Mice vaccinated by injection with tumor cells expressing the Mycobacterium leprae gene for hsp65 acquire a remarkably high degree of protection against challenge with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We used limitingdilution analysis to assess the frequency of CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ and CD4 ؊ CD8 ؉ splenocytes responding to mycobacterial hsp65 in such vaccinated mice. Cells of both phenotypes were present at very high and equal frequencies (approximately 1:100). Vaccination with live Mycobacterium bovis BCG also increased the frequencies of both phenotypes of hsp65-reactive cells equally (to approximately 1:2,500), whereas vaccination procedures that were not protective, with either dead BCG, hsp65 protein in incomplete Freund's adjuvant, or hsp65 mixed with tumor cells, resulted in preferential increase in CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ cells. Twelve CD4 ؉ CD8 ؊ and twelve CD4 ؊ CD8 ؉ hsp65-responsive T-cell clones were obtained and characterized. All showed conventional antigen recognition via major histocompatibility complex class II and class I pathways but differed in secretion of gamma interferon and interleukin 4 and cytotoxicity. In tests of antimycobacterial activity against M. tuberculosis, both in infected macrophages in vitro and by adoptive transfer of protection with T-cell clones injected into irradiated mice, the most effective clones were the most cytotoxic and secretion of gamma interferon made only a secondary contribution.

ObjectivesTo systematically review randomized controlled trials that assessed the effects of Global Postural Reeducation (GPR) on patient-reported outcomes in conditions of the musculoskeletal system.MethodAn electronic search of MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and SciELO was performed from their inception to June 2015. Randomized controlled trials that analyzed pain and patient-reported outcomes were included in this review. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Risk of Bias Tool was used to evaluate risk of bias, and the quality of evidence was rated following the GRADE approach. There were no language restrictions.ResultsEleven trials were included totaling 383 patients. Overall, the trials had high risk of bias. GPR was superior to no treatment but not to other forms of treatment for pain and disability. No placebo-controlled trials were found.ConclusionGPR is not superior to other treatments; however, it is superior to no treatment. Due to the lack of studies, it is unknown if GPR is better than placebo. The quality of the available evidence ranges from low to very low, therefore future studies may change the effect estimates of GPR in musculoskeletal conditions.

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This study was undertaken to examine the acute effect of interferential current on mechanical pain threshold and isometric peak torque after delayed onset muscle soreness induction in human hamstrings. Forty-one physically active healthy male volunteers aged 18-33 years were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: interferential current group (n = 21) or placebo group (n = 20). Both groups performed a bout of 100 isokinetic eccentric maximal voluntary contractions (10 sets of 10 repetitions) at an angular velocity of 1.05 rad · s(-1) (60° · s(-1)) to induce muscle soreness. On the next day, volunteers received either an interferential current or a placebo application. Treatment was applied for 30 minutes (4 kHz frequency; 125 μs pulse duration; 80-150 Hz bursts). Mechanical pain threshold and isometric peak torque were measured at four different time intervals: prior to induction of muscle soreness, immediately following muscle soreness induction, on the next day after muscle soreness induction, and immediately after the interferential current and placebo application. Both groups showed a reduction in isometric torque (P < 0.001) and pain threshold (P < 0.001) after the eccentric exercise. After treatment, only the interferential current group showed a significant increase in pain threshold (P = 0.002) with no changes in isometric torque. The results indicate that interferential current was effective in increasing hamstrings mechanical pain threshold after eccentric exercise, with no effect on isometric peak torque after treatment.

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a rare painful ulcerative neutrophilic inflammatory skin disease, necessitating a high level of diagnostic suspicion associated with appropriate treatment to avoid progression. Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) has been efficiently used in the treatment of different types of wounds. However, the role of NPWT in the management of PG is still controversial, due to the risk of the pathergy phenomenon. In this article, we conducted a systematic review (according

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