Motor Activity Research Articles

Pediatric peri-insular hemispherotomy and functional hemispherectomy for severe medically refractory epilepsy: comparison of two techniques

PurposeSince it was first described in the 1970s, functional hemispherotomy has been an essential tool in treating disabling, medically refractory epilepsy resulting from diffuse unilateral hemispheric disease. We report our experience with 23 patients who underwent hemispherotomy, both using the functional hemispherotomy (FH) as well as a modified peri-insular hemispherotomy (PIH) technique. We present the surgical technique for the latter, review outcomes following disconnection surgery and discuss the differences between the techniques when it comes to complications and postoperative results. MethodsA retrospective study of 23 patients with refractory seizures who underwent cerebral hemispherectomy. A thorough analysis of the clinical, imaging, surgical features and postoperative results was performed. We also present the surgical technique for a modified PIH technique. ResultsBetween 2000 and 2020, 23 pediatric patients with refractory seizures underwent hemispherotomy (12 FHs, 11 modified PIHs). 91.3% of patients were seizure free at 6 months, 87% at 1 year, and 78.3% at last follow-up. None of the 23 patients presented Engel IV outcome. FH was found to have statistically longer surgical duration (5 ± 1.5 vs 3.83 ± 0.5 hours; p = <0.001). Neurocognition was improved in two thirds of the patients (66.9%). Our study also shows improvement of motor activity in the majority of the patients, regardless of the pathology and surgical technique. In the present report we modified the Cook et al. technique by implementing an amygdalohippocampectomy with resection of the tail of the hippocampus posteriorly and medially, to achieve temporo-occipital disconnection, instead of a complete temporal lobectomy. ConclusionWhen patients are wisely selected, the hemispherectomy procedure should be considered as a most attractive and curative treatment for children with refractory seizures, not only giving the patient a high chance of seizure freedom but also providing an improvement in motor and cognitive skills. In our particular case and based on the present study, the modified PIH proves to be a highly effective technique. It not only has a shorter surgical time but also a very low complication rate.

A - 91 Nocturnal Motor Activity and Wake after Sleep Onset and Neuropsychological Health in Veterans with Gulf War Illness

Abstract Objective To examine the association between actigraphy-based sleep parameters and neuropsychological health in Veterans with Gulf War Illness (GWI). Methods Objective sleep data was obtained from 85 GW Veterans (Mage = 54.2, 79% Male) using an actigraphy monitor (Phillips Respironics Actiwatch-2) worn for 24 hours/day for seven consecutive days. Actigraphy data was manually scored to define time in bed (TIB), and total sleep time (TST), wake after sleep onset (WASO), number of awakenings (NWAK), and motor activity counts (MAC) during sleep were derived using the device software. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires: Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Posttraumatic Symptom Checklist (PCL-5), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Cognitive function was assessed using the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). Correlation analysis was conducted to discover associations between sleep parameters, self-reported measures, and cognitive function. Results MAC was positively correlated with elevated scores on PSQI (r = 0.35, p &amp;lt; 0.01), PHQ-9 (r = 0.26, p &amp;lt; 0.05), and PCL-5 (r = 0.26, p &amp;lt; 0.05), and negatively correlated with RBANS Total Index score (r = −0.27, p &amp;lt; 0.05). WASO was also positively correlated with PSQI scores (r = 0.29, p &amp;lt; 0.01). TIB and TST were positively correlated with age (r = 0.25, r = 0.28; all p &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusion Objective parameters of disrupted sleep – nocturnal MAC and WASO – were associated with greater self-reported sleep disturbance. MAC was additionally correlated with increased self-reported symptoms of depression and PTSD, as well as lower performance on a measure of objective cognitive function. This study identifies aspects of sleep disruption as potential sleep intervention targets related to both mood and cognitive symptoms.

Transduced Olfactory Mucosa Cells Expressing Nerve Growth Factor for the Therapy of Experimental Spinal Cord Cysts.

A new gene-cell construct expressing nerve growth factor (NGF) has been developed. After obtaining engineered adenovectors Ad5-RGD-CAG-NGF and Ad5-RGD-CAG-EGFP, transduction efficiency and transgene expression were studied and multiplicity of infection was determined. The efficacy of transduced human olfactory ensheathing cells expressing NGF in restoring motor activity in rats has been shown in a limited period of time. Improved rat hindlimb mobility and cyst size reduction after gene-cell construct transplantation were more likely due to the cellular component of the construct.

Polymorphism and Pharmacological Assessment of Carbamazepine.

This work provides insight into carbamazepine polymorphs (Forms I, II, III, IV, and V), with reports on the cytoprotective, exploratory, motor, CNS-depressant, and anticonvulsant properties of carbamazepine (CBZ), carbamazepine formulation (CBZ-F), topiramate (TOP), oxcarbazepine (OXC), and diazepam (DZP) in mice. Structural analysis highlighted the significant difference in molecular conformations, which directly influence the physicochemical properties; and density functional theory description provided indications about CBZ reactivity and stability. In addition to neuron viability assessment in vitro, animals were treated orally with vehicle 10 mL/kg, as well as CBZ, CBZ-F, TOP, OXC, and DZP at the dose of 5 mg/kg and exposed to open-field, rotarod, barbiturate sleep induction and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ 70 mg/kg)-induced seizure. The involvement of GABAergic mechanisms in the activity of these drugs was evaluated with the intraperitoneal pretreatment of flumazenil (2 mg/kg). The CBZ, CBZ-F, and TOP mildly preserved neuronal viability. The CBZ-F and the reference AEDs potentiated barbiturate sleep, altered motor activities, and attenuated PTZ-induced convulsion. However, flumazenil pretreatment blocked these effects. Additional preclinical assessments could further establish the promising utility of CBZ-F in clinical settings while expanding the scope of AED formulations and designs.

The Possible Involvement of Glucagon-like Peptide-2 in the Regulation of Food Intake through the Gut-Brain Axis.

Food intake regulation is a complex mechanism involving the interaction between central and peripheral structures. Among the latter, the gastrointestinal tract represents one of the main sources of both nervous and hormonal signals, which reach the central nervous system that integrates them and sends the resulting information downstream to effector organs involved in energy homeostasis. Gut hormones released by nutrient-sensing enteroendocrine cells can send signals to central structures involved in the regulation of food intake through more than one mechanism. One of these is through the modulation of gastric motor phenomena known to be a source of peripheral satiety signals. In the present review, our attention will be focused on the ability of the glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) hormone to modulate gastrointestinal motor activity and discuss how its effects could be related to peripheral satiety signals generated in the stomach and involved in the regulation of food intake through the gut-brain axis. A better understanding of the possible role of GLP-2 in regulating food intake through the gut-brain axis could represent a starting point for the development of new strategies to treat some pathological conditions, such as obesity.

In Vitro and in vivo characterization of nasal pH-Responsive in-situ hydrogel of Candesartan-loaded invasomes as a potential stroke treatment.

Candesartan (CDN) is a useful anti-stroke medication because it lowers blood pressure, inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis and apoptosis. However, CDN has limited efficacy due to its low solubility and poor bioavailability. This study set out to develop nasal pH-responsive in situ hydrogel of CDN-loaded invasomes a (PRHCLI) for enhancing CDN's release, penetration, bioavailability, and effectiveness as a possible treatment for stroke. Based on the results of the pre-formulation investigation, the optimum CLI formulation for intravasomal delivery of CDN was determined to be 3% of phospholipid, 0.16% of cholesterol, 3% of ethanol, and 1% of cineole. The optimum formulation significantly enhanced CDN permeation and release by 2.06-fold and 59.06%, respectively. The CLI formulation was added to a mixture of chitosan (0.67%w/v) and glyceryl monooleate (0.27%v/v) to develop PRHCLI. The PRHCLI formulation enhanced the release and permeation of CDN relative to free CDN by 2.15 and 2.76 folds, respectively. An experimental rat stroke model was utilized for in vivo studies to evaluate the bioavailability, effectiveness, and toxicity of the PRHCLI formulation. The nasal PRHCLI drops increased the CDN's bioavailability by 3.20-fold compared to oral free CDN. Increased grip strength and decreased flexion, spontaneous motor activity, and Morris Water Maze scores in comparison to oral free CDN showed that nasal PRHCLI drops have better anti-stroke activity. The toxicity evaluation revealed the safety of nasal PRHCLI. Hence, nasal PRHCLI drops may represent a promising avenue as a stroke therapy.

The Hippocampus Represents Information about Movements in Their Temporal Position in a Learned Motor Sequence.

Our repertoire of motor skills is filled with sequential movements that need to be performed in a specific order. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate whether the human hippocampus, a region known to support temporal order in non-motor memory, represents information about the order of sequential motor actions in human participants (both sexes). We also examined such representations in other regions of the motor network (i.e., the premotor cortex, supplementary motor area, anterior superior parietal lobule, and striatum) already known for their critical role in motor sequence learning. Results showed that the hippocampus represents information about movements in their learned temporal position in the sequence, but not about movements or temporal positions in random movement patterns. Other regions of the motor network coded for movements in their learned temporal position, as well as movements and positions in random movement patterns. Importantly, movement coding contributed to sequence learning patterns in primary, supplementary, and premotor cortices but not in striatal and parietal regions. Our findings deepen our understanding of how striatal and cortical regions contribute to motor sequence learning and point to the capacity of the hippocampus to represent movements in their temporal context, an ability possibly explaining its contribution to motor learning.

Application of Computer vision Technologies in Health-Improving Physical Education

Introduction. The article presents the areas of use of computer vision technologies in the field of physical education and sports activities. Methodology. Innovative methods for assessing motor action based on video material, pattern recognition, object tracking are analyzed, the possibility of automated control of motor action based on the use of artificial intelligence and neural networks is shown. Particular attention is paid to the possibilities to integrate computer vision technologies from the field of professional sports and fitness industry into fitness physical culture, educational process. Results. A computer program based on the MediaPipe system has been developed for automated assessment of the effectiveness of physical exercise based on biomechanical properties of motor action, taking into account individual proportions of the body, determining the load on key points of the body in order to obtain an optimal health effect. Conclusions. The prospects for using this program to optimize the methodology of health-improving physical education are discussed.

Новые мировые техники стрессоустойчивости в условиях цифровизации общества

Modern man is experiencing severe stress due to information load and changes in the ergonomic environment. Active digitalization of society has also become a stressful situation for many people, as their life activities, pace and rhythm have completely changed. Many are trying to escape from such an intense pace that is detrimental to the body. All over the world new techniques of stress resistance are being developed: meditation; proper breathing techniques; autotraining techniques, yoga system. There is a new technique with its own rules, reminiscent of competitions – Leni championship or championship on doing nothing, which are held in Japan, South Korea, Montenegro. The study expresses an opinion about participation in such championships from the point of view of biomechanics of human motor activity.

Sensory augmentation for a rapid motor task in a multisensory environment.

Sensory substitution and augmentation systems (SSASy) seek to either replace or enhance existing sensory skills by providing a new route to access information about the world. Tests of such systems have largely been limited to untimed, unisensory tasks. To test the use of a SSASy for rapid, ballistic motor actions in a multisensory environment. Participants played a stripped-down version of air hockey in virtual reality with motion controls (Oculus Touch). They were trained to use a simple SASSy (novel audio cue) for the puck's location. They were tested on ability to strike an oncoming puck with the SASSy, degraded vision, or both. Participants coordinated vision and the SSASy to strike the target with their hand more consistently than with the best single cue alone, t(13) = 9.16, p <.001, Cohen's d = 2.448. People can adapt flexibly to using a SSASy in tasks that require tightly timed, precise, and rapid body movements. SSASys can augment and coordinate with existing sensorimotor skills rather than being limited to replacement use cases - in particular, there is potential scope for treating moderate vision loss. These findings point to the potential for augmenting human abilities, not only for static perceptual judgments, but in rapid and demanding perceptual-motor tasks.

Optimality of multisensory integration while compensating for uncertain visual target information with artificial vibrotactile cues during reach planning

BackgroundPlanning and executing movements requires the integration of different sensory modalities, such as vision and proprioception. However, neurological diseases like stroke can lead to full or partial loss of proprioception, resulting in impaired movements. Recent advances focused on providing additional sensory feedback to patients to compensate for the sensory loss, proving vibrotactile stimulation to be a viable option as it is inexpensive and easy to implement. Here, we test how such vibrotactile information can be integrated with visual signals to estimate the spatial location of a reach target.MethodsWe used a center-out reach paradigm with 31 healthy human participants to investigate how artificial vibrotactile stimulation can be integrated with visual-spatial cues indicating target location. Specifically, we provided multisite vibrotactile stimulation to the moving dominant arm using eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors. As the integration of inputs across multiple sensory modalities becomes especially relevant when one of them is uncertain, we additionally modulated the reliability of visual cues. We then compared the weighing of vibrotactile and visual inputs as a function of visual uncertainty to predictions from the maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) framework to decide if participants achieve quasi-optimal integration.ResultsOur results show that participants could estimate target locations based on vibrotactile instructions. After short training, combined visual and vibrotactile cues led to higher hit rates and reduced reach errors when visual cues were uncertain. Additionally, we observed lower reaction times in trials with low visual uncertainty when vibrotactile stimulation was present. Using MLE predictions, we found that integration of vibrotactile and visual cues followed optimal integration when vibrotactile cues required the detection of one or two active motors. However, if estimating the location of a target required discriminating the intensities of two cues, integration violated MLE predictions.ConclusionWe conclude that participants can quickly learn to integrate visual and artificial vibrotactile information. Therefore, using additional vibrotactile stimulation may serve as a promising way to improve rehabilitation or the control of prosthetic devices by patients suffering loss of proprioception.

ON THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FEATURES OF THE CONDITION OF THE FETUS IN PREGNANT WOMEN WITH THYROID DISEASES

The purpose of the study is to assess the functional state of the fetus in pregnant women with certain thyroid diseases. Material and methods.The results of instrumental studies in 118 pregnant women, who were divided into three clinical groups, were analyzed. Group 1 (44 people) consisted of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT). Group 2 (52 people) consisted of patients with diffuse toxic goiter (DTG). The 3rd group, which was control in relation to the other two, consisted of 22 pregnant women who had no somatic pathology and gestational complications. The diagnosis of thyroid diseases was made by an endocrinologist during a consultation in the third trimester of pregnancy on the basis of laboratory and instrumental data. The functional state of the fetus was assessed based on the total result of cardiotocographic and ultrasound studies, for which Partecust (Siemens, Germany) and Aloka-1700 (Hitachi, Japan) devices were used. Statistical processing of clinical material was carried out using StatSoft software, Russia. Research results. A comprehensive assessment of the adaptive capabilities of the fetus showed changes in its functional state in pregnant women with thyroid pathology. Prognostically, the most important thing in pregnant women with autoimmune thyroiditis and diffuse toxic goiter is a decrease to 0-1 points in indicators that determine motor activity and tone, respiratory movements, as well as the reaction to a non-stress test. Among patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and diffuse toxic goiter, a high assessment of the biophysical profile of the fetus occurred 4 and 3.4 times, respectively, less often than among women with a normal pregnancy (among pregnant women without somatic pathology and gestational complications). Conclusion. Disturbances in the function of the thyroid gland during the gestational period can have an adverse effect on the development of the fetus, which is a theoretical basis for the development of treatment and preventive methods aimed at improving perinatal outcomes in this group of patients

Two Tetrahymena kinesin-9 family members exhibit slow plus-end-directed motility in vitro

The kinesin-9 family comprises two subfamilies specific to ciliated eukaryotic cells, and has recently attracted considerable attention because of its importance in ciliary bending and formation. However, only scattered data are available on the motor properties of kinesin-9 family members; these properties have not been compared under identical experimental conditions using kinesin-9 motors from the same species. Here, we report the comprehensive motor properties of two kinesin-9 molecules of Tetrahymena thermophila, TtK9A (Kif9/Klp1 ortholog) and TtK9B1 (Kif6 ortholog), using microtubule-based in vitro assays, including single-motor and multi-motor assays and microtubule-stimulated ATPase assays. Both subfamilies exhibit microtubule plus-end-directed, extremely slow motor activity, both in single and multiple molecules. TtK9A shows lower processivity than TtK9B1. Our findings indicate that the considerable slow movement of kinesin-9 that corresponds to low ATP hydrolysis rates is a common feature of the ciliary kinesin-9 family.

Analyzing the neurotoxic effects of anatoxin-a and saxitoxin in zebrafish larvae

Global warming due to climate change, as well as freshwater eutrophication caused by anthropogenic activities are responsible, among other factors, for an increasing occurrence of harmful algal blooms (HABs) in aquatic systems. These can lead to the generation of cyanotoxins, secondary metabolites coming from cyanobacteria, producing adverse effects in living organisms including death. This research aims to study the effects that two neurotoxins, anatoxin-a (ATX-a) and saxitoxin (STX), have on living organisms. Once the stability of both compounds in water was determined for a 24 h period using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS), zebrafish larvae were exposed to different levels of toxins (1 ng L−1, 10 ng L−1, 100 ng L−1 and 1 μg L−1) during 24 h. Behavioral studies including vibrational startle response (VSR), habituation to vibrational stimuli, basal locomotor activity (BLM) and visual motor response (VMR) were performed using Danio Vision system, and neurotransmitters (NTs) from 15-head pools of control and exposed zebrafish larvae were extracted and analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS. Both compounds induced hypolocomotion in the individuals, while 10 and 100 ng L−1 of ATX-a significantly increased methionine (120 % and 126 %, respectively) and glutamate levels (118 % and 129 %, respectively). Saxitoxin enhanced 3-metoxytyramine (3-MT) levels at 1 ng L−1 by 185 %. The findings of this study show that both studied cyanotoxins influence the behavior of zebrafish larvae as well as their metabolism.

Tensions on the actin cytoskeleton and apical cell junctions in the C. elegans spermatheca are influenced by spermathecal anatomy, ovulation state and activation of myosin.

Cells generate mechanical forces mainly through myosin motor activity on the actin cytoskeleton. In C. elegans , actomyosin stress fibers drive contractility of the smooth muscle-like cells of the spermatheca, a distensible, tube-shaped tissue in the hermaphrodite reproductive system and the site of oocyte fertilization. Stretching of the spermathecal cells by oocyte entry triggers activation of the small GTPase Rho. In this study, we asked how forces are distributed in vivo using the spermatheca, and explored how this tissue responds to alterations in myosin activity. Using laser ablation, we show that the basal actomyosin fibers are under tension in the occupied spermatheca. Reducing actomyosin contractility by depletion of the phospholipase C-ε/PLC-1 or non-muscle myosin II/NMY-1, leads to distended spermathecae occupied by one or more embryos, but does not alter tension on the basal actomyosin fibers. This suggests that much of the tension on the basal actin fibers in the occupied spermatheca is due to the presence of the embryo. However, activating myosin through depletion of the Rho GAP SPV-1 increases tension on the actomyosin fibers, consistent with earlier studies showing Rho drives spermathecal contractility. On the inner surface of the spermathecal tube, tension on the apical junctions is decreased by depletion of PLC-1 and NMY-1. Surprisingly, when basal contractility is increased through SPV-1 depletion, the tension on apical junctions also decreases, with the most significant effect on the junctions aligned in perpendicular to the axis of the spermatheca. This suggests tension on the outer basal surface may compress the apical side, and suggests the three-dimensional shape of the spermatheca plays a role in force distribution and contractility during ovulation.

Type and Distribution of Gross Motor Activity During Physical Therapy in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy.

Physical therapists routinely deliver and prescribe motor practice to improve function. The ability to select optimal practice regimens is limited by a current lack of detail in the measurement of motor practice. The objective of this study was to quantify the type, amount, and timing of gross motor practice during physical therapist sessions. A secondary video coding analysis of physical therapist sessions from the iMOVE clinical trial (NCT02340026) in young children with cerebral palsy (CP) was conducted. The 37 children who completed the treatment phase were included (mean age = 22.1months). Children could initiate pulling to stand but were unable to walk. Videos of randomly selected therapy sessions were coded for gross motor activity (422 videos total). The 10 gross motor activity codes included lying, sitting, four point, crawling, kneeling, knee walking, standing, walking, transitions between floor postures, and transitions to/from an upright posture. Twenty percent of each video was double coded for reliability. Time per session, number of bouts, and median time per bout were calculated for each gross motor activity and for 2 aggregate measures: movement time and upright time. Participants spent more than half of therapy time in sitting and standing combined (60.3%). Transitions occurred more frequently than any other motor activity (49.3 total transitions per session). Movement time accounted for 16.3% of therapy time. Upright time accounted for 53.3% of therapy time. Critical practice time to gain motor skill is not equivalent to chronological time or time spent in therapy. Toddlers with CP spent a small amount of therapy time moving. Future work should explore the relations between motor practice and rehabilitation outcomes. Physical therapists are ideally suited to detail the content of motor practice and ultimately to prescribe optimal patterns of motor practice. We report the characteristics of gross motor practice during therapy in children with CP.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Modulates Brain Connectivity in Children with Self-limited Epilepsy with Centrotemporal Spikes.

Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) alter brain connectivity in children with epilepsy; this connectivity change may be a mechanism by which epilepsy induces cognitive deficits. Here, we test whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive neuromodulation technique, modulates connectivity and reduces IEDs in children with epilepsy. Nineteen children with self-limited epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (SeLECTS) participated in a cross-over study comparing the impact of active vs. sham rTMS on IEDs and brain connectivity. SeLECTS is an epilepsy syndrome affecting the motor cortex, and prior studies show that motor cortices become pathologically hyper-connected to frontal and temporal language cortices. Using a crossover design, we compared the effect of single doses of active versus sham motor cortex rTMS. Connectivity, which was quantified by the weighted phase lag index (wPLI), was measured before and after rTMS using single pulses of TMS combined with EEG (spTMS-EEG). Analyses focused on six regions: bilateral motor cortices and bilateral inferior frontal and superior temporal regions. IEDs were counted in the five minutes before and after rTMS. Active, but not sham, rTMS significantly and globally decreased wPLI connectivity between multiple regions, with the greatest reductions seen in the superior temporal region connections in the stimulated hemisphere. Additionally, there was a trend suggesting that rTMS decreases IED frequency. These findings underscore the potential of low-frequency rTMS to target pathologic hyperconnectivity and reduce IEDs in children with SeLECTS and potentially other pediatric epilepsy syndromes, offering a promising avenue for therapeutic intervention.

17β-Trenbolone Exposure Enhances Muscle Activity and Exacerbates Parkinson's Disease Progression in Male Mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) ranks as the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, and while the neuroprotective effects of estrogen are well-documented, the impact of androgens on neurological disorders remains understudied. The consequences of exposure to 17-trenbolone (17-TB), an environmental endocrine disruptor with androgen-like properties, on the mammalian nervous system have received limited attention. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the biological effects of 17-TB exposure on PD. In our investigation using the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model, we discovered that 17-TB exposure elevated testosterone hormone levels prevented androgen receptor (AR) reduction, upregulated the expression of muscular dystrophic factors (Atrogin1, MuRF1, Musa1, and Myostatin), improved muscle strength, and enhanced locomotor activity in the open field test. However, it is noteworthy that exposure to 17-TB also led to an upregulation of neuroinflammatory cytokines (NLRP3, IL-6, IL-1α, and IL-1β) in PD mice. Crucially, 17-TB exposure induced downregulation of nigral apoptotic proteins DJ-1 and Bcl-2 while upregulating Bax and Caspase-3 in PD mice. This exacerbated neuronal apoptosis, ultimately intensifying dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and death in the substantia nigra and striatum of PD mice. In conclusion, our findings indicate that while 17-TB mitigates muscle atrophy and enhances motor activity in PD mice, it concurrently exacerbates neuroinflammation, induces neuronal apoptosis, and worsens dopaminergic neuronal death, thereby aggravating the progression of MPTP-induced Parkinsonism. This underscores the importance of considering potential environmental risks in neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, providing a cautionary tale for our daily exposure to environmental endocrine chemical disruptors.

Integrated GC-MS and proteomics reveal the changes and correlations between flavor compounds and the proteome in surimi gels treated with high-temperature sterilization

The impact of high-temperature sterilization on the flavor of surimi gels were examined, alongside the utilization of tandem mass tag labeled quantitative proteomics to explore the correlations between flavor and proteome profiles. Notable increase was observed in lipid oxidation, protein degradation, and the types and total content of volatile organic compounds (VOC), particularly aldehydes. A total of 67 shared differentially expressed proteins (DEP) were identified, confirming the aggregation and degradation of proteins. Gene Ontology functional analysis revealed that proteins possibly linked to flavor were primarily concentrated in the myosin complex, motor activity, and hydrolase activity categories. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis highlighted a focus on the motor protein pathway. Correlation analysis between DEP and key VOC revealed that most DEP exhibited significant correlations with aldehydes and ketones such as octanal, pentanal, and (Z)-4-heptenal, with flavor-associated proteins mainly concentrated in structural, antioxidant, and redox proteins.

Relationship Between Prone Skills and Motor-Based Problem-Solving Abilities in Full-Term and Preterm Infants During the First 6 Months of Life.

Motor experiences shape cognitive development in infancy, with the prone position being one such crucial motor experience in the first 6 months of life. Although the motor benefits of the prone position are well-documented, its influence on early cognitive abilities remains insufficiently explored. This study quantified the relationship between prone motor skills and motor-based problem-solving abilities in 48 full-term and preterm infants aged 3-6 months. Prone skills were assessed using the Alberta Infant Motor Scale's prone domain. The Assessment of Problem-Solving in Play was utilized to measure motor-based problem-solving by observing how motor actions were used to solve toys. Advanced prone motor skills were correlated with an increase in sophisticated exploration skills and a concurrent decline in lower order exploration skills in all infants, with correlations being stronger in preterm infants. Notably, a 1-point increase in prone skills was associated with a 1.3-point increase in total motor-based problem-solving abilities in all infants. Our findings provide preliminary evidence for the contribution of prone play to cognitive development in infants, prompting considerations for assessment and intervention strategies. Further research is needed to ascertain if the delayed acquisition of prone motor skills is indicative of poor early problem-solving abilities in preterm infants.