Aging increases flexibility of postural reactive responses based on constraints imposed by a manual task.

This study compared the effect of stability constraints imposed by a manual task on the adaptation of postural responses between 16 healthy elderly (mean age = 71.56 years, SD = 7.38) and 16 healthy young (mean age = 22.94 years, SD = 4.82) individuals. Postural stability was perturbed through unexpected release of a load attached to the participant's trunk while performing two versions of a voluntary task: holding a tray with a cylinder placed with its flat side down (low constraint) or with its rolling round side down (high constraint). Low and high constraint tasks were performed in alternate blocks of trials. Results showed that young participants adapted muscular activation and kinematics of postural responses in association with previous experience with the first block of manual task constraint, whereas the elderly modulated postural responses based on the current manual constraint. This study provides evidence for flexibility of postural strategies in the elderly to deal with constraints imposed by a manual task.

Resistance strength training's effects on late components of postural responses in the elderly.

The effect of resistance strength training on different phases of reactive postural responses to upright-stance perturbation was assessed in elderly women. Perturbation to body balance was produced by fast arm movements aiming at lifting different loads in either certain or uncertain contexts. Results from center-of-pressure analysis showed that lifting a light load under uncertainty led to more body sway than under certainty. Resistance strength training led to short periods of body sway in the compensation phase and to decreased variability in the stabilization phase of postural responses. These results suggest that neuromuscular adaptation from resistance strength training benefits late phases of postural responses to perturbation of body balance in the elderly.

Influência do bloqueador de receptor de angiotensina (Losartana potássica) na função renal e pressão arterial em cães GRMD / Influence of angiotensin receptor blocker of renal function and arterial pression in GRMD dogs

A distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma alteração neuromuscular caracterizada por contínua necrose muscular e degeneração, com eventual fibrose e infiltração por tecido adiposo. O aumento progressivo da fibrose intersticial no músculo impede a migração das células miogênicas, necessárias para a formação muscular. O modelo canino constitui-se nas melhores fenocópias da doença em humanos, quando comparados com outros modelos animais com distrofia. O tratamento antifibrose de pacientes DMD, tendo como alvo os mediadores da citocina, TGF-beta, e o tratamento com antiinflamatórios, podem limitar a degeneração muscular e contribuir para a melhora do curso da doença. O presente estudo teve como objetivo observar os possíveis efeitos adversos na fisiologia renal, por meio de avaliação bioquímica sanguínea e da pressão arterial, verificando a viabilidade do uso do Losartan (um inibidor de TGF-beta) nos cães afetados pela distrofia muscular. Foram utilizados quatro cães adultos, sendo dois machos e duas fêmeas. Utilizou-se a dose de 50mg de Losartan, administrada via oral, uma vez ao dia. Os exames clínicos, bem como alterações na função renal, o nível do potássio sérico e a pressão arterial não evidenciaram reação adversa durante todo o período do experimento. O uso de Losartan, por um período de 9 semanas, mostrou-se como uma terapia segura para o tratamento antifibrótico em cães adultos, não afetando a função renal ou pressão arterial dos animais.(AU)

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by a continuous muscle necrosis and degeneration with eventual fibrosis and fatty tissue infiltration. Progressive increase in muscle interstitial fibrosis prevents the movement of myogenic cells, which is necessary for myotube formation. Canine model is the best phenocopies of the disease in humans when comparing with others animal models with dystrophy. Anti-fibrotic treatment of DMD patients, targeting the cytokine mediators, TGF-beta, and the treatment with antiinflammatories, may limit muscle degeneration and contribute for the improvement of the course of the illness. This work aimed to verify the possible adverse effects in renal physiology by means of evaluation sanguineous biochemist and arterial pressure, in order to verifying the viability of Losartan (a TGF-beta inhibiter) in affected dogs by muscle dystrophy. It was used four adults dogs, two of each gender. A dose of 50mg of Losartan was orally given once a day. The clinical exams, the kidney function, arterial blood pressure and potassium level did not show any adverse effect through the experimental period. Losartan utilization showed to be a safe therapy for the antifibrotic treatment in adults dogs, not affecting neither the kidney function nor the arterial blood pressure.(AU)

Influência do bloqueador de receptor de angiotensina (Losartana potássica) na função renal e pressão arterial em cães GRMD / Influence of angiotensin receptor blocker of renal function and arterial pression in GRMD dogs

A distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma alteração neuromuscular caracterizada por contínua necrose muscular e degeneração, com eventual fibrose e infiltração por tecido adiposo. O aumento progressivo da fibrose intersticial no músculo impede a migração das células miogênicas, necessárias para a formação muscular. O modelo canino constitui-se nas melhores fenocópias da doença em humanos, quando comparados com outros modelos animais com distrofia. O tratamento antifibrose de pacientes DMD, tendo como alvo os mediadores da citocina, TGF-beta, e o tratamento com antiinflamatórios, podem limitar a degeneração muscular e contribuir para a melhora do curso da doença. O presente estudo teve como objetivo observar os possíveis efeitos adversos na fisiologia renal, por meio de avaliação bioquímica sanguínea e da pressão arterial, verificando a viabilidade do uso do Losartan (um inibidor de TGF-beta) nos cães afetados pela distrofia muscular. Foram utilizados quatro cães adultos, sendo dois machos e duas fêmeas. Utilizou-se a dose de 50mg de Losartan, administrada via oral, uma vez ao dia. Os exames clínicos, bem como alterações na função renal, o nível do potássio sérico e a pressão arterial não evidenciaram reação adversa durante todo o período do experimento. O uso de Losartan, por um período de 9 semanas, mostrou-se como uma terapia segura para o tratamento antifibrótico em cães adultos, não afetando a função renal ou pressão arterial dos animais.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by a continuous muscle necrosis and degeneration with eventual fibrosis and fatty tissue infiltration. Progressive increase in muscle interstitial fibrosis prevents the movement of myogenic cells, which is necessary for myotube formation. Canine model is the best phenocopies of the disease in humans when comparing with others animal models with dystrophy. Anti-fibrotic treatment of DMD patients, targeting the cytokine mediators, TGF-beta, and the treatment with antiinflammatories, may limit muscle degeneration and contribute for the improvement of the course of the illness. This work aimed to verify the possible adverse effects in renal physiology by means of evaluation sanguineous biochemist and arterial pressure, in order to verifying the viability of Losartan (a TGF-beta inhibiter) in affected dogs by muscle dystrophy. It was used four adults dogs, two of each gender. A dose of 50mg of Losartan was orally given once a day. The clinical exams, the kidney function, arterial blood pressure and potassium level did not show any adverse effect through the experimental period. Losartan utilization showed to be a safe therapy for the antifibrotic treatment in adults dogs, not affecting neither the kidney function nor the arterial blood pressure.