University of La Frontera

Introduction: This project studies the impact of Ilex paraguariensis harvest time, commonly known as yerba mate, and its consumption mode (mate, tereré, and mate/terere) on the lipid profile of consumers in the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay. Yerba mate is rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, xanthines, and saponins. There are no clinical trials conducted in Paraguay with our Ilex paraguariensis plantations that have analyzed the influence of harvest time on the yerba mate production process and the infusion mode, in relation to its effect on dyslipidemias. General Objective: To establish the effectiveness of Ilex paraguariensis harvest time and the mode of consumption of the produced yerba mate on the lipid profile of consumers in the Department of Caaguazú, Paraguay. Methodology: The research approach will be quantitative, using a triple-blind randomized clinical trial design. Participants will be regular consumers of yerba mate, divided into groups based on harvest time (beginning or end of the harvest) and consumption mode (mate, tereré, or both). Lipid profile measurements will be taken at baseline and at 30, 90, and 180 days after consumption. Yerba mate samples will be analyzed and classified according to their bioactive properties before being blinded to the researchers and participants. Expected results: a report on the social, cultural, and anthropometric characterization of regular consumers of mate and tereré, and a report on the concentrations of the bioactive properties of yerba mate; polyphenols, xanthines, saponins from Ilex paraguariensis harvested at the beginning and end of the harvest and the database of patients with baseline lipid profile results, at 30, 90, and 180 days of mate and tereré consumers with yerba mate prepared randomly according to the harvest time of the Ip (beginning or end of harvest) analyzed.

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare the effects of an 8-week resistance exercise training program on skeletal muscle quality, functional capacity, and quality of life in young individuals aged 15 to 29 years, with and without Hereditary Sensorimotor Polyneuropathy (HSPN).
The main questions to answer are:
What is the effect of an 8-week resistance exercise training program on skeletal muscle quality, functional capacity, and quality of life in young individuals with and without HSPN?
Will the percentage of improvement after the program be greater in participants with HSPN compared to those without, due to greater baseline alterations?
Researchers will compare the resistance exercise training program with baseline conditions to determine its effectiveness in improving skeletal muscle quality, functional capacity, and quality of life.
Participants will undergo a supervised lower-limb resistance exercise program (3x/week) for 8 weeks. The intervention will include progressive loads from 60% to 80% of 1-Repetition Maximum (1RM), with exercises targeting the major lower limb muscle groups. All participants will complete pre- and post-intervention evaluations, including ultrasound assessment of muscle architecture, functional capacity tests, strength measurements, body composition analysis, and quality of life questionnaires.

The aim of this clinical trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of Medium-Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, in combination with standard physical therapy, compared to standard physical therapy alone, on muscle mass, muscle strength, and functionality in critically ill patients aged 80 and over during their hospital stay. The safety of the intervention and the standardization of protocol parameters will also be assessed.
The main research questions are:
* Does the implementation of a standardized Medium-Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation protocol, in combination with standard physical therapy, compared to standard physical therapy alone, help attenuate the loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and functionality in critically ill patients aged 80 and over?
* Is the use of this protocol and its proposed parameters safe for critically ill patients aged 80 and over? The study will consist of applying a standardized Medium-Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation protocol to oldest old patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit of Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital in Temuco, Chile. The sample will consist of oldest old participants (≥80 years), who will be randomly divided into two subgroups: a control group that will receive standard physical therapy typically provided during hospitalization, and an experimental group that will receive the same standard therapy plus Medium-Frequency Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation, which will begin within the first 48 hours of Intensive Care Unit admission.
The following variables will be assessed in both groups (control and experimental), from Intensive Care Unit admission to hospital discharge:
* Skeletal muscle mass characteristics and evolution (quadriceps femoris and anterior tibialis muscle thickness), measured by ultrasonography.
* Handgrip strength, measured using a digital hand dynamometer.
* Inspiratory muscle strength, assessed using a pimometer.
* Peripheral muscle strength, evaluated with the Medical Research Council Sum Score (MRC-SS).
* Functionality, assessed by the Functional Status Score for the Intensive Care Unit (FSS-ICU) .
* Independence in basic activities of daily living, measured using the Barthel Index.
* Quality of life, evaluated using the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36).
* Cognitive impairment, assessed through the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
* Frailty, measured using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS).