Browsing by Issue Date, starting with "2018"
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- Employees' views about the impact of the economic crisis on occupational safety and quality of life: A pilot study in the North of PortugalPublication . Vale, C.; Rodrigues, M.A.; Azevedo, R.; Ramos, D.; Loureiro, I.
- Exposure to psychosocial risks in footwear industry workers: An exploratory analysisPublication . Sousa, D.; Sá, M.M.; Azevedo, R.; Machado, O.; Tavares, J.; Monteiro, R.
- Twelve-week combined resistance and aerobic training confers greater benefits than aerobic training alone in nondialysis CKDPublication . Watson, Emma L.; Gould, Douglas W.; Wilkinson, Thomas J.; Xenophontos, Soteris; Clarke, Amy L.; Vogt, Barbara Perez; Viana, João L.; Smith, Alice C.There is a growing consensus that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) should engage in regular exercise, but there is a lack of formal guidelines. In this report, we determined whether combined aerobic and resistance exercise would elicit superior physiological gains, in particular muscular strength, compared with aerobic training alone in nondialysis CKD. Nondialysis patients with CKD stages 3b-5 were randomly allocated to aerobic exercise {AE, n = 21; 9 men; median age 63 [interquartile range (IQR) 58-71] yr; median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 24 (IQR 20-30) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2} or combined exercise [CE, n = 20, 9 men, median age 63 (IQR 51-69) yr, median eGFR 27 (IQR 22-32) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2], preceded by a 6-wk run-in control period. Patients then underwent 12 wk of supervised AE (treadmill, rowing, or cycling exercise) or CE training (as AE plus leg extension and leg press exercise) performed three times per week. Outcome assessments of knee extensor muscle strength, quadriceps muscle volume, exercise capacity, and central hemodynamics were performed at baseline, following the 6-wk control period, and at the end of the intervention. AE and CE resulted in significant increases in knee extensor strength of 16 ± 19% (mean ± SD; P = 0.001) and 48 ± 37% ( P < 0.001), respectively, which were greater after CE ( P = 0.02). AE and CE resulted in 5 ± 7% ( P = 0.04) and 9 ± 7% ( P < 0.001) increases in quadriceps volume, respectively ( P < 0.001), which were greater after CE ( P = 0.01). Both AE and CE increased distance walked in the incremental shuttle walk test [28 ± 44 m ( P = 0.01) and 32 ± 45 m ( P = 0.01), respectively]. In nondialysis CKD, the addition of resistance exercise to aerobic exercise confers greater increases in muscle mass and strength than aerobic exercise alone.
- Test–retest reliability, validation, and “minimal detectable change” scores for frequently reported tests of objective physical function in patients with non-dialysis chronic kidney diseasePublication . Wilkinson, Thomas J.; Xenophontos, Soteris; Gould, Douglas W.; Vogt, Barbara P.; Viana, João L.; Smith, Alice C.; Watson, Emma L.Physical function is an important outcome in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to establish the reliability, validity, and the "minimal detectable change" (MDC) of several common tests used in renal rehabilitation and research. In a repeated measures design, 41 patients with CKD not requiring dialysis (stage 3b to 5) were assessed at an interval of 6 weeks. The tests were the incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), "sit-to-stand" (STS) test, estimated 1 repetition maximum for quadriceps strength (e1RM), and VO2peak by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland-Altman analysis, and absolute reliability by standard error of measurement and MDC. The ISWT, STS-60, e1RM, and CPET had "good" to "excellent" reliability (0.973, 0.927, 0.927, and 0.866), respectively. STS-5 reliability was poor (0.676). The MDC is ISWT, 20 m; STS-5, 7.5 s; STS-60, 4 reps; e1RM, 6.4 kg; VO2peak, 2.8 ml/kg/min. There was strong correlation between the ISWT and VO2peak (r = 0.73 and 0.74). While there was poor correlation between the STS-5 and e1RM (r = 0.14 and 0.47), better correlation was seen between STS-5 and ISWT (r = 0.55 and 0.74). In conclusion, the ISWT, STS-60, e1RM, and CPET are reliable tests of function in CKD. The ISWT is a valid means of exercise capacity. The MDC can help researchers and rehabilitation professionals interpret changes following an intervention.
- Financial crisis: Understanding effects on European electric utilities performancePublication . Mota, Marta Maria; Aquino, Thereza Cristina; Soares, Isabel
- Frailty as the Future Core Business of Public Health: Report of the Activities of the A3 Action Group of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA)Publication . Liotta, Giuseppe; Ussai, Silvia; Illario, Maddalena; O’Caoimh, Rónán; Cano, Antonio; Holland, Carol; Roller-Winsberger, Regina; Capanna, Alessandra; Grecuccio, Chiara; Ferraro, Mariacarmela; Paradiso, Francesca; Ambrosone, Cristina; Morucci, Luca; Scarcella, Paola; De Luca, Vincenzo; Palombi, LeonardoBackground: The prevalence of frailty at population-level is expected to increase in Europe, changing the focus of Public Health. Here, we report on the activities of the A3 Action Group, focusing on managing frailty and supporting healthy ageing at community level. Methods: A three-phased search strategy was used to select papers published between January 2016 and May 2018. In the third phase, the first manuscript draft was sent to all A3-Action Group members who were invited to suggest additional contributions to be included in the narrative review process. Results: A total of 56 papers were included in this report. The A3 Action Group developed three multidimensional tools predicting short⁻medium term adverse outcomes. Multiple factors were highlighted by the group as useful for healthcare planning: malnutrition, polypharmacy, impairment of physical function and social isolation were targeted to mitigate frailty and its consequences. Studies focused on the management of frailty highlighted that tailored interventions can improve physical performance and reduce adverse outcomes. Conclusions: This review shows the importance of taking a multifaceted approach when addressing frailty at community level. From a Public Health perspective, it is vital to identify factors that contribute to successful health and social care interventions and to the health systems sustainability.
- Work environment and occupational risk assessment for small animal Portuguese veterinary activitiesPublication . Macedo, Angela C.; Mota, Vânia T.; Tavares, João M.; Machado, Osvaldo L.; Malcata, Francisco X.; Cristo, Marinela P.; Mayan, Olga N.The professional work of small animal veterinary staff encompasses a wide diversity of demanding tasks. This has prompted a number of studies covering physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic, or psychological hazards, as well as their health effects upon veterinary workers. However, such results were obtained from self-reported surveys (via paper or online). This study reports the identification of potential hazards and provides a risk assessment of 15 veterinary clinics based on data from walk-through surveys, interviews with workers, and quantification of indoor air quality parameters including concentration of volatile organic compounds (total, isoflurane, and glutaraldehyde). The risk arising from X-ray exposure was unacceptable in seven clinics; X-ray examination should be discontinued in the absence of isolated radiation rooms, poor safety practices, and lack of personal protective equipment. Ergonomic-related hazards and work practices should be revised as soon as possible, considering that improper postures, as well as moving and lifting heavy animals are major causes of musculoskeletal disorders. The risk levels were, in general, small or medium (acceptable) with regard to exposure to physical hazards (such as bites, scratches, cuts, and burns) and biological hazards. It was observed that the indoor air quality parameters including temperature, respirable particulate matter and total volatile organic compounds do not indicate a comfortable workplace environment, requiring clinics' attention to keep the safe environment. The veterinarians and nurses were exposed to isoflurane (above 2 ppm) during surgery if an extractor system for waste gas was used instead of a scavenging system. Finally, veterinary workers did not possess any type of training on occupational safety and health issues, even though they recognized its importance.
- Leveraging football eventsPublication . Sobral, Vitor; Fairley, Sheranne; O’Brien, DannyFootball events can generate benefits for a host city or region, but can do so more effectively if the event is strategically leveraged. These benefits may include: increasing tourism visitation, social welfare, soft power outcomes, economic activity, and improving a destination’s image. This chapter discusses benefits that host cities can achieve if strategies are implemented before, during, and after the event. The chapter also uses stakeholder theory to showcase how relevant stakeholders for event leveraging strategies can be identified so that they can work together collaboratively to achieve mutual benefits.
- A educação sexual, conceitos, modelos e legislação portuguesaPublication . Favero, Marisalva; Ferreira, Pedro; Feijó, Neide; Bilimória, Helena
- Toward a Resource-Based View of City Quality: A New FrameworkPublication . Carvalho, João M. S.; Costa, Ricardo V.; Marnoto, Sandra; Sousa, Célio A. A.; Vieira, José CarvalhoBased on an extensive literature review on intelligent cities, smart cities, and happy cities, and on their conceptual connections with citizens’ well-being, quality of life, and happiness, we developed a resource-based view on City Quality: the PESNAT (political, economic, social, natural, artificial, and technological) framework. The concept of City Quality rests on the idea of cities interconnected sub-habitats—PESNAT—which are powerful analytical categories needed for understanding cities as complex and intricate loci. This framework eventually aims at assessing the cities’ power to attract businesses and people, to contribute to a sustainable development of the city and an increased quality of life. Furthermore, two hypotheses are outlined regarding the level of importance of each sub-habitat in relation to happi ness, and the level of controversy of each one for citizens, city planners, and decision makers.