Evaluation of dopamine transporter density in healthy Brazilians using Tc-99m TRODAT-1 SPECT.

ABSTRACT: The presynaptic dopamine transporter (DAT) modulates the uptake of dopamine by regulating its concentration in the central nervous system. We aimed to evaluate the DAT binding potential (DAT-BP) in a sample of healthy Brazilians through technetium-99 metastable TRODAT-1 single-photon emission computed tomography imaging.We selected 126 healthy individuals comprising 72 men and 54 women, aged 18 to 80 years. We conducted semi-quantitative evaluation in transaxial slices, following which we identified the regions of interest in the striatal region using the occipital lobe as a region of non-specific DAT-BP.We found a decrease in DAT-BP in healthy individuals aged over 30 years, culminating in a 42% mean reduction after 80 years. There was no difference in the decrease by age group between the right (linear regression test [R2] linear = 0.466) and left striatum (R2 linear = 0.510). Women presented a higher DAT-BP than men (women: R2 linear = 0.431; men: R2 linear = 0.457); nonetheless, their decrease by age group was equal to that in men.Our study sheds light on important DAT-BP findings in healthy Brazilian subjects. Our results will facilitate understanding of brain illnesses that involve the dopamine system, such as neuropsychiatric disorders.

Avaliação da qualidade de vida e do sono de atletas paralímpicos brasileiros / Evaluation of the quality of life and sleep in Brazilian paralympic athletes / Evaluación de la calidad de vida y sueño de atletas paralímpicos brasileños

INTRODUÇÃO: o esporte paralímpico brasileiro vem ganhando destaque no cenário mundial e, com isso, a avaliação de variáveis que possam influenciar positivamente no desempenho desses atletas é de suma importância para o acompanhamento durante o seu período de treinamento. OBJETIVO: avaliar a qualidade de vida e do sono de atletas paralímpicos brasileiros. MÉTODOS: foram estudados 49 atletas paralímpicos das modalidades natação (n=20) e atletismo (n=29). Os atletas responderam a questionários que avaliaram seu padrão e queixas de sono e qualidade de vida. RESULTADOS: a maioria dos atletas (65,30%) relatou má qualidade do sono, visto que a latência do sono neste grupo foi significativamente maior do que em atletas com boa qualidade de sono. Cinquenta por cento dos atletas relataram o desejo de fazer mudanças em seu horário de sono e 52% gostariam de aumentar o seu tempo de sono. A sonolência diurna excessiva foi observada em 53,06% dos atletas. Quanto às queixas de distúrbios do sono, foram relatados chute ou espasmos das pernas e ronco. Menores índices de qualidade de vida foram encontrados no meio ambiente em comparação com os domínios físicos, psicológicos ou sociais. CONCLUSÕES: os resultados sugerem que a maioria dos atletas apresentou uma má qualidade do sono e, consequentemente, um alto índice de insatisfação com o sono. Além disso, menores escores de qualidade de vida foram encontrados no domínio ambiental, que está relacionado com a segurança física, proteção e condições em casa. .

INTRODUCCTION: Brazilian paralympic sports are gaining prominence on the world stage. That's why the evaluation of some characteristics that may influence positively the athletes' performance is so important to be observed during the training sessions. OBJECTIVE: to assess the quality of life and sleep quality of Brazilian paralympic athletes. METHODS: 49 paralympic athletes participating in swimming (n=20) and athletics (n=29) were studied. The athletes answered questionnaires assessing their sleep patterns and complaints and their quality of life. RESULTS: most athletes (65,30%) reported poor sleep quality, and the sleep latency in this group was significantly greater than in the athletes with good sleep quality. Fifty percent of the athletes reported a desire to make changes in their sleep schedule and 52% would like to increase their sleep time. Excessive daytime sleepiness was observed in 53.06% of the athletes. Regarding complaints of sleep disorders, there were reported kicking or jerking of the legs and snore. Lower scores for quality of life were found in the environment if compared to the physical, psychological or social relationship domains. CONCLUSION: most athletes reported poor sleep quality and, consequently, a high index of dissatisfaction with their sleep. Moreover, lower quality of life scores were found in the environmental domain, which is related to physical safety, protection and conditions at home. .

INTRODUCCIÓN: El deporte paralímpico brasileño viene ganando destaque en el escenario mundial y con eso la evaluación de variables que puedan influenciar positivamente en el desempeño de esos atletas es de suma importancia para el acompañamiento durante su período de entrenamiento. OBJETIVO: Evaluar la calidad de vida y del sueño de atletas paralímpicos brasileños. MÉTODOS: Fueron estudiados 49 atletas paralímpicos de las modalidades natación (n=20) y atletismo (n=29). Los atletas respondieron a cuestionarios que evaluaron su estándar y quejas de sueño y calidad de vida. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los atletas (65,30%) relató mala calidad del sueño, visto que la latencia del sueño en este grupo fue significativamente mayor que en atletas con buena calidad de sueño. Cincuenta por ciento de los atletas relató el deseo de hacer cambios en su horario de sueño, y a 52% le gustaría aumentar su tiempo de sueño. La somnolencia diurna excesiva fue observada en 53,06% de los atletas. Cuanto a las quejas de disturbios del sueño, fueron relatadas patadas o espasmos de las piernas y ronquido. Menores valores de calidad de vida fueron encontrados en el medio ambiente en comparación con los dominios físicos, psicológicos o sociales. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren que la mayoría de los atletas presentó una mala calidad del sueño y, consiguientemente, un alto índice de insatisfacción con el sueño. Además, menores valores de calidad de vida fueron encontrados en el dominio ambiental, que está relacionado con la seguridad física, protección y condiciones en casa. .

Dopamine transporter shown by SPECT in patients with periodic leg movement after acute physical exercise.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate dopamine transporter (DAT) density in patients with periodic leg movement (PLM) shown by [(99mt)Tc]TRODAT-1 single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) imaging and to determine the influence of acute physical exercise (maximal exercise test [MET]) on DAT densities. METHODS: Sixteen healthy male volunteers between 45 and 65 yr of age were selected to participate in the study. Each subject (eight subjects in the control group and eight subjects in the patients with PLM experimental group) underwent baseline polysomnography (PSG) to evaluate sleep patterns and PLM index values. After obtaining PSG baselines, SPECT baselines were determined using [(99mt)Tc]TRODAT-1, a selective DAT imaging ligand. Subsequently, the volunteers performed the MET in the morning, followed by a SPECT 2 h later and PSG that night to assess the effect of acute physical exercise on DAT and sleep patterns. RESULTS: The baseline SPECT results showed marginally significantly lower DAT densities in the striatal region of the experimental group. After the MET, no significant differences were observed between groups. The results also showed a significant reduction in the PLM index in the experimental group and a significantly increased percentage of stage 1 non-REM sleep in both groups after MET. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that patients with PLM had a marginally lower DAT density in the left putamen region compared with the control group. Although the effect of acute physical exercise (MET) reduced PLM symptoms, the results suggest that this improvement was not due to DAT availability.