The efficacy of electromyographic biofeedback on pain, function, and maximal thickness of vastus medialis oblique muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this survey was to examine the effect of adding electromyographic biofeedback (EMGBF) to isometric exercise, on pain, function, thickness, and maximal electrical activity in isometric contraction of the vastus medialis oblique (VMO) muscle in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: In this clinical trial, 46 patients with a diagnosis of knee OA were recruited and assigned to two groups. The case group consisted of 23 patients with EMGBF-associated exercise, and the control group was made up of 23 patients with only isometric exercise. Data were gathered via visual analog scale (VAS) score, the Persian version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index and Lequesne questionnaires, ultrasonography of the VMO, and surface electromyography of this muscle at baseline and at the end of the study. Variables were compared before and after the exercise program in each group and between the two groups. RESULTS: At the end of the study, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding measured variables. Only the VAS score was significantly less in the case group. Although all assessed parameters, except for VMO muscle thickness, were found to be improved significantly in each group, the degree of change was not significantly different between the two groups, except for VAS score. VMO muscle thickness did not change significantly after exercise therapy in either of the groups. CONCLUSION: Isometric exercises accompanied by EMGBF and the same exercises without biofeedback for 2 months both led to significant improvements in pain and function of patients with knee OA. Real EMGBF was not superior to exercise without biofeedback in any of the measured variables, except for VAS score.

Evaluation of sleep problems in preeclamptic, healthy pregnant and non-pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Sleep problems are common complaints among pregnant women. This study was designed to compare subjective sleep problems in non-pregnancy condition, healthy and preeclamptic pregnancy as a major complication of pregnancy. We hypothesized that some sleep problems are more prevalent in females with preeclampsia. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 102 women with preeclampsia, 106 healthy pregnant women in the third trimester and 103 healthy non-pregnant women were selected through random sampling. Age and parity were matched in the three groups. We used Global sleep assessment questionnaire (GSAQ) to check the subjective sleep problems, and then we performed statistical analysis using Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson Chi-square tests. RESULTS: Our findings revealed significant differences in initial insomnia (p = 0.034), fragmented sleep (p = 0.022), snoring (p<0.001), non-idiopathic insomnia (p = 0.045) and sadness and anxiety (p = 0.001) between the three groups. Some sleep problems were more common in preeclampctic compared to healthy pregnant women including initial insomnia, fragmented sleep, snoring, sleep apnea and non-idiopathic insomnia. Moreover, the subjects with preeclampsia revealed more fragmented sleep, snoring, sadness and anxiety and lack of getting enough sleep due to other activities compared to non-pregnant women. CONCLUSION: Different kinds of sleep problems can occur in subjects with preeclampsia in comparison with the non-pregnant and healthy pregnant subjects. Sleep problems should be evaluated during pregnancy, particularly in pregnant women with preeclampsia, and suitable treatment should be provided for any specific sleep problem.

The effects of acetazolamide on ischemia reperfused isolated hearts of 2- and 8-week-old rabbits.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of acetazolamide on the ischemia-reperfused isolated hearts of 2- and 8-week-old rabbits. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Kermanshah Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah, Iran from March to September 2011. Two- (n=17) and 8-week old (n=17) rabbits were separately divided into 2 control (n=9), and test (n=8) groups. Isolated hearts were subjected to 35 minutes ischemia and 30 minutes reperfusion. Acetazolamide (100 microgr/l) was added to the perfusion solution for 10 minutes before ischemia in the test group. Cardiac parameters including ventricular pressure, heart rate (HR), and rate pressure product (RPP) were measured. Data sets were analyzed by t-test. RESULTS: Following acetazolamide administration the change percentage of HR was significantly different in the 2-week (91 +/- 1.1%) compared with the 8-week (96 +/- 0.8%) test groups (p=0.0016). Recovery percentage of RPP in reperfusion was lower (p=0.005) in the 8- (28.9 +/- 3.4%) than the 2-week test groups (45.2 +/- 3.5%). CONCLUSION: The 2-week hearts elicited more rapid response to carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition than the 8-week group. However, acetazolamide does not exacerbate ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury in the 2-week hearts. Therefore, it was revealed that after inhibition of CA, the age dependent pattern of I/R injury was similar to that of the normal hearts. Inspite of the CA important role in the normal heart function, it is not a determining factor in I/R injury in different ages.