Study of Health in Pomerode (SHIP-Brazil): aims, methodological issues and descriptive results / Estudo Vida e Saúde em Pomerode (SHIP-Brazil): objetivos, aspectos metodológicos e resultados descritivos

Background Few studies compared populations with similar genetic and culture background on different continents with standardized methods. Objective To describe methodological issues of the Study of Health in Pomerode - SHIP-Brazil and some characteristics of the participants of the baseline examination. Design and Setting Prospective, population-based cohort study of a representative sample of residents (aged 20 to 79 years) of Pomerode, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Methods Data for the baseline survey (from 2014 to 2018) were collected through interviews and medical examinations, including socio-demographic and lifestyle information, clinical and subclinical conditions, oral and mental health, among others. Biosamples (blood, urine, stool, and saliva) were collected and stored. Methods of data collection and quality control are described. Preliminary descriptive statistics were performed. Results The response rate was 67.6% (n=2,488 individuals). The Kappa test-retest of some variables varied from 0.54 to 1.0. German culture participants are older (46.5 vs 38.7 years), self-declared white (97.3% vs 82.1%), more frequently never smokers (71.4% vs 66.9%) but had higher risk of consuming alcohol (16.9% vs 13.4%) compared to participants with non-German background. Germans were taller (169 cm vs 166 cm), had greater abdominal circumference among men (101.9 cm vs 97.3 cm). Furthermore, they reported more multimorbidity (56.7% vs 43.6%) , had more arterial hypertension (30.7% vs 18.5%), but less depression (15.4% vs 19,1%) than non-Germans. Conclusions The interaction of genetic and social/environmental issues should be examined to understand the role of risk factors on clinical conditions observed.

Introdução Poucos estudos compararam populações com histórico genético e cultural semelhante em diferentes continentes com métodos padronizados. Objetivos Descrever questões metodológicas do estudo de "Vida e Saúde em Pomerode - SHIP-Brazil" e algumas características dos participantes do exame inicial do estudo. Desenho de estudo e local Estudo de coorte prospectivo de base populacional em amostra representativa de moradores (20 a 79 anos) de Pomerode, Santa Catarina. Métodos As informações para a linha de base (de 2014 a 2018) foram coletadas por meio de entrevistas e exames médicos, incluindo dados sociodemográficos, de estilo de vida, condições clínicas e subclínicas, saúde bucal e mental, entre outros. Amostras biológicas (sangue, urina, fezes e saliva) foram coletadas e armazenadas. A coleta de dados e o controle de qualidade foram descritos. Foram realizadas análises descritivas preliminares. Resultados A taxa de resposta foi de 67,6% (n=2.488 indivíduos). O Kappa teste-reteste de algumas variáveis variou  de 0,54 a 1,0. Os participantes de cultura alemã são mais velhos (46,5 vs 38,7 anos ), autodeclarados brancos (97,3% vs 82,1%), com menor número de fumantes (71,4% vs 66,9%), mas tiveram maior risco de consumir álcool (16,9% vs 13,4%), eram mais altos (169 cm vs 166 cm), tinham maior circunferência abdominal entre os homens (101,9 cm vs 97,3 cm) em comparação com participantes "não-alemães". Pessoas de cultura alemã relataram mais multimorbidade (56,7% vs 43,6%), apresentavam mais hipertensão arterial (30,7% vs 18,5%), mas menos depressão (15,4% vs 19,1%). Conclusões A interação genética e social/ambiental devem ser examinadas para melhor entender o papel desses fatores de risco nas condições clínicas observadas.

Effects of Reiki on the Perception of Quality of Life Determined by the Questionnaire WHOQOL-BREF.

Reiki is a philosophy and healing technique that directs the use of vital energy (ki) for energy rebalance, as well as healing, in a holistic sense, of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual processes. The practice is part of the integrative and complementary practices recognized by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to evaluate the Reiki effects on people's life quality perception, by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). We analyzed the answers of 144 individuals, and the data were categorized in quartiles according to the number of Reiki sessions attended. The results of each question and dimension of the questionnaire were analyzed by Student's t test (individual questions) and analysis of variance (dimensions). We observed significant improvement in the perception of physical pain, need for medical treatment, meaning of life, physical environment, availability of money, availability of information, locomotion, work capacity, access to health, place of residence, and transportation facilities. Reiki sessions have improved people's quality of life perception in many aspects, proving its therapeutic efficacy in a broader approach to health promotion.

Acupuncture and laserpuncture as a therapeutic approach for nociception and inflammation: An experimental study in mice.

Inflammation and pain are consequences of injuries or diseases that affect a large number of people. This study aims to evaluate the effect of acupuncture and laserpuncture on nociception and inflammation in mice compared to the effects of morphine and dexamethasone. 140 male Swiss mice were used. Treatment with acupuncture and laserpuncture were performed at the acupoints LI11, ST36, GB34, and BL60 in mice. To evaluate the effect of acupuncture and laserpuncture on nociception, the hot plate test and intraplantar formalin injection were used. The effect of acupuncture and laserpuncture on the inflammation was evaluated through carrageenan-induced paw edema. Thermographic analysis was also applied to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects. An antinociceptive effect (≈57%) was observed in treatments with acupuncture and laserpuncture, equivalent to the effect of morphine. Laserpuncture and acupuncture decreased paw edema by ≈25%. Acupuncture had an effect equivalent to dexamethason, basides reducing the neurogenic phase by 35% and the inflammatory phase in formalin-induced nociception by 40%, equivalent to the effects of morphine. In thermographic analysis, acupuncture, laserpuncture, morphine, and negative control had paw temperature of ≈27 °C, while formalin treatment was 31°C. Acupuncture and laserpuncture proved to be effective therapies for the treatment of inflammatory and painful processes.

Auriculoterapia: tratamento complementar em atletas com lesão de esforço repetitivo ­ estudo piloto / Auriculotherapy: complementary treatment in athletes with repetitive stress injury ­ pilot study / Auriculoterapia: tratamiento complementario en deportistas con lesión por esfuerzo repetitivo - estudio piloto

Introdução: a auriculoterapia objetiva a estimulação de pontos na orelha visando o reequilíbrio das energias, acarretando melhora de patologias. As lesões por esforço repetitivo (LER) são frequentemente encontradas na realidade de um atleta de alto rendimento, deste modo, a busca por tratamentos diferenciados e eficazes para auxiliar na recuperação das lesões possibilita a inserção de técnicas diferenciadas, a exemplo das técnicas complementares. Objetivo: o estudo objetiva avaliar a eficácia da auriculoterapia como tratamento complementar em LER. Métodos: trata-se de um estudo piloto, experimental, não randomizado e não cego. A pesquisa foi realizada com 10 atletas de alto rendimento, da Fundação Municipal de Desportos da cidade de Blumenau-SC, divididos em dois grupos, um grupo recebeu tratamento de fisioterapia convencional e auriculoterapia e o outro apenas fisioterapia convencional. Participaram atletas de ambos os sexos e de diferentes modalidades. As avaliações foram realizadas semanalmente após os atendimentos, utilizando questionário para avaliação de dor, sintomas e utilização de medicações. Para auxiliar a avaliação, foram realizadas imagens por termografia para avaliação do processo inflamatório, as fotos foram realizadas antes e após o tratamento. Resultados: os resultados encontrados sugerem melhora em ambos os grupos, todavia, o grupo onde houve associação da fisioterapia convencional e auriculoterapia apresentou melhoras significantes em relação ao outro grupo, além disso, apresentaram redução no uso de medicações e diminuição no processo inflamatório avaliado pela termografia. Conclusão: a auriculoterapia se mostrou um importante aliado ao tratamento convencional e pode ser uma opção para tratamento complementar em LER. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Auriculoterapia; Termografia; Fisioterapia.

Introduction: Auriculotherapy treatment aims to stimulate points in the ear aiming at the rebalance of energies, resulting in improvement of pathologies. When talking about repetitive strain injuries (RSI) they are often found in the reality of a high performance athlete; the search for differentiated and effective treatments to assist in the recovery of injuries allows the insertion of differentiated techniques, such as techniques complementary. Objective: the study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of auriculotherapy as a complementary treatment in RSI. Methods: this is a pilot, experimental, non-randomized and non-blind study. The research was carried out with 10 high performance athletes, from the Municipal Sports Foundation of the city of Blumenau-SC, divided into two groups, one group received conventional physiotherapy and auriculotherapy treatment and the other only conventional physiotherapy. The evaluations were performed weekly after the consultations, using a questionnaire to assess pain, symptoms and medication use. To assist the evaluation, thermographic images were taken to evaluate the inflammatory process, the photos were taken before and after treatment. Results: the results found suggest improvement in both groups, however, the group where there was an association of conventional physical therapy and auriculotherapy showed significant improvements in relation to the other group. In addition, they showed a reduction in the use of medications and a decrease in the inflammatory process evaluated by thermography. Conclusion: auriculotherapy proved to be an important ally to conventional treatment and may be an option for complementary treatment in RSI.

Introducción: El tratamiento de auriculoterapia tiene como objetivo estimular puntos en la oreja buscando el reequilibrio de energías, resultando en mejoría de patologías. Cuando se habla de lesiones por esfuerzo repetitivo (LER) a menudo se encuentran en la realidad de un atleta de alto rendimiento; la búsqueda de tratamientos diferenciados y eficaces para ayudar en la recuperación de las lesiones permite la inserción de técnicas diferenciadas, tales como técnicas complementarias. Objetivo: el estudio pretende evaluar la eficacia de la auriculoterapia como tratamiento complementario en RSI. Método: se trata de un estudio piloto, experimental, no aleatorizado y no ciego. La investigación fue realizada con 10 atletas de alto rendimiento, de la Fundación Municipal de Deportes de la ciudad de Blumenau-SC, divididos en dos grupos, un grupo recibió fisioterapia convencional y tratamiento de auriculoterapia y el otro sólo fisioterapia convencional. Las evaluaciones se realizaron semanalmente después de las consultas, utilizando un cuestionario para evaluar el dolor, los síntomas y el uso de medicamentos. Para ayudar a la evaluación, se tomaron imágenes termográficas para evaluar el proceso inflamatorio, las fotos fueron tomadas antes y después del tratamiento. Resultados: los resultados encontrados sugieren mejoría en ambos grupos, sin embargo, el grupo donde hubo asociación de fisioterapia convencional y auriculoterapia mostró mejorías significativas en relación al otro grupo. Además, mostraron reducción en el uso de medicamentos y disminución del proceso inflamatorio evaluado por termografía. Conclusión: la auriculoterapia demostró ser un importante aliado del tratamiento convencional y puede ser una opción de tratamiento complementario en la RSI. PALABRAS CLAVE: Auriculoterapia; Termografía; Fisioterapia.

Cold stress on Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cells results in oxidative stress and induces adaptation: implications for conservation and propagation.

Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze is a species critically endangered of extinction and its development and propagation is strongly affected by abiotic stress. We have previously shown the activation of uncoupling protein in A. angustifolia embryogenic stem cells subjected to cold stress. Now, we have furthered those studies by exposing these cells to cold stress (4 ± 1 °C for either 24 or 48 h) and evaluating parameters associated with oxidative stress and alterations in the cellular and mitochondrial responses. Cold stress affect the H2O2 levels and lipid peroxidation increased after both stress condition, an effect associated with the decrease in the activities of peroxidases, catalase and ascorbate/dehydroascorbate ratio. On the other hand, the activities of ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate and dehydroascorbate reductases increased as an indication of adaptation. Another important impact of cold stress conditions was the decrease of external alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases activity and the increase of mitochondrial mass. These results show that cold stress induces oxidative stress in A. angustifolia embryogenic cells, which results in activation of the glutathione-ascorbate cycle as a compensation for the decrease in the activities of catalase, peroxidases, and external NAD(P)H dehydrogenases. Our results contribute to the understanding of the pathways that gymnosperms employ to overcome oxidative stress, which must be explored in order to improve the methods of conservation and propagation of A. angustifolia.

Laser acupuncture causes thermal changes in small intestine meridian pathway.

The acupuncture meridians represent the flow of corporal energy which contains the acupuncture points. Laser acupuncture is a form of acupuncture stimulation by the use of laser. Thermographic images represent the propagation of heat in micro-environmental systems. The objective of this study was to investigate the use of thermographic images to document the changes on the small intestine meridian (S.I.M.) when submitted to laser acupuncture. Another important issue regards to the analysis of the flow direction if it is upward when stimulated by acupuncture points. For the execution of this work, a laser acupuncture pen was used in points of the meridian in the S.I.M. Two healthy male volunteers were selected (18 and 60 years old, respectively), and doses of 576,92 J/cm2 with low-power infrared laser equipment with a wavelength of 780 nm in the SI.3 and SI.19 points were applied. An infrared thermal camera was used to measure the temperature of the S.I.M. during the 6 min laser acupuncture pen stimulus. When the laser acupuncture of both volunteers was conducted in the SI.3 point, it presented hyper-radiation of the hemi face in the same side, far from the application site. When this was applied in the SI.19 point, hyper-radiation in the same point and temperature lowering at the end of the meridian were observed. The laser energy caused thermal changes along the path of the S.I.M., distal, and proximal at the same time, proving the existence of the S.I.M.

Aplicações do laser na acupuntura / Laser applications in acunpuncture

A Acupuntura é uma técnica milenar e uma das terapias oriundas da Medicina Tradicional Chinesa (MTC). As técnicas da MTC são utilizadas em pontos específicos, por meio de inserção de agulhas, moxas, ventosas, massagens, estímulos elétricos e Laser. Esses estímulos promovem a circulação do Qi e sangue, aumentando o fluxo energético nos meridianos, melhorando assim, o equilíbrio Yin-Yang. O uso do Laser é uma alternativa para a realização da Acupuntura pois é um método indolor de estimulação dos pontos, este pode ser utilizado quando a técnica com as tradicionais agulhas não são indicadas. A grande vantagem da laserpuntura é não causar nenhuma agressão à pele evitando possíveis infecções, não causar dor podendo ser utilizada em pessoas mais sensíveis e em crianças, idosos e paciente com problemas mentais e em pessoas que apresentam problemas de coagulação. No presente estudo foi realizada uma busca por artigos científicos, livros, dissertações e teses de Acupuntura e Laserterapia. O objetivo é buscar na literatura uma padronização mínima de parâmetros necessários para o tratamento com Laser, como: comprimento de onda, potência do equipamento, tempo, dose utilizadas nos pontos, número de acupontos e número de sessões. Os resultados mostram uma escassez de material teórico-prático sobre o tema, controversas em resultados e com trabalhos publicados sem critério de execução. Conclui-se que protocolos sem nenhuma padronização nos são apresentados e parâmetros de aplicação são praticamente esquecidos nas discussões destes artigos. Este trabalho visa suprir esta necessidade, servindo como meio de informação e suporte para aqueles que necessitam de assistência neste âmbito.(AU)

Acupuncture is an ancient technique and one of the therapies derived from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). The techniques of TCM are used at specific body points through insertion of needles, moxa, cupping, massage, electrical simulation and laser. These stimuli promote Qi and blood circulation is an alternative technique for Acupunture because it is a painless method of paint stimulation treatment and may be applied when traditional needle technique is not indicated. The great advantage of laser acupuncture is related to the fact causes no damages to the skin, therefore, avoiding possible infections problems; it is painless and can be used in sensitive people, children, elderly, patients, with mental health problems and people with clotting problems. In the present study, a search for scientific articles, books, dissertations, and theses for Acupuncture and Laser Therapy was performed. The objective is to search for information of minimum standardization methods necessary for treatment with laser, considering parameters as wavelength, power equipament, time, dose used in points, number of acupoints and number of sessions. The results show a gap between theorical and practical material on the subject, controversial results and published works without implementation criteria. It is concluded that no standardization protocols are presented published works without implementation criteria. It is concluded that no standardization protocols are presented and applied parameters are practically forgotten in discussions on these articles. This work aims to fill this need, serving as a source of information and support for those who need assistance in this area.(AU)

The involvement of PUMP from mitochondria of Araucaria angustifolia embryogenic cells in response to cold stress.

In this study, the responses of plant uncoupling mitochondrial protein (PUMP) and alternative oxidase (AOX) in mitochondria from embryogenic cells of A. angustifolia subjected to cold stress (4°C for 24 h or 48 h) is reported. In the mitochondria of stressed cells, PUMP activity increased by approximately 45% (at 24h and 48 h), which was determined by measuring the oxygen consumption after the addition of linoleic acid and the inhibition by BSA and ATP. PUMP activation was confirmed using transmembrane electrical potential (Δψ) assays. Immunoblot assays showed an increase of PUMP expression by 40% and 150% after 24h and 48 h of cold stress, respectively. AOX activity, measured under conditions similar to those of the PUMP assays, was only slightly increased in the mitochondria from stressed cells (at 24h and 48 h), as demonstrated by oxygen consumption experiments. Cell viability was unaffected by cold stress, indicating that the effects on PUMP and AOX were not caused by cell death. These results show that the main response of this gymnosperm to cold stress is the activation of PUMP, which suggests that this protein may be involved in the control of reactive oxygen species generation, which has been previously associated with this condition.

Sensitivities of the alternative respiratory components of potato tuber mitochondria to thiol reagents and Ca2+.

Plant mitochondria differ from those of mammals, since they incorporate an alternative electron transport pathway, which branches at ubiquinol to an alternative oxidase (AOX), characteristically inhibited by salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM). Another feature of plant mitochondria is that besides complex I (EC 1.6.5.3) they possess alternative NAD(P)H-dehydrogenases insensitive to rotenone. Many stress conditions are known to alter the expression of the alternative electron transport pathway in plant mitochondria. In the present study we investigated the effects of some thiol reagents and Ca(2+) on potato mitochondrial respiratory chain presenting different activities of the alternative respiratory components AOX and external NADH dehydrogenase, a condition induced by previous treatment of potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L., cv. Bintje) to cold stress. The results showed that Ca(2+) presented an inhibitory effect on AOX pathway in potato mitochondria energized with NADH or succinate, which was only now observed when the cytochrome pathway was inhibited by cyanide. When the cytochrome pathway was functional, Ca(2+) stimulated the external NADH dehydrogenase. Diamide was a potent AOX inhibitor and this effect was only now observed when the cytochrome pathway was inactive, as was the case for the calcium ion. Mersalyl inhibited the externally located NADH dehydrogenase and had no effect on AOX activity. The results may represent an important function of Ca(2+) on the alternative mitochondrial enzymes NADH-DH(ext) and AOX.

Improved method for isolation of coupled mitochondria of Araucaria angustifolia (Bert.) O. Kuntze

Um procedimento de isolamento de mitocôndrias funcionalmente intactas de calos embriogênicos de Araucaria angustifolia foi desenvolvido pela primeira vez em nosso laboratório. Mitocôndrias isoladas por este método são metabolicamente ativas, capazes de sustentar fosforilação oxidativa como mostrado pelo controle respiratório de aproximadamente 2,4, respirando na presença de succinato como substrato. Através de experimentos de consumo de oxigênio com mitocôndrias rompidas em nitrogênio líquido foi demonstrada a presença de NAD(P)H desidrogenases alternativas, insensíveis à rotenona e estimuladas por Ca2+. O isolamento de mitocôndrias de A. angustifolia é um novo e importante instrumento para estudar plantas, permitindo a execução de múltiplas investigações a respeito da bioenergética mitocondrial e fisiologia vegetal.