Comparison of hip rotation range of motion in judo athletes with and without history of low back pain

This study compared hip rotation range of motion in judo athletes with and without a history of low back pain. Forty-two athletes (22 males) were divided into two groups: 21 with history of low back pain (HLBP) and 21 without history of low back pain (Control). Internal and external hip rotation range of motion in active and passive movement were measured using computed photogrammetry. The HLBP group exhibited a significant reduction in active internal rotation (27.5 ± 6.5° vs 38.2 ± 6.5°), active total rotation (80.1 ± 9.5° vs 87.4 ± 7.9°) of the non-dominant limb (P < 0.01) and active total rotation (82.6 ± 7.6° vs 87.6 ± 9.8°; P = 0.04) in comparison with the control group. In passive rotation, the HLBP group showed a significant reduction in internal rotation of the dominant (41.9 ± 6.1° vs 46.1 ± 8.4°; P = 0.04) and non-dominant limb (37.1 ± 8.4° vs 47.3 ± 7.6°; P < 0.001), total rotation of the non-dominant limb (96.7 ± 10.2° vs 105.1 ± 11°; P = 0.005) and total rotation (98.5 ± 9.2° vs 105 ± 11.2°; P = 0.02). Within the HLBP group, a significant reduction in both active and passive internal rotation (P < 0.001) and active and passive total rotation (P < 0.01) of the non-dominant limb was detected. The same was not found in the control group. The results demonstrate that judo athletes with a history of low back pain exhibit deficits in hip rotation and greater asymmetry between limbs.     

Unraveling the ties between celiac disease and intestinal microbiota

Celiac disease is a multifactorial disorder that involves interactions between genetic and environmental factors. Gluten proteins are responsible for the symptoms of celiac disease, but other environmental factors that influence the intestinal ecosystem, including the milk-feeding type and gastrointestinal infections, may also play a role. Moreover, intestinal dysbiosis, characterized by increased Gram-negative bacteria and reduced bifidobacteria, has been detected in celiac disease patients. This review summarizes current knowledge of the associations between the intestinal microbiota and celiac disease and its possible modes of action in pathogenesis. Deeper understanding of these interactions can help redefine how this disorder is investigated.     

Clinical utility of fluorescent in situ hybridization for the surveillance of bladder cancer patients treated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of a multiprobe fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay for determining the response of patients with high-risk superficial bladder tumour (HRSBT) to bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. METHODS: Bladder washing specimens from 65 HRSBT patients collected before and after BCG therapy were analyzed by FISH. Labelled probes for chromosomes 3, 7, 9, and 17 were used to assess chromosomal abnormalities indicative of malignancy. RESULTS: Fifty-five of 65 (85%) patients had a positive pre-BCG FISH result; 29 (45%) patients had a positive and 36 (55%) had a negative post-BCG FISH result. Patients with a positive post-BCG FISH status had a 2.7 times higher risk for tumour recurrence than patients with a negative post-BCG FISH status (p = 0.017; 95% CI: 1.18-6.15). In addition, patients who maintained a positive FISH status before and after BCG therapy had a risk for tumour recurrence 2.96 times higher than patients whose FISH result changed from positive to negative after BCG (p = 0.02; 95% CI: 1.17-7.54). On the other hand, there was no significant difference between the risk for tumour progression in patients with a positive versus a negative post-BCG FISH result (p = 0.49). CONCLUSIONS: The high percentage of positive pre-BCG FISH results suggests the need for adjuvant therapy in patients with HRSBT after the initial transurethral resection. In addition, patients with a positive post-BCG FISH result were more likely to relapse after therapy. Thus, FISH appears to be useful for the surveillance of patients with HRSBT following BCG therapy.     

Behavioral,neuroplasticity and metabolic effects of 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin associated with physical activity in mice

The search for strategies to develop resilience against metabolic and neuropsychiatric disorders has motivated the clinical and experimental assessment of early life interventions such as lifestyle-based and use of unconventional pharmacological compounds. In this study, we assessed the effects of voluntary physical activity and 7,8-Dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC), independently or in combination, over mice physiological and behavioral parameters, adult hippocampal and hypothalamic neurogenesis, and neurotrophic factors expression in the hypothalamus. C57Bl/6J mice were submitted to a 29-day treatment with DHMC and allowed free access to a running wheel. We found that DHMC treatment alone reduced fasting blood glucose levels. Moreover, physical activity showed an anxiolytic effect in the elevated plus maze task and DHMC produced additional anxiolytic behavior, evidenced by reduced activity during the light cycle in the physical activity group. Although we did not find any differences in hypothalamic or hippocampal adult neurogenesis, DHMC increased gene expression levels of VEGF, which was correlated to the reduced fasting glucose levels. In conclusion, our data emphasize the potential of physical activity in reducing development of neuropsychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, and highlights DHMC as an attractive compound to be investigated in future studies addressing neuropsychiatric disorders associated with metabolic conditions.