Flavonoid supplement improves leg health and reduces fluid retention in pre-menopausal women in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Flavonoid extracts derived from plant foods have been shown to benefit certain types of fluid retention. However, no studies have investigated these compounds for use in premenstrual fluid retention, a complaint common among women with otherwise normal menstrual cycles. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study into the effect of a daily flavonoid extract (Colladeen(R), 320 mg oligomeric procyanidins) on premenstrual fluid retention. Fluid retention was assessed at baseline and throughout 4 menstrual cycles of the intervention using validated questionnaires. Leg girth was also measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Thirty subjects completed the study (n = 18 active treatment; n = 12 placebo). Although no significant changes in leg girth measurements were noted, there was a significant improvement in subjective "leg health" scores after flavonoid treatment compared to placebo (p = 0.013). Furthermore, this was accompanied by an improvement in reported premenstrual fluid retention nearing significance (p = 0.066). We conclude that flavonoids supplements may provide a new therapeutic direction to counter premenstrual fluid retention and improve leg health. A larger study is now warranted.

Flavonoid supplement improves leg health and reduces fluid retention in pre-menopausal women in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Flavonoid extracts derived from plant foods have been shown to benefit certain types of fluid retention. However, no studies have investigated these compounds for use in premenstrual fluid retention, a complaint common among women with otherwise normal menstrual cycles. Therefore, we conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled, pilot study into the effect of a daily flavonoid extract (Colladeen(R), 320 mg oligomeric procyanidins) on premenstrual fluid retention. Fluid retention was assessed at baseline and throughout 4 menstrual cycles of the intervention using validated questionnaires. Leg girth was also measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Thirty subjects completed the study (n = 18 active treatment; n = 12 placebo). Although no significant changes in leg girth measurements were noted, there was a significant improvement in subjective "leg health" scores after flavonoid treatment compared to placebo (p = 0.013). Furthermore, this was accompanied by an improvement in reported premenstrual fluid retention nearing significance (p = 0.066). We conclude that flavonoids supplements may provide a new therapeutic direction to counter premenstrual fluid retention and improve leg health. A larger study is now warranted.

Performance, carcass yield, and qualitative characteristics of breast and leg muscles of broilers fed diets supplemented with vitamin E at different ages

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

Value of ultrasonographic contrast in duplex scanning of leg arteries - Comparison with conventional duplex scanning and arteriography

Aim. Duplex scanning has been used in the evaluation of the aorta and proximal arteries of the lower extremities, but has limitations in evaluating the arteries of the leg. The utilization of ultrasonographic contrast (USC) may be helpful in improving the quality of the image in these arteries. The objective of the present study was to verify whether the USC increases the diagnostic accuracy of patency of the leg arteries and if it diminishes the time needed to perform duplex scanning.Methods. Twenty patients with critical ischemia (20 lower extremities) were examined by standard duplex scanning, duplex scanning with contrast and digital subtraction arteriography (DSA). The 3 arteries of the leg were divided into 3 segments, for a total of 9 segments per limb. Each segment was evaluated for patency in order to compare the 3 diagnostic methods. Comparison was made between standard duplex scanning and duplex scanning with contrast in terms of quality of the color-coded Doppler signal and of the spectral curve, and also of the time to perform the exams.Results. Duplex scanning with contrast was similar to arteriography in relation to patency diagnosis (p>0.3) and even superior in some of the segments. Standard duplex scanning was inferior to arteriography and to duplex scanning with contrast (p<0.001). There were improvements of 70% in intensity of the color-coded Doppler signal and 76% in the spectral curve after the utilization of contrast. The time necessary to perform the examinations was 23.7 minutes for standard duplex scanning and 16.9 minutes for duplex scanning with contrast (p<0.001).Conclusion. The use of ultrasonographic contrast increased the accuracy of the diagnosis of patency of leg arteries and diminished the time necessary for the execution of duplex scanning.

Efeito de diferentes intervalos de recuperação entre as séries sobre o desempenho muscular no exercício leg-press em idosas não treinadas

OBJETIVO: Verificar a influência de dois diferentes intervalos de recuperação (IR) entre as séries no exercício leg-press sobre o número e sustentabilidade das repetições e no volume total, em idosas não treinadas. MÉTODOS: Onze idosas (66,5 ± 5,0 anos; 59,2 ± 9,1kg; 146,4 ± 34,9cm) foram submetidas a duas sessões experimentais de exercícios com pesos com intensidade de 15 repetições máximas. Cada sessão experimental foi composta por três séries realizadas até a fadiga muscular utilizando IR de um (IR-1) ou três minutos (IR-3). As sessões experimentais foram separadas por, no mínimo, 48 horas. Todas as participantes realizaram ambos os protocolos e um delineamento cross-over balanceado foi utilizado para determinar a ordem das sessões experimentais. RESULTADOS: Para ambos os IR entre as séries, reduções significativas (P < 0,05) no número e na sustentabilidade das repetições foram observadas da primeira para a segunda e terceira séries e da segunda para a terceira séries. Diferenças significativas (P < 0,05) entre os IR foram observadas nas duas séries finais. O volume total da sessão realizada com IR-3 foi estatisticamente superior (20,4%; P < 0,05) quando comparada a sessão IR-1. CONCLUSÃO: O número e a sustentabilidade das repetições e o volume total de treino de idosas não treinadas são influenciados pelo IR empregado entre as séries. Maiores IR devem ser utilizados quando a finalidade for otimizar o volume de treino por meio da sustentabilidade das repetições. Em contrapartida, menores IR devem ser utilizados quando a meta for obter maiores níveis de fadiga muscular.

Desenvolvimento morfo-anatômico do fruto de Dalbergia nigra (Vell.) Fr. All. (Leg. - Papilionoideae)

Detalhes morfológicos e anatômicos dos frutos de Dalbergia nigra (Veil.) Fr. All. foram descritos e ilustrados em vários estágios de desenvolvimento.

Survey of the leg exocrine glands in termites(Isoptera)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

THE LEG EXOCRINE SYSTEM IN SERRITERMES-SERRIFER (HAGEN, 1858), PHYLOGENETIC IMPLICATIONS (ISOPTERA, SERRITERMITIDAE

The leg exocrine gland was examined in two species of Neotropical termites. Scanning microscopy studies showed a set of pores on the ventral surface of the first and second tarsomeres in all legs of Serritermes serrifer. In Heterotermes tenuis these pores are present on a sunken plate in all castes. To date, this gland has been observed only in Rhinotermitid species. The presence of leg exocrine gland provides additional evidence supporting a close phylogenetic relationship between the Serritermitidae and Rhinotermitidae.

Absence of true long-range orbital order in a two-leg Kondo ladder

We investigate, through the density-matrix renormalization group and the Lanczos technique, the possibility of a two-leg Kondo ladder presenting an incommensurate orbital order. Our results indicate staggered short-range orbital order at half-filling. Away from half-filling our data are consistent with incommensurate quasi-long-range orbital order. We also observed that an interaction between the localized spins enhances the rung-rung current correlations.

Electromyographic evaluation of the rectus femoris muscle during exercises performed on the leg press

The rectus femoris was analysed in 10 volunteers during knee flexion and extension with the feet in normal, plantar flexion and dorsal flexion positions. Hewlett-Packard surface electrodes, an electromyographic signal amplifier, a computer equipped with an A/D conversion plaque (Model CAD 10/26), software specially designed to record and analyse the signals, Horizontal Leg Press, and electrogoniometers were used. The rectus femoris muscle showed strong potentials at the beginning of knee extension. In the simultaneous bendings of the knee and hip the activity was strong toward the end of the movement. The rectus femoris showed a similar activity both in the upper and lower platforms. As for foot positions, the rectus femoris showed the smallest potentials with the foot in plantar flexion and the largest ones with the foot in dorsal flexion.