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BACKGROUND: Low back and pelvic pain in pregnant women is a clinical condition of which the etiology is multifactorial. Thus, various variables can influence the low back and pelvic pain’s intensity.OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of the gestational trimester, practice of physical activity and weight gain on the intensity of low back and pelvic pain in low risk pregnant women.METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-seven pregnant women participated in this study. The gestational age, body mass index, weight gain, physical activity practice and the low back and pelvic pain were evaluated.RESULTS: We found a significant difference (P= 0.02) in pain intensity, when comparing active and sedentary pregnant women. No significant differences were found when comparing pain intensity between the gestational trimesters (2ndversus 3rd; P= 0.60). There was no significant relation between the weight gain and pain intensity (r= 0.03 false|P= 0.28). The multivariate analysis indicated that sedentary pregnant women have a higher risk (P= 0.001) of intense pain and the pain is not influenced by the weight gain (P= 0.08) and the gestational trimester (P= 0.98).CONCLUSIONS: Sedentary pregnant women have 30% more chances to have higher pain intensities when compared to the active women, regardless of the gestational trimester and weight gain.

IntroductionPopulation aging generally accompanies an increase in chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as metabolic syndrome (MS). Nursing homes have provided a solution for the decreased ability of elderly individuals for self-care and familial difficulties in meeting the health care needs of elderly individuals.PurposeThe aim of the present study was to determine the frequency of MS and its associated factors in elderly individuals living in nursing homes.Patients and methodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted with 202 institutionalized elderly individuals. MS was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Sociodemographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors were assessed to verify their association with MS by logistic regression.ResultsThe MS frequency was 29.2%. The most frequent MS components were low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (63.9%) and abdominal obesity (42.7%). Factors associated with MS were female sex (prevalence ratio [PR]=2.16; 95% CI, 1.04–4.49), age-adjusted institutionalization time >50% (PR=2.38, 95% CI, 1.46–3.88), and high concentrations of interleukin-6 (PR=2.01; 95% CI, 1.21–3.32) and tumor necrosis factor-α (PR=1.70; 95% CI, 1.05–2.77). Moreover, it was verified that the likelihood of having MS was 1.85-fold higher (95% CI, 1.11–3.10) in the group with a diet characterized by very high energy, very low fat, and high dietary fiber.ConclusionThe occurrence of MS in institutionalized elderly individuals was higher in females, and individuals with longer age-adjusted institutionalization time, higher concentrations of immunologic biomarkers, and a dietary intake consisting of higher energy and fiber and lower total fat. The results of the study are useful for guiding health care programs aimed at institutionalized elderly individuals.

Vitamin D may play a significant role in regulating the rate of aging. The objective of the study was to assess vitamin D status and its associated factors in institutionalized elderly individuals. A total of 153 elderly individuals living in Nursing Homes (NH) were recruited into the study. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration was used as the biomarker of vitamin D status, and it was considered as the dependent variable in the model. The independent variables were the type of NH, age-adjusted time of institutionalization, age, sex, skin color, body mass index, waist and calf circumference, physical activity practice, mobility, dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium, vitamin D supplementation, use of antiepileptics, and season of the year. Serum 25(OH)D concentrations less than or equal to 29 ng/mL were classified as insufficient vitamin D status. The prevalences of inadequate dietary intake of vitamin D and calcium were 95.4% and 79.7%, respectively. The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was 71.2%, and the mean serum concentration of 25(OH)D was 23.9 ng/mL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.8–26.1). Serum 25(OH)D concentration was associated with the season of summer (p = 0.046). There were no associations with other independent variables (all p > 0.05). The present results showed that a high prevalence of hypovitaminosis D was significantly associated with summer in institutionalized elderly individuals.

Context.— Related to the advances in prenatal diagnosis and the emergence of medically challenging situations, there has been an increased interest in conducting a pathologic study of first-trimester abortion products. Objective.— To evaluate measurements across a large group of first-trimester spontaneous abortion specimens. Potential goals include a validation of prenatal embryo and gestational-sac measurements as a function of gestational age (GA). Design.— A retrospective case study of first-trimester spontaneous abortions between June 2015 and April 2017 in Centro de Genética Clínica Embryo-Fetal Pathology Laboratory, Porto, Portugal. Considering the inclusion criteria, 585 complete gestational sacs, 182 embryos, and 116 umbilical cords were selected. We recorded the weight of the gestational sacs and embryos and measurements of gestational sacs, umbilical cords, and embryo crown-rump length. Models were computed using regression techniques. Results.— Gestational-sac diameter percentiles 5, 25, 50, 75 and 95 were calculated according to GA, and at each 1-week interval the diameter increased an average of 3 mm. Umbilical cord length percentiles 5, 25, 50, 75 and 95 were calculated according to GA, and at each 1-week interval, the length increased an average of 1.35 mm. Embryo crown-rump length estimated mean ± SD values were GA 6 weeks, 5.3 ± 2.3 mm; GA 7 weeks, 9.4 ± 4.8 mm; GA 8 weeks, 13.7 ± 8.2 mm; GA 9 weeks, 20.8 ± 9.1 mm; GA 10 weeks, 22.6 ± 13.4 mm; GA 11 weeks, 29.4 ± 12.9 mm; and GA 12 weeks, 52 mm. Conclusions.— Pathologic measurements obtained should be compared to expected measurements and correlated with ultrasound findings, clinical information, and microscopic findings. Deviations from expected values could lead to an understanding of early pregnancy loss.