Relationship between osteopathic manipulative treatment of the temporomandibular joint, molar shim and the orthostatic position: A randomized, controlled and double blinded study.

This randomized, controlled, double-blinded study related the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the orthostatic posture using the molar shim (MS) as a postural adjustment factor. Twenty individuals classified with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) were randomly assigned to a treated group (TG, n = 10) and placebo (PG, n = 10). The independent variables were: MS and OMT of the TMJ. The dependent variables were: DC-TMD data; local pressure pain using algometry; and orthostatic posture assessed by the distribution of plantar pressures (baropodometry), in the evaluation periods before and immediately after the interventions. Results: pain did not show a statistically significant difference after the interventions. However, when comparing the Effect Size (ES) between the groups in the post-intervention moment, a moderate relationship was observed for the left trapezius muscle (0.51) and right and left TMJ (0.41 and 0.54 respectively). When correlating the pain and percentage of anteroposterior postural dislocation variables, a significant moderate inverse correlation was observed in the post-intervention moment. The results of the MS pointed to a significant decrease (p ≤ 0.05) of the average peak pressure (Medium P) during the use of the MS (503.4 ± 44.1 kgf/cm2) and after performing the OMT (516.5 ± 49.6 kgf/cm2), both for the TG compared to the pre intervention moment (519.3 ± 42.9 kgf/cm2). There is a correlation between TMJ and orthostatic posture. OMT of the TMJ influences orthostatic posture. The MS can be added to the evaluative context of TMD.

Abscisic acid regulates seed germination of Vellozia species in response to temperature.

The relationship between the phytohormones, gibberellin (GA) and abscisic acid (ABA) and light and temperature on seed germination is still not well understood. We aimed to investigate the role of the ABA and GA on seed germination of Vellozia caruncularis, V. intermedia and V. alutacea in response to light/dark conditions on different temperature. Seeds were incubated in GA (GA3 or GA4 ) or ABA and their respective biosynthesis inhibitors (paclobutrazol - PAC, and fluridone - FLU) solutions at two contrasting temperatures (25 and 40 °C). Furthermore, endogenous concentrations of active GAs and those of ABA were measured in seeds of V. intermedia and V. alutacea during imbibition/germination. Exogenous ABA inhibited the germination of Vellozia species under all conditions tested. GA, FLU and FLU + GA3 stimulated germination in the dark at 25 °C (GA4 being more effective than GA3 ). PAC reduced seed germination in V. caruncularis and V. alutacea, but did not affect germination of V. intermedia at 40 °C either under light or dark conditions. During imbibition in the dark, levels of active GAs decreased in the seeds of V. intermedia, but were not altered in those of V. alutacea. Incubation at 40 °C decreased ABA levels during imbibition in both V. caruncularis and V. alutacea. We conclude that the seeds of Vellozia species studied here require light or high temperature to germinate and ABA has a major role in the regulation of Vellozia seed germination in response to light and temperature.

Control of macaw palm seed germination by the gibberellin/abscisic acid balance.

The hormonal mechanisms involved in palm seed germination are not fully understood. To better understand how germination is regulated in Arecaceae, we used macaw palm (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. Ex Mart.) seed as a model. Endogenous hormone concentrations, tocopherol and tocotrienol and lipid peroxidation during germination were studied separately in the embryo and endosperm. Evaluations were performed in dry (D), imbibed (I), germinated (G) and non-germinated (NG) seeds treated (+GA3 ) or not treated (control) with gibberellins (GA). With GA3 treatment, seeds germinated faster and to a higher percentage than control seeds. The +GA3 treatment increased total bioactive GA in the embryo during germination relative to the control. Abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations decreased gradually from D to G in both tissues. Embryos of G seeds had a lower ABA content than NG seeds in both treatments. The GA/ABA ratio in the embryo was significantly higher in G than NG seeds. The +GA3 treatment did not significantly affect the GA/ABA ratio in either treatment. Cytokinin content increased from dry to germinated seeds. Jasmonic acid (JA) increased and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboylic acid (ACC) decreased after imbibition. In addition, α-tocopherol and α-tocotrienol decreased, while lipid peroxidation increased in the embryo during germination. We conclude that germination in macaw palm seed involves reductions in ABA content and, consequently, increased GA/ABA in the embryo. Furthermore, the imbibition process generates oxidative stress (as observed by changes in vitamin E and MDA).