Short-term heart rate variability at rest in individuals with temporomandibular disorder: a comparative analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Compare heart rate variability (HRV) indices in participants with and without myogenic temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Secondarily, we correlated HRV indices with pain and quality of life variables. METHODS: This is a comparative observational cross-sectional study. Individuals of both genders with and without a history of TMD were included. Short-term heart rate variability was assessed using a Polar V800. Central sensitization was assessed using the Central Sensitization Inventory. Pain through the numeric pain scale and the impact of oral health on quality of life using the OHIP-14 questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 80 participants were enrolled in the study: most individuals included in both groups were young adults, women and slightly overweight. We observed a decrease in HRV in the TMD group (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. In addition, we observed a greater impact of oral health on quality of life, central sensitization in addition to high resting pain scores (p < 0.01). We observed significant correlation between the LF index of HRV and the FAI score (r = 0.311; p = 0.05). The NPS, CSI and OHIP-14 scores did not correlate with any of the HRV indices (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The short-term HRV in individuals with TMD is significantly lower when compared to a control group. Furthermore, there seems to be a relationship between the severity of the dysfunction and the HRV variables. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Using portable and low-cost devices, the HRV can be easily collected and analyzed, without the need for an arsenal of equipment such as the conventional electrocardiogram. This measure can contribute to the therapy adopted and identify individuals prone to unfavorable outcomes involving ANS modulation.

Aerobic or resistance training improves autonomic control of circulation in oophorectomized rats with cardiometabolic dysfunctions: Impact on renal oxidative stress.

Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction is associated with end organ damage and increased risk of mortality. Menopause and metabolic syndrome increase the risk for cardiorenal complications. In this study, we investigated the effects of aerobic or resistance exercise training on autonomic control of circulation and renal oxidative stress in a model of menopause and metabolic syndrome. Female Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were divided into 5 groups (n = 8): control (C), hypertensive (H), and sedentary (FHO), aerobic trained (FHOTa) and resistance trained (FHOTr) oophorectomized hypertensive treated with fructose (100 mg/mL drink water for 19 weeks). The FHO group presented increased vascular sympathetic modulation (LF-SBP), impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) associated with increased blood pressure (BP) when compared to the H group. Aerobic exercise training enhanced tachycardic responses, while resistance training improved bradycardic responses to BP changes, thus ameliorating BRS. Moreover, despite unchanged BP, both exercise training protocols were effective in preventing increase in LF-SBP, reduction in systemic nitric oxide bioavailability (NOx), and increase in oxidative stress in the renal tissue, by decreasing lipid and protein oxidation in renal tissue. Positive correlation between LF-SBP and renal lipoperoxidation (r = 0.63, p < 0.05), as well as a negative correlation between NOx and renal lipoperoxidation (r = -0.66, p < 0.05) were observed. In conclusion, both aerobic and resistance exercise training were effective in improving autonomic control of circulation and reducing renal oxidative stress, thus attenuating the deleterious effects induced by arterial hypertension and fructose overload in female rats after ovarian hormone deprivation.

Exercise training initiated at old stage of lifespan attenuates aging-and ovariectomy-induced cardiac and renal oxidative stress: Role of baroreflex.

BACKGROUND: The association of aging and menopause is a potent risk factor for cardiometabolic disease. We studied the impact of aerobic exercise training (ET) initiated in the old stage of lifespan in hemodynamics, metabolic, autonomic and oxidative stress. METHODS: Aged (18 months old) female Wistar rats were divided into: ovariectomized and untrained (AG-OVX), and ovariectomized and trained (AG-OVXt, ET for 8 weeks). Intact aged (AG) and young female rats (3 months old; Y) were also studied. Blood pressure and metabolic parameters were measured. Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was studied by bradycardic (BR) and tachycardic (TR) responses to vasoactive drugs. Cardiac and renal lipid peroxidation (LPO), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and gluthatione peroxidase (GPx), and gluthatione redox balance (GSH/GSSG) were analyzed. RESULTS: AG-OVXt group increased aerobic performance in 35%, decreased adipose tissue and triglycerides in 36% and 27%, respectively, and improved insulin tolerance in 50% in comparison to AG-OVX. AG-OVX presented hypertensive levels of blood pressure (systolic: 155 ±â€¯5, diastolic: 111 ±â€¯3 mmHg). In contrast, AG-OVXt presented blood pressure values similar to Y rats (systolic: 129 ±â€¯3, diastolic: 112 ±â€¯3 mmHg). TR and BR were reduced by 70% and 46%, respectively, in AG-OVX vs. Y. Once more, AG-OVXt presented similar results to Y. ET decreased LPO in the heart and kidney. In the latter, renal CAT and SOD were corrected by ET, while cardiac redox balance was partially recovered. Improved BRS was correlated with improved oxidative stress markers. CONCLUSIONS: Even when initiated after aging and ovariectomy deleterious effects, ET is able to normalize BRS and highly improve cardiac and renal oxidative stress.

Effects of Resistance Training on Immunoinflammatory Response, TNF-Alpha Gene Expression, and Body Composition in Elderly Women.

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of resistance training on the immunologic response, body composition, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression obtained from blood leukocytes, and the cytokines interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and C-reactive protein (CRP), in the elderly women (mean age 63 ± 2 y). A randomized controlled trial was performed using a bi-set training method for eight weeks in nineteen elderly women. Peripheral blood samples were collected by puncture in pretraining (Pre) and posttraining (Post) moments. In the resistance training group, there was a statistically significant decrease from 38.43 ± 9.48 pg/mL to 11.76 ± 5.19 pg/mL (p=0.01) in the serum levels of interleukin-6. Considering serum levels of TNF-alpha, there was a statistically significant difference, comparing the resistance training group at Pre (66.27 ± 10.31 pg/mL) and Post (37.85 ± 9.05 pg/mL) moments (p=0.01). In molecular analysis of TNF-alpha gene expression, there was a statistically significant decrease (p=0.007) between Pre (0.010 ± 0.01 ng/ml) and Post (0.0002 ± 0.0001 ng/ml) moments. Among CRP data, in the resistance training group, there was a statistically significant reduction, between Pre (2.04 ± 0.32 mg/L) and Post (0.90 ± 0.22 mg/L) moments (p=0.001). In the Control group, there was no statistical significance between these two moments. Therefore, the resistance training demonstrated changes in the TNF-alpha gene expression in elderly women, as well as decreased serum levels of interleukin-6, TNF-alpha, and CRP. Such conditions may be related to immune modulation and anti-inflammatory effects, since resistance training releases cytokines, especially interleukin-6, which acts as a TNF-alpha antagonist during exercise.

Baroreflex Impairment Precedes Cardiometabolic Dysfunction in an Experimental Model of Metabolic Syndrome: Role of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress.

This study analyzes whether autonomic dysfunction precedes cardiometabolic alterations in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with fructose overload. Animals were randomly distributed into three groups: control, hypertensive and hypertensive with fructose overload. Fructose overload (100 g/L) was initiated at 30 days old, and the animals (n = 6/group/time) were evaluated after 7, 15, 30 and 60 days of fructose consumption. Fructose consumption reduced baroreflex sensitivity by day 7, and still induced a progressive reduction in baroreflex sensitivity over the time. Fructose consumption also increased TNFα and IL-6 levels in the adipose tissue and IL-1ß levels in the spleen at days 15 and 30. Fructose consumption also reduced plasmatic nitrites (day 15 and 30) and superoxide dismutase activity (day 15 and 60), but increased hydrogen peroxide (day 30 and 60), lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation (day 60). Fructose consumption increased arterial pressure at day 30 (8%) and 60 (11%). Fructose consumption also induced a late insulin resistance at day 60, but did not affect glucose levels. In conclusion, the results show that baroreflex sensitivity impairment precedes inflammatory and oxidative stress disorders, probably by inducing hemodynamic and metabolic dysfunctions observed in metabolic syndrome.