Quality of life and physical activity in a sample of Brazilian older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between physical activity and quality of life in a sample of Brazilian older adults. METHOD: The Portuguese version of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Older Adults Module and International Physical Activity Questionnaire was administered to 1,204 subjects (645 women and 559 men) aged ≥ 60 years. RESULTS: Older adults of both genders who reported to be more physically active attributed higher scores to the sensory ability, autonomy, and intimacy domains, in addition to presenting significantly higher overall quality of life, irrespectively of age, marital status, educational level, and socioeconomic status. Specifically in women, the scores obtained for the social participation domain were significantly higher in the strata of active and very active subjects when compared to sedentary subjects. DISCUSSION: The results indicate that increases in the levels of physical activity can contribute to improvements in quality of life of older adults.

Characterization of hydrophobic interaction and antioxidant properties of the phenothiazine nucleus in mitochondrial and model membranes.

The antioxidant properties of the phenothiazine nucleus (PHT) associated with mitochondrial membranes and liposomes were investigated. PHT exhibited hydrophobic interaction with lipid bilayers, as shown by the quenching of excited states of 1-palmitoyl-2[10-pyran-1-yl)]-decanoyl-sn-glycero-3-phophocholine (PPDPC) incorporated in phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylethanolamine/cardiolipin liposomes, observed even in high ionic strength; and by the spectral changes of PHT following the addition of mitochondrial membranes. Inserted into bilayers, 5 microM PHT was able to protect lipids and cytochrome c against pro-oxidant agents and exhibited spectral changes suggestive of oxidative modifications promoted by the trapping of the reactive species. In this regard, PHT exhibited the ability to scavenge DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate) free radical. PHT was also able to protect rat liver mitochondria against peroxide- and iron-induced oxidative damage and consequent swelling. At the concentration range in which the antioxidant properties were observed, PHT did not cause alterations in the membrane structure and function. This study contributes to the comprehension of the correlation structure and function of phenothiazines and antioxidant properties.