A pilot study of the effects of suboccipital fascial release on heart rate variability in workers in the clothing industry: Randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: The routine of work inside the clothing industry has been associated with high levels stress perceived by the worker. The parameters of heart rate variability (HRV) are objective markers of the organic response to stress.

Objective: This trial evaluates if suboccipital fascial release (SFR) technique was able to influence HRV parameters in workers in the clothing industry.

A pilot study of the effects of suboccipital fascial release on cortisol levels in workers in the clothing industry - randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Repetitive and time sensitive demands of clothing workers has been associated with higher salivary cortisol levels that may reflect the stress experienced by the worker.

Objective: This trial evaluates if suboccipital fascial release (SFR) is associated with reduced salivary cortisol levels.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial with 40 workers, divided into: untreated group (UG, n = 15) and treated group (TG, n = 25).

Elevated levels of inflammatory markers in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and progressive disease. Evidence indicates that inflammatory mediators may contribute to the genesis and/or evolution of this clinical condition. Thus, the objective was to evaluate and compare the plasma levels of Interleukin-17 (IL-17), Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNF-α) and Complement 3 (C3) in women with RA and healthy controls (HC), as well as to evaluate the association them with the disease activity.

Effects of aquatic physiotherapy or health education program in women with fibromyalgia: a randomized clinical trial.

 Different treatments have been proposed for Fibromyalgia, but only few studies have compared their effects on multiples outcomes over time.  The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of aquatic physiotherapy (AP) or a health education program (HEP) in a sample of women with Fibromyalgia (FM).  Forty-six women with FM, aged between 25 and 60 years old, whose BMI was less than 30, were assigned to either AP (27 women) or HEP (19 women) groups in a blind randomized clinical trial lasting eleven weeks.

Levels of cortisol and neurotrophic factor brain-derived in Parkinson's disease.

The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary cortisol and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people with PD, to compare them with healthy controls and to associate them with levels of anxiety and depression. For this, 18 people with PD and 17 controls were recruited. The stage of the disease was determined by Hoehn and Yahr Disability Scale (H&Y), biomarkers levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and anxiety and depression levels were assessed by the Hamilton Anxiety Assessment Scale (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D).

Effects of a health education program on cytokines and cortisol levels in fibromyalgia patients: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by widespread chronic pain associated to other symptoms, such as: fatigue, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders. Health education programs (HEP) have emerged as good non-pharmacological strategies to treat it. However, it is still not clear if the benefits are only subjective, or it has also objective impacts on immune and or neuroendocrine systems.

The involvement of melatonin in the clinical status of patients with fibromyalgia syndrome.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the levels of 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (6-SMT) in the urine of patients with fibromyalgia (FM) and correlate them with the score obtained by these patients in four clinical assessment instruments.

Methods: Fifty-eight women with primary FM and 39 healthy women matched for age and body mass index were included in the study sample. The levels of 6-SMT were evaluated in urine collected from 8 pm until 8 am the next day by the immunosorbent assay.

Increased levels of IL-17A in patients with fibromyalgia.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the plasma levels of IL-17A in fibromyalgia patients, and to look for any correlations between this data and the concentrations of some pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Methods: We performed a study including 58 fibromyalgia patients and 39 healthy women matched for age and body mass index. The plasma levels of IL-17A and other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines were measured by using the technique of cytometric bead array (CBA).