Plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor is higher after combat training (Randori) than incremental ramp test in elite judo athletes

Elite judo demands high levels of physical and psychological skills. The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be of particular interest in sports medicine for its ability to promote neuroplasticity. We investigated the plasma BDNF before and after a judo training session (Randori) and the maximal incremental ramp test (MIRT) in athletes from the Brazilian national judo team and compared the results between both exercise stimuli and sexes. Fifty-six elite judo athletes were recruited who performed each task on a separated day. Anthropometric, physiological, athletic parameters, and plasma BDNF levels were measured before and after the tasks (Randori and MIRT). The groups presented similar anthropometric and physiological characteristics at baseline for the two tasks. All athletes reached maximal performance for the tasks. Plasma levels of BDNF increased significantly after Randori and MIRT for all subjects, both men and women. When comparing both exercise stimuli, a greater increase in BDNF was observed after Randori. There was no significant difference in the delta BDNF between sexes. Our findings indicate that training specificity of sport gestures influenced the increase of blood BDNF levels.

Depressão e qualidade de vida em pacientes com fibromialgia / Depression and quality of life among patients with fibromyalgia

CONTEXTO: Fibromialgia é uma síndrome reumática caracterizada por dor musculoesquelética difusa e crônica, e sítios dolorosos específicos à palpação (tender points). Freqüentemente é associada à fadiga generalizada, distúrbios do sono, rigidez matinal, dispnéia, ansiedade, alterações no humor que podem evoluir para um quadro de depressão. Sendo assim, afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida das pessoas. No entanto, ainda não se sabe o poder de discriminação dos instrumentos de avaliação da depressão e qualidade de vida. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a depressão e a qualidade de vida de pacientes com fibromialgia e avaliar o poder de discriminação de instrumentos relacionados a esses aspectos. MÉTODO: Para avaliar a qualidade de vida foram utilizados dois instrumentos: um específico, o Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) e outro genérico, o Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Healthy Survey (SF-36); para avaliar a depressão, a Escala de Depressão de Beck (BDS). Participaram do estudo 40 mulheres sendo 20 com fibromialgia - Grupo teste e 20 saudáveis - Grupo controle. Os três protocolos foram aplicados aos indivíduos dos dois grupos em uma única sessão de avaliação. Toda a análise estatística foi realizada utilizando-se o teste "t" Student, com significância alfa = 0,05. RESULTADOS: Houve diferença estatisticamente significante entre os grupos controle e teste em todos os questionários (p<0,05). Os três questionários têm bom poder discriminatório para diferenciar os dois grupos, porém o FIQ é o que tem maior poder de discriminação e o BDS o menor. CONCLUSÃO: O grupo de pacientes com fibromialgia tem pior qualidade de vida quando comparado com o grupo controle. Comparando os três questionários todos são eficientes não somente para avaliar a qualidade de vida mas também para avaliar a depressão. Entretanto, como o FIQ é um instrumento específico é o que melhor discrimina o grupo teste do grupo controle, fato este mostrado...

BACKGROUND: Fibromyalgia is a rheumatic syndrome characterized by widespread chronic musculoskeletal pain and specific palpable tender points. It is often associated with generalized fatigue, sleep disturbances, morning stiffness, dyspnea, anxiety and mood disturbances that may evolve into depression. Thus, such individuals' quality of life is negatively affected. However, the discriminating power of quality-of-life and depression assessment instruments is still unknown. OBJECTIVE: To assess depression and quality of life among patients with fibromyalgia, and the discriminating power of such instruments. METHOD: Quality of life was assessed by one specific instrument, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ), and another generic one, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). The Beck Depression Scale (BDS) was used to assess depression. Forty women participated: 20 with fibromyalgia (test group) and 20 healthy women (control group). The three protocols were applied to all individuals in both groups in a single evaluation session. All statistical analyses were performed using Student's t-test, with alpha = 0.05. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences between test and control groups were found via all questionnaires (p<0.05). The three questionnaires had good discriminatory power for differentiating between the two groups, but FIQ had the greatest and BDS least. CONCLUSION: Patients with fibromyalgia presented poor quality of life, compared with the control group. Comparing the three questionnaires, they were all efficient for both quality-of-life and depression assessments. However, since FIQ is a specific instrument, this gave the best discrimination between test and control groups, and this was shown through higher, statistically significant values.

Efeito dos exercícios de alongamento na melhora da dor, flexibilidade e qualidade de vida em pacientes com fibromialgia / The effects of stretch exercises on pain, flexibility and quality of life in patients with fibromyalgia

Fibromialgia (FM) é uma síndrome reumática caracterizada por dor musculoesquelética cr6onica e difusa assim como baixo limiar de dor em pontos anatômicos específicos chamados tender points

Disseminated form of an intracranial germinoma: report of one case

The authors report a case of a suprasellar germinoma with a diffusely involvement of the ventricular system. The proper diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the management of this lesion are also discussed.