Neuronutrients and Central Nervous System: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: The brain is the most complex organ in the human body, with a high and constant demand for inputs. Adequate nutrition is essential for the complete functioning of the brain, not only due to the energy supply, mainly from carbohydrates, but also due to the adequate supply of other macronutrients and micronutrients for the synthesis of neurotransmitters and protein components. Vitamins, minerals, and other components of the diet also constitute the so-called "neuro-nutrients". OBJECTIVE: It was to develop a systematic review to highlight key neuro-nutrients and clinical studies that direct strategies for adequate nutritional status. METHODS: The rules of the Systematic Review-PRISMA Platform were followed. The research was carried out from October 2021 to February 2022 and developed based on Scopus, PubMed, Science Direct, Scielo, and Google Scholar. The quality of the studies was based on the GRADE instrument and the risk of bias was analyzed according to the Cochrane instrument. RESULTS: A total of 234 articles were found and 167 articles were evaluated in full, and 118 were included and evaluated in the present study. According to the GRADE instrument, most studies (>50%) followed a controlled clinical study model and had a good methodological design. The overall assessment resulted in 54 studies with a high risk of bias to the small sample size. The most important macronutrients in neuro-nutrition are phosphatidylserine and tryptophan. Micronutrients are methyl folate, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, arginine, choline, and niacin. CONCLUSION: The areas of neurology and psychiatry have shown great advances regarding the deepening of knowledge in prophylaxis and pathophysiology, as well as in the treatment of established diseases. The recognition of the role of nutrition as an adjunct to these processes is currently growing. The search in scientific bases for neuro nutrients reveals a great growth of publications related to this theme. In the present text, some of these nutrients were explored to verify the current state of knowledge.

Can physical activity levels and relationships with energy expenditure change the clinical aspects of sarcopenia and perceptions of falls among elderly women? Observational cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is an effective strategy for managing sarcopenia in the elderly, but few studies have addressed PA levels regarding age-related changes. OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the effects of elderly women's PA levels on sarcopenia, physical performance, handgrip strength and perception of the risk of falling, and their relationship with energy expenditure. DESIGN AND SETTING: Observational cross-sectional study conducted in the southern region of the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Forty-seven elderly women were evaluated and divided into three groups: low PA (n = 13); moderate PA (n = 16); and high PA (n = 18). Their PA levels were investigated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ); sarcopenia index, through dual-energy radiological absorptiometry; physical performance through the Timed Up & Go test; handgrip strength, using a digital dynamometer; and perception of the risk of falling, through the Fall Risk Awareness Questionnaire. RESULTS: High PA level indicated higher skeletal muscle mass index, physical performance and IPAQ score, compared with low and moderate PA levels. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher IPAQ energy expenditure at high and moderate PA levels was a good predictor of higher physical performance and increased perception of the risk of falling. CONCLUSION: Elderly women classified as having high PA level showed improvements in sarcopenia, handgrip strength, physical performance and perception of the risk of falling. The IPAQ energy expenditure of the elderly women with high and moderate PA levels was a good predictor of physical performance and improved perception of the risk of falling.

Otimizaçäo do emprego de recursos econômicos para vacinaçäo contra hepatite B em profissionais da área de saúde / Application optimizing of economic resources to be allocated for hepatitis B vaccination programs involvinh health care workers

In order to optimize the employment of financial resources to be allocated for hepatitis B vaccination programs involving health care workers, two different aspects were studied: the need of a pre-vaccination screening and the efficacy of low-doses schedules of HBV vaccine by the intradermal (ID) route. The economical analysis (a cost-minimization study) showed that when the prevalence of immune individuals is higher than 11 per cent it is more cost-effective to perform pre-vaccination screening. This situation was observed in the employees group. For students and doctors vaccination without screening was the best approach. Regarding the schedules, 3 doses of HBV vaccine by the intramuscular (IM) route (group A) were compared to first dose by the ID route and second and third doses by the IM route (group B) and to first and second doses by the ID route and the last dose by the IM route (group C). After the third dose, soroconversion rates in groups A and B (92 per cent and 93 per cent, respectively) and geometric mean titers of antiHBs (1278 UI/L and 789.6 UI/L) were similar, and both were different from group A (p < 0.05), showing that alternative vaccination schedules may be cost-effective.

Avaliaçäo da resposta imunológica à vacina contra hepatite B em profissionais da área de saúde / Evaluation of the immunological response to hepatitis B vaccine in health care professionals

A infecçäo pelo virus da hepatite B (VHB) assume grande importância epidemiológica em todo o mundo, especialmente no Brasil, onde determinados grupos de risco apresentam alta prevalência da infecçäo. Dentre estes, destacam-se os profissionais da área da saúde, grupo ao qual devem ser dirigidas medidas profiláticas contra a infeçäo, basicamente através do emprego da vacina contra hepatite B. Com o objetivo de avaliar a resposta à vacina em profissionais da área de saúde, foram estudados 86 indivíduos, que foram vacinados contra hepatite B com três doses de 20 microgramas da vacina H-B-Vax (Merck, Sharp & Dohme), aplicadas aos 0,30 e 180 dias por via intramuscular, no músculo deltóide. Através da análise dos resultados, pudemos observar que homens apresentaram menor resposta à primeira dose de vacina e tendência à obtençäo de títulos médios geométricos inferiores, quando comparados ás mulheres. Estes mesmos achados foram observados quando comparamos fumantes e näo fumantes. Em relaçäo aos grupos etários estudados (indivíduos com menos de 35 anos e com 35 ou mais anos), näo se observou diferença estatisticamente significante na resposta à vacina