In vivo effects of two shoulder girdle motor control exercises on acromiohumeral and coracohumeral distances in healthy men.

INTRODUCTION: Altered motor control and proprioceptive deficits are associated with kinematics dysfunctions and may cause alterations in subacromial space (SAS) that could lead to shoulder pathologies. Dimensions of the subacromial space, as well as interventions aimed at its normal restitution, can be explored by ultrasound (US). OBJECTIVE: To describe the effect of two shoulder girdle motor control exercises with cognitive training strategies on SAS dimensions, measured with US. METHODS: Cognitive movement control strategies, with visual and haptic feedback were applied on 21 healthy participants. SAS dimensions were measured through in vivo variations of acromiohumeral (AHD) and coracohumeral distances (CHD) using US. RESULTS: Our results show that as exercise repetitions are performed, an increasing trend in both measures can be observed, being wider for AHD (i.e. humeral head descent exercise) than CHD (i.e. scapular retraction exercise). CONCLUSION: Specific cognitive and motor control exercises improve congruence joint and centering of the humeral head.

In vivo measurements of glenohumeral distraction technique performed in three different joint positions.

Introduction: Distraction techniques are an important part of the manual approach in the glenohumeral joint; however, there is controversy regarding the initial joint position to maximize separation of joint surfaces.Objective: To identify, through an in vivo exploration, the behavior of the coracohumeral distance (CHD) during the application of a short lever arm grade III distraction technique on the humeral head, executed in three different glenohumeral positions (zero position (P0), rest position (RP) and 90º abduction position with maximum external rotation (ABD+ER)).Methods: 15 participants were selected. A physical therapist executed grade III distraction techniques in described joint positions. Ultrasound was used to visualize the differences in CHD. Statistical analysis included interclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and repeated measurements of ANOVA.Results: The range of ICC values was 0.740 and 0.948. The differences in CHD were 5.74 ± 0.51 mm, 3.97 ± 0.24 mm, and 0.64 ± 0.02 mm, for P0, RP and ABD+ER during application of distraction technique, respectively. There were differences between P0 and RP with ABD+ER (P < 0.001), and no differences between P0 and RP.Conclusion: Initial joint position of application influences the separation of the articular surfaces, being wider in the zero and rest positions.

5-HT induction of c-fos gene expression requires reactive oxygen species and Rac1 and Ras GTPases.

Serotonin (5-HT) stimulates superoxide release, phosphorylation of p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and DNA synthesis in bovine pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Both p42/p44 MAPK and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation are required for 5-HT-induced growth in SMC. Agents that block the production of ROS, or ROS scavengers, block MAPK activation by 5-HT. However, specific signal transduction by 5-HT leading to proteins that control entrance into the cell cycle are not well defined in smooth muscle cells. Here, we show by Western blot that 5-HT upregulates c-Fos, an immediate early gene product known to regulate the entrance of quiescent cells into the cell cycle. Northern blots showed that c-fos mRNA is induced by 5-HT in 30 min. This induction is blocked by PD98059, indicating that activation of MAPK is required. 5-HT-induced expression of a 350 bp c-fos promoter in a luciferase reporter is blocked by PD98059 and diphenyliodonium (DPI). The GTPases Rac1 and Ras have been implicated in growth factor-induced generation of ROS. Overexpression of either dominant negative (DN) Rac1 or DN Ras inhibited 5-HT-mediated c-fos promoter activation. 5-HT also induced expression from a truncated c-fos promoter containing an isolated serum response element. This activation was blocked by DPI and PD98059. Overexpression of activated Ras and Rac1 were additive for activation of the serum response element promoter. Regulation of cyclin D1, a protein shown to be regulated by c-fos and required for entry into the cell cycle, is upregulated by 5-HT and is blocked by DPI and PD98059. Nuclear factor-kappaB, which can also regulate cyclin D1, was not activated. We conclude that 5-HT stimulates c-fos and cyclin D1 expression through a ROS-dependent mechanism that requires Ras, Rac1, and MAPK.

Activation of the STAT pathway in acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a devastating clinical problem with a mortality as high as 60%. It is now appreciated that ALI represents a cytokine excess state that involves the microvasculature of multiple organs. The signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) family of transcription factors activate critical mediators of cytokine responses, but there is limited knowledge about their role in mediating ALI. In the present study, we demonstrate that the STAT transcription factors are activated rapidly in the lungs after intraperitoneal and intranasal LPS administration in mice. We also demonstrated that LPS activates both the STAT kinases, Src and JAK, in the lung with kinetics that are consistent with STAT activation. LPS treatment resulted in STAT3 activation throughout the resident lung cells, as well as in the recruited inflammatory cells. Whereas direct LPS treatment did not lead to STAT activation in cultured epithelial or endothelial cells, IL-6 activated STAT3 in both of these cell types. Furthermore, IL-6 was induced by LPS in serum and in the lung with kinetics consistent with STAT3 activation, suggesting that IL-6 may be one mechanism of STAT activation by LPS. In addition, STAT activation required reactive oxygen species, as the overexpression of catalase in mice prevented LPS-mediated STAT activation in the lung. STATs may be a common pathway for mediating ALI, regardless of the inciting factor, as STAT activation also occurred in both a gastric acid aspiration and acute pancreatitis model of ALI. Finally, STATs are activated in the lung long before signs of ALI are present, suggesting that the STAT transcription factors may play a role in initiating the inflammatory response seen in the lung.

Peritonitis: complicaciones y sus factores asociados / Peritonitis: complications and its associated factors

El trabajo que presentamos tiene como propósito principal encontrar las complicaciones mas frecuentes de la peritonitis, en nuestro territorio y mas concretamente en el medio que más practicamos "El Hospital Regional Simón Bolivar" y con estos datos encontrar los factores asociados para en un momento dado modificarlos para bien del paciente. Se hizo un estudio retrospectivo con una muestra representativa (71 pacientes) de los pacientes que tenían diagnóstico de peritonitis de Julio de 1985 a Julio de 1986, se aplicó un formulario sencillo (Anexo 1) y luego de tener los datos escogimos las variables mas relevantes y principalmente el tiempo de evolución que fue más prolongado en los pacientes que presentaron complicación posterior, la más frecuente, la muerte. La conclusión más importante de nuestra revisión es que a medida que se llegue a un diagnóstico termprano y correcto, se determinará el tratamiento adecuado, evitando la mayor frecuencia de las complicaciones. En todo caso existen más factores asociados que por problemas de tiempo no pudimos estudiar pero sugerimos que otros trabajadores las retomen