Abstract Background: The use of combined oral contraceptives (COC) is a risk factor for atherosclerotic disease, and physical exercise can minimize this condition. Objective: To verify if high intensity interval training (HIIT) promotes changes in the lipid and inflammatory profile of women using COC. Methods: Sequential crossover study with women aged 20-30 years, classified as irregularly active by the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ), when using COC. A physical-clinical assessment was performed with anthropometric measurements, VO2max, and analysis of lipid and inflammatory profile. Participants were divided into 2 groups: the initial intervention group (GII), which began practicing HIIT for 2 months, and the posterior intervention group (GIP), which remained inactive for the same period. The GII and GIP would then alternate their conditions. The collected data was divided into: Initial moment (IM), post-exercise moment (PEM) and post-inactivity (PIM). The statistical analyses were performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, adopting a significance level of p <0.05 . Results: Twelve women were evaluated. After crossing the GII and GIP data, there was a difference in the C-reactive protein values between the IM of 4 (1.6-6.3 mg/dL) vs. PEM 2 (1.5-5 mg/dL); as well as between the PEM vs. the PIM= 4 (1.5-5.8 mg/dL), with a p -value = 0.04 in the comparisons. There was no change between the “moments” of the lipid profile, although it was possible to notice a reduction in resting HR and an increase in indirect VO2max. Conclusion: The HIIT program was able to reduce the inflammatory profile, but it did not alter the lipid profile of irregularly active women using COC.

Introduction and objective: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a genetic condition that alters the conformation of deoxygenated red blood cells, which results in their stiffening and the occurrence of vaso-occlusive crises, endothelium damage, organ dysfunction and systemic complications. Additionally, SCA limits the participation of individuals in physical and social activities. As we consider that physical exercise promotes the recovery of functional capacity and cardiorespiratory conditioning, we aim to verify the patterns of prescription, the effects and safety of exercise for individuals with SCA. Methodology: We systematically reviewed the published literature focusing on clinical trials that correlated physical exercise with SCA patients and cross-sectional studies that applied the stress test. The data research was based on the PRISMA recommendations and the following databases were used: Medline by PubMed, Cochrane, PEDro, Scielo. Results: Six studies which were based on the evaluation of 212 patients aged between 13 and 40 years, were selected from 122 identified studies. Those studies associated the individual effort tolerance improvement, its inflammatory profile adjustment and the absence of alteration in the autonomic nervous system activity to physical exercise or stress test. Conclusion: Low-to-moderate intensity physical exercise increased the SCA individual tolerance without causing vaso-occlusive crises, nor changes in the hemorheological and inflammatory profiles.

Abstract Backgroud: Recent studies show that women on combined oral contraceptives (COC) present abnormal fasting lipid profile, increased postprandial lipemia, plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood pressure (BP) compared to women not on combined oral contraceptives. Plasma renin is one of the factors responsible for abnormal BP. Objectives: To assess plasma renin levels in women using or not using COC, the correlation between renin and CRP, as well as divergences in lipid profile. Methods: A cross-sectional study with apparently healthy women aged 20 to 30, eutrophic, irregularly active, and with fasting triglycerides < 150 mg/dL. The sample was stratified into two groups: the No Combined Oral Contraceptive Group (NCOCG), comprised of women who did not use any type of hormone contraceptive, and the Combined Oral Contraceptive Group (COCG) comprised of women on low-dose COC for at least one year. After a 12-hour fast, 5 ml of blood was collected for renin dosing and PCR. Data were analyzed by the t-Test and bidirectional Mann-Whitney Test, both with significance < 0.05. Results: We evaluated 44 women equally distributed between the groups, age 23 ± 1.2 years, BMI 21.0 ± 3.2 kg/m2. Median and interquartile deviation of renin in the NCOCG and the COCG were, respectively, 0.5 (0.1-1.0) and 3.0 (2-6) (p < 0.01). A positive correlation between PCR and renin (p < 0.01 and r = 0.68) was found. Conclusion: The plasma renin levels of women using COC were higher, with a strong correlation with CRP.