Universidade Positivo

About: Universidade Positivo is a education organization based out in Curitiba, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Biodiversity. The organization has 1290 authors who have published 1237 publications receiving 9335 citations. The organization is also known as: Positive University.

Prevalence of dementia in patients seen at a private hospital in the Southern Region of Brazil.

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the epidemiological profile of patients seen at a dementia outpatient clinic. Methods A retrospective study conducted by medical record review searching data on sex, race, age, schooling level, and diagnosis of patients seen from 2008 to 2015. Results A total of 760 patients were studied, with a predominance of female (61.3%; p<0.0001). The mean age was 71.2±14.43 years for women and 66.1±16.61 years for men. The most affected age group was 71 to 80 years, accounting for 29.4% of cases. In relation to race, 96.3% of patients were white. Dementia was diagnosed in 68.8% of patients, and Alzheimer’s disease confirmed in 48.9%, vascular dementia in 11.3%, and mixed dementia in 7.8% of cases. The prevalence of dementia was 3% at 70 years and 25% at 85 years. Dementia appeared significantly earlier in males (mean age 68.5±15.63 years). As to sex distribution, it was more frequent in women (59.6%) than in men (40.4%; p<0.0001; OR=2.15). People with higher schooling level (more than 9 years) had a significantly younger age at onset of dementia as compared to those with lower schooling level (1 to 4 years; p=0.0007). Conclusion Most patients seen in the period presented dementia, and Alzheimer was the most prevalent disease. Women were more affected, and men presented young onset of the disease. Individuals with higher schooling level were diagnosed earlier than those with lower level.

Restless legs syndrome in Parkinson's disease and increased cardiovascular risk.

Abstract: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a disorder commonly found in patients with Parkinson's disease, with descriptions for both conditions impairing dopaminergic transmission in central nervous system. Previous studies in varied populations indicate an association between the presence of RLS and increased cardiovascular risk and, so far, there are no consistent studies of this association in Parkinson's disease. Objective: To analyze the influence of RLS on cardiovascular risk in patients with Parkinson's disease. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 202 patients diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and verified the presence of RLS, cardiovascular comorbidities, blood pressure measurements, lipid profiles and Framingham Risk Scores. Results: Statistically significant higher values of total cholesterol were found for the RLS group (mean 216.6 mg/dL), as well as for LDL cholesterol (mean 145 mg/dL). No statistical difference was found among the other factors. Conclusion: Patients with Parkinson's disease and RLS have a higher prevalence of dyslipidemia than patients without RLS, suggesting a correlation between restless legs and hyperlipidemia. It is questioned whether the dopaminergic substrate is the main factor in the genesis of the syndrome, as even with the use of dopaminergic agonists by both groups, it was possible to observe differences between groups. The hypothesis of the real interference of the syndrome treatment as a protective factor for cardiovascular risk was generated.

Rastreamento da frequência de comportamentos sugestivos de transtornos alimentares na Universidade Positivo

Abstract: Objetivo: Rastrear a frequencia de comportamentos sugestivos de transtornos alimentares em amostra de alunos de cursos pre-selecionados por sorteio da Universidade Positivo e com isso comparar a prevalencia desses disturbios alimentares entre os cursos selecionados e entre homens e mulheres, e confrontar com dados da literatura mundial. Metodos: Este e um estudo transversal no qual foram aplicadas as auto-escalas Bite (Teste de investigacao Bulimica de Edimburgh) e EAT-26 (Teste de Atitudes Alimentares) em 463 universitarios dos cursos da area de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude da Universidade Positivo, pre-selecionados atraves de sorteio. Resultados: De acordo com a auto-escala EAT-26, 23 alunos (5%) apresentaram possiveis transtornos de alimentacao, com predominância significativa do sexo feminino. E, segundo a auto-escala BITE, 17 estudantes (4%) apresentaram um escore compativel com bulimia nervosa. Encontramos ainda, atraves da escala BITE-gravidade, 6 alunos (1%) com alto grau de gravidade e 33 alunos (7,3%) com escore sugestivo de estado clinico comprometido. Conclusoes: Este estudo mostra uma frequencia de transtornos alimentares na populacao estudada, assim como comportamentos alimentares inadequados, principalmente no sexo feminino, semelhante a encontrada na literatura. Concluimos que esses achados sao relevantes para a clinica da faixa etaria em estudo e que podem proporcionar o desenvolvimento de medidas assistenciais para portadores de transtornos alimentares, bem como futuros trabalhos em que poderemos compreender melhor os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de disturbios da alimentacao.

Proposal for water reuse in the Kraft pulp and paper industry

Abstract: The reuse of wastewater by the pulp and paper industry reduces environmental impacts by contributing to raw water conservation, thereby making a greater volume of fresh water available for nobler purposes, and reducing wastewater treatment. This study evaluated a proposed system of water reuse at a Kraft pulp and paper plant in Brazil, based on a survey of water quality required by its consumption points, supplied by its water treatment plant. Results after ultrafiltration included: turbidity of 0,3 NTU and pH 7,5, average values of BOD 66,4 mg/L, COD 9,6 mg/L and the colour of 280,5 ppm Pt were measured after ultrafiltration. The ultrafiltered wastewater was considered available for reuse, and its quality was compared with that of the water supplied by the water treatment plant, which provided for the classification of potential reuse points. Water colour was identified as the limiting factor for reuse; thus the reuse points were two Kraft paper machines, and the water flow to the liquid ring formations that generate the vacuums inside nineteen pumps for these two machines. The advantages of this proposal for water reuse include: ultrafiltered water quality sufficient for the vacuum pumps, the small distance between the point of reused water generation and the paper machines section, and the reused water has no contact with the final product. The calculated cost and return time for the water reuse system was US$ 607.020,00 in 15 years.

Efeitos do treinamento aeróbio e resistido nas respostas cardiovasculares de idosos ativos

Abstract: Purpose : To evaluate the effects of the association of resistive and aerobic exercises training on cardiovas-cular responses in elderly. Methods : Eleven subjects (both genders, 70 ± 5 years) performed twice a week walking and resistive exercises for lower body muscle groups for twelve weeks. The variables were measured before; each four weeks during training and four weeks detraining by six minute walk test, blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) before, immediately after, five and ten minutes after the test. Results were compared by Wilcoxon (p ≤ 0.05). Results : Four weeks training induced reduction of systolic and diastolic BP at resting (120 ± 16 mmHg vs. 138 ± 20 mmHg, p = 0.01; 70 ± 9 mmHg vs. 84 ± 10 mmHg, p = 0.007, respectively) and diminished diastolic BP immediately after the test (78 ± 12 mmHg vs. 86 ± 9 mmHg, p = 0.01) and it was main-tained even after 10min of sub maximal effort, compared before training. After 12 weeks training was found an increase in walking distance (555 ± 65m vs. 514 ± 100m, p = 0.04) in comparison to pre training and HR was equal to resting values 10min after the test.