A Customized System to Test Pelvic Floor Muscles Contraction: A Proof of Concept.

Studies show that there is a high prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunctions which negatively affect the quality of life of people who suffer from them. The few sensory mechanisms that pelvic floor muscles have to inform the brain of their situation can make it difficult to perform voluntary contractions or identify risk factors. Currently, there is no consensus to improve this proprioception. This work introduces the development of a novel intravaginal device that is connected to a mobile data acquisition system and able to discern the correct contraction of the pelvic floor muscles versus contraction of adjacent muscles or abdominal thrust efforts. A cross-sectional pilot clinical study has been carried out to validate this end with healthy adult nulliparous woman with good pelvic floor muscles contraction capability in supine position.Clinical relevance- The proposed system allows a personalized and real-time assessment of the contractile capability of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), distinguishing between muscular plans (deep/superficial PFM), between sides (right/left PFM), and between pressures from the PFM and intra-abdominal muscles (IAP). The development of an intravaginal device which is able to simultaneously measure all these features is an important advancement in this field since it can provide information in real time on the contraction capability of all the PFM as well as on the influence of the IAP during different PFM exercises.

Bankart arthroscopic procedure: comparative study on use of double or single-thread anchors after a 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the use of anchors with double and single-thread loading in the single-row Bankart arthroscopic procedure. METHODS: 252 patients (258 shoulders) underwent Bankart arthroscopic surgery with evaluation after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. They underwent repairs either using anchors with single loading of a high-resistance non-absorbable braided thread (206 shoulders; group AS) or using double loading of thread with the same characteristics (52 shoulders; group AD). The patients were evaluated using the UCLA and Carter-Rowe scales. The patients' return to sports activity and recurrences were also compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the surgical failure rate (group AS 5.8%; group AD 7.7%; p = 0.62). Group AS presented a better mean Carter-Rowe score (group AS 94.4; group AD 88.6; p < 0.05) and greater return to the same sports level (group AS 79.1; group AD 72.1; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of anchors with double thread loading did not show any clinical advantage for arthroscopic repair of traumatic anterior shoulder instability, in relation to use of single-thread anchors, over a 2-year follow-up.

OBJETIVO: Comparar o uso de âncoras com carregamento duplo e com carregamento simples de fio no procedimento artroscópico de Bankart com fileira simples. MÉTODOS: Foram submetidos à cirurgia artroscópica de Bankart e avaliados após seguimento mínimo de dois anos 252 pacientes (258 ombros). Foram submetidos a reparo com âncoras com carregamento simples de fio trançado não absorvível de alta resistência 206 ombros (grupo AS) e com âncoras com carregamento duplo com fios de mesmas características 52 (grupo AD). Os pacientes foram avaliados segundo as escalas UCLA e Carter-Rowe. O retorno à atividade esportiva e a recidiva também foram comparados. RESULTADOS: Não houve diferença significante entre os grupos quanto à taxa de falha cirúrgica (grupo AS 5,8%; grupo AD 7,7%; p = 0,62). O grupo AS apresentou melhor Carter-Rowe médio (grupo AS 94,4; grupo AD 88,6; p < 0,05) e maior retorno ao mesmo nível esportivo (grupo AS 79,1; grupo AD 72,1; p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: O uso de âncoras com carregamento duplo de fios não demonstrou vantagem clínica no reparo artroscópico da instabilidade anterior traumática do ombro em relação ao uso de âncoras simples no seguimento de dois anos.

A Sativex(®) -like combination of phytocannabinoids as a disease-modifying therapy in a viral model of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Sativex(®) is an oromucosal spray, containing equivalent amounts of Δ(9) -tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9) -THC) and cannabidiol (CBD)-botanical drug substance (BDS), which has been approved for the treatment of spasticity and pain associated to multiple sclerosis (MS). In this study, we investigated whether Sativex may also serve as a disease-modifying agent in the Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus-induced demyelinating disease model of MS. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: A Sativex-like combination of phytocannabinoids and each phytocannabinoid alone were administered to mice once they had established MS-like symptoms. Motor activity and the putative targets of these cannabinoids were assessed to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. The accumulation of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and astrogliosis were assessed in the spinal cord and the effect of Sativex on CSPGs production was evaluated in astrocyte cultures. KEY RESULTS: Sativex improved motor activity - reduced CNS infiltrates, microglial activity, axonal damage - and restored myelin morphology. Similarly, we found weaker vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 staining and IL-1ß gene expression but an up-regulation of arginase-1. The astrogliosis and accumulation of CSPGs in the spinal cord in vehicle-infected animals were decreased by Sativex, as was the synthesis and release of CSPGs by astrocytes in culture. We found that CBD-BDS alone alleviated motor deterioration to a similar extent as Sativex, acting through PPARγ receptors whereas Δ(9) -THC-BDS produced weaker effects, acting through CB2 and primarily CB1 receptors. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The data support the therapeutic potential of Sativex to slow MS progression and its relevance in CNS repair.

Bankart arthroscopic procedure: comparative study on use of double or single-thread anchors after a 2-year follow-up / Procedimento artroscópico de Bankart: estudo comparativo do uso de âncoras com fio duplo ou simples após seguimento de dois anos

To compare the use of anchors with double and single-thread loading in the single-row Bankart arthroscopic procedure. METHODS: 252 patients (258 shoulders) underwent Bankart arthroscopic surgery with evaluation after a minimum follow-up of 2 years. They underwent repairs either using anchors with single loading of a high-resistance non-absorbable braided thread (206 shoulders; group AS) or using double loading of thread with the same characteristics (52 shoulders; group AD). The patients were evaluated using the UCLA and Carter-Rowe scales. The patients' return to sports activity and recurrences were also compared. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the groups regarding the surgical failure rate (group AS 5.8%; group AD 7.7%; p = 0.62). Group AS presented a better mean Carter-Rowe score (group AS 94.4; group AD 88.6; p < 0.05) and greater return to the same sports level (group AS 79.1; group AD 72.1; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Use of anchors with double thread loading did not show any clinical advantage for arthroscopic repair of traumatic anterior shoulder instability, in relation to use of single-thread anchors, over a 2-year follow-up...

Comparar o uso de âncoras com carregamento duplo e com carregamento simples de fio no procedimento artroscópico de Bankart com fileira simples. MÉTODOS: foram submetidos à cirurgia artroscópica de Bankart e avaliados após seguimento mínimo de dois anos 252 pacientes (258 ombros). Foram submetidos a reparo com âncoras com carregamento simples de fio trançado não absorvível de alta resistência 206 ombros (grupo AS) e com âncoras com carregamento duplo com fios de mesmas características 52 (grupo AD). Os pacientes foram avaliados segundo as escalas UCLA e Carter-Rowe. O retorno à atividade esportiva e a recidiva também foram comparados. RESULTADOS: não houve diferença significante entre os grupos quanto à taxa de falha cirúrgica (grupo AS 5,8%; grupo AD 7,7%; p = 0,62). O grupo AS apresentou melhor Carter-Rowe médio (grupo AS 94,4; grupo AD 88,6; p < 0,05) e maior retorno ao mesmo nível esportivo (grupo AS 79,1; grupo AD 72,1; p < 0,05). CONCLUSÃO: o uso de âncoras com carregamento duplo de fios não demonstrou vantagem clínica no reparo artroscópico da instabilidade anterior traumática do ombro em relação ao uso de âncoras simples no seguimento de dois anos...

Effects of inhibition of fatty acid amide hydrolase vs. the anandamide membrane transporter on TRPV1-mediated calcium responses in adult DRG neurons; the role of CB receptors.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between TRPV1 stimulation and endocannabinoid-driven CB(1) receptor-mediated inhibition of activity in adult rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, a model of primary afferent nociceptors. Calcium-imaging studies were performed to compare the effects of the fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) inhibitor URB597 (1 microm) vs. the anandamide (AEA) uptake inhibitor UCM707 (1 microm) on capsaicin (100 nm) and N-arachidonoyl dopamine (NADA; 1 microm)-evoked changes in intracellular calcium [Ca(2+)](i) in DRG neurons. The ability of the CB(1) receptor antagonist AM251 (1 microm) to modulate the effects of URB597 and UCM707 was also determined. Suprafusion of NADA and capsaicin evoked robust increases in [Ca(2+)](i) in DRG neurons (89 +/- 4% and 132 +/- 6% of the depolarizing KCl response, respectively). Co-incubation with URB597 significantly attenuated both NADA and capsaicin-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)](i) (39 +/- 3% and 79 +/- 4% of KCl response, respectively). Similarly, co-incubation with UCM707 significantly attenuated both NADA and capsaicin-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)](i) (59 +/- 7% and 72 +/- 4% of KCl response, respectively). The CB(1) receptor antagonist AM251 significantly attenuated the effects of URB597 on NADA-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)](i) but not the effects of URB597 on capsaicin-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)](i). By contrast, AM251 significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of UCM707 on both NADA and capsaicin-evoked increases in [Ca(2+)](i.) These data suggest that transport of both NADA and capsaicin into DRG neurons and the subsequent activation of TRPV1 is partly governed by FAAH-dependent mechanisms as well as via the putative AEA membrane transporter.