Impact of smoking on nasal mucociliary clearance time in Kano metropolis, Nigeria.

Background: Mucociliary clearance is an important defense mechanism in human upper and lower respiratory airways. Impairment of this process by certain conditions such as cigarette smoking can predispose to chronic infection and neoplasm of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Kano metropolis, Nigeria. Eligible adults were enrolled, a saccharine test was conducted, and the nasal mucociliary clearance time was assessed. Analysis of the result was carried out using Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 23.0. Results: There were 225 participants categorized into 75 active smokers (33.3%), 74 passive smokers (32.9%), and 76 nonsmokers (33.8%, living in a smoking-free zone). The age range of the participants was between 18 and 50 years, with a mean age of (31.2 ± 5.6) years. All participants were males. There were 139 (61.8%) of Hausa-Fulani ethnic group, 24 (10.7%) Yoruba, 18 (8.0%) Igbo, and 44 (19.5%) other ethnic groups. Findings in this study showed that the average mucociliary clearance time among active smokers was prolonged ([15.25 ± 6.20] min) compared to passive ([11.41 ± 4.25] min) and nonsmokers ([9.17 ± 2.76] min) respectively, with a statistical significance (F = 33.59, P < 0.001). Binary logistic regression revealed that the number of cigarettes smoked per day was an independent predictor of prolonged mucociliary clearance time (P = 0.008, odds ratio = 0.44, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.80). Conclusion: Active cigarette smoking is associated with prolonged nasal mucociliary clearance time. The number of cigarette sticks smoked per day was found to be an independent predictor of prolonged mucociliary clearance time.

Fibreoptic Laryngoscopic Assessment of Patients with Hoarseness: A Cross-sectional Analysis.

Background: Hoarseness is a common clinical manifestation of laryngeal diseases. The cause of hoarseness may not always be a simple inflammatory disease, but it can be from other serious life-threatening conditions such as laryngeal cancer, for which a delay in diagnosis of such condition may compromise treatment, resulting in poor prognosis and a decreased survival rate. Against this background, we evaluated the causes of hoarseness using fibreoptic laryngoscopy in our environment. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of patients with hoarseness attending ENT clinic of our institution. Ethical clearance and consent were obtained. A questionnaire was used to collect relevant clinical data, fibreoptic laryngoscopy was carried out, and the data was analysed using the Statistical Products and Service Solution version 20.0. Results: The study recruited 90 patients with hoarseness. The age of the patients ranged between 18 and 70 years with a mean of 40.1 ± 14.8 years. There were 51 (56.7%) males and 39 (43.3%) females. About 46 (51.2%) of the patients had intermittent hoarseness, whereas 44 (48.8%) had persistent hoarseness. Most of the patients, 49 (54.4%), had hoarseness for less than 6 months before presentation. The fibreoptic laryngoscopic findings were non-specific laryngitis 49 (54.5%), laryngeal tumor 20 (22.2%), vocal cord polyp 7 (7.7%), laryngeal papilloma 6 (6.7%), vocal cord palsy 5 (5.6%), and others 3 (3.3%). Conclusion: Laryngeal tumour constituted a significant percentage of fibreoptic laryngoscopic findings in patients with hoarseness after nonspecific laryngitis. Therefore, fibreoptic laryngoscopy is recommended for all patients with hoarseness in order to detect sinister pathology early.

Profile of patients using nasoenteric probe at the adult emergency service in a public hospital

Introduction: Part of the prognosis of hospitalized patient depends on nutritional status and the safety and efficacy of the feeding administration route. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify data on the indication of nasoenteric tube (NET) prescription to analyze the profile of these patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out with data collection in medical records of patients over 18 years of age, of both sexes, treated at the Emergency Adult Service (EAS), using NET. Results: there was a predominance of females (51.9%); neurological disease was the most prevalent underlying disease, and 57.8% had more than one diagnosed disease. Malnutrition, bronchopneumonia, and dysphagia were present in 23.6%, 27% and 40% of the cases, respectively. There was a request for speech-language evaluation in only 8.7% of the patients. And 80.7% did not use NET prior to emergency care. Regarding the indications for the use of NET by group of underlying disease, low food intake was the most prevalent clinical reason described in the medical records, followed by dysphagia, with a higher prevalence of patients taking NET for nutritional reasons. There was no justification for prescription in 15.2% of the sample. There was an association between the variables bronchopneumonia and dysphagia (p = 0.01). Conclusion: It was verified that in the studied population there are risk factors for dysphagia. The analysis of the population profile in the present study contributed to increased knowledge and information about this population regarding the criteria for indication of the use of the alternative route. (AU)

Prevalência de dor osteomuscular em profissionais de enfermagem de equipes de cirurgia em um hospital universitário / Prevalence of musculoskeletal pain among surgical nursing teams

Dentre as profissões da área da saúde, a enfermagem, em particular, tem sido afetada pelos distúrbios musculoesqueléticos produzindo alterações na vida desses trabalhadores, impossibilitando-os de realizarem atividades cotidianas e laborais. Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de dor osteomuscular e a associação com a qualidade de vida em profissionais de enfermagem que atuam em equipes de cirurgia no Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. Método: Estudo transversal realizado entre março de 2011 ejaneiro de 2012, em um hospital universitário terciário do sul do Brasil. Foram avaliados 110 trabalhadores de enfermagem das equipes de cirurgia. Foram excluídos os trabalhadores em licença saúde, fériasou outro tipo de afastamento durante o período de coleta dos dados. A dor osteomuscular foi avaliada através do questionário Nórdico de Sintomas Osteomusculares e a qualidade de vida foi avaliada atravésdo questionário Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). As relações entre dor osteomuscular e qualidade de vida foram analisadas através do Teste U de Mann-Whitney, utilizandonível de significância de 95%. Resultados: A prevalência de dor osteomuscular encontrada neste estudo foi de 91,81%. Com relação às regiões anatômicas, considerou-se as queixas de dor osteomuscular retroativo há doze meses, onde o predomínio foi de dor no pescoço (56%) e ombros (56%). Quando consideramos afastamento por dor osteomuscular encontramos a prevalência de dor lombar (34%). O grupo que não relatou dor osteomuscular apresentou melhores índices de qualidade de vida nos domínios de capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos, dor, vitalidade, aspectos sociais e saúde mental. Conclusão: A dor osteomuscular apresenta maior prevalência nas regiões do pescoço e ombros. Além disso, o maior número de afastamentos ocorre por prevalência de dor lombar entre os trabalhadores de enfermagem das equipes de cirurgia. A dor influenciou na qualidade de vida afetando seis dos domínios avaliados

Among the health professions, nursing, in particular, has been affected by musculoskeletal disorders. The WMSD produce changes in the lives of these workers, impossible of them held daily activities andlabour. Objective: Investigating the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain and associated with the quality of life in nursing professionals who work in surgery teams. Method: Cross-sectional study conductedbetween March 2011 and January 2012 in a tertiary university hospital in southern Brazil. We evaluated 110 workers nursing teams. It was excluded workers on sick leave, vacation or other absence duringthe period of data collection. The musculoskeletal pain was assessed using the Nordic Musculoskeletal symptoms questionnaire the quality of life was assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study 36 - Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36). The relationship between musculoskeletal pain and quality of life were analyzed by the U of Mann-Whitney test, using a significance level of 95%. Results: The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain found in this study was 91.81%. With respect to anatomic regions, it was consideredthe complaints of musculoskeletal pain retroactive twelve months ago, where there was the predominance of neck pain (56%) and shoulders (56%). When we consider sick leaving for musculoskeletal painwe found the prevalence of low back pain (34%). The group who reported no musculoskeletal pain showed better indices of quality of life in the areas of physical functioning, physical aspect, bodily pain,vitality, social and mental health aspect. Conclusion: the higher prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the neck and shoulder regions. Moreover, the largest number of sick leaves occurs because of the prevalenceof low back pain among nursing staff of the surgical teams. The pain influenced the quality of life affecting six of the areas assessed.

Predictive modeling and mapping of Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) distribution using maximum entropy.

One of the available tools for mapping the geographical distribution and potential suitable habitats is species distribution models. These techniques are very helpful for finding poorly known distributions of species in poorly sampled areas, such as the tropics. Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) is a recently developed modeling method that can be successfully calibrated using a relatively small number of records. In this research, the MaxEnt model was applied to describe the distribution and identify the key factors shaping the potential distribution of the vulnerable Malayan Sun Bear (Helarctos malayanus) in one of the main remaining habitats in Peninsular Malaysia. MaxEnt results showed that even though Malaysian sun bear habitat is tied with tropical evergreen forests, it lives in a marginal threshold of bio-climatic variables. On the other hand, current protected area networks within Peninsular Malaysia do not cover most of the sun bears potential suitable habitats. Assuming that the predicted suitability map covers sun bears actual distribution, future climate change, forest degradation and illegal hunting could potentially severely affect the sun bear's population.

[Relationship between adverse neural tension and nerve conduction studies in patients with symptoms of the carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Relação entre tensão neural adversa e estudos de condução nervosa em pacientes com sintomas da sídrome do túnel do carpo.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate, through a series of cases, the relationship between the adverse neural tension of median nerve (ANTm) and the electrophysiological involvement in 38 patients with symptoms of the carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), submitted to nerve conduction studies (NCS). The main measures had been ANTm (in degrees) obtained through the test of neural tension provocation (TNTP) and parameters of the NCS, divided into three groups: normal, without severe electrophysiological alteration and with severe electrophysiological alteration. Significant correlations were found between ANTm and parameters of the NCS (p<0.05), as well as between ANTm and the three groups defined by the electrophysiologic alteration (rs=+0.437, p=0.002). The TNAm values were significantly higher in the arms with electrophysiologic diagnoses (p=0.007). It is suggested that the ANTm does have a participation in the physiopathology of the CTS, and the use of therapeutical procedures that diminish the development of neural tension.

Relação entre tensão neural adversa e estudos de condução nervosa em pacientes com sintomas da sídrome do túnel do carpo / Relationship between adverse neural tension and nerve conduction studies in patients with symptoms of the carpal tunnel syndrome

O propósito deste estudo foi avaliar, através de uma série de casos, a relação entre tensão neural adversa do nervo mediano (TNAm) e o parâmetro eletrofisiológico em 38 pacientes com sintomas da síndrome do túnel do carpo (STC), submetidos a estudos de condução nervosa (ECN). As principais medidas foram a TNAm obtida no teste de provocação de tensão neural (TPTN) e parâmetros dos ECN, dividindo-se os braços avaliados em três grupos: normal, com alteração eletrofisiológica sem gravidade e com alteração eletrofisiológica grave. Correlação significante entre TNAm e parâmetros dos ECN foram encontrados (p<0,05), bem como entre a TNAm e os três grupos definidos pela alteração eletrofisiológica (r s=+0.437, p=0,002). Valores de TNAm foram significantemente maiores nos braços com diagnóstico eletrofisiológico (p=0,007). Sugere-se que a TNAm tem participação na fisiopatologia da STC, indicando o uso de procedimentos terapêuticos que diminuam ou previnam a tensão neural.

Estimulaçäo elétrica transcutânea: estudo de seu efeito sobre o músculo esquelético sadio, através da análise eletromiográfica / Transcutaneous electrical stimulation: study of your effects on the healthy skeletal muscle, through the analyse of the electromyography

Pesquisa apresentada como conteúdo de monografia, para conclusäo do Curso de graduaçäo em Fisioterapia da Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, onde através da análise do sinal eletromiográfico bruto, procurou-se determinar os efeitos da estimulaçäo elétrica sobre o músculo esquelético humano sadio. Pesquisa financiada pelo CNPq e FAPERGS