Adaptive metabolic responses in a thermostabilized environment: Transgenerational trade-off implications from tropical tilapia.

Relatively warm environments caused by global warming enhance the productivity of aquaculture activities in tropical/subtropical regions; however, the intermittent cold stress (ICS) caused by negative Arctic Oscillation can still result in major economic losses. In contrast to endotherms, ectothermic fishes experience ambient temperature as an abiotic factor that is central to performance and survival. Therefore, the occurrence of extreme temperatures caused by climate change has ignited a surge of scientific interest from ecologists, economists and physiologists. In this study, we test the transgenerational effects of rearing cold-experienced (CE) and cold-naïve (CN) strains of tropical tilapia. Our results show that compared to CN tilapia, the CE strain preferentially converts carbohydrates into lipids in liver at a regular temperature of 27 °C. Besides, at a low temperature of 22 °C, the CE strain exhibits a broader aerobic scope than CN fish, and their metabolite profile suggests a metabolic shift towards the utilization of glutamate derivatives. Therefore, in response to thermal perturbations, this transgenerational metabolic adjustment provides evidence into the adaptive trade-off mechanisms in tropical fish. Nevertheless, global warming may result in less thermal variation each year, and the stabilized ambient temperature may cause tropical tilapia to gradually exhibit lower energy deposits in liver. In addition to those habitants in cold and temperate regions, a lack of cold exposure to multiple generations of fish may decrease the native cold-tolerance traits of subtropical/tropical organisms; this notion has not been previously explored in terms of the biological effects under anthropogenic climate change.

Pendulum test in chronic hemiplegic stroke population: additional ambulatory information beyond spasticity.

Spasticity measured by manual tests, such as modified Ashworth scale (MAS), may not sufficiently reflect mobility function in stroke survivors. This study aims to identify additional ambulatory information provided by the pendulum test. Clinical assessments including Brünnstrom recovery stage, manual muscle test, MAS, Tinetti test (TT), Timed up and go test, 10-m walk test (10-MWT), and Barthel index were applied to 40 ambulant chronic stroke patients. The pendular parameters, first swing excursion (FSE) and relaxation index (RI), were extracted by an electrogoniometer. The correlations among these variables were analyzed by the Spearman and Pearson partial correlation tests. After controlling the factor of motor recovery (Brünnstrom recovery stage), the MAS of paretic knee extensor was negatively correlated with the gait score of TT (r = - 0.355, p = 0.027), while the FSE revealed positive correlations to the balance score of TT (r = 0.378, p = 0.018). RI were associated with the comfortable speed of 10-MWT (r = 0.367, p = 0.022). These results suggest a decrease of knee extensor spasticity links to a better gait and balance in chronic stroke patients. The pendular parameters can provide additional ambulatory information, as complementary to the MAS. The pendulum test can be a potential tool for patient selection and outcome assessment after spasticity treatments in chronic stroke population.

Association between socioeconomic status and cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the annual prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) among children aged <7 years in Taiwan and the association between socioeconomic status and CP prevalence. METHODS: Data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database for the 2002-2008 period were used in this population-based study. Severe and total CP were defined according to catastrophic illness certificate and medical claim records, respectively. The annual CP prevalence was calculated as the number of children with CP among all children aged <7 years. RESULTS: From 2002 to 2008, the annual prevalence of total and severe CP ranged from 1.9 to 2.8 and from 1.1 to 1.4 per 1000 children, respectively. Boys were 30% more likely to have CP than girls [adjusted relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) ranged from 1.3 (1.2-1.4) to 1.4 (1.2-1.5)]. Low family income was associated with a higher CP prevalence [adjusted RR (95% CI) ranged from 5.1 (4.2-6.2) to 6.4 (5.4-7.6)]. The prevalence of CP in rural area was higher than that in urban or suburban areas. The mortality rate of severe CP ranged from 12.2-22.7 per 1000 children within the 7 years study period. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CP in Taiwan is similar to that in Western countries. A higher prevalence of CP is associated with male sex, low income, and rural residential location. Our findings provide insights into CP epidemiology among the Chinese population.

Relevance of nerve conduction velocity in the assessment of balance performance in older adults with diabetes mellitus.

Purpose This study investigated the relationship between peripheral nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and balance performance in older adults with diabetes. Methods Twenty older adults with diabetes were recruited to evaluate the NCV of their lower limbs and balance performance. The balance assessments comprised the timed up and go (TUG) test, Berg balance scale (BBS), unipedal stance test (UST), multidirectional reach test (MDRT), maximum step length (MSL) test and quiet standing with eyes open and closed. The relationship between NCV and balance performance was evaluated by Pearson's correlation coefficients, and the balance performances of the diabetic patients with and without peripheral neuropathy were compared by using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results The NCV in the lower limbs exhibited a moderate to strong correlation with most of the balance tests including the TUG (r = -0.435 to -0.520, p < 0.05), BBS (r = 0.406-0.554, p < 0.05), UST (r = 0.409-0.647, p < 0.05) and MSL (r = 0.399-0.585, P < 0.05). In addition, patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy had a poorer TUG (p < 0.05), BBS (p < 0.01), UST (p < 0.05) and MSL performance (p < 0.05) compared with those without peripheral neuropathy (p < 0.05). Conclusion Our findings revealed that a decline in peripheral nerve conduction in the lower limb is not only an indication of nerve dysfunction, but may also be related to the impairment of balance performance in patients with diabetes. Implications for Rehabilitation Nerve conduction velocity in the lower limbs of diabetic older adults showed moderate to strong correlations with most of the results of balance tests, which are commonly used in clinics. Decline in nerve conduction velocity of the lower limbs may be related to the impairment of balance control in patients with diabetes. Diabetic older adults with peripheral neuropathy exhibited greater postural instability than those without peripheral neuropathy.