Egg nutritional modulation with amino acids improved performance in zebrafish larvae.

New and more efficient methods to sustainably intensify Aquaculture production are essential to attain the seafood demand for direct human consumption in the near future. Nutrition has been identified as one strategy of early exposure that might affect animal early development and later phenotype. This strategy may have positive consequences in the modulation of fish digestive physiology, which will correlate with higher performance outputs. Thus, improving fish digestive efficiency will lead to higher productivity and lower biogenic emission from aquaculture facilities, minimising the impact on the environment while increasing the biological efficiency. An innovative in ovo nutritional modulation technique based on low-frequency ultrasounds was used to enhance the transport of amino acids across the embryo membranes. An early stimulus with either arginine or glutamine, both involved in gut maturation, was applied in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos at 3.5 hours post-fertilization (hpf). At 22 days post-fertilization (dpf), growth performance, digestive enzyme activities and gut microbiota composition were analysed to evaluate the larval nutrition-induced metabolic plasticity and the effects on fish digestive efficiency. Results showed that fish survival was not affected either by the sonophoresis technique or amino acid supplementation. Final dry weight at 22 dpf was statistically higher in larvae from glutamine treatment when compared to the control even with lower trypsin activity, suggesting a higher nutrient digestion capacity, due to a slightly modulation of gut microbiota. Higher arginine supplementation levels should be tested as strategy to enhance growth at later developmental stages. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the efficiency of sonophoresis technique for in ovo nutritional modulation and suggests that in ovo glutamine supplementation might promote growth at later developmental stage through a positive microbiota modulation.

Phonophoresis of Phyllanthus amarus nanoparticle gel improves functional capacity in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effects of treatment with Phyllanthus amarus nanoparticle gel applied by phonophoresis (PP) and ultrasound therapy (UT) in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA) using a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. METHODS: Patients with knee OA (n = 40; mean age ±â€¯SD, 64.30 ±â€¯9.71 years), who had visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for knee pain intensity of 68.00 ±â€¯9.58 (UT group) and 71.00 ±â€¯8.74 (PP group, respectively) before treatment, were randomly allocated into two groups. Both groups were treated with an ultrasound program in continuous mode, 1.0 W/cm2, 10 min per session, for 10 sessions. Nanoparticles of P. amarus were used in the PP group, whereas a nondrug coupling gel was used in the UT group. The 6-min walk test (6-MWT) was performed to evaluate functional capacity. The VAS and the 6-MWT were evaluated before and after 10 treatment sessions in both groups using a double-blind procedure. RESULTS: VAS and 6-MWT showed significant improvement after treatment in both groups (p < 0.05). The PP group showed more significant effects than the UT group, in terms of both reducing the VAS pain score (p < 0.05) and improving 6-MWT (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PP is suggested as an effective method for the treatment of symptomatic knee OA for reducing pain and improving functional capacity.

Immediate Effects of Simultaneous Application of Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and Ultrasound Phonophoresis on Active Myofascial Trigger Points: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate the efficacy of phonophoresis with combined therapy on active myofascial trigger points. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred participants with acute mechanical neck pain and at least one active myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius were randomly assigned into four equal groups. INTERVENTION: Groups consisted of diclofenac phonophoresis with combined therapy, diclofenac phonophoresis, ultrasound (US) with coupling gel, and sham US and applied for 10 mins over myofascial trigger points. MEASUREMENTS: Measurements included pressure pain threshold and active cervical lateral flexion. RESULTS: There were statistically significant improvements in postintervention pressure pain threshold and range of motion values in treatment groups (P < 0.0001). As for the sham US, no significant difference was found between the preintervention and postintervention values (P > 0.05). Bonferroni correction test revealed that there was a significant difference between all the four groups in pressure pain threshold values (P < 0.0001); however, it was nonsignificant (P > 0.05) for range of motion. CONCLUSIONS: Diclofenac phonophoresis with combined therapy, phonophoresis, and US were all effective in increasing pressure pain threshold values and range of motion. In addition, phonophoresis with combined therapy was shown to be superior over phonophoresis, and phonophoresis was superior over US in terms of reducing pain sensitivity. However, none of the treatment groups were found to be superior over the other in increasing range of motion.

[The influence of the main components of the ultraphonophoresis phytocomplex method on the release of the biologically active substances (an experimental study)]. / Vliianie osnovnykh komponentov metoda ul'trafonoforeza fitokompleksa na vysvobozhdenie biologicheski aktivnykh veshchestv (éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

The present study was designed to investigate kinetics of flavonoidrelease from the working compositions containing a phytocomplex. The basic parameters of this processes during phonophoresis were determined in the model in vitro experiments. The study has demonstrated the dependence of the flavonoid release rate on their initial concentration in the working compositions and the influence of dimethylsulfoxide (as well as the main and auxiliary agents of the working composition) on the release of biologically active substances. The technological methods designed for the enhancement of the effectiveness of the phytocomplex phonophoresis technique are proposed.

Effect of stretching of piriformis and iliopsoas in coccydynia.

Pain in the coccyx is referred as coccydynia. The pain aggravates in weight bearing i.e. sitting. Total 48 persons with coccydynia diagnosed clinically were recruited and randomly assigned into one of the 3 groups. Experimental group I were treated by stretching of piriformis and iliopsoas muscles, experimental group II were treated by stretching of piriformis and iliopsoas muscles and Maitland's rhythmic oscillatory thoracic mobilization over the hypomobile segments and the conventional group were treated by seat cushioning + Sitz bath + Phonophorosis. All participants underwent an initial baseline assessment for Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) by using modified syringe algometer and pain free sitting duration. All the subjects were advised to minimise sitting posture and use a seat cushion. Treatment was given for 3 weeks, 5 sessions per week and post-treatment evaluation was done after completion of 3 weeks. Follow up evaluation was done after 1 month. DATA ANALYSIS: The data was analyzed by using 3 × 3 ANOVA. Tukey's HSD post-Hoc analysis was used for all pair wise comparison. RESULTS: The overall results of the study showed that there was significant improvement in pain pressure threshold and pain free sitting in both the experimental groups with treatment and improvement continued after cessation of therapy, whereas the conventional group did not improve significantly.

Design of an ultrasonic physiotherapy system with pulse wave feedback control.

BACKGROUND: Due to different physical and biological mechanisms behind ultrasound hyperthermia and phonophoresis, the requirement for ultrasound power, frequency and control modes varies. OBJECTIVE: This paper introduces an adaptive ultrasonic physiotherapy system based on real-time surveillance over physiological characteristics of the patients, which in turn assists the individual treatment and dose limitation in auxiliary rehabilitation. METHODS: The method essentially takes advantage of distinctive characteristics of two different phases (systole and diastole) of the human cardiac cycle as a medium for modulation. The abundance of blood flow during systole enables energy exchange for hyperthermia while blood flow insufficiency caused by diastole assists in drug penetration. Said method could improve the adjuvant therapy as it provides partial drug penetration and therapeutic dosage control. RESULTS: By adjusting time window and intensity of multi-frequency ultrasound, it is possible to reduce the irradiation dosage to around 22% of that during continuous irradiation at 1 MHz. The method shows high potential in clinical practice. CONCLUSION: Frequency-tuning ultrasound therapy would be more efficient regarding drug penetration and improve the therapeutic efficacy of hyperthermia.

[The rationale for the conservative treatment of chronic tonsillitis in the patients of the older age groups by the «soft¼ therapy methods]. / Obosnovanie konservativnogo lecheniya khronicheskogo tonzillita u lits starshikh vozrastnykh grupp metodami «myagkoi¼ terapii.

The objective of the present study was to develop an efficient system for the treatment of chronic tonsillitis in the patients of advanced and middle age based on the application of polyvalent bacteriophages in the combination with the physical factors and herbal medicines. The study involved 65 patients (39 women and 276 men) at the age from 65 to 73 years presenting with chronic tonsillitis. The treatment included washing the tonsillar lacunae with herbal infusion consisting of a tetterwort (Choledoniummajus) extract. This procedure was followed by phonophoresiswith the use of the combined polyvalent bacteriophage preparation in the non-liquid formulation during 7-10 days. The effectiveness of such treatment was evaluated based on the results of clinical examination and the analysis of the subjective feelings reported by the patients. In addition, the rosette-forming function of lymphocytes was estimated and palatine tonsil microbiotas in different patients were compared. The effectiveness of therapy was estimated at 89.2%. The positive outcome of the proposed treatment was documented in 78.6% of the cases within 6 months after the onset of therapy. It is concluded that the treatment of chronic tonsillitis with bacteriophagal preparations and herbal infusions in combination with thetraditionallow-frequency ultrasound treatment is highly efficacious (favourable outcome in 78.6% of the patients of middle and advanced age) without the use of antibiotic medications.

The effect of sonophoresis on topical anesthesia: a pilot project.

The dental anesthesia sonophoresis device (DASD) is a novel device that is intended to reduce the discomfort associated with intraoral mucosa needle puncture. The DASD produces ultrasonic energy that provides a sonophoretic effect on the oral mucosa, generating microchannels through the lipids between the keratinized cells that make up the stratum corneum. Once the topical anesthetic has permeated the stratum corneum, it quickly diffuses through the soft tissue, desensitizing the nerve endings and reducing the perception of pain caused by needle penetration. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether topical anesthesia applied using the DASD will reduce the discomfort of the needle puncture when compared to the control device. A split-mouth model, using 50 healthy subjects with puncture site at the maxillary canine vestibule, was used for this study. Subjects received a needle puncture on both sides of the mouth. Prior to the needle puncture, there was randomized application of 5% lidocaine with the DASD and a control device. Subjects rated their discomfort after needle punctures utilizing the visual analog scale pain scoring system. There was no statistically significant difference in the pain perception using the DASD versus the control device.

The effects of pressure release, phonophoresis of hydrocortisone, and ultrasound on upper trapezius latent myofascial trigger point.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of pressure release (PR), phonophoresis of hydrocortisone (PhH) 1%, and ultrasonic therapy (UT) in patients with an upper trapezius latent myofascial trigger point (MTP). DESIGN: Repeated-measure design. SETTING: A pain control medical clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Subjects (N=60; mean±SD age, 21.78±1.76y) with a diagnosis of upper trapezius MTP participated in this study. Subjects were randomly divided into 4 groups: PR, PhH, UT, and control (15 in each group). All patients had a latent MTP in the upper trapezius muscle. INTERVENTIONS: PR, PhH, UT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjective pain intensity, pain pressure threshold (PPT), and active cervical lateral flexion range of motion were assessed in 6 sessions. RESULTS: All 3 treatment groups showed decreases in pain and PPT and an increase in cervical lateral flexion range of motion (P<.001) compared with the control group. Both PhH and PR techniques showed more significant therapeutic effects than UT (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that all 3 treatments used in this study were effective for treating MTP. According to this study, PhH is suggested as a new method effective for the treatment of MTP.

Comparative study of the topical application of Aloe vera gel, therapeutic ultrasound and phonophoresis on the tissue repair in collagenase-induced rat tendinitis.

The aim of our study was to compare topical use of Aloe vera gel, pulsed mode ultrasound (US) and Aloe vera phonophoresis on rat paw with collagenase-induced tendinitis. Edema size, tensile tendon strength, tendon elasticity, number of inflammatory cells and tissue histology were studied at 7 and 14 days after tendinitis induction. Pulse mode US parameters were: 1 MHz frequency, 100 Hz repetition rate, 10% duty cycle, and 0.5 W/cm(2) intensity, applied for 2 min each session. A 0.5 mL of Aloe vera gel at 2% concentration was applied for 2 min per session, topically and by phonophoresis. Topical application of Aloe vera gel did not show any statistically significant improvement in the inflammatory process, whereas phonophoresis enhanced the gel action reducing edema and number of inflammatory cells, promoting the rearrangement of collagen fibers and promoting also the recovery of the tensile strength and elasticity of the inflamed tendon to recover their normal pre-injury status. Results seem to indicate that Aloe vera phonophoresis is a promising technique for tendinitis treatment, without the adverse effect provoked by systemic anti-inflammatory drugs.

Effects of phonophoresis with Arnica montana onto acute inflammatory process in rat skeletal muscles: an experimental study.

This study aimed at verifying the effects of phonophoresis associated with Arnica montana on the acute phase of an inflammatory muscle lesion. Forty Wistar male rats (300+/-50 g), of which the Tibialis Anterior muscle was surgically lesioned, were divided into four groups (n=10 each): control group received no treatment; the ultrasound group (US) was treated in pulsed mode with 1-MHz frequency, 0.5 W/cm(2) intensity (spatial and temporal average - SATA), duty cycle of 1:2 (2 ms on, 4 ms off, 50%), time of application 3 min per session, one session per day, for 3 days; the phonophoresis or ultrasound plus arnica (US+A) group was treated with arnica with the same US parameters plus arnica gel; and the arnica group (A) was submitted to massage with arnica gel, also for 3 min, once a day, for 3 days. Treatment started 24h after the surgical lesion. On the 4th day after lesion creation, animals were sacrificed and sections of the lesioned, inflamed muscle were removed for quantitative (mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cell count) and qualitative histological analysis. Collected data from the 4 groups were statistically analyzed and the significance level set at p<0.05. Results show higher mononuclear cell density in all three treated groups with no significant difference between them, but values were significantly different (p<0.0001) when compared to control group's. As to polymorphonuclear cell density, significant differences were found between control group (p=0.0134) and US, US+A and A groups; the arnica group presented lesser density of polymorphonuclear cells when compared (p=0.0134) to the other groups. No significant difference was found between US and US+A groups. While the massage with arnica gel proved to be an effective anti-inflammatory on acute muscle lesion in topic use, these results point to ineffectiveness of Arnica montana phonophoresis, US having seemingly checked or minimized its anti-inflammatory effect.

Evaluation of histologic and electron microscopic changes after novel treatment using combined microdermabrasion and ultrasound-induced phonophoresis of human skin.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical exfoliation using microdermabrasion has been used as a minimally invasive treatment of photodamage, as well as to improve absorption of topical agents. Phonophoresis, a method of electrically assisted percutaneous delivery of macromolecules, relies on ultrasonic waves producing alterations within the stratum corneum that result in increased absorption. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects on photodamaged facial skin that resulted from the ultrasound-enhanced delivery of a combined hyaluronic acid, retinol, and peptide-containing complex following microdermabrasion. METHODS: Seven individuals, aged 40-65, with Fitzpatrick skin types I-III and class I-III rhytids, underwent eight weekly aluminum oxide crystal microdermabrasion procedures (Parisian Peel; Aesthetic Technologies, Golden, CO, USA), followed by administration of a topical combined hyaluronic acid, retinol, and peptide-containing complex, propelled through ultrasound phonophoresis. The participants continued manual twice-daily application of the topical complex between treatments. Clinical evaluation included digital photography, and patient and investigator assessment of changes in skin dryness, texture, brightness, tone, and rhytids. The 3-month post-treatment histologic evaluation consisted of pre- and post-treatment biopsies evaluated for microscopic and ultrastructural changes. RESULTS: An overall mild clinical improvement in the skin was noted. A slight increase in vascularity within the papillary dermis, increased reticulin stain (type III collagen), and ultrastuctural evidence of increased type I collagen indicate dermal injury with resulting new collagen formation. CONCLUSION: Microdermabrasion followed by ultrasonic phonophoretic application of topical products represents a novel dermal delivery approach to photorejuvenation.

Ultrasound phonophoresis of panax notoginseng improves the strength of repairing ligament: a rat model.

This study examined the phonophoretic effect of a therapeutic ultrasound coupled with a Panax notoginseng (PN) gel and compared it with a therapeutic ultrasound alone for medial collateral ligament repair in rats. Twenty mature male Sprague-Dawley rats receiving surgical transection to the left medial collateral ligament (MCL) were divided randomly into three groups: ultrasound (US, n = 7), ultrasound with PN coupling gel (PNUS, n = 7) and control (n = 6). The treatments started on day 3 after surgery for six days per week over a two-week period. The US group received 4 min of pulsed ultrasound (1 MHz) at the intensity of 0.5W/cm(2) with a normal ultrasonic coupling gel. The PNUS group received the same ultrasound treatment, but with a coupling gel that contained PN extract. The control group received a placebo ultrasound treatment similar to the other two groups. On day 17, the ligaments were mechanically tested for load-relaxation, stiffness and ultimate tensile strength (UTS). Values of the left side were normalized against that of the right side of each animal for analysis. Results revealed significantly higher normalized stiffness (p = 0.009) and UTS (p = 0.022) in the PNUS group than the other two groups, but insignificant difference in load-relaxation among all groups. This study reveals a positive ultrasonic phonophoretic effect of Panax notoginseng extract for improving the strength of ligament repair than ultrasound therapy alone.

Infiltración de esteroides, férula de muñeca y fonoforesis en el síndrome del túnel carpiano / Steroid injection, wrist splinting and phonophoresis in carpal tunnel syndrome

Introducción. A pesar de la variedad de tratamientos conservadores para el síndrome del túnel carpiano, no existe un claro consenso sobre su uso y efectividad. El objetivo de este estudio es comparar la efectividad a corto plazo de los tratamientos mediante infiltración de esteroides, férula de muñeca y fonoforesis. Pacientes y métodos. Ensayo clínico simple ciego, con asignación aleatoria estratificada con bloqueo. Se estudiaron 52 manos con mononeuropatía del nervio mediano por atrapamiento a nivel del carpo, de grado leve-moderado, distribuidas en tres grupos correspondientes a los tres tratamientos. La medida de resultado fue la variación de parámetros clínicos y de conducción nerviosa un mes después de concluir cada tratamiento. Las pruebas estadísticas utilizadas fueron el test de correlación de Spearman, el ANOVA y la prueba de Bonferroni. El nivel de significación fue p < 0,05. Resultados. Los parámetros clínicos no mostraron diferencias entre los tres tratamientos. Se encontró una mejoría significativa de las conducciones nerviosas en el grupo de infiltración de esteroides en comparación con el de fonoforesis, pero no en el resto del análisis. En el grupo tratado con férula hubo una discreta mejoría de un parámetro de conducción nerviosa respecto al estudio basal. La fonoforesis no tuvo ningún efecto sobre las conducciones. Conclusiones. Los estudios de conducción nerviosa fueron una buena herramienta para valorar los resultados del tratamiento. La infiltración con esteroides obtuvo los mejores resultados, la férula de muñeca sólo lo hizo de forma aislada y la fonoforesis no tuvo efectos detectables

Introduction. There is some variety of conservative therapies for the carpal tunnel syndrome, but not a clear consensus about their use and effectiveness. The objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of three of them: steroid injection, wrist splinting and phonophoresis. Patients and method. Single-blind, randomised clinical trial with blocking and stratification. We studied 52 hands with median nerve entrapment at the wrist, mild and moderate in severity, distributed in three groups corresponding to the three therapies compared. The outcome measure was the variation of clinical parameters and nerve conduction studies one month after each treatment ended. The statistical analysis included Spearman's correlation test, ANOVA and Bonferroni test. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results. The outcome of clinical parameters could not differentiate one treatment from another. Nerve conduction studies improved significantly in the steroid injection group when compared to the phonophoresis group, but not in the rest of the analysis. One nerve conduction parameter showed a minor significant improvement when compared to the basal study in the wrist splinting group. Phonophoresis had no effect on nerve conduction studies. Discussion. Nerve conduction studies were a good tool to evaluate treatment outcome in this study design. Steroid injection improved them more than phonophoresis, a treatment that had no detectable effects, whereas wrist splitting only produced minor improvement

Nonablative resurfacing.

In expert hands, ablative laser resurfacing has a long history of excellent results in the treatment of photodamage-induced rhytids, depressed acne scars, and other signs of cutaneous aging. Over the last decade there have been a growing number of reports in the emerging area of nonablative resurfacing. Nonablative modalities provide less impressive clinical results for rhytid reduction but have shown particular promise for the treatment of scars and superficial dyschromias. It is also ideally suited for those patients seeking a minimally invasive, greatly reduced downtime procedure.

[Effect of peloid therapy on morphofunctional changes of ovaries and oviducts caused by suturing (experimental study)]. / Vliianie peloidoterapii na morfofunktsional'nye izmeneniia iaichnikov i iaitsevodov pri nalozhenii shvov (éksperimental'noe issledovanie).

A course of ultraphonophoresis of the extract of high-polar lipids of sulfide mud attenuated inflammation of uterine appendages in rats caused by catgut suturing of the ovaries and oviducts. On postoperative day 75-120 peloid therapy resulted in degradation of the suture material and its replacement with connective tissue. The peloid limited postoperative intensification of follicular atresia, raised content of growing follicles and yellow bodies in the ovaries.

[Experimental validation of a treatment of hypertrophic and keloid postoperative scars with peloidoultraphonophoresis]. / Eksperimental'noe obosnovanie lecheniia gipertroficheskikh i keloidnykh posleoperatsionnykh rubtsov peloidoul'trafonoforezom.

Experiments on 107 rats have been made to validate use of ultraphonophoresis of 1% oil extract of polar lipids from silt sulphide muds for treatment of pathological skin scars. Peloidoultraphonophoresis was found able to transform the scars into regenerates of the skin type characterized by the presence of hair, sebaceous glands, elastic fibers, complete recovery of epidermis. The above peloidotherapy increased the number of vessels, tissue basophils in the scar and surrounding skin but decreased the number and severity of pathological alterations in nervous fibers.

[The ultrastructural changes to the ovaries and oviducts in experimental inflammation under the influence of eplir phonophoresis]. / Ul'trastrukturnye izmeneniia iaichnikov i iaitsevodov pri éksperimental'nom vospalenii pod vliianiem fonoforeza éplira.

Ultrastructural changes of blood vessels of ovaries and oviducts, destruction of the part of follicular epitheliocytes and disruption of other structures of blood-follicular barrier occur at the early period of experimental inflammations of appendage uterus on the background of traditional antibiotic therapy. All changes lead to atresia of growing follicules. Fibrotic-sclerotic changes develop on the 30th day and during later period. Course of eplir phonophoresis decreases ultrastructural disruptions of vessels, follicular apparatus of ovaries and oviducts epithelium. Effect of physiotherapy is manifested though activity of fibroclasts and macrophages, that regulate collagen production/resorption ratio thus preventing the development of fibrotic changes of ovary stroma and oviduct wall.

[Method for treating inflammatory diseases of the uterine appendages using the eplir mud preparation]. / Sposob lecheniia ostrykh vaspalitel'nykh zabolevanii pridatkov matki s primeneniem griazevogo preparata éplira.

Ultraphonophoresis of 1% oil solution of eplir in patients with acute inflammation of the uterine appendages as an adjuvant to drug therapy enhances the latter by immediate (anesthetic, antiexudative action), short-term (immunocorrection) and long-term (preservation and restoration of reproductive function, prevention of chronicity) treatment results.