Geocoding processes in cohort studies: methods applied in the EpiFloripa Aging / Processos de geocodificação em estudos de coorte: métodos aplicados no EpiFloripa Idoso

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To describe the process and epidemiological implications of georeferencing in EpiFloripa Aging samples (2009-2019). METHOD The EpiFloripa Aging Cohort Study sought to investigate and monitor the living and health conditions of the older adult population (≥ 60) of Florianópolis in three study waves (2009/2010, 2013/2014, 2017/2019). With an automatic geocoding tool, the residential addresses were spatialized, allowing to investigate the effect of the georeferencing sample losses regarding 19 variables, evaluated in the three waves. The influence of different neighborhood definitions (census tracts, Euclidean buffers, and buffers across the street network) was examined in the results of seven variables: area, income, residential density, mixed land use, connectivity, health unit count, and public open space count. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to evaluate the differences between neighborhood definitions according to three variables: contextual income, residential density, and land use diversity. RESULT The losses imposed by geocoding (6%, n = 240) caused no statistically significant difference between the total sample and the geocoded sample. The analysis of the study variables suggests that the geocoding process may have included a higher proportion of participants with better income, education, and living conditions. The correlation coefficients showed little correspondence between measures calculated by the three neighborhood definitions (r = 0.37-0.54). The statistical difference between the variables calculated by buffers and census tracts highlights limitations in their use in the description of geospatial attributes. CONCLUSION Despite the challenges related to geocoding, such as inconsistencies in addresses, adequate correction and verification mechanisms provided a high rate of assignment of geographic coordinates, the findings suggest that adopting buffers, favored by geocoding, represents a potential for spatial epidemiological analyses by improving the representation of environmental attributes and the understanding of health outcomes.

RESUMO OBJETIVO Descrever o processo e as implicações epidemiológicas do georreferenciamento nas amostras do EpiFloripa Idoso (2009-2019). MÉTODO O estudo de coorte EpiFloripa Idoso buscou investigar e acompanhar as condições de vida e saúde da população idosa (≥ 60) de Florianópolis em três ondas de estudo (2009/2010, 2013/2014, 2017/2019). Com uma ferramenta de geocodificação automática, os endereços residenciais foram espacializados, permitindo a investigação do efeito das perdas amostrais do georreferenciamento em relação a 19 variáveis, avaliadas nas três ondas. A influência de diferentes definições de vizinhança (setores censitários, buffers euclidianos e buffers pela rede de ruas) foi examinada nos resultados de sete variáveis: área, renda, densidade residencial, uso misto do solo, conectividade, contagem de unidades de saúde, e contagem de espaços livres públicos. Coeficientes de correlação de Pearson foram calculados para avaliar as diferenças entre as definições de vizinhança de acordo com três variáveis: renda contextual, densidade residencial e diversidade de uso do solo. RESULTADO As perdas impostas pela geocodificação (6%, n = 240) não ocasionaram diferença estatística significativa entre a amostra total e a georreferenciada. A análise das variáveis do estudo sugere que o processo de geocodificação pode ter incluído uma maior proporção de participantes com melhor nível de renda, escolaridade e condições de vida. Os coeficientes de correlação evidenciaram pouca correspondência entre medidas calculadas pelas três definições de vizinhança (r = 0,37-0,54). A diferença estatística entre as variáveis calculadas por buffers e setores censitários ressalta limitações no uso destes na descrição dos atributos geoespaciais. CONCLUSÃO Apesar dos desafios relacionados à geocodificação, como inconsistências nos endereços, adequados mecanismos de correção e verificação propiciaram elevada taxa de atribuição de coordenadas geográficas. Os achados sugerem que a adoção de buffers, favorecida pela geocodificação, representa uma potencialidade para análises epidemiológicas espaciais ao aprimorar a representação dos atributos do ambiente e a compreensão dos desfechos de saúde.

EMG Activity of Masseter Muscles in the Elderly According to Rheological Properties of Solid Food

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of aging on masticatory muscle function according to changes in hardness of solid food. METHODS: Each of fifteen healthy elderly and young people were selected. Subjects were asked to consume cooked rice, which was processed using the guidelines of the Universal Design Foods concept for elderly people (Japan Care Food Conference 2012). The properties of each cooked rice were categorized as grade 1, 2, 3 and 4 (5×10³, 2×10⁴, 5×10⁴, and 5×10⁵ N/m²) respectively. Surface electromyography (sEMG) was used to measure masseter activity from food ingestion to swallowing of test foods. The raw data was normalized by the ratio of sEMG activity to maximal voluntary contraction and compared among subjects. The data was divided according to each sequence of mastication and then calculated within the parameters of EMG activities. RESULTS: Intraoral tongue pressure was significantly higher in the young than in the elderly (p<0.05). Maximal value of average amplitude of the sequence in whole mastication showed significant positive correlation with hardness of food in both young and elderly groups (p<0.05). In a comparisons between groups, the maximal value of average amplitude of the sequence in whole mastication and peak amplitude in whole mastication showed that mastication in the elderly requires a higher percentage of maximal muscle activity than in the young, even with soft foods (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: sEMG data of the masseter can provide valuable information to aid in the selection of foods according to hardness for the elderly. The results also support the necessity of specialized food preparation or products for the elderly.

"Effect of ""Six Healing Sounds"" on quality of life of the old and middle-aged persons" / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the effect ofSix Healing Sounds on mild anxiety disorders of the old and middle-aged persons.Methods Randomly divided the volunteers into a exercise group and a contrast Group.WHOQOL-BRIE was adopted for evaluating the efficacy of the subjects before and six months after the practice.Results After 6 months practice,quality of life subjective feeling score (3.59±0.69),subjective feeling of health status score(3.22± 0.96),physical domain score( 89.19 ± 1 3.68 ) and psychological field score (79.74± 11.26) in the exercise group were significantly increased than the contrast group (P＜0.01).The scores of quality of life subjective feeling,subjective feeling of health status,physical domain,and psychological field were increased in the exercise group after 6 months treatment than before (P＜0.01).Conclusion The Six Healing Sounds can improve the quality of life of the old and middle-aged persons.

Rehabilitation of “Six Healing Sounds”on anxiety disorders of the old and middle-aged persons / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To observe the rehabilitation of “Six Healing Sounds” on mild anxiety disorders of the old and middle-aged persons.Methods All patients were randomly divided into “Six Healing Sounds” exercise group and control group using random number table.Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS),Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMD) were adopted for evaluating the efficacy of the subjects before and three months after the practice.“Nerve-physiology information workstation” was setup to record the changes of cerebral electric powder of both groups before and 3 months after the treatment.The data was further analyzed by “intelligent cerebral powder analyzing system”.Results ①After three months practice,clinical efficacy shwoed significant difference between the two groups (exercise group 66.67％,control group 26.19％.HAMA(12.440±4.104) and SAS (36.355±15.085) score decreased significantly after the treatment in the exercise group.HAMA score,the SAS score and HAMA reduction rate (26.3±23.8)％ had significant difference between the two group.②)Frequancy changes:the change of β1 (0.1005±0.0132) μν2 before and after the exercise in the exercise group showed significant difference than that in the control group.③Space changes:in the exercise group after 3 months:F3(3.7449±3.0739),F4(3.9948±3.5865),P4(2.6442±1.7867),O1 (2.5845 ± 1.7883),T4(2.7916 ± 2.0327)were increased than before; Fpl (5.4771 ± 3.9768),Fp2 (5.8682 ± 3.8109),O2 (4168 ± 2.9227 ) were increased than before; comparison between the exercise group and control group:Fp1、Fp2、F3、F4、P4)、O1、T4Fp1 (3.8686±3.2034),Fp2(3.9419±3.4709),F3(2.5632±2.0258),F4(2.6763±2.2542),P4(1.7535± 1.7334),O1(1.6426± 1.5885),T4(1.8626± 1.7103) in the exercise group were obviously increased; O2 (1.8942± 1.8346)was significantly increased in the exercise group.Conclusion “Six Healing Sounds” had rehabilitation effects on anxiety disorders of the middle-aged persons.

Effect of “Six Healing Sounds” on cerebral electric power of the old and middle-aged persons / 国际中医中药杂志

Objective To evaluate the effect of “Six Healing Sounds” on brain's mechanism by analyzing the changes of patients' cerebral electric power.Methods All volunteers were randomly recruited into two groups:exercise group and contrast group.“nerve-physiology information workstation” was setup to record the changes of cerebral electric powder of both groups before and 6 months after the treatment.The data was further analyzed by “intelligent cerebral powder analyzing system”.Results Frequency changes:in the exercise group after 6 months:α1 (0.3959±0.2332)μv2 and α2(0.1531 ±0.11609μv2)were both increased,while δ (0.0951 ±0.0604) μv2、θ (0.2515±0.1165) μv2、β1 (0.0934±0.0483) μv2 and β2 (0.0111 ±0.0068) μv2 were reduced.While in the contrast group after 6 month:all values were similar to those 6 months ago.Space changes:in the contrast group after 6 months:all values were similar to those 6 months ago; while in the exercise group after 6 months:it had tremendous changes in such areas as FP2 (2.0711 ± 1.6765 )、F3 ( 1.8586± 1.6321 )、C3 (1.7756± 1.3104); and slight changes in F4 ( 1.9610±1.4332)、P3 ( 1.5587±1.2798)、P4 (1.6108± 1.2521 )、01 ( 1.1383 ±0.9343)、02( 1.2555±1.0694)、T3 ( 1.8961 ±1.5900) and T4 (2.0190±1.6374).Conclusion “Six Healing Sounds” therapy can improve the functional status of the brain.

Research on effect of “Six Healing Sounds” on morphology, physical condition and ability of motion for old people / 国际中医中药杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect of “Six Healing Sounds” by analizing the changes of physical condition and stamina of the patients after using it.MethodsAll volunteers were divided into two groups:the exercise group and the contrast group,studied the idexes of physical conditions before and after 6 month exercise.ResultsAfter 6 months,the data of weight and BMI of those who were in the exercise group was getting lower,together with their physical condition and ability to motion getting better.Conclusion“Six Healing Sounds” is good for keep fit and provide a better physical condition for people.

Sub-health status of the young and middle-aged populations and the relationships among sub-health, sleep ness and personality in Hubei province, China / 中华流行病学杂志

Objective To investigate the epidemiological condition of the sub-health status of the young and middle-aged persons in urban and rural areas of Hubei province, and to explore the relationships among personality, quality of sleep and sub-health status. Methods Purposive sampling method and Personal Health Status Questionnaire developed by Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were used to investigate the sub-healthy status of 3187 subjects aged 18-55 and evaluate the relationships among sub-health status, personality and the quality of sleep with structural equation model. Results Gender, education, marriage, age and occupation were factors influencing the status of sub-health. Among all of the subjects, sub-health status of females were more serious than that of males (P＜0.0001 of all). The divorced, separated and widowed ones were more likely to experience sub-health than other status of marriage (P= 0.0006, P=0.0102). The sub-health status of the subjects aged 30-55 in the urban (P=0.0197)and low-literacy residents in rural (P=0.0003)were among the worst. The condition of the sub-health in migrant workers and professional were worse compared to other occupational groups (P=0.0043). Structural equation model analysis revealed that sub-health status associated with the quality of sleep and the type of characteristics (P＜0.01 ). Conclusion Sub-health status did exist among the young and middle-aged persons and was influenced by the quality of sleep and personality. However, it could be adjusted by improving the quality of sleep and personality to prevent sub-health.