Quantitative Sensory Testing in adults with Tourette syndrome

INTRODUCTION: Abnormal sensory perceptions, for instance hypersensitivity to certain external stimuli or premonitory urges preceding tics, are core features in Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). Aberrant awareness of externally applied stimuli in terms of altered sensory perception thresholds might contribute to these sensory phenomena in GTS. METHODS: We used the well-established and standardized “Quantitative Sensory Testing” (QST) battery (German Research Network on Neuropathic Pain) to investigate 13 sensory parameters including thermal, mechanical/tactile and pain thresholds in 14 GTS patients without clinically significant comorbidities and 14 healthy controls matched for age and gender. RESULTS: There were no relevant group differences in any of the 13 QST parameters and no specific QST pattern in GTS patients. There was no correlation between QST parameters and “Premonitory Urge for Tics scale” (PUTS) scores. CONCLUSION: Our data show that the perceptual threshold detection of externally applied sensory stimuli is normal in adults with GTS. This indicates that other perceptual mechanisms, such as abnormal central sensorimotor processing and/or aberrant interoceptive awareness might underlie the clinically significant sensory abnormalities in GTS

Rise of the Colorado Plateau: A Synthesis of Paleoelevation Constraints From the Region and a Path Forward Using Temperature-Based Elevation Proxies

The Colorado Plateau’s complex landscape has motivated over a century of debate, key to which is understanding the timing and processes of surface uplift of the greater Colorado Plateau region, and its interactions with erosion, drainage reorganization, and landscape evolution. Here, we evaluate what is known about the surface uplift history from prior paleoelevation estimates from the region by synthesizing and evaluating estimates 1) in context inferred from geologic, geomorphic, and thermochronologic constraints, and 2) in light of recent isotopic and paleobotanical proxy method advancements. Altogether, existing data and estimates suggest that half-modern surface elevations were attained by the end of the Laramide orogeny (∼40 Ma), and near-modern surface elevations by the mid-Miocene (∼16 Ma). However, our analysis of paleoelevation proxy methods highlights the need to improve proxy estimates from carbonate and floral archives including the ∼6–16 Ma Bidahochi and ∼34 Ma Florissant Formations and explore understudied (with respect to paleoelevation) Laramide basin deposits to fill knowledge gaps. We argue that there are opportunities to leverage recent advancements in temperature-based paleoaltimetry to refine the surface uplift history; for instance, via systematic comparison of clumped isotope and paleobotanical thermometry methods applied to lacustrine carbonates that span the region in both space and time, and by use of paleoclimate model mediated lapse rates in paleoelevation reconstruction

End-stage extension of the knee and its influence on tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (TTTG) in asymptomatic volunteers

PURPOSE: Increased tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove distance (TTTG) is one potential correcting parameter in patients suffering from lateral patellar instability. It was hypothesized that end-stage extension of the knee might influence the TTTG distance on MR images. METHODS: Transverse T1-weighted MR images of the knee were acquired at full extension, 15° and 30° flexion of the knee in 30 asymptomatic volunteers. MRI parameters: slice thickness: 3 mm, matrix: 256 × 384, FOV: 150 × 150 mm. Two observers independently measured the TTTG at all positions. RESULTS: Mean TTTG for observer 1 was 15.1 ± 3.2 mm at full extension, 10.0 ± 3.5 mm at 15° flexion and 8.1 ± 3.4 mm at 30° flexion. Mean TTTG for observer 2: 14.8 ± 3.3 mm at full extension, 9.4 ± 3.0 mm at 15° flexion, 8.6 ± 3.4 mm at 30° flexion. Mean values were significantly different (p < 0.001) between full extension and 15° as well as 30° flexion for both observers. Mean values were significantly different (p < 0.001) between 15° and 30° for observer 1, but not for observer 2 (n.s.). Interobserver agreement was very good (intraclass correlation coefficient: 0.87-0.88; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The TTTG increases significantly at the end-stage extension of the knee. Therefore, the comparability of published TTTG values measured on radiographs, CT and MRI at various flexion/extension angles of the knee are limited. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Development of diagnostic criteria in a consecutive series of patients and a universally applied 'gold' standard, Level II

Preparing the Landscape for Invasion: Accelerating the Evolution of Resistance

Restoration of forests devastated by nonnative invaders often dominates the attention of forest mangers and their actions. However, taking a broader view of the invasion beyond the crisis areas reveals opportunities where proactive management can alter the outcome of the invasion in threatened areas. Proactive management moves past the idea of protecting the hosts from exposure to the established non-native invader and shifts toward facilitating naturalization by preparing the landscape to sustain critical ecosystem function into the future in the presence of the invader. Increasing the frequencies of durable resistance or tolerance traits within tree populations is accepted as a promising avenue for the co-existence of native tree species and non-native pathogens. Therefore the objective of proactive intervention is use silviculture to position the ecosystem to facilitate the evolution of pathogen-resistance in the tree populations upon invasion (Schoettle and Sniezko 2007*). Diversifying the age class structure by stimulating regeneration in the healthy forest will provide a larger population size for resistance selection upon invasion and simultaneous selection in both the younger and older cohorts. Accelerating the generation time and natural selection process through silvicultural treatments will reduce the ecological consequences of mortality in any one cohort and increases the potential for development of durable resistance within the population while maintaining broad genetic diversity. Introduction of stock with heritable resistance into stands that are not yet invaded by the nonnative pathogen would also increase the frequency of resistance on the landscape and accelerate the evolution of resistance. In addition, proactive artificial regeneration will reduce the window of time, after invasion, when the stands regeneration capability is comprise by mortality of the mature trees (Schoettle and Sniezko 2007*). This poster will discuss proactive silvicultural options for managing (1) high elevation 5-needle pines threatened by Cronartium ribicola (white pine blister rust) and (2) Port-Orford-cedar stands at risk for impacts from Phytophthora lateralis. [*Schoettle, AW and RA Sniezko (2007) Proactive intervention to sustain high elevation pine ecosystems threatened by white pine blister rust. Journal of Forest Research 12(5): 327-336. Available at: http://springerlink.metapress.com/content/9v91t44278w74430 /fulltext.pdf