ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Rehabilitation programs for patients with patellofemoral dysfunction aim to recruit the vastus medialis obliquus muscle (VMO) in an attempt to reduce pain and to improve patellar tracking. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to use surface EMG to assess the effectiveness of two isometric submaximal contractions (10% and 60% of maximal voluntary contraction, MVC) in promoting preferential activation of VMO over vastus medialis longus (VML) and vastus lateralis (VL) in open and closed kinetic chain isometric exercises with the knee joint fixed at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of flexion. METHODS AND MEASURES: Surface electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded with linear adhesive arrays of four electrodes from fourteen healthy young men (age 23.5±3.2, mean±SD) during isometric knee extension contractions at 10% and 60% of the maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) for 1 min and 20 s respectively at 30, 60 and 90 degrees of knee flexion. Initial values and rate of change (slope) of mean frequency (MNF), average rectified value (ARV) and conduction velocity (CV) of the EMG signal were calculated. RESULTS: Comparisons between the force levels produced at 10% and 60% MVC revealed that the initial values of ARV and CV for the VL, VML and VMO muscle were greater at 60% MVC compared to 10% MVC (3-way ANOVA; F=536; p<0.001, F=49: p<0.01 for ARV and CV respectively). Comparisons between the different muscles demonstrated lower initial values of CV for VMO compared to VL and VLM at 10% and 60% of MVC (F=15; p<0.05). In addition, initial estimates of ARV were higher for VMO compared to VML at both force levels (F=66; p<0.05). Comparisons between open and closed kinetic chain exercises revealed higher initial estimates of ARV for open kinetic chain knee extension at both force levels (F=62; p<0.01). In addition, the absolute value of MNF slope appeared to increase at higher angles for closed kinetic chain at 60% MVC while it was minimum at 60° degrees for open kinetic chain. No significant differences were observed in the rate of change of CV and MNF among the three muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study, both open and closed kinetic chain exercise similarly activate the three portions of the quadriceps muscle, suggesting that selective training of the vastii muscle is not achievable in these conditions.
ABSTRACT
Os métodos moleculares de detecção rápida e eficaz de lotes de aves infectados por bactérias como Salmonella sp. Campylobacter sp. e Listeria monocytogenes são importantes para reduzir a frequência da transmissão destes patógenos entre os lotes de aves e aos consumidores de produtos de origem animal. Recentemente, as técnicas de biologia molecular, em especial a reação em cadeia polimerase, que permite a amplificação específica de segmentos de DNA, têm possibilitado novos rumos na identificação de bactérias supracitadas, reduzindo o tempo de cultivo e ampliando a confiabilidade das provas diagnósticas. A utilização da biologia molecular por laboratórios de diagnóstico humano e animal, assim como em programas de controle de qualidade de alimentos e produtos de origem animal, já é realidade e tende a se expandir rapidamente. O objetivo deste artigo é fazer uma breve revisão dos testes diagnósticos convencionais e moleculares para identificar Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. e Listeria monocytogenes. Concluindo, o diagnóstico molecular é um campo em avanço científico e tecnológico, no qual novas técnicas moleculares estão em desenvolvimento para o diagnóstico de bactérias em alimentos.
The molecular methods for quick and efficient detection of chicken lots infected by bacteria such as Salmonella sp. Campylobacter sp. and Listeria monoytogenes is basic for the effort to reduce the frequency of the transmission between chicken lots and to the consumers of poultry products. Recently, the development of techniques involving molecular biology, especially polymerase chain reaction, which allows the specific enlargement of segments of DNA, has been making new procedures possible for the identification of the abovementioned bacteria, reducing the time necessary for the tests and enhancing the reliability of the resulting diagnoses. The use of molecular biology in laboratories for human and animal diagnosis, as well as in quality control programs for foods and products of animal origin is already a reality and has tended to expand quickly. The objective of this article is to present a brief review of the conventional diagnostic and molecular tests for the identification of Campylobacter sp., Salmonella sp. and Listeria monocytogenes. In conclusion, molecular diagnosis is a field undergoing scientific and technological advancement, in which new molecular techniques are under development for the diagnosis of bacteria in foods.
