Influences of balance training on motor coordination in aerobics students / Influências do treinamento do equilíbrio na coordenação motora dos estudantes de aeróbica / Influencia del entrenamiento del equilibrio en la coordinación motora de estudiantes de aeróbic

ABSTRACT Introduction: The standardization of body movements is essential for aerobics gymnastic practitioners and motor coordination for the execution of consecutive movements of large amplitudes is strongly related to balance ability. Therefore, it is believed that balance training can positively impact motor coordination in aerobics students Objective: Explore the influences of balance training on motor coordination in aerobics students. Methods: 100 volunteers were selected as aerobics students, divided into an experimental and a control group for a 6-week experiment. The experimental group was given a balance training protocol, while the control group maintained the traditional teaching protocol. Data on functional exercises and fitness indices were collected before and after the experiment for comparison and analysis. Results: The difference in the exercise in the unipodal orthostatic position with eyes closed was 6.45, the difference in the balance test in the swallow position was 4.04, the difference in the later-forward Y balance exercise was 1.88, the later-posterior was 2.09, and posterior Y balance was 2.53. The difference between all items in the control group was small, especially the three items of frontal, lateral, posterior, and mid-posterior Y balance. Conclusion: Balance training positively affected the motor coordination of aerobics students, resulting in a statistically significant increase in all analyzed postural balance indexes. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A padronização dos movimentos corporais é essencial para os praticantes de ginástica aeróbica e a coordenação motora para a execução de movimentos consecutivos de grandes amplitudes está fortemente relacionada à capacidade de equilíbrio. Acredita-se, por isso, que o treino de equilíbrio possa impactar positivamente a coordenação motora dos estudantes de aeróbica Objetivo: Explorar as influências do treinamento de equilíbrio na coordenação motora dos estudantes de aeróbica. Métodos: Foram selecionados 100 voluntários estudantes de aeróbica, divididos em grupo experimental e controle para um experimento de 6 semanas. Ao grupo experimental foi incrementado um protocolo de treinamento de equilíbrio, enquanto o grupo de controle manteve o protocolo de ensino tradicional. Os dados pertinentes aos exercícios funcionais e índices de aptidão física foram coletados antes e após o experimento para comparação e análise. Resultados: A diferença do exercício em posição ortostática unipodal de olhos fechados foi 6,45, a diferença no teste de equilíbrio em posição de andorinha foi 4,04, a diferença do exercício de equilíbrio latero-dianteiro em Y foi 1,88, latero-posterior foi 2,09, e posterior em Y foi 2,53. A diferença de todos os itens do grupo de controle foi pequena, especialmente os três itens de equilíbrio frontal, lateral, posterior e médio-posterior em Y. Conclusão: O treinamento de equilíbrio afetou positivamente a coordenação motora dos estudantes de aeróbica, resultando num incremento estatisticamente expressivo em todos os índices de balanço postural analisados. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La estandarización de los movimientos corporales es esencial para los practicantes de gimnastica aeróbic y la coordinación motora para la ejecución de movimientos consecutivos de gran amplitud está fuertemente relacionada con la capacidad de equilibrio. Por lo tanto, se cree que el entrenamiento del equilibrio puede influir positivamente en la coordinación motora de los estudiantes de aeróbic Objetivo: Explorar las influencias del entrenamiento del equilibrio en la coordinación motora de los estudiantes de aeróbic. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 100 voluntarios estudiantes de aeróbic, divididos en un grupo experimental y un grupo de control para un experimento de 6 semanas. Al grupo experimental se le incrementó un protocolo de entrenamiento del equilibrio, mientras que el grupo de control mantuvo el protocolo de enseñanza tradicional. Se recogieron datos relativos a ejercicios funcionales e índices de aptitud física antes y después del experimento para su comparación y análisis. Resultados: La diferencia en el ejercicio en posición ortostática unipodal con ojos cerrados fue de 6,45, la diferencia en la prueba de equilibrio en posición de deglución fue de 4,04, la diferencia en el ejercicio de equilibrio latero-direccional en Y fue de 1,88, latero-posterior fue de 2,09, y posterior en Y fue de 2,53. La diferencia de todos los ítems en el grupo de control fue pequeña, especialmente los tres ítems de equilibrio frontal, lateral, posterior y medio-posterior en Y. Conclusión: El entrenamiento en equilibrio afectó positivamente a la coordinación motora de los estudiantes de aeróbic, resultando en un incremento estadísticamente expresivo en todos los índices de equilibrio postural analizados. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

Influences of pnf stretching on physical fitness in aerobic athletes / Influências do alongamento pnf na aptidão física em atletas de aeróbica / Influencias del estiramiento pnf sobre la aptitud física en atletas aeróbicos

ABSTRACT Introduction: The quality of flexibility greatly impacts the performance of aerobics athletes. It is believed that stretching by proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) can contribute to this aspect by maximizing active joint range motion. Objective: Explore the influences of PNF stretching on the physical fitness of aerobics athletes. Methods: 24 professional aerobics athletes were selected, and randomly distributed into two groups with no statistical discrepancies in physical indices. PNF stretching exercise was performed on aerobics athletes in the experimental group, while no training intervention was performed in the control group. Physical fitness was assessed before and after the nine weeks of the intervention. Results: After PNF stretching training, the lower limb vertical score in the experimental group was from 6.58±0.19 to 8.20±0.47, and the transverse pronation score changed from 5.95±0.35 to 7.09±0.61. The vertical score in the control group was from 6.44±59.89 to 6.83±0.37 after the experiment; the transverse pronation penetration score was from 5.78±0.37 to 6.58±0.33. Conclusion: PNF stretching can effectively improve athletes' physical fitness, both statically and dynamically, generating gains in range of motion and providing favorable conditioning for overall competitive performance. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment outcomes.

RESUMO Introdução: A qualidade da flexibilidade tem um grande impacto sobre o desempenho dos atletas de aeróbica, e acredita-se que o alongamento por facilitação neuromuscular proprioceptiva (PNF) possa contribuir neste quesito com a maximização da amplitude de movimento articular ativa. Objetivo: Explorar as influências do alongamento PNF sobre a aptidão física dos atletas de aeróbica. Métodos: Foram selecionadas 24 atletas profissionais de aeróbica, aleatoriamente distribuídas em dois grupos sem discrepâncias estatísticas nos índices físicos. Foi realizado o exercício de alongamento PNF em atletas de aeróbica no grupo experimental, enquanto nenhuma intervenção de treinamento foi realizada no grupo de controle. A aptidão física foi avaliada antes e após as nove semanas da intervenção. Resultados: Após o treinamento de alongamento PNF, a pontuação de membros inferiores vertical no grupo experimental foi de 6,58±0,19 para 8,20±0,47, e a pontuação da pronação transversal mudou de 5,95±0,35 para 7,09±0,61. A pontuação vertical no grupo de controle foi de 6,44±59,89 para 6,83±0,37 depois do experimento; a pontuação da penetração transversal de pronação foi de 5,78±0,37 para 6,58±0,33. Conclusão: O alongamento PNF pode efetivamente melhorar a aptidão física das atletas, tanto estática quanto dinâmica, gerando ganhos à amplitude de movimento proporcionando um condicionamento favorável ao desempenho competitivo geral. Nível de evidência II; Estudos terapêuticos - investigação dos resultados do tratamento.

RESUMEN Introducción: La calidad de la flexibilidad tiene un gran impacto en el rendimiento de los atletas de aeróbic, y se cree que el estiramiento por facilitación neuromuscular propioceptiva (PNF) puede contribuir en esta cuestión con la maximización de la amplitud articular activa de movimiento. Objetivo: Explorar las influencias del estiramiento PNF en la condición física de atletas de aeróbic. Métodos: Fueron seleccionados 24 atletas profesionales de aeróbic, distribuidos aleatoriamente en dos grupos sin discrepancias estadísticas en los índices físicos. Se realizaron ejercicios de estiramiento PNF en los atletas de aeróbic del grupo experimental, mientras que en el grupo de control no se realizó ninguna intervención de entrenamiento. Se evaluó la aptitud física antes y después de las nueve semanas de intervención. Resultados: Tras el entrenamiento de estiramiento PNF, la puntuación vertical de las extremidades inferiores en el grupo experimental fue de 6,58±0,19 a 8,20±0,47, y la puntuación de pronación transversal cambió de 5,95±0,35 a 7,09±0,61. La puntuación vertical en el grupo de control fue de 6,44±59,89 a 6,83±0,37 después del experimento; la puntuación de penetración de pronación transversal fue de 5,78±0,37 a 6,58±0,33. Conclusión: El estiramiento PNF puede mejorar eficazmente la condición física de los atletas, tanto estática como dinámica, generando ganancias en el rango de movimiento y proporcionando un acondicionamiento favorable para el rendimiento competitivo general. Nivel de evidencia II; Estudios terapéuticos - investigación de los resultados del tratamiento.

An efficient method to simultaneously analyze multi-class organic pollutants in human serum.

The degree of population exposure to various organic pollutants (OPs), including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers, can be determined by measuring their concentrations in human serum. However, performing large-scale measurements with such a variety of compounds in serum is challenging in terms of efficiency and cost. We describe herein the development of a high-efficiency extraction and sample cleanup protocol for simultaneous and quantitative analyses of OPs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. OPs, together with crude lipid impurities, were extracted from human serum with a mixture of n-hexane and methyl tert-butyl ether. A disperse sorbent composed of primary secondary amine and C18 (PSA/C18) was used to roughly remove co-extracted impurities. A combined column of neutral silica gel and neutral alumina oxide (AlO/SiG) was then used for deep cleanup. For the removal of impurities, the overall performance of our protocol for the analysis of OPs in serum was comparable to that of traditional gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and dramatically better than that of PSA/C18, which is a frequently used QuEChERS (quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, safe) based method. While both the proposed protocol and GPC yielded recoveries of 80%-110% for four classes of OPs, our protocol consumed about 10 times less solvent, resulting in lower experimental expenses and a lower risk of contamination from residual OPs in the solvent and other supplies. In contrast to GPC, our protocol also permits efficient batch processing of serum samples, allowing for large sample sizes such as those encountered in epidemiological studies.

Pharmacokinetic study of rutin and quercetin in rats after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract

Mulberry leaves Flavones Pharmacokinetics Metabolites Rutin Quercetin Mulberry leaves, a traditional Chinese medicine, are effective in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Rutin and quercetin are the main components of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. To study the pharmacokinetics of rutin and quercetin in rat plasma and their metabolites in rat urine and feces after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract. At different timepoints after oral administration of total flavones of mulberry leaf extract in rats, plasma concentrations of rutin and quercetin were determined by RP-HPLC. The main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using 3P97 software. The metabolites in rat urine and feces were determined by using UPLCESI-QTOF/MS and estimated MetaboLynxTM software. The plasma concentration-time curves of rutin and quercetin both were best fitted with a two-compartment model. Rutin and quercetin were absorbed rapidly and then slowly decreased. Two prototype compounds and seven metabolites were identified. The pharmacokinetic and metabolic results may be useful for further studies of the bioactive mechanism of mulberry leaf flavones and potential development of a new TCM.

Identification and quantification of sesquiterpenes and polyacetylenes in Atractylodes lancea from various geographical origins using GC-MS analysis

A convenient and sensitive GC-MS method was developed to identify thirteen sesquiterpenes and polyacetylenes (e.g. caryophyllene, γ-elemene, α-caryophyllene, β-selinene, isoledene, germacrene B, elixene, atractylone, hinesol, β-eudesmol, atrctylodin, atractylenolide II and acetylatractylodinol) in Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC., Asteraceae. Among those compounds, four major components including atractylone, hinesol, β-eudesmol and atrctylodin were quantified with standards; contents of other components were estimated by using calibration curve of hinesol. In this study, we presented that the concentrations of those thirteen components varied drastically in A. lancea samples from different producing areas. Among those components, atractylenolide II and acetylatractylodinol were identified by GC-MS for the first time. A hierarchical clustering analysis based on relative peak areas of those thirteen components in total ion current (TIC) profiles was used to characterize A. lancea samples from different producing areas. Further clustering analysis showed that a simplified method with only four major bioactive components could be used to serve the same aim.

Evaluación periódica del riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal en la predicción de las complicaciones maternas y perinatales en Asia 2002-2003 / Periodical assessment of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in Asian countries 2002-2003

Objetivo: Describir el nivel de predicción de las complicaciones obstétricas y perinatales mediante la evaluación periódica del riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal (RBP) durante el control prenatal en mujeres asiáticas. Materiales y métodos: Durante el 2002 se evaluaron en Shanghai, China y Dhaka, Bangalesh 565 primigrávidas sanas con evaluaciones periódicas del RBP (primera: semana 14-27, segunda: semana 28-32, tercera: semana 33-42) con evaluación prospectiva del resultado materno y perinatal. Resultados: La edad promedio fue 25.1±6.4 años en su mayoría de nivel socioeconómico medio, con formación universitaria y residencia urbana. Se observaron 135 (23.9%) complicaciones obstétricas, 57 (10.1%) recién nacidos con bajo peso y 41 (7.3%) muertes perinatales. El alto riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal se asoció con las complicaciones obstétricas (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.80 IC 95% 0.71-0.89 con el parto prematuro (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.79, IC 95% 0.68-0.90) y con el bajo peso al nacer (área bajo la curva ROC) 0.85, IC 95% 0.77-0.93. El período con mayor efectividad predictiva fue el último (33-42 semanas) tanto para las complicaciones obstétricas (sensibilidad: 84.4%, especificidad: 69.3%), como para el parto prematuro (sensibilidad: 79.2%, especificidad: 67.1%) como para el bajo peso al nacer (sensibilidad: 88% especificidad: 77.3%). A pesar de las diferencias basales sociodemográficas, nutricionales, étnicas, culturales y religiosas de los dos países el efecto predictivo del instrumento fue similar. Conclusión: La evaluación del riesgo biopsicosocial prenatal fue clínicamente válida para predecir complicaciones obstétricas, parto prematuro y bajo peso al nacer en los países asiáticos comparable a los resultados en Latino-América.

Objective: To determine the effect of the periodical use of the prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment (PBR) to predict obstetric and perinatal complications in pregnant women in Asian countries. Materials and methods: In Shanghai, China, and Dhaka, Bangladesh, 565 healthy primigravids were evaluated with PBR at inclusion (14-27 weeks), in a second time (28-32 weeks) and in a third time (33-42 weeks) with assessment of the perinatal outcome. Results: The average age was 25.1±6.4 years old. Most of the women were from middle socioeconomic level, with university academic degree and urban residence. There were 129 (25.6%) obstetric complications, 54 (10.1%) low birth weight babies and 41 (7.3%) perinatal deaths. The ROC analysis showed that the high PBR score was associated with obstetric complications (area under ROC Curves) 0.80 CI 95% 0.71-0.89, preterm birth (area under ROC curves) 0.79, CI 95% 0.68-0.90, low birth weight (area under ROC curves) 0.85, CI 95% 0.77-0.93. The best predictive period was the last (33-42 weeks) to obstetric complications (sensibility: 84.4%, specificity: 69.3%), preterm delivery (sensibility 79.2%, specificity 67.1%) and to low birth weight (sensibility 88%, specificity 77.3%). The baseline sociodemographic and nutritional characteristics and the perinatal outcome were different between the countries, however, the predictive effect of the instrument was similar. Conclusion: The prenatal biopsychosocial risk assessment was clinically valid to predict obstetric complications, preterm birth and low birth weight in two Asian countries when compared to results in Latin-American countries.

Calcium plus linoleic acid therapy for pregnancy-induced hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of dietary supplementation of calcium plus conjugated linoleic acid (calcium-CLA) in reducing the incidence of vascular endothelial dysfunction in pregnant women at high risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted at 4 outpatient clinics in 2 developing countries recruited 48 healthy primigravidas younger than 19 years or older than 35 years who had a family history of pre-eclampsia and diastolic notch. Twenty-four participants received daily elemental calcium (600 mg) plus CLA (450 mg) and 24 received placebo from week 18 to 22 of pregnancy until delivery. RESULTS: Calcium-CLA supplementation reduced significantly the incidence of PIH (2 cases [8%] in the study group vs. 10 cases [42%] in the placebo group; relative risk, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.82; P=.01). Endothelial dysfunction was also significantly reduced after calcium-CLA supplementation (in 18 women [75%] vs. 4 women [17%]; P<.001), compared with the placebo group (in 15 [63%] vs. 9 women [38%]; P=.08). CONCLUSION: In pregnant women at high risk for PIH, calcium-CLA supplementation decreases the incidence of PIH and improves endothelial function.

Efectos de la suplementacion oral con calcio y ácido linoleico conjugado en primigrávidas de alto riesgo / Effects of calcium and linoleic acid conjugated diet in pregnancy of high risk

Objetivo: Determinar el efecto de dosis bajas de calcio elemental y ácido linoleico conjugado sobre los niveles plasmáticos de tromboxano B2, insulina, aldosterona, GMP cíclico, proteína C reactiva ultrasensible y la eficacia del tratamiento en la prevención de la hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo. Métodos: En un ensayo clínico doble ciego, controlado con placebo se estudiaron a 48 primigrávidas con alto riesgo para desarrollar preeclampsia con dosis diarias de calcio elemental (600 mg) y ácido linoleico conjugado (450 mg) (n=24) ó 450 mg de talco y 600 mg de lactosa como placebo (n=24) desde la semana 18-22 hasta el parto. Resultados: Dos mujeres en el grupo experimental (8.3/100) desarrollaron hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo comparado con 10 (41.7/100) mujeres controles (riesgo relativo 0.20, IC 95/100 0.05-0.82, p=0.01). No se observaron diferencias entre los niveles plasmáticos después de 4 semanas de tratamiento ni efectos maternos o neonatales en ambos grupos. Conclusiones: La administración de dosis bajas de calcio elemental y ácido linoleico conjugado redujo significativamente la incidencia de hipertensión arterial inducida por el embarazo en mujeres embarazadas de alto riesgo sin efectos colaterales atribuibles a la intervención y sin efecto sobre los niveles de tromboxano B2, insulina, aldosterona, GMP cíclico y la respuesta sistémica inflamatoria