Efectos a corto plazo del entrenamiento de la marcha en una órtesis robótica (Lokomat®) con retroalimentación auditiva en pacientes con lesión medular incompleta crónica / Short-term effects of gait training on a robotic orthosis (Lokomat®) with auditory feedback in patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury

Introducción. El entrenamiento de la marcha en órtesis robótica ha demostrado buenos resultados en pacientes con lesión medular incompleta (LMI) crónica; la retroalimentación auditiva puede suplir la información dada normalmente por las vías sensitivas afectadas. Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto a corto plazo del entrenamiento de la marcha en órtesis robótica con retroalimentación auditiva en pacientes con LMI crónica. Material y método. Se estudió a 31 pacientes con LMI asignados aleatoriamente a 2 grupos: uno control con entrenamiento únicamente en órtesis robótica y otro experimental con entrenamiento en órtesis robótica y retroalimentación auditiva realizada mediante un metrónomo con frecuencia igual a la de la cadencia. Se midieron las variables espacio temporales de la marcha así como el torque, la espasticidad y los arcos de movilidad en caderas y rodillas antes y después del tratamiento mediante un tapete instrumentado y la órtesis robótica, respectivamente. Se realizaron estudios de varianza, covarianza y correlaciones bivariadas para el análisis de resultados. Resultados. Se encontró mejoría estadísticamente significativa en velocidad y cadencia de la marcha, arcos de movilidad, torque y espasticidad en pacientes del grupo experimental y un cambio favorable y significativo en el uso de ayudas técnicas para la marcha. Conclusiones. El programa propuesto mejoró el patrón de marcha en pacientes con LMI crónica. Se necesita evaluar la persistencia de los cambios a largo plazo así como realizar más estudios con retroalimentación auditiva en otras enfermedades (AU)

ntroduction. Gait training on a robotic orthosis has shown good results in patients with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). Auditory feedback in these patients can replace the information normally given by the sensory pathways. Objective. To evaluate the effects of gait training on a robotic orthosis with auditory feedback in patients with chronic SCI. Material and methods. We studied 31 patients with chronic incomplete SCI, who were randomized to 2 groups. Control group was trained on a robotic orthosis and experimental group received auditory feedback added to robotic orthosis training. Auditory feedback consisted on a metronome whose frequency was equal to gait cadence. The variables measured were spatiotemporal gait (by an instrumented mat), torque, spasticity, and range of motion in the hips and knees (by a robotic orthosis) before and after the assigned treatment. Calculation of variance, covariance and bivariate correlation were conducted for the analysis of results. Results. We found a statistically significant improvement in gait speed and cadence, range of motion, torque and spasticity in the experimental group and a positive and significant change in the use of assistive devices for walking. Conclusions. The proposed program improved gait pattern in patients with chronic SCI. Further studies are needed to assess the persistence of these changes in the long-term, as well as the use of auditory feedback in other disorders (AU)

Adolescent experiences of violence and relation to violence perpetration beyond young adulthood among an urban sample of Black and African American males.

The purpose of this study is to determine if experiences of physical violence during early and late adolescence (12-21 years) places urban Black males at increased risk for interpersonal violence perpetration beyond young adulthood (30 years and older). Participants of this cross-sectional study were Black and African American men (N = 455) between the ages of 30 and 65 years, recruited from four urban clinical sites in the Northeast. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the relation of adolescent experiences of violence to: (1) past 6 month street violence involvement and (2) past year intimate partner violence perpetration. Ten percent of the sample reported that they experienced adolescent victimization. Men reporting adolescent victimization were significantly more likely to report past 6-month street violence involvement (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 3.2, 95 % CI = 1.7-6.3) and past 6 month intimate partner violence perpetration (AOR = 2.8, 95 % CI = 1.8-5.4) compared to men who did not report such victimization. Study findings suggest that in order to prevent adulthood perpetration of violence, more work is needed to address experiences of victimization among young Black males, particularly violence experienced during adolescence.

Experiences of racial discrimination and relation to sexual risk for HIV among a sample of urban black and African American men.

This study aimed to examine racial discrimination and relation to sexual risk for HIV among a sample of urban black and African American men. Participants of this cross-sectional study were black and African American men (N = 703) between the ages of 18 and 65 years, recruited from four urban clinical sites in the northeast. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to analyze the relation of reported racial discrimination to the following: (1) sex trade involvement, (2) recent unprotected sex, and (3) reporting a number of sex partners in the past 12 months greater than the sample average. The majority of the sample (96%) reported racial discrimination. In adjusted analyses, men reporting high levels of discrimination were significantly more likely to report recent sex trade involvement (buying and/or selling) (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) range = 1.7-2.3), having recent unprotected vaginal sex with a female partner (AOR = 1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.1-2.0), and reporting more than four sex partners in the past year (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI, 1.1-1.9). Findings highlight the link between experiences of racial discrimination and men's sexual risk for HIV.

Intake and Performance of Yearling Steers Grazing Guineagrass (Panicum maximum cv. Tanzânia) Pasture Supplemented with Different Energy Sources.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of supplements containing different energy sources in relation to mineral supplementation of steers grazing guineagrass (Panicum maximum cv Tanzânia) pasture, during the dry season. The experimental design was a randomized block with three treatments and four replications. The treatments consisted of a mineral supplementation and two other supplements, one based on corn seed and the other based on soybean hulls, and provided at 0.8% of body weight. Forty-eight, 12 month-old crossbred steers with an average initial body weight of 267 kg, were assigned to twelve paddocks (1,125 ha) of guineagrass. The animals that were fed with soybean hulls and corn seed presented a greater average daily gain (0.982 and 0.937) when compared with the mineral supplementation. Soybean hulls can be used as a satisfactory food source, replacing corn as an energy source in the supplementation of beef cattle without compromising animal performance.

Differences in evolution of children with non-severe acute lower respiratory tract infection with and without radiographically diagnosed pneumonia.

OBJECTIVE: To identify differences in the evolution of children with non-severe acute lower respiratory tract infection between those with and without radiographically diagnosed pneumonia. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A public university pediatric hospital in Salvador, Northeast Brazil. PATIENTS: Children aged 2-59 months. METHODS: By active surveillance, the pneumonia cases were prospectively identified in a 2-year period. Each case was followed-up for changes in various clinical symptoms and signs. Demographic, clinical and radiographic data were recorded in standardized forms. Exclusion was due to antibiotic use in the previous 48 hours, signs of severe disease, refusal to give informed consent, underlying chronic illness, hospitalization in the previous 7 days or amoxicillin allergy. Chest X-ray (CXR) was later read by at least 2 independent pediatric radiologists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Radiographic diagnosed pneumonia based on agreed detection of pulmonary infiltrate or pleural effusion in 2 assessments. RESULTS: A total of 382 patients receiving amoxicillin were studied, of whom, 372 (97.4%) had concordant radiographic diagnosis which was pneumonia (52%), normal CXR (41%) and others (7%). By multivariate analysis, age (OR=1.03; 95% CI: 1.02-1.05), disease > 5 days (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.001-1.08), reduced pulmonary expansion (OR = 3.3; 95% CI: 1.4-8.0), absence of wheezing (OR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9), crackles on admission (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2-3.5), inability to drink on day 1 (OR = 4.2; 95% CI: 1.05-17.3), consolidation percussion sign (OR = 7.0; 95% CI: 1.5-32.3), tachypnea (OR = 2.0; 95% CI: 1.09-3.6) and fever (OR = 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4-9.4) on day 2 were independently associated with pneumonia. The highest positive predictive value was at the 2nd day of evolution for tachypnea (71.0%) and fever (81.1%). CONCLUSION: Persistence of fever or tachypnea up to the second day of amoxicillin treatment is predictive of radiographically diagnosed pneumonia among children with non-severe lower respiratory tract diseases.

Experiences of racial discrimination & relation to violence perpetration and gang involvement among a sample of urban African American men.

OBJECTIVE: To examine racial discrimination and its relation to violence involvement among a sample of urban African American men. METHODS: Participants of this cross-sectional study were African American men (N = 703) between the ages of 18 and 65 years, recruited from four urban community health centers and two hospital-based clinics within an urban center in the Northeast. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the relation of reported racial discrimination to recent perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV), street violence involvement, and gang involvement. Racial discrimination was measured via 7 items assessing everyday and lifetime experiences of racial discrimination. RESULTS: In logistic regression models adjusted for age and homelessness, men reporting high levels of discrimination (scores above the sample median) were significantly more likely to report IPV perpetration (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.9; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.2-2.9) and street violence involvement (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.2) as compared to men reporting lower levels of discrimination. No relation was found between experiencing discrimination and gang involvement. CONCLUSIONS: Findings showcase the potential relevance of racial discrimination to efforts focused on reducing racial disparities related to violence.

Self-similarity and protein compactness.

The hydrophobic effect is the major factor that drives a protein toward collapse and folding. As a consequence of the folding process a hydrophobic core is shielded by the solvent-accessible surface area of the protein. We analyze the solvent-accessible surface area of 1825 nonhomolog protein chains deposited in the Brookhaven Protein Data Bank. This solvent-accessible surface area presents an intrinsic self-similarity behavior. The comparison between the accessible surface area as function of the number of amino acids and the accessible surface area as function of gyration radius supplies a measure of the scaling exponent close to the one observed by volume as function of radius of gyration or by mass-size exponent. The present finding indicates that the fractal analysis describes the protein compactness as an object packing between random spheres in percolation threshold and crumpled wires.

Self-similarity and protein chains.

Fractal properties of 5526 different protein chains are investigated. Characteristic fractal behavior for different molecular systems is obtained from the fractal dimension analysis, which shows that the dimension is delta=2.47 . This dimension gives a measure of the protein compactness. The present finding indicates that the fractal analysis describes some structural properties of proteins and corroborates the explanation about multifractality in the energy hypersurface.

Effects of propofol on respiratory mechanic and lung histology in normal rats.

BACKGROUND: Propofol is able to reduce airway resistance in lungs with previous airway constriction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of propofol on respiratory mechanics in normal rats and to correlate these parameters with lung histology, to define the sites of action of propofol. METHODS: Sixteen Wistar rats were divided into two groups of eight animals. Rats were sedated (diazepam) and anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (C) or propofol (P), and paralysed. Respiratory system, lung, and chest wall resistive, elastic, and viscoelastic/inhomogeneous pressures were computed using the end-inflation occlusion method. RESULTS: Lung resistive pressure was smaller in group P (0.29 kPa (0.05)) than group C (0.37 kPa (0.04)) (P=0.007). The internal diameter of the central airways was greater in group P than C (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Propofol acts at the airway level decreasing respiratory system and lung impedances as a result of central airway dilation.

[Food habits of rural school children from Chile's metropolitan area. A comparative study. 1989]. / Hábitos alimentarios de escolares rurales de la Región Metropolitana de Chile. Un estudio comparativo. 1989.

The objective of this study was to investigate the food habits of a representative sample of 651 rural school-age children from Chile's Metropolitan Region and to carry out a comparative study between 1986-1987 and 1989. Food habits were defined as the frequency of consumption of foods expressed as days per week and were determined through a questionnaire administered to school-age children by the investigators and were compared with Model Allowance, established by Chile's Ministry of Health. Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured through Graffar's modified method. Statistical procedures included analysis of variance and student "t" test for comparison of the means. The frequency of consumption of most food decreased in 1989 compared with 1986-1987. Most consumed foods (above 90%) were bread and potatoes and between 70-75% of the school-age children consumed milk, meat, yoghurt, poultry, eggs, beans, onions, cabbage, squash, lettuce, bananas, oranges, apples, grapes, biscuits, spaghetti, rice, oil, butter, carbonated beverages and juices, candies, sugar and chocolate. Foods most disliked were fresh cheese (69.3%), radish (62.2%), shellfish (59.4%) and chickpeas (48.8%). Males presented a frequency of consumption of beans, chickpeas (p < 0.05), lentil and chard swiss (p < 0.01) significantly higher than females, but these last ones registered a frequency of consumption of apples, cookies, oil (p < 0.05), onions and candies (p < 0.01) significantly higher than males. The frequency of consumption of most foods, especially milk, fish and bread (p < 0.01) decreased with age. SES had no effect on food habits of the school-age children. These results could be useful in the School Feeding Program (PAE) and in nutrition education related to school population.

[Nutritional status of rural school children from Chile's metropolitan region: a comparative study: 1989]. / Estado nutricional de escolares rurales de la región metropolitana de chile. Un estudio comparativo. 1989.

The objective of this study was to carry out a comparative study of the nutritional status of a representative sample of 651 rural school children from Chile's Metropolitan Region between two periods: 1986-1987 and 1989. The percentages of weight/age (%W/A), height/age (%H/A) and weight/height (%W/H), as well as Z scores were compared with WHO Tables; head circumference/age (%HC/A), with Tanner Tables and brachial anthropometric measurements with Frisuncho standards. Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured through Graffar's Modified Method. Statistical procedures included analysis of variance, "t" test for comparison of the means and chi-square. In 1989, results showed an improvement, both present nutritional status (%W/H) and SES as compared with 1986-1987 period. %W/A increased and %H/A decreased from 1986-1987 to 1989. %W/H should be a better indicator of nutritional status due to the high incidence of growth failure (47.4%) which was detected in 51.9% and 30.9% in low-low SES and medium SES, respectively (p < 0.001). Obesity was significantly higher in females (23.5%) than in males (13.2%) (p < 0.05) by which this problem must be prevented to avoid negative consequences in present and adult life. %HC/A positively and significantly increased from 1986-1987 to 1989 confirming that educational selectivity apparently relates to %HC/A, and not to %W/A or %H/A. Considering that only 13.0% of school-age children were beneficiaries of the School Feeding Program (PAE), the high prevalence of undernutrition and growth failure in non-beneficiaries and the fact that most part of the sample (86.9%) belong to low-SES, it should be necessary to increase the covering of PAE in the rural area of Chile's Metropolitan Region.

Clonidine-induced diuresis and its relation to endogenous opioid peptides

Para estudar a diurese induzida por clonidina, esta substância foi administrada, por via intraperitoneal, em ratos. Intenso efeito diurético foi observado com doses entre 0,025 e 1,25 mg/kg, além de excreçäo aumentada de íons sódio e potássio. Esse efeito diurético foi intensamente inibido pela administraçäo prévia de ioimbina (bloqueador de receptores alfa-dois adrenérgicos) ou N-metil-nalorfina (bloqueador de receptores) opióides que penetra mal o sistema nervoso central). Por outro lado, seu efeito diurético foi aumentado, pela administraçäo prévia de naloxona, um bloqueador de receptores opióides mi. É provável que a ativaçäo de receptores alfa-dois adrenérgicos pela clonidina possa induzir a liberaçäo de substâncias endógenas opióides que causem diurese através da ativaçäo de receptores periféricos com baixa afinidade por naloxona

[Food consumption among rural schoolchildren from the metropolitan area of Chile. A comparative study. 1989]. / Ingesta alimentaria de escolares rurales de la región metropolitana de Chile. Un estudio comparativo. 1989.

A comparative study of dietary intake of a representative sample of 651 rural school children from Chile's Metropolitan Region was carried out between two periods: 1986-1987 and 1989. Standard procedures for 24 hr dietary recall individual interviews were used to collect data. The percentage of adequacy of energy and protein intake was calculated based on FAO/OMS/UNU (1985), and vitamins and minerals according to National Research Council Recommended Dietary Allowances. Socioeconomic status (SES) was measured through Graffar's Modified Method. Statistical procedures included chi-square test, analysis of variance and Student "t" test. Between 1986-1987 and 1989 not significant difference was found for dietary intake, despite the socioeconomic conditions had improved. Most part of the sample satisfied energy and protein requirements, but approximately 1/3 of the sample presented a low energy intake; the same was observed for protein intake. Protein contributed 12.0% of the dietary energy, fat 23.0% and carbohydrates 65.0%. Animal and vegetable protein intake was found in the proportion 4:6. Dietary intake significantly differed according to age and SES, and deficiencies in calcium, vitamin A, riboflavin and niacin intake were detected in both sexes. These results could be useful for food and nutrition planning related to school feeding programs and nutrition education.

Analgesia induzida por xilazina: influência de antagonistas opiodérgicos e da desmedulaçäo adrenal / Xylazine-induced analgesia: influence of opioidergic antagonists and adrenal demedullation

Um efeito analgésico, dose-dependente, da xilazina foi observado em ratos, usando uma modificaçäo do teste nociceptivo de retirada da cauda ao estímulo térmico. O efeito foi inibido por administraçäo intraperitoneal de ioimbina, nalaxona e N-metilnalorfina. Ratos submetidos à desmedulaçäo adrenal bilateral, 48 h e 144 h após a cirurgia, também apresentaram significativa reduçäo no efeito analgésico induzido por xilazina. Os resultados sugerem a participaçäo de mecanismos opioidérgicos no efeito analgésico da xilazina. A semelhança do efeito inibitório da N-metilnalorfina, que näo atravessa a barreira hematoencefálica e da desmedulaçäo adrenal bilateral sobre a analgesia induzida por xilazina (2,5 mg/kg), sugere que haja a participaçäo de mecanismos controladores da dor a nível periférico, que podem ser acionados por peptídeos opióides endógenos, liberados pelas adrenais