Entropy of Heart Rate on Self-Selected Interval Exercises in Older Women.

Non-linear analyzes such as Approximated Entropy (ApEn) and Sample Entropy (SampEn) could show the adaptability of the autonomic nervous system in relation to the dynamic changes caused by exercise. The aims of the study were: a) Investigate the effects of different Self-Selected based Interval Exercises (SSIE) configurations on Heart Rate (HR) entropy; b) Determine whether the stimuli time promote different entropy responses; c) Observe whether exercises with passive self-selected recovery time (SSRT) promote different HR entropy responses compared to those with imposed time and active recovery; and d) Determine whether post-training entropy responses quickly return to baseline. Fifteen older women were randomized to perform six sessions of SSIE and one session of Self-Selected Continuous Exercise (SSCE), with approximately 24 min duration each. The results showed increases on ApEn during the exercises compared to the moments of rest Pre (p < 0.001), Post 6 min (p = 0.003) and Post 12 min (p < 0.001). Results demonstrated that interval exercises (IE) with SSRT, present lower values of ApEn and SampEn regarding the continuous activity (p < 0.05). It was also observed that the entropy values after training returned quickly to levels close to those of pre-exercise rest with a tendency to decrease more pronounced for the continuous. The SSIE were able to promote greater complexity in the HR entropy of older women, allowing greater stabilization of the cardiovascular system, including after training.

Reliability of the Heartbeat Tracking Task to Assess Interoception.

Interoception refers to the competence in perceiving and interpreting internal sensations emerging from the body. The most common approach to assess interoception is through cardiac interoceptive tests like the heartbeat tracking task (HTT), which measures the accuracy on perceive and counting heartbeats during a period. However, the literature is scarce in providing adequate reliability evidence for this measure so that the interoception assessment may be threaten. In addition to HTT accuracy, it is possible to determine sensibility (self-reported confidence) and interoceptive awareness (correspondence between accuracy and sensibility). Thus, we measured the test-retest reliability of HTT and also investigated the behavior of HTT outcomes along the task. Therefore, 31 healthy adults (16 males) with 27.8 (9.4) years old performed two consecutive HTT interspersed by one day. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimal detectable difference (MD) analyzes showed 'Good' relative reliability for interoceptive accuracy (ICC = 0.880; SEM = 0.263; MD = 0.728; p < 0.001) and 'Moderate' for sensibility (ICC = 0.617; SEM = 0.648; MD = 1.797; p < 0.001) and awareness (ICC = 0.593; SEM = 0.227; MD = 0.628; p < 0.001). The absolute reliability shows low threshold values for observing true effects in HTT outcomes. The results also showed that reducing the number of HTT blocks did not impact the outcomes. The HTT showed to be reliable in determine the interoceptive competences in healthy adults.

Polyelectrolytic gelatin nanoparticles as a drug delivery system for the promastigote form of Leishmania amazonensis treatment.

In this study, phthalocianato[bis(dimethylaminoethanoxy)] silicon (NzPC) was loaded onto gelatin nanoparticles functionalized with polyelectrolytes (polystyrene sulfonate/polyallylamine hydrochloride) by layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly for photodynamic therapy (PDT) application in promastigote form of Leishmania amazonensis treatment. The process yield, and encapsulation efficiency were 80.0% ± 1.8 and EE = 87.0% ± 1.1, respectively. The polyelectrolytic gelatin nanoparticles (PGN) had a mean diameter of 437.4 ± 72.85 nm, narrow distribution size with a polydispersity index of 0.086. The obvious switching of zeta potential indicates successful alternating deposition of the polyanion PSS and polycation PAH directly on the gelatin nanoparticles. Photosensitizer photophysical properties were shown to be preserved after gelatin nanoparticle encapsulation. The impact of the PDT in the viability and morphology of Leishmania amazonensis promastigote in culture medium was evaluated. The PGN-NzPc presented low toxicity at the dark and the PDT was capable of decreasing the viability in more than 80% in 0.1 µmol.L-1 concentration tested. The PDT also triggered significant morphological alterations in the Leishmania promastigotes. These results reinforce the idea that the use of PGN as photosensitizers carriers is useful for PDT of Leishmania promastigotes.

Translation and transcultural adaptation of the Hip Fracture Recovery Score assessment tool.

OBJECTIVE: The Hip Function Recovery Score questionnaire is an instrument that was developed for evaluating the functional recovery of patients over 60 years of age who undergo surgical treatment due to hip fractures. The objective of this study was to make a thorough transcultural translation of this questionnaire, with adaptation to the individual and cultural traits of the Brazilian population. METHOD: This translation method consisted of initial translation, back translation, drafting of a consensual version and pretesting with comments invited. Subsequently, a final version was drawn up after making the necessary adjustments, without altering the semantics of the questions in the original text. RESULTS: The consensual version was applied to thirty patients over the age of 60 years who had undergone surgical treatment due to hip fractures. However, some difficulties in understanding some words and expressions were observed, and these were then replaced with terms that were more easily understood. After the final version had been drawn up, this was applied to the same patients and full understanding was achieved among some of them, without altering the semantics of the questions of the original text. CONCLUSION: The transcultural translation of the Hip Function Recovery Score will have an immediate impact on functional evaluations on patients over 60 years of age who underwent surgery due to hip fracture. It will subsequently be possible for other Brazilian scientific studies to use this questionnaire, which has been standardized and adapted to Brazilian culture, in order to make comparisons between results, thereby enriching Brazilian scientific production.

OBJETIVO: O questionário Hip Function Recovery Score consiste em um instrumento desenvolvido para avaliação da recuperação funcional de pacientes acima de 60 anos submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico devido a fraturas do quadril. O objetivo deste estudo foi fazer a tradução transcultural de forma criteriosa do questionário e adaptá-lo às características individuais e culturais da população brasileira. MÉTODO: Este método consiste em tradução inicial, retrotradução, elaboração de uma versão de consenso e pré-teste comentado com posterior elaboração de uma versão final após as alterações necessárias sem modificar a semântica das perguntas do texto original. RESULTADOS: A versão de consenso foi aplicada em 30 pacientes, acima de 60 anos, que foram submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico devido a fraturas do quadril. Foram observadas, entretanto, algumas dificuldades no entendimento de algumas palavras e expressões, as quais foram substituídas por termos de mais fácil entendimento. Após a elaboração da versão final, reaplicou-se essa versão aos mesmos pacientes e obteve-se um entendimento total. CONCLUSÃO: A tradução transcultural do questionário terá impacto imediato na avaliação funcional dos pacientes com mais de 60 anos operados devido a fraturas do quadril e, posteriormente, outros trabalhos nacionais podem usar esse questionário padronizado e adaptado à nossa cultura para comparação de resultados e enriquecer a produção científica do Brasil.