Swimming training attenuates the decrease of calcium responsiveness in female infarcted rats.

Aim: To evaluate the influence of swimming training on calcium responsiveness of the myocardium of rats with different infarction sizes (MI). Method: female Wistar rats, sedentary sham (SS = 14), sedentary moderate MI (SMI = 8) and sedentary large MI (SLI = 10) were compared to trained sham (TS = 16), trained moderate MI (TMI = 9) and trained large MI (TLI = 10). After 4 weeks of MI, the animals swam for 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for additional 8 weeks. Papillary muscles of the left ventricle were subjected to different concentrations of extracellular calcium. Inotropism was evaluated through the developed tension (DT), the maximum positive value of the first temporal derivation (+Td/td) and the time to peak tension (TPT). Lusitropism was evaluated by the maximum negative value of the first temporal derivation (-Td/td) and time to 50% relaxation (50%TR). Statistical significance was determined using multivariate analysis of variance and a Hotelling T2 test for the absolute power values of all four extracellular calcium concentrations (p < 0.05). Results: MI depressed inotropism (from 17% to 51%) and lusitropism (from 22% to 54%) of the sedentary rats, but exercise attenuated the losses, especially regarding + dT/dt, TPT, -dT/dt and 50%TR. Exercise attenuated the decrease in myocardial responsiveness, proportionally to the size of the MI. Conclusion: Myocardial calcium responsiveness is favorably affected in animals with moderate and large MI after swimming exercise.

Unraveling the interplay between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and the renin-angiotensin system in heart failure.

AIMS: Emerging evidence suggests the existence of a crosstalk between dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Therefore, combined inhibition of DPP4 and RAS may produce similar pharmacological effects rather than being additive. This study tested the hypothesis that combining an inhibitor of DPP4 with an angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor blocker does not provide additional cardioprotection compared to monotherapy in heart failure (HF) rats. MAIN METHODS: Male Wistar rats were subjected to left ventricle (LV) radiofrequency ablation or sham operation. Six weeks after surgery, radiofrequency-ablated rats who developed HF were assigned into four groups and received vehicle (water), vildagliptin, valsartan, or both drugs, for four weeks by oral gavage. KEY FINDINGS: Vildagliptin and valsartan in monotherapy reduced LV hypertrophy, alleviated cardiac interstitial fibrosis, and improved systolic and diastolic function in HF rats, with no additional effect of combination treatment. HF rats displayed higher cardiac and serum DPP4 activity and abundance than sham. Surprisingly, not only vildagliptin but also valsartan in monotherapy downregulated the catalytic function and expression levels of systemic and cardiac DPP4. Moreover, vildagliptin and valsartan alone or in combination comparably upregulate the components of the cardiac ACE2/Ang-(1-7)/MasR while downregulating the ACE/Ang II/AT1R axis. SIGNIFICANCE: Vildagliptin or valsartan alone is as effective as combined to treat cardiac dysfunction and remodeling in experimental HF. DPP4 inhibition downregulates classic RAS components, and pharmacological RAS blockade downregulates DPP4 in the heart and serum of HF rats. This interplay between DPP4 and RAS may affect HF progression and pharmacotherapy.

Photobiomodulation therapy's effects on cardiac fibrosis activation after experimental myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Ischemic heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and interventions to reduce myocardial infarction (MI) complications are widely researched. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) has altered multiple biological processes in tissues and organs, including the heart. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the temporal effects of PBMT on cardiac fibrosis activation after MI in rats. In this proof-of-concept study, we monitored the change in expression patterns over time of genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the formation of cardiac fibrosis post-MI submitted to PBMT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Experimental MI was induced, and PBMT was applied shortly after coronary artery ligation (laser light of wavelength 660 nm, 15 mW of power, energy density 22.5 J/cm2 , 60 seconds of application, irradiated area 0.785 cm2 , fluence 1.1 J/cm2 ). Ventricular septal samples were collected at 30 minutes, 3, 6, 24 hours, and 3 days post-MI to determine temporal PBMT's effects on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression associated with cardiac fibrosis activation and miRNAs expression. RESULTS: PBMT, when applied after ischemia, reversed the changes in mRNA expression of myocardial extracellular matrix genes induced by MI. Surprisingly, PBMT modified cardiac miRNAs expression related to fibrosis replacement in the myocardium. Expression correlations between myocardial mRNAs were assessed. The correlation coefficient between miRNAs and target mRNAs was also determined. A positive correlation was detected among miR-21 and transforming growth factor beta-1 mRNA. The miR-29a expression negatively correlated to Col1a1, Col3a1, and MMP-2 mRNA expressions. In addition, we observed that miR-133 and Col1a1 mRNA were negatively correlated. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that PBMT, through the modulation of gene transcription and miRNA expressions, can interfere in cardiac fibrosis activation after MI, mainly reversing the signaling pathway of profibrotic genes.

Postprandial increase in glucagon-like peptide-1 is blunted in severe heart failure.

The relationship between disturbances in glucose homeostasis and heart failure (HF) progression is bidirectional. However, the mechanisms by which HF intrinsically impairs glucose homeostasis remain unknown. The present study tested the hypothesis that the bioavailability of intact glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is affected in HF, possibly contributing to disturbed glucose homeostasis. Serum concentrations of total and intact GLP-1 and insulin were measured after an overnight fast and 15 min after the ingestion of a mixed breakfast meal in 49 non-diabetic patients with severe HF and 40 healthy control subjects. Similarly, fasting and postprandial serum concentrations of these hormones were determined in sham-operated rats, and rats with HF treated with an inhibitor of the GLP-1-degrading enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), vildagliptin, or vehicle for 4 weeks. We found that HF patients displayed a much lower increase in postprandial intact and total GLP-1 levels than controls. The increase in postprandial intact GLP-1 in HF patients correlated negatively with serum brain natriuretic peptide levels and DPP4 activity and positively with the glomerular filtration rate. Likewise, the postprandial increases in both intact and total GLP-1 were blunted in HF rats and were restored by DPP4 inhibition. Additionally, vehicle-treated HF rats displayed glucose intolerance and hyperinsulinemia, whereas normal glucose homeostasis was observed in vildagliptin-treated HF rats. We conclude that the postprandial increase in GLP-1 is blunted in non-diabetic HF. Impaired GLP-1 bioavailability after meal intake correlates with poor prognostic factors and may contribute to the establishment of a vicious cycle between glucose disturbance and HF development and progression.

Hyperbaric oxygenation improves redox control and reduces mortality in the acute phase of myocardial infarction in a rat model.

Among the mechanisms of action of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO), the chance of reducing injury by interfering with the mechanisms of redox homeostasis in the heart leads to the possibility of extending the period of viability of the myocardium at risk. This would benefit late interventions for reperfusion to the ischemic area. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in the redox system associated with HBO therapy maintained during the first hour after coronary occlusion in an acute myocardial infarction (MI) rat model. Surviving male rats (n=105) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Sham (SH=26), myocardial infarction (MI=45) and infarction+hyperbaric therapy (HBO=34, 1 h at 2.5 atm). After 90 min of coronary occlusion, a sample of the heart was collected for western blot analysis of total protein levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxiredoxin and 3­nitrotyrosine. Glutathione was measured by enzyme­linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The detection of the superoxide radical anion was carried out by oxidation of dihydroethidium analyzed with confocal microscopy. The mortality rate of the MI group was significantly higher than that of the HBO group. No difference was noted in the myocardial infarction size. The oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio and peroxiredoxin were significantly higher in the SH and MI when compared to the HBO group. Superoxide dismutase enzymes and catalase were significantly higher in the HBO group compared to the MI and SH groups. 3­Nitrotyrosine and the superoxide radical were significantly lower in the HBO group compared to these in the MI and SH groups. These data demonstrated that hyperbaric oxygenation therapy decreased mortality by improving redox control in the hearts of rats in the acute phase of myocardial infarction.

Linear periodization of strength training in blocks attenuates hypertension and diastolic dysfunction with normalization of myocardial collagen content in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

BACKGROUND AND METHOD: This study evaluated the effects of a linear block strength training programme on the parameters of cardiac remodelling in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Thirty-nine rats were equally distributed in four groups: normotensive sedentary, normotensive trained, hypertensive sedentary and hypertensive trained. The strength training protocol was organized in three mesocycles of 4 weeks, with an increase in the training load organized in a linear fashion for each block, considering the weight established in the maximum loaded load test. The following parameters were evaluated: ventricular function assessed by echocardiogram, caudal blood pressure, ventricular haemodynamics and cardiac masses. Two-way analysis of variance was used to determine the differences between the group and time. RESULTS: After 12 weeks of training, the hypertensive trained group presented the following results: increased muscle strength, reduced blood pressure, reduced heart rate, isovolumetric relaxation time and total collagen content, with increased cardiac function, without promoting changes in the mass and nuclear volume of cardiomyocytes. Also, blood pressure reduction seems to be associated with both muscle strength adjustments and total load progress. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that the training programme carried out attenuated systemic arterial pressure and preserved the ventricular function of spontaneously hypertensive rats without cardiac mass change.

Digitoxin Attenuates Heart Failure, Reduces Myocardial Hypertrophy, and Preserves the Calcium-Binding Proteins in Infarcted Rats.

We previously showed that digitoxin prolongs the survival of rats with heart failure due to myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we evaluated the effect of digitoxin on myocardial structure, ventricular function, and proteins involved in calcium kinetics. Seventy-two rats with MI >35% of the left ventricle were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups: sham (n = 15), digitoxin (n = 11), infarction (n = 20), and infarction + digitoxin (n = 26). The rats were assessed 120 days after surgery by echocardiogram, hemodynamics, papillary muscle mechanics, collagen content, cardiomyocyte nuclear volume, and Western blot analysis of proteins involved in calcium kinetics. Digitoxin was administered via the rat chow. Two-way analysis of variance was used for comparisons. Myocardial infarction caused inotropic impairment, pulmonary congestion, increase of nuclear volume, myocardial collagen, and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger levels, and decreased SERCA2 and phosphorylated phospholamban levels. Treatment with digitoxin showed improvements in cardiac remodeling, inotropism, ventricular performance, pulmonary congestion, collagen accumulation, nuclear volume, and proteins involved in calcium kinetics. In rats with heart failure due to MI, long-term treatment with digitoxin attenuates congestive heart failure, mitigates myocardial remodeling and contractile impairment, and preserves myocardial levels of proteins involved in calcium kinetics.

Delayed Reperfusion-Coronary Artery Reperfusion Close to Complete Myocardial Necrosis Benefits Remote Myocardium and Is Enhanced by Exercise.

The present study aimed to analyze the effects of reperfusion of a distant coronary artery on cardiac function, the ultrastructure, and the molecular environment of the remote myocardium immediately after the completion of myocardial regional necrosis: delayed reperfusion (DR). Additionally, the effects of prior exercise on the outcomes of DR were investigated. Female rats with permanent occlusion or delayed reperfusion were randomly assigned to an exercise (swimming, 1 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) or sedentary protocol. Thus, the study included the following four groups: sedentary permanent occlusion, exercise permanent occlusion, sedentary delayed reperfusion, and exercise delayed reperfusion. The descending coronary artery was occluded for 1 h. Reperfusion was confirmed by contrast echocardiography, and the rats were observed for 4 weeks. Permanent occlusion and DR caused similar myocardial infarction sizes among the four groups. Interestingly, exercise significantly decreased the mortality rate. Delayed reperfusion resulted in significant benefits, including enhanced hemodynamics and papillary muscle contraction, as well as reduced apoptosis and collagen content. Protein calcium kinetics did not change. Meanwhile, developed tension and the Frank-Starling mechanism were enhanced, suggesting that calcium sensitivity was intensified in myofilaments. Remarkable remote myocardial benefits occurred after distant DR, and prior exercise intensified cardiac recovery. Our findings provide valuable information about DR. Our data might explain the better clinical outcomes in recent studies showing that late reperfusion could improve heart failure in patients with myocardial infarction. In conclusion, DR has remote myocardial benefits, including inotropism enhancement, pulmonary congestion reduction, and collagen and apoptosis attenuation, which are enhanced by prior exercise.

Low-Level Laser Application in the Early Myocardial Infarction Stage Has No Beneficial Role in Heart Failure.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been targeted as a promising approach that can mitigate post-infarction cardiac remodeling. There is some interesting evidence showing that the beneficial role of the LLLT could persist long-term even after the end of the application, but it remains to be systematically evaluated. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that LLLT beneficial effects in the early post-infarction cardiac remodeling could remain in overt heart failure even with the disruption of irradiations. Female Wistar rats were subjected to the coronary occlusion to induce myocardial infarction or Sham operation. A single LLLT application was carried out after 60 s and 3 days post-coronary occlusion, respectively. Echocardiography was performed 3 days and at the end of the experiment (5 weeks) to evaluate cardiac function. After the last echocardiographic examination, LV hemodynamic evaluation was performed at baseline and on sudden afterload increases. Compared with the Sham group, infarcted rats showed increased systolic and diastolic internal diameter as well as a depressed shortening fraction of LV. The only benefit of the LLLT was a higher shortening fraction after 3 days of infarction. However, treated-LLLT rats show a lower shortening fraction in the 5th week of study when compared with Sham and non-irradiated rats. A worsening of cardiac function was confirmed in the hemodynamic analysis as evidenced by the higher LV end-diastolic pressure and lower +dP/dt and -dP/dt with five weeks of study. Cardiac functional reserve was also impaired by infarction as evidenced by an attenuated response of stroke work index and cardiac output to a sudden afterload stress, without LLLT repercussions. No significant differences were found in the myocardial expression of Akt1/VEGF pathway. Collectively, these findings illustrate that LLLT improves LV systolic function in the early post-infarction cardiac remodeling. However, this beneficial effect may be dependent on the maintenance of phototherapy. Long-term studies with LLLT application are needed to establish whether these effects ultimately translate into improved cardiac remodeling.

Exercise Training Attenuates Right Ventricular Remodeling in Rats with Pulmonary Arterial Stenosis.

Introduction: Pulmonary arterial stenosis (PAS) is a congenital defect that causes outflow tract obstruction of the right ventricle (RV). Currently, negative issues are reported in the PAS management: not all patients may be eligible to surgeries; there is often the need for another surgery during passage to adulthood; patients with mild stenosis may have later cardiac adverse repercussions. Thus, the search for approaches to counteract the long-term PAS effects showed to be a current target. At the study herein, we evaluated the cardioprotective role of exercise training in rats submitted to PAS for 9 weeks. Methods and Results: Exercise resulted in improved physical fitness and systolic RV function. Exercise also blunted concentric cavity changes, diastolic dysfunction, and fibrosis induced by PAS. Exercise additional benefits were also reported in a pro-survival signal, in which there were increased Akt1 activity and normalized myocardial apoptosis. These findings were accompanied by microRNA-1 downregulation and microRNA-21 upregulation. Moreover, exercise was associated with a higher myocardial abundance of the sarcomeric protein α-MHC and proteins that modulate calcium handling-ryanodine receptor and Serca 2, supporting the potential role of exercise in improving myocardial performance. Conclusion: Our results represent the first demonstration that exercise can attenuate the RV remodeling in an experimental PAS. The cardioprotective effects were associated with positive modulation of RV function, survival signaling pathway, apoptosis, and proteins involved in the regulation of myocardial contractility.

Comparative mRNA and MicroRNA Profiling during Acute Myocardial Infarction Induced by Coronary Occlusion and Ablation Radio-Frequency Currents.

The ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery is the most commonly used experimental model to induce myocardial infarction (MI) in rodents. A high mortality in the acute phase and the heterogeneity of the size of the MI obtained are drawbacks recognized in this model. In an attempt to solve the problem, our group recently developed a new MI experimental model which is based on application of myocardial ablation radio-frequency currents (AB-RF) that yielded MI with homogeneous sizes and significantly reduce acute mortality. In addition, cardiac structural, and functional changes aroused by AB-RF were similar to those seen in animals with MI induced by coronary artery ligation. Herein, we compared mRNA expression of genes that govern post-MI milieu in occlusion and ablation models. We analyzed 48 mRNAs expressions of nine different signal transduction pathways (cell survival and metabolism signs, matrix extracellular, cell cycle, oxidative stress, apoptosis, calcium signaling, hypertrophy markers, angiogenesis, and inflammation) in rat left ventricle 1 week after MI generated by both coronary occlusion and AB-RF. Furthermore, high-throughput miRNA analysis was also assessed in both MI procedures. Interestingly, mRNA expression levels and miRNA expressions showed strong similarities between both models after MI, with few specificities in each model, activating similar signal transduction pathways. To our knowledge, this is the first comparison of genomic alterations of mRNA and miRNA contents after two different MI procedures and identifies key signaling regulators modulating the pathophysiology of these two models that might culminate in heart failure. Furthermore, these analyses may contribute with the current knowledge concerning transcriptional and post-transcriptional changes of AB-RF protocol, arising as an alternative and effective MI method that reproduces most changes seem in coronary occlusion.

Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibition Exerts Renoprotective Effects in Rats with Established Heart Failure.

Circulating dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) activity is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in humans and experimental heart failure (HF) models, suggesting that DPPIV may play a role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Renal dysfunction is one of the key features of HF, but it remains to be determined whether DPPIV inhibitors are capable of improving cardiorenal function after the onset of HF. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that DPPIV inhibition by vildagliptin improves renal water and salt handling and exerts anti-proteinuric effects in rats with established HF. To this end, male Wistar rats were subjected to left ventricle (LV) radiofrequency ablation or sham operation. Six weeks after surgery, radiofrequency-ablated rats who developed HF were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 4 weeks with vildagliptin (120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle by oral gavage. Echocardiography was performed before (pretreatment) and at the end of treatment (post-treatment) to evaluate cardiac function. The fractional area change (FAC) increased (34 ± 5 vs. 45 ± 3%, p < 0.05), and the isovolumic relaxation time decreased (33 ± 2 vs. 27 ± 1 ms; p < 0.05) in HF rats treated with vildagliptin (post-treatment vs. pretreatment). On the other hand, cardiac dysfunction deteriorated further in vehicle-treated HF rats. Renal function was impaired in vehicle-treated HF rats as evidenced by fluid retention, low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and high levels of urinary protein excretion. Vildagliptin treatment restored urinary flow, GFR, urinary sodium and urinary protein excretion to sham levels. Restoration of renal function in HF rats by DPPIV inhibition was associated with increased active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) serum concentration, reduced DPPIV activity and increased activity of protein kinase A in the renal cortex. Furthermore, the anti-proteinuric effect of vildagliptin treatment in rats with established HF was associated with upregulation of the apical proximal tubule endocytic receptor megalin and of the podocyte main slit diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that DPPIV inhibition exerts renoprotective effects and ameliorates cardiorenal function in rats with established HF. Long-term studies with DPPIV inhibitors are needed to ascertain whether these effects ultimately translate into improved clinical outcomes.

Previous exercise training increases levels of PPAR-α in long-term post-myocardial infarction in rats, which is correlated with better inflammatory response.

OBJECTIVE: Exercise is a protective factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with unclear mechanisms. Changing the myocardial metabolism causes harmful consequences for heart function and exercise contributes to metabolic adjustment modulation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are also myocardium metabolism regulators capable of decreasing the inflammatory response. We hypothesized that PPAR-α is involved in the beneficial effects of previous exercise on myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac function, changing the expression of metabolic and inflammatory response regulators and reducing myocardial apoptosis, which partially explains the better outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exercised rats engaged in swimming sessions for 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks. Both the exercised rats and sedentary rats were randomized to MI surgery and followed for 1 week (EI1 or SI1) or 4 weeks (EI4 or SI4) of healing or to sham groups. Echocardiography was employed to detect left ventricular function and the infarct size. Additionally, the TUNEL technique was used to assess apoptosis and immunohistochemistry was used to quantitatively analyze the PPAR-α, TNF-α and NF-κB antigens in the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium. MI-related mortality was higher in SI4 than in EI4 (25% vs 12%), without a difference in MI size. SI4 exhibited a lower shortening fraction than EI4 did (24% vs 35%) and a higher apoptosis/area rate (3.97±0.61 vs 1.90±1.82) in infarcted areas (both p=0.001). Immunohistochemistry also revealed higher TNF-α levels in SI1 than in EI1 (9.59 vs 4.09, p<0.001) in infarcted areas. In non-infarcted areas, EI4 showed higher levels of TNF-α and positive correlations between PPAR-α and NF-κB (r=0.75, p=0.02), in contrast to SI4 (r=0.05, p=0.87). CONCLUSION: Previously exercised animals had better long-term ventricular function post-MI, in addition to lower levels of local inflammatory markers and less myocardial apoptosis, which seemed to be related to the presence of PPAR-α.

Previous exercise training increases levels of PPAR-α in long-term post-myocardial infarction in rats, which is correlated with better inflammatory response

OBJECTIVE: Exercise is a protective factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, with unclear mechanisms. Changing the myocardial metabolism causes harmful consequences for heart function and exercise contributes to metabolic adjustment modulation. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are also myocardium metabolism regulators capable of decreasing the inflammatory response. We hypothesized that PPAR-α is involved in the beneficial effects of previous exercise on myocardial infarction (MI) and cardiac function, changing the expression of metabolic and inflammatory response regulators and reducing myocardial apoptosis, which partially explains the better outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Exercised rats engaged in swimming sessions for 60 min/day, 5 days/week, for 8 weeks. Both the exercised rats and sedentary rats were randomized to MI surgery and followed for 1 week (EI1 or SI1) or 4 weeks (EI4 or SI4) of healing or to sham groups. Echocardiography was employed to detect left ventricular function and the infarct size. Additionally, the TUNEL technique was used to assess apoptosis and immunohistochemistry was used to quantitatively analyze the PPAR-α, TNF-α and NF-κB antigens in the infarcted and non-infarcted myocardium. MI-related mortality was higher in SI4 than in EI4 (25% vs 12%), without a difference in MI size. SI4 exhibited a lower shortening fraction than EI4 did (24% vs 35%) and a higher apoptosis/area rate (3.97±0.61 vs 1.90±1.82) in infarcted areas (both p=0.001). Immunohistochemistry also revealed higher TNF-α levels in SI1 than in EI1 (9.59 vs 4.09, p<0.001) in infarcted areas. In non-infarcted areas, EI4 showed higher levels of TNF-α and positive correlations between PPAR-α and NF-κB (r=0.75, p=0.02), in contrast to SI4 (r=0.05, p=0.87). CONCLUSION: Previously exercised animals had better long-term ventricular function post-MI, in addition to lower levels of local inflammatory markers and less myocardial apoptosis, which seemed to be related to the presence of PPAR-α.

To be or not to be physically active: Insights for a real chance to have an appropriate body mass in a sample of teachers.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the relationship between physical activity (PA) and being overweight/obese are inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of excess body weight (EBW) and its association with daily PA level in a sample of 1506 Brazilian teachers. METHODS: The PA level was analyzed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and EBW was categorized as a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 and called 'overweight'. Chi-squared test and odds ratios (OR) were applied in the analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of persons who were overweight was lower as a function of higher PA levels and higher PA levels resulted in a lower prevalence of overweight for men and women, respectively. The authors found that for men, moderate (OR: 1.69; P = 0.03) and high (OR: 2.57; P = 0.002) PA levels were predictive for being in the normal body mass index (BMI) range. In women, a greater association of being in the normal BMI range was reported only for a moderate PA level (OR: 1.43; P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Higher daily PA levels are associated with being in the normal BMI range. To date, these findings will have important public health implications for an effective plan for the prevention of weight gain in Brazilian teachers.

Expression of MicroRNA-29 and Collagen in Cardiac Muscle after Swimming Training in Myocardial-Infarcted Rats.

BACKGROUND: Myocardial infarction (MI) is accompanied by cardiac growth, increased collagen deposition, cell death and new vascularization of the cardiac tissue, which results in reduced ventricular compliance. The MiRNA-29 family (29a, 29b, and 29c) targets mRNAs that encode collagens and other proteins involved in fibrosis. In this study we assessed the effects of swimming training (ST) on expression of the cardiac miRNA-29 family and on genes encoding collagen after MI in rats. METHODS: ST consisted of 60 min/day/10 weeks and began four weeks after MI. MiRNA and collagen expression analysis were performed in the infarcted region (IR), border region (BR) of the infarcted region and in the remote myocardium (RM) of the left ventricle. RESULTS: MiRNA-29a expression increased 32% in BR and 52% in RM in the TR-INF compared with SED-INF. MiRNA-29c increased by 63% in BR and 55% in RM in TR-INF compared with SED-INF group. COL IAI and COL IIIAI decreased by 63% and 62% in TR-INF, respectively, compared with SED-INF. COLIIIAI expression decreased by 16% in TR-INF compared with SED-INF. CONCLUSION: Altogether, our results showed that ST restores cardiac miRNA-29 (a and c) levels and prevents COL IAI and COL IIIAI expression in BR and RM, which may contribute to the improvement in ventricular function induced by swimming training, after MI. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.