O Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos prevê a melhora física em longo prazo de sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva: um estudo de coorte prospectiva / The 6-Minute Walk Test predicts long-term physical improvement among intensive care unit survivors: a prospective cohort study

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a capacidade do Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos para predizer a melhora do estado funcional físico em longo prazo de pacientes sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva. Métodos: Foram avaliados, de forma prospectiva, entre fevereiro de 2017 e agosto de 2018, em um ambulatório pós-unidade de terapia intensiva, 32 sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva. Foram inscritos consecutivamente os pacientes com permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva acima de 72 horas (para admissões emergenciais) ou acima de 120 horas (para admissões eletivas) que compareceram ao ambulatório pós-unidade de terapia intensiva 4 meses após receberem alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. A associação entre a distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos realizado na avaliação inicial e a evolução do estado funcional físico foi avaliada durante 8 meses, com utilização do Índice de Barthel. Resultados: A distância média percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos foi significantemente mais baixa nos sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva do que na população geral (405m versus 557m; p < 0,001). A idade (β = -4,0; p < 0,001) e a fraqueza muscular (β = -99,7; p = 0,02) se associaram com a distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos. A distância percorrida no Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos se associou com melhora do estado funcional físico no período de 8 meses de acompanhamento desses pacientes (razão de chance para cada 10m: 1,07; IC95% 1,01 - 1,16; p = 0,03). A área sob a curva Característica de Operação do Receptor para predição da melhora funcional física pelo Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos foi de 0,72 (IC95% 0,53 - 0,88). Conclusão: O Teste de Caminhada de 6 Minutos, realizado 4 meses após a alta da unidade de terapia intensiva, predisse com precisão moderada a melhora do estado funcional físico de sobreviventes à unidade de terapia intensiva.

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the ability of the 6-Minute Walk Test to predict long-term physical functional status improvement among intensive care unit survivors. Methods: Thirty-two intensive care unit survivors were prospectively evaluated from February 2017 to August 2018 in a post-intensive care unit outpatient clinic in Brazil. Individuals with intensive care unit stays > 72 hours (emergency admissions) or > 120 hours (elective admissions) attending the post-intensive care unit clinic four months after intensive care unit discharge were consecutively enrolled. The association between the 6-Minute Walk Test distance at baseline and physical functional status was assessed over 8 months using the Barthel Index. Results: The mean 6-Minute Walk Test distance was significantly lower in intensive care unit survivors than in the general population (405m versus 557m; p < 0.001). Age (β = -4.0; p < 0.001) and muscle weakness (β = -99.7; p = 0.02) were associated with the 6-Minute Walk Test distance. A 6-Minute Walk Test distance was associated with improvement in physical functional status over the 8-month follow-up (odds ratio for each 10m of 1.07; 95%CI 1.01 - 1.16; p = 0.03). The area under the Receiver Operating Characteristic curve for the 6-Minute Walk Test prediction of physical functional status improvement was 0.72 (95%CI 0.53 - 0.88). Conclusion: The 6-Minute Walk Test performed 4 months after intensive care unit discharge predicted long-term physical functional status among intensive care unit survivors with moderate accuracy.

Aging process alters hippocampal and cortical secretase activities of Wistar rats.

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated amyloid plaques in aged brain; however, little attention has been given to amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing machinery during the healthy aging process. The amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways, represented respectively by ß- and α-secretases (BACE and TACE), are responsible for APP cleavage. Our working hypothesis is that the normal aging process could imbalance amyloidogenic and non-amyloidogenic pathways specifically BACE and TACE activities. Besides, although it has been showed that exercise can modulate secretase activities in Alzheimer Disease models the relationship between exercise effects and APP processing during healthy aging process is rarely studied. Our aim was to investigate the aging process and the exercise effects on cortical and hippocampal BACE and TACE activities and aversive memory performance. Young adult and aged Wistar rats were subjected to an exercise protocol (20min/day for 2 weeks) and to inhibitory avoidance task. Biochemical parameters were evaluated 1h and 18h after the last exercise session in order to verify transitory and delayed exercise effects. Aged rats exhibited impaired aversive memory and diminished cortical TACE activity. Moreover, an imbalance between TACE and BACE activities in favor of BACE activity was observed in aged brain. Moderate treadmill exercise was unable to alter secretase activities in any brain areas or time points evaluated. Our results suggest that aging-related aversive memory decline is partly linked to decreased cortical TACE activity. Additionally, an imbalance between secretase activities can be related to the higher vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases induced by aging.

Urinary incontinence in elderly women from Porto Alegre: its prevalence and relation to pelvic floor muscle function / La incontinencia urinaria en mujeres mayores de Porto Alegre: su prevalencia y su relación con la función muscular del piso de la pelvis / Incontinência urinária em idosas de Porto Alegre: sua prevalência e sua relação com a função muscular do assoalho pélvico

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess the prevalence of self-reported urinary loss in elderly women living in the city of Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil), as well as to determine the relation between urinary incontinence (UI) and pelvic floor muscle function (PFMF). It included 270 elderly women (aged from 60 to 92 years) from a population sample, who reported the presence (n=155; 69.1±7.8 years) or absence (n=115; 67.7±7.9 years) of urine loss. Those who reported UI were asked about how long they had been experiencing urinary leakage, the amount of urine lost (drops, jets or complete micturition) and situations in which they lost urine. Out of the total number of individuals, 178 agreed to undergo the assessment of PFMF by means of a perineometry and a bidigital test. The prevalence of elderly women who reported UI (57.4%) was significantly higher, and the most common isolated situation of urine loss was being unable to get to the toilet in time (26.1%), and this occurred mainly in drops (52.3%). The UI lasted for a median of three years. The elderly women with UI had significantly lower PFMF than those without it, regardless of the type of measurement used (perineometry or bidigital test). Therefore, we conclude that, in this sample, UI had a high prevalence and was associated with decreased PFMF. Bearing these findings in mind and taking into account the data available in the literature about the impact of UI on health and quality of life, as well as the low cost of its assessment and treatment, we suggest that the management and care of this dysfunction should be carried out at the Primary Health Care level...

El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la prevalencia del relato de pérdida urinaria en mujeres mayores residentes en el municipio de Porto Alegre (RS-Brasil), y determinar la relación entre la incontinencia urinaria (IU) y la función muscular del piso de la pelvis (FMPP). Participaron 270 mujeres mayores (60-92 años) las cuales provenían de una muestra poblacional, que relataron (n= 115; 69,1±7,8 años) o no (n=155; 67,7±7,9 años) pérdida urinaria. Las mayores que informaron IU fueron interrogadas cuanto a: la duración de la pérdida urinaria, la cantidad de orina perdida (gotas, jet o completa) y las situaciones en las que perdían orina. De este total, 178 aceptaron ser sometidas a una revisión de la FMPP a través de la perineometría y del test bidigital. La prevalencia de mayores que informaron IU (57,4%) fue significativamente mayor, siendo que la situación aislada de pérdida urinaria más común fue la incapacidad de llegar al baño a tiempo (26,1%), lo que se produjo principalmente en gotas (52,3%). La duración de la IU mostró un promedio de tres años. Las mayores con IU presentaron FMPP significativamente más baja que la de las que no tenían IU, independientemente de la forma de medición (perineometría o test bidigital). Por lo tanto, es posible concluir que, en esta muestra, la IU tuvo alta prevalencia y se asoció con una más baja FMPP. Considerando estos resultados y teniendo en cuenta el conocimiento disponible en la literatura sobre el impacto de la IU en la salud y calidad de vida de las personas, así como el bajo costo de su evaluación y su tratamiento, se sugiere que el manejo y cuidado de esta disfunción sean hechos en la Atención primaria de Salud...

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência do relato de perda urinária em idosas residentes no município de Porto Alegre (RS-Brasil), bem como determinar a relação entre incontinência urinária (IU) e a função muscular do assoalho pélvico (FMAP). Participaram 270 idosas (60 a 92 anos) provenientes de uma amostra populacional, que relataram (n=155; 69,1±7,8 anos) ou não (n=115; 67,7±7,9 anos) perda urinária. As idosas que referiram IU foram questionadas quanto a: duração da perda urinária, quantidade de urina perdida (gotas, jato ou completa) e situações em que perdiam urina. Desse total, 178 aceitaram ser submetidas a uma avaliação da FMAP por meio da perineometria e do teste bidigital. A prevalência de idosas com relato de IU (57,4%) foi significativamente mais elevada, sendo que a situação isolada de perda miccional mais comum foi não conseguir chegar a tempo no banheiro (26,1%), a qual ocorreu principalmente em gotas (52,3%). A duração da IU apresentou uma mediana de três anos. As idosas com IU apresentaram FMAP significativamente menor do que aquelas sem, independente da forma de mensuração (perineometria ou teste bidigital). Assim sendo, é possível concluir que, na presente amostra, a IU teve alta prevalência e foi associada a menor FMAP. Tendo esses achados em mente e levando em consideração o conhecimento disponível na literatura sobre o impacto da IU na saúde e na qualidade de vida das pessoas, assim como o baixo custo da sua avaliação e do seu tratamento, sugere-se que o manejo e o cuidado dessa disfunção passem a ser feitos na Atenção Primária à Saúde...

Inflammatory response and oxidative stress in developing rat brain and its consequences on motor behavior following maternal administration of LPS and perinatal anoxia.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a disorder of locomotion, posture and movement that can be caused by prenatal, perinatal or postnatal insults during brain development. An increased incidence of CP has been correlated to perinatal asphyxia and maternal infections during gestation. The effects of maternal exposure to low doses of bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) associated or not with perinatal anoxia (PA) in oxidative and inflammatory parameters were examined in cerebral cortices of newborns pups. Concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-4, SOD, CAT and DCF were measured by the ELISA method. Other newborn rats were assessed for neonatal developmental milestones from day 1 to 21. Motor behavior was also tested at P29 using open-field and Rotarod. PA alone only increased IL-1 expression in cerebral cortex with no changes in oxidative measures. PA also induced a slight impact on development and motor performance. LPS alone was not able to delay motor development but resulted in changes in motor activity and coordination with increased levels of IL-1 and TNF-α expression associated with a high production of free radicals and elevated SOD activity. When LPS and PA were combined, changes on inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were greater. In addition, greater motor development and coordination impairments were observed. Prenatal exposure of pups to LPS appeared to sensitize the developing brain to effects of a subsequent anoxia insult resulting in an increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased free radical levels in the cerebral cortex. These outcomes suggest that oxidative and inflammatory parameters in the cerebral cortex are implicated in motor deficits following maternal infection and perinatal anoxia by acting in a synergistic manner during a critical period of development of the nervous system.

Treadmill exercise induces age-related changes in aversive memory, neuroinflammatory and epigenetic processes in the rat hippocampus.

It has been described that exercise can modulate both inflammatory response and epigenetic modifications, although the effect of exercise on these parameters during the normal brain aging process yet remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the effect of aging and treadmill exercise on inflammatory and epigenetic parameters specifically pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines levels, activation of NF-kB and histone H4 acetylation levels in hippocampus from Wistar rats. Additionally, we evaluated aversive memory through inhibitory avoidance task. Rats of 3 and 20 months of age were assigned to non-exercised (sedentary) and exercised (running daily for 20 min for 2 weeks) groups. The effect of daily forced exercise in the treadmill was assessed. The levels of inflammatory and epigenetic parameters were determined 1h, 18 h, 3 days or 7 days after the last training session of exercise. It was observed an age-related decline on aversive memory, as well as aged rats showed increased hippocampal levels of inflammatory markers, such as TNFα, IL1-ß and NF-kB and decreased IL-4 levels, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Moreover, lower levels of global histone H4 acetylation were also observed in hippocampi from aged rats. Interestingly, there was a significant correlation between the biochemical markers and the inhibitory avoidance test performance. The forced exercise protocol ameliorated aging-related memory decline, decreased pro-inflammatory markers and increased histone H4 acetylation levels in hippocampi 20-months-old rats, while increased acutely IL-4 levels in hippocampi from young adult rats. Together, these results suggest that an imbalance of inflammatory markers might be involved to the aging-related aversive memory impairment. Additionally, our exercise protocol may reverse aging-related memory decline through improving cytokine profile.

Exercise alleviates hypoalgesia and increases the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of treadmill training on nociceptive sensitivity and immunoreactivity to calcitonin gene-related peptide in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control, diabetic and trained diabetic. Treadmill training was performed for 8 weeks. The blood glucose concentrations and body weight were evaluated 48 h after diabetes induction and every 30 days thereafter. The nociceptive sensitivity was evaluated using the tail-flick apparatus. The animals were then transcardially perfused, and the spinal cords were post-fixed, cryoprotected and sectioned in a cryostat. Immunohistochemistry for calcitonin gene-related peptide analysis was performed on the dorsal horn of the spinal cord. RESULTS: The nociceptive sensitivity analysis revealed that, compared with the control and trained diabetic animals, the latency to tail deflection on the apparatus was longer for the diabetic animals. Optical densitometry demonstrated decreased calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord in diabetic animals, which was reversed by treadmill training. CONCLUSION: We concluded that treadmill training can alleviate nociceptive hypoalgesia and reverse decreased calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord of diabetic animals without pharmacological treatment.

Thermographic evaluation of hind paw skin temperature and functional recovery of locomotion after sciatic nerve crush in rats.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral nerves are often damaged by direct mechanical injury, diseases, and tumors. The peripheral nerve injuries that result from these conditions can lead to a partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, which in turn are related to changes in skin temperature, in the involved segments of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in hind paw skin temperature after sciatic nerve crush in rats in an attempt to determine whether changes in skin temperature correlate with the functional recovery of locomotion. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 7), sham (n = 25), and crush (n = 25). All groups were subjected to thermographic, functional, and histological assessments. RESULTS: ΔT in the crush group was different from the control and sham groups at the 1st, 3rd and 7rd postoperative days (p<0.05). The functional recovery from the crush group returned to normal values between the 3rd and 4th week post-injury, and morphological analysis of the nerve revealed incomplete regeneration at the 4th week after injury. DISCUSSION: This study is the first demonstration that sciatic nerve crush in rats induces an increase in hind paw skin temperature and that skin temperature changes do not correlate closely with functional recovery.

Thermographic evaluation of hind paw skin temperature and functional recovery of locomotion after sciatic nerve crush in rats

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral nerves are often damaged by direct mechanical injury, diseases, and tumors. The peripheral nerve injuries that result from these conditions can lead to a partial or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions, which in turn are related to changes in skin temperature, in the involved segments of the body. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in hind paw skin temperature after sciatic nerve crush in rats in an attempt to determine whether changes in skin temperature correlate with the functional recovery of locomotion. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 7), sham (n = 25), and crush (n = 25). All groups were subjected to thermographic, functional, and histological assessments. RESULTS: ΔT in the crush group was different from the control and sham groups at the 1st, 3rd and 7rd postoperative days (p<0.05). The functional recovery from the crush group returned to normal values between the 3rd and 4th week post-injury, and morphological analysis of the nerve revealed incomplete regeneration at the 4th week after injury. DISCUSSION: This study is the first demonstration that sciatic nerve crush in rats induces an increase in hind paw skin temperature and that skin temperature changes do not correlate closely with functional recovery.