The role of diacereins in the treatment of osteoarthritis from the point of view of a new paradigm of pathogenesis

Among the most common diseases of humanity in patients of the older age group, there is an articular pathology with degenerative changes in the hyaline cartilage, which significantly limits the functional activity of the locomotor apparatus. The rapid development of experimental scientific research in recent decades has made it possible to revise the concept of the pathogenesis of this process with confirmation of the leading role of inflammation in the development of functional and structural damage in this disease. These new data supported the change in the name of the disease from “osteoarthros” to “osteoarthritis” and justified the positive effects of individual drugs. The proposed lecture material discloses the topic of the modern understanding of the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and the additional benefits of using drugs from the diacerein group due to their anti‑inflammatory and chondroprotective effect.

Anthropomorphism and Its Adverse Effects on the Distress and Welfare of Companion Animals

Anthropomorphic practices are increasing worldwide. Anthropomorphism is defined as the tendency to attribute human forms, behaviors, and emotions to non-human animals or objects. Anthropomorphism is particularly relevant for companion animals. Some anthropomorphic practices can be beneficial to them, whilst others can be very detrimental. Some anthropomorphic behaviors compromise the welfare and physiology of animals by interfering with thermoregulation, while others can produce dehydration due to the loss of body water, a condition that brings undesirable consequences such as high compensatory blood pressure and heat shock, even death, depending on the intensity and frequency of an animal’s exposure to these stressors. Malnutrition is a factor observed due to consumption of junk food or an imbalance in caloric proportions. This can cause obesity in pets that may have repercussions on their locomotor apparatus. Intense human–animal interaction can also lead to the establishment of attachment that impacts the mental state and behavior of animals, making them prone to develop aggression, fear, or anxiety separation syndrome. Another aspect is applying cosmetics to pets, though scientific studies have not yet determined whether cosmetic products such as coat dyes, nail polish, and lotions are beneficial or harmful for the animals, or to what extent. The cohabitation of animals in people’s homes can also constitute a public health risk due to infectious and zoonotic diseases. In this context, this paper aims to analyze the adverse effects of anthropomorphism on the welfare of companion animals from several angles—physiological, sanitary, and behavioral—based on a discussion of current scientific findings.

‘Dinosaur-bird’ macroevolution, locomotor modules and the origins of flight

The dinosaurian origin of birds is one of the best documented events that palaeontology has contributed to the understanding of deep time evolution. This transition has been studied on multiple fossils using numerous multidisciplinary resources, including systematics, taxonomic, anatomical, morphological, biomechanical and molecular approaches. However, whereas deep time origins and phylogenetic relationships are robust, important nuances of this transition’s dynamics remain controversial. In particular, the fossil record of several maniraptoran groups clearly shows that aerial locomotion was developed before an ‘avialization’ (i.e., before the first divergence towards avialans), thus earlier than presumed. Although aspects as important as miniaturization and the acquisition of several anatomical and morphological modifications are key factors determining such evolutionary transition, understanding this macroevolutionary trend also involves to seize the evolution of developmental systems, which requires assessing the morphological expression of integration and modularity of the locomotor apparatus throughout time. This is so because, as it happened in other flying vertebrate taxa such as pterosaurs and bats, the transformation of the maniraptoran forelimbs into flying locomotor modules must not only have involved a gradual anatomical transformation, but also a complete developmental re-patterning of the integration scheme between them and the hindlimbs. Here, we review the most relevant aspects of limb morphological transformation during the so-called ‘dinosaur-bird’ transition to stress the importance of assessing the role of modularity and morphological integration in such macroevolutionary transition, which ultimately involves the origins of flight in dinosaurs.

PERSONALIZED PHYSICAL REHABILITATION OF CHILDREN WITH CANCER

The aim of the research is to study the feasibility and effectiveness of partner medicine programs conducted in full-time and part-time mode in rehabilitation of children with cancer. Materials and methods of research: the article presents a program of physical rehabilitation of children treated for oncological diseases (OD), developed at the Russkoe Pole Medical and Rehabilitation Scientific Center, based on the personal approach and partnerships between the child's family and specialists. The personal approach is based on data of instrumental examination of the actual physical condition of the child and the predicted risks of late toxic complications: somatometry, assessment of energy costs and exercise tolerance, Biomechanical examination of the locomotor apparatus, functional diagnostics of the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Based on the results, a personal physical rehabilitation program was developed. The process of physical rehabilitation was carried out in a cyclic mode: a hospital period for examination, development of a personal program and implementation training (2 weeks), an inter-hospital period of independent studies with remote support of a doctor and exercise therapy methodologists (from 6 to 12 months). The effectiveness of the developed model was assessed according to three criteria: satisfaction of parents with participation in the program (questionnaire), adherence to recommended physical activity (questionnaire), and assessment of basic mobility (Terrenkur test). The rehabilitation protocol was tested in 135 children aged 6–18 years with hemoblastosis, brain tumors, solid tumors, malignant tumors of bones and skeletal muscles: 61 boys (45,2%) and 74 girls (54,8%). The average age of the participants was 12,6±3,4 years. Results: participation in the program increased parents' confidence in their own ability to help their child with physical exercises at home and formed their willingness to continue the course at home. After discharge, 76% of families followed the recommendations for at least 2 months, 46% additionally applied to recommended organizations for adaptive exercise. Within a period of three months, all families who continue to practice independently have sought advice from exercise therapy methodologists. For three months of home exercises all children adhering to the recommendations have demonstrated an increase in basic mobility. Conclusion: the study confirmed the advisability and desirability for parents of patients to partner with a team of specialists.

Ontogenetic Changes of the Aquatic Food Uptake Mode in the Danube Crested Newt (Triturus dobrogicus Kiritzescu 1903)

The study of the feeding mechanisms in vertebrates requires an integrative approach since the feeding event consists of a chain of behaviors. In the present study we investigated the food uptake behavior in different ontogenetic stages in the Danube crested newt (Triturus dobrogicus). We focused on the coordination in the kinematics of the elements of the locomotor and the feeding systems at the transition between the approach of the newt to the prey and the food uptake start. In the feeding strategy of the larvae of T. dobrogicus, the phase of food search is replaced by an initial “food detection phase.” In both larvae and adult specimens, the animals approached the food to a close distance by a precise positioning of the snout besides the food item. The larvae were able to reach food items offered at over 80° relative to the longitudinal midline of the head. When the food was offered at a large distance or laterally, the food uptake was either not successful or the coordination chain at the transition between food approach and food uptake was interrupted. In young larvae we detected an abrupt change in the activity of the locomotor system and the feeding system. The larvae approached the food by tail undulation and after reaching the final position of attack, no further activity of the locomotor apparatus was detectable. The larvae used a pure form of inertial suction to ingest food. In pre-metamorphic larvae and adults we registered an integrated activation of the locomotor apparatus (both limbs and tail) and the feeding apparatus during prey capture in the form of compensatory suction. The drastic change in the feeding mode of the pre-metamorphotic larvae and the adults compared to the younger larvae in T. dobrogicus may indicate the evolutionary development of a defined relation in the activity of the locomotor system and the control of the feeding apparatus. We propose that in newts, the interaction between the control execution in both systems switched from successive (body movement – feeding) into integrated (body movement – body movement and feeding) during the ontogeny. The main trigger for such a switch (at least in T. dobrogicus) is the formation of functional limbs during the late larval development.

Locomotion and kinematics of arachnids

A basic feature of animals is the capability to move and disperse. Arachnids are one of the oldest lineages of terrestrial animals and characterized by an octopodal locomotor apparatus with hydraulic limb extension. Their locomotion repertoire includes running, climbing, jumping, but also swimming, diving, abseiling, rolling, gliding and -passively- even flying. Studying the unique locomotor functions and movement ecology of arachnids is important for an integrative understanding of the ecology and evolution of this diverse and ubiquitous animal group. Beyond biology, arachnid locomotion is inspiring robotic engineers. The aim of this special issue is to display the state of the interdisciplinary research on arachnid locomotion, linking physiology and biomechanics with ecology, ethology and evolutionary biology. It comprises five reviews and ten original research reports covering diverse topics, ranging from the neurophysiology of arachnid movement, the allometry and sexual dimorphism of running kinematics, the effect of autotomy or heavy body parts on locomotor efficiency, and the evolution of silk-spinning choreography, to the biophysics of ballooning and ballistic webs. This closes a significant gap in the literature on animal biomechanics.

The Impact of Depression Symptoms in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Novel Case-Control Investigation

Parkinson’s disease is a common neurodegenerative disease and it is known to cause motor disturbances associated with musculoskeletal problems of the locomotor apparatus, and non-motor symptoms, that are believed to have a harmful effect on health, social functioning and mobility. The aim of this study was to evaluate depression in patients with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) compared to subjects who do not have it. The sample consisted of 124 participants (mean age 69.18 ± 9.12). Patients with PD were recruited from a center of excellence for Parkinson’s disease (cases n = 62) and healthy subjects without PD from their relatives and caregivers (control n = 62). The Spanish version of Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI) scores and categories were collected. A clear statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) was evident in the BDI scores between both groups. Parkinson’s patients presented worse results on the BDI = 15.48 ± 7.24 points compared to healthy subjects with BDI = 7.03 ± 6.99 points. Regarding BDI categories, there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) for the greater BDI categories in the Parkinson’s group compared with healthy subjects. The depression represents an important potential risk for increased symptoms and negative impact among patients with PD compared with healthy subjects.

Hydro-kinesiotherapy as a means of inclusive education of students in the field of physical culture

The subject of this research is the restoration and maintenance of the health of students with disabilities. The article discusses the legal aspects adopted by the Russian Federation, which are aimed at assertion of humanistic values, ideals, and harmonious development of persons with health limitations. The presented material reveals the peculiarities of implementation of inclusive education in higher educational institutions. Special attention is given to creation of the conditions in organization of pedagogical process in physical culture (swimming) for students with disabilities. Hydro-kinesiotherapy[WU1]&nbsp; is proposed as a means of optimal use of inclusion in the field of physical culture, as it implies therapeutic and recovery swimming, as well as unification and teaching of all students in a single educational system. The main conclusions of the proposed method are reflected in the scientific research and textbooks developed by the authors that describe hydro-kinesiotherapy as the remedy for promotion of health of students with disabilities. The article indicates the undeniable positive effect of water and swimming in combination with physical rehabilitation, which have a versatile impact on the body and contribute to strengthening and restoration of locomotor apparatus. The obtained results testify to the effectiveness of using hydro-kinesiotherapy, and give grounds for its implementation in the universities, healthcare centers, lessons of therapeutic swimming. The author emphasizes the need for the educational institutions of general purpose to extend their social functions for solving the tasks of professional education alongside rehabilitation tasks, thereby becoming a rehabilitation and educational pedagogical system. &nbsp;[WU1]

Rehabilitation of the working population after occupation injuries

Introduction. The urgency to maintain health and man’s working population’s performance capability is inextricably linked to occupation-related injuries. They remain one of the most relevant heads of losses for both the employee and the employer and the state in the form of insurance benefits, sickness certificates, disability benefits, rehabilitation programs, and compensation payments. High rate of posttraumatic complications, disability and demographic losses call for improving in the treatment delivery at all its stages. The purpose is to improve rehabilitation effectiveness in patients after job-related injuries in recognition of the international classification of functioning of post-traumatic disorders of the upper extremities. Material and methods. 3,201 patients with domestic and job-related injuries of the body’s locomotor apparatus underwent rehabilitation treatment within second and third rehabilitation stages under twenty-four-hour inpatient treatment and outpatient care. Upper extremities injuries were in 57% cases; lower extremities injuries - 38%. Combined injuries made up 5 %. Since 2020, there has been introduced the work of a multidisciplinary team (MDT), consisting of doctors of physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) as well as doctors of physical therapy, neurologists, internists, reflexologist, traumatologist, doctors in exercise therapy, trainers in exercise therapy, clinical psychologists, ergotherapists, and specialized doctors (cardiologist, dietitian, endocrinologist, osteoporosis specialist, etc.). Results. The clinical practice of using treatment methodology from the position of rehabilitation potential and diagnosis is shown. Possible ways for improving the effectiveness of recovering the population’s health after injuries are analyzed using international standards. The main steps, tasks, and medical and social rehabilitation opportunities are discussed using the international classification of functioning, disability, and health (ICF). Conclusion. Our experience with patients of a traumatic profile, including individuals after job-related injuries, shows the reasonableness of using ICF in rehabilitation as a unified international tool and should be further used.

Occurrence of asymmetries of lower limbs in basic futsal athletes

Futsal is a sport on the rise worldwide, attracting more and more new practitioners and as well as in field soccer, it has undergone changes in recent years, increasingly demanding athletes, becoming a high impact sport, promoting overload, in the short, medium and long term, predisposing to injury to different degrees of the locomotor apparatus. The aim of this study was to analyze lower limbs asymmetries in futsal-based athletes, as well as their relationship to the incidence of injuries. The study was developed with 47 athletes of the basic category, futsal, from a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, where functional tests were performed with the help of the PHAST application. A pattern of similarity was identified between the muscle groups tested, except for the gluteus muscle, presenting a significant difference. According to the indicators found, the patterns of strength deficit of the middle glutes may trigger, or predispose to, some types of biomechanical lesions whether proximal, in the hip region, or distal, as dysfunctions in the knee joint. When an athlete presents with a weakness of this muscle, ipsilateral femur adduction, increased medial rotation and fall of the pelvis against lateral, promoting increased dynamic angle of the knee, increasing the overload in this joint. Thus, it is concluded that pre-season evaluation is important to identify possible asymmetries, implementing preventive work to correct them, in order to minimize the risks of injuries.