Anxiety and attention shifting in professional baseball players.

Based on the work of both Eysenck and Nideffer, we hypothesized that higher ranking players (HRP) would have lower competitive anxiety and more flexible attention-shifting, compared to lower ranking players (LRP). In addition, different patterns of attention (low anxiety and flexible attention) would be represented by a different pattern of brain activity within the temporal lobe and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. In accordance with the rookie draft ranking, the players were classified into 2 groups: HRP (top 30% of those selected in the draft) vs. LRP (bottom 30% of those selected in the draft). For assessment of executive function, a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card-sorting Test (WCST) was used. Brain activity was assessed using 1.5-Tesla functional magnetic resonance imaging. In response to scenes depicting baseball errors, HRP showed increased activation in the left cingulate cortex and decreased activation in right middle temporal gyrus, compared to LRP. In response to the simplified WCST in the scanner, HRP showed increased activation in left superior frontal cortex (DLPFC), compared to LRP. The present results suggest that HRP may demonstrate elevated cingulate activation and lower temporal cortex activation in response to scenes depicting baseball errors.

Sports therapy for attention, cognitions and sociality.

The aim of the present study was to understand if sport improves attention symptoms, social competency, and cognitive functions in children with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The present study was designed as a 6-week, prospective trial, including 12 sessions of education/sports therapy. 13 ADHD children participated in a 90-min athletic activity (sports-cADHD) twice a week, while 15 ADHD children received education on behavior control (edu-cADHD). During the 6-week treatment period, the sports-cADHD group showed greater improvements in DuPaul's ADHD Rating Scale scores, parent and teacher version (K-ARS-PT), compared to those of the edu-sADHD group. The cognitive functions assessed with the digit symbol and Trail-Making Test part B (TMT B) were improved in the sports-cADHD group, while the cognitive functions observed in the edu-sADHD group were not significantly changed. The cooperativeness scores in the sports-cADHD group were greatly increased compared to those of the edu-sADHD group. The results demonstrated a positive correlation with sports and improvement in attention symptoms, cognitive symptoms and social skills. The results of the present study suggest that therapy in the form of athletic activity may increase social competency in children with ADHD, as demonstrated by improved cognitive functions.

The flavonoid baicalin counteracts ischemic and oxidative insults to retinal cells and lipid peroxidation to brain membranes.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the flavonoid, baicalin is effective at blunting the negative influence of ischemia/reperfusion to the rat retina in situ and of various insults to a transformed retinal ganglion cells (RGC-5 cells) in culture. Baicalin was administered intraperitoneally just before and after an ischemic insult to retina of one eye of a rat. Ischemia was delivered by raising the intraocular pressure above the systolic blood pressure for 50min. Seven days after ischemia, retinas were analysed for the localisation of various antigens. Retinal extracts were also analysed for various mRNAs. Moreover, the content of specific proteins was deduced in retinal and optic nerve extracts. Also, RGC-5 cells in culture were given one of three different insults, light (1000lx for 2 days), hydrogen peroxide (200microM H(2)O(2) for 24h) or serum deprivation (48h) where cell survival and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was assayed. Moreover, a lipid peroxidation assay was used to compare the antioxidant capacity of baicalin with the flavonoid, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Ischemia/reperfusion to the retina affected the localisation of Thy-1 and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and the content of various proteins (optic nerve and retina) and mRNAs (retina). Importantly, baicalin statistically blunted most of the effects induced by ischemia/reperfusion. Only the increase in caspase-8 and caspase-3 mRNAs caused by ischemia/reperfusion were unaffected by baicalin treatment. Baicalin also attenuated significantly the negative insult of light, hydrogen peroxide and serum withdrawal to RGC-5 cells. In the lipid peroxidation studies, baicalin was also found to be equally effective as EGCG to act as an antioxidant. Significantly, the negative insult of serum withdrawal on RGC-5 cell survival was blunted by baicalin but not by EGCG revealing the different properties of the two flavonoids.

The incidence of Perthes' disease in Korea: a focus on differences among races.

The purpose of this study was to determine the annual incidence of Perthes' disease in Korea and compare this with other populations. A survey identified all newly diagnosed children with Perthes' disease aged 14 years or younger in South Honam, Korea, between January 1999 and December 2001. A total of 84 children were included: 29 in 1999, 28 in 2000 and 27 in 2001. The mean annual incidence was 3.8 per 100 000. This is similar to that reported in other Asian countries, but higher than in black populations and lower than in Caucasians.