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We investigated the influence of vestibular (caloric ear irrigation) and visual (optokinetic) stimulation on slow and fast split-belt walking. The velocity of one belt was fixed (1.5 or 5.0-6.0 km/h) and subjects (N = 8 for vestibular and N = 6 for visual experiments) were asked to adjust the velocity of the other belt to a level at which they perceived the velocity of both the belts as equal. Throughout all experiments, subjects bimanually held on to the space-fixed handles along the treadmill, which provided haptic information on body orientation. While the optokinetic stimulus (displayed on face-mounted virtual reality goggles) had no effect on belt velocity adjustments compared to control trials, cold-water ear irrigation during slow (but not fast) walking effectively influenced belt velocity adjustments in seven of eight subjects. Only two of these subjects decreased the velocity of the ipsilateral belt, consistent with the ipsilateral turning toward the irrigated ear in the Fukuda stepping test. The other five subjects, however, increased the velocity of the ipsilateral belt. A straight-ahead sense mechanism can explain both decreased and increased velocity adjustments. Subjects decrease or increase ipsilateral belt velocity depending on whether the vestibular stimulus is interpreted as an indicator of the straight-ahead direction (decreased velocity) or as an error signal relative to the straight-ahead direction provided by the haptic input from the space-fixed handles along the treadmill (increased velocity). The missing effect during fast walking corroborates the findings by others that the influence of vestibular tone asymmetry on locomotion decreases at higher gait velocities.

The infections that affect the binomial mother-son during pregnancy are of great concern to obstetricians and pediatricians because of its frequency and difficulty in reaching an etiological diagnosis that is important for early treatment. Most newborns with congenital infection are asymptomatic; this shows the importance of laboratory screening for diseases that are transmitted during the pregnancy-puerperal cycle of women. This review aims to provide recommendations with regard to congenital infection by Treponema pallidum and Toxoplasma gondii. Syphilis is one of the diseases with the highest rates of mother-to-child transmission and is a public health problem still with insufficient control in the country. The diagnosis of maternal infection, performed with VDRL and confirmed with a treponemic test, indicates immediate treatment in pregnant women and their partners. The congenital infection is preventable through adequate maternal treatment with benzathine penicillin, which presents great cost-benefit value. Toxoplasmosis is a parasitosis of worldwide distribution, with high prevalence in our environment. The serological screening during the prenatal period allows the detection of susceptible pregnant women who should be prioritized in educational activities and monitored for possible seroconversion. The early treatment of pregnant women with acute infection can reduce the maternal-fetal transmission or fetal impairment improving the prognosis of infected newborns. Syphilis and congenital toxoplasmosis can be avoided with a high quality prenatal, which should be available and accessible. Preventive and diagnostic actions should be intensified in the monitoring of pregnant women, especially in the basic health units (UBS), to generate population impacting results.

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