Do associations of sex, age and education with transport and leisure-time physical activity differ across 17 cities in 12 countries?

BACKGROUND: Leisure-time and transport activity domains are studied most often because they are considered more amenable to intervention, but to date evidence on these domains is limited. The aim of the present study was to examine patterns of socio-demographic correlates of adults' leisure-time and transport physical activity and how these associations varied across 17 cities in 12 countries. METHODS: Participants (N = 13,745) aged 18-66 years in the IPEN Adult study and with complete data on socio-demographic and self-reported physical activity characteristics were included. Participants reported frequency and duration of leisure-time and transport activities in the last 7 days using the self-administered International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Long Form. Six physical activity outcomes were examined in relation with age, education, and sex, and analyses explored variations by city and curvilinear associations. RESULTS: Sex had the most consistent results, with five of six physical activity outcomes showing females were less active than males. Age had the most complex associations with self-report transport and leisure-time physical activity. Compared to older people, younger adults were less likely to engage in transport physical activity, but among those who did, younger people were likely to engage in more active minutes. Curvilinear associations were found between age and all three leisure-time physical activity outcomes, with the youngest and the oldest being more active. Positive associations with education were found for leisure-time physical activity only. There were significant interactions of city with sex and education for multiple physical activity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Although socio-demographic correlates of physical activity are widely studied, the present results provide new information. City-specific findings suggest there will be value in conducting more detailed case studies. The curvilinear associations of age with leisure-time physical activity as well as significant interactions of leisure-time activity with sex and education should be further investigated. The findings of lower leisure-time physical activity among females as well as people with low education suggest that greater and continued efforts in physical activity policies and programs tailored to these high-risk groups are needed internationally.

Do associations between objectively-assessed physical activity and neighbourhood environment attributes vary by time of the day and day of the week? IPEN adult study.

BACKGROUND: To more accurately quantify the potential impact of the neighbourhood environment on adults' physical activity (PA), it is important to compare environment-PA associations between periods of the day or week when adults are more versus less likely to be in their neighbourhood and utilise its PA resources. We examined whether, among adults from 10 countries, associations between objectively-assessed neighbourhood environment attributes and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) varied by time of the day and day of the week. The secondary aim was to examine whether such associations varied by employment status, gender and city. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 6,712 adults from 14 cities across 10 countries with ≥1 day of valid accelerometer-assessed MVPA and complete information on socio-demographic and objectively-assessed environmental characteristics within 0.5 and 1 km street-network buffers around the home. Accelerometer measures (MVPA min/h) were created for six time periods from early morning until late evening/night, for weekdays and weekend days separately. Associations were estimated using generalized additive mixed models. RESULTS: Time of the day, day of week, gender and employment status were significant moderators of environment-MVPA associations. Land use mix was positively associated with MVPA in women who were employed and in men irrespective of their employment status. The positive associations between MVPA and net residential density, intersection density and land use mix were stronger in the mornings of weekdays and the afternoon/evening periods of both weekdays and weekend days. Associations between number of parks and MVPA were stronger in the mornings and afternoon/evenings irrespective of day of the week. Public transport density showed consistent positive associations with MVPA during weekends, while stronger effects on weekdays were observed in the morning and early evenings. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that space and time constraints in adults' daily activities are important factors that determine the impact of neighbourhood attributes on PA. Consideration of time-specific associations is important to better characterise the magnitude of the effects of the neighbourhood environment on PA. Future research will need to examine the contribution of built environment characteristics of areas surrounding other types of daily life centres (e.g., workplaces) to explaining adults' PA at specific times of the day.

Built environment and physical activity: domain- and activity-specific associations among Brazilian adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity is likely to be determined as a complex interplay between personal, interpersonal, and environmental factors. Studying the built environment involves expanding the focus from the individual perspective to a public health one. Therefore, the objetive of this study was to examine the association between the built environment and objectively-measured physical activity among youth. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of data from of a Brazilian birth cohort during adolescence. Physical activity was measured using accelerometers (GENEActiv) and self-report (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, long version). Participants' home addresses were geocoded and built environment characteristics such as streets' pattern and quality, and public open spaces attributes for physical activity practice were evaluated in a 500-m circular buffer surrounding their homes. RESULTS: A total of 3379 participants were included. Street lighting (ß = 2.2; 95%CI: 0.5; 3.9) was positively associated with objectively-measured moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and proportion of paved streets and buffer's average family income were associated with lower MVPA. Living near the beach increased the odds of leisure-time MVPA practice by 3.3 (95%CI: 1.37; 8.02) times. There was a built environment-by-socioeconomic status (SES) interaction for the associations with commuting physical activity; street lighting [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.22; 95%CI: 1.01; 1.47] and presence of cycle lanes (OR = 1.77; 95%CI: 1.05; 2.96) were positively associated with commuting physical activity only among the intermediate SES tertile. CONCLUSION: Beachfront, street lighting, paved streets and cycle lanes were associated with physical activity patterns. This suggests that infrastructure interventions may influence physical activity levels of Brazilian adolescents.

First year of COVID-19 in Brazil: Factors associated with the spread of COVID-19 in small and large cities.

AIM: To test the association between sociodemographic and social characteristics with COVID-19 cases and deaths in small and large Brazilian cities. METHODS: This ecological study included COVID-19 data available in State Health Secretaries (managed by brasil.io API) and three national databases (IBGE, DATASUS and Embrapa). Temporal spread of COVID-19 in Brazil during the first year considered as outcome: a) days until 1st case in each city since 1st in the country; b) days until 1,000 cases/100,000 inhabitants since 1st case in each city; c) days until 1st death until 50 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. Covariates included geographic region, city social and environmental characteristics, housing conditions, job characteristics, socioeconomic and inequalities characteristics, and health services and coverage. The analysis were stratified by city size into small (<100,000 inhabitants) and large cities (≥100,00 inhabitants). Multiple linear regressions were performed to test associations of all covariates to adjust to potential confounders. RESULTS: In small cities, the first cases were reported after 82.2 days and 1,000 cases/100,000 were reported after 117.8 days, whereas in large cities these milestones were reported after 32.1 and 127.7 days, respectively. For first death, small and large cities took 121.6 and 36.0 days, respectively. However, small cities were associated with more vulnerability factors to first case arrival in 1,000 cases/100,000 inhabitants, first death and 50 deaths/100,000 inhabitants. North and Northeast regions positively associated with faster COVID-19 incidence, whereas South and Southeast were least. CONCLUSION: Social and built environment characteristics and inequalities were associated with COVID-19 cases spread and mortality incidence in Brazilian cities.

Perceived environment and public open space use: a study with adults from Curitiba, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the perceived environment and the use of public open spaces (POS). METHODS: A cross-sectional study with household surveys was conducted in 1,461 adults from Curitiba, Brazil interviewed in person. The perceived environment was evaluated with the Neighborhood Environment Walkability Scale, and the POS use was evaluated using the ordinal scale (increased use). RESULTS: The presence of interesting objects, heavy traffic, and the number of positive attributes of the environment was positively associated with POS use among men, and the presence of trees was associated with the use among women. CONCLUSIONS: Managers should invest in the architectural attractiveness of neighborhoods and should plant and conserve trees to encourage POS use.

Differencial proteome of clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues.

PURPOSE: We attempted to detect, for the first time in a Brazilian cohort, differences in protein expression between clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and their normal adjacent tissues, aiming to identify biomarkers and/or therapeutic target candidates for this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four ccRCC and adjacent normal tissues were collected after surgery and their protein extracts were quantified, pooled and separated by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2DE), followed by statistical analysis of the stained gels. Spots of interest were excised from the gels, digested with trypsin and identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Twenty-six differential spots were detected between the two classes of tissues, among which twenty were identified by mass spectrometry and sixteen were found to be non-redundant. Eleven proteins were either underexpressed or undetected in the ccRCC extracts, such as prohibitin and peroxiredoxin-3, whereas five were found to be overexpressed or exclusively detected in the ccRCC extract, including αß crystalin and heat shock protein 27. CONCLUSIONS: Several proteins were detected at differential levels when compared to normal adjacent tissues, and, moreover, many have been previously described by their relationship with RCC. Therefore, this work corroborates previous reports on the search for biomarkers for ccRCC, as well as it points out new candidates that may be validated in future studies.

Neighborhood safety and physical inactivity in adults from Curitiba, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood safety is one of the environmental aspects that can influence physical activity. We analyzed the association between perceived neighborhood safety and physical inactivity (PI) in adults and examined effect modification according to sociodemographic variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1,261 adults (62% women), age 18-69 years from Curitiba, Brazil. RESULTS: The perception of unsafe neighborhood was higher among women, older participants, those classified in the high socioeconomic (SES) group, overweighed and also among those reporting to have PA equipments and children. The association between perception safety of walking during the day and walking for leisure (women PR=1.12 CI95%=1.02-1.22; men PR=0.82 CI95%=0.64-1.05; interaction term PR=1.38 CI95%=1.03-1.83) and safe perception was associated with PI, just in the highest SES group (PR=1.09; CI95%=1.00-1.19; p trend=0.032) when compared with their counterparts (low SES PR=0.99; CI95%=0.90-1.04; p trend=0.785; interaction term PR=1.09; CI95%=1.03-1.15; p trend=0.007). CONCLUSION: The perception of safety in the neighborhood was associated with PI in transport, but this association varies across of sociodemographic variables.

Rhamnolipid production: effect of oxidative stress on virulence factors and proteome of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA1.

Under specific environmental conditions, Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces a biodegradable surfactant rhamnolipid. Evidences suggest that this biosurfactant is involved in protecting cells against oxidative stress; however, the effects of oxidative stress on its production and other virulence factors are still unclear. Here we show that rhamnolipid production is dependent on the aeration surface when P. aeruginosa is cultured in shaken flasks, as well as in production of elastases and alkaline proteases. The production of alginate, lipase, and pyocyanin was not detected in our shaken-flask experiments. P. aeruginosa was treated with hydrogen peroxide to trigger its oxidative stress response, and the proteome profile was analyzed. We identified 14 proteins that were expressed differently between samples that were treated and not treated with peroxide; these proteins are potentially involved in the rhamnolipid production/secretion pathway and oxidative stress.

[Projeto ESPAÇOS de Curitiba, Brazil: applicability of mixed research methods and geo-referenced information in studies about physical activity and built environments]. / Projeto ESPAÇOS de Curitiba, Brasil: aplicabilidade de métodos mistos de pesquisa e informações georreferenciadas em estudos sobre atividade física e ambiente construído.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the methods employed to assess the built environment and physical activity (PA) as part of a multicenter international study, and to discuss the challenges faced to obtain the necessary data in the Brazilian context. METHODS: In 2010 a household survey was conducted with adults aged from 20 to 65 years in the city of Curitiba, Brazil. The study involved the used of geo-referenced information to measure walkability in all 2 125 census sectors in Curitiba. Census sectors were categorized by walkability and income, taking into consideration the average income of heads of the family in each sector. Physical activity was assessed by self- report and using an objective measure (accelerometers). RESULTS: Sixteen high walkability and 16 low walkability sectors were studied, with eight high-income and eight low-income sectors in each category. A total of 699 subjects were interviewed and 381 wore accelerometers. The response rate was 66.4% for the interviews and the compliance with accelerometer use was 85.8% (n = 327). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that it is feasible to conduct high-quality studies on physical activity and built environment in the Brazilian context in accordance with international standards.

[Psychometric properties of a self-efficacy scale for physical activity in Brazilian adults]. / Propriedades psicométricas de uma escala de autoeficácia para a prática de atividade física em adultos brasileiros.

OBJECTIVE: To test the validity and reliability of a self-efficacy scale for physical activity (PA) in Brazilian adults. METHODS: A self-efficacy scale was applied jointly with a multidimensional questionnaire through face-to-face interviews with 1,418 individuals (63.4% women) aged ≥ 18 years. The scale was submitted to validity (factorial and construct) and reliability analysis (internal consistency and temporal stability). A test-retest procedure was conducted with 74 individuals to evaluate temporal stability. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analyses revealed two independent factors: self-efficacy for walking and self-efficacy for moderate and vigorous PA (MVPA). Together, these two factors explained 65.4% of the total variance of the scale (20.9% and 44.5% for walking and MVPA, respectively). Cronbach's alpha values were 0.83 for walking and 0.90 for MVPA, indicating high internal consistency. Both factors were significantly and positively correlated (rho ≥ 0.17, P < 0.001) with quality of life indicators (health perception, self-satisfaction, and energy for daily activities), indicating an adequate construct validity. CONCLUSIONS: The scale's validity, internal consistency, and reliability were adequate to evaluate self-efficacy for PA in Brazilian adults.

Making sense of the natural antisense transcript puzzle.

In plants, thousands of genes are associated with antisense transcription, which often produces noncoding RNAs. Although widespread, sense-antisense pairs have been implicated in a limited variety of functions in plants and are often thought to form extensive dsRNA stretches triggering gene silencing. In this opinion, we show that evidence does not support gene silencing as a major role for antisense transcription. In fact, it is more likely that antisense transcripts play diverse functions in gene regulation. We propose a general framework for the initial functional dissection of antisense transcripts, suggesting testable hypotheses relying on an experiment-based decision tree. By moving beyond the gene silencing paradigm, we argue that a broad and diverse role for natural antisense transcription will emerge.

Characteristics of the schools' surrounding environment, distance from home and active commuting in adolescents from Curitiba, Brazil. / Características do ambiente no entorno de escolas, distância da residência e deslocamento ativo em adolescentes de Curitiba, Brasil.

INTRODUCTION: Active commuting to school could help increasing physical activity levels among adolescents. However, there is limited understanding on how the relationship between the environment in school surroundings, as well the distance to school, could affect this behavior. AIM: To analyze the characteristics of the environment and distance between house and school with objective measures and their association with active commuting between adolescents of Curitiba, Brazil. METHODS: 493 adolescents were interviewed and 124 schools evaluated. The study variables included the schools' surroundings accessibility characteristics obtained through systematic observation, and the distance between home to school was determined through Geographic Information Systems (GIS) data. RESULTS: The presence of "safety signs" was inversely associated with active commuting (PR = 0.78; 95%CI 0.67-0.91; p = 0.003), as well distance 1,501-3,000 m (PR = 0.53; 95%CI 0.40 - 0.71; p < 0.001) and ≥ 3,501 m (PR 0.29; 95%CI 0.18 - 0.45; p < 0.001). Overall, schools' surroundings showed walking friendly characteristics. CONCLUSION: Traffic safety and distance to school were associated with active commuting to school among the study participants. Policies aiming at integrating access to school and traffic safety could help to promoting active commuting among adolescents.

Public open spaces and physical activity: disparities of resources in Florianópolis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between sociodemographic characteristics of census tracts and the presence/quality of public open spaces and physical activity facilities. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 643 census tracts in Florianópolis, Brazil, the presence and quality of public open spaces and physical activity facilities were objectively analyzed and the data by census tracts using Geographic Information Systems was treated. Outcomes were analyzed considering the census tracts as having: ≥ 1 public open spaces; ≥ 1 public open spaces with high quality; ≥ 2 physical activity facilities and high-quality physical activity facilities. Sociodemographic characteristics were the independent variables. Logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: Census tracts with a medium-income (OR = 1.8; 95%CI 1.1-3.0) and high-income (OR = 2.4; 95%CI 1.4-4.0), in those with medium (OR = 1.7; 95%CI 1.0-2.7) and high residential density (OR = 2.0; 95%CI 1,2-3.3), and with higher proportions of older adults (OR = 3.3; 95%CI 1.9-5.7) had a higher proportion of public open spaces. Census tracts with higher proportions of children/adolescents (OR = 0.3; 95%CI 0.2-0.6) and non-white residents (OR= 0.6; 95%CI 0.3-0.9) were less likely to contain public open spaces. The tracts with medium (OR = 4.0; 95%CI 1.4-11.3) and high-income (OR = 3.6; 95%CI 1.2-10.2) were more likely to contain public open spaces with ≥ 2 structures for physical activity, compared with those with low-income. We observed the inverse in sectors with a high proportion of non-white residents (OR = 0.3; 95%CI 0.1-0.9). CONCLUSIONS: Census tracts with higher proportions of children or adolescents, non-white individuals and those in the low-income strata had lower odds of containing public open spaces and physical activity facilities.

[Accessibility to public spaces for leisure and physical activity in adults in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil]. / Acessibilidade a espaços públicos de lazer e atividade física em adultos de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil.

The study aimed to analyze the association between accessibility to public spaces for leisure activities, availability of equipment for physical exercise in these spaces, and leisure-time physical activity (PA) in adults. A household survey was conducted with 699 adults from 32 census tracts selected according to income and "walkability". Accessibility to public spaces for leisure activities was determined by geoprocessing according to proximity to public spaces for leisure activities and the amount of such spaces within radiuses of 500 and 1,000 meters around the participants' homes. Presence of equipment for physical exercise in these public spaces was assessed by the observation method and classified as: (a) without equipment for physical exercise; (b) with equipment for physical exercise; (c) equipment for physical exercise for adults; and (d) with three or more pieces of equipment for physical exercise. PA was self-reported, and walking was analyzed separately from moderate-vigorous PA, classified in two levels (≥ 10 minutes/week and ≥ 150 minutes/week). The amount of public spaces for leisure activities in a 500-meter radius with one or more pieces of equipment for physical exercise was negatively associated with walking (OR = 0.84, based on ≥ 150 minutes/week). The amount of public spaces for leisure activities in a 1,000-meter radius was positively associated with moderate-vigorous PA (OR = 1.03). The distance to a public space for leisure activities with three or more pieces of equipment for physical exercise (OR = 0.95) was inversely associated with moderate-vigorous PA. Proximity and amount of public spaces for leisure activities are associated with higher levels of moderate-vigorous PA in adults. The combination of methods can help reveal the contribution that access to (and quality of) public spaces for leisure activities can make to PA.

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a associação entre acessibilidade a espaços públicos de lazer, disponibilidade de equipamentos para atividade física (AF) nestes locais e a prática de atividade física no lazer em adultos. Foi conduzido um inquérito domiciliar com 699 adultos de 32 setores censitários selecionados segundo a renda e "walkability". A acessibilidade a espaços públicos de lazer foi determinada por geoprocessamento segundo a proximidade até os espaços e a quantidade de espaços públicos de lazer contidos nos raios de 500 e 1.000 metros no entorno dos domicílios dos participantes. A presença de equipamentos para AF nos espaços públicos de lazer foi avaliada por método observacional e classificada em: (a) sem equipamento para AF; (b) com equipamento para AF; (c) equipamento para atividade física de adultos; e (d) com três ou mais equipamentos para AF. Essa atividade foi autorreportada e a caminhada analisada separadamente das atividades físicas de intensidade moderada a vigorosa sendo classificada em dois níveis (≥ 10 minutos/semana e ≥ 150 minutos/semana). A quantidade de espaços públicos de lazer, em um raio de 500 metros, com um ou mais equipamentos para AF foi negativamente associada com a prática da caminhada (OR = 0,84, considerando ≥ 150 minutos/semana). A quantidade de espaços públicos de lazer em um raio de 1.000 metros foi positivamente associada com atividades físicas de intensidade moderada a vigorosa (OR = 1,03). A distância até espaços públicos de lazer com três ou mais equipamentos para AF (OR = 0,95) foi inversamente relacionada com atividades físicas de intensidade moderada a vigorosa. A proximidade e a quantidade de espaços públicos de lazer estão associadas com maiores níveis de AF de intensidade moderada a vigorosa de adultos. A combinação de métodos de avaliação pode ajudar a revelar a contribuição que o acesso e a qualidade dos espaços públicos de lazer podem ter para a AF.

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la asociación entre accesibilidad a espacios públicos de ocio, disponibilidad de equipamientos para actividad física (AF) en estos lugares, y la práctica de actividad física durante el ocio en adultos. Se realizó una encuesta domiciliaria con 699 adultos de 32 sectores censitarios, seleccionados según su renta y "walkability" (transitabilidad). La accesibilidad a los espacios públicos de ocio se determinó mediante geoprocesamiento, conforme la proximidad hasta los espacios públicos de ocio y la cantidad de espacios públicos de ocio contenidos en un radio de 500 y 1.000 metros alrededor de los domicilios de los participantes. La presencia de equipamientos para AF en los espacios públicos de ocio se evaluó mediante el método observacional, y fue clasificado en: (a) sin equipamiento para AF; (b) con equipamiento para AF; (c) equipamiento para AF para adultos; e incluso (d) con tres o más equipamientos para AF. La AF fue autoinformada y las caminatas fueron analizadas separadamente de las AF de intensidad moderada a vigorosa, estando clasificadas en dos niveles (≥ 10 minutos/semana y ≥ 150 minutos/semana). La cantidad de espacios públicos de ocio, en un radio de 500 metros, con uno o más equipamientos para AF estuvo negativamente asociada con la realización de caminatas (OR = 0,84, considerando ≥ 150 minutos/semana). La cantidad de espacios públicos de ocio en un radio de 1000 metros estuvo positivamente asociada con AF de intensidad moderada a vigorosa (OR = 1,03). La distancia hasta espacios públicos de ocio con tres o más equipamientos para actividad física (OR = 0,95) estuvo inversamente relacionada con actividades físicas de intensidad moderada a vigorosa. La proximidad y la cantidad de espacios públicos de ocio están asociadas con mayores niveles de AF de intensidad moderada a vigorosa de adultos. La combinación de métodos de evaluación puede ayudar a revelar la contribución que el acceso y la calidad de los espacios públicos de ocio pueden tener para la AF.

EXERGAMES IN ADOLESCENTS: ASSOCIATED FACTORS AND POSSIBLE REDUCTION IN SEDENTARY TIME.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of exergames, associated factors and to quantify the time attributed to the use of exergames within the time spent on video games in a sample of adolescents from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that evaluated frequency and weekly volume of physical activities using the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. Weekly frequency and daily time of use of exergames and videogames were self-reported. Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests were used to compare the time spent playing exergames, and Poisson regression was used to test the associations (p<0.05). RESULTS: 495 adolescents were interviewed (51.3% girls), predominantly aged between 12 and 13 years (41.3%), under/normal weight (60.4%), medium socioeconomic status (39.8 %) and from public schools (69.3%). Most of the participants did not have video games in their bedroom (74.3%) and did not reach recommended levels of physical activity (55.5%). One in five adolescents used exergames (16.4%). Age (RP: 0.54; 95%CI 0.30-0.97, p=0.039) and having a console in the bedroom (RP: 1.89; 95%CI 1.27- 2.81, p=0.002) were associated with exergame use. Male sex (X_: 195.0; AIQ: 486.3; p=0.024) practice of leisure time physical activity (X_: 160.0; AIQ: 350.0; p=0.048) were associated with weekly volume of exergame use. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, less than two out of ten adolescents used exergames, and the use was higher among young adolescents and those who had a console in their bedrooms. Volume of use was higher among boys and those performing more than five hours of leisure time physical activity per week. In addition, a considerable part of the time devoted to the use of video games, was in fact, destined to the use of exergames.

[Access to information for evidence-based decision-making from the perspective of Municipal Health Secretaries in the State of Paraná, Brazil, 2014]. / Acesso à informação para tomada de decisão com base em evidências segundo a percepção de Secretários Municipais de Saúde do Estado do Paraná, no ano de 2014.

The study aimed to identify information sources for decision-making and barriers to access in the use of scientific journals by Municipal Health Secretaries in the State of Paraná, Brazil. Study participants included Secretaries of Health from 181 municipalities in the year 2014. Interviews focused on the frequency of consultation of resources for obtaining evidence, including from scientific journals. 40.9% of the participants were 18 to 39 years of age (mean age was 43±10.2 years; median 42 years). More than two-thirds (69.1%) had held the office of health secretary for less than five years. The majority were males (56.4%), and only one in three had a graduate degree in public health. The main sources of information were "non-scientific periodicals" (76.2%), "print/online journals" (71.4%), and "Ministry of Health guidelines" (71.3%). The main barriers to use of scientific journals were "lack of time for reading" (72.9%), "periodical's high cost" (69.1%), and "difficulty in identifying the best periodicals" (63.5%). The main information sources were non-scientific periodicals and Ministry of Health guidelines. The use of scientific journals is hindered by lack of time and limited familiarity with scientific language. Access to scientific information should be facilitated by the use of more accessible sources and training for municipal administrators in the use of open-access periodicals. Such measures can foster knowledge of current evidence among municipal health secretaries.

O objetivo foi identificar fontes de acesso a informações para a tomada de decisão e barreiras para o uso de periódicos científicos entre Secretários Municipais de saúde do Estado do Paraná, Brasil. Participaram do trabalho Secretários Municipais de Saúde de 181 municípios do Estado do Paraná, no ano de 2014. Foram realizadas entrevistas sobre a frequência e o uso de recursos, para obter informação sobre as evidências científicas relacionadas ao uso de periódicos científicos. Em geral, 40,9% dos participantes tinham entre 18 e 39 anos (média 43 ± 10,2; mediana 42 anos), ocupavam o cargo por um período menor de cinco anos (69,1%), eram do sexo masculino (56,4%) e apenas um a cada três possuía pós-graduação em saúde pública. As principais fontes de informação utilizadas foram "revistas não científicas" (76,2%), "jornais impressos/online" (71,4%)" e "diretrizes do Ministério da Saúde" (71,3%). As principais barreiras reportadas para o uso de periódicos científicos foram a "falta de tempo para leitura" (72,9%), o "custo elevado de periódico" (69,1%) e a "dificuldade de identificar os melhores periódicos" (63,5%). As principais fontes de acesso à informação utilizadas são veículos não científicos e as diretrizes do Ministério da Saúde. O emprego de periódicos científicos é dificultado pela falta de tempo e baixa familiaridade com a linguagem científica. O acesso a informações científicas deve ser facilitado com o emprego de fontes mais acessíveis, assim como o treinamento dos gestores para o uso de periódicos de livre acesso. Tais ações podem auxiliar no conhecimento de evidências atualizadas entre os secretários municipais de saúde.

El objetivo fue identificar fuentes de acceso a la información para la toma de decisiones y las barreras existentes, para el uso de periódicos científicos entre Secretarios Municipales de Salud del estado de Paraná, Brasil. Participaron en el trabajo Secretarios Municipales de Salud de 181 municipios del estado de Paraná, durante el año 2014. Se realizaron entrevistas sobre la frecuencia y el uso de recursos, con el fin de obtener información sobre las evidencias científicas relacionadas con el uso de periódicos científicos. En general, un 40,9% de los participantes tenían entre 18 y 39 años (media 43 ± 10,2; mediana de 42 años), ocupaban el cargo por un período menor de cinco años (69,1%), eran de sexo masculino (56,4%), y solamente uno de cada tres contaba con posgrado en salud pública. Las principales fuentes de información utilizadas fueron "revistas no científicas" (76,2%), "periódicos impresos/online" (71,4%) y "directrices del Ministerio de Salud" (71,3%). Las principales barreras informadas para el uso de periódicos científicos fueron la "falta de tiempo para lectura" (72,9%), el "coste elevado del periódico" (69,1%) y la "dificultad de identificar los mejores periódicos" (63,5%). Las principales fuentes de acceso a la información utilizadas son vehículos no científicos y las directrices del Ministerio de Salud. El empleo de periódicos científicos está dificultado por falta de tiempo y baja familiaridad con el lenguaje científico. El acceso a información científica debe ser facilitado con el empleo de fuentes más accesibles, así como el entrenamiento de gestores para el uso de periódicos de libre acceso. Tales acciones pueden ayudar en el conocimiento de evidencias actualizadas entre los secretarios municipales de salud.

Evidence-based decision making and promotion of physical activity among directors of local health departments.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the steps involved in evidence-based decision making for the implementation of programs aimed at the promotion of physical activity. METHODS: It is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with quali-quantitative approach, held with municipal health secretaries chosen deliberately by regional health representatives of the state of Paraná. A total of 27 secretaries participated in a telephone interview consisting of 17 open questions. Content analysis was conducted according to the categories of an evidence-based decision-making model consisting of seven steps. RESULTS: None of the participants employed every step of the evidence-based decision-making model. The steps that were most often mentioned included: evaluation of the program (33.3%), use of evidence from the literature (22.2%) and identification of the problem (22.2%). The steps that were reported the least included: quantification of the problem (14.8%), development and prioritization of actions (14.8%), development of the plan of action (14.8%) and evaluation of the community (3.7%). CONCLUSIONS: The use of evidence-based decision making in the context of the promotion of physical activity was shown to be incipient among the health secretaries of the state of Paraná. We suggest widening dissemination and training on the use of evidence-based decision making among municipal administrators to increase the effectiveness of actions for promotion of physical activity.

Characteristics of the environmental microscale and walking and bicycling for transportation among adults in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil.

The aim of this study was to analyze the association between the characteristics of the built and social and environmental microscale and walking and bicycling for transportation in adults in Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was performed in 2009 with a household survey that included 1,419 adults. Objective evaluation of environment was performed on the resident's street segments, using an instrument for systematic observation consisting of six dimensions: "land use", "public transportation", "streetscape", "conditions and aesthetics", "places for walking and bicycling", and "social environment". The score for each dimension was obtained as the sum of positive items related to physical activity. The items for "public transportation" (≥ 1 items) and "places for walking and bicycling on the streets" (≥ 3 items) were dichotomized, while the scores for the other items were classified in tertiles. Walking and bicycling for transportation were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The data were analyzed using multilevel Poisson regression. Medium "streetscape" score was inversely associated with walking ≥ 150min/week (PR = 0.60; 95%CI: 0.40-0.91; VPC = 12%) and bicycling (PR = 0.54; 95%CI: 0.29-0.99; VPC = 60%). In conclusion, only "streetscape" was associated with walking and bicycling for transportation in adults.

A conditional silencing suppression system for transient expression.

RNA silencing is a powerful tool deployed by plants against viral infection and abnormal gene expression. Plant viruses have evolved a suite of silencing suppressors for counter-defense, which are also widely used to boost transcript and protein accumulation in transient assays. However, only wild type silencing suppressor proteins have been reported to date. Here we demonstrate that P0 of Potato leafroll virus (PLRV), PLP0, can be split into two proteins that only show silencing suppression activity upon co-expression. We cloned each of these proteins in two different constructs and transiently co-infiltrated them in N. benthamiana leaves. We expressed a fluorescent protein from one of the vectors and observed that cells expressing both halves of PLP0 suppressed gene silencing. Further, we showed that Q system of Neurospora crassa, based on co-expression of a transcription activator and inhibitor, is functional in agroinfiltrated leaves of N. benthamiana. Q system combined with the split PLP0 system showed very tight co-expression of Q system's transcriptional activator and inhibitor. Altogether, our experiments demonstrate a functioning conditional silencing suppressor system and its potential as a powerful tool for transient expression in N. benthamiana leaves, as well as the application of the Q system in plants.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey / Adaptação transcultural da versão brasileira do Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey

ABSTRACT Objective The objective of this study was to cross-culturally adapt the Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for use in the Brazilian context. Methods Independent translations into Portuguese of the original version and respective back-translations into English were performed. The steps were evaluated by an expert committee and the translated version was applied in a group of both genders, of different ages and education. Results After suggested modifications in the translation processes, the expert committee considered that the translated and adapted version presented conceptual and semantic equivalence. The translated version was applied to a sample of twenty people and only one question related to the amount of fat in the food required a new round to obtain understanding and clarity. Conclusion We present an adapted version of Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey for the Brazilian context, which has adequate conceptual, cultural, and semantic equivalence, being objective and comparable to the original version. Future studies should confirm clarity, reliability, and validity.

RESUMO Objetivo O objetivo deste estudo foi adaptar transculturalmente o Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey para uso no contexto brasileiro. Métodos Foram realizadas traduções independentes da versão original para o português e respectivas retrotraduções para o inglês. As etapas foram avaliadas por um comitê de especialistas e a versão traduzida foi aplicada em um grupo com pacientes de ambos os sexos, de diferentes idades e níveis de escolaridade. Resultados Após modificações sugeridas nos processos de tradução, o comitê de especialistas considerou que a versão traduzida e adaptada apresentou equivalência conceitual e semântica. A versão traduzida foi aplicada a uma amostra de 20 pessoas e apenas uma questão, relacionada à quantidade de gordura no alimento, requereu nova rodada para obter compreensão e clareza. Conclusão Uma versão do Perceived Nutrition Environment Measures Survey adaptada ao contexto brasileiro, a qual possui equivalências conceitual, cultural e semântica adequadas, sendo objetiva e comparável à versão original, é apresentada. Futuros estudos devem confirmar a clareza, confiabilidade e validade.