Muscle architecture and torque production in stroke survivors: an observational study.

OBJECTIVE: Spasticity poststroke leads to muscle weakness and soft tissue contracture, however, it is not clear how muscle properties change due this motor neural disorder. The purpose was to compare medial gastrocnemius muscle architecture and mechanical properties of the plantarflexor muscles between stroke survivors with spasticity and healthy subjects. METHODS: The study included 15 stroke survivors with ankle spasticity and 15 healthy subjects. An isokinetic dynamometer was used for the evaluation of maximal isometric plantarflexor torque and images of the medial gastrocnemius muscle were obtained using ultrasonography. Images were collected at rest and during a maximum voluntary contraction. RESULTS: The affected limb showed reduced fascicle excursion (0.9 ± 0.7 cm), shorter fascicle length, and reduced muscle thickness (0.095 ± 0.010% of leg length and 1.18 ± 0.20 cm, at rest) compared to contralateral (1.6 ± 0.4 cm, 0.106 ± 0.015% of leg length and 1.29 ± 0.24 cm, respectively) and to healthy participants (1.8 ± 0.7 cm, 0.121 ± 0.019% of leg length and 1.43 ± 0.22 cm, respectively). The contralateral limb showed lower force (between 32 and 40%) and similar architecture parameters compared to healthy participants. CONCLUSION: The affected limb had a different muscle architecture that appears to result in lower force production. The contralateral limb showed a decrease in force compared to healthy participants due to the other neural impairments than muscle morphology. Spasticity likely leds to adaptations of muscle architecture in the affected limb and in force reductions in both limbs of stroke survivors.

Nitric oxide affects trypomastigote to amastigote differentiation in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiologic agent of Chagas disease. Two main distinct forms are present in the mammalian host: trypomastigote, an infective form, and the amastigote, a typical replicative form. Succeeding the host cell invasion, trypomastigotes differentiate to amastigotes, a process known as amastigogenesis. Amastigogenesis is characterized by parasite body remodeling, with drastic reduction of flagellum, and changes in protein profile and energetic metabolism. Our aim is to explore the role of nitric oxide as a signaling molecule during the amastigogenesis process, which must be strictly regulated. We report herein that acid pH (6.0) is essential for T. cruzi amastigogenesis. Also, during amastigogenesis there is a progressive solubilization of the paraflagellar protein, a flagellum marker. Moreover, the process is dependent on (•)NO concentration, since it is suppressed by 1mM SNAP, a (•)NO donor, and favored by 10mM L-NAME, a NOS inhibitor. Accordingly, S-nitrosylation of selective proteins occurs in amastigogenesis. Additionally, amastigogenesis is affected by IBMX (PDE inhibitor) treatment, suggesting the importance of cyclic nucleotides signaling. Furthermore, tubulin stability is also affected by the (•)NO availability. Along amastigogenesis, flagellum disassembling is accompanied by changes in a-tubulin tyrosylation and polyglutamylation levels. Taken together, these results suggest (•)NO participation in trypomastigote differentiation to amastigotes in T. cruzi.

Comparação da força, flexibilidade e resistência de mulheres praticantes de treinamento de força e praticantes de Pole Dance / Strength, flexibility and resistance comparison between woman strength training practitioners and Pole Dance practitioners

Praticar atividade física promove melhora na qualidade de vida e na aptidão física. Neste sentido, o treinamento de força e o pole dance são modalidades que muitas mulheres buscam para melhorar a força, flexibilidade e a resistência abdominal. A partir disso, o objetivo do presente estudo foi comparar a força, a flexibilidade e resistência entre mulheres que praticam treinamento de força e que praticam pole dance. Foram selecionadas 22 mulheres praticantes de treinamento de força (n=11) e de pole dance (n=11). As mesmas foram submetidas ao teste de 1RM de extensão de joelhos, teste de preensão manual com dinamômetro, teste de flexibilidade no banco de Wells e teste de resistência abdominal em 1 minuto. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para a idade, massa corporal, estatura, IMC e % de gordura entre os grupos avaliados (p>0,05). As praticantes de treinamento de força apresentaram melhores níveis de força de membros inferiores (p=0,026) enquanto as praticantes pole dance melhor flexibilidade (p=0,003). Para preensão manual e resistência abdominal não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os grupos (p>0,05). Pode-se concluir que o treinamento de força tende a proporcionar maior força de membros inferiores enquanto o pole dance favorece a flexibilidade...(AU)

Physical activity practice promotes improvement of life quality and physical performance. Thus, the strength training and pole dance are exercise forms that many women seek when it comes to strength, flexibility and resistance. The aim of this study was to compare the strength, flexibility and abdominal resistance between women strength training practitioners and pole dance practitioners. Were selected 11 women practitioners of strength training and 11 women practitioners of pole dance. Subjects were submitted to the one maximal repetition test of knee extension, handgrip dynamometer test, flexibility test using bank Wells and abdominal resistance test in one minute. No significant difference was observed for age, body weight, height, body mass index and fat percentage between groups (p> 0.05). The strength training practitioners had higher levels of lower limbs strength (p = 0.026) while pole dance practitioners showed better flexibility (p = 0.003). For handgrip and abdominal resistance no significant differences were observed between groups (p> 0.05). We concluded that the practice of strength training tends to provide greater lower limbs strength while the pole dance favors flexibility...(AU)

Instrumentos específicos para avaliação do conhecimento emasma: revisão sistemática / Specific instruments to evaluate their knowledge of asthma:a systematic review

A avaliação do nível de conhecimento em asma é um dos principais desfechos para estudos vinculados a programas de educação em asma. Para isso, identificar o instrumento específico adequado para tal desfecho é essencial para o sucesso de pesquisas nessa área. Objetivo: identificar instrumentos específicos para avaliar o conhecimento de asma, analisando as características principais e os critérios de qualidade para validação psicométrica. Métodos: uma revisão sistemática foi realizada para identificar medidas de resultados disponíveis para avaliar o conhecimento da asma em crianças, adolescentes,responsáveis legais e profissionais de saúde. Aplicamos a lógica de pesquisa nas bases dedados Medline, Lilacs, Scopus, Science Direct, PsycINFO, Cochrane e Tripdatabase. Os artigos foram incluídos mediante descrição do desenvolvimento e teste psicométrico dos questionários de conhecimento em asma. Para os critérios de qualidade, a validade de conteúdo, validade de construto, consistência interna e reprodutibilidade foram avaliados e atribuída uma classificação “positivo”, “intermediário”ou “negativo”. Resultados: vinte e dois instrumentos foram incluídos. Nenhum deles teve uma avaliação positiva para todas as quatro propriedades psicométricas avaliadas. Seis receberam classificação “positivo”ou “intermediário”. Destes, somente um foi desenvolvido em português-BR. Conclusão: Atualmente, existem 22 questionários disponíveis para avaliar o nível de conhecimento da asma, mas maioria dos instrumentos não possui validação psicométrica completa...

The evaluation of the level of asthma knowledge is one of the major outcomes for studies related to educational programs on asthma. Hence, identifying the particular instrument suitable for this outcome is essential to the success of studies in this field. Objective: To identify specific instruments to assess knowledge of asthma, analyzing the main characteristics and quality criteria for psychometric validation. Methods: A systematic review was performed to identify outcome measures available to assess knowledge of asthma in children, adolescents, guardians and caregivers. We applied the logic of search in Medline, Lilacs, Scopus, DirectScience, PsycINFO, Cochrane and Tripdatabase. Articles were included by description of the development and psychometric testing of the questionnaires on asthma knowledge. Quality criteria for content validity, construct validity, internal consistency and reproducibility were evaluated and assigned as “positive”, “intermediate” or “negative” rating. Results: Twenty-two instruments were included in the study. None of them had a positive review for all four evaluated psychometric properties. Six received positive or intermediate classification, one of these was developed in Portuguese-BR. Conclusion: Currently, there are 22 questionnaires available to assess the level of asthma knowledge, but most of the instruments do not have full psychometric validation...

Rate of force development and torque production assessment in spastic stroke survivors / Avaliação da taxa de produção de força e torque em indivíduos com espasticidade pós-avc

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the rate of force development (RFD) and maximum torque in spastic stroke survivors and healthy individuals. Fifteen stroke survivors (57.3 ± 11.2 years) with ankle spasticity and fifteen healthy individuals (59.3 ± 6.4 years) participated in this study. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVC) and RFD assessment of plantar flexors muscles of ankle, which the individuals were instructed to produce maximum torque as fast as possible. The absolute RFD was normalized by MVC (relative RFD). In results were observed significant differences in RFD of affected limb (43.3 ± 8.5 Nm/s) and unaffected limb (98.9 ± 20.4 Nm/s) compared to healthy (186.2 ± 25.2 Nm/s), but with no differences between affected and unaffected limbs (p=0.15). In relation to relative RFD, the affected limb (9.76 ± 1.1 %MVC/s) was significant different than healthy (13.08 ± 1.5 %MVC/s). The MVC produced by affected limb (46.55 ± 7.98 Nm) was significant lower than unaffected limb (84.29 ± 8.47 Nm) and, the two limbs of stroke survivors were weakness than healthy individuals (128.02 ± 9.36 Nm). Lastly, the spasticity level present higher negative correlation in relation to RFD (R= -0.725; p= 0.002) and MVC (R= -0.717; p=0.003). The spasticity promotes alterations in capacity to produce maximum force and fast force in affected and unaffected limbs of stroke survivors compared to healthy.

Resumo O objetivo desse estudo foi comparar a taxa de produção de força (TPF) e o torque máximo em indivíduos com espasticidade e saudáveis. Participaram do estudo 15 sujeitos pós-AVC (57,3 ± 11,2 anos) com espasticidade de tornozelo e 15 sujeitos saudáveis (59,0 ± 6,4 anos). Um dinamômetro isocinético foi utilizado para a avaliação da contração isométrica voluntária máxima (CVM) e da TPF dos flexores plantares do tornozelo, na qual os participantes foram instruídos a produzir força máxima o mais rápido possível. A TPF absoluta também foi normalizada pela CVM (TPF relativa). Como resultados, foram encontradas diferenças significativas na TPF absoluta do lado afetado (43,3 ± 8,5 Nm/s) e não afetado (98,9 ± 20,4 Nm/s) quando comparados com os saudáveis (186,2 ± 25,2 Nm/s), porém sem diferenças entre os membros espásticos (p=0,15). Em relação a TPF relativa, apenas o lado afetado (9,76 ± 1,1 %CVM/s) apresentou diferença em relação aos saudáveis (13,08 ± 1,5 %CVM/s). A CVM produzida pelo lado afetado (46,55 ± 7,98 Nm) foi significativamente menor quando comparado ao lado não afetado (84,29 ± 8,47 Nm) e, os dois lados foram mais fracos em comparação aos indivíduos saudáveis (128,02 ± 9,36 Nm). Por fim, o nível de espasticidade apresentou alta correlação negativa em relação a TPF (R= -0,725; p= 0,002) e a CVM (R= -0,717; p=0,003). A espasticidade gera alterações na capacidade de produzir força máxima e rápida tanto no membro afetado quanto no não afetado em indivíduos que tiveram AVC em relação a indivíduos saudáveis.