Is behavioural flexibility evidence of cognitive complexity? How evolution can inform comparative cognition

Behavioural flexibility is often treated as the gold standard of evidence for more sophisticated or complex forms of animal cognition, such as planning, metacognition and mindreading. However, the evidential link between behavioural flexibility and complex cognition has not been explicitly or systematically defended. Such a defence is particularly pressing because observed flexible behaviours can frequently be explained by putatively simpler cognitive mechanisms. This leaves complex cognition hypotheses open to ‘deflationary’ challenges that are accorded greater evidential weight precisely because they offer putatively simpler explanations of equal explanatory power. This paper challenges the blanket preference for simpler explanations, and shows that once this preference is dispensed with, and the full spectrum of evidence—including evolutionary, ecological and phylogenetic data—is accorded its proper weight, an argument in support of the prevailing assumption that behavioural flexibility can serve as evidence for complex cognitive mechanisms may begin to take shape. An adaptive model of cognitive-behavioural evolution is proposed, according to which the existence of convergent trait–environment clusters in phylogenetically disparate lineages may serve as evidence for the same trait–environment clusters in other lineages. This, in turn, could permit inferences of cognitive complexity in cases of experimental underdetermination, thereby placing the common view that behavioural flexibility can serve as evidence for complex cognition on firmer grounds.R.P. is grateful to Templeton Foundation grant no. 43160, and C.L. thanks the SAGE Center for the Study of the Mind at the University of California Santa Barbara, the Leverhulme Trust and the Isaac Newton Trust for a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellowship, for support of this research

Characteristics of the microbiocenosis of the vaginal tract and its role in initiating inflammatory process in endometrium in women with reproductive disorders

Background. Microbiological disorders in the genital tract predispose to the development of chronic pelvic diseases and subsequently worsen the prognosis for reproductive function, causing infertility, miscarriage. Aims: study of the microbiocenosis of the vaginal tract and its role in initiating inflammatory process in endometrium in women with reproductive disorders. Materials and methods. The study included 50 patients with reproductive disorders with histological confirmation of the diagnosis of chronic endometritis and 50 patients with reproductive disorders without chronic endometritis. Microbiological studies of the biotope of the vagina were carried out according to the guidelines. The counting of immune cells was carried out in peripheral blood with flow cytofluorimeter. Methods of mathematical statistics implemented in the application package Statistica 6.1 (StatSoft Inc., USA) were used in the study. Used criteria were Student's t-test and Fisher criterion with a significance level less than 5 % (p < 0.05). Results and conclusions. Conditionally pathogenic microflora in women with chronic endometritis in the cervical canal is represented by candidiasis, herpesviruses, ureaplasma and facultative-anaerobically positive microorganisms. Candida, obligate-anaerobic gram-negative, and facultative anaerobic gram-positive microorganisms predominated in the endometrium. The secondary immunodeficiency state is characterized by suppressor activity of T-lymphocytes; the decrease in microbicide activity of blood, pronounced inhibition of the humoral link of the immune system. Violations of the balance of the indigenous and conditionally pathogenic microflora accompanied by a secondary immunodeficiency may be the initiator of chronic inflammation in the endometrium

ДИФФЕРЕНЦИРОВАННОЕ КОМПЛЕКСНОЕ ЛЕЧЕНИЕ ПАЦИЕНТОВ, СТРАДАЮЩИХ БОЛЕЗНЬЮ ПАРКИНСОНА, С УЧЁТОМ СТЕПЕНИ АТРОФИЧЕСКИХ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ ВЕЩЕСТВА ГОЛОВНОГО МОЗГА

The objective of this study was to compare the results of complex (medicinal and surgical), and only medicinal treatment of patients with rapidly progressive and dyskinesia associated forms of Parkinson's disease. Three atrophy indices (IA) of the brain matter were proposed to justify a differentiated approach to the treatment of each form. Multivariable regression analysis showed, that patients, who were treated with complex method and had IA-1 less than 0.16, IA-2 - less than 0.115, IA-3 - less than 0.06, had the best improvement of the clinical status during the follow-up period. There were also multiple correlation coefficients obtained in the range 0.911-0.943, which indicates a significant linear relationship between the factors of influence (IA) and response (clinical presentation). In groups with only conservative treatment, the coefficients were in the range of 0.331-0, 423, indicating low and medium dependence on clinical manifestations of atrophy indexes. The status of all patients was assessed after 3, 6, 12 and 18 months. It turned out that in case of the earlier mentioned indices values the result of the treatment was constant during the entire period of observation. It was statistically confirmed by the assessment of the squares of the Mahalanobis distance

Performance of Metabolic Parameters in Formation of Sleep Disorders in Menopausal Women

Background. It is known that menopausal women suffer from sleep disorders. As additional diagnostic methods, it is possible to use the equations of linear classification functions.Aim: to determine the most informative parameters among the lipid profile, the “lipid peroxidation – antioxidant protection” system parameters and the melatonin secretion chronobiological rhythms in menopausal women with sleep disorders.Materials and methods. 56 perimenopausal women and 70 postmenopausal ones in accordance with the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Diagnoses of insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were made according to the results of specialized somnological questionnaires and polysomnographic monitoring. Spectrophotometric methods for studying of lipid metabolism and the “lipid peroxidation – antioxidant protection” system parameters, an enzyme immunoassay method for determining melatonin were also used. A multidimensional discriminant analysis to reveal the most informative parameters among the parameters studied was used.Results. The most informative indicators of the metabolic system for sleep disorders in perimenopausal women with insomnia are melatonin 06.00–07.00 h, melatonin 18.00–19.00 h, melatonin 23.00–00.00 h, ketodienes and conjugated trienes, oxidized glutathione; with insomnia and OSAS – melatonin 06.00–07.00 h, melatonin 12.00–13.00 h, melatonin 23.00–00.00 h, substrates with conjugated double bonds, total cholesterol; in postmenopausal women with insomnia – diene conjugates, α-tocopherol, total antioxidant capacity, active products of thiobarbituric acid, reduced glutathione; with insomnia and OSAS – total antioxidant capacity, α-tocopherol, substrates with conjugated double bonds.Conclusions. The results obtained indicate a great strain in the antioxidant protection system in menopausal women with sleep disorders in response to changes in free radical homeostasis

Risk factors for unfavorable clinical course of the early recovery period of ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged patients

Background. This study was carried out due to persistent increase in the incidence of ischemic stroke in people of working age and insufficient knowledge of risk factors affecting its clinical course in the early recovery period in young and middle-aged patients.The aim. To identify and to study variants of the clinical course of the early recovery period of ischemic stroke in young and middle-aged patients; to determine the risk factors for its unfavorable course.Materials and methods. We carried out a longitudinal prospective study, which involved 145 patients with ischemic stroke in its early recovery period. The main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were analyzed. Dynamic observation of these patients allowed us to determine five variants of the clinical course of the ischemic stroke early recovery period – regressive, regressive with residual mild focal neurological symptoms, stable, slowly progressive and rapidly progressive.Results. Regressive course was observed in 58 (40 %) patients; regressive course with residual mild focal neurological symptoms – in 66 (45.5 %) patients; stable course – in 9 (6.2 %) patients; slowly progressive course – in 8 (5.5 %) patients, rapidly progressive course – in 4 (2.8 %) patients. The following risk factors had statistically significant affect on the unfavorable course of the disease: more pronounced motor, sensory and speech disorders at the time of patient’s admission to the hospital and at the end of the ischemic stroke early recovery period; severity of ischemic stroke according to the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS); damage to the carotid basin of the brain; ischemic heart disease; irregular intake or patient’s refuse of taking prescribed antiplatelet, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive therapy (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusions. Defining the variant of the clinical course of the ischemic stroke early recovery period in young and middle-aged patients and risk factors for its unfavorable course is important in determining tactics and further neurorehabilitation measures

Prediction of outcomes of cytomegalovirus infection of the initial few months of life

The research was based on the data of 155 newborns with manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) appeared in the initial few months of life and on the results of the 7-years follow-up of this group of patients. While studying the courses and outcomes of CMV appeared in the initial few months of life in 155 patients of the tender age the disability is set for 22 (14,2 %) children. On the basis of discriminant analysis with the use of the most significant factors the model of prognosis of the outcomes of the carried infection was created in severe residual-organic disorders, dictating the necessity of determination of disability for children. This model can predict development of severe organ pathology in children of tender age after citomegalovirus infection appeared in the initial few months that will allow to select patients with high probability of disability and to realize for them individual rehabilitation measures to save their health in proper time

State of lipid peroxidation - antioxidant system in men with diabetes mellitus type 1

The aim of study is to assess lipid peroxidation and antioxidant system in men with diabetes mellitus type 1. The objective of this study was to identify features of the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant defense system in men of reproductive age with diabetes mellitus type 1. 22 men with diabetes mellitus type 1 (the average age of 27.1 ± 7.38years) and30 healthy men of the same age (control group) (the average age of 28.0 ± 4.3 years) were involved in the study. The main and control groups were formed on the principle of "copy - pair". Standard clinical examination methods were used: history taking, physical examination and consultation of specialists to identify complications of diabetes. To determine the indicators of the system of free-radical lipid oxidation and activity of antioxidant protection, the spectrophotometric and fluorometric methods were used. In men with diabetes mellitus 1 type, there is increase in the level of active products reacting with thiobarbituric acid compared to the same indicator in the control group. The level of antioxidant protection in men with diabetes mellitus 1 type unlike the control was characterized by decrease in total antioxidant activity. However, stability of processes of superoxide dismutase activity and the glutathione system in comparison with control is observed against the backdrop of intensity increase of oxidative processes. Activation of lipid peroxidation is observed in men with diabetes mellitus type 1

Reactivity of an organism at hypertrophic skin scars

The aim of the research was to assess the reactivity of female organism with hypertrophic scars. 42 women of 16-35years were examined on the 5-7th day of the menstrual cycle, 17 of them had normotrophic and 25 - hypertrophic scars. The quality of scars (according to the clinical and morphological characteristics), white blood cells, blood lipids, hormonal and immune status were assessed. Non-parametric Mann - Whitney U-test and discriminant analysis were used at statistical processing of the results. Average values and standard deviations were also calculated for interpreting the results of quantitative indications. As the result of discriminant analysis the most informative indicators of reactivity of an organism that allow to differentiate patients of the studied groups were defined for patients with normotrophic and hypertrophic scars. It was concluded that the imbalance of steroid hormones (progesterone, cortisol, testosterone, estrogen) was important in the etiopathogenesis of hypertrophic scars

Biomarkers of Myopic Choroidal Neovascularization in Women, Determining the Clinical Course and Response to Anti-VEGF Therapy

Aim: to identify clinical and laboratory biomarkers that determine the nature of the course of myopic choroidal neovascularization (mCNV) and the response to anti-VEGF therapy in women.Material and methods. A prospective non-randomized study was conducted in 52 patients (52 eyes) with active mCNV, treated with ranibizumab intravitreally, 0.5mg. After 12months, the suppression of CNV activity, the number of injections and the fellow eye inclusion in the pathological process were taken into account. There were 2 groups: with a favorable clinical course (n = 31, age – 33,0 ± 5,1 years, anterior-posterior axis (APA) 28,5 ± 0,3 mm) and an unfavorable clinical course (n = 21, age – 34,0 ± 4,1 years, APA – 29,01 ± 0,1 mm). Structural retinal changes, choroid thickness, retinal blood flow, and heart rate were evaluated using OCT and OCTA protocols (Optovue XR Avanti, USA). Studies were conducted before the start of therapy and then one time per month. The concentration of sex and pituitary hormones (ELISA analyzer “Immunohem-2100”), lipoprotein A, Apo B/Apo A (Accent 200 Cormay, Poland), coagulogram data (Helena C-2, UK), and the concentration of highly sensitive C-reactive protein in blood serum before the start of antiangiogenic therapy were studied once.Results. In the first group, 1.4 ± 0.7 ranibizumab injections were administered to suppress the CNV activity. In the opposite group – 3.5 ± 2.1 injections, in 73.7 % of cases, relapses were diagnosed, in 3 cases – primary CNV in the fellow eye. Clinical and laboratory biomarkers of the unfavorable clinical course of mCNV were identified: extreme choroidal thinning, highly organized membranes of a large area, dome-shaped deformation of the posterior pole, excess of the reference values of lipoprotein A, fibrinogen and highly sensitive C-reactive protein by two or more times, an imbalance of sex and pituitary hormones (excess of the reference values of prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, cortisol, progesterone concentration decrease), a predominant change in the menstrual-ovarian cycle according to the type of amenorrhea and opsomenorrhea.Conclusion. Myopic CNV biomarkers in women allow predicting the response to anti-VEGF therapy, the formation of relapses and the inclusion of the fellow eye in the pathological process

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant protection systems in pregnant women consuming alcohol in small and moderate doses

The analysis of scientific researches shows that the problem of alcohol consumption (beer, dry wine, champagne), in small doses during pregnancy has been actually disregarded for many years. So the problem has become quite urgent, especially in Russia. In order to determine the effect of alcohol on pregnancy and childbirth, women and babies were divided into three groups. Group 1 (n = 101) (control group) included women who did not use alcohol during pregnancy. Group 2 (n = 75) included drinking women whose alcohol consumption during pregnancy was less than 2 doses or 750 ml. Group 3 (n = 33) included moderately drinking women whose alcohol consumption during pregnancy ranged from 3 to 11 doses (from 750 ml to 3850 ml). The study of the lipid peroxidation-antioxidant protection system as a sensitive marker of integrated health disorders in women, consuming alcoholic beverages in a prenatal period, was conducted. It was indicated that a statistically significant decrease in overall antioxidant activity was found in the context of lipid peroxidation activation in women consuming low-alcohol drinks, which demonstrates a lack of functioning of lipid peroxidation system and oxidative stress regardless of the dose of low-alcohol drinks