Muscle mass evaluation in hospitalized patients: Comparison between doubly indirect methods.

BACKGROUND: Loss of muscle mass (MM) in hospitalized patients has been associated with negative outcomes, thus, evaluating this biomarker is important to stratify risk. Although studies have been showing that calf circumference (CC) and bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) are valid for estimating MM in hospitalized patients, we do not know if they are associated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations between CC and BIA in hospitalized patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional study, in hospitalized patients' post-acute cardiac event. We collected sociodemographic, clinical, and anthropometric data. CC measurement was adjusted according to the BMI. Spearman's correlations and associations between the methods were performed for the total sample, according to sex and stage of life (older adults or not). RESULTS: We included 177 patients, mean age of 60.5 ± 12.4 years old, the majority males (75 %). Median BMI was 26.2 kg/m2 (23.8-29.2 kg/m2), most of them overweight (41.8 %). The median of CC was lower in females and older adults, and majority of the patients had low CC (87.6 %). Higher values of fat-free mass (FFM) by BIA were observed in males and younger adults, and 5.6 % presented low FFMI. We found a positive and moderate correlation between fat-free mass index (FFMI) and CC (rho = 0.532). Males had higher correlations (rho = 0.481). An increase of 1 kg in the FFM represented an increase of 1.16 cm (crude analysis) to 1.59 cm (adjusted analysis) in CC (p < 0.001). FFM explained 37 % in the variability of CC, and together with BMI, sex and age, explained 60 % in the variability. CONCLUSIONS: Raw values of FFM obtained by BIA and CC presented a weak to moderate correlation in cardiac patients. Changes in one measure impact on the other one.

Virulence profile of Candida spp. isolated from an anaerobic biodigester supplied with dairy cattle waste.

Anaerobic biodigesters play a crucial role in enhancing animal waste management. However, the presence of pathogens in the biodigestion process poses a significant concern. Candida spp., a widespread fungus known for its opportunistic nature and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, including reciprocal transmission between humans and animals, is one such pathogen of concern. Therefore, it is imperative to assess the virulence profile of Candida spp. originating from anaerobic biodigestion processes. Here we demonstrate that strains isolated from the biodigestion process of dairy cattle waste exhibit noteworthy virulence mechanisms, surpassing the virulence of clinical control strains. After we identified strains from affluent, effluent, and biofertilizer, we observed that all analyzed isolates produced biofilm. Additionally, a substantial proportion of these isolates demonstrated phospholipase production, while only a few strains exhibited protease production. Furthermore, all strains exhibited resistance or dose-dependent responses to amphotericin B and itraconazole, with the majority displaying resistance to fluconazole. In the in vivo test, we observed a significant correlation (p < 0.05) between the LT50 and biofilm formation as well as hyphae/pseudohyphae production. Additionally, some isolates demonstrated a quicker nematode-killing capacity compared to clinical controls. Our findings underscore the considerable pathogenic potential of certain Candida species present in the dynamics of anaerobic biodigestion. Importantly, the anaerobic biodigester system did not eliminate Candida strains from dairy cattle waste, highlighting the need for caution in utilizing biodigester products. We advocate for further studies to explore the virulence of other microorganisms in various animal production contexts. Furthermore, our results emphasize the urgency of enhancing waste treatment methods to effectively eliminate pathogens and curb their potential dissemination.

Coronary artery bypass grafting in young patients - a brazilian retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of early Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) (i.e., patients under 45 years) is increasing, which entails an equal rise in disability-adjusted life years due to disease burden. Risk factors in this population are not entirely elucidated. Hence, our objectives were to evaluate the clinical characteristics, risk factors, and outcomes in patients under 45 and over 45 years undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). METHODS: We performed a retrospective-comparative cohort between patients under and over 45 years, who underwent CABG at Instituto Dante Pazzanese de Cardiologia, in São Paulo/Brazil, from 1999 to 2015. Patientsʼ characteristics were evaluated by Fisher Exact Test, and risk factors for in-hospital mortality were assessed by Stepwise Logistic Regression. Survival analysis was performed by Kaplan Meier and Log Rank Test. RESULTS: During the study timeframe, 8,889 patients underwent surgery and, out of those, 408 were young. The follow-up period ranged from 10 days to 257 months. Patients under 45 years were associated with higher rates of hypertriglyceridemia, current smoking, previous myocardial infarction and family history of coronary artery disease. Further, they presented higher rates of single vessel disease (11% versus 5.4%, p<0.001), with higher incidence of isolated occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (10.8% versus 5.1%, p<0.001). The younger group had a higher number of coronary artery bypass grafts (2.75±0.82 versus 2.6±0.88, p<0.001). Finally, they were also associated with lower in-hospital mortality (1.7% versus 5.1%, p=0.001). Survival estimates in 10 and 15 years among patients under 45 years were 91.7% and 87.7%, respectively, with an average lifespan of 237,21 months. CONCLUSION: Although hypertriglyceridemia, smoking and family history are well-recognized risk factors for CAD, they may play a more significant role in younger patients. Additionally, this study showed that CAD has a different clinical course in patients under 45 years, which urges the need to readdress how these patients are screened, evaluated and treated. To our knowledge, this is the first Brazilian study to assess this special population.

A vivência crítico-colaborativa para a superação das opressões / The critical-collaborative experience to overcome oppressions / Un experiencia crítico-colaborativo para superar las opresiones

Neste artigo discutimos uma visão de pesquisa que pressupõe formas de agir com potencial de superar opressões. Nossa proposta envolve a reflexão sobre uma práxis para a compreensão transformativa de realidades, tendo a linguagem como foco. Apresenta a perspectiva crítico-colaborativa, pautada na argumentação multimodal, como uma possibilidade de ação-investigação-transformação em espaços educacionais por uma sociedade mais justa e equânime. Com esse objetivo, apresentamos um exemplo de um processo crítico-colaborativo entre pesquisadores do Grupo de Pesquisa Linguagem em Atividade no Contexto Escolar em reunião de planejamento para um evento do Projeto Brincadas, cuja temática envolvia a contradição entre a fartura da festa junina e a fome vivida no Brasil. A análise do dado selecionado aponta para a importância na argumentação multimodal, materializada em aspectos como a exemplificação, as expressões faciais, os movimentos de cabeça e de corpo e, em especial, a concessão que permitem a expansão da colaboração crítica em oposição a uma argumentação para destruição do outro. Como resultado, foi possível perceber a busca por superação dos movimentos de opressão vividos no contexto acadêmico. (AU)

In this article, we discuss a research vision that assumes ways of acting with the potential to overcome oppression. Our proposal involves reflection on a praxis for the transformative understanding of realities, focusing on language. It presents a critical-collaborative perspective, based on multimodal argumentation, as a possibility of action-research-transformation in educational spaces for a fairer and more equitable society. With this objective, we present an example of a critical-collaborative process between researchers from the Research Group Language in Activity in the School Context in a planning meeting for an event of the Brincadas Project, whose theme involved the contradiction between the abundance of the June festival and hunger in Brazil. The analysis of the selected data points to the importance of multimodal argumentation, materialized in aspects such as exemplification, facial expressions, head, and body movements, and, in particular, the concession that allows the expansion of critical collaboration as opposed to argumentation for the destruction of the other. As a result, it was possible to perceive the search for overcoming movements of oppression experienced in the academic context. (AU)

En este artículo, discutimos una visión de investigación que presupone formas de actuar con potencial para superar la opresión. Nuestra propuesta pasa por la reflexión sobre una praxis para la comprensión transformadora de las realidades, con foco en el lenguaje. Presenta una perspectiva crítico-colaborativa, basada en la argumentación multimodal, como posibilidad de acción-investigación-transformación en espacios educativos para una sociedad más justa y equitativa. Con este objetivo, presentamos un ejemplo de un proceso crítico-colaborativo entre investigadores del Grupo de Investigación Lenguaje en Actividad en el Contexto Escolar en una reunión de planificación de un evento del Proyecto Brincadas, cuya temática involucró la contradicción entre la abundancia de una fiesta junina tradicional brasileña y el hambre vividos en Brasil. El análisis de los datos seleccionados apunta a la importancia de la argumentación multimodal, materializada en aspectos como la ejemplificación, las expresiones faciales, los movimientos de cabeza y cuerpo y, en particular, la concesión que permite ampliar la colaboración crítica frente a una argumentación para la destrucción. del otro. Como resultado, se pudo percibir la búsqueda de superación de los movimientos de opresión vividos en el contexto académico.(AU)

Nutritional Quality, Techno-Functional Characteristics, and Safety of Biomass Powder and Protein Isolate Produced from Penicillium maximae.

This study investigated the suitability of Penicillium maximae biomass powder and protein isolate as a food product or food ingredient. The biomass powder is rich in proteins (34.8%) and insoluble fiber (36.2%) but poor in lipids (3.1%). Strong water hydration (8.3 g/g, 8.5 g/g) and oil holding (6.9 g/g, 16.3 g/g) capacity were observed in the biomass powder and protein isolate, respectively, besides 100% emulsion stability, indicating multiple applications in the food industry. No locomotor impairment was induced in Drosophila melanogaster flies after consuming extracts of P. maximae biomass powder. Furthermore, decreased production of reactive oxygen species and preservation of survival, viability, and fertility parameters were observed in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which reinforces the potential of P. maximae biomass for human and animal consumption. Together, the results show the vast food applicability of P. maximae biomass and protein isolate as protein substitutes with several health and environmental benefits.

Heterorhabditis amazonensis to Control Euschistus heros (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Laboratory and Field Conditions.

This study evaluated the potential of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) to control Euschistus heros (Fabricius) under laboratory and field conditions. Eight isolates of the species Heterorhabditis amazonensis were evaluated on field-collected and laboratory-reared insect populations. The isolates that performed best in the virulence test were evaluated for in vivo production on Galleria mellonella Fabricius larvae. Then, these were evaluated in field conditions on E. heros from the laboratory and field populations. The isolates IBCB-n46, NEPET11, and IBCB-n40 caused the highest mortality in adult E. heros from laboratory rearing (100, 94, and 80%, respectively), and IBCB-n46 and NEPET11 were the best against the field population (71 and 47% mortality, respectively). In the assay to evaluate production, the isolate IBCB-n46 achieved the best result (3.4 × 105 IJs/g per larvae), followed by isolates UEPN05 (1.4 × 105 IJs/g per larvae) finally NEPET11 (7.5 × 104 IJs/g per larvae). In the assay in field conditions, all treatments differed from the control treatment, no significant differences were observed in the evaluated factors (isolates and insect populations), and the highest percentage of mortality was obtained by the UEPN05 isolate when applied to insects from the laboratory (18.57% mortality).

Cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica em pacientes jovens / Myocardial revascularization surgery in young patients

OBJETIVOS: Estão disponíveis na literatura poucos estudos, ou ainda, séries com pequeno número de pacientes na área de cirurgia de revascularização miocárdica envolvendo pacientes jovens. Neste estudo foi avaliada a morbimortalidade hospitalar, assim como a evolução a longo prazo, de pacientes jovens, com idades inferior ou igual a 45 anos, submetidos à cirurgia de revascularização do miocárdio isolada (CRM). MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva da morbimortalidade hospitalar e evolução a longo prazo de todos os pacientes jovens com idades ≤ 45 anos, consecutivamente submetidos à CRM no período de 01/01/1999 a 31/12/2015. RESULTADOS: No período avaliado, 8889 pacientes foram submetidos a cirurgia, sendo 408 pacientes jovens (4,5%). Os pacientes com idade ≤ 45 anos apresentaram mais frequentemente história de tabagismo, hipertrigliceridemia, história familiar positiva e infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) prévio, enquanto os pacientes com idade > 45 anos eram mais sintomáticos no momento da cirurgia. Enxertos com artéria torácica interna foram mais utilizados nos jovens, 96,1% versus 91,8%, p < 0,001. Os pacientes com idade < 45 anos apresentaram baixas taxas de complicações pós-operatórias. A mortalidade hospitalar foi de 1,7% e 5,1% em jovens e idosos respectivamente. A sobrevida da população jovem a longo prazo foi de 91,73% e 87,74% em 10 e 15 anos respectivamente, segundo modelo de Kaplan-Meier. CONCLUSÕES: Os pacientes com idade ≤ 45 anos apresentavam mais frequentemente história de tabagismo atual, hipertrigliceridemia, história familiar positiva para doença arterial coronária (DAC) e infarto prévio, quando comparados aos mais idosos. A cirurgia de revascularização na população jovem apresenta ótimos resultados, com baixas taxas de complicações e mortalidade hospitalar.

Performance of entomopathogenic nematodes on the mealybug, Dysmicoccus brevipes (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) and the compatibility of control agents with nematodes.

The performance of nine isolates of Heterorhabditis amazonensis and one of Heterorhabditis indica on the mealybug Dysmicoccus brevipes, (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae), were evaluated. The most virulent isolates were evaluated for nematode vertical and horizontal dispersal, and for efficiency at concentrations of 0 (control), 25, 50, 75, and 100 infective juveniles (IJs)/cm2 on adult females of the insect. A compatibility assessment was also carried out with commercial products, registered or in the process of registration, for use in the cassava culture. The isolates that caused the highest mortality rate of D. brevipes were NEPET11 (93.8% ± 4.1) and IBCB-n40 (84.0% ± 8.1), both isolates of Heterorhabditis amazonensis, while the isolate NEPET11 was more virulent than IBCB-n40 at all concentrations evaluated. In the dispersal test, the NEPET11 isolate caused mortality in the mealybug at a depth of up to 20 cm and a horizontal displacement of 7.25 cm. In the compatibility test, the NEPET11 isolate exhibited reduced viability due to the products Poquer, Tiguer 100 EC, Actara 250 WG, and Gaucho FS. The insecticide Curyom 550 EC was the only one that reduced infectivity (reduction of 92%) and is the only product classified as moderately toxic, while all the others were classified as compatible based on E%.

SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS RELATED TO KNOWING THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics of women according to the reported number of benefits of breastfeeding and to verify its association with the duration of this practice until the sixth month of the child's life. METHODS: This was a qualitative and prospective observational study performed with postpartum mothers in two stages (n=78, and after six months n=62). Generalized linear models were used to identify the profile of the mothers as well as to determine the factors associated with the duration of breastfeeding until the sixth month of the child's life. RESULTS: The profile of women who reported fewer benefits (≤3) was: younger age (p=0.008), with lower schooling (p<0.001), single (p=0.02), unemployed (p=0.04) and who attended prenatal care at the public health service (p=0.01). The analysis of the interaction of these factors indicated that women who had only completed elementary school and who attended prenatal care at the public health service (p<0.001) or privately (p=0.01) reported fewer benefits. Factors such as: level of education, marital status, previous education/training about breastfeeding, place of prenatal care and the reported number of benefits were not associated with the duration of breastfeeding until the sixth month of the child's life. CONCLUSIONS: The lowest number of breastfeeding benefits was reported by women with elementary education and who undewent prenatal care in the public health system or privately. The number of reported benefits was not associated with the duration of this practice until the age of sixth months of the child.

Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on public surfaces in a densely populated urban area of Brazil: A potential tool for monitoring the circulation of infected patients.

The world is experiencing the worst global health crisis in recent decades since December/2019 due to a new pandemic coronavirus. The COVID-19 disease, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has resulted in more than 30 million cases and 950 thousand deaths worldwide as of September 21, 2020. Determining the extent of the virus on public surfaces is critical for understanding the potential risk of infection in these areas. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA on public surfaces in a densely populated urban area in Brazil. Forty-nine of 933 samples tested positive (5.25%) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, including samples collected from distinct material surfaces, including metal and concrete, and distinct places, mainly around hospital care units and public squares. Our data indicated the contamination of public surfaces by SARS-CoV-2, suggesting the circulation of infected patients and the risk of infection for the population. Constant monitoring of the virus in urban areas is required as a strategy to fight the pandemic and prevent further infections.

Sociodemographic characteristics related to knowing the benefits of breastfeeding / Características sociodemográficas relacionadas ao conhecimento dos benefícios do aleitamento materno

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the characteristics of women according to the reported number of benefits of breastfeeding and to verify its association with the duration of this practice until the sixth month of the child's life. Methods: This was a qualitative and prospective observational study performed with postpartum mothers in two stages (n=78, and after six months n=62). Generalized linear models were used to identify the profile of the mothers as well as to determine the factors associated with the duration of breastfeeding until the sixth month of the child's life. Results: The profile of women who reported fewer benefits (≤3) was: younger age (p=0.008), with lower schooling (p<0.001), single (p=0.02), unemployed (p=0.04) and who attended prenatal care at the public health service (p=0.01). The analysis of the interaction of these factors indicated that women who had only completed elementary school and who attended prenatal care at the public health service (p<0.001) or privately (p=0.01) reported fewer benefits. Factors such as: level of education, marital status, previous education/training about breastfeeding, place of prenatal care and the reported number of benefits were not associated with the duration of breastfeeding until the sixth month of the child's life. Conclusions: The lowest number of breastfeeding benefits was reported by women with elementary education and who undewent prenatal care in the public health system or privately. The number of reported benefits was not associated with the duration of this practice until the age of sixth months of the child.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o perfil das mulheres de acordo com o número relatado de benefícios do aleitamento materno e verificar sua associação com a duração dessa prática até o 6º mês da criança. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo observacional qualitativo e prospectivo realizado com puérperas em duas etapas (n=78 e, após seis meses, n=62). Modelos lineares generalizados foram usados para identificar o perfil das puérperas, assim como para determinar os fatores associados à duração do aleitamento materno até o 6º mês da criança. Resultados: O perfil das mulheres que relataram menos benefícios (≤3) foi: mulheres mais jovens (p=0,008), com menor nível de escolaridade (p<0,001), solteiras (p=0,02), desempregadas (p=0,04) e que fizeram o pré-natal na rede pública de saúde (p=0,01). A análise da interação desses fatores indicou que as mulheres que tinham somente o ensino fundamental que fizeram pré-natal na rede pública de saúde (p<0,001) ou de modo privado (p=0,01) relataram um número menor de benefícios. Fatores como nível de escolaridade, estado civil, recebimento de prévias orientações sobre o aleitamento materno, local de pré-natal e número de benefícios relatados não se associaram à duração do aleitamento materno até o 6º mês da criança. Conclusões: O menor número de benefícios do aleitamento materno foi relatado pelas mulheres com ensino fundamental e que fizeram o pré-natal na rede pública de saúde ou de modo privado. O número de benefícios relatados não se associou com a duração dessa prática até o 6º mês de vida.

Cultivable fungi present in deep-sea sediments of Antarctica: taxonomy, diversity, and bioprospecting of bioactive compounds.

We accessed the culturable mycobiota present in marine sediments at different depths in Antarctica Ocean. Acremonium fusidioides, Penicillium allii-sativi, Penicillium chrysogenum, Penicillium palitans, Penicillium solitum, and Pseudogymnoascus verrucosus were identified. Penicillium allii-sativi was the dominant species. At least one isolate of each species was capable to present antifungal, trypanocidal, leishmanicidal, antimalarial, nematocidal, or herbicidal activities. Penicillium produced extracts with strong trypanocidal and antimalarial activities, and the extracts of P. solitum and P. chrysogenum demonstrated strong antimalarial activities. Acremonium fusidioides and P. verrucosus displayed strong selective herbicidal properties. The 1H NMR signals for extracts of A. fusidioides, P. chrysogenum, and P. solitum indicated the presence of highly functionalized secondary metabolites, which may be responsible for the biological activities detected. In the deep marine Antarctic sediments, we detected fungal assemblages in which the Penicillium species were found to be dominant and demonstrated capabilities to survive and/or colonise that poly-extreme habitat. Penicillium being a polyextremophile Antarctic species, exhibited strong biological activities and the presence of aromatic compounds in its extracts may indicate that they are wild ancient strains with high genetic and biochemical potentials that enable them to produce bioactive compounds which can be researched in further studies and used in the chemotherapy of neglected tropical diseases as well as in agriculture.

Regulation of the Elongation Phase of Protein Synthesis Enhances Translation Accuracy and Modulates Lifespan.

Maintaining accuracy during protein synthesis is crucial to avoid producing misfolded and/or non-functional proteins. The target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) pathway and the activity of the protein synthesis machinery are known to negatively regulate lifespan in many organisms, although the precise mechanisms involved remain unclear. Mammalian TORC1 signaling accelerates the elongation stage of protein synthesis by inactivating eukaryotic elongation factor 2 kinase (eEF2K), which, when active, phosphorylates and inhibits eEF2, which mediates the movement of ribosomes along mRNAs, thereby slowing down the rate of elongation. We show that eEF2K enhances the accuracy of protein synthesis under a range of conditions and in several cell types. For example, our data reveal it links mammalian (m)TORC1 signaling to the accuracy of translation. Activation of eEF2K decreases misreading or termination readthrough errors during elongation, whereas knocking down or knocking out eEF2K increases their frequency. eEF2K also promotes the correct recognition of start codons in mRNAs. Reduced translational fidelity is known to correlate with shorter lifespan. Consistent with this, deletion of the eEF2K ortholog or other factors implicated in translation fidelity in Caenorhabditis elegans decreases lifespan, and eEF2K is required for lifespan extension induced by nutrient restriction. Our data uncover a novel mechanism linking nutrient supply, mTORC1 signaling, and the elongation stage of protein synthesis, which enhances the accuracy of protein synthesis. Our data also indicate that modulating translation elongation and its fidelity affects lifespan.

Pathogenesis of the Candida parapsilosis Complex in the Model Host Caenorhabditis elegans.

Caenorhabditiselegans is a valuable tool as an infection model toward the study of Candida species. In this work, we endeavored to develop a C. elegans-Candidaparapsilosis infection model by using the fungi as a food source. Three species of the C. parapsilosis complex (C.parapsilosis (sensustricto), Candidaorthopsilosis and Candidametapsilosis) caused infection resulting in C. elegans killing. All three strains that comprised the complex significantly diminished the nematode lifespan, indicating the virulence of the pathogens against the host. The infection process included invasion of the intestine and vulva which resulted in organ protrusion and hyphae formation. Importantly, hyphae formation at the vulva opening was not previously reported in C. elegans-Candida infections. Fungal infected worms in the liquid assay were susceptible to fluconazole and caspofungin and could be found to mount an immune response mediated through increased expression of cnc-4, cnc-7, and fipr-22/23. Overall, the C. elegans-C. parapsilosis infection model can be used to model C. parapsilosis host-pathogen interactions.

The monoaminergic pathways and inhibition of monoamine transporters interfere with the antidepressive-like behavior of ketamine.

Ketamine (KET), a NMDA receptor antagonist, has been studied for its rapid and efficacious antidepressant effect, even for the treatment-resistant depression. Although depression is a major cause of disability worldwide, the treatment can be feasible, affordable and cost-effective, decreasing the population health burden. We evaluated the antidepressive-like effects of KET and its actions on monoamine contents (DA and its metabolites, as well as 5-HT) and on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). In addition DAT and SERT (DA and 5-HT transporters, respectively) were also assessed. Male Swiss mice were divided into Control and KET-treated groups. The animals were acutely treated with KET (2, 5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.) and subjected to the forced swimming test, for evaluation of the antidepressive-like behavior. Imipramine and fluoxetine were used as references. The results showed that KET decreased dose-dependently the immobility time and shortly after the test, the animals were euthanized for striatal dissections and monoamine determinations. In addition, the brain (striata, hippocampi and prefrontal cortices) was immunohistochemically processed for TH, DAT and SERT. KET at its higher dose increased DA and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA) and mainly 5-HT contents, in mice striata, effects associated with increases in TH and decreases in DAT immunoreactivities. Furthermore, reductions in SERT immunoreactivities were observed in the striatum and hippocampus. The results indicate that KET antidepressive-like effect probably involves, among other factors, monoaminergic pathways, as suggested by the increased striatal TH immunoreactivity and reduced brain DA (DAT) and 5-HT (SERT) transporters.

Improvement in lung function and functional capacity in morbidly obese women subjected to bariatric surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether weight loss in women with morbid obesity subjected to bariatric surgery alters lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity and the level of habitual physical activity and to investigate the relationship between these variables and changes in both body composition and anthropometrics. METHODS: Twenty-four women with morbid obesity were evaluated with regard to lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, body composition, anthropometrics and the level of habitual physical activity two weeks prior to and six months after bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Regarding lung function, mean increases of 160 mL in slow vital capacity, 550 mL in expiratory reserve volume, 290 mL in forced vital capacity and 250 mL in forced expiratory volume in the first second as well as a mean reduction of 490 mL in inspiratory capacity were found. Respiratory muscle strength increased by a mean of 10 cmH2O of maximum inspiratory pressure, and a 72-meter longer distance on the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test demonstrated that functional capacity also improved. Significant changes also occurred in anthropometric variables and body composition but not in the level of physical activity detected using the Baecke questionnaire, indicating that the participants remained sedentary. Moreover, correlations were found between the percentages of lean and fat mass and both inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that changes in body composition and anthropometric variables exerted a direct influence on functional capacity and lung function in the women analyzed but exerted no influence on sedentarism, even after accentuated weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Improvement in lung function and functional capacity in morbidly obese women subjected to bariatric surgery

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether weight loss in women with morbid obesity subjected to bariatric surgery alters lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity and the level of habitual physical activity and to investigate the relationship between these variables and changes in both body composition and anthropometrics. METHODS: Twenty-four women with morbid obesity were evaluated with regard to lung function, respiratory muscle strength, functional capacity, body composition, anthropometrics and the level of habitual physical activity two weeks prior to and six months after bariatric surgery. RESULTS: Regarding lung function, mean increases of 160 mL in slow vital capacity, 550 mL in expiratory reserve volume, 290 mL in forced vital capacity and 250 mL in forced expiratory volume in the first second as well as a mean reduction of 490 mL in inspiratory capacity were found. Respiratory muscle strength increased by a mean of 10 cmH2O of maximum inspiratory pressure, and a 72-meter longer distance on the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test demonstrated that functional capacity also improved. Significant changes also occurred in anthropometric variables and body composition but not in the level of physical activity detected using the Baecke questionnaire, indicating that the participants remained sedentary. Moreover, correlations were found between the percentages of lean and fat mass and both inspiratory and expiratory reserve volumes. CONCLUSION: The present data suggest that changes in body composition and anthropometric variables exerted a direct influence on functional capacity and lung function in the women analyzed but exerted no influence on sedentarism, even after accentuated weight loss following bariatric surgery.

Influence of Body Composition on Lung Function and Respiratory Muscle Strength in Children With Obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity affects lung function and respiratory muscle strength. The aim of the present study was to assess lung function and respiratory muscle strength in children with obesity and determine the influence of body composition on these variables. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 75 children (40 with obesity and 35 within the ideal weight range) aged 6 - 10 years. Body mass index, z score, waist circumference, body composition (tetrapolar bioimpedance), respiratory muscle strength and lung function (spirometry) were evaluated. RESULTS: Children with obesity exhibited larger quantities of both lean and fat mass in comparison to those in the ideal weight range. No significant differences were found between groups regarding the respective reference values for respiratory muscle strength. Male children with obesity demonstrated significantly lower lung function values (forced expiratory volume in the first second % (FEV1%) and FEV1/forced vital capacity % (FVC%) : 93.76 ± 9.78 and 92.29 ± 3.8, respectively) in comparison to males in the ideal weight range (99.87 ± 9.72 and 96.31 ± 4.82, respectively). The regression models demonstrated that the spirometric variables were influenced by all body composition variables. CONCLUSION: Children with obesity demonstrated a reduction in lung volume and capacity. Thus, anthropometric and body composition characteristics may be predictive factors for altered lung function.