Regulation of cardiac microRNAs induced by aerobic exercise training during heart failure

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Long duration exercise program in individuals with parkinson´s disease: effects on functional capacity

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of long duration exercise program on physical fitness components of functional capacity in individuals with Parkinson disease (PD) and to evaluate ongoing effects of exercise after 8 to 10-week follow-up without exercise. Twenty-four individuals with PD were randomly assigned to two groups: generalized exercise program and stretching exercise program (control group). The generalized exercise program provided training in physical fitness components of functional capacity. The stretching exercise program was characterized by low intensity and volume, mainly with static exercises. Both groups were evaluated before (BI) and after the 4-month (AI) exercise program. In addition, the individuals of generalized exercise program were also evaluated after 8-month exercise program and after 8 to 10- week follow-up without exercise. The generalized exercise program improved flexibility (BI - 38.50±12.42 cm; AI - 44.00±12.74 cm) and agility (BI - 30.59±7.54 s; AI - 28.56±8.20 s) while the stretching exercise program worsened coordination (BI - 23.27±6.58 s; AI - 28.06±7.37 s) and aerobic resistance (BI- 13.64±3.76 min; AI - 17.27±5.15 min) and improved balance (BI - 44.00±7.79 pts; AI - 46.57±6.53 pts). Lower-limb strength and UPDRS-motor scale scores were better at 8 months (14.75±2.92 rep and 26.25±13.97 pts, respectively) compared to baseline (13.13±2.59 rep and 31.63±12.82 pts, respectively) and 4 months (13.50±1.93 rep and 30.38±14.52 pts, respectively) for generalized exercise program. However, the benefits of 8 months of exercise were lost after 8 to 10-week follow-up without exercise (lower-limb strength - 12.43±3.15 rep and UPDRS-motor scale - 32.57±14.05 pts). In conclusion, generalized exercise program improved the functional capacity in individuals with PD, differently of stretching exercise program. In addition, a long duration exercise program promoted benefits for functional capacity and disease progression in individuals with PD. However, benefits were lost after a short period without exercise.

Evaluation of the best-designed graded exercise test to assess peak treadmill speed

This study examined the influence of different speed increments during treadmill exercise tests on peak treadmill speed (Vpeak) and its relationship with a 1-h treadmill running performance. 18 male recreational and amateur runners (10-km running pace: 10–15 km·h−1) performed, in an alternate order, 3 continuous incremental exercise tests with different speed increments (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 km·h−1) on a motorized treadmill to determine Vpeak. Thereafter they undertook a 1-h time trial on a treadmill. Vpeak was determined as either (a) the highest speed that could be maintained for a complete minute (Vpeak-60 s), (b) the speed of the last complete stage (Vpeak-C), or (c) the speed of the last complete stage added to the product of the speed increment and the completed fraction of the incomplete stage (Vpeak-P). The Vpeak values were highly influenced by the different speed-incremented rates and the Vpeak-P determined during the protocol comprising speed increments of 1 km·h−1 presented the highest correlation with 1-h time trial performance (r=0.89). The results suggest that a protocol with speed increments comprising 1 km·h−1 and with a 3-min stage duration should be used as standard for the determination of Vpeak to assess aerobic fitness and predict endurance performance in recreational runners. Furthermore, the Vpeak-P should be used for the determination of Vpeak.