Vision Modulates Corticospinal Suppression in a Functionally Specific Manner during Movement of the Opposite Limb

The effect of vision on the excitability of corticospinal projections to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR) and extensor carpi radialis (ECR) muscles of right human forearm was investigated before and during discrete movement of the opposite limb. An external force opposed the initial phase of the movement (wrist flexion) and assisted the reverse phase, so that recruitment of the wrist extensors was minimized. Three conditions were used as follows: viewing the inactive right limb (Vision), viewing the mirror image of the moving left limb (Mirror), and with vision of the right limb occluded (No Vision). Transcranial magnetic stimulation was delivered to the left motor cortex: before, at the onset of, or during the left limb movement to obtain motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the muscles of the right forearm. At and following movement onset, MEPs obtained in the right FCR were smaller in the Vision condition than in the Mirror and No Vision conditions. A distinct pattern of variation was obtained for the ECR. In all conditions, MEPs in this muscle were elevated upon or following movement of the opposite limb. An additional analysis of ipsilateral silent periods indicated that interhemispheric inhibition plays a role in mediating these effects. Activity-dependent changes in corticospinal output to a resting limb during discrete actions of the opposite limb are thus directly contingent upon where one looks. Furthermore, the extent to which vision exerts an influence upon projections to specific muscles varies in accordance with the functional contribution of their homologs to the intended action.

Electronic stopping power in gold:The role of d electrons and the H/He anomaly

The electronic stopping power of H and He moving through gold is obtained to high accuracy using time-evolving density-functional theory, thereby bringing usual first principles accuracies into this kind of strongly coupled, continuum nonadiabatic processes in condensed matter. The two key unexplained features of what observed experimentally have been reproduced and understood: (i)The nonlinear behavior of stopping power versus velocity is a gradual crossover as excitations tail into the d-electron spectrum; and (ii)the low-velocity H/He anomaly (the relative stopping powers are contrary to established theory) is explained by the substantial involvement of the d electrons in the screening of the projectile even at the lowest velocities where the energy loss is generated by s-like electron-hole pair formation only. © 2012 American Physical Society.

Improved prognosis for congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type in Irish families

Congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type is a rare autosomal recessive disease with a high infant mortality without aggressive treatment. The biochemical basis of the disease is not understood fully but the disease locus has been mapped recently to chromosome 19q12-q13.1 in Finnish families. This paper describes the clinical features and outcome of 20 patients in Ireland with congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type who have presented since 1980. Before 1987, all infants died by the age of 3 years. After the introduction of daily intravenous albumin infusion, nutritional support, elective bilateral nephrectomy, and renal transplantation, mortality in the past decade has fallen to 30%, with no deaths in the past five years. Genetic linkage analysis was performed in six families in whom DNA was available and the locus responsible was mapped to the same region on chromosome 19 as in Finnish families, suggesting that Irish families share the same disease locus.

Structure-Phenotype Correlations of Human CYP21A2 Mutations in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia

Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH) is a family of autosomal recessive disorders involving impaired synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol by adrenal cortex. The predominant causes of the disorder are mutations in the CYP21A2 gene that encodes a Cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase enzyme, which is central to steroidogenesis. The severity of the disease depends upon the extent of impaired enzymatic activity and can be classified under severe Classical form or the mild Non-Classical form, Molecular characterisation of CYP21A2 mutations can be used to predict clinical phenotype and disease severity based upon changes it brings in 21-hydroxylase enzyme structure. A humanized model of CYP21A2 has been used to map and investigate the structural role of all known disease-causing mutations. A structural explanation of clinical manifestation allows us to put forward criteria that might allow the prediction of clinical severity of the disease.

Human pose tracking in low dimensional space enhanced by limb correction

This paper proposes a two-level 3D human pose tracking method for a specific action captured by several cameras. The generation of pose estimates relies on fitting a 3D articulated model on a Visual Hull generated from the input images. First, an initial pose estimate is constrained by a low dimensional manifold learnt by Temporal Laplacian Eigenmaps. Then, an improved global pose is calculated by refining individual limb poses. The validation of our method uses a public standard dataset and demonstrates its accurate and computational efficiency. © 2011 IEEE.

A sibling-controlled, prospective study of outcomes at home and school in children with severe congenital heart disease

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to compare behaviour problems and competencies, at home and school, in 7-year-old children with congenital heart disease with a sibling control group, to examine the prospective determinants of outcome from infancy, and to explore whether any gains were maintained in our sub-group of children who had participated in a previous trial of psychological interventions in infancy.
Methods: A total of 40 children who had undergone surgery to correct or palliate a significant congenital heart defect in infancy were compared (Child Behavior Checklist) with a nearest-age sibling control group (18 participants). Comparisons were made between sub-groups of children and families who had and had not participated in an early intervention trial.
Results: Problems with attention, thought and social problems, and limitations in activity and school competencies, were found in comparison with siblings. Teacher reports were consistent with parents, although problems were of a lower magnitude. Disease, surgical, and neurodevelopmental functioning in infancy were related to competence outcomes but not behaviour problems. The latter were mediated by family and maternal mental health profiles from infancy. Limited, but encouraging, gains were maintained in the sub-group that had participated in the early intervention programme.
Conclusions: The present study is strengthened by its longitudinal design, use of teacher informants, and sibling control group. The patterns of problems and limitations discerned, and differential determinants thereof, have clear implications for interventions. We consider these in the light of our previously reported intervention trial with this sample and current outcomes at the 7-year follow-up.

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Interventions to Promote Adjustment in Children With Congenital Heart Disease Entering School and Their Families

Objective: To report on a randomized controlled trial of psychological interventions to promote adjustment in children with congenital heart disease and their families.
Method: Following baseline assessment, 90 children (aged 4–5 years) and their families were randomly assigned to an Intervention or Control group before entering school. 68 (76%) were retained at 10-month follow-up.
Results: Gains were observed on measures of maternal mental health and family functioning. Although no differences were found on measures of child behavior at home or school, children in the intervention group were perceived as “sick” less often by their mother and missed fewer days from school. A regression model, using baseline measures as predictors, highlighted the importance of maternal mental health, worry and child neurodevelopmental functioning for child behavioral outcomes almost a year later.
Conclusions: The intervention promoted clinically significant gains for the child and family. The program is of generalizable significance.

Examination of the physical and psychosocial determinants of health behaviour in 4-5-year-old children with congenital cardiac disease

To assess the general health and activity levels of 4- and 5-year-old children after intervention for congenital cardiac disease.

A controlled trial of early interventions to promote maternal adjustment and development in infants born with severe congenital heart disease

Background: Congenital heart disease can have a negative impact on both infant development and maternal adjustment. This study considered the impact of a new programme of early psychosocial interventions on such outcomes, following the birth of a child with severe congenital heart disease.
Methods: Seventy infants and their mothers were assigned to an intervention or control group based on order of presentation to the unit. Interventions aimed at bolstering mother–infant transactions, through psychoeducation, parent skills training and narrative therapy techniques were implemented.
Results: Clinically and statistically signi?cant gains were observed at 6-month follow-up on the mental (but not the psychomotor) scale of the Bayleys-II. Positive gains were also manifested on feeding practices, maternal anxiety, worry and appraisal of their situation.
Conclusions: A programme of generalizable psychosocial interventions is shown to have a positive impact on the infant with severe congenital heart disease and the mother.

Determinants of neuropsychological and behavioural outcomes in early childhood survivors of congenital heart disease

To evaluate the relative effect of cyanosis, surgical interventions and family processes on neuropsychological and behavioural outcomes in 4-year-old survivors of serious congenital heart disease (CHD).