Poor co-ordination in 5 year olds: A screening test for use in schools

A simple standardized screening test (South Australian Motor Co-ordination Screening Test, SAM Test) was developed to screen for poor co-ordination in 5 year olds; This SAM Test, which can be used by teachers, nurses and doctors, has explicit pass/fail criteria and has classified correctly 90% of children. The McCarthy Motor Scales, which are time consuming and limited to use by psychologists, were used to categorize 60 poorly co-ordinated and 60 normal children. The 120 children thus selected were tested on 19 items covering gross and fine motor skills. Statistical analysis to determine which items best discriminated between the two groups found the following five gross motor items to be most effective: one leg balancing, hopping, heel-toe walking on line, jumping Over ribbon and dropping ball and catching.     

Learning and retention of movement sequences in Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study was to examine motor learning and retention given extensive practice in two fundamentally different movement sequences. One sequence was a memory-driven task (performing a series of whole body positions from memory) and the other a context-driven task (buttoning). Practice took place over 3 weeks, with performance measured weekly; retention was measured weekly for 3 weeks after practice. There were 7 people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and 7 age-matched neurologically healthy people who participated in this study. Both groups improved performance on both tasks with practice, with the majority of the change for the PD group occurring between 1 and 2 weeks of practice. Although those with PD did not necessarily perform as well as age-matched controls, they learned both sequences in a manner similar to age-matched controls, and exhibited retention across the 3-week retention interval. If people with PD are given sufficient practice they can learn and retain both memory-based and context-driven movement sequences as well as age-matched controls. The results provide support for maintaining physical activity and for intervention through movement therapy.     

帕金森病患者运动皮质兴奋性的经颅磁刺激研究

目的:本研究拟应用低频重复性经颅磁刺激(rTMS)分别刺激帕金森病(PD)患者M1手代表区(M1Hand)及运动前区(PMC),探讨不同干预手段对运动皮质兴奋性的影响,以及M1与PMC间的联系。方法:对18名确诊PD患者先后进行4种不同干预,即口服美多芭、低频rTMS刺激M1Hand(0.5Hz,100%静息阈值,共1600次脉冲)、低频rTMS刺激PMC(0.5Hz,100%静息阈值,共1600次脉冲)以及假刺激。于每次干预前后各进行临床评价并测定运动诱发电位(MEP)相关指标。结果:①口服美多芭后UPDRSⅢ(P=0.001)以及其中有关僵直(P=0.001)、运动迟缓(P<0.001)的评分均较服药前显著改善。三种不同磁刺激干预产生结果不同,M1Hand组UPDRSⅢ减低(P=0.015),僵直(P=0.010)、运动迟缓(P=0.004)亦有所改善;PMC组UPDRSⅢ较干预前减低(P=0.046),僵直评分亦减低,但无显著性意义(P=0.163);②口服美多芭1h后MEP120减低(P=0.002),CSP延长(P=0.006);M1Hand组MEP120无著变,而CSP延长(P=0.015);PMC组MEP120减低(P=0.004),而CSP无著变;假刺激组则均无显著性改变。结论:低频rTMS对不同脑区产生的效应不同:刺激M1可使CSP延长;而刺激PMC可使MEP波幅减低。     

Axotomy of the rat facial nerve leads to increased CR3 complement receptor expression by activated microglial cells

Axotomy of the rat facial nerve leads to mitotic divisions of microglial cells without developing into phagocytes. In order to study the functional characteristics of those activated, i.e., proliferating but nonphagocytic, microglia we investigated the expression of monocyte/macrophage antigens by these cells. Our results show that activated microglia lack monocyte/macrophage antigens recognized by the monoclonal antibodies Ox-41, ED1, ED2, and Ki-M2R but express high levels of CR3 complement receptors in situ.     

Biological correlates of deliberate self-harm behaviour: a study of electroencephalographic,biochemical and psychological variables in parasuicide

Clinical, electroencephalographic and biochemical variables were measured in 40 patients who attempted suicide and 27 age-matched controls. Patients had significantly higher scores for depression, hopelessness, neuroticism and psychoticism and lower scores for extraversion than controls. They also had significantly lower contingent negative variation (CNV), higher postimperative negative variation and lower whole blood serotonin values than controls. Within the patient group, vulnerability to parasuicide, as determined by previous or repeated acts of deliberate self-harm, was associated with higher scores for hopelessness and suicide intent, lower scores for extraversion and decreased CNV. Factor analysis revealed significant correlations between psychological variables and auditory evoked potential amplitudes for the vulnerable group. A profile of variables associated with increased risk of self-harm in patients presenting with attempted suicide is proposed from our data.     

Diagnosis of thoracic outlet syndrome Relative value of electrophysiological studies

The diagnostic utility of various electrophysiological techniques was evaluated in patients with thoracic outlet compression syndrome (TOCS). Our results suggest that in true neurogenic TOCS, there is no standard electrophysiological picture, but that this evolves with the severity of the syndrome. The first changes observed are electromyographic, followed by changes in F-wave and SEPs, followed finally by changes in nerve conduction parameters. EMG study was certainly more informative, showing neurogenic damage not only in limbs with neurological signs but also in about 1/4 of limbs with only subjective symptoms. The study of F-wave and SEPs does not seem to be particularly helpful, however, in view of the peculiar changes found in these patients, SEPs may be a useful complement to EMG. Nerve conduction studies were of little utility since changes in these parameters are only found in patients with long-standing anomalies and severe atrophy.     

An Evaluation of the Residual Activity of Antiseptic Handrub Lotions: An ‘In Use’ Setting Study

An evaluation of the residual activity of quick-drying agents (alcoholic solutions) used for hygienic hand disinfection is described. We looked for residual efficacy following hand disinfection with soap and water alone or followed by one of two alcoholic handrub lotions supplied from an automatic hand washing machine. The bacterial counts on the hands obtained before and within 2 successive hours after disinfection showed that alcoholic chlorhexidine was the most effective for 10 minutes after contamination of the hands. WELPAS® (alcoholic chlorbenzarconium) followed this in its immediate effect and was better than soap and water alone. There were no significant differences after 30‘ or 120‘ between the three disinfecting methods.     

In vivo receptor binding,neurochemical and functional studies with the dopamine D-1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390

Summary A series of in vivo experiments were undertaken, relating functional (motor activity, body temperature), dopamine (DA) receptor binding and neurochemical (catecholamine synthesis and utilization, DA release) aspects of the pharmacology of SCH 23390 in the rat.The compound inhibited the locomotor hyperactivity, but not the hypothermia, induced by the potent DA stimulant DP-5,6-ADTN. Interstingly, SCH 23390 simultaneously failed to displace DP-5,6-ADTN from its binding sites in the rat striatum—used as a direct in vivo biochemical index of DA (D-2) receptor interaction. The spontaneous locomotion in non-pretreated rats was likewise inhibited by SCH 23390. The locomotor-suppressive action, but not the DP-5,6-ADTN-displacing capcity of the D-2 blocker haloperidol was significantly enhanced by SCH 23390, suggesting that motility can be suppressed by either enhanced D-1 or D-2 (postsynaptic) receptor blockade, but also that the D-1 and D-2 sites involved may be physically distinct.SCH 23390 only slightly altered in vivo neurochemical of DA synthesis, release and nerve-impulse flow, indicating that, while similar in suppressing dopaminergic behaviour, the D-1 antagonist is less effective than traditional neuroleptics as an activator of DA neuronal feedback mechanisms. The weak increases of DA synthesis and release nonetheless obtained were equal in magnitude (30–40%) in the limbic vs. striatal brain areas; also in this respect, SCH 23390 thus differs from classical neuroleptics, which generally display more marked effects in the striatum than in limbic tissue.No major changes in the in vivo indices of NA synthesis and utilization (or in 5-HT synthesis) were found after SCH 23390 administration, by and large supporting the DA receptor specificity of the compound.In summary, the studies demonstrated that SCH 23390 can offset and accentuate, respectively, behavioural consequences of D-2 receptor stimulation and blockade. Importantly, at the same time no direct interaction at the level of D-2 DA receptor sites in the striatum was detected. Only slight, D-2 antagonist-like, changes in neurochemical indices of dopaminergic activity were observed after D-1 receptor blockade by means of SCH 23390. With regard to DA agonist hypothermia, SCH 23390 was without effect per se, but (at a high dose) attenuated the action of the D-2 antagonist haloperidol. The observations may indicate that the complex interactions between central D-1 and D-2 receptor-controlled mechanisms that influence behaviour, neurochemistry, and possibly autonomic nervous expression, are not identical.     

电刺激兔大脑皮层运动区引起缩瞳反应

电刺激麻醉兔的大脑皮层运动区的某些点,可引起双侧瞳孔缩小和心率减慢。切断双侧颈交感神经干对缩瞳反应无影响,阻断副交感神经对瞳孔括约肌作用后,缩瞳反应明显减弱。切断双侧迷走神经,心率减慢反应减弱,静脉注射心得安后,心率减慢反应则完全消失。结果表明兔大脑皮层运动区内存在缩瞳区及心率减慢区。     

Area 3a in the cat. I. A reevaluation of its location and architecture on the basis of Nissl, myelin, acetylcholinesterase, and cytochrome oxidase staining.

Current knowledge on the anatomy of area 3a of the cat mainly derives from the cyto- and myeloarchitectonic study of Hassler and Muhs-Clement (J Hirnforsch 6:377, 1964). Previous investigations in the cat had failed to identify a cortical region comparable to monkey's area 3a. In the present study, Nissl, myelin, acetylcholinesterase, and cytochrome oxidase staining techniques were applied to coronal and sagittal serial sections of the cat brain. Area 3a appears as a slender band of cortex between areas 4 and 3b, and in Nissl-stained sections it is mainly characterized by an attenuated granular layer IV, overlying a thin layer V with pyramidal cells of various sizes, including a few large ones. These cytoarchitectonic features are sufficient to differentiate area 3a from neighboring areas, although the borders between them are not sharp in many cases. After the Nissl staining, the acetylcholinesterase staining proved to be the most helpful in defining the structure and borders of area 3a. Acetylcholinesterase staining was dense in layer I (in contrast with a lighter staining of outer layer I in area 4), and light in layers II and IIIa, changing to moderate in IIIc and IV (a pattern which is accentuated in area 3b). Myelin and cytochrome oxidase techniques also yielded differential staining patterns of area 3a and neighboring areas 4 and 3b, although the borders were not easily drawn with these techniques. Whereas our cyto- and myeloarchitectonic findings were comparable to those of Hassler and Muhs-Clement ('64) and applied well to area 3a in the convexity of the hemisphere, we found that most of the area 3a described by these authors in the medial face of the hemisphere had a number of distinguishing architectonic (as well as connectional and physiological) features which enabled us to define it as a separate area (7m). The techniques we used to delineate area 3a are compatible with most current procedures of histo- and immunohistochemical staining of the brain, and may also provide valuable supporting data for electrophysiological studies.