Music perception and cerebral asymmetries

Six experiments investigated the detection of pitch, rhythm and harmony changes in music perception. While RTs did not differentiate between ears for detecting a changed note in either a single line melody or a five note whole tone sequence, the right ear was more accurate. The left ear was faster, and the right more accurate in detecting rhythm changes in a five note sequence. The ears did not differ in detecting harmony changes. Finally, the right ear proved consistently more sensitive (d') in recognizing excerpts from unfamiliar melodies, and except only for female nonmusicians, the left ear was more sensitive for familiar melodies. If the adoption of differintial listening strategies determines the direction of laterality differences such as these, then familiarity also seems important in determining listening strategies.

Hemispheric differences in processing visual patterns

The dichotomies verbal/visuospatial, serial/parallel and analytic/holistic are reviewed with respect to differences in hemispheric processing. A number of experimental parameters may be varied in such tasks, and together with certain frequently-occurring weaknesses of experimental design may account for the often discrepant results hitherto reported. The above factors are systematically reviewed, and three further experiments are reported which attempt to fill in the missing designs. Further evidence is given in support of the hypothesis that right-hemisphere superiority is most apparent in processes leading to identity matching. It is quantitative rather than qualitative, and may depend upon operations on the entire gestalt, such as holistic matching, mental rotation, reflection, distortion, etc., rather than, e.g., simultaneous (parallel) processing of discretely analysed or isolated features or elements. On the other hand left-hemisphere involvement in visuospatial processing is thought to reflect analysis of the configuration into its separable components; such processing may be either serial or parallel, and may frequently lead to a judgement different.

Differential efficacy of vaccinia virus envelope proteins administered by DNA immunisation in protection of BALB/c mice from a lethal intranasal poxvirus challenge

DNA vaccines might offer an alternative to the live smallpox vaccine in providing protective efficacy in an orthopoxvirus (OPV) lethal respiratory challenge model. BALB/c mice were immunised with DNA vaccines coding for 10 different single vaccinia virus (VACV) membrane proteins. After an intranasal challenge with the VACV IHD strain, three gene candidates B5R, A33R and A27L produced > or =66% survival. The B5R DNA vaccine consistently produced 100% protection and exhibited greatest efficacy after three 50 microg intramuscular doses in this model. Sero-conversion to these vaccines was often inconsistent, implying that antibody itself was not a correlate of protection. The B5R DNA vaccine induced a strong and consistent gamma interferon (IFNgamma) response in BALB/c mice given a single DNA vaccine dose. Strong IFNgamma responses were also measured in pTB5R immunised C57BL6 mice deficient for MHC class I molecules, suggesting that the memory response was mediated by a CD4+ T cell population.

Functional hyposplenism following allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

AIMS

To investigate the incidence of functional hyposplenism in a group of patients who had undergone allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT).

METHODS

Splenic function was assessed by counting the number of gluteraldehyde fixed red blood cells containing pits or indentations as examined by interference phase microscopy. Normal values are < 2% whereas splenectomy patients have values of 25 to 40%.

RESULTS

Twenty eight BMT recipients (17 men, 11 women) were studied at varying periods post-transplant and the results compared with 20 healthy volunteers and 10 patients who had undergone splenectomy or had splenic atrophy because of haematological conditions. Of the 28 BMT recipients, one had undergone a prior splenectomy; of the remaining 27 patients, four (15%) had evidence of functional hyposplenism with between 5.0 and 34.0% pitted cells. Of these four patients, one had active extensive chronic graft versus host disease (GvHD) which has been previously reported to be associated with functional hyposplenism following transplantation. Only one of the four patients had peripheral blood red cell changes typical of hyposplenism.

CONCLUSION

These results confirm that extensive chronic GvHD is associated with hyposplenism. Intermediate degrees of functional hyposplenism may also occur following BMT in the absence of chronic GvHD and in the absence of haematological features of hyposplenism on routine blood films. This may be of significance in mediating the susceptibility to infection with encapsulating bacteria seen following allogeneic BMT.

The use of a non-adherent silicone dressing in arterial leg ulceration

A case report demonstrating improvement in quality of life for a patient with a non-healing leg ulcer

Medical management of short gut syndrome

The provision of appropriate nutritional support is an essential part of the primary and adjunctive management of many gastrointestinal (GI) disorders in neonatology and pediatrics. Few conditions in neonatology pose as great a challenge as intestinal failure or short bowel syndrome (SBS). The latter, SBS, is a complex disorder affecting normal intestinal physiology with nutritional, metabolic and infectious consequences. It is a result of the alteration of intestinal digestion and absorption following extensive bowel resection. Medical management of SBS is a very labor-intensive problem. Nutritional support and monitoring are of paramount importance, and long-term morbidity and mortality will depend on recognition and careful management of associated complications. With the increased use of intestine or intestine-liver transplant, maintaining these infants in good 'health' to allow transplantation will go a long way in achieving good long-term outcomes.

The efficacy of 'static' training interventions for improving indices of cardiorespiratory fitness in premenopausal females

PURPOSE

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Many risk factors for CVD can be modified pharmacologically; however, uptake of medications is low, especially in asymptomatic people. Exercise is also effective at reducing CVD risk, but adoption is poor with time-commitment and cost cited as key reasons for this. Repeated remote ischaemic preconditioning (RIPC) and isometric handgrip (IHG) training are both inexpensive, time-efficient interventions which have shown some promise in reducing blood pressure (BP) and improving markers of cardiovascular health and fitness. However, few studies have investigated the effectiveness of these interventions in premenopausal women.

METHOD

Thirty healthy females were recruited to twelve supervised sessions of either RIPC or IHG over 4 weeks, or acted as non-intervention controls (CON). BP measurements, flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET) were performed at baseline and after the intervention period.

RESULTS

IHG and RIPC were both well-tolerated with 100% adherence to all sessions. A statistically significant reduction in both systolic (- 7.2 mmHg) and diastolic (- 6 mmHg) BP was demonstrated following IHG, with no change following RIPC. No statistically significant improvements were observed in FMD or CPET parameters in any group.

CONCLUSIONS

IHG is an inexpensive and well-tolerated intervention which may improve BP; a key risk factor for CVD. Conversely, our single arm RIPC protocol, despite being similarly well-tolerated, did not elicit improvements in any cardiorespiratory parameters in our chosen population.

Cardiac rehabilitation in the Navy

Cardiac rehabilitation has been effective in the management and recovery of the post-myocardial infarction population for almost 40 years. During that time, the fundamental components of rehabilitation have changed to reflect a growing complexity and number of cardiac patients. Great Lakes Naval Hospital has instituted a structured outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program. It is based on the needs of a large cardiac population with modifiable risk factors identified through quality improvement studies. Future implications and research in the area of cardiac rehabilitation include measurements of self-efficacy, long-term risk factor modification, cost effectiveness, gender-related differences, or morbidity and mortality.

Patient goal setting as a method for program improvement/development in partial hospitalization programs

Data were collected from a study of 49 patients in 1990 and 106 patients in 1991 admitted into Country View Treatment Center and Green Country Counseling Center. Country View is a 30-bed chemical dependency residential center operating under St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Green Country is an evening partial hospital chemical dependency program operating under St. John Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, The tools used in this study were the Country View Patient Self-Reporting Questionnaire, the global Rating Scale, and the Model of Recovering Alcoholics Behavior Stages and Goal Setting (Wing, 1990). These assessments were specifically designed to measure the patient's perceptions of goal setting and the patient's perspective on treatment outcome. The study outcome resulted in program improvement (Green Country evening partial hospital program) and the development of the Country View Substance Abuse Intermediate Link (SAIL) Program (day partial hospital).

No long-term benefits from resistance training on brain grey matter volumes in active older adults at retirement age

BACKGROUND

Resistance training and other forms of physical exercise are commonly suggested to promote brain health, yet the relationship between resistance training and brain structure in aging is poorly understood. We examined the short- and long-term influence of one year of supervised resistance training at two different loadings on brain structure in aging.

METHODS

In the LISA (LIve active Successful Ageing) study, well-functioning older adults at retirement age (mean age: 66 ± 2 years) were randomized to one year of heavy resistance training (HRT), moderate intensity training (MIT), or a non-exercising control group (CON). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain was performed at baseline, 1-, 2-, and 4-years follow ups. Trajectories of total grey matter, hippocampus, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC), ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (vlPFC), and white matter hyperintensities were analyzed in relation to changes in muscle strength.

RESULTS

Individuals (n = 276) with MRI scans at all 4 timepoints were included (HRT, n = 96; MIT, n = 95; CON, n = 85). Total grey matter volume decreased with time across all groups (F3,819 = 231.549, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.46), as did hippocampal (F3,819 = 310.07, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.53), vlPFC (F3,818 = 74.380, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.21), and dlPFC (F3,818 = 3.640, p = 0.013,η 2 = 0.01) volumes. White matter hyperintensity volumes increased (F3,819 = 101.876, p < 0.001,η 2 = 0.27). There were no significant group x time interactions for any of the brain structures. Additional cortical and subcortical vertex-wise analyses showed no group differences. Change in isometric leg strength was weakly associated with change in white matter hyperintensity volume across all individuals (r2 = 0.01, p = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

One year of resistance training in well-functioning older adults at retirement age did not influence volume changes in selected brain regions over a 4-year period.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study was approved by the regional ethics committee and registered on clinicaltrials.gov 2014-04-24 (NCT02123641).

Body Mass Index of First Nations youth in Ontario, Canada: influence of sleep and screen time

INTRODUCTION

Prevalence rates of overweight and obesity in Canada have risen rapidly in the past 20 years. Concurrent with the obesity epidemic, sleep time and physical activity levels have decreased among youth. Aboriginal youth experience disproportionately high obesity prevalence but there is inadequate knowledge of contributing factors. This research aimed to examine sleep and screen time behavior and their relationship to Body Mass Index (BMI) in on-reserve First Nations youth from Ontario, Canada.

METHODS

This was an observational population-based study of cross-sectional design. Self-reported physical activity, screen time, and lifestyle information was collected from 348 youth aged 10-18 years residing in five northern, remote First Nations communities and one southern First Nations community in Ontario, Canada, from October 2004 to June 2010. Data were collected in the school setting using the Waterloo Web-based Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Based on self-reported height and weight, youth were classified normal (including underweight), overweight and obese according to BMI. Descriptive cross-tabulations and Pearson's χ² tests were used to compare screen time, sleep habits, and physical activity across BMI categories.

RESULTS

Participants demonstrated low levels of after-school physical activity, and screen time in excess of national guidelines. Overall, 75.5% reported being active in the evening three or less times per week. Approximately one-quarter of the surveyed youth watched more than 2 hours of television daily and 33.9% spent more than 2 hours on the internet or playing video games. For boys, time using the internet/video games (p=0.022) was positively associated with BMI category, with a greater than expected proportion of obese boys spending more than 2 hours using the internet or video games daily (56.7%). Also for boys, time spent outside after school (p=0.033) was negatively associated with BMI category, with a lesser than expected proportion spending 'most of the time' outside (presumably being active) after school. These relationships were not observed in girls. Adjusted standardized residuals suggest a greater than expected proportion of obese individuals had a television in their bedroom (66.7%) as compared with the rest of the population.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study adds to the limited information about contributors to overweight and obesity in First Nations youth living on-reserve in Canada. Concerns about inadequate sleep, excess screen time, and inadequate physical activity mirror those of the general population. Further investigation is warranted to improve the understanding of how various lifestyle behaviors influence overweight, obesity, and the development of chronic disease among First Nations youth. Initiatives to reduce screen time, increase physical activity, and encourage adequate sleep among on-reserve First Nations youth are recommended.

Heavy resistance training provides short-term benefits on bone formation in well-functioning older adults

OBJECTIVES

Maintained bone health is critical for independent living when aging. Currently, multimodal exercise regimes including weight-bearing exercises with impact are prescribed as optimal for maintaining bone health, while there is less consensus on the effects of resistance training at different intensities upon bone. Here we examined whether bone health was positively influenced by 1 year of supervised resistance training at two different intensities.

METHODS

Older adults at retirement age (mean age: 66 ± 3 years, n = 451) were randomized to either 1 year of heavy resistance training (HRT), moderate intensity training (MIT) or a non-exercising control group (CON) in the LISA (LIve active Successful Aging) study. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed at whole body level, femoral neck, and the lumbar region of the spine (L1-L4) using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone degradation and formation were evaluated with blood C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX) and procollagen type I N-propeptide (PINP). Dephosphorylated uncarboxylated matrix Gla-protein (dp-ucMGP) was used as a biomarker of functional vitamin K status. Participants were assessed at baseline, immediately following the intervention (year 1), and at longitudinal follow-ups at years 2 and 4. Two-way mixed model ANOVAs were used to assess group differences at all time points.

RESULTS

At the 4-year follow-up n = 329 participants (58 % women) remained in the study. BMD was not influenced by training and decreased across all groups over the 4 years for total body (F3,977 = 4.617, p = 0.003, η2 = 0.01) and femoral neck both in the dominant (F3,893 = 45.135, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.13) and non-dominant leg (F3,896 = 33.821, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.10). Independent of group, CTX increased (F3,932 = 47.434, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.13) over the 4 years. HRT resulted in an increased bone formation (PINP rise) only after the first year with systematic training (t(936) = 3.357, p = 0.04), and it was more pronounced than in CON (t(312) = 2.494, p = 0.04). Plasma dp-ucMGP remained unaltered over time in all groups. In general, women had significantly lower BMD and higher levels of CTX and PINP compared to men.

CONCLUSION

We demonstrated that 1 year of heavy resistance training positively influenced short-term bone formation in well-functioning older adults, although the effect was not maintained at long-term follow ups. These minor changes in bone biomarkers were not reflected in changes in BMD measured with DXA.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02123641).

The benefits of irrigation in catheter care

'Bladder washout' is a misnomer, as it is the catheter that is being washed. Urinary catheters can cause significant physical and psychological problems. Although nurses are responsible for urinary catheter maintenance, there is a lack of knowledge in some areas. Some urological practices have been based on historical practice rather than evidence.

Heavy resistance training at retirement age induces 4-year lasting beneficial effects in muscle strength: a long-term follow-up of an RCT

Objectives

Muscle function and size decline with age, but long-term effects of resistance training in older adults are largely unknown. Here, we explored the long-lasting (3 years) effects of 1 year of supervised resistance training with heavy loads.

Methods

The LIve active Successful Ageing (LISA) study was a parallel group randomised controlled trial at a university hospital in Denmark. Older adults (n=451) at retirement age were randomised to 1 year of heavy resistance training (HRT), moderate-intensity training (MIT) or a non-exercising control group (CON). Primary outcome measure was leg extensor power. Secondary outcomes included maximal isometric quadriceps torque (isometric leg strength) and body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)). Participants completed test procedures at baseline, following the 1-year intervention, and 2 and 4 years post study start.

Results

At the 4-year assessment, 369 participants attended (mean age=71 years, 61% women). The main finding was that across all four time points, there was a significant group×time interaction in isometric leg strength (F6,1049=8.607, p<0.001,η 2 =0.05). Individuals in HRT maintained baseline performance in isometric leg strength (Baseline: 149.7±51.5 Nm, 4 years: 151.5±51.1 Nm, t(1050)=1.005, p=1.00) while participants in CON and MIT decreased.

Conclusion

In well-functioning older adults at retirement age, 1 year of HRT may induce long-lasting beneficial effects by preserving muscle function.

Trial registration number

NCT02123641.

One Year of Heavy Resistance Training Modifies Muscle Fiber Characteristics in the Elderly

Physical function declines with age, accelerating during the 6th decade of life, primarily due to loss in muscle mass and strength. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of one year of heavy resistance training in older adults (62-70 years) on muscle mass and strength. Further, we investigated muscle characteristics after the intervention by obtaining muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis to compare muscle fiber characteristics between the heavy resistance training (HRT) (n=10) and the sedentary control group (CON) (n=10). We found that one year of resistance training increased isometric muscle strength (p<0.0001, ES: 2.43 (Hedges' g)) and lean body mass (p<0.05, ES: 0.96), whereas cross-sectional area of the vastus lateralis and lean leg mass were unaltered. At year 1, the percentage of type IIX muscle fibers was lower in HRT compared to CON (p<0.05, ES: 0.99), whereas the muscle fiber size did not differ between groups for the major fiber types (I and II). In conclusion, one year of resistance training in elderly improved muscle strength and lean body mass but not cross-sectional area and lean leg mass. This indicates that the increase in muscle strength may be caused by neuromuscular adaptations rather than morphological muscle tissue changes per se.