Atypical performance patterns on Delis–Kaplan Executive Functioning System Color–Word Interference Test: Cognitive switching and learning ability in older adults

Introduction: Cognitive set shifting requires flexible application of lower level processes. The Delis–Kaplan Executive Functioning System (DKEFS) Color–Word Interference Test (CWIT) is commonly used to clinically assess cognitive set shifting. An atypical pattern of performance has been observed on the CWIT; a subset of individuals perform faster, with equal or fewer errors, on the more difficult inhibition/switching than the inhibition trial. This study seeks to explore the cognitive underpinnings of this atypical pattern. It is hypothesized that atypical patterns on CWIT will be associated with better performance on underlying cognitive measures of attention, working memory, and learning when compared to typical CWIT patterns. Method: Records from 239 clinical referrals (age: M = 68.09 years, SD = 10.62; education: M = 14.87 years, SD = 2.73) seen for a neuropsychological evaluation as part of diagnostic work up in an outpatient dementia and movement disorders clinic were sampled. The standard battery of tests included measures of attention, learning, fluency, executive functioning, and working memory. Analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were conducted to compare the cognitive performance of those with typical versus atypical CWIT patterns. Results: An atypical pattern of performance was confirmed in 23% of our sample. Analyses revealed a significant group difference in acquisition of information on both nonverbal (Brief Visuospatial Memory Test–Revised, BVMT–R total recall), F(1, 213) = 16.61, p < .001, and verbal (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test–Revised, HVLT–R total recall) learning tasks, F(1, 181) = 6.43, p < .01, and semantic fluency (Animal Naming), F(1, 232) = 7.57, p = .006, with the atypical group performing better on each task. Effect sizes were larger for nonverbal (Cohen’s d = 0.66) than verbal learning (Cohen’s d = 0.47) and semantic fluency (Cohen’s d = 0.43). Conclusions: Individuals demonstrating an atypical pattern of performance on the CWIT inhibition/switching trial also demonstrated relative strengths in semantic fluency and learning.     

The influence of obesity on the motor coordination in children between 6 and 9 years of age

ObjectiveObesity is the most common childhood illness in developed countries and its prevalence continues to increase. The objective was to analyze the influence of obesity on the motor coordination of children between 6 and 9 years old.Equipment and methodsA number of 52 pupils of both genders participated for evaluation of the prevalence of obesity using the measurement of the abdominal perimeter and the Body Mass Index (BMI) categorized as Normal-Weighted, Excess Weight and Obesity. The assessment of motor coordination was performed by the KTK test. SPSS (version 19.0) was used for statistical purposes.ResultsGirls had lower levels of performance rather than boys, and the pupils presented worse levels of motor performance as the age progressed. Regarding the prevalence of obesity, the two-gender obtained high mean values for the Normal-weighted category, whereas 25% is overweight. Regarding the level of motor coordination, 57.7% of the pupils had Normal Coordination and 40.4% had coordinative difficulties. Pupils with higher values of BMI and abdominal perimeter obtains lower results of motor coordination.     

硫化氢复合浅低温可选择性激活突触内NMDARs及其下游PI3K/Akt信号通路

目的观察硫化氢（H₂S）复合浅低温对大鼠全脑缺血-再灌注后海马N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体（NMDARs）的亚单位NR2A、NR2B、磷酸化蛋白激酶B（p-Akt）及磷酸化糖原合成酶激酶3β（p-GSK 3β）的影响,旨在探讨其发挥脑复苏作用的潜在机制。方法雄性SD大鼠100只,随机均分为五组:假手术组（Ⅰ组）、模型组（Ⅱ组）、浅低温组（Ⅲ组）、硫氢化钠（NaHS）组（Ⅳ组）、浅低温+NaHS组（Ⅴ组）。采用Pulsinelli-Brierley四血管阻塞法建立大鼠全脑缺血再灌注损伤模型,缺血15 min再灌注即刻Ⅳ组和Ⅴ组腹腔注射14μmol/kg NaHS,Ⅲ组和Ⅴ组行体表降温至肛温32～33℃。6 h后断头取海马,分别采用分光光度计法测H₂S的含量,western blot法测NR2A、NR2B、p-Akt及p-GSK 3β的表达,每组分别取4只于再灌注24 h取脑行Tunel染色观察CA1区锥体细胞凋亡情况。结果与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组海马组织H₂S含量均升高（P<0.05）;与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅳ和Ⅴ组H₂S含量显著升高（P<0.05）;与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组NR2A、NR2B的表达、凋亡指数（AI）均增高（P<0.05）,且Ⅱ和Ⅲ组NR2A/NR2B<1,Ⅰ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ组NR2A/NR2B>1;与Ⅰ组相比,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组海马p-Akt及p-GSK 3β的表达均上调（P<0.05）;与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组海马p-Akt及p-GSK 3β的表达均上调,AI降低（P<0.05）;与Ⅲ和Ⅳ组相比,Ⅴ组海马p-GSK 3β的表达上调（P<0.05）。与Ⅱ组相比,Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组CA1区锥体细胞凋亡程度均明显减轻,尤以Ⅴ组效果最明显。结论 H₂S复合浅低温可能通过选择性作用于突触内的NMDARs,进而激活其下游促存活磷脂酰肌醇-3-激酶/蛋白激酶B（PI3K/Akt）信号通路,抑制锥体细胞凋亡,从而发挥脑复苏的作用。     

Quels tests de terrain pour le suivi de la performance athlétique en sport collectif ?

Introduction

To monitor athletic performance throughout a team-sport season, strength and conditioning coaches are used to program various field tests that evaluate physiological variables predictive of performance in their activity. Nevertheless, performing all these field tests is time consuming and not well appropriated for frequent monitoring.

Synthesis of the facts

The present study investigated whether a single test can be used as a surrogate of overall team athletic performance.

Conclusion

It appears that the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test and a repeated sprint ability test, but not explosive power of lower limb or sprinting tests, are sensitive enough to differentiate different performance levels throughout the season.     

Validation of donor fraction cell-free DNA with biopsy-proven cardiac allograft rejection in children and adults

ObjectivesDonor-specific cell-free DNA shows promise as a noninvasive marker for allograft rejection, but as yet has not been validated in both adult and pediatric recipients. The study objective was to validate donor fraction cell-free DNA as a noninvasive test to assess for risk of acute cellular rejection and antibody-mediated rejection after heart transplantation in pediatric and adult recipients.MethodsPediatric and adult heart transplant recipients were enrolled from 7 participating sites and followed for 12 months or more with plasma samples collected immediately before all endomyocardial biopsies. Donor fraction cell-free DNA was extracted, and quantitative genotyping was performed. Blinded donor fraction cell-free DNA and clinical data were analyzed and compared with a previously determined threshold of 0.14%. Sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, positive predictive value, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated.ResultsA total of 987 samples from 144 subjects were collected. After applying predefined clinical and technical exclusions, 745 samples from 130 subjects produced 54 rejection samples associated with the composite outcome of acute cellular rejection grade 2R or greater and pathologic antibody-mediated rejection 2 or greater and 323 healthy samples. For all participants, donor fraction cell-free DNA at a threshold of 0.14% had a sensitivity of 67%, a specificity of 79%, a positive predictive value of 34%, and a negative predictive value of 94% with an area under the curve of 0.78 for detecting rejection. When analyzed independently, these results held true for both pediatric and adult cohorts at the same threshold of 0.14% (negative predictive value 92% and 95%, respectively).ConclusionsDonor fraction cell-free DNA at a threshold of 0.14% can be used to assess for risk of rejection after heart transplantation in both pediatric and adult patients with excellent negative predictive value.     

去甲乌药碱对过氧化氢引起的PC12细胞损伤的保护作用研究

目的 探讨去甲乌药碱对过氧化氢(H₂O₂)引起的PC12细胞损伤的保护作用。方法 将PC12细胞分为对照组、H₂O₂组(100 μM H₂O₂)、去甲乌药碱组(50 μM去甲乌药碱+100 μM H₂O₂),CCK8法检测细胞活力,TUNEL染色检测细胞凋亡情况,流式检测ROS水平,氧化应激标志物MDA、SOD分别采用TBA法和WST法检测,蛋白免疫印迹检测凋亡相关蛋白Caspase3、Bax和Bcl-2的表达情况。结果 与H₂O₂组比较,去甲乌药碱组细胞活力显著提高,ROS、MDA含量显著降低,SOD活性显著升高,Caspase3、Bax表达量减少,Bcl-2表达量增加。结论 去甲乌药碱能通过抗氧化及抗凋亡抑制H₂O₂引起的PC12细胞损伤。     

红细胞内源性硫化氢的测定

目的:建立测定红细胞内源性硫化氢(hydrogen sulfide, H2S)的方法.方法:根据红细胞硫化氢生成酶的理化特性,给予酶的底物β-巯基丙酮酸,并根据亚甲基蓝法测定释放硫化氢的量.结果:应用RT-PCR方法检测到红细胞内存在巯基丙酮酸转硫酶(3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, MPST)的表达;红细胞内源性硫化氢的产率高达每10⁸个细胞(22.76±1.53) μmol/min,约是肝和肾组织内硫化氢生成率的5倍.而检测L-半胱氢酸(L-cysteine, L-cys)途径内源性硫化氢的产率,并以肝和肾作为阳性对照组织,发现红细胞内几乎检测不到硫化氢的产生.结论:红细胞内源性硫化氢的产生主要依赖MPST途径,本研究构建的方法可应用于红细胞生成硫化氢的检测.     

内源性小气体信号分子硫化氢与肺缺血再灌注损伤

硫化氢(H2S)是继一氧化氮和一氧化碳之后新近发现的第三种内源性小气体信号分子,并有实验证实其在神经、消化、泌尿、心血管系统均有重要生理作用。然而,H2S与肺缺血再灌注损伤(LIRI)的研究尚不多见,对于H2S在抗LIRI中的作用知之甚少。现就关于H2S在心血管系统及LIRI中作用的研究趋势予以介绍。     

承德市双桥区中小学生视力调查

目的:为了解承德市双桥区中小学生视力低下状况,开展视力保护工作提供科学依据。方法:采用标准对数视力灯箱逐个检查受试者左、右裸眼视力,对双桥区20所学校11991名学生进行视力检测。结果:中学生视力低下率高于小学生;女生视力低下率高于男生;城市视力低下率高于乡村。结论:承德市学生视力低下率较高,应加强防治视力低下的措施和策略的研究。