Sensorimotor Control Impairment in Young Adults With Idiopathic Scoliosis Compared With Healthy Controls.

OBJECTIVE: It has been hypothesized that the impaired sensorimotor control observed in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) may be related more to the onset of scoliosis than to the maturation of sensory systems or sensorimotor control mechanisms. The objective of this study was to assess sensorimotor control in adults diagnosed with IS in adolescence versus healthy controls. METHODS: The study included 20 young adults 20 to 24 years of age (10 healthy controls and 10 diagnosed with adolescent IS but not treated for it). Binaural bipolar galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) was delivered to assess sensorimotor control. Vertical forces under each foot and upper body kinematics along the frontal plane were measured before GVS (2-second window), during GVS (2-second window), immediately after the cessation of GVS (1-second window), and during the following 2 seconds. Balance control was assessed by calculating the root mean square values of vertical forces and upper body kinematics. RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the IS group showed greater body sway upon GVS; the amplitude of this sway was even greater immediately after the cessation of GVS-an outcome requiring sensorimotor control. CONCLUSION: Compared with normal controls, adults who had been diagnosed with IS in adolescence showed altered balance control immediately following GVS. This finding suggests that dysfunctional sensorimotor control may be related to the onset of scoliosis rather than to a transient suboptimal development of the sensory systems or sensorimotor control mechanisms.

Neonicotinoid-Coated Zea mays Seeds Indirectly Affect Honeybee Performance and Pathogen Susceptibility in Field Trials.

Thirty-two honeybee (Apis mellifera) colonies were studied in order to detect and measure potential in vivo effects of neonicotinoid pesticides used in cornfields (Zea mays spp) on honeybee health. Honeybee colonies were randomly split on four different agricultural cornfield areas located near Quebec City, Canada. Two locations contained cornfields treated with a seed-coated systemic neonicotinoid insecticide while the two others were organic cornfields used as control treatments. Hives were extensively monitored for their performance and health traits over a period of two years. Honeybee viruses (brood queen cell virus BQCV, deformed wing virus DWV, and Israeli acute paralysis virus IAPV) and the brain specific expression of a biomarker of host physiological stress, the Acetylcholinesterase gene AChE, were investigated using RT-qPCR. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was performed to detect pesticide residues in adult bees, honey, pollen, and corn flowers collected from the studied hives in each location. In addition, general hive conditions were assessed by monitoring colony weight and brood development. Neonicotinoids were only identified in corn flowers at low concentrations. However, honeybee colonies located in neonicotinoid treated cornfields expressed significantly higher pathogen infection than those located in untreated cornfields. AChE levels showed elevated levels among honeybees that collected corn pollen from treated fields. Positive correlations were recorded between pathogens and the treated locations. Our data suggests that neonicotinoids indirectly weaken honeybee health by inducing physiological stress and increasing pathogen loads.

Imagery rehearsal therapy for frequent nightmares in children.

This study examined the applicability of imagery rehearsal therapy (IRT) to children with frequent nightmares. Eleven boys and 9 girls aged 9 to 11, with moderate to severe primary nightmares (1 or more per week for 6 months) and without posttraumatic stress disorder, were randomly divided into an imagery rehearsal treatment group (n = 9) or a waiting-list (n = 11) group. ANCOVA with repeated measures revealed that, following a baseline period, IRT reduced the frequency of nightmares (p < .04; eta(2) = 0.22) in the treated group compared to the waiting-list group. This reduction was maintained over a 9-month follow-up. The effects of IRT on post-nightmare state distress could not be assessed due to low nightmare incidences. However, retrospective trait nightmare distress was not significantly reduced. Future research is needed to validate this simple approach for nightmare reduction and to evaluate its potential for the reduction of the associated nightmare distress.

Trait anxiety and sleep-onset insomnia: evaluation of treatment using anxiety management training.

OBJECTIVES: This study was initially designed to test the notion that generalized anxiety is a predominant factor in the maintenance of psychologically determined sleep-onset insomnia and that a trait anxiety reducing technique can provide significant therapeutic gains. METHODS: Twenty participants (age 19-63) with moderate to severe sleep-onset chronic insomnia were first asked to monitor their sleep-onset latency (SOL) for a 3-week baseline period at home using a SOL clock device. Then, 10 received anxiety management training (AMT) for 9 weeks, while the remaining 10 were trained in the use of progressive relaxation (PR). All participants were measured before and after therapy using sleep laboratory recordings (three nights each), the Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Beck Depression Inventory. Daily home sleep-onset measures with the SOL clock device were also taken during therapy. RESULTS: There was no change in SOL over the 3-week baseline period. However, both groups experienced a significant improvement in SOL from pretreatment (end of baseline) to posttreatment periods. In the laboratory, both groups experienced a reduction in Stage 1 sleep as well as an increase in slow wave sleep (SWS) and sleep satisfaction. On the personality measures, both groups experienced a significant reduction in trait anxiety and a decrease in depression. Overall, there was no indication that one of the therapies was significantly better than the other in effecting changes. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that both PR and AMT are efficient therapies for sleep onset insomnia and overall sleep quality. Improvements in the application of the AMT technique are proposed to maximize its usefulness.