Submitted by Filipe dos Santos (fsantos@pucsp.br) on 2018-06-13T12:25:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaíne Cristo Schiavo.pdf: 1003778 bytes, checksum: ff4b49f7d65ce268ef714aca3a3d995e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-06-13T12:25:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jaíne Cristo Schiavo.pdf: 1003778 bytes, checksum: ff4b49f7d65ce268ef714aca3a3d995e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-06 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / INTRODUCTION: The body image is understood as the mental representation of the existential body. Most corporate image studies address the following topics: investigate image satisfaction, repercussions for physical changes such as puberty or gestation and in cases of eating disorders when changes in body image occur. There are few studies about body image in old age involving physical asjica resulting from the aging process and its repercussions. There are studies that address issues involving satisfaction and difficulties from the corporate changes of old age. OBJECTIVES: To discuss the body image related to the aging process from a case study to understand aspects of life history that contribute to coping with the physical changes of this phase of life. METHODS: This is a descriptive and exploratory qualitative study that used the content analysis method to understand the interview data provided. As an instrument, the timeline was used as a means to make the interview more organized and to facilitate the recording and filtering of the most relevant information involving the chronology of life and important aspects of the relationship with the body. Individual interviews were conducted with 6 elderly individuals aged 63-85 years, selecting only one case that met the inclusion criteria of this study. RESULTS: The elderly participant in the study was 74 years old. He presented as characteristic of concern with the appearance, the high stature in the youth. Weight gain, wrinkles and white hair as concerns related to appearance in old age. As for functionality, the practice of physical activities was used as resources to cope with emotional and physical difficulties throughout life and in old age, and sexual activity favored positive relation with the body in both functionality and appearance. CONCLUSION: The coping of the body changes resulting from aging consists in accepting the characteristics of old age, both of appearance and functionality, but one can not lose sight of the fact that each subject suffers differently the emotional impact with the arrival of old age, making it important to understand that adaptation and subjective resources that promote well-being in relation to the body can be alternatives that minimize the difficulties experienced as the body changes with the arrival of aging. In addition, investments that promote lifelong satisfaction with the body as well as social insertion have shown to be relevant aspects to favor a more positive body image in this stage of life / INTRODUÇÃO: Entende-se por imagem corporal a representação mental do corpo existencial. A maior parte dos estudos sobre imagem corporal abordam as seguintes temáticas: investigam a satisfação com a própria imagem, repercussões diante de mudanças físicas como na puberdade ou gestação e nos casos de transtornos alimentares quando há alteração significativa da imagem corporal. Poucos são os estudos sobre imagem corporal na velhice envolvendo as alterações físicas decorrentes do processo de envelhecimento e suas repercussões. Há estudos que abordam questões envolvendo satisfação e dificuldades a partir das mudanças corporais da velhice. OBJETIVOS: Discutir a imagem corporal relacionada ao processo de envelhecimento a partir de estudo de caso para compreensão de aspectos de história de vida que contribuam para enfrentamento de mudanças físicas dessa fase da vida. MÉTODOS: Trata-se de um estudo de caso descritivo e exploratório de natureza qualitativa que fez uso do método de análise de conteúdo para compreender os dados das entrevistas fornecidos. Como instrumento foi utilizada a linha do tempo como um meio para tornar a entrevista mais organizada e facilitar o registro e filtro das informações mais relevantes envolvendo a cronologia de vida e aspectos importantes da relação com o corpo. Foram realizadas entrevistas individuais com 6 idosos com idade entre 63-85 anos, sendo selecionado apenas um caso que cumpriu os critérios de inclusão deste estudo. RESULTADOS: A idosa participante do estudo possuía 74 anos. Apresentou como característica de preocupação com a aparência, a estatura elevada na juventude. Ganho de peso, rugas e cabelos brancos como preocupações relacionadas à aparência na velhice. Quanto a funcionalidade, a prática de atividades físicas foi utilizada como recursos de enfrentamento de dificuldades emocionais e físicas ao longo da vida e na velhice, e a atividade sexual favoreceu relação positiva com o corpo tanto na funcionalidade como na aparência. CONSIDERAÇÕES FINAIS: O enfrentamento das mudanças corporais decorrentes do envelhecimento consiste em aceitar as características da velhice, tanto de aparência como de funcionalidade, mas não se pode perder de vista o fato de que cada sujeito sofre diferentemente o impacto emocional com a chegada da velhice, tornando importante a compreensão de que a adaptação e recursos subjetivos que promovam o bem estar em relação ao corpo podem ser alternativas que minimizam as dificuldades vivenciadas quanto as mudanças corporais com a chegada do envelhecimento. Além disso, os investimentos que promovem satisfação com o corpo ao longo da vida, bem como a inserção social se mostraram aspectos relevantes para favorecer uma imagem corporal mais positiva nessa fase de vida

We examined the effect of daily stress, age, and emotional stability/neuroticism on stress reactivity, using cortisol diurnal rhythms. We used data from the Normative Aging Study (Spiro & Bosse, 2001). The 72 men in this study ranged from 67-93 (M =79.29, SD =4.88). Multilevel modeling showed that higher daily stress predicted flatter cortisol diurnal rhythms, B = .09, p < .001, as did age, B = .01, p < .001, while those higher in neuroticism on the emotional stability/neuroticism measure showed steeper slopes for cortisol diurnal rhythms, B = -.04, p < .001. These results indicate that age and emotional stability/neuroticism levels explain some of the variance in individual differences in stress reactivity and provide a basis for future research focused on the effects of psychosocial variables on physiological outcomes. / Graduation date: 2013

Résumé en français :<p>L’objectif de nos investigations a été d’étudier, chez le sujet humain, les mécanismes responsables de l'altération des performances motrices au cours du vieillissement. La première étude était destinée d’une part, à comparer la diminution maximale de force observée dans les différents régimes de contraction et, d’autre part, à contribuer à la compréhension des mécanismes à l’origine de la meilleure préservation de force pour le régime excentrique. Etant donné que jusqu’à présent, seuls des facteurs musculaires avaient été proposés afin d’expliquer les différences existant en fonction du régime de contraction, nous nous sommes plus particulièrement intéressés à une éventuelle participation de facteurs nerveux. <p>Dans la seconde étude, nous avons testé de manière indirecte (via l’enregistrement d’activités réflexes) l’efficacité des afférences périphériques au cours du vieillissement. En effet, sous le contrôle de la commande centrale, celles-ci contribuent également à réguler le niveau d’excitabilité des motoneurones. Une moindre efficacité de celles-ci pourrait donc être un facteur supplémentaire responsable de l’altération de la fonction motrice. <p>Nous avons ensuite analysé (études III et IV) les propriétés contractiles et le comportement des unités motrices lors de contractions lentes et très rapides (contractions balistiques). Cela nous a permis de vérifier s’il existait chez les seniors une relation entre la diminution de force, de sa vitesse d’installation, et la stratégie d’activation des unités motrices.<p>Enfin, dans l’étude V, nous avons analysé la fatigabilité neuromusculaire chez les seniors, comparativement aux sujets jeunes. Plus spécifiquement, nous avons étudié les contractions concentriques et excentriques maximales fatigantes. La fatigue n’a en effet pas encore été étudiée lors de ces deux types de contraction chez les adultes jeunes et âgés. L’objectif de cette dernière étude était surtout d’analyser la part relative des mécanismes nerveux et musculaires à l’origine de la fatigue ainsi que leur décours dans le temps en fonction de l’âge des sujets.<p>L’approche méthodologique utilisée nous a permis d’analyser les modifications fonctionnelles du muscle et de ses unités motrices avec l’âge. Un intérêt tout particulier a été porté aux ajustements de la commande nerveuse et à la compréhension des mécanismes sous-jacents. L’ensemble de nos résultats expérimentaux documentent de manière originale l’interaction étroite entre les adaptations nerveuses et musculaires au cours du vieillissement. Plus largement, notre travail doctoral contribue à une meilleure connaissance de la remarquable plasticité du système neuromusculaire chez l’homme. <p>Résumé en anglais :\ / Doctorat en Sciences de la motricité / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

In this study we examined dynamic visual acuity as a functional testing of the vestibulo- ocular reflex. Two groups were examined: 22 healthy seniors and 22 healthy young people as controls. We used two types of situations for testing: while walking on a treadmill at a speed of 2, 4 and 5 kmph, and with a subject's head passively moved in yaw and pitch plane. Visual acuity was measured with optotype charts (for the walking test it was a standard Snellen optotype chart at 6 m distance, for the test of head moves it was a Jaeger chart at 30 cm distance). The values obtained in these ways we related to values of a subject's static visual acuity, measured in the same conditions, just before the dynamic situations were examined. We found significant difference of dynamic visual acuity in senior group within each condition tested. We also found a significant decline as for difference of dynamic visual acuity in the senior group compared to young subjects - in the walking test at 4 and 5 kmph and in both head-moving conditions. These results indicate age-related impairment in function of vestibulo-ocular reflex. Based on our results, the test of passive head moves appears to be more suitable for ordinary clinical examination of dynamic visual acuity.

Dehydroepiandrosterone, a C-19 steroid, is found endogenously with the highest circulating serum levels. It is converted to important steroids such as the sex hormones oestrogen and testosterone. DHEA has come under the spotlight as a purported “fountain of youth” due to its well-characterised age-related decline. The supplementation of DHEA in both the elderly and those with a pathophysiological deficiency has been shown to be of benefit, particularly with regard to wellbeing and depression. The role of DHEA in the periphery has not been elucidated beyond its role as a precursor hormone in sex steroid biosynthesis, though it has been established as a neuroactive neurosteroid, capable of exerting neuroprotective effects in the brain. Since the importance of free radicals in aging and neurodegeneration is well established, investigations were conducted on the ability of DHEA to inhibit free radical generation or scavenge existing free radicals. DHEA was able to significantly inhibit quinolinic acid-induced lipid peroxidation, a measure of membrane damage, over a range of concentrations, although the reduction did not appear to be dose-dependent. This was observed in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Thus, the ability of a compound to reduce the degree of lipid peroxidation may indicate its value as a neuroprotectant. However, DHEA did not significantly reduce cyanide induced generation of the superoxide free radical, suggesting that DHEA is not an effective free radical scavenger of the superoxide anion and that the reduction in lipid peroxidation does not occur through a scavenging mechanism. Apoptosis is a physiological process which is necessary for development and homeostasis. However, this form of programmed cell death can be initiated through various mechanisms and too much apoptotic cell death results in deleterious effects in the body. DHEA was shown not to induce apoptosis. Even the lowest concentration of DHEA investigated in this thesis shows a remarkable decrease in the degree of apoptosis caused by intrahippocampal chemical insult by the neurotoxin quinolinic acid. Cresyl violet was used to visualise tissue for histological examination which revealed that DHEA is able to preserve the normal healthy morphology of hippocampal cells which have been exposed to quinolinic acid. Cells maintained their integrity and showed little evidence of swelling associated with necrosis. Organ culture studies were performed by assessing the impact of DHEA on several pineal metabolites. The study revealed that DHEA exerted an effect on the metabolism of indoleamines in the pineal gland. Melatonin, the chief pineal hormone, did not appear to be affected while the concentrations of N-acetylserotonin, serotonin and methoxytryptamine showed significant alterations. Thus, the neuroprotective mechanism of DHEA does not appear to be mediated by an increase in the presence of melatonin. The biological importance of metal ions in neurodegeneration is also well established and thus the potential interaction between DHEA and metal ions was considered as a mechanism of action. Spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses were performed to determine whether DHEA is able to interact with metal ions as a ligand. These reveal that DHEA does not form a strong bond with the metals investigated, namely copper (II) and iron (III), but that a weak interaction is evident. These investigations were conducted in a rodent model, which has neither large amounts of endogenous DHEA, nor the enzymatic infrastructure present in humans. Thus, the theory that DHEA exerts its effects through downstream metabolic products is unlikely. However, these investigations reveal that there is merit in the statement that DHEA itself is a neuroprotective molecule, and confirm that the further investigation of DHEA is an advisable strategy in the war against neurodegeneration and aging.