Reconstruction of humeral length from measurements of its proximal and distal fragments

The aim of the present study was to estimate the length of humeri from measurements of their proximal and distal fragments. This information is important in archaeological studies and forensic investigations, particularly when fragmented material is examined. Forty humerus of adults individuals, sex-aggregated, of the Departamento de Anatomia/UFRJ collection were selected to analysis (right = 20; left = 20). Maximum length and measures of 12 fragments of the humerus (proximal = 7; distal = 5), named P1-P7 and D1-D5, were obtained by means an osteometrical board and an analogical caliper. Simples and multiple linear regressions (p < 0.01) were made to correlate each fragment with total length of the humerus. In right humeri, best estimates were observed with P1, P4, P6, P7 (proximal fragments) and D1, D2, D3, and D4 (distal fragments). In left side, P1, P6 (proximal fragments) and D1, D2, D3 (distal fragments) showed best results. Multiple regressions did not show significant increase in estimates of the humeral length. Regressions formulae were obtained to define these estimative. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that length of the humerus can be estimated from measures of proximal or distal fragments.

Effects of exercise training on atrophy gene expression in skeletal muscle of mice with chronic allergic lung inflammation

We evaluated the effects of chronic allergic airway inflammation and of treadmill training (12 weeks) of low and moderate intensity on muscle fiber cross-sectional area and mRNA levels of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle. Six 4-month-old male BALB/c mice (28.5 ± 0.8 g) per group were examined: 1) control, non-sensitized and non-trained (C); 2) ovalbumin sensitized (OA, 20 µg per mouse); 3) non-sensitized and trained at 50 percent maximum speed _ low intensity (PT50 percent); 4) non-sensitized and trained at 75 percent maximum speed _ moderate intensity (PT75 percent); 5) OA-sensitized and trained at 50 percent (OA+PT50 percent), 6) OA-sensitized and trained at 75 percent (OA+PT75 percent). There was no difference in muscle fiber cross-sectional area among groups and no difference in atrogin-1 and MuRF1 expression between C and OA groups. All exercised groups showed significantly decreased expression of atrogin-1 compared to C (1.01 ± 0.2-fold): PT50 percent = 0.71 ± 0.12-fold; OA+PT50 percent = 0.74 ± 0.03-fold; PT75 percent = 0.71 ± 0.09-fold; OA+PT75 percent = 0.74 ± 0.09-fold. Similarly significant results were obtained regarding MuRF1 gene expression compared to C (1.01 ± 0.23-fold): PT50 percent = 0.53 ± 0.20-fold; OA+PT50 percent = 0.55 ± 0.11-fold; PT75 percent = 0.35 ± 0.15-fold; OA+PT75 percent = 0.37 ± 0.08-fold. A short period of OA did not induce skeletal muscle atrophy in the mouse tibialis anterior muscle and aerobic training at low and moderate intensity negatively regulates the atrophy pathway in skeletal muscle of healthy mice or mice with allergic lung inflammation.

Efeito de um programa de condicionamento físico aeróbio nos aspectos psicossociais, na qualidade de vida, nos sintomas e no óxido nítrico exalado de portadores de asma persistente moderada ou grave / Effects of an aerobic physical training program on psychosocial characteristics, quality-of-life, symptoms and exhaled nitric oxide in individuals with moderate or severe persistent asthma

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o papel de um programa de condicionamento físico aeróbio nos aspectos psicossociais, qualidade de vida, sintomas e óxido nítrico exalado (NOe) de adultos com asma persistente moderada ou grave. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Vinte pacientes foram divididos aleatoriamente em Grupo Controle (GC, n= 10; programa de educação e exercícios respiratórios) e Grupo Treinado (GT, n= 10; programa de educação e exercícios respiratórios mais condicionamento aeróbio, 70 por cento potência máxima obtida). A intervenção aconteceu duas vezes por semana durante três meses. Antes e após, foram avaliados a capacidade aeróbia máxima, a função pulmonar, a dispnéia ao esforço, os níveis de ansiedade e depressão e a qualidade de vida. Mensalmente, eram avaliados o NOe em repouso e o número de dias livres de sintomas. RESULTADOS: Apenas o GT apresentou redução dos sintomas (GT 24,8 [IC95 por cento= 23-27] versus GC 15,7 [IC95 por cento= 9-21] dias livres de sintomas, p< 0,05), dos níveis de NOe (GT 25,8 [IC95 por cento= 15,3-44] versus GC 44,3 [IC95 por cento= 24-60] ppb, p< 0,05), da ansiedade (GT 39,3 [IC95 por cento= 37-50] versus GC 40,9 [IC95 por cento= 37-50] escore, p< 0,001) e da depressão (GT 6,6 [IC95 por cento= 1-21] versus GC 9 [IC95 por cento= 1-20] escore, p< 0,001), melhora da qualidade de vida (GT 42,8 [IC95 por cento= 34,3-71,7] versus GC 69,7 [IC95 por cento= 45,1-87,9] por cento, p< 0,001), e incremento da aptidão aeróbia (GT 25,7 [IC95 por cento= 16,2-31,3] versus GC 20,5 [IC95 por cento= 17,3-24,1] mL/kg/min, p< 0,001). CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que o treinamento físico reduz o NOe, os sintomas e melhora a qualidade de vida e os aspectos psicossociais de adultos com asma persistente moderada ou grave.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of an aerobic physical training program on psychosocial characteristics, quality of life, symptoms and exhaled nitric oxide of adults with moderate or severe persistent asthma. METHODS: Twenty patients were randomly assigned to a Control Group (CG, n= 10, education program and respiratory exercises) and a Trained Group (TG, n= 10, education program and respiratory exercises plus aerobic training at 70 percent of the maximum power obtained). The intervention took place twice a week for three months. Maximum aerobic capacity, pulmonary function, effort dyspnea, anxiety levels, depression levels and quality of life were assessed before and after the treatment. Exhaled nitric oxide at rest and the number of days without asthma symptoms were evaluated every month. RESULTS: The TG presented increased numbers of symptom-free days (TG 24.8 days [95 percentCI= 23-27] versus CG 15.7 days [95 percentCI= 9-21]; p< 0.05), decreased exhaled nitric oxide levels (TG 25.8 ppb [95 percentCI= 15.3-44.0] versus CG 44.3 ppb [95 percentCI= 24-60]; p< 0.05), decreased anxiety scores (TG 39.3 [95 percentCI= 37-50] versus CG 40.9 [95 percentCI= 37-50]; p< 0.001), decreased depression scores (TG 6.6 [95 percentCI= 1-21] versus CG 9 [95 percentCI= 1-20]; p< 0.001), improved quality of life (TG 42.8 percent [95 percentCI= 34.3-71.7] versus CG 69.6 percent [95 percentCI= 45.1-87.9]; p< 0.001) and improved aerobic aptitude (TG 25.7 mL/kg/min [95 percentCI= 6.2-31.3] versus CG 20.5 mL/kg/min [95 percentCI= 17.3-24.1]; p< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that physical training reduces exhaled nitric oxide and symptoms and improves the quality of life and psychosocial characteristics of adults with moderate or severe persistent asthma.

Comparison of two questionnaires which measure the health-related quality of life of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis patients

The objective of the present study was to determine if there is a health-related quality of life (HRQL) instrument, generic or specific, that better represents functional capacity dysfunction in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients. HRQL was evaluated in 20 IPF patients using generic and specific questionnaires (Medical Outcomes Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), respectively). Functional status was evaluated by pulmonary function tests, 6-min walking distance test (6MWDT) and dyspnea indexes (baseline dyspnea index) at rest and after exercise (modified Borg scale). There was a restrictive pattern with impairment of diffusion capacity (total lung capacity, TLC = 71.5 ± 15.6 percent, forced vital capacity = 70.4 ± 19.4 percent, and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity = 41.5 ± 16.2 percent of predicted value), a reduction in exercise capacity (6MWDT = 435.6 ± 95.5 m) and an increase of perceived dyspnea score at rest and during exercise (6 ± 2.5 and 7.1 ± 1.3, respectively). Both questionnaires presented correlation with some functional parameters (TLC, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and carbon monoxide diffusing capacity) and the best correlation was with TLC. Almost all of the SGRQ domains presented a strong correlation with functional status, while in SF-36 only physical function and vitality presented a good correlation with functional status. Dyspnea index at rest and 6MWDT also presented a good correlation with HRQL. Our results suggest that a specific instead of a generic questionnaire is a more appropriate instrument for HRQL evaluation in IPF patients and that TLC is the functional parameter showing best correlation with HRQL.