Medial gastrocnemius muscle stiffness cannot explain the increased ankle joint range of motion following passive stretching in children with cerebral palsy.

Stretching is often used to increase/maintain joint range of motion (ROM) in children with cerebral palsy (CP) but the effectiveness of these interventions is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the acute changes in muscle-tendon lengthening properties that contribute to increased ROM after a bout of stretching in children with CP. Eleven children with spastic CP (age:12.1(3)y, 5/6 hemiplegia/diplegia, 7/4 GMFCS level I/II) participated in this study. Each child received 3 sets of 5 × 20 s passive, manual static dorsiflexion stretches separated by 30 s rest, and 60 s rest between sets. Pre- and immediately post-stretching, ultrasound was used to measure medial gastrocnemius fascicle lengthening continuously over the full ROM and an individual common ROM pre- to post-stretching. Simultaneously, 3D motion of two marker clusters on the shank and the foot was captured to calculate ankle angle, and ankle joint torque was calculated from manually applied torques and forces on a 6DoF load cell. After stretching, ROM was increased (9.9° (12.0), P = 0.005). Over a ROM common to both pre and post measurements, there were no changes in fascicle lengthening or torque. The maximal ankle joint torque tolerated by the participants increased (2.9(2.4) Nm, P = 0.003) and at this highest passive torque maximal fascicle length was 2.8(2.4) mm greater (P = 0.009) when compared to before stretching. These results indicate that the stiffness of the muscle fascicles in children with CP remain unaltered by an acute bout of stretching. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

UPLC-MS/MS method for therapeutic drug monitoring of 10 antibiotics used in intensive care units

A large variation in the levels of different ss-lactams and other antibiotics used in critically ill patients has been documented. The aim of this study is to establish and validate a fast, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous analysis of ten antibiotics (Meropenem, Cefepime, Ceftazidime, Piperacillin, Benzylpenicillin, Ampicillin, Flucloxacillin, Linezolid, and Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim) in human plasma according to European Medicines Agency (EMA) guidelines. Protein precipitation with ice-cold methanol containing 9 isotopically labeled internal standards was used for sample clean up. Antibiotics were detected, following a 4-minute gradient separation, in multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) using API 4000 instrument equipped with electrospray source operating in positive ion mode. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 mg/L for Meropenem, Ceftazidime, Piperacillin, Ampicillin, Flucloxacillin, and Sulfamethoxazole; 0.05 mg/L for Cefepime, Benzylpenicillin, and Trimethoprim; and 0.02 mg/L for Linezolid. The method proved to be precise and accurate and applicable for therapeutic drug monitoring and other pharmacokinetic studies

Heck.in. Hecken und ihre Ökosystemleistungen - eine Bewertung anhand von Indikatoren

Structural elements in rural landscapes, such as hedgerows and windbreaks, provide a range of ecosystem services. The potential for their functionality is determined by structural characteristics and placement in the landscape. Heck.in is a scientifically based and ready-to-use assessment system for hedgerows or windbreaks in rural landscapes that quantifies the fulfillment of ecosystem services. The relationships between structural and locational indicators with ecosystem service delivery have been described based on results from scientific work around the world and combined into a quantitative assessment scheme. With this scheme a hedgerow can be easily evaluated by interested laymen, as a result a classification of 13 different ecosystem services is given in graphical and quantitative form. On this basis, particularly pronounced services or weak points of individual hedges can be made visible, the impact of maintenance measures on functionality can be estimated and comparisons can be made. The application can be made in scientific studies, planning procedures or in the context of training campaigns with all age and interest groups. ZIP-Package contains: - Manual and project description - long version (100 p) - Technical manual for field assessment (24 p) - Form for hedgerow assessment - Model file for hedgerow assessment ************************************************************************************************************************************* Strukturelemente in ländlichen Landschaften, wie Hecken und Windschutzstreifen, erfüllen eine Reihe von Ökosystemleistungen. Das Potenzial für ihre Funktionalität wird durch strukturelle Eigenschaften und die Anordnung in der Landschaft bestimmt. Heck.in ist ein wissenschaftlich fundiertes und anwendungsbereites Bewertungssystem für Hecken oder Windschutzstreifen in ländlichen Landschaften, das die Erfüllung von Ökosystemleistungen quantifiziert. Die Zusammenhänge zwischen strukturellen und Lageindikatoren mit der Erbringung von Ökosystemleistungen wurden auf der Basis von Ergebnissen aus wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten aus aller Welt beschrieben und in einem quantitativen Bewertungsschema zusammengeführt. Mit diesem Schema kann eine Hecke von interessierten Laien einfach bewertet werden, als Ergebnis wird eine Klassifizierung von 13 verschiedenen Ökosystemleistungen in graphischer und quantitativer Form ausgegeben. Auf dieser Basis können besonders ausgeprägte Leistungen oder Schwachpunkte einzelner Hecken sichtbar gemacht werden, die Auswirkung von Pflegemaßnahmen auf die Funktionalität abgeschätzt werden und Vergleiche können gezogen werden. Die Anwendung kann in wissenschaftlichen Studien, Planungsverfahren oder im Rahmen von Schulungsaktionen mit allen Alters- und Interessensgruppen erfolgen. ZIP-Package beinhaltet: - Manual und Projektbeschreibung - Langfassung (100 p) - Kurzfassung / Kartieranleitung (24 p) - Formular für Heckenbewertung - Eingabe- und Berechnungsdatei mit Bewertungsmodel

Heart rate variability during inpatient treatment of depression

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is linked to reduced heart rate variability, an index of cardiovascular autonomic modulation (CAM). However, treatment effects on CAM are poorly known. Our objective was to assess if initiation of inpatient treatment has a beneficial effect on CAM in MDD patients. Methods: In 30 MDD inpatients, we recorded RR-intervals (RRI), continuous blood pressure (BPsys, BPdia), skin conductance levels (SCL), respiration frequency (RESP) and current medication within 24 h (T1) and 3 weeks after hospital admission (T2) during resting state and metronomic breathing. The same parameters were recorded once at baseline in 30 controls without mental disorders. We computed indices of sympathetic modulation, parasympathetic modulation and parameters reflecting total CAM. Physiological parameters were compared using MANCOVAS. Symptoms of depression were assessed using Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), we used rmANOVAs to compare t1 and t2 questionnaire data. Results: BDI and HAM-D scores were lower at T2 than T1 (both p < 0.01). RRI was lower in T1 patients than in controls (p = 0.021), while BPdia (p = 0.038) and RESP (p = 0.014) were higher in T1 patients than controls. MDD patients showed lower parameters of parasympathetic modulation and total CAM than controls during resting state (parasympathetic p = 0.003; total CAM p = 0.017) and metronomic breathing (parasympathetic p = 0.040; total CAM p = 0.007). Analysis unveiled lower parameters of parasympathetic modulation in T1 patients compared to T2 patients during baseline (p = 0.046). No differences between T1 and T2 patients during metronomic breathing were found. Conclusion: MDD patients showed lower CAM than controls. Contrary to our assumption, we found a decline of parasympathetic modulation in MDD patients over the observation span despite symptomatic improvement. The decline is presumably due to the initiation of psychopharmacotherapy and changes in premedication

Heck.in. Ecosystem services of hedgerows - an indicator-based assessment system.

&lt;p&gt;Structural elements in rural landscapes, such as hedgerows and windbreaks, provide a range of ecosystem services.&nbsp;The potential for their functionality is determined by structural characteristics and placement in the landscape.&nbsp;Heck.in is a scientifically based and ready-to-use assessment system for hedgerows or windbreaks in rural landscapes that quantifies the fulfillment of ecosystem services.&lt;br&gt;The relationships between structural and locational indicators with ecosystem service delivery have been described based on results from scientific work around the world and combined into a quantitative assessment scheme. With this scheme a hedgerow can be easily evaluated by interested laypersons, as a result a classification of 13 different ecosystem services is given in graphical and quantitative form. On this basis, particularly pronounced services or weak points of individual hedges can be made visible, the impact of maintenance measures on functionality can be estimated and comparisons can be made. The application can be made in scientific studies, planning procedures or in the context of training campaigns with all age and interest groups.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;ZIP-Package contains:&lt;br&gt;- Manual and project description - long version (97 p)&lt;br&gt;- Technical manual for field assessment (24 p)&lt;br&gt;- Form for hedgerow assessment&lt;br&gt;- Model file for hedgerow assessment&lt;/p&gt

Heck.in - The App

&lt;p&gt;Structural elements in rural landscapes, such as hedgerows and windbreaks, provide a range of ecosystem services.&nbsp;The potential for their functionality is determined by structural characteristics and placement in the landscape.&nbsp;Heck.in is a scientifically based and ready-to-use assessment system for hedgerows or windbreaks in rural landscapes that quantifies the fulfillment of ecosystem services.&lt;br&gt;The relationships between structural and locational indicators with ecosystem service delivery have been described based on results from scientific work around the world and combined into a quantitative assessment scheme. With this scheme a hedgerow can be easily evaluated by interested laypersons, as a result a classification of 13 different ecosystem services is given in graphical and quantitative form. On this basis, particularly pronounced services or weak points of individual hedges can be made visible, the impact of maintenance measures on functionality can be estimated and comparisons can be made. The application can be made in scientific studies, planning procedures or in the context of training campaigns with all age and interest groups.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;The enclosed APK file contains a smartphone app with the full assessment system, which enables quick and easy use on every walk. Due to excessive data hunger of the operators, a publication of this non-commercial project in the Google Play Store was not possible, a publication via F-Droid is in preparation.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;*************************************************************************************************************************************&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Strukturelemente in l&auml;ndlichen Landschaften, wie Hecken und Windschutzstreifen, erf&uuml;llen eine Reihe von &Ouml;kosystemleistungen.&nbsp;Das Potenzial f&uuml;r ihre Funktionalit&auml;t wird durch strukturelle Eigenschaften und die Anordnung in der Landschaft bestimmt.&nbsp;Heck.in ist ein wissenschaftlich fundiertes und anwendungsbereites Bewertungssystem f&uuml;r Hecken oder Windschutzstreifen in l&auml;ndlichen Landschaften, das die Erf&uuml;llung von &Ouml;kosystemleistungen quantifiziert.&lt;br&gt;Die Zusammenh&auml;nge zwischen strukturellen und Lageindikatoren mit der Erbringung von &Ouml;kosystemleistungen wurden auf der Basis von Ergebnissen aus wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten aus aller Welt beschrieben und in einem quantitativen Bewertungsschema zusammengef&uuml;hrt. Mit diesem Schema kann eine Hecke von interessierten Laien einfach bewertet werden, als Ergebnis wird eine Klassifizierung von 13 verschiedenen &Ouml;kosystemleistungen in graphischer und quantitativer Form ausgegeben. Auf dieser Basis k&ouml;nnen besonders ausgepr&auml;gte Leistungen oder Schwachpunkte einzelner Hecken sichtbar gemacht werden, die Auswirkung von Pflegema&szlig;nahmen auf die Funktionalit&auml;t abgesch&auml;tzt werden und Vergleiche k&ouml;nnen gezogen werden. Die Anwendung kann in wissenschaftlichen Studien, Planungsverfahren oder im Rahmen von Schulungsaktionen mit allen Alters- und Interessensgruppen erfolgen.&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;Das beiliegende APK-File beinhalted eine Smartphone-App mit dem vollen Bewertungssystem, die eine schnelle und einfache Anwendung bei jedem Spaziergang erm&ouml;glicht. Aufgrund &uuml;berm&auml;&szlig;igen Datenhungers der Betreiber war eine Ver&ouml;ffentlichung dieses nicht-kommerziellen Projekts im Google Play Store nicht m&ouml;glich, eine Ver&ouml;ffentlichung &uuml;ber F-Droid ist in Vorbereitung.&lt;/p&gt