Translation and validation into the Brazilian Portuguese of the restless legs syndrome rating scale of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensory-motor disorder characterized by unpleasant limb sensations and an irresistible urge to move. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group developed the Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) to assess the severity of RLS symptoms. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the IRLS into Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: The IRLS was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, analyzed, back translated to English, and compared to the original version. It was applied to 10 patients for cultural verification. The language was adjusted and the final version was administered to 30 patients (13 male, mean age 58.88+/-14.82). RESULTS: There was correlation among the IRLS evaluation of three experts. Many linguistic adaptations were required to achieve cultural adequacy and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed reliability of 80%. CONCLUSION: IRLS was translated, adapted, and validated to Brazilian Portuguese language, showing good reliability and validity.

The repercussions of spinal cord injury on the action of the diaphragmatic crura for gastroesophageal reflux containment.

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional and nonexperimental. OBJECTIVE: To detect and compare functional abnormalities in the esophagus and esophagogastric junction in 2 groups with chronic spinal injuries, 1 with injuries at the phrenic innervation level and the other at upper thoracic levels, and to relate these to gastroesophageal reflux containment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: There are no studies on esophageal manometry with pH metering among spinal cord injury patients. Worldwide statistics reveal that the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease among spinal cord injury patients is greater than among the general population, at around 22% to 27%. The "diaphragmatic crura" has been recognized as an important antireflux barrier and should functionally be considered to be a muscle separated from the costal diaphragm. However, doubts remain regarding whether this difference relates to its innervation. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study on 29 patients with complete spinal cord injuries: 14 quadriplegics (level C4) and 15 paraplegics (levels T1-T7). Functional abnormalities of the esophagogastric junction, esophagus, and diaphragm were investigated using esophageal manometry and diaphragmatic video fluoroscopy. Presence of gastroesophageal reflux was investigated subjectively (pyrosis and regurgitation) and objectively (pH metering and endoscopy). RESULTS: The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was 27.6%, without difference between the groups. This became statistically significant when the mean diaphragmatic crural pressures were compared (quadriplegics: 37.5 +/- 17.8; paraplegics: 26.6 +/- 7.2; P = 0.048). It was also significant in relation to the prevalence of at least one of the objective and/or subjective reflux findings and/or esophageal peristaltism (quadriplegics: 85.7%; paraplegics: 40.0%; P = 0.011). CONCLUSION: Spinal injury at the level of the phrenic innervation did not predispose the quadriplegics toward greater risk of developing gastroesophageal reflux disease. Paradoxically, manometry showed significantly greater crural contractility among the quadriplegics.

Translation and validation into the Brazilian Portuguese of the restless legs syndrome rating scale of the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group / Tradução e validação para a língua portuguesa da escala de graduação da síndrome das pernas inquietas do Grupo Internacional do Estudo da Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas

BACKGROUND: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a chronic sensory-motor disorder characterized by unpleasant limb sensations and an irresistible urge to move. The International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group developed the Restless Legs Syndrome Rating Scale (IRLS) to assess the severity of RLS symptoms. The objective of this study was to translate and validate the IRLS into Brazilian Portuguese. METHOD: The IRLS was translated into Brazilian Portuguese, analyzed, back translated to English, and compared to the original version. It was applied to 10 patients for cultural verification. The language was adjusted and the final version was administered to 30 patients (13 male, mean age 58.88±14.82). RESULTS: There was correlation among the IRLS evaluation of three experts. Many linguistic adaptations were required to achieve cultural adequacy and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient showed reliability of 80 percent. CONCLUSION: IRLS was translated, adapted, and validated to Brazilian Portuguese language, showing good reliability and validity.

INTRODUÇÃO: A síndrome das pernas inquietas (SPI) é uma doença crônica, sensório-motora, caracterizada por sensações desagradáveis nos membros e uma urgência em movimentá-los. O Grupo Internacional de Estudos da Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas desenvolveu a Escala de Graduação da Síndrome das Pernas Inquietas (EGSPI) para avaliar a gravidade dos sintomas da SPI. OBJETIVO: Traduzir, adaptar culturalmente e validar a EGSPI para o português do Brasil. MÉTODO: A escala foi vertida para o português, analisada, vertida novamente para o inglês e comparada com a versão original. Foi aplicada em 10 pacientes para adequação cultural. A linguagem foi ajustada e a versão final foi aplicada em 30 pacientes (13 homens, idade média de 58,88±14,82). RESULTADOS: Houve correlação da aplicação da escala entre três avaliadores. Foram necessárias adaptações lingüísticas para adequação cultural e o alfa de Chronbach mostrou confiabilidade de 80 por cento. CONCLUSÃO: A EGSPI foi traduzida, adequada e validada para o português do Brasil, com boa validade e confiabilidade.

Prevalence of high frequency hearing loss consistent with noise exposure among people working with sound systems and general population in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Music is ever present in our daily lives, establishing a link between humans and the arts through the senses and pleasure. Sound technicians are the link between musicians and audiences or consumers. Recently, general concern has arisen regarding occurrences of hearing loss induced by noise from excessively amplified sound-producing activities within leisure and professional environments. Sound technicians' activities expose them to the risk of hearing loss, and consequently put at risk their quality of life, the quality of the musical product and consumers' hearing. The aim of this study was to measure the prevalence of high frequency hearing loss consistent with noise exposure among sound technicians in Brazil and compare this with a control group without occupational noise exposure. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study comparing 177 participants in two groups: 82 sound technicians and 95 controls (non-sound technicians). A questionnaire on music listening habits and associated complaints was applied, and data were gathered regarding the professionals' numbers of working hours per day and both groups' hearing complaint and presence of tinnitus. The participants' ear canals were visually inspected using an otoscope. Hearing assessments were performed (tonal and speech audiometry) using a portable digital AD 229 E audiometer funded by FAPESP. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference between the sound technicians and controls regarding age and gender. Thus, the study sample was homogenous and would be unlikely to lead to bias in the results. A statistically significant difference in hearing loss was observed between the groups: 50% among the sound technicians and 10.5% among the controls. The difference could be addressed to high sound levels. CONCLUSION: The sound technicians presented a higher prevalence of high frequency hearing loss consistent with noise exposure than did the general population, although the possibility of residual confounding due to unmeasured factors such as socioeconomic status cannot be ruled out.