OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of the use of intermittent and continuous positive airway pressure in postoperative patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODSThis study included forty patients divided into two groups: one undergoing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP Group), and the other undergoing intermittent pressure (Müller Resuscitator Group). The patients were evaluated in relation to the several study variables at the following time points: preoperative, 3rd, 24th, and 48th hours. RESULTSThe patient groups were homogeneous in relation to the several demographic and clinical variables. The values of pO 2 , pCO 2 and sO 2 were within normal limits and no signifi cant differences were found between the groups. Regarding respirometry, the groups showed signifi cant differences in the tidal volume and respiratory rate at the 48th postoperative hour. Dyspnea and use of accessory muscle in postoperative assessments were found with a signifi cantly higher frequency in patients undergoing CPAP. Patients undergoing Müller Resuscitator had a normal chest radiograph more frequently than did patients undergoing CPAP. CONCLUSIONBoth devices were shown to be able to keep pO 2 , pCO 2 , and sO 2 values within normal limits. However, when the objective was pulmonary reexpansion with less imposed workload, the Müller Resuscitator was more effective because of its prompter action and consequently lower levels of dyspnea, respiratory rate (RR) and use of accessory muscle were observed. KEY WORDSIPPB, continuous positive airway pressure, physical therapy.

Objectives:To evaluate whether a short-term moderate intensity exercise program could change inflammatory parameters, and improve different components of metabolic syndrome in sedentary patients.Methods:Sixteen patients completed the 12-week program of supervised exercise, which consisted of a 40 to 50 minutes of walking, 3 times a week, reaching 50 to 60% of the heart rate reserve. The parameters evaluated before and after intervention were waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, total cholesterol, C-reactive protein and interleukin 8.Results:There was a significant reduction in waist circumference (102.1±7.5cm to 100.8±7.4cm; p=0.03) and in body mass index (29.7±3.2kg/m2 versus 29.3±3.5kg/m2; p=0.03). Systolic blood pressure dropped from 141±18 to 129±13mmHg and diastolic from 79±12 to 71±10mmHg (with p<0.05 for both). No changes were observed on total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, although HDL cholesterol levels improved, from 45.5±6.0 to 49.5±9.8mg/dL (p=0.02). There was a trend toward reduction of C-reactive protein (8.3%; p=0.07) and interleukin 8 levels (17.4%; p=0.058). The improvement in cardiovascular capacity was demonstrated by an increase of 13% in estimated volume of oxygen (p<0.001).Conclusion:Benefits of aerobic exercise of moderate intensity were seen within only 12 weeks of training in sedentary patients with metabolic syndrome. Considering the easy self-applicability and proven metabolic effects, an exercise program could be a first approach to sedentary patients with metabolic syndrome.

Cardiac rehabilitation protocols applied during the in-hospital phase (phase I) are subjective and their results are contested when evaluated considering what should be the three basic principles of exercise prescription: specificity, overload and reversibility. In this review, we focus on the problems associated with the models of exercise prescription applied at this early stage in-hospital and adopted today, especially the lack of clinical studies demonstrating its effectiveness. Moreover, we present the concept of "periodization" as a useful tool in the search for better results.

Objective: To compare models of the postoperative hospital treatment phase after myocardial revascularization. Design: A pilot randomized controlled trial. Setting: Hospital patients in a hospital setting. Subjects: Thirty-two patients with indications for myocardial revascularization were included between January 2008 and December 2009, with a left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50%, 1-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1) ≥60 and forced vital capacity (FVC) ≥60% of predicted value. Interventions: Patients were randomly placed into two groups: one performed prescribed exercises according to the model proposed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the other according to a periodized model. Main measures: Partial pressure of O2 ( Po2) and arterial O2 saturation ( Sao2), percentage of predicted FVC and total distance on the six-minute walking test (6MWT). Results: Twenty-seven patients were re-evaluated upon release from the hospital (ACSM = 14 and PP = 13). Five patients extubated for more than 6 hours in the postoperative period were excluded from the sample. In the preoperative period the variables Po2, Sao2, % FVC and 6MWT were similar. In the postoperative period, a reduction was observed for all parameters in both groups. Upon comparison of the groups, a difference was observed in Po2 (ACSM = 68.0 ± 4.3 vs. PP = 75.9 ± 4.8 mmHg; P < 0.001), Sao2 (ACSM = 93.5 ± 1.4 vs. PP = 94.8 ± 1.2%; P = 0.018) and 6MWT (ACSM = 339.3 ± 41.7 vs. PP = 393.8 ± 25.7 m; P < 0.001). There was no difference in % FVC. Conclusion: Patients after myocardial revascularization following a periodized model of exercise presented a better intra-hospital evolution when compared to those using the ACSM model.

Objective: To assess the functional and anatomicalpathological effect of transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells associated to aquatic physical activity after myocardial infarction in rats.Methods: Twenty-one rats were induced by myocardial infarction, through left coronary artery ligation. After a week, the animals were subjected to echocardiography for evaluation of left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF, %) and dyastolic and end systolic volume of the left ventricle