Spatial and temporal gait characteristics in pre-frail community-dwelling older adults.

AIM: A number of studies have explored possible relationships, behavior, and meanings of spatial and temporal gait variables in frail and pre-frail older adults, particularly the gait speed variable. However, it is necessary to know the relationship of other spatial and temporal gait variables of pre-frail older adults. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate and compare gait standards between pre-frail and non-frail older people. METHODS: A total of 69 older adults aged 60 year and older, divided into two groups, non-frail (n = 42) and pre-frail (n = 27), were evaluated. Gait parameters were analyzed using the GAITRite® Platinum 26' Portable Walkway System. RESULTS: Pre-frail older people had smaller step lengths (P = 0.041), larger base of support (P = 0.040), lower speed (P = 0.019), lower single support percentage (P = 0.033) and higher double support percentage (P = 0.036), compared with non-frail older people. A history of falls was correlated to lower gait speed and step length in pre-frail older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying pre-frail older people could have significant clinical consequences, as frailty is a dynamic process, and such individuals can therefore progress into a state of frailty or revert to a non-frail state. Therefore, the identification of gait variables in pre-frail older people can be an important tool to recognize gait deficits and to initiate the appropriate treatment. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1102-1108.

Morphological aspects and Cox-2 expression after exposure to 780-nm laser therapy in injured skeletal muscle: an in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in muscle regeneration is still not well known. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of laser irradiation during muscle healing. METHOD: For this purpose, 63 rats were distributed to 3 groups: non-irradiated control group (CG); group irradiated at 10 J/cm(2) (G10); and group irradiated at 50 J/cm(2) (G50). Each group was divided into 3 different subgroups (n=7), and on days 7, 14 and 21 post-injury the rats were sacrificed. RESULTS: Seven days post-surgery, the CG showed destroyed zones and extensive myofibrillar degeneration. For both treated groups, the necrosis area was smaller compared to the CG. On day 14 post-injury, treated groups demonstrated better tissue organization, with newly formed muscle fibers compared to the CG. On the 21(st) day, the irradiated groups showed similar patterns of tissue repair, with improved muscle structure at the site of the injury, resembling uninjured muscle tissue organization. Regarding collagen deposition, the G10 showed an increase in collagen synthesis. In the last period evaluated, both treated groups showed statistically higher values in comparison with the CG. Furthermore, laser irradiation at 10 J/cm(2) produced a down-regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) immunoexpression on day 7 post-injury. Moreover, Cox-2 immunoexpression was decreased in both treated groups on day 14. CONCLUSIONS: Laser therapy at both fluencies stimulated muscle repair through the formation of new muscle fiber, increase in collagen synthesis, and down-regulation of Cox-2 expression.

Morphological aspects and Cox-2 expression after exposure to 780-nm laser therapy in injured skeletal muscle: an in vivo study

Background: The effectiveness of low-level laser therapy in muscle regeneration is still not well known. Objective: To investigate the effects of laser irradiation during muscle healing. Method: For this purpose, 63 rats were distributed to 3 groups: non-irradiated control group (CG); group irradiated at 10 J/cm² (G10); and group irradiated at 50 J/cm² (G50). Each group was divided into 3 different subgroups (n=7), and on days 7, 14 and 21 post-injury the rats were sacrificed. Results: Seven days post-surgery, the CG showed destroyed zones and extensive myofibrillar degeneration. For both treated groups, the necrosis area was smaller compared to the CG. On day 14 post-injury, treated groups demonstrated better tissue organization, with newly formed muscle fibers compared to the CG. On the 21st day, the irradiated groups showed similar patterns of tissue repair, with improved muscle structure at the site of the injury, resembling uninjured muscle tissue organization. Regarding collagen deposition, the G10 showed an increase in collagen synthesis. In the last period evaluated, both treated groups showed statistically higher values in comparison with the CG. Furthermore, laser irradiation at 10 J/cm2 produced a down-regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) immunoexpression on day 7 post-injury. Moreover, Cox-2 immunoexpression was decreased in both treated groups on day 14. Conclusions: Laser therapy at both fluencies stimulated muscle repair through the formation of new muscle fiber, increase in collagen synthesis, and down-regulation of Cox-2 expression. .

The effects of low level laser therapy on injured skeletal muscle

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) used in two different fluencies on injured skeletal muscle after cryolesion by means of histopathological analysis and immunohistochemistry for COX-2. A total of sixty male Wistar rats were randomly distributed into three groups: injured animals without any treatment; 808 nm laser treated group, at 10 J/cm² and 808 nm laser treated group, at 50 J/cm². Each group was divided into two different subgroups (n=10) on days 6 and 13 post-injury. The results showed that the animals irradiated with laser at 10 J/cm² or 50 J/cm² presented the areas with cell infiltrate and pointed out to minor and mild areas with destroyed zones compared with the control group. Also, a COX-2 downregulation was noticed in the groups exposed to laser at two fluences evaluated in this study. Significant statistically differences (p<0.05) were noticed to collagen deposition in the laser treated animals, with the fluence of 50 J/cm² when compared to the other groups on day 13 post-surgery. Taken together, these results suggested that laser therapy could have positive effects on muscle repair in the rats after cryolesion.

The effects of 780-nm low-level laser therapy on muscle healing process after cryolesion.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of 780-nm low-level laser therapy at different periods of 7, 14 and 21 days after cryolesion, including the dose (10 or 50 J/cm(2)), to promote a better muscle repair evidenced by histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses. Fifty-four male rats were divided into three groups: injured control group (CG)-injured animals without any treatment; injured 780-nm laser-treated group, at 10 J/cm(2) (G10); and injured 780-nm laser-treated group, at 50 J/cm(2) (G50). Each group was divided into three subgroups (n = 6): 7, 14 and 21 days post-injury. Histopathological findings revealed better organised muscle fibres in the G10 and G50 during the periods of 7 and 14 days compared to the CG. The G10 and G50 during the 7 days showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) of lesion area compared to the CG, without differences between groups treated for 14 and 21 days. The G10 showed an increase of the amount of vessels after 14 days compared to the G50, but not in relation to controls. With regard to the immunohistochemical analyses of the MyoD factor, the G10 and G50 during the 7 days showed higher concentrations of immunomarkers than controls. Myogenin immunomarkers were similarly observed at days 7 and 14 in all the three groups analysed, whereas immunomarkers were found in none of the groups after 21 days of laser therapy. The results showed that laser, regardless the applied dose, has positive effects on muscle repair.

Effects of 660 nm low-level laser therapy on muscle healing process after cryolesion.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 660 nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on muscle regeneration after cryolesion in rat tibialis anterior muscle. Sixty-three Wistar rats were divided into a control group, 10 J/cm(2) laser-treated group, and 50 J/cm(2) laser-treated group. Each group formed three subgroups (n = 7 per group), and the animals were sacrificed 7, 14, or 21 d after lesion. Histopathological findings revealed a lower inflammatory process in the laser-treated groups after 7 d. After 14 d, irradiated animals at both fluences showed higher granulation tissue, new muscle fibers, and organized muscle structure. After 21 d, full tissue repair was observed in all groups. Moreover, irradiated animals at both fluences showed smaller necrosis area in the first experimental period evaluated. MyoD immunoexpression was observed in both treated groups 7 d postinjury. Myogenin immunoexpression was detected after 7 and 14 d. The higher fluence increased the number of blood vessels after 14 and 21 d. These results suggest that LLLT, at both fluences, positively affects injured skeletal muscle in rats, accelerating the muscle-regeneration process.

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) (660nm) alters gene expression during muscle healing in rats.

INTRODUCTION: The effects of LLLT were studied during muscle regeneration through gene expression. METHODS: It was evaluated 10 and 50J/cm(2) doses during 7, 14 and 21days post cryoinjury, through histopathological analysis and mRNA MyoD, Myogenin, Vegf and Cox-2 expression. RESULTS: Irradiated groups presented less inflammatory process than control group after 14 and 21days. Cox-2 levels were downregulated in all irradiated groups after 7, 14 and 21days. On day 7, both treated groups had a downregulation of Vegf levels, and an upregulation after 14 and 21days, mainly with 50J/cm(2). The MyoD levels were upregulated with high dose in all periods and with low dose after 21days. Myogenin expression was downregulated in both treated groups after 7days, and was upregulated with 10J/cm(2) after 21days. CONCLUSION: These responses suggest that LLLT can improve the skeletal muscle regeneration through the gene expression stimulation.

Os efeitos do laser de baixa potência no processo de reparo muscular após criolesão em ratos / The effects of low-level laser therapy on muscle healing process after cryolesion

O objetivo deste estudo foi verificar os efeitos da laserterapia de baixa potência no comprimento de onda ?=780nm entre diferentes períodos de tratamento 7, 14 e 21 dias e verificar a dose (10J/cm2 ou 50J/cm2) que promove melhor reparo muscular através das análises histopatológicas e imunohistoquímicas. Foram utilizados 54 ratos machos divididos em 3 grupos: GC: grupo controle (criolesão, sem tratamento); G10: criolesão do músculo tibial anterior (TA) e tratados com laser dose 10J/cm² e G50: criolesão do músculo TA e tratados com laser dose 50J/cm² que foram subdivididos em 3 subgrupos (n=6): 7, 14 e 21 dias de tratamento. Os achados histopatológicos revelaram maior organização das fibras musculares dos grupos tratados com laser 10J/cm² e 50J/cm² durante os períodos 7 e 14 dias em relação ao grupo controle; no período 21 dias os grupos apresentaram semelhanças na reparação tecidual. Em relação à área da lesão os grupos tratados com laser 10J/cm² e 50J/cm² durante 7 dias obtiveram diminuição significativa (p ? 0.05) da área da lesão em relação ao grupo controle, sendo que os grupos 14 e 21 dias não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre eles. Na contagem dos vasos o grupo tratado com laser 10J/cm² no 14° dia apresentou aumento dos vasos em relação ao grupo tratado com dose 50J/cm², mas não em relação ao grupo controle. Nos tempos de 7 e 21 dias os grupos não apresentaram diferença significativa entre si. Com relação às análises imunohistoquímicas da myoD no período de 7 dias os grupos tratados com laser 10J/cm² e 50J/cm² apresentaram maior imunomarcação comparada com o grupo controle, no período 14 e 21 dias a imunomarcação estava ausente.

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of 780nm low-level laser therapy at different periods of 7, 14 and 21 days after cryolesion, including the dose (10 or 50J/cm2) to promote a better muscle repair evidenced by histopathological and immumohistochemical analyses. Fifty-four male rats were divided into three groups: injured control group (CG) - injured animals without any treatment; injured 780nm laser treated group, at 10 J/cm² (G10) and injured 780nm laser treated group, at 50 J/cm² (G50). Each group was divided into 3 subgroups (n=6): 7, 14 and 21 days post-injury. Histopathological findings revealed better-organized muscle fibers in the G10 and G50 during the periods of 7 and 14 days compared to CG. The G10 and G50 during 7 days showed a significant reduction (p? 0.05) of lesion area compared to CG, without differences between groups treated for 14 and 21 days. The G10 showed an increase of the amount of vessels after 14 days compared to the G50, but not in relation to controls. With regard to the immumohistochemical analyses of the MyoD factor, The G10 and G50 during 7 days showed higher concentrations of immunomarkers than controls.

Carriage of group B Streptococcus in pregnant women and newborns: a 2-year study at Perugia General Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of group B Streptococcus (GBS) colonization in pregnant women and their newborns at Perugia General Hospital. METHODS: The number of mother---child pairs examined was 2300. Vaginal swabs were collected from the mothers at delivery, and auricular and pharyngeal swabs and gastric aspirate from the newborns at birth. Maternal risk factors for GBS disease, including premature delivery, intrapartum fever, prolonged rupture of membranes and multiple births, were evaluated. RESULTS: Maternal and neonatal colonization rates were 11.3% and 4.6%, respectively. GBS was isolated in 41.5% of the neonates born to colonized mothers and in 0.1% of those born to non-colonized mothers. No significant difference was observed in vertical transmission rates in the presence or absence of maternal risk factors. The external auditory canal was the most frequent (93.5%) and heavily colonized body site. Type Ib was the most common serotype among GBS isolates from mothers and babies. C surface protein was not detected in serotype V and VIII isolates, but was frequent in all other serotypes. Early-onset disease was observed in 0.4/1000 live births. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of maternal and neonatal colonization at Perugia General Hospital was similar to that obtained in other studies performed in Italy. The external auditory canal was confirmed as the most reliable body site to be sampled for the detection of neonates exposed to maternal GBS colonization.