An In Vitro Biomechanical Comparison of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: Single Bundle Versus Anatomical Double Bundle Techniques

INTRODUCTION: Anterior cruciate ligament ruptures are frequent, especially in sports. Surgical reconstruction with autologous grafts is widely employed in the international literature. Controversies remain with respect to technique variations as continuous research for improvement takes place. One of these variations is the anatomical double bundle technique, which is performed instead of the conventional single bundle technique. More recently, there has been a tendency towards positioning the two bundles through double bone tunnels in the femur and tibia (anatomical reconstruction). OBJECTIVES: To compare, through biomechanical tests, the practice of anatomical double bundle anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a patellar graft to conventional single bundle reconstruction with the same amount of patellar graft in a paired experimental cadaver study. METHODS: Nine pairs of male cadaver knees ranging in age from 44 to 63 years were randomized into two groups: group A (single bundle) and group B (anatomical reconstruction). Each knee was biomechanically tested under three conditions: intact anterior cruciate ligament, reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament, and injured anterior cruciate ligament. Maximum anterior dislocation, rigidity, and passive internal tibia rotation were recorded with knees submitted to a 100 N horizontal anterior dislocation force applied to the tibia with the knees at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of flexion. RESULTS: There were no differences between the two techniques for any of the measurements by ANOVA tests. CONCLUSION: The technique of anatomical double bundle reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament with bone-patellar tendon-bone graft has a similar biomechanical behavior with regard to anterior tibial dislocation, rigidity, and passive internal tibial rotation

Unveiling the metabolic effects of glycomacropeptide

Funding Information: Funding: This article was funded by the project NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000018, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Programme (Norte2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia [UID/BIM/04293/2013]. Funding Information: Acknowledgments: M.J.P. was partially funded by the project NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000018, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Programme (Norte2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Glycaemia strips and device were kindly provided by Abbott Laboratórios Lda., Portugal. A special thanks to Raquel Soares for the help submitting the project to the national authorities. Furthermore, thanks to Patrícia Ribeiro, Veterinary Nurse Adriana Francisco and Liliana Leite from the animal facilities. Funding Information: This article was funded by the project NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000018, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Programme (Norte2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement,M.J.P. was partially funded by the project NORTE-08-5369-FSE-000018, supported by Norte Portugal Regional Programme (Norte2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Glycaemia strips and device were kindly provided by Abbott Laborat?rios Lda., Portugal. A special thanks to Raquel Soares for the help submitting the project to the national authorities. Furthermore, thanks to Patr?cia Ribeiro, Veterinary Nurse Adriana Francisco and Liliana Leite from the animal facilities. through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by FCT?Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia [UID/BIM/04293/2013]. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Li-censee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.For many years, the main nitrogen source for patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) was phenylalanine-free amino acid supplements. Recently, casein glycomacropeptide (GMP) supplements have been prescribed due to its functional and sensorial properties. Nevertheless, many doubts still persist about the metabolic effects of GMP compared to free amino acids (fAA) and intact proteins such as casein (CAS). We endeavour to compare, in rats, the metabolic effects of different nitrogen sources. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were fed equal energy density diets plus CAS (control, n = 8), fAA (n = 8) or GMP (n = 8) for 8 weeks. Food, liquid intake and body weight were measured weekly. Blood biochemical parameters and markers of glycidic metabolism were assessed. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) was analysed by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. Food intake was higher in rats fed CAS compared to fAA or GMP throughout the treatment period. Fluid intake was similar between rats fed fAA and GMP. Body weight was systematically lower in rats fed fAA and GMP compared to those fed CAS, and still, from week 4 onwards, there were differences between fAA and GMP. None of the treatments appeared to induce consistent changes in glycaemia, while insulin levels were significantly higher in GMP. Likewise, the production of GLP-1 was higher in rats fed GMP when compared to fAA. Decreased urea, total protein and tri-glycerides were seen both in fAA and GMP related to CAS. GMP also reduced albumin and triglyc-erides in comparison to CAS and fAA, respectively. The chronic consumption of the diets triggers different metabolic responses which may provide clues to further study potential underlying mech-anisms.publishersversionpublishe

Nitrogênio fixado simbioticamente por feijão‑caupi e gliricídia em sistemas tradicional e agroflorestal sob condições semiáridas

The objective of this work was to estimate the amounts of N fixed by cowpea in a traditional system and by cowpea and gliricidia in an agroforestry system in the Brazilian Northeast semiarid. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, in a split‑plot arrangement, with four replicates, in the semiarid region of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. Plots consisted of agroforestry and traditional systems (no trees), and split‑plots of the three crops planted between the tree rows in the agroforestry system. To estimate N fixation, plant samples were collected in the fourth growth cycle of the perennial species and in the fourth planting cycle of the annual species. In the agroforestry system with buffel grass and prickly‑pear cactus, gliricidia plants symbiotically fix high proportions of N (>50%) and contribute with higher N amounts (40 kg ha‑1 in leaves) than in the traditional system (11 kg ha‑1 in grain and 18 kg ha‑1 in straw). In the agroforestry system with maize and cowpea, gliricidia plants do not fix nitrogen, and N input is limited to the fixation by cowpea (2.7 kg ha‑1), which is lower than in the traditional system due to its lower biomass production.O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar as quantidades de N fixadas em feijão‑caupi em sistema tradicional e em feijão‑caupi e gliricídia em sistema agroflorestal, sob condições semiáridas do Nordeste brasileiro. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos ao acaso, em arranjo em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições, no semiárido da Paraíba. As parcelas consistiram dos sistemas agroflorestal e tradicional (sem árvores), e as subparcelas, dos três cultivos entre as linhas das árvores, no sistema agroflorestal. Para estimar a fixação de N, amostras das plantas foram coletadas no quarto ciclo de crescimento das espécies perenes e no quarto ciclo de cultivo das espécies anuais. No sistema agroflorestal com capim‑buffel e palma forrageira, a gliricídia fixa simbioticamente altas proporções de N (>50%) e adiciona quantidades maiores de N (40 kg ha‑1 nas folhas) que no sistema tradicional (11 kg ha‑1 nos grãos e 18 kg ha‑1 na palhada). No sistema agroflorestal com milho e feijão‑caupi, a gliricídia não fixa N e a adição de N é limitada à fixação no feijão‑caupi (2,7 kg ha‑1), que é menor que no sistema tradicional em razão da sua baixa produção de biomassa

Bispectral Index and Other Processed Parameters of Electroencephalogram: an Update

SummaryBackground and objectivesThe processed analysis of electroencephalogram became extremely important to monitor nervous system, being used to obtain a better anesthetic adequacy. The objective was to conduct a review about each processed parameter, defining its real importance.ContentA review was conducted showing mathematical, physical and clinical aspects as well as their correlations and updates, presenting new integrated parameters.ConclusionsAn adequate analysis of processed parameters of electroencephalogram may provide more intraoperative safety as well as result in a better outcome for the patient

Índice bispectral e outros parâmetros processados do eletroencefalograma: uma atualização

Summary: Nunes RR, Chaves IMM, Alencar JCG, Franco SB, Oliveira YGBR, Menezes DGA – Bispectral Index and Other Processed Parame- ters of Electroencephalogram: an Update. Background and objectives: The processed analysis of electroencephalogram became extremely important to monitor nervous system, being used to obtain a better anesthetic adequacy. The objective was to conduct a review about each processed parameter, defining its real importan- ce. Content: A review was conducted showing mathematical, physical and clinical aspects as well as their correlations and updates, presentin g new integrated parameters. Conclusions: An adequate analysis of processed parameters of electroencephalogram may provide more intraoperative safety as well as result in a better outcome for the patient.JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A análise processada do eletroencefalograma tornou-se de extrema importância na monitoração do sistema nervoso, sendo utilizada a fim de uma melhor adequação anestésica. O objetivo foi fazer uma revisão sobre cada um dos parâmetros processados, definindo sua real importância. CONTEÚDO: Foi realizada revisão mostrando os aspectos matemáticos, físicos e clínicos assim como suas correlações e atualizações, com apresentação de novos parâmetros integrados. CONCLUSÕES: A análise adequada dos parâmetros processados do eletroencefalograma pode proporcionar maior segurança intraoperatória assim como resultar em melhor desfecho para o paciente

UTILIZAÇÃO DA TERMOGRAFIA INFRAVERMELHA NA DETERMINAÇÃO DE PROPRIEDADES TÉRMICAS DE MATERIAIS PRODUZIDOS A PARTIR DE FIBRA DE BANANEIRA

Por ser um dos maiores produtores mundiais de banana, o Brasil também é um grande gerador de resíduos provenientes desta cultura. Dentre os resíduos, encontra-se o engaço, que pode ser utilizado como matéria prima na fabricação de materiais reciclados, por exemplo, o papel. O papel fabricado com fibra de bananeira pode ser empregado como material de embalagens na indústria de alimentos desde que algumas de suas características sejam conhecidas. Algumas destas características referem-se às propriedades térmicas, sendo as principais: calor específico, condutividade térmica e difusividade térmica. Em meio às metodologias aplicadas para a determinação destas propriedades, tem-se a termografia infravermelha, que é capaz de determinar a temperatura superficial de objetos através da coleta de imagens captadas por uma câmera que converte a radiação emitida por este objeto em sinais elétricos, criando uma imagem térmica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi utilizar a termografia infravermelha na determinação das propriedades térmicas de materiais produzidos a partir de fibra de bananeira. Para tanto, observou-se a variação da temperatura superficial da amostra utilizando a termografia infravermelha. Foi implementado, em linguagem FORTRAN®, um algoritmo capaz de simular o decaimento da temperatura quando fornecidos valores da massa específica, calor específico, condutividade térmica e difusividade térmica do material e fluxo térmico imposto à amostra. Variaram-se os valores da condutividade térmica e calor específico, no modelo matemático, até o ajuste da curva numérica com a experimental, encontrando, respectivamente, 0,25 W/(m2.K) e 1220 J/(kg.K). A difusividade térmica foi calculada, indiretamente, sendo encontrado o valor de 6,44 x 10-7 m2/s. Conclui-se que a termografia infravermelha foi capaz de determinar as propriedades desde que alguns parâmetros sejam previamente determinados, como por exemplo, a emissividade da amostra. O modelo matemático foi fundamental como ferramenta de ajuste das curvas

Investigating autonomic nervous system dysfunction among patients with post-COVID condition and prolonged cardiovascular symptoms

Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and arterial pressure (AP) variability and their responses to head-up tilt test (HUTT) were investigated in Post-COVID-19 syndrome (PCS) patients reporting tachycardia and/or postural hypotension. Besides tachycardia, PCS patients also showed attenuation of the following HRV parameters: RMSSD [square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal (NN) intervals] from statistical measures; the power of RR (beat-to-beat interval) spectra at HF (high frequency) from the linear method spectral analysis; occurrence of 2UV (two unlike variation) pattern of RR from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis; and the new family of statistics named sample entropy, when compared to control subjects. Basal AP and LF (low frequency) power of systolic AP were similar between PCS patients and control subjects, while 0 V (zero variation) patterns of AP from the nonlinear method symbolic analysis were exacerbated in PCS patients. Despite tachycardia and a decrease in RMSSD, no parameter of HRV changed during HUTT in PCS patients compared to control subjects. PCS patients reassessed after 6 months showed higher HF power of RR spectra and a higher percentage of 2UV pattern of RR. Moreover, the reassessed PCS patients showed a lower occurrence of 0 V patterns of AP, while the HUTT elicited HR (heart rate) and AP responses identical to control subjects. The HRV and AP variability suggest an autonomic dysfunction with sympathetic predominance in PCS patients. In contrast, the lack of responses of HRV and AP variability indices during HUTT indicates a marked impairment of autonomic control. Of note, the reassessment of PCS patients showed that the noxious effect of COVID-19 on autonomic control tended to fade over time