Avaliação do controlo postural em adultos com Síndrome de Down

Introdução: Adultos com Síndrome de Down evidenciam frequentemente alterações ao nível do controlo postural. Desta forma, a potenciação dos mecanismos relacionados com o mesmo revela-se de extrema importância, no sentido de melhorar a eficiência e qualidade dos movimentos funcionais, nomeadamente no gesto de alcance. Objectivo(s): Analisar as modificações na amplitude do CoP e nos ajustes posturais antecipatórios dos músculos reto anterior, bicípite femoral, tibial anterior e solear, bilateralmente, associados ao gesto de alcance realizado na posição de pé, em indivíduos adultos com síndrome de Down, face à aplicação de um programa de intervenção em fisioterapia. Métodos: Foi aplicado um programa de intervenção em fisioterapia, durante três meses, em quatro indivíduos com Síndrome de Down. Estes foram sujeitos a dois momentos de avaliação, um antes da implementação do programa de intervenção e, outro após. Assim, associado à realização do gesto de alcance, foi analisada a amplitude dos deslocamentos antero-posterior e médio-lateral do CoP através da plataforma de forças. Com a eletromiografia de superfície foram avaliados os tempos de ativação dos músculos estudados, em ambos os membros inferiores. O período temporal avaliado compreendeu o intervalo de -250 a 100 ms. Resultados: No geral, após a intervenção, todos os participantes apresentaram uma diminuição das amplitudes do CoP, tanto antero-posterior como médio-lateral. Em relação aos timings de ativação muscular verificaram-se alterações positivas em todos os participantes, uma vez que vários músculos iniciaram a sua atividade mais precocemente em M1, comparativamente a M0. Conclusão: Após o período de intervenção foi possível constatar modificações ao nível do CP em todos os participantes, nomeadamente nas amplitudes do CoP e nos timings de ativação muscular

Determinantes do risco de crédito de empresas não financeiras em Portugal. O caso do alojamento

Nos últimos anos, verifica-se uma crescente preocupação com o risco de crédito, sendo dado especial enfoque à performance das empresas não financeiras, muitas vezes as responsáveis pelo incumprimento perante a banca e outras instituições financeiras. Assim sendo, é importante que se analisem os principais determinantes que influenciam o risco de crédito, de modo a melhor compreender os fenómenos que o caraterizam, e definir quais são os fatores que levam a uma maior probabilidade de incumprimento. O objetivo de estudo desta dissertação passa por determinar os principais fatores que influenciam o risco de crédito e compreender qual a natureza do impacto desses mesmos determinantes no setor do Alojamento em Portugal, no período compreendido entre 2010 e 2016. Através de uma análise logit, aos dados de painel de 915 empresas provenientes do Banco de Portugal, concluiu-se que as variáveis significativas para a probabilidade de incumprimento das empresas do setor do Alojamento são o rácio de Liquidez Geral, o rácio de Rotação do Ativo, o rácio Clientes / Total do Ativo, o rácio Fornecedores / Total do Ativo e o distrito onde as empresas se encontram; Determinants of the Credit Risk of Non-Financial Companies in Portugal. The case of Accommodation. Abstract: In recent years there has been a growing concern about credit risk, with particular focus on the performance of non-financial corporations, often those responsible for defaulting on banks and other financial institutions. Therefore, it is important to analyze the main determinants that influence credit risk, in order to better understand the phenomena that characterize it, and to define which factors lead to a higher probability of default. The objective of this dissertation study is to determine the main factors that influence the credit risk and to understand the nature of the impact of those same determinants on the Accommodation sector in Portugal, between 2010 and 2016. From a logit analysis of the panel data of 915 companies from Banco de Portugal, it was concluded that the significant variables for the probability of default of companies in the Accommodation sector are the General Liquidity ratio, the Asset Turnover ratio, the Customers / Total Assets ratio, the Suppliers / Total Assets ratio and the district where the companies are located

Formação do vínculo na implantação do Programa Saúde da Família numa Unidade Básica de Saúde

Este estudo objetivou conhecer as estratégias de formação do vínculo entre usuários e profissionais do Programa de Saúde da Família (PSF) de uma unidade básica em Fortaleza-CE. Estudo descritivo de natureza qualitativa, realizado nos meses de agosto e setembro de 2007 em Fortaleza-Ceará-Brasil. Os informantes do estudo foram os 12 profissionais das equipes de saúde da família. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevista e organizados na forma de categorização das falas dos sujeitos, com base na técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo e analisados com a literatura. Foram respeitadas as questões éticas inerentes a estudos com seres humanos. Os profissionais compreendem vínculo como relacionamento, cumplicidade e confiança. Acreditam que organização do serviço, compromisso e respeito são indispensáveis para a consolidação deste processo, que pode ser formado com grupos, acolhimento e visita domiciliar. Ressalta-se a importância da formação do vínculo no Programa Saúde da Família como estratégia para uma melhor assistência à saúde.The objective of this study was to learn about strategies to develop binding between patients and Family Health Program (FHP) professionals at a basic health unit in the city of Fortaleza-CE. This descriptive and qualitative study was performed in August and September 2007 in Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil. Study informants were the 12 professionals working in the family health program teams. Data was collected through interviews and organized in the form of subject discourse categories, based on the Collective Subject Discourse technique, and analyzed according to the literature. The study complied with inherent ethical issues regarding research involving human beings. The professionals understand bond as relationship, complicity and trust. They believe that service organization, commitment and respect are indispensable to consolidate this process, which can be established with groups, user embracement and home visits. Emphasis is given to the importance of developing bonding in the Family Health Program as a strategy to improve health care.Este estudio tuvo como objetivo conocer las estrategias de formación del vínculo entre usuarios y profesionales del Programa Salud de La Familia (PSF) de una unidad básica en Fortaleza-CE. Estudio descriptivo, de naturaleza cualitativa, realizado en los meses de agosto y septiembre de 2007 en Fortaleza-Ceará-Brasil. Los informantes del estudio fueron los 12 profesionales de los equipos de salud de la familia. Los datos fueron recolectados por medio de una entrevista y los discursos de los sujetos fueron organizados en categorías, con base en la técnica del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo y analizados con la literatura. Fueron respetadas las cuestiones éticas inherentes a los estudios con seres humanos. Los profesionales comprenden al vínculo como siendo una relación, una complicidad y en la que debe existir confianza. Piensan que la organización del servicio, el compromiso y el respeto son indispensables para la consolidación de este proceso, que puede ser formado con grupos, acogimiento y visita domiciliar. Se destaca la importancia de la formación del vínculo en el Programa Salud de la Familia, como estrategia para obtener una mejor asistencia a la salud

Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults

This study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m−2) and 178 men (age 49.22 ± 20.39 years, BMI 26.81 ± 3.51 kg·m−2), wore an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days. Approximately 40% of the time was spent daily in sedentary behaviors during waking hours. Our results do not sustain the suggestion that adult men are more physically active than women. The results indicated a decrease in intensity of physical activity with age, in men and women, but not in successive age groups. Around 75% of adults and 30% of older adults accumulated the minimum daily physical activity for health benefits, in periods shorter than 10 min, above moderate intensity. The number of steps taken per day revealed that most men and women (except the oldest) attained or exceeded the lower threshold for deriving health benefits. To obtain relevant health benefits, future physical activity interventions should aim at reversing the amount of sedentary behaviors, emphasizing increments in, at least, the lower levels of PA, and maintaining walking habits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ionizing radiation for preparation and functionalization of membranes and their biomedical and environmental applications

UID/Multi/04349/2019. IST-ID/077/2018. IST-ID/076/2018. POCI-01-0145-FEDER -007265.The use of ionizing radiation processing technologies has proven to be one of the most versatile ways to prepare a wide range of membranes with specific tailored functionalities, thus enabling them to be used in a variety of industrial, environmental, and biological applications. The general principle of this clean and environmental friendly technique is the use of various types of commercially available high-energy radiation sources, like60Co, X-ray, and electron beam to initiate energy-controlled processes of free-radical polymerization or copolymerization, leading to the production of functionalized, flexible, structured membranes or to the incorporation of functional groups within a matrix composed by a low-cost polymer film. The present manuscript describes the state of the art of using ionizing radiation for the preparation and functionalization of polymer-based membranes for biomedical and environmental applications.publishersversionpublishe

Reprodução da piranha-amarela Serrasalmus spilopleura Kner, 1858, em lagos de várzea, Amazonas, Brasil

Serrasalmus spilopleura (piranha) is a source of animal protein for marginal populations, it is occasionally sold in markets and fairs in the region. Considering the scarcity of information on reproduction of fish in floodplain lakes, the study proposes to investigate the average size at first maturity and spawning season of S. spilopleura lakes Jaitêua-São Lourenço, Manacapuru, AM. Also related are the abiotic factors (water level and depth) and biotic (condition factor) with the spawning season. 232 females were captured from August 2006 to June 2007, using gill net, and in the laboratory were used for biometrics and identification of the maturation stages. The spawning season of the females was established through the temporal distribution of relative frequency in different maturation stages and relative condition factor, Kn = Pt/aCp b, where: Kn = relative condition factor; Pt = total weight; Cp = standard length, a and b = constants obtained from regression between weight and length. And, to check for correlation between condition factor and with the spawning season depth of the lakes, we used the Spearman correlation coefficient of the 5% significance level. The amplitude of the standard length of specimens ranged 7-22 cm. Correlation analysis between Kn and spawning season (r s = 0.58, p < 0.05) was positive, i.e. the spawning season corresponded to the higher Kn, suggesting that an indicator of spawning season of S. spilopleura. There was a negative correlation between the depth and Kn (r s = -0.66, p < 0.05) and between depth and spawning season (r s = -0.25, p < 0.05). The estimated L 50 corresponded to 13.0 ± 0.09 cm and 17.0 ± 0.02 cm L 100, S. spilopleura develops its complex reproductive cycle in the lake of Grand Lake Manacapuru, and based on indicators of reproduction, spawning season and relative condition factor, spawning begins in December, early on the rising extending to February, mid-rising, which coincided with the rise of water level of the Solimões-Amazon River and deep lakes

Social determinants of leprosy in a hyperendemic State in North Brazil

Objective: To identify the socioeconomic, demographic, operational, and health service-related factors associated with the occurrence of leprosy in a hyperendemic State in North Brazil. Methods: This is an ecological study based on secondary data from the Sistema de Informacoes de Agravos de Notificacao in municipalities of the State of Tocantins from 2001 to 2012. Units of analysis were the 139 municipalities of the State. Negative binomial log linear regression models were used to estimate incidence rate ratios. Results: In bivariate analysis, the incidence rate ratios were significantly higher for municipalities with higher income ratio of the poorest 20.0% (1.47; 95% CI 1.19-1.81) and better Municipal Human Development Index (1.53; 95% CI 1.14-2.06). In multivariate analysis, the incidence rate ratios were significantly higher in municipalities with higher proportion of immigrants (1.31; 95% CI 1.11-1.55) and higher proportion of households with waste collection (1.37; 95% CI 1.11-1.69). There was a significant reduction in the incidence rate ratio with increased coverage of the Bolsa Familia Program (0.98; 95% CI 0.96-0.99). Conclusions: Control programs need to focus on activities in municipalities of greater social vulnerability with intersectoral investment for the improvement of the living conditions of the population

Differences in Industry and Investigator Initiated Trials

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to investigate the Portuguese authorship in publications resulting from trials initiated by the industry or investigators and run in Portugal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical trials with Portuguese institutions as sponsor or recruiting centers, and registered in four clinical trial registries, in the last 14 years, were assessed. Publications of completed trials, from both the initiative of the industry and investigatorswere screened and compared. RESULTS: The percentage of published trials initiated by industry and investigators was similar (28.0%). However, the percentage of completed investigator-initiated trials (43.6%) was lower when compared to industry trials (69.7%). There was a higher percentage of Portuguese authorship in published investigator-initiated trials when compared with industry-initiated trials (47.1% vs 8.5%, respectively). Moreover, industry-initiated trials with Portuguese authors were published in journals with lower journal impact factor when compared with those published without authorship of Portuguese investigators. Oncology was the therapeutic area with the highest number of clinical trial registrations and publications. However, in publications with Portuguese authors, industry Initiated trials mainly focused on neurology while investigator-initiated trials had a higher number of papers in the fields of gastroenterology and infection diseases. Published trials with Portuguese authorship, initiated by the industry or investigators, also targeted different populations and had different purposes. In both cases, no significant differences were observed in terms of the journal impact factor or in the alignment of the published randomized trials with the respective reporting guidelines. DISCUSSION: When compared with previous publications, this study showed an increasing trend in the number of clinical trials in Portugal, published within similar timeframes, after trial conclusion. Even though both industry and investigator trials are published within the standards for reporting trials, the low number of Portuguese authorships in industry publications might underline the need for invigorating these independent clinical trials in Portugal by capacitating and empowering national clinical research teams. CONCLUSION: This study confirmed that even though all registered trials had the involvement of Portuguese institutions as a recruiting center, not all the published trials had Portuguese investigators as authors, mainly those initiated by the industry.publishersversionpublishe

O poder dos seres invisíveis. Atividades para a sensibilização de comunidades jovens

Health promotion and education is especially important during childhood. Considering that children know the main hygiene care, but do not always have information regarding their importance, an intervention on this theme was carried out with a group of 10 children with an average age of 8 years, which aimed to motivate participants to perform hygiene acts. The activity was based on three sequential steps: introduction of fundamental concepts; exploration of the main groups of microorganisms and diseases; multiple choice games and crossword puzzles. During the session, attention and interest in the contents were notable, through the participation of the children. In the games, they demonstrated an excellent responsiveness and willingness to interact with all players. This intervention addressing various teaching-learning methodologies proved to be enriching and allowed the acquired transversal and specific skills to be acquired in several areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Parasitoses intestinais : efeito protetor na artrite reumatoide?

A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma doença inflamatória autoimune, sistêmica, de curso progressivo, caracterizada por exuberante sinovite crônica, que pode gerar deformidades e incapacidade funcional, cujo tratamento precoce minimiza o dano às juntas. Sua etiopatogenia ainda não está completamente elucidada, mas compreende respostas imunológicas com a participação de células T auxiliares (Th1). Uma aparente menor gravidade da AR em pacientes de regiões com menor renda poderia estar associada a maior prevalência de parasitoses intestinais, especialmente as helmintíases. A rigor, um desvio na resposta imune para o predomínio de células T auxiliares (Th2), decorrente da exposição crônica a helmintos, modularia negativamente a inflamação em doentes com AR, e levaria a menor gravidade e dano articular. A revisão de aspectos da influência da reposta imunológica nas parasitoses intestinais, especialmente as helmintíases, em pacientes com artrite reumatoide é o objetivo desse trabalho.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease, with a progressive course, characterized by chronic synovitis that may evolve with deformities and functional disability, and whose early treatment minimizes joint damage. Its etiopathogenesis is not fully elucidated but comprises immunologic responses mediated by T helper cells (Th1). An apparent minor severity of RA in patients from regions with lower income could be associated with a higher prevalence of gut parasites, especially helminths. Strictly, a shift in the immune response toward the predominance of T helper cells (Th2), due to the chronic exposure to helminths, could modulate negatively the inflammation in RA patients, resulting in lower severity/joint injury. The interaction between the immunological responses of parasitic helminths in rheumatoid arthritis patients is the purpose of this paper