Publication date: June 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
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Τετάρτη 21 Φεβρουαρίου 2018
Editorial Board
Journal of Environmental Radioactivity special issue: II International Conference on Radioecological Concentration Processes. (50 years later)
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): Rafael Garcia-Tenorio, Elis Holm
An international conference on Radioecological Concentration Processes was held in Seville, Spain, 6–9 November 2016 at the Centro Nacional de Aceleradores. It was attended by 160 participants from 35 different countries. This was the 2nd conference on this item since 1966, 50 years ago. The conference covered aspects of radiological important radionuclides on terrestrial, marine and freshwater environments and has allowed obtaining a clear picture of the status of the Radioecology as a consolidated discipline in the 21st century.
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Comparison of radiocesium concentration changes in leguminous and non-leguminous herbaceous plants observed after the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): Shigeo Uchida, Keiko Tagami
Transfer of radiocesium from soil to crops is an important pathway for human intake. In the period from one to two years after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, food monitoring results showed that radiocesium concentrations in soybean (a legume) were higher than those in other annual agricultural crops; in these crops, root uptake is the major pathway of radiocesium from soil to plant. However, it was not clear whether or not leguminous and non-leguminous herbaceous plants have different Cs uptake abilities from the same soil because crop sample collection fields were different. In this study, therefore, we compared the concentrations of 137Cs in seven herbaceous plant species including two leguminous plants (Trifolium pratense L. and Vicia sativa L.) collected in 2012–2016 from the same sampling field in Chiba, Japan that had been affected by the FDNPP accident fallout. Among these species, Petasites japonicus (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim. showed the highest 137Cs concentration in 2012–2016. The correlation factor between all concentration data for 137Cs and those for 40K in these seven plants was R = 0.54 (p < 0.001) by t-test, thus potassium uptake ability by species would affect radiocesium uptake; however, for each species, no correlation between 137Cs and 40K was found. Interestingly, 40K concentrations in T. pratense, V. sativa and Poaceae family plants did not differ significantly, but 137Cs data in the Poaceae family plants were significantly lower than those in T. pratense (p < 0.001) and V. sativa (p = 0.017). The results indicated that leguminous species would have higher 137Cs uptake ability than Poaceae family plants.
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Transfer parameters for ICRP's Reference Animals and Plants in a terrestrial Mediterranean ecosystem
Publication date: June 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): J. Guillén, N.A. Beresford, A. Baeza, M. Izquierdo, M.D. Wood, A. Salas, A. Muñoz-Serrano, J.M. Corrales-Vázquez, J.G. Muñoz-Muñoz
A system for the radiological protection of the environment (or wildlife) based on Reference Animals and Plants (RAPs) has been suggested by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP). To assess whole-body activity concentrations for RAPs and the resultant internal dose rates, transfer parameters are required. However, transfer values specifically for the taxonomic families defined for the RAPs are often sparse and furthermore can be extremely site dependent. There is also a considerable geographical bias within available transfer data, with few data for Mediterranean ecosystems. In the present work, stable element concentrations (I, Li, Be, B, Na, Mg, Al, P, S, K. Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Tl, Pb and U) in terrestrial RAPs, and the corresponding whole-body concentration ratios, CRwo, were determined in two different Mediterranean ecosystems: a Pinewood and a Dehesa (grassland with disperse tree cover). The RAPs considered in the Pinewood ecosystem were Pine Tree and Wild Grass; whereas in the Dehesa ecosystem those considered were Deer, Rat, Earthworm, Bee, Frog, Duck and Wild Grass. The CRwo values estimated from these data are compared to those reported in international compilations and databases.
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Natural attenuation of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in soils due to its vertical and lateral migration
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): A. Konoplev, V. Golosov, Y. Wakiyama, T. Takase, V. Yoschenko, T. Yoshihara, O. Parenyuk, A. Cresswell, M. Ivanov, M. Carradine, K. Nanba, Y. Onda
Processes of vertical and lateral migration lead to gradual reduction in contamination of catchment soil, particularly its top layer. The reduction can be considered as natural attenuation. This, in turn, results in a gradual decrease of radiocesium activity concentrations in the surface runoff and river water, in both dissolved and particulate forms. The purpose of this research is to study the dynamics of Fukushima-derived radiocesium in undisturbed soils and floodplain deposits exposed to erosion and sedimentation during floods. Combined observations of radiocesium vertical distribution in soil and sediment deposition on artificial lawn-grass mats on the Niida River floodplain allowed us to estimate both annual mean sediment accumulation rates and maximum sedimentation rates corresponding to an extreme flood event during Tropical Storm Etau, 6-11 September 2015. Dose rates were reduced considerably for floodplain sections with high sedimentation because the top soil layer with high radionuclide contamination was eroded and/or buried under cleaner fresh sediments produced mostly due to bank erosion and sediments movements. Rate constants of natural attenuation on the sites of the Takase River and floodplain of Niida River was found to be in range 0.2–0.4 year−1. For the site in the lower reach of the Niida River, collimated shield dose readings from soil surfaces slightly increased during the period of observation from February to July 2016. Generally, due to more precipitation, steeper slopes, higher temperatures and increased biological activities in soils, self-purification of radioactive contamination in Fukushima associated with vertical and lateral radionuclide migration is faster than in Chernobyl. In many cases, monitored natural attenuation along with appropriate restrictions seems to be optimal option for water remediation in Fukushima contaminated areas.
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Radioecological modelling of Polonium-210 and Caesium-137 in lichen-reindeer-man and top predators
Publication date: June 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): Bertil R.R. Persson, Runhild Gjelsvik, Elis Holm
This work deals with analysis and modelling of the radionuclides 210Pb and210Po in the food-chain lichen-reindeer-man in addition to 210Po and 137Cs in top predators. By using the methods of Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) the atmospheric deposition of 210Pb and 210Po is predicted at the sample locations. Dynamic modelling of the activity concentration with differential equations is fitted to the sample data. Reindeer lichen consumption, gastrointestinal absorption, organ distribution and elimination is derived from information in the literature. Dynamic modelling of transfer of 210Pb and 210Po to reindeer meat, liver and bone from lichen consumption, fitted well with data from Sweden and Finland from 1966 to 1971. The activity concentration of 210Pb in the skeleton in man is modelled by using the results of studying the kinetics of lead in skeleton and blood in lead-workers after end of occupational exposure. The result of modelling 210Pb and 210Po activity in skeleton matched well with concentrations of 210Pb and 210Po in teeth from reindeer-breeders and autopsy bone samples in Finland.The results of 210Po and 137Cs in different tissues of wolf, wolverine and lynx previously published, are analysed with multivariate data processing methods such as Principal Component Analysis PCA, and modelled with the method of Projection to Latent Structures, PLS, or Partial Least Square Regression PLSR.
Graphical abstract
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Estimation of air-to-grass mass interception factors for iodine
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): N. Karunakara, P. Ujwal, I. Yashodhara, K. Sudeep Kumara, M.P. Mohan, K. Bhaskar Shenoy, P.V. Geetha, B.N. Dileep, Joshi P. James, P.M. Ravi
Air-to-grass mass interception factors for radionuclide are important basic input parameter for the estimation of radiation dose to the public around a nuclear power plant. In this paper, we present the determination of air-to- grass mass interception factors for iodine using a 2 m × 2 m × 2 m (l × b × h) size environmental chamber. The temperature, humidity, and rainfall inside the environmental chamber was controlled to required values to simulate different environmental conditions. Grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schum), grown in pots, was kept inside the environmental chamber and stable iodine in elemental form was sublimed quickly inside the chamber to simulate an accidental release of iodine to the environment. The concentration of iodine in the air was measured periodically by drawing air through a bubbling setup, containing 1% sodium carbonate solution. The mass interception factor for dry deposition varied in the range of 0.25–7.7 m2 kg−1 with mean value of 2.2 m2 kg−1 with respect to fresh weight of grass, and that due to wet deposition varied in the range of 0.6–4.8 m2 kg−1 with mean value of 2.3 m2 kg−1. The mass interception factor was inversely correlated with the total iodine deposited through dry deposition as well as with the rainfall.
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Application of bomb- and Chernobyl-derived radiocaesium for reconstructing changes in erosion rates and sediment fluxes from croplands in areas of European Russia with different levels of Chernobyl fallout
Publication date: June 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): V.N. Golosov, D.E. Walling, A.V. Konoplev, M.M. Ivanov, A.G. Sharifullin
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Challenges associated with the behaviour of radioactive particles in the environment
Publication date: June 2018
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): Brit Salbu, Valery Kashparov, Ole Christian Lind, Rafael Garcia-Tenorio, Mathew P. Johansen, David P. Child, Per Roos, Carlos Sancho
A series of different nuclear sources associated with the nuclear weapon and fuel cycles have contributed to the release of radioactive particles to the environment. Following nuclear weapon tests, safety tests, conventional destruction of weapons, reactor explosions and fires, a major fraction of released refractory radionuclides such as uranium (U) and plutonium (Pu) were present as entities ranging from sub microns to fragments. Furthermore, radioactive particles and colloids have been released from reprocessing facilities and civil reactors, from radioactive waste dumped at sea, and from NORM sites. Thus, whenever refractory radionuclides are released to the environment following nuclear events, radioactive particles should be expected.Results from many years of research have shown that particle characteristics such as elemental composition depend on the source, while characteristics such as particle size distribution, structure, and oxidation state influencing ecosystem transfer depend also on the release scenarios. When radioactive particles are deposited in the environment, weathering processes occur and associated radionuclides are subsequently mobilized, changing the apparent Kd. Thus, particles retained in soils or sediments are unevenly distributed, and dissolution of radionuclides from particles may be partial. For areas affected by particle contamination, the inventories can therefore be underestimated, and impact and risk assessments may suffer from unacceptable large uncertainties if radioactive particles are ignored. To integrate radioactive particles into environmental impact assessments, key challenges include the linking of particle characteristics to specific sources, to ecosystem transfer, and to uptake and retention in biological systems. To elucidate these issues, the EC-funded COMET and RATE projects and the IAEA Coordinated Research Program on particles have revisited selected contaminated sites and archive samples. This COMET position paper summarizes new knowledge on key sources that have contributed to particle releases, including particle characteristics based on advanced techniques, with emphasis on particle weathering processes as well as on heterogeneities in biological samples to evaluate potential uptake and retention of radioactive particles.
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Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) in Radioecology
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): M. García-León
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) provides with an excellent sensitivity for the determination of radionuclides in the environment. In fact, conventional radiometric techniques can hardly compete with AMS in the solution of many problems involving the measurement of very low levels of radioactivity in Nature. For that reason, during the last years AMS has become a powerful tool for Radioecology studies.In this paper a review is done on the evolution of AMS applications to the measurement of environmental radioactivity and, therefore, its contribution to the understanding of radionuclide behavior in Nature. For that, the advantages of using AMS to determine key nuclides as 129I, 14C, Pu-isotopes and others in different natural compartments will be discussed. The content of the paper is illustrated with the contributions to these studies of the Spanish National Center for Accelerators (CNA) AMS systems.
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Pacific Proving Grounds radioisotope imprint in the Philippine Sea sediments
Source:Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, Volume 186
Author(s): Daniela Pittauer, Per Roos, Jixin Qiao, Walter Geibert, Marcus Elvert, Helmut W. Fischer
Radionuclide concentrations were studied in sediment cores taken at the continental slope of the Philippine Sea off Mindanao Island in the equatorial Western Pacific. High resolution deposition records of anthropogenic radionuclides were collected at this site. Excess 210Pb together with excess 228Th and anthropogenic radionuclides provided information about accumulation rates. Concentrations of Am and Pu isotopes were detected by gamma spectrometry, alpha spectrometry and ICP-MS. The Pu ratios indicate a high portion (minimum of 60%) of Pu from the Pacific Proving Grounds (PPG). This implies that the transport of PPG derived plutonium with the Mindanao Current southward is similarly effective as the previously known transport towards the north with the Kuroshio Current. The record is compared to other studies from northwest Pacific marginal seas and Lombok basin in the Indonesian Archipelago. The sediment core top was found to contain a 6 cm thick layer dominated by terrestrial organic matter, which was interpreted as a result of the 2012 Typhoon Pablo-related fast deposition.
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Spatiotemporal distribution of SUMOs during human placental development and in response to oxidative and inflammatory stress
Abstract
SUMOylation is a dynamic, reversible post-translational modification that regulates cellular protein stability and localization. SUMOylation occurs in response to various stressors, including hypoxia and inflammation, features common in the obstetrical condition of pre-eclampsia. SUMO isoforms 1–4 have recently been identified in the human placenta, however less is known about their role in response to pre-eclamptic stress. We hypothesized that SUMOylation components have a unique spatiotemporal distribution during placental development and that their subcellular localization can be further modulated by extra-cellular stressors. Placental SUMO expression was examined across gestation. First trimester human placental explants and Jar cells were subjected to hypoxia or TNF-α cytokine and subcellular translocation of SUMOs was monitored. SUMOylation target proteins were elucidated using mass spectrometry and proximity ligation assay. Placental SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 were restricted to villous cytotrophoblast in first trimester and syncytium by term, while SUMO-2/3 staining was evenly distributed throughout the trophoblast across gestation. In placental villous explants, oxidative stress induced hyperSUMOylation of SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 in the syncytial cytoplasm, whereas SUMO-2/3 nuclear expression increased. Oxidative stress also upregulated cytoplasmic SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 protein expression (P < 0.05), similar to pre-eclamptic placentas. Keratins were identified as major targets of placental SUMOylation. Oxidative stress increased the cytokeratin-7 to SUMO-1 and SUMO-4 interactions, while inflammatory stress increased its interaction with SUMO-2/3. Overall, SUMOs display a unique spatiotemporal distribution in normal human placental development. Our data indicate SUMOylation in pre-eclampsia, which may impair the stability of cytoskeleton filaments and thus promote trophoblast shedding into the maternal circulation in this condition.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
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Mapping and Predicting Non-linear Brassica rapa Growth Phenotypes Based on Bayesian and Frequentist Complex Trait Estimation
Predicting phenotypes based on genotypes and understanding the effects of complex multi-locus traits on plant performance requires a description of the underlying developmental processes, growth trajectories, and their genomic architecture. Using data from Brassica rapa genotypes grown in multiple density settings and seasons, we applied a hierarchical Bayesian Function-Valued Trait (FVT) approach to fit logistic growth curves to leaf phenotypic data (length and width) and characterize leaf development. We found evidence of genetic variation in phenotypic plasticity of rate and duration of leaf growth to growing season. In contrast, the magnitude of the plastic response for maximum leaf size was relatively small, suggesting that growth dynamics vs. final leaf sizes have distinct patterns of environmental sensitivity. Consistent with patterns of phenotypic plasticity, several QTL-by-year interactions were significant for parameters describing leaf growth rates and durations but not leaf size. In comparison to frequentist approaches for estimating leaf FVT, Bayesian trait estimation resulted in more mapped QTL that tended to have greater average LOD scores and to explain a greater proportion of trait variance. We then constructed QTL-based predictive models for leaf growth rate and final size based on data from one treatment (uncrowded plants in one growing season). Models predicted non-linear developmental phenotypes for genotypes not used in model construction and, due to a lack of QTL x environment interactions, predicted phenotypes across sites differing in plant density.
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Examination of Signatures of Recent Positive Selection on Genes Involved in Human Sialic Acid Biology
Sialic acids are nine carbon sugars ubiquitously found on the surfaces of vertebrate cells and are involved in various immune response-related processes. In humans, at least 58 genes spanning diverse functions, from biosynthesis and activation to recycling and degradation, are involved in sialic acid biology. Because of their role in immunity, sialic acid biology genes have been hypothesized to exhibit elevated rates of evolutionary change. Consistent with this hypothesis, several genes involved in sialic acid biology have experienced higher rates of non-synonymous substitutions in the human lineage than their counterparts in other great apes, perhaps in response to ancient pathogens that infected hominins millions of years ago (paleopathogens). To test whether sialic acid biology genes have also experienced more recent positive selection during the evolution of the modern human lineage, reflecting adaptation to contemporary cosmopolitan or geographically-restricted pathogens, we examined whether their protein-coding regions showed evidence of recent hard and soft selective sweeps. This examination involved the calculation of four measures that quantify changes in allele frequency spectra, extent of population differentiation, and haplotype homozygosity caused by recent hard and soft selective sweeps for 55 sialic acid biology genes using publicly available whole genome sequencing data from 1,668 humans from three ethnic groups. To disentangle evidence for selection from confounding demographic effects, we compared the observed patterns in sialic acid biology genes to simulated sequences of the same length under a model of neutral evolution that takes into account human demographic history. We found that the patterns of genetic variation of most sialic acid biology genes did not significantly deviate from neutral expectations and were not significantly different among genes belonging to different functional categories. Those few sialic acid biology genes that significantly deviated from neutrality either experienced soft sweeps or population-specific hard sweeps. Interestingly, while most hard sweeps occurred on genes involved in sialic acid recognition, most soft sweeps involved genes associated with recycling, degradation and activation, transport, and transfer functions. We propose that the lack of signatures of recent positive selection for the majority of the sialic acid biology genes is consistent with the view that these genes regulate immune responses against ancient rather than contemporary cosmopolitan or geographically restricted pathogens.
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Synopsis of the SOFL Plant-Specific Gene Family
SUPPRESSOR OF PHYB-4#5DOMINANT (sob5-D) was previously identified as a suppressor of the phyB-4 long-hypocotyl phenotype in Arabidopsis thaliana. Overexpression of SOB5 conferred dwarf phenotypes similar to those observed in plants containing elevated levels of cytokinin (CK) nucleotides and nucleosides. Two SOB-FIVE- LIKE (SOFL) proteins, AtSOFL1 and AtSOFL2, which are more similar at the protein level to each other than they are to SOB5, conferred similar phenotypes to the sob5-D mutant when overexpressed. We used founding SOFL gene family members to perform database searches and identified a total of 289 SOFL homologues in sequenced genomes of 89 angiosperm species. Phylogenetic analysis results implied that the SOFL gene family emerged during the expansion of angiosperms and later evolved into four distinct clades. Among the newly identified gene family members are four previously unreported Arabidopsis SOFLs. Multiple sequence alignment of the 289 SOFL protein sequences revealed two highly conserved domains; SOFL-A and SOFL-B. Overexpression and site-directed mutagenesis studies demonstrated that the SOFL domains are necessary for SOB5 and AtSOFL1's overexpression phenotypes. Examination of the subcellular localization patterns of the founding Arabidopsis thaliana SOFLs suggested they may be localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. We have discovered that SOFLs are a plant-specific gene family characterized by two conserved domains that are important for function.
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Drosophila Larval Brain Neoplasms Present Tumour-Type Dependent Genome Instability
Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and copy number variants (CNVs) are found at different rates in human cancer. To determine if these genetic lesions appear in Drosophila tumours we have sequenced the genomes of 17 malignant neoplasms caused by mutations in l(3)mbt, brat, aurA, or lgl. We have found CNVs and SNPs in all the tumours. Tumour-linked CNVs range between 11 and 80 per sample, affecting between 92 and 1546 coding sequences. CNVs are in average less frequent in l(3)mbt than in brat lines. Nearly half of the CNVs fall within the 10 to 100Kb range, all tumour samples contain CNVs larger that 100 Kb and some have CNVs larger than 1Mb. The rates of tumour-linked SNPs change more than 20-fold depending on the tumour type: at late time points brat, l(3)mbt, and aurA and lgl lines present median values of SNPs/Mb of exome of 0.16, 0.48, and 3.6, respectively. Higher SNP rates are mostly accounted for by C>A transversions, which likely reflect enhanced oxidative stress conditions in the affected tumours. Both CNVs and SNPs turn over rapidly. We found no evidence for selection of a gene signature affected by CNVs or SNPs in the cohort. Altogether, our results show that the rates of CNVs and SNPs, as well as the distribution of CNV sizes in this cohort of Drosophila tumours are well within the range of those reported for human cancer. Genome instability is therefore inherent to Drosophila malignant neoplastic growth at a variable extent that is tumour type dependent.
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A New Era of Cancer Biotherapy and Radiopharmaceuticals
Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Feb 2018, Vol. 33, No. 1: 1-2.
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Astragalus Saponins and Liposome Constitute an Efficacious Adjuvant Formulation for Cancer Vaccines
Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Feb 2018, Vol. 33, No. 1: 25-31.
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Inhibition of STAT6/Anoctamin-1 Activation Suppresses Proliferation and Invasion of Gastric Cancer Cells
Cancer Biotherapy & Radiopharmaceuticals Feb 2018, Vol. 33, No. 1: 3-7.
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Percutaneous and open iliac screw safety and accuracy using a tactile technique with adjunctive anteroposterior fluoroscopy
All currently described percutaneous iliac screw placement methods are entirely dependent on fluoroscopy.
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Editorial Board
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
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Table of Contents
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
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Editors' Selections From This Issue: Volume 99 / Number 3 / March 2018
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
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Quality of Relationships With Caregivers, Depression, and Life Satisfaction After Dysvascular Lower Extremity Amputation
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
Author(s): Moriah J. Brier, Rhonda M. Williams, Aaron P. Turner, Alison W. Henderson, Ann Marie Roepke, Daniel C. Norvell, Helene Henson, Joseph M. Czerniecki
ObjectiveTo describe the relationship between caregiver-specific support and conflict, and psychosocial outcomes among individuals experiencing their first dysvascular lower extremity amputation (LEA).DesignCross-sectional cohort study using self-report surveys.SettingDepartment of Veterans Affairs, academic medical center, and level I trauma center.ParticipantsIndividuals undergoing their first major LEA because of complications of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) or diabetes who have a caregiver and completed measures of caregiver support and conflict (N=137; 94.9% men).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresThe Patient Health Questionnaire-9 to assess depression and the Satisfaction With Life Scale to assess life satisfaction.ResultsIn multiple regression analyses, controlling for global levels of perceived support, self-rated health, age, and mobility, caregiver-specific support was found to be associated with higher levels of life satisfaction and caregiver-specific conflict was found to be associated with lower levels of life satisfaction and higher levels of depressive symptoms.ConclusionsThe specific relationship between individuals with limb loss and their caregivers may be an important determinant of well-being. Conflict with caregivers, which has received little attention thus far in the limb loss literature, appears to play a particularly important role. Individuals with limb loss may benefit from interventions with their caregivers that both enhance support and reduce conflict.
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Spinal Cord Injury Peer Mentorship: Applying Self-Determination Theory to Explain Quality of Life and Participation
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
Author(s): Shane N. Sweet, Emilie Michalovic, Amy E. Latimer-Cheung, Michelle Fortier, Luc Noreau, Walter Zelaya, Kathleen A. Martin Ginis
ObjectivesTo investigate the role of spinal cord injury (SCI) peer mentorship on quality of life (QoL)/participation, and test a self-determination theory model that explains the role of SCI peer mentorship on these outcomes.DesignA static group comparison design.SettingCommunity.ParticipantsA convenience sample of mentees (individuals receiving peer mentorship) (n=68) and nonmentees (n=63) who had an SCI, were older than 18 years, and spoke either English or French.InterventionsMentees: at least 4 peer mentorship sessions over the past 5 years; nonpeer mentees: 0 or 1 brief introductory session.Main Outcome MeasuresQoL (ie, life satisfaction and positive and negative affect), participation (eg, autonomous indoor; family role), and the psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness.ResultsNo group differences were found, but years since injury was a moderator indicating that, generally, peer mentees living with SCI for longer (∼30y) appear to benefit more from peer mentorship interactions compared with nonmentees and mentees living with SCI for approximately 6 years. Competence and relatedness mediated the peer mentorship–outcome relationship for QoL and some participation variables, indicating that peer mentorship predicted competence and relatedness, which in turn were related to the outcomes.ConclusionsSatisfaction of competence and relatedness needs requires greater attention in SCI peer mentorship. Years since injury modified the relationship between peer mentorship and outcomes, which provided new insights on the role of SCI peer mentorship. Further studies are needed to determine SCI peer mentorship–specific outcomes that are important across the years-since-injury spectrum.
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Cardiorespiratory Responses to Pool Floor Walking in People Poststroke
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
Author(s): Brenda Jeng, Takuto Fujii, Hyosok Lim, Konstantinos Vrongistinos, Taeyou Jung
ObjectiveTo compare cardiorespiratory responses between pool floor walking and overground walking (OW) in people poststroke.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingUniversity-based therapeutic exercise facility.ParticipantsParticipants (N=28) were comprised of 14 community-dwelling individuals poststroke (5.57±3.57y poststroke) and 14 age- and sex-matched healthy adults (mean age, 58.00±15.51y; male/female ratio, 9:5).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresA telemetric metabolic system was used to collect cardiorespiratory variables, including oxygen consumption (V˙o2), energy expenditure (EE), and expired volume per unit time (V˙e), during 6-minute walking sessions in chest-depth water and on land at a matched speed, determined by average of maximum walking speed in water.ResultsIndividuals poststroke elicited no significant differences in cardiorespiratory responses between pool floor walking and OW. However, healthy controls showed significant increases in mean V˙o2 values by 94%, EE values by 109%, and V˙e values by 94% (all P<.05) during pool floor walking compared with OW. A 2×2 mixed model analysis of variance revealed a significant group × condition interaction in V˙o2, in which the control group increased V˙o2 from OW to pool floor walking, whereas the stroke group did not.ConclusionsOur results indicate that people poststroke, unlike healthy adults, do not increase EE while walking in water compared with on land. Unlike stationary walking on an aquatic treadmill, forward locomotion during pool floor walking at faster speeds may have increased drag force, which requires greater EE from healthy adults. Without demanding excessive EE, walking in water may offer a naturally supportive environment for gait training in the early stages of rehabilitation.
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Is Profit Status of Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities Independently Associated With 30-Day Unplanned Hospital Readmission for Medicare Beneficiaries?
Publication date: March 2018
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Volume 99, Issue 3
Author(s): Chih-Ying Li, Amol Karmarkar, Yu-Li Lin, Yong-Fang Kuo, Kenneth J. Ottenbacher, James E. Graham
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of facility-level factors on 30-day unplanned risk-adjusted hospital readmission after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs).DesignStudy using 100% Medicare claims data, covering 269,306 discharges from 1094 IRFs between October 2010 and September 2011.SettingIRFs with at least 30 discharges.ParticipantsA total number of 1094 IRFs (N=269,306) serving Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresRisk-standardized readmission rate (RSRR) for 30-day hospital readmission.ResultsProfit status was the only provider-level IRF characteristic significantly associated with unplanned readmissions. For-profit IRFs had a significantly higher RSRR (13.26±0.51) than did nonprofit IRFs (13.15±0.47) (P<.001). After controlling for all other facility characteristics (except for accreditation status because of its collinearity with facility type), for-profit IRFs had a 0.1% point higher RSRR than did nonprofit IRFs, and census region was the only significant region-level characteristic, with the South showing the highest RSRR of all regions (type III test, P=.005 for both).ConclusionsOur findings support the inclusion of profit status on the IRF Compare website (a platform including IRF comparators to indicate quality of services). For-profit IRFs had a higher RSRR than did nonprofit IRFs for Medicare beneficiaries. The South had a higher RSRR than did other regions. The RSRR difference between for-profit and nonprofit IRFs could be due to the combined effects of organizational and regional factors.
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La Ferrassie 1: New perspectives on a “classic” Neandertal
Source:Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 117
Author(s): Asier Gómez-Olivencia, Rolf Quam, Nohemi Sala, Morgane Bardey, James C. Ohman, Antoine Balzeau
The La Ferrassie 1 (LF1) skeleton, discovered over a century ago, is one of the most important Neandertal individuals both for its completeness and due to the role it has played historically in the interpretation of Neandertal anatomy and lifeways. Here we present new skeletal remains from this individual, which include a complete right middle ear ossicular chain (malleus, incus, and stapes), three vertebral fragments, and two costal remains. Additionally, the study of the skeleton has allowed us to identify new pathological lesions, including a congenital variant in the atlas, a greenstick fracture of the left clavicle, and a lesion in a mid-thoracic rib of unknown etiology. In addition, we have quantified the amount of vertebral pathology, which is greater than previously appreciated. We have complemented the paleopathological analysis with a taphonomic analysis to identify any potential perimortem fractures. The taphonomic analysis indicates that no surface alteration is present in the LF1 skeleton and that the breakage pattern is that of bone that has lost collagen, which would be consistent with the intentional burial of this individual proposed by previous researchers. In this study, we used CT and microCT scans in order to discover new skeletal elements to better characterize the pathological lesions and to quantify the fracture orientation of those bones in which the current plaster reconstruction did not allow its direct visualization, which underlines the broad potential of imaging technologies in paleoanthropological research. A century after its discovery, LF1 is still providing new insights into Neandertal anatomy and behavior.
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Aberrant resting-state functional brain networks in dyslexia: Symbolic mutual information analysis of neuromagnetic signals
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Stavros I. Dimitriadis, Panagiotis G. Simos, Jack Μ. Fletcher, Andrew C. Papanicolaou
Neuroimaging studies have identified a variety of structural and functional connectivity abnormalities in students experiencing reading difficulties. The present study adopted a novel approach to assess the dynamics of resting-state neuromagnetic recordings in the form of symbolic sequences (i.e., repeated patterns of neuromagnetic fluctuations within and/or between sensors).Participants were 25 students experiencing severe reading difficulties (RD) and 27 age-matched non-impaired readers (NI) aged 7–14 years. Sensor-level data were first represented as symbolic sequences in eight conventional frequency bands. Next, dominant types of sensor-to-sensor interactions in the form of intra and cross-frequency coupling were computed and subjected to graph modeling to assess group differences in global network characteristics.As a group RD students displayed predominantly within-frequency interactions between neighboring sensors which may reflect reduced overall global network efficiency and cost-efficiency of information transfer. In contrast, sensor networks among NI students featured a higher proportion of cross-frequency interactions. Brain-reading achievement associations highlighted the role of left hemisphere temporo-parietal functional networks, at rest, for reading acquisition and ability.
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Smartphone technology: a reliable and valid measure of knee movement in knee replacement
Knee range of motion (ROM) following a knee arthroplasty is an important clinical outcome that directly relates to the patient's physical function. Smartphone technology has led to the creation of applications that can measure ROM. The aim was to determine the concurrent reliability and validity of the photo-based application 'Dr Goniometer' (DrG) compared with a universal goniometer performed by a clinician. A smartphone camera was used to take photographs of the knee in full flexion and full extension, and the images were sent by participants to a study phone. Participants then rated the ease of participation. To assess validity, the patient's knee was measured by a clinician using a goniometer. To examine reliability, four clinicians assessed each image using DrG on four separate occasions spaced 1 week apart. A total of 60 images of knee ROM for 30 unicondylar or total knee arthroplasty were assessed. The goniometer and DrG showed strong correlations for flexion (r=0.94) and extension (r=0.90). DrG showed good intrarater reliability and excellent inter-rater reliability for flexion (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.990 and 0.990) and good reliability for extension (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.897 and 0.899). All participants found the process easy. DrG was proven to be a valid and reliable tool in measuring knee ROM following arthroplasty. Smartphone technology, in conjunction with patient-reported outcomes, offers an accurate and practical way to remotely monitor patients. Benefit may be found in differentiating those who need face-to-face clinical consult to those who do not. Correspondence to Hannah Castle, BAppSc (Physiotherapy), Hollywood Private Hospital, Monash Avenue, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia Tel: +61 9346 6869; fax: +61 9389 8470; e-mail: castleh@ramsayhealth.com.au Received January 11, 2018 Accepted January 28, 2018 Copyright © 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Ultrasound-guided bilateral superficial cervical block and preemptive single-dose oral tizanidine for post-thyroidectomy pain: a randomized-controlled double-blind study
Abstract
Purposes
The postoperative analgesic effect of tizanidine has not yet been evaluated sufficiently. The role of bilateral superficial cervical plexus block (BSCPB) for postoperative analgesia after thyroidectomy remains questionable. We aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of combined use of BSCPB and a single-dose oral tizanidine in patients undergoing elective thyroid surgery.
Methods
Sixty patients undergoing thyroidectomy were randomized into 3 groups. The control group (Group C, n = 20) received BSCPB with 0.9% saline plus oral placebo. The superficial cervical group (Group SC, n = 20) received BSCPB with 0.25% bupivacaine plus oral placebo. The superficial cervical and tizanidine group (Group SC + T, n = 20) received BSCPB with 0.25% bupivacaine plus tizanidine 6 mg capsule. Surgical site pain scores, opioid consumption, rescue analgesia, posterior neck pain, headache, and opioid-related side effects were assessed for the first 24 h.
Results
Compared with Group C, rest and swallowing pain scores in Group SC and Group SC + T were statistically lower at all postoperative time points (p < 0.05). Fentanyl consumption was lower in Group SC and Group SC + T than in Group C at time periods 0–4 and 4–8 h (p < 0.05). Fentanyl consumption was lower in Group SC + T than in Group SC at 0–4 h (p = 0.006). Total fentanyl consumption was higher in Group C than in the other groups (p < 0.001). Postoperative cervical pain and occipital headache were significantly lower in Group SC + T than in the other groups (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Ultrasound-guided BSCPB with or without preemptive oral tizanidine was effective at reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy. Addition of preemptive oral tizanidine to BSCPB reduced the early postoperative opioid consumption, posterior neck pain, and occipital headache.
Clinical trials registry
The study was registered with a clinical trials registry (ClinicalTrials.gov. identifier NCT02725359).
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Impact of clinical factors and UGT1A9 and CYP2B6 genotype on inter-individual differences in propofol pharmacokinetics
Abstract
Purpose
Propofol is one of the most widely used fast-acting intravenously administered anesthetics. However, although large inter-individual differences in dose requirements and recovery time have been observed, there are few previous studies in which the association between several potential covariates, including genetic factors such as the UGT1A9 and CYP2B6 genotypes, and propofol pharmacokinetics was simultaneously examined. This study aimed to identify factors determining propofol pharmacokinetics.
Methods
Eighty-three patients were enrolled, and their blood samples were collected 1, 5, 10, and 15 min after administering a single intravenous bolus of propofol at a dose of 2.0 ml/kg to measure propofol plasma concentration. Area under the time–plasma concentration curve from zero up to the last measurable time point (AUC15min) was determined from the concentration data. The inter-individual variability of the propofol pharmacokinetics was evaluated by investigating relationships between AUC15min and genotype of UGT1A9 and CYP2B6; clinical factors, such as age, sex, body mass index (BMI), and preoperative hematological examination; and hemodynamic variables measured by a pulse dye densitogram analyzer. The Spearman rank correlation coefficient and the Mann–Whitney U test were used for the statistical analysis of continuous and categorical values, respectively. Subsequently, clinical factors that had p values of < 0.05 in the univariate analysis were examined in a multivariate analysis using multiple linear regression analysis.
Results
Age, BMI, indocyanine green disappearance ratio (K-ICG), hepatic blood flow (HBF), preoperative hemoglobin level, and sex were correlated with AUC15min (p < 0.05) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis performed to adjust for age, BMI, K-ICG, HBF, preoperative hemoglobin level, and sex revealed only BMI as an independent factor associated with AUC15min.
Conclusions
This study demonstrated that BMI influences propofol pharmacokinetics after its administration as a single intravenous injection, while UGT1A9 and CYP2B6 SNPs, other clinical factors, and hemodynamic variables do not. These results suggest that BMI is an independent factor associated with propofol pharmacokinetics in several potential covariates.
Clinical trials registration number
University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN000022948).
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Symmetry of cortical planning for initiating stepping in sub-acute stroke
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology, Volume 129, Issue 4
Author(s): Sue Peters, Tanya D. Ivanova, Bimal Lakhani, Lara A. Boyd, W. Richard Staines, Todd C. Handy, S. Jayne Garland
ObjectiveThis study examined motor planning for stepping when the paretic leg was either stepping or standing (to step with the non-paretic leg), to understand whether difficulty with balance and walking post-stroke could be attributed to poor motor planning.MethodsIndividuals with stroke performed self-initiated stepping. Amplitude and duration of the movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) was measured from Cz. Electromyography (EMG) of biceps femoris (BF) and rectus femoris (RF) were collected.ResultsThere were no differences between legs in stepping speed, MRCP or EMG parameters. The MRCPs when stepping with the paretic leg and the non-paretic leg were correlated. When the paretic leg was stepping, the MRCP amplitude correlated with MRCP duration, indicating a longer planning time was accompanied by higher cognitive effort. Slow steppers had larger MRCP amplitudes stepping with the paretic leg and longer MRCP durations stepping with the non-paretic leg.ConclusionsMRCP measures suggest that motor planning for initiating stepping are similar regardless of which limb is stepping. Individuals who stepped slowly had greater MRCP amplitudes and durations for planning.SignificanceIndividuals who step slowly may require more time and effort to plan a movement, which may compromise their safety in the community.
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