Differences in fecal microflora between patients with atopic dermatitis and healthy control subjects

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis (AD), has been increasing. However, few investigations have been made of the intestinal microflora in Japanese patients with AD. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in microflora, fecal serum IgA concentrations, and skin IgA contents between patients with AD and healthy control subjects. METHODS: This trial was conducted as a case-control study using 30 minor patients with AD and age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects (n = 68). One week after a questionnaire was administered, fecal specimens and 24-hour skin secretion specimens were collected from all subjects. Fecal microflora, fecal IgA concentrations, and IgA contents on the skin surface were analyzed. RESULTS: The counts of Bifidobacterium (in log10 colony-forming units per gram) were significantly lower in patients with AD than in healthy control subjects (9.75 +/- 0.68 vs 10.10 +/- 0.50 log(10) colony-forming units/g, P <.05). In particular, percentages of Bifidobacterium were significantly lower in patients with severe skin symptoms than in those with mild skin symptoms (40% +/- 6% vs 19% +/- 6%, P <.05). In addition, the frequency of occurrence of Staphylococcus was significantly higher in patients with AD than in healthy control subjects (83% vs 59%, P <.05). There were no significant differences in fecal IgA content or IgA content on the skin between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with AD had lower counts of Bifidobacterium than healthy control subjects, and the frequency of Staphylococcus was higher in patients with AD than in control subjects. Disorder of the intestinal microflora might play a role in the onset of AD and the aggravation of skin symptoms.     

Analysis of electromyographic muscles activity of gait in healthy subjects with and without AFO developed for patients with hemiparesis

The aim of the present study was to analyze the electromyographic (EMG) signals of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), tibialis anterior (TA) and soleus (SO) muscles in young healthy adults with and without the use of an experimental ankle-foot-orthosis (AFO) designed for patients with hemiparesis. Twenty-eight individuals with an average age of 22 +/- 3.63 years participated in the study. An electromyograph, surface electrodes and two force plates were used. There was a non-significant increase in the TA activity with the use of the AFO (6.04 +/- 2.81) when compared to non-use (5.91 +/- 2.49) (p > 0.5); the same was true for the other muscles evaluated. There was a positive correlation (r = 0.37) between TA and SO activity (p < 0.05). The results demonstrate that the AFO did not affect the gait pattern of healthy young adults.     

Volitional saccades and attentional mechanisms in schizophrenia patients and healthy control subjects

Schizophrenia (SZ) patients showed increased volitional saccade latencies, suggesting deficient volitional initiation of action. Yet increased volitional saccade latencies may also result from deficits in attention shifts. To dissociate attention shifting and saccade initiation, we asked 25 SZ patients and 25 healthy subjects to make saccades toward newly appearing (onset) targets and toward the loci of disappearing (offset) targets. Similar onsets and offsets were also used as attention cues in a Posner-type manual task. As expected, onsets and offsets had similar effects on attention. In contrast, saccade latencies were considerably longer with offset compared to onset targets, reflecting additional time for volitional saccade initiation. Unexpectedly, SZ patients had normal saccade latencies. Presumably, the expected deficit was compensated by decreased fixation-related neural activity, which was induced by the disappearance of fixation stimuli.     

Symptoms of anxiety and mood disturbance alter cardiac and peripheral autonomic control in patients with metabolic syndrome

Previous investigations show that metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) causes sympathetic hyperactivation. Symptoms of anxiety and mood disturbance (AMd) provoke sympatho-vagal imbalance. We hypothesized that AMd would alter even further the autonomic function in patients with MetSyn. Twenty-six never-treated patients with MetSyn (ATP-III) were allocated to two groups, according to the levels of anxiety and mood disturbance: (1) with AMd (MetSyn + AMd, n = 15), and (2) without AMd (MetSyn, n = 11). Ten healthy control subjects were also studied (C, n = 10). AMd was determined using quantitative questionnaires. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, microneurography), blood pressure (oscillometric beat-to-beat basis), and heart rate (ECG) were measured during a baseline 10-min period. Spectral analysis of RR interval and systolic arterial pressure were analyzed, and the power of low (LF) and high (HF) frequency bands were determined. Sympatho-vagal balance was obtained by LF/HF ratio. Spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) was evaluated by calculation of α-index. MSNA was greater in patients with MetSyn + AMd compared with MetSyn and C. Patients with MetSyn + AMd showed higher LF and lower HF power compared with MetSyn and C. In addition, LF/HF balance was higher in MetSyn + AMd than in MetSyn and C groups. BRS was decreased in MetSyn + AMd compared with MetSyn and C groups. Anxiety and mood disturbance alter autonomic function in patients with MetSyn. This autonomic dysfunction may contribute to the increased cardiovascular risk observed in patients with mood alterations.     

Cell-mediated immunity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, healthy control subjects and patients with major depression.

The chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is characterized by severe persistent fatigue and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It has been proposed that the abnormalities in cell-mediated immunity which have been documented in patients with CFS may be attributable to a clinical depression, prevalent in patients with this disorder. Cell-mediated immune status was evaluated in patients with carefully defined CFS and compared with that of matched subjects with major depression (non-melancholic, non-psychotic) as well as healthy control subjects. Patients with CFS demonstrated impaired lymphocyte responses to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation, and reduced or absent delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin responses when compared either with subjects with major depression or with healthy control subjects (P less than 0.05 for each analysis). Although depression is common in patients with CFS, the disturbances of cell-mediated immunity in this disorder differ in prevalence and magnitude from those associated with major depression. These observations strengthen the likelihood of a direct relationship between abnormal cell-mediated immunity and the etiology of CFS.     

F-response assessment in healthy control subjects

Various parameters of the F-response (latencies, chronodispersion, amplitude, duration, shape, persistence) were investigated in ulnar and tibial nerves of 50 healthy subjects of both sexes, aged between 16 to 79 years. The observations were made bilaterally and the results revealed no significant differences in any of the F-parameters by comparing side to side. The relationships between each neurophysiological F-response data and limb length, age and sex of control subjects were determined. Correlations of high statistical significance were found between minimum F-latency and limb length as well as between absolute and F%/M-amplitude and age. Cross-correlation coefficients correlating mean individual values of latency-duration, latency-amplitude and amplitude-duration did not show any significant relationship between latency, amplitude and duration in normal subjects.     

Selective activation of muscles using peripheral nerve electrodes

The feasibility of two methods for selectively activating muscles with peripheral nerve electrodes has been investigated. One method for achieving selectivity is to place a cuff electrode around the nerves to each group of synergistic muscles to be stimulated. A second method is to stimulate through pairs of electrodes selected from a multielectrode array placed around a common nerve trunk. Both methods have been tesed in experiments conducted on four dogs. It was shown that the first method, cuff electrodes placed on individual motor branches, is an effective technique for selective activation, Thresholds of motor bibres lying outside of, but adjacent to, cuff electrodes are much greater than the stimulus amplitudes required to maximally stimulate motor fibres contained within the cuff electrode. Good results were obtained with a multielectrode array in two animals, but results, were poor in a third dog. Electrode position and contact with the nerve were found to be important factors in achieving good selectivity.     

Immune response to Abeta-peptides in peripheral blood from patients with Alzheimer's disease and control subjects

To investigate the immune response to amyloid beta-peptide (Abeta: Abeta40 and Abeta42) in peripheral human blood, sera were obtained from 36 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and 34 age-matched controls. ELISA assays were used to measure antibody concentrations to Abeta-peptides. T cell response was assessed using a lymphoproliferation assay. Both AD and control subjects had low and variable concentrations of antibodies against Abeta (predominantly IgG1). The mean antibody to Abeta concentrations did not differ between groups. No specific T cell response to Abeta-peptides was detected. Natural levels of antibodies to Abeta in peripheral blood are present in all human subjects and are unlikely to be useful in the identification of patients who would respond to potential AD immune therapy. Specific cellular immune responses to Abeta in human blood were not detected.     

Unobtainable radial nerve F-waves in a case of radial nerve conduction block

We present here the first known case of an unobtainable radial nerve F-wave in a case of radial nerve conduction block. This case further demonstrates that F-waves are used not only to rule out neuropathy or radiculopathy, but also to detect conduction block.     

Transcranial facial nerve stimulation by magnetic stimulator in normal subjects

Magnetic stimulation provides a new method to stimulate facial nerve transcranially. Stimulation can be directed to the intracranial part of the facial nerve, whereas the conventional electric stimuli are delivered extracranially to a more peripheral part of the nerve. Fourty healthy volunteers were examined to determine the normal responses for transcranial facial nerve stimulation. The center of the inducing coil ring was located so that its center was 3 cm posterior and 6 cm lateral to the vertex. Responses were recorded on the nasolabial fold. Latencies were 4.5 +/- 0.4 ms on both sides, being 1.1 ms longer than those elicited by electric stimulation of the nerve at the stylomastoid foramen. Amplitudes with magnetic stimuli were equal to those obtained with electric stimuli. The transcranial magnetic stimulation seems to be an accurate and promising method to examine the facial nerve.     

Comparison of the proliferative and immunoglobulin-secreting ability of peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy subjects and patients with B-cell immunoproliferative disease

Department of Immunology, Medico-Biological Faculty, N. I. Pirogov Second Moscow Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR R. V. Petrov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 112, No. 12, pp. 627–628, December, 1991.     

Induction of cortical plastic changes in wrist muscles by paired associative stimulation in healthy subjects and post-stroke patients

It has been shown on hand muscles in normal subjects that paired associative stimulation (PAS) combining peripheral nerve stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) induces lasting changes in cortical motor excitability (Stefan et al., Brain 123 (Pt3):572–584, 2000). Because the motor recovery of distal upper limb and particularly wrist extension in post-stroke patients is one of the major rehabilitation challenge, we investigate here the effect of one session of paired associative stimulation on the excitability of the corticospinal projection to extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscle (motor evoked potential size) before and after PAS in 17 healthy subjects and in two patients 5 months after stroke. The time course, the topographical specificity, changes in rest motor threshold (RMT), short intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation (SICI and ICF), the respective role of cutaneous and muscular afferents and the effect of a prolonged peripheral stimulation alone were also studied in normal subjects. Using a protocol derived from that of Ridding et al. J Physiol 537:623–631 (2001), PAS was able to induce lasting changes in the excitability of corticospinal projection to wrist muscles in healthy subjects and in the two post-stroke patients studied. Electrophysiological features of these plastic changes were similar to those previously observed in hand muscles: rapid evolution, 30–60 min duration, reversibility, relative topographical specificity and associative dependence suggesting an LTP-like mechanism. A contribution of cutaneous afferents in inducing PAS effects was also demonstrated. The decrease in ECR RMT after PAS observed in patients and in healthy subjects was an unexpected result because it has not been previously reported in the hand muscles of healthy subjects. However, it has been observed in dystonic patients (Quartarone et al., Brain 126:2586–2596, 2003). This suggests that other mechanisms like changes in membrane excitability could be involved in ECR facilitation after PAS. Further studies performed on patients using daily repeated PAS protocols and showing a functional improvement in hand motor function will be necessary to confirm that this technique could be relevant in motor rehabilitation, at least for some selected patients.     

Organization of the central control of muscles of facial expression in man

The capacity of the vascular endothelium locally to release tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is critical for effective endogenous fibrinolysis. We determined the influence of ageing and regular aerobic exercise on the net release of t-PA across the human forearm in vivo using both cross-sectional and intervention approaches. First, we studied 62 healthy men aged 22-35 or 50-75 years of age who were either sedentary or endurance exercise-trained. Net endothelial release rates of t-PA were calculated as the product of the arteriovenous concentration gradient and forearm plasma flow to intra-arterial bradykinin and sodium nitroprusside. Second, we studied 10 older (60 ± 2 years) healthy sedentary men before and after a 3 month aerobic exercise intervention. Net endothelial t-PA release was significantly blunted with age in the sedentary men. At the highest dose of bradykinin the increase in t-PA antigen release was ≈35 % less (   P < 0.05  ) in the older (from −1.0 ± 0.4 to 37.8 ± 3.8 ng (100 ml tissue)⁻¹ min⁻¹) compared with young (from 0.1 ± 0.6 to 56.6 ± 9.2 ng (100 ml tissue)⁻¹ min⁻¹) men. In contrast, the endurance-trained men did not demonstrate an age-related decline in the net release of t-PA antigen. After the exercise intervention, the capacity of the endothelium to release t-PA increased ≈55 % (   P < 0.05  ) to levels similar to those of the young adults and older endurance-trained men. Regulated endothelial t-PA release declines with age in sedentary men. Regular aerobic exercise may not only prevent, but could also reverse the age-related loss in endothelial fibrinolytic function.     

Correlation of the main peripheral branches of the facial nerve with the cytoarchitectonic subdivisions of the facial nucleus in the guinea pig

Summary Correlation of the main peripheral branches of the facial nerve with morphological subdivisions of the facial nucleus was examined in the guinea pig by the retrograde horseradish peroxidase method. The facial nucleus of the guinea pig was divided cytoarchitectonically into the dorsolateral, lateral, intermediate, medio-intermediate, medial, and ventromedial divisions; the ventromedial division was further divided into the major, dorsal and lateral parts. Six main branches of the facial nerve were identified; the zygomatico-orbital, cervical, posterior auricular, anterior auricular, superior labial, and inferior labial branches. After applying HRP to the main branches of the facial nerve, the pattern of distribution of HRP-labelled neuronal cell bodies within the facial nucleus was examined: the dorsolateral division, dorsal part of the ventromedial division, major part of the ventromedial division, lateral part of the ventromedial division, or medial division contained the cell bodies of respectively the zygomatico-orbital, cervical, posterior auricular, anterior auricular, or superior labial branches, while each of the lateral, intermediate, and medio-intermediate divisions contained the cell bodies of both the superior labial and inferior labial branches.     

Effects of facial affect recognition on the auditory P300 in healthy subjects

We examined the effects of facial affect recognition on auditory ERP using facial drawings depicting sadness, no emotion, pleasure and anger. Auditory ERP were recorded using an oddball paradigm in 13 women and 13 men while pictures and test tones were presented. P300 peak amplitude, area, and latency, and also subject's reaction time, were evaluated. The face showing pleasure resulted in the smallest P300 peak amplitude. Amplitudes were successively greater with anger, sadness, and no emotion. The P300 area showed facial affect effects resembling effects on peak amplitude. However, facial expression influenced P300 latency in different patterns suggesting the involvement of independent mechanisms. The reproducibility between sessions of the P300 measurements was tested. Both the P300 amplitude and area were largest when viewing neutral pictures, but smallest when viewing pleasant pictures in both sessions. While amplitude and the area of P300 were significantly larger in women than in men, gender was a less potent modifier of the influence of facial expression on P300 parameters. Reduced P300 amplitude and area apparently reflected an inhibitory effect of attention by emotion from facial expressions, especially for pleasure.     

Oxygen isotope fractionation in healthy subjects and in patients with COPD

We determined the oxygen isotope fractionation degree for oxygen utilized (delta(U)) in expired alveolar gas relative to inspired air in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) and, for comparison, in two groups of healthy subjects, old and young. In addition, we determined Delta(rel)R(vent) and Delta(rel)R(tot). These determinants of delta(U) (=Delta(rel)R(tot)-Delta(rel)R(vent)) are related to the oxygen isotope fractionation which occurs in the first part of the O(2) pathway by ventilation of alveolar gas (Delta(rel)R(vent)) and by O(2) transport and utilization in the rest of the O(2) pathway from the alveolar space (Delta(rel)R(tot)). Mean delta(U) values for the three groups of subjects were close: 9.0, 9.0 and 9.9 per thousand, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. Mean Delta(rel)R(vent) for patients with COPD was substantially larger than for young, healthy subjects, 4.0 per thousand versus 0.94 per thousand, with P<10(-3). This result indicates that the contribution of intrapulmonary gas transport by diffusion to Delta(rel)R(vent) is larger for patients with COPD than for young, healthy subjects. Mean Delta(rel)R(tot) for patients with COPD was also larger than for young, healthy subjects, 13.0 per thousand versus 10.84 per thousand, but this difference was not significant (P=0.06). Further, Delta(rel)R(tot) was much larger than Delta(rel)R(vent) for all groups of subjects (P<10(-7)).     

Single motor unit F-waves in the thenar muscles studied by the multichannel surface EMG

The thenar motor units (MUs) were studied by the multichannel surface electromyography (EMG) technique. The median nerve was stimulated at the wrist by repetitive submaximal stimulation. Three hundred consecutive evoked responses were recorded from the thenar muscles of 5 healthy volunteers with a 32 channel matrix-type multielectrode. Seven channel F-wave waveforms in a selected electrode array were classified using a template-matching method. The F-wave parameters, amplitudes, latencies and muscle fiber conduction velocities (MFCVs), were calculated to evaluate the properties of single MU F-wave. Most of the F-waves (93.3%) were composed of a single motor unit action potential (MUAP). The numbers of MU classified from single MU F-waves in 5 subjects were 11, 8, 13, 13 and 13, respectively. Many of them (84.5%) were originated from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB), and there were a few MUs originated from the flexor pollicis brevis (FPB). Significant correlations were found between F-wave amplitudes and latencies in 3 subjects.