Short physical performance battery in aerobic capacity and physical activity evaluation of individuals with peripheral artery disease: An exploratory study.

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) negatively affects functional ability. Persons with PAD experience gait limitation, and changes in mobility, muscle strength, and balance. Assessing individuals with PAD with tests of lower limb performance during activities other than walking may provide information about aerobic capacity.

Memory for emotional information in sporadic and Type 8 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is often shown to cause episodic memory deficits. Here, we investigated whether such memory deficits are differentially expressed according to the emotional valence of stimuli and whether they are similarly reproduced in both individuals with sporadic ALS (sALS) and familial Type 8 ALS (ALS8).

Method: Twenty individuals with sALS, 18 individuals with ALS8, and 19 healthy controls were recruited for the study.

Language impairment in sporadic and familial (type 8) amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A comparative study.

Introduction/aims: Language is frequently affected in patients with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (sALS), with reduced performance in naming, syntactic comprehension, grammatical expression, and orthographic processing. However, the language profile of patients with familial type 8 ALS (ALS8), linked to p.P56S VAPB mutation, remains unclear.

Are assessment measures for components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health reproducible for use on pre-frail and frail older adults? A systematic review.

Objective: To analyze the internal consistency, reliability and measurement error of assessment measures for body structure and function (postural balance, muscle strength, cardiorespiratory function and physical fitness), activity (walking and mobility) and participation (quality of life and social reintegration) outcomes for use on pre-frail and frail older adults.

Methods: Searches were performed in six databases (Medline, Embase, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, The Cochrane Library and Lilacs) and reproducibility studies were included. Cronbach's alpha and the classification proposed by Terwee et al.

A comparative study of cognitive and behavioral profiles between sporadic and type 8 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Introduction/aims: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) type 8 (ALS8) is caused by VAPB gene mutations. The differences between neuropsychological and behavioral profiles of patients with sporadic ALS (sALS) and those with ALS8 are unclear. We aimed to compare cognitive performance and behavioral aspects between sALS and ALS8 patients.

Fatigue in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and correlated factors.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that leads to muscle weakness and paralysis. Fatigue is a disabling symptom, frequently reported in ALS, but remains under-investigated in this population. Thus, an accurate investigation of this symptom and possible associated factors in this clinical condition is needed to assist in the establishment of an adequate treatment approach.

Quality of life, disability, and clinical variables in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease that results in a progressive increase in dysfunctions, limitations and restrictions over time, which can impact on quality of life (QoL). Therefore, expanding knowledge on QoL and possible factors associated with ALS can enable the development of actions to ensure greater wellbeing for the population.

Objective: To investigate QoL in ALS and determine associations with demographic, functional and clinical aspects.

Frailty and cognitive impairment among community-dwelling elderly.

The aim was to evaluate associations between frailty status and cognitive decline and the incidence of cognitive impairment over 12-month period. Two hundred seven older adults were assessed. Frailty was defined as having at least three of the following criteria: weight loss, weakness, exhaustion, slowness, and low level of activity.

Handgrip strength in elderly with dementia: study of reliability.

Background: Measuring instruments should have their scientific and clinical value evaluated in different populations. The handgrip strength test is widely used, however little has been investigated about its reliability when used in elderly with dementia and the right stage wich its use should be avoided.

Objectives: To evaluate the test-retest reliability of the handgrip strength test in elderly with different ratings of dementia.

Common mental disorders among medical students at Universidade Federal de Sergipe: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Estimate the prevalence of common mental disorder and its associated factors among medical students of the Universidade Federal de Sergipe.

Method: A cross-sectional study was carried out, applying Self Reporting Questionnaire-20 to 473 students from the 512 medical students enrolled in 2006 and compared with compared with a structured questionnaire by the authors containing information on the socio-demographic characteristics, the teaching-learning process and the psycho-emotional experiences of the students. Freshmen were excluded after initial comparison with the students already exposed to the medical course.