Postural adjustments and reaching in 4- and 6-month-old infants: an EMG and kinematical study

Adequate postural control is a prerequisite for daily activities such as reaching for an object. However, knowledge on the relationship between postural adjustments and the quality of reaching movements during human ontogeny is scarce. Therefore we evaluated the development of the relationship between the kinematic features of reaching movements and the accompanying postural adjustments in young infants. Twelve typically developing (TD) infants were assessed twice, i.e. at 4 and 6 months of age, in supine and supported sitting position. Reaching was elicited by presenting toys in the midline at an arm-length distance while simultaneously surface EMG-activity was recorded from multiple arm-, neck-, trunk- and leg muscles. Concurrently kinematics of reaching were recorded with an ELITE system; kinematic analysis was restricted to the behaviour of so-called movement units, which are sub movements of reaching determined with the help of peaks in the velocity profile of the hand, maximum movement velocity and movement duration. A computer-algorithm determined significant phasic muscle activity. Activity in neck and trunk muscles (postural activity) was related to the onset of the prime mover, which was the arm muscle being activated first. The results indicated that about 50% of reaching movements in lying and sitting infants aged 4 and 6 months were accompanied by direction-specific postural adjustments. At 4 months variation dominated, but at 6 months a preference to recruit muscles in a top-down order (during sitting) and in the configuration of the complete pattern, i.e. the pattern in which all dorsal neck- and trunk muscles are activated in concert, (both conditions) emerged. Interestingly, the postural characteristics such as the presence of direction-specificity, recruitment of the complete pattern and top-down recruitment, were related to how successful the reaching was and the kinematics of reaching. It was concluded that the presence of direction-specific activity is not a prerequisite for the emergence of reaching movements. Nevertheless, already from 4 months onwards a better postural control is associated with a larger success and a better quality of reaching.     

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products correlates inversely with measures of adiposity in young adults

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) may promote inflammation by interacting with the receptor for advanced glycation end products. Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), a form of receptor for advanced glycation end products thought to mediate AGE’s inflammatory properties, is decreased in diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. Evidence in older adults suggests that sRAGE is depressed in individuals without current disease who are obese; however, 2 studies have failed to find this correlation. We hypothesized that sRAGE would be inversely correlated with adiposity and positively correlated with inflammation, even in apparently healthy, young adults. By considering adults of body mass index (BMI) varying from normal weight to overweight and obese, we aimed to define how closely AGEs and sRAGE correlate with adiposity and other indicators of metabolic stress. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained from participants (n = 69). Sera were analyzed for sRAGE, n-epsilon carboxy-methyl-lysine, a measure of AGEs, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. High molecular weight adiponectin, glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerol were also assessed (n = 32). Spearman rank correlations were used to evaluate the relationship among indicators of adiposity and biochemical indicators of metabolic health and inflammation. Factors inversely correlated with sRAGE include weight (R_s = −0.397; P = .001), waist circumference (−0.291; P = .015), and BMI (−0.3338; P = .004). High molecular weight adiponectin was positively correlated with sRAGE, and predictors of sRAGE included BMI and total cholesterol. This is the first time these associations have been found in a diverse population of young adults.     

Oral health-related quality of life before,during, and after orthodontic-orthognathic treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Clinical Oral Investigations - The effect of combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment was estimated, specifically the impact of pre-surgical orthodontic treatment, on oral health-related quality...     

Fatty acid esters of triterpenoids and steroid glycosides from Gambeya africana

Chemical studies of the CH2 Cl2 -MeOH extract of the seeds of Gambeya africana (Baker) Pierre led to the isolation of 15 compounds. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods and chemical reactions. They comprised five new fatty acid esters of erythrodiol, [3 beta-octacosanoyloxy-12-oleanen-28-ol, 3 beta-triacontanoyloxy-12-oleanen-28-ol, 3 beta-dotriacontanoyloxy-12-oleanen-28-ol, 3 beta-tetratriacontanoyloxy-12-oleanen-28-ol and 3 beta-hexatriacontanoyloxy-12-oleanen-28-ol], one new steroidal glycoside, [3 beta-O-beta-xylopyranosylchondrillasterol] and nine known compounds, (3 beta-octadecanoyloxy-12-oleanene, 3 beta-eicosanoyloxy-12-oleanene, 3 beta-docosanoyloxy-12-oleanene, 3 beta-acetoxy-12-oleanene, erythrodiol, 28-hydroxy-beta-amyrone, chondrillasterol, chondrillasterone and 3 beta-O-beta-glucopyranosylchondrillasterol).     

The role of covering gowns in reducing rates of bacterial contamination of scrub suits

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to determine whether covering gowns reduce the rates of contamination of surgical scrubs. STUDY DESIGN: Seventy-five clinicians had pieces of fabric from clean scrubs attached to two areas of their scrub suits. Participants wore a covering garment when wearing scrub suits off of designated areas (n = 25), did not wear a covering garment (n = 25), or wore scrub suits outside the hospital (n = 25). Subsequently, the fabric was assessed with culture in enhanced broth media and blood agar. RESULTS: Although there was a trend toward lower rates of contamination in the group that did not wear a covering garment, the difference was not significant. At no point, and at neither site of fabric attachment, did those who wore a covering garment demonstrate any advantage in regard to levels or frequency of contamination. CONCLUSION: Wearing covering garments over scrub suits does not reduce rates of contamination.     

Introducing nutritional genomics teaching in undergraduate dietetic curricula

Nutritional genomics offers great promise to personal health management based on the understanding of the relationship between diet, gene expression and health outcomes. Our readiness to deliver nutrigenetic-based nutrition education has been slow due to the complexity of gene-nutrient interaction and interplays between many disciplines such as genetics, nutrition, biostatistics, sociology, law and philosophy in the process. To make a public impact, we must prepare future allied health professionals with knowledge necessary to provide nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic education. We have described here a plan to introduce nutrigenetic and nutrigenomic education in dietetic curricula that may serve as an example for other allied health programs.