Effects of anteriorly-loaded treadmill walking on dynamic gait stability in young adults

BackgroundAnteriorly-loaded walking is common in many occupations and may increase fall risk. Dynamic gait stability, defined by the Feasible Stability Region (FSR) theory, quantifies the kinematic relationship between the body’s center of mass (COM) and base of support (BOS). FSR-based dynamic gait stability has been used to evaluate the fall risk.Research questionHow does front load carriage affect dynamic gait stability, step length, and trunk angle among young adults during treadmill walking?MethodsIn this between-subject design study, 30 healthy young adults were evenly randomized into three load groups (0%, 10%, or 20% of body weight). Participants carried their assigned load while walking on a treadmill at a speed of 1.2 m/s. Body kinematics were collected during treadmill walking. Dynamic gait stability (the primary variable) was calculated for two gait events: touchdown and liftoff. Step length and trunk angle were measured as secondary variables. One-way analysis of variance was conducted to detect any group-related differences for all variables. Post-hoc analysis with Bonferroni correction was performed when main group differences were found.ResultsNo significant differences but medium to large effect sizes were found between groups for dynamic gait stability at touchdown (p = 0.194, η² = 0.114) and liftoff (p = 0.122, η² = 0.139). Trunk angle significantly increased (indicating backward lean) with the front load at touchdown (p < 0.001, η² = 0.648) and liftoff (p < 0.001, η² = 0.543). No significant between-group difference was found related to the step length (p = 0.344, η² = 0.076).SignificanceCarrying a front load during walking significantly alters the trunk orientation and may change the COM-BOS kinematic relationship and, therefore, fall risk. The findings could inform the design of future studies focusing on the impact of anterior load carriage on fall risk during different locomotion.     

21 d-6°头低位卧床期间运动训练对动态姿态平衡的影响

目的探讨21 d-6°头低位卧床和卧床运动训练对动态姿态平衡和控制功能的影响. 方法 10名健康男性青年被试者分为卧床对照组和卧床训练组,每组5人,卧床期间训练组每天进行2次、每次30 min逐级增加负荷的头低位功率自行车训练;分别于卧床前和卧床后21 d进行了动态姿态平衡和双膝等速肌力的测试. 结果与卧床前相比,对照组动态本体感觉得分和运动控制适应能力明显降低,双膝相对峰力矩明显降低,同时伴有腘绳肌与股四头肌峰力矩屈/伸比值的明显增加;训练组动态本体感觉得分和运动控制适应能力明显高于对照组,而腘绳肌与股四头肌峰力矩屈/伸比值无明显改变. 结论 21 d-6°头低位卧床运动训练能够明显改善卧床后动态姿态平衡及其动态运动适应功能.     

头低位限制活动对家兔主要脏器微血管壁通透性的影响

本文报导了用40只白色短毛家兔所做的动物模拟失重实验,得出各脏器微血管通透性的动态反应曲线。并用微循环研究方法,分析了模拟失重时各脏器微血管功能状态与微血管通透性之间的关系;阐述了各脏器微循环功能变化特点;并对变化机理作了初步探讨。     

头低位模拟失重状态对前庭功能的影响

为研究头低位模拟失重对运动病症状、垂直视动眼震（ＶＯＫＮ）及体液重新分配的影响，在头低位－１０°的模拟失重状态下，采用大视野的垂直视动刺激，观察１８名正常人的运动病症状、ＶＯＫＮ、激素（ＡＶＰ、ＶＩＰ、ＣＯＲＴ、ＡＬＤＯ）的反应特点。结果表明，头低位－１０°状态下的大视野垂直视动刺激可以诱发出明显的运动病症状，头低位－１０°的垂直视动刺激比坐位更容易诱发运动病。坐位状态ＶＯＫＮ慢相速度有明显的方向性不对称，敏感组ＶＯＫＮ方向性不对称有显著差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。头低位－１０°时ＶＯＫＮ的不对称现象不明显，向下方向运动的ＶＯＫＮ慢相速度显著增加。分析指出，头低位－１０°状态下垂直视动刺激比坐位和秋千刺激的贡献率大。尿中ＣＯＲＴ（皮质醇）在秋千和头低位的垂直视动刺激前后有显著性增加。提示：大视野的垂直视动刺激与头低位－１０°两种刺激的结合可能成为预测空间运动病的方法之一．     

Qualitative difference between the cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses to melanocyte antigens in melanoma and vitiligo

Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by depigmented macules secondary to melanocyte loss. An unusual facet is its relation to melanoma: cytotoxic T lymphocytes directed to melanocyte antigens are found in both conditions and imply a breakdown of tolerance, yet the resulting immune reaction is the opposite. The mechanisms at the basis of these opposite effects are not known. Here, we performed a direct comparison of whole melanocyte-specific T cell populations in the two diseases. We demonstrate that neither precursor frequencies of Melan-A/MART-1-specific T lymphocytes nor their status of activation differ significantly. However, by using a tetramer-based T cell receptor down-regulation assay, we documented a higher affinity of vitiligo T cells. We calculated that the peptide concentration required for 50% of maximal receptor down-regulation differed by 6.5-fold between the two diseases. Moreover, only vitiligo T cells were capable of efficient receptor down-regulation and IFN-gamma production in response to HLA-matched melanoma cells, suggesting that this difference in receptor affinity is physiologically relevant. The differences in receptor affinity and tumor reactivity were confirmed by analyzing Melan-A/MART-1-specific clones established from the two diseases. Our results suggest that the quality, and not the quantity, of the melanocyte-specific cytotoxic responses differs between the two pathologies.     

Interleukin-10 secreted by B-1 cells modulates the phagocytic activity of murine macrophages in vitro

As demonstrated previously in our laboratory, B-1 cells migrate from the peritoneal cavity of mice and home to a distant site of inflammation to become macrophage-like cells. However, the influence that these cells might have on the kinetics and fate of the inflammatory process is not known. Considering that macrophages are pivotal in the inflammatory reaction, we decided to investigate the possible influence B-1 cells could have on macrophage activities in vitro. Our results show that peritoneal macrophages from Xid mice, a mouse strain deprived of B-1 cells, have higher phagocytic indexes for zymozan particles when compared with macrophages from wild-type mice. Moreover, macrophages from wild-type mice have a lower ability to release nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide when compared with macrophages from Xid mice. Experiments using cocultures of B-1 cells and macrophages from Xid mice in transwell plates demonstrated that B-1 cells down-regulate macrophage activities. These observations also indicate that this phenomenon is not due to a physical interaction between these two cell populations. As B-1 cells are one of the main sources of interleukin (IL)-10, we demonstrate in this study that adherent peritoneal cells from Xid mice produce significantly less amounts of this cytokine in culture when compared with IL-10 production by cells from wild-type mice. When B-1 cells from IL-10 knock-out mice and macrophages from wild-type mice were cocultured in transwell plates, the phagocytic index of macrophages was not altered demonstrating that B-1 cells can influence the effector functions of macrophages in vitro via IL-10 secretion.     

Adverse childhood experiences and the development of Down syndrome regression disorder

Down syndrome regression disorder (DSRD) is a clinical symptom cluster of acute or subacute neurocognitive regression in otherwise health persons with Down syndrome. The objective of this study was to evaluate if adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were more prevalent in children with DSRD than those with DS alone. A survey-based, cohort-based study was performed. Caregivers of individuals with DSRD with onset of symptoms between age 10 and 30 years and DS alone were administered the ACEs questionnaire via an online REDCap survey. A total of 159 responses were collected after excluding incomplete surveys and those not meeting criteria for DSRD. Individuals with DSRD were not more likely to experience ACEs (p = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–1.17). In those with ACEs prior to the onset of symptoms, the median time prior was 7 months (interquartile range: 5–10). Individuals with DSRD were more likely to report three or more ACEs (52, 33%) compared to those with DS alone (39, 22%) (p = 0.02, 95% CI: 1.08–2.87). Exposure to ACEs were not predictive of response to particular therapeutic interventions although those with multiple ACEs 3 months prior to the onset of symptoms was associated with lower response rates to benzodiazepines and immunotherapy (p = 0.02, 95% CI: −3.64–−1.13). This study provides preliminary data that individuals with DSRD experience ACEs at a similar rate to individuals with only DS alone, although three or more ACEs, often preceding the onset of symptoms, was more prevalent in individuals with DSRD.     

大鼠三叉神经本体觉中枢传导通路的电生理学证明

近年来形态学上发现了三叉神经领域本体感觉中枢通路,在此基础上,本文用电生理学方法,通过电刺激咬肌神经和压下颌,观察了由四级神经元组成的此通路的二级（三叉神经脊束核吻侧亚核背内侧部及邻接的网状结构）、三级（沿三叉神经感觉主核内缘存在的“带状区”）中继核团以及作为最后驿站的丘脑腹后内侧核等处的单位放电反应;另外又分别刺激或损毁二、三级中继核团,观察了丘脑腹后内侧核的单位放电变化,结果证明电刺激咬肌神经和压下颌,在上述核团都出现对本体觉冲动反应的单位放电,包括兴奋性反应单位、抑制性反应单位和无关单位三种类型,以兴奋性单位为主,占神经元单位放电总数的５２．９％～６７．７％．分别刺激二和三级神经元的所在核团,在丘脑腹后内侧核处发生相应的单位放电效应;损毁二和三级核团,本体觉传入冲动被阻断。本研究结果从电生理学上确证了形态学上发现的三叉神经本体感觉中枢通路的客观存在,从定性研究方面支持了定位研究的结果,并填补了以往生理学上只证明初级传入核团与丘脑腹后内侧核之间存在着一条多突触联系的本体觉传递通路但未能判断其具体行径和中继部位的空白,本研究并对方法论以及一些有关问题进行了讨论．     

慢性间歇性饥饿对大鼠学习记忆的影响

目的探讨慢性间歇性饥饿对大鼠空间学习记忆、被动回避反应能力的影响。方法SD雄性大鼠，随机分为正常对照组和模型组，模型组采取饥饿2d，恢复喂食3d的方法喂食，正常喂水，喂养60d，通过Morris水迷宫检测大鼠空间学习记忆能力，电跳台实验检测大鼠的被动回避反应能力。结果Morris水迷宫实验的第2天及第3天，模型组大鼠的潜伏期明显长于对照组（P〈0．05），在电跳台实验的第1天，模型组大鼠的学习成绩也明显差于对照组（P〈0．05）。结论慢性间歇性饥饿可导致大鼠早期学习记忆能力下降。