Visually-Induced Motor Imagery Effects on Motor Adaptation to Reverse Steering Cycling. A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Purpose: First, testing an intervention of neuromodulation based on motor imagery and action observation as a promoter of motor adaptation of a complex motor task involving balance. Second, determining what prior balance factors can affect the motor adaptation task. Methods: A double-blind randomized controlled trial was performed. Forty-eight healthy subjects were recruited. The balance of all participants during gait and standing was assessed before adapting to the complex, multi-limb motor task of riding an inverse steering bicycle (ISB). Two interventions were carried out interleaved among trials of adaptation to the motor task: the experimental group (n = 24) was asked to perform neuromodulation (EN) by watching first-person ISB riding through immersive VR glasses and, simultaneously, mentally mimicking the movements. The control group (CG) was asked to watch a slideshow video of steady landscape images. Results: The results showed that the EN group did not improve the motor adaptation rate and induced higher adaptation times with respect to the CG. However, while the motor adaptation success showed a significant dependence on the prior proprioceptive participation in balance in the CG, the EN group did not present any relationship between the prior balance profile and motor adaptation outcome. Conclusions: Results point to a benefit of the visually guided neuromodulation for the motor adaptation of the subjects with low participation of proprioception in balance. Moreover, the results from the control group would allow to disclose prognostic factors about the success of the motor adaptation, and also prescription criteria for the proposed neuromodulation based on the balance profile.

Prior cortical activity differences during an action observation plus motor imagery task related to motor adaptation performance of a coordinated multi-limb complex task.

Motor adaptation is the ability to develop new motor skills that makes performing a consolidated motor task under different psychophysical conditions possible. There exists a proven relationship between prior brain activity at rest and motor adaptation. However, the brain activity at rest is highly variable both between and within subjects. Here we hypothesize that the cortical activity during the original task to be later adapted is a more reliable and stronger determinant of motor adaptation. Consequently, we present a study to find cortical areas whose activity, both at rest and during first-person virtual reality simulation of bicycle riding, characterizes the subjects who did and did not adapt to ride a reverse steering bicycle, a complex motor adaptation task involving all limbs and balance. The results showed that cortical activity differences during the simulated task were higher, more significant, spatially larger, and spectrally wider than at rest for good performers. In this sense, the activity of the left anterior insula, left dorsolateral and ventrolateral inferior prefrontal areas, and left inferior premotor cortex (action understanding hub of the mirror neuron circuit) during simulated bicycle riding are the areas with the most descriptive power for the ability of adapting the motor task. Trials registration Trial was registered with the NIH Clinical Trials Registry (clinicaltrials.gov), with the registration number NCT02999516 (21/12/2016).

Tremor severity in Parkinson's disease and cortical changes of areas controlling movement sequencing: A preliminary study.

There remains much to learn about the changes in cortical anatomy that are associated with tremor severity in Parkinson's disease (PD). For this reason, we used a combination of structural neuroimaging to measure cortical thickness and neurophysiological studies to analyze whether PD tremor was associated with cortex integrity. Magnetic resonance imaging and neurophysiological assessment were performed in 13 nondemented PD patients (9 women, 69.2%) with a clearly tremor-dominant phenotype. Cortical reconstruction and volumetric segmentation were performed with the Freesurfer image analysis software. Assessment of tremor was performed by means of high-density surface electromyography (hdEMG) and inertial measurement units (IMUs). Individual motor unit discharge patterns were identified from surface hdEMG and tremor metrics quantifying motor unit synchronization from IMUs. Increased motor unit synchronization (i.e., more severe tremor) was associated with cortical changes (i.e., atrophy) in wide-spread cortical areas, including caudal middle frontal regions bilaterally (dorsal premotor cortices), left inferior parietal lobe (posterior parietal cortex), left lateral orbitofrontal cortex, cingulate cortex bilaterally, left posterior and transverse temporal cortex, and left occipital lobe, as well as reduced left middle temporal volume. Given that the majority of these areas are involved in controlling movement sequencing, our results support Albert's classic hypothesis that PD tremor may be the result of an involuntary activation of a program of motor behavior used in the genesis of rapid voluntary alternating movements.

A methodology for the characterization and diagnosis of cognitive impairments-Application to specific language impairment.

OBJECTIVES: The diagnosis of mental disorders is in most cases very difficult because of the high heterogeneity and overlap between associated cognitive impairments. Furthermore, early and individualized diagnosis is crucial. In this paper, we propose a methodology to support the individualized characterization and diagnosis of cognitive impairments. The methodology can also be used as a test platform for existing theories on the causes of the impairments. We use computational cognitive modeling to gather information on the cognitive mechanisms underlying normal and impaired behavior. We then use this information to feed machine-learning algorithms to individually characterize the impairment and to differentiate between normal and impaired behavior. We apply the methodology to the particular case of specific language impairment (SLI) in Spanish-speaking children. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The proposed methodology begins by defining a task in which normal and individuals with impairment present behavioral differences. Next we build a computational cognitive model of that task and individualize it: we build a cognitive model for each participant and optimize its parameter values to fit the behavior of each participant. Finally, we use the optimized parameter values to feed different machine learning algorithms. The methodology was applied to an existing database of 48 Spanish-speaking children (24 normal and 24 SLI children) using clustering techniques for the characterization, and different classifier techniques for the diagnosis. RESULTS: The characterization results show three well-differentiated groups that can be associated with the three main theories on SLI. Using a leave-one-subject-out testing methodology, all the classifiers except the DT produced sensitivity, specificity and area under curve values above 90%, reaching 100% in some cases. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that our methodology is able to find relevant information on the underlying cognitive mechanisms and to use it appropriately to provide better diagnosis than existing techniques. It is also worth noting that the individualized characterization obtained using our methodology could be extremely helpful in designing individualized therapies. Moreover, the proposed methodology could be easily extended to other languages and even to other cognitive impairments not necessarily related to language.

Use of phytochemomics to evaluate the bioavailability and bioactivity of antioxidant peptides of soybean ß-conglycinin.

This research investigates how in vitro digestion contributes to the release of antioxidant peptides crypted in soybean ß-conglycinin (7S) and its deglycosylated form (D7S). It also investigates the uptake of the bioactive peptides by human intestinal Caco-2 cells using a bicameral system, and their effect on the antioxidant cell defense. Phytochemomics is used as a tool for achieving this goal. The peptides are obtained by mimicking human physiological gastrointestinal digestion conditions. The antioxidant capacity of the peptides is tested by ABTS•(+) radical cation decolorization (2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS)) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. The antioxidant power of the peptides recovered from the basolateral chamber is also evaluated by an analysis of biomarkers of cellular oxidative stress such as cell proliferation, alkaline phosphatase, and secretion of nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase and catalase. Peptides from D7S were more active than those of 7S in the modulation of the cell proliferation, oxidative status and differentiation of Caco-2 cells treated with H2 O2 . Differences in the bioactivity of the peptides of both proteins can be explained by analysis of the structural data obtained by mass spectrophotometry. Our findings support the bioavailability of antioxidant peptides of 7S. The antioxidant properties of 7S soy protein were influenced by events such as glycosylation, digestion, and absorption. Deglycosylation seems to be an innovative strategy for improving the properties of 7S. Deglycosylation might enhance 7S antioxidant power and reduce its immunoreactivity. The combined use of advanced analytical techniques and biochemical analyses (phytochemomics) has been a key part of this study.

Computational cognitive modeling for the diagnosis of Specific Language Impairment.

Specific Language Impairment (SLI), as many other cognitive deficits, is difficult to diagnose given its heterogeneous profile and its overlap with other impairments. Existing techniques are based on different criteria using behavioral variables on different tasks. In this paper we propose a methodology for the diagnosis of SLI that uses computational cognitive modeling in order to capture the internal mechanisms of the normal and impaired brain. We show that machine learning techniques that use the information of these models perform better than those that only use behavioral variables.

Stability and bioactivity of a Bowman-Birk inhibitor in orange juice during processing and storage.

The present research aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a soybean Bowman-Birk inhibitor (BBI) as a natural functional food ingredient. The influence of food processing, storage and digestion on the structure and bioactivity of BBI added to a food matrix was evaluated. The cytotoxic effect of the digested samples was also tested with the aim to provide information regarding the safe use of BBI as a functional food ingredient. Samples of freshly squeezed orange juice (OJ) and two orange juice model systems (OJ-ms) supplemented and non-supplemented with BBI were prepared and processed mimicking pasteurization and sterilization industrial conditions. Moreover, pasteurized samples were stored at 4 °C for two months. The samples were digested in vitro under oral-gastrointestinal physiological conditions. Results seem to indicate that the activity of BBI supplemented to the food matrix sufficiently survives thermal processing, storage and digestion processes. Changes in BBI bioactivity may be ascribed among others to the Maillard reaction. Formation of early Maillard reaction products also called Amadori products has been detected in the food sample. No cytotoxic effect was observed for the samples under study. In conclusion, our findings support that BBI has significant potential as a natural functional food ingredient in pasteurized orange juice stored at 4 °C.

Effect of inhibitor compounds on Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) formation in model foods.

The possible adverse effects on health of diet-derived advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and advanced lipoxidation endproducts (ALEs) is of current interest. This study had the objective of determining the effects of the addition of AGE/ALE inhibitors and different types of sugar and cooking oil on Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) formation in model foods (sponge cakes). The cake baked using glucose produced the highest level of CML (2.07±0.24 mmol/mol lysine), whereas the cake baked using fructose produced the highest concentration of CEL (25.1±0.15 mmol/mol lysine). There were no significant differences between CML concentrations formed in the cakes prepared using different types of cooking oil, but significant differences (P<0.001) were observed between the cakes prepared using different proportions of cooking oil. The cakes containing oil generated greater concentrations of CML than sucrose. α-Tocopherol and rutin did not inhibit CML and CEL formation. In contrast, ferulic acid and thiamin, thiamin monophosphate, and thiamin pyrophosphate reduced CML and CEL formation.

Ion exchange chromatographic conditions for obtaining individual subunits of soybean beta-conglycinin.

Soybean beta-conglycinin is a complex protein possessing health-promoting properties. beta-Conglycinin is a trimeric glycoprotein. Little information related to methods for separation of the individual chains forming beta-conglycinin has been so far published and it is of great interest. As a consequence, less data on the bioactivities of alpha, alpha' and beta subunits of this glycoprotein have been published. The present research aimed to find out new alternative chromatographic conditions to obtain beta-conglycinin subunits that are free of contaminating proteins. In the present short communication, we propose the use of a two-step ion exchange chromatographic protocol to achieve this goal. Firstly, beta subunit was separated by means of anionic exchange fast protein liquid chromatography. Secondly, alpha and alpha' chains were separated from each other by cationic exchange. Our data indicated the feasibility of proposed fractionation protocol to separate soybean beta-conglycinin alpha and alpha' subunits from other contaminating proteins and to obtain enough amounts of the three individual chains forming this glycoprotein for further characterization and application. The procedure may be easily up-scaled.

Protein quality, antigenicity, and antioxidant activity of soy-based foodstuffs.

Commercial soy-based foodstuffs, including beverages ( n = 15), cow's milk supplemented with soy isoflavones ( n = 1), snacks ( n = 1), and biscuits ( n = 2), were analyzed to find any link between alterations in protein quality, safety (antigenicity), functionality (antioxidant activity), and food processing. Protein content was analyzed by the Kjeldhal method and available lysine by OPA assay. Chromatographic (RP-HPLC) and electrophoretic (SDS-PAGE) protein profiles were obtained to monitor modifications in the structure of soy allergens. The antigenicity was estimated by immunoblotting against soy total antibodies. Total phenol content was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu, while peroxyl radical scavenging activity of the sample was determined by ORAC FL assay. Protein content did not differ of those declared by the producers. Lysine availability was higher in liquid soy beverages compared to that in other soy foodstuffs studied here. 7S and 11S soy allergens were detected by RP-HPLC and SDS-PAGE, respectively. Both data indicated changes in soy protein patterns due to processing of instant powdered soymilk, soy snacks, and biscuits. Immunoblotting assay showed modifications in the antigenic response of these foodstuffs based on soy, suggesting that their processing had altered the structure of soy allergens. RP-HPLC, SDS-PAGE, and immunoblotting resulted in adequate analytical approaches for detecting changes in protein structure due to processing and adulteration. Protein quality, antigenicity, and antioxidant activity of soy products can be affected as a function of the intensity of the thermal processing.

Chromatographic and electrophoretic approaches for the analysis of protein quality of soy beverages.

Furosine, generated by acid hydrolysis of fructosyllysine, an early Maillard reaction product, is a highly valuable indicator of food quality and, more specifically, of food protein quality. Ion pair RP-HPLC and CZE techniques were employed to determine furosine content in beverages based on soymilk (n = 15) and cow's milk supplemented with soy isoflavones (n = 1). The levels of furosine found in the samples ranged from 25.55 +/- 0.18 to 170.72 +/- 10.4 mg/100 g of protein by HPLC and from 28.67 +/- 1.84 to 161.25 +/- 5.78 mg/100 g of protein by CZE. Results obtained by both analytical techniques do not differ significantly (p > 0.05), confirming their feasibility for furosine analysis in soy-based products.

Conocimientos de los ancianos institucionalizados sobre sus enfermedades y tratamientos farmacológicos / The institutionized elderly's knowledge on their illnesses and pharmacological treatment

Objetivo: Determinar el grado de conocimientos que tienen sobre sus tratamientos farmacológicos y enfermedades los ancianos que viven en instituciones en Antequera. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio epidemiológico transversal, en los ancianos residentes en instituciones de la tercera edad de Antequera (n=98). La recogida de información se realizó mediante cuestionario administrado en entrevista personal e Historia Clínica de los mismos. Resultados: Los ancianos de este estudio no sabían qué medicamentos estaban tomando. En cuanto al conocimiento de sus enfermedades se observó un grado de acuerdo muy bueno en el reconocimiento de la diabetes (0,89) y bueno en parkinson (0,78). El grado de acuerdo fue moderado (próximo a 0,50) para glaucoma, Alzheimer y enfermedades de corazón. Las mayores dificultades se encontraron para el reconocimiento de los accidentes cerebrovasculares y problemas digestivos. Destaca en esta población el bajo acuerdo encontrado para hipertensión (0,30). No se pudo estimar acuerdo para tumores/ cáncer y fractura de fémur o cadera por presentar falta de casos en alguno de los registros. Conclusión. El desconocimiento de los tratamientos y las dificultades para la identificación de ciertas enfermedades nos indica la necesidad de reforzar la información que se le da al anciano desde los sistemas formales de cuidados. Asímismo, nos plantea un elemento más a tener en cuenta cuando se establece un sistema de distribución de medicamentos en dosis unitaria en residencias de la tercera edad (AU)

Objective: To establish the degree of knowledge that elderly people living in residence institutions have about their diseases and the therapeutic treatments They are receiving. Methods: 98 institutionalized elderly people from Antequera (Málaga) were included in the epidemiological study. Data collection were made from their clinical history and a questionnaire. Results: Subjects of this study did not know what kind of drugs were taken. Regarding the knowledge of their diseases, a very good degree of knowledge was observed for diabetes (0,98), and for Parkinson (0,78), and moderated for glaucoma, Alzheimer, and cardiovascular diseases (near 0,50). However, a low degree of knowledge was found for hypertension (0,30). There were not enough data for cancer, and hip or fémur fracture. Conclusion: The ignorance of treatments and the difficulty to identify certain diseases lead us to improve the information given to the elderly people by the public health systems. Moreover data should be taken account in the planning of the supply of drugs in unit doses (AU)