Rodents can recognize pain-related responses in conspecifics. Therefore, cohabitation with a conspecific animal with chronic pain can potentially promote a stressful situation, which can trigger behavioral changes such as anxiety and depression and alter nociceptive responses. In this study we investigated the effect of cohabitation with a mouse undergoing sciatic nerve constriction (neuropathic pain model). The cagemates were evaluated for nociception (writhing test), anxiety (elevated plus-maze and open field tests), depression (forced swim, tail suspension, and sucrose preference tests), and corticosterone levels. Male Swiss mice were housed in pairs for 14 days, and then divided into three groups: cagemate nerve constriction, in which one animal of each pair was subjected to constriction of the sciatic nerve; cagemate sham, in which one animal from each pair was subjected to the same surgery but without constriction; and control, in which animals were not subjected to any surgical procedure. After 14 days, the cagemates were evaluated using behavioral tests. Social interaction with a conspecific undergoing constriction of the sciatic nerve induced hypernociception and increased anxiety-related responses, whereas in depression tests inconclusive responses and no changes in corticosterone levels were found. In conclusion, cohabitation with suffering conspecifics induces changes in nociceptive responses, as well as in affective responses including anxiety.

OBJECTIVES: Progressive decline of physiological processes with aging is normal. Aging is also associated with decreased functional capacity and onset of many diseases. This study evaluated the changes in physical fitness (PF), body composition (BC), and lipid profile (LP) in elderly men completing different training protocols. METHODS: Fifty-five men (age 60-80 years) were randomized into the following groups: without training, aerobic training on dry land, combined training on dry land, and combined training in water. Training was conducted for 8 weeks, and PF, LP, and BC were assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. RESULTS: Significant improvements were observed in all parameters; however, combined programs on land or in water were more effective at improving strength and aerobic fitness. Combined exercise produced greater effects on BC and LP and some muscle fitness parameters; however, improvements in muscular and aerobic capacities occurred independently of exercise type or model. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the effects of training occur regardless of training type or model, and are directly associated with training periodization, adherence, and regularity.

No abstract

A avaliação postural é de fundamental importância para o planejamento de um tratamento fisioterapêutico. No entanto, é escassa a literatura referente às alterações posturais de pacientes que sofreram um acidente vascular encefálico (AVE); em razão disso, o objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a postura estática de pacientes hemiplégicos à de indivíduos sem lesões neurológicas. A avaliação consistiu no registro fotográfico das vistas anterior, lateral e posterior. As imagens foram analisadas pelo Software de Avaliação Postural (SAPO). A análise estatística pelo Teste de Soma de Postos de Mann-Whitney confirmou que, no grupo acometido, os valores de ângulos são maiores quando comparados aos do grupo controle, nas vistas anterior e posterior. Concluiu-se que pacientes acometidos por um AVE apresentam assimetrias posturais significativas que devem ser minimizadas por meio do tratamento fisioterapêutico adequado. Descritores: Acidente vascular encefálico; Fisioterapia; Postura.