ABSTRACT
Human physical performance is a complex multifactorial trait. Historically, environmental factors (e.g., diet, training) alone have been unable to explain the basis of all prominent phenotypes for physical performance. Therefore, there has been an interest in the study of the contribution of genetic factors to the development of these phenotypes. Support for a genetic component is found with studies that shown that monozygotic twins were more similar than were dizygotic twins for many physiological traits. The evolution of molecular techniques and the ability to scan the entire human genome enabled association of several genetic polymorphisms with performance. However, some biases related to the selection of cohorts and inadequate definition of the study variables have complicated the already difficult task of studying such a large and polymorphic genome, often resulting in inconsistent results about the influence of candidate genes. This review aims to provide a critical overview of heritable genetic aspects. Novel molecular technologies, such as next-generation sequencing, are discussed and how they can contribute to improving understanding of the molecular basis for athletic performance. It is important to ensure that the large amount of data that can be generated using these tools will be used effectively by ensuring well-designed studies.
Subject(s)
Athletic Performance/physiology , Physical Fitness , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , Epigenesis, Genetic , Ethnicity/genetics , Gene-Environment Interaction , Genes, Mitochondrial , Genotype , High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing , Humans , Physical Fitness/psychologyABSTRACT
The effect of physical exercise on the treatment of depressive elderly adults has not been investigated thus far in terms of changes in cortical hemispheric activity. The objective of the present study was to identify changes in depressive symptoms, quality of life, and cortical asymmetry produced by aerobic activity. Elderly subjects with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (DSM-IV) were included. Twenty patients (70 percent females, 71 ± 3 years) were divided into an exercise group (pharmacological treatment plus aerobic training) and a control group (undergoing pharmacological treatment) in a quasi-experimental design. Pharmacological treatment was maintained stable throughout the study (antidepressants and anxiolytics). Subjects were evaluated by depression scales (Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) and the Short Form Health Survey-36, and electroencephalographic measurements (frontal and parietal alpha asymmetry) before and after 1 year of treatment. After 1 year, the control group showed a decrease in cortical activity on the right hemisphere (increase of alpha power), which was not observed in the exercise group. The exercise group showed a significant decrease of depressive symptoms, which was not observed in the control group. This result was also accompanied by improved treatment response and remission rate after 1 year of aerobic exercise associated with treatment. This study provides support for the effect of aerobic training on alpha activity and on depressive symptoms in elderly patients. Exercise facilitates the treatment of depressive elderly adults, leading to clinical and physical improvement and protecting against a decrease in cortical activity.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Alpha Rhythm , Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy , Exercise Therapy/methods , Quality of Life , Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Electroencephalography , Follow-Up Studies , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
The effect of physical exercise on the treatment of depressive elderly adults has not been investigated thus far in terms of changes in cortical hemispheric activity. The objective of the present study was to identify changes in depressive symptoms, quality of life, and cortical asymmetry produced by aerobic activity. Elderly subjects with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder (DSM-IV) were included. Twenty patients (70% females, 71 +/- 3 years) were divided into an exercise group (pharmacological treatment plus aerobic training) and a control group (undergoing pharmacological treatment) in a quasi-experimental design. Pharmacological treatment was maintained stable throughout the study (antidepressants and anxiolytics). Subjects were evaluated by depression scales (Beck Depression Inventory, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale) and the Short Form Health Survey-36, and electroencephalographic measurements (frontal and parietal alpha asymmetry) before and after 1 year of treatment. After 1 year, the control group showed a decrease in cortical activity on the right hemisphere (increase of alpha power), which was not observed in the exercise group. The exercise group showed a significant decrease of depressive symptoms, which was not observed in the control group. This result was also accompanied by improved treatment response and remission rate after 1 year of aerobic exercise associated with treatment. This study provides support for the effect of aerobic training on alpha activity and on depressive symptoms in elderly patients. Exercise facilitates the treatment of depressive elderly adults, leading to clinical and physical improvement and protecting against a decrease in cortical activity.
Subject(s)
Alpha Rhythm , Depressive Disorder, Major/therapy , Exercise Therapy/methods , Quality of Life , Aged , Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Depressive Disorder, Major/psychology , Electroencephalography , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatric Status Rating ScalesABSTRACT
Caffeine is the most consumed psychoactive substance in the world. The effects of caffeine have been studied using cognitive and motor measures, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and event-related potentials. However, these methods are not usually employed in combination, a fact that impairs the interpretation of the results. The objective of the present study was to analyze changes in electrophysiological, cognitive and motor variables with the ingestion of caffeine, and to relate central to peripheral responses. For this purpose we recorded event-related potentials and eyes-closed, resting EEG, applied the Stroop test, and measured reaction time. Fifteen volunteers took caffeine (400 mg) or placebo in a randomized, crossover, double-blind design. A significant reduction of alpha absolute power over the entire scalp and of P300 latency at the Fz electrode were observed after caffeine ingestion. These results are consistent with a stimulatory effect of caffeine, although there was no change in the attention (Stroop) test or in reaction time. The qEEG seems to be the most sensitive index of the changes produced by caffeine in the central nervous system since it proved to be capable of detecting changes that were not evident in the tests of cognitive or motor performance.
Subject(s)
Caffeine/pharmacology , Central Nervous System Stimulants/pharmacology , Central Nervous System/drug effects , Cognition/drug effects , Electroencephalography/drug effects , Psychomotor Performance/drug effects , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Electrophysiology , Event-Related Potentials, P300/drug effects , Female , Humans , Male , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
Caffeine is the most consumed psychoactive substance in the world. The effects of caffeine have been studied using cognitive and motor measures, quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) and event-related potentials. However, these methods are not usually employed in combination, a fact that impairs the interpretation of the results. The objective of the present study was to analyze changes in electrophysiological, cognitive and motor variables with the ingestion of caffeine, and to relate central to peripheral responses. For this purpose we recorded event-related potentials and eyes-closed, resting EEG, applied the Stroop test, and measured reaction time. Fifteen volunteers took caffeine (400 mg) or placebo in a randomized, crossover, double-blind design. A significant reduction of alpha absolute power over the entire scalp and of P300 latency at the Fz electrode were observed after caffeine ingestion. These results are consistent with a stimulatory effect of caffeine, although there was no change in the attention (Stroop) test or in reaction time. The qEEG seems to be the most sensitive index of the changes produced by caffeine in the central nervous system since it proved to be capable of detecting changes that were not evident in the tests of cognitive or motor performance.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Caffeine/pharmacology , Central Nervous System Stimulants/pharmacology , Central Nervous System/drug effects , Cognition/drug effects , Electroencephalography/drug effects , Psychomotor Performance/drug effects , Analysis of Variance , Cross-Over Studies , Double-Blind Method , Electrophysiology , /drug effects , Reaction TimeABSTRACT
The case of a 5 years old child with association of "moyamoya" and Down syndrome with permeability of internal carotid, of medial and anterior cerebral arteries is reported. The authors postulate the possibility of a microcirculatory disorder in view of the distal lesion including the action of any distribution of the alterations.
Subject(s)
Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications , Cerebrovascular Disorders/complications , Down Syndrome/complications , Moyamoya Disease/complications , Carotid Arteries/diagnostic imaging , Cerebral Angiography , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Moyamoya Disease/diagnostic imaging , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
Registro de um caso que pode ser o segundo na literatura mundial de associacao de moyamoya com sindrome de Down, caracterizando-se pela permeabilidade das arterias carotidas internas, cerebrais medias e anteriores. O comprometimento da circulacao distal poderia levantar a possibilidade de uma alteracao da microcirculacao capilar e, inclusive, da acao de alguma substancia nao determinada, fatores que poderiam explicar a localizacao e bilateralidade das lesoes
Subject(s)
Down Syndrome , Moyamoya DiseaseABSTRACT
The case of a 5 years old child with association of "moyamoya" and Down syndrome with permeability of internal carotid, of medial and anterior cerebral arteries is reported. The authors postulate the possibility of a microcirculatory disorder in view of the distal lesion including the action of any unknown substance which constrictive action could explain the bilaterality and distribution of the alterations.
Subject(s)
Arterial Occlusive Diseases/complications , Down Syndrome/complications , Moyamoya Disease/complications , Arteriovenous Anastomosis/pathology , Cerebral Angiography , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Moyamoya Disease/diagnostic imaging , Temporal Arteries/pathology , Tomography, X-Ray ComputedABSTRACT
A case of schistosomiasis is described in a native of Rio de Janeiro, where, apart from infection of the intestines, a meningitic granulomatous reaction was provoked around eggs. Intracerebral and subsequently subarachnoid hemorrhage occurred. The mode of infection is disucssed.
