Promotion of physical activity after hospitalization for COPD exacerbation: A randomized control trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Physical activity worsens during exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and notably after hospitalizations. Pedometer-based interventions are useful to increase physical activity in stable patients with COPD. However, there is little information concerning the implementation of such programs following severe exacerbation. This study assessed the efficacy of a physical activity program after hospitalization for a COPD exacerbation. METHODS: We performed a prospective, 12-week, parallel group, assessor-blinded, randomized control trial in COPD patients hospitalized for an exacerbation. After discharge, physical activity and other secondary variables were assessed. Patients were allocated (1:1) to a physical activity promotion program (intervention group, IG) or usual care (control group, CG). Based on a motivational interview and accelerometer physical activity assessment, a patient-tailored, pedometer-based, progressive and target-driven program was designed. Linear mixed effect models were used to analyse between-group differences. RESULTS: Forty-six out of 61 patients recruited were randomized and 43 (IG = 20, CG = 23) completed the study. In-hospital and baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. After 12 weeks of intervention, the mean steps difference between groups was 2093 steps/day, p = 0.018, 95% CI 376-4012, favouring the IG. Only the IG significantly increased the number of steps/day compared to baseline (mean difference [95% CI] 2932 [1069-4795] steps; p = 0.004). There were no other between-group differences. CONCLUSION: After hospitalization for a COPD exacerbation, a patient-tailored physical activity program based on a motivational interview and the use of pedometers, with progressive and customized targets, improved the number of steps/day.

Relações entre a obesidade na infância e adolescência e a percepção de práticas de alimentação e estilos educativos parentais / Relationships between obesity in childhood and adolescence and the perception of feeding practices and parenting education styles

Este estudo visou compreender as relações entre o sobrepeso e a obesidade de crianças e adoles¬centes, com os estilos parentais e as práticas de alimentação infantil percebidos. Participaram da pesquisa 139 crianças, de 5ª e 6ª série, que responderam às escalas de verificação das práticas de alimentação infantil (MUSHER-EIZENMAN & HOLUB, 2007) e de exigência e responsividade (LAMBORN, MOUNTS, STEINBERG & DORNBUSCH 1991). Foram verificados o peso e a altura das crianças para o cálculo do índice de massa corporal, e os resultados indicaram que crianças com peso dentro da normalidade tenderam a perceber seu pai com estilo autoritativo e sua mãe com estilo negligente ou autoritativo. Tanto pais quanto mães autoritativos são os que apresen¬tam melhores escores na escala de práticas de alimentação com seus filhos. Assim, conclui-se que a obesidade está ligada ao modo que os pais educam e alimentam os seus filhos.(AU)

This study aimed to understand the relationship between overweight and obesity in children and adolescents and the perceived parenting styles and infant feeding practices. A sample of 139 children in 5th and 6th grades responded to the Scale of Verification of Infant Feeding Practices (MUSHER-EIZENMAN & HOLUB, 2007) and the Scales of Demand and Responsiveness (LAMBORN, MOUNTS, STEINBERG, & DORNBUSCH, 1991). The weight and height of the children were measured in order to calculate their body mass index, and the results indicated that children with normal weight tended to perceive their fathers fathers’ authoritative and their mothers’ neglectful and authoritative styles. Both authoritative fathers and mothers presented the best scores regarding to the feeding practice scale. Thus, it may be concluded that parenting styles and feeding practices are related to child obesity.(AU)

Necrophagous beetles associated with carcasses in a semi-arid environment in northeastern Brazil: implications for forensic entomology.

Data on the ecology and bionomics of necrophagous beetles are scarce in tropical countries despite their relevance in forensic investigations. We performed a survey on the diversity and temporal pattern of colonization of beetles on pig carcasses in a fragment of dry forest in northeastern Brazil. We collected 1550 adults of diverse feeding habits from 12 families, of which 96% had necrophagous and/or copro-necrophagous habits and belonged to four families: Dermestidae, Scarabaeidae, Cleridae and Trogidae. Three species, Dermestes maculatus, Necrobia rufipes and Omorgus suberosus are reported for the first time with an expanded geographical distribution that includes the semi-arid region in Brazil. Adult beetles were collected as early as 24h after death. One endemic species, Deltochilum verruciferum, stood out in terms of numerical dominance and temporal occurrence during different stages of decomposition. Its intimate association with carrion emphasizes their potential role in forensic entomology in the region.

Training depletes muscle glutathione in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and low body mass index.

BACKGROUND: A physiological increase in muscle glutathione after training is not seen in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), indicating abnormal peripheral muscle adaptations to exercise. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that oxidative stress is primarily associated with low body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Eleven patients with preserved BMI (BMI(N): 28.2 +/- 1.2 kg.m(-2)), 9 patients with low BMI (BMI(L): 19.7 +/- 0.60 kg.m(-2)) and 5 age-matched controls (26.5 +/- 0.9 kg.m(-2)) were studied before and after 8 weeks of high-intensity endurance training. Reduced glutathione (GSH) and gamma-glutamyl cysteine synthase heavy-subunit chain mRNA expression (gammaGCS-HS mRNA) were measured in the vastus lateralis. RESULTS: After training, exercise capacity increased (DeltaVO(2)PEAK, 13 +/- 5.2%; 10 +/- 5.6% and 15 +/- 4.3% in BMI(L), BMI(N) and controls, respectively; p < 0.05 each). GSH levels decreased in BMI(L) (from 5.2 +/- 0.7 to 3.7 +/- 0.8 nmol/mg protein, DeltaGSH -1.5 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein, p < 0.05); no changes were seen in BMI(N) (from 5.4 +/- 0.7 to 6.7 +/- 0.9 nmol/mg protein, DeltaGSH 1.3 +/- 0.9 nmol/mg protein), whereas GSH markedly increased in controls (from 4.6 +/- 1 to 8.7 +/- 0.4 nmol/mg protein, DeltaGSH 4.1 +/- 1 nmol/mg protein, p < 0.01). DeltaGSH in BMI(L) was different from DeltaGSH in BMI(N) and controls (p < 0.05, each). Consistent changes were observed in gammaGCS-HS mRNA expression. CONCLUSIONS: GSH depletion after training in BMI(L) may suggest that oxidative stress plays a key role in muscle wasting in COPD patients.