Effect of a visual tracking intervention on attention and behavior of attention deficit hyper activity children

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by several cognitive and behavioral problems such as inattention and impulsivity, abnormal control of eye movements and relocation, visual fixation and visuospatial perception. There is a link between core motor functions such as oculomotor function and cognition to the extent that the oculomotor system acts as a mediator between the motor and cognitive functions. Therefore, the effects of eye-tracking intervention were investigated on attention in these children. Thirty - nine boys with ADHD, 6 to 10 years of age were recruited and randomized to receive current occupational therapy (control group), or occupational therapy accompanied with eye-tracking exercises (experimental group). They were evaluated using the Conner's Parent Rating Scale, the Continuous Performance Task-2, and the Test of Visual-Motor Skills-Revised before and after the intervention. Significant improvements in the mean scores of cognitive problems (F=9/22), coping behavior (F=6.03) and hyperactivity (F=9.77) were detected in the posttest between the two groups (p<0.05). Furthermore, in the Continuous Performance Test scores, detectability (F=5.68), omission errors (F=17.89), commission errors (F=19.45), reaction time (F=8.95), variability (F=7.07), and preservation (F=6.33) showed significant differences between control and experimental groups (p<0.01). It appears that eye-tracking interventions designed based on the isolation of neck and eye movement might have an important role in improving cognitive function and coping behaviors in these children. It seems that these exercises could increase eye movement control; improve cognitive function and response inhibition

Estimates of the genetic parameters of turkey body weight using random regression analysis

International audienceRandom regression (RR) analysis has been recommended to estimate the genetic parameters of longitudinal data. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of turkeys using RR models. Data were collected from 957 turkeys and included 15 478 individual body weight recorded during the first week of life and between weeks 2 and 32 by 2-week intervals. To take into account the repeated measurements of weight for each animal, a specific overall growth curve was modelled using a cubic smoothing spline. Animal deviation to this curve was also modelled using an RR function. All data were analysed with the ASReml package. The results showed an increase in heritability estimates over the trajectory and peaked at 0.60 around 20 to 32 weeks of age. Genetic correlations showed that turkeys could be selected at earlier time points, at 12 weeks of age, in order to increase the growth rate. In general, genetic correlation estimates were higher among adjacent ages, decreasing markedly with the increase of distance between ages. Negative genetic correlations were observed between ages

Melatonin supplementation and pro-inflammatory mediators: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

Background: Inflammatory processes are involved in chronic diseases. It has been suggested that melatonin reduces inflammation by its radical scavenging properties; however, the results of the previous studies are inconclusive. The objective of the present meta-analysis is to determine the direction and magnitude of melatonin supplementation effect on inflammatory biomarkers. Methods: Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochran Library, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched up to April 2019. Meta-analysis was performed using random-effect model. Subgroup analysis, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression were also carried out. Results: Thirteen eligible studies with 22 datasets with total sample size of 749 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Melatonin supplementation significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels (WMD = � 2.24 pg/ml; 95% CI � 3.45, � 1.03; P &lt; 0.001; I2 = 96.7%, Pheterogeneity &lt; 0.001) and (WMD = � 30.25 pg/ml; 95% CI � 41.45, � 19.06; P &lt; 0.001, I2 = 99.0%; Pheterogeneity &lt; 0.001), respectively. The effect of melatonin on CRP levels was marginal (WMD = � 0.45 mg/L; 95% CI � 0.94, 0.03; P = 0.06; I2 = 96.6%, Pheterogeneity &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: The results of the present meta-analysis support that melatonin supplementation could be effective on ameliorating of inflammatory mediators. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature