Evaluation of the comparative effects of infrared and red laser photobiomodulation therapy on skeletal muscle atrophy in an immobilization model in rats

Introduction: Skeletal muscle atrophy leads to a reduction in muscle strength, functionality, and the quality of life of individuals. Objective: To explore the effects of two different wavelengths (red and infrared) of laser PBMT on muscle atrophy and its active ingredients on skeletal muscle atrophy using an in vivo model of muscle atrophy. Methods: Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups: control (CG) animals were not immobilized and did not receive any type of treatment; immobilized animals with no treatment (ImC); immobilized animals submitted to red laser with wavelength of 660 nm (ImR) and near-infrared laser with wavelength of 808 nm (ImIR) treatments. The treatments were applied daily, at 2 points in the right gastrocnemius muscle (cranial and caudal), through the punctual contact technique, for 9 sessions, with the first application immediately after removing the cast. Results: The histological results demonstrated that in both treated groups (red and infrared wavelengths) a reduction of the inflammatory infiltrate and less connective tissue thickening when compared to the ImC. However, only infrared light was observed regenerating muscle fibers and an increase in the number of oxidative fibers (type I). Conclusion: These results suggest that red and infrared wavelength laser PBMT were able to promote changes in the morphology of the gastrocnemius muscle submitted to atrophy in an experimental immobilization model, reducing the inflammatory infiltrate and the formation of intramuscular connective tissue. However, infrared laser PBMT promoted more evident positive effects by increasing regenerating muscle fibers and the number of oxidative fibers.

Evaluation of Collagen Fibers, MMP2, MMP9, 8-OHdG and Apoptosis in the Aorta of Ovariectomized LDL Knockout Mice Submitted to Aerobic Exercise / Avaliação de Fibras de Colágeno, MMP2, MMP9, 8-OH-Dg e Apoptose na Aorta de Ratas LDL Nocaute Ovariectomizadas Submetidas a Exercício Aeróbico

Abstract Background: In menopause, there is greater cellular exposure to oxidative stress, related to the decreased antioxidative effects of estrogen. These metabolic changes favor the progression of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Abnormal function of the aorta - the most important artery - is associated with many cardiovascular diseases. Collagen, especially types I and III, is one of the most important aortic wall components and it can be affected by many factors, including menopause. The 8-OHdG is one of the main markers of DNA oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Objective: We aimed to investigate effects of moderate aerobic training on the ascending aorta of LDL-knockout (LDL-KO) and ovariectomized female mice. Methods: A total of 15 C57BL/6 mice and 15 LDL-KO mice were divided into experimental groups. The thickness and volume density of types I and III collagen fibers were performed by morphoquantitative analysis, whereas the MMP-2 and MMP-9 and 8-OHdG were detected by immunohistochemistry and apoptosis was detected by the TUNEL assay. The significance level for all tests was p < 0.05. Results: Exercise causes an increase in the thickness of the aorta in LDL-KO groups, particularly accentuated in the ovariectomized groups. The type I collagen fibers showed an increase in volume density influenced by training in both Control groups and in the LDL-KO group. Type III collagen density decreased in both groups. The MMP-2 showed moderade immunostaining in the tunica media in LDL-KO groups, which did not occur in the control groups and the MMP-9 stained irregularly in all tissues. The marker 8-OhdG was stronger in the exercise training groups. Additionally, the ovariectomy, the exercise training and the LDL-KO treatments increased apoptosis. Conclusion: These results suggest that moderate-intensity aerobic exercise in ovariectomized mice associated to an increase in LDL rate possibly increases oxidative stress and apoptosis induction.

Resumo Fundamento: Na menopausa, há maior exposição celular ao estresse oxidativo, relacionada à diminuição dos efeitos antioxidantes do estrogênio. Essas alterações metabólicas favorecem a progressão das doenças cardiovasculares, como a aterosclerose. A função anormal da aorta - a artéria mais importante - está associada a muitas doenças cardiovasculares. O colágeno, especialmente os tipos I e III, é um dos mais importantes componentes da parede da aorta e pode ser afetado por muitos fatores, incluindo a menopausa. Por sua vez, 8-OHdG é um dos principais marcadores de danos oxidativos do DNA induzidos por espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROS). Objetivo: Investigar os efeitos do treinamento aeróbico moderado na aorta ascendente de camundongos fêmeas, nocaute para LDL (LDL-KO) e ovariectomizadas. Métodos: Um total de 15 animais C57BL/6 e 15 animais LDL-KO foram divididos em grupos experimentais. A espessura e a densidade de volume das fibras de colágeno tipos I e III foram realizadas por análise morfoquantitativa; MMP-2 e MMP-9 e 8-OHdG foram detectadas por imunohistoquímica; e a apoptose foi detectada pelo ensaio TUNEL. O nível de significância adotado para todos os testes realizados foi p < 0,05. Resultados: o exercício causa aumento da espessura da aorta em grupos LDL-KO, particularmente acentuada em grupos ovariectomizados. As fibras de colágeno de tipo I mostraram aumento da densidade de volume influenciado pelo treinamento em animais controle e LDL-KO. A densidade do colágeno tipo III diminuiu em ambos os grupos. A MMP-2 mostrou imunomarcação moderada na túnica média em animais LDL-KO; em grupos controle, a MMP-9 marcou irregularmente em todos os tecidos. O marcador 8-OHdG foi mais forte nos grupos de treinamento de exercícios. Além disso, a ovariectomia, o treinamento físico e os tratamentos de LDL-KO aumentaram a apoptose. Conclusão: Esses resultados sugerem que exercícios aeróbicos de intensidade moderada em camundongos ovariectomizados associados ao aumento da taxa de LDL, possivelmente, aumentam o estresse oxidativo e a indução da apoptose.

Importância clínica do músculo esternal e suas variações anatômicas: uma revisão sistemática da literatura / Clinical importance of sternalis muscle and anatomical variations: a systematic review of literature

A presença do músculo esternal é uma variação anatômica que está situada anteriormente ao osso esterno e suas estruturas adjacentes e não tem função totalmente definida. Há na literatura mais relatos de estudos anatômicos sobre o músculo esternal do que sobre as implicações clínicas da sua presença. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as descrições existentes das variações anatômicas do músculo esternal, compreendendo, assim, a importância clínica desse conhecimento. Foram avaliados artigos nas línguas portuguesa e inglesa, indexados nas bases de dados PubMed e SciELO, publicados entre 1867 e 2016. Buscou-se verificar os tipos de variações anatômicas do músculo esternal descritas, suas origens e inserções, inervação e irrigação sanguínea. Em seguida, foi relatada a importância clínica do conhecimento dessa variação. O músculo esternal apresenta diversas dimensões e inserções, o que dificulta a determinação de sua função. Devido à localização paraesternal, em exames de imagem o referido músculo pode ser visto como uma nodulação anormal na região da mama e ser confundido com um tumor. O reconhecimento dessa variação antes de procedimentos cirúrgicos na parede torácica evita possíveis complicações e possibilita o uso do tecido como retalho muscular em cirurgias reconstrutivas da mama; também pode ser usado na melhora de resultados estéticos em mamoplastia de aumento ou fornecer cobertura extra para próteses. O conhecimento sobre essa variação anatômica é bastante relevante, pois a percepção da existência do músculo esternal e de suas variações relaciona-se a importantes implicações clínicas em cirurgias de mama e tórax.

The presence of sternal muscle is an anatomical variation, located above the sternum and adjacent structures, and its function is not fully defined. In the literature, there are more reports of anatomical studies of the sternal muscle than clinical implications of its presence. The objective of this study was to analyze descriptions about anatomical variations of the sternal muscle and understand the clinical importance of this knowledge. Articles in Portuguese and English, indexed in the databases PubMed and SciELO, from 1867 to 2016, were evaluated. The types of anatomical variants of sternal muscle its origins and insertions, innervation and blood supply were observed. After that, was brought the clinical importance of knowledge of this variation. The sternal muscle has several dimensions and inserts, making difficult to determine its function. Due to its parasternal location in imaging studies it may be seen as an abnormal bulge in the breast region and confused with a tumor. The discovery of this variation before thoracic surgical procedures avoids possible complications,enabling its use as a muscle flap in reconstructive surgery after mastectomy or improving the aesthetic result of breast augmentation providing extra covering for the prosthesis. The knowledge about this anatomical variation is quite relevant, because the perception of the existence of the sternum muscle and its variations is related to important clinical implications in breast and chest surgeries.

Low-level laser therapy modulates musculoskeletal loss in a skin burn model in rats

PURPOSE: To investigate the effectiveness of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on gastrocnemius muscle morphology and Myod imunoexpression in a model of dorsal burn in rats. METHODS: Sixteen male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups: control group (CG): rats submitted to scald burn injury without treatment and laser treated group (LG): rats submitted to scald burn injury and treated with laser therapy. Fourteen days post-surgery, gastrocnemius muscle was evaluated being the specimens stained with HE and morphometric data was evaluated. MyoD expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The results showed that laser treated animals presented more organized tissue morphology compared to the non-treated animals, with a higher number of nucleus in the fibers. Also, the cross sectional area of the fibers and the MyoD immunoexpression in the laser treated groups was higher. CONCLUSION: Low-level laser therapy had positive effects on gastrocnemius muscle, improving tissue muscle morphology, increasing cross sectional area and MyoD immunoexpression. .

Morar e trabalhar na mesma comunidade: a visão de praticantes populares de saúde / Living and working in the same community: a practitioner's view of popular health practices

Esta pesquisa teve o objetivo de compreender as relações que se estruturam entre praticantes de práticas populares de saúde e usuários, ex-usuários e não usuários de tais práticas que residem no mesmo bairro do praticante. O referencial teórico adotado foi da Educação Popular e Saúde, das Práticas Alternativas e Complementares de Saúde e da Psicodinâmica do Trabalho. A pesquisa foi realizada em 2010 tendo como procedimento metodológico central entrevistas semi-estruturadas com cinco praticantes que residissem e trabalhassem na mesma região. As práticas por eles exercidas foram de: a) benzimento, b) ervas, c) ervas e raízes, d) massagem bioenergética de Reick, e) auriculoterapia e cromoterapia. Os praticantes foram selecionados a partir de levantamento anterior feito na região no projeto ?Mapeamento e Catalogação Inicial de Práticas Populares de Saúde de São Carlos?. Os dados foram analisados nas seguintes categorias: Onde a Prática é Exercida; Como o Praticante Vê a Prática em sua Vida; Caracterização das Relações Estabelecidas com a Comunidade, sendo esta última categoria dividida em: Tempo de Moradia e O Exercer da Prática na Mesma Comunidade; Relação entre Praticante e Usuários da Prática; Relação entre Praticante e Ex-usuários da Prática; Relação entre Praticante e Não Usuário da Prática; Pontos Negativos de Realizar a Prática; Pontos Positivos de Realizar a Prática; Gratificações e Recompensas pela Prática. Os resultados apontam aspectos importantes das relações estabelecidas entre praticantes populares de saúde com a comunidade, sendo de âmbito profissional e de trabalho e também no campo das relações sociais de amizade, afetividade. Ainda foi possível verificar relações de conflito, estresse e inimizade entre praticante e ex e não-usuários.

This research aimed to understand the relationships that are formed between practitioners of popular medicine and users, former users, and non-users of such practices who reside in the same neighborhood as the practitioner. The theoretical analysis of the problem was based on Popular Education and Health, on Alternative and Complementary Health Practices, and on Psychodynamics of Work. The study was conducted in 2010 using, as its central methodological procedure, semi-structured interviews with five practitioners who lived in the same region where they worked. The practices they performed were: a) blessing, b) herbs, c) herbs and roots, d) Reiki massage bioenergetics, and e) auricular and color therapy. The practitioners were selected from a previous survey taken in the region, in the project ?Initial Mapping and Cataloguing of Popular Health Practices in the city of São Carlos?, in the state of São Paulo - Brazil. The data were analyzed in the following categories: Where the practice is run; How the practitioners see the practice in their lives; Characteristics of the relations established with the community, this last being divided into several categories: Length of time residing and running the practice in the same community; The relationship between practitioner and users of the practice; The relationship between practitioner and former users of the practice; The relationship between the practitioner and non-users of the practice; Negative points in operating the practice; Positive points in operating the practice; Fees and compensation for the practice. The results point to important aspects of the relations established between practitioners of popular health practices and the community, being in the professional and work-related sphere, and also in the social relations areas of friendship and affection. It was also possible to identify relations of conflict, stress, and hostility between practitioner and former users and non-users.