Whole-Brain Voxel-Based Morphometry in Kallmann Syndrome Associated with Mirror Movements

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There are 2 main hypotheses concerning the cause of mirror movements (MM) in Kallmann syndrome (KS): abnormal development of the primary motor system, involving the ipsilateral corticospinal tract, and lack of contralateral motor cortex inhibitory mechanisms, mainly through the corpus callosum. The purpose of our study was to determine white and gray matter volume changes in a KS population by using optimized voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and to investigate the relationship between the abnormalities and the presence of MM, addressing the 2 mentioned hypotheses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: T1-weighted volumetric images from 21 patients with KS and 16 matched control subjects were analyzed with optimized VBM. Images were segmented and spatially normalized, and these deformation parameters were then applied to the original images before the second segmentation. Patients were divided into groups with and without MM, and a t test statistic was then applied on a voxel-by-voxel basis between the groups and controls to evaluate significant differences. RESULTS: When considering our hypothesis a priori, we found that 2 areas of increased gray matter volume, in the left primary motor and sensorimotor cortex, were demonstrated only in patients with MM, when compared with healthy controls. Regarding white matter alterations, no areas of altered volume involving the corpus callosum or the projection of the corticospinal tract were demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The VBM study did not show significant white matter changes in patients with KS but showed gray matter alterations in keeping with a hypertrophic response to a deficient pyramidal decussation in patients with MM. In addition, gray matter alterations were observed in patients without MM, which can represent more complex mechanisms determining the presence or absence of this symptom.

Creatine Supplementation Prevents the Accumulation of Fat in the Livers of Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of creatine supplementation on liver fat accumulation induced by a high-fat diet in rats. Rats were fed 1 of 3 different diets for 3 wk: a control liquid diet (C), a high-fat liquid diet (HF), or a high-fat liquid diet supplemented with creatine (HFC). The C and HF diets contained, respectively, 35 and 71% of energy derived from fat. Creatine supplementation involved the addition of 1% (wt:v) of creatine monohydrate to the liquid diet. The HF diet increased total liver fat concentration, liver TG, and liver TBARS and decreased the hepatic S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) concentration. Creatine supplementation normalized all of these perturbations. Creatine supplementation significantly decreased the renal activity of L-arginine:glycine amidinotransferase and plasma guanidinoacetate and prevented the decrease in hepatic SAM concentration in rats fed the HF diet. However, there was no change in either the phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) ratio or PE N-methyltransferase activity. The HF diet decreased mRNA for PPAR as well as 2 of its targets, carnitine palmitoyltransferase and long-chain acylCoA dehydrogenase. Creatine supplementation normalized these mRNA levels. In conclusion, creatine supplementation prevented the fatty liver induced by feeding rats a HF diet, probably by normalization of the expression of key genes of beta-oxidation. J. Nutr. 141: 1799-1804, 2011.

Crescimento alométrico dos componentes da carcaça de cordeiros Texel × Ile de France confinados do desmame aos 35kg de peso vivo

Foi avaliado o crescimento alométrico de ossos, músculos e gordura, e das regiões da carcaça de cordeiros Texel × Ile de France, terminados em confinamento. Vinte cordeiros, machos não-castrados, foram desmamados aos 42 dias de idade (15,9 ± 2,1kg de peso vivo) e confinados em baias individuais recebendo alimentação ad libitum. Destes, cinco foram abatidos 10 dias após o desmame e, os remanescentes, aos 25, 30 ou 35kg de peso vivo. Para determinação do crescimento alométrico dos cortes e tecidos foi utilizada a equação exponencial Y = aXb, transformada logaritmicamente em um modelo linear. Observou-se crescimento precoce (b = 0,89) da paleta, ao passo que a perna, a costela e o pescoço apresentaram crescimento isogônico (b = 1,00, 1,03 e 1,11, respectivamente), ou seja, equivalente ao da carcaça. O aumento do peso da carcaça implicou em redução da taxa de crescimento de ossos e músculos (b = 0,60 e 0,92, respectivamente) e aumento da taxa de crescimento da gordura (b = 1,78). O crescimento muscular foi diferenciado nas distintas regiões da carcaça, sendo isogônico na paleta (b = 0,98) e na perna (b = 0,99) e precoce na costela (b = 0,90) e no pescoço (b = 0,79). Recomenda-se que o abate de cordeiros Texel × Ile de France seja realizado com, no máximo, 30kg de peso vivo.

The structure of worker compensation in Brazil, with a comparison to France and the United States

We employ comprehensive linked employer-employee data for Brazil to analyze wage determinants and compare results to Abowd et al. (2001) for French and U.S. manufacturing. While returns to human capita in Brazilian manufacturing exceed those of the other countries, occupation and gender differentials are similar. The worker-characteristics component accounts for much of the greater wage inequality in Brazil, but the establishment-fixed component has scant explanatory power. Thus, firm-or industry-level factors offer little scope for explaining the differences in wage inequality. Brazil`s wage structure resembles that of France, a country with some similarity in labor market institutions.