Electromyography study of six parts of the latissimus dorsi during reaching tasks while seated: A comparison between healthy subjects and stroke patients.

PURPOSE: To compare the excitation of the six different segments of the latissimus dorsi (LD) while reaching different distances and in different directions in stroke patients and healthy controls. METHOD: Surface electromyography was used to measure the excitation of the LD segments (LD1-LD6) in 12 chronic stroke patients and 11 healthy controls during reaching tasks. A target was placed in the sagittal and scapular planes at arm's length, 125% of arm's length, and maximum reaching distance. The clinical trial registration number is NCT04181151 (date of registration November 25, 2019). RESULTS: The excitation of the LD segments during the arm's length reaching task was similar between the groups (p greater than 0.05). The excitation of LD1, LD2, and LD5 in the sagittal plane and of LD1, LD2, LD3, and LD5 in the scapular plane was higher during the reaching 125% of arm's length task compared to the controls (p < 0.05). During the maximum reaching task, the excitation of LD1 was higher in the stroke patients in both the sagittal and scapular planes (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The excitation of the LD segments was influenced by the direction and distance of the reaching in the stroke patients. The results of this study may help us to better understand how the LD behaves after stroke and to design rehabilitation approaches with a greater focus on the LD.

Effects of combined aerobic-strength training and yoga on quality of life and related parameters in women with pituitary adenoma after surgery: a randomized crossover study.

Objective: The pituitary gland is responsible for hormonal balance in the body, and disruption of hormonal balance in patients with pituitary adenoma (PA) indirectly affects the quality of life. This study aimed to examine the effects of yoga and combined aerobic and strength training (A+ST) on quality of life and related parameters such as sleep, fatigue, emotional state, sexual function, and cognitive status in women with PA. Design: Ten women with PA were included in this randomized crossover study. Group 1 (n = 5, mean age: 52 ± 13.5 years) received A+ST for the first 6 weeks, a 2-week washout period, and yoga for the second 6 weeks. Group 2 (n = 5, mean age: 41.8 ± 14 years) received the yoga program first, followed by the A+ST program. Methods: Participants were assessed using the following tools before and after each exercise intervention: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Brain (FACT-Br) (quality of life), Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA). Results: FACT-Br scores were higher after the yoga program, HADS anxiety score was lower after the A+ST program, and MOCA scores increased after both exercise programs (P < 0.05). FSS score decreased after both exercise programs, but not significantly. In addition, nonsignificant decreases in HADS anxiety and depression scores and increased FSFI scores were observed after the yoga program. Conclusion: A+ST and yoga have positive effects on the quality of life in PA. We recommend yoga and A+ST as a supportive therapy for this population that may face comorbidities after surgical and medical treatment. Our results indicate these patients may benefit from physiotherapist-guided exercise programs.

Effect of fulvic acid on gastric mucosa damage caused by chronic water avoidance stress.

We investigated the antioxidant and anti-ulcerogenic effects of fulvic acid (FA) on oxidative damage caused by water avoidance stress (WAS) in rat gastrointestinal mucosa. Three experimental groups were established: control (C), chronic stress (CS), and chronic stress + FA (CS + FA). After WAS, a single dose of FA was administered for 10 days to the CS + FA group. Samples of the pyloric region of the stomach were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS). Immunohistochemical staining was performed for inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) levels were measured biochemically. By light microscopy, we observed loss of gastric epithelial cells and greater polymorphonuclear cell migration into the mucosa in the CS group compared to the C group. We found intact epithelial cell structure and a thick superficial mucus layer in the CS + FA group compared to the CS group. These findings in the CS + FA group were similar to those for group C. iNOS staining was stronger in the CS group compared to the C group. TOS and OSI levels in the CS + FA group were decreased compared to the CS group, but TAS, SOD, GPx and CAT levels were increased. We found that WAS caused damage to epithelium and connective tissue of the stomach mucosa and that this damage was prevented by FA. Therefore, administration of FA appears to prevent stress induced damage to rat stomach.

Comparison of two different feedback techniques for activating the transversus abdominis: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: The transversus abdominis (TrA) is an important muscle for spinal stabilization. The abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) is a method that selectively activates the TrA without overactivation of the external oblique (EO) and internal oblique (IO). Individuals with low back pain may have trouble in understanding proper contraction of the TrA. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the differences between two feedback techniques to re-educate the TrA. METHODS: One hundred eighty healthy volunteers (123 female, 57 male) were randomized into two groups. The ADIM was performed with different feedback methods: conventional (verbal and tactile) feedback and visual feedback from real-time ultrasound images. RESULTS: A within-group comparison revealed a significant increase in the thickness of the TrA, IO, and EO during the ADIM (p< 0.001) in both groups. The mean change (SD) in the thickness of the TrA and IO between rest and the ADIM was an increase of 2.541.25 and 1.882.14 in group 1 and 1.821.27 and 1.241.87 in group 2, respectively (p< 0.001). No significant differences were observed in EO thickness between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Although visual biofeedback shows a greater effect on ADIM training, both approaches are applicable, and clinicians may decide on which to use based on their clinical environment and experience.

The ProFitMap-neck - a questionnaire for measuring symptoms and functional limitations in neck pain: reliability, validity and cross-cultural adaptation of the Turkish version

Background/aim: The Profile Fitness Mapping neck questionnaire (ProFitMap-neck) is a reliable and valid assessment instrument for measuring neck-related symptoms and functional limitations in people with neck pain, but a Turkish version of it had not been published. The purpose of this study was to investigate the adaptation, validity, and intrarater reliability of the Turkish version of the ProFitMap-neck. Materials and methods: Two hundred and thirty-five individuals with chronic neck pain were enrolled in the study. Intrarater reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach's alpha was calculated for internal consistency. For concurrent validity, ProFitMap-neck scores were compared with neck disability index (NDI) and visual analoguepain scale (VAS) scores using Pearson's correlation coefficient analysis. The ProFitMap-neck, NDI, VAS, and short form health survey (SF-36) were administered to all participants. Results: For intrarater analysis, ICC ranged between 0.72 and 0.84. The total score was 0.83, indicating excellent reliability. The correlation of the ProFitMap-neck with NDI and VAS was 0.71 and 0.68, respectively, indicating good concurrent validity. Conclusion: The ProFitMap-neck is an evaluation instrument with sufficient validity and reliability to be used for evaluating Turkish patients with neck pain. Use of this scale can reveal how, how often, and how much these patients' pain affects their symptoms and functional activities.

Short-Term Diet Restriction but Not Alternate Day Fasting Prevents Cisplatin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Mice.

Cisplatin (CP) is one of the most preferred platinum-containing antineoplastic drugs. However, even in nontoxic plasma concentrations, it may cause kidney injury. To be able to increase its effective pharmacological dose, its side effects need to be regarded. Diet restriction (DR) has been demonstrated to improve cellular survival in a number of disorders. In this context, we investigated the role of DR in CP-induced nephrotoxicity (CPN). Besides alternate DR, animals were exposed to DR for 3 days prior or after CP treatment. Here, we observed that both 3 days of DR reverses the nephrotoxic effect of CP, which was associated with improved physiological outcomes, such as serum creatine, blood-urea nitrogen and urea. These treatments significantly increased phosphorylation of survival kinases PI3K/Akt and ERK-1/2 and decreased the level of stress kinase JNK were noted. In addition, the activation level of signal transduction mediator p38 MAPK phosphorylation was higher particularly in both three-day DR groups. Next, animals were fed with carbohydrate-, protein- or fat-enriched diets in the presence of CP. Results indicated that not only fasting but also dietary content itself may play a determinant role in the severity of CPN. Our data suggest that DR is a promising approach to reduce CPN by regulating metabolism and cell signaling pathways.

Do Stabilization Exercises Increase the Effects of Lumbar Facet Radiofrequency Denervation?

AIM: To investigate the effects of lumbar stabilization exercises on pain severity, functional disability, and physical performance after two weeks following radiofrequency denervation in patients with lumbar facet joint syndrome (LFJS). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-nine patients diagnosed with LFJS and had radiofrequency denervation were assigned to study and control groups. The study group (n=20) received a six-week stabilization exercise program and was informed about spine biomechanics, while the control group (n=19) received only informations about spine biomechanics. Pain severity with visual analogue scale, perceived disability with Oswestry disability index, physical performance with physical performance tests and gait speed test were applied before and after radiofrequency denervation, and after six weeks of intervention program. RESULTS: Despite the similar improvements were shown in terms of all outcomes in both groups following radiofrequency denervation (p > 0.05), the improvements were more in favor of study group after six week intervention program (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: These results indicate that radiofrequency denervation is effective in improving the pain, disability, and physical performance in patients with LFJS and this effect is further enhanced by the stabilization exercises following this procedure. Adding stabilization exercises to radiofrequency denervation yielded positive outcomes and these exercise are strongly advised in physiotherapy and rehabilitation program.

The effect of stabilization exercises on diaphragm muscle thickness and movement in women with low back pain.

BACKGROUND: Diaphragm is an important component of spinal stability. In presence of low back pain, there may be some alterations in this muscle like other muscles that are responsible for lumbal stabilization. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the effects of stabilization exercises on diaphragm muscle thickness and motion along with lumbopelvic stability. METHODS: Twenty-one women with low back pain participated in the study. Stabilization exercises including motor control training were performed on treatment group (n= 11). In control group (n= 10), strentghening exercises were peformed for back muscles, abdominal muscles and hip muscles. The patients underwent a total of 30 sessions of treatment, 3 days in a week for 10 weeks. The diaphragm muscle thickness and motion was evaluated using ultrasound (US), and lumbopelvic stability was evaluated using lumbopelvic stability tests. RESULTS: After the treatment, in the treatment group, increase in diaphragm thickness and improvement in lumbopelvic stability were statically significant (p< 0.05). However, there were no significant changes in diaphragm motion in both groups (p> 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, stabilization exercises increase diaphragm muscle thickness and improve lumbopelvic stability in women with low back pain. Therefore, stabilization exercises should be considered as a part of the treatment program in low back pain.

Boron promotes streptozotocin-induced diabetic wound healing: roles in cell proliferation and migration, growth factor expression, and inflammation.

Acute wounds do not generally require professional treatment modalities and heal in a predictable fashion, but chronic wounds are mainly accompanied with infection and prolonged inflammation, leading to healing impairments and continuous tissue degradation. Although a vast amount of products have been introduced in the market, claiming to provide a better optimization of local and systemic conditions of patients, they do not meet the expectations due to being expensive and not easily accessible, requiring wound care facilities, having patient-specific response, low efficiency, and severe side-effects. In this sense, developing new, safe, self-applicable, effective, and cheap wound care products with broad-range antimicrobial activity is still an attractive area of international research. In the present work, boron derivatives [boric acid and sodium pentaborate pentahydrate (NaB)] were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity, proliferation, migratory, angiogenesis, gene, and growth factor expression promoting effects on dermal cells in vitro. In addition, boron-containing hydrogel formulation was examined for its wound healing promoting potential using full-thickness wound model in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The results revealed that while both boron compounds significantly increased proliferation, migration, vital growth factor, and gene expression levels of dermal cells along with displaying remarkable antimicrobial effects against bacteria, yeast, and fungi, NaB displayed greater antimicrobial properties as well as gene and growth factor expression inductive effects. Animal studies proved that NaB-containing gel formulation enhanced wound healing rate of diabetic animals and histopathological scores. Overall data suggest a potential promising therapeutic option for the management of chronic wounds but further studies are highly warranted to determine signaling pathways and target metabolisms in which boron is involved to elucidate the limitations and extend its use in clinics.