Isokinetic Strength and Endurance in Proximal and Distal Muscles in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Background: The objective of this study was to analyze the muscle strength and endurance of the proximal and distal lower-extremity muscles in peripheral artery disease (PAD) patients. Methods: Twenty patients with bilateral PAD with symptoms of intermittent claudication and nine control subjects without PAD were included in the study, comprising 40 and 18 legs, respectively. All subjects performed an isokinetic muscle test to evaluate the muscle strength and endurance of the proximal (knee extension and knee flexion movements) and distal (plantar flexion and dorsiflexion movements) muscle groups in the lower extremity. Results: Compared with the control group, the PAD group presented lower muscle strength in knee flexion (-14.0%), dorsiflexion (-26.0%), and plantar flexion (-21.2%) movements (P < 0.05) but similar strength in knee extension movements (P > 0.05). The PAD patients presented a 13.5% lower knee flexion/extension strength ratio compared with the control subjects (P < 0.05), as well as lower muscle endurance in dorsiflexion (-28.1%) and plantar flexion (-17.0%) movements (P < 0.05). The muscle endurance in knee flexion and knee extension movements was similar between PAD patients and the control subjects (P > 0.05). Conclusion: PAD patients present lower proximal and distal muscle strength and lower distal muscle endurance than control patients. Therefore, interventions to improve muscle strength and endurance should be prescribed for PAD patients.

Alternativa protética para correção da angulação com componentes não indexados sobre implantes Cone Morse indexados: sistema tubo parafuso

From a recent perspective the morse-taper dental implants connections are increasingly being used as an alternative for replacement of a missing teeth. Nevertheless, there are a large variety of prosthetic components available on the market with some limitations regarding the final prothesis. This article demonstrated the difficulties and limitations of prosthesis implant-retained connections when using morse-taper implants (with a prosthetic index) case in which the surgical placement of the implant wasn’t successfully performed. The alternative to overcome this scenario was the technique using the tube screw over the top of a mini abutment component. It was possible to manufacture and to have satisfactory adaptation, achieving the satisfaction of the patient, restoring function and esthetics.

Estudo da anatomia do nervo tibial e seus ramos ao nível do terço distal da perna

OBJETIVO: Determinar, através de dissecção em cadáveres frescos, a anatomia topográfica do nervo tibial e seus ramos ao nível do tornozelo, em relação ao túnel do tarso. MÉTODOS: Foram realizadas dissecções bilaterais em 26 cadáveres frescos e as localizações da bifurcação do nervo tibial e seus ramos aferidas em milímetros, com relação ao eixo maleolar-calcaneal (EMC). Para os ramos calcâneos, a quantidade e seus respectivos nervos de origens também foram analisados. RESULTADOS: A bifurcação do nervo tibial ocorreu sob o túnel em 88% dos casos e proximalmente em 12%. Quanto aos ramos calcâneos, o medial apresentou-se com um (58%), dois (34%) e três (8%) ramos, com a origem mais comum do nervo tibial (90%) e o inferior com ramo único por perna, tendo o nervo plantar lateral como origem mais comum (70%). Nivel de Evidência V, Opinião de especialista.

The regulation of NHE₁ and NHE₃ activity by angiotensin II is mediated by the activation of the angiotensin II type I receptor/phospholipase C/calcium/calmodulin pathway in distal nephron cells

Angiotensin II (Ang II), acting via the AT1 receptor, induces an increase in intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)]i that then interacts with calmodulin (CaM). The Ca(2+)/CaM complex directly or indirectly activates sodium hydrogen exchanger 1 (NHE1) and phosphorylates calmodulin kinase II (CaMKII), which then regulates sodium hydrogen exchanger 3 (NHE3) activity. In this study, we investigated the cellular signaling pathways responsible for Ang II-mediated regulation of NHE1 and NHE3 in Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. The NHE1- and NHE3-dependent pHi recovery rates were evaluated by fluorescence microscopy using the fluorescent probe BCECF/AM, messenger RNA was evaluated with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and protein expression was evaluated by immunoblot. We demonstrated that treatment with Ang II (1pM or 1 nM) for 30 min induced, via the AT1 but not the AT2 receptor, an equal increase in NHE1 and NHE3 activity that was reduced by the specific inhibitors HOE 694 and S3226, respectively. Ang II (1 nM) did not change the total expression of NHE1, NHE3 or calmodulin, but it induced CaMKII, cRaf-1, Erk1/2 and p90(RSK) phosphorylation. The stimulatory effects of Ang II (1 nM) on NHE1 or NHE3 activity or protein abundance was reduced by ophiobolin-A (CaM inhibitor), KN93 (CaMKII inhibitor) or PD98059 (Mek inhibitor). These results indicate that after 30 min, Ang II treatment may activate G protein-dependent pathways, including the AT1/PLC/Ca(2+)/CaM pathway, which induces CaMKII phosphorylation to stimulate NHE3 and induces cRaf-1/Mek/Erk1/2/p90(RSK) activity to stimulate NHE1