Antonio Jose Grande

Exercise for cancer cachexia in adults

Cancer cachexia is a complex syndrome characterized by an ongoing loss of skeletal muscle mass and progressive functional impairment. A proactive management approach is recommended, including physical exercise to maintain function via modulation of muscle metabolism, insulin sensitivity and levels of inflammation. The review aimed to determine the safety, acceptability and effectiveness of exercise in adults with cancer cachexia. Secondary aims, subject to the data availability, were to compare effectiveness according to the characteristics of the study intervention or population.

Harmonizing the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome—Focusing on Abdominal Obesity

In 2009, important health organizations met to construct a Joint Scientific Statement (JSS) intended to harmonize the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome worldwide. The JSS aimed to unify the diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome, particularly in relation to whether to include abdominal obesity as a criterion of diagnosis. A large part of the JSS is devoted to discussing the diagnosis of abdominal obesity. More specifically, 9 of the 16 papers focused on abdominal obesity. Continuing this emphasis, we discuss the harmonization of the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome worldwide, specifically focusing on the need to improve the diagnosis of abdominal obesity.

Cardiovascular training vs. resistance training for improving quality of life and physical function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of cardiovascular training (CT) with resistance training (RT) in improving the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and physical function of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Method: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with participants randomly allocated to either a CT (n = 21), RT (n = 21), or control group (n = 21). The outcomes assessed were: HRQoL using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), severity of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), disease activity using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI), and aerobic capacity using a 12-minute walk test (T12). Results: Sixty-three patients (61 women and two men), aged 42.9 ± 14.4 years, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 28.7 ± 10.6 kg/m2, disease duration of 3.8 ± 3.3 years, and not physically active participated in the study. HRQoL improved for both exercise groups but was superior in the RT group. There was no significant difference in physical function between the intervention groups, except for aerobic capacity. Neither training programme was associated with a change in disease activity. Conclusions: Exercise intervention proved to be better than not exercising. CT was better than RT in improving HRQoL.

Overview of systematic reviews - a new type of study. Part II

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Overviews of Systematic Reviews (OoRs) are a new type of study in which multiple evidence from systematic reviews (SRs) is compiled into an accessible and useful document. The aim here was to describe the state of the art and critically assess Cochrane OoRs that have been published. DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive study conducted at a research center. METHODS The OoRs identified through the filter developed in Part I of this study were evaluated in five domains: methodological quality; quality of evidence; implications for practice; general profile of OoRs; and length of work. RESULTS All 13 OoRs included had high methodological quality. Some OoRs did not present sufficient data to judge the quality of evidence; using sensitivity analysis, the quality of evidence of the OoRs increased. Regarding implications for practice, 64% of the interventions were judged as beneficial or harmful, while 36% of them showed insufficient evidence for judgment. It is expected (with 95% confidence interval) that one OoR will include 9,462 to 64,469 patients, 9 to 29 systematic reviews and 80 to 344 primary studies, and assess 6 to 21 interventions; and that 50 to 92% of OoRs will produce meta-analysis. The OoRs generated 2 to 26 meta-analyses over a period of 18 to 31 months. CONCLUSION The OoRs presented high methodological quality; the quality of evidence tended to be moderate/high; most interventions were judged to be beneficial/harmful; the mean length of work was 24 months. The OoR profile adds power to decision-making.

Geoprocessing via Google Maps for Assessing Obesogenic Built Environments Related to Physical Activity and Chronic Noncommunicable Diseases: Validity and Reliability

This study analyzes the reliability and validity of obesogenic built environments related to physical activity and chronic noncommunicable diseases through Google Maps in a heterogeneous urban area (i.e., residential and commercial, very poor and very rich) in São Paulo (SP), Brazil. There are no important differences when comparing virtual measures with street audit. Based on Kappa statistic, respectively for validity and reliability, 78% and 80% of outcomes were classified as nearly perfect agreement or substantial agreement. Virtual measures of geoprocessing via Google Maps provided high validity and reliability for assessing built environments.

Effects of whey protein supplement in the elderly submitted to resistance training:systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Aim: We performed a systematic review to map the evidence and analyze the effect of whey protein supplementation in the elderly submitted to resistance training. Methods: A comprehensive search on Medline, LILACS, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library for relevant publications was conducted until August 2015. The terms used in the search were: “Resistance training”; “Whey protein”; “Elderly”. Results: A total of 632 studies were screened. Five studies were included composing a sample of 391 patients. The supplement whey protein was associated with higher total protein ingestion 9.40 (95% CI: 4.03–14.78), and with an average change in plasma leucine concentration. The supplementation was also associated with increased mixed muscle protein synthesis 1.26 (95% CI: 0.46–2.07) compared to the control group. Conclusion: We observed an increase in total protein intake, resulting in increased concentration of leucine and mixed muscle protein fractional synthesis rate.

Workplace exercise for changing health behavior related to physical activity

BACKGROUND Physical Activity in the workplace has received special attention from researchers who are looking to promote lifelong health and well-being. The workplace is being investigated as a possible place to assess and create strategies to help people to become healthier. The transtheoretical model and stages of change has been adapted as a tool to assess the stages of behavioral change towards exercising. OBJECTIVE To assess the change in health behavior following a three-month exercise program based in the workplace. METHODS A quasi-experimental study design was used in which 165 employees participated in the study. An intervention program of workplace exercise was applied for three months. Participants were assessed through the transtheoretical model and stages of change questionnaire before and after intervention to understand changes in their position on the behavioral change continuum. RESULTS The number of employees who were physically active increased after the workplace exercise intervention (13.9% , 95% CI 9.5 to 20.1; P = 0.009). There was a significant decrease in the proportion of employees in the pre-contemplation stage (-6.1% , 95% CI 3.3 to 10.8; P = 0.045) and contemplation stage (-11.5% , 95% CI 7.5 to 17.3; P = 0.017), and a significant increase in the action stage (10.9% , 95% CI 7.0 to 16.6; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Engaging in workplace exercise has a significant positive effect on health behavior and willingness to become more physically active.

Laser fluorescence of caries detection in permanent teeth in vitro: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The detection of dental caries in the early stages, particularly on the occlusal surfaces, has become a mainstay of contemporary clinical practice. The objective of the study was to verify the accuracy of laser fluorescence for caries detection.

Serum S100B in manic bipolar disorder patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of mania/hypomania, affecting more than 1% of the world population. S100B is a calcium-binding protein, mostly produced and secreted by astrocytes in the CNS that participate in several cellular responses. Previous studies have shown that patients with bipolar disorder had higher peripheral S100B levels than healthy individuals, suggesting a potential role for S100B BD. METHODS In this study, a systematic and quantitative meta-analysis of studies S100B serum was performed according to the guidelines PRISMA-statement to confirm the increase of serum S100B in patients with manic bipolar disorder. RESULTS We included in the meta-analysis two studies that reported the mean and standard deviation of serum S100B 52 patients manic BP and 52 control studies. Our results showed higher levels of S100B peripheral TB patients compared with healthy controls. In this meta-analysis, we found evidence that serum S100B are increased in patients with bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION In conclusion, several studies have observed morphological abnormalities in the brains of bipolar disorder patients, changes in the peripheral S100B levels in mood disorders were described, and this protein could be a putative marker for damage to the brain. Thus, in this meta-analysis we have found evidence, based on two studies of 52 patients and 52 healthy controls, that the serum concentrations of S100B are increased in bipolar disorder patients.

A biossegurança durante os cuidados de enfermagem aos pacientes com tuberculose pulmonar

Objective: To evaluate preventive measures recommended during patient care for respiratory symptoms, with pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: Exploratory-descriptive study, retrospective, developed from information collected in medical records of patients with respiratory symptoms, diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. Results: The number of tuberculosis cases in the city diagnosed during hospitalization during the study period was 65,29 (44.6%). As for the biosecurity measures during the hospitalization of 29 diagnosed cases, early aerosol were found in medical records in 13 (44.8%) patients. Conclusion: Data show that nursing professionals, working in hospitals, still exposed to risks of latent infection.