Graziele Souza Lira Ferrari

Knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus: Does Gender Make a Difference?

Objective Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease considered an important public health problem. In recent years, its prevalence has been exponentially rising in many developing countries. Chronic complications of DM are important causes of morbidity and mortality among patients, which impair their health and quality of life. Knowledge on disease prevention, etiology, and management is essential to deal with parents, patients, and caregivers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge regarding DM in an adult population from a Middle-western Brazilian city. Methods This was a cross-sectional study covering 178 adults, aged 18–64 years, who answered a diabetes knowledge questionnaire. In order to identify the difference between groups, analysis of variance was used. Results Higher knowledge scores were found regarding the role of sugars on DM causality, diabetic foot care, and the effects of DM on patients (blindness, impaired wound healing, and male sexual dysfunction). However, lower scores were found amongst types of DM, hyperglycemic symptoms, and normal blood glucose levels. Females tended to achieve better knowledge scores than males. Conclusion Women had better knowledge regarding types of DM, normal blood glucose values, and consequences of hyperglycemia revealed that diabetes education should be improved.

Diet, Sleep and Metabolic Syndrome Among a Legal Amazon Population, Brazil

Metabolic syndrome incidence is increasing worldwide then it is important to study the possible risk and protective factors. Our previous study suggested an association between coffee consumption and metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to address possible associations between dietary lifestyle factors with metabolic syndrome. In a case-control study we compared 74 metabolic syndrome patients with 176-matched controls attended at a public health central unit. Incident cases diagnosed according to ATP III criteria were matched with control group composed of healthy subjects performing routine examinations. Having lower educational level compared to highest levels tend to increase metabolic syndrome prevalence, which was not statistically significant. Similar pattern was observed for marital status. No difference was found regarding gender and metabolic syndrome odds. Interestingly, daily drinking two to three cups of coffee (OR=0.0646, 95% CI, 0.0139-0.3005, p=0.0005) or until 2 cups of milk were inversely associated with metabolic syndrome odds (OR=0.5368, 95% CI, 0.3139-0.9181, p=0.0231). Sleeping seven to eight hours per night was also associated with decreased odds of metabolic syndrome (OR=0.0789, 95% CI, 0.0396-0.1570, p<0.0001). Eating at least two portions of chocolate was also associated with decreased risk of metabolic syndrome (OR=0.3475, 95%CI, 0.1865-0.6414, p=0.0009). Adequate sleeping and dietary intake of some foods materially decreased the metabolic syndrome.

Exercise modulation of total antioxidant capacity (TAC): towards a molecular signature of healthy aging

The objective of this article was to review the biochemical basis of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) test and its applications to exercise science and promotion of healthy aging. Measurement of TAC allows evaluation of the antioxidant content of muscle, heart and other exercise-target organs. Acute non-regular physical exercise and body exposition to higher altitude have been associated with a considerable decrease of blood TAC. However, regular practice of physical activity and exercise is associated with improved antioxidant response increasing TAC levels. TAC methodologies did not address lipophylic antioxidants and have some other limitations. However, TAC is useful as a complementary test for the evaluation of antiperoxidation assays and blood, erythrocyte and cytosolic antioxidant enzyme assays (glutathion reductase, glutathion peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase). Exercise induces both molecular antioxidant and hormetic responses which have been suggested to be linked with a healthy ...The objective of this article was to review the biochemical basis of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) test and its applications to exercise science and promotion of healthy aging. Measurement of TAC allows evaluation of the antioxidant content of muscle, heart and other exercise-target organs. Acute non-regular physical exercise and body exposition to higher altitude have been associated with a considerable decrease of blood TAC. However, regular practice of physical activity and exercise is associated with improved antioxidant response increasing TAC levels. TAC methodologies did not address lipophylic antioxidants and have some other limitations. However, TAC is useful as a complementary test for the evaluation of antiperoxidation assays and blood, erythrocyte and cytosolic antioxidant enzyme assays (glutathion reductase, glutathion peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase). Exercise induces both molecular antioxidant and hormetic responses which have been suggested to be linked with a healthy aging.

Qualidade de vida em profissionais da Estratégia de Saúde da Família (ESF) no Vale do Araguaia, Amazônia Legal, Brasil

A qualidade de vida dos profissionais de saude e fundamental para que estes possam desempenhar com seguranca, motivacao e eficacia seus servicos a populacao. Neste sentido, elaborou-se um estudo descritivo e transversal para avaliar a qualidade de vida em profissionais da atencao primaria a saude do SUS no Vale do Araguaia (MT/GO). 45 profissionais (60% do total de profissionais) de unidades da Estrategia de Saude da Familia (ESF) e de um Centro de Saude de Aragarcas (GO), Barra do Garcas (MT) e Pontal do Araguaia (MT) concordaram e participaram do estudo. A qualidade de vida foi avaliada utilizando-se o questionario de qualidade de vida da OMS (WHOQOL-bref) validado no Brasil. Resultados: embora 18% nao necessitem de tratamento medico, 26,7% precisam de vez em quando e 13,3% precisam muito de cuidados medicos. Ademais, 5% aceitam muito pouco sua aparencia fisica e 22% tem apenas uma aceitacao razoavel da mesma. Cerca de 9% declararam ter pouca ou nenhuma energia para realizar as tarefas cotidianas, enquanto que 17,8% estiveram totalmente insatisfeitos com o sono. Em relacao a frequencia de sentimentos psicoafetivos negativos 60% tiveram as vezes, 11% frequentemente, 2% quase sempre e 27% nunca. Embora se considerem felizes, com disposicao fisica e boa qualidade de vida, parcela consideravel dos profissionais de saude da atencao basica do Vale do Araguaia sao afetados por problemas de saude, disturbios psicoafetivos e problemas de sono.