Swimming training improves mental health parameters, cognition and motor coordination in children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of swimming-learning program of mental health parameters, cognition and motor coordination in students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Thirty-three children of both sexes between 11 and 14 years were randomized into trained group (n = 18) and untrained group (n = 15). The training was performed for 8 weeks. Then, before and after 48 h of training period of both groups were submitted to find the mental health, cognition, motor coordination test, and physical fitness. Our results demonstrate that the aquatic exercise program significantly improved the depression parameters (p = 0.048), stress (p = 0.039), cognitive flexibility (p = 0.042) and selective attention (p = 0.047). In relation to motor coordination and physical fitness, the results showed significant improvements in the coordination of lower limbs laterality (p = 0.05), flexibility (p = 0.049), and abdominal resistance (p = 0.037). Taken together, the results suggest that swimming-learning program significantly improved the mental health, cognition, and motor coordination in children with ADHD.

Improvements of atherosclerosis and hepatic oxidative stress are independent of exercise intensity in LDLr(-/-) mice.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of death in the Western world and are manifested by atherosclerosis. Depending on its intensity, regular aerobic exercise may be either beneficial or harmful to the atherosclerosis process. AIM: The aim of this study was to verify the effects of aerobic exercise training of different intensities on the profile of atherosclerotic lesions and serum lipid, and in the hepatic oxidative balance of low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient (LDLr(-/-)) mice previously developed with atherosclerosis. METHODS: All animals were submitted to a three-month high-fat and high-cholesterol diet regime. The animals were then randomly divided into no exercise (G1, n=9), low-intensity aerobic exercise (G2, n=10, 8 weeks of treadmill running, 30 min/day(-1) at 8-10 m/min(-1)) and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (G3, n=10, 8 weeks of treadmill running, 30 min/day(-1) at 10-16 m/min(-1)) groups. Serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG), and oxidative damage (protein carbonyls and lipid hydroperoxides) were measured. The activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the liver tissue was assessed. RESULTS: G2 (0.015 ± 0.005cm(2)) and G3 (0.014 ± 0.001cm(2)) presented lower aortic fat deposition than G1 (0.039 ± 0.005cm(2)). G2 and G3 exhibited higher HDL-C, TG and CAT activity, but lower lipid peroxidation and carbonyl protein than G1. SOD values were higher in G3 than G2 and G1, and GPx was higher in G2 than in G3 and G1. CONCLUSIONS: Our protocols of low- and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise training (30 min daily for 8 weeks) induced similar benefits in LDLr(-/-) mice with atherosclerosis.

[Coronary heart disease, physical exercise and oxidative stress]. / Doença arterial coronariana, exercício físico e estresse oxidativo.

Cardiovascular diseases are the leaders in morbidity and mortality rates in Brazil and worldwide, being coronary heart disease (CHD) the cause of a large number of deaths and high expenditure on medical assistance. Quite a number of risk factors for CHD are directly related to endothelial dysfunction. Those risk factors induce decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the increase of free radicals (FR), and increased endothelial activity. Those changes may lead to vasodilation impairment. Many interventions are performed to treat CHD. Pharmacological agents, a change in eating habits, nutritional supplements and physical exercise on a regular basis are some of those interventions. The benefits of physical exercise on a regular basis over endothelial function have been demonstrated in experiments with animals and humans. However, data in the literature are still controversial as to the required intensity level to result in significantly protective changes in endothelial function. Intense exercising is also related to higher oxygen consumption and to a resulting increase of oxygen free radicals (OFR).

Efeito de diferentes frequências semanais de treinamento sobre parâmetros de estresse oxidativo / Effect of different frequencies weekly training on parameters of oxidative stress

Durante a contração muscular intensa induzida pelo exercício físico, há aumento na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio, ocasionando estresse oxidativo em diversos órgãos, dentre eles o fígado e o coração. O treinamento físico pode aumentar as defesas antioxidantes e diminuir o estresse oxidativo. Contudo, ainda existem dúvidas sobre a frequência de treinamento necessária para melhorar parâmetros de estresse oxidativo. Este trabalho tem como objetivo verificar o efeito das frequências de duas e três vezes de exercício por semana sobre biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo no fígado e coração. Foram utilizados 18 camundongos machos (CF1), jovens (30 a 35g) divididos em grupos (n=6/grupo): não treinado (NT); treinado duas vezes por semana (T2) e treinado três vezes por semana (T3). Os animais foram submetidos ao treinamento durante oito semanas. Quarenta e oito horas após a última sessão os animais foram sacrificados. O fígado e o coração foram removidos e armazenados em freezer - 70ºC. Foram analisadas as substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico, carbonilação de proteínas, conteúdo total de tióis, atividades da superóxido dismutase , catalase e glutationa peroxidase. Os resultados demonstraram que apenas o grupo T3 reduziu dano oxidativo. Ademais, houve aumento no conteúdo total de tióis, atividades da superóxido dismutase e catalase no mesmo grupo em comparação com o não treinado. A atividade da glutationa peroxidase não apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos. Este estudo demonstrou que somente a frequência de treinamento de três vezes por semana reduz dano oxidativo e aumenta a eficiência do sistema enzimático antioxidante de camundongos.

Intense muscle contraction induced by physical exercise increases the production of reactive oxygen species, which causes oxidative stress in several organs, such as the liver and the heart. Physical training may increase antioxidative defenses and decrease oxidative stress. However, it is not clear what training frequency improves oxidative stress parameters. This study evaluated the effect of training two and three times a week on oxidative stress biomarkers in the liver and the heart. Eighteen young male mice (CF1) weighing 30 to 35 g were divided into three groups (n=6): no training (NT); twice a week training (T2); and three times a week training (T3). The training program lasted eight weeks, and the animals were killed 48 hours after the last training session. The liver and the heart were removed and stored at -70o C. The following analyses were conducted: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, protein carbonylation, total thiol content, superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase. Oxidative damage was reduced only in the T3 group, and there was an increase in total thiol content, supeoxidase dismutase and catalase in T3 when compared with the NT group. Glutathione peroxidase was not significantly different between groups. Only training three times a week seemed to reduce oxidative stress and increase the efficiency of the antioxidant system in mice.

Doença arterial coronariana, exercício físico e estresse oxidativo / Coronary heart disease, physical exercise and oxidative stress

As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) lideram os índices de morbidade e mortalidade no Brasil e no mundo, sendo a doença arterial coronariana (DAC) a causa de um grande número de mortes e de gastos em assistência médica. Inúmeros fatores de risco para a DAC estão diretamente relacionados à disfunção endotelial. A presença desses fatores de risco induz a diminuição da biodisponibilidade de óxido nítrico (NO), o aumento da formação de radicais livres (RL) e o aumento da atividade endotelial. Essas mudanças podem levar a uma capacidade vasodilatadora prejudicada. Inúmeras intervenções são realizadas no tratamento da DAC, incluindo agentes farmacológicos, mudança nos hábitos alimentares, suplementação nutricional e exercício físico regular, cujos efeitos benéficos sobre a função endotelial vêm sendo demonstrados em experimentos com animais e humanos. Entretanto, a literatura ainda é controversa quanto à intensidade de esforço necessária para provocar alterações protetoras significativas na função endotelial. Da mesma forma, exercícios intensos estão também relacionados ao aumento no consumo de oxigênio e ao consequente aumento na formação de radicais livres de oxigênio (RLO).

Cardiovascular diseases are the leaders in morbidity and mortality rates in Brazil and worldwide, being coronary heart disease (CHD) the cause of a large number of deaths and high expenditure on medical assistance. Quite a number of risk factors for CHD are directly related to endothelial dysfunction. Those risk factors induce decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), the increase of free radicals (FR), and increased endothelial activity. Those changes may lead to vasodilation impairment. Many interventions are performed to treat CHD. Pharmacological agents, a change in eating habits, nutritional supplements and physical exercise on a regular basis are some of those interventions. The benefits of physical exercise on a regular basis over endothelial function have been demonstrated in experiments with animals and humans. However, data in the literature are still controversial as to the required intensity level to result in significantly protective changes in endothelial function. Intense exercising is also related to higher oxygen consumption and to a resulting increase of oxygen free radicals (OFR).

Efeitos preventivos e terapêuticos do exercício físico sobre lesão pulmonar e estresse oxidativo induzido por bleomicina / Preventive and therapeutic effects of physical exercise on bleomycin-induced lung injury and oxidative stress

Estudos têm apontado o exercício físico regular de baixa a moderada intensidade como um importante agente no combate ao estresse oxidativo pulmonar. Esse estudo investigou o efeito preventivo e terapêutico do exercício físico na resposta oxidativa pulmonar induzida por Bleomicina (BLM). Métodos: 36 camundongos machos (CF1, 30-35g) foram divididos em 6 grupos (n=6): não treinados salina ou BLM, treinamento preventivo salina ou BLM, treinamento terapêutico salina ou BLM e receberam endotraquealmente uma única dose de BLM (2,5U/Kg em 0,25mL de soro estéril) ou salina (0,9%). Os grupos treinados realizaram um programa de exercício progressivo em esteira durante 8 semanas (até 17m.min-1, 50min.dia-1). O grupo preventivo iniciou o programa de exercício 62 diasantes da administração de BLM e o grupo terapêutico 62 dias após a administração de BLM. Quarenta e oito horas após o período experimental, todos os animais foram mortos por decapitação e o pulmão direito foi cirurgicamente removido. Foi determinado o conteúdode hidroxiprolina, os níveis de TBARS e carbonilação de proteínas, atividades da superóxido dismutase e catalase. Os resultados mostram que os treinamentos preventivo e terapêutico reduzem significativamente o conteúdo de hidroxiprolina e inibem o aumento nos marcadores de danos oxidativos em lipídeos e proteínas. Contudo, somente o treinamentoterapêutico reduziu a atividade da SOD e catalase nos animais expostos a BLM. A realização de treinamento físico antes ou após da lesão pulmonar é um agente capaz de minimizar o estresse oxidativo induzido pela BLM.

Studies have shown that regular physical exercise of moderate intensity is an important tool for the control of pulmonary oxidative stress. The objective of this study was to examine the preventive and therapeutic effect of physical exercise on oxidative stress in the lungs of mice exposed to bleomycin (BLM). Thirty-six male mice (CF1, 30-35 g) received a single endotracheal dose of BLM (2.5 U/kg body weight dissolved in 0.25 mL 0.9% NaCl) or saline (0.9% NaCl) and were divided into six groups (n=6): untrained saline or BLM, preventive training saline or BLM, and therapeutic training saline or BLM. The trained groups underwent a program of progressive exercise on a treadmill for 8 weeks (up to 17 m.min-1, 50 min.day-1). The preventive group started the exercise program 62 days before the administration of BLM and the therapeutic group 62 days after the administration of BLM. All animals were killed by decapitation 48 hours after the experimental period, and the right lung was surgically removed for the determination of biochemical parameters. Hydroxyproline content, TBARS level, protein carbonylation, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were analyzed. The results showed that preventive and therapeutic training led to a significant reduction in hydroxyproline content and inhibited the increase in oxidative damage to lipids and proteins. However, only therapeutic training decreased SOD and CAT activities in mice exposed to BLM. The results suggest that preventive and therapeutic physical exercise is able to minimize pulmonary oxidative stress induced by BLM.