Vitamin D deficiency, functional status, and balance in older adults with osteoarthritis.

Background: Low vitamin D levels are associated with a more severe case of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, there are few published reports concerning an association between vitamin D deficiency and functional status of individuals with OA and no reports about postural balance in this population.

Aim: To analyze the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and severity, functional status, and balance in elderly patients with OA.

The effect of agroecosystem management on the distribution of C functional groups in soil organic matter: A review.

Unlabelled: To improve soil health and to aid in climate change mitigation, the quantity of soil organic matter (SOM) should be maintained or increased over the long run. In doing so, not only the total quantity of SOC but also the stability of SOC must be considered. Stability of SOC increases as a function of resistance to microbial decomposition or microbial substrate use efficiency through chemical, biological, and physical mechanisms including humification, hydrophobic moieties, molecular diversity, and formation of macroaggregates.

Effect of Amelogenin Solution in the Microhardness of Remineralized Enamel and Shear Bond Strength of Orthodontic Brackets.

Objectives: To evaluate the microhardness of tooth enamel remineralized with enamel matrix protein solution as well as the shear bond strength of orthodontic brackets bonded to this surface.

Materials And Methods: In total, 24 human premolars were selected and divided into 3 experimental groups ( = 8): SE-sound enamel, DE-demineralized enamel, and TE-demineralized enamel treated with amelogenin solution. Samples from DE and TE groups were subjected to pH cycling to induce initial artificial caries lesion.

Impact of physical and functional fitness on mortality from all causes of physically independent older adults.

Objective: To provide reference values for functional fitness tests (PFFT) and verify the capability of these tests alone and grouped into a general index (GFFI-6), to predict mortality from all causes, during seven years of follow-up of physically independent older adults.

Methods: The sample consisted of 422 older adults, evaluated at baseline using six PFFTs, as well as sociodemographic, behavioral, anthropometric, and comorbidity variables. Mortality from all causes was followed for seven subsequent years.

Reference Values for 7 Different Protocols of Simple Functional Tests: A Multicenter Study.

Objectives: To establish reference values and equations (ages 20-80y) for 7 simple functional tests based on a multicenter study.

Design: Cross-sectional data collection in 4 research centers across different regions of a continental dimension country.

Setting: Healthy subjects from general community were assessed in different research laboratories.

Translation, cross-cultural adaptation, and measurement properties of the Brazilian-Portuguese version of the idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-specific version of the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-I) for patients with interstitial lung disease.

Background: The idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis-specific version of the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-I) is a valid tool to assess health-related quality of life in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs).

Objective: To translate and cross-culturally adapt the SGRQ-I to Brazilian-Portuguese, and to assess its measurement properties.

Methods: Phase one consisted of the translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the questionnaire.

Functional performance tests in interstitial lung disease: Impairment and measurement properties.

Background: There is limited information regarding impairment in functional performance tests and their measurement properties in ILD. The present study aimed to verify the impairment and measurement properties of functional performance tests in ILD.

Methods: ILD and healthy individuals underwent assessments of pulmonary function, peripheral muscle strength (handgrip force and maximum isometric contraction of quadriceps femoris - MIVCq) and exercise capacity (6-min walk test - 6MWT).

Handgrip Strength as a Reflection of General Muscle Strength in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Muscle dysfunction is one of the main features in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Handgrip strength (HS) has been used as a representation of general muscle strength in various populations, and a few studies found correlation between HS and other measures of upper and lower limbs' muscle strength in the general population, although this was not yet studied in depth in COPD. The aims of this study were to verify if HS is cross-sectionally well correlated with upper and lower limbs' muscle strength in individuals with COPD, and to identify a new cutoff for handgrip weakness in this population.

Instruments to assess function or functionality in adults after a burn injury: A systematic review.

Introduction: Assessment of functionality or function, through valid and reliable instruments, is essential during rehabilitation of adults after a burn injury. Currently, there is no consensus in the literature regarding the most appropriate tool that should be used to assess function or functionality; there is also no synthesis of the current studies published in this area.

Objectives: To investigate and report the instruments used to assess function or functionality in adults after a burn injury; to identify the characteristics and evidence on their measurement properties; and to evaluate their clinical utility.

Six-minute walk test in burned subjects: Applicability, reproducibility and performance at hospital discharge.

Introduction: Despite its clinical relevance in several populations, there is no evidence on applicability of the 6-min walk test (6MWT) in burned subjects.

Objectives: To verify the applicability and reproducibility of the 6MWT in burned individuals and to analyze patients' performance in this test at hospital discharge.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, burned individuals performed two 6MWT at hospital discharge, according to international standardization.

Physical activity and inactivity among different body composition phenotypes in individuals with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Background: The phenotype profiling of individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to impairments in body composition and level of physical activity in daily life (PADL) needs to be determined.

Objective: To verify if individuals with COPD classified as physically active/inactive present different characteristics within different body composition phenotypes.

Methods: Individuals with COPD were cross-sectionally stratified into four groups according to fat-free and fat mass indexes: Normal Body Composition (NBC), Obese (Ob), Sarcopenic (Sarc), and Sarcopenic/Obese (Sarc/Ob).

Elastic Resistance Training Produces Benefits Similar to Conventional Resistance Training in People With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of elastic resistance training on improving muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and dyspnea in people with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods: For this systematic review, PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase (OVID), PEDro, SciELO, and CINAHL were searched from inception to November 2019. Included studies were randomized clinical trials in which people with stable COPD were allocated to (1) an experimental group that received lower-limb resistance training, upper-limb resistance training, or both using elastic resistance; or (2) a control group that received no or sham resistance training or conventional resistance training using weight machines.

Positive pressure ventilation in the weaning of preterm newborns.

Background: Weaning from invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) of preterm newborns (PTNB) is one of the critical stages of life support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) has been used to facilitate weaning from IMV and includes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) without or with inspiratory pressure support (bilevel NPPV). Nevertheless, there is little information about their adherence and success rate during weaning process.

Effects of downhill walking in pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD: a randomised controlled trial.

The development of contractile muscle fatigue (CMF) affects training responses in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Downhill walking induces CMF with lower dyspnoea and fatigue than level walking. This study compared the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) comprising downhill walking training (DT) to PR comprising level walking (conventional training (CT)) in patients with COPD.

Psychrotrophs in raw milk: effect on texture, proteolysis index, and sensory evaluation of smoked provolone cheese.

Background: Provolone can be fresh or ripened, with its taste varying from sweet to spicy. The high psychrotrophic density of raw milk is associated with thermoresistant enzymes that can change cheese characteristics such as texture, promote sensory defects and decrease industrial yield. Two batches of provolone-type smoked cheese were produced from chilled raw milk with 3 log cfu mL (Treatment 1) and 7 log cfu mL (Treatment 2) of psychrotrophs.

In vitro effects of Bifidobacterium lactis-based synbiotics on human faecal bacteria.

Synbiotic supplements contain pre- and probiotics and are used to modulate gut microbiota composition. This study aimed to investigate effects of two synbiotic mixtures on human faecal bacteria in vitro. Short chain fructooligosaccharides (FOS) (1% w/v) combined with either Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12 or Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 (10 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL)] were added to pH-controlled anaerobic batch cultures inoculated with human faeces.

Lower limb muscle strength and serotonin receptor gene polymorphism as factors associated in women with fibromyalgia.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain syndrome characterized by generalized skeletal muscle chronic pain. Its etiology is not well defined, because there are several factors that may trigger it such as physical and/or emotional stresses, or a genetic susceptibility, involving serotonergic, dopaminergic and catecholaminergic paths. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the strength of the lower limb, genetic polymorphism of the serotonin receptor gene HTR in women with fibromyalgia.

Effects of combining functional exercises with exercise training on daily physical activities and functionality in patients with COPD: a protocol for a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Functional training has been shown to be a viable alternative for the elderly and patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, whether the combination of this type of training with aerobic and resistance training, commonly performed in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programs, induces more pronounced effects on daily physical activities and functionality remains unclear. The aims of the study will be to evaluate the short-term and sustained effects of the combination of a functional circuit program with a training program consisting of aerobic and resistance exercise.

Relationship between gut microbiota, probiotics, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The worldwide prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is constantly increasing, and it has become a major concern, with several implications for public health, economy, and social well-being. It is well-known that several factors such as lifestyle, increased intake of fat and sugar-rich foods, and host genetics can lead to T2DM. Some recent studies have suggested that the composition of the intestinal microbiota can trigger T2DM.

Is there an impact of the dairy matrix on the survival of Lactobacillus casei Lc-1 during shelf life and simulated gastrointestinal conditions?

Background: The selection of the food matrix to be used as a vehicle for a probiotic culture is important because its chemical composition and physicochemical characteristics can affect probiotic survival during the shelf-life of the product and under simulated gastrointestinal conditions (SGIC). The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of the dairy matrix (chocolate fermented milk beverage, chocolate flan or passion fruit flan) on the survival of Lactobacillus casei Lc-1 during refrigerated storage (4 °C for 21 days) and SGIC.

Results: Chocolate fermented milk beverage and chocolate and passion fruit flans could be considered as matrices for the incorporation of L.

Effects of low level laser therapy in cancer cells-a systematic review of the literature.

The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review regarding the use of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy in tumoral cells, addressing the different types of lasers and parameters used. An electronic search was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Cochrane Library, and EMBASE databases. The inclusion criteria were being an in vitro study, with tumoral cells, and have at least one group of treatment with low-power laser and a control group (without treatment).

Resistance Training With Elastic Tubing Improves Muscle Strength, Exercise Capacity, and Post-Exercise Creatine Kinase Clearance in Subjects With COPD.

Background: Among the types of physical exercise, resistance exercises have been gaining significant attention in the COPD population. The aim of this study was to compare effects of conventional resistance training and of training by using elastic tubes on muscle strength, exercise capacity, and creatine kinase clearance in subjects with COPD.

Methods: Twenty-eight subjects with COPD were randomized into the following: resistance training with the elastic tubing group and resistance training with the weight-machine training group (conventional resistance group), performed 3 times a week for 12 weeks.