Josep Martínez

Treatment of tension-type headache with articulatory and suboccipital soft tissue therapy: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

This study researches the effectiveness of two manual therapy treatments focused on the suboccipital region for tension-type headache. A randomized double-blind clinical trial was conducted over a period of four weeks with a follow-up at one month. Eighty-four patients with a mean age of 39.7 years (SD 11.4) with tension-type headache were assigned to 4 groups which included the following manual therapy treatment: suboccipital soft tissue inhibition; occiput-atlas-axis global manipulation; combination of both techniques; and a control group. The primary assessment consisted of collecting socio-demographic data and headache characteristics in a one-month base period, data such as age, gender, severity of pain, intensity and frequency of headache, among other. Outcome secondary assessment were: impact of headache, disability, ranges of motion of the craniocervical junction, frequency and intensity of headache, and pericranial tenderness. In the month prior to the study, average pain intensity, was rated at 6.49 (SD 1.69), and 66.7% subjects suffered headaches of moderate intensity. After 8 weeks, statistically significant improvements were noted. OAA manipulative treatment and combined therapy treatments proved to be more effective than suboccipital soft tissue inhibition for tension-type headache. The treatment with suboccipital soft tissue inhibition, despite producing less significant results, also has positive effects on different aspects of headache.

Norm continuity and related notions for semigroups on Banach spaces

We find some conditions on a c0-semigroup on a Banach space and its resolvent connected with the norm continuity of the semigroup. We use them to get characterizations of norm continuous, eventually norm continuous and eventually compact semigroups on Hilbert spaces in terms of the growth of the resolvent of their generator.

Subcellular fractionation of actively growing protoplasts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cell homogenates obtained from partially regenerated Saccharomyces cerevisiae protoplasts were fractionated by a procedure using a combination of continuous and discontinuous sucrose gradients, under experimental conditions that minimize possible artifacts due to centrifugation and resuspension. At least five different membranous organelle fractions (plasma membrane, mitochondria, rough endoplasmic reticulum, smooth endoplasmic reticulum-like structures and small-sized particulated structures) were isolated. Subcellular fractions were characterized by assaying established marker enzymes. Radioactive labelled [(U-3H]uracil) ribosomes were also used as a further characterization criterion of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Comparative SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the protein constituents of the isolated membrane-bound organelles suggest that the polypeptide pattern could also be used as an additional marker for some of these structures. Finally, subcellular distribution of chitin synthase was determined using this fractionation procedure, and two partially zymogenic enzyme pools (one inside the cell associated to particles which sediments at high speed, and the second one associated to the plasma membrane) were found.

Regulation of α-galactodase synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and effect of cerulenin on the secretion of this enzyme

Saccharomyces cerevisiae -136ts MEL10 (a thermosensitive mutant whose RNA synthesis is inhibited at 37 degrees C but is normal at 23 degrees C), when grown at 23 degrees C in the presence of galactose, melibiose or L-arabinose, these cells synthesize alpha-galactosidase mRNA. In the simultaneous presence of both galactose and glucose the transcription of alpha-galactosidase mRNA is blocked. Glucose also interferes with mRNA translation, but the degree of inhibition depends on concentration and time of addition of the hexose to induced cells. It has been found that the final concentration of alpha-galactosidase produced by induced cells when transferred at the non-permissive temperature (37 degrees C) is inversely proportional to the incubation time in glucose. Cerulenin inhibits lipid formation on growing yeasts, but protein synthesis and selective permeability are not affected. The antibiotic partially inhibits secretion of alpha-galactosidase with a parallel accumulation of this enzyme in membranous structures, specially at the level of the plasma membrane. Induction of alpha-galactosidase or cerulenin addition to growing cells, results in changes in the polypeptide composition of the plasma membrane.

Localization Operators and an Uncertainty Principle for the Discrete Short Time Fourier Transform

Localization operators in the discrete setting are used to obtain information on a signal f from the knowledge on the support of its short time Fourier transform. In particular, the extremal functions of the uncertainty principle for the discrete short time Fourier transform are characterized and their connection with functions that generate a time-frequency basis is studied.

5 Effects Of Low-intensity Concentric Combined With Blood Flow Restriction On Achilles Tendon

Introduction Weight training is a useful tool in order to achieve muscular hypertrophy. However, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) recommends intensities of 70% of one repetition maximum (1-RM). Those intensities may not be suitable for everyone because of the high mechanical stresses placed upon the joints [Loenneke, 2012]. Nowadays, it is common to combine low-intensity exercise (20–30% 1-RM) with blood flow restriction (BFR) because of the beneficial effects in increased muscular strength, hypertrophy, localised endurance and cardiorespiratory endurance [Pope, 2013]. Despite there is not many papers about the beneficial of this training, it is know that the tendon suffers some adaptation to physical loading [Heinemeier 2011]. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of low-intensity (30% 1-RM) concentric exercise combined with BFR in the thickness of Achilles tendon. Methods Twelve college-aged male participants aged 24 ± 4 years and three female aged 27 ± 3 (body mass 25 ± 4, height 178 ± 7 cm, weight 79,0 ± 13 kg) with a minimum of 1 year of strength training experience were recruited for this study. Prior to testing the concentric 1-RM for each leg was determined. For the exercise session, the exercise intensity was set at 30% 1-RM for each leg. The right leg of each subject was included in the occlusive group and the left leg in the control group. The subjects’ occluded legs were wrapped at a 30% of maximum pressure. Subjects performed three sets of 15 repetition of Leg-Press Calf Raise in a leg press machine. The control group (left leg) did the same protocol without BFR. The thickness of Achilles tendon was measure in each subject before the testing, immediately after exercise and 24 h after exercise by ultrasound (Mindray Z6). Results To verify that there are no significant differences between pre and post-24 measures tendon. Wilcoxon test with a significance level of 5% was applied proving that there is no such difference. Abstract 5 Figure 1 Tendon thickness at baseline, post exercise and post 24 h Discussion The main finding of this research is that the occlusive training did not change the behaviour of the tendon. There is not significant differences between the control group and the occlusive group. Therefore, it is suggest that the occlusive condition does not produce any additional disturbance on tendon. In addition, this training could be useful for individuals with muscular diseases, or those who cannot lift sufficiently high loads to increase muscle size and strength. References Heinemeier et al. J Musculoskelet Neuronal Interac. 2011;11:115–23 Loenneke et al. Med Hypotheses. 2012;78:523–7 Pope et al. J Strength Cond Res. 2013;27:2914–26