Role of aging in Blood-Brain Barrier dysfunction and susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection: impacts on neurological symptoms of COVID-19.

COVID-19, which is caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in devastating morbidity and mortality worldwide due to lethal pneumonia and respiratory distress. In addition, the central nervous system (CNS) is well documented to be a target of SARS-CoV-2, and studies detected SARS-CoV-2 in the brain and the cerebrospinal fluid of COVID-19 patients. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) was suggested to be the major route of SARS-CoV-2 infection of the brain. Functionally, the BBB is created by an interactome between endothelial cells, pericytes, astrocytes, microglia, and neurons, which form the neurovascular units (NVU). However, at present, the interactions of SARS-CoV-2 with the NVU and the outcomes of this process are largely unknown. Moreover, age was described as one of the most prominent risk factors for hospitalization and deaths, along with other comorbidities such as diabetes and co-infections. This review will discuss the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the NVU, the expression profile of SARS-CoV-2 receptors in the different cell types of the CNS and the possible role of aging in the neurological outcomes of COVID-19. A special emphasis will be placed on mitochondrial functions because dysfunctional mitochondria are also a strong inducer of inflammatory reactions and the "cytokine storm" associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, we will discuss possible drug therapies to treat neural endothelial function in aged patients, and, thus, alleviate the neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Shoulder Isokinetic Strength Balance Ratio in Overhead Athletes: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Studies have grouped different overhead sports and evaluated together the isokinetic strength of shoulder internal (IR) and external (ER) rotator muscles. However, muscular adaptations could be a consequence of the specific sport, and some strength imbalance between these muscles may exist as a consequence of the muscular demand unique to the sport. Therefore, grouping different overhead sports together may not be adequate. PURPOSE: To compare strength balance ratios between different overhead sports (volleyball, handball, swimming, judo, baseball, softball, functional movements performed at high-intensity interval training, and tennis) with a control athletic group (no overhead group). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 237 athletes were submitted to isokinetic shoulder strength tests. The isokinetic concentric and eccentric peak torque values of shoulder internal IR and external ER rotator muscles were measured. Conventional (CR) and functional strength ratios (FR) were calculated. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the sports for the CR in the male group. Female softball athletes (90.4±13.6%) had a significantly higher CR than judo (67.3±6.9%), volleyball (74.9±15.9%), and swimming athletes (70.3±8.7%). In the female group, judo athletes had lower FR values (0.76±0.19) than soccer athletes (1.31±0.35), volleyball athletes (1.24±0.27), functional movements performed at high intensity (1.10±0.1), and softball athletes (1.40±0.39). Female handball athletes also had a lower FR (0.99±0.25) than soccer athletes (1.31±0.35) and softball athletes (1.40±0.39). Male handball (0.90±0.23), tennis (0.86±0.30), and judo (0.68±0.22) athletes had lower FR values than soccer athletes (1.20±0.21) and volleyball athletes (1.25±0.28). CONCLUSIONS: CR for males may be analyzed together, as there were no significant differences between them. However, for females, the CR for softball athletes should be analyzed individually. As there were several differences between the overhead sports according to the FRs, the authors suggest caution in grouping overhead athletes across multiple sports. These results could have important implications for the design of injury prevention and rehabilitation programs associated with the shoulder joint in overhead sports. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Knee isokinetic muscle strength and balance ratio in female soccer players of different age groups: a cross-sectional study.

Background: As a consequence of years of soccer training and sexual maturation, there is an increase in lower body muscle mass and strength especially in the knee extensors and flexors muscles. In this context, the lack of knee joint stability, resulting from strength imbalance between knee extensor and flexors muscles, has been associated with knee injuries. The aim of this study was to compare the knee flexor and extensor muscle peak torque, average power, contralateral deficit, conventional and functional balance ratios of female soccer players from different age groups.Methods: Sixty-six female soccer players were divided into four groups: under 13 (U13), under 15 (U15), under 17 (U17) years old and professional (PRO). Flexor and extensor knee muscle strength in concentric and eccentric actions of both limbs were assessed using isokinetic dynamometer.Results: For the dominant limb, the knee concentric extensor muscles peak torques, assessed at 60 and at 240 deg/sec, and the average power of U15 group were significantly higher than U13 group. Extensor muscle average power of the PRO group was higher than U17. Dominant knee flexor average power of U15 was significantly higher than the U13 group. Peak torque at 60 deg/sec and 240 deg/sec and average power of the PRO group were higher than the U17 group. No differences were found regarding the eccentric action for flexor and extensor muscles. Conventional and functional balance ratios were similar among all age group, except for U13, which presented higher values than the U15 group for the dominant limb.Conclusions: The greatest improvement in muscular performance occur when the athlete starts practicing soccer (after U13) and when they become professional (after U17) and the balance ratios, and muscle balance ratios remain stable in all age groups, although they are below the recommended level in the literature, which may increase the risk for lower limb injury.

Desenvolvimento e análises físico-químicas de néctares adicionados de gengibre e guaraná / Development and physical-chemical analysis of additional nectares of gengibre and guaraná

Uma opção de consumo de alimentos funcionais é a associação destes a uma bebida, fácil de consumir, unindo a dieta e a saúde. O objetivo deste estudo foi elaborar uma pesquisa de mercado e o desenvolvimento de uma bebida a base de frutas, acrescido de gengibre e guaraná em pó, a ser consumida em pré-treino. Foi realizada a pesquisa de mercado através de abordagem quantitativa (143 consumidores). Preparou-se 03 formulações, sabores morango, limão e abacaxi, com adição de guaraná em pó e gengibre e avaliou-se os valores de pH, ºBrix e ATT(%), SST/ATT (Ratio). Concluiu-se que o efeito do gengibre em pré-treino não é de conhecimento dos consumidores. A formulação de limão obteve maior SST e SST/ATT, porém menor pH, em comparação às demais formulações, morango e abacaxi, apesar de todas não diferirem, entre si, nos teores de ATT (%).

Profiling the Isokinetic Muscle Strength of Athletes Involved in Sports Characterized by Constantly Varied Functional Movements Performed at High Intensity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Constantly varied functional movements performed at high intensity (FMHI) is a type of strength and general conditioning program that has gained widespread popularity in recent years. The very intense exercises performed with lower and upper limbs may create muscular asymmetry or imbalance between agonist and antagonist muscles, and therefore the characterization of isokinetic muscle strength, side-to-side difference, and balance ratios for lower and upper limbs may contribute to a better understanding of the modality characteristics. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knee and shoulder strength of FMHI athletes of both sexes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Exercise physiology laboratory. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty FMHI athletes (30 M/30 W) with more than 2 years' experience. METHODS: Athletes performed isokinetic tests in both lower and upper limbs: concentrically at 60°/s and 240°/s and eccentrically at 240°/s. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Isokinetic peak torque of knee flexor and extensor and shoulder internal and external rotator muscles. Conventional and functional strength balance ratios and side-to-side strength difference. RESULTS: Concentric peak torque values relative to total body mass for shoulder and knee joints were higher in men than women on both sides. Eccentric peak torque values for knee flexor-dominant and extensor-nondominant limbs showed no difference between the sexes. The knee conventional strength balance ratio for dominant and nondominant sides in women (51.5% ± 7.0% and 51.0% ± 7.1%, respectively) and for dominant and nondominant sides in men (54.4% ± 15.2% and 51.5% ± 9.9%, respectively) were no different between the sexes or limbs. The shoulder conventional strength balance ratio was higher in women (78.1 ± 13.2%) than in men (67.6% ± 10.9%) on the nondominant side. Knee and shoulder functional strength balance ratios in nondominant limbs were higher for women than men. Both sexes presented no side-to-side difference for knee joints or muscles, or for shoulder IR muscles, but ER was stronger in dominant limbs. CONCLUSIONS: These data from highly trained FMHI athletes can be compared to that of other athletes to help determine individual weaknesses, strengths, and imbalances, and may be useful for designing training programs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.