Motor simulation without motor expertise: enhanced corticospinal excitability in visually experienced dance spectators

The human “mirror-system” is suggested to play a crucial role in action observation and execution, and is characterized by activity in the premotor and parietal cortices during the passive observation of movements. The previous motor experience of the observer has been shown to enhance the activity in this network. Yet visual experience could also have a determinant influence when watching more complex actions, as in dance performances. Here we tested the impact visual experience has on motor simulation when watching dance, by measuring changes in corticospinal excitability. We also tested the effects of empathic abilities. To fully match the participants' long-term visual experience with the present experimental setting, we used three live solo dance performances: ballet, Indian dance, and non-dance. Participants were either frequent dance spectators of ballet or Indian dance, or “novices” who never watched dance. None of the spectators had been physically trained in these dance styles. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure corticospinal excitability by means of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in both the hand and the arm, because the hand is specifically used in Indian dance and the arm is frequently engaged in ballet dance movements. We observed that frequent ballet spectators showed larger MEP amplitudes in the arm muscles when watching ballet compared to when they watched other performances. We also found that the higher Indian dance spectators scored on the fantasy subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the larger their MEPs were in the arms when watching Indian dance. Our results show that even without physical training, corticospinal excitability can be enhanced as a function of either visual experience or the tendency to imaginatively transpose oneself into fictional characters. We suggest that spectators covertly simulate the movements for which they have acquired visual experience, and that empathic abilities heighten motor resonance during dance observation

A review of the health status and diseases of cultured Penaeus indicus in Sistan-o-Baluchistan Province, Iran

The health status and diseases of Penaeus indicus in Sistan-o-Baluchistan culture ponds of Guater Site were assessed during the year 2005. Over the shrimp culture period, two ponds were selected from two farms, and 19 shrimp specimens were caught randomly each month from each pond. The specimens were immediately transferred to lab for further investigation. After recording abnormal signs including color change of cuticle and gills, presence of white or black spots on the body, the specimens were studied for bacterial, fungal and parasitic infections. Bacterial infections included Citobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Actinobacter, Proteus, Vibrio alginolyticus, V. harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus, V. spelendidus and Vibrio sp. Fungal infections of the cultured P. indicus included Fuzarium spp., Mucor, Cladosporium, Aspergillus spp., Penicllinium spp., sterilized hyphae and yeast. The parasites found included Zoothamnium, Epistylis, andVorticella. Since the second month of shrimp culture onwards around 10-65% of shrimps showed white and opaque spots on abdominal muscle which started from the sixth segment. Sometimes, the dots covered the whole abdomen, giving the shrimps a cooked look and a yellowish watery sac on hepatopancreas under the carapace of the specimens could be observed. There was no evidence of disease agents based on microbial, parasitic and environmental studies. The food which was used for shrimp culture was analyzed and showed anion and cation imbalance. Our results showed Idiopathic Muscle Necrosis Syndrome (IMNS) and Subcarapace Watery Sac Syndrome (SWSS) sings in the cultured shrimps

Identification and parasite infecting cultured shrimp, Penaeus indicus in the Chabahar area, southern Iran

Parasites infecting different tissues and organs of cultured shrimp Penaeus indicus were investigated. We sampled three farms each running three ponds from July to October 2003 in Chabahr, Sistan and Baluchestan province. Sampling was done once every 15 days and totally 330 shrimps were investigated. Samples collected during the first 45 days were from feeding trays and over the next months cast net was used to gather samples. Five live specimens taken from each pond were transferred to the lab and samples of gills, pleopods (second pair), intestine, stomach, hepathopancreas and muscles (if they had ulcers on cuticule) were examined under binocular microscope. The most incidences belonged to four groups of peritrish protozoa including Zoothamnium, Epistylis, Vorticella and Acinata. No parasitic worm such as trematodes, nematodes, cestodes and digestive protozoa such as gregafine was seen in the cultured shrimp. The research indicated that outbreak of epicommensal protozoa coincided with the culture period; such that mid-July was infection-free time interval while mid-October (86%) was the outbreak time. Among identified protozoa, Zoothatnnium frequency was the highest which was mostly observed on shrimp pleopods

Identification and parasite infecting cultured shrimp, Penaeus indicus in the Chabahar area, southern Iran

Parasites infecting different tissues and organs of cultured shrimp Penaeus indicus were investigated. We sampled three farms each running three ponds from July to October 2003 in Chabahr, Sistan and Baluchestan province. Sampling was done once every 15 days and totally 330 shrimps were investigated. Samples collected during the first 45 days were from feeding trays and over the next months cast net was used to gather samples. Five live specimens taken from each pond were transferred to the lab and samples of gills, pleopods (second pair), intestine, stomach, hepathopancreas and muscles (if they had ulcers on cuticule) were examined under binocular microscope. The most incidences belonged to four groups of peritrish protozoa including Zoothamnium, Epistylis, Vorticella and Acinata. No parasitic worm such as trematodes, nematodes, cestodes and digestive protozoa such as gregafine was seen in the cultured shrimp. The research indicated that outbreak of epicommensal protozoa coincided wit....

The serum levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokine profiles in patients with different stages of chronic kidney disease

AbstractBackground and Purpose: Various abnormalities of the immune system have been demonstrated in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients with CKD commonly present with abnormalities of immune function related with impaired kidney function and the accumulation of uremic toxins. Th1 and Th2 cells produce predominantly some cytokine profiles. The aim of the present study was the determination of the levels of IL-13 and IFN- in sera of end-stage renal disease. The correlations of IL-13 and IFN- levels with clinical presentation of the disease were assessed.Materials and Methods: In this case-control study the serum levels of IL-13 and IFN- were determined by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 30 patients on hemodialysis (HD), 30 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF), and 60 healthy individuals . Renal function was evaluated by measuring serum levels of creatinin, albumin and urea.Results: The serum levels of IL-13 and IFN- were differed significantly between patients and healthy controls. The serum levels of IL-13 was significantly increased in the HD group than in the CRF and control groups (13.7± 3.9, 6.7± 3.4, 4.5±3.3 pg/ml, respectively) (P=0.001). On the other hand, the IFN- plasma levels were significantly higher in CRF patients than HD patients and controls (38.8±18.8, 17.4±8.78, 12.5±8.9 pg/ml, respectively).Conclusion: In the HD patients, low production of IFN- in line with upregulation of IL-13 indicates that Th1/Th2 balance may shift towards Th2 dominance. It is possible that this imbalance contributes to the abnormality of the immune system in HD patients.Key words: Chronic renal failure, IL-13 and IFN- , HeamodialysisJ Mazand Univ Med Sci 2008; 18(63): 37-45 (Persian

Motor simulation without motor expertise: enhanced corticospinal excitability in visually experienced dance spectators

The human “mirror-system” is suggested to play a crucial role in action observation and execution, and is characterized by activity in the premotor and parietal cortices during the passive observation of movements. The previous motor experience of the observer has been shown to enhance the activity in this network. Yet visual experience could also have a determinant influence when watching more complex actions, as in dance performances. Here we tested the impact visual experience has on motor simulation when watching dance, by measuring changes in corticospinal excitability. We also tested the effects of empathic abilities. To fully match the participants' long-term visual experience with the present experimental setting, we used three live solo dance performances: ballet, Indian dance, and non-dance. Participants were either frequent dance spectators of ballet or Indian dance, or “novices” who never watched dance. None of the spectators had been physically trained in these dance styles. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to measure corticospinal excitability by means of motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) in both the hand and the arm, because the hand is specifically used in Indian dance and the arm is frequently engaged in ballet dance movements. We observed that frequent ballet spectators showed larger MEP amplitudes in the arm muscles when watching ballet compared to when they watched other performances. We also found that the higher Indian dance spectators scored on the fantasy subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index, the larger their MEPs were in the arms when watching Indian dance. Our results show that even without physical training, corticospinal excitability can be enhanced as a function of either visual experience or the tendency to imaginatively transpose oneself into fictional characters. We suggest that spectators covertly simulate the movements for which they have acquired visual experience, and that empathic abilities heighten motor resonance during dance observation

Predicting Factors of Radiosensitivity in Individual Radiotherapy

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Radiation dose in oncology protocols is different for each patient according to the type and grade of the tumor, as well as adjuvant therapies. In the current treatment regimens, some predicting factors of individual radiosensitivity have not been considered. Individual radiotherapy can lower side effects through radiation dose reduction with respect to tumor control. In this study, the most determining factors for predicting radiosensitivity, used for individual radiotherapy, were reviewed. METHODS: Data were retrieved through searching Sciencedirect, PubMed, Google scholar, Iranmedex and SID databases. The titles and abstracts of Persian and English articles were searched using keywords including: radiotherapy, the rate of cell proliferation, tumoral hypoxia, inherent radiosensitivity, tumor cell cycle, inhibitor factors of tumor, cancer stem cells, field dose radiation, apoptosis and predicting factors of radiosensitivity. FINDINGS: Out of 90 articles, 25 original articles and reviews on predicting factors of the rate of radiosensitivity were thoroughly studied. Multiple factors, such as the presence of hypoxic zone and its size, inherent radiosensitivity and apoptosis, are crucial in determining individual radiation dose. Other factors, including previous history of exposure, blood type, left-or right-handedness and physical factors, should also be considered. CONCLUSION: With respect to the physical, chemical, and biological parameters influencing individual radiosensitivity, radiotherapy individualization can promote tumor treatment and diminish side effects of radiotherapy on normal tissue