High Intensity Physical Exercise before the Brain Ischemia Promotes Increase in Brain Injury.

Studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of light- and moderate-intensity physical exercise on the nervous system of animals with cerebral ischemia. To investigate the effects of two high-intensity physical exercise protocols, standardized for resistance and strength gain, in rats trained before cerebral ischemia induced by Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion (BCCAO). Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: with ischemia and without ischemia (sham). Both groups were subdivided into animals that performed high-intensity exercises in the muscle strength modality (I+Ex2; Sham+Ex2; n=16); animals submitted to high-intensity exercises in the aerobic modality (I+Ex1; Sham+Ex1; n=16), and animals that did not practice physical exercises - sedentary (I+Sed; Sham+Sed, n=16). Cerebral ischemia was induced using the BCCAO model. The physical training program used before the procedure was of high intensity, in the aerobic and muscular strength modalities, and was performed using a vertical ladder, for 4 weeks, 5 days per week. In order to process and stain the brain tissue, the Nissl method was used for neuron labeling and quantification in the cortex, striatum, and hippocampus. As for the animals' body weight and the heart weight differences were found between the groups I+Ex2 and Sham+Ex2 (p<0.05). Data on neuron quantification in the cerebral cortex, dentate gyrus, and right and left striatum revealed significant differences between groups. High-intensity physical training in the strength gain modality promotes significant damage to the animal's brain when performed prior to BCCAO-induced cerebral ischemia.

Learning by teaching basic life support: a non-randomized controlled trial with medical students.

BACKGROUND: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is usually taught in universities through theoretical lectures and simulations on mannequins with low retention of knowledge and skills. New teaching methodologies have been used to improve the learning, placing the student at the center of the process. Likewise, the outside community knows next to nothing about cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Patients who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will die if the effective maneuvers are not promptly done. Learning by teaching could be a way to answer both requirements. It was therefore decided to evaluate whether the medical students' cardiopulmonary resuscitation performance would improve when they teach other people, and if those people could learn with them effectively. METHODS: A non-randomized controlled trial was designed to assess whether teaching Basic Life Support would increase students' learning. Socially engaged, seeking to disseminate knowledge, 92 medical students were trained in Basic Life Support and who subsequently trained 240 community health professionals. The students performed theoretical and practical pre- and post-tests whereas the health professionals performed theoretical pre- and post-tests and one practical test. In order to assess the impact of teaching on students' learning, they were divided into two groups: a case group, with 53 students, reassessed after teaching health professionals, and a control group, with 39 students, reassessed before teaching. RESULTS: The practical students' performance of the case group went from 13.3 ± 2.1 to 15.3 ± 1.2 (maximum = 17, p < 0.001) and theoretical from 10.1 ± 3.0 to 16.4 ± 1.7 (maximum = 20, p < 0.001) while the performance of the control group went from 14.4 ± 1.6 to 14.4 ± 1.4 (p = 0.877) and from 11.2 ± 2.6 to 15.0 ± 2.3 (p < 0.001), respectively. The theoretical performance of the health professionals changed from 7.9 ± 3.6 to 13.3 ± 3.2 (p < 0.001) and the practical performance was 11.7 ± 3.2. CONCLUSIONS: The students who passed through the teaching activity had a theoretical and practical performance superior to that of the control group. The community was able to learn from the students. The study demonstrated that the didactic activity can be an effective methodology of learning, besides allowing the dissemination of knowledge. The University, going beyond its academic boundaries, performs its social responsibility.

Os efeitos da capacitação de enfermeiros sobre avaliação de pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral / The effects of nursing training on the evaluation of patients with cerebrovascular accident

Objetivo: avaliar os efeitos da capacitação dos enfermeiros do serviço de emergência no reconhecimento dos sinais e sintomas do acidente vascular cerebral e aplicação da escala National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Método: estudo descritivo, transversal, com abordagem quantitativa. Foram capacitados e avaliados 20 enfermeiros do serviço de emergência de uma unidade de pronto atendimento sobre o reconhecimento dos sinais e sintomas dos pacientes com acidente vascular cerebral. Utilizaram-se para avaliação do conhecimento dos enfermeiros um pré-teste e um pós-teste, que foram aplicados antes e após a capacitação. Resultados: houve uma melhora do conhecimento sobre acidente vascular cerebral de 68,5% a85,26% após a capacitação. Conclusão: a capacitação dos enfermeiros responsáveis pela triagem dos pacientes com suspeita de acidente vascular cerebral deve ser estimulada para otimizar o atendimento e o tratamento desses pacientes.

Análise dos parâmetros da marcha e do equilíbrio dos idosos após exercícios aeróbicos e terapêuticos / Analysis of gait and balance parameters in the elderly after aerobic and therapeutic exercises

O processo de envelhecimento promove alterações no organismo do idoso, que levam a comprometimentos significativos no equilíbrio corporal, reflexo e capacidade de deambulação. Nesse contexto, a atividade física é uma intervenção que vem demonstrando benefícios significativos na saúde da pessoa idosa. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar os parâmetros da marcha e o equilíbrio corporal dos idosos após um programa de exercícios aeróbicos e terapêuticos. Foi utilizada uma amostra de 24 idosos, distribuídos em dois grupos experimentais: Grupos 1 - programa de exercícios terapêuticos (coordenação motora e equilíbrio; n=12); Grupos 2 - programa de exercícios físicos aeróbicos (n=12). Para avaliação dos idosos foi realizada a análise dos parâmetros da marcha (velocidade e cadência; Protocolo de Cerny) e do equilíbrio corporal (Escala de Berg). As avaliações foram realizadas antes e após os programas de exercícios aeróbicos e terapêuticos. Os exercícios foram realizados 3 vezes na semana (40 minutos/dia), durante 16 semanas. Ao final do experimento a análise dos dados demonstrou benefícios de ambos os programas de exercícios, mas o programa que priorizou a coordenação motora e o equilíbrio corporal demonstrou maiores benefícios em relação a velocidade da marcha e o equilíbrio corporal dos idosos.

The aging process causes changes in the body of the elderly, leading to significant impairments in body balance, reflexes and ability to walk. In this context, physical activity is an intervention that has brought significant health benefits. The aim of this study was to analyze gait parameters and body balance in the elderly after an aerobic and therapeutic exercise program. Twenty-four elderly people took part in the experiment and were divided into two groups: Group 1 ­ therapeutic exercise program (motor coordination and balance, n=12); Group 2 - aerobic exercise program (n=12). For evaluation purposes, the elderly were subjected to parameter analysis of gait (speed and cadence; Cerny Protocol) and body balance (Berg Scale). The evaluations were carried out before and after the aerobic and therapeutic exercise programs. The exercises were performed 3 times a week (40 minutes a day) for a period of 16 weeks. At the end of the experiment, data analysis indicated benefits from both exercise programs. However, the program that prioritized motor coordination and body balance provided greater benefits when comparing gait speed and body balance in the elderly.