ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED) and its impact on sleep and quality of life in children and adolescents. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in the Municipality of Cássia dos Coqueiros, Brazil. Participants included 383 children and adolescents 5-17 years of age. A comparison group was randomly matched by gender and age with the RLS/WED-affected individuals, pairing one by one. RESULTS: Interviews were conducted for 383 individuals by a neurologist experienced in sleep medicine. RLS/WED was diagnosed using the essential clinical criteria for definitive RLS/WED in children recommended by the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group. Sleep and quality of life were evaluated using the Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (SBQ) and the Health-related Quality of Life QuestionnaireâPediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Comparisons were established with a group of randomly selected individuals without RLS/WED, matched by age and gender (control group). The prevalence of RLS/WED symptoms that manifested at least twice a week was 1.9%. The average age of children with RLS/WED was higher compared to the general population (11.5 ± 2.3 vs 9.9 ± 2.5, p < 0.005). A family history of RLS/WED was detected in 90.9% of the patients. The scores obtained by SBQ were higher (53.9 ± 9.4 vs 47.6 ± 10.9, p < 0.047), whereas the scores achieved by PedsQL were lower (69.8 ± 14.8 vs 81.9 ± 10.4, p < 0.003) in children with RLS/WED compared to controls. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RLS/WED symptoms manifested at least twice in the preceding week was 1.9% in children and adolescents. Worsened sleep and quality of life were observed in the study.
Subject(s)
Quality of Life , Restless Legs Syndrome/epidemiology , Restless Legs Syndrome/psychology , Adolescent , Brazil/epidemiology , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Prevalence , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
In order to assess the contribution of different parenteral routes as risk exposure to the hepatitis C virus (HCV), samples from nine surveys or cross-sectional studies conducted in two Brazilian inland regions were pooled, including a total of 3,910 subjects. Heterogeneity among the study results for different risk factors was tested and the results were shown to be homogeneous. Anti-HCV antibodies were observed in 241 individuals, of which 146 (3.7%, 95% CI = 3.2-4.4) had HCV exposure confirmed by immunoblot analysis or PCR test. After adjustment for relevant variables, a correlation between confirmed HCV exposure and injection drug use, tattooing, and advance age was observed. In a second logistic model that included exposures not searched in all nine studies, a smaller sample was analyzed, revealing an independent HCV association with past history of surgery and males who have sex with other males, in addition to repeated injection drug use. Overall, these analyses corroborate the finding that injection drug use is the main risk factor for HCV exposure and spread, in addition to other parenteral routes.
Subject(s)
Hepatitis C Antibodies/blood , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/complications , Tattooing/adverse effects , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Brazil , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Surveys , Hepacivirus/genetics , Hepacivirus/immunology , Hepatitis C/epidemiology , Hepatitis C/immunology , Hepatitis C/virology , Humans , Immunoblotting , Male , Middle Aged , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Entering medical school can be associated with a number of difficulties that can hinder students' performance. Mentoring programs are designed to help students circumvent difficulties and improve their learning and personal development. The current study aimed to evaluate the perceptions of both students and mentors regarding a recently introduced, group-based mentoring program designed to support first-year students. After one year of regular meetings, students and mentors' perceptions of the program were assessed by means of structured questionnaires. Response content categories were identified through multiple readings. Both regular attendees and non-participating students had positive opinions about the program. Mentors were highly satisfied at having participated and acknowledged that the program has been useful not only for assisting students, but also for fostering their own personal and professional development. In conclusion, the group-based mentoring program is feasible and can elicit positive views from both mentors and students. In addition, faculty members' participation as mentors can also be beneficial, since the program appears to contribute to their own personal and professional development.
O ingressante na escola médica pode encontrar dificuldades variadas, que afetam seu desempenho. Programas de apoio com mentores podem servir para auxiliar os estudantes e favorecer seu desenvolvimento pessoal e acadêmico. Neste trabalho avaliamos as percepções de estudantes e de mentores sobre um programa de apoio baseado em grupos e planejado para apoiar estudantes ingressantes. Após um ano de funcionamento regular do programa, as percepções dos estudantes e dos mentores sobre o programa foram avaliadas utilizando questionários estruturados, cuja análise permitiu estabelecer categorias de conteúdo das respostas. Tanto os estudantes que participaram regularmente do programa, como os que não haviam participado expressaram opiniões positivas sobre o programa. Os mentores expressaram alto grau de satisfação em participar do programa e opinaram que o programa vem sendo útil também para auxiliar na formação docente. Concluímos que o programa de apoio ao estudante ingressante, baseado em grupos que operam ao redor de mentores, é viável e efetivo no auxílio ao estudante e pode também contribuir para a formação e o desenvolvimento dos docentes e médicos que participam como mentores.
Subject(s)
Humans , Education, Medical , Faculty, Medical , Mentors , Students, MedicalABSTRACT
A notificação sistemática dos pacientes traumatizados em acidentes de transporte na região de Ribeirão Preto é realizada, desde 1996, pelo Núcleo de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo. Em 2004, todas as causas externas passaram a ser notificadas, sendo introduzidos os índices de gravidade do trauma RTS, ISS e TRISS, além de outros parâmetros hospitalares. Este estudo permite a completa caracterização dos pacientes e dos traumas ocorridos nos anos de 2006 e 2007, através dos dados demográficos dos pacientes atendidos e local de origem dos casos; frequência de ocorrência dos diferentes mecanismos de trauma; definição da gravidade dos traumas através da utilização dos índices RTS, ISS e TRISS, caracterizando os segmentos corpóreos mais lesados; microrregiões de encaminhamento; necessidade de cirurgia e especialidades mais utilizadas; letalidade, local, causa do óbito e tipo de transporte pré-hospitalar utilizado pelos pacientes.
Subject(s)
Male , Female , Humans , Wounds and Injuries/epidemiology , Emergency Treatment , Trauma Severity IndicesABSTRACT
Nas últimas décadas, diversas alternativas têm sido propostas para o tratamento do trauma esplênico. O presente estudo procurou comparar o tratamento não-operatório e a cirurgia conservadora na lesão esplênica. FForam analisados, retrospectivamente, os prontuários de 136 portadores de trauma esplênico atendidos na Unidade de Emergência do Hospital das Clínicas da FMRPUSP (1986-1995). Foram utilizados o Injury Severity Score (ISS) e o Organ Injury Scaling (OIS) para a definição da gravidade dos casos. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: grupo A (n=32): conservador não operatório e grupo B (n=104): cirurgia conservadora. As médias de idade, em anos, foram semelhantes (A: 20,31 ñ 12,43 e B: 25,02 ñ 14,98; p>0,05). Houve predominância do sexo masculino em ambos os grupos. Os dois grupos diferiram quanto à etiologia (p<0,01). A avaliação das médias do ISS não mostrou diferença significativa (A: 14,21 ñ 8,67 e B: 19,44 ñ 11,33; p>0,05). Ocorreram complicações em 9,37 por cento e 24,03 por cento dos grupos A e B, respectivamente, mas a diferença não foi significativa (p>0,05). A média de permanência hospitalar foi de 6,68 ñ 5,65 e 9,24 ñ 9,09 dias, grupos A e B, sem diferença significativa (p>0,05). Concluímos, portanto: o tratamento não-operatório e a cirurgia conservadora do trauma esplênico são condutas equivalentes, sendo opções terapêuticas válidas nas lesões esplênicas de menor gravidade
