Search

It is well-known that the physiological uterine peristalsis, related to several phases of reproductive functions, plays a pivotal role in fertility and female reproductive health. Here, we have addressed the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) signaling in changes of uterine contractions driven by diabetes in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice, a murine model of type-1 diabetes mellitus. The isolated uterus of NOD mice showed a significant reduction in spontaneous motility coupled to a generalized hypo-contractility to uterotonic agents. The levels of cyclic nucleotides, cAMP and cGMP, notoriously involved in the regulation of uterus homeostasis, were significantly elevated in NOD mouse uteri. This increase was well-correlated with the higher levels of H2S, a non-specific endogenous inhibitor of phosphodiesterases. The exposure of isolated uterus to L-cysteine (L-Cys), but not to sodium hydrogen sulfide, the exogenous source of H2S, showed a weak tocolytic effect in the uterus of NOD mice. Western blot analysis revealed a reorganization of the enzymatic expression with an upregulation of 3-mercaptopyruvate-sulfurtransferase (3-MST) coupled to a reduction in both cystathionine-&beta, synthase (CBS) and cystathionine-&gamma, lyase (CSE) expression. In conclusion, the increased levels of cyclic nucleotides dysregulate the uterus peristalsis and contractility in diabetic mice through an increase in basal H2S synthesis suggesting a role of 3-MST.

Current methods for the diagnosis of sepsis have insufficient precision, causing regular misdiagnoses. Microbiological tests can help to diagnose sepsis, but are usually too slow to have an impact on timely clinical decision-making. Neutrophils have a high sensitivity to infections, yet measurements of neutrophil surface markers, genomic changes and phenotype alterations have had only a marginal effect on sepsis diagnosis. Here, we report a microfluidic assay that measures, from one droplet of diluted blood, the spontaneous motility of neutrophils in the presence of plasma. We measured the performance of the assay in two independent cohorts of critically ill patients suspected of sepsis. Using data from a first cohort, we developed a machine-learning-based scoring system (sepsis score) that segregated patients with sepsis from those without sepsis. We then validated the sepsis score in a double-blind, prospective case–control study. For the 42 patients across the two cohorts, the assay identified sepsis patients with 97% sensitivity and 98% specificity. The neutrophil assay could potentially be used to accurately diagnose and monitor sepsis in larger populations of at-risk patients.

AIM: To explore the appropriateness of applying a detailed assessment of general movements and characterize the relationship between global and detailed assessment.METHOD: The analysis was based on 783 video recordings of 233 infants (154 males, 79 females) who had been videoed from 27 to 45 weeks postmenstrual age. Apart from assessing the global general movement categories (normal, poor repertoire, cramped-synchronized, or chaotic general movements), we scored the amplitude, speed, spatial range, proximal and distal rotations, onset and offset, tremulous and cramped components of the upper and lower extremities. Applying the optimality concept, the maximum general movement optimality score of 42 indicates the optimal performance.RESULTS: General movement optimality scores (GMOS) differentiated between normal general movements (median 39 [25-75th centile 37-41]), poor repertoire general movements (median 25 [22-29]), and cramped-synchronized general movements (median 12 [10-14]; pINTERPRETATION: Further research might demonstrate that the GMOS provides a solid base for the prediction of improvement versus deterioration within an individual general movement trajectory.

Hip dislocation occurs in 1.5% of new-born babies. Symptoms of dysplastic hip are often connected with infant’s asymmetrical body posture, psychomotor delay and muscular tone dysfunction. Orthopedic supplies improve the positioning of the femur head in acetabulum but do not solve or even make worse the asymmetry, support functions and muscle tonus problems. This study presents 3 different cases of patients with such symptoms which has the Vaclav Vojta neurophysiological stimulation as based or supplemental treatment. The results are supported by ultrasonographic studies and evaluation of the spontaneous motility of the child in subsequent weeks of treatment. The use of the Vojta method is a helpful complement to the treatment of dislocated, unstable and dysplastic hips.

Background: The quality of general movements (GMs) is a widely used criterion to assess neurological dysfunction in young infants. It is unknown, however, whether the birth process influences the motor repertoire of healthy full term infants during the first week after birth.Aims: To assess the quality of GMs and to determine the motor optimality score (OS) in healthy full term infants during the first week after birth and to evaluate the influence of the mode of delivery on GM quality.Study design: Thirty-three healthy full term infants born either vaginally or after caesarean section (CS) under spinal anaesthesia were video recorded in the first week after birth in order to assess GM quality and to determine OS with Prechtl's method.Results: Abnormal GMs were observed mainly on the early recordings: 86% on the day of birth (day 0), 94% on day 1, and 68% on day 2. On days 5 to 7 (day 5-7) all GMs were normal (P Conclusions: Healthy full term infants often showed abnormal GM quality and lower OSs during the first week after birth, irrespective of the mode of delivery. GM quality normalised during subsequent days and was normal on day 5-7. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalances are involved in the etiology of cancer, allergy, and collagen diseases. Previously, we hypothesized that FoxO and HSF-1 limit autonomic stress responses via negative feedback on the ANS. Here, we evaluated the role of AKT, a negative regulator of FoxO, during activation of the ANS by loneliness stress in mice. Spontaneous motility was increased during loneliness stress and decreased after release from stress. The AKT activator SC79 attenuated stress-induced spontaneous motility, whereas the AKT inhibitor API-2 prevented decreases in motility after stress release. Our results show that AKT activity regulates ANS responses to loneliness stress.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to determine whether the quality of general movements (GMs) for preterm children had predictive value for cognitive development at school age. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, 60 preterm infants (gestational age, median: 30.0 weeks [range: 25–33 weeks]; birth weight, median: 1130 g [range: 595–1800 g]) without cerebral palsy were studied. The quality of GMs was assessed prospectively as normal or abnormal, from video recordings that were made at regular intervals until 17 weeks after term. At 7 to 11 years, intelligence was tested by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children III, Dutch version. Total IQ (TIQ), verbal IQ (VIQ), and performance IQ (PIQ) scores were calculated. RESULTS: The median TIQ was 93 (range: 67–113), VIQ 96 (range: 68–117), and PIQ 92 (range: 65–119). Fifteen children (25%) had low TIQ scores ( CONCLUSIONS: The quality of GMs during the early postterm period is a marker for intelligence at school age. Abnormal GMs during the early postterm period may reflect injury or developmental disruptions of brain areas involved in cognitive development.

Background: The assessment of the quality of general movements (GMs) in preterm infants early in life has been used mainly to determine temporary or permanent neurological dysfunction and not to predict outcome.Aim: Assessing the quality and evolution of GMs during the first ten days of life in preterm infants, and relating them to clinical factors and neurological outcome at 24 months' post-term.Methods: Using Prechtl's method, the GM quality was assessed in 45 preterm infants on days 2,4, 6 and 10. They were related to clinical factors and outcome. After GM assessment, an extra item was scored: chaotic features (ChF). ChF was defined as chaotic GMs or poor repertoire GMs+chaotic movements.Results: Abnormal GMs were seen mostly in early recordings. A better GM trajectory correlated with a higher birth weight, a higher gestational age and a lower Nursery Neurobiologic Risk Score (NBRS). Predictive value for normal outcome of at least one normal GM was 94%. Predictive value for abnormal outcome of only abnormal GMs was 21%. ChF were seen mostly in early recordings. Occurrence of ChF on day 2 correlated with lower serum calcium.Conclusions: Preterm infants often showed abnormal GMs during the first few days. This was related mostly to a higher NBRS. Normalization of GMs during the first ten days was associated with a lower NBRS and was a reliable predictor for neurological outcome. ChFs could be a GM quality that is associated to lower calcium, indicating hyperexcitability of the nervous system. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Predicting later outcome in neonates presenting with severe inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) is difficult. The assessment of the early motor repertoire is a reliable method of evaluating the integrity of the central nervous system in young infants. This method is based on an age-specific qualitative assessment of general movements (GMs, 0-8 weeks of age), fidgety movements (FMs) and the concurrent motor repertoire (9-20 weeks of age).Aim: To determine the quality of the early motor repertoire (at 0-20 weeks post term age) in relation to later neurological outcome in infants with severe IEM.Study design: Prospective cohort study. The quality of the motor repertoire was assessed from serial videotape recordings.Subjects: Five infants with IEM. Four presented with a severe IEM in the neonatal period: an undefined gluconeogenesis defect, propionic acidemia, arginosuccinate synthetase and arginosuccinate lyase deficiency. One neonate was antenatally diagnosed with arginosuccinate synthetase deficiency.Outcome measures: Outcome at the age of at least 18 m was determined by neurological examination and developmental tests.Results: All infants initially had abnormal GMs: hypokinesia, followed by GMs of a poor repertoire. The quality of the early motor repertoire normalised in 3 infants, and remained abnormal in 2. The more severe and persistent abnormalities of the motor repertoire were considered with the more abnormal neurological and developmental scores, later on.Conclusions: The quality of the early motor repertoire might be related to later neurological outcome in infants with inborn errors of metabolism. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: Qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire, at 11-16 weeks post-term are predictive for minor neurological dysfunction (MND) at 7 to 11 years of age. Predictive value of quantitative aspects is unknown so far.Aim: To investigate whether quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire between 6 and 24 weeks post-term also have predictive value for neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age.Study design: Prospective cohort study.Subjects: Preterm infants from whom several quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire were assessed between 6 and 24 weeks post-term.Outcome measures: Neurological outcome at 7-11 years of age was assessed according to Touwens' neurological examination. Children were classified as neurologically normal, or as having complex MND or cerebral palsy (CP).Results: Eighty-two children were included. At 7 to 11 years of age 15 children (18%) had developed CP, 49 (60%) were neurologically normal, and 18 (22%) had MND. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that, when the qualitative aspects of the motor repertoire known to predict neurological outcome were taken into account, only the asymmetric tonic neck (ATN) posture provided additional predictive value. In case of normal fidgety movements (FMs) accompanied by an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire, the presence of an obligatory ATN increased the risk for developing complex MND to 75%; absence of an obligatory ATN reduced the risk to 15% (pConclusions: Quantitative aspects of the motor repertoire at 11-16 weeks post-term, in particular the presence of an obligatory ATN posture, contribute to the prediction of neurological outcome at 7 to 11 years of age. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Objective: To assess the quality of general movements (GMs) in the first fourteen days of life in relation to obstetric and postnatal risk factors and neurodevelopmental outcome in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.Study design: The GMs of nineteen infants were assessed on days 2, 4, 6, 10 and 14 with Prechtl's method. Additionally, detailed GM assessment produced optimatity scores (OSs). GMs and the OSs were related to obstetric and postnatal data and to neurodevelopmental outcome at 18 months.Results: GMs and OSs fluctuated substantially during the first fourteen days of life. Most infants had abnormal GMs, especially poor repertoire (PR) GMs. No relation was found between GMs and obstetric factors. Regarding postnatal factors, septicaemia correlated to hypokinesia (H) and artificial ventilation correlated to a tower OS.Conclusions: Due to physiological disturbances the quality of GM in ELBW infants fluctuates substantially during the first fourteen days of life. Abnormal GMs, especially PR GMs, are mostly seen for the same reason. Septicaemia and artificial ventilation are associated with deterioration of the GMs (lower OSs), and in case of septicaemia also with hypokinesia. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Background: The assessment of the quality of general movements (GMs) in young infants is a reliable and valid diagnostic tool for detecting brain dysfunction early in Life. Poor repertoire GMs are the most frequently observed abnormal GMs during the preterm, term and early postterm period. However, their predictive value for the neurological outcome is low.Aim: To find out whether a detailed scoring of poor repertoire GMs might lead to a better prediction of the neurological outcome.Subjects: We studied 18 preterm infants who were repeatedly videoed from birth to 22 weeks postterm age, including several recordings assessed as poor repertoire GMs. At 8 to 10 years, six children were neurologically normal, six had mild neurological abnormalities, and the remaining six were classified as cerebral palsy.Study design: Each GM globally assessed as poor repertoire was scored in details according to several aspects of neck and trunk, arm and Leg movements applying Prechtl's optimality concept.Results: By and large, the detailed score of poor repertoire GMs was not related to the neurological outcome.Conclusion: For the clinical application of the GM assessment, it remains important to assess the fidgety movements of those infants with poor repertoire GM trajectories in order to predict their outcome. (C) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

The central noradrenergic system is widely distributed throughout the brain and is closely related to spontaneous motility and level of consciousness. The study presented here evaluated the morphological as well as neurochemical effects of diffuse brain injury on the central noradrenergic system in rat. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to impact-acceleration brain injury produced with a weight-drop device. Morphological changes in locus coeruleus (LC) neurons were examined by using immunohistochemistry for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase, and norepinephrine (NE) turnover in the cerebral cortex was measured by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The size of LC neurons increased by 11% 24 h after injury but had decreased by 27% seven days after injury. Axons of noradrenergic neurons were swollen 24 h and 48 h after injury but the swelling had dwindled in seven days. NE turnover was significantly reduced seven days after injury and remained at a low level until eight weeks after injury. These results suggest that focal impairment of axonal transport due to diffuse brain injury causes cellular changes in LC and that the neurochemical effect of injury on the central noradrenargic system lasts over an extended period of time. Chronic suppression of NE turnover may explain the sustained behavioral and psychological abnormalities observed in a clinical situation.

Effects of body temperature on the immobile response and brain glucose metabolism were examined in the forced swimming test in mice. The first experiment was performed to study behavior, after initial periods of vigorous activity, a characteristic immobile posture occurred when the water was 25 and 35 degrees C. However, several minutes after forced swimming at 25 degrees C, significantly decreased spontaneous motility occurred in a time-dependent manner, but no changes was observed at 35 degrees C. Our interpretation was that mechanisms of acquisition and retention of the forced swim-induced immobile response differed. Body temperature was also significantly decreased at 25 degrees C but not at 35 degrees C in the forced swimming test. This lowering of body temperature almost paralleled the immobile response. The second experiment was a biochemical study in which the uptake of [(14)C] 2-deoxy-d-glucose into the brain significantly decreased after forced swimming at 25 degrees C but did not change in the forced swim loaded mice when the water was 35 degrees C. These results suggested two types of immobile mechanisms in the forced swimming test: (1) an early phase acquisition of the immobile response which might be related to adaptive response and (2) a late phase to retain the immobile response which might be related to the decrease in brain glucose metabolism.

The effects of the Kampo medicine Toki-Shakuyaku-San on the motility and learning ability of mice were studied. An assay on mice aged 5 months after 15 weeks of administration revealed no change in spontaneous motility. However, in a study on learning ability employing passive avoidance task, the latent periods of test trial were significantly longer in the Toki-Shakuyaku-San administered group than in a control group, indicating that Toki-Shakuyaku-San may play some role in the alleviation of learning disturbances in mice

The development of spontaneous motility and posture was studied longitudinally in 14 carefully selected low-risk preterm infants. The aim of the investigation was to provide a set of data suitable for comparison with fetuses and with neurologically abnormal preterm infants. The infants were videorecorded weekly, for one hour in a supine position, from birth until their discharge from the hospital. Ten of them were thereafter also observed at home at 3-week intervals from 3 to 18 weeks of corrected age, together with 10 healthy fullterm infants. Occurrence and duration of motor patterns and postures in periods of rest and activity were obtained by off-line analysis of the videotapes. Few significant changes were found from birth until term age in the composition and quantity of the spontaneous movement patterns. Only twitches and stretches during activity periods showed a small decline approaching term age. However, notable inter-individual differences and intra-individual fluctuations from week to week were observed. Postterm development of preterm infants was similar to that of the fullterms. Both showed considerable changes in the qualities of general movements after the first postterm weeks. Only fidgety character movements occur earlier in preterm infants. No age-specific preference postures of the limbs were found in the preterm period. Midline position of the head in supine was observed at about the same postterm age in preterm and fullterm groups. Asymmetrical tonic neck postures were very inconsistently present before term age and rapidly disappeared after term, earlier so in preterm infants.

Observations of the variability stereotypy ratio of spontaneous motility in a group of 47 preterm infants showed that stereotyped motor activity was related to the neurological diagnosis at term age. A minority of the neurologically deviant infants at term recovered during infancy. The presence of absence of intra-uterine growth retardation and an accumulation of obnoxious antenatal, perinatal and postnatal events seemed to affect outcome, particularly in the presence of extensive and permanent ultrasound findings. A normal neurological condition at term indicates a high probability of normal development.

Objective The quality of a child's motor repertoire at age 3 to 4 months postterm is predictive of later cerebral palsy (CP). Its predictive power for minor neurologic dysfunction (MND) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of the quality of the early motor repertoire for the development of MND at school age.Study design We assessed the motor repertoire from video recordings made at 6 to 24 weeks postterm in 82 preterm infants (mean gestational age, 29.7 +/- 1.9 weeks; mean birth weight, 1183 +/- 302 g). At age 7 to 11 years, Touwen's neurologic examination was performed, and the children were classified as normal (n = 49; 60%), MND (n = 18; 22%), or CP (n = 15; 18%).Results Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the quality of fidgety movements (FMs) and the quality of the concurrent motor repertoire had independent prognostic value for MND at school age. Abnormal FMs evolved into MND in 64% of the children. Nine of die 28 children with normal FMs and an abnormal concurrent motor repertoire developed abnormally (32%). Only I child of the 21 children with normal FMs and a normal concurrent motor repertoire developed MND (5%).Conclusions Assessment of the quality of the early motor repertoire can accurately identify individual infants at high and low risk for MND at school age.

Objective To assess the clinical value of a modified version, not employing video recording, of Precthl's method on the qualitative assessment of general movements (GMs) in preterm, term and young infants at neurological risk. Materials and methods One-hundred and fifteen infants consecutively enrolled in our follow-up program were selected for the study (103 preterm and 12 term infants). While being video recorded, each infant's spontaneous motor activity was directly observed and documented using a written proforma. An evaluation of the video was later performed by a different assessor blind to the infant's clinical history. Results The correlation between the two techniques was significant both at writhing age (birth to 6 weeks post-term age) and at fidgety age (9–15 weeks post-term age). Both methods showed a very high sensitivity for the prediction of cerebral palsy, as no false negatives were observed. The direct assessment showed a lower specificity, particularly during the writhing period. Conclusions These results support the use of the direct assessment of GMs when the full application of the standard video observation cannot be routinely applied, restraining the use of video recordings to the abnormal or doubtful cases. This may facilitate the wished integration of the assessment of spontaneous motility into more general protocols of neurological examination and into clinical follow-up programs.

Ginger is widely used as a spice and also an effective herbal medicine to treat gastrointestinal disorders. On the other hand, stress can induce various modulation of digestive motility. Here, we investigated ginger effects on stress-induced motility of the isolated ileum in male and female rats, in vitro. Rats (Wistar, SPF, 7-12 weeks of age, 148-393 g BW) were divided into Control (1G) and 3G groups. 3G stress (every day for 10 min) was loaded by centrifugal apparatus for 1, 3, 15 and 30 days. After the stress loading at each day, a 1 cm-long section of the ileum was isolated under barbiturate anesthesia and fixed to a Magnus-type chamber filled with Tyrode solution. Ileal movements were observed for 60 s following application of zingerone, which is also called vanillylacetone and a key component of the pungency of ginger (0.1-10 μM). Spontaneous motility movements with phasic and tonic patterns were observed in the ileum. The former was a peristalsis-like movement and the latter was a slow fluctuation of the baseline. Ginger induced enhanced effects on the rhythmic phasic motility in relation to amplitude. In the female, 3G gravity loading had no effects on the ginger-induced motility, however, suppressive effect of the ginger-induced phasic movements was clearly observed at day 15 in the male. The present study showed that gravity stress changed ginger-induced effects on phasic ileal motility in the male, but not in the female, indicating that sex differences were observed in the ginger effects modulated by stress loading.

The functional outcome of 49 extremely preterm infants (gestational age: 25—27 weeks) was studied at the corrected age of 12 months. Apart from pediatric follow-up, a full neurologic assessment and the Bayley Motor and Mental Scales of Infant Development was done. Emphasis was placed on postural control, spontaneous motility, hand function, and elicited infantile reactions. Special attention was given to symmetric development. The infants were then categorized as having optimal or nonoptimal or asymmetric outcome. Overall, an optimal outcome was found in 19 infants (39%) and nonoptimal outcome in 30 infants (61%), 7 of whom failed on all domains of function. Postural control had a significant influence on the different domains of development such as motility ( P ≤ .001) and persistent infantile reactions ( P ≤ .001) and slightly less on hand function ( P = .08) and asymmetry ( P = .06). The outcome on spontaneous motility was significantly related to the results on infantile reactions ( P ≤ .005) and hand function ( P = .05). Also, the score on the motor scale of the Bayley Developmental test was clearly related to outcome on spontaneous motility ( P ≤ .001) and reactions ( P ≤ .02). Abnormal brain ultrasonograms were related to the asymmetry of the infantile reactions ( P ≤ .05). Poor coordination of gross motor function will have consequences for appropriate visuomotor and sensorimotor integration, thereby hampering motor learning and later cognitive function, as is often described in preterm infants. It is suggested that the poor postural control found in many infants born preterm is the result of both myogenic and neurogenic deviations caused by the preterm birth and its nursing consequences. ( J Child Neurol 2001;16:832—837).

We describe the state of the art of Prechtl's method for the qualitative assessment of general movements as a diagnostic tool for early detection of brain dysfunction, After discussing the optimal technique for video recording general movements in preterm, term and young infants, attention is focused on the proper analysis of this spontaneous motor pattern. Recently, a group of active researchers in the field reached consensus on the various qualities of normal and abnormal general movements. These definitions are reported here in full. Since it is a newly introduced method careful investigation into its reliability is required. Various groups of investigators have obtained data which demonstrate the robust character of the method (interscorer agreement: 78-98%). Finally, we discuss the validity of this early assessment method on the basis of the reports published so far. While the method's sensitivity is similar in all age groups studied (preterm, term, first month, second month, and third month age epochs), and averages 94.5%, the specificity of the method is age-dependent. It is low during the early ages, increases gradually and reaches 82 to 100% at 3 months post-term. This phenomenon is explained by spontaneous recovery of early dysfunction. In contrast, consistent abnormalities of general movements are Linked to neurological deficits found at the 2 year follow-up. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

The qualitative assessment of general movements (GMs) in preterm infants is a sensitive method to investigate the integrity of the central nervous system. The question arises whether systemic infections affect the quality of GMs in a similar fashion to brain lesions. We were able to provide an answer to this problem in six infants (gestational age 24.4-32.4 weeks, birth weight 600-1660 grams), who had initially normal GMs as analyzed from sequential video-recordings. All infants sustained a proven septicaemia (Candida albicans in two, Staphylococcus aureus in three, a coagulase-negative staphylococcus in one infant). Unintentionally, recordings were also made during the acute phase. The complexity and variability of the GMs remained largely intact in five of the six infants; only one infant had transiently abnormal GMs. Compared with 1 week before the acute phase, the speed and amplitude of the GMs were diminished, giving the GMs a sluggish appearance. One to two weeks after the acute phase of septicaemia, the quality of GMs, i.e. speed and amplitude, had normalized in all infants. This study demonstrates that it is possible to discriminate between abnormal GMs due to cerebral lesions and sluggish GMs due to severe systemic infections, when the complexity of the GMs is considered as the main characteristic for judgement of normality of GM-quality. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

The consistent presence of an abnormal quality of general movements (GMs) during the first postnatal months points to a high risk for the development of a neurological disability. To elucidate the significance of abnormal GMs during a single assessment, a classification system for abnormal GMs was developed. To this end six term and ten preterm infants with abnormal GMs were studied longitudinally with video and electromyographic (EMG) recordings till 59 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA). Two basic categories of abnormal GMs were distinguished: (1) mildly abnormal GMs (two types), which lacked fluency while conserving pattern complexity, and (2) definitely abnormal GMs (four types), which lacked fluency and complexity altogether. GM type before 39 weeks PMA correlated with findings on neonatal ultrasound brain scans. GM quality after 47 weeks PMA was strongly related to neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 1/2 years of age, suggesting that the absence of the age-specific 'fidgety' character of GMs could be a herald of disability.

Qualitative analysis of spontaneous motility was performed in 22 preterm infants (gestational age 25-31 weeks) on the intensive care unit. The infants were videorecorded once a week in the late afternoon during 1 h until 36 weeks of gestation. Quality of movement was analyzed by 8 observers using visual ‘Gestalt perception’ and compared with the neurological outcome 1 year after term. A normal quality of movement consistently predicted a normal neurological outcome with a probability of 90–100%. An abnormal quality of movement predicted an abnormal outcome with a probability of only 56% in the first, but with a probability of 82% in the third postnatal week. The average interobserver agreement was 78%. The analysis of spontaneous motility for the early diagnosis of neurological dysfunctions can reliably be applied on very immature preterms under intensive care conditions from the 3rd postnatal week on.

The effects of the LHRH antagonism on the acquisition of conditioned responses (CARs) and spontaneous motility were studied in intact and ovariectomized rats. A synthetic antagonist of LHRH, [N- acetyl- D -p- chloro-Phe 1,2 , D -Trp 3 , D -Arg 6 , D -Ala 10 ]- LHRH , was injected in a single dose (10 μg/rat, SC) at noon on the day of proestrus in the normally cycling rat, and behavioral experiments were carried out on the morning of estrus or metestrus. Two procedures were followed in the ovariectomized rats: in the first, the antagonist was injected 1 h before estradiol, and the second, at noon on the day after estradiol replacement. The experiments were carried out 24 and 48 h after estradiol, respectively. The LHRH antagonist facilitated the acquisition of CARs in both experimental groups, thus reversing the impairments observed during estrus and metestrus and those induced by estradiol replacement. The antagonist decreased the number of head shakes during estrus, whereas it induced an increase in total motility and rears in ovariectomized control animals. On the other hand, the antagonist increased the number of rears and reversed the decrease in grooming behavior induced by estradiol. The results led to the idea of a role of LHRH in behaviors not apparently related to sex, which could explain the behavioral changes observed across the estrous cycle and those induced by estradiol replacement in ovariectomized rats.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) due to placental dysfunction is a risk factor for an impaired neurodevelopmental outcome. This is the case particularly in growth-retarded foetuses whose conditions in utero are so compromised that they have to be delivered before term. In recent years, neonatal treatment and care have improved markedly, and this has led to increased chances of survival of very immature and extremely low-birthweight infants. The optimal time to deliver IUGR infants remains difficult to assess. There is an obvious need for methods that accurately monitor foetal and neonatal condition, and it is important that the implications of these methods are evaluated for the neurodevelopmental outcomes of these infants. It is vitally important to be able to predict the outcome, whether it is normal or abnormal. A method that covers both aspects is the qualitative assessment of spontaneous motility of foetuses and newborn infants.

Summary The effect of cycloheximide (2 μg/ml), puromycin (2 μg/ml) and actinomycin D (1 μg/ml), as well as the relation between the influence of cycloheximide and prostaglandin (PG) production on the spontaneous motility of 20 days-ovariectomized rat uterus, were studied. Cycloheximide evoked a more stable motility during the experimental period (180 min) when compared with controls. Neither puromycin nor actinomycin D could madify the spontaneous activity. In the presence of cycloheximide, the rat uterus released more PGE-like material than the untreated one, and no differences were found in the generation of PGF-like material. Indomethacin, acetylsalicylic acid and eicosa-5,8,11, 14- tetraynoic acid could partially block the cycloheximide-induced constancy of motility of uterine strips. Cyproheptadine and atropine had no effect at all. It is suggested that cycloheximide prevents the spontaneoys decay of the contractile activity at least in part by influencing PGE-like material production.

1. 1.|An injection of capsaicin into normal young rabbits resulted in a preference for a cooler environment, signs of increased heat loss, and a suppression of the overall metabolic rate. 2. 2.|Body temperature declines with the preferred temperature, despite brown fat activation. 3. 3.|The response is greatly reduced after short-term desensitization, although the spontaneous motility, temperature selecting behaviour and body temperature appear to be normal.

Posture and spontaneous motor patterns during the first days of life were studied in ten healthy fullterm infants by direct observation and videorecording. The aim of the study was to provide a description of motor and postural characteristics of normal newborns. The infants were recorded for 1 h on their first and fourth day of life, when unstimulated in an incubator. Incidence and duration of the different body postures and motor patterns were scored during the replay of the videorecordings. The preference for the fully flexed posture of arms and legs described in the literature could not be confirmed. There was a large intra- and inter-individual variability in the postural repertoire. No particular posture, characteristic for each behavioural state, existed. Similar postures rarely occurred in the same infant on the first and fourth day. Extended postures more often occurred on the fourth day. Spontaneous motility consisted of several distinct movement patterns, the occurrence of which in states 1 and 2 was computed for day 1 and day 4. Motor patterns were differently related to the states. No differences were noted in the motor activity between the first and fourth days. Large inter-individual differences, but an intra-individual consistency, were found in the rates of specific motor patterns: infants who showed a low or high rate of particular movements on day 1 maintained the same characteristic on day 4. There was no overall low or high motor activity.

Summary Male spontaneously hypertensive Wistar rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKR) were maintained on low taurine (T-) diet and high T (T+) diet (T 3 % in the drinking fluid) and their spontaneous motility and open field exploratory activity were measured at the age of three months. T+ diet decreased the spontaneous motility of the SHR when compared to controls. SHR showed significantly greater open field activity than WKR. This exploratory activity was further enhanced by both T+ and T- diets in the SHR but not in the WKR strain. There were no significant differences between total brain T and 5-HT contents due to the strain or the diet. Taurine rich diet seems to inhibit the spontaneously very intensive activity of the SHR but at the same time to decrease their reactivity to stressful stimuli.

The spontaneous motility and chemotaxis of PMNs have been investigated in 25 healthy subjects aged 69–88 years (79.04 ± 4.6) and compared with the values obtained in 25 subjects aged 17–35 years (25.6 ± 5.9). For spontaneous motility, the values were 32 ± 9 in the young subjects, in comparison with 24 ± 11 in the elderly (p < 0.05). For chemotaxis the values were 34 ± 14 in the young subjects and 25 ± 10 in the elderly (p < 0.02). A group of 8 elderly subjects received 2 g ascorbic acid daily for 1 month. Measurements of spontaneous motility and chemotaxis were conducted, and the results were compared with those obtained prior to the treatment. Neither parameter was significantly modified. Another group of 8 elderly subjects received 50 mg of levamisole daily for 3 days. This drug caused a significant increase in spontaneous motility (p < 0.0001) and chemotaxis (p < 0.05). In our experience, the elderly exhibit a decrease in spontaneous motility and chemotaxis of PMNs in comparison with those values obtained in young people. Although levamisole increased the values of both parameters, ascorbic acid did not.

The effects of prostaglandins (PG) F2α and E2 on the spontaneous motility of pig oviducts were studied in vivo and in vitro using intraluminal pressure transducers. PGF2α always increased the muscular activity of the oviducts, gradually augmenting their sensitivity to PGF2α stimulation from pro-oestrus, reaching their highest responsiveness at the peri-ovulatory stage, and decreasing thereafter. PGE2 elicited inhibitory responses from the tubal preparations during oestrus and the third day of the cycle in vivo, and during pro-oestrus and oestrus in vitro. The isthmic longitudinal muscle layer was always contracted by the exogenous PGE2 in vitro. During the luteal phase, PGE2 elicited a stimulatory response both in vivo and in vitro, of a similar type of that of the PGF2α. These stimulatory responses could be blunted, but not abolished, by selective blocking of α-adrenoceptors in vitro. Indomethacin inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the spontaneous motility of the pig oviducts in vitro. This inhibition was reversible and the spontaneous motility could be fully restored after total abolition of activity by addition of PGF2α, but not of noradrenaline, which only increased the tonus of the inhibited preparations.

In the present investigation the effects of free fatty acids (FFA) and L -carnitine were investigated on the rat isolated uterine horn. The cumulative addition of FFA and L&

Spontaneous uterine motility and reactivity to intravenous oxytocin were recorded in eight ovari-ectomised, oestrogen-primed goats before and after oral meclofenamic acid treatment. Spontaneous motility was completely abolished within 50 to 100 min of meclofenamate administration. However, although uterine reactivity to oxytocin was significantly reduced, the sensitivity was not altered. It is suggested that, in the goat, oxytocin has two effects on the uterus: it increases myometrial activity and also stimulates prostaglandin synthesis.

Variations in the spontaneous contractile activity during 6 hours following isolation of uterine horns from proestrus, metestrus and spayed rats, were explored. In estrus and metestrus preparations the contractions declined during 60 min and between 180–200 min a progressive spontaneous recovery (abolished by indomethacin) was observed up to 360 min. Uteri from proestrus and spayed animals exhibited a continuous depression without recovery during the whole experimental period. At 60 min, uterine horns from estrus animals (which showed a marked contractile decrement) released to the suspending medium significantly less prostaglandin E-like material than at 360 min, i.e. when contractions had almost completely recovered. No modification in the amount of prostaglandin F-like material was detected accompanying these spontaneous contractile variations. In the spayed group at 60 min of functioning (i.e. when the contractile impairment was significantly smaller than at a later time) the release of PGE was greater than at 360 min. These findings suggest a possible control of rat uterine contractions by PGE, rather than by PGF.

The motility of isolated uterine horns as well as the generation of PGE and PGF-like material by uterus from spayed rats, treated or untreated with progesterone or progesterone plus estradiol-17-beta, were studied. The changes of Functional Activity (FA) with time (constancy) of control uterine horns and that preparations treated wtih 2 mg of progesterone (P) were not significantly different. However, the PGF-like material released into the bathing solution was significantly higher when the animals were treated with P. PGE-like material in the medium was similar in both groups. With higher doses to P (4 mg/day/2 days) the constancy of FA was similar to that observed in untreated animals, and the PGF-like material released into the medium was significantly higher than in the control group FA and PGs releases into the bathing medium by uterine horns from supra-renalectomized-ovariectomized animals (treated or not with P) were similar to those obtained in spayed rats with the intact suprarenal gland, but the absolute values of PGF-like material were always lower than in this group. Estradiol-17-beta injected prior or after P diminished the stimulation induced by P on the release of PGF-like material into the medium. The constancy of the contractile activity as well as the uterine release of PGE-like material was also diminished in rats treated with P plus estradiol-17-beta. The novel finding that progesterone stimulates the synthesis of PGF in uterine horns from ovariectomized rats without changing that of PGE is discussed.

Summary The spontaneous isometric developed tension (IDT) and the frequency of contractions (FC) of the implantation or linea uteri (LU) and the non implantation or myometrial region (M) from uterine horns in different stages of the sex cycle were studied. The functional activity (FA= IDT × FC) of LU and M decreased with time comparably in proestrus and metestrus whereas during estrus the stability was significantly higher in the implantation region than in M. In uterine strips isolated from proestrus animals indomethacin (2; 5 or 10 μg/ml) did not change the functional activity neither of LU nor of M; on the contrary in metestrus, indomethacin diminished significantly the functional activity of both uterine regions. When the uterine strips (M and LU) were obtained from animals in estrus, only the implantation region was depressed by indomethacin at the 3 concentrations tested. The release of PGE and PGF-like material by incubated strips of M and LU obtained from estrus rats was also studied. The PGE-like material generated by the implantation zone was significantly higher than that released by non implantation region. Regarding PGF-like material, the spontaneous release was similar in M and LU. On the other hand PGI 2 -like material generated by LU and M was not significantly different. The probable implications of the differences found in these two regions of the estrus uterus are discussed.

The influence of metabolic substrates (glucose, fructose, lactate, pyruvate) on the spontaneous motility of uterine strips isolated from estrus or spayed rats was explored. The effects of substrate omission on tissue glycogen and triglycerides in both hormonal conditions were also studied.

The effects of dopamine administered intraventricularly in various doses (5–100 μg) on the spontaneous motility of rats were tested. The effects of dopamine were dosedependent: doses of 5–10 μg dopamine caused a small but statistically significant (P< 0.05) increase in spontaneous motor activity 20–30 min after intra ventricular administration. Greater doses of dopamine (50–100 μg) produced initially (for 20 min) a decrease in the rat's motility with stuporous signs and assymetric body posture. During the next 20–60 min after injections of greater doses of dopamine there was an increase in the number of motions observed. Biochemical determinations showed that after the administration of 10μg dopamine to whole rat brain tissue no alterations in the levels of dopamine and noradrenaline occurred. After injection of 50 μg dopamine, a statistically significant rise in the dopamine level was found. Sixty minutes after injection of this dose the level of noradrenaline was also increased.

400 mg/kg alpha-methyldopa i.p. inhibits the convulsion facilitating effect of 2,5 mg/kg reserpine i.p. in mice and rats. The effect of reserpine potentiating narcosis and decreasing spontaneous motility was not influenced by alpha-methyldopa. In animals pretreated with alpha-methyldopa reserpine does not decrease the norepine-phrine content of the brain, but the serotonin level is as low as in animals given reserpine alone.

Summary A miniature electromagnetic transducer was utilized to record accurately esophageal pressures after swallowing. The changes in pressure in normal persons followed a definite pattern, which consisted of an initial wave of negative pressure and three subsequent waves of positive pressure. Analysis indicated that the final positive wave was produced by a true peristaltic wave passing the transducer. Patients who had cardiospasm showed considerable spontaneous motility as well as extremely variable responses in pressure as the result of deglutition. Though waves of positive pressure were noted occasionally in these patients after swallowing, a co-ordinated, distally traveling wave of the peristaltic type could not be identified.

β-Phenethylamine possesses marked amphetamine-like effects which are demonstrable in animals pre-treated with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor. Like amphetamine, β-phenethylamine induces an increase of coordinated spontaneous motility in mice, anorexia in rats and dogs, hyperthermia in mice and rats, and exhibits a difference in lethality between isolated and aggregated mice. These effects are seen with similar doses of β-phenethylamine or amphetamine. But, unlike amphetamine, β-phenethylamine does not increase coordinated spontaneous motility in rats.

Isolated duodenal segments, obtained from rats exposed one to three days previously to 1,000 R whole body irradiation, had increased average amplitudes of contraction compared to non-irradiated controls. Gut obtained from rats exposed to 500 R and 1,000 R showed an apparently normal response to acetylcholine but a diminished contractile response to serotonin. The period of regrowth of the mucosal epithelium four to six days after 500 R corresponded to a partial or complete recovery in the response to serotonin. These results suggest that an altered intestinal serotonin response possibly associated with mucosal damage must be considered in the aetiology of gut motility changes during the acute radiation syndrome.