Manual myofascial release and muscle energy enhances trunk flexibility and strength in recreationally resistance-trained women: Cross-over study.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of myofascial release and muscle energy on acute outcomes in trunk extensors active range-of-motion and strength in recreationally resistance-trained women. Seventeen apparently healthy women performed three experimental protocols using a cross-over, randomized (counterbalanced in Latin Square format), and within-subjects design: a) range-of-motion and strength test after a manual myofascial release protocol (MFR); b) flexibility and strength test after a muscle energy protocol (ME); and c) range-of-motion and strength test without myofascial release or muscle energy (control condition). Active trunk range-of-motion was measured via a sit-and-reach test and trunk extension strength via isometric dorsal dynamometer.

Whole-body vibration improves the functional parameters of individuals with metabolic syndrome: an exploratory study.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities that increases the cardiovascular risk. Regular physical exercise can promote benefits, but the MetS individuals are demotivated to perform it. Thus, new possibilities are important as an alternative intervention.

Monitoring bone changes due to calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus loss in rat femurs using Quantitative Ultrasound.

Bone mineral density is an important parameter for the diagnosis of bone diseases, as well as for predicting fractures and treatment monitoring. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential of Quantitative Ultrasound (QUS) to monitor bone changes after calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium loss in rat femurs in vitro during a demineralization process. Four quantitative ultrasound parameters were estimated from bone surface echoes in eight femur diaphysis of rats.

Assessing heating distribution by therapeutic ultrasound on bone phantoms and in vitro human samples using infrared thermography.

Background: Bioheat models have been proposed to predict heat distribution in multilayered biological tissues after therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) stimulation. However, evidence on its therapeutic benefit is still controversial for many clinical conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate and to compare the TUS heating distribution on commercially available bone phantoms and in vitro femur and tibia human samples, at 1 MHz and several ultrasonic pulse regimens, by means of a thermographic image processing technique.

Can early hepatic fibrosis stages be discriminated by combining ultrasonic parameters?

In this study, we put forward a new approach to classify early stages of fibrosis based on a multiparametric characterization using backscatter ultrasonic signals. Ultrasonic parameters, such as backscatter coefficient (Bc), speed of sound (SoS), attenuation coefficient (Ac), mean scatterer spacing (MSS), and spectral slope (SS), have shown their potential to differentiate between healthy and pathologic samples in different organs (eye, breast, prostate, liver). Recently, our group looked into the characterization of stages of hepatic fibrosis using the parameters cited above.

Whole body vibration exercises and the improvement of the flexibility in patient with metabolic syndrome.

Vibrations produced in oscillating/vibratory platform generate whole body vibration (WBV) exercises, which are important in sports, as well as in treating diseases, promoting rehabilitation, and improving the quality of life. WBV exercises relevantly increase the muscle strength, muscle power, and the bone mineral density, as well as improving the postural control, the balance, and the gait. An important number of publications are found in the PubMed database with the keyword "flexibility" and eight of the analyzed papers involving WBV and flexibility reached a level of evidence II.

Protective response in renal transplantation: no clinical or molecular differences between open and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.

Objective: Prolonged warm ischemia time and increased intra-abdominal pressure caused by pneumoperitoneum during a laparoscopic donor nephrectomy could enhance renal ischemia reperfusion injury. For this reason, laparoscopic donor nephrectomy may be associated with a slower graft function recovery. However, an adequate protective response may balance the ischemia reperfusion damage.

Early outcomes of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy with multiple renal arteries.

Purpose: We evaluated our experience with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy in patients with multiple renal arteries, comparing operative outcomes and early graft function with patients with a single renal artery.

Materials And Methods: From January 2003 to February 2009, 130 patients underwent laparoscopic donor nephrectomy at our institution, 108 (83 %) with a single renal artery and 22 (17 %) with multiple arteries. Donor and recipient outcomes for single artery and multiple arteries allografts were compared.

Experimental and simulation results on the effect of cortical bone mineralization in ultrasound axial transmission measurements: a model for fracture healing ultrasound monitoring.

Ultrasound axial transmission (UAT), a technique using propagation of ultrasound waves along the cortex of cortical bones, has been proposed as a diagnostic technique for the evaluation of fracture healing. Quantitative ultrasound parameters have been reported to be sensitive to callus changes during the regeneration process. The aim of this work was to identify the specific effect of cortical bone mineralization on UAT measurements by means of numerical simulations and experiments using a reverse fracture healing approach.

Computational evaluation of the compositional factors in fracture healing affecting ultrasound axial transmission measurements.

This work aimed at computationally evaluating the compositional factors in fracture healing affecting ultrasound axial transmission (UAT), using four numerical daily-changing healing models, representing more realistic clinical conditions. Using two-dimensional (2-D) simulations, a 1-MHz source and a receiver were positioned parallel to the bone surface to detect the first arriving signal (FAS). The time-of-flight of the FAS (TOF(FAS)) was found to be sensitive only to superficial modifications in the propagation path.

Characterization of pseudarthrosis with ultrasound backscattered signals in rats.

Purpose: To propose a novel model of pseudarthrosis in a small animal and to investigate the ability of backscatter parameters from ultrasound signals in differentiating normal bone from those ones with pseudarthrosis.

Methods: Twelve Rattus norvegicus albinus free from pathogenic species (SPF) were randomly divided in two groups, with six animals each. In the Control group a surgical approach to the femur was made, followed by the synthesis of the muscle and skin layers.

Influence of nicotine on healing of vesical sutures in rabbits.

Purpose: To study the effects of nicotine on inflammatory cells, deposition of collagen and its interference on the strength of tissue in vesical sutures in rabbits.

Methods: Twenty New Zealand rabbits were used, randomized into two groups: group N, consisting of 10 animals, to which nicotine was administered in the dose of 2mg/kg of weight as a subcutaneous injection, diluted in 1 ml of saline solution at 0.9% in a daily administration during the 28 days prior to the surgery; and group C, consisting of 10 animals, to which saline solution at 0.

Characterization of in vitro healthy and pathological human liver tissue periodicity using backscattered ultrasound signals.

This work studied the periodicity of in vitro healthy and pathologic liver tissue, using backscattered ultrasound (US) signals. It utilized the mean scatterer spacing (MSS) as a parameter of tissue characterization, estimated by three methods: the spectral autocorrelation (SAC), the singular spectrum analysis (SSA) and the quadratic transformation method (SIMON). The liver samples were classified in terms of tissue status using the METAVIR scoring system.