The Effects of Maintenance Cardiac Rehabilitation: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Purpose: Maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (M-CR) programs aim to preserve the health benefits achieved during phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The aim of this study was to establish the effects of M-CR on functional capacity, quality of life, risk factors, costs, mortality, and morbidity, among other outcomes.

Methods: Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Embase & Embase classic OVID, and Lilacs were searched.

Predictors of Expressed Emotion in First Episode Psychosis.

This article evaluated the predictors of EE and its components, EOI and CC, in relatives of first episode psychosis patients (FEP) in Brazil. Cross-sectional observational study conducted with 82 dyads of FEP patients and their relatives. , , and .

Central angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates systemic inflammation via activation of sympathetic signaling in endotoxemic rats.

Angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] is an angiotensin-derived neuropeptide with potential anti-hypertensive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, a possible action of Ang-(1-7) in neuroimmune interactions to regulate inflammatory response has not been explored. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine whether the intracerebroventricular (i.

Cardiovascular and Autonomic Dysfunction in Murine Ligature-Induced Periodontitis.

The present study examined the hemodynamics [arterial pressure (AP), AP variability (APV), heart rate (HR), and heart rate variability (HRV)], cardiac function (echocardiographycally), and myocardial inflammation in Balb/c mice submitted to Periodontitis, through the ligation of the left first molar, or Sham surgical procedure. The first protocol indicated that the AP was similar (136 ± 2 vs. 132 ± 3 mmHg in Sham), while the HR was higher in mice with Periodontitis (475 ± 20 vs.

A comparison between endoscopic and microscopic approaches for stapes surgery: a systematic review.

Objectives: To evaluate the surgical techniques, approaches, audiological outcomes and complications of endoscopic stapes surgery.

Methods: Systematic searches of the literature were performed in PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus databases, to identify studies of patients who underwent stapes surgery using endoscopic approaches and studies reporting objective post-operative hearing outcomes. The following information was extracted: surgery duration, complications, surgical technique and audiometric results.

mTOR pathway somatic variants and the molecular pathogenesis of hemimegalencephaly.

Objectives: Recently, defects in the protein kinase mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and its associated pathway have been correlated with hemimegalencephaly (HME). mTOR acts as a central regulator of important physiological cellular functions such as growth and proliferation, metabolism, autophagy, death, and survival. This study was aimed at identifying specific variants in mTOR signaling pathway genes in patients diagnosed with HME.

Cut-off points of appendicular lean soft tissue for identifying sarcopenia in older adults in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: appropriate appendicular lean soft tissue (ALST) parameters to identify sarcopenia in Brazil are scarce. The use of international references may lead to a false positive diagnosis. The objective was to propose cut-off points to identify sarcopenia in older men and women using DXA-derived ALST values from a young adult population.

European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020.

The European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps 2020 is the update of similar evidence based position papers published in 2005 and 2007 and 2012. The core objective of the EPOS2020 guideline is to provide revised, up-to-date and clear evidence-based recommendations and integrated care pathways in ARS and CRS. EPOS2020 provides an update on the literature published and studies undertaken in the eight years since the EPOS2012 position paper was published and addresses areas not extensively covered in EPOS2012 such as paediatric CRS and sinus surgery.

Evaluation of Cardiac Function in Women With a History of Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Women with a history of preeclampsia are at increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms of disease association, and the ideal method of monitoring this high-risk group, remains unclear. This review aims to determine whether women with a history of preeclampsia show clinical or subclinical cardiac changes when evaluated with an echocardiogram.

Folic acid-deficient diet during gestation and post-weaning alters Pomc gene and protein expression in rat offspring.

Background: folic acid participates in one-carbon metabolism, which supplies methyl groups to numerous reactions in the body. Impaired delivery of these methyl groups affects gene expression. We hypothesize that offspring exposed to less folic acid will express higher levels of Pomc (proopiomelanocortin) gene mRNA.

α-Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits autophagy and calpain systems and maintains the stability of neuromuscular junction in denervated muscles.

Objective: Although it is well established that a-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) stabilizes muscle-type cholinergic receptors nicotinic subunits (AChR), the underlying mechanism by which this neuropeptide regulates muscle protein metabolism and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) morphology is unclear.

Methods: To elucidate the mechanisms how CGRP controls NMJ stability in denervated mice skeletal muscles, we carried out physiological, pharmacological, and molecular analyses of atrophic muscles induced by sciatic nerve transection.

Results: Here, we report that CGRP treatment in vivo abrogated the deleterious effects on NMJ upon denervation (DEN), an effect that was associated with suppression of skeletal muscle proteolysis, but not stimulation of protein synthesis.

Impact of Evidence-Based Stroke Care on Patient Outcomes: A Multilevel Analysis of an International Study.

Background The uptake of proven stroke treatments varies widely. We aimed to determine the association of evidence-based processes of care for acute ischemic stroke ( AIS ) and clinical outcome of patients who participated in the HEADPOST (Head Positioning in Acute Stroke Trial), a multicenter cluster crossover trial of lying flat versus sitting up, head positioning in acute stroke. Methods and Results Use of 8 AIS processes of care were considered: reperfusion therapy in eligible patients; acute stroke unit care; antihypertensive, antiplatelet, statin, and anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation; dysphagia assessment; and physiotherapist review.

Phosphorus Counting Table for the control of serum phosphorus levels without phosphate binders in hemodialysis patients.

Background And Aims: Hyperphosphatemia constitutes one of the major problems faced by patients with chronic kidney disease, and nourishment plays a significant role in its control. The present study aimed to evaluate the maintenance of phosphorus serum levels by observing measurements before and after an intervention using the Phosphorus Counting Table (PCT), in hemodialysis patients lacking phosphate binder use.

Methods: The assessment included fifty individuals on hemodialysis who underwent phosphate binder suspension 30 days prior to the intervention.

Disease presentation of 1312 childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: influence of ethnicity.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of ethnicity in presentation of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) patients.

Methods: This multicenter study included cSLE patients (American College of Rheumatology criteria) followed in 27 Pediatric Rheumatology services of Brazil. Ethnicities were classified in four groups according to the parents' and all four grandparents' self-reported ethnicity.

Green tea supplementation improves oxidative stress biomarkers and modulates IL-6 circulating levels in obese women.

Introduction: obesity is associated with high levels of oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. There is a lot of evidence that some polyphenols, such as green tea, have a positive impact on the OS state and consecutively, on inflammation. Objectives: the purposes of this study were: a) evaluate OS biomarkers in both obese and normal weight women; and b) evaluate if green tea supplementation has an impact on OS and inflammatory cytokine biomarkers of obese women.

INSIG2 gene polymorphism is associated with higher blood pressure and triglyceride levels in Brazilian obese subjects.

Objective: this study aimed to evaluate the association between polymorphisms of INSIG, PCSK9 and FTO genes with anthropometric, biochemical characteristics and presence of metabolic syndrome in patients with severe obesity. Material and methods: the present study enrolled 150 patients with grade II or III obesity, who were submitted to nutritional assessment, blood pressure measurement and peripheral blood collection. INSIG2 (rs75666605), PCSK9 (rs505151), and FTO (rs9939609) polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan Pre-Designed SNP Genotyping Assays probes in real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

The lipid raft protein NTAL participates in AKT signaling in mantle cell lymphoma.

Lipid rafts are ordered membrane domains, which provide an environment for the proteins participating in signal transduction. Perifosine is an alkylphospholipid (APL) that inhibits the AKT pathway, cytotoxic to neoplastic cells. We have shown that the lipid raft adaptor protein NTAL is a target of APLs in leukemic cells.

Physical function and performance measures of children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.

This study aimed to verify whether there are differences in foot type, physical function, and performance between children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and their healthy counterparts, and whether an interval of 6 months, from the initial assessment, reveals any significant changes on physical performance and other specific physical measures of the lower limbs. : Participants between 6 and 17 years of age, with CMT (CMT group = 40), were compared to healthy participants (Control group, = 49). Twenty participants with CMT completed the follow-up.

Insulin/IGF1 signalling mediates the effects of β -adrenergic agonist on muscle proteostasis and growth.

Background: Stimulation of β -adrenoceptors can promote muscle hypertrophy and fibre type shift, and it can counteract atrophy and weakness. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

Methods: Fed wild type (WT), 2-day fasted WT, muscle-specific insulin (INS) receptor (IR) knockout (M-IR ), and MKR mice were studied with regard to acute effects of the β -agonist formoterol (FOR) on protein metabolism and signalling events.

CCR2 Plays a Protective Role in Rocio Virus-Induced Encephalitis by Promoting Macrophage Infiltration Into the Brain.

Rocio virus (ROCV) is a highly neuropathogenic mosquito-transmitted flavivirus responsible for an unprecedented outbreak of human encephalitis during 1975-1976 in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Previous studies have shown an increased number of inflammatory macrophages in the central nervous system (CNS) of ROCV-infected mice, implying a role for macrophages in the pathogenesis of ROCV. Here, we show that ROCV infection results in increased expression of CCL2 in the blood and in infiltration of macrophages into the brain.

Postural Control Complexity and Fatigue in Minimally Affected Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis.

This study investigated changes in postural control complexity in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) before and after a fatigue protocol. Thirteen minimally affected PwMS (1.53 ± 1.