Epidemiological Characteristics of Sport-Related Concussion in Athletes of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai

ObjectiveTo evaluate the self-reported history of concussion in athletes of both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) and Muay Thai.BackgroundCombat sports are widely practiced around the world. They include modalities that involves punches or kicks directed at the opponent's head (Striking sports) or that consists of grabbing an opponent and taking him to the ground (Grappling sports). Due to the objectives and close contact in combat sports, the risk of concussion is significant.Design/MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study involving a Brazilian sample of BJJ athletes (n-18) and Muay Thai athletes (n-22). The sample was consisted of both professional and amateur athletes (Women constituted 20% of sample). Through individual interviews with a researcher the following data were collected: self-report of concussion and the moment of the injury (whether in practice or in the fight). The Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale (PCSS) was also applied. In the present study, a concussion was considered as a direct impact on the head followed by symptoms. This study was approved by a local Ethics Committee.ResultsAmong BJJ athletes, 61% reported a history of concussion, while among Muay Thai athletes the percentage was more higher (86%). The main mechanisms of head impact were the throw/takedown and elbow-hits to the head in BJJ and punches and knee-hits to the head in Muay Thai. There was no difference in the symptom score between BJJ and Muay Thai concussed athletes (average of 11 vs 10.7, respectively). The most common symptoms were dizziness, headache and nausea in BJJ athletes, and headache, nausea, drowsiness and brain fogginess in Muay Thai ones.ConclusionsThe results presented herein suggest that concussions in Muay Thai and BJJ occur through different mechanisms. The clinical profile of post-concussion symptoms appears to be different between BJJ and Muay Thai athletes.

Innovative moments on online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for alcohol dependence: a case study

Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a promising intervention for reducing alcohol consumption among the population. However, due to the lack of studies in the area, the present study aims to evaluate the effects of the therapeutic process of online CBT for alcohol addicts in a Brazilian sample. Thirty-six recordings of six male participants diagnosed with alcohol dependence, who sought treatment to cease or reduce the substance’s consumption, were analysed using the Innovative Moments Coding System (IMCS). The IMCS is a method that analyses changes occurred during the therapeutic process. The results suggested: (1) an increase in the number of Innovative Moments (IMs) from the beginning to the end of the sessions in all analysed cases, and (2) a correlation between a decrease in the doses of alcohol consumption at the end of the sessions and the increase of IMs. The present study successfully applies for the first time the IMCS in alcohol dependence and proved to be an adequate method to evaluate the online therapy process for this sample. However, it is necessary to conduct further research to confirm the IMCS’s effectiveness for alcohol dependence

Anxiety, Knowledge, Misconceptions, and Health-Seeking Behavioral Intentions in Brazil COVID-19 Pandemic: A network psychometric approach

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has spread rapidly worldwide, causing life-changing and affecting anxiety, misconceptions, knowledge, and people's health behavioral intentions, which need adhering to COVID-19 prevention practices. Thus, it is relevant to develop psychometric measures for those variables on different populations. The goal of the present research is to seek evidence of validity and reliability of the Fear and Health-Seeking Behavioral Intentions Scales in a Brazilian sample. To do so, this research used recent developments in the field of network psychometrics. Using a sample of 476 Brazilians collected at the beginning of the pandemic, we found a four-dimensional structure in the reflective variables, forming a sound structure with good psychometric properties. In addition, using the novel approach to see the relationship between those variables, novel findings are discussed. We highlighted the importance of COVID-19 anxiety in the network structure, as it can be a possible alternative to increase adherence to prevent COVID-19 infection.

Does the Prevalence of Anatomical Variants of the Brain Ventricles vary according to Socioeconomic Status? A Cross-sectional Imaging Survey in 2 Brazilian Private Hospitals

Background: Anatomical variants of brain ventricles are a known marker for abnormal central nervous system development. They seem to be more prevalent in several neuropsychiatric disorders, e.g. schizophrenia, personality disorders, and psychosis. However, knowledge about the risk factors and their overall prevalence in the general population, especially in developing countries is still limited. Methods: We evaluated the prevalence of prevalence of anatomical ventricular variants [Cavum septum pellucidum (CSP), Cavum vergae (CV), and Cavum velum interpositi (CVI)] in 1467 multislice head CTs from two large private hospitals in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará – Brazil. Results: Hospital one had a higher percentage of patients with low-cost health insurance, strokes, and neurocysticercosis (P<0.05). 15.1% of participants in hospital one versus 7.1% in hospital two had at least one type of cerebral cavum, including vestigial CSP. The rarest types of cava (CV and CVI) were twice more common in hospital one (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis confirmed that patients from hospital one, older patients, and men were more likely to have any type of cerebral cavum and CSP. Conclusions: Anatomical brain ventricular variants (including vestigial CSP) were present in about 12% of participants of this middle-class Brazilian sample while also being more prevalent in male elderly and participants from lower socioeconomic strata. Further studies are necessary to prospectively investigate the association between socioeconomic variables and how they relate to the prevalence of anatomical brain ventricular variants and other known risk factors for developmental disorders.Trial registration: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board from both participants institutions- Research Ethics Committee (CEP) - Unichristus (Protocols 099/11 and CAAE: 58763716.3.0000.5049).

Skin color and perceived discrimination: a comparative study between Brazilians and Mozambicans

Despite the numerous efforts to reduce prejudice and social discrimination as well as their repercussions, such phenomena are still part of everyday life and mark individual life stories. The experiences of the target and the agent of discrimination were differents. The present study addresses a gap in the literature of social psychology: through a relational analysis, it explores the perceptions of the target of discrimination without leaving aside the perspective of the agent. Using a computerized version of a self-report instrument, we aimed to assess the relation between the experience of racial discrimination and skin color and to what extent this relation is modulated by psychosocial and sociodemographic variables in two national contexts, Brazil and Mozambique. A total of 150 university students participated in the study, 89 from Brazil and 61 from Mozambique. The results show that in both countries the participants report more experiences of discrimination coming from White than from Black people, with a larger difference for the Brazilian sample population. The study also verified that the darker the person’s skin color, the higher their perception of having been discriminated against. In the Brazilian group, the accounts of discrimination coming both from White and Black people are associated with darker skin color. In the Mozambican group, diversely, participants with lighter and darker skin color perceived being the target of discrimination, inflicted both by White and Black people. Finally, we identified that perceived discrimination is predicted by skin color. The discussion focuses on the perspective of the targets of discrimination and highlights the role of skin color in the process of perceiving racial discrimination, especially regarding the psychosocial variables motivation to control prejudice and social domination.

Brazilian Validation of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Group (QLG) Computerised Adaptive Tests (CAT) Core

Background: This study aimed to validate the Brazilian version of EORTC CAT Core and compare the Brazilian results with those from the original European EORTC CAT Core validation study. Methods: After validated translation, 168 cancer patients from Brazil receiving radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy was assessed. Translated EORTC CAT Core and all QLQ-C30 items were administered to patients using CHES (Computer-Based Health Evaluation System) before (T0) and after (T1) treatment initiation. The association between QLQ-C30 and CAT scores and ceiling/floor effects were estimated. Based on estimates of relative validity (cross-sectional, known-group differences and changes over time), relative sample-size requirements for CAT compared to QLQ-C30 were estimated. Results: Correlation coefficients between CAT and QLQ-C30 domains ranged from 0.63 to 0.93; except for dyspnoea, all coefficients were >0.82 (corresponding figures were 0.81–0.93 in the European study). On average across domains, floor/ceiling was reduced by 10% using CAT (9% in the European study) corresponding to a relative reduction of 32% (37% in the European study). Analyses of known-group validity and responsiveness indicated that, on average across domains, the sample-size requirements may be reduced by 17% using CAT rather than QLQ-C30, without loss of power (28% in the European study). The Brazilian sample had less symptom/quality of life impairment than the European sample, which likely explains the lower sample-size reduction using CAT when comparing with the European sample. Conclusions: The results in the Brazilian cohort were generally similar to those from the European sample and confirm the validity and usefulness of the EORTC CAT Core.

Sex estimation of Brazilian skulls using discriminant analysis of cranial measurements

The present study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of cranial measurements for estimation of sex in the Brazilian population and develop discriminant formulas with a reference table to be used as a reference on Brazilian Forensic Anthropology studies. The total sample was comprised of 100 skulls from an osteological collection and 200 computed tomography. The measure’s protocol comprised 51 cranial measurements and it was based on 29 cranial landmarks. The results of the univariate comparison of cranial measurements showed a higher mean for male skulls, except for the following variables: zygoorbital breadth (diff=-2.21), interorbital breadth (diff=-0.72), nasal breadth (diff=-0.19) and palatal breadth (diff=-0.01). The paired test t analysis showed that the variables with the highest sexual dimorphism were maximum cranial length (p<0.001), Basion-Bregma height (p<0.001), cranial base length (p<0.001), nasal height (p<0.001), bizigomatic breadth (p<0.001), left Porion-Mastoidale length (p<0.001), right Asterion-Mastoidale length (p<0.001), right (p<0.001) and left (p<0.001) mastoid length. The multivariate discriminant analysis of the cranial measurements of the Brazilian sample showed a percentage of accuracy between 82-90%. The analysis of the metric variables showed that there is sexual dimorphism between skulls in the sample. The regression formulas and the reference table presented satisfactory results for sex estimation in a Brazilian population. The validation process of the discriminant functions and the reference table showed a percentage of accuracy between-74.2-85.7% The analysis of the metric variables showed that there is sexual dimorphism between skulls of the analyzed sample.