ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF STATIC STRETCHING AND ECCENTRIC TRAINING ON FLEXIBILITY OF HAMSTRING MUSCLES

Previous studies have investigated the efficacy of stretching exercises and eccentric training in hamstring flexibility. The objective of this study was to comparatively investigate the efficacy of eccentric training and static stretching in flexibility gain, using a different eccentric training protocol. This study included 13 individuals having on average 23.15±1.72 years of age. The subjects were trained 3 times a week for 6 weeks and a pre- post- comparative analysis was conducted. It was observed that both static stretching and eccentric training resulted in the same non-significant gains in hamstring muscle flexibility. Probably eccentric training is a better training strategy for being able not only to increasing flexibility but for being able to increase strength and protect against muscle damage

Age-related immune response heterogeneity to SARS-CoV-2 vaccine BNT162b2

Abstract: Although two-dose mRNA vaccination provides excellent protection against SARS-CoV-2, there is little information about vaccine efficacy against variants of concern (VOC) in individuals above eighty years of age1. Here we analysed immune responses following vaccination with the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine2 in elderly participants and younger healthcare workers. Serum neutralization and levels of binding IgG or IgA after the first vaccine dose were lower in older individuals, with a marked drop in participants over eighty years old. Sera from participants above eighty showed lower neutralization potency against the B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta) and P.1. (Gamma) VOC than against the wild-type virus and were more likely to lack any neutralization against VOC following the first dose. However, following the second dose, neutralization against VOC was detectable regardless of age. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific memory B cells was higher in elderly responders (whose serum showed neutralization activity) than in non-responders after the first dose. Elderly participants showed a clear reduction in somatic hypermutation of class-switched cells. The production of interferon-γ and interleukin-2 by SARS-CoV-2 spike-specific T cells was lower in older participants, and both cytokines were secreted primarily by CD4 T cells. We conclude that the elderly are a high-risk population and that specific measures to boost vaccine responses in this population are warranted, particularly where variants of concern are circulating

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant replication and immune evasion

Abstract: The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and spread throughout India, outcompeting pre-existing lineages including B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.1.7 (Alpha)1. In vitro, B.1.617.2 is sixfold less sensitive to serum neutralizing antibodies from recovered individuals, and eightfold less sensitive to vaccine-elicited antibodies, compared with wild-type Wuhan-1 bearing D614G. Serum neutralizing titres against B.1.617.2 were lower in ChAdOx1 vaccinees than in BNT162b2 vaccinees. B.1.617.2 spike pseudotyped viruses exhibited compromised sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies to the receptor-binding domain and the amino-terminal domain. B.1.617.2 demonstrated higher replication efficiency than B.1.1.7 in both airway organoid and human airway epithelial systems, associated with B.1.617.2 spike being in a predominantly cleaved state compared with B.1.1.7 spike. The B.1.617.2 spike protein was able to mediate highly efficient syncytium formation that was less sensitive to inhibition by neutralizing antibody, compared with that of wild-type spike. We also observed that B.1.617.2 had higher replication and spike-mediated entry than B.1.617.1, potentially explaining the B.1.617.2 dominance. In an analysis of more than 130 SARS-CoV-2-infected health care workers across three centres in India during a period of mixed lineage circulation, we observed reduced ChAdOx1 vaccine effectiveness against B.1.617.2 relative to non-B.1.617.2, with the caveat of possible residual confounding. Compromised vaccine efficacy against the highly fit and immune-evasive B.1.617.2 Delta variant warrants continued infection control measures in the post-vaccination era

Ausência de consulta médica de rotina entre idosos hipertensos e/ou diabéticos: um estudo epidemiológico baseado na Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios 2008

Submitted by Nuzia Santos ([email protected]) on 2013-05-23T12:48:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Nice.pdf: 625221 bytes, checksum: d2c55839490dafb3d8ccddc6e2f47a9f (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2013-05-23T12:48:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Daniela Nice.pdf: 625221 bytes, checksum: d2c55839490dafb3d8ccddc6e2f47a9f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou. Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.O presente estudo, de caráter exploratório, teve como objetivo investigar as características predisponentes, capacitadoras e de necessidades de saúde associadas à não realização de consulta médica nos últimos 12 meses, junto a 23.620 idosos hipertensos e/ou diabéticos. Nesta investigação, utilizou-se como referencial teórico o modelo comportamental de Andersen para utilização de serviços de saúde. Os dados analisados foram produzidos pelo suplemento saúde da PNAD-2008, de abrangência nacional. Para identificação das associações, utilizou-se o modelo de Regressão de Poisson, que estima razões de prevalências e respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95%. O critério de significância estatística adotado foi o de 5% e a análise de dados foi operacionalizada por m eio do pacote estatístico Stata ®. Os resultados mostraram que 10,6% da população estudada não consultou o médico no período considerado, sendo que a prevalência foi maior entre hipertensos (10,5%) do que entre diabéticos (7,1%). A ausência de consulta médica esteve negativamente associada com o sexo feminino e com o aumento da idade (entre as características predisponentes), à posse de plano de saúde (característica capacitadora), pior auto-avaliação de saúde, presença de condições crônicas de saúde selecionadas e presença da hipertensão associada a diabetes (entre as necessidades de saúde); já o fato de residir nas regiões Nordeste, Norte e Centro-Oeste apresentou-se positivamente associada ao evento investigado. Esses resultados corroboram o observado em estudos internacionais e nacionais e apontam indícios de desigualdade e iniquidade na utilização da consulta médica pelos idosos hipertensos e/ou diabéticos, a partir dos achados relativos à cobertura por plano de saúde e região geográfica.This study aimed to investigate the characteristics predisposing, enabling and health needs associated with non medical visits in the past 12 months, among 23,620 elderly hypertensive and/or diabetic. In this research, we used the theoretical behavioral model of Andersen & Newman for use of health services. The data analyzed were produced by the health supplement of the PNAD-2008, nationwide. To identify the associations, we used the Poisson regression model, which estimates the prevalence ratios and confidence intervals of 95%. The criterion for statistical significance was 5% and the data analysis was operationalized through the Stata ® statistical package. The results showed that 10.6% of the study population did not consult the doctor in the period considered, and the prevalence was higher among hypertensive subjects (10.5%) than among diabetics ones (7.1%). The lack of medical consultation was negatively associated with female sex and increasing age (predisposing characteristics), health insurance coverage (enabling characteristic), self-rated health, chronic health conditions selected and the presence of hypertension associated with diabetes (health needs), while the fact of living in the Northeast, North and Midwest appeared positively associated with the event under investigation. These results corroborate those observed in national and international studies and show evidence of inequality and inequity in the use of medical consultation for this population, based on the findings related to health plan coverage and geographic region

Absence of routine medical consultation among hypertensive and/or diabetic elders: an epidemiological study based on the Brazilian National Household Survey 2008

OBJECTIVE: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the predisposing, enabling and health need characteristics associated with lack of medical visits in the last 12 months, among 23,620 elderly hypertensive and/or diabetic individuals. METHODS: In this research, we used the theoretical behavioral model of Andersen and Newman for use of health services. The data analyzed were produced by the health supplement of the Brazilian National Household Survey (PNAD) 2008, nationwide. To identify the associations, we used the Poisson regression model, which estimates the prevalence ratios and confidence intervals of 95%, considering the significance level of 5%. RESULTS: The results showed that 10.6% of the study population did not consult the doctor in the period considered, and the prevalence was higher among hypertensive subjects (10.5%) than among diabetic ones (7.1%). The lack of medical consultation was negatively associated with female sex and increasing age (predisposing characteristics), with health insurance coverage (enabling characteristic), worse self-rated health, chronic health conditions selected and the presence of hypertension associated with diabetes (health needs), while the fact of living in the Northeast, North and Midwest appeared positively associated with the event under investigation. CONCLUSION: These results corroborate those observed in national and international studies and show evidence of inequality and inequity in the use of medical consultation for this population, based on the findings related to health plan coverage and geographic region