Minor psychiatric disorders among Brazilian ragpickers: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND: Ragpickers are informal workers who collect recyclable materials to earn a small wage. Their life and working conditions are extremely difficult. We examined minor psychiatric disorders (MPD) among a cohort of ragpickers in Pelotas, a city in southern Brazil. METHODS: Ragpickers were matched by sex, age, and years of schooling with a sample of non-ragpickers from the same poor neighborhoods. The cross-sectional study gathered data by interview on 990 individuals in 2004. MPD were assessed using a standard self-reporting questionnaire, the SRQ-20. RESULTS: The prevalence of MPD among ragpickers was 44.7%, higher than reported by neighborhood controls (33.6%; p < 0.001). MPD were more common among females, those of lower economic level, smokers and alcoholics. Among occupational characteristics, MPD prevalence was associated with frequent static postures, low job satisfaction and recent work accidents. CONCLUSION: Ragpickers more frequently report MPD than other poor workers living in the same neighborhoods, with many of the same life conditions. Improving the work lives of these precarious workers should address not only the physical hazards of their jobs but their mental and emotional health as well

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Hemiparéticos Crônicos com Maiores Níveis de Atividade Física Reportam Melhor Qualidade de Vida

Objetivo. Comparar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de hemiparéticos crônicos com diferentes níveis de atividade física. Método. Níveis de atividade física foram avaliados pelo Perfil de Ati­vidade Humana (PAH) e os indivíduos foram estratificados em três grupos: ativos, moderadamente ativos e inativos. A QVRS foi avaliada pelo Perfil de Saúde de Nottingham (PSN). ANOVA com post-hoc LSD foi utilizada para comparar a QVRS vida entre os três grupos. Resultados. Noventa e oito hemiparéticos crônicos foram incluídos (54% homens), 56±12 anos de idade e 64±53 meses pós-lesão. Vinte e seis foram classificados como inativos, 55 moderadamente ativos e 17 ativos. Observou-se diferença na QVRS entre os três diferentes grupos de atividade física (p&lt;0.01), sendo que grupos mais ativos apresen­taram melhor percepção de QVRS. Observou-se diferença entre as três categorias de níveis de atividade física para todos os domínios de QVRS: nível de energia (p=0,02), dor (p&lt;0,01), reações emocionais (p&lt;0,01), qualidade do sono (p=0,04) interação social ( p=0,01) e ha­bilidades físicas (p&lt;0,01), sendo que indivíduos ativos apresentaram maiores escores em todos os domínios. Conclusões. Hemiparéticos crônicos ativos e moderadamente ativos apresentaram melhor percep­ção de QVRS, e assim, o nível de atividade física deve ser considerado em abordagens que objetivam melhorar a QVRS desta população.</jats:p

Hemiparéticos Crônicos com Maiores Níveis de Atividade Física Reportam Melhor Qualidade de Vida

Objective. To compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of chronic stroke with various levels of physical activity. Method. Physical activity was assessed by the Human Activity Profile (HAP), and subjects were stratified into three groups: active, moderately ac­tive and inactive. HRQoL was assessed by the Nottingham Health Profile (NHP). ANOVA with post-hoc LSD was used to compare the HRQoL life among the three groups. Results. Ninety-eight chronic stroke were included (54% men), 56±12 years old and 64±53 months post-stroke. Twenty-six were classified as inactive, 55 as moderately ac­tive and 17 as active. A significant difference was observed in HRQoL between the three groups of physical activity (F =17.8 , p&lt;0.01), with active groups showing better perceived HRQoL. A significant dif­ference between the three categories of physical activity levels for all domains of HRQOL were observed: energy level (F=4.21, p=0.02 ), pain (F=9.13, p&lt;0,01 ), emotional reactions (F=5.51, p&lt;0.01), sleep quality (F=3.21, p=0.04), social interaction (F=4.42 , p=0.01) and physical skills (F=36.97, p&lt;0.01). Conclusions. Active chronic stroke showed better perceived HRQoL, and thus the level of physical activ­ity should be considered in approaches that aims to improve HRQOL in this population.Objetivo. Comparar a qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QVRS) de hemiparéticos crônicos com diferentes níveis de atividade física. Método. Níveis de atividade física foram avaliados pelo Perfil de Ati­vidade Humana (PAH) e os indivíduos foram estratificados em três grupos: ativos, moderadamente ativos e inativos. A QVRS foi avaliada pelo Perfil de Saúde de Nottingham (PSN). ANOVA com post-hoc LSD foi utilizada para comparar a QVRS vida entre os três grupos. Resultados. Noventa e oito hemiparéticos crônicos foram incluídos (54% homens), 56±12 anos de idade e 64±53 meses pós-lesão. Vinte e seis foram classificados como inativos, 55 moderadamente ativos e 17 ativos. Observou-se diferença na QVRS entre os três diferentes grupos de atividade física (p&lt;0.01), sendo que grupos mais ativos apresen­taram melhor percepção de QVRS. Observou-se diferença entre as três categorias de níveis de atividade física para todos os domínios de QVRS: nível de energia (p=0,02), dor (p&lt;0,01), reações emocionais (p&lt;0,01), qualidade do sono (p=0,04) interação social ( p=0,01) e ha­bilidades físicas (p&lt;0,01), sendo que indivíduos ativos apresentaram maiores escores em todos os domínios. Conclusões. Hemiparéticos crônicos ativos e moderadamente ativos apresentaram melhor percep­ção de QVRS, e assim, o nível de atividade física deve ser considerado em abordagens que objetivam melhorar a QVRS desta população