Responses of weaned lambs to fear-eliciting situations: origin of individual differences

The aims of this study were 1) to develop methods of objectively measuring fear in weaned lambs, and 2) to evaluate the effects of age, sex, breed, and rearing conditions on fear reactions. Four hundred forty-one lambs, aged 3 to 6 months, were submitted to three fear-eliciting situations (isolation, surprise effect, and human presence). Factor analysis revealed a first factor, interpreted in terms of fear, that accounted for 40% of total variance in the three tests. As in adult sheep, the main signs of fear were inhibition of feeding, long distance from the frightening stimulus, frequent immobilizations, and numerous high-pitch bleats. Behavior was also influenced by differences in general locomotor activity and exploratory motivation. Fear reactions were influenced by age (3- to 4-month-old lambs more fearful than 5- to 6-month-old), sex (females more fearful than males), breed (Romanov more fearful than Ile-de-France), and rearing conditions (artificial vs. maternal: almost no influence in males and influence in females depending on age). These results with sheep provide interesting theoretical and practical perspectives to the study of fearfulness.     

自发性气胸胸腔镜术后复发情况和影响因素分析

目的分析自发性气胸患者胸腔镜术后复发现状和影响因素。方法选取我院胸外科2009年3月至2011年3月收治的218例自发性气胸胸腔镜术后患者为研究对象,采用自编问卷对自发性气胸患者胸腔镜术后情况进行调查,应用SPSS 19.0统计软件进行描述性统计和二分类Logistic回归分析并找出其复发的影响因素。结果自发性气胸患者胸腔镜术后复发率为5.05%(11/218),多因素Logistic回归分析结果示复发性气胸(OR=2.432,P=0.000)和多发肺大疱(OR=1.918,P=0.000)是自发性气胸电视胸腔镜手术后复发的危险因素。结论自发性气胸胸腔镜术后患者复发率较高,应加强复发性气胸和多发肺大疱患者管理,减少其复发,改善患者的预后。     

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。     

Influence of tumours on normal cells and optimal chemotherapy regimens: the case of several drugs and toxicity constraints.

Cancer chemotherapy with the application of several drugs is studied. The negative and inhibiting effect of the tumour on normal cells is taken into account. Under certain hypotheses, we determine the optimal regimen that minimizes the tumour burden at the end of a fixed period of therapy while maintaining several normal cell populations above prescribed levels. More precisely, it is demonstrated that the optimal drug administration corresponds to the strategy of intensive chemotherapy.     

Distinct Influences of Neonatal Epidermal Growth Factor Challenge on Adult Neurobehavioral Traits in Four Mouse Strains

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (ErbB1) signals regulate dopaminergic development and function and are implicated in schizophrenia. We evaluated genetic effects on neurobehavioral changes induced by neonatal EGF administration, using four mouse strains. Subcutaneous EGF administration increased phosphorylation of brain ErbB1 in all strains, although DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice had lower basal phosphorylation. Neonatal EGF treatment differentially influenced physical and behavioral/cognitive development, depending on mouse strain. Prepulse inhibition was decreased in DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice but not C3H/He and ddY mice. Locomotor activity was accelerated in DBA/2 mice, but reduced in ddY mice. EGF treatment enhanced fear-learning performance with a tone cue in DBA/2 mice, but decreased performance with tone and context cues in C3H/He and ddY mice, respectively. The strain-dependent behavioral sensitivity was correlated with basal ErbB1 phosphorylation. Genetic components regulating brain ErbB1 signaling strongly influence the direction and strength of behavioral responses stemming from the neonatal neurotrophic perturbation.     

Genetic and environmental influences on blood pressure and physical activity: a study of nuclear families from Muzambinho,Brazil

Blood pressure (BP) and physical activity (PA) levels are inversely associated. Since genetic factors account for the observed variation in each of these traits, it is possible that part of their association may be related to common genetic and/or environmental influences. Thus, this study was designed to estimate the genetic and environmental correlations of BP and PA phenotypes in nuclear families from Muzambinho, Brazil. Families including 236 offspring (6 to 24 years) and their 82 fathers and 122 mothers (24 to 65 years) were evaluated. BP was measured, and total PA (TPA) was assessed by an interview (commuting, occupational, leisure time, and school time PA). Quantitative genetic modeling was used to estimate maximal heritability (h²), and genetic and environmental correlations. Heritability was significant for all phenotypes (systolic BP: h² = 0.37 ± 0.10, P < 0.05; diastolic BP: h² = 0.39 ± 0.09, P < 0.05; TPA: h² = 0.24 ± 0.09, P < 0.05). Significant genetic (r_g) and environmental (r_e) correlations were detected between systolic and diastolic BP (r_g = 0.67 ± 0.12 and r_e = 0.48 ± 0.08, P < 0.05). Genetic correlations between BP and TPA were not significant, while a tendency to an environmental cross-trait correlation was found between diastolic BP and TPA (r_e = -0.18 ± 0.09, P = 0.057). In conclusion, BP and PA are under genetic influences. Systolic and diastolic BP share common genes and environmental influences. Diastolic BP and TPA are probably under similar environmental influences.     

全髋关节置换术后患者主要照顾者的负担及其影响因素

目的:调查了解全髋关节置换术(total hip replacement,THR)后患者主要照顾者的负担情况并探讨其相关影响因素.方法:采用自行设计的患者及照顾者一般情况调查表、患者自我护理评估表(ADL)、心理资本量表、社会支持评定量表(social support rating scale,SSRS)和照顾者负担问卷(caregiver burden inventory,CBI)对南方医科大学珠江医院的120名THR患者及其照顾者进行问卷调查.结果:THR患者主要照顾者的CBI得分为45.82±12.77,属于健康危险性负担;患者的CBI得分与社会支持总分及客观支持、对支持利用度的得分,以及心理资本总分及感恩奉献维度的得分呈负相关(P＜0.05);多元回归分析结果显示,患者自理能力、照顾者年龄、家庭人均月收入、照顾时间、感恩奉献、客观支持和对支持的利用度是照顾者负担的影响因素(P＜0.001),共可解释方差变异量的61.8％.结论:THR患者照顾者存在明显的照顾负担,提示临床医护人员应结合患者及其照顾者的个性特征制定有针对性的干预方案,调动社会支持力量,以减轻其照顾负担.     

Sex-specific differences of craniofacial traits in Croatia: The impact of environment in a small geographic area

Background: Craniometric variation in humans reflects different genetic and environmental influences. Long-term climatic adaptation is less likely to show an impact on size and shape variation in a small local area than at the global level.

Aim: The aim of this work was to assess the contribution of the particular environmental factors to body height and craniofacial variability in a small geographic area of Croatia.

Subjects and methods: A total of 632 subjects, aged 18–21, participated in the survey. Body height, head length, head breadth, head height, head circumference, cephalic index, morphological face height, face breadth, and facial index were analysed regarding geographic, climatic and dietary conditions in different regions of the country, and correlated with the specific climatic variables (cumulative multiyear sunshine duration, cumulative multiyear average precipitation, multiyear average air temperatures) and calcium concentrations in drinking water. Significant differences between groups classified according to geographic, climatic or dietary affiliation, and the impact of the environmental predictors on the variation in the investigated traits were assessed using multiple forward stepwise regression analyses.

Results: Higher body height measures in both sexes were significantly correlated with Mediterranean diet type. Mediterranean diet type also contributed to higher head length and head circumference measures in females. Cephalic index values correlated to geographic regions in both sexes, showing an increase from southern to eastern Croatia. In the same direction, head length significantly decreased in males and head breadth increased in females. Mediterranean climate was associated with higher and narrower faces in females. The analysis of the particular climatic variables did not reveal a significant influence on body height in either sex. Concurrently, climatic features influenced all craniofacial traits in females and only head length and facial index in males. Mediterranean climate, characterized by higher average sunshine duration, higher average precipitation and higher average air temperatures, was associated with longer, higher and narrower skulls, higher head circumference, lower cephalic index, and higher and narrower faces (lower facial index). Calcium concentrations in drinking water did not correlate significantly with any dependent variable.

Conclusion: A significant effect of environmental factors on body height and craniofacial variability was found in Croatian young adult population. This effect was more pronounced in females, revealing sex-specific craniofacial differentiation. However, the impact of environment was low and may explain only 1.0–7.32% variation of the investigated traits.     

EEG-NeuroBioFeedback Treatment of Patients with Brain Injury: Part 2: Changes in EEG Parameters versus Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

Background. A sample of 27 patients with brain injury distributed in five clinical classes was examined for pre- and post-treatment symptoms and associated power spectra.

Methods. Changes in electroencephalographic (EEG) compressed spectral arrays were analyzed with respect to the rate of rehabilitation and correlated with a checklist of symptoms for each patient and the group as a whole.

Results. Targeted decreases in slower (3–7 Hz) and higher (24–32 Hz) frequencies, and EMG (70–90 Hz), and increases of alpha (8–12 Hz) and mid-range beta frequencies (15–18 Hz) were achieved following Neuro-BioFeedback (NBF) treatment using positive reward tones and a simultaneous visual reward. The impact of gender and age class influence was assessed against treatment results. Single lead EEG power spectra changes were analyzed for hemispherectomized patients, stroke, car accident and trauma patients. A common EEG pattern was observed for a group of patients exhibiting vertigo with two subgroups in which vertigo resolved or did not resolve showing EEG differences.

Conclusions. EEG NeuroBioFeedback can successfully treat patients with brain injury with highly clinically-meaningful clinical results. Changes in Cz power spectra generally occur, but do not always immediately follow resolution of symptoms. Since EEG-NBF is limited to recording cortical surface potentials, it is possible that changes induced by the treatment which result in clinical changes may not always be reflected at the cortical surface and hence may not be available for recording and analysis there, despite subcortical integration.