Association of Handgrip Strength with Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Handgrip strength (HGS) is an indicator of general muscular strength and in cancer patients acts as a relevant marker associated with mortality and health. This study aimed to evaluate the association between peripheral muscle function and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in breast cancer (BC) survivors. METHODS: Systematic review registered on PROSPERO under number: CRD 42021225206. The searches were carried out on MEDLINE via Pubmed, PEDro, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL via EBSCO and Science Direct databases. Observational studies evaluating the association between handgrip strength (HGS) and HRQoL in adult female BC survivors were included. No linguistic or time restrictions were applied. Two reviewers reviewed full texts for inclusion and performed data extraction and risk of bias using the Newcastle and Ottawa scale (NOS). RESULTS: Five articles were included and involved 587 patients, mean age of 47 to 59 years. The percentage of decreased HGS ranged from 38.3% to 60.3%. HGS was associated with different quality of life measures. From meta-analysis including 220 patients, the correlation coefficient between HGS and HRQoL was 0.26 (95% CI: 0.07-0.35). CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors face decline of HGS. In this population HGS was correlated with HRQoL. However, more evidence are necessary.

Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and associated factors in adult women.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea in a sample of adult women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with women aged between 19 and 49 years from a city of northeastern Brazil. Sociodemographic, gynecological, and obstetric variables were assessed by questionnaires and interviews. Dysmenorrhea was measured by self-report, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale measured the intensity of pain. Statistical analyses included χ2 test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The average age was 33.2±9.1 years and the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was 56% for the whole sample. The average duration of symptoms was 2.7±1.8 days and the mean intensity was 6.1±2.6. The previous cesarean section was associated with a higher rate of primary dysmenorrhea (PR=2.33; 95%CI 1.11-4.90) when considering the whole sample. Women who aged 25-39 years and are insufficiently active had higher rates of primary dysmenorrhea (PR=5.24; 95%CI 1.08-27.31). CONCLUSION: Primary dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence in young adults, adults, and middle-aged women. Cesarean section and being physically inactive was associated with increased rates of dysmenorrhea among adult women.

Prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea and associated factors in adult women

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with primary dysmenorrhea in a sample of adult women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with women aged between 19 and 49 years from a city of northeastern Brazil. Sociodemographic, gynecological, and obstetric variables were assessed by questionnaires and interviews. Dysmenorrhea was measured by self-report, and the Numerical Pain Rating Scale measured the intensity of pain. Statistical analyses included χ2 test, ANOVA, and logistic regression. RESULTS: The average age was 33.2±9.1 years and the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea was 56% for the whole sample. The average duration of symptoms was 2.7±1.8 days and the mean intensity was 6.1±2.6. The previous cesarean section was associated with a higher rate of primary dysmenorrhea (PR=2.33; 95%CI 1.11-4.90) when considering the whole sample. Women who aged 25-39 years and are insufficiently active had higher rates of primary dysmenorrhea (PR=5.24; 95%CI 1.08-27.31). CONCLUSION: Primary dysmenorrhea has a high prevalence in young adults, adults, and middle-aged women. Cesarean section and being physically inactive was associated with increased rates of dysmenorrhea among adult women.

Thermography evaluation of low back pain in pregnant women: Cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Low back pain during pregnancy is very common and thermography seems to be a promising method of evaluation for pregnant women, because it is painless and safe. The aim of the present study was to evaluate low back pain, during pregnancy, using thermography together with artificial intelligence. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out with pregnant women recruited from a university hospital. The following data were collected: (a) clinical data; (b) physical assessment with mobility and low back pain provocation tests; and (c) thermograms acquisitions, in a controlled environment. Artificial intelligence and the statistical tests were used to compare the groups' mean: with low back pain (LBP) and without low back pain (WLBP). RESULTS: Thirty pregnant women took part, with fifteen in each group. The mean ± Standard Deviation temperature of the lumbar region in both groups were 32.7 ± 1.05 °C and 32.6 ± 1.01 °C for LBP and WLBP, respectively. There was not any difference in temperature between the groups; however, the artificial intelligence software found thermogram differences between groups; furthermore, the correlation between pain intensity and functionality was found. CONCLUSION: Thermography associated with artificial intelligence analyses demonstrated to be a promising method as an adjunct to clinical evaluation.

Construction and validation of a logical model for specialized Rehabilitation Centers.

OBJECTIVE: To build and validate a logical model for health care in Specialized Rehabilitation Centers (CER) by analyzing the work process and organizational issues of centers in Rio Grande do Norte. METHODS: This is a methodological study developed in three stages: 1) documentary research of legislation and ordinances concerning the healthcare service and the Disability Care Network (RCPD); 2) focus groups with a Census study of the CER in Rio Grande do Norte to understand and assess the daily activities of the service; and 3) systematization of the information collected and, finally, proposition and validation of the evaluative logical model. RESULTS: The model encompassed five central categories of the work and organizational process: "demands", "resources" (inputs, financial and workforce), "processes", "products and results" and "mission, values and external factors". CONCLUSION: The logical model built was suitable for graphical representation of the work process and organizational issues of the SRC. The study showed that the functioning of the services is in line with the regulations. However, there are still organizational gaps that need to be addressed to improve the resolution capacity of the service and the articulation with other points of the network.

Construction and validation of a logical model for specialized Rehabilitation Centers / Construção e validação de modelo lógico para Centros Especializados em Reabilitação

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To build and validate a logical model for health care in Specialized Rehabilitation Centers (CER) by analyzing the work process and organizational issues of centers in Rio Grande do Norte. METHODS This is a methodological study developed in three stages: 1) documentary research of legislation and ordinances concerning the healthcare service and the Disability Care Network (RCPD); 2) focus groups with a Census study of the CER in Rio Grande do Norte to understand and assess the daily activities of the service; and 3) systematization of the information collected and, finally, proposition and validation of the evaluative logical model. RESULTS The model encompassed five central categories of the work and organizational process: "demands", "resources" (inputs, financial and workforce), "processes", "products and results" and "mission, values and external factors". CONCLUSION The logical model built was suitable for graphical representation of the work process and organizational issues of the SRC. The study showed that the functioning of the services is in line with the regulations. However, there are still organizational gaps that need to be addressed to improve the resolution capacity of the service and the articulation with other points of the network.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Construir e validar um modelo lógico para a atenção nos Centros Especializados em Reabilitação (CER) a partir da análise do processo de trabalho e de questões organizativas de centros do Rio Grande do Norte. MÉTODOS Estudo metodológico desenvolvido em três etapas: 1) estudo documental de legislações e portarias relacionadas ao serviço de saúde e à Rede de Cuidados à Pessoa com Deficiência (RCPD); 2) realização de grupos focais, com estudo censitário dos CER do Rio Grande do Norte, para compreender e avaliar o cotidiano do serviço; e 3) sistematização das informações coletadas e, por fim, proposição e validação do modelo lógico avaliativo. RESULTADOS O modelo englobou cinco categorias centrais do processo de trabalho e organizacional: "demandas", "recursos" (insumos, financeiros e força de trabalho), "processos", "produtos e resultados" e "missão, valores e fatores externos". CONCLUSÃO O modelo lógico construído foi adequado para representação gráfica do processo de trabalho e questões organizativas dos CER. Evidenciou-se que o funcionamento dos serviços está alinhado com as normativas. Contudo, ainda há lacunas organizacionais que precisam ser abordadas a fim de melhorar a resolutividade do serviço e a articulação com outros pontos da rede.

Sleep quality is associated with Disability and Quality of life in breast cancer survivors: a cross-sectional pilot study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the sleep quality and its association with disability, fatigue and quality of life of breast cancer survivors. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional pilot study developed with breast cancer survivors. The data collection instruments consisted of general and clinical information on the disease and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 (WHODAS 2.0); Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI); Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F); and Disabilities of the arm and Shoulder (DASH). Descriptive statistical analysis, correlation tests, tests for means comparison and linear regression were performed. Cohen's d analysed the effect size. The significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: 71,9% of women had poor sleep quality. Subjective poor sleep quality was a predictor of worse scores for fatigue (p = 0.007), quality of life by FACT-G (p = 0.010) and FACIT-F (p = 0.004), the functional performance of upper limbs (p = 0.001) and disability (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer survivors with subjective poor sleep quality had more fatigue, less upper limb-related functional performance, more disability and worse quality of life.

Electromyographic assessment of women's pelvic floor: What is the best place for a superficial sensor?

AIMS: To compare the electromyographic signal of different surface electrodes and to identify the channel that presents the highest level of electromyographic activity through the mean and peak of Root Mean Square (RMS). METHODS: Thirty healthy women participated in this study. Each woman completed three collections (on different days) of electromyographic data. Three maximal voluntary contractions of the pelvic floor muscles were requested. The electromyographic signal was recorded by intravaginal probe and surface electrodes placed on the perianal region and on the region immediately below the labia majora. To analyze the signal, an epoch of 500 ms was selected during the second contraction. The Kruskal-Wallis test followed by a post hoc Mann-Whitney test was used to compare means and to identify differences. The Bland-Altman method was used to verify the agreement between the measurements. A significance level of P ≤ 0.05 was adopted. RESULTS: There was agreement only between the measurements from perianal electrodes and intravaginal probe. Furthermore, there was no difference between the perianal electrodes and intravaginal probe in RMS mean (P = 0.225) and RMS peak (P = 0.315). However, these electrodes locations presented greater values than the electrodes in the region immediately below the labia majora (RMS mean: P < 0.001; P = 0.016. RMS peak: P < 0.001; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The intravaginal probe and the surface electrodes in perianal region are equivalent for healthy nulliparous women. The choice must be done according to the values and preferences of the patient.