Coumestrol has neuroprotective effects before and after global cerebral ischemia in female rats

AbstractGlobal ischemia arising during cardiac arrest or cardiac surgery causes highly selective, delayed death of hippocampal CA1 neurons. Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring plant-derived compounds that are present in the human diet and are considered selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulators. The phytoestrogen coumestrol is a potent isoflavonoid, with binding affinities for both ER-α and ER-β that are comparable to those of 17b-estradiol. The present study examined the hypothesis that coumestrol protects hippocampal neurons in ovariectomized rats in a model of cerebral global ischemia. Ovariectomized rats were subjected to global ischemia (10min) or sham surgery and received a single intracerebroventricular or peripheral infusion of 20μg of coumestrol, 20μg of estradiol or vehicle 1h before ischemia or 0h, 3h, 6h or 24h after reperfusion. Estradiol and coumestrol afforded significant neuroprotection in all times of administration, with the exception of estradiol given 24h after the ischemic insult. Animals received icv infusion of the broad-spectrum ER antagonist ICI 182,780 (50μg) or vehicle into the lateral ventricle just before the E2 or coumestrol administration. The ER antagonist abolished estradiol protection, consistent with a role of classical ERs. In contrast, ICI 182,780 effected only partial reversal of the neuroprotective actions of coumestrol, suggesting that other cellular mediators in addition to classical ERs may be important. Additional research is needed to determine the molecular targets mediating the neuroprotective action of coumestrol and the therapeutic potential of this phytoestrogen in the mature nervous system

Can we rely on mobile devices and other gadgets to assess the postural balance of healthy individuals? A systematic review

The consequences of falls, costs, and complexity of conventional evaluation protocols have motivated researchers to develop more effective balance assessments tools. Healthcare practitioners are incorporating the use of mobile phones and other gadgets (smartphones and tablets) to enhance accessibility in balance evaluations with reasonable sensitivity and good cost–benefit. The prospects are evident, as well as the need to identify weakness and highlight the strengths of the different approaches. In order to verify if mobile devices and other gadgets are able to assess balance, four electronic databases were searched from their inception to February 2019. Studies reporting the use of inertial sensors on mobile and other gadgets to assess balance in healthy adults, compared to other evaluation methods were included. The quality of the nine studies selected was assessed and the current protocols often used were summarized. Most studies did not provide enough information about their assessment protocols, limiting the reproducibility and the reliability of the results. Data gathered from the studies did not allow us to conclude if mobile devices and other gadgets have discriminatory power (accuracy) to assess postural balance. Although the approach is promising, the overall quality of the available studies is low to moderate.</p

Terapia Assistida por Animais como recurso fisioterapêutico para idosos institucionalizados

Aims: To evaluate the effects of Animal-assisted Therapy on the gait and balance of institutionalized elderly.Methods: This is a non-controlled before-after clinical trial. The study was conducted at “Lar da Velhice São Francisco de Assis,”, a nursing home located in Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Elderly volunteers of both sexes were selected, and those with any musculoskeletal, neurological, or cognitive conditions that could interfere with the results were excluded. Three dogs that were properly trained by a professional trainer and met the specific criteria for animal-assisted therapy were used. The group performed 10 therapy sessions in four weeks. The following tests were used for assessing the gait and balance of the elderly participants: Berg Balance scale, Tinetti Balance test, Functional Reach test, and Six-Meter-Walk test. The tests were applied before and after animal-assisted therapy.Results: The study included nine subjects, aged 68 to 79 years. Regarding balance and postural control, individuals showed a significant improvement in post-treatment outcome when compared to pre-treatment, according to the Berg Balance scale (z=2.26 p=0.02) and Functional Reach test (z=2.2 p=0.02). In the gait assessment, the Tinetti test score averaged 7.9±2.8 before therapy and 9.2±1.6 after therapy (z=2.02 p=0.04). The Six-Meter-Walk test after therapy revealed a significant decrease in the time necessary to complete the six-meter course. The average time was 20.2±19 seconds prior to therapy and  9.2±7 seconds after therapy (z=2.47 p=0.01).Conclusions: Both assessed parameters showed significant improvement, suggesting important outcomes regarding gait and balance after the use of Animal-assisted Therapy in institutionalized elderly individuals.Objetivos: Avaliar os efeitos da Terapia Assistida por Animais em relação à marcha e ao equilíbrio em idosos institucionalizados.Métodos: Este estudo caracteriza-se como um ensaio clínico não controlado, do tipo antes e depois. O estudo foi realizado na instituição Lar da Velhice São Francisco de Assis, localizado na cidade de Caxias do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul. Foram selecionados idosos voluntários, de ambos os sexos, sendo excluídos os que apresentassem alguma alteração osteomuscular, neurológica ou cognitiva que pudesse interferir nos resultados. Foram utilizados três cães, devidamente treinados por um profissional de adestramento e atendendo a critérios específicos para Terapia Assistida por Animais. O grupo realizou 10 sessões da terapia em quatro semanas. Para análise da marcha e equilíbrio dos idosos foram utilizados os seguintes testes: Escala de Equilíbrio de Berg, teste de Equilíbrio de Tinetti, teste de Alcance Funcional e teste de Caminhada de Seis Metros. Os testes foram aplicados antes e depois das sessões de Terapia Assistida por Animais.Resultados: Foram incluídos no estudo nove idosos, com idades entre 68 e 79 anos. Em relação ao equilíbrio e controle postural os indivíduos apresentaram uma melhora significativa nos valores pós-tratamento quando comparados aos do pré-tratamento, pela Escala de Berg (z=2,26 p=0,02) e pelo teste de Alcance Funcional (z=2,2 p=0,02). Na avaliação dos aspectos da marcha, no teste de Tinetti a média do escore pré-terapia foi de 7,9±2,8 e pós-terapia 9,2±1,6 (z=2,02 p=0,04). O teste de Caminhada revelou uma significativa diminuição no tempo gasto para completar o percurso de seis metros após a terapia. A média do tempo antes da terapia foi de 20,2±19 segundos e após a terapia foi de 9,2±7 segundos (z=2,47 p=0,01) (z=2,47 p=0,01).Conclusões: Encontrou-se uma melhora significativa em ambos os parâmetros avaliados, sugerindo resultados relevantes após aplicação da Terapia Assistida por Animais em relação à marcha e ao equilíbrio de idosos institucionalizados.

Analyzing gait variability and dual-task interference in patients with Parkinson’s disease and freezing by means of the word-color Stroop test

The ability to carry out two tasks at once is critical to effective functioning in the real world and deficits are termed Dual-task interference or effect—DTE. DTE substantially compromised the gait of subjects with Parkinson’s disease and freezing of gait (PD + FOG), leading to exaggerated slowing, increasing gait dysrhythmicity, and inducing FOG episodes. This study aimed to investigate the DTE in gait variability of subjects with PD and freezing of gait (PD + FOG). Thirty-three patients with PD + FOG and 14 healthy individuals (REFERENCE) took part at this study. Two gait conditions were analyzed: usual walking (single task) and walking while taking the word-color Stroop test (dual task). The computed variables were as follows: gait velocity, step length, step timing, gait asymmetry, variability measures and DTE of each variable. The PD + FOG group has presented negative DTE values for all analyzed variables, indicating dual task cost. The REFERENCE group has presented dual-task benefits for step length standard deviation and step time. Differences between both groups and conditions were found for all variables, except for step time. Taking the word-color Stroop test while walking led to a larger dual-task cost in subjects with PD + FOG

Effect of prior exercise training and myocardial infarction-induced heart failure on the neuronal and glial densities and the GFAP-immunoreactivity in the posterodorsal medial amygdala of rats

Exercise training has neuroprotective effects whereas myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF) can cause neuronal death and reactive gliosis in the whole amygdala. The posterodorsal medial amygdala (MePD) is involved with cardiovascular reflexes and the central control of sympathetic/parasympathetic responses. Our aim was to study the effects of prior exercise training and of MI-induced HF on the neuronal and glial densities and the glial fibrillary acidic proteinimmunoreactivity (GFAP-ir) in the MePD of adult male rats. Animals (n=5/group) were: control, sedentary submitted to a sham MI (Sed Sham), sedentary submitted to MI/HF (Sed HF), trained on a treadmill and submitted to a sham MI (T Sham) or trained on a treadmill and submitted to MI/HF (T HF). The number of neurons and glial cells in the MePD was estimated using the optical fractionator and the GFAP-ir was quantified by optical densitometry. In the respective groups, treadmill training improved physical performance and MI damaged near 40% of the left ventricle. There was a hemispheric lateralization effect on the density of neurons (higher in the right MePD), but no significant difference in either the neuronal or the glial densities due to experimental condition. Regional GFAP-ir results revealed that the Sed HF group had a higher expression in the left MePD compared to the control and the Sed Sham rats (p<0.01). The present data did not evidence the effects of training or MI/HF in the MePD cellular density, but indicate a possible local restructuring of astrocytic cytoskeleton after MI/HF in rats