Thermal Performance of Growth at Consumption Maximum (C-Max) and Routine Metabolic Rate (RMR) in Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis from four Populations in Central Appalachia

Growth of an individual is the end result of many physiological processes stemming from the consumption of food items. These processes can be influenced by many variables including temperature. Current bioenergetics models for Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis suggest growth increases with temperature until an inflection point of 20.2°C. With a warming climate, and water temperatures expected to rise, the ability of a population to adapt to the warming environment is crucial to the survival of the species. For this study we sought to see how spatial variation would influence the specific consumption, conversion efficiency, and specific growth at consumption maximum (C-Max), as well as the routine metabolic rate (RMR) of four source populations of Brook Trout in West Virginia’s Central Appalachian Mountains. To accomplish this, we subjected individual fish to identical experimental regimes at three temperatures (12, 16, and 20°C). Experiments included 12 days of maximum consumption (C-Max) experiments followed by routine metabolic rates being measured. The effects of source population and temperature differences were determined using a general linear model and significant differences in model coefficients (p≤0.05). By the end of the study we found that the low elevation stream, which also experiences higher summer mean temperatures, significantly converted the energy of prey items more efficiently and in turn grew significantly faster at elevated water temperatures. Routine metabolic rates were found to be significantly (p≤0.05) different with two populations having a higher intercept but a lower slope coefficient than the other two populations. These findings give hope that a population of cold-water fish can survive climate change if temperatures rise at a slow enough pace to allow for adaptation

The secure base script and the task of caring for elderly parents: implications for attachment theory and clinical practice

This study explores links between adults’ attachment representations and the task of caring for elderly parents with dementia. Participants were 87 adults serving as primary caregivers of a parent or parent-in-law with dementia. Waters and Waters’ (2006) Attachment Script Assessment was adapted to assess script-like attachment representation in the context of caring for their elderly parent. The quality of adult-elderly parent interactions was assessed using the Level of Expressed Emotions Scale (Cole & Kazarian, 1988) and self-report measures of caregivers’ perception of caregiving as difficult. Caregivers’ secure base script knowledge predicted lower levels of negative expressed emotion. This effect was moderated by the extent to which participants experienced caring for elderly parents as difficult. Attachment representations played a greater role in caregiving when caregiving tasks were perceived as more difficult. These results support the hypothesis that attachment representations influence the quality of care that adults provide their elderly parents. Clinical implications are discussed

GABA Expression and Regulation by Sensory Experience in the Developing Visual System

The developing retinotectal system of the Xenopus laevis tadpole is a model of choice for studying visual experience-dependent circuit maturation in the intact animal. The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been shown to play a critical role in the formation of sensory circuits in this preparation, however a comprehensive neuroanatomical study of GABAergic cell distribution in the developing tadpole has not been conducted. We report a detailed description of the spatial expression of GABA immunoreactivity in the Xenopus laevis tadpole brain at two key developmental stages: stage 40/42 around the onset of retinotectal innervation and stage 47 when the retinotectal circuit supports visually-guided behavior. During this period, GABAergic neurons within specific brain structures appeared to redistribute from clusters of neuronal somata to a sparser, more uniform distribution. Furthermore, we found that GABA levels were regulated by recent sensory experience. Both ELISA measurements of GABA concentration and quantitative analysis of GABA immunoreactivity in tissue sections from the optic tectum show that GABA increased in response to a 4 hr period of enhanced visual stimulation in stage 47 tadpoles. These observations reveal a remarkable degree of adaptability of GABAergic neurons in the developing brain, consistent with their key contributions to circuit development and function

Missense mutation of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) alters neurocognitive performance in patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal study

The predictability of neurocognitive outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury is not straightforward. The extent and nature of recovery in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are usually heterogeneous and not substantially explained by the commonly known demographic and injury-related prognostic factors despite having sustained similar injuries or injury severity. Hence, this study evaluated the effects and association of the Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) missense mutations in relation to neurocognitive performance among patients with mTBI. 48 patients with mTBI were prospectively recruited and MRI scans of the brain were performed within an average 10.1 (SD 4.2) hours post trauma with assessment of their neuropsychological performance post full Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) recovery. Neurocognitive assessments were repeated again at 6 months follow-up. The paired t-test, Cohen’s d effect size and repeated measure ANOVA were performed to delineate statistically significant differences between the groups [wildtype G allele (Val homozygotes) vs. minor A allele (Met carriers)] and their neuropsychological performance across the time point (T1 = baseline/ admission vs. T2 = 6th month follow-up). Minor A allele carriers in this study generally performed more poorly on neuropsychological testing in comparison wildtype G allele group at both time points. Significant mean differences were observed among the wildtype group in the domains of memory (M = -11.44, SD = 10.0, p = .01, d = 1.22), executive function (M = -11.56, SD = 11.7, p = .02, d = 1.05) and overall performance (M = -6.89 SD = 5.3, p = .00, d = 1.39), while the minor A allele carriers showed significant mean differences in the domains of attention (M = -11.0, SD = 13.1, p = .00, d = .86) and overall cognitive performance (M = -5.25, SD = 8.1, p = .01, d = .66).The minor A allele carriers in comparison to the wildtype G allele group, showed considerably lower scores at admission and remained impaired in most domains across the timepoints, although delayed signs of recovery were noted to be significant in the domains attention and overall cognition. In conclusion, the current study has demonstrated the role of the BDNF rs6265 Val66Met polymorphism in influencing specific neurocognitive outcomes in patients with mTBI. Findings were more detrimentally profound among Met allele carriers

Rev. Dr. Cory Hartman

Rev. Dr. Coy Hartman, Consultant and Writer, Fulcrum Contest, Hollidaysburg, PA, speaks on dealing with sin, weaknesses, and distractions from God’s calling for our lives

Timing of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Subsidence: Review of Exclusive Intraoperative Subsidence.

BACKGROUND: All interbody fusions are associated with a risk of subsidence. In the case of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF), an interbody device that spans the apophyseal rings reduces subsidence. Small interbody device size, aggressive end plate preparation, and poor bone quality are contributors to subsidence. The goal of this study was to analyze the perioperative morbidity, particularly the timing of subsidence (intraoperative vs. postoperative), associated with transpsoas LLIF. METHODS: A retrospective review of consecutive LLIF cases was performed. Perioperative complications were reviewed. Intraoperative fluoroscopy and postoperative radiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-seven consecutive patients (39 men; mean [range] age, 66.2 [46-86] years) were identified. Subsidence occurred in 3 patients (4%) and was found to occur exclusively in the intraoperative setting. Anterior thigh paresthesias lasting longer than 24 hours occurred in 2 patients (3%). No femoral nerve injuries manifesting as weakness were observed. No visceral, vascular, or ureter injuries were identified. CONCLUSIONS: As LLIF becomes more common, it is important to better understand common complications, such as subsidence, and the specific rates at which they occur. A unique finding of exclusive intraoperative subsidence was observed. The use of cage size to obtain segmental lordotic correction and indirect decompression must be weighed against the potential risk of subsidence

Single Position Spinal Surgery for the Treatment of Grade II Spondylolisthesis: A Technical Note

Background and importance: Minimally invasive transpsoas approach to treat lumbar spondylolisthesis is associated with increased clinical benefits. Clinical presentation: Robotic and navigation aided deformity correction for grade II spondylolisthesis was performed using transpsoas approach with pedicle screw placement in lateral decubitus position. Conclusion: Keeping the patient in the lateral decubitus position, we supplemented interbody cage placement with screws. Single position lateral transpsoas approach provides grade II spondylolisthesis improvement

Analysis of Cost and 30-Day Outcomes in Single-Level Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion and Less Invasive Stand-Alone Lateral Transpsoas Interbody Fusion

Background: A comparative evaluation of operative costs between single-level transforaminal interbody fusion (TLIF) and stand-alone lateral transpsoas interbody fusion (LIF) has not yet been done. We analyzed the costs, operative parameters, and early outcomes of single-level stand-alone LIF versus single-level TLIF. Methods: Ten patients who underwent single-level TLIF and 10 patients who underwent single-level stand-alone LIF were included in the analysis. Total, variable, and fixed costs from perioperative data were available from a single institution. In addition, patient demographics, length of hospital stay, and 30-day outcomes and readmission rates were reviewed. Results: Total cost, variable cost, and fixed costs were significantly lower in the LIF group, and there was no difference in outcomes. Conclusions: Single-level stand-alone LIF may prove to be more cost-effective and provide cost savings with analogous 30-day outcomes compared with single-level TLIF procedures