Some Genetic and Environmental Effects on Equine Asthma in Polish Konik Horses

Current knowledge of the genetic and environmental backgrounds of equine asthma seems to be insufficient, especially for primitive horse breeds. The main objectives of this study were to estimate the effects of sex, birth period, stud, parentage line and inbreeding on asthma morbidity in Polish Konik horses. Records of 274 horses (housed in two studs) were analysed. These animals were allocated to maternal and paternal lines. Individual inbreeding coefficients were extracted from the additive relationship matrix. Horses underwent diagnosis based on observation of the basic symptoms (high frequency of coughing and excessive nasal discharge). Subsequently, some horses (28 individuals) were clinically examined to confirm the earlier observations. Generally, no significant effects of parentage line on heaves morbidity were identified by the use of logistic regression, although the Pearson’s chi-squared test had shown that individuals of some maternal and paternal lines had a predisposition to severe equine asthma. It was concluded that the individual inbreeding level is not associated with the incidence of EA, but a significant effect of the maternal inbreeding coefficient may be observed. It was also found that there is some variability in the incidence of this disease between studs.

MAIN FACTORS OF PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT AND SPORTS FITNESS OF 15-16-YEAR-OLD BASKETBALL PLAYERS

It is often needed in basketball practice to evaluate the stage of the young basketball players‘ preparation. In this way the necessary information is received which serves as a landmark about the level of their development – whether they have the necessary physical qualities and basketball skills, whether they go forward within the educational and training process and whether there is a perspective for their development as highly qualified competitors in the future. The disclosure of the factor structure of the physical development and the specific workability of growing up basketball players has high informative value for the optimization of the educational and training process. The aim of the study is to optimize the training process for growing basketball players by revealing the factor structure and identifying the main factors of sports preparedness in the age range of 15-16 years. The subject of research is the sports training of growing basketball players. The object of the study is the signs of physical development, the special physical and specific techno-tactical preparation. The research was done among 65 basketball players (15-16 years old). Sport and pedagogical tests as per 20 indicators, bearing information about the basic symptoms of the physical development and the specific basketball workability, were made for the needs of the study. The results of the tests were subjected to processing by descriptive statistics, correlation and factor analysis. Results: At the beginning of the study, seven main factors were identified that characterize the specific preparedness in basketball, while at the end of the study, the derived components were five.

Duration of basic and attenuated-psychotic symptoms in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis: pattern of symptom onset and effects of duration on functioning and cognition

Introduction Duration of risk symptoms (DUR) in people at clinical high risk for psychosis (CHR-P) has been related to poorer clinical outcomes, such as reduced functioning, but it is currently unclear how different symptoms emerge as well as their link with cognitive deficits. To address these questions, we examined the duration of basic symptoms (BS) and attenuated psychotic symptoms (APS) in a sample of CHR-P participants to test the hypothesis that BS precede the manifestation of APS. As a secondary objective, we investigated the relationship between DUR, functioning and neuropsychological deficits. Methods Data from 134 CHR-P participants were assessed with the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental State and the Schizophrenia Proneness Interview, Adult Version. Global, role and social functioning and neurocognition were assessed and compared to a sample of healthy controls (n = 57). Results In CHR-P participants who reported both APS and BS, onset of BS and APS was not significantly related. When divided into short and long BS duration (</> 8 years), CHR-P participants with a longer duration of BS showed evidence for an onset of BS preceding APS (n = 8, p = 0.003). However, in the short BS duration group, APS showed evidence of preceding BS (n = 56, p = 0.020). Finally, there were no significant effects of DUR on cognition or functioning measures. Conclusion The present findings do not support the view that APS constitute a secondary phenomenon to BS. Moreover, our data could also not confirm that DUR has a significant effect on functioning and cognitive deficits. These findings are discussed in the context of current theories regarding emerging psychosis and the importance of DUR.

Perceived Stress and Life Events in Patients Affected by Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective and Bipolar Disorder: Is There a Role for Self-Reported Basic Symptoms?

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> The stress-diathesis model of psychotic disorders describes, in vulnerable individuals, the role of psychosocial stress in the onset and exacerbation of psychotic symptoms. Another interesting approach to the study of vulnerability in the development of psychosis is represented by the basic symptoms concept. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> The present study aims at proposing an integration between these two models and investigating possible associations between psychotic symptoms, basic symptoms, perceived stress, and life events in a sample of patients affected by schizophrenia (SZ), schizoaffective (SA), and bipolar disorder with and without psychotic symptoms. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> 112 patients were recruited in two university hospitals. Severity of psychiatric symptoms (Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, PANSS), basic symptoms (Frankfurt Complaint Questionnaire, FCQ), perceived stress (Stress-related Vulnerability Scale, SVS), and life events (Paykel’s interview for recent life events) were assessed. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Patients affected by bipolar disorder (both with and without psychotic symptoms) showed a higher number of independent life events (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01) and tended to report more frequently at least 1 life event in the previous 6 months (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.01) than patients affected by SZ or SA disorder. No differences emerged between the study groups in perceived stress nor in measures of basic symptoms. In the whole sample, a logistic regression analysis showed that the SVS total score (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05) and PANSS total score (<i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.001) were associated with the presence of psychotic symptoms. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> In the study sample, life events and basic symptoms did not play a major role in influencing psychotic symptoms, compared to the subjective perception of stress and the severity of psychopathology. Taken together, these results can be informative for rehabilitation therapies aimed at enhancing resilience and coping strategies in this vulnerable group of patients.

ETHANOMEDICINAL PLANTS WITH ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECT FROM SOUTHERN HARYANA, INDIA: A REVIEW

Inflammation is a physiological host response to external challenges or cellular injury such as pathogens, damaged cells or irritants leading to the release of a complex array of inflammatory mediators and aiding the recovery of tissue structure and function.All inflammatory processes develop along a known sequence: locally increased blood supply, leakage of fluid, small molecule or proteins and infiltration of cells.Inflammation is not a synonym for infection, even in case where inflammation is caused by infection, response includes clinical signs of erythema, edema, hyperalgesia and pain. Since the ancient Greek and Roman era five basic symptoms of inflammation have been known i.e, redness, swelling, heat, pain and deranged function are produced by inflammatory agents such as nitric oxide, prostaglandins, bradykinin, serotonin, leukotrienes and histamine. The inflammatory process is a series of events that can be elicited by numerous stimuli such as infectious and thermal or physical injury through years of ingenious synthesis and structural modifications.

Contemporary approaches to correction of cognitive impairment in endogenous depression

Cognitive dysfunction is one of the basic symptoms of endogenous depression, gaining much of the researchers’ interest lately. It is observed at the initial stage, at the peak intensity of depressive symptoms and even after their reduction, which leads to the persistence of residual depressive state. Cognitive impairment during the depressive episode can be detected by objective methods (clinical and neuropsychological), and their subjective importance is being revealed by standardized questionnaires. Depressed patients show lower results in executive functions, working memory, reaction speed, verbal learning, immediate and delayed recall subtests of neuropsychological batteries. There are few pharmacological agents (mostly antidepressants) with well-proven procognitive activity in depression. Besides, some new pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches for treatment of cognitive impairment in depression have appeared lately and are described in literature as promising.

Μίμηση και αυτισμός: μια σύγχρονη θεωρητική προσέγγιση

In recent years, there has been some progress and increasing scientific interest in issues regarding autism. Several theories have been developed to explain the basic symptoms and back supportive intervention techniques. In the present article, we will attempt to define the terms imitation and autism and summarize the basic theories related to them. Moreover, we will focus on, summarize and discuss the difficulties children with autism have in with imitation and present findings of the most recent research which explore the development of imitation skills in children with autism. This article identifies and highlights the absence of consensus regarding issues of imitation in autism and the lack of longitudinal naturalistic studies which could give us a more accurate picture about the development of imitation skills in children with autism. We conclude that there is an obvious need for further research that will deepen our knowledge upon this matter.