Interferential current intensity influences the hypoalgesic response in healthy subjects under mechanically-induced pain: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Interferential current (IFC) is a non-pharmacological therapy often used to reduce pain intensity. However, there is no scientific evidence of the biological effects of the adjustment of IFC intensity of stimulation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the adjustment of IFC intensity influences pain on cutaneous sensory threshold (CST), pressure pain threshold (PPT) and pain intensity in healthy subjects under mechanically induced pain. METHODS: This is a placebo-controlled randomized trial. One hundred and two healthy university students blinded to intervention were randomized using opaque sealed envelopes to the following groups: 1) sensory IFC (n = 24); 2) fixed motor IFC (n = 26); 3) adjusted motor IFC (n = 27); and 4) placebo IFC (n = 25). After 40 minutes of stimulation or placebo, subjects were evaluated by an investigator blinded to group allocation. CST (von Frey filaments), PPT (algometry), and pain intensity (11-point numerical scale) were measured. RESULTS: Adjusted motor IFC promoted a significant reduction of CST (hand: mean difference (MD) = 2.39, confidence intervals (CI) = 1.39-3.38; and forearm: MD = 3.01, CI = 2.87-3.14) compared to placebo. Adjusted motor IFC increased PPT significantly (hand: MD = 27.59, CI = 26.80-28.37; and forearm: MD = 34, CI = 25.74-42.25) when compared to placebo. Adjusted motor IFC reduced pain intensity by 4.01 points (CI = 3.64-4.55) when compared to placebo. No adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Adjusted motor IFC intensity increased PPT and CST and also reduced pain intensity in healthy subjects under mechanically induced pain.

Is Electrical Stimulation Effective in Preventing or Treating Delayed-onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) in Athletes and Untrained Adults? A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

The effectiveness of electrical stimulation (ES) in preventing or treating delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and its effects on muscle recovery is unclear. The systematic review investigated the benefits or harms of ES on DOMS and muscle recovery. Databases (PubMed, Medline, CENTRAL, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, PEDro, LILACS, SPORTDiscus) were searched up to March, 31st 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of athletes or untrained adults with DOMS treated with ES and compared to placebo/sham (simulation or without ES), or control (no intervention). Data were pooled in a meta-analysis. Risk of bias (Cochrane Collaboration tool) and quality of evidence (GRADE) were analyzed. Fourteen trials (n=435) were included in this review and 12 trials (n=389) were pooled in a meta-analysis. Evidence of very low to low quality indicates that ES does not prevent or treat DOMS as well as ES does not help to promote muscle recovery immediately, 24, 48, 72, 96 hours after the intervention. Only one study monitored adverse events. There are no recommendations that support the use of ES in DOMS and muscle recovery. PERSPECTIVES: No recommendations support the use of electrical stimulation in delayed-onset muscle soreness and muscle recovery in athletes and untrained adults. This means that electrical stimulation is not fruitful for this population according those protocols used. Therefore, unlikely that further randomized controlled trials with the same approach will yield promising results.

Caracterização da qualidade microbiológica da água marítima e de mexilhões em uma fazenda marinha do município de Armação dos Búzios, RJ / Characterization of the microbiological quality of seawater and mussels in a marine farm in the county of Armação dos Búzios, RJ

O cultivo de moluscos é uma prática de grande importância devido ao alcance social e econômico para o município de Armação dos Búzios, RJ. Este trabalho tem como objetivo o monitoramento da qualidade da água de cultivo e de mexilhões em uma fazenda marinha de Armação dos Búzios, RJ. A melhor maneira de realizar um controle da qualidade da água e do produto é por meio da presença de indicadores de poluição fecal. Amostras de água e mexilhão foram coletadas em uma fazenda marinha e submetidas à análise microbiológica, através do método do Número Mais Provável. Após o monitoramento verificou-se que períodos com maior atividade turística e com maior ocorrência de chuvas apresentaram maior incidência de coliformes nas amostras, tornando-as impróprias para consumo. A não ocorrência de um monitoramento pode trazer riscos à saúde do consumidor.

Dance therapy in patients with chronic heart failure: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To see whether dance therapy was more effective than conventional exercise in exercise capacity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with chronic heart failure. DESIGN AND METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis. We searched MEDLINE, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, EMBASE, SPORT Scielo, CINAHL (from the earliest date available to August 2013) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), examining effects of dance therapy versus exercise and/or dance therapy versus control on exercise capacity (VO2peak), and quality-of-life (QOL) in chronic heart failure. Two reviewers selected studies independently. Weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and heterogeneity was assessed using the I(2) test. RESULTS: Two studies met the study criteria (62 dance therapy patients, 60 exercise patients and 61 controls patients). The results suggested that dance therapy compared with control had a positive impact on peak VO2 and HRQOL. Dance therapy resulted in improvement in: peak VO2 peak weighted mean difference (4.86 95% CI: 2.81 to 6.91) and global HRQOL standardized mean differences (2.09 95% CI: 1.65 to 2.54). Non-significant difference in VO2 peak and HRQOL for participants in the exercise group compared with dance therapy. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Dance therapy may improve peak VO2 and HRQOL in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and could be considered for inclusion in cardiac rehabilitation programmes.