Dry needling increases antioxidant activity and grip force in a rat model of muscle pain.

BACKGROUND: Muscle pain syndromes (MPS) are one of the main causes of functional, structural and metabolic problems, being associated with tissue oxidative damage. Although dry needling is widely used in the treatment of MPS, there is little scientific evidence of its efficacy and underlying mechanisms of action. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of different dry needling techniques on thermal and mechanical hyperalgesia, locomotor and functional activity, and oxidative stress markers in a rat model of muscle pain. METHODS: A total of 48 male Wistar rats underwent injection of the gastrocnemius muscle with control neutral saline (pH 7) and remained untreated (Saline group), or acidic saline (pH 4) and remained untreated (ASA group) or received pregabalin (PG group), deep needling (DN group), superficial needling (SN group) or twitch needling (TN group) with n = 8 rats per group. Mechanical (von Frey test) and thermal hyperalgesia (acetone test), muscle edema (assessed with a caliper), strength and muscle function (grip force evaluation), surface thermography and locomotor and exploratory activities (open field test) were evaluated. The animals were then euthanized, and the gastrocnemius muscle was excised for assessment of oxidative analyses of lipid peroxidation with thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBA-RS) and total glutathione (GSH) levels. RESULTS: All treatments significantly improved muscle strength and function when compared to the AS group (p < 0.05). Pregabalin reduced locomotor and exploratory activities, while the TN intervention increased the antioxidant response (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Dry needling improved strength, functionality and locomotor activity in a rat model of muscle pain. Twitch needling induced an antioxidant effect.

Mood disorders are associated with the reduction of brain derived neurotrophic factor in the hypocampus in rats submitted to the hipercaloric diet.

Adipose tissue accumulation, resulting from the consumption of hypercaloric foods, can cause a dysfunction of the endocrine system. Such endocrine changes can influence the expression of various neurochemicals including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - associated with cognitive and emotional problems. Here, we investigated the effects of a hypercaloric diet on depression- and anxiety-like behaviors in young rats along with concomitant changes in BDNF expression levels in the hippocampus. Eight week-old Wistar rats (n = 20) were divided in: control diet (CD) group which received industrial food (n = 8) and hypercaloric diet (HD) group which received animal fat and soybean oil (n = 12). After 45 days on the diet, the animals were evaluated: body weight and blood biochemical analisys. Changes in mood disposition were evaluated using forced swim test and the elevated plus-maze, whereas hippocampal BDNF expression levels were quantified by ELISA. After 45 weeks, the CD group showed a significant increase in body weight relative to the HD group. However, the HD rats had a body fat percentage and exhibited increased level of the biochemical markers. Furthermore, the animals in the HD group presented increased immobility time in the forced swimming test, as well as reduced response to plus-maze test suggesting a depression- and anxiety-like emotional state. In addition, the HD group also showed lower BDNF expression levels in the hippocampus. This study demonstrates that a hypercaloric diet induced increase in adipose tissue concentration in young rats was associated with reduced hippocampal BDNF expression and resulted in an increase in depression- and anxiety-like behaviors. Graphical abstract.

Atenção farmacêutica domiciliar: série de casos de usuários do programa práticas integradas em saúde coletiva / Home pharmaceutical care: case studies of users of the integrated practice program in public health

A atenção farmacêutica domiciliar (AFD) engloba todas as práticas da atenção farmacêutica, tendo como diferencial a realização de um plano de adesão totalmente adaptado aos fatores sociais e familiares em que o usuário está inserido. Este trabalho relata ações de AFD realizadas pelo Programa de Extensão Universitária Práticas Integradas em Saúde Coletiva (PISC), da Universidade Federal do Pampa, Campus Uruguaiana, destacando sua importância e eficácia no atendimento interdisciplinar. São relatados dez casos acompanhados durante seis meses. A média de idade foi de 55,6 anos (dp=11,06). Foram identificados, no total, treze Resultados Negativos Associados aos Medicamentos, três foram resolvidos na primeira intervenção, três em duas intervenções, e sete foram resolvidos em três a quatro intervenções. Dos quatro problemas com o armazenamento, três foram solucionados em três intervenções e um foi solucionado em quatro intervenções. As intervenções foram realizadas de acordo com o plano traçado pela equipe interdisciplinar para atender às demandas do usuário. O estudo demonstrou que a AFD no contexto interdisciplinar proporciona resultados positivos no controle de doenças crônicas, melhorando a adesão ao tratamento.

Home pharmaceutical care (HPC) includes all practices of pharmaceutical care, with the difference that it has a membership plan fully adapted to the social and family situation in which the user lives. This paper reports the HPC actions carried out by the university outreach program, Integrated Practices of Public Health (IPPH), of the Federal University of the Pampa, Uruguaiana, highlighting their importance and effectiveness in the interdisciplinary care. The reports cover ten cases followed up for six months. The mean patient age was 55.6 years (sd=11.06). Seven were male. A total of thirteen negative results associated with drugs were identified, three of which were resolved in the first intervention, three in two interventions and seven in three or four interventions. Of four problems involving storage, three were resolved in three interventions and one in four interventions. The interventions were performed according to the plan outlined by the interdisciplinary team to meet user demands. The study showed that HPC in an interdisciplinary context affords positive resultsin controlling chronic diseases, improving adherence to the treatment.