Medicine by Alexandros G.Sfakianakis,Anapafseos 5 Agios Nikolaos,Crete 72100,Greece,tel :00302841026: 11/15/17

Τετάρτη 15 Νοεμβρίου 2017

K2P TASK-2 and KCNQ1/KCNE3 K+ channels are major players contributing to intestinal anion and fluid secretion

Abstract

Anion and fluid secretion across the intestinal epithelium, a process altered in cystic fibrosis and secretory diarrhoea, is mediated by cAMP-activated CFTR Cl⁻ channels and requires the simultaneous activity of basolateral K⁺ channels to maintain cellular ionic homeostasis and membrane potential. This function is fulfilled by the cAMP-activated K⁺ channel formed by the association of pore-forming KCNQ1 with its obligatory KCNE3 β-subunit. Studies using mice show sizable cAMP-activated intestinal anion secretion in the absence of either KCNQ1 or KCNE3 suggesting that an alternative K⁺ conductance must compensate for the loss of KCNQ1/KCNE3 activity. We now use double mutant mouse and pharmacological approaches to identify such conductance. Ca²⁺-dependent anion secretion can also be supported by Ca²⁺-dependent K_Ca3.1 channels after independent CFTR activation, but cAMP-dependent anion secretion is not further decreased in the combined absence of K_Ca3.1 and KCNQ1/KCNE3 K⁺ channel activity. We show that K_2P K⁺ channel TASK-2 is expressed in the epithelium of the small and large intestine. Tetrapentylammonium, a TASK-2 inhibitor, abolishes anion secretory current remaining in the absence of KCNQ1/KCNE3 activity. A double mutant mouse lacking both KCNQ1/KCNE3 and TASK-2 showed a much reduced cAMP-mediated anion secretion compared to that observed in the single KCNQ1/KCNE3 deficient mouse. We conclude that KCNQ1/KCNE3 and TASK-2 play major roles in the intestinal anion and fluid secretory phenotype. The persistence of an, admittedly reduced, secretory activity in the absence of these two conductances suggests that further additional K⁺ channel(s) as yet unidentified contribute to the robustness of the intestinal anion secretory process.

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Upregulation of Tyrosine Kinase FYN in Human Thyroid Carcinoma: Role in Modulating Tumor Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration

Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Nov 2017, Vol. 32, No. 9: 320-326.

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Comparative In Vitro Study of 11C-Methionine and 11C-Deuterodeprenyl Uptake in Three Human Glioma Cell Lines

Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Nov 2017, Vol. 32, No. 9: 344-350.

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Upregulation of Tyrosine Kinase FYN in Human Thyroid Carcinoma: Role in Modulating Tumor Cell Proliferation, Invasion, and Migration

Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Nov 2017, Vol. 32, No. 9: 320-326.

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Comparative In Vitro Study of 11C-Methionine and 11C-Deuterodeprenyl Uptake in Three Human Glioma Cell Lines

Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Nov 2017, Vol. 32, No. 9: 344-350.

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Genotyping-by-Sequencing in Almond: SNP Discovery, Linkage Mapping and Marker Design

In crop plant genetics, linkage maps provide the basis for the mapping of loci that affect important traits and for the selection of markers to be applied in crop improvement. In outcrossing species such as almond [Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb], application of a double pseudo-testcross mapping approach to the F₁ progeny of a bi-parental cross leads to the construction of a linkage map for each parent. Here, we report on the application of genotyping-by-sequencing to discover and map single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the almond cultivars 'Nonpareil' and 'Lauranne'. Allele-specific marker assays were developed for 309 tag pairs. Application of these assays to 231 'Nonpareil' x 'Lauranne' F₁ progeny provided robust linkage maps for each parent. Analysis of phenotypic data for shell hardness demonstrated the utility of these maps for quantitative trait locus mapping. Comparison of these maps to the peach genome assembly confirmed high synteny and collinearity between the peach and almond genomes. The marker assays were applied to progeny from several other 'Nonpareil' crosses, providing the basis for a composite linkage map of 'Nonpareil'. Applications of the assays to a panel of almond clones and a panel of rootstocks used for almond production demonstrated the broad applicability of the markers and providing subsets of markers that could be used to discriminate among accessions. The sequence-based linkage maps and single nucleotide polymorphism assays presented here could be useful resources for the genetic analysis and genetic improvement of almond.

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RNA-Sequencing of Drosophila melanogaster Head Tissue on High Sugar and High Fat Diets

Obesity has been shown to increase risk for cardiovascular disease and type-2 diabetes. In addition, it has been implicated in aggravation of neurological conditions such as Alzheimer's. In the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, a physiological state mimicking diet-induced obesity can be induced by subjecting fruit flies to a solid medium disproportionately higher in sugar than protein or that has been supplemented with a rich source of saturated fat. These flies can exhibit increased circulating glucose levels, increased triglyceride content, insulin-like peptide resistance, and behavior indicative of neurological decline. We subjected flies to variants of the high-sugar diet, high-fat diet, or normal (control) diet, followed by a total RNA extraction from fly heads of each diet group for the purpose of Poly-A selected RNA-Sequencing. Our objective was to identify the effects of obesogenic diets on transcriptome patterns, how they differed between obesogenic diets, and identify genes that may relate to pathogenesis accompanying an obesity-like state. Gene ontology analysis indicated an overrepresentation of affected genes associated with immunity, metabolism, and hemocyanin in the high-fat diet group, and CHK, cell cycle activity, and DNA binding and transcription in the high-sugar diet group. Our results also indicate differences in the effects of the high-fat diet and high-sugar diet on expression profiles in head tissue of flies, despite the reportedly similar phenotypic impacts of the diets. The impacted genes, and how they may relate to pathogenesis in the Drosophila obesity-like state, warrant further experimental investigation.

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Analysis of Copy Number Variants on Chromosome 21 in Down Syndrome-Associated Congenital Heart Defects

One in five people with Down syndrome (DS) are born with an atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD), an incidence 2,000 times higher than in the euploid population. The genetic loci that contribute to this risk are poorly understood. In this study, we tested two hypotheses: 1) individuals with DS carrying chromosome 21 copy number variants (CNVs) that interrupt exons may be protected from AVSD, because these CNVs return AVSD susceptibility loci back to disomy, and 2) individuals with DS carrying chromosome 21 genes spanned by microduplications are at greater risk for AVSD because these microduplications boost the dosage of AVSD susceptibility loci beyond a tolerable threshold. We tested 198 case individuals with DS+AVSD and 211 control individuals with DS and a normal heart using a custom microarray with dense probes tiled on chromosome 21 for array CGH. We found that neither an individual chromosome 21 CNV nor any individual gene intersected by a CNV was associated with AVSD in DS. Burden analyses revealed that African American controls had more bases covered by rare deletions than did African American cases. Inversely, we found that Caucasian cases had more genes intersected by rare duplications than did Caucasian controls. We also showed that previously DS+AVSD-associated common CNVs on chromosome 21 failed to replicate. This research adds to the swell of evidence indicating that DS-associated AVSD is similarly heterogeneous, as is AVSD in the euploid population.

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Standardized automated training of rhesus monkeys for neuroscience research in their housing environment

Teaching non-human primates the complex cognitive behavioral tasks that are central to cognitive neuroscience research is an essential and challenging endeavor. It is crucial for the scientific success that the animals learn to interpret the often complex task rules, and reliably and enduringly act accordingly. To achieve consistent behavior and comparable learning histories across animals, it is desirable to standardize training protocols. Automatizing the training can significantly reduce the time invested by the person training the animal. And self-paced training schedules with individualized learning speeds based on automatic updating of task conditions could enhance the animals' motivation and welfare. We developed a training paradigm for across-task unsupervised training (AUT) of successively more complex cognitive tasks to be administered through a stand-alone housing-based system optimized for rhesus monkeys in neuroscience research settings (Calapai et al. 2016). The AUT revealed inter-individual differences in long-term learning progress between animals, helping to characterize learning personalities, and commonalities, helping to identify easier and more difficult learning steps in the training protocol. Our results demonstrate that (1) rhesus monkeys stay engaged with the AUT over months despite access to water and food outside the experimental sessions, but with lower numbers of interaction compared to conventional fluid-controlled training; (2) with unsupervised training across sessions and task levels, rhesus monkeys can learn tasks of sufficient complexity for state-of-the art cognitive neuroscience in their housing environment; (3) AUT learning progress is primarily determined by the number of interactions with the system rather than the mere exposure time.

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Novel Ca2+-Dependent Mechanisms Regulate Spontaneous Release at Excitatory Synapses onto CA1 Pyramidal Cells

Although long thought to simply be a source of synaptic noise, spontaneous, action-potential independent release of neurotransmitter from presynaptic terminals has multiple roles in synaptic function. We explored whether and to what extent the two predominantly proposed mechanisms for explaining spontaneous release, stochastic activation of voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels (VGCCs) or activation of Ca²⁺-sensing receptors (CaSRs) by extracelluar Ca²⁺, played a role in the sensitivity of spontaneous release to the level of extracellular Ca²⁺ concentration at excitatory synapses at CA1 pyramidal cells of the adult, male mouse hippocampus. Blocking VGCCs with Cd²⁺ had no effect on spontaneous release, ruling out stochastic activation of VGCCs. Although divalent cation agonists of CaSRs, Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺, dramatically enhanced mEPSC frequency, potent positive and negative allosteric modulators of CaSRs had no effect. Moreover, immunoblot analysis of hippocampal lysates failed to detect CaSR expression, ruling out the CaSR. Instead, the increase in mEPSC frequency induced by Co²⁺ and Mg²⁺ was mimicked by lowering postsynaptic Ca²⁺ levels with BAPTA. Together, our results suggest that a reduction in intracellular Ca²⁺ may trigger a homeostatic-like compensatory response that upregulates spontaneous transmission at excitatory synapses onto CA1 pyramidal cells in the adult hippocampus.

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Assessing TMS-induced D- and I-waves with spinal H-reflexes

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of motor cortex produces a series of descending volleys known as D- (direct) and I- (indirect) waves. In the present study, we questioned whether spinal H-reflexes can be used to dissect D-waves, early and late I-waves from TMS. We therefore probed H-reflex facilitation at arrival times of D- and I-waves at the spinal level and thereby changed TMS parameters that have previously been shown to have selective effects on evoked D- and different I-waves. We changed TMS intensity and current direction, and applied a double-pulse paradigm known as short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI). Experiments were conducted in flexor carpi radialis (FCR) in the arm and soleus (SOL) in the leg. There were two major findings: I) In FCR, H-reflex facilitation showed characteristic modulations with altered TMS-parameters that correspond to the changes of evoked D- and I-waves. II) H-reflexes in SOL did not, possibly because of increased interference from other spinal circuits. Therefore, the most significant outcome of this study is that in FCR, H-reflexes combined with TMS seem to be a useful technique to dissect TMS-induced D- and I-waves.

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Response of supra oculomotor area neurons during combined saccade-vergence movements

Combined saccade-vergence movements allow humans and other primates to align their eyes with objects of interest in three-dimensions. In the absence of saccades, vergence movements are typically slow, symmetrical movements of the two eyes in opposite directions. However, combined saccade-vergence movements produce vergence velocities that exceed values observed during vergence alone. This phenomenon is often called "vergence enhancement", or "saccade-facilitated vergence," though it is important to consider that rapid vergence changes, known as "vergence transients," are also observed during conjugate saccades. We developed a visual target array that allows monkeys to make saccades in all directions between targets spaced at distances that correspond to ~1o intervals of vergence angle relative to the monkey. We recorded the activity of vergence-sensitive neurons in the supra-oculomotor area (SOA), located dorsal and lateral to the oculomotor nucleus while monkeys made saccades with vergence amplitudes ranging from 0-10o. The primary focus of this study was to test the hypothesis that neurons in the SOA fire a high frequency burst of spikes during saccades that could generate the enhanced vergence. We found that individual neurons encode vergence velocity during both saccadic and non-saccadic vergence, yet firing rates were insufficient to produce the observed enhancement of vergence velocity. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that slow vergence changes are encoded by the SOA while fast vergence movements require an additional contribution from the saccadic system.

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The acquisition of skilled finger movements is accompanied by the reorganization of the corticospinal system

Dexterous finger movements are often characterized by highly coordinated movements. Such coordination might be derived from reorganization of the corticospinal system. In this study, we investigated 1) the manner in which finger movement covariation patterns are acquired by examining the effects of the implicit and explicit learning of a serial reaction time task (SRTT), and 2) how such changes in finger coordination are represented in the corticospinal system. The subjects learned a button press sequence in both implicit and explicit learning conditions. In the implicit conditions, they were naive about what they are learning, whereas in the explicit conditions the subjects consciously learnt the order of the sequence elements. Principal component analysis decomposed both the voluntary movements produced during the SRTT and the passive movements evoked by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) over the primary motor cortex into a set of 5 finger joint covariation patterns. The structures of the voluntary and passive TMS-evoked movement patterns were reorganized by implicit learning, but not explicit learning. Furthermore, in the implicit learning conditions the finger covariation patterns derived from the TMS-evoked and voluntary movements spanned similar movement subspaces. These results provide the first evidence that skilled sequential finger movements are acquired differently through implicit and explicit learning; i.e., the changes in finger coordination patterns induced by implicit learning are accompanied by functional reorganization of the corticospinal system, whereas explicit learning results in faster recruitment of individual finger movements without causing any changes in finger coordination.

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Patterns of intermuscular inhibitory force feedback across cat hindlimbs suggest a flexible system for regulating whole limb mechanics

Prior work has suggested that Golgi tendon organ feedback, via its distributed network linking muscles spanning all joints, could be used by the nervous system to help regulate whole limb mechanics if appropriately organized. We tested this hypothesis by characterizing the patterns of intermuscular force dependent feedback between the primary extensor muscles spanning the knee, ankle and toes in decerebrate cat hindlimbs. Intermuscular force feedback was evaluated by stretching tendons of selected muscles in isolation and in pairwise combinations and then measuring the resulting force dependent intermuscular interactions. The relative inhibitory feedback between extensor muscles was examined, as well as symmetry of the interactions across limbs. Differences in the directional biases of inhibitory feedback were observed across cats, with three patterns identified as points on a spectrum: Pattern 1) directional bias of inhibitory feedback onto the ankle extensors and toe flexors, Pattern 2) convergence of inhibitory feedback onto ankle extensors and mostly balanced inhibitory feedback between V and FHL, and Pattern 3) directional bias of inhibitory feedback onto ankle and knee extensors. The patterns of inhibitory feedback, while different across cats, were symmetric across limbs of individual cats. The variable but structured distribution of force feedback across cat hindlimbs provides preliminary evidence that inhibitory force feedback could be a regulated neural control variable. We propose the directional biases of inhibitory feedback observed experimentally could provide important task dependent benefits, such as directionally appropriate joint compliance, joint coupling, and compensation for nonuniform inertia.

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Fast oscillation dynamics during hypsarrhythmia as a localization biomarker

Hypsarrhythmia in West syndrome, although hard to define, is characterized by chaotic and disorganized electrical activity of the brain and is often regarded as a generalized EEG pattern without any localization value. Using event-related spectral perturbation (ERSP), we tried to determine the brain dynamics during hypsarrhythmia. Routine 1-h scalp EEGs were retrieved from 31 patients with infantile spasms and 20 age-matched controls. Using the EEGLAB toolbox of MATLAB 2015b, the ERSPs of fast oscillations (FOs; 20-100 Hz) of selected channels were analyzed and compared among groups according to their MRI lesions. FO-ERSP cutoff values for predicting the pathologic foci were estimated. The mean FO-ERSPs across all analyzed electrodes of patients with spasms were significantly higher than those of controls. When the patients were categorized into non-lesional, focal/multifocal, or diffuse lesional groups, the FO-ERSP of patients in the focal/multifocal lesional group was significantly lower than that of those in the non-focal or diffuse lesional groups. In the focal/multifocal lesional group, seven patients (7/9, 77.8%) showed that the locations of channels with high FO-ERSPs were matched to the pathologic MRI lesions. Thus, the localization of high FO-ERSPs is closely associated with the location of pathologic brain lesions. Further research is required to prove the value of the FO-ERSP as an important quantitative localizing biomarker of West syndrome.

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Developmental changes in spinal neuronal properties, motor network configuration and neuromodulation at free-swimming stages of Xenopus frog tadpoles.

We describe a novel preparation of the isolated brainstem and spinal cord from pro-metamorphic tadpole stages of the South African clawed frog (Xenopus laevis) that permits whole cell patch-clamp recordings from neurons in the ventral spinal cord. Previous research on earlier stages of the same species has provided one of the most detailed understandings of the design and operation of a CPG circuit. Here we have addressed how development sculpts complexity from this more basic circuit. The preparation generates bouts of fictive swimming activity either spontaneously or in response to electrical stimulation of the optic tectum, allowing an investigation into how the neuronal properties, activity patterns and neuromodulation of locomotor rhythm generation change during development. We describe an increased repertoire of cellular responses compared to younger larval stages and investigate the cellular level effects of nitrergic neuromodulation as well as the development of a sodium pump-mediated ultra-slow afterhyperpolarisation (usAHP) in these free-swimming larval animals.

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Physiological and pathophysiological firing properties of single postganglionic sympathetic neurons in humans

It has long been known from microneurographic recordings in human subjects that activity of postganglionic sympathetic axons occurs as spontaneous bursts, with muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) exhibiting strong cardiac rhythmicity via the baroreflex and skin sympathetic nerve activity (SSNA) showing much weaker cardiac modulation. Here we review the firing properties of single sympathetic neurons, obtained using highly selective microelectrodes. Individual vasoconstrictor neurons supplying muscle or skin, or sudomotor neurones supplying sweat glands, always discharge with a low firing probability (~30%) and at very low frequencies (~0.5 Hz). Moreover, they usually fire only once per cardiac interval, but can fire >4 times within a burst. Modeling has shown that this pattern can best be explained by individual neurons being driven by, on average, two preganglionic inputs. Unitary recordings of muscle vasoconstrictor neurons have been made in several pathophysiological states, including heart failure, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnea, bronchiectasis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression and panic disorder. The augmented MSNA in each of these diseases features an increase in firing probability and discharge frequency of individual muscle vasoconstrictor neurons above that seen in healthy subjects, yet firing rates rarely exceed 1 Hz. However, unlike patients with heart failure, all patients with respiratory disease or panic disorder, and patients with hyperhidrosis, exhibited an increase in multiple within-burst firing, which emphasizes the different modes by which the sympathetic nervous system grades its output in pathophysiological states of high sympathetic nerve activity.

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Abnormal visual gain control and excitotoxicity in early-onset Parkinson's disease Drosophila models

The excitotoxic theory of Parkinson's disease (PD) hypothesises that a pathophysiological degeneration of dopaminergic neurons stems from neural hyperactivity at early stages of disease, leading to mitochondrial stress and cell death. Recent research has harnessed the visual system of Drosophila PD models to probe this hypothesis. Here, we investigate whether abnormal visual sensitivity and excitotoxicity occur in early-onset PD Drosophila models DJ-172, DJ1-93, and PINK15. We used an electroretinogram to record steady state visually evoked potentials driven by temporal contrast stimuli. At 1 day of age, all early-onset PD mutants had a twofold increase in response amplitudes when compared to w- controls. Further, we found that excitotoxicity occurs in older early-onset PD models after increased neural demand is applied via visual stimulation. In an additional analysis, we used a linear discriminant analysis to test whether there were subtle variations in neural gain control that could be used to classify Drosophila into their correct age and genotype. The discriminant analysis was highly accurate, classifying Drosophila into their correct genotypic class at all age groups at 50-70% accuracy (20% chance baseline). Differences in cellular processes link to subtle alterations in neural network operation in young flies - all of which lead to the same pathogenic outcome. Our data are the first to demonstrate abnormal gain control and excitotoxicity in early-onset PD Drosophila mutants. We conclude that early-onset PD mutations may be linked to more sensitive neuronal signalling in prodromal animals that may cause the expression of PD symptomologies later in life.

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Short-term high-fat diet primes excitatory synapses for long-term depression in orexin neurons

Abstract

Overconsumption of high-fat diets is one of the strongest contributing factors to the rise of obesity rates. Orexin neurons are known to be activated by palatable high-fat diet and mediate the activation of the mesolimbic reward pathway, resulting in further food intake. While short-term exposure to high-fat diet is known to induce synaptic plasticity within the mesolimbic pathway, it is unknown if such changes occur in orexin neurons. To investigate this, 3-week old male rats were fed a palatable high-fat western diet (WD) or control chow for 1 week and then in vitro patch clamp recording was performed. In the WD condition, an activity-dependent long-term depression (LTD) of excitatory synapses was observed in orexin neurons, but not in chow controls. This LTD was presynaptic and depended on postsynaptic metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGluR5) and retrograde endocannabinoid signalling. WD also increased extracellular glutamate levels, suggesting that glutamate spillover and subsequent activation of perisynaptic mGluR5 may occur more readily in the WD condition. In support of this, pharmacological inhibition of glutamate uptake was sufficient to prime chow control synapses to undergo a presynaptic LTD. Interestingly, these WD effects are transient, as extracellular glutamate levels were similar to controls and LTD was no longer observed in orexin neurons after 4 weeks of WD. In summary, excitatory synapses to orexin neurons become amenable to LTD under palatable high-fat diet, which may represent a homeostatic mechanism to prevent overactivation of these neurons and to curtail high-fat diet consumption.

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Volunteer EMS: Responding to common excuses, criticisms

By EMS1 Staff EMS agencies are struggling to recruit and retain volunteer EMS providers. EMS volunteers, according to a report, answer close to half of the nation's 911 calls and up to 90 percent in the most rural states. It's true – volunteer EMS isn't for everyone. Our Facebook fans joined the conversation, sounding off on common excuses preventing people from volunteering as EMS ...

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A combination of clinical risk stratification and fecal immunochemical test is useful for identifying persons with high priority of early colonoscopy

We aimed to develop a combination screening strategy for advanced colorectal neoplasia based on the Asia-Pacific Colorectal Screening score and fecal immunochemical test results.

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A rare case of esophageal lymphoepithelial carcinoma without Epstein-Barr virus infection

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Psychological and Psychophysiological Effects of Recuperative Music Postexercise.

Purpose: Few studies have examined the psychological and psychophysiological effects of recuperative music following exhaustive exercise. The main purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of two music conditions compared with a no-music control on psychological and psychophysiological recovery processes post-exercise. Methods: A randomized, fully counterbalanced, crossover design was used. Core affect, salivary cortisol, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured before exhaustive exercise, immediately after, and in 10-, 20-, and 30-min intervals during passive recovery (21 women and 21 men; 20.9 +/- 1.7 yr) over three separate trials (slow, sedative music; fast, stimulative music; no-music control). The exercise task entailed incremental cycle ergometry performed at 75 rpm with a 22.5 W.min-1 increase in intensity at the end of each minute until exhaustion. Data were analyzed using mixed-model 3 (condition) x 4 (time) x 2 (gender) MANOVA/ANCOVA. Results: The largest decline in affective arousal between active and passive recovery phases was evident in the slow, sedative condition ([eta]p2 = 0.50). Women had a more pronounced reduction in arousal than men in the slow, sedative music condition. Heart rate measures showed that fast, stimulative music inhibited the return of heart rate toward resting levels ([eta]p2 = 0.06). Similarly, salivary cortisol levels tended to be lower in response to slow, sedative music ([eta]p2 = 0.11). There was a main effect of condition for affective valence indicating that the slow, sedative condition elicited more positive affective responses than the control and fast, stimulative conditions ([eta]p2 = 0.12). Conclusions: The present findings support the notion that slow, sedative music can expedite the recovery process immediately after strenuous exercise. (C) 2017 American College of Sports Medicine

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A Construct Validation Study of PLAYfun.

Introduction: PLAYfun is a measure of motor competence, comprehension and confidence which is part of a suite of scales used to assess physical literacy in children and youth. However, its measurement properties have not been reported in the published literature. The purpose of this study is to examine the factor structure of PLAYfun, in addition to variations in PLAYfun subscale results by age and sex. Method: In this study, we use a sample of children and youth aged 7 to 14 years (n=215) to test a proposed factor structure for the motor competence component of PLAYfun and to examine age and sex differences in subscale and total scores. The initial (n=128) and secondary (n=98) samples were drawn from a stratified (by geographic region), random sample of 27 afterschool programs from a larger pool of 400 programs across the province of Ontario. Seven research assistants were initially trained on the administration of PLAYfun and rated a small pilot sample of 10 children. These trained assessors then assessed the full sample.. Results: Inter-rater agreement was very good (ICC=.87). The hypothesized 5-factor structure of the scale was found to have an acceptable fit to the data (RMSEA = 0.055, 90% CI = 0.03 to 0.075; CFI = 0.95; TLI = 0.94). In general, PLAYfun scores increased with age as developmentally expected. There were few sex differences across skills, but girls did not perform as well as boys on upper and lower body object control skills. Conclusion: The factor structure and patterns of results by age and sex support PLAYfun as a measure of motor competence. Continued evaluation of the tool and other subscales of PLAY are required. (C) 2017 American College of Sports Medicine

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Isotemporal Substitution of Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity on Function.

The amount of time spent in sedentary behaviors (SB) progressively increases with age, while reducing time spent in light (LPA) and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). These trajectories in PA and SB are linked to accelerated reductions in physical functioning. PURPOSE: To examine the association of substituting SB time with LPA and MVPA on physical function in older adults. METHODS: Ninety-one older adults (mean age: 70.7 +/- 10.2 yr) wore a hip-mounted accelerometer to measure SB, LPA, and MVPA time. Measures of physical function included a 400m walk test (400W), usual gait speed (UGS), and 5-time sit-to-stand (5xSTS), and the short physical performance battery (SPPB). Isotemporal substitution regression modeling was performed to assess the relationship of replacing the amount of time spent in one activity for another. RESULTS: Replacing 30 min[BULLET OPERATOR]d-1 of SB with LPA was associated with a significant improvement in 400W (p = 0.0497), while MVPA resulted in a significant improvement (p

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Associations between BMI Change and Cardiometabolic Risk in Retired Football Players.

Purpose: Elevated rates of cardiometabolic diseases have been observed in former American football players. The current study sought to determine if change in body mass index ([DELTA]BMI) following retirement influences the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, or high blood pressure (HBP) in former professional football players. Methods: Retired professional football players (n=3,729) were sent a survey with questions regarding health status, playing history, and demographic information. Self-reported BMI at the time of retirement was subtracted from current self-reported BMI to calculate [DELTA]BMI. Prevalence of CHD, diabetes, and HBP were determined by asking participants if they had ever been diagnosed by a healthcare professional. Binomial regression with a Poisson residual and robust variance estimation was used to compute crude prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for each outcome. Adjusted PRs were calculated by adjusting for BMI at the time of retirement, age, years of football experience, race, exercise habits, alcohol use, steroid history, smoking history, and playing position. Results: Complete data were available for 2,062 respondents. Prevalence of CHD increased 25-31% for each 5-point increase in [DELTA]BMI following retirement (Crude PR: 1.25; 95%CI: 1.03-1.52; p=0.026; Adjusted PR: 1.31; 95%CI: 1.11-1.55; p=0.001). Diabetes prevalence increased 69-88% for each 5-point [DELTA]BMI increase (Crude: 1.88; 95%CI: 1.45-2.44; p

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Cold-Water Ingestion Improves Exercise Tolerance of Heat-Sensitive People with MS.

Purpose: Heat intolerance commonly affects the exercise capacity of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) during bouts of hot weather. Cold-water ingestion is a simple cooling strategy but its efficacy for prolonging exercise capacity with MS remains undetermined. We sought to identify whether cold-water ingestion blunts exercise-induced rises in body temperature and improves exercise tolerance in heat-sensitive individuals with MS. Methods: On two separate occasions, 20 participants (10 relapsing-remitting MS (EDSS: 1-5); 10 age-matched healthy controls (CON)) cycled at ~40% VO2max at 30[degrees]C, 30%RH until volitional exhaustion (or a maximum of 60 min). Every 15 minutes, participants ingested 3.2 mL[middle dot]kg-1 of either 1.5[degrees]C (CLD) or 37[degrees]C (NEU) water. Rectal (Tre) temperature, mean skin (Tsk) temperature, and heart rate (HR) were measured throughout. Results: All 10 CON, but only 3 of 10 MS participants completed 60 minutes of exercise in NEU trial. The remaining 7 MS participants all cycled longer (P=0.006) in CLD (46.4+/-14.2 min) compared to NEU (32.7+/-11.5 min), despite a similar absolute Tre (NEU: 37.32+/-0.34[degrees]C; CLD: 37.28+/-0.26[degrees]C; P=0.44), change in Tre (NEU: 0.38+/-0.21[degrees]C; CLD: 0.34+/-0.24[degrees]C), absolute Tsk (NEU: 34.48+/-0.47[degrees]C; CLD: 34.44+/-0.54[degrees]C; P=0.82) and HR (NEU: 114+/-20 beats[middle dot]min-1; CLD: 113+/-18 beats[middle dot]min-1; P=0.38) for the same exercise volume. Conclusions: Cold-water ingestion enhanced exercise tolerance of MS participants in the heat by ~30% despite no differences in core and mean skin temperatures or heart rate. These findings support the use of a simple cooling strategy for mitigating heat intolerance with MS, and lend insight into the potential role of cold-afferent thermoreceptors that reside in the abdomen and oral cavity in the modulation of exercise tolerance with MS in the heat. (C) 2017 American College of Sports Medicine

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Short-term intraindividual variability of the posterior dominant alpha frequency in the electroencephalogram

There is no general consensus on the intraindividual variability of the posterior dominant alpha frequency; some researchers posit a static individual alpha background frequency, while others believe it to be dynamic. It has been declared as a stable clinical marker over longer periods of time and robust to repetitive cognitive interventions in healthy persons (Grandy et al., 2013). Regarding short-term variability, i.e. the variability of alpha power within a single record aside of inter-record variability, one study found a high correlation between both measures and no significant short-term variability of the posterior dominant alpha frequency after three different visual conditions (Hawkes and Prescott, 1973).

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Should Hospitals Market Opioid-Sparing Analgesia to Patients?.

No abstract available

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Comparison of Continuous Proximal Versus Distal Adductor Canal Blocks for Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Noninferiority Trial.

Background and Objectives: Adductor canal blocks (ACBs) are associated with improved analgesia, preserved quadriceps strength, and decreased length of hospitalization after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). However, controversy remains regarding the ideal location of a continuous block within the adductor canal, and it remains unclear whether similar clinical benefits are obtained irrespective of block location. In this randomized, double-blind, noninferiority study, we hypothesized that a continuous proximal ACB provides postoperative analgesia that is no worse than a continuous distal ACB. Methods: Subjects presenting for unilateral TKA were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a continuous proximal or distal ACB group. The primary outcome of this noninferiority study was opioid consumption within the first 24 hours following surgery. Secondary outcomes included quadriceps strength, pain scores, distance ambulated, and patient satisfaction. Results: Seventy-three subjects, 36 from the proximal group and 37 from the distal group, completed the study per protocol. The intention-to-treat analysis demonstrated a cumulative mean intravenous morphine equivalent consumption difference between the proximal and distal groups of -7.2 mg (95% confidence interval, -14.8 to 0.4; P

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Radiofrequency Procedures to Relieve Chronic Hip Pain: An Evidence-Based Narrative Review.

Background and Objectives: Chronic hip pain from osteoarthritis and other degenerative conditions is a common problem. A few publications have recently reported analgesic success of radiofrequency (RF) procedures on nerves innervating the hip, but interpretation is hampered by lack of clarity regarding indications, clinical protocols, anatomic targets, and longevity of benefit from RF procedures. Methods: We reviewed the following medical literature databases for publications on RF procedures on the hip joint for chronic pain: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar through February 28, 2017. Existing knowledge on innervation of the hip joint was synthesized. Data on analgesic and functional outcomes and adverse effects measured at any time points following the interventions were also collected, analyzed, and reported in this narrative review. Results: Fourteen publications on ablative RF treatments of innervation of the hip joint were identified. A high success rate of these procedures in relieving chronic pain of the hip joint was reported at 8 days to 36 months after the procedures, but none of the publications were randomized controlled trials. There was evidence for improvement in function and a lack of serious adverse events of RF treatments. Conclusions: Radiofrequency treatments for the sensory innervation of the hip joint have the potential to reduce pain secondary to degenerative conditions. Ongoing concerns remain regarding the anatomic targets, as well as quality, procedural aspects, and monitoring of outcomes in publications on this topic. Randomized controlled trials of high methodological quality are required to further elaborate the role of these interventions in this population. Copyright (C) 2017 by American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

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Cervical Foraminal Epidural Blood Patch for the Targeted Treatment of Refractory Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage From a Dural Sleeve.

Epidural blood patches (EBPs) are routinely used to treat symptoms (eg, headaches) associated with spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Although cerebrospinal fluid leakage commonly involves the periforaminal areas of the cervical or thoracic spine, EBPs have been historically performed at the lumbar level. Recent evidence suggests that targeting the causative spinal segment may provide greater clinical benefits. While previous reports have targeted foraminal leaks with segmental thoracic or cervical injections, we present a case report detailing the novel use of a navigable epidural catheter to perform a selective EBP at the C7/T1 foramen. Copyright (C) 2017 by American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

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Anatomic Study of Innervation of the Anterior Hip Capsule: Implication for Image-Guided Intervention.

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this cadaveric study was to determine the pattern of anterior hip capsule innervation and the associated bony landmarks for image-guided radiofrequency denervation. Methods: Thirteen hemipelvises were dissected to identify innervation of the anterior hip capsule. The femoral (FN), obturator (ON), and accessory obturator (AON) nerves were traced distally, and branches supplying the anterior capsule documented. The relationships of the branches to bony landmarks potentially visible with ultrasound were identified. Results: The anterior hip capsule received innervation from the FNs and ONs in all specimens and the AON in 7 of 13 specimens. High branches of the FN (originating above the inguinal ligament) were found exclusively in 12 specimens and passed between the anterior inferior iliac spine and the iliopubic eminence. The ONs were innervated exclusively by high branches (proximal to the division), by low branches (from the posterior branch), and by both in 4, 5, and 4 specimens, respectively. The most consistent landmark was the inferomedial acetabulum (radiographic "teardrop"). When present, the AON coursed over the iliopubic eminence before innervating the anterior hip capsule. Conclusions: Branches of the FNs and ONs consistently provided innervation to the anterior hip capsule. The AON also contributed innervation in many specimens. The relationship of the articular branches from these 3 nerves to the inferomedial acetabulum and the space between the anterior inferior iliac spine and iliopubic eminence may suggest potential sites for radiofrequency ablation. Copyright (C) 2017 by American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine.

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A combination of clinical risk stratification and fecal immunochemical test is useful for identifying persons with high priority of early colonoscopy

A rare case of esophageal lymphoepithelial carcinoma without Epstein-Barr virus infection

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The association of inflammatory bowel disease and immediate postoperative outcomes following lumbar fusion

The United States Centers for Disease Control estimates the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) at over 3.1 million people. As diagnostic techniques and treatment options for IBD improve, the prevalence of IBD is expected to increase. For spine surgeons, patients with IBD have a unique complication profile because IBD patients may present with poor nutritional status and because the medications used to manage IBD have been associated with poor vertebral bone mineralization and immunosuppression.

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The rothman index as a predictor of post-discharge adverse events after elective spine surgery

The Rothman Index (RI) is a comprehensive rating of overall patient condition in the hospital setting. It is used at many medical centers and calculated based on vital signs, lab values, and nursing assessments in the electronic medical record. Past research has demonstrated an association with adverse events, readmission, and mortality in other fields, but it has not been investigated in spine surgery.

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Association of riluzole and dantrolene improves significant recovery after acute spinal cord injury in rats

Damage to the spinal cord can result in irreversible impairment or complete loss of motor, sensory, and autonomic functions. Riluzole and dantrolene have been shown to provide neuroprotection by reducing neuronal apoptosis after brain and spinal cord injury (SCI) in several animal models of neurological disorders. As these drugs protect the injured spinal cord through different mechanisms, we investigated the cumulative effects of riluzole and dantrolene.

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3D visualization and pathological characteristics of cartilage and subchondral bone changes in the lumbar facet joint of an ovariectomized mouse model

Low back pain (LBP) is more prevalent among postmenopausal women than men. Ovariectomy (OVX) is an established animal model that mimics the estrogen deficiency of postmenopausal women. Little is known about the 3D morphological properties of cartilage and subchondral bone changes in the lumbar facet joint (LFJ) of an OVX mouse model.

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Reliability of translation of the RAND 36-item health survey in a post-rehabilitation population.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability of the RAND 36-item Health survey as a measure of health-related quality of life in a general Dutch post-rehabilitation population. A total of 752 ex-rehabilitation patients were invited to complete the Dutch RAND 36-item health survey. After 2 weeks, the people who responded to the first questionnaire were asked to complete the same questionnaire again. Internal consistency of the questionnaire was expressed as Cronbach's [alpha]. Test-retest reliability was expressed as intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and presented in Bland-Altman plots. Internal consistency was found acceptable for all subscales (n=276; Cronbach's [alpha] ranged from 0.81 to 0.95). Test-retest reliability was found acceptable for research and group comparisons for all subscales (n=184; ICC ranged from 0.71 to 0.88). Overall, test-retest reliability of the physical functioning (ICC=0.86), pain (ICC=0.87), and general health (ICC=0.88) subscale was relatively high, and that of health change (ICC=0.71) was relatively low. Reliability of the questionnaire did not notably differ between participants who indicated stable health and participants who indicated health change during the past weeks. In conclusion, the Dutch translation of the RAND 36-item health survey is reliable for research and group comparisons in a general post-rehabilitation population. However, the RAND 36-item health survey is not sufficiently reliable for individual comparisons within this population. Copyright (C) 2017 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Effects of integrating rhythmic arm swing into robot-assisted walking in patients with subacute stroke: a randomized controlled pilot study.

This study aimed to identify the effects of rhythmic arm swing during robot-assisted walking training on balance, gait, motor function, and activities of daily living among patients with subacute stroke. Twenty patients with subacute stroke were recruited, and thereafter randomly allocated to either the experimental group that performed the robot-assisted walking training with rhythmic arm swing, or the control group that performed the training in arm fixation. In total, 30 training sessions were carried out. The outcome measures included the 10-m walk test, Berg balance scale, timed up-and-go test, fall index that was measured using the Tetrax system, motor function test of Fugl-Meyer assessment, and modified Barthel index. The patients of both groups showed significant improvement in all parameters after the intervention (P

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Testing C.A.T.I armor

C.A.T.I (Come and Take It) Armor sent us a few of their plates to check out, so we thought what the heck, lets torture the heck out of it. We shot it with 9mm, .40 S&W, 5.56, 7.62x51, and .50 cal. This plate did awesome, and for the price it can't be beat.

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CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR

The CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR are compared in this video.

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CATI Armor CQB Plate and Carrier Review

The CQB multi-curve steel core armor plate link conforms perfectly to the body which allows the plate to wear lighter and more secure and creating a low profile.

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Fire Communications Supervisor - Las Vegas Fire Rescue

Las Vegas Fire & Rescue - The City of Las Vegas, NV Fire Communications Supervisor Annual salary range: $75,773 - $124,853 DOQ The City offers an attractive benefit package. Nevada residents pay no state income tax. Filing Deadline: Monday, December 11, 2017 The Fire Communications Supervisor oversees the activities of the Combined Communications Center (Center), a multi-agency public safety communications ...

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Intraoperative vasoplegia: methylene blue to the rescue!

Purpose of review To evaluate the efficacy, dosing, and safety of methylene blue (MTB) in perioperative vasoplegic syndrome (VS). Recent findings Vasoplegic syndrome is a state of persistent hypotension with elevated cardiac output, low filling pressures, and low systemic vascular resistance (SVR). It occurs in up to 25% of patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, can last up to 72 h, and is associated with a high mortality rate. MTB has been found to increase SVR and decrease vasopressor requirements in vasoplegic syndrome by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase, thus limiting the generation of nitric oxide, while inhibiting activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and preventing vasodilation. MTB has been used in postgraft reperfusion during liver transplantation and anaphylaxis in a limited number of cases. Additionally, this medication has been used in septic shock with promising results, but similar to the cardiac surgical population, the effects of MTB administration on clinical outcomes has yet to be elucidated. Summary MTB should be considered during vasoplegic syndrome in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and usage may be more effective in an early critical window, prior to end-organ hypoperfusion. Other perioperative scenarios of MTB use show promise, but additional studies are required to develop formative conclusions. Correspondence to Kamrouz Ghadimi, MD, Divisions of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University Medical Center, Box 3094/HAFS 5691G, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Tel: +1 919 681 6532; e-mail: Kamrouz.Ghadimi@duke.edu Copyright © 2017 YEAR Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Vitamin C in sepsis

Purpose of review This narrative review summarizes recent insights into the role of vitamin C in sepsis. Recent findings Septic shock remains a major source of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. Although many nutritional supplements have previously been tested unsuccessfully, vitamins are still being explored as a therapeutic option in septic patients. In particular, vitamin C-containing regimens as adjunctive therapy in sepsis have received much attention. Summary In-vitro evidence supports a critical role for vitamin C in cellular mechanisms relevant to the pathophysiology of sepsis. However, whether this justifies therapeutic use of vitamin C in septic patients remains uncertain. Correspondence to Karsten Bartels, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Colorado Denver, 12401 E. 17th Avenue, Leprino Office Building, 7th Floor, MS B-113, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. Tel: +1 720 848 6752; fax: +1 720 848 7375; e-mail: karsten.bartels@ucdenver.edu Copyright © 2017 YEAR Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Obstructive sleep apnea and bariatric surgical guidelines: summary and update

Purpose of review Increasing numbers of bariatric surgical procedures and the high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in this population have resulted in a growing interest in the perioperative management of OSA in bariatric surgery. This review provides a summary of the first consensus guideline on this topic as well as an update of the newest literature available. Recent findings All bariatric patients should be screened for OSA and obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS) to reduce the risk of perioperative complications. Intraoperative precautions are preoxygenation, induction and intubation in ramped position, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and positive end-expiratory pressure during induction, maintenance of low tidal volumes during surgery, multimodal anesthesia and analgesia with avoidance of opioids and extubation when patients are free of neuromuscular blockage. CPAP therapy and continuous monitoring with a minimum of pulse oximetry is recommended in the early postoperative period. Summary Multiple precautions exist to minimize the risk of cardiopulmonary complications and to enhance recovery after surgery. A combination of these procedures seems to provide optimal perioperative care of OSA patients undergoing bariatric surgery. Nearly 75% of recommendations are based on low quality of evidence, indicating the high value of experts' opinion and potential for future research. Correspondence to Christel A.L. de Raaff, MD, Obesity Center Amsterdam, OLVG West, Jan Tooropstraat 164, 1061 AE Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Tel: +31 20 5108040; fax: +31 20 6854014; e-mail: calderaaff@gmail.com Copyright © 2017 YEAR Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Anticipated and unanticipated difficult airway management

Purpose of review Management of difficult airway is far from optimal despite of continuous progress in science and technology. The purpose of this review is to summarize the current research in the field and bring readers up to date. Recent findings New technologies for intubation make providers more confident to handle difficult airways, but there is lack of evidence indicating the reduction in incidence of 'cannot intubate cannot ventilate (CICV)'. Optimization of mask ventilation should reduce the incidence of difficult mask ventilation but it is greatly underappreciated. Even optimization of preoxygenation is not directly associated with any decreased incidence of difficult airway, but it prolongs time of safe apnea oxygenation; therefore, is likely to improve the outcome of the patients if CICV occurs. Summary Improvement of managing difficult airway relies on optimized mask ventilation, utilization of the appropriate tools for intubation, maximization of the safe apnea oxygenation time, prompt surgical airway in response to severe hypoxia in case effective noninvasive interventions are not achievable. It seems that a simplified and concise algorithm of difficult airway management needs to be established in order to enable providers to easily remember and execute. Correspondence to Yandong Jiang, MD, PhD, Department of Anesthesiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 1301 Medical Center Drive, 4648 TVC, Nashville, TN 37232-5614, USA. Tel: +1 615 343 9419; fax: +1 615 936 6493; e-mail: yandong.jiang@vanderbilt.edu Copyright © 2017 YEAR Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Pulmonary effects of aging

Purpose of review As the population ages, the increase in chronic illnesses among patients with decreasing lung function will pose a major public health challenge. Determining which elderly patients are fit for surgery is an increasingly important skill. Anesthetic care of elderly patients requires an understanding of the effects that chronic diseases have on normal age-related changes in physiology and function. Postoperative respiratory complications are significantly increased in patients over 65 years of age, especially those with preexisting diseases. Recent findings Advanced age is associated with changes in the immunity of the pulmonary system. Dysregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators and antimicrobial defense systems contribute to a reduction in pulmonary function and its response to infections. Aging is also associated with a disruption of the function of alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and natural killer cells. Summary Aging can increase the risk of postoperative complications because of a loss of physiologic reserve and airway defenses. These limitations may only become apparent after the stressors of surgery and anesthesia. Correspondence to Daniel Tran, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, TMP 3rd floor, New Haven, CT 06520-8051, USA. Tel: +1 203 785 2802; e-mail: daniel.tran@yale.edu Copyright © 2017 YEAR Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Testing C.A.T.I armor

CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR

The CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR are compared in this video.

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CATI Armor CQB Plate and Carrier Review

The MOST Protective Soft Armor EVER! Torture Test & Disassembly

FN FiveseveN 5.7x28 vs bulletproof vest! Safe Life Defense makes a full coverage soft armor vest for under $500 that stops FN 5.7 ss198LF, 50gr Liberty Civil defense 9mm, armor piercing 12ga slugs, .44mag, & ICE PICKS! We tested it and the performance is nothing short of Astounding.

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Inside EMS Podcast: How to develop a culture of mentorship in EMS

Download this podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud or via RSS feed In this Inside EMS Podcast episode, co-hosts Chris Cebollero and Kelly Grayson, live from a Cincinnati Marriott, sit down with EMS1 co-founder and columnist Kris Kaull. They talk about how to deal with failures in EMS, how to assist colleagues with growth and how to develop a culture of mentorship in EMS. Learn more about the EMS1 Academy ...

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Testing C.A.T.I armor

CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR

The CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR are compared in this video.

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CATI Armor CQB Plate and Carrier Review

The MOST Protective Soft Armor EVER! Torture Test & Disassembly

Ebola drill prepares hospital and rescue workers for infectious patients

The Ebola exercise helps county first responders and hospital staff prepare for any patient who may need care for a highly infectious disease

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Safe Life Defense wins 'Innovative Product of the Year' at EMS World 2017 convention

LAS VEGAS — The success of Safe Life Defense Body Armor is no longer a secret! At The 2017 EMS WORLD Convention (the largest EMS convention in North America) Safe Life Defense received the coveted "Innovative Product of the Year" Award! President Nick Groat is excited and honored to accept this award: "When I designed our Multi-Threat Armor system, I knew it had to be something ...

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Testing C.A.T.I armor

CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR

The CATI lvl III+ steel armor vs M855A1 EPR are compared in this video.

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CATI Armor CQB Plate and Carrier Review

The MOST Protective Soft Armor EVER! Torture Test & Disassembly

Predictors and Patterns of Psychiatric Treatment Dropout During Pregnancy Among Low-Income Women

Abstract

Objective This study compared psychiatric treatment discontinuation rates among pregnant women using psychotropic medications, outpatient psychotherapy, or both before conception. Methods Using data from Pennsylvania Medicaid Fee-For-Service and Managed Care Organization claims and Medicaid enrollment, 3030 women were identified who gave birth between 2007 and 2009, had ≥ 1 claim for psychiatric treatment during the 120 days prior to pregnancy, and were enrolled in Medicaid until they delivered. Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to estimate psychiatric treatment dropout rate during pregnancy and examine relationships between treatment dropout and age, race/ethnicity, and pre-pregnancy psychiatric diagnosis and treatment pattern. Results After the first trimester, the probability of discontinuing psychotropic medications was 83 versus 37.8% for cessation of psychotherapy among combined treatment users. Two or more psychotherapy sessions in the 4 months prior to pregnancy were associated with decreased psychotherapy dropout during pregnancy. Psychotherapy during pregnancy was associated with prenatal psychotropic medication adherence. Conclusions To retain women in treatment during pregnancy, when discontinuation from care is common, innovative models of care should consider type of pre-pregnancy mental healthcare and individual characteristics.

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Event-related brain potentials and the study of reward processing: Methodological considerations

Publication date: Available online 14 November 2017
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Olave E. Krigolson
There is growing interest in using electroencephalography and specifically the event-related brain potential (ERP) methodology to study human reward processing. Since the discovery of the feedback related negativity (Miltner et al., 1997) and the development of theories associating the feedback related negativity and more recently the reward positivity with reinforcement learning, midbrain dopamine function, and the anterior cingulate cortex (i.e., Holroyd and Coles, 2002) researchers have used the ERP methodology to probe the neural basis of reward learning in humans. However, examination of the feedback related negativity and the reward positivity cannot be done without an understanding of some key methodological issues that must be taken into account when using ERPs and examining these ERP components. For example, even the component name – the feedback related negativity – is a source of debate within the research community as some now strongly feel that the component should be named the reward positivity (Proudfit, 2015). Here, ten key methodological issues are discussed – confusion in component naming, the reward positivity, component identification, peak quantification and the use of difference waveforms, frequency (the N200) and component contamination (the P300), the impact of feedback timing, action, and task learnability, and how learning results in changes in the amplitude of the feedback-related negativity/reward positivity. The hope here is to not provide a definitive approach for examining the feedback related negativity/reward positivity, but instead to outline the key issues that must be taken into account when examining this component to assist researchers in their study of human reward processing with the ERP methodology.

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Individualized Progress Measures Are More Acceptable to Clinicians Than Standardized Measures: Results of a National Survey

Abstract

Despite research supporting measurement-based care grounded in standardized progress measures, such measures are underutilized by clinicians. Individualized measures of client-specific targets present an alternative, but little is known about their acceptability or use. We compared attitudes toward and use of standardized and individualized progress measures in a national sample of 504 clinicians. Clinicians reported neutral to positive attitudes toward both types of measures, but strongly preferred and were more likely to use individualized measures. Clinician attitudes, theoretical orientation, and work setting predicted assessment preferences and practices. Implications for dissemination and implementation of measurement-based care are discussed.

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Telomere length of gallbladder epithelium is shortened in patients with congenital biliary dilatation: measurement by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization

Abstract

Background

Congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) is a congenital malformation involving both dilatation of the extrahepatic bile duct and pancreaticobiliary maljunction. Persistent reflux of pancreatic juice injures the biliary tract mucosa, resulting in chronic inflammation and higher rates of carcinogenesis in the biliary tract, including the gallbladder. Telomeres are repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes. Chromosomal instability due to telomere dysfunction plays an important role in the carcinogenesis of many organs. This study was performed to determine whether excessive shortening of telomeres occurs in the gallbladder mucosa of patients with CBD.

Methods

Resected gallbladders were obtained from 17 patients with CBD, ten patients with cholecystolithiasis without pancreatic juice reflux, and 17 patients with normal gallbladders (controls) (median age of each group of patients: 37, 50, and 53 years, respectively). The telomere lengths of the gallbladder epithelium were measured by quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization using tissue sections, and the normalized telomere-to-centromere ratio (NTCR) was calculated.

Results

The NTCRs in the CBD, cholecystolithiasis, and control groups were 1.24 [interquartile range (IQR) 1.125–1.52], 1.96 (IQR 1.56–2.295), and 1.77 (IQR 1.48–2.53), respectively. The NTCR in the CBD group was significantly smaller than that in the cholecystolithiasis and control groups (p = 0.003 and 0.004, respectively), even in young patients.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that telomere shortening in the gallbladder mucosa plays an important role in the process of carcinogenesis in patients with CBD. These results support the recommendation of established guidelines for prophylactic surgery in patients with CBD because CBD is a premalignant condition with excessive telomere shortening.

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CloudPCR permanently changes the way Pennsylvania EMS professionals communicate

We've never had the ability to do this level of data management...ever before." Bill McClincy, Executive Director EMMCO West Inc. Pa. (emsworld) CloudPCR has recently launched their product called the "CloudPCR Bridge" for the entire state of Pennsylvania. It will streamline data management and connect EMS agencies like never before. Executive Director for EMMCO West Inc., Bill McClincy, has ...

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Family management of childhood chronic conditions: Does it make a difference if the child has an intellectual disability?

The purpose of this analysis was to assess the applicability of the Family Management Measure (FaMM) to families in which there was a child with an intellectual disability versus a chronic condition. Drawing on data from 571 parents of children with a chronic physical condition and 539 parents of children with Down syndrome, we compared the two groups across the six FaMM scales. After accounting for the covariate effects of race, ethnicity, family income, and child age, we found significant differences in four of the six FaMM scales, with parents of children with Down syndrome reporting a significantly more positive view on the Condition Management Effort and View of Condition Impact scales and a significantly less positive view on the Child's Daily Life and Condition Management Ability scales than parents of children with a chronic physical condition. There were no significant differences between groups on the Family Life Difficulty and the Parental Mutuality scales. The analysis provided evidence of the applicability of the FaMM for studying families in which there is a child with Down syndrome and its utility in identifying the common and unique challenges of family management between the groups.

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An updated review on tritium in the environment

Publication date: January 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 181
Author(s): Frédérique Eyrolle, Loïc Ducros, Séverine Le Dizès, Karine Beaugelin-Seiller, Sabine Charmasson, Patrick Boyer, Catherine Cossonnet
Various studies indicated more or less recently that organically bound tritium (OBT) formed from gaseous or liquid tritium releases into the environment potentially accumulates in organisms contradicting hypotheses associated to methods used to assess the biological impact of tritium on humans (ASN, 2010). Increasing research works were then performed during the last decade in order to gain knowledge on this radionuclide expected to be increasingly released by nuclear installations in the near future within the environment. This review focusses on publications of the last decade. New unpublished observations revealing the presence of technogenic tritium in a sedimentary archive collected in the upper reaches of the Rhône river and findings from the Northwestern Mediterranean revealing in all likelihood the impact of terrigenous tritium inputs on OBT levels recorded in living organisms are also presented. Identifying and understanding the physicochemical forms of tritium and the processes leading to its persistence in environmental compartments would explain most observations regarding OBT concentrations in organisms and definitively excludes that tritium would "bio accumulate" within living organisms.

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Nitrogen species coupled with transpiration enhance Fe plaque assisted aquatic uranium removal via rhizofiltration of Phragmites australis Trin ex Steud

Publication date: Available online 14 November 2017
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity
Author(s): Weiqing Wang, E. Gert Dudel
The influences of N species and transpiration on the Fe plaque (IP) formation and related aquatic U rhizofiltration had not revealed yet, especially when these factors were co-existed. It was evaluated in a mesocosm experiment in the condition of respective ammonium (NH4⁺)/nitrate (NO3⁻) cultivation of Phragmites australis Trin ex Steud. coupled with different transpiration rates (TRs). The results suggested that the enhanced transpiration of P. australis improved the aquatic U rhizofiltration in both NO3⁻ and NH4⁺ rich milieus. However, the NO3⁻ dependent oxidizing milieu restricted aquatic U uptake by the root of P. australis (up to 47.6 ± 1.8 mg kg⁻¹ under high TR) via IP assisted rhizofiltration. The high aquatic U availability and limited IP formation in NO3⁻ rich milieu benefited the U retention within root tissue. On the contrary, the aquatic U rhizofiltration (up to 62.1 ± 1.0 mg kg⁻¹ under high TR) was enhanced under NH4⁺ dependent reductive milieu. It was mainly contributed by U retention within IP. The area related U accumulation in different N species cultured roots was enhanced but did not significantly different under higher TR condition. The result suggested that the supplied NH4⁺ coupled with enhanced transpiration was supposed to be more optimized option for IP assisted aquatic U rhizofiltration via P. australis.

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Disease-miRNAdb: a manually-curated database for the investigation of the microRNA-human disease relationship

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNA) of approximately 22 nucleotides are fundamental molecules in cellular biology that act by modulating target gene expression. As a post-transcriptional/translational regulator, the role of miRNAs in human disease is highly expected. Recently, a rising number of miRNAs that are associated with a variety of human diseases have been reported in the literature. Aiming to provide a comprehensive of resource of miRNAs that are related to the human disease, we built the Disease miRNA Database (Disease-miRNAdb). MiRNAs from three groups of diseases including kidney disease, cancer, and metabolic disease were manually curated in the current version of database located on a user-friendly online website (http://ift.tt/2zFEdqV). In addition, this database also includes information regarding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located in pre-miRNAs, miRNA flanking regions, and 3′-UTRs of miRNA target genes. The generation of genetic variation in these regions may result in a loss or gain of miRNA-target gene interactions, which may influence the development of disease. Thus, information regarding miRNA-related SNPs will be useful in the discovery of disease-associated miRNAs in human populations by employing SNP association analysis for the disease of interest. Disease-miRNAdb will be continually maintained with up-to-date information to provide a current and valuable resource for investigating the roles of miRNAs in human disease.

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Using somatosensory mismatch responses as a window into somatotopic processing of tactile stimulation

Abstract

Brain responses to tactile stimulation have often been studied through the examination of ERPs elicited to touch on the body surface. Here, we examined two factors potentially modulating the amplitude of the somatosensory mismatch negativity (sMMN) and P300 responses elicited by touch to pairs of body parts: (a) the distance between the representation of these body parts in somatosensory cortex, and (b) the physical distances between the stimulated points on the body surface. The sMMN and the P300 response were elicited by tactile stimulation in two oddball protocols. One protocol leveraged a discontinuity in cortical somatotopic organization, and involved stimulation of either the neck or the hand in relation to stimulation of the lip. The other protocol involved stimulation to the third or fifth finger in relation to the second finger. The neck-lip pairing resulted in significantly larger sMMN responses (with shorter latencies) than the hand-lip pairing, whereas the reverse was true for the amplitude of the P300. Mean sMMN amplitude and latency did not differ between finger pairings. However, larger P300 responses were elicited to stimulation of the fifth finger than the third finger. These results suggest that, for certain combinations of body parts, early automatic somatosensory mismatch responses may be influenced by distance between the cortical representations of these body parts, whereas the later P300 response may be more influenced by the distance between stimulated body parts on the body surface. Future investigations can shed more light on this novel suggestion.

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Recovery of the cardiac autonomic nervous and vascular system after maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing in recreational athletes

Abstract

Objective

The body's adaptation to physical exercise is modulated by sympathetic and parasympathetic (vagal) branches of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Heart rate variability (HRV), the beat-to-beat variation of the heart, is a proxy measure for ANS activity, whereas blood pressure (BP) is an indicator for cardiovascular function. Impaired vagal activity and lower BP is already described after exercise. However, inconsistent results exist about how long vagal recovery takes and how long post-exercise hypotension persists. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess HRV and BP 1 h after maximal cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET).

Patients and methods

HRV (Polar RS800CX), peripheral and central BP (Mobil-O-Graph^®) were prospectively studied in 107 healthy volunteers (47 female, median age 29.0 years) in supine position, before and 60 min after maximal CPET.

Results

One hour after terminating CPET measures of HRV were still impaired and post-exercise BP was significantly reduced suggesting an improved vascular function compared to pre levels. HRV parameters post-exercise were 34.7% (RMSSD), 67.2% (pNN50), 57.2% (HF), and 42.7% (LF) lower compared to pre-exercise levels (for all p < 0.001). Median reduction in BP was 5 mmHg for systolic BP (p < 0.001), and 4 mmHg for diastolic BP (p = 0.016) and central systolic post-exercise (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

One hour after terminating strenuous exercise, autonomic nervous regulation seems to be postponed which is reflected in reduced HRV, whereas the early recovery of the vasculature, post-exercise hypotension, is still preserved over the recovery period of 1 h.

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Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on Chronic Acid Reflux Esophagitis in Rats

Abstract

Background

Clinical role of low-dose aspirin (LDA) in pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease is by far controversial. This can be attributed to the paucity of basic research detailing the mechanism of LDA-induced esophageal mucosal injury (EI) on underlying chronic acid reflux esophagitis (RE).

Aim

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of LDA on chronic RE in rats.

Methods

Esophagitis was induced in 8-week-old male Wistar rats by ligating the border between forestomach and glandular portion with a 2–0 silk tie and covering the duodenum with a small piece of 18-Fr Nélaton catheter. Seventy-eight chronic RE rat models were divided into five treatment groups, consisting of orally administered vehicle (controls), and aspirin doses of 2, 5, 50 or 100 mg/kg once daily for 28 days. EI was assessed by gross area of macroscopic mucosal injury, severity grade of esophagitis and microscopic depth of infiltration by inflammatory cells.

Results

Area of esophagitis in animals with aspirin dose of 100 mg/kg/day showed a 36.5% increase compared with controls, although it failed to achieve statistical significance (p = 0.812). Additionally, the rate of severe EI was increased in animals with aspirin dose of 100 mg/kg/day as compared with controls (p < 0.05). The grade of severity correlated with the depth of inflammation (r _s = 0.492, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Maximal dose aspirin (100 mg/kg/day) contributed in exacerbating preexisting EI. LDA (2 and 5 mg/kg/day), on the other hand, did not affect chronic RE in this model. LDA seems to be safe for use in patients with chronic RE.

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Normal Values of High-Resolution Manometry in Supine and Upright Positions in a Thai Population

Abstract

Background

Although cut-off values used in high-resolution manometry (HRM) to diagnose esophageal motility disorders are based on representative samples of the US population and assume a supine position, differences in population and body positioning can reportedly affect results.

Aims

To establish normal HRM values for Thai people in both supine and upright positions.

Methods

Forty-one healthy subjects were recruited, each of whom underwent solid-state HRM with ten 5-mL swallows of water in both the supine and upright positions. Measuring parameters according to the Chicago classification criteria (CC v3.0) were included, for which the mean, median and 5th and 95th percentiles (PCTLs) were calculated.

Results

The results corresponded with the CC v3.0 criteria, except for the mean, and 5th PCTL of the distal contractile integral (DCI), which were lower for this population. In the upright position, the mean and median values for DCI, intrabolus pressure and integrated relaxation pressure were significantly decreased, whereas the length of the transitional zone was significantly increased. The limitations of this study include: (1) the relatively low number of participants, (2) the limited recruitment of participants only at Ramathibodi Hospital and (3) the limited recruitment of only young and middle-aged participants.

Conclusions

We established normal values for the HRM parameters in a representative sample of the Thai population. Our supine results still prove that the use of the CC v3.0 is preferable. HRM testing in patients measured in the upright position should be analyzed based on the normative values obtained from upright swallow studies.

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The Significance of Sleep Deprivation in the Development of Local Epilepsy from the Point of View of Neuroplasticity

Objective. To study the neurological and electrophysiological manifestations of sleep deprivation (SD) in patients with local symptomatic forms of epilepsy and in healthy subjects and to investigate the neuromorphological patterns of SD in experimental conditions. Materials and methods. Complex clinical and electroencephalographic (video-EEG monitoring with sleep traces) studies were performed before and after SD for 48 h in 178 patients with locally originating epilepsy (LOE) and 45 healthy control subjects. Neurohistological and electron microscopic investigations of the brain were performed in rats after 48-h SD. Results and discussion. SD led to increases in epileptiform activity in patients with LOE (with increases in the frequency of epileptic seizures) and the onset of this activity in healthy subjects. Post-SD morphological changes in rat brains consisted of mitochondrial pleioconia, damage to elements of the blood-brain barrier, signs of astrocyte depletion, changes in gliocyte nuclei of the apoptotic and karyorrhectic types, and destruction of synapses; these were evidence of impairment to the mechanisms of neuroplasticity after SD. These results allow SD in patients to be regarded as a factor damaging the CNS and provoking the development of epileptic seizures in epilepsy. SD in experimental animals can be used as a model for further studies of the mechanisms of neuroplasticity.

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The evolution of androgen receptor expression and behavior in Anolis lizard forelimb muscles

Abstract

The motor systems that produce behavioral movements are among the primary targets for the action of steroid hormones, including androgens. Androgens such as testosterone bind to androgen receptors (AR) to induce physiological changes in the size, strength, and energetic capacity of skeletal muscles, which can directly influence the performance of behaviors in which those muscles are used. Because tissues differentially express AR, resulting in tissue-specific sensitivity to androgens, AR expression may be a major target of selection for the evolution of behavior. Anolis lizards (i.e., anoles) provide a robust system for the study of androgen-regulated traits, including the behavioral traits that facilitate social display and locomotion. In this study, we examined six anole species that demonstrate significant variation in the behavioral use of the forelimbs to measure the proportion of myonuclei in the bicep muscles that express AR. Using phylogenetic comparative analyses, we found that species with a greater proportion of nuclei positive for AR expression in the biceps exhibited greater frequencies of locomotor movements and pushup displays. These results suggest that AR expression in skeletal muscles may influence the evolution of androgen-regulated behaviors in this group.

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Vitamin D supplementation attenuates oxidative stress in paraspinal skeletal muscles in patients with low back pain

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of the study was to evaluate markers of oxidative stress and vitamin D receptor in paraspinal muscles in low back pain patients with vitamin D deficiency, with normal level of vitamin D, and after 5 weeks of vitamin D supplementation.

Methods

Patients were divided into three groups: supplemented (SUP) with vitamin D, placebo with normal concentration of vitamin D (SUF), and the placebo group with vitamin D deficiency (DEF). The concentration of serum vitamin D was measured before and after the supplementation with vitamin D (3200 IU/ day for 5 weeks). Markers of lipid and protein peroxidation, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and protein content of vitamin D receptor was determined in multifidus muscle of patients.

Results

Vitamin D supplementation increased serum level of 25(OH)D₃ (p < 0.001). In paraspinal muscle level of 8-isoprostanes and protein carbonyls was higher in DEF group as compared to the SUP group (p < 0.05). Antioxidant enzyme activity and vitamin D receptor in paraspinal muscle altered between the groups with different serum vitamin D concentration. The cytosolic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly higher in DEF group as compared to the SUP group (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

An attenuation of markers of free radical damage of lipids and proteins was observed in participants supplemented with Vitamin D. Antioxidant enzyme activities in skeletal muscle differ among patients with different serum vitamin D concentration. Monitoring oxidative stress and VDR protein content might be useful for future studies on the mechanism(s) of vitamin D action in muscle.

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Articular scaling and body mass estimation in platyrrhines and catarrhines: Modern variation and application to fossil anthropoids

Publication date: Available online 14 November 2017
Source:Journal of Human Evolution
Author(s): Jonathan M.G. Perry, Siobhán B. Cooke, Jacqueline A. Runestad Connour, M. Loring Burgess, Christopher B. Ruff
Body mass is an important component of any paleobiological reconstruction. Reliable skeletal dimensions for making estimates are desirable but extant primate reference samples with known body masses are rare. We estimated body mass in a sample of extinct platyrrhines and Fayum anthropoids based on four measurements of the articular surfaces of the humerus and femur. Estimates were based on a large extant reference sample of wild-collected individuals with associated body masses, including previously published and new data from extant platyrrhines, cercopithecoids, and hominoids. In general, scaling of joint dimensions is positively allometric relative to expectations of geometric isometry, but negatively allometric relative to expectations of maintaining equivalent joint surface areas. Body mass prediction equations based on articular breadths are reasonably precise, with %SEEs of 17–25%. The breadth of the distal femoral articulation yields the most reliable estimates of body mass because it scales similarly in all major anthropoid taxa. Other joints scale differently in different taxa; therefore, locomotor style and phylogenetic affinity must be considered when calculating body mass estimates from the proximal femur, proximal humerus, and distal humerus. The body mass prediction equations were applied to 36 Old World and New World fossil anthropoid specimens representing 11 taxa, plus two Haitian specimens of uncertain taxonomic affinity. Among the extinct platyrrhines studied, only Cebupithecia is similar to large, extant platyrrhines in having large humeral (especially distal) joints. Our body mass estimates differ from each other and from published estimates based on teeth in ways that reflect known differences in relative sizes of the joints and teeth. We prefer body mass estimators that are biomechanically linked to weight-bearing, and especially those that are relatively insensitive to differences in locomotor style and phylogenetic history. Whenever possible, extant reference samples should be chosen to match target fossils in joint proportionality.

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Seasonal variation and diet quality among Spanish people aged over 55 years

Abstract

There is evidence supporting the importance of a healthy diet; however, there are few studies analyzing the seasonal variation of food intake. The present study was aimed to evaluate seasonal variation of food and energy intake in Spanish elderly also to investigate diet quality based on the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score. From a cross-sectional study, 28 individuals (39% males) aged over 55 years volunteered for a longitudinal follow-up. Dietary assessment was evaluated through 24-h dietary recalls. Energy and nutrient intake were calculated using DIAL software. Furthermore, diet quality was measured using HEI. Data was analyzed considering the interaction of sex, age, fitness status, and body composition. Cereals intake was significantly lower in summer than in winter and autumn (both p < 0.05); whereas, drinks intake was significantly higher in summer than in winter, spring, and autumn (all p < 0.01). Daily energy intake was significant higher in spring than in summer, and in autumn than in summer (p < 0.05), and energy intake from lunch was also statistically higher in spring than in summer (p < 0.01). The HEI was classified as good; however, a negative and significant association was observed between HEI and cholesterol, alcohol, and monounsaturated fatty acids intake (p < 0.01). Cereals and drinks intake and total daily energy intake changed according to seasons. This should be considered in nutritional studies. Diet quality seems not to be affected by these seasonal changes, and HEI did not show a good association with the majority of foods and macro- and micronutrients.

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Studies of the Effects of Genes for Inflammatory Factors on Basic Personality Dimensions

Objective. To study the relationship between the basic personality dimensions and genes encoding various inflammation mediators and biomarkers whose contents are elevated in schizophrenia patients and affective disorders. The study addressed the genes for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), and α-1-antitrypsin (A1AT). Materials and methods. A total of 639 healthy humans aged 17–69 years took part in the study. The following polymorphic gene loci were genotyped: IL-1β C-511T and C3954T, IL-6 G-174C, TNF-α G-308A, CRP G/A, and A1AT(374G/A). The basic personality dimensions were extraversion and neuroticism and were evaluated using the Eysenck personality questionnaire. Results and discussion. Levels of extraversion and neuroticism were not linked with polymorphisms in the IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α G, or CRP genes. An association was found between the A1AT 374G/A polymorphism with extraversion (p = 0.036). A1AT 374G/A affected the degree of neuroticism in women, but differences were of marginal significance (p = 0.05). This is the first study of the relationship between personality dimensions and the IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and A1AT genes, so the results should be regarded as preliminary. Further studies in this direction are required.

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Changes in Brain Electrical Activity on Formation of Status Epilepticus in a Lithium-Pilocarpine Model in Rats with Different Levels of Convulsive Readiness

Chronic experiments on Krushinskii–Molodkina rats, which have an inborn predisposition to audiogenic convulsions, and Wistar rats, which are resistant to the convulsive actions of sound, recorded electrograms from the somatosensory, auditory, and visual areas of the cortex, the caudate nucleus, the hippocampus, and the mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus during formation of generalized convulsive status epilepticus (SE) in a lithium-pilocarpine model of epilepsy. SE was found to occur in Krushinskii–Molodkina rats after i.m. administration of pilocarpine at a minimal dose of 15 mg/kg and in Wistar rats after a dose of 25 mg/kg. Six EEG patterns characteristic of sequentially substituting phases in the development of SE are described, from its initiation to its completion. Behavioral signs of convulsions were identified for each phase in the development of SE. The sequence and main EEG characteristics in rats of both strains coincided, as did their behavioral convulsive manifestations, with the exception of the latent period of onset of phase 1: in Krushinskii–Molodkina rats, this was significantly longer than in Wistar rats (12.8 ± 1.1 versus 22.5 ± 0.7 min). Rats with an innate predisposition to audiogenic convulsions thus had greater sensitivity to the effects of pilocarpine.

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Πληροφορίες

Τετάρτη 15 Νοεμβρίου 2017

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