Efeitos imediatos da laserterapia sobre o desempenho neuromuscular após fadiga muscular induzida: ensaio clínico controlado, randomizado e cego

The aim of this study was to investigate the immediate effects of laser therapy on neuromuscular performance in healthy subjects after a muscle fatigue. This is a clinical trial, controlled, randomized, blinded, attended by 80 volunteers of both genders, healthy, with ages between 18 to 28 years. Initially the volunteers performed an initial evaluation (EV1) using electromyography in the biceps muscle, associated with assessment in isokinetic dynamometry with 5 concentric contractions (60 °/s) for elbow flexion. The subjects were randomly allocated into 4 groups: G1 (control, n = 20), G2 (placebo, n = 20), G3 (pre-fatigue laser, n = 20), and G4 (post fatigue laser, n = 20). The muscular fatigue protocol had 30 concentric isokinetic contractions (120 °/s). We used a 808 nm laser, power of 100 mW, applied at the belly of the biceps muscle. After the speeches the volunteers performed a final evaluation (EV2). Test was applied to two-way ANOVA with post hoc Turkey, with a significance level of 5%. There was no significant difference in electromyographic evaluation. In dynamometric evaluation showed a drop in peak torque, peak torque normalized to body weight (p <0.001) and average power (p <0, 05) between the initial and final evaluations in control. Among the groups there was a significant difference between the control and the other groups in relation to peak torque (p <0.05), peak torque to body weight (p <0.001) and average power (p <0.05). Therefore, the low intensity laser therapy does not alter the immediate neuromuscular performance after fatigue

Efeito da crioterapia e da laserterapia na resposta ao dano muscular induzido pelo exercício excêntrico: ensaio clínico e randomizado

Exercise-induced muscle damage mainly affects individuals who returned to physical activity after a time without practicing it or had some kind of exhaustive exercise, particularly eccentric exercise. To evaluate the effect of cryotherapy and laser therapy in response to muscle damage induced by eccentric exercise on the biceps muscle. This was a randomized clinical trial consisting of 60 female subjects. All subjects initially underwent an evaluation consisting of perimetry, measurement of pain sensation (via algometry and visual analogue scale), electromyography and dynamometry. Then the subjects performed an exercise protocol on the isokinetic dynamometer consisting of 2 sets of 10 eccentric elbow flexors contraction at 60 °/s. Completed this protocol, an intervention was held according to a previously random group distribution: control group (no intervention), cryotherapy group and laser therapy group. Finally, subjects were re-evaluated immediately and 48 hours after the intervention protocol, except for Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), which was also evaluated 24 hours after exercise. The circumference of the limb, the pain sensation (VAS and algometry), the muscle activation amplitude (via Root Mean Square - RMS), median frequency, peak torque normalized per body weight, average peak torque, power and work were analyzed. The median frequency immediately after the intervention protocol on the cryotherapy group was the only variable that showed inter and intra-group differences; the remaining variables showed only intragroup differences. The perimetry values did not change immediately after the protocol on the groups which underwent cryotherapy and laser therapy, however, there was an increase after 48 hours; algometry values decreased in all groups for 48 hours and the VAS values increased 24 and 48 hours also for all groups. Regarding RMS no significant change was observed. For dynamometry, peak torque normalized per body weight and average peak torque had a similar behavior, with a reduction in the post protocol that has remained after 48 hours. For the power and work, a decrease was observed immediately after the protocol with a further reduction after 48 hours. Cryotherapy and laser therapy does not alter the muscle damage response, except for the perimetry values immediately after exercise.

Efeitos da prática mental na marcha de indivíduos com doença de parkinson: ensaio clínico randomizado

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior

Análise da genotoxicidade das águas da Lagoa da Extremoz - RN

The contamination of the waters resources for wastewater from industrial, agricultural, and domestic sources is a serious environment problem, compromising its use for human consumption and agriculture. The Extremoz-RN Lake is an important freshwater source for the supply of the city of Natal, supplying a population of approximately 160,000 habitants. This aquatic body is located near an industrial pole which can be a serious risk factor for quality of its waters. The objectives of this study were examined the genotoxicity of Extremoz Lake between September of 2006 and January of 2008, by a combination of the Allium micronucleus test, piscine micronucleus test and the comet assay in erythrocytes from peripheral blood of Oreochromis niloticus. Additionally, the level of eight different heavy metals was quantified through spectrometry of atomic absorption of flame. The Allium test did not detect increase in the frequencies of micronucleus in none of the analyzed periods, however a strong cytotoxic activity was demonstrated for decrease in mitotic index in the analyses carried in April and July of 2007. Negative results had been detected in the frequencies of micronucleus in O. niloticus. A statistic significant increase was observed in the levels of DNA damage in comet assay carried in July of 2007. The results of the chemical analysis had detected increase in the levels of cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc in different periods. These results demonstrated an alteration of the water s quality of the Extremoz Lake caused for the contamination for heavy metals and increase of DNA strand breaks. The use of biomonitoring program of the heavy metal and other pollutants with genotoxic potential combinated with genotoxicity assays is recommends.

Avaliação da genotoxicidade das águas do lençol freático sob a Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

The groundwater represents the most important freshwater supply of planet. Dailly, in all world a great amount of toxic and genotoxic material reaches the aquatic systems, mainly the aquifers. The Barreiras aquifer through of five water wells is responsible for the supplying of Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN). All water wells are polluted with nitrate and some heavy metals, two of them were disabled. The genotoxicity of groundwater samples from Barreiras Aquifer in UFRN was assessed using the Allium cepa test, the Ames test and the Salmonella typhymurium microsuspension test (Kado test). For the Allium cepa test the influence of the groundwater samples collected on macroscopic (root length, colour and form) and microscopic (root tip mitotic index, chromosome aberrations and micronucleus) parameters was examined. All water samples caused a significant increase of the chromosome and mitotic aberration frequency and reduction on the rooth growth compared to negative control. Bridges and chromosome stickness were the most frequent kind of aberration in dividing cells. Furthermore, breaks were also observed. No significant increase in the number of micronuclei was found in relation to the negative controls. For Ames test were used the Salmonella typhymurium strains TA98 and TA100 without metabolic activation, applying the direct method. Prior to the Kado test, organic fractions from the water samples were obtained through XAD resin concentration. The mutagenicity organic extracts were evaluated by Kado test using TA98 and TA100 strains, in the absence and presence of S9 mix (metabolic activation). The concentrations of seven heavy metal ions were measured in water samples, but only Ni, Cu and Cr levels exceeded the permissible maximum concentration for the natural reservoirs. The results obtained for mutagenic activity using the Ames test were negative in all raw water samples analyzed. Positive results in XAD4 extracts of water samples were obtained for TA98 in the presence of S9 mix for two stations. Concentrations of heavy metals and nitrate can be correlated with the toxicity and genotoxicity of water analyzed. The mutagenic effect detected with TA98 strain suggested that organic compounds (after metabolization) are involved with the mutagenicity detected in the samples analyzed. The data set obtained in this work indicated the presence of at least two classes of mutagens: organic and inorganic compounds

Avaliação da genotoxicidade das águas sueprficiais da Barragem Engenheiro Armando Ribeiro Gonçalves, Assu/RN

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico

Um ensaio sobre as concepções de professores de Matemática: possibilidades metodológicas e um exercício de pesquisa

Este artigo tem como tema principal as concepções dos professores de Matemática. Considerando o termo concepção a partir do pragmatismo de Peirce, elabora-se um conjunto de parâmetros metodológicos - chamado de método indireto - a ser aplicado no estudo das concepções de professores de Matemática. Trata-se, em síntese, de investigar as concepções dos professores interpelando-os não sobre suas crenças, mas sobre suas práticas. Fundamentando essa abordagem indireta e explicitando-a em sua natureza qualitativa, o artigo segue apresentando, como exemplo, um exercício desse método indireto: um estudo sobre os critérios que os professores utilizam quando escolhem livros-texto para sua sala de aula, abordando, conseqüentemente, quais concepções de Matemática e de seu ensino e aprendizagem tais critérios desvendam. Partindo de depoimentos de professores de Matemática, o estudo indica que os professores agem com certa independência quando escolhem os materiais utilizados em suas atividades docentes. Buscam, ao mesmo tempo, apoio em uma vasta gama de livros didáticos, desconsiderando as particularidades de cada obra e as abordagens e perspectivas defendidas por seus autores. Embora submetam-se ao livro didático - considerado uma referência legítima e segura -, os professores o subvertem, buscando adequá-lo ao que consideram correto. Dessa constatação, algumas das concepções dos professores podem ser realçadas: o aluno, via de regra, é avaliado e classificado pelas lacunas que apresenta em relação aos conteúdos. Dessa postura, segue a valorização da precedência lógica dos conteúdos, de sua apresentação linear, e a defesa de pré-requisitos que viabilizariam o ensino e, conseqüentemente, implicam a legitimidade de aulas predominantemente expositivas.

Um Ensaio Sobre História Oral e Educação Matemática: pontuando princípios e procedimentos

Recently, we can perceive an intensification of assignments developed into Mathematical Education with the use of oral history as a research methodology. In this article, facing the living experiences during the preparation of our Phd tasks and later, when we had the role of advisors of scientific papers and of Postgraduate students in their researches also using the same methodology, we discussed the implication of ethics, mathematical education and oral history. Furthermore, we enunciated possibilities of the posture of the researcher before interviews, texts and iconography - photos and several images-provided by collaborators of our projects on Oral history and Mathematical Education.

Efeito in vitro da terapia fotodinâmica sobre bactérias orais em suspensão e na formação de biofilme : ensaio com azul de metileno e toluidina ativados por luz halógena

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been proposed as an alternative method for the treatment of biofilm-dependent oral diseases like dental caries. This therapy consists of simultaneous action of a visible light (L) and a photosensitizer (FS) in the presence of oxygen, which leads to production of different reactive oxygen species that can interact with the bacterial cell components, and promote cell death. This study aims to evaluate the antimicrobial action of PDT on oral bacteria in suspension, as well as the formation of mono and multi-species biofilms, in vitro, from a standard strain of Streptococcus mutans (ATCC 25175) and saliva samples, respectively. The dye methylene blue (MB) and toluidine blue (TB) were used at a concentration of 100 mg/ L and activated by halogen light (600 to 750 nm) from a modified hand held photopolymerizer (Ultralux ®, Dabi Atlante, Ribeirão Preto , São Paulo, Brazil.). Planktonic cultures were prepared and submitted to different experimental conditions: 1. PDT using TB 2. PDT using MB, 3. L+ FS- , 4. TB + L - ; 5. MB+ L-; 6. L- FS- (negative control) and 7. administration of 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate (positive control) (Periogard ®, Colgate-Palmolive Company, New York, USA). The immediate and mediated action of PDT on bacterial suspensions, as well as its effect on biofilm formation were observed from the number of colony-forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL) and measures optical density (OD). The data were statistically analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney test for the significance level of 5%. According to the results, the PDT showed no antibacterial action on suspensions of S. mutans, regardless of the dye used. PDT with MB activated by halogen light was able to reduce 86.6% CFU/mL multi-species planktonic cultures, however, this reduction was not significant (p > 0.05). PDT showed antibacterial effect, mediate on multi-species planktonic cultures with TB (p < 0.001) and MB (p < 0.001), activated by halogen light. PDT was able to prevent the formation of multispecies biofilm, through the activation of TB by halogen light (p = 0.01). We conclude that activation of the dye toluidine blue and methylene blue, by halogen light (PDT) showed antimicrobial activity, compared to multi-species planktonic cultures prepared from saliva samples

Ensaio comparativo de cultivares de soja em época convencional em Selvíria, MS: características agronômicas e produtividade

The performance evaluation it's an important procedure for recommendation of a cultivar to an specific region, because the better adapted will present superior development and bigger level of productivity. The work aimed evaluates the behavior of soybean cultivars IAC 15-1, IAC 18, IAC 20, BRS 133, FT-2000, KI-S 602 RCH, MT/BRS-55 (Uirapuru), MT/BR-45 (Paiaguas), MT/BRS-51 (Xingu), KI-S 801, MSOY 7701, MT/BR-49 (Pioneer), Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) 65 (Itapoty), Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) 64 (Ponta Pora), Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) 61, IAC 8-2, IAC 19, Crystalline FT RCH, KI-S 702, IAC Foscarin 31, IAC-PL1 and MT/BRS-46 (Conquista), related to agronomical characteristics of plants (cycle, height, height of first beans insertion and stand) and productivity of grains, when sowed in conventional time. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replicates, and the averages compared with Tukey Test (5%). It is viable soybean production at Selviria, MS, because practically all cultivars evaluated are adapted to the soil and climate conditions of that area. To cultivar KI-S 801, the use of smaller stand to the observed in that work it can avoid lodging. Caution should be had to use cultivar MT/BRS-55 (Uirapuru).

Redes neurais e representação mental: um ensaio sobre harmonia e racionalidade

Investigaremos, a partir da perspectiva da Ciência Cognitiva, a noção de representação mental, no domínio da percepção visual humana. Ênfase é dada ao paradigma Conexionista, ou de Redes Neurais, de acordo com o qual tais representações mentais são descritas como estruturas emergentes da interação entre sistemas de processamento de informação que se auto-organizam - tais como o cérebro - e a luz estruturada no meio ambiente. Sugerimos que essa noção de representação mental indica uma solução para uma antiga polêmica, entre Representacionalistas e Eliminativistas, acerca da existência de representações mentais no sistema perceptual humano.

Revitalização do Rio Golandim (RN/Brasil) após décadas de contaminação por efluentes industriais e domésticos: este rio está recuperado?

Environmental pollution causes the loss of the quality of aquatic resources and also affects the health of human beings. The Golandim River is located in São Gonçalo do Amarante (RN Brazil) and had its water recovered seven years ago by measurements of parameters of the water s quality analyses physicochemistry, microbiological and heavy metals. However, it is not well established if this river is truly recovered, so this study provides a wide knowledge about the quality of these waters. Therefore, this investigation was accomplished by assays of ecotoxicology utilizing Ceriodaphnia dubia and of genotoxicity of the river s water using a biomarker Tradescantia Pallida (Trad-MCN). In set, it carried through a study of environmental perception through questionnaires that approached questions related to the profile of the interviewed one, knowledge on the environment and of the river Golandim with the community that lives in the neighborhoods of the river to diagnosis as they perceive the environment where live and its problems. The assays of the water had been carried out by collecting samples in three different sites of the Golandim River. They were collected between the periods of December 2010 (dry season in the northeast of Brazil) and July 2011 (rainy season in the northeast of). The analysis of the data allowed observing that the majority of the inhabitants are adult and presents a global vision of what it is part of the environment, the majority mentions the pollution of the river as one of the problems of the city, considering it serious. The ecotoxicology assay showed that there was not acute toxicity in all three samples collected. Meanwhile, all these three samples demonstrated significant chronic toxicity. The results from the Trad-MCN assay presented an increase in the frequency of micronucleus in one of the sites analyzed (S3) (p<0.01), in both seasons collected. On the other hand, the sites S1 and S2 did not presented a significant increase of micronucleus using this bioassay. The analyses of chemicals detected an increase in the levels of some metals, in different seasons and samples, which can be associates with some compounds found in urban and industrial areas. On the other hand, the physicochemistries parameters demonstrated that the Golandim River is recouped, when compared with the values presented at the CONAMA s legislation. However, these results indicate the presence of compounds capable of inducing chromosomal mutation in plants. On the other hand, the parameters physicistchemistries demonstrate that the river Golandim is if recouping, since when compares the values observed with the legislation of the CONAMA. All these results point to the fact that the Trad-MCN assay was sensitive and efficient biomarker for chromosomal instability and the C. dubia ecotoxicology assay was as though an efficient biomarker of toxicity of water s quality. The results from Trad-MCN associated with the ecotoxicology demonstrates that these analyses are important for environmental monitoring, once the first bioassay described above indicates alterations at the standards of cells and the other one indicates alterations at the standards of organisms. This study alerts for the necessity to carry out biological assays for the analyses of the water s quality

Avaliação de mutagenicidade e antimutagenicidade de diferentes frações de Pterogyne nitens (Leguminosae), utilizando ensaio de micronúcleo em Tradescantia pallida

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