Association between hypercholesterolemia and isolated and simultaneous consumption of ultra-processed foods in older adults.

Background: Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) is a risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases and mortality, with potential physiological mechanisms including elevated serum cholesterol levels.

Objectives: To analyze the association between hypercholesterolemia and the isolated and simultaneous consumption of UPFs in older adults.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional epidemiological study conducted with 1322 Brazilian older adults (mean age of 70.

Clustering of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Heart Failure in Older Adults from the Brazilian Far North.

Given the aging global population, identifying heart failure (HF) phenotypes has become crucial, as distinct disease characteristics can influence treatment and prognosis in older adults. This study aimed to analyze the association between clustering of cardiovascular risk factors and HF in older adults. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted with 1322 older adults (55% women, mean age 70.

Adequacy of Fatty Acids Consumption Among Individuals in Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention.

Background: Adhering to a diet adequate in macronutrients is crucial for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of adherence to recommendations for the consumption of dietary fatty acids for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases and to estimate whether the presence of certain cardiovascular risk factors would be associated with adherence.

Methods: Cross-sectional study using baseline data from 2,358 participants included in the "Brazilian Cardioprotective Nutritional Program Trial".

Effects of short-term multicomponent exercise intervention on muscle power in hospitalized older patients: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Bed rest during hospitalization can negatively impact functional independence and clinical status of older individuals. Strategies focused on maintaining and improving muscle function may help reverse these losses. This study investigated the effects of a short-term multicomponent exercise intervention on maximal strength and muscle power in hospitalized older patients.

Determination of Vascular Age in Men Using the Coronary Calcium Score and its Impact on Restratification of Cardiovascular Risk.

Background: Identifying asymptomatic individuals at risk of developing cardiovascular disease is one of the main goals of preventive cardiology. The coronary calcium score (CCS) makes it possible to estimate vascular age, which has shown to be more reliable than chronological age for determining cardiovascular risk.

Objectives: To reclassify cardiovascular risk based on arterial age and evaluate CCS progression during follow-up.

Comparison of the Role of Different Levels of Religiousness and Spirituality in Controversial Ethical Issues and Clinical Practice among Brazilian Resident Physicians: Results from the Multicenter SBRAMER Study.

This study compares clinical practice and objections to controversial ethical issues among 836 Brazilian resident physicians according to levels of religiousness/spirituality. Residents with low religiousness/spirituality (s/r) believed less in the influence of spirituality on clinical practice, were less comfortable addressing this issue, tended to listen less carefully and try to change the subject more than other groups. Residents with high spirituality and low religiousness (S/r) inquired more about religious/spiritual issues, while those with high religiousness/spirituality (S/R) were more supportive and reported fewer barriers to addressing these issues.

Acute effect of coffee on arterial stiffness and endothelial function in overweight and obese individuals: A randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Coffee is one of the most consumed foodstuffs worldwide. Studies of coffee intake in healthy subjects have shown controversial effects on vascular function. However, little is known of coffee intake effects on the endothelium of overweight and obese individuals.

The effects of a leaflet-based health guide on health literacy, self-efficacy, and satisfaction among older Japanese-Brazilian adults living in Brazil: A quasi-experimental study.

Background: This study assessed the effects of a Japanese leaflet-based health guide for older Japanese-Brazilian adults living in Brazil, on health literacy, self-efficacy, and satisfaction with the health guide and participants' subjective health status.

Methods: The study followed a one-group pretest-posttest design and was set in the Japanese-Brazilian community in South Brazil. The 21 participants were Japanese-Brazilian individuals aged over 65 years, living in Brazil, and able to converse in Japanese.

Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and APOE Polymorphism with Mortality in the Oldest Old: A 21-Year Cohort Study.

Background: Knowledge of environmental and genetic factors for healthy aging in elderly people is controversial. In addition to this evidence, few studies have been designed for this population.

Objectives: To investigate the relationship between the most frequent apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotypes and mortality in very elderly individuals living in a community and to evaluate survival according to cardiovascular risk factors.

Effects of Physical Exercise Programs on Sarcopenia Management, Dynapenia, and Physical Performance in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Introduction: Sarcopenia is a prevalent condition in the elderly population, imposing a significant impact over their functional ability as well as their quality of life. Furthermore, it is associated with greater incidence of major geriatric outcomes, as reduced mobility, falls, loss of independence, cognitive impairment, and all-cause mortality. Physical Exercise Programs directed to improve muscle mass and its function may be key to reduce sarcopenia consequences.

PCSK9 Inhibitors: Clinical Relevance, Molecular Mechanisms, and Safety in Clinical Practice.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading causes of mortality. High circulating levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in the blood are associated with cardiovascular mortality, whether through an etiological role or through its association with the progression of CAD per se. Randomized clinical trials have shown that, when LDL levels are reduced, cardiovascular risk is also reduced, which reinforces this association.

Bedside Ultrasound of Quadriceps to Predict Rehospitalization and Functional Decline in Hospitalized Elders.

Objective: To evaluate the capacity of total anterior thigh thickness, quadriceps muscle thickness, and quadriceps contractile index, all measured by bedside ultrasound, to predict rehospitalization, functional decline, and death in elderly patients 3 months after hospital discharge. To evaluate intra and interobserver reproducibility of the dominant thigh evaluation method by point of care ultrasound.

Methods: Cohort study of patients aged 65 years or more admitted to a medium complexity unit in a teaching hospital in southern Brazil.

Active aging is associated with low prevalence of depressive symptoms among Brazilian older adults.

Introduction: Active aging is the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security, aiming to improve quality of life as people age. A series of studies had demonstrated that a lower prevalence of depression is found among more active elderly.

Objective: To evaluate the association between indicators of active aging and depressive symptoms among the elderly (aged 60 years or more).

Apolipoprotein E genetic polymorphism, serum lipoprotein levels and breast cancer risk: A case-control study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) allelic frequency, serum lipoproteins and breast cancer (BC). We conducted a nested case-control study within a cohort including 47 cases and 165 controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analyses of the APOE polymorphism were performed.

Collective efficacy and depressive symptoms in Brazilian elderly.

The objective was to investigate the association between depressive symptoms and collective efficacy among the elderly in a municipality in southern Brazil. A cross-sectional population-based design was carried out. Structured interviews were held at the homes of 1007 elderly individuals.

APOE ε4 allele is associated with worse performance in memory dimensions of the mini-mental state examination: the Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 and the mini-mental state examination (MMSE) dimension in an elderly population, using baseline data from the Bambui (Brazil) Cohort Study of Aging.

Design: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: The study took place at Bambui city, Minas Gerais State, Southeast Brazil.

C-reactive protein and cognition are unrelated to leukoaraiosis.

Elevated serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) have been associated with leukoaraiosis in elderly brain. However, several studies indicate that leukoaraiosis is associated with an increased risk of cognitive impairment. It is unknown how the effect of CRP on cognition is mediated by leukoaraiosis.

Homozygosity for the APOE E4 allele is solely associated with lower cognitive performance in Brazilian community-dwelling older adults: the Bambuí Study.

Objective: To investigate if APOE E4 allelic status is associated with the cognitive functioning of elderly individuals.

Methods: Participants (n = 1,408) from the Bambuí Cohort Study of Aging were selected based on the results from both variables (APOE genotype and MMSE score). Gender, age, education, marital status, skin color, GHQ score and biological measures were used as confounding factors for adjusting the logistic regression.