Morphological and Functional Aspects of Hand in Relation to Age, Gender and Sports Playing Condition.

Aim: This cross-sectional study was performed to investigate the hand anthropometric measurements and grip strength of children in three age groups. Methods: 546 children participated in the study and grouped as little (9-11years), youth (12-14years), junior (15-18years). A digital compass with a resolution of 0.01 mm was used for hand anthropometric measurements and a digital hand dynamometer was used for grip strength measurement. Hand dimensions and hand grip strength of both hands were measured. Eight parameters were evaluated for each hand. Results: Hand width values measured from little females and little males and youth males were not statistically significant in sporting and non-sporting groups. There was a statistically significant difference for both hand length of little males and junior males between sporting and non-sporting groups. When shape index values of right and left hands were compared for both groups there was a statistically significant difference for little males and females whereas there was a statistically significant difference in youth females and junior females values compared for sports playing condition. When palmar length/width ratio values were evaluated there was a statistically significant difference between sporting and non-sporting groups in little males for both hands and in junior males for right hand. When grip strength values were evaluated there was a statistically significant difference between sporting and non-sporting groups in little males for both hands and in junior males for right hand. Conclusion: These findings stress the morphological and functional differences of hand according to age, gender and sports playing condition.

Prevalencia de enteropatias na cidade de Manaus / Prevalence of intestinal diseases in the city of Manaus

Descreve-se uma avaliacao coproparasitologica em pre-escolares, filhos de operarios do Distrito Industrial de Manaus, os quais fizeramparte de um estudo amplo, sobre avaliacao nutricional no Estado do Amazonas. Analisou-se 319 amostras fecais de criancas de criancas, utilizando os metodos quantitativos e qualititivos de exame de fezes, tais como: Faust, Hoffmann e Kato-Katz. Das amostras examinadas, 219 (68,6%) foram positivas a pelo um parasita.Dentre os protozoarios a Giardia lamblia prevaleceu com 54 (16,9%), sendo 36(11,2%) nos meninos e 35 (11,0%) nas meninas. O Trichocephalus trichiura foi osegundo mais prevalente com 55 (17,2%). A poliparasitose foi mais frequente napopulacao do sexo masculino. As analise antropometricas com base nos criteriosde Gomez e de Waterlow indicaram estados eutroficos em 62,6%, respectivamente.