The effects of the aerobic endurance running program on the morphological characteristics of adolescent girls with different nutritional status / Efectos del programa de carrera de resistencia aeróbica en las características morfológicas de las adolescentes con diferentes estados nutricionales

SUMMARY: This study aimed to explore the effects of a single moderate-intensity aerobic endurance running program on the morphological characteristics of normal-weighted and overweighted female adolescents and whether effects differ between individuals of different nutritional statuses. A total of 47 adolescent girls participated in this randomized controlled trial. Before and after 12 weeks of intervention, measurements were obtained for body height, body mass, BMI, triceps, subscapular, abdominal, thigh, and calf skinfolds, and chest, abdominal, thigh, and calf circumference. The total duration of the program was 12 weeks, with a frequency of 2 hours/week (24 sessions). The individual session lasted 60 minutes, and the intensity ranged from 60 % HRmax to 80 %. The findings from the present study suggest that the 12-week aerobic endurance running program induced changes in morphological characteristics of female adolescents. The significant reductions in body mass and BMI were small for normal-weight adolescents (-2,64 % and -3,48 %) and moderate for overweight adolescents (-4,14 % and -4,36 %) following the experimental program. The magnitude of reductions in the skinfold thickness was small for both groups (triceps, subscapular, abdominal, and calf) and moderate for thigh skinfold and a sum of skinfolds in the overweight group. The reductions in the magnitude of all circular measures were small for both groups. It ranged from - 1.59 % to -2.59 % for normal-weight and from -2.54 % to -3.92 % for overweight adolescents, respectively. Additionally, the effects of the applied program seem more favorable to overweight than normal-weight adolescents. This study's current findings indicate that the 12-week aerobic endurance running program is effective due to improvements in morphological characteristics, body mass, and BMI of female adolescents. Additionally, this study's findings show that applied aerobic endurance running program proved more effective for overweight adolescents.

RESUMEN: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo explorar los efectos de un programa único de carrera de resistencia aeróbica de intensidad moderada sobre las características morfológicas de mujeres adolescentes con peso normal y con sobrepeso y si los efectos difieren entre individuos con diferentes estados nutricionales. Un total de 47 niñas adolescentes participaron en este ensayo controlado aleatorio. Antes y después de 12 semanas de intervención, se obtuvieron mediciones de altura corporal, masa corporal, IMC, tríceps, pliegues cutáneos subescapular, abdominal, muslo y pantorrilla, y circunferencia torácica, abdominal, muslo y pantorrilla. La duración total del programa fue de12 semanas, con una frecuencia de 2 horas/semana (24 sesiones). La sesión individual tuvo una duración de 60 minutos y la intensidad osciló entre el 60 % y el 80 % de la FCmáx. Los hallazgos del presente estudio sugieren que el programa de carrera de resistencia aeróbica de 12 semanas indujo cambios en las características morfológicas de las adolescentes. Las reducciones significativas en la masa corporal y el IMC fueron menores para los adolescentes con peso normal (-2,64 % y -3,48 %) y moderadas para los adolescentes con sobrepeso (-4,14 % y -4,36 %) después del programa experimental. La magnitud de las reducciones en el grosor del pliegue cutáneo fue pequeña para ambos grupos (tríceps, subescapular, abdominal y pantorrilla) y moderada para el pliegue cutáneo del muslo y la suma de los pliegues cutáneos en el grupo con sobrepeso. Las reducciones en la magnitud de todas las medidas circulares fueron pequeñas para ambos grupos. Osciló entre -1,59 % y -2,59 % para normopeso y entre -2,54 % y -3,92 % para adolescentes con sobrepeso, respectivamente. Además, los efectos del programa aplicado parecen más favorables para los adolescentes con sobrepeso que para aquellos de peso normal. Los hallazgos actuales de este estudio indican que el programa de carreras de resistencia aeróbica de 12 semanas es eficaz, debido a las mejoras en las características morfológicas, la masa corporal y el IMC de las adolescentes. Además, los hallazgos de este estudio muestran que el programa de carrera de resistencia aeróbica aplicada demostró ser más efectivo para los adolescentes con sobrepeso.

Predictors of mortality in long-term follow-up of patients with terminal alcoholic cirrhosis: is it time to accept remodeled scores

Objective: To identify the prognostic score that is the best predictor of outcome in patients hospitalized with decompensated liver cirrhosis

Material and Methods: In this prospective study, 126 patients were enrolled and followed up for 29 months. For each patient, prognostic scores were calculated; these included the Child-Turcotte-Pugh score [CTP score], CTP creatinine-modified I score, CTP creatinine-modified II score, Model for End-Stage Liver Disease [MELD score], MELD model for end-stage liver disease sodium-modified score, Integrated MELD score, updated MELD score, United Kingdom MELD, and the MELD score remodeled by serum sodium index [MESO index]. Cox regression analysis was used to assess the ability of each of the scores for predicting mortality in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis. Their discriminatory ability was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic [ROC] curve analysis

Results: The updated MELD score had the highest predictive value [3.29] among the tested scores [95% CI: 2.26-4.78]. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the MELD score of 22.50 [AUC = 0.914, 95% CI: 0.849-0.978; p < 0.001] had the best discriminative ability for identifying patients with a high risk of mortality; the next best was the MESO index of 16.00 [AUC = 0.912, 95% CI: 0.847-0.978; p < 0.001]

Conclusion: The risk of mortality was highest in patients with the highest updated MELD score, and those with MELD scores >22.50 and a MESO index >16.00

Antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in healthy participants and patients with various diseases

BACKGROUND: Our previous systematic review has demonstrated that antioxidant supplements may increase mortality. We have now updated this review. OBJECTIVES: To assess the beneficial and harmful effects of antioxidant supplements for prevention of mortality in adults. METHODS: Search methods: We searched The Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, Lilacs, the Science Citation Index Expanded, and Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Science to February 2011. We scanned bibliographies of relevant publications and asked pharmaceutical companies for additional trials. Selection criteria: We included all primary and secondary prevention randomized clinical trials on antioxidant supplements (beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium) versus placebo or no intervention. Data collection and analysis: Three authors extracted data. Random-effects and fixed-effect model meta-analyses were conducted. Risk of bias was considered in order to minimize the risk of systematic errors. Trial sequential analyses were conducted to minimize the risk of random errors. Random effects model meta-regression analyses were performed to assess sources of intertrial heterogeneity. MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-eight randomized trials with 296,707 participants were included. Fifty-six trials including 244,056 participants had low risk of bias. Twenty-six trials included 215,900 healthy participants. Fifty-two trials included 80,807 participants with various diseases in a stable phase. The mean age was 63 years (range 18 to 103 years). The mean proportion of women was 46%. Of the 78 trials, 46 used the parallel-group design, 30 the factorial design, and 2 the cross-over design. All antioxidants were administered orally, either alone or in combination with vitamins, minerals, or other interventions. The duration of supplementation varied from 28 days to 12 years (mean duration 3 years; median duration 2 years). Overall, the antioxidant supplements had no significant ...

Oxidant and antioxidant status in experimental rat testis after testicular torsion/detorsion

The aim of this study was to determine oxidative stress [OS] parameters after testicular torsion/detorsion in adult rats. In this experimental study, male adult Wistar rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of seven animals: group I-one hour right testicular torsion with subsequent orchiectomy, group II-one hour right testicular torsion followed by detorsion, group III-unilateral right-sided orchiectomy without previous torsion and group IV-control. After 30 days, bilateral orchiectomies were performed in rats with both testes and unilateral orchiectomies in rats with single testicles. Parameters of OS were determined in testicular tissue and in plasma. Plasma concentrations of advanced oxidation protein products [AOPP] and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] were higher [p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively], whilst the plasma concentration of the total sulfhydryl [T-SH]-groups was lower [p<0.05] in group I compared to the control group. Group II had higher plasma concentrations of AOPP compared to group IV [p<0.05], as well as significantly increased TBARS and decreased T-SH-group levels compared to groups III [p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively] and IV [p<0.01, for both parameters]. There were significant differences in OS markers between the ipsilateral and contralateral testis, as well as significant correlations among levels of both plasma and tissue markers of OS. The increase in TBARS levels seen throughout the experimental period indicated that OS development was caused by ischemia/reperfusion in the testicular tissue. The oxidant-antioxidant system of the testicular tissue was altered during torsion as well as detorsion

Interrupted Aortic Arch and Aortopulmonary Window Associated with Complete Atrioventricular Septal Defect.

We report a rare case of a neonate with interrupted aortic arch, aortopulmonary window and complete atrioventricular septal defect. To the best of our knowledge, this unusual triad has not been previously described. The main question of the surgical strategy for CAVSD, in setting of associated defects, is to classify the CAVSD as balanced or unbalanced.

Polyamine oxidase and diamine oxidase activities in human milk during the first month of lactation

Human milk [HM] is the ideal food for all newborns and infants. Apart from various bioactive compounds, including cytokines, antibodies, hormones, vitamins, it also contains polyamines, such as spermine [Sp], spermidine [Spd] and putrescine [Put]. The present study investigated polyamine metabolism in colostrums and mature human milk by measuring the polyamine oxidase [PAO] and diamine oxidase [DAO] enzyme activities, which are necessary for polyamine catabolism, as well as by determining the malondialdehyde [MDA] levels, the final product of polyamine biodegradation. The PAO, DAO activity and MDA levels were quantified in colostrums [1st and 2nd day] as well as in mature human milk, 30th day of lactation. We found the steady increase of PAO activity and steady decrease of DAO activity and MDA levels during first month of lactation. Since the products of PAO activity such as, amino aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide [H[2]O[2]] might have potential antimicrobial effects, promoting the oxidative stress, it is likely that human milk PAO throughout the lactation period, contributes to the protective effects of human milk