Plasma levels of myokines and inflammatory markers are related with functional and respiratory performance in older adults with COPD and sarcopenia.

This study investigated whether blood-based biomarkers were related to functional test performance and respiratory muscle strength in older adults with COPD and sarcopenia. The participants included in this cross-sectional study were from both sexes and sixty years or older. Based on clinical assessment, participants were categorized in COPD (n = 43) and non-COPD (NCOPD) (n = 43) groups. They were also assessed for body composition and muscular mass by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, using the relative skeletal muscle index for the diagnosis of sarcopenia. A series of functional tests, including short physical performance battery (SPPB), 6-minute walking test (6MWT), maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP and MEP), were carried out. Plasma levels of myokines (Irisin and BDNF), and soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR1 and sTNFR2) were determined by ELISA. In the multivariate analysis, 6MWD was associated with age, COPD-related sarcopenia and BDNF (R2 = 0.29; f2 = 0.41). SPPB score was associated with COPD-related sarcopenia and sTNFR1 (R2 = 0.25; f2 = 0.33). MIP value was associated with sex, COPD-related sarcopenia, sTNFR2 and Irisin (R2 = 0.24; f2 = 0.31). Finally, MEP value was associated with sex COPD-related sarcopenia (R2 = 0.18; f2 = 0.22). Plasma levels of myokines and inflammatory markers are related with functional and respiratory performance in older adults with COPD and sarcopenia.

Are oxidative stress biomarkers and respiratory muscles strength associated with COPD-related sarcopenia in older adults?

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often present with sarcopenia, a condition marked by the loss in quality and quantity of muscle mass that can affect the strength of respiratory muscles. COPD and sarcopenia are also independently associated with oxidative stress. This study aimed to investigate whether oxidative stress biomarkers and respiratory muscle strength are associated with sarcopenia in COPD patients. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 86 elderly subjects, including subjects with and without COPD were assessed for body composition, maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) and oxidative stress parameters [substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid (TBARS), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT)]. RESULTS: The sample was mainly composed by males (72.1%) and eutrophic subjects. COPD-related sarcopenia was evidenced in 51.1% (22/43) of subjects with COPD. The highest TBARS and CAT, and lower MIP and MEP were associated with a high probability of having COPD-related sarcopenia. In the multivariate analysis, TBARS (OR: 4.89, 95% CI 1.52 to 15.54, p = 0.006), CAT (OR: 1.22, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.45, p = 0.020) and MEP (OR: 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 0.99, p = 0.020) were independent determinants of COPD-related sarcopenia. CONCLUSION: The increase in oxidative stress-related factors and the reduction of respiratory muscle strength are associated with COPD-related sarcopenia.

Immediate Effects of Whole-Body Vibration Associated with Squatting Exercises on Hemodynamic Parameters in Sarcopenic Older People: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Whole-body vibration (WBV) exercises have recently been introduced as a nonpharmacological therapeutic strategy for sarcopenic older people. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of WBV exercise on hemodynamic parameters in sarcopenic older people. Forty older people, divided into groups of nonsarcopenic (NSG = 20) and sarcopenic (SG = 20), participated in the study and were cross randomized into two interventions of eight sets of 40 s each, these being squatting with WBV and squatting without WBV. Heart rate (HR), peak heart rate (peak HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), double product (DP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and subjective perception of effort (SPE), were assessed at baseline, during, and after a single WBV session. The HR, peak HR, and DP variables were similar at baseline between groups. WBV exercise increased all the hemodynamic parameters both during and immediately after the intervention, in both groups (SG and NSG). The MAP values were similar at baseline between groups; however, in the NSG there was a significant increase during and immediately after the squatting with WBV intervention (p < 0.05). The HR behavior, in both groups, showed that there was an increase in HR after the first set of exercises with vibration and this increase was maintained until the final set. The absence of adverse effects of WBV exercise on the cardiovascular system and fatigue suggests this exercise modality is adequate and safe for sarcopenic older people.

Respostas cardiopulmonares durante o exercício de agachamento dinâmico com e sem vibração de corpo inteiro em adolescentes / Cardiopulmonary responses during dynamic squatting exercise with and without wholebody vibration in adolescents

INTRODUÇÃO: A vibração de corpo inteiro (VCI) tem sido amplamente utilizada como recurso terapêutico na reabilitação pediátrica. Porém, as respostas cardiopulmonares ainda são desconhecidas nesta população. OBJETIVOS: Investigar a intensidade do exercício de agachamento dinâmico com e sem VCI em adolescentes saudáveis a fim de caracterizar as respostas cardiorrespiratórias. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo quase experimental. Vinte e cinco adolescentes (14,1 ± 1,7 anos), 10 meninas e 15 meninos, foram submetidos a avaliações do consumo de oxigênio (VO2) e frequência cardíaca (FC) durante um protocolo de agachamento com e sem vibração. Os critérios de inclusão foram idade entre 12 e 18 anos, ambos os sexos, IMC normal. Os critérios de exclusão foram apresentar doenças neurológicas, ortopédicas, respiratórias, cardíacas e endócrinas crônicas ou agudas ou alguma contraindicação autorreferida para VCI (trombose venosa profunda, implantes metálicos, marca-passo, epilepsia, tumores, aneurisma ou arritmia). RESULTADOS: A VCI aumentou significativamente o VO2, FC e a percepção do esforço durante o agachamento quando comparado ao repouso e agachamento sem-VCI. VCI associada ao agachamento atingiu 24,7% do VO2máx e 56% da FCmáx prevista para a idade. Os indivíduos durante a VCI relataram esforço entre ligeiramente cansativo e cansativo em comparação com entre muito fácil e fácil no protocolo Sem-VCI. CONCLUSÃO: O agachamento associado à VCI foi considerado de intensidade leve e foi tolerado por adolescentes saudáveis. Este estudo forneceu resultados válidos desta modalidade de exercício e pode ser utilizado como uma ferramenta para definir o consumo de energia gasto durante a prática deste tipo treinamento.

BACKGROUND: Whole-body vibration (WBV) has been widely used as a therapeutic resource in pediatric rehabilitation. However, the cardiopulmonary responses are still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the intensity of dynamic squatting exercise with and without WBV in healthy adolescents to characterize cardiorespiratory responses. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study. Twentyfive adolescents (14.1 ± 1.7 years), 10 girls and 15 boys, underwent into oxygen consumption (VO2) and heart rate (HR) assessments during a protocol of squatting with and without vibration. Inclusion criteria were age between 12 and 18 years old of both sexes, have normal weight according to BMI. Exclusion criteria were to present chronic or acute, neurological, orthopedic, respiratory, cardiac, and endocrine disease and no self-reported contraindication for WBV (i.e. deep vein thrombosis, metal implants, pacemaker, epilepsy, tumors, arterial aneurysm, or arrhythmia). RESULTS: WBV was able to significantly increase VO2, HR, and perceived exertion during squatting exercise when compared to rest and squatting without-WBV. WBV associated with squatting reached 24.7% of the VO2max and 56% of the HRmax predicted for the age. Subjects during WBV reported a perceived exertion score between somewhat hard and hard compared to between very light and light in the Without-WBV protocol. CONCLUSION: Squatting associated with WBV was considered a light-intensity exercise that can be tolerated by healthy adolescents. This study provided valid results of this training modality and could be used as a tool to define the energy consumption spent in this training modality.

Plasma levels of soluble TNF receptors are associated with cardiac function in patients with Chagas heart disease.

BACKGROUND: The soluble receptors tumor necrosis factor-alpha (sTNFRs) can lead to an increase in the expression of tumor necrosis factor, increasing its detrimental to systemic inflammatory activation in Chagas cardiomyopathy (ChC). However, the correlation between sTNFRs levels, echocardiographic, and functional levels in patients with ChC remains unknown. This study aimed to verify the correlation between the plasma sTNFRs levels, echocardiographic, and NYHA functional levels in patients with ChC. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with ChD (54 ± 2 years, 44% males, NYHA I-II) were evaluated by anamnesis protocol, echocardiography, and plasma sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 measurement. Linear regression analysis and Student's t-test were used as appropriate. RESULTS: Higher plasma sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels were associate with worse systolic function (R2 = 0.10; p = 0.008 and R2 = 0.44; p < 0.001) and cardiac dilation (R2 = 0.13; p = 0.002 and R2 = 0.43; p < 0.001). Patients with systolic dysfunction and cardiac dilatation had higher sTNFRs levels (p < 0.001). There were no significant differences among NYHA functional classes for both sTNFRs. CONCLUSION: Plasma sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 levels are associated with greater cardiac dilation and poor systolic function in ChC patients.

Cardiorespiratory fitness assessment and prediction of peak oxygen consumption by Incremental Shuttle Walking Test in healthy women.

INTRODUCTION: Preliminary studies have showed that the Incremental Shuttle Walking Test (ISWT) is a maximal test, however comparison between ISWT with the cardiopulmonary exercise test (CEPT) has not yet performed in the healthy woman population. Furthermore, there is no regression equation available in the current literature to predict oxygen peak consumption (VO2 peak). Thus, this study aimed to compare the ISWT with CEPT and to develop an equation to predict peak oxygen uptake (VO2 peak) in healthy women participants. METHODS: First, the VO2 peak, respiratory exchange ratio (R peak), heart rate max (HR max) and percentage of predicted HR max (% predicted HR max) were evaluated in the CEPT and ISWT (n = 40). Then, an equation was developed to predict the VO2 peak (n = 54) and its validation was performed (n = 20). RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the ISWT and CEPT of VO2 peak, HR max and % predicted HR max values (P>0.05), except for R peak measure in the ISWT (1.22 ± 0.13) and CEPT (1.18 ± 0.1) (P = 0.022). Therefore, both tests showed a moderate positive correlation of VO2 peak (r = 0.51; P = 0.0007), HR max (r = 0.65; P<0.0001) and R peak (r = 0.55; P = 0.0002) and the Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement of VO2 peak (bias = -0.14). The distance walked on ISWT and age explained 36.3% (R2 Adjusted = 0.363) of the variance in VO2 peak. The equation developed was VO2 peak (predicted) = 19.793 + (0.02 x distance walked)-(0.236 x age). There was no statistically significant difference between the VO2 peak measured directly and the predicted, and the Bland-Altman analysis showed agreement (bias = 1.5 ml/kg/min). CONCLUSION: ISWT is a maximal test showing similar results compared to the CEPT, and the predicted equation was valid and applicable for VO2 peak assessing in young adult healthy women.