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To analyze the pain, the muscle profile of some muscles actively and passively involved in the stomatognathic system, and stress traits. A clinical, randomized and double-blind study (n = 35) was performed analyzed by the Research Diagnostic Criteria/Temporomandibular Dysfunction (RDC/TMD), with subjects allocated in experimental group (EG) which received acupuncture at the meridian points according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, and another placebo group (PG) which received acupuncture at random points. The degree of discomfort was evaluated by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), tissue sensitivity, somatic and psychic anxiety level, salivary cortisol levels, electrical activity of the masseter, anterior temporal, sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and trapezoid muscles before and after the proposed treatment. The Wilcoxon test, Chi-squared test, Signal test, Mann-Whitney U-test, paired and independent Student's ttest, Pearson's correlation test and the symmetry index of the muscles were used for statistical analysis, considering a significance level equal to 0.05. There was a reduction of physical non-specific TMD symptoms, and the degree of discomfort decreased by fifty percent in the EG, with a trend curve pointing to an evolution in the repair process. Tissue sensitivity decreased in the EG and increased in the PG. The treated group presented a reduction of physical and psychological manifestations in the anxiety situation, while the reduction was only for physical manifestations in the PG. Salivary cortisol levels did not change. The masticatory musculature presented an increase in the temporal activity and a decrease in the masseter/temporal ratio in the PG. The EG showed a better relationship between the trapezium and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Therefore, acupuncture treatment was efficient for reducing the pain symptoms and the physical and mental conditions of anxiety in people with TMD, as well as to improve the relationship of postural muscles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethnopharmacobotanical information reports that Parkinsonia aculeata infusion is used to control diabetes-related complications and dyslipidemia. However, few studies are reported on the safe use of this species. The aim of this study is to evaluate the acute toxicity, embryotoxicity and cytotoxicity of a polar fraction obtained from hydroethanolic extract of P. aculeata (PfrHEPA). For the acute toxicity test, we considered the Up and Down method which the guidelines are described by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD N=425). The animals were treated with PfrHEPA (2000 mg/kg) or with distilled water (10 ml/kg) by gavage and observed from Day 1 to14. For embryotoxicity assay, zebrafish embryos were exposed to PfrHEPA (100 mg/L) and toxicity parameters were observed during four consecutive days. The cytotoxicity of PfrHEPA (5, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µg/ml, respectively) was performed on normal cell lines (mesenchymal stem cells, African green monkey renal cells and mouse pre-adipocytes 3 T3-L1 using the MTT salt reduction assay. In the acute toxicity test, no mortality was observed in mice treated with PfrHEPA (2000 mg/kg), as well as behavioral changes, histopathological abnormalities and hematological and biochemical variables. In the embryotoxicity test, no abnormal changes related to the toxicological parameters were observed in the period of 96 h. Regarding the cytotoxicity assay, PfrHEPA showed no cytotoxic effect on the normal cell lines tested, with an IC50 value > 100 µg/ml. These results suggest the safe use of P. aculeata, however, more trials are needed for PfrHEPA to be presented as new safe therapeutic proposal for the control of metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]