The present study assessed the effectiveness of an RPE learning protocol for improving the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for self-regulating exercise intensity during Indoor Cycling (IC). 16 healthy adults performed 5 IC sessions. Heart rate (HR) was continuously monitored. In sessions 1 and 5, participants perceptually regulated exercise intensity to produce pre-determined RPE levels equivalent to estimated HR levels. Sessions 2, 3 and 4 focused on the RPE learning protocol. The RPE-measured HR correlation was 0.59 in session 1 and 0.67 in session 5 (both P<0.001). The intraclass correlation coefficient between measured HR and estimated HR was 0.85 in session 1 and 0.90 in session 5. There was bias in session 1 (3.69 bpm [SD=12.44]; P<0.001) but not in session 5 (0.99 bpm [SD=9.7]; P=0.178; mean HR difference session 5 vs. 1: -2.70 bpm [95% CI: -4.49 to -0.91]; P=0.003; Cohen's d=0.24). There was association between the HR difference and the magnitude of the measurement in session 1 (β=0.208; P<0.01) but not in session 5 (β=-0.072; P=0.34). These preliminary results suggested that an RPE learning protocol might slightly improve the validity of the Borg 6-20 RPE scale for exercise intensity self-regulation during IC sessions in healthy adults.

Objective: To observe the possible differential effects of 8 different semi-occluded vocal tract exercises on glottal contact quotient (CQ) as a measure of vocal fold impact stress. Patients and Methods: Eighty participants were divided into two groups: an experimental group with hyperfunctional dysphonia and a control group of vocally healthy subjects. The participants were recorded before, during and after the exercises. Electroglottographic samples were analyzed to obtain CQ. Results: For the experimental group, all exercises, except lip trills and tongue trills, had an overall significant effect when conditions before, during and after the exercises were compared. The CQ presented differently across the 8 semi-occluded postures during exercise for both groups. For the experimental group, most exercises increased the CQ during practice. Only lip and tongue trills demonstrated lower CQ during exercise. Conclusions: Different semi-occluded exercises differentially affect vocal fold adduction. Lip and tongue trills produced the lowest CQ. Therefore, they may be recommended for decreasing glottal adduction. A straw submerged 10 cm below the water surface presented the greatest CQ. A shallower depth led to a lower CQ, while deeper submersion produced a higher CQ.

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ResumenObjetivo: realizar una síntesis del concepto de adherencia y describir los métodos empleados para medirla. Metodología: artículo de revisión. Se realizó una búsqueda, selección y revisión de artículos originales y secundarios escritos en inglés o español, en las diferentes bases de datos: Scielo, Pubmed, Cinahl, Science@direct y Ovidsp; publicados entre 2004 y 2013. Resultados: se seleccionaron 53 artículos, de los cuales 13 definían el concepto y la clasificación de los métodos, 32 fueron estudios de investigación que emplearon métodos indirectos, 17 combinaron métodos directos e indirectos y un estudio utilizó un método directo. Conclusiones: se evidenció el uso de diferentes conceptos a la hora de definir la adherencia, sin que exista un consenso. Asimismo, para la medición se utilizaron diferentes técnicas, la más común fue el uso de métodos indirectos, seguidos de la combinación de directos e indirectos. Palabras claveAdherencia al tratamiento, cumplimiento de la medicación, enfermedad crónica, evaluación en enfermería, métodos. (Fuente: DeCS, BIREME).

Introduction: Benznidazole (BZL) and Nifurtimox (NFX) are the pharmacological treatment for acute phase Chagas Disease (CD); however, therapy resistance and residual mortality development remain important unresolved issues. Posaconazole (POS) has shown a trypanocidal effect in vivo and in vitro. Thus, this study aimed at comparing the T. Cruzi parasitic load-reducing effect of the combination of BZL+POS against that of monotherapy with either, during acute phase CD, in an experimental murine model. Methods: Nineteen Wistar rats were randomly allocated to four groups and inoculated with the trypomastigotes of T. cruzi strain´s JChVcl1. The rats were administered anti-parasites from day 20-29 post-infection. The Pizzi and Brener method was used for parasitemia measurement. Longitudinal data analysis for the continuous outcome of repeated measures was performed using parasitemia as the outcome measured at days 20, 22, 24, 27, and 29 post-infection. Results: All four groups had similar parasitic loads (p=0.143) prior to therapy initiation. Among the three treatment groups, the BZL+POS (n=5) group showed the highest mean parasitic load reduction (p=0.000) compared with the control group. Likewise, the BZL+POS group rats showed an earlier therapeutic effect and were the only ones without parasites in their myocardial samples. Conclusions: Treatment of acute phase CD with BZL+POS was more efficacious at parasitemia and myocardial injury reduction, compared with monotherapy with either.

Objetivo: Determinar los factores sociodemográficos y clínicos asociados a la Calidad de Vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en personas con hipertensión arterial y diabetes mellitus tipo 2.Métodos: Estudio analítico de corte transversal en una muestra de 184 usuarios de un programa de control de riesgo cardiovascular en Bucaramanga (Colombia). Se utilizó el instrumento EQ-5D-3L para evaluar la calidad de vida. Un modelo de regresión lineal múltiple fue llevado a cabo usando como desenlace la Escala Visual Análoga y como posibles predictores las dimensiones del EQ-5D, ajustando por edad, sexo, grupo de intervención (variable instrumental) y variables clínicas como la patología de base y el control de la misma.Resultados: La mediana de edad fue 63 años, 73,3% mujeres, 88,0% nivel socioeconómico bajo; mediana de Presión Arterial Sistólica de 130 mmHg (116,0-145,0) y de HbA1c 5,7% (5,4-6,2) en la población general, hallándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos de patología. La mediana de la Escala Visual Análoga fue de 80(Q1:59-Q3:95) puntos, sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos de patología. Manifestar dolor/malestar, tener problemas en las actividades cotidianas y el no control de la hipertensión arterial disminuyó la percepción de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud, en 7,5, 18,1 y 7,3 puntos, respectivamente.Conclusiones: La CVRS, en general, fue alta. Esta fue mayor en las personas con diabetes mellitus tipo 2. Factores relacionados con la funcionalidad y control de la enfermedad fueron asociados con una menor percepción de la CVRS. Objective: To determine the sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with health-related Quality of Life (HRQoL) among people with hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study in a sample of 184 users of a cardiovascular risk control program in Bucaramanga (Colombia). The EQ-5D-3L instrument was used to assess quality of life. A multiple linear regression model was carried out using the Visual Analog Scale as the outcome and the dimensions of the EQ-5D as possible predictors, adjusting for age, sex, intervention group (instrumental variable), and clinical variables such as the disease and its control.Results: The median of age was 63 years, 73.3% women, 88.0% low socioeconomic level; Median Systolic Blood Pressure of 130 mmHg (116.0-145.0) and HbA1c 5.7% (5.4-6.2) in the general population, showing statistically significant differences between the pathology groups. The median of Visual Analog Scale was 80(Q1: 59-Q3: 95) points, with no statistically significant differences between the pathology groups. Manifesting pain/discomfort, problems with usual activities and lack of hypertension control decreased the perception of HRQoL, by 7.5, 18.1 and 7.3 points, respectively.Conclusions: The HRQoL in general was high. It was higher among people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Factors related to the functionality and control of the disease were associated with a lower perception HRQoL.

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Objective: To determine the nursing workload in intensive care units (ICUs) and the factors associated with the Nursing Activities Score (NAS). Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in three ICUs in Bucaramanga, Colombia, between February 2018 and February 2020. The nursing workload was estimated based on the NAS. A descriptive and bivariate analysis stratified by ICU was performed using a robust multiple linear regression model, and the factors associated with the nursing workload (p < 0.05) were estimated. Results: In this study, 362 records were included. The median NAS was 68.1 points (Q1:47.2–Q3:116.7). APACHE II (β = 3.13, CI: 95% 2.28; 3.98), days of stay in ICU ≥3 (β = 16.78, CI: 95% 6.15; 27.41), surgery provenance service (β = 22.31, CI: 95% 9.76; 34.86), and traumatology and emergencies diagnostic category (β = 33.72, CI 95%: 9.90; 57.53) were associated with high NAS scores. Conclusion: The nursing staff spend approximately 70% of their time on a single patient, and administrative work takes up most of their time. Hospital stays of longer than 3 days, high APACHE II score, coming from the surgery department, and having a diagnosis of trauma and emergency were associated with a high workload.