Relationship between self-reported dietary intake and physical activity levels among adolescents: The HELENA study

Background Evidence suggests possible synergetic effects of multiple lifestyle behaviors on health risks like obesity and other health outcomes. Therefore it is important to investigate associations between dietary and physical activity behavior, the two most important lifestyle behaviors influencing our energy balance and body composition. The objective of the present study is to describe the relationship between energy, nutrient and food intake and the physical activity level among a large group of European adolescents. Methods The study comprised a total of 2176 adolescents (46.2% male) from ten European cities participating in the HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study. Dietary intake and physical activity were assessed using validated 24-h dietary recalls and self-reported questionnaires respectively. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were used to compare the energy and nutrient intake and the food consumption between groups of adolescents with different physical activity levels (1st to 3rd tertile). Results In both sexes no differences were found in energy intake between the levels of physical activity. The most active males showed a higher intake of polysaccharides, protein, water and vitamin C and a lower intake of saccharides compared to less active males. Females with the highest physical activity level consumed more polysaccharides compared to their least active peers. Male and female adolescents with the highest physical activity levels, consumed more fruit and milk products and less cheese compared to the least active adolescents. The most active males showed higher intakes of vegetables and meat, fish, eggs, meat substitutes and vegetarian products compared to the least active ones. The least active males reported the highest consumption of grain products and potatoes. Within the female group, significantly lower intakes of bread and cereal products and spreads were found for those reporting to spend most time in moderate to vigorous physical activity. The consumption of foods from the remaining food groups, did not differ between the physical activity levels in both sexes. Conclusion It can be concluded that dietary habits diverge between adolescents with different self-reported physical activity levels. For some food groups a difference in intake could be found, which were reflected in differences in some nutrient intakes. It can also be concluded that physically active adolescents are not always inclined to eat healthier diets than their less active peers.The HELENA study took place with the financial support of the European Community Sixth RTD Framework Programme (Contract FOOD-CT: 2005-007034). This work was also partially supported by the European Union, in the framework of the Public Health Programme (ALPHA project, Ref: 2006120), the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS), the Spanish Ministry of Education (EX-2007-1124, and EX-2008-0641), and the Spanish Ministry of Health, Maternal, Child Health and Development Network (number RD08/0072) (JPRL, LAM)

Identification of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase dual inhibitors by a combined shape-, 2D-fingerprint- and pharmacophore-based virtual screening approach

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) reverse transcriptase (RT) is still one of the most attractive targets in the design of new antiviral agents. It is a key enzyme for viral replication which has two associated catalytic functions: a DNA polymerase activity and a ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity. Even though there are several known inhibitors of the RT-associated DNA polymerase function, only few inhibitors of its RNase H function have been identified so far. Here, we report the first application of virtual screening (VS) methods for discovering new inhibitors of this novel and challenging target. The overall VS campaign consisted of two consecutive screening processes, each of it resulting in a hit list of compounds which were tested experimentally. Firstly, the virtual screening platform ROCS (Rapid Overlay of Chemical Structures) was utilized to perform in silico shape-based similarity screening in which an hydrazone derivative, previously shown to inhibit the HIV-1 RNase H, was chosen as a query. Consequently, the most active molecules identified in the first VS were selected as queries for a parallel VS which combined three different LB methods: shape-based, 2D-fingerprint, 3D-pharmacophore VS. The effect of the VS selected molecules on the HIV-1 RT-associated activities were evaluated in biochemical assays. Overall, a set of molecules characterized by different scaffolds were identified as new inhibitors of both RT-associated activities in the micromolar range

Análise das limitações, estratégias e perspectivas dos trabalhadores com LER/DORT, participantes do grupo PROFIT-LER: um estudo de caso Analysis of the limitations, strategies and perspectives of the workers with RSI/WRMD, participants of the PROFIT-LER Group: a case study

Este estudo teve como finalidade analisar as limitações, estratégias e perspectivas dos trabalhadores com LER/DORT, participantes do grupo PROFIT-LER, da Universidade Federal da Paraíba. Para tanto, foram realizadas entrevistas individuais, utilizando um gravador e um formulário, que abrangeu questões relacionadas com dor, limitação funcional, fatores motivacionais, estratégias, expectativas em relação ao tratamento fisioterapêutico, perspectiva de vida após o tratamento e grau de conhecimentos acerca da afecção. Mediante os dados obtidos através do formulário e analisados à luz da literatura utilizada selecionada, foi possível constatar que os pesquisados apresentaram dores e limitações funcionais; que o programa PROFIT-LER ofereceu um maior conhecimento para os participantes acerca da patologia; que a estratégia mais utilizada foi a cinesioterapia; e que, quanto às perspectivas, os pesquisados pretendem continuar a praticar o que aprenderam com o grupo, assim como procurar outras formas de tratamento, uma vez que este tratamento permitiu socialização entre os trabalhadores e um maior conhecimento sobre a afecção. Desta forma, o estudo obteve êxito por alcançar o objetivo proposto e por esclarecer que o ser humano está exposto a fatores que podem alterar seu equilíbrio físico e mental, desencadeando processos patológicos.<br>This study had as aim to analyze the limitations, strategies and perspectives of the workers with RSI/WRMD, participants of the PROFIT - LER group, of the Universidade Federal da Paraíba. So, individual interviews were realized, using a recorder and a form, that involved questions related to the pain, functional limitation, motivational factors, strategies, expectations about the physical therapeutic treatment, life's perspective after the treatment and knowledge level about the pathology. By collecting information through a form and analyzing it based on the literature, it was possible to know that the participants have pain and functional limitations; that the PROFIT-LER program offered more information to the participants about the pathology; that kinesiotherapy was the strategy most practiced. Regarding the perspectives, the participants intended to continue to practice what they learnt in the group, and also look for another treatment options, because this treatment allowed socialization between the workers and more knowledge about the pathology. So, the study had success as it reached the proposed objective and to make clear that the human is exposed to factors that can change its physical and mental equilibrium, unchaining pathologic process

Stand-alone cage for posterior lumbar interbody fusion in the treatment of high-degree degenerative disc disease: design of a new device for an “old” technique. A prospective study on a series of 116 patients

Chronic lumbar pain due to degenerative disc disease affects a large number of people, including those of fully active age. The usual self-repair system observed in nature is a spontaneous attempt at arthrodesis, which in most cases leads to pseudoarthrosis. In recent years, many possible surgical fusion techniques have been introduced; PLIF is one of these. Because of the growing interest in minimally invasive surgery and the unsatisfactory results reported in the literature (mainly due to the high incidence of morbidity and complications), a new titanium lumbar interbody cage (I-FLY) has been developed to achieve solid bone fusion by means of a stand-alone posterior device. The head of the cage is blunt and tapered so that it can be used as a blunt spreader, and the core is small, which facilitates self-positioning. From 2003 to 2007, 119 patients were treated for chronic lumbar discopathy (Modic grade III and Pfirrmann grade V) with I-FLY cages used as stand-alone devices. All patients were clinically evaluated preoperatively and after 1 and 2 years by means of a neurological examination, visual analogue score (VAS) and Prolo Economic and Functional Scale. Radiological results were evaluated by polyaxial computed tomography (CT) scan and flexion–extension radiography. Fusion was defined as the absence of segmental instability on flexion–extension radiography and Bridwell grade I or II on CT scan. Patients were considered clinical “responders” if VAS evaluation showed any improvement over baseline values and a Prolo value >7 was recorded. At the last follow-up examination, clinical success was deemed to have been achieved in 90.5% of patients; the rate of bone fusion was 99.1%, as evaluated by flexion–extension radiography, and 92.2%, as evaluated by CT scan. Morbidity (nerve root injury, dural lesions) and complications (subsidence and pseudoarthrosis) were minimal. PLIF by means of the stand-alone I-FLY cage can be regarded as a possible surgical treatment for chronic low-back pain due to high-degree DDD. This technique is not demanding and can be considered safe and effective, as shown by the excellent clinical and radiological success rates