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BACKGROUND:Leprosy is millenary disease and still persists in several countries.OBJECTIVES:To estimate the incidence of leprosy in the Brazilian states and for the country in the year 2010; to describe the cases reported according to the studied variables; to verify the correlation between the overall incidence and the studied variables.METHODS:Ecological descriptive study, with population data from the 27 states, 2010. Information about reported cases were collected: gender, race, percentage of patients younger than 15 years old and living conditions. The analysis was performed using percentages, means, incidence rates and the Spearman correlation test.RESULTS:The states of Mato Grosso and Tocantins recorded the highest incidence rates; Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina, the lowest; there was a higher incidence of leprosy among men; the incidence of leprosy increases proportionally with the nonwhites among the inhabitants; patients younger than 15 years; the average number of residents per household; and a decrease in coverage of water supply and presence of bathrooms.CONCLUSION:The incidence of leprosy is related to factors as gender, race and house conditions (p<0,05 for all).

Active TENS promoted significant postoperative pain relief, and fewer complaints of nausea and emesis, in patients submitted to laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery.

BackgroundIn Brazil, 38,000 new cases of leprosy are discovered each year, making it a public health problem.ObjectiveTo identify whether or not there is an association between activity limitations and the restriction of social participation with some demographic data (age range, gender, and education) of the patients in a Basic Health Unit (BHU), diagnosed with leprosy.MethodsThe SALSA scale was used to assess activity limitations, whereas the Participation scale was used to assess the restriction of social participation.ResultsThe assessments were conducted with 31 BHU patients diagnosed with leprosy. Males were the most affected by leprosy, the multibacillary was the most prevalent, and education proved to be an important factor when related to the disease injuries among the evaluated individuals. Regarding activity limitations and the restriction of social participation, the percentage of individuals without limitations and without restrictions was greater in both scales.Study limitationsThe main limitation is the small study sample.ConclusionIt can be concluded that, for the studied sample, no association was observed between the activity limitations, evaluated by the Salsa scale, nor the restriction of social participation, evaluated by the Participation Scale, with the analyzed demographic data.

BACKGROUND: Distal ulnar nerve injury leads to impairment of hand function due to motor and sensorial changes. Stimulus electrodiagnosis (SE) is a method of assessing and monitoring the development of this type of injury. OBJECTIVE: To identify the most sensitive electrodiagnostic parameters to evaluate ulnar nerve recovery and to correlate these parameters (Rheobase, Chronaxie, and Accommodation) with motor function evaluations. METHOD: A prospective cohort study of ten patients submitted to ulnar neurorrhaphy and evaluated using electrodiagnosis and motor assessment at two moments of neural recovery. A functional evaluation using the DASH questionnaire (Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand) was conducted at the end to establish the functional status of the upper limb. RESULTS: There was significant reduction only in the Chronaxie values in relation to time of injury and side (with and without lesion), as well as significant correlation of Chronaxie with the motor domain score. CONCLUSION: Chronaxie was the most sensitive SE parameter for detecting differences in neuromuscular responses during the ulnar nerve recovery process and it was the only parameter correlated with the motor assessment.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the probable relationship among plantar arch, lumbar curvature, and low back pain. METHODS: Fifteen healthy women were assessed taking in account personal data and anthropometric measurements, photopodoscopic evaluation of the plantar arch, and biophotogrammetric postural analysis of the patient (both using the SAPO software), as well as evaluation of lumbar pain using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The average age of the participants was 30.45 (±6.25) years. RESULTS: Of the feet evaluated, there were six individuals with flat feet, five with high arch, and four with normal feet. All reported algic syndrome in the lumbar spine, with the highest VAS values for the volunteers with high arch. Correlation was observed between the plantar arch and the angle of the lumbar spine (r = -0.71, p = 0.004) Conclusion: High arch was correlated with more intense algic syndrome, while there was moderate positive correlation between flat foot and increased lumbar curvature, and between high arch and lumbar correction. Level of Evidence IV. Case Series.

Aim: To determine whether transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is more efficient than placebo TENS and control groups for pain relief. Design: Randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Setting & participants: A total of 78 adults with postoperative pain, after cholecystectomy, at the University Hospital. They were randomized into active TENS, placebo TENS and control. Intervention: A total of 30-min interventions applied in the first 24 h after the surgery. Outcome: Pain intensity. Results: Pain significantly decreased for both TENS; however, the active TENS was better. A decrease of 2 points or more on the visual analog scale for 53.8% active TENS and 11.5% placebo. Conclusion: There was a greater reduction in pain of important clinical relevance in the active TENS group. Clinical Trial registration: Brazilian Clinical Trial (REBEC): RBR-6cgx2k.

O objetivo do estudo foi correlacionar a força de preensão palmar em diferentes posições de abertura, com variáveis antropométricas da mão. Participaram 73 voluntários de ambos os sexos (40 homens e 33 mulheres), com idade média de 23±4,61 anos. As medidas antropométricas largura da palma, comprimento do dedo indicador, espessura da palma, largura da mão, circunferência da palma e da mão foram realizadas bilateralmente. Para as medidas lineares, utilizou-se um paquímetro digital e, para as medidas de circunferência, a fita métrica. As medidas de força de preensão foram realizadas por meio de um dinamômetro hidráulico (UFTM) Jamar®. Os valores antropométricos foram correlacionados com as medidas de força nas cinco posições de abertura. Os homens e as mulheres tiveram maior força na mão direita e, entre as posições, a maior força dos homens foi na de número 3 (45,5±15,53 kgf) e das mulheres, na de posição 2 (25,5±6,28 kgf). Verificaram-se correlações significativas entre a força e os valores antropométricos nas medidas da largura da mão e circunferência da palma - que representam a maior medida transversal e o maior trofismo da mão, respectivamente, no grupo dos homens e a medida de comprimento do dedo, que representa a maior medida longitudinal no grupo das mulheres. Com isso, pode-se concluir que, para os homens, a maior força está relacionada à maior medida transversal e ao maior trofismo da mão e, para as mulheres, ao maior comprimento longitudinal da mão.