Triggering of preprogrammed movements as reactions to masked stimuli

1. Visual stimuli were presented to normal human subjects to test simple and more complex voluntary motor responses. Large and small visual stimuli were presented. In some trials, the small stimulus was followed 50 ms later by the large stimulus, so that the small stimulus was not perceived; this is the phenomenon of "backward masking." 2. Although subjects were not able to detect the masked, visual stimulus on forced-choice testing, they performed motor, reaction-time (RT) tasks in response to it. The RTs for responses to the masked stimulus were the same as those for responses to the easily perceived, nonmasked stimulus. 3. This result confirms and extends the findings of Fehrer and Biederman and was demonstrated with both simple and more complex motor responses. 4. Discussion of the findings focuses on their implications for motor control, particularly with respect to the preprogramming of voluntary movement.     

Buspirone effects in an animal conflict procedure: comparison with diazepam and phenobarbital

Buspirone has been introduced as a novel non-benzodiazepine anti-anxiety agent. The Conditioned Suppression of Drinking (CSD) paradigm is an "animal model" for anxiety which provides information on both the relative potency and relative efficacy of anti-conflict agents. The present study compared the anti-conflict effects of buspirone to those of more "classical" anti-anxiety agents, diazepam and phenobarbital. In daily 10-minute sessions, water-deprived rats were trained to drink from a tube which was occasionally electrified (0.5 mA), electrification being signalled by a tone. Within 2-3 weeks control CSD responding had stabilized (approximately 15-20 shocks/session and 10-15 ml water/session); drug tests were conducted at weekly intervals. Diazepam and phenobarbital markedly (400-500%) increased the number of shocks received at doses which did not depress background responding (i.e., water intake). A number of agents, most notably morphine and ethanol, did not reliably affect punished responding in the CSD. Administered IP, low doses (0.25-1 mg/kg) of buspirone increased punished responding only slightly (less than 100% increase); higher doses (2, 4 mg/kg) depressed background responding. Administered SC, buspirone (0.125-1.0 mg/kg) had more potent effects on both punished and unpunished responding; again, anti-conflict efficacy was only marginal. These results suggest that buspirone might be less effective than the benzodiazepines in the management of anxiety.     

Food Photography as a Tool to Assess Type,Quantity, and Quality of Foods in Parent-Packed Lunches for Preschoolers

ObjectiveExplore using food photography to assess packed lunches in a university-based Early Childhood Center and contextualize these photographs through parent interviews.MethodsAn explanatory sequential design was used. Packed lunches were photographed to assess the type and quantity of foods offered and consumed by Child and Adult Food Care Program components (fruit, vegetable, grain, and protein) and quality of foods offered using the Healthy Meal Index. Parent interviews aimed to understand motivations and behaviors related to packing lunch.ResultsData were collected on 401 lunches. Only 16.2% of lunches met all Child and Adult Food Care Program requirements. Most lunches included fruit (84%) and grains (82%), whereas fewer included vegetables (44%). Portion sizes were large, especially for grains (2.7 ± 1.5 servings). In interviews (n = 24), parents expressed tension between offering healthful items and foods they knew their child would eat, as well as concern about children going hungry.Conclusions and ImplicationsFood photography is a feasible methodology to capture parent-packed lunches for preschoolers and may have utility in nutrition education, particularly related to age-appropriate portion sizes.     

Sarcopenia Definitions as Predictors of Fracture Risk Independent of FRAX®, Falls,and BMD in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study: A Meta-Analysis

Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)-derived appendicular lean mass/height² (ALM/ht²) is the most commonly used estimate of muscle mass in the assessment of sarcopenia, but its predictive value for fracture is substantially attenuated by femoral neck (fn) bone mineral density (BMD). We investigated predictive value of 11 sarcopenia definitions for incident fracture, independent of fnBMD, fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX^®) probability, and prior falls, using an extension of Poisson regression in US, Sweden, and Hong Kong Osteoporois Fractures in Men Study (MrOS) cohorts. Definitions tested were those of Baumgartner and Delmonico (ALM/ht² only), Morley, the International Working Group on Sarcopenia, European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP1 and 2), Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia, Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) 1 and 2 (using ALM/body mass index [BMI], incorporating muscle strength and/or physical performance measures plus ALM/ht²), and Sarcopenia Definitions and Outcomes Consortium (gait speed and grip strength). Associations were adjusted for age and time since baseline and reported as hazard ratio (HR) for first incident fracture, here major osteoporotic fracture (MOF; clinical vertebral, hip, distal forearm, proximal humerus). Further analyses adjusted additionally for FRAX-MOF probability (n = 7531; calculated ± fnBMD), prior falls (y/n), or fnBMD T-score. Results were synthesized by meta-analysis. In 5660 men in USA, 2764 Sweden and 1987 Hong Kong (mean ages 73.5, 75.4, and 72.4 years, respectively), sarcopenia prevalence ranged from 0.5% to 35%. Sarcopenia status, by all definitions except those of FNIH, was associated with incident MOF (HR = 1.39 to 2.07). Associations were robust to adjustment for prior falls or FRAX probability (without fnBMD); adjustment for fnBMD T-score attenuated associations. EWGSOP2 severe sarcopenia (incorporating chair stand time, gait speed, and grip strength plus ALM) was most predictive, albeit at low prevalence, and appeared only modestly influenced by inclusion of fnBMD. In conclusion, the predictive value for fracture of sarcopenia definitions based on ALM is reduced by adjustment for fnBMD but strengthened by additional inclusion of physical performance measures. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).     

Osteosarcomatosis

A review of the 690 cases of osteosarcoma in the radiographic file of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology revealed 29 cases of "osteosarcomatosis" (multiple skeletal sites of osteosarcoma). Fifteen of these patients were 18 years old and under and manifested rapidly appearing, usually symmetric, sclerotic metaphyseal lesions. The remaining 14 patients were more than 18 years old and had fewer, asymmetric sclerotic lesions. In most patients (28 of 29), a radiographically dominant skeletal tumor was seen. Pulmonary metastases occurred in the majority of patients and were detected at the same time as the bone lesions. These 29 patients were studied with regard to demographic data and skeletal distribution and radiographic appearance of their lesions. As a result of the findings, a metastatic origin from a primary dominant osteosarcoma is favored over a multifocal origin as the basis for osteosarcomatosis. Osteosarcomatosis is more commonly encountered in the mature skeleton than has been previously recognized.     

Influence of inhaled corticosteroids on growth: a pediatric endocrinologist''s perspective

Given the increasing advocacy for the use of inhaled corticosteroids as a treatment of choice for persistent asthma, growing numbers of children are being exposed to the possible growth-suppressing effects of glucocorticoids. Recent evidence strongly suggests that, when consistently administered at moderate doses, inhaled corticosteroids (IC) are capable of slowing growth in children. Whether such growth suppression would persist and ultimately affect final adult height remains unknown. Therapeutic goals which aim for uninterrupted inflammatory disease control rather than periodic symptom control may increase the occurrence of growth failure in children treated with IC. In this article, current information about the mechanisms of growth suppression by glucocorticoids and the effects of IC on growth is reviewed, and recommendations for designing studies to investigate the effects of drugs on growth are presented.     

High-resolution sonography of the abnormal cranial suture

Objective. The purpose of this investigation is to elucidate the sonographic features of abnormal major cranial sutures. Materials and methods. Eight excised synostosed suture specimens were evaluated. The high-resolution sonographic appearance was correlated with the histological section, plain radiographs, CT and MRI. Diastatic and molded sutures were also evaluated with sonography and compared with the normal cranial suture appearance. Results. Synostosed sutures demonstrated one or more of the following features: (a) loss of echo-poor fibrous gap between bony plates (five sagittal and coronal synostoses); (b) irregular thickened inner sutural margin (three lambdoid synostoses); (c) loss of bevelled edge (one lambdoid synostosis); (d) asymmetric anterior fontanelle (one coronal synostosis). Cranial molding results in an overlap of echogenic bony plates. Sutural width (the distance between bony plates) is increased in cases of elevated intracranial pressure. Conclusion. Sonography is an inexpensive, radiation-free modality which can confirm synostosis versus molding versus an underlying intracranial lesion as a cause of plagiocephaly. The high-resolution sonographic images also provide a relatively easy means to assess sutural width and may provide information in regard to increased intracranial pressure. Received: 24 March 1997 Accepted: 25 September 1997     

Effects of dietary fat and a vegetable-fruit mixture on the development of intestinal neoplasia in the ApcMin mouse

The variation in colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence worldwide strongly suggests a role for dietary influences. Based on epidemiological data, protective effects of vegetables and fruit intake on CRC are widely claimed, while other data indicate a possible increased CRC risk from (higher) dietary fat intake. Therefore, we have investigated single and interactive effects of dietary fat and a vegetable-fruit mixture (VFM) in the ApcMin mouse, a mouse model for multiple intestinal neoplasia. In this study, four different diets (A-D) were compared, which were either low in fat (20% energy diets A/B) or high in fat (40% energy diets C/D). In addition, 19.5% (wt/wt) of the carbohydrates in diets B and D were replaced by a freeze-dried VFM. The diets were balanced so that they only differed among each other in fat/carbohydrate content and the presence of specific plant-constituents. Because the initiation of intestinal tumors in ApcMin mice occurs relatively early in life, exposure to the diets was started in utero. Without the addition of VFM, mice maintained at a high-fat diet did not develop significantly higher numbers of small or large intestinal adenomas than mice maintained at a low-fat diet. VFM added to a low-fat diet significantly lowered multiplicity of small intestinal polyps (from 16.2 to 10.2/mouse, 15 animals/group), but not of colon tumors in male ApcMin mice only. Strikingly, addition of VFM to female mice maintained on a low-fat diet and to both sexes maintained on a high-fat diet significantly enhanced intestinal polyp multiplicity (from 16.5 to 26.7 polyps/mouse). In conclusion, our results indicate that neither a lower fat intake nor consumption of VFM included in a high-fat diet decreases the development of polyps in mice genetically predisposed to intestinal tumor development.