Phonemic fluency in Portuguese-speaking subjects in Brazil: ranking of letters

Phonological verbal fluency studies in English most commonly employ the letters F-A-S as stimuli. We assessed the production of words with these and 14 other letters in Portuguese-speaking healthy subjects (n = 74). The letters F-A-S were ranked among the easiest to produce words in one minute, which is consistent with the findings of studies with English-speaking subjects. There were differences in the overall ranking of letters depending on whether the total word number or the latency between words were considered. Our findings provide a databank of phonological verbal fluency performance using different stimuli in Portuguese, and demonstrate that the ranking of the letters F-A-S is comparable between the English and Portuguese languages in terms of the level of difficulty to produce words, when the task is used in its traditional format.     

Human myoblast engraftment is improved in laminin-enriched microenvironment

BACKGROUND: One major challenge in developing cell therapy for muscle diseases is to define the best condition for the recipient's muscle to niche donor cells. We have examined the efficiency of human myoblast transplantation in an immunodeficient animal model, after local irradiation, as well as the potential impact of laminin on myoblast behavior. METHODS: Human myoblasts were injected into preirradiated tibialis anterior muscles from immunodeficient mice. The donor cell engraftment, proliferation, and laminin content within the transplanted muscles were evaluated by immunocytochemistry. Additionally, the effect of laminin upon myoblast proliferation, migration, and survival was ascertained in vitro. RESULTS: Engraftment of human myoblasts into the skeletal muscle of immunodeficient Rag2-/gammac-/C5- mice presubjected to local irradiation provided the best niche for myoblast engraftment, as demonstrated by the number of viable and proliferating donor cells found in the host muscle. Local irradiation significantly enhanced laminin deposition within the recipient's muscle and donor cells were preferentially located in laminin-enriched areas. The same batch of myoblasts used for in vivo injections also responded to laminin in vitro with increased proliferation and cell survival, as well as an improved migratory response. CONCLUSIONS: We show that local irradiation enhances the laminin content in the host muscle microenvironment and provides a better engraftment of human myoblasts. In addition, laminin increases myoblast proliferation, survival, and migration in vitro. These data provide combined in vivo and in vitro evidence that laminin status should be taken into account when designing experimental and clinical cell therapy strategies for muscle disease.     

Localization of chondrocyte precursors in periosteum

OBJECTIVE: Periosteal chondrogenesis is relevant to cartilage repair and fracture healing. Periosteum contains two distinct layers: a thick, outer fibrous layer and a thin, inner cambium layer which is adjacent to the bone. Specific chondrocyte precursors are known to exist in periosteum but have not yet been identified. In this study, the location of the chondrocyte precursors in periosteum was determined. METHOD: One hundred and twenty periosteal explants from 30 2-month-old NZ rabbits were cultured for up to 42 days. Histomorphological changes and spatio-temporal localization of Col. II mRNA and protein were analysed. RESULTS: On day 7, chondrocyte differentiation appeared in the most juxtaosseous region in the cambium layer. Col. II mRNA and protein were also evident in the same region. By day 14, chondrocyte differentiation progressed further into the juxtaosseous cambium layer, as did Col. II mRNA and protein. With growth of the neocartilage, the cambium layer gradually diminished to the extent that by 21-28 days it was no longer evident. Cartilage growth was significant and followed an appositional pattern, growing away from the fibrous layer. The fibrous layer remained essentially unchanged from 0-42 days, without evidence of hypertrophy or atrophy. Col. II mRNA expression was never seen in the fibrous layer. CONCLUSION: From these data, three conclusions can be drawn concerning chondrogenesis from periosteum: (1) the chondrocyte precursors are located in the cambium layer of periosteum; (2) chondrogenesis commences in the juxtaosseous area in the cambium layer and progresses from the juxtaosseous region to the juxtafibrous region of the cambium layer; (3) neocartilage growth is appositional, which displaces the fibrous layer away from the cartilage already formed, as new cartilage is formed between these two layers. These findings suggest that the least differentiated (stem or reserve) cells are located in the cambium layer furthest from the bone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: These findings show that the chondrocyte precursors are located in the cambium layer of periosteum. Preservation of this layer is essential for chondrogenesis. As neocartilage growth is appositional, away from the fibrous layer, it can be expected that the new cartilage deposited in and adjacent to a periosteal graft would be expected to be located on the side of the cambium layer, rather than on the side of the fibrous layer of the graft.     

Resistance Training with Instability in Multiple System Atrophy: A Case Report

This case report assessed quality of life, activities of daily living, motor symptoms, functional ability, neuromuscular parameters and mRNA expression of selected genes related to muscle protein synthesis and degradation in a patient with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The patient underwent resistance training with instability devices (i.e., bosu, dyna disk, balance disk, Swiss ball) for six months twice a week. After the six months training, the patient’s left and right quadriceps muscle cross-sectional area and leg press one-repetition maximum increased 6.4%, 6.8%, and 40%, respectively; the patient’s timed up and go, sit to stand, dynamic balance, and activities of daily living improved 33.3%, 28.6%, 42.3%, and 40.1%, respectively; the patient’s severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls decreased 32% and 128.1%, respectively. Most of the subscales of quality of life demonstrated improvements as well, varying from 13.0% to 100.0%. mRNA expression of mechanogrowth factor and mammalian target of rapamycin increased 12.7-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. This case report describes likely the first nonpharmacological therapeutic tool that might be able to decrease the severity of motor symptoms and risk of falls, and to improve functional ability, neuromuscular parameters, and quality of the life in a patient with MSA.

Key points

• Six months of resistance training with instability alleviate the MSA-related effects and improve the quality of life in a patient with MSA.
• High complexity exercise intervention (i.e., resistance training with instability) may be very beneficial to individuals with impaired motor control and function as MSA patients.
• Caution should be exercised when interpreting our findings as they cannot be generalized to the entire MSA population and they do not allow establishing causal conclusions on the effects of this mode of exercise on MSA.

Key words: Exercise training, risk of falls, motor symptoms, cross-sectional area     

住院精神分裂症患者十年前后用药情况对比分析

目的对十年前后精神分裂症患者用药情况的变化进行调查分析.方法对十年前后两个五年段的各500份符合精神分裂症诊断标准的病历进行回顾性调查,并对各项指标进行对比分析.结果两组折算用药剂量经t检验差异无显著性(P>0.05);两组合并用药、合并抗胆碱药及疗效经χ2检验差异有显著性(P<0.01);十年后非典型抗精神病药物氯氮平在临床上的应用比例明显增大并上升为首位.结论十年前后两组抗精神病药的应用发生了明显变化,疗效好、副作用轻的非典型抗精神病药的应用比例明显增加.     

AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE INHERITANCE OF HYPOHIDROTIC ECTODERMAL DYSPLASIA

Letters to the Editor are welcomed for publication (subject to editing). Letters must be signed by all autliors, typewritten double spaced, and must not exceed two pages of text including references. Two copies of all letters should be submitted. Letters should not duplicate material submitted or published in other journals. Prepublication proofs will not be provided.     

Yo jyo hen shi ko, a novel Chinese herbal, prevents nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in ob/ob mice fed a high fat or methionine-choline-deficient diet.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Yo jyo hen shi ko (YHK) is a complex compound purported to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by blocking the propagation of radical-induced reactions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the effect of YHK in experimental NASH. METHODS: NASH was induced in male ob/ob mice by a high-fat (HF) diet or methionine/choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks. YHK-treated animals received YHK solution orally (20 mg/kg/day) in both experimental diets (n=6; each group) while control animals received only vehicle. RESULTS: The MCD and HF groups developed moderate diffuse macrosteatosis, hepatocellular ballooning, and a diffuse inflammatory infiltrate. With the addition of YHK, there was a marked reduction in macrosteatosis in both groups. This was associated with decreased lipoperoxide and reduced glutathione-GSH concentrations as well as reduced serum aminotransferases and improved histological markers of inflammation. These changes were also associated with weight loss in the MCD+YHK group and diminished weight gain in the HF+YHK group. CONCLUSION: YHK therapy blunts the development of macrosteatosis in these models of NASH and significantly reduces markers of oxidative stress. YHK also diminishes weight gain in this obesity prone model. Our findings warrant further study on the mechanisms involved with these effects.     

Participant report of therapist-delivered active ingredients in a telephone-delivered brief motivational intervention predicts taking steps towards change

Objective: Given the widespread potential for disseminating Motivational Interviewing (MI) through technology, the question of whether MI active ingredients are present when not delivered in person is critical to assure high treatment quality. The Participant Rating Form (PRF) was developed and used to evaluate therapist-delivered active ingredients in phone-delivered MI with hazardous drinking Emergency Department patients. Method: A factor analysis of all PRFs completed after receiving one call (n?=?256) was conducted. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine whether PRF factors predicted a measure of motivation to change – taking steps – at the second call (n?=?214). Results: The majority of participants were male (65%), with a mean age of 32 years and with an average alcohol ASSIST (Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test) score of 20.5 (SD?=?7.1). Results of the factor analysis for the PRF revealed Relational (working collaboration) and Technical (MI behaviours) factors. After controlling for demographics, alcohol severity and baseline readiness, the technical factor predicted self-report of increased taking steps towards change while the relational factor did not explain any additional variance. Conclusions: Our study adds to the growing literature investigating patient perspectives of therapist skill as a source of information to better understand MI active ingredients. The PRF is a feasible instrument for measuring the patient’s experience of phone-based MI. Results indicate that MI active ingredients of change (relational and technical components) were present in the telephone intervention as hypothesized. Clinical Trial Registration # 01326169.     

LPS-induced impairment of Na+/K+-ATPase activity: ameliorative effect of tannic acid in mice

Metabolic Brain Disease - Acetylcholine is an excitatory neurotransmitter that modulates synaptic plasticity and communication, and it is essential for learning and memory processes. This...