Challenges in the use of animal models and perspectives for a translational view of stress and psychopathologies.

The neurobiology and development of treatments for stress-related neuropsychiatric disorders rely heavily on animal models. However, the complexity of these disorders makes it difficult to model them entirely, so only specific features of human psychopathology are emulated and these models should be used with great caution. Importantly, the effects of stress depend on multiple factors, like duration, context of exposure, and individual variability. Here we present a review on pre-clinical studies of stress-related disorders, especially those developed to model posttraumatic stress disorder, major depression, and anxiety. Animal models provide relevant evidence of the underpinnings of these disorders, as long as face, construct, and predictive validities are fulfilled. The translational challenges faced by scholars include reductionism and anthropomorphic/anthropocentric interpretation of the results instead of a more naturalistic and evolutionary understanding of animal behavior that must be overcome to offer a meaningful model. Other limitations are low statistical power of analysis, poor evaluation of individual variability, sex differences, and possible conflicting effects of stressors depending on specific windows in the lifespan.

Análise da qualidade de vida de idosos com doença de Parkinson vinculados a um programa de atenção à saúde / Analysis of quality of life of elderly people with Parkinson's disease linked to a health care program

Introdução: do ponto de vista clínico, são muitos os elementos para a deterioração da qualidade de vida (QV) na Doença de Parkinson (DP). Objetivo: analisar a QV de idosos com DP vinculados a um programa de atenção à saúde do idoso. Metodologia: estudo transversal com 11 idosos com DP. A QV foi avaliada por meio do Parkinson's Disease Questionary-39, a incapacidade através da Escala de Hoehn e Yahr modificada (HY). As partes I (estado mental), II (atividades da vida diária), III (motricidade) e IV (complicações da terapia) da Escala Unificada de Avaliação da Doença de Parkinson (UPDRS); o tempo de doença e o gênero foram considerados para análise. Resultados: a percepção da QV foi pior no domínio mobilidade e melhor no domínio estigma. Não houve diferença na QV entre os sexos. O tempo de doença influenciou a QV referente à comunicação nos homens (p = 0,02). Houve correlação (moderada a forte) entre a QV domínio cognição com a UPDRS IV (p = 0,04). As mulheres apresentaram correlação entre a QV domínio mobilidade e a HY (p = 0,05) e a III (p = 0,04) e entre a QV domínio atividade de vida diária e a HY (p = 0,02), II (p = 0,01) e III (p = 0,01); os homens entre a QV domínio suporte social e a II (p = 0,01). Conclusão: a percepção da QV de idosos com DP vinculados a um programa de saúde foi similar entre os sexos e permeia as funções corpóreas e atividades do dia-a-dia.

Introduction: from a clinical point of view, there are many elements for the deterioration of quality of life (QoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD). Objective: analyze the QoL of elderly people with PD linked to an elderly health care program. Methodology: cross-sectional study with 11 elderly people with PD. QoL was assessed using the Parkinson's Disease Questionary-39, disability using the Modified Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HY). Parts I (mental status), II (activities of daily living), III (motor skills) and IV (therapy complications) of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Assessment Scale (UPDRS); disease duration and gender were considered for analysis. Results: The perception of QoL was worse in the mobility domain and better in the stigma domain. There was no difference in QoL between genders. The time of illness influenced the Qol regarding communucation in men (p = 0.02). There was correlation (moderate to strong) between QoL cognition domain with UPDRS IV (p = 0.04). Womem showed correlations between QoL mobility domain and HY (p = 0.05) and III (p = 0.04) and between QOL domain activity of daily living and HY (p = 0.02), II (p = 0.01) and III (p = 0.01); men between QoL social support domain and II (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Perception of the QoL of elderly people with PD linked to a health program was similar between genders and permeates bodily functions, day-to-day activities.

Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on functional recovery, angiogenesis and redox status in denervated muscle of rats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy in redox status, angiogenesis marker - vascular endothelial growth factor - and in the functional recovery in denervated muscle. METHODS: A total of 32 female Wistar rats underwent a crush injury and were randomly divided into four groups: Light Emitting Diode Group 2 and Control Group 2 (muscle collected 2 days after injury), and Light Emitting Diode Group 21 and Control Group 21 (muscle collected 21 days afterinjury). Light Emitting Diode Group 2 and Light Emitting Diode Group 21 received two and ten light emitting diode applications (630±20nm, 9J/cm2, 300mW), respectively, and the Control Group 2 and Control Group 21 did not receive any treatment. The function was evaluated by grasping test at four moments (pre-injury, 2, 10 and 21 post-injury days). The flexor digitorum muscle was collected for analysis of immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor and redox parameters. RESULTS: Functional improvement was observed at the second and tenth post-injury day in treated groups compared to control (p<0.005). The muscle tissue of treated groups presented higher immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. Photobiomodulation therapy decreased the oxidative damage to lipid in Light Emitting Diode Group 2 compared to Control Group 2 (p=0.023) in the denervated muscle. CONCLUSION: Photobiomodulation therapy accelerated the functional recovery, increased angiogenesis and reduced lipid peroxidation in the denervated muscle at 2 days after injury.

Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy (LED 630 nm) on Muscle and Nerve Histomorphometry after Axonotmesis.

Peripheral injuries constitute a substantial clinical problem with unsatisfactory treatment. The study's objective was to analyze the effects of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) on median nerve regeneration and muscle recovery after axonotmesis. Twenty-four rats were randomized into three groups: control (CG), injury (IG), and LED therapy (LEDG). A 630 ± 20 nm (300-mW) LED was placed in contact with the skin. One point over the injury site was irradiated for 30 s, delivering 9 J (9 J cm-2 ). PBMT irradiation was performed once daily for 5 days followed by two-day interval and then more five consecutive days of treatment. Proximal and distal segments of the nerve and flexors muscles were removed for histomorphometric analysis using H&E staining for muscles and osmium tetroxide for nerves. The myelinated fiber and axon diameter and the myelin sheath thickness were greater in the proximal and distal nerve segments in the LEDG compared to the IG (P ≤ 0.05). The number of myelinated fibers was greater in the distal segment of the LEDG (P ≤ 0.05). The area, circumference, and diameter of the muscle fibers were larger in the LEDG than in the IG (P ≤ 0.05). The PBMT protocol used favored axonal regeneration and muscle recovery.

Effects of photobiomodulation therapy on functional recovery, angiogenesis and redox status in denervated muscle of rats / Efeitos da terapia de fotobiomodulação na recuperação funcional, na angiogênese e no estado redox em músculo desnervado de ratos

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the effects of photobiomodulation therapy in redox status, angiogenesis marker - vascular endothelial growth factor - and in the functional recovery in denervated muscle. Methods: A total of 32 female Wistar rats underwent a crush injury and were randomly divided into four groups: Light Emitting Diode Group 2 and Control Group 2 (muscle collected 2 days after injury), and Light Emitting Diode Group 21 and Control Group 21 (muscle collected 21 days afterinjury). Light Emitting Diode Group 2 and Light Emitting Diode Group 21 received two and ten light emitting diode applications (630±20nm, 9J/cm2, 300mW), respectively, and the Control Group 2 and Control Group 21 did not receive any treatment. The function was evaluated by grasping test at four moments (pre-injury, 2, 10 and 21 post-injury days). The flexor digitorum muscle was collected for analysis of immunolocalization of vascular endothelial growth factor and redox parameters. Results: Functional improvement was observed at the second and tenth post-injury day in treated groups compared to control (p<0.005). The muscle tissue of treated groups presented higher immunohistochemical expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. Photobiomodulation therapy decreased the oxidative damage to lipid in Light Emitting Diode Group 2 compared to Control Group 2 (p=0.023) in the denervated muscle. Conclusion: Photobiomodulation therapy accelerated the functional recovery, increased angiogenesis and reduced lipid peroxidation in the denervated muscle at 2 days after injury.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da terapia de fotobiomodulação no estado redox, no marcador de angiogênese - fator de crescimento endotelial vascular - e na recuperação funcional do músculo desnervado. Métodos: Um total de 32 ratas Wistar foi submetido a uma lesão por esmagamento e dividido aleatoriamente em quatro grupos: Grupo Diodo Emissor de Luz 2 e Grupo Controle 2 (músculo coletado 2 dias após a lesão), além do Grupo Diodo Emissor de Luz 21 e do Grupo Controle 21 (músculo coletado 21 dias após a lesão). Grupo Diodo Emissor de Luz 2 e Grupo Diodo Emissor de Luz 21 receberam duas e dez aplicações de diodo emissor de luz (630±20nm, 9J/cm2e 300mW), respectivamente, e Grupo Controle 2 e Grupo Controle 21 não receberam tratamento. A função foi avaliada pelo teste de preensão em quatro momentos (pré-lesão, 2, 10 e 21 dias após a lesão). O músculo flexor dos dedos foi coletado para análise dos parâmetros redox e da imunolocalização do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular. Resultados: Houve melhora funcional no segundo e décimo dia pós-lesão nos grupos tratados em comparação aos controles (p<0,005). O tecido muscular dos grupos tratados apresentou maior expressão imuno-histoquímica do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular. A terapia de fotobiomodulação diminuiu o dano oxidativo aos lipídeos no Grupo Diodo Emissor de Luz 2 comparado ao Grupo Controle 2 (p=0,023) no músculo desnervado. Conclusão: A terapia de fotobiomodulação acelerou a recuperação funcional, aumentou a angiogênese e reduziu a peroxidação lipídica no músculo desnervado 2 dias após a lesão.