A high-fat diet can affect bone healing in growing rats.

A high-fat diet (HFD) can have a negative effect on bone quality in young and old people. Although bone healing in children is normally efficient, there is no evidence that children who have a diet rich in fat have compromised bone fracture regeneration compared with children with recommended dietary fat levels. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an HFD on bone healing in growing female rats. Twenty-six postweaning female Wistar rats were divided into two groups (13 animals per group): a standard diet (SD) group and an HFD (with 60% of energy from fat) group. The rats received the assigned diets for 5 weeks, and in the third week they were submitted to an osteotomy procedure of the left tibia. Body mass and feed intake were recorded during the experiment. One day before euthanasia, an insulin tolerance test was performed. After euthanasia, the tibiae were removed and analyzed by densitometry, mechanical testing, histomorphometry, stereology and immunohistochemistry. An HFD caused an adaptive response to maintain energetic balance by decreasing feed intake and causing insulin insensitivity. There was no change in bone mineral density, collagen amount and immunostaining for bone formation, but maximal load and stiffness were decreased in the HFD group. In addition, bone volume had a tendency to be higher in the SD group than in the HFD group. Compared with rats receiving an SD, growing rats receiving an HFD for 5 weeks had similar bone mineral density but altered mechanical properties at the osteotomy defect site.

Bone strength is reduced in a neonatal androgenized rat model.

Background: Whether polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) affects bone health during a woman's lifespan remains controversial. An androgenized rodent model replicated many metabolic and reproductive features of women with PCOS, and we aimed to use it to investigate the impact of androgens on microarchitecture (by micro-CT), bone mechanical strength, bone formation and resorption markers in rats with intact ovaries (SHAM) who underwent oophorectomy. Methods: Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus) were employed for the experiments in this study. The protocol of androgenization consisted of the application of 1.25 mg s.c. testosterone propionate beteween days 2-5 of life, while the controls received the same amount of corn oil s.c. as previously established. Androgenized SHAM rats exhibited chronic anovulation identified by vaginal cytology and a reduction in the proportion of corpus luteum in the ovary in comparison to control SHAM rats. The realization of the ovariectomy or SHAM procedure occurred on Day 100 of life. All groups (n = 8) were followed-up for 180 days to address the study endpoints. Results: Micro-CT from androgenized female rats (SHAM) showed a divergence between the trabecular and cortical bone profiles. Compared to SHAM controls, these rats had an increase in trabecular bone mass with a diminution in bone resorption C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (CTX) (p < 0.05), a concomitant decrease in cortical area and thickness in the femur, and a reduction in the strength of the femur on the mechanical test (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that a reduction in the cortical thickness and cortical area observed in PCOS model rats was associated with a reduced strength of the femur, despite increased trabecular formation. Ovariectomy in the androgenized OVX group limited the progression rate of cortical bone loss, resulting in bone resistance and cortical thickness comparable to those observed in the control OVX group.

Effects of latex membrane on guided regeneration of long bones.

Natural latex extracted from Hevea brasiliensis is one of the materials pointed out as potential tissue regenerators. The use of latex-based membranes in bone regeneration might be an alternative to stimulate bone formation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of latex membranes in guided bone regeneration of defects produced in long bones of rats. Sixty rats were equally divided into latex and control groups, and each group was subdivided into two subgroups according to treatment duration of 1 and 4 weeks. Bone defects with 2.5 mm in diameter were surgically made in the left tibia. In the animals of the latex group, a latex membrane was placed over the bone defect. The samples underwent quantitative histological analysis of bone formation and collagen matrix, immunohistochemical analysis of osteogenic protein markers, assessment of bone mechanical properties and bone densitometry, and radiological assessment. The osteocalcin immunostaining data were submitted to the generalized linear model test with two independent factors. For the other data, the multivariate ANOVA with two independent factors was performed. The use of the latex membrane significantly improved (p < 0.005) the volume of newly formed bone, collagen type I matrix, expression of osteopontin, and bone stiffness, both in the early and late stages of regeneration. In conclusion, the latex membrane was able to promote bone regeneration in long bones.

A influência de um programa de intervenção fisioterapêutica para pacientes com pós-COVID-19: um estudo quase experimental / The influence of a physiotherapeutic intervention program for patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome: a quasi-experimental study

A síndrome pós-COVID-19 afeta pacientes independentemente da gravidade da doença. Os sintomas mais comuns são fadiga, cefaleia, déficit de atenção, dispneia e depressão. Para ajudar na reabilitação dos pacientes, a intervenção fisioterapêutica tem sido utilizada como estratégia. Objetivo: Analisar os efeitos de um programa de reabilitação fisioterapêutica na qualidade de vida, capacidade funcional, percepção de esforço, percepção da dor e força muscular, em indivíduos com a síndrome pós-COVID-19. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo quase experimental, com 33 indivíduos, divididos em dois grupos: intervenção (GI) que recebeu um programa de reabilitação fisioterapêutica e controle (GC) que não recebeu. Os participantes foram avaliados antes e após o período de intervenção para força, por meio de dinamometria de preensão palmar; nível de dor, pela escala visual analógica; capacidade funcional, pelo teste de caminhada de seis minutos; percepção de esforço, através da escala modificada de BORG e qualidade de vida pelo instrumento SF-36. Resultados: Observou-se no GI aumento significativo (p<0,05) da qualidade de vida nos domínios de capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos e redução da dor e aumento da força de preensão palmar. Houve diferença significativa (p<0,05) entre os grupos para percepção de esforço nos momentos antes e após as intervenções. Para as demais variáveis não foram evidenciadas diferenças significativas. Conclusão: O programa de intervenção fisioterapêutica promoveu melhora dos domínios de capacidade funcional, aspectos físicos e da dor da qualidade de vida, e aumento da força de preensão palmar de indivíduos com sintomas da síndrome pós-COVID-19.

Post-COVID-19 syndrome affects patients regardless of the severity of the disease. The most common symptoms are fatigue, migraine, attention deficit, dyspnea, and depression. Physiotherapeutic intervention has been used as a strategy to aid the rehabilitation of patients. Objective: To analyze the effects of a physiotherapeutic rehabilitation program on quality of life, functional capacity, perceived exertion, perception of pain, and muscle strength in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome. Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study with 33 participants, divided into two groups: an intervention group (IG) who received the physiotherapeutic rehabilitation program and a control group (CG) who did not. Participants were assessed for strength before and after the intervention period, using handgrip dynamometry and being assessed with a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, the six-minute walk test (6MWT) for functional capacity, the BORG scale for exertion perception, and the SF-36 scale for quality of life. Results: A significant increase (p<0.05) in quality of life was observed in the IG in the SF-36 domains of physical functioning, physical role limitations, bodily pain, and increased handgrip strength. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the groups for perceived exertion before and after the intervention. No significant differences were found among the other variables. Conclusion: The physiotherapeutic intervention program improved the quality of life assessed with the SF-36 domains of physical functioning, physical role limitations, and bodily pain, and increased handgrip strength of patients with symptoms of post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Efeito imediato da mobilização com movimento (MWM) em pacientes com dor lombar: um estudo randomizado controlado / Immediate effect of mobilization with movement (MWM) in patients with low back pain: a randomized controlled trial

Objective: To analyze the effect of the Mobilization With Movement (MWM) of the Mulligan's concept in the perception of nociceptive and neuropathic pain, range of motion (ROM) and joint mobility of individuals with low back pain. Method: This is a randomized and controlled clinical trial, with 30 volunteers with nonspecific low back pain, divided into: Intervention Group (INTG), that received sustained natural apophyseal glides (SNAG) type MWM of the Mulligan's concept; Control Group (CONTG), which received a similar intervention to INTG. Volunteers were assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS Pain); the Modified Schober Test (MST) and ROM by goniometry for lumbar spine mobility and Douleur Neuropatique 4 (DN4) questionnaire for assessment of neuropathic and nociceptive pain. Results: INTG showed an increase in lumbar flexion (pre-intervention= 81.21±15.23°; post-intervention= 90.00±19.62°, p< 0.05), mobility of the lumbar spine in MST (pre= 15.33±1.05 post= 16.08±1.02, p< 0.05) and reduction of pain perception by NRS Pain (pre= 5.33±2.26; post= 1.47±2.61 p< 0.05) and in CONTG (pre= 4.07±2.34; post= 2.20±1.93, p< 0.05). Conclusion: The intervention with MWM - SNAGs promoted improved ROM and mobility in flexion of the lumbar spine, associated with reduction from the nociceptive pain in INTG and CONTG.

Objetivo: Analisar o efeito da Mobilization Whith Movement (MWM) do conceito Mulligan na percepção de dor nociceptiva e neuropática, na amplitude e na mobilidade articular de indivíduos com dor lombar. Métodos: Trata-se de um ensaio clínico randomizado e controlado, de 30 voluntários com dor lombar inespecífica, divididos em: Grupo Intervenção (GINT) que recebeu a mobilização articular com deslizamentos apofisários naturais mantidos (MWM - SNAGs); Grupo Controle (GCONT), que recebeu uma mobilização articular placebo. Os voluntários foram avaliados pela escala numérica de dor (EVN); pelo teste modificado de Schober (TMS) para a mobilidade da coluna lombar e pelo DN4 para avaliação da dor neuropática e nociceptiva. Resultados: GINT apresentou aumento da flexão lombar (pré intervenção= 81,21±15,23°; pós-intervenção= 90,00±19,62°, p= <0,05), da mobilidade da coluna lombar no TMS (pré= 15,33±1,05 pós= 16,08±1,02, p= <0,05) e redução da percepção de dor pela EVN (pré= 5,33±2,26; pós= 1,47±2,61= p< 0,05) e no GCONT (pré= 4,07±2,34; pós= 2,20±1,93, p < 0,05). Conclusão: A intervenção com MWM - SNAGs promoveu melhora da ADM e da mobilidade na flexão da coluna lombar, associada com redução da dor nociceptiva no GINT e no GCONT.