Resolution of chronic lower back pain symptoms through high-intensity therapeutic exercise and motor imagery program: a case-report.

Background and Purpose: Nonspecific chronic lower back pain (CLBP) is a difficult to manage clinical condition that is more prevalent in adulthood but also affects adolescents, compromising their well-being and activities of daily living. This case report aimed to describe the clinical evolution of a female adolescent with nonspecific and severe CLBP treated successfully through a combination of high-intensity exercise and motor imagery training. Case Description: A 13-year-old girl with CLBP with radicular pain to the lower limbs, spasms, and movement limitations, for whom pharmacological treatment (i.e. analgesic and muscle relaxant agents) and hydrotherapy, hot wet therapy, and muscle relaxation were unsuccessful. After a careful physiotherapy evaluation, the patient underwent a 36-session intervention, performed 3 times/week for 12 weeks, which was composed of high-intensity therapeutic exercise, adjusted for the patient condition, along with motor imagery training. The patient was reevaluated after the intervention and again 3 years later by the same physiotherapist. Outcomes: The intervention led to a favorable clinical outcome, with pain relief, improved posture, and decreased disability. The patient's clinical condition remained stable at the time of the last follow-up evaluation. Conclusion: These results show that the adjusted combined program led to favorable clinical improvement in the condition, with sustained long-term effects after the intervention.

Evaluation of potential reproductive seasonality in brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) bucks.

Photoperiod is the main cue that controls seasonal reproduction in deer from temperate regions, like secretion of testosterone by the testis, neck enlargement, and testis development. However, little is known about its effect on the reproduction of tropical deer species. This research aimed to assess the potential seasonality of the brown brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira) by melatonin treatment. Reproductive parameters such as testicular volume, neck circumference, and semen quality were evaluated from day 0 to 90, and fecal androgen metabolites (FAM) from day -28 to 91. Melatonin treatment was administered from day 0 to 60. In total, seven individuals were used in the study. Four animals were allocated to the treated group (TG) and three to the control group (CG). The neck circumference and some seminal parameters did not show a significant difference between CG and TG and along the experimental period. High FAM levels were observed for the TG on days 7, 14, 21, 35, 84, and 91 (p < 0.05). The mean testicular volume was reduced from day 0 to 30 (p < 0.05) and from day 0 to 90 (p < 0.05), with no increase in the mean testicular volume from day 30 to 60 (p > 0.05). Sperm motility was the highest on day 60 compared with day 0 (p < 0.05). Although not statistically different, membrane integrity and major defects tended to be higher and lower, respectively, in the TG compared with the CG. For these parameters, the incremental change (%) per individual showed that males from the TG tended to have a higher percentage during the melatonin treatment, hence melatonin might affect these seminal characteristics. These findings suggest that exogenous melatonin might enhance FAM levels and sperm motility.

Tuberculose e suas manifestações na ATM: uma revisão de literatura / Tuberculosis and its manifestations in TMJ: a literature review

A disfunção temporomandibular tem caráter multifatorial e merece uma abordagem diferenciada tanto para seu diagnóstico quanto seu tratamento, sendo frequentemente recomendada a atuação de uma equipe multidisciplinar. Várias são as manifestações que podem acometer as articulações temporomandibulares decorrentes de patologias sistêmicas. Dentre estas, a tuberculose raramente as acomete, mas a ocorrência de manifestações extrapulmonares vem crescendo nos últimos anos. Estima-se que a tuberculose acometa 8.8 milhões de pessoas ao ano, levando 1.45 milhões destas ao óbito. O objetivo desta revisão foi levantar dados e informações para profissionais da área da saúde, em especial os Cirurgiões Dentistas,para um correto e precoce diagnóstico, uma vez que a detecção correta da patologia possibilita tratamento adequado e previne o surgimento de alterações graves na forma e função das articulaçõesenvolvidas.

Temporomandibular disorders are a multifactorial disease, that deserves a special approachfor its diagnosis and treatment, and a multidisciplinary team is suggested. Various systemic pathologies have a TMJ manifestation. Among these diseases, tuberculosis rarely has a temporomandibularjoint occurrence, but extra pulmonary manifestation is increasing in the last years.About 8,8 million people are affected by tuberculosis each year, and 1,45 million die because ofit. The objective of this review is collect data and information for health professional, in special Dentists, in order to clarify the relationship between TMD and tuberculosis, early diagnosis and correct treatment, once that the correct identification of this patology can provide adequate treatment and prevents for more severe complications.

Vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic venous ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: To study if the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with venous leg ulcer is higher than in the control population. METHODS: Serum levels of 25 hidroxi (OH)-vitamin D3 was studied by chemiluminescence in 27 patients with chronic venous ulcer and 58 controls at the Evangelical Hospital of Curitiba. RESULTS: The levels of 25 OH-vitamin D3 were below 8 ng/dl in 11.1% of ulcer patients and 3.4% of controls; between 8 and 20 ng/dl in 46.1% of ulcer patients and 25.8% of controls; between 21 and 30 ng/dl in 22.2% of ulcer patients and 27.5% of controls and above 30 ng/dl in 43.1% of controls and 18.5% of ulcer patients (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: There is an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers.

Prevalência de deficiência de vitamina D em pacientes com úlceras de perna de etiologia venosa / Vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic venous ulcers

OBJETIVO: Estudar se a prevalência da deficiência de vitamina D em indivíduos com úlcera de perna de causa venosa é maior do que em população controle. MÉTODOS: Estudaram-se os níveis séricos de 25-OH-vitamina D por quimioluminescência em 27 portadores de úlcera venosa crônica e 58 controles do Hospital Universitário Evangélico de Curitiba. RESULTADOS: Os níveis de 25-OH-vitamina D3 eram inferiores a 8 ng/dl em 11,1% dos pacientes com úlcera e 3,4% dos controles; entre 8 e 20 ng/dl em 46,1% dos pacientes com úlcera e 25,8% dos controles; entre 21 e 30 ng/dl em 22.2% dos pacientes com úlcera e 27,5% dos controles e acima de 30 ng/dl em 43,1% dos controles e 18,5% dos pacientes com úlcera (p=0,04). CONCLUSÃO: Existe aumento de prevalência de deficiência de vitamina D em pacientes com úlceras venosas crônicas de pernas.

OBJECTIVE: To study if the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with ulcer of venous leg is higher than in the control population. METHODS: Serum levels of vitamin D 25 OH was studied by chemiluminescence in 27 patients with chronic venous ulcer and 58 controls at the Evangelical Hospital of Curitiba. RESULTS: The levels of 25OH vitamin D3 were below 8 ng/dl in 11.1% of ulcer patients and 3.4% of controls; between 8 and 20 ng / dl in 46.1% of ulcer patients and 25.8% of controls; between 21 and 30 ng / dl in 22.2% of ulcer patients and 27.5% of controls and above 30 ng/dl in 43.1% of controls and 18.5% of ulcer patients (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: There is an increased prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers.

Comparative analysis of predictive biomarkers for therapeutical strategies in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic information regarding the risk of postoperative tumor recurrence defined by a profile of serological, morphological and/or molecular markers can have potential value, particularly for patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) of the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage II/III who may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery. METHODS: A retrospective study of 783 patients with CRC (UICC I-III) including a subgroup analysis of 116 subjects was conducted to determine preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9, and p53 serum levels. In addition, protein and gene expression of p53, CEA, and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) was assessed in the tumors of those patients. The values of all serological, morphological, and molecular parameters were correlated with clinicopathological characteristics for their predictive value of tumor recurrence over a mean follow-up period of 32 +/- 6.2 months. RESULTS: Serum CEA but not CA 19-9 or p53 was a significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival, along with UICC and T/N stage. When comparing elevated CEA, CA 19-9, and p53 serum levels with expression of the markers in the tumors, their overall expression was found to be 61.3% in the serum versus 93.5% in the tumor in analyzed patients (n = 116). In particular, all patients in UICC stages I-III who demonstrated at least three elevated markers (CEA/CA 19-9/p53) in serum and/or in the tumor presented with tumor recurrence/metastases. CONCLUSION: Overall increased p53, CEA, and CA 19-9 serum levels and their marker expression in the tumor may be used at the time of primary tumor removal for defining patients at risk for tumor recurrence.