Normal aging decreases regional homogeneity of the motor areas in the resting state

Our knowledge about aging modulation of the central motor system remains sparse and contradictory. In the current study, we used functional MRI (fMRI) to study the aging influence on regional homogeneity of the motor-related brain areas in the resting state. We found that regional homogeneity in extensive motor regions, like the cingulate motor area, cerebellum, primary motor cortex, premotor area, supplementary motor area, thalamus, globus pallidus and putamen was significantly decreased in aged subjects. Our study indicates that normal aging process may disrupt the function of motor areas in the resting state, which may contribute to the declined motor ability in aged population.     

The influence of the initial state of hydration on endocrine responses to exercise in the heat

Summary This study examines the effect of the initial state of hydration on hormone responses to prolonged exercise in the heat. Five subjects at two initial hydration levels (hypohydrated and hyperhydrated) were exposed to a 36°C environment for 3 h of intermittent exercise. During exercise, the subjects were either fluid-deprived, or rehydrated with water or an isotonic electrolyte sucrose solution (ISO). Both the stress hormones, adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol, and the main fluid regulatory hormones, aldosterone, renin activity (PRA) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), were measured in blood samples taken every hour. Prior hyperhydration significantly reduced initial AVP, aldosterone and PRA levels. However, except for AVP, which responded to exercise significantly less in previously hyperhydrated subjects (p<0.05), the initial hydration state did not influence the subsequent vascular and hormonal responses when the subjects were fluid-deprived while exercising. Concurrent rehydration, either with water or with ISO, reduced or even abolished the hormonal responses. There were no significant differences according to the initial hydration state, except for PRA responses, which were significantly lower (p<0.01) in previously hyperhydrated subjects who also received water during exercise. These results indicate that prior hydration levels influence only slightly the hormonal responses to prolonged exercise in the heat. Progressive rehydration during exercise, especially when extra electrolytes are given, is more efficient in maintaining plasma volume and osmolarity and in reducing the hormonal responses.     

Advanced 1H Solid‐State NMR Spectroscopy on Hydrogels, 1

Summary: The nature of the pH dependent collapse of poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) hydrogels is investigated using recent ¹H solid‐state NMR methods. In aqueous solution, PMAA changes from an expanded conformation at high pHs to a compact contracted form at low pHs, where hydrogen bonds play a central role. In solid‐state ¹H NMR spectra, recorded under fast magic angle spinning (MAS), dried PMAA samples previously collapsed at low pHs show characteristic signals in the spectral region of the carboxylic acid protons. With the aid of 2D ¹H‐¹H double‐quantum (DQ) MAS NMR spectra, three signals can be distinguished at 8, 10.5 and 12.5 ppm, which are attributed to free carboxylic groups and two different types of hydrogen bonded forms, respectively. The 12.5 ppm signal arises from the hydrogen bond with the shortest H? H distance, corresponding to the form that is most stable with respect to increasing temperature and pH. The weaker hydrogen‐bonded form (with a signal at 10.5 ppm) requires a slightly lower pH, while the free acid signal (at 8 ppm) emerges under the most acidic medium. Moreover, the stabilities of the hydrogen‐bonded carboxylic acid dimers can be inferred from the proton‐proton distances within the dimers, i.e. (275 ± 5) pm and (295 ± 15) pm for the protons at 12.5 and 10.5 ppm, respectively, which are determined by means of DQ MAS sideband patterns. Both the stability of the hydrogen bonds and the acidity of the protons may be related to the stereochemistry and the conformation of the PMAA chains.

     

Criteria for grading in the Ljubljana classification of epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions. A study by members of the Working Group on Epithelial Hyperplastic Laryngeal Lesions of the European Society of Pathology

AIMS: To validate histological criteria for the grading of epithelial hyperplastic laryngeal lesions (EHHL) (dysplastic laryngeal lesions), we used a system that had been devised and tested in Ljubljana, Slovenia over many years and was felt to be more appropriate to laryngeal pathology than is the commonly-used model of intraepithelial neoplasia in the cervix. METHODS AND RESULTS: Vocal cord biopsies of 45 patients with a broad spectrum of EHLL were reviewed. Detailed histological criteria were formulated for each of the four grades of EHLL in the Ljubljana classification, comprising simple hyperplasia (benign spinous layer augmentation), abnormal hyperplasia (benign basal and parabasal layer augmentation), atypical hyperplasia (risky for malignancy) and carcinoma in situ (actually malignant, but without invasion). CONCLUSIONS: Using these criteria a high degree of concordance of histological diagnoses of grading levels for the Ljubljana classification was achieved between the pathologists of the Working Group. The system was found to be more precise for routine diagnostic work than the others in vogue. The different grades of the Ljubljana classification correspond to significantly different levels yielded in each grade by the semiobjective methods of quantitative morphometry and immunohistochemistry.     

Factors related to postmenopausal muscle performance: a cross-sectional population-based study

The aim of the present study was to investigate cross-sectionally the association of postmenopausal muscle strength with simple performance tests. A random sample of 1,166 naturally postmenopausal women (born 1932–1941) was selected from the Kuopio Osteoporosis Risk Factor and Prevention (OSTPRE) study cohort. Grip and quadriceps strength were measured with strain gauge dynamometers and reported in both absolute values (KPa and kg) and per kilogram of body mass (N cm^–2 kg^–1 and N kg^–1). In addition, two performance tests, ability to stand on one foot and ability to squat down to touch the floor were carried out. A five-category self-assessment of overall health (very good, good, moderate, bad, and very bad) was obtained by postal questionnaire. The women that were able to stand on one foot and able to squat down to touch the floor had greater grip and quadriceps strength than their counterparts (P<0.001 and P<0.03 in ANOVA, respectively). In addition, self-assessed health had a strong positive association with muscle strength in the grip and leg extensor muscles in ANOVA (P<0.001 between very good and moderate or poorer state of health) and regression model (P<0.001). Adjustment for age, duration of menopause, body mass, height, physical activity level, use of HRT, and number of diseases and medications did not change any of the main effects. Also, there were no differences in results between absolute measurement values and values reported per kilogram of body mass. According to the present study, a simple performance test may be useful in the prediction of postmenopausal muscle strength. Furthermore, self-assessed state of health is strongly associated with muscle strength in postmenopausal women.     

广州市1996—2005年管网末梢水卫生状况及对策分析

目的了解广州市管网末梢水的水质情况，为随时监测全市生活饮用水水质的动态变化提供信息并提出改进措施。方法对广州市1996—2005年管网末梢水水质监测资料进行统计，按照GB5749—85《生活饮用水卫生标准》和卫生部《生活饮用水卫生规范》（2001年）进行分析评价。结果共监测606份水样，合格155份，合格率为25．58％。不合格的项目主要有锰、游离余氯、细菌总数、色度、铁和耗氧量。在广州市疾病预防控制中心检测的项目中，锰的合格率仅为59．57％，游离余氯的合格率为76．73％，细菌总数的合格率为85．81％，色度的合格率为88．12％，铁的合格率为88．94％，耗氧量的合格率为96．37％。结论广州市管网末梢水的锰、游离余氯、细菌总数和铁等项目合格率较低，今后应加强饮水的氯化消毒、对管网的定期检修和冲洗、减少二次供水水箱的使用和设立管网水水质自动监测系统。     

慢性病儿童家长疾病知识了解现状及情绪障碍调查分析

目的了解部分慢性疾病儿童家长对疾病知识的了解现状和焦虑、抑郁情绪障碍的发生情况。方法采用一般情况调查表、疾病知识问卷和抑郁自评量表(SDS)、焦虑自评量表(SAS),对68例慢性疾病儿童家长进行调查,并与对照组进行对照。结果慢性疾病儿童家长中有32.35%存在焦虑情绪,22.06%存在抑郁情绪,其中SAS得分与对照组相比具有显著性差异(P<0.01)。73.53%病儿家长对相关疾病知识不甚了解。结论在诊治慢性疾病儿童的同时做好健康教育工作和予以家长心理关注十分重要。     

O2 Uptake in hyperthyroidism during constant work rate and incremental exercise

Summary To investigate the effect of hyperthyroidism on the pattern and time course of O₂ uptake ( O₂) following the transition from rest to exercise, six patients and six healthy subjects performed cycle exercise at an average work rate (WR) of 18 and 20 W respectively. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured breath-by-breath. The patients also performed a progressively increasing WR test (1-min increments) to the limit of tolerance. Two patients repeated the studies when euthyroid. Resting and exercise steady-state (SS) O₂ (ml·kg^–1·min^–1) were higher in the patients than control (5.8, SD 0.9 vs 4.0, SD 0.3 and 12.1, SD 1.5 vs 10.2, SD 1.0 respectively). The increase in O₂ during the first 20 s exercise (phase I) was lower in the patients (mean 89 ml·min^–, SD 30) compared to the control (265 ml·min^–1, SD 90), while the difference in half time of the subsequent (phase 11) increase to the SS O₂ (patient 26 s, SD 8; controls 17 s, SD 8) were not significant (P = 0.06). The OZ cost per WR increment ( O₂/WR) in ml·min^–1·^–1, measured during the incremental period (mean 10.9; range 8.3–12.2), was always within two standard deviations of the normal value (10.3, SD 1). In the two patients who repeated the tests, both the increment of O₂ from rest to SS during constant WR exercise and the O₂/WRs during the progressive exercise were higher in the hyperthyroid state than during the euthyroid state. While both resting and exercise O₂ are increased in the hyperthyroid patients, the O₂ cost of a given increment of WR is within the normal range. However, a small reduction in the O₂ requirement to perform exercise following treatment of the hyperthyroid state suggests a subtle change O₂ cost of muscle work in this disease.     

Biomechanical Properties of Esophagus during Systemic Treatment with Epidermal Growth Factor in Rats

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a growth factor with effects on many cell types and tissue. Morphometric and passive biomechanical properties were studied in isolated segments of the esophagus in 22 EGF-treated rats and 12 control rats. The rats were divided into groups with EGF treatment for 2, 4, 7, and 14 days (n=6 for each group except n=4 for the 14 days EGF-treatment group) or saline treatment (n=3 for each group). The mechanical test was performed as a distension experiment in vitro where the whole esophagus was stretched to its in situ length and distended with pressures up to 10 cm H₂O using a ramp distension protocol. The pressure and outer diameter were recorded. Circumferential stress (force per area) and strain (deformation) were computed from the diameter and pressure data using the zero-stress state as reference. The zero-stress state was obtained by cutting esophageal rings radially. This caused the rings to open up into a sector. EGF induced pronounced morphometric changes, e.g., the wall thickness, wall cross-sectional area, and inner and outer circumferential lengths significantly increased during the EGF treatment. Histological analysis showed mucosa and submucosa growth during EGF treatment. The opening angle and residual strains increased with the highest value in the 14 days EGF-treated group (P < 0.05). The change in opening angle depended largely on the change in mucosa thickness. Furthermore, the circumferential stiffness of the esophagus reached a maximum after 7 days EGF treatment (P < 0.01). © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8719Rr, 8717Ee     

A method for simultaneous recording of electrical activities and spectrophotometric signals from brain slice preparations in vitro

Organ spectrophotometry has been applied to analyze cytochrome redox changes in brain slice preparations. An interface-chamber method for maintaining metabolism of brain slice tissues was devised to reduce noise on recording traces of spectrophotometric signals, and then used for continuous monitoring and simultaneous recording of electrical and optical signals from brain slices. With this method, the noise level during the recording of redox states of cytochromes was decreased to 0.0004 A unit.