Cardiac autonomic responses induced by mental tasks and the influence of musical auditory stimulation

We investigated the acute effects of musical auditory stimulation on cardiac autonomic responses to a mental task in 28 healthy men (18–22 years old). In the control protocol (no music), the volunteers remained at seated rest for 10 min and the test was applied for five minutes. After the end of test the subjects remained seated for five more minutes. In the music protocol, the volunteers remained at seated rest for 10 min, then were exposed to music for 10 min; the test was then applied over five minutes, and the subjects remained seated for five more minutes after the test. In the control and music protocols the time domain and frequency domain indices of heart rate variability remained unchanged before, during and after the test. We found that musical auditory stimulation with baroque music did not influence cardiac autonomic responses to the mental task.

An exploration of heart rate response to differing music rhythm and tempos

The aim of this study was to investigate acute cardiac response and heart rate variability (HRV) when listening to differing forms of music. Eleven healthy men aged between 18 and 25 years old were included in the study. HRV was recorded at rest for ten minutes with no music, then were asked to listen to classical baroque or heavy metal music for a period of 20 min. It was noted that heart rate variability did not affect HRV indices for time and frequency. In conclusion, music with different tempos does not influence cardiac autonomic regulation in men. However more studies are suggested to explore this topic in greater detail.

A integração da medicina complementar e alternativa em sistemas de saúde convencionais

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular, and despite of the growing demand for these practices, physicians and CAM-providers work separately and there is no sufficient effort in the promotion of an integrative health care. Questions like differences of concepts and language, lack of scientific evidence through randomized clinical trials, no regulation of CAM-providers, products and services, besides the lack of government policies in this scope, turn the process of integration difficult and threaten the quality of delivery of health care. Through the integrative review method, the purpose of this paper is to discuss the issues involved in the integration process of complementary and alternative medicine into the conventional health care systems (guided by principles of biomedicine), addressing benefits and risks, obstacles to integration and models of integration in the discussion topicsl

Aplicação da acupuntura em animais silvestres

This study will focus on one part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), acupuncture - utilized as therapy method for pathologies treatment in humans and animals - , as well as its main techniques. Acupuncture is one branch of TCM, originated from theoretical and empirical knowledge accumulated by popular medicine. Currently, researches performed in humans and animals have shown the effectiveness of this method as an assistance or alternative in illnesses treatment. Besides that, professionals are not merely looking for orthodox medicine knowledge, but also specializations and improvement over the complementary therapies area. There are diverse studies and researches which were and are being done in veterinary, relating the effectiveness of acupuncture in small and large animals. In comparison, in the wild animals’ area the numbers of studies is smaller. However, it is expected that this number increases over the fact that some of these animals’ species are entering the pet market and also because of the possibility of using these methods for treatment and prevention of diseases on zoo animals or other animals kept in captivity

Uso de viscum album no ponto de acupuntura VG14 como terapia adjuvante à mastectomia radical em cadelas com neoplasias mamárias

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Nefroblastoma em cão de 4 meses: relato de caso

Renal nephroblastoma is a malignant tumor composed by embryonic tissue that affects mainly puppies. This works reports the occurrence of unilateral renal nephroblastoma in a puppy with four months. The diagnosis was obtained by histopathological examination of mass obtained by exploratory laparotomy, with realization of nephrectomy. The animal died at 15 days post-operatively by the presence of pulmonary metastases. The survival rate with surgical excision of the mass, with or without complementary therapies, can vary with the stage of disease.

Atividade da fração enriquecida em fenólicos de Buchenavia tomentosa e de algumas substâncias isoladas antes e após encapsulação com beta-ciclodextrina em Candida albicans

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aromaterapia e Ansiedade: revisão integrativa da literatura

This study aimed at investigating, in the national and international scientific literature, how aromatherapy is used as a therapeutic tool to reduce anxiety. It is a bibliographic study that adopted integrative literature review as a method. Studies published on databases Scielo, Medline and Cinahl from 2008 to 2012 were selected. A sample of 20 scientific articles was analyzed, and of these, 13 had an experimental and a quasi--experimental design whereas 07 were systematic or integrative reviews. The synthesis of knowledge sho-wed that aromatherapy represents a safe therapeutic practice although it is still underestimated in health care practices. The construction of evidence levels was not possible due to discrepancies in the studied populations, in research designs, the various essential oils used and the different methods for aromatherapy application. The knowledge gaps identified in these studies are related to the need to develop new forms to evaluate the effectiveness of this practice, including the therapist-patient relationship and the different communication forms that are intrinsic to aromatherapy.

Estudo retrospectivo de 1137 animais submetidos à acupuntura na FMVZ-Unesp-Botucatu-SP

The evidences of efficiency and the relation of cost-benefit of therapy are obtained with revisions developed from primary studies, which includes descriptive, analytical, retrospective and prospective. This is a retrospective survey from the Acupuncture Clinic from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, S„o Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil from 1998 to 2009. Acupuncture efficacy, clinical evolution, the need or not of complementary therapies to acupuncture and the patient profile were evaluated in 1137 clinical charts. The main diseases presented by attended patients involve neurological and musculoskeletal problems. The majority of the patients are dogs and presents chronic diseases or low-response to usual therapies (allopathic). This prevalence is probably due to acupuncture efficacy in disc disease. The poor compliance to acupuncture treatment can be related the patient profile: animals that did not benefit from pharmacological or surgical recommended procedures. Acupuncture was the first choice for almost half (47%) of the patients.

THE APPLICABILITY OF AURICULOTHERAPY WITH NEEDLES OR SEEDS TO REDUCE STRESS IN NURSING PROFESSIONALS

This clinical randomized trial was performed with the objective to evaluate the stress levels of the nursing staff of a hospital and analyze the effectiveness of auriculotherapy with needles and seeds. The 75 participants with mean (44/58.7%) and high (31/41.3%) scores according to the Stress Symptoms List were divided into groups (control, needles, and seeds), who received eight sessions on the Shenmen, Kidney and Brainstem points and were evaluated at the baseline, fourth and eighth sessions and on the 15-day follow-up session. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences among the groups at the third assessment (F=3.963/P=0.023) and follow-up (F=6.136/P=0.003). These differences occurred between the control and needle groups. The 'seeds' and needles groups both showed differences (p < 0.05) at the second assessment when compared within the same group. In conclusion, auriculotherapy reduced the stress in the nursing staff, with needles showing better results than seeds for high scores, maintaining the effects for 15 days.

Massage application for occupational low back pain in nursing staff

This is a clinical trial which aims to evaluate the efficiency of massage in the reduction of occupational low back pain, and its influence on the performance of work and life activities for the nursing team. The sample consisted of 18 employees who received seven to eight sessions after their work period. From the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, significant improvements were found between the 3rd and 1st evaluations (p=0.000) and between the 3rd and 2nd (p=0.004), using the Wilcoxon test. Regarding the Oswestry Disability Index, the paired t test showed a statistical difference (p=0.02) between the baseline, with a mean of 21.33% and the second evaluation (18.78%), which was also seen between the second and third evaluation (16.67%). The score for the Handling and Transfer Risk Evaluation Scale was 18 points (medium risk). It is concluded that massage was effective in reducing occupational low back pain, and provided improvement in activities of work and life. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT01315197.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Mammary Gland in Domestic Cat

Background: In the feline species, 80% to 93% of neoplasias in the mammary gland are malignant, being the majority carcinomas. Among them, there is the mammary squamous cell carcinoma, which amounts to a very rare neoplasm in the domestic cat, with considerable potential for malignancy. This study aimed to report a case of squamous cell mammary carcinoma in the feline species. Case: A female cat, mixed breed, ten years old, presented history of skin lesion. The cat had been spayed two years before, but with previous administration of contraceptives. At the physical examination, it was observed ulcer between the caudal abdominal mammary glands. The occurrence of skin or mammary neoplasia was conceived. The following complementary tests were requested: complete blood count, serum biochemical profile (renal and hepatic), chest radiographs, abdominal ultrasound, and incisional biopsy of the ulcerated region periphery, followed by classic histopathology. The lesion histopathology was compatible with squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland. Due to such a diagnosis, bilateral mastectomy was recommended. The material obtained during the surgical procedure was sent for anatomopathological analysis. Microscopically, surgical margins infiltration and a regional lymph node were verified. The owner was advised of the need for complementary therapies and medical monitoring of the cat. However, there was no return. It is noteworthy that the animal's physical and laboratory examinations showed no neoplasia in other regions, being the squamous cell carcinoma of the mammary gland considered primary. Discussion: The malignant mammary neoplasia genesis in feline species, in general, seems to be related to steroid hormones. The ovariectomized females are less likely to develop the disease when compared to intact cats, but there is no protective effect of surgery on those spayed after two years of age regarding the appearance of the neoplasia. Thus, at the time the reported patient was ovariectomized, this effect no longer occurred. The synthetic progestins regularly used to prevent estrus increase by three times the risk of breast carcinomas onset. In humans, there is no clear definition of the etiology and pathogenesis of mammary squamous cell carcinoma. However, it has been suggested its association with extreme forms of squamous metaplasia present in pre-existing mammary adenocarcinoma, besides cysts, chronic inflammations, abscesses and mammary gland adenofibromas. In a hypothetical way, this etiology could also be related to the feline mammary carcinoma, although, for the case at issue, the exogenous and endogenous hormonal influence should not be excluded. It has been reported that mammary squamous cell carcinomas in cats are classified in grades II and III (ie, moderately and poorly differentiated, respectively). Thus, they are considered tumors with more unfavorable prognosis. However, the monitoring of the clinical course, in order to evaluate possible recurrence of the neoplasia and metastases to distant sites, was not possible as the animal under discussion did not return. The squamous cell carcinoma is the most common skin tumor in feline species, despite the primary location in the mammary gland. It is, therefore, important to differentiate squamous cell carcinoma originated in the breast from histological types derived from skin. The description of this special and rare feline mammary carcinoma is important due to its particular characteristics and potential for malignancy.

AURICULOTHERAPY EFFECTIVENESS IN THE REDUCTION OF ANXIETY IN NURSING STUDENTS

The objective of this single-blinded randomized controlled trial was to assess anxiety levels in nursing school students of the Beneficencia Portuguesa Hospital (Sao Paulo) and the effectiveness of auriculotherapy in the reduction of these levels. The Trait-Anxiety Inventory State was applied at the beginning of the study, after 8 and 12 sessions, and at follow-up (15 days). The sample was comprised of 71 students divided into 3 groups: control without intervention (25), auriculotherapy (24), and placebo (22). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed statistically significant differences post hoc between the control and auriculotherapy groups at 2nd (p=0.000), 3rd (p=0.012) and 4th assessments (p=0.005), and between placebo and control groups at 2nd assessment (p=0.003). Auriculotherapy with Shenmen and Brain Stem points was more effective (20.97%) than sham points (13.74%) for reduction of anxiety levels in Nursing students, but studies with more representative samples are recommended.

Aplicabilidade da auriculoterapia com agulhas ou sementes para diminuição de estresse em profissionais de enfermagem

Este estudo clínico randomizado objetivou avaliar os níveis de estresse na equipe de Enfermagem de um hospital e analisar a efetividade da auriculoterapia com agulhas e sementes. 75 pessoas com escores médio (44/58,7%) e alto (31/41,3%) de acordo com a Lista de Sintomas de Estresse foram divididas em grupos (controle, agulhas e sementes), que receberam oito sessões nos pontos Shenmen, Rim e Tronco Cerebral e foram avaliados no início, com quatro, oito sessões e follow-up (15 dias). Na análise de variância (ANOVA), constataram-se diferenças entre os grupos, na 3ª avaliação (F=3,963/P=0,023) e follow-up (F=6,136/P=0,003). Tais diferenças foram entre o grupo controle e agulha. Os grupos de intervenção mostraram diferenças (P<0,05) a partir da segunda avaliação, quando comparados dentro do mesmo grupo. Concluiu-se que a auriculoterapia reduziu o estresse em profissionais de enfermagem, com melhores resultados para agulhas do que sementes, em escores altos, com manutenção de efeitos por 15 dias.