RESUMO Manobras para ativação da musculatura do core equino podem ser diferenciais para saúde física e psíquica dos animais, sendo recomendadas e praticadas, mas existem poucas pesquisas comprovando a eficácia delas. Este artigo tem como objetivo descrever, por meio da eletromiografia de superfície, as ocorrências, as durações e as sequências temporais da atividade muscular do longuíssimo dorsal, do reto abdominal e do glúteo médio durante a realização das manobras de flexão toracolombar, flexão lombar e lombossacra, flexão global (toracolombar e lombossacra) e tração de cauda. Para isso, sete equinos adultos e hígidos de três raças realizaram esses quatro movimentos clássicos para ativar o core equino, com cinco repetições e manutenção do estímulo reflexivo por cinco segundos. Durante a realização, a atividade eletromiográfica foi capturada com a utilização de sensores superficiais posicionados de forma não invasiva em regiões cutâneas referentes a cada músculo. O protocolo completo de manobras foi realizado uma vez por cada animal enquanto a atividade muscular era capturada. Posteriormente, duas repetições de cada animal foram triadas e submetidas ao software matLab para análise. Com base na tabulação dos dados, foram descritas as variáveis eletromiográficas de presença ou ausência de ativação muscular, a duração média dos picos eletromiográficos superiores ao RMS (root mean square) e a sequência da atividade muscular observada durante cada manobra. Essas manobras provocaram ativações pontuais e transitórias nos três músculos, o que confirma a capacidade de excitar músculos do core equino. Contudo, as respostas não foram padronizadas, sugerindo que, na prática dessa atividade, devem-se realizar mais repetições com durações superiores a cinco segundos, a fim de se buscarem maiores ativações.

ABSTRACT Maneuvers to activate the equine's core can make a difference in their physical and psychic health. Although these activities are recommended and practiced, there is little research proving their effectiveness. This article aims to describe, through surface electromyography, the occurrences, durations and sequences activity of longissimus dorsi, rectus abdominis and gluteus medius during thoracolumbar flexion (TLF), lumbar and lumbosacral flexion (LLSF), global flexion (GF), which is the combination of TLF and LLSF, and tail traction (TT). Seven healthy adult horses of three different breeds performed five repetitions of these movements for five seconds (sec). Electromyographic activity was captured with non-invasive superficial sensors positioned in the skin regions covering these muscles. The sequence was performed once per animal, muscle activity captured by surface electromyography, data from two replicates of each animal were selected, analyzed on matLab software and data tabulation were described during each maneuver. These maneuvers provoked punctual and transient activation of muscles mentioned above, confirming the ability to activate equine core muscles. However, responses were not standardized, which means there were variations of occurrence, duration and sequence, suggesting that for practical application of those maneuvers it is necessary to perform more repetitions with longer durations to activate more muscles.

Physical exercise is a known preventive and therapeutic alternative for several cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the motor performance and histomorphometry of the biceps brachii, soleus, and tibialis anterior muscles of rats submitted to a treadmill training program prior to the induction of cerebral ischemia via occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (OMCA). A total of 24 Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: Sham-Sed: sedentary control animals (n=6), who underwent sham surgery (in which OMCA did not occur); Sham+Ex: control animals exercised before the sham surgery (n=6); I-Sed: sedentary animals with cerebral ischemia (n=6); and I+Ex: animals exercised before the induction of ischemia (n=6). The physical exercise consisted of treadmill training for five weeks, 30 min/day (5 days/week), at a speed of 14 m/min. The results showed that the type-I fibers presented greater fiber area in the exercised ischemic group (I+Ex: 2347.96±202.77 µm2) compared to the other groups (Sham-Sed: 1676.46±132.21 µm2; Sham+Ex: 1647.63±191.09 µm2; I+Ex: 1566.93±185.09 µm2; P=0.0002). Our findings suggested that the angiogenesis process may have influenced muscle recovery and reduced muscle atrophy of type-I fibers in the animals that exercised before cerebral ischemia.

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o efeito analgésico trans e pós-operatório da eletroacupuntura em onda denso-dispersa e frequências 3 e 200Hz, nos pontos E44, R3 e BP4, compará-lo com a analgesia promovida pelos pontos BP6, E36 e VB 34, e pela morfina, em cadelas submetidas à ovariosalpingohisterectomia (OSH). Teve-se como hipótese que a eletroacupuntura nos pontos E44, R3 e BP4 resultaria em controle da dor trans e pós-operatória melhor ou igual àquele promovido pela eletroacupuntura nos pontos BP6, E36 e VB34 e pela morfina. Trinta e seis cadelas submetidas à cirurgia eletiva de OSH foram distribuídas em blocos ao acaso em três grupos com 12 animais. Em dois grupos foi realizada eletroacupuntura denso-dispersa, com frequência de 3 e 200Hz, sendo que, no primeiro grupo (GEA), foram estimulados os pontos BP4, E44, R3 e, no segundo grupo (GEB), os pontos BP6, E36, VB34. Nesses dois grupos, foram administrados 1,5mL de solução fisiológica por via IM. No terceiro grupo (GF), foi realizada acupuntura em três pontos falsos e o aparelho de eletroacupuntura foi acoplado, mas não foi ligado, e administrou-se morfina na dose de 0,5mg/kg, diluída em solução fisiológica de modo que o volume total foi de 1,5mL por via IM. Foram avaliados os parâmetros cardiovasculares e respiratórios durante o período pré e transoperatório. A avaliação de dor pós-operatória foi realizada durante 12 horas, e a analgesia suplementar com morfina foi realizada quando o escore de dor alcançou valores iguais ou superiores a nove pontos (total de 27) de acordo com a "Escala de dor da Universidade de Melbourne" (EDUM). O grupo GEB apresentou pressão arterial estável, menor variação da Etiso e menor requerimento analgésico no pós-operatório. Nos grupos GEA e GF houve aumento da Etiso e da pressão arterial nos momentos de maior manipulação cirúrgica. Os maiores escores de dor foram obtidos em MP0 (momento da extubação) no GEA (8) e em MP1(1h após a extubação) no GF (9). O GF apresentou o maior requerimento analgésico no pós-operatório e foram realizados 17 resgates em 6 animais. Os acupontos R3, E44 e BP4, utilizados na eletroacupuntura com a frequência de 3 e 200Hz, não são capazes de promover ação antinociceptiva satisfatória no período transoperatório. O efeito analgésico pós-operatório promovido pela eletroestimulação nos acupontos R3, E44 e BP4 é inferior ao proporcionado pelos acupontos E36, BP6 e VB34 e superior ao obtido com a morfina.

ABSTRACT Thirty-six dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy surgery were randomly distributed into 3 groups of 12 animals each. In the first group, dense-dispersed electroacupuncture was performed with a frequency of 3-200 Hz in SP4, ST44, KID3 points and 1.5mL of saline was given intramuscularly (GEA group). For the second group, dense-dispersed electroacupuncture was performed with a frequency of 3-200 Hz in SP6, ST36, GB34 points and 1.5mL of saline given intramuscularly (GEB group). In the third group acupuncture was performed in 3 false points being the electroacupuncture device attached to the needles but not connected, and morphine was also administered at a dose of 0.5mg/kg diluted in saline so that the total volume was 1.5mL intramuscularly (GF group). Cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were evaluated during the pre and perioperative period. The evaluation of pain and postoperative sedation was performed for 12 hours and analgesic supplementation was performed whenever the pain score reached values above or equal to 9 points (in a total of 27) in accordance with the Scale of Pain of the University of Melbourne (EDUM). The GEB group had stable blood pressure and lower Etiso value as well as less need for additional analgesia postoperatively. The GEA group showed the highest values of Etiso and showed the greatest need for additional analgesia in the immediate postoperative period (at the moment of extubation). The GF group required more supplementary analgesia postoperatively and showed higher sedation scores up to 4 hours after surgery. The KID3, ST44 and SP4 acupoints used in electroacupuncture with frequency 3-200 Hz are not able to promote satisfactory antinociceptive action in the perioperative period. Postoperative analgesic effect, promoted by electrical stimulation in acupoints KID3, ST44 and SP4, is inferior to that provided by acupoints ST36, SP6 and GB34 and superior to that obtained with morphine.

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT-EC 2.3.2.2) activity and glutathione (GSH) content were measured in livers of female weanling Wistar rats (N = 5-18), submitted to rice-and-bean diets (13 and 6% w/w protein), both supplemented or not with DL-methionine (0.5 and 0.23 g/100 g dry diet, respectively). After 28 days, the rats on the rice-and-bean diets showed significantly higher levels (four times higher) of liver GGT activity and a concomitant 50% lower concentration of liver GSH in comparison with control groups feeding on casein. The addition of DL-methionine to rice-and-bean diets significantly increased the liver GSH content, which reached levels 50% higher than those found in animals on casein diets. The increase in GSH was accompanied by a decrease in liver GGT activity, which did not reach levels as low as those observed in the control groups. No significant correlation could be established between GGT and GSH changes under the present experimental conditions. Linear correlation analysis only revealed that in animals submitted to unsupplemented rice-and-bean diets GSH concentration was positively associated (P<0.05) with weight gain, food intake and food efficiency. GGT, however, was negatively correlated (P<0.05) with food intake only, and exclusively for supplemented rice-and-bean diets. The high levels of GGT activity observed in the present study for rats receiving a rice-and-bean mixture could be a result of the poor quality of these diets associated with their deficiency in sulfur amino acids. The results also suggest that diet supplementation with methionine could be important in the reduction of the deleterious effects of GSH depletion by restoring the intracellular concentration of this tripeptide.