Abstract AIM This study examined the effectiveness of two different behavioral change interventions to improve Physical Activity (PA) and to reduce Sedentary Behavior (SB) in a primary health care setting. METHODS This quasi-experimental study recruited and enrolled 31 users of a primary health care unit of the Brazilian Unified Health System aged 18 or more. Participants were allocated into two groups: Physical Exercise Group combined with Health Education (EHE) and Health Education Group (HE). The EHE group participated in 60 minutes of exercise, twice a week, and 20 minutes of counseling. The HE group participated in 40 minutes of counseling, once a week. Both programs were conducted for over 18 weeks. PA levels were self-reported (IPAQ) and PA and SB were objectively (accelerometer) assessed before and after the intervention period. Data were analyzed using intention-to-treat analysis with generalized estimating equations adopting p<0.05 for significance. Also, the individual PA and SB deltas were computed. Improvements in PA and SB were observed for both interventions (p<0.05). RESULTS Both groups increased the minutes of weekly leisure PA (p=0.006), time spent in light (p=0.003), and moderated-to-vigorous (p=0.042) PA and decreased the amount of SB, with a significant decrease in the HE group (p=0.010). Delta analyses further demonstrated the effectiveness of the interventions to increase PA in other domains (i.e., transportation, household) and maintenance of occupational PA. CONCLUSION Behavioral change interventions in the primary health care context involving exercise and counseling seem to be effective in improving PA and SB in adults.

Purpose: To determine the correlations between optic nerve head (ONH) parameters measured with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT), and the main outcomes of standard automated perimetry (SAP) in normal, ocular hypertensive, glaucoma suspects and glaucomatous subjects. Methods: Four hundred and twenty-three patients were enrolled in the study and classified into four groups depending on baseline intraocular pressure, optic nerve head morphology, and SAP results: 87 normal eyes, 192 ocular hypertensive eyes, 70 glaucoma suspects and 74 glaucomatous eyes. In the different diagnostic groups, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated between ONH parameters and mean deviation, pattern standard deviation (PSD), number of altered points in each quadrant of the visual field (superior-nasal, inferior-nasal, superior-temporal and inferior-temporal), number of points altered at different probability levels, and threshold values at each point of SAP. Results: In the normal and ocular hypertensive groups, only a few weak correlations were found between HRT and SAP parameters. The strength and number of significant correlations increased in the suspected glaucoma group. The glaucoma group had the strongest correlations, particularly between cup/disc ratio and rim/disc ratio with MD (r=0.479) and between rim area and PSD (r=0.444). Conclusions: Weak to moderate correlations were found between some ONH parameters obtained with the HRT and SAP results in the glaucoma group.

Objetivo: Determinar las correlaciones entre los parámetros de la cabeza del nervio óptico (CNO) obtenidos mediante el láser confocal de barrido (HRT), y los resultados de la perimetría automatizada convencional (PA) en sujetos normales, hipertensos oculares (HTO), sospechosos de glaucoma y glaucomatosos. Métodos: Cuatrocientos veintitrés ojos fueron incluidos en el estudio y clasificados según la presión intraocular basal, morfología papilar y los resultados de la PA en 4 grupos: 87 normales, 192 hipertensos oculares, 70 sospechosos de glaucoma y 74 glaucomatosos. En los diferentes grupos diagnósticos, se calcularon los coeficientes de correlación de Pearson entre los parámetros de la CNO y la desviación media (DM), la desviación estándar de la media (DSM), el número de puntos alterados en cada cuadrante del campo visual (superior-nasal, inferior-nasal, superior-temporal e inferior-temporal), el número de puntos alterados según los niveles de probabilidad y los valores umbral en cada punto de la PA. Resultados: En el grupo normal y de hipertensos oculares, se encontraron pocas correlaciones débiles entre los parámetros del HRT y los resultados de la PA. La fuerza y el número de correlaciones significativas aumentaron en el grupo de sospechosos de glaucoma. En el grupo de glaucomas, las correlaciones fueron más fuertes, especialmente entre los cocientes excavación/disco y anillo/disco con la DM (r=0,479) y entre el área de anillo con la DSM (r=0,444). Conclusiones: Se encontraron correlaciones débiles o moderadas entre algunos parámetros de la CNO medidos con el HRT y los resultados de la PA, en el grupo de glaucomas.

Este trabalho objetivou demonstrar a influência da administração sistêmica de l-5-hidroxi-triptofano (L-HTP) sobre os níveis plasmáticos de melatonina durante o período noturno em codornas. Ao longo do período claro, os níveis plasmáticos de melatonina não diferiram significativamente, oscilando entre 110,2 ± 15,8 pg.mL-1 e 157,4 ± 34,8 pg.mL-1, de 8 às 16 horas. L-HTP (25 mg.kg-1, via intracelomática), administrado às 18 horas atenuou significativamente a elevação noturna dos níveis plasmáticos de melatonina (controles, 327,3 ± 20,1 e 315,8 ± 20,9 pg.mL-1 vs. 242,1 ± 24,8 e 217,5 ± 21 pg.mL-1, respectivamente, às 20 e 24 horas, P < 0,05). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que a administração de L-HTP reduziu a liberação noturna de melatonina, possivelmente por suscitar um aumento da síntese e liberação sináptica de serotonina na pineal. Portanto, a transmissão serotoninérgica da rafe para a pineal constituiria um mecanismo de modulação da síntese e/ou liberação de melatonina em codornas.

This study aimed to demonstrate the influence of the systemic administration of l-5-hydroxy-tryptophan (L-HTP) on the plasma levels of melatonin during the dark period in quails. Throughout daylight, the plasma levels of melatonin did not differ significantly, oscillating between 110.2 ± 15.8 pg.mL-1 and 157.4 ± 34.8 pg.mL-1, from 8 to 16 hours. L-HTP (25 mg.kg-1, through the intracelomic route) administered at 18 hours lessened significantly the nocturnal increase of the plasma levels of melatonin (controls, 327.3 ± 20.1 and 315.8 ± 20.9 pg.mL-1 vs. 242.1 ± 24.8 and 217.5 ± 21 pg.mL-1, respectively, at 20 and 24 hours, P < 0.05). The results obtained showed that the administration of LHTP reduced the nocturnal melatonin release, possibly by bringing about an increase in serotonin synthesis and synaptic release in the pineal. Therefore, the serotoninergic transmission from the raphe towards the pineal would constitute a mechanism of modulation of the synthesis and melatonin release in quails.

Purpose: To determine the correlations between structural parameters of the optic nerve head and the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) obtained by using a Heidelberg Retina Tomograph II (HRT II), optic coherence tomography (OCT), and laser polarimetry (GDX-VCC) and the perimetric indices of standard automated perimetry (SAP) in normal, ocular hypertensive and glaucomatous subjects. Methods: Three hundred and eighty-nine patients were enrolled in the study and classified into three separate groups: 43 with normal eyes, 274 with ocular hypertensive eyes and 72 with glaucomatous eyes. Subjects were classified according to the basal intraocular pressure and the SAP results. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated between the global perimetric indices, mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD), and structural parameters of the RNFL and optic disc obtained by using HRT II, OCT and GDX-VCC in the different diagnostic groups. Results: Mild to moderate correlations were found between the structural parameters measured by HRT, OCT and GDX and the global perimetric indices, in the glaucoma group. Mild or no significant correlations were found in the normal and ocular hypertensive groups. Correlations were stronger for MD than for PSD. Parameters based on the study of the retinal nerve fiber layer showed stronger correlations than those based on the study of the optic nerve head. Conclusions: The relationship between structural and functional measurements in glaucoma is weak and therefore the results of these ancillary tests should be interpreted together to increase diagnostic accuracy.

Objetivo: Determinar las correlaciones entre los parámetros estructurales de la cabeza del nervio óptico y CFNR obtenidos mediante la topografía papilar (HRT II), la tomografía óptica de coherencia (Stratus OCT 3000) y la polarimetría láser (GDx VCC), con los índices globales de la perimetría automatizada convencional en sujetos normales, hipertensos oculares y con glaucoma. Material y método: Trescientos ochenta y nueve ojos fueron incluidos en el estudio y clasificados en 3 grupos: 43 normales, 274 hipertensos oculares y 72 glaucomas según los resultados de la presión intraocular basal y la PA. Se calcularon las correlaciones de Pearson entre los índices principales de la PA, desviación media (DM) y desviación estándar de la media (DSM), y los parámetros morfométricos papilares y de la capa de fibras nerviosas de la retina (CFNR) obtenidos con el HRT II, OCT y GDx VCC, en los diferentes grupos diagnósticos. Resultados: La mayoría de los parámetros estructurales del HRT, OCT y GDx presentaron correlaciones débiles o moderadas con los índices principales de la PA, en el grupo de glaucomas. Los normales e hipertensos mostraron correlaciones débiles o no significativas. Las correlaciones fueron más fuertes para la DM que para la DSM. Los parámetros basados en el estudio de la CFNR presentaron correlaciones más fuertes que los que se basaron en el estudio de la cabeza del nervio óptico. Conclusiones: La concordancia entre defectos del campo visual y alteraciones de la cabeza del nervio óptico o CFNR es débil, lo que justifica la interpretación conjunta de la información aportada por las pruebas estructurales y funcionales para evaluar con mayor precisión el daño glaucomatoso.

Este estudo foi desenvolvido objetivando ampliar as evidências comportamentais e neurofarmacológicas da permeabilidade da barreira hematoencefálica (BHE) à serotonina administrada sistemicamente em codornas. A serotonina injetada por via parenteral (250-1000 µg.kg-1, sc) produziu uma seqüência de eventos relacionados com um estado semelhante ao sono. Comportamentos semelhantes ao sono começaram com o eriçamento das penas, movimentos orais rápidos, piscadelas e finalmente agachamento e fechamento dos olhos. A administração prévia do antagonista do receptor 5-HT2C, LY53857 (3 mg.kg-1, sc) reduziu significativamente os episódios de eriçamento das penas e movimentos orais rápidos, mas não alterou a freqüência de piscadelas e fechamento dos olhos. Tratamento com o antagonista do receptor 5-HT2A/2C, quetanserina (3 mg.kg-1, sc) não afetou nenhuma das respostas evocadas pela serotonina. A quipazina (5 mg.kg-1, sc), um agonista dos receptores 5-HT2A/2C/3, induziu intensa hipomotilidade e longos períodos de comportamentos semelhantes ao bocejo e ao sono. O tratamento prévio com quetanserina suprimiu as reações de bocejo e reduziu a hipomotilidade, os movimentos orais rápidos e as piscadelas, mas foi sem efeito para as demais respostas induzidas pela quipazina. Os resultados mostraram que, diferentemente dos mamíferos, a serotonina atravessa a BHE e ativa mecanismos hipnogênicos em codornas. Estudos com agonistas serotoninérgicos e antagonistas revelaram que, entre as ações da serotonina, o eriçamento das penas, os movimentos orais rápidos e o comportamento semelhante ao bocejo foram originados pela ativação de receptores 5-HT2, enquanto o piscar e o fechamento dos olhos possivelmente requereu outros subtipos de receptores.

This study was carried out aiming to reach behavioral and neuropharmacological evidence of the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to serotonin systemically administered in quails. Serotonin injected by a parenteral route (250-1000 µg.kg-1, sc) elicited a sequence of behavioral events concerned with a sleeping-like state. Sleeping-like behaviors began with feather bristling, rapid oral movements, blinking and finally crouching and closure of the eyes. Previous administration of 5-HT2C antagonist, LY53857 (3 mg.kg-1, sc) reduced the episodes of feather bristling and rapid oral movements significantly but without altering the frequency of blinking and closure of the eyes. Treatment with the 5-HT2A/2C antagonist, ketanserin (3 mg.kg-1, sc) did not affect any of the responses evoked by the serotonin. Quipazine (5 mg.kg-1, sc) a 5-HT2A/2C/3 agonist induced intense hypomotility, long periods of yawning-like and sleeping-like states. Previous ketanserin suppressed gaping responses and reduced hypomotility, rapid oral movements and bristling but was ineffective for remaining responses induced by quipazine. Results showed that unlike mammals, serotonin permeates the BBB and activates hypnogenic mechanisms in quails. Studies using serotoninergic agonist and antagonists have disclosed that among the actions of the serotonin, feather bristling, rapid oral movements and yawning-like state originated from activation of 5-HT2 receptors while blinking and closure of the eyes possibly require other subtypes of receptors.