Comparação da cifose torácica e capacidade funcional de mulheres idosas com e sem osteoporose

The vertebral bony mineral density reduction, due to the aging process and aggravated by osteoporosis, determines a reduction on the spine size, with a previous region reduction of the vertebral bodies, resulting in compression and collapse of these vertebras, with a bigger disc constriction and intervertebral spaces. These new conditions interfere at the organs and organism systems normal functioning, what is responsible for the flexibility and mobility reduction. The objective was to evaluate the thoracic kyphosis degree and the functional capacity of elderly women with and without osteoporosis. 30 elderly women were evaluated, being 20 without osteoporosis (average age: 65,1± 4,67) and 10 women with osteoporosis (average age: 68,6 ± 6,46). All of them, initially, were submitted to an evaluation form, from whom personal data were collected. It was also evaluated the thoracic kyphosis measure, a six-minute walking test (6-MWT), a mobility test (TUG) and breathing muscles strength (MIP and MEP). The obtained data were analyzed using the Student t test. The significance level used was of 5% (αA diminuição da densidade mineral óssea das vértebras, própria do processo de envelhecimento e que pode ser agravada pela osteoporose, determina uma diminuição da região anterior dos corpos vertebrais, resultando em compressão e colapso dessas vértebras, com maior estreitamento dos discos e espaços intervertebrais. Essas novas condições interferem no funcionamento normal de órgãos e sistemas do organismo. O objetivo foi avaliar o grau de cifose torácica e a capacidade funcional de mulheres idosas com e sem osteoporose. Foram avaliadas 30 idosas ativas fisicamente, sendo 20 sem osteoporose ( GSO: 65,1± 4,67 anos) e 10 idosas com osteoporose (GCO: 68,6± 6,46anos). Foram avaliados a medida da cifose torácica, teste de caminhada de seis minutos (TC6'), Timed Up and go (TUG) e força dos músculos respiratórios (PImáx e PEmáx). Os dados obtidos foram analisados utilizando o teste t de Student. O nível de significância utilizado foi de 5% (α£ 0,05). Houve diferença significativa entre os grupos sem (GSO) e com osteoporose (GCO) somente no TC6'(GSO: 426,63±46,36 m; GCO: 392,64±36,68 m , α =0,02). As outras variáveis analisadas não apresentaram diferença significativa (Cifose torácica: α = 0,17; TUG: α =0,49; PImax: α =0,45; PEmax: α =0,19). A osteoporose não influenciou o grau de cifose torácica, a força dos músculos respiratórios e mobilidade das idosas. Entretanto, o desempenho no TC6' foi influenciado negativamente pela osteoporose

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved