Objective. To determine if supervised cardiovascular training improves exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, depression, functional capacity, and quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Sixty women with SLE (ages 18 -55 years) were evaluated using Short Form 36, visual analog scale for pain, scale for fatigue, Beck Depression Inventory, and Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), and participated in a training protocol of incremental load on a treadmill with computed gas metabolic analysis. Maximum oxygen consumption (VO 2max ) and anaerobic threshold VO 2 were calculated with a SensorMedics Vmax29C analyzer (Sensor Medics, Yorba Linda, CA), and heart rate was measured by electrocardiogram. Patients were divided into 2 groups: a training group (41 patients) that participated in the supervised cardiovascular training program and a control group ( 19 patients) that did not participate in the program. All variables were analyzed at baseline and after 12 weeks for both groups. The training program occurred in the morning for 60 minutes, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis included Wilcoxon's rank sum test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test. P values <0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. Results. The 2 groups were homogeneous and comparable at baseline. The training group showed a significant improvement of aerobic capacity measured by anaerobic threshold VO 2 (14.67 ؎ 3.03 versus 17.08 ؎ 3.35 ml/kg/minute, P < 0.001).Comparison of the training group and control group after 12 weeks showed a significant difference relating to VO 2max (24.31 ؎ 4.61 versus 21.21 ؎ 3.88 ml/kg/minute, P ‫؍‬ 0.01) and anaerobic threshold VO 2 (17.08 ؎ 3.35 versus 13.66 ؎ 2.82 ml/kg/minute, P < 0.0001). After cardiovascular training, we found a significant improvement of Beck inventory score (8.37 ؎ 12.79 versus 2.90 ؎ 3.00, P < 0.001) and HAQ score (0.14 ؎ 0.21 versus 0.06 ؎ 0.19, P < 0.01) in the training group. Conclusion. This study showed significant improvement in exercise tolerance, aerobic capacity, quality of life, and depression after a supervised cardiovascular training program in patients with SLE.

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Aceito em: 21/2/2001. çarem sucesso em competições de nível internacional, sendo estes parâmetros essenciais ao planejamento e periodização do treinamento. Palavras-chave:Fisiologia do exercício. Basquete feminino. Avaliação física. ABSTRACT Evaluation of Brazilian female basketball teamThirteen (13) elite female basketball players were submitted to medical and physiological evaluation in Cemafe (Federal University of São Paulo) in June, 2000. Age was 24.4 ± 4.6 y, height 182 ± 7.6 cm, and body mass 70.8 ± 8.6 kg. The Brazilian team was submitted to an ergospirometry evaluation by a computerized analysis of expired gases with cardiovascular responses recorded by ECG. A vertical jump test was performed to detect the anaerobic power during 30 seconds. The results were: maximum oxygen uptake (VO2 max) 49.9 ± 5.4 ml/kg/min; threshold oxygen uptake (VO2 LA) 38.7 ± 4.3 ml/kg/min; maximum heart rate 194.4 ± 9.6 bpm; anaerobic threshold heart rate 179.7 ± 5.7 bpm; anaerobic threshold velocity 11.9 ± 1.4 km/h; anaerobic power (peak) 9.9 ± 2.2 W; total muscular work (30 s) 602.1 ± 104.8 J. Medical and physiological evaluation is compulsory for elite female basketball players to be successful in international championships.

The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of acute short-term exposure to air pollution on the cardiorespiratory performance of military fireman living and working in the city of Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-five healthy non-smoking firemen aged 24 to 45 years had about 1 h of exposure to low and high levels of air pollution. The tests consisted of two phases: phase A, in Bertioga, a town with low levels of air pollution, and phase B, in Cubatão, a polluted town, with a 7-day interval between phases. The volunteers remained in the cities (Bertioga/Cubatão) only for the time required to perform the tests. Cumulative load 10 ± 2 min-long exertion tests were performed on a treadmill, consisting of a 2-min stage at a load of 7 km/ h, followed by increasing exertion of 1 km h -1 min -1 until the maximum individual limit. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in anaerobic threshold (AT) between Cubatão (35.04 ± 4.91 mL kg -1 min -1 ) and Bertioga (36.98 ± 5.62 mL kg -1 min -1 ; P = 0.01), in the heart rate at AT (AT HR ; Cubatão 152.08 ± 14.86 bpm, Bertioga 157.44 ± 13.64 bpm; P = 0.001), and in percent maximal oxygen consumption at AT (AT%VO 2max ; Cubatão 64.56 ± 6.55%, Bertioga 67.40 ± 5.35%; P = 0.03). However, there were no differences in VO 2max , maximal heart rate or velocity at AT (AT vel ) observed in firemen between towns. The acute exposure to pollutants in Cubatão, SP, caused a significant reduction in the performance at submaximal levels of physical exertion. Correspondence

The objective of the present study was to determine the impact of acute short-term exposure to air pollution on the cardiorespiratory performance of military fireman living and working in the city of Guarujá, São Paulo, Brazil. Twenty-five healthy non-smoking firemen aged 24 to 45 years had about 1 h of exposure to low and high levels of air pollution. The tests consisted of two phases: phase A, in Bertioga, a town with low levels of air pollution, and phase B, in Cubatão, a polluted town, with a 7-day interval between phases. The volunteers remained in the cities (Bertioga/Cubatão) only for the time required to perform the tests. Cumulative load 10 ± 2 min-long exertion tests were performed on a treadmill, consisting of a 2-min stage at a load of 7 km/ h, followed by increasing exertion of 1 km h -1 min -1 until the maximum individual limit. There were statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) in anaerobic threshold (AT) between Cubatão (35.04 ± 4.91 mL kg -1 min -1 ) and Bertioga (36.98 ± 5.62 mL kg -1 min -1 ; P = 0.01), in the heart rate at AT (AT HR ; Cubatão 152.08 ± 14.86 bpm, Bertioga 157.44 ± 13.64 bpm; P = 0.001), and in percent maximal oxygen consumption at AT (AT%VO 2max ; Cubatão 64.56 ± 6.55%, Bertioga 67.40 ± 5.35%; P = 0.03). However, there were no differences in VO 2max , maximal heart rate or velocity at AT (AT vel ) observed in firemen between towns. The acute exposure to pollutants in Cubatão, SP, caused a significant reduction in the performance at submaximal levels of physical exertion. Correspondence