Predicting musculoskeletal symptoms in workers of a manufacturing company.

Background. Musculoskeletal symptoms are the leading factor responsible for sickness absence. Factors associated with the development of musculoskeletal symptoms must be identified and addressed. Objective. To investigate the 7-day prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms by body regions, and assess the contribution of individual, lifestyle and occupational risk factors to the development of musculoskeletal disorders. Methods. The sample comprised 202 white-collar and blue-collar workers. Musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed with the Nordic questionnaire, and physical activity level and sitting time with the international physical activity questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted to assess the associations between individual, lifestyle and occupational category factors and musculoskeletal symptoms. Results. The 7-day prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms was 41.6% (n = 84). The highest prevalence of symptoms was reported in the lower back (18.8%), followed by the wrists/hands (17.3%), neck (15.8%), shoulder (15.3%) and ankles/feet (11.4%). A significant association was found between reporting musculoskeletal symptoms and work category. In addition, musculoskeletal symptoms were reported more often by older workers. Work category was a significant predictor of pain in the lower back and shoulder regions, and gender was a significant predictor for neck pain. Conclusions. Our results emphasize the need for worksite interventions to prevent musculoskeletal symptoms in this population.

Relationship between sleep duration and TV time with cardiometabolic risk in adolescents

OBJECTIVE@#To verify the association between sleep duration and television time with cardiometabolic risk and the moderating role of age, gender, and skin color/ethnicity in this relationship among adolescents.@*METHODS@#Cross-sectional study with 1411 adolescents (800 girls) aged 10 to 17 years. Television time, sleep duration, age, gender, and skin color/ethnicity were obtained by self-reported questionnaire. Cardiometabolic risk was evaluated using the continuous metabolic risk score, by the sum of the standard z-score values for each risk factor: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glycemia, cardiorespiratory fitness, systolic blood pressure, and waist circumference. Generalized linear regression models were used.@*RESULTS@#There was an association between television time and cardiometabolic risk (β, 0.002; 95% CI, 0.001; 0.003). Short sleep duration (β, 0.422; 95% CI, 0.012; 0.833) was positively associated with cardiometabolic risk. Additionally, age moderated the relationship between television time and cardiometabolic risk (β, - 0.009; 95% CI, - 0.002; - 0.001), suggesting that this relationship was stronger at ages 11 and 13 years (β, 0.004; 95% CI, 0.001; 0.006) compared to 13 to 15 years (β, 0.002; 95% CI, 0.001; 0.004). No association was found in older adolescents (β, 0.001; 95% CI, - 0.002; 0.002).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Television time and sleep duration are associated with cardiometabolic risk; adolescents with short sleep have higher cardiometabolic risk. In addition, age plays a moderating role in the relationship between TV time and cardiometabolic risk, indicating that in younger adolescents the relationship is stronger compared to older ones.

A new species of Canace Haliday from Portugal, with a revised key to species (Diptera: Canacidae: Canacinae).

A new species of Canace Haliday, in Curtis, 1837 from Portugal is described. This species, related to C. actites Mathis, 1982, is known so far from a single maritime locality near Lisbon. A key to species of the genus is also provided.

New host records for European Acroceridae (Diptera), with discussion of species limits of Acrocera orbiculus (Fabricius) based on DNA-barcoding.

New European host records for the Acroceridae species Acrocera orbiculus (Fabricius) and Ogcodes reginae Trojan are reported. Acrocera orbiculus was reared from Amaurobius erberi (Keyserling), and O. reginae from Clubiona leucaspis (Simon) and Evarcha jucunda (Lucas). Where possible, DNA-barcodes are presented for reared endoparasitoids and their host specimens. Based on mitochondrial COI, the intraspecific genetic variability of 15 western Palaearctic A. orbiculus is discussed. Maximum likelihood analysis reveals two clades, though they have low statistical support and no distinct barcoding gap. Therefore, we consider all barcoded specimens of A. orbiculus to be a single biological species with a high degree of phenotypic plasticity regarding body size and coloration. Based on molecular and morphological evidence, Paracrocera kaszabi Majer, Paracrocera manevali Séguy and Paracrocera minuscula Séguy are placed in synonymy with A. orbiculus. The male of the Canary Islands endemic Acrocera cabrerae Frey is described for the first time. 

Effects of physical exercises and nutritional guidance on the cardiovascular risk profile of obese children.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of a supervised physical exercise and nutritional guidance program, conducted with a playful basis, on the cardiovascular risk profile of obese children. METHODS: Forty-four children aged between 8 and 11 years, divided into two groups, were paired by gender and age: intervention group (n = 22) and control group (n = 22). The following parameters were measured before and after the intervention: body mass, height, waist circumference, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, blood pressure, and carotid intima-media thickness. Both groups continued their traditional medical treatment. The case group exercised with recreational activities three times a week during 12 weeks, and participated in a weekly nutritional guidance session. The control group did not participate in the intervention described. Descriptive statistics, paired and unpaired Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney's U test, and the Wilcoxon test were used, with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: 32 children concluded the study (16 in each group). At the end of the study, the case group showed a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.010), and average (p = 0.003) and maximum (p = 0.002) carotid intima-media thickness. The control group showed a significant increase in waist circumference (p = 0.001), blood glucose (p = 0.025), C-reactive protein (p = 0.016), a reduction of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.012) and total cholesterol (p = 0.042), and an increase in the average (p = 0.012) and maximum (p = 0.024) carotid intima-media thickness. CONCLUSION: The program proved effective in the reduction of obesity indicators and of the intima-media thickness, a direct and early signal of atherosclerosis.

Efeitos do exercício físico e da orientação nutricional no perfil de risco cardiovascular de crianças obesas / Effects of physical exercises and nutritional guidance on the cardiovascular risk profile of obese children

OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos de um programa de exercício físico e orientação nutricional supervisionado, de caráter lúdico, no perfil de risco cardiovascular de crianças obesas. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e quatro crianças com idades entre 8 e 11 anos divididas em dois grupos pareados em sexo e idade: grupo intervenção (n = 22) e controle (n = 22). Mensurou-se, antes e após a intervenção, a massa corporal, estatura, perímetro abdominal, colesterol total, HDL-colesterol, LDL-colesterol, triglicérides, glicemia de jejum, proteína C reativa ultrassensível, pressão arterial e espessura médio-intimal carotídea. Ambos os grupos continuaram com acompanhamento médico tradicional. O grupo caso participou de 12 semanas de exercício físico, com atividades recreativas em três sessões semanais e uma sessão semanal de orientação nutricional. O grupo controle não participou da intervenção descrita. Na análise foram utilizados a estatística descritiva, o teste t pareado e o teste não pareado, o teste U de Mann Whitney e o teste do Wilcoxon, adotando-se nível de significância p > 0,05. RESULTADOS: Trinta e duas crianças completaram o estudo (16 em cada grupo). Ao final, o grupo caso apresentou redução significativa no índice de massa corporal (IMC) (p = 0,001), colesterol total (p = 0,001) e LDL-colesterol (p = 0,001), pressão arterial diastólica (p = 0,010) e espessura médio-intimal média (p = 0,003) e máxima (p = 0,002). O grupo controle apresentou aumento significativo no perímetro abdominal (p = 0,001), glicemia (p = 0,025), proteína C reativa (p = 0,016) e redução do HDL-colesterol (p = 0,012) e colesterol total (p = 0,042) e aumento na espessura médio-intimal média (p = 0,012) e máxima (p = 0,024). CONCLUSÃO: O programa foi efetivo na redução dos indicadores de obesidade e na diminuição da espessura médio-intimal, um sinal indireto e precoce da aterosclerose.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effects of a supervised physical exercise and nutritional guidance program, conducted with a playful basis, on the cardiovascular risk profile of obese children. METHODS: Forty-four children aged between 8 and 11 years, divided into two groups, were paired by gender and age: intervention group (n = 22) and control group (n = 22). The following parameters were measured before and after the intervention: body mass, height, waist circumference, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, blood pressure, and carotid intimamedia thickness. Both groups continued their traditional medical treatment. The case group exercised with recreational activities three times a week during 12 weeks, and participated in a weekly nutritional guidance session. The control group did not participate in the intervention described. Descriptive statistics, paired and unpaired Student's t-test, Mann-Whitney's U test, and the Wilcoxon test were used, with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: 32 children concluded the study (16 in each group). At the end of the study, the case group showed a significant reduction in the body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.001), total cholesterol (p = 0.001), LDL cholesterol (p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.010), and average (p = 0.003) and maximum (p = 0.002) carotid intima-media thickness. The control group showed a significant increase in waist circumference (p = 0.001), blood glucose (p = 0.025), C-reactive protein (p = 0.016), a reduction of HDL cholesterol (p = 0.012) and total cholesterol (p = 0.042), and an increase in the average (p = 0.012) and maximum (p = 0.024) carotid intima-media thickness. CONCLUSION: The program proved effective in the reduction of obesity indicators and of the intima-media thickness, a direct and early signal of atherosclerosis.

Paracoccidioidomicose na criança: relato de dois casos / Paracoccidioidomycosis in children: report of 2 cases

Estudam-se dois pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose (blastomicose sul-americana): um com quatro anos de idade acometido pela forma generalizada da doença; o outro com nove anos, portador de forma ganglionar e que já estava em tratamento há cerca de seis anos. Além dos exames específicos e biópsias, os pacientes foram submetidos a estudo imunológico e tratados, o primeiro com a associaçäo de ketoconazole com anfotericina B e o segundo, somente com ketoconazole. A evoluçäo foi ótima nos dois casos. Fazem-se uma revisäo da literatura