Consumption of edible insects and insect-based foods: A systematic review of sensory properties and evoked emotional response.

Low consumer acceptance of edible insects and insect-based products is one of the main barriers to the successful implementation of entomophagy in Western countries. This rejection is mainly caused by consumers' negative emotional responses, psychological/personality traits, and attitudes toward food choices. However, as the role of intrinsic product characteristics on such food choices has not been adequately studied, a systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA method, to analyze studies that have assessed hedonic evaluations, sensory profiling, or emotional responses to edible insects or insect-based products. The majority of studies performed with whole insects and insect flour highlight that insect-based products are more negatively evaluated than control products. Although the sensory properties of insects are affected by species and processing conditions, they are generally negative across sensory dimensions. In particular, insects and insect-based products are generally associated with odor and flavor/taste attributes that are related to old/spoiled food. These negative attributes can be linked to the fat fraction of edible insects, with insect oils being very negatively evaluated by consumers. On the other hand, defatted fractions and deodorized oils are not associated with these negative attributes, further supporting the hypothesis that the fat fraction is responsible for the negative odor and flavor/taste attributes. However, there is still a lack of studies assessing the sensory profile of edible insects and insect-based products, as well as consumers' emotional responses to their consumption. Future studies should focus on the effects of different processing conditions, products incorporating insect fractions (namely protein concentrates/isolates and defatted fractions), and evaluation by target consumer groups.

Results from Portugal's 2022 report card on physical activity for children and youth.

Background: The purpose of this study is to update results of Portuguese's Report Card on Physical activity (PA) for Children and Adolescents. Methods: The grades were assigned by results derived from the PA and Fitness in Portugal 2021 Portuguese Report Card and corresponds to the third report for the Portuguese children and adolescents. It includes indicators of PA and sedentary behavior (SB) that are common to the GLOBAL matrix 4.0: Overall Physical Activity, Organized Sport and Physical Activity, Active Play, Active Transportation, Sedentary Behaviors, Family and Peers, School, Community and the Environment, Government and Physical Fitness. The search focused on published national evidence/data sources (academia, NGO, governmental) from end 2018 onwards excluding data obtained during the covid-19 pandemic. Results: The grades were assigned as follows: Overall PA (D-), Organized Sport Participation (C-), Active Play (D+), Active Transportation (D-), Sedentary behaviors (C+), Physical Fitness (C), Family and Peers (B), School (A), Community and Environment (B), and Government (B). Conclusion: In line with previous Portuguese Report Cards, a large proportion of Portuguese children and adolescents are not sufficiently active nor fit enough setting urgency for effective strategies. Particular attention should be given to Active play, Active transport and Organized Sports Participation has their grades have decreased. Some actions in selected indicators as Governmental and policy seems promising however results weren't seen yet. Despite the strong support of schools with mandatory curricula in PE no correspondent change is observed in fitness or PA, so more research is needed to find why.

Back pain in children and adolescents: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Back pain is a growing problem worldwide, not only in adults but also in children. Therefore, it is becoming increasingly important to investigate and understand the factors that influence the early onset of back pain. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of back pain in children and adolescents and to identify predisposing risk factors and protective factors. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2019 in schools from northern Portugal, evaluating 1463 students aged 9 to 19 years, of both genders. The instruments used were the Spinal Mouse® to assess posture, the Inbody 230® to assess body composition, an online questionnaire to characterize the sample and back pain, and the FITescola® battery test to access physical fitness. RESULTS: Half of the subjects experienced back pain at least once in their lifetime. The most frequently mentioned were lumbar spine and thoracic spine, mostly with mild or moderate pain intensities. Age, female gender, percent body fat, prolonged smartphone and computer use, hyperkyphosis, and the lateral global spine tilt to the left side are all factors with higher relative risk of back pain. Practicing physical activity or sports regularly and video games have a protective effect. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of back pain in children and adolescents is very high: The study enhances the case for protective factors such as physical activity habits or video games while reinforcing risk factors such as percent body fat, prolonged smartphone or computer use, and posture.

Dissemination, Implementation, and Evaluation of an Effective School-Based Intervention to Promote Physical Activity in Adolescents: A Study Protocol.

Adolescents around the world do not engage in sufficient physical activity and the Spanish context is no exception. Understanding the educational context as a complex system, school-based multi-level and multi-component interventions seem to be an effective strategy to reverse this trend. Moreover, a co-creational approach seems to facilitate the mobilization of community partnerships and the engagement of stakeholders in the intervention process. This study aims to describe the dissemination, implementation, and evaluation process of an effective school-based intervention program in another setting using the replicating effective programs framework and a co-participatory approach. This study will be conducted in two Spanish secondary schools located in the region of Aragon (experimental vs. control school) in a sample of adolescents in the second grade (13-14 years old). To evaluate the effectiveness, different health behaviors such as physical activity, sleep, sedentary time with screens, nutrition, and psychosocial variables will be quantitatively measured at baseline and after the implementation of the intervention. Qualitative methods will also be used to better understand the implementation process and the co-creation approach, as well as to provide insights into the sustainability of the intervention program. The current study has the potential to provide strong information about the dissemination, implementation, and evaluation process of school-based programs to promote healthy behaviors among adolescents.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Obesity and Physical Activity in Schoolchildren: The Effect of Mediation.

There are only a few studies that have examined the interaction between physical activity (PA), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and overweightness/obesity in adolescents, and these studies have shown some limitations. The objective of this study was to examine whether the association between PA (moderate-vigorous PA [MVPA], moderate PA [MPA], and vigorous PA [VPA]) and obesity is mediated by CRF. This cross-sectional study was conducted in six middle and high-schools in the Porto district (Portugal), comprising 632 children and adolescents. Fat mass (FM), CRF, MVPA, MPA, and VPA were assessed. The Process macro for SPSS was used. CRF was significantly associated with PA for both children and adolescents. Likewise, FM was negatively and significantly associated with CRF for both children (ß = -0.337) and adolescents (ß = -0.255). FM was associated with PA in children (MVPA: ß = -0.102; MPA: ß = -0.118; VPA: ß = -0.305) and adolescents (MVPA: ß: -0.103; MPA: ß = -0.082; VPA: ß = -0.204). The mediation analysis showed that the association between PA (MVPA//MPA/VPA) and obesity was mediated by CRF, in both children and adolescents, with a significant value in the Sobel test. Obesity is associated with CRF and MVPA, MPA, and VPA. However, CRF acted as a complete mediator between the association of obesity and PA.

Balance and Posture in Children and Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Balance and posture are two topics that have been extensively studied, although with some conflicting findings. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyze the relationship between the postural angles of the spine in the sagittal plane and the stable static balance. A cross-sectional study was conducted with children and adolescents from schools in northern Portugal in 2019. An online questionnaire was used to characterize the sample and analyze back pain. Spinal postural angle assessment (pelvic, lumbar, and thoracic) was performed using the Spinal Mouse®, while stabilometry assessment was performed using Namrol® Podoprint®. Statistical significance was set as α = 0.05. The results showed that girls have better balance variables. There is a weak correlation between the anthropometric variables with stabilometry variables and the postural angles. This correlation is mostly negative, except for the thoracic spine with anthropometric variables and the lumbar spine with BMI. The results showed that postural angles of the spine are poor predictors of the stabilometric variables. Concerning back pain, increasing the postural angle of the thoracic spine increases the odds ratio of manifestation of back pain by 3%.

Accelerometry Correlates in Body Composition, Physical Fitness, and Disease Symptom Burden: A Pilot Study in End-Stage Renal Disease.

There is strong evidence that hemodialysis (HD) patients with a sedentary lifestyle have a higher risk of death compared to peers who engage in regular physical activity. Therefore, monitoring physical activity is of utmost importance. However, there is a lack of data on objectively measured physical activity behaviors in HD patients. Therefore, this study aimed to objectively measure physical activity in HD patients throughout the week, with particular attention to dialysis and non-dialysis days. We also examined how objectively measured physical activity correlated with physical fitness, body composition, and disease burden. Daily physical activity, body composition, serum parameters, comorbidity index, sit-to-stand, and hand-grip strength tests were measured in 14 HD patients. Daily physical activity was measured using the Actigraph GT9X accelerometer. The Dialysis Symptom Index questionnaire was also used. We found significant differences in anthropometric variables (weight, body mass index, overhydration, lean tissue index, and fat tissue index, all p < 0.05) and phase angle (p < 0.01) between HD patients reaching and patients not reaching physical activity guidelines for patients with chronic diseases. HD patients showed to be less active during dialysis days compared to non-dialysis days as indicated in sedentary time (-11.7%; p = 0.001), light (-47.3%; p = 0.003), moderate (-51.5%; p = 0.001), moderate to vigorous (-49.3%; p = 0.001), and vigorous (-34.3%; p = 0.067) physical activity. No significant correlations were found among serum parameters, symptom burden, and comorbidity burden, but a very large and positive correlation was found between phase angle and total moderate to vigorous physical activity (p < 0.01). Our findings support the need to implement physical activity on dialysis days in HD units to mitigate the effects of sedentary behavior. Prospective, long-term studies evaluating the use of accelerometers in HD patients and their effects on physical activity are needed.

The effects of the molecular weight of chitosan on the tissue inflammatory response.

The molecular weight of chitosan (CS) may affect its physical properties and its ability to induce an appropriate host response. The biocompatibilities of CS membranes of low (LMWCS) and high (HMWCS) molecular weight were investigated by inserting these materials into the subcutaneous tissue of rats for 1-28 days and evaluating leukocyte infiltration, granulation tissue, fibrosis, arginase-1 immunostaining, as well as nuclear factor-κB (NF-κΒ) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 expressions. Both CS membranes induced a peak of leukocyte infiltration on the first day of insertion and stimulated granulation and fibrous tissue generation when compared to control. LMWCS induced more collagen deposition a week earlier, when compared to the control and HMWCS membrane. The membranes also increased arginase-1 immunostaining, a M2 macrophage marker. M2 macrophage is recognized as anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative. NF-κB is an essential biomarker of the inflammatory process and induces the expression of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. The LMWCS membrane reduced inflammation, as indicated by a reduced nucleus/cytoplasm NF-κB ratio in surrounding tissue from days 7 to 14 when compared to control. On the first day, the expression of FGF-2, a biomarker of inflammatory resolution, was increased in the tissue of the LWMCS group, when compared with HMWCS, which was consistent with the type I collagen deposition. Thus, LWMCS was associated with a prior reduction of the inflammatory response and improved wound healing.

Oncoplastic Surgery: Does Patient and Medical Specialty Influences the Evaluation of Cosmetic Results?

BACKGROUND: Oncoplastic surgery (OS) has added plastic surgery concepts and techniques to the breast cancer surgery. However, reports of the impact of OS on cosmesis after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) are limited in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional prospective study included patients who underwent BCS. The patients self-evaluated the cosmetic outcome of the breasts and had them photographed. The photos were evaluated by BCCT.core software and by 6 breast surgeons (mastologists and plastic surgeons) using the Harvard, Garbay, and Fitoussi scales. Kappa and weighted kappa tests were used to analyze agreement for categorical variables; for continuous variables, the interclass correlation index and the chi-square test to analyze the association between the OS and the symmetrization. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were evaluated: 228 (76.0%) underwent traditional BCS and 72 (24.0%) underwent OS, and of these, 37 (51.4%) underwent contralateral symmetrization surgery. In the evaluation of the cosmetic result, the correlation between patients and observers (BCCT.core and surgeons) was weak; between the 2 groups of surgeons, the correlation was moderate (Fitoussi scale) and excellent (Garbay scale). Plastic surgeons are more critical for evaluating cosmetic results; they considered it good or excellent in 30.0% whereas patients, mastologists, and BCCT.core results considered it so in 78.8%, 34.0%, and 30.0%, respectively. In terms of cosmesis, OS and symmetrization did not influence the results in this study with long follow-up. CONCLUSION: Patients' self-evaluation reported better cosmesis than surgeons' analyses. Plastic surgeons were the most critical. OS and symmetrization did not influence the results.

Accelerometry calibration in people with class II-III obesity: Energy expenditure prediction and physical activity intensity identification.

BACKGROUND: Almost all accelerometer calibration studies were developed for non-obese people, which hampers an accurate prediction of energy expenditure (EE) and induces a misclassification of sedentary activity (SA) and physical activity intensities (PAI) in class II-III obese people. RESEARCH QUESTION: The purpose of this study was to develop regression equations to predict EE and cut-points to classify SA and PAI in severe obese people based on several metrics obtained from hip and back accelerometer placement data. METHODS: 43 class II-III obese participants performed a protocol that included sitting and standing positions and walking at several speeds. During the protocol participants wore an accelerometer at hip and back, and respiratory gas exchange was measured by indirect calorimetry. Accelerometer metrics analyzed were: activity counts, mean amplitude deviation and euclidean norm minus one. EE was predicted through linear mixed models while cut-points to classify SA and PAI were obtained applying receiver operating characteristic curves. Leave-one-out cross-validation data was used to calculate Bland-Altman plots, prediction accuracy, Kappa statistic and percent agreement. RESULTS: All prediction models presented a quadratic equation that had as predictors body mass and one of the accelerometer metrics. Predicted EE indicated a good agreement and a root mean square error below 1.02 kcal min-1. Global classification agreement from developed cut-points was categorized as almost perfect with a percent agreement above 84 %. Prediction accuracy and classification agreement were similar among accelerometer metrics in each position and between them in hip and back placement. SIGNIFICANCE: Hip and back accelerometer data collected in severe obese people allow to accurately estimate EE and to correctly classify SA and PAI. These results enable future studies to adopt appropriate regression equations and cut-points developed for class II-III obese people rather than those established for non-obese people.

Allergic risks of consuming edible insects: A systematic review.

The expected future demand for food and animal-derived protein will require environment-friendly novel food sources with high nutritional value. Insects may be one of such novel food sources. However, there needs to be an assessment of the risks associated with their consumption, including allergic risks. Therefore, we performed a systematic review aiming to analyse current data available regarding the allergic risks of consuming insects. We reviewed all reported cases of food allergy to insects, and studied the possibility of cross-reactivity and co-sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites. We analysed a total of 25 articles - eight assessing the cross-reactivity/co-sensitisation between edible insects, crustaceans and house dust mites; three characterizing allergens in edible insects and 14 case reports, describing case series or prevalence studies of food allergy caused by insects. Cross-reactivity/co-sensitisation between edible insects and crustaceans seems to be clinically relevant, while it is still unknown if co-sensitisation between house dust mites and edible insects can lead to a food allergy. Additionally, more information is also needed about the molecular mechanisms underlying food allergy to insects, although current data suggest that an important role is played by arthropod pan-allergens such as tropomyosin or arginine kinase.

Human Competence to Transmit Leishmania infantum to Lutzomyia longipalpis and the Influence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by Leishmania infantum is a lethal disease transmitted by sand flies. Although, considered a zoonosis with dogs held as the main reservoirs, humans are also sources of infection. Therefore, control policies currently focused on dog culling may need to consider that VL and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/VL patients may also be infectious, contributing to transmission. Reservoir competence of patients with VL without and with HIV infection and of persons asymptomatically infected with Leishmania was assessed by xenodiagnosis with the vector Lutzomyia longipalpis. Parasites in sand fly's guts were identified by using optical microscopy and by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Leishmania infantum blood parasite burden was determined by quantitative PCR. Among the 61 participants, 27 (44%) infected sand flies as seen by microscopy or PCR. When infectiousness was assessed by microscopy, xenodiagnosis was positive in five (25%) patients not infected with HIV, whereas nine (45%) of those harboring HIV were positive. Among the 19 asymptomatic patients four (21%) infected sand flies only demonstrated by PCR. One (50%) asymptomatic patient with HIV had a positive xenodiagnosis by microscopy. 9/372 (2.4%) and 37/398 (9.2%) sand flies were infected when feeding in patients without and with HIV, respectively. Infectiousness was poorly correlated with quantitative PCR. The study shows that asymptomatic humans are capable of transmitting L. infantum, that ill persons with HIV infection are more infectious to sand flies, and that humans are more important reservoirs than previously thought. This fact may be considered when designing control policies for zoonotic VL.

Cardiodesfibrilador implantável na prevenção de morte súbita em paciente com distrofia muscular tipo 1 (doença de Steinert) / Implantable cardiac defibrillator for sudden death prevention in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (Steinert disease)

A distrofia muscular tipo 1 é uma miopatia hereditária genética com alto risco de morte súbita. Como a morte súbita é um evento comum, existe o desafio de identificar o paciente de maior risco para considerar a colocação de um cardiodesfibrilador implantável. O presente estudo relata o caso de um paciente com distrofia muscular tipo 1 com marcadores de alto risco para morte súbita, no qual foi implantado um cardiodesfibrilador implantável com sucesso. A correta estratificação para morte súbita é um importante passo na indicação do cardiodesfibrilador implantável

Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a genetic and hereditary myopathy associated to a high risk of sudden death. As sudden death is a relatively common event, it is a challenge to identify those patients with highest risk to consider the use of an implantable cardiac defibrillator. The present case report describes a myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient with risk factors for sudden death in whom an implantable cardiac defibrillator was successfully implanted. The correct risk stratification for sudden death is an important step for the indication of an implantable cardiac defibrillator

Versatility of Chitosan-Based Biomaterials and Their Use as Scaffolds for Tissue Regeneration.

Chitosan is a naturally occurring polysaccharide obtained from chitin, present in abundance in the exoskeletons of crustaceans and insects. It has aroused great interest as a biomaterial for tissue engineering on account of its biocompatibility and biodegradation and its affinity for biomolecules. A significant number of research groups have investigated the application of chitosan as scaffolds for tissue regeneration. However, there is a wide variability in terms of physicochemical characteristics of chitosan used in some studies and its combinations with other biomaterials, making it difficult to compare results and standardize its properties. The current systematic review of literature on the use of chitosan for tissue regeneration consisted of a study of 478 articles in the PubMed database, which resulted, after applying inclusion criteria, in the selection of 61 catalogued, critically analysed works. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of chitosan-based biomaterials in 93.4% of the studies reviewed, whether or not combined with cells and growth factors, in the regeneration of various types of tissues in animals. However, the absence of clinical studies in humans, the inadequate experimental designs, and the lack of information concerning chitosan's characteristics limit the reproducibility and relevance of studies and the clinical applicability of chitosan.

Self-rated health among youth and its associations with physical activity outside school, body mass index and television time in an urban municipality of Portugal / Saúde autorrelatada entre jovens e suas associações com a prática de atividade física fora da escola, índice de massa corporal e tempo de tela em um município urbano de Portugal

This study examined associations of physical activity (PA) outside school, Body mass index (BMI) and television time (TVT) with Self-rated health (SRH) among youth. A total of 1,121 adolescents aged from 10-18 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. PA was obtained through a questionnaire. TVT was accessed by asking the participant how many hours/day did they watch TV in the preceding week. BMI [weight (kg)/ height2 (m)] were used as an indicator of children's nutritional status. Associations of self-reported PA, TVT and BMI to SRH were assessed by gender, using Chi Squared and multivariate logistic regression controlling for mothers' education level. High levels of physical activity (boys: OR = 2.43; 95%CI: 1.24 to 4.78; girls: OR = 2.02; 95%CI: 1.26 to 3.24) were significantly associated with better SRH in adolescents. Obese/overweight boys were less likely to report positive SRH (OR = 0.41; 95%CI: 0.20 to 0.81) compared to their normal-weight peers. TVT in both genders and being overweight/obese in girls was not significantly associated with SRH. Results suggest that positive SRH is associated with PA levels, in both boys and girls, and with better nutritional status in boys.

Este estudo analisou as associações entre a autoavaliação da saúde (AAS) com a atividade física (AF) fora do contexto escolar, o índice de massa corporal (IMC) e o tempo de televisão (TTV). Um total de 1.121 adolescentes de 10 a 18 anos de idade participaram deste estudo transversal. A AF foi mensurada por questionário. O TTV foi obtido pela questão "Na última semana quantas horas por dia você passou assistindo TV?". O IMC foi utilizado como indicador do estado nutricional. As associações entre a AAS e as restantes variáveis foram determinadas, separadamente por gênero, pelo Chi-quadrado e regressão logística multivariada, controlando para a escolaridade da mãe. Níveis elevados de AF foram associados a uma melhor AAS (rapazes: OR = 2,43; IC95%: 1,24-4,78; meninas: OR = 2,02; IC95%: 1,26-3,24). Rapazes com sobrepeso/obesidade apresentaram menor chance de autoavaliarem o estado de saúde de forma positiva (OR = 0,41; IC95%: 0,20-0,81) quando comparados aos de peso corporal normal. O TTV não se associou à AAS em rapazes nem em meninas. Ter sobrepeso/obesidade não se mostrou significativamente associado a AAS em meninas. Os resultados do nosso estudo sugerem que maiores níveis de AF em rapazes e em meninas e menor IMC nos rapazes se associam a uma melhor AAS.

Gender Differences in the Domain-Specific Contributions to Moderate-to-Vigorous Physical Activity, Accessed by GPS.

BACKGROUND: Identifying where children spend their activity-time may help define relevant domains for effective PA promotion and better understand the relation between PA and environment. Our study aimed to identify how boys and girls allocate their active time in the different domains. METHODS: 374 children (201 girls; mean age = 11.7 years) wore an accelerometer and a GPS for 7 days. PALMS software combined data, categorized nonsedentary time and bouts of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Geographical information system allocated activity into 4 domains: school, leisure, transport and home. RESULTS: Overall, a higher proportion of time in MVPA was found in the transport domain (45.5%), school (30.5%), leisure (21.3%), and home (2.7%). Gender differences were found for the proportion of time spent across domains. Girls (54.5%) had more MVPA than boys (35.2%) in the transport domain, whereas boys spent more MVPA time in school (37.0%) and leisure (24.9%) than girls (24.7% and 18.1, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Interventions to increase transport behavior may be relevant for children's MVPA. School is an important domain for boys PA, while for girls increasing the supportiveness of the school environment for PA should be a priority. Strategies should consider gender differences when targeting each domain.

Cardiorespiratory fitness, but not physical activity, is associated with academic achievement in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) seem to have positive effects on academic achievement (AA), although in most studies, objective methods of assessment have not been used. AIM: To examine the associations of CRF and PA with AA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A sample of 640 youngsters (10-18 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. CRF was estimated with the 20-metre shuttle run test and PA was measured using accelerometers. School grades were used to describe AA using mathematics and native language final grades. The relationship between CRF and PA with AA was analysed using ANCOVA. RESULTS: Results show a significant effect of CRF levels on native language grades, after adjustment for confounders [F(3,414) = 3,99 p < 0.05], but not for mathematics [F(3,360) = 0.95 p > 0.05]. No significant effects of PA levels on AA were found. CONCLUSIONS: CRF is associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and higher levels of CRF may influence AA. CRF is positively correlated with MVPA, suggesting that higher amounts of MVPA might improve CRF and indirectly influence AA. Since CRF is dependent on higher intensities of PA, we can suggest a focus on implementing improvement strategies to increase the intensity of physical education lessons.

Surface roughness of a resin composite / Rugosidade superficial de resina composta

ABSTRACT Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the surface roughness (Ra) of the Z-350 resin composite following immersion in different media (distilled water, coca-cola, coffee, black tea and red wine). Methods: Fifty specimens of resin composite measuring 10 mm x 2 mm were prepared. Polymerization was performed using the conventional method (40 s). Each specimen was immersed for one hour per day. Evaluations were performed at baseline as well as after three, six, nine and 12 months. Three Ra readings were taken in opposite directions at each evaluation using a roughness meter. Mean Ra values were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's test (p < 0.05). Results: A significant increase in Ra was found in the specimens submitted to coffee, coca-cola(r) and black tea between baseline and the three-month evaluation. Variance was also found among the remaining evaluation times (3 months to 12 months), but the differences did not achieve statistical significance. No statistically significant differences in Ra were found among evaluation times in the specimens submitted to red wine or distilled water. Conclusion: Based on the present findings, coca-cola, coffee and black tea exert an influence on the surface roughness of resin composites.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a rugosidade da superfície (Ra) do Z-350 resina composta após imersão em diferentes meios (água destilada, coca-cola, café, chá preto e vinho tinto). Métodos: Foram preparados cinquenta espécimes de resina composta medindo 10 mm x 2 mm. A polimerização foi realizada através do método convencional (40 s). Cada espécime foi imerso durante uma hora por dia. As avaliações foram realizadas na linha de base, bem como após três, seis, nove e 12 meses. Três leituras Ra foram levados em direções opostas em cada avaliação, utilizando um medidor de rugosidade. Os valores médios de Ra foram submetidos a análise de variância (ANOVA) seguido pelo teste de Tukey (p <0,05). Resultados: Um aumento significativo na Ra foi encontrada nas amostras submetidas ao café, coca-Cola(r) e chá preto entre o início e a avaliação de três meses. Variância também foi encontrado entre as épocas de avaliação restantes (3 meses a 12 meses), mas as diferenças não atingiram significância estatística. Não houve diferenças estatisticamente significativas na Ra encontrados entre os momentos de avaliação nos casos submetidos ao vinho tinto ou água destilada. Conclusão: Com base nos achados, coca-cola, café e chá preto exercem uma influência sobre a rugosidade superficial de resinas compostas.

Reliability and validity of 6MWT for outpatients with schizophrenia: A preliminary study.

Although the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has been widely used in patients with schizophrenia, there is a lack of scientific evidence about its reliability and validity in this population. The first goal of this study was to explore the test-retest reliability of the 6MWT and to identify the associated parameters that contribute to the variability of the distance walked during the 6MWT in outpatients with schizophrenia. The second goal was to assess the criterion validity of the 6MWT in men with schizophrenia. Fifty one outpatients with schizophrenia participated in the study. To test-retest reliability (men=39; women=12), participants performed the 6MWT twice within 3 days interval. To test criterion validity (men=13), peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) was measured on a treadmill. For the associated parameters with the distance walked (n=51), medications use, smoking behavior, body and bone composition, and physical activity levels were analyzed. No significant differences between the means of the two 6MWTs were found. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94 indicating good reliability. 6MWT correlated significantly with VO2peak (r=0.67) indicating criterion validity. Height, body fat mass, smoking behavior and minutes of PA/week were significantly associated with the 6MWT. Results suggest that 6MWT shows good reliability for individuals with schizophrenia and good validity for the small sample of male participants in this study.

Exercise intervention and cardiovascular risk factors in obese children. Comparison between obese youngsters taking part in a physical activity school-based programme with and without individualised diet counselling: the ACORDA project.

AIM: To determine the effects of a school-based exercise intervention programme on cardiovascular risk factors, including body fat (BF), metabolic profile and physical activity (PA) in children with and without individualised dietary counselling approach (IDC and WIDC). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty-six overweight children from 6-16 years old (25 girls, 54.3%; age = 10.3 ± 2.8) of six schools took part in an 8-month interdisciplinary, school-based intervention programme. All children were engaged in PA classes, but only one group was exposed to individualised counselling. Blood pressure (BP), lipids and lipoproteins, accelerometer-based PA, percentage of body fat (%BF) and trunk fat (%TF) measures were taken before and after intervention. General Linear Model (Repeated Measures ANOVA) adjusted for age, maturation and height change was used to analyse the longitudinal effect of individualised counselling between two evaluations in each group. RESULTS: Favourable changes were observed for %BF, %TF, systolic BP and total cholesterol in the IDC group. Subjects WIDC only increased light and moderate-vigorous PA. In IDC, significant effects for time * group interactions were found for systolic BP, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, indicating that counselling might add favourable changes in these markers, beyond those explained by PA and growth. CONCLUSION: School-based interventions can contribute to counteracting obesity in youth, particularly when individualised dietary counselling is provided. Therefore, the link between schools and professional counselling should be strengthened to ensure consolidated changes towards healthy behaviours.