Acute response of prefrontal cortex in institutionalized older adults undergoing a single exergames session.

Virtual reality-based exercise (exergames) improves cognition of the elderly but the neurophysiological effects are poorly understood. The hypothesis herein established is that an ultrafast neurophysiological adaptation occurs in prefrontal cortex of elderly after completion of a single exergames session. To reinforce the aforementioned hypothesis, individuals living in a Long-Term Care Home (LTCH) participated in the study and were randomly allocated into two groups (Virtual Reality Group, VRG, n = 5; and Active Control Group, ACG n = 5). VRG performed six exercises with exergames and ACG performed exercises with the same VRG movements but with no virtual reality. Assessment of frontal cortical activity at rest and during cognitive testing via electroencephalographic activity (EEG) was performed before and immediately after the intervention. Significant decrease in relative power of EEG (RPEEG) Beta brainwave (-29 ± 18%) in the left prefrontal cortex of VRG compared to ACG (4 ± 9%) (p = 0.007). A slight improvement on semantic fluency in VRG (ES=0.21) was noted. An ultrafast prefrontal cortical adaptation may occur as an effect of a single exergames session, causing a small improvement on cognition of institutionalized elderly.

Efeito do treinamento resistido na sobrevida de camundongos c57bl/6 com caquexia associada ao melanoma cutâneo / Effect of resisted training on survival of c57bl / 6 mice with cachexia associated with cutaneous melanoma

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o efeito do treinamento resistido na sobrevida de camundongos C57BL/6 com caquexia associada ao melanoma cutâneo. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída por 64 (camundongos C57BL/6 fêmeas, com idade entre 10 e 12 semanas, com cerca de 50 ± 5 gramas de peso corporal. Os camundongos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatros grupos: i. camundongos controle, com indução de tumor, inativos fisicamente (Controle, n = 16); ii. camundongos submetidos ao treinamento resistido diário somente antes da indução tumoral (Treino 1, n = 16); iii. camundongos submetidos ao treinamento resistido diário antes e após da indução tumoral (Treino 2, n = 16); iv. camundongos submetidos ao treinamento resistido diário após a indução tumoral e apresentado quadro caquético (Treino 3, n = 16). No procedimento para treinamento resistido (TR) com choque, foi utilizada uma escada com 110 cm de altura, 18 cm de largura, 2 cm entre os degraus e 80 graus de inclinação. No procedimento para TR com choque, foi utilizada uma escada 110 cm de altura, 18 cm de largura, 2 cm entre os degraus e 80 graus de inclinação. O exercício resistido baseia-se na subida dos camundongos. Na plataforma de saída, aplicava-se um choque elétrico como estímulo para subir as escadas, nesta etapa era aplicada o choque nas quatro patas do animal com uma tensão elétrica de 20 volts a uma frequência de 45 Hertz durante seis séries de oito repetições, cada uma com noventa segundos de intervalo entre as séries. Os grupos de camundongos foram submetidos a acompanhamento por no máximo 15 dias após o diagnóstico da caquexia a fim de comparar a sobrevida geral relacionada ao câncer entre os grupos de estudo. As curvas de sobrevivência de KaplanMeier foram estimadas para cada evento e as curvas dos diferentes grupos foram comparadas usando o teste de Log-rank. O tempo de sobrevida proposta foi de 25 dias após inoculação. RESULTADOS: Os resultados apresentados nesse estudo mostraram que não houve diferença significativa (p <0,05) entre as propostas de treino. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve diferença na sobrevida de animais com caquexia associada ao modelo tumoral singênico de melanoma cutâneo com intervenção de exercício resistido ou sedentários.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to verify the effect of resistance training on the survival of C57BL / 6 mice with cachexia associated with cutaneous melanoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 64 (female C57BL/6 mice, aged between 10 and 12 weeks, with approximately 50 ± 5 grams of body weight. The mice were randomly distributed into four groups: i. control mice, with tumor induction, physically inactive (Control, n = 16); ii. mice submitted to daily resistance training only before tumor induction (Training 1, n = 16); iii. Mice submitted to daily resistance training before and after tumor induction (Training 2, n = 16); iv. Mice submitted to daily resistance training after tumor induction and presented a cachectic condition (Training 3, n = 16). In the resistance training procedure (RT) with shock, a 110 cm high, 18 cm wide, 2 cm between the steps, and 80 degrees inclination ladder was used. In the procedure for shock resistance training (TR), a ladder 110 cm high, 18 cm wide, 2 cm between the rungs, and 80 degrees of inclination was used. The resisted exercise is based on the climbing of the mice. On the exit platform, an electric shock was applied as a stimulus to climb the stairs. In this step, the shock was applied to the four legs of the animal with an electric voltage of 20 volts at a frequency of 45 Hertz during six series of eight repetitions, each with ninety-seconds intervals between the series. The mice groups underwent follow-up for no more than 15 days after diagnosis of cachexia to compare overall cancer-related survival between the study groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were estimated for each event, and the curves of the different groups were compared using the Log-rank test. The proposed survival time was 25 days after inoculation. RESULTS: The results presented in this study showed no significant difference (p <0.05) between the training proposals. CONCLUSION: There was no difference in animals' survival with cachexia associated with the syngeneic melanoma skin tumor model with either resistance exercise or sedentary intervention.

Efeitos da atividade física na histomorfometria muscular esquelética de modelo tumoral murino de caquexia / Effects of physical activity on skeletal muscle histomorphometry of murine cachexia tumor model

A caquexia associada ao câncer (CAC) é uma síndrome paraneoplásica que ocorre com indivíduos com câncer que é caracterizada pela diminuição gradual de tecidos muscular esquelética e de tecido adiposo, promovendo um quadro de consumação física do indivíduo. A ocorrência de CAC determina de forma significativa a uma pior qualidade de vida e de sobrevida de indivíduos com câncer. A CAC não pode ser revertida pelo amparo nutricional convencional. Tratamentos não-farmacológicos empregados para a CAC tem reportado a realização de atividade física para possibilitar adaptações neurais e de hipertrofia muscular em indivíduos com a síndrome. OBJETIVO: Verificar os efeitos da atividade física em ambiente enriquecido na histomorfometria da musculatura esquelética de camundongos C57BL/6 submetidos ao modelo tumoral murino de caquexia associada ao câncer (CAC). MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados 38 camundongos C57BL/6 fêmeas, distribuídos aleatoriamente nos grupos de estudo. Todos os animais foram submetidos ao modelo tumoral murino singênico de Melanoma Cutâneo (MTMSMC) com a inoculação subcutânea de células B16F10. Os grupos de estudo são animais do experimento diagnostico CRC (n = 12), animais sedentários (n = 11) e animais submetidos à prática de atividade física em ambiente enriquecido (n = 15). O seguimento do estudo ocorreu por um período de dez dias. Após esse momento, todos os animais foram sacrificados e amostras de tecido muscular esquelético do gastrocnêmio foram submetidas às análises histomorfométricas. RESULTADOS: Os resultados da análise inferencial do peso absoluto e relativo muscular esquelético não diferiram entre os grupos do estudo. Todas as comparações das variáveis apresentaram tamanho do efeito pequeno. A análise histomorfométrica muscular revelou que a área da fibra muscular não diferiu entre os grupos do estudo. Contudo, essa área muscular, apresentou tamanho do efeito pequeno. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados apresentados mostraram que a realização de atividade física no ambiente enriquecido não influenciou na área da fibra do músculo do gastrocnêmio de camundongos C57BL/6 submetidos ao MTMSMC, associada à CAC.

Cancer-associated cachexia (CAC) is a paraneoplastic syndrome that occurs in individuals with cancer, which is characterized by the gradual decrease in skeletal muscle and fat tissue, promoting an individual's physical consumption. The occurrence of CAC significantly determines a worse quality of life and survival for individuals with cancer. CAC cannot be reversed by conventional nutritional support. Non-pharmacological treatments used for CAC have reported physical activity to enable neural adaptations and muscle hypertrophy in individuals with the syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To verify the effects of physical activity in an enriched environment on the histomorphometry of skeletal musculature of C57BL/6 mice submitted to the murine tumor model of cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). METHODS: 38 female C57BL/6 mice were used, randomly distributed in groups of study. All animals were subjected to the cutaneous murine tumor model of Cutaneous Melanoma (MTMSMC) with subcutaneous inoculation of B16F10 cells. The study groups are CRC diagnostic experiment animals (n = 12), sedentary animals (n = 11) and animals submitted to physical activity in an enriched environment (n = 15). The study was followed up for a period of ten days. After that moment, all animals were sacrificed and samples of skeletal muscle tissue from the gastrocnemius were submitted to histomorphometric analyzes. RESULTS: The results of inferential analysis of absolute and relative skeletal muscle weight did not differ between the study groups. All comparisons of the variables showed a small effect size. Muscle histomorphometric analysis revealed that the muscle fiber area did differ between the study groups. However, this muscular area had a small effect size. CONCLUSION: The results presented showed that physical activity in the enriched environment did not influence the fiber area of the gastrocnemius muscle of C57BL/6 mice submitted to MTMSMC, associated with CAC.

Condicionamento Cardiorrespiratório de idosos: há diferença em praticante de exercício físico e não praticantes? / Cardiorespiratory fitness in the elderly: is there a difference in physical activity practitioners and nonpractitioners?

As mudanças no sistema cardiorrespiratório são evidentes durante o processo de envelhecimento. A aptidão cardiorrespiratória (ACR) tem sido considerada um dos principais fatores responsáveis pela perda de independência em idosos. OBJETIVO: verificar a capacidade cardiorrespiratória em idosos praticantes e não praticantes de atividade física sistematizada. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo com delineamento transversal. A amostra foi composta por 30 idosas, do sexo feminino com idade entre 65 a 75 anos independentes, divididas em praticantes e não praticantes de exercício físico. Definiu-se como critério de exclusão da pesquisa ausência das participantes durante o período de coleta dos dados. Como instrumento de coleta utilizou-se o teste de marcha estacionária para a avaliação cardiorrespiratória. O avaliador conta uma passada de cada vez, sendo que só foram computadas as passadas em que o joelho atinja a altura correta ao nível ponto médio entre a patela e a espinha ilíaca ântero-superior. RESULTADOS: obteve como resultado média de 43,40 ± 10,08 para indivíduos não praticantes de exercício físico, com peso corporal de 59,26 ± 10, 09kg. No entanto, para indivíduos praticantes de exercício físico com peso corporal de 69,73 ± 11,48kg obteve-se média de 43,73 ± 9,29 ciclos completos. CONCLUSÃO: Nessa amostra não houve uma diferença da aptidão cardiorrespiratória em idosos praticantes e não praticantes de exercício físico.

Changes in the cardiorespiratory system are evident during the aging process. Cardiorespiratory fitness (ACR) has been considered one of the main factors responsible for the loss of independence in the elderly. AIM: The goal of this study was to verify the cardiorespiratory capacity in elders practitioners and non-practitioners of systematic physical activity. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study. The sample consisted of 30 elderly women, female aged between 65 and 75 years independent, divided into practitioners and non-practitioners of physical exercise and the absence of participants during the period of data collection was defined as a criterion for exclusion from the research. As a collection instrument, a stationary gait test was used for cardiorespiratory assessment. The evaluator counts one step at a time, and only the steps in which the knee reaches the correct height at the midpoint between the patella and the anterior superior iliac spine will be computed. RESULTS: obtained an average result of 43.40 ± 10.08 for individuals who did not exercise, with a body weight of 59.26 ± 10, 09kg. However, for individuals practicing physical exercise with a body weight of 69.73 ± 11.48kg, an average of 43.73 ± 9.29 complete cycles were obtained. CONCLUSION: In this sample, there was no difference in cardiorespiratory fitness in elderly practitioners and non-practitioners of physical exercise.

2D Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Improves Spatial Navigation in Institutionalized Non-robust Older Persons: A Preliminary Data Report of a Single-Blind, Randomized, and Controlled Study.

Background: Spatial navigation is a prodromal dementia marker. Exercise used alongside virtual reality improves many cognitive functions, but effects on spatial navigation are still unclear. Objective: To investigate the effect of virtual reality-based physical exercise with 2D exergames on spatial navigation in institutionalized non-robust older persons. Method: A total of 14 older persons (aged ≧ 60) were randomly allocated to the exergame (EG) and active control (ACG) groups. EG performed exercises with 2D exergames, while the ACG used the same movements as the EG, but without the use of virtual reality. Spatial navigation was assessed through the Floor Maze Test, where the immediate maze time (IMT) and delayed maze time (DMT) were recorded. Results: Spatial navigation was enhanced in EG participants compared to ACG individuals. A significant (p = 0.01) IMT reduction between groups was observed, while DMT time without prior planning was significantly different at the significance threshold (p = 0.07). Conclusions: Virtual reality-based exercise improves the spatial navigation of institutionalized non-robust older persons. This study should be replicated to confirm the findings reported herein. Clinical Trial Registration: This study was registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (Protocol RBR-8dv3kg - https://ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/RBR-8dv3kg).

Efeitos do ultrassom terapêutico no ingurgitamento mamário: estudo piloto / Effects of therapeutic ultrasound in mammary engagement: pilot study

INTRODUÇÃO: A amamentação constitui uma importante etapa no processo reprodutivo, oferecendo benefícios tanto para mãe como para a criança. O Ingurgitamento mamário é uma complicação que ocorre do terceiro ao quinto dia de pós-parto. O Ultrassom Terapêutico (UST) é amplamente utilizado, e consiste em um aparelho capaz de produzir energia acústica de alta frequência. OBJETIVO: verificar o efeito agudo do ultrassom no processo terapêutico do ingurgitamento mamário. METODOLOGIA: Estudo transversal, que avaliou a mama e classificou o ingurgitamento, além de realizar avaliação da dor e da percepção subjetiva das mamas. Foi administrado o protocolo com ultrassom terapêutico na frequência de 1Mh, modo pulsado, intensidade/ dose de 0,5w/cm2, ciclo ativo de 20% com tempo de aplicação de 02 minutos por área de radiação efetiva (ERA). Após aplicação, a lactente foi submetida à amamentação e realizada nova avaliação das mamas. RESULTADOS: A amostra foi composta por 4 mulheres entre 20 e 30 anos com quadro de ingurgitamento mamário. O valor inicial do ingurgitamento mamário foi de 2 a mediana e a final foi de 1 a mediana. Em relação à dor mamária, inicialmente foi de 5 mediana e a final 2 a mediana. Em todos os casos analisados houve melhora na dor, na disponibilidade do leite e no aspecto de ingurgitamento da mama. CONCLUSÃO: O ultrassom terapêutico se mostrou eficaz na redução da dor, no aumento da disponibilidade do leite e na melhora do enrijecimento característico do ingurgitamento mamário.

INTRODUCTION: Breastfeeding is an important step in the reproductive process, providing benefits for both mother and child. Breast engorgement is a complication that occurs from the third to the fifth postpartum day. Therapeutic Ultrasound (UST) is widely used, and consists of an apparatus capable of producing high frequency acoustic energy. OBJECTIVE: to verify the acute effect of ultrasound in the therapeutic process of breast engorgement. METHODOLOGY: Cross-sectional study, which evaluated the breast and classified the engorgement, besides evaluating the pain and the subjective perception of the breasts. The protocol with therapeutic ultrasound was administered at a frequency of 1Mh, pulsed mode, intensity / dose of 0.5w / cm2, active cycle of 20% with application time of 02 minutes per effective Radiation Area (ERA). After application, the infant was submitted to breastfeeding and a new breast evaluation was performed. RESULTS: The sample consisted of 4 women between 20 and 30 years of age with breast engorgement. The initial value of breast engorgement was 2 the median and the final value was 1 to median. Regarding breast pain, it was initially 5 median and the final 2 median. In all the analyzed cases there was improvement in pain, milk availability and breast engorgement aspect. CONCLUSION: Therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to be effective in reducing pain, increasing milk availability and improving the stiffness characteristic of breast engorgement.

Bibliometrics of CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets: An International Evolution Along Time.

OBJECTIVE AND METHOD: To investigate trends in the scientific evolution of the journal CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets in the neuroscience scope, we compared the contribution of publications between this journal and others from different geographical regions of the world. To track research output we conducted a bibliometric analysis of neuroscience research based on the SCimago Journal and Country Rank® from 2003 to 2017. Journal rankings were verified according to the following inclusion criteria: journals publishing the neuroscience scope and sub-areas; geographical location and journal trajectory. Additionally, the total number of original, peer-reviewed and conference articles was analyzed using bibliometric tools. RESULTS: Results showed that Europe, North America and the Middle East have been the greatest contributors of neuroscience publications. Nevertheless, there is a huge discrepancy in the number of journals per region. Until 2017, Europe was on top with 85 journals in the neuroscience field. Moreover, research on neuroscience displayed a swift expanding trend, with significant growth in recent years. CONCLUSION: In spite of CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets being a recent journal, it is an international journal emphasizing quality and innovations, and it is a hallmark on the scientific production in neuroscience. Research articles on the scope of the potential role of endocannabinoid systems in central appetite control and in obesity management and the potential of minocycline use in schizophrenia are paramount examples of innovation. Final results will help scientific researchers to know the current interests in neuroscience and provide useful information for further investigation and publication strategies.

Comparison of cognitive functions among frail and prefrail older adults: a clinical perspective.

ABSTRACTObjective:To compare cognitive function among frail and prefrail older adults. DESIGN: Cross-sectional clinical study. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-one non-institutionalized older individuals participated in this study. MEASUREMENTS: Cognitive functions were evaluated through Mini-Mental State Examination (Global Cognition), Digit Span Forward (short-term memory), Digit Span Backward (working memory), Verbal Fluency Test (semantic memory/executive function). Data were compared using parametric and non-parametric bivariate tests. Binary logistic regression was used to test a frailty prediction model. Statistical significance was defined as p ≤ 0.01 to compare groups. In the regression model, the p value was set to be ≤0.05. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were observed in global cognition, and short-term memory between frail and prefrail individuals (p ≤ 0.01). Global cognition explained 14-19% of frailty's model. CONCLUSION: According to our findings, the evaluation of cognitive functions among older persons with frailty and prefrailty provides important complementary information to better manage frailty and its progression.