This cross-sectional study analyzed the association between physical activity (PA) and social jetlag (SJL) among shift workers. We evaluated 423 employees, aged between 18 and 60 years, who worked in a poultry-processing company in Brazil. Physical activity levels (PAL) were determined by the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF). SJL was calculated as the absolute difference between the time of mid-sleep on work and free days. The percentage of workers insufficiently active was high on all shifts, with no significant differences between the 3 shifts. The amount of time spent in sedentary behavior on workdays did not differ between shifts. Among night-shift workers, negative associations were observed between SJL and 1) the duration and weekly energy expenditure while walking; 2) the frequency of moderate and vigorous PA; and 3) the total energy expenditure related to PA. Even though PAL did not differ among workers on different shifts, we found a high prevalence of subjects who were insufficiently active or too sedentary among all groups. Also, SJL was negatively associated with PA in night-shift workers. These results suggest that PA should be encouraged among shift workers and that SJL may be an important factor in reducing PA in this cohort.

The effects of circadian misalignment and work shift on oxidative stress profile of shift workers have not been explored in the literature. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of shift work (day and night) and social jetlag - a measure of circadian misalignment - with oxidative stress markers. A cross-sectional study was performed with 79 men (21–65 years old, 27.56 ± 4.0 kg/m2) who worked the night shift (n = 37) or daytime (n = 42). The analyzed variables included anthropometric measures and determination of systemic levels of markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant defense. Social jetlag was calculated by the absolute difference between the mean sleep point on working and rest days. The night group presented higher systemic values of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and hydrogen peroxide, and lower levels of nitrite, total antioxidant capacity, and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities in relation to the day group. However, social jetlag was not associated with oxidative stress-related biomarkers analyzed in the night group. These results suggest that the night worker has higher levels of oxidative stress damage and lower levels of antioxidant defenses, while social jetlag was not a possible responsible factor for this condition.

Due to the low agreement between the methods, the combination of both may be beneficial for the nutritional assessment of pediatric patients, collaborating with the early diagnosis of nutritional alterations and facilitating the use of adequate dietary therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a moderate increase in protein intake on muscle strength, functional capacity and lean mass quality improvements in postmenopausal women following resistance exercise. Forty-seven postmenopausal women were randomized in two groups: Normal protein (NP, n = 25), who received a dietary plan containing ~0.8 g protein·kg−1·d−1 (recommended dietary allowance—RDA recommendations); and higher protein (HP, n = 22), which a moderate increase in protein intake was recommended (~1.2 g protein·kg−1·d−1). Resistance training was performed for 10 weeks, three times/week. Muscle strength (handgrip strength and one repetition maximum test—1-RM), functional capacity and lean mass (LM) quality (muscle strength to lean mass ratio) were evaluated. Dietary intake was assessed by nine 24 h food recalls. After intervention, both groups increased similarly the leg extension 1-RM and handgrip strength. Regarding functional capacity tests, both groups increased the balance test score (SPPB) and 10 m walk test speed, with no differences between the groups. In addition, an increase in speed to perform the 6 min and 400 m walk tests was observed over the time, with an additional improvement in the HP group (time × group interaction; p = 0.007 and p = 0.004, respectively). About LM quality, leg extension 1-RM/leg LM improved over the time in both groups (p = 0.050), with no time × group interaction. All these significant changes had a low effect size. In conclusion, a moderate increase in protein intake promoted a small additional improvement in functional capacity, but it did not induce a greater increase in strength and LM quality after 10 weeks of resistance exercise in postmenopausal women. This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03024125.

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Adolescents are considered vulnerable and exposed to different threats to health group, making it necessary discussion about ethical aspects related to their participation in research and clinical practice. The employed methodology was an integrative literature review and it was selected studies that approached the subject "bioethical matters related to vulnerability of adolescents" within the last fifteen years. Nine articles included the pre-established criteria to the study, grouped into three categories: 1) works that mentioned the psychological-cognitive comprehension of adolescent to participate in scientific research; 2) works emphasizing aspects related to medical decisions; and 3) studies approaching the issue of sexuality in adolescence. The analysis of selected studies found out it is not possible to reach a valid consensus to all situations involving adolescents in research and clinical practice. Resumo Vulnerabilidade de adolescentes em pesquisa e prática clínicaOs adolescentes são considerados grupo vulnerável e exposto a diferentes ameaças à saúde, tornando-se necessária a discussão sobre aspectos éticos relacionados a sua participação em pesquisa e prática clínica. Por meio de revisão integrativa de literatura foram selecionados estudos que abordaram aspectos bioéticos relacionados à vulnerabilidade de adolescentes nos últimos quinze anos. Nove artigos atenderam aos critérios pré-estabelecidos para o estudo e foram agrupados em três categorias: 1) trabalhos que pontuaram a compreensão psicológica e cognitiva do adolescente ao participar de pesquisa científica; 2) estudos que enfatizaram aspectos relacionados a decisões médicas; e 3) estudos que abordaram a temática da sexualidade na adolescência. Após análise dos estudos selecionados, verificou-se que não é possível chegar a consenso válido para todas as situações que envolvem adolescentes em pesquisa e prática clínica. Palavras-chave: Vulnerabilidade. Adolescência. Bioética. Resumen La vulnerabilidad de los adolescentes en la investigación y en la práctica clínicaLos adolescentes son considerados como grupo vulnerable y expuesto a diferentes amenazas en el ámbito de la salud, por lo cual es necesario que exista un debate sobre los aspectos éticos relacionados con su participación en la investigación y en la práctica clínica. Por medio de una revisión integradora de la literatura, se seleccionaron estudios que abordaban aspectos bioéticos relacionados con la vulnerabilidad de los adolescentes en los últimos quince años. Nueve artículos contemplaban los criterios preestablecidos para el estudio y se agruparon en tres categorías: 1) trabajos que contemplaban la comprensión psicológica y cognitiva del adolescente al participar en la investigación científica; 2) estudios que enfatizaban los aspectos relacionados con las decisiones médicas; y 3) estudios que abordaban la sexualidad en la adolescencia. Después del análisis de los estudios seleccionados, se verificó que no es posible llegar a un consenso válido para todas las situaciones que involucran a...

No abstract

The osmotic stability of the erythrocyte membrane (OSEM) has been associated with changes in lipid profile, blood glucose and blood pressure. Changes in these parameters are very frequent in shift workers, possibly because of the lack of synchronization of biological rhythms, which results in the social jetlag. However, the existence of association between OSEM and circadian misalignment has not been investigated in this population. Therefore, this study investigated whether shift work, sleep time and social jetlag (SJL) are associated with biochemical and hematological variables. A population consisting of 79 men working at night (n = 37) or during the day (n = 42), aged between 21 and 65 years and with a mean BMI of 27.56 ± 4.0 kg/m2, was investigated cross-sectionally in relation to sleep time, SJL, anthropometric (height, weight and waist circumference) and blood variables, with emphasis on the OSEM. SJL was calculated by the absolute difference between the midpoint of sleep on work and rest days. The Generalized Linear Model (GzLM) was used to investigate the existence of associations between SJL and average sleep time in relation to the analyzed variables. Workers without SJL presented lower baseline lysis values of erythrocytes in isotonic medium in relation to workers with SJL. In addition, workers who slept on average less than 6 hours had higher OSEM, and higher total and LDL-cholesterol in relation to those who slept more than 6 hours, regardless of the shift. It is possible that the association of sleep deprivation and SJL with erythrocyte membrane stability is mediated through changes in the lipid profile.