Postural balance and oculomotor control are influenced by neck kinaesthetic functions in elite ice hockey players

BackgroundResearch indicates that neck kinaesthetic awareness plays an important role in oculomotor and balance control, however the relationship has not been studied in athletes. As performance in ice hockey demands visual perception acuity during skating, while constantly shifting between unilateral and bilateral stances in sports specific posture more in-depth relationship should be studied.Research questionWhat is the relationship between neck kinaesthetic awareness, postural balance and eye movement control in professional ice hockey players and non-trained individuals?MethodsIn this observational study, centre-of-pressure was measured using force plate in twenty-eight hockey players and thirty non-trained participants during different stances in eyes-opened and eyes-closed conditions. Butterfly test and Head-to-Neutral Relocation test were performed to assess neck kinaesthesia. Horizontal smooth pursuit eye movements were measured using video-oculography. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between neck kinaesthesia, body sway and oculomotor control.ResultsTime-on-target in Butterfly test was able to predict low to medium proportions of variance in amplitude and velocity parameters for single leg stances in hockey players (R² = .220–.698). Head-to-Neutral Relocation test was able to predict low to medium proportion of variance in average eye movement velocity during first 100 milliseconds of smooth pursuit initiation for both groups (R² = .262–.541).SignificanceFindings from our study suggest that cervical spine afferent input plays an important role in maintaining unilateral postural balance in hockey players, with less evidence presented in controls. Sports specific posture or upper body loading could lead to adaptations in neck proprioception, not frequently considered when searching for balance related injury risk factors or performance deficits. Our study suggests, that in addition to balance control, neck kinaesthesia can also affect oculomotor performance which was present in both groups. This is especially evident when initiating changes in eye movement direction.     

中西医结合治疗对单纯疱疹病毒性角膜炎患者视力恢复及血清微量元素的影响

目的:探讨中西医结合治疗对单纯疱疹病毒性角膜炎(HSK)患者视力恢复及血清微量元素的影响。方法:选取2015年1月至2016年10月内蒙古包钢医院收治的HSK患者86例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组和观察组,每组43例。对照组采用更昔洛韦滴眼液及硫酸软骨素滴眼液治疗,观察组在对照组基础上结合清肝明目汤进行治疗,2组均连续治疗4周。比较2组患者临床疗效;比较治疗前后2组患者视力恢复状况、血清微量元素及泪液免疫因子水平。结果:治疗后,观察组治疗有效率显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后观察组患者视觉模拟评分及视力均显著高于治疗前与对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后观察组铁离子、钙离子及铜离子水平低于治疗前与对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05);血清锌离子水平明显高于治疗前与对照组(P0.05),差异有统计学意义(P0.05);治疗后观察组患者泪液IgA、IgG及C3水平明显高于治疗前与对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:中西医结合治疗HSK有效促进患者视力的恢复,调节血清微量元素的同时增强患者泪液免疫因子水平,疗效显著优于单用西药治疗。     

补肾利水方联合玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性临床研究

目的:观察补肾利水方联合玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗湿性年龄相关性黄斑变性(AMD)的临床疗效。方法:选取60例湿性AMD患者,按照随机数字表法分为治疗组和对照组,每组30例(眼数30只)。治疗组给予补肾利水方联合玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗,对照组单纯给予玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗。观察2组治疗前后最佳矫正视力、黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度和中医证候积分的变化。结果:治疗后,2组最佳矫正视力均较治疗前提高(P<0.05)。治疗组治疗3个月后最佳矫正视力优于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗后,2组黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度均较治疗前缩小(P<0.05);治疗组治疗3个月后黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度小于对照组(P<0.05)。治疗3个月后,2组各项中医证候积分均较治疗前降低(P<0.05),治疗组视物昏朦、视物变形、腰膝无力积分均比对照组降低更明显(P<0.05)。结论:补肾利水方联合玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗湿性AMD,可以提高患者的视力,缩小黄斑中心凹视网膜厚度,改善中医证候,疗效优于单纯玻璃体腔注射雷珠单抗治疗。     

Perceptual inference

Perceptual inference refers to the ability to infer sensory stimuli from predictions that result from internal neural representations built through prior experience. Methods of Bayesian statistical inference and decision theory model cognition adequately by using error sensing either in guiding action or in “generative” models that predict the sensory information. In this framework, perception can be seen as a process qualitatively distinct from sensation, a process of information evaluation using previously acquired and stored representations (memories) that is guided by sensory feedback. The stored representations can be utilised as internal models of sensory stimuli enabling long term associations, for example in operant conditioning. Evidence for perceptual inference is contributed by such phenomena as the cortical co-localisation of object perception with object memory, the response invariance in the responses of some neurons to variations in the stimulus, as well as from situations in which perception can be dissociated from sensation. In the context of perceptual inference, sensory areas of the cerebral cortex that have been facilitated by a priming signal may be regarded as comparators in a closed feedback loop, similar to the better known motor reflexes in the sensorimotor system. The adult cerebral cortex can be regarded as similar to a servomechanism, in using sensory feedback to correct internal models, producing predictions of the outside world on the basis of past experience.     

Artificial Organs 2014: A Year in Review

In this Editor's Review, articles published in 2014 are organized by category and briefly summarized. We aim to provide a brief reflection of the currently available worldwide knowledge that is intended to advance and better human life while providing insight for continued application of technologies and methods of organ Replacement, Recovery, and Regeneration. As the official journal of the International Federation for Artificial Organs, the International Faculty for Artificial Organs, the International Society for Rotary Blood Pumps, the International Society for Pediatric Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Support, and the Vienna International Workshop on Functional Electrical Stimulation, Artificial Organs continues in the original mission of its founders “to foster communications in the field of artificial organs on an international level.” Artificial Organs continues to publish developments and clinical applications of artificial organ technologies in this broad and expanding field of organ Replacement, Recovery, and Regeneration from all over the world. We take this time also to express our gratitude to our authors for offering their work to this journal. We offer our very special thanks to our reviewers who give so generously of time and expertise to review, critique, and especially provide meaningful suggestions to the author's work whether eventually accepted or rejected. Without these excellent and dedicated reviewers, the quality expected from such a journal could not be possible. We also express our special thanks to our Publisher, John Wiley & Sons, for their expert attention and support in the production and marketing of Artificial Organs. We look forward to reporting further advances in the coming years.     

社区老年视觉障碍患者就医行为与影响因素的研究

目的 了解社区老年视觉障碍人群就医行为与影响因素，为社区建立健全老年眼保健服务提供依据。方法 视力普查、眼底检查与问卷调查相结合。结果 104例老年患者在视力明显下降时首选“及时就医”者38例占36．54％；“不得已才就医”者24例占23．08％。影响就医行为的主要因素：文化程度、眼保健知识、医疗费用支付方式及承受能力等。结论 在社区积极开展初级眼保健知识教育，对提高老年人眼保健意识、减缓视力衰退、积极防治视觉障碍、提高老年生活质量等有重要的意义。