Qualidade de vida do idoso na comunidade: aplicação da Escala de Flanagan

Esse estudo objetivou avaliar a satisfação de idosos em relação à sua qualidade de vida. Os dados foram obtidos através de questionário que caracterizava a amostra e a Escala de Qualidade de Vida de Flanagan, utilizando-se a técnica de entrevista. A amostra foi constituída por 128 idosos. Nos resultados, verificamos que a satisfação desses idosos mostrou-se regular. As dimensões da qualidade de vida apontadas na escala de Flanagan foram: desenvolvimento pessoal e realização; relações com familiares; participação social; bem-estar físico e material; amizade e aprendizagem. Concluímos que essa Escala apresenta limitações em virtude do caráter subjetivo do conceito de qualidade.Este estudio pretendió valorar la satisfacción de los ancianos en relación a su calidad de vida. Los datos fueron obtenidos por medio de un cuestionario que caracterizaba la muestra y la escala de calidad de vida de Flanagan, utilizando la técnica de entrevista. La muestra fue constituida por 128 ancianos. En los resultados, comprobamos que la satisfacción de estos ancianos fue regular. Las dimensiones de la calidad de vida apuntadas en escala de Flanagan fueron: desarrollo personal y realización, relaciones con familiares, participación social, bienestar físico y material, amistad y aprendizaje. Concluimos que esta escala presenta limitaciones en virtud del carácter subjetivo del concepto de calidad.The aim of this study was to evaluate the satisfaction degree of the elderly people regarding their quality of life. Data were obtained by a questionnaire characterizing the sample with a scale of quality proposed by Flanagan, using the interview technique. Among 128 elderly people, authors verified a insufficient degree of satisfaction. The dimensions of the quality of life pointed out by the Flanagan's scale were: personal development and fulfillment; family relations; social participation; welfare and material support; learning and friendship. The authors concluded that the Flanagan's scale presents limitations as a result of the subjectivity of the concept of quality

Determinação de Mn e Zn em arroz empregando espectrometria de fluorescência de raios x de energia dispersiva

A simple, fast and inexpensive method was developed to determine essential elements in pellets of rice samples using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF). The accuracy and precision were evaluated using Standard Reference Material (rice flour NIST 1568a), and yielding relative standard deviation below 5%. The paired t-test showed good agreement within 95% confidence values. The detection limits (3σ) of Mn and Zn were 5.1 and 2.2 mg kg-1, respectively. The proposed method proved to be effective when used to determine Mn and Zn in commercial samples of rice without go by stage of decomposition

Análise da fermentação em bioreatores cilindrocônicos de bancada na elaboração de cerveja com adjunto de banana

O aumento do extrato inicial de fermentação e uso de adjuntos na substituição do malte vem sendo uma alternativa para diminuição de custos na produção de cervejas. Uma outra característica deste processo tem sido a utilização de nutrientes para aumentar a produtividade volumétrica em etanol. Pelo fato da banana ser uma fruta abundante no Brasil e ser pouco qualificada para a exportação, pode-se utilizá-la como alternativa de adjunto do malte. Neste estudo foi elaborada cerveja utilizando a banana como adjunto do malte e estudado os parâmetros fermentativos principais obtidos no ponto otimizado em bioreatores cilindrocônicos de bancada. Para isso os mostos foram fermentados à 17,5 °P e 15 °C suplementados no início da fermentação com 420 mg/L de MgSO4. A produtividade volumétrica (Qp) alcançada foi de 0,68 g/L.h no tempo de 64 h de fermentação. Essa suplementação gerou um benefício, devido ao aumento de 6 % do valor de Qp

Quality of life of caregivers for patients of cerebrovascular accidents: association of (socio-demographic) characteristics and burden

OBJECTIVE Investigating the association between quality of life with socio-demographic characteristics and the burden of caregivers for individuals with cerebrovascular accident sequelae. METHOD A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a sample composed of 136 caregivers. For data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire, the Barthel, Burden Interview and Short-Form-36 scales were used. Correlation analysis, t-Student test and F-test were used for the analysis in order to compare averages. RESULTS Significant averages in quality of life were demonstrated in association with female caregivers and those over 60 years in the field 'functional capacity,' and in the domains of 'mental health' and 'vitality' for those with higher income. Regarding burden association, the highlighted areas were 'functional capacity,' 'physical aspects,' 'emotional aspects' and 'pain.' CONCLUSION The creation of public policies and social support to effectively reduce the burden on caregivers is a necessity

Cytogenetic characterization of Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera, Apidae) by fluorochromes

Four colonies of the stingless bee Partamona cupira (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were cytogenetically analyzed using conventional staining and the fluorochromes CMA3 e DAPI. The females have 2n = 34 chromosomes (2K = 32 M¯+2 A¯). Some females, however, presented an additional large B acrocentric chromosome, to a total of 2n = 35. Chromosome B and the chromosomal pairs 2, 9 and 10 showed CMA 3+ bands, indicating an excess of CG base-pairs. A clear association was verified between the P. helleri B chromosome SCAR marker and the presence of a B chromosome in P. cupira. The data obtained suggests that B chromosomes in P. helleri and P. cupira share a common origin

Phytotoxicity of alkaloids, coumarins and flavonoids isolated from 11 species belonging to the Rutaceae and Meliaceae families

Meliaceae and Rutaceae families are known for the high diversity of their secondary metabolites, which include many groups that represent a rich source of structural diversity, and are good candidates as sources of allelochemicals that could be useful in agriculture. In the work described here the bioactivity profiles were evaluated for 3 alkaloids (1–3), 12 coumarins (4–15), 2 phenylpropanoic acid derivatives (16 and 17) and 14 flavonoids (18–31) from 11 species belonging to the Meliaceae and Rutaceae families. All compounds were tested in the wheat coleoptile bioassay and those that showed the highest activities were tested on the STS (Standard Target Species) Lepidium sativum (cress), Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), and Allium cepa (onion). Most of the isolated compounds showed phytotoxic activity and graveoline (3), psoralen (8), and flavone (18) were the most active, with bioactivity levels similar to that of the commercial herbicide Logran1. The results indicate that these compounds could be involved as semiochemicals in the allelopathic interactions of these plant species

Effect of propolis gel on the in vitro reduction of dentin permeability

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the capacity of potassium oxalate, fluoride gel and two kinds of propolis gel to reduce the hydraulic conductance of dentin, in vitro. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The methodology used for the measurement of hydraulic conductance of dentin in the present study was based on a model proposed in literature. Thirty-six 1-mm-thick dentin discs, obtained from extracted human third molars were divided into 4 groups (n=9). The groups corresponded to the following experimental materials: GI-10% propolis gel, pH 4.1; GII-30% propolis gel; GIII-3% potassium oxalate gel, pH 4,1; and GIV-1.23% fluoride gel, pH 4.1, applied to the dentin under the following surface conditions: after 37% phosphoric acid and before 6% citric acid application. The occluding capacity of the dentin tubules was evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) at ×500, ×1,000 and ×2,000 magnifications. Data were analyzed statistically by two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test at 5% significance level. RESULTS: Groups I, II, III, IV did not differ significantly from the others in any conditions by reducing in hydraulic conductance. The active agents reduced dentin permeability; however they produced the smallest reduction in hydraulic conductance when compared to the presence of smear layer (P<0.05). The effectiveness in reducing dentin permeability did not differ significantly from 10% or 30% propolis gels. SEM micrographs revealed that dentin tubules were partially occluded after treatment with propolis. CONCLUSIONS: Under the conditions of this study, the application of 10% and 30% propolis gels did not seem to reduce the hydraulic conductance of dentin in vitro, but it showed capacity of partially obliterating the dentin tubules. Propolis is used in the treatment of different oral problems without causing significant great collateral effects, and can be a good option in the treatment of patients with dentin sensitivity