Childhood obesity and its cardiovascular implications: a current view

Abstract Obesity is a universal disease of increasing prevalence and currently assumes epidemiological characteristic, as a main public health issue in contemporary society. Results from genetic, behavioral and environmental factors and it may start at any age. However, obesity appears at early ages predisposes to its presence at later ages bringing several complications, particularly the development of cardiovascular disease. The analysis indicates that autonomic dysfunction seems to be presented among the majority of risk factors that develop this disease, suggesting the need for a deeper study of this mechanism in children population.(AU)

Biomechanical methods applied in martial arts studies

Martial arts are practiced in both amateur and in high professional level, stimulating scientific research in several areas of knowledge, including biomechanics. The main purpose of this review is to present the biomechanics methods used in the study of martial arts. The great importance of this study is the compilation of information science of what has already been analyzed under the biomechanics aspects related to martial arts and how this has been done. The methodology was directed to the revision of literature starting from articles, books, and seminars. From the collection of bibliographic surveys, it has been concluded that depending on the parameters studied e.g.: reaction time, speed, strength, power, among others, there is the need to apply one or more methods since there are situations in which only one biomechanical method will not be enough to answer the pointed question. It is also concluded that the investigated studies in the presented review showed the character of a descriptive examination, not directly applied to the development of techniques used on different modalities.

Cardiovascular control in experimental diabetes

Several studies have reported impairment in cardiovascular function and control in diabetes. The studies cited in this review were carried out from a few days up to 3 months after streptozotocin administration and were concerned with the control of the circulation. We observed that early changes (5 days) in blood pressure control by different peripheral receptors were maintained for several months. Moreover, the impairment of reflex responses observed after baroreceptor and chemoreceptor stimulation was probably related to changes in the efferent limb of the reflex arc (sympathetic and parasympathetic), but changes also in the central nervous system could not be excluded. Changes in renal sympathetic nerve activity during volume expansion were blunted in streptozotocin-treated rats, indicating an adaptive natriuretic and diuretic response in the diabetic state. The improvement of diabetic cardiovascular dysfunction induced by exercise training seems to be related to changes in the autonomic nervous system. Complementary studies about the complex interaction between circulation control systems are clearly needed to adequately address the management of pathophysiological changes associated with diabetes