IntroductionRegular exercise has long been shown to positively impact the immune system responsiveness and improve mental well-being (MWB). However, the putative links between biomarkers of mental health and immune efficiency in exercising subjects have been scarcely investigated. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of a 14-week combined chair-based exercise program (CEP) on salivary steroid hormones and anti-microbial proteins, functional fitness, and MWB indexes in pre-frail older women.MethodsThe participant women (82.8 4.6 years old; n = 32) were randomly divided into the exercising group (CEP, n = 17) and the non-exercising control group (CG, n = 15). The pre/post assessment included: (1) salivary anti-microbial proteins lysozyme; (Lys) and immunoglobulin-A (IgA); (2) salivary steroid hormones of testosterone (TT) and cortisol (COR); (3) functional fitness (gait speed, hand grip strength, and static balance); (4) MWB questionnaires (happiness, depression state, satisfaction with life, and stress).ResultsSignificant differences with large Cohen’s (d) effect sizes were found on increased salivary TT (p < 0.05; d = 0.60) after exercise intervention. The results revealed a decrease in IgA levels after CEP (p < 0.01, d = 0.30). The increase in subjective happiness levels (p < 0.05, d = 0.30) and decrease of stress perception (p < 0.01, d = 2.60) and depressive state (p < 0.05, d = 0.30) were found after intervention in the CEP group. Robust statistical differences in gait speed (p < 0.05; d = 0.60) and balance tests (p < 0.05; d = 0.80) were also found in the CEP group. In control, COR increased moderately (p < 0.05; d = 0.65) while no changes were found for the other indicators. Correlation analyses showed inter-dependence between pre–post variations of MWB, biochemical indexes, and fitness function (e.g., COR inverse correlation with hand grip strength and balance tests).ConclusionThe CEP program was able to improve functional-fitness performance, decrease feelings of stress, and increase happiness. The CEP also induced clinically relevant hormonal and immune responses, which suggests that chair exercises that combine muscular strength, balance, and gait speed training are promising interventions to improve physical and mental health of older pre-frail adults.

A frequência de trovoadas a partir de dados de satélite TRMM e do DECEA foi estudada para o período de 10 anos (de 1998 até 2007), onde se observou que as trovoadas foram mais frequentes nos meses de verão, com maior ocorrência no mês de março. Em anos de El Niño ocorre uma diminuição de cerca de 20% dos casos de trovoadas em Alagoas, mas nos anos normais e de La Niña observa-se um aumento dos dias de trovoadas de até 80%. As trovoadas foram relacionadas, em baixos níveis, aos Alísios com curvatura ciclônica e em altos níveis à presença de VCAN (Vórtice Ciclônico em Altos Níveis), CJNEB (Corrente de Jato no Nordeste do Brasil) e Anticiclone sobre o Estado de Alagoas. As trovoadas se formaram predominantemente a noroeste do VCAN e na região da entrada (lado quente) e na saída (lado frio) da CJNEB. As análises termodinâmicas mostraram que as curvas de temperatura do ar e de temperatura do ponto de orvalho observadas foram semelhantes às curvas previstas, construídas pelas trajetórias das parcelas de ar pelo modelo HYSPLIT, nas previsões até 48 e 24h de antecedência, respectivamente. Os índices LI e CAPE+ previram uma atmosfera muito instável com 48h de antecedência.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of a combined training (CT) program performed during the first national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on body composition, metabolic profile, quality of life and stress in sedentary workers, and examines whether changes in the metabolic profile are associated with changes in health-related outcomes which are modifiable by exercise. We evaluated 31 sedentary workers (48.26 ± 7.89 years old). Participants were randomly assigned to a CT group (i.e., performed 16 weeks of exercise) or to a non-exercise control group. The CT program consisted of 16-week of resistance and aerobic exercise. Body composition, glycemic and lipidic profiles, cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), health-related quality of life and stress levels were assessed pre- and post-intervention. After the intervention period, the CT group demonstrated significantly lower waist and hip circumference (p < 0.05) values than the control group. The control group significantly increased the fasting glucose and HOMA-IR after 16 weeks follow-up (+4.74 mg/dL, p = 0.029; and +0.41 units, p = 0.010, respectively), whiles no significant changes were observed in the CT group in the same parameters (+3.33 mg/dL, p = 0.176; and +0.04 units, p = 0.628, respectively). No changes were observed in the lipid profile for either group (p > 0.05). A significant positive relationship was detected between the change in BMI with the changes in insulin and HOMA-IR (r = 0.643, p = 0.024; and r = 0.605, p = 0.037, respectively). In addition, the changes in CRF were negatively associated with the changes in total cholesterol (r = −0.578, p = 0.049). We observed differences between groups on perceived stress levels and physical, psychological, and environmental domains of quality of life, with the CT group showing better results. Moreover, the CT group improved perceived life satisfaction (+3.17 points, p = 0.038). The findings of the present study suggest that the participants who remained physically active during the first pandemic-related lockdown were able to mitigate the deleterious effects associated with a sedentary lifestyle.

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a percepção de jovens atletas sobre o envolvimento dos pais, em relação à sua participação na prática do futebol. Aplicou-se o Parental Involvement Sport Questionnaire (PISQ), do tipo Likert, composto por dezenove itens distribuídos em três fatores: Comportamento diretivo; Elogios e compreensão e Envolvimento ativo. Os dados analisados restringiram-se à estatística descritiva, valor de média e desvio padrão. Os dados sugerem escores mais elevados para os fatores "Comportamento diretivo" tanto para a categoria Sub-15 (3,2±1,5) quanto para a Sub-17 (3,0±1,3) e "Elogios e compreensão" na Sub-15 (2,9±1,8) e na Sub-17 (2,6±1,1), respectivamente. Contudo, o resultado obtido no fator "Envolvimento ativo" se apresenta nas categorias Sub-15 (3,0±1,7) e Sub-17 (2,8±0,8) com o menor valor médio. Os resultados, obtidos no presente estudo, corroboram os encontrados na literatura. Os atletas avaliados, em geral, afirmaram receber de seus pais, apoio necessário e controle do seu comportamento durante a prática do futebol. Ao analisar o envolvimento dos pais, em relação ao clube de futebol que seus filhos estão inseridos, os resultados demonstraram baixo comprometimento parental para com os filhos.

Exercise-based interventions emerged as the best alternative for treating frailty syndrome (FS). Recognized as a complex phenotype, the FS is a multifaceted aging expression determined by biologic, environment, and behaviors factors. The biological theories of human development perceive aging process as an accumulation of harmful biochemical changes, whose occurrence attends the course of life. The progressive losses of functional reserves that occur in the body systems are a hallmark of this negative process. Despite the biological effects of physical and cognitive decline, more contemporary studies have identified that the environmental and behavior factors such as malnutrition and negative psychological adjustment across the life span also contribute to the early appearance of FS. Notwithstanding the latest findings that consistently demonstrate an overall positive benefit of long-term-based exercise in the decrease and/or reversal of the FS with a substantial impact on their correlated outcomes, the focus of this chapter is to present strategies for designing exercise programs for this type of population, taking into account their practical application in the field.