No abstract

The aim of this study was to describe and compare the EMG patterns of select lower limb muscles throughout the golf swing, performed with three different clubs, in non-elite middle-aged players. Fourteen golfers performed eight swings each using, in random order, a pitching wedge, 7-iron and 4-iron. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded bilaterally from lower limb muscles: tibialis anterior, peroneus longus, gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, vastus medialis, rectus femoris and vastus lateralis. Three-dimensional high-speed video analysis was used to determine the golf swing phases. Results showed that, in average handicap golfers, the highest muscle activation levels occurred during the Forward Swing Phase, with the right semitendinosus and the right biceps femoris muscles producing the highest mean activation levels relative to maximal electromyography (70-76% and 68-73% EMG(MAX), respectively). Significant differences between the pitching wedge and the 4-iron club were found in the activation level of the left semitendinosus, right tibialis anterior, right peroneus longus, right vastus medialis, right rectus femuris and right gastrocnemius muscles. The lower limb muscles showed, in most cases and phases, higher mean values of activation on electromyography when golfers performed shots with a 4-iron club.

Objective: To verify the chronic consumption of grape juice effects on weight, body mass index (BMI), cognitive function and the peripheral levels of global histone H4 acetylation, BDNF and inflammatory markers in elderly women according to age. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study. The blood samples were collected before and after 30 days of grape juice supplementation (400 ml/daily) in women aged > 70 and < 70 years old. Weight, BMI and cognitive function, were measured before and after supplementation. Results: Grape juice consumption promoted a reduction on weight and BMI. This consumption also contributed to improve a cognitive function. These effects were more pronounced in the >70 years group. A tendency towards increased BDNF levels was observed in the >70 years group after intervention. Inflammatory markers and global histone H4 levels did not change. Conclusion: The chronic grape juice consumption is an interesting choice to promote health benefits in elderly women, which seem to act in an age-dependent manner.

Background: Emerging evidence point out that exercise is an epigenetic modulator and is able to alter brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in different populations. However, little is known about the impact of exercise on these markers in well-trained aged individuals, making this research topic particularly relevant.

Objectives Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and endothelial dysfunction may enhance the mortality risk. Exercise training has shown to be beneficial for improvement of endothelial function in patients with cardiovascular disease, but this remains unclear in COPD. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of exercise‐based pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) on endothelium function, arterial stiffness and plasma nitrite levels in patients with COPD. Methods Patients with COPD engaged a 48‐session PR program. Reactive hyperaemia index (RHI), augmentation index (AIx), and heart rate (HR) assed by peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), plasma nitrite levels, systemic blood pressure, functional capacity (six‐minute walk test) and the BODE index were assessed at baseline and after 24 and 48 sessions of PR. Plasma nitrite levels were also assessed before and after the first session of PR. Results Twenty‐one subjects were included and completed 24 PR sessions, and 16 subjects completed 48 sessions. It was observed that a poorer AIx adjusted for HR in frequent COPD exacerbators (4.67 ± 16.5 vs. 20.9 ± 12.9; p = .02). PR improved functional capacity (380 ± 107 m vs. 442 ± 115 m; p < .001) and the BODE index (6 [2.8] vs. 4 [3]; p = .001), but did not change HR, systemic arterial pressure, RHI, AIx, and plasma nitrite levels during the follow‐up. Plasma nitrite levels reduced after the first session of PR (0.074 [0.079] μM vs. 0.061 [0.04] μM; p = .027). The acute change in plasma nitrite levels correlated with RHI in patients with preserved endothelial function (r = 0.71; p = .01). Conclusions Although exercise‐based PR improved functional capacity and the BODE index, it did not change endothelial function and arterial stiffness in patients with COPD.