Level Of Activation Research Articles

Efficiency of a structured squat-based program in knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation

BACKGROUND: Squat exercise, in which eccentric and concentric contractions are present simultaneously in different muscle groups, is one of the closed kinetic chain exercises commonly used in knee rehabilitation. OBJECTIVE: In the scope of the study, our objective is to determine the effectiveness of a structured squat-based exercise approach in patients with knee osteoarthritis. METHODS: In this study, 75 patients diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to three distinct groups: isoinertial exercise, a combination of home exercise and electrotherapy, and exercise solely. The assessment encompassed the application of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), the Time Up and Go test, evaluation of quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength and activation levels, along with pain threshold assessment. The treatment program was administered three days a week over a span of eight weeks and was assessed both prior to and following the intervention. RESULTS: Across all groups, considerable enhancements were noted in the majority of parameters. Particularly noteworthy were the substantial improvements observed in the first group, specifically concerning WOMAC total score (p = 0.001), muscle strength, activation levels (p = 0.001), and pain tolerance (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In the group in which we applied isoinertial exercise, a positive increase was observed in most of the parameters.We suggest that isoinertial exercise applications, which are generally encountered in sports fields, should be used in different fields in future studies.

Geometric Co-Ordinate Feature Point Estimation (Gfpe): A Novel Approach to Analyse Of Kinematic Characteristics of Yoga Asanas Based on Anybody Simulation Software

The kinematic characteristics of yoga asanas is crucial for comprehending the biomechanical demands and benefits associated with these postures. Utilizing AnyBody simulation software, researchers delve into the intricate movements and alignments involved in various yoga poses. Through advanced biomechanical modeling, AnyBody allows for the analysis of joint angles, muscle activations, and forces exerted on the body during asana practice. This paper presented an analysis of the kinematic characteristics of yoga asanas using AnyBody Simulation in conjunction with Geometric Co-ordinate Feature Point Estimation (GFPE). By integrating advanced biomechanical modelling capabilities of AnyBody with GFPE’s precision in identifying geometric features, this study aims to elucidate the intricate movements and alignments inherent in various yoga poses. Through comprehensive simulations, joint angles, muscle activations, and forces exerted on the body during asana practice are meticulously analyzed. The examination of body posture with GFPE in the downward-facing dog pose, the average joint angles of the shoulder, elbow, and wrist were found to be 130°, 150°, and 160°, respectively. Additionally, muscle activation levels were measured, with the triceps brachii exhibiting an average activation of 70% of maximum voluntary contraction during the pose.

Multi-System-Level Analysis Reveals Differential Expression of Stress Response-Associated Genes in Inflammatory Solar Lentigo.

Although the pathogenesis of solar lentigo (SL) involves chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure, cellular senescence, and upregulated melanogenesis, underlying molecular-level mechanisms associated with SL remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene regulatory mechanisms intimately linked to inflammation in SL. Skin samples from patients with SL with or without histological inflammatory features were obtained. RNA-seq data from the samples were analyzed via multiple analysis approaches, including exploration of core inflammatory gene alterations, identifying functional pathways at both transcription and protein levels, comparison of inflammatory module (gene clusters) activation levels, and analyzing correlations between modules. These analyses disclosed specific core genes implicated in oxidative stress, especially the upregulation of nuclear factor kappa B in the inflammatory SLs, while genes associated with protective mechanisms, such as SLC6A9, were highly expressed in the non-inflammatory SLs. For inflammatory modules, Extracellular Immunity and Mitochondrial Innate Immunity were exclusively upregulated in the inflammatory SL. Analysis of protein-protein interactions revealed the significance of CXCR3 upregulation in the pathogenesis of inflammatory SL. In conclusion, the upregulation of stress response-associated genes and inflammatory pathways in response to UV-induced oxidative stress implies their involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammatory SL.

Comparison of the activation level in the sensorimotor cortex between motor point and proximal nerve bundle electrical stimulation

Objective. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is widely used for motor function rehabilitation in stroke survivors. Compared with the conventional motor point (MP) stimulation, the stimulation at the proximal segment of the peripheral nerve (PN) bundles has been demonstrated to have multiple advantages. However, it is not known yet whether the PN stimulation can increase the cortical activation level, which is crucial for motor function rehabilitation. Approach. The current stimuli were delivered transcutaneously at the muscle belly of the finger flexors and the proximal segment of the median and ulnar nerves, respectively for the MP and PN stimulation. The stimulation intensity was determined to elicit the same contraction levels between the two stimulation methods in 18 healthy individuals and a stroke patient. The functional near-infrared spectroscopy and the electromyogram were recorded to compare the activation pattern of the sensorimotor regions and the target muscles. Main Results. For the healthy subjects, the PN stimulation induced significantly increased concentration of the oxygenated hemoglobin in the contralateral sensorimotor areas, and enhanced the functional connectivity between brain regions compared with the MP stimulation. Meanwhile, the compound action potentials had a smaller amplitude and the H-reflex became stronger under the PN stimulation, indicating that more sensory axons were activated in the PN stimulation. For the stroke patient, the PN stimulation can elicit finger forces and induce activation of both the contralateral and ipsilateral motor cortex. Conclusions. Compared with the MP stimulation, the PN stimulation can induce more cortical activation in the contralateral sensorimotor areas possibly via involving more activities in the central pathway. Significance. This study demonstrated the potential of the PN stimulation to facilitate functional recovery via increasing the cortical activation level, which may help to improve the outcome of the NMES-based rehabilitation for motor function recovery after stroke.

AZD1390, an ataxia telangiectasia mutated inhibitor, attenuates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation and ischemic brain injury.

Excessive neuroinflammation mediated mainly by microglia plays a crucial role in ischemic stroke. AZD1390, an ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) specific inhibitor, has been shown to promote radio-sensitization and survival in central nervous system malignancies, while the role of AZD1390 in ischemic stroke remains unknown. Real-time PCR, western blot, immunofluorescence staining, flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to assess the activation of microglia and the release of inflammatory cytokines. Behavioral tests were performed to measure neurological deficits. 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining was conducted to assess the infarct volume. The activation of NF-κB signaling pathway was explored through immunofluorescence staining, western blot, co-immunoprecipitation and proximity ligation assay. The level of pro-inflammation cytokines and activation of NF-κB signaling pathway was suppressed by AZD1390 invitro and invivo. The behavior deficits and infarct size were partially restored with AZD1390 treatment in experimental stroke. AZD1390 restrict ubiquitylation and sumoylation of the essential regulatory subunit of NF-κB (NEMO) in an ATM-dependent and ATM-independent way respectively, which reduced the activation of the NF-κB pathway. AZD1390 suppressed NF-κB signaling pathway to alleviate ischemic brain injury in experimental stroke, and attenuated microglia activation and neuroinflammation, which indicated that AZD1390 might be an attractive agent for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Immunological predictors of rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) efficiency in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia

IntroductionModel and clinical studies demonstrate the efficiency of rhythmic transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in diseases associated with neuroinflammation. The therapeutic potential of rTMS is related to modulation of neuroplasticity in the CNS, activation of neurogenesis and reduction of neuroinflammatory processes. Presumably, one of the factors that determines the efficiency of rTMS can be the features of the immune status of patients.ObjectivesTo reveal the features of the spectrum of inflammatory markers in patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia with different efficiency of rTMS.Methods 31 male patients aged 16 to 47 years (mean age 29.9 ± 8.4 years) with treatment-resistant schizophrenia who developed a first psychotic episode in adolescence (19-25 years) were examined. The course of rTMS was conducted for 3 weeks (15 sessions). Depending on the dynamics of clinical and psychometric parameters after the course of rTMS, the patients were divided into three groups: group 1 - with worsening of clinical condition (n=8); group 2 - without therapeutic effect (n=12); group 3 - with good therapeutic response (n=11). Before rTMS, leukocyte elastase (LE) and α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) activity, and the levels of autoantibodies to S-100B protein and myelin basic protein (MBP) in the plasma of patients were determined. The parameters of 18 healthy male donors without clinical signs of psychiatric and somatic pathology were used as controls.ResultsAll groups of patients were characterised by moderate and high levels of immune system activation, determined by a complex of inflammatory and autoimmune markers. At the same time, the high level of immune system activation in patients with low MTR efficiency was associated with low LE activity in plasma (within the reference range or below the lower limit - 200.6 (168.5- 220.3) nmol/min·mL), which was not consistent with the overall level of inflammation. This group of patients also showed high levels of antibodies to MBP compared to control values (p<0.05). The low LE activity can be explained by the transmigration of neutrophils from the blood to the brain due to a critical increase in the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, which is largely controlled by LE.ConclusionsThe study confirmed the participation of immune mechanisms in the formation of therapeutic resistance in schizophrenia and revealed the characteristics of the spectrum of immune markers in patients with low efficiency of rTMS.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Intolerance of uncertainty affects the behavioral and neural mechanisms of higher generalization.

Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) is associated with several anxiety disorders. In this study, we employed rewards and losses as unconditioned positive and negative stimuli, respectively, to explore the effects of an individual's IU level on positive and negative generalizations using magnetic resonance imaging technology. Following instrumental learning, 48 participants (24 high IU; 24 low IU) were invited to complete positive and negative generalization tasks; their behavioral responses and neural activities were recorded by functional magnetic resonance imaging. The behavior results demonstrated that participants with high IUs exhibited higher generalizations to both positive and negative cues as compared with participants having low IUs. Neuroimaging results demonstrated that they exhibited higher activation levels in the right anterior insula and the default mode network (i.e. precuneus and posterior cingulate gyrus), as well as related reward circuits (i.e. caudate and right putamen). Therefore, higher generalization scores and the related abnormal brain activation may be key markers of IU as a vulnerability factor for anxiety disorders.

A viscoplastic self-consistent analysis of tensile anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry in rare-earth magnesium alloy

The anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry of rare-earth magnesium (Mg-RE) alloys have attracted significant attention. In this study, the room-temperature tensile anisotropy and tension-compression asymmetry of the extruded Mg-8.5Gd-4.5Y-0.8Zn-0.4Zr alloy were investigated utilizing techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and viscoplastic self-consistent (VPSC) modeling. Among the tensile samples, the T0 sample (with axis parallel to extrusion direction) exhibits the greatest tensile yield strength (TYS) of 270 MPa and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 336 MPa, the T45 sample (with axis inclined at a 45° angle to extrusion direction) and T90 sample (with axis perpendicular to extrusion direction) exhibit lower TYS and UTS. The C0 sample shows a slightly greater compressive yield strength (CYS) of 290 MPa. The ratio of TYS/CYS is approximately 1.07. This study significantly adjusts the VPSC hardening parameters through the Schmid factor of deformation mechanisms in Mg-RE alloy, particularly increasing the τ0 (critical resolved shear stress, CRSS) and τ1 values for basal <a> slip and {10-12} twinning. The ratios of CRSS for other deformation mechanisms to basal <a> slip are approximately as follows: CRSSTwin/CRSSBas = 2, CRSSPri/CRSSBas ≈ 2.7 and CRSSPyr/CRSSBas ≈ 3.3, while these ratios in traditional alloys are generally higher. The stress-strain curves and pole figures obtained from the modified VPSC model demonstrate excellent agreement with experimental results. According to the VPSC simulation results, the primary factor contributing to tensile anisotropy is the disparity in the activation levels of slip systems. The inclusion of rare-earth elements mitigates the tension-compression asymmetry by reducing the difference of CRSS between different deformation mechanisms.

Quadriceps and Hamstrings Activation Peaks Earlier as Athletes Repeatedly Hop, but There are Differences Depending on ACL Reconstruction Technique.

After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction (ACLR) athletes face the challenge of regaining their previous competitive level while avoiding re-injury and early knee joint cartilage degeneration. Quadriceps and hamstrings strength reductions and neuromuscular alterations potentially related to risk of re-injury are present after ACLR and relate to deficits in muscle activation. Cross-sectional laboratory study. To examine quadriceps and hamstrings muscle activation during repeated hops in healthy pivoting-sport athletes and those who had undergone ACLR (bone-tendon-bone and semitendinosus graft) who had met functional criteria allowing return to training. Surface electromyography (SEMG) was recorded from vastus medialis and lateralis and medial and lateral hamstrings bilaterally during 30 seconds' repeated hopping in male athletes on average eight months after ACLR surgery (5-12 months). All patients underwent hamstring (HS) (n=24) or bone-tendon-bone (BTB) reconstruction (n=20) and were compared to healthy controls (n=31). The SEMG signals were normalized to those obtained during maximal voluntary isometric contraction. A significant time shift in peak muscle activation (earlier) was seen for: vastus medialis and vastus lateralis activation in the control group, in the BTB group's healthy (but not injured) leg and both legs of the HS group. A significant time shift in peak muscle activation was seen for lateral hamstrings (earlier) in all but the BTB group's injured leg and the medial hamstrings in the control group only. Lower peak activation levels of the vastus lateralis (p\<0.001) and vastus medialis (p\<0.001) were observed in the injured compared to healthy legs and lower peak lateral hamstrings activity (p\<0.009) in the injured leg compared to control leg. Decline in medial hamstring peak activation (p\<0.022) was observed between 1st and 3rd phase of the hop cycle in all groups. Repeated hop testing revealed quadriceps and hamstring activation differences within ACLR athletes, and compared to healthy controls, that would be missed with single hop tests. 3.

Impact of rise and fall phases of shear on platelet activation and aggregation using microfluidics.

Blood flow disorders are often the result of the non-physiological narrowing of blood arteries caused by atherosclerosis and thrombus. The blood then proceeds through rising-peak-decreasing phases as it passes through the narrow area. Although abnormally high shear is known to activate platelets, the shear process that platelets undergo in small arteries is complex. Thus, understanding how each shear phase affects platelet activation can be used to improve antiplatelet therapy and decrease the risk of side effects like bleeding. Blood samples were sheared (68.8 ms,5200s-1) in vitro by the microfluidic technique, and platelet activation levels (P-selectin and integrin αIIbβ3) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) binding to platelets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Post-stenosis platelet aggregation was dynamically detected using microfluidic technology. We studied TXA2, P2Y12-ADP, and integrin αIIbβ3-fibrinogen receptor pathways by adding antiplatelet drugs, such as acetylsalicylic acid (ASA, an active ingredient of aspirin that inhibits platelet metabolism), ticagrelor (hinders platelet activation), and tirofiban (blocks integrin αIIbβ3 receptor) in vitro, respectively, to determine platelet activation function mediated by transient non-physiological high shear rates. We demonstrated that platelets can be activated under transient pathological high shear rates. The shear rise and fall phases influenced shear-induced platelet activation by regulating the binding of vWF to platelets. The degree of platelet activation and aggregation increased with multiple shear rise and fall phases. ASA did not inhibit shear-mediated platelet activation, but ticagrelor and tirofiban effectively inhibited shear-mediated platelet activation. Our data demonstrated that the shear rise and fall phases play an important role in shear-mediated platelet activation and promote platelet activation and aggregation in a vWF-dependent manner. Blocking integrin αIIbβ3 receptor and hindering P2Y12-ADP were beneficial to reducing shear-mediated platelet activation.

Highlighting the Effect of Pro-inflammatory Mediators in the Pathogenesis of Periodontal Diseases and Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurological condition that is much more common as people get older. It may start out early or late. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activation, both of which contribute to the central nervous system's inflammatory state, are characteristics of AD. As opposed to this, periodontitis is a widespread oral infection brought on by Gram-negative anaerobic bacteria. By releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines into the systemic circulation, periodontitis can be classified as a "low-grade systemic disease." Periodontitis and AD are linked by inflammation, which is recognized to play a crucial part in both the disease processes. The current review sought to highlight the effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which are released during periodontal and Alzheimer's diseases in the pathophysiology of both conditions. It also addresses the puzzling relationship between AD and periodontitis, highlighting the etiology and potential ramifications.

Effects of Trauma Center Consolidation on Adult Trauma at a Rural Level 1 Trauma Center.

The aim was to determine the impact of consolidation of two rural level 1 trauma centers on adult trauma patients presenting to the remaining level 1 trauma center. To our knowledge, a study assessing the impact of trauma center consolidation on adult trauma patients had yet to be performed. A single institution, retrospective study was conducted at a rural level 1 trauma center. Adult trauma patients who presented to our center from January 2017 to January 2022 were included. The cohorts spanned 33 months pre- and post-consolidation. Multiple demographic and outcome measures were gathered. Data were analyzed using the student's t-test and Chi-squared testing. There was a 33% increase in overall trauma activations and 9% increase in transfers from outside facilities post-consolidation. The post-consolidation group was significantly older, had higher mean injury severity score, and decreased hospital-free days. The post-consolidation group also saw an increase in ICU admission and surgical intervention. While there were no significant differences in ICU-free days or ventilator days, patients in the post-consolidation group with the highest level of activation who required both surgical intervention and ICU admission experienced decreased mortality. The consolidation of trauma services to a single level 1 trauma center in a rural Appalachian health system led to higher trauma volume and acuity, but most importantly decreased mortality for the most severely injured trauma patients.

Electrical Impedance Tomography for Real-Time Monitoring of Muscle Activity in Robot-Assisted Rehabilitation

This work looks at how Electrical Impedance Tomography (EIT) can be used in robot-assisted rehabilitation to make it easier to watch how muscle activity changes in real time. Quantitative methods are used in this study to look into how well EIT works, including full analyses and comparisons with common tracking methods like Electromyography (EMG). Both EIT and EMG are used to record the participants' mean and peak muscle activation levels as they do a set of Upper Limb, Lower Limb, and Full Body exercises. The study's findings show that EIT is incredibly flexible when it comes to capturing complex patterns of muscle activation across a wide range of rehabilitation routines. Each participant's involvement is shown by different patterns of muscle activation, and these patterns can be seen across different types of exercise. We can learn a lot about how muscles work during rehabilitation by measuring their mean and peak activation levels. This helps us see how well EIT works as a tracking tool. A very important step in validating EIT is to compare it to EMG readings. This shows how consistent and accurate EIT is in real-time monitoring situations. The high level of agreement between the two methods shows that EIT is a reliable alternative to standard monitoring methods, providing an easy to use and non-invasive way to measure muscle activity. The results of this study are even stronger because they include quantitative analyses and a detailed look at system performance data. We carefully check things like signal-to-noise ratio, reconstruction accuracy, and reliability, which shows how strong and dependable the combined EIT system is. These metrics are important for showing how well the system can measure things accurately and reliably in changing rehabilitation situations. This study adds to the growing amount of research on EIT uses in rehabilitation by showing that it can be a useful tool for keeping track of real-time muscle activity. This study opens the door for EIT to be widely used in rehabilitation by showing how muscle activation changes over time and proving its effectiveness against well-known methods. This will eventually lead to better patient outcomes and more effective rehabilitation.

Escalated complement activation during hospitalization is associated with higher risk of 60-day mortality in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients.

The complement system, an upstream recognition system of innate immunity, is activated upon SARS-CoV-2 infection. To gain a deeper understanding of the extent and duration of this activation, we investigated complement activation profiles during the acute phase of COVID-19, its persistence post-recovery and dynamic changes in relation to disease severity. Serial blood samples were obtained from two cohorts of hospitalized COVID-19 patients (n=457). Systemic complement activation products reflecting classical/lectin (C4d), alternative (C3bBbP), common (C3bc) and terminal pathway (TCC and C5a) were measured during hospitalization (admission, days 3-5 and days 7-10), at 3 months and after 1 year. Levels of activation and temporal profiles during hospitalization were related to disease severity defined as respiratory failure (PO2/FiO2 ratio <26.6kPa) and/or admission to intensive care unit, 60-day total mortality and pulmonary pathology after 3 months. During hospitalization, TCC, C4d, C3bc, C3bBbP and C5a were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. Severely ill patients had significantly higher levels of TCC and C4d (p<0.001), compared to patients with moderate COVID-19. Escalated levels of TCC and C4d during hospitalization were associated with a higher risk of 60-day mortality (p<0.001), and C4d levels were additionally associated with chest CT changes at 3 months (p<0.001). At 3 months and 1 year, we observed consistently elevated levels of most complement activation products compared to controls. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients display prominent and long-lasting systemic complement activation. Optimal targeting of the system may be achieved through enhanced risk stratification and closer monitoring of in-hospital changes of complement activation products.

Pathological proliferation: a potential mechanism for poor CD4+ T cell recovery in people living with HIV.

People living with HIV (PLWH) fail to achieve normalization of CD4+ T cell counts and function, especially in immunological non-responders (INRs). The frequencies of Ki67+CD4+ T cells were inversely associated with CD4+ T cell counts in HIV infected patients. Early ART did not normalize CD4+ T cell proliferation. However, the features of the abnormal proliferation CD4+ T cell in INRs are far from known. PLWH were divided into INRs (n= 16) and immunological responders (IRs, n= 53) groups. Mass cytometry was applied to peripheral blood T cells to profile the immune cells and liquid chip technique was used to measure plasma levels of cytokines and chemokines. Correlation analyses were conducted to evaluate associations between the degree of CD4+ T cell proliferation and immune function. The percentage of Ki67+ CD4+ T cells were significant higher in INRs, and we defined these cells with significant higher level of Ki67, as over-proliferating cells. No significant difference of markers' expression (HLA-DR, CD38, CD57, PD-1, PD-L1, CD107a, perforin) was found between INRs and IRs. Compared with naïve CD4+ T cells in INRs, Ki67+ CD4+ T cells exhibited lower levels of CD57 and CD38. Whereas Ki67+ T cells exhibited higher levels of CD38 and CD57 and activation compared with differentiated mature central memory CD4+ T cells and effector memory CD4+ T cells. Ki67+ cells did not show higher levels of senescence and activation compared to certain Ki67- CD4+ central memory T cells in IRs. Furthermore, Ki67+ CD4+ Tcm cells exhibited positive correlations with pro-inflammatory cytokines. We proposed and validated the hypothesis of "pathological proliferation" in INRs: excessive proliferation of CD4+ T cells in INRs may be accompanied by aberrant activation, senescence and loss of immune function. Eventually, such over-proliferating but poor-quality cells in INRs result in incomplete recovery of both CD4+ T cell counts and function. An intervention that enhancing the proliferative capacity or functional ability or both of CD4+ T cell in INRs might therefore be beneficial.

Calorie restriction-induced leptin reduction and T-lymphocyte activation in blood and adipose tissue in men with overweight and obesity

BackgroundT-Lymphocyte activation is modulated by the adipokine leptin and serum concentrations of this hormone can be reduced with short-term calorie restriction. The aim of this study was to understand whether leptin per se is important in determining levels of T-lymphocyte activation in humans, by investigating whether the reduction in leptin concentration following calorie restriction is associated with a decrease in T-Lymphocyte activation in blood and adipose tissue.MethodsTwelve men with overweight and obesity (age 35–55 years, waist circumference 95–115 cm) reduced their calorie intake by 50% for 3 consecutive days. Blood and subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained for isolation of immune cells and cytokine analysis. CD4+ and CD8 + T-Lymphocytes were identified and characterised according to their expression of activation markers CD25 and CD69 by flow cytometry.ResultsSerum leptin was reduced by (mean ± SEM) 31 ± 16% (p < 0.001) following calorie restriction. The percentage of blood CD4 + CD25 + T-lymphocytes and level of CD25 expression on these lymphocytes were significantly reduced by 8 ± 10% (p = 0.016) and 8 ± 4% (p = 0.058), respectively. After calorie restriction, ex vivo leptin secretion from abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue explants was not changed, and this corresponded with a lack of change in adipose tissue resident T-Lymphocyte activation.ConclusionsSerum leptin was reduced after calorie restriction and this was temporally associated with a reduction in activation of blood CD4 + CD25 + T-Lymphocytes. In abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue, however, leptin secretion was unaltered, and there were no observed changes in adipose resident T-Lymphocyte activation.

Potato Solanum tuberosum L. Phytoene Synthase Genes (StPSY1, StPSY2, and StPSY3) Are Involved in the Plant Response to Cold Stress.

The structure and phylogeny of the Solanum tuberosum L. phytoene synthase genes StPSY1, StPSY2, and StPSY3 were characterized. Their expression was studied in potato seedlings exposed to cold stress in the dark phase of the diurnal cycle to simulate night cooling. All of the three genes were activated as the temperature decreased, and the greatest response was observed for StPSY1. StPSY3 was for the first time shown to respond to cold stress and photoperiod. A search for cis-regulatory elements was carried out in the promoter regions and 5'-UTRs of the StPSY genes, and the regulation of all three genes proved associated with the response to light. A high level of cold-induced activation of StPSY1 was tentatively attributed to the presence of cis elements associated with sensitivity to cold and ABA.

Optimizing Triage Practice in Pediatric Trauma: Lessons From Under-triage and Over-triage Rates and Risk Factors.

Triage accuracy is essential for delivering effective trauma care, especially in the pediatric population where unique challenges exist. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors contributing to under-triage and over-triage in an urban pediatric trauma center. This retrospective cohort study included all trauma activations at an urban level 1 trauma center between January 1, 2021, and July 31, 2023 (patients <18years old.) Patients who were under- or over-triaged were identified based on the level of trauma activation and injury severity score. There were 1094 trauma activations included in this study. The rate of under-triage was 3.8% (n = 42) and over-triage was 13.6% (n = 149). Infants aged 0-1 years had the highest rate of under-triage (10.9%, n = 19, P < .001), while those aged 11-17 had the highest rate of over-triage (17.0%, n = 82, P = .003). Non-accidental trauma was the strongest risk factor for under-triage (OR 30.2 [6.4-142.8] P < .001). Penetrating mechanism was the strongest risk factor for over-triage (OR 12.2 [5.6-26.2] P < .001). This study reveals the complexity of trauma triage in the pediatric population. We identified key predictive factors, such as age, comorbidities, and mechanism of injury, that can be used to refine triage practices and improve the care of pediatric trauma patients.

How morphological decomposition manifests itself in the duration of the inter-morpheme period of silence in Russian prefixed verbs

Summary This study tests the morphological gradience theory on Russian prefixed verbs. With the help of a specially designed experiment, I offer evidence that verbs with prefixes that have prepositional counterparts and verbs with prefixes that exist only as bound morphemes reveal significant differences in terms of their morphological decomposition. In the pronunciation of native speakers, there tends to be a significantly longer silent period between prepositional prefixes and bases than between unprepositional prefixes and bases due to the compositional nature of the former and the non-compositional nature of the latter. Drawing on these findings, I contend that Russian prefixed verbs can be analysed as constructional schemas and that the degree of their morphological decomposition depends upon the different levels of activation of their sequential and lexical links.

Oxytocin and social learning in socially anxious men and women

ObjectiveThis study extended a classic self-referential learning paradigm by investigating the effects of intranasally-administered oxytocin in high and low socially anxious participants during social learning, as a function of social anxiety levels and sex. MethodsIn a randomized double-blinded design, 160 participants were either given intranasal oxytocin (24 I.U.) or placebo. Subsequently, while lying in an MR scanner, participants were shown neutral faces that were paired with positively, neutrally, or negatively valenced self-referential sentences, during which we measured self-reported arousal and sympathy of the facial stimuli, pupil dilation, and changes in the brain-oxygen-level dependent signal. Four-factor mixed analyses of variance with the between-subjects factors group (high socially anxious vs. low socially anxious), substance (oxytocin vs. placebo), and sex (male vs. female) and the within-subjects factor sentence valence (positive vs. neutral vs. negative) were conducted for each measure, respectively. ResultsAdministration of intranasal oxytocin yielded an increase in sympathy ratings in high socially anxious compared to low socially anxious individuals and decreased arousal ratings for positively-conditioned faces in low socially anxious participants. As an objective physiological measure of arousal, pupil dilation mirrored the behavioral results. Oxytocin effects on neural activation in the insula interacted with anxiety levels and sex: low socially anxious individuals yielded lower activation under oxytocin than placebo; the converse was observed in high socially anxious individuals. This interaction also differed between sexes, as men yielded higher activation levels than women. These findings were more prominent for positively- and negatively-conditioned faces. Within the amygdala, high socially anxious men yielded higher activation than high socially anxious women in the left hemisphere, and low socially anxious men yielded higher activation than low socially anxious women from positively- and negatively-conditioned faces, though no influence of oxytocin was detected. ConclusionThese results suggest oxytocin-induced behavioral, physiological, and neural changes as a function of social learning in socially low and high anxious individuals. These findings challenge the amygdalocentric view of the role of emotions in social learning, instead contributing to the growing body of findings implicating the insula therein, revealing an interaction between oxytocin, sex, and emotional valence. Such discoveries raise an interesting set of questions regarding the computational goals of regions such as the insula in emotional learning and how neural activity can play a diagnostic or prognostic role in social anxiety, potentially leading to new treatment opportunities that may combine oxytocin and neurofeedback differentially for men and women.