Browsing by Author "Abreu, S"
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- Avaliação do desempenho de três câmaras de expansãoPublication . Abreu, S; Silva, LF; Teixeira, S; Marques, HC; Ramalhete, N; Antunes, HIntroduction: Several aspects are known to influence the drug distribution within the low respiratory tract, with particular emphasis on those related to the inhalation device. The aim of this work was to assess the performance of three spacers in the drug release, and also the quantity of active agent deposited inside these devices. Materials and Methods: In order to evaluate the behaviour of particles in suspension delivered through the Ventilan®HFA inhaler coupled to three different spacers (Volumatic®, AeroChamber MAX® and NebuChamber®) the Multistage Liquid Impinger (MSLI) was used, according to the Portuguese Pharmacopoeia. The mass of salbutamol sulphate deposited on the different impinger compartments and inside the spacer was determined by spectrophotometry, with the purpose of determining the percentage of cumulative mass for each spacer, and then the fine particle fraction. The results were compared statistically using a one-way analysis of variance (one-way ANOVA) with a Bonferroni post-hoc test. Results: About 40 to 50% of salbutamol sulphate was found deposited in the body of the three spacers. This deposition was slightly lower for NebuChamber® (average ± standard deviation of 43.8 % ± 11.6 %), in relation to Volumatic® (p=0.351) or AeroChamber MAX® (p=0.115). The fine particle fraction reached values of 28.2 ± 4.1%, 29.6 ± 2.4% and 30.9 ± 6.7% for Volumatic®, AeroChamber MAX® and NebuChamber®, respectively. Conclusion: The spacers showed to have similar efficiencies in the delivery of salbutamol sulphate in the last stages, and there was no relation between the results and the spacers characteristics such as volume, shape and material. Therefore, Volumatic® appears to be perfect for hospital use, since its big volume does not constitute a disadvantage, and its lower cost, when compared to the remaining two spacers, represents an advantage of utmost importance for public hospitals.
- Physical Activity, Obesity Status, and Blood Pressure in Preschool Children.Publication . Vale, S; Trost, SG; Rêgo, C; Abreu, S; Mota, JOBJECTIVE:To examine the combined effects of physical activity and weight status on blood pressure (BP) in preschool-aged children. STUDY DESIGN: The sample included 733 preschool-aged children (49% female). Physical activity was objectively assessed on 7 consecutive days by accelerometry. Children were categorized as sufficiently active if they met the recommendation of at least 60 minutes daily of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Body mass index was used to categorize children as nonoverweight or overweight/obese, according to the International Obesity Task Force benchmarks. BP was measured using an automated BP monitor and categorized as elevated or normal using BP percentile-based cut-points for age, sex, and height. RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP was 7.7% and 3.0%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight/obese was 32%, and about 15% of children did not accomplish the recommended 60 minutes of daily MVPA. After controlling for age and sex, overweight/obese children who did not meet the daily MVPA recommendation were 3 times more likely (OR 3.8; CI 1.6-8.6) to have elevated SBP than nonoverweight children who met the daily MVPA recommendation. CONCLUSIONS: Overweight or obese preschool-aged children with insufficient levels of MVPA are at significantly greater risk for elevated SBP than their nonoverweight and sufficiently active counterparts.