ABSTRACT
RESUMEN Antecedentes: La prueba de lanzadera incremental ha sido empleada para determinar la capacidad física en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Sin embargo, su aplicabilidad y reproducibilidad ha sido poco estudiada en pacientes bajo tratamiento de hemodiálisis. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el rendimiento y reproducibilidad de la prueba de lanzadera incremental en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en diálisis y sujetos sin enfermedad renal crónica. Cada individuo realizó dos pruebas de lanzadera incremental con un intervalo de 30 minutos. Se registró la distancia recorrida, velocidad máxima, frecuencia cardiaca y el esfuerzo percibido. La reproducibilidad se analizó mediante el cálculo del coeficiente de correlación intraclase y el error estándar de la media. Mediante el método de Bland-Altman, se calculó la discordancia de la distancia recorrida y la frecuencia cardiaca pico. Además, se calculó el cambio mínimo detectable para todos los parámetros de la prueba de lanzadera incremental. Un valor de p=<0,05 se consideró significativo. Resultados: 68 sujetos entraron al estudio (34 pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica y 34 sujetos en el grupo control). Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica caminaron una menor distancia recorrida respecto al grupo control (-40%; p=<0,0001). En ambos grupos, se encontró una excelente confiabilidad test/retest en todas las medidas de resultado (cálculo del coeficiente de correlación intraclase >0,80). Los registros del error estándar de medición y cambio mínimo detectable para la distancia recorrida fueron de 26,0 m y 72,1 m, respectivamente. El método de Bland-Altman para la distancia recorrida mostró una diferencia media de -0,9 m con límites de concordancia entre 65,5 y -63,7 m. Conclusión: Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis presentan un menor rendimiento durante la prueba de lanzadera incremental comparado con individuos sin enfermedad renal crónica. Las medidas de resultado de la prueba de lanzadera incremental presentan una alta reproducibilidad test/retest a corto plazo en este grupo de pacientes.
ABSTRACT Introduction: The Incremental Shuttle Walk Test has been used to determine physical capacity in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, its applicability and reproducibility have seldom been studied in hemodialysis patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and reproducibility of the incremental shuttle walk test in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. Methods: Patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis and subjects without chronic kidney disease were included. Each individual performed two Incremental Shuttle Walk Test with an interval of 30 minutes. We recorded the distance traveled, maximum speed, heart rate and perceived effort. Reproducibility was analyzed by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard error of the mean. Using the Bland-Altman analysis, we calculated the discrepancy of the distance traveled and the peak heart rate. The minimum detectable change was also calculated for all parameters of the incremental shuttle walk test. A value of p=<0.05 was considered significant. Results: 68 subjects entered the study (34 were patients with chronic kidney disease, and 34 subjects constituted the control group). Patients with chronic kidney disease walked a shorter distance than those in the control group (-40%; p=<0.0001). In both groups, excellent test-retest reliability was found in all outcome measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient calculation >0.80). The standard error of measurement and the minimum detectable change for the distance traveled were 26.0 m and 72.1 m, respectively. The Bland-Altman analysis for the distance traveled showed a mean difference of -0.9 m with limits of agreement between 65.5 and -63.7 m. Conclusion: Patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis show lower performance during the incremental shuttle walk test, compared to individuals without chronic kidney disease. The outcome measurements of the Incremental Shuttle Walk Test show high test-retest reproducibility in the short run in this group of patients.
ABSTRACT
The rapid international spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a global health emergency in 2020. It has affected over 52 million people and led to over 1.29 million deaths worldwide, as of November 13th, 2020. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 present with symptoms ranging from none to severe and include fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, anosmia, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Severe complications are largely due to overdrive of the host immune system leading to “cytokine storm”. This results in disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. Due to its highly infectious nature and concerning mortality rate, every effort has been focused on prevention and creating new medications or repurposing old treatment options to ameliorate the suffering of COVID-19 patients including the immune dysregulation. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be incorporated throughout the body into the bi-phospholipid layer of the cell membrane leading to the production of less pro-inflammatory mediators compared to other fatty acids that are more prevalent in the Western diet. In this article, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, including their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and possible antiviral effects have been discussed.
ABSTRACT
The rapid international spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has posed a global health emergency in 2020. It has affected over 52 million people and led to over 1.29 million deaths worldwide, as of November 13th, 2020. Patients diagnosed with COVID-19 present with symptoms ranging from none to severe and include fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, anosmia, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Severe complications are largely due to overdrive of the host immune system leading to “cytokine storm”. This results in disseminated intravascular coagulation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, and death. Due to its highly infectious nature and concerning mortality rate, every effort has been focused on prevention and creating new medications or repurposing old treatment options to ameliorate the suffering of COVID-19 patients including the immune dysregulation. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to be incorporated throughout the body into the bi-phospholipid layer of the cell membrane leading to the production of less pro-inflammatory mediators compared to other fatty acids that are more prevalent in the Western diet. In this article, the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, especially eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid, including their anti-inflammatory, immunomodulating, and possible antiviral effects have been discussed.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Respiratory muscle weakness is a functional repercussion of chronic lung disease (CLD). The objective of this study was to assess the effects of home-based respiratory muscle training (RMT) in children and adolescents with CLD or neuromuscular disease (NMD). METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study involving children and adolescents with CLD or NMD. Before and after 6 months of home-based RMT, we measured respiratory muscle strength (MIP and MEP), PEF, and peak cough flow (PCF). We made statistical comparisons between the pre-RMT and post-RMT values, as well as evaluating the correlation between the duration and effect of RMT. RESULTS: The study included 29 patients, with a mean age of 12 years (range, 5-17 years), of whom 18 (62.1%) were male. The CLD group comprised 11 patients (37.9%), and the NMD group comprised 18 (62.1%). The mean duration of the RMT was 60 weeks (range, 46-90 weeks) in the CLD group and 39 weeks (range, 24-89 weeks) in the NMD group. In comparison with the pre-RMT values, the post-RMT values for MIP and MEP were significantly higher in both groups, whereas those for PEF and PCF were significantly higher only in the NMD group. We found no correlation between the duration and the effect of RMT. CONCLUSIONS: Home-based RMT appears to be an effective strategy for increasing respiratory muscle strength in children and adolescents with CLD or NMD, although it increased the ability to cough effectively only in those with NMD. .
OBJETIVO: A fraqueza muscular respiratória é uma repercussão funcional da doença pulmonar crônica (DPC). O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do treinamento muscular respiratório (TMR) domiciliar em crianças e adolescentes com DPC ou doença neuromuscular (DNM). MÉTODOS: Estudo quasi-experimental com crianças e adolescentes com DPC ou DNM. Foram medidos a força muscular respiratória (PEmáx e PImáx) e o pico de fluxo da tosse (PFT) antes e depois de 6 meses de TMR domiciliar. Foram realizadas comparações estatísticas entre valores pré- e pós-TMR e foram avaliadas as correlações entre a duração e o efeito do TMR. RESULTADOS: Foram incluídos no estudo 29 pacientes, com média de idade de 12 anos (variação, 5-17 anos), dos quais 18 (62,1%) eram meninos. O grupo DPC consistiu em 11 pacientes (37,9%) e o grupo DNM, em 18 (62,1%). A média da duração do TMR foi de 60 semanas (variação, 46-90 semanas) no grupo DPC e de 39 semanas (variação, 24-89 semanas) no grupo DNM. Em comparação com os valores pré-TMR, os valores pós-TMR para PImáx e PEmáx foram significativamente maiores nos dois grupos, enquanto aqueles para PFE e PFT foram significativamente maiores apenas no grupo DNM. Não houve correlações entre a duração e o efeito do TMR. CONCLUSÕES: O TMR domiciliar parece ser uma estratégia eficaz para o aumento da força muscular respiratória em crianças e adolescentes com DPC ou DNM, embora aumente efetivamente a capacidade de tosse somente naqueles com DNM. .
Subject(s)
Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , Breathing Exercises , Lung Diseases/physiopathology , Muscle Strength/physiology , Neuromuscular Diseases/physiopathology , Respiratory Muscles/physiology , Airway Resistance/physiology , Chronic Disease , Muscle Stretching Exercises , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is intimately related to insulin resistance and ranges from a benign course to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD management mainly involves dietary modification and weight loss. Although no fully successful pharmacological intervention is available, alternative therapies to treat NAFLD have shown promising results. Experimental studies have shown that D-002, a mixture of beeswax alcohols with antioxidant effects, is hepatoprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of D-002 in patients with NALFD. METHODS: Fifty patients with NAFLD were randomized to receive a placebo or D-002 (100 mg/day) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was a significant ultrasonography-detected reduction of liver fat infiltration versus a placebo. Secondary endpoints were decreases in the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, insulin levels, serum liver enzymes, increases in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and improved clinical symptoms versus the placebo recipients. RESULTS: At randomization, all indicators were comparable in both groups. At study completion, seven (28.0%) D-002-patients, but none of the placebo recipients, exhibited a normal liver echo pattern on ultrasonography (p < 0.01). Also, D-002 significantly reduced (p < 0.01 vs. baseline and placebo) the HOMA index and insulin levels and increased the TAS, but did not affect other parameters. The proportion of D-002-patients (12/25, 48.0%) showing symptom improvement was higher (p < 0.001) than that of the placebo group (1/25, 4.0%). The treatment was safe and well tolerated. Three patients in each group withdrew from the study. CONCLUSIONS: D-002 (100 mg/day) improved ultrasonographic findings, indicators of insulin resistance, plasma TAS and clinical evolution on NAFLD patients. Further studies, however, are needed to confirm these results.
Subject(s)
Adult , Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Antioxidants/adverse effects , Biomarkers/blood , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Cuba , Double-Blind Method , Enzymes/blood , Fatty Alcohols/adverse effects , Fatty Liver/blood , Insulin/blood , Lipids/blood , Liver/drug effects , Prospective Studies , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , Waxes/chemistryABSTRACT
The subfamily Triatominae is actually represented by 137 species distributed among 6 tribes and 19 genera. Within this subfamily, the genus Panstrongylus, Berg 1879, is composed by 13 species widespread in sylvatic, peridomestic, and domestic habitats of Neotropical regions. These species are vectors of Chagas disease and consequently are found associated with its main hosts, such as birds and mammals. Interest in species of this genus has been increasing in the last few years. Reports of several authors indicate these Triatominae to invade and colonize houses, increasing their epidemiological significance. Morphometry was used in this study to investigate correlations among possible closely related species. We measured 224 specimens among 13 species through a set of metric variables of the head. The results indicated that the genus Panstrongylus seems to be homogeneous since 10 of the 14 species were shown to be closely related.