Prospective organization of neonatal arm movements: A motor foundation of embodied agency, disrupted in premature birth

Prospective motor control moves the body into the future, from where one is to where one wants to be. It is a hallmark of intentionality. But its origin in development is uncertain. In this study, we tested whether or not the arm movements of newborn infants were prospectively controlled. We measured the spatiotemporal organization of 480 full-term neonatal arm movements and 384 arm movements of prematurely born infants at-risk for neurodevelopmental disorder. We found 75% of healthy term-birth neonatal movements and 68% of prematurely born infant movements conformed to the τG -coupling model of prospective sensorimotor control. Prospective coupling values were significantly reduced in the latter (p = .010, r = .087). In both cases prospectively controlled movements were tightly organized by fixed-duration units with a base duration of 218 ms and additional temporal units of 145 ms. Yet distances remained constant. Thus, we demonstrate for the first time a precise prospective spatiotemporal organization of neonatal arm movements and demonstrate that at-risk infants exhibit reduced sensorimotor control. Prospective motor control is a hallmark of primary sensorimotor intentionality and gives a strong embodied foundation to conscious motor agency.

[The influence of ursodeoxycholic acid on some biochemical, immunologic and histopathologic parameters in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis]

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a chronic, inflammatory disease, which affects the small and medium size bile ducts and is characterized by chronic cholestasis. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), that had earlier been used in treatment of cholesterol cholelithiasis, was introduced to pharmacotherapy of PBC 10 years ago. Our study was carried out in 30 patients, who were suffering from PBC and were treated at Department of Gastroenterology, Collegium Medicum, Jagiellonian University in Cracow. Beside the routine biochemical and enzymatic tests all patients had the level of immunoglobulin checked and selected ones acute phase protein. The percutaneous liver biopsy was carried out in each case; the morphological changes were classified according to Ludwig scale. All above tests were carried out before implementing UDCA as well as after one year from the beginning of the treatment. The group of patients is still closely monitored.

CONCLUSIONS

1. By using the UDCA in treatment of PBC biochemical parameters of cholestasis improved, also in some cases the inflammatory reaction decreased; 2. UDCA used in monotherapy had no influence on the process of fibrosis.

[The effect of diabetes and cholelithiasis on the course and consequences of acute viral hepatitis type B]

Course and consequences of acute hepatitis B on the group of 40 patients with diabetes mellitus and 21 patients with cholelithiasis were estimated with respect to the group has consisted of 82 person with acute hepatitis B without coexisting disorders. Hospitalization time has been longer on the group with diabetes mellitus or cholelithiasis and activity of serum alanine aminotransferase (AlAT) has brought back to normal longer than on the control group. Maximal activity of serum AlAT has been higher on the control group and maximal bilirubin concentration in serum the patients with diabetes mellitus or cholelithiasis has not differed from the control group. Acute hepatitis B passed into chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis of the liver on the group with diabetes mellitus or cholelithiasis frequently, has been observed.