Facilitation of the soleus stretch reflex induced by electrical excitation of plantar cutaneous afferents located around the heel

Previous studies have demonstrated that plantar cutaneous afferents can adjust motoneuronal excitability, which may contribute significantly to the control of human posture and locomotion. However, the role of plantar cutaneous afferents with respect to their location specificity in modulating the mechanically induced stretch reflex still remains unclear. In the present study, it was hypothesized that electrical stimulation of the ipsilateral heel region of the foot is followed by a modulation of spinal excitability, leading to a facilitation of the soleus motor output. The study was performed to investigate the effect of excitation of plantar cutaneous afferents located around the heel on the soleus stretch reflex. The soleus stretch reflex was evoked by rotating the ankle joint in dorsiflexion direction at two different angular velocities of 50 and 200 degrees s(-1). A conditioning pulse train of non-noxious electrical stimulation was delivered to the plantar surface of the heel at different conditioning test intervals ranging from 5 to 100 ms. Excitation of plantar cutaneous afferents around the heel resulted in a pronounced facilitation of the soleus stretch reflex with magnitude and time course comparable for both velocities. This facilitation was manifested by a significant increase of reflex size for conditioning test intervals from 30 to 70 ms. The observed effect implies a potential functional role of cutaneous afferents in balance control conditions where the ankle is naturally disturbed, e.g., during step reactions to external perturbations.     

Changes of electrocardiogram and hemodynamics in response to dipyridamole: In vivo comparative analyses using anesthetized beagle dogs and microminipigs

Microminipigs are expected as a novel animal model for cardiovascular pharmacological experiments. Since inherent vulnerability of coronary circulation of microminipigs has not been characterized, we performed dipyridamole-stress test to both microminipigs and beagle dogs, and compared the results. Dipyridamole in doses of 0.056 and 0.56 mg/kg were intravenously infused over 10 min (n = 4 for each animal). Dipyridamole decreased the systolic/diastolic blood pressures and double product in dogs as well as in microminipigs; but it did not significantly alter the heart rate or the global balance between the myocardial oxygen demand and supply in either animal. While organic coronary arterial stenosis was not detected in either animal, dogs have well-developed epicardial intracoronary networks unlike microminipigs. Like in humans, dipyridamole did not affect the ST segment of microminipigs, whereas it substantially depressed that in dogs. The results indicate the onset of subendocardial ischemia by dipyridamole in dogs may be partly associated with their well-developed native coronary collateral channels. Microminipigs would be more useful to evaluate the drugs which may affect the coronary circulation in the pre-clinical study than dogs.     

PLXND1/SEMA3E Promotes Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition Partly via the PI3K/AKT-Signaling Pathway and Induces Heterogenity in Colorectal Cancer

Annals of Surgical Oncology - Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths. Metastasis is enhanced through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process primarily induced...     

Health-related quality of life and prognosis in patients with chronic kidney disease: a 3-year follow-up study

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global problem and is also associated with a decreased health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The aim of this study was to evaluate measured HRQOL based on the new CKD classification including proteinuria stage, and the effect of measured HRQOL on CKD progression and clinical outcomes over a 3-year period.

Methods

EuroQol (EQ-5D), a generic preference-based questionnaire, was administered to 537 CKD outpatients at the University of Tsukuba Hospital between November and December 2008. We evaluated disease progression in CKD patients including the incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality over a 3-year follow-up period.

Results

The proportions progressing to the higher stages were 32.6, 20.0, 36.6, 39.5, and 45.8 % from glomerular filtration rate (GFR) stages (G) 1–4, respectively. The proportion progressing to ESKD (G5D) was 0.7 % from G2, 3.9 % from G3b, 20.8 % from G4 and 63.4 % from G5. The incidence of CVD and/or death was 1.2, 4.6, 4.9, 5.3, 8.3 and 21.1 % from G1?G5, respectively. The quality-adjustment weights at G4–5 were significantly lower than at G1–2 and the weights at proteinuria stage (A) 3 were significantly lower than at A1–2. The quality-adjustment weights of patients with events such as 50 % estimated GFR decline, dialysis, CVD, and/or death were significantly lower than those without events.

Conclusion

We showed CKD progression and clinical outcomes over a 3-year period. Quality-adjustment weights in CKD patients were associated with not only disease progression such as initiation of dialysis treatment and incidence of CVD events and all-cause death, but also the level of proteinuria at baseline.     

A 5-year survivor after resection of peritoneal metastases from pedunculated-type hepatocellular carcinoma

Received: January 9, 2001 / Accepted: May 11, 2001