Publications by authors named "Luciano M Rodrigues"

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of the transfer of the lower trapezius with a graft from hamstring tendons in the treatment of irreparable rotator cuff tears . Level IV; Case Series; Treatment Study.

Methods: Ten patients diagnosed with irreparable tears of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons, were evaluated retrospectively -preoperatively, 6 and 12 months postoperatively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Fused silica is a ceramic with promising applications as a filler in composites due to its near-zero thermal expansion. Substitution of heavy cast iron with Al-based light alloys is of utmost importance for the automotive industry. However, the high thermal expansion of Al alloys is an obstacle to their use in some applications.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Evidence supporting an association of intervertebral disc degeneration (DD) with polymorphisms of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene has been controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of these studies to determine if there was substantial evidence to support such an association between the VDR polymorphisms and DD.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Science Direct databases were searched for studies that investigated associations of the FokI (rs2228570, rs10735810), and ApaI (rs7975253) polymorphisms of the VDR gene with DD.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To present the clinical and functional results, including measurement of quality of life, of patients undergoing trapeziometacarpal arthroplasty.

Method: This was a prospective evaluation on 45 patients (53 thumbs) with a diagnosis of idiopathic rhizarthrosis who underwent resection arthroplasty and interposition of an uncemented Ascension(®) implant, made of pyrocarbon. The clinical and functional results were analyzed through radiography, range of motion (ROM) in degrees (°), visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and the disability of arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) questionnaire for quality of life.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neovascularization of intervertebral discs, a phenomenon considered pathological since normal discs are primarily avascular structures, occurs most frequently in annulus fibrosus (AF) of degenerated discs. Endothelial cells (ECs) are involved in this process, but the mechanism of the interaction between AF and endothelial cells is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the effects on matrix catabolic activity of AF cells by the extracellular endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and soluble protein factors (SUP fraction) produced from ECs.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the structural and molecular changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) during the process of intervertebral disc degeneration, using animal model.

Methods: Wistar rats underwent intervertebral disc degeneration through 20-gauge needle puncture, and 360° rotation applied for 30 sec, representing the degenerated group, while control group was not submitted to this procedure. Histological parameters and expression of extracellular matrix molecules were evaluated in the 15(th) and 28(th) days after degenerative induction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate inflammatory reaction, fibrosis and neovascularization in dural repairs in Wistar rats using four techniques: simple suture, bovine collagen membrane, silicon mesh and silicon mesh with suture.

Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomized in five groups: the first was the control group, submitted to dural tear only. The others underwent durotomy and simple suture, bovine collagen membrane, silicon mesh and silicon mesh with suture.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Core myopathies are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of congenital myopathies with the common defined histopathological feature of focally reduced oxidative activity on muscle biopsy. It has a low incidence, however, recent articles show broad clinical spectrum, suggesting that the real incidence should be considerably larger than previously described. Due to the important association between scoliosis and paravertebral muscle imbalance, numerous authors study, by biopsy of the spinal rotator muscles, potential changes that may elucidate the etiology of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objectives: To assess biomechanically different fixations means of the sacroiliac joint with pedicle screws and to compare the traditional head height with reduced ones.

Methods: We used a polyethylene model representing the pelvic ring and simulated a unilateral sacroiliac dislocation. We set up three different constructions: 1) two screws attached to a rod; 2) two rods connected to two small head screws each; and 3) two rods connected to two average headed screws each.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: Open tibial fractures are usually caused by high-energy trauma. There is no consensus about the best treatment for these fractures. Biomechanical studies show that fixing on two planes approaches the rigidity of the bone, whereas the use of interlocking intramedullary nailing is widely used and reported to produce better therapeutic results in fracture healing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Endocarditis is a type of infection that is common in internal medicine wards and in haemodialysis clinics. The location that is most affected are the heart valves. Herein, we report a case of an uncommon abscess, a sub-endothelial abscess between the transition of the superior vena cava and the right atrium.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Aim: We have hypothesized a possible relationship between disc degeneration (DD) and VDR FokI/T2C polymorphism.

Methods: A case-control study was performed comprising 121 Brazilian patients with confirmed DD by nuclear magnetic resonance and a control group consisting of 131 healthy patients without a history of disc cysts of the lumbar spine. Detection of VDR FokI/T2C polymorphism was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To analyze intra and interobserver agreement of two radiographic methods for evaluation of posterolateral lumbar arthrodesis.

Methods: Twenty patients undergoing instrumented posterolateral fusion were evaluated by anteroposterior and dynamic lateral radiographs in maximal flexion and extension. The images were evaluated initially by 6 orthopedic surgeons, and after 8 weeks, reassessed by 4 of them, totaling 400 radiographic measurements.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To compare different radiographic methods of spine evaluation to estimate the reducibility and flexibility of the scoliosis curves.

Methods: Twenty one patients with Lenke types I and III adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) were included. Radiographic evaluations were made preoperatively on the orthostatic, supine decubitus with lateral inclination to the right and left and supine positions with manual reduction, with support in the apex of each curve on the X-ray table.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study aimed to assess the impact of the use of an additional iliac bone graft on functional and radiographic results after thoracic spine arthrodesis with pedicle screws in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Participants were divided into two groups: a control group that received only local bone (n=19) and a second group that, in addition to this procedure, received an iliac graft (n=22). The evaluations were performed on preoperative, immediate postoperative, and last follow-up (mean 29.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To evaluate the remodeling of the extracellular matrix in intervertebral disc degeneration through the experimental model of intervertebral disc degeneration.

Methods: The model of disc degeneration induction, using needle 20G and 360° rotation, was applied for 30 seconds between the 6(th)/7(th), and 8(th)/9(th) coccygeal vertebrae of Wistar rats. The intermediary level, between the 7(th) and 8(th) vertebrae, was taken as control, not being subjected puncture.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Traumatic spondylolisthesis is a rare injury resulting from complex trauma and high-energy mechanisms. We present a case report of traumatic spondylolisthesis at the L5-S1 disc space of a patient who was buried after a wall fell on his back. In the physical examination, bilaterally decreased muscle strength was observed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: Previous studies have demonstrated a relationship between brain oxidative stress and cardiovascular regulation. We evaluated the effects of central catalase inhibition on cardiovascular responses in spontaneously hypertensive rats exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke.

Methods: Male Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SH) (16 weeks old) were implanted with a stainless steel guide cannula leading into the fourth cerebral ventricle (4th V).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: The Rule of Spence states that displacement of the C₁ lateral masses by >6.9-8.1 mm suggests loss of transverse ligament integrity.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The literature has already demonstrated that cigarette influences the cardiovascular system. In this study, we performed a literature review in order to investigate the relationship between sidestream cigarette smoke (SSCS) and cardiac autonomic regulation.

Methods: Searches were performed on Medline, SciELO, Lilacs and Cochrane databases using the crossing between the key-words: "cigarette smoking", "autonomic nervous system", "air pollution" and "heart rate variability".

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between frequency of the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) mechanoreceptors and age in men.

Methods: Nineteen normal right knees harvested from human male cadavers were evaluated. Age ranged from 17 to 64 years with a mean of 35 years old.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Radiotherapy is an important tool in the control of pain in patients with spinal metastatic disease. We aimed to evaluate pain and of quality of life of patients with spinal metastatic disease undergoing radiotherapy with supportive treatment.

Methods: The study enrolled 30 patients.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Study Design: This is a quantitative study of heparanase isoforms expression in degenerative and nondegenerative intervertebral discs (IVDs).

Objective: To quantify the expression of both heparanase isoforms (HPSE1 and HPSE2) in IVD tissues as classified by different degeneration grades using the Pfirrmann grading system, and to correlate the expression with the loss of extracellular matrix molecules observed in patients with the disease.

Summary Of Background Data: The loss of proteoglycans as observed in IVD degeneration may occur due to the enhanced expression of matrix degrading enzymes, such as heparanase.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

There are situations which the tomographic exam is done on the affected hip or situations where the contralateral hip presents abnormalities that make it impossible to compare. In this study we aimed to evaluate a tomographic index that does not require comparison between the both hips. Twenty two patients with unilateral acetabular fracture dislocation with fracture of posterior wall were studied.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In this minireview we describe the involvement of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in cardiovascular pathophysiology and exercise. The ANP has a broad homeostatic role and exerts complex effects on the cardio-circulatory hemodynamics, it is produced by the left atrium and has a key role in regulating sodium and water balance in mammals and humans. The dominant stimulus for its release is atrial wall tension, commonly caused by exercise.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF