Serum NGF, BDNF and IL-6 levels in postpartum mothers as predictors of infant development: the influence of affective disorders.

BACKGROUND: Early adverse experiences are associated with increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders, although little is known about the neurobiological mediators involved. The mechanisms by which early environmental influences may mediate vulnerability in the development of offspring await further investigation. The present study correlated the NGF, BDNF, IL-6 and cortisol levels of mothers with postpartum affective disorders (PPAD) with infant development. METHODS: A longitudinal study was performed with 152 pregnant women and their infants. Between 60 and 120 days after delivery, women were interviewed and provided biological samples for biochemical analysis, and the infants were examined for neurobiological-motor development. RESULTS: Overall, the mothers' history of affective disorders, PPAD and anxiety disorder were associated with infant motor development. Using an adjusted linear regression analysis, PPAD (p = 0.049), maternal anxiety disorder (p = 0.043), NGF level (p = 0.034) and infant cortisol level (p = 0.013) were associated with infant motor development. Using a factorial analysis of primary components, two components were retained. The psychological factor was characterized by a positive loading of a history of affective disorder, PPAD and anxiety disorder. For the biological factor, infant cortisol adhered negatively with infant motor development, but NGF was positively associated. The psychological factor had a negative association, but the biological factor had a positive association with infant motor development. CONCLUSIONS: There are few studies that have focused on the relationship of biomarkers and infant neurodevelopment. Our study points that psychological and biological factors are associated with infant motor development, however the causal relationship between these factors is still to be defined.

Capacidade pulmonar em idosos praticantes de hidroginástica / Lung capacity inelderly practitioners of hydrogymnastics

Objetivo: avaliar a capacidade pulmonar de um grupo de idosospraticantes de hidroginástica. Materiais e Métodos: estudo do tipolevantamento, desenvolvido com 132 indivíduos pertencentes a umgrupo da terceira idade praticante de hidroginástica na UniversidadeFederal de Santa Maria, de maio a junho de 2008. Foram utilizados,para a avaliação respiratória, uma ficha com dados gerais, espirometriae manovacuometria, sendo os dados analisados descritivamente,e após, para análise estatística, foi realizado o Teste Exato deFischer (p< 0,05). Resultados: Na avaliação espirométrica, 46,97%dos idosos apresentaram-se dentro dos parâmetros da normalidade.Já, em relação à força muscular respiratória, a maioria dosvalores encontrados de Pressão Inspiratória Máxima (92,42%) e dePressão Expiratória Máxima (59,09%) estava abaixo dos valores previstos.Porém, salienta-se que, o grupo com mais tempo de práticade hidroginástica obteve 66,67% de Pressões Expiratórias Máximasdentro dos valores previstos. No grupo de idosos que não declarouter patologias respiratórias 46,30% apresentou alteração no exameespirométrico. Conclusão: os resultados encontrados apontam paraum perfil respiratório característico do processo de envelhecimento,com perdas em capacidade pulmonar e força de músculos respiratórios,porém minimizadas pela prática de atividade física regular.

Objective: to evaluate the lung capacity of an elderly practitionergroup of hydrogymnastics. Materials and Methods: survey study,developed with 132 individuals belonging to an elderly practitionergroup of hydrogymnastics at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,from May to June of 2008. It was used for the respiratory evaluationa sheet for general data, spirometry and manovacuometry, being thedata analyzed descriptively, and later, for statistical analysis, it wasused Fischer’s Exact Test (p <0.05). Results: In the spirometric evaluation,46.97% of the elderly showed normal parameters. However,in relation to the respiratory muscle strength, most of the found valuesof maximum inspiratory pressure (92.42%) and maximum expiratorypressure (59.09%) were below the predicted levels. However,the group with longer practice of hydrogymnastics obtained 66.67%of maximum expiratory pressure in these predicted values. In theelderly group that declared not to have any respiratory diseases,46.30% showed alteration in the spirometry exam. Conclusion: thefinding results indicate a typical respiratory profile characterized by the aging process, with losses in lung capacity and strength of respiratorymuscles, but minimized by the practice of regular physicalactivity.

Capacidade pulmonar em idosos praticantes de hidroginástica / Lung capacity inelderly practitioners of hydrogymnastics

Objetivo: avaliar a capacidade pulmonar de um grupo de idosospraticantes de hidroginástica. Materiais e Métodos: estudo do tipolevantamento, desenvolvido com 132 indivíduos pertencentes a umgrupo da terceira idade praticante de hidroginástica na UniversidadeFederal de Santa Maria, de maio a junho de 2008. Foram utilizados,para a avaliação respiratória, uma ficha com dados gerais, espirometriae manovacuometria, sendo os dados analisados descritivamente,e após, para análise estatística, foi realizado o Teste Exato deFischer (p< 0,05). Resultados: Na avaliação espirométrica, 46,97%dos idosos apresentaram-se dentro dos parâmetros da normalidade.Já, em relação à força muscular respiratória, a maioria dosvalores encontrados de Pressão Inspiratória Máxima (92,42%) e dePressão Expiratória Máxima (59,09%) estava abaixo dos valores previstos.Porém, salienta-se que, o grupo com mais tempo de práticade hidroginástica obteve 66,67% de Pressões Expiratórias Máximasdentro dos valores previstos. No grupo de idosos que não declarouter patologias respiratórias 46,30% apresentou alteração no exameespirométrico. Conclusão: os resultados encontrados apontam paraum perfil respiratório característico do processo de envelhecimento,com perdas em capacidade pulmonar e força de músculos respiratórios,porém minimizadas pela prática de atividade física regular.(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the lung capacity of an elderly practitionergroup of hydrogymnastics. Materials and Methods: survey study,developed with 132 individuals belonging to an elderly practitionergroup of hydrogymnastics at Universidade Federal de Santa Maria,from May to June of 2008. It was used for the respiratory evaluationa sheet for general data, spirometry and manovacuometry, being thedata analyzed descriptively, and later, for statistical analysis, it wasused Fischer’s Exact Test (p <0.05). Results: In the spirometric evaluation,46.97% of the elderly showed normal parameters. However,in relation to the respiratory muscle strength, most of the found valuesof maximum inspiratory pressure (92.42%) and maximum expiratorypressure (59.09%) were below the predicted levels. However,the group with longer practice of hydrogymnastics obtained 66.67%of maximum expiratory pressure in these predicted values. In theelderly group that declared not to have any respiratory diseases,46.30% showed alteration in the spirometry exam. Conclusion: thefinding results indicate a typical respiratory profile characterized by the aging process, with losses in lung capacity and strength of respiratorymuscles, but minimized by the practice of regular physicalactivity.(AU)