Effects of social distancing provoked by COVID-19 pandemic in the functional capacity and cognitive function in nonagenarians and centenarians.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the rapid advance of coronavírus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, social distancing was the main way to reduce the transmission of the virus. Although this measure was efficient and necessary, the social distancing had severe consequences for physical function, mainly in older individuals. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of social distancing in the functional and cognitive capacity of community-dwelling oldest-old adults. METHODS: The present study is part of a larger prospective cohort study. Fifteen participants aged 90 years old or older were assessed in the 8-foot-timed-up-and-go test (8-footTUG), sit-to-stand-up test (STS), handgrip strength test (HGS), Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Katz Index and Lawton Scale before and after one year of social distancing. RESULTS: A significant worsening in the 8-footTUG and MMSE score was observed, while there were no significant changes in the other variables. When analyzing the decreases in relation to previous functional capacity, it was observed that individuals categorized as dependent by STS cut-off points had the worst decreases in functional capacity. CONCLUSION: The social distancing provoked by COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected the 8-footTUG and cognition. Moreover, individuals dependents showed greater decline in their functional capacity.

Low handgrip strength is associated with higher cancer prevalence in frail nonagenarians and centenarians.

It is known that muscle strength is associated with adverse health outcomes associated with cancer-related symptoms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between handgrip strength and cancer in frail oldest old. In this prospective cohort study, 81 nonagenarians and centenarians were included [mean age (SD): 94.2 (3.8) years]. Data related to prevalent cancer were self-reported and global strength was assessed by handgrip strength. Logistic regressions were calculated for age- and sex-specific tertiles of relative grip strength, with participants in the highest tertile considered as the reference group. The χ2 test was used to assess differences in tertile categories of normalized handgrip strength between groups (i.e., cancer diagnoses or not). Significant differences were obtained for normalized handgrip strength tertile categories between groups: older adults without a diagnosis of cancer had higher handgrip strength values than peers with cancer (p = 0.039). Of those with cancer, 50% were classified in tertile 1, 36% in tertile 2 and 14% in tertile 3. Considering those without a diagnosis of cancer, 27% were in tertile 1, 32% in tertile 2 and 41% in tertile 3. Low handgrip strength is associated with higher cancer prevalence in frail nonagenarians and centenarians.

The Effect of Periodontal Diseases and Cognitive Deficit on Behavioral State, Oxidative Stress Parameters and Alveolar Bone Loss in Rats.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of periodontal disease (PD) and cognitive deficit (CD) on behavioral state, oxidative stress parameters, and alveolar bone loss (ABL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: control; scopolamine; periodontal disease (PD); PD+scopolamine evaluated by the Morris water maze behavioral test; PD+scopolamine assessed by the inhibitory avoidance behavioral test. PD and CD were, respectively, induced by ligature and scopolamine. Both the maxilla and mandible were morphometrically analyzed for ABL. For all animal groups, the study duration was one month. For the ligated animals, the final evaluation was performed 14 days after the ligature placement. Reduced glutathione (GSH), total sulfhydryl (TS), thiobarbituric acid, catalase, and superoxide essays were assessed in the brain tissues (cortex and hippocampus). RESULTS: Both groups with induced PD+CD (0.46±0.04mm and 0.47±0.04mm for maze and inhibitory avoidance behavioral tests, respectively) presented a significantly higher ABL in comparison to the group that received only scopolamine (0.22±0.01mm). PD and PD+scopolamine groups presented significantly lower GSH and TS in comparison to the control group. Regarding the memory latency tests, there were no statistically significant differences among groups. CONCLUSION: The induction of PD was capable to modulate the CD, decreasing the action of the antioxidant agents in the brain. However, PD was not capable of impairing the short and long-term spatial memory retention behavioral.

Effects of Eccentric-Focused Versus Conventional Training on Lower Limb Muscular Strength in Older People: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Eccentric-focused training promotes greater gains in muscle strength compared to other types of training in adults. However, for older people, these findings are still not well understood. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using manuscripts that performed eccentric-focused (ET) and conventional resistance training (CT) at least four weeks and evaluated maximum muscle strength through tests of maximum repetitions in weight machine exercises (knee extension and leg press exercises). Five studies were included (n=138). Increases in muscle strength were found in both resistance training groups, without difference between them through meta-analysis. However, a large effect size has been observed only in ET. The findings suggest that resistance training protocols are similar to improve maximal strength in older people, despite larger effect sizes for eccentric-focused training.

Influência da posição do marcador maleolar sobre os parâmetros posturais no plano sagital / Influencia de la posición del marcador maleolar en los parámetros posturales del plano sagital / Influence of the malleolar marker position on postural parameters in the sagittal plane

RESUMO Fotogrametria é um método de avaliação postural que fornece informações baseadas no referencial de marcadores anatômicos. No plano sagital, uma das principais avaliações está relacionada ao fio de prumo, apresentando divergências a respeito da colocação do marcador de referência maleolar na bibliografia. Alguns defendem que seja feita exatamente sobre o centro do maléolo lateral, enquanto outros defendem a colocação um pouco à frente do maléolo lateral. O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar se a modificação da posição do marcador maleolar influencia os resultados do procedimento. Trata-se de um estudo observacional analítico transversal, com delineamento comparativo intrassujeitos. Foram avaliados 44 indivíduos saudáveis (25 mulheres e 19 homens; 27±6 anos; 170±11cm; 71±15Kg) utilizando o protocolo e software DIPA© para investigação das variáveis (teste do fio de prumo e pulsão da pelve) no plano sagital, com o marcador maleolar em duas posições: (1) no centro do maléolo lateral e (2) à frente do maléolo lateral. A análise realizada segundo os métodos estatístico, descritivo (distribuição de frequências, média e desvio padrão) e inferencial (testes de Shapiro Wilk, t de Student dependente e Wilcoxon, α=0,05). Para ambas as variáveis, a posição do marcador maleolar exerceu influência estatisticamente significativa (p<0,05) apenas no valor escalar, não afetando significativamente (p>0,05) a classificação postural. Os resultados sugerem que o ponto de referência vertical para a fotogrametria, baseado no marcador maleolar pode ser de escolha do avaliador.

RESUMEN La fotogrametría es un método de evaluación postural que proporciona información basada en los referenciales de los marcadores anatómicos. En el plano sagital, una de las principales evaluaciones se relaciona con la plomada, y demuestra divergencias en cuanto a la colocación del marcador de referencia maleolar en la bibliografía. Algunos autores argumentan que se lo hace exactamente en el centro del maléolo lateral, mientras que otros lo defienden colocando un poco delante del maléolo lateral. El estudio propone identificar si la modificación de la posición del marcador maleolar influye en los resultados del procedimiento. Se trata de un estudio observacional analítico transversal, de concepción comparativa intraindividual. Se evaluaron a 44 individuos sanos (25 mujeres y 19 hombres; 27±6 años; 170±11 cm, 71±15 kg) por medio del protocolo y el software DIPA© para analizar las variables (prueba de la plomada y pulsión de la pelvis) en el plano sagital, con el marcador maleolar en dos posiciones: (1) en el centro del maléolo lateral y (2) delante del maléolo lateral. Se realizó el análisis conforme los métodos estadístico, descriptivo (distribución de frecuencias, media y desviación estándar) y estadística inferencial (prueba de Shapiro-Wilk, prueba t de Student dependiente y de Wilcoxon, α=0,05). En ambas variables, la posición del marcador maleolar tuvo una influencia estadísticamente significativa (p<0,05) en el valor escalar, pero no afectó significativamente (p>0,05) a la clasificación postural. Los resultados revelaron que el punto de referencia vertical a la fotogrametría desde el marcador maleolar puede ser elegido por el evaluador.

ABSTRACT Photogrammetry is a postural evaluation method that provides information based on the reference of anatomical markers. In the sagittal plane, one of the main evaluations is related to the plumb line; however, the literature shows divergences regarding the placement of the malleolar reference marker. Some argue that it must be placed exactly on the center of the lateral malleolus, while others defend placing it slightly in front of the lateral malleolus. This study aimed to identify whether the modification of the position of the malleolar marker affects the results of the procedure. This is a cross-sectional analytical observational study, with comparative intrasubject design. Forty-four healthy subjects (25 women and 19 men; 27±6 years old; 170±11 cm; 71±15 kg) were evaluated using protocol and software DIPA© for investigation of the variables (plumb line test and pelvic version) in the sagittal plane, with the malleolar marker in two positions: (1) in the center of the lateral malleolus and (2) in front of the lateral malleolus. The analysis was carried out according to descriptive (frequency distribution, mean and standard deviation) and inferential (Shapiro-Wilk test, dependent Student's t-test, and Wilcoxon test, α=0.05) statistical methods. For both variables, the malleolar marker position presented statistically significant difference (p<0.05) only on the scalar value, not significantly affecting the posture classification. The results suggest that the vertical reference point for photogrammetry, based on the malleolar marker, can be chosen by the evaluator.