Blood pressure responsiveness to resistance training in the hypertensive older adult: a randomized controlled study.

Different lifestyle changes have been employed to improve clinical hypertension. However, there is scarce evidence on the blood pressure responsiveness to resistance training (RT) in hypertensive older adults. Consequently, little is known about some participants clinically reducing blood pressure and others not. Thus, we investigate the effects and responsiveness of RT on blood pressure in hypertensive older adults. We secondarily evaluated the biochemical risk factors for cardiovascular disease and functional performance. Older participants with hypertension were randomly assigned into RT (n = 27) and control group (n = 25). Blood pressure, functional performance (timed up and go, handgrip strength, biceps curl and sit-to-stand), fasting glucose, and lipid profiles were evaluated preintervention and postintervention. The statistic was performed in a single-blind manner, the statistician did not know who was the control and RT. RT was effective in reducing systolic blood pressure (SBP) (pre 135.7 ±â€…14.7; post 124.7 ±â€…11.0; P  < 0.001) and the responses to RT stimuli varied noticeably between hypertensive older adults after 12 weeks. For example, 13 and 1 responders displayed a minimal clinical important difference for SBP attenuation (10.9 mmHg) in the RT and control groups, respectively. RT improved the functional performance of older people with hypertension, while no differences were found in biochemical parameters (triglycerides, HDL, LDL, fasting glucose) after 12 weeks. In conclusion, responses to RT stimuli varied noticeably between hypertensive individuals and RT was effective in reducing SBP.

Association between ACTN3 (R577X), ACE (I/D), BDKRB2 (-9/+9), and AGT (M268T) polymorphisms and performance phenotypes in Brazilian swimmers.

BACKGROUND: The influence of genetic polymorphisms on athletic performance has been widely explored. This study investigated the interactions between the polymorphisms ACTN3 (R577X), ACE (I/D), BDKRB2 (-9/+9), and AGT (M/T) and their association with endurance and strength phenotypes in Brazilian swimmers. METHODS: 123 athletes (aged 20-30 years) and 718 controls participated in the study. The athletes were divided into elite and sub-elite (N = 19 and 104, respectively) and strength and endurance experts (N = 98 and 25, respectively). Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in all groups. RESULTS: Considering the ACE polymorphism, it was observed a higher frequency of the DD genotype than expected in the strength experts of the elite group, whereas the strength experts sub-elite athletes had a higher frequency of the ID genotype (χ2 = 8.17; p = 0.01). Subjects with XX genotypes of ACTN3 are more likely to belong to the athlete group when compared to the control group (OR = 1.79, p = 0.04). The DD homozygotes of the ACE are more likely to belong to the elite group with strength phenotypes than the group of sub-elite (OR = 7.96, p = 0.01) and elite strength experts compared to elite endurance (OR = 18.0, p = 0.03). However, no significant differences were observed in the allelic distribution of the polymorphisms evaluated when comparing Elite, sub-elite athletes and controls. CONCLUSION: ACE and ACTN3 allele frequencies should be considered with regard to performance influencing factors in Brazilian swimmers.

Praying for a Miracle: Negative or Positive Impacts on Health Care?

The belief in miracle, as a modality of spiritual/religious coping (SRC) strategy in the face of stress and psychic suffering, has been discussed in psychological literature with regard to its positive or negative role on the health and well-being of patients and family members. In contemporary times, where pseudo-conflicts between religion and science should have been long overcome, there is still some tendency of interpreting belief in miracle - as the possibility of a cure granted by divine intervention, modifying the normal course of events in a bleak medical diagnosis - as having unhealthy impacts in the care and treatment of health. This position seeks to find a base in the three characteristics of hoping in a miracle, frequently pointed out by psychological literature: (a) it would imply a negation of reality instead of its confrontation; (b) it would be a coping strategy focused on emotion instead of the problem; (c) it would imply seeking to modify the supposed desire of God by extra-natural facts. In this study, we shall critically discuss this position and the dangers of its crystallization by the use of SRC scales in which the act of praying for a miracle is previously classified as a negative strategy. We revisit some tendencies in psychological literature about the subject, taking into consideration the various facets of miracle, sociocultural facts, elements of idiographic nature, and their profound outcomes in the lives of people especially in health contexts. We illustrate the dangers of a hasty generalization of the results of nomothetic studies about the role of belief in miracle with two examples of research in the Brazilian context: one carried out with pregnant women with fetal malformation and the other with family members caring for children and adolescents with cancer under chemotherapeutic treatment. In both studies, the results do not confirm the predominance of the negative aspects associated with the act of praying for a miracle, which we discuss and analyze in light of the phenomenological perspective. In this perspective, "pray for a miracle", as experienced by patients and caregivers, can be recognized as an act of openness to life (instead of isolation in a bleak perspective), bolstering hope, and the resignification of reality in the psyche.

Obese elderly with diabetes experience more pain and reduced quality of life compared to obese elderly with hypertension.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Growth of elderly population is a worldwide phenomenon that impacts public health. The objective of this study was to compare the pain levels, strength, and quality of life among elderly obese with diabetes or hypertension. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study cohort comprised 52 obese elderly subjects with hypertension (n = 35) and diabetes (n = 17). The parameters measured were anthropometric features, handgrip strength, visual analog scale for pain, and quality of life using the World Health Organization questionnaire. RESULTS: The level of pain reported by obese hypertensive elderly subjects (5.3 ± 3.4) was lower than reported by obese diabetic elderly subjects (7.4 ± 2.4). Obese hypertensive elderly scored higher on quality of life (sensory functioning and past, present, and future [PPF] activities) than obese diabetic elderly. No differences were observed for the other parameters. Strength, pain, anthropometrics, and hemodynamics were not correlated to quality of life. CONCLUSIONS: Obese elderly diabetics exhibit worse pain scores, sensorial abilities, and PPF activities than obese hypertensive elderly individuals. RELEVANCE FOR PATIENTS: The difference in pain and quality of life aspects between obese elderly individuals with hypertension and diabetes should be accounted for in health-care programs designed for these individuals.

Resistance training improves sleep quality, redox balance and inflammatory profile in maintenance hemodialysis patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Patients in maintenance hemodialisys (HD) present sleep disorders, increased inflammation, unbalanced redox profiles, and elevated biomarkers representing endothelial dysfunction. Resistance training (RT) has shown to mitigate the loss of muscle mass, strength, improve inflammatory profiles, and endothelial function while decreasing oxidative stress for those in HD. However, the relation between those factors and sleep quality are inadequately described. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of 3 months of RT on sleep quality, redox balance, nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, inflammation profile, and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in patients undergoing HD. Our primary goal was to describe the role of RT on sleep quality. Our secondary goal was to evaluate the effect of RT on NO, metabolism markers, and inflammatory and redox profiles as potential mechanisms to explain RT-induced sleep quality changes. Fifty-five men undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were randomized into either a control (CTL, n = 25) and RT group (RTG; n = 30). Participants in the RT group demonstrated an improvement in sleep pattern, redox, inflammatory profiles, and biomarkers of endothelial function (NO2- and ADMA). This group also increased muscle strength (total workload in RT exercises of upper and lower limbs). These findings support that RT may improve the clinical status of HD patients by improving their sleep quality, oxidative and inflammatory parameters.

Acupuncture Treatment in Elderly People with Sarcopenia: Effects on the Strength and Inflammatory Mediators.

INTRODUCTION: Sarcopenia is defined as the progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass, associated with aging. A multidisciplinary approach has been increasingly prioritized in elderly care. A technique that has been widely used by the seniors is acupuncture. OBJECTIVES: To analyse the effects of acupuncture in muscle strength and in inflammatory markers of older people with sarcopenia. METHODS: The sample was composed by 53 elderly people, aged over 60 years. Inclusion criteria were as follows: male and female seniors, sedentary and who were not under acupuncture treatment during the survey period. Assessment of body composition, handgrip strength, and functional test and IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α cytokines analyses were performed. After verification of the physical examination, the subjects were divided into two groups (sarcopenic and nonsarcopenic). The first group was then randomized (by drawing lot) to be further divided into two subgroups: G1, composed of sarcopenic elderly people who received acupuncture intervention, and G2, composed of sarcopenic elderly people who did not receive intervention. The nonsarcopenic elderly people composed the group 3 (G3) and did not receive acupuncture intervention. ANOVA Split Plot was performed for intergroup comparison. For intragroup evaluation, ANOVA was conducted for repeated measures. For the delta values, ANCOVA was performed with the pretest as covariant. A p < 0.05 significance level was adopted. RESULTS: 26 older people concluded the collections. There was no statistically significant difference between the G1 group and the other ones regarding the assessed variables (muscle mass, muscle strength, functionality, and inflammatory markers). CONCLUSION: The results allow us to infer that it is possible that the conducted intervention protocol has not produced any significant effects in the studied population. UTN number: RBR-8df2h4.

Psychological profiles of gender and personality traces of Brazilian professional athletes of futsal, and their influence on physiological parameters.

The present study aimed to identify the psychological profiles of professional futsal players in terms of the gender schema and to evaluate the physiological parameters (speed, acceleration, strength, and power) and fatigue index of these athletes according to their gender profiles and relative to their positions on the court. The Masculine Inventory of the Self-concept Gender Schemas was used to classify the sample into typological groups, and the Running Anaerobic Sprint Test was used to measure the physiological parameters (speed, acceleration, strength, and power) and the fatigue index. The study sample was composed of 64 male professional futsal players who competed in the National Indoor Soccer league in 2013; the subjects had an average weight of 76.00±6.7 kg. Among the athletes studied, 23 (35.9%) were classified as heteroschematic female, 22 (34.4%) as heteroschematic male, and 19 (29.7%) as isoschematic. Regarding their positions on the court, eleven were goalkeepers (17.2%), 13 (20.3%) were defenders, 28 (43.8%) were midfielders, and 12 (18.8%) were attackers. The players had similar weights even when belonging to different typological groups and having different positions in the court. However, it is worth noting that male heteroschematic players had a greater mean weight (77.11±5.93 kg) and that the goalkeeper was, on average, the heaviest player (79.36±8.14 kg). The results of the physiological parameter analysis relative to typological group showed that, on average, high-level soccer players presented similar performance profiles in different rounds, as statistically significant differences were not found in any of the studied physiological variables (weight, distance, speed, acceleration, strength, power, and fatigue index). Although the results of this research did not reveal statistically significant differences between the groups in terms of the assessed variables, we observed that some results related to personality traits associated with both the male and female components could help to clarify and establish relationships with some strategic aspects inherent to futsal.

Accuracy and reliability of the Pfeffer Questionnaire for the Brazilian elderly population.

The aging population calls for instruments to assess functional and cognitive impairment in the elderly, aiming to prevent conditions that affect functional abilities. OBJECTIVE: To verify the accuracy and reliability of the Pfeffer (FAQ) scale for the Brazilian elderly population and to evaluate the reliability and reproducibility of the translated version of the Pfeffer Questionnaire. METHODS: The Brazilian version of the FAQ was applied to 110 elderly divided into two groups. Both groups were assessed by two blinded investigators at baseline and again after 15 days. In order to verify the accuracy and reliability of the instrument, sensitivity and specificity measurements for the presence or absence of functional and cognitive decline were calculated for various cut-off points and the ROC curve. Intra and inter-examiner reliability were assessed using the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. RESULTS: For the occurrence of cognitive decline, the ROC curve yielded an area under the curve of 0.909 (95%CI of 0.845 to 0.972), sensitivity of 75.68% (95%CI of 93.52% to 100%) and specificity of 97.26%. For the occurrence of functional decline, the ROC curve yielded an area under the curve of 0.851 (95%CI of 64.52% to 87.33%) and specificity of 80.36% (95%CI of 69.95% to 90.76%). The ICC was excellent, with all values exceeding 0.75. On the Bland-Altman plot, intra-examiner agreement was good, with p>0.05consistently close to 0. A systematic difference was found for inter-examiner agreement. CONCLUSION: The Pfeffer Questionnaire is applicable in the Brazilian elderly population and showed reliability and reproducibility compared to the original test.

Com o envelhecimento populacional, ocorre a necessidade de instrumentos adequados para avaliar o comprometimento funcional e cognitivo do idoso, visando prevenir qualquer condição que afete sua funcionalidade. OBJETIVO: Verificar a acurácia e confiabilidade da escala de Pfeffer (FAQ) para a população idosa brasileira; avaliar a confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade da versão traduzida do questionário de Pfeffer. MÉTODOS: A versão brasileira do FAQ foi aplicada em 110 idosos divididos em dois grupos. Ambos passaram, em um primeiro momento e após 15 dias, por uma avaliação feita por dois pesquisadores, de forma cega. Para verificar a acurácia e confiabilidade do instrumento, medidas de sensibilidade e especificidade para a ocorrência ou não de declínio funcional e cognitivo foram calculadas para diversos pontos de corte e a curva ROC. Para medir a confiabilidade intra e interexaminadores foram utilizados o Coeficiente de Correlação Interclasse (ICC) e o gráfico Bland-Altman. RESULTADOS: Para a ocorrência de declínio cognitivo a curva ROC forneceu uma área sob a curva igual a 0,90, sensibilidade igual a 75,68% e especificidade de 97,26%. Para a ocorrência de declínio funcional, a curva ROC forneceu uma área sob a curva igual a 0,851, sensibilidade igual a 75,93% e especificidade de 80,36%. O ICC foi excelente, sendo todos os valores superiores a 0,75. No gráfico Bland-Altman, a concordância intraexaminadores foi boa, já na concordância interexaminadores houve uma diferença sistemática. CONCLUSÃO: O questionário de Pfeffer tem aplicabilidade na população idosa brasileira e apresenta confiabilidade e reprodutibilidade quando comparado ao teste original.

O debate -ainda pertinente- sobre as relações de gênero na Educação Física / El debate -todavía relevante- sobre las relaciones de género en Educación Física / The debate on gender relationships in Physical Educations is still relevant

A analise das rela‡ães de gˆnero na Educa‡Æo F¡sica nÆo ‚ novidade. Por‚m, as pequenas mudan‡as observadas justificam a reelabora‡Æo do problema. O objetivo desta investiga‡Æo foi avaliar a forma de estruturar as aulas, a percep‡Æo dos professores sobre o comportamento dos estudantes, e analisar as estrat‚gias utilizadas em uma a‡Æo positiva sobre o tema. O estudo foi do tipo combinado descritivo/explorat¢rio, no qual participaram dez professores de Educa‡Æo F¡sica da Educa‡Æo P£blica do Distrito Federal que trabalham na educa‡Æo prim ria. Os resultados apontam … necessidade de seguir questionando a percep‡Æo dos professores e estudantes de Educa‡Æo F¡sica por este ser um espa‡o privilegiado para a constru‡Æo da corporeidade, tendo potencial para reinventar as rela‡ães de gˆnero.

A analise das rela‡ães de gˆnero na Educa‡Æo F¡sica nÆo ‚ novidade. Por‚m, as pequenas mudan‡as observadas justificam a reelabora‡Æo do problema. O objetivo desta investiga‡Æo foi avaliar a forma de estruturar as aulas, a percep‡Æo dos professores sobre o comportamento dos estudantes, e analisar as estrat‚gias utilizadas em uma a‡Æo positiva sobre o tema. O estudo foi do tipo combinado descritivo/explorat¢rio, no qual participaram dez professores de Educa‡Æo F¡sica da Educa‡Æo P£blica do Distrito Federal que trabalham na educa‡Æo prim ria. Os resultados apontam … necessidade de seguir questionando a percep‡Æo dos professores e estudantes de Educa‡Æo F¡sica por este ser um espa‡o privilegiado para a constru‡Æo da corporeidade, tendo potencial para reinventar as rela‡ães de gˆnero.

The analysis of gender relationships in Physical Education is not something new. However, small changes observed justify revising the problem. The objective of this research was to evaluate the classes’ structure, the professors’ perceptions about students’ behavior, and to analyze the strategies used in a positive action on this subject. The study was mixed: descriptive and exploratory, this included ten public elementary physical education teachers from the Federal District. The results revealed the need to continue the inquiry on the teachers’ and students’ perceptions as physical educators, in order to facilitate the reinvention of gender relationships.

Elaboration and validation of the athletes Idiocentric and Allocentric Profile Inventory (I-A Profile).

The athlete's psychological profile is one of the most studied areas in sport psychology, but there is no consensus in this area. The purpose of this study was to elaborate and validate a scale to measure and classify athletes into a Idiocentric-Alocentric profile. The method was split in two phases: a) Items elaboration and theoretical model and b) Validation. Qualitative analyses were performed during the first phase and factorial analysis and Cronbach's Alpha were used to validate the instrument. The final instrument was composed by 27 items and the factorial structure showed three factors for Idiocentrism (Self-Realization & Competitiveness, Hedonism, Team Emotional Distance and a second order factor - Idiocentrism Level) and one factor for the Alocentrism (Alocentrism Level). It was concluded that the pattern and consistency of the results indicate that this inventory could be used as a reliable research tool in Brazilian sports context.