Low-intensity laser therapy effect on the recovery of traumatic spinal cord injury

Scientific advances have been made to optimize the healing process in spinal cord injury. Studies have been developed to obtain effective treatments in controlling the secondary injury that occurs after spinal cord injury, which substantially changes the prognosis. Low-intensity laser therapy (LILT) has been applied in neuroscience due to its anti-inflammatory effects on biological tissue in the repairing process. Few studies have been made associating LILT to the spinal cord injury. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the LILT (GaAlAs laser-780 nm) on the locomotor functional recovery, histomorphometric, and histopathological changes of the spinal cord after moderate traumatic injury in rats (spinal cord injury at T9 and T10). Thirty-one adult Wistar rats were used, which were divided into seven groups: control without surgery (n = 3), control surgery (n = 3), laser 6 h after surgery (n = 5), laser 48 h after surgery (n = 5), medullar lesion (n = 5) without phototherapy, medullar lesion + laser 6 h after surgery (n = 5), and medullar lesion + laser 48 h after surgery (n = 5). The assessment of the motor function was performed using Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan (BBB) scale and adapted Sciatic Functional Index (aSFI). The assessment of urinary dysfunction was clinically performed. After 21 days postoperative, the animals were euthanized for histological and histomorphometric analysis of the spinal cord. The results showed faster motor evolution in rats with spinal contusion treated with LILT, maintenance of the effectiveness of the urinary system, and preservation of nerve tissue in the lesion area, with a notorious inflammation control and increased number of nerve cells and connections. In conclusion, positive effects on spinal cord recovery after moderate traumatic spinal cord injury were shown after LILT.

Larval development of indigenous South American freshwater fish species, with particular reference to pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus): A review

In recent years, a number of South American freshwater fish have gained increasing attention for their potential in aquaculture, not only because of their excellent performance in farming systems but also to meet the high consumer demand for these species due to declining fishery resources. Many South American freshwater species are migratory and produce altricial larvae, with a small amount of yolk reserves. Unlike precocial freshwater species and altricial coldwater marine fish, these freshwater fish investigated have rapid yolk depletion and metamorphosis. Specific studies on the initial development of South American fish are scarce and fragmented. One of the most widely studied species is the pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus), farmed in warm continental waters. In the present review we compile new and published data on the initial development of pacu, including morphogenesis of the skeletal, muscle, digestive and sensory systems; compare it to other Neotropical species; and discuss the importance of this information to develop larviculture protocols. When pacu larvae exhaust yolk reserves, they initiate a new form of interaction with the environment, becoming exclusively exotrophic. This type of interaction is made possible by the rapid development of sensory, skeletal, locomotor and digestive structures. In addition to understanding fish ontogeny, studies on larval development are necessary to improve farming systems and larviculture techniques aimed at producing high-quality juveniles in aquaculture. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Iliac osteosynthesis with nylon clamp associated to polymethylmethacrylate bone cement - experimental study in dogs cadavers

Fractures of iliac body are generally consequences of traumas of great impact. These fractures lead to a lack of locomotor response and in specific cases, surgery is needed. Among the possible therapeutic lines, implants become a good option. In this paper, the authors used dog corpses to develop a surgery technique of iliac osteosynthesis, employing nylon clamps and bone cement of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). Sixteen hemi pelvises of eight dog corpses, which had its iliac bodies totally fractured previously, were utilized. The osteosynthesis was reached through the implantation of six nylon clamps, distributed equally between the bone fragments. With the use of the nylon clamps there were bone realignment and a contact surface to fixation of the biomaterial. The technique developed in corpses was easily executed, effective in reduction, alignment and stabilization of the fracture. The authors suggest more studies in vitro to evaluate immobilization resistance and functionality in dogs with this condition.

Principais métodos terapêuticos na tendinite eqüina

Most athletic horses nowadays suffer injuries on their locomotor system, needing a long period of rest during the year, meaning a big economic loss. Because of that, this kind of injury has become extremely important for the Veterinary Medicine. Among this injuries, tendinitis of the flexors tendons must be mentioned, since its reparation is essential for the animal return to exercise. Many methods of treatment for this injury have been employed, but few have provided satisfactory results. So the objective of this study is to analyze the present concepts of equine tendinitis to better understand its mechanism, adequate treatment and prevention

Analysis of the chronic intake of and withdrawal from diazepam on emotional reactivity and sensory information processing in rats

It has been demonstrated that, on abrupt withdrawal, patients with chronic exposure can experience a number of symptoms indicative of a dependent state. In clinical patients, the earliest to arise and most persistent signal of withdrawal from chronic benzodiazepine (Bzp) treatment is anxiety. In laboratory animals, anxiety-like effects following abrupt interruption of chronic Bzp treatment can also be reproduced. In fact, signs that oscillate from irritability to extreme fear behaviours and seizures have been described already. As anxiety remains one of the most important symptoms of Bzp withdrawal, in this study we evaluated the anxiety levels of rats withdrawn from diazepam. Also studied were the effects on the motor performance and preattentive sensory gating process of rats under diazepam chronic treatment and upon 48-h withdrawal on three animal models of anxiety, the elevated plus-maze (EPM), ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) and startle + prepulse inhibition tests. Data obtained showed an anxiolytic- and anxiogenic-like profile of the chronic intake of and withdrawal from diazepam regimen in the EPM test, 22-KHz USV and startle reflex. Diazepam chronic effects or its withdrawal were ineffective in promoting any alteration in the prepulse inhibition (PPI). However, an increase of PPI was achieved in both sucrose and diazepam pretreated rats on 48-h withdrawal, suggesting a procedural rather than a specific effect of withdrawal on sensory gating processes. It is also possible that the prepulse can function as a conditioned stimulus to informing the delivery of an aversive event, as the auditory startling-eliciting stimulus. All these findings are indicative of a sensitization of the neural substrates of aversion in diazepam withdrawn animals without concomitant changes on the processing of sensory information

Análise cinemática da marcha livre e adaptativa de pacientes com doença de Parkinson e idosos sadios: efeito da dica auditiva

Disorders in gait are identified in Parkinson’s disease patients. As a result, the capacity of walking independently and the interaction with the environment can be impairment. So, the auditory cues have been utilized as a non-pharmacological treatment to improve the locomotor impairment of the PD patients. However, these effects were observed in the regular lands and it’s not known the effects of auditory cues in gait during avoidance obstacles that could be more threaten for these patients. Yet, few studies in the literature compare the Parkinson’s disease patients with the older adults during the locomotor tasks and obstacle avoidance in association with the effects of auditory cues. The aim of the study is to compare the effects of the auditory cues in the gait and during obstacle avoidance in PD patients and older adults. 30 subjects distributed in two groups (Group 1 - 15, Parkinson’s disease patients; Group 2 - 15, healthy older adults) are going to participate of this study. After the participation approval, the assessment of clinical condition will be done by a physician. So, to investigate the locomotor pattern, it will be done a kinematic analysis. The experimental task is to walk on 8 m pathway and 18 trials will be done (6 for the free gait and 12 for adaptive gait). For the adaptive gait, two different obstacle heights will be manipulated: high obstacle (HO) and low obstacle (LO). In order to verify possible differences between the groups and the experimental condition, multivariance tests will be used with a significance level of 0.05. MANOVA revealed effect of condition and task. Thus, with DA, we observed an increase in cadence and reduced single support and stride length. When the tasks were compared, it was observed that the LO task, subjects had lower velocity and stride length... 9Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Análise física da estrutura do tecido ósseo bovino

There are diseases in vertebrates associated with the structure of bone tissue that directly affect the locomotor system of the animal. Being a endoskeleton, the diagnosis of these diseases becomes difficult in vivo. The characterization of the physical structure of the bone tissue of healthy animals becomes a major tool in the diagnosis comparison of live animals. Thus, the objective of this work is to determine the average value of the key physical properties of the bone structure used in the clinical diagnosis, such as: bone density, porosity, and mass attenuation coefficient of 59.6 keV photons of bone tissue and bovine and equine check variations in these values. The samples were provided by the pathology department of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of Botucatu-SP, which are of one male equine and one female bovine animals, using the radio and metacarpus, together with these materials were supplied the historic them. They were withdrawn ten samples in cuts of 10cm over the bone . These samples were submitted to the wet method of immersion in water for the density, by the method of attenuation of gamma radiation of radioisotope 241Am, it is estimated the mass attenuation coefficient, and then were dried in the oven for determining the content moisture. In determining the porosity of the samples was tight ground, in order to obtain the density of particles. The results for the mass attenuation coefficient of gamma radiation to the levels of saturated humidity, environment humidity, dry humidity respectively 0289 ± 0039; 0286 ± 0040 and 0297 ± 0042. And the density of particles was 2.2691 g/cm3

Correlações fisiológicas da carga parasitária em Rhinella icteriucus (Anura: marinus)

A presença de parasitas, que podem afetar inúmeros aspectos da biologia de seus hospedeiros, possivelmente levando a uma queda em seu desempenho. Entretanto, ao longo do estabelecimento da associação parasita-hospedeiro, alterações na fisiologia e morfologia deste último podem representar mecanismos compensatórios para os danos causados pelos parasitas. Sendo assim, carga parasitária deve ser um importante determinante do valor adaptativo (fitness) do hospedeiro. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi estabelecer possíveis correlações entre carga parasitária, massas de diversos órgãos e desempenho locomotor no sapo-cururu, Rhinella ictericus (Anura: Bufonidae). O desempenho locomotor dos indivíduos capturados de R. ictericus foi medido através do uso de uma pista circular de madeira. Durante um período de 10 minutos, os animais foram forçados a manter desempenho locomotor constante e a distância total percorrida foi corrigida para o comprimento rostro-cloacal. Depois das medidas de desempenho locomotor, os órgãos internos foram dissecados, tendo seus parasitas contabilizados. As massas de todos os órgãos escalaram positivamente com a massa corpórea. O número de parasitas nos pulmões e o índice corpóreo também se mostraram positivamente relacionados à variação em massa corpórea. Indivíduos com maior carga parasitária intestinal foram também aqueles que apresentaram um maior número total de parasitas, sugerindo a existência de variação individual na susceptibilidade a diferentes parasitas. O desempenho locomotor foi negativamente associado à carga parasitária total, demonstrando um efeito deletério causado pelos parasitas ao hospedeiro em um aspecto crucial de sua história de vida. Hospedeiros com maior carga parasitária pulmonar apresentaram maior massa intestinal e renal, sugerindo possíveis mecanismos compensatórios dos possíveis danos causados pelos parasitas

Estudo da ação do inseticida Tiametoxam na sobrevivência e no comportamento de operárias de Apis mellifera L., 1758 (Hymenoptera: Apidae) em diferentes idades

The bee Apis mellifera has a great importance because it is the most economically valuable pollinator for crops worldwide, ensuring cross-pollination and increasing fruit yield. Moreover, agriculture increasingly develops chemicals to control weeds, fungi and insect pests to ensure productivity. Insecticides are used on a large scale in the state of São Paulo, in cultures of citrus for control of greening. Applications are usually made by aircraft and as a result of the effect derives a significant mortality is observed in apiaries near the plantations. Honey bees can get in contact with such chemical agent through their activities of water harvesting, plant resins, pollen and nectar. Intoxication resulting from this exposure can be lethal, which is easily detectable, or cause effects on the physiology and behavior of the insect. These, in turn are hardly detectable, such as paralysis, disorientation, behavioral changes, but can compromise the entire social structure of the colony, therefore aimed to study the effects of the insecticide Thiamethoxam behavior of honeybees A. mellifera. Newly emerged individuals and with 10 days of age were tested. Applications of 1 μL de Thiamethoxam, diluted in acetone, were made on the dorsal thorax with a microapplicator. Preliminarily, it was observed LD50 twenty four hours after topical treatment of Thiamethoxam. It was found that the LD50 for newly emerged honeybees is 8 ng/bee and for honeybees with 10 days of age is 18 ng/bee. The behaviors were analyzed 1 hour after application of insecticide at doses corresponding to LD50/100, LD50/50, LD50/10 and LD50, besides the control group. In the test reflex proboscis extension, there was impairment of behavior at doses of 8 and 18 ng/bee workers in newly emerged workers and 10 days of age, respectively. And in locomotor behavior was no change only at a dose of 18 ng/bee workers at 10 days of age... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Análise comparativa do perfil histoquímico entre músculos de tropidurus psammonastes e comparação com outras do mesmo gênero

O desempenho locomotor de um indivíduo pode ser considerado produto de interações multivariadas em torno de sua morfo-fisiologia, sendo particularmente determinado pela maneira como seus músculos se contraem. Essa maneira como a contração ocorre é influenciada tanto por parâmetros energéticos (atividade enzimática e proporção de fibras de contração rápida); quanto estruturais (comprimento de fibras e tendões). Para quantificar a proporção de fibras musculares, foram obtidos cortes histológicos em criostato, de seis grupamentos musculares congelados de oito individuos de Tropidurus psammonastes e um grupamento muscular, o iliofibularis, de quatro individuos de Tropidurus semitaeniatus. Os cortes foram corados por meio de técnicas histoquímicas e as fibras contadas. O perfil metabólico foi contrastado entre os músculos de um mesmo indivíduo e essa comparação serviu de base também para interpretação em relação à informações semelhantes obtidas em estudos com ileofibularis em outras sete espécies de lagartos da família Tropiduridae. O resultado mostrou algumas variações entre os músculos de um mesmo indivíduo e entre os mesmos músculos em indivíduos diferentes

Papel da informação exproprioceptiva durante o andar em pessoas com doença de Parkinson e idosos sadios

A doença de Parkinson (DP) é uma neuropatologia que decorre em déficits na integração sensório-motora, destacando-se os problemas proprioceptivos e no sistema visual. Estudos mostram que pessoas com DP são mais dependentes da informação visual para executar a locomoção. Entretanto, pouco é conhecido quando a informação visual exproprioceptiva é anulada durante o andar livre e a ultrapassagem de obstáculo. Assim, o objetivo do estudo foi analisar o papel da informação visual exproprioceptiva durante o andar livre e a ultrapassagem de obstáculo em idosos com DP e idosos sadios. Participaram 12 idosos com DP, classificados em 1 e 2 na escala de Hoehn & Yahr, e 12 idosos sadios (pair matched). Os participantes foram convidados a andar, em velocidade preferida, sobre uma passarela de 8 metros sem e com obstáculo (SO e OB, respectivamente). As tentativas foram apresentadas combinando duas condições de informação visual: com e sem informação exproprioceptiva. Foram realizadas 3 tentativas por condição, totalizando 12 tentativas; realizadas em 2 blocos. A informação exproprioceptiva foi manipulada pelo uso de óculos que bloquearam a visão dos membros inferiores. Os dados cinemáticos foram coletados por um sistema optoeletrônico de análise do movimento (OPTOTRAK Certus – 3D Motion Measurement System, NDI). Para análise estatística foram empregadas ANOVAs. Os resultados revelaram efeito principal de grupo e condição para o andar livre e efeito de condição para a fase de ultrapassagem. No andar livre, a hipometria influenciou o comportamento locomotor de idosos com DP comparados a idosos sadios. Ainda, na ausência de informação exproprioceptiva os participantes modificaram seu comportamento locomotor aumentando a cadência, o comprimento e a velocidade da passada e diminuíram a duração da passada e da porcentagem de duplo suporte... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Utilização da ultrassonografia transcuneal como auxílio no diagnóstico da síndrome do navicular em eqüinos

The equine locomotors system alterations are very frequent and corresponds a large portion of cases in equine medicine. The most equine veterinarian’s challenge is to do a precise diagnosis of lameness cause to perform a specific and proper treatment as early as possible. The navicular syndrome is considered responsible for one third of lameness causes and, although much studied, its etiology is still not fully understood. The most varied methods of diagnosis, such as x-ray, magnetic resonance, bursography, scintigraphy, computed tomography and ultrasound, have been used to assess podotrochlear apparatus situation in order to diagnose this syndrome. Among them transcuneal ultrasound can be used to observe some important structures such as the flexor surface of distal sesamoid bone, distal deep digital flexor tendon, distal sesamoid ligament entheses odd and the distal phalanx. The aim of this present paper is provide a brief review on the use and the technique of ultrasonography on third phalanx transcuneal region evaluation and its interpretation on navicular syndrome diagnosis in horses

Indicações da artroscopia em equinos

One of the main causes of incapacity in athletes, be they human or equines, is the occurrence of intra-articular lesions. The equines are each time more required in his athletic performance, resulting in intense stress to the structures that composes the locomotor device. The leading cause of human and equine athlete’s functional incapacity is the intra-articular disorders. One of the greatest advances in sports medicine was the development of arthroscopy as a minimal invasive intra-articular surgery. The defining characteristic of diagnostic or surgical arthroscopy is featured by minimal tissue damage and broad inspection of internal structures inside the joint associated with low morbidity and complications. The advantages of surgical arthroscopy over traditional surgery are well known: limited hospitalization, early return to competition, lower risks of post-operative joint rigidity, magnification of inspected structures, joint lavage associated or not with removal of potentially dangerous substances. Arthroscopy cannot replace conventional methods and must not do so; however, the intrinsic limitations of conventional diagnostic techniques, such as radiology and synovial fluid analysis, must be kept in mind, particularly in evaluating damage to cartilage and the synovial membrane. Arthroscopy has now become the accepted method of performing all joint surgery, however it is mainly used for radical surgery, such as osteochondral fragment removal, surgical curettage and arthroplasty

Isoeritrólise neonatal eqüina

Equine neonatal isoerythrolysis is a neonatal foals’ illness. Results from the incompatibility of blood type between the foal and the mare and mediated by maternal antibody absorbed by the colostrum against foal’s red blood cells. Characterized by a type ll hypersensitivity reaction, where the exhibition of the organism to a strange antigen, that it takes the sensitization of the lymphocytes B that after the removal of the antigens by the reticule-endothelial system the production of immunoglobulin is decreased, with the formation of cellular immunological will cause the occurrence of the illness in foal of sensitized mares. The most important clinical signs are severe anemia and jaundice, and this illness should be differentiated of other as: hemolysis induced by bacterial toxins, diseases of the hepatobiliary system, disseminated intravascular coagulation and incompatibility in blood transfusions. Like the sensitization happens during the previous incompatible foal’s birth, most cases occur in foals of multiparous mares. However during the first pregnancy the mare can generate a foal with neonatal 7 isoerythrolysis if she have developed placental anomaly in the beginning of the pregnancy which blood cells in her circulation

Acidentes na infância atendidos no pronto socorro de pediatria do Hospital das Clínicas de Botucatu que motivaram internação

Accidents represent a major public health problem as they are frequent, preventable, and account for high morbidity and mortality rates. Children are the most vulnerable to accidents due to their inherent characteristics, and as a result of their physical, sensorial, psychomotor and cognitive limitations, which will only develop with time. Watchfulness and careful attention are of paramount importance, especially as children develop locomotor skills that are accompanied by curiosity about their surroundings. Child accidents, particularly those that could have been avoided, are the accidents most commonly seen in emergency and urgency departments. Urgency and emergency departments are the greatest allies in the attention to pediatric accidents as they offer adequate, immediate and specific high complexity care to patients at risk, viewing their vital stabilization. Investigating the causes and consequences of this insult is essential to establish a diagnosis and to contribute for the adoption of measures of prevention, control, and assistance. To identify the epidemiologic characteristics of the accidents involving children that received care at the pediatric emergency department of Botucatu Medical School Hospital and required hospitalization. This quantitative, retrospective, descriptiveanalytic epidemiologic study included all children aged 0-14 years who had had an accident and were seen at the Pediatric Emergency Department of Botucatu Medical School Hospital of São Paulo State University/UNESP between January 1/2008 and December 31/2009. A total of 227 medical charts were reviewed and 178 (78.4%) patients were included in this study. Of these, 116 (65.1%) were males and 62 (34.8%) were females. Children aged 5 - 9 years (38.9%) were the most affected, followed by those aged 10 - 14 years (37.5%). Fractures occurred in 138 (77.5%) of the cases, followed by foreign bodies... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)