Aerobic training modulates T cell activation in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the knee (kOA) is a disease that mainly affects the elderly and can lead to major physical and functional limitations. However, the specific effects of walking, particularly on the immune system, are unknown. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of 12 weeks of walking (3×/week) on the leukocyte profile and quality of life (QL) of elderly women with kOA. Sixteen women (age: 67±4 years, body mass index: 28.07±4.16 kg/m2) participated in a walking program. The variables were assessed before and after 12 weeks of training with a progressively longer duration (30-55 min) and higher intensity (72-82% of HRmax determined using a graded incremental treadmill test). The QL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and blood samples were collected for analysis with a cell counter and the San Fac flow cytometer. Walking training resulted in a 47% enhancement of the self-reported QL (P<0.05) and a 21% increase in the VO2max (P<0.0001) in elderly women with kOA. Furthermore, there was a reduction in CD4+ cells (pre=46.59±7%, post=44.58±9%, P=0.0189) and a higher fluorescence intensity for CD18+CD4+ (pre=45.30±10, post=64.27±33, P=0.0256) and CD18+CD8+ (pre=64.2±27, post=85.02±35, P=0.0130). In conclusion, the walking program stimulated leukocyte production, which may be related to the immunomodulatory effect of exercise. Walking also led to improvements in the QL and physical performance in elderly women with kOA.

Análise da relação benefício-custo em sistema de produção de leite com animais mestiços no norte de Minas Gerais / Cost-benefit analysis of a milk production system with crossbred animals in northern Minas Gerais

O estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de estimar o custo de produção de animais com diferentes proporções de genes da raca holandesa e a rentabilidade anual por vaca em rebanho no Norte de Minas Gerais por meio de simulação. Foram utilizadas as informações do arquivo zootécnico da Fazenda Queluz, situada em Francisco Sá, MG, Brasil, durante o período de 2007 a 2012. O sistema de produção da fazenda consiste de vacas cruzadas Holandês x Zebu (HZ), de composições genéticas variando de 1/4 HZ até 7/8 HZ. A receita total por animal, rentabilidade anual por vaca e variação da rentabilidade foram estimadas no decorrer dos anos, de acordo com a composição genética. As vacas 7/8 HZ apresentaram maior receita com a produção de leite, mas a rentabilidade estimada foi 7,75% da receita total, seguida pelas vacas 3/4 HZ, que também mostraram 4,11% de rentabilidade. Por outro lado, os animais 3/8 HZ tiveram a maior rentabilidade, seguida pelos animais 1/4 HZ e 1/2 HZ. No decorrer dos anos observou-se inversão da composição genética do rebanho. Em 2007, 64% das vacas do rebanho eram 7/8 HZ, e em 2012 os animais 7/8 HZ foram substituídos por animais 1/4 HZ, 3/8 HZ e 1/2 HZ, perfazendo o total de 90% dos genótipos. Apesar da maior produção dos animais com maior proporção de genes da raça holandesa, observou que a mudança do rebanho para vacas com maior proporção de genes de raças zebuínas leiteiras proporcionou aumento da rentabilidade, fato que pode ser atribuído a maior eficiência econômica deste genótipo...(AU)

A simulation study was conducted to estimate the production costs of animals with different proportions of Holstein genes and annual return per cow in a herd from the northern region of Minas Gerais. Data from the zootechnical archive of Fazenda Queluz, Francisco Sá, MG, Brazil, comprising the period from 2007 to 2012 were used. The production system consists of crossbred Holstein x Zebu (HZ) cows with a genetic composition ranging from 1/4 HZ to 7/8 HZ. Total revenue per animal, annual profit per cow and variation in profitability were estimated over the years according to genetic composition. The revenue from milk production was greater for 7/8 HZ cows, but the estimated annual profit per cow was only 7.75% of total revenue, followed by 3/4 HZ cows which also exhibited low profit (4.11%). The highest profit was observed for 3/8 HZ cows, followed by 1/4 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals. Inversion of the genetic composition of the herd was observed over the years. In 2007, 64% of cows of the herd were 7/8 HZ, while in 2012, 7/8 HZ cows had been replaced with 1/4 HZ, 3/8 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals, accounting for 90% of all genotypes. Despite the greater production of animals with a higher proportion of Holstein genes, the change to cows with a higher proportion of genes of dairy Zebu breeds increased profitability, a fact that might be attributed to the greater economic efficiency of this genotype...(AU)

Análise da relação benefício-custo em sistema de produção de leite com animais mestiços no norte de Minas Gerais / Cost-benefit analysis of a milk production system with crossbred animals in northern Minas Gerais

O estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de estimar o custo de produção de animais com diferentes proporções de genes da raca holandesa e a rentabilidade anual por vaca em rebanho no Norte de Minas Gerais por meio de simulação. Foram utilizadas as informações do arquivo zootécnico da Fazenda Queluz, situada em Francisco Sá, MG, Brasil, durante o período de 2007 a 2012. O sistema de produção da fazenda consiste de vacas cruzadas Holandês x Zebu (HZ), de composições genéticas variando de 1/4 HZ até 7/8 HZ. A receita total por animal, rentabilidade anual por vaca e variação da rentabilidade foram estimadas no decorrer dos anos, de acordo com a composição genética. As vacas 7/8 HZ apresentaram maior receita com a produção de leite, mas a rentabilidade estimada foi 7,75% da receita total, seguida pelas vacas 3/4 HZ, que também mostraram 4,11% de rentabilidade. Por outro lado, os animais 3/8 HZ tiveram a maior rentabilidade, seguida pelos animais 1/4 HZ e 1/2 HZ. No decorrer dos anos observou-se inversão da composição genética do rebanho. Em 2007, 64% das vacas do rebanho eram 7/8 HZ, e em 2012 os animais 7/8 HZ foram substituídos por animais 1/4 HZ, 3/8 HZ e 1/2 HZ, perfazendo o total de 90% dos genótipos. Apesar da maior produção dos animais com maior proporção de genes da raça holandesa, observou que a mudança do rebanho para vacas com maior proporção de genes de raças zebuínas leiteiras proporcionou aumento da rentabilidade, fato que pode ser atribuído a maior eficiência econômica deste genótipo...

A simulation study was conducted to estimate the production costs of animals with different proportions of Holstein genes and annual return per cow in a herd from the northern region of Minas Gerais. Data from the zootechnical archive of Fazenda Queluz, Francisco Sá, MG, Brazil, comprising the period from 2007 to 2012 were used. The production system consists of crossbred Holstein x Zebu (HZ) cows with a genetic composition ranging from 1/4 HZ to 7/8 HZ. Total revenue per animal, annual profit per cow and variation in profitability were estimated over the years according to genetic composition. The revenue from milk production was greater for 7/8 HZ cows, but the estimated annual profit per cow was only 7.75% of total revenue, followed by 3/4 HZ cows which also exhibited low profit (4.11%). The highest profit was observed for 3/8 HZ cows, followed by 1/4 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals. Inversion of the genetic composition of the herd was observed over the years. In 2007, 64% of cows of the herd were 7/8 HZ, while in 2012, 7/8 HZ cows had been replaced with 1/4 HZ, 3/8 HZ and 1/2 HZ animals, accounting for 90% of all genotypes. Despite the greater production of animals with a higher proportion of Holstein genes, the change to cows with a higher proportion of genes of dairy Zebu breeds increased profitability, a fact that might be attributed to the greater economic efficiency of this genotype...

Muscle strength, muscle balance, physical function and plasma interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in elderly women with knee osteoarthritis (OA).

An increased circulating level of inflammatory cytokines has been associated with sarcopenia, functional disability, chronic diseases, and mortality in the elderly. Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease common to this population, the seriousness of articular degeneration has been associated to the increase in some cytokines, IL-6 among them. The aim of the present study was to correlate IL-6 plasma levels with muscle strength, endurance, muscle balance hamstring/quadriceps (H/Q) and physical function in 80 elderly women (71.2 ± 5.3) with knee OA. IL-6 was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength, endurance and hamstring-quadriceps muscle balance were assessed using a Biodex system 3 pro(®) isokinetic dynamometer. Physical function was assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC). Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to explore the relationship between the outcomes at the significance level of α=0.05. IL-6 was inversely correlated to the endurance of the hamstring muscles (r=-0.232; p=0.03) and muscle balance (H/Q) on the lower right side at 180°/s (r=-0.254; p=0.023). No significant correlation between IL-6, muscle strength and physical function was found. Our results show that elevated levels of IL-6 may possibly contribute to the reduction of the endurance of hamstring muscles and H/Q muscle balance in the elderly studied.