Efectos posturales inmediatos de la amplificación mecanoceptiva en niños con disfunciones neuromotrices, valorados mediante una plataforma de presiones Wii Balance Board. Estudio consecutivo no controlado / Immediate postural effects of mechanoceptive amplification in children with neuromotor dysfunctions, assessed by means of a Wii Balance Board pressure platform. Uncontrolled consecutive study

Introducción: Los trastornos neurológicos son una causa frecuente de discapacidad infantil. Las disfunciones neuromotrices se afrontan clínicamente en la actualidad mediante tratamientos ortopédicos, farmacológicos y fisioterápicos. Las vibraciones terapéuticas son estudiadas para conocer sus efectos tróficos y neuromoduladores. Objetivo: Observar los cambios relacionados con el control postural en casos de disfunción neuromotriz infantil después de la aplicación de estímulos vibratorios ecológicos, medidos con una plataforma de fuerzas. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio consecutivo no controlado. Quince sujetos con discapacidad motora y edad media 9±3,4 años fueron valorados en bipedestación estática mediante la plataforma Wii Balance Board antes y después de una única dosis de amplificación mecanoceptiva (AM). Se analizaron variables del centro de presiones: posición media, excursión media, amplitud y recorrido. Resultados: La posición media conjunta del centro de presiones pre-AM se encontraba más alejada del centro anatómico en el eje frontal que en el sagital de manera estadísticamente significativa (p=0,041) y mostraron recorridos mediolaterales del centro de presiones significativamente más largos (p=0,001) que los anteroposteriores. Post-AM hubo aumentos significativos para la variables excursión media total (p=0,015), amplitud en eje frontal (p=0,010), y recorrido tanto en el total (p=0,005) como en los parciales de ambos ejes frontal (p=0,006) y sagital (p=0,004). A la observación, la posición sagital media conjunta se retrasó mientras que la posición frontal media conjunta se aproximó hacia el centro, con elevada correlación entre reubicación y excursión y entre amplitud y recorrido. Conclusión: Los sujetos obtuvieron un reequilibrio postural tendente hacia la posteriorización y hacia el miembro inferior estimulado después de la AM. (AU)

Introduction: Neurological disorders are a common cause of child disability. Neuromotor dysfunctions are currently being clinically faced through orthopedic, pharmacological and physiotherapeutic treatments. Therapeutic vibrations are studied to know their trophic and neuromodulator effects. Objective: To observe the changes related to postural control in cases of infantile neuromotor dysfunction after the application of ecological vibratory stimuli, measured with a force platform. Patients and methods: Consecutive uncontrolled study. 15 subjects with motor disabilities and a mean age of 9±3.4 years were assessed in static standing using the Wii Balance Board platform before and after a single dose of mechanoceptive amplification (AM). Variables of the center of pressures were analyzed: mean position, mean excursion, amplitude and path length. Results: The pre-MA center of pressures mean position of the ensemble was further from the anatomical center on the frontal axis than on the sagittal axis in a statistically significant way (p=.041) and subjects showed significantly longer mediolateral path lengths of the center of pressures (p=.001) than the anteroposterior path lengths. Post-AM there were significant increases for the total mean excursion variable (p=.015), for the amplitude on the frontal axis (p=.010), and for the path length both in the total (p=.005) as in the partials of axes frontal (p=.006) and sagittal (p=.004). At the observational level, the mean sagittal position of the ensemble was posteriorized while the mean frontal position of the ensemble approached toward the center, with a high correlation between relocation/excursion and amplitude/path length. Conclusion: The subjects obtained a postural rebalancing tending toward posteriorization and toward the stimulated lower limb after MA. (AU)

Investigations upon the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the town of Craiova.

The present investigation was suggested by the fact that bronchial asthma (of all types) presents in Craiova and the district of Dolj a relatively increased incidence which may be correlated with certain findings concerning the incidence of atmospheric fungi in the houses and working places of asthmatic subjects. Petri dishes with Czapek medium were exposed monthly in the open air, in 17 houses of asthmatic subjects and in a large bakery unit. The prevalence of various types of fungi was observed on the culture media and a correlation could be made with the seasons. In the houses of asthmatics Penicillium was found to predominate and in certain months of the year Aspergillus as well, which may have a certain etiopathogenic role in bronchial asthma. In certain months Cladosporium and Alternaria also appeared. In the open air the number of colonies was smaller but the incidence was identical. In the bakery unit Penicillium was predominant in 3 out of 5 months, Aspergillus prevailling in all the other months of the year. Cladosporium and Alternaria were also rather frequent. Other fungi sometimes found in relatively large proportions (Mucor, Rhizopus, Verticillium) were not in themselves etiopathogenically involved in bronchial asthma.

New studies on the mold spore incidence in the homes of asthmatics.

The incidence of mould spores was studied during 11 months using Petri plates with Czapek medium exposed once a month in 17 homes of asthmatics in the town, "C", situated in an agro-industrial region. Penicullium was the prevalent mould in all season; Aspergillus was dominant in February-September; Cladosporium was found in May and September; Alternaria was absent. It is assumed that some of the asthmatics in this area could have a type III hypersensitivity (asthma with precipitins).