Quantification of early gait development: Expanding the application of Catwalk technology to an infant rhesus macaque model

BACKGROUND

Understanding gait development is essential for identifying motor impairments in neurodevelopmental disorders. Defining typical gait development in a rhesus macaque model is critical prior to characterizing abnormal gait. The goal of this study was to 1) explore the feasibility of using the Noldus Catwalk to assess gait in infant rhesus macaques and 2) provide preliminary normative data of gait development during the first month of life.

NEW METHOD

The Noldus Catwalk was used to assess gait speed, dynamic and static paw measurements, and interlimb coordination in twelve infant rhesus macaques at 14, 21, and 28 days of age. All macaque runs were labeled as a diagonal or non-diagonal walking pattern.

RESULTS

Infant rhesus macaques primarily used a diagonal (mature) walking pattern as early as 14 days of life. Ten infant rhesus macaques (83.3%) were able to successfully walk across the Noldus Catwalk at 28 days of life. Limited differences in gait parameters were observed between timepoints because of the variability within the group at 14, 21, and 28 days.

COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS

No prior gait analysis system has been used to provide objective quantification of gait parameters for infant macaques.

CONCLUSIONS

The Catwalk system can be utilized to quantify gait in infant rhesus macaques less than 28 days old. Future applications to infant rhesus macaques could provide a better understanding of gait development and early differences within various neurodevelopmental disorders.

Fat Soluble Vitamins and Immune System: An Overview

The immune system guards against invasion by foreign microrganisms and molecules. In this way, it protects from fatal illnesses and communicable diseases. Its proper functioning is fundamental for survival.

Research has demonstrated that proper nutrition plays a crucial role in the prevention of chronic disease. Protein-energy malnutrition is associated with a significant impairment of cell-mediated immunity, phagocyte function, the complement system, secretory immunoglobulin A antibody concentrations, and cytokine production. Deficiency of single nutrients also results in altered immune responses; this is observed even when the deficiency state is relatively mild. Of the micronutrients, zinc, selenium, iron, copper, vitamins A,C,E and B, and folic acid have important influences on the immune response.

It is now apparent that vitamin E and β-carotene have more subtle roles and that deficient dietary intake of these vitamins increases susceptibility to certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. This reflects, in part, the antioxidant properties of the vitamins and their ability to reduce free radical-mediated damage to DNA, proteins and lipid membranes. These findings have considerable practical and public health significance. The aim of this review is to give an up-to date account of the roles of selected fat-soluble vitamins in health and disease.

Irritable bowel syndrome and bronchial hyperresponsiveness: is there a link?

BACKGROUND/AIM

Many studies have demonstrated a high prevalence of bronchial hyperresponsiveness in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The aim of this 24-month prospective study was to evaluate the prevalence of IBS in asthmatic patients.

METHODS

We analyzed 623 asthmatic patients that were evaluated for body mass index, sex, and age before undergoing both a methacholine challenge test (MCHt) and skin prick tests.

RESULTS

We found that 276 asthmatic patients (44.3%) were positive on the MCHt, while 347 (55.7%) were negative. We also found that 27 (9.7%) of the 276 patients with a positive MCHt and 44 (12.7%) of the 347 patients with a negative MCHt were affected by IBS. Therefore, there was no statistically significant difference between positive MCHt tests and IBS. The PC(20) (mean provocation concentration of methacholine producing a 20% reduction in forced expiratory volume in 1 s < or =16 mg/ml) in all patients tested was 8.64 +/- 2.58 mg/ml, being 8.75 +/- 2.52 and 8.55 +/- 2.32 mg/ml for males and females, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

These results do not demonstrate a relationship between MCHt and IBS. However, a relationship might still exist in a subpopulation of patients whose symptoms worsen by stress.

[Identification of macronutrients and some oligoelements in "molisano" Tuber aestivum truffles]

Many scientifical published works have documented the presence of macro and micronourished of truffle coming from Umbria, Toscana, and Piemonte, while are few the studies that documented the analysis of these nourishes of the truffle coming from Molise. In our study has been evaluated the concentrations of macro-nourishes and oligoelements in Molisano Tuber aestivum truffle. The contents of macro-nourishes (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and water) and oligoelements (lead, cadmium, chromium, manganese, zinc, nickel, and copper) have been determined. The results have demonstrated an adequate concentration of macronutrients, in particularly water and oligoelements, the latest important in many metabolic reaction of the body. A pathological concentration of heavy metals has not been found.

Cyclic Amp phosphodiesterase activity in normal and inflamed human dental pulp

Cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase (cAMP PDE) seems to be important in pulp tissues. High levels of cAMP PDE have been demonstrated to be in dental pulp cells. In the present study cAMP PDE activity was analyzed in normal healthy human dental pulps, in reversible pulpitis and in irreversible pulpitis. Enzymatic cAMP PDE control values for normal healthy pulps were 12.14 +/- 3.74 nmols/mg of proteins. In reversible pulpitis the cAMP PDE activity increased almost 2.5 times. In irreversible pulpitis specimens the values increased 4.5 times compared with normal healthy pulps activity. The differences between the groups (control vs. reversible pulpitis and vs. irreversible pulpitis) were statistically significant. These results could point to a role of cAMP PDE in the initial pulp response after injury.

Food-intake and nutrients pattern in Italian adult male subjects

Energy is necessary for all physiological functions of the body. Most of the vitamins are enzymes that require additional mineral as cofactors. Aim of the study was to evaluate the food intake and nutrients pattern in an adult population. 620 subjects underwent a complete medical visit, and filling the EPIC alimentary questionnaire. Comparison between nutrients intake and level assumption recommended nutrients (LARN) was assessed using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey-Kramer multiple comparison test. The daily medium caloric intake was 1837 +/- 654 Kcal. The daily mean iron assumption was 15.72 mg/die, statistically significant compared to 10 mg/die (LARN value) (p < 0.001). The calcium and zinc assumption was respectively 908.36 mg/die and 12.73 mg/die statistically different compared to 800 mg/die and 10 mg/die (LARN values) (p < 0.01). The assumption of the niacin was 20.24 mg/die significant different to 1.8 mg/die (LARN value) (p < 0.001). The assumption of vitamin A and C was respectively 1012.6 mcg/die and 142.92 mg/die significant different compared to 700 mcg/die and 60 mg/die (LARN values) (p < 0.01). The alimentary habits of the examined subjects did not present significant disequilibrium and evidenced a regular and good intake of micronutrients with anti-oxidative and anti-neoplastic activity.

Quality of Life and clinical symptoms in asthmatic subjects

OBJECTIVE

Quality of Life (QoL) measurements are more responsive to clinically significant changes than conventional clinical measures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between asthma symptoms and QoL in asthmatic patients.

METHODS

A total of 277 asthmatics subjects, divided into three groups showing different symptoms, underwent complete clinical evaluation, baseline respiratory function, and methacholine challenge test and completed an Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-five subjects with asthmatic crisis, chest tightness, and dyspnea (group 3) reported a significantly lower median value in single domains and all items compared to the values scored by the 97 subjects with wheezing, rhinitis, and conjunctivitis (group 2) (p < 0.01). No statistical significance was found between the 35 patients of group 1 (with only cough) and group 3.

CONCLUSIONS

The main advantage for the clinician is to evaluate important areas in which QoL could be improved and the possibility to correct and optimize compliance to chronic therapy.

Bronchial hyperresponsiveness and quality of life in asthmatics

BACKGROUND

Quality of Life (QoL) measurements are more responsive to clinically significant changes that are not evaluated by conventional clinical measures.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to examine the relationship between bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) and QoL in asthmatic patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

394 patients underwent clinical follow-up, pulmonary function tests and the methacholine challenge test (MCHt), and completed the Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (AQLQ).

RESULTS

200 patients had a positive MCHt and in 194 it was negative. For all 32 items, asthmatic patients had a median value of 4.7 (4.2-5.9) compared to 5.6 (4.7-6.3) in patients with negative MCHt (p < 0.01). For physical activities, patients with positive MCHt showed a median value of 5.0 (4.5-6.0) compared to 5.7 (4.8-6.3) in patients with negative MCHt (p < 0.05). Median scores of 12 items of symptoms and 5 items of emotions were significantly lower in patients with positive MCHt [4.5 (3.7-5.8) and 5.1 (4.2-6.1)] than in patients with negative MCHt [5.5 (4.4-6.1) and 6.3 (5.2-6.9), respectively, (p < 0.01)]. For items of environmental stimuli the median score was 4.7 (3.7-5.9) in patients with positive MCHt, being significantly lower than in patients with negative MCHt [5.4 (4.2-6.4), p < 0.05]. Patients with positive MCHt had lower values of QoL than patients with negative MCHt.

CONCLUSIONS

QoL changes may be more sensitive than evaluation of BHR. The measurement of Qol may be important because it enables us to characterize patients who could be candidates eventually to a pharmacological treatment for BHR because they have an impaired QoL.

[Leptin and hypothalamus-hypophysis-thyroid axis]

The leptin system is a major regulator of food intake and metabolic rate. The leptin, an adipose tissue hormone whose plasma levels reflect energy stores, plays an important rule in the pathogenesis of such eating disorders like bulimia and anorexia. Thyroid hormones are major regulators of energy homeostasis. It is possible that leptin and thyroid hormone exert their actions on thermogenesis and energy metabolism via the same common effector patways. Leptin influences feedback regulation of the hypotalamic TRH-secreting neurons by thyroid hormone. Low serum levels of thyroid hormones reflect a dysfunction of the hypotalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) and hypotalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis in patients with nervosa anorexia. Neuroendocrine effects of leptin include effects on the HPT and HPA axis. The aim of this work is to evaluated the interactions between leptina and HPT axis on the basis of recent published works and reviews in literature.

Interaction Connecting Leptin-Obesity-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Obesity is a chronic disease that is increasing in prevalence and represents an important risk factor for the developement of diabetes, heart disease, hypertension and many forms of cancer. Fat distribution has a profound influence on health risks. For example, increased deposits of visceral, or abdominal fat correlate with risks for many diseases. The leptin system is an important and essential regulating factor for body weight and developement. Many studies have demonstrated that leptin plays an important role in behavior disorders such as obesity and anorexia. In recent studies insulin resistance has received considerable attention in the development of the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of disorders comprising glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and dysfibrinolysis that is associated with type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The aim of this short review is to define the interaction between leptin, obesity and insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

Prevalence of bronchial asthma in patients with endoscopically-documented esophagitis

The association of gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, and asthma has been studied for a long time, but the results are often conflicting. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of bronchial asthma and the presence of extra-esophageal symptoms in subjects with endoscopically-documented reflux esophagitis. Forty patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (22 patients) affected by endoscopically-documented esophagitis, and group B (18 patients) with positive endoscopic examination for other pathologies of the gastroenteric tract. All of the patients underwent complete medical examination, skin-prick tests, esophageal-gastric-endoscopy, and pulmonary function tests (basal and after methacholine). The prevalence of asthma was 30% in group A vs 10% in group B (odds ratio = 2.57; confidence interval = 0.75-10.25). Relationships between chronic cough and esophagitis (p<0.01) and between chronic cough and asthma (p<0.05) were found. No significant relationships were observed between esophagitis and the other respiratory symptoms considered (wheezing, chest tightness, hoarseness, bronchospasm, and dysphagia). The results confirm the increased prevalence of asthma in patients with esophagitis and they emphasize the role of gastroesophageal reflux as a trigger factor for asthma. Chronic cough represents an important symptom of asthma in subjects with esophagitis.

[Role of leptin in anorexia nervosa]

Anorexia and bulimia nervosa are the main psychiatric disorders characterised by abnormal models of feeding and perception of people's personal physical appearance and weight. These symptoms are associated with a severe psychosocial uneasiness that leads to severe medical complications and this, to its turn, has a big impact on morbidity and sick rate of general population. Although researchers have made big improvements in individualising some likely pathogenic mechanisms that include different factors (genetic, neurochemical and sociocultural) and psychological development, the pathogenesis of these kinds of feeding disorders is still unknown. Leptina is a neurochemical factor particularly relevant. It is a 17 KD hormone, produced by adipocytes. At hypothalamic level, it is essential for regulating body weight and body development. Recent studies have identified some factors responsible for the production and the secretion of leptina. They are micro and macronurishing factors, hormones and the sympatic neurotic system that is the most important among them. It plays a very important role for some disorders of feeding behaviour, specifically for the anorexia nervosa, where we notice a reduction of leptina levels strictly correlated to a reduction of the fat component. Since anorexia nervosa is associated to medical, nourishing and psychological components, it involves different areas and needs complete measurement and administration. Therefore the approach to this kind of pathology has necessarily to predict a multidisciplinary administration of patients. The aim of our work has been to point out the possible interactions between leptina and the development and progression of anorexia nervosa, on the basis of recent works and reviews in medical literature.

Atherosclerotic plaque formation and risk factors

Atherosclerosis (AT) is a progressive disease characterized by the accumulation of lipids, fibrous materials, and mineral in the arteries. Although many generalized or systemic risk factors predispose to its development, AT affect various regions of the circulation preferentially and yields distinct clinical manifestations depending on the particular circulatory bed affected. The progression of AT is currently believed to involve the interaction of endothelium, monocytes, and leukocytes, as well as the influences of cytokines, oxidized lipoproteins, hypertension, tobacco use, dyslipidemia, homocystinemia, and genetic determinants.