No abstract

This study was conducted among health care personnel (registered nurses and nurse aides) in a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Work was organized in 12-hour daytime or nighttime shifts, followed by 36 hours off. The study aimed to evaluate how the nursing staff perceived the duration and quality of sleep both during and off work days, as well as their perception of alertness during working hours. There were significant differences between night and day in the duration of sleep (Student t test = 10.82; p < 0.000). Quality of daytime sleep after working night shifts was perceived as worse than nighttime sleep (Wilcoxon test, Z = 2.67; p < 0.007). Significant differences were detected in self-evaluation of alertness after the 2nd, 6th, and 10th hour of night shifts (Friedman = 63.0; p < 0.00). Alertness was perceived as worse during dawn hours. This is an indication of sleepiness at work and can have serious consequences for both health care workers and patients.

The aims of this study were to evaluate aging factors associated with work stressors, work ability, and the quality of living conditions, among health care personnel. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 176 health care shiftworkers. Two health survey questionnaires (Tuomi et al., 1997, Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health, 17(Suppl 1), 67-74; and Tepas, 1996, unpublished instrument) were completed and ergonomic work analyses (Rohmert & Landau, 1983, A new technique for job analysis, London and New York: Taylor & Francis) were carried out at the emergency wards. Main concerns about exposure at the workplace were changes in equipment and technology, transportation, and changes in employer policies. Main concerns about off-the-job conditions were personal safety, increases in the cost of living, food safety, and water and air quality. 81.7% scored adequate (> 36.5 points) in the Work Ability Index, and considered themselves having adequate current work ability to cope with physical, mental, and social demands. The most frequently reported diseases were musculoskeletal disorders and minor emotional problems.

The reduction of ventricular arrhythmias, atrioventricular block, and lethality and serum levels of creatine kinase produced by treatment with orlistat in animal model of cardiac isquemia/reperfusion injury suggest that ORL could be used as an efficient cardioprotective therapeutic strategy to attenuate myocardial damage related to acute myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE:To investigate the effects of intravenous L-arginine (LG) infusion on liver morphology, function and proinflammatory response of cytokines during the early phase of ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). METHODS: Thirty rabbits were subjected to 60 minutes of hepatic ischemia and 120 minutes of reperfusion. An intravenous injection of saline or L-arginine was administered five minutes before the ischemia and five minutes before initiating the reperfusion and at the 55 th and 115 th minutes after the ischemia. Samples were collected for histological analysis of the liver and measurements of the serum AST, ALT and LDH and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-alpha. RESULTS: It was observed a significant reduction of sinusoidal congestion, cytoplasmic vacuolization, infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocyte, nuclear pyknosis, necrosis and steatosis in liver tissue, as well as AST, ALT and LDH after injection of LG in the ischemia (p <0.001). Lower levels of IL-6 and TNF-alpha were associated with LG infusion during ischemia. Higher levels these proteins were observed in animals receiving LG during reperfusion. CONCLUSION: L-arginine protects the liver against ischemia/reperfusion injury, mainly when is administered during the ischemic phase. Key words: Nitric Oxide. Arginine. Warm Ischemia. Cytokines. Antioxidants. Interleukin-6. Liver. Rabitts. RESUMO OBJETIVO:Investigar os efeitos da infusão endovenosa da L-arginina (LG) na morfologia, função e resposta de citocinas pró-inflamatórias do fígado durante a fase precoce da lesão de isquemia e reperfusão (IRI). MÉTODOS: Trinta coelhos foram submetidos a 60 minutos de isquemia hepática e 120 minutos de reperfusão. Foi administrada injecção intravenosa de solução salina ou L-arginina aos cinco minutos antes de iniciar a isquemia e cinco minutos antes de iniciar a reperfusão e aos 55 e 115 minutos após o início da isquemia. Realizou-se análise histológica do fígado e dosagens séricas de AST, ALT, LDH, citocinas IL-6 e TNF-alfa. RESULTADOS: Ocorreu redução significante da congestão sinusoidal, vacuolização citoplasmática, infiltração de leucócitos polimorfonucleares, picnose nuclear, necrose e esteatose no tecido hepático, assim como nos níveis de AST, ALT e LDH após a injeção da LG na isquemia (p<0,001). Níveis mais baixos de IL-6 e TNF-alfa foram associados com a infusão LG durante a isquemia. Níveis mais elevados dessas proteínas foram observados nos animais que receberam LG durante a reperfusão. CONCLUSÃO: A L-arginina protegeu o fígado contra a lesão de isquemia e reperfusão principalmente quando administrada durante a fase de isquemia. Descritores: Óxido Nítrico. Arginina. Isquemia Quente. Citocinas. Antioxidantes. Interleucina-6. Fígado. Coelhos. L-arginine in the ischemic phase protects against liver ischemia-reperfusion injuryActa