Publications by authors named "Alberto Alves"

Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the effect of a supervised exercise training program (SETP) on the pathological complete response (pCR) and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in women with early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).
  • Sixty-four participants were analyzed, primarily with stage II and III disease, and results showed no significant difference in pCR rates (56.7% for SETP vs. 55.9% for control) or TIL levels between the two groups.
  • The findings suggest that SETP may not influence pCR or TILs during NAC, highlighting the need for further research with larger sample sizes to explore these outcomes more conclusively.
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Objective: This trial analyzes the effects of home-based isometric handgrip training (IHT) and aerobic exercise training (AET) on ambulatory and office blood pressure (BP) in older adults with high normal to established hypertension.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial included 84 participants (46 women, 71.1 ± 3.

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Background: A cardio-oncology rehabilitation model among cancer survivors showed superior results comparing to a community-based exercise intervention. However, questions remain about its cost-effectiveness.

Aims: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) program when compared to usual care encompassing a community-based exercise training (CBET), among cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk.

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Purpose: Physical exercise has positive effects on clinical outcomes of breast cancer survivors such as quality of life, fatigue, anxiety, depression, body mass index, and physical fitness. We aimed to study its impact on immune, inflammatory, cardiometabolic, and fatty acids (FA) biomarkers.

Methods: An exploratory sub-analysis of the MAMA_MOVE Gaia After Treatment trial (NCT04024280, registered July 18, 2019) was performed.

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Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a supervised exercise training program (SETP) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and functional capacity in women with breast cancer (BC) undergoing chemotherapy.

Methods: Ninety-three women with early-stage BC were randomly allocated to a SETP plus usual care (exercise, n = 47) or usual care alone (UC, n = 46). The SETP included three sessions per week, combining aerobic and resistance training, conducted concurrently over the chemotherapy.

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Importance: Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity in cancer survivors, which makes strategies aimed at mitigating cardiovascular risk a subject of major contemporary importance.

Objective: To assess whether a center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) framework compared with usual care encompassing community-based exercise training (CBET) is superior for cardiorespiratory fitness improvement and cardiovascular risk factor control among cancer survivors with high cardiovascular risk.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This prospective, single-center, randomized clinical trial (CORE trial) included adult cancer survivors who had exposure to cardiotoxic cancer treatment and/or previous cardiovascular disease.

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To assess the effects of a group class physical exercise program on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), physical fitness and activity, and safety in early breast cancer women after treatment, a double-phase trial [16-week control phase (CP) followed by a 16-week intervention phase (IP)] was designed. Outcomes were evaluated at baseline (T1), 8 (T2) and 16 (T3) weeks (CP), and 24 (T4) and 32 (T5) weeks (IP). The primary endpoint was global health status.

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Purpose Of Review: Approximately 10% of the adults with hypertension fail to achieve the recommended blood pressure treatment targets on 3 antihypertensive medications or require ≥ 4 medications to achieve goal. These patients with 'resistant hypertension' have an increased risk of target organ damage, adverse clinical events, and all-cause mortality. Although lifestyle modification is widely recommended as a first-line approach for the management of high blood pressure, the effects of lifestyle modifications in patients with resistant hypertension has not been widely studied.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aerobic exercise training can lower blood pressure in people with resistant hypertension, but understanding participants' experiences is crucial for improving program effectiveness.
  • A study with 20 individuals highlighted positive effects of exercise, such as reduced stress and better physical health, along with factors that helped or hindered adherence to the program.
  • Key findings show that personalized support and a flexible schedule enhance participation, while barriers like lack of motivation and schedule conflicts can impact long-term commitment to exercise.
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Aims: To analyze the feasibility and impact of a walking football (WF) program on quality of life (QoL), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), muscle strength, and balance program in men with prostate cancer under androgen deprivation therapy (ADT).

Methods: Fifty patients with prostate cancer (stages IIb-IVb) under ADT were randomized to a 16-week WF program plus usual care (n=25) or usual care control group (n=25). The WF program consisted of three 90-minute sessions per week.

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Aims: Exercise training has been suggested to prevent anthracycline-related cardiac dysfunction, but clinicalbased evidence is scarce. We investigated the effects of a supervised exercise training programme (SETP) on cardiac toxicity markers in women with breast cancer (BC) receiving anthracycline-containing chemotherapy.

Methods And Results: Ninety-three women with early-stage breast cancer were randomly allocated to a supervised exercise training programme (SETP) plus usual care group (Exercise, n = 47) or usual care alone group (UC, n = 46).

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Central blood pressure (BP) and BP variability are associated with cardiovascular disease risk. However, the influence of exercise on these hemodynamic parameters is unknown among patients with resistant hypertension. The EnRicH (The Exercise Training in the Treatment of Resistant Hypertension) was a prospective, single-blinded randomized clinical trial (NCT03090529).

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Purpose: To assess safety, satisfaction, and overall adherence of a center-based cardiac rehabilitation (CBCR) program for cancer survivors at increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, compared to community-based exercise training (CBET).

Methods: The CORE study was a single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial enrolling cancer survivors exposed to cardiotoxic cancer treatment and/or with previous CV disease. Participants were randomized to an 8-week CBCR program or CBET, twice a week.

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Article Synopsis
  • Breast cancer is the most common cancer globally, and while treatments have improved, survivors often face side effects that negatively impact their quality of life; physical exercise has been shown to alleviate some of these effects.
  • This study reviews existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess how physical exercise affects health-related quality of life, fitness, muscle strength, and body composition in breast cancer survivors.
  • Out of 101 studies analyzed, 83.3% found that exercise significantly enhanced quality of life, and improvements were also noted in cardiorespiratory fitness and body weight management.
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Background: Cancer survivors are challenging patients, as they often present increased cardiovascular risk. In this background, cardio-oncology rehabilitation frameworks for specific cancer patients have been proposed. However, optimal program designs, as well as their overall safety and efficacy in different subsets of patients, are not fully ascertained.

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Hypertension is the leading risk factor for cardiovascular disease and an independent predictor of mortality. The prevalence of hypertension has doubled in the last two decades and evidence suggests that almost half the individuals are unaware of their condition. The antihypertensive effects of exercise are now undisputable, and exercise training is recommended by the major professional and scientific societies, including the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), as first-line treatment to prevent, treat, and control hypertension.

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Article Synopsis
  • * At the beginning of the study, most patients reported good HRQoL and were at risk of malnutrition, with a strong willingness to engage in exercise training.
  • * After undergoing radical chemoradiotherapy, patients showed significant declines in HRQoL, dysphagia severity, handgrip strength, and nutritional status, highlighting the need for supportive care like exercise training.
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Reports suggest that the blood pressure (BP) response to an acute bout of exercise is associated with the BP response to aerobic training in participants with elevated BP. These associations have not been tested among patients with resistant hypertension. This study aimed to determine whether the BP response to acute exercise predicts the 24-h ambulatory BP response to a 12-week exercise training program in patients with resistant hypertension (n = 26, aged 59.

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Background: Physical activity is associated with reduced arterial stiffness, although such a relationship has not been reported in those with resistant hypertension. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the association between daily physical activity and arterial stiffness in patients with resistant hypertension.

Methods: Fifty-seven (57) patients with resistant hypertension (50.

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Importance: Limited evidence suggests exercise reduces blood pressure (BP) in individuals with resistant hypertension, a clinical population with low responsiveness to drug therapy.

Objective: To determine whether an aerobic exercise training intervention reduces ambulatory BP among patients with resistant hypertension.

Design, Settings, And Participants: The Exercise Training in the Treatment of Resistant Hypertension (EnRicH) trial is a prospective, 2-center, single-blinded randomized clinical trial performed at 2 hospital centers in Portugal from March 2017 to December 2019.

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The availability of wearable devices (WDs) to collect biometric information and their use during activities of daily living is significantly increasing in the general population. These small electronic devices, which record fitness and health-related outcomes, have been broadly utilized in industries such as medicine, healthcare, and fitness. Since they are simple to use and progressively cheaper, they have also been used for numerous research purposes.

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The aim of the study is to compare the acute effects of low- and moderate-intensity aerobic exercise on post-exercise blood pressure in active adults with high-normal/grade I hypertension. Thirteen physically active adults (67.0 ± 8.

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