Purpose The aim of this study was to establish ranges of angular variation in lordotic and kyphotic curves in normal male and female children and adolescents. Methods We developed a pantograph to measure dorsal curves. It consisted of a tripod-supported vertical strut to which an articulated bar was fixed and which had an arm that was able to follow the dorsal surface while moving up and down. This arm was positioned over the C7 spinous process and followed spinous processes to L5 at constant speed. A laser beam was used to ensure the proper positioning of the pantograph and the subject. The motion was recorded using software so that the dorsal outline was represented on a computer screen, and lordotic and kyphotic curves were automatically measured. Before performing the population study, the pantograph was validated in 20 normal subjects by comparing the pantograph measurements with lateral spine radiographs. There were no statistically significant differences in the measurements. There were 718 subjects with no race selection, of whom 350 were males and 368 females ranging in age from 5 to 20 years and presenting normal weight and height. Individuals with generalized ligament laxity, trunk asymmetry, muscle retraction, or any orthopedic anomaly were excluded from the study. Data were analyzed according to age and gender. Student's t tests and regression analysis were performed. Results Kyphotic curves increased linearly from 25°at 7 years of age to 38°at 19 years of age (kyphotic angle = 25°+ 0.58 · age). Lordotic curves increased linearly from 22°at 5 years of age to 32°at 20 years of age (lordotic angle = 24°+ 0.51 · age). There were no differences between males and females. Conclusions The pantograph that was developed for this study was successfully used to establish the normal ranges and progression of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in the studied population. Both curves increased linearly with age, with no differences between males and females.

Methods for reliable evaluation of spinal cord (SC) injury in rats at short periods (2 and 24 h) after lesion were tested to characterize the mechanisms implicated in primary SC damage. We measured the physiological changes occurring after several procedures for producing SC injury, with particular emphasis on sensorimotor functions. Segmental and suprasegmental reflexes were tested in 39 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g divided into three control groups that were subjected to a) anesthesia, b) dissection of soft prevertebral tissue, and c) laminectomy of the vertebral segments between T 10 and L 1 . In the lesion group the SC was completely transected, hemisected or subjected to vertebral compression. All animals were evaluated 2 and 24 h after the experimental procedure by the hind limb motility index, Bohlman motor score, open-field, hot-plate, tail flick, and paw compression tests. The locomotion scale proved to be less sensitive than the sensorimotor tests. A reduction in exploratory movements was detected in the animals 24 h after the procedures. The hot-plate was the most sensitive test for detecting sensorimotor deficiencies following light, moderate or severe SC injury. The most sensitive and simplest test of reflex function was the hot-plate. The hemisection model promoted reproducible moderate SC injury which allowed us to quantify the resulting behavior and analyze the evolution of the lesion and its consequences during the first 24 h after injury. We conclude that hemisection permitted the quantitation of behavioral responses for evaluation of the development of deficits after lesions. Hind limb evaluation scores and spontaneous exploration events provided a sensitive index of immediate injury effects after SC lesion at 2 and 24 h. Taken together, locomotion scales, open-field, and hot-plate tests represent reproducible, quantitatively sensitive methods for detecting functional deficiencies within short periods of time, indicating their potential for the study of cellular mechanisms of primary injury and repair after traumatic SC injury.

INTRODUÇÃO: A avaliação postural é importante em qualquer exame físico, tanto na reabilitação como na prevenção, e com ela poderemos adquirir condições de mudar hábitos inadequados ou ineficientes de cada indivíduo. OBJETIVO: Avaliar e comparar os gêneros das alterações posturais dos atletas de natação e verificar a associação dessas alterações com o tipo de respiração. METODOLOGIA: Participaram 60 atletas, sendo que todos preencheram uma ficha, incluindo: sexo, idade, principal estilo do nado, tempo de prática do esporte e tipo de respiração predominante. Na avaliação postural, utilizou-se uma câmera fotográfica digital Sony DSC-W 130 Cyber-Shot® e tripé WT3510A®. Os dados foram analisados de modo descritivo e a associação entre as variáveis utilizou o Teste Exato de Fisher, por meio do software SAS® 9. RESULTADOS: O crawl foi o estilo de nado predominante entre os atletas; notamos que os homens (49%) tinham respiração unilateral à direita; e as mulheres (41%), à esquerda. Os homens (58%) apresentaram mais hiperlordose lombar e as mulheres (31%) escoliose convexa à direita (p = 0,01). Foi apresentada associação entre alterações posturais e o tipo de respiração no sexo masculino, sendo que aqueles que respiravam para o lado direito tinham ombro esquerdo elevado e escoliose convexa à esquerda (p = 0,02). CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados revelaram que os atletas que praticam respiração unilateral à direita apresentavam mais alterações posturais. Por outro lado, a insuficiência de trabalhos publicados sobre a avaliação postural associado ao tipo de respiração de nadadores reforça a necessidade de novos estudos.

A osteoporose é uma doença sistêmica progressiva, caracterizada pela diminuição da massa óssea e deterioração da microarquitetura, que resulta em uma fragilidade óssea. Entre o arsenal de drogas disponíveis para seu tratamento está o alendronato de sódio, um fármaco pertencente a um grupo de bisfosfonatos, qualificado como um potente inibidor específico da reabsorção óssea mediada por osteoclastos. Buscou-se, por meio deste estudo, verificar os efeitos do alendronato de sódio nos pacientes com osteoporose. Para isso, realizou-se uma revisão bibliográfica, utilizando livros-texto e artigos científicos das bases de dados Medline, Bireme, Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo e Cochrane. Constatou-se que o alendronato de sódio é considerado agente terapêutico tanto para prevenção quanto para tratamento de osteoporose em homens e mulheres.