In vivo measurement of central corneal thickness in normal chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) with the optical low-coherence reflectometer

OBJECTIVE To determine the practicability and accuracy of central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements in living chicks utilizing a noncontact, high-speed optical low-coherence reflectometer (OLCR) mounted on a slit lamp. ANIMALS STUDIED Twelve male chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus). Procedures  Measurements of CCT were obtained in triplicate in 24 eyes of twelve 1-day-old anaesthetized chicks using OLCR. Every single measurement taken by OLCR consisted of the average result of 20 scans obtained within seconds. Additionally, corneal thickness was determined histologically after immersion fixation in Karnovsky's solution alone (20 eyes) or with a previous injection of the fixative into the anterior chamber before enucleation (4 eyes). RESULTS Central corneal thickness measurements using OLCR in 1-day-old living chicks provide a rapid and feasible examination technique. Mean CCT measured with OLCR (189.7 ± 3.34 μm) was significantly lower than histological measurements (242.1 ± 47.27 μm) in eyes with fixation in Karnovsky's solution (P = 0.0005). In eyes with additional injection of Karnovsky's fixative into the anterior chamber, mean histologically determined CCT was 195.2 ± 8.25 μm vs. 191.9 ± 8.90 μm with OLCR. A trend for a lower variance was found compared to the eyes that had only been immersion fixed. CONCLUSION Optical low-coherence reflectometry is an accurate examination technique to measure in vivo CCT in the eye of newborn chicks. The knowledge of the thickness of the chick cornea and the ability to obtain noninvasive, noncontact measurements of CCT in the living animal may be of interest for research and development of eye diseases in chick models.

Spinal Cord Diffusion-Tensor Imaging and Motor-evoked Potentials in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: Microstructural and Functional Asymmetry

Purpose: To assess possible association between intrinsic structural damage and clinical disability by correlating spinal cord diffusion-tensor (DT) imaging data with electrophysiological parameters in patients with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Materials and Methods: This study was approved by the local ethical committee according to the declaration of Helsinki and written informed consent was obtained. DT images and T1- and T2-weighted images of the spinal cord were acquired in 28 healthy volunteers and 41 MS patients. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficients were evaluated in normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) at the cervical level and were correlated with motor-evoked potentials (n = 34). Asymmetry index was calculated for FA values with corresponding left and right regions of interest as percentage of the absolute difference between these values relative to the sum of the respective FA values. Statistical analysis included Spearman rank correlations, Mann-Whitney test, and reliability analysis. Results: Healthy volunteers had low asymmetry index (1.5%-2.2%). In MS patients, structural abnormalities were reflected by asymmetric decrease of FA (asymmetry index: 3.6%; P = .15). Frequently asymmetrically affected among MS patients was left and right central motor conduction time (CMCT) to abductor digiti minimi muscle (ADMM) (asymmetry index, 15%-16%) and tibialis anterior muscle (TAM) (asymmetry index, 9.5%-14.1%). Statistically significant correlations of functional (ie, electrophysiological) and structural (ie, DT imaging) asymmetries were found (P = .005 for CMCT to ADMM; P = .007 for CMCT to TAM) for the cervical lateral funiculi, which comprise the crossed pyramidal tract. Interobserver reliability for DT imaging measurements was excellent (78%-87%). Conclusion: DT imaging revealed asymmetric anatomic changes in spinal cord NAWM, which corresponded to asymmetric electrophysiological deficits for both arms and legs, and reflected a specific structure-function relationship in the human spinal cord. © RSNA, 2013.

Harmonised monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates from food animals in the European Union

Many Member States of the European Union (EU) currently monitor antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic agents, including Salmonella and Campylobacter. According to Directive 2003/99/EC, Member States shall ensure that the monitoring provides comparable data on the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. The European Commission asked the European Food Safety Authority to prepare detailed specifications for harmonised schemes for monitoring antimicrobial resistance. The objective of these specifications is to lay down provisions for a monitoring and reporting scheme for Salmonella in fowl (Gallus gallus), turkeys and pigs, and for Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in broiler chickens. The current specifications are considered to be a first step towards a gradual implementation of comprehensive antimicrobial resistance monitoring at the EU level. These specifications propose to test a common set of antimicrobial agents against available cut-off values and a specified concentration range to determine the susceptibility of Salmonella and Campylobacter. Using isolates collected through programmes in which the sampling frame covers all epidemiological units of the national production, the target number of Salmonella isolates to be included in the antimicrobial resistance monitoring per Member State per year is 170 for each study population (i.e., laying hens, broilers, turkeys and slaughter pigs). The target number of Campylobacter isolates to be included in the antimicrobial resistance monitoring per Member State per year is 170 for each study population (i.e., broilers). The results of the antimicrobial resistance monitoring are assessed and reported in the yearly national report on trends and sources of zoonoses, zoonotic agents and antimicrobial resistance.

Arbeitskreis: Verknüpfung von Theorie und Sportpraxis in der Lehre

Für die Ausbildungsstrukturen sportwissenschaftlicher Lehre an Hochschulen in der Schweiz ist eine formale Trennung in theoretische Teildisziplinen und sportpraktische Kurse nach wie vor kennzeichnend. Die Orientierung der Inhalte und Ziele erfolgt damit eng an der Systematik der jeweils zugrundeliegenden Wissenschafts- oder Praxisdisziplin. Aus diesem Grund wird die Leitidee einer Vernetzung der Lehre in Theorie und Praxis an den Sportinstituten der Schweiz rege diskutiert und weiterentwickelt. An der SGS-Tagung 2013 in Basel wurde dem Thema erstmals Raum gegeben. Aus einer integrativen sportwissenschaftlichen Sichtweise kann Lernen - sowohl von theoretischen als auch von sportpraktischen Inhalten - nicht als linearer Prozess verstanden werden, bei dem Neues additiv hinzukommt. Neues relativiert vielmehr bereits Gelerntes. Solche Lernprozesse verlangen von den Lernenden und vom Lehrenden mehr ab, nämlich ein reflexives Lehren und Lernen (Herzog, 2002). Das im AK angestrebte Überwinden der Kluft zwischen theoretischem Wissen und praktischem Handeln scheint bedeutsam zu sein, um Lehr-/Lernkurzschlüsse zu vermeiden, wie sie bspw. in der Gleichsetzung sportlichen Könnens mit dem Verstehen sportlichen Könnens oder mit der Fähigkeit, sportliches Können zu vermitteln, zum Ausdruck kommt (Blotzheim et. al., 2008). Gearbeitet wird in zwei zusammenhängenden Arbeitskreisen (AK): Der hier beschriebene AK bildet den Vorbau zum AK «Verknüpfung von Theorie und Sportpraxis in der Lehre – Teil 2: Vernetzungsbeispiel in die sportliche Praxis des Geräteturnens» vom Freitagnachmittag. In diesem ersten AK (Teil 1) geht es um den diskursiven Austausch bezüglich leitender Theorie-Praxis-Vernetzungskonzeptionen an den verschiedenen Hochschulen. Literatur: Blotzheim, D., Kamper, S. & Schneider, R. (2008). Überlegungen zur Vermittlung metakognitiver Kompetenz in der Sportlehrerausbildung durch Forschendes Lernen. In: bildungsforschung, Jahrgang 5, Ausgabe 2. Online zugänglich unter: http://bildungsforschung.org/index.php/bildungsforschung/article/view/18/16 [Stand 12.12.2015] Herzog, W. (2002). Zeitgemässe Erziehung – Die Konstruktion pädagogischer Wirklichkeit. Weilerswist: Velbrück Verlag