Laserterapia versus técnica de compressão isquêmica: avaliação comparativa dos efeitos terapêuticos e funcionais da contratura do músculo trapézio / Laser therapy versus ischemic compression technique: comparative evaluation of the therapeutic and functional effects of trapezius contracture

Introdução: A contratura muscular ocorre quando o músculo se contrai de maneira incorreta e não volta ao seu estado normal de relaxamento, em resposta a uma sobrecarga de esforço. Objetivos: Comparou-se a utilização de duas técnicas e os benefícios proporcionados ao tratamento dos pacientes acometidos com contratura do músculo trapézio superior. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo transversal, intervencionista, comparativo e quantitativo no período de agosto de 2015 a junho de 2016, com 49 acadêmicos, que foram divididos em dois grupos (G1/G2). Os dados foram obtidos através da ficha de avaliação cinético-funcional desenvolvida para o estudo, que foi aplicada antes e ao término do tratamento fisioterapêutico, Escala dos Sintomas de Dyrek e Escala Visual Analógica. Resultados: Dos 49 acadêmicos, 80% eram do sexo feminino, sendo 95% solteiras, todos naturais de Fortaleza, todos cursando o ensino superior, com média de idade de 23,33 anos. No G1 (Compressão isquêmica) antes da aplicação a maior predominância foi a de nível de dor 7 e logo depois da aplicação o nível de maior predominância foi de dor 2, conforme Escala Visual Analógica. No G2 (Laserterapia) o nível de dor antes da aplicação foi de 7 e logo depois da aplicação, foi de dor 1 conforme Escala Visual Analógica. Conclusão: As técnicas de Laserterapia e a Compressão Isquêmica melhoraram o aporte sanguíneo da área tratada, porém na laserterapia houve a diminuição do limiar de dor e restabelecimento da normalidade funcional local. (AU)

Introduction: Muscle contracture occurs when the muscle contracts incorrectly and does not return to its normal state of relaxation in response to effort overload. Objectives: We compared the use of two techniques and the benefits provided to the treatment of patients with upper trapezius contracture. Methods: This was a cross-sectional, interventional, comparative and quantitative study between August 2015 and June 2016, with 49 academics divided into two groups (G1/G2). The data were obtained through the functional kinetic evaluation sheet developed for the study, which was applied before and at the end of the physiotherapeutic treatment, Dyrek Symptom Scale and Visual Analog Scale. Results: Of the 49 students, 80% were female, 95% single, all of them from Fortaleza/CE, all of them attending higher education, with a mean age of 23.33 years. In G1 (Ischemic Compression), before the application, the greatest predominance was pain level 7 and soon after the application the greater predominance was level pain 2, according to Visual Analog Scale. In G2 (Laser Therapy) the level of pain before the application was 7 and soon after the application was level pain 1 according to Visual Analog Scale. Conclusion: Laser therapy and ischemic compression improved the blood supply of the treated area, and laser therapy decreased th pain threshold and restored the local functional normality. (AU)

Influence of growth regulators on distribution of trichomes and the production of volatiles in micropropagated plants of Plectranthus ornatus

ABSTRACT The profile of volatile organic compounds, the glandular and non-glandular trichomes of Plectranthus ornatus, obtained by in vitro cultivation, was evaluated in plants grown in Murashide and Skoog medium supplemented with benylaminopurine at 4.5, 9.0, and 18.0 µM + naphthaleneacetic acid at 5.37 µM, kinetin at 4.7, 9.3 and 18.5 µM + naphthaleneacetic acid (5.37 µM) or Murashide and Skoog 0 medium (as a control). Scanning Electron Microscopy was performed on samples of the third leaf node of the 90 days old plants obtained from treatment with 4.5 or 9.0 µM benylaminopurine, and 4.7 or 9.3 µM kinetin. Headspace Solid Phase Micro-Extraction of the 30, 60 and 90 days old in vitro plants permitted to determinate by GC/MS the composition comprised of 62 compounds. The data were analyzed using Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Clustering Analysis and, the major constituents of these oils after treatment and aging were monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. Morphoanatomical analysis of trichomes, by Scanning Electron Microscopy, enabled the identification of non-glandular trichomes and four types of glandular trichomes, which comprised capitate and peltate glandular trichomes that were distributed on both sides of the leaf. We observed that the regulators influenced qualitative and quantitative profiles of the volatile organic compounds and the number and distribution of hairs on the leaf surface.

Ecologia e história natural das serpentes de uma área de Caatinga no nordeste brasileiro / Ecology and natural history of snakes in a area of Caatinga in northeastern Brazil

We studied a snake assemblage from an area of Caatinga with shrub and tree vegetation to describe the natural history of the snake species. A total of 636 individuals among 22 species from four families were recorded. The distribution of species abundances is log-normal; and the composition presents typical species from the Caatinga, with Oxybelis aeneus (Wagler, 1824) and Philodryas nattereri Steindachner, 1870 being the most common. The natural history of each species is described based on information regarding activity patterns, diet, habitat use, reproduction, and defensive repertoire obtained during the study, as well as on information available in the literature. The study area is located in a priority region for conservation and our results emphasize that conservation policies should be implemented in the region.(au)

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis: report of two cases with different clinical presentations / Angiostrongilíase abdominal: relato de dois casos com diferentes apresentações clínicas

Abdominal angiostrongyliasis is a sporadic infectious disease caused by the nematode Angiostrongylus costaricensis. It usually presents as acute abdomen, secondary to mesenteric ischemia, and pronounced eosinophilia. In some cases its course is insidious and transient, and the diagnosis is suspicious. The disease is confirmed by the detection of A. costaricensis elements in surgical specimen. The treatment is supportive, with avoidance of antihelminthic administration due to a possible erratic migration followed by worsening of the disease. We report two cases, both with intense eosinophilia and serum IgG-ELISA positive to A. costaricensis. The first case presented ileal perforation and was surgically treated. The second one showed hepatic nodules at ultrasound and was only symptomatically treated, evolving to an apparent protracted resolution. These two cases exemplify different clinical forms of the disease, one of them with liver involvement.

A angiostrongilíase abdominal é doença esporádica decorrente da infecção pelo nematódeo Angiostrongylus costaricensis. Costuma manifestar-se como abdome agudo secundário a isquemia mesentérica, além de marcada eosinofilia. Pode também apresentar-se de forma insidiosa e transitória, exigindo alta suspeita clínica para o diagnóstico. A doença é confirmada pela identificação de elementos do A. costaricensis em peças cirúrgicas. O tratamento é apenas de suporte, devendo-se evitar o uso de anti-helmínticos pela possibilidade de migração errática do verme com piora do quadro. Aqui foram apresentados dois casos, ambos com acentuada eosinofilia e ELISA-IgG sérico positivo para A. costaricencis. O primeiro caso cursou com perfuração ileal e foi tratado cirurgicamente. O segundo caso apresentou nódulos hepáticos ao ultrassom e foi tratado sintomaticamente, evoluindo para lenta resolução. Estes dois casos exemplificam diferentes formas de apresentação clínica da doença, uma delas com envolvimento hepático.

Prevalence of indeterminate human immunodeficiency virus western blot results in pregnant women attended at a public hospital in Presidente Prudente, Brazil

The AIDS epidemic is spreading rapidly among women worldwide, offering increasing opportunities for vertical transmission of HIV. In Brazil, the prevalence of HIV infection among pregnant women is less than 1 percent. Therefore, the positive predictive value of an HIV EIA test tends to be lower than the more frequent indeterminate Western blot result. Pregnant women receiving antenatal care, from 2000 to 2004, at a public secondary hospital in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, were systematically screened for HIV by means of two distinct EIA tests, in order to determine the prevalence of indeterminate Western blot results among pregnant women showing discordance in both HIV EIA tests and indirect immunofluorescence assay. Confirmatory indirect immunofluorescence was performed on material for all women with positive results in both EIA tests. Whenever there were positive results in EIA and IIA, the applicant was retested by the initial screening assay. Only those not showing concordance in results in EIA and IAA had a Western blot performed. The viral load was measured in pregnant women with positive or indeterminate Western blot results. Out of 9,786 sera, 105 (1.0 percent) were positive in the two HIV EIA screening tests, confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence. Among these women, Western blot was interpreted as indeterminate in 11 (0.1 percent) cases and their viral load was <50 copies/mL. We found a prevalence of 0.1 percent HIV indeterminate Western blots in pregnant women from Presidente Prudente and the surrounding region; none of these pregnant women had positive HIV viral loads.

Aterosclerose coronariana e infarto do miocárdio em chagásicos crônicos / Coronary arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction in chronic Chagas' disease

PURPOSE--To evaluate both the frequency of myocardial infarction and coronary atherosclerosis as well as the pathology of the later in necropsied chronic chagasic individuals. METHODS--Systematized gross and light microscopy were performed in hearts, especially at the three main coronary arteries. Eighty-nine hearts were studied, 35 chronic chagasics and 54 nonchagasics, all from males. Statistical tests were used for frequency analysis. RESULTS--Myocardial infarction occurred in 8.6 chagasics and in 7.4 nonchagasics. Coronary atherosclerosis was detected in 71.4 of chagasics and in 74.1 of nonchagasics. Its morphology was similar for both groups and indistinguishable from the classical descriptions of atherosclerosis. There were no cases showing lesions compatible with accelerated coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION--The frequency of myocardial infarction and coronary atherosclerosis was the same for both chagasics and nonchagasic individuals. The morphological findings for the studied arteriopathy were identical for the two considered groups. However, it seems that the frequency of myocardial infarction is higher in chagasics with normal coronary arteries (with or without minimal atherosclerotic lesions), as compared with nonchagasics.

Objetivo - Determinar a freqüência de infarto do miocárdio e da aterosclerose coronariana, bem como as características anatomopatológicas desta última em chagásicos crônicos necropsiados. Métodos - Estudaram-se 89 corações, sendo 35 de chagásicos crônicos e 54 de não-chagásicos, todos provenientes de homens e foram analisados de modo sistematizado, macro e microscopicamente, o coração e, particularmente, os principais troncos coronarianos. Empregaram-se testes estatísticos para análise das freqüências. Resultados -Infarto do miocárdio ocorreu em 8,6% dos chagásicos e em 7,4% dos não-chagásicos. A aterosclerose coronariana foi diagnosticada em 71,4% dos tripanossomóticos e em 74,1% dos nãotripanossomóticos e suas características morfológicas foram semelhantes nos dois grupos considerados e superponiveis àquelas, classicamente, descritas na arteriopatia. Em nenhum caso se observaram lesões daarteriosclerose coronariana acelerada. Conclusão - A freqüência de infarto do miocárdio e de aterosclerose coronariana foi a mesma em chagásicos e não-chagásicos. Quanto às características morfológicas da arteriopatia em estudo foram idênticas nos dois grupos considerados. Entretanto, a freqüência de infarto do miocárdio, em chagásicos com coronárias pérvias, sem ou com lesões ateroscleróticas mínimas, parece maior que a observada em não-chagásicos.

Actinomicose abdominal / Abdominal actinomycosis

A actinomicose é uma infecçäo crônica do homem e animais, caracterizada pela formaçäo de abscessos com múltiplos locais de drenagem, causada por um actinomiceto anaeróbio do gênero actinomices. Quando acomete o abdome, o local mais freqüente é a válvula ileocecal. Relata-se um caso de actinomicose abdominal após cirurgia por apendicite aguda. Por semelhança com neoplasia de ceco, foi efetuada uma hemicolectomia direita. Após o diagnóstico anátomo-patológico de actinomicose, foi realizado tratamento durante 6 semanas com tetraciclina

Consideracoes teoricas sobre antibioticoterapia e pulmao / Theorical consideration about antibioticotherapy and lung

Esse trabalho tentara oferecer um painel de consideracoes sobre as variaveis que influenciam a eficacia de esquemas terapeuticos e que nao se situam no binomio resistencia-sensibilidade da bacteria ao antimicrobiano mas sim pertencem ao estudo da farmacocinetica e farmacodinamica da droga. A aplicacao clinica desses conceitos sera exemplificada em algumas situacoes especificas.