Cervical muscle response to trunk flexion in whiplash-type lateral impacts

The purpose of this study was to determine the response of the cervical muscles to increasing low-velocity, whiplash-type lateral impacts when the occupant is seated out of the recommended driving position (neutral posture). Twenty healthy volunteers were subjected to left lateral impacts of 4.1, 7.7, 10.5, and 13.7 m/s² acceleration, with their trunk flexed by 45° and laterally flexed to the right and left also by 45° at the time of impact. Bilateral electromyograms of the sternocleidomastoids, trapezii, and splenii capitis were recorded. Under these conditions of trunk-flexed postures, in a left lateral impact, muscle responses were of generally low magnitude with the trunk flexed to either the left or right. Even at the highest acceleration of 13.7 m/s², all muscles generated less than 37% of their known maximal voluntary contraction electromyogram. Also, in these left lateral impacts, the right splenius capitis showed a greater EMG response than the left splenius capitis regardless of whether the subject was flexed to the right or left at the time of impact. The right splenius capitis (the one contralateral to the left lateral impact direction) was more active than its counterpart. Compared to what is known for EMG responses with an occupant in the neutral posture, the right sternocleidomastoid (usually the most active muscle in a left lateral collision) was significantly less-active with trunk flexion than with neutral posture conditions (P<0.01). In the absence of bodily impact, the flexed trunk posture does not produce a biomechanical response that would increase the likelihood of cervical muscle injury in low velocity lateral impacts, and may lessen the risk of injury for some muscles.     

Two new species of Eimeria Schneider 1875 (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from the broad-toothed field mouse, Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 (Rodentia: Muridae) from Jordan

Coprological examination of 40 Apodemus mystacinus Danford and Alston 1877 from Jordan revealed oocysts of three species of genus Eimeria. Two species are described as new. Eimeria zuhairamri sp. n. has broadly ellipsoidal oocysts 29.6 (27.0–34.0)×23.3 (22.0–25.0) m with distinctly granulated wall and oocyst residuum. Endogenous development occurs in jejunum and ileum. Eimeria alorani sp. n. has oocysts 26.9 (23.0–29.0)×19.3 (18.0–22.0) m with smooth wall and absent residuum. Endogenous development is confined to the caecum. The third species, developing in jejunum, has oocysts morphologically indistinguishable from Eimeria uptoni. The identity of E. uptoni and the taxonomy of Eimeria of Apodemus are discussed.     

Effects of a yearlong moderate-intensity exercise and a stretching intervention on sleep quality in postmenopausal women

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To examine the effects of a moderate-intensity exercise or stretching intervention and changes in fitness, body mass index, or time spent outdoors on self-reported sleep quality and to examine the relationship between the amount and timing of exercise and sleep quality. DESIGN: A randomized intervention trial. SETTING: A cancer research center in Seattle, Washington. PARTICIPANTS: Postmenopausal, overweight or obese, sedentary women not taking hormone replacement therapy, aged 50 to 75 years, and recruited from the Seattle metropolitan area. INTERVENTIONS: A yearlong moderate-intensity exercise (n=87) and a low-intensity stretching (n=86) program. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Among morning exercisers, those who exercised at least 225 minutes per week had less trouble falling asleep (odds ratio [OR]: 0.3, P < or = .05) compared with those who exercised less than 180 minutes per week. However, among evening exercisers, those who exercised at least 225 minutes per week had more trouble falling asleep (OR: 3.3, P < or = .05) compared to those who exercised less than 180 minutes per week. Stretchers were less likely to use sleep medication (OR = 0.4, P < or = .05) and have trouble falling asleep (OR: 0.7, P < or = .10) during the intervention period compared with baseline. A greater than 10% versus a 1% or less increase in maximum O2 consumption over the year was associated with longer sleep duration (P < or = .05), less frequently falling asleep during quiet activities (P < or = .05), and less use of sleep medication (P < or = .05). Reductions in body mass index and increases in time spent outdoors had inconsistent effects on sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: Both stretching and exercise interventions may improve sleep quality in sedentary, overweight, postmenopausal women. Increased fitness was associated with improvements in sleep. However, the effect of moderate-intensity exercise may depend on the amount of exercise and time of day it is performed.     

Client choice of treatment and client outcomes

Participants in this study suffered from severe mental illness and were homeless at baseline. They were given their choice of five different treatment programs. The current study investigated two major questions: (1) what is the impact of positive expectancies about the efficacy of the chosen program on number of contacts with the chosen program and client outcomes; and (2) what is the impact of positive views about nonchosen programs (alternative choice variables) on contact with the chosen program and client outcomes. Client outcomes assessed were psychotic symptoms, days homeless, and client satisfaction. Positive expectancy variables were the number of reasons for choosing a program and confidence that the program would help. Alternative choice variables were the number of nonchosen programs visited and the attractiveness of a nonchosen program. Only the number of reasons for choosing the program was significantly related to program contact with the chosen program. Both of the positive expectancy variables and program contact were significantly correlated with consumer satisfaction. In general, neither the positive expectancy variables nor the alternative choice variables predicted changes in psychotic symptoms nor days homeless. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 31: 339–348, 2003.     

Molecular determinants of human uveal melanoma invasion and metastasis

The molecular analysis of cancer has benefited tremendously from the sequencing of the human genome integrated with the science of bioinformatics. Microarray analysis technology has the potential to classify tumors based on the differential expression of genes. In the current study, a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach was utilized to study the molecular determinants of human uveal melanoma invasion and metastasis. Uveal melanoma is considered the most common primary intraocular cancer in adults, resulting in the death of approximately 50% of patients affected. Unfortunately, at the time of diagnosis, many patients already harbor microscopic metastases, thus underscoring a critical need to identify prognostic markers indicative of metastatic potential. The investigative strategy consisted of isolating highly invasive vs. poorly invasive uveal melanoma cells from a heterogeneous tumor derived from cells that had metastasized from the eye to the liver. The heterogeneous tissue explant MUM-2 led to the derivation of two clonal cell lines: MUM-2B and MUM-2C. Further morphological and functional analyses revealed that the MUM-2B cells were epithelioid, interconverted (expressing mesenchymal and epithelial phenotypes) highly invasive, and demonstrated vasculogenic mimicry. The MUM-2C cells were spindle-like, expressed only a vimentin mesenchymal phenotype, poorly invasive, and were incapable of vasculogenic mimicry. The molecular analysis of the MUM-2B vs. the MUM-2C clones resulted in the differential expression of 210 known genes. Overall, the molecular signature of the MUM-2B cells resembled that of multiple phenotypes – similar to a pluripotent, embryonic-like genotype. Validation of select genes that were upregulated and down-regulated was conducted by semiquantitative RT-PCR measurement. This study provides a molecular profile that will hopefully lead to the development of new molecular targets for therapeutic intervention and possible diagnostic markers to predict the clinical outcome of patients with uveal melanoma. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A comparison of two anti-neuraminidase monoclonal antibodies by complement activation

The specificities of two anti-neuraminidase monoclonal antibodies have been compared by their ability to fix complement. They were found to differ to some extent in their reactivity with a range of N2 influenza viruses. Thus, as in the case of anti-hemagglutinin antibodies, anti-neuraminidase monoclonal antibodies are able to detect subtle structural changes in the viral antigen. Although both monoclonal antibodies fixed complement with intact virus, neither one fixed complement when complexed with isolated neuraminidase “heads”.     

The postnatal development of the retina in the normal and rodless CBA mouse: A light and electron microscopic study

The question of the identity of the high-affinity binding sites for progesterone with those of the corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG) was investigated in pregnancy serum of man, rabbit, rat and mouse. Chromatographic techniques failed to separate a potential progesterone-binding macromolecule from CBG in any of the sera. Competition studies with enriched fractions containing added [³H] progesterone and [¹⁴C] cortisol strongly bound to protein showed displacement of [³H] progesterone by an excess of unlabeled cortisol, and vice versa. It is concluded that CBG is the principal progesterone binder in the pregnancy sera investigated and that no other protein with high affinity for progesterone is present in significant quantity. In contrast, the progesterone-binding globulin (PBG) in the serum of the pregnant guinea pig is distinct from CBG and has been separated from it. The PBG differed from the uterine cytosol receptor for progesterone in its sedimentation coefficient (sucrose gradient centrifugation) and its molecular size (gel filtration). With both the uterine receptor and PBG, norethynodrel displaced radiolabeled progesterone from the specific binding sites. This is in contrast to analogous binding systems involving other steroid hormones and other species, where the synthetic hormonal agent interacts strongly with the receptor protein of the target tissue, but not with the high-affinity binder in the serum.     

Influence of adoptively transferred thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages on metastasis formation in mice with depressed or stimulated NK activity

The effect of thioglycollate-elicited macrophages (TG-M) on natural killer (NK)-cell activity and metastases formation in mice was investigated. Intravenously (i.v.) inoculated TG-M inhibited spleen NK activity of normal mice and abrogated polyinosinic: polycytidylic (poly IC) induced augmentation of NK cell function. TG-M also inhibited the clearance of i.v.-injected radiolabeled B16 melanoma cells from the lungs of normal or poly IC stimulated mice. Formation of experimental B16 melanoma metastases was dramatically increased in mice pretreated with TG-M. Administration of TG-M increased metatasis formation to a greater extent than anti-asialo GM₁ serum, while anti-asGM₁ serum was more efficient than TG-M in depressing spleen NK cell activity. When mice with low NK reactivity (beige mice or mice treated with anti-asialo GM₁ serum) were inoculated with TG-M, there was a substantial additive augmenting effect on metastasis formation in the lungs. Treatment with poly IC elevated NK-cell activity and had profound antimetastatic effects in normal but not in TG-M pretreated mice. The metastasis augmenting effect of TG-M was fully expressed in poly IC-treated mice as well as in athymic nude mice. Inoculation of proteose peptone-elicited macrophages (PM), unlike TG-M, did not depress NK activity or augment metastasis formation in normal or poly IC-treated mice. However, since the inhibition of NK activity in TG-M-treated mice was relatively weak, and a substantial additional increase in metastases was observed in NK-depressed mice after transfusion of TG-M, it seems unlikely that the TG-M-induced inhibition of NK reactivity is entirely responsible for the augmented formation of metastases. Further studies revealed that i.v. inoculation of TG-M, but not PM, induced intravascular inflammatory reactions, and damage to endothelial cells and basement membrane of the lung vasculature. These reactions may contribute to increased tumor cell extravasation and metastasis formation in mice pretreated with TG-M.