Comparison of the effects of low-level laser and pulsed and continuous ultrasound on pain and physical disability in chronic non-specific low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

Objective: To compare the short-term effects of pulsed laser and pulsed and continuous ultrasound on pain and functional disability in women with chronic non-specific low back pain.

Methods: The sample was composed of 100 volunteers randomly allocated into four groups: The Pulsed Laser Group (n = 26) was treated with 3 J/cm; the Pulsed Ultrasound Group (n = 24; 3 MHz) was treated with 1 W/cm; the Continuous Ultrasound Group (n = 26; 1 MHz) was treated with 1 W/cm; and a Control Group (n = 24), where the patients were still waiting for treatment. Before and after 10 sessions of treatment, the intensity of pain was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), the quality of pain was evaluated using the McGill pain questionnaire and functional disability was investigated using the Roland-Morris questionnaire.

Approaches and reflexions on advance healthcare directives in Brazil.

Objective: to explain the approaches and discussions about the Advance Healthcare Directives spread among health professionals, lawyers and society.

Method: bibliographic search in the databases SciELO, LILACS, BDENF, in Portuguese, carried out from December 2017 to January 2018.

Results: 22 articles were considered for analysis with interviews and testimonies of physicians, intensivists and geriatricians, nurses, technicians and Nursing auxiliaries, Medical students, lawyers and Law students.

Heterogeneity of Multimedia Exposures to Neurotoxic Elements (Al, As, Cd, Pb, Mn, and Hg) in Breastfed Infants from Porto Velho, Brazil.

Infant exposure to neurotoxic elements is a public health issue that needs monitoring with regard to breast milk composition. We studied six neurotoxic elements in breast milk samples at different stages of lactation in mothers from Porto Velho, Brazil. We used a flow-injection mercury system (FIMS) to determine total Hg concentrations and an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES) to determine the concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Pb, and Mn in 106 donors of a human milk bank.

Cardiovascular effects of partial sleep deprivation in healthy volunteers.

Sleep deprivation is common in Western societies and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in epidemiological studies. However, the effects of partial sleep deprivation on the cardiovascular system are poorly understood. In the present study, we evaluated 13 healthy male volunteers (age: 31 ± 2 yr) monitoring sleep diary and wrist actigraphy during their daily routine for 12 nights.

Bradykinin or acetylcholine as vasodilators to test endothelial venous function in healthy subjects.

Introduction: The evaluation of endothelial function has been performed in the arterial bed, but recently evaluation within the venous system has also been explored. Endothelial function studies employ different drugs that act as endothelium-dependent vasodilatory response inductors.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the endothelium-dependent venous vasodilator response mediated by either acetylcholine or bradykinin in healthy volunteers.

Venous or arterial endothelium evaluation for early cardiovascular dysfunction in hypertensive patients?

Veins and arteries have active endothelium, producing vasoactive substances like nitric oxide. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether hypertensive patients exhibit venous endothelial dysfunction and to determine the relationship between endothelial-dependent and endothelial-independent vasodilation responses in venous and arterial systems. Sixteen unmedicated patients with stage I and II hypertension and without other risk factors and 15 matched normotensive volunteers had venous and arterial endothelial function evaluated with the dorsal hand vein technique and brachial artery ultrasonography.

Effect of a low-dose oral contraceptive on venous endothelial function in healthy young women: preliminary results.

Background: A possible increase in the incidence of venous thromboembolic events has been reported among users of third generation oral contraceptives. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a low dose oral contraceptive (15 microg ethinyl estradiol/60 microg gestodene) on the venous endothelial function of healthy young women.

Methods: Prospective case control study using the dorsal hand vein technique.

[Venous endothelial dysfunction in Chagas' disease patients without heart failure].

Objective: To analyze the venous endothelial function in Chagas' disease patients without heart failure.

Methods: The Chagas' disease Group (G1) was composed by 14 women and 2 men aged 46 +/- 2.7 and the Control Group (G0) by 7 women and 1 man matched by age, weight and height.

Increased sympathetic nerve activity correlates with neurovascular compression at the rostral ventrolateral medulla.

We used microneurography to measure muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 25 hypertensive subjects and correlated these results with the presence or absence of signs of neurovascular compression (NVC) at the rostral ventrolateral (RVL) medulla on MRI. Subjects were divided into 3 groups based on MRI findings: NVC-, no MRI evidence of NVC (N=9); NVC+contact, image showing artery in contact but not compressing the RVL medulla (N=8); and NVC+compression, image showing arterial compression of the RVL medulla (N=8). The MSNA measurements were performed at rest, after a hypothermic stimulus, and during isometric exercise.

Acute administration of 17beta-estradiol improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in postmenopausal women.

Objectives: Estrogen's effect on endothelial function in postmenopausal women with mild hypertension but no other cardiovascular risk factors remains unclear. This study investigated the effect of an acutely administered therapeutic/low dose of 17beta-estradiol on vasodilation in this patient population.

Methods: Forearm blood flow (FBF) was measured in seven white, hypertensive (blood pressure 144 +/- 8/93 +/- 5 mmHg), postmenopausal (mean age: 54.

Acute reduction of ventricular volume decreases QT interval dispersion in elderly subjects with and without heart failure.

To evaluate the effects of acute reduction in ventricular volume (VV) on QT interval dispersion (QTd), 14 men with heart failure (HF; 74.5 +/- 2 yr of age) and 11 healthy male control subjects (68 +/- 2 yr of age) were studied. For 15 min, lower body negative pressure (LBNP) was applied at -15 and -40 mmHg to reduce venous return.