Can intensity in strength training change caloric expenditure? Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Strength training (ST) is considered an important strategy for maintaining body weight, as it promotes an increase in total energy expenditure (EE). However, the combination and manipulation of variables (intensity and volume) allow for different training adaptations. However, it remains unclear as to what is the most important variable between volume or intensity for example number of sets, repetitions, or total load for maximizing EE during ST.

Mobile Health Solutions for Hypertensive Disorders in Pregnancy: Scoping Literature Review.

Background: Hypertensive disorders are the most common complications during pregnancy, occurring in 5% to 11% of pregnancies; gestational hypertension and preeclampsia are the leading causes of perinatal and maternal morbidity and mortality, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where maternal and perinatal mortality ratios are still high. Pregnant women with hypertensive disorders could greatly benefit from mobile health (mHealth) solutions as a novel way to identify and control early symptoms, as shown in an increasing number of publications in the field. Such digital health solutions may overcome access limiting factors and the lack of skilled medical professionals and finances commonly presented in resource-poor environments.

Total and Fetal Circulating Cell-Free DNA, Angiogenic, and Antiangiogenic Factors in Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome.

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. The HELLP syndrome is the most severe form of PE. The aim of the present study was to determine different potential biomarkers that may help us perform an early diagnosis of the disease, assess on the severity of the disease, and/or predict maternal or fetal adverse outcomes.

Hemorrhagic shock secondary to button battery ingestion.

Context: Button battery ingestion is a frequent pediatric complaint. The serious complications resulting from accidental ingestion have increased significantly over the last two decades due to easy access to gadgets and electronic toys. Over recent years, the increasing use of lithium batteries of diameter 20 mm has brought new challenges, because these are more detrimental to the mucosa, compared with other types, with high morbidity and mortality.

Decreased level of cord blood circulating endothelial colony-forming cells in preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder associated with increased cardiovascular risk for the offspring. Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are a subset of circulating endothelial progenitor cells that participate in the formation of vasculature during development. However, the effect of preeclampsia on fetal levels of ECFCs is largely unknown.

Acoustic radiation force impulse elastography and serum fibrosis markers in chronic hepatitis C.

Objective: Liver biopsy (LB) remains the gold standard for the assessment of liver fibrosis, although it is invasive and can have complications. The present study compares several noninvasive methods of fibrosis assessment in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), including acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography, aspartate aminotransferase:platelet ratio index (APRI), Forns, FIB-4, and King scores versus percutaneous LB.

Material And Methods: This prospective study enrolled 51 untreated CHC patients.

Aerobic program in persons with stroke: a systematic review.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review on the exercise trials post stroke.

Material And Methods: Therefore, we conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled clinical trials published in PubMed and PEDro. The inclusion criteria were: Studies--randomized or controlled clinical trials; Participants--adults of any age with a clinical diagnosis of stroke; Interventions--any aerobic physical training aimed at improving cardiovascular capacity and/or function.

Maternal body-mass index and cord blood circulating endothelial colony-forming cells.

Objective: Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are a subset of circulating endothelial progenitor cells that are particularly abundant in umbilical cord blood. We sought to determine whether ECFC abundance in cord blood is associated with maternal body-mass index (BMI) in nonpathologic pregnancies.

Study Design: We measured the level of ECFCs in the cord blood of neonates (n = 27) born from non-obese healthy mothers with nonpathologic pregnancies and examined whether ECFC abundance correlated with maternal BMI.

Role of circulating cell-free DNA levels in patients with severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

Background: Increased plasma levels of circulating cell-free DNA (c-f DNA) have been recently described in diseases related to ischemia and/or hypoxia. Preeclampsia (PCL) is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, of unknown origin, where a defective placentation resulting in placental ischemia plays an important role. HELLP syndrome (haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count) is the most serious form of PCL.

Olive oil polyphenols decrease blood pressure and improve endothelial function in young women with mild hypertension.

Background: Olive oil polyphenols have been associated with several cardiovascular health benefits. This study aims to examine the influence of a polyphenol-rich olive oil on blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function in 24 young women with high-normal BP or stage 1 essential hypertension.

Methods: We conducted a double-blind, randomized, crossover dietary-intervention study.

Clinical features and outcome of children and adolescents hospitalized with influenza A (H1N1) virus infection compared with flu-like symptoms and negative rapid tests for influenza A (H1N1) admitted in the same period of time.

This report describes the clinical features and outcome of 61 pediatric hospitalized patients with influenza-like infection. Fever, cough and respiratory distress were the most common symptoms of the infection. Fifteen patients presented positive RT-PCR results for influenza A (H1N1).

Genotype of the CYBA promoter -930A/G, polymorphism C677T of the MTHFR and APOE genotype in patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: an observational study.

Background And Objective: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy could be favoured by polymorphisms in genes affecting vascular physiology. The aim of our work was to study several variants in the genes regulating oxidative stress, plasma lipids metabolism and endothelial function (observational study).

Material And Methods: We studied the -930A/G polymorphism of the CYBA gene promoter, the apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene C677T polymorphism in 134 healthy pregnant women, 266 pregnant with non-proteinuric hypertension (NPH) and 184 patients with preeclampsia (PE).

[Abnormal glycemic metabolism in essential hypertension. Role of the an oral glucose tolerance test].

Background And Objective: There is a high prevalence of diabetes in essential hypertensive patients, hence increasing the cardiovascular risk of these subjects. Our aim was to test the importance of a routine assessment of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in a sample of recently diagnosed essential hypertensives.

Patients And Method: We studied 270 recently diagnosed untreated hypertensives (56% males).

Glucose effectiveness is strongly related to left ventricular mass in subjects with stage I hypertension or high-normal blood pressure.

Background: Evidence suggests that "glucose effectiveness," (SG) or the effect of glucose per se to enhance net glucose disposal, may be at least as important as the insulin sensitivity index (SI) in the assessment of glucose tolerance. Our objective was to study the relationship of SG and SI parameters to left ventricular mass in a group of untreated, nondiabetic, and nonobese subjects recently diagnosed with stage I or high-normal blood pressure (BP).

Methods: In this sample of subjects, among whom the expected prevalence of insulin resistance is low, we assessed SG and SI parameters using the intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal model analysis.

Role of ketoconazole treatment in urinary-free cortisol-to-cortisone and tetrahydrocortisol-to-tetrahydrocortisone ratios in nonectopic Cushing's syndrome.

We hypothesized that in nonectopic Cushing syndrome there is an insufficient activity of type II (renal) 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD2) that is related to cortisol excess, rather than to corticotropin (adrenocorticotropic hormone [ACTH]) levels. We measured plasma ACTH and urinary-free cortisol (UFF), urinary-free cortisone (UFE), tetrahydrocortisol (UTHF), and tetrahydrocortisone (UTHE) in 24-h urine samples of 24 healthy subjects and 15 patients diagnosed with nonectopic Cushing syndrome. Then, in the group of patients, a new 24-h urine sample was collected after treatment with 800 mg daily of ketoconazole.