Association between indicators of dementia and nutritional status in institutionalised older people

Background and aims. Dementia weakens older people and can lead to malnutrition; therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the association between indicators of dementia and biochemical indicators, anthropometric indicators and food intake in institutionalised older people. Methods. A total of 150 older people of both genders participated in this study. Nutritional status was determined by body mass index and other anthropometric variables, and biochemical indicators were used to analyse the differences between individuals with and without dementia. Energy and nutrient intakes were determined by food records, and dementia was investigated with the Mini-Mental State Examination. The data were analysed by the chi-square test, Student's t-test and Mann-Whitney tests. Results. Of the 150 individuals studied, 48% were men with a mean age of 73±10years and 52% were women with a mean age of 80±9years. Thirty-six per cent had some degree of malnutrition and 48% presented dementia, which was more prevalent in women (59%). The nutritional status of men and women individuals with and without dementia differed significantly (P<0.001 for men and women). The only variables that presented a significant difference between individuals with and without dementia were those associated with muscle mass in men. There were no differences in energy and nutrient intakes between individuals with and without dementia except for vitamin C intake, which differed among women (P=0.032). Conclusion. In the conditions of the present study, dementia was associated with nutritional status, but not with energy and nutrient intakes, suggesting that older people with dementia may have higher nutritional requirements. Implications for practice. Investigation of dementia may contribute to the nutritional status assessment of older people and energy expenditure and immobility should be investigated for a more complete assessment. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

Effects of square-stepping exercise on cognitive functions of older people

Aim: Cognitive functions can decline with age, and interventions focusing on stimulating them may have positive results. Previous studies have shown that square-stepping exercise (SSE) has a good influence on balance, but this exercise also seems to promote cognitive stimulation. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to analyse the effect of 16 weeks of SSE on cognitive functions in non-demented community-dwelling older people. Methods: This was a longitudinal, non-randomized study. Forty-one older adults (60 years and older) were recruited, and 21 participated in the SSE group (practised only SSE sequences) and 20 were in the control group (continued with their activities of daily living). Both groups were evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Digit Span test, the Toulouse-Pierón Attention Test and the Modified Card Sorting Test. Results: The SSE group showed a significant improvement in global cognitive status, concentrated attention and mental flexibility after 16 weeks of the SSE intervention. Conclusion: Evidence shows that SSE is a physical activity that positively influences cognitive functions in non-demented older people. © 2013 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.

Analysis of inteins in the Candida parapsilosis complex for simple and accurate species identification

Inteins are coding sequences that are transcribed and translated with flanking sequences and then are excised by an autocatalytic process. There are two types of inteins in fungi, mini-inteins and full-length inteins, both of which present a splicing domain containing well-conserved amino acid sequences. Full-length inteins also present a homing endonuclease domain that makes the intein a mobile genetic element. These parasitic genetic elements are located in highly conserved genes and may allow for the differentiation of closely related species of the Candida parapsilosis (psilosis) complex. The correct identification of the three psilosis complex species C. parapsilosis, Candida metapsilosis, and Candida orthopsilosis is very important in the clinical setting for improving antifungal therapy and patient care. In this work, we analyzed inteins that are present in the vacuolar ATPase gene VMA and in the threonyl-tRNA synthetase gene ThrRS in 85 strains of the Candida psilosis complex (46 C. parapsilosis, 17 C. metapsilosis, and 22 C. orthopsilosis). Here, we describe an accessible and accurate technique based on a single PCR that is able to differentiate the psilosis complex based on the VMA intein. Although the ThrRS intein does not distinguish the three species of the psilosis complex by PCR product size, it can differentiate them by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Furthermore, this intein is unusually present as both mini- and full-length forms in C. orthopsilosis. Additional population studies should be performed to address whether this represents a common intraspecific variability or the presence of subspecies within C. orthopsilosis. Copyright © 2013, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rootstocks resistant to Meloidogyne incognita and compatibility of grafting in net melon

Due to the few studies about grafting in net melon, in order to obtain better control of soil pathogens, the aim of the present study was to evaluate 16 genotypes of Cucurbitaceae: Benincasa hispida, Luffa cylindrica, pumpkin 'Jacarezinho', pumpkin 'Menina Brasileira', squash 'Exposição', squash 'Coroa', pumpkin 'Canhão Seca', pumpkin 'Squash', pumpkin 'Enrrugado Verde', pumpkin 'Mini Paulista', pumpkin 'Goianinha', watermelon 'Charleston Gray', melon 'Rendondo Gaucho', melon 'Redondo Amarelo', cucumber 'Caipira HS' and cucumber 'Caipira Rubi', regarding to compatibility of grafting in net melon and resistance to Meloidogyne incognita, based on the reproduction factor (RF), according to Oostenbrink (1966). To assess resistance, the seedlings were transplanted to ceramic pots and inoculated with 300/mL eggs and/or second stage juveniles of M. incognita. At 50 days after transplanting, the plants were removed from the pots and the resistance was evaluated. The compatibility between resistant rootstock and grafts of net melon was determined by performing simple cleft grafting, in a commercial net melon hybrid of great market acceptance and susceptible to M. incognita (Bonus no. 2). The genotypes Luffa cylindrica, pumpkin 'Goianinha', pumpkin 'Mini-Paulista', melon 'Redondo Amarelo', watermelon 'Charleston Gray' are resistant to the nematode M. incognita. The better compatibilities occurred with the rootstocks melon 'Amarelo', which presented 100% of success, followed by pumpkin 'Mini-Paulista' with 94%. On the other hand, Sponge gourd, watermelon 'Charleston Gray' and pumpkin 'Goianinha' showed low graft take percentages of 66%, 62% and 50%, respectively.

A obra lexicográfica de Francisco da Silveira Bueno

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Treinamento aeróbio na aptidão funcional, cognitiva e biomarcadores da doença de Alzheimer em idosos sem demência: um estudo controlado

Pós-graduação em Ciências da Motricidade - IBRC

Alocação ótima de reguladores de tensão em sistemas de distribuição de energia elétrica radiais usando uma formulação linear inteira mista. -

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeitos da atividade física nas atividades da vida diária em indivíduos com doença de Parkinson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeitos de um programa de intervenção motora nos distúrbios neuropsiquiátricos e nas atividades funcionais de pacientes com demência de Alzheimer e em seus cuidadores

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência do exercício físico em memória e funções executivas de pessoas com doença de Parkinson

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Efeito do treinamento com pesos na apatia, funções cognitivas frontais e funcionalidade motora em pacientes com doença de Alzheimer

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Relação entre nível de atividade física, cognição, processamento da informação e funcionalidade motora de idosos no estágio leve da doença de Alzheimer

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influência do square stepping exercise nos componentes da capacidade funcional e funções cognitivas de idosos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Emergência e estabilidade de padrões de coordenação intermembros em crianças com dificuldades motoras

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Exercício, funcionalidade e distúrbios do sono em pacientes com doença de Parkinson

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)