Prevalence and evolution of spasticity in patients suffering from first-ever stroke with carotid origin: a prospective, longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The main aim of the study was to document the occurrence and evolution of post-stroke spasticity (PSS). The secondary goal was to identify predictors for increases and decreases in PSS rates during 12 months of subsequent follow-up. METHODS: In a longitudinal, multicenter, prospective cohort study, assessments were done at 7 days (V1), 6 months (V2), and 12 months (V3) after stroke onset. A total of 307 consecutive patients from four comprehensive stroke centers with the first-ever stroke of carotid origin and the presence of motor deficit at day 7 were included. The demographic data, baseline characteristics, Barthel index, degree and pattern of paresis and muscle tone were evaluated and recorded. Spasticity was assessed using the modified Ashworth scale. RESULTS: Spasticity was present in 45.0% of patients at V1, in 49.5% at V2, and in 43.2% at V3. A significant number of patients experienced changes in spasticity between visits: increased/new occurrence of spasticity in 32.5% (V1 and V2) and in 13.6% (V2 and V3) of patients; decreased occurrence/disappearance of spasticity in 18.5% (V1 and V2) and in 18.3% (V2 and V3) of patients. The number of patients with severe spasticity increased throughout the year, from 2.6% to 13.0% (V2) and 12.5% (V3). CONCLUSIONS: Spasticity developed in almost half of the included patients. The degree of spasticity often changed over time, in both directions. The rate of severe spasticity increased during the first year, with the maximum at 6 months following stroke onset.

Culture-free Antibiotic-susceptibility Determination From Single-bacterium Raman Spectra.

Raman spectrometry appears to be an opportunity to perform rapid tests in microbiological diagnostics as it provides phenotype-related information from single bacterial cells thus holding the promise of direct analysis of clinical specimens without any time-consuming growth phase. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of a rapid antibiotic-susceptibility determination based on the use of Raman spectra acquired on single bacterial cells. After a two-hour preculture step, one susceptible and two resistant E. coli strains were incubated, for only two hours, in the presence of different bactericidal antibiotics (gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin) in a range of concentrations that included the clinical breakpoints used as references in microbial diagnostic. Spectra were acquired and processed to isolate spectral modifications associated with the antibiotic effect. We evidenced an "antibiotic effect signature" which is expressed with specific Raman peaks and the coexistence of three spectral populations in the presence of antibiotic. We devised an algorithm and a test procedure that overcome single-cell heterogeneities to estimate the MIC and determinate the susceptibility phenotype of the tested bacteria using only a few single-cell spectra in four hours only if including the preculture step.

Differential control of temporal and spatial aspects of cockroach leg coordination.

Ensembles of neuronal networks and sensory pathways participate in controlling the kinematic and dynamic parameters of animal movement necessary to achieve motor coordination. Determining the relative contribution of proprioceptive feedback is essential for understanding how animals sustain stable, coordinated locomotion in complex natural environments. Here, we focus on the role of chordotonal organs (COs), proprioceptors found in insect legs, in the spatial and temporal regulation of walking. We compare gait parameters of intact cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) and sensory-impaired ones, injected with pymetrozine, a chemical previously shown to abolish CO function in locusts. We verify that afferent CO activity in pymetrozine-treated cockroaches is inhibited, and analyze the effect of this sensory deprivation on inter-leg coordination. We find significant changes in tarsi placement and leg path trajectories after pymetrozine treatment. Leg touchdown accuracy, measured from relative tarsi positions of adjacent legs, is reduced in treated animals. Interestingly, despite poorer spatial coordination in both stance and swing, temporal properties of the gait remain largely the same as in the intact preparations, apart from changes in ipsilateral phase differences between front and middle legs. These findings provide insights into the role of COs in insect gait control and establish pymetrozine as a useful tool for further studies of insect locomotion.

Sensory feedback in cockroach locomotion: current knowledge and open questions.

The American cockroach, Periplaneta americana, provides a successful model for the study of legged locomotion. Sensory regulation and the relative importance of sensory feedback vs. central control in animal locomotion are key aspects in our understanding of locomotive behavior. Here we introduce the cockroach model and describe the basic characteristics of the neural generation and control of walking and running in this insect. We further provide a brief overview of some recent studies, including mathematical modeling, which have contributed to our knowledge of sensory control in cockroach locomotion. We focus on two sensory mechanisms and sense organs, those providing information related to loading and unloading of the body and the legs, and leg-movement-related sensory receptors, and present evidence for the instrumental role of these sensory signals in inter-leg locomotion control. We conclude by identifying important open questions and indicate future perspectives.

In vivo effects of thymic hormones (Imunotim) on immunologic parameters of patients with secondary immunodeficiency diseases.

In previous papers we revealed the immuno-restorative capacity of thymic hormones both in vitro and in vivo. This paper is concerned with the investigation in a phase I trial of the effects of a thymic extract (Imunotim) prepared in the Cantacuzino Institute, Bucharest upon patients with immunodeficiencies manifest as recurrent or persistent infections resistant to classical treatments. Twenty five testings were performed on 23 patients with secondary immunodepressions: carcinomas with immunodepressions following the acute phase of the disease or cytoreductive treatments (10 cases), allergic and autoimmune conditions (3 cases) and frequent, recurrent infections with prolonged evolution. In 73.9% of cases (17/23) after administration of Imunotim per os the immunologic parameters showed a tendency to return to normal values. In patients with low pre-therapy values the following were noticed: a remarkable increase of the number of lymphocytes from 1317.2 +/- 506.40 to 1961.1 +/- 899.11 (p < 0.01), of PMN from 1401.7 +/- 444.21 to 2651.0 +/- 755.31 (p < 0.01), of the absolute number of B lymphocytes from 192.0 +/- 79.00 to 444.8 +/- 299.75 (p < 0.05); the rise in the rate and absolute number of total T lymphocytes (628.2 +/- 192.81, 1041.0 +/- 441.84, respectively; p < 0.05), T helper (from 29.84 +/- 12.75% to 44.14 +/- 18.76%, respectively from 421.6 +/- 127.29 to 1058.7 +/- 411.05; p < 0.01 respectively p < 0.02) and the rise of the absolute number of T suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes from 92.8 +/- 97.11 to 368.3 +/- 368.53 (p < 0.05). In some patients with lymphocytosis and adenopathies the absolute lymphocyte number and the maturation of the lymphocyte populations and subpopulations in blood showed a decline. Individual variations could be noticed even within one and the some primary affection.

Deoxyribonucleic acid fingerprint comparisons between selected populations of chickens.

A pair of lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens selected for high or low juvenile body weight, a pair of White Leghorn chickens selected for high or low antibody response to sheep erythrocytes, and an F1 cross between each pair of lines, were used to produce DNA fingerprints (DFP). These DFP were prepared by mixing equal amounts of DNA from several individuals of a particular population, resulting in a DFP characteristic of the population. The populations provided individuals of known genetic relationships and inbreeding levels to evaluate the sensitivity of the DFP technique with DNA mixing. Levels of band sharing between breeds were lowest, those between selected lines within a breed were intermediate, and those between the selected lines and their F1 crosses were highest. These results show that DFP analysis is sensitive to several levels of genetic relationship.

Genetic factors accountable for line-specific DNA fingerprint bands in quail.

DNA fingerprints, prepared from mixes of DNA of individuals sampled from lines of Japanese quail selected for high or low 4-week body weight, were used to evaluate the relative contribution of several evolutionary forces to genetic diversity among populations. Comparisons between lines--two replicates of each selection direction and a control unselected line--were used to determine the frequency of line-specific DNA fingerprint bands produced by each of three major evolutionary forces: 1) mutation; 2) genetic drift; 3) selection. The latter force is expected to generate line-specific bands only if there is linkage disequilibrium between DNA fingerprint loci and quantitative loci (QTLs) controlling body weight. Using probes 33.6 and R18.1, an average of 48.4 DNA fingerprint bands in each line were analyzed. On average, 27.8 bands were found to be line-specific among the 96.8 (2 x 48.4) bands analyzed in an average comparison between pairs of lines. Based on the frequencies of line-specific bands in each particular comparison, it was calculated that 21% of the line-specific bands were due to mutation, 11% due to a single genetic drift event, 11% due to selection, 21% due to the combined effects of genetic drift and selection, 22% due to double independent events of genetic drift, and 14% due to undefined factors. Although evidence was found for a high frequency of genetic changes attributable to genetic drift, and a higher than expected frequency of linkage disequilibrium, the emphasis of this report is on the methodology suggested rather than on the particular results.

DNA fingerprints of chickens selected for high and low body weight for 31 generations.

Two lines of White Plymouth Rock chickens that have been divergently selected for 8-week body weight for 31 generations were compared for patterns of DNA fingerprints (DFP). Digestion of DNA with HinfI and hybridization to Jeffreys' minisatellite probe 33.6 resulted in DFPs that were relatively similar within lines (bandsharing = 0.50) and less similar between lines (bandsharing = 0.22). Analyses of scorable DFP bands produced by mixing DNA from individuals within lines indicated that 48% were line-specific. Causes for the differences in DFP patterns between lines and for occurrence of line-specific bands for the two lines divergently selected for body weight are discussed.