Effects of leg movements on the synaptic activity of descending statocyst interneurons in crayfish,Procambarus clarkii

Crustacean postural control is modulated by behavioral condition. In this study, we investigated how the responses of descending statocyst interneurons were affected during leg movements. Intracellular recording was made from an animal whose statoliths had been replaced with ferrite grains so that statocyst receptors could be activated by magnetic field stimulation. We identified 14 morphological types of statocyst-driven descending interneurons. Statocyst-driven descending interneurons always showed an excitatory response to statocyst stimulation on either ipsilateral or contralateral side to the axon. The response of each statocyst-driven descending interneuron to statocyst stimulation was differently modulated by leg movements in different conditions. During active leg movements, six statocyst-driven descending interneurons were activated regardless of whether a substrate was provided or not. In other two statocyst-driven descending interneurons, the excitatory input during leg movements was stronger when a substrate was provided than when it was not. One statocyst-driven descending interneuron received an excitatory input only during leg movements on a substrate, whereas another statocyst-driven descending interneuron did not receive any input during leg movements both on a substrate and in the air. These results suggest that the descending statocyst pathways are organized in parallel, each cell affected differently by behavioral conditions.Abbreviations EMG electromyogram - NGI nonspiking giant interneuron - SDI statocyst-driven descending interneuron     

Identification of causal effects using instrumental variables in randomized trials with stochastic compliance

In randomized trials with imperfect compliance, it is sometimes recommended to supplement the intention‐to‐treat estimate with an instrumental variable (IV) estimate, which is consistent for the effect of treatment administration in those subjects who would get treated if randomized to treatment and would not get treated if randomized to control. The IV estimation however has been criticized for its reliance on simultaneous existence of complementary “fatalistic” compliance states. The objective of the present paper is to identify some sufficient conditions for consistent estimation of treatment effects in randomized trials with stochastic compliance. It is shown that in the stochastic framework, the classical IV estimator is generally inconsistent for the population‐averaged treatment effect. However, even under stochastic compliance, with certain common experimental designs the IV estimator and a simple alternative estimator can be used for consistent estimation of the effect of treatment administration in well‐defined and identifiable subsets of the study population.     

Effects of Different Types of Stimulation on Cyclic AMP Content in the Rabbit Carotid Body: Functional Significance

Cyclic AMP levels in rabbit carotid bodies incubated under control conditions, 100% O2- or 95% O2/5% CO2- equilibrated medium, are close to 1 pmol/mg wet tissue (range 0.4-2.43 pmol/mg). Isobutylmethylxanthine (0.5 mM) increases cyclic AMP levels by a factor of 14 and 8 in HEPES- and CO2/CH3O(-)-buffered medium, respectively. Forskolin (0.5-10 microM) applied during 30 min increases cyclic AMP levels in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of carotid bodies at low O2 tensions resulted in an elevation of cyclic AMP levels both in the absence and in the presence of isobutymethylxanthine. In the latter conditions cyclic AMP increase was maximum at an O2 tension of 46 mm Hg and tended to decrease at extremely low PO2. In isobutylmethylxanthine-containing Ca2(+)-free medium, cyclic AMP increased linearly with decreasing PO2 from 66 to 13 mm Hg; the absolute cyclic AMP levels attained in Ca2(+)-free medium were smaller than those observed in Ca2(+)-containing medium at any PO2. The differences between Ca2(+)-free and Ca2(+)-containing media appear to be due to the action of released neurotransmitters in the latter conditions, because dopamine and norepinephrine, which are known to be released by hypoxia in a Ca2(+)-dependent manner, increase cyclic AMP in the carotid body. Low pH/high PCO2 and high [K+]e increase cyclic AMP levels only in Ca2(+)-containing medium. Forskolin potentiates the release of catecholamines induced by low PO2. These results suggest that cyclic AMP plays an important role in the modulation of the chemoreception process.     

Fluid–structure interaction analysis of the left coronary artery with variable angulation

The aim of this study is to elucidate the correlation between coronary artery branch angulation, local mechanical and haemodynamic forces at the vicinity of bifurcation. Using a coupled fluid–structure interaction (FSI) modelling approach, five idealized left coronary artery models with various angles ranging from 70° to 110° were developed to investigate the influence of branch angulations. In addition, one CT image-based model was reconstructed to further demonstrate the medical application potential of the proposed FSI coupling method. The results show that the angulation strongly alters its mechanical stress distribution, and the instantaneous wall shear stress distributions are substantially moderated by the arterial wall compliance. As high tensile stress is hypothesized to cause stenosis, the left circumflex side bifurcation shoulder is indicated to induce atherosclerotic changes with a high tendency for wide-angled models.     

Abdominal and hip flexor muscle activation during various training exercises

 The purpose of this study was to provide objective information on the involvement of different abdominal and hip flexor muscles during various types of common training exercises used in rehabilitation and sport. Six healthy male subjects performed altogether 38 different static and dynamic training exercises – trunk and hip flexion sit-ups, with various combinations of leg position and support, and bi- and unilateral leg lifts. Myoelectric activity was recorded with surface electrodes from the rectus abdominis, obliquus externus, obliquus internus, rectus femoris, and sartorius muscles and with indwelling fine-wire electrodes from the iliacus muscle. The mean electromyogram amplitude, normalised to the highest observed value, was compared between static and dynamic exercises separately. The hip flexors were highly activated only in exercises involving hip flexion, either lifting the whole upper body or the legs. In contrast, the abdominal muscles showed marked activation both during trunk and hip flexion sit-ups. In hip flexion sit-ups, flexed and supported legs increased hip flexor activation, whereas such modifications did not generally alter the activation level of the abdominals. Bilateral, but not unilateral, leg lifts required activation of abdominal muscles. In trunk flexion sit-ups an increased activation of the abdominal muscles was observed with increased flexion angle, whereas the opposite was true for hip flexion sit-ups. Bilateral leg lifts resulted in higher activity levels than hip flexion sit-ups for the iliacus and sartorius muscles, while the opposite was true for rectus femoris muscles. These data could serve as a basis for improving the design and specificity of test and training exercises. Accepted: 12 August 1996     

Experimenteller Beitrag zur Kenntnis der biogenen Amine im Glomus caroticum des Kaninchens

Zusammenfassung Der Einfluß von p-Chlorphenylalanin-methylester-hydrochlorid (PCPA) und Reserpin auf die biogenen Amine des Glomus caroticum von Kaninchen wurde ultrastrukturell und fluoreszenzmikroskopisch untersucht. Die elektronenmikroskopische Analyse ergab keine eindeutigen Kriterien für arzneimittelinduzierte Veränderungen. Fluoreszenzmikroskopisch ließ sich nach Applikation von Reserpin eine ausgeprägte Senkung des Catecholamin- und Indolamin-Gehaltes und nach PCPA eine Abnahme des Serotonins erkennen.

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Electron microscopic and fluorescence microscopic studies of biogenic amines in the rabbit glomus caroticum after treatment with reserpine and PCPA

Summary The effects of p-chlorophenylalanine-methylester-hydrochloride (PCPA) and reserpine on biogenic amines of the rabbit carotid body were investigated ultrastructurally and by fluorescence microscopy. The electron microscopic analysis did not indicate significantly that structural changes result from treatment with reserpine or PCPA. Fluorescence microscopy indicated that PCPA lowered serotonin, and reserpine lowered both catecholamines and indolamines.

Mit Unterstützung durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.     

The effect of leg dominance and landing height on ACL loading among female athletes

Female athletes are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. A neuromuscular imbalance called leg dominance may provide a biomechanical explanation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare the side-to-side lower limb differences in movement patterns, muscle forces and ACL forces during a single-leg drop-landing task from two different heights. We hypothesized that there will be significant differences in lower limb movement patterns (kinematics), muscle forces and ACL loading between the dominant and non-dominant limbs. Further, we hypothesized that significant differences between limbs will be present when participants land from a greater drop-landing height. Eight recreational female participants performed dominant and non-dominant single-leg drop landings from 30 to 60 cm. OpenSim software was used to develop participant-specific musculoskeletal models and to calculate muscle forces. We also predicted ACL loading using our previously established method. There were no significant differences between dominant and non-dominant leg landing except in ankle dorsiflexion and GMED muscle forces at peak GRF. Landing from a greater height resulted in significant differences among most kinetics and kinematics variables and ACL forces. Minimal differences in lower-limb muscle forces and ACL loading between the dominant and non-dominant legs during single-leg landing may suggest similar risk of injury across limbs in this cohort. Further research is required to confirm whether limb dominance may play an important role in the higher incidence of ACL injury in female athletes with larger and sport-specific cohorts.     

血清尿酸水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响

目的:探讨血清尿酸(UA)水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响。方法:回顾性分析2011年6月至2016年1月我院收治的251例急性脑梗死患者的临床资料,根据有无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块分为伴颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(观察组)176例和无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(对照组)75例,观察组根据颈动脉粥样硬化程度分为斑块形成组(113例)、内中膜增厚组(63例),根据颈动脉斑块稳定程度分为不稳定组(106例)、稳定组(70例),比较各组血清UA水平,根据UA水平不同分为高UA组(134例)和正常UA组(117例),进行颈动脉斑块发生情况比较。结果:观察组的血清UA水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(1)斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平显著高于对照组(P0.05),而斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(2)不稳定组血清UA水平显著高于对照组和稳定组(P0.05),而稳定组和对照组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(3)正常UA组和高UA组颈动脉斑块的发生情况比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:血清UA水平可以作为表征急性脑梗死患者伴随出现颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的生物学指标之一,此外,血清UA的水平在颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成者和不稳定者表达更高,但血清UA水平与颈动脉斑块形成无明显联系。     

高血压患者血压控制水平、血脂水平及颈动脉斑块与冠脉病变的关系

目的:探讨血压控制水平、血脂水平和颈动脉斑块与高血压患者冠脉病变程度和病变支数的关系。方法:回顾性分析2014年01月至2016年05月收住于南京中医药大学附属江苏省中西医结合医院心血管科的原发性高血压患者273例,按血压控制水平分为达标组和未达标组。按颈动脉超声结果判断有无斑块,冠状动脉造影结果使用Gensini评分和病变支数表示,并检测血脂指标。结果:血压控制达标者130人(47.61%),颈动脉有斑块者193例(70.70%)。与血压控制达标患者相比,血压控制不达标者冠脉病变支数及冠脉狭窄程度得分均明显增加(P0.05)。血压不达标合并斑块患者冠脉病变支数和狭窄程度与血压达标无斑块、血压达标合并斑块及血压不达标无斑块患者相比均明显增加(P0.001)。患者HDL-C水平与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈负相关(r=-0.139,P=0.022),AI与冠状动脉狭窄程度呈正相关(r=0.136,P=0.025),LDL/HDL-C和AI与冠脉病变支数均呈正相关,分别为(r=0.128,P=0.035)和(r=0.137,P=0.023)。结论:血压控制不佳,高血脂和颈动脉斑块形成可增加高血压患者冠脉病变的严重程度。