Inappropriate Postural Habits of High School Students from the Municipality of Ceres, Brazil.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of inappropriate postural habits in students. 827 Brazilian students aged 14 to 19 were evaluated with a self-administered questionnaire. A high prevalence of (>90%) inappropriate habits in sitting postures (on a chair, to write, and at a computer) and picking up an object off the floor was observed, suggesting the need to develop preventive programs.

Preclinical development of CAT-354, an IL-13 neutralizing antibody, for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: IL-13 is a pleiotropic Th2 cytokine considered likely to play a pivotal role in asthma. Here we describe the preclinical in vitro and in vivo characterization of CAT-354, an IL-13-neutralizing IgG4 monoclonal antibody (mAb), currently in clinical development. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: In vitro the potency, specificity and species selectivity of CAT-354 was assayed in TF-1 cells, human umbilical vein endothelial cells and HDLM-2 cells. The ability of CAT-354 to modulate disease-relevant mechanisms was tested in human cells measuring bronchial smooth muscle calcium flux induced by histamine, eotaxin generation by normal lung fibroblasts, CD23 upregulation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and IgE production by B cells. In vivo CAT-354 was tested on human IL-13-induced air pouch inflammation in mice, ovalbumin-sensitization and challenge in IL-13 humanized mice and antigen challenge in cynomolgus monkeys. KEY RESULTS: CAT-354 has a 165 pM affinity for human IL-13 and functionally neutralized human, human variant associated with asthma and atopy (R130Q) and cynomolgus monkey, but not mouse, IL-13. CAT-354 did not neutralize human IL-4. In vitro CAT-354 functionally inhibited IL-13-induced eotaxin production, an analogue of smooth muscle airways hyperresponsiveness, CD23 upregulation and IgE production. In vivo in humanized mouse and cynomolgus monkey antigen challenge models CAT-354 inhibited airways hyperresponsiveness and bronchoalveolar lavage eosinophilia. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: CAT-354 is a potent and selective IL-13-neutralizing IgG4 mAb. The preclinical data presented here support the trialling of this mAb in patients with moderate to severe uncontrolled asthma.

Use of electromyography to assess pain in the upper trapezius and lower back muscles within a fatigue protocol / Uso da eletromiografia na análise de dor dos músculos trapézio superior e lombares durante protocolo de fadiga

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether muscle fatigue indices obtained using surface electromyography and calculated in the time and frequency domains would be capable of objectively diagnosing pain and discriminating between subjects with and without pain in the upper trapezius muscle and the lower back muscles. METHODS: Forty-seven individuals underwent a muscle fatigue test for thirty-five seconds at 80% of the maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), while EMG and muscle force data were recorded. The RMS value and the median frequency (MF) were calculated within consecutive one-second windows. Linear regression analysis was used to obtain the slope coefficients and the respective y-axis intercept values, which were considered to be localized muscle fatigue indices. RESULTS: In the frequency domain, the slope coefficients were negative for both muscles, while in the time domain, the coefficient for the upper trapezius was positive and the coefficient for the lower back muscles was negative (p<0.01). Significant differences were also found in the frequency domain between subjects with and without pain in the upper trapezius (p<0.01). The subjects with pain had significantly lower force values than the subjects without pain (p<0.05), in both the upper trapezius and the lower back muscles. CONCLUSION: The force values associated with the fatigue indices (MF slope and y-axis intercept) were able to predict the presence of pain in the upper trapezius (p<0.05), but not in the lower back muscles.

OBJETIVO: A proposta do estudo foi investigar se índices de fadiga, obtidos a partir de eletromiografia de superfície, calculados no domínio do tempo e da frequência, são capazes de diagnosticar a dor objetivamente, discriminando entre sujeitos com e sem dor no trapézio superior e nos músculos lombares. MÉTODOS: Quarenta e sete indivíduos foram submetidos a um teste de fadiga muscular por 35s a 80% da contração voluntária máxima (CVM), enquanto EMG e força muscular foram registradas. O valor RMS e a mediana da frequência (MF) foram calculados em janelas consecutivas de 1s. Análise de regressão linear foi utilizada para obter os coeficientes de inclinação e seus respectivos valores de interseção no eixo y, os quais foram considerados índices de fadiga muscular localizada. RESULTADOS: Os coeficientes de inclinação analisados no domínio da frequência apresentaram comportamento similar, sendo negativos para ambos os músculos, enquanto que, no domínio tempo, o trapézio superior apresentou coeficientes positivos, e músculos lombares, coeficientes negativos (p<0,01). Diferenças significativas também foram identificadas no domínio da frequência entre os sujeitos com e sem dor no trapézio superior (p<0,01). Os indivíduos com dor apresentaram valores de força significativamente menores que os sujeitos sem dor (p<0,05), tanto nos músculos lombares quanto no trapézio superior. CONCLUSÃO: Os valores de força associados aos índices de fadiga (inclinação da MF e intersecção do eixo y) foram hábeis para predizer a presença de dor no trapézio superior (p<0,05), mas não nos músculos lombares.

Comparative study between two elbow flexion exercises using the estimated resultant muscle force / Estudo comparativo entre dois exercícios de flexão do cotovelo utilizando a estimativa da força muscular resultante

OBJECTIVE: The present study sought to compare the estimated resultant muscle force required throughout the range of motion in two variations of elbow flexion exercise: the Scott exercise, performed with the aid of a Scott bench, and the unsupported exercise, performed with the upper arm simply resting on the leg. METHOD: Eight healthy individuals performed each exercise eight times, with the same 4kg load. The biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles were monitored using surface electromyography and the elbow joint movement was measured using an electrogoniometer. A mechanical model of the situation was proposed to evaluate the resultant muscle force acting throughout the range of motion of the exercise. RESULTS: Comparisons between the two exercise variations presented significant differences (p<0.01) in practically all of the angles. CONCLUSION: Analysis of the model suggests that greater muscle demand is not necessarily associated with higher resistance torque values in the exercise as it is fundamental to take into consideration the moment arm of the muscles involved.

OBJETIVO: O presente estudo objetivou comparar a força muscular resultante estimada necessária durante toda a amplitude do exercício de flexão de cotovelo, executado em duas variações: exercício Scott, realizado com auxílio do banco Scott, e exercício sem suporte, realizado com o braço apenas apoiado na perna. MÉTODO: Oito indivíduos saudáveis realizaram oito execuções de cada exercício, com uma carga fixa de 4kg. Os músculos bíceps braquial e tríceps braquial foram monitorados com eletromiografia de superfície e o movimento da articulação do cotovelo acompanhado com eletrogoniometria. Um modelo mecânico da situação foi proposto para avaliar a força muscular resultante atuante durante toda a amplitude do exercício. RESULTADOS: Comparações entre os exercícios apresentaram diferenças significativas em praticamente todas as angulações (p<0,01). CONCLUSÃO: A análise do modelo sugere que a maior exigência muscular não necessariamente está associada aos maiores valores do torque de resistência do exercício, sendo fundamental levar em consideração a distância perpendicular da musculatura envolvida.

Avaliação da ativação neuromuscular em indivíduos com escoliose através da eletromiografia de superfície / Assessment of neuromuscular activation in individuals with scoliosis using surface electromyography

OBJETIVO: O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o potencial da eletromiografia (EMG) de superfície para a avaliação da eficiência neuromuscular e da fadiga muscular localizada dos extensores lombares em indivíduos com escoliose. MÉTODOS: Participaram deste estudo 20 indivíduos divididos igualmente em dois grupos, (1) Grupo com Escoliose e (2) Grupo Controle, que foram submetidos a um teste de indução dos músculos extensores lombares a fadiga, o qual constituiu da realização de uma contração voluntária máxima isométrica (CVM), e realização de um teste com esforço a 80 por cento da CVM. Foram coletados simultaneamente sinais de força e eletromiográficos (sinal EMG). O sinal EMG foi processado no domínio da freqüência, utilizando-se a transformada rápida de Fourier (FFT), por meio da mediana da freqüência (MF), e no domínio do tempo, pelo cálculo do valor root mean square (RMS). Os dados foram submetidos a uma análise de variância one-way para verificar as diferenças entre os dois grupos. Para verificar a simetria entre os lados direito e esquerdo, foi realizado o teste t pareado. O nível de significância adotado foi 0,05. RESULTADOS: os resultados demonstraram que indivíduos com escoliose apresentaram: (1) simetria de ativação neuromuscular entre os lados; (2) menor eficiência neuromuscular; (3) maior capacidade de resistir a fadiga; e (4) valores de força 42,6 por cento menores que os indivíduos do GC. CONCLUSÕES: Os resultados sugerem que a EMG de superfície corresponde a um efetivo instrumento de avaliação funcional da escoliose, embora o protocolo estabelecido tenha limitado a participação dos indivíduos com escoliose, do ponto de vista da eficiência neuromuscular.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of surface electromyography (EMG) for assessing neuromuscular efficiency and localized muscle fatigue in the lumbar extensors, in individuals with scoliosis. METHODS: Twenty individuals participated in this study, divided equally into two groups: (1) Scoliosis Group and (2) Control Group. These subjects underwent a fatigue induction test on their lumbar extensor muscles, consisting of one maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) followed by a test at 80 percent of the MVIC effort. Force and EMG signals were collected simultaneously. The EMG signal was processed in the frequency domain by means of fast Fourier transforms using the median frequency; and in the time domain by calculating the root mean square value. The data were analyzed by means of one-way analysis of variance to investigate the differences between the two groups. Paired t test was used to investigate the symmetry between the right and left sides. The significance level adopted was 0.05. RESULTS: The results showed that the individuals with scoliosis presented: (1) symmetrical neuromuscular activation between the sides; (2) lower neuromuscular efficiency; (3) greater capacity to resist fatigue; and (4) force values 42.6 percent lower than those of the individuals in the Control Group. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that surface EMG is an effective tool for functional assessments of scoliosis, although the protocol established limited the participation of individuals with scoliosis, from the perspective of neuromuscular efficiency.

[Functional evaluation of the autonomic regulation in mitral valve prolapse]. / Valutazione funzionale della regolazione neurovegetativa nel prolasso valvolare mitralico.

We examined fifty patients aged from 15 to 35 years, mean 23 +/- 5, with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) documented by two-dimensional echocardiography in the apical 4-chamber view as well as in the parasternal-long axis. The patients have been submitted to 4 tests: Valsalva maneuver, standing and exercise test and 24 hours ambulatory ECG monitoring. Fourty-five healthy subjects of similar age and sex served as controls. During the standing test the patients with MVP showed a significantly faster heart rate than the control subjects both in resting and in the standing position; during the exercise test they exhibited higher prevalence of ST segment and T wave abnormalities disappearing at the peak of the exercise. These observations support the hypothesis of a hyperadrenergic state. The greater bradycardia showed during the Valsalva maneuver, the lower heart rate and the higher incidence of bradyarrhythmias and A-V blocks during the sleeping period suggest an increased vagal tone. Our results suggest therefore that in subjects with MVP a dysfunction of both, sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system is present.

[Exercise test in 100 healthy children between 5 and 12 years of age (author's transl)]. / Valutazione ergometrica di 100 bambini normali tra i 5 e i 12 anni.

100 healthy children, between 5 and 12 years of age underwent maximal exercise test on a bicycle ergometer in sitting position. Particularly interesting seem to be the observations on maximal heart rate during exercise, maximum work load, energy cost in terms of heart rate, EGG during exercise. As concerning the maximal heart rate, it was observed a levelling of around 195 beats min. for all the subjects. A low increase of systolic blood pressure was observed during strenuous exercise. The maximum tolerated work load increases accordingly with the increase of body surface area and age; taking into account the maximum value of heart rate during exercise (195 for all subjects), it arises a different energetic cost in terms of beats per min. in favour of 12 years subjects compared to youngers. None rhythm or conduction disturbances was observed during exercise, neither variations of the ventricular repolarization appeared during exercise.

[Clinical and angiographic study of 51 patients with myocardial infarction aged up to 35 years (author's transl)]. / Studio clinico-cineangiocardiografico di 51 casi di infarto miocardico giovanile (35 anni).

The clinical and angiographic data of 51 patients 35 years-old or below with myocardial infarction were studied. The average age of the patients was 30.2 years. Cigarette smoking and familiar history for coronary artery disease (present respectively in 74.5 and 39.1 per cent of the patients) were the most frequent risk factors for coronary disease. The patients were divided into two groups without (group A) and with (group B) post-infarctional complications (angina, dangerous ventricular arrhythmias, left ventricular failure, re-infarction). The coronary arteries were normal in 46.1 per cent of the patients of group A, and in 11.1 per cent of the patients of group B (p less than 0,05). 33.3 per cent of the patients of group A were affected by 1 vessel disease and so were 40.7 per cent of the patients of group B (p = ns). 48.1 per cent of the patients of group B were affected by 2 or 3 vessels disease and so were 25 per cent of patients group A (p = ns). Left ventricular angiography revealed severe impairment of contractility in 70,3 per cent of the patients of group B and in 45.8 per cent in group A. A history of angina before myocardial infarction was connected with the presence of coronary artery disease in 87 per cent of patients.