Dietary non-nutrients in the prevention of non-communicable diseases: Potentially related mechanisms.

Among the 10 leading causes of death in developed countries are chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The effect of these multifactorial diseases on public health has stimulated considerable research aimed at investigating their primary risk factors (genetic factors, stress, food intake, and amount of physical exercise). Thus, healthful foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, oils, grains, and seeds) are sources of bioactive compounds that promote good health and disease prevention. Among their components are non-caloric substances identified as non-nutrients (polyphenols, phytosterols, saponins, and phytates), which have been found to have a role in modulating metabolic pathways, maintaining health, and preventing NCDs. The aim of this study is to demonstrate and review the performance of some non-nutrients, such as their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, modulation of the antiatherogenic lipid profile (higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerols), reduction of glucose and fat intestinal absorption, increase in insulin sensitivity, and stimulation of nitic oxide synthesis.

Collective portfolio: assessment of teaching and learning in health undergraduate courses.

The potential of the reflective collective portfolio as a method of teaching, learning and assessment needs to be emphasized. The objectives is to assess and validate the quality of the collective portfolio as a method of teaching, learning and assessment in the training of health professional. Portfolio quality was analyzed using an inventory of analysis that was adapted and tested for this study. In total, 70 portfolios were analyzed. The Kappa test was used to analyze reproducibility, confirming the level of agreement between the appraisers. Descriptive analysis and the t-test were performed to compare results from the years the portfolios were produced. The constructs (layout and organization, comprehensive, reflective, critical and creative thought) exhibited Cronbach alpha values above 0.7, confirming the high reliability of the tool. The weighted Kappa test revealed an elevated and significant agreement (+90%) between the appraisers. Notably, certain items and constructs exhibited significant differences over the years. All of the constructs were assessed better from 2011 onwards, when the assessment and self-assessment tool was implemented. The success of the portfolio depends on strategies that provide students with greater clarity and forms of developing the method.

Collective portfolio: assessment of teaching and learning in health undergraduate courses / Portfolio coletivo: avaliação do ensino e apredizagem em cursos de graduação da saúde

Abstract The potential of the reflective collective portfolio as a method of teaching, learning and assessment needs to be emphasized. The objectives is to assess and validate the quality of the collective portfolio as a method of teaching, learning and assessment in the training of health professional. Portfolio quality was analyzed using an inventory of analysis that was adapted and tested for this study. In total, 70 portfolios were analyzed. The Kappa test was used to analyze reproducibility, confirming the level of agreement between the appraisers. Descriptive analysis and the t-test were performed to compare results from the years the portfolios were produced. The constructs (layout and organization, comprehensive, reflective, critical and creative thought) exhibited Cronbach alpha values above 0.7, confirming the high reliability of the tool. The weighted Kappa test revealed an elevated and significant agreement (+90%) between the appraisers. Notably, certain items and constructs exhibited significant differences over the years. All of the constructs were assessed better from 2011 onwards, when the assessment and self-assessment tool was implemented. The success of the portfolio depends on strategies that provide students with greater clarity and forms of developing the method.

Resumo O potencial do portfólio coletivo reflexivo como método de ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação precisa ser enfatizado. Os objetivos consistem em avaliar e validar a qualidade do portfólio coletivo como um método de ensino, aprendizagem e avaliação na formação de profissionais de saúde. A qualidade do portfólio foi analisada utilizando um inventário de análise que foi adaptado e testado para este estudo. No total, foram analisados 70 portfólios. O teste Kappa foi utilizado para analisar a reprodutibilidade, confirmando o nível de concordância entre os avaliadores. Análise descritiva e teste t foram realizados para comparar a construção do portfólio nos diferentes anos. Os construtos (layout e organização, compreensão, reflexão, crítica e pensamento criativo) apresentaram valores de alfa de Cronbach acima de 0,7, confirmando a alta confiabilidade da ferramenta. O teste Kappa ponderado revelou uma concordância elevada e significativa (+ 90%) entre os avaliadores. Notavelmente, certos itens e construtos apresentaram diferenças significativas ao longo dos anos. Todas as construções foram avaliadas melhor a partir de 2011, quando a ferramenta de avaliação e autoavaliação foi implementada. O sucesso do portfólio depende de estratégias que proporcionem aos alunos maior clareza e formas de desenvolver o método.

[Nutritional counseling for children under two years of age: opportunities and obstacles as strategic challenges]. / Aconselhamento nutricional de crianças menores de dois anos de idade: potencialidades e obstáculos como desafios estratégicos.

This article sought to conduct a critical analysis of the state of the art of the scientific production in counseling practices in nutrition for infants under two years of age, discussing the opportunities and obstacles in terms of strategic challenges for implementing healthy nutrition practices. It is a bibliographic study, with the core interest being counseling on infant nutrition. The majority (58.1 %) of the articles analyzed was published between 2008 and 2011. The educative actions of counseling on infant feeding were directed at health professionals and caregivers to children under two years of age. As opportunities in the practice of nutritional counseling the following stand out: an improvement in the performance of health professionals, the adoption of healthy eating practices by caregivers, and an improvement in the nutritional status of the children. As obstacles, the following stand out: a lack of training of caregivers and professionals regarding complementary healthy feeding and difficulties regarding the practice of counseling by a health care professional. This evidence reaffirms the importance of incorporating counseling guidance on infant feeding, as permanent practices in policies for child health care.

[Current debates on humanization and health: who are we?]. / Debates atuais em humanização e saúde: quem somos nós?

Bearing in mind that the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is a social process in construction, and as health professionals are important individuals in this process, the role of permanent education as an important instrument to ensure humanized care is highlighted. The scope of this paper is to discuss the experience of the training course for health professionals of a public health outpatient unit, based on the prospect of humanized treatment, seeking the implementation of a sanitary model committed to the formal values contained in the SUS ideals. The teaching-learning methodology used is based on problem-solving, derived from the processing of a problem situation taken from the experience of teachers. The professionals identified that the standard established in the way of thinking and acting in health is unsatisfactory to meet the challenges faced in the sector. The strategies used contributed to systematize the content through reflection on the theoretical benchmarks submitted, by eliciting reflective and critical thought, which are fundamental aspects for broadening and increasing the process of empowerment of professionals. The course stimulated group action, placing the discussion on the humanization of health actions on the agenda.

Debates atuais em humanização e saúde: quem somos nós? / Current debates on humanization and health: who are we?

INTRODUÇÃO: Considerando ser o SUS um processo social em construção, e sendo os profissionais de saúde importantes sujeitos desse processo, destaca-se o papel da educação permanente como um relevante instrumento para a garantia do cuidado humanizado. OBJETIVO: discutir a experiência do curso de capacitação dos profissionais de saúde de uma Unidade de Saúde pública-ambulatorial, com base na perspectiva da humanização, visando a implementação de um modelo sanitário comprometido com os valores essenciais impressos nos ideais do SUS. MÉTODOS: A metodologia de ensino-aprendizagem utilizada baseou-se na problematização, utilizando-se do processamento de uma situação problema elaborada a partir da experiência dos docentes. RESULTADO: Os profissionais identificaram que o padrão instituído no modo de pensar e fazer em saúde é insatisfatório para suprir os desafios enfrentados no setor. As estratégias utilizadas contribuíram para sistematizar o conteúdo através da reflexão sobre os referenciais teóricos apresentados, ao estimular o pensamento reflexivo e crítico, aspectos estes fundamentais para ampliar e aprofundar o processo de empoderamento dos profissionais. CONCLUSÃO: o curso estimulou a grupalidade, colocando em pauta na agenda, a discussão sobre a humanização das ações em saúde.

Bearing in mind that the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) is a social process in construction, and as health professionals are important individuals in this process, the role of permanent education as an important instrument to ensure humanized care is highlighted. The scope of this paper is to discuss the experience of the training course for health professionals of a public health outpatient unit, based on the prospect of humanized treatment, seeking the implementation of a sanitary model committed to the formal values contained in the SUS ideals. The teaching-learning methodology used is based on problem-solving, derived from the processing of a problem situation taken from the experience of teachers. The professionals identified that the standard established in the way of thinking and acting in health is unsatisfactory to meet the challenges faced in the sector. The strategies used contributed to systematize the content through reflection on the theoretical benchmarks submitted, by eliciting reflective and critical thought, which are fundamental aspects for broadening and increasing the process of empowerment of professionals. The course stimulated group action, placing the discussion on the humanization of health actions on the agenda.