Análise da função dos músculos do quadril em portadores de síndrome da dor patelofemural

The Patellofemoral pain syndrome is defined as a fore or retro patellar pain and it has multifactorial etiology, where the bad patellar alignment is the most acceptable hypothesis. However proximal factors to the knee, as the debility of the muscles of the hip, have been demonstrated as a contributing factor to the appearing of that syndrome. Purpose: To evaluate if exists a relation between the hip muscles performance and the development of the SDPF. Methods: Thirty women took part in this study. They were divided in two groups; a control group (fifteen asymptomatic subjects) and an experimental group (fifteen subjects with the diagnosis of SDPF). The muscle performance was evaluated in an isokinetic dynamometer, where it was verified the peak torque (PT), PT to body weight, PT time and the agonist/antagonist relation. It was also analyzed the electromyographic activity of the middle gluteus. The data was analyzed by the not paired t test at a significance level of 5%. Results:. Didn t have significant difference to the PT of the abductor muscles (p = 0,46) and lateral rotators of the hip (p = 0,17) between groups. Also didn t have significant difference to the PT values by the body weight, to these muscle groups either (p = 0,10 e p = 0,11, respectively). Didn t have significant difference between the amplitude of the signal (p = 0,05) and the onset of medium gluteus (p = 0,25) between the groups. Conclusion: In the experimental conditions realized, the study didn t demonstrate a relation between performance the hip muscles behavior and the development of the SDPF

Efeito imediato da estimulação elétrica neuromuscular seletiva do músculo VMO em pacientes com síndrome da dor femoropatelar

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) is described as anterior or retropatellar pain knee in the absence of other pathologies and is frequently associated with dysfunction of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO). However, several studies have demonstrated the inability to selectively activate this muscle through exercise. To evaluate the effect of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) selective VMO in women with syndrome. We evaluated thirty-eight women: twenty in the control group (24.15 ± 2.60 years) and eighteen diagnosed with PFPS (25.56 ± 3.55 years). Both groups were evaluated before and after a protocol of electro stimulation. To measure for comparing groups before and after treatment, we assessed the extensor torque concentric and eccentric knee through an isokinetic dynamometer, the intensity (Root Mean Square - RMS) and the onset of activation (onset) of VMO compared to the vastus lateralis (VL) in two types of exercise: open and closed kinetic chain. . Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 15.0, with a significance level of 5%. Results: Our data showed an increase in the intensity of activation (RMS) of the VMO muscle after NMES in both study groups. During concentric contraction the RMS of the VMO before the NMES was 105.69 ± 32.26 μV and after a single intervention was 122.10 ± 39.62 μV (p = 0.048) for the control group. In the group with PPS, we found a similar behavior, with RMS of the VMO before NMES of 96.25 ± 18.83 μV and 139.80 ± 65.88 μV after the intervention (p = 0.0001). However, there was no evidence in the RMS value of VL muscle. The onset was calculated by subtracting the onset of VL by the onset of VMO. For the group with PFPS, the onset before the intervention was -0.007 ± 0.14 ms, indicating a delay of the VMO relative to VL, and after NMES was 0.074 ± 0.09 ms (p = 0.016), showing an activation previous VMO to VL. The same occurred for the control group. We also observed that NMES increased knee extensor power during the concentric contraction in both groups. Before the intervention the mean power was 28.97 ± 9.01 W for the PPS group and after NMES was 34.38 ± 7.61 W (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: We observed an increase in electromyographic activity of the VMO and also an anticipatory effect of this muscle

Análise da relação entre alterações do padrão do sono e dor lombo-pélvica em mulheres no segundo trimestre gestacional

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Efeitos do treinamento aeróbio sobre sinais precoces do remodelamento do ventrículo esquerdo induzido pelo diabetes Mellitus experimental

Our aim was to investigate the effects of an aerobic training program on adverse and early left ventricle (LV) remodeling, using an experimental model of short-term type 1 diabetes (T1D). Wistar rats were divided in 4 groups: sedentary control (SC), trained control (TC), sedentary diabetic (SD) and trained diabetic (TD). T1D was induced by streptozotocin (45 mg/kg). The training program consisted of 4 weeks running on a treadmill (13 m/min, 60 min/day, 5 days/week). At the end of the experiments, hearts were collected for analysis of morphology and transcriptional profile of LV, by focusing on its remodeling. Deaths were recorded during the 4-week period. We verified high mortality among animals of DS group, whereas it was significantly reduced in DT group. DS group also showed an increase in cross-sectional area of cardiomyocytes and fibrosis. TD group exhibited reduction in measures of cardiac trophism, but with respect to collagen content, it was similar to CS group. Analysis of gene expression related to cardiac remodeling revealed decreased expression of collagen I and III, as well as low expression of MMP-2 in DS group. TD group showed decreased levels of mRNA for MMP-9, and unchanged gene expression of MMP-2 when compared with the CS group. The expression of MMP-2 and TGF-1 were increased in CT group. The ratio between gene expression of collagen I and III was increased in the CT group and decreased in diabetic groups. These results establish early changes of the structure and transcriptional profile of LV myocardium. Moreover, they indicate that aerobic exercise training plays specific protection against mechanisms responsible for cardiac damage observed in T1D

O gato doméstico (Felis catus) responde à sinais gestuais? possíveis implicações do convívio social

The cats (Felis catus) were domesticated about 9,500 years ago due to the advent of agriculture, being used to control the pests that devastated the food harvested. These animals went through an artificial selection and over generations and millennia had their behavior and morphology changed by humans. This process of domestication by man gave rise to a special ability, the understanding of human pointing gestures, clearly noticed while we feed our pets. Our goal in this study was to assess the comprehension of pointing gestures by cats and also verify the influence that social interactions exerts on the development of this ability. We found that experimental subjects from both groups, solitary animals and social animals, were able to follow human indication in order to find hidden food. However, social interaction had no effect on cats performances. The ability tested here probably evolved during the process of domestication of this species, and social interaction seems to exert little or no influence upon its expression

Papel de sinais cromáticos na identificação de parceiros sexuais em sagüi comum (callithrix jacchus)

The literature concerning color vision shows a trichromatic advantage in detecting ripe fruits and young leaves, but there are contradictory results. There is also the suggestion of this type of vision being adapted to perceive socio-sexual signals. Indeed, Old World primates utilize the skin color of conspecifics as a factor of attraction. But in New World primates there is no record of a coloration signal in the body that can be utilized by other group members. The present study aims to: 1- test whether there is a relation between coloration of body regions and ovulatory cycle in female Callithrix jacchus; 2- Determine if this species uses visual signals to choose mates that are sexually receptive. We collected feces from six females during one month to quantify progesterone concentration by EIA. Body region coloration was measured using a portable spectrometer and modeled to obtain the quantum catch of each photoreceptor, the opponency channels and chromatic distance between the points in units of JND. We recorded the behavior of six males exposed to three pairs of females with a cycling and a non-cycling female in each pair using a transparent plexiglass apparatus. The color of different body regions presented a correlation between progesterone concentration and the yellow-blue and red-green visual axes, with the genitalia as the region showing the highest correlation. The visual axis more apt to see the color variations was the yellow-blue in dichromats, and in trichromats were the red-green to face, yellow-blue to abdomen and both chromatic axes to genitalia. There was no difference in the signal detectability between trichromats and dichromats, but the perception pattern differed between the phenotypes, with a better signal detection by the dichromat phenotype 562 and the trichromat phenotype 543/562. During the behavioral experiments males presented longer gaze duration in periods of experimental manipulation and gaze duration was always longer towards cycling females compared to non-cycling females. Male locomotion during experimental manipulation was greater than in the control only during the periovulatory period of the female, indicating greater excitement. The behavior of cycling females was more active than the behavior of the non-cycling ones regarding locomotion and touching of the plexiglass division of the apparatus. Male gaze duration to cycling females increased with decreasing progesterone concentration, but none of the coloration parameters was correlated to the mate preference exhibited. This coloration signal can transmit information to animals of the group about fertility of female. Different from the intense red of the genitalia swellings of Old World primates, marmoset female genitalia became more bluish-green in the fertile period. Males chose fertile females and were able to visually identify the periovulatory period of females. Choice is related to progesterone concentration, but our results do not show relation between coloration and mate preference. Maybe some behavioral measure is associated with the choice

Eficácia do aconselhamento no tratamento das disfunções temporomandibulares

The aim of this controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of counseling in pain, function and well-fare outcomes on the management of patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD). Therefore, 51 consecutive patients were allocated to one of the research groups. In Group I, was instituted counseling therapy for Group II was conducted treatment as usual with occlusal splint. Patients were followed for returns at 7, 15, 30 and 60 days after baseline. At baseline, all patients were examined and assessed RDC/TMD form, which was administered by a single trained and calibrated examiner, in addition, the patients were referred for specific treatment according to the group to which belonged. The clinical and functional impairment was assessed at each visit through the Temporomandibular Index (TMI). In each session, the patients were also surveyed about pain intensity using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). To analyze the impact of pain on quality of life, OHIP-14 questionnaire was used. The results showed 26 patients in Group I with a mean age of 35.15 ± 10.79 years. 25 patients were allocated to Group II. The mean age was 27.36 ± 10.34 years. The counseling was effective in reducing the intensity of pain (VAS), with significant improvement observed at 7 day follow-up (p <0.001). The functional impairment (TMI) showed significant results at 15 days follow-up (p = 0.002). Counseling was also responsible for significant improvement in the impact of TMD on quality of life (OHIP-14) at all times of the analysis (p <0.001). When comparing research groups, no significant difference was observed for any of the analyzed indices (p> 0.05) nor in the short term (7 days) neither in long term (60 days). It was concluded therefore that, for the studied sample, counseling consisted in an effective treatment option for the control of signs and symptoms of TMD, with results in the short and long term similar to the usual treatment group.

Estudo epidemiológico da Toxoplasmose em gestantes atendidas na Maternidade Escola Januário Cicco, Natal, Rio Grande do Norte

Congenital Toxoplasmosis results in severe systemic disease. If mother is infected for the first time during gestation, she can infect the fetus causing substantial damage. However, relatively little is known about the seroprevalence and epidemiological and economic factors of Toxoplasmosis infection in pregnancy in the most state in northeastern Brazil and knowledge about this can be essential in determining effective and acceptable prevention strategies. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of Toxoplasmosis in pregnant woman consulted by reference Maternity Escola Januário Cicco in Natal, a city in Northeastern Brazil, which belongs to the public health system, correlating to the risk factors involved in the infection and to accomplish active Search in the Hospital of Pediatrics Profº Heriberto Bezerra of the damages caused by the Toxoplasmic infection in children up to 12 years of age. The study was conducted from March to December 2007 and sera obtained from 190 pregnant women were tested for IgM and IgG antibodies avidity to Toxoplasma by Microparticle enzyme immunoassay (Abbott AxSYM system - Abbott Laboratories, Chicago, IL, USA). Data were examined with univariate analysis. Chi-squared (x2) and Odds ratio was calculated (IC 95% p 0,05). Of these women, 126 (66,3%) had only IgG antibodies high-avidity against T. gondii; 01 (0,52%) had a IgM and IgG high-avidity antibodies against T. gondii and 63 (33,1%) have neither IgM nor IgG against T. gondii. Our studies shown that the direct contact with cats or dogs was highly associated with the Toxoplasma gondii infection (OR, 2.72, p<0.001, 95% CI 1.46 5.02). The years school (p<0,001), socioeconomic status and knowledge about the disease (both p value 0.05) also were associated with Toxoplasmosis. The pattern of risk factors for infection presents regional variations, however our data corroborate others studies in Brazil. In children up to 12 years, one case of Congenital Toxoplasmosis was just registered in seven years (2000 - 2006). There were several suggestive cases, with signs and characteristic symptoms, but that the infection was not confirmed due to lack in the researches through laboratorial and images exams that addressed that it zoonosis

Efeitos de tempestades magnéticas em sinais de gps, em Natal, Brasil

Satellites signals present disturbances (scintillations), due to presence of irregularities in the ionospheric plasma. In the present work, we dedicate to the study of the attenuation of these scintillations that is, an improvement in the signal, during the main magnetic storm phase during the period of October 2006 to February 2007. Using amplitude of scintillation 1.5GHz (L1) data of the net of satellites GPS, in the ionospheric station of Natal (5.84o S, 35.20o O, -20o dip) and geomagnetic indices, during the minimum solar cycle (referred to as cycle 23), demonstrating its anti-correlation between magnetic activity (Kp) and index of scintillation () (Bonelli2005 method, that works for solar maximum, Bonelli(2005)). These results show that these storms correspond to category I of Aarons (1991). The magnetic storms can generate irregularities when the electric feld of penetration eastward on the pre-reversal hour intensificating that and can too generate irregularities on midnight and sunlight period. The limitation of the method applied here is that it is not considering some storms that had also occurred during equinox and summer in the Brazilian region. For this reason, we will use additional data of the stations of São João de Cariri (Imager and Photometer) and of the station at Fortaleza (Digissonde data), as aid to analyze these storms. The storms that had been left out by the applied method, fit in the other two categories of Aarons, with one only exception (storm of January, 02). We show that in the day of the main phase of the magnetic storm, and with presence of bubbles (according to data of the Imager and Photometer), the speed of vertical drift ~E ~B (hF=t) is below 20m/s, that is the threshold found for Anderson al., (2004) (>20m/s as condition favorable to the formation of irregularities and increase in the scintillation index). This reduction of the speed is due to solar minimum

Recuperação de sinais esparsos. Investigação numérica sobre a quantidade de medidas necessárias para recuperar um sinal esparso

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