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Acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH) induces neuroplasticity in the respiratory system. Specifically, AIH can lead to a progressive increase in respiratory neural activity known as long-term facilitation (LTF) or a sustained increase in minute ventilation in awake, freely-behaving rats, known as ventilatory long-term facilitation (vLTF). Previous work from our lab demonstrates that estrogen signaling is necessary for both types of AIH-induced respiratory neuroplasticity in adult female rats. Both forms of neuroplasticity only occur during stages of the estrous cycle with high levels of circulating estrogen. Further, removing the ovaries, the primary source of circulating estrogen, eliminates both forms of AIH-induced plasticity and estrogen supplementation is sufficient to bring it back. These collective results provide strong evidence that estrogen is critical for AIH-induced plasticity in females and prior reports suggest that estrogen is necessary for AIH-induced plasticity in adult male rats as well. Many biological factors influence estrogen levels such as age, gender, and diet. In fact, a Western diet is associated with increased levels of circulating estradiol in both men and postmenopausal women. The Western Diet is defined by high intakes of red and processed meats, sweets, fried food, and refined grains as well as high intakes of sugar, salt, omega-6 fatty acids, and a reduction in omega-3 fatty acids. Because the Western Diet is linked with increased estrogen, and estrogen is essential to the expression of respiratory neuroplasticity, we examined the impact of Western Diet on respiratory function and the expression of respiratory neuroplasticity (LTF and vLTF). Rats of both sexes were placed on a diet consisting of Western Diet pellets or standard chow for 12 weeks. Whole-body plethysmography was used to measure ventilatory responses over the course of the diet. After 12 weeks, plethysmography data showed no change in normoxic ventilation in either sex over the course of the diet. However, in response to hypoxia (12% and 9% O2), there appeared to be a sex-specific pattern of respiratory adaptation, with male Western Diet rats showing an increase in tidal volume, while the females showed a decrease in tidal volume but an increase in respiratory frequency with hypoxia. Preliminary findings suggest that the Western diet had a significant blunting effect on the expression of AIH-induced LTF as well. Of note, the diet did not increase body mass in either sex but did alter circulating estrogen levels in a sex-specific manner. These findings indicate that a Western Diet may influence respiratory function in a sex-specific manner and may impede the induction of respiratory neuroplasticity. UMN Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, NHLBI R01HL146477, Craig H. Neilsen Foundation, and the UMN Medical School, Division of Physical Therapy This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

Respiratory function is modulated by circulating sex steroids. Specifically, concentrations of circulating 17β-estradiol and progesterone regulate the responsiveness of the respiratory system in adult female rats. Progesterone was first noted to influence breathing following the observation that pregnancy impacted blood gasses. 17β-estradiol is the most abundant and neuroactive form of estrogen, and female respiratory neuroplasticity is dependent on its presence. Circulating sex hormone levels fluctuate across the normal estrus cycle and gradually decline as part of the natural aging process. The specific influences of sex hormones on hypoxic ventilatory response (HVR) and chemosensitivity are slowly emerging in the literature. A developing pattern is that short-term hormone fluctuations, such as estrus cycle, do not appear to significantly change basic respiratory responsiveness. However, less is known about larger hormone shifts, such as those following the loss of gonads or with natural aging. We hypothesized that the loss of sex hormones would differentially impact HVR and chemosensitivity in an ovariectomy (OVX) model versus a naturally aged female rat. Specifically, we theorized that aged rats would demonstrate reduced sensitivity to hypoxia and reduced dynamic range within ventilatory output, as compared to OVX and intact female rats. Three experimental groups of female rats were used: young rats (3 mos old; n=4), young OVX rats (n=5), and aged rats (>24 mos old; n=5). Chemosensitivity was measured during progressive hypoxic challenges at 15%, 12%, and 9% oxygen (O2) using unrestrained barometric plethysmography. Serum samples were taken for measurement of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P) using ELISA assays. At the highest level of hypoxia (9% O2), all groups exhibited intact chemosensitivity as demonstrated by significant changes in minute ventilation (VE; < 0.05), VE controlling for metabolism (VE/ VCO2; < 0.05), and respiratory neural drive (calculated as the ratio of tidal volume (TV) to inspiratory time (Ti), controlling for metabolism; TV/Ti/VCO2; < 0.05). Further analysis showed that young and OVX groups demonstrated greater sensitivity to hypoxia as compared to the aged group. Using analyses targeting rate of change, the young and OVX groups had a faster rate of change in VE, VE/ VCO2, and TV/Ti/VCO2 (< 0.05) as the hypoxia intensity increased. ELISA analyses suggest that E2, but not P, concentration is significantly correlated with these results (< 0.05). Collectively, these data indicate that aging impacts respiratory function in complex and unique ways that differ from OVX in female rats. This may be significant since OVX is commonly used as a model of age-related physiological changes. University of Minnesota BIRCWH/Women's Health Research Program Seed Grant, National Heart Lungs Brain Institute R01HL146477, Rehabilitation Science Graduate Program, UMN Medical School This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2023 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.

The authors, Geneve Berkenkamp, Surya Butterworth, Noah Derkat, Chelsea Godschild, Alison L. Grittner and Shane Yu combine film, poetry and photography to disrupt settler amnesia narratives regarding colonization of Canada.

Structured abstractBackgroundSurgical resection of motor eloquent tumors poses the risk of causing postoperative motor deficits which leads to reduced quality of life in these patients. Currently, rehabilitative procedures are limited with physical therapy being the main treatment option.ObjectiveThe present study investigated the efficacy of repetitive navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) for treatment of motor deficits after supratentorial tumor resection.MethodsThis randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled trial recruited patients with a worsening of upper extremity motor function after tumor resection. They were randomly assigned to receive rTMS treatment (1Hz, 110% RMT, 15 minutes, 7 days) or sham stimulation to the motor cortex contralateral to the injury followed by physical therapy. Motor and neurological function as well as quality of life were assessed directly after the intervention, one month and three months postoperatively.ResultsThirty patients were recruited for this study. There was no significant difference between both groups in the primary outcome, the Fugl Meyer score three months postoperatively (Group difference [95%-CI]: 5.05 [-16.0; 26.1]; p=0.631). Patients in the rTMS group presented with better hand motor function (BMRC scores) one month postoperatively. Additionally, a subgroup of patients with motor eloquent ischemia showed lower NIHSS scores at all timepoints.ConclusionLow-frequency rTMS facilitated the recovery process stimulated hand muscles, but with limited generalization to other functional deficits. Long-term motor deficits were not impacted by rTMS. Due to the reduced life expectancy in this patient group a shortened recovery duration of functional deficits can still be of high clinical significance.

The domestic donkey (Equus asinus) has a very specific body construction. It is built in such a way that the mutual relationship of individual body regions enables great work endurance. The fact that this breed of domestic animal originates from wild ancestors, originated and developed in Africa, clearly shows that the breed developed in harsh climatic and ecological conditions that conditioned the appropriate biological response. The biostatic model causes the biodynamic effect, i.e., the production of biokinetic energy. Movement forwards occurs as a consequence of the creation of biokinetic energy and its transfer from the back part of the body, where it originates, to the front part of the body. The most efficient transfer of biokinetic energy is enabled by the existence of an appropriate biostatic model, i.e., body structure, and this leads to a biodynamic effect that is defined as a movement. For the process of movement, the muscles must be well developed. Two muscle groups are distinguished; a) pelvic muscles, b) external hip and croup joint muscles. The basic lever for the transfer of biokinetic energy is the femur. The generated energy is transferred from the hip joint to the thigh muscles, which shortening leads to the movement of the hind leg forward, its leaning against the ground and pushing the whole body forward. The generated biokinetic energy cause the bio kinematic effect, which is characterized as a movement., Domaći magarac (Equus asinus) ima specifičnu konstrukciju tijela. Građen je tako da međusobni odnos pojedinih dijelova tijela omogućava veliku radnu izdržljivost. Činjenica je da ova vrsta domaćih životinja potječe od divljih predaka nastalih i razvijenih u Africi, jasno ukazuje da se vrsta razvila u surovim klimatskim i ekološkim uvjetima koji su uvjetovali odgovarajući biološki odgovor. Biostatički model uvjetuje biodinamički efekt, odnosno produkciju biokinetičke energije. Kretanje, odnosno pomicanje tijela prema naprijed nastaje kao posljedica stvaranja biokinetičke energije i njezinog prenošenja od zadnjeg dijela tijela gdje i nastaje, prema prednjem dijelu tijela. Najefikasnije prenošenje biokinetičke energije omogućeno je postojanjem odgovarajućeg biostatičkog modela, odnosno građe tijela, što dovodi do biodinamičkog efekta, koji definiramo kao kretanje. Da bi se odvijao proces kretanja nužni su dobro razvijeni mišići. Razlikuju se dvije skupine mišića; a) mišići zdjeličnog područja, b) vanjski mišići zgloba kuka i sapi. Osnovna poluga za prijenos biokinetičke energije je bedrena kost. Generirana energija se iz zgloba kuka prenosi na bedrene mišiće čijim skraćivanjem dolazi do kretanja zadnje noge prema naprijed, njezino oslanjanje o tlo i guranje cijelog tijela prema naprijed. Generirana biokinetička energija uvjetuje biokinematički efekt koji nazivamo kretanjem.

Introduction: The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 pandemic. Policy responses to COVID-19 affected social and economic life and the availability of alcohol. Previous research has shown an overall small decrease in alcohol use in Denmark in the first months of the pandemic. The present paper focused on identifying which subgroups of individuals had decreased or increased their consumption. Materials and Methods: Data were collected between May and July 2020 (n = 2,566 respondents, convenience sample). Weights were applied to reflect the actual Danish general population. Variables included the pre-pandemic alcohol consumption, change in alcohol consumption in the past month, socio-demographics, and reported economic consequences. Responses to a single item assessing changes in alcohol consumption in the past month were classified as no change, increase, or decrease in consumption. Regression models investigated how changes in consumption were linked to pre-pandemic drinking levels, socio-demographics (gender, age groups, education), and reported economic consequences. Results: While 39% of participants reported decreased consumption levels and 34% had stable levels, 27% increased consumption. Characteristics associated with changes in consumption were associated with both increases and decreases in consumption: younger people, those with higher consumption levels before the pandemic, and those with lower education more often both reported increases as well as decreases in consumption. Discussion/Conclusions: We confirmed that more people decreased rather than increased their alcohol consumption in the first few months of the pandemic in Denmark. Characteristics associated with changes in consumption such as younger age, higher consumption levels, and lower education demonstrated a polarization of drinking since these were associated with both increases and decreases in consumption. Public health authorities should monitor alcohol use and other health behaviours for increased risks during the pandemic.

Registered Report Protocol and Supplementary Information file

To study the role of inhibitory NMDA-receptor antibodies as a neuroprotective treatment strategy in stroke.

Aachen : RWTH Aachen University, Fakultät für Architektur [124] Seiten (2023)., Published by RWTH Aachen University, Fakultät für Architektur, Aachen

The combination of repeated behavioral training with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) holds promise to exert benefial effects on brain function beyond the trained task. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms. This was adressed by multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after a three-week executive function training with prefrontal excitatory tDCS in 48 older adults. Results demonstrate that training combined with active tDCS enhanced prefrontal white matter microstructure which predicted individual performance gain. Training-plus-tDCS also resulted in microstructural grey matter reductions at the stimulation site, and increased prefrontal functional connectivity. We provide insight into the mechanisms underlying neuromodulatory interventions, suggesting tDCS-induced changes in fiber organization and myelin formation, glia-related and synaptic processes in the target region, and synchronization within targeted functional networks. These findings advance the mechanistic understanding of neural tDCS effects, thereby contributing to more targeted neural network modulation in future experimental and translation tDCS applications.

Purpose To investigate the association of age with delay in spine surgery and the effects on neurological outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods Ambispective cohort study (2011–2017) in n = 213 patients consecutively enrolled in a Level I trauma center with SCI care in a metropolitan region in Germany. Age-related differences in the injury to surgery interval and conditions associated with its delay (> 12 h after SCI) were explored using age categories or continuous variables and natural cubic splines. Effects of delayed surgery or age with outcome were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results The median age of the study population was 58.8 years (42.0–74.6 IQR). Older age (≥ 75y) was associated with a prolonged injury to surgery interval of 22.8 h (7.2–121.3) compared to 6.6 h (4.4–47.9) in younger patients (≤ 44y). Main reasons for delayed surgery in older individuals were secondary referrals and multimorbidity. Shorter time span to surgery (≤ 12 h) was associated with higher rates of ASIA impairment scale (AIS) conversion (OR 4.22, 95%CI 1.85–9.65), as mirrored by adjusted spline curves ( 60 h Conclusion Older patient age complexifies surgical SCI care and research. Tackling secondary referral to Level I trauma centers and delayed spine surgery imposes as tangible opportunity to improve the outcome of older SCI patients.

Background Despite the progress of research and treatment for breast cancer, still up to 30% of the patients afflicted will develop distant disease. Elongation of survival and maintaining the quality of life (QoL) become pivotal issues guiding the treatment decisions. One possible approach to optimise survival and QoL is the use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to timely identify acute disease-related burden. We present the protocol of a trial that investigates the effect of real-time PRO data captured with electronic mobile devices on QoL in female breast cancer patients with metastatic disease. Methods This study is a randomised, controlled trial with 1:1 randomisation between two arms. A total of 1000 patients will be recruited in 40 selected breast cancer centres. Patients in the intervention arm receive a weekly request via an app to complete the PRO survey. Symptoms will be assessed by study-specific optimised short forms based on the EORTC QLQ-C30 domains using items from the EORTC CAT item banks. In case of deteriorating PRO scores, an alarm is sent to the treating study centre as well as to the PRO B study office. Following the alarm, the treating breast cancer centre is required to contact the patient to inquire about the reported symptoms and to intervene, if necessary. The intervention is not specified and depends on the clinical need determined by the treating physician. Patients in the control arm are prompted by the app every 3 months to participate in the PRO survey, but their response will not trigger an alarm. The primary outcome is the fatigue level 6 months after enrolment. Secondary endpoints include among others hospitalisations, use of rescue services and overall QoL. Discussion Within the PRO B intervention group, we expect lower fatigue levels 6 months after intervention start, higher levels of QoL, less unplanned hospitalisations and less emergency room visits compared to controls. In case of positive results, our approach would allow a fast and easy transfer into clinical practice due to the use of the already nationwide existing IT infrastructure of the German Cancer Society and the independent certification institute OnkoZert. Trial registration DRKS (German Clinical Trials Register) DRKS00024015 . Registered on 15 February 2021

The donkey, as a work animal, is gradually losing its value. Agriculture industrialization, mechanization of many processes on mountain and valley farms have lead to a reduction of donkey livestock. This reduction gives cause for concern, and is good reason to study all aspects of these domestic animals in order to revive its role, to restart livestock growth in its familiar habitats, and to introduce it into new environments. This study focuses on these aspects. The domestic donkey (Equus asinus) originated from Africa, and there are two kinds of African donkeys: Nubian and Somali. Their enormous, almost mystical, endurance is well known. There is no place in the world where a donkey is not able to perform the most difficult work, above all in transporting goods. A donkey has an amazing capability of stable movement through the most difficult places. For study sample consisted of 44 donkeys (28 males and 16 females) from Austria. The following morphometric parameters were analysed: height at the withers, height at the back, height of the croup, body length, chest depth, chest width, chest circumference anterior, chest circumference posterior, shin circumference, head length, skull length, face length, skull width, face width, length of ears. Measurements were performed using a ruler, tape measure and vernier callipers. The average height at the withers of males was 116.40 cm, ranging from 99.60 to 140.60 cm, while for females, the average was 102.38 cm, ranging from 90.50 to 125.70 cm. Body length of males was on average 121.85 cm with a standard deviation of 11.79, while the mean body length for females is 115.80 cm, with a range of 101.00 to 131.00 cm. Male head length ranged from 48.00 to 71.00 cm, with an average of 55.60 cm, while in females, head length was on average 50.06 cm, ranging from 43.00 to 56.00 cm. Using the Pearson correlation, a very significant or significant positive statistical correlation was observed between almost all parameters of males, while for females, Pearson correlation values had slightly different values than for males. There was no statistically significant correlation between chest width and anterior chest circumference with nearly any other parameters. For females, a negative correlation between the skull width and all other parameters was also observed., Posljednjih desetljeća polako, ali stalno, magarac gubi mjesto kao svugdje prisutna radna snaga. Industrijalizacija poljoprivrede, mehanizacija mnogih poslova u brdskim i planinskim predjelima prouzročili su smanjenje broja magaradi. Intenzitet smanjenja prešao je granicu alarmantnosti. Da bi se uspješno vodila akcija revitalizacije magaradi u njihovim uobičajenim, a i novim arealima neophodno je ovu domaću životinju upoznati s različitih aspekata. U tom je smislu obavljeno i ovo istraživanje. Domaći magarac (Equus asinus) potječe iz Afrike. Razlikuju se nubijski i somalijski magarci. Poznata je velika radna izdržljivost magaradi, koja je pomalo i mistična. Ne postoje geografski predjeli gdje magarad ne obavljaju najteže oblike rada, prije svega transporta. Za svako čuđenje je njihova mogućnost kretanja i stabilnost po nepristupačnim terenima. Za potrebe ovog rada korištena je ukupno 44 magaradi (28 mužjaka i 16 ženki). Proučavane jedinke su s područja Republike Austrije. Analizirani su sljedeći morfometrijski parametri: visina grebena, visina leđa, visina križa, dužina trupa, dubina prsa, širina prsa, obujam prsa prednji, obujam prsa zadnji, obujam cjevanice, dužina glave, dužina lubanje, dužina facijalnog dijela, širina lubanje, širina facijalnog dijela, dužina ušiju. Mjerenje je obavljeno pomoću Litinovog štapa, pantljike i pomičnog mjerila s nonijusem. Prosječna visina grebena iznosila je 116,40 cm, a interval variranja od 99,60 cm do 140,60 cm. Visina grebena ženki varira od 90.50 cm do 125.70 cm. U prosjeku ženke su visoke 102,38 cm sa standardnom devijacijom od 8,28 i standardnom grješkom od 2,07. Dužina trupa u mužjaka u prosjeku je iznosila 121,85 cm sa standardnom devijacijom od 11,79. Dužina trupa ženki iznosila je od 101,00 cm do 131,00 cm. Srednja vrijednost dužine trupa u ženki bila je 115,80 cm. Dužina glave mužjaka bila je od 48,00 do 71,00 cm, s prosječnom vrjednošću od 55,60 cm. Dužina glave u ženskih jedinki varira od 43,00 do 56,00 cm. Glava je prosječno bila duga 50,06 cm sa standardnom devijacijom od 3,23. Primjenom Personove korelacije zabilježena je vrlo značajna ili značajna pozitivna statistička korelacija između gotovo svih parametara u mužjaka. U ženki vrijednosti Personove korelacije imaju nešto drugačije vrijednosti nego u mužjaka. Između širine prsa i prednjeg obujma prsa nije bilo statistički značajne korelacije s gotovo svim ostalim parametrima. Za ove parametre jedino je pozitivna vrlo značajna statistička korelacija zabilježena između dužine trupa i širine prsa, kao i prednjeg obujma prsa; zatim između prednjeg i zadnjeg obujma prsa i dubine prsa ova dva parametra. U ženki je zabilježena i negativna korelacija između širine lubanjskog dijela i svih ostalih parametra.