Effectiveness of a Single Prolonged Aerobic Exercise Session on Executive Function Task Performance in Physically Active Adults (21-70 Years of Age).

We sought to examine the effectiveness of an acute prolonged exercise session on post-exercise executive function in physically active adults and to assess if age or pre-exercise cognitive performance was predictive of the magnitude of change in executive task performance. Self-registered cyclists were recruited prior to participating in a 161-km mass-participation cycling event. Cyclists were excluded if they had not previously participated in a similar endurance event, were young (<18 y), or were cognitively impaired (Mini CogTM < 3 units). Immediately after completing the exercise session, the time taken to complete Trail Making Test Part A and Part B (TMT A + B) was assessed. A faster time to complete the TMT A + B was observed after exercise (+8.5%; p = 0.0003; n = 62; age range = 21-70 y). The magnitude of change in TMT A + B performance (pre vs. post) was influenced by pre-exercise TMT A + B performance (r2 = 0.23, p < 0.0001), not age (r2 =0.002; p = 0.75). Prolonged exercise had a small-to-moderate effect on post-exercise compared to pre-exercise executive function task performance (Cohen's d = 0.38-0.49). These results support the effectiveness of a single prolonged exercise bout to augment executive function in physically active adults, irrespective of age.

Countermovement jump, handgrip, and balance performance change during euhydration, mild-dehydration, rehydration, and ad libitum drinking.

Objective: To examine the effects of euhydration, mild-dehydration, rehydration, and ad libitum drinking on countermovement jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, and performance of balance error scoring system test (BESS). Methods: Eighteen healthy male subjects (mean[M]±standard deviation[SD]; age, 23±3y; body mass, 80.1 ± 9.7 kg; height, 175.8 ± 5.7 cm) participated in this study. Participants reported to the laboratory to perform CMJ, handgrip strength, and BESS with different hydration statuses (euhydrated, EUH; when they initially sensed thirst, THIRST; dehydrated, DEH; following 30 minutes of rehydration, REH; and following 24-h ad libitum drinking, AD). Results: CMJ at EUH (M±SD; 54.6 ± 3.0 cm) was significantly higher than DEH (52.8 ± 3.0 cm, p = 0.027) and REH (52.6 ± 2.8 cm, p < 0.001). However, there was no difference between DEH and REH (p = 0.643). CMJ at THIRST (54.9 ± 3.0 cm, p = 0.004) was higher than REH. Also, AD (53.8 ± 2.8 cm, p = 0.027) was higher than REH. In left handgrip strength, THIRST (48.6 ± 9.5 kg) was higher than EUH (46.7 ± 10.1 kg, p = 0.018), DEH (45.8 ± 10.0 kg, p = 0.013), REH (46.1 ± 9.5 kg, p = 0.004), and AD (47.1 ± 9.7 kg, p = 0.05). Additionally, in the single-leg stance on a foam pad, more BESS errors were found at THIRST (6 ± 2) compared to EUH (5 ± 2, p = 0.007) and AD (5 ± 2, p = 0.002). Conclusion: The findings of this study were: ∼2% of mild dehydration induced by 24-h fluid restriction decreased lower body power measured by CMJ, acute rehydration did not restore the loss of lower body power induced by dehydration, and ∼0.5-0.9% of dehydration did not decrease lower body power.

Schooling in Xenopus laevis Tadpoles as a Way to Assess Their Neural Development.

Escape behaviors, orienting reflexes, and social behaviors in Xenopus laevis tadpoles have been well-documented in the literature. Schooling behavior experiments allow for the observation of tadpole social interactions and in the past have been used to characterize behavioral deficits in models of neurodevelopmental disorders. Unlike other species of frogs, Xenopus tadpoles show polarized schooling. Not only do tadpoles aggregate, they also swim in the same direction. Quantifying both aggregation and relative swim angle can give us an important measure of social behavior and sensory integration. Past iterations of these experiments have required the continued presence of an experimenter throughout the duration of each trial and relied on expensive software for subsequent data analysis. The instrument configuration and analysis protocol outlined here provide an automated method to assess schooling by delivering a series of timed vibratory stimuli to a group of tadpoles to induce swimming behavior and then controlling a camera to document their positions via still images. Both stimulus delivery and image acquisition are automated using the Python programming language. Analysis is done using ImageJ and custom Python scripts, which are provided in this protocol. The specific equipment configuration and scripts shown here provide one solution, but other equipment and custom scripts can be substituted.

Progression of human subjective perceptions during euhydration, mild dehydration, and drinking.

Thirst motivates consumption of water necessary for optimal health and cognitive-physiological functions. Other than thirst, little is known about coexisting perceptions and moods that provide information to the brain and participate in body water homeostasis. The purpose of this investigation was to observe perceptions, somatic sensations, and moods during controlled changes of hydration status. During routine daily activities interspersed with laboratory visits, 18 healthy young men (age, 23±3 y; body mass, 80.13±10.61 kg) self-reported hourly ratings (visual analog scales, VAS) of 17 subjective perceptions, across two 24-h periods (ad libitum food and water intake while euhydrated; water restriction with dry food intake [WR]) and during a 30-min rehydration session (R30, 1.46±0.47 L water intake). At the end of WR, body mass loss reached 1.67 kg (2.12%). Distinct perceptions were identified during euhydration, WR and immediately after R30. Starting approximately 4 h after WR began (body mass loss of ∼0.5%), perceptual changes included progressively intensifying ratings of thirst, mouth dryness, desire for water, and pleasantness of drinking. In comparison, immediately after R30, participants reported a reversal of the perceptions observed during WR (above) plus cooler thermal sensation, increased satisfaction, and stomach fullness. These VAS ratings suggested that aversive moods contributed to drinking behavior and supported previously published animal studies. In conclusion, this investigation delineates previously unreported perceptions and their evolution (e.g., appearance, extinction, time course) that motivated drinking during WR and discouraged overdrinking after R30.

Spatial memory is as important as weapon and body size for territorial ownership in a lekking hummingbird.

Advanced cognitive abilities have long been hypothesized to be important in mating. Yet, most work on sexual selection has focused on morphological traits and its relevance for cognitive evolution is poorly understood. We studied the spatial memory of lekking long-billed hermits (Phaethornis longirostris) and evaluated its role in lek territory ownership, the magnitude of its effect compared to phenotypic traits expected to influence sexual selection, and whether its variation is indicated in the structure of mating vocal signal. Spatial memory (the ability to recall the position of a rewarding feeder) was compared between "territorial" and "floater" males. Interestingly, although spatial memory and body size both positively affected the probability of lek territory ownership, our results suggest a stronger effect of spatial memory. Bill tip length (used as weapon in agonistic interactions) also showed a positive but smaller effect. Load lifting during vertical flight, a measure of physical performance relevant to agonistic interactions, had no effect on territory ownership. Finally, both body size and spatial memory were indicated in the structure of male song: body size negatively correlated with song lowest frequency, while spatial memory positively predicted song consistency. Together, our findings lend support for cognition as a sexual selection target.

Litopedión: reporte de un caso / Litopedhyon: report of one case

El Litopedion es una rara consecuencia del embarazo abdominal, donde, por pasar asintomático y escaparse al diagnóstico médico, el feto y/o sus membranas entran en un proceso de petrificación, ocurren en 0.0045% de todas las gestaciones. Se informa un caso de una paciente de 31 años a quien se le descubrió un Litopedion de término, con medidas óseas en percentiles altos, retenido en el abdomen durante 13 años. La frecuencia de embarazos extrauterinos ha aumentado, sin embargo el diagnóstico de Litopedion es menos frecuente debido a la detección temprana de los embarazos abdominales.

Osteodistrofia renal en pacientes con isuficiencia renal crónica atendidos en el Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa / Renal osteodystrophy in patients with chronic renal failure attended at Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa

OBJETIVO: Estudiar la frecuencia de los diferentes tipos de osteodistrofia renal en una muestra de pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Escuela. MEDOTOLOGIA. Estudio realizado en los meses de agosto y septiembre del año 2004. A través de un instrumento se recolectó la información clínica y los resultados de los exámenes de gabinete de una muestra de 39 pacientes con insuficiencia renal crónica (IRC) a quienes se les efectuó pruebas de función renal medición de Paratohormona y biopsia de hueso. RESULTADOS. De los 39 pacientes estudiados, la biopsia de hueso demostró enfermedad ósea renal en 28.3%(11), mieloma múltiple en 2.6%(1) y sin alteración ósea en 36.0% (14). En los 13 casos restantes (33.1%), el resultado fue indeterminado debido a biopsia no evaluable. De los 26 pacientes con el resultado histopatológico, la frecuencia de ostrodistrofia renal fue de 42.3% (11). entre estos 11 pacientes, la enfermedad ósea adinámica fue la mas frecuente (46%), seguida de osteítis fibrosa (36%) y osteomalacia (18%). Se detectó niveles de paratohormona (PTH) mayores de 400 pg/ml en los 4 pacientes con osteítis fibrosa (enfermedad ósea de alto remodelado) y niveles menores de 125pg/ml en 5 de los 7 pacientes con enfermedad ósea de bajo remodelado (enfermedad ósea adinámica y osteomalacia).De los 14 pacientes sin osteodistrofia renal, uno demostró valores mayores de 400 pg/ml,5 demostraron valores entre 126 y 400 pg/ml, y 8 demostraron valores menores de 125 pg/ml.CONCLUSIONES:La frecuencia de ostiodistrofia renal fue de 44%, es decir que aproximadamente por cada 2 pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica atendido en el Hospital Escuela durante el período que duró el estudio, uno tenía osteodistrofia renal. La paratohormona podría ser utilizada como marcador bioquímico para detectar enfermedad ósea de alto remodelado en los pacientes con insuficiencia renal...

Far-infrared laser measurement of the refractive index of polypropylene.

The refractive index of polypropylene in the far infrared (FIR) is measured by means of a suitably modified laser of a FIR spectrometer. When thin polypropylene films of 12.7-microm nominal thickness are introduced in the optical cavity of a laser at the Brewster angle, the radiation ceases because of the change in the optical path of the laser beam. This change is measured from the displacement of one of the laser mirrors, which is necessary to restore the laser resonance. The refractive index of polypropylene is deduced from this measurement and from the film thickness, as obtained from an independent measurement based in pycnometry. The value obtained for the refractive index is 1.492(15) for the wavelengths between 118.834 and 251.140 microm, for a polypropylene film of 12.71(2)-microm thickness and 0.9049(7) g/cm3 density.

Nódulo o placa de sitio placentario / Nodule or plaque of placental site

Se presenta el primer caso en nuestro medio de Nodulo placentario con la idea de que se reconozca histologicamente y que se diferencie de otras condiciones, para el manejo adecuado de los pacientes, dado que la condicion es poco conocida y solo hay reportados 20 casos en la literatura americana

El linfoma de Burkitt en Honduras / Burkitt lymphoma in Honduras

Se informan los primeros 37 casos de Linfoma de Burkitt en Honduras, los que fueron diagnosticados en un lapso de 6 años en el Hospital-Escuela de Tegucigalpa. Se expone su epidemiología, sus caracteres clínicos, su histopatología, serología, resultado del tratamiento y se efectúa una discusión final

Nuestra experiencia sobre derrames pleurales: 237 casos / Our experience on pleural effusions: 237 cases

Doscientas treinta y siete historias clínicas de pacientes con derrame pleural de diversa etiología, atendidos en el Sanatorio "Prof. Dr. J. M. Boettner", desde 1945 a 1973, fueron estudiadas, clasificadas y los datos obtenidos tabulados desde distintos puntos de vista. Así fueron encontrados: 1) 116 casos de derrames pleurales tuberculosos primitivos, de los cuales, 111 casos fueron de características serofibrinosas, 1 derrame serohemático, 1 de aspecto quiliforme y 3 derrames purulentos; 2) 68 casos de derrames pleurales tuberculosos secundarios, de los cuales: 48 casos fueron serofibrinosos, 3 serohemáticos, 3 purulentos y 10 pioneumotórax; 3) 32 casos de derrames post-neumónicos no tuberculosos, de los cuales: 2 casos fueron serofibrinosos, 27 purulentos y 3 pioneumotórax; 4) 14 casos de derrames neoplásicos, de los cuales: 4 fueron serofibrinosos y 10 de características serohemáticas; 5) 4 casos de derrames por heridas penetrantes del tórax, caracterizados por sendos pioneumotórax; 6) Un grupo miscelánico compuesto de 3 casos de derrames serofibrinosos debidos: 1 a una complicación post-sarampionosa, 1 como secuela post-embólica y 1 componiendo un caso de poliserositis