Effects of locomotor training on the functional recovery from the spinal cord injury

This mini-review surveys several representative rehabilitation studies using a treadmill or other methods of locomotor exercises in humans and experimental animals with spinal cord injury. The methods and effect of locomotor training employed in individual studies are explained and the importance of the sensory input and body weight loading in the stimulation of the central pattern generator is emphasized. The establishment of neural networks by regenerating and/or spared axons is the basis of locomotor improvement. Although regenerating axons are found within the lesion, it is difficult to demonstrate the development of new neural connections. Muscle activity is another important factor in recovery from spinal cord injury. Robotic trainings of rats on a treadmill is not considered suitable for a rehabilitation study, because the robotic movement of the hind limbs differs from natural quadrupedal walking. Clinically, driven gait orthosis is used effectively for locomotor training of patients with SCI

Identification of the transcriptional regulatory gene of histidase and urocanase in Pseudomonas aeruginosa -Regulation of histidase and urocanase expression-

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a typical opportunistic bacterial pathogen that can grow under poor nutrient conditions. Histidine utilization as a sole source of carbon and nitrogen is a distinctive feature of P.aeruginosa, which decompose and utilize a variety of nutrients and complex compounds using various catabolite pathways. When wild-type P.aeruginosa PAO1 cells were cultured in minimal medium P (MMP) containing 20mM histidine, synthesis of histidase and urocanase was detected in crude extract at 3186±118 (U/mg-proteins) and 243±3 (10-3 U/mg-proteins), respectively. It was determined that the synthesis of these enzymes was induced by histidine because limited enzyme synthesis was observed in MMP containing 20mM of glutamate. In contrast, PAO4399, the spontaneous mutant of PAO1, can synthesize histidase and urocanase sufficiently under the nutrient conditions of MMP containing histidine or glutamate. A nucleotide sequence analysis of PAO4399 showed a C to G transition at nt 441 of the PA5105 gene, with this mutation causing an amino acid change of the tyrosine codon (TAC) Tyr 147 to stop codon (TAG). In the case of PAO4816, the knockout mutant strain of PAO1 with an inserted gentamicin (Gm)-cassette in the PA5105 gene, the cells grown in MMP containing 20mM of histidine or glutamate synthesized histidase and urocanase constitutively, in the same manner as PAO4399. The PA5105 gene product is highly homologous with the hutC gene product of Pseudomonas putida, which regulates histidase and urocanase gene expression. These findings support the role of the PA5105 gene of P.aeruginosa PAO1 as a repressor-type hutC gene that regulates histidase and urocanase synthesis under histidine-dependent nutrient conditions

Choroid plexus -with special reference to neuroprotective function-

Choroid plexus (CT) produces the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that fills the ventricles and subarachnoidal space, and infiltrates the intercellular spaces of CNS parenchyma. CP transplantation enhances axonal outgrowth in the spinal cord lesion. Cultured choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs) secret neurotrophic factors into the medium. CP undergoes cytological changes in diseases such as Alzheimer and Huntingon\u27s disease. The ischemia-injured infraction due to middle cerebral artery occlusion is suppressed by transplantation of CPECs into the CSF in the rat. Allo- or xenotransplantation of encapsulated CP has been studied for the treatment of experimental Huntington\u27s disease. CP can be regarded as the neurotrophic center of the CNS, regulating and maintaining the normal brain function via CSF

Characterization of Acinetobacter clinical isolates

Members of the genus Acinetobacter are typical opportunistic bacterial pathogens that can survive for a long term even on inanimate surfaces. Acinetobacter species have natural and acquired antibiotic resistance mechanisms that provide resistance against a broad range of antimicrobial agents. Between April 2010 and March 2011, 6 clinical Acinetobacter sp. strains were isolated from expectoration or aspiration sputum samples in a local medical treatment-type hospital in Osaka prefecture. The antibiotic susceptibility breakpoint test showed that all the 6 isolates were ciprofloxacin-resistant. Strain AHU-70, which was identified as A.baumannii by 16S rRNA sequencing and polymerase chain reaction detection of the blaOXA-51-like gene, showed high levels of resistance to ciprofloxacin by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. Preliminary research in Japan, based on nationwide susceptibility surveillance of ciprofloxacin against A.baumannii isolates showed that approximately 90% of the isolates were ciprofloxacin-susceptible. Given these results, further strain level identification of isolates is required to determine whether resistance to ciprofloxacin is an overall trait of these bacteria in the sampled local area or is restricted to a specific strain within particular hospitals

Kinematic and kinetic characteristics of stepping over a 10-cm-high obstacle in older adults

[Purpose] The purpose of this research was to clarify the common responses shared by a high-falldown-risk group of older adults and develop an exercise-learning program to prevent falls. [Subjects] Thirty-four subjects were chosen from those who use the daycare program of a nursing home at least once a week. [Methods] All subjects were categorized in longer or shorter-MSL groups. Ninety-second stepping from two force plates to a 10-cm-high box was executed under three conditions. The locus length of the COP,toe-obstacle distance,and step length were used as experimental data. [Results] The coefficient between the MSL and COP was from 0.69 to 0.73. The shorter-MSL group showed smaller COP movements in the A-P direction and a smaller toe-obstacle distance between the single stepping and stepping with the visual task and between the single stepping and stepping with the auditory task. No significant difference was noted in the step length between the two groups. [Conclusion] The shorter-MSL group was easily affected by the dual-task, suggesting that the shorter-MSL group has a high risk of falling when negotiating obstacles. Stepping exercise with the dual-task using the COP movements as a feedback index may be useful for older adults who have a smaller MSL

Establishing child-care support: Perspective-patterns on child-rearing, derived from the CPS-M97 measurement scale for professional mothers of infants and toddlers

Both qualitative and quantitative social support is imperative for mothers of infants and toddlers. To address this issue, this study ascertained four perspective patterns on child-rearing amongst "professional mothers" (sengyo haha-oya) of children ages 0-3. This was accomplished through use of the CPS-M97 Perspectives on Child-Rearing Measurement Scale, comprising five conceptual subscales designed explicitly for the purpose of gauging views on child-rearing amongst the aforementioned target group (Naitoh et al. 1998). The studyfocuses on two subscales in particular: 1) "Maternal Satisfaction and Sense of Fulfillment"; and 2) "Maternal Burden and Sense of Anxiety." In addition to these, the CPS-M97 measurement also featured a 3-item section concerning "Child-Centrism and the Strengthening of the Mother\u27s Role," and another 3-item section addressing a mother\u27s "Image of [her] Child," constituting, in total, a set of 18 questions with a factor contribution of 58.6%. Data used for our analysis were 303 returned questionnaires (an effective respondent rate of 30.3%) from professional mothers at an average age of 30.93 years (SD=5.55 years). The framework of the study took mothers\u27 perspectives on child rearing as an independent variable and analyzed it through three different models in relation to the following dependent variables: a) the level of child-rearing activity; b) the level of spousal verbal support; c) the level of mothers\u27 self-esteem. Mothers\u27 perspectives in and of themselves were analyzed through the subscale of "Maternal Satisfaction and Sense of Fulfillment", plotted on a rectangular coordinate plane against the subscale of "Maternal Burden and Sense of Anxiety." Four distinct perspective patterns emerged. We calculated the correlation coefficient to be -0.395 (p<0.001), indicating to us that, although some correlation existed, it was not sufficiently prominent. We thus decided to proceed using the four patterns. A one-way fixed-effects analysis of variance (ANOVA) run on the comparative number of self-esteem points scored between each of these perspective patterns revealed significant differences amongst the patterns. The result of multiple comparisons using the LSD method revealed that mothers of the Negative type had significantly lower levels of self-esteem than Natural and Positive types. Meanwhile, mothers of the ambivalent type had lower levels of self-esteem than Positive types. We conclude that the development of an objective taxonomy vis-a-vis CPS-M97 will enable public health centers, day care facilities, etc. to screen mothers experiencing feelings of anxiety or burden, fostering a new awareness of maternal roles and responsibilities As a method of social support, its ultimate effect will be to raise the quality of life for professional mothers and unlock a hidden potential for joy in the duties of child-rearing

The assessments of body sway on the static standing using the center of pressure

The Center of Pressure (COP) has been used in evaluation of balance and motion analysis research. When it is measured with such a platform systems, the COP is defined as the center of the total number of active transducers for each data sample collected. Smaller magnitude of the COP movement on static standing reflects greater ability of postural control. On the contrary, bigger magnitude of the COP movement on static standing reflects poorer ability of postural control. Though this theory has been supported by some researches, there are some exceptions. To clarify the meaning of measuring the COP movements on static standing, we focused on some parameters concerning the COP, reliability and validity of the COP, the way to use, the COP movements of static standing with balance disabled people, the effect of aging on static balance, the relationship between gender and static balance, the effect of a low alcohol dose, and the balance of the day

Effects of isometric exercise on hypertension

Hypertension is a serious problem in modern society. Between the ages of 60 and 74, the prevalence of hypertension is almost double its age-adjusted prevalence among people under 60 years old. Physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness are important influences on blood pressure. Most physical activity interventions have utilized aerobic exercise, but recent studies suggest that isometric exercise is safe and has favorable effects on physical fitness, hypertension, and the psychological status. Isometric exercise in hypertensive populations appears to maintain the reductions in blood pressure achieved by endurance training, and may even elicit further reductions in blood pressure. However, as I am indicating, resistance training is not the only recommended approach to lower blood pressure, but should play a prominent role in any program designed to do so

The association between the thrifty genotype and energy expenditure during aerobic exercise in healthy males and females

The number of patients with diabetes is notably increasing in Japan. The thrifty genotype characteristics provide an explanation for this very high prevalence of diabetes. Especially, the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) gene is relatively common in Japanese people. Aerobic exercise is one of the major strategies for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated whether the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the β3-AR gene is associated with a reduction in energy expenditure in aerobic exercise. Eighty-six non-obese healthy young people were recruited. Energy expenditure was measured using indirect calorimetry. The subjects performed an aerobic exercise program at 60% of their maximal heart rate for 30 minutes. The level of fat oxidation during aerobic exercise by male subjects with the Trp/Arg of the β3-AR gene was significantly lower than that by those with the Trp/Trp genotype. There was no difference observed in female subjects. It was demonstrated that the Trp64Arg polymorphism in the β3-AR gene is associated with the reduction of fat oxidation during aerobic exercise in healthy young males

Diversity in common epithelial carcinoma, simplicity in sarcoma and leukemia

In some type of leukemia and sarcoma, cancer development mechanism is straightforward ; aberrant activation of single oncogene transforms cells. Such oncogenes are master genes which function upstream of transcriptional cascade. On the other hand, cancer genome analyses clearly show that that of common epithelial cancers such as lung adenocarcinoma is related to accumulations of mutations in "non-master" oncogenes, leading to heterogeneity in aggressiveness and clinical behavior among their patients. Common epithelial carcinomas do not arise from mutations in specific oncogenes but from accelerated growth rate as a result of summation of growth advantage of each driver mutations on a different composition of oncogenes. Because most of human cancers are of epithelial origin, this heterogeneity gives us a challenge both in understanding the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis and in the treatment of carcinoma