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HAND GRIP STRENGTH IN A SAMPLE Of 11 to 14 Years Old Children Introduction: The determination of hand grip strength is an objective method of evaluation of upper members' integrity. It is also used as a general health indicator. Data about grip strength values in healthy children is useful in the research and diagnosis of diseases that interfere with grip force. The aim of this study was to determine average values of children hand grip strength by age and evaluate its relation with weight and height. Material and Methods: Hand grip strength was measured with the dynamometer Jamar Hydraulic Hand (R) in a convenience sample of 195 children of either gender, with ages between 11 and 14 years old. Results: Statistical significant differences were observed in hand grip strength between genders, being higher in boys. Moderate correlations were found between grip strength and age (R = 0.679, p < 0.001), height (R = 0.691, p < 0.001), and weight (R = 0.620, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The present study presents values of hand grip strength obtained from a sample of Portuguese children of 11 to 14 years old, which are directly associated with height and weight.

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NITROGEN BALANCE ASSESSMENT IN BURN PATIENTS Introduction: The burn injury probably represents the largest stimulus for muscle protein catabolism. This state is characterized by an accelerated catabolism of the lean or skeletal mass that results in a clinical negative balance of nitrogen and muscle wasting. The determination of an appropriate value for protein intake is essential, since it is positively related to the nitrogen balance (NB) and accordingly several authors argue that a positive NB is the key parameter associated with nutritional improvement of a burn patient. Objectives: Evaluation of the degree of protein catabolism by assessment of the Nitrogen Balance; Defining of nutritional support (protein needs) to implement in patients with burned surface area (BSA) >= 10%. Methods: We prospectively evaluated the clinical files and scrutinized the clinical variables of interest. The NB was estimated according to three formulae. Each gram of nitrogen calculated by the NB was then converted into grams of protein, subtracted or added to protein intake (or administered enteric or parenterically) and divided by kg of reference Weight (kg Rweight), in an attempt to estimate the daily protein needs. Results: The cohort consisted of 10 patients, 6 females, with average age of 58(23) years old, a mean of BSA of 21.4(8.4)%, ranging from a minimum of 10.0% and maximum of 35.0%. On average, patients were 58 (23) years old. The average number of days of hospitalization in the burn unit was 64.8(36.5) days. We observed significant differences between the 3 methods used for calculating the NB (p = 0.004), on average the NB was positive. When the formula A was used the average value of NB was higher. Regarding the attempt to estimate the needs of g prot/kg Rweight/day most of the values did not exceed, on average, 2.6 g Prot/kg Rweight/day and no significant differences between patients with a BSA% of 10-20% and with BSA% > 20% were found. Conclusion: Despite being able to estimate the protein catabolism through these formulas and verifying that most values were above zero, wide individual fluctuations were visible over time. Based on the sample reference that recommends a value of 1.5-2 g Prot/kg Rweight/day, we can conclude it to be underestimated, when comparing with the mean value of 2.6 g Prot/kg Rweight/day we established.

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The present study intended to assess flexibility of adolescents of both sexes, involving several body regions and articular groups; to compare males with females, to establish, by factor analyses, inter-tests correlations, in order to obtain explanations of the result in original variables and, to verify which principal components, by reduction of the number of correlated variables, are susceptible to better explain variability. The sample is constituted by 52 subjects (28 females and 24 males), aged between 15 and 18 years. Flexibility assessment battery was formed by eight tests: sit and reach (SA), v-sit and reach (V-SA), stand and reach (FTFP), trunk lift (ET), arm-trunk lift (ETB), side bending (FLT-D e FLTE), shoulder stretch (AMAC-D e AMAC-E) and, bend and reach (AAA). The main results showed, in general, a balance in both sexes as far as the ability to perform wide movements is concerned. There is a strong association: 1) among similar technical characteristic tests, which seems there is no need for cumulative use among these tests, and 2) among those tests that have direct effects on laterality, AMAC-D/AMAC-E (except males) and FLT-D/FLT-E. The AAA test did not correlate with any of the performed tests, particularly in males. Factor analyses of principal components (CP) showed the existence of three components in the female group, with eigenvalues higher than 1, explaining 83,2% of total variance, while in the male group four components were necessary to explain 88,8% of total variability. The tests that were more strongly correlated with each one of principal components were: 1) for males: SA, FTFP, V-SA (CP1), FLT-D, FLT-E (CP2), AMAC-D, AAA (CP3), and ETB, ET (CP4); 2) for females: AAA, FLT-E, AMAC-D, AMAC-E, FTFP (CP1), V-SA, SA, FTFP (CP2), and ETB, ET (CP3).

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