A periodized training attenuates thigh intermuscular fat and improves muscle quality in patients with knee osteoarthritis: results from a randomized controlled trial

Clinical Rheumatology - To analyze the influence of a 14-week periodized circuit training (CT) protocol on thigh intermuscular fat and muscle quality (force per unit area of lean tissue) in...     

The remodeling of collagen fibers in rats ankles submitted to immobilization and muscle stretch protocol

To evaluate the remodeling of collagen fibers in the articular cartilage of rat ankles, with and without immobilization, after application of muscle stretching protocol. Twenty three Wistar rats were divided into four groups: immobilized (I), n = 6; immobilized and stretched (IS), n = 6; stretched (S), n = 6 and control (C), n = 5. The animals in groups I and IS were submitted to immobilization. After the period of immobilization, the animals in groups IS and S were submitted to a muscle stretching protocol. At the end of the experiment, the animals were euthanized and the joints removed, processed and stained with Picrosirius red. The analysis was carried out using a polarized light microscope. The density of collagen fibers were quantified according to the intensity of birefringence displayed. By way of statistical analyses, the right and left hind limbs of the different groups were compared based on the total density of collagen fibers, the density of thick collagen fibers and the density of thin collagen fibers. Immobilization promoted a reduction in density of the thin fibers and of total collagen. The muscle stretching protocol after immobilization promoted a reduction in density of the total collagen and of the thick fibers, but the density of the thin fibers showed the same values as control. The collagen fibers were remodeled by the different stimuli. Immobilization was harmful to the collagen fibers and the muscle stretching protocol only recovered the thin collagen fibers.     

Evaluation of vastus lateralis architecture and strength of knee extensors in middle-aged and older individuals with knee osteoarthritis

Clinical Rheumatology - To investigate any differences in muscle architecture (fascicle angle, fascicle length, and muscle thickness) and muscle strength in people of different ages with and...     

Retinal afferents to the thalamic mediodorsal nucleus in the rock cavy (Kerodon rupestris)

The MD has reciprocal connections with the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC) and with limbic cortices and appears to participate in learning and memory-related processes. In this study, we report the identification of a hitherto not reported direct retinal projection to the MD of the rock cavy, a typical rodent species of the Northeast region of Brazil. After unilateral intravitreal injections of cholera toxin subunit B (CTb), anterogradely transported CTb-imunoreactive fibers and presumptive terminals were seen in the MD. A few labeled retinal fibers/terminals detected in the MD of the rock cavy brain show clear varicosities, suggesting terminal fields. The present work is the first to show a direct retinal projection to the MD of rodents and may contribute for elucidating the anatomical substrate of the functional involvement of this thalamic nucleus in the modulation of the visual recognition, emotional learning and object-reward association memory.     

Lower education is an associated factor with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia in patients with knee osteoarthritis?

Clinical Rheumatology - To analyze if socioeconomic characteristics as lower education and lower family income are associated factors with the combination of pain catastrophizing and kinesiophobia...     

Urothelial cancer in patients with Endemic Balkan Nephropathy (EN) after renal transplantation

GOAL: Analysis of the incidence of urothelial cancer and outcome of treatment in patients with Endemic Balkan Nephropathy (EN) after renal transplantation. METHODS: From January 1985 until October 2006, 550 kidney transplantations (389 cadaveric) and 5 combined kidney and pancreas transplantations were performed in University Hospital Center Rijeka. In only 6 (1.1%) of 555 transplant recipients, EN was diagnosed as the original kidney disease, based on medical history, clinical findings, and laboratory results, but without pathohistologic verification. All patients with EN received the first renal transplant from a cadaver. Patients' mean age at transplantation was 50.3 +/-15.9 yrs, five patients (83.3%) were male. The incidence of malignant tumors in all 555 transplant recipients was analyzed, with an emphasis on the incidence of urothelial cancer and outcome of treatment in the group of patients with EN. RESULTS: During posttransplant follow-up period, malignancy was diagnosed in 27 (4.9%) out of 555 transplant recipients. Skin cancer was diagnosed in 7 patients (1.3%), followed by cancer of the urinary tract in 6 patients (1.1%) and breast cancer in 3 patients (0.5%). In 3 of 6 patients with EN, urothelial cancer was diagnosed, resulting in the death in two patients. In the third patient, urothelial cancer showed a high affinity for recurrence, and besides the strong reduction of immunosuppressive therapy, repeated surgical treatment was needed. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with EN show a high incidence of urothelial cancer after renal transplantation. A thorough nephro-urological evaluation is needed before transplantation, and a careful follow-up is required afterward to ensure an early diagnosis of malignancy. Preventive nephroureterectomy is recommended.