Anxiety, depression symptoms, and physical activity levels of eutrophic and excess-weight Brazilian elite police officers: a preliminary study

Rodrigo L Vancini,1 Claudio AB de Lira,2 Sarah A Anceschi,1 André V Rosa,1 Ana P Lima-Leopoldo,1 André S Leopoldo,1 Weverton Rufo-Tavares,1 Marilia S Andrade,3 Pantelis T Nikolaidis,4 Thomas Rosemann,5 Beat Knechtle5 1Departamento de Desportos, Centro de Educação Física e Desportos, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil; 2Setor de Fisiologia Humana e do Exercício, Faculdade de Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil; 3Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 4Exercise Physiology Laboratory, Nikaia, Greece; 5Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Background: Police officers are subjected to high work-related stress. This scenario of irregular and insalubrious working conditions may be related to an increase in psychiatric disorders and overweight. In particular, low levels of physical activity and high work stress levels may predispose police officers to obesity, poor lifestyles, and, consequently, major risk of psychological disorders. Thus, our aim was to profile the anxiety/depression symptoms and habitual physical activity (HPA) levels of Brazilian elite police officers classified by body mass index (BMI). Patients and methods: Eighty-seven male police officers classified as normal-weight (NG, BMI =18.5–24.9 kg/m2, n=34) and excess-weight (EG, BMI ≥25 kg/m2, n=53) completed (before work routine time) the questionnaires: Baecke (HPA levels), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (anxiety), and Beck Depression Inventory (depression). Results: There was a slight trend (despite did not reach statistical significance) of the EG group (which have a significantly [P=0.0369] higher mean [8.8±7.6] of military service time [in years] when compared to NG group [5.8±6.0]) presenting higher values of anxiety-trait (+5.0%) and depression (+16.0%) and lower levels of leisure time HPA (–3.7%) than NG group. Conclusion: Although our hypothesis was not ratified, our findings have clinical relevance because we profiled the anxiety and depression symptoms and HPA levels of elite police officers. Moreover, it is possible to suppose that the military service time (years) is a relevant factor, that it needs to be studied in depth, and that it may impact the predisposition for mood disorders and low levels of physical activity of police officers. Keywords: depression, mood state, physical activity, physical exercise, physical fitness, police officer

Maximal Oxygen Uptake, Muscular Oxidative Capacity, and Ventilatory Threshold in Amateur Triathletes: Eight-Month Training Follow-Up

Mateus Guilherme Calixto Assis,1 José Geraldo Gomes Barbosa Junior,2 Aldo Seffrin,2 Vinícius Ribeiro dos Anjos Souza,2 Lavínia Vivan,2 Mila Alves Matos Rodrigues,3 Claudio André Barbosa de Lira,3 Rodrigo Luiz Vancini,4 Beat Knechtle,5 Katja Weiss,5 Marilia Santos Andrade6 1Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 2Postgraduate Program in Translation Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; 3Human and Exercise Physiology Division, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil; 4Center for Physical Education and Sports, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Espírito Santo, Brazil; 5Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; 6Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilCorrespondence: Beat Knechtle, Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, Vadianstrasse 26, St. Gallen, 9001, Switzerland, Tel +41 (0) 71 226 93 00, Fax +41 (0) 71 226 93 01, Email [email protected]: Endurance sports performance is influenced by several factors, including maximal oxygen uptake (⩒O2max), the percentage of ⩒O2max that can be sustained in endurance events, running economy, and body composition. Traditionally, ⩒O2max can be measured as an absolute value, adjusted for body mass, reflecting the athlete’s central capacity (maximal cardiac output), or adjusted for lean mass (LM), reflecting the athlete’s peripheral capacity (muscular oxidative capacity). The present study aims to evaluate absolute, total body mass, and lower limb LM-adjusted ⩒O2max, ventilatory thresholds (VT), respiratory compensation points (RCP), and body composition during two training periods separated by 8 months.Patients and Methods: Thirteen competitive amateur triathletes [seven men (40.7± 13.7 years old, 76.3± 8.3kg, and 173.9± 4.8cm) and six women (43.5± 6.9 years old, 55.0± 2.7kg, 164.9± 5.2cm)] were evaluated for body composition with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ⩒O2max, VT, RPC, and maximal aerobic speed (MAS) with a cardiorespiratory maximal treadmill test.Results: The absolute ⩒O2max (p = 0.003, d = 1.05), body mass–adjusted ⩒O2max (p < 0.001, d = 1.2859), and MAS (p = 0.047, d = 0.6139) values differed significantly across evaluation periods. Lower limb LM–adjusted ⩒O2max (p = 0.083, d = − 0.0418), %⩒O2max at VT (p = 0.541, d = − 0.1746), speed at VT (p = 0.337, d = − 0.2774), % ⩒O2max at RCP (p = 0.776, d = 0.0806), and speed at RCP (p = 0.436, d = 0.2234) showed no difference.Conclusion: The sensitivities of ⩒O2max adjusted for body mass and ⩒O2max adjusted for LM to detect changes in physical training state differ. Furthermore, decreases in physical fitness level, as evaluated by ⩒O2max values, are not accompanied by changes in VT.Keywords: amateur triathletes, skeletal muscle oxidative capacity, triathlon, performanc

O ensino da cirurgia: a necessidade de uma visão humanística

A fragmentação e "compartimentalização" do conhecimento médico não são as únicas causas das dificuldades encontradas na formação de cirurgiões. O abandono do ensino médico vinculado às ciências humanas (sociais) tem levado a formação de profissionais que entendem as ciências biológicas sem entender as ciências da vida. O afastamento da realidade cotidiana, cultural e individual cria condições para o não entendimento da singularidade e subjetividade de cada ser humano. O cirurgião tem, frequentemente, sido erroneamente descrito como portador de qualidades negativas, mas que na verdade remetem a um caráter mais firme e resoluto. De outra forma não é preciso dom para operar, mas empenho, esforço e determinação. O ensino problematizador possibilita a construção de um conhecimento crítico que leva o indivíduo a intervir na realidade que vivencia, de forma transformadora, objetiva e consciente. Esta construção crítica e humanística do conhecimento só poderá se instituir por intermédio de um ensino contextualizado sociocultural e historicamente, não apenas técnico, biocêntrico e hospitalocêntrico

Physical therapy combined with a laxative fruit drink for treatment of chagasic megacolon

CONTEXT: The treatment of Chagas' disease colopathy is limited to clinical management in the initial of the process, and for patients for whom surgery is not indicated or is not possible, anti-constipation diets are used, along with judicious administration of laxatives and enemas. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate over time the effects of physical-therapy interventions combined with daily ingestion of a laxative fruit drink in the treatment of chagasic megacolon. METHOD: In a quantitative, prospective, and comparative study, 12 patients of both sexes and with a mean age of 67 ± 12 years were clinically evaluated to receive 12 sessions of physical therapy twice a week, along with fruit drink, and were evaluated for intestinal constipation before and after treatment. RESULTS: A significant difference (P<0.0022) was observed in the constipation scores before and after 6 weeks of intervention in 91.7% of the patients, and in 72.7% after 12 months, with reduction of laxative medications, softer stools, and increased number of bowel movements. With respect to gender, age, and whether or not the patient had received surgical treatment, there was no significant difference (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The proposed protocol is easy to implement, safe, non-invasive, and low-cost, with the potential to be deployed in health care by providing benefits independent of gender, age, or whether the participant has undergone surgery, improving the condition of patients with chagasic megacolon