Isometric handgrip training, but not a single session, reduces blood pressure in individuals with hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aerobic exercise is a leading strategy for the prevention/management of systemic arterial hypertension, but other modalities of exercise have also been explored. Thus, we examined the acute effect of isometric handgrip exercise (IHGE) and the chronic effect of isometric handgrip training (IHGT) on systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in individuals with hypertension without comorbid conditions. We conducted a systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving adults with hypertension. We searched the electronic databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Cochrane, Web of Science, LILACS, EMBASE and PEDro. We used random-effects model for the analyses, RoB2 tool to assess the risk of bias, and GRADE to assess the strength of evidence. A total of 9 RCTs (2 for IHGE and 7 for IHGT) were selected. Compared to a control condition, IHGE did not have any effect on SBP/DBP. Unlike, the pooled mean effect of IHGT showed SBP was reduced by 6.7 mmHg (95% CI -10.3 to -3.4 mmHg) and DBP by 4.5 mmHg (95% CI -7.3 to -1.7 mmHg) in individuals with hypertension. Also, the 95% prediction interval (95% PI) of IGHT was -10.9 to -2.5 mmHg for SBP and -10.2 to +1.2 mmHg for DBP. In conclusion, while IHGE did not produce post-exercise hypotension in the population studied, IHGT reduced SBP/DBP in individuals with hypertension with clinically important reductions in SBP (-6.7 mmHg) and DBP (-4.5 mmHg). This review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (CRD 42021217958).

Adherence of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis to epithelial cells correlates with fungal cell surface carbohydrates.

Many studies have described the adherence of Candida albicans to epithelial cells but little is known about Candida parapsilosis adhesion and its role in host cell surface recognition. This study was designed to evaluate the correlation between the adherence of 20 C. albicans and 12 C. parapsilosis strains to human buccal epithelial cells and the expression of fungal cell surface carbohydrates using lectin histochemistry. Adherence assays were carried out by incubating epithelial cells in yeast suspensions (10(7) cells ml(-1) ) and peroxidase conjugated lectins (Con A, WGA, UEA I and PNA at 25 µg ml(-1) ) were used for lectin histochemistry. The results showed that adherence was overall greater for C. albicans than for C. parapsilosis (P < 0.01) and that the individual strain differences correlated with a high content of cell surface α-l-fucose residues as indicated by the UEA I staining pattern. Based on the saccharide specificity of the lectins used, these results suggest that l-fucose residues on cell surface glycoconjugates may represent recognition molecules for interactions between the yeast strain studied and the host (r = 0.6985, P = 0.0045). In addition, our results indicated the presence of α-d-glucose/α-d-mannose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine/N-acetylneuraminic acid and D-galactose/N-acetyl-D-galactosamine in fungal cell wall.

Adductor pollicis muscle and nutritional status in heart failure patients: Is there an association?

OBJECTIVES: Adductor pollicis muscle thickness (APMT) has been used as a simple index for muscle mass for the assessment of nutritional status among hospitalized patients to identify malnutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between APMT and nutritional status in clinical patients diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: APMT was measured in 500 patients with CHF on the dominant side. Nutritional status was assessed means of by the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA). Functional classification was performed according to guidelines provided by the New York Heart Association (NYHA), which establishes four categories of CHF severity. Poisson regression was used to verify the association of APMT, malnutrition, and severity of CHF. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The malnutrition prevalence varied from 1.5% in patients with functional class I CHF to 96.2% in patients classified as functional class IV (P ≤ 0.001). In both sexes, APMT values were significantly lower in patients who were malnourished (P< 0.001). The proportion of patients with CHF and malnutrition was higher among women than men (47.2 versus 37.4%, P = 0.027). Malnutrition was slightly more common among patients ≥60 y of age compared with other age groups (48.3%, P ≤ 0.001). APMT is a significant protective factor for malnutrition even after controlling for sex, age, body mass index, and CHF functional class. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition is highly prevalent among patients with CHF and is associated with functional class. APMT may be used as a simple index for muscle mass for the assessment of nutritional status in these patient populations, and is also associated with malnutrition in these patients, even after controlling for other risk factors.

[Traffic accidents: a qualitative approach from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Acidentes de trânsito: uma visão qualitativa no Município de Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil.

This article takes an interdisciplinary qualitative approach to the problem of traffic accidents in Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. The authors begin by analyzing the "municipalization" (i.e., decentralization to the municipal level) of transport and traffic management in Campinas based on social representations by members of the local government's technical staff. Data demonstrate a significant drop in traffic accident mortality in Campinas in the last ten years. The findings illustrate how new transport and traffic policies had several positive effects. Special attention is given to the objectives, strategies, and obstacles dealt with by local government in the "municipalization" of traffic. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for specific public policies to revitalize urban mass transportation, including special traffic safety educational programs.

Acidentes de trânsito: uma análise a partir da perspectiva das vítimas em Campinas / Traffic accidents: an analysis based on the perspective of the victims in Campinas, Brazil

Este artigo focaliza, numa perspectiva interdisciplinar qualitativa, o problema de acidente de trânsito a partir da visão de 20 vítimas hospitalizadas. Através de dados obtidos por meio de entrevistas, características sociais do acidentado e as circunstâncias do acidente foram analisados. O artigo focaliza, ainda, as representações sociais do acidentado sobre vários temas, tais como o hospital, as causas do acidente, o trânsito, o trabalho, o sistema de transporte coletivo e individual, a motocicleta e as perspectivas para o futuro. Concluímos que as representações sociais do acidentado sobre o trânsito e o acidente de trânsito estão fortemente relacionadas com as dimensões comportamentais e culturais dos indivíduos envolvidos. Tais achados sugerem que, em um nível mais abrangente, a solução do problema de acidente de trânsito requer, sobretudo, a implementação de políticas públicas que levem em conta a dimensão cultural e enfatizem programas de educação para o trânsito.

Acidentes de trânsito: uma visäo qualitativa no Município de Campinas, Säo Paulo, Brasil / Traffic accidents: a qualitative approach from Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Este artigo focaliza, numa perspectiva interdisciplinar qualitativa, o problema de acidentes de trânsito no Município de Campinas. Ele começa analisando o processo de municipalizaçäo do transporte e trânsito no município, com base nas representaçöes sociais de técnicos da Secretaria Municipal de Transporte. Alguns números säo trazidos à tona para mostrar uma queda significativa de mortes no trânsito em Campinas nos últimos dez anos. Esses números demonstram que as políticas públicas implementadas nesse setor têm sido positivas em vários aspectos. Atençäo especial é dada aos objetivos, estratégias e obstáculos encontrados pelo poder local no processo de municipalizaçäo do trânsito. O artigo conclui enfatizando que, além da municipalizaçäo, o Estado necessita implementar políticas públicas específicas consistentes, principalmente aquelas voltadas à revitalizaçäo do transporte coletivo e a programas de educaçäo no trânsito, a fim de se poder avançar no controle do problema