This study was made to elucidate the changes in the periarticular connective tissue that can underlie the contracture after spasticity development. Sixteen Wistar rats underwent a spinal cord injury and 16 rats were either sham- or nonoperated. The periarticular connective tissue of the knee joint was assessed with histological, histomorphometric, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses. Histological results showed a smaller synovial intima, a dense subintimal and posterior joint capsule without fibrosis, and a disarranged posterior capsule in the spinal cord-injured knees with the flexion contracture. The synovial intima length was shortened only at the posterior capsule. Neither the distribution nor expression of type I and III collagen was affected. Contractures after spinal cord injuries are characterized by synovial intima adhesions. A dense and disarranged capsule may lead to joint stiffness. The alteration of periarticular connective tissues exhibits properties characteristic of the contracture after spasticity development.

The Arrhenius parameters and kinetic obedience were determined by TG at constant temperatures as well as at linearly increasing temperatures for the thermal decomposition of sodium hydrogencarbonate. Effects of the sample size (0.5-10 rag) and the particle size on the rate behavior were examined. With such a sample size smaller than ca. 5 mg, an effect of the heating rate was not so critical as is the ease with the larger sample size. The Arrhenius parameters and kinetic obedience determined by use of the Ozawa method were in excellent agreement with those determined isothermally. The activation energy E determined with ca. 1 nag of sample was nearly constant independently of the fractional reaction a. Any change in the Arrhenius parameters with different experimental conditions was dicussed in connection with the kinetic compensation effect.

Abstract.[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an effect of ROM exercise on rats with denervation and joint contracture.[Methods] Fifteen female 8-week old Wistar rats were used. For seven out of the fifteen rats, the left hind limbs were used as control limbs (group 1), and the right hind limbs (group 2) were fixed continuously with white tape in full plantar flexion for one week. The remaining eight rats received bilateral sciatic neurectomies. The left hind limbs (group 3) were fixed continuously with white tape in full plantar flexion for one week. The right hind limbs (group 4) were fixed in full plantar flexion with white tape that was removed daily from the second through the seventh experimental days. After the tape was removed the foot was held in dorsiflexion by a spring balancer for 30 minutes. After the ROM exercise session was completed, the white tape was reapplied, again with the ankle fixed in full plantar flexion.[Results] Before the experiment, there were no significant differences among the groups. After the experiment: compared to group 1, ROM in group 2 and group 3 was significantly increased; compared to group 2, ROM in group 3 and group 4 was significantly decreased; and compared to group 3, ROM in group 4 was significantly decreased.[Conclusion] ROM exercise was effective for preventing ROM limitation. These results suggest that ROM exercise is effective for preventing joint limitation in rats with denervation and joint contracture.

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Only a few studies have examined the relationship between self-assessment of affective symptoms and brain activation in a non-clinical population. The aim of the present study was to assess this relationship and examine the underlying cortical mechanisms in a non-clinical population. Seventy-nine healthy volunteers were assessed for affective symptoms using the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), for apathy using the Apathy Scale (AS), and for feelings of stress using the Stress Arousal Checklist (SACL). Participants also performed a serial arithmetic task according to the Uchida-Kraepelin performance test while hemoglobin concentration changes were assessed on the surface of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using 32-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The activity on the right side of PFC had a significant negative correlation with the SDS score. The AS and SACL scores were positively correlated with the SDS score. Furthermore, in a multiple regression analysis, SDS scores were predicted by the activity of the right PFC, AS scores, and SACL scores. These results suggest that the association between the cortical activation changes, apathy, and feelings of stress may objectively identify individuals with sub-threshold affective symptoms.

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