A morphological study of the shape of the corpus callosum in normal, schizophrenic and bipolar patients.

Abnormalities in the morphology of the corpus callosum have been found to be involved in cognitive impairments or abnormal behaviour in patients with mental disorders such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. The present study investigated morphological shape differences of the corpus callosum in a large cohort of 223 participants between normal, schizophrenic and bipolar patients on MRI scans, CT scans and cadaver samples. Healthy samples were compared to a mental disorder population sample to determine morphological shapes variations associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Landmark-based methodology was used to contour the corpus callosum shape that served as standard positions to allow for radial and thickness partitioning in order to determine shape variations within the specific localised anatomical sections of the corpus callosum. Shape analysis was performed using Ordinary Procrustes averaging and superimposing landmarks to define an average landmark position for the specific regions of the corpus callosum. No significant global shape differences were found between the different mental disorders. Schizophrenia and bipolar shapes differed mostly in the genu-rostrum, posterior body, isthmus and splenium. Sample group comparisons yielded significant differences between all groups and global measurement parameters and in various sub-regions. The findings of the present study suggest that the corpus callosum in schizophrenia and bipolar differs significantly compared to healthy controls, specifically in the anterior body and isthmus for schizophrenia and only in the isthmus for bipolar disorder. Shape changes in these regions may possibly, in part, be responsible for the symptoms and cognitive impairments observed in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

The Association Between Anterior Cruciate Ligament Length and Femoral Epicondylar Width Measured on Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging or Radiograph.

PURPOSE: To determine whether femoral epicondylar width (FECW) obtained from either magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or plain radiographs could be used to predict anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) length. A secondary purpose was to develop a formula to use maximum FECW on either MRI or plain radiographs to estimate ACL length preoperatively. METHODS: The MRIs and radiographs of 40 patients (mean age 41.0 years), with no apparent knee pathology, surgery, or trauma were included. The ACL length was measured on MRI followed by FECW on both MRI and radiograph of the same patient. This allowed the development of equations able to predict ACL length according to the FECW measured on either an MRI or radiograph. RESULTS: The mean ACL length was 40.6 ± 3.6 mm. FECW measured on both MRIs and radiographs was sufficient to predict ACL length. Pearson's correlations revealed a high positive relationship between ACL length and FECW on MRI (r = 0.89, P < .0001) and ACL length and FECW on radiograph (r = 0.83, P < .0001). The coefficient of determination (R2) was calculated to be MRI: R2 = 0.78 and radiograph: R2 = 0.68 and confirmed that FECW measured on both MRI and radiograph were sufficient to predict ACL length. Based on these models, ACL length can be predicted by FECW using the following formulas: MRI: ACL length = 0.47 (FECW) + 1.93 and radiograph: ACL length = 0.31 (FECW) + 11.33. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that FECW measured on either MRI or anteroposterior radiograph could reliably estimate ACL length on a sagittal MRI. There was a high positive relationship between ACL length and FECW on both MRI and radiographs, although MRIs do predict ACL length more reliably. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Preoperative ACL length assessment, using FECW on MRI or radiograph, is useful in graft selection and in preventing inadequate graft harvesting for ACL reconstruction, especially if an individualized anatomical approach is pursued.

Effect of Mixed Basic Military Training on the Physical Fitness of Male and Female Soldiers.

INTRODUCTION: Mixed gender basic military training (BMT) is adopted to integrate the female South African soldier into the military. This study aimed to assess gender differences before, during (12 weeks), and after a 20-week mixed BMT course and determine if BMT significantly reduced these differences. METHODS: A total of 186 soldiers (114 male: mean age = 21.0 ± 1.1 year; 72 female: mean age = 20.5 ± 1.2 year) completed the BMT course and all anthropometric, physical fitness, explosive power, and hand grip strength measurements. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used to model BMT data with main effects for gender comparison between males and females, and time main effect for evaluation of differences between weeks 1, 12, and 20 of BMT, as well as an interaction effect for differences in changes over time for males and females. Alpha was set at α ≤0.05. RESULTS: Male soldiers were significantly taller (p < 0.001) and scored better in all measurements at the start of BMT, differences ranged from 1.6% to 50% between genders. Differences narrowed by up to 18.5% in aerobic, push-up, abdominal measurements, and to 4.6% in the South African National Defense Force fitness test. Differences in power output and hand grip strength remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: Large initial anthropometrical and physical fitness differences decreased but were still obvious at the end of BMT. BMT should bridge the physical gap between male and female soldiers to ensure they can all perform the same duties. The enforcing of equal minimum physical fitness requirements for acceptance into BMT; conditional acceptance into the military subject to the successful completion of a bridging course aimed at improving physical fitness in individuals who do not meet the minimum physical fitness requirements for acceptance; and developing a cyclic physical training program with different entry points, dependent on initial physical performance at the start of BMT, ensuring adequate progression and overload for all soldiers are possible avenues to explore to achieve this goal.

The Difference Between Exercise-Induced Autonomic and Fitness Changes Measured After 12 and 20 Weeks of Medium-to-High Intensity Military Training.

Grant, CC, Mongwe, L, Janse van Rensburg, DC, Fletcher, L, Wood, PS, Terblanche, E, and du Toit, PJ. The difference between exercise-induced autonomic and fitness changes measured after 12 and 20 weeks of medium-to-high intensity military training. J Strength Cond Res 30(9): 2453-2459, 2016-The aim of this study was to compare the physical fitness, based on VO2max and exercise-induced cardiac autonomic changes, measured by heart rate variability (HRV) of 12 weeks with 20 weeks of training in the South African National Defence Force. Recruits (n = 154) participated in a medium-to-high intensity exercise intervention (daily energy expenditure: 8,485 kJ·d). The significant effect on VO2max between weeks 1 and 12 (48.57, SD = 9.25 vs. 53.36, SD = 7.21] did not continue during weeks 12-20 (53.36, SD = 7.21 vs. 53.87, SD = 7.87). No changes in the supine low frequency (LF)/high frequency (HF) (0.48, SD = 0.51 vs. 0.41, SD = 0.64) or the standing LF/HF (4.02, SD = 5.14 vs. 3.91, SD = 5.28), an indicator of autonomic balance and a possible indicator of overtraining syndrome, suggests that overtraining did not take place during weeks 12-20. This was confirmed with further decreases in supine and standing heart rate. However, the power of the vagal-induced variability continued to increase after 12 weeks. Increased vagal influence without concurrent change in autonomic balance may be interpreted as decreased sympathetic cardiac control. It is important to note that although no fitness changes were detected, positive cardiac autonomic conditioning did continue between weeks 12 and 20, as measured by increased vagal-induced HRV and decreased sympathetic influence on cardiac control. Results may be extrapolated to training in the normal population/athletes after a medium-to-high intensity exercise program, as this intervention was a closely monitored and standardized exercise program.