Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on injured skeletal muscle

BACKGROUND:Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has been shown to stimulate tissue metabolism and accelerate muscle healing. However, the optimal parameters in the use of LIPUS are still not clear.OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of LIPUS on muscle healing in rats subjected to a cryolesion.METHOD:Twenty rats were divided into the following groups: an injured control group (CG) and an injured treated group (TG). Both groups were divided into 2 sub-groups (n=5 each) that were sacrificed 7 and 13 days post-surgery. Treatments were started 24 hours after the surgical procedure and consisted of 3 or 6 sessions. After euthanasia, the muscles were submitted to standard histological procedures.RESULTS:Qualitative analyses were based on morphological assessments of the muscle. The histopathological analysis on day 7 revealed that the muscles in the CG and the TG presented an intense inflammatory infiltrate, a large necrotic area and a disorganized tissue structure. After 13 days, both the CG and the TG had granulation tissue and newly formed fibers. The TG presented a more organized tissue structure. The quantitative analysis of collagen indicated similar findings among the groups, although the qualitative analysis revealed a better organization of collagen fibers in the TG at 13 days. The immunohistochemical analysis indicated that, at both time points, the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 was upregulated in the TG compared to the CG.CONCLUSIONS: LIPUS used as a treatment for muscle injury induced a more organized tissue structure at the site of the injury and stimulated the expression of COX-2 and the formation of new muscle fibers.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Department of BiosciencesUniversidade Federal de São Carlos Physical Therapy DepartmentUNIFESP, Department of BiosciencesSciEL

Partial and simultaneous remission of nephritis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in patients with lupus after treatment with biological agent: a case report

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory disease, systemic, of unknown cause and autoimmune nature. It features variable prognosis, depending on the affected organ or system. The renal impairment is the condition most often related to morbidity and mortality. This manuscript aims to contribute to the further evidence that early diagnosis of lupus associated with quickly aggressive therapy could increase the success outcome rate. Also, immediate recognition of therapeutic failures and change the treatment strategy must be applied. In this regard, a new therapeutic option seems to be the biological drug rituximab described in this study and which it is emphasised because of its possible and still supposed ability to act as a rescue agent for nephritis and hemolytic lupus anaemia, simultaneously, with effectiveness and safety. This article presents the case of female lupus patient with both severe refractory hematologic disorder and renal impairment, which had an evolution of the simultaneous restoration of urine output, and clinical and laboratory improvement of autoimmune anaemia after rituximab administration. The persistence of renal damage could not be ruled out, so the response to treatment was considered to be partialO Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) é uma doença inflamatória crônica, sistêmica, de causa desconhecida e de natureza autoimune. Apresenta prognóstico variável, dependente do órgão ou sistema acometido, sendo o comprometimento renal uma das condições mais frequentemente relacionadas à morbimortalidade. O presente manuscrito propõe-se a contribuir como mais um indício de que o diagnóstico precoce e a terapia agressiva inicial, no lúpus, elevam sobremaneira o índice de sucesso clinico. Falhas no tratamento devem ser reconhecidas de imediato, com rápida mudança de estratégia, quando necessário. Neste sentido, uma nova opção terapêutica parece ser o agente biológico rituximab, descrito neste estudo e para o qual é dada ênfase devido à sua possível e ainda suposta capacidade de atuar como agente de resgate para a nefrite e para a anemia hemolítica lúpicas, simultaneamente, com efetividade e segurança. Apresenta-se o caso de paciente lúpica com acometimento renal e hematológico grave e refratário, que evoluiu simultaneamente com restabelecimento do débito urinário e melhora clínico-laboratorial da anemia autoimune após administração de rituximab, resposta considerada parcial, posto que a existência de dano renal persistente não pode ser descartad

Skin picking treatment with the Rothbaum cognitive behavioral therapy protocol : a randomized clinical trial

Introduction: Although behavioral therapies can effectively treat skin picking disorder (SPD), there is no standardized treatment for improving SPD and its comorbidities and there is no group intervention option. This trial aimed to adapt the Rothbaum trichotillomania protocol to SPD (Study 1) and test its efficacy for treating SPD and comorbidities in individual and group formats (Study 2). Methods: The adapted protocol was applied to 16 SPD patients, who were allocated to group or individual treatment (Study 1). Afterwards, 54 patients were randomly allocated to treatment in an individual (n=27) or group format (n=27) (Study 2). In both studies, assessments of SPD severity, anxiety, depression, clinical status and skin lesion severity were performed at baseline and the endpoint. Results: The adapted protocol was feasible in both treatment modalities (Study 1) and led to high SPD remission rates (individual 63%; group 52%), with no significant difference between intervention types (p = 0.4) (Study 2). SPD, anxiety, and depression symptoms and objective patient lesion measures improved after treatment. There was large effect size for SPD symptom improvement in both treatment types (Cohen’s d: group = 0.88; individual = 1.15) (Study 2). Conclusion: The adapted Rothbaum protocol was effective for SPD remission, comorbidities, and skin lesions, both in individual and group formats

Coeval perpendicular shortenings in the Brasilia belt : collision of irregular plate margins leading to oroclinal bending in the Neoproterozoic of central Brazil

The three belts which form the Tocantins province (central Brazil) records Neoproterozoic-EoPaleozoic collisions involving the Amazon and São Francisco paleocontinents and the Paraná continental block. The Brasília belt is a typical orocline bended around the WNW—ESE striking Pirineus Zone of High Strain (PZHS) and is comprised of the NE-trending (northern) and SE-trending (southern) segments. The Brasília dome is an N—S elliptical structural window situated in the center of the belt, at the eastern end of the PZHS. It evidences Di— D₂ and D₃ɴ shortenings (~ 750—590 Ma) due to ocean closure and Amazon- São Francisco collision following a WNW—ESE path, and demonstrates similar evolution for both segments of the belt. However, in the southern segment, D₁—D₂ structures are deformed by shortening in the SW-NE direction (D₃S). New data demonstrating D₁—D₂ and D₃ɴ tectonites deformed by D₃S struc- tures in the area close to the dome's SW margin and SE of the PZHS support understanding the Brasília belt and oroclinal bending as a consequence of the collision of two (Amazon and São Francisco) irregular continental margins leading to separation-rotation of the Paraná block from the Amazon paleocontinent and the Paraná-São Francisco collision

Phenolic composition and cell-based biological activities of ten coloured potato peels (Solanum tuberosum L.)

The present study provides an in-depth characterisation of the non-anthocyanin and anthocyanin phenolic compounds of potato peels from ten coloured potato varieties. Furthermore, the underexplored bioactive potential (antioxidant, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory capacities) of the studied peels is comprehensively analysed. Among non-anthocyanin phenolics, caffeic and a caffeoylquinic acid were found in the highest concentrations in all samples, which also showed the presence of O-glycosylated flavonol derivatives and polyamine derivatives. Acylated anthocyanins were identified in red and purple varieties, being pelargonidin, peonidin, and malvidin the most prominent aglycones. All samples revealed antioxidant and antitumor activities, and no toxic effect. The extract of the Rosemary variety presented the best antioxidant and antitumor outcomes and was the only sample to reveal anti-inflammatory activity. These results are valuable for the food-industry by adding value to an important bio-residue, particularly concerning its potential as natural ingredients in novel food and pharmaceutical formulations.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support by national funds FCT/ MCTES to CIMO (UIDB/00690/2020); the national funding by FCT, P.I., through the institutional scientific employment program-contract for L. Barros, Maria Inês Dias and C. Pereira contracts; to FEDER-Interreg España-Portugal programme through the project TRANSCoLAB 0612_TRANS_CO_LAB_2_P; to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) through the Regional Operational Program North 2020, within the scope of Project Mobilizador Norte-01-0247-FEDER-024479: ValorNatural ®; and also to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (451-03-68/2020-14/200007). GIP-USAL is financially supported by the Spanish Government through the project AGL2015-64522-C2-2-R. S. Sampaio acknowledges CAPES Foundation (Ministry of Education, Brazil) for her PhD grant no. 99999.001423/2015-00.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The lectin-specific activity of Toxoplasma gondii microneme proteins 1 and 4 binds Toll-like receptor 2 and 4 N-glycans to regulate innate immune priming.

Infection of host cells by Toxoplasma gondii is an active process, which is regulated by secretion of microneme (MICs) and rhoptry proteins (ROPs and RONs) from specialized organelles in the apical pole of the parasite. MIC1, MIC4 and MIC6 assemble into an adhesin complex secreted on the parasite surface that functions to promote infection competency. MIC1 and MIC4 are known to bind terminal sialic acid residues and galactose residues, respectively and to induce IL-12 production from splenocytes. Here we show that rMIC1- and rMIC4-stimulated dendritic cells and macrophages produce proinflammatory cytokines, and they do so by engaging TLR2 and TLR4. This process depends on sugar recognition, since point mutations in the carbohydrate-recognition domains (CRD) of rMIC1 and rMIC4 inhibit innate immune cells activation. HEK cells transfected with TLR2 glycomutants were selectively unresponsive to MICs. Following in vitro infection, parasites lacking MIC1 or MIC4, as well as expressing MIC proteins with point mutations in their CRD, failed to induce wild-type (WT) levels of IL-12 secretion by innate immune cells. However, only MIC1 was shown to impact systemic levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ in vivo. Together, our data show that MIC1 and MIC4 interact physically with TLR2 and TLR4 N-glycans to trigger IL-12 responses, and MIC1 is playing a significant role in vivo by altering T. gondii infection competency and murine pathogenesis

Urinary incontinence related to perineal muscle strength in the first trimester of pregnancy: cross-sectional study

Objective To analyze pelvic floor muscle strength (PFMS), urinary continence and quality of life related to urinary incontinence (UI) of women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Method Cross-sectional study with a sample of 500 women who started prenatal care in a complementary healthcare facility in Guarulhos, state of São Paulo, from 2012 and 2013. Pelvic floor muscle strength was evaluated through perineometry. The pregnant women who presented UI answered the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF). Results It was found that maternal age (OR=1.06; CI95% 1.02-1.11) and prior UI (OR=15.12; 95%CI 8.19-27.92) are the variables that, in tandem, best explain the occurrence of UI at the beginning of pregnancy. The mean score on the ICIQ-SF was 8.2 (SD=3.9), considered a moderate impact on quality of life. Conclusion Older pregnant women with prior UI are more likely to have UI in the first trimester of pregnancy.
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Ocorrência e Perfil de Suscetibilidade de Candida sp em hemoculturas de um hospital universitário

The genus Candida is responsible for hospital infections associated with fungemia, especially in critical sectors. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of Candida species from blood cultures of Clinical Laboratory, the HCSL Pouso Alegre, MG and evaluated the susceptibility test for anphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole e voriconazole. Methods: We conducted a study from July 2009 to July 2010, which evaluated all blood cultures of HCSL this period. The fungi isolated from blood cultures were identified by classical methods and for automated identification. The susceptibility test was evaluated by microdilution broth CLSI M27-A3. Results: A total of 1388 samples with 108 positive samples, and fungal 10. The fungal incidence was: Adults UTI (4), Neo UTI (5) and Male Ward (1). Were identified as Candida albicans (5) and Candida parapsilosis (4), and Candida sp (1). All samples show sensibility for antifungal tested. Conclusion: The candidemia observed in this study (1.38%) is similar to comparative studies as we have seen in the incidence in intensive care units.O gênero Candida é responsável por infecções associadas à fungemias hospitalares, principalmente em setores críticos. Objetivos: avaliar a ocorrência de Candida sp de hemoculturas do Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, do HCSL de Pouso Alegre, M G e avaliar o perfil de suscetibilidade frente a anfotericina B, itraconazol, fluconazol e voriconazol. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo descritivo de julho de 2009 á julho de 2010, onde foram avaliadas todas as hemoculturas do HCSL deste período. Os fungos isolados das hemoculturas foram identificados por metodologia clássica e automatizada. O teste de suscetibilidade foi realizado pela técnica de microdiluição em caldo segundo o documento CLSI M27-A3. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 1388 amostras sendo 108 amostras positivas, e destas, 10 fúngicas.A ocorrência fúngica foi: UTI adulto (4), UTI Neonatal (5) e Enfermaria Masculina (1). Foram identificadas Candida albicans (5) e Candida parapsilosis (4), e Candida sp (1). Todos os micro-organismos apresentaram sensibilidade frente aos antifúngicos testados. Conclusão: O percentual de positividade para candidemia observada neste estudo (1,38%) é similar aos estudos comparativos como pudemos observar na incidência em unidades de terapia intensiva. Vale destacar que a ocorrência é superior à observada em trabalhos internacionais