Fatigue surviving, fracture resistance, shear stress and finite element analysis of glass fiber posts with different diameters

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Influence of neuromuscular fatigue on co-contraction between vastus medialis and vastus lateralis during isometric contractions

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

Intrauterine growth restricted rats exercised before and during pregnancy: maternal and perinatal repercussions

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of swimming before and during pregnancy on rats born with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and their offspring. For this, nondiabetic and streptozotocin-induced severely diabetic (SD) pregnant rats were mated and generated offspring with appropriate (control, C) and small (IUGR) for pregnancy age, respectively. Following that, C and IUGR groups were further distributed into nonexercised control (C), exercised control (Cex), nonexercised IUGR (IUGR), and exercised IUGR (IUGRex). IUGR rats presented lower mating rate than control rats. Regardless of physical exercise IUGR rats presented decreased body weight from birth to lactation. At 90 days of life, IUGR rats presented glucose intolerance. Maternal organ weights were increased and relative adiposity of IUGRex rats was lower than Cex. IUGR and IUGRex offspring presented reduced body weight than C and Cex, respectively. IUGRex dams presented an increased rate of appropriate for pregnancy age newborns. IUGEex male and female offspring relative brain weight was increased compared with Cex. Therefore, swimming before and during pregnancy prevented glucose intolerance, reduced general adiposity, and increased maternal and offspring organ weight in rats, showing the benefit of physical exercise for IUGR rats.

Effect of himatanthus sucuuba in maternal reproductive outcome and fetal anomaly frequency in rats

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Maternal separation on the ethanol-preferring adult rat liver structure

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

Body condition score of Nellore beef cows: a heritable measure to improve the selection of reproductive and maternal traits

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Changes in T-cell phenotype and cytokines profile in maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers

The present study evaluated the cells and cytokine of maternal blood, cord blood and colostrum of diabetic mothers. The women evaluated were divided according to their body mass index (BMI) and glycemic status into non-diabetic (ND - N = 15), mild gestational hyperglycemic (MGH - N = 15), diabetes mellitus gestational (DMG - N = 13) and type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM2 - N = 15) groups. The subsets of cells and cytokine profile were determined by flow cytometry. Maternal blood from MGH group had increase percentage of CD3(+)T cells, and DM-2 group had decrease percentage of CD4(+) T cells. The cord blood from hyperglycemic groups showed lower percentage of CD3(+) T cells expressing CD45RO(+) and higher of CD4(+) T cells and CD4(+) T cells expressing CD45RA(+). In the colostrum, the CD4(+) T cells and CD4(+) T cells expressed CD45RA(+) increase in hyperglycemic groups. The DM2 group exhibited higher IL17 levels in maternal blood. IFN-γ was lower in cord blood from MGH and DMG groups with overweight/obese. Irrespective of the glycemic status, IL6 was higher in colostrum. The results obtained suggest that maternal hyperglycemia modifies the phenotypes of T cells and cytokines profile in maternal, cord blood and colostrum.

Increased DNA damage is related to maternal blood glucose levels in the offspring of women with diabetes and mild gestational hyperglycemia

This study aimed at correlating maternal blood glucose levels with DNA damage levels in the offspring of women with diabetes or mild gestational hyperglycemia (MGH). Based on oral glucose tolerance test results and glycemic profiles, 56 pregnant women were allocated into 3 groups: nondiabetes, MGH, and diabetes. The offspring of these women (56 infants) were also evaluated. Maternal peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood samples were collected and processed for biochemical and DNA damage analysis by the comet assay. A positive correlation between maternal blood glucose mean and increased offspring DNA damage levels was observed. Hyperglycemia played a role in offspring DNA damage, but other diabetes-induced complications were also involved. Increased maternal blood glucose levels can lead to increased offspring DNA damage levels. Therefore, the monitoring, control, and treatment of pregnant women with diabetes and MGH are highly important to ensure a risk-free pregnancy and healthy infants.

Toxic heritage: maternal transfer of pyrethroid insecticides and sunscreen agents in dolphins from Brazil

Pyrethroids (PYR) and UV filters (UVF) were investigated in tissues of paired mother-fetus dolphins from Brazilian coast in order to investigate the possibility of maternal transfer of these emerging contaminants. Comparison of PYR and UVF concentrations in maternal and fetal blubber revealed Franciscana transferred efficiently both contaminants to fetuses (F/M > 1) and Guiana dolphin transferred efficiently PYR to fetuses (F/M > 1) different than UVF (F/M < 1). PYR and UVF concentrations in fetuses were the highest-ever reported in biota (up to 6640 and 11,530 ng/g lw, respectively). Muscle was the organ with the highest PYR and UVF concentrations (p < 0.001), suggesting that these two classes of emerging contaminants may have more affinity for proteins than for lipids. The high PYR and UVF concentrations found in fetuses demonstrate these compounds are efficiently transferred through placenta. This study is the first to report maternal transfer of pyrethroids and UV filters in marine mammals.

Recovery of gait after quadriceps muscle fatigue

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of recovery time after quadriceps muscle fatigue on gait in young adults. Forty young adults (20-40 years old) performed three 8-m gait trials at preferred velocity before and after muscle fatigue, and after 5, 10 and 20min of passive rest. In addition, at each time point, two maximal isometric voluntary contractions were preformed. Muscle fatigue was induced by repeated sit-to-stand transfers until task failure. Spatio-temporal, kinetic and muscle activity parameters, measured in the central stride of each trial, were analyzed. Data were compared between before and after the muscle fatigue protocol and after the recovery periods by one-way repeated measures ANOVA. The voluntary force was decreased after the fatigue protocol (p<0.001) and after 5, 10 and 20min of recovery compared to before the fatigue protocol. Step width (p<0.001) and RMS of biceps femoris (p<0.05) were increased immediately after the fatigue protocol and remained increased after the recovery periods. In addition, stride duration was decreased immediately after the fatigue protocol compared to before and to after 10 and 20min of rest (p<0.001). The anterior-posterior propulsive impulse was also decreased after the fatigue protocol (p<0.001) and remained low after 5, 10 and 20min of rest. We conclude that 20min is not enough to see full recovery of gait after exhaustive quadriceps muscle fatigue.

Effects of Maternal Pb2+ poisoning during pregnancy on the development of the jaw (Meckel´s Cartilage) of rat fetus

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of maternal lead poisoning during pregnancy on the development of the jaw (Meckel's cartilage) of rat fetuses by histologic and morphometric methods. Pregnant rats received a single intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mg of lead acetate/100g body weight on the 10th day of pregnancy. Meckel's cartilage of fetuses of the lead-treated group showed smaller volume density and size of the lacunae, as well as modification of the lacunae shape. Moreover, the number density of lacunae and the volume density of the matrix increased significantly in the Meckel's cartilage in treated group fetuses. The results suggest that lead poisoning during the period of organogenesis can induce disturbances in the development and differentiation of the fetal stomatognathic system. Reducing the consumption of alcoholic beberages and smoking cessation by women in childbearing age, along with a strict policy of control of the environmental lead exposure can bring great benefits to the future generations of children.

Exploratory study of electromyographic behavior of the vastus medialis and vastus lateralis at neuromuscular fatigue onset

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of physical activity levels on fatigue perception in patients with Parkinson's disease and neurologically healthy individuals

Background: Recent researches involving fatigue and Parkinson’s disease (PD) sought to verify its incidence and the impacts of fatigue on quality life of patients with PD. Despite the importance of regular physical activity practice, there are only few studies that verified the influence of the levels of physical activity on fatigue in patients with PD. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare perception of fatigue between individuals with PD and neurologically healthy individuals (control group), considering the physical activity levels; and to verify the relation between physical activity levels and fatigue dimensions for individuals with PD and control group. Methods: Eighty individuals (40 patients with PD and 40 control individuals) participated in this study. Physical activity levels were evaluated through Modified Baecke Questionnaire for Older Adults. Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI) was used in order to evaluate fatigue dimensions (general, physical and mental fatigue, reduced motivation and activity). MANOVA two-way and Pearson linear correlation test were performed to analyze the data. Results: Patients with PD presented higher levels of fatigue, in all dimensions evaluated by MFI, comparing to control individuals. There was no association between physical activity levels and perception of fatigue for patients with PD and control individuals. Conclusion: Patients with PD showed increased perception of fatigue when compared to control individuals, due to PD characteristics. In addition, the perception of fatigue’s symptom was not influenced and had no relation by the level of physical activity.

Safety assessment of after maternal exposure on male reproductive parameters in rats

Context: Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) is a species widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of some disorders. Objective: This study evaluated the effects of H. sabdariffa (HS) on the development of the male reproductive tract in rats following in utero exposure. Materials and methods: Pregnant rats received 250 or 500 mg/kg of HS extract or vehicle from gestational day 12 until day 21 of lactation. Results and discussion: Both doses of HS increased the body weight of male offspring at weaning, without compromising the puberty onset parameters. At puberty, there was a significant increase in the vas deferens absolute weight and a significant reduction in the relative weight of kidney at higher dose. These animals also presented a significant reduction in the sperm number in the caput/corpus of epididymis after exposure to both doses and a reduction in the sperm number in the cauda epididymis for the lower dose. At adulthood, the highest dose significantly reduced the sperm production in relation to controls and both doses provoked a reduction in the relative sperm number in the epididymis without affecting the sperm morphology. Conclusion: These findings demonstrated that maternal exposure to H. sabdariffa can adversely influence the male reproductive system in rats.