Clinical and pathogenetic features of early- and late-onset pre-eclampsia

Background: PE is present in ～2–8% of all pregnant women worldwide. Placental bed disorders at early and late PE have been not carried out yet. However, these studies help to explore details of the pathogenesis of PE, and to optimize the prognosis and obstetric management.

Objective: To identify clinical and morphological differences between early- and late-onset PE based on a comprehensive observation of pregnant women with regard to morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of the placental bed.

Materials and methods: One hundred fifty patients aged 18–43 years old delivered by cesarean section due to severe PE. The samples of placental bed tissue were studied by morphological and immunohistochemical methods.

Results: The violation of invasion trophoblast, remodeling of spiral arteries were expressed in early onset PE; the degree of compensation of chronic hypoxia tissue in the area of the placental site was typical for late PE and was absent of an early onset PE.

Conclusion: Our studies confirm the need for separation of early- and late-onset PE, being justified in terms of different pathogenetic mechanisms of formation, and therefore the possibility of therapeutic effects, duration of pregnancy prolongation, forecasting, search early diagnostic markers of the disease, and personalized approaches.     

Effect of masticating chewing gum on postural stability during upright standing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of masticating chewing gum on postural stability during upright standing. To address this issue, 12 healthy subjects performed quiet standing on a force platform for the posturography study. The subjects were instructed to stand as stable as possible on the force platform in order to record the trajectory of the center-of-pressure (COP). After measuring the postural sway in the initial condition (pre-condition), the subjects were asked to stand while masticating chewing gum (gum-condition). Following the gum-condition, quiet standing without mastication was evaluated (post-condition) to ensure the effect of masticating chewing gum on postural stability. The trajectory and velocity of the COP were analyzed for each condition. We found that the postural stability tended to enhance during mastication of chewing gum. The rectangle area of the COP trajectory significantly diminished in the gum-condition and significantly enlarged in the post-condition. A similar effect was observed in the maximum velocity and standard deviation (SD) of the fore-aft amplitude of the COP trajectory. The values were significantly smaller in the gum-condition compared to those in the post-condition. These findings suggest that mastication of chewing gum affects the postural control by enhancing the postural stability during upright standing.     

Negative Impacts of Prolonged Standing at Work on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Physical Fatigue: The Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey

PurposeWe aimed to investigate variations in the risk of low back pain (LBP), lower extremity muscle pain, and whole body fatigue according to differences in prolonged standing work hours in relation to risk factor exposure and rest frequency.Materials and MethodsFrom the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey data collected in 2017, data for 32970 full-time workers who worked for more than 1 year at their present job were analyzed. We classified the workers according to exposure to fatigue or painful postures, carrying heavy objects, performance of repetitive movements that burden the musculoskeletal system, and how often they took a break. Relationships between time spent in a standing posture at work and risks of LBP, lower extremity muscle pain, and whole body fatigue were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression.ResultsOf the full-time workers in the survey, 48.7% worked in a standing position for more than half of their total working hours. A higher odds ratio (OR) value for lower extremity muscle pain was observed in female not exposed to carrying heavy objects [OR: 3.551, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.038–4.150] and not exposed to performing repetitive movements (OR: 3.555, 95% CI: 2.761–4.557).ConclusionChanges in work methodologies are needed to lower the number of hours spent in a prolonged standing posture at work, including being able to rest when workers want to do so, to reduce pain and fatigue.     

大鼠纹状体边缘区与杏仁核和终纹床核之间相互联系的免疫组织化学研究

为了解大鼠纹状体内的神经活性物质与边缘系统重要结构杏仁核和终纹床核内相应神经活性物质之间的关系。对大鼠脑的连续冠状切片进行了 P物质、降钙素基因相关肽、亮氨酸 -脑啡肽、胆囊收缩素和神经元型一氧化氮合酶等的免疫细胞化学反应 ( ABC法 )。结果证明 :P物质、降钙素基因相关肽和胆囊收缩素在纹状体中主要分布在边缘区 ;亮氨酸 -脑啡肽主要分布在苍白球 ,其次分布在边缘区 ;神经元型一氧化氮合酶则主要分布在尾壳核和边缘区。上述神经活性物质同时也集中分布在杏仁核和终纹床核 ,而且边缘区内的这些神经活性物质与杏仁核和终纹床核内的相同物质存在着纤维联系。本研究结果说明 :边缘区与边缘系统之间存在着神经化学的相互关系 ,边缘区可能属于边缘系统的一部分。     

Cardiovascular regulation during upright standing behavior in conscious rats

Although rats often show an upright standing behavior the cardiovascular response during the behavior has not yet been fully clarified. In this study we quantified the activity of upright standing behavior in rats using infrared beam detectors and measured cardiovascular variables during the behavior. Rats demonstrated a high level of upright standing activity as they showed the upright posture more than 500 times per day at 10 weeks of age. The average upright standing duration time was less than 10s. Arterial pressure slightly decreased while heart rate increased in response to the behavior and these responses were not affected by sino-aortic denervation. Our results indicate that other mechanisms such as the vestibulo-cardiovascular reflex may completely compensate the lack of the baroreceptor reflex to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis in response to acute positional changes in rats. Moreover rats demonstrate complex integrative mechanisms maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis against the upright standing behavior which frequently occurs in rats.     

On the organization of olfactory and vomeronasal cortices

Classically, the olfactory and vomeronasal pathways are thought to run in parallel non-overlapping axes in the forebrain subserving different functions. The olfactory and vomeronasal epithelia project to the main and accessory olfactory bulbs (primary projections), which in turn project to different areas of the telencephalon in a non-topographic fashion (secondary projections) and so on (tertiary projections). New data indicate that projections arising from the main and accessory olfactory bulbs converge widely in the rostral basal telencephalon. In contrast, in the vomeronasal system, cloning two classes of vomeronasal receptors (V1R and V2R) has led to the distinction of two anatomically and functionally independent pathways that reach some common, but also some different, targets in the amygdala. Tertiary projections from the olfactory and vomeronasal amygdalae are directed to the ventral striatum, which thus becomes a site for processing and potential convergence of chemosensory stimuli. Functional data indicate that the olfactory and vomeronasal systems are able to detect and process volatiles (presumptive olfactory cues) as well as pheromones in both epithelia and bulbs. Collectively, these data indicate that the anatomical and functional distinction between the olfactory and vomeronasal systems should be re-evaluated. Specifically, the recipient cortex should be reorganized to include olfactory, vomeronasal (convergent and V1R and V2R specific areas) and mixed (olfactory and vomeronasal) chemosensory cortices. This new perspective could help to unravel olfactory and vomeronasal interactions in behavioral paradigms.     

The effect of variability in maturational tempo and midparent height on variability in linear body measurements

Background: Information on the effect of variability in maturational tempo on variability in height attained at the same age is not readily available.

Aim: The study obtained this information from the data of the First Zurich Longitudinal Study.

Subjects and methods: Yearly measurements of standing height, sitting height and leg length, yearly assessments of bone age (RUS (Radius, Ulna and Short bones), TW3 method) and midparent height for 232 children from the First Zurich Longitudinal Growth Study are included in a correlational analysis.

Results: The course of the squared correlations of standing height, sitting height and leg length with attained RUS bone age, midparent height and both as a function of age are presented.

Conclusions: During puberty, up to 50% of the height variation in boys and 40% in girls is explained by maturational tempo.

Résumé. Arrière plan: L’information concernant l’effet de la variabilitè du rythme de la maturation sur celle de la stature á un âge donnè, n’est pas disponible.

But: Cette ètude a obtenu de l’information á partir de la première ètude longitudinale de Zurich.

Sujet0s y mèthodes: Une analyse de corrèlation est effectuèe á partir de mensurations annuelles de la stature, de la taille assis et de la longueur de la jambe, de contröles annuels de l’âge osseux (RUS, TW3) et de la stature mèdiale des parents pour 232 enfants de la première ètude de croissance de Zurich.

Résultats: On prèsente les valeurs des carrès des corrèlations pour la stature, la taille assis et la longueur de la jambe avec l’âge osseux atteint (RUS radius, ulna et os courts), avec la stature mèdiale des parents et les deux comme une fonction de l’âge.

Conclusions: Pendant la pubertè, jusqu’á 50% de la variation de la stature des garons et 40% de celle des filles, sont expliquès par le rythme de maturation.

Zusammenfassung. Hintergrund: Informationen über die Auswirkungen von Schwankungen im reifungsbedingten Wachstumstempo auf unterschiedliche im gleichen Alter erzielte Größen sind nicht in geeigneter Form verfügbar.

Ziel: Die vorliegende Arbeit versucht, Informationen zur angesprochenen Problematik aus den Daten der ersten Züricher Longitudinalstudie zu erlangen.

Inhalt und Methodik: Die jährlichen Daten aus Größenmessungen in den Positionen Stehen, Sitzen sowie Beinlänge und die jährlichen Bewertungsergebnisse der Knochenalter (RUS, TW3) als auch die Medium-Elterngrößen von 232 Kindern aus der ersten Züricher Longitudinalgrößenstudie werden in einer Wechselbeziehungsanalyse erfaßt.

Ergebnisse: Die Verläufe der quadrierten Verhältnisse von Steh-, Sitzgröße beziehungsweise Beinlänge mit denen von Knochenaltern nach RUS-Methode (Radius [Speiche], Ulna [Elle], Short bones [kleine Knochen]) beziehungsweise Medium-Elterngröße werden präsentiert. Beide Datenmengen werden außerdem als Funktionen des Alters dargestellt.

Schlußfolgerungen: Während des Stadiums der Pubertät lassen sich Größenunterschiede bei bis zu 50% der Jungen und bis zu 40% der Mädchen mit den Schwankungen im reifungsbedingten Wachstumstempo erklären.

Resumen. Antecedentes: No es fácil disponer de información acerca del efecto que tiene la variabilidad en el ritmo madurativo sobre la variabilidad estatural alcanzada a la misma edad.

Objetivo: El estudio obtuvo esta información a partir de los datos del Primer Estudio Longitudinal de Zurich (First Zurich Longitudinal Study).

Sujetos y métodos: Se han incluido en un análisis de correlaciones las medidas anuales de la estatura, la talla sentado y la longitud de la pierna así como las estimaciones anuales de la edad ósea (RUS, TW3) y la estatura media de los progenitores, de 232 niños del Primer Estudio Longitudinal de Zurich (First Zurich Longitudinal Study).

Resultados: Se presentan las variaciones de las correlaciones cuadráticas de la estatura, la talla sentado y la longitud de la pierna con la edad ósea alcanzada basada en el mètodo RUS (radio, ulna y huesos cortos), la estatura media de los progenitores y ambas en función de la edad.

Conclusiones: Durante la pubertad, hasta el 50% de la variación estatural de los chicos y el 40% de la de las chicas se explica por el ritmo madurativo.     

腰曲对颈曲影响的动态下X线片研究

目的:研究腰曲对颈曲的影响,探讨颈椎病和颈腰综合征在脊柱解剖生理学与运动力学的病因病理。方法:选青春期健康青年男女27例,分别以站立位及坐位1h后摄腰椎、颈椎标准侧位片,并应用数学几何学弓形面积计算法测量其颈、腰曲站、坐前后X线片的弓形面积,进行对照。结果:端坐1h后,颈、腰椎侧位X线片,腰曲弓形面积平均较站立位缩小53.14%,颈曲弓形面积也缩小48.33%,经统计学处理P<0.05,差别显著。结论:(1)腰曲变化影响到颈曲,病理改变与久坐有关。(2)腰曲改变是颈椎病、颈腰综合征重要病因和病理改变。     

Ultra‐thin,Free‐Standing Proton‐Conducting Membrane with Organic/Inorganic Sandwich Structure

An ultra‐thin, flexible, free‐standing, proton‐conducting membrane of (PEI/PCGF)/SiO₂/(PEI/PCGF) with a sandwich structure has been prepared. Giant membranes with areas up to about 16 cm² and thicknesses of 600 nm have been obtained. The inorganic silica layer suppresses methanol permeation, while the two organic layers provide sufficient mechanical strength and flexibility. This membrane exhibits efficient proton conductivity and low methanol permeability.