Moderate levels of physical fitness maintain telomere length in non-senescent T CD8+ cells of aged men

OBJECTIVES: Immunosenescence is an age-associated change characterized by a decreased immune response. Although physical activity has been described as fundamental for maintaining the quality of life, few studies have evaluated the effects of different levels of exercise on telomere length in aged populations. The present study aimed to analyze the effects of different levels of physical activity, classified by the Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) values, on the telomere length of memory Cluster of differentiation (CD) CD4+(CD45ROneg and CD45RO+), effector CD8+CD28neg, and CD8+CD28+ T cells in aged individuals. METHODS: Fifty-three healthy elderly men (aged 65-85 years) were included in this study. Their fitness level was classified according to the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) for VO2 max (mL/kg/min). Blood samples were obtained from all participants to analyze the percentage of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD28+, naïve, and subpopulations of memory T cells by using flow cytometry. Furthermore, using the Flow-FISH methodology, the CD4+CD45RO+, CD4+CD45ROneg, CD8+CD28+, and CD8+CD28negT cell telomere lengths were measured. RESULTS: There was a greater proportion of effector memory T CD4+ cells and longer telomeres in CD8+CD28+ T cells in the moderate physical fitness group than in the other groups. There was a higher proportion of terminally differentiated memory effector T cells in the low physical fitness group. CONCLUSION: A moderate physical activity may positively influence the telomere shortening of CD28+CD8+T cells. However, additional studies are necessary to evaluate the importance of this finding with regard to immune function responses in older men.

Effects of treadmill training on gait of elders with Parkinson's disease: a literature review / Efeitos do treinamento de marcha em esteira em idosos com doença de Parkinson: uma revisão da literatura

ABSTRACT Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in old age. Aging process for elders with Parkinson's disease can induce gait disturbances with more functional disabilities than for elders without the disease. Treadmill training as a therapy has resulted in notable effects on the gait of patients with Parkinson's disease and may be a resource for geriatric neurological rehabilitation. This review aimed to study the effects on gait after treadmill training in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. The search was performed in the databases PubMed®, LILACS, PEDro and EMBASE, with the following keywords: "Parkinson's disease", "elderly", "treadmill training" and "gait evaluation". The quality of the studies included was assessed by PEDro Scale. Eleven studies met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Eight studies were randomized, and only one did a follow-up. One can observe in this review that treadmill training with or without weight support (at least 20 minutes, two to three times a week, with progressive increase of loads, for minimum of 6 weeks) in elderly patients with the Parkinson's disease was effective to improve gait. In addition, both were considered safe (since some studies described the use of belts, even in unsupported training) and can be associated with therapies complementary to gait, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, visual cues or anodal transcranial direct current stimulation. Treadmill training in elderly patients with Parkinson's disease is an intervention that improves gait outcomes, but further studies are required for better proofs.

RESUMO A doença de Parkinson é o segundo distúrbio neurodegenerativo mais comum na velhice. O processo de envelhecimento de idosos com doença de Parkinson pode levar a distúrbios de marcha com mais incapacidades funcionais do que para idosos sem a doença. O treinamento em esteira como terapia pode resultar em efeitos notáveis na marcha de pacientes com Parkinson e ser um recurso para a reabilitação neurológica geriátrica. Esta revisão teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos da marcha após o treinamento em esteira na doença de Parkinson em idosos. A pesquisa foi realizada nas bases de dados PubMed®, LILACS, PEDro e EMBASE, com os seguintes descritores: "doença de Parkinson", "idosos", "treinamento em esteira" e "avaliação da marcha". A qualidade dos estudos incluídos foi avaliada pela escala de PEDro. Atenderam aos critérios de inclusão e exclusão 11 estudos. Oito estudos foram randomizados, e apenas um fez follow-up . Foi possível observar que treinamento em esteira com ou sem suporte de peso (por pelo menos 20 minutos, duas a três vezes por semana, com aumento progressivo de cargas, por, no mínimo, 6 semanas) em idosos com doença de Parkinson foi efetivo para melhorar a marcha. Além disso, ambos os treinamentos foram considerados seguros (pois alguns estudos relataram o uso de cintos, mesmo no treinamento sem suporte de peso) e podem ser associados a terapias complementares à marcha, como estimulação magnética transcraniana repetitiva, estímulos visuais ou estimulação transcraniana direta anódica. O treinamento em esteira em pacientes idosos com doença de Parkinson é uma intervenção que melhora os resultados da marcha, mas requer mais estudos para melhor comprovação.

Level of knowledge of physical education professionals about aerobic and resistance exercise prescription for elderly people / Conhecimento dos profissionais de educação física sobre prescrição do exercício aeróbico e resistido para idosos / Conocimiento de los profesionales de educación física sobre prescripción del ejercicio aeróbico y resistido para individuos de la tercera edad

INTRODUCTION: Regular aerobic and resistance exercises are recommended to improve functional capacity and quality of life in the elderly. OBJECTIVE: To describe the familiarity of physical education professionals with the recommendation of aerobic and resistance exercise for the elderly, and to identify associated factors. METHODS: We assessed 610 physical education professionals working in fitness academies in the city of São Paulo. Familiarity with the recommendation was assessed using a questionnaire constructed for this study. We assessed the criteria that make up the recommendation of aerobic and resistance exercise, following the American College of Sports Medicine guidelines. The data analysis with statistical significance of p <0.05 was carried out using the chi-square test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The level of knowledge of physical education professionals working in fitness centers, considering fulfilment of the criteria that make up the recommendation of aerobic and resistance exercise for the elderly, was limited, attaining only 9.3% and 12.6%, respectively. Age, number of jobs, completion of a graduate program and reading of scientific papers were factors associated with familiarity with the recommendation of resistance exercise. Factors associated with familiarity with aerobic exercise recommendation were: age, number of jobs and reading of scientific papers. CONCLUSION: The level of familiarity of physical education professionals with the recommendation of aerobic and resistance exercise for older people was low, suggesting the need for better professional training to meet the demand of older people at the fitness centers in the city of Sao Paulo. Level of Evidence I; Type of Study: Therapeutic Study - Investigation of Treatment Results.

INTRODUÇÃO: A prática regular de exercícios aeróbicos e resistidos é recomendada para a melhora da capacidade funcional e da qualidade de vida de idosos. OBJETIVO: Descrever o conhecimento dos profissionais de Educação Física sobre a recomendação do exercício aeróbico e resistido para idosos e identificar os fatores associados. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados 610 profissionais de Educação Física atuantes em academias de ginástica de São Paulo. O conhecimento da recomendação foi avaliado por meio de um questionário construído para este estudo. Foram avaliados os critérios que compõem a recomendação do exercício aeróbico e resistido, seguindo as diretrizes do Colégio Americano de Medicina do Esporte. A análise dos dados com significância estatística de p < 0,05 foi realizada pelo teste do qui quadrado e pela regressão logística múltipla. RESULTADOS: O conhecimento dos profissionais de Educação Física atuantes em academias, considerando todos os acertos dos critérios que compõem a recomendação do exercício aeróbico e resistido para idosos, foi baixo, sendo apenas 9,3% e 12,6%, respectivamente. Idade, quantidade de empregos, ter curso de pós-graduação finalizado e leitura de artigos científicos foram fatores associados ao conhecimento da recomendação do exercício resistido. Os fatores associados ao conhecimento da recomendação do exercício aeróbico foram idade, quantidade de empregos e leitura de artigos científicos. CONCLUSÃO: O conhecimento dos profissionais de Educação Física com relação à recomendação do exercício aeróbico e resistido para idosos foi baixo, sugerindo a necessidade de melhor capacitação profissional para atender a demanda de idosos nas academias de São Paulo. Nível de Evidência I; Tipo de Estudo: Terapêutico - Investigação dos Resultados do Tratamento

INTRODUCCIÓN: La práctica regular de ejercicios aeróbicos y resistidos es recomendada para la mejora de la capacidad funcional y calidad de vida de personas de la tercera edad. OBJETIVO: Describir el conocimiento de los profesionales de Educación Física sobre la recomendación del ejercicio aeróbico y resistido para personas de la tercera edad e identificar los factores asociados. MÉTODOS: Fueron evaluados 610 profesionales de Educación Física actuantes en gimnasios de São Paulo. El conocimiento de la recomendación fue evaluado por medio de un cuestionario construido para este estudio. Fueron evaluados los criterios que componen la recomendación del ejercicio aeróbico y resistido, siguiendo las directrices del Colegio Americano de Medicina del Deporte. El análisis de los datos con significancia estadística de p <0,05 fue realizado por el test del qui cuadrado y por la regresión logística múltiple. RESULTADOS: El conocimiento de los profesionales de Educación Física actuantes en gimnasios, considerando todos los aciertos de los criterios que componen la recomendación del ejercicio aeróbico y resistido para personas de la tercera edad fue bajo, siendo sólo 9,3% y 12,6%, respectivamente. La edad, cantidad de empleos, tener curso de postgrado finalizado y lectura de artículos científicos fueron factores asociados al conocimiento de la recomendación del ejercicio resistido. Los factores asociados al conocimiento de la recomendación del ejercicio aeróbico fueron edad, cantidad de empleos y lectura de artículos científicos. CONCLUSIÓN: El conocimiento de los profesionales de Educación Física con relación a la recomendación del ejercicio aeróbico y resistido para personas de la tercera edad fue bajo, sugiriendo la necesidad de una mejor capacitación profesional para atender la demanda de personas mayores en los gimnasios de São Paulo. Nivel de Evidencia I; Tipo de Estudio: Terapéutico - Investigación de los Resultados del Tratamiento.

Physical exercise improves the functional capacity and quality of life in patients with heart failure

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical exercise on the functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients. METHODS: Forty-two patients of both sexes with heart failure of NYHA class II and III with different etiologies were randomly divided into untrained or trained groups. The six-month exercise program consisted of aerobic training, muscle strength training, agility and joint flexibility activities. Physical fitness was evaluated by testing the performance on these trained components. Quality of life was evaluated by scored answers to a standardized questionnaire involving multiple domains. RESULTS: Baseline values did not differ between groups. Improvement in the trained group was identified in all components of functional capacity when compared to the untrained group (p < 0.001). Quality of life improved in the trained patients concerning physical, psychological, social and environmental domains (p < 0.001), whereas no significant change was found in the untrained patients. CONCLUSIONS: Guided and monitored physical exercise is safe and has the potential to improve functional capacity and quality of life in heart failure patients with multiple etiologies.