Eduardo Caldas Costa

Feeling of pleasure to high-intensity interval exercise is dependent of the number of work bouts and physical activity status

Objectives To examine the affective responses during a single bout of a low-volume HIIE in active and insufficiently active men. Materials and methods Fifty-eight men (aged 25.3 ± 3.6 years) volunteered to participate in this study: i) active (n = 29) and ii) insufficiently active (n = 29). Each subject undertook i) initial screening and physical evaluation, ii) maximal exercise test, and iii) a single bout of a low-volume HIIE. The HIIE protocol consisted of 10 x 60s work bouts at 90% of maximal treadmill velocity (MTV) interspersed with 60s of active recovery at 30% of MTV. Affective responses (Feeling Scale, -5/+5), rating of perceived exertion (Borg’s RPE, 6–20), and heart rate (HR) were recorded during the last 10s of each work bout. A two-factor mixed-model repeated measures ANOVA, independent-samples t test, and chi-squared test were used to data analysis. Results There were similar positive affective responses to the first three work bouts between insufficiently active and active men (p > 0.05). However, insufficiently active group displayed lower affective responses over time (work bout 4 to 10) than the active group (p < 0.01). Also, the insufficiently active group displayed lower values of mean, lowest, and highest affective response, as well as lower values of affective response at the highest RPE than the active group (p < 0.001). There were no differences in the RPE and HR between the groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions Insufficiently active and active men report feelings of pleasure to few work bouts (i.e., 3–4) during low-volume HIIE, while the affective responses become more unpleasant over time for insufficiently active subjects. Investigations on the effects of low-volume HIIE protocols including a fewer number of work bouts on health status and fitness of less active subjects would be interesting, especially in the first training weeks.

Monitoring internal training load and mucosal immune responses in futsal athletes.

Abstract Moreira, A, de Moura, NR, Coutts, A, Costa, EC, Kempton, T, and Aoki, MS. Monitoring internal training load and mucosal immune responses in futsal athletes. J Strength Cond Res 27(5): 1253–1259, 2013—The purpose of this study was to examine the changes in salivary immunoglobulin A (SIgA), cortisol, and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) and their relationships with training loads (TLs) during a 4-week period of intensive training during the competitive season in elite Brazilian futsal players. Twelve athletes (age: 19 ± 1 years; height: 180 ± 4 cm; and body mass: 73 ± 7 kg) participated in the study. The training program included tactical, technical, specific conditioning and strength training, and competition matches. Training load was quantified using the session rating of perceived exertion. Salivary immunoglobulin A, salivary cortisol and symptoms of URTIs were assessed weekly. A significant decrease in weekly TL was observed for week 4 (tapering) compared with that of other weeks (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for cortisol and SIgA during the study (p > 0.05). There was a significant decrease in URTI symptom severity during week 4 as compared with that of weeks 1 and 2 (p < 0.05), with a significant correlation between weekly TL and URTI severity and weekly TL during week 4 (rs = 0.75; p < 0.05). The present findings suggest that futsal athletes are more susceptible to high URTI symptom severity in the periods of higher training. Therefore, the reduction in TLs before competitions is an appropriate strategy to minimize URTI symptoms ensuring the athletes ability to train and compete.

Combinação de fatores de risco relacionados à síndrome metabólica em militares da Marinha do Brasil

FUNDAMENTO: As doencas cardiovasculares representam a principal causa de morte na populacao, e a sindrome metabolica (SM) e uma condicao clinica significativamente associada ao aumento da morbimortalidade. OBJETIVO: Descrever o padrao de combinacao dos fatores de risco relacionados ao diagnostico de SM em militares da Marinha do Brasil e identificar eventuais variaveis associadas a presenca da referida sindrome nessa populacao. METODOS: Estudo transversal envolvendo 1.383 homens (18-62 anos) lotados nas organizacoes militares da Grande Natal-RN. O criterio utilizado para diagnostico de SM foi o proposto pela International Diabetes Association. A razao entre a prevalencia observada e a esperada e os respectivos intervalos de confianca foram utilizados para identificar as combinacoes de fatores de risco que excediam o esperado para a populacao. A analise de regressao logistica foi utilizada para identificar variaveis associadas a SM. RESULTADOS: A prevalencia de SM foi de 17,6%. Aproximadamente um terco dos militares apresentou dois ou mais fatores de risco para SM. Todas as combinacoes especificas dos fatores de risco para SM que excederam a prevalencia esperada apresentaram a obesidade abdominal como um de seus componentes. Nas analises ajustadas, idade, tabagismo e nivel de atividade fisica mantiveram-se associados a SM. CONCLUSAO: Nossos achados reforcam a constante presenca da obesidade abdominal no fenotipo da SM. Alem disso, nossos dados tambem suportam a ideia de que idade, tabagismo e baixo nivel de atividade fisica sao variaveis independentes para a ocorrencia de SM.

Índices de obesidade central e fatores de risco cardiovascular na síndrome dos ovários policísticos

FUNDAMENTO: A obesidade abdominal apresenta elevada prevalencia em mulheres com sindrome dos ovarios policisticos (SOP) e esta associada a um aumento do risco cardiovascular. OBJETIVO: Verificar a acuracia da circunferencia da cintura (CC), da relacao cintura-quadril (RCQ), da relacao cintura-estatura (RCEST) e do indice de conicidade (indice C), no que se refere a deteccao de fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRCV) em mulheres com SOP. METODOS: Por meio de estudo transversal, foram alocadas 102 mulheres (26,5 ± 5 anos) com diagnostico de SOP, de acordo com o consenso de Rotterdam. O colesterol total (CT), os triglicerideos (TG), o LDL-colesterol (LDL-C), o HDL-colesterol (HDL-C), a glicemia de jejum, a glicemia apos teste oral de tolerância a glicose (TOTG) e a pressao arterial (PA) foram avaliados em todas as pacientes, alem das variaveis antropometricas. RESULTADOS: A relacao cintura-estatura foi o marcador que apresentou correlacoes positivas significativas com o maior numero de FRCV (PA, TG e glicemia apos TOTG), destacando-se ainda a correlacao negativa com HDL-C. Todos os marcadores antropometricos avaliados se correlacionaram positivamente com PA, enquanto CC e RCQ apresentaram correlacao positiva tambem com TG. No tocante a acuracia para deteccao de FRCV, os indicadores antropometricos considerados apresentaram taxas de sensibilidade superiores a 60%, com destaque para a RCEST, que apresentou sensibilidade superior a 70%. CONCLUSAO: A RCEST demonstrou ser o indicador antropometrico com a melhor acuracia para a predicao de FRCV. Nesse sentido, propoe-se a inclusao desse parâmetro de facil mensuracao na avaliacao clinica para o rastreamento de mulheres com SOP e FRCV.BACKGROUND Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) present a high prevalence of abdominal obesity, which is associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE To verify the accuracy of the waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the conicity index (CI) in the detection of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in women with PCOS. METHODS The present transversal study allocated 102 women (26.5 +/- 5 years) with a diagnosis of PCOS, according to the Rotterdam criteria. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), fasting glucose, glucose after the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and blood pressure (BP) were evaluated in all patients, in addition to the anthropometric variables. RESULTS The WHtR was the marker that presented significant positive correlations with the highest number of CVRF (BP, TG and post-OGTT glucose), whereas there was a negative correlation with HDL-C. All the evaluated anthropometric markers were positively correlated with BP, whereas WC and WHR also presented a positive correlation with TG. Regarding the accuracy for the detection of CVRF, the anthropometric markers presented a sensibility > 60%, especially the WHtR, which had a sensibility > 70%. CONCLUSION The WHtR showed to be the most accurate anthropometric indicator for the prediction of CVRF. In this sense, we propose the inclusion of this easily-measured parameter in the clinical assessment for the screening of women with PCOS and CVRF.

Monitoramento do treinamento no judô: comparação entre a intensidade da carga planejada pelo técnico e a intensidade percebida pelo atleta

The aim of this study was to compare the perception concerning of the training load intensity of Judo coaches and athletes. The sample consisted of 4 coaches and 40 athletes of the Brazilian National Judo Team. The comparison between the intensity planned by the coach and the intensity experienced by the athletes was determined by the Session RPE method during a “Training camp”. In order to assess lactate responses to training, blood samples were collected pre- and post training session. The intensity experienced by athletes was higher than the intensity planned by coaches in all training sessions. Regarding lactate concentration, it was observed an increase at post-training as compared to pre-training in all sessions, with no differences between sessions. The results of this study demonstrate that although the training session has been developed by experienced coaches, significant differences were detected between the intensity of external training load planned by the coach and the intensity of the internal training load experienced by the athletes. These data reinforce the relevance of training monitoring in order to maximize performance of elite athletes.

Analysis of heart rate variability in polycystic ovary syndrome

Objective. To compare the modulation of heart rate in a group of volunteers with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to that of a group of healthy ovulatory women on the basis of R-R interval variability and analyze the relationships between heart rate variability (HRV) and other cardiovascular risk factors. Methods. In a cross-sectional study, HRV and anthropometric, biochemical and hormonal parameters were measured in 23 women with PCOS and 23 age-matched controls. Mean outcomes measures: HRV indexes in the time (SDNN and rMSSD) and frequency domain (low frequency–LF and high frequency–HF). Differences between groups and correlation analysis were performed. Results. Intergroup analysis showed significant differences (p < 0.05) between groups, with lower SDNN, rMSSD, LF and HF indexes in PCOS women when compared to the control group. There was significant negative correlation between BMI and SDNN, LF and HF, indicating a decrease in the autonomic modulation of heart rate with increasing weight. A negative correlation was also found between the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level and the rMSSD index. Conclusion. Our results show that PCOS is associated with alterations in the autonomic modulation of heart rate, possibly due to the influence of weight gain.

Níveis pressóricos elevados em mulheres com síndrome dos ovários policísticos: prevalência e fatores de risco associados

PURPOSE to investigate the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (BP) in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and to correlate the BP levels with other cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS a cross-sectional study was conducted on 113 PCOS women (26.2±4.3 years) and on a Control Group of 242 healthy women from the general population (26.8±5.0 years). The variables considered were: systolic and diastolic BP, anthropometric parameters and plasma levels of glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides. The BP values were classified according to the V Brazilian Guidelines of Hypertension. Statistical analysis was performed by intergroup comparison with the Students t-test and χ2 test, and correlation analysis was performed using Pearsons coefficient. RESULTS the PCOS Group showed a significantly higher prevalence of altered BP (>130/85 mmHg) than the Control Group (18.6 versus 9.9%, respectively; p<0.05). PCOS women had higher mean systolic BP, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), triglycerides and fasting glucose, and lower HDL-cholesterol, compared to the Control Group (p<0.01). In the PCOS Group, the values of systolic and diastolic BP showed a significant positive correlation with age, BMI, WC, and triglycerides (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS according to the results obtained, it is possible to conclude that the frequency of women with BP values above the normal limit was significantly higher in the PCOS Group than in the Control Group. Additionally, the BP values also correlated with other cardiovascular risk factors. These findings underscore the importance of preventive strategies in PCOS women, in order to prevent pathological events related to the cardiovascular system.

Effect of unilateral and bilateral resistance exercise on maximal voluntary strength, total volume of load lifted, and perceptual and metabolic responses.

The present study investigated the effect of unilateral and bilateral resistance exercise (RE) on maximal voluntary strength, total volume of load lifted (TVLL), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and blood lactate concentration of resistance-trained males. Twelve healthy men were assessed for the leg extension one-repetition maximum (1RM) strength using bilateral and unilateral contractions. Following this assessment, an RE session (3 sets of repetitions to failure) was conducted with bilateral and unilateral (both limbs) contractions using a load of 50% 1RM. The TVLL was calculated by the product of the number of repetitions and the load lifted per repetition. RPE and blood lactate were measured before, during and after each set. Session RPE was measured 30 minutes after RE sessions. There was a significant difference in the bilateral (120.0±11.9) and unilateral (135.0±20.2 kg) 1RM strength (p < 0.05). The TVLL was similar between both RE sessions. Although the repetitions decreased with each successive set, the total number of repetitions completed in the bilateral protocol (48) was superior to the unilateral (40) protocol (p < 0.05). In both bouts, RPE increased with each subsequent set whilst blood lactate increased after set 1 and thereafter remained stable (p < 0.05). The RPE and lactate responses were not significantly different between both sessions. In conclusion, a bilateral deficit in leg extension strength was confirmed, but the TVLL was similar between both RE sessions when exercising to voluntary fatigue. This outcome could be attributed to the number of repetitions completed in the unilateral RE bout. The equal TVLL would also explain the similar perceptual and metabolic responses across each RE session.

Evaluation of cardiovascular risk by the LAP index in non-obese patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

OBJECTIVE To analyze the cardiovascular risk of non-obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by the LAP index (lipid accumulation product). SUBJECTS AND METHODS 283 patients (18-34 years) assigned at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal-RN, were divided into four groups: 1) lean PCOS (n = 35); 2) healthy lean (n = 162); 3) overweight PCOS (n = 28); 4) healthy overweight (n = 58). RESULTS Patients with PCOS showed higher values of the LAP index than healthy controls: lean (22.26 vs. 15.87 cm.mmol/L; p = 0.007); overweight (40.83 vs. 26.32 cm.mmol/L; p = 0.001). The percentage of women above the 75th percentile of the LAP index was also higher in the subgroups with PCOS: lean (17.1 vs. 6.8%; p = 0.04); overweight (37.5 vs. 13.8%; p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS In our sample, patients with PCOS showed higher cardiovascular risk assessed by the LAP index in relation to healthy women, even in the absence of obesity.

The impact of body mass on inflammatory markers and insulin resistance in polycystic ovary syndrome

Abstract Objective: To evaluate inflammatory markers and insulin resistance (IR) in women with and without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), with different body mass index (BMI). Methods: Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were assessed in serum samples from 40 women in reproductive age. Patients were divided into four groups: I (non-eutrophic with PCOS, n = 12), II (non-eutrophic without PCOS, n = 10), III (eutrophic with PCOS, n = 8) and IV (eutrophic without PCOS, n = 10) being non-eutrophic, the overweight and obese women with BMI > 25 kg/m2 and eutrophic women with BMI < 24.9 kg/m2. Homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR) was calculated for evaluation of IR. Results: PCOS patients showed increased levels of CRP (p < 0.01) and HOMA-IR (p < 0.01). When divided by BMI, both non-eutrophic and eutrophic PCOS showed increased CRP levels (p < 0.01) and HOMA-IR (p < 0.01). There were no differences in TNF-α and IL-6 levels between groups. Conclusion: In the PCOS group, the levels of CRP and IR were elevated, compared to their counterparts, regardless of body mass.