Transcranial direct current stimulation as a strategy to manage COVID-19 pain and fatigue.

The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has infected millions of people worldwide and generated many sequels in the survivors, such as muscular pain and fatigue. These symptoms have been treated through pharmacological approaches; however, infected people keep presenting physical limitations. Besides, the COVID-19 damage to the central nervous system has also been related to the presence of some physical impairment, so strategies that focus on diverse brain areas should be encouraged. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a non-pharmacological tool that could be associated with pharmacological treatments to improve the central nervous system function and decrease the exacerbation of the immune system response. tDCS targeting pain and fatigue-related areas could provide an increase in neuroplasticity and enhancements in physical functions. Moreover, it can be used in infirmaries and clinical centers to treat COVID-19 patients.

Influence of menopause on body fat induced by aerobic training

AIMS :to compare the influence of menopause on body fat, induced by a physical training program. METHODS: Twenty-one sedentary women, 10 postmenopausal (MN; 54.6 ± 5.1 years, 42.9 ± 4.1 % body fat) and 11 in the ovulatory state (OS; 35.1 ± 5.4 years, 44.1 ± 5.5 % body fat), performed a training program with aerobic exercise (12 weeks, five times / week, 60 minutes per session). Before and after this program, the following measurements were taken: sum of skin fold (∑D), body fat percentage (%F), waist-hip ratio (WHR) and abdominal circumference (AC). RESULTS: MN and OS significantly reduced ΣD (38.5 ± 25.1 mm and 27.7 ± 19.4 mm, respectively), but without differences between the groups. MN group women obtained relative reduction in the suprailiac fold, significantly greater than OS (25 ± 10 vs. 11.5 ± 12 mm), and also a greater reduction in the %F (13.5 ± 8% vs. 6.6 ± 6%). There were very slight reductions in WHR in both groups (0.009 ± 0.02 and 0.005 ± 0.03 in MN and OS, respectively), as well as AC (reduction of 3.5 ± 3 cm and 3.9 ± 2.9 cm for MN and OS), with no differences between groups. CONCLUSION: The postmenopausal women responded to a training program with a greater reduction of body fat, but in only one of four evaluated body composition variables.(AU)

Whole Red Grape Juice Reduces Blood Pressure at Rest and Increases Post-exercise Hypotension.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of whole red grape juice (juice) on blood pressure (BP) at rest and on the magnitude of post-exercise hypotension (PEH). METHODS: This double-blind, randomized controlled study was performed with 26 individuals with hypertension (40 to 59 years old) who were divided into experimental (n = 14) and control (n = 12) groups. Subsequently, the experimental group was subdivided according to the initial BP values. The subjects performed 2 sessions of aerobic exercise on a treadmill (60 minutes, 60%-85% maximum heart rate), separated by a 28-day period of supplementation with a daily dose of juice (150 ml for men and 100 ml for women) or a control drink. BP was measured before, during, and immediately after each exercise session as well as every 10 minutes during the 60-minute post-exercise recovery period. RESULTS: The BP at rest did not change in the experimental group, but when this group was subdivided by initial BP, the subjects with controlled initial BP (EGCP) achieved a significant reduction (133.3 ± 5.6 to 114.6 ± 12.2 mmHg, p = 0.02); in contrast, the experimental group with borderline hypertensive BP values (EGBP) did not. Intervention with juice did not modify PEH in the experimental group, but when this group was divided as a function of the initial BP, PEH was potentiated at some times in EGCP. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that juice promotes a reduction in BP at rest and is also capable of improving PEH in individuals with hypertension, but these effects are dependent on the initial BP values.