Degree Of Motor Activity Research Articles

Nutritional support for children with spinal cord injury at the I—II stages of rehabilitation

The article presents an individual approach to the correction of nutritional status based on the assessment of the need for macronutrients and the degree of motor activity of a patient with a spinal cord injury Objective. To study the needs for macronutrients (energy and protein) and to develop an algorithm of nutritional support for children with spinal cord injury, taking into account their motor activity. Children characteristics and research methods . The study included 44 patients with spinal cord injury from 2 to 18 years old who were admitted to the Research Institute of Emergency Pediatric Surgery and Traumatology in 2015-2019. All patients underwent anthropometric examination, laboratory monitoring and energy consumption using indirect calorimetry and the Harris — Benedict equations. To determine the true energy consumption, the study was carried out at rest, with passive and active loads. Results. The indirect calorimetry method is the most objective method to determine the energy consumption at rest; if it is impossible to use, the Harris — Benedict calculation equations without correction factors are used. The indirect calorimetry method for various types of load helps to calculate correction factors for true energy consumption. Passive motor exercises in the rehabilitation program do not require an increase in nutritional support. The increase in the patient’s motor activity is the critical factor for increasing the volume of nutritional support. To calculate the true energy consumption, it is necessary to take into account the time of patient’s activity and the correction factors obtained. It is necessary to correct protein losses during the period of hypercatabolism (1 month after injury); in the future it is enough to maintain age-related protein needs. Conclusion. The proposed algorithm of nutritional support for children with spinal cord injury can adequately meet the needs for macronutrients and avoid complications associated with their insufficient or excessive consumption.

An artificial foot for prosthesing invalids

The designed constructions of foot prosthesis by Chopart and shin ones by Pirogov and Syme with the use of whole-piece feet of the foot-forefoot type or Pirogov foot do not make it possible to fully satisfy patients’ demands with a high degree of motor activity. In order to increase the efficacy of rehabilitation of invalids with a high degree of motor activity, an artificial foot was designed for foot prostheses by Chopart and Lisfrank and shin ones by Pirogov and Syme; it is a resilient element made of a composite material, to which a prosthesis sleeve is attached. A possibility to dose out the rigidity along the element ensures the spring and shock-absorbing functions of the foot, as well as its effective roll-over along a support. The designed constructions of foot prosthesis by Chopart and shin ones by Pirogov and Syme with the use of resilient composite elements make it possible to improve the prosthetic-orthopaedic provision of the disabled with a high degree of motor activity. Biomechanical and clinical studies gave an objective assessment of the obtained results, demonstrated a higher quality of walking and its better biomechanical characteristics.

Central hemodynamics and motor activity in 11- to 12-year-old girls under different conditions of school instruction

The left ventricular power (LVP), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (Q), systolic blood pressure (BP s ), and the overall physical activity of schoolgirls attending gymnasium classes with in-depth instruction in specific subjects were lower than in those attending general education classes with the standard curriculum. There were no differences in heart rate (HR), specific peripheral resistance (SPR), or diastolic blood pressure. The stroke index (SI) and cardiac index (CI) were, respectively, moderately and strongly correlated with the degree of motor activity.

Diagnostic value of clinical study methods in syringomyelia

Between 1968 and 1981 52 patients with syringomyelia were investigated clinically and with several additional procedures. The introduction of computerized axial tomography (CAT) has led to a change in diagnostic measurements in this disease. Therefore it has become necessary to evaluate the usefulness of additional investigations made in recent past. From own experiences the following measurements are indicated in patients with presumed syringomyelia: X-rays of the cervical and thoracal spinal column and the skull have to be complemented by automatic computerized transverse axial tomography (ACTA) of the spinal canal. CSF should be investigated before metrizamide myelography combined with computerized tomography--the so called computed assisted myelography--is done. These methods both the automatic computerized transverse axial tomography of the spinal canal and the computed assisted myelography allow a differentiation between communicating and non communicating syringomyelia. Computerized axial tomography of the skull is indicated to detect interval hydrocephalus that may be associated with communicating syringomyelia. The other methods evaluated in this study cannot be used to ascertain diagnosis. These measurements combined with clinical and radiological findings may only support diagnosis. Their significance lies in the critical examination of lost functions in the individual case. Especially electrodiagnostic test--as electromyelography and measurement of nerve conduction velocity--show the extension and distribution of the involved peripheral nervous system. These methods are necessary for the critical evaluation of both the spontaneous clinical course and the results of therapeutic procedures. The electromyography findings show the process of denervation already occurred and the degree of motor activity yet available. The measurement of nerve conduction velocity indicates the localization of involved peripheral nerves. The determination of evoked potentials yields informative findings. But at present the value of this method cannot yet be estimated finally. The indication of the discussed investigations depends on the clinical findings in the individual case with the exception of the radiological procedures.

Method for determination of pulmonary gas exchange in connection with birth.

An apparatus built on the "open" system for determination of pulmonary gas exchange in the newborn infant after birth is described. At four-minute intervals diluted expired air (5-7 1/min) was collected in bags. The oxygen and carbon dioxide fraction in the bags were analysed with a Nyons Diaferometer (working on the principle of thermoconductivity). In calibration experiments using a gas-mixing technique a high degree of linearity was found, both in the determination of the fraction of oxygen and carbon dioxide (r equal to 0.9996). Reproducibility from duplicate readings was also good (for oxygen determination 0.9% and for carbon dioxide determination 0.8%). Duplicate determinations performed on infants with the same degree of motor activity resulted in an estimated error of the method of 5.8% for VO2 and 7.8% for VCO2 respectively. A metabolic chamber was used to control environmental temperature. The air temperature and wall temperature in the chamber were regulated by water from a thermostatically controlled waterbath and were kept equal within 0.5 degrees C. As the method for determination of the fraction of oxygen and carbon dioxide is not specific, other gaseous materials exhaled by the infants influence the measurements and nitrous oxide was found to interfere with the determinations, and made VO2 and VCO2 determinations in these patients impossible. Experience from more than 50 investigations on newborn infants has shown that the method is well suited to this particular type of study.

Studies in Vicariousness: Degree of Motor Activity and the Autokinetic Phenomenon

Studies in Vicariousness: Degree of Motor Activity and the Autokinetic Phenomenon

Is Bisexuality in Animals a Function of Motion?

IN NATURE of September 29, p. 145, Dr. Orton makes the interesting suggestion that bisexuality in animals may be causally connected with the development of a freely moving, as opposed to the sessile or sluggish, habit. Reviewing the incidence of hermaphroditism and bisexuality in the animal kingdom, he reasserts the proposition put forward by Claus that hermaphroditism is found most frequently in fixed, parasitic, and sluggish animals. The two modes of reproduction may therefore be functions of the degree of motor activity manifested by animals.