Disruptive compensatory mechanisms in fibromyalgia syndrome and their association with pharmacological agents.

Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a chronic disorder characterized commonly by widespread musculoskeletal pain and fatigue, predominantly affecting women, with its complexity often leading to underdiagnosis and complicating treatment effectiveness. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) metrics are potential markers to optimize FMS treatments; however, evidence is limited. Our study aimed to explore the relationship between cortical excitability and inhibition, assessed through TMS markers, and clinical characteristics in patients with FMS. This presented cross-sectional study employed baseline data from a clinical trial with 108 FMS patients, mostly female (88.8%), and mean age of 47.3 years old (SD = 12.06). Our analysis showed that decreased short-intracortical inhibition (SICI) was associated with gabapentinoids use, nicotine history, and increased fatigue levels, suggesting its connection with compensatory mechanisms for non-painful FMS features. Increased motor intracortical facilitation (ICF) was linked with greater pain severity and shorter FMS duration, implying its relationship with a reorganization of sensorimotor pathways due to chronic pain. Additionally, higher resting motor threshold (rMT) was associated with less effective pain modulation (lower conditioned pain modulation [CPM]), indicating a disruption of pain compensatory mechanism. Given the role of SICI in indexing homeostatic brain mechanisms and its association with fatigue, a hallmark characteristic of FMS-induced behavioral changes, these results suggest that FMS likely has a deleterious effect on brain inhibitory function, thus providing a potential novel insight for FMS mechanisms. In addition, it seems that this compensatory mechanism's disruption is enhanced by pharmacological agents such as gabapentioids and nicotine.

Assessing Functional Ankle Instability in Sport: A Critical Review and Bibliometric Analysis.

Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) is the subject of extensive research in sports and other environments. Given the importance of accurately measuring this latent construct, it is imperative to carry out a careful assessment of the available tools. In this context, the aim of this review was to take an in-depth look at the six most cited measurement tools to assess FAI, with a specific focus on patient-reported outcome measures related to ankle and foot. Four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, and SportDiscus) were searched (up to November 2022) to identify the six most cited questionnaires for assessing FAI. Our analysis showed that the most cited questionnaires are the following: the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), the Foot Function Index (FFI), the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM), the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS), the Olerud and Molander Ankle Score (OMAS), and the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). Each questionnaire was thoroughly assessed and discussed in three sections: Development, Reliability, and Summaries. In addition, bibliometric data were calculated to analyze the relevance of each questionnaire. Despite variations in terms of validity and reliability, conceptualization, structure, and usefulness, the six questionnaires proved to be robust from a psychometric point of view, being widely supported in the literature. The bibliometric analyses suggested that the FAOS ranks first and the FFI ranks sixth in the weighted average of the impact factors of their original publications.

Objectively Measured Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour on Cardiovascular Risk and Health-Related Quality of Life in Adults: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review analysed the association between objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour with cardiovascular risk and HRQoL in adults without previous CVD. Additionally, we analysed the impact of the intensity of the physical activity in this association. METHODS: The search was carried out in three electronic databases with access until February 2023 to find studies with an observational design. For quality assessment, we used The National Institute of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. RESULTS: We identified 5819 references, but only five studies were included. One study shows a positive association between physical activity and HRQoL, while sedentary behaviour was negatively related to HRQoL. Another study showed an association between high-intensity physical activity with a better physical component of HRQoL and low-intensity physical activity with a better mental component of HRQoL. Three studies concluded that higher levels of physical activity are associated with lower levels of cardiovascular risk and higher levels of sedentary behaviour are associated with higher levels of cardiovascular risk. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that people who spend more time being active and spend less time being sedentary appear to have lower cardiovascular risk and higher HRQoL.

Changes in Metabolic and Inflammatory Markers after a Combined Exercise Program in Workers: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: We investigated the effects of a 16-wk combined exercise training on body composition, and metabolic and inflammatory markers in sedentary middle-aged workers. We also assessed whether alterations in metabolic markers were associated with changes in health-related outcomes. METHODS: This randomized controlled trial involved 46 participants randomly allocated into control and exercise groups. The exercise group performed 16-wk combined aerobic and resistance training for 75 min per session, 3 times a week. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and after 16-wk intervention to determine lipid profile, and metabolic and inflammatory markers as primary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 36 participants completed the intervention (53.70 ± 6.92 yr old; n = 18 in each group). Waist circumference (interaction effect: F = 7.423, P = 0.002), fat mass (interaction effect: F = 5.070, P = 0.011), and muscle mass (interaction effect: F = 5.420, P = 0.007) were improved in the exercise group compared with the control group. Fasting glucose increased after the 16-wk follow-up (time effect: F = 73.253, P < 0.001), without an intergroup difference. Insulin levels were greater in the control compared with exercise group (group effect: F = 6.509, P = 0.015). The control group tended to increase the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index (interaction effect: F = 3.493, P = 0.070) and to decrease the QUICKI index (interaction effect: F = 3.364, P = 0.075) to a greater extent compared with the exercise group. Exercise group reduced leptin (interaction effect: F = 11.175, P = 0.002) and adiponectin (interaction effect: F = 4.437, P = 0.043) concentrations in a greater magnitude than the control group. Interleukin (IL)-6 (time effect: F = 17.767, P < 0.001) and tumor necrosis factor α (time effect: F = 9.781, P = 0.004) concentrations decreased after the intervention, without an intergroup difference. IL-17A levels increased in the control compared with exercise group (interaction effect: F = 5.010, P = 0.033). Effects on adiponectin, IL-6, and IL-17A levels seem to depend on baseline body mass index, age, and sex. Percentage changes in leptin correlated positively with changes in homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance index in the exercise ( r = 0.565, P = 0.015) and control ( r = 0.670, P = 0.002) groups. CONCLUSIONS: A combined training program can be an effective strategy to improve body composition and inflammatory markers and prevent marked reductions in insulin sensitivity among middle-aged workers.

The effects of combined exercise training on glucose metabolism and inflammatory markers in sedentary adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the magnitude of the effect of combined exercise training on glucose metabolism markers, adipokines, and inflammatory cytokines in non-diabetic sedentary adults. PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library electronic databases and reference lists of included studies were explored for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that included physically inactive adults and provided combined training interventions (aerobic plus resistance exercise). Effects on fasting glucose and insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), HbA1c, adiponectin, leptin, IL-6, TNF-α, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in exercise vs control groups were analyzed using random effects meta-analysis. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for Randomized Trials 2.0 (RoB 2) was used to assess the risk of bias. A total of 24 RCTs were included in the quantitative analysis. Combined exercise training significantly decrease fasting glucose (standardized mean difference, SMD: - 0.474, 95% CI [- 0.829, - 0.120], p = 0.009, 35 study arms), fasting insulin (SMD: - 1.024, 95% CI [- 1.502, - 0.545], p < 0.001, 27 study arms), HOMA-IR (SMD: - 0.946, 95% CI [- 1.450, - 0.442], p < 0.001, 23 study arms), TNF-α (SMD: - 0.972, 95% CI [- 1.361, - 0.582], p < 0.001, 10 study arms), and CRP (SMD: - 0.507, 95% CI [- 0.818, - 0.196], p = 0.001, 14 study arms). No significant effects were observed for HbA1c, adiponectin, leptin, and IL-6 levels. Random effects meta-regression models by age, sex, and intervention length were not able to explain any of the variation in the effect size of HOMA-IR. Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that combined exercise training improves some glucose metabolism markers and inflammatory parameters in sedentary adults without diabetes.

Effects of combined training during the COVID-19 pandemic on metabolic health and quality of life in sedentary workers: A randomized controlled study.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of a combined training (CT) program performed during the first national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition, metabolic profile, quality of life and stress in sedentary workers, and examines whether changes in the metabolic profile are associated with changes in health-related outcomes which are modifiable by exercise. We evaluated 31 sedentary workers (48.26 ± 7.89 years old). Participants were randomly assigned to a CT group (i.e., performed 16 weeks of exercise) or to a non-exercise control group. The CT program consisted of 16-week of resistance and aerobic exercise. Body composition, glycemic and lipidic profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), health-related quality of life and stress levels were assessed pre- and post-intervention. After the intervention period, the CT group demonstrated significantly lower waist and hip circumference (p < 0.05) values than the control group. The control group significantly increased the fasting glucose and HOMA-IR after 16 weeks follow-up (+4.74 mg/dL, p = 0.029; and +0.41 units, p = 0.010, respectively), whiles no significant changes were observed in the CT group in the same parameters (+3.33 mg/dL, p = 0.176; and +0.04 units, p = 0.628, respectively). No changes were observed in the lipid profile for either group (p > 0.05). A significant positive relationship was detected between the change in BMI with the changes in insulin and HOMA-IR (r = 0.643, p = 0.024; and r = 0.605, p = 0.037, respectively). In addition, the changes in CRF were negatively associated with the changes in total cholesterol (r = -0.578, p = 0.049). We observed differences between groups on perceived stress levels and physical, psychological, and environmental domains of quality of life, with the CT group showing better results. Moreover, the CT group improved perceived life satisfaction (+3.17 points, p = 0.038). The findings of the present study suggest that the participants who remained physically active during the first pandemic-related lockdown were able to mitigate the deleterious effects associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

The impact of aquatic exercise programs on the systemic hematological and inflammatory markers of community dwelling elderly: A randomized controlled trial.

Evidence shows that physical exercise is important in maintaining an efficient immune system during ageing. However, there are few studies that test the impact of aquatic exercise programs on the immune system. This study aims to analyze the impact of different physical exercise programs in aquatic environment on the systemic hematological and inflammatory markers of community dwelling elderly. One hundred and two elderly were randomly allocated into four groups: a continuous aerobic exercise group (AerG) (n = 25, 71.44 ± 4.84 years); an interval aerobic exercise group (IntG) (n = 28, 72.64 ± 5.22 years); a combined exercise group (ComG) (n = 29, 71.90 ± 5.67 years); a control group (CG) (n = 20, 73.60 ± 5.25 years). The AerG, IntG and ComG participants took part in three different aquatic exercise programs over a 28-weeks period. The CG participants maintained their usual routines during the same time period. Blood samples were collected from all participants in order to access hematologic indicators, by means of cell count, and the inflammatory profile by ELISA. After 28 weeks, significant differences were found for several hematologic variables in the AerG, IntG and ComG with increases in mean corpuscular hemoglobulin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobulin concentration (MCHC), and hemoglobulin (Hb). Decreases in TNF-α levels were found for all exercising groups. An increase in IL-10 levels, granulocytes to lymphocytes ratio (GLR) and a decrease in the TNF-α/IL-10 ratio, were found for the IntG. For the ComG decreases were also found for the TNF-α, IL-1ß/IL-1ra ratios. The present study suggests that aquatic exercise programs were able to improve the inflammatory profile of the participants. Those in the exercise intervention groups showed a shift towards lower pro-inflammatory levels while the non-exercising group showed the opposite behaviour. The IntG and the ComG aquatic exercise programs appeared to be more effective than the AerG program in decreasing chronic low-grade inflammation by mediating the production of higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines. However, the differences found between the exercising groups were small and may not have clinical significance.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new thalidomide-donepezil hybrids as neuroprotective agents targeting cholinesterases and neuroinflammation.

A new series of eight multifunctional thalidomide-donepezil hybrids were synthesized based on the multi-target-directed ligand strategy and evaluated as potential neuroprotective, cholinesterase inhibitors and anti-neuroinflammatory agents against neurodegenerative diseases. A molecular hybridization approach was used for structural design by combining the N-benzylpiperidine pharmacophore of donepezil and the isoindoline-1,3-dione fragment from the thalidomide structure. The most promising compound, PQM-189 (3g), showed good AChE inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 3.15 µM, which was predicted by docking studies as interacting with the enzyme in the same orientation observed in the AChE-donepezil complex and a similar profile of interaction. Additionally, compound 3g significantly decreased iNOS and IL-1ß levels by 43% and 39%, respectively, after 24 h of incubation with lipopolysaccharide. In vivo data confirmed the ability of 3g to prevent locomotor impairment and changes in feeding behavior elicited by lipopolysaccharide. Moreover, the PAMPA assay evidenced adequate blood-brain barrier and gastrointestinal tract permeabilities with an Fa value of 69.8%. Altogether, these biological data suggest that compound 3g can treat the inflammatory process and oxidative stress resulting from the overexpression of iNOS and therefore the increase in reactive nitrogen species, and regulate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1ß. In this regard, compound PQM-189 (3g) was revealed to be a promising neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory agent with an innovative thalidomide-donepezil-based hybrid molecular architecture.

The Impact of Aquatic Exercise Programs on the Intima-Media thickness of the Carotid Arteries, Hemodynamic Parameters, Lipid Profile and Chemokines of Community-Dwelling Older Persons: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Scientific evidence has shown that physical exercise is an effective way of improving several cardiovascular disease markers. However, few studies have tested its effectiveness when performed in aquatic environments. The purpose of this study was to test the impact of different aquatic exercise programs on the intima-media thickness of carotid arteries (IMT) and hemodynamic and biochemical markers of cardiovascular diseases in community-dwelling older persons. A total of 102 participants were randomly allocated into four groups: an aerobic exercise group (AerG) (n = 25, 71.44 ± 4.84 years); an aerobic interval group (IntG) (n = 28, 72.64 ± 5.22 years); a combined group (ComG) (n = 29, 71.90 ± 5.67 years); and a control group (CG) (n = 20, 73.60 ± 5.25 years). The AerG, IntG, and ComG participants took part in three different aquatic exercise programs for 28 weeks. The CG participants maintained their usual routines. All participants were evaluated for IMT, blood pressure, lipid profile, and MCP-1 and MIP-1α chemokines, pre- and post-intervention. Significant differences were found in the AerG for diastolic diameter (DD), in the IntG for peak systolic velocity (PSV), and in the ComG for DD and end-diastolic velocity (EDV). Regarding blood pressure, significant differences were found in AerG for systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP); in IntG for DBP; and in ComG for SBP, DBP, and heart rate (HR). Significant differences were found in the AerG and IntG for glucose (GLU). Lower plasma levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1α) were found in the AerG and in the ComG for MCP-1 after the intervention. Aquatic physical exercise appears to improve cardiovascular health, regardless of the type of the program adopted. Aerobic programs (combined and continuous aerobic exercises) seemed to have a more beneficial effect in reducing important cardiovascular risk markers.

Effects of combined training on metabolic profile, lung function, stress and quality of life in sedentary adults: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Both physical inactivity and sedentary behavior are considered modifiable risk factors for chronic diseases and all-cause mortality. Adult office-workers spend most of their working day in sedentary behaviors, so they are particularly at high risk of developed chronic diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders like diabetes mellitus, …). It seems important to promote behavioral changes that could prevent or delay metabolic disease development. Evidence supports the use of exercise programs, however, to date there are several knowledge gaps and inconsistencies in the literature regarding the effects of Combined Training (i.e., aerobic plus resistance training) in sedentary healthy adults. This paper outlines an RCT designed to evaluate the effects of a 16-week combined training program on biochemical and immune markers of metabolic disease, lung function, salivary stress hormones and subjective quality of life (primary outcomes), as well as on body composition and physical fitness (secondary outcomes) in sedentary middle-aged office-workers. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the associations between the changes promoted by the exercise program and the different variables studied. METHODS AND DESIGN: This is a single-blinded two-arm RCT with parallel groups. A minimum of healthy 40 office-workers aged 40-64 years will be recruited to engage in a 16-week intervention study. After baseline assessments, participants will be randomized to one of the two groups: (1) combined training group or (2) control group. Baseline assessments will be repeated after 8 weeks of intervention (mid-testing) and upon completion of the intervention (post-testing). DISCUSSION: This RCT involves a multi-disciplinary approach and seems to be a relevant contribution to understanding the potential role of combined training in improving the metabolic profile, lung function, stress, and quality of life in adults. The results can provide important insights for clinical recommendations and for the optimization of strategies to prevent metabolic disorders in adults with sedentary jobs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT04868240; date of registration April 30, 2021).

Impact of Different Aquatic Exercise Programs on Body Composition, Functional Fitness and Cognitive Function of Non-Institutionalized Elderly Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Aquatic physical exercise programs have become progressively more popular among elderly people. Some of the major physical exercise program disadvantages on land are minimized due to the specific properties of the aquatic environment. The purpose of the present randomized controlled study is to verify the effects of different aquatic physical exercise programs on body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function in non-institutionalized elderly people. For this study, 102 elderly individuals were randomly allocated into four different groups: AerG (n = 25, 71.44 ± 4.84 years); IntG (n = 28, 72.64 ± 5.22 years); ComG (n = 29, 71.90 ± 5.67 years) and CG (n = 20, 73.60 ± 5.25 years). Individuals from the groups AerG, IntG and ComG participated in three different aquatic physical exercise programs for a period of 28 weeks. The CG participants kept to their usual routines. All participants were evaluated for body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function at two time moments, i.e., pre- (M1) and post-intervention (M2). Significant differences for body composition were found between M1 and M2 for FM (p < 0.001), LBM (p < 0.001) and WCir (p < 0.01) in the AerG, for BMI (p < 0.05), FM (p < 0.05), LBM (p < 0.001) and LCir-R (p < 0.05) in the IntG, and for WGT (p < 0.01), FM (p < 0.05), LBM (p < 0.01), LCir-R (p < 0.05) and LCir-L (p < 0.01) in the ComG groups. For functional fitness, differences were found between M1 and M2 for 2m-ST (p < 0.000), 30s-CS (p < 0.000), 30s-AC (p < 0.05), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the AerG, for 2m-ST (p < 0.05), BS-R (p < 0.05), 30s-CS (p < 0.000), 30s-AC(p < 0.01), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the IntG, and for 30s-CS (p < 0.000), HG-T-R (p < 0.000) and HG-T-L (p < 0.000) in the ComG groups. The present study evidenced the beneficial effects of physical exercise in an aquatic environment on body composition, functional fitness and cognitive function in non-institutionalized elderly adults. The ComG water-based exercise program showed more beneficial effects in the improvement of body composition and cognitive function variables, while the IntG and AerG programs were more effective in the improvement of functional fitness.

Effect of exercise-conditioned human serum on the viability of cancer cell cultures: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Numerous epidemiological studies have shown the existence of a relationship between exercise and reduced risk of different types of cancer. In vitro studies have identified a direct effect of exercise-conditioned human serum on cancer cell lines of the lung, breast, prostate, and colon. The aim of this systematic review with meta-analysis (SRM) was to estimate the magnitude of the effect that exercise-conditioned human serum produced on the viability of cancer cell cultures. The design followed the PRISMA guidelines and the TREND statement to assess the quality of information (QoI) in each study. Nine in vitro studies were included in the SRM, involving a total of nine cancer cell lines and serum from 244 individuals from different countries, including namely healthy sedentary individuals, at risk of prostate cancer individuals and cancer patients, with ages ranging from 18 to 73 years. The impact of exerciseconditioned human serum on the viability of cancer cell cultures was analysed by a variety of assays, using pre-exercise human serum for comparison purposes. Globally, cultures of cancer cell lines exposed to human serum conditioned by exercise of various intensities exhibited a reduced viability, when compared with control cultures, with an overall effect size of -1.126 (95% CI; -1.300 to -0.952; p < 0.001). When the analysis only included human serum conditioned by high intensity exercise, the effect became more pronounced (ES -1.350; -1.522 to -1.179 (95% CI); p < 0.001). These results are in line with the hypothesis that changes in human serum induced by exercise might play a role in the beneficial effects of physical activity in cancer prevention and management and that these effects depend on exercise intensity.

Gene-environment interaction in molar-incisor hypomineralization.

Molar incisor hypomineralization (MIH) is an enamel condition characterized by lesions ranging in color from white to brown which present rapid caries progression, and mainly affects permanent first molars and incisors. These enamel defects usually occur when there are disturbances during the mineralization or maturation stage of amelogenesis. Both genetic and environmental factors have been suggested to play roles in MIH's development, but no conclusive risk factors have shown the source of the disease. During head and neck development, the interferon regulatory factor 6 (IRF6) gene is involved in the structure formation of the oral and maxillofacial regions, and the transforming growth factor alpha (TGFA) is an essential cell regulator, acting during proliferation, differentiation, migration and apoptosis. In this present study, it was hypothesized that these genes interact and contribute to predisposition of MIH. Environmental factors affecting children that were 3 years of age or older were also hypothesized to play a role in the disease etiology. Those factors included respiratory issues, malnutrition, food intolerance, infection of any sort and medication intake. A total of 1,065 salivary samples from four different cohorts were obtained, and DNA was extracted from each sample and genotyped for nine different single nucleotide polymorphisms. Association tests and logistic regression implemented in PLINK were used for analyses. A potential interaction between TGFA rs930655 with all markers tested in the cohort from Turkey was identified. These interactions were not identified in the remaining cohorts. Associations (p<0.05) between the use of medication after three years of age and MIH were also found, suggesting that conditions acquired at the age children start to socialize might contribute to the development of MIH.

Objectively Measured Sedentary Behavior and Physical Fitness in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Sedentary behavior has been considered an independent risk factor to health. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine associations between objectively measured sedentary time and physical fitness components in healthy adults. Methods: Four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed and Sport Discus) were searched (up to 20 September 2020) to retrieve studies on healthy adults which used observational, cohort and cross-sectional designs. Studies were included if sedentary time was measured objectively and examined associations with the health- or skill-related attributes of physical fitness (e.g., muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, balance). After applying additional search criteria, 21 papers (11,101 participants) were selected from an initial pool of 5192 identified papers. Results: Significant negative associations were found between total sedentary time with cardiorespiratory fitness (r = -0.164, 95%CI: -0.240, -0.086, p < 0.001), muscular strength (r = -0.147, 95%CI: -0.266, -0.024, p = 0.020) and balance (r = -0.133, 95%CI: -0.255, -0.006, p = 0.040). Conclusions: The evidence found suggests that sedentary time can be associated with poor physical fitness in adults (i.e., muscular strength, cardiorespiratory fitness and balance), so strategies should be created to encourage behavioral changes.

Impact of Aquatic-Based Physical Exercise Programs on Risk Markers of Cardiometabolic Diseases in Older People: A Study Protocol for Randomized-Controlled Trials.

Cardiometabolic diseases are one of the primary causes of mortality and morbidity worldwide and sedentary lifestyles are contributing factors to these pathologies. Physical exercise has been recognized as an important tool in the prevention and treatment of these diseases. However, there are still some doubts about the efficacy of certain type of physical exercise programs for older participants. The main goal of this study is to assess the impact of different aquatic-based physical exercise programs on risk markers of cardiometabolic diseases in older people. The study group will consist of non-institutionalized individuals, within the age group of 65 or older. The sample will be randomly divided into four groups, three experimental groups (EG) and one control group (CG). Participants from the EGs will be exposed to three physical aquatic-based exercise programs for a period of 28 weeks (continuous aerobic, interval aerobic and combined). The evaluated parameters include anthropometry, physical functions, mental health, cognitive function, carotid arteries intima-media thickness, heart rate variability and biochemical markers. The results will allow an interpretation of the impact of different aquatic-based physical exercise programs on cardiometabolic diseases markers and can also be used as a tool for professionals to prescribe adequate and more efficient physical exercise programs.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel feruloyl-donepezil hybrids as potential multitarget drugs for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

A novel series of feruloyl-donepezil hybrid compounds were designed, synthesized and evaluated as multitarget drug candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's Disease (AD). In vitro results revealed potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity for some of these compounds and all of them showed moderate antioxidant properties. Compounds 12a, 12b and 12c were the most potent AChE inhibitors, highlighting 12a with IC50 = 0.46 µM. In addition, these three most promising compounds exhibited significant in vivo anti-inflammatory activity in the mice paw edema, pleurisy and formalin-induced hyperalgesy models, in vitro metal chelator activity for Cu2+ and Fe2+, and neuroprotection of human neuronal cells against oxidative damage. Molecular docking studies corroborated the in vitro inhibitory mode of interaction of these active compounds on AChE. Based on these data, compound 12a was identified as a novel promising drug prototype candidate for the treatment of AD with innovative structural feature and multitarget effects.

Morphology of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue in odontocetes.

This study describes the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) in odontocetes from the Brazilian coast and freshwater systems. Seven species were evaluated and tissue samples were analyzed by light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and immunohistochemistry. Laryngeal tonsil was a palpable oval mass located in the larynx, composed of a lymphoepithelial complex. Dense collections of lymphocytes were found in the skin of male fetus and calf. Clusters of lymphoid tissue were found in the uterine cervix of a reproductively active juvenile female and along the pulmonary artery of an adult female. Lymphoid tissues associated with the gastrointestinal tract were characterized by diffusely arranged or organized lymphocytes. The anal tonsil was composed of an aggregate of lymphoid tissue occurring exclusively in the anal canal, being composed of squamous epithelium branches. MALT was present in different tissues and organic systems of cetaceans, providing constant protection against mucosal pathogens present in their environment.

Reproductive morphology of female Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis).

The reproductive morphology of cetaceans is poorly studied and, despite the large number of strandings, reports on this subject are scarce due to access to carcasses mostly in an advanced state of decomposition. The present study aimed to describe histological characteristics of the female genital tract of Sotalia guianensis, in order to assist in future studies on the reproductive biology of these animals. Females of different ages, from stranding events on beaches in northeastern Brazil, were used. Fragments of all organs were collected and processed for light and scanning electron microscopy. Histological analyses showed that these structures were similar to those found in terrestrial mammals, with some peculiarities, such as the presence of differentiated cells in the vulvar subepidermal layer, not described in the literature on cetaceans. Reproductive studies with a morphological description of the female genital organs are extremely important, since they would enable a better understanding of the species reproductive physiology and assist in the development of new strategies for the species conservation.

Morphology of the eyeball from the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae).

Aquatic mammals underwent morphological and physiological adaptations due to the transition from terrestrial to aquatic environment. One of the morphological changes regards their vision since cetaceans' eyes are able to withstand mechanical, chemical, osmotic, and optical water conditions. Due to insufficient information about these animals, especially regarding their sense organs, this study aimed to describe the morphology of the Humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) eyeball. Three newborn females, stranded dead on the coast of Sergipe and Bahia, Brazil, were used. Samples were fixed in a 10% formalin solution, dissected, photographed, collected, and evaluated through light and electron microscopy techniques. The Humpback whale sclera was thick and had an irregular surface with mechanoreceptors in its lamina propria. Lens was dense, transparent, and ellipsoidal, consisting of three layers, and the vascularized choroid contains melanocytes, mechanoreceptors, and a fibrous tapetum lucidum. The Humpback whale eyeball is similar to other cetaceans and suggests an adaptation to diving and migration, contributing to the perception of differences in temperature, pressure, and lighting.

Embryonic development of endoderm in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus).

The poultry industry is a sector of agribusiness which represents an important role in the country's agricultural exports. Therefore, the study about embryogenesis of the domestic chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) has a great economic importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate embryonic development of the endoderm in chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus). Forty fertilized eggs of domestic chickens, starting from the 1st day of gestation and so on until the 19 days of the incubation were collected from the Granja São José (Amparo, SP, Brazil). Embryos and fetus were fixed in 10% formaldehyde solution, identified, weighed, measured, and subjected to light and scanning electron microscopy. The endoderm originates the internal lining epithelium of the digestive, immune, respiratory systems, and the organs can be visualized from the second day (48 h) when the liver is formed. The formation of the digestive system was complete in the 12th day. Respiratory system organs begin at the fourth day as a disorganized tissue and undifferentiated. Their complete differentiation was observed at the 10 days of incubation, however, until the 19 days the syrinx was not observed. The formation of immune system at 10th day was observed with observation of the spleen, thymus, and cloacal bursa. The study of the organogenesis of the chicken based on germ layers is very complex and underexplored, and the study of chicken embryology is very important due the economic importance and growth of the use of this animal model studies such as genetic studies.