Maria L. O. Polacow

The effect of topical caffeine on the morphology of swine hypodermis as measured by ultrasound

Background  Cellulite or lipodystrophy involves the modification of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. A wide variety of topical products is available to combat cellulite, but these have difficulties in being absorbed through the skin. One option is the therapeutic use of the ultrasound to enhance the transdermic transport of these drugs.

Effect of Laser (670 nm) on Healing of Wounds Covered with Occlusive Dressing: A Histologic and Biomechanical Analysis

OBJECTIVES To analyze the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT), 670 nm, with doses of 4 and 7 J/cm(2), on the repair of surgical wounds covered by occlusive dressings. BACKGROUND DATA The effect of LLLT on the healing process of covered wounds is not well defined. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the histologic analysis with HE staining, 50 male Wistar rats were submitted to surgical incisions and divided into 10 groups (n = 5): control; stimulated with 4 and 7 J/cm(2) daily, for 7 and 14 days, with or without occlusion. Reepithelization and the number of leukocytes, fibroblasts, and fibrocytes were obtained with an image processor. For the biomechanical analysis, 25 rats were submitted to a surgical incision and divided into five groups (n = 5): treated for 14 days with and without occlusive dressing, and the sham group. Samples of the lesions were collected and submitted to the tensile test. One-way analysis of variance was performed, followed by post hoc analysis. A Tukey test was used on the biomechanical data, and the Tamhane test on the histologic data. A significance level of 5% was chosen (p ≤ 0.05). RESULTS The 4 and 7J/cm(2) laser with and without occlusive dressing did not alter significantly the reepithelization rate of the wounds. The 7 J/cm(2) laser reduced the number of leukocytes significantly. The number of fibroblasts was higher in the groups treated with laser for 7 days, and was significant in the covered 4 J/cm(2) laser group. CONCLUSIONS Greater interference of the laser-treatment procedure was noted with 7 days of stimulation, and the occlusive dressing did not alter its biostimulatory effects.

High-voltage electrical stimulation improves nerve regeneration after sciatic crush injury.

BACKGROUND Peripheral nerve injury causes prolonged functional limitation being a clinical challenge to identify resources that accelerates its recovery. OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of high-voltage electrical stimulation (HVES) on the morphometric and functional characteristics of the regenerated nerve after crush injury in rats. METHODS Twenty Wistar rats were randomly allocated into 4 groups: Control (CON) - without injury and without HVES; Denervated (D) - sciatic nerve crush only; Denervated + HVES - sciatic nerve crush and HVES; SHAM - without injury but HVES. The HVES and SHAM groups were stimulated (100 Hz; minimum voltage of 100 V, 20 μs, 100 μs interpulse interval) for 30 min/day, 5 days/week. The sciatic functional index (SFI) was evaluated before the injury and at the 7th, 14th and 21st postoperatory (PO) days. Neural components and the area density of connective tissue, blood vessels and macrophages were analyzed. RESULTS Axonal diameter was higher on the HVES than on D group, reaching almost 80% above the control values after 21 days (p<0.05). Fiber diameter and myelin sheath thickness were higher on the HVES than on D group (p<0.05) reaching 96.5% and 100% of the control values, respectively. Functional recovery at the 14th PO day was better on group HVES. The macrophages and connective tissue area density was lower on the HVES group, while blood vessels number did not differ among groups. CONCLUSIONS The HVES accelerated the functional recovery, potentiated the nerve fibers maturation and decreased macrophages and connective tissue area density, suggesting acceleration of neural repair.

Efeitos da estimulação elétrica neuromuscular sobre o membro posterior imobilizado de ratos durante 15 dias: análises metabólicas e morfométricas

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation on the metabolic and morphometric profile of rat hind limb muscles subjected to immobilization for 15 days. METHOD: Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=5): control; immobilized for 15 days; and immobilized for 15 days with electrical stimulation. The glycogen reserves of the soleus, extensor digitorum longus (EDL), white gastrocnemius (WG), red gastrocnemius (RG) and tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were evaluated, along with the weight, fibrous area and conjunctive tissue of the soleus. The statistical analysis was performed using the Anova and Kruskal-Wallis tests (p<0.05). RESULTS: Immobilization promoted significant alterations (p<0.05), such as: reductions in the glycogen reserves (soleus: 44.73%, WG: 47.82%, RG: 46.34%, EDL: 41.66%, TA: 48.38%) and in the weight (7.2%) and fibrous area (35%) of the soleus, and also increased connective tissue density (160%). Electrical stimulation promoted a significant increase (p<0.05) in the glycogen reserves of all the immobilized muscles: (soleus: 90.47%, WG: 62.5%, RG: 95.45%, EDL: 76.19%, TA: 56.25%) and in the weight (20.94%) and fibrous area (19.65%) of the soleus, and also promoted a significant reduction (15.38%, p<0.05) in connective tissue density. CONCLUSION: Electrical stimulation minimized the reduction in glycogen reserves and prevented the reduction in fibrous area and proliferation of connective tissue in the muscles subjected to immobilization.

Evaluation of the ultrasound influence in the cutaneous penetration of d-panthenol: test in vitro.

Background  d‐panthenol is a popular additive in cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. However, in order for this vitamin to provide skin benefits, it must penetrate the stratum corneum.

Efeitos da estimulação elétrica neuromuscular no músculo sóleo de ratos: análise morfométrica e metabólica

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da estimulacao eletrica neuromuscular (EE) fasica sobre os parâmetros morfometrico e metabolico do musculo soleo de ratos, nos periodos de 3, 7 e 15 dias. Ratos Wistar foram divididos em 4 grupos (n=5): controle (C), EE por 3 dias (EE-3), 7 dias (EE-7) e 15 dias (EE-15). Foram analisado o conteudo de glicogenio, massa muscular, area das fibras e densidade de area do tecido conjuntivo intramuscular. A analise estatistica foi realizada pela ANOVA e Tukey (p<0,05). Com relacao a massa muscular, ocorreu aumento significativo no EE-15 de 11,55% comparado ao C. O conteudo de glicogenio muscular nao apresentou alteracoes significativas no EE-3 quando comparado ao C. Ja o EE-7 e EE-15 demonstraram aumento significativo de 74,19% e 80,64%, respectivamente, comparados ao C. Na analise morfometrica, ocorreu aumento significativo no EE-15 de 16,23% em relacao ao C. A densidade do tecido conjuntivo intramuscular nao apresentou alteracoes significativas em todos os grupos submetidos a EE quando comparados com o C. A EE promoveu aumento das reservas de glicogenio nos periodos de 7 e 15 dias, bem como aumento na massa muscular, area das fibras e nas reservas de glicogenio no periodo de 15 dias.

Efeito do ultrassom e do dexapantenol na organização das fibras colágenas em lesão tegumentar

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of ultrasound (US), dexpanthenol (d-P) and a combination of these treatments (US+d-P) on collagen fiber organization in tegumentary lesions in rats by birefringence analysis. METHODS: Wistar rats (50) were anesthetized (Thionembutal - Sodic = 50mg/Kg), 1cm2 of dorsal region skin was removed, and the animals were divided into five groups: control (C), gel (G), US (3 MHz, 0.1 W/cm2, 1 minute, continuous), d-P (10%) and US+d-P. After daily treatment for 7 and 14 days, 6µm thick sections of lesioned areas were stained in picrosirius and measurements of the collagen birefringent area (µm2) were obtained using polarized light microscopy (Zeiss Axiolab-ZEISS- Germany) with histological image analysis software (KS 400 2.0 - Kontrol Eletronics, Munique, Germany). The means were compared by ANOVA followed by the Tukey test (p<0.05). RESULTS: The US+d-P group showed a significantly greater (p<0.001) birefringent area (1586.43±162.14) than the other experimental groups: C (139.36±35.35), US (317.55±129.9) and d-P (192.41±3657) by the 7th day of treatment, indicating acceleration of the wound healing process. By the 14th day of treatment, the US+d-P, US and d-P groups presented greater birefringence than the control group, but did not differ from each other. CONCLUSION: The combination of treatments (US+d-P) accelerated collagen fiber synthesis and organization in the early stages of cutaneous repair.

IGF-1 minimiza os efeitos deletérios do desuso no músculo sóleo de ratos

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of IGF-1 treatment on the morphological and metabolic profile of the soleus muscle submitted to ankle joint immobilization. METHODS: Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 6): control (C), immobilized (I) and immobilized treated with IGF (I + IGF; 40mg/kg) for 7 days. RESULTS: Immobilization led to a reduction in the weight (34%), glycogen content (31.6%) and area of muscle fibers (44%), and increased the density of connective tissue (216%). Also, the IGF-1 increased the glycogen by 234.6% compared to I, minimized the area of muscle fibers by 33.7% and increased the connective tissue by 76% compared to C (p <0, 05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with IGF has an anti-catabolic action, which can promote faster recovery in the post-immobilization phase. Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative study.

Metformina minimiza as alterações morfométricas no músculo sóleo de ratos submetidos à imobilização articular

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of metformin treatment on the muscle mass, fibers area and connective tissue area density in soleus (S) muscle under articular immobilization. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats (250-300g) were divided in 4 groups (n=5): control, treated with metformin, immobilized and immobilized treated with metformin. Immobilization was performed by acrylic resin orthoses on the left hindlimb keeping the ankle in neutral position during 7 days. The animals were euthanatized and the S muscle was dissected and weighed. Samples of its ventral portion were treated for inclusion in paraffin and stained in Hematoxylin-Eosin (H:E). The results were obtained through analyses of the muscular fiber area (images analyzed - Image Pro-plus 4,0), as well as of intramuscular connective tissue by means of planimetry. The statistical analysis was performed by normality test followed by ANOVA and Tukey (p<0.05). Hindlimb immobilization during 7 days promoted significant reduction (p<0.05) of 35% in the muscular mass; 44% (p<0.05) in the fiber area and increase of 216% (p<0.05) in the intramuscular connective tissue. The metformin in immobilized group promoted significant alterations (p<0.05) in the muscular mass. In addiction, it was observed significant increase (p<0.05) of 29.6% in the fibers area and significant reduction (p<0.05) of 67% in the intramuscular connective tissue. CONCLUSION: The metformin treatment minimized the reduction of muscle fibers area, as well as the increase of connective tissue in hindlimb immobilized muscle. These results suggest that metformin should be used to increase fast muscle recovery after hindlimb immobilization.

Development, physical-chemical stability and rheological behavior of silicones formulations containing Dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE)

The aim of this paper was to develop formulations increased of DMAE and evaluate their physical-chemical stability and rheological behavior. Eleven formulations containing 3% DMAE pidolate or 3% DMAE acetamidobenzoate were developed and both preliminary stabilities tests and rheological measurements were carried out. They were considered stable during all period of study. The type of DMAE did not modify the viscosity of the emulsion and all presented pseudoplastic behavior with hysteresis area. An increase of hysteresis area could be observed with DMAE addition. The results point that the type of DMAE can influence the physical stability of the final product.