Effects of acute caffeine ingestion on the physical performance of amateur American football athletes

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of acute caffeine ingestion (5 mg.kg-1) on jump, isometric strength and repeated sprint performance in amateur American football athletes. Twelve players (24.6 ± 3.66 years and 115.18 ± 24.35 kg of body weight) ingested a dose of caffeine (5 mg.kg−1) or placebo 60 min prior to a testing session consisting of: 1) countermovement jump (CMJ); 2) isometric mid-tight pull (IMTP); and 3) 3-line drills (200-yd shuttle runs with a 2-minute rest between sprints). Two testing sessions were performed using a double-blind, counterbalanced, crossover design during a pre-season training camp. Results indicated: Caffeine ingestion improved CMJ performance (p = 0.035), but no differences were observed on IMTP strength (p = 0.22) and line drill performance (total time: p = 0.65, and fatigue (%): p = 0.75) when compared to placebo condition. Conclusion: Acute caffeine ingestion improved jump performance, but not isometric strength and repeated sprint with change-of-direction performance in amateur American Football athletes

Effect of Caffeine Ingestion on Indirect Markers of Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage: A Systematic Review of Human Trials

The effect of caffeine on mitigating exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) is still poorly understood, but it was hypothesized that caffeine could contribute to decreasing delayed onset muscle soreness, attenuating temporary loss of strength, and reducing circulating levels of blood markers of muscle damage. However, evidence is not conclusive and beneficial effects of caffeine ingestion on EIMD are not always observed. Factors, such as the type of exercise that induces muscle damage, supplementation protocol, and type of marker analyzed contribute to the differences between the studies. To expand knowledge on the role of caffeine supplementation in EIMD, this systematic review aimed to investigate the effect of caffeine supplementation on different markers of muscle damage. Fourteen studies were included, evaluating the effect of caffeine on indirect muscle damage markers, including blood markers (nine studies), pain perception (six studies), and MVC maximal voluntary contraction force (four studies). It was observed in four studies that repeated administration of caffeine between 24 and 72 h after muscle damage can attenuate the perception of pain in magnitudes ranging from 3.9% to 26%. The use of a single dose of caffeine pre-exercise (five studies) or post-exercise (one study) did not alter the circulating blood levels of creatine kinase (CK). Caffeine supplementation appears to attenuate pain perception, but this does not appear to be related to an attenuation of EIMD, per se. Furthermore, the effect of caffeine supplementation after muscle damage on strength recovery remains inconclusive due to the low number of studies found (four studies) and controversial results for both dynamic and isometric strength tests

A Educação Física como força de trabalho do SUS: análise dos tipos de vínculos profissionais

Resumo Considerando a inserção de Profissionais de Educação Física como força de trabalho no Sistema Único de Saúde, este estudo teve como objetivo analisar os tipos de vínculos e a carga horária de trabalho desses profissionais nos diferentes níveis de atenção à saúde e regiões do Brasil entre 2007 e 2021. Trata-se de um estudo descritivo de abordagem quantitativa com base em pesquisa no Cadastro Nacional de Estabelecimentos de Saúde. Foi observado que a atenção primária à saúde constitui o principal nível de atuação, seguida da atenção secundária e terciária. Na atenção primária, o número de cadastros de Profissionais de Educação Física com vínculo de trabalho precário é maior do que os com vínculo protegido, mas o inverso ocorre na atenção secundária e terciária. Nas regiões Sul e Sudeste, foi revelado maior número de cadastro desses profissionais com vínculo de trabalho protegido, e nas demais regiões prevaleceu o vínculo de trabalho precário. Foi identificado que 44,7% dos cadastros de Profissionais de Educação Física possuem carga horária maior ou igual a 40 horas por semana. Em conclusão, a atenção à saúde pode ser prejudicada pelo tipo de vínculo de trabalho do profissional por causar rotatividade e dificuldade na continuidade do cuidado

Reduction Glossoplasty in a Calf with Bifid Tongue

Background: Fetal malformations are characterized by anatomical changes that compromise an organ or system. Tongue formation in bovines occurs with the fusion of three structures at the end of the fourth week of gestation, and any failure during this stage of embryonic development may lead to tongue malformation. Bifid tongue, also called glossoschisis, is a rare congenital abnormality in any species and is characterized by incomplete fusion of the lateral tongue buds, resulting in a deep groove in the midline of the tongue. The objective of this study was to describe a case of bifid tongue and the procedure of reduction glossoplasty in a calf of the Girolando breed in Tocantins State.Case: A male mixed-breed (Holstein-Friesian × Gir) calf, born from natural mating in the municipality of Araguaína, Tocantins, was clinically assessed in the Sector of Ruminant Clinical Medicine of the Federal University of Tocantins at 2 months of age. The owner reported that the animal exhibited difficulty in suckling after birth and that on inspection of the oral cavity, he observed changes in the tongue and mandible. Clinical examination of the oral cavity revealed the presence of a bifid tongue and abnormal fusion of the mandible in the region of the lower incisive teeth. It was decided to perform a surgical procedure with the aim of improving the animal’s quality of life because the owner wanted to keep it in the farm. An incision was made, followed by removal of the medial rims of the two tines of the tongue, and synthesis was performed, joining the ventral rims of the tongue, beginning at the root and ending at the apex.Discussion: The observed lesions are compatible with bifid tongue and mandibular fissure, both previously reported in other species. The literature has no reports of bifid tongue in bovines. The etiology of fetal malformations is still unclear, and the primary causes known in Brazil include ingestion of toxic plants by the mother, such as Mimosa tenuiflora and Poincianella pyramidalis; infections, with the main viral agents being bovine viral diarrhea virus and blue tongue virus; and teratogenic agents, namely certain medications administered during embryogenesis, e.g., ivermectin. Other potentially teratogenic agents that have not been identified as causes of malformation include radiation, cortisone, benzimidazoles, sulfonamides, folate antagonists, and organophosphates. The intense genetic improvement that the Holstein-Friesian breed has been subjected to, including inbreeding that results in consanguinity, may be a determining factor for the breed carrying mutant alleles. Because the calf in this report was crossbred from parents with Holstein-Friesian ancestry, it could carry mutant alleles that led to the malformation. Another etiology proposed in a study on embryological bases by Goodacre and Wallace (1990) is the persistence of buccopharyngeal membrane and amniotic constriction bands in the region of the branchial arches; this cause cannot be ruled out in the present case. Calves born with fetal malformations generate losses for cattle breeders because the calf dies either before or after birth, which may culminate with the death of the mother or, in cases in which the anomaly is compatible with life, damage to the animal’s development and well-being, as in the present report. Bifid tongue is a rare malformation in bovines, and reduction glossoplasty is essential for the description and improvement of techniques that aid bovine medicine; however, animals subjected to this procedure should not be used for reproduction. 

The perception of effort is not a valid tool for establishing the strength-training zone

The main purpose was to investigate whether the perception of effort during the two first repetitions of strength exercises could be an adequate strategy for estimating the strength-training zone. The sample comprised 11 women (18 to 35 years-old). In the first week, the volunteers performed a 1-RM test in seven exercises on strength machines, and the load was calculated to reach 50%, 70% and 90% of the 1-RM. Over the next three weeks, the volunteers were required to perform randomly the exercises at these three intensities. After the two first repetitions, the volunteers were questioned about how many repetitions they believed they could achieve until failure (self-estimated). Additionally, volunteers were asked to indicate their exertion according Borg scale. After volunteers performed every exercise until concentric failure to complete the repetition maximum test (RMs test). The data were analyzed using linear regression, Pearson correlation and paired t-test. The results showed that the self-estimated number of repetitions underestimated 44% and 30% of the mean values of repetition maximum obtained directly at intensities of 50% and 70% (p < 0.05), respectively. Although repetition maximum were correlated with Borg scale (r = -0.23 to -0.41; p < 0.05) and self-estimated number of repetitions (r = 0.25 to 0.41; p < 0.05), the standard errors of estimate obtained by linear regression were very high (40% to 49%), which prevented any estimation equations. In conclusion, the perception of effort during the two first repetitions is not a satisfactory strategy for estimating the strength-training zone

Panorama da tuberculose pulmonar nos municípios prioritários no Estado do Pará, Brasil, no período de 2013 a 2017 / Overview of pulmonary tuberculosis in priority municipalities in the State of Pará, Brazil, from 2013 to 2017

A tuberculose pulmonar é protagonista no cenário global, acometendo um terço da população mundial. O Brasil, apesar da redução do número de casos nos últimos anos, ainda está entre as 22 nações com a mais alta carga de tuberculose no mundo. A doença possui notificação compulsória e é associada a condições precárias de vida que afetam a susceptibilidade mundial. No cenário nacional, a incidência no Estado do Pará é acima da média, sendo necessário um maior conhecimento da doença. Assim, o Programa Nacional de Controle da Tuberculose identificou 7 municípios prioritários no estado do Pará: Abaetetuba, Ananindeua, Belém, Bragança, Castanhal, Marituba e Santarém. Dessa forma, o presente estudo teve como objetivo estabelecer o panorama da tuberculose pulmonar nos municípios prioritários no estado do Pará no período de 2013-2017 de forma retrospectiva, ecológica e quantitativa. Foram usados casos notificados de TB no Banco de Dados do Departamento de Informática do Sistema Único de Saúde do Brasil (DATASUS), cruzando os com variáveis como faixa etária, raça, sexo, tipo de entrada, existência de confirmação laboratorial e encerramento. A maioria dos resultados concordou com demais estudos, a maior parte dos casos foram notificados na capital (68,74%), os jovens e adultos ativos (46,4%) foram a faixa etária mais acometida, o sexo masculino (63%) e a raça parda (80,67%) também predominaram. A maioria (67,41%) dos casos foi confirmada laboratorialmente. Os casos novos representaram 85% do tipo de entrada. Apenas 51% dos casos foram curados, apesar de serem maioria, não atingiram a meta de 85% recomendada pelo governo brasileiro e pela OMS, sendo necessários mais investimentos na adesão dos pacientes ao tratamento

Impacto de intervenção educativa sobre hanseníase no grau de conhecimento de agentes comunitários de saúde em Belém do Pará / Impact of educational intervention on leprosy on the level of knowledge of community health workers in Belém do Pará

A hanseníase é uma das doenças mais antigas que preocupam a humanidade, sendo historicamente associada a uma imagem mutiladora e incapacitante. O Brasil ocupa a segunda posição no ranking mundial de notificações de hanseníase. Neste contexto, a Estratégia de Saúde da Família tem papel importante na prevenção e no controle da doença, sendo os Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACSs) um elo entre o serviço oferecido e a comunidade-alvo, disseminador de informações e responsável também pela identificação de novos casos. Desta forma, o estudo objetivou avaliar o impacto da intervenção educativa sobre os conhecimentos dos ACSs em hanseníase, na organização do atendimento e em estigmas relacionados a esta doença, sendo realizado em 5 Unidades de Saúde da Família da região metropolitana de Belém, no Estado do Pará, Brasil. Foi utilizado um protocolo adaptado para avaliar o conhecimento inicial dos agentes sobre o tema. Posteriormente, houve uma capacitação com base nas informações preconizadas pelo Ministério da Saúde e, em seguida, o protocolo foi aplicado novamente com a finalidade de avaliar o impacto da capacitação. Obteve-se, como resultado, 26% de erros no pré questionário e 9% de erros no pós-teste, evidenciando um ganho geral de 18% de acertos no questionário aplicado após a capacitação e uma média de evolução individual de 39% de acertos quando comparados ao pré-teste. Assim, conclui-se que as intervenções educativas são eficazes e necessárias, principalmente no contexto da Atenção Primária, sendo necessários mais estudos acerca do tema.

Immunodominant Antigens of Leishmania chagasi Associated with Protection against Human Visceral Leishmaniasis

One of the most striking features of infection by Leishmania chagasi is that infection leads to a spectrum of clinical outcomes ranging from asymptomatic infection to active disease. The existence of asymptomatic infected people has served as an incentive to believe that an effective vaccine is possible, but unfortunately no successful immunological characterization of such cases was obtained. Patients recovered from visceral leishmaniasis show a similar immunological profile to asymptomatic infected individuals and both exhibit a strong cell-mediated immune response against Leishmania antigens and are resistant to disease. Since the past decade several approaches were undertaken to try to shed light on the immunological profile associated with such “resistance” to infections, notwithstanding antigenic recognition profile associated to resistance to infection was not successfully explored. In the present manuscript we describe a specific IgG recognizing pattern associated with resistant individuals (asymptomatic infected people and recovery patients to visceral leishmaniasis). These data highlight the possibility of using specific proteins in serological tests for the identification of asymptomatic infected individuals