Positive effects of auditory cue in locomotor pattern of people with Parkinson's disease (off and on medication)

Gait disorders are identified in people with Parkinson’s disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of auditory cues and medication on kinematic, kinetic and EMG parameters, during different gait phases of people with PD and healthy elderly. Thirty subjects distributed in two groups (Group 1, PD patients off and on medication; Group 2, healthy elderly) participated in this study and were instructed to walk in two experimental conditions: non-cued and cued. Therefore, kinematic, kinetic and electromyography analyses were utilized to investigate the locomotor pattern. Changes in locomotor pattern (greater muscular activity) with auditory cue were observed for PD patients. Regarding the medication, locomotor parameter improvement was observed after levodopa intake in association with the auditory cue. These results confirm the hypothesis about the external cues therapy that could be used as a complement to drug therapy to achieve improvement in the locomotor pattern of PD patients.

Comparação do comportamento locomotor de pacientes com doença de Parkinson, caidores e não caidores, durante o andar em terreno regular e durante a ultrapassagem de obstáculo

Introdução: Até o presente momento, não existem observações com o intuito de comparar o andar (em terreno regular e durante a ultrapassagem de obstáculo) de pacientes com doença de Parkinson (DP) caidores e não caidores. O conhecimento mais detalhado das diferenças clínicas e locomotoras entre pacientes caidores e não caidores pode servir como ferramenta importante para o melhor delineamento de intervenções com o intuito de prevenir e/ou reduzir a ocorrência de quedas na DP. Objetivo: Comparar o quadro clínico e o comportamento locomotor durante o andar em terreno regular e a ultrapassagem de obstáculo de indivíduos com DP caidores e não caidores. Método: Participaram do estudo 36 indivíduos com diagnóstico de DP idiopática. Inicialmente, a ocorrência de quedas foi registrada durante quatro meses por meio de entrevista semanal (contato pessoal e telefônico). Estes dados foram utilizados para distribuir os indivíduos em dois grupos: caidores (n=12) e não caidores (n=24). Em seguida, os pacientes realizaram, em estado “on” do medicamento, a avaliação do quadro clínico e do comportamento locomotor. A avaliação clínica incluiu a aplicação da escala de Hoehn & Yahr (estágio da doença) e da subescala motora da Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (comprometimento motor). A avaliação do andar consistiu em caminhar, em velocidade preferida, sobre uma passarela de oito metros de comprimento em condições com e sem obstáculo. Um sistema optoeletrônico para a análise do movimento (OPTOTRAK) foi utilizado para a coleta de dados do andar. As variáveis dependentes incluíram as pontuações nas escalas clínicas e os parâmetros espaciais e temporais do andar em terreno regular e da ultrapassagem de obstáculo. Resultados: Os pacientes caidores apresentaram menores valores do que os pacientes não caidores... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Efeito da amostragem de informação visual no comportamento locomotor adaptativo de pacientes com doença de Parkinson idiopática

Pouco se sabe a respeito da marcha de pacientes com doença de Parkinson (DP) em ambientes irregulares. Mais especificamente, não foram encontrados estudos que manipularam a informação visual na tarefa de ultrapassar obstáculo. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o papel da visão no comportamento locomotor durante a ultrapassagem de obstáculos de diferentes alturas em indivíduos com DP idiopática, manipulando experimentalmente a disponibilidade das informações visuais. Participaram 14 idosos com DP, classificados entre os estágios 1 e 2,5 da escala de Hoehn & Yahr. Os participantes foram convidados a percorrer andando uma passarela de 8 metros, em condições sem obstáculo (SO) e com obstáculo baixo (OB) ou alto (OA). As tentativas foram apresentadas combinando condições de obstáculo (SO, OB e OA) e de visão (IVD e IVE), em 3 tentativas por condição, totalizando 18 tentativas; realizadas em 2 blocos. A manipulação de informação visual foi realizada através do uso de óculos de lentes de cristal líquido e a análise cinemática foi realizada tridimensionalmente. As variáveis dependentes selecionadas incluíram os parâmetros espaciais e temporais das fases de aproximação e ultrapassagem do obstáculo. Para o tratamento dos dados, foram empregadas duas MANOVAs. Os resultados revelaram que tanto a manipulação visual como a manipulação do terreno influenciaram no comportamento locomotor dos pacientes. Na fase de aproximação, a presença do obstáculo provocou modificações nos parâmetros locomotores, refletindo em menores valores médios de comprimento e velocidade da passada nas condições OB e OA do que na condição SO. Em relação à informação visual nesta mesma fase, a anulação do fluxo óptico provocou diminuição do comprimento e da velocidade da passada, da cadência e da porcentagem da fase de suporte simples e aumento da duração... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Comportamento locomotor, quadro clínico, incidência de quedas e nível de atividade física em pacientes com doença de Parkinson: um estudo longitudinal de dois anos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Environmental enrichment blocks ethanol-induced locomotor sensitization and decreases BDNF levels in the prefrontal cortex in mice

The use of addictive drugs can lead to long-term neuroplastic changes in the brain, including behavioral sensitization, a phenomenon related to addiction. Environmental enrichment (EE) is a strategy used to study the effect of environment on the response to several manipulations, including treatment with addictive drugs. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been associated with behaviors related to ethanol addiction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of EE on ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and BDNF expression. Mice were exposed to EE and then repeatedly treated with a low dose (1.8 g/kg) of ethanol. Another group of mice was first subjected to repeated ethanol treatment according to the behavioral sensitization protocol and then exposed to EE. Environmental enrichment prevented the development of ethanol-induced behavioral sensitization and blocked behavioral sensitization in sensitized mice. Both repeated ethanol and EE decreased BDNF levels in the prefrontal cortex but not in the hippocampus. However, BDNF levels were lower in ethanol-treated mice exposed to EE. These findings suggest that EE can act on the mechanisms implicated in behavioral sensitization, a model for drug-induced neuroplasticity and relapse. Additionally, EE alters BDNF levels, which regulate addiction-related behaviors.

Mutations in the Mitochondrial Methionyl-tRNA Synthetase Cause a Neurodegenerative Phenotype in Flies and a Recessive Ataxia (ARSAL) in Humans

An increasing number of genes required for mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, or function have been found to be mutated in metabolic disorders and neurological diseases such as Leigh Syndrome. In a forward genetic screen to identify genes required for neuronal function and survival in Drosophila photoreceptor neurons, we have identified mutations in the mitochondrial methionyl-tRNA synthetase, Aats-met, the homologue of human MARS2. The fly mutants exhibit age-dependent degeneration of photoreceptors, shortened lifespan, and reduced cell proliferation in epithelial tissues. We further observed that these mutants display defects in oxidative phosphorylation, increased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), and an upregulated mitochondrial Unfolded Protein Response. With the aid of this knowledge, we identified MARS2 to be mutated in Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia with Leukoencephalopathy (ARSAL) patients. We uncovered complex rearrangements in the MARS2 gene in all ARSAL patients. Analysis of patient cells revealed decreased levels of MARS2 protein and a reduced rate of mitochondrial protein synthesis. Patient cells also exhibited reduced Complex I activity, increased ROS, and a slower cell proliferation rate, similar to Drosophila Aats-met mutants.

Maternal immune activation in late gestation enhances locomotor response to acute but not chronic amphetamine treatment in male mice offspring: Role of the D1 receptor

Exposure to elevated levels of maternal cytokines can lead to functional abnormalities of the dopaminergic system in the adult offspring, including enhanced amphetamine (AMPH)-induced locomotion. Therefore, it seems reasonable to consider that offspring of challenged mothers would behave differently in models of addictive behavior, such as behavioral sensitization. Thus, we sought to evaluate the effects of prenatal exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the locomotor response to acute and chronic AMPH treatment in male mice offspring. For this purpose, LPS (Escherichia coli 0127:B8; 120 mu g/kg) was administered intraperitoneally to pregnant Swiss mice on gestational day 17. At adulthood, male offspring were studied under one of the following conditions: (1) locomotor response to acute AMPH treatment (2.5 or 5.0 mg/kg) in an open field test; (2) behavioral sensitization paradigm, which consists of a daily injection of AMPH (1.0 mg/kg) for 10 days and observation of locomotion in the open field on days 1, 5, 10 (development phase), 15 and 17 (expression phase). The LPS stimulated offspring showed enhancement of the locomotor-stimulant effect after an acute AMPH challenge in comparison to baseline and saline pre-treated mice. They also showed development of behavioral sensitization earlier than the saline pre-treated group, although no changes between saline and LPS pre-treated groups were observed on development or expression of locomotor behavioral sensitization to AMPH. Furthermore, there was up-regulation of D1 receptor protein level within striatum in the LPS-stimulated offspring which was strongly correlated with increased grooming behavior. Taken together, our results indicate that motor and dopaminergic alterations caused by maternal immune activation are restricted to the acute AMPH challenge, mostly due to up-regulation of the D1 receptor within the mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways, but no locomotor differences were observed for behavioral sensitization to AMPH. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evolution of form and function: morphophysiological relationships and locomotor performance in tropidurine lizards

Locomotor capacity is often considered an excellent measure of whole animal performance because it requires the integrated functioning of many morphological, physiological (and biochemical) traits. However, because studies tend to focus on either structural or functional suits of traits, we know little on whether and how morphological and physiological traits coevolve to produce adequate locomotor capacities. Hence, we investigate the evolutionary relationships between morphological and physiological parameters related to exercise physiology, using tropidurine lizards as a model. We employ a phylogenetic principal component analysis (PCA) to identify variable clusters (factors) related to morphology, energetic metabolism and muscle metabolism, and then analyze the relationships between these clusters and measures of locomotor performance, using two models (star and hierarchical phylogenies). Our data indicate that sprint performance is enhanced by simultaneous evolutionary tendencies affecting relative limb and tail size and physiological traits. Specifically, the high absolute sprint speeds exhibited by tropidurines from the sand dunes are explained by longer limbs, feet and tails and an increased proportion of glycolytic fibers in the leg muscle, contrasting with their lower capacity for overall oxidative metabolism [principal component (PC1)]. However, when sprint speeds are corrected for body size, performance correlates with a cluster (PC3) composed by moderate loads for activity metabolic rate and body size. The simultaneous measurement of morphological and physiological parameters is a powerful tool for exploring patterns of coadaptation and proposing morphophysiological associations that are not directly predictable from theory. This approach may trigger novel directions for investigating the evolution of form and function, particularly in the context of organismal performance.

Infección del sitio quirúrgico en intervenciones del aparato locomotor

Programa de doctorado: Avances en Traumatología, Medicina del Deporte y Cuidados de Heridas