Neuropathy in children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus

Nerve conduction velocities were studied in the median, posterior tibial, radial and sural nerves of 50 juvenile diabetics, average age 13 +/- 1.3 years and mean duration of diabetes 2.3 +/- 1.4 years. Motor conduction velocity (MCV) in the median nerve was reduced in 10% of the subjects, and in the posterior tibial in 32%. Sensory conduction velocity (SCV) in the radial nerve was reduced in 30% of the subjects, and in the sural in 44%. No relationship was found between the reduction in conduction velocity and the duration of diabetes; nevertheless, a correlation was observed between this reduction and the degree of glycaemic control represented by the glycosylated haemoglobin concentration. The authors emphasize the importance of good glycaemic control for the prevention of diabetic neuropathy.     

Wellbeing of Breastfeeding Women in Australia and New Zealand during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Study

During the COVID-19 pandemic, breastfeeding women have experienced restricted access to support, placing them at increased risk of mental health concerns and limited breastfeeding assistance. This study investigated the effect of the pandemic on feeding choices and maternal wellbeing amongst breastfeeding mothers living in Australian and New Zealand. We conducted a cross-sectional online survey that examined feeding methods, maternal mental wellbeing, worries, challenges, and positive experiences during the pandemic. Most women were exclusively breastfeeding (82%). Partial breastfeeding was associated with perceived low milk supply and longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic. Reduced mental health and wellbeing was associated with lower levels of family functioning, increased perceived stress, and perinatal anxiety. Longer pregnancy duration during the pandemic was associated with lower mental health wellbeing scores, while higher perceived stress scores were reported for regions with higher COVID-19 infection rates and women with perceived low milk supply. Women reported that the pandemic resulted in less pressure and more time for family bonding, while worries about the pandemic, family health, and parenting challenges were also cited. Mental health concerns of breastfeeding women appear to be exacerbated by COVID-19, highlighting a critical need for access to mental health and broader family support during the pandemic.     

Reduction in Maternal Energy Intake during Lactation Decreased Maternal Body Weight and Concentrations of Leptin,Insulin and Adiponectin in Human Milk without Affecting Milk Production,Milk Macronutrient Composition or Infant Growth

Maternal diet has the potential to affect human milk (HM) composition, but very few studies have directly assessed the effect of maternal diets on HM composition. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effect of improving dietary quality in lactating women over 2 weeks on the concentrations of macronutrients and metabolic hormones in HM. The secondary aims were to assess the impact of the dietary intervention on 24 h milk production, maternal body composition and infant growth. Fifteen women completed a 1-week baseline period followed by a 2-week dietary intervention phase targeted towards reducing fat and sugar intake. Maternal anthropometric and body composition and infant growth measurements were performed weekly. Total 24 h milk production was measured before and after the dietary intervention, and HM samples were collected daily. Maternal intakes of energy (−33%), carbohydrate (−22%), sugar (−29%), fat (−54%) and saturated fat (−63%) were significantly reduced during the dietary intervention. HM insulin, leptin and adiponectin concentrations were 10–25% lower at the end of the dietary intervention, but HM concentrations of macronutrients were unaffected. Maternal body weight (−1.8%) and fat mass (−6.3%) were significantly reduced at the end of the dietary intervention, but there were no effects on 24 h milk production or infant growth. These results suggest that reducing maternal energy, carbohydrate, fat and sugar intake over a 2-week period is associated with significant reductions in HM insulin, leptin and adiponectin concentrations. These changes may be secondary to decreases in maternal weight and fat mass. The limited studies to date that have investigated the association between metabolic hormone concentrations in HM and infant growth raise the possibility that the changes in HM composition observed in the current study could impact infant growth and adiposity, but further studies are required to confirm this hypothesis.     

Slow deep breathing prevents the development of tachygastria and symptoms of motion sickness

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to see if slow deep breathing, a non-pharmacological procedure known to increase parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity, would prevent the development of gastric dysrhythmias and symptoms of motion sickness when subjects were exposed to a rotating optokinetic drum. METHODS: Participating in this study were 46 healthy males and females aged 17-26 who were pre-tested in the rotating drum and found to be susceptible to motion sickness. They were randomly placed into one of the following three conditions: Slow Deep Breathing (n = 18), Counting Breaths (subjects were asked to count their breaths and asked for the count every 3 min, n = 16), and Control (subjects breathed normally, n = 12). Electrogastrograms were recorded from all subjects during a 6-min baseline and a 16-min rotation period. Subjects were asked about their symptoms every 3 min. RESULTS: A significant difference in percent tachygastria from baseline to rotation was found between the three conditions. Percent tachygastria increased during rotation for the Counting Breaths group and the Control group, but remained the same as baseline for the Slow Deep Breathing group. The Slow Deep Breathing group (5.3) reported significantly fewer symptoms than the Counting Breaths group (9.0), but not the Control group (7.8). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, slow deep breathing in a situation previously demonstrated to provoke tachygastria prevented the development of gastric dysrhythmias and decreased symptoms of motion sickness.     

Real-time in vivo loading in the lumbar spine: part 1. Interbody implant: load cell design and preliminary results

STUDY DESIGN: Instrumented interbody implants were placed into the disc space of a motion segment in two baboons. During the animal's activities, implants directly measured in vivo loads in the lumbar spine by telemetry transmitter. OBJECTIVES: Develop and test an interbody implant-load cell and use the implant to measure directly loads imposed on the lumbar spine of the baboon, a semiupright animal. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In vivo forces in the lumbar spine have been estimated using body weight calculations, moment arm models, dynamic chain models, electromyogram measurements, and intervertebral disc pressure measurements. METHODS: An analytical model was used to determine the force-strain relation in a customized interbody implant. After validation by finite element modeling, strain gauges were mounted onto the implant and connected to a telemetry transmitter. Implants were placed surgically into the L4-L5 disc space of skeletally mature baboons and the transmitter in the flank. After surgery, load data were collected from the animals during activities. Radiographs were taken monthly to assess fusion. RESULTS: The implant-load cell is sufficiently sensitive to monitor dynamic changes in strain and load. During extreme activity, highest measurable strain values were indicative of loads in excess of 2.8 times body weight. CONCLUSIONS: The study technique and technology are efficacious for measuring real-time in vivo loads in the spine. Measuring load on an intradiscal implant over the course of healing provides key information about the mechanics of this process. Loads may be used to indicate performance demands on the intervertebral disc and interbody implants for subsequent implant design.     

Acute administration of methionine and/or methionine sulfoxide impairs redox status and induces apoptosis in rat cerebral cortex

Metabolic Brain Disease - High plasma levels of methionine (Met) and its metabolites such as methionine sulfoxide (MetO) may occur in several genetic abnormalities. Patients with hypermethioninemia...     

Consenso sobre Ecocardiografia Transesofágica Perioperatória da Sociedade Brasileira de Anestesiologia e do Departamento de Imagem Cardiovascular da Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia

Through the Life Cycle of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (ETTI/SBA) the Brazilian Society of Anesthesiology, together with the Department of Cardiovascular Image of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology (DIC/SBC), createded a task force to standardize the use of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography by Brazilian anesthesiologists and echocardiographers based on scientific evidence from the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists/American Society of Echocardiography (SCA/ASE) and the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.     

The Alternative Heart: Impact of Alternative Splicing in Heart Disease

Alternative splicing is the main driver of protein diversity and allows the production of different proteins from each gene in the genome. Changes in exon exclusion, intron retention or the use of alternative splice sites can alter protein structure, localisation, regulation and function. In the heart, alternative splicing of sarcomeric genes, ion channels and cell signalling proteins can lead to cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias and other pathologies. Also, a number of inherited conditions and heart-related diseases develop as a result of mutations affecting splicing. Here, we review the impact that changes in alternative splicing have on individual genes and on whole biological processes associated with heart disease. We also discuss promising therapeutic tools based on the manipulation of alternative splicing.