Early Development of Locomotion in the Term Piglet Model: Does Size Matter?

Intrauterine undernutrition in humans typically results in low birth weight ([small for gestational age] SGA) and delayed postnatal neuromotor maturation. Since SGA and intrauterine growth retardation are also common in domestic pigs, piglets are premised as models to study delayed motor development. Applied to the locomotor paradigm, however, questions emerge: (i) how to map the developmental time scale of the precocial model onto the altricial target species and (ii) how to distinguish size from maturation effects? Gait data were collected at self-selected voluntary walking speed during early development (0-96 hours postpartum; pp) for SGA- and normal ([appropriate for gestational age] AGA) piglets.

A workflow for automatic, high precision livestock diagnostic screening of locomotor kinematics.

Locomotor kinematics have been challenging inputs for automated diagnostic screening of livestock. Locomotion is a highly variable behavior, and influenced by subject characteristics (e.g.

Automatic landmark detection and mapping for 2D/3D registration with BoneNet.

The 3D musculoskeletal motion of animals is of interest for various biological studies and can be derived from X-ray fluoroscopy acquisitions by means of image matching or manual landmark annotation and mapping. While the image matching method requires a robust similarity measure (intensity-based) or an expensive computation (tomographic reconstruction-based), the manual annotation method depends on the experience of operators. In this paper, we tackle these challenges by a strategic approach that consists of two building blocks: an automated 3D landmark extraction technique and a deep neural network for 2D landmarks detection.

Progressive tracking: a novel procedure to facilitate manual digitization of videos.

Digitization of video recordings often requires the laborious procedure of manually clicking points of interest on individual video frames. Here, we present progressive tracking, a procedure that facilitates manual digitization of markerless videos. In contrast to existing software, it allows the user to follow points of interest with a cursor in the progressing video, without the need to click.

Motion analysis of non-model organisms using a hierarchical model: Influence of setup enclosure dimensions on gait parameters of Swinhoe's striped squirrels as a test case.

In in-vivo motion analyses, data from a limited number of subjects and trials is used as proxy for locomotion properties of entire populations, yet the inherent hierarchy of the individual and population level is usually not accounted for. Despite the increasing availability of hierarchical model frameworks for statistical analyses, they have not been applied extensively to comparative motion analysis. As a case study for the use of hierarchical models, we analyzed locomotor parameters of four Swinhoe's striped squirrels.

Vocalization-whisking coordination and multisensory integration of social signals in rat auditory cortex.

Social interactions involve multi-modal signaling. Here, we study interacting rats to investigate audio-haptic coordination and multisensory integration in the auditory cortex. We find that facial touch is associated with an increased rate of ultrasonic vocalizations, which are emitted at the whisking rate (∼8 Hz) and preferentially initiated in the retraction phase of whisking.

[Qualitative assessment of the relationship of social actors with madness in a substitutive mental health service].

This study aims to evaluate qualitatively the relationship between social actors and the madness. It was based in experiences produced in a Psychosocial Care Center in the Southern Brazilian context. This is a clipping from an evaluative and qualitative study.

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection: performance of tuberculin skin test and interferon-γ release assays under real-life conditions.

Objectives: To characterise optimal screening strategies for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) prior to the initiation of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy.

Methods: Patients in 62 German rheumatology centres were evaluated for LTBI. Each patient was screened with a tuberculin skin test (TST) and one form of an interferon-γ release assay (IGRA), either TSPOT.

[Mental health in Family Health Strategy: evaluation of matrix support].

The objective of this article is to assess the matrix support under the perspective of 14 professionals of a family care unit, in an evaluative and qualitative study based on Fourth Generation Evaluation. The data were collected in observations and interviews, and were analyzed by the Constant Comparative Method, focusing on the inclusion of mental health actions in the Family Health Strategy. Professionals from these studied teams assessed the need for care support as well as technical orientations from teams that specialized in mental health as to carry out mental health actions in the territory, which could be implemented by the matrix support.

[Evaluation of a psychosocial care center in Foz do Iguaçú, Brazil].

This is an excerpt of the study An evaluation of the Psychosocial Care Centers in Southern Brazil. The objective is to evaluate the ambience of a Level II Psychosocial Care Center (CAPS, abbreviation in Portuguese) as a place for comfort. This case-study was performed using a qualitative approach and the Fourth Generation Evaluation.

Immunohistochemical evaluation for P53 and VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) is not prognostic for long term survival in end stage esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Objectives: To correlate the expression of p53 protein and VEGF with the prognosis of patients submitted to curative resection to treat esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Methods: Forty-six patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma, submitted to curative resection, were studied. The expressions of p53 protein and VEGF were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 52.

[Mental care delivered in psychosocial care centers (CAPS) from the viewpoint of the professionals].

This article deals with a subproject of the Project for Evaluation of the CAPS psychosocial care centers (CAPS) in the southern region of Brazil, whose purpose was to learn how the professionals of a substitute service feel about of the mental care delivered there. The study was conducted in a CAPS II using a qualitative approach. Data were collected in interviews.

Safe adalimumab therapy for rheumatoid arthritis in a patient with pre-existing multiple myeloma.

Background: We report on a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who was treated with adalimumab and retrospectively diagnosed as having a multiple myeloma.

Investigations: In addition to the determination of clinical symptoms, investigations included radiography of the thorax, spine, hands and feet, arthrosonography, determination of laboratory parameters (including C-reactive protein levels and presence of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide), cytogenetics and electrocardiography.

Diagnosis: RA was initially diagnosed in 1988.

Efficacy of sulfasalazine in patients with inflammatory back pain due to undifferentiated spondyloarthritis and early ankylosing spondylitis: a multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: To assess the effect of sulfasalazine (SSZ) on inflammatory back pain (IBP) due to active undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA) or ankylosing spondylitis in patients with symptom duration <5 years.

Methods: Patients with IBP and a Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) >3 from 12 centres were randomly assigned to 24 weeks' treatment with SSZ 2 g/day or placebo. The primary outcome variable was the change in BASDAI over 6 months.

[Knowledge and theoretical studies in psychiatric nursing and mental health].

The present article consists of a bibliographical research developed with 109 articles published in Brazilian journals classified by CAPES as 'National B' or superior. Of these articles, 33 focused on knowledge and theoretical studies in psychiatric nursing and mental health which were rearranged in the sub-themes: theoretical studies with historical focus (focus in the sheltering model and focus in the transformation of the attendance of psychiatric nursing), participation of the family in the patient's process health-disease, the bearer's of psychic suffering comprehension of him/herself, stigma, use of the results of the research in psychiatric nursing, rethinking of the teaching, research instruments and work in nursing.

Development of a solid phase enzyme immunoassay for the detection of anti-Ro autoantibodies.

An enzyme immunoassay was developed to detect anti-Ro(SS-A) autoantibodies. Both Ro-antigen components (52 and 60 kD) were purified from a pig spleen extract, using fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Anti-La, anti-RNP, anti-DNA and anti-Sm antibodies do not react to the purified antigen.

[Detection of autoantibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in autoimmune diseases of rheumatic origin using immunoblotting--comparison with counter-electrophoresis].

Sera from 82 patients with rheumatic autoimmune disease were tested for anti-ENA antibodies by immunoblotting and counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE), using HeLa cell extract and rabbit thymus extract, respectively, as antigens. Anti-ENA antibodies were more frequently detected and could be better differentiated by immunoblotting rather than by CIE. There was especially an increase in anti-Sm antibodies (23, in contrast to four positive results), which was only detectable in serum samples for the 59 SLE patients.

Development of a DNA-adsorbent for the specific removal of anti-DNA autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Autoantibodies against DNA are of primary importance for the diagnosis and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematousus (SLE). The level of anti-DNA antibodies correlates well with the disease activity and renal involvement. In such patients the removal of anti-DNA antibodies from plasma may lead to a clinical improvement.

[Fibronectin concentrations in the plasma of newborn infants and their mothers and various plasma preparations].

The article describes a method for the quantification of plasma fibronectin (FN) by means of electroimmunodiffusion after Laurell. By this means the fibronectin concentrations of healthy, mature newborns as well as of their mothers were determined. The average FN-level of the newborns lies at 33% related to the value for adults and at 48%, respectively, related to the maternal FN-content.

[Plasma fibronectin in acute leukemia. Effects of the cytostatic therapy on plasma fibronectin level].

Twice a week plasma (Pl.)-fibronectin was determined quantitatively in the course of disease with immunoelectrophoresis according to Laurell in 12 patients suffered from acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) and in 12 patients affected with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). At diagnosis Pl.

[The role of fibronectin in nonspecific defense from the immunologic viewpoint].

The present article gives a review of the essential data of literature concerning the importance of fibronectin (Fn) for the unspecific defence. In this case the function of Fn postulated as unspecific opsonin stands in the foreground. Fn mediates the binding of gelatine particles, bacteria and other above all particular materials on phagocytizing cells (monocytes, macrophages and neutrophils).