The Influence of Serious Games in the Promotion of Healthy Diet and Physical Activity Health: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: serious games seem to show promising strategies to promote treatment compliance and motivate behavior changes, and some studies have proven to contribute to the literature on serious games. (2) Methods: this systematic review aimed to analyze the effect of serious games in promoting healthy eating behaviors, effectively preventing childhood obesity, and improving physical activity in children. Five electronic bibliographic databases-PubMed, ACM Digital Library, Games for Health Journal, and IEEE Xplore were used to conduct a systematic literature search based on fixed inclusion and exclusion criteria. Peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2003 and 2021 were selected for data extraction. (3) Results: a total of 26 studies were identified, representing 17 games. Half of the studies tested interventions for healthy eating and physical education. Most of the intervention's games were designed according to specific behavioral change theories, predominantly the social cognitive theory. (4) Conclusions: studies confirmed the potential of serious games for obesity prevention but considering the restrictions encountered, we exhort for novel designs with different theoretical perspectives.

Widening the Perspectives for Legume Consumption: The Case of Bioactive Non-nutrients.

Legume grains have provided essential nutrients in human diets for centuries, being excellent sources of proteins, carbohydrates, fatty acids, and fibers. They also contain several non-nutrients that historically have been connotated as toxic but that in recent years have been shown to have interesting bioactive properties. The discussion on the role of bioactive non-nutrients is becoming more important due to increasing science-based evidence on their potential antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, and anticarcinogenic properties. At a time when legume-based products consumption is being strongly promoted by national governments and health authorities, there is a need to clearly define the recommended levels of such non-nutrients in human diets. However, there is insufficient data determining the ideal amount of non-nutrients in legume grains, which will exert the most positive health benefits. This is aligned with insufficient studies that clearly demonstrate if the positive health effects are due to the presence of specific non-nutrients or a result of a dietary balance. In fact, rather than looking directly at the individual food components, most nutritional epidemiology studies relate disease risk with the food and dietary patterns. The purpose of this perspective paper is to explore different types of non-nutrients present in legume grains, discuss the current evidence on their health benefits, and provide awareness for the need for more studies to define a recommended amount of each compound to identify the best approaches, either to enhance or reduce their levels.

The impact of folic acid supplementation on gestational and long term health: Critical temporal windows, benefits and risks.

HIGHLIGHTS: Associations between FA supplementation in pregnancy and effects on offspring's NTDs, allergy/respiratory problems, cancer and behaviour problems as been studied.There is growing concern about the effects of excessive FA supplementation, whether in terms of doses or times of exposure.FA supplementation in the periconceptional period is protective against NTDs while in later periods it could be deleterious.A daily dose of 0.4 mg FA in the periconceptional period seems to be effective and safe. ABSTRACT: Maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation is one of the most popular nutritional interventions during pregnancy for its protective effect against neural tube defects (NTDs).The purposes of this review are: (a) to gather the current evidence regarding supplementation of maternal diet with FA and (b) to problematize the available literature in terms of dosages, critical temporal windows, and its potential benefits and risks.The expression (pregnancy OR fetus OR offspring OR mother) AND ("folic acid" AND supplementation) was searched on PubMed database, filtering for articles published from 2005 to 2014. Publications referring to FA supplementation during the periconceptional period or pregnancy in which there was a conclusion about the effects of isolated FA supplementation on pregnant woman, pregnancy or offspring were included. Of the initial 1182 papers, 109 fulfilled the inclusion criteria.The majority of the publications reported FA supplementation outcomes on offspring's health, with emphasis in NTDs, allergy/respiratory problems, cancer and behaviour problems. Some inconsistency is observed on the impact of FA supplementation on different outcomes, except for NTDs. It is also visible an increased concern about the impact of excessive supplementation, either in terms of doses or exposure's duration.In conclusion, there is a growing interest in FA supplementation issues. The protective effect of FA supplementation over NTDs has been confirmed, being the periconceptional period a critical window, and it is frequently suggested that allergy/respiratory outcomes arise from (excessive) FA supplementation particularly later in pregnancy. Further research on critical doses and time of exposure should be conducted.

Rotational alignment in patient-specific instrumentation in TKA: MRI or CT?

PURPOSE: To compare CT-guided and MRI-guided patient-specific instrumentation in total knee arthroplasty (TKA). METHODS: Forty-four patients underwent primary TKA using either CT-guided or MR-guided Signature™ patient-specific instrumentation. They were prospectively assigned into two groups: 23 patients into the MR-guided instrumentation (group A) and 21 patients into the CT-guided patient-specific instrumentation (group B). All patients underwent computed tomography of the operated knee in the first week after the surgery to measure the components rotation. RESULTS: The femoral component rotation was 0.0° (0.0, 1.0) in group A and 0.0° (-2.0, 1.0) in group B. The tibial component rotation was -16.0° (-19.0, -14.0) in group A and -15.0° (-18.0, -8.0) in group B. In both components, there were no significant differences between the two groups. The difference between the tibial component rotation and the neutral tibial rotation was similar in both groups [2.0° (-1.4, 4.0) in group A and 3.0° (-0.5, 5.0) in group B], but the dispersion around the median was different between the two groups, with the amplitude of the difference between tibial rotation and neutral position 9° (-3.0, 6.0) in group A and 27° (-9.0, 18.0) in group B. CONCLUSIONS: MRI may be more accurate than CT using the Signature™ system when planning the surgical guides for TKA, with fewer patients with malrotation of the tibial component. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

Folate and folic acid in the periconceptional period: recommendations from official health organizations in thirty-six countries worldwide and WHO.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the recommendations on folate intake and folic acid supplementation and fortification in the periconceptional period, aimed at prevention of neural tube defects (NTD), provided by official health organizations in different countries worldwide and WHO. DESIGN: Information on recommendations for folate and folic acid intake in the periconceptional period was gathered from the websites of official national health organizations of several countries worldwide and from the WHO website. SETTING: WHO, selected developed countries and emerging economies, totalling thirty-six countries worldwide (some European, BRICS, G8, Asian Tiger/Asian Dragon and Australia). RESULTS: Recommendations differ between countries, although the majority (69·4 %) recommend a healthy diet plus a folic acid supplement of 400 µg/d from preconception (4-12 weeks) until the end of the first trimester of pregnancy (8-12 weeks). The same recommendation is issued by the WHO. Dosages for women at high risk of NTD are up to 4-5 mg/d (for 41·7 % of studied countries). The recommended intake for folate is in the range of 300-400 µg/d for women of childbearing age and 500-600 µg/d for pregnant women in different countries and WHO. Five countries emphasize the importance of a healthy diet rendering supplementation needless. By contrast, five others advise a healthy diet and supplementation plus mandatory fortification. Only one mentions the importance of ensuring an adequate folate status and refers to checking with a health-care provider on the need for supplements. CONCLUSIONS: Different recommendations regarding folate and folic acid, seeking NTD prevention, are available worldwide; however, most countries and WHO focus on a healthy diet and folic acid supplementation of 400 µg/d periconceptionally.

Is there a role for adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells in ACL reconstruction?

PURPOSE: To assess by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) if adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells accelerate tendon-to-bone healing in the femoral tunnel, after hamstring anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. METHODS: Forty-three patients underwent ACL reconstruction and were prospectively randomized into two groups: 20 patients in the experimental group (group A) with adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells and 23 patients in the control group (group B) without adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells. All patients underwent MRI of the knee at three months after surgery to evaluate the signal-to-noise ratio of the interzone. RESULTS: There was no difference in the signal-to-noise ratio of the interzone on MRI between the experimental and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells do not seem to accelerate graft-to-bone healing in ACL reconstruction. The clinical relevance of this finding is that adult non-cultivated bone marrow stem cells apparently have a limited role in ACL reconstruction.

Patient-specific instrumentation improves tibial component rotation in TKA.

PURPOSE: To compare the femoral and tibial components rotational alignment in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed either with conventional or with patient-specific instrumentation. METHODS: Forty-five patients underwent primary TKA and were prospectively randomized into two groups: 22 patients into the conventional instrumentation group (group A) and 23 patients into the Signature™ patient-specific instrumentation group (group B). All patients underwent computed tomography of the operated knee in the first week after surgery to measure the components rotation. RESULTS: The femoral component rotation was 0.0° (-0.25, 1.0) in group A, and 0.0° (0.0, 1.0) in group B. The tibial component rotation was -16.0° (-18.5, 11.8) in group A, and -16.0° (-19.0, -14.0) in group B. There were no significant differences between the two groups in tibial and femoral components rotation. The difference between the tibial component rotation and the neutral tibial rotation was similar in both groups [2.0° (-0.5, 6.3) in group A and 2.0° (-1.0, 4.0) in group B], but the dispersion around the median was different between the two groups. The amplitude of the difference between tibial rotation and neutral position was 27° (-13, 14) in group A and 9° (-3, 6) in group B. CONCLUSIONS: There is a smaller chance of internal malrotation of the tibial component with the Signature™ patient-specific instrumentation system, with less dispersion and amplitude of the tibial component rotation around the neutral position. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

ACL reconstruction: effect of bone dowel on tibial tunnel enlargement.

PURPOSE: To evaluate prospectively if the impaction of a bone dowel in the tibial tunnel prevents the tunnels from enlarging beyond their original diameter. METHODS: Seventeen patients underwent arthroscopically assisted ACL reconstruction with hamstring autologous graft. All patients underwent CT of the knee on the day of surgery, at 3 months and 12 months post-op. RESULTS: On the day of surgery, the median cross-sectional areas of the tunnels were 77.0 and 79.0mm(2), respectively at 15 mm and 20mm from the tip of the posterior wall of the tunnel. At 3 months, the median cross-sectional areas of the tunnels were 70.0 and 65.0mm(2), at 15 mm and 20mm. At 12 months post-op, the median cross-sectional areas of the tunnels were 69.0 and 69.0mm(2). The median enlargement of the tunnels between 3 months and 12 months post-op was 0.0mm(2) at 15 mm and -2.0mm(2) at 20mm. CONCLUSIONS: The impaction of an autologous bone dowel in the tibial tunnel during hamstring ACL reconstruction keeps the tunnels from enlarging beyond their original diameter, and there is no further enlargement of the tunnels after 3 months post-op.

ACL reconstruction: comparison between transtibial and anteromedial portal techniques.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the transtibial reconstruction technique of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) with the anteromedial (AM) portal technique in their ability to place the femoral and tibial tunnels within the ACL footprints. METHODS: Forty patients were sequentially enrolled in two different surgical techniques, 20 patients in the transtibial and 20 patients in the AM portal technique. All patients underwent computed tomography scan of the operated knee. The center of the femoral tunnel aperture on the lateral femoral condyle was measured according to the quadrant method. On the tibial side, the center of the tibial tunnel was measured in the sagittal plane. These measurements were compared with the center of the normal AM and PL bundles. RESULTS: There were no differences in the center of the femoral tunnels on the Blumensaat's line between the two groups (mean 23.5% (4.2) for the transtibial technique and 26.0% (4.3) for the AM portal technique (P = n.s.). In the height of the femoral condyle, the center of the tunnels was significantly lower in the AM portal technique group [mean 34.7% (3.8) vs. 24.0% (7.9) (P < 0.001)]. In the tibia, the center of the tunnel in the sagittal plane was significantly posterior in the transtibial technique (mean 55.4% (4.9) vs. 44.4% (3.7) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The AM portal technique places the femoral and tibial tunnels more centrally in the ACL footprint when compared with the transtibial technique. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.

[Factors associated with metabolic syndrome in administrative workers in the oil industry]. / Fatores associados à síndrome metabólica em trabalhadores administrativos de uma indústria de petróleo.

This is a cross-sectional study seeking to identify the factors associated with metabolic syndrome in administrative workers of an oil company. A total of 1,387 workers were examined, including their anthropometric and biochemical data, lifestyle, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Metabolic syndrome was defined in accordance with the First Set of Brazilian Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome. Factors associated with MS were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and 15% of the workers had MS symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender (OR=3.4; IC 95% 2.1- 5.5), age (OR=3.8; IC 95% 1.5-9.4) and smoking (current and past) (OR=1.6; CI 95% 1.2-2.3), were associated with metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, the prevalence of MS in administrative workers of the oil industry is high, especially among males, smokers, ex-smokers and those aged 40 years or more. Possibly, the greatest value of this diagnosis is to make it possible to identify workers with severe metabolic changes, which would justify the implementation of immediate intervention to reduce the identified risk factors. In this sense, actions aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle can be developed by the companies, in order to enhance the health and quality of life of their employees.

Fatores associados à síndrome metabólica em trabalhadores administrativos de uma indústria de petróleo / Factors associated with metabolic syndrome in administrative workers in the oil industry

Estudo transversal com o objetivo de identificar os fatores associados à síndrome metabólica (SM) em trabalhadores administrativos de uma indústria de petróleo. Avaliou-se 1.387 trabalhadores, incluindo dados antropométricos, bioquímicos, estilo de vida, características demográficas e socioeconômicas. Determinou-se a SM segundo a I Diretriz Brasileira de Diagnóstico e Tratamento da Síndrome Metabólica. Os fatores associados à SM foram examinados por modelos de regressão logística univariado e multivariado. 15 por cento dos trabalhadores apresentaram a SM. Na análise multivariada, o sexo (OR=3,4;IC 95 por cento 2,1-5,5), a idade (OR=3,8;IC 95 por cento 1,5-9,4) e o tabagismo (atual e passado) (OR=1,6;IC 95 por cento 1,2-2,3), foram associados à SM. Conclui-se que a prevalência da SM nestes trabalhadores é elevada, especialmente em homens, tabagistas ou ex-tabagistas e com idade acima de 40 anos. Possivelmente, o maior valor deste diagnóstico foi possibilitar a identificação de trabalhadores com alterações metabólicas extremas, que justifiquem intervenções imediatas para redução dos fatores de risco identificados. Nesse sentido, ações que objetivam a promoção de estilo de vida saudável, poderão ser desenvolvidas pelas empresas, visando a contribuir para a melhoria das condições de saúde dos empregados.

This is a cross-sectional study seeking to identify the factors associated with metabolic syndrome in administrative workers of an oil company. A total of 1,387 workers were examined, including their anthropometric and biochemical data, lifestyle, demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Metabolic syndrome was defined in accordance with the First Set of Brazilian Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Metabolic Syndrome. Factors associated with MS were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression models and 15 percent of the workers had MS symptoms. Multivariate analysis revealed that gender (OR=3.4; IC 95 percent 2.1- 5.5), age (OR=3.8; IC 95 percent 1.5-9.4) and smoking (current and past) (OR=1.6; CI 95 percent 1.2-2.3), were associated with metabolic syndrome. In conclusion, the prevalence of MS in administrative workers of the oil industry is high, especially among males, smokers, ex-smokers and those aged 40 years or more. Possibly, the greatest value of this diagnosis is to make it possible to identify workers with severe metabolic changes, which would justify the implementation of immediate intervention to reduce the identified risk factors. In this sense, actions aiming to promote a healthy lifestyle can be developed by the companies, in order to enhance the health and quality of life of their employees.

[Periodontal disease, tobacco and preterm delivery]. / Doença periodontal, tabaco e parto pré-termo.

Preterm delivery is associated with high mortality and morbility perinatal, being the costs dispended by the family and the National Health System with preterm newborns extremely high. However, it has been difficult to reduce its incidence due to the various factors involved. There is scientific evidence which support the relationship between periodontal disease and preterm delivery. There is also evidence of tobacco as a risk factor for periodontal disease, even though the relationship with preterm delivery is not yet clear. The aims of our study were to evaluate, in women in a post-partum period, dental and periodontal status as well as the exposure to tobacco and to establish the relationship between these two factors with preterm delivery. We performed a case control study with 237 parturient women from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Hospital S. João, E.P.E., during the first 48 hours after birth. A total of 86 gave birth at a gestational age under 37 weeks (case group ) and 151 gave birth to term newborns with birthweight equal or superior 2500 g (control group). The prevalence of some indicators of periodontal disease in the studied population was extremely high, namely gingival inflammation and gingival recession, and more of 30% had values of probing depth equal or higher than 4 mm significantly. Based on these periodontal indicators, only the presence of recession in more than two teeth seems to increase the risk of preterm delivery in fivefold (OR = 5,28; IC95%: 1,63-17,04). There is a statistically significant association between probing depth equal or higher than 4mm and smoking during pregnancy. This association might be relevant because 20% of preterm newborns mothers smoked during pregnancy and the proportion that stopped smoking during pregnancy in this group of mothers was almost half of the number of the control group. Therefore it is necessary to embody the information about this thematic in the health education, not only in pregnant women but in the general population, alerting for the smoking influence in periodontal disease, in pregnant women and in newborns. Interventions to help pregnant women to stop smoking should be included, not only in prenatal care guidelines used in hospitals, but also by dental medicine providers.

Placement of femoral tunnel between the AM and PL bundles using a transtibial technique in single-bundle ACL reconstruction.

Two different approaches for drilling the femoral tunnel are commonly used in single-bundle anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction: creating the femoral tunnel through the tibial tunnel or drilling the tunnel through a low anteromedial arthroscopy portal. When using a transtibial drilling technique, the location of the femoral tunnel is restricted by the angulation of the tibial tunnel in the coronal plane and may lead to a high placement of the femoral tunnel in the intercondylar notch. However, some authors refer that the femoral tunnel can be positioned correctly in the center of the femoral ACL footprint by means of a transtibial technique if the tibial tunnel forms an angle between 60 degrees and 65 degrees to the medial joint line of the tibia in the coronal plane. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prospectively with CT scans whether a femoral tunnel drilled through a tibial tunnel at an angle of 60 degrees-65 degrees in the coronal plane is created between the AM and PL bundles in the lateral femoral condyle. Our results showed that the median difference of the distance between the center of the femoral tunnel and the center of the AM and PL bundles along the Blumensaat's line was 6 and 5%, respectively. In the height of the femoral condyle, the median difference of the distance between the center of the femoral tunnel and the center of the AM and PL bundles was 0 and 31%, respectively. In conclusion, when drilling the femoral tunnel via a transtibial technique with the tibial tunnel angled 60 degrees-65 degrees in the coronal plane, the center of the femoral tunnel is created in the AM bundle footprint in the height of the femoral condyle.

Femoral tunnel enlargement after anatomic ACL reconstruction: a biological problem?

Tunnel enlargement after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction may compromise revision surgery. The cause of this tunnel enlargement is not yet fully understood, but it is thought to be multifactorial, with biomechanical and biological factors playing a role. Tunnel enlargement has been described particularly in patients who underwent ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendons with extracortical fixation devices. The purpose of our study was to evaluate prospectively with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the changes in femoral tunnel diameter following arthroscopic anatomic ACL reconstruction with hamstring tendons. At 3-month post-op, all tunnels had enlarged compared to the diameter of the drill and most tunnels enlarged more in the midsection than at the aperture. In the posterolateral tunnels, the entrance increased 16% in diameter and the middle of the tunnel increased 30% in diameter. In the anteromedial femoral tunnels, the tunnels enlarged 14% at the aperture and 35% in the midsection. All femoral tunnels enlarged and most of them enlarged in a fusiform manner. The biological factors explain better our findings than the mechanical theory, although mechanical factors may play a role and the cortical bone at the entrance of the tunnel may modify the way tunnels respond to mechanical stress.

Homocisteína e risco cardiovascular: [revisão] / Homocysteine and cardiovascular risk: [review]

Numerosos estudos epidemiológicos têm demonstrado que a hiper-homocisteinemia é um forte e independente fator de risco para o desenvolvimento da doença vascular. A hiper-homocisteinemia pode ser decorrente da deficiência de enzimas envolvidas no metabolismo desse aminoßcido ou de seus cofatores (vitaminas). Várias hipóteses têm sido propostas para explicar o mecanismo celular que envolve a hiper-homocisteinemia, hipertensão arterial, diabetes mellitus e tabagismo, que respondem por aproximadamente 50 por cento dos casos...

Dietary intake and nutritional adequacy prior to conception and during pregnancy: a follow-up study in the north of Portugal.

OBJECTIVE: To assess maternal diet and nutritional adequacy prior to conception and during pregnancy. DESIGN: Follow-up of a cohort of pregnant women with collection of questionnaire data throughout pregnancy and after delivery. SETTING: Antenatal clinics at two public hospitals in Porto, Portugal. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and forty-nine pregnant women who reported a gestational age below 13 weeks at the time they attended their first antenatal visit. RESULTS: Intakes of energy and macronutrients were within recommended levels for most women. Pregnancy was accompanied by increases in the dietary intake of vitamins A and E, riboflavin, folate, Ca and Mg, but declines in the intake of alcohol and caffeine. The micronutrients with higher inadequacy prevalences prior to pregnancy were vitamin E (83%), folate (58%) and Mg (19%). These three micronutrients, together with Fe, were also those with the highest inadequacy prevalences during pregnancy (91%, 88%, 73% and 21%, respectively, for folate, Fe, vitamin E and Mg). Ninety-seven per cent of the women reported taking supplements of folic acid during the first trimester, but the median gestational age at initiation was 6.5 (interquartile range 5, 9) weeks. Self-reported prevalences of Fe and Mg supplementation were high, and increased throughout pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The study identified low dietary intakes of vitamin E, folate and Mg both in the preconceptional period and during pregnancy, and low intake of Fe during pregnancy only. The low dietary intake of folate and the late initiation of supplementation indicate that current national guidelines are unlikely to be effective in preventing neural tube defects.

O idoso portador de demência: questöes de interesse para a assistência de enfermagem em nível ambulatorial / Dementia: issues of interest in nursing care

Estrutura-se em dois capítulos. O primeiro apresenta o contexto sócio-político e epidemiológico do processo de envelhecimento populacional, e destaca as implicaçöes psico-biológicas da demência para o idoso e família e; o segundo capítulo descreve os estudos que enfermeiras brasileiras vem utilizando para cuidar do idoso e sua família.