Experimental Models of Neuroimmunological Disorders: A Review.

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) are a group of neurological disorders in which inflammation and/or demyelination are induced by cellular and humoral immune responses specific to CNS antigens. They include diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis (NMDAR encephalitis). Over the years, many in vivo and in vitro models were used to study clinical, pathological, physiological and immunological features of these neuroimmunological disorders. Nevertheless, there are important aspects of human diseases that are not fully reproduced in the experimental models due to their technical limitations. In this review, we describe the preclinical models of neuroimmune disorders, and how they contributed to the understanding of these disorders and explore potential treatments. We also describe the purpose and limitation of each one, as well as the recent advances in this field.

Detection of autoantibodies in central nervous system inflammatory disorders: Clinical application of cell-based assays.

The identification of autoantibodies in central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory disorders improves diagnostic accuracy and the identification of patients with a relapsing disease. Usual methods to detect autoantibodies are usually divided into 3 categories: tissue-based assays, protein-based assays and cell-based assays (CBA). Tissue-based assays are commonly used for initial identification of autoantibodies based on staining patterns and co-localization. Once the antigen is known, autoantibodies can be detected using other antigen-specific methods based on recombinant proteins and CBA using transfected cells expressing the protein in their cell membranes. Compared to traditional methods using recombinant proteins such as ELISA and western blot, the CBA have advantage of detecting conformational sensitive antibodies using natively folded proteins in the cell membrane. This article reviews the utility of CBA into the clinical practice.

Mudança da pressão expiratória com a aplicação do método Pilates em mulheres adultas com hipercifose / Change in pressure expiratory with the use of the method Pilates in adult women with hyperkyphosis

Introdução: Os exercícios de Pilates possuem um papel importante na mudança da postura. A cifose em termos anatômicos refere-se à curvatura primária torácica e sacral posterior. Mulheres sedentárias após a menopausa exibem uma mudança nesta curva, aumentando o grau de cifose, e com isso, afetando a estrutura do corpo inteiro. Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade de um treinamento físico utilizando o método de Pilates para a postura e as funções respiratórias de mulheres com cifose. Metodologia: O estudo foi um ensaio clínico randomizado com 41 mulheres divididas em dois grupos (intervenção e controle). Os exercícios foram conduzidos por 30 semanas. Para analisar a postura, foram vistos exame radiológico e teste de ângulo de Cobb. As funções respiratórias foram medidas por espirômetro e manômetro. Os ângulos da coluna foram avaliados e medidos em graus. Resultados: A análise radiológica apresentou uma diferença significativa entre os grupos, -8,0 ± 7,5 graus para o grupo experimental e -0,6 ± 3,4 graus para o grupo controle com p < 0,001. A porcentagem de gordura corporal e o IMC também apresentaram diferenças significativas (0,001). Conclusão: O grupo que realizou o treinamento de Pilates mostrou uma melhora significativa na pressão expiratória. A comparação entre os grupos antes e após a intervenção mostrou valores significativos de p < 0,05. Os resultados mostraram que o método de Pilates é eficaz para melhorar a postura e a pressão expiratória de mulheres com cifose.(AU)

Introduction: The Pilates exercises have an important role in changing the posture. The kyphosis in anatomical terms refers to the posterior thoracic and sacral primary curvature. Sedentary women after menopause exhibit a change in this curve, increasing the degree of kyphosis, affecting the entire body structure. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of a physical training using the Pilates method for laying and respiratory functions of women with kyphosis. Methods: This study was randomized clinical trial with 41 women divided into two groups (intervention and control). The exercises were conducted for 30 weeks. To analyze posture, we use radiological examination and Cobb angle test. Respiratory functions were measured by spirometer and manometer. The angles of the cervical spine, hip and trunk were evaluated and measured in degrees. Results: The radiological analysis shows a significant difference between groups, -8.0 ± 7.5 degrees to the experimental group and -0.6 ± 3.4 degrees to the control group with p < 0.001. The percentage of body fat and BMI also showed significant differences (0.001). Conclusion: The group that performed the Pilates training showed a significant improvement in expiratory pressure. The comparison between the groups before and after the intervention showed significant values of p < 0.05. The results showed that Pilates method is effective for improving posture and expiratory pressure women with kyphosis.(AU)

Efeito de 30 semanas do Método Pilates na composição corporal de mulheres adultas com cifose / Effect of 30 weeks of the Pilates method in the body composition of adult women with kyphosis

Introdução: Os exercícios do Método Pilates têm um papel importante na alteração da postura e aumento da resistência muscular. Objetivo: Comparar os efeitos dos exercícios básicos do Método Pilates em mulheres com cifose e alterações na composição corporal. Material e Métodos: Foram selecionadas 41 mulheres, com idade média de 59 anos. Estas foram separadas em dois grupos, 22 mulheres ficaram no grupo experimental e 19 no grupo controle. Os exercícios foram executados em aparelhos como: reformer, cadillac, wunda chair e wall unit. No solo, utilizaram-se os seguintes materiais: spine corrector, thera-band e small ball. Para a análise da composição corporal, foram avaliadas as medidas antropométricas. Na postura, foram analisados exames radiológicos e ângulo de Cobb, além de fotos antes e após a intervenção. Resultados: Na análise radiológica, entre os dois grupos, observou-se uma diferença significativa de (-8 ± 7,5) para o experimental e (-0,61 ± 3,38) para o controle, com o p > 0,001. Comparando as medidas posturais com as medidas da composição corporal, verificou-se uma redução significativa em todas as medidas, exceto no peso corporal. Conclusão: Os resultados mostraram uma significância nas diferenças entre os dois grupos. A diminuição do grau da cifose mostrou aumento da capacidade do desempenho do sistema neuromuscular. (AU)

Introduction: The exercises of Pilates Method play an important role in changing the posture and increase muscle strength. Objective: To compare the effectiveness of a physical training utilizing the Pilates Method for posture and body composition of women with thoracic kyphosis. Methods: 41 women with average age of 59 years old were selected for this study. These women were randomized in two groups, being 22 women in the intervention group and 19 in the control group. The exercises were carried out in devices such as: reformer, cadillac, wunda chair and wall unit. The soil materials used were: spine corrector, thread-band and small ball. For body composition analysis anthropometric measurements were evaluated. Radiological examinations in posture and Cobb angle were analyzed. Results: In the radiological analysis, a significant difference was observed between the two groups, (-8 ± 7.5) for the experimental group and (-0.61 ± 3.38) for the control group with p < 0.001. Comparing the postural measures with measures of body composition, there was a significant reduction in all measures except body weight. Conclusion: The results showed significant differences between the groups. The decrease in the degree of kyphosis showed an increase in performance capacity of the neuromuscular system. (AU)

Could BDNF be involved in compensatory mechanisms to maintain cognitive performance despite acute sleep deprivation? An exploratory study.

BACKGROUND: Neuroimaging studies suggest that acute sleep deprivation can lead to adaptations, such as compensatory recruitment of cerebral structures, to maintain cognitive performance despite sleep loss. However, the understanding of the neurochemical alterations related to these adaptations remains incomplete. OBJECTIVE: Investigate BDNF levels, cognitive performance and their relations in healthy subjects after acute sleep deprivation. METHODS: Nineteen sleep deprived (22.11±3.21years) and twenty control (25.10±4.42years) subjects completed depression, anxiety and sleep quality questionnaires. Sleep deprived group spent a full night awake performing different playful activities to keep themselves from sleeping. Attention, response inhibition capacity and working memory (prefrontal cortex-dependent) were assessed with Stroop and Digit Span tests. Declarative memory (hippocampus-dependent) was assessed with Logical Memory test. Serum BDNF was measured by sandwich ELISA. Data were analyzed with independent samples T-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA and curve estimation regressions. p<0.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: The sleep deprived group showed higher BDNF levels and normal performance on attention, response inhibition capacity and working memory. However, declarative memory was impaired. A sigmoidal relation between BDNF and Stroop Test scores was found. CONCLUSIONS: Increased BDNF could be related, at least in part, to the maintenance of normal prefrontal cognitive functions after sleep deprivation. This potential relation should be further investigated.