Intensidade e duração dos esforços físicos em aulas de Educação Física

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a intensidade e a duração dos esforços físicos em aulas de Educação Física no ensino fundamental e médio. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal de base escolar por meio de observação de 218 aulas de Educação Física, incluindo um total de 272 estudantes (avaliados três vezes cada um). O estudo foi realizado em Pelotas, RS, de agosto a setembro de 2009. Para a intensidade dos esforços, foram utilizados acelerômetros e adotados os pontos de corte (em counts por minuto): atividades sedentárias (0 a 100), leves (101 a 2.000), moderadas (2.001 a 4.999), vigorosas (5.000 a 7.999) e muito vigorosas (&gt; 8.000). RESULTADOS: O tempo médio de duração das aulas foi de 35,6 minutos (dp 6,0). A proporção média de tempo das aulas em atividades físicas de intensidade moderada a vigorosa foi de 32,7% (dp 25,2). Os meninos (44,1%) envolveram-se significativamente mais em atividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas do que as meninas (21,0%; p < 0,01). Estudantes que se envolvem em atividade física fora das aulas tiveram maior participação em atividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas nas aulas de Educação Física. CONCLUSÕES: Além de o tempo da aula de Educação Física ser reduzido, os estudantes praticam atividades físicas de intensidade moderada a vigorosa um terço da aula, com pouca contribuição significativa para o nível de atividade física dos estudantes.OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intensity and duration of physical efforts in Physical Education classes in primary and secondary school. METHODS: School-based cross-sectional study carried out by means of the observation of 218 Physical Education classes, including a total of 272 students (each one of the students was evaluated three times). The study was carried out in the city of Pelotas (Southern Brazil), between August and December 2009. In order to evaluate the intensity of the efforts, accelerometers were used and the following cut-off points were adopted (in counts per minute): sedentary activities (0-100), light activities (101-2,000), moderate (2,001-4,999), vigorous (5,000-7,999), and very vigorous activities (&gt;8000). RESULTS: The mean duration of the classes was 35.6 minutes (SD 6.0). The mean proportion of time spent in moderate to vigorous physical activity was 32.7% (SD 25.2). Boys (44.1%) were involved significantly more in moderate to vigorous physical activity as compared to girls (21.0%; pOBJETIVO: Evaluar la intensidad y la duración de los esfuerzos físicos en clases de Educación Física en la enseñanza básica y media. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal de base escolar por medio de observación de 218 clases de Educación Física, incluyendo un total de 272 estudiantes (evaluados tres veces cada uno). El estudio fue realizado en Pelotas, Sur de Brasil, de agosto a septiembre del año 2009. Para la intensidad de los esfuerzos, se utilizaron acelerómetros y se adoptaron los puntos de corte (en counts por minuto): actividades sedentarias (0 a 100), leves (101 a 2.000), moderadas (2.001 a 4.999), vigorosas (5.000 a 7.999) y muy vigorosas (&gt; 8.000). RESULTADOS: El tiempo promedio de duración de las clases fue de 35,6 minutos (de 6,0). La proporción promedio de tiempo de las clases en actividades físicas de intensidad moderada a vigorosa fue de 32,7% (desviación estándar 25,2). Los niños varones (44,1%) se involucraron significativamente en actividades físicas moderadas a vigorosas con relación a las niñas (21,0%;

Informant-reported cognitive symptoms that predict amnestic mild cognitive impairment

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Differentiating amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) from normal cognition is difficult in clinical settings. Self-reported and informant-reported memory complaints occur often in both clinical groups, which then necessitates the use of a comprehensive neuropsychological examination to make a differential diagnosis. However, the ability to identify cognitive symptoms that are predictive of aMCI through informant-based information may provide some clinical utility in accurately identifying individuals who are at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The current study utilized a case-control design using data from an ongoing validation study of the Alzheimer's Questionnaire (AQ), an informant-based dementia assessment. Data from 51 cognitively normal (CN) individuals participating in a brain donation program and 47 aMCI individuals seen in a neurology practice at the same institute were analyzed to determine which AQ items differentiated aMCI from CN individuals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forward stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis which controlled for age and education showed that 4 AQ items were strong indicators of aMCI which included: repetition of statements and/or questions [OR 13.20 (3.02, 57.66)]; trouble knowing the day, date, month, year, and time [OR 17.97 (2.63, 122.77)]; difficulty managing finances [OR 11.60 (2.10, 63.99)]; and decreased sense of direction [OR 5.84 (1.09, 31.30)].</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Overall, these data indicate that certain informant-reported cognitive symptoms may help clinicians differentiate individuals with aMCI from those with normal cognition. Items pertaining to repetition of statements, orientation, ability to manage finances, and visuospatial disorientation had high discriminatory power.</p

Leukotriene biosynthesis inhibition ameliorates acute lung injury following hemorrhagic shock in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hemorrhagic shock followed by resuscitation is conceived as an insult frequently induces a systemic inflammatory response syndrome and oxidative stress that results in multiple-organ dysfunction syndrome including acute lung injury. MK-886 is a leukotriene biosynthesis inhibitor exerts an anti inflammatory and antioxidant activity.</p> <p>Objectives</p> <p>The objective of present study was to assess the possible protective effect of MK-886 against hemorrhagic shock-induced acute lung injury via interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways.</p> <p>Materials and methods</p> <p>Eighteen adult Albino rats were assigned to three groups each containing six rats: group I, sham group, rats underwent all surgical instrumentation but neither hemorrhagic shock nor resuscitation was done; group II, Rats underwent hemorrhagic shock (HS) for 1 hr then resuscitated with Ringer's lactate (1 hr) (induced untreated group, HS); group III, HS + MK-886 (0.6 mg/kg i.p. injection 30 min before the induction of HS, and the same dose was repeated just before reperfusion period). At the end of experiment (2 hr after completion of resuscitation), blood samples were collected for measurement of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). The trachea was then isolated and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was carried out for measurement of leukotriene B₄(LTB₄), leukotriene C₄(LTC₄) and total protein. The lungs were harvested, excised and the left lung was homogenized for measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) and the right lung was fixed in 10% formalin for histological examination.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MK-886 treatment significantly reduced the total lung injury score compared with the HS group (<it>P </it>< 0.05). MK-886 also significantly decreased serum TNF-α & IL-6; lung MDA; BALF LTB₄, LTC₄& total protein compared with the HS group (<it>P </it>< 0.05). MK-886 treatment significantly prevented the decrease in the lung GSH levels compared with the HS group (<it>P </it>< 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results of the present study reveal that MK-886 may ameliorate lung injury in shocked rats via interfering with inflammatory and oxidative pathways implicating the role of leukotrienes in the pathogenesis of hemorrhagic shock-induced lung inflammation.</p

Biased-corrected richness estimates for the Amazonian tree flora

Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, but the estimated species richness is very much debated. Here, we apply an ensemble of parametric estimators and a novel technique that includes conspecific spatial aggregation to an extended database of forest plots with up-to-date taxonomy. We show that the species abundance distribution of Amazonia is best approximated by a logseries with aggregated individuals, where aggregation increases with rarity. By averaging several methods to estimate total richness, we confirm that over 15,000 tree species are expected to occur in Amazonia. We also show that using ten times the number of plots would result in an increase to just ~50% of those 15,000 estimated species. To get a more complete sample of all tree species, rigorous field campaigns may be needed but the number of trees in Amazonia will remain an estimate for years to come