Adaptation of tape removal test for measurement of sensitivity in perineal area of rat.

Regeneration after spinal cord injury is a goal of many studies. Although the most obvious target is to recover motor function, restoration of sensation can also improve the quality of life after spinal cord injury. For many patients, recovery of sensation in the perineal and genital area is a high priority. Currently there is no experimental test in rodents for measuring changes in sensation in the perineal and genital area after spinal cord injury. The aim of our study was to develop a behavioural test for measuring the sensitivity of the perineal and genital area in rats. We have modified the tape removal test used routinely to test sensorimotor deficits after stroke and spinal cord injury to test the perineal area with several variations. A small piece of tape (approximately 1 cm2) was attached to the perineal area. Time to first contact and to the removal of the tape was measured. Each rat was trained for 5 consecutive days and then tested weekly. We compared different rat strains (Wistar, Sprague-Dawley, Long-Evans and Lewis), both genders, shaving and non-shaving and different types of tape. We found that the test was suitable for all tested strains, however, Lewis rats achieved the lowest contact times, but this difference was significant only for the first few days of learning the task. There were no significant differences between gender and different types of tape or shaving. After training the animals underwent dorsal column lesion at T10 and were tested at day 3, 8, 14 and 21. The test detected a sensory deficit, the average time across all animals to sense the stimulus increased from 1'32 up to 3'20. There was a strong relationship between lesion size and tape detection time, and only lesions that extended laterally to the dorsal root entry zone produced significant sensory deficits. Other standard behavioural tests (BBB, von Frey, ladder and Plantar test) were performed in the same animals. There was a correlation between lesion size and deficit for the ladder and BBB tests, but not for the von Frey and Plantar tests. We conclude that the tape removal test is suitable for testing perineal sensation in rats, can be used in different strains and is appropriate for monitoring changes in sensation after spinal cord injury.

Postural and trunk responses to unexpected perturbations depend on the velocity and direction of platform motion.

This study compares postural and trunk responses to translating platform perturbations of varied velocities and directions. A group of 18 young and physically active subjects were exposed to a set of postural perturbations at varied velocities (5, 10, 15, and 20 cm/s) and directions of platform movement (forward, backward, left-lateral, and right-lateral). The center of pressure (CoP) displacement measurement, in addition to the trunk motion (representing the center of mass (CoM) displacement), were both monitored. Results identified that the CoP displacement increased from slow to faster velocities of platform motion more widely in both anterior and posterior directions (50.4 % and 48.4 %) as compared to the CoM displacement (17.8 % and 14.9 %). However a greater increase in the peak CoM velocity (70.3 % and 69.6 %) and the peak CoM acceleration (60.5 % and 53.1 %) was observed. The values in the anterior and posterior direction only differed significantly at the highest velocity of platform motion (i.e. 20 cm/s). A similar tendency was observed in the medio-lateral direction, but there were no significant differences in any parameter in the left-lateral and right-lateral direction. The velocity of the platform motion highly correlated with peak velocity (r=0.92-0.97, P<0.01) and moderately with amplitude of trunk displacement (r=0.56-0.63, P<0.05). These findings indicate that the velocity of perturbation alters peak CoM velocity rather than the magnitude of CoM displacement. The effect of the direction of perturbations on the trunk response emerges only at a high velocity of platform motion, such that the peak CoM velocity and peak CoM acceleration are significantly greater in anterior than posterior direction.

[Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the light of new guidelines -  brief summary of phenotypically oriented guidelines for nonpulmonary physicians]. / Chronická obstrukcní plicní nemoc pohledem nových doporucení -  souhrn aktuálního fenotypove zamereného standardu Ceské pneumologické a ftizeologické spolecnosti pro internisty.

INTRODUCTION: COPD is a global health and social problem. Morbidity and mortality increases in the Czech Republic. There are currently several global statements and strategies. METHODS: The Czech Pneumological and Phthisiological Society (CPFS) at the end of 2011 mandated the Section of bronchial obstruction in drafting national guidelines concerning the stable COPD. Subsequently, this document was discussed during the National Consensus Conference (COPD forum) in November 2012 and presented at series of local workshops and national conferences. National guidelines has been subject to a review and eventually posted on the website for another round of comments. DIAGNOSIS: A modern approach to COPD is a view of the patient through the pulmonary function, symptoms, exacerbation rates and the presence of specific phenotypes. CPFS identified six clinically relevant phenotypes: frequent exacerbators, COPD and asthma overlap, COPD and bronchiectasis overlap, emphysematic phenotype, bronchitic phenotype and phenotype of pulmonary cachexia. TREATMENT: TREATMENT recommendations can be divided into four elementary steps: the first step is the Elimination of all risks factors. The second one is the Standard therapy including in particular inhaled bronchodilators, pulmonary rehabilitation, and treatment of severe comorbidities. The third step is the Targeted therapy centered on clinical phenotypes of COPD. The final fourth step is the treatment of respiratory insufficiency and palliative care of the terminal COPD. CONCLUSION: The optimal treatment of COPD requires a personalized approach to the patient.