Women's body representations across the life course: A comparative study in Southern Brazil.

The aim of this study is to observe how women of different ages represent their bodies and the changes they undergo across their life course. The research is based on the theory of social representations, idealized by Serge Moscovici. A total of 201 women between 25 and 88 years old from southern Brazil participated in the research. The methodological instrument consists of a questionnaire containing free associations, sentence completion and selection of images. The processing and classification of the data were done by the software Evoc (2000) and content analysis. The results showed differences between the age groups. Younger women represented the body according to aesthetic references and manifested the desire to monitor the body. Older women related the body more frequently with notions of health, social relationships, and leisure. The memories of a younger body and anticipations of an older one reflected the conventions about ageing. The study also shows that concerns about bodily limitations and age-related diseases were frequent in all age groups and may guide behaviour and attitudes towards the body. The study can inform policymakers on the needs and expectations of a growing ageing sector of the population in Brazil and worldwide.

Colagem indireta no tratamento orto-cirúrgico imediato ­ relato de caso / Indirect bonding in immediate ortho-surgical treatment ­ case report

Por conta das irregularidades da superfície vestibular, dificuldade de colagem em algumas regiões, como também mais facilidade na confecção de arco passivo para cirurgia ortognática de benefício antecipado, a técnica da colagem indireta vem ganhando espaço. Assim, o objetivo do trabalho é relatar um caso clínico de um paciente com 27 anos de idade sem comorbidade sistêmica e diagnosticado com ameloblastoma na mandíbula, na qual foi realizada uma colagem indireta para possibilitar a confecção do arco cirúrgico de forma passiva e, com isso, a cirurgia imediata. Por meio da técnica de colagem indireta, foi feita a colagem dos bráquetes no modelo de gesso e, após a colagem, foi confeccionado o arco passivo superior e inferior. Com os guias de colagem indireta e os arcos prontos, realizou-se a colagem na boca do paciente, os arcos cirúrgicos foram instalados e o mesmo foi encaminhado para realização da cirurgia de remoção do ameloblastoma. Erros no posicionamento dos bráquetes irão interferir no resultado final, aumentando, assim, o tempo de trabalho. A técnica da colagem indireta tem se demonstrado um avanço para a Ortodontia, otimizando o tempo de atendimento clínico como também o tempo cirúrgico nos casos de benefício antecipado. (AU)

Due to the irregularities of the vestibular surface, difficulty in gluing in some regions, as well as ease in creating a passive arch for orthognathic surgery with anticipated benefits, the indirect bonding technique has been gaining ground. Thus, the objective of the work is to report a clinical case of a 27-year-old patient without systemic comorbidity and diagnosed with ameloblastoma in the mandible, to whom indirect bonding was performed to enable the creation of the surgical arch in a passive way and, with this, the immediate surgery. Using the indirect bonding technique, the brackets were bonded to the plaster model and, after bonding, the upper and lower passive arch was created. With the indirect bonding guides and the archwires ready, the bonding was done in the patient's mouth, the surgical archwires were installed, and the patient was sent to undergo surgery to remove the ameloblastoma. Errors in the positioning of the brackets will interfere with the final result, thus increasing working time. The indirect bonding technique has proven to be an advance for Orthodontics, optimizing clinical care time as well as surgical time in cases of anticipated benefit (AU)

Thermographic examination of gingival phenotypes: correlation between morphological and thermal parameters.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and thermographic aspects of the gingival phenotype (GP) in healthy subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample examined 264 teeth, upper and lower incisors, comprising 132 central incisors (CI) and 132 lateral incisors (LI), in 33 healthy volunteers. Four periodontal parameters were recorded systematically: ratio of width to length of the dental crown (CW/CL), height of the gingival attachment (KGW), probing depth (PD), and gingival transparency (GT). The temperatures of the attached gingiva (KGW temp) and the free gingival margin (FGM Temp) were also recorded by way of infrared thermography (IRT). RESULTS: The average age of the sample was 30.70 ± 7.65 years. Of the 264 teeth evaluated, 76.1% had a thin GP. There was a significant association between CW/CL (p < 0.001), KGW (p < 0.001), PD (p < 0.007), and FGM Temp (p < 0.006) with the tooth groups. The results show a significant and inversely proportional correlation between clinical parameters and gingival temperature (p < 0.05). A significant association was found between CW/CL (p < 0.026); KGW (p < 0.001); and GP. CONCLUSION: CW/CL, KGW, PD, and FGM Temp vary according to tooth group. The majority of the sample presented with the thin GP, which was more prevalent in the lower LIs and CIs. No significant association could be observed between thermographic parameters and GP. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Knowledge of the temperature of the gingival tissues can be useful in helping to diagnose and plan periodontal treatments. Moreover, our findings will help future studies evaluate the use of IR as an auxiliary diagnostic method in dentistry, eliminating GP as a confounding factor, since it does not seem to influence the temperature of the gingival tissues.

Construção e validação de cenário de telessimulação no contexto da criança com estomia intestinal / Construcción y validación del escenario de telesimulación en el contexto de niños con estomia intestinal / Construction and validation of telessimulation scenario in the context of children with intestinal stoma

Objetivo: Descrever a construção e validação de um cenário de telessimulação para a assistência de enfermagem à criança com colostomia. Método: Estudo metodológico desenvolvido em três etapas: elaboração, validação e teste piloto do cenário. Resultados: O roteiro docenário foi construído e posteriormente aprovado por três estomaterapeutas com percentil de 95%. Subsequente o cenário foi validado por telessimulação com cinco peritas e atingiu índice de validade de conteúdo de 0,88. Após a validação foi realizado teste piloto com três acadêmicas de enfermagem. Conclusão: A validação do cenário atingiu um percentil satisfatório e permitiu organizar e corrigir a estrutura da telessimulação, priorizando a soma de experiências e o desenvolvimento profissional de estudantes. Foi tracejado que a utilização da telessimulação consiste em uma promissora alternativa como método ativo de ensino simultâneo à simulação clínica tradicional.

Purpose: Describe the construction and validation of a telesimulation scenario for nursing care for children with colostomy. Methods: Methodological study developed in three stages: elaboration, validation and pilot test of the scenario. Results: The scenario script was constructed and subsequently approved by three stomatherapists with a 95% percentile. Subsequent scenario was validated by telessimulation by five experts and reached a content validity index of 0.88. After validation, a pilot test was performet with three nursing students. Conclusion: The validation of the scenario reached a satisfactory percentile and allowed the organizing and correcting of the structure of the telessimulation, prioritizing the sum of experiences and the professional development of students. It was traced that the use of telessimulation consists of a promising alternative as an active method of simultaneous teaching to traditional clinical simulation.

Objetivo: Describir la construcción y validación de un escenario de telesimulación para la atención de enfermería de niños con colostomia. Método: Estudio metodológico desarrollado en tres etapas: elaboración, validación y prueba piloto del escenario. Resultados: El guión del escenario fue construido y posteriormente aprobado por tres estomaterapeutas con un percentil del 95%. El escenario posterior fue validado por telesimulación por cinco peritas y alcanzó un índice de validez de contenido de 0,88. Después de la validación, se realizo uma prueba piloto com tres estudiantes de enfermería. Conclusión: La validación del escenario alcanzó un percentil satisfactorio y permitió la organización y corrección de la estructura de la telesimulación, priorizando la suma de experiencias y el desarrollo profesional de los estudiantes. Se trazó que el uso de la telesibulación consiste en una alternativa prometedora como método activo de enseñanza simultánea a la simulación clínica tradicional.

The challenge of flavonoid/cyclodextrin complexation in a complex matrix of the quercetin, luteolin, and 3-O-methylquercetin.

The complexation of herbal constituents with cyclodextrin has been a useful tool to improve their aqueous solubility. However, the simultaneous complexation of these compounds still lacks detailed studies. The present study investigated the multicomplexation of quercetin (QCT), luteolin (LUT), and 3-O-methylquercetin (3OMQ) with (2-hydroxypropyl)-ß-cyclodextrin (HPßCD), when they are simultaneously contained in a flavonoid-enriched fraction (FEF) of Achyrocline satureioides. The phase-solubility diagram revealed a linear correlation between the flavonoids solubility and the HPßCD concentration, demonstrating the formation of complexes with a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, which was confirmed by ESI-MS. Negative ΔG0 values indicated that complexation was spontaneous. Flavonoids/HPßCD interactions were evidenced by FT-IR, DSC, SEM, and 1D and 2D NMR. The last one showed the formation of inclusion complexes by insertion of the B-ring of the flavonoids into the cavity of HPßCD. Unexpectedly, the FEF/HPßCD complex showed a radical scavenger potential lower than the FEF. The HPLC analysis revealed that the complex contained different flavonoid ratio than the fraction. Thus, the antioxidant capacity of the samples was demonstrated to be related to the ratio among the flavonoids, rather than to the total flavonoids. These new findings are very useful for developing herbal cyclodextrin-based products from A. satureioides or other herbal products.

Photobiomodulation intervention improves oxidative, inflammatory, and morphological parameters of skeletal muscle in cirrhotic Wistar rats.

Photobiomodulation (PBM) might be an intervention method to mitigate sarcopenia in cirrhotic patients. Given the lack of research on this issue, the goal of this study was to evaluate possible beneficial effects of PBM on the structural and functional properties of skeletal muscle from cirrhotic rats. Cirrhosis was induced by secondary bile duct ligation (BDL). Wistar rats were randomized into four groups: sham-operated control (Sham), Sham + PBM, BDL, and BDL + PBM. After cirrhosis induction, a dose of PBM (1 J; 100mW; 10 s; 880 nm; 6 × per week) was applied to each quadriceps, from the 15th to the 45th day after surgery. The locomotor ability was performed using an open-field task. The muscle structure was analyzed using histological methods. Cell damage was also evaluated assessing oxidative stress and DNA damage markers, and IL-1ß pro-inflammatory interleukin by immunohistochemical analysis. An increase in the number of crossings was observed in the BDL + PBM group in relation to BDL. The BDL group showed muscle atrophy and increased IL-1ß in relation to Sham, while in the BDL + PBM group, the fiber muscle was restructured and there was a decrease of IL-1 ß. TBARS increased in the liver and muscle tissues in the BDL group and decreased it in the BDL + PBM group. SOD increased while CAT decreased in the BDL + PBM group in relation to the BDL group. No genotoxic or mutagenic effect was observed for PBM treatment. PBM improved the locomotion and the morphology of the muscle fibers, decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation, without causing DNA damage in cirrhotic rats.

Phylogenetic relationships of the poorly known treefrog Boana hobbsi (Cochran amp; Goin, 1970) (Anura: Hylidae), systematic implications and remarks on morphological variations and geographic distribution.

Boana hobbsi is a poorly known hylid frog currently placed within the Boana punctata group. Yet, morphological, ecological and bioacoustic traits do not support this placement, with no molecular data being available to date to test this hypothesis. Based on newly collected mitochondrial DNA sequences, morphological data review and field observations, we provide new insight into the phylogenetic relationships, morphological variations and geographic distribution of B. hobbsi. Our findings reveal that B. hobbsi is nested (with strong support) within the Boana benitezi group, recovering once more a polyphyletic Boana punctata group. Supported by this new genetic, morphological and ecological evidence, we propose a new taxonomic arrangement which includes B. hobbsi as a member of the Boana benitezi group. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of conducting biological inventories in remote Amazonian areas, where many taxonomic and geographic knowledge gaps persist with regards to Amphibian diversity.

The First 60 Days: Physical Therapy in a Neurosurgical Center Converted Into a COVID-19 Center in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case report was to describe the role of physical therapists in a neurosurgical center that was converted into a COVID-19 center for critically ill patients. METHODS (CASE DESCRIPTION): On March 16, 2020, the state government of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, determined that a neurosurgical center with 44 ICU beds equipped with mechanical ventilators should immediately transfer all patients with neurological conditions to other institutions and prepare for patients who were critically ill with COVID-19. The staff, including physical therapists, were trained to handle patients with COVID-19, many of whom were developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) with complex and multifactorial ventilatory support needs. Adjustments were made to the physical therapy routine and protocols. Following the stabilization of patients' respiratory condition, physical therapist interventions focused on restoring physical function. RESULTS: A total of 116 confirmed COVID-19 cases were treated from March 17 to May 17, 2020. Sixty percent were men (70) and 40% were women (46), with a median age of 59 years. Eighty-nine percent (103) underwent mechanical ventilation during hospitalization, of which 11% (11) were successfully extubated. Thirty percent (31) of patients underwent tracheostomy, and 26% of those (8) were successfully decannulated. Of the total patients, 57 patients died (mortality rate of 49%), 4 (3%) were transferred to another institution, 23 (20%) were discharged home, and 32 (28%) continued to be hospitalized. CONCLUSION: Physical therapists in the ICU can facilitate care for critical events such as intubation, patient positioning, ventilatory adjustments, extubation, and functional training. IMPACT: The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of physical therapists, specifically in the care of patients who are critically ill with COVID-19. The availability and expertise of physical therapists in the ICU are important for managing critical events such as intubation, patient positioning, ventilatory adjustments, extubation, and functional training.

Autopercepção do estresse ocupacional na equipe de enfermagem de um serviço de emergência / Self-perceived occupational stress in the nursing team of an emergency service / Estrés ocupacional autopercibido en el equipo de enfermería de un servicio de emergência

Objetivo: identificar o perfil e a autopercepção do estresse na equipe de enfermagem atuante em setor de emergência. Método: pesquisa transversal e descritiva com abordagem quantitativa, por meio da aplicação de um questionário semiestruturado, entre os meses de outubro a dezembro de 2018, em Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Resultados: a maioria dos profissionais foram mulheres, casadas, na faixa etária de 31 a 40 anos, com filhos, ensino médio completo e com até 3 anos de experiência profissional na área de enfermagem. Prevaleceu vínculo empregatício único e fixo. Todos os profissionais apontaram ao menos uma manifestação de estresse, seja por alterações cognitivas, físicas, emocionais ou comportamentais que afetam diretamente o desempenho laboral. Conclusão: o perfil do ambiente, a sobrecarga e intenso ritmo de trabalho repercutem negativamente na saúde destes trabalhadores. Diante disso, a rápida identificação e avaliação dos casos é imprescindível para a implementação de estratégias, com vistas à beneficiar a saúde do trabalhador e garantir melhorias no clima laboral.

Objective: to identify the profile and self-perception of stress in the nursing team working in the emergency sector. Method: cross-sectional and descriptive research with a quantitative approach, through the application of a semi-structured questionnaire, from October to December 2018, in Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso. Results: most of the professionals were women, married, aged 31 to 40 years, with children, complete high school and with up to 3 years of professional experience in the nursing area. There was a single and fixed employment relationship. All professionals indicated at least one manifestation of stress, whether due to cognitive, physical, emotional or behavioral changes that directly affect work performance. Conclusion: the environmental profile, the overload and the intense work pace negatively affect the health of these workers. Given this, the rapid identification and assessment of cases is essential for the implementation of strategies to benefit workers' health and ensure improvements in the working environment.

Objetivo: identificar el perfil y la autopercepción del estrés en el equipo de enfermería activo en el sector de emergencia. Método: investigación transversal y descriptiva con enfoque cuantitativo, a través de la aplicación de un cuestionario semiestructurado, de octubre a diciembre de 2018, em Barra do Garças, Mato Grosso, Brasil. Resultados: la mayoría de los profesionales eran mujeres, casadas, en el grupo de edad de 31 a 40 años, con hijos, Escuela Secundaria Técnica, con experiencia profesional de hasta 3 años y empleo individual y fijo. Todos los profesionales mostraron al menos una manifestación de estrés, ya sea por alteraciones cognitivas, físicas, emocionales o conductuales que afectan directamente el rendimiento del trabajo. Conclusión: el perfil ambiental, la sobrecarga y el intenso ritmo de trabajo afectan negativamente la salud de estos trabajadores. Dado esto, la rápida identificación y evaluación de los casos es esencial para la implementación de estrategias que beneficien la salud de los trabajadores y aseguren mejoras en el clima laboral.

O preconceito racial como determinante social da saúde ­ a invisibilidade da anemia falciforme / Racial prejudice as determining social health ­ the invisibility of sickle cell anemia

O trabalho se refere ao relato de uma pesquisa, no campo da Saúde da População Negra, que considera que a morbimortalidade no Brasil tem cor, que as formas de adoecer e morrer desse grupo social estão relacionadas às suas condições materiais e sociais. A partir disso, foi realizada uma pesquisa, em um centro de saúde pública, na cidade de Belo Horizonte, cujo objetivo era o de investigar a percepção dos funcionários da equipe de saúde, e dos usuários do referido centro, sobre o preconceito como determinante da saúde, e sobre o conhecimento da anemia falciforme, doença genética que afeta de forma mais específica as pessoas negras. Os resultados da pesquisa apontam evidências da existência do racismo institucional na saúde pública, do preconceito como gerador de depressão e do desconhecimento das equipes e dos usuários do sistema de saúde em relação à anemia falciforme

The work refers to a research report in the field of Health of Black Population which considers that the morbidity and mortality in Brazil has color, that the illness and death kinds of those groups are related to their material and social conditions. On this base, a study, whose objective was to investigate the perception of health staff employees and of the users of the center about prejudice as a determinant of health and about the knowledge of sickle cell anemia, a genetic disease that affects more specifically those groups, was carried out in a public health center in the city of Belo Horizonte. The research results evidence the existence of institutional racism in public health, of prejudice as depression generator, and show lack of knowledge about sickle cell anemia among health teams and users of health care

Integrative overview of the herpetofauna from Serra da Mocidade, a granitic mountain range in northern Brazil.

The Brazilian mountain ranges from the Guiana Shield highlands are largely unexplored, with an understudied herpetofauna. Here the amphibian and reptile species diversity of the remote Serra da Mocidade mountain range, located in extreme northern Brazil, is reported upon, and biogeographical affinities and taxonomic highlights are discussed. A 22-days expedition to this mountain range was undertaken during which specimens were sampled at four distinct altitudinal levels (600, 960, 1,060 and 1,365 m above sea level) using six complementary methods. Specimens were identified through an integrated approach that considered morphological, bioacoustical, and molecular analyses. Fifty-one species (23 amphibians and 28 reptiles) were found, a comparable richness to other mountain ranges in the region. The recorded assemblage showed a mixed compositional influence from assemblages typical of other mountain ranges and lowland forest habitats in the region. Most of the taxa occupying the Serra da Mocidade mountain range are typical of the Guiana Shield or widely distributed in the Amazon. Extensions of known distribution ranges and candidate undescribed taxa are also recorded. This is the first herpetofaunal expedition that accessed the higher altitudinal levels of this mountain range, contributing to the basic knowledge of these groups in remote areas.

A new species of Amerotyphlops from Northeastern Brazil, with comments on distribution of related species.

We describe a new species of Amerotyphlops from an upland forest enclave in the state of Paraíba, Northeastern Brazil. The new species is distinguished from the other seven South American species of Amerotyphlops by the combination of the following characters: nasal suture incomplete; rostral scale oval and yellowish cream with some dark brown spots; four supralabial scales; three infralabial scales; rows of scales around the body 18/18/18; middorsal scales from 204 to 225; dorsum with twelve to thirteen rows of scales dark brown and belly with four to five rows of scales immaculate yellowish cream; caudal spine dark brown; subcaudal scales 8-10 in female and 11-13 in males; maximum total length 233 mm. The new species is morphologically similar to A. amoipira and A. paucisquamus, sharing 18/18/18 rows of scales around the body and a small overlap of counts of middorsal scales.

Ocorrência de algas cianofíticas em água de dessedentação de bovinos criados extensivamente / Occurrence of blue-green algae in the drinking water of extensively raised cattle

Na pecuária extensiva, os bebedouros naturais ou artificiais possibilitam o acesso direto dos bovinos ao seu interior e trazem como consequência a degradação da qualidade da água e o aumento dos riscos sanitários. Em tais circunstâncias ocorre a eutrofização e consequentemente a floração de algas, dentre elas cianobactérias toxigênicas. O presente estudo teve por objetivo verificar a ocorrência de cianobactérias de interesse sanitário em água de dessedentação de bovinos e descrever os seus parâmetros físico-químicos pH, temperatura e oxigênio dissolvido. Foram examinadas 19 amostras de água de cacimbas ou bebedouros naturais formados predominantemente em decorrência da precipitação pluviométrica, coletadas em seis propriedades rurais localizadas nas regiões Sudeste e Centro-Oeste, para a presença de cianobactérias e mensurados os valores de pH, temperatura e oxigênio dissolvido. Microcystis e/ou Merismopedia foram detectadas em dois bebedouros; em um dos quais havia intensa floração. Os valores de pH, temperatura e oxigênio dissolvido nas 19 coleções oscilaram entre pH 7,2-9,7, 31-34ºC e 7,8-30mg/l, respectivamente. Foram detectadas ainda algas consideradas não patogênicas de diversos gêneros, em conjunto ou não com a ocorrência das cianofíticas. Nessas condições, as práticas comuns de oferta de água de dessedentação na bovinocultura extensiva, as possibilidades de eutrofização e a contaminação por cianobactérias trazem potenciais riscos à saúde dos animais.

In extensive animal husbandry, natural or artificial ponds allow direct access of cattle to water but result in degradation of water quality and in increased health risks. Under such circumstances eutrophication occurs and consequently algal bloom, among them toxigenic cyanobacteria. The present study aimed to report the occurrence of cyanobacteria in the drinking water of cattle and to describe their physical and chemical parameters, as pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen. Nineteen samples of natural ponds or water troughs formed predominantly as result of rainfall from six farms located in the Southeast and Midwest regions of Brazil were analyzed for the presence of cyanobacteria, and pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen was measured. Microcystis and/or Merismopedia were detected in two ponds; one of them was covered with intense flowering. The values of pH, temperature and dissolved oxygen in 19 collections were pH 7.2-9.7, 31-34ºC and 7.8-30mg/l respectively. Also non-pathogenic algae of several genera were detected besides the occurrence or not of cianogenics. Under these conditions, the common practices of drinking water supply for extensively raised cattle and the possibilities of eutrophication and cyanobacterial growth bring potential risks for animal health.

Effects of ß-glucan polysaccharide revealed by the dominant lethal assay and micronucleus assays, and reproductive performance of male mice exposed to cyclophosphamide.

ß-glucan is a well-known polysaccharide for its chemopreventive effect. This study aimed to evaluate the chemopreventive ability of ß-glucan in somatic and germ cells through the dominant lethal and micronucleus assays, and its influence on the reproductive performance of male mice exposed to cyclophosphamide. The results indicate that ß-glucan is capable of preventing changes in DNA in both germ cells and somatic ones. Changes in germ cells were evaluated by the dominant lethal assay and showed damage reduction percentages of 46.46% and 43.79% for the doses of 100 and 150 mg/kg. For the somatic changes, evaluated by micronucleus assay in peripheral blood cells in the first week of treatment, damage reduction percentages from 80.63-116.32% were found. In the fifth and sixth weeks, the percentage ranged from 10.20-52.54% and -0.95-62.35%, respectively. Besides the chemopreventive efficiency it appears that the ß-glucan, when combined with cyclophosphamide, is able to improve the reproductive performance of males verified by the significant reduction in rates of post-implantation losses and reabsorption in the mating of nulliparous females with males treated with cyclophosphamide.

Perfil de pacientes dependentes hospitalizados e cuidadores familiares: conhecimento e preparo para as práticas do cuidado domiciliar / Profiles of dependent hospitalized patients and their family caregivers: knowledge and preparation for domiciliary care practices / Perfil depacientes dependientes hospitalizados y cuidadores familiares: conocimiento y preparación para las prácticas de atención domiciliaria

No contexto das doenças crônico-degenerativas e do aumento da expectativa de vida, inicia-se o envolvimento de cuidadores familiares exercendo cuidados de forma empírica no lar. O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o perfil dos pacientes e do cuidador familiar durante a hospitalização dos pacientes dependentes, como também identificar o nível de conhecimento do cuidador e suas necessidades acerca dos cuidados a serem prestados ao familiar dependente e em uso de dispositivos de assistência no domicílio. Métodos: trata-se de estudo descritivo de abordagem quantitativa realizado em hospital extraporte de Belo Horizonte. O local foi a Unidade de Cuidados Prolongados e Paliativos. Participaram do estudo 50 cuidadores familiares que assinaram o TCLE. Resultados: grande parte dos pacientes se enquadra no grupo de idosos, 54% deles na faixa etária entre 60 e 70 e >70 anos e já com alguma doença de base instalada, como as cardiovasculares, com 54%. Os desequilíbrios respiratórios alcançaram 30% de acometidos. Em relação aos dispositivos de assistência, 36% estavam em uso de traqueostomias e 46% utilizavam, respectivamente, sonda entérica e curativos. Quanto aos cuidadores, 60% disseram não saber cuidar. Conclusão: os dados deste estudo reforçam a importância de promover a preparação do paciente e dos familiares para a alta hospitalar e para o cuidado no domicílio, visando à reabilitação precoce e à diminuição de reinternações e óbitos por iatrogenias.

In the context of chronic degenerative diseases and increased life expectancy, the involvement of family caregivers begins by empirically exercisingcare in the home. The objective of this study is to analyze the profile of patients and their family caregivers during the hospitalization of dependentpatients and identify the level of knowledge of the caregiver and their needs related to the care provided to the dependent family member in use ofassistive devices at home. Method: this is a descriptive study with a quantitative approach performed in an extraporte hospital in Belo Horizonte.The site was the Long-term and Palliative Care Unit. A total of 50 family caregivers participated in this study and signed the TCLE. Results: most ofthe patients are in the elderly group; 54% of them aged between 60 and >70 years with some disease already well-established, such as cardiovasculardiseases in 54% and respiratory imbalances in 30% of the participants. The use of assistive devices was present in 36% of the participants usingtracheostomies and 46% using enteric probe and dressings. Sixty percent of the caregivers stated not knowing how to provide care. Conclusion: thedata from this study reinforce the importance of promoting the preparation of patients and their family members for hospital discharge and careat home, aimed at an early rehabilitation and reduction in readmissions and iatrogenic deaths.

En el contexto de las enfermedades crónico-degenerativas y del aumento de la esperanza de vida comienzan a participar los cuidadores familiaresejerciendo su tarea de forma empírica en el hogar. El objetivo de este estudio es el de analizar el perfil de los pacientes y del cuidador familiardurante la hospitalización de los pacientes dependientes, como también identificar el nivel de conocimiento del cuidador, sus necesidades acercade los cuidados a ser prestados al familiar dependiente y en el uso de los dispositivos de asistencia en el domicilio. Se trata de un estudiodescriptivo de enfoque cuantitativo, realizado en un gran hospital de Belo Horizonte. El local fue la unidad de cuidados prolongados y paliativos Participaron del estudio 50 cuidadores familiares que firmaron el TLCE. Gran parte de los pacientes se encuadra en el grupo de ancianos, 54%de ellos están entre los 60, 70 y >70 años con alguna enfermedad de base instalada, como las cardiovasculares con 54%. Los desequilibriosrespiratorios alcanzaron 30% de los afligidos. En relación a los dispositivos de asistencia 36% estaban con traqueotomía y 46% utilizaban la sondaentérica y curativa. En cuanto a los cuidadores 60% dijeron no saber cuidar. Los datos de este estudio refuerzan la importancia de promover lapreparación del paciente y la familia para el alta hospitalaria y el cuidado domiciliario, con miras a la rehabilitación temprana y a la disminuciónde reinternación y óbito por iatrogenia.

In vivo evaluation of the antimutagenic and antigenotoxic effects of ß-glucan extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae in acute treatment with multiple doses.

Ample evidence suggests that cancer is triggered by mutagenic damage and diets or supplements capable of reducing such incidences can be related to the prevention of neoplasy development or to an improvement in life quality of patients who undergo chemotherapy. This research aimed to evaluate the antimutagenic and antigenotoxic activity of ß-glucan. We set up 8 experimental groups: control (Group 1), cyclophosphamide (Group 2), Groups 3-5 to assess the effect of ß-glucan administration, and Groups 6-8 to evaluate the association between cyclophosphamide and ß-glucan. The intraperitonial concentrations of ß-glucan used were 100, 150 and 200 mg/kg. Micronucleus and comet assays showed that within the first week of treatment ß-glucan presented a damage reduction rate between 100-62.04% and 94.34-59.52% for mutagenic and genotoxic damages, respectively. This activity decreased as the treatment was extended. During the sixth week of treatment antimutagenicity rates were reduced to 59.51-39.83% and antigenotoxicity was not effective. This leads to the conclusion that the efficacy of ß-glucan in preventing DNA damage is limited when treatment is extended, and that its use as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant need to be better clarified.

Association of back pain with hypovitaminosis D in postmenopausal women with low bone mass.

BACKGROUND: Back pain is a major public health problem due to its high frequency, to the resulting activity constraint, and the need for surgery in many cases. Back pain is more frequent in women than men, mainly in postmenopausal women. High prevalence of hypovitaminosis D has been detected in postmenopausal women, and it is associated with decreased bone mass, sarcopenia, vertebral fractures, and inflammation, which can be related to back pain. METHODS: The relation between back pain and hypovitaminosis D was evaluated in this study, as well the difference regarding the number of bedridden days, number of days away from work, and daily activities limitation between women with and without hypovitaminosis D. This study reviewed baseline data from an interventional phase III multicenter trial in low bone mass postmenopausal women. The study included demographic data, 25OHD determinations, Newitt/Cummings questionnaire on back pain, and vertebral fracture identified thought X-ray evaluation. RESULTS: The trial included 9354 participants, but only 9305 underwent all the evaluations. The age median was 67 (60 - 85 years old) and age at menopause was 49 (18 - 72 years). Hypovitaminosis D was found in 22.5% of the subjects, 15.3% of them had vertebral fractures, 67.5% with back pain, and 14.8% reduced their daily activities in the previous six months. Subjects with hypovitaminosis D, compared to those without hypovitaminosis D, reported more back pain (69.5 v 66.9%, p: 0.022), more cases of severe back pain (8.5% v 6.8%, p: 0,004), higher limitation in their daily activities (17.2 v 14.0%, p: 0.001), and more fractures (17.4 v 14.6%, p: 0,002); also, they had more trouble to perform daily activities addressed in the Newwit/Cummings questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Hypovitaminosis D was related to back pain, to its severity, and to difficulty in perform daily activities. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT00088010.

Interaction and digestibility of phaseolin/polyphenol in the common bean.

The polyphenols and phaseolin interaction in common bean varieties was studied. Raw beans of three different colours were analysed: black (BRS Supremo), brown (BRS Pontal) and white (WAF-75). Based on the phaseolin digestibility in vitro and phaseolin-polyphenol complexation obtained by SDS-PAGE on a 10% polyacrylamide gel, it was observed that the polyphenols interfere with the digestibility of beans by decreasing the hydrolysis of phaseolin, especially in the darker ones. Furthermore it was possible to verify a difference in the electrophoretic pattern of phaseolin, indicating an interaction between phaseolin and polyphenols.

Anticlastogenic effect of ß-glucan, extracted from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, on cultured cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation.

ß-glucan is an important polysaccharide due to its medicinal properties of stimulating the immune system and preventing chronic diseases such as cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine the anticlastogenic effect of ß-glucan in cells exposed to ultraviolet radiation (UV). Chromosome aberration assay was performed in drug-metabolizing cells (HTC) and non drug-metabolizing cells (CHO-K1 and repair-deficient CHO-xrs5), using different treatment protocols. Continuous treatment (UV + ß-glucan) was not effective in reducing the DNA damage only in CHO-xrs5 cells. However, the pre-treatment protocol (ß-glucan before UV exposition) was effective in reducing DNA damage only in CHO-K1 cells. In post-treatment (ß-glucan after UV exposition) did not show significative anticlastogenic effects, although there was a tendency toward prevention. The data suggest that ß-glucan has more than one action mechanism, being capable of exerting desmutagenic as well as bio-antimutagenic action. The findings also suggest that the presence of the xenobiotic metabolizing system can reduce the chemopreventive capacity of ß-glucan. Therefore, these results indicate that ß-glucan from Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be used in the prevention and/or reduction of DNA damage.

Anatomical characters of the medicinal leaf and stem of Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae)

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae), better known by its former name Vernonia amygdalina Delile, is a small shrub used in folk medicine as an antipyretic, laxative, antimalarial and anthelmintic. Studies have demonstrated that different vegetal extracts possess antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities. Among the bioactive metabolites, there are sesquiterpene lactones, saponins, polyphenols and flavonoids. This study investigated the leaf and stem microscopic characters of G. amygdalinum, aiming to expand the knowledge on this medicinal species and indicate anatomical structures. Plant material was fixed and sectioned by freehand and using a microtome. The sections were either stained or underwent standard histochemical tests. Scanning electron microscopy was performed to investigate epidermal relief. The leaf is amphistomatic with anomocytic stomata. There are striate cuticle, glandular and non-glandular trichomes and dorsiventral mesophyll. In transverse section, the midrib and the petiole have a plano-convex shape. Both show several collateral vascular bundles and few crystals of calcium oxalate. In the stem, the epidermis persists and the phellogen has a peripheral origin. It presents typical endodermis and sclerenchymatic caps adjoining the phloem. The aspects that contribute to characterizing the species are stomata on both leaf surfaces, midrib and petiole features, the endodermis and sclerenchymatic caps in the stem, as well as the different types of trichome on both aerial organs.

Gymnanthemum amygdalinum (Delile) Sch.Bip. ex Walp. (Asteraceae), espécie mais conhecida pela sinonímia Vernonia amygdalina Delile, é um pequeno arbusto empregado na medicina popular como antipirético, laxativo, antimalárico e anti-helmíntico. Estudos demonstraram que diferentes extratos do vegetal possuem atividades antioxidante, antimicrobiana e antiparasitária. Entre os metabólitos bioativos presentes, citam-se lactonas sesquiterpenoides, saponinas, polifenóis e flavonoides. Este estudo investigou os caracteres microscópicos de folha e caule de G. amygdalinum, a fim de ampliar o conhecimento acerca dessa espécie medicinal e apontar estruturas anatômicas características. O material foi fixado e seccionado à mão livre e em micrótomo. Os cortes foram corados ou submetidos aos testes histoquímicos clássicos. Empregou-se microscopia eletrônica de varredura para investigar a ultraestrutura da superfície epidérmica. A folha é anfiestomática com estômatos anomocíticos. Há cutícula estriada, tricomas glandular e tector e mesofilo dorsiventral. Em secção transversal, a nervura central e o pecíolo têm contorno plano-convexo. Ambos mostram vários feixes vasculares colaterais e poucos cristais de oxalato de cálcio. No caule, a epiderme permanece e o felogênio tem instalação periférica. São observadas endoderme típica e calotas esclerenquimáticas apostas ao floema. Os aspectos que fornecem elementos para a identificação da espécie são a ocorrência de estômatos em ambas as superfícies foliares, a organização da nervura central e do pecíolo, a endoderme e as calotas esclerenquimáticas no caule, além dos diferentes tipos de tricoma nos órgãos aéreos estudados.