The aim of this study was to investigate the acute and chronic effects, and their correlation, after combined aerobic and resistance exercises in blood pressure (BP) and its variability (BPV) in hypertensive postmenopausal women. Fourteen hypertensive postmenopausal women monitored BP at rest and during 24 h by ambulatory BP monitoring in a control day without exercise performance a pretraining (baseline), after an acute exercise session (acute), and after a chronic exercise training for 10 weeks (chronic). After exercise training, systolic BP (SBP, Δ = −150 mmHg.24 h), diastolic BP (DBP, Δ = −96 mmHg.24 h), and mean BP (MBP, Δ = −95 mmHg.24 h) area under the curve were smaller than baseline measurements (P < 0.05) with no difference between acute and baseline measurements. The SBP (ΔSD₂₄ = −2, ΔSD_dn = −1.7, and ΔARV₂₄ = −1.9 mmHg), DBP (ΔSD₂₄ = −0.9, ΔSD_dn = −0.8, and ΔARV₂₄ = −0.9 mmHg), and MBP (ΔSD₂₄ = −1.5, ΔSD_dn = −1.3, and ΔARV₂₄ = −1.2 mmHg) variability reduced in acute session in relation to baseline, with no chronic effects. There are moderate correlations between acute and chronic responses in wake SBP, sleep DBP, and SD₂₄. In conclusion, combined exercise reduces ambulatory BP chronically but not acutely. In contrast, BPV decreases after an acute session but not chronically. Awake SBP, sleep DBP, and SD₂₄ indices are promising candidates to predict individual cardiovascular responses to exercise.

Objective: To verify if acute intake of beetroot juice potentiates post-exercise hypotension (PEH) in hypertensive postmenopausal women. Methods: Thirteen hypertensive postmenopausal women (58.1 ± 4.62 years and 27.4 ± 4.25 kg/m²) were recruited to participate in three experimental sessions, taking three different beverages: Beetroot juice (BJ), placebo nitrate-depleted BJ (PLA), and orange flavored non-caloric drink (OFD). The participants performed moderate aerobic exercise training on a treadmill, at 65–70% of heart rate reserve (HRR), for 40 min. After an overnight fast, the protocol started at 07h when the first resting blood pressure (BP) was measured. The beverage was ingested at 07h30 and BP was monitored until the exercise training started, at 09h30. After the end of the exercise session, BP was measured every 15 min over a 90-min period. Saliva samples were collected at rest, immediately before and after exercise, and 90 min after exercise for nitrite (NO₂⁻) analysis. Results: There was an increase in salivary NO₂⁻ with BJ intake when compared to OFD and PLA. A slight increase in salivary NO₂⁻ was observed with PLA when compared to OFD (p < 0.05), however, PLA resulted in lower salivary NO₂⁻ when compared to BJ (p < 0.001). There were no changes in salivary NO₂⁻ with the OFD. Systolic and diastolic BP decreased (p < 0.001) on all post exercise time points after all interventions, with no difference between the three beverages. Conclusion: Acute BJ intake does not change PEH responses in hypertensive postmenopausal women, even though there is an increase in salivary NO₂⁻.

Toxoplasmosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic parasitic disease. Neonates with congenital infection can develop severe long-term sequelae, which can be mitigated or prevented through early diagnosis and therapeutic approaches. In this context, the main objective of this study was to describe the main treatments and evaluate the effectiveness of the current treatment protocols for gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis to prevent vertical transmission and to reduce clinical manifestations in neonates. This systematic review with a meta-analysis searched digital databases (PUBMED, SCOPUS, WEB OF SCIENCE, EMBASE, and COCHRANE) for observational cohort studies published between 1 January 2013 and 29 January 2025, evaluating treatment effectiveness in gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis. Risk ratios (RRs) were calculated using random effects models to assess infection risk and clinical manifestations in neonates. The study quality was assessed following the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol and fifty-six studies from 16 countries were included, comprising 11,090 pregnant women and 4138 children. Studies were predominantly from Brazil (38%), France, and Italy. Only 9% of the studies indicated knowledge of the serological status of the pregnant woman before the gestational stage. Of 10,148 women with confirmed toxoplasmosis, 8600 received treatment, with 18% of their children infected, compared to a 58% infection rate in untreated mothers’ children. Meta-analysis showed that treatment reduced infection risk (RR = 0.34 [0.21; 0.57]) and clinical manifestations (RR = 0.30 [0.17; 0.56]). While spiramycin or triple therapy showed similar effects, triple therapy demonstrated more consistent results (RR: 0.22 [0.15; 0.32]) compared to spiramycin alone (RR: 0.54 [0.06; 4.67]). In conclusion, treatment protocols for congenital or gestational toxoplasmosis have proven to be effective in reducing the risk of infection and clinical manifestations in neonates. Regarding the type of treatment, although they have similar responses, the use of triple therapy shows more consistent responses than isolated spiramycin. It can be also concluded that prevention and mitigation of congenital toxoplasmosis require standardized treatment protocols, improved diagnostic methods, and educational programs for women of childbearing age, as treatment initiation timing and protocol choice are crucial factors in determining outcomes.

Background: Exercise and supplementation with isoflavones are therapies used to prevent and treat climacteric symptoms. Aim: To verify the effects of 10 weeks of combined aerobic and resistance training and isoflavone supplementation on climacteric symptoms in postmenopausal women. Methods: A randomised, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was performed. A total of 32 postmenopausal women, aged 54.4 ± 5.4 years, with a body mass index of 26.6 ± 3.0 kg/m² and 5.6 ± 4.6 years after menopause, were randomly assigned to groups: placebo and exercise (PLA + EXE, n = 15) or 100 mg of isoflavone and exercise (ISO + EXE, n = 17). At the beginning and after 10 weeks of aerobic + resistance (20 min each, moderate intensity) training, climacteric symptoms were evaluated using the Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index, Cervantes Scale and Menopause Rating Scale. ANCOVA was used for analysis between groups and at different times, with the covariate adjusted by the pre-value. The level of significance considered was p < 0.05. Results: A reduction in climacteric symptoms was observed in both groups, without differences between the interventions. The reductions were 45% and 50% for the Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index, 41% and 52% for the MRS and 39% and 39% for the Cervantes Scale in the ISO + EXE and PLA + EXE groups, respectively. In the descriptive analysis of the Blatt–Kupperman Menopausal Index values, there was an increase in the absence of symptoms from 48−77% in the ISO + EXE group and 24−58% in the PLA + EXE group. Conclusions: A period of 10 weeks of combined training was effective in improving climacteric symptoms in post-menopausal women. However, isoflavone supplementation did not promote additional effects in improving symptoms.

Aim: The aim of the study was to verify the effects of moderate combined aerobic and resistance exercises training in ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM) and its variability in hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Methods: Twenty-six participants were divided into two groups: hypertensive (HT = 13) and normotensive (NT = 13). They performed 30 sessions of combined exercises (aerobic and resistance exercises at same session) over 10 weeks. We evaluated: resting BP and 24-h ABPM with systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean blood pressure (MBP), and heart rate (HR). To evaluate blood pressure variability (BPV), the following were considered: 24-h SD (SD₂₄), the mean diurnal and nocturnal deviations (SD_dn), average real variability (ARV₂₄). Results: The two-way analysis of variance showed no difference in ABPM nor BPV responses after training between groups. Both HT and NT groups had similar BP reductions in 24-h DBP (P < 0.01; ΔNT = –3.1 ± 1.1, ΔHT = –1.8 ± 1.2 mmHg), 24-h area under the curve of DBP (P = 0.01; ΔNT = –73±105, ΔHT = –44 ± 115 mmHg), and wake DBP (P < 0.01; ΔNT = –3.4 ± 1.2, ΔHT = –1.8 ± 1.3 mmHg), without differences in BPV responses. Moreover, HT women had higher overall SBP SD_dn (P = 0.01), SBP ARV (P = 0.02), and MBP ARV (P < 0.01) than NT women. Conclusion: Ten-week combined exercise training resulted in similar BP reductions in hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women, but not in BPV responses.

The aim of this study was to compare the Mat Pilates training-induced responses in resting and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), blood pressure variability (BPV), and heart rate variabil...