Observation of own exploration movements impairs haptic spatial perception

The present study was designed to assess whether the visibility of ones’ own exploratory movements impairs or enhances perceptual speed and precision of haptic stimuli with varying complexity. Previous studies have shown that noninformative vision of steady surroundings improves haptic spatial perception. However, due to the serial nature of haptic processing and limited capacity of working memory resources, we hypothesized that noninformative vision of limb movements may impair haptic perception. The study sample consisted of ninety-eight healthy adults who were randomized into two groups, matched for sex and age. Participants were required to explore two-dimensional haptic stimuli with varying complexity and to recognize them visually. The difference between the two experimental groups was a screen that would prevent the participants from viewing their hands during exploration in the nonobservation condition (NonOb). The other half of participants were able to see their hands in the manual movement observation condition (MovOb) thanks to the special design of the stimuli. As hypothesized, the persons in the MovOb condition made significantly more errors. The difference in error frequency between participants of the MovOb and NonOb condition was greater for complex stimuli than for simple ones. These results suggest that incoming visual information about own manual exploration movements increases competitive pressure for limited working memory resources, and therefore, more recognition errors are made. Covering the hands during exploration may constitute a helpful simplification of the task’s demands by supporting the maintenance of information in working memory. Additionally, the relation of haptic complexity and stimulus characteristics was analyzed.     

Testicular hypoplasia in a bull persistently infected with bovine diarrhoea virus

A bull aged 16 months with bilateral testicular hypoplasia and azoospermia was persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV). Viral antigen was detected in serum and semen by ELISA, but the animal was serologically negative. After slaughter, the genital tract was examined histopathologically and by immunohistochemistry, including double immunolabelling with BVDV antibody and either S-100 antibody (for Sertoli cells) or ferritin antibody (for Leydig cells). The seminiferous tubules of both testes were lined by a single layer of Sertoli cells and the germinal epithelium was completely absent except for a few remaining spermatogonia. BVDV antigen was demonstrated (1) in the media of arterial vessel walls of the testis, epididymis, urethra, prostate, and vesicular and bulbourethral glands, (2) in epithelial cells of the ductus epididymidis, the accessory glands and the urethra, and (3) in the testis, mainly in Sertoli cells and to a lesser extent in the spermatogonia that remained, but not in Leydig cells. The testicular hypoplasia was possibly linked to the BVDV infection.     

Evaluation of antigens from various Leishmania species in a Western blot for diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis

A Western blot method that uses antigens from culture promastigote forms of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, L. (Leishmania) amazonensis, L. (Leishmania) tropica, and a trypanosomatid (strain 268T) isolated from naturally infected tomatoes was evaluated for laboratory diagnosis of American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL). Serum samples were obtained from 108 patients with ATL (group I), 23 chagasic patients (group II), 32 patients with other diseases (group III), and 78 healthy individuals (group IV). The overall analysis showed a sensitivity of 76.90%, 90.40%, 78.50%, and 87.90%, a specificity of 100%, 93.80%, 87.80%, and 77.10%, a positive predictive value of 100%, 94.00%, 89.50%, and 72.50%, a negative predictive value of 75.70%, 90.00%, 75.40%, and 90.20%, and a concordance coefficient kappa of 0.7358, 0.8400, 0.6491, and 0.6287 for L. (V.) braziliensis, L. (L.) amazonensis, L. (L.) tropica, and strain 268T antigens, respectively. The antigenic profile recognized by serum samples from patients with ATL and with Chagas' disease permits serologic distinction between these infections.     

Economic Evaluation of Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis Versus Urgent-Start Hemodialysis in the United States

Patients presenting late in the course of kidney disease who require urgent initiation of dialysis have traditionally received temporary vascular catheters followed by hemodialysis. Recent changes in Medicare payment policy for dialysis in the USA incentivized the use of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Consequently, the use of more expeditious PD for late-presenting patients (urgent-start PD) has received new attention. Urgent-start PD has been shown to be safe and effective, and offers a mechanism for increasing PD utilization. However, there has been no assessment of the dialysis-related costs over the first 90 days of care.The objective of this study was to characterize the costs associated with urgent-start PD, urgent-start hemodialysis (HD), or a dual approach (urgent-start HD followed by urgent-start PD) over the first 90 days of treatment from a provider perspective.A survey of practitioners from 5 clinics known to use urgent-start PD was conducted to provide inputs for a cost model representing typical patients. Model inputs were obtained from the survey, literature review, and available cost data. Sensitivity analyses were also conducted.The estimated per patient cost over the first 90 days for urgent-start PD was $16,398. Dialysis access represented 15% of total costs, dialysis services 48%, and initial hospitalization 37%. For urgent-start HD, total per patient costs were $19,352, and dialysis access accounted for 27%, dialysis services 42%, and initial hospitalization 31%. The estimated cost for dual patients was $19,400.Urgent-start PD may offer a cost saving approach for the initiation of dialysis in eligible patients requiring an urgent-start to dialysis.     

Über die Verminderung der Harnchloride bei der Akuten FibrinÖsen LungenentzÜndung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Premenarcheal Mexican girls' and their teachers' perceptions of preparation students receive about menstruation at school

This survey explored how fifth-grade Mexican premenarcheal girls (N = 80) and their teachers (N = 16) view the preparation students receive about menstruation at school. The most discussed topics in class included hygiene and body functions. The main discrepancies between girls and teachers were as follows: (a) more teachers than girls reported that they discussed the emotional aspects of menses, (b) teachers indicated that their pupils were better prepared than the students themselves believed. (c) more teachers reported that the girls acted ashamed during the classes, and (d) more girls perceived that boys behaved in a mocking manner, whereas more teachers thought that the boys acted nervous. In conclusion, teaching about menstruation is problematic, but these findings provide information for teachers to meet the needs of girls more efficiently.     

Stress and depression-induced immune dysfunction: implications for the development and progression of cancer

The persistent activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary axes in chronic stress response and in depression impairs the immune response and contributes to the development and progression of some types of cancer. This overview presents results from experimental animal models, human studies, and clinical evidence that various cellular and molecular immunological parameters are compromised in chronic stress and depression. At the cellular level, stressed and depressed patients had overall leukocytosis, high concentrations of circulating neutrophils, reduced mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte proliferation and neutrophil phagocytosis. At the molecular level, high levels of serum basal cortisol, acute phase proteins, specific antibodies against herpes simplex virus type 1 and Epstein Barr virus, plasma concentration of interleukins IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, and a shift in the balance of Th1 and Th2 immune response were observed. Both stress and depression were associated with the decreased cytotoxic T-cell and natural killer cell activities affecting the processes of the immune surveillance of tumours, and the events that modulate the development and the accumulation of somatic mutations and genomic instability. DNA damage, growth and angiogenic factors, proteases, matrix metalloproteinases, and reactive oxygen species were also related to the chronic stress response and depression. Behavioural strategies, psychological, and psychopharmacotherapeutic interventions that enhance effective coping and reduce affective distress showed beneficial effects in cancer patients. A better understanding of the bidirectional communication between the neuroendocrine and immune systems could contribute to novel clinical and treatment strategies in oncology.