Anti-ophidian activity of Bredemeyera floribunda Willd. (Polygalaceae) root extract on the local effects induced by Bothrops jararacussu venom

Bredemeyera floribunda roots are popularly used to treat snakebites in the semiarid region of Northeast Brazil, and previous studies indicate the anti-ophidian actions of triterpenoid saponins found in its roots. To assess B. floribunda root extract (BFRE) activity against the effects of Bothrops jararacussu venom (BjuV), antiphospholipasic, antiproteolytic, antihemorrhagic, antinecrotic, and anti-edematogenic activities were investigated in mice. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of saponins, flavonoids, and sugars, with rutin and saccharose being the major constituents of BFRE. Acute toxicity was determined and BFRE was nontoxic to mice. Phospholipase A2 and proteolytic activities induced by BjuV were inhibited in vitro by BFRE at all concentrations tested herein. BFRE (150 mg/kg) inhibited paw edema induced by BjuV (50 µg/animal), reducing total edema calculated by area under the curve, but carrageenan-induced paw edema was unchanged. Hemorrhagic and necrotizing actions of BjuV (50 µg/animal) were considerably decreased by BFRE treatment. Thus, BFRE blocked the toxic actions of B. jararacussu venom despite having no anti-inflammatory activity, which points to a direct inhibition of venom's toxins, as demonstrated in the in vitro assays. The larger amounts of rutin found in BFRE may play a role in this inhibition, since 3′,4′-OH flavonoids are known inhibitors of phospholipases A2.

Three-dimensional kinematic analysis of upper and lower limb motion during gait of post-stroke patients

The aim of this study was to analyze the alterations of arm and leg movements of patients during stroke gait. Joint angles of upper and lower limbs and spatiotemporal variables were evaluated in two groups: hemiparetic group (HG, 14 hemiparetic men, 53 ± 10 years) and control group (CG, 7 able-bodied men, 50 ± 4 years). The statistical analysis was based on the following comparisons (P ≤ 0.05): 1) right versus left sides of CG; 2) affected (AF) versus unaffected (UF) sides of HG; 3) CG versus both the affected and unaffected sides of HG, and 4) an intracycle comparison of the kinematic continuous angular variables between HG and CG. This study showed that the affected upper limb motion in stroke gait was characterized by a decreased range of motion of the glenohumeral (HG: 6.3 ± 4.5, CG: 20.1 ± 8.2) and elbow joints (AF: 8.4 ± 4.4, UF: 15.6 ± 7.6) on the sagittal plane and elbow joint flexion throughout the cycle (AF: 68.2 ± 0.4, CG: 46.8 ± 2.7). The glenohumeral joint presented a higher abduction angle (AF: 14.2 ± 1.6, CG: 11.5 ± 4.0) and a lower external rotation throughout the cycle (AF: 4.6 ± 1.2, CG: 22.0 ± 3.0). The lower limbs showed typical alterations of the stroke gait patterns. Thus, the changes in upper and lower limb motion of stroke gait were identified. The description of upper limb motion in stroke gait is new and complements gait analysis.

Efeitos da obesidade na distribuição de pressão plantar em crianças / Effects of obesity on plantar pressure distribution in children

OBJETIVO: O estudo teve como objetivo determinar se há diferenças na distribuição de pressão plantar estática e dinâmica entre crianças obesas e eutróficas. MÉTODO: Foram avaliadas vinte crianças, divididas em dois grupos (grupo de obesos e grupo de eutróficos), com idades entre nove e onze anos. As avaliações incluíram medidas das variáveis de pressão plantar na postura ereta e na marcha por meio do sistema Pedar (Novel GMbH). RESULTADOS: Constatou-se que as crianças obesas apresentaram maiores áreas de contato, picos de pressão, pressões médias máximas e integrais pressão-tempo, quando comparadas às eutróficas, com diferenças significativas, principalmente nas regiões do médio-pé e antepé. CONCLUSÕES: As diferenças observadas entre os grupos indicam que crianças obesas podem apresentar modificações importantes nos pés em função da sobrecarga excessiva e repetitiva à qual estão expostas, aumentando o risco para o desenvolvimento de lesões e patologias nos pés. Portanto, é necessário que programas de intervenção sejam implantados a fim de interferir também na progressão de problemas de natureza estrutural e funcional relacionados à obesidade.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether there were differences in static and dynamic plantar pressure distribution between obese and non-obese children. METHOD: Twenty children aged from nine to eleven years were assessed and divided into two groups (obese and non-obese groups). The assessments included measurements of plantar pressure variables while standing and walking, by means of the Pedar System (Novel GMbH). RESULTS: The obese children presented greater contact area, peak pressure, maximum mean pressure and pressure-time integral, in comparison with the non-obese children, with significant differences particularly in the midfoot and forefoot areas. CONCLUSION: The differences observed between the groups indicated that obese children may present significant modifications to their feet because of the excessive and repetitive loads that they are exposed to, which increases the risk of developing foot injuries and pathologies. It is suggested that there is a need to implement intervention programs with the aim of interfering with the progression of obesity-related problems from a structural and functional perspective.

Indivíduos que apresentam diferença estática entre os joelhos também apresentam diferença durante a marcha? / Do individuals who present a static difference between the knees also present a difference during gait?

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: A articulação do joelho destaca-se por ser uma estrutura comumente afetada por alterações degenerativas, lesões e síndromes. Avaliações clínicas objetivas e precisas são necessárias para estabelecimento de diagnósticos adequados e, conseqüentemente, melhores resultados tanto das cirurgias como dos programas de reabilitação. OBJETIVO: Verificar a presença de diferença entre os joelhos durante a marcha e sua relação com a diferença estática, nos planos sagital e frontal. MÉTODO: Foram avaliados 45 sujeitos saudáveis, sendo 21 do sexo masculino e 24 do sexo feminino. Mediu-se a amplitude de movimento da articulação do joelho, na marcha, por meio da eletrogoniometria. A avaliação da postura estática do joelho foi feita por meio de fotogrametria. Os dados foram analisados descritivamente e aplicou-se o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson. RESULTADOS: Os indivíduos apresentaram valores médios similares para os lados direito e esquerdo (diferença de aproximadamente 0,5º) no registro estático dos planos sagital e frontal. No entanto, o desvio-padrão foi alto, indicando grande variabilidade entre os sujeitos. Para o registro dinâmico, a diferença entre os joelhos foi de 0,4º para o plano sagital e 1º para o plano frontal. No entanto, a variabilidade encontrada também foi alta, principalmente para o plano frontal. Não foi encontrada correlação entre os registros estáticos e dinâmicos nos dois planos de movimento avaliados (r= -0,003 e p= 0,492 para o plano sagital e r= -0,014 e p= 0,465 para o plano frontal). CONCLUSÕES: Embora não tenha sido encontrada relação entre os registros estático e dinâmico, esse assunto merece ser investigado em estudos futuros, avaliando-se grupos mais amplos e com alterações posturais específicas e mais pronunciadas.

INTRODUCTION: The knee joint stands out as a structure that is commonly affected by degenerative alterations, injuries and syndromes. Precise objective clinical evaluations are necessary for establishing appropriate diagnoses and, consequently, better results from both surgical procedures and rehabilitation programs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the existence of differences between the knees during gait and their relationship with the static difference in the sagittal and frontal planes. METHOD: Forty-five healthy subjects were included, of whom 21 were male and 24 were female. Knee joint range of motion was measured during gait by means of flexible electrogoniometry. The static posture of the knee was evaluated by means of photogrammetry. The data were analyzed descriptively and the Pearson correlation coefficient was applied. RESULTS: The individuals presented mean values that were similar for right and left knees in static recordings of the sagittal and frontal planes (difference of approximately 0.5º). However, the standard deviation was large, thus indicating great variability between the subjects. For the dynamic recordings, the difference between the knees was 0.4º for the sagittal plane and 1º for the frontal plane. The variability found was also large, especially for the frontal plane. There was no correlation between the static and dynamic recordings in the two planes of motion evaluated (r = -0.003 and p = 0.492 for the sagittal plane; r = -0.014 and p = 0.465 for the frontal plane). CONCLUSION: Although no relationship was found between the static and dynamic recordings, this matter deserves investigation in future studies, with evaluations of broader groups with specific and more pronounced postural abnormalities.

Comportamento adaptativo de funçöes neuro-musculares e cinéticas selecionadas em diferentes tarefas locomotoras / Adaptative behavior of neuromuscular function and selected kinets in different locomotor methods

O movimento humano requer controle e coordenação simultâneos entre diversos segmentos corporais e, para tanto, o sistema motor elabora estratégias neuro-musculares e fiom de reduzir os graus de liberdade. Uma maneira de se investigar a flexibilidade e adaptabilidade do sistema motor e através do estudo biomecânico de padrões de movimentos submetidos a diferentes demandas ambientais. Assim, este estudo propõe-se a avaliar respostas eletromiográficas dos principais músculos locomotores, bem como a componente vertical da força reação do solo durante o andar no plano, subindo e descendo escadas em crianças. Através da análise do comportamento adaptativo destes parâmetros neuro-musculares e cinéticos, pode-se obter indicadores quantitativos e qualitativos da função coordenativa do sistema motor

Abstract - The human movement is dependent on the contrai of multiple coordinations and the motor system elaborates neuro-muscular strategies to reduce the degrees of freedom of multi-joint movements. A way to investigate the flexibility and adaptability characteristics of the motor system is through the biomechanical study of movement patterns submitted to different environmental constraints. The purpose of this study is to analyse the electromyographic activity of locomotor muscles and the vertical componente ofthe ground reaction force in children during levei and stair walking. Through the analysis of the adaptative behavior of these selected neuromuscular and kinetic parameters, it is possible to identify qualitative and quantitative indicators of the coordinative function ofthe human motor system

Paracoccidioidomicose de localizaçäo intramedular e cerebral / Paracoccidioidomycosis of intramedullary and cerebral localization

O presente relato de caso, descreve nossa experiência diagnóstica e terapêutica com um paciente que apresentou manifestaçöes clínicas, radiológicas e tomográficas de paracoccidioidomicose comprometendo os pulmöes, cérebro e, particularmente, a medula espinhal. Além da raridade do caso, chama-se a atençäo para a extrema dificuldade na elucidaçäo diagnóstica definitiva, obtida somente após laminectomia e biópisa cirúrgica de tumoraçäo iintramedular ao nvel de C5. O paciente recebeu duas séries de tratamento com ketoconazol (400 a 600 mg/dia). No início de ambas apresentou crise convulsiva tònico-clónica. Especula-se sobre uma possível resposta inflamatória perigranulomatosa intracerebral, relacionada à intervençäo terapêutica, ainda sem relato na literatura