The Incremental Shuttle Walk Test in Older Brazilian Adults

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

A Simple Approach to Assess VT During a Field Walk Test

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

Comparison of agar gel immunodiffusion test, rapid slide agglutination test, microbiological culture and PCR for the diagnosis of canine brucellosis

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance of IFAT, ELISA, direct parasitological examination and PCR on lymph node aspirates for canine visceral leishmaniasis diagnosis

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

Comparison between the counter immunoelectrophoresis test and mouse neutralization test for the detection of antibodies against rabies virus in dog sera

The detection of rabies antibodies is extremely valuable for epidemiological studies, determination of immune status in man, animals, and for the diagnosis of the disease. Several serological procedures have been described for this purpose. The present study reports a comparison between counterimmunoelectrophoresis test (CIET) and mouse neutralization test (MNT) in the detection of antibodies against rabies virus from 212 serum samples of vaccinated dogs. The agreement between both techniques was 79.7% and a significative association was demonstrated. The correlation coefficients between MNT and the CIET titers was determined considering 88 samples showing positive results in both techniques [CIET = 2 and MNT = 5 (0.13 IU/ml)] and resulted r² = 0.7926 (p < 0.001). The performance of CIET system was technically simple, cheap and rapid, and thereby it could be useful for serological monitoring of dog vaccination campaigns as well as for individual analysis.

Biological Performance of Chemical Hydroxyapatite Coating Associated With Implant Surface Modification by Laser Beam: Biomechanical Study in Rabbit Tibias

Purpose: Considering the potential of the association between laser ablation and smaller scale hydroxyapatite (HA) coatings to create a stable and bioactive surface on titanium dental implants, the aim of the present study was to determine, by the removal torque test, the effects of a surface treatment created by laser-ablation (Nd:YAG) and, later, thin deposition of HA particles by a chemical process, compared to implants with only laser-ablation and implants with machined surfaces.Materials and Methods: Forty-eight rabbits received I implant by tibia of the following surfaces: machined surface (MS), laser-modified surface (LMS), and biomimetic hydroxiapatite coated surface (HA). After 4, 8, and 12 weeks of healing, the removal torque was measured by a torque gauge. The surfaces studied were analyzed according to their topography, chemical composition, and roughness.Results: Average removal torque in each period was 23.28, 24.0, and 33.85 Ncm to MS, 33.0, 39.87, and 54.57 Ncm to LMS, and 55.42, 63.71 and 64.0 Ncm to HA. The difference was statistically significant (P < .05) between the LMS-MS and HA-MS surfaces in all periods of evaluation, and between LMS-HA to 4 and 8 weeks of healing. The surface characterization showed a deep, rough, and regular topography provided by the laser conditioning, that was followed by the HA coating.Conclusions: Based on these results, it was possible to conclude that the implants with laser surface modification associated with HA biomimetic coating can shorten the implant healing period by the increase of bone implant interaction during the first 2 months after implant placement. (C) 2009 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons J Oral Maxillofac Surg 67:1706-1715, 2009

A physiological manoeuvre to improve the positivity of the gastro-oesophageal reflux scintigraphic test

One of the best examinations used routinely to detect gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is scintigraphy and attempts are continuously being made to improve the performance of the test. We have tested a new manoeuvre to improve the results. Three hundred and twenty eight patients (190 males and 138 females, aged 1 month to 84 years, average 4.47 years) were studied after a 12 h fast period with 100 MBq of Tc-99(m)-Phytate, 50 ml volume, directly delivered into the stomach in a mixture of orange juice. All patients were strongly suspected of having GOR. Conventional acquisition was done for 20 min, at a rate of one frame every 20 s. in the middle of the examination, small children were put in the upright position and held there for a few seconds or released in a way that allowed movement; adults were asked to stand up and walk a few metres. The test was then continued for the remaining 10 min. The global index of positivity was 64.6% (76 positive cases in the first half of the examination and 134 positive cases only after the manoeuvre). The mean of GOR episodes observed in the positive cases without the manoeuvre was 0.5 per patient, significantly different from the mean of 1.59 noted after the manoeuvre (P<0.01). In 28 cases the manoeuvre increased either the intensity or the frequency of reflux previously detected without it. We believe that this manoeuvre should be performed in all scintigraphic tests aiming to detect GOR. In the present series, the manoeuvre increased the frequency of GOR episodes. ((C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins)].

Locomotor performance of closely related Tropidurus species: relationships with physiological parameters and ecological divergence

Tropidurid lizards have colonized a variety of Brazilian open environments without remarkable morphological variation, despite ecological and structural differences among habitats used. This study focuses on two Tropidurus sister-species that, despite systematic proximity and similar morphology, exhibit great ecological divergence and a third ecologically generalist congeneric species providing an outgroup comparison. We quantified jumping capacity and sprint speed of each species on sand and rock to test whether ecological divergence was also accompanied by differences in locomotor performance. Relevant physiological traits possibly associated with locomotor performance metabolic scopes and fiber type composition, power output and activity of the enzymes citrate synthase, pyruvate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase of the iliofibularis muscle - were also compared among the three Tropidurus species. We found that the two sister-species exhibited remarkable differences in jumping performance, while Tropidurus oreadicus, the more distantly related species, exhibited intermediate values. Tropidurus psamonastes, a species endemic to sand dunes, exhibited high absolute sprint speeds on sand, jumped rarely and possessed a high proportion of glycolytic fibers and low activity of citrate synthase. The sister-species Tropidurus itambere, endemic to rocky outcrops, performed a large number of jumps and achieved lower absolute sprint speed than T. psamonastes. This study provides evidence of rapid divergence of locomotor parameters between sister-species that use different substrates, which is only partially explained by variation in physiological parameters of the iliofibularis muscle.

Limiar anaeróbio e velocidade crítica determinada com diferentes distâncias em nadadores de 10 a 15 anos: relações com a performance e a resposta do lactato sanguíneo em testes de endurance

O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a velocidade crítica (VC) determinada através de diferentes distâncias com o limiar anaeróbio (LAn) e as velocidades máximas mantidas em testes de 20 (V20) e 30 (V30) minutos na natação, verificando se a idade cronológica em jovens nadadores interfere nessas relações. Participaram do estudo 31 nadadores (17 meninas e 14 meninos) divididos segundo a idade cronológica em dois grupos: 10 a 12 anos e 13 a 15 anos. O LAn foi determinado como sendo a velocidade correspondente a 4mM de lactato sanguíneo. A VC1 (25/50/100m), VC2 (100/200/400m) e a VC3 (50/100/200m) foram calculadas através do coeficiente angular da reta de regressão linear entre as distâncias e seus respectivos tempos. As V20 e V30 foram determinadas através de três a seis repetições, com coletas de sangue no 10º minuto e ao final do tiro. Para o grupo de 10 a 12 anos, a VC1 (m/s) (0,98 ± 0,17) e o LAn (0,97 ± 0,12) não foram diferentes entre si, sendo maiores do que a VC2 (0,92 ± 0,16), VC3 (0,89 ± 0,18), V20 (0,92 ± 0,11) e V30 (0,90 ± 0,11). Para o grupo de 13 a 15 anos, a VC1 (m/s)(1,11 ± 0,11) foi maior do que o LAn (1,02 ± 0,07), V20 (0,99 ± 0,09), V30 (0,97 ± 0,09), VC2 (0,98 ± 0,11) e VC3 (1,00 ± 0,11). Pode-se concluir que a distância utilizada na determinação da VC interfere no valor obtido, independente da idade cronológica. A VC determinada com distâncias entre 50 e 400m pode ser utilizada na avaliação da capacidade aeróbia de crianças e adolescentes, substituindo os testes contínuos máximos com durações próximas a 20 ou 30 minutos.

Índices técnicos correspondentes à velocidade crítica e à máxima velocidade de 30 minutos em nadadores com diferentes níveis de performance aeróbia

O principal objetivo deste estudo foi verificar o efeito do nível de performance aeróbia na relação entre os índices técnicos correspondentes à velocidade crítica (VC) e à velocidade máxima de 30 minutos (V30) em nadadores. Participaram deste estudo, 23 nadadores do gênero masculino com características antropométricas similares, divididos segundo o nível de performance aeróbia em grupo G1 (maior performance) (n = 13) e G2 (menor performance) (n = 10). Os indivíduos tinham pelo menos quatro anos de experiência no esporte e treinavam um volume semanal de 30.000 a 45.000m. A VC foi determinada através do coeficiente angular da regressão linear entre as distâncias (200 e 400m) e seus respectivos tempos. A V30 foi determinada através da máxima distância realizada em um teste de 30 minutos. Todas as variáveis foram determinadas no nado crawl. A VC foi significantemente maior do que a V30 no grupo G1 (1,30 ± 0,04 vs. 1,23 ± 0,06m.s-1) e no G2 (1,17 ± 0,08 vs. 1,07 ± 0,06m.s-1). As duas variáveis foram maiores no grupo G1. As taxas de braçada correspondentes à VC (TBVC) e à V30 (TBV30) obtidas nos grupos G1 (33,07 ± 4,34 vs. 31,38 ± 4,15 ciclos.min-1) e G2 (35,57 ± 6,52 vs. 33,54 ± 5,89 ciclos.min-1) foram similares entre si. A TBVC foi significantemente menor no grupo 1 do que no grupo 2, enquanto que a TBV30 não foi diferente entre os grupos. Os comprimentos de braçada correspondentes à VC (CBVC) e à V30 (CBV30) foram significantemente maiores no grupo G1 (2,41 ± 0,33 vs. 2,38 ± 0,30m.ciclo-1) do que no G2 (2,04 ± 0,43 vs. 1,97 ± 0,40m.ciclo-1), e similares entre si nos dois grupos. As correlações (r) entre a VC e a V30 e as variáveis técnicas correspondentes às duas velocidades foram significantes em todas as comparações (0,68 a 0,91). Portanto, a relação entre a velocidade e as variáveis técnicas correspondentes à VC e à V30 não é modificada pelo nível de performance aeróbia.

Utilização do intercepto-y na avaliação da aptidão anaeróbia e predição da performance de nadadores treinados

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

Validity of the running anaerobic sprint test for assessing anaerobic power and predicting short-distance performances

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

THE INFLUENCE of RESTING PERIOD LENGTH on JUMPING PERFORMANCE

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

EFFECTS of PREFERRED and NONPREFERRED MUSIC on CONTINUOUS CYCLING EXERCISE PERFORMANCE

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of preferred and nonpreferred music on exercise distance, Heart Rate (HR), and Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) during continuous cycling exercise performed at high intensity Fifteen participants performed five test sessions During two sessions, they cycled with fixed workload on ergometer to determine the Critical Power (Cl') intensity Then, they performed three more sessions cycling at CP intensity listening to Preferred Music, listening to Nonpreferred Music, and No Music The HR responses in the exercise sessions did not differ among all conditions However, the RPE was higher for Nonpreferred Music than in the other conditions The performance under Preferred Music (9 8 +/- 4 6km) was greater than under Nonpreferred Music (7 1 +/- 3 5km) conditions Therefore, listening to Preferred Music during continuous cycling exercise at high intensity can Increase the exercise distance, and individuals listening to Nonpreferred Music can perceive more discomfort caused by the exercise

Aggressive Behavior and Performance in the Tegu Lizard Tupinambis merianae

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)