Acute exercise reverses aged-induced impairments in insulin signaling in rodent skeletal muscle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Proprioceptive and behavior impairments in individuals with anterior cruciate ligament reconstructed knees

Objective: To assess sensory deficits and their effects on proprioceptive and motor function in patients who had undergone unilateral anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Design: Four evaluations were conducted: (1) joint position perception of the knee for predetermined angles (0degrees, 15degrees, 30degrees, 45degrees, 60degrees); (2) threshold for detection of passive knee motion at 0degrees, 15degrees, 30degrees, 45degrees, and 60degrees moving into flexion and at 15degrees, 30degrees, 45degrees, and 60degrees moving into extension; (3) latency onset of hamstring muscles; and (4) postural control during upright double- and single-leg stance.Setting: Movement laboratory in Brazil.Participants: Ten participants who had surgical reconstruction of the ACL (reconstructed group) and 10 participants without knee injury (control group).Interventions: Not applicable.Main Outcome Measures: Absolute error, angular displacement, hamstring muscles latency, and mean sway amplitude.Results: Individuals with a reconstructed knee showed decreased joint position perception, a higher threshold for detection of passive knee motion, longer latency of hamstring muscles, and decreased performance in postural control.Conclusions: After lesion and ACL reconstruction, sensory and motor behavior changes were still observed. This may be because of the lack of proprioceptive information resulting from the ACL lesion and/or substitution of ACL by the graft. (C) 2003 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Prenatal zinc prevents communication impairments and BDNF disturbance in a rat model of autism induced by prenatal lipopolysaccharide exposure

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The use of software Mapavox for teaching graphics and games to blind and low vision students: a development through practices

Current policies on education to visually impaired point for a growing trend of including students with special educational needs in regular schools. However, most often this inclusion is not accompanied by an appropriate professional trained or infrastructure, which has been presented as a big problem for regular school teachers who have students with visual impairments in their classroom. Based on this situation, the Group of Extension in Tactile Cartography from UNESP - University of the State of São Paulo - Campus de Rio Claro - SP - Brazil has been developing educational material of geography and cartography to blind students at a special school. Among the materials developed in this study highlight the development of graphics and board games provided with sound capabilities through MAPAVOX, software developed in partnership with UFRJ - Federal University from Rio de Janeiro - RJ - Brazil. Through this software, sound capabilities can be inserted into built materials, giving them a multi-sensory character. In most cases the necessary conditions for building specific materials to students with visual impairments is expensive and beyond the reach of features from a regular school, so the survey sought to use easy access and low cost materials like Cork, leaf aluminum, material for fixing and others. The development of these materials was supported by preparation in laboratory and its subsequent test through practices involving blind students. The methodology used on the survey is based on qualitative research and non comparative analysis of the results. In other words, the material is built based on the special students perception and reality construction, not being mere adaptations of visual materials, but a construction focused on the reality of the visually impaired. The results proved were quite successful as the materials prepared were effective on mediating the learning process of students with disabilities. Geographical and cartographic concepts were seized by the students through the technology used, associated with the use of materials that took into account in its building process the perception of the students.

Subtle Cognitive Deficits in Adults With a Previous History of Sydenham's Chorea During Childhood

Objective. To evaluate the neuropsychological profile and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of adults who had rheumatic fever (RF) during childhood with and without Sydenham's chorea (SC).Methods. Three groups of patients were assessed: adults who had RF with SC during childhood (SC group), adults who had RF without SC during childhood (RF group), and controls (CT group). A range of neuropsychological tests looked at several cognitive domains. HRQOL was measured through a Brazilian version of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey.Results. Twenty patients were included in the SC group, 23 patients in the RF group, and 19 patients in the CT group. The 3 groups were homogeneous regarding sex (P = 0.078), age (P = 0.799), schooling (P = 0.600), socioeconomic status (P = 0.138), intelligence quotient (P = 0.329), and scores for anxiety (P = 0.156) and depression (P = 0.076). The SC group demonstrated inferior performance in tests that assessed attention (Digit Span Forward [ P = 0.005], Corsi Block Forward [ P = 0.014]), speeded information processing (Trail Making A [ P = 0.009], Symbol Search [ P = 0.042]), and executive functions and working memory (Corsi Block Backward [ P = 0.028]), and higher scores for attention deficit scale (P = 0.030) when compared with the RF and CT groups. They also showed a tendency toward lower scores in the physical aspects, vitality, emotional aspects, and mental health domains of the SF-36. The RF group had a lower score for the general health domain than the CT group (P = 0.030).Conclusion. Patients who had SC during childhood can exhibit inferior performance in tasks that evaluate attention, speeded information processing, executive functions, and working memory in adult life. Therefore, there is indirect evidence of the persistence of dysfunction in cerebral circuits involved with the basal ganglia. They also presented a worse self-evaluation in HRQOL that was not related to cognitive impairments.

Perfil de habilidades do desenvolvimento em crianças com holoprosencefalia e holoprosencefalia like

OBJETIVO: investigar e comparar o desempenho nas habilidades relacionadas ao desenvolvimento motor, cognitivo, linguístico, de socialização e autocuidados de indivíduos com holoprosencefalia e com holoprosencefalia-like. MÉTODO: participaram deste estudo 20 indivíduos com diagnóstico de holoprosencefalia, na faixa etária de 18 a 72 meses, de ambos os sexos, divididos em 2 grupos. O grupo 1 (G1) composto por 12 indivíduos com sinais clínicos do espectro da holoprosencefalia, e o grupo 2 (G2) com holoprosencefalia-like composto por 8 indivíduos com sinais clínicos do espectro da holoprosencefalia-like. A coleta de dados foi realizada por meio da aplicação do Inventário Portage Operacionalizado que avalia as áreas alvos deste estudo. Para a análise estatística utilizou-se análise descritiva da mediana e dos valores mínimos e máximos e foi aplicado o teste estatístico de Mann Whitney (< 0,05% para significância). RESULTADOS: os grupos 1 e 2 apresentaram alterações em todas as áreas do desenvolvimento avaliadas. Entretanto, os indivíduos do G1, com holoprosencefalia apresentaram maiores comprometimentos nas habilidades: motora, cognitiva, de linguagem, de socialização e autocuidados, quanto comparados aos indivíduos do G2, com holoprosencefalia-like. CONCLUSÃO: o desempenho nas áreas motoras, cognitivas, de linguagem, de socialização e autocuidados de indivíduos com holoprosencefalia e holoprosencefalia-like foi aquém do esperado, principalmente naqueles indivíduos com holoprosencefalia, que se justifica pelo maior comprometimento no sistema nervoso central. A natureza destas alterações pode estar associada ao universo de alterações neurológicas e craniofaciais descritas nestes quadros clínicos e também à influência do ambiente social.

Nonlinear methods of heart rate variability analysis in diabetes

Background: The autonomic dysfunction stands out among the complications associated to diabetes mellitus (DM) and may be evaluated through the heart rate variability (HRV), a noninvasive tool to investigate the autonomic nervous system that provides information of health impairments and may be analyzed by using linear and nonlinear methods. Several studies have shown that HRV measured in a linear form is altered in DM. Nevertheless, a few studies investigate the nonlinear behavior of HRV. Therefore, this study aims at gathering information regarding the autonomic changes in subjects with DM identified by nonlinear analysis of HRV.Methods: For that, searches were performed on Medline, SciELO, Lilacs and Cochrane databases using the crossing between the key-words: diabetic autonomic neuropathy, autonomic nervous system, diabetes mellitus and heart rate variability. As inclusion criteria, articles published on a period from 2000 to 2010 with DM type land type II population which assessed the autonomic nervous system by nonlinear indices HRV were considered.Results: The electronic search resulted in a total of 1873 references with the exclusion of 1623 titles and abstracts and from the 250 abstracts remaining, 8 studies were selected to the final analysis that completed the inclusion criteria.Conclusions: In general, the analysis showed that the nonlinear techniques of HRV allowed detecting autonomic changes in DM. The methods of nonlinear analysis are indicated as a possible tool to be used for early diagnosis and prognosis of autonomic dysfunction in DM.

Perfil de habilidades de comunicação de dois irmãos com a Síndrome Alcoólica Fetal

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Impact of maternal mild hyperglycemia on maternal care and offspring development and behavior of Wistar rats

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Structural abnormalities of the thalamus in juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Alterações cognitivas em escolares de classe socio-econômica desfavorecida: resultados de intervenção psicopedagógica

O objetivo deste estudo é analisar o resultado de intervenções psicopedagógicas no desempenho intelectual e em algumas funções cognitivas específicas em crianças provenientes de famílias de baixa renda, expostas a fatores pessoais e sociais adversos, como desnutrição, stress familiar, ambientes doméstico e de estimulação empobrecidos. Foram examinadas 63 crianças, alunas de escola, gratuita e em regime de semi-internato, que recebe crianças consideradas sob risco pessoal e social. Quarenta e três crianças receberam atividades que objetivam ativação cognitiva, durante período mínimo de 1 ano. Vinte crianças eram recém-admitidas. As técnicas da ativação escolhidas foram: método de aprendizagem ativa, com base em Piaget e método de ativação cognitiva para, através de exercícios psicomotores, desenvolver os pré-requisitos para aprendizagem e prevenção de dificuldades escolares, segundo Lambert. A avaliação das funções cognitivas mostrou: nível intelectual insatisfatório em 30% e médio ou superior em 70% e deficiências cognitivas específicas (noção do esquema corporal, percepção viso-motora, percepção de forma e perseveração) em 74%. Maior prevalência de crianças com inteligência superior (p < 0,05) associou-se a dois fatores: 1º: maior tempo de freqüência à escola (de 1 a 3 anos) e 2º: programas de ativação cognitiva. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os 2 grupos em relação à prevalência de alterações das funções cognitivas específicas examinadas. Os resultados demonstram que a recuperação de crianças com as dificuldades descritas é difícil. Exige investigação sistemática sobre os métodos psicopedagógicas selecionados e possivelmente, grande tempo de permanência da criança na escola, além de admissão mais precoce.

Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength evaluations in nulliparous and primiparous women: a prospective study

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the pelvic floor muscle strength of nulliparous and primiparous women.METHODS: A total of 100 women were prospectively distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1) (n = 50) included healthy nulliparous women, and Group 2 (G2) (n = 50) included healthy primiparous women. Pelvic floor muscle strength was subjectively evaluated using transvaginal digital palpation. Pelvic floor muscle strength was objectively assessed using a portable perineometer. All of the parameters were evaluated simultaneously in G1 and were evaluated in G2 during the 20(th) and 36(th) weeks of pregnancy and 45 days after delivery.RESULTS: In G2, 14 women were excluded because they left the study before the follow-up evaluation. The median age was 23 years in G1 and 22 years in G2; there was no significant difference between the groups. The average body mass index was 21.7 kg/m(2) in G1 and 25.0 kg/m(2) in G2; there was a significant difference between the groups (p = 0.0004). In G2, transvaginal digital palpation evaluation showed significant impairments of pelvic floor muscle strength at the 36(th) week of pregnancy (p = 0.0006) and 45 days after vaginal delivery (p = 0.0001) compared to G1. Objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscle strength in G2 revealed a significant decrease 45 days after vaginal delivery compared to nulliparous patients.CONCLUSION: Pregnancy and vaginal delivery may cause weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.

Moebius Syndrome: Clinical Manifestations in a Pediatric Patient

Moebius syndrome is a congenital, nonprogressive disorder clinically characterized by loss of facial expression, impaired stomatognathic system functions, incapacity to close the eyelids, and several oral impairments. The purpose of this paper was to present the clinical manifestations and the dental treatment in a 5-year, 2-month-old male Moebius syndrome patient. The child presented with facial asymmetry, difficulty performing facial mimic movements and pronouncing some letters, and compromised suction, mastication, breathing, and deglutition. An intraoral examination revealed hypofunction of the perioral muscles, cheeks and tongue, ankyloglossia, anterior open bite, and absence of carious lesions and dental anomalies. The dental treatment consisted of frenectomy and further placement of a removable orthodontic appliance with a palatal crib for correction of the anterior open bite. After 12 months of follow-up, anterior open bite decreased and speech, deglutition, and mastication improved. (Pediatr Dent 2009;31:289-93) Received March 8, 2008 vertical bar Lost Revision July 22, 2008 vertical bar Revision Accepted July 28, 2008

Phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy in malformations of cortical development

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Perfil comunicativo de indivíduos com a síndrome de Williams-Beuren

OBJETIVO: Descrever o perfil comunicativo de indivíduos com a síndrome de Williams-Beuren. MÉTODOS: A casuística foi composta por 12 indivíduos com a síndrome com idade cronológica entre 6;6 a 23;6 (Grupo 1) que foram comparados a outros 12 sem a síndrome e com idade mental semelhante e sem dificuldades de linguagem/aprendizagem (Grupo 2). Os indivíduos foram avaliados em situação de conversação para classificação dos comportamentos verbais e não-verbais, segundo critérios pragmáticos, levantamento do número de turnos por minuto, enunciados por turno, Extensão Média de Enunciados, levantamento quanto à freqüência e tipologia de disfluências da fala e classificação quanto ao tipo de pausas plenas do discurso. RESULTADOS: O perfil comunicativo do Grupo 1 mostrou facilidade para interagirem em situação de comunicação com a presença de limitações lingüísticas estruturais e funcionais variáveis, quando comparados aos indivíduos do Grupo 2. Os indivíduos do Grupo 1 freqüentemente utilizaram estratégias comunicativas, na tentativa de preencherem o espaço comunicativo, como o uso de clichês, efeitos sonoros, recursos entonacionais e as pausas plenas que mostraram ser favoráveis do ponto de vista sócio-comunicativo, enquanto que os comportamentos verbais ecolálicos e perseverativos prejudicam o desempenho comunicativo desses indivíduos. CONCLUSÃO: O desempenho comunicativo mais prejudicado do Grupo 1 permitiu especular que comprometimentos lingüísticos nesta condição podem estar presentes, independente da diferença entre idade cronológica e mental. Estudos mais abrangentes poderão responder ao questionamento da dissociação de habilidades cognitivas e lingüísticas nesta síndrome e também no que diz respeito à complexa esta correlação em meio aos distúrbios da comunicação humana.