Total occlusion pressure (TOP) is an important variable to ischaemic exercise training because the optimal pressure of flow restriction (OPR), applied during this exercise modality, is derived from it. Despite the common use of Doppler ultrasound (DU) to determine the TOP, the reproducibility of this assessment was not evaluated yet. Given this, the objective was to evaluate the reproducibility of DU for the measurement of TOP in upper limbs and determine the predictive variables. Thirteen male volunteers attended three times to the laboratory. On the 1st day, we assessed arm circumference (AC), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic (DBP), and brachial artery TOP. On 2nd and 3rd days, only TOP was assessed. We found a coefficient of variation of 5·6% and an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0·795 for the DU. In the analysis of TOP predictive variables, the Spearman coefficients (R) were 0·813 (SBP), 0·786 (DBP) and 0·388 (AC). Therefore, these results support that DU has good reproducibility for the TOP and that SBP and DBP should be considered to the determination of TOP in upper limbs.

Children who suffer from cerebral palsy (CP) often present comorbidities in the form of oro-facial dysfunctions. Studies in animals have contributed to elaborate potential therapies aimed at minimising the chronic disability of the syndrome. To systematically review the scientific literature regarding the possible effects that experimental models of CP can have on oro-facial functions. Two independent authors conducted a systematic review in the electronic databases Medline, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science and Lilacs, using Mesh and Decs terms in animal models. The motor and sensory parameters of sucking, chewing and swallowing were considered as primary outcomes; reactivity odour, controlled salivation, postural control, head mobility during feeding and the animal's ability to acquire food were secondary outcomes. Ten studies were included in the present review. Most studies used rabbits as experimental models of CP, which was induced by either hypoxia-ischemia, inflammation or intraventricular haemorrhage. Oro-facial functions were altered in all experimental models of CP. However, we found more modifications in hypoxia-ischemia models overall. On the other hand, the model of inflammation was more effective to reproduce higher damage for coordinating sucking and swallowing. All of the CP experimental models that were assessed modified the oral functions in different animal species. However, further studies should be conducted in order to clarify the mechanisms underlying oro-facial damage in order to optimise treatment strategies for children who suffer from CP.

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Cerebral palsy (CP) is characterized by motor disorders, including deficits in locomotor activity, coordination, and balance. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have been shown to play an important role in brain plasticity. This study investigates the effect of neonatal treatment using fluoxetine on locomotor activity and histomorphometric parameters of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) in rats submitted to an experimental model of CP. CP was found to reduce bodyweight and locomotion parameters and also to increase the glia/neuron index in the S1. Administration of fluoxetine 10 mg/kg reduced bodyweight, impaired locomotor activity parameters, and increased the number of glial cells and the glia/neuron ratio in the S1 in rats with CP. However, treatment with fluoxetine 5 mg/kg was not found to be associated with adverse effects on locomotor activity and seems to improve histomorphometric parameters by way of minor changes in the S1 in animals with CP. These results thus indicate that experimental CP, in combination with the use of a high dose of fluoxetine (10 mg/kg), impairs locomotor and histomorphometric parameters in the S1, while treatment with a low dose of fluoxetine (5 mg/kg) averts the negative outcomes associated with a high dose of fluoxetine in relation to these parameters but produces no protective effect.