O cuidador familiar de pessoa com doença de Alzheimer: história oral de vida

The aim of the present study was to understand the feelings and the difficulties faced by the family caregiver in the care of the person affected by Alzheimer`s Disease (AD). It is a descriptive, exploratory study with a qualitative approach, using the oral life history proposed by Bom Meihy as the method. Data collection was conducted in the Basic Health Unit of Candelaria, located in Natal -RN, with five collaborators that carry out the role of family caregivers for people affected by Alzheimer`s disease (AD) and are members of the Group "Caring for those who Care". Caregi vers who resided with the affected family member for at least one year were selected for the study, and as a collection tool, it was opted to use semi-structured interviews via a script of open questions, recorded by permission of the collaborators, then t ranscribed and subsequently returned to respondents for checking the contents described. To analyze the results, the collaborators narrative technique was used in conjuction with the specific literature on the subject.The discussions were organized around five themes inherent to the guiding questions, and defined as follows: the incorporation of the role of the family caregiver; life before and after assuming the role of caregiver, the caregiver`s feelings and attitudes after assuming the care, difficulti es in caring, participation of the group as a foundation for caregivers. The stories showed many difficulties in the daily routine of the caregivers, and also that their participation in the group "Caring for those who Care" helps them in maintaining the q uality of their lives. The results open possibilities for the construction of new forms of approach and care for the people who fulfill the role of family caregiver contributing to strengthening of subsidies that help them better face the daily difficulti es.This study helped shed light on the fact that being a family caregiver of a person affected by AD is a suffered, exhausting and stressful condition involving much self-denial in one´s life. The situation experienced by these collaborators is considered a public health issue, and thus highlights the urgency for governmental political -social actions, besides the programs of care and health promotion for this target group.

Enfermeiros pós-graduados: continuidades e rupturas no cotidiano profissional de hospitais universitários

A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo analisar as transformações do cotidiano profissional do enfermeiro do hospital universitário após a realização do curso de mestrado. Trata-se de um estudo com abordagem qualitativa, realizado no Complexo Hospitalar Universitário da UFRN, composto pelo Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes (HUOL), Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco (MEJEC), e Hospital de Pediatria Professor Heriberto Ferreira Bezerra (HOSPED) localizados em Natal-RN; e pelo Hospital Universitário Ana Bezerra (HUAB) situado em Santa Cruz-RN. A população foi composta por vinte e dois enfermeiros, com título de mestre em enfermagem, que trabalham nessas instituições. Após encaminhamento e aprovação pelo Comitê de ética em pesquisa, conforme Parecer nº 268.498 e CAAE: 13922713.1.0000.5537, as entrevistas foram iniciadas, utilizando-se um roteiro semiestruturado, organizado em questões orientadas em conformidade com os objetivos do estudo. Do material empírico, emergiram as categorias que foram trabalhadas com base na análise de conteúdo temática, tendo como aporte teórico os estudos de Agnes Heller acerca do cotidiano e os de Paulo Freire sobre educação e mudanças, buscando a possível interlocução entre esses autores. Os resultados demonstram que o cotidiano dos enfermeiros nos hospitais universitários, após cursarem o mestrado, modifica-se a partir da própria motivação em cursálo e do apoio institucional recebido. As continuidades e rupturas apontadas estão distribuídas nas categorias: a inércia da cotidianidade, na qual os enfermeiros relatam a dificuldade em mudar seu cotidiano devido à rotina exaustiva e à falta de apoio; reconhecem mudanças particulares, compreendendo a formação de um olhar crítico/reflexivo/analítico, e a qualificação para o ensino e pesquisa; e as rupturas do cotidiano, que se referem às mudanças ocorridas no serviço, como a melhoria da assistência, pela implantação de resultados; e uma prática diferenciada por ter um profissional qualificado. Portanto, considera-se que a realização do mestrado contribuiu para o crescimento do intelectual e profissional do enfermeiro e, consequentemente, para o serviço, no cotidiano do Complexo Hospitalar Universitário, sendo reconhecido pelos enfermeiros o compromisso com uma maior responsabilidade social. Porém, ainda são necessárias reflexões sobre maneiras de minimizar as dificuldades apontadas, como forma de incentivar essa qualificação

Segurança do paciente no sistema de medicação: análise de enfermeiros de um hospital de ensino

This study aimed to identify and describe the factors related to Patient Safety in a medication system according to the nurses analysis in a teaching hospital from the photographic analysis method. This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study with mixed approach in a teaching hospital in Rio Grande do Norte. The population consisted of 42 nurses from inpatient units, of which 34 composed the study sample. As eligibility criteria, we defined nurses from public service and nurses who agreed to participate. Ethical determinations were observed, the study was submitted to the Ethics and Research of the University Hospital Onofre Lopes, obtaining the assent with ethical assessment certificate (CAAE 0098.0.051.294-11). For data collection, we used the photographic method (Photographic Analysis Technique) by Patricia Marck (Canada). It was developed in two phases: at first, we randomly captured photos from the medication system, resulting in 282 images; then we selected/processed the photographs, which were reduced to 10 images in Microsoft Excel 2010; in the second phase, the nurses answered the questionnaire divided into socio-professional profile and Digital Photography Scoring Tool (questions a and b ). For analysis of the question a , we used the content analysis technique, and for b , we used the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 20.0 (temporary license). The socio-professional profile revealed the predominance of females; age group 34-43 years; professionals with specialization; 10-18 years of length of service; and nurses working exclusively in the hospital and who know the Patient Safety. The photographic analysis in relation to Patient Safety resulted in specific categories for each stage of the medication system. Regarding disposal, we identified Proper verification ; Improper verification ; Correct identification ; Disposal in single doses ; and Improper Environment , with predominance of that last category. As for storage: Proper storage ; Improper storage ; Risk of exchange/disappearance ; and Poor hygiene , with special reference to improper storage. In preparation: Risk of exchanging medication/patient ; Inappropriate physical space ; and Inadequate 9 preparation of controlled drugs , highlighting the first category. In drug administration: Lack of Personal Protective Equipment ; Use of Personal Protective Equipment ; Improper administration technique ; Proper administration technique ; Correct drug identification ; Incorrect drug identification ; and Peripheral venous access without identification . From the safety assessment of 10 photographs, by adapting the scores (1-10) to the Likert Scale, we identified three Totally Unsafe (Level 1), three Unsafe (Level 2), three Partially Safe (Level 3), one Safe (Level 4), and no photograph considered Totally Safe. This study identified the prevalence of unsafety in the medication system in the nurses opinion. We were also able to understand that, although nurses identify safety aspects, the most prevalent categories characterize an unsafe assessment. Nursing needs to reflect on its practice, identifying gaps in the medication system in order to achieve a proper and safe care

Trajetória de mulheres e a participação masculina no processo de aborto provocado

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Trauma em idosos atendidos pelo serviço pré-hospitalar móvel

O The aim of this study was to characterize the occurrence of trauma in the elderly population served by the mobile pre-hospital service, in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte. This is a descriptive, transversal and quantitative approach and whose population consisted of 2,080 trauma victims. The sample, of systematic random type, consisted of 400 elderly people, aged from 60 years old, assisted by the Office of Mobile Emergency in Natal / RN, between January 2011 and December 2012. Data collection began after consent and assent of the institution of a Research Ethics Committee under No. 309 505. It was proceeded to documentary retrospective analysis of records of this service through a form of self-development, validated by expert judges considered reliable (α> 0.75) and valid (CVI = 0.97) in their clarity and relevance. Data were tabulated by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 20.0. The results show that older victims have an average age of 74.19 years old, with a prevalence of female involvement by chronic diseases, especially hypertension, average usage of 2.2 routine medications with vital signs within normal limits. The trauma prevailed during the daytime, in the residence of the victims, north of the city and on weekends. Among the mechanisms of trauma were falls, traffic accidents and physical aggression, whose most common type was brain-cerebral trauma and the main consequences were suture wounds and closed fractures. Basic Support Units were as more driven to pre-hospital care (87.8%) and the main destination place consisted of a referral hospital for emergency of the state (57.5%). Among the most commonly performed procedures by nursing staff immobilization with rigid board and neck collar and the peripheral venipuncture, and the main component used for volume replacement to saline were highlighted. There was a significant relationship between the deaths and the mechanism of injury, mechanism of injury and procedures, except medication administration procedures carried out, except immobilization and unit for service. It is highlighted the prevalence of trauma in the elderly, poor follow-up Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support protocol and the paucity of records and nursing procedures performed. There is need for a protocol of care specific to elderly trauma victims and education strategies for the prevention of such events

Trajetória de profissionais da saúde de um hospital colônia para hanseníase

Leprosy as a public health problem , there is still quite some time , even with treatment for decades . Your health-disease process is marked by a historical backdrop of stigma , prejudice, social exclusion and authoritarian decisionducts , in order to extinguish the disease milieu under the regime of compulsory confinement of the patient. In this perspective , the Brazilian public health twentieth century adopted policies of compulsory isolation , which meant that those who receive a diagnosis of leprosy were isolated from society and their families in hospitals colonies . Objective is, to the study, rescue the trajectory of health professionals in the Colony Hospital St. Francis of Assisi , in Natal / RN ; Identify the policy was perceived as compulsory institutionalization imposed for leprosy patients by health professionals ; describe the behaviors Professional Hospital adopted in Cologne ; Retrieve information about the existence and functioning of the Hospital and Create a documentary of historical fragments of leprosy from the point of view of professionals from a former colony. Exploratory - descriptive method with a qualitative approach , using the methodological framework thematic oral history was used . Obtained approval by the IRB of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, under Protocol No 461 403 and CAAE 19476913.9.0000.5537 . Be interviewed during the period of November and December 2013 , five health professionals who worked in the hospital colony , using audio recorder and images to capture and record the statements. The interviews were transcribed , textualized, transcriadas and sent to reviewers to step conference of the reports. Subsequently , analysis of the stories was made from the proposed content analysis of Bardin . The results and discussion are presented in the form of article: Opinion of nursing professionals who worked in a hospital for leprosy colony , which aimed to : identify the opinion of nurses who worked in hospital colony on the lives of patients . In this article, three main themes were highlighted and discussed from the reports of colaboradoes : I - The socialization process of internal II - 16 Prejudice , stigma and discrimination III - Social exclusion versus inclusion . We conclude that , in the context of the colony hospital, the performance of health professionals contributed significantly to that stigma , prejudice and social exclusion would be minimized and that the experience of asylum seekers in the colony were not seen more traumatic

Clima e cultura de segurança do paciente em uma maternidade escola: percepção dos profissionais de enfermagem em terapia intensiva

Since the publication of the report "To Err is Human" by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) , which estimated that between 44.000 to 98.000 Americans die annually as a result of errors in health care, patient safety spent gaining prominence, emerging studies assess the safety culture by measuring the safety climate. In this context, the aim of this study was to identify safety culture perceived by nursing professionals working in the intensive care unit of a maternity school in Natal/RN through the Security Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ). This was a descriptive study, cross-sectional and quantitative approach undertaken in the Intensive Care Unit Maternal and Neonatal a maternity school in Natal/RN. The project was submitted to and approved by Brazil Platform Zip/UFRN under number 309 540 and CAAE 16489713.7.0000.5537. It was used to collect data two instruments: a questionnaire in order to collect socio-demographic data of the subjects and the Questionário Atitudes de Segurança , a cultural adaptation to Portuguese of the instrument of the World Health Organization titled Safety Attitudes Questionnaire - (SAQ ) Short Form 2006. The collected data were analyzed quantitatively by the organization in electronic databases in Microsoft Excel 2010 spreadsheet and exported to statistical software for free access to be coded, tabulated and analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study included a total of 50 nurses, 31 and 19 of the NICU Maternal ICU, predominantly female, mean age 35 years, median time of 10 years training and working in maternity, mostly, less than 05 anos. As a result, two articles were produced. The first refers to the first two domains of the instrument entitled "climate of teamwork" and "climate security" . The scores of the two areas were slightly higher in Maternal ICU compared to the NICU, but no sector has reached the ideal minimum score of 75: in the first domain Maternal ICU had an average of 74.77, with medians of 75 and 100, while Neonatal ICU reached an average of 69.61 with median also 75 and 100, while the second field means were 69.35 and 66.01 for Maternal and Neonatal ICUs respectively, with a median of 100 in the two sectors. The second article relates to the field "Perception Management Unit and Hospital", which 9 assessed the perception of management units and motherhood by professionals. In general, the items of the domain in question also obtained scores below the ideal minimum: 63.68 to 51.02 and maternal ICU for neonatal, featuring a clear separation between the management and the professionals who work in direct care. These findings indicate a warning sign for the institution and point to the need to implement actions aimed at patient safety

Autoestima e qualidade de vida de pessoas com úlcera venosa atendidas na atenção primária

Venous ulcers (VU) is a chronic injury of the lower extremities and because of its high incidence and recurrence implies long and complex treatments, damaging the quality of life (QOL) and self-esteem (SE) of the people. This study aimed to analyze the association between self-esteem with the quality of life of people with venous ulcers treated in primary care. Cross sectional analytical study with a quantitative approach conducted with 44 people met with VU at 13 primary care units 2 and Mixed units in Natal/RN. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), CAAE: 07556312.0.0000.5537. Held data collection from February to April 2014 and used three instruments: a structured form covering sociodemographic, health care and clinical variables, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the SF-36. The collected data were entered into a database and processed on computerized software for descriptive and inferential analyzes. The results showed a predominance of people with UV females (65,9%), with more than 60 years (59,1%), married or in a stable relationship (52,3%), low education (86,4%) without occupation (68,2%) and less than one minimum wage income (81,8%). Regarding assistance characteristics was observed that most patients performed the dressing with appropriate material (72,7%), professional or trained caregiver (61,4%) did not use compression therapy (81,8%), treating the injury for more than 6 months (77,3%), lack of guidelines for the use of compression therapy, elevation of legs, and regular exercise (77,3%) and consulting the angiologist last year (52,3% ). Regarding clinical features of the lesion was found that most of the recurrent lesions are (77,3%), over one year of current lesion (52,3%) medium to large lesions (54,8%), without signs of infection (61,3%) and pain (79,5%). The mean SE of respondents was 9,3 (± 5,1). The relations between the SE and the sociodemographic variables, health care and clinics showed that individuals without a partner (a) (p = 0,01), who did not wear compression therapy (p = 0,04), with more 6 months of treatment (p = 0,01) and larger lesions (p = 0,01) had a lower SE. The mean domain and the dimensions of the SF-36 were lower emphasizing the functional capacity 36.5 (± 27,6) and the physical aspects of 15.3 (± 30,6). There were significant correlations between AE people with VU and the domains and dimensions of the SF-36: physical functioning (r = -0,432), general health (r = -0,415), vitality (r = -0,573), aspects social (r = -0,517), mental health (r = -0,612) and mental health dimensions (r = -0,612) and physical health (r = -0,473). Based on these results it is concluded by rejecting the null hypothesis and accept the alternative proposed in the study in which it was found that there is a negative correlation between the SE and the QOL of people with venous ulcers

Análise da adesão ao tratamento e da qualidade de vida de pessoas com úlcera venosa

The therapeutic adherence is still a big problem among people with venous ulcers (VU) because the treatment is long, expensive and demand changes in lifestyle. In this context, this study aims to examine treatment adherence and quality of life (QOL) of people with VU assisted at primary health care. This is an analytical, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach to treatment and data analysis. The study had the scenario 13 Family Health Units and 02 Units Mixed of Natal. The target population consisted of 44 persons with UV indicated by the teams of the Family Health Strategy between February and April 2014. Three instruments were used: an instrument to characterize the sociodemographic, health and care aspects, the Multidimensional Scale of Adherence Therapy composed of the dimensions: healthy lifestyle, compressive therapy and neurovascular monitoring and the Charing Cross Venous Ulcer Questionnaire (CCVUQ) that evaluates QOL in persons with VU composed by the domains: Total Score, Social Interaction, Domestic Activities, Aesthetics and Emotional State. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee in Research of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, CAAE: 07556312.0.0000.5537. The data concerning the sociodemographic characteristics showed that there was a predominance of females (65.9%), age range as of 60 years (59.1%) and income of up to 1 minimum wage (81.8%). With the characterization of health, it was evident that most people reported chronic diseases (63.6%), sleep more than 6 hours (81.8%), present pain (81.8%), denying alcoholism (86 4%) and smoking (77.3%) and showed a number greater than or equal to 1 (77.3%) recurrences. Concerning the therapeutic adherence was found that in the dimension compressive therapy there poor adherence. No associations between the domains of adherence and sociodemographic and health variables were found. Was observed, however, better adherence among individuals without pain and with higher schooling. When analyzed the averages of the dimensions of therapeutic adherence with the care characteristics there was statistical significance between: adherence to compression therapy and guidance for use of compressive therapy (p = 0.002) and guidance for regular exercise (p = 0.026). Considering the mean of total score of CCVUQ (mean 51.47, SD 18.33) it is observed that the overall QOL of respondents has approximate value of the median of the scale (50). The mean of the domain Social Interaction (mean 44.23, SD 21.38) and Domestic Activities (mean 45.70, SD 23.21) were those who reported better QOL. There were weak correlations but significant between adherence to healthy lifestyle and Domains Total Score (p = 0.012), social interaction (p-value = 0.048), Aesthetics (p-value = 0.025) and Emotional State (0.017) of CCVUQ. From the data analysis it is concluded that among people with UV, there poor adherence to compressive therapy. Furthermore, we found no statistically significant association between treatment adherence and sociodemographic and health characteristics. It is added that there was a correlation between the healthy lifestyle dimension and domains CCVUQ

O cidadão técnico em enfermagem :analisando as mudanças na sua profissionalização

The study analyzes the changes occurring in the professional qualification of the Nursing Technician in the Natal School of Nursing. It provides a historical discussion of Brazilian professional education, of the pertinent legislation in this type of teaching, and the repercussions related to the institutionalization of the Educational Directives Law. It interprets the discourse of the graduates of the complementary course of nursing auxiliary to nursing technician, for the year 2002, using the collective subject analysis and individual interviews. These revealed changes in the areas of knowledge-learning, knowledge-doing, knowledge-being, and an awakening to other changes besides the challenges being confronted. In this sense, nursing as a participant in a society that is effervescent with process changes, interacts socially, politically and professionally in this context, able to experience advances and retrogrades, depending on its political competency

Atuação dos profissionais de saúde no atendimento à criança vítima de violência

This study had the purpose of identifying the health professional performance during the care of children victimized by violence. Its objectives were the evaluation of how health professionals diagnose violence on the hospitalized child during the care process; the identification, according to the experience of each health professional, of the types of violence on the hospitalized child, the child's aggressors and the most frequent1y injured area in the body and the analysis of conducts adopted by health professionals upon the recognition of a violence case on a hospitalized child. The study was of the descriptive-exploratory type, using a quantitative approach, performed on Hospital da Criança Santo Antônio (HCSA) in Boa Vista - RR. The population consisted of 235 health professionals, with data collected from June to August 2006. The results show a clear predominance of the female gender, (76,17%); aged 31 to 35 (26,81%); married (45,96%). As for professional formation, 63,9% were nursing auxiliaries and technicians,16,2% physicians, 14,8% nurses, 3,9% social assistants and 2,1% psychologists; 45,96% had completed middle-level education, 51,06% of which coming from private education establishments and 48,94% from public education institutions.; 97,66 % have specialization or improvement courses on their area; 32,77% among 05 to 09 years of work time; 32,06(10 worked on pediatric infirmaries; 75,74% state they have experience with children victimized by violence; 96,22% consider themselves capable of identifying the types of violence suffered by children; 29,00% consider physical violence the most common kind; 91,57% sought to identify the aggressors; 27,72% consider the mother to be the child's main aggressor, 26,36% the father, and 22,28% the stepfather; 26,55% consider the limbs and pelvic waist to be the body region most affected by violence; 26,91% take the attitude of reporting to the nurse and 20,13% to the social service; 70,79% state that the conducts were performed as a team; 26,25% of the professionals consider that the social assistants helped the most on deciding which conduct to adopt; 76,40% state there was no one opposed to the performing of these conducts; but 23,60% that stated there was no one opposed to the performing of these conducts, 77,08% reveal that the family members were against the conducts taken by the team. We conclude that, the hea1th professionals who were part of the study, apparently are not adequate prepared to diagnose and report the violence on child. The results were more drastic when we related the physicians and the nurses' answers, considering that they give directed assistance to these victims social assistants and psychologists are the ones best prepared to conduct cases of child mistreatment. However, we are conscious of our responsibility with professional education not only in upper grade institution but also on the middle-level. We believe also, that a continued education program can help to improve the professional knowledge and improve the quality of care

Vivência do enfermeiro no cuidado humano na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva adulto

The purpose of the study was to understand the nurse s experience with human care in the Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The objective was to describe the nurse s experience in caring for patients in the ICU and to analyze the nurse s perception of the care provided. The study is a descriptive inquiry of qualitative nature with a phenomenological approach. We interviewed eight nurses, 26 and 43 years of age, that provide care in the ICU of a private hospital in Natal/RN, during the manths of July and August of 2006. We analyzed the data acording to the method of Colaizzi. Four categories emerged from the data: The search for the maintenance of life, The technicalbureaucratic activities, The recognition of the patient s individuality, and the expression of the nurse s feelings.The analysis allowed us to describe the lived experience of the nurse s care the ICU and to comprehend the structural elements of this experience. The results showed that the nurse s experience presents itself as a process of the several actions and feelings that occur while the social relations between the patient and the nurse develop. Finally, we understand that although the study shows an experience based on a biological model of health, these nurses possess an initial idea on how to reach humanized care in its essence, needing, however, of an institutional policy that favors this practice, an educational formation that prepares her to recognize her field of work as a place of continuous learning and an understanding of the health model as an ally in the search of humanized care

Saúde física e emocional de cuidadores da cidade de Santa Cruz-RN: perfil epidemiológico e fatores associados

Taking care for an impaired elderly is a hard and costly task that could affect directly the caregiver health. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the physical and mental health of elderly caregivers from the city of Santa Cruz-RN and analyze the potential correlated factors through an observational analytic design of a crosssectional. A multidimensional questionnaire was used to evaluation of the social demographics characteristics and those related to the care activity, as well as the caregivers´ physical and mental health. It was realized a descriptive analyze using frequency distribution and measures of the central tendency and dispersion to description of the caregivers. To verify the magnitude of the association between the variables was used the bivariate analysis through the Pearson and Spearman correlations and qui-square test. To evaluation of the association of the correlated factors to the adverse outcome with the caregivers´ physical and mental health was made a multivariate analysis by logistic binary regression and multiple linear regression models. The final sample was constituted by 304 persons, mostly women with a mean age of 50.3 ±16.8 years. The principal factors related to the physical health were age, stress and life satisfaction. Be a male caregiver, caring for a little while the elderly with cognitive deficit and not been spouse were related to worse mental health. Have worse physical health, high stress, depressive symptomatology, burden and low levels of satisfaction were also related to the mental health. After adjust through multiple linear regression was observed R2 values of R2=0,21 for Stress, R2 =0,17 for Depressive Symptomatology, R2 =0,21 for Burden and R2 =0,16 for Satisfaction. The attainment of the factors associated with caregiver´s health can help in the elaboration of specifics politics witch the goal is the integral attention to the elderly and his caregiver. The inability of continuous taking care could result in adverse outcomes such as institutionalization, impairment and death

Efeitos da eletroestimulação sobre os parâmetros eletromiográficos e dinamométricos do músculo quadríceps femoral

To analyze the effects of electrical stimulation at two frequencies on the EMG parameters (EMG) and dynamometer, in muscles with different typing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a controlled clinical trial, randomized and double blind. Sixty healthy volunteers (23.6 ± 4.2anos; 54.2 ± 7.7kg, 1.62 ± 0.009 cm) of both sexes were divided randomly into three groups: control group (CG), experimental group 1 (SG1) with application of the current Russian 30 HZ and experimental group 2 (EG2) at 70 Hz The volunteers performed an initial assessment (AV1) on the isokinetic dynamometer with three repetitions maximum voluntary isometric (MVC) for knee extension concomitant uptake of EMG for the VM muscle, VL and RF. Later, after application of NMES, they underwent an experimental protocol of isometric fatigue using 70% of MVIC, ending with the completion of a final assessment (AV2) in the same manner as the AV1. RESULTS: By analyzing the profile of the 60 subjects in three broad, VM showed a higher value of RMS behavior when the VL and RF (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02). With respect to Fmed the RF muscle (p = 0.001) showed a higher value for the VM. The VM muscle showed significant increases of Fmed (p = 0.05) after electrical stimulation at 70 Hz when compared the AV1 AV2 and RF showed significant decreases (p = 0.009) after stimulation at 30 Hz during the fatigue showed an increase RMS in the VM and VL, with a reduction in RF. For the variable Fmed was observed in three broad decline during fatigue. CONCLUSION: Our findings provide evidence that the muscles VM, VL and RF fiber typing are different besides indicating that the frequency of NMES tend to relate to the muscle stimulated. Finally suggests the surface EMG as a noninvasive method for characterizing muscle

Equações preditivas para as pressões respiratórias máximas de crianças brasileiras

I ntroduction: The assessment of respiratory muscle strength is important in the diagnosis and monitoring of the respiratory muscles weakness of respiratory and neuromuscular diseases. However, there are still no studies that provide predictive equations and reference values for maximal respiratory pressures for children in our population. Aim: The purpose of this study was to propose predictive equations for maximal respiratory pressures in healthy school children. Method: This is an observational cross-sectional study. 144 healthy children were assessed. They were students from public and private schools in the city of Natal /RN (63 boys and 81 girls), subdivided in age groups of 7-8 and 9-11 years. The students presented the BMI, for age and sex, between 5 and 85 percentile. Maximal respiratory pressures were measured with the digital manometer MVD300 (Globalmed ®). The maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressures (MEP) were measured from residual volume and total lung capacity, respectively. The data were analyzed using the SPSS Statistics 15.0 software (Statistical Package for Social Science) by assigning the significance level of 5%. Descriptive analysis was expressed as mean and standard deviation. T'Student test was used for unpaired comparison of averages of the variables. The comparison of measurements obtained with the predicted values in previous studies was performed using the paired t'Student test. The Pearson correlation test was used to verify the correlation of MRP's with the independent variables (age, sex, weight and height). For the equations analysis the stepwise linear regression was used. Results: By analyzing the data, we observed that in the age range studied MIP was significantly higher in boys. The MEP did not differ between boys and girls aged 7 to 8 years, the reverse occurred in the age between 9 and 11 years. The boys had a significant increase in respiratory muscle strength with advancing age. Regardless sex and age, MEP was always higher than the MIP. The reference values found in this study are similar to a sample of Spanish and Canadian children. The two models proposed in previous studies with children from other countries were not able to consistently predict the values observed in this studied population. The variables sex, age and weight correlated with MIP, whereas the MEP was also correlated with height. However, in the regression models proposed in this study, only gender and age were kept exerting influence on the variability of maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures. Conclusion: This study provides reference values, lower limits of normality and proposes two models that allow predicting, through the independent variables, sex and age, the value of maximal static respiratory pressures in healthy children aged between 7 and 11 years old