Rapid Classification of Hippocampal Replay Content for Real-time Applications

Sharp-wave ripple (SWR) events in the hippocampus replay millisecond-timescale patterns of place cell activity related to the past experience of an animal. Interrupting SWR events leads to learning and memory impairments, but how the specific patterns of place cell spiking seen during SWRs contributes to learning and memory remains unclear. A deeper understanding of this issue will require the ability to manipulate SWR events based on their content. Accurate real-time decoding of SWR replay events requires new algorithms that are able to estimate replay content and the associated uncertainty, along with software and hardware that can execute these algorithms for biological interventions on a millisecond timescale. Here, we develop an efficient estimation algorithm to categorize the content of replay from multiunit spiking activity. Specifically, we apply real-time decoding methods to each SWR event and then compute the posterior probability of the replay feature. We illustrate this approach by classifying SWR events from data recorded in the hippocampus of a rat performing a spatial memory task into four categories: whether they represent outbound or inbound trajectories and whether the activity is replayed forward or backward in time. We show that our algorithm can classify the majority of SWR events in a recording epoch within 20 ms of the replay onset with high certainty, which makes the algorithm suitable for a real-time implementation with short latencies to incorporate into content-based feedback experiments.

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Developmental restoration of LTP deficits in heterozygous CaMKII{alpha} ko mice

The Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) is a major mediator of long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD), two opposing forms of synaptic plasticity underlying learning, memory and cognition. The heterozygous CaMKIIα isoform ko (CaMKIIα^+/-) mice have a schizophrenia-related phenotype, including impaired working memory. Here, we examined synaptic strength and plasticity in two brain areas implicated in working memory, hippocampus CA1 and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Young CaMKIIα^+/- mice (postnatal day 12-16; corresponding to a developmental stage well before schizophrenia manifestation in humans) showed impaired hippocampal CA1 LTP. However, this LTP impairment normalized over development and was no longer detected in older CaMKIIα^+/- mice (postnatal week 9-11; corresponding to young adults). By contrast, the CaMKIIα^+/- mice failed to show the developmental increase of basal synaptic transmission in the CA1 seen in wild type mice, resulting in impaired basal synaptic transmission in the older CaMKIIα^+/- mice. Other electrophysiological parameters were normal, including mPFC basal transmission, LTP and paired pulse facilitation, as well as CA1 LTD, depotentiation, and paired-pulse facilitation at either age tested. Hippocampal CaMKIIα levels were ~60% of WT in both the older CaMKIIα^+/- mice and in the younger WT mice, resulting in ~30% of adult WT expression in the younger CaMKIIα^+/- mice; levels in frontal cortex were the same as in hippocampus. Thus, in young mice, ~30% of adult CaMKIIα expression is sufficient for normal LTD and depotentiation, while normal LTP requires higher levels, with ~60% of CaMKIIα expression sufficient for normal LTP in adult mice.

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Resveratrol Defends Blood-brain Barrier Integrity in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis Mice

The mouse autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an experimental model of multiple sclerosis (MS), is primarily characterized as dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Resveratrol exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and neuroprotective activities. We investigated the beneficial effects of resveratrol in protecting the integrity of the BBB in EAE mice, and observed improved clinical outcome in the EAE mice after resveratrol treatment. Evans blue (EB) extravasation was used to detect the disruption of BBB. Western blot were used to detected the tight junction proteins and adhesion molecules, zonula occluden-1, occludin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Inflammatory factors iNOS, IL-1b and arginase1 were evaluated by qPCR, and IL-10 by ELISA. NADPH oxidase levels were evaluated by qPCR, and its activity was analyzed by lucigenin-derived chemiluminiscence. Resveratrol at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg produced a dose-dependent decrease in EAE paralysis and EB leakage, ameliorated EAE-induced loss of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5, as well as repressed the EAE-induced increase in adhesion proteins ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. In addition, resveratrol suppressed the EAE-induced overexpression of pro-inflammatory transcripts iNOS and IL-1β, and upregulated the expression of anti-inflammatory transcripts arginase 1 and IL-10 cytokine in the brain. Furthermore, resveratrol downregulated the overexpressed NOX-2 and NOX-4 in the brain and suppressed NADPH activity. Resveratrol ameliorates the clinical severity of MS through maintaining the BBB integrity in EAE mice.

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Model of the Songbird Nucleus HVC as a Network of Central Pattern Generators

We propose a functional architecture of the adult songbird nucleus HVC in which the core element is a "functional syllable unit" (FSU). In this model, HVC is organized into FSUs, each of which provides the basis for the production of one syllable in vocalization. Within each FSU, the inhibitory neuron population takes one of two operational states: (A) simultaneous firing wherein all inhibitory neurons fire simultaneously, and (B) competitive firing of the inhibitory neurons. Switching between these basic modes of activity is accomplished via changes in the synaptic strengths among the inhibitory neurons. The inhibitory neurons connect to excitatory projection neurons such that during state (A) the activity of projection neurons is suppressed, while during state (B) patterns of sequential firing of projection neurons can occur. The latter state is stabilized by feedback from the projection to the inhibitory neurons. Song composition for specific species is distinguished by the manner in which different FSUs are functionally connected to each other. Ours is a computational model built with biophysically based neurons. We illustrate that many observations of HVC activity are explained by the dynamics of the proposed population of FSUs, and we identify aspects of the model that are currently testable experimentally. In addition, and standing apart from the core features of an FSU, we propose that the transition between modes may be governed by the biophysical mechanism of neuromodulation.

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Evidence of degraded representation of speech in noise, in the aging midbrain and cortex

Humans have a remarkable ability to track and understand speech in unfavorable conditions, such as in background noise, but speech understanding in noise does deteriorate with age. Results from several studies have shown that in younger adults, low frequency auditory cortical activity reliably synchronizes to the speech envelope, even when the background noise is considerably louder than the speech signal. However, cortical speech processing may be limited by age-related decreases in the precision of neural synchronization in the midbrain. To better understand the neural mechanisms contributing to impaired speech perception in older adults, we investigated how aging affects midbrain and cortical encoding of speech when presented in quiet and in the presence of a single competing talker. Our results suggest that central auditory temporal processing deficits in older adults manifest in both the midbrain and in the cortex. Specifically, midbrain frequency following responses to a speech syllable are more degraded in noise in older adults than in younger adults. This suggests a failure of the midbrain auditory mechanisms needed to compensate for the presence of a competing talker. Similarly, in cortical responses, older adults show larger reductions than younger adults in their ability to encode the speech envelope when a competing talker is added. Interestingly, older adults showed an exaggerated cortical representation of speech in both quiet and noise conditions, suggesting a possible imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory processes, or diminished network connectivity, that may impair their ability to efficiently encode speech.

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Coordinating long-latency stretch responses across the shoulder, elbow and wrist during goal-directed reaching

The long-latency stretch response (muscle activity 50-100 ms following a mechanical perturbation) can be coordinated across multiple joints to support goal-directed actions. Here we assessed the flexibility of such coordination and whether it serves to counteract intersegmental dynamics and exploit kinematic redundancy. In three experiments, participants made planar reaches to visual targets following elbow perturbations and we assessed the coordination of long-latency stretch responses across shoulder, elbow and wrist muscles. Importantly, targets were placed such that elbow and wrist (but not shoulder) rotations could help transport the hand to the target - a simple form of kinematic redundancy. In Experiment 1 we applied perturbations of different magnitudes to the elbow, and found that long-latency stretch responses in shoulder, elbow and wrist muscles scaled with perturbation magnitude. In Experiment 2 we examined the trial-by-trial relationship between long-latency stretch responses at adjacent joints and found that the magnitudes of the responses in shoulder and elbow muscles, as well as elbow and wrist muscles, were positively correlated. In Experiment 3 we explicitly instructed participants how to use their wrist to move their hand to the target following the perturbation. We found that long-latency stretch responses in wrist muscles were not sensitive to our instructions, despite the fact that participants incorporated these instructions into their voluntary behaviour. Taken together, our results indicate that, during reaching, the coordination of long-latency stretch responses across multiple joints counteracts intersegmental dynamics but may not be able to exploit kinematic redundancy.

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Masking reduces orientation selectivity in rat visual cortex

In visual masking the perception of a target stimulus is impaired by a preceding (forward) or succeeding (backward) mask stimulus. The illusion is of interest because it allows uncoupling of the physical stimulus, its neuronal representation and its perception. To understand the neuronal correlates of masking, we examined how masks affected the neuronal responses to oriented target stimuli in the primary visual cortex (V1) of anaesthetized rats (n=37). Target stimuli were circular gratings with 12 orientations; mask stimuli were plaids created as a binarized sum of all possible target orientations. Spatially, masks were presented either overlapping or surrounding the target. Temporally, targets and masks were presented for 33 ms, but the stimulus onset asynchrony (SOA) of their relative appearance was varied. For the first time, we examine how spatially overlapping and center-surround masking affects orientation discriminability (rather than visibility) in V1. Regardless of the spatial or temporal arrangement of stimuli, the greatest reductions in firing rate and orientation selectivity occurred for the shortest SOAs. Interestingly, analyses conducted separately for transient and sustained target response components showed that changes in orientation selectivity do not always coincide with changes in firing rate. Based on the near-instantaneous reductions observed in orientation selectivity even when target and mask do not spatially overlap, we suggest that monotonic visual masking is explained by a combination of neural integration and lateral inhibition.

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Comparison of the color selectivity of macaque V4 neurons in different color spaces

Chromatic selectivity has been extensively studied in various visual areas at different stages of visual processing in the macaque brain. In these studies, color stimuli defined in DKL color space with a limited range of cone contrast were typically used in early stages, whereas those defined in CIE color space based on human psychophysical measurements across the gamut of the display were often used in higher visual areas. To understand how the color information is processed along the visual pathway, it is necessary to compare color selectivity obtained in different areas on a common color space. In the present study, we tested whether the neural color selectivity obtained in DKL space can be predicted from responses obtained in CIE space, and whether stimuli with limited cone contrast are sufficient to characterize neural color selectivity. We found that for most V4 neurons, there was a strong correlation between responses measured using the two chromatic coordinate systems, and the color selectivities obtained with the two stimulus sets were comparable. However, for some neurons preferring high-saturation or low-saturation colors, stimuli defined in DKL color space did not adequately capture the neural color selectivity. This is mainly due to the use of stimuli within a limited range of cone contrast. We conclude that regardless of the choice of color space, sampling colors across the entire gamut is important to fully characterize neural color selectivity or to compare color selectivities in different areas in order so as to understand color representation in the visual system.

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Large-scale recording of thalamocortical circuits: in vivo electrophysiology with the two-dimensional electronic depth control silicon probe

Recording simultaneous activity of a large number of neurons in distributed neuronal networks is crucial to understand higher order brain functions. Here, we demonstrate the in vivo performance of a recently developed electrophysiological recording system comprising a two-dimensional, multi-shank, high-density silicon probe with integrated CMOS electronics. The system implements the concept of electronic depth control (EDC), which enables the electronic selection of a limited number of recording sites on each of the probe shafts. This innovative feature of the system permits simultaneous recording of local field potentials (LFP), and single- and multiple-unit activities (SUA and MUA, respectively) from multiple brain sites with high quality and without the actual physical movement of the probe. To evaluate the in vivo recording capabilities of the EDC probe, we recorded LFP, MUA and SUA in acute experiments from cortical and thalamic brain areas of anesthetized rats and mice. The advantages of large-scale recording with the EDC probe are illustrated by investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of pharmacologically induced thalamocortical slow wave activity in rats, by comparing the firing and burst properties of neurons located in various thalamic nuclei and by the two-dimensional tonotopic mapping of the auditory thalamus. In mice, spatial distribution of thalamic responses to optogenetic stimulation of the neocortex was examined. Utilizing the benefits of the EDC system may result in a higher yield of useful data from a single experiment compared to traditional passive multielectrode arrays, and thus in the reduction of animals needed for a research study.

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Characterization of the Far Transcription Factor Family in Aspergillus flavus

Metabolism of fatty acids is a critical requirement for pathogenesis of oil seed pathogens including the fungus Aspergillus flavus. Previous studies have correlated decreased ability to grow on fatty acids with reduced virulence of this fungus on host seed. Two fatty acid metabolism regulatory transcription factors, FarA and FarB, have been described in other filamentous fungi. Unexpectedly, we find A. flavus possesses three Far homologs, FarA, FarB and FarC with FarA and FarC showing a greater protein similarity to each other than FarB. farA and farB are located in regions of colinearity in all Aspergillus spp. sequenced to date whereas farC is limited to a subset of species where it is inserted in an otherwise colinear region in Aspergillus genomes. Deletion and overexpression (OE) of farA and farB but not farC yielded mutants with aberrant growth patterns on specific fatty acids as well as altered expression of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism. Marked differences included significant growth defects of both farA and farB on medium-chain fatty acids and decreased growth of OE::farA on unsaturated fatty acids. Loss of farA diminished expression of mitochondrial β-oxidation genes whereas OE::farA inhibited expression of genes involved in unsaturated fatty acid catabolism. FarA also positively regulated the desaturase genes required to generate polyunsaturated fatty acids. Aflatoxin production on toxin-inducing media was significantly decreased in the farB mutant and increased in the OE::farB mutant with gene expression data supporting a role for FarB in tying β-oxidation processes with aflatoxin accumulation.

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Characteristics of human saliva proteome and peptidome

Abstract

Recent studies on the characteristics of saliva proteome and peptidome greatly expanded our understanding of this biological fluid. Athough many scientists consider saliva to be an ideal biosubstrate in diagnosis of the human body state; currently, the research in this area is at the data accumulation stage. The physiology of saliva and salivary glands, as well as characteristics of interaction between the saliva proteins and the oral cavity microorganisms, has been insufficiently studied yet. The lack of standardization in collecting the saliva samples and in the proteome research protocols, and the requirements for sample representativeness introduce discrepancies in the results obtained by different researchers. Addressing these problems will allow the wide use of saliva proteome as a complex indicator of the functional state of the human body.

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Changes in effector function of sensory peptidergic pervascular fibers after multiple exposures to low-intensity millimeter radiation

Abstract

The effector function of sensory peptidergic perivascular fibers was examined upon multiple exposures to low-intensity millimeter electromagnetic waves by means of laser Doppler flowmetry. Low-intensity millimeter waves (wavelength, 7.1 mm; power density, 0.1 mW/cm²) were shown to increase the microcirculation index, which characterized the change in perfusion upon electrical stimulation, and to decrease the latency from the start of stimulation to the onset of vasodilation, pointing to an increase in the effector function of sensory peptidergic fibers and micruvascular reactivity.

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Dynamics of the glycemic profile in women in long-term antiorthostatic hypokinesia

Abstract

The dynamics of the glycemic curve profile was investigated in 8 healthy women during performance of the glucose tolerance test (GТТ) in 120-day antiorthostatic hypokinesia (–6°) (АNОH) simulating the effects of weightlessness. Glycemic profiles were characterized by more marked hyperglycemic response at 30 min of GТТ in the first month of stay under ANOH conditions and had a flattened appearance three months later. Glycemic profiles characteristic of delayed restoration of the blood glucose concentration appeared in the fourth month, which persisted over the first week after the end of АNОH. The glycemic profile changes developed against the background of the signs of progressive congestion of blood in the venous system of the abdominal cavity. The expansion of diameters of the main veins of the abdominal cavity was noted at the beginning of АNОH; an increase in the size of the organs and the signs of expansion of venous plexuses at the site of portocaval anastomoses, after three months; the occurrence of the signs of transudation and free fluid in the abdominal cavity was revealed at the end of hypokinesia. The countermeasures against hypodynamia did not prevent transformation of the glycemic profile nor did they influence the progression of blood flow congestion in the venous system of the abdominal cavity whose features determined the character changes in the glycemic profile in different periods of ANOH.

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Efficiency of photostimulation controlled by subject’s EEG decreases under the conditions of feedback delay

Abstract

One of the central problems in the study of brain–computer interface and the processes of operant conditioning is the optimal organization of feedback signals. In this paper we have analyzed the question about comparative efficiency of immediate or 2.56-s delayed presentation of feedback signals as photic stimulation automatically controlled by subject's electroencephalogram (EEG). Strictly controlled experiments showed a significant increase in EEG power and positive shifts in subjective characteristics only under the minimum feedback delay, i.e., in cases where photic stimuli are controlled directly by the current EEG characteristics of the subjects.

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Effect of stimulating the auricular branch of the vagus nerve on the heart rate in patients with severe chronic heart failure

Abstract

A study was made to evaluate the prospects of improving the cardiac function by electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve in patients with severe chronic heart failure (CHF). Sympathetic hyperactivity and the cardiac function were evaluated by 24-hour ECG monitoring, echocardiography, and a 6-min walk test. At the time of enrollment into the study, patients had a heart rate (HR) of more than 60 bpm, a left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF) of less than 40%, and CHF NYHA functional class (FC) III or IV even with well tolerated medications. Control-group patients (n = 7) did not show significant changes in the functional state of the heart after sham treatment. In the test group (n = 44), a significant increase in LV EF and a decrease in end-systolic volume were induced by electrical pulse stimulation of the auricular branch. A decrease in HR was documented in 34 patients; CHF FC decreased by one or two grades in 40 patients. The changes were assumed to reflect new balance achieved in the autonomic regulation of the heart to contribute to sustaining competence of the myocardium. Electrical pulse stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve was concluded to provide a safe and efficacious addition to drug therapy in patients with severe CHF.

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Sex- and age-related characteristics of brain functioning during task switching (fMRI study)

Abstract

This study is focused on changes in the brain function throughout the adulthood in healthy men and women performing task switching (TS) in the visual modality. One hundred and forty healthy subjects aged 20 to 65 years (69 men) participated in the experiments. In the fMRI study, the subjects performed a test that required switching attention between two objectives (classifying figures according to their form or number). Using the voxel-based morphometry (VBM), we calculated the volumes of gray and white matter in the whole brain and in selected areas. The results showed that a common feature of different age and sex groups performing the TS was bilateral activation of the dorsolateral prefrontal areas, the inferior parietal lobes and the inferior occipital gyrus. We also found a transition from local to diffuse activation occurring with age. In young men (20 to 30 years of age) compared to women, a greater increase in the BOLD signal was found in the prefrontal areas bilaterally, the right parietal lobe and insula, and, in addition, bilateral activation in the supplementary motor area which were not observed in women. Older men and women (51 to 65 years) had no significant differences. The study of the BOLD signal correlations with age in women at the age from 20 to 40 and men from 20 to 55 years showed no significant changes. With further increase of age in both groups we found a consequent increase in the number of brain areas which are activated. The VBM analysis showed a significant decrease in the volume of gray, but not white, matter with age. No significant correlations between age-related changes in the gray matter volume (both in the whole brain and in the specific areas) and BOLD signal in this age group were detected.

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Study of the relationship between eye movements and the geometry of fovea

Abstract

The objective of this research was to compare the features of the shape of the foveolar area with the characteristics of eye movements in reading. To measure the size of the fovea, we used the method of optical coherence tomography of the retina. Based on this method, the diameter of the upper part of fovea (fovea diameter) and fovea bottom (foveola diameter) were determined. We found a negative correlation between the fovea diameter and fixation duration and positive correlations at the level of tendency between the foveola diameter and the number of saccades performed and between the foveola diameter and the number of characters captured by eye per fixation.

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Electrophysiological neuromuscular systemic characteristics of athletes in power training

Abstract

This study is based on the analysis of electrophysiological characteristics describing the neuromuscular system of athletes during their training sessions, depending on their specialization and level of sport skills. It has been shown that the physiological changes securing the perfection of strength training in weightlifting athletes are mainly concentrated in the peripheral part of their neuromuscular system, namely, at the level of muscles themselves and neuromuscular junctions, and reflected in the electromyogram characteristics as arbitrary movements and M response parameters. At the same time, physiological rearrangements in combat athletes touch the peripheral mechanisms and the central component in the regulation of motor activity and are reflected in the parameters of visual and somatosensory evoked brain potentials. The results disclose an entire set of new important approaches to the functioning of different compartments in the nervous system and the neuromuscular apparatus in athletes of different specializations. They can serve as the basis for the development of practical recommendations on the organization of sports-specialized selection at different stages of athletic perfection, as well as for the physiological support of training process and methods of operating control.

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Influence of the structure of the support surface under the sole on vertical posture during standing with different body weight distributions between legs

Abstract

The vertical posture was studied during standing with fееt on the support surfaces of different structures. The movements of the center of pressure (CP) of each leg and the common CP (CCP) were recorded while the subject stood with a support on a smooth floor and with the support of one foot on a spike mat (SM) with different load distributions between the legs. When the body weight was transferred to one leg during standing under ordinary conditions on a smooth floor, the CP of the loaded leg moved more than the CP of the unloaded leg; i.e., the posture sway was compensated mainly due to the activity of the loaded leg, which created a larger torque. When the subject stood with one foot on the SM, the CP movement of this leg did not depend on the leg load and was about 60% of the CP movement of the leg on the smooth floor. Apparently, the CP displacement of the unloaded leg on smooth support was larger than the CP displacement of the loaded leg creating the torque necessary for compensating the body sway. Thus, maintaining the vertical posture was carried out mainly by the leg standing on the smooth support. It is assumed that additional stimulation of different surface and deep receptors of the foot caused by foot support on the SM hampered the perception of its CP position, and the vertical posture was maintained mainly by the leg afferent signals from which more precisely reflected the CP position.

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A hierarchical procedure for forming informative features of a pulse signal applied to the problem of identification of early signs of hypertension in childhood and adolescence

Abstract

The suggested approach for searching informative features of a pulse signal is based on sequential analysis of the characteristics of the waveform and the shape of rhythmic structure of the signal. At the first stage of the analysis, the pulse waveform is determined. The results allow the algorithm of the analysis of the rhythmic structure to be selected depending on the type of the pulse waveform. The difference of the analysis algorithms is caused by the fact that the type of the waveform determines the number of local parameters that affect the rhythmic structure. The suggested algorithm allows its parameters to be corrected at each stage of the analysis depending on the results of the previous stage. This gives the opportunity to take specific features of the pulse signal into account and, hence, improves the quality of recognition of diseases by the pulse analysis.

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Acoustic biomechanical relationships of human forced exhalation in bronchial obstruction

Abstract

A statistically significant bidirectional influence of the incidence and degree of bronchial obstruction on the acoustic parameters of forced expiration and the spirometry/body plethysmography indicators of lung function has been revealed by means of nonparametric analysis of variance in a sample of 218 subjects. It has been shown that the acoustic band pass times and energies of forced expiratory tracheal noises coordinate with both tidal resistance and residual volume.

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The toxic effects of trace elements on male reproductive health

Abstract

The review covers the data on the toxic effects of trace elements on the male reproductive system. The basic pathogenetic mechanisms of male infertility are described. Different points of view on the effect of high concentrations of trace elements on the functions of endocrine system components, male reproductive tract, properties of gametes, and state of their genetic material are considered.

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The role of visual information in maintaining postural stability after the maximum exercise for the upper and lower limb muscles

Abstract

The postural stability on a seesaw generating anterior–posterior instability with the eyes open (EO) and then the eyes closed (EC) in young healthy subjects (n = 28) before and 6 min after the maximum bicycle exercise (Wingate test) performed using lower limbs ("leg exercise") or upper limbs ("hand exercise") was investigated. It was found that "hand exercise" caused the same increase in average velocity (V, mm/s) and in the average range of sway of the centre of pressure (Qy, mm) as "leg exercise." However, the duration of V recovery (EC: 2 min 30 s and 50 s; EO: 60 s and 40 s after "leg exercise" and "hand exercise," respectively) and Qy (EC: 1 min 10 s and 30 s after "leg exercise" and "hand exercise," respectively; EO: no changes from baseline) was shorter after "hand exercise." In the presence of visual information, the increment in V decreased more than 2 times after "leg exercise" (+100.5% and + 40.5%, p < 0.01 for EC and EO, respectively) and after "hand exercise" (+73.0% and +30.3%, p < 0.01 for EC and EO, respectively). Moreover, Qy after both exercises remained at the initial level under EO conditions but significantly increased under EC conditions (+42.8%, p < 0.01 after "leg exercise" and +40.3%, p < 0.01 after "hand exercise"). Thus, the maximum exercise for the muscles of the upper limbs causes the same reduction in postural stability as analogous exercise for the muscles of the lower limbs, but the recovery period after "hand" exercise was shorter. The presence of visual information allows the baseline maintenance of postural stability and significantly reduces the strain of postural regulation while standing on a movable support after the maximum "leg exercise" and "hand exercise."

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A cognitive hypothesis of the development of differentiative cortical inhibition in humans

Abstract

Positive and inhibitory conditioning stimuli (Go/NoGo) were presented to healthy adults (n = 35) in an experimental setting for angry face recognition with short intervals between the setting (face), conditioning, and triggering stimuli. A modification of the previously used experimental conditions that consisted in a reduction of the duration of the interstimulus intervals promoted an increase in attitude flexibility (expansion of the group of subjects that made no identification errors at the stage of set testing). The improvement of cognitive performance was accompanied by expansion of the zone of α-oscillation synchronization induced by the NoGo inhibitory conditioning stimulus. Synchronization of α-oscillations was less pronounced in subjects with a rigid cognitive set. Thus, the cognitive hypothesis of cortical inhibition (termed "internal inhibition" by I.P. Pavlov) has been confirmed. The concept of the emergence of top-down inhibitory effects in the prefrontal cortex, implicit internal representation, and selective modulation of attention is discussed.

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Microstructural abnormalities of the corpus callosum and fasciculus uncinatus and auditory information processing in patients with juvenile paroxysmal schizophrenia

Abstract

One approach to the problem of determining the mechanisms coupling the structure and functions of the brain is studies in clinical populations aimed at assessing the presence or absence of congruence of anatomical/ morphological and functional abnormalities. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including structural MRI and diffusion tensor imaging with tractography, as well as the recording of auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in the standard two-tone oddball paradigm and the sensory gating paradigm, was conducted in 26 male patients with paroxysmal juvenile schizophrenia and 26 mentally healthy men with no family history of mental illness. MRI abnormalities have been found in the genu of the corpus callosum and fasciculus uncinatus of the left hemisphere of the patients. Reduction of the fractional anisotropy in the genu of the corpus callosum was correlated with P300 reduction in the right temporal region.

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Circadian regulation and its disorders in Parkinson’s disease patients. Part 1: The role of dopamine in circadian dysfunction

Abstract

Circadian disturbances related to Parkinson's disease are reviewed, and possible pathogenetic mechanisms are discussed. The role of dopaminergic system degeneration in the development of circadian dysfunction is emphasized. The accumulation of α-synuclein in the suprachiasmatic nucleus is considered as a possible mechanism of circadian dysfunction unrelated to dopamine deficiency. Data on the disbalance of dopamine and melatonin levels in Parkinson's disease patients and its role in disturbances of circadian rhythms of physiological processes are analyzed.

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The problem of adaptation and oscillatory processes in the microvascular bed

Abstract

Healthy people (n = 16), patients with autonomic dystonia syndrome (n = 38), and patients with traumatic rupture of the median nerve before and after nerve suture (n = 28) were examined by laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) with a computer wavelet analysis of blood flow oscillations. Functional states (FSs) of the microcirculatory bed wеre assessed using energetic and information indices of microvascular blood flow oscillations. The variation coefficient and the information regime (multistable or resonance) were used as key characteristics. Oscillatory processes are an integral part of adaptation and the FS formation in the microvascular bed. FSs were classified as adaptive, hyperadaptive, hypoadaptive, and failure of adaptation. Because supporting the optimal function of nutritive microvessels is a leading component of the adaptation process, FSs of nutritive and nonnutritive microvessels may differ. A selective contribution of the autonomic sympathetic regulatory channel was related to maintaining considerable hyperadaptation in the microvascular bed with overstrain or marked overstrain of regulatory systems, as in emotional stress. Hypoadaptive FSs formed when skin blood flow increased, an excess decrease in flow resistance was unnecessary, and especially when regulatory factors were in deficiency, e.g., in neurodystrophic syndrome.

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Effects of a diet containing Brazilian propolis on lipopolysaccharide-induced increases in plasma plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels in mice

2016-08-17T17-26-20Z
Source: Journal of Intercultural Ethnopharmacology
Naoki Ohkura, Katsutaka Oishi, Fumiko Kihara-Negishi, Gen-ichi Atsumi, Tomoki Tatefuji.
Background: Brazilian propolis has many biological activities including the ability to help prevent thrombotic diseases, but this particular effect has not been proven. Plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), an inhibitor of fibrinolysis, increase under inflammatory conditions such as infection, obesity and atherosclerosis and such elevated levels predispose individuals to a risk of developing thrombotic diseases. Aim: The present study aimed to determine the effects of a diet containing Brazilian propolis on LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-induced increases in plasma PAI-1 levels. Materials and Methods: Mice were fed with a diet containing 0.5% (w/w) Brazilian propolis for eight weeks. Thereafter, the mice were subcutaneously injected with saline containing 0.015 mg/kg of LPS and sacrificed four hours later. Results: Orally administered Brazilian propolis significantly suppressed the LPS-induced increase in PAI-1 antigen and its activity in mouse plasma. Conclusion: The present study indicated that Brazilian propolis contains natural products that can decrease thrombotic tendencies in mice.


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A Process Evaluation of the WV Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment (SCRIPT) Dissemination Initiative: Assessing the Fidelity and Impact of Delivery for State-Wide, Home-Based Healthy Start Services

Abstract

Objectives Process evaluation data are essential to document the fidelity of program implementation by clinical staff and confirm patient behavior change. This report presents a process evaluation model applied to the Smoking Cessation and Reduction in Pregnancy Treatment Dissemination Initiative for the statewide, home-based West Virginia Right From The Start Project. Methods Trained RFTS Designated Care Coordinators, nurses and social workers, of 50+ primary care agencies in all 55 counties, delivered SCRIPT to Medicaid patients who smoked. Results The process evaluation defined the level of DCC delivery of seven core SCRIPT procedures to produce a Program Implementation Index: a summary performance metric. A SCRIPT PII > 0.80 was established as the RFTS adoption standard. The PII increased from 0.53 in 2004 to 0.65 in 2006–2007 to 0.77 in 2009–2010. Although the PII > 0.80 was not achieved, exposure rates were increased for all seven SCRIPT procedures. Agency and DCC turnover, a transient patient population, and recession of 2008–2010 were barriers to achieving the adoption metric and implementation of an experimental design. A quasi-experimental Stratified, Matched Comparison (C) Group Design was selected to evaluate behavioral impact differences between a RFTS-Comparison (C) Group from 2006 to 2007 and the RFTS-SCRIPT E Group from 2009 to 2010. Impact analyses of the DCC delivery of the SCRIPT Program with higher fidelity documented a statistically significant increase in the cessation rate from 4.6 % and significant reduction rate from 6.9 % for the (C) Group in 2006–2007 to 13.9 % and 11.22 % respectively for the E Group in 2009–2010. Conclusion The PEM can assist statewide, home-based prenatal care programs to improve the quality of delivery and evaluate counseling programs.

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Community paramedicine: How EMS can work smarter, not harder

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, health care providers at all levels have been scrambling to become more effective in providing patient care services. Agencies have been exploring the effectiveness of programs like discharge care, clinic staffing, alternative destination guidelines and the better management of psychiatric patients.

EMS, in particular, has been in the forefront of the sea change that is happening to the healthcare landscape. An increasing number of communities have taken their tentative first steps into community paramedicine. Unfortunately, these initiatives — noble as their intentions might be — serve only a limited number of the population. The existence of these programs highlights deeper problems created by a broken and fragmented health care system that is not yet able to provide the myriad of services that are desperately needed.

One elderly couple has called their local 911 provider every day for three years to help them get out of bed. A Florida system is grappling with a small population of patients that take up a disproportionate amount of resources. Minnesota EMS providers drive hundreds of miles in order to transfer psychiatric patients to an appropriate facility. Each of these examples is a sign of a health care system that is unable to provide a safety net that makes any financial sense.

Our country spends more money per citizen on health care than any other country in the world, yet we are not ranked number one in any measurement of health care outcome. We die sooner than citizens of other industrialized countries. Our rates of obesity, infant mortality and chronic medical conditions are higher. Ironically, while we spend far more on health care than anyone else, we actually have less access to physicians. Much of the money is used to fund prescription medications, costly testing and expensive technology — which can solve specific problems, but do little to improve our nation's overall health and levels of chronic illness.

These sobering facts makes innovative projects such as community paramedicine and mobile integrated health that much more important than they might seem at first glance. Most of the current projects take low-cost, common sense approaches to fixing large scale problems by helping patients on a personal level and linking them to more appropriate care.

If more funding and attention is given to projects like community paramedicine, our nation's health care system could work more efficiently, spend money more effectively and most importantly improve patient outcomes. It is for these reasons that we must continue to push for progress on this front. As we evolve our roles away from traditional standalone emergency services, we stand poised to help create a better care system for all.

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Biomedical applications of gene editing

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Multipoint genome-wide linkage scan for nonword repetition in a multigenerational family further supports chromosome 13q as a locus for verbal trait disorders

Abstract

Verbal trait disorders encompass a wide range of conditions and are marked by deficits in five domains that impair a person's ability to communicate: speech, language, reading, spelling, and writing. Nonword repetition is a robust endophenotype for verbal trait disorders that is sensitive to cognitive processes critical to verbal development, including auditory processing, phonological working memory, and motor planning and programming. In the present study, we present a six-generation extended pedigree with a history of verbal trait disorders. Using genome-wide multipoint variance component linkage analysis of nonword repetition, we identified a region spanning chromosome 13q14–q21 with LOD = 4.45 between 52 and 55 cM, spanning approximately 5.5 Mb on chromosome 13. This region overlaps with SLI3, a locus implicated in reading disability in families with a history of specific language impairment. Our study of a large multigenerational family with verbal trait disorders further implicates the SLI3 region in verbal trait disorders. Future studies will further refine the specific causal genetic factors in this locus on chromosome 13q that contribute to language traits.

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Over $36K raised for paramedic injured in crash

FILLMORE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — AMR paramedic Tim Hoffman suffered a severe head injury when his ambulance was hit by a drunk driver earlier this month. He's been in the hospital ever since.

Hoffman's family opened a GoFundMe account last week to raise money for his medical expenses. Since then, over $36,000 dollars has been donated towards the paramedic's bills, with an overall goal of raising $100,000.

Updates written by his family on the page reveal that the Hoffman is still in critical condition, but he is being weaned off the use of a ventilator.

One of Hoffman's nurses said that he is "right on the edge of a coma and being awake," but the medic has briefly regained consciousness several times throughout his hospital stay.

Hoffman, an 11-year paramedic with AMR, was in the back of an ambulance when a pickup truck collided head-on with the vehicle.

Though he is still in critical condition, his family remains optimistic and is grateful for the support he's received since being admitted to the hospital.

"I am so incredibly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support that our family, friends, and community have shown since Tim's accident," his wife wrote Tuesday. "I wish I could thank each and every person individually, but for now I will just say a big THANK YOU for everything!"

You can donate to Tim Hoffman, or just check up on his condition, at his GoFundMe page.

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Location of a biliary leak after liver resection determines success of endoscopic treatment

Abstract

Background

Bile leaks after hepatic resection are serious complications associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The aim of this prospective observational study was to determine the therapeutic success of endoscopic treatment of biliary leakage after liver resection.

Patients and methods

Grade B biliary leaks were considered for endoscopic treatment in patients after liver resection between 1/09 and 4/12. Endoscopic treatment (sphincterotomy only, plastic stent distal to leak or bridging) was defined as successful when the patient remained without symptoms after drain removal and without extravasation follow-up ERC 8 weeks later.

Results

Overall rate of biliary leak was 7.4 % (61/826). 35 patients with a grade B bile leak were considered for endoscopic treatment. 22 (63 %) had bile leaks that were peripherally located, and 13 (37 %) had bile leaks at central location. In 3 patients, sphincterotomy only was performed; in 19 patients, a stent distal to the leak and in 13 patients, a bridging stent was inserted. The overall success rate was 74 % (26/35 patients). Endoscopic treatment failed in 26 % (9/35), and mortality rate was 11 % (4/35). In all patients with leaks located at the right or left hepatic duct, treatment with the bridging stent was successful.

Conclusion

Endoscopic therapy for biliary leakage after liver resection is safe and effective and should be considered as a first-line therapy in patients who are suitable for an interventional, non-surgical approach. Patients with a centrally located leak who are treated with a bridging stent are more likely to benefit from endoscopic intervention.

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Molecular Characterization of Cotrimoxazole Resistance Genes and Their Associated Integrons in Clinical Isolates of Gram-Negative Bacteria from Tanzania

Microbial Drug Resistance , Vol. 0, No. 0.


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Air ambulance co. employees forced to work seven-day shifts to keep jobs

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah — Former employees of the Air Medical Resource Group said they were forced by the company to work shifts lasting seven days or longer in order to keep their jobs.

AMRG, the parent company of Guardian Flight, Eagle Air Med and other air ambulance services, has been accused of putting its employees in unsafe conditions to avoid hiring additional personnel.

"No one should work seven days straight," former employee Dave Cavins told the Salt-Lake Tribune. "If you are on call 24-7, even after the third day, your mind won't be fully functional."

Cavins, who now works as a nurse, retired from the air ambulance service three years ago after the company kept forcing him to work long shifts under threat of termination.

"AMRG is the reason I got out," Cavins said. "I do not want to die on the job."

AMRG affiliates in other states have been criticized for similar practices.

Jeremiah Sappington, a North Dakota medic, quit two years ago after being forced to fly in bad weather and being assigned a medical director who was frequently out of town and rarely available to call.

In Hawaii, pilot James Stone was fired in 2010 for voicing concerns about his company's safety standards. In July 2016, Stone was awarded over $760,000 for his wrongful termination.

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Firefighter Paramedic - City of Downey

DOWNEY, CITY OF 11111 BROOKSHIRE AVENUE DOWNEY, CALIFORNIA 90241 Updated: August 17, 2016 Job Classification: Firefighter/Paramedic The City of Downey is currently hiring for Firefighter/Paramedic. All testing must be completed by September 7, 2016. For more information about the job position and requirements, please visit http://ift.tt/2bds8gh. Please DO NOT call the City ...

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Community paramedicine: how EMS can work smarter, not harder

Since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, health care providers at all levels have been scrambling to become more effective in providing patient care services. Agencies have been exploring the effectiveness of programs like discharge care, clinic staffing, alternative destination guidelines and the better management of psychiatric patients.

EMS, in particular, has been in the forefront of the sea change that is happening to the healthcare landscape. An increasing number of communities have taken their tentative first steps into community paramedicine. Unfortunately, these initiatives — noble as their intentions might be — serve only a limited number of the population. The existence of these programs highlights deeper problems created by a broken and fragmented health care system that is not yet able to provide the myriad of services that are desperately needed.

One elderly couple has called their local 911 provider every day for three years to help them get out of bed. A Florida system is grappling with a small population of patients that take up a disproportionate amount of resources. Minnesota EMS providers drive hundreds of miles in order to transfer psychiatric patients to an appropriate facility. Each of these examples is a sign of a health care system that is unable to provide a safety net that makes any financial sense.

Our country spends more money per citizen on health care than any other country in the world, yet we are not ranked number one in any measurement of health care outcome. We die sooner than citizens of other industrialized countries. Our rates of obesity, infant mortality and chronic medical conditions are higher. Ironically, while we spend far more on health care than anyone else, we actually have less access to physicians. Much of the money is used to fund prescription medications, costly testing and expensive technology — which can solve specific problems, but do little to improve our nation's overall health and levels of chronic illness.

These sobering facts makes innovative projects such as community paramedicine and mobile integrated health that much more important than they might seem at first glance. Most of the current projects take low-cost, common sense approaches to fixing large scale problems by helping patients on a personal level and linking them to more appropriate care.

If more funding and attention is given to projects like community paramedicine, our nation's health care system could work more efficiently, spend money more effectively and most importantly improve patient outcomes. It is for these reasons that we must continue to push for progress on this front. As we evolve our roles away from traditional standalone emergency services, we stand poised to help create a better care system for all.

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Assessment of heart rate variability in participants with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Lalitha Surulichamy, Anandhalakshmi Swaminathan, Kanimozhi Sadasivam, Saravanan Ayyavoo.
Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. COPD kills half a million people in India every year, more than those who die due to tuberculosis, malaria, or Acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and 30 million people suffer with COPD in India.[1] The hypoxemia due to COPD might be associated with autonomic dysfunction which could be evaluated with heart rate variability (HRV). Aims and Objective: To determine the HRV in patients with COPD and to compare with normal individuals. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in 30 COPD patients attending the Department of Pulmonology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre and 30 age and sex-matched healthy individuals as a control group. A detailed history from the participants, such as weight and height, was obtained, and HRV parameters such as mean RR, mean HR, successive normal sinus RR intervals >50 ms (NN50), the percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals >50 ms (pNN50), root mean square of successive heartbeat interval differences (rMSSDs), high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF were estimated using physio-pac instrument. Results: HRV parameters such as rMSSD, NN50, PNN50, LF, HF, and LF/HF ratio show significant differences between the COPD and control (P

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A prospective observational study of use of antibiotics at emergency department in tertiary care hospital

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Mamatha V, Nagesh HN, Parashivamurthy BM.
Background: Antibiotics are most extensively used drugs in hospitals. It is documented that antibiotics in developing countries have been consumed in relatively high levels, and consequently, led to higher occurrence of improper use and greater levels of resistance when compared to developed countries. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to analyze the antibiotic prescription patterns in emergency department (ED) prescribed for various illnesses. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational study was done by analyzing prescriptions in ED for 48 h of admission in tertiary care hospital, Mysore. The number of drugs and antibiotics prescribed were recorded. Based on this data, the WHO prescribing indicators were analyzed. Results: In our study, we found a total of 1009 drugs, and 186 antibiotics were prescribed in the 150 patients studied, that is, an average of 6.73 drugs/prescription and 1.24 antibiotics/prescription. The common diagnoses were organophosphate poisoning (19.3%), multi-organ failure/septic shock (13.3%), and cerebrovascular accidents (12%). 88% of antibiotics were prescribed from the essential drugs formulary list and 47% of the prescriptions included the drugs generic name. Cephalosporins (54.3%) were the most commonly prescribed antibiotic. Conclusion: The study reveals that practice toward polypharmacy and antibiotic prescribing was frequent in ED. Hence, there is a strong need for guidelines and protocol for the use of antibiotics in ED.


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A study of stress, stressors, and coping strategies among students of a newly established medical college in South Gujarat

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Pawan Goyal, Amit Ashok Upadhyah, Dnyanesh Prabhakar Pandit, Diwakar Sharma, Deepak Howale.
Background: The medical course is considered to be very stressful for the students because of its depth and competitiveness. A newly established institute is likely to be even more stressful. Prolonged stress can cause health problems, hamper academic achievements, and affect patient care. Aims and Objectives: To assess the prevalence of perceived stress, find out the sources of stress, and assess the coping mechanisms employed by students of a newly established medical college. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive questionnaire-based study was carried out among medical students. Stress was assessed using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-14). The frequency of occurrence of stress inducing factors (stressors) from a list of 41 stressors and the frequency of usage of different coping strategies were recorded. Frequency distribution, logistic regression analysis, and Chi-square test were used for statistical analysis. Results: The overall prevalence of stress among study participants was 51.1%, mean PSS score in the study population was 27.20 ± 6.58. The most common reported stressors were: Quality of food in mess, poor road connectivity in campus, and performance in examinations. Commonly used coping strategies were: Active coping (50.2%), planning (46.0%), and positive reframing (42.2%). Conclusion: High levels of stress exist in students of a new medical college. In addition to the academic, healthrelated and psychosocial stressors which are experienced by medical students elsewhere also, these students face hardships due to under construction campus and lack of amenities. Regulatory bodies need to ensure that the basic permanent infrastructure is in place before permitting admission of students.


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A randomized prospective comparative study of weight gain between asenapine and iloperidone in patients with psychosis

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Nagesh HN, Anil Kumar Nagaraj, Kishore MS, Narendra kumar MS.
Background: Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are better for psychotic disorders, and they can induce weight gain and other serious metabolic adverse effects which can lead to non-adherence and medical comorbidities. Iloperidone and asenapine, the newer SGAs with favorable short-term side effect profile. Aims and Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the weight gain propensity associated with new SGAs drugs-asenapine and iloperidone. Materials and Methods: Randomized prospective study was conducted from December 2014 to August 2015 in the Department of Psychiatry, Tertiary Care Hospital, Mysore. 60 patients who met the criteria for acute psychosis and schizophrenia according to ICD 10 were recruited. Atypical antipsychotics, asenapine (5-20 mg), and iloperidone (8-24 mg) were administered, and their weight was measured using the digital weighing scale on day 0 (baseline), week 1, week 3, and week 6. Results: Out of 60 recruited subjects, 51 (85%) completed all four visits of the study, 41.67% with asenapine, 43.3% with iloperidone. Mean weight gain was 2.18 ± 1.84 kg with iloperidone and 1.63 ± 1.28 kg with asenapine, but it was not statistically significant between the groups. Weight gain was dose dependent; 3.56 kg mean weight gain with 15-20 mg of asenapine and 3.36 kg with 18-24 mg iloperidone-treated patients which was statistically significant. Conclusion: Mild to moderate weight gain was seen in both asenapine and iloperidone and it was dose dependent. Iloperidone showed more weight gain than asenapine.


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Comparison of efficacy of calcipotriol and betamethasone combination with betamethasone alone in plaque psoriasis

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Harish Sardar Singh, Sarala Narayana, Shivakumar Vijayarangam.
Background: Topical therapy constitutes the first line of management in mild to moderate psoriasis. Studies comparing the treatment outcome of topical calcipotriol and betamethasone dipropionate combination with betamethasone dipropionate alone in plaque psoriasis are few as per literature search. Aims and Objective: The present study evaluated the efficacy and safety of the calcipotriol and betamethasone combination in plaque psoriasis. Materials and Methods: Study was carried out among in and outpatients presenting to the Department of Dermatology, Sri R. L Jalappa Hospital and Research Centre attached to Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College, Kolar, for 1 year 4 months. 66 patients clinically diagnosed with plaque psoriasis were recruited. 32 patients were treated with topical calcipotriol 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% combination once daily and 34 with betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% twice daily topically. Clinical follow-up of patients was done using psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) at baseline, week 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. During each follow-up visit, patients were clinically examined, and the corresponding PASI scores were noted. They were also assessed for any adverse reactions. Results: By the end of 12 weeks, 30 patients in each group completed the study. In both the groups, the PASI scores reduced significantly from the baseline. The clinical response as well as reduction of PASI score in patients receiving calcipotriol 0.005% and betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% combination was statistically significant compared to betamethasone dipropionate 0.05% monotherapy. Conclusion: Calcipotriol and betamethasone combination was efficacious and well tolerated than betamethasone dipropionate monotherapy in mild to moderate plaque psoriasis.


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Assessment of cardiovascular autonomic functions in substance abusers - A cross-sectional study

2016-08-17T10-36-08Z
Source: National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology
Rajeev Sharma, Sonia Garg, Meenal Batta, Shilekh Mittal, Satish Thapar.
Background: Drug abusing is a worldwide major cause of preventable morbidity and mortality. Substance abusing affects the cardiovascular system by several mechanisms. Aims and Objectives: The objective of the present study was to study the effect of drugs on the cardiovascular autonomic functions among different drug abusers and also to identify early neurological damage in autonomic system so that proper counseling and timely intervention can be undertaken. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was done at GGS Medical College, Faridkot, Punjab, during the period from August 2012 to July 2013 in 50 drug abusers within the age group of 15-45 years, as well as in age matched 50 healthy controls. The subjects were recruited from Faridkot region of Punjab which included subjects from general population and the patients admitted in Drug De-addiction Centre of GGS Medical College and Hospital, Faridkot, Punjab. Prior informed written consents were obtained from them after explaining to them, the procedure and the purpose of the study tests. Lying to standing test was carried out for assessing parasympathetic reactivity and hand grip test for sympathetic reactivity. Results: After applying the t test for the difference between the two sample means, it was observed that there was a highly significant difference between the mean values of the parasympathetic function tests among the drug abusers and the controls (i.e., P

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Awake fiberoptic intubation in patients of deep neck infections: experience at rural tertiary care hospital: case series

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Roshan M Shende, Shital N Mankar, Durgesh G Deshmukh, Damodar S Patwardhan.
Background: Patients with deep neck infection (DNI) especially those with Ludwigs angina, may die as a result of airway management mishaps. Skill full airway management is critical but a safe method of airway control in these patients is yet to be established. Awake fiberoptic intubation under topical anesthesia may be ideal method to secure the airway in deep neck infection. Objective: To study the effect and outcome of awake fiberoptic intubation in patients of deep neck infections. Materials and Methods: The prospective observational case study of 30 patients with deep neck infection has been done over a period of January 2013 to December 2015 (36 month), who were subjected to awake fiberoptic intubation. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy for intubation under topical anesthesia has been done. Result: The preintubation scopy gave proper assessment and preparation of airway. With redo scopy, all patients undergone intubation successfully without any complications. Conclusion: In skilled and experienced hands fiberoptic intubation is a sophisticated and less invasive method of securing airway in patients with deep neck infections.


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Comparative study of continuous epidural 0.1% Ropivacaine versus 0.125% Bupivacaine on post-operative pain relief following total knee replacement

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Jigna Shah, Ruchin Parikh.
Background: Bupivacaine has similar pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties to Ropivacaine but has shown to have higher cardiac and CNS toxicity and greater separation between sensory and motor block. Objective: To compare the efficacy of continuous infusion of epidural Ropivacaine and Bupivacaine for post-operative analgesia, study the effect of two drugs in maintaining the hemodynamic stability and post-operative complications of both the drugs. Materials and Methods: 60 patients were randomly allocated to receive epidural, continuous infusion of 0.1% Ropivacaine (Group A), or continuous infusion of 0.125% Bupivacaine (Group B). Result: Ropivacaine group has less fluctuation in pulse, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, oxygen saturation than Bupivacaine group and difference was statistically significant. Pain relief was batter among Bupivacaine group of patients as compared to Ropivacaine group. And difference was significant. Pain appears early in group of Ropivacaine group as compared to group of Bupivacaine. Conclusion: 0.1% Ropivacaine produced excellent post-operative epidural analgesia, which was clinically indistinguishable from a 0.125% concentration of Bupivacaine with the advantage of hemodynamic stability, fewer incidences of complication or adverse effect and patients satisfaction.


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Comparative evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis drug susceptibility testing between Direct Nitrate Reductase assay and Direct Proportion Method

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Neelu Jain, Nitin Jain, Vaishali Jain.
Background: Drug resistance multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensive drug resistant (XDR) in tuberculosis (TB) is a matter of great concern for TB control programs. There is concern and need for early diagnosis of these multi-drug-resistant strains for better treatment. Objective: To compare the usefulness of Nitrate Reductase Assay (NRA) and direct proportion as a tool for rapid and accurate detection of resistance to first line anti-tubercular drugs. Material and Methods: A total of 120 sputum-positive AFB smears of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients were selected for the study. The samples were processed by NRA and direct proportion for assessment of drug susceptibility testing to first line anti-tubercular drugs. Results: The sensitivity of NRA was 100%, 92.30%, 81.81%, and 72.72 % for RIF, INH, EMB, and STR, respectively. The specificity of NRA was 100%, 100%, 96.33%, and 89.79% for RIF, INH, EMB, and STR, respectively. The performance of NRA susceptibility testing was rapid and the median time of obtaining results was shorter using NRA (10 days) as compared to PM (28 days). Conclusion: Direct NRA is simple, easy to perform, rapid, relatively less expensive, without requirement of expensive reagents and sophisticated equipments. It is useful tool suitable for early determination, first line anti-tubercular drugs namely rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and streptomycin with excellent concordance for INH and RIF resistance and relatively low accuracy for streptomycin, with good sensitivity and specificity.


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A cross-sectional study to identify the factors associated with utilisation of healthcare for non-communicable diseases in a southern part of India

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Devarshi Bhattacharyya, Sanjay M Pattanshetty, Chandreyee Duttagupta.
Background: In India, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are a serious threat to human resources, as the recent data suggests that one in four Indians are at a risk of dying of NCDs before they reach 70 years of age. Healthcare utilisation is a major policy issue to tackle the threat of non-communicable diseases. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the factors and build a regression model that shows how the various factors affect health care service utilisation for non-communicable diseases across rural and urban households of Udupi taluk, Karnataka. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done to study the objective. Two-stage cluster sampling technique was used in both rural and urban areas. Thirty villages and 30 urban wards of Udupi taluk were selected by the probability proportional to size (PPS) technique. Result: On univariate analysis, the factors found to be significant (p-value

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Study of serum transferrin and serum ferritin during pregnancy and their correlation with pregnancy outcome

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Shailesh Kumar, Namrata Dubey, Ruchir Khare.
Background: Iron deficiency is more prevalent in young children and women of reproductive age group. Iron deficiency is generally slow to develop and often remain undetected until clinical picture arises due to its deficiency. Thus, early detection of iron deficiency is beneficial before the anemia sets in. The maternal iron level is important for the growth of growing fetus and is always required to have markers which can detect iron deficiency in early stage. The timely implementation of intervention to correct maternal iron status will improve the maternal outcome. Objectives: To study levels of serum transferrin and serum ferritin during pregnancy and their correlation with outcome of pregnancy. Materials and Methods: Longitudinal study was conducted on pregnant women reporting antenatal clinic in first trimester. Data in each trimester of 57 women was collected. Birth weight of new born delivered was recorded and statistical analysis was done by paired t-test. Result: 57 pregnant women were divided into two groups according to weight of delivered babies. 46 delivered low birth and 11 delivered normal birth weight babies. Serum transferrin was significantly higher (p

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Using qualitative approaches to develop a complex construct: measuring socioeconomic position

2016-08-17T09-57-13Z
Source: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health
Uma. V. Sankar, Mala Ramanathan, V. Raman Kutty.
Socioeconomic position (SEP) is a complex construct to define and measure in the health context. In the present study, the multidimensionality, complexity, and the dynamicity of the construct socioeconomic position were addressed. These three characteristics of the construct were interrelated to each other. This made the process of measuring SEP more difficult. Qualitative approaches were used to overcome the methodological challenges of measuring this construct.


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PRODUCTION, IMMOBILIZATION AND INDUSTRIAL USES OF PENICILLIN G ACYLASE

2016-08-17T00-00-33Z
Source: International Journal of Current Research and Review
Mohamed E. Hassan.
Penicillin Gacylase in one of the most important enzymes, it belonging to β-lactam antibiotics, first report on the enzyme penicillin acylase was in 1950 when they found in the mycelium of a Penicillium sp. The enzyme appeared to be a periplasmaticheterodimeric N-terminal serinehydrolase with a molecular mass of 86,183 Da, with a 23,817 Da (209 amino acids)α-subunit and a 62,366 Da (566 amino acids) β-subunit. This enzyme is capable of hydrolyzing penicillin G into phenyl acetic acid and 6-aminopenicillanic acid (6-APA) so this enzyme isthe starting material for the manufacture of penicillin derivatives, which are the most widely used β-lactam antibiotics. Both natural and semi-synthetic penicillins contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid.


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COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF PLASMODIUM LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE BASED RAPID IMMUNOCHROMATOGRAPHIC TEST ASSAY AND ROUTINE MICROSCOPIC TEST IN DIAGNOSIS OF MALARIA AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING IN A RURAL TEACHING HOSPITAL, SANGAREDDY

2016-08-17T00-00-33Z
Source: International Journal of Current Research and Review
Prudhvi Chand Mallepaddi, Nagababu Pyadala, Soumendra Nath Maity, Rajaneesh Borugadda, Rohit C. P., Sudhakar Poda, Rathnagiri Polavarapu.
Objectives: The present study was aimed to evaluate routine microscopic examination and plasmodium lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH) based immuno chromatographic assay for the rapid detection of malaria. Methods: This study was carried out at the Department of Research, MNR medical collage & Hospital, sangareddy, Telangana from 2012 to 2015. Thick and thin blood smears were stained by giemsa staining followed by microscopy. All the specimens were tested by rapid test kit and confirmed by Western blot method. Results: In our study out of 1870 clinically suspected cases, 295 (15.78%) were positive for P. falciparum by microscopy and 296 (15.82%) were positive by ICT method. 72 (3.85%) cases were positive for P. vivax by both the methods. Conclusion: Although microscopy is gold standard method to detect malaria parasites from blood smear, it requires well experienced person and well established laboratory. On other hand rapid ICT kit is a very simple, inexpensive, user-friendly, point of care and effective diagnostic assay that can be done at the bedside for detecting malarial parasites.


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CURLI FIBRES AND PRION STRUCTURAL REVERSIONS – IMPLICATIONS TO PHYSICAL BIOLOGY STUDIES

2016-08-17T00-00-33Z
Source: International Journal of Current Research and Review
A. Barbora.
New investigations in the field of protein structures, bacterial exudes and prion research; and related experimental indications derived suggest that when infectious forms of prion plaques placed in or with resistance providing variant form(s) are irradiated with appropriate laser power; reversions of prion plaques into structures like coils, helices, etc. may hypothetically take place. These structures are less stable than the beta sheets, hence more susceptible to being biologically cleared off the plaque residues. This provides for a means to effectively cure or prevent prion like amyloid plaque related diseases; with further implications for physical biology.


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