Medium-energy shock wave therapy in the treatment of rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis

To evaluate the results of the treatment with medium-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis. Fifty-four non-consecutive patients, who were referred to our institute for rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis, were managed with a standardized protocol in four sessions of medium-energy (0.11 mJ/mm2) ESWT administered with an electromagnetic lithotriptor. Pain was evaluated at the end of each session, functional state of shoulder was assessed at 1 and 6 months after the end of procedure. All patients underwent radiographs and sonography imaging. No systemic or local complications. Thirty-eight patients (70%) reported satisfactory functional results. Radiographs and sonographs showed a disappearance of calcium deposit in 29 patients (54%) and in 19 patients (35%) it appeared to be reduced more than a half. A correlation was found between residual calcium deposit and the clinical outcome, but some patients showed a reduced pain without modification of calcium deposit. These results were unmodified at 6 months follow-up. Our protocol of medium-energy ESWT provides good results overall about pain modulation

Catabolic enzyme activities in relation to premigratory fattening and muscle hypertrophy in the gray catbird ( Dumetella carolinensis )

The flight muscles of the gray catbird ( Dumetella carolinensis ) were examined to determine if short term adjustments occur in the activity of key catabolic enzymes during preparation for long distance migration. The aerobic capacity of the pectoralis muscle as indicated by citrate synthase activity (CS) is among the highest reported for skeletal muscle (200 μmoles [min·g fresh mass] −1 at 25°C). The mass specific aerobic capacity as indicated by CS activity or cytochrome c concentration does not change during premigratory fattening (Fig. 2) or in relation to the muscle hypertrophy that occurs concomitantly. The maintenance of mass specific aerobic capacity indicates that the total aerobic capacity increases in proportion to the increase in muscle size. The augmented potential for total aerobic power output is considered an adaptation to meet the increased power requirements of flight due to the increased body mass. Additionally, the capacity to oxidize fatty acids, as indicated by β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase activity, approximately doubles during premigratory fattening (from 35 to 70 μmoles [min·g fresh mass] −1 at 25°C; Fig. 1A). This adaptation should favor fatty acid oxidation, thereby sparing carbohydrate and prolonging endurance. The activity of phosphofructokinase, a key glycolytic enzyme, does not change before migration.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47125/1/360_2004_Article_BF01101461.pd

Endurance training facilitates myoglobin desaturation during muscle contraction in rat skeletal muscle

At onset of muscle contraction, myoglobin (Mb) immediately releases its bound O(2) to the mitochondria. Accordingly, intracellular O(2) tension (P(mb)O(2)) markedly declines in order to increase muscle O(2) uptake (m[Image: see text]O(2)). However, whether the change in P(mb)O(2) during muscle contraction modulates m[Image: see text]O(2) and whether the O(2) release rate from Mb increases in endurance-trained muscles remain unclear. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to determine the effect of endurance training on O(2) saturation of Mb (S(mb)O(2)) and P(mb)O(2) kinetics during muscle contraction. Male Wistar rats were subjected to a 4-week swimming training (Tr group; 6 days per week, 30 min × 4 sets per day) with a weight load of 2% body mass. After the training period, deoxygenated Mb kinetics during muscle contraction were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy under hemoglobin-free medium perfusion. In the Tr group, the m[Image: see text]O(2)peak significantly increased by 32%. Although the P(mb)O(2) during muscle contraction did not affect the increased m[Image: see text]O(2) in endurance-trained muscle, the O(2) release rate from Mb increased because of the increased Mb concentration and faster decremental rate in S(mb)O(2) at the maximal twitch tension. These results suggest that the Mb dynamics during muscle contraction are contributing factors to faster [Image: see text]O(2) kinetics in endurance-trained muscle