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In this study, we assessed the effects of different harvest times (9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m.) and hydrodistillation times (60, 90, and 120 min) on the yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant activity of the spearmint ( Mentha spicata L.) essential oil (EO) sourced from the Amazon region. EO yield was ≥1.55% and was not significantly influenced ( p ≥ 0.05) by the different harvest times and hydrodistillation times. Thirty-one different organic compounds were identified, of which menthol (91.56-95.68%), menthone (0.6-2.72%), and isomenthone (0.55-1.46%) were the major constituents. The highest menthol content in the EO was obtained from samples collected at 9 a.m., with a hydrodistillation time of 60-90 min, compared to other harvest and hydrodistillation times. This suggests that exposure to sun and light, which is greater at harvest times of 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., decreased the menthol content and altered the chemical composition of Mentha EO. Furthermore, the sample harvested at 9 a.m. and hydrodistilled for 60 min showed the highest antioxidant activity (61.67 equivalent mg of Trolox per g of EO), indicating that antioxidant activity is strongly affected by light exposure and the contact duration of the sample with boiling water during hydrodistillation.

We determined the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and associated factors in 419 women (aged 40 to 65 years) in Northeast Brazil in a cross-sectional study conducted from April to November 2013. We defined MetS using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Socio-demographic variables, reproductive factors, lifestyle factors, anthropometrics, body composition, quality of life, and physical performance were assessed for their associations. We constructed multivariate Poisson regression models to estimate prevalence rate ratios (PRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We identified 275 (65.6%) cases of MetS. The three most prevalent indicators were obesity (73.5%), reduced high-density lipoprotein level (63.0%), and elevated blood pressure (60.9%). In the final adjusted model, black race (PR 1.30, 95% CI: 1.07-1.57), lower grip strength/body mass index (PR 1.31, 95% CI: 1.15-1.50), and low estradiol levels (PR 1.17, 95% CI: 1.00-1.35) were associated with MetS. MetS is a long-term threat to the health of middle-aged women and a potential public health burden. These results may help in developing health promotion strategies to prevent morbidity and mortality associated with MetS in this vulnerable population.

The hormonal changes in climacteric women may affect the vestibular system; however, it is not clear in the literature whether the presence of vestibular dysfunction associated with climacteric is related to poorer quality of life. The study sample was composed of 374 women (40-65 years). Socioeconomic and demographic data, menopausal status, practice of physical exercises, presence or absence of vestibular dysfunction, hypertension and diabetes, anthropometric measurements and quality of life (using the Utian Quality of Life Scale - UQoL) were collected. Statistical analyses were performed using the Pearson test, Anova, T-test, and multiple regression considering a significance level of 5%. A significant relationship was found between vestibular dysfunction and health (p = 0.02) and emotional (p = 0.01) domains of the UQoL. In addition, physical activity, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), household income and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) mean also remained significantly related to quality of life. A relationship between vestibular dysfunction and quality of life for health and emotional domains in climacteric women was observed.

Objective: To investigate the emotional repercussions and quality of life (QOL) associated with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in children and adolescents undergoing hemodialysis or a kidney transplant (TX)., Methods: We conducted a quantitative-qualitative study. 48 children and adolescents with ESKD were interviewed; half of them underwent hemodialysis treatment, and the other half had a kidney transplantation. Their respective 48 caregivers also participated in the study. The questionnaire involved both the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and a thematic story-drawing tool. An analysis of the QOL questionnaire's results was done by comparing the sum of points between groups and the theme-based story-drawing consisted of interpreting the data contained in the material using Freudian and Lacanian theories., Results: In the QOL questionnaires, the total score was higher in the transplanted patients and in their caregivers, suggesting a perception of better QOL after kidney transplantation. In the specific aspects of the questionnaire, physical capacity was considered superior by children who underwent transplants and their caregivers. There were no differences between the groups in the emotional, social and school aspects. However, the caregivers of the patients who had a transplant perceived a significant difference in QOL in the school aspect. In the thematic story-drawings, emotional suffering in the two analyzed groups was evidenced regardless of the treatment., Conclusions: Despite the questionnaire results suggesting that transplantation does improve some aspects of QOL, there were no differences observed between kidney replacement therapies regarding the emotional repercussion of chronic kidney disease.