Effects of subclinical hypothyroidism treatment on psychiatric symptoms, muscular complaints, and quality of life / Efeitos do tratamento do hipotiroidismo subclínico sobre sintomas psiquiátricos, queixas musculares e qualidade de vida

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of subclinical hypothyroidism (sHT) treatment on health-related quality of life (QoL), psychiatric symptoms, clinical score, and muscle function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized double-blind study, patients were assigned either to treatment (n = 35) or placebo (n = 36). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms were assessed by the Zulewski, Hamilton and Beck scales. QoL was assessed by the SF-36 questionnaire. Assessments of quadriceps (QS) and inspiratory muscle (IS) strength were performed by a chair dynamometer and a manuvacuometer. RESULTS: Treatment improved IS (+11.5 ± 17.2; p = 0.041), as did QoL domains "Pain" and "Role Physical" (+19.7 ± 15.2, 0.039 and +22.1 ± 47.5, p = 0.054; respectively). Clinical and psychiatric symptoms showed similar responses to both interventions. CONCLUSIONS: sHT treatment improved IS and physical aspects of QoL, despite no impact in other muscle parameters. Clinical score, psychiatric symptoms, and SF-36 domains, based on mental dimensions of QoL may be more susceptible to "placebo effect" in patients with sHT.

OBJETIVOS: Avaliar o impacto do tratamento do hipotireoidismo subclínico (sHT) na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde (QoL), aos sintomas psiquiátricos, ao escore clínico e à função muscular. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Em um ensaio randomizado duplo-cego, pacientes foram randomizados para tratamento (n = 35) ou uso de placebo (n = 36). Sintomas clínicos e psiquiátricos foram acessados por meio das escalas de Zulewski, Hamilton e Beck. A QoL foi avaliada pelo questionário SF-36. Medidas da força de quadríceps (QS) e inspiratória (IS) foram obtidas por um dinamômetro de cadeira e um manovacuômetro. RESULTADOS: O tratamento melhorou a IS (+11,5 ± 17,2; p = 0,041), assim como os domínios "Dor" e "Aspectos Físicos" da QoL (+19,7 ± 15,2, 0,039 e +22,1 ± 47,5, p = 0,054, respectivamente). Sintomas clínicos e psiquiátricos demonstraram respostas similares a ambas as formas de intervenção. CONCLUSÕES: Tratamento do sHT melhorou IS e aspectos físicos da QoL, apesar de não ter impacto em outros parâmetros musculares. Escore clínico, sintomas psiquiátricos e domínios do SF-36 que focam em dimensões mentais podem ser mais suscetíveis ao "efeito placebo" em pacientes com sHT.

L-carnitine as an ergogenic aid for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to whole-body and respiratory muscle training programs

The effects of adding L-carnitine to a whole-body and respiratory training program were determined in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sixteen COPD patients (66 ± 7 years) were randomly assigned to L-carnitine (CG) or placebo group (PG) that received either L-carnitine or saline solution (2 g/day, orally) for 6 weeks (forced expiratory volume on first second was 38 ± 16 and 36 ± 12 percent, respectively). Both groups participated in three weekly 30-min treadmill and threshold inspiratory muscle training sessions, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40 percent) at maximal inspiratory pressure. Nutritional status, exercise tolerance on a treadmill and six-minute walking test, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory muscle strength were determined as baseline and on day 42. Maximal capacity in the incremental exercise test was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at identical exercise levels were lower in CG after training (P < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and walking test tolerance were significantly improved in both groups, but the gains of CG were significantly higher than those of PG (40 ± 14 vs 14 ± 5 cmH2O, and 87 ± 30 vs 34 ± 29 m, respectively; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in CG than in PG (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.3 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.05). The present data suggest that carnitine can improve exercise tolerance and inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, as well as reduce lactate production.

Influence of influenza viral infection on airway smooth muscle activity.

The contractility of airway smooth muscle (ASM) plays an important role in pathophysiology of several bronchial disorders. Increased contraction of ASM during asthma and respiratory viral infection has been attributed to the release of mediators acting through different receptors. In the present study, influence of influenza type A virus (H1N1) infection has been examined on ASM responsiveness to various bronchoactive agents e.g. adenosine, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and isoproterenol in an organ bath set up for isolated tissue preparation. The contractile effect of adenosine, histamine and 5-HT was enhanced, however, relaxant response of isoproterenol was attenuated with the duration following viral exposure. The most prominent response was observed 48 to 72 hr after infection and tissues from multiple exposure to virus infected animals showed the maximum contractile response. Results demonstrated the deleterious effect of viral infection on ASM function and the findings will be helpful in understanding the mechanism of influenza virus induced bronchoconstriction.

Effect of long term therapy of some antiinflamatory agents on metabolic and functional characteristics of respiratory muscles in rats

This study utilized the metabolic differentiation paradigm of respiratory muscles which was related to the relative capacities of anaerobic and aerobic bioenergetic glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activities as a relative measure of these pathways. The results supported the deleterious effect of corticosteroids, indomethacin and garamycin on respiratory muscles through alterations in biochemical and metabolic functions of the muscles by different degrees and different ways. Also, it provided a scope on vitamin E and its important and vital role in protection against respiratory muscle damage produced by different drugs and by different mechanisms. These results were discussed

Efecto agudo del lorazepam sobre los musculos respiratorios en los pacientes con EPOC estable / Acute effect of lorazepam on respiratory muscles in stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Con el objetivo de aclarar los efectos de las benzodiacepinas sobre los músculos respiratorios en pacientes con sobrecarga crónica de los mismos debida a enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), se estudiaron 9 pacientes estables con EPOC avanzado (volumen espiratorio forzado en 1 segundo - FEV 1- 0,91 + 0,31 litros), en quienes, antes y 1 hora después de la administración de lorazepam 1,5 a 2 mg por vía sublingual, se evaluaron la capacidad vital forzada (FVC), FEV 1, ventilación voluntaria máxima (MVV), presión arterial de oxígeno (PaO2), presión arterial de anhídrido carbónico (PaCO2), volumen corriente (Vt), frecuencia respiratória (f), ventilación por minuto (Ve), tiempo inspiratorio/tiempo total (Ti/Ttot), flujo inspiratorio medio (Vi), presiones bucales máximas: máxima presión inspiratoria (MIP) y máxima presión espiratoria (MEP), presión pleural máxima (Pplmax), presiones transdiafragmáticas durante diferentes maniobras (Pdi) y mediciones de la fuerza y resistencia de los músculos esqueléticos. Tras la administración del lorazepam no se encontraron cambios en la espirometría (FVC, FEV1, ni FEV1/FVC), aunque sí existió una reducción del 20 por ciento en la Ve, debida a una minución en el Vt, que se acompañó de un pequeño pero significativo incremento en la PaCO2. La fuerza y resistencia de los músculos esqueléticos disminuyó significativamente (22 y 50 por ciento respectivamente), al igual que la MIP, MEP, MVV, Ppl y Pdi, que mostraron también reducciones significativas. Se concluye que una dosis única de lorazepam por vía sublingual, a la par que disminuye la ventilación, reduce la fuerza y la resistencia de la musculatura respiratoria en pacientes con EPOC en situación estable.

Dyphilline and the respiratory muscle function: a new concept

This work was done in an attempt to study whether aminophylline can produce adequate ventilation following a muscle relaxant in non asthmatic patients. The experimental part of this study was carried out on the isolated rectus abdominis muscle of the frog and it showed that dyphilline potentiates the stimulant effect of acetycholine on the skeletal muscle, prostigmine stimulating effect was potentiated by dyphilline, the skeletal muscle relaxant effect of flaxedil was partially antagonized by dyphilline and that there is an interaction between verapamil and dyphilline, as verapamil caused inhibition of the potentiating action of dyphilline on the skeletal muscles. The clinical part was carried out on 30 patients with no history of asthma who were given dyphilline in a dose of 5 mg/kg i.v. 20 minutes before reversal of the effects of a non depolarizing muscle relaxant, gallamine triethiodide [flaxedil] and anesthesia. The results showed a significant improvement in minute volume, tidal volume, blood gases and acid base status of these patients, compared to the control group who had prostigmine and atropine only without dyphilline