Effects of an exercise training program in physical condition after liver transplantation in familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy: a case report

Introduction

Familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to sensory and motor polyneuropathies as well as functional limitations. So far, liver transplantation is the only treatment for FAP because the mutated protein causing the disease is mainly produced in the liver. With the increasing survival of transplant recipients, functional and cardiovascular problems as consequences of immunosuppressant side effects are increasing associated with sedentary lifestyles and/or pretransplantation status. We sought to analyze the impact of exercise training programs on 1 FAP patient's course long-term after liver transplantation.

Methodology

A FAP patient (female; 49 years of age; body mass index = 18.8 kg/m²) underwent a liver transplantation 133 months before assessment. She was assessed for body composition, isometric quadriceps muscle strength, functional capacity, fatigue, and levels of physical activity before and after a 6-month period of combined exercise training.

Results

After the exercise training program, almost all variables were improved, namely, total body skeletal muscle mass, proximal femoral bone mineral density, quadriceps strength, maximal oxygen consumption on 6 minutes walk test (6mwt) or VO_2peak, total ventilation on 6mwt, and fatigue. The improvement in distance on 6mwt (69.2 m) was clinically significant. Preintervention the levels of physical activity were below international recommendations for health; after the program they achieved the recommendations.

Conclusion

The results showed an improvement in functional capacity with a decrease in future disability risk associated with a better lifestyle with respect to physical activity levels in 1 patient.     

Effect of body surface area calculations on body fat estimates in non-obese and obese subjects

The purpose of the present study was to compare body surface area (BSA) estimates using two equations (Dubois and Dubois versus Livingston) and their respective effects on per cent body fat (%BF) obtained with two molecular approaches of body composition analysis, two-compartment (2C) and five-compartment (5C) models. Body composition data using the 2C model were studied in healthy adults, 432 women (body mass index (BMI): 28.3 +/- 4.4 kg m(-2)) and 147 men (BMI: 26.8 +/- 3.9 kg m(-2)), while another sample of 126 women (BMI: 30.4 +/- 3.7 kg m(-2)) was evaluated using the 5C model. Measures of body volume (BV) assessed by air displacement plethysmography, bone mineral content by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and total-body water by deuterium dilution were used to estimate %BF with the 5C model. Comparison of means and linear regression analysis was performed. Using BSA(Dubois), either in 2C and 5C models, BV and %BF estimates were significantly underestimated compared to results obtained using BSA(Livingston) (p < 0.05). BMI was strongly associated with %BF differences using BSA(Dubois) and BSA(Livingston) in both 2C (men: r = 0.90; women: r = 0.88) and 5C models (r = 0.88). Though %BF(Dubois) and %BF(Livingston) were strongly associated (r(2) = 1.000), some variability was observed on %BF differences using BSA(Dubois) and BSA(Livingston). These findings suggest that BSA calculation is critical in BF estimation, supporting the use of a more accurate equation for non-obese and obese subjects.     

Changes in cardiorespiratory fitness predict changes in body composition from childhood to adolescence: findings from the European Youth Heart Study

Background: Several variables, such as waist circumference (WC) and trunk skinfolds (TS), are indicators of body fat. There is interest in evaluating the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measures on changes in these markers from childhood to adolescence. Purpose: To examine CRF as a potential predictor of changes in body fat over an 8-year follow-up period in a pediatric population. Methods: A cohort study of 86 children (44 girls, 42 boys) with a mean age of 9.8 ± 0.3 years who participated in the Portuguese arm of the European Youth Heart Study in 2000 completed a follow-up evaluation in 2008 at a mean age of 17.0 ± 0.4 years. Cardiorespiratory fitness, expressed as maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) (mL·kg(-1)·min(-1)), was assessed during an incremental multistage bicycle test to exhaustion. Physical activity (PA) was objectively measured by accelerometry at both periods of evaluation. Fat mass (FM) was assessed using anthropometric models, sum of TS, and WC. Changes were expressed as a percentage of the baseline value. Comparison of means and linear regression analysis were used for data analysis. Results: While CRF significantly increased among boys (P < 0.05) and decreased in girls (P < 0.01), the percentage of body fat decreased over time in boys (P < 0.01) and increased among girls. Alone, CRF explained 39%, 26%, and 25% of the total variance in WC, FM, and TS, respectively (P < 0.01). Adjusting for PA, sex, and maturation changes, CRF remained a significant predictor of WC (β = -0.335; P < 0.01), FM (β = -2.084; P < 0.01), and TS (β = -1.500; P < 0.01). Conclusion: Changes in CRF are a significant predictor of changes in body fat percentage from childhood to adolescence. School-based PA interventions are encouraged to maintain or improve CRF from childhood and throughout adolescence to prevent increased percentages of body fat, particularly in the abdominal region.     

Family and the protection from use of tobacco, alcohol, and drugs in adolescents, National School Health Survey

This study evaluates the relation between the use of tobacco, alcoholic beverages and illicit drugs and family protective factors. Data from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) were analyzed in a sample of 60,973 students at the freshman year of high school, from public and private schools of Brazilian state capitals. Most adolescents lived with both their parents and about a third lived in households only with their mothers. Half the parents or responsible parties are aware of what adolescents do in their free time. Living with both parents is a protective factor for smoking, drinking, and drug use. Family supervision is also important for the prevention of such behavior. Sharing a meal with parents or responsible parties most days of the week and the fact that the parents know what the adolescents have done in their free time in the past 30 days are also protective factors. Students that miss classes without telling their parents have higher chances of using tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. The family plays an essential role to prevent tobacco, alcohol, and drug use, and to promote health among teenagers.     

Temporal variation in the prevalence of weight and obesity excess in adults: Brazil, 2006 to 2009

Overweight and obesity are public health issues that affect an important part of the world population. This study aims at describing the trends in overweight and obesity prevalence rates from 2006 to 2009, by means of telephone surveys in 27 Brazilian cities, with a population aged 18 years or older. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated by the reported height and weight; overweight and obesity were considered as BMI >25 kg/m2 and >30 kg/m2, respectively. Temporal variation in overweight and obesity prevalence is presented for men and women, according to age group, schooling, stable relationship, and skin color. Poisson regression was used for the analysis. Overweight prevalence was 43.0, 42.7, 44.2 and 46.6%,for each year of the period from 2006 to 2009, respectively. For obesity, in the same period, the trend was: 11.4, 12.7, 13.2 and 13.8%. The temporal trend varied in relation to some demographic and socioeconomic variables. The prevalence was higher among women and young adults. The temporal trend was independent of the relationship status of the interviewees, but the prevalence was higher among white women and those with less years of schooling. The results in this study confirmed the urgent need for effective prevention and control measures, as the increasing trend is occurring in a short period of time, especially among youngsters.     

Effects of pre- or post-exercise whey protein supplementation on body fat and metabolic and inflammatory profile in pre-conditioned older women: A randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled trial

Background and aim

Protein supplementation and resistance training (RT) are interventions that may counteract decline in muscle mass and increase in fat mass, thus reducing the risk of developing chronic diseases during the aging process. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of whey protein (WP) pre- or post-RT on metabolic and inflammatory profile in pre-conditioned older women.

Colonoscopy in octogenarians: a review of 428 cases

Studies on the use of colonoscopy in the octogenarian are few. Therefore this study evaluated the results and cost-effectiveness of colonoscopy in octogenarians. A total of 403 patients 80 years of age or older who underwent colonoscopy from May 1994 to May 1996 were reviewed (median 84, range 80–95). Parameters evaluated were indications for colonoscopy, significant endoscopic findings (biopsy-confirmed adenocarcinoma and adenomatous polyps ≥1 cm), complications, colonoscopy completion rate, and mean charge per procedure. Postpolypectomy bleeding occurred in one patient. The cecal intubation rate was 94%. The calculated cost per procedure was U.S. $2,342. Indications for colonoscopy/number of cancers detected include: change in bowel habits, 78/2; blood/hemoccult positive, 69/8; abdominal pain, 12/0; constipation, 9/0; diarrhea, 8/0; surveillance for history of polyps, 159/3; surveillance for history of cancer, 51/1; cancer or polyp on sigmoidoscopy, 42/4. The cancer detection rate in patients with bleeding was 11.5%, compared with 1.9% for all other symptoms. Colonoscopy can be safely performed in the octogenarian population. Our data suggest that more stringent selection criteria for colonoscopy in the octogenarian could result in significant cost savings. Accepted: 16 April 1999     

Catheter ablation of accessory pathways, atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, and the atrioventricular junction: final results of a prospective, multicenter clinical trial. The Atakr Multicenter Investigators Group

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a temperature-controlled radiofrequency catheter ablation system. METHODS AND RESULTS: The patient population included 1050 patients who had undergone ablation of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT), an accessory pathway (AP), or the atrioventricular junction (AVJ). Ablation was successful in 996 patients. The probability of success was highest among patients who had undergone ablation of the AVJ, lowest in patients who had undergone ablation of an AP, and in between for patients who had undergone ablation of AVNRT. A major complication occurred in 32 patients. Four variables predicted ablation success (AVJ, AVNRT, or left free wall AP ablation and an experienced center). Four factors predicted arrhythmia recurrence (right free wall, posteroseptal, septal, and multiple APs). Two variables predicted development of a complication (structural heart disease and the presence of multiple targets), and 3 variables predicted an increased risk of death (heart disease, lower ejection fraction, and AVJ ablation). CONCLUSIONS: These findings may serve as a guide to clinicians considering therapeutic options in patients who are candidates for ablation.