The Acute Effects of Cognitively Demanding Physical Activity on Inhibitory and Affective Responses in Children: An Online-Based Mixed Methods Approach.

This online study investigated the acute effects of a cognitively demanding physical activity (CDPA) vs a simple physical activity (SPA) bout on children's inhibitory and affective responses. Using a counterbalanced within-subjects' crossover design, thirty-nine participants aged 9−12 years old (29 boys; Mage = 11 ± 1 years) performed a CDPA and a SPA bout online (via ZOOM) for 15 min. Inhibition (Stroop test) was measured at the baseline, 1 and 30 min following the physical activity (PA) bouts, and self-report measures of affect, mental and physical exertion were taken prior, during and post-PA. Additionally, 31 children took part in semi-structured focus groups to explore the factors affecting their enjoyment. The quantitative results suggest no significant differences on inhibitory responses, affect and physical exertion (all p > 0.05). However, the CDPA induced more mental exertion than the SPA did (p < 0.05). In the focus groups, four themes were identified: physical exertion (e.g., tiredness), social (e.g., teams/groups), environment (e.g., outdoors and competition) and emotional (e.g., fun/enjoyment). Some children (n = 18) reported that the CDPA condition confused them, and to make these activities more interesting and enjoyable, they suggested performing the activities outdoors (n = 15) and including other children as part of a group/team (n = 19). The findings suggest no additional benefit of a cognitively enriched physical activity compared to an SPA bout on the inhibitory responses, affect and enjoyment. Using the instructions provided and given the low cost, the easy administration and the minimal amount of equipment and time involved, either of the approaches may be used in a diversity of contexts (i.e., online, schools or outdoors), and it is worth exploring the effects of these conditions on other aspects of executive function.

Exploring the Acute Effects of the Daily Mile™ vs. Shuttle Runs on Children's Cognitive and Affective Responses.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the acute effects of two physical activity (PA) bouts on children's cognitive and affective responses. METHODS: Twenty-nine participants (16 boys and 13 girls; Mage = 9.34 years, SD = 0.48), using a within-subjects crossover design, performed three 15-min conditions: (a) TDM-The Daily Mile™; (b) 12 repeated 30-45-s shuttle runs at ≥ 85% HRMAX; and (c) a sedentary control condition. Cognitive performance (i.e., Stroop, Digit Span, and Corsi blocks) was measured before PA and 1 and 30 min post-PA. Felt Arousal and Feeling Scale self-report scales were administered before, during, and after PA. RESULTS: The results show no changes following the TDM condition relative to the sedentary control condition in cognitive responses. However, when comparing the shuttle runs condition to the sedentary control condition, participants showed higher arousal, an improved reaction time, and lower self-reported pleasure at 1 min post-PA. Nevertheless, at 30 min post-PA, participants' pleasure values were higher in the shuttle runs condition than they were before PA. CONCLUSIONS: When comparing PA conditions, shuttle runs enhanced reaction time and might thus be seen as an option to implement or modify PA opportunities in school settings.

The acute effects of continuous and intermittent cycling on executive function in children.

This study assessed the effect of acute continuous and intermittent physical activity (PA) on children's executive function (EF). Twenty-four participants (14 boys M = 10.32 ± 0.48 years), using a within-subjects design, performed a continuous (70% HRmax) and an intermittent (≥85%HRmax; 12 bouts: 30 s work, 45 s rest) PA bout of cycling, both lasting 15 min. Executive function was assessed using the Stroop task, Digit Span and Corsi Blocks tests and these were administered before and 1 min and 30 min post PA. Comparing both conditions, performance at the Stroop task (i.e., reaction time) improved in the continuous condition after 1 min and after 30 min (congruent stimuli) (mean diff = 126 ms ± 59; p = 0.047 and mean diff = 89 ms ± 38; p = 0.031, respectively). The intermittent condition improved at 30 min post (congruent and incongruent) (mean diff = 116 ms ± 46; p = 0.021 and mean diff = 111 ms ± 49; p = 0.039, respectively) showing a delayed benefit from the PA bout and greater improvements compared to the continuous condition. Verbal memory was improved for the continuous condition 1 min post only and no effects on visual memory were observed for both experimental conditions. The results demonstrated that both acute PA bouts might be a time-efficient approach for enhancing EF, with intermittent PA having a delayed and greater benefit.

Rotavírus em suínos na regiäo sul do Brasil / Rotavirus in swine in the southern region of Brazil

A ocorrência de infecçäo por rotavírus foi estudada em granjas de suínos acometidos de diarréia em 32 propriedades de 22 municípios do Rio Grande do Sul e Santa Catarina. De um total de 231 amostras fecais coletadas de leitöes na faixa etária de 1 a 60 dias, 43 (18,6%) foram positivas pela técnica de eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (PAGE) e 42 (17,7%) pelo ensaio imunoenzimático (ELISA). Com a exceçäo de um caso, os eletroforotipos observados foram consistentes com a descriçäo dos rotavírus "clássicos" do grupo A. Em 5 amostras o rotavírus foi detectado por ELISA e näo por PAGE, enquanto que a situaçäo inversa ocorreu em 7 casos. Estudos com diluiçöes de fezes positivas demonstraram que as discrepâncias observadas provavelmente näo foram devidas a diferenças nas concentraçöes de vírus. A presença de IgG foi verificada em uma amostra PAGE positiva ELISA negativa, sugerindo a presença de complexos imunes que poderiam ser a causa de discrepâncias entre os métodos de diagnóstico. Exames bacteriológicos e parasitológicos em 75 amostras revelaram a presença de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica em 8 (8%). Em nenhum caso foram detectados parasitos. Em somente um caso E. coli foi encontrada em associaçäo com rotavírus, que clinicamente mostrou maior gravidade do que nos demais. A distribuiçäo da infecçäo por faixas etárias revelou que 79% dos casos foram verificados em animais de 15 a 30 dias

Câncer de mama: análise de 3016 casos de patologia cirúrgica, 1968/1982 / Breast cancer: analysis of 3016 cases of surgical pathology, 1968/1982

Analisam-se 3.016 casos de carcinoma de mama, salientando a importância desta neoplasia maligna, que se constitui na causa mais freqüente de morte por câncer em mulheres no estado do Rio Grande do Sul. É verificada uma incidência significativa de casos em mulheres jovens, a qual sugere que os parâmetros utilizados presentemente no diagnóstico desta neoplasia devem ser reavaliados

Análise de 23.268 espécimes cirúrgicos de mama, 1968-1982 / Analysis of 23,268 surgical breast specimens, 1968-1982

Säo estudados os diversos tipos de patologias em espécimes cirúrgicos removidos das glândulas mamárias. É ressaltada a freqüência da mastopatia fibrosa, a qual mediante uma avaliaçäo judiciosa dos achados clínicos mamográficos e citológicos (punçäo com agulha fina) geralmente dispensa uma intervençäo cirúrgica. A importância das hiperplasias epiteliais também é considerada, por se tratarem de lesöes precursoras do carcinoma de mama, e cujo diagnóstico em espécimes cirúrgicos é um dos mais importantes fatores de risco para esta neoplasia