Manual skill,hand skill asymmetry,and cognitive performances in young children

A total of 1022 children aged 3 to 6 years were examined in their preschools and 27% of them were followed up for 2 years. A computerised version of the peg‐moving task was used repeatedly to assess hand skill of the dominant and the nondominant hand. Cognitive performance was repeatedly evaluated by tasks involving speech, vocabulary, phonological memory, and visual‐spatial skills. Results showed that: (i) age, sex, and handedness effects on hand skill asymmetry generally confirmed previous reports, especially by Annett (2002); (ii) visual‐spatial and vocabulary tasks were significantly related to hand skill but speech and phonological memory tasks were not, and the role of the dominant and nondominant hand were similar; (iii) overall, manual laterality indexes were only weakly associated to some cognitive abilities; (iv) early manual skill was more strongly associated to cognitive tasks than later manual skill. These results fit the assumption of a significant role of early manual behaviour in aspects of cognitive development not relying exclusively on phonology, and raise questions about cognitive development and rehabilitation of children with early occurring manual deficiencies.     

Cigarette Smoking and Tryptophan Hydroxylase 2 mRNA in the Dorsal Raphe Nucleus in Suicides

Cigarette smoking is associated with suicide and mood disorders and stimulates serotonin release. Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH2) synthesizes serotonin and is over-expressed in suicides. We determined whether smoking is associated with TPH2 mRNA in suicides and controls. TPH2 mRNA was measured postmortem in the dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) of controls (N = 26, 17 nonsmokers and nine smokers) and suicides (N = 23, 5 nonsmokers and 18 smokers). Psychiatric history was obtained by psychological autopsy. TPH2 mRNA was greater in suicide nonsmokers than suicide smokers, control smokers and control nonsmokers (p = 0.006). There was more TPH2 mRNA throughout the DRN. Smoking interferes with the TPH2 mRNA increase observed in suicide nonsmokers. The absence of altered TPH2 expression in non-suicide smokers suggests no pharmacological effect of smoking.     

Mirror neuron activity during contagious yawning—an fMRI study

Yawning is contagious. However, little research has been done to elucidate the neuronal representation of this phenomenon. Our study objective was to test the hypothesis that the human mirror neuron system (MNS) is activated by visually perceived yawning. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain activity during contagious yawning (CY). Signal-dependent changes in blood oxygen levels were compared when subjects viewed videotapes of yawning faces as opposed to faces with a neutral expression. In response to yawning, subjects showed unilateral activation of their Brodmann’s area 9 (BA 9) portion of the right inferior frontal gyrus, a region of the MNS. In this way, two individuals could share physiological and associated emotional states based on perceived motor patterns. This is one component of empathy (motor empathy) that underlies the development of cognitive empathy. The BA 9 is reportedly active in tasks requiring mentalizing abilities. Our results emphasize the connection between the MNS and higher cognitive empathic functions, including mentalizing. We conclude that CY is based on a functional substrate of empathy.     

Socioeconomic and psychosocial predictors of dental healthcare use among Brazilian preschool children

Background

Disparities in utilization of oral healthcare services have been attributed to socioeconomic and individual behavioral factors. Parents’ socioeconomic status, demographics, schooling, and perceptions of oral health may influence their children’s use of dental services. This cross-sectional study assessed the relationships between socioeconomic and psychosocial factors and the utilization of dental health services by children aged 1–5 years.

Methods

Data were collected through clinical exams and a structured questionnaire administered during the National Day of Children’s Vaccination. A Poisson regression model was used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

Data were collected from a total of 478 children. Only 112 (23.68%) were found to have visited a dentist; 67.77% of those had seen the dentist for preventive care. Most (63.11%) used public rather than private services. The use of dental services varied according to parental socioeconomic status; children from low socioeconomic backgrounds and those whose parents rated their oral health as “poor” used dental services less frequently. The reason for visiting the dentist also varied with socioeconomic status, in that children of parents with poor socioeconomic status and who reported their child’s oral health as “fair/poor” were less likely to have visited the dentist for preventive care.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that psychosocial and socioeconomic factors are important predictors of the utilization of dental care services.

     

Severe deterioration of newly diagnosed Takayasu arteritis in a patient re-treated with interferon beta-1α for concomitant longstanding multiple sclerosis

A 52-year-old woman with Takayasu arteritis and a known history of multiple sclerosis had been treated with subcutaneous interferon (IFN) beta-1α. After the re-introduction of the IFN beta-1α, the patient had a gradual worsening of the arteritis, with claudication symptoms in the left arm and increased inflammation markers. An evaluation using Doppler ultrasound of the supra-aortic vessels revealed severe stenosis of the left axillary artery. The IFN beta-1α was withdrawn, with prompt clinical and laboratory improvement of the vasculitis.     

Usefulness of Acarbose and Dietary Modifications to Limit Glycemic Variability Following Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass as Assessed by Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Abstract Background: About 70% of the patients operated on for a gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass [RYGB]) suffer from dumping syndrome. In these patients, previous studies have demonstrated a high glycemic variability with hypoglycemia and with altered continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) profiles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of treatment with dietary counseling plus acarbose administration on the symptoms and on the characteristics of the CGM profile. Subjects and Methods: Eight consecutive patients with dumping syndrome were given dietary counseling for 6 weeks and also treated with acarbose (50-100?mg three times a day). Their symptoms and the features of the CGM were compared before and after treatment. Results: The symptoms disappeared in seven patients. There was a significant increase in the time to the interstitial glucose (IG) peak and a reduction in the rate of the IG increase after a meal and in the rate of the IG decrease following the peak. The time below 60?mg/dL was significantly decreased, and the minimal IG value was significantly increased. The maximum and mean IG levels and the time above 140?mg/dL were decreased, but not significantly. Six patients spent more than 1% of the time with IG values below 60?mg/dL before treatment, but after treatment this was reduced to one patient. Before treatment only one patient had an IG level neither below 60 or above 140?mg/dL, and after treatment four patients were in this category. Conclusions: Dietary counseling and acarbose treatment eliminated the symptoms and improved the CGM profile of patients suffering from dumping syndrome after RYGB.     

Eating Behavior and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1-Producing Cells in Interposed Ileum and Pancreatic Islets in Rats Subjected to Ileal Interposition Associated with Sleeve Gastrectomy

Background

Ileal interposition–sleeve gastrectomy (II–SG) has been developed as a metabolic surgery based on the hindgut hypothesis. The aim of the present study was to test this hypothesis by studying the eating behavior, metabolic changes, and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)-producing cells in rat models.

Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to laparotomy, II, SG, or II–SG. Eating behavior and metabolic parameters were monitored by an open-circuit indirect calorimeter designed for a comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system. GLP-1-producing cells were examined by quantitative immunohistochemistry.

Results

After II alone, satiety ratio, i.e., intermeal interval/meal size, was reduced, while calorie intake was increased at 2 and 6 weeks postoperatively. Respiratory exchange ratio, VCO₂/VO₂, was increased to above 1.0 (i.e., carbohydrate metabolism) during both daytime and nighttime at 2 weeks postoperatively. After SG alone, GLP-1-producing cells were increased in the pancreatic islets (in terms of volume density), but not in the ileum (number/mm). After II–SG, the rate of eating was reduced, while meal duration (min) was increased during both daytime and nighttime at 2 weeks postoperatively. GLP-1-producing cells were increased by about 2.5-fold in the interposed ileum and also increased to the same extent in the pancreatic islets as seen after SG alone. The increased GLP-1-producing cells in the pancreatic islets after SG or II–SG were located around the insulin-producing β cells.

Conclusions

The present study provides evidence supporting the hindgut hypothesis. II–SG increased GLP-1 production both in the interposed ileum and in the pancreatic islets, leading to metabolic beneficial effects and altered eating behavior.