IMMEDIATE RESPONSE GAIN IN HANDGRIP STRENGTH WITH ACUPUNCTURE: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Background: Muscle strength is an important component for performing different daily tasks and has significant effect on health. Grip strength can be considered as one of the parameters of the overall strength state of the individuals. This study aimed to evaluate immediate response of the capacity to gain handgrip strength after the application of acupuncture. Materials and Methods: The study was experimental, quantitative, and partially blind clinical trial with a control group. Sample consisted in 73 healthy volunteers of both sexes, not athletes, with average age 35 ± 10.01 years, which were divided by deterministic allocation with sequential alternation in three groups: acupuncture (GACP n=24), sham acupuncture (Gsham n=25) and control (GCRT n=24). Calibrated mechanical manual dynamometer and needles 0.25 x 40mm were used. The handgrip test was performed in all groups, in both hands. Average measures were used for statistical analysis, a procedure done before and after the intervention. GACP received needles in TE5 (Waiguan), ST36 (Zusanli) and GB34 (Yanglingquan). The Gsham received superficial needles placed out of the acupoints. Results: GACP showed a significant strength gain of 4.78 Kgf (p = 0.005), Gsham showed a non-significant gain of 1.13 Kgf (p = 0.370) and GCRT that did not receive acupuncture intervention showed a non-significant reduction of handgrip strength average of about 1.97 Kgf (p = 0.210). Conclusion: Acupuncture in a single intervention was able to promote an immediate significant average gain strength response in handgrip of 4.78 Kg

Age and Sex Differences in Physical Activity of Portuguese Adults and Older Adults

This study aims to explore data on objectively measured physical activity from a sample of adults and older adults and to investigate the achievement of the minimum physical activity required for health benefits. Participants, 257 women (age 58.99 ± 18.93 years, BMI 26.75 ± 4.57 kg·m−2) and 178 men (age 49.22 ± 20.39 years, BMI 26.81 ± 3.51 kg·m−2), wore an accelerometer for 4 to 7 days. Approximately 40% of the time was spent daily in sedentary behaviors during waking hours. Our results do not sustain the suggestion that adult men are more physically active than women. The results indicated a decrease in intensity of physical activity with age, in men and women, but not in successive age groups. Around 75% of adults and 30% of older adults accumulated the minimum daily physical activity for health benefits, in periods shorter than 10 min, above moderate intensity. The number of steps taken per day revealed that most men and women (except the oldest) attained or exceeded the lower threshold for deriving health benefits. To obtain relevant health benefits, future physical activity interventions should aim at reversing the amount of sedentary behaviors, emphasizing increments in, at least, the lower levels of PA, and maintaining walking habits.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oxidative stress function in women over 40 years of age, considering their lifestyle

Aging is dependent on biological processes that determine the aging of the organism at the cellular level. The Oxidative Stress Theory of Aging might explain some of the age-related changes in cell macromolecules. Moreover, exposome and lifestyle may also induce changes in cell damage induced by oxidative stress. The aim of the present study was to analyze the related redox changes in lymphocyte function of healthy women over 40 years old. Three groups: younger (YG: 40–49 years), middle aged (MAG: 50–59 years), and older (OG: ≥60 years) were evaluated on anthropometric variables, blood pressure, cardiovascular fitness, lifestyle habits, perceived stress, DNA damage, malondialdehyde, catalase activity, and total antioxidant capacity. Physical activity and cardiovascular fitness were significantly higher in YG and MAG as compared to the OG. Systolic blood pressure increased significantly with group age. Frequency and total amount of alcohol intake were lower in the OG and higher in the MAG. No significant differences were observed between the three groups in oxidative stress parameters. Only alcohol consumption was associated with the higher DNA FPG-sensitive sites, and only in the YG (p < 0.05). Healthy lifestyle is critical to avoiding major ailments associated with aging. This may be inferred from the lack of significant differences in the various oxidative stress parameters measured in the healthy women over the age of 40 who took part in the study. Conscious lifestyle behaviors (decrease in alcohol and smoking habits) could have impaired the expected age-related oxidative stress increase.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Exercise with music : an innovative approach to increase cognition and reduce depression in institutionalized elderly

Concerning dementia and depression prevention, non-pharmacological interventions such as cognitive-training are currently recommended as an alternative for the elderly, for the reason that they produce less side effects.Based on this perspective, the aim of this study was to identify the effects of movement with music upon cognition and depression in institutionalized elderly.A longitudinal study was conducted from November 2013 to February 2014 in Vila Real, Portugal. The sample included thirty-nine institutionalized healthy seniors over 60 years of age who were divided into two groups: music plus movement (MMG, n=20, 80.65±6.59 years) and cognitive training group without music (CTG, n=19, 83.68±6.54 years); both groups were submitted to an intervention period (4 months, 3x/week, 90min/session). Before and after the intervention period the following instruments were applied in both groups: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (MPCR), and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-27).Both interventions proved to improve cognitive function, mental ability and depression. The interaction effect between programs' intervention and time was observed in language, mental ability, and depression indicators. Considering these variables, the magnitude of variation between moments was higher in the MMG in language and depression with a high effect value for depression (η2ρ =.342). In conclusion, this study emphasises the role of music and movement as a broad intervention in mental health, acting simultaneously as cognitive training and an anti-depressive.Actualmente las intervenciones no farmacológicas se recomiendan como alternativas en la prevención de la demencia y la depresión en los ancianos, porque tienen menos efectos secundarios.En esta perspectiva, este estudio tiene como objetivo identificar los efectos de una intervención que combina música y ejercicio en la cognición y la depresión en ancianos institucionalizados.Se realizó un estudio longitudinal de noviembre de 2013 a febrero de 2014 en dos instituciones de ancianos, en la ciudad de Vila Real, Portugal. La muestra incluyó a 39 individuos ancianos sanos institucionalizados mayores de 60 años que se dividieron en dos grupos: "grupo de música y ejercicios" (MMG, n = 20, 80.65 ± 6.59 años) y "grupo de entrenamiento cognitivo" (CTG, n = 19; 83.68 ± 6.54 años). Ambos fueron sometidos a un período de intervención (4 meses, 3 veces por semana, 90 minutos por sesión). Antes y después de la intervención, se utilizaron los siguientes instrumentos en ambos grupos: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Test de Matrices Coloridas de Raven (MPCR) y Escala de Depresión Geriátrica (GDS-27).Ambas intervenciones mostraron mejoras en la función cognitiva, la capacidad mental y la depresión. El efecto de interacción entre los programas de intervención y el tiempo se observó en el lenguaje, la capacidad mental y la depresión. Teniendo en cuenta estas variables, la amplitud de la variación entre los momentos fue mayor en el lenguaje y la depresión en el grupo MMG, y se encontró un alto valor de efecto para la depresión (η2ρ = 0.342). En conclusión, este estudio enfatiza el papel de la música y del movimiento como una intervención más completa en la salud mental, actuando simultáneamente en el entrenamiento cognitivo y en la depresión.Hoje em dia, as intervenções não farmacológicas são recomendadas como alternativas na prevenção da demência e depressão em idosos, porque apresentam menos efeitos secundários. No âmbito desta perspetiva, o presente estudo tem como objetivo identificar os efeitos de uma intervenção combinando a música e o exercício na cognição e depressão em idosos institucionalizados. Foi realizado um estudo longitudinal de Novembro de 2013 a Fevereiro de 2014 em duas instituições de idosos, na cidade de Vila Real, Portugal. A amostra incluiu 39 idosos saudáveis institucionalizados, com idade superior a 60 anos, que foram divididos em dois grupos: "grupo música e exercício" (MMG, n= 20; 80.65±6.59 anos) e "grupo de treino cognitivo" (CTG, n=19; 83.68±6.54 anos). Ambos foram sujeitos a um período de intervenção (4 meses, 3x/semana, 90min/sessão). Antes e depois da intervenção foram utilizados os seguintes instrumentos em ambos os grupos: Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Matrizes Coloridas de Raven (MPCR), e a Escala de Depressão Geriátrica (GDS-27). Ambas as intervenções evidenciaram melhorias na função cognitiva, capacidade mental e na depressão. O efeito de interação entre os programas de intervenção e o tempo foi observado na linguagem, capacidade mental e depressão. Considerando estas variáveis, a amplitude da variação entre os momentos foi maior na linguagem e na depressão no grupo MMG, sendo o tamanho do efeito grande na depressão (η2ρ = 0,342). Em conclusão, este estudo enfatiza o papel da música e do movimento como uma intervenção mais completa na saúde mental, atuando simultaneamente no treino cognitivo e na depressão

Reduction of inflammation and colon injury by a Pennyroyal phenolic extract in experimental inflammatory bowel disease in mice

Purpose: Little is known about the pharmacological effects of the phenolic compounds of Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium). This Mediterranean aromatic plant, used as a gastronomic spice and as food preservative by the food industry has been studied mainly due to its essential oil antibacterial properties, composed primarily by monoterpenes. With this work, we aimed to evaluate the effects of a phenolic extract of pennyroyal in the impairment of inflammatory processes in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) and in the potential inhibition of progression to colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: To that purpose, we evaluated the effect of pennyroyal extract administration in a model of TNBSinduced colitis in mice and further determined its effect on human colon carcinoma cell proliferation and invasion. Results: The phenolic extract of pennyroyal exhibited antioxidant properties in in vitro assays and administration of the extract in a rat model of carrageenan-induced paw oedema led to significant anti-inflammatory effects. Further results evidenced a beneficial effect of the phenolic extract in the attenuation of experimental colitis and a potential antiproliferative effect on cultured colon cancer cells, effects not previously described, to our knowledge. A reduction in several markers of colon inflammation was observed following administration of the extract to colitis-induced mice, including functional and histological indicators. A successful inhibition of cancer cell invasion and proliferation was also observed in in vitro studies with HT-29 cells. Furthermore, the extract also led to a reduced expression of iNOS/COX-2 in the colon of colitis-induced mice, both being crucial mediators of intestinal inflammation. Conclusions: Taking into consideration the central role of inflammation in the pathophysiology of CRC and the recognised connection between inflammatory events and cancer, these results enlighten the relevance of the phenolic constituents of pennyroyal as important pharmacological sources in the investigation of new treatment options for patients with inflammatory bowel diseasesinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

EFEITO DA SOLUÇÃO, DA FIXAÇÃO EM FORMOL-SALINA E DO TEMPO DE INCUBAÇÃO SOBRE OS RESULTADOS DO TESTE HIPOSMÓTICO PARA SÊMEN EQÜINO CONGELADO

Este experimento objetivou determinar o melhor protocolo de teste hiposmótico (HO) para avaliar a integridade funcional da membrana plasmática dos espermatozóides eqüinos submetidos à criopreservação. Foram avaliadas três soluções HO (água destilada, frutose 100 mOsmol/L e citrato de sódio 100 mOsmol/L), os tempos de incubação de 0, 15 e 30 minutos dependendo do tipo de solução utilizada e o processo de fixação ou não em formol-salina. Após a descongelação do sêmen foram retiradas alíquotas de sêmen para incubação nas três soluções HO. Decorridos os tempos de incubação (0, 15 e 30 minutos), retirou-se uma alíquota de sêmen para leitura do percentual de espermatozóides reativos ao teste HO e fixou-se, em formolsalina, o restante da mistura sêmen/solução HO para posterior leitura e comparação entre as leituras fixadas versus não fixadas. Não houve diferença (P&gt;0,05) entre os tempos de incubação independente da solução HO utilizada. A água destilada apresentou maior percentagem de espermatozóides reativos ao teste no protocolo que não usou a fixação em formol, entretanto apresentou resultado semelhante às amostras incubadas em frutose e citrato de sódio, no protocolo que utilizou a fixação em formol. Não houve diferença (P&gt;0,05) na comparação, por solução, da leitura fixada versus não fixada.&#13; PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Eqüino, sêmen congelado, teste hiposmótic

Hábitos de saúde e higiene da população e educação em saúde no contexto da pandemia de COVID-19

Objetivou-se identificar as possíveis alterações nos hábitos de saúde e higiene perante a pandemia de COVID-19 em uma amostra da população brasileira, principais fontes de informação empregadas e aspectos sobre a educação em saúde. Trata-se de estudo transversal e prospectivo utilizando um questionário contendo 25 questões objetivas de múltipla escolha. Os dados foram tabulados e analisados conforme média aritmética e determinação de frequência. Participaram 735 indivíduos, maioria mulheres, 25% afirmaram usar máscaras de proteção quando obrigatórias e 30% não as higienizavam corretamente. A maioria dos participantes receberam orientações de profissionais de saúde e 60% confiam nas orientações recebidas da enfermagem. Houve alteração na higienização de vestimentas, compras e adoção do distanciamento social. Evidenciou-se que a orientação à população deve ser imediata e assertiva, fundamentalmente realizada pelos profissionais da saúde, devido à adesão das recomendações sanitárias somente após obrigatoriedade