Motor adaptations to unilateral quadriceps fatigue during a bilateral pedaling task.

This study was designed to investigate how motor coordination adapts to unilateral fatigue of the quadriceps during a constant-load bilateral pedaling task. We first hypothesized that this local fatigue would not be compensated within the fatigued muscles leading to a decreased knee extension power. Then, we aimed to determine whether this decrease would be compensated by between-joints compensations within the ipsilateral leg and/or an increased contribution of the contralateral leg. Fifteen healthy volunteers were tested during pedaling at 350 W before and after a fatigue protocol consisting of 15 minutes of electromyostimulation on the quadriceps muscle. Motor coordination was assessed from myoelectrical activity (22 muscles) and joint powers calculated through inverse dynamics. Maximal knee extension torque decreased by 28.3%±6.8% (P<.0005) immediately after electromyostimulation. A decreased knee extension power produced by the ipsilateral leg was observed during pedaling (-22.8±12.3 W, -17.0%±9.4%; P<.0005). To maintain the task goal, participants primarily increased the power produced by the non-fatigued contralateral leg during the flexion phase. This was achieved by an increase in hip flexion power confirmed by a higher activation of the tensor fascia latae. These results suggest no adjustment of neural drive to the fatigued muscles and demonstrate no concurrent ipsilateral compensation by the non-fatigued muscles involved in the extension pedaling phase. Although interindividual variability was observed, findings provide evidence that participants predominantly adapted by compensating with the contralateral leg during its flexion phase. Both neural (between legs) and mechanical (between pedals) couplings and the minimization of cost functions might explain these results.

Full second-order chromatographic/spectrometric data matrices for automated sample identification and component analysis by non-data-reducing image analysis.

A data analysis method is proposed for identification and for confirmation of classification schemes, based on single- or multiple-wavelength chromatographic profiles. The proposed method works directly on the chromatographic data without data reduction procedures such as peak area or retention index calculation. Chromatographic matrices from analysis of previously identified samples are used for generating a reference chromatogram for each class, and unidentified samples are compared with all reference chromatograms by calculating a resemblance measure for each reference. Once the method is configured, subsequent sample identification is automatic. As an example of a further development, it is shown how the method allows identification of characteristic sample components by local similarity calculations thus finding common components within a given class as well as component differences between classes from the reference chromatograms. This feature is a valuable aid in selecting components for further analysis. The identification method is demonstrated on two data sets: 212 isolates from 41 food-borne Penicillium species and 61 isolates from 6 soil-borne Penicillium species. Both data sets yielded over 90% agreement with accepted classifications. The method is highly accurate and may be used on all sorts of chromatographic profiles. Characteristic component analysis yielded results in good agreement with existing knowledge of characteristic components, but also succeeded in identifying new components as being characteristic.

[Neurotic and depressive status related to organic pathology in patients in thermal therapy]. / Stati nevrotici e depressivi in rapporto con la patologia organica in utenti termali.

Females and males with no psychiatric history, 25-75 years old, attending thermal facilities in Boario Terme (N = 449) and in Sangemini Terme (N = 40) were administered, on the 2nd-3rd day of their admission, a questionnaire expressly conceive in order to declare conscious motivations for thermal treatments and, in addiction, the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ), the Zung Self Rating Scale for Depression (ZUNG-D) and the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), in order to detect neurotic symptoms and/or anxious or depressive complaints in this kind of population. A re-test was performed after 10 days by 73 subjects, in order to verify the impact of thermal treatments on psychoneurotic profiles. Baseline data were compared with those from normal controls and psychiatric outpatients. All statistical comparisons (probands versus matched controls; test versus re-test) were analysed by means of two-tailed Student "t" test (lever of significance: p less than 0.05). In the light of the data so obtained, subjects attending thermal facilities show a typical MHQ psychoneurotic profile, more marked in females and in subjects with gastrointestinal referred somatic disease and partially responding to thermal treatments, which supports the hypothesis that a particular form of neurosis may play a significant role in motivating request of thermal therapies. The results are largely discussed.

Therapeutic effects of fengabine, a new GABAergic agent, in depressed outpatients: a double-blind study versus clomipramine.

The results of a double-blind clinical trial of fengabine vs clomipramine in depressed outpatients are reported. Fengabine, a new GABAergic agent, seems to be as effective as the reference drug, with a faster onset of action and a more marked effect on cognitive disturbances and retardation. The new drug is free of any significant anticholinergic or cardiovascular effect, and it is not sedative.

[Study of the motivations for balneotherapy. Considerations on the needs of thermal baths users]. / Studio delle motivazioni alla terapia idropinica. Considerazioni sui bisogni dell'utente termale.

After a brief reminder of the dual therapeutic aspect (biological and psychological) of spa treatment, the results are presented of a series of psychological reaction tests (McFarland's Psychosomatic Inventory, the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire, the Rorschach test) given to a randomized sample of 106 patients together with semistructured interviews conducted by two different psychiatrists. The results show substantial agreement between the motivations volunteered verbally and those revealed by the tests and may be summed up as affective rigidity, impoverished emotional life and difficulty in handling body-related anxieties. It is therefore suggested that it would be useful to create a psychosocial spa centre able to provide global treatment adapted to the specific needs of individual users.

Age-related multiple-dose pharmacokinetics and anxiolytic effects of delorazepam (chlordesmethyldiazepam).

The kinetics of delorazepam (chlordesmethyldiazepam; CDDZ), and its major metabolite, lorazepam (LRZ) during multiple-dose therapy have been evaluated in two groups of patients with primary or secondary anxiety. The 12 patients in group 1 were 46.8 +/- less than 13.2 years while the eight in group 2 were significantly older (69.7 +/- 7.8 years). All patients were given 0.5 mg twice daily of CDDZ for 30 days. Concentrations of CDDZ and LRZ in multiple blood samples collected during the study were determined by electron-capture gas-liquid chromatography. The degree of anxiety was evaluated from the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety (HRSA). CDDZ and LRZ accumulated in plasma but the rate of accumulation of CDDZ was slower than expected from studies in young volunteers and the half-life values were significantly related to age. Steady-state levels of glucuronated LRZ were also lower in elderly patients. Data indicate that CDDZ is more slowly eliminated and less metabolized as age increases. While pre-treatment scores of HRSA were similar in the two groups, older patients improved significantly less than those of group 1 and had also an higher incidence of side-effects. CDDZ levels positively correlated with improvement in group 1 but not in group 2.

[Psychological profile of the spa user. Preliminary study of motivations for spa treatment]. / Il profilo psicologico dell'utente termale. Studio preliminare delle motivazioni alla terapia termale idropinica.

The main psychological and possible psychopathological traits of the spa user are identified and classified in order to clarify motivational aspects. Two different self-assessment tests, the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were given, the first to 500 subjects who had undergone spa treatment cycles lasting at least 10 days and the second to a control group of 50. MHQ data showed a significant incidence of certain neurotic traits, especially phobia, obsession and somatisation in the first group. Despite their different areas of competence and survey methods, both questionnaires produced results to support the hypothesis that a particular form of neurosis may play a significant part in motivating recourse to spa treatment.