Level of physical activity and sedentary behavior in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review.

Objective: The objective of the study was to examine already published evidence on the level of physical activity and sedentary behavior in children during and after treatment for cancer. And, thusly to verify if patients are following the recommendations of the World Health Organization, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and American College of Sports Medicine. Methods: The platforms for searches were EBSCO, Web of Science and PubMed. The keywords used were physical activity, sedentary behavior, children or adolescents with cancer. Results: Found 4572 articles. 16 satisfied the eligibility criteria. The most children of whom had a low level of physical activity and a high level of sedentary behavior. Conclusions: We conclude that this population showed an increase in sedentary behavior. And, it was also observed that does not have specific recommendations for this population. Already, the recommendations used for the healthy children and for chronic patients are not ideal for this population. Therefore, it is demonstrated that specific recommendations must be created for this population.

Validation of a Scale to Assess Patients' Comprehension of Frequently Used Cardiology Terminology: The Cardiac TERM Scale in Brazilian Portuguese.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to psychometrically validate the translation of a questionnaire on patient understanding of cardiology terminology (TERM) to Brazilian Portuguese. DESIGN: After piloting the translation and cross-cultural adaptation, the 16-item TERM questionnaire was psychometrically tested. METHODS: Internal and test-retest reliability, as well as validity, were assessed in 322 cardiac patients. FINDINGS: Internal (α = .88) and test-retest reliability (all weighted Kappa > 0.63) exceeded the minimum recommended standards. Criterion validity was supported by significant differences in mean scores by socioeconomic indicators (p < .01). Discriminant validity was supported in that cardiac rehabilitation participants had significantly higher TERM scores (p < .001). Participants did not correctly define any of the terms, and a floor effect was identified in all terms. CONCLUSIONS: The Cardiac TERM Scale was demonstrated to have good reliability and validity. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The scale can be used by healthcare professionals, such as nurses. Results can be used to inform patient education, which could in turn impact patient adherence to medical advice and hence outcomes.

Effects of N-acetylcysteine supplementation on cellular damage and oxidative stress indicators in volleyball athletes.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) supplementation on cellular damage and oxidative stress indicators in volleyball athletes. Twenty male volleyball athletes at national level performed a physical training session and were divided into 2 groups, which for 7 days took the placebo substance or NAC. After 7 days the athletes repeated the same training session. In both sessions, blood samples were collected 30 min before and immediately after the training session to measure cellular damage and oxidative stress markers. The main results show that, although higher concentrations of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were observed in post-session 1 than those in postsession 2, the other markers showed an increase in antioxidant action after supplementation of NAC, once the effect of experimental conditions (P=0.030) were observed in: time effect (P<0.001) and interaction (P=0.019) for total glutathione; time effect (P<0.001) and interaction (P<0.001) for reduced glutathione; and time effect (P<0.001) for ferric-reducing antioxidant potential. The oxidant action indicated by the protein carbonyl was higher in the placebo group than in the NAC group (P=0.028), but a time effect (P<0.001) for the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances showed lower values in presession 1 than in presession 2. For the cellular damage markers, antagonistic results between markers were found. Based in the results, the supplementation of NAC during a short period was effective in reducing oxidant action and increasing antioxidant action. However, conclusive alterations in the responses of the cellular damage markers were not obtained.

Detectable levels of eHSP72 in plasma are associated with physical activity and antioxidant enzyme activity levels in hypertensive subjects.

Previous studies reported that extracellular HSP72 (eHSP72) correlates with poor prognosis, markers of vascular dysfunction, and the severity of cardiovascular diseases, associated with a systemic oxidative and inflammatory profile. On the other hand, eHSP72 may represent immune-regulatory signaling that is related to exercise benefits, but the association between physical activity levels and eHSP72 levels is not established. Thus, since regular physical activity may avoid oxidative stress and inflammation, we investigate whether detectable levels of eHSP72 in plasma are associated with physical activity and antioxidant enzyme activity levels in hypertensive subjects. Physical activity levels of hypertensive subjects (n = 140) were measured by tri-axial movement sensor pedometer for 24 h during 5 consecutive days. One day after, blood was collected into heparinized tubes for oxidative stress analyses (catalase-CAT and superoxide dismutase-SOD activities and malondialdehyde levels) or in disodium EDTA tubes for eHSP72 assays. Thus, hypertensive subjects were classified as physically inactive (< 10,000 footsteps/day) or active (> than 10,000 footsteps/day) and according detectable or not detectable eHSP72 levels in plasma, performing the inactive/eHSP72-, active/eHSP72-, inactive/eHSP72+, and active/eHSP72+ groups. We found that detectable levels of eHSP72 in plasma were associated with physical activity levels and low oxidative stress profile (Higher CAT and SOD activities and low malondialdehyde levels). eHSP72 levels can be used as a biomarker of the amount of physical activity necessary to improve antioxidant defense and thus cardiovascular health in hypertensive subjects.

Validation of a Portuguese version of the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation (INCR) scale in Brazil.

OBJECTIVES: To translate, culturally adapt and psychometrically validate the Information Needs in Cardiac Rehabilitation (INCR) tool to Portuguese. BACKGROUND: The identification of information needs is considered the first step to improve knowledge that ultimately could improve health outcomes. METHODS: The Portuguese version generated was tested in 300 cardiac rehabilitation patients (CR) (34% women; mean age = 61.3 ± 2.1 years old). Test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha, and the criterion validity was assessed with regard to patients' education and duration in CR. RESULTS: All 9 subscales were considered internally consistent (á > 0.7). Significant differences between mean total needs and educational level (p < 0.05) and duration in CR (p = 0.03) supported criterion validity. The overall mean (4.6 ± 0.4), as well as the means of the 9 subscales were high (emergency/safety was the greatest need). CONCLUSION: The Portuguese INCR was demonstrated to have sufficient reliability, consistency and validity.

Perceptions of barriers to cardiac rehabilitation use in Brazil.

UNLABELLED: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of mortality in middle-income countries, such as Brazil. However, given the diversity in health care systems in Brazil, access to proven services, such as cardiac rehabilitation (CR), varies widely. PURPOSE: To describe and compare multilevel barriers to CR enrollment and participation in three Brazilian cohorts: (1) cardiac outpatients not attending CR (public or private system); (2) cardiac outpatients paying for CR; and (3) residents at high-risk of CVD with access to a free comprehensive exercise program but not making use of the program. METHODS: Brazilian residents from two cities were invited to participate - Florianopolis, an urban center; and Luzerna, a rural center. Respondents completed a survey including the Cardiac Rehabilitation Barriers Scale. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare barriers between cohorts cross-sectionally. RESULTS: Six hundred twenty-eight Brazilians consented to participate: 237 (37.7%) from Florianopolis, of which 139 (22.1%) participated in CR; and 391 (62.3%) from Luzerna. The mean total CR barriers for the sample were 1.66 ± 0.6 and differed significantly by cohort (P < 0.001). CR nonattendees from Florianopolis (eg, distance and not knowing about CR) and participants from Luzerna (eg, work and family responsibilities) reported significantly higher barriers than CR attendees from Florianopolis. CONCLUSION: CR nonattendees reported significantly greater barriers than CR attendees. It is hoped that the provision of CR will increase, and that the development of the programs will be in a manner which mitigates the chief barriers identified herein.