Non-uniform excitation of pectoralis major induced by changes in bench press inclination leads to uneven variations in the cross-sectional area measured by panoramic ultrasonography.

This study combined surface electromyography with panoramic ultrasound imaging to investigate whether non-uniform excitation could lead to acute localized variations in cross-sectional area and muscle thickness of the clavicular and sternocostal heads of pectoralis major (PM). Bipolar surface electromyograms (EMGs) were acquired from both PM heads, while 13 men performed four sets of the flat and 45° inclined bench press exercises. Before and immediately after exercise, panoramic ultrasound images were collected transversely to the fibers. Normalized root mean square (RMS) amplitude and variations in the cross-sectional area and muscle thickness were calculated separately for each PM head. For all sets of the inclined bench press, the normalized RMS amplitude was greater for the clavicular head than the sternocostal head (P < 0.001), and the opposite was observed during the flat bench press (P < 0.001). Similarly, while greater increases in cross-sectional area were observed in the clavicular than in the sternocostal head after the inclined bench press (P < 0.001), greater increases were quantified in the sternocostal than in the clavicular head after the flat bench press exercise (P = 0.046). Therefore, our results suggest that the PM regional excitation induced by changes in bench press inclination leads to acute, uneven responses of muscle architecture following the exercise.

Periimplant bone changes in different abutment heights and insertion timing in posterior mandibular areas: Three-year results from a randomized prospective clinical trial.

AIM: To compare the influence of the abutment height and its insertion timing on the marginal bone change (MBC) variation of implants placed at posterior mandibular partial edentulous areas in a medium follow-up period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial (RCT) comprised a sample of patients with posterior mandibular edentulous areas, treated with at least two implants and distributed into three groups: implants connected to a 2 mm height abutment during the surgical stage (Group A); implants connected to a 1 mm height abutment during the surgical stage (Group B); and implants connected to a 2 mm height abutment after 2 months (Group C). Clinical and radiographic measurements were performed during a 36-month period (T4). The MBC was set as the main variable in study. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 29 subjects and 59 implants were enrolled in this study. A mean MBC of 0.35 ± 0.46 mm, 0.60 ± 0.81 mm, and 0.71 ± 0.90 mm was computed for groups A, B and C, respectively, at T4. Significant differences were found between groups A and C in terms of MBC variation after 3 years of treatment (p = .048). Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant influence of the first-year MBC and the abutment insertion timing has independent predictor variables for the MBC assessed at T4. CONCLUSION: The installation of 2-mm prosthetic abutments, at the time of implant placement, in areas with limited keratinized mucosa presents as a favorable treatment option in terms of periimplant marginal bone maintenance.

Both the resistance training session and the static stretching after exercise does not affect the pectoralis major stiffness of well-trained men.

Previous evidence suggests the intense resistance training session can increase the muscle hardness, while stretching protocols with high intensity and volume can decrease it. However, it remains unknown the effects of an exercise and a less intensive stretching maneuver on muscle stiffness of well-trained men. Herein we (i) analyze the acute effects of heavy bench press exercise on the pectoralis major muscle shear modulus of well-trained men and (ii) assess the effectiveness of a 1-min stretching maneuver applied on this muscle after the exercise using shear wave elastography. Fourteen participants performed three sets of bench press from 8 to 13 repetitions maximum. Immediately after the exercise, their right shoulder was passively stretched for 1 min (stretched side) while their left arm stayed relaxed along the side of the body (control side). Elastographic images were acquired for the pectoralis major mid-region of both sides before the exercise, immediately after the intervention and after 5 min of rest. Our results revealed that both the bench press exercise and the static stretching does not affect the pectoralis major shear modulus of well-trained men. Conversely, the shear modulus significantly decreased at 5 min after intervention with respect to immediately after, for both the stretched (from 5.52 to 4.29 kPa) and the control sides (from 5.87 to 4.56 kPa). Therefore, both resistance training session and 1-min static stretching were not sufficient to significantly change the pectoralis major muscle stiffness of well-trained men.

Variação aguda não uniforme da espessura muscular ao longo do peitoral maior em resposta ao supino reto em homens treinados / Non-uniform acute variation among pectoralis major's muscle thickness after bench press in trained men / Variación aguda no uniforme del espesor muscular al largo del pectoral mayor en respuesta al press de banca en hombres entrenados

O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a variação da espessura muscular (EM) ao longo do peitoral maior (PM) após três séries de 8 a 12 repetições máximas de supino reto. A amostra foi composta por 12 homens treinados. O comportamento da EM foi avaliado pré e imediatamente após a realização do exercício através de ultrassonografias, em três sítios do feixe esternal do PM: medial (próximo ao esterno), central e lateral (próximo ao úmero). Como resultado, o sítio medial apresentou variação relativa da EM de 14,78%, o central de 11,83% e o lateral de 10,04%, com diferença significativa apenas entre o sítio medial quando comparado ao lateral (p=0,036). Tal efeito pode estar relacionado a maior ativação do trecho medial do PM durante o supino reto ou pela específica morfologia do PM.

The aim of this study was to compare the variation of muscle thickness (MT) over the pectoralis major muscle (PM) after 3 sets of 8 to 12 repetitions of bench press. The sample was consisted of 12 trained men. Ultrasound images were acquired, to analyze the MT behavior, at three sites of the PM's sternal head: medial, central and lateral. The medial site had a MT relative variation of 14.78%, the central one of 11.83% and the lateral one of 10.04%, with a statistical difference observed only between the medial site when compared to the lateral site (p = 0.036); The possible cause of these effects might be related to a possible greater activation of the medial site during the bench press or due to PM's morphology. We conclude that the PM shows heterogeneous MT acute variation.

El objetivo del estudio fue comparar la variación de la espesura muscular (EM) a lo largo del pectoral mayor (PM) después de tres series de 8 a 12 repeticiones de press de banca. El comportamiento de la EM fue evaluado pre e inmediatamente después de la realización del ejercicio con ultrasonografías, en tres sitios de la cabeza esternal del PM: medial (cerca del esternón), central y lateral (cerca del húmero). Como resultado, el sitio medial presentó 14,78% de variación relativa de la EM, el central 11,83% y el lateral 10,04%, con diferencia significativa apenas entre el sitio medial cuando comparado al lateral (p = 0,036) . Este efecto puede estar relacionado con la mayor activación del sitio medial del PM durante el press de banca o por la morfología del PM.

Non-Uniformity of Elbow Flexors Damage Induced by an Eccentric Protocol in Untrained Men.

Muscle structure disorganization is a consequence of intense eccentric contractions, with symptoms that characterize exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD). To date, few studies have described EIMD parameters at different muscle sites. The aim of the present study was to analyse indirect markers of EIMD at two elbow flexors sites over three days. Eleven healthy untrained men were submitted to a session of three sets of 10 eccentric elbow flexion repetitions on an isokinetic dynamometer. The isometric peak torque (PT), muscle soreness, elbow flexors oedema, (normalized muscle thickness [MT]) and echo-intensity (EI) were measured. There was a significant decrease in PT immediately after (Post) and 10 min, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h after intervention compared to that at baseline (p < 0 .05). MT% increased after 72 h compared with that immediately, 10 min and 24 h after intervention (p < 0.05). No statistical changes were observed in muscle soreness and oedema between the two muscle sites. With respect to EI%, significant differences were observed for the 24 h, 48 h and 72 h measures compared with those of the Post, 10 min and 24 h measures for both muscle sites; at the distal site, EI% was significantly higher than at the proximal site for measures after 24 h (p < 0.05). The presence of differences in EI% 24 h after eccentric training on distal sites of elbow flexors indicates non-uniform EIMD in this region.

Influence of the abutment height and connection timing in early peri-implant marginal bone changes: A prospective randomized clinical trial.

AIM: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of the abutment height and insertion timing on early marginal bone loss (MBL) in posterior mandibular partial implant-supported restorations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was planned as a prospective, randomized, controlled parallel group including subjects in need of at least two implants for the restoration of an edentulous posterior mandibular area. The patients were allocated into Groups A (implants immediately connected to 2-mm height abutments), B (immediately connected 1-mm height abutments), and C (2-mm abutments were inserted in a second-stage surgery). Each subject was placed in a 1-year follow-up program, including examination assessment of various soft tissue and bone-level parameters. RESULTS: A total of thirty-three patients, including sixty-eight implants, were enrolled in this study. One implant was lost on group C after the first month of healing. A mean MBL change of 0.719 ± 0.361, 0.651 ± 0.379, and 0.754 ± 0.672 mm was computed for groups A, B, and C, respectively, with no significant differences found. The early MBL at T1 was an independent predictor variable for the marginal bone alterations that were assessed at T3 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The first-month MBL variation is a predictor factor of the bone alterations that might occur after 1 year of treatment. The early connection of final prosthetic abutments with distinct heights does not seem to reduce the 1-year MBL rate when compared with traditional treatment protocols.

To perceive or not perceive: the role of gamma-band activity in signaling object percepts.

The relation of gamma-band synchrony to holistic perception in which concerns the effects of sensory processing, high level perceptual gestalt formation, motor planning and response is still controversial. To provide a more direct link to emergent perceptual states we have used holistic EEG/ERP paradigms where the moment of perceptual "discovery" of a global pattern was variable. Using a rapid visual presentation of short-lived Mooney objects we found an increase of gamma-band activity locked to perceptual events. Additional experiments using dynamic Mooney stimuli showed that gamma activity increases well before the report of an emergent holistic percept. To confirm these findings in a data driven manner we have further used a support vector machine classification approach to distinguish between perceptual vs. non perceptual states, based on time-frequency features. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were all above 95%. Modulations in the 30-75 Hz range were larger for perception states. Interestingly, phase synchrony was larger for perception states for high frequency bands. By focusing on global gestalt mechanisms instead of local processing we conclude that gamma-band activity and synchrony provide a signature of holistic perceptual states of variable onset, which are separable from sensory and motor processing.

Prevention of strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome: a rheumatological point of view.

BACKGROUND: Strongyloides stercoralis (S.stercoralis) is a parasite that infects humans and in conditions of immunodeficiency may disseminate, causing the potentially fatal strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome (SHS). The aim of this review was to investigate the literature evidence on the prophylaxis of SHS in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatological disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The MEDLINE database (from 1966 to 2008) was searched using the following terms: "strongyloidiasis", "disseminated strongyloidiasis", "Strongyloides stercoralis", "Strongyloides stercoralis dissemination", "strongyloides hyperinfection syndrome", "treatment", "prophylaxis", "prevention", "immunocompromised", "immunodepression", "immunosuppressed", "immunosuppression", "corticosteroids", "glucocorticoids", "lupus erythematosus", "rheumatoid arthritis", "rheumatic diseases". A search of the therapeutic studies using the same set of terms was carried out. RESULTS: No study on the prophylaxis of SHS restricted to rheumatic immunosuppressed patients was identified. However, two articles have been published on the prophylaxis of strongyloidiasis in other immunosuppressed patients. Additionally, 13 studies dealing with different therapeutical options for strongyloidiasis were identified and presented. CONCLUSIONS: Since there is no evidence on the prophylaxis of SHS in immunosuppressed rheumatic patients, the suggested regimen for that prophylaxis may rely on the results obtained from therapeutical studies. Ivermectin has the best safety profile, lower cost and best efficacy and should be the drug of choice for the prophylaxis of SHS in such patients. Although a definitive prophylactic regimen has not been defined, the option for 200 microg/kg/day for 2 days, repeated within 2 weeks, seems to be a reasonable approach. Such regimen should be repeated every 6 months in case of persisting immunosuppression in permanent residents of endemic areas.