OBJECTIVE:Blood neurotrophins, such as the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, are considered to be of great importance in mediating the benefits of physical exercise. In this study, the effect of acute strength exercise and the involvement of small versus large muscle mass on the levels of plasma brain‐derived neurotrophic factor were evaluated in healthy individuals.METHODS:The concentric strengths of knee (large) and elbow (small) flexor and extensor muscles were measured on two separate days. Venous blood samples were obtained from 16 healthy subjects before and after exercise.RESULTS:The levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in the plasma did not significantly increase after both arm and leg exercise. There was no significant difference in the plasma levels of the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor in the arms and legs.CONCLUSION:The present results demonstrate that acute strength exercise does not induce significant alterations in the levels of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor plasma concentrations in healthy individuals. Considering that its levels may be affected by various factors, such as exercise, these findings suggest that the type of exercise program may be a decisive factor in altering peripheral brain‐derived neurotrophic factor.

Este artigo apresenta uma experiência de formação educacional e de assistência médica, utilizando a telemedicina como recurso tecnológico para a promoção e prevenção em saúde, além da capacitação profissional de populações ribeirinhas do baixo Madeira, no Estado de Rondônia. A atuação contou com a constituição de um pequeno pólo de telemedicina na comunidade de Santa Catarina, localizada no rio Madeira, há duzentos quilômetros do município de Porto Velho. A experiência no campo foi realizada entre 17 e 31 de julho de 2006, promovendo a inclusão de moradores de nove comunidades ribeirinhas. O sistema permitiu a troca simultânea de vídeo e áudio em tempo real, possibilitando acesso à informação, assistência médica e palestras sobre prevenção em saúde básica à população em geral. A realização deste projeto mostrou que a implantação da telemedicina é uma alternativa para a melhor distribuição dos serviços de saúde. Além de levar o atendimento a populações menos favorecidas, permite a reintegração social de pessoas preteridas pelo isolamento geográfico, auxilia na difusão de informação, proporciona capacitação aos moradores e futuros usuários do sistema, promove a prevenção em saúde, desenvolvendo a responsabilidade da população para uma melhor da qualidade de vida da região.

introduction: Studies have shown that the presence of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) causes great impairment in academic, social, and professional activities as well as in the quality of life (QoL) of its patients. Similarly, the impact caused by other chronic disorders, such as diabetes, in the patient's QoL has been emphasized in many studies. Despite its relevance, no study has yet investigated whether ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients would have similar QoL impairment.Objectives: This study was conducted in order to compare the QoL scores among ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients. Methods:We evaluated 63 caregivers of ADHD children treated at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Unit at the Federal University of São Paulo (UPIA-UNIFESP) and 52 adult diabetic patients. Subjects were assessed with the World Health Organization quality of Life-Bref Version (WHOQOL-BREF), the Beck and Hamilton depression scales, and the Adult Self-Report Scale.results: When compared to the Brazilian normative data, ADHD caregivers had significantly lower scores in the social relations and environment WHOQOL domains. ADHD caregivers and diabetic patients had similar impairment in all WHOQOL domains except for the physical domain.conclusion: ADHD affects the QoL of the patient's caregiver, with similar impairment, when compared to the QoL of diabetic patients. These results emphasize the need for assessing QoL of the caregivers as part of the treatment strategies. They also emphasize the need for future studies with larger sample sizes comparing how the QOL is impacted in different chronic disorders.

Patients in the patellar tendon group had a greater quadriceps deficit compared with those in the hamstrings group. Patients in the hamstrings group had a greater muscular deficit in the flexor mechanism compared with the contralateral knee. An unbalanced H/Q ratio was observed regardless of graft type, but this was more evident in the BPTB group.