Experimental muscle pain changes feedforward postural responses of the trunk muscles

Many studies have identified changes in trunk muscle recruitment in clinical low back pain (LBP). However, due to the heterogeneity of the LBP population these changes have been variable and it has been impossible to identify a cause-effect relationship. Several studies have identified a consistent change in the feed-forward postural response of transversus abdominis (TrA), the deepest abdominal muscle, in association with arm movements in chronic LBP. This study aimed to determine whether the feedforward recruitment of the trunk muscles in a postural task could be altered by acute experimentally induced LBP. Electromyographic (EMG) recordings of the abdominal and paraspinal muscles were made during arm movements in a control trial, following the injection of isotonic (non-painful) and hypertonic (painful) saline into the longissimus muscle at L4, and during a 1-h follow-up. Movements included rapid arm flexion in response to a light and repetitive arm flexion-extension. Temporal and spatial EMG parameters were measured. The onset and amplitude of EMG of most muscles was changed in a variable manner during the period of experimentally induced pain. However, across movement trials and subjects the activation of TrA was consistently reduced in amplitude or delayed. Analyses in the time and frequency domain were used to confirm these findings. The results suggest that acute experimentally induced pain may affect feedforward postural activity of the trunk muscles. Although the response was variable, pain produced differential changes in the motor control of the trunk muscles, with consistent impairment of TrA activity.

Intra-abdominal pressure increases stiffness of the lumbar spine

Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) increases during many tasks and has been argued to increase stability and stiffness of the spine. Although several studies have shown a relationship between the IAP increase and spinal stability, it has been impossible to determine whether this augmentation of mechanical support for the spine is due to the increase in IAP or the abdominal muscle activity which contributes to it. The present study determined whether spinal stiffness increased when IAP increased without concurrent activity of the abdominal and back extensor muscles. A sustained increase in IAP was evoked by tetanic stimulation of the phrenic nerves either. unilaterally or bilaterally at 20 Hz (for 5 s) via percutaneous electrodes in three subjects. Spinal stiffness was measured as the force required to displace an indentor over the L4 or L2 spinous process with the subjects lying prone. Stiffness was measured as the slope of the regression line fitted to the linear region of the force-displacement curve. Tetanic stimulation of the diaphragm increased IAP by 27-61% of a maximal voluntary pressure increase and increased the stiffness of the spine by 8-31% of resting levels. The increase in spinal stiffness was positively correlated with the size of the IAP increase. IAP increased stiffness at L2 and L4 level. The results of this:study provide evidence that the stiffness of the lumbar spine is increased when IAP is elevated. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rapid Atrophy of the Lumbar Multifidus Follows Experimental Disc or Nerve Root Injury.

Study Design. Experimental study of muscle changes after lumbar spinal injury. Objectives. To investigate effects of intervertebral disc and nerve root lesions on cross-sectional area, histology and chemistry of porcine lumbar multifidus. Summary of Background Data. The multifidus cross-sectional area is reduced in acute and chronic low back pain. Although chronic changes are widespread, acute changes at 1 segment are identified within days of injury. It is uncertain whether changes precede or follow injury, or what is the mechanism. Methods. The multifidus cross-sectional area was measured in 21 pigs from L1 to S1 with ultrasound before and 3 or 6 days after lesions: incision into L3 - L4 disc, medial branch transection of the L3 dorsal ramus, and a sham procedure. Samples from L3 to L5 were studied histologically and chemically. Results. The multifidus cross-sectional area was reduced at L4 ipsilateral to disc lesion but at L4 - L6 after nerve lesion. There was no change after sham or on the opposite side. Water and lactate were reduced bilaterally after disc lesion and ipsilateral to nerve lesion. Histology revealed enlargement of adipocytes and clustering of myofibers at multiple levels after disc and nerve lesions. Conclusions. These data resolve the controversy that the multifidus cross-sectional area reduces rapidly after lumbar injury. Changes after disc lesion affect 1 level with a different distribution to denervation. Such changes may be due to disuse following reflex inhibitory mechanisms.

Does high intensity resistance training maintain bone mass during moderate weight loss in older overweight adults with type 2 diabetes

The aim was to investigate whether the addition of supervised high intensity progressive resistance training to a moderate weight loss program (RT+WLoss) could maintain bone mineral density (BMD) and lean mass compared to moderate weight loss (WLoss) alone in older overweight adults with type 2 diabetes. We also investigated whether any benefits derived from a supervised RT program could be sustained through an additional home-based program. This was a 12-month trial in which 36 sedentary, overweight adults aged 60 to 80 years with type 2 diabetes were randomized to either a supervised gymnasium-based RT+WLoss or WLoss program for 6 months (phase 1). Thereafter, all participants completed an additional 6-month home-based training without further dietary modification (phase 2). Total body and regional BMD and bone mineral content (BMC), fat mass (FM) and lean mass (LM) were assessed by DXA every 6 months. Diet, muscle strength (1-RM) and serum total testosterone, estradiol, SHBG, insulin and IGF-1 were measured every 3 months. No between group differences were detected for changes in any of the hormonal parameters at any measurement point. In phase 1, after 6 months of gymnasium-based training, weight and FM decreased similarly in both groups (P < 0.01), but LM tended to increase in the RT+WLoss (n=16) relative to the WLoss (n = 13) group [net difference (95% CI), 1.8% (0.2, 3.5), P < 0.05]. Total body BMD and BMC remained unchanged in the RT+WLoss group, but decreased by 0.9 and 1.5%, respectively, in the WLoss group (interaction, P < 0.05). Similar, though non-significant, changes were detected at the femoral neck and lumbar spine (L2-L4). In phase 2, after a further 6 months of home-based training, weight and FM increased significantly in both the RT+WLoss (n = 14) and WLoss (n = 12) group, but there were no significant changes in LM or total body or regional BMD or BMC in either group from 6 to 12 months. These results indicate that in older, overweight adults with type 2 diabetes, dietary modification should be combined with progressive resistance training to optimize the effects on body composition without having a negative effect on bone health.

Conservation and accessibility of an inner core lipopolysaccharide epitope of Neisseria meningitidis

We investigated the conservation and antibody accessibility of inner core epitopes of Neisseria meningitidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) because of their potential as vaccine candidates. An immunoglobulin G3 murine monoclonal antibody (MAb), designated MAb B5, was obtained by immunizing mice with a galE mutant of N. meningitidis H44/76 (B.15.P1.7,16 immunotype L3). We have shown that MAb B5 can bind to the core LPS of wild-type encapsulated MC58 (B.15.P1.7,16 immunotype L3) organisms in vitro and ex vivo. An inner core structure recognized by MAb B5 is conserved and accessible in 26 of 34 (76%) of group B and 78 of 112 (70%) of groups A, C, W, X, Y, and Z strains. N. meningitidis strains which possess this epitope are immunotypes in which phosphoethanolamine (PEtn) is linked to the 3-position of the beta-chain heptose (HepII) of the inner core. In contrast, N. neningitidis strains lacking reactivity with MAb B5 have an alternative core structure in which PEtn is linked to an exocyclic position (i.e., position 6 or 7) of HepII (immunotypes L2, L4, and L6) or is absent (immunotype L5). We conclude that MAb B5 defines one or more of the major inner core glycoforms of N. meningitidis LPS. These findings support the possibility that immunogens capable of eliciting functional antibodies specific to inner core structures could be the basis of a vaccine against invasive infections caused by N. meningitidis.

Efeito do laser de baixa intensidade no procedimento de expansão rápida da maxila

A proposta do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do laser de baixa intensidade na regeneração óssea no procedimento de expansão rápida da maxila. Utilizou-se 27 indivíduos com média de idade de 10,2 anos, divididos em dois grupos: grupo laser (n=14), no qual se realizou a expansão rápida da maxila, associada ao laser e grupo sem laser (n=13), que realizou somente a expansão rápida da maxila. O protocolo de ativação do parafuso expansor foi de 1 volta completa no primeiro dia e ½ volta diária até a sobrecorreção. O laser utilizado foi o de diodo (TWIN Laser MMOptics®, São Carlos), seguindo o protocolo de aplicação: comprimento de onda de 780nm, potência de 40mW, densidade de 10J/cm2, em 10 pontos localizados ao redor da sutura palatina mediana. Os estágios de aplicação foram: L1 (do primeiro ao quinto dia de aplicação), L2 (travamento do parafuso e 3 dias seguidos), L3, L4 e L5 (após 7, 14 e 21 dias do L2, respectivamente). Radiografias oclusais da maxila foram realizadas com auxílio de uma escala de alumínio, para referencial densitométrico, em diferentes tempos: T1 (inicial), T2 (dia de travamento do parafuso), T3 (3 a 5 dias do T2), T4 (30 dias do T3), T5 (60 dias do T4). As radiografias foram digitalizadas e submetidas a um programa de imagem (Image Tool - UTHSCSA, Texas, USA), para mensuração da densidade óptica das áreas previamente selecionadas. Para realização do teste estatístico, utilizou-se a Análise de Covariância usando como covariável o tempo para a fase avaliada. Em todos os testes foi adotado nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05).Para o Grupo Laser, os dados mostram que houve uma queda significante de densidade durante a abertura do parafuso (T2-T1), um aumento significante da mesma no período final de avaliação (T5-T4), e um aumento também da densidade no período de regeneração propriamente dito (T5-T2), ou seja, a partir do momento em que finalizou a fase de abertura do parafuso expansor. Enquanto que no Grupo Sem Laser, a densidade não mostrou diferença estatisticamente significantemente em nenhum período analisado. Os resultados mostraram que o laser propiciou consideravelmente uma melhor abertura da sutura palatina mediana, além de influenciar no processo de regeneração óssea da sutura, acelerando seus processos de reparo.(AU)

Stomach content records for pelagic fish (herring, mackerel, blue whiting, albacore and bluefin tuna) in the northeast Atlantic

Fish stomach content records extracted from the DAPSTOM 4.5 database (held at the UK Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science - CEFAS). Data collated as part of the EU Euro-Basin project and specifically concerning herring (Clupea harengus), mackerel (Scomber scombrus), blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou), albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). The data set consist of 20720 records - collected throughout the northeast Atlantic, between 1906 and 2011 - mostly during routine fisheries monitoring research cruises.

Atividades biológicas de extratos salinos de sementes de plantas da caatinga contra Aedes Aegypti e investigação da participação de proteínas bioativas

Dengue fever, currently the most important arbovirus, is transmitted by the bite of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. Given the absence of a prophylactic vaccine, the disease can only be controlled by combating the vector insect. However, increasing reports of resistance and environmental damage caused by insecticides have led to the urgent search for new safer alternatives. Twenty - um plant s eed extracts from the Caatinga were prepared , tested and characterized . Sodium phosphate ( 50 mM pH 8.0) was used as extractor. All extracts showed larvicidal and ovipositional deterrence activity . Extracts of D. grandiflora, E. contortisiliquum, A. cearenses , C. ferrea and C. retusa were able to attract females for posture when in low co ncentration . In the attractive concentrations, the CE of E. contortisiliquum and A. cearenses were able to kill 52% and 100% of the larvae respectively . The extracts of A. cearenses , P. viridiflora, E. velutina, M. urundeuva and S. brasiliensis were also pupicides, while extracts of P. viridiflora, E. velutina, E. contortisiliquum , A. cearenses, A. colubrina, D. grandiflora , B. cheilantha , S. spectabilis, C. pyramidalis, M. regnelli e G. americana displayed adulticidal activity. All extracts were toxic to C. dubia zooplankton . The EB of E. velutina and E. contortisiliquum did not affect the viability of fibroblasts . In all extracts were identified at least two potential insecticidal proteins such as enzyme inhibitors, lectins and chitin - binding proteins and components of secondary metabolism . Considering all bioassays , the extracts from A. cearenses, P. viridiflora, E. contortisiliquum , S. brasiliensis, E. velutina and M. urundeuva were considered the most promising . The E. contortisiliquum extracts was the only one who did not show pupicida activity, indicating that its mechanism of action larvicide and adulticidal is related only to the ingesti on of toxic compounds by insect , so it was selected to be fragmenting. As observed for the CE , th e protein fractions of E. contortisiliquum also showed larvicidal activity, highlighting that F2 showed higher larvicidal activity and lower en vironmental toxicity than the CE source. The reduction in the proteolytic activity of larvae fed with crude extra ct and fractions of E. contortisiliquum suggest ed that the trypsin inhibitors ( ITEc) would be resp onsible for larvicidal activity . However the increase in the purification of this inhibitor resulted in loss of larvicidal activity , but the absence of trypsin inhibitor reduced the effectiveness of the fractions , indicating that the ITEC contributes to the larvicidal activity of this extract. Not been observed larvicidal activity and adulticide in rich fraction vicilin, nor evidence of the contribution o f this molecule for the larvicidal activity of the extract. The results show the potential of seeds from plant extracts of Caatinga as a source of active molecules against insects A. aegypti at different stages of its development cycle, since they are comp osed of different active compounds, including protein nature, which act on different mechanisms should result in the death of insec

Origem do plexo lombossacral e seus nervos em quatis (Nasua nasua, LINNAEUS, 1766)

The objective of this research is to study the origin of the lumbosacral plexus and its nerves in coatis (Nasua nasua). Six adult specimens, three males and three females, were used in this research. The animals were donated by IBAMA / GO or were collected when found dead by the edges of highways in Southeast Goiás. The specimens were fixed in aqueous 10% formaldehyde solution and preserved in the same solution. The observations reveal that the lumbosacral plexus of the coati has a structure with few intercommunications between its components. There are no typical handle formations, but the roots or its branches converge to form the nerves that are driven to the pelvic limb. The components of the Lumbosacral Plexus are ventral branches of L4 to S3. The Lumbosacral plexus generates several short nerves destined to pelvic structures and, at the same time, three long nerves: femoral, obturator and sciatic, all destined to the hind limb.

Seasonal variability in microbial methanol utilisation in coastal waters of the western English Channel

Methanol is ubiquitous in seawater and the most abundant oxygenated volatile organic compound (OVOC) in the atmosphere where it influences oxidising capacity and ozone formation. Marine methylotrophic bacteria utilise methanol in seawater both as an energy and/or growth substrate. This work represents the first fully resolved seasonal study of marine microbial methanol uptake dynamics. Rates of microbial methanol dissimilation in coastal surface waters of the UK varied between 0.7 – 11.2 nmol l-1 h-1 and reached a maximum in February. Rates of microbial methanol assimilation varied between 0.04 – 2.64 x 10-2 nmol l-1 h-1 and reached a maximum in August. Temporal variability in microbial methanol uptake rates shows that methanol assimilation and dissimilation display opposing seasonal cycles, although overall <1% of methanol was assimilated. Correlative approaches with 16S rRNA pyrosequencing data suggested that bacteria of the SAR11 clade and Rhodobacterales could be significantly influencing rates of methanol dissimilation and assimilation, respectively, at station L4 in the western English Channel

Seasonal variability in microbial methanol utilisation in coastal waters of the western English Channel

Methanol is ubiquitous in seawater and the most abundant oxygenated volatile organic compound (OVOC) in the atmosphere where it influences oxidising capacity and ozone formation. Marine methylotrophic bacteria utilise methanol in seawater both as an energy and/or growth substrate. This work represents the first fully resolved seasonal study of marine microbial methanol uptake dynamics. Rates of microbial methanol dissimilation in coastal surface waters of the UK varied between 0.7 – 11.2 nmol l-1 h-1 and reached a maximum in February. Rates of microbial methanol assimilation varied between 0.04 – 2.64 x 10-2 nmol l-1 h-1 and reached a maximum in August. Temporal variability in microbial methanol uptake rates shows that methanol assimilation and dissimilation display opposing seasonal cycles, although overall <1% of methanol was assimilated. Correlative approaches with 16S rRNA pyrosequencing data suggested that bacteria of the SAR11 clade and Rhodobacterales could be significantly influencing rates of methanol dissimilation and assimilation, respectively, at station L4 in the western English Channel

Progressive changes in the Western English Channel foster a reorganization in the plankton food web

Growing evidence has shown a profound modification of plankton communities of the North East Atlantic and adjacent seas over the past decades. This drastic change has been attributed to a modification of the environmental conditions that regulate the dynamics and the spatial distribution of ectothermic species in the ocean. Recently, several studies have highlighted modifications of the regional climate station L4 (50° 15.00′N, 4° 13.02′W) in the Western English Channel. We here focus on the modification of the plankton community by studying the long-term, annual and seasonal changes of five zooplankton groups and eight copepod genera. We detail the main composition and the phenology of the plankton communities during four climatic periods identified at the L4 station: 1988–1994, 1995–2000, 2001–2007 and 2008–2012. Our results show that long-term environmental changes underlined by Molinero et al. (2013) drive a profound restructuration of the plankton community modifying the phenology and the dominance of key planktonic groups including fish larvae. Consequently, the slow but deep modifications detected in the plankton community highlight a climate driven ecosystem shift in the Western English Channel.

Progressive changes in the Western English Channel foster a reorganization in the plankton food web

Growing evidence has shown a profound modification of plankton communities of the North East Atlantic and adjacent seas over the past decades. This drastic change has been attributed to a modification of the environmental conditions that regulate the dynamics and the spatial distribution of ectothermic species in the ocean. Recently, several studies have highlighted modifications of the regional climate station L4 (50° 15.00′N, 4° 13.02′W) in the Western English Channel. We here focus on the modification of the plankton community by studying the long-term, annual and seasonal changes of five zooplankton groups and eight copepod genera. We detail the main composition and the phenology of the plankton communities during four climatic periods identified at the L4 station: 1988–1994, 1995–2000, 2001–2007 and 2008–2012. Our results show that long-term environmental changes underlined by Molinero et al. (2013) drive a profound restructuration of the plankton community modifying the phenology and the dominance of key planktonic groups including fish larvae. Consequently, the slow but deep modifications detected in the plankton community highlight a climate driven ecosystem shift in the Western English Channel.

Detection of H2O and Evidence for TiO/VO in an Ultra-hot Exoplanet Atmosphere

We present a primary transit observation for the ultra-hot (T eq ~ 2400 K) gas giant expolanet WASP-121b, made using the Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Camera 3 in spectroscopic mode across the 1.12–1.64 μm wavelength range. The 1.4 μm water absorption band is detected at high confidence (5.4σ) in the planetary atmosphere. We also reanalyze ground-based photometric light curves taken in the B, r', and z' filters. Significantly deeper transits are measured in these optical bandpasses relative to the near-infrared wavelengths. We conclude that scattering by high-altitude haze alone is unlikely to account for this difference and instead interpret it as evidence for titanium oxide and vanadium oxide absorption. Enhanced opacity is also inferred across the 1.12–1.3 μm wavelength range, possibly due to iron hydride absorption. If confirmed, WASP-121b will be the first exoplanet with titanium oxide, vanadium oxide, and iron hydride detected in transmission. The latter are important species in M/L dwarfs and their presence is likely to have a significant effect on the overall physics and chemistry of the atmosphere, including the production of a strong thermal inversion.

State-Selective Attachment of Helium to Molecular Ions in a New Cryogenic Ion Trap

Light is the main information about the interstellar medium accessible on Earth. Based on this information one can conclude on the composition of the region where the light originates from, as well as on its history. The requirement for this is that it is possible to identify the different absorption and emission features in the spectrum and assign them to certain molecules, atoms or ions. To enable the identification of the different species, precise spectroscopic investigations of the species in the laboratory are necessary. In this work a new spectroscopic method is presented, which can be used to record pure rotational spectra of mass selected, cold, stored molecular ions. It is based on the idea of state specific attachment of helium atoms to the stored molecular ions. The new technique has been made possible through the development and recent completion of two new 22-pole ion trap instruments in the work group of Laboratory Astrophysics at the University of Cologne. These new instruments have the advantage to reach temperatures as low as 4K compared to the 10K of the predecessor instrument. These low temperatures enable the ternary attachment of helium atoms to the stored molecular ions and by this make it possible to develop this new method for pure rotational spectroscopy. According to this, this work is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the new FELion experiment that was build and characterized in the first part of the thesis. FELion is a cryogenic 22-pole ion trap apparatus, allowing to generate, mass select, store and cool down, and analyze molecular ions. The different components of the instrument, e.g. the Storage Ion Source for generating the ions or the first quadrupole mass filter, are described and characterized in this part. Besides this also the newly developed control and data acquisitions system is introduced. With this instrument the measurements presented in the second part of the work were performed. The second part deals with the new action spectroscopic method of state-selective helium attachment to the stored molecular ions. For a deeper analysis of the new technique the systems of CD+ and helium and HCO+ and helium are investigated in detail. Analytical and numerical models of the process are presented and compared to experimental results. The results of these investigations point to a seemingly very general applicability of the new method to a wide class of molecular ions. In the final part of the thesis measurements of the rotational spectrum of l-C3H+ are presented. These measurements have to be high-lighted, since it was possible for the first time in the laboratory to unambiguously measure four low-lying rotational transitions of l-C3H+. These measurements (Brünken et al. ApJL 783, L4 (2014)) enabled the reliable identification of so far unidentified emision lines observed in several regions of the interstellar medium (Pety et al. Astron. Astrophys. 548, A68 (2012), McGuire et al. The Astrophysical Journal 774, 56 (2013) and McGuire et al. The Astrophysical Journal 783, 36 (2014)).