ABSTRACT
AIM: To determine the relationship between proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDRP) and plasma coenzyme Q10(CoQ10) concentration. METHODS: Patients with type 2 diabetes and PDRP were determined to be the case group (n=50). The control group was consist of healthy individuals (n=50). Plasma CoQ10 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in both groups. RESULTS: Ubiquinone-10 (Coenzyme Q10) levels in PDRP and control subjects are 3.81±1.19µmol/L and 1.91±0.62µmol/L, respectively. Plasma MDA levels in PDRP and control subjects were 8.16±2µmol/L and 3.44±2.08µmol/L, respectively. Ratio of Ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 in PDRP and control subjects were 0.26±0.16 and 1.41±0.68, respectively. CONCLUSION: The ratio of ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 is found lower in patients with PDRP. High levels of plasma ubiquinol-10/ubiquinone-10 ratio indicate the protective effect on diabetic retinopathy.
ABSTRACT
Regular aerobic exercise improves aerobic capacity and increases brain blood flow and oxygenation. Exercise also stimulates the reticular activating system and leads to a centrally excited state thereby makes the brain active and alert. In the present study, an aerobic exercise program consisting of submaximal level calisthenic exercises was devised for relatively healthy women between 60 and 80 years old, attending a solidarity center for the aged for daily activities. The effects of exercise on aerobic fitness, and the correlations between aerobic capacities, pulmonary functions and cognition were evaluated. Following a general health examination, 45 female volunteers fulfilling the international criteria of exercising standards for the aged were included in the program. The rhythmic and entertaining calisthenic exercises were performed by the older women for four months, three days a week, 40 or 50 minutes a day. Tests for aerobic capacities, pulmonary functions, and some neuropsychologic performances were carried out during the sedentary period and after the exercise program. The results revealed significant improvements in aerobic capacity, pulmonary functions, and some of the cognitive functions after the 4-month exercise program. We found strong relationships between aerobic capacities and cognitive functioning. Overall, the subjects expressed their happiness and well being on every occasion, during and after the exercise program.
Subject(s)
Cognition/physiology , Exercise/physiology , Gymnastics/physiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Body Composition , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neuropsychological Tests , Oxygen Consumption/physiology , Respiratory Function TestsABSTRACT
Antecedentes En los países desarrollados, con la introducción del tratamiento antirretroviral de gran actividad (TARGA), la supervivencia y la calidad de vida de los niños infectados por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) ha mejorado de manera espectacular. Sin embargo, empiezan a observarse en estos pacientes algunas alteraciones metabólicas y óseas que son preocupantes. Objetivo Evaluar la prevalencia de alteraciones en la mineralización ósea y los posibles factores asociados en una cohorte de niños infectados por el VIH y que reciben TARGA. Pacientes y métodos Se ha realizado una densitometría ósea (DEXA) a 50 niños con infección por VIH de un hospital terciario de Madrid tras una media de 54 meses con TARGA. Posteriormente se ha comparado el grupo con disminución en la mineralización ósea con el que no tiene disminución. Resultados Un 40 por ciento de los niños presentaban disminución en la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) de los cuales un 36 por ciento correspondía a osteopenia (18/50) y un 4 por ciento a osteoporosis (2/50). Al comparar el grupo con disminución en la densidad mineral ósea con el que no tiene disminución no se han encontrado diferencias estadísticamente significativas en ninguno de los factores estudiados. Conclusiones Existe una elevada prevalencia de disminución en la DMO en nuestra cohorte de niños con infección VIH en TARGA. Todavía se conoce poco la etiología y los factores asociados de esta afectación (AU)
Subject(s)
Child, Preschool , Male , Humans , Female , Child , HIV Infections , Surveys and Questionnaires , Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active , Cross-Sectional Studies , Bone DensityABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In developed countries, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has greatly improved survival and quality of life in HIV-infected children. Nevertheless, worrisome metabolic and bone alterations are beginning to be observed. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of alterations in bone mineral density and possible associated factors in a cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Bone dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed in 50 HIV-infected children in a tertiary hospital in Madrid after a median length of HAART of 54 months. Subsequently, the group with bone mineral loss was compared with the group without bone mineral loss. RESULTS: Forty percent of the children studied had decreased bone mineral density, of which 36 % had osteopenia (18/50) and 4 % had osteoporosis (2/50). No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in any of the factors analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of decreased bone mineral density in our cohort of HIV-infected children receiving HAART is high. The etiology and factors associated with this alteration are still not well known.
Subject(s)
Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active/adverse effects , Bone Density/drug effects , HIV Infections/drug therapy , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of moderate aerobic exercise on migraine headache, to assess exercise-related changes in blood nitric oxide (NO) levels, and to examine the impact of such changes on migraine attacks. DESIGN: Controlled clinical trial. SETTING: School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation. SUBJECTS: Forty women with general migraine attending the Neurology Department of the Faculty of Medicine Faculty of Dokuz Eylül University. INTERVENTION: Patients were assigned alternately into two groups: exercise group undertaking 1 hour aerobic exercise three times weekly, and a control group. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients were assessed before and after treatment using three clinical scales--visual analogue scale for headache, Pain Disability Index and Quality of Life Scale--and chemiluminescence analysis for plasma nitric oxide. RESULTS: After the eight-week therapy period, patient complaints concerning the intensity, frequency and duration of pain had decreased significantly in both groups; however, visual analogue scale scoring showed better pain relief in the exercised group than in the controls (from 8.8 +/- 1.7 to 4.0 +/- 1.4 and from 8.5 +/- 0.8 to 7.0 +/- 0.9 respectively). Quality of life measures also revealed better migraine relief in the exercised women than in those who received medical treatment only. Blood NO rose significantly from pre- to post-therapy in the exercised group, but the change was not significant in the control group. CONCLUSION: The study showed that regular long-term aerobic exercise reduced migraine pain severity, frequency and duration possibly due to increased nitric oxide production.
