Although several alleles of susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have been studied in the last decades, few polymorphisms have been considered as risk factors for the disease. Among them, the APOE-e4 allele appears to be the major genetic risk factor for the onset of the disease. However, it is important to confirm the potential susceptibility of these genetic variants in different populations in order to establish a genetic profile for the disease in specific communities. This study analyzed the APOE polymorphisms regarding susceptibility to AD in a sample of 264 individuals (primarily Caucasians; 82 cases and 182 controls) in the population from Vitória, ES, Brazil, by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods. The patients were selected according to clinical criteria for probable AD. Whereas the e4 allele showed statistically significant positive association with susceptibility to AD (OR = 3.01, 95%CI = 1.96-4.61; P < 0.0001), the e2 allele did not. The results of the e4 allele confirm the role of this polymorphism as a risk factor for AD in the sample studied as observed in other populations. Although the e3 allele has been considered neutral in several studies, our results suggest that it acts as a protective factor against AD in the population studied (OR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.30-0.67; P < 0.0001). This study may provide a new insight into the role of the APOE-e3 allele in the etiology of AD and might help to estabilish a profile of risk for AD in the population from Vitória, ES.

Introduction: Human immunodeficiency vírus (HIV)-associated lipodystrophy syndrome (LS) includes body composition and metabolic alterations. Lack of validated criteria and tools make difficult to evaluate body composition in this group. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare different methods to evaluate body composition between Brazilians HIV subjects with (HIV+LIPO+) or without LS (HIV+LIPO-) and healthy subjects (Control). Methods: in a cross-sectional analyses, body composition was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), skinfold thickness (SF) and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in 10 subjects from HIV+LIPO+ group; 22 subjects from HIV+LIPO- group and 12 from Control group. Results: There were no differences in age and body mass index (BMI) between groups. The fat mass (FM) (%) estimated by SF did not correlate with DXA in HIV+LIPO+ group (r = 0,46/ p > 0,05) and had fair agreement in both HIV groups (HIV+LIPO+ =0,35/ HIV+ LIPO- = 0,40). BIA had significant correlation in all groups (p < 0,05) and strong agreement, meanly in HIV groups, for FM (HIV+LIPO+ = 0,79/ HIV+LIPO- = 0,85 / Control = 0,60) and for fat free mass (FFM) (HIV+LIPO+ = 0,93 / HIV+LIPO- = 0,92 / Control = 0,73). Discussion: Total fat mass can be measured by BIA with good precision, but not by SF in HIV-infected patients with LS. Segmental BIA, triciptal SF, circumferences of arms, waist and legs maybe alternatives that need more studies.

Introducción: El síndrome de lipodistrofia (SL) asociado al virus de inmunodeficiencia humana (HIV) incluye alteraciones en la composición corporal y metabólica. La falta de herramientas adecuadas y criterios válidos dificultan la evaluación de la composición corporal en este grupo. Objetivo: El objetivo del estudio fue comparar distintos métodos para evaluar la composición corporal entre individuos brasileños con HIV que teniam (HIV+LIPO+) o no LS (HIV+LIPO-) e individuos sanos (control). Métodos: Estudio transversal en el que fue evaluada la composición corporal por análisis de impedancia bioeléctrica (BIA), pliegues cutáneos (SF) y absorciometría de rayos X de doble energía (DXA) en un grupo de 10 individuos con HIV+LIPO+, 22 individuos del grupo HIV+ LIPO- y 12 individuos del grupo control. Resultados: No hubo diferencias en la edad e índice de masa corporal (IMC) entre grupos. La masa grasa (MG) (%) estimada por SF no se correlacionó con DXA en pacientes del grupo HIV+LIPO+ (r = 0,46 / p> 0,05) y había leve concordancia en ambos grupos con HIV (HIV+LIPO+ = 0,35/ HIV+LIPO- = 0,40). BIA tuvo una correlación significativa en todos los grupos (p <0,05) y fuerte acuerdo, principalmente en grupos HIV para MG (HIV+LIPO+ = 0,79 / HIV+LIPO- = 0,85 / Control = 0,60) y para la masa libre de grasa (HIV+LIPO+ = 0,93/ HIV+LIPO- = 0,92 / Control = 0,73). Discusión: La masa grasa total puede ser medida por BIA con precisión, pero no por SF en los individuos con HIV y LS. BIA segmentario, SF del tríceps, circunferencia de brazos, cintura y piernas, pueden ser alternativas que necesiten más estudios.

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Exercícios para fortalecimento do glúteo máximo são empregados na prática clínica para tratamento de disfunções da coluna lombar e sacroilíaca. Entretanto, não foram encontrados estudos que investigaram os melhores exercícios para ativar esse músculo de forma a justificar a sua utilização na prática fisioterapêutica. OBJETIVO: Quantificar a atividade eletromiográgica (EMG) dos músculos glúteo máximo e semitendinoso durante quatro modalidades de exercícios terapêuticos. MÉTODOS: Trinta e um participantes (16 homens, 15 mulheres) foram selecionados. A atividade EMG do glúteo máximo e semitendinoso foi registrada e quantificada enquanto os indivíduos realizaram quatro modalidades de exercícios terapêuticos envolvendo extensão ativa do quadril em prono em quatro posições: joelho em extensão, joelho em flexão, rotação lateral do quadril e extensão do joelho e rotação lateral do quadril e flexão do joelho. RESULTADOS: ANOVA medidas repetidas revelou que a adição de flexão do joelho ou rotação lateral do quadril aumentou a atividade do glúteo máximo, enquanto os exercícios realizados com extensão do joelho resultaram na redução da sua ativação. Por outro lado, os exercícios realizados com extensão do joelho aumentaram a atividade do semitendinoso. CONCLUSÕES: Os exercícios realizados com flexão de joelho e/ou rotação lateral do quadril demonstraram ser opções efetivas para ativação do glúteo máximo, mas resultaram em redução da atividade do semitendinoso. Os exercícios realizados com extensão do joelho demonstraram ser uma boa opção para ativar o semitendinoso.

BACKGROUND: Gluteus maximus strengthening exercises are employed in clinical practice as options for the treatment of low back and sacroiliac disorders. However, no studies were found that investigated which were the best exercises to activate this muscle and justify its employment in physical therapy practice. OBJECTIVE: To quantify the electromyographic (EMG) activity of the gluteus maximus and semitendinosus muscles during four modalities of therapeutic exercises. METHODS: Thirty-one participants (16 men, 15 women) were selected. The EMG activities of the gluteus maximus and semitendinosus was recorded and quantified while the participants performed four modalities of therapeutic exercises, involving active prone hip extension in four positions: knee extension (KE), knee flexion (KF), lateral hip rotation and knee extension (LHRKE), and lateral hip rotation and knee flexion (LHR-KF). RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVAs showed that the addition of KF or LHR increased gluteus maximus activity, whereas, KE decreased the activation of this muscle. In contrast, the exercises performed with KE increased semitendinosus activity. CONCLUSIONS: Exercises performed with KF or LHR, or a combination of the two, may be effective choices for gluteus maximus strengthening, however both KF and LHR decreased semitendinosus activity. The exercises performed with KE appeared to be an acceptable choice for semitendinosus activation.