Validation of an innovative method,based on tilt sensing,for the assessment of activity and body position

Since there is less movement during sleep than during wake, the recording of body movements by actigraphy has been used to indirectly evaluate the sleep–wake cycle. In general, most actigraphic devices are placed on the wrist and their measures are based on acceleration detection. Here, we propose an alternative way of measuring actigraphy at the level of the arm for joint evaluation of activity and body position. This method analyzes the tilt of three axes, scoring activity as the cumulative change of degrees per minute with respect to the previous sampling, and measuring arm tilt for the body position inference. In this study, subjects (N?=?13) went about their daily routine for 7 days, kept daily sleep logs, wore three ambulatory monitoring devices and collected sequential saliva samples during evenings for the measurement of dim light melatonin onset (DLMO). These devices measured motor activity (arm activity, AA) and body position (P) using the tilt sensing of the arm, with acceleration (wrist acceleration, WA) and skin temperature at wrist level (WT). Cosinor, Fourier and non-parametric rhythmic analyses were performed for the different variables, and the results were compared by the ANOVA test. Linear correlations were also performed between actimetry methods (AA and WA) and WT. The AA and WA suitability for circadian phase prediction and for evaluating the sleep–wake cycle was assessed by comparison with the DLMO and sleep logs, respectively. All correlations between rhythmic parameters obtained from AA and WA were highly significant. Only parameters related to activity levels, such as mesor, RA (relative amplitude), VL5 and VM10 (value for the 5 and 10 consecutive hours of minimum and maximum activity, respectively) showed significant differences between AA and WA records. However, when a correlation analysis was performed on the phase markers acrophase, mid-time for the 10 consecutive hours of highest (M10) and mid-time for the five consecutive hours of lowest activity (L5) with DLMO, all of them showed a significant correlation for AA (R?=?0.607, p?=?0.028; R?=?0.582, p?=?0.037; R?=?0.620, p?=?0.031, respectively), while for WA, only acrophase did (R?=?0.621, p?=?0.031). Regarding sleep detection, WA showed higher specificity than AA (0.95?±?0.01 versus 0.86?±?0.02), while the agreement rate and sensitivity were higher for AA (0.76?±?0.02 versus 0.66?±?0.02 and 0.71?±?0.03 versus 0.53?±?0.03, respectively). Cohen’s kappa coefficient also presented the highest values for AA (0.49?±?0.04) and AP (0.64?±?0.04), followed by WT (0.45?±?0.06) and WA (0.37?±?0.04). The findings demonstrate that this alternative actigraphy method (AA), based on tilt sensing of the arm, can be used to reliably evaluate the activity and sleep–wake rhythm, since it presents a higher agreement rate and sensitivity for detecting sleep, at the same time allows the detection of body position and improves circadian phase assessment compared to the classical actigraphic method based on wrist acceleration.     

Assessment of post-stroke elbow flexor spasticity in different forearm positions

Abstract

Purpose/Aim: There have been conflicting results regarding which muscle contribute most to the elbow spastic flexion deformity. This study aimed to investigate whether flexor spasticity of the elbow changed according to the position of the forearm, and to determine the muscle or muscles that contributed most to the elbow spastic flexion deformity by clinical examination.

Methods: This study is a single group, observational and cross-sectional study. Sixty patients were assessed for elbow flexor spasticity in different forearm positions (pronation, neutral and supination) with Modified Tardieu Scale. The primary outcome measure was a domain of the Modified Tardieu Scale, the dynamic component of spasticity (spasticity angle).

Results: In general, there was a significant difference between forearm positions regarding spasticity angle (p?<?.001). In pairwise comparisons, median spasticity angles in pronation (70 degrees) and neutral position (60 degrees) were significantly higher than those in supination (57.5 degrees) (adjusted p?<?.001 and adjusted p?=?.003, respectively). However, median spasticity angle in pronation did not differ significantly from those in neutral position in favour of pronation (adjusted p?=?.274).

Conclusions: The severity of spasticity changes according to the elbow position which suggests that the magnitude of contribution of each elbow flexor muscle to spastic elbow deformity is different. Reduction of spasticity from pronation to supination leads us to consider brachialis as the most spastic muscle. Since biceps was suggested to be the least spastic muscle in this study, and also to avoid spastic pronation deformity of the forearm, it should be rethought before performing chemodenervation into biceps muscle.     

Neuromuscular dysfunction with the experimental arm acting as its own reference following eccentric and isometric exercise

Eccentric exercise has been extensively used as a model to study muscle damage-induced neuromuscular impairment, adopting mainly a bilateral matching task between the reference (unexercised) arm and the indicator (exercised) arm. However, little attention has been given to the muscle proprioceptive function when the exercised arm acts as its own reference. This study investigated muscle proprioception and motor control, with the arm acting both as reference and indicator, following eccentric exercise and compared them with those observed after isometric exercise. Fourteen young male volunteers were equally divided into two groups and performed an eccentric or isometric exercise protocol with the elbow flexors of the non-dominant arm on an isokinetic dynamometer. Both exercise protocols induced significant changes in indicators of muscle damage, that is, muscle soreness, range of motion and maximal isometric force post-exercise (p < 0.05–0.001), and neuromuscular function was similarly affected following both protocols. Perception of force was impaired over the 4-day post-exercise period (p < 0.001), with the applied force being systematically overestimated. Perception of joint position was significantly disturbed (i.e., target angle was underestimated) only at one elbow angle on day 4 post-exercise (p < 0.05). The misjudgements and disturbed motor output observed when the exercised arm acted as its own reference concur with the view that they could be a result of a mismatch between the central motor command and an impaired motor control after muscle damage.     

Effete,a Drosophila Chromatin-Associated Ubiquitin-Conjugating Enzyme That Affects Telomeric and Heterochromatic Position Effect Variegation

Drosophila telomeres are elongated by the transposition of telomere-specific retrotransposons rather than telomerase activity. Proximal to the terminal transposon array, Drosophila chromosomes contain several kilobases of a complex satellite DNA termed telomere-associated sequences (TASs). Reporter genes inserted into or next to the TAS are silenced through a mechanism called telomere position effect (TPE). TPE is reminiscent of the position effect variegation (PEV) induced by Drosophila constitutive heterochromatin. However, most genes that modulate PEV have no effect on TPE, and systematic searches for TPE modifiers have so far identified only a few dominant suppressors. Surprisingly, only a few of the genes required to prevent telomere fusion have been tested for their effect on TPE. Here, we show that with the exception of the effete (eff; also called UbcD1) mutant alleles, none of the tested mutations at the other telomere fusion genes affects TPE. We also found that mutations in eff, which encodes a class I ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, act as suppressors of PEV. Thus, eff is one of the rare genes that can modulate both TPE and PEV. Immunolocalization experiments showed that Eff is a major constituent of polytene chromosomes. Eff is enriched at several euchromatic bands and interbands, the TAS regions, and the chromocenter. Our results suggest that Eff associates with different types of chromatin affecting their abilities to regulate gene expression.     

禁牧条件下不同类型草地群落结构特征

利用幂乘方法则模型探讨了鄂尔多斯3种不同类型草地在禁牧情况下的群落结构特征,包括物种组成、物种多样性、生物量和空间分布规律。结果表明:幂乘方法则在解析鄂尔多斯不同类型草地的空间异质性时具有很好的吻合性;羊草(Leymuschinensis)草地、芨芨草(Achnatherum splendens)草地和油蒿(Artemisia ordosica)灌丛草地均比随机分布呈现了较强的空间异质性,群落整体的空间异质性指数表现为油蒿灌丛草地>羊草草地>芨芨草草地;群落整体的物种多样性指数为油蒿灌丛草地>羊草草地>芨芨草草地;L-样方(50cm×50cm)内的平均物种数和物种多样性指数均表现为羊草草地极显著地高于油蒿灌丛草地,油蒿灌丛草地又极显著地高于芨芨草草地(P<0.001);L-样方内的平均生物量表现为油蒿灌丛草地极显著地高于芨芨草草地(P<0.001),而羊草草地与油蒿灌丛草地以及芨芨草草地之间没有显著性差异;这3种类型的草地其L-样方内的平均生物量和物种多样性指数都随着群落整体空间异质性指数的增大而增大。     

不同生境与花部特征对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响

对不同生境中巫山淫羊藿结实特性进行比较研究。结果表明:(1)三个种群在繁殖时期中不同花部特征的植株繁殖投资差异不大,如每株分枝数、每株花序数和每株开花数差异均不显著;(2)三个种群中每株结实数、每株结实率、每花序结实数在不同花部特征中差异显著,PLS和SAA要显著大于PESS;(3)三种花部特征在不同生境中单株分枝数和单株花序数均无显著差异。在不同花部特征中种群1开花数量相较少,因而在结实方面均值均要小于种群2和种群3;(4)不同花部特征的果实饱满种子数、败育数和败育率均具有显著差异,而种子数差异不大,但在种群间均无显著的差异。说明种子的多少更多地受到花部特征的影响。总之,巫山淫羊藿的结实特性受到生境和花部特征的双重影响,其中花型比生境对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响更为明显。     

5种甘草属植物花序和种子生产的位置效应及繁殖资源分配模式初步研究

以种植于新疆石河子的光果甘草( Glycyrrhiza glabra Linn.)、胀果甘草( G. inflata Batal.)、乌拉尔甘草( G. uralensis Fisch.)、黄甘草( G. eurycarpa P. C. Li)和蜜腺甘草( G. glabra var. glandulosa X. Y. Li)为研究对象,对植株不同部位的花序数量、花序正常发育率、每花序单花数量和果穗干质量,以及植株不同部位和花序不同部位的生物量投入比、座果率、结籽率、种子投影面积和种子千粒质量进行测定;在此基础上,对供试5种甘草属( Glycyrrhiza Linn.)植物的繁殖资源分配模式和种子生产策略进行分析。结果表明：同一植株内,光果甘草、乌拉尔甘草、黄甘草和蜜腺甘草的花序数量、花序正常发育率、每花序单花数量和果穗干质量从植株下部到上部总体上依次递减,而胀果甘草植株不同部位间这4项指标总体上无显著差异。同一植株内,胀果甘草植株中部的生物量投入比和座果率均较高,但其生物量投入比、座果率和结籽率在植株不同部位间均无显著差异;而供试另4种植物的生物量投入比、座果率和结籽率从植株下部到上部总体上依次递减。同一花序内,胀果甘草花序中部的生物量投入比明显高于花序上部和下部,座果率从花序下部到上部依次递减,结籽率则在花序不同部位间无显著差异,而供试另4种植物的生物量投入比、座果率和结籽率从花序下部到上部总体上依次递减。供试5种植物的种子投影面积和种子千粒质量在植株不同部位间和花序不同部位间均无显著差异。综合研究结果显示：在资源竞争、结构效应和花粉限制的影响下,供试5种甘草属植物存在2种不同的资源分配模式和种子生产格局。其中,光果甘草、乌拉尔甘草、黄甘草和蜜腺甘草通过减少对晚发育的花或果实的资源投入来保障早发育的花或果实获得较多的资源,达到繁殖成功的目的;而胀果甘草则采取对花和果实随机败育的方式减小资源竞争的压力,这2种繁殖资源分配模式和种子生产策略对提高甘草属植物的繁殖成功率具有重要作用。     

红外光谱结合多元统计方法的不同产地红根草红外指纹图谱比较研究

红根草为唇形科鼠尾带根全草植物,是著名的广西道地药材和常用中药,对白血病细胞有很强的抑制作用,同时具有较强的抗菌活性和抗癌作用,主治菌莉、腹泻、肠炎、肺炎、急性咽喉炎、扁桃体炎、感冒等症。为快速鉴别和评价不同产地中药红根草主要化学成分的差异,该研究利用红外光谱对不同产地红根草进行检测,并结合主成分分析和聚类分析及载荷因子等方法对不同产地样本进行鉴别。结果表明：(1)在1800~600 cm-1范围内,不同产地红根草根系在1727、1635、1551、1513、1442、1373、1255、1154、1036、795、776、690 cm-1等处均有较强的振动吸收,表明不同产地红根草主要化学组分构成比较相似。(2)红外指纹图谱结合主成分和聚类分析结果表明,不同产地红根草化学成分的差异与地理位置有明显对应性,产地相近的地区红根草化学成分的较似,产地较远的区域红根草化学成分差异较大,但两种方法检测结果均有自己的特征。(3)通过PCA载荷因子分析,可以得出比原始图谱更多的化学成分信息,对主成分聚类贡献较大的吸收峰主要表现在1670、1630、1616、1579、1473、1411、1159、1129、1082、1042、1000、972、946、913、891、806 cm-1附近,进一步揭示出不同产地红根草化学成分差异主要是红根草内酯和甾醇类成分,以及主要有效成分红根草邻醌和丹参酮类成分的差异。该研究结果为红根草的引种栽培及良种选育研究提供了参考。     

杜仲叶片不同发育时期数字基因表达谱分析

为在转录水平解析杜仲叶片发育过程中的基因表达模式,该研究通过数字基因表达谱技术对‘华仲6号’杜仲叶片从展叶(4月)到落叶(10月)不同发育时期的基因表达水平进行比较分析,共获得差异基因3 002个,其中1 764个表达量上调,1 238个下调,这些差异表达基因主要行使催化、氧化还原等功能,参与代谢过程和生物过程等;进一步Pathway富集分析发现,苯丙素类生物合成途径相关基因被富集,其中调控绿原酸合成的6个基因差异表达显著;对这些基因表达模式进行分析显示,4月中旬和9月中旬基因的表达量较高,暗示这两个时期对于绿原酸的合成具有重要作用。荧光定量RT-PCR检测6个绿原酸合成相关基因和12个随机选择的差异表达基因,验证结果显示表达谱测序结果可靠。该研究结果为揭示杜仲叶片在不同发育时期的分子调控机制奠定了基础,并为深入解析杜仲绿原酸合成机理,进而通过分子育种手段提高杜仲绿原酸含量提供新的路径。