An analysis of risk factors for arterial hypertension in adolescent students

The objective of the study was to evaluate some risk factors for increases in systemic arterial blood pressure. This transversal study was carried out with 145 individuals from 12 to18 years of age at two state schools in the city of Pico in the state of Piauí in Brazil. The majority were female (62.8%). The median age was 14.8 years (±3.19). It was ascertained that 13 of the subjects (9.0%) were overweight [CI% 73.0-86.0]. Elevations in waist circumference were found in 31 (21.4%) and 76 (52.4%) had elevated arterial blood levels. There was no statistically-significant association between the above-cited risk factors and gender (p=0.088; 0.999; 0.204, respectively). However, 44.8% of the adolescents had at least one risk factor associated with arterial hypertension; 15.9% had two, and 2.1% had three. The study confirms the influence of the risk factors on arterial pressure values among adolescents. Being aware of these factors means that nurses can intervene with health education measures.El objetivo fue evaluar de los algunos factores de riesgo para aumento de los niveles de presión arterial sistémica. Estudio transversal con 145 personas de 12 a 18 años de dos escuelas públicas de la ciudad de Picos-PI. La mayoría eran mujeres (62,8%). La edad media fue de 14,8 años (±3.19). Se encontró 13 (9,0%) tenían exceso de peso [IC% 73,0 a 86,0]. Elevaciones de la circunferencia de cintura se encontraron en 31 (21,4%) y 76 (52,4%) con niveles elevados de presión arterial. No hubo asociación estadísticamente significativa de los factores de riesgo mencionados anteriormente investigado con el sexo (p=0,088, 0,999, 0,204, respectivamente). Sin embargo, 44,8% de los jóvenes tenían al menos un factor; 15,9% dos y 2,1% tres factores relacionados con la hipertensión. Confirma la influencia de factores de riesgo en los valores de presión arterial en la juventud. Delante del conocimiento de estos factores, la enfermería podrá intervenir con medidas de educación en salud.O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar alguns fatores de risco para aumento dos níveis de pressão arterial sistêmica. Trata-se de estudo transversal, desenvolvido com 145 indivíduos de 12 a 18 anos, de duas escolas públicas da cidade de Picos, PI. A maioria era composta por mulheres (62,8%). A média de idade foi de 14,8 anos (±3,19). Verificou-se que 13 (9,0%) apresentavam excesso de peso [IC% 73,0-86,0]. Elevações da circunferência abdominal foram encontradas em 31 (21,4%), e 76 (52,4%) tinham elevação nos níveis de pressão arterial. Não houve associação estatisticamente significante dos fatores de risco investigados citados anteriormente com o sexo (p=0,088; 0,999; 0,204, respectivamente). No entanto, 44,8% dos adolescentes tinham pelo menos um fator, 15,9% dois e 2,1%, três fatores associados indicativos de hipertensão arterial. Confirma-se a influência de fatores de risco sobre os valores da pressão arterial em adolescentes. Diante do conhecimento desses fatores, a enfermagem poderá intervir com medidas de educação em saúde

Common Mental Disorders: socio-demographic and pharmacotherapy profile

OBJECTIVE: this study reports an association between Common Mental Disorders and the socio-demographic and pharmacotherapy profiles of 106 patients cared for by a Primary Health Care unit in the interior of São Paulo, Brazil. METHOD: this is a cross-sectional descriptive exploratory study with a quantitative approach. Structured interviews and validated instruments were used to collect data. The Statistical Package for Social Science was used for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of Common Mental Disorders was 50%. An association was found between Common Mental Disorders and the variables occupation, family income, number of prescribed medications and number of pills taken a day. Greater therapy non-adherence was observed among those who tested positive for Common Mental Disorders. CONCLUSION: this study's results show the importance of health professionals working in PHC to be able to detect needs of a psychological nature among their patients and to support the implementation of actions to prevent the worsening of Common Mental Disorders

Dielectric relaxation dynamics of high-temperature piezoelectric polyimide copolymers

Polyimide co-polymers have been prepared based on different diamines as co-monomers: a diamine without CN groups and a novel synthesized diamine with two CN groups prepared by polycondensation reaction followed by thermal cyclodehydration. Dielectric spectroscopy measurements were performed and the dielectric complex function, ac conductivity and electric modulus of the co-polymers were investigated as a function of CN group content in the frequency range from 0.1 Hz to 107 Hz at temperatures from 25 to 260 °C. For all samples and temperatures above 150ºC, the dielectric constant increases with increasing temperature due to increaseing conductivity. The α-relaxation is just detected for the sample without CN groups, being this relaxation overlapped by the electrical conductivity contributions in the remaining samples. For the copolymer samples and the polymer with CN groups an important Maxwell-Wagner-Sillars contribution is detected. The mechanisms responsible for the dielectric relaxation, conduction process and electric modulus response have been discussed as a function of the CN groups content present in the samples.This work was supported by FEDER through the COMPETE Program and by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) in the framework of the Strategic Project PESTC/FIS/UI607/2011 and grants SFRH/BD/ 62507/2009 (A.C.L.) SFRH/BD/68499/2010 (C.M.C.). The authors also thank funding from “Matepro – Optimizing Materials and Processes”, ref. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000037”, co-funded by the “Programa Operacional Regional do Norte” (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), under the “Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional” (QREN), through the “Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional” (FEDER). RSS acknowledge the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the project MAT2012-38359-C03-01 (including the FEDER financial support). Authors also thank the Basque Country Government for financial support (ACTIMAT project, ETORTEK Program, IE13-380, and Ayudas para Grupos de Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco Program, IT718-13)