Effects of nerve stimulation on amphibian oviductal activity.

The present study describes, for the first time in an anuran amphibian, the nerve stimulation effects on the secretory and motor activity of the oviduct of adult females. The results reveal that in Rhinella arenarum oviducts, the epithelial and glandular secretory cells of the mucosa of the pars convoluta respond to nerve stimulation secreting the products synthetized and stored in their cytoplasm. The ultrastructural analysis showed that the cell content released is made up of granular, fibrillar and floccular material, exocytosis being the main secretory mechanism found in epithelial secretory cells, although apocrine and holocrine processes could also be observed. In contrast, in glandular cells only exocytosis processes were found. With respect to the participation of the nervous system in the motility of the duct, observations under our experimental conditions indicated that oviductal nerve stimulation promotes motor activity as manifested by a succession of coordinated contractions and relaxations that generate movements similar to peristaltic waves. These results were observed in oviducts from animals captured during the reproductive and post reproductive periods. However, it is important to note that both the secretory response and duct motility are markedly decreased during the post reproductive period of the species.

Comparison of the short-term outcomes between trigger point dry needling and trigger point manual therapy for the management of chronic mechanical neck pain: a randomized clinical trial.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized clinical study. OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of trigger point (TrP) dry needling (DN) and TrP manual therapy (MT) on pain, function, pressure pain sensitivity, and cervical range of motion in subjects with chronic mechanical neck pain. BACKGROUND: Recent evidence suggests that TrP DN could be effective in the treatment of neck pain. However, no studies have directly compared the outcomes of TrP DN and TrP MT in this population. METHODS: Ninety-four patients (mean ± SD age, 31 ± 3 years; 66% female) were randomized into a TrP DN group (n = 47) or a TrP MT group (n = 47). Neck pain intensity (11-point numeric pain rating scale), cervical range of motion, and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) over the spinous process of C7 were measured at baseline, postintervention, and at follow-ups of 1 week and 2 weeks after treatment. The Spanish version of the Northwick Park Neck Pain Questionnaire was used to measure disability/function at baseline and the 2-week follow-up. Mixed-model, repeated-measures analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to determine if a time-by-group interaction existed on the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable, with time as the within-subject variable and group as the between-subject variable. RESULTS: The ANOVA revealed that participants who received TrP DN had outcomes similar to those who received TrP MT in terms of pain, function, and cervical range of motion. The 4-by-2 mixed-model ANOVA also revealed a significant time-by-group interaction (P<.001) for PPT: patients who received TrP DN experienced a greater increase in PPT (decreased pressure sensitivity) than those who received TrP MT at all follow-up periods (between-group differences: posttreatment, 59.0 kPa; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.0, 69.2; 1-week follow-up, 69.2 kPa; 95% CI: 49.5, 79.1; 2-week follow-up, 78.9 kPa; 95% CI: 49.5, 89.0). CONCLUSION: The results of this clinical trial suggest that 2 sessions of TrP DN and TrP MT resulted in similar outcomes in terms of pain, disability, and cervical range of motion. Those in the TrP DN group experienced greater improvements in PPT over the cervical spine. Future trials are needed to examine the effects of TrP DN and TrP MT over long-term follow-up periods. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1b.