Comparison of pelvic floor muscle strength between women undergoing vaginal delivery, cesarean section, and nulliparae using a perineometer and digital palpation

Objectives. To compare pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength between women undergoing vaginal delivery, cesarean section, and nulliparae, investigating the factors associated with PFM strength, and observing the correlation between vaginal digital palpation and use of a perineometer. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including 31 women following vaginal delivery, 30 women following cesarean section, and 30 nulliparous women. PFM strength was measured by vaginal digital palpation and use of a perineometer. Multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for covariables was used to compare the mean PFM strength and identify its associated factors. Results. The mean PFM strength of women undergoing vaginal delivery and cesarean section was 25.6 +/- 14.5 cmH(2)O and 39.6 +/- 22.0 cmH(2)O (p < 0.01, adjusted for covariables), respectively. A correlation was observed between measurements of PFM strength obtained by vaginal digital palpation and use of a perineometer (tau = 0.82; p < 0.01). The non-white race/ethnicity was negatively associated with PFM strength (coefficient: -10.2424; p = 0.02). Conclusions. A lower PFM strength was observed in women with a history of vaginal delivery compared to those undergoing cesarean section. Non-white race/ethnicity negatively affected PFM strength. Our data suggest that vaginal digital palpation may be used in clinical practice because of its expressive correlation with use of a perineometer.

Effects of eccentric and concentric training on capillarization and myosin heavy chain contents in rat skeletal muscles after hindlimb suspension

We studied the effects of different protocols of post-disuse rehabilitation on angiogenesis and myosin heavy chain (MHC) content in rat hindlimb muscles after caudal suspension. Thirty female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: (1) Control I, (2) Control II, (3) Suspended, (4) Suspended trained on declined treadmill, and (5) Suspended trained on flat treadmill. Fragments of the soleus and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were frozen and processed by electrophoresis and immunohistochemistry (CD31 antibody). Hindlimb suspension caused reduction of capillary/fiber (C/F) ratios and contents of MHC type I (MHCI) in the soleus in parallel to increased capillary density. Flat treadmill protocols increased the content of the MHCI isoform. The C/F ratio was increased by concentric training after hypokinesis, but was not modified by eccentric training, which caused a greater reduction of capillary density compared to the other protocols. In the TA muscle, hindlimb suspension caused a non-significant increase in capillary density and C/F ratio with limited changes in MHC. The present data demonstrate that the different training protocols adopted and the functional performance of the muscles analyzed caused specific changes in capillarization and in the content of the various MHC types. (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier GmbH.

Tongue strength of healthy young adults

P>The measurement of tongue strength contributes to the study of oro-facial physiology. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of gender on tongue strength in young adults and to determine the differences in this strength between tongue regions. This study was conducted on 50 healthy volunteers (17 men and 33 women) with a mean age of 23 years, with no oro-facial myofunctional alterations. The strength of the anterior portion and of the dorsum of the tongue was analysed with a calibrated electronic dynamometer. The subjects were asked to apply maximum force. Men showed higher tongue strength values than women both in the anterior portion and in the dorsum of the tongue (P < 0 center dot 05), and the strength of the anterior portion of the tongue was lower than that of the dorsum in both genders (P < 0 center dot 05). We conclude that gender and region influenced tongue strength.

Comparison of the effects of aerobic and resistance training on cardiac autonomic adaptations in ovariectomized rats

We have compared the effects of two types of physical training on the cardiac autonomic control in ovariectomized and sham-operated rats according to different approaches: double autonomic blockade (DAB) with methylatropine and propranolol; baroreflex sensibility (BRS) and spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV). Wistar female rats (+/- 250 g) were divided into two groups: sham-operated and ovariectomized. Each group was subdivided into three subgroups: sedentary rats, rats submitted to aerobic trained and rats submitted to resistance training. Ovariectomy did not change arterial pressure, basal heart rate (HR), DAB and BRS responses, but interfered with HRV by reducing the low-frequency oscillations (LF = 0.20-0.75 Hz) in relation to sedentary sham-operated rats. The DAB showed that both types of training promoted an increase in the predominance of vagal tonus in sham-operated rats, but HR variations due to methylatropine were decreased in the resistance trained rats compared to sedentary rats. Evaluation of BRS showed that resistance training for sham-operated and ovariectomized rats reduced the tachycardic responses in relation to aerobic training. Evaluation of HRV in trained rats showed that aerobic training reduced LF oscillations in sham-operated rats, whereas resistance training had a contrary effect. In the ovariectomized rats, aerobic training increased high frequency oscillations (HF = 0.75-2.5 Hz), whereas resistance training produced no effect. In sham-operated rats, both types of training increased the vagal autonomic tonus, but resistance training reduced HF oscillations and BRS as well. In turn, both types of training had similar results in ovariectomized rats, except for HRV, as aerobic training promoted an increase in HF oscillations. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The effect of aerobic physical training on cardiac autonomic control of rats submitted to ovariectomy

Objective: To investigate the effect of aerobic physical training on cardiovascular autonomic control in ovariectomized rats using different approaches. Design: Female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary sham rats (group SSR), trained sham rats (group TSR), sedentary ovariectomized rats (group SOR), and trained ovariectomized rats (group TOR). Animals from the trained groups were submitted to a physical training protocol (swimming) for 12 weeks. Results: Pharmacological evaluation showed that animals from group TSR had an increase in their cardiac vagal tonus compared with the animals from groups SSR and SOR. The analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) showed that groups TSR and SOR had fewer low-frequency oscillations (0.20-0.75 Hz) compared with groups SSR and TOR. When groups TSR and SOR were compared, the former was found to have fewer oscillations. With regard to high-frequency oscillations (0.75-2.5 Hz), group SSR had a reduction compared with the other groups, whereas group TSR had the greatest oscillation compared with groups SOR and TOR, with all values expressed in normalized units. Analysis of HRV was performed after pharmacological blockade, and low-frequency oscillations were found to be predominantly sympathetic in sedentary animals, whereas there was no predominance in trained animals. Conclusion: Ovariectomy did not change the tonic autonomic control of the heart and, in addition, reduced the participation of sympathetic component in cardiac modulation. Physical training, on the other hand, increased the participation of parasympathetic modulation on the HRV, including ovariectomized rats.

The effect of ovariectomy on cardiac autonomic control in rats submitted to aerobic physical training

We have investigated the ovariectomy effects on the cardiovascular autonomic adaptations induced by aerobic physical training and the role played by nitric oxide (NO). Female Wistar rats (n =70) were divided into five groups: Sedentary Sham (SS): Trained Sham (TS); Trained Hypertensive Sham treated with N(C)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (THS): Trained Ovariectomized (TO); and Trained Hypertensive Ovariectomized treated with L-NAME (THO). Trained groups were submitted to a physical training during 10 weeks. The cardiovascular autonomic control was investigated in all groups using different approaches: 1) pharmacological evaluation of autonomic tonus with methylatropine and propranolol; 2) analysis of heart rate (HR) and systolic arterial pressure (AP) variability; 3) spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) evaluation. Hypertension was observed in THS and THO groups. Pharmacological analysis showed that TS group had increased predominance of autonomic vagal tonus compared to SS group. HR and intrinsic HR were found to be reduced in all trained animals. TS group, compared to other groups, showed a reduction in LF oscillations (LF=0.2-0.75 Hz) of pulse interval in both absolute and normalized units as well as an increase in HF oscillations (HF=0.75-2.50 Hz) in normalized unit. FIRS analysis showed that alpha-index was different between all groups. TS group presented the greatest value, followed by the TO, SS. THO and THS groups. Ovariectomy has negative effects on cardiac autonomic modulation in trained rats, which is characterized by an increase in the sympathetic autonomic modulation. These negative effects suggest NO deficiency. In contrast, the ovariectomy seems to have no effect on AP variability. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Exercise training accelerates the removal from plasma of LDL-like nanoemulsion in moderately hypercholesterolemic subjects

Objective: Exercise training improves plasma lipid profile and diminishes risk of coronary heart disease. Previously, we showed that training increases LDL plasma clearance, as tested by an artificial LDL-like nanoemulsion method, presumably by increasing LDL receptor activity. In this study, we investigated whether training could also improve LDL clearance in hypercholesterolemic subjects (HCh) that are exposed to increased risk of cardiovascular events. Methods: Twenty sedentary HCh and 20 normolipidemic (NL) sedentary volunteers were divided into four groups: 12 HCh submitted to 4-month training program, 8 HCh with no exercise program, 12 NL submitted to 4-month training and 8 NL with no exercise program. An LDL-like nanoemulsion labeled with 14C-cholesteryl ester was injected intravenously into all subjects and plasma samples were collected during 24h after injection to determine the fractional clearance rate (FCR, in h-1) by compartmental analysis. The study was performed on the first and on the last day of the 4-month study period. Results: In both, trained HCh and NL groups, training increased nanoemulsion FCR by 36% (0.0443 +/- 0.0126; 0.0602 +/- 0.0187, p=0.0187 and 0.0503 +/- 0.0203; 0.0686 +/- 0.0216, p=0.0827, respectively). After training, LDL cholesterol diminished in both HCh and NL groups. In HCh, but not in NL group, LDL susceptibility to oxidation decreased, but oxidized LDL was unchanged. In both non-trained groups FCR was the same for the last and the 4-month previous evaluation. Conclusion: In HCh, exercise training increased the removal of LDL as tested by the nanoemulsion, and this probably accounted for decreased LDL cholesterol and diminished LDL susceptibility to oxidation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Influence of etching time on bond strength in dentin irradiated with erbium lasers

The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of etching time on the tensile bond strength (TBS) of a conventional adhesive bonded to dentin previously irradiated with erbium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Er:YAG) and erbium, chromium:yttrium-scandium-gallium-garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) lasers. Buccal and lingual surfaces of 45 third molars were flattened until the dentin was exposed and randomly assigned to three groups (n = 30) according to the dentin treatment: control (not irradiated), irradiated with Er:YAG (1 W; 250 mJ; 4 Hz; 80.6 J/cm(2)) laser or Er,Cr:YSGG (4 W; 200 mJ; 20 Hz; 71.4 J/cm(2)) laser, and into three subgroups (n = 10) according to acid etching time (15 s, 30 s or 60 s) for each experimental group. After acid etching, the adhesive was applied, followed by the construction of an inverted cone of composite resin. The samples were immersed in distilled water (37A degrees C for 24 h) and subjected to TBS test [50 kilogram-force (kgf), 0.5 mm/min]. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey statistical tests (P a parts per thousand currency signaEuro parts per thousand 0.05). Control group samples presented significant higher TBS values than those of all lased groups. Both irradiated groups exhibited similar TBS values. Samples subjected to the different etching times in each experimental group presented similar TBS. Based on the conditions of this in vitro study we concluded that Er:YAG and Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation of the dentin weakens the bond strength of the adhesive. Moreover, increased etching time is not able to modify the bonding strength of the adhesive to irradiated dentin.