Proteolytic enzyme and inhibitor levels in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) vs. bovine longissimus muscle, as they relate to ageing rate and response

Eight reindeer bulls (age 1.5 years) and six Friesian bulls (age 1.5 years) were included in the study for comparison of tenderness. The reindeer were slaughtered at a commercial reindeer slaughter plant in northern Sweden and the Friesian bulls at a commercial slaughter plant in The Netherlands. Samples for determination of calpain/calpastatin activity were taken from the M. longtssimus (LO) within 1 h post mortem (p.m.), and at various times p.m. pH and temperature were registered in LO; ultimate pH values were measured at 24 h p.m. for beef and at 35 h p.m. for reindeer. At day 1 p.m., samples of LO from both carcass sides were excised, divided in two parts, vacuum packaged and stored at 0-2 °C. One part of each muscle was randomly sampled at 1, 3, 7 and 14 days p.m. for determination of shear force, proteolytic enzyme activity, myofibrillar protein degradation, collagen content and heat solubility. pH and temperature fall was faster in reindeer than in beef. Collagen content in reindeer muscle was found to be low but collagen was 4 times less soluble as compared with beef. Reindeer LO was found to be extremely tender, at 3 days p.m. shear force values were only 2-3 kg/cm2 (8-12 kg/cm2 for beef LO). In reindeer meat, the jJ.-calpain levels dropped to about 55% within 3 days. Troponin T and 30 kDa values were not related to changes in tenderness in reindeer meat. Cathepsin activities in reindeer were up to ten times higher than in beef. As in beef, cathepsin B+L levels in reindeer increased during storage, which is probably associated with a decrease in cystatin-like inhibitor levels

The Current State of Eunicida (Annelida) Systematics and Biodiversity

In this study, we analyze the current state of knowledge on extant Eunicida systematics, morphology, feeding, life history, habitat, ecology, distribution patterns, local diversity and exploitation. Eunicida is an order of Errantia annelids characterized by the presence of ventral mandibles and dorsal maxillae in a ventral muscularized pharynx. The origin of Eunicida dates back to the late Cambrian, and the peaks of jaw morphology diversity and number of families are in the Ordovician. Species richness is heterogeneous among the seven recent families, with more than half of the valid species belonging to the Eunicidae + Onuphidae clade, one of the latest clades to diverge. Eunicidans inhabit soft and hard substrates from intertidal to deep waters in all oceans. The few freshwater species are restricted to Histriobdellidae, a family exclusively commensal/parasite of crustaceans. The reproductive biology, development and ecology of most families are poorly known and the information available suggests low dispersal ability. However, all families have records of widely distributed species. Scrutiny of these wide distributions has often revealed the presence of exotic species or more than one species. The exploration of the deep-sea and of new habitats has led to recent descriptions of new species. Furthermore, the revision of type specimens, the examination of new morphological features and the use of molecular data have revealed hidden biodiversity under unjustified synonyms, poor understanding of morphological features and incomplete descriptions. Molecular studies are still very few or nonexistent for the families Histriobdellidae, Hartmaniellidae, Lumbrineridae and Oenonidae. The integration of new methodologies for morphological and molecular study, along with information on biological and ecological traits appears to be the path to improve the knowledge on the diversity of Eunicida.publishedVersio

Autonomic pain responses during sleep: a study of heart rate variability

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) reacts to nociceptive stimulation during sleep, but whether this reaction is contingent to cortical arousal, and whether one of the autonomic arms (sympathetic/parasympathetic) predominates over the other remains unknown. We assessed ANS reactivity to nociceptive stimulation during all sleep stages through heart rate variability, and correlated the results with the presence of cortical arousal measured in concomitant 32-channel EEG. Fourteen healthy volunteers underwent whole-night polysomnography during which nociceptive laser stimuli were applied over the hand. RR intervals (RR) and spectral analysis by wavelet transform were performed to assess parasympathetic (HF(WV)) and sympathetic (LF(WV) and LF(WV)/HF(WV) ratio) reactivity. During all sleep stages, RR significantly decreased in reaction to nociceptive stimulations, reaching a level similar to that of wakefulness, at the 3rd beat post-stimulus and returning to baseline after seven beats. This RR decrease was associated with an increase in sympathetic LF(WV) and LF(WV)/HF(WV) ratio without any parasympathetic HF(WV) change. Albeit RR decrease existed even in the absence of arousals, it was significantly higher when an arousal followed the noxious stimulus. These results suggest that the sympathetic-dependent cardiac activation induced by nociceptive stimuli is modulated by a sleep dependent phenomenon related to cortical activation and not by sleep itself, since it reaches a same intensity whatever the state of vigilance

European regulatory agenices should employ full time statisticians

No abstract available

Multifractal characterization of stochastic resonance

We use a multifractal formalism to study the effect of stochastic resonance in a noisy bistable system driven by various input signals. To characterize the response of a stochastic bistable system we introduce a new measure based on the calculation of a singularity spectrum for a return time sequence. We use wavelet transform modulus maxima method for the singularity spectrum computations. It is shown that the degree of multifractality defined as a width of singularity spectrum can be successfully used as a measure of complexity both in the case of periodic and aperiodic (stochastic or chaotic) input signals. We show that in the case of periodic driving force singularity spectrum can change its structure qualitatively becoming monofractal in the regime of stochastic synchronization. This fact allows us to consider the degree of multifractality as a new measure of stochastic synchronization also. Moreover, our calculations have shown that the effect of stochastic resonance can be catched by this measure even from a very short return time sequence. We use also the proposed approach to characterize the noise-enhanced dynamics of a coupled stochastic neurons model.Comment: 10 pages, 21 EPS-figures, RevTe

The Nuclear Response in Delta-Isobar Region in the (3 ⁣^3\!He,t) Reaction

The excitation of a $\Delta$-isobar in a finite nucleus in charge--exchange ($^3\!$He,t) reaction is discussed in terms of a nuclear response function. The medium effects modifying a $\Delta$- and a pion propagation were considered for a finite size nucleus. The Glauber approach has been used for distortion of a $^3\!$He and a triton in the initial and the final states. The effects determining the peak positions and its width are discussed. Large displacement width for the $\Delta$ - h excitations and considerable contribution of coherent pion production were found for the reaction on $^{12}$C.Comment: 29 pages including 8 figures, IU/NTC 92-3

Association between cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers of neuronal injury or amyloidosis and cognitive decline after major surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative neurocognitive decline is a frequent complication in adult patients undergoing major surgery with increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms behind cognitive decline after anaesthesia and surgery are not known. We studied the association between CSF and blood biomarkers of neuronal injury or brain amyloidosis and long-term changes in neurocognitive function. METHODS: In patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery (knee or hip replacement), blood and CSF samples were obtained before surgery and then at 4, 8, 24, 32, and 48 h after skin incision through an indwelling spinal catheter. CSF and blood concentrations of total tau (T-tau), neurofilament light, neurone-specific enolase and amyloid β (Aβ1-42) were measured. Neurocognitive function was assessed using the International Study of Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction (ISPOCD) test battery 1–2 weeks before surgery, at discharge from the hospital (2–5 days after surgery), and at 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: CSF and blood concentrations of T-tau, neurone-specific enolase, and Aβ1-42 increased after surgery. A similar increase in serum neurofilament light was seen with no overall changes in CSF concentrations. There were no differences between patients having a poor or good late postoperative neurocognitive outcome with respect to these biomarkers of neuronal injury and Aβ1-42. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the present explorative study showed that major orthopaedic surgery causes a release of CSF markers of neural injury and brain amyloidosis, suggesting neuronal damage or stress. We were unable to detect an association between the magnitude of biomarker changes and long-term postoperative neurocognitive dysfunction

The impact of illness in patients with moderate to severe gastro-esophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND: Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease. It impairs health related quality of life (HRQL). However, the impact on utility scores and work productivity in patients with moderate to severe GERD is not well known. METHODS: We analyzed data from 217 patients with moderate to severe GERD (mean age 50, SD 13.7) across 17 Canadian centers. Patients completed three utility instruments – the standard gamble (SG), the feeling thermometer (FT), and the Health Utilities Index 3 (HUI 3) – and several HRQL instruments, including Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia (QOLRAD) and the Medical Outcomes Short Form-36 (SF-36). All patients received a proton pump inhibitor, esomeprazole 40 mg daily, for four to six weeks. RESULTS: The mean scores on a scale from 0 (dead) to 1 (full health) obtained for the FT, SG, and HUI 3 were 0.67 (95% CI, 0.64 to 0.70), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.80), and 0.80 (95% CI, 0.77 to 0.82) respectively. The mean scores on the SF-36 were lower than the previously reported Canadian and US general population mean scores and work productivity was impaired. CONCLUSION: GERD has significant impact on utility scores, HRQL, and work productivity in patients with moderate to severe disease. Furthermore, the FT and HUI 3 provide more valid measurements of HRQL in GERD than the SG. After treatment with esomeprazole, patients showed improved HRQL

Effects of esomeprazole treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease on quality of life in 12- to 17-year-old adolescents: an international health outcomes study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in adolescents, the burden of GERD on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in adolescents has not been previously evaluated. Therefore, the objective of the study was to examine the effect of GERD on HRQOL in adolescents.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This international, 31-site, 8-week safety study randomized adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years inclusive, with GERD to receive esomeprazole 20 or 40 mg once daily. The Quality of Life in Reflux and Dyspepsia questionnaire (QOLRAD), previously validated in adults, consists of 25 questions grouped into 5 domains: emotional distress, sleep disturbance, food/drink problems, physical/social functioning, and vitality. The QOLRAD was administered at the baseline and week-8 (final) visits.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 149 patients randomized, 134 completed the QOLRAD at baseline and final visits and were eligible for analysis of their HRQOL data. Baseline QOLRAD scores indicated GERD had a negative effect on the HRQOL of these adolescents, especially in the domains of vitality and emotional distress, and problems with food/drink. At the final visit, mean scores for all 5 QOLRAD domains improved significantly (<it>P </it>< .0001); change of scores (ie, delta) for all domains met or exceeded the adult QOLRAD minimal clinically significant difference standard of 0.5 units.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>GERD had a negative effect on QOL in adolescents. After esomeprazole treatment, statistically and clinically significant improvements occurred in all domains of the QOLRAD for these adolescents.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>D9614C00098; ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT00241501</p