The effect of a home-based, gamified stability skills intervention on 4-5-year-old children's physical and cognitive outcomes: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Stability skills (e.g., static/dynamic balance) are a precursor for other movement skill development (e.g., jumping, catching). However, young children consistently demonstrate low stability and movement skill ability. There is therefore a need to develop effective strategies to improve stability skills in early childhood. AIM: To pilot the effect of a home-based gamified stability skills intervention on 4-5-year-old children's physical skills, self-perceptions and cognitions. METHODS: One-hundred-and-eleven 4-5-year-old children participated from three schools. Two schools were allocated into the intervention group (n = 66 children, 33 boys) and one to the control group (n = 45 children, 25 boys). Stability, fundamental movement skills, perceived motor competence, and cognition were assessed at baseline and at post-intervention. The intervention group was given a booklet detailing the 12-week gamified stability skill intervention. The control group participated in their usual weekly activities. RESULTS: A series of ANCOVAs controlling for baseline values demonstrated significantly higher stability skills (F(1,93) = 24.79, p < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.212), fundamental movement skills (F(1,94) = 15.5, p = < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.139), perceived motor competence (F(1,96) = 5.48, p = 0.021, partial η2 = 0.054) and cognition (F(1,96) = 15.5, p = < 0.001, partial η2 = 0.139) at post-test for the intervention versus control groups. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that a home-based, gamified, stability skills intervention enhances stability skills, fundamental movement skills, perceived motor competence and cognition in children aged 4-5-years old.

Development of ELIP to Assess Physical Literacy for Emerging Adults: A Methodological and Epistemological Challenge.

Purpose: Following increased interest in physical literacy (PL), development of appropriate tools for assessment has become an important next step for its operationalization. To forward the development of such tools, the objective of this study was to build the foundations of the Évaluation de la Littératie Physique (ELIP), designed to help reduce existing tensions in approaches to PL assessment that may be resulting in a low uptake into applied settings. Methods: We followed two steps: (1) the development of the first version of ELIP by deploying a Delphi method (n = 30); and (2) the modification of items through cognitive interviews with emerging adults (n = 32). Results: The expert consensus highlighted four dimensions of PL to be assessed-physical; affective; cognitive; and social-with new perspectives, including a preference for broad motor tests over fitness. Conclusion: Results offer new insights into the assessment of emerging adults' PL, but ELIP still requires further work concerning validity, reliability, and sensitivity.

Hot saline irrigation for haemostasis in functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence on the role of hot saline irrigation in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery and its impact on the visibility of the surgical field. METHOD: A search of PubMed, Cochrane, Ovid databases and Google Scholar was performed. RESULTS: Three randomised controlled trials were included. Pooled meta-analysis demonstrated a statistically significant better visibility of the surgical field, and a reduction in total blood loss and operating time during functional endoscopic sinus surgery in the hot saline irrigation group compared with the room temperature irrigation group. Subgroup analysis of studies that did not use vasoconstrictors showed a significant reduction in total blood loss and operating time. CONCLUSION: This is the first systematic review that addresses hot saline irrigation for haemostasis in functional endoscopic sinus surgery. The results suggest that hot saline irrigation in functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis may significantly improve visibility of the surgical field, reduce total blood loss by 20 per cent and decrease operating time by 9 minutes. However, there are limitations of the study because of the significant heterogeneity of the methods, quality and size of the studies.

Disability from chronic ear disease in Nepal assessed using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 instrument.

OBJECTIVE: Globally, South Asia has the highest proportion of disabling hearing loss. There is a paucity of data exploring the associated hearing loss and disability caused by chronic middle-ear disease in South Asia in the setting of surgical outreach. This study aimed to measure disability using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 in patients undergoing ear surgery for chronic middle-ear disease in an ear hospital in Nepal. METHOD: The World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 was translated into Nepali and administered by interview to patients before ear surgery, and results were correlated with pre-operative audiograms. RESULTS: Out of a total of 106 patients with a mean age of 23 years, the mean World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 score was 17.7, and the highest domain scores were for domain 6 'participation in society' at a score of 34. There was a positive correlation of World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2 score with hearing level (r = 0.46). CONCLUSION: Patients with ear disease in Nepal have had their disability measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Our study demonstrated a correlation between impaired hearing and disability in a surgical outreach context, which was an expected but not previously reported finding.

Case report series: revisiting third and fourth pharyngeal arch anomalies, - are they thymopharyngeal duct remnants?

BACKGROUND: Pharyngeal arch anomalies are the second most common form of head and neck congenital defect. The second arch anomalies are the most common, and compromise 95% of cases. Little is known about the 3rd and 4th arch anomalies as they are extremely rare. They most commonly present in childhood with sudden severe left lateral neck infection and abscess formation with considerable tendency to recur, contributing to significant mortality and morbidity in those patients. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we present four cases finally diagnosed as third or fourth pharyngeal arch anomalies, with more than 20 years of follow-up following their definitive surgery. The possibility that they are thymopharyngeal duct remnants is discussed. CONCLUSION: Meticulous open radical surgical excision of all involved paralaryngeal, parapharyngeal and thyroid tissue, with preservation of the superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves, is required for cure of recurrent cases.

Thy 3F and 3a malignancy rate, a multisite regional retrospective case series.

Introduction The aim of this study was to ascertain the incidence of thyroid cancer for patients categorised as Thy3, 3a or 3f across four tertiary thyroid multidisciplinary centres in the UK. Material and methods This is a retrospective case series examining patients who presented with a thyroid nodule and diagnosed as Thy3, 3a or 3f according to the Royal College of Pathologists modified British Thyroid Association and Royal College of Physicians Thy system. Results In total, 395 patients were included in this study. Of these, 136 turned out to have benign thyroid disease and 24 had micropapillary thyroid carcinomas. The overall rate of thyroid malignancy was 28.8%. For each subcategory, the rate of malignancy was Thy3 24.7.7%, Thy3a 30.4% and Thy3f 29.2. However, the incidence of thyroid malignancy varied considerably between the four centres (Thy 3f 18-54%). Discussion The diagnosis of thyroid cancer is evolving but detection for malignancy for indeterminate nodules remains below 50% for most centres around the world. In 2014, the British Thyroid Association subdivided the original Thy3 category into Thy3a and Thy3f and recommended a more conservative approach to management for Thy3a nodules. Despite this, only two centres yielded a higher conversion rate of malignancy in the new higher graded Thy3f group compared with Thy3a. Conclusion It is debateable whether the new 'Thy3' subcategories are more useful than the original. Local thyroid malignancy rates may also be more useful than national averages to inform treatment decisions.

Early molecular signatures of responses of wheat to Zymoseptoria tritici in compatible and incompatible interactions.

Zymoseptoria tritici, the causal agent of septoria tritici blotch, a serious foliar disease of wheat, is a necrotrophic pathogen that undergoes a long latent period. Emergence of insensitivity to fungicides, and pesticide reduction policies, mean there is a pressing need to understand septoria and control it through greater varietal resistance. Stb6 and Stb15, the most common qualitative resistance genes in modern wheat cultivars, determine specific resistance to avirulent fungal genotypes following a gene-for-gene relationship. This study investigated compatible and incompatible interactions of wheat with Z. tritici using eight combinations of cultivars and isolates, with the aim of identifying molecular responses that could be used as markers for disease resistance during the early, symptomless phase of colonization. The accumulation of TaMPK3 was estimated using western blotting, and the expression of genes implicated in gene-for-gene interactions of plants with a wide range of other pathogens was measured by qRT-PCR during the presymptomatic stages of infection. Production of TaMPK3 and expression of most of the genes responded to inoculation with Z. tritici but varied considerably between experimental replicates. However, there was no significant difference between compatible and incompatible interactions in any of the responses tested. These results demonstrate that the molecular biology of the gene-for-gene interaction between wheat and Zymoseptoria is unlike that in many other plant diseases, indicate that environmental conditions may strongly influence early responses of wheat to infection by Z. tritici, and emphasize the importance of including both compatible and incompatible interactions when investigating the biology of this complex pathosystem.

Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Cellular Inflammation in Patients with Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is critical in the pathogenesis of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) disease. Combined (18)F-fludeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET-CT) and ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide (USPIO)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are non-invasive methods of assessing tissue inflammation. The aim of this study was to compare these techniques in patients with AAA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients with asymptomatic AAA with diameter 46 ± 7 mm underwent PET-CT with (18)F-FDG, and T2*-weighted MRI before and 24 hours after administration of USPIO. The PET-CT and MRI data were then co-registered. Standardised uptake values (SUVs) were calculated to measure (18)F-FDG activity, and USPIO uptake was determined using the change in R2*. Comparisons between the techniques were made using a quadrant analysis and a voxel-by-voxel evaluation. RESULTS: When all areas of the aneurysm were evaluated, there was a modest correlation between the SUV on PET-CT and the change in R2* on USPIO-enhanced MRI (n = 70,345 voxels; r = .30; p < .0001). Although regions of increased (18)F-FDG and USPIO uptake co-localised on occasion, this was infrequent (kappa statistic 0.074; 95% CI 0.026-0.122). (18)F-FDG activity was commonly focused in the shoulder region whereas USPIO uptake was more apparent in the main body of the aneurysm. Maximum SUV was lower in patients with mural USPIO uptake. CONCLUSIONS: Both (18)F-FDG PET-CT and USPIO-MRI uptake identify vascular inflammation associated with AAA. Although they demonstrate a modest correlation, there are distinct differences in the pattern and distribution of uptake, suggesting a differential detection of macrophage glycolytic and phagocytic activity respectively.

A holistic measurement model of movement competency in children.

Different countries have different methods for assessing movement competence in children; however, it is unclear whether the test batteries that are used measure the same aspects of movement competence. The aim of this paper was to (1) investigate whether the Test of Gross Motor Development (TGMD-2) and Körperkoordinations Test für Kinder (KTK) measure the same aspects of children's movement competence and (2) examine the factorial structure of the TGMD-2 and KTK in a sample of Australian children. A total of 158 children participated (M age = 9.5; SD = 2.2). First, confirmatory factor analysis examined the independent factorial structure of the KTK and TGMD-2. Second, it was investigated whether locomotor, object control and body coordination loaded on the latent variable Movement Competency. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate fit for both the KTK and TGMD-2. An adequate fit was also achieved for the final model. In this model, locomotor (r = .86), object control (r = .71) and body coordination (r = .52) loaded on movement competence. Findings support our hypothesis that the TGMD-2 and KTK measure discrete aspects of movement competence. Future researchers and practitioners should consider using a wider range of test batteries to assess movement competence.

Aortic stenosis, atherosclerosis, and skeletal bone: is there a common link with calcification and inflammation?

AIMS: The pathophysiology of aortic stenosis shares many similarities with atherosclerosis and skeletal bone formation. Using non-invasive imaging, we compared aortic valve calcification and inflammation activity with that measured in atherosclerosis and bone. METHODS AND RESULTS: Positron emission and computed tomography was performed using 18F-sodium fluoride (18F-NaF, calcification) and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG, inflammation) in 101 patients with calcific aortic valve disease (81 aortic stenosis and 20 aortic sclerosis). Calcium scores and positron emission tomography tracer activity (tissue-to-background ratio; TBR) were measured in the aortic valve, coronary arteries, thoracic aorta, and bone. Over 90% of the cohort had coexistent calcific atheroma, yet correlations between calcium scores were weak or absent (valve vs. aorta r(2) = 0.015, P = 0.222; valve vs. coronaries r(2) = 0.039, P = 0.049) as were associations between calcium scores and bone mineral density (BMD vs. valve r(2) = 0.000, P = 0.766; vs. aorta r(2) = 0.052, P = 0.025; vs. coronaries r(2) = 0.016, P = 0.210). 18F-NaF activity in the valve was 28% higher than in the aorta (TBR: 2.66 ± 0.84 vs. 2.11 ± 0.31, respectively, P < 0.001) and correlated more strongly with the severity of aortic stenosis (r(2) = 0.419, P < 0.001) than 18F-NaF activity outwith the valve (valve vs. aorta r(2) = 0.167, P < 0.001; valve vs. coronary arteries r(2) = 0.174, P < 0.001; valve vs. bone r(2) = 0.001, P = 0.806). In contrast, 18F-FDG activity was lower in the aortic valve than the aortic atheroma (TBR: 1.56 ± 0.21 vs. 1.81 ± 0.24, respectively, P < 0.001) and more closely associated with uptake outwith the valve (valve vs. aorta r(2) = 0.327, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with aortic stenosis, disease activity appears to be determined by local calcific processes within the valve that are distinct from atherosclerosis and skeletal bone metabolism.

Genetic Analysis of Adult Plant Resistance to Yellow Rust and Leaf Rust in Common Spring Wheat Quaiu 3.

Identifying and utilizing rust resistance genes in wheat has been hampered by the continuous and rapid emergence of new pathogen races. A major focus of many wheat breeding programs is achieving durable adult plant resistance (APR) to yellow (stripe) rust (YR) and leaf (brown) rust (LR), caused by Puccinia striiformis and P. triticina, respectively. This study aimed to determine the genetic basis of resistance to YR and LR in the common spring wheat 'Quaiu 3'. To that end, we evaluated 198 F5 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross of susceptible 'Avocet-YrA' with Quaiu 3, for APR to LR and YR in artificially inoculated field trials conducted in Mexico during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. High narrow-sense heritability (h2) estimates, ranging between 0.91 and 0.95, were obtained for both LR and YR disease severities for both years. The quantitative and qualitative approaches used to estimate gene numbers showed that, in addition to known resistance genes, there are at least two to three APR genes associated with LR and YR resistance in the RIL population. The moderately effective race-specific resistance gene Lr42 and the pleiotropic slow-rusting APR gene Lr46/Yr29 were found to interact with additional unidentified APR genes. The unidentified APR genes should be of particular interest for further characterization through molecular mapping, and for utilization by wheat breeding programs.

The significance of chloride in the inhibitory action of disodium cromoglycate on immunologically-stimulated rat peritoneal mast cells.

BACKGROUND: The microelectrode array (MEA) was used to investigate the pharmacological relevance of chloride (Cl-) ions in antigen-dependent mast cell activation and the inhibitory effect of disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) on mast cell activation. METHODS: The movements of ions across the cellular membrane and the potential relationship between Cl- channels and DSCG during immunological activation were investigated using the MEA. The results were then subsequently compared with the amount of histamine released from anti-IgE activated peritoneal mast cells. RESULTS: The inclusion of charybdotoxin (ChTX) in Cl--free buffer showed that the measured field potentials during antigen-stimulated peritoneal mast cell were a combination of Cl- influx and K+ efflux. The delayed onset time of Cl- influx indicated the presence of a delayed outwardly-rectifying Cl- current in the antigen-stimulated peritoneal mast cells. The use of 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino) benzoic acid demonstrated that the activated mast cell membrane potential can be stabilised, thereby reducing the amount of histamine released from the anti-IgE activated mast cells. The correlation between the results of the histamine release assay and the electrophysiological measurements demonstrated the importance of Cl- to anti-IgE dependent mast cell activation. The inhibitory effect of DSCG on anti-IgE activated cells, however, did not correlate with the presumed influx of Cl-. CONCLUSIONS: The MEA data suggest that Cl- influx is crucial to IgE-dependent mast cell degranulation. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: While the MEA cannot yield information about single channel properties, it is convenient to use and can provide information on the global changes in electrophysiological responses of non-excitable cells.

Vascular imaging with positron emission tomography.

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that causes most myocardial infarctions, strokes and acute coronary syndromes. Despite the identification of multiple risk factors and widespread use of drug therapies, it still remains a global health concern with associated costs. Although angiography is established as the gold standard means of detecting coronary artery stenosis, it does not image the vessel wall itself, reporting only on its consequences such as luminal narrowing and obstruction. MRI and computed tomography provide more information about the plaque structure, but recently positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using [(18) F]-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has been advocated as a means of measuring arterial inflammation. This results from the ability of FDG-PET to highlight areas of high glucose metabolism, a feature of macrophages within atherosclerosis, particularly in high-risk plaques. It is suggested that the degree of FDG accumulation in the vessel wall reflects underlying inflammation levels and that tracking any changes in FDG uptake over time or with drug therapy might be a way of getting an early efficacy readout for novel anti-atherosclerotic drugs. Early reports also demonstrate that FDG uptake is correlated with the number of cardiovascular risk factors and possibly even the risk of future cardiovascular events. This review will outline the evidence base, shortcomings and emerging applications for FDG-PET in vascular imaging. Alternative PET tracers and other candidate imaging modalities for measuring vascular inflammation will also be discussed.

Cisplatin-induced emesis: systematic review and meta-analysis of the ferret model and the effects of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists.

PURPOSE: The ferret cisplatin emesis model has been used for ~30 years and enabled identification of clinically used anti-emetics. We provide an objective assessment of this model including efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists to assess its translational validity. METHODS: A systematic review identified available evidence and was used to perform meta-analyses. RESULTS: Of 182 potentially relevant publications, 115 reported cisplatin-induced emesis in ferrets and 68 were included in the analysis. The majority (n = 53) used a 10 mg kg⁻¹ dose to induce acute emesis, which peaked after 2 h. More recent studies (n = 11) also used 5 mg kg⁻¹, which induced a biphasic response peaking at 12 h and 48 h. Overall, 5-HT3 receptor antagonists reduced cisplatin (5 mg kg⁻¹) emesis by 68% (45-91%) during the acute phase (day 1) and by 67% (48-86%) and 53% (38-68%, all P < 0.001), during the delayed phase (days 2, 3). In an analysis focused on the acute phase, the efficacy of ondansetron was dependent on the dosage and observation period but not on the dose of cisplatin. CONCLUSION: Our analysis enabled novel findings to be extracted from the literature including factors which may impact on the applicability of preclinical results to humans. It reveals that the efficacy of ondansetron is similar against low and high doses of cisplatin. Additionally, we showed that 5-HT3 receptor antagonists have a similar efficacy during acute and delayed emesis, which provides a novel insight into the pharmacology of delayed emesis in the ferret.

Complications of myocardial infarction on multidetector-row computed tomography of chest.

Myocardial infarction (MI) secondary to coronary artery disease remains the leading cause of death in the western world. The advent of early reperfusion therapy has substantially decreased in-hospital mortality and has improved the outcome in survivors of the acute phase of MI. Complications of MI include ischaemic, mechanical, arrhythmic, embolic and inflammatory disturbances. Although some of these complications may be infrequent, their importance is underscored because of the potential ability to correct them with early diagnosis and appropriate treatment. The majority of these complications will be detected on clinical examination and confirmed by echocardiography. Some patients may undergo non-electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated thoracic multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) due to non-specific presentation. In this group, it is imperative for the radiologist to be aware of and be confident in diagnosing the complications secondary to MI. This review illustrates the spectrum and imaging features of acute and chronic complications of MI that can be visualized on both ECG-gated cardiac and non-ECG-gated thoracic MDCT.

Cannabinoid-induced reduction in antral pacemaker frequency: a telemetric study in the ferret.

BACKGROUND: The gastric myoelectric activity (GMA) is the electrical pacesetter potential, which drives gastric motility. Cannabinoids have broad-spectrum antiemetic and antinauseant activity. Paradoxically, they inhibit intestinal peristalsis and reduce gastric motility but their effect on GMA remains unknown. METHODS: Ferrets were surgically implanted with radiotelemetry transmitters to record GMA, body temperature and heart rate. The effect of WIN 55,212-2 (1 mg kg(-1), i.p.), an agonist at the cannabinoid type 1 and 2 receptors was examined in conscious, unrestrained ferrets. WIN 55,212-2 was also compared to the anandamide upregulator URB 597 (5 mg kg(-1), i.p.) for a potential to modulate the emetic response and behavioral changes induced by apomorphine (0.25 mg kg(-1), s.c.). KEY RESULTS: WIN 55,212-2 decreased GMA frequency (8.1 ± 0.4 cpm, compared to 9.6 ± 0.1 cpm in vehicle-treated animals, n = 6, P < 0.01). Apomorphine induced 9.0 ± 1.6 emetic episodes, WIN 55,212-2 inhibited the emetic response (3.3 ± 1.0 episodes, n = 6, P < 0.05) but URB 597 had no effect (9.0 ± 1.5 episodes). Apomorphine-induced hyperactivity in vehicle-treated animals (6.5 ± 3.6-16.6 ± 4.9 active behavior counts, n = 6, P < 0.01), which was reduced by WIN 55,212-2 (5.0 ± 1.5 counts, n = 6, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: WIN 55,212-2 demonstrated clear antiemetic efficacy, which extends the broad-spectrum antiemetic efficacy of cannabinoids to dopamine receptor agonists in the ferret. Our results, however, suggest a more limited spectrum of action for URB 597. WIN 55,212-2 decreased the frequency of the antral electrical pacemaker, which reveals new insights into the mechanism regulating the decrease in motility induced by cannabinoids.

Evaluation of translocator protein quantification as a tool for characterising macrophage burden in human carotid atherosclerosis.

Macrophage presence within atherosclerotic plaque is a feature of instability and a risk factor for plaque rupture and clinical events. Activated macrophages express high levels of the translocator protein/peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (TSPO/PBR). In this study, we investigated the potential for quantifying plaque inflammation by targeting this receptor. TSPO expression and distribution in the plaque were quantified using radioligand binding assays and autoradiography. We show that cultured human macrophages expressed 20 times more TSPO than cultured human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), the other abundant cell type in plaque. The TSPO ligands [3H](R)-1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide ([3H](R)-PK11195) and [3H]N-(2,5-dimethoxybenzyl)-N-(5-fluoro-2-phenoxyphenyl)acetamide ([3H]-DAA1106) bound to the same sites in human carotid atherosclerotic plaques in vitro, and demonstrated significant correlation with macrophage-rich regions. In conclusion, our data indicate that radioisotope-labelled DAA1106 has the potential to quantify the macrophage content of atherosclerotic plaque.

Mice are prone to kidney pathology after prolonged ketamine addiction.

ICR mice were injected with ketamine for 1, 3 and 6 months and the kidneys and urinary bladders were excised and processed for histology. Starting from 1 month, all addicted mice showed invasion of mononuclear white cells, either surrounding the glomerulus or the other tubules in the kidney. The aggregation of these cells extended all the way to the pelvis and ureter. As well, in the urinary bladder, the epithelium became thin and there was submucosal infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells. Silver staining revealed a loss of nerve fibers amongst the muscles of the urinary bladder of the treated. Immunohistochemistry on choline acetyltransferase which is a marker for cholinergic neurons also demonstrated a decrease of those cells. We hypothesized that prolonged ketamine addiction resulted in the animals prone to urinary infection.