Effects of concurrent training on muscle strength in older adults with metabolic syndrome: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome is highly prevalent among older adults. Concurrent training comprises muscle strengthening and aerobic exercise. OBJECTIVE: Determine the effects of a concurrent training program on muscle strength, walking function, metabolic profile, cardiovascular risk, use of medications and quality of life among older adults with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: A randomised, controlled, blind, clinical trial was conducted in the city of Santos, state of São Paulo, Brazil, involving 41 male and female older adults. The participants were randomly allocated to a control group (n = 18) and intervention group (n = 23) and were submitted to the following evaluations: strength - 1 maximum repetition (1MR) for 12 muscle groups; the Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT); blood concentrations of cholesterol and glucose; the use of medications; and the administration of the SF-36 questionnaire. The intervention was conducted twice a week over a total of 24 sessions of concurrent training: 50 min of strength exercises (40-70% 1MR) and 40 min of walking exercises (70-85% maximum heart rate). RESULTS: Increases in muscle strength were found in the upper and lower limbs in the inter-group analysis and a greater distance travelled on the 6MWT was found in the intervention group (p = 0.001). The intervention group demonstrated a reduction in the consumption of biguanides (p = 0.002). No changes were found regarding metabolic profile, cardiovascular risk or self-perceived quality of life. CONCLUSION: The findings of this clinical trial can be used for the prescription of concurrent training for older adults with metabolic syndrome for gains in muscle strength and walking distance as well as a reduction in the use of biguanides.

Relevant principal component analysis applied to the characterisation of Portuguese heather honey.

The main purpose of this study was the characterisation of 'Serra da Lousã' heather honey by using novel statistical methodology, relevant principal component analysis, in order to assess the correlations between production year, locality and composition. Herein, we also report its chemical composition in terms of sugars, glycerol and ethanol, and physicochemical parameters. Sugars profiles from 'Serra da Lousã' heather and 'Terra Quente de Trás-os-Montes' lavender honeys were compared and allowed the discrimination: 'Serra da Lousã' honeys do not contain sucrose, generally exhibit lower contents of turanose, trehalose and maltose and higher contents of fructose and glucose. Different localities from 'Serra da Lousã' provided groups of samples with high and low glycerol contents. Glycerol and ethanol contents were revealed to be independent of the sugars profiles. These data and statistical models can be very useful in the comparison and detection of adulterations during the quality control analysis of 'Serra da Lousã' honey.

Análise estatística sobre o ambulatório de planejamento familiar do Hospital Fundaçäo Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará - UFPA de fevereiro a dezembro de 1997 / Statistics analysis about family planning ambulatory of the Hospital Fundaçäo Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará - UFPA in 1997

Analisamos 290 prontuários de pacientes matriculados no Ambulatório de Planejamento Familiar do Hospital Fundaçäo Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará - UFPA, no período de fevereiro a dezembro de 1997. Säo avaliados aspectos epidemilógicos (idade, estado civil, grau de instruçäo), ginecológico-obstétricos (menarca, ciclos menstruais, idade do primeiro coito, idade da primeira gestaçäo, número de gestaçäo e filhos vivos, número e tipo de abortamento), além de dados referentes ao método contraceptivo anteriormente utilizado e o atual. Observou-se distribuiçäo etária entre 14 e 40 anos, com proporcionalidade entre casadas e solteiras: a maioria teve de 1 a 2 gestaçöes: dentro da escolaridade prevaleceu o primeiro grau incompleto; os abortamentos foram evidenciados em menos da metade das pacientes, predominando os provocados, com faixa de idade da primeira gestaçäo entre 15 a 19 anos; os parâmetros clínicos menstruais se mantiveram dentro da normalidade, com menarca pricipalmente entre 13 a 15 anos; grande percentual teve primeiro coito entre 15 a 19 anos; o método contraceptivo mais usado foi anticoncepcional hormonal oral, tanto anterior quanto atual