Effect of occlusal adjustment on postoperative pain after root canal treatment: a randomized clinical trial

Abstract The aim of this prospective, randomized, clinical study was to analyze the influence of occlusal adjustment on the prevalence of postoperative pain after endodontic treatment. Seventy-eight patients, diagnosed with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis with indication for endodontic treatment, were selected to participate in the study. The participants were randomized and divided into two groups: in the occlusal adjustment group (OAG), endodontic treatment was performed with subsequent occlusal adjustment. In the control group (CG), endodontic treatment was performed without occlusal adjustment. Treatments were performed by the same operator. Pain occurrence and intensity were recorded on two scales: the verbal rating scale (VRS) and numerical rating scale (NRS). Pain assessment was carried out by a second examiner, blinded to the experiment, 6, 24 and 72 h after endodontic treatment. Data were analyzed using Mann-Whitney, chi-squared, and Fisher's exact tests. In the occlusal adjustment group, 71.1% reported postoperative pain and 67.5% reported pain in the control group. At the 6-hour assessment, 21 individuals reported pain in the occlusal adjustment group and 24 in the control group (p=0.672). At the 24-hour assessment, 18 and 19 individuals reported pain (p=0.991) and at the 72-hour assessment, 8 and 4 reported pain (p=0.219), respectively. Occlusal adjustment did not influence the prevalence of postoperative pain of endodontically treated teeth with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Resumo O objetivo deste estudo prospectivo, randomizado e clínico foi analisar a influência do ajuste oclusal na prevalência de dor pós-operatória após o tratamento endodôntico. Setenta e oito pacientes, diagnosticados com pulpite irreversível sintomática com indicação de tratamento endodôntico, foram selecionados para participar do estudo. Os participantes foram randomizados e divididos em dois grupos: no grupo de ajuste oclusal (GAO), foi realizado tratamento endodôntico com posterior ajuste oclusal. No grupo controle (GC), o tratamento endodôntico foi realizado sem ajuste oclusal. Os tratamentos foram realizados pelo mesmo operador. A ocorrência e a intensidade da dor foram registradas em duas escalas: a escala de classificação verbal (VRS) e a escala de classificação numérica (NRS). A avaliação da dor foi realizada por um segundo examinador, cego para o experimento, 6, 24 e 72 horas após o tratamento endodôntico. Os dados foram analisados utilizando testes de Mann-Whitney, qui-quadrado e exato de Fisher. No grupo de ajuste oclusal, 71,1% relataram dor pós-operatória e 67,5% relataram dor no grupo controle. Na avaliação de 6 horas, 21 indivíduos relataram dor no grupo de ajuste oclusal e 24 no grupo controle (p=0,672). Na avaliação de 24 horas, 18 e 19 indivíduos relataram dor (p=0,991) e, na avaliação de 72 horas, 8 e 4 relataram dor (p=0,219), respectivamente. O ajuste oclusal não influenciou a prevalência de dor pós-operatória após o tratamento endodôntico em dentes com pulpite irreversível sintomática.

Satisfaction and maternal postnatal adjustments following different modes of delivery

Background: Childbirth has a profound influence in a women’s life. One factor that has been more consistently identified as influencing the women’s physical and psychological symptoms following childbirth is the mode of birth.  This study aims at figuring out on women’s satisfaction with their mode of delivery and what difficulties they faced in the immediate postnatal period accordingly.Methods: All women who delivered between the period 1st July 2019 to 1st August 2019 were interviewed with a pretested semi structured questionnaire on postnatal day two. Patient was asked how much they were satisfied with their mode of delivery, immediate postnatal adjustments like ambulation, holding the baby first time, initiation of breastfeeding and pain score following different modes of delivery. The data was analysed to find out which mode of delivery made women more comfortable in the immediate postnatal period.Results: A total 97.1% women were satisfied with the support they got from health care professionals during labour. But when compared, spontaneous vaginal delivery group were satisfied with their mode of delivery (P-value-0.0005 highly significant) than the rest. Women who had vaginal delivery were ahead of caesarean group in terms of ambulation, holding the baby, initiation of breastfeeding and were well adjusted in their postnatal period.Conclusions: Authors conclude that women in our study were more satisfied with spontaneous vaginal delivery than caesarean section which was reflected in their immediate postnatal adjustments. As obstetricians’ authors need to understand the empowering effects of the psychological experience of vaginal delivery. The benefits of this process can be maximized through good communication skills and emotional support for women, enhancing their confidence to deliver normally so that caesarean section is done only when really indicated.

Advance in Neural Regulation Networks of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments (review) / 中国康复理论与实践

The generation and execution of anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) depend on the complex distributed neural networks, involving cerebral cortex (including premotor cortex and primary motor area), thalamus, basal ganglia, cerebellum, and divided into stratified mode and parallel mode. The basal ganglia and premotor cortex contribute to code the motor planning of APAs. Supplementary motor area and pedunculopontine nucleus in the brainstem co-regulate the timing of APAs. Primary motor area projects cortical motor fibers to target area during the initiation of APAs. The pontomedullary reticular formation integrates and projects fibers to the spinal cord. The cerebellum is mainly related to the coordinated coupling of muscles during APAs.

Influência do peso adicional no alcance manual de lactentes a termo e pré-termo: análise de variáveis categóricas do movimento / Influence of additional weight in the reaching behavior of full-term and preterm infants: analysis of categorical variables of movement

Resumo Objetivo: Investigar o efeito do peso adicional nos ajustes proximais e distais do alcance em lactentes a termo (AT) e pré-termo tardios (PTT). Método: Foram avaliados 10 lactentes AT e 9 PTT dos 5 aos 7 meses de idade. As variáveis analisadas foram: a) ajustes proximais: unimanuais ou bimanuais; b) ajustes distais: abertura das mãos (aberta, fechada ou semiaberta) e orientação das mãos (horizontalizada, verticalizada ou oblíqua). Os procedimentos analisados foram: P1 (linha de base) e P2 (acréscimo de 20% da massa do membro superior de peso adicional). Para verificar a associação entre os procedimentos e as variáveis dependentes utilizou-se o Teste Qui-quadrado (p<0,05). Resultados: O peso adicional proporcionou a diminuição de alcances bimanuais aos 5 e 7 meses no grupo PTT, o aumento da frequência de mão verticalizada e a diminuição da frequência de mão aberta no início do movimento, aos 6 meses. No grupo AT, o peso implicou no aumento da mão verticalizada no início e no fim do movimento, aos 5 meses, e ao final do movimento, aos 7 meses, e diminuiu a frequência de mão aberta no início e final do alcance, aos 6 meses. Conclusão: O peso adicional favoreceu um movimento mais maduro na maioria das variáveis analisadas e, de forma mais expressiva, no grupo prematuro. Assim, pode tornar-se um instrumento para o treino inicial do alcance, quando o objetivo for a estimulação de alcances unimanuais com a mão verticalizada.

Abstract Objective: The aim of this work is to investigate the effects of additional weight in the proximal and distal adjustments of the reaching behavior of full-term and preterm infants. Method: We evaluated 10 full-term and 9 low risk preterm infants from 5 to 7 months age. The following variables were analyzed: a) proximal adjustments: unimanual or bimanual; b) distal adjustments: hand opening (open, closed, semi-open) and hand orientation (horizontal, vertical, oblique). Variables were analyzed in two procedures: P1 (baseline) and P2 (addition of 20% of the total mass of the infant's upper limb). To verify the association between procedures and dependent variables was applied Chi-Square Test (p<0,05). Results: Additional weight decreased of bimanual frequency for the preterm group at 5 and 7 months old, increased vertical hand frequency and decreased open hand frequency at 6 months. In the full-term group, additional weight increased the vertical hand frequency at the initiation and at the end of the movement at 5 months and at the end of the movement at 7 months. It also decreased open hand frequency at the initiation and at the end of the reaching at 6 months. Conclusion: Additional weight favored a more mature movement in the majority of variables analyzed, more expressively in the preterm group. Therefore, it can become an instrument of training this skill in the beginning of the reaching, when looking for verticalized hand unimanual reaching stimulation.

Effects of 10000 Meters Run on the Anticipatory and Compensatory Postural Adjustments of Lumbar Stable Muscles / 中国运动医学杂志

Objective To explore the effect of acute endurance exercise on the balance control,maximum contraction of the back extensor and the anticipatory postural adjustments(APAs) and compensatory postural adjustments (CPAs) of the lumbar vertebra.Methods Seventeen male students from a police college participated in this study voluntarily.Three tests were performed right before and after the 10000 meters run:the single foot standing test with eyes closed,maximum contraction test of the back extensor and arm-rising test.The maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) of the back extensor and the time of standing with eyes closed were collected.The sEMG activities of lumbar erector spinae(LES) and Lumbar multifidus(LMF) as lumbar stable muscles were recorded.The pre-activation time and integrated EMG of APAs and CPAs were calculated.Results Before and after the 10000 meters run,no significant difference was observed in MVC,but the time of single foot standing decreased significantly.On the condition of the internal postural perturbation,the LES was activated significantly earlier and the APAs IEMG of LMF decreased significantly after the run,but no significant difference was observed in the pre-activation time of LMF and APAs IEMG of LES.The CPAs IEMG of LES and LMF both decreased significantly after the run.Conclusions The acute endurance exercise of 10000 meters run does not cause fatigue of lumbar stable muscles,but it has an effect on the performance of body balance control.It has effects on the postural control strategies of the central nerve system in response to the internal sudden postural perturbation,resulting in the earlier pre-activation of LES to compensate the decreased activation magnitude of LMF.

Advance in Anticipatory Postural Adjustments for Stroke Patients with Hemiplegia(review) / 中国康复理论与实践

The anticipatory postural adjustments can be more precise in reflecting the ability of posture control,which associate with two kinds of neuromuscular model.Anticipatory postural adjustments disorders are found in stroke patients with hemiplegia,such as delay of muscle activation time,decrease of muscle activation,degradation of muscle recruitment order and reduction of adaptability.

Recomendação para colheita mecânica do café baseado no comportamento de vibração das hastes derriçadoras / Recommendation for mechanical harvesting of coffee based on vibration behavior settings rods harvesters

RESUMO: A competitividade no mercado agrícola tem tornado intensa a busca pela redução de custo nos processos de produção, como é o caso da colheita do café ( Coffea arabica L.), que tem migrado da colheita manual para a semi mecanizada e mecanizada. Essa transição proporcionou o surgimento de novas tecnologias e diversos modelos de colhedoras, as quais permitem regulagens que influenciam diretamente na eficiência de derriça. Entretanto, entender o comportamento dinâmico dos componentes e sistemas das colhedoras é de extrema importância para o desenvolvimento de novos produtos e recomendações de regulagem para colheita plena ou seletiva. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se analisar a vibração das hastes derriçadoras de uma colhedora de café, em diferentes regulagens, a fim de entender seu comportamento dinâmico em termos de amplitude e frequência de vibração, e inferir sobre a recomendação de regulagens para a colheita mecânica do café. A metodologia utilizada, baseada na análise dos sinais de vibração das hastes derriçadoras, possibilitou a recomendação de regulagens para a colheita mecânica do café, em função das amplitudes de vibração das hastes derriçadoras. O estudo mostrou que as maiores amplitudes de vibração das hastes no sentido vertical ocorreram para as regulagens de 8 e 10Kgf no freio, na vibração de 950 ciclos min-1 do cilindro e com hastes de 570mm de comprimento. Os resultados permitem associar o comportamento de vibração das hastes derriçadoras com os objetivos da colheita, plena ou seletiva, apontando qual a regulagem específica a ser utilizada para cada finalidade.

ABSTRACT: Growers need to reduce costs of the coffee production to meet the demand and stay competitive in the market. Such a need has led to the application of mechanization in the coffee harvest ( Coffea Arabica L.), which is a costly process and requires high cost of manpower, and this last is increasingly scarce. The migration from manual harvest to semi-mechanized or super-mechanized made new technologies and diverse models of coffee harvesting machines emerge. These coffee harvesting machines have settings that directly influence the harvesting efficiency. To understand the dynamic behavior of coffee harvesting machines components and systems is very important to develop new products, setting and operation norms. In this context, this reseach aimed to analyze the vibration of the harvester rods of an automatic coffee harvesting, by considering different adjustments, in order to understand its dynamic behavior in terms of amplitude and frequency of vibration, and to infer about adjustment recommendations for the mechanical harvesting coffee. Results showed that the harvesting studied presented larger amplitudes of vibration of stems vertically when set for 8 and 10Kgf of curb, at vibration of 950 cycles min1 of cylinder and with the stems of 570mm of length; the highest efficiency occurs when the rods vibrate vertically, promoting greater contact between the rods and side branches and fruit of the coffee plant. Also, the achieved results can be very useful as a guide for adjusting coffee harvesting machines, for research anddevelopment of new technologies to the benefit of the grower.

Postural Control Influence on Upper Extremity Function among Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Literature Review / Jurnal Sains Kesihatan Malaysia

Performance of upper extremity function and movement sequence is influenced by postural control. Motor disorders lead to deficits in postural control, which subsequently may lead to postural instability of children with cerebral palsy (CWCP). This will limit their upper extremity activity performance. Management strategies help to support and enhance the CWCP’s upper extremity function so that they may engage with the activities of daily living. The purpose of this paper is to review previous literature on the influence of postural control towards upper extremity function. Literature searches were conducted in various electronic databases, including ProQuest, Science Direct, Springer Link, Sage, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar using specific key terms. Search terms included children with cerebral palsy; postural control; postural adjustments; upper extremity function; reaching and sitting and from references of retrieved articles. Nineteen journal articles published between 2000 and May 2015 were found. Most search results consisted of experimental studies, while others are reviews, case studies, and cross-sectional studies. Findings show that, postural control has a major influence on upper extremity function. In conclusion, it is necessary to highlight the importance of both factors to the CWCP parents or caregivers, as understanding and awareness on this matter is still inadequate in the community. Hence, a study is needed on the awareness of the postural control influence on upper extremity function among caregivers, as well as examining the implementation of management strategies in community settings.

Qualitative Research on Nurses Experiencing Taeoom / 한국직업건강간호학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this empirical research was to describe the contents what had happened to nurses experiencing taeoom. METHODS: This study explored the phenomenological ways to understand lived experiences in nurses' 'Taeoom' and investigated the 'Taeoom' through the deductive content analysis. For the this study, the data was collected through individual interviews with 11 nurses who worked over 12months in 1 hospital, lived in 5 areas, working 7 nursing unit of 10 hospitals. The interviews conducted by semi structured questions about participants' lived experiences in 'Taeoom'. RESULTS: Inductive contents analysis identified 5 categories and 15 subcategories. Main themes in this study included a failed membership, difficult of practical field adaptation, feared with nursing unit life, self-centered peer relationships and rite of passage. CONCLUSION: This study results have been illuminated with edged sword which has a dark side and a light side to experienced in 'Taeoom'. Newly employed nurses have suffering from 'Taeoom' as well as retained nurse. Therefore, policy and practice programs for a diminution of suffering and management for nurses 'Taeoom' should be developed and implemented.

Influence of light on the initial growth of invasive Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer in the Brazilian semiarid region / Influência da luz no crescimento inicial da invasora Cryptostegia madagascariensis Bojer no semiárido Brasileiro

The invasion by Cryptostegia madagascariensis causes economic and environmental problems in Northeastern Brazil. Current study evaluates the initial growth of C. madagascariensis on light gradient. The experiment used 0, 30, 50 and 70% shading treatments arranged in a completely randomized design and evaluated in four periods, namely, 35, 50, 65 and 80 days. Height, absolute growth rate, relative growth rate, number of side branches, number of leaves, leaf area, specific leaf area, leaf area ratio, root mass ratio, stem mass ratio, leaf mass ratio and leaf area/root mass ratio were evaluated. Results showed that the height was greater in shade environments, and the greater the available light, the greater was the number of side branches. C. madagascariensis is able to change the leaf area, specific leaf area and biomass allocation in different shadings. Since C. madagascariensis varies growth forms and performs morphological adjustments to increase light uptake, the plant has warranted success during the initial growth under different shadings.

A invasão da Cryptostegia madagascariensis causa problemas econômicos e ambientais no Nordeste do Brasil. O objetivo do trabalho foi estudar o crescimento inicial da C. madagascariensis em gradiente de luz. O experimento utilizou os tratamentos de 0, 30, 50 e 70% de sombreamento, dispostos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado e avaliados em quatro períodos: 35, 50, 65 e 80 dias. Foram avaliados a altura, a taxa de crescimento absoluto, a taxa de crescimento relativo, o número de ramos laterais e de folhas, a área foliar, a área foliar específica, a razão de área foliar, a razão de massa da raiz, a razão de massa do caule, a razão de massa das folhas e a razão área foliar/massa da raiz. Os resultados mostraram que a altura foi maior em ambientes sombreados e, quanto mais luz disponível, maior o número de ramos laterais. A C. madagascariensis é capaz de alterar a área foliar, a área foliar específica e na alocação de biomassa nos diferentes sombreamentos. Portanto, a C. madagascariensis varia a forma de crescimento e realiza ajustes morfológicos para aumentar a captação de luz, o que garantiu seu sucesso durante o crescimento inicial em diferentes sombreamentos.

Effect of water velocity on intermediary metabolism of juvenile matrinxã fish (Brycon amazonicus) / Efecto de la velocidad del agua en el metabolismo intermediario de juveniles del pez Yamú (Brycon amazonicus) / Efeito da velocidade da água no metabolismo intermediário de juvenis do peixe Matrinxa (Brycon amazonicus)

Background: determination of water velocity for optimum fish growth is fundamental since its duration and intensity can interfere with the metabolic preference for some biochemical paths, resulting in the use of specific substrates for fish growth. Objective: the purpose of this study was to assess the metabolic adjustments of juvenile matrinxã (Brycon amazonicus) reared under various sustained swimming conditions (SS). Methods: fish were subjected to SS for 90 days at five swimming speeds: 0.0 (control), 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 Body Length per second (BL/s). At the end of the experimental period, fish were euthanized; samples of blood, liver, white-muscle, red-muscle and ventral muscle were collected and metabolite concentrations were evaluated. Results: fish reared between 1.0-1.5 BL/s increased the hepatosomatic index (HSI) while those swimming at velocities higher than 1.5 BL/s showed diminished HSI and visceral fat. Fish under moderate swimming utilized visceral fat to supply energy for red muscle contractions while white muscle of fish swimming at higher speeds used carbon backbones from amino acids plus visceral fat. Conclusion: sustained swimming between 1.0-1.5 BL/s enhanced the intermediary metabolism of B. amazonicus, improving fish performance. Future studies linking macronutrient dietary levels and SS should allow adjusting rearing conditions under SS to optimize growth versus metabolic performance.

Antecedentes: la determinación de la velocidad del agua para óptimo crecimiento de los peces es importante porque dependiendo de la intensidad y duración, puede interferir sobre la activación de las vías metabólicas, indicando mayor o menor utilización de un determinado substrato energético para el crecimiento. Objetivo: la finalidad de este trabajo fue estudiar los efectos del ejercicio de natación sobre el metabolismo de juveniles de matrinxa (Brycon amazonicus). Métodos: juveniles de B. amazonicus fueron cultivados y condicionados a nadar bajo diferentes velocidades de natación 0,0 (control), 1,0, 1,5, 2,0 y 2,5 longitud total por segundo (LT s-1). Al final del período experimental (90 días), se realizó la eutanasia de los peces y se recolectaron muestras de sangre, tejido hepático, músculo blanco, músculo rojo y músculo ventral para determinar los intermediarios metabólicos. Resultados: peces cultivados en velocidades de natación entre 1,0 y 1,5 LT s-1 presentaron aumento del índice hepasomático (HSI), mientras que los peces que nadaron en velocidades superiores a 1,5 LT s-1 mostraron disminución de los índices HSI y grasa visceral (IGVS). Los peces condicionados a nadar en velocidades moderadas utilizaron lípidos viscerales como fuente de energía para sostener la contracción muscular del músculo rojo. Mientras que los peces que nadaron en las mayores velocidades, el músculo blanco fue más demandado, empleando como combustible, esqueletos de carbono provenientes de los aminoácidos y significativa movilización de grasa visceral. Conclusión: la natación sostenida entre 1,0 - 1,5 LT s-1 mejoró el metabolismo intermediario de B. amazonicus y el desempeño de los peces. Futuros trabajos asociando niveles de macro nutrientes y protocolos de natación moderada pueden permitir ajustes más refinados en la mejoría de las condiciones de cultivo, en la optimización del crecimiento, en la eficiencia alimenticia y en el aumento de la resistencia orgánica a las prácticas de manejo en las pisciculturas.

Antecedentes: a determinação da velocidade da água para o ótimo crescimento dos peixes é importante porque dependendo da intensidade e duração, pode interferir sobre a predominância na ativação de uma ou de outra via metabólica, indicando maior ou menor utilização de um determinado substrato energético e agir no crescimento. Objetivo: o propósito deste trabalho foi estudar os efeitos que o exercício de natação tem sobre o metabolismo de juvenis do peixe Matrinxa, Brycon amazonicus. Métodos: juvenis de B. amazonicus foram criados e condicionados a nadar durante 90 dias em cinco velocidades de natação: 0,0 (controle); 1,0; 1,5; 2,0 e 2,5 comprimentos corporais por segundo (CC s-1). Após termino do período experimental, os peixes foram sacrificados, o sangue, fígado, músculos branco, vermelho e ventral foram coletados para avaliar o perfil metabólico. Resultados: velocidades moderadas de natação entre 1,0 a 1,5 CC s-1 aumentaram o índice hepatosomático (HSI), enquanto que, o condicionamento dos peixes a maiores velocidades diminuiu significativamente o índice HSI e a gordura visceral (IGVS) em relação ao controle. Com respeito às respostas metabólicas, o condicionamento dos peixes em velocidades moderadas mostrou que o fornecimento de energia para sustentar a contração muscular dependeu primariamente dos triglicerídeos provenientes principalmente dos lipídios viscerais, ao passo que, em velocidades maiores, a via gliconeogênica foi a responsável pela manutenção na produção de energia para os músculos locomotivos, a qual aumentou progressivamente em função do catabolismo dos aminoácidos dos músculos locomotivos. Conclusão: a natação sustentada entre 1,0 - 1,5 CC s-1 melhorou o metabolismo intermediário do B. amazonicus o que resultou em melhor desempenho dos peixes. Estudos futuros associando níveis dietéticos de nutrientes com a natação moderada, pode permitir aos peixes ajustes mais refinados na melhoria das condições de criação, na otimização do crescimento, na eficiência alimentar e no aumento da resistência orgânica as praticas de manejo nas pisciculturas.

Ajustes posturais antecipatórios e compensatórios ao pegar uma bola em condição de estabilidade e instabilidade postural / Anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments during catching a ball in condition of postural instability and stability

Indivíduos jovens pré-selecionam suas estratégias de ajuste postural antes que uma perturbação externa ocorra, com base nas características da tarefa. Entretanto, ainda não é bem conhecido de que maneira o sistema nervoso central lida com os ajustes posturais antecipatórios e compensatórios, mediante alguns treinos de equilíbrio que são comumente usados na prática clínica da Fisioterapia. Treze adultos jovens receberam 20 perturbações posturais externas de pegar uma bola arremessada pelo experimentador sobre condições de estabilidade e instabilidade postural (sobre uma espuma). As atividades eletromiográficas dos músculos tríceps braquial (músculo focal), retoabdominal e paravertebral lombar foram avaliadas nas janelas de tempo típicas dos ajustes posturais antecipatórios e compensatórios, assim como o pico do deslocamento do centro de pressão corporal após a perturbação. A magnitude das integrais da atividade eletromiográfica do músculo tríceps braquial foi significativamente menor em condição de instabilidade postural, não houve diferença estatística entre as condições para as integrais da atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos retoabdominal e paravertebral lombar. O pico do deslocamento anteroposterior do centro de pressão corporal foi similar entre as duas condições. Treino de equilíbrio associado à perturbação externa da postura sobre espuma pode não ser mais eficaz ou eficiente do que sobre uma superfície estável, quando se pretende alterar a atividade dos músculos posturais do tronco. Além disso, este tipo de intervenção pode corroborar para diminuir a ativação antecipatória (ajustes posturais antecipatórios) do músculo focal.

Young individuals preselect their postural adjustment strategies before an external perturbation, based on the characteristics of the task. However, it is not well documented how the central nervous system deals with anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments during some balance training programs, which are commonly used in Physical Therapy settings. Thirteen young individuals were submitted to 20 external postural perturbations of catching a ball thrown by an experimenter in conditions of postural stability and instability (standing on a foam). The electromyographic activities of triceps brachii (focal muscle), rectus abdominis, and lumbar paraspinal muscles were investigated in the time windows typical for anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments, as well as the center of body pressure peak displacement after the perturbation. The magnitude of the triceps brachii integral electromyographic activity was significantly smaller in conditions of postural instability, there was no statistical difference between the stable and unstable conditions for the integral electromyographic activity of the rectus abdominis, and lumbar paraspinal muscles. The peak of the center of body pressure anterior posterior displacement was similar between the two conditions. Balance training associated with external perturbation standing on a foam might not be more effective or efficient than when standing on a stable surface, when it seeks to modify the activity of the postural trunk muscles. In addition, this balance training may contribute to decrease the electromyographic activity (anticipatory postural adjustments) of the focal muscle.

A simplified chair-side remount technique using customized mounting platforms

Correct occlusal relationships are part of the successful prosthetic treatment for edentulous patients. Fabrication of complete dentures comprises of clinical and laboratory procedures that should be executed accurately for achieving success with fabricated dentures. Errors occurring during the clinical and laboratory procedures of a denture may subsequently lead to the occlusal errors in the final prosthesis. These occlusal errors can be corrected in two ways: i) in patient's mouth ii) by recording new centric relation and remounting dentures on an articulator. The latter method is more feasible because the mobility of denture base on the mucosa in oral cavity does not permit the identification of premature contacts in centric occlusion and tooth guided eccentric excursions. This article describes a modest and effective clinical chair-side remount procedure using customized mounting platforms.

Tamanho e rigidez dos objetos influenciam os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance de crianças? / Can size and rigidity of objects influence infant's proximal and distal adjustments of reaching?

CONTEXTUALIZAÇÃO: Objetos influenciam nos ajustes do alcance de lactentes, no entanto ainda não se investigou se esses ajustes se modificam em crianças com mais idade. OBJETIVOS: Verificar se o tamanho e a rigidez dos objetos influenciam os ajustes proximais e distais do alcance dos 6 aos 8 meses e aos 36 meses de idade. MÉTODOS: A nove crianças saudáveis foram apresentados: um objeto rígido grande, um rígido pequeno, um maleável grande e um maleável pequeno. Os alcances foram filmados e posteriormente analisados qualitativamente quanto aos ajustes proximais (alcance uni e bimanual) e distais (orientação da mão horizontalizada, verticalizada e oblíqua; mão aberta, semiaberta e fechada) e a preensão desses objetos (com e sem). Foram aplicados o Teste de Friedman e as comparações múltiplas de Dunn, considerando-se 0,05 como diferença significativa. RESULTADOS: Constatou-se que, aos 36 meses, houve mais alcances unimanuais do que nas idades anteriores e, em todas as idades, os alcances unimanuais foram realizados principalmente para os objetos pequenos. Aos 36 meses, as crianças orientaram a mão horizontalizada para tocar e apreender os objetos, enquanto que, aos 6 e 7 meses, a orientação foi oblíqua para tocar e verticalizada para apreendê-los, independentemente das propriedades dos objetos. No decorrer dos meses, tanto no início quanto no final do alcance, as mãos tornaram-se mais abertas, principalmente para tocar o objeto rígido grande, e as crianças realizaram cada vez mais alcances com preensão, principalmente para os objetos maleáveis ou objetos pequenos. CONCLUSÕES: De 6 a 36 meses, os alcances tornaram-se mais refinados e ajustados às propriedades mais discrepantes dos objetos apresentados, o que se observou pelas modificações nos ajustes proximais e distais.

BACKGROUND: It has been found that objects influence the adjustments to reaching of breastfeeding infants, however, it has not been investigated whether these adjustments change in older infants. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine whether the size and rigidity of objects influence the proximal and distal adjustments to reaching of infants of 6, 7, 8 and 36 months of age. METHODS: Nine healthy infants were presented with: one large rigid, one small rigid, one large malleable and one small malleable object. The movements were videotaped and later analyzed qualitatively with regard to proximal (unimanual and bimanual reaching) and distal adjustments (horizontal, vertical and oblique hand orientation, opened, half-open and closed hand) and with regard to grasping of these objects (with and without). Friedman test and Dunn multiple comparisons were applied and 0.05 was considered as a significant difference. RESULTS: Infants of 36 months of age performed more unimanual reaching than younger infants. Additionally, at all ages, unimanual reaching was particularly performed for small objects. At 36 months of age infants guided the hand horizontally to touch and grasp the objects, while at 6 and 7 months the hand orientation was oblique to touch and vertical to grasp the objects, regardless of the object's properties. Over the months, both at the beginning and at the end of reaching, the hands became more open, especially to touch the large rigid object, and infants increasingly performed reaching with successful grasping, especially for malleable or small objects. CONCLUSIONS: From 6 to 36 months of age, the reaching became more refined and the infants adjusted to the different properties of the objects which were observed through changes in the proximal and distal adjustments.