Effect of a single session of transcranial direct-current stimulation on balance and spatiotemporal gait variables in children with cerebral palsy: A randomized sham-controlled study

Background: Transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) has been widely studied with the aim of enhancing local synaptic efficacy and modulating the electrical activity of the cortex in patients with neurological disorders. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a single session of tDCS regarding immediate changes in spatiotemporal gait and oscillations of the center of pressure (30 seconds) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Method: A randomized controlled trial with a blinded evaluator was conducted involving 20 children with CP between six and ten years of age. Gait and balance were evaluated three times: Evaluation 1 (before the stimulation), Evaluation 2 (immediately after stimulation), and Evaluation 3 (20 minutes after the stimulation). The protocol consisted of a 20-minute session of tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex at an intensity of 1 mA. The participants were randomly allocated to two groups: experimental group - anodal stimulation of the primary motor cortex; and control group - placebo transcranial stimulation. Results: Significant reductions were found in the experimental group regarding oscillations during standing in the anteroposterior and mediolateral directions with eyes open and eyes closed in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). In the intra-group analysis, the experimental group exhibited significant improvements in gait velocity, cadence, and oscillation in the center of pressure during standing (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the control group among the different evaluations. Conclusion: A single session of tDCS applied to the primary motor cortex promotes positive changes in static balance and gait velocity in children with cerebral palsy

Association of virginiamycin and multiple supplement for cattle fed a high-quality tropical forage

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of adding virginiamycin to either mineral mixture or multiple supplement on intake, digestion, ruminal fermentation profile, rumen microbial production, blood metabolites, and liver metabolism of zebu heifers fed a high-quality tropical forage. Eight Brahman heifers were assigned to a replicated 4 × 4 Latin Square design. The treatments were: mineral mixture, mineral mixture with virginiamycin, multiple supplement, and multiple supplement with virginiamycin. The basal diet consisted of a high-quality Tifton 85 hay (Cynodom sp.) chopped at 10-cm particle size and fed twice daily. The mineral mixture was provided daily at 120 g/animal. The multiple supplement was formulated to provide 300 g of crude protein (CP)/kg as fed, contained mineral mixture, corn grain, and urea: ammonium sulfate, and was daily provided at 200 g/animal. The mineral mixture and multiple supplement provided the same daily amount of minerals. The amount of supplemental virginiamycin was based on a maximum theoretical response on animal performance (50 mg/100 kg body weight) and daily mixed to the supplements types. The treatments were compared according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (mineral mixture and multiple supplement, with or without virginiamycin). The virginiamycin supplementation did not alter either voluntary intake or digestibility (P≥0.44). Using the multiple supplement decreased forage (

Feeding ecology of fish larvae from Chilean Patagonia during austral winter

Feeding habits of the ichthyoplankton from Chilean Patagonia (44-46°30’S) were studied during June-July 2012 (austral winter). Ichthyoplankton assemblage was composed by 10 species, with low abundance (3.8 to 16.73 ind. 1000 m-3). Most abundant larvae were Maurolicus parvipinnis, Leptonotus blainvilleanus and Sprattus fuegensis. These three species fed mainly on calanoid copepodites, Paracalanus indicus and Calanus sp. copepodites, and cyphonautes. Trophic overlap among dominant fish larvae was high (Schoener’s D &gt; 0.69) and no significant differences were detected in prey composition and size. Therefore, no resource partitioning occurred in planktonic fish larvae during winter 2012 in Chilean Patagonia

Modelo de evaluación de la eficiencia energética y ambiental, de la estructura de actividades y la movilidad: región metropolitana de Barcelona: diseño funcional y resultados parciales

Se propone la construcción de un modelo de sostenibilidad funcional de áreas metropolitanas, basado en un modelo integrado de transporte y uso del suelo que permita evaluar explícitamente la eficiencia social, y sobre todo la eficiencia ambiental del funcionamiento de las ciudades en relación a los flujos y a las actividades instaladas en los territorios. El ámbito de implementación del modelo es la Región Metropolitana de Barcelona, y la unidad de análisis son sus 164 municipios.Peer Reviewe

PO104 placebo and nocebo responses in RLS : a meta-analysis

Objective: Our goals were to estimate the placebo and nocebo responses in restless legs syndrome (RLS). Methods: Databases were searched up to October 2015. Randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of RLS patient were included. ‘Placebo response’ was defined as the within-group change from baseline, using any scale measuring RLS severity or disability. ‘Nocebo response’ was defined as the proportion of patients experiencing adverse events in the placebo arm. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool data. Results: We included 5046 participants. Pooled placebo response effect size was −1.41 (95%CI:−1.56-−1.25), corresponding to −6.58 points in the International RLS Study Group Scale (IRLS). Pooled nocebo response was 45.36% (95%CI:40.47%–50.29%). The placebo and nocebo responses were greater in trials with longer duration, evaluating pharmacological interventions and idiopathic RLS, and in industry funded and unpublished studies. The placebo response was considerable smaller in objective as compared to subjective outcomes. In addition, the nocebo response increases proportionally with the placebo response, and has the same predictors. Conclusions: The magnitude of the placebo response in RLS is above the threshold of minimal clinical important difference, and the frequency of adverse events is also considerable. These results are relevant to inform the design and interpretation of future clinical trials.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

J-PLUS: A wide-field multi-band study of the M15 globular cluster. Evidence of multiple stellar populations in the RGB

The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) provides wide field-of-view images in 12 narrow, intermediate and broad-band filters optimized for stellar photometry. Here we have applied J-PLUS data for the first time for the study of Galactic GCs using science verification data obtained for the very metal-poor GC M\,15. Our J-PLUS data provide low-resolution spectral energy distributions covering the near-UV to the near-IR, allowing us to search for MPs based on pseudo-spectral fitting diagnostics. J-PLUS CMDs are found to be particularly useful to search for splits in the sequences formed by the upper red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We interpret these split sequences as evidence for the presence of MPs. This demonstrates that the J-PLUS survey will have sufficient spatial coverage and spectral resolution to perform a large statistical study of GCs through multi-band photometry in the coming years.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication @ A&

Pharmacobotanical study of Baccharis singularis (Vell.) G.M. Barroso, Asteraceae

Baccharis is an important genus of Asteraceae and it comprehends approximately 400 species, many of which are frequently used in folk medicine as analgesic, diuretic, spasmolytic, antidiabetic, antiseptic and stomachic. Baccharis singularis belongs to the Singularis group and is popularly known as cambará-de-praia and cambará-da-serra. It is a shrub which occurs in Brazil, from Bahia to Rio Grande do Sul. The present study has aimed to investigate the morpho-anatomy of the aerial vegetative parts of this species for pharmacognostic purposes. The plant material was processed according to standard methods of light and scanning electron microscopy. Non-glandular trichomes, flagelliform, simple and uniseriate, secretory ducts located near the phloem, calcium oxalate crystals in the perimedullary region of the stem and in the ground parenchyma of the petiole are valued characters which contribute to the species identification.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Infection of the Central Nervous System: Insights Into Proposed Interrelationships With Neurodegenerative Disorders

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is highly prevalent in humans and can reach the brain without evident clinical symptoms. Once in the central nervous system (CNS), the virus can either reside in a quiescent latent state in this tissue, or eventually actively lead to severe acute necrotizing encephalitis, which is characterized by exacerbated neuroinflammation and prolonged neuroimmune activation producing a life-threatening disease. Although HSV-1 encephalitis can be treated with antivirals that limit virus replication, neurological sequelae are common and the virus will nevertheless remain for life in the neural tissue. Importantly, there is accumulating evidence that suggests that HSV-1 infection of the brain both, in symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals could lead to neuronal damage and eventually, neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review and discuss acute and chronic infection of particular brain regions by HSV-1 and how this may affect neuron and cognitive functions in the host. We review potential cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to neurodegeneration, such as protein aggregation, dysregulation of autophagy, oxidative cell damage and apoptosis, among others. Furthermore, we discuss the impact of HSV-1 infection on brain inflammation and its potential relationship with neurodegenerative diseases

Risk factors associated with urinary incontinence in Portugal and the quality of life of affected women

Objective To identify risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) and assess the quality of life (QoL) of affected women. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted of all women with UI who attended the urology and gynecology services of four hospitals in central Portugal between March and December 2012. Information was obtained from participants using questionnaires assessing sociodemographic, obstetric, gynecologic, and lifestyle variables. Results Among 505 participants, 351 (69.5%) had urgency UI, 107 (21.2%) stress UI, and 47 (9.3%) mixed UI. Stress UI was associated with smoking, alcohol consumption, constipation, gravidity, parity, and vaginal infections (P ≤ 0.02 for all). Urgency UI was associated with age above 50 years, employment, smoking, and sitting for 2 hours or less per day (P ≤ 0.02 for all). Mixed UI was associated with age 50 years or younger, smoking, sitting for 2 hours or less per day, and frequently carrying more than 3 kg in weight (P < 0.001 for all). A negative impact on QoL was reported by 501 (99.2%) women. Compared with younger participants, women older than 50 years presented with more sleep/energy disturbances and performance limitations (P ≤ 0.04 for both). Conclusion UI is associated with several risk factors and has a negative impact on QoL. Appropriate investigation regarding the factors associated with the types of UI should be performed to diminish its impact on QoL