Background Normotensive premenopausal women show a vagal predominance of cardiac autonomic modulation, whereas age-matched men show a predominance of sympathetic modulation. However, some women develop systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) even with preserved ovarian function. Our hypothesis is that these women may have cardiovascular autonomic parameters similar to those of hypertensive men, even when subjected to pharmacological treatment. We aimed to investigate cardiovascular autonomic control and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensive premenopausal women and age-matched men. Methods One hundred volunteers between 18 and 45 years of age were assigned to two groups (50 participants each): a hypertensive group including patients with a history of SAH for at least 6 months (25 men and 25 women), who were under treatment with monotherapy (losartan, 25–50 mg/kg); and a normotensive group (25 men and 25 women). Anthropometric, hemodynamic, metabolic, and autonomic cardiovascular assessments were performed focusing on BRS, autonomic modulation of heart rate variability (HRV), and blood pressure variability (BPV). Results On HRV analysis, women showed higher values of high-frequency (HF) oscillations in absolute and normalized units, lower values ​of low-frequency (LF) in normalized units, and lower LF/HF ratio, as compared with men. When the normotensive and hypertensive groups were compared, hypertensive groups showed lower values ​of total variance and of LF and HF bands in absolute units. On BRS, hypertensive groups showed lower values than the normotensive group. Conclusion Regardless of blood pressure control through pharmacological treatment, hypertensive patients continued to have reduced HRV compared to normotensive, and hypertensive men had more autonomic impairment than hypertensive premenopausal women.

Background: Combined (CT) and multicomponent training (MT) presents several benefits for aging individuals. However, the literature does not provide evidence on which of the two physical training models can better enhance improvements in physical capacity and health parameters in middle-aged and older women. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of MT and CT on physical capacity, cognitive, behavioral, and psychosocial assessment, and biochemical profile of physically inactive women aged between 50 and 70 years. Methods: Participants were randomized into two groups: MT (32 women, 64.2 ± 6.4 years) and CT (39 women, 61.4 ± 4.3 years). Both training sessions had a weekly volume of 180 min, for 14 weeks, with assessments at baseline and after the training period. Results: CT showed better results when compared to MT. In the four evaluation blocks, we noticed differences in the effect size (L = large, M = moderate, S = small, and T = trivial) between the groups in 26 variables in total, highlighting the CT group (L = 11, M = 5, S = 2, and T = 8) compared to the MT group (L = 8, M = 7, S = 7, and T = 4). Our findings showed group-time differences for strength variables using the maximum dynamic repetition test in upper and lower limbs and for agility. The multicomponent training showed improvement in the functional strength of the upper limbs evaluated through the elbow flexion and extension test (p = 0.037), and HDL (p = 0.022). Conclusions: Fourteen weeks of CT showed better benefits when compared to MT.

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BackgroundPre-diabetes precedes Diabetes Mellitus (DM) disease and is a critical period for hyperglycemia treatment, especially for menopausal women, considering all metabolic alterations due to hormonal changes. Recently, the literature has demonstrated the role of physical exercise in epigenetic reprogramming to modulate the gene expression patterns of metabolic conditions, such as hyperglycemia, and prevent DM development. In the present study, we hypothesized that physical exercise training could modify the epigenetic patterns of women with poor glycemic control.Methods48 post-menopause women aged 60.3 ± 4.5 years were divided according to their fasting blood glucose levels into two groups: Prediabetes Group, PG (n=24), and Normal Glucose Group, NGG (n=24). All participants performed 14 weeks of physical exercise three times a week. The Infinium Methylation EPIC BeadChip measured the participants’ Different Methylated Regions (DMRs).ResultsBefore the intervention, the PG group had 12 DMRs compared to NGG. After the intervention, five DMRs remained different. Interestingly, when comparing the PG group before and after training, 118 DMRs were found. The enrichment analysis revealed that the genes were related to different biological functions such as energy metabolism, cell differentiation, and tumor suppression.ConclusionPhysical exercise is a relevant alternative in treating hyperglycemia and preventing DM in post-menopause women with poor glycemic control.

BackgroundNormotensive women before menopause showed a vagal predominance of cardiac autonomic modulation, while age-matched men showed a sympathetic modulation predominance. However, some women develop systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) even with preserved ovarian function. Our hypothesis is that these women may have cardiovascular autonomic parameters like those of hypertensive men, even when subjected to pharmacological treatment. We aim to investigate the cardiovascular autonomic modulation balance and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in hypertensive women with preserved ovarian function and age-matched men.MethodsOne hundred volunteers between 18 and 45 years of age, were assigned to two groups of fifty: Hypertensive group, with a SAH history for at least 6 months (25 men and 25 women) treated with monotherapy (losartan, 25-50mg/kg) and normotensive group (25 men and 25 women). Anthropometric, hemodynamic, metabolic, and autonomic cardiovascular assessments were performed focusing: BRS, autonomic modulation of heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure variability (BPV).ResultsThe results showed that HRV analysis, women showed higher values ​​of HF oscillations in absolute and normalized units, and lower values ​​of LF in normalized units and LF/HF ratio compared to men. When normotensive and hypertensive groups were compared, hypertensive groups showed lower values ​​of total variance, LF and HF bands in absolute units. There were similar in BPV. However, hypertensive groups showed lower BRS values when compared to normotensive group.ConclusionThe results indicate that hypertensive groups even with blood pressure controlled through pharmacological treatment, continued to have reduced HRV than normotensive, and hypertensive women have minor cardiovascular autonomic impairment than men.