Effects of Tai Chi Chuan on Older Adults' Balance: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis.

Background: Tai Chi Chuan (TCC) is considered a mind and body practice of Chinese origin, considered as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO, and recommended by the World Health Organization as a therapeutic approach to prevent falls.

Objective: To assess the effects of TCC on older adult's balance.

Methods: A systematic review of randomized clinical trials was conducted by two independent reviewers using the ROB2 tool to assess the risk of bias under the following databases: PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, PEDro, Embase, Cochrane, CINAHL, and LILACS.

Electroacupuncture modulates cortical excitability in a manner dependent on the parameters used.

Introduction: There is evidence that electroacupuncture (EA) acts through the modulation of brain activity, but little is known about its influence on corticospinal excitability of the primary motor cortex (M1).

Objective: To investigate the influence of EA parameters on the excitability of M1 in healthy individuals.

Methods: A parallel, double blind, randomized controlled trial in healthy subjects, evaluating the influence of an EA intervention on M1 excitability.

Neonatal morphine exposure and maternal deprivation alter nociceptive response and central biomarkers' levels throughout the life of rats.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of repeated neonatal morphine exposure and/or maternal deprivation(MD) on the nociceptive response and central biomarkers' BDNF, IL-1β, and IL-4 levels at postnatal days 16(PND16), 30(PND30), and 60(PND60). At birth, the litters were standardized to contain 8 pups/dam (n = 58). From PND1 to PND10, the pups of the deprived groups were separated daily from their mothers for 3 h and divided into 5 groups: control(C), saline(S), morphine(M), deprived-saline(DS), and deprived-morphine(DM).

Home-Based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Device Development: An Updated Protocol Used at Home in Healthy Subjects and Fibromyalgia Patients.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) method, which modulates the membrane potential of neurons in the cerebral cortex by a low-intensity direct current. tDCS is a low-cost technique with minimal adverse effects and easy application. This neurostimulation method has a promising future to improve pain therapy, treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, and physical rehabilitation.

Preclinical to Clinical Translation of Studies of Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Epilepsy: A Systematic Review.

Epilepsy is a chronic brain syndrome characterized by recurrent seizures resulting from excessive neuronal discharges. Despite the development of various new antiepileptic drugs, many patients are refractory to treatment and report side effects. Non-invasive methods of brain stimulation, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have been tested as alternative approaches to directly modulate the excitability of epileptogenic neural circuits.

Isoflurane and the Analgesic Effect of Acupuncture and Electroacupuncture in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain.

The present study aimed to determine whether isoflurane interferes with the analgesic effects of acupuncture (Ac) and electroacupuncture (EA), using a neuropathic pain (NP) rat model. In total, 140 male Wistar rats were used; isoflurane-induced nociceptive response was evaluated using the von Frey test, serum calcium-binding protein β (S100β) levels and nerve growth factor (NGF) levels in the left sciatic nerve. The NP model was induced by chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve at 14 days after surgery.

Morphine exposure and maternal deprivation during the early postnatal period alter neuromotor development and nerve growth factor levels.

The objective of this study was to verify whether repeated morphine administration and maternal deprivation in early life alter neurobehavioral development and central nerve growth factor (NGF) levels. A total of 58 male Wistar rat pups were used in our study. From postnatal day 1 (P1), litters were daily deprived of their mother for 3h; this was continued for the first 10days of life.

Descending Control of Nociceptive Processing in Knee Osteoarthritis Is Associated With Intracortical Disinhibition: An Exploratory Study.

Based on the hypothesis that an imbalance in excitatory and inhibitory input is a central mechanism of knee osteoarthritis chronic pain (KOACP), this exploratory study had the following aims: to compare whether the function of the descending inhibitory pain pathway is associated with the state of inhibition in the corticospinal system indexed by the motor-evoked potential (MEP) and the cortical salient period (CSP) in patients with severe osteoarthritis (OA) and healthy controls; and to determine if there is correlation between the measures of intracortical inhibition (CSP, MEP) with changes on the numerical pain scale (NPS [0-10]) in KOACP during a conditioned pain modulation (CPM)-task considering the effect of self-reported function assessed by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and analgesic use.In a cross-sectional study, we included females (n = 21), with disability by pain or stiffness due to KOACP and healthy controls (n = 10), aged 19 to 75 years. The motor cortex excitability parameters (MEP and CSP) were assessed using the transcranial magnetic stimulation.

Long-Lasting Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Reversal of Hyperalgesia and Cytokine Alterations Induced by the Neuropathic Pain Model.

Background: Neuropathic pain (NP) is caused by an insult or dysfunction in the peripheral or central nervous system (CNS), the main symptoms being mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia. NP often shows insufficient response to classic analgesics and its management remains a challenge. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive method of cerebral stimulation and represents a promising resource for pain management.

Effect of Deep Intramuscular Stimulation and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Neurophysiological Biomarkers in Chronic Myofascial Pain Syndrome.

Objective: The aim was to assess the neuromodulation techniques effects (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation [rTMS] and deep intramuscular stimulation therapy [DIMST]) on pain intensity, peripheral, and neurophysiological biomarkers chronic myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) patients.

Design: Randomized, double blind, factorial design, and controlled placebo-sham clinical trial.

Setting: Clinical trial in the Laboratory of Pain and Neuromodulation at Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre (NCT02381171).

Hypercaloric diet modulates effects of chronic stress: a behavioral and biometric study on rats.

Obesity is a chronic disease that has been associated with chronic stress and hypercaloric diet (HD) consumption. Increased ingestion of food containing sugar and fat ingredients (comfort food) is proposed to "compensate" chronic stress effects. However, this eating habit may increase body fat depositions leading to obesity.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) reverts behavioral alterations and brainstem BDNF level increase induced by neuropathic pain model: Long-lasting effect.

Introduction: Neuropathic pain (NP) is a chronic pain modality that usually results of damage in the somatosensory system. NP often shows insufficient response to classic analgesics and remains a challenge to medical treatment. The transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive technique, which induces neuroplastic changes in central nervous system of animals and humans.

Electroacupuncture analgesia is associated with increased serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor in chronic tension-type headache: a randomized, sham controlled, crossover trial.

Background: Chronic tension-type headache (CTTH) is characterized by almost daily headaches and central sensitization, for which electroacupuncture (EA) might be effective. The central nervous system (CNS) plasticity can be tracked in serum using the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroplasticity mediator. Thus, we tested the hypothesis that EA analgesia in CTTH is related to neuroplasticity indexed by serum BDNF.

Effectiveness of acupuncture combined with rehabilitation for treatment of acute or subacute stroke: a systematic review.

Objectives: To determine whether the combination of acupuncture and rehabilitation produces better results in the treatment of acute or subacute stroke sequelae than rehabilitation alone.

Methods: A systematic review was carried out. A search was conducted in March 2014 using PubMed, Medline, the Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure database (CNKI) and Wanfang databases.

Melatonin analgesia is associated with improvement of the descending endogenous pain-modulating system in fibromyalgia: a phase II, randomized, double-dummy, controlled trial.

Background: Central disinhibition is a mechanism involved in the physiopathology of fibromyalgia. Melatonin can improve sleep quality, pain and pain threshold. We hypothesized that treatment with melatonin alone or in combination with amitriptyline would be superior to amitriptyline alone in modifying the endogenous pain-modulating system (PMS) as quantified by conditional pain modulation (CPM), and this change in CPM could be associated with serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).

Effects of acupuncture on the symptoms of anxiety and depression caused by premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Objective: The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of acupuncture and sham acupuncture on the symptoms of anxiety and depression brought on by premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Methods: In a single-blind randomised clinical trial, 30 volunteers with PMDD were assigned alternately to group 1 (acupuncture) or group 2 (sham acupuncture), and completed an evaluation of symptoms of anxiety and depression using the Hamilton Anxiety (HAM-A) and Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) Rating Scales. The procedure was performed twice a week for two menstrual cycles, for a total of 16 attendances for each participant.

Skin vasodilation and analgesic effect of a topical nitric oxide-releasing hydrogel.

New approaches based on topical treatments are needed for treating pain and impaired dermal blood flow. We used a topical Pluronic F127 hydrogel containing S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) as a prodrug to generate free NO, an effector molecule that exerts both dermal vasodilation and antinociceptive effects. GSNO-containing hydrogels underwent gelation above 12 °C and released free NO at rates that were directly dependent on the GSNO concentration in the range of 50-150 mM.

S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine attenuates liver fibrosis in cirrhotic rats.

This study was aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying prevention of hepatic fibrosis by S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNAC), a nitric oxide donor that inhibits lipid peroxidation. Secondary biliary cirrhosis was induced by 4 weeks of common bile duct ligation (CBDL). Both sham-operated and CBDL animals received SNAC (6.

Quercetin administration ameliorates pulmonary complications of cirrhosis in rats.

In the hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS), a common complication of liver cirrhosis, pulmonary endothelial endothelin B (ETB) receptor overexpression, enhanced endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO production, and increases in pulmonary inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and heme oxygenase (HO-1) are important factors in the development of vasodilatation. These changes may be influenced by redox-sensitive signaling pathways, including nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). In this study, our aim was to evaluate the effects of the flavonoid antioxidant quercetin on the development of HPS in rats with common bile duct ligation (CBDL).

[Experimental models for assessment of pulmonary alterations in hepatopulmonary syndrome].

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the best experimental model in which to observe the pulmonary alterations characterizing hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS).

Methods: Male Wistar rats, with mean weight of 250 g, were used in four experimental models: inhaled carbon tetrachloride; intraperitoneal carbon tetrachloride; partial portal vein ligation; and bile duct ligation (BDL). The animals in all groups were divided into control and experimental subgroups.

N-acetylcysteine effects on genotoxic and oxidative stress parameters in cirrhotic rats with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential antioxidant effects of N-acetylcysteine in hepatopulmonary syndrome, a complication of cirrhosis, using an experimental model of common bile duct ligation in rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: CBDL (animals submitted to common bile duct ligation); Sham (animals submitted to simulated common bile duct ligation); Sham + N-acetylcysteine, and CBDL + N-acetylcysteine. N-acetylcysteine (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) was administered for 2 weeks starting on day 14 after surgery.

Evaluation of respiratory muscle strength and pulmonary function in heart failure patients.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is the inability of the heart to pump enough blood to supply the necessities of the body. Pulmonary function and respiratory muscles can be affected and typical symptoms presented by the patients include discomfort at a minimal exertion.

Objective: To verify pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in patients with class II and III HF as defined by the New York Heart Association (NYHA).

[Experimental model of liver oxidative damage induction in rats by halothane].

Background: The anesthetic halothane can be reductively metabolized to reactives intermediates that may initiate lipid peroxidation accompanied by hepatic injury. Hypoxia and phenobarbital pretreatment in rats increases metabolism of halothane, the oxidative stress, cause liver antioxidant enzymes changes and tissue damage.

Aims: We investigated the effect of halothane on hepatic lipid peroxidation and on hepatic histology after increases reductive metabolism of halothane caused by hypoxia and phenobarbital pretreatment.

[Common bile duct ligation as a model of hepatopulmonary syndrome and oxidative stress].

Background: The hepatopulmonary syndrome is characterized by hepatic dysfunction and presence of dilated pulmonary vessels, with alterations in air diffusion that can be demonstrated in the experimental model of common bile duct ligation.

Aim: To evaluate the oxidative stress in pulmonary tissue of cirrhotic rats with common bile duct ligation.

Material/methods: We used 12 male Wistar rats weighing between 200-300 g divided in two groups: control (Co = 6) and cirrhotic (Ci = 6).