uso de marca-passo definitivo. RESULTADOS: No período pós-operatório, fibrilação atrial esteve presente em 42 pacientes (39%) da amostra, sendo 11 (26%) em uso regular de estatina no período pré-operatório e 31 (74%) não. Observou-se que, em 22% do total de pacientes em uso de estatina, não houve desenvolvimento de fibrilação atrial, enquanto 45% dos que não usavam estatina apresentaram arritmia (ρ=0,02). Na revascularização miocárdica isolada, 47% dos pacientes que não usavam estatina e 23% dos que usavam desenvolveram fibrilação atrial (ρ =0,02). Não houve diferença estatística significativa na análise dos grupos com ou sem estatina quanto à presença dos fatores de risco para desenvolvimento de fibrilação atrial ( ρ=0,34). CONCLUSÃO: O uso regular de estatina, por seis meses ou mais no período pré-operatório, reduziu a incidência de fibrilação atrial no pós-operatório de cirurgia cardíaca eletiva.

Impact of Light Salt Substitution for Regular Salt on Blood Pressure of Hypertensive Patients

Background: Studies have shown sodium restriction to have a beneficial effect on blood pressure (BP) of hypertensive patients. Objective: To evaluate the impact of light salt substitution for regular salt on BP of hypertensive patients. Methods: Uncontrolled hypertensive patients of both sexes, 20 to 65 years-old, on stable doses of antihypertensive drugs were randomized into Intervention Group (IG - receiving light salt) and Control Group (CG - receiving regular salt). Systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were analyzed by using casual BP measurements and Home Blood Pressure Monitoring (HBPM), and sodium and potassium excretion was assessed on 24-hour urine samples. The patients received 3 g of salt for daily consumption for 4 weeks. Results: The study evaluated 35 patients (65.7% women), 19 allocated to the IG and 16 to the CG. The mean age was 55.5 ± 7.4 years. Most participants had completed the Brazilian middle school (up to the 8th grade; n = 28; 80.0%), had a family income of up to US$ 600 (n = 17; 48.6%) and practiced regular physical activity (n = 19; 54.3%). Two patients (5.7%) were smokers and 40.0% consumed alcohol regularly (n = 14). The IG showed a significant reduction in both SBP and DBP on the casual measurements and HBPM (p < 0.05) and in sodium excretion (p = 0.016). The CG showed a significant reduction only in casual SBP (p = 0.032). Conclusions: The light salt substitution for regular salt significantly reduced BP of hypertensive patients.

Duas crianças cegas congênitas no primeiro ciclo da escola regular

O estudo tem como objetivo investigar com maior profundidade a pesquisa sobre representação mental da realidade em crianças com cegueira congênita, comparando-as com crianças normovisuais no ensino básico da escola regular em Portugal. A partir de fundamentos teóricos, pretende-se analisar as diferentes crianças ao longo do tempo, bem como a sociedade atual perante as crianças diferentes. Foram feitos dois estudos de caso, combinando dados de natureza quantitativa e qualitativa. A análise desses casos revela dois caminhos diferentes na integração de crianças com cegueira congênita no primeiro ciclo do ensino básico, sendo que essa diferenciação não resulta dos processos de adaptação ao aluno concreto numa perspectiva humanista e, sim, dos condicionamentos físicos (escolas) e organizacionais (Educação Especial).

O primeiro curso regular de química no Brasil

Chemistry gradually became a discipline in a number of institutions in Brazil after the arrival of the Portuguese court in 1808. The first of these was the Royal Military Academy in Rio de Janeiro, founded by the Prince Regent in 1810. Due to lack of local personnel for the post of Professor of Chemistry the British chemist Daniel Gardner was hired. He occupied that chair until his retirement in 1825. In this article we discuss the circumstances involving the creation of that chair, its occupant and the contents of his course.

Nanoporous materials: pillared clays and regular silicas as an example of synthesis and their porosity characterization by X-ray diffraction

Because of their practical applications, porous materials attract the attention of undergraduate students in a way that can be used to teach techniques and concepts in various chemistry disciplines. Porous materials are studied in various chemistry disciplines, including inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. In this work, the syntheses of a microporous material and a mesoporous material are presented. The porosity of the synthesized materials is characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis. We show that this technique can be used to determine the pore dimensions of the synthesized materials.

Problems and potentialities of e-Learning for regular undergraduate courses in emergency medicine

BACKGROUND: E-learning techniques are spreading at great speed in medicine, raising concerns about the impact of adopting them. Websites especially designed to host courses are becoming more common. There is a lack of evidence that these systems could enhance student knowledge acquisition. GOAL: To evaluate the impact of using dedicated-website tools over cognition of medical students exposed to a first-aid course. METHODS: Prospective study of 184 medical students exposed to a twenty-hour first-aid course. We generated a dedicated-website with several sections (lectures, additional reading material, video and multiple choice exercises). We constructed variables expressing the student's access to each section. The evaluation was composed of fifty multiple-choice tests, based on clinical problems. We used multiple linear regression to adjust for potential confounders. RESULTS: There was no association of website intensity of exposure and the outcome - beta-coeficient 0.27 (95%CI - 0.454 - 1.004). These findings were not altered after adjustment for potential confounders - 0.165 (95%CI -0.628 - 0.960). CONCLUSION: A dedicated website with passive and active capabilities for aiding in person learning had not shown association with a better outcome.

Soybean yield maps using regular and optimized sample with different configurations by simulated annealing

ABSTRACT This study aimed to compare thematic maps of soybean yield for different sampling grids, using geostatistical methods (semivariance function and kriging). The analysis was performed with soybean yield data in t ha-1 in a commercial area with regular grids with distances between points of 25x25 m, 50x50 m, 75x75 m, 100x100 m, with 549, 188, 66 and 44 sampling points respectively; and data obtained by yield monitors. Optimized sampling schemes were also generated with the algorithm called Simulated Annealing, using maximization of the overall accuracy measure as a criterion for optimization. The results showed that sample size and sample density influenced the description of the spatial distribution of soybean yield. When the sample size was increased, there was an increased efficiency of thematic maps used to describe the spatial variability of soybean yield (higher values of accuracy indices and lower values for the sum of squared estimation error). In addition, more accurate maps were obtained, especially considering the optimized sample configurations with 188 and 549 sample points.

Conservation laws for non-potential operators

The aim of this work is to study the conservation laws of continuous means mechanics and also to extend the Hamiltonian method for these kind of systems in order to valid for non-potential operators through variational approach. Besides illustrating with various examples of mechanical applications we also introduce in this work the new technique in order to treat such problems as the non-potential problem.