Effects of physical exercise combined with captopril or losartan on left ventricular hypertrophy of hypertensive rats.

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an endpoint of hypertensive cardiac alterations. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers are among the most effective on LVH regression. Physical exercise combined to antihypertensive drug contributes to arterial pressure (AP) control and LVH prevention. We evaluated the effects of physical exercise combined to captopril or losartan during eight weeks for spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) on some cardiac parameters.Methods: SHR (n=5-6 per group) were sedentary or trained 5 days a week in treadmill during 8 weeks; and they were treated with daily oral captopril (12.5, 25, or 50mg/kg), losartan (2.5, 5, or 10mg/kg), or vehicle. At the end, it was obtained systolic AP (SAP), electrocardiogram (ECG), and hearts metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) activity and histology.Results: Captopril 25 and 50 mg/kg, and losartan 10 mg/kg lowered SAP of sedentary and trained SHR. Losartan 5 mg/kg combined with physical exercise also lowered SAP. Combined with exercise, captopril 50 mg/kg lowered 13.6% of QT interval, 14.2% of QTc interval, and 22.8% of Tpeak-Tend compared to sedentary SHR. Losartan 5 and 10mg/kg lowered QT interval of sedentary and trained SHR. Losartan 2.5, 5 and 10mg/kg combined with physical exercise lowered respectively 25.4%, 24.8%, and 31.8% of MMP-2 activity. Losartan (10mg/kg) combined with exercise reduced cardiomyocyte diameter.Conclusion: These data support the hypothesis of physical exercise combined with RAAS blockers could improve the benefits on hypertensive LVH treatment.

Capacidade aeróbica, força e resistência musculares de idosas praticantes de ginástica / Aerobic capacity, muscl estrength and resistance of the elderly women practitioners of gymnastics

O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito de 12 semanas de um programa de exercícios de ginástica sobre os níveis de condicionamento aeróbico, força de preensão manual e força e resistência musculares de membros inferiores de idosas praticantes de ginástica. Foram avaliadas 25 idosas, sendo 9 sedentárias (70 ± 7 anos) e 16 já praticantes de ginástica (70 ± 5 anos). As praticantes de ginástica foram submetidas a um programa de exercícios aeróbicos e de resistência muscular por um período de 12 semanas (2x/semana, 50 min/sessão). Antes do início do programa de exercícios, foram aplicados testes de caminhada de 6 minutos (avaliação da capacidade aeróbica), de dinamometria manual (avaliação da força de preensão manual) e levantar e sentar na cadeira em 30 segundos (avaliação da força e resistência musculares de membros inferiores). Ao final de 12 semanas, os testes foram reaplicados e os resultados demonstraram aumento significativo nos valores de metros caminhados em 6 minutos (514 ± 26 m vs. 457 ± 40 m), nos valores de quilograma-força (24,4 ± 4,3 kgf vs. 20,8 ± 4 kgf) e no número de repetições em 30 segundos (13 ± 2 vs. 9 ± 2 repetições) para o grupo praticante de ginástica. Em contrapartida, o grupo controle não mostrou alteração em nenhuma variável após 12 semanas. Conclui-se que um programa regular de exercícios de ginástica aeróbicos e de resistência muscular, com duração de 12 semanas, é capaz de proporcionar benefícios aos componentes da aptidão física relacionada à saúde de idosas. (AU)

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of a gymnastic exercise program on the levels of aerobic conditioning, hand-grip strength and muscular strength and endurance in the lower limbs of elderly women practitioners of gymnastics. Twenty-five elderly women were evaluated, 9 sedentary (70 ± 7 years) and 16 practitioners of gymnastics (70 ± 5 years). The practitioners of gymnastics were submitted to aerobic and muscular endurance exercises for 12 weeks (2 times/week, 50 minutes/session). Before the beginning of the gymnastics exercise program, the 6-minute walk test (aerobic capacity assessment), the dynamometry manual (hand- -grip strength assessment) and the sit-up chair test in 30 seconds (muscular strength and endurance in the lower limbs assessment) were applied. At the end of the program, the tests were reapplied, and the results showed a significant increase in the values of meters walked in 6 minutes (514 ± 26 m vs. 457 ± 40 m), in the values of kilogram-force (24.4 ± 4.3 kgf vs. 20.8 ± 4 kgf) and in the number of repetitions in 30 seconds (13 ± 2 vs. 9 ± 2 repetitions) for the practitioners of gymnastics group. In contrast, the control group showed no change in any variable after 12 weeks. It can be concluded that a 12-week regular aerobic and muscular endurance exercise is able to provide benefits to the physical fitness components related to the health of the elderly. (AU)

Swim training attenuates the adverse remodeling of LV structural and mechanical properties in the early compensated phase of hypertension.

AIM: Investigate to what extent low-intensity swim training for six weeks counterbalances the adverse remodeling due to the advance of pathological hypertrophy in the left ventricle (LV) structural and mechanical properties in the early compensated phase of hypertension in male SHR. MAIN METHODS: Four-month-old male SHR and Wistar rats were randomly divided into Sed (sedentary) and Ex (exercised) groups. The exercised rats were submitted to a swimming protocol (1h/day, 5times/week, no additional load) for six weeks. LV tissue and isolated myocytes were used to assess structural and mechanical properties. Myocytes were stimulted at frequencies (F) of 1 and 3Hz at 37°C. KEY FINDINGS: Exercised SHR showed improvement in cardiovascular parameters compared to sedentary SHR (mean arterial pressure: 13.22%; resting HR: 14.28.%). About structural and mechanical properties, swim training induced a decrease in LV myocyte thickness (10.85%), number of inflammatory cells (21.24%); collagen type III (74.23%) and type I (85.6%) fiber areas; amplitude of single myocyte shortening (47% to F1 and 28.46% to F3), timecourses of shortening (16.5% to F1 and 7.55% to F3) and relaxation (15.31% to F3) compared to sedentary SHR. SIGNIFICANCE: Six weeks of swim training attenuates the adverse remodeling of LV structural and mechanical properties in the early compensated phase of hypertension in male SHR.

Swimming training promotes cardiac remodeling and alters the expression of mRNA and protein levels involved in calcium handling in hypertensive rats.

AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the effects of swimming training on the mRNA expression and protein levels of the calcium handling proteins in the hearts of renovascular hypertensive rats submitted to swimming protocol during 6 weeks. MAIN METHODS: Fischer rats with renovascular hypertension 2-kidney 1-clip (2K1C) and SHAM groups were divided among sedentary and exercised groups. The exercise protocol lasted for 6 weeks (1 h/day, 5×/week), and the mean arterial pressure, cardiomyocytes hypertrophy parameters, mRNA expression and protein levels of some calcium handling proteins in the left ventricle were evaluated. KEY FINDINGS: Swimming training was able to reduce the levels of mean arterial pressure in the hypertensive group compared to 2K1C SED, and to promote cardiac hypertrophy in SHAM EX and 2K1C EX groups in comparison to the respective control groups. The mRNA levels of B-type natriuretic peptide were reduced in the 2K1C EX when compared to 2K1C SED. The mRNA and protein levels of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2 +-ATPase increased after the swimming training in SHAM and 2K1C groups. The mRNA and protein levels of phospholamban, displayed an increase in their levels in the exercised SHAM and in hypertensive rats in comparison to their respective controls; while mRNA levels of Na+/Ca2 + exchanger was reduced in the left ventricle comparing to the sedentary hypertensive rats. SIGNIFICANCE: Taken altogether, we provide evidence that the aerobic training may lead to cardiac remodeling, and modulate the calcium handling proteins expression in the heart of hypertensive rats.

The role of key genes and pathways involved in the tumorigenesis of Malignant Mesothelioma.

Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a very aggressive cancer with low survival rates and often diagnosed at an advanced stage. Several players have been implicated in the development of this cancer, such as asbestos, erionite and the simian virus 40 (SV40). Here, we have reviewed the involvement of erionite, SV40, as well as, the role of several genes (p16(INK4a), p14(ARF), NF2, LATS2, SAV, CTNNB1 and among others), the pathways (RAS, PI3K, Wnt, BCL and Hippo), and their respective roles in the development of MM.

Calcium handling proteins: structure, function, and modulation by exercise.

Heart failure is a serious public health issue with a growing prevalence, and it is related with the aging of the population. Hypertension is identified as the main precursor of left ventricular hypertrophy and therefore can lead to diastolic dysfunction and heart failure. Scientific studies have confirmed the beneficial effects of the physical exercise by reducing the blood pressure and improving the functional status of the heart in hypertension. Several proteins are involved in the mobilization of calcium during the coupling excitation-contraction process in the heart among those are sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, phospholamban, calsequestrin, sodium-calcium exchanger, L-type calcium's channel, and ryanodine receptors. Our goal is to address the beneficial effects of exercise on the calcium handling proteins in a heart with hypertension.

Cafeína não altera os níveis de Imunoglobulina A Salivar (IgA-s) em jogadores de voleibol / Caffeine does not change Salivary Immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) levels in volleyball players / Cafeína no altera los niveles de imunoglobulina salivar, en jugadores de voleibol

Avaliou-se a influência da ingestão de cafeína na resposta da imunoglobulina A salivar (IgA-s) em atletas de voleibol. Usou-se o modelo crossover e duplo-cego. Nove atletas participaram de duas sessões de treino e ingeriram cafeína (6mg/kg de peso corporal) ou placebo. Analisou-se a concentração de IgA-s antes e após as sessões. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa (P > 0,05) nos níveis de IgA-s pré e pós-treino nos atletas que ingeriram CAF (8,54 ± 4,03 mg/dL e 7,45 ± 4,72 mg/dL, respectivamente), bem como naqueles que tomaram PLA (6,88 ± 3,17 mg/dL e 9,76 ± 5,81 mg/dL, respectivamente). Concluiu-se que a suplementação adotada não afetou a resposta da IgA-s durante as sessões de treino realizadas pelos atletas de voleibol.

We tested the influence of caffeine (CAF) ingestion on the salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) of volleyball's athletes. In a cross-over and double blind way, nine male volleyball players performed two training sessions within 15 days interval when ingested either CAF (6 mg/kg b.w.) or placebo (PLA) one hour before. The levels of s-IgA were measured at rest and after exercise. The results showed that the levels of s-IgA at rest were not statistically different (P>0.05) from those after exercise when athletes ingested either CAF (8.54 ± 4.03 mg/dL and 7.45 ± 4.72 mg/dL, respectively) or PLA (6.88 ± 3.17 mg/dL and 9.76 ± 5.81 mg/dL, respectively). It is concluded that caffeine ingestion did not affect the s-IgA response during the training session performed by the athletes.

Se avalio la influencia de la ingestión de cafeína en la respuesta de a inmunoglobulina A salivar (IgA-s) en atletas de voleibol se uso el modelo crossover y doble-cego. Nueve atletas participaran de dos sesiones de entrenamiento y ingirieron cafeína (6 mg de peso corporal) o placebo. Se analizo la concentración de IgA-s antes y después de la sesión. Los resultados mostraron que no hubo diferencia significativa (P > 0,05) en los niveles de (IgA-s) pre e pos entrenamiento en los atetas que ingirieron CAF (8,54 ± 4,03 mg/dL e 7,45 ± 4,72 mg/dL, respectivamente) como en aquellos que tomaron PLA (6,88 ± 3,17 mg/dL e 9,76 ± 5,81 mg/dL, respectivamente). Se concluyo que la suplementación adoptada no afecto la respuesta de la IgA-s durante las sesiones del entrenamiento realizados por los atletas de voleibol.

Imunoglobulina A salivar (IgA-s) e exercício: relevância do controle em atletas e implicações metodológicas / Salivary immunoglobulin A (s-lgA) and exercise: relevance of its control in athletes and methodological implications

O objetivo do presente estudo é realizar uma análise e discussão dos principais achados envolvendo o comportamento da imunoglobulina A salivar (IgA-s) em relação ao estímulo do exercício e evidenciar a importância de seu controle em atletas. O exercício físico é um importante modulador das características do sistema imune, sobretudo do comportamento da IgA-s, componente fundamental na proteção de infecções do trato respiratório superior (ITRS). No entanto, a relação direta entre baixas concentrações de IgA-s e ITRS precisa de mais evidências para ser confirmada. As concentrações de IgA-s durante e logo após um exercício intenso diminuem, deixando o indivíduo mais suscetível à infecção, porém, atletas envolvidos em atividades extenuantes não são clinicamente imunodeficientes, comparados com indivíduos sedentários. Essas modificações são transitórias, com retorno aos valores normais após aproximadamente 48 horas de repouso. A razão dessas alterações não é clara, mas se apresenta multifatorial: elevação de hormônios estressores; fatores nutricionais; ação de espécies reativas de oxigênio; e estresse psicológico. Apesar do efeito transitório das alterações provocadas nos elementos do sistema imune frente ao exercício, observa-se diferença na variabilidade da IgA-s em populações com diferentes níveis de condicionamento. Diferenças metodológicas - como o protocolo de exercício, o método de coleta, armazenamento e manipulação da saliva, a forma de expressão da IgA-s, o nível de hidratação, o controle da dieta, a sazonalidade do período de competição, a aclimatação entre outros fatores - devem ser levadas em consideração para comparação entre os estudos. Além disso, ajudam a explicar, em parte, os resultados adversos envolvendo exercício moderado e os intermitentes, em que se encontram aumento, redução e até ausência de alteração nos níveis de IgA-s. Investigações de elementos inovadores, como os toll-like receptors, e o avanço tecnológico podem ...

The present study aimed to discuss the main findings involving salivary immunoglobulin A (s-IgA) and exercise and evidence the importance of the control in athletes. Exercise is a great modulator of immune system characteristics such as the s-IgA that exerts important defense against upper respiratory tract infections (URTI). However, more evidence is needed to confirm a direct association between low levels of s-IgA and URTI. The level of s-IgA decreases after a high-intense exercise, increasing thus, the individual's susceptibility to infection, but athletes engaged in exhausting exercise are not clinically immune-deficient compared with sedentary subjects. The changes in s-IgA are transitory returning to normal status in approximately 48-h rest. The reason of these alterations remains unclear, but many causes have been investigated: hormones stressors rise; nutrition influences; action of reactive oxygen species, psychological stress. Despite the transitory effects of the exercise on the immune system, the variability in s-IgA differs in populations with different fitness levels. Differences in exercise protocols, saliva collection, manipulation or storage methods, the method used to assess s-IgA, subject's hydration status, dietary control, competition's seasonality, acclimatization, among other factors should be considered to compare different studies. In addition, these factors could partially explain the adverse results of studies involving moderate and intermittent exercise that have found increase, decrease and no changes in s-IgA levels. Investigations of recent immunologic issues such as the toll like-receptors and the advances in technology may contribute to increase the evidence on this issue.