RESUMO Introdução O treinamento no dinamômetro isocinético é uma alternativa para aumentar a força muscular em pacientes com doença arterial coronariana (DAC). Poucos estudos têm investigado as respostas metabólicas e cardiorrespiratórias do exercício isocinético submáximo em pacientes de um programa de reabilitação cardíaca. Objetivos Descrever as respostas cardiorrespiratórias em duas intensidades de exercícios isocinéticos. Adicionalmente, comparamos as respostas cardiorrespiratórias do exercício isocinético com os dados de um teste de exercício cardiopulmonar (TECP) incremental. Métodos Oito indivíduos com DAC (61,7± 6,6 anos) realizaram os seguintes testes: 1) TECP em esteira ergométrica; 2) Teste de pico de torque (cinco repetições) e resistência à fadiga (20 repetições) de flexão-extensão de joelho nas velocidades angulares de 120º /s e 180º/s; 3) Duas séries de 20 repetições em 30% a 40% (baixa intensidade, BI) e 50% a 60% (moderada intensidade, MI) do pico de torque nas velocidades angulares de 120 o /s e 180º/s no dinamômetro isocinético. Durante os exercícios, os indivíduos foram conectados ao analisador de gases expirados com monitoração simultânea do traçado eletrocardiográfico, frequência cardíaca (FC), consumo de oxigênio (VO2), produção de dióxido de carbono e ventilação minuto (VE). Foi calculada a diferença (∆) entre a medida pico durante os exercícios e os valores basais. Resultados Tanto a BI quanto a MI produziram respostas cardiorrespiratórias abaixo do limiar anaeróbico (82,8 ± 8,1% da FCmáx e 74,4 ± 9,6% do VO2pico) comparadas com os dados do TECP (P < 0,01). A MI mostrou valores maiores de ∆ FC (9,8 ± 5,5 vs. 6,3 ± 4,6 bpm; P = 0,01), ∆ duplo produto frequência-pressão (3.015 ± 2.286 vs. 1.957 ± 1.932 mmHg.bpm; P = 0,01) e ∆VE (10,2 ± 6,2 vs. 6,9 ± 7 L.min-1; P = 0,03) quando comparado com a BI na velocidade angular de 180º/s. Conclusão Esses resultados sugerem que este protocolo de exercícios isocinéticos pode ser usado como estratégia para programas de reabilitação cardíaca em pacientes com DAC. Nível de evidência IV; Série de casos.

ABSTRACT Introduction Exercise training using an isokinetic dynamometer is an alternative for improving muscle strength in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Few studies have shown metabolic and cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal isokinetic exercises in patients in cardiac rehabilitation programs. Objective To describe cardiorespiratory responses at two intensities of isokinetic exercise. Additionally, we compared the cardiorespiratory responses of isokinetic exercise with data from the incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET). Methods Eight individuals with CAD (61.7 ± 6.6 years) performed the following tests: 1) CPET on a treadmill; 2) Peak torque test (five repetitions) and fatigue resistance test (20 repetitions) of knee flexion-extension at angular speeds of 120°/s and 180°/s; 3) Two sets of 20 repetitions were performed at 30–40% (low-intensity, LI) and 50–60% (moderate-intensity, MI) of peak torque at angular speeds of 120°/s and 180°/s, using an isokinetic dynamometer. During the exercises, the individuals were connected to an expired gases analyzer with simultaneous monitoring of the electrocardiogram trace, heart rate (HR), oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide production, and minute ventilation (VE). The differences (∆) between the peak measurements during exercises and the baseline values were calculated. Results Both LI and MI produced cardiorespiratory responses below the anaerobic threshold (82.8 ± 8.1% of HRmax and 74.4 ± 9.6% of VO2peak) compared to the CPET data ( P < 0.01). MI showed higher ∆ HR (9.8 ± 5.5 vs. 6.3 ± 4.6 bpm; P = 0.01), ∆ rate pressure product (3015 ± 2286 vs. 1957 ± 1932 mmHg·bpm; P = 0.01), and ∆VE (10.2 ± 6.2 vs. 6.9 ± 7 L·min-1; P = 0.03) than LI at the angular velocity of 180°/s. Conclusion These results suggest that this isokinetic exercise protocol may be used as a strategy for cardiac rehabilitation programs in patients with CAD. Level of evidence IV; Case series.

RESUMEN Introducción El entrenamiento en el dinamómetro isocinético es una alternativa para aumentar la fuerza muscular en pacientes con enfermedad arterial coronaria (EAC). Pocos estudios han investigado las respuestas metabólicas y cardiorrespiratorias del ejercicio isocinético submáximo en pacientes de un programa de rehabilitación cardíaca. Objetivos Describir las respuestas cardiorrespiratorias en dos intensidades de ejercicios isocinéticos. Además, comparamos las respuestas cardiorrespiratorias del ejercicio isocinético con los datos de un test de ejercicio cardiopulmonar (TECP) incremental. Métodos Ocho individuos con EAC (61,7 ± 6,6 años) realizaron los siguientes tests: 1) TECP en cinta ergométrica; 2) Test de pico de torque (cinco repeticiones) y resistencia a la fatiga (20 repeticiones) de flexión-extensión de la rodilla en las velocidades angulares de 120º/s y 180º/s; 3) Dos series de 20 repeticiones en 30% a 40% (baja intensidad, BI) y 50% a 60% (moderada intensidad, MI) del pico de torque en las velocidades angulares de 120º/s y 180º/s en el dinamómetro isocinético. Durante los ejercicios, los individuos fueron conectados al analizador de gases expirados con monitorización simultánea del trazado electrocardiográfico, frecuencia cardiaca (FC), consumo de oxígeno (VO2), producción de dióxido de carbono y ventilación minuto (VE). Fue calculada la diferencia (∆) entre la medida pico durante los ejercicios y los valores basales. Resultados Tanto BI como MI produjeron respuestas cardiorrespiratorias por debajo del umbral anaeróbico (82,8 ± 8,1% de la FCmax y 74,4 ± 9,6% del VO2pico) en comparación con los datos de la TECP (P < 0,01). La MI mostró valores mayores de ∆ FC (9,8 ± 5,5 vs 6,3 ± 4,6 lpm; P = 0,01), ∆ producto frecuencia-presión (3015±2286 vs. 1957±1932 mmHg.lpm; P = 0,01) y ∆VE (10,2±6,2 vs. 6,9±7 L.min-1; P = 0,03) en comparación con la BI en la velocidad angular de 180°/s. Conclusión Estos resultados sugieren que este protocolo de ejercicios isocinéticos puede ser utilizado como estrategia para programas de rehabilitación cardíaca en pacientes con EAC. Nivel de evidencia IV; Serie de casos.

Biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) have received considerable attention because of their possible use in the development of strategies for the topical delivery of oils and therapeutic drugs, particularly when drug penetration in dermis is desired. Zein is a prolamine and is a promising material for the design of drug delivery systems. In this study, NPs were prepared with zein and were used to encapsulate and release terpinen-4-ol, which is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of melanoma. The results show that the zein NPs are promising nanostructured systems for the prolonged delivery of T4OL with potential applications in anti-melanoma therapy.

Bone morphogenetic protein type 2 (BMP-2) is a potent local factor, which promotes bone formation and has been used as an osteogenic supplement for mesenchymal stem cells. OBJECTIVES: This study evaluated the effect of a recombinant BMP-2 as well as the endogenous BMP-4 and BMP-7 in the osteogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) in medium supplemented with ascorbate and β-glycerophosphate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human ASCs were treated with osteogenic medium in the presence (ASCs+OM+BMP-2) or absence (ASCs+OM) of BMP-2. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the extracellular matrix mineralization was evaluated by Von Kossa staining and calcium quantification. The expressions of BMP-4, BMP-7, Smad1, Smad4, and phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 were analyzed by western blotting. Relative mRNA expressions of Smad1, BMP receptor type II (BMPR-II), osteonectin, and osteocalcin were evaluated by qPCR. Results: ASCs+OM demonstrated the highest expression of BMP-4 and BMP-7 at days 21 and 7, respectively, the highest levels of BMPR-II mRNA expression at day 28, and the highest levels of Smad1 mRNA at days 14 and 28. ASCs+OM+BMP-2 demonstrated the highest levels of Smad1 mRNA expression at days 1, 7, and 21, the highest expression of Smad1 at day 7, the highest expression of Smad4 at day 14, the highest ALP activity at days 14 and 21, and expression of phosphorylated Smad1/5/8 at day 7. ASCs+OM and ASCs+OM+BMP2 showed similar ALP activity at days 7 and 28, similar osteonectin and osteocalcin mRNA expression at all time periods, and similar calcium depositions at all time periods. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that human ASCs expressed endogenous BMP-4 and BMP-7. Moreover, the supplementation of ASCs with BMP-2 did not increase the level of osteogenic markers in the initial (ALP activity), intermediate (osteonectin and osteocalcin), or final (calcium deposition) phases, suggesting that the exogenous addition of BMP-2 did not improve the in vitro osteogenesis process of human ASCs.

The exploration of marine environment represents a promising strategy in the search for new active antiviral compounds. The isolation and characterization of the nucleosides spongothymidine and spongouridine from the sponge Cryptotethia crypta used as models for the synthesis of ara-A (vidarabine), that has been used therapeutically against herpetic encephalitis, was the most important contribution since the late 1970s. This paper describes the in vitro antiviral evaluation of 26 organic extracts obtained from eleven octocoral species and fifteen marine sponges. Cytotoxicity was evaluated on Vero cells by MTT assay and the antiviral activity was tested against Herpes Simplex Virus type 1 (HSV-1, KOS strain) by plaque number reduction assay. Results were expressed as 50% cytotoxic (CC50) and 50% inhibitory (IC50) concentrations, respectively, in order to calculate the selectivity index (SI= CC50/IC50) of each extract. Among the tested marine octocoral species, only three extracts showed antiviral activity, but with low selectivity indices (<3.0). Among the tested marine sponges, eight extracts showed SI values higher than 2.0, and three can be considered promising (Aka cachacrouense, Niphates erecta and Dragmacidon reticulatum) with SI values of 5.0, 8.0 and 11.7, respectively, meriting complementary studies in order to identify the bioactive components of these sponge extracts, which are in course now.