Dry Needling of a Healthy Rat Achilles Tendon Increases Its Gene Expressions: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Tendon dry needling is a potential treatment for tendinopathies. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain its underlying mechanisms. No studies (to the best of our knowledge) have investigated changes in gene expression. OBJECTIVE: To investigate histological and gene expression changes after the application of dry needling to the healthy Achilles tendons of rats. METHODS: Six Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into two groups: no intervention or dry needling. Dry needling consisted of three sessions (once per week) to the Achilles tendon. Molecular expression of several genes involved in tendon repair and remodeling (e.g., Cox2, Mmp2, Mmp9, Col1a1, Col3a1, Vefg, and Scx) was assessed 7 days after the last needling session (day 28) or 28 days after for the no-intervention group. Histological tissue changes were determined with hematoxylin-eosin analyses. RESULTS: The hematoxylin-eosin-stained images revealed no substantial differences in collagen structure or the presence of inflammatory cells between the dry needling and no-intervention groups. A significant increase in the molecular expression of Cox2, Mmp2, Col3a1, and Scx genes was observed in Achilles tendons treated with dry needling when compared with the no-intervention group. CONCLUSION: This animal pilot study found that the application of dry needling to the healthy Achilles tendons of rats is able to increase the expression of genes associated with collagen regeneration and tissue remodeling of the extracellular matrix with no further histological damage to the tendon.

Urban atmospheric levels of allergenic pollen: comparison of two locations in Salamanca, Central-Western Spain.

In this paper, differences in the pollen levels detected in two parts of Salamanca (a city in central-western Spain) have been revealed using two volumetric samplers. One sampler was located in the city centre and the other in a semi-natural zone. The two sampling devices were separated by a distance of 1.4 km. During the two-year study period, the most abundant allergenic pollen type was Poaceae, with peak values being detected in May. Maximum values were registered between April and June. The values obtained in both zones with regard to pollen seasonality were similar during the peak day, but the abundance of pollen grains detected in the semi-urban was higher, except for Olea pollen type. The atmospheric pollen season was similar in duration, except for some types belonging to the genera Plantago and Urticaceae, which showed divergent values most probably due to the influence of climatic conditions. The meteorological parameter most significantly correlated to pollen concentration was temperature, being negative for winter species and positive for plants preferring warmer climates. In addition, rainfall showed a negative correlation in most cases due to the influence of precipitation on the behaviour of atmospheric airborne pollen.

Near-ground effect of height on pollen exposure.

The effect of height on pollen concentration is not well documented and little is known about the near-ground vertical profile of airborne pollen. This is important as most measuring stations are on roofs, but patient exposure is at ground level. Our study used a big data approach to estimate the near-ground vertical profile of pollen concentrations based on a global study of paired stations located at different heights. We analyzed paired sampling stations located at different heights between 1.5 and 50 m above ground level (AGL). This provided pollen data from 59 Hirst-type volumetric traps from 25 different areas, mainly in Europe, but also covering North America and Australia, resulting in about 2,000,000 daily pollen concentrations analyzed. The daily ratio of the amounts of pollen from different heights per location was used, and the values of the lower station were divided by the higher station. The lower station of paired traps recorded more pollen than the higher trap. However, while the effect of height on pollen concentration was clear, it was also limited (average ratio 1.3, range 0.7-2.2). The standard deviation of the pollen ratio was highly variable when the lower station was located close to the ground level (below 10 m AGL). We show that pollen concentrations measured at >10 m are representative for background near-ground levels.

Immediate effects of bilateral sacroiliac joint manipulation on plantar pressure distribution in asymptomatic participants.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the immediate effects of manipulation of bilateral sacroiliac joints (SIJs) on the plantar pressure distribution in asymptomatic participants in the standing position. DESIGN: Randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-two asymptomatic men and women (mean age, 20.66±2.56 years) randomly assigned to 2 groups. INTERVENTIONS: The experimental group underwent mobilization without tension of the hips in the supine position and high-velocity, low-amplitude manipulation in the SIJs bilaterally. The control group underwent only mobilization, without tension of the hips in supine position. OUTCOME MEASURES: Pre- and postintervention outcomes measured by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the participants included a baropodometric analysis performed by using a force platform. Baseline between-group differences were examined with a Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. A chi-square test was used for categorical data. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to assess differences between groups, with the preintervention value as covariant (95% confidence level). RESULTS: At baseline, no variables significantly differed between groups. Baropodometric analysis showed statistically significant differences in the location of the maximum pressure point in the experimental group (p=0.028). Pre- and postintervention analysis with ANCOVA showed statistically significant differences between both groups in the left hindfoot load percentage (interaction p=0.0259; ANCOVA p=0.0277), right foot load percentage (ANCOVA p=0.0380), and surface of the right forefoot (interaction p=0.0038). There was also a significant effect in the variables that analyze the entire foot (left foot: surface [interaction p=0.0452], percentage of load [ANCOVA p=0.0295]) and between both groups (right foot: weight [interaction p=0.0070; ANCOVA p=0.0296]). CONCLUSIONS: Sacroiliac joint manipulation applied bilaterally in asymptomatic persons resulted in immediate changes in load distribution on plantar support in the standing position. Study limitations and suggestions for future studies are discussed.

Effects of manual therapy on craniofacial pain in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis: a case series.

OBJECTIVE: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is thought to develop through an inadequate drainage of nasal and sinus secretions and perpetuated by local mechanical and autonomic nervous system factors. Manual therapy may have an effect on these factors providing symptomatic relief of CRS symptoms. The purpose of this prospective case series was to report the results of manual therapy on a set of patients with craniofacial pain and a diagnosis of CRS. METHODS: Fourteen consecutive patients presenting with a primary report of craniofacial pain and a diagnosis CRS completed self-report questionnaires including the Sinonasal Assessment Questionnaire, Rhinosinusitis Task Force, visual analog scale for craniofacial pain, and pressure pain threshold over 4 sinus points on the face. Patients were seen once a week for 7 consecutive weeks and completed all outcome measures at baseline and subsequent weekly sessions. They received manual therapy interventions only on the second, third, and fifth weekly sessions. RESULTS: No significant changes in outcome measures were observed from baseline to 1 week, where no intervention was applied. Significant improvements were observed on all outcome measures (Ps ≤ .015) for pre- and post-first treatment session, as well as from baseline to 7 weeks (Ps < .001). All patients exhibited a significant decrease in craniofacial pain and increased pressure pain thresholds and reported less severity of their symptoms. CONCLUSION: Patients with craniofacial pain and CRS who were treated with manual therapy demonstrated improvements in all outcome measures only after each treatment session. Our results suggest that manual therapy treatment could be considered as an appropriate alternative treatment of CRS.

Liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of anthocyanin composition of dark blue bee pollen from Echium plantagineum.

Dark blue bee pollen samples from pollinic type Echium plantegineum were analysed in order to identify and quantify their anthocyanin pigments. Five samples were collected from different apicultural Spanish regions and the anthocyanin composition was determined by HPLC with diode array and MS detection. Eight different pigments were identified, the principal anthocyanin being petunidin-3-O-rutinoside. The other pigments found were delphinidin, cyanidin and petunidin-3-O-glucoside; delphinidin, cyanidin, peonidin and malvidin-3-O-rutinoside and cyanidin-3-(6"-malonylglucoside). The anthocyanin content ranged from 45 to 80 mg/100 g of blue pollen, which could represent a significant source of phytochemicals. Minor variations in the anthocyanin profiles were found, which could be explained by the geographical differences between collection regions.