Impact of active breaks on sedentary behavior and perception of productivity in office workers.

Introduction: The increasing prevalence ofsedentary behavior at work, which has been exacerbated by technological advancement and remote work models, can compromise worker health, leading to both physical and mental problems. Increasing research on sedentary behavior has resulted in interventions such as active breaks. Objectives: This study addresses the impact of sedentary behavior at work and the effects of active breaks. Methods: This descriptive-exploratory study with a mixed-methods approach included 70 professionals of both sexes, 86% women (35.2 [SD, 10.2] years) and 14% men (33.5 [SD, 11] years), who worked remotely in administrative roles. The intervention was a 25-week active break protocol involving lectures, a questionnaire, and an app. Results: At the end of the intervention, 64% of participants were taking active breaks. Spending > 10 hours a day in sedentary behavior reduced significantly (from 31% to 14%), as did the proportion of workers who did not exercise (from 43% to 26%; p = 0.002). There were also reductions in post-lunch sleepiness, perceived stress (p < 0.01), and pain/discomfort (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Management programs for sedentary behavior should consider the use of active breaks, since they can reduce sedentary behavior and perceived sleepiness, stress, and pain. This will result in a healthier work environment, increasing employee quality of life as well as company productivity.

Introdução: Com a predominância do sedentarismo ocupacional, agravado pelo avanço tecnológico e pelo trabalho remoto, a saúde dos trabalhadores pode ser comprometida, incluindo problemas físicos e mentais, o que faz com que estudos sobre o comportamento sedentário e intervenções como pausas ativas ganhem destaque. Objetivos: O estudo aborda o impacto do sedentarismo no ambiente de trabalho e a relevância das pausas ativas para mitigar seus efeitos. Métodos: Tratou-se de estudo descritivo-exploratório com abordagem qualiquantitativa, realizado com 70 profissionais de ambos os sexos, 86% mulheres (35,2±10,2 anos) e 14% homens (33,5±11 anos). Todos trabalhavam remotamente em funções administrativas. Os participantes foram orientados a seguir uma rotina de pausas ativas durante 25 semanas. O estudo usou palestras, um questionário e um aplicativo para a prática. Resultados: Dos participantes, 64% adotaram as pausas ativas após a intervenção. Foi observada uma redução significativa no tempo sedentário (superior a 10 horas), de 31 para 14%, e no número de trabalhadores que não se exercitavam, de 43 para 26% (p = 0,002). Notou-se também uma redução na sonolência após o almoço, na percepção do estresse (p < 0,01) e nas dores e/ou desconforto no corpo (p < 0,01). Conclusões: A rotina de pausas ativas parece ser uma estratégia para diminuir o comportamento sedentário e melhorar a percepção quanto a sonolência, estresse e dores. Portanto, a implementação de programas de gestão ativa do comportamento sedentário, por meio de pausas ativas, pode proporcionar um ambiente de trabalho mais produtivo e saudável, beneficiando a qualidade de vida dos funcionários e a produtividade da empresa.

Prevalence and clinical implications of low-risk human papillomavirus among patients with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in biopsy specimens from juvenile and adult patients with histopathological diagnosis of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) treated in two public hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: We performed the detection and genotyping of HPV by PCR technique for the types 6, 11, 16, and 18 in biopsy specimens from 41 RRP patients. RESULTS: The juvenile onset RRP (JoRRP) corresponded to 61% and the adult onset RRP (AoRRP) corresponded to 39% of the study group. Prevalence of males was observed in both the adult (81.3%) and the juvenile (56%) groups. Lesions in the larynx were more frequent in the glottis (46%). Genotyping analysis only revealed patients with HPV-6 (34.1%), HPV-11(17.1%), and co-infection HPV-6 and -11 (48.8%). RRP severity was significantly associated with the JoRRP (p<0.001), with extralaryngeal disease and more surgeries. However, no significant association between RRP severity and HPV types was found. One co-infected patient in the JoRRP died due to the evolution of the disease with lung involvement. CONCLUSION: These results show the strong association of HPV-6 and/or HPV-11 types with RRP and could complement the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapies for these patients. In addition, the HPV vaccination should be encouraged to prevent the disease.

Erythrocyte nitric oxide availability and oxidative stress following exercise.

Growing evidence has shown that acute exercise impairs erythrocyte membrane structure and function as a consequence of increased physical and chemical stress. Erythrocyte-synthesized nitric oxide (NO) is known to modulate membrane fluidity, and its bioavailability depends on the balance between its production and scavenging by reactive oxygen species. Here, we investigated whether a maximal exercise test could affect erythrocyte NO bioavailability and oxidative stress. Twelve men (26±4 years old, V̇O2peak 44.1±4.3 mL·kg-1·min-1) performed a treadmill maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Blood was collected at rest and immediately after exercise for erythrocytes isolation. Maximal exercise caused an increase in erythrocytes count, haemoglobin and haematocrit levels. There was no change in L-arginine influx into erythrocytes after exercise. Yet, nitric oxide synthase activity, and thus, NO production, was increased after maximal test, as well cyclic GMP levels. In relation to biomarkers of oxidative stress, maximal test resulted in increased levels of lipid peroxidation, and diminished superoxide dismutase activity. Neither glutathione peroxidase nor catalase activity was affected by maximal test. Our findings demonstrate that the increased erythrocyte membrane rigidity caused by an acute bout of exercise may be caused, in part, by an increased lipid oxidative damage caused by ROS produced exogenously.