AVALIAÇÃO DA MOBILIDADE E DA RESISTÊNCIA MUSCULAR LOMBOPÉLVICA EM BAILARINAS JOVENS

As características de exacerbada demanda física do Ballet, decorrentes de exercícios repetitivos de flexão, hiperextensão e rotação da coluna vertebral têm sido associadas a elevados índices de injúrias lombossacrais. Essas lesões parecem estar condicionadas ao movimento lombopélvico ineficiente, visto que o Ballet favorece um desequilíbrio de forças entre a musculatura anterior e posterior de tronco. Defronte este cenário, o presente estudo objetivou avaliar a mobilidade e a resistência muscular lombopélvica de bailarinas jovens. Trata-se de um estudo quantitativo descritivo de corte transversal, que incluiu uma amostra por conveniência, composta por bailarinas praticantes de Ballet clássico de um estúdio de dança do município de Uruguaiana-RS, no ano de 2021. Visando avaliar a mobilidade de tronco, as bailarinas foram submetidas a dois testes: Leg Lateral Reach Test e Lumbar Locked Rotation Test . Quanto à avaliação da resistência muscular, optou-se por analisar três grupos musculares: extensores lombares, flexores lombares e abdominais. Para verificar a correlação entre as variáveis foi utilizado o Teste de Pearson. O projeto foi aprovado no Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa sob o parecer nº 4.587.592. Participaram do estudo 14 bailarinas, com idade média de 14,3 anos, estatura média de 157cm e peso corporal médio de 47,7kg que, em média, possuíam experiência de 6,7 anos com o Ballet, participando de aulas aproximadamente 3 vezes por semana. Ao analisar a correlação das medidas de mobilidade com as de resistência muscular, foi possível perceber que a mobilidade lombar apresentou correlação moderada significativa com a resistência muscular lombopelvica (r=0,682; p=0,007). Entretanto, foi possível identificar uma correlação inversamente proporcional e significante entre a mobilidade torácica e a resistência muscular de extensores de tronco (r=-0,640; p=0,014). Com base nos resultados, foi possível evidenciar que desajustes biomecânicos são capazes de causar desequilíbrios funcionais, afetando a manutenção adequada de estruturas corporais. Isto posto, sugere-se a aplicação de intervenções preventivas direcionadas ao complexo lombopélvico de bailarinas jovens, de modo a minimizar a ocorrência de patologias musculoesqueléticas e maximizar a performance na dança. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: Avaliação, Bailarinas, Complexo Lombopélvico

Effect of Time Constraint in Exploring Spatial Differences With Balanced Allocation of Performance Factors in a Redrawn Mental Rotation Test

To achieve a comprehensive and unbiased measurement, a mental rotation test (MRT) (cube form) was redrawn and administered with influential performance factors, namely, time constraint, item type, angular disparity, and rotation/flipping. Item type, angular disparity, and rotation/flipping were systematically balanced into the items of the redrawn Pentomino-MRT, and two time-constraint conditions were randomly assigned to 813 Grade 4 to 6 primary students when administering the test. Children of these ages are of investigative interest because they are at crucial stages of spatial ability development and are at an age where associated gender differences emerge. The study demonstrates that spatial gender differences can be detected in Grade 4, are more marked in Grade 5, and become stable in Grade 6. The importance of time constraint is acknowledged in how and at what grade gender differences emerge under the conditions of the performance factors investigated. In particular, the performance of girls reminds us to focus on their spatial ability development if later STEM-related field participation is of concern.

Therapeutic potential of pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic progenitors in Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review protocol

Background Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that causes motor and cognitive disabilities. This disease is associated with a loss of dopamine content within the putamen, which stems from the degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc). Several approved drugs are available that can effectively treat symptoms of PD. However, long-term medical management is often complicated and does not delay or halt disease progression. Alternatively, cell replacement strategies can address these shortcomings and provide dopamine where it is needed. Although using human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) for treatment of PD is a promising alternative, no consensus in the literature pertains to efficacy concerns of hPSC-based therapy for PD. This systematic review aims to investigate the efficacy of primate PSC-derived DA progenitor transplantation to treat PD in preclinical studies. Methods This is a systematic review of preclinical studies in animal models of PD. We intend to use the following databases as article sources: MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science, and SCOPUS without any restrictions on language or publication status for all related articles published until the end of April 2021. Two independent reviewers will select the titles and abstracts, extract data from qualifying studies, and assess the risk of bias using the SYstematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool and the Collaborative Approach to Meta-Analysis and Review of Animal Data from Experimental Studies (CAMARADES) checklist. Apomorphine-induced rotation test (APO-IR) and amphetamine-induced rotation test (AMP-IR) are defined as the primary outcomes. The standardized mean difference (SMD) by Hedges’ g method (r) and odds ratio (OR) and related 95% confidence interval (CI) will be calculated to determine the size effect of the treatment. The heterogeneity between studies will be calculated by “I2 inconsistency of values and Cochran’s Q statistical test,” where I2 > 50% and/or p < 0.10 suggests high heterogeneity. Meta-analyses of random effects will be run when appropriate. Discussion This study will present an overview of preclinical research on PSCs and their therapeutic effects in PD animal models. This systematic review will point out the strengths and limitations of studies in the current literature while encouraging the funding of new studies by public health managers and governmental bodies.

Alteration of Vestibular Function in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Recipients

Background: Vestibular dysfunction is a complication of cochlear implantation (CI). Reports on the evaluation of vestibular function before and after CI are limited, especially in children. We investigated the effect of CI on vestibular function in pediatric patients.Patients and Methods: We routinely evaluated vestibular function before but not immediately after CI. Therefore, patients who underwent sequential bilateral CI were enrolled in this study. Seventy-three children who underwent sequential CI from 2003 to 2020 at our hospital were included. Since the vestibular function of the first implanted ear was evaluated before the second surgery for the contralateral ear, post-CI evaluation timing differed among the cases. The evaluation included a caloric test, a cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) test, and a damped rotation test. The objective variables included the results of these tests, and the explanatory variables included the age at surgery, cause of hearing loss, electrode type, and surgical approach used. The associations of these tests were analyzed.Results: cVEMP was the most affected after CI (36.1%), followed by the caloric test (23.6%), and damped rotation test (7.8%). Cochleostomy was significantly more harmful than a round window (RW) approach or an extended RW approach based on the results of the caloric test (p = 0.035) and damped rotation test (p = 0.029). Perimodiolar electrodes affected the caloric test results greater than straight electrodes (p = 0.041). There were no significant associations among these tests' results.Conclusions: Minimally invasive surgery in children using a round window approach or an extended round window approach with straight electrodes is desirable to preserve vestibular function after CI.

Use of Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotation Test to Predict Practical Performance of Sinus Endoscopy

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the predictive value of the Vandenberg and Kuse Mental Rotation Test (MRT) on performance of novice medical students for manipulation of a nasal endoscope on a cadaveric model. Material and Method: We randomly selected 39 medical students who had never handled a nasal endoscope and subjected them to the MRT. General information including experience in manual, technical, or surgical activities and testing of anatomical knowledge were collected to exclude possible confounding factors. They were then asked to perform series of cadaveric model exercises using a nasal endoscope. Their cadaver performance was evaluated by 2 blinded observers, using a standardized scale. Results: We found that medical students with higher mental rotation skills had significantly increased endoscopic sinus performance ( P = .0002 using multivariate regression adjusted for specialty choice, previous surgical exposure, and anatomy knowledge). Higher anatomy knowledge was also associated with better endoscopic sinus performance ( P = .0141). Other parameters had no impact on endoscopic sinus performance measured by the endoscopic scale ( P > .05). Conclusion: The score obtained on the MRT was correlated with the practical performance of manipulating the nasal endoscope in cadaver. It could therefore be a useful spatial ability tool for directing targeted training in rhinology.

Identifying solution strategies in a mental-rotation test with gender-stereotyped objects by analyzing gaze patterns

Many studies deal with solution strategies in mental-rotation tests. The approaches range from global analysis, attention to object parts, holistic and piecemeal strategy to a combined strategy. Other studies do not speak of strategies, but of holistic or piecemeal processes or even of holistic or piecemeal rotation. The methodological approach used here is to identify mental-rotation strategies via gaze patterns derived from eye-tracking data when solving chronometric mental-rotation tasks with gender-stereotyped objects. The mental-rotation test consists of 3 male-stereotyped objects (locomotive, hammer, wrench) and 3 female-stereotyped objects (pram, hand mirror, brush) rotated at eight different angles. The sample consisted of 16 women and 10 men (age: M=21.58; SD=4.21). The results of a qualitative analysis with two individual objects (wrench and brush) showed four different gaze patterns. These gaze patterns appeared with different frequency in the two objects and correlated differently with performance and response time. The results indicate either an object-oriented or an egocentric mental-rotation strategy behind the gaze patterns. In general, a new methodological approach has been developed to identify mental-rotation strategies bottom-up which can also be used for other stimulus types.

Effects of the Manual Therapy Approach of Segments C0-1 and C2-3 in the Flexion-Rotation Test in Patients with Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: Flexion-rotation test predominantly measures rotation in C1-2 segment. Restriction in flexion-rotation may be due to direct limitation in C1-2, but also to a premature tightening of the alar ligament as a result of lack of movement in C0-1 or C2-3. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of a 20-min single cervical exercise session, with or without manual therapy of C0-1 and C2-3 segment in flexion-rotation test, in patients with chronic neck pain and positive flexion-rotation test. Methods: Randomized controlled clinical trial in 48 subjects (24 manual therapy+exercise/24 exercise). Range of motion and pain during flexion-rotation test, neck pain intensity and active cervical range of motion were measured before and after the intervention. Results: Significant differences were found in favour of the manual therapy group in the flexion-rotation test: right (p < 0.001) and left rotation (p < 0.001); pain during the flexion-rotation test: right (p < 0.001) and left rotation (p < 0.001); neck pain intensity: (p < 0.001); cervical flexion (p < 0.038), extension (p < 0.010), right side-bending (p < 0.035), left side-bending (p < 0.002), right rotation (p < 0.001), and left rotation (p < 0.006). Conclusions: Addition of one C0-C1 and C2-C3 manual therapy session to cervical exercise can immediately improve flexion-rotation test and cervical range of motion and reduce pain intensity.

Seated cervical flexion-rotation test equivalent to supine for identifying cervical dysfunction in patients with dizziness/vertigo

BACKGROUND: The upper cervical spine should be assessed in patients with complaints of dizziness or vertigo [1–3]. The supine cervical flexion-rotation test (SupCFRT) reliably assesses for the presence of upper cervical spine dysfunction (UCSD) [4]. UCSD has been linked to symptoms often seen in those diagnosed with dizziness or vertigo. Patients diagnosed with dizziness/vertigo often do not tolerate the supine testing position necessary to perform the SupCFRT, but often tolerate sitting well. PURPOSE: To determine if UCSD can be assessed in sitting as reliably as in supine. METHODS: Forty-five college age students (23.7±3.3 years old) acted as controls while forty-six subjects (56.71±14.6 years old) who were referred for physical therapy services by their medical provider acted as the patient group. The SupCFRT was performed first, [4] the Seated Cervical Flexion-Rotation Test (SeatCFRT) was performed next by positioning the subjects seated with their back against a high-backed chair, the head was flexed maximally, then rotated maximally left and right. The SupCFRT [4] and SeatCFRT were considered positive if range of motion limitations were found. Results for each test was compared using McNamar X2. RESULTS: There was no difference, p > 0.05, between SupCFRT and SeatCFRT for all conditions; all subjects (n = 91), control subjects n = 45, subjects referred to physical therapy for treatment of dizziness or vertigo, n = 46. DISCUSSION: The SeatCFRT reliably identifies the presence of UCSD, in controls and patients diagnosed by a referring medical provider for dizziness or vertigo. Patients, who do not tolerate the supine position, can be evaluated for UCSD in the seated position.