Detecting creatine excreted in the urine of swimming athletes by means of Raman spectroscopy.

High-level sport requires analysis of athletes' metabolic conditions in order to improve the training. Raman spectroscopy can be used to assess urinary composition advantageously when compared to conventional methods of urinalysis. In this work, Raman spectroscopy has been employed to detect creatine in urine of professional swimmers before and after training compared to sedentaries. It has been collected urine samples from five swimmers before and immediately after 150 min of swimming and submitted to Raman spectroscopy (830 nm excitation, 350 mW laser power, 20 s integration time) and compared to the urine from a control group (14 sedentary subjects). The Raman spectra of urine from four swimmers after training showed peaks related to creatine at 829, 915, 1049, and 1397 cm-1, besides peaks referred to urea, creatinine, ketone bodies, and phosphate. A spectral model estimated the concentration of creatine to be from 0.26 to 0.72 g/dL in the urine of these athletes. The presence of this metabolic biomarker in the urine of some swimmers suggests a metabolic profile influenced by the diet, supplementation, individual metabolism, and the self-response to the training. Raman spectroscopy allows a rapid and reliable detection of creatine excreted in the urine of swimming athletes, which may be used to adjust the nutrition/supplementation of each individual as well as the individual response and energy consumption depending on the type and duration of the training.

O impacto das crenças em saúde sobre o controle da hipertensão arterial de idosos / The impact of health beliefs on the control of arterial hypertension in the elderly

Avaliar o impacto das crenças em saúde no controle da pressão arterial de idosos hipertensos em um município com elevado índice de desenvolvimento humano (IDHM), considerando sexo e classe social. Metodologia: O estudo foi realizado nas Unidades Básicas de Saúde do município de São Caetano do Sul. Foram coletadas informações sociodemográficas por meio de questionário. Aferiu-se a PA para a identificação dos pacientes hipertensos controlados e não controlados. Utilizou-se escala de crenças em saúde com sentenças sobre crenças de barreiras e benefícios relacionados a cada um dos treze comportamentos de saúde referentes às medidas de prevenção e controle da hipertensão arterial. Realizou-se análise descritiva e razão de prevalência, considerando significância para p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Observamos que a maioria dos pacientes aderiu ao tratamento, tendo noção dos benefícios de controlar os fatores de risco de hipertensão. Conclusão: Concluímos que os dados foram semelhantes entre homens e mulheres e a classe social impactou inversamente na adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso

To assess the impact of health beliefs on blood pressure control in hypertensive elderly patients in a municipality with a high human development index (HDI), considering sex and social class. Methodology: The study was carried out at the Basic Health Units of the municipality of São Caetano do Sul. Sociodemographic information was collected through a questionnaire. BP was measured to identify controlled and uncontrolled hypertensive patients. A health belief scale with judgments on the perceived barriers and benefits related to each of the thirteen health behaviors corresponding to hypertension prevention and control measures was used. A descriptive analysis was conducted and a prevalence ratio calculated, considering significance for p ≤0.05. Results: We observed treatment adherence in the majority of patients, who were aware of the benefits of controlling the risk factors for hypertension. Conclusion: We concluded that the data were similar between men and women, and that social class had an inverse impact on compliance with drug treatment

Detecting urine metabolites related to training performance in swimming athletes by means of Raman spectroscopy and principal component analysis.

Raman spectroscopy (RS) is a vibrational technique that is suitable for performing biochemical analyses in human tissues and fluids. This work has investigated the identification of biochemical markers due to physical performance in the urine of swimming athletes. This was achieved by means of the Raman features that were found before and after the swimming training compared to the sedentary control subjects. These particular biochemical marker identifications refer to and infer the physiological status of individuals. The urine samples (single stream) were collected before and after the training (velocity, middle distance and distance) of professional swimmers, as well as from sedentary subjects (control). The urine samples were submitted to RS (830 nm excitation, 350 mW, 400-1800 cm-1 spectral range, 4 cm-1 resolution) and the spectra after the training were compared to the spectra before training, and subsequently, to the control subjects. The principal component analysis (PCA) was employed in order to identify the biochemicals that were responsible for the spectral differences. The Raman features of the urine samples after training showed peaks that were related to common urine metabolites, such as urea and creatinine. PCA analysis also revealed Raman features that were attributed to other metabolites, such as creatine, ketone bodies, phosphate and nitrogenous compounds in the swimmers after training. RS was a rapid and reliable technique for the evaluation of urine metabolites that were related to the physical performance of high-level swimmers, which then allowed for an accurate assessment and a control of their physiological efficiencies.

Raman spectroscopy applied to identify metabolites in urine of physically active subjects.

Raman spectroscopy is a rapid and non-destructive technique suitable for biological fluids analysis. In this work, dispersive Raman spectroscopy has been employed as a rapid and nondestructive technique to detect the metabolites in urine of physically active subjects before and after vigorous 30min pedaling or running compared to sedentary subjects. For so, urine samples from 9 subjects were obtained before and immediately after physical activities and submitted to Raman spectroscopy (830nm excitation, 250mW laser power, 20s integration time) and compared to urine from 5 sedentary subjects. The Raman spectra of urine from sedentary showed peaks related to urea, creatinine, ketone bodies, phosphate and other nitrogenous compounds. These metabolic biomarkers presented peaks with different intensities in the urine of physically active individuals after exercises compared to before, measured by the intensity of selected peaks the Raman spectra, which means different concentrations after training. These peaks presented different intensity values for each subject before physical activity, also behaving differently compared to the post-training: some subjects presented increase while others decrease the intensity. Raman spectroscopy may allow the development of a rapid and non-destructive test for metabolic evaluation of the physical training in active and trained subjects using urine samples, allowing nutrition adjustment with the sport's performance.

Aerobic exercise training enhances the in vivo cholesterol trafficking from macrophages to the liver independently of changes in the expression of genes involved in lipid flux in macrophages and aorta.

BACKGROUND: Regular exercise prevents and regresses atherosclerosis by improving lipid metabolism and antioxidant defenses. Exercise ameliorates the reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), an antiatherogenic system that drives cholesterol from arterial macrophages to the liver for excretion into bile and feces. In this study we analyzed the role of aerobic exercise on the in vivo RCT and expression of genes and proteins involved in lipid flux and inflammation in peritoneal macrophages, aortic arch and liver from wild type mice. METHODS: Twelve-week-old male mice were divided into sedentary and trained groups. Exercise training was performed in a treadmill (15 m/min, 30 min/day, 5 days/week). Plasma lipids were determined by enzymatic methods and lipoprotein profile by fast protein liquid chromatography. After intraperitoneal injection of J774-macrophages the RCT was assessed by measuring the recovery of (3)H-cholesterol in plasma, feces and liver. The expression of liver receptors was determined by immunoblot, macrophages and aortic mRNAs by qRT-PCR. (14)C-cholesterol efflux mediated by apo A-I and HDL2 and the uptake of (3)H-cholesteryl oleoyl ether ((3)H-COE)-acetylated-LDL were determined in macrophages isolated from sedentary and trained animals 48 h after the last exercise session. RESULTS: Body weight, plasma lipids, lipoprotein profile, glucose and blood pressure were not modified by exercise training. A greater amount of (3)H-cholesterol was recovered in plasma (24 h and 48 h) and liver (48 h) from trained animals in comparison to sedentary. No difference was found in (3)H-cholesterol excreted in feces between trained and sedentary mice. The hepatic expression of scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) and LDL receptor (B-E) was enhanced by exercise. We observed 2.8 and 1.7 fold rise, respectively, in LXR and Cyp7a mRNA in the liver of trained as compared to sedentary mice. Macrophage and aortic expression of genes involved in lipid efflux was not systematically changed by physical exercise. In agreement, (14)C-cholesterol efflux and uptake of (3)H-COE-acetylated-LDL by macrophages was similar between sedentary and trained animals. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise in vivo accelerates the traffic of cholesterol from macrophages to the liver contributing to prevention and regression of atherosclerosis, independently of changes in macrophage and aorta gene expression.

O treinamento físico aeróbico acelera o transporte reverso de colesterol de macrófagos em camundongos selvagens e transgênicos para CETP humana / Aerobic exercise training improves the macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in wild-type and in CETP transgenic mice

O papel do exercício físico na prevenção da doença macrovascular aterosclerótica é atribuído em parte à melhoria no metabolismo de lípides, com evidências para regressão e prevenção no desenvolvimento de aterosclerose. Neste estudo, avaliamos o efeito de 6 semanas de treinamento físico aeróbio (protocolo diário em esteira 15 m/min, 30 min, 5 vezes na semana) sobre o transporte reverso de colesterol (TRC) em camundongos C57BL/6 selvagens e transgênicos para CETP humana (CETP-tg). Estes últimos constituem modelo experimental de TRC que se assemelha aos humanos, pela presença da CETP. O TRC é um sistema antiaterogênico, por meio do qual o colesterol é removido de células periféricas e transportado ao fígado para eliminação na bile e excreção fecal. A metodologia utilizada consistiu na injeção intraperitoneal de macrófagos J774 enriquecidos em LDL-acetilada e 3H-colesterol em animais selvagens e CETP-tg sedentários e treinados, após as 6 semanas de estudo. O perfil lipídico não foi modificado após o treinamento físico, no entanto, apenas no grupo CETP-tg treinado houve aumento na concentração de HDL colesterol ao final do estudo. O treinamento físico aeróbio acelerou o TRC em camundongos selvagens, refletido pela maior recuperação de 3H-colesterol no plasma (após 24 h e 48 h da injeção intraperitoneal) e no fígado (após 48 h), em comparação aos animais selvagens sedentários. Este evento associou-se ao aumento de 60% na expressão dos receptores hepáticos SR-BI, em relação ao grupo sedentário. Nos animais CETP-tg, o treinamento físico aumentou o TRC, com maior recuperação de 3H-colesterol - advindo dos macrófagos - no plasma, fígado e também nas fezes (após 24 h e 48 h), em comparação aos animais transgênicos sedentários. Embora a expressão de SR-BI não tenha sido alterada pelo treinamento físico nos animais CETPtg, observou-se nestes animais aumento na expressão hepática do receptor B-E, contribuindo para a maior remoção de colesterol pelo fígado...

Regular exercise prevents the development of atherosclerosis. We analyzed the role of a six-week aerobic exercise training program in the macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in wild-type (WT) and in human CETP transgenic (CETP-tg) mice. Animals were randomly assigned to sedentary and trained groups (treadmill 15 m/min, 30-min sessions, 5 sessions per week). Plasma lipids were not modified after training, although HDL-cholesterol concentrations levels increased in trained CETP-tg mice only. Plasma CETP activity was not modified after training. A greater recovery of 3H-cholesterol from J774 macrophages injected into peritoneal cavities of mice was found in plasma and in the liver from exercised WT and CETP animals in comparison to sedentary groups. Exercise training induced a greater excretion of 3H-cholesterol in feces only in the CETP-tg mice. The SR-BI expression in the liver was increased and unchanged in trained WT and CETP-tg mice, respectively. The liver expression of LDL receptor was higher in both groups after training. Alternatively, liver X receptor (LXR) increased only in trained WT mice. Aerobic exercise training improves the macrophage RCT in mice, thereby contributing to the prevention and regression of atherosclerosis. The benefit of exercise on the cholesterol excretion in feces in mice was attained only in the presence of CETP, which elucidates the importance of exercise in the prevention of atherosclerosis in humans.

Levantamento da utilização ambulatorial dos pacientes submetidos a um Programa de Condicionamento Físico / Survey of outpatient clinic use by patients submitted to a Physical Fitness Program

Introdução: A população do HSMC é composta na sua maior parte por pacientes idosos, portadores de patologias crônico-degenerativas que se somam ao longo da vida aumentando os índices de utilização ambulatorial do HMSC, identificados no número de solicitações de exames complementares, de análises clínicas, etc. O aperfeiçoamento constante de estratégias baseadas em conceitos técnicos e modernos, visando a promoção da saúde e a prevenção primária e secundária, é necessário para qualificar o atendimento e otimizá-lo. Ojetivo: Comparar a utilização dos serviços ambulatoriais em pacientes do HMSC, antes e depois de ingressarem no programa de condicionamento físico do ECO. Método: Total de 45 pacientes com média de idade = 65 (mais ou menos) 0,1 anos. Foi analisada a quantidade de atendimentos ambulatoriais, comparando-se 4 meses antes e depois de ingressarem no programa de condicionamento físico (ECO).Dados adquiridos, pelo sistema Accuterm do HMSC, através do relatório de produção do ambulatório. A análise estatística foi por ANOVA de um caminho, utilizando post-hoc de Scheffé. Valores de p < 0,05 considerados significantes. Resultados: Foi constatado que após 4 meses de condicionamento físico no ECO, o número total de procedimentos diminuiu de 280 para 128 (p< 0,03) e os custos totais baixam de 8.163,66 para 3.334,47 (p< 0,00). As especialidades relacionadas a fatores de risco (ERFR) baixaram de 4.611,15, para 1.717,04 (p< 0,04) e as especialidades não relacionadas a fatores de risco (ENRFR) baixaram de 3.555,48 para 1.617,43 (p< 0,03). O número total de consultas reduziu de 179 (mais ou menos) 0,2 para 85 (mais ou menos) 0,3 (p< 0,00), e os custos com consultas de 4.096,40 para 2.004,81 (p< 0,01). Conclusão: Medidas de prevenção e reabilitação física na clientela idosa que freqüenta o nosso ambulatório mostraram-se eficazes no controle dos altos índices de utilização.