José Carlos Leitão

Effects of Intervention Programs on Child and Adolescent BMI: A Meta-Analysis Study

BACKGROUND This meta-analysis study aims to assess the efficacy of school-based and after-school intervention programs on the BMIs of child and adolescents, addressing the correlation between some moderating variables. METHODS We analyzed 52 studies (N = 28,236) published between 2000-2011. RESULTS The overall effect size was 0.068 (P < .001), school (r = .069) and after-school intervention (r = .065). Programs conducted with children aged between 15-19 years were the most effective (r = .133). Interventions programs with boys and girls show better effect sizes (r = .110) than programs that included just girls (r = .073). There were no significant differences between the programs implemented in school and after-school (P = .770). The effect size was higher in interventions lasting 1 year (r = .095), with physical activity and nutritional education (r = .148), and that included 3-5 sessions of physical activity per week (r = .080). The effect size also increased as the level of parental involvement increased. CONCLUSIONS Although of low magnitude (r = .068), the intervention programs had a positive effect in prevention and decreasing obesity in children. This effect seems to be higher in older childrens, involving interventions with physical activity and nutritional education combined, with parents participation and with 1-year duration. School or after-school interventions had a similar effect.

Interleukin-6 gene −174G>C and −636G>C promoter polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most commonly diagnosed internal malignancies affecting men. Due to the important roles of IL-6 in different physiological and pathophysiological processes, IL-6 polymorphisms may modulate PCa risk. IL-6 −174 G>C (rs 1800795, also designated −236 G>C) and −636 G>C (rs 1800796, also designated −572 G>C) promoter polymorphisms have been implicated in PCa susceptibility, albeit still controversial. A literature search using PubMed and Highwire databases was conducted, resulting in eight case–control studies concerning the IL-6 −174 G>C polymorphism (11,613 PCa cases and 13,992 controls) and four case–control publications regarding the IL-6 −636 G>C polymorphism (1,941 PCa cases and 3,357 controls). In order to derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis based upon these selected case–control studies was performed. There was no significant association between IL-6 −174 G>C polymorphism and PCa increased risk. Nevertheless, the presence of allele C and the CC genotype were statistically significantly associated with decreased PCa risk in the overall analysis for IL-6 −636 G>C polymorphism. Additional studies in larger samples and analyses of functional repercussions of these SNPs in prostate tumor cells are necessary to validate these findings.

Portuguese adults' physical activity during different periods of the year

Abstract This study aims to describe the daily physical activity (PA) of a sample of adults over the course of 1 year and to examine if there are any changes in achieving PA recommendations when assessed at different periods of the year. Participants, 257 women (age: 58.99±18.93 years, BMI: 26.75±4.57 kg m−2) and 178 men (age: 49.22±20.39 years, BMI: 26.81±3.51 kg m−2), wore an accelerometer 4–7 days. Periods of data collection were defined as T1 (September to December), T2 (January to April) and T3 (May to July). From T1 and T2, men from 20 to 39 years significantly increased values of daily average ct.min−1 (U=506, p=0.012), due to an increase in moderate-to-vigorous PA by 15.96 min (U=455, p=0.003). Achievement of the two PA recommendations varied throughout the year and among the gender/age groups. Results from this study showed that women generally maintain their level of PA throughout the year, whereas men show some variation, and that there are periods of the year when individuals are more likely to be involved in PA, or perform lower-intensity activities, especially older age groups. Also, recommendations of minimum PA are not accomplished in a constant way throughout the year. PA interventions should be conducted while being mindful of the time of year in which they will take place in order to help maintain a consistent PA level throughout the year to ensure health benefits from PA.

Detection and characterization of interleukin-6 gene variants in Canis familiaris: association studies with periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease (PD) is the most common inflammatory disease of the oral cavity of domestic carnivores. In Human Medicine molecular genetics research showed that several genes play a role in the predisposition and progression of this complex disease, primarily through the regulation of inflammatory mediators, but the exactly mechanisms are poorly understood. This study aims to contribute to the characterization of the genetic basis of PD in the dog, a classically accepted model in Periodontology. We searched for genetic variations in the interleukin-6 (IL6) gene, in order to verify its association with PD in a case-control study including 25 dogs in the PD case group and 45 dogs in the control group. We indentified and characterized three new genetic variations in IL6 gene. No statistically significant differences were detected between the control and PD cases groups. Our results do not support an evidence for a major role contribution of these variants in the susceptibility to PD in the analyzed population. Nevertheless, the sequence variant I/5_g.105G>A leads to an amino acid change (arginine to glutamine) and was predicted to be possibly damaging to the IL6 protein. A larger cohort and functional studies would be of extreme importance in a near future to understand the possible role of IL6 variants in this disease.

Self-Determination and Physical Exercise Adherence in the Contexts of Fitness Academies and Personal Training

Abstract This research aimed to analyze the validity of the relations hypothesized by the theory of self-determination in predicting adherence to physical exercise in fitness academy users and subjects following personal training. A total of 588 persons from Pelotas / RS / Brazil (405 gym users and 183 subjects following personal training) completed the Portuguese version of the three questionnaires, i.e. the Perceived Autonomy Support Climate Exercise Questionnaire, Basic Psychological Needs in the Exercise Scale and Behavioral Regulation in the Exercise Questionnaire −2. The results support the factorial structure of the questionnaires used in this sample. There was a significant multivariate effect of context on self-determination for physical exercise training [Wilks’ λ = 0.934, F (10, 576.000) = 4.03, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.01]. The hypothesized structural equation model, which considered the self-determination theory, showed a good fit to the data (S-B χ2 = 234.703; p= .001; df = 52; χ2/df = 4.514; SRMS = .049; NNFI = .906; CFI = .926; RMSEA = .077; RMSEA 90% CI = .067 − .088). However, in the comparative analysis, the perception of autonomy support, relatedness and competence were significantly higher in the context of personal training, while the amotivation and external regulation were significantly higher in the context of fitness academies.

Efficacy of Exercise on Breast Cancer Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Preclinical Data

The use of preclinical models to investigate antitumor effects of exercise on breast tumor (BT) development and progression are critical. However, published results have not been quantitatively summarized or examined for potential exercise-moderating variables. We conducted this review to summarize and quantify the effect-size of exercise on BT outcomes in preclinical studies. A literature search was performed in MEDLINE, PubMed, Web of Science and System for Information on Grey Literature in Europe (SIGLE) databases. Risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLEs RoB tool. A total of 116 correlations were performed to analyze 28 preclinical studies published through December 2016, which included 2,085 animals and 51 exercise programs. Positive effects of small, medium and large magnitude were observed in tumor incidence, growth and multiplicity, respectively. In the tumor microenvironment, positive effects of large magnitude were also observed in proliferation and apoptosis but not in angiogenesis. Moderator variables correlated with higher intervention effects were identified along with a considerable heterogeneity in exercise protocols that precluded us from clearly perceiving the benefits of exercise exposure. In conclusion, exercise performed under specific conditions benefits BT outcomes. Preclinical studies with exercise designs mimicking exercise exposure that can be used in clinical contexts are needed.

Motivational climate, goal orientation and exercise adherence in fitness centers and personal training contexts

This study was conducted to analyze the relationships hypothesized by the Achievement Goal Theory in predicting adherence to exercise. The study participants were 405 individuals exercising in fitness centers with a mean age of 35 years (SD = 17) and 183 individuals exercising with personal trainers with a mean age of 43 years (SD = 16), that answered the Portuguese versions of the Goal Orientation in Exercise Measure and Perceived Motivational Climate in Exercise Questionnaire. The hypothesized structural equation model showed that the mastery motivational climate had a positive impact on task orientation goals, which in turn had a positive impact on exercise adherence. However, performance motivational climate had a positive impact on ego orientation goals, which in turn had a negative impact on exercise adherence.

Tradução e validação da adaptação para o exercício do Perceived Motivational Climate Sport Questionnaire

O objetivo principal do estudo e a traducao e validacao da versao portuguesa da adaptacao ao exercicio do Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (PMCSQ), com recurso a analise fatorial exploratoria (AFE) e confirmatoria (AFC), realizadas com dois grupos independentes de praticantes de exercicio em ginasios, de ambos os generos e com idades compreendidas entre os 14 e os 64 anos. Na AFE os resultados revelam uma estrutura que explica 52% da variância dos resultados, pesos fatoriais entre 0.63 e 0.80, e uma boa consistencia interna (αMestria=0.78; αPerformance=0.74). Na AFC os resultados indicam um excelente ajustamento do modelo: S-Bχ2=40.6; df=34; p=0.20; S-Bχ2/df=1.19; SRMR=0.03; NNFI=0.98; CFI=0.99; RMSEA=0.02; 90% IC RMSEA=0.00-0.05, uma consistencia interna razoavel (αMestria=0.74; αPerformance=0.75), e pesos fatoriais entre 0.50 e 0.79, o que nos leva a concluir que a versao Portuguesa da adaptacao do PMCSQ ao exercicio pode ser utilizada na avaliacao do clima motivacional no exercicio.The main purpose of this study is to present the results of translation and validation of the Portuguese version of Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (PMCSQ) adaptation to exercise, through exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis, performed with two independent groups of participants, all exercisers in private fitness clubs, of both sexes, and aged between 14 and 64 years old. The EFA results reveal a structure explaining 52% of total variance, with factor loadings ranged from 0.63 to 0.80, and reasonable reliability (αMastery=0.78; αPerformance=0.74). The AFC results showed an excellent model fit to data: S-Bχ2=40.6; df=34; p=0.20; S-Bχ2/df=1.19; SRMR=0.03; NNFI=0.98; CFI=0.99; RMSEA=0.02; 90% IC RMSEA=0.00-0.05, an acceptable reliability (αMastery=0.74; αPerformance=0.75), and factor loadings ranged from 0.50 to 0.79, which leads us to conclude that Portuguese version of PMCSQ adaptation to exercise can be used to measure motivational climate in exercise.

Tradução e Validação da Versão Portuguesa da Goal Orientation in Exercise Scale (GOESp)

O objectivo deste estudo e a apresentacao dos resultados da traducao e validacao da versao Portuguesa da Goal Orientation in Exercise Scale (GOES), com recurso a analise factorial exploratoria (AFE) e confirmatoria (AFC), realizadas com dois grupos de praticantes de exercicio em ginasios, de ambos os generos e com idades entre os 15 e os 61 anos. Os resultados da AFE revelam uma estrutura factorial que explica 61% da variância dos resultados, pesos factoriais entre 0,63 e 0,86, e uma boa consistencia interna (αEgo=0,91; αTarefa=0,74). No entanto, os resultados da AFC indicam que o modelo nao se ajustou aos dados: S-Bχ2=154,59; gl=34; p=0,000; S-Bχ2/gl=4,55; SRMR=0,06; NNFI=0,87; CFI=0,90; RMSEA=0,10; 90% IC RMSEA=0,09-0,12, e so apresentou indices aceitaveis de ajustamento apos a sua re-especificacao, que conduziu a eliminacao de um item. Assim, aconselha-se alguma prudencia na sua utilizacao, e a realizacao de mais estudos sobre a sua validade.

Physical Training and Upper Limb Strength of people with paraplegia: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT Physical training improves the strength of upper limbs, contributing directly to the performance of activities of daily life, confirming one more time that the strengthened muscle is imperative for a rapid rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE To investigate the scientific implications of the impact of physical training on the strength of the upper limbs of people with paraplegias. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The search strategy with truncations and Boolean operator was defined as: (spinal cord inju* OR traumatic myelopat* OR paraplegi*) AND (physical exercise OR strength training OR resisted training) AND (upper limb* OR arm OR armrest), for all of the databases. There were included experimental and quasi-experimental studies, published in the English language and with the complete text available, with at least 1 physical exercise that worked with the strength of the upper limbs. Two independent evaluators extracted from each article data on study characteristics (publishing year, country of origin, and study design), of the subjects (gender and age), and of the disability (level of lesion and cause). EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Seven articles were included in the systematic revision. The procedure used the most for measuring the maximum strength was the 1-repetition maximum test, followed by the isokinetic dynamometer and Quantitative Muscle Testing System. Furthermore, the most commonly associated variables in the included studies were pain in the shoulder, cardiorespiratory capacity, and functionality, respectively. The results showed that all of the variables improved because of the training. CONCLUSIONS The training improved the strength, the functionality, and reduced the pain in the shoulder of the people with paraplegia.