Studies Involving a Commercial Extract of Three Ballerina: ii- Evaluation of the in Vitro Effect on the Labeling of Blood Constituents of rats with Technetium-99m and on the Morphology of the Red Blood Cell.

The aim of this work is to characterize (electric conductivity and refractive index) a Three Ballerina (TB) and to evaluate its in vitro effect on the labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc and on the morphology of the red blood cells (RBC). Anticoagulated whole blood (Wistar rat) was incubated with a TB extract and the labeling of the blood constituents with technetium-99m (99mTc) was performed. Plasma (P) and blood cells (BC) were isolated and aliquots were also precipitated with trichloroacetic acid to separate soluble (SF) and insoluble fractions (IF). The %ATI in these samples was calculated. The morphology of the treated RBC showed no shape’s qualitative alterations. The TB extract was characterized with an electric conductivity of 1.35±0.04mSv/cm and refractive index of 2.21±0.15%BRIX. TB extract decreased significantly (p<0.05) the radioactivity distribution in the cellular compartment from 96.97±1.30% to 88.48±7.13%, and in IF-P from 74.29±4.12 to 14.26±5.73%. In conclusion, our data show some physical chemical parameters that could be suitable to characterize the preparation of an extract of TB. Moreover, substances present in the TB extract should probably have an effect on transport of the ions through the RBC membrane and/or should have redoxi properties and the stannous ion would decrease and could justify the effect on the fixation of the radioactivity on the plasma proteins. Moreover, although our experiments were carried out with animals, it is suggested precaution in the interpretation of the examinations that use labeled blood constituents in patients who are undergone TB extract.

Studies Involving a Commercial Extract of three Ballerina: I- Characterization and the Effect on the Binding of two 99mtechnetium-Radiopharmaceuticals on Blood Constituents.

We have determined some physicochemical parameters of an aqueous extract of Three ballerina (3TB) and its influence on the binding of the radiopharmaceuticals sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) and 99mTc-methylene diphosphonate (MDP-99mTc) on blood constituents. Whole blood of rats was incubated with a 3TB extract and with Na99mTcO4 or MDP-99mTc. Plasma (P) and blood cells (BC) from Wistar rats (control and treated) were separated. P and BC were precipitated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) and soluble (SF) and insoluble fractions (IF) isolated. The percentage of incorporated radioactivity (%ATI) in each fraction was determined. The treatment not influenced statistically (p>0.05) the %ATI of both radiopharmaceuticals on BC and P compartments, as well as on IF-P and SF-P isolated by TCA precipitation. However, 3TB has altered the fixation of the 99mTc-MDP on the IF-BC and SF-BC. We are firstly reported physicochemical parameters (absorption spectrum, viscosimetry and phmetry) about an aqueous 3TB extract. Moreover, it is possible to speculate that an alteration would be not found on the biodistribution of the 99mTc-pertechnetate in the person that is undergoing 3TB extract. However, this would be found with the 99mTc-MDP.

Saphenous Mononeuropathy after Repetitive Compression on the Knee in a Ballerina: A Case Report

Saphenous mononeuropathy is an uncommon neuropathy in clinical condition, which may incur from various surgical procedures, direct trauma, or entrapment, and most frequently involves at the adductor canal, or Hunter's canal. A 17-year old female, who was majoring in ballet, visited our rehabilitation clinic for numbness in the medial aspect of the left lower leg for the previous 9 months, without weakness. The electrodiagnostic study revealed only a delayed small potential in the left saphenous nerve. MRI examination showed soft tissue swelling in the medial side of the left knee. Accordingly, we diagnosed the patient with saphenous mononeuropathy around the knee, without lumbar plexopathy or femoral neuropathy. We report a case of saphenous mononeuropathy which developed after repetitive compression on the medial side of the knee without any other iatrogenic injury, and include a review of the relevant literature.

Bone Mineral Densities in Ballerinas, Korean Traditional Dancers and Athletes / 대한정형외과학회잡지

Evidence in human studies of the association of long term habitual exercise with bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) mostly come from studies done on athletes. The highest BMC and BMD values in young adults have been found in strength and power-training athletes, while endurance activities such as long distance running and swimming seem to be less effective in obtaining peak bone mineral density. To compare the differences in BMD among ballet, Korean traditional dancing and athletics, we examined the BMD of 10 ballerinas, 10 Korean traditional dancers, 12 athletes and 12 volunteers as the control group. All participants were female. The average age were 20.6 years for the ballerinas, 21.2 for the Korean traditional dancers, 20.4 for the athletes and 21.3 for the control group. Average weights were 50.6 kg for the ballerina, 53.7 kg for the Korean traditional dancer, 59.2 kg for the athletes and 53.8 kg for the control group. Average heights were 162.0 cm for the ballerinas, 160.4 cm for the Korean traditional dancers, 162.3 cm for the athletes and 160.5 cm for the control group. There were no significant differences in the BMD values of the proximal femur and the lumbar spine between ballerinas and control group and between Korean traditional dancers and control group (p>0.05). There was, however, a significant increase of BMD in the proximal femur and lumbar spine of the athletes when compared with the control group (p0.05). Differences of BMD values between the ballerinas and control group was statistically significant only in femoral neck (p<0.05).