Postnatal cortical development in congenital auditory deprivation

The study investigates early postnatal development of local field potentials (LFPs) in the primary auditory cortex of hearing and congenitally deaf cats. In hearing cats, LFPs elicited by electrical intracochlear stimulation demonstrated developmental changes in mid-latency range, including reductions in peak and onset latencies of individual waves and a maturation of their shape and latencies during the first 2 months of life. In long latency range (>80 ms), the P(1)/N(1) response appeared after the fourth week of life and further increased in amplitude and decreased in latency, reaching mature shapes between the fourth and sixth months after birth (p.n.). Cortical activated areas became increasingly smaller during the first 3 months of life, reaching mature values at the fourth month p.n. The layer-specific pattern of synaptic activity matured 4 months p.n. In congenitally deaf cats, the developmental pattern was different. The lowest cortical LFP thresholds were significantly smaller than in hearing controls, demonstrating a "hypersensitivity" to sensory inputs. The development of N(b) waves was delayed and altered and the long latency responses became smaller than in controls at the second and third months. The activated areas remained smaller than in controls until the third month, then they increased rapidly and exceeded the activated areas of age-matched controls. From the fourth month on, the activated areas decreased again and smaller synaptic currents were found in deaf cats than in controls. The presented data demonstrate that functional development of the auditory cortex critically depends on auditory experience.     

Mammary Involution and Breast Cancer Risk: Transgenic Models and Clinical Studies

Postlactational involution is the process following weaning during which the mammary gland undergoes massive cell death and tissue remodeling as it returns to the pre-pregnant state. Lobular involution is the process by which the breast epithelial tissue is gradually lost with aging of the mammary gland. While postlactational involution and lobular involution are distinct processes, recent studies have indicated that both are related to breast cancer development. Experiments using a variety of rodent models, as well as observations in human populations, suggest that deregulation of postlactational involution may act to facilitate tumor formation. By contrast, new human studies show that completion of lobular involution protects against subsequent breast cancer incidence.     

Effects of Cycling Versus Running Training on Sprint and Endurance Capacity in Inline Speed Skating

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of running versus cycling training on sprint and endurance capacity in inline speed skating. Sixteen elite athletes (8 male, 8 female, 24 ± 8 yrs) were randomly assigned into 2 training groups performing either 2 session per week of treadmill running or ergometer cycling in addition to 3 skating specific sessions (technique, plyometrics, parkour) for 8 weeks. Training intensity was determined within non-specific (cycling or running) and effects on specific endurance capacity within a specific incremental exercise test. Before and after the intervention all athletes performed a specific (300m) and one non-specific (30s cycling or 200m running) all-out sprint test according to the group affiliation. To determine the accumulation of blood lactate (BLa) and glucose (BGL) 20 μl arterialized blood was drawn at rest, as well as in 1 min intervals for 10 min after the sprint test. The sport-specific peak oxygen uptake (VO₂ peak) was significantly increased (+17%; p = 0.01) in both groups and highly correlated with the sprint performance (r = -0.71). BLa values decreased significantly (-18%, p = 0.02) after the specific sprint test from pre to post-testing without any group effect. However, BGL values only showed a significant decrease (-2%, p = 0.04) in the running group. The close relationship between aerobic capacity and sprint performance in inline speed skating highlights the positive effects of endurance training. Although both training programs were equally effective in improving endurance and sprint capacities, the metabolic results indicate a faster recovery after high intensity efforts for all athletes, as well as a higher reliance on the fat metabolism for athletes who trained in the running group.

Key points

• In addition to a highly developed aerobic performance inline speed skaters also require a highly trained anaerobic capacity to be effective in the sprint sections such as the mass start, tactical attacks and finish line sprint.
• An 8-week low-intensity endurance training program of either cycling or running training combined with additional routine training improves classical aerobic characteristics (17% increase of VO₂ peak), as well as values for acceleration and speed.
• Athletes who trained in the running group demonstrated a higher reliance on the fat metabolism in the sport-specific post-testing.
• The significant reduction in anaerobic ATP turnover during repeated sprints appears to be partially compensated by an increase in VO₂ in subsequent sprint. The results revealed a close relationship between the aerobic capacity and sprint performance in inline speed skating.

Key words: Aerobic metabolism, blood glucose concentration, all-out sprint test     

Medizinische Beurteilungskriterien zu bandscheibenbedingten Berufskrankheiten der Lendenwirbelsäule (I)

Occupational diseases Nos. 2108 and 2110 correspond to intervertebral disc-related diseases of the lumbar spine from many years of carrying or lifting heavy loads, occupations in extreme postures of full flexion or oscillation of the whole body when seated, and which compel the cessation of all activities which are or could be the cause for the origin, exacerbation or recurrence of the disease. These occupational diseases came into force at the start of 1993, but there have been considerable problems in their implementation. The present Part I of the contribution is the result of the work of an interdisciplinary study group and contains medical criteria for the assessment of possibly strain-related clinical characteristics and the evaluation of other possible causes. Part II is to be published in Volume 4/2005 and will deal with questions related to forced cessation and to the assessment of the loss of earning ability. Agreement was reached in many areas related to the assessment of occupational claims. This should allow for evidence-based decision making in the future for the occupational diseases Nos. 2108 and 2110.     

Medizinische Beurteilungskriterien zu bandscheibenbedingten Berufskrankheiten der Lendenwirbelsäule (II)

The first part of this serial paper dealt with the medical criteria used in evaluation of the clinical picture caused by physical stress and the evaluation of other candidate causes and was published in issue no. 3/2005 (pp. 711–752) of Trauma and Berufskrankheit. This follow-up paper (II) presents criteria to be used in the evaluation of whether it is necessary to give up the occupations putting the spine at risk and in estimation of the degree of disability.     

Initiation of parturition and lactation in the sow: effects of delaying parturition with medroxyprogesterone acetate

The synthetic progestagen, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), was administered to sows in late pregnancy with the objective of slightly delaying the time of farrowing and thereby providing more marked associations between hormonal changes and the termination of pregnancy, and the initiation of farrowing and lactation in this species. MPA was administered orally (140 mg, twice daily) to eight sows in late pregnancy on days 112, 113 and 114 of gestation. Parturition was then induced to occur on day 116 by injecting 200 micrograms cloprostenol i.m. on day 115 of gestation. The peripartum changes in the plasma concentrations of progesterone, cortisol, oestradiol-17 beta, relaxin, prolactin, lactose and 13,14-dihydro-15-keto prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGFM) were measured in these sows together with a group of untreated sows. The gestational length for the MPA-treated sows (116.3 +/- 0.3 days, mean +/- S.E.M.) was significantly (P less than 0.01) greater compared with the untreated sows (114.9 +/- 0.3 days). Plasma progesterone declined earlier (P less than 0.05) with respect to the time of parturition in the treated sows compared with the untreated group. With respect to the timing of parturition, the time at which maximal concentrations of relaxin were attained and the timing of the subsequent decline were earlier in the MPA-treated sows. In both groups of sows, the concentration of relaxin increased before the decline in plasma progesterone. In the untreated sows, the concentration of PGFM increased either slightly before or at the same time as the decline in plasma progesterone, whereas in sows treated with MPA, progesterone concentrations began to decline before any significant increase in the plasma concentration of PGFM. The profiles of cortisol, oestradiol-17 beta and PGFM were similar in both groups of sows. In both groups of sows, the timing of the initial increase in the concentration of plasma prolactin coincided with a similar rise in plasma lactose (P less than 0.01). Plasma progesterone either declined earlier or at the same time as the rise in plasma lactose (P less than 0.01) in the treated group of sows only. We conclude that since the prepartum changes in the concentration of progesterone and relaxin occurred before significant changes in the concentration of PGFM in the MPA-treated sows, the nature of the luteolytic factor and the mechanism by which it exerts its action remains obscure. The higher concentration of lactose in the mammary secretion at birth in the MPA-treated sows compared with the untreated group suggested that lactogenesis was initiated earlier with respect to parturition following MPA treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Natürlicher Verlauf bei Hüftdysplasie und Operationsergebnisse

Background

The prevalence of hip dysplasia in epidemiological studies ranges from 1–20%. The associated deformity is a risk factor for secondary osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip.

Objective

What is the natural course of hip dysplasia and is it influenced by cofactors? How successful are corrective surgical procedures?

Material and methods

Analysis of published investigations up to 2018 which provide data about the natural course of hip dysplasia and the results of the most important surgical treatment procedures.

Results

The vast majority of published studies confirm a correlation between hip dysplasia and OA. The risk of OA increases with reduced acetabular coverage and severity of instability (subluxation). Long-term survival and functional results after pelvic osteotomies are meanwhile very good, if the procedure is performed in young or middle-aged patients with good congruency of the joints and no relevant OA. Additional deformities (e.?g. cam deformity or femoral torsional malalignment) should be simultaneously addressed and the acetabular fragment needs optimal positioning. Only a few studies with small patient cohorts and short observation times are currently available on the isolated arthroscopic treatment of borderline dysplasia.

Discussion

The importance of hip dysplasia as an established risk factor for secondary OA and the good results of reorientation pelvic osteotomies justify surgical correction when considering the identified indication criteria. Due to a low but relevant potential for complications, surgery should currently not be recommended for asymptomatic patients in adulthood. Potentially relevant cofactors are important for estimation of the natural course as well as the indications for surgical correction.

     

Comparison of two dietary assessment methods by food consumption: results of the German National Nutrition Survey II

Purpose

To further characterise the performance of the diet history method and the 24-h recalls method, both in an updated version, a comparison was conducted.

Methods

The National Nutrition Survey II, representative for Germany, assessed food consumption with both methods. The comparison was conducted in a sample of 9,968 participants aged 14–80. Besides calculating mean differences, statistical agreement measurements encompass Spearman and intraclass correlation coefficients, ranking participants in quartiles and the Bland–Altman method.

Results

Mean consumption of 12 out of 18 food groups was higher assessed with the diet history method. Three of these 12 food groups had a medium to large effect size (e.g. raw vegetables) and seven showed at least a small strength while there was basically no difference for coffee/tea or ice cream. Intraclass correlations were strong only for beverages (>0.50) and revealed the least correlation for vegetables (<0.20). Quartile classification of participants exhibited more than two-thirds being ranked in the same or adjacent quartile assessed by both methods. For every food group, Bland–Altman plots showed that the agreement of both methods weakened with increasing consumption.

Conclusions

The cognitive effort essential for the diet history method to remember consumption of the past 4 weeks may be a source of inaccurateness, especially for inhomogeneous food groups. Additionally, social desirability gains significance. There is no assessment method without errors and attention to specific food groups is a critical issue with every method. Altogether, the 24-h recalls method applied in the presented study, offers advantages approximating food consumption as compared to the diet history method.