Effects of soy protein and resistance exercise on body composition and blood lipids in postmenopausal women

Objective: To assess the effect of soy protein and progressive resistance training on body composition and lipids in postmenopausal women.Design: In a controlled trial, 46 postmenopausal women were randomized to one of four groups: 25 g of soy protein (SP, n = 10), 25 g of soy protein plus resistance exercise (SPE, n = 14), 25 g of maltodextrine (placebo) (PL, n = 11), or placebo plus resistance exercise (PLE, n = 11). Progressive resistance training was held three times a week for 16 weeks and included 8 exercises (3 series of 8-12 repetitions). At baseline and after 16 weeks, body mass index, waist circumference (WC), body fat, muscle mass and serum lipid levels were measured. To confirm isoflavone absorption, urinary concentrations were determined. The t-test of Student and ANOVA were used in the statistical analysis.Results: Subjects were classified as overweight and showed android fat distribution: Urinary isoflavone excretion indicated compliance to soy protein treatment. After 16 weeks of intervention, both SPE and PLE groups showed a significant increase of 1.3 kg in muscle mass and reduction in WC of -1.4 and -2.1 cm, respectively (p < 0.05). Significant decreases in the mean values of total cholesterol and LDL (-29.0 and -24.0 mg/dL, p < 0.001 and p < 0.006, respectively) were observed in the users of soy protein alone (SP).Conclusions: Soy protein supplementation did not influence the indicators of body composition. However, it exerted possible favorable effects on lipid profile in postmenopausal women. The increase in muscle mass and reduction in abdominal fat were correlated with resistance training. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.

NOVEL EVIDENCE THAT BETA-ADRENOCEPTORS OF THE MEDIAL SEPTAL AREA REGULATE BLOOD-PRESSURE AND ELECTROLYTE BALANCE

We investigated the participation of the beta-adrenoceptors of the septal area (SA) in sodium and potassium excretion and urine flow. The alterations in arterial pressure and some renal functions were also investigated. The injection of 2.10(-9) to 16.10(-9)M of isoproterenol, through a cannula permanently implanted into the SA produced a significant dose-dependent decrease in urinary Na+ and K+ excretion and urinary flow. Pretreatment with 16.10(-9) M butoxamine antagonized the effect of 4.10(-9) M isoproterenol but pretreatment with 16.10(-9) M practolol did not abolish the effect of isoproterenol. The beta 2-agonist terbutaline and salbutamol (4.10(-9) M when injected intraseptally also caused a decrease in urine flow and in renal Na+ and K+ excretion. After injection of isoproterenol or salbutamol (4.10(-9) M) into the SA, the arterial pressure, glomerular, filtration rate (GFR) and filtered Nd were reduced while Na+ fractional reabsorption was increased. The results indicate that the beta 2-adrenoceptors of the SA play a role in the decrease of Na+, K+ and urine flow and this effect may be due to a drop in GFR and filtered Na+ and to the rise in tubular Na+ reabsorption.

Treatment of urinary stress incontinence by intravaginal electrical stimulation and pelvic floor physiotherapy

Treatment of urinary stress incontinence (USI) by intravaginal electrical stimulation (IES) and pelvic floor physiotherapy represents an alternative to other therapies. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of this treatment inpatients with urinary incontinence. From January 1998 to May 2000, 30 women (mean age 54 years) were studied. All patients had USI and 70% urge incontinence; average follow-up was 7 months. Selection criteria were based on clinical history, objective evaluation of perineal musculature by perineometry, and urodynamics. The treatment protocol consisted of three sessions of IES per week for 14 weeks using INNOVA equipment. Physiotherapy was initiated in the fifth week of IES. A significant decrease in the number of micturitions and urgency was observed after treatment (P<0.01). The pad test showed a reduction in urinary leakage from 13.9 to 5.9 g after treatment (P<0.01). Objective evaluation of perineal muscle strength showed a significant improvement in all patients after treatment (P<0.01). A positive correlation was observed between maximum flow rate (Q(max)) and all three variables: urethral pressure profile at rest and on straining (stop test), and abdominal leak-point pressure (ALPP). A positive correlation was also observed between ALPP and the stop test. Over 100 different surgical and conservative treatments have been tried to manage USI. The majority of these procedures reveal that despite progress already made in this area, there is no ideal treatment. Satisfactory results can be achieved with this method, especially with patients who are reluctant to undergo surgery because of personal or clinical problems.

Urinary levels of catecholamines among individuals with and without sleep bruxism

Sleep bruxism (SB) is characterized by repetitive and coordinated mandible movements and non-functional teeth contacts during sleep time. Although the etiology of SB is controversial, the literature converges on its multifactorial origin. Occlusal factors, smoking, alcoholism, drug usage, stress, and anxiety have been described as SB trigger factors. Recent studies on this topic discussed the role of neurotransmitters on the development of SB.Thus, the purpose of this study was to detect and quantify the urinary levels of catecholamines, specifically of adrenaline, noradrenaline and dopamine, in subjects with SB and in control individuals.Urine from individuals with SB (n = 20) and without SB (n = 20) was subjected to liquid chromatography. The catecholamine data were compared by Mann-Whitney's test (p a parts per thousand currency sign 0.05).Our analysis showed higher levels of catecholamines in subjects with SB (adrenaline = 111.4 A mu g/24 h; noradrenaline = 261,5 A mu g/24 h; dopamine = 479.5 A mu g/24 h) than in control subjects (adrenaline = 35,0 A mu g/24 h; noradrenaline = 148,7 A mu g/24 h; dopamine = 201,7 A mu g/24 h). Statistical differences were found for the three catecholamines tested.It was concluded that individuals with SB have higher levels of urinary catecholamines.

Excessive iodine intake in schoolchildren

Inadequate iodine intake may result in iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Thus, for more than 50 years, policies for the regulation of salt fortification with iodine have existed in Brazil. In 2003, a study on 6-14-year-old schoolchildren from regions of the state of So Paulo showed a median urinary iodine concentration of 360 mu g/L. The objective of the present study was to assess the iodine nutrition status among schoolchildren.The study was conducted on 828 schoolchildren aged 4-13 years from eight schools in the interior of the state of So Paulo. A casual urine sample was collected from each volunteer for iodine determination by the adapted method of Sandell-Kalthoff.Only 1.9% (n = 16) of the children evaluated had low values of urinary iodine (< 100 mu g/L), while 24.6% had urinary iodine excretion values between 200 and 300 mu g/L, and 67.1% had values above > 300 mu g/L.The results show that the iodine nutritional status of the schoolchildren studied is characterized by a high urinary iodine excretion, which might reveal an increase in iodine consumption by this population.