Molecular aspects involved in swimming exercise training reducing anhedonia in a rat model of depression.

Patients suffering from depression frequently display hyperactivity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) resulting in elevated cortisol levels. One main symptom of this condition is anhedonia. There is evidence that exercise training can be used as a rehabilitative intervention in the treatment of depressive disorders. In this scenario, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of an aerobic exercise training protocol on the depressive-like behavior, anhedonia, induced by repeated dexamethasone administration. The study was carried out on adult male Wistar rats randomly divided into four groups: the "control group" (C), "exercise group" (E), "dexamethasone group" (D) and the "dexamethasone plus exercise group" (DE). The exercise training consisted of swimming (1 h/d, 5 d/wk) for 3 weeks, with an overload of 5% of the rat body weight. Every day rats were injected with either dexamethasone (D/DE) or saline solution (C/E). Proper positive controls, using fluoxetine, were run in parallel. Decreased blood corticosterone levels, reduced adrenal cholesterol synthesis and adrenal weight (HPA disruption), reduced preference for sucrose consumption and increased immobility time (depressive-like behavior), marked hippocampal DNA oxidation, increased IL-10 and total brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF; pro-plus mature-forms) and a severe loss of body mass characterized the dexamethasone-treated animals. Besides increasing testosterone blood concentrations, the swim training protected depressive rats from the anhedonic state, following the same profile as fluoxetine, and also from the dexamethasone-induced impaired neurochemistry. The data indicate that physical exercise could be a useful tool in preventing and treating depressive disorders.

Gamma band oscillations in parietooccipital areas during performance of a sensorimotor integration task: a qEEG coherence study / Oscilações na banda gama em áreas parieto-occipitais durante desempenho de uma tarefa sensório-motora: um estudo de coerência na EEGq

This study aimed to elucidate cortical mechanisms involved in anticipatory actions when 23 healthy right-handed subjects had to catch a free falling object through quantitative electroencephalogram (qEEG). For this reason, we used coherence that represents a measurement of linear covariation between two signals in the frequency domain. In addition, we investigated gamma-band (30-100 Hz) activity that is related to cognitive and somatosensory processes. We hypothesized that gamma coherence will be increase in both parietal and occipital areas during moment after ball drop, due to their involvement in manipulation of objects, visuospatial processing, visual perception, stimuli identification and attention processes. We confirmed our hypothesis, an increase in gamma coherence on P3-P4 (t= -2.15; p=0.033) and PZ-OZ (t= -2.16; p=0.034) electrode pairs was verified for a paired t-test. We conclude that to execute tasks involving anticipatory movements (feedforward mechanisms), like our own task, probably, there is no need of a strong participation of visual areas in the process of information organization to manipulate objects and to process visuospatial information regarding the contact hand-object.

Este estudo teve como objetivo elucidar os mecanismos corticais envolvidos em ações antecipatórias quando 23 indivíduos saudáveis destros tinham que apreender um objeto em queda livre, através da eletroencefalografia quantitativa (EEGq). Por esta razão, usamos a coerência que representa a covariação linear entre dois sinais no domínio da frequência. Além disso, investigamos a atividade da banda gama (30-100 Hz), que está relacionada à processos cognitivos e somato-sensoriais. Nossa hipótese é que a coerência de gama estará aumentada em ambas as áreas parietais e occipitais durante o momento pós-queda da bola, devido ao seu envolvimento na manipulação de objetos, processamento visuo-espacial, percepção visual, identificação de estímulos e processos de atenção. Confirmamos nossa hipótese. Um aumento de coerência em gama nos pares de eletrodos P3-P4 (t= -2,15; p=0,033) e PZ-OZ (t= -2,16; p=0,034) foi verificado por teste-t pareado. Conclui-se que, para executar tarefas que envolvem movimentos de antecipação (mecanismos de retro-alimentação) como a nossa própria tarefa, provavelmente, não há necessidade de forte participação de áreas visuais no processo de organização da informação como para manipular objetos e processar a informação visuo-espacial no contato mão-objeto.

Corticomuscular coherence behavior in fine motor control of force: a critical review.

INTRODUCTION: Understanding how the human motor control operates is an important issue to the neuroscience. One example is how the motor cortex controls muscle activity, which can be observed through corticomuscular coherence (CMC). AIM: Our study aimed to verify the influence of certain factors related to the fine motor control of force tasks on CMC. Our issue is if would be possible the strength of the coupling between the central and muscular systems measured by changes in oscillatory activity of beta- and gamma-band being influenced by these factors as much healthy subjects as patients. DEVELOPMENT: Beta-band CMC was especially important when executing sustaining accurate control tasks, which need more concentration and effort. However, we found that beta-band CMC was influenced by some factors. With regard to gamma-band CMC, apparently a complex and continuous dynamic integration of several mechanisms would be necessary to modulate gamma-band CMC, since it was not modulated by magnitude of force. Therefore, it seems these mechanisms would be required to an adequate and effective neural networks operation when a dynamic force output is required. CONCLUSION: Beta- and gamma-band CMC could enrich our understanding of the dynamic changes of the motor system not only in health subjects but also in neurological patients. It may serve as a sensitive index for quantifying dynamical changes in fine motor control of force. It has the potential to become a useful tool to characterize the patterns of changes in central nervous system's activities for the purposes of basic research, especially in restoring of motor function.

[A set of questionnaires for the assessment (screening) of psychological disorders and social problems in cardiac rehabilitation patients]. / Ein Fragebogenset zur Erfassung (Screening) psychischer Störungen und sozialer Probleme von Patienten in der kardiologischen Rehabilitation.

A set of questionnaires for the assessment (screening) of psychological and social problems in cardiac rehabilitation patients is analyzed for its psychometric properties. The test battery had before been consented by a task force of the German Association for the Prevention and Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Disease, DGPR. It integrates generally approved and well-tried assessments for depression/anxiety, social isolation (vocational) stress, and subjective vocational disability. The questionnaire was administered to a convenience sample of 426 patients undergoing inpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Results on the psychometric properties, a comparison of the cardiac sample to the general population, as well as distributions of quartile ranges are reported. Also, a preliminary appraisal of the need for further assessment or treatment is made. The results confirm that the short test battery is suited for assessing psychological and social problems in cardiac rehabilitation patients.

[Predictors of return to work after inpatient cardiac rehabilitation under workers' compensation plan]. / Prädiktoren der beruflichen Wiedereingliederung nach stationärer kardiologischer Rehabilitation im Rahmen der Arbeiterrentenversicherung.

Vocational reintegration is one of the major goals of cardiac rehabilitation. 70 % of blue-collar workers under 50 years of age resume their job after in-patient cardiac rehabilitation. 10 % are hindered to do so by cardiac problems. Specific measures exist that may facilitate work resumption. As these measures should be started as soon as possible there is a need for predictors of return to work which can be obtained easily and at an early stage. Subjects of this prospective study were 650 patients (10 % female) under 50 years of age who participated in an in-patient cardiac rehabilitation programme under the workers' pension insurance scheme. At the beginning of programme participation, problems in work resumption as expected by the patient and by his physician were obtained, as well as depression and anxiety scores (HADS-D). Physicians' and patients' expectations concerning problems in resuming work turn out to be significant predictors of the vocational situation of the male patients six months following medical rehabilitation. The depression score obtained at the outset of the programme is the only predictor of return to work in female patients.

Structures of tryparedoxins revealing interaction with trypanothione.

Tryparedoxins (TXNs) catalyse the reduction of peroxiredoxin-type peroxidases by the bis-glutathionyl derivative of spermidine, trypanothione, and are relevant to hydroperoxide detoxification and virulence of trypanosomes. The 3D-structures of the following tryparedoxins are presented: authentic tryparedoxin1 of Crithidia fasciculata, CfTXN1; the his-tagged recombinant protein, CfTXN1H6; reduced and oxidised CfTXN2, and an alternative substrate derivative of the mutein CfTXN2H6-Cys44Ser. Cys41 (Cys40 in TXN1) of the active site motif 40-WCPPCR-45 proved to be the only solvent-exposed redox active residue in CfTXN2. In reduced TXNs, its nucleophilicity is increased by a network of hydrogen bonds. In oxidised TXNs it can be attacked by the thiol of the 1N-glutathionyl residue of trypanothione, as evidenced by the structure of 1N-glutathionylspermidine-derivatised CfTXN2H6-Cys44Ser. Modelling suggests Arg45 (44), Glu73 (72), the Ile110 (109) cis-Pro111 (110)-bond and Arg129 (128) to be involved in the binding of trypanothione to CfTXN2 (CfTXN1). The model of TXN-substrate interaction is consistent with functional characteristics of known and newly designed muteins (CfTXN2H6-Arg129Asp and Glu73Arg) and the 1N-glutathionyl-spermidine binding in the CfTXN2H6-Cys44Ser structure.

[Medical and social medicine correlates of serum cholesterol value during and after inpatient cardiologic rehabilitation--a prospective study]. / Medizinische und sozialmedizinische Korrelate des Serumcholesterinwerts während und nach stationärer kardiologischer Rehabilitation--eine prospektive Studie.

The connection between changes in the serum cholesterol value during and after in-patient cardiological rehabilitation on the one hand and medical and sociomedical variables on the other is investigated. In 162 male and female patients up to 60 years of age undergoing inpatient cardiological rehabilitation under the pension insurance scheme for workers, a significant decrease of serum cholesterol values could be observed between the beginning and the end of cardiological rehabilitation of 24.5 mg% (10.6%), with a subsequent increase of 12.5 mg% (6%) seven months later. Independent of a possible medical antilipemic therapy the group of patients with a positive occupational perspective was found to have better controlled serum cholesterol values than pensioners or those patients with a negative occupational perspective such as unemployment or dismissal. It can be assumed that those patients having a positive occupational perspective are more likely to follow dietetic and/or medical therapeutic regimes.

[Ambulatory heart groups after inpatient cardiologic rehabilitation]. / Ambulante Herzgruppen nach stationärer kardiologischer Rehabilitation.

In n = 1504 consecutive patients after inpatient cardiac rehabilitation, we investigate how many patients can be motivated to join a so-called outpatient heart group, which sociographical and medical variables influence participation, and whether participation in a heart group prompts a more health-orientated nutrition. Applying a special team-based motivation programme, almost 30% of patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation under the pension insurance scheme for workers can be motivated to join a heart group, who otherwise can hardly be prompted to do so. About 75% of them still participate in the heart group 7 months later. Initial and continuing participation are more probable in patients of middle age, male gender, with previous PTCA, moderately or severely restricted left ventricular function, and--for patients up to the age of 55 years--in case of reintegration or expected reintegration into work life. Patients after heart valve surgery are significantly less liable to join a heart group than CHD patients. Seven months after cardiac rehabilitation, medium cholesterol values have less increased among participants of heart groups than among non-participants. This may indicate a more stabilized health-orientated lifestyle among members of heart groups.

Hematocrit in relation to Apgar scores in SGA infants.

SGA infants have an increased incidence of low Apgar scores. At the same time they frequently have a high hematocrit. Since both affect outcome, it is important to know if a relationship exists between these two factors. In a study of 139 SGA newborns many had low Apgar scores at one minute: 63% of the preterms and 29% of the fullterms. Frequent abnormal hematological findings included high hematocrit. We found a positive correlation between hematocrit and the Apgar score at one minute of life that was statistically significant. The babies with a high hematocrit had significantly more often good Apgar scores. The correlation was present in preterm babies (r = 0.55) as well as in fullterms (r = 0.32). It is concluded that a high hematocrit probably protects the SGA newborn against acute perinatal asphyxia. It is possible that both low Apgar scores and "normal" hematocrit are signs of a chronically impaired SGA fetus.

Optical design of airport control tower cabs.

A study has been made of optical aspects of airport control towers as part of a planned general optimization of control towers by Transport Canada. Problems found were reflections, glare, visual obstructions, identification of distant objects, and excessive solar heat. The study makes recommendations on cab shape, tower height, glazing, shades, sunglasses, binoculars, and internal lighting. Proper choice of cab shape (e.g., 30 degrees window inclination and 12-28 sides) provided effective control of reflections. Some plastic shades werefound to increase the risk of eye damage. Two tower cabs incorporating the recommendations have been built and were found to be satisfactory.

[Subjective causal explanation models in the process of coping with a physical impairment (author's transl)]. / Subjektive Kausalmodelle im Prozess der Bewältigung einer körperlichen Schädigung.

The article points out to what extent subjective cognitions and, in particular, naïve explanation models can influence the process of adjustment to the functional limitations of person afflicted with a permanent or long-lasting impairment of his physical integrity. Examples of persons with fairly different types of impairments indicate that in such cases, individual explanation models must always be assumed. This is all the more important because these models can considerably hamper rehabilitation and preventive procedures as a result of their influence on personal experience and behaviour. On the basis of these statements the article points out the necessity of taking the psychological situation of the individual still more into account within the overall treatment.