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Objective@#To determine the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and use of the Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” Test and NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires in detecting hearing impairment in rural health communities. @*Methods@#This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted at the rural health unit of five municipalities. Infants less than six months old were screened for hearing impairments using the OAE device (standard), the Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” test, and the NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires. The “Baah” test and the filling out of the NHSRC Level 1 and 2 Questionnaires were done by trained health workers while OAE was done by an audiologist. @*Results@#A total of 103 babies, with a mean age of 41.9 days at the time of testing and a male to female ratio of 1.02:1 (52 males and 51 females) were tested. A hearing impairment prevalence of 4.9% (5 out of 103) was noted. The “Baah” test showed to have a sensitivity of 60%, specificity of 97.96% and an accuracy rate of 96.12%. The NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires showed sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy rate of 40%, 67.35% and 66.02%, respectively for the former and 40%, 85.71% and 83.50%, respectively for the latter. Analysis of the complimentary use of the NHSRC Level 1 and Level 2 Questionnaires with the “Baah” test also showed no significant improvement to using the “Baah” test as a stand-alone screening tool with sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 60%, 67.35% and 66.99%, respectively for the “Baah” test and Level 1 Questionnaire, and 60%, 83.67% and 82.52%, respectively for the “Baah” test and Level 2 Questionnaire. @*Conclusion@#The Reflexive Behavioral “Baah” test is a potentially accurate, sensitive, specific, and acceptable standalone hearing screening test to identify infants with higher risk of hearing impairment in the rural health community setting. On the other hand, the use of the NHSRC Questionnaires as a stand-alone or complementary tool for “Baah” is unnecessary as it results to more false positive and false negative results.
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Infant, Newborn , Surveys and Questionnaires , Audiometry , Behavior Rating ScaleABSTRACT
The objective of this study is to examine the antidepressant and antioxidant effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on reserpine-induced depression, and to investigate the antidepressant and antioxidant activity of combined treatment of TQ+citalopram. In total, 36 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups: 1)control1, 2)control2, 3)reserpine, 4)reserpine+TQ 5)reserpine+citalopram and 6)reserpine+TQ+citalopram. Depression was induced by administering intraperitoneal reserpine of 0.2mg/kg/14days. For antidepressant effects, 10 mg/kg TQ and/or 10 mg/kg citalopram was administered intragastrically 30 minutes prior to the administration of reserpine. Rat behavior was examined using the Behavioral Test following the completion of treatment protocol. Total nitric oxide (NOx) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, total oxidants status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS) in brain cortex, plasma as well as brain cortex glutathione (GSH) and levels of plasma total sulfhydryl groups (RSH) were examined. Treatment with TQ ameliorated the reserpine-induced changes in the Behavioral Test (p<0.05). TQ treatment significantly increased dopamine (DA) and noradrenaline (NA) expressions when compared to the R group (p<0.01). Serotonin (5-HT) expression also increased significantly (p<0.05). Brain cortex and plasma TOS, MDA and NOx levels decreased, whereas TAS, GSH and RSH levels increased (p< 0.05). TQ has the ability to prevent depression induced by reserpine. The combination of TQ+citalopram can be used in the treatment of depression with a stronger antioxidant effect
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Nigella sativa/classification , Rats, Wistar , Phytochemicals/analysis , Antidepressive Agents/adverse effects , Antioxidants/adverse effects , Oxidative Stress , DepressionABSTRACT
Objective: To explore whether acupuncture can improve sleep disturbance, cognitive impairment and emotional disorders caused by sleep deprivation, and its association with the attenuation of oxidative stress injury in prefrontal cortex. Methods: Fifty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group (n=10), a model group (n=14), a manual acupuncture (MA) group (n=14), and a sham-MA group (n=14). All the groups were established as sleep deprivation models via the modified multiple platform method, except for the control group. Rats in both the MA group and the sham-MA group received corresponding intervention, respectively. After modeling and intervention, the four groups received three behavioral tests, namely sleep monitoring, by comprehensive lab animal monitoring system (CLAMS), Morris water maze (MWM) test and open-field test (OFT), followed by oxygen free radical level test and Western blot (WB) detection for the expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2. Results: The MA group derived more sleep time within 24 h than either the model group or the sham-MA group (both P<0.05). On MWM orientation navigation test day 1, there were no significant differences in escape latency among the control, MA and sham-MA groups (P>0.05), and the escape latency was significantly shorter in these three groups than that in the model group (all P<0.05). On test day 4, the escape latency was markedly shorter in the MA group than that in either the model group or the sham-MA group (both P<0.05); meanwhile, the MA group showed significantly better performance compared with these two groups in space probe test (both P<0.05). In OFT, compared with the control group, there was a significant decline in the horizontal movement score in the other three groups (all P<0.05), and the decrease was more significant in the model group and the sham-MA group than that in the MA group (both P<0.05). The superoxide dismutase (SOD) content was markedly higher and the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was markedly lower in the MA group than those in the model group and the sham-MA group (all P<0.05). Compared with the model group and the sham-MA group, the expression of Bax was significantly lower and the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly higher in the MA group (all P<0.05). Conclusion: MA therapy can lengthen the sleep time in sleep-deprived rats and improve learning and memory impairments induced by sleep deprivation, and the underlying mechanism may be associated with the enhancement of antioxidant capacity in the prefrontal cortex and the inhibition of hippocampal neuronal apoptosis.
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Objective: To explore the influence of plateau environment in the development and morphology of the main organs of the offsprings of migrated rats, and to observe the pathological changes of heart, brain, and lung tissues of the offsprings of migrated rats. Methods: The 8-week Wistar rats who lived in the plain area were migrated to the plateau area. After 1 week, a total of 56 female and male rats were fertilized with a ratio of 3:1, and all the pregnant rats were natural childbirth. The offsprings rat pups were divided into three groups: 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Ten offsprings (5 female and 5 male) were randomly selected in each group to collect the heart, brain, lung, liver, kidney and other major organs to measure the weights. In each group, 45 offsprings were randomly selected to conduct water maze test, open field test and test of captive reaction. The brain, heart, and lung tissues from 5 offsprings in each group were collected for tissue section and the pathological changes of above organ tissues were detected with HE staining. Results: The pregnant rats moved from the plain to the plateau had normal feeding behavior, without preterm birth or death. On average, the pregnant rats had 8 to 10 babies per litter, with a total of 345 offsprings. The weight gain of offspring was about 1. 0-1. 5 g per day. Some of the offsprings had low intake and difficulty in foraging, and 15 offsprings died 3-5 d after birth, with a mortality rate of 4. 3%. The weight and the ratio of liver weight to body weight of the 6-month-old offsprings were increased compared with the 1-month-old offsprings (F0. 05). In open field test, there were 6 offsprings in open fieled test in 1-month old group showed a longer stay time in the central region than other rats (P0. 05). In spite of all the time points in the captive reaction experiment, all the animals behaved in a similar way. The HE staining results of myocardium tissue showed the myocardial inflammatory cell infiltration, venous congestion, nucleus disappearance, and visible cellular outline in the 1-3 month old offsprings and the myocardial vascular congestion and myocardial space enlargement in the 6-month-old offsprings. The HE staining results of brain tissue showed the glass body formation and nucleus disappearance in the 1-month-old offsprings and neuronal cell body deformation, blood vessel congestion and vacuolar degeneration in the 3-6-month-old offsprings. The HE staining results of lung tissue showed the thicker alveolar walls, lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration, pulmonary capillary expansion and congestion in the 1-3-month-old offsprings and the thicker alveolar walls, lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration, pulmonary capillary expansion and congestion, pulmonary interstitial edema and red blood cell liquefaction in the blood vessels in the 6-month-old offsprings. Conclusion: Tibetan plateau environment has an influence in the development and morphology of heart, brain and lung of the migrated rats, and the reason may be related to low pressure and hypoxia of plateau.
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Objectives To investigate neuroprotective effect of melatonin on preterm rats brain damage after hypoxia-ischemia (HI). Methods In this study, 5-day-old Wistar rats were divided into four groups: normal saline group, melatonin group, HI+NS group and HI+melatonin group. HI was conducted by unilateral ligation of the left common carotid artery (ische-mia) and 50 min of hypoxia. Melatonin was injected at a dose of 5 mg/kg intraperitoneally three times:before ischemia, after hy-poxia and 24 h after the second dose. The pups were sacrificed at 24 h, 72 h, and 7 weeks after HI;for galectin-3 cells count at 72 h and 7 weeks;TNF-α, IL-1βprotein were measured in 24 h and 72 h after HI;and fear condition and elevated plus maze were tested in 7 weeks after HI. Results The number of galectin-3-positive cells was lower after melatonin treatment than vehi-cle treatment in 72 h and 7 weeks after HI (all P<0.05). TNF-αprotein and IL-1βprotein both increased at 24 h and 72 h after HI, and reduced after melatonin treatment (all P<0.05). Melatonin treatment improved memory ability and learning ability, re-duced anxiety in 7 weeks after HI. Conclusions Melatonin has long-term and short-term protective effect on developing brain damage after HI.
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Objective@#To determine the prevalence of hearing loss among infants six months old and below sent for newborn hearing screening in our institution, and to measure the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values of reflexive behavioral (“Baah”) test in detecting hearing loss in infants. @*Methods@#Design: Cross-sectional study Setting: Ear Unit of a tertiary government hospital Participants: Infants less than Six months old sent for newborn hearing screening at the Ear Unit of a tertiary government hospital from April to September, 2011 were recruited. All participants were tested with OAE for hearing screening. OAE was also used as the standard for evaluating hearing impairment. The reflexive behavioral (“Baah”) test was then done using the human voice as a loud sound stimulus, and the response recorded were auropalpebral, startle and blinking response to the sound. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of the test was then measured. @*Results@#From April to September 2011, a total of 101 patients were tested, with a male to female ratio of 1.1:1 (53 males, 48 females). The prevalence of hearing impairment in this study population was 6.9% (7 out of 101). The reflexive behavioral (“Baah”) test was found to have sensitivity of 71.4%, specificity of 95.7%, accuracy rate of 94%, positive predictive value of 55.6% and negative predictive value of 97.8%.@*Conclusion@#The reflexive behavioral (“Baah”) test shows potential as an accurate, acceptable and cost-effective screening tool to identify infants that may be at higher risk for hearing impairment. This test may aid the health care providers, in areas without OAEs, in identifying infants who are in need further hearing diagnostic evaluation, with OAEs or other hearing tests. It is recommended that the “Baah” test be implemented in the community to test its reproducibility in a larger population and outside the hospital setting.
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OBJECTIVE: Focal brain ischemia induced in rats by occlusion of middle cerebral artery (MCA) is a widely used paradigm of human brain infarct. The purpose of this study is to establish chronic stroke model by MCA occlusion using intraluminal filament in rats. METHOD: A total 44 rats were operated by modified Longa's method. The surgical procedure consisted of introducing an intraluminal filament into the internal carotid artery and advancing it intracranially to block blood flow for 60 minutes into MCA. After this procedure motor and postural change were assessed using a 0~5 point grading scale consisted of forelimb, hindlimb and circling test. Behavioral tests such as rotarod, stepping and cylinder tests were examined in the survived rats after MCA occlusion up to 14 weeks post-ischemia. Autopsy was done to evaluate the cerebral infarct volume. RESULTS: Thirteen rats were survived up to 14 weeks post-ischemia and for the severely paralyzed subjects by acute neurological severity scoring were examined with behavioral tests once a week for 14 weeks. Although rotarod test have not shown any specific changes during 14 weeks, stepping and cylinder tests have shown stabilizing pattern since 4 weeks after the procedure. CONCLUSION: MCA occlusion using intraluminal filament could be reliable method to make stroke model in rats. We concluded that 4 weeks post-ischemia by this method in rats might be regarded as chronic model.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Rats , Autopsy , Brain , Brain Ischemia , Carotid Artery, Internal , Forelimb , Hindlimb , Middle Cerebral Artery , Rotarod Performance Test , StrokeABSTRACT
El estudio de las diferencias individuales en el comportamiento de los perros domésticos tiene un gran valor aplicado dado que permite una mejor selección de los mismos para cumplir las variadas funciones que tienen en la sociedad humana como perros guía, policía, compañía, rescatistas de personas, etc. En el trabajo que se informa se presenta una revisión de estudios sobre diferencias individuales en perros, basada únicamente en las baterías conductuales que evalúan un conjunto de rasgos del temperamento. Con este objetivo se realiza una breve descripción de cada batería de pruebas utilizadas en la literatura, analizando las definiciones operacionales de las variables evaluadas y los diferentes tipos de estímulos utilizados. Los rasgos mayormente evaluados son: temerosidad, agresividad, disposición al entrenamiento y sociabilidad. La temerosidad, en general es evaluada a través de la respuesta del animal ante la aparición de un estímulo súbito que puede ser intenso o no, como por ejemplo la reacción frente a un ruido fuerte, la apertura de un paraguas, o la aparición repentina de una figura humana. La agresividad se mide a través de la reacción frente a la amenaza o provocación por parte de un humano, la sustracción de un objeto o la confrontación con un perro dominante. La disposición al entrenamiento es estudiada a través de la respuesta del animal frente a diferentes estímulos como el juego con un trapo o una cuerda, el ejercicio de devolución de un objeto o la obediencia frente a distintos comandos. Por último, la sociabilidad se evalúa con la aparición o el acercamiento de un humano desconocido o con la exposición a un perro no familiar. Se discuten además las limitaciones metodológicas de las baterías así como también los importantes usos aplicados de las mismas.
A review of the research on individual differences in domestic dogs is presented in this paper. Temperament has been defined as the group of individual differences in behavior which is manifested steadily across situations and over time. It has been studied in a wide range of species including humans. Domestic dogs have undergone intense processes of selection on behavioral traits during domestication, and in the development of different breeds. These processes produced a great morphological, genetic and behavioral variability, which turned the dog in an interesting model for the study of individual differences. In this study we present a review of the different test batteries developed for the assessment of various behavioral traits. Test batteries are defined as standard experimental situations where a stimulus is used to provoke a behavior which is compared statistically to that of other individuals in the same situations, in order to classify the subjects. To achieve this aim, a brief description of seven batteries is given. Four of them evaluated dogs from breeding or train ing centers. Their aim was to select those animals which possess the most adequate traits to become guide or police dogs. The remaining batteries evaluated shelter dogs in order to elaborate a behavioral profile to improve the adoption process. In each battery described we analysed the operational definitions of the variables, the method used for scoring the animal's responses (overall vs. direct), the use of trained observers and the different types of stimuli used. The behavioral traits that are mainly assessed in dogs are fearfulness, aggressiveness, responsiveness to training, and sociability. Fearfulness is generally assessed through the appearance of a startling stimulus, which can be intense or not, such as the reaction towards a strong noise, the open ing of an umbrella, or the sudden appearance of a human figure. Aggressiveness is measured through the reaction towards a threat or provocation of a human being, the removal of an object, or the confrontation with a dominant dog. Responsiveness to train ing is studied through the response of the animal towards different stimuli, such as tug of war, retrieval, or obedience to commands. Finally, sociability is assessed with the appearance or approach of an unknown human being, or with the exposure to an unfamiliar dog. On the whole, the relevance of the assessment of these traits is fundamentally linked to the close relationship between dogs and humans. On the other hand, from a methodological point of view, it is important to note that most of the batteries evaluated a great number of subjects, which is difficult to achieve. Also, they allow to study behavioral variability in several traits at the same time, providing a large amount of information. Notably, several tests obtained predictive validity. The main difficulties presented by the temperament batteries are the diversity in nomenclature of the same traits and the variety of definitions used. Some of them even lack the reliability and validity requirements which are necessary to be considered measuring instruments. Furthermore, complex statistical analyses are done with unreliably obtained data. To conclude, despite the methodological limitations, temperament batteries have a great applied value. They allow the adequate selection of animals before the investment of valuable resources in their training, and a correct temperament evaluation can improve the adoption process of shelter dogs, diminishing the risk of relinquishment by predicting behavioral problems. The scope of this subject does not only matter to researchers interested in animal models of individual differences in behavior, but also to all the professionals who work in applied areas where dogs are an elemental part of the task, as the rescue or search of missing people, assisted therapy, drug detection, herding, etc.
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Objective To explore the effect of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) on nervous function in rats with focal cerebral ischemia.Methods The MSCs were cultivated,purified,and proliferated in vitro by density gradient and adherence to plastic dishes method.The models of Wistar rats were prepared after middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) of right lasted 90 min and reperfusion 1 h.Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group(A,n=10),sham operation group(B,n=10),no-handle group after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (C,n=10),free-serm DMEM transplantation group after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(D,n=10),MSCs transplantation group after cerebral ischemia/reperfusion(E,n=10).After identified by flow cytometry,5 ?L 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine(BrdU) labeled MSCs(4?105? ?L-1) and 5 ?L serum-free DMEM were respectively injected intracerebraly into ischemic boundary zone of right in D and E groups.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression and survival of BrdU-labeled MSCs in vivo.Nervous function behavioral tests were performed on 1st,3th,7th and 28th day after transplantation by forelimb use asymmetry test and postural reflex test.Results MSCs were successfully purified and proliferated in vitro.The MSCs expressed CD29,CD44,but didn't expressed CD34,CD45,CD31 identified by flow cytometry.transplanted MSCs survived and were localized to the ischemic boundary zone.Behavioral tests of every group were improved with time prolonged.However,MSCs transplantation group was significantly better than any other groups(P
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PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the behavioral and immunohistochemical changes in a spinal cord injury (SCI) between young and adult rats and to clarify the differences in the mechanism underlying the changes in a SCI between young and adult rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 young and 25 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (5 weeks and 16 weeks old) were used. The rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and laminectomies were carried out at the level of the 11th and 12th thoracic vertebra. Using a modified New York University Impactor, a SCI was induced by dropping a 10 gm weight at a height of 20 mm. The bladders were emptied manually twice a day to prevent urinary problems. The animals that received no surgery were used as the normal controls. Behavior tests were performed using the Basso-Beatti-Bresnahan (BBB) scoring system, 1 and 7 days after the weight drop injury. The difference in the BBB score between the young and adult rats were analyzed by a paired t-test with a p value <0.05 considered significant. The injured spinal cords were dissected at 1 and 7 days after surgery. H-E stain and immunohistochemistry for c-Jun and GFAP were performed in the spinal cord sections. The immunoreactions were visualized by incubation for 1 hour at RT in an avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex in PBS and 5-10 min in 0.05% 3, 3 -diaminobenzidine and 0.01% H2O2 in 0.1 M PBS. RESULTS: The hind limbs of young rats were paralyzed 1 day after surgery, but had recovered partially 7 days after surgery. However, the adult rats remained in the paralyzed status 7 days after surgery. The c-Jun expression level increased in the gray matter up to 7 days after the weight-drop injury in adult rats. The c-Jun expression level increased significantly in the gray matter 1 day after the injury in the young rats. However, the c-Jun expression level decreased significantly in the gray matter 7 days after the injury in the young rats compared with that of the 1 day post-injury. The GFAP expression level in the gray matter increased 1 day after the weigh-drop injury in the adult rats. However, it decreased in the necrotic region 7 days after the injury in the adult rats. GFAP expression in the gray matter increased gradually up to 7 days after the injury in the young rats. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that lack of recovery from a SCI in adult rats may be related to the continuous upregulation of c-Jun expression and/or the downregulation of GFAP after the weight-drop injury. In contrast, the upregulation of GFAP expression and/or the downregulation of c-Jun expression in the spinal cord might be related to a partial recovery in young rats after a weight-drop injury.
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Adult , Animals , Humans , Male , Rats , Down-Regulation , Extremities , Immunohistochemistry , Laminectomy , Pentobarbital , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Spinal Cord Injuries , Spinal Cord , Spine , Up-Regulation , Urinary BladderABSTRACT
Dioxin-like compounds are a class of persistent organic pollutants(POPs).Because of their high toxicity, stability and bioaccumulation, they have serious effects on human health and environment.Studies on the toxicity of dioxins have involved in many aspects, such as reproduction toxicity, immune toxicity, carcinogenicity, endocrine toxicity, and so on.However, few studies of the effects on intelligence had been done,and its potential mechanism had not been reported till now.In this review, the authors tried to generalize the relationship between dioxins and intelligence based on animal behavioral tests and population investigations and hypothesize its potential mechanisms.