Predictive validity analysis of six reference equations for the 6-minute walk test in healthy Brazilian men: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is an important tool for evaluating functional capacity and exercise tolerance. The reference equations for the 6MWT in healthy subjects were established on the basis of American and European populations, but reference equations have been proposed with different variables for the Brazilian population. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the predictive validity of six reference equations for the six-minute walking distance (6MWD) in healthy adult men. METHODS: We evaluated 103 individuals in relation to level of physical activity (IPAQ), respiratory symptoms (MRC), handgrip strength, and 6MWD test. The data were submitted to a normality test, then the Bland-Altman agreement test was used to compare individual 6MWD values with that expected for each equation. RESULTS: The subjects were active, with a mean age of 34.12 (SD=8.88) years and no respiratory symptoms. The mean of the 6MWD was 663.43 (SD=93.01)m. The 6MWD's predicted values came closest to the walked distance covered by Britto et al.'s equation (using BMI) of 647.62 (SD=38.62)m. CONCLUSIONS: The equation proposed by Britto et al. using body mass index (BMI) was the closest to the 6MWD for the individuals studied and could be widely used as a reference tool during the 6MWT in healthy Brazilian men.

Avaliação da capacidade vital de idosos submetidos a treinamento físico aeróbico / Assessment of vital capacity among elderly people undergoing aerobic exercise

Objetivo ­ Avaliar a capacidade vital de idosos submetidos a treinamento aeróbio. Métodos ­ Trata-se de um estudo prospectivo com oito pacientes com idade entre 65 a 75 anos, sem nenhuma doença de base com liberação previa de um médico, os indivíduos foram submetidos a uma avaliação onde foram colhidos a valores de pressão arterial, frequência cardíaca, capacidade vital e volume minuto. O treino consistia de 40 minutos de caminhada, em esteira ergométrica, mantendo sua frequência cardíaca de 60% da frequência cardíaca máxima, por quatro semanas, após as quatro semanas foram reavaliadas, colhidos todos os dados novamente. Resultados ­ A capacidade vital pré-treino foi de 2168 ml e após treino foi de 2487 ml, mostrando-se estatisticamente significante. Conclusão ­ Concluímos que o treino aeróbico é eficaz para melhora da capacidade vital pulmonar.

Objective ­ To evaluate vital capacity elderly undergoing aerobic training. Methods ­ This is a prospective study of eight patients being age 65-75 years, with no underlying disease, with release provided a doctor, individuals were subject, to an assessment where they were harvested blood pressure values, heart rate, vital capacity and minute volume, the training consisted of 40 minutes of walking on a treadmill, keeping your heart rate of 60% of maximum heart rate for four weeks, after four weeks were assessed, collected all the data again. Results ­ Vital capacity pre training was 2168 ml and after training was 2487 ml, showing a statistically significant. Conclusion ­ Concluded that aerobic training is effective in improving lung vital capacity.

Effect of time of exposure to environmental risk on the lung function of foundry workers: a cross-sectional study.

[Purpose] This cross-sectional study aimed to compare foundry workers of the metallurgical industry with high and low exposure time and with a control group. [Subject and Methods] The workers were evaluated for pulmonary function and peak expiratory flow (PEF), respiratory symptoms, smoking habits, and physical activity level. Descriptive statistical analysis and ANOVA one-way test were used. [Results] The mean age was 33.9 ± 8.25 years (18-59), pulmonary function: FVC: 95 ± 18% of predicted, FEV1: 95.0 ± 15.8% of predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio of 0.82 ± 0.09, and PEF = 499.7 ± 118.5 l/min. Overall, 85.1% of workers were classified that physically active, 7.93% of workers reported respiratory symptoms, and 14.28% reported being smokers. There was no statistically significant difference between groups for the variables of lung function. [Conclusion] The pulmonary function is preserved in foundry workers independently of exposure time.

Lung function and functional capacity among foundry workers using effective risk control measures.

BACKGROUND: Inhaled dust in the environment can trigger specific reactions in the airways and cause various respiratory diseases. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the lung function and functional capacity of foundry workers who are exposed to metals and use effective control measures. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was realized with 108 workers at a bronze foundry and machining plant and in maintenance at a private university, both in Brazil. The workers were divided into two groups: the study group exposed to metals but using risk control measues and a control group not exposed to metal work. The Medical Research Council Questionnaire on Respiratory Symptoms and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered, and lung function and functional capacity were evaluated. Comparative statistics were used to identify differences in the outcome measures between the two groups. RESULTS: The groups had similar personal and anthropometric characteristics and time on the job. Spirometry and peak expiratory flow presented no significant differences between the groups. And there was also no statistically significant difference between groups in functional capacity as assessed by performance on the six-minute walk test. CONCLUSION: Foundry industry workers in Brazil who were exposed to metal but used risk control measures had similar lung function and functional capacity when compared to the control group who were not exposed to metal. This is a positive results and maybe related to age, time exposure and control of occupational hazards. However, these workers need to continue being monitored in longitudinal studies.

Pulmonary function and exercise capacity in metal industry workers.

This article intends to evaluate the lung function and capacity to exercise and correlate both of them in metal industry workers.

Condições higiênico-sanitárias de verduras e legumes comercializados no CEAGESP de Sorocaba - SP / Higienic and sanitary conditions of vegetables and greens sold in CEAGESP, Sorocaba -SP

Os vegetais, legumes e frutas apresentam grande potencial de risco na transmissão de agentes patogênicos. As condições técnicas de cultivo, armazenamento, transporte e distribuição para o consumidor, a prática do uso de adubo orgânico (esterco animal e vegetal), a utilização de águas contaminadas para irrigação, o transporte feito em engradados abertos e as condições de higiene no manuseio e preparo das refeições, são condições que favorecem a transmissão, principalmente quando o produto é consumido cru. A capacidade destes microrganismos causar infecções está diretamente relacionada à virulência, carga parasitária ingerida, inalada ou absorvida, e fatores como idade, estado nutricional, condições imunológicas e outras patologias associadas podem favorecer quadros patogênicos e agravos. Analisaram-se 105 amostras, sendo 72 de verduras e 33 de legumes. Utilizaram-se os métodos bacteriológicos recomendados no "Compendium of Methods for the Microbiological Examination of Foods". O método para análise parasitológica foi sedimentação espontânea das águas de enxágue, e lavagem individual das folhas, em solução Tween 80, diluído 1:1000; o sedimento foi observado em microscopia ótica, utilizando lugol como corante. Os resultados demonstraram 45 amostras positivas para a presença de coliformes fecais e 32 para um ou mais parasitos: ovos de Ascaris lumbricoides, larvas de Ancilostomídeos e de Strongyloides. Não houve isolamento de Salmonella sp. O trabalho veio contribuir para as ações da Vigilância Epidemiológica e Sanitária, na orientação aos produtores, com o objetivo de reduzir contaminantes e assim promover a saúde dos consumidores.