To investigate whether the manipulation of brain excitability by transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) modulates the heart rate variability (HRV), the effect of tDCS applied at rest on the left temporal lobe in athletes (AG) and non-athletes (NAG) was evaluated. The HRV parameters (natural logarithms of LF, HF, and LF/HF) was assessed in 20 healthy men before, and immediately after tDCS and sham stimulation. After anodal tDCS in AG the parasympathetic activity (HF(log)) increased (P<0.01) and the sympathetic activity (LF(log)) and sympatho-vagal balance (LF/HF(log)) decreased (P<0.01), whereas no significant effects were detected in NAG (P>0.05). No significant changes in HRV indexes were provoked by sham stimulation in both AG and NAG (P>0.05). In conclusion, tDCS applied on the left temporal lobe significantly increased the overall HRV in AG, enhancing the parasympathetic and decreasing the sympathetic modulation of heart rate. Consequently the sympatho-vagal balance decreased at rest in AG but not in NAG. Releasing a weak electric current to stimulate selected brain areas may induce favorable effects on the autonomic control to the heart in highly fit subjects.

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The influence of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) upon maximal strength performance in exercises recruiting large muscle mass has not been established in healthy populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether anodal tDCS was able to increase the performance during maximal strength exercise (MSEX) in healthy subjects. Fourteen volunteers (age: 26 ± 4 yrs) performed two MSEX after anodal or sham tDCS (2mA; 20min prior MSEX), involving knee extensors and flexors in concentric isokinetic muscle actions of the dominant limb (3 sets of 10 repetitions). The electrical muscle activity (sEMG) of four recruited muscles was recorded during MSEX. Anodal tDCS was not able to improve force production (i.e., total work and peak torque), fatigue resistance, or electromyographic activity during MSEX when compared to sham condition. In conclusion, anodal tDCS applied upon the contralateral motor cortex was not capable of increasing the strength performance of knee extensors and flexors in young healthy subjects.Resumo-"ETCC sobre o córtex motor não aumenta o desempenho de força em sujeitos saudáveis." A influência da estimulação transcraniana por corrente contínua (ETCC) sobre o desempenho da força muscular em exercícios que recrutam grandes massas musculares ainda não foi estabelecido em populações saudáveis. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar se a ETCC anódica seria capaz de aumentar o desempenho durante exercício máximo de força (EMF) em sujeitos saudáveis. Catorze voluntários (idade: 26 ± 4 anos) executaram dois EMF com aplicação prévia da ETCC anódica ou placebo (2mA; 20 mim), envolvendo músculos flexores e extensores do joelho dominante em ação concêntrica isocinética (3 séries de 10 repetições). A atividade elétrica muscular (sEMG) de quatro músculos recrutados foi registrada durante o EMF. A ETCC anódica não foi capaz de melhorar a produção de força (trabalho total e pico de torque), resistência à fadiga ou atividade eletromiográfica durante o EMF, quando comparada à condição placebo. Em conclusão, a ETCC anódica aplicada sobre o córtex motor contralateral não foi capaz de aumentar o desempenho de força de flexores e extensores de joelho em jovens saudáveis. Palavras-chave: neurociência, ETCC, neuromodulação, fadiga e reabilitação motoraResumen-"tDCS en motor corteza no aumenta el rendimiento de fuerza en sujetos sanos." La influencia de estimulación transcraneal de corriente directa (tDCS) en ejercicios de fuerza muscular de rendimiento que reclutan grandes masas musculares no se ha establecido en la población sana. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar si la ETCC anódica podría mejorar el rendimiento durante el ejercicio máximo de la fuerza (EMF) en sujetos sanos. Catorce voluntarios (26 ± 4 años de edad) realizaron dos EMF con la aplicación previa de ETCC anódica y placebo (2 mA, 20 i) la participación de los flexores y extensores de la rodilla dominante en acción concéntrica (3 series de 10 repeticiones). La actividad eléctrica muscular (sEMG) en cuatro músculos reclutados se r...

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Objective: to describe the care path of the person with stroke goes through and to identify the important events in this path. Method: qualitative descriptive exploratory research, using the semi-structured interview technique based on Meleis's Middle-Range Theory. The sample was composed of 13 people who became dependent after a stroke and were admitted to two hospital units in the region of Vale do Ave, Portugal. Data were collected between January and October 2013. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Results: The data revealed that the person's care path goes from recognition of the symptoms to preparation for hospital discharge. Adapting to the new situation of dependence brings the need for new competencies. Final considerations: The research aims to contribute to the improvement of nursing care regarding care for people with stroke including onset, recovery and rehabilitation, and home care. Descriptors: Stroke; Disabled Persons; Nursing Care; Rehabilitation; Rehabilitation Nursing. RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever o percurso da pessoa com Acidente Vascular Encefálico e identifi car os acontecimentos signifi cativos neste percurso. Método: Abordagem qualitativa e natureza exploratória-descritiva, valeu-se da técnica de entrevista semiestruturada baseada na Teoria de Médio Alcance de Meleis. Participaram 13 pessoas que se tornaram dependentes devido à Acidente Vascular Encefálico e recorreram a duas Unidades da região do Vale do Ave, Portugal. A colheita de dados deu-se durante Janeiro a Outubro de 2013. Para análise dos dados foi utilizada a análise de conteúdo. Resultados: Os dados revelaram que o trajeto da pessoa vai desde o reconhecimento dos sintomas até à preparação da alta hospitalar. A dependência traz a necessidade de adquirir competências para se adaptar à nova situação. Considerações fi nais: Espera-se contribuir para a melhoria dos cuidados de enfermagem no atendimento das pessoas acometidas com Acidente Vascular Encefálico, desde o acometimento, recuperação e reabilitação, até aos cuidados domiciliares. Descritores: Acidente Vascular Cerebral; Pessoas com Defi ciência; Cuidados de Enfermagem; Reabilitação; Enfermagem em Reabilitação. RESUMENObjetivo: Describir el camino que recorre la persona con Accidente Vascular Encefálico e identifi car los acontecimientos signifi cativos de ese camino. Método: se trata de un abordaje cualitativo de naturaleza exploratoria-descriptiva, con técnica de entrevista mixta basada en la Teoría de Mediano Alcance de Meleis. Participaron 13 personas que se volvieron dependientes debido a un Accidente Vascular Encefálico y recurrieron a dos Unidades de la región del Valle del Ave, Portugal. La recolección de datos se realizó durante el período comprendido entre enero y octubre de 2013 mediante el análisis de contenido. Resultados: Los datos rebelaron que el trayecto de la persona comienza con el reconocimiento de los síntomas y se extiende hasta la preparación del alta hospitalaria. La dependencia hace surgir la necesidad de adquirir competencias para ...

The objective of this study is to evaluate the cardiorespiratory variables of Taekwondo athletes while performing incremental exercise test on an ergometer using a ramp protocol and to propose a specific protocol for assessing these physiological variables during Taekwondo practice. Fourteen athletes participated in 2 incremental exercise tests: a treadmill exercise test (TREADtest) and a Taekwondo-specific exercise test (TKDtest). The TKDtest consists in 1-minute stages of kicks with an incremental load between then. The subjects perform kicks each time a sound signal was heard. Heart rate (HR), oxygen uptake (V[Combining Dot Above]O2), and their reserve correspondents (V[Combining Dot Above]O2R and reserve heart rate [HRR]) were divided into quartiles to verify their kinetics along the tests. Significant difference between 2 tests was found only for V[Combining Dot Above]O2R (p = 0.03). Regarding the quartiles, significant differences were found for HR in the first (p = 0.030) and second (p = 0.003). Analyzing the regression curves, significant differences were found for HR for intercept (p = 0.01) and slope (p = 0.05) and HRR for slope (p = 0.02). Analysis showed that significant reliability, with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), was found for the V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak (ICC = 0.855, p = 0.003), V[Combining Dot Above]O2 in ventilatory thresholds 1 (ICC = 0.709, p = 0.03) and 2 (ICC = 0.848, p = 0.003). Bland-Altman analyses reported a mean difference ± the 95% limits of agreement of 2.2 ± 8.4 ml·kg·min to V[Combining Dot Above]O2peak. The TKDtest is reliable for measurement of cardiorespiratory variables, and the behavior of these variables differs mainly from TREADtest, probably because of the motor task performed.

Aim  The purpose of this review was to present and discuss the anatomical variations and congenital abnormalities of the vermiform appendix and mesoappendix reported in recent years, and their associations with acute appendicitis and other associated pathologies. Methods  The search was carried out in the following databases: PubMed, Science Direct, and SciELO. Results  Thirty-seven studies were included in this review. Among the abnormalities of the vermiform appendix identified are agenesis and duplicity, and anatomical variations were related to length and positioning. Appendicular duplicity was a more frequent abnormality, mainly Type B2, associated with acute appendicitis, followed by agenesis, Type III. The first case of agenesis associated with acute appendicitis and volvulus-type duplicity of the appendix was identified. The most frequent position was retrocecal in adults and pelvic in children. In the mesoappendix, anatomical variations in its positioning, shape, absence, and length were identified. Conclusion  This review sought to present and discuss the anatomical variations and congenital abnormalities of the vermiform appendix and mesoappendix reported in recent years, and their associations with acute appendicitis and other associated pathologies, contributing to aid in clinical diagnosis and surgical interventions in patients with suspected acute appendicitis.

IMT increases HRV, improves 6MWT distance and HRR.