Hyperthermia and maximal oxygen uptake in men and women.

To compare the effect of hyperthermia on maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in men and women, VO2max was measured in 11 male and 11 female runners under seven conditions involving various ambient temperatures (Ta at 50% RH) and preheating designed to manipulate the esophageal (Tes) and mean skin (Tsk) temperatures at VO2max. The conditions were: 25 degrees C, no preheating (control); 25, 35, 40, and 45 degrees C, with exercise-induced preheating by a 20-min walk at approximately 33% of control VO2max; 45 degrees C, no preheating; and 45 degrees C, with passive preheating during which Tes and Tsk were increased to the same degree as at the end of the 20-min walk at 45 degrees C. Compared to VO2max (l x min(-1)) in the control condition (4.52+/-0.46 in men, 3.01+/-0.45 in women), VO2max in men and women was reduced with exercise-induced or passive preheating and increased Ta, approximately 4% at 35 degrees C, approximately 9% at 40 degrees C and approximately 18% at 45 degrees C. Percentage reductions (7-36%) in physical performance (treadmill test time to exhaustion) were strongly related to reductions in VO2max (r=0.82-0.84). The effects of hyperthermia on VO2max and physical performance in men and women were almost identical. We conclude that men and women do not differ in their thermal responses to maximal exercise, or in the relationship of hyperthermia to reductions in VO2max and physical performance at high temperature. Data are reported as mean (SD) unless otherwise stated.

L-carnitine as an ergogenic aid for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to whole-body and respiratory muscle training programs

The effects of adding L-carnitine to a whole-body and respiratory training program were determined in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sixteen COPD patients (66 ± 7 years) were randomly assigned to L-carnitine (CG) or placebo group (PG) that received either L-carnitine or saline solution (2 g/day, orally) for 6 weeks (forced expiratory volume on first second was 38 ± 16 and 36 ± 12%, respectively). Both groups participated in three weekly 30-min treadmill and threshold inspiratory muscle training sessions, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40%) at maximal inspiratory pressure. Nutritional status, exercise tolerance on a treadmill and six-minute walking test, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory muscle strength were determined as baseline and on day 42. Maximal capacity in the incremental exercise test was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at identical exercise levels were lower in CG after training (P < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and walking test tolerance were significantly improved in both groups, but the gains of CG were significantly higher than those of PG (40 ± 14 vs 14 ± 5 cmH2O, and 87 ± 30 vs 34 ± 29 m, respectively; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in CG than in PG (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.3 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.05). The present data suggest that carnitine can improve exercise tolerance and inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, as well as reduce lactate production.

Actualización y organización del programa de rehabilitación pulmonar del Hospital Departamental Santa Sofía de Manizales

El Hospital Departamental Santa Sofía de la ciudad de Manizales es una EmpresaSocial del Estado (ESE), considerada como una entidad de alto grado decomplejidad. La institución cuenta con un programa de rehabilitación pulmonar quefunciona desde enero del 2003 con la participación de un grupo interdisciplinariobrindando tratamiento a los pacientes con patologías pulmonares crónicas.

Reproducibility of 6-minute walking test in patients with COPD

The reproducibility of the 6-min walking test (6MWT) needs to be more solidly studied. This study aimed to investigate the reproducibility of two 6MWTs performed on subsequent days in a large and representative sample of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to quantify the learning effect between the two tests, as well as its determinants.In a retrospective observational study, 1,514 patients with COPD performed two 6MWTs on subsequent days. Other measurements included body composition (dual X-ray absorptiometry), dyspnoea (Medical Research Council scale) and comorbidity (Charlson index).Although the 6MWT was reproducible (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.93), patients walked farther in the second test (391 m, 95% CI 155-585 m versus 418 m, 95% CI 185-605 m; p < 0.0001). on average, the second 6MWT increased by 27 m (or 7%), and 82% of patients improved in the second test. Determinants of improvement >= 42 m in the second test (upper limit of the clinically important change) were as follows: first 6MWT < 350 m, Charlson index < 2 and body mass index < 30 kg.m(-2) (OR 2.49, 0.76 and 0.60, respectively).The 6MWT was statistically reproducible in a representative sample of patients with COPD. However, the vast majority of patients improved significantly in the second test by an average learning effect of 27 m.

Avaliação das variáveis cardiovasculares, capacidade de caminhar e nível de atividade física de obesos mórbidos antes e depois da cirurgia bariátrica

Morbidly obese patients present an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and perceived exertion besides lower walking ability compared to normal weight people. However, little is known about how these variables are presented after bariatric surgery. Moreover, despite the distance walked during the six-minute walk (6MWT) improve after surgery is not well established if the level of physical activity influences this improvement. Objective: To evaluate cardiovascular performance, perceived effort, ability of walking and physical activity level of patients with morbid obesity before and after bariatric surgery. Methods: The cardiovascular performance, perception of effort, the ability to walk and level of physical activity were assessed in 22 patients before (BMI = 50.4 kg/m2) and after (BMI = 34.8 kg/m2) bariatric surgery through the 6MWT. The heart rate, blood pressure and perceived exertion were assessed at rest, at the end of the 6MWT and in the second minute post-test (HR recovery). The ability to walk was measured by total distance walked at the end of the test while the level of physical activity was estimated by applying the Baecke questionnaire, analyzing domains occupation, leisure and locomotion and leisure and physical activity. Results: The HR at rest and recovery decreased significantly (91.2 ± 15.8 bpm vs. 71.9 ± 9.8 bpm, 99.5 ± 15.3 bpm vs 82.5 ± 11.1 bpm, respectively), as well as all the arterial pressure and perceived exertion after surgery. The distance achieved by the patients increased by 58.4 m (p = 0.001) postoperatively. Time postoperatively had correlation with the percentage of excess weight lost (r = 0.48, p = 0.02), BMI (r =- 0.68, p = 0.001) and the Baecke (r = 0.52, p = 0.01) which did not happen with the distance walked (r = 0.37, p = 0.09). Despite weight loss, patients showed no difference in the level of physical activity in any of the areas before and after surgery. Conclusion: The cardiovascular performance, the perception of effort and ability to walk seem to improve after bariatric surgery. However, despite improvement in the ability to walk by the distance achieved in the 6MWT after weight loss, this is not reflected in an increase in physical activity level of obese patients after surgery

Custos e benefícios de um programa de exercício aeróbios na doença pulmonar obstrutica crônica: ensaio cliníco aleatório controlado

Pulmonary Rehabilitation, especially due to aerobic exercise, positive impact in reducing morbidity/mortality of patients with COPD, however the economic impact with costs of implementing simple programs of aerobic exercise are scarce. This is a blind randomized clinical trials, which aimed to evaluate the costs and benefits of a simple program of aerobic exercise in individuals with COPD, considering the financial costs of the Public Health System and its secondary endpoints. We evaluated lung function, the distance walked during six minutes of walking, the respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, quality of life related to health (QLRH), body composition and level of activity of daily living (ADL) before and after eight weeks of an aerobic exercise program consisting of educational guidance for both groups, control and intervention and supervised walks to the intervention group. The health costs generated in both groups were calculated following table Brazilian Public Health System. The sample consisted of forty patients, two being excluded in the initial phase of desaturation during the walk test six minutes. Were randomized into control and intervention group thirty-eight patients, three were excluded from the control group and one was excluded from the intervention group. At the end, thirty-four COPD comprised the sample, 16 in the control group and 18 in the intervention group (FEV1: 50.9 ± 14% pred and FEV1: 56 ± 0.5% pred, respectively). After for intervention, the intervention group showed improvement in meters walked, the sensation of dyspnea and fatigue at work, BODE index (p <0.01) in QLRH, ADL level (p <0.001) as well as increased strength lower limbs (p <0.05). The final cost of the program for the intervention group was R $ 148.75, including: assessments, hiking supervised by a physiotherapist and reassessments. No patient had exacerbation of IG, while 2 patients in the CG exacerbated, generating an average individual cost of R $ 689.15. The aerobic exercises in the form of walking showed significant clinical benefits and economic feasibility of its implementation, due to low cost and easy accessibility for patients, allowing them to add their daily practice of aerobic exercises

L-carnitine as an ergogenic aid for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease submitted to whole-body and respiratory muscle training programs

The effects of adding L-carnitine to a whole-body and respiratory training program were determined in moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Sixteen COPD patients (66 ± 7 years) were randomly assigned to L-carnitine (CG) or placebo group (PG) that received either L-carnitine or saline solution (2 g/day, orally) for 6 weeks (forced expiratory volume on first second was 38 ± 16 and 36 ± 12%, respectively). Both groups participated in three weekly 30-min treadmill and threshold inspiratory muscle training sessions, with 3 sets of 10 loaded inspirations (40%) at maximal inspiratory pressure. Nutritional status, exercise tolerance on a treadmill and six-minute walking test, blood lactate, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory muscle strength were determined as baseline and on day 42. Maximal capacity in the incremental exercise test was significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05). Blood lactate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and heart rate at identical exercise levels were lower in CG after training (P < 0.05). Inspiratory muscle strength and walking test tolerance were significantly improved in both groups, but the gains of CG were significantly higher than those of PG (40 ± 14 vs 14 ± 5 cmH2O, and 87 ± 30 vs 34 ± 29 m, respectively; P < 0.05). Blood lactate concentration was significantly lower in CG than in PG (1.6 ± 0.7 vs 2.3 ± 0.7 mM, P < 0.05). The present data suggest that carnitine can improve exercise tolerance and inspiratory muscle strength in COPD patients, as well as reduce lactate production.

Short-Term Effects of Using Pedometers to Increase Daily Physical Activity in Smokers: A Randomized Trial

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fault current test of a bifilar Bi-2212 bulk coil

A bifilar Bi-2212 bulk coil with parallel shunt resistor was tested under fault current condition using a 3 MVA single-phase transformer in a 220 V-60 Hz line achieving fault current peak of 8 kA. The fault current tests are performed from steady state peak current of 200 A by applying controlled short circuits up to 8 kA varying the time period from one to six cycles. The test results show the function of the shunt resistor providing homogeneous quench behavior of the HTS coil besides its intrinsic stabilizing role. The limiting current ratio achieves a factor 4.2 during 5 cycles without any degradation.

Comparação dos testes de escada, caminhada e espirometria preditos com os obtidos no pós-operatório de ressecções pulmonares

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evolução dos marcadores diagnósticos e prognósticos de pacientes com DPOC no período de três anos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da frequência de síndrome metabólica e sua associação na sobrevida de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (DPOC)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Associação do treinamento resistido e aeróbico em pacientes com doença pulmonar crônica

Introduction: The pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is composed of aerobic and resisted exercises that improve the functional capacity to the exercise, life quality and decrease respiratory symptoms in subjects with chronic pulmonary disease. Objective: Assess the effects of a combined PR program in the cardiorespiratory function and peripheral muscle strength in subjects with chronic pulmonary disease. Method: Patients with chronic pulmonary disease were submitted to the PR program, which was developed on 24 sessions of 60 minutes (three times per week). The program was composed of aerobic exercises (two times per week) and resisted exercises (once a week). Before and after the PR the patients were submitted to manovacuometry in order to measure the maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) and the maximum expiratory pressure (MEP), ventilometry, peek expiratory flow (PEF), six minute walking test (6MWT) and one maximum repetition (1RM). The data are presented in absolute frequency, percentage and mean±standard deviation. The t Student test was used to compare data before and after the PR and the ANOVA test to compare before, after and predicted distances in the 6MWT (p<0.05). Results: Seven patients were part of this study, 85.70% of women, 71.40% with pulmonary emphysema diagnosis. The mean age was 69.43±5.59 years old, the height was 1.61±0.07 m, the mean weight was 66.20±8.40 kg and the body mass index mean was 25.50±2.48 kg/m². From the variables assessed, the MEP increased from 79.71±13.69 to 84.42±12.83 cmH2O (p=0,03), the PEF increase from 255.71±66.3 to 320.00±93.63 l/min (p=0,03) and the distance in the 6MWT from 415.28±47.90 to 483,79±79,77 m (p=0,02). The load in the 1RM test in the reverse peck deck exercise (before - - 17.10±8.10kg; after – 210.40±9.00kg), knee in leg extension machine (before – 17.10±9.50kg; after – 26.40±13.10kg) and hip extensors (right before – 48.60±22.10kg; after – 62.90±19.30kg; and left before – 46.40±20.10kg; after – 62.10±18.20kg) increased significantly (p<0,05). Conclusion: After the PR program there was improvement in the expiratory muscular strength, in the lower limbs strength and in the functional capacity. Besides that, there was a reduction in the airflow obstruction of the subjects with chronic pulmonary disease.

Development and validation of dissolution test for fluconazole capsules by HPLC and derivative UV spectrophotometry

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a dissolution test for fluconazole, an antifungal used for the treatment of superficial, cutaneous, and cutaneomucous infections caused by Candida species, in capsules dosage form. Techniques by HPLC and UV first derivative spectrophotometry (UV-FDS) were selected for quantitative evaluation. In the development of release profile, several conditions were evaluated. Dissolution test parameters were considered appropriate when a most discriminative release profile for fluconazole capsules was yielded. Dissolution test conditions for fluconazole capsules were 900 mL of HCl 0.1 M, 37 ± 0.5 °C using baskets with 50 rpm for 30 min of test. The developed HPLC and UV-FDS methods for the antifungal evaluation were selective and met requirements for an appropriate and validated method, according to ICH and USP requirements. Both methods can be useful in the registration process of new drugs or their renewal. For routine analysis application cost, simplicity, equipment, solvents, speed, and application to large or small workloads should be observed.

Efeito do treinamento intradialítico resistido e aeróbio sobre a função cognitiva e capacidade funcional de pacientes em hemodiálise: estudo controlado

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)