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33947355
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25658524
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33658162
|
The facial nerve palsy and cortisone evaluation (FACE) study in children: protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, in a Borrelia burgdorferi endemic area.
|
Ticking the right boxes: classification of patients suspected of Lyme borreliosis at an academic referral center in the Netherlands.
|
Longitudinal data of neuropsychological profile in a cohort of Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys without cognitive impairment.
|
Children with acute peripheral facial nerve palsy cannot yet be recommended corticosteroid treatment based on evidence. Adults with idiopathic facial nerve palsy are treated with corticosteroids, according to guidelines resulting from a meta-analysis comprising two major randomized placebo-controlled trials. Corresponding trials in children are lacking. Furthermore, acute facial nerve palsy in childhood is frequently associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The efficacy and safety of corticosteroid treatment of acute facial nerve palsy associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, has not yet been determined in prospective trials in children, nor in adults.</AbstractText This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study will include a total of 500 Swedish children aged 1-17 years, presenting with acute facial nerve palsy of either idiopathic etiology or associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Inclusion is ongoing at 12 pediatric departments, all situated in Borrelia burgdorferi endemic areas. Participants are randomized into active treatment with prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 50 mg/day) or placebo for oral intake once daily during 10 days without taper. Cases associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis are treated with antibiotics in addition to the study treatment. The House-Brackmann grading scale and the Sunnybrook facial grading system are used for physician-assessed evaluation of facial impairment at baseline, and at the 1- and 12-month follow-ups. Primary outcome is complete recovery, measured by House-Brackmann grading scale, at the 12-month follow-up. Child/parent-assessed questionnaires are used for evaluation of disease-specific quality of life and facial disability and its correlation to physician-assessed facial impairment will be evaluated. Furthermore, the study will evaluate factors of importance for predicting recovery, as well as the safety profile for short-term prednisolone treatment in children with acute facial nerve palsy.</AbstractText This article presents the rationale, design and content of a protocol for a study that will determine the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in children with acute facial nerve palsy of idiopathic etiology, or associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Future results will attribute to evidence-based treatment guidelines applicable also in Borrelia burgdorferi endemic areas.</AbstractText The study protocol was approved by the Swedish Medical Product Agency (EudraCT nr 2017-004187-35) and published at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03781700 , initial release 12/14/2018).</AbstractText
|
To provide better care for patients suspected of having Lyme borreliosis (LB) we founded the Amsterdam Multidisciplinary Lyme borreliosis Center (AMLC). The AMLC reflects a collaborative effort of the departments of internal medicine/infectious diseases, rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, medical microbiology and psychiatry. In a retrospective case series, characteristics of 200 adult patients referred to the AMLC were recorded, and patients were classified as having LB, post-treatment LB syndrome (PTLBS), persistent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infection despite antibiotic treatment or no LB. In addition, LB, PTLBS and persistent B. burgdorferi s.l. infection cases were classified as 'definite,' 'probable' or 'questionable.' Of the 200 patients, 120 (60%) did not have LB and 31 (16%) had a form of localized or disseminated LB, of which 12 were classified as definite, six as probable and 13 as questionable. In addition, 34 patients (17%) were diagnosed with PTLBS, of which 22 (11%) were probable and 12 (6%) questionable. A total of 15 patients (8%) were diagnosed with persistent B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, of which none was classified as definite, three as probable and 12 as questionable. In conclusion, in line with previous studies, the number of definite and probable (persisting) LB cases was low. The overall high number of questionable cases illustrates the fact that it can sometimes be challenging to either rule out or demonstrate an association with a B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, even in an academic setting. Finally, we were able to establish alternative diagnoses in a large proportion of patients.</AbstractText
|
The aim of the study was to re-assess neuropsychological profile in a group of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy without intellectual disability and neuropsychiatric disorder three years apart from a previous evaluation, to establish possible changes over time. We were also interested in defining more in detail correlation between genotype and neuropsychological phenotype. Thirty-three of the previous 40 subjects (mean age at follow up: 10 years and 7 months) agreed to participate in the follow up study and to perform the new assessment. The results confirm a typical neuropsychological profile, with difficulty in the manipulation of stored information, poor abstract reasoning and planning capacity and impulsiveness, supporting the involvement of a cerebellar striatal cortical network for these children. The more detailed description of subgroups of subjects, according to the real expression of Dp140, let to reveal possible genotype-neuropsychological phenotype correlations, and a more general neuropsychological impairment emerged in boys without Dp140 expression.</AbstractText
|
The facial nerve palsy and cortisone evaluation (FACE) study in children: protocol for a randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial, in a Borrelia burgdorferi endemic area. Children with acute peripheral facial nerve palsy cannot yet be recommended corticosteroid treatment based on evidence. Adults with idiopathic facial nerve palsy are treated with corticosteroids, according to guidelines resulting from a meta-analysis comprising two major randomized placebo-controlled trials. Corresponding trials in children are lacking. Furthermore, acute facial nerve palsy in childhood is frequently associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. The efficacy and safety of corticosteroid treatment of acute facial nerve palsy associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis, has not yet been determined in prospective trials in children, nor in adults.</AbstractText This randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study will include a total of 500 Swedish children aged 1-17 years, presenting with acute facial nerve palsy of either idiopathic etiology or associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Inclusion is ongoing at 12 pediatric departments, all situated in Borrelia burgdorferi endemic areas. Participants are randomized into active treatment with prednisolone 1 mg/kg/day (maximum 50 mg/day) or placebo for oral intake once daily during 10 days without taper. Cases associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis are treated with antibiotics in addition to the study treatment. The House-Brackmann grading scale and the Sunnybrook facial grading system are used for physician-assessed evaluation of facial impairment at baseline, and at the 1- and 12-month follow-ups. Primary outcome is complete recovery, measured by House-Brackmann grading scale, at the 12-month follow-up. Child/parent-assessed questionnaires are used for evaluation of disease-specific quality of life and facial disability and its correlation to physician-assessed facial impairment will be evaluated. Furthermore, the study will evaluate factors of importance for predicting recovery, as well as the safety profile for short-term prednisolone treatment in children with acute facial nerve palsy.</AbstractText This article presents the rationale, design and content of a protocol for a study that will determine the efficacy of corticosteroid treatment in children with acute facial nerve palsy of idiopathic etiology, or associated with Lyme neuroborreliosis. Future results will attribute to evidence-based treatment guidelines applicable also in Borrelia burgdorferi endemic areas.</AbstractText The study protocol was approved by the Swedish Medical Product Agency (EudraCT nr 2017-004187-35) and published at ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT03781700 , initial release 12/14/2018).</AbstractText
|
Ticking the right boxes: classification of patients suspected of Lyme borreliosis at an academic referral center in the Netherlands. To provide better care for patients suspected of having Lyme borreliosis (LB) we founded the Amsterdam Multidisciplinary Lyme borreliosis Center (AMLC). The AMLC reflects a collaborative effort of the departments of internal medicine/infectious diseases, rheumatology, neurology, dermatology, medical microbiology and psychiatry. In a retrospective case series, characteristics of 200 adult patients referred to the AMLC were recorded, and patients were classified as having LB, post-treatment LB syndrome (PTLBS), persistent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) infection despite antibiotic treatment or no LB. In addition, LB, PTLBS and persistent B. burgdorferi s.l. infection cases were classified as 'definite,' 'probable' or 'questionable.' Of the 200 patients, 120 (60%) did not have LB and 31 (16%) had a form of localized or disseminated LB, of which 12 were classified as definite, six as probable and 13 as questionable. In addition, 34 patients (17%) were diagnosed with PTLBS, of which 22 (11%) were probable and 12 (6%) questionable. A total of 15 patients (8%) were diagnosed with persistent B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, of which none was classified as definite, three as probable and 12 as questionable. In conclusion, in line with previous studies, the number of definite and probable (persisting) LB cases was low. The overall high number of questionable cases illustrates the fact that it can sometimes be challenging to either rule out or demonstrate an association with a B. burgdorferi s.l. infection, even in an academic setting. Finally, we were able to establish alternative diagnoses in a large proportion of patients.</AbstractText
|
Longitudinal data of neuropsychological profile in a cohort of Duchenne muscular dystrophy boys without cognitive impairment. The aim of the study was to re-assess neuropsychological profile in a group of boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy without intellectual disability and neuropsychiatric disorder three years apart from a previous evaluation, to establish possible changes over time. We were also interested in defining more in detail correlation between genotype and neuropsychological phenotype. Thirty-three of the previous 40 subjects (mean age at follow up: 10 years and 7 months) agreed to participate in the follow up study and to perform the new assessment. The results confirm a typical neuropsychological profile, with difficulty in the manipulation of stored information, poor abstract reasoning and planning capacity and impulsiveness, supporting the involvement of a cerebellar striatal cortical network for these children. The more detailed description of subgroups of subjects, according to the real expression of Dp140, let to reveal possible genotype-neuropsychological phenotype correlations, and a more general neuropsychological impairment emerged in boys without Dp140 expression.</AbstractText
|
40580630
|
40149763
|
40575658
|
Exposure to BDE-209 triggers necroptosis by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby exacerbating neuroinflammation.
|
Naringenin's Neuroprotective Effect on Diazino-Induced Cerebellar Damage in Male Albino Rats, with Modulation of Acetylcholinesterase.
|
Emergent Endovascular Intervention for Acute Neurological Deficits Post-Carotid Endarterectomy: A Single-Institutional Analysis and Systematic Review of the Literature.
|
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants, are extensively employed in industrial applications. Among these, decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), the predominant congener, is widely incorporated into consumer materials owing to its exceptional flame-suppressive properties and thermal resistance. However, its environmental persistence and bioaccumulative potential classify BDE-209 as a prototypical persistent organic pollutant, with chronic exposure posing non-negligible risks to human health. Despite its prevalence, research addressing BDE-209-induced neurotoxicity remains limited, particularly regarding mechanistic pathways. This study explores BDE-209-triggered microglial necroptosis and its contribution to neuroinflammatory cascades, with a focus on the regulatory role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis. Experimental analyses across cellular and animal models demonstrated that BDE-209 exposure provoked pronounced microglial activation and subsequent neuroinflammatory markers. Concurrently, necroptotic events were identified through hallmark molecular signatures: phosphorylation cascades involving RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, coupled with cytolytic outcomes. Administration of the necroptosis inhibitor NEC-1 markedly attenuated BDE-209-associated neuroinflammation and cellular demise, underscoring the centrality of microglial necroptosis in this pathological process. Mechanistically, BDE-209 potentiates necrosome assembly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, as evidenced by reduced necroptotic activity upon AG490-mediated JAK2 inhibition. These findings collectively delineate a novel pathway wherein BDE-209 exacerbates neurotoxicity via JAK2/STAT3-driven microglial necroptosis, providing novel mechanistic insights for developing neuroprotective interventions.</AbstractText
|
Diazinon, a well-known organophosphorus compound, is recognized for its neurotoxic effects, primarily through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and induction of oxidative stress.</AbstractText This study evaluates the neuroprotective effects of naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, against diazinon-induced cerebellar damage in male albino rats.</AbstractText Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: control, naringenin, diazinon, and diazinon with naringenin.</AbstractText Histological examination revealed altered structures of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of the diazinon group. Naringenin co-treatment significantly improved cerebellar histology and modulated oxidative stress markers by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Additionally, naringenin exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels, while increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10). It also reduced apoptotic markers, including p53, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3, while increasing the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2. Furthermore, naringenin modulated AChE activity, leading to decreased acetylcholine levels and reduced neurotoxicity.</AbstractText These findings suggest that naringenin's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties contribute to its neuroprotective role against diazinon-induced cerebellar damage.</AbstractText
|
Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a standard treatment for atherosclerotic carotid stenosis. Perioperative symptomatic restenosis or reocclusion of the carotid artery following CEA is a rare but serious complication that typically necessitates intervention. The efficacy and safety profile of emergent endovascular therapy (EVT) as an alternative to repeat CEA in the treatment of acute perioperative neurological decline remain unknown.</AbstractText All patients undergoing CEA in the Department of Neurosurgery at a single comprehensive stroke center from 2015 to 2024 were reviewed. Patients who underwent EVT for acute perioperative neurological deficits were included in our series. A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify articles relevant to the endovascular management of acute neurological deficits following CEA.</AbstractText Four patients from our institutional cohort met the inclusion criteria. An additional 39 patients were identified from the literature review in 11 source articles, which yielded a total of 43 patients. CEA was performed for symptomatic lesions in 28 (28/32, 87.5%) patients. Abnormal angiographic findings were reported for all patients. Thrombus accumulation in or distal to the operated internal carotid artery (ICA) (26/43, 60.5%) and dissection flaps (15/43, 34.9%) were the most common findings. Five (11.6%) patients had tandem cervical ICA and intracranial occlusions, of which thrombectomy of the intracranial lesion was successfully performed on 3 patients. All patients except for 1 (42/43, 97.6%) underwent technically successful endovascular stenting. Following EVT, 76.7% (33/43) of patients had no persisting neurological deficits. Nine (20.9%) patients were found to have new cerebral infarcts on post-EVT imaging. In-hospital mortality was reported for 6 patients (14%), 4 of whom were found to have tandem cervical ICA and intracranial occlusions.</AbstractText EVT is likely a technically viable alternative treatment for patients with perioperative acute neurologic deficits after CEA. However, most of the literature available comes from case series, thereby limiting the quality of evidence. Improved reporting of standard stroke outcome measures may help to inform the implementation of EVT and repeat CEA for acute ischemic symptoms after CEA.</AbstractText
|
Exposure to BDE-209 triggers necroptosis by activating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby exacerbating neuroinflammation. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants, are extensively employed in industrial applications. Among these, decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), the predominant congener, is widely incorporated into consumer materials owing to its exceptional flame-suppressive properties and thermal resistance. However, its environmental persistence and bioaccumulative potential classify BDE-209 as a prototypical persistent organic pollutant, with chronic exposure posing non-negligible risks to human health. Despite its prevalence, research addressing BDE-209-induced neurotoxicity remains limited, particularly regarding mechanistic pathways. This study explores BDE-209-triggered microglial necroptosis and its contribution to neuroinflammatory cascades, with a focus on the regulatory role of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling axis. Experimental analyses across cellular and animal models demonstrated that BDE-209 exposure provoked pronounced microglial activation and subsequent neuroinflammatory markers. Concurrently, necroptotic events were identified through hallmark molecular signatures: phosphorylation cascades involving RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, coupled with cytolytic outcomes. Administration of the necroptosis inhibitor NEC-1 markedly attenuated BDE-209-associated neuroinflammation and cellular demise, underscoring the centrality of microglial necroptosis in this pathological process. Mechanistically, BDE-209 potentiates necrosome assembly by activating the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, as evidenced by reduced necroptotic activity upon AG490-mediated JAK2 inhibition. These findings collectively delineate a novel pathway wherein BDE-209 exacerbates neurotoxicity via JAK2/STAT3-driven microglial necroptosis, providing novel mechanistic insights for developing neuroprotective interventions.</AbstractText
|
Naringenin's Neuroprotective Effect on Diazino-Induced Cerebellar Damage in Male Albino Rats, with Modulation of Acetylcholinesterase. Diazinon, a well-known organophosphorus compound, is recognized for its neurotoxic effects, primarily through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and induction of oxidative stress.</AbstractText This study evaluates the neuroprotective effects of naringenin, a citrus flavonoid, against diazinon-induced cerebellar damage in male albino rats.</AbstractText Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups: control, naringenin, diazinon, and diazinon with naringenin.</AbstractText Histological examination revealed altered structures of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of the diazinon group. Naringenin co-treatment significantly improved cerebellar histology and modulated oxidative stress markers by decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) and increasing glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Additionally, naringenin exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by decreasing nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) levels, while increasing interleukin-10 (IL-10). It also reduced apoptotic markers, including p53, Bax, caspase-9, caspase-8, and caspase-3, while increasing the anti-apoptotic marker Bcl-2. Furthermore, naringenin modulated AChE activity, leading to decreased acetylcholine levels and reduced neurotoxicity.</AbstractText These findings suggest that naringenin's antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties contribute to its neuroprotective role against diazinon-induced cerebellar damage.</AbstractText
|
Emergent Endovascular Intervention for Acute Neurological Deficits Post-Carotid Endarterectomy: A Single-Institutional Analysis and Systematic Review of the Literature. Carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a standard treatment for atherosclerotic carotid stenosis. Perioperative symptomatic restenosis or reocclusion of the carotid artery following CEA is a rare but serious complication that typically necessitates intervention. The efficacy and safety profile of emergent endovascular therapy (EVT) as an alternative to repeat CEA in the treatment of acute perioperative neurological decline remain unknown.</AbstractText All patients undergoing CEA in the Department of Neurosurgery at a single comprehensive stroke center from 2015 to 2024 were reviewed. Patients who underwent EVT for acute perioperative neurological deficits were included in our series. A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to identify articles relevant to the endovascular management of acute neurological deficits following CEA.</AbstractText Four patients from our institutional cohort met the inclusion criteria. An additional 39 patients were identified from the literature review in 11 source articles, which yielded a total of 43 patients. CEA was performed for symptomatic lesions in 28 (28/32, 87.5%) patients. Abnormal angiographic findings were reported for all patients. Thrombus accumulation in or distal to the operated internal carotid artery (ICA) (26/43, 60.5%) and dissection flaps (15/43, 34.9%) were the most common findings. Five (11.6%) patients had tandem cervical ICA and intracranial occlusions, of which thrombectomy of the intracranial lesion was successfully performed on 3 patients. All patients except for 1 (42/43, 97.6%) underwent technically successful endovascular stenting. Following EVT, 76.7% (33/43) of patients had no persisting neurological deficits. Nine (20.9%) patients were found to have new cerebral infarcts on post-EVT imaging. In-hospital mortality was reported for 6 patients (14%), 4 of whom were found to have tandem cervical ICA and intracranial occlusions.</AbstractText EVT is likely a technically viable alternative treatment for patients with perioperative acute neurologic deficits after CEA. However, most of the literature available comes from case series, thereby limiting the quality of evidence. Improved reporting of standard stroke outcome measures may help to inform the implementation of EVT and repeat CEA for acute ischemic symptoms after CEA.</AbstractText
|
39838365
|
22428793
|
40506626
|
Pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder: a process evaluation.
|
Evaluating vigilance deficits in ADHD: a meta-analysis of CPT performance.
|
Projections from Regions of the Cerebellar Nuclei Receiving Jaw Muscle Proprioceptive Signals to Trigeminal Motoneurons and Their Premotoneurons in the Rat Pons and Medulla.
|
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, which requires new strategies for prevention and management. Recent evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet may be an effective intervention. This research aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a ketogenic diet intervention for bipolar disorder, fidelity to its behavioural components and the experiences of the participants and research clinicians involved.</AbstractText A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted. Semi-structured telephone interviews were carried out with 15 participants 1-2 months after completing a 6-8 week modified ketogenic diet intervention, and 4 research clinicians from the study team following the completion of data collection. Data were thematically analysed. Fidelity checklists completed by research dietitians were analysed using descriptive count and percentage statistics. Findings are reported post-hoc, following the analysis and publication of the main pilot study findings. Reporting was guided by the COREQ checklist.</AbstractText Five themes were identified in the qualitative data: (1) 'Encouraging entry and supporting exit' (e.g. recognising and managing participants' varied motives and expectations, including around weight loss and symptom alleviation); (2) 'Challenging but potentially transformational,' which reflects that while it can be difficult to initiate and maintain a ketogenic diet day-to-day, many participants perceived physical and psychological benefits (e.g. significant weight loss, mood stability and enhanced ability to focus); (3) 'Intervention facilitators,' including a range of behavioural (e.g. goal setting), social (e.g. family and dietitians) and technological (e.g. apps for monitoring) support mechanisms; (4) 'Intervention barriers' (e.g. dietary preferences, concerns about the diet and its impact, the testing burden and capacity of the delivery team); and (5) 'The wider context' (e.g. the cost of living and sociocultural expectations) was a crucial factor explaining differential experiences. Overall, descriptive analyses indicated moderate-to-good fidelity to the behaviour change components of the study.</AbstractText We provide novel insight into the experiences of people living with bipolar disorder initiating and following a ketogenic diet, as well as those of research clinicians who support the intervention. Future trials may benefit from increased clinical research capacity, better-defined entry and exit routes, additional interpersonal support, and greater understanding of how social and societal factors impact participation.</AbstractText Study registration number: ISRCTN61613198 (02/03/22).</AbstractText
|
We meta-analytically review 47 between-groups studies of continuous performance test (CPT) performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using a random effects model and correcting for both sampling error and measurement unreliability, we found large effect sizes (δ) for overall performance, but only small to moderate δ for performance over time in the handful of studies that reported that data. Smaller δs for performance over time are likely attributable, in part, to the extensive use of stimuli for which targets and distractors are quite easily differentiated. Artifacts accounted for a considerable proportion of variance among observed δs. Effect sizes reported in previous reviews were significantly attenuated because of the presence of uncorrected artifacts and highlight the necessity of accounting for artifactual variance in future work to determine the amount of true neurocognitive heterogeneity within ADHD. Signal detection theory and diffusion modeling analyses indicated that the ADHD-related deficits were because of decreased perceptual sensitivity (d') and slower drift rates (v). Results are interpreted the context of several recent models of ADHD.</AbstractText
|
The cerebellum plays a crucial role in sensorimotor control through cerebellofugal projections from the cerebellar nuclei. However, little is known about the cerebellofugal projection features involved in jaw sensorimotor control, although the dorsolateral parts of the interposed cerebellar nucleus (IntDL) and medial cerebellar nucleus (MedDL) do receive proprioceptive signals bilaterally from rat jaw-closing muscle spindles (JCMSs). This study aimed to detail the cerebellofugal projection features involved in jaw sensorimotor control. Anterograde tracer was injected into regions of the rat IntDL and MedDL receiving JCMS proprioceptive inputs (i.e., jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL). Axon terminals arising from the jcms-IntDL were labeled bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance in several pontomedullary regions, although very few terminals were labeled in the dorsolateral and ventromedial divisions (5dl and 5vm) of the trigeminal motor nucleus. In contrast, terminals from the jcms-MedDL were labeled bilaterally with a contralateral predominance in several pontomedullary regions and a few terminals were labeled in the contralateral 5dl and 5vm. Thus, the projections from the jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL were well segregated. Subsequent retrograde tracer injections into the pontomedullary regions demonstrated that amongst the entire cerebellar nuclei the nucleofugal projections principally arose from the IntDL and MedDL. Additionally, many premotoneurons for the 5dl or 5vm were widely labeled in the pontomedullary regions where many axons from the jcms-IntDL or jcms-MedDL terminated. The various connections involving the jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL may play a crucial role in jaw sensorimotor control, mainly through indirect cerebellofugal pathways to the 5dl and 5vm via their premotoneurons.</AbstractText
|
Pilot study of a ketogenic diet in bipolar disorder: a process evaluation. Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness, which requires new strategies for prevention and management. Recent evidence suggests that a ketogenic diet may be an effective intervention. This research aimed to explore the feasibility and acceptability of a ketogenic diet intervention for bipolar disorder, fidelity to its behavioural components and the experiences of the participants and research clinicians involved.</AbstractText A mixed-methods process evaluation was conducted. Semi-structured telephone interviews were carried out with 15 participants 1-2 months after completing a 6-8 week modified ketogenic diet intervention, and 4 research clinicians from the study team following the completion of data collection. Data were thematically analysed. Fidelity checklists completed by research dietitians were analysed using descriptive count and percentage statistics. Findings are reported post-hoc, following the analysis and publication of the main pilot study findings. Reporting was guided by the COREQ checklist.</AbstractText Five themes were identified in the qualitative data: (1) 'Encouraging entry and supporting exit' (e.g. recognising and managing participants' varied motives and expectations, including around weight loss and symptom alleviation); (2) 'Challenging but potentially transformational,' which reflects that while it can be difficult to initiate and maintain a ketogenic diet day-to-day, many participants perceived physical and psychological benefits (e.g. significant weight loss, mood stability and enhanced ability to focus); (3) 'Intervention facilitators,' including a range of behavioural (e.g. goal setting), social (e.g. family and dietitians) and technological (e.g. apps for monitoring) support mechanisms; (4) 'Intervention barriers' (e.g. dietary preferences, concerns about the diet and its impact, the testing burden and capacity of the delivery team); and (5) 'The wider context' (e.g. the cost of living and sociocultural expectations) was a crucial factor explaining differential experiences. Overall, descriptive analyses indicated moderate-to-good fidelity to the behaviour change components of the study.</AbstractText We provide novel insight into the experiences of people living with bipolar disorder initiating and following a ketogenic diet, as well as those of research clinicians who support the intervention. Future trials may benefit from increased clinical research capacity, better-defined entry and exit routes, additional interpersonal support, and greater understanding of how social and societal factors impact participation.</AbstractText Study registration number: ISRCTN61613198 (02/03/22).</AbstractText
|
Evaluating vigilance deficits in ADHD: a meta-analysis of CPT performance. We meta-analytically review 47 between-groups studies of continuous performance test (CPT) performance in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Using a random effects model and correcting for both sampling error and measurement unreliability, we found large effect sizes (δ) for overall performance, but only small to moderate δ for performance over time in the handful of studies that reported that data. Smaller δs for performance over time are likely attributable, in part, to the extensive use of stimuli for which targets and distractors are quite easily differentiated. Artifacts accounted for a considerable proportion of variance among observed δs. Effect sizes reported in previous reviews were significantly attenuated because of the presence of uncorrected artifacts and highlight the necessity of accounting for artifactual variance in future work to determine the amount of true neurocognitive heterogeneity within ADHD. Signal detection theory and diffusion modeling analyses indicated that the ADHD-related deficits were because of decreased perceptual sensitivity (d') and slower drift rates (v). Results are interpreted the context of several recent models of ADHD.</AbstractText
|
Projections from Regions of the Cerebellar Nuclei Receiving Jaw Muscle Proprioceptive Signals to Trigeminal Motoneurons and Their Premotoneurons in the Rat Pons and Medulla. The cerebellum plays a crucial role in sensorimotor control through cerebellofugal projections from the cerebellar nuclei. However, little is known about the cerebellofugal projection features involved in jaw sensorimotor control, although the dorsolateral parts of the interposed cerebellar nucleus (IntDL) and medial cerebellar nucleus (MedDL) do receive proprioceptive signals bilaterally from rat jaw-closing muscle spindles (JCMSs). This study aimed to detail the cerebellofugal projection features involved in jaw sensorimotor control. Anterograde tracer was injected into regions of the rat IntDL and MedDL receiving JCMS proprioceptive inputs (i.e., jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL). Axon terminals arising from the jcms-IntDL were labeled bilaterally with an ipsilateral predominance in several pontomedullary regions, although very few terminals were labeled in the dorsolateral and ventromedial divisions (5dl and 5vm) of the trigeminal motor nucleus. In contrast, terminals from the jcms-MedDL were labeled bilaterally with a contralateral predominance in several pontomedullary regions and a few terminals were labeled in the contralateral 5dl and 5vm. Thus, the projections from the jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL were well segregated. Subsequent retrograde tracer injections into the pontomedullary regions demonstrated that amongst the entire cerebellar nuclei the nucleofugal projections principally arose from the IntDL and MedDL. Additionally, many premotoneurons for the 5dl or 5vm were widely labeled in the pontomedullary regions where many axons from the jcms-IntDL or jcms-MedDL terminated. The various connections involving the jcms-IntDL and jcms-MedDL may play a crucial role in jaw sensorimotor control, mainly through indirect cerebellofugal pathways to the 5dl and 5vm via their premotoneurons.</AbstractText
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39963723
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30531638
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40099840
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Safety and Efficacy of a Protocol for In-Office Pediatric Aural Foreign Body Removal.
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Perioperative Recording of Cochlear Implant Evoked Brain Stem Responses After Removal of the Intralabyrinthine Portion of a Vestibular Schwannoma in a Patient with NF2.
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Correlation Between Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP), SMN2, and SMA Phenotypes: A Tertiary Care Centre Experience From India.
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To examine the safety and efficacy of a step-by-step protocol for the office removal of aural foreign bodies (FB) in a pediatric population.</AbstractText All children presenting to an academic pediatric outpatient department were identified from a computerized collection of office notes and operative reports. FB removal was performed in a standard fashion including: (1) pre-procedure discussion with shared decision making, (2) restraint in a supine position with a trained second person holding the head, (3) FB removal using an operative microscope and instrumentation. A case was considered a failure if subsequent removal under sedation or general anesthesia was required.</AbstractText 447 total cases (ears) were identified in 428 children (19 had bilateral FBs). 201/428 (47%) of children had previous attempts at FB removal elsewhere. 431/447 (96.4%) of FBs were successfully extracted in the office. 16/447 (3.6%) of FBs were removed in the operating room. Out of the 431 successful removals, two patients had minor complications (ear canal lacerations). No child suffered a more severe complication. The failed removal group was more likely to have a documented neurodevelopmental disorder (4/21 vs. 12/407, p = 0.0001).</AbstractText This protocol resulted in a high rate of successful FB removal, even in children with prior failed attempts. There were no significant ear injuries in this 22-year experience, which included children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder. This approach should be considered by otolaryngologists who care for children in the office setting.</AbstractText 3-Retrospective review.</AbstractText
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To predict and optimize hearing outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI) in patients with intracochlear schwannoma and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).</AbstractText A patient with NF2 and bilateral deafness.</AbstractText The intracochlear portion of a vestibular schwannoma was removed with a partial cochleoectomy. During the procedure, a CI was implanted.</AbstractText Perioperatively, electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) were recorded with a novel intracochlear, CI-evoked, broad band stimulus to support the decision to implant a CI.</AbstractText We found positive eABR responses, with thresholds at around the 200 current level. The eV wave was discernible at all stimulated electrodes, with a prolonged latency of about 6.5 ms. The eIII wave was detected at electrodes 9 and 13, with a latency of 4.5 ms. The acoustic reflex was detectable at all stimulated electrodes. Subjective auditory perception could be achieved by stimulating 3 days after surgery. In open-set word recognition, the patient achieved 60% recognition of monosyllables after the first audio processor fitting and 100% 1 month later.</AbstractText After a partial cochleoectomy, this method may serve as a peri-operative, objective assessment of cochlear nerve integrity that could potentially impact the prediction of CI performance. Potential future applications might be assessments of cochlear nerve integrity in patients with inner ear malformations, radiologically suspected cochlear nerve deficiencies, and resected or irradiated spontaneous vestibular schwannomas or NF2.</AbstractText
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SMN2 copy number fails to answer variability in the SMA phenotype completely. We aimed to evaluate the copy number variation in NAIP and SMN2: c.859G>C and A-44G variants as disease modifiers and their correlation with the SMA phenotype. Based on the motor milestones achieved, patients with homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7 were classified into SMA Types I-IV. The copy numbers of SMN1 exon 8, SMN2, and NAIP were determined using the MLPA assay. Sanger sequencing was performed for the SMN2 variants. The cohort of 142 patients included nearly equal numbers of patients of SMA Types I, II, and III. The disease severity correlated with the SMN2 and NAIP copy number, with a lower copy number predicting a worse outcome. In addition, we evaluated the SMA genotype (SMN1 exon 8, SMN2 copy number, and NAIP copy number) as a predictor of SMA severity and found that most of the SMA Type I patients had a genotype of 0-2-0, SMA Type II patients had a genotype of 0-3-1, Type III patients had a genotype of 0-3-2 and 0-3-1, and Type IV patients had a genotype of 0-4-2. None of the patients from the cohort had the two modifier variants. The combined genotype of SMN1 exon 8 copy number-SMN2 copy number-NAIP copy number could accurately predict the SMA phenotype. The absence of SMN2: c.859G>C and A-44G variants in any of our patients points to the rarity of these variants in the Indian population.</AbstractText
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Safety and Efficacy of a Protocol for In-Office Pediatric Aural Foreign Body Removal. To examine the safety and efficacy of a step-by-step protocol for the office removal of aural foreign bodies (FB) in a pediatric population.</AbstractText All children presenting to an academic pediatric outpatient department were identified from a computerized collection of office notes and operative reports. FB removal was performed in a standard fashion including: (1) pre-procedure discussion with shared decision making, (2) restraint in a supine position with a trained second person holding the head, (3) FB removal using an operative microscope and instrumentation. A case was considered a failure if subsequent removal under sedation or general anesthesia was required.</AbstractText 447 total cases (ears) were identified in 428 children (19 had bilateral FBs). 201/428 (47%) of children had previous attempts at FB removal elsewhere. 431/447 (96.4%) of FBs were successfully extracted in the office. 16/447 (3.6%) of FBs were removed in the operating room. Out of the 431 successful removals, two patients had minor complications (ear canal lacerations). No child suffered a more severe complication. The failed removal group was more likely to have a documented neurodevelopmental disorder (4/21 vs. 12/407, p = 0.0001).</AbstractText This protocol resulted in a high rate of successful FB removal, even in children with prior failed attempts. There were no significant ear injuries in this 22-year experience, which included children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder. This approach should be considered by otolaryngologists who care for children in the office setting.</AbstractText 3-Retrospective review.</AbstractText
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Perioperative Recording of Cochlear Implant Evoked Brain Stem Responses After Removal of the Intralabyrinthine Portion of a Vestibular Schwannoma in a Patient with NF2. To predict and optimize hearing outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI) in patients with intracochlear schwannoma and neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).</AbstractText A patient with NF2 and bilateral deafness.</AbstractText The intracochlear portion of a vestibular schwannoma was removed with a partial cochleoectomy. During the procedure, a CI was implanted.</AbstractText Perioperatively, electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) were recorded with a novel intracochlear, CI-evoked, broad band stimulus to support the decision to implant a CI.</AbstractText We found positive eABR responses, with thresholds at around the 200 current level. The eV wave was discernible at all stimulated electrodes, with a prolonged latency of about 6.5 ms. The eIII wave was detected at electrodes 9 and 13, with a latency of 4.5 ms. The acoustic reflex was detectable at all stimulated electrodes. Subjective auditory perception could be achieved by stimulating 3 days after surgery. In open-set word recognition, the patient achieved 60% recognition of monosyllables after the first audio processor fitting and 100% 1 month later.</AbstractText After a partial cochleoectomy, this method may serve as a peri-operative, objective assessment of cochlear nerve integrity that could potentially impact the prediction of CI performance. Potential future applications might be assessments of cochlear nerve integrity in patients with inner ear malformations, radiologically suspected cochlear nerve deficiencies, and resected or irradiated spontaneous vestibular schwannomas or NF2.</AbstractText
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Correlation Between Neuronal Apoptosis Inhibitory Protein (NAIP), SMN2, and SMA Phenotypes: A Tertiary Care Centre Experience From India. SMN2 copy number fails to answer variability in the SMA phenotype completely. We aimed to evaluate the copy number variation in NAIP and SMN2: c.859G>C and A-44G variants as disease modifiers and their correlation with the SMA phenotype. Based on the motor milestones achieved, patients with homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7 were classified into SMA Types I-IV. The copy numbers of SMN1 exon 8, SMN2, and NAIP were determined using the MLPA assay. Sanger sequencing was performed for the SMN2 variants. The cohort of 142 patients included nearly equal numbers of patients of SMA Types I, II, and III. The disease severity correlated with the SMN2 and NAIP copy number, with a lower copy number predicting a worse outcome. In addition, we evaluated the SMA genotype (SMN1 exon 8, SMN2 copy number, and NAIP copy number) as a predictor of SMA severity and found that most of the SMA Type I patients had a genotype of 0-2-0, SMA Type II patients had a genotype of 0-3-1, Type III patients had a genotype of 0-3-2 and 0-3-1, and Type IV patients had a genotype of 0-4-2. None of the patients from the cohort had the two modifier variants. The combined genotype of SMN1 exon 8 copy number-SMN2 copy number-NAIP copy number could accurately predict the SMA phenotype. The absence of SMN2: c.859G>C and A-44G variants in any of our patients points to the rarity of these variants in the Indian population.</AbstractText
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39975288
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39107446
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40531087
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Multi-omic Characterization of HIV Effects at Single Cell Level across Human Brain Regions.
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Mechanisms of autophagy-lysosome dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases.
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Dystrophin-Deficient Muscular Dystrophy in an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler).
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HIV infection exerts profound and long-lasting neurodegenerative effects on the central nervous system (CNS) that can persist despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here, we used single-nucleus multiome sequencing to map the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscapes of postmortem human brains from 13 healthy individuals and 20 individuals with HIV who have a history of treatment with ART. Our study spanned three distinct regions-the prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, and ventral striatum-enabling a comprehensive exploration of region-specific and cross-regional perturbations. We found widespread and persistent HIV-associated transcriptional and epigenetic alterations across multiple cell types. Detailed analyses of microglia revealed state changes marked by immune activation and metabolic dysregulation, while integrative multiomic profiling of astrocytes identified multiple subpopulations, including a reactive subpopulation unique to HIV-infected brains. These findings suggest that cells from people with HIV exhibit molecular shifts that may underlie ongoing neuroinflammation and CNS dysfunction. Furthermore, cell-cell communication analyses uncovered dysregulated and pro-inflammatory interactions among glial populations, underscoring the multifaceted and enduring impact of HIV on the brain milieu. Collectively, our comprehensive atlas of HIV-associated brain changes reveals distinct glial cell states with signatures of proinflammatory signaling and metabolic dysregulation, providing a framework for developing targeted therapies for HIV-associated neurological dysfunction.</AbstractText
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Autophagy is a lysosome-based degradative process used to recycle obsolete cellular constituents and eliminate damaged organelles and aggregate-prone proteins. Their postmitotic nature and extremely polarized morphologies make neurons particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by autophagy-lysosomal defects, especially as the brain ages. Consequently, mutations in genes regulating autophagy and lysosomal functions cause a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review the role of autophagy and lysosomes in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and frontotemporal dementia. We also consider the strong impact of cellular ageing on lysosomes and autophagy as a tipping point for the late-age emergence of related neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these diseases have primary defects in autophagy, for example affecting autophagosome formation, and in lysosomal functions, especially pH regulation and calcium homeostasis. We have aimed to provide an integrative framework for understanding the central importance of autophagic-lysosomal function in neuronal health and disease.</AbstractText
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X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy is associated with a mutation of the DYS gene located on the X chromosome. To date, dystrophinopathy has been identified in 16 different dog breeds with 20 different variants confirmed. In this report, a 9 mo old male Australian cattle dog was evaluated for progressive generalized weakness and dysphagia beginning at 4 mo of age. A markedly elevated creatine kinase activity was noted on blood chemistry, and muscle biopsies confirmed a dystrophic phenotype. Dystrophin deficiency was identified by immunohistochemistry. In this report we identify dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy for the first time in a 9 mo old intact male Australian cattle dog. This finding expands the list of breeds confirmed with dystrophinopathy. Whole-genome sequencing is required to identify the causative mutation.</AbstractText
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Multi-omic Characterization of HIV Effects at Single Cell Level across Human Brain Regions. HIV infection exerts profound and long-lasting neurodegenerative effects on the central nervous system (CNS) that can persist despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). Here, we used single-nucleus multiome sequencing to map the transcriptomic and epigenetic landscapes of postmortem human brains from 13 healthy individuals and 20 individuals with HIV who have a history of treatment with ART. Our study spanned three distinct regions-the prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, and ventral striatum-enabling a comprehensive exploration of region-specific and cross-regional perturbations. We found widespread and persistent HIV-associated transcriptional and epigenetic alterations across multiple cell types. Detailed analyses of microglia revealed state changes marked by immune activation and metabolic dysregulation, while integrative multiomic profiling of astrocytes identified multiple subpopulations, including a reactive subpopulation unique to HIV-infected brains. These findings suggest that cells from people with HIV exhibit molecular shifts that may underlie ongoing neuroinflammation and CNS dysfunction. Furthermore, cell-cell communication analyses uncovered dysregulated and pro-inflammatory interactions among glial populations, underscoring the multifaceted and enduring impact of HIV on the brain milieu. Collectively, our comprehensive atlas of HIV-associated brain changes reveals distinct glial cell states with signatures of proinflammatory signaling and metabolic dysregulation, providing a framework for developing targeted therapies for HIV-associated neurological dysfunction.</AbstractText
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Mechanisms of autophagy-lysosome dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is a lysosome-based degradative process used to recycle obsolete cellular constituents and eliminate damaged organelles and aggregate-prone proteins. Their postmitotic nature and extremely polarized morphologies make neurons particularly vulnerable to disruptions caused by autophagy-lysosomal defects, especially as the brain ages. Consequently, mutations in genes regulating autophagy and lysosomal functions cause a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we review the role of autophagy and lysosomes in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and frontotemporal dementia. We also consider the strong impact of cellular ageing on lysosomes and autophagy as a tipping point for the late-age emergence of related neurodegenerative disorders. Many of these diseases have primary defects in autophagy, for example affecting autophagosome formation, and in lysosomal functions, especially pH regulation and calcium homeostasis. We have aimed to provide an integrative framework for understanding the central importance of autophagic-lysosomal function in neuronal health and disease.</AbstractText
|
Dystrophin-Deficient Muscular Dystrophy in an Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler). X-linked dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy is associated with a mutation of the DYS gene located on the X chromosome. To date, dystrophinopathy has been identified in 16 different dog breeds with 20 different variants confirmed. In this report, a 9 mo old male Australian cattle dog was evaluated for progressive generalized weakness and dysphagia beginning at 4 mo of age. A markedly elevated creatine kinase activity was noted on blood chemistry, and muscle biopsies confirmed a dystrophic phenotype. Dystrophin deficiency was identified by immunohistochemistry. In this report we identify dystrophin-deficient muscular dystrophy for the first time in a 9 mo old intact male Australian cattle dog. This finding expands the list of breeds confirmed with dystrophinopathy. Whole-genome sequencing is required to identify the causative mutation.</AbstractText
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33669063
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35195698
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34571248
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Moral Reasoning about Aggressive Behavior in Relation to Type of Aggression, Age and Gender in South Korean Pupils.
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Perceptions on Burnout and the Medical School Learning Environment of Medical Students Who Are Underrepresented in Medicine.
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MitoLink: A generic integrated web-based workflow system to evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations in human mitochondrial diseases: Observations from the GenomeAsia Pilot project.
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Studies of moral reasoning in relation to aggressive behaviors have paid limited attention to different types of aggression, and have mainly been conducted in Western societies. We describe findings from a study of 157 children, aged 6 or 11 years, from two schools in South Korea. Using a cartoon scenario methodology, we assessed moral reasoning about eight types of aggression: verbal, physical individual, physical group, social exclusion, rumor spreading, breaking one's belongings, sending a nasty text via mobile phone, and sending a nasty message/email via computer. Four aspects of moral reasoning were assessed: moral judgment, harmfulness, reason for judgment, and causal responsibility. Many significant differences by type of aggression were found, especially for social exclusion (seen as less wrong and harmful, and more the victim's responsibility), physical group aggression (seen as more wrong or harmful, and a matter of fairness, especially in older children and boys), and cyber aggression (seen more as the aggressor's responsibility). Older children gave more reasons based on welfare, and fewer "don't know" responses for reasons and attributions. Gender differences were relatively few, but girls did make more use of welfare in the moral reasoning domain. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research and the cultural context in South Korea.</AbstractText
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Burnout is a highly prevalent issue among medical trainees, but there has been limited research characterizing burnout specifically among medical students from groups who are underrepresented in medicine (URIM).</AbstractText To assess the association between components of the medical school learning environment and burnout among medical students who are URIM vs those who are not.</AbstractText This retrospective cross-sectional survey study evaluated responses of allopathic medical students graduating from all US allopathic medical schools in 2016 and 2017 to the American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire. Analysis was completed between December 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020.</AbstractText Self-identification as a medical student who is URIM.</AbstractText Self-reported measures of medical student overall, disengagement, and exhaustion-related burnout using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Medical Students.</AbstractText The American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire had an 81% response rate, yielding 26 567 complete participant responses that were included the analysis. A total of 13 645 individuals (51.4%) were male, and 3947 (14.9%) identified as URIM (ie, Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander). Medical students who are URIM reported modestly higher levels of exhaustion-related burnout (mean [SD], 11.84 [3.62] vs 11.48 [3.61]; P < .001) and modestly lower mean burnout scores associated with disengagement (mean [SD], 9.24 [3.56] vs 9.36 [3.58]; P = .047). Medical students who are URIM also reported marginally less favorable student-faculty interactions in the learning environment (mean [SD], 14.09 [3.45] vs 14.29 [3.35]; P < .001). Medical students who are URIM were more likely to be in the top quartile of those who experienced exhaustion-related burnout (odds ratio, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.09-1.29]) but less likely to be in the top quartile for disengagement (odds ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.80-0.94]). Regardless of URIM status, those who reported learning environment scores in the bottom quartile were more likely to experience higher rates of burnout as were those who experienced at least 1 episode of discrimination.</AbstractText This survey study found that medical students who are URIM had a higher risk for exhaustion-related burnout. This burnout is likely multifactorial and could represent a resiliency or survival bias, the burden of increased responsibility, and/or recurrent discrimination. The learning environment can play a key role in mitigating burnout in both medical students who are URIM and those who are not and is deserving of further research.</AbstractText
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MitoLink is a generic, scalable and modular web-based workflow system developed to study genotype-phenotype correlations in human mitochondrial diseases. MitoLink integrates applications for assessment of genomic variation and currently houses genome-wide datasets from GenomeAsia Pilot project, gnomAD, ClinVar and DisGenNet. In this study, a reference list of nearly 3975 proteins (both nuclear and mitochondrial encoded) with mitochondrial function is reported. This protein set is mapped to disease associated variants in the GenomeAsia Pilot Project and DisGenNet and evaluated for pathogenicity as defined by ClinVar. Observations of shared genetic components in potential comorbidities are discussed from gene-disease network in Asian population, however, the platform is generic and can be applied to any population dataset. MitoLink is a unique customized workflow system that allows for systematic storage, extraction, analysis and visualization of genomic variation to understand genotype-phenotype correlations for mitochondrial diseases. Given the modularity of tool and data integration, MitoLink is a scalable system that can accommodate a diverse set of applications linked via standard data structure within the framework of Galaxy. MitoLink is built on FAIR principles and supports creation of reproducible workflows towards understanding genotype-phenotype correlations across several disease phenotypes globally.</AbstractText
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Moral Reasoning about Aggressive Behavior in Relation to Type of Aggression, Age and Gender in South Korean Pupils. Studies of moral reasoning in relation to aggressive behaviors have paid limited attention to different types of aggression, and have mainly been conducted in Western societies. We describe findings from a study of 157 children, aged 6 or 11 years, from two schools in South Korea. Using a cartoon scenario methodology, we assessed moral reasoning about eight types of aggression: verbal, physical individual, physical group, social exclusion, rumor spreading, breaking one's belongings, sending a nasty text via mobile phone, and sending a nasty message/email via computer. Four aspects of moral reasoning were assessed: moral judgment, harmfulness, reason for judgment, and causal responsibility. Many significant differences by type of aggression were found, especially for social exclusion (seen as less wrong and harmful, and more the victim's responsibility), physical group aggression (seen as more wrong or harmful, and a matter of fairness, especially in older children and boys), and cyber aggression (seen more as the aggressor's responsibility). Older children gave more reasons based on welfare, and fewer "don't know" responses for reasons and attributions. Gender differences were relatively few, but girls did make more use of welfare in the moral reasoning domain. Findings are discussed in relation to previous research and the cultural context in South Korea.</AbstractText
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Perceptions on Burnout and the Medical School Learning Environment of Medical Students Who Are Underrepresented in Medicine. Burnout is a highly prevalent issue among medical trainees, but there has been limited research characterizing burnout specifically among medical students from groups who are underrepresented in medicine (URIM).</AbstractText To assess the association between components of the medical school learning environment and burnout among medical students who are URIM vs those who are not.</AbstractText This retrospective cross-sectional survey study evaluated responses of allopathic medical students graduating from all US allopathic medical schools in 2016 and 2017 to the American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire. Analysis was completed between December 1, 2019, and July 1, 2020.</AbstractText Self-identification as a medical student who is URIM.</AbstractText Self-reported measures of medical student overall, disengagement, and exhaustion-related burnout using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory for Medical Students.</AbstractText The American Medical Colleges Graduation Questionnaire had an 81% response rate, yielding 26 567 complete participant responses that were included the analysis. A total of 13 645 individuals (51.4%) were male, and 3947 (14.9%) identified as URIM (ie, Alaska Native, Black, Hispanic/Latinx, Native American, and/or Pacific Islander). Medical students who are URIM reported modestly higher levels of exhaustion-related burnout (mean [SD], 11.84 [3.62] vs 11.48 [3.61]; P < .001) and modestly lower mean burnout scores associated with disengagement (mean [SD], 9.24 [3.56] vs 9.36 [3.58]; P = .047). Medical students who are URIM also reported marginally less favorable student-faculty interactions in the learning environment (mean [SD], 14.09 [3.45] vs 14.29 [3.35]; P < .001). Medical students who are URIM were more likely to be in the top quartile of those who experienced exhaustion-related burnout (odds ratio, 1.19 [95% CI, 1.09-1.29]) but less likely to be in the top quartile for disengagement (odds ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.80-0.94]). Regardless of URIM status, those who reported learning environment scores in the bottom quartile were more likely to experience higher rates of burnout as were those who experienced at least 1 episode of discrimination.</AbstractText This survey study found that medical students who are URIM had a higher risk for exhaustion-related burnout. This burnout is likely multifactorial and could represent a resiliency or survival bias, the burden of increased responsibility, and/or recurrent discrimination. The learning environment can play a key role in mitigating burnout in both medical students who are URIM and those who are not and is deserving of further research.</AbstractText
|
MitoLink: A generic integrated web-based workflow system to evaluate genotype-phenotype correlations in human mitochondrial diseases: Observations from the GenomeAsia Pilot project. MitoLink is a generic, scalable and modular web-based workflow system developed to study genotype-phenotype correlations in human mitochondrial diseases. MitoLink integrates applications for assessment of genomic variation and currently houses genome-wide datasets from GenomeAsia Pilot project, gnomAD, ClinVar and DisGenNet. In this study, a reference list of nearly 3975 proteins (both nuclear and mitochondrial encoded) with mitochondrial function is reported. This protein set is mapped to disease associated variants in the GenomeAsia Pilot Project and DisGenNet and evaluated for pathogenicity as defined by ClinVar. Observations of shared genetic components in potential comorbidities are discussed from gene-disease network in Asian population, however, the platform is generic and can be applied to any population dataset. MitoLink is a unique customized workflow system that allows for systematic storage, extraction, analysis and visualization of genomic variation to understand genotype-phenotype correlations for mitochondrial diseases. Given the modularity of tool and data integration, MitoLink is a scalable system that can accommodate a diverse set of applications linked via standard data structure within the framework of Galaxy. MitoLink is built on FAIR principles and supports creation of reproducible workflows towards understanding genotype-phenotype correlations across several disease phenotypes globally.</AbstractText
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38582882
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31021422
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38096819
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Super-refractory status epilepticus, rhabdomyolysis, central hyperthermia and cardiomyopathy attributable to spinal anesthesia: a case report and review of literature.
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Bone fractures from generalized convulsive seizures and status epilepticus-A systematic review.
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Voice categorization in the four-month-old human brain.
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There are only six past reports of super-refractory status epilepticus induced by spinal anesthesia. None of those patients have died. Only < 15 mg of bupivacaine was administered to all six of them and to our case. Pathophysiology ensuing such cases remains unclear.</AbstractText A 27 year old gravida 2, para 1, mother at 37 weeks of gestation came to the operating theater for an elective cesarean section. She had no significant medical history other than controlled hypothyroidism and one episode of food allergy. Her current pregnancy was uneventful. Her American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade was 2. She underwent spinal anesthesia and adequate anesthesia was achieved. After 5-7 min she developed a progressive myoclonus. After delivery of a healthy baby, she developed generalized tonic clonic seizures that continued despite the induction of general anesthesia. She had rhabdomyolysis, one brief cardiac arrest and resuscitation, followed by stress cardiomyopathy and central hyperthermia. She died on day four. There were no significant macroscopic or histopathological changes in her brain that explain her super refractory status epilepticus. Heavy bupivacaine samples of the same batch used for this patient were analyzed by two specialized laboratories. National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory of Sri Lanka reported that samples failed to confirm United States Pharmacopeia (USP) dextrose specifications and passed other tests. Subsequently, Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia reported that the drug passed all standard USP quality tests applied to it. Nonetheless, they have detected an unidentified impurity in the medicine.</AbstractText After reviewing relevant literature, we believe that direct neurotoxicity by bupivacaine is the most probable cause of super-refractory status epilepticus. Super-refractory status epilepticus would have led to her other complications and death. We discuss probable patient factors that would have made her susceptible to neurotoxicity. The impurity in the drug detected by one laboratory also would have contributed to her status epilepticus. We propose several possible mechanisms that would have led to status epilepticus and her death. We discuss the factors that shall guide investigators on future such cases. We suggest ways to minimize similar future incidents. This is an idiosyncratic reaction as well.</AbstractText
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We present a systematic review of the literature regarding types and anatomic distribution of fractures in association with generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) and convulsive seizures in adult patients accompanied by an illustrative case of a patient with GCSE and diffuse postictal pain from underlying bone fractures.</AbstractText The library search engines PubMed and EMBASE were screened systematically using predefined search terms. All identified articles written in English were screened for eligibility by two reviewers. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed.</AbstractText The screening of 3145 articles revealed 39 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Among all fractures, bilateral posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders were reported most frequently (33%), followed by thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression fractures (29%), skull and jaw fractures (8%), and bilateral femoral neck fractures (6%). Risk factors for seizure-related fractures are seizure severity, duration of epilepsy, the use of antiseizure drugs known to decrease bone density, and a family history of fractures. Based on these findings, a three-step screening procedure is proposed to uncover fractures in the postictal state. All studies were retrospective without standardized screening methods for seizure-associated fractures resulting in a very low level of evidence and a high risk of bias.</AbstractText Posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders, thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression, fractures of the skull and jaw, and bilateral femoral neck fractures are most frequently reported. Preventive measures including bone densitometry, calcium/vitamin D supplementation, and bisphosphonate therapy should be reinforced in epilepsy patients at risk of osteoporosis. As long as the effect of standardized screening of fractures is not investigated, it is too early to integrate such a screening into treatment guidelines. In the meantime, clinicians are urged to heighten awareness regarding seizure-associated fractures, especially in patients with postictal pain, as symptoms can be unspecific and misinterpretation may impede rehabilitation.</AbstractText
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Voices are the most relevant social sounds for humans and therefore have crucial adaptive value in development. Neuroimaging studies in adults have demonstrated the existence of regions in the superior temporal sulcus that respond preferentially to voices. Yet, whether voices represent a functionally specific category in the young infant's mind is largely unknown. We developed a highly sensitive paradigm relying on fast periodic auditory stimulation (FPAS) combined with scalp electroencephalography (EEG) to demonstrate that the infant brain implements a reliable preferential response to voices early in life. Twenty-three 4-month-old infants listened to sequences containing non-vocal sounds from different categories presented at 3.33 Hz, with highly heterogeneous vocal sounds appearing every third stimulus (1.11 Hz). We were able to isolate a voice-selective response over temporal regions, and individual voice-selective responses were found in most infants within only a few minutes of stimulation. This selective response was significantly reduced for the same frequency-scrambled sounds, indicating that voice selectivity is not simply driven by the envelope and the spectral content of the sounds. Such a robust selective response to voices as early as 4 months of age suggests that the infant brain is endowed with the ability to rapidly develop a functional selectivity to this socially relevant category of sounds.</AbstractText
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Super-refractory status epilepticus, rhabdomyolysis, central hyperthermia and cardiomyopathy attributable to spinal anesthesia: a case report and review of literature. There are only six past reports of super-refractory status epilepticus induced by spinal anesthesia. None of those patients have died. Only < 15 mg of bupivacaine was administered to all six of them and to our case. Pathophysiology ensuing such cases remains unclear.</AbstractText A 27 year old gravida 2, para 1, mother at 37 weeks of gestation came to the operating theater for an elective cesarean section. She had no significant medical history other than controlled hypothyroidism and one episode of food allergy. Her current pregnancy was uneventful. Her American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) grade was 2. She underwent spinal anesthesia and adequate anesthesia was achieved. After 5-7 min she developed a progressive myoclonus. After delivery of a healthy baby, she developed generalized tonic clonic seizures that continued despite the induction of general anesthesia. She had rhabdomyolysis, one brief cardiac arrest and resuscitation, followed by stress cardiomyopathy and central hyperthermia. She died on day four. There were no significant macroscopic or histopathological changes in her brain that explain her super refractory status epilepticus. Heavy bupivacaine samples of the same batch used for this patient were analyzed by two specialized laboratories. National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory of Sri Lanka reported that samples failed to confirm United States Pharmacopeia (USP) dextrose specifications and passed other tests. Subsequently, Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia reported that the drug passed all standard USP quality tests applied to it. Nonetheless, they have detected an unidentified impurity in the medicine.</AbstractText After reviewing relevant literature, we believe that direct neurotoxicity by bupivacaine is the most probable cause of super-refractory status epilepticus. Super-refractory status epilepticus would have led to her other complications and death. We discuss probable patient factors that would have made her susceptible to neurotoxicity. The impurity in the drug detected by one laboratory also would have contributed to her status epilepticus. We propose several possible mechanisms that would have led to status epilepticus and her death. We discuss the factors that shall guide investigators on future such cases. We suggest ways to minimize similar future incidents. This is an idiosyncratic reaction as well.</AbstractText
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Bone fractures from generalized convulsive seizures and status epilepticus-A systematic review. We present a systematic review of the literature regarding types and anatomic distribution of fractures in association with generalized convulsive status epilepticus (GCSE) and convulsive seizures in adult patients accompanied by an illustrative case of a patient with GCSE and diffuse postictal pain from underlying bone fractures.</AbstractText The library search engines PubMed and EMBASE were screened systematically using predefined search terms. All identified articles written in English were screened for eligibility by two reviewers. The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines were followed.</AbstractText The screening of 3145 articles revealed 39 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Among all fractures, bilateral posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders were reported most frequently (33%), followed by thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression fractures (29%), skull and jaw fractures (8%), and bilateral femoral neck fractures (6%). Risk factors for seizure-related fractures are seizure severity, duration of epilepsy, the use of antiseizure drugs known to decrease bone density, and a family history of fractures. Based on these findings, a three-step screening procedure is proposed to uncover fractures in the postictal state. All studies were retrospective without standardized screening methods for seizure-associated fractures resulting in a very low level of evidence and a high risk of bias.</AbstractText Posterior fracture-dislocations of the shoulders, thoracic and lumbar vertebral compression, fractures of the skull and jaw, and bilateral femoral neck fractures are most frequently reported. Preventive measures including bone densitometry, calcium/vitamin D supplementation, and bisphosphonate therapy should be reinforced in epilepsy patients at risk of osteoporosis. As long as the effect of standardized screening of fractures is not investigated, it is too early to integrate such a screening into treatment guidelines. In the meantime, clinicians are urged to heighten awareness regarding seizure-associated fractures, especially in patients with postictal pain, as symptoms can be unspecific and misinterpretation may impede rehabilitation.</AbstractText
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Voice categorization in the four-month-old human brain. Voices are the most relevant social sounds for humans and therefore have crucial adaptive value in development. Neuroimaging studies in adults have demonstrated the existence of regions in the superior temporal sulcus that respond preferentially to voices. Yet, whether voices represent a functionally specific category in the young infant's mind is largely unknown. We developed a highly sensitive paradigm relying on fast periodic auditory stimulation (FPAS) combined with scalp electroencephalography (EEG) to demonstrate that the infant brain implements a reliable preferential response to voices early in life. Twenty-three 4-month-old infants listened to sequences containing non-vocal sounds from different categories presented at 3.33 Hz, with highly heterogeneous vocal sounds appearing every third stimulus (1.11 Hz). We were able to isolate a voice-selective response over temporal regions, and individual voice-selective responses were found in most infants within only a few minutes of stimulation. This selective response was significantly reduced for the same frequency-scrambled sounds, indicating that voice selectivity is not simply driven by the envelope and the spectral content of the sounds. Such a robust selective response to voices as early as 4 months of age suggests that the infant brain is endowed with the ability to rapidly develop a functional selectivity to this socially relevant category of sounds.</AbstractText
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40040916
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19337313
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40002517
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Myocardial injury in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is not predicted by prior cardiac disease or neurological status: results from the Mannheim Stroke database.
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Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: a clinical and scientific review.
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Frameless Stereotaxy in Stereoelectroencephalography Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography.
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Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) levels (representing myocardial injury) are frequently found in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Overall, the relationship between sICH and elevated cTn levels is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate patient characteristics and clinical parameters in patients with sICH and myocardial injury.</AbstractText This is a retrospective observational study based on the Mannheim Stroke database. Consecutive patient cases with acute symptomatic sICH and available high-sensitivity cTn I (hs-cTnI) at hospital admission between 2015 and 2021 were included. Group comparisons of patient, clinical and imaging characteristics were performed between groups with and without hs-cTnI elevation. In addition, variables with suspected predictive clinical significance for hs-cTnI elevation were analyzed for their predictive value using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</AbstractText A total of 93/498 patients with sICH (18.7%; mean age 73 ± 15 years; 51.9% females) had a hs-cTnI elevation. These patients did not have a more pronounced cerebrovascular risk profile and had a comparably low prevalence of coronary artery disease (18.5%, <i Myocardial injury is common in patients with sICH. Unlike in AIS patients, elevated hs-cTnI levels were not associated with a worse functional or mortality-related in-hospital outcome. Except for clinically relevant aortic valve stenosis, structural heart disease had no significant influence as a predictor. We therefore suggest that hs-cTnI elevation in patients with sICH is related to acute myocardial damage along the brain-heart axis.</AbstractText
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The autosomal-dominant trait hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) affects 1 in 5-8000 people. Genes mutated in HHT (most commonly for endoglin or activin receptor-like kinase (ALK1)) encode proteins that modulate transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily signalling in vascular endothelial cells; mutations lead to the development of fragile telangiectatic vessels and arteriovenous malformations. In this article, we review the underlying molecular, cellular and circulatory pathobiology; explore HHT clinical and genetic diagnostic strategies; present detailed considerations regarding screening for asymptomatic visceral involvement; and provide overviews of management strategies.</AbstractText
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<b
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Myocardial injury in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is not predicted by prior cardiac disease or neurological status: results from the Mannheim Stroke database. Elevated cardiac troponin (cTn) levels (representing myocardial injury) are frequently found in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). Overall, the relationship between sICH and elevated cTn levels is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate patient characteristics and clinical parameters in patients with sICH and myocardial injury.</AbstractText This is a retrospective observational study based on the Mannheim Stroke database. Consecutive patient cases with acute symptomatic sICH and available high-sensitivity cTn I (hs-cTnI) at hospital admission between 2015 and 2021 were included. Group comparisons of patient, clinical and imaging characteristics were performed between groups with and without hs-cTnI elevation. In addition, variables with suspected predictive clinical significance for hs-cTnI elevation were analyzed for their predictive value using multivariate logistic regression analysis.</AbstractText A total of 93/498 patients with sICH (18.7%; mean age 73 ± 15 years; 51.9% females) had a hs-cTnI elevation. These patients did not have a more pronounced cerebrovascular risk profile and had a comparably low prevalence of coronary artery disease (18.5%, <i Myocardial injury is common in patients with sICH. Unlike in AIS patients, elevated hs-cTnI levels were not associated with a worse functional or mortality-related in-hospital outcome. Except for clinically relevant aortic valve stenosis, structural heart disease had no significant influence as a predictor. We therefore suggest that hs-cTnI elevation in patients with sICH is related to acute myocardial damage along the brain-heart axis.</AbstractText
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Hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia: a clinical and scientific review. The autosomal-dominant trait hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) affects 1 in 5-8000 people. Genes mutated in HHT (most commonly for endoglin or activin receptor-like kinase (ALK1)) encode proteins that modulate transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta superfamily signalling in vascular endothelial cells; mutations lead to the development of fragile telangiectatic vessels and arteriovenous malformations. In this article, we review the underlying molecular, cellular and circulatory pathobiology; explore HHT clinical and genetic diagnostic strategies; present detailed considerations regarding screening for asymptomatic visceral involvement; and provide overviews of management strategies.</AbstractText
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Frameless Stereotaxy in Stereoelectroencephalography Using Intraoperative Computed Tomography. <b
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39548608
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31486071
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38877858
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Effects of Kabat rehabilitation versus mime therapy on facial disability and synkinesis in patients of Bell's palsy.
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Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis).
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A Methodology for Robust Multislice Ptychography.
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To compare the effects of Kabat rehabilitation and Mime therapy on facial disability and synkinesis in patients with Bell's palsy.</AbstractText The single-blind, randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Physiotherapy Department of the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from May to October 2023, and comprised adults of either gender aged 25-50 years having sub-acute or chronic unilateral Bell's palsy of non-congenital origin. The patients were randomised into Kabat rehabilitation group A and mime therapy group B. Conventional physical therapy was given to both groups additionally. Facial disability was assessed using the Facial Disability Index scale, and synkinesis was observed using the House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.</AbstractText Of the 72 patients, 41(56.9%) were females and 31(43.1%) were males. The overall mean age was 37.77±6.98 years, mean body mass index was 25.71±5.71kg/m2 and 41(56.9%) patients had left-sided palsy. Facial disability and synkinesis were significantly different in both groups post-intervention (p<0.001), while intergroup differences were significant in the 3rd and 6th weeks (p<0.001).</AbstractText Kabat rehabilitation led to more significant improvements in synkinesis and facial disability compared to mime therapy.</AbstractText Clinical trials.gov registration id: NCT06029855.</AbstractText
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Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), but the effectiveness of additional treatment with an antiviral agent is uncertain. This review was first published in 2001 and most recently updated in 2015. Since a significant benefit of corticosteroids for the early management of Bell's palsy has been demonstrated, the main focus of this update, as in the previous version, was to determine the effect of adding antivirals to corticosteroid treatment. We undertook this update to integrate additional evidence and to better assess the robustness of findings, taking risk of bias fully into account.</AbstractText To assess the effects of antiviral treatments alone or in combination with any other therapy for Bell's palsy.</AbstractText We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS in July 2019. We reviewed the bibliographies of the identified trials and contacted trial authors to identify additional published or unpublished data. We searched clinical trials registries for ongoing studies.</AbstractText We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of antivirals with and without corticosteroids versus control therapies for the treatment of Bell's palsy. We excluded trials that followed-up participants for less than three months.</AbstractText We independently assessed trials for relevance, eligibility, and risk of bias, using standard Cochrane procedures. We performed sensitivity analyses excluding trials at high or unclear risk of bias in at least five domains, and reported these data as the primary analyses.</AbstractText Fourteen trials, including 2488 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Most were small, and most were at high or unclear risk of bias in multiple domains. We included four new studies at this update.Incomplete recoveryA combination of antivirals and corticosteroids may have little or no effect on rates of incomplete recovery in people with Bell's palsy compared to corticosteroids alone (risk ratio (RR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 1.74; 3 trials, N = 766; random-effects; low-certainty evidence). We excluded 10 trials that were at high or unclear risk of bias in several domains from this analysis and limited all analyses to studies at lower risk of bias. Recovery rates were better in participants receiving corticosteroids alone than antivirals alone (RR 2.69, 95% CI 0.73 to 10.01; 2 trials, N = 667; random-effects), but the result was imprecise and allowed for the possibility of no effect. The rate of incomplete recovery was lower with antivirals plus corticosteroids than with placebo or no treatment (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.76; 2 trials, N = 658; random-effects). Antivirals alone had no clear effect on incomplete recovery rates compared with placebo, but the result was imprecise (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.40; 2 trials, N = 658; fixed-effect). For people with severe Bell's palsy (House-Brackmann score of 5 and 6, or equivalent on other scales), we found that the combination of antivirals and corticosteroids had no clear effect on incomplete recovery at month six compared to corticosteroids alone, although the result was again imprecise (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.17; 2 trials, N = 98; random-effects).Motor synkinesis or crocodile tearsAntivirals plus corticosteroids reduced the proportion of participants who experienced these long-term sequelae from Bell's palsy compared to placebo plus corticosteroids (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.87; 2 trials, N = 469; fixed-effect; moderate-certainty evidence). Antivirals plus corticosteroids reduced long-term sequelae compared to placebo but there was no clear difference in this outcome with antivirals alone compared to placebo.Adverse events Adverse event data were available in four studies providing data on 1592 participants. None of the four comparisons showed clear differences in adverse events between treatment and comparison arms (very low-certainty evidence); for the comparison of antivirals plus corticosteroids and corticosteroids alone in studies at lower risk of bias, the RR was 1.17 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.69; 2 trials, N = 656; fixed-effect; very low-certainty evidence).</AbstractText The combination of antivirals and corticosteroids may have little or no effect on rates of incomplete recovery in comparison to corticosteroids alone in Bell's palsy of various degrees of severity, or in people with severe Bell's palsy, but the results were very imprecise. Corticosteroids alone were probably more effective than antivirals alone and antivirals plus corticosteroids were more effective than placebo or no treatment. There was no clear benefit from antivirals alone over placebo.The combination of antivirals and corticosteroids probably reduced the late sequelae of Bell's palsy compared with corticosteroids alone. Studies also showed fewer episodes of long-term sequelae in corticosteroid-treated participants than antiviral-treated participants.We found no clear difference in adverse events from the use of antivirals compared with either placebo or corticosteroids, but the evidence is too uncertain for us to draw conclusions.An adequately powered RCT in people with Bell's palsy that compares different antiviral agents may be indicated.</AbstractText
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While multislice electron ptychography can provide thermal vibration limited resolution and structural information in 3D, it relies on properly selecting many intertwined acquisition and computational parameters. Here, we outline a methodology for selecting acquisition parameters to enable robust ptychographic reconstructions. We develop two physically informed metrics, areal oversampling and Ronchigram magnification, to describe the selection of these parameters in multislice ptychography. Through simulations, we comprehensively evaluate the validity of these two metrics over a broad range of conditions and show that they accurately guide reconstruction success. Further, we validate these conclusions with experimental ptychographic data and demonstrate close agreement between trends in simulated and experimental data. Using these metrics, we achieve experimental multislice reconstructions at a scan step of 2.1Å/px, enabling large field-of-view, data-efficient reconstructions. These experimental design principles enable the routine and robust use of multislice ptychography for 3D characterization of materials at the atomic scale.</AbstractText
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Effects of Kabat rehabilitation versus mime therapy on facial disability and synkinesis in patients of Bell's palsy. To compare the effects of Kabat rehabilitation and Mime therapy on facial disability and synkinesis in patients with Bell's palsy.</AbstractText The single-blind, randomised clinical trial was conducted at the Physiotherapy Department of the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan, from May to October 2023, and comprised adults of either gender aged 25-50 years having sub-acute or chronic unilateral Bell's palsy of non-congenital origin. The patients were randomised into Kabat rehabilitation group A and mime therapy group B. Conventional physical therapy was given to both groups additionally. Facial disability was assessed using the Facial Disability Index scale, and synkinesis was observed using the House-Brackmann Facial Nerve Grading Scale. Data was analysed using SPSS 25.</AbstractText Of the 72 patients, 41(56.9%) were females and 31(43.1%) were males. The overall mean age was 37.77±6.98 years, mean body mass index was 25.71±5.71kg/m2 and 41(56.9%) patients had left-sided palsy. Facial disability and synkinesis were significantly different in both groups post-intervention (p<0.001), while intergroup differences were significant in the 3rd and 6th weeks (p<0.001).</AbstractText Kabat rehabilitation led to more significant improvements in synkinesis and facial disability compared to mime therapy.</AbstractText Clinical trials.gov registration id: NCT06029855.</AbstractText
|
Antiviral treatment for Bell's palsy (idiopathic facial paralysis). Corticosteroids are widely used in the treatment of idiopathic facial paralysis (Bell's palsy), but the effectiveness of additional treatment with an antiviral agent is uncertain. This review was first published in 2001 and most recently updated in 2015. Since a significant benefit of corticosteroids for the early management of Bell's palsy has been demonstrated, the main focus of this update, as in the previous version, was to determine the effect of adding antivirals to corticosteroid treatment. We undertook this update to integrate additional evidence and to better assess the robustness of findings, taking risk of bias fully into account.</AbstractText To assess the effects of antiviral treatments alone or in combination with any other therapy for Bell's palsy.</AbstractText We searched the Cochrane Neuromuscular Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and LILACS in July 2019. We reviewed the bibliographies of the identified trials and contacted trial authors to identify additional published or unpublished data. We searched clinical trials registries for ongoing studies.</AbstractText We considered randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or quasi-RCTs of antivirals with and without corticosteroids versus control therapies for the treatment of Bell's palsy. We excluded trials that followed-up participants for less than three months.</AbstractText We independently assessed trials for relevance, eligibility, and risk of bias, using standard Cochrane procedures. We performed sensitivity analyses excluding trials at high or unclear risk of bias in at least five domains, and reported these data as the primary analyses.</AbstractText Fourteen trials, including 2488 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Most were small, and most were at high or unclear risk of bias in multiple domains. We included four new studies at this update.Incomplete recoveryA combination of antivirals and corticosteroids may have little or no effect on rates of incomplete recovery in people with Bell's palsy compared to corticosteroids alone (risk ratio (RR) 0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38 to 1.74; 3 trials, N = 766; random-effects; low-certainty evidence). We excluded 10 trials that were at high or unclear risk of bias in several domains from this analysis and limited all analyses to studies at lower risk of bias. Recovery rates were better in participants receiving corticosteroids alone than antivirals alone (RR 2.69, 95% CI 0.73 to 10.01; 2 trials, N = 667; random-effects), but the result was imprecise and allowed for the possibility of no effect. The rate of incomplete recovery was lower with antivirals plus corticosteroids than with placebo or no treatment (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.76; 2 trials, N = 658; random-effects). Antivirals alone had no clear effect on incomplete recovery rates compared with placebo, but the result was imprecise (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.40; 2 trials, N = 658; fixed-effect). For people with severe Bell's palsy (House-Brackmann score of 5 and 6, or equivalent on other scales), we found that the combination of antivirals and corticosteroids had no clear effect on incomplete recovery at month six compared to corticosteroids alone, although the result was again imprecise (RR 0.82, 95% CI 0.57 to 1.17; 2 trials, N = 98; random-effects).Motor synkinesis or crocodile tearsAntivirals plus corticosteroids reduced the proportion of participants who experienced these long-term sequelae from Bell's palsy compared to placebo plus corticosteroids (RR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.87; 2 trials, N = 469; fixed-effect; moderate-certainty evidence). Antivirals plus corticosteroids reduced long-term sequelae compared to placebo but there was no clear difference in this outcome with antivirals alone compared to placebo.Adverse events Adverse event data were available in four studies providing data on 1592 participants. None of the four comparisons showed clear differences in adverse events between treatment and comparison arms (very low-certainty evidence); for the comparison of antivirals plus corticosteroids and corticosteroids alone in studies at lower risk of bias, the RR was 1.17 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.69; 2 trials, N = 656; fixed-effect; very low-certainty evidence).</AbstractText The combination of antivirals and corticosteroids may have little or no effect on rates of incomplete recovery in comparison to corticosteroids alone in Bell's palsy of various degrees of severity, or in people with severe Bell's palsy, but the results were very imprecise. Corticosteroids alone were probably more effective than antivirals alone and antivirals plus corticosteroids were more effective than placebo or no treatment. There was no clear benefit from antivirals alone over placebo.The combination of antivirals and corticosteroids probably reduced the late sequelae of Bell's palsy compared with corticosteroids alone. Studies also showed fewer episodes of long-term sequelae in corticosteroid-treated participants than antiviral-treated participants.We found no clear difference in adverse events from the use of antivirals compared with either placebo or corticosteroids, but the evidence is too uncertain for us to draw conclusions.An adequately powered RCT in people with Bell's palsy that compares different antiviral agents may be indicated.</AbstractText
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A Methodology for Robust Multislice Ptychography. While multislice electron ptychography can provide thermal vibration limited resolution and structural information in 3D, it relies on properly selecting many intertwined acquisition and computational parameters. Here, we outline a methodology for selecting acquisition parameters to enable robust ptychographic reconstructions. We develop two physically informed metrics, areal oversampling and Ronchigram magnification, to describe the selection of these parameters in multislice ptychography. Through simulations, we comprehensively evaluate the validity of these two metrics over a broad range of conditions and show that they accurately guide reconstruction success. Further, we validate these conclusions with experimental ptychographic data and demonstrate close agreement between trends in simulated and experimental data. Using these metrics, we achieve experimental multislice reconstructions at a scan step of 2.1Å/px, enabling large field-of-view, data-efficient reconstructions. These experimental design principles enable the routine and robust use of multislice ptychography for 3D characterization of materials at the atomic scale.</AbstractText
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39223016
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4784501
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39078901
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[Declining Rate of Neural Tube Defects and Outcomes of Defective Infants in Shaanxi Province from 2003 to 2022].
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Metastasizing ependymoma of the cauda equina.
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Can dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging based on radiomics improve the diagnostic efficiency of clinically significant prostate cancer?
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Objective To evaluate the changes in the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Shaanxi province from 2003 to 2022,investigate the diagnosis time and outcomes of defective infants,and predict the incidence of NTDs in Shaanxi province from 2023 to 2025,thereby providing a basis for improving the birth defects surveillance system. Methods Data were collected from all the perinatal infants from 28 weeks of gestation to 7 days after birth in all the hospitals with obstetrical department in Shaanxi province during 2003-2022.The changes in the incidence of NTDs from 2003 to 2022 were analyzed based on the birth defects surveillance system. Results A total of 1 106 483 perinatal infants in Shaanxi province from 2003 to 2022 were surveyed,among which NTDs occurred in 848 perinatal infants,with an incidence of 7.66/10 000.The incidence was the highest (48.02/10 000) in 2005 and the lowest (0.57/10 000) in 2022.The NTDs in Shaanxi province were mainly spina bifida (55.90%),which was followed by anencephaly (25.71%) and encephalocele (18.40%).The incidences of the three declined with fluctuations (<i 目的 总结2003至2022年陕西省神经管缺陷(NTDs)发生率的流行趋势和下降速率,掌握NTDs诊断时间及缺陷儿转归情况,预测2023至2025年陕西省NTDs发生率,为进一步完善出生缺陷监测系统提供新的科学依据。方法 对2003至2022年陕西省各级开设产科的医疗保健机构孕28周至出生后7 d所有围产儿进行出生缺陷监测并收集资料,基于出生缺陷监测系统分析2003至2022年NTDs发生率的分布趋势。结果 陕西省2003至2022年共监测围产儿1 106 483例,NTDs病例共848例,发生率为7.66/万,其中2005年发生率(48.02/万)最高,2022年发生率(0.57/万)最低。 NTDs以脊柱裂为主,占55.90%,其次为无脑儿(25.71%)和脑膨出(18.40%),三者发生率均在波动中呈显著下降趋势(<i
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A case of metastasizing ependymoma is described, only the second in the British literature. The tumour, which arose in the cauda equina, spread to humerus and pleura over a period of 32 years. It is postulated that, in common with most of the previously reported cases, dissemination was a direct consequence of either surgical intervention or radiotherapy since neither the primary tumour nor its metastases shows any of the conventional morphological criteria of malignancy. The literature of similar cases is briefly reviewed.</AbstractText
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<b
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[Declining Rate of Neural Tube Defects and Outcomes of Defective Infants in Shaanxi Province from 2003 to 2022]. Objective To evaluate the changes in the incidence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in Shaanxi province from 2003 to 2022,investigate the diagnosis time and outcomes of defective infants,and predict the incidence of NTDs in Shaanxi province from 2023 to 2025,thereby providing a basis for improving the birth defects surveillance system. Methods Data were collected from all the perinatal infants from 28 weeks of gestation to 7 days after birth in all the hospitals with obstetrical department in Shaanxi province during 2003-2022.The changes in the incidence of NTDs from 2003 to 2022 were analyzed based on the birth defects surveillance system. Results A total of 1 106 483 perinatal infants in Shaanxi province from 2003 to 2022 were surveyed,among which NTDs occurred in 848 perinatal infants,with an incidence of 7.66/10 000.The incidence was the highest (48.02/10 000) in 2005 and the lowest (0.57/10 000) in 2022.The NTDs in Shaanxi province were mainly spina bifida (55.90%),which was followed by anencephaly (25.71%) and encephalocele (18.40%).The incidences of the three declined with fluctuations (<i 目的 总结2003至2022年陕西省神经管缺陷(NTDs)发生率的流行趋势和下降速率,掌握NTDs诊断时间及缺陷儿转归情况,预测2023至2025年陕西省NTDs发生率,为进一步完善出生缺陷监测系统提供新的科学依据。方法 对2003至2022年陕西省各级开设产科的医疗保健机构孕28周至出生后7 d所有围产儿进行出生缺陷监测并收集资料,基于出生缺陷监测系统分析2003至2022年NTDs发生率的分布趋势。结果 陕西省2003至2022年共监测围产儿1 106 483例,NTDs病例共848例,发生率为7.66/万,其中2005年发生率(48.02/万)最高,2022年发生率(0.57/万)最低。 NTDs以脊柱裂为主,占55.90%,其次为无脑儿(25.71%)和脑膨出(18.40%),三者发生率均在波动中呈显著下降趋势(<i
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Metastasizing ependymoma of the cauda equina. A case of metastasizing ependymoma is described, only the second in the British literature. The tumour, which arose in the cauda equina, spread to humerus and pleura over a period of 32 years. It is postulated that, in common with most of the previously reported cases, dissemination was a direct consequence of either surgical intervention or radiotherapy since neither the primary tumour nor its metastases shows any of the conventional morphological criteria of malignancy. The literature of similar cases is briefly reviewed.</AbstractText
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Can dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging based on radiomics improve the diagnostic efficiency of clinically significant prostate cancer? <b
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17599723
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17034890
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39180957
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Involuntary emotional expressive disorder: a case for a deeper neuroethics.
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Ethical considerations of neuroscience research: the perspectives on neuroethics in Japan.
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Immune responses to central nervous system directed adeno-associated virus gene therapy: Does direct CNS delivery make a difference?
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Understanding why we produce labels for neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and how we use those words to tell stories about our brain, as well as which groups control such diagnostic discourse, is important to a wise understanding of our cognitive abilities, their limitations, and even our very human nature. Here, we explore the history and current focus of a newly emerging field called neuroethics and explore its relationship (or lack thereof) to a newly created clinical syndrome called involuntary emotional expressive disorder (IEED). The main argument concerns the lack of neuroethical discussion of issues pertinent to social influences on disease and the construction of professional specialization. We are critical of the processes associated with the creation of both the field and the syndrome, and express concern about their eventual outcomes. The interaction of social, political, and business institutions, the inherent interests of the advancement of larger research projects (and the individuals that compose them), their potential for profit, and other incentives to enhance marketability and public attention toward certain research programs will be examined as we discuss the development of the field of neuroethics. Similarly, we argue that these social factors and forces are instrumental in the development of IEED as a recognizable category and condition. Our critique is guided by the hope that through such analyses we can improve our understanding of how we go about our academic activities in cognitive neuroscience and also improve our efforts to help people suffering from neuropsychiatric conditions, such as dementia.</AbstractText
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Recent technologies and developments in neuroscience have contributed to remarkable scientific discoveries, and have also raised many new philosophical, ethical, legal, and social issues. Research in "neuroethics" has identified various ethical issues, which will be difficult for current biomedical ethics to resolve from both an experimental and a social perspective, such as criminal applications of brain scans, incidental findings during non-clinical brain imaging, and cognitive enhancement. Although American and European neuroscience societies have demonstrated immediate, concrete reactions to these ethical issues, including academic conferences, study programs, and publications, Japanese neuroscientists have so far produced little response. Ethics is tightly linked with one's religion, nationality, culture, and social background, whereas science is tightly linked with the demand, economics, and politics of the society to which individuals belong. Taken together, it is important and necessary for Japanese neuroscientists to consider the ethical problems in Japanese neuroscience. In this paper, we first review the history of neuroethics in the world, and then report the less-developed ethical issues in the Japanese neuroscience community, focusing on neuroimaging and manipulative neuroscience as a first step in discussing how to apply principles in neuroethics to this rapidly progressing field of research.</AbstractText
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Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene therapy is a leading gene delivery platform with potential to transform the landscape of treatment for neurological disorders. While AAV is deemed non-immunogenic compared to other viral vectors, adverse immune reactions have been observed in the clinic, raising concerns. As the central nervous system (CNS) has a tightly regulated immune system, characterized by a degree of tolerance, it has been considered a unique target for AAV gene therapy. AAV vectors have shown promising results for the treatment of several CNS disorders including Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Giant Axonal Neuropathy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Tay Sachs Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and others, demonstrating safety and success. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Zolgensma and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of Upstaza, for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADC) respectively, represent this success, all while highlighting significant differences in immune responses to AAV, particularly with regards to therapeutic administration route. AAV therapies like Upstaza that are injected directly into the immune-specialized brain have been characterized by mild immune response profiles and minor adverse events, whereas therapies like Zolgensma that are injected systemically demonstrate more robust immune stimulation and off-target toxicities. Despite these contrasting parallels, these therapeutics and others in the clinic have demonstrated clinical benefit for patients, warranting further exploration of immune responses to CNS-directed AAV clinical trials. Thus, in this review, we discuss effects of different routes of AAV administration on eliciting local and peripheral immune responses specifically observed in CNS-targeted trials.</AbstractText
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Involuntary emotional expressive disorder: a case for a deeper neuroethics. Understanding why we produce labels for neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), and how we use those words to tell stories about our brain, as well as which groups control such diagnostic discourse, is important to a wise understanding of our cognitive abilities, their limitations, and even our very human nature. Here, we explore the history and current focus of a newly emerging field called neuroethics and explore its relationship (or lack thereof) to a newly created clinical syndrome called involuntary emotional expressive disorder (IEED). The main argument concerns the lack of neuroethical discussion of issues pertinent to social influences on disease and the construction of professional specialization. We are critical of the processes associated with the creation of both the field and the syndrome, and express concern about their eventual outcomes. The interaction of social, political, and business institutions, the inherent interests of the advancement of larger research projects (and the individuals that compose them), their potential for profit, and other incentives to enhance marketability and public attention toward certain research programs will be examined as we discuss the development of the field of neuroethics. Similarly, we argue that these social factors and forces are instrumental in the development of IEED as a recognizable category and condition. Our critique is guided by the hope that through such analyses we can improve our understanding of how we go about our academic activities in cognitive neuroscience and also improve our efforts to help people suffering from neuropsychiatric conditions, such as dementia.</AbstractText
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Ethical considerations of neuroscience research: the perspectives on neuroethics in Japan. Recent technologies and developments in neuroscience have contributed to remarkable scientific discoveries, and have also raised many new philosophical, ethical, legal, and social issues. Research in "neuroethics" has identified various ethical issues, which will be difficult for current biomedical ethics to resolve from both an experimental and a social perspective, such as criminal applications of brain scans, incidental findings during non-clinical brain imaging, and cognitive enhancement. Although American and European neuroscience societies have demonstrated immediate, concrete reactions to these ethical issues, including academic conferences, study programs, and publications, Japanese neuroscientists have so far produced little response. Ethics is tightly linked with one's religion, nationality, culture, and social background, whereas science is tightly linked with the demand, economics, and politics of the society to which individuals belong. Taken together, it is important and necessary for Japanese neuroscientists to consider the ethical problems in Japanese neuroscience. In this paper, we first review the history of neuroethics in the world, and then report the less-developed ethical issues in the Japanese neuroscience community, focusing on neuroimaging and manipulative neuroscience as a first step in discussing how to apply principles in neuroethics to this rapidly progressing field of research.</AbstractText
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Immune responses to central nervous system directed adeno-associated virus gene therapy: Does direct CNS delivery make a difference? Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene therapy is a leading gene delivery platform with potential to transform the landscape of treatment for neurological disorders. While AAV is deemed non-immunogenic compared to other viral vectors, adverse immune reactions have been observed in the clinic, raising concerns. As the central nervous system (CNS) has a tightly regulated immune system, characterized by a degree of tolerance, it has been considered a unique target for AAV gene therapy. AAV vectors have shown promising results for the treatment of several CNS disorders including Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Giant Axonal Neuropathy, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Tay Sachs Disease, Parkinson's Disease, and others, demonstrating safety and success. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of Zolgensma and European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of Upstaza, for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency (AADC) respectively, represent this success, all while highlighting significant differences in immune responses to AAV, particularly with regards to therapeutic administration route. AAV therapies like Upstaza that are injected directly into the immune-specialized brain have been characterized by mild immune response profiles and minor adverse events, whereas therapies like Zolgensma that are injected systemically demonstrate more robust immune stimulation and off-target toxicities. Despite these contrasting parallels, these therapeutics and others in the clinic have demonstrated clinical benefit for patients, warranting further exploration of immune responses to CNS-directed AAV clinical trials. Thus, in this review, we discuss effects of different routes of AAV administration on eliciting local and peripheral immune responses specifically observed in CNS-targeted trials.</AbstractText
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26040508
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27814775
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25794823
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Optimized protocols for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with thoracic metallic implants.
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A metal artifact reduction method for a dental CT based on adaptive local thresholding and prior image generation.
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IL-17 and neutrophils: unexpected players in the type 2 immune response.
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Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a valuable tool in congenital heart disease; however patients frequently have metal devices in the chest from the treatment of their disease that complicate imaging. Methods are needed to improve imaging around metal implants near the heart. Basic sequence parameter manipulations have the potential to minimize artifact while limiting effects on image resolution and quality.</AbstractText Our objective was to design cine and static cardiac imaging sequences to minimize metal artifact while maintaining image quality.</AbstractText Using systematic variation of standard imaging parameters on a fluid-filled phantom containing commonly used metal cardiac devices, we developed optimized sequences for steady-state free precession (SSFP), gradient recalled echo (GRE) cine imaging, and turbo spin-echo (TSE) black-blood imaging. We imaged 17 consecutive patients undergoing routine cardiac MR with 25 metal implants of various origins using both standard and optimized imaging protocols for a given slice position. We rated images for quality and metal artifact size by measuring metal artifact in two orthogonal planes within the image.</AbstractText All metal artifacts were reduced with optimized imaging. The average metal artifact reduction for the optimized SSFP cine was 1.5+/-1.8 mm, and for the optimized GRE cine the reduction was 4.6+/-4.5 mm (P < 0.05). Quality ratings favored the optimized GRE cine. Similarly, the average metal artifact reduction for the optimized TSE images was 1.6+/-1.7 mm (P < 0.05), and quality ratings favored the optimized TSE imaging.</AbstractText Imaging sequences tailored to minimize metal artifact are easily created by modifying basic sequence parameters, and images are superior to standard imaging sequences in both quality and artifact size. Specifically, for optimized cine imaging a GRE sequence should be used with settings that favor short echo time, i.e. flow compensation off, weak asymmetrical echo and a relatively high receiver bandwidth. For static black-blood imaging, a TSE sequence should be used with fat saturation turned off and high receiver bandwidth.</AbstractText
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Metal artifacts appearing as streaks and shadows often compromise readability of computed tomography (CT) images. Particularly in a dental CT in which high resolution imaging is crucial for precise preparation of dental implants or orthodontic devices, reduction of metal artifacts is very important. However, metal artifact reduction algorithms developed for a general medical CT may not work well in a dental CT since teeth themselves also have high attenuation coefficients.</AbstractText To reduce metal artifacts in dental CT images, we made prior images by weighted summation of two images: one, a streak-reduced image reconstructed from the metal-region-modified projection data, and the other a metal-free image reconstructed from the original projection data followed by metal region deletion. To make the streak-reduced image, we precisely segmented the metal region based on adaptive local thresholding, and then, we modified the metal region on the projection data using linear interpolation. We made forward projection of the prior image to make the prior projection data. We replaced the pixel values at the metal region in the original projection data with the ones taken from the prior projection data, and then, we finally reconstructed images from the replaced projection data. To validate the proposed method, we made computational simulations and also we made experiments on teeth phantoms using a micro-CT. We compared the results with the ones obtained by the fusion prior-based metal artifact reduction (FP-MAR) method.</AbstractText In the simulation studies using a bilateral prostheses phantom and a dental phantom, the proposed method showed a performance similar to the FP-MAR method in terms of the edge profile and the structural similarity index when an optimal global threshold was chosen for the FP-MAR method. In the imaging studies of teeth phantoms, the proposed method showed a better performance than the FP-MAR method in reducing the streak artifacts without introducing any contrast anomaly.</AbstractText The simulation and experimental imaging studies suggest that the proposed method can be used for reducing metal artifacts in dental CT images.</AbstractText
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The study of immunity to helminth infection has been central to understanding the function of type 2 cytokines and their targets. Although type 2 cytokines are considered anti-inflammatory and promote tissue repair, they also contribute to allergy and fibrosis. Here, we utilise data from helminth infection models, to illustrate that IL-17 and neutrophils, typically associated with pro-inflammatory responses, are intimately linked with type 2 immunity. Neutrophils work with IL-4Rα-activated macrophages to control incoming larvae but this comes at a cost of enhanced tissue damage. Chitinase like proteins (CLPs) bridge these diverse outcomes, inducing both protective IL-17 and reparative Th2 responses. Dysregulation of CLPs, IL-17 and neutrophils likely contribute to disease severity and pathology associated with type 2 immunity.</AbstractText
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Optimized protocols for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with thoracic metallic implants. Cardiac magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is a valuable tool in congenital heart disease; however patients frequently have metal devices in the chest from the treatment of their disease that complicate imaging. Methods are needed to improve imaging around metal implants near the heart. Basic sequence parameter manipulations have the potential to minimize artifact while limiting effects on image resolution and quality.</AbstractText Our objective was to design cine and static cardiac imaging sequences to minimize metal artifact while maintaining image quality.</AbstractText Using systematic variation of standard imaging parameters on a fluid-filled phantom containing commonly used metal cardiac devices, we developed optimized sequences for steady-state free precession (SSFP), gradient recalled echo (GRE) cine imaging, and turbo spin-echo (TSE) black-blood imaging. We imaged 17 consecutive patients undergoing routine cardiac MR with 25 metal implants of various origins using both standard and optimized imaging protocols for a given slice position. We rated images for quality and metal artifact size by measuring metal artifact in two orthogonal planes within the image.</AbstractText All metal artifacts were reduced with optimized imaging. The average metal artifact reduction for the optimized SSFP cine was 1.5+/-1.8 mm, and for the optimized GRE cine the reduction was 4.6+/-4.5 mm (P < 0.05). Quality ratings favored the optimized GRE cine. Similarly, the average metal artifact reduction for the optimized TSE images was 1.6+/-1.7 mm (P < 0.05), and quality ratings favored the optimized TSE imaging.</AbstractText Imaging sequences tailored to minimize metal artifact are easily created by modifying basic sequence parameters, and images are superior to standard imaging sequences in both quality and artifact size. Specifically, for optimized cine imaging a GRE sequence should be used with settings that favor short echo time, i.e. flow compensation off, weak asymmetrical echo and a relatively high receiver bandwidth. For static black-blood imaging, a TSE sequence should be used with fat saturation turned off and high receiver bandwidth.</AbstractText
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A metal artifact reduction method for a dental CT based on adaptive local thresholding and prior image generation. Metal artifacts appearing as streaks and shadows often compromise readability of computed tomography (CT) images. Particularly in a dental CT in which high resolution imaging is crucial for precise preparation of dental implants or orthodontic devices, reduction of metal artifacts is very important. However, metal artifact reduction algorithms developed for a general medical CT may not work well in a dental CT since teeth themselves also have high attenuation coefficients.</AbstractText To reduce metal artifacts in dental CT images, we made prior images by weighted summation of two images: one, a streak-reduced image reconstructed from the metal-region-modified projection data, and the other a metal-free image reconstructed from the original projection data followed by metal region deletion. To make the streak-reduced image, we precisely segmented the metal region based on adaptive local thresholding, and then, we modified the metal region on the projection data using linear interpolation. We made forward projection of the prior image to make the prior projection data. We replaced the pixel values at the metal region in the original projection data with the ones taken from the prior projection data, and then, we finally reconstructed images from the replaced projection data. To validate the proposed method, we made computational simulations and also we made experiments on teeth phantoms using a micro-CT. We compared the results with the ones obtained by the fusion prior-based metal artifact reduction (FP-MAR) method.</AbstractText In the simulation studies using a bilateral prostheses phantom and a dental phantom, the proposed method showed a performance similar to the FP-MAR method in terms of the edge profile and the structural similarity index when an optimal global threshold was chosen for the FP-MAR method. In the imaging studies of teeth phantoms, the proposed method showed a better performance than the FP-MAR method in reducing the streak artifacts without introducing any contrast anomaly.</AbstractText The simulation and experimental imaging studies suggest that the proposed method can be used for reducing metal artifacts in dental CT images.</AbstractText
|
IL-17 and neutrophils: unexpected players in the type 2 immune response. The study of immunity to helminth infection has been central to understanding the function of type 2 cytokines and their targets. Although type 2 cytokines are considered anti-inflammatory and promote tissue repair, they also contribute to allergy and fibrosis. Here, we utilise data from helminth infection models, to illustrate that IL-17 and neutrophils, typically associated with pro-inflammatory responses, are intimately linked with type 2 immunity. Neutrophils work with IL-4Rα-activated macrophages to control incoming larvae but this comes at a cost of enhanced tissue damage. Chitinase like proteins (CLPs) bridge these diverse outcomes, inducing both protective IL-17 and reparative Th2 responses. Dysregulation of CLPs, IL-17 and neutrophils likely contribute to disease severity and pathology associated with type 2 immunity.</AbstractText
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38833780
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22079398
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39416395
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Event representation at the scale of ordinary experience.
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Social memories in rodents: methods, mechanisms and modulation by stress.
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Restless Leg Syndrome and Its Relation to Mirtazapine: A Case Report.
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Weeks are divided into weekdays and weekends; years into semesters and seasons; lives into stages like childhood, adulthood, and adolescence. How does the structure of experience shape memory? Though much work has examined event representation in human cognition, little work has explored event representation at the scale of ordinary experience. Here, we use shared experiences - in the form of popular television shows - to explore how memories are shaped by event structure at a large scale. We find that memories for events in these shows exhibit several hallmarks of event cognition. Namely, we find that memories are organized with respect to their event structure (boundaries), and that beginnings and endings are better remembered at multiple levels of the event hierarchy simultaneously. These patterns seem to be partially, but not fully, explained by the perceived story-relevance of events. Lastly, using a longitudinal design, we also show how event representations evolve over periods of several months. These results offer an understanding of event cognition at the scale of ordinary human lives.</AbstractText
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Intact social memory forms the basis of meaningful interactions between individuals. Many factors can modulate the quality of social memory, and these have been studied in detail in rodents. Social memory, however, cannot be considered a single entity. The term social memory reflects different processes, such as social recognition of a novel conspecific individual and social learning (or 'learning from others'). This review summarizes the findings obtained with behavioral paradigms that were developed for the study of memory formation by social recognition and social learning. In particular, we focus on studies that include tests for social habituation/discrimination paradigms, tests for memory of a previously established social hierarchy and the social transmission of the food preference test. The role of individual differences and the main neurobiological mechanisms (i.e., the brain regions and neurochemical systems involved) that have been implicated in each of these types of social-related memories are reviewed. In addition, we address the key modulatory influence of stress on the formation of these types of memories; discussing the contribution of central (corticotropin-releasing factor, CRF) and peripheral (glucocorticoids) stress systems and their interactions with the social neuropeptide systems. Overall, we present here a general overview of the current state of a thriving research area within the field of social neuroscience.</AbstractText
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Major depressive disorder (MDD) and Restless legs syndrome (RLS) present complex clinical challenges, often coexisting and complicating treatment strategies. While the relationship between MDD and RLS remains somewhat elusive, emerging evidence suggests a potential interplay between antidepressant medications and the worsening of RLS symptoms. This case report illuminates an instance where mirtazapine, a tetracyclic antidepressant commonly used in MDD, precipitated a resurgence of RLS symptoms in a patient with a previously controlled presentation.</AbstractText
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Event representation at the scale of ordinary experience. Weeks are divided into weekdays and weekends; years into semesters and seasons; lives into stages like childhood, adulthood, and adolescence. How does the structure of experience shape memory? Though much work has examined event representation in human cognition, little work has explored event representation at the scale of ordinary experience. Here, we use shared experiences - in the form of popular television shows - to explore how memories are shaped by event structure at a large scale. We find that memories for events in these shows exhibit several hallmarks of event cognition. Namely, we find that memories are organized with respect to their event structure (boundaries), and that beginnings and endings are better remembered at multiple levels of the event hierarchy simultaneously. These patterns seem to be partially, but not fully, explained by the perceived story-relevance of events. Lastly, using a longitudinal design, we also show how event representations evolve over periods of several months. These results offer an understanding of event cognition at the scale of ordinary human lives.</AbstractText
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Social memories in rodents: methods, mechanisms and modulation by stress. Intact social memory forms the basis of meaningful interactions between individuals. Many factors can modulate the quality of social memory, and these have been studied in detail in rodents. Social memory, however, cannot be considered a single entity. The term social memory reflects different processes, such as social recognition of a novel conspecific individual and social learning (or 'learning from others'). This review summarizes the findings obtained with behavioral paradigms that were developed for the study of memory formation by social recognition and social learning. In particular, we focus on studies that include tests for social habituation/discrimination paradigms, tests for memory of a previously established social hierarchy and the social transmission of the food preference test. The role of individual differences and the main neurobiological mechanisms (i.e., the brain regions and neurochemical systems involved) that have been implicated in each of these types of social-related memories are reviewed. In addition, we address the key modulatory influence of stress on the formation of these types of memories; discussing the contribution of central (corticotropin-releasing factor, CRF) and peripheral (glucocorticoids) stress systems and their interactions with the social neuropeptide systems. Overall, we present here a general overview of the current state of a thriving research area within the field of social neuroscience.</AbstractText
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Restless Leg Syndrome and Its Relation to Mirtazapine: A Case Report. Major depressive disorder (MDD) and Restless legs syndrome (RLS) present complex clinical challenges, often coexisting and complicating treatment strategies. While the relationship between MDD and RLS remains somewhat elusive, emerging evidence suggests a potential interplay between antidepressant medications and the worsening of RLS symptoms. This case report illuminates an instance where mirtazapine, a tetracyclic antidepressant commonly used in MDD, precipitated a resurgence of RLS symptoms in a patient with a previously controlled presentation.</AbstractText
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35392638
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30600114
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36301952
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Alterations in Functional Network Topology Within Normal Hemispheres Contralateral to Anterior Circulation Steno-Occlusive Disease: A Resting-State BOLD Study.
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Nucleus accumbens neurochemistry in human anxiety: A 7 T (1)H-MRS study.
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Compassion fatigue among frontline healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic in Tunisia.
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The purpose of this study was to assess spatially remote effects of hemodynamic impairment on functional network topology contralateral to unilateral anterior circulation steno-occlusive disease (SOD) using resting-state blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging, and to investigate the relationships between network connectivity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), a measure of hemodynamic stress. Twenty patients with unilateral, chronic anterior circulation SOD and 20 age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state BOLD imaging. Five-minute standardized baseline BOLD acquisition was followed by acetazolamide infusion to measure CVR. The BOLD baseline was used to analyze network connectivity contralateral to the diseased hemispheres of SOD patients. Compared to healthy controls, reduced network degree (<i
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Individual differences in anxiety provide a differential predisposition to develop neuropsychiatric disorders. The neurochemical underpinnings of anxiety remain elusive, particularly in deep structures, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) whose involvement in anxiety is being increasingly recognized. We examined the associations between the neurochemical profile of human NAc metabolites involved in neural excitation and inhibition and inter-individual variation in temperamental and situational anxiety. Twenty-seven healthy 20-30 years-old human males were phenotyped with questionnaires for state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), social anxiety (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale), negative mood (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and fatigue (Mental and Physical State Energy and Fatigue Scales, SEF). Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<sup
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Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF), which not only leads to decreased mental and physical health, but also to deterioration in the safety of care delivered. Our study aims to measure compassion satisfaction (CS), CF levels and their predictors among Tunisian HCWs.</AbstractText We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs caring for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients, staff at two university hospitals in Sousse, Tunisia during the 4thwave of coronavirus through a self-administrated Questionnaire, using the French version of the Professional Quality of Life scale ProQol, version 5.</AbstractText A total of 274 professionals were recruited with a mean age of 32.87±8.35 years. HCWs tend to have an overall moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout with mean scores 35.09±7.08, 29.72±7.62, 28.54±5.44 respectively. Self-reported resilience (β = 0.14, p = 10-3), work engagement (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) and burnout (β = -0.32, p = 10-3) were the predictors of compassion satisfaction in the linear regression analysis (adjusted r2 = 0.45). Similarly, limited work experience, compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic sub-scores were the determinants of burnout (β = -0.1, p = 0.04; β = -0.54, p = 10-3; β = 0.35, p = 10-3 respectively); (adjusted r2 = 0.48). Regarding STS, female professionals (β = 0.20, p = 10-3), being married (β = 0.19, p = 10-3), the fear of transmitting the infection (β = 0.11, p = 0.03) and burnout (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) were the predictors for the occurrence of secondary traumatic stress (adjusted r2 = 0.48).</AbstractText More resilience promoting interventions and more coping skills programs must be implemented to fulfill HCWs' psychological well-being needs.</AbstractText
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Alterations in Functional Network Topology Within Normal Hemispheres Contralateral to Anterior Circulation Steno-Occlusive Disease: A Resting-State BOLD Study. The purpose of this study was to assess spatially remote effects of hemodynamic impairment on functional network topology contralateral to unilateral anterior circulation steno-occlusive disease (SOD) using resting-state blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) imaging, and to investigate the relationships between network connectivity and cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), a measure of hemodynamic stress. Twenty patients with unilateral, chronic anterior circulation SOD and 20 age-matched healthy controls underwent resting-state BOLD imaging. Five-minute standardized baseline BOLD acquisition was followed by acetazolamide infusion to measure CVR. The BOLD baseline was used to analyze network connectivity contralateral to the diseased hemispheres of SOD patients. Compared to healthy controls, reduced network degree (<i
|
Nucleus accumbens neurochemistry in human anxiety: A 7 T (1)H-MRS study. Individual differences in anxiety provide a differential predisposition to develop neuropsychiatric disorders. The neurochemical underpinnings of anxiety remain elusive, particularly in deep structures, such as the nucleus accumbens (NAc) whose involvement in anxiety is being increasingly recognized. We examined the associations between the neurochemical profile of human NAc metabolites involved in neural excitation and inhibition and inter-individual variation in temperamental and situational anxiety. Twenty-seven healthy 20-30 years-old human males were phenotyped with questionnaires for state and trait anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI), social anxiety (Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale), negative mood (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI) and fatigue (Mental and Physical State Energy and Fatigue Scales, SEF). Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (<sup
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Compassion fatigue among frontline healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic in Tunisia. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are highly vulnerable to compassion fatigue (CF), which not only leads to decreased mental and physical health, but also to deterioration in the safety of care delivered. Our study aims to measure compassion satisfaction (CS), CF levels and their predictors among Tunisian HCWs.</AbstractText We conducted a cross-sectional study among HCWs caring for confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients, staff at two university hospitals in Sousse, Tunisia during the 4thwave of coronavirus through a self-administrated Questionnaire, using the French version of the Professional Quality of Life scale ProQol, version 5.</AbstractText A total of 274 professionals were recruited with a mean age of 32.87±8.35 years. HCWs tend to have an overall moderate levels of compassion satisfaction, secondary traumatic stress and burnout with mean scores 35.09±7.08, 29.72±7.62, 28.54±5.44 respectively. Self-reported resilience (β = 0.14, p = 10-3), work engagement (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) and burnout (β = -0.32, p = 10-3) were the predictors of compassion satisfaction in the linear regression analysis (adjusted r2 = 0.45). Similarly, limited work experience, compassion satisfaction and secondary traumatic sub-scores were the determinants of burnout (β = -0.1, p = 0.04; β = -0.54, p = 10-3; β = 0.35, p = 10-3 respectively); (adjusted r2 = 0.48). Regarding STS, female professionals (β = 0.20, p = 10-3), being married (β = 0.19, p = 10-3), the fear of transmitting the infection (β = 0.11, p = 0.03) and burnout (β = 0.39, p = 10-3) were the predictors for the occurrence of secondary traumatic stress (adjusted r2 = 0.48).</AbstractText More resilience promoting interventions and more coping skills programs must be implemented to fulfill HCWs' psychological well-being needs.</AbstractText
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38314385
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29222573
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38763990
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Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Preceding Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis.
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Incidence and Causes of Overdiagnosis of Optic Neuritis.
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MRIO: the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition and Analysis Ontology.
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Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are rare neurological disorders that largely affect females within the reproductive age group. The clinical pictures of both diseases can overlap, which therefore places great importance on accurately studying and reporting their concurrence. Therein, we report a case of IIH presenting and progressing simultaneously with MS. This young, previously healthy female presented with the primary complaint of a severe right-sided headache associated with blurred vision and a finding of papilledema. The initial investigations including a lumbar puncture (LP) that revealed high opening pressure (more than 25 mm H<sub
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Diagnostic error is an important source of medical error. Overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may prompt unnecessary and costly diagnostic tests, procedures, and treatments.</AbstractText To assess the incidence of and characterize factors contributing to overdiagnosis of acute optic neuritis.</AbstractText In this retrospective clinic-based cross-sectional study of new patient encounters, 122 patients referred for acute optic neuritis at a university-based Midwestern neuro-ophthalmology clinic between January 2014 and October 2016 were studied. Data were analyzed from September 2016 to July 2017.</AbstractText Definite diagnosis was determined by neuro-ophthalmologists. For patients with alterative diagnoses, the Diagnosis Error Evaluation and Research taxonomy tool was applied to categorize the type of diagnostic error.</AbstractText The primary outcome was the primary type of diagnostic error in patients erroneously diagnosed as having optic neuritis. Secondary outcomes included final diagnosis and interventions undergone prior to referral.</AbstractText A total of 122 patients were referred with acute optic neuritis during the study period; 88 (72.1%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 42.6 (14.0) years. Of these, 49 patients (40.2%; 95% CI, 31.4-49.4) were confirmed to have optic neuritis, and 73 (59.8%; 95% CI, 50.6-68.6) had an alternative diagnosis. The most common alternative diagnoses were headache and eye pain, functional visual loss, and other optic neuropathies, particularly nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The most common diagnostic error was eliciting or interpreting critical elements of history, which occurred in 24 of 73 patients (33%) with alternative diagnoses. Other common errors included errors weighing or considering alternative diagnoses (23 patients [32%]), errors weighing or interpreting physical examination findings (15 patients [21%]), and misinterpreting diagnostic test results (11 patients [15%]). In patients with alterative diagnoses, 12 (16%) had normal magnetic resonance imaging findings preceding the referral, 12 (16%) had received a lumbar puncture, and 8 (11%) had received unnecessary treatment with intravenous steroids.</AbstractText These data suggest that nearly 60% (95% CI, 50.6-68.6) of patients referred for optic neuritis have an alternative diagnosis, with the most common errors being overreliance on a single item of history and failure to consider alternative diagnoses. Understanding pitfalls leading to overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may improve clinicians' diagnostic process.</AbstractText
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Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is a useful tool in both the clinic and research settings, aiding in the diagnosis and treatments of neurological disease and expanding our knowledge of the brain. However, there are many challenges inherent in managing and analyzing MRI data, due in large part to the heterogeneity of data acquisition. To address this, we have developed MRIO, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition and Analysis Ontology. MRIO provides well-reasoned classes and logical axioms for the acquisition of several MRI acquisition types and well-known, peer-reviewed analysis software, facilitating the use of MRI data. These classes provide a common language for the neuroimaging research process and help standardize the organization and analysis of MRI data for reproducible datasets. We also provide queries for automated assignment of analyses for given MRI types. MRIO aids researchers in managing neuroimaging studies by helping organize and annotate MRI data and integrating with existing standards such as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and the Brain Imaging Data Structure, enhancing reproducibility and interoperability. MRIO was constructed according to Open Biomedical Ontologies Foundry principles and has contributed several classes to the Ontology for Biomedical Investigations to help bridge neuroimaging data to other domains. MRIO addresses the need for a "common language" for MRI that can help manage the neuroimaging research, by enabling researchers to identify appropriate analyses for sets of scans and facilitating data organization and reporting.</AbstractText
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Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Preceding Tumefactive Multiple Sclerosis. Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and multiple sclerosis (MS) are rare neurological disorders that largely affect females within the reproductive age group. The clinical pictures of both diseases can overlap, which therefore places great importance on accurately studying and reporting their concurrence. Therein, we report a case of IIH presenting and progressing simultaneously with MS. This young, previously healthy female presented with the primary complaint of a severe right-sided headache associated with blurred vision and a finding of papilledema. The initial investigations including a lumbar puncture (LP) that revealed high opening pressure (more than 25 mm H<sub
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Incidence and Causes of Overdiagnosis of Optic Neuritis. Diagnostic error is an important source of medical error. Overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may prompt unnecessary and costly diagnostic tests, procedures, and treatments.</AbstractText To assess the incidence of and characterize factors contributing to overdiagnosis of acute optic neuritis.</AbstractText In this retrospective clinic-based cross-sectional study of new patient encounters, 122 patients referred for acute optic neuritis at a university-based Midwestern neuro-ophthalmology clinic between January 2014 and October 2016 were studied. Data were analyzed from September 2016 to July 2017.</AbstractText Definite diagnosis was determined by neuro-ophthalmologists. For patients with alterative diagnoses, the Diagnosis Error Evaluation and Research taxonomy tool was applied to categorize the type of diagnostic error.</AbstractText The primary outcome was the primary type of diagnostic error in patients erroneously diagnosed as having optic neuritis. Secondary outcomes included final diagnosis and interventions undergone prior to referral.</AbstractText A total of 122 patients were referred with acute optic neuritis during the study period; 88 (72.1%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 42.6 (14.0) years. Of these, 49 patients (40.2%; 95% CI, 31.4-49.4) were confirmed to have optic neuritis, and 73 (59.8%; 95% CI, 50.6-68.6) had an alternative diagnosis. The most common alternative diagnoses were headache and eye pain, functional visual loss, and other optic neuropathies, particularly nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. The most common diagnostic error was eliciting or interpreting critical elements of history, which occurred in 24 of 73 patients (33%) with alternative diagnoses. Other common errors included errors weighing or considering alternative diagnoses (23 patients [32%]), errors weighing or interpreting physical examination findings (15 patients [21%]), and misinterpreting diagnostic test results (11 patients [15%]). In patients with alterative diagnoses, 12 (16%) had normal magnetic resonance imaging findings preceding the referral, 12 (16%) had received a lumbar puncture, and 8 (11%) had received unnecessary treatment with intravenous steroids.</AbstractText These data suggest that nearly 60% (95% CI, 50.6-68.6) of patients referred for optic neuritis have an alternative diagnosis, with the most common errors being overreliance on a single item of history and failure to consider alternative diagnoses. Understanding pitfalls leading to overdiagnosis of optic neuritis may improve clinicians' diagnostic process.</AbstractText
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MRIO: the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition and Analysis Ontology. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain is a useful tool in both the clinic and research settings, aiding in the diagnosis and treatments of neurological disease and expanding our knowledge of the brain. However, there are many challenges inherent in managing and analyzing MRI data, due in large part to the heterogeneity of data acquisition. To address this, we have developed MRIO, the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Acquisition and Analysis Ontology. MRIO provides well-reasoned classes and logical axioms for the acquisition of several MRI acquisition types and well-known, peer-reviewed analysis software, facilitating the use of MRI data. These classes provide a common language for the neuroimaging research process and help standardize the organization and analysis of MRI data for reproducible datasets. We also provide queries for automated assignment of analyses for given MRI types. MRIO aids researchers in managing neuroimaging studies by helping organize and annotate MRI data and integrating with existing standards such as Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine and the Brain Imaging Data Structure, enhancing reproducibility and interoperability. MRIO was constructed according to Open Biomedical Ontologies Foundry principles and has contributed several classes to the Ontology for Biomedical Investigations to help bridge neuroimaging data to other domains. MRIO addresses the need for a "common language" for MRI that can help manage the neuroimaging research, by enabling researchers to identify appropriate analyses for sets of scans and facilitating data organization and reporting.</AbstractText
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39095901
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7791905
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39661152
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Prion protein gene (PRNP) variation in German and Danish cervids.
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Non-genetic propagation of strain-specific properties of scrapie prion protein.
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Changes in Cerebral Hemodynamics During Pediatric Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Congenital Heart Disease.
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The structure of cellular prion proteins encoded by the prion protein gene (PRNP) impacts susceptibility to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. The recent emergence of CWD in Northern European reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), moose (Alces alces alces) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), in parallel with the outbreak in North America, gives reason to investigate PRNP variation in European deer, to implement risk assessments and adjust CWD management for deer populations under threat. We here report PRNP-sequence data from 911 samples of German red, roe (Capreolus capreolus), sika (Cervus nippon) and fallow deer (Dama dama) as well as additional data from 26 Danish red deer close to the German border and four zoo species not native to Germany. No PRNP sequence variation was observed in roe and fallow deer, as previously described for populations across Europe. In contrast, a broad PRNP variation was detected in red deer, with non-synonymous polymorphisms at codons 98, 226 and 247 as well as synonymous mutations at codons 21, 78, 136 and 185. Moreover, a novel 24 bp deletion within the octapeptide repeat was detected. In summary, 14 genotypes were seen in red deer with significant differences in their geographical distribution and frequencies, including geographical clustering of certain genotypes, suggesting "PRNP-linages" in this species. Based on data from North American CWD and the genotyping results of the European CWD cases, we would predict that large proportions of wild cervids in Europe might be susceptible to CWD once introduced to naive populations.</AbstractText
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The infectious agents causing scrapie and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have been postulated to consist solely of the protease-resistant form of prion protein (PrPSc). One unprecedented requirement of the protein-only model is that the 'inheritance' of pathogen strain differences must be mediated by stable variations in PrPSc structure, rather than mutations in an agent-specific nucleic acid. Strain differences in PrPSc structure have been described for the hyper (HY) and drowsy (DY) strains of hamster transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME), a scrapie-like disease originating in mink. Although HY and DY PrPSc are both post-translationally derived from the precursor prion protein (PrPC) they are cleaved at different amino-terminal sites by proteinase K (ref. 8). Here we investigate whether this strain-specific property of PrPSc is transmitted to PrPC during formation of new PrPSc. PrPSc from the HY and DY TME strains converted the protease-sensitive PrPC into two distinct sets of protease-resistant PrP products in a cell-free system. These data provide evidence that self-propagation of PrPSc polymers with distinct three-dimensional structures could be the molecular basis of scrapie strains.</AbstractText
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During pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for congenital heart disease, systemic hemodynamics dramatically change, which also causes changes in the cerebral hemodynamics. One of the representative methods in bedside monitoring for the estimation of cerebral hemodynamics during pediatric cardiac surgery is transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). However, there seem to be few reports on the changes in TCD findings in such operations, especially in cyanotic children. Accordingly, we examined the changes in TCD indices during these procedures in cyanotic children as well as non-cyanotic children. In the post hoc analysis of a previous prospective observational study, TCD indices of the middle cerebral artery at the start and end of surgery in patients aged 6 years or less were compared. The cerebral oxygenation (rSO<sub
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Prion protein gene (PRNP) variation in German and Danish cervids. The structure of cellular prion proteins encoded by the prion protein gene (PRNP) impacts susceptibility to transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, including chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer. The recent emergence of CWD in Northern European reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), moose (Alces alces alces) and red deer (Cervus elaphus), in parallel with the outbreak in North America, gives reason to investigate PRNP variation in European deer, to implement risk assessments and adjust CWD management for deer populations under threat. We here report PRNP-sequence data from 911 samples of German red, roe (Capreolus capreolus), sika (Cervus nippon) and fallow deer (Dama dama) as well as additional data from 26 Danish red deer close to the German border and four zoo species not native to Germany. No PRNP sequence variation was observed in roe and fallow deer, as previously described for populations across Europe. In contrast, a broad PRNP variation was detected in red deer, with non-synonymous polymorphisms at codons 98, 226 and 247 as well as synonymous mutations at codons 21, 78, 136 and 185. Moreover, a novel 24 bp deletion within the octapeptide repeat was detected. In summary, 14 genotypes were seen in red deer with significant differences in their geographical distribution and frequencies, including geographical clustering of certain genotypes, suggesting "PRNP-linages" in this species. Based on data from North American CWD and the genotyping results of the European CWD cases, we would predict that large proportions of wild cervids in Europe might be susceptible to CWD once introduced to naive populations.</AbstractText
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Non-genetic propagation of strain-specific properties of scrapie prion protein. The infectious agents causing scrapie and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies have been postulated to consist solely of the protease-resistant form of prion protein (PrPSc). One unprecedented requirement of the protein-only model is that the 'inheritance' of pathogen strain differences must be mediated by stable variations in PrPSc structure, rather than mutations in an agent-specific nucleic acid. Strain differences in PrPSc structure have been described for the hyper (HY) and drowsy (DY) strains of hamster transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME), a scrapie-like disease originating in mink. Although HY and DY PrPSc are both post-translationally derived from the precursor prion protein (PrPC) they are cleaved at different amino-terminal sites by proteinase K (ref. 8). Here we investigate whether this strain-specific property of PrPSc is transmitted to PrPC during formation of new PrPSc. PrPSc from the HY and DY TME strains converted the protease-sensitive PrPC into two distinct sets of protease-resistant PrP products in a cell-free system. These data provide evidence that self-propagation of PrPSc polymers with distinct three-dimensional structures could be the molecular basis of scrapie strains.</AbstractText
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Changes in Cerebral Hemodynamics During Pediatric Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass for Congenital Heart Disease. During pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for congenital heart disease, systemic hemodynamics dramatically change, which also causes changes in the cerebral hemodynamics. One of the representative methods in bedside monitoring for the estimation of cerebral hemodynamics during pediatric cardiac surgery is transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD). However, there seem to be few reports on the changes in TCD findings in such operations, especially in cyanotic children. Accordingly, we examined the changes in TCD indices during these procedures in cyanotic children as well as non-cyanotic children. In the post hoc analysis of a previous prospective observational study, TCD indices of the middle cerebral artery at the start and end of surgery in patients aged 6 years or less were compared. The cerebral oxygenation (rSO<sub
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39891682
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38393883
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39675487
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Ultra-low-dose coronary CT angiography via super-resolution deep learning reconstruction: impact on image quality, coronary plaque, and stenosis analysis.
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Performance evaluation of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm for dual-energy spectral CT imaging: A phantom study.
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Voluntary running exercise promotes maturation differentiation and myelination of oligodendrocytes around Aβ plaques in the medial prefrontal cortex of APP/PS1 mice.
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To exploit the capability of super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR) to save radiation exposure from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and assess its impact on image quality, coronary plaque quantification and characterization, and stenosis severity analysis.</AbstractText This prospective study included 50 patients who underwent low-dose (LD) and subsequent ultra-low-dose (ULD) CCTA scans. LD CCTA images were reconstructed with hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and ULD CCTA images were reconstructed with HIR and SR-DLR. The objective parameters and subjective scores were compared. Coronary plaques were classified into three components: necrotic, fibrous or calcified content, with absolute volumes (mm<sup Effective dose decreased by 60% from LD to ULD CCTA scans (2.01 ± 0.84 mSv vs. 0.80 ± 0.34 mSv, p < 0.001). ULD SR-DLR was non-inferior or even superior to LD HIR in terms of image quality and showed excellent agreements with LD HIR on the plaque volumes, characterization, and stenosis analysis (ICCs > 0.8). Moreover, there was no evidence of a difference in detecting significant coronary stenosis between the LD HIR and ULD SR-DLR (AUC: 0.90 vs. 0.89; p = 1.0).</AbstractText SR-DLR led to significant radiation dose savings from CCTA while ensuring high image quality and excellent performance in coronary plaque and stenosis analysis.</AbstractText Question How can radiation dose for coronary CT angiography be reduced without compromising image quality or affecting clinical decisions? Finding Super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR) algorithm allows for 60% dose reduction while ensuring high image quality and excellent performance in coronary plaque and stenosis analysis. Clinical relevance Dose optimization via SR-DLR has no detrimental effect on image quality, coronary plaque quantification and characterization, and stenosis severity analysis, which paves the way for its implementation in clinical practice.</AbstractText
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To evaluate the performance of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in dual-energy spectral CT (DEsCT) as a function of radiation dose and image energy level, in comparison with filtered-back-projection (FBP) and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithms.</AbstractText An ACR464 phantom was scanned with DEsCT at four dose levels (3.5 mGy, 5 mGy, 7.5 mGy, and 10 mGy). Virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed at five energy levels (40 keV, 50 keV, 68 keV, 74 keV, and 140 keV) using FBP, 50% and 100% ASIR-V, DLIR at low (DLIR-L), medium (DLIR-M), and high (DLIR-H) settings. The noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d') were computed and compared among reconstructions.</AbstractText NPS area and noise increased as keV decreased, with DLIR having slower increase than FBP and ASIR-V, and DLIR-H having the lowest values. DLIR had the best 40 keV/140 keV noise ratio at various energy levels, DLIR showed higher TTF (50%) than ASIR-V for all materials, especially for the soft tissue-like polystyrene insert, and DLIR-M and DLIR-H provided higher d' than DLIR-L, ASIR-V and FBP in all dose and energy levels. As keV increases, d' increased for acrylic insert, and d' of the 50 keV DLIR-M and DLIR-H images at 3.5 mGy (7.39 and 8.79, respectively) were higher than that (7.20) of the 50 keV ASIR-V50% images at 10 mGy.</AbstractText DLIR provides better noise containment for low keV images in DEsCT and higher TTF(50%) for the polystyrene insert over ASIR-V. DLIR-H has the lowest image noise and highest detectability in all dose and energy levels. DEsCT 50 keV images with DLIR-M and DLIR-H show potential for 65% dose reduction over ASIR-V50% withhigher d'.</AbstractText
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Previous studies have reported that running exercise could improves myelinization in hippocampus. However, the effects of running exercise on the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes, and myelination surrounding Aβ plaques in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain have not been reported.</AbstractText Forty 10-month-old male APP/PS1 AD mice were randomly divided into the AD group and the AD running (AD+RUN) group, while 20 age-matched wild-type littermate mice were included in the WT group. The running group received three-month voluntary running exercise in a running cage, while the AD and WT groups were untreated. After the exercise intervention, all mice were given behavioral tests. The total number of mature oligodendrocytes (CC1<sup The levels of working memory, cognitive memory, spatial learning and memory ability were decreased significantly in the AD group compared to the WT group, while these functions were significantly improved in the AD+RUN group compared to the AD group. The Aβ plaques in the mPFC were significantly reduced in the AD+RUN group compared to the AD group. The total number of CC1<sup Voluntary running exercise could reduce Aβ plaque deposition and promote the maturation and myelination capacity of oligodendrocytes surrounding Aβ plaques in the mPFC of AD mice, thereby improving the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.</AbstractText
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Ultra-low-dose coronary CT angiography via super-resolution deep learning reconstruction: impact on image quality, coronary plaque, and stenosis analysis. To exploit the capability of super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR) to save radiation exposure from coronary CT angiography (CCTA) and assess its impact on image quality, coronary plaque quantification and characterization, and stenosis severity analysis.</AbstractText This prospective study included 50 patients who underwent low-dose (LD) and subsequent ultra-low-dose (ULD) CCTA scans. LD CCTA images were reconstructed with hybrid iterative reconstruction (HIR) and ULD CCTA images were reconstructed with HIR and SR-DLR. The objective parameters and subjective scores were compared. Coronary plaques were classified into three components: necrotic, fibrous or calcified content, with absolute volumes (mm<sup Effective dose decreased by 60% from LD to ULD CCTA scans (2.01 ± 0.84 mSv vs. 0.80 ± 0.34 mSv, p < 0.001). ULD SR-DLR was non-inferior or even superior to LD HIR in terms of image quality and showed excellent agreements with LD HIR on the plaque volumes, characterization, and stenosis analysis (ICCs > 0.8). Moreover, there was no evidence of a difference in detecting significant coronary stenosis between the LD HIR and ULD SR-DLR (AUC: 0.90 vs. 0.89; p = 1.0).</AbstractText SR-DLR led to significant radiation dose savings from CCTA while ensuring high image quality and excellent performance in coronary plaque and stenosis analysis.</AbstractText Question How can radiation dose for coronary CT angiography be reduced without compromising image quality or affecting clinical decisions? Finding Super-resolution deep learning reconstruction (SR-DLR) algorithm allows for 60% dose reduction while ensuring high image quality and excellent performance in coronary plaque and stenosis analysis. Clinical relevance Dose optimization via SR-DLR has no detrimental effect on image quality, coronary plaque quantification and characterization, and stenosis severity analysis, which paves the way for its implementation in clinical practice.</AbstractText
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Performance evaluation of deep learning image reconstruction algorithm for dual-energy spectral CT imaging: A phantom study. To evaluate the performance of deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm in dual-energy spectral CT (DEsCT) as a function of radiation dose and image energy level, in comparison with filtered-back-projection (FBP) and adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction-V (ASIR-V) algorithms.</AbstractText An ACR464 phantom was scanned with DEsCT at four dose levels (3.5 mGy, 5 mGy, 7.5 mGy, and 10 mGy). Virtual monochromatic images were reconstructed at five energy levels (40 keV, 50 keV, 68 keV, 74 keV, and 140 keV) using FBP, 50% and 100% ASIR-V, DLIR at low (DLIR-L), medium (DLIR-M), and high (DLIR-H) settings. The noise power spectrum (NPS), task-based transfer function (TTF) and detectability index (d') were computed and compared among reconstructions.</AbstractText NPS area and noise increased as keV decreased, with DLIR having slower increase than FBP and ASIR-V, and DLIR-H having the lowest values. DLIR had the best 40 keV/140 keV noise ratio at various energy levels, DLIR showed higher TTF (50%) than ASIR-V for all materials, especially for the soft tissue-like polystyrene insert, and DLIR-M and DLIR-H provided higher d' than DLIR-L, ASIR-V and FBP in all dose and energy levels. As keV increases, d' increased for acrylic insert, and d' of the 50 keV DLIR-M and DLIR-H images at 3.5 mGy (7.39 and 8.79, respectively) were higher than that (7.20) of the 50 keV ASIR-V50% images at 10 mGy.</AbstractText DLIR provides better noise containment for low keV images in DEsCT and higher TTF(50%) for the polystyrene insert over ASIR-V. DLIR-H has the lowest image noise and highest detectability in all dose and energy levels. DEsCT 50 keV images with DLIR-M and DLIR-H show potential for 65% dose reduction over ASIR-V50% withhigher d'.</AbstractText
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Voluntary running exercise promotes maturation differentiation and myelination of oligodendrocytes around Aβ plaques in the medial prefrontal cortex of APP/PS1 mice. Previous studies have reported that running exercise could improves myelinization in hippocampus. However, the effects of running exercise on the differentiation and maturation of oligodendrocytes, and myelination surrounding Aβ plaques in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of the Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain have not been reported.</AbstractText Forty 10-month-old male APP/PS1 AD mice were randomly divided into the AD group and the AD running (AD+RUN) group, while 20 age-matched wild-type littermate mice were included in the WT group. The running group received three-month voluntary running exercise in a running cage, while the AD and WT groups were untreated. After the exercise intervention, all mice were given behavioral tests. The total number of mature oligodendrocytes (CC1<sup The levels of working memory, cognitive memory, spatial learning and memory ability were decreased significantly in the AD group compared to the WT group, while these functions were significantly improved in the AD+RUN group compared to the AD group. The Aβ plaques in the mPFC were significantly reduced in the AD+RUN group compared to the AD group. The total number of CC1<sup Voluntary running exercise could reduce Aβ plaque deposition and promote the maturation and myelination capacity of oligodendrocytes surrounding Aβ plaques in the mPFC of AD mice, thereby improving the learning and memory abilities of APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice.</AbstractText
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39932086
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35450117
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40642670
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Kolloidcyster i tredje hjerneventrikkel.
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Blood-brain barrier link to human cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's Disease.
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A Narrative Inquiry Into Problematic Internet Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review.
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Third ventricle colloid cysts are benign lesions that can result in obstructive hydrocephalus with accompanying headache and loss of consciousness. In rare cases, colloid cysts can cause sudden, unexpected death. Colloid cysts are most often discovered as an incidental finding on CT or MRI of the head, without the patient having clinical signs of hydrocephalus.</AbstractText
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Vascular dysfunction is frequently seen in disorders associated with cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent advances in neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers suggest that vascular dysfunction is not an innocent bystander only accompanying neuronal dysfunction. Loss of cerebrovascular integrity, often referred to as breakdown in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), has recently shown to be an early biomarker of human cognitive dysfunction and possibly underlying mechanism of age-related cognitive decline. Damage to the BBB may initiate or further invoke a range of tissue injuries causing synaptic and neuronal dysfunction and cognitive impairment that may contribute to AD. Therefore, better understanding of how vascular dysfunction caused by BBB breakdown interacts with amyloid-β and tau AD biomarkers to confer cognitive impairment may lead to new ways of thinking about pathogenesis, and possibly treatment and prevention of early cognitive impairment, dementia and AD, for which we still do not have effective therapies.</AbstractText
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The inescapable influence of the internet and social media has fundamentally transformed human interaction and behavior, leading to a profound digital dependency in a constantly connected contemporary society. This narrative review explores the surge in internet and social media usage globally, driven by the proliferation of new applications and the ubiquity of smart devices. The evolving landscape of digital platforms, exemplified by the rise of TikTok and the multifunctionality of apps like LinkedIn and Notion, blurs the lines between virtual and physical realms, offering diverse avenues for engagement and interaction. Internet addiction, particularly prevalent among young adults, stems from the allure of instant connection and immersive virtual experiences, shaping behavioral patterns and consumption habits from an early age. Beyond individual boundaries, excessive internet usage poses a societal concern with far-reaching consequences, including detrimental effects on mental health, interpersonal relationships, and overall well-being. This review underscores the urgent need to address internet addiction as a pressing public health issue, highlighting its impact on brain regions associated with addiction and emotional regulation. Understanding the psychological impacts of internet and social media usage is paramount in addressing this prevalent problem, with research linking excessive internet use to various psychological struggles, including depression, anxiety disorders, and disordered eating patterns. As internet addiction increasingly affects daily life, this review explores the underlying causes and trends related to emerging applications. It also highlights the importance of promoting digital well-being and addressing the negative impacts of internet addiction on both individuals and communities.</AbstractText
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Kolloidcyster i tredje hjerneventrikkel. Third ventricle colloid cysts are benign lesions that can result in obstructive hydrocephalus with accompanying headache and loss of consciousness. In rare cases, colloid cysts can cause sudden, unexpected death. Colloid cysts are most often discovered as an incidental finding on CT or MRI of the head, without the patient having clinical signs of hydrocephalus.</AbstractText
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Blood-brain barrier link to human cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's Disease. Vascular dysfunction is frequently seen in disorders associated with cognitive impairment, dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent advances in neuroimaging and fluid biomarkers suggest that vascular dysfunction is not an innocent bystander only accompanying neuronal dysfunction. Loss of cerebrovascular integrity, often referred to as breakdown in the blood-brain barrier (BBB), has recently shown to be an early biomarker of human cognitive dysfunction and possibly underlying mechanism of age-related cognitive decline. Damage to the BBB may initiate or further invoke a range of tissue injuries causing synaptic and neuronal dysfunction and cognitive impairment that may contribute to AD. Therefore, better understanding of how vascular dysfunction caused by BBB breakdown interacts with amyloid-β and tau AD biomarkers to confer cognitive impairment may lead to new ways of thinking about pathogenesis, and possibly treatment and prevention of early cognitive impairment, dementia and AD, for which we still do not have effective therapies.</AbstractText
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A Narrative Inquiry Into Problematic Internet Use Among Young Adults: A Narrative Review. The inescapable influence of the internet and social media has fundamentally transformed human interaction and behavior, leading to a profound digital dependency in a constantly connected contemporary society. This narrative review explores the surge in internet and social media usage globally, driven by the proliferation of new applications and the ubiquity of smart devices. The evolving landscape of digital platforms, exemplified by the rise of TikTok and the multifunctionality of apps like LinkedIn and Notion, blurs the lines between virtual and physical realms, offering diverse avenues for engagement and interaction. Internet addiction, particularly prevalent among young adults, stems from the allure of instant connection and immersive virtual experiences, shaping behavioral patterns and consumption habits from an early age. Beyond individual boundaries, excessive internet usage poses a societal concern with far-reaching consequences, including detrimental effects on mental health, interpersonal relationships, and overall well-being. This review underscores the urgent need to address internet addiction as a pressing public health issue, highlighting its impact on brain regions associated with addiction and emotional regulation. Understanding the psychological impacts of internet and social media usage is paramount in addressing this prevalent problem, with research linking excessive internet use to various psychological struggles, including depression, anxiety disorders, and disordered eating patterns. As internet addiction increasingly affects daily life, this review explores the underlying causes and trends related to emerging applications. It also highlights the importance of promoting digital well-being and addressing the negative impacts of internet addiction on both individuals and communities.</AbstractText
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39939990
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34037288
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40770947
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Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice exhibit altered glial phenotypes and AQP4 differential regulation in the retina and optic nerve, with preserved retinal ganglion cell survival.
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Left Ventricular Strain Analysis by Tissue Tracking- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for early detection of Cardiac Dysfunction in children with End-Stage Renal Disease.
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A Material Platform Based on Dissociative CO(2)-Derived N,O-Acetals for Tunable Degradation of 3D Printable Materials.
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Hydrocephalus, characterized by ventriculomegaly due to cerebrospinal fluid accumulation in the cerebral ventricles, is a co-morbidity factor in several neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is crucial for brain water homeostasis, with Aqp4 knockout mice showing sporadic ventriculomegaly and increased brain water content. Kinase D interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220), a transmembrane protein involved in neuronal survival, synaptic activity and neurogenesis, controls AQP4 levels in ependymocytes and brain astrocytes. Indeed, Kidins220 deficiency in mice leads to hydrocephalus by downregulating VPS35, a key component of the retromer complex, and targeting AQP4 to lysosomal degradation. Importantly, the ependymal barrier of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients shows a similar downregulation of KIDINS220 and AQP4. In addition, pathogenic variants in the KIDINS220 gene are linked to SINO syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by spastic paraplegia, intellectual disability, nystagmus, and obesity associated with hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly. Given the retina's structural and functional similarities to the brain, we hypothesized that Kidins220 deficiency would affect retinal water regulation. However, the diminished expression of Kidins220 and VPS35 in the retina of Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice, did not cause edema or downregulate AQP4 in Müller cells. Surprisingly, there was an increase in AQP4 levels within this glial cell population. Conversely, AQP4 expression in the optic nerve astrocytes was reduced, as observed in brain astrocytes, suggesting a distinctive adaptive response to hydrocephalus in Müller glia within the Kidins220-deficient retina. Furthermore, we observed phenotypic modifications in retinal glia in Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice. However, we did not find any signs of neuronal damage in the retina. Future studies using OCT and OCTA in SINO syndrome patients with ventriculomegaly will be essential in elucidating the relationship between KIDINS220 pathogenic variants, retinal alterations, papilledema, and visual function.</AbstractText
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Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) represents late left ventricle (LV) dysfunction. Cardiac MRI myocardial strain analysis is an alternative method for assessment of LV function.</AbstractText To investigate whether LV strain analysis is more sensitive than LVEF for early detection of systolic dysfunction in children with ESRD.</AbstractText Case control.</AbstractText Thirty-two children with ESRD (median 14 years, 17 females) and 10 healthy control (median 12.5 years, 7 females).</AbstractText A 1.5 T /retrospective ECG-gated steady-state free precession (SSFP).</AbstractText LVEF, and indexed LV mass (LVMi) and LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDVi) were measured. Using tissue tracking analysis, LV endocardial and epicardial contours were traced in short and long axes at end diastole to calculate global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) strains.</AbstractText Cardiac MRI and strain parameters were compared between patients and control, and between subgroup with preserved LVEF and control by Student t-test/Mann Whitney test. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by Receiver operating characteristic analysis. Strain as predictor of poor outcome (mortality, pulmonary edema, and/or heart failure) within 1-year follow up was investigated by binary logistic regression.</AbstractText Compared to control, cardiac MRI LVEF, LVEDVi, LVMi, GLS, GCS and GRS were significantly impaired in patients. Patients with preserved LVEF had significantly higher LVEDVi, LVMi and significantly impaired GCS and GRS than control. Strain parameters were significantly correlated with LVEF, LVEDVi, and LVMi. GCS and GRS demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy than GLS (area under curve: 0.89). LVEF, LVMi, GCS, and GRS were correlated with poor outcome.</AbstractText Cardiac MRI tissue tracking could identify subclinical LV dysfunction in children with ESRD and still preserved LVEF. Furthermore, LV strain parameters (GCS and GRS) were correlated with future cardiovascular events.</AbstractText 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.</AbstractText
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Modern-day thermosetting polymers should be designed with circular economy principles in mind, considering both their recyclability and end-of-life options. Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) have the potential to address the environmental challenges we face today as, in spite of being thermosets, they can be reprocessed by conventional thermoprocessing methods and are thus recyclable. While in the last years intensive efforts have been devoted to the preparation of CANs using sustainable sources, less attention has been paid to their end-of-life options in case they escape from plastic sorting. Herein, we report the development of a new type of dynamic bond, the <i
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Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice exhibit altered glial phenotypes and AQP4 differential regulation in the retina and optic nerve, with preserved retinal ganglion cell survival. Hydrocephalus, characterized by ventriculomegaly due to cerebrospinal fluid accumulation in the cerebral ventricles, is a co-morbidity factor in several neurodevelopmental, psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Aquaporin-4 (AQP4) is crucial for brain water homeostasis, with Aqp4 knockout mice showing sporadic ventriculomegaly and increased brain water content. Kinase D interacting substrate of 220 kDa (Kidins220), a transmembrane protein involved in neuronal survival, synaptic activity and neurogenesis, controls AQP4 levels in ependymocytes and brain astrocytes. Indeed, Kidins220 deficiency in mice leads to hydrocephalus by downregulating VPS35, a key component of the retromer complex, and targeting AQP4 to lysosomal degradation. Importantly, the ependymal barrier of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus patients shows a similar downregulation of KIDINS220 and AQP4. In addition, pathogenic variants in the KIDINS220 gene are linked to SINO syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by spastic paraplegia, intellectual disability, nystagmus, and obesity associated with hydrocephalus and ventriculomegaly. Given the retina's structural and functional similarities to the brain, we hypothesized that Kidins220 deficiency would affect retinal water regulation. However, the diminished expression of Kidins220 and VPS35 in the retina of Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice, did not cause edema or downregulate AQP4 in Müller cells. Surprisingly, there was an increase in AQP4 levels within this glial cell population. Conversely, AQP4 expression in the optic nerve astrocytes was reduced, as observed in brain astrocytes, suggesting a distinctive adaptive response to hydrocephalus in Müller glia within the Kidins220-deficient retina. Furthermore, we observed phenotypic modifications in retinal glia in Kidins220-deficient hydrocephalus mice. However, we did not find any signs of neuronal damage in the retina. Future studies using OCT and OCTA in SINO syndrome patients with ventriculomegaly will be essential in elucidating the relationship between KIDINS220 pathogenic variants, retinal alterations, papilledema, and visual function.</AbstractText
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Left Ventricular Strain Analysis by Tissue Tracking- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for early detection of Cardiac Dysfunction in children with End-Stage Renal Disease. Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) represents late left ventricle (LV) dysfunction. Cardiac MRI myocardial strain analysis is an alternative method for assessment of LV function.</AbstractText To investigate whether LV strain analysis is more sensitive than LVEF for early detection of systolic dysfunction in children with ESRD.</AbstractText Case control.</AbstractText Thirty-two children with ESRD (median 14 years, 17 females) and 10 healthy control (median 12.5 years, 7 females).</AbstractText A 1.5 T /retrospective ECG-gated steady-state free precession (SSFP).</AbstractText LVEF, and indexed LV mass (LVMi) and LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDVi) were measured. Using tissue tracking analysis, LV endocardial and epicardial contours were traced in short and long axes at end diastole to calculate global longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS) and radial (GRS) strains.</AbstractText Cardiac MRI and strain parameters were compared between patients and control, and between subgroup with preserved LVEF and control by Student t-test/Mann Whitney test. Diagnostic accuracy was assessed by Receiver operating characteristic analysis. Strain as predictor of poor outcome (mortality, pulmonary edema, and/or heart failure) within 1-year follow up was investigated by binary logistic regression.</AbstractText Compared to control, cardiac MRI LVEF, LVEDVi, LVMi, GLS, GCS and GRS were significantly impaired in patients. Patients with preserved LVEF had significantly higher LVEDVi, LVMi and significantly impaired GCS and GRS than control. Strain parameters were significantly correlated with LVEF, LVEDVi, and LVMi. GCS and GRS demonstrated greater diagnostic accuracy than GLS (area under curve: 0.89). LVEF, LVMi, GCS, and GRS were correlated with poor outcome.</AbstractText Cardiac MRI tissue tracking could identify subclinical LV dysfunction in children with ESRD and still preserved LVEF. Furthermore, LV strain parameters (GCS and GRS) were correlated with future cardiovascular events.</AbstractText 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY: Stage 2.</AbstractText
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A Material Platform Based on Dissociative CO(2)-Derived N,O-Acetals for Tunable Degradation of 3D Printable Materials. Modern-day thermosetting polymers should be designed with circular economy principles in mind, considering both their recyclability and end-of-life options. Covalent adaptable networks (CANs) have the potential to address the environmental challenges we face today as, in spite of being thermosets, they can be reprocessed by conventional thermoprocessing methods and are thus recyclable. While in the last years intensive efforts have been devoted to the preparation of CANs using sustainable sources, less attention has been paid to their end-of-life options in case they escape from plastic sorting. Herein, we report the development of a new type of dynamic bond, the <i
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36036072
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26458111
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35084433
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[An analyzation on the characterization of frequency tuning of vestibular evoked myogenic potential in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction].
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Chemical penetration enhancers.
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A Novel Tectal/Pretectal Population of Premotor Lens Accommodation Neurons.
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<b <b
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To achieve an efficient skin penetration of most compounds it is necessary to overcome the barrier function of the skin, provided mainly (but not only) by the stratum corneum. Among various strategies used or studied to date, chemical penetration enhancers are the most frequently employed with one of the longest histories of use. There is a multitude of agents described as penetration enhancers, and they present varying properties and structures. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a brief overview of traditional enhancers and some of their properties, focusing on the benefits of combination of chemical enhancers and on selected novel compounds that have shown promise to increase drug delivery into/across the skin.</AbstractText
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Under real-world conditions, saccades are often accompanied by changes in vergence angle and lens accommodation that compensate for changes in the distance between the current fixation point and the next target. As the superior colliculus directs saccades, we examined whether it contains premotor neurons that might control lens compensation for target distance.</AbstractText Rabies virus or recombinant rabies virus was injected into the ciliary bodies of Macaca fascicularis monkeys to label circuits controlling lens accommodation via retrograde transsynaptic transport. In addition, conventional anterograde tracers were used to confirm the rabies findings with respect to projections to preganglionic Edinger-Westphal motoneurons.</AbstractText At time courses that rabies virus labeled lens-related premotor neurons in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation, labeled neurons were not found within the superior colliculus. They were, however, found bilaterally in the medial pretectal nucleus continuing caudally into the tectal longitudinal column, which lies on the midline, between the colliculi. A bilateral projection by this area to the preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus was confirmed by anterograde tracing. Only at longer time courses were cells labeled in the superior colliculus.</AbstractText The superior colliculus does not provide premotor input to preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus motoneurons, but may provide input to lens-related premotor populations in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation. There is, however, a novel third population of lens-related premotor neurons in the tectal longitudinal column and rostrally adjacent medial pretectal nucleus. The specific function of this premotor population remains to be determined.</AbstractText
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[An analyzation on the characterization of frequency tuning of vestibular evoked myogenic potential in patients with unilateral vestibular hypofunction]. <b <b
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Chemical penetration enhancers. To achieve an efficient skin penetration of most compounds it is necessary to overcome the barrier function of the skin, provided mainly (but not only) by the stratum corneum. Among various strategies used or studied to date, chemical penetration enhancers are the most frequently employed with one of the longest histories of use. There is a multitude of agents described as penetration enhancers, and they present varying properties and structures. In this manuscript, we aim to provide a brief overview of traditional enhancers and some of their properties, focusing on the benefits of combination of chemical enhancers and on selected novel compounds that have shown promise to increase drug delivery into/across the skin.</AbstractText
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A Novel Tectal/Pretectal Population of Premotor Lens Accommodation Neurons. Under real-world conditions, saccades are often accompanied by changes in vergence angle and lens accommodation that compensate for changes in the distance between the current fixation point and the next target. As the superior colliculus directs saccades, we examined whether it contains premotor neurons that might control lens compensation for target distance.</AbstractText Rabies virus or recombinant rabies virus was injected into the ciliary bodies of Macaca fascicularis monkeys to label circuits controlling lens accommodation via retrograde transsynaptic transport. In addition, conventional anterograde tracers were used to confirm the rabies findings with respect to projections to preganglionic Edinger-Westphal motoneurons.</AbstractText At time courses that rabies virus labeled lens-related premotor neurons in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation, labeled neurons were not found within the superior colliculus. They were, however, found bilaterally in the medial pretectal nucleus continuing caudally into the tectal longitudinal column, which lies on the midline, between the colliculi. A bilateral projection by this area to the preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus was confirmed by anterograde tracing. Only at longer time courses were cells labeled in the superior colliculus.</AbstractText The superior colliculus does not provide premotor input to preganglionic Edinger-Westphal nucleus motoneurons, but may provide input to lens-related premotor populations in the supraoculomotor area and central mesencephalic reticular formation. There is, however, a novel third population of lens-related premotor neurons in the tectal longitudinal column and rostrally adjacent medial pretectal nucleus. The specific function of this premotor population remains to be determined.</AbstractText
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38526620
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32903028
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39422107
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Enhancing recurrence risk prediction for bladder cancer using multi-sequence MRI radiomics.
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Improving the image quality of DWI in breast cancer: comparison of multi-shot DWI using multiplexed sensitivity encoding to conventional single-shot echo-planar imaging DWI.
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Lung volumes are increased in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries on intrauterine MRI.
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We aimed to develop a radiomics-clinical nomogram using multi-sequence MRI to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) in bladder cancer (BCa) patients and assess its superiority over clinical models.</AbstractText A retrospective cohort of 229 BCa patients with preoperative multi-sequence MRI was divided into a training set (n = 160) and a validation set (n = 69). Radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient, and dynamic contrast-enhanced images. Effective features were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Clinical risk factors were determined via univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, leading to the creation of a radiomics-clinical nomogram. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests assessed the relationship between radiomics features and RFS. We calculated the net reclassification improvement (NRI) to evaluate the added value of the radiomics signature and used decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess the nomogram's clinical validity.</AbstractText Radiomics features significantly correlated with RFS (log-rank p < 0.001) and were independent of clinical factors (p < 0.001). The combined model, incorporating radiomics features and clinical data, demonstrated the best prognostic value, with C-index values of 0.853 in the training set and 0.832 in the validation set. Compared to the clinical model, the radiomics-clinical nomogram exhibited superior calibration and classification (NRI: 0.6768, 95% CI: 0.5549-0.7987, p < 0.001).</AbstractText The radiomics-clinical nomogram, based on multi-sequence MRI, effectively assesses the BCa recurrence risk. It outperforms both the radiomics model and the clinical model in predicting BCa recurrence risk.</AbstractText The radiomics-clinical nomogram, utilizing multi-sequence MRI, holds promise for predicting bladder cancer recurrence, enhancing individualized clinical treatment, and performing tumor surveillance.</AbstractText • Radiomics plays a vital role in predicting bladder cancer recurrence. • Precise prediction of tumor recurrence risk is crucial for clinical management. • MRI-based radiomics models excel in predicting bladder cancer recurrence.</AbstractText
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To compare diffusion-weighted images (DWI) acquired using single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and multiplexed sensitivity encoding (MUSE) in breast cancer.</AbstractText 20 females with pathologically confirmed breast cancer (age 51 ± 12 years) were imaged with ss-EPI-DWI and MUSE-DWI. ADC, normalised ADC (nADC), blur and distortion metrics and qualitative image quality scores were compared. The Crété-Roffet and Mattes mutual information metrics were used to evaluate blurring and distortion, respectively. In a breast phantom, six permutations of MUSE-DWI with varying parallel acceleration factor and number of shots were compared. Differences in ADC and nADC were compared using the coefficient of variation in the phantom and a paired t-test in patients. Differences in blur, distortion and qualitative metrics were analysed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.</AbstractText There was a low coefficient of variation (<2%) in ADC between ss-EPI-DWI and all MUSE-DWI permutations acquired using the phantom. 22 malignant and three benign lesions were identified in 20 patients. ADC values measured using MUSE were significantly lower compared to ss-EPI for malignant but not benign lesions (<i MUSE improves the image quality of breast DWI compared to ss-EPI.</AbstractText MUSE-DWI has superior image quality and reduced blurring and distortion compared to ss-EPI-DWI in breast cancer.</AbstractText
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Fetal brain size is decreased in some children with complex CHDs, and the distribution of blood and accompanying oxygen and nutrients is regionally skewed from early fetal life dependent on the CHD. In transposition of the great arteries, deoxygenated blood preferentially runs to the brain, whereas the more oxygenated blood is directed towards the lungs and the abdomen. Knowledge of whether this impacts intrauterine organ development is limited. We investigated lung, liver, and total intracranial volume in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries using MRI.Eight fetuses with dextro-transposition and without concomitant disease or chromosomal abnormalities and 42 fetuses without CHD or other known diseases were scanned once or twice at gestational age 30 through 39 weeks. The MRI scans were conducted on a 1.5T system, using a 2D balanced steady-state free precession sequence. Slices acquired covered the entire fetus, slice thickness was 10 mm, pixel size 1.5 × 1.5 mm, and scan duration was 30 sec.The mean lung <i
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Enhancing recurrence risk prediction for bladder cancer using multi-sequence MRI radiomics. We aimed to develop a radiomics-clinical nomogram using multi-sequence MRI to predict recurrence-free survival (RFS) in bladder cancer (BCa) patients and assess its superiority over clinical models.</AbstractText A retrospective cohort of 229 BCa patients with preoperative multi-sequence MRI was divided into a training set (n = 160) and a validation set (n = 69). Radiomics features were extracted from T2-weighted images, diffusion-weighted imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient, and dynamic contrast-enhanced images. Effective features were identified using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method. Clinical risk factors were determined via univariate and multivariate Cox analysis, leading to the creation of a radiomics-clinical nomogram. Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests assessed the relationship between radiomics features and RFS. We calculated the net reclassification improvement (NRI) to evaluate the added value of the radiomics signature and used decision curve analysis (DCA) to assess the nomogram's clinical validity.</AbstractText Radiomics features significantly correlated with RFS (log-rank p < 0.001) and were independent of clinical factors (p < 0.001). The combined model, incorporating radiomics features and clinical data, demonstrated the best prognostic value, with C-index values of 0.853 in the training set and 0.832 in the validation set. Compared to the clinical model, the radiomics-clinical nomogram exhibited superior calibration and classification (NRI: 0.6768, 95% CI: 0.5549-0.7987, p < 0.001).</AbstractText The radiomics-clinical nomogram, based on multi-sequence MRI, effectively assesses the BCa recurrence risk. It outperforms both the radiomics model and the clinical model in predicting BCa recurrence risk.</AbstractText The radiomics-clinical nomogram, utilizing multi-sequence MRI, holds promise for predicting bladder cancer recurrence, enhancing individualized clinical treatment, and performing tumor surveillance.</AbstractText • Radiomics plays a vital role in predicting bladder cancer recurrence. • Precise prediction of tumor recurrence risk is crucial for clinical management. • MRI-based radiomics models excel in predicting bladder cancer recurrence.</AbstractText
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Improving the image quality of DWI in breast cancer: comparison of multi-shot DWI using multiplexed sensitivity encoding to conventional single-shot echo-planar imaging DWI. To compare diffusion-weighted images (DWI) acquired using single-shot echo-planar imaging (ss-EPI) and multiplexed sensitivity encoding (MUSE) in breast cancer.</AbstractText 20 females with pathologically confirmed breast cancer (age 51 ± 12 years) were imaged with ss-EPI-DWI and MUSE-DWI. ADC, normalised ADC (nADC), blur and distortion metrics and qualitative image quality scores were compared. The Crété-Roffet and Mattes mutual information metrics were used to evaluate blurring and distortion, respectively. In a breast phantom, six permutations of MUSE-DWI with varying parallel acceleration factor and number of shots were compared. Differences in ADC and nADC were compared using the coefficient of variation in the phantom and a paired t-test in patients. Differences in blur, distortion and qualitative metrics were analysed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test.</AbstractText There was a low coefficient of variation (<2%) in ADC between ss-EPI-DWI and all MUSE-DWI permutations acquired using the phantom. 22 malignant and three benign lesions were identified in 20 patients. ADC values measured using MUSE were significantly lower compared to ss-EPI for malignant but not benign lesions (<i MUSE improves the image quality of breast DWI compared to ss-EPI.</AbstractText MUSE-DWI has superior image quality and reduced blurring and distortion compared to ss-EPI-DWI in breast cancer.</AbstractText
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Lung volumes are increased in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries on intrauterine MRI. Fetal brain size is decreased in some children with complex CHDs, and the distribution of blood and accompanying oxygen and nutrients is regionally skewed from early fetal life dependent on the CHD. In transposition of the great arteries, deoxygenated blood preferentially runs to the brain, whereas the more oxygenated blood is directed towards the lungs and the abdomen. Knowledge of whether this impacts intrauterine organ development is limited. We investigated lung, liver, and total intracranial volume in fetuses with transposition of the great arteries using MRI.Eight fetuses with dextro-transposition and without concomitant disease or chromosomal abnormalities and 42 fetuses without CHD or other known diseases were scanned once or twice at gestational age 30 through 39 weeks. The MRI scans were conducted on a 1.5T system, using a 2D balanced steady-state free precession sequence. Slices acquired covered the entire fetus, slice thickness was 10 mm, pixel size 1.5 × 1.5 mm, and scan duration was 30 sec.The mean lung <i
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33868133
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26332932
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33871969
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There Is More to Mindfulness Than Emotion Regulation: A Study on Brain Structural Networks.
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Socioeconomic Status, Subjective Social Status, and Perceived Stress: Associations with Stress Physiology and Executive Functioning.
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Extending Cryo-EM to Nonaqueous Liquid Systems.
|
Dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation are two psychological constructs closely interrelated, and both appear to improve with the long-term practice of mindfulness meditation. These constructs appear to be related to subcortical, prefrontal, and posterior brain areas involved in emotional processing, cognitive control, self-awareness, and mind wandering. However, no studies have yet discerned the neural basis of dispositional mindfulness that are minimally associated with emotion regulation. In the present study, we use a novel brain structural network analysis approach to study the relationship between structural networks and dispositional mindfulness, measured with two different and widely used instruments [Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)], taking into account the effect of emotion regulation difficulties. We observed a number of different brain regions associated with the different scales and dimensions. The total score of FFMQ and MAAS overlap with the bilateral parahippocampal and fusiform gyri. Additionally, MAAS scores were related to the bilateral hippocampus and the FFMQ total score to the right insula and bilateral amygdala. These results indicate that, depending on the instrument used, the characteristics measured could differ and could also involve different brain systems. However, it seems that brain areas related to emotional reactivity and semantic processing are generally related to Dispositional or trait mindfulness (DM), regardless of the instrument used.</AbstractText
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Several studies have investigated associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and indicators of children's physiological and cognitive self-regulation. Although objective measures of family SES may be good proxies for families' experiences of disadvantage, less is known about subjective aspects of families' experiences. We hypothesize that subjective social status (SSS) and perceived stress may be important independent predictors of children's stress physiology and executive functioning (EF). Eighty-two children from diverse SES backgrounds were administered EF measures and provided saliva samples for cortisol assay. Caregivers reported on objective SES, SSS, and perceived stress. Results suggest that SES and SSS are both independently and positively related to EF. In models predicting stress physiology, higher perceived stress was associated with lower baseline cortisol. Moreover, SES and age interacted to predict cortisol levels such that among younger children, lower SES was associated with higher cortisol, whereas among older children, lower SES was associated with lower cortisol. Results highlight the importance of considering both objective and subjective indicators of families' SES and stressful experiences in relation to multiple aspects of children's self-regulation.</AbstractText
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Cryogenic-temperature transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) of aqueous systems has become a widely used methodology, especially in the study of biological systems and synthetic aqueous systems, such as amphiphile and polymer solutions. Cryogenic-temperature scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), while not as widely used as cryo-TEM, is also found in many laboratories of basic and applied research. The application of these methodologies, referred to collectively as cryogenic-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for direct nanostructural studies of nonaqueous liquid systems is much more limited, although such systems are important in basic research and are found in a very large spectrum of commercial applications. The study of nonaqueous liquid systems by cryo-EM poses many technical challenges. Specimen preparation under controlled conditions of air saturation around the specimen cannot be performed by the currently available commercial system, and the most effective cryogen, freezing ethane, cannot be used for most such liquid systems. Imaging is often complicated by low micrograph contrast and high sensitivity of the specimens to the electron beam.At the beginning of this Account, we describe the basic principles of cryo-EM, emphasizing factors that are essential for successful direct imaging by cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM. We discuss the peculiarities of nonaqueous liquid nanostructured systems when studied with these methodologies and how the technical difficulties in imaging nonaqueous systems, from oil-based to strong acid-based liquids, have been overcome, and the applicability of cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM has been expanded in recent years. Modern cryo-EM has been advanced by a number of instrumental developments, which we describe. In the TEM, these include improved electron field emission guns (FEGs) and microscope optics, the Volta phase plate to enhance image contrast by converting phase differences to amplitude differences without the loss of resolution by an objective lens strong underfocus, and highly sensitive image cameras that allow the recording of TEM images with minimal electron exposure. In the SEM, we take advantage of improved FEGs that allow imaging at a low (around 1 kV) electron acceleration voltage that is essential for high-resolution imaging and for avoiding specimen charging of uncoated nonconductive specimens, better optics, and a variety of sensitive detectors that have considerably improved resolution and, under the proper conditions, give excellent contrast even between elements quite close on the periodic table of the elements, such as the most important oxygen and carbon atoms.Finally we present and analyze several examples from our recent studies, which illustrate the issues presented above, including the remarkable progress made in recent years in this field and the strength and applicability of cryo-EM methodologies.</AbstractText
|
There Is More to Mindfulness Than Emotion Regulation: A Study on Brain Structural Networks. Dispositional mindfulness and emotion regulation are two psychological constructs closely interrelated, and both appear to improve with the long-term practice of mindfulness meditation. These constructs appear to be related to subcortical, prefrontal, and posterior brain areas involved in emotional processing, cognitive control, self-awareness, and mind wandering. However, no studies have yet discerned the neural basis of dispositional mindfulness that are minimally associated with emotion regulation. In the present study, we use a novel brain structural network analysis approach to study the relationship between structural networks and dispositional mindfulness, measured with two different and widely used instruments [Mindfulness Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) and Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ)], taking into account the effect of emotion regulation difficulties. We observed a number of different brain regions associated with the different scales and dimensions. The total score of FFMQ and MAAS overlap with the bilateral parahippocampal and fusiform gyri. Additionally, MAAS scores were related to the bilateral hippocampus and the FFMQ total score to the right insula and bilateral amygdala. These results indicate that, depending on the instrument used, the characteristics measured could differ and could also involve different brain systems. However, it seems that brain areas related to emotional reactivity and semantic processing are generally related to Dispositional or trait mindfulness (DM), regardless of the instrument used.</AbstractText
|
Socioeconomic Status, Subjective Social Status, and Perceived Stress: Associations with Stress Physiology and Executive Functioning. Several studies have investigated associations between socioeconomic status (SES) and indicators of children's physiological and cognitive self-regulation. Although objective measures of family SES may be good proxies for families' experiences of disadvantage, less is known about subjective aspects of families' experiences. We hypothesize that subjective social status (SSS) and perceived stress may be important independent predictors of children's stress physiology and executive functioning (EF). Eighty-two children from diverse SES backgrounds were administered EF measures and provided saliva samples for cortisol assay. Caregivers reported on objective SES, SSS, and perceived stress. Results suggest that SES and SSS are both independently and positively related to EF. In models predicting stress physiology, higher perceived stress was associated with lower baseline cortisol. Moreover, SES and age interacted to predict cortisol levels such that among younger children, lower SES was associated with higher cortisol, whereas among older children, lower SES was associated with lower cortisol. Results highlight the importance of considering both objective and subjective indicators of families' SES and stressful experiences in relation to multiple aspects of children's self-regulation.</AbstractText
|
Extending Cryo-EM to Nonaqueous Liquid Systems. Cryogenic-temperature transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) of aqueous systems has become a widely used methodology, especially in the study of biological systems and synthetic aqueous systems, such as amphiphile and polymer solutions. Cryogenic-temperature scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), while not as widely used as cryo-TEM, is also found in many laboratories of basic and applied research. The application of these methodologies, referred to collectively as cryogenic-temperature electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for direct nanostructural studies of nonaqueous liquid systems is much more limited, although such systems are important in basic research and are found in a very large spectrum of commercial applications. The study of nonaqueous liquid systems by cryo-EM poses many technical challenges. Specimen preparation under controlled conditions of air saturation around the specimen cannot be performed by the currently available commercial system, and the most effective cryogen, freezing ethane, cannot be used for most such liquid systems. Imaging is often complicated by low micrograph contrast and high sensitivity of the specimens to the electron beam.At the beginning of this Account, we describe the basic principles of cryo-EM, emphasizing factors that are essential for successful direct imaging by cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM. We discuss the peculiarities of nonaqueous liquid nanostructured systems when studied with these methodologies and how the technical difficulties in imaging nonaqueous systems, from oil-based to strong acid-based liquids, have been overcome, and the applicability of cryo-TEM and cryo-SEM has been expanded in recent years. Modern cryo-EM has been advanced by a number of instrumental developments, which we describe. In the TEM, these include improved electron field emission guns (FEGs) and microscope optics, the Volta phase plate to enhance image contrast by converting phase differences to amplitude differences without the loss of resolution by an objective lens strong underfocus, and highly sensitive image cameras that allow the recording of TEM images with minimal electron exposure. In the SEM, we take advantage of improved FEGs that allow imaging at a low (around 1 kV) electron acceleration voltage that is essential for high-resolution imaging and for avoiding specimen charging of uncoated nonconductive specimens, better optics, and a variety of sensitive detectors that have considerably improved resolution and, under the proper conditions, give excellent contrast even between elements quite close on the periodic table of the elements, such as the most important oxygen and carbon atoms.Finally we present and analyze several examples from our recent studies, which illustrate the issues presented above, including the remarkable progress made in recent years in this field and the strength and applicability of cryo-EM methodologies.</AbstractText
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31133703
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29481248
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30680310
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The valley Zeeman effect in inter- and intra-valley trions in monolayer WSe(2).
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Strongly Interaction-Enhanced Valley Magnetic Response in Monolayer WSe_{2}.
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Isoflurane Inhibits Dopaminergic Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis Coupled to Ca(V)2.1 and Ca(V)2.2 in Rat Midbrain Neurons.
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Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold great promise for future information processing applications utilizing a combination of electron spin and valley pseudospin. This unique spin system has led to observation of the valley Zeeman effect in neutral and charged excitonic resonances under applied magnetic fields. However, reported values of the trion valley Zeeman splitting remain highly inconsistent across studies. Here, we utilize high quality hBN encapsulated monolayer WSe<sub
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We measure the doping dependence of the valley Zeeman splitting of the fundamental optical transitions in monolayer WSe_{2} under an out-of-plane magnetic field by optical reflection contrast and photoluminescence spectroscopy. A nonlinear valley Zeeman effect, correlated with an over fourfold enhancement in the g factor, is observed. The effect occurs when the Fermi level crosses the spin-split upper conduction band, corresponding to a change of the spin-valley degeneracy from two to four. The enhancement increases and shows no sign of saturation as the sample temperature decreases. Our result demonstrates the importance of the Coulomb interactions in the valley magnetic response of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors.</AbstractText
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Volatile anesthetics affect neuronal signaling by poorly understood mechanisms. Activation of central dopaminergic pathways has been implicated in emergence from general anesthesia. The volatile anesthetic isoflurane differentially inhibits glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis by reducing presynaptic Ca<sup
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The valley Zeeman effect in inter- and intra-valley trions in monolayer WSe(2). Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) hold great promise for future information processing applications utilizing a combination of electron spin and valley pseudospin. This unique spin system has led to observation of the valley Zeeman effect in neutral and charged excitonic resonances under applied magnetic fields. However, reported values of the trion valley Zeeman splitting remain highly inconsistent across studies. Here, we utilize high quality hBN encapsulated monolayer WSe<sub
|
Strongly Interaction-Enhanced Valley Magnetic Response in Monolayer WSe_{2}. We measure the doping dependence of the valley Zeeman splitting of the fundamental optical transitions in monolayer WSe_{2} under an out-of-plane magnetic field by optical reflection contrast and photoluminescence spectroscopy. A nonlinear valley Zeeman effect, correlated with an over fourfold enhancement in the g factor, is observed. The effect occurs when the Fermi level crosses the spin-split upper conduction band, corresponding to a change of the spin-valley degeneracy from two to four. The enhancement increases and shows no sign of saturation as the sample temperature decreases. Our result demonstrates the importance of the Coulomb interactions in the valley magnetic response of two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenide semiconductors.</AbstractText
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Isoflurane Inhibits Dopaminergic Synaptic Vesicle Exocytosis Coupled to Ca(V)2.1 and Ca(V)2.2 in Rat Midbrain Neurons. Volatile anesthetics affect neuronal signaling by poorly understood mechanisms. Activation of central dopaminergic pathways has been implicated in emergence from general anesthesia. The volatile anesthetic isoflurane differentially inhibits glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic vesicle (SV) exocytosis by reducing presynaptic Ca<sup
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40701419
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35472101
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40138469
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The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in Atrazine-induced hepatic lipid accumulation.
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Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside induces pyroptosis by activating caspase-1 to cleave GSDMD in colorectal cancer cells.
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Development of Iron Oxide Nanochains as a Sensitive Magnetic Particle Imaging Tracer for Cancer Detection.
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Atrazine (ATR) is an extensively applied triazine herbicide which belongs to the persistent environmental endocrine disruptors. ATR is capable of penetrating the body and disrupting lipid metabolism, but its underlying mechanism is still unclear. L02 hepatocytes were exposed to ATR (0 (Con), 10, 50, 100 μM) and 0.02 % DMSO (VCon) for 24 h. Lipid levels were measured using colorimetry. The lipid droplet accumulation level and detection of Ca<sup
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Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is the main component of lignans with various biological activities, including anticancer activity. However, whether SDG has obvious anticancer effects on colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has received increasing attention in cancer-related research. In this study, we aimed to test the anticancer properties and relatecd functional mechanisms of SDG. we found that SDG not only inhibited the cell viability of HCT116 cells, but also induced HCT116 cells to swell with apparent large bubbles, which are typical signs of pyroptosis. Furthermore, SDG induced cell pyroptosis by enhancing cleavage of the N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in CRC cells, accompanied by increased caspase-1 cleavage. Consistent with this, SDG-induced GSDMD-N-terminal fragment cleavage and pyroptosis were reduced by siRNA-mediated silencing of caspase-1 or treatment with the specific caspase-1 inhibitor VX-765 treatment, suggesting that active caspase-1 further induces pyroptosis. A mechanistic study showed that SDG induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) phosphorylation and increases pyroptosis, while increasing GSDMD and caspase-1 cleavage and enhancing expression of BCL2-associated X (BAX), which could be rescued by the ROS scavenger (NAC), suggesting that SDG-induced GSDME-dependent pyroptosis is related to the ROS/PI3K/AKT/BAX-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In vivo results showed that SDG significantly inhibited tumor growth and induced pyroptosis in the HCT116-CRC nude mouse model. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the anticancer activity of SDG in CRC is associated with the induction of GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis by SDG through the generation of ROS/P13K/AKT/BAK-mitochondrail apoptosis pathway, providing insights into SDG in its potential new application in cancer treatment.</AbstractText
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The advancement of imaging technologies plays a crucial role in improving the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases, including cancer. This study introduces a new design of iron oxide-based nanoparticles specifically developed for magnetic particle imaging (MPI), aimed at tracking and diagnosing breast cancer more effectively. By precisely controlling the size, shape, and magnetic properties of these nanoparticles, we enhance the responsiveness of MPI, resulting in an increased signal. In our research, we established a novel synthetic route for fabricating iron oxide nanochains (FeONCs) characterized by their uniform shape and size, which contribute to high magnetic properties suitable for MPI applications. Initial results indicate these FeONCs exhibit superior magnetic properties compared to conventional spherical superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, nanocubes, and reported nanoworm-type structures. Magnetic relaxometry studies revealed that FeONCs provide higher sensitivity than the commonly used VivoTrax Synomag D50 and D70 in MPI. Further, the size and shape of FeONCs significantly influence cellular uptake. In vivo experiments using orthotopic breast cancer mouse models allow us to assess the biocompatibility and magnetic characteristics of the nanoparticles, confirming their imaging efficacy. Furthermore, by conjugating these nanoparticles with the RGD peptide, we enhance their ability to specifically target breast cancer, establishing them as promising tracers for in vivo MPI applications characterized by high sensitivity. Thus, our findings highlight that FeONCs significantly improve imaging quality, facilitating the early detection and accurate monitoring of breast cancer. This paves the way for innovative diagnostic strategies and personalized treatment options. Future research will focus on fine-tuning the surface chemistry of these nanoparticles to further enhance the targeting efficiency and optimization of their practice in clinical applications, particularly for MPI-based hyperthermia therapy.</AbstractText
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The role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in Atrazine-induced hepatic lipid accumulation. Atrazine (ATR) is an extensively applied triazine herbicide which belongs to the persistent environmental endocrine disruptors. ATR is capable of penetrating the body and disrupting lipid metabolism, but its underlying mechanism is still unclear. L02 hepatocytes were exposed to ATR (0 (Con), 10, 50, 100 μM) and 0.02 % DMSO (VCon) for 24 h. Lipid levels were measured using colorimetry. The lipid droplet accumulation level and detection of Ca<sup
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Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside induces pyroptosis by activating caspase-1 to cleave GSDMD in colorectal cancer cells. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) is the main component of lignans with various biological activities, including anticancer activity. However, whether SDG has obvious anticancer effects on colorectal cancer (CRC) is unclear. Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has received increasing attention in cancer-related research. In this study, we aimed to test the anticancer properties and relatecd functional mechanisms of SDG. we found that SDG not only inhibited the cell viability of HCT116 cells, but also induced HCT116 cells to swell with apparent large bubbles, which are typical signs of pyroptosis. Furthermore, SDG induced cell pyroptosis by enhancing cleavage of the N-terminal fragment of gasdermin D (GSDMD) in CRC cells, accompanied by increased caspase-1 cleavage. Consistent with this, SDG-induced GSDMD-N-terminal fragment cleavage and pyroptosis were reduced by siRNA-mediated silencing of caspase-1 or treatment with the specific caspase-1 inhibitor VX-765 treatment, suggesting that active caspase-1 further induces pyroptosis. A mechanistic study showed that SDG induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and inhibits phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) phosphorylation and increases pyroptosis, while increasing GSDMD and caspase-1 cleavage and enhancing expression of BCL2-associated X (BAX), which could be rescued by the ROS scavenger (NAC), suggesting that SDG-induced GSDME-dependent pyroptosis is related to the ROS/PI3K/AKT/BAX-mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In vivo results showed that SDG significantly inhibited tumor growth and induced pyroptosis in the HCT116-CRC nude mouse model. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the anticancer activity of SDG in CRC is associated with the induction of GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis by SDG through the generation of ROS/P13K/AKT/BAK-mitochondrail apoptosis pathway, providing insights into SDG in its potential new application in cancer treatment.</AbstractText
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Development of Iron Oxide Nanochains as a Sensitive Magnetic Particle Imaging Tracer for Cancer Detection. The advancement of imaging technologies plays a crucial role in improving the diagnosis and monitoring of diseases, including cancer. This study introduces a new design of iron oxide-based nanoparticles specifically developed for magnetic particle imaging (MPI), aimed at tracking and diagnosing breast cancer more effectively. By precisely controlling the size, shape, and magnetic properties of these nanoparticles, we enhance the responsiveness of MPI, resulting in an increased signal. In our research, we established a novel synthetic route for fabricating iron oxide nanochains (FeONCs) characterized by their uniform shape and size, which contribute to high magnetic properties suitable for MPI applications. Initial results indicate these FeONCs exhibit superior magnetic properties compared to conventional spherical superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, nanocubes, and reported nanoworm-type structures. Magnetic relaxometry studies revealed that FeONCs provide higher sensitivity than the commonly used VivoTrax Synomag D50 and D70 in MPI. Further, the size and shape of FeONCs significantly influence cellular uptake. In vivo experiments using orthotopic breast cancer mouse models allow us to assess the biocompatibility and magnetic characteristics of the nanoparticles, confirming their imaging efficacy. Furthermore, by conjugating these nanoparticles with the RGD peptide, we enhance their ability to specifically target breast cancer, establishing them as promising tracers for in vivo MPI applications characterized by high sensitivity. Thus, our findings highlight that FeONCs significantly improve imaging quality, facilitating the early detection and accurate monitoring of breast cancer. This paves the way for innovative diagnostic strategies and personalized treatment options. Future research will focus on fine-tuning the surface chemistry of these nanoparticles to further enhance the targeting efficiency and optimization of their practice in clinical applications, particularly for MPI-based hyperthermia therapy.</AbstractText
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40491294
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22271593
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40121482
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The Prevalence of Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Adults Seeking Obesity Treatment: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses.
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Elevated pre-morbid weights in bulimic individuals are usually surpassed post-morbidly: implications for perpetuation of the disorder.
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Plasma metabolomics of Mycoplasma synoviae infection in SPF White Leghorn hens by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.
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To estimate the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in adults seeking obesity treatment.</AbstractText Databases, MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO, were searched to 20th March 2025. Studies reporting the prevalence of eating disorders or disordered eating at presentation to obesity treatment in adults (≥ 18 years) with overweight (BMI 25 to < 30 kg/m<sup 85 studies were included (n = 94,295, 75.9% female, median (IQR) age 44 (5) years, BMI 46 (10) kg/m<sup Obesity and eating disorders or disordered eating do co-occur. There was variability between studies and between the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in adults presenting for obesity treatment. It is critical that clinicians are well resourced to effectively identify individuals with eating disorders and disordered eating and provide appropriate treatment pathways.</AbstractText
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To determine how often patients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN) surpass their highest pre-morbid weight during the course of their disorder.</AbstractText The weight histories of individuals with BN were determined using retrospective weight data (Study 1) and combined retrospective/prospective data (Study 2).</AbstractText Retrospective analyses indicated that 59.0% (n = 46) and 61.8% (n = 110), respectively, reported that their highest weight was reached after developing BN. In Study 2, 35.3% of participants superseded their highest pre-enrollment weights during 8 years of follow-up, and 71.6% reached a post-morbid highest weight before remission. Across studies, the primary difference between patients who did and did not reach their highest weight post-morbidly was that those who did had an earlier age of onset and longer duration of BN.</AbstractText Findings are discussed in terms of possible links between BN and weight-gain proneness, weight fluctuation across the course of BN, and implications for treating BN.</AbstractText
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Mycoplasma synoviae (M. synoviae) is a major bacterial pathogen that causes serious economic losses in the global poultry industry. Systemic changes in specific pathogen free White Leghorn egg-laying hens after M. synoviae infection were investigated using intra-tracheally inoculated animals. Samples were collected 10 days post-infection (dpi) (204-day-old) and 52 dpi (246-day-old). Infection caused air sac lesion, footpad swelling and oviduct atrophy. The qPCR and in situ hybridization showed that bacteria colonized the trachea and oviduct, and that bacterial loads in the magnum and uterus were significantly higher than in the infundibulum and isthmus. Histopathological examination revealed increased tracheal mucosal thickening accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, and that tubular glands of the uterus were edematous or dissolved. Infection also induced decreased egg production and eggshell strength, and eggshell apex abnormalities appeared at 14 dpi. Plasma metabolomics of hens analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showed 168 and 128 differentially-expressed metabolites (DEM) at 10 and 52 dpi, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that DEM at 10 dpi were enriched in five distinctive pathways: regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, sphingolipid metabolism, gap junctions, and necroptosis. In contrast, DEM at 52 dpi were enriched in fifteen pathways involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, ferroptosis, the calcium signaling pathway, apelin signaling pathway, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and oocyte meiosis. Combined metabolic analysis demonstrated that changes in ethylsalicylate, nicotinamide, (3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethylene glycol sulfate, sphingosine-1-phosphate (d18:1), carnitine C24:6, and 15(R)-prostaglandin E1 correlated the best with M. synoviae infection. This study provides new insights into understanding pathogen mechanisms and signposts novel treatments for M. synoviae infection in poultry.</AbstractText
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The Prevalence of Eating Disorders and Disordered Eating in Adults Seeking Obesity Treatment: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analyses. To estimate the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in adults seeking obesity treatment.</AbstractText Databases, MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO, were searched to 20th March 2025. Studies reporting the prevalence of eating disorders or disordered eating at presentation to obesity treatment in adults (≥ 18 years) with overweight (BMI 25 to < 30 kg/m<sup 85 studies were included (n = 94,295, 75.9% female, median (IQR) age 44 (5) years, BMI 46 (10) kg/m<sup Obesity and eating disorders or disordered eating do co-occur. There was variability between studies and between the prevalence of eating disorders and disordered eating in adults presenting for obesity treatment. It is critical that clinicians are well resourced to effectively identify individuals with eating disorders and disordered eating and provide appropriate treatment pathways.</AbstractText
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Elevated pre-morbid weights in bulimic individuals are usually surpassed post-morbidly: implications for perpetuation of the disorder. To determine how often patients diagnosed with bulimia nervosa (BN) surpass their highest pre-morbid weight during the course of their disorder.</AbstractText The weight histories of individuals with BN were determined using retrospective weight data (Study 1) and combined retrospective/prospective data (Study 2).</AbstractText Retrospective analyses indicated that 59.0% (n = 46) and 61.8% (n = 110), respectively, reported that their highest weight was reached after developing BN. In Study 2, 35.3% of participants superseded their highest pre-enrollment weights during 8 years of follow-up, and 71.6% reached a post-morbid highest weight before remission. Across studies, the primary difference between patients who did and did not reach their highest weight post-morbidly was that those who did had an earlier age of onset and longer duration of BN.</AbstractText Findings are discussed in terms of possible links between BN and weight-gain proneness, weight fluctuation across the course of BN, and implications for treating BN.</AbstractText
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Plasma metabolomics of Mycoplasma synoviae infection in SPF White Leghorn hens by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Mycoplasma synoviae (M. synoviae) is a major bacterial pathogen that causes serious economic losses in the global poultry industry. Systemic changes in specific pathogen free White Leghorn egg-laying hens after M. synoviae infection were investigated using intra-tracheally inoculated animals. Samples were collected 10 days post-infection (dpi) (204-day-old) and 52 dpi (246-day-old). Infection caused air sac lesion, footpad swelling and oviduct atrophy. The qPCR and in situ hybridization showed that bacteria colonized the trachea and oviduct, and that bacterial loads in the magnum and uterus were significantly higher than in the infundibulum and isthmus. Histopathological examination revealed increased tracheal mucosal thickening accompanied by inflammatory cell infiltration, and that tubular glands of the uterus were edematous or dissolved. Infection also induced decreased egg production and eggshell strength, and eggshell apex abnormalities appeared at 14 dpi. Plasma metabolomics of hens analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry showed 168 and 128 differentially-expressed metabolites (DEM) at 10 and 52 dpi, respectively. Pathway analysis revealed that DEM at 10 dpi were enriched in five distinctive pathways: regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, sphingolipid metabolism, gap junctions, and necroptosis. In contrast, DEM at 52 dpi were enriched in fifteen pathways involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, ferroptosis, the calcium signaling pathway, apelin signaling pathway, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, and oocyte meiosis. Combined metabolic analysis demonstrated that changes in ethylsalicylate, nicotinamide, (3-Methoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl) ethylene glycol sulfate, sphingosine-1-phosphate (d18:1), carnitine C24:6, and 15(R)-prostaglandin E1 correlated the best with M. synoviae infection. This study provides new insights into understanding pathogen mechanisms and signposts novel treatments for M. synoviae infection in poultry.</AbstractText
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40738867
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35366887
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40536094
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[Relationship Among Personality, Self-Efficacy, and Perioperative Nursing Competence in Operating Room Nurses].
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Could a culturally and age-appropriate song contribute towards malaria prevention in primary school learners?
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Microglia Promote Endothelial Cell Activation Through NSUN2-Mediated SQLE m5C Modification in Diabetic Retinopathy.
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Perioperative nursing competence encompasses six core areas: foundational knowledge and skills, leadership, proficiency, empathy, professional development, and collaboration. These competences directly affect clinical practice and patient care outcomes.</AbstractText This study was designed to explore the relationship among personality, self-efficacy, and perioperative nursing competence in operating room nurses.</AbstractText A cross-sectional correlational design was used and study data were collected from 119 operating room nurses working at a medical center in southern Taiwan. The instruments used included the Work Locus of Control Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised Short Form. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and logistic regression via SPSS version 20.0.</AbstractText Educational level, professional rank, years of experience, and locus of control personality traits were identified as not significantly related to clinical competence. However, clinical competence was found to correlate positively and significantly with self-efficacy (r = .54, p < .001), explaining 28% of the variance. Moreover, knowledge competence was found to correlate positively and significantly with both educational level (odds ratio, OR = 42.29, p < .001) and years of experience (OR = 1.18, p < .001).</AbstractText Clinical competence may be improved by enhancing self-efficacy, and knowledge competence is positively associated with higher educational levels and more years of experience. In light of these findings, education and training on perioperative nursing competence should be incorporated into advanced training programs and educational curricula in clinical settings. Further research on the factors related to core competencies in Taiwan and appropriate revisions to relevant scales to meet domestic contexts are also recommended to improve professional and educational quality.</AbstractText 探討手術室護理師個人特質、自我效能與手術全期護理能力之相關性研究.</AbstractText 手術全期護理能力涵蓋六大核心能力，包括基礎技能與知識、領導能力、合作、熟練度、同理心及專業發展，對臨床實務及病人照護成果有直接影響。.</AbstractText 探討手術室護理師的人格、自我效能與手術全期護理能力的相關影響。.</AbstractText 本研究採用橫斷式相關性設計，對南部某醫學中心119位手術室護理師進行自填式問卷調查，使用工作內外控量表、一般自我效能量表及手術全期護理能力量表修訂簡表，並以SPSS 20.0版之皮爾森積差相關、線性迴歸及羅吉斯迴歸進行統計分析。.</AbstractText 手術室護理師的教育程度、職級、年資及內外控人格與臨床能力無顯著相關，但臨床能力與自我效能呈正相關（r = .54, p < .001），可解釋28%的變異量；知識能力與教育程度（odds ratio, OR = 42.29, p < .001）及年資（OR = 1.18, p < .001）呈正相關。.</AbstractText 建議在臨床及教育中將手術全期護理能力結合進階制度及教育訓練，未來進一步研究國內核心素養的相關因素，以修訂適用於國內的量表以提升專業及教育品質。.</AbstractText
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Although it is a preventable disease, malaria continues to present one of the major global health challenges. The disease is especially deadly to children under the age of 5 years. This is partly due to the fact that they have yet to build up an immune system to help protect them against malaria. As a prevention strategy, music is one way of communicating knowledge to young children and could therefore potentially be used to change children's behaviour in order to avoid getting sick from malaria. This exploratory study aimed to compare intervention strategies designed to educate and improve knowledge growth about malaria and its prevention in Grade 3 learners in a high-risk malaria region in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.</AbstractText Various intervention strategies were employed and evaluated to determine the most effective intervention method. The study was split into two Phases. Phase 1 used a culturally and age-appropriate song as an intervention, along with a drama piece, a song and drama piece combination, and a control group. The most effective intervention strategy determined during Phase 1 was then subjected to Phase 2, against a control group to validate its efficacy. Questionnaires were used during pre-intervention and post-intervention interviews to evaluate the knowledge growth, if any, of the learners of selected primary schools in two different areas in Vhembe District. Pre-intervention interviews were followed by a specific intervention, based on the respective study groups. After 6 weeks, the post-intervention interviews were done to determine how much learners managed to learn and retain from the intervention received.</AbstractText The study found that the group that had only the song as intervention was the most effective learning intervention method in both Phases 1 and 2. Both phases showed that there was statistical significance in almost all of the nine questions asked on the questionnaires.</AbstractText The study concluded that a culturally and age-appropriate song can play a significant role in developing behavioural changes and spreading awareness against disease in a high-risk malaria region.</AbstractText
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To investigate the effect of retinal microglia on the quiescence-activation balance and angiogenesis potential of endothelial cells in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Retinal microglia from diabetic mice were isolated and cocultured with endothelial cells. The quiescence-activation status of endothelial cells was determined by flow cytometry, EdU staining and expressions of activation markers including P21 and CDK1, and the angiogenesis potential was detected by tube formation assays. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the critical gene, which was regulated by inhibiting or overexpressing lentiviruses transfection. The concentration of cholesterol and its effect on the status and function of endothelial cells, as well as the signal pathways activation, were measured. The critical m5C modification related protein was identified using Western blotting and lentiviruses transfection. Retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice impeded quiescence but promoted the activation of endothelial cells, and then subsequently enhanced the angiogenesis potential of endothelial cells. Besides, the expression of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) was significantly increased in endothelial cells cocultured with retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice. Inhibiting SQLE expression in endothelial cells restrained their activation levels and angiogenesis potential, and overexpressing SQLE activated endothelial cells to facilitate angiogenesis. Mechanistically, SQLE increased the concentration of cholesterol in endothelial cells, which promoted their activation via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, NSUN2 increased the m5C modification level of SQLE and increased its stability, increasing the expression of SQLE in endothelial cells cocultured with retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice. This study provides new perspectives on the interaction between microglia and endothelial cells involved in the pathogenesis of DR and elucidates the detailed mechanism of NSUN2-mediated m5C modification of SQLE to regulate cholesterol metabolism and signaling pathway activation.</AbstractText
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[Relationship Among Personality, Self-Efficacy, and Perioperative Nursing Competence in Operating Room Nurses]. Perioperative nursing competence encompasses six core areas: foundational knowledge and skills, leadership, proficiency, empathy, professional development, and collaboration. These competences directly affect clinical practice and patient care outcomes.</AbstractText This study was designed to explore the relationship among personality, self-efficacy, and perioperative nursing competence in operating room nurses.</AbstractText A cross-sectional correlational design was used and study data were collected from 119 operating room nurses working at a medical center in southern Taiwan. The instruments used included the Work Locus of Control Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, and the Perceived Perioperative Competence Scale-Revised Short Form. The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation, linear regression, and logistic regression via SPSS version 20.0.</AbstractText Educational level, professional rank, years of experience, and locus of control personality traits were identified as not significantly related to clinical competence. However, clinical competence was found to correlate positively and significantly with self-efficacy (r = .54, p < .001), explaining 28% of the variance. Moreover, knowledge competence was found to correlate positively and significantly with both educational level (odds ratio, OR = 42.29, p < .001) and years of experience (OR = 1.18, p < .001).</AbstractText Clinical competence may be improved by enhancing self-efficacy, and knowledge competence is positively associated with higher educational levels and more years of experience. In light of these findings, education and training on perioperative nursing competence should be incorporated into advanced training programs and educational curricula in clinical settings. Further research on the factors related to core competencies in Taiwan and appropriate revisions to relevant scales to meet domestic contexts are also recommended to improve professional and educational quality.</AbstractText 探討手術室護理師個人特質、自我效能與手術全期護理能力之相關性研究.</AbstractText 手術全期護理能力涵蓋六大核心能力，包括基礎技能與知識、領導能力、合作、熟練度、同理心及專業發展，對臨床實務及病人照護成果有直接影響。.</AbstractText 探討手術室護理師的人格、自我效能與手術全期護理能力的相關影響。.</AbstractText 本研究採用橫斷式相關性設計，對南部某醫學中心119位手術室護理師進行自填式問卷調查，使用工作內外控量表、一般自我效能量表及手術全期護理能力量表修訂簡表，並以SPSS 20.0版之皮爾森積差相關、線性迴歸及羅吉斯迴歸進行統計分析。.</AbstractText 手術室護理師的教育程度、職級、年資及內外控人格與臨床能力無顯著相關，但臨床能力與自我效能呈正相關（r = .54, p < .001），可解釋28%的變異量；知識能力與教育程度（odds ratio, OR = 42.29, p < .001）及年資（OR = 1.18, p < .001）呈正相關。.</AbstractText 建議在臨床及教育中將手術全期護理能力結合進階制度及教育訓練，未來進一步研究國內核心素養的相關因素，以修訂適用於國內的量表以提升專業及教育品質。.</AbstractText
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Could a culturally and age-appropriate song contribute towards malaria prevention in primary school learners? Although it is a preventable disease, malaria continues to present one of the major global health challenges. The disease is especially deadly to children under the age of 5 years. This is partly due to the fact that they have yet to build up an immune system to help protect them against malaria. As a prevention strategy, music is one way of communicating knowledge to young children and could therefore potentially be used to change children's behaviour in order to avoid getting sick from malaria. This exploratory study aimed to compare intervention strategies designed to educate and improve knowledge growth about malaria and its prevention in Grade 3 learners in a high-risk malaria region in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province, South Africa.</AbstractText Various intervention strategies were employed and evaluated to determine the most effective intervention method. The study was split into two Phases. Phase 1 used a culturally and age-appropriate song as an intervention, along with a drama piece, a song and drama piece combination, and a control group. The most effective intervention strategy determined during Phase 1 was then subjected to Phase 2, against a control group to validate its efficacy. Questionnaires were used during pre-intervention and post-intervention interviews to evaluate the knowledge growth, if any, of the learners of selected primary schools in two different areas in Vhembe District. Pre-intervention interviews were followed by a specific intervention, based on the respective study groups. After 6 weeks, the post-intervention interviews were done to determine how much learners managed to learn and retain from the intervention received.</AbstractText The study found that the group that had only the song as intervention was the most effective learning intervention method in both Phases 1 and 2. Both phases showed that there was statistical significance in almost all of the nine questions asked on the questionnaires.</AbstractText The study concluded that a culturally and age-appropriate song can play a significant role in developing behavioural changes and spreading awareness against disease in a high-risk malaria region.</AbstractText
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Microglia Promote Endothelial Cell Activation Through NSUN2-Mediated SQLE m5C Modification in Diabetic Retinopathy. To investigate the effect of retinal microglia on the quiescence-activation balance and angiogenesis potential of endothelial cells in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Retinal microglia from diabetic mice were isolated and cocultured with endothelial cells. The quiescence-activation status of endothelial cells was determined by flow cytometry, EdU staining and expressions of activation markers including P21 and CDK1, and the angiogenesis potential was detected by tube formation assays. RNA sequencing was performed to identify the critical gene, which was regulated by inhibiting or overexpressing lentiviruses transfection. The concentration of cholesterol and its effect on the status and function of endothelial cells, as well as the signal pathways activation, were measured. The critical m5C modification related protein was identified using Western blotting and lentiviruses transfection. Retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice impeded quiescence but promoted the activation of endothelial cells, and then subsequently enhanced the angiogenesis potential of endothelial cells. Besides, the expression of squalene epoxidase (SQLE) was significantly increased in endothelial cells cocultured with retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice. Inhibiting SQLE expression in endothelial cells restrained their activation levels and angiogenesis potential, and overexpressing SQLE activated endothelial cells to facilitate angiogenesis. Mechanistically, SQLE increased the concentration of cholesterol in endothelial cells, which promoted their activation via the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, NSUN2 increased the m5C modification level of SQLE and increased its stability, increasing the expression of SQLE in endothelial cells cocultured with retinal microglia isolated from diabetic mice. This study provides new perspectives on the interaction between microglia and endothelial cells involved in the pathogenesis of DR and elucidates the detailed mechanism of NSUN2-mediated m5C modification of SQLE to regulate cholesterol metabolism and signaling pathway activation.</AbstractText
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22695541
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28425431
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22315399
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Loss and modal properties of Ag/AgI hollow glass waveguides.
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Characterization of spatial distortion in a 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy system.
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Chimpanzees' flexible targeted helping based on an understanding of conspecifics' goals.
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Hollow glass waveguides, composed of Ag/AgI coatings, have been studied at 10.6 µm. The losses for different bore sizes equal the theoretical loss, which for the 700 µm bore guide was about 0.15  dB/m. The losses for the guides increase upon bending, varying linearly with increasing curvature. These hollow guides propagate a single mode when the bore size of the guide is approximately 30λ. In addition, the best single-mode transmission is obtained when the thickness of the glass wall is large. These smaller bores, thick wall hollow guides, can also be used to filter higher order modes from poor quality input laser beams.</AbstractText
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Spatial distortion results in image deformation that can degrade accurate targeting and dose calculations in MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy. The authors present a comprehensive assessment of a 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy system's spatial distortion using two commercially-available phantoms with regularly spaced markers. Images of the spatial integrity phantoms were acquired using five clinical protocols on the MRI-guided radiotherapy machine with the radiotherapy gantry positioned at various angles. Software was developed to identify and localize all phantom markers using a template matching approach. Rotational and translational corrections were implemented to account for imperfect phantom alignment. Measurements were made to assess uncertainties arising from susceptibility artifacts, image noise, and phantom construction accuracy. For a clinical 3D imaging protocol with a 1.5 mm reconstructed slice thickness, 100% of spheres within a 50 mm radius of isocenter had a 3D deviation of 1 mm or less. Of the spheres within 100 mm of isocenter, 99.9% had a 3D deviation less than 1 mm. 94.8% and 100% of the spheres within 175 mm were found to be within 1 mm and 2 mm of the expected positions in 3D respectively. Maximum 3D distortions within 50 mm, 100 mm and 175 mm of isocenter were 0.76 mm, 1.15 mm and 1.88 mm respectively. Distortions present in images acquired using the real-time imaging sequence were less than 1 mm for 98.1% and 95.0% of the cylinders within 50 mm and 100 mm of isocenter. The corresponding maximum distortion in these regions was 1.10 mm and 1.67 mm. These results may be used to inform appropriate planning target volume (PTV) margins for 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy. Observed levels of spatial distortion should be explicitly considered when using PTV margins of 3 mm or less or in the case of targets displaced from isocenter by more than 50 mm.</AbstractText
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Humans extensively help others altruistically, which plays an important role in maintaining cooperative societies. Although some nonhuman animals are also capable of helping others altruistically, humans are considered unique in our voluntary helping and our variety of helping behaviors. Many still believe that this is because only humans can understand others' goals due to our unique "theory of mind" abilities, especially shared intentionality. However, we know little of the cognitive mechanisms underlying helping in nonhuman animals, especially if and how they understand others' goals. The present study provides the empirical evidence for flexible targeted helping depending on conspecifics' needs in chimpanzees. The subjects of this study selected an appropriate tool from a random set of seven objects to transfer to a conspecific partner confronted with differing tool-use situations, indicating that they understood what their partner needed. This targeted helping, (i.e., selecting the appropriate tool to transfer), was observed only when the helpers could visually assess their partner's situation. If visual access was obstructed, the chimpanzees still tried to help their partner upon request, but failed to select and donate the appropriate tool needed by their partner. These results suggest that the limitation in chimpanzees' voluntary helping is not necessarily due to failure in understanding others' goals. Chimpanzees can understand conspecifics' goals and demonstrate cognitively advanced targeted helping as long as they are able to visually evaluate their conspecifics' predicament. However, they will seldom help others without direct request for help.</AbstractText
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Loss and modal properties of Ag/AgI hollow glass waveguides. Hollow glass waveguides, composed of Ag/AgI coatings, have been studied at 10.6 µm. The losses for different bore sizes equal the theoretical loss, which for the 700 µm bore guide was about 0.15  dB/m. The losses for the guides increase upon bending, varying linearly with increasing curvature. These hollow guides propagate a single mode when the bore size of the guide is approximately 30λ. In addition, the best single-mode transmission is obtained when the thickness of the glass wall is large. These smaller bores, thick wall hollow guides, can also be used to filter higher order modes from poor quality input laser beams.</AbstractText
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Characterization of spatial distortion in a 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy system. Spatial distortion results in image deformation that can degrade accurate targeting and dose calculations in MRI-guided adaptive radiotherapy. The authors present a comprehensive assessment of a 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy system's spatial distortion using two commercially-available phantoms with regularly spaced markers. Images of the spatial integrity phantoms were acquired using five clinical protocols on the MRI-guided radiotherapy machine with the radiotherapy gantry positioned at various angles. Software was developed to identify and localize all phantom markers using a template matching approach. Rotational and translational corrections were implemented to account for imperfect phantom alignment. Measurements were made to assess uncertainties arising from susceptibility artifacts, image noise, and phantom construction accuracy. For a clinical 3D imaging protocol with a 1.5 mm reconstructed slice thickness, 100% of spheres within a 50 mm radius of isocenter had a 3D deviation of 1 mm or less. Of the spheres within 100 mm of isocenter, 99.9% had a 3D deviation less than 1 mm. 94.8% and 100% of the spheres within 175 mm were found to be within 1 mm and 2 mm of the expected positions in 3D respectively. Maximum 3D distortions within 50 mm, 100 mm and 175 mm of isocenter were 0.76 mm, 1.15 mm and 1.88 mm respectively. Distortions present in images acquired using the real-time imaging sequence were less than 1 mm for 98.1% and 95.0% of the cylinders within 50 mm and 100 mm of isocenter. The corresponding maximum distortion in these regions was 1.10 mm and 1.67 mm. These results may be used to inform appropriate planning target volume (PTV) margins for 0.35 T MRI-guided radiotherapy. Observed levels of spatial distortion should be explicitly considered when using PTV margins of 3 mm or less or in the case of targets displaced from isocenter by more than 50 mm.</AbstractText
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Chimpanzees' flexible targeted helping based on an understanding of conspecifics' goals. Humans extensively help others altruistically, which plays an important role in maintaining cooperative societies. Although some nonhuman animals are also capable of helping others altruistically, humans are considered unique in our voluntary helping and our variety of helping behaviors. Many still believe that this is because only humans can understand others' goals due to our unique "theory of mind" abilities, especially shared intentionality. However, we know little of the cognitive mechanisms underlying helping in nonhuman animals, especially if and how they understand others' goals. The present study provides the empirical evidence for flexible targeted helping depending on conspecifics' needs in chimpanzees. The subjects of this study selected an appropriate tool from a random set of seven objects to transfer to a conspecific partner confronted with differing tool-use situations, indicating that they understood what their partner needed. This targeted helping, (i.e., selecting the appropriate tool to transfer), was observed only when the helpers could visually assess their partner's situation. If visual access was obstructed, the chimpanzees still tried to help their partner upon request, but failed to select and donate the appropriate tool needed by their partner. These results suggest that the limitation in chimpanzees' voluntary helping is not necessarily due to failure in understanding others' goals. Chimpanzees can understand conspecifics' goals and demonstrate cognitively advanced targeted helping as long as they are able to visually evaluate their conspecifics' predicament. However, they will seldom help others without direct request for help.</AbstractText
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39603043
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26858611
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40786250
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Association between white matter microstructural changes and aggressiveness. A case-control diffusion tensor imaging study.
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White Matter Microstructure is Associated with Auditory and Tactile Processing in Children with and without Sensory Processing Disorder.
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Kuoxin Decoction Alleviated Left Ventricular Remodeling by Inhibiting Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Through ASK1/JNK/Cx43 Signaling Pathway in cTnTR141W Transgenic Mice and in vitro.
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Research has focused on identifying neurobiological risk factors associated with aggressive behavior in order to improve prevention and treatment efforts. This study aimed to characterize microstructural differences in white matter (WM) integrity in individuals prone to aggression. We hypothesized that altered cerebral WM microstructure may underlie normal individual variability in aggression and tested this using a case-control design in healthy individuals. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to examine WM changes in martial artists (n = 29) and age-matched controls (n = 31). We performed tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to identify differences in axial diffusivity (AD), fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between the two groups at the whole-brain level. Martial artists were significantly more aggressive than controls, with increased MD in parietal and occipital areas and increased AD in widespread fiber tracts in the frontal, parietal and temporal areas. Positive associations between AD/MD and (physical) appetitive aggression were identified in several clusters, including the corpus callosum, the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the corona radiata. Our study found evidence for WM microstructural changes associated with aggressiveness in a community case-control sample. Longitudinal studies with larger cohorts, taking into account the dimensional nature of aggressiveness, are needed to better understand the underlying neurobiology.</AbstractText
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Sensory processing disorders (SPDs) affect up to 16% of school-aged children, and contribute to cognitive and behavioral deficits impacting affected individuals and their families. While sensory processing differences are now widely recognized in children with autism, children with sensory-based dysfunction who do not meet autism criteria based on social communication deficits remain virtually unstudied. In a previous pilot diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study, we demonstrated that boys with SPD have altered white matter microstructure primarily affecting the posterior cerebral tracts, which subserve sensory processing and integration. This disrupted microstructural integrity, measured as reduced white matter fractional anisotropy (FA), correlated with parent report measures of atypical sensory behavior. In this present study, we investigate white matter microstructure as it relates to tactile and auditory function in depth with a larger, mixed-gender cohort of children 8-12 years of age. We continue to find robust alterations of posterior white matter microstructure in children with SPD relative to typically developing children (TDC), along with more spatially distributed alterations. We find strong correlations of FA with both parent report and direct measures of tactile and auditory processing across children, with the direct assessment measures of tactile and auditory processing showing a stronger and more continuous mapping to the underlying white matter integrity than the corresponding parent report measures. Based on these findings of microstructure as a neural correlate of sensory processing ability, diffusion MRI merits further investigation as a tool to find biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response in children with SPD. To our knowledge, this work is the first to demonstrate associations of directly measured tactile and non-linguistic auditory function with white matter microstructural integrity - not just in children with SPD, but also in TDC.</AbstractText
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Combined with RNA sequencing and experimental verification methods to investigate KXD's potential role and underlying mechanisms in cTnT<sup UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis was employed to identify the absorbed constituents from KXD in mice blood. cTnT<sup 11 compounds from KXD were identified in the blood. KXD improved cardiac dysfunction and alleviated interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in cTnT<sup KXD attenuated left ventricular remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cTnT<sup
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Association between white matter microstructural changes and aggressiveness. A case-control diffusion tensor imaging study. Research has focused on identifying neurobiological risk factors associated with aggressive behavior in order to improve prevention and treatment efforts. This study aimed to characterize microstructural differences in white matter (WM) integrity in individuals prone to aggression. We hypothesized that altered cerebral WM microstructure may underlie normal individual variability in aggression and tested this using a case-control design in healthy individuals. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to examine WM changes in martial artists (n = 29) and age-matched controls (n = 31). We performed tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) to identify differences in axial diffusivity (AD), fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) between the two groups at the whole-brain level. Martial artists were significantly more aggressive than controls, with increased MD in parietal and occipital areas and increased AD in widespread fiber tracts in the frontal, parietal and temporal areas. Positive associations between AD/MD and (physical) appetitive aggression were identified in several clusters, including the corpus callosum, the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the corona radiata. Our study found evidence for WM microstructural changes associated with aggressiveness in a community case-control sample. Longitudinal studies with larger cohorts, taking into account the dimensional nature of aggressiveness, are needed to better understand the underlying neurobiology.</AbstractText
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White Matter Microstructure is Associated with Auditory and Tactile Processing in Children with and without Sensory Processing Disorder. Sensory processing disorders (SPDs) affect up to 16% of school-aged children, and contribute to cognitive and behavioral deficits impacting affected individuals and their families. While sensory processing differences are now widely recognized in children with autism, children with sensory-based dysfunction who do not meet autism criteria based on social communication deficits remain virtually unstudied. In a previous pilot diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) study, we demonstrated that boys with SPD have altered white matter microstructure primarily affecting the posterior cerebral tracts, which subserve sensory processing and integration. This disrupted microstructural integrity, measured as reduced white matter fractional anisotropy (FA), correlated with parent report measures of atypical sensory behavior. In this present study, we investigate white matter microstructure as it relates to tactile and auditory function in depth with a larger, mixed-gender cohort of children 8-12 years of age. We continue to find robust alterations of posterior white matter microstructure in children with SPD relative to typically developing children (TDC), along with more spatially distributed alterations. We find strong correlations of FA with both parent report and direct measures of tactile and auditory processing across children, with the direct assessment measures of tactile and auditory processing showing a stronger and more continuous mapping to the underlying white matter integrity than the corresponding parent report measures. Based on these findings of microstructure as a neural correlate of sensory processing ability, diffusion MRI merits further investigation as a tool to find biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis and treatment response in children with SPD. To our knowledge, this work is the first to demonstrate associations of directly measured tactile and non-linguistic auditory function with white matter microstructural integrity - not just in children with SPD, but also in TDC.</AbstractText
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Kuoxin Decoction Alleviated Left Ventricular Remodeling by Inhibiting Cardiomyocyte Apoptosis Through ASK1/JNK/Cx43 Signaling Pathway in cTnTR141W Transgenic Mice and in vitro. Combined with RNA sequencing and experimental verification methods to investigate KXD's potential role and underlying mechanisms in cTnT<sup UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis was employed to identify the absorbed constituents from KXD in mice blood. cTnT<sup 11 compounds from KXD were identified in the blood. KXD improved cardiac dysfunction and alleviated interstitial fibrosis and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in cTnT<sup KXD attenuated left ventricular remodeling and cardiomyocyte apoptosis in cTnT<sup
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40563661
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33098154
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40338956
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The Clinical Feasibility and Safety of 1.5 T MR-Guided Daily Adapted Radiotherapy in 1000 Patients: A Real-World Large Experience of an Early-Adopter Center.
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Safety of Off-Label Use of Ferumoxtyol as a Contrast Agent for MRI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events.
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Dual-variable control load-sensing system for multi-way valves in hilly and mountainous tractors.
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The clinical implementation of MR-guided radiotherapy on MR-linacs (MRL) hasrapidly increased in recent years. The advantages represented by the MR-based daily online plan adaptation and real-time monitoring have been exploited for different tumor sites. Nevertheless, some concerns remain, mainly related to the longer treatment time and limited patient eligibility. We report here the experience of our center, where a 1.5T MRL was clinically implemented in 2019 and, since then, more than 1200 patients have been treated.</AbstractText The first 1000 patients treated at the MRL in our department were selected. Technical information such as treatment time and adaptive technic have been prospectively recorded, while toxicity data were retrospectively collected.</AbstractText Between October 2019 and June 2024, 1000 patients for a total of 1061 treatment courses were included. Prostate and prostate bed were irradiated in 57.1% and 10.2% of the cases, respectively, including regional pelvic lymphnodes in 4.7%. Other frequent treated sites were lymph node metastases, pancreas and liver. The most frequent prescribed doses were 36.25 Gy (31%), 35 Gy (28.3%) and 30 Gy (9.4%) in five fractions. On a total of 9076 administered fractions, 80.8% were performed with adapt-to-shape and 19.2% with adapt-to-position method. The mean in-room time was 38 min (range, 18-103), with 74.4% of patients completing the session within 40 min. Acute grade (G) 3 toxicity was recorded in 1.6% of the cases, while, on a total of 858 patients available for late toxicity, G3 was recorded in 0.3% of the cases, with no >G3.</AbstractText Our real-world experience of an early-adopter center confirms that MRL treatments are feasible for different tumor entities in several anatomical sites. We showed that most of the patients could be treated within 40 min and showed low toxicity rates. Protocols for dose escalation and margin reduction, by adopting new comprehensive motion monitoring strategies, are under development.</AbstractText
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Ferumoxytol has been studied as an alternative to gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, but regulatory body warnings currently limit its use.</AbstractText Estimate the adverse event rate in patients undergoing MRI with ferumoxytol as a contrast agent.</AbstractText Systematic review.</AbstractText Thirty-nine studies including 5411 ferumoxytol administrations in 4336 patients.</AbstractText Multiple databases were searched for studies using ferumoxytol as an off-label MRI contrast agent in any patient population as of April 2020. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported the number and severity of adverse events (classified by American College of Radiology [ACR] severity of acute reactions). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.</AbstractText The proportion of administrations with adverse events was calculated using random effects meta-analysis of proportions.</AbstractText No deaths related to ferumoxytol administration were reported. Sixteen studies reported immediate adverse events in 3849 patients undergoing 4901 ferumoxytol administrations. Ninety-seven immediate adverse events were reported and the pooled adverse event proportion for immediate adverse events was 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.02). Twenty-three studies reported time-unspecified adverse events in 487 patients undergoing 510 ferumoxytol administrations. Five time-unspecified adverse events were reported; the pooled adverse event proportion for time-unspecified adverse events was 0.01 (95% CI 0.00-0.04). 88% of adverse events were mild (90/102), 11% (11/102) were moderate, and 1% (1/102) was severe. Sixteen studies were at low risk of bias, 23 studies were at serious risk of bias. Subgroup analysis by patient population revealed no significant variability (adult vs. pediatric). No studies evaluated the use of ferumoxytol as an alternative to patients who had a prior hypersensitivity reaction to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).</AbstractText The overall adverse event rate for off-label ferumoxytol use as an MRI contrast agent is 2%, with rare severe reactions and no deaths. To date, there are no studies evaluating the safety of ferumoxytol as an alternative to GBCAs in patients with a prior hypersensitivity reaction.</AbstractText 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 5.</AbstractText
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To tackle the challenges of severe pressure loss, mismatched flow supply and demand, and high flow demands at pump outlets commonly seen in multi-way valves of hilly and mountainous tractors, a load-independent flow distribution system was developed. This system combines an electro-hydraulic load-sensing pump with an independent flow distribution mechanism at the load port, resulting in a dual-variable load sensing system that integrates variable displacement and variable speed control. Using AMESim software, the core components and system model of the dual-variable load sensing system were built. Considering the operational characteristics of the multi-way valve, a load-sensitive variable pump with pressure differential and displacement detection was employed as the feedback control unit. The system incorporates a valve post-compensation mechanism and a three-position, six-way electro-hydraulic proportional directional valve. Additionally, a self-adjusting motor control method for pressure differential adaptation was introduced to regulate system pressure under high-load conditions. Simulation analyses of the system performance revealed that the design effectively boosts energy efficiency, achieving average energy savings of 20% and reaching up to 50% under optimal conditions, while keeping pressure fluctuations at the valve port within a 5% margin. By employing dual-variable load sensing technology, this system substantially improves the energy efficiency and operational effectiveness of multi-way valves while maintaining stable pressure throughout the operation. The design offers a reliable technical framework for the development and optimization of multi-way valves in hilly and mountainous tractors.</AbstractText
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The Clinical Feasibility and Safety of 1.5 T MR-Guided Daily Adapted Radiotherapy in 1000 Patients: A Real-World Large Experience of an Early-Adopter Center. The clinical implementation of MR-guided radiotherapy on MR-linacs (MRL) hasrapidly increased in recent years. The advantages represented by the MR-based daily online plan adaptation and real-time monitoring have been exploited for different tumor sites. Nevertheless, some concerns remain, mainly related to the longer treatment time and limited patient eligibility. We report here the experience of our center, where a 1.5T MRL was clinically implemented in 2019 and, since then, more than 1200 patients have been treated.</AbstractText The first 1000 patients treated at the MRL in our department were selected. Technical information such as treatment time and adaptive technic have been prospectively recorded, while toxicity data were retrospectively collected.</AbstractText Between October 2019 and June 2024, 1000 patients for a total of 1061 treatment courses were included. Prostate and prostate bed were irradiated in 57.1% and 10.2% of the cases, respectively, including regional pelvic lymphnodes in 4.7%. Other frequent treated sites were lymph node metastases, pancreas and liver. The most frequent prescribed doses were 36.25 Gy (31%), 35 Gy (28.3%) and 30 Gy (9.4%) in five fractions. On a total of 9076 administered fractions, 80.8% were performed with adapt-to-shape and 19.2% with adapt-to-position method. The mean in-room time was 38 min (range, 18-103), with 74.4% of patients completing the session within 40 min. Acute grade (G) 3 toxicity was recorded in 1.6% of the cases, while, on a total of 858 patients available for late toxicity, G3 was recorded in 0.3% of the cases, with no >G3.</AbstractText Our real-world experience of an early-adopter center confirms that MRL treatments are feasible for different tumor entities in several anatomical sites. We showed that most of the patients could be treated within 40 min and showed low toxicity rates. Protocols for dose escalation and margin reduction, by adopting new comprehensive motion monitoring strategies, are under development.</AbstractText
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Safety of Off-Label Use of Ferumoxtyol as a Contrast Agent for MRI: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Adverse Events. Ferumoxytol has been studied as an alternative to gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, but regulatory body warnings currently limit its use.</AbstractText Estimate the adverse event rate in patients undergoing MRI with ferumoxytol as a contrast agent.</AbstractText Systematic review.</AbstractText Thirty-nine studies including 5411 ferumoxytol administrations in 4336 patients.</AbstractText Multiple databases were searched for studies using ferumoxytol as an off-label MRI contrast agent in any patient population as of April 2020. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported the number and severity of adverse events (classified by American College of Radiology [ACR] severity of acute reactions). Risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.</AbstractText The proportion of administrations with adverse events was calculated using random effects meta-analysis of proportions.</AbstractText No deaths related to ferumoxytol administration were reported. Sixteen studies reported immediate adverse events in 3849 patients undergoing 4901 ferumoxytol administrations. Ninety-seven immediate adverse events were reported and the pooled adverse event proportion for immediate adverse events was 0.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.02-0.02). Twenty-three studies reported time-unspecified adverse events in 487 patients undergoing 510 ferumoxytol administrations. Five time-unspecified adverse events were reported; the pooled adverse event proportion for time-unspecified adverse events was 0.01 (95% CI 0.00-0.04). 88% of adverse events were mild (90/102), 11% (11/102) were moderate, and 1% (1/102) was severe. Sixteen studies were at low risk of bias, 23 studies were at serious risk of bias. Subgroup analysis by patient population revealed no significant variability (adult vs. pediatric). No studies evaluated the use of ferumoxytol as an alternative to patients who had a prior hypersensitivity reaction to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).</AbstractText The overall adverse event rate for off-label ferumoxytol use as an MRI contrast agent is 2%, with rare severe reactions and no deaths. To date, there are no studies evaluating the safety of ferumoxytol as an alternative to GBCAs in patients with a prior hypersensitivity reaction.</AbstractText 2 TECHNICAL EFFICACY STAGE: 5.</AbstractText
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Dual-variable control load-sensing system for multi-way valves in hilly and mountainous tractors. To tackle the challenges of severe pressure loss, mismatched flow supply and demand, and high flow demands at pump outlets commonly seen in multi-way valves of hilly and mountainous tractors, a load-independent flow distribution system was developed. This system combines an electro-hydraulic load-sensing pump with an independent flow distribution mechanism at the load port, resulting in a dual-variable load sensing system that integrates variable displacement and variable speed control. Using AMESim software, the core components and system model of the dual-variable load sensing system were built. Considering the operational characteristics of the multi-way valve, a load-sensitive variable pump with pressure differential and displacement detection was employed as the feedback control unit. The system incorporates a valve post-compensation mechanism and a three-position, six-way electro-hydraulic proportional directional valve. Additionally, a self-adjusting motor control method for pressure differential adaptation was introduced to regulate system pressure under high-load conditions. Simulation analyses of the system performance revealed that the design effectively boosts energy efficiency, achieving average energy savings of 20% and reaching up to 50% under optimal conditions, while keeping pressure fluctuations at the valve port within a 5% margin. By employing dual-variable load sensing technology, this system substantially improves the energy efficiency and operational effectiveness of multi-way valves while maintaining stable pressure throughout the operation. The design offers a reliable technical framework for the development and optimization of multi-way valves in hilly and mountainous tractors.</AbstractText
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39719702
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34987476
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40618175
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Tachykinin signaling in the right parabrachial nucleus mediates early-phase neuropathic pain development.
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Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Activates Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus and Dorsal Vagal Complex.
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Predicting brain amyloid load with digital and blood-based biomarkers.
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The lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is critically involved in neuropathic pain modulation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. Here, we report that in mice, the right-sided, but not the left-sided, PBN plays an essential role in the development of hyperalgesia following nerve injury, irrespective of the injury side. Spino-parabrachial pathways targeting the right-sided PBN display short-term facilitation, and right-sided PBN neurons exhibit an increase in the excitability and activity after nerve injury. Inhibiting Tacr1-positive neurons, blocking Tacr1-encoding tachykinin 1 receptor (NK1R), or knocking down the Tacr1 gene in the right-sided, rather than left-sided, PBN alleviates neuropathic pain-induced sensory hypersensitivity. Additionally, the right-sided PBN plays a critical role in the development of hyperalgesia during the early phase of neuropathic pain. These results highlight the essential role of NK1R in the lateralized modulation of neuropathic pain by the PBN, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.</AbstractText
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Central administration of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1) results in long-lasting resolution of hyperglycemia in various rodent models, but the pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms mediating the central effects of FGF1 are unknown. Here we utilize electrophysiology recordings from neuronal populations in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH), nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), and area postrema (AP) to investigate the mechanisms underlying FGF1 actions. While FGF1 did not alter membrane potential in ARH-NPY-GFP neurons, it reversibly depolarized 83% of ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons and decreased the frequency of inhibitory inputs onto ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons. This depolarizing effect persisted in the presence of FGF receptor (R) blocker FIIN1, but was blocked by pretreatment with the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX). Non-FGF1 subfamilies can activate vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR). Surprisingly, the VEGFR inhibitors axitinib and BMS605541 blocked FGF1 effects on ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons. We also demonstrate that FGF1 induces c-Fos in the dorsal vagal complex, activates NTS-NPY-GFP neurons through a FGFR mediated pathway, and requires VGSCs to activate AP neurons. We conclude that FGF1 acts in multiple brain regions independent of FGFRs. These studies present anatomical and mechanistic pathways for the future investigation of the pharmacological and physiological role of FGF1 in metabolic processes.</AbstractText
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With the recent approval of anti-β-amyloid (Aβ) treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a demand has emerged for scalable, convenient and accurate estimations of brain Aβ burden for the detection of AD that would enable timely, accurate and reliable diagnosis in one's primary care physician's (PCPs) office as called for recently by World Health Organization (WHO).</AbstractText MemTrax, a 2-minute online memory test, was selected as the digital biomarker of cognitive impairment, and blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) including Aβ42, Aβ40, P-tau181, GFAP and NfL were used to estimate AD-related metrics in different groups of elderly individuals (n = 349) for comparison with Aβ PET scans of brain Aβ burden. The correlations between MemTrax, MoCA, BBMs and brain Aβ burden, expressed in centiloid (CL) values, were analyzed for predicting CL value alone or in combinations using machine-learning (ML).</AbstractText Both MemTrax and the MoCA were able to differentiate Aβ status similarly. Integration of MemTrax and BBMs using ML, however, significantly improved the AUCs (over the same with MoCA) for differentiating Aβ status. MemTrax and p-Tau181/Aβ42 composite showed the strongest relationship with CL value among other BBMs. Most importantly, regression analyses of MemTrax and p-Tau181/Aβ42 aptly predicted CL values.</AbstractText The combination of MemTrax and BBMs provides an accurate, convenient, non-invasive, cost-effective and scalable way to estimate Aβ load, which provides an opportunity for mass screening and timely and accurate diagnosis of AD. Our findings could also facilitate more effective AD clinical management in the PCPs office worldwide for more equitable access to current standard of care.</AbstractText
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Tachykinin signaling in the right parabrachial nucleus mediates early-phase neuropathic pain development. The lateral parabrachial nucleus (PBN) is critically involved in neuropathic pain modulation. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unknown. Here, we report that in mice, the right-sided, but not the left-sided, PBN plays an essential role in the development of hyperalgesia following nerve injury, irrespective of the injury side. Spino-parabrachial pathways targeting the right-sided PBN display short-term facilitation, and right-sided PBN neurons exhibit an increase in the excitability and activity after nerve injury. Inhibiting Tacr1-positive neurons, blocking Tacr1-encoding tachykinin 1 receptor (NK1R), or knocking down the Tacr1 gene in the right-sided, rather than left-sided, PBN alleviates neuropathic pain-induced sensory hypersensitivity. Additionally, the right-sided PBN plays a critical role in the development of hyperalgesia during the early phase of neuropathic pain. These results highlight the essential role of NK1R in the lateralized modulation of neuropathic pain by the PBN, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying neuropathic pain.</AbstractText
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Fibroblast Growth Factor-1 Activates Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus and Dorsal Vagal Complex. Central administration of fibroblast growth factor-1 (FGF1) results in long-lasting resolution of hyperglycemia in various rodent models, but the pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms mediating the central effects of FGF1 are unknown. Here we utilize electrophysiology recordings from neuronal populations in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARH), nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), and area postrema (AP) to investigate the mechanisms underlying FGF1 actions. While FGF1 did not alter membrane potential in ARH-NPY-GFP neurons, it reversibly depolarized 83% of ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons and decreased the frequency of inhibitory inputs onto ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons. This depolarizing effect persisted in the presence of FGF receptor (R) blocker FIIN1, but was blocked by pretreatment with the voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX). Non-FGF1 subfamilies can activate vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR). Surprisingly, the VEGFR inhibitors axitinib and BMS605541 blocked FGF1 effects on ARH-POMC-EGFP neurons. We also demonstrate that FGF1 induces c-Fos in the dorsal vagal complex, activates NTS-NPY-GFP neurons through a FGFR mediated pathway, and requires VGSCs to activate AP neurons. We conclude that FGF1 acts in multiple brain regions independent of FGFRs. These studies present anatomical and mechanistic pathways for the future investigation of the pharmacological and physiological role of FGF1 in metabolic processes.</AbstractText
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Predicting brain amyloid load with digital and blood-based biomarkers. With the recent approval of anti-β-amyloid (Aβ) treatment for Alzheimer's disease (AD), a demand has emerged for scalable, convenient and accurate estimations of brain Aβ burden for the detection of AD that would enable timely, accurate and reliable diagnosis in one's primary care physician's (PCPs) office as called for recently by World Health Organization (WHO).</AbstractText MemTrax, a 2-minute online memory test, was selected as the digital biomarker of cognitive impairment, and blood-based biomarkers (BBMs) including Aβ42, Aβ40, P-tau181, GFAP and NfL were used to estimate AD-related metrics in different groups of elderly individuals (n = 349) for comparison with Aβ PET scans of brain Aβ burden. The correlations between MemTrax, MoCA, BBMs and brain Aβ burden, expressed in centiloid (CL) values, were analyzed for predicting CL value alone or in combinations using machine-learning (ML).</AbstractText Both MemTrax and the MoCA were able to differentiate Aβ status similarly. Integration of MemTrax and BBMs using ML, however, significantly improved the AUCs (over the same with MoCA) for differentiating Aβ status. MemTrax and p-Tau181/Aβ42 composite showed the strongest relationship with CL value among other BBMs. Most importantly, regression analyses of MemTrax and p-Tau181/Aβ42 aptly predicted CL values.</AbstractText The combination of MemTrax and BBMs provides an accurate, convenient, non-invasive, cost-effective and scalable way to estimate Aβ load, which provides an opportunity for mass screening and timely and accurate diagnosis of AD. Our findings could also facilitate more effective AD clinical management in the PCPs office worldwide for more equitable access to current standard of care.</AbstractText
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40153839
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39199230
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39419315
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Lower prefrontal blood flow associated with intraindividual weakness in successive processing: a neurocognitive study of pediatric moyamoya disease.
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Resveratrol Mitigates Cognitive Impairments and Cholinergic Cell Loss in the Medial Septum in a Mouse Model of Gradual Cerebral Hypoperfusion.
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Flavaglines with anti-neuroinflammatory activity from Aglaia edulis (Roxb.) Wall. and structure revision of related flavaglines.
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Selective intraindividual weakness in successive processing, which is a unique verbal working memory scale included in the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), is considered one of the intrinsic neurocognitive characteristics in pediatric moyamoya disease (MMD). The aim of the study was to elucidate the association between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and weakness in successive processing, and to identify regions related to the weakness.</AbstractText The present cross-sectional study included children who had been diagnosed with MMD and were assessed using neuropsychological tests before surgery between June 2016 and December 2023. According to the CAS manual, intraindividual difference was calculated by subtracting the mean of the 4 standard scores from each standard score. Each patient was classified as either manifesting "intraindividual weakness in successive processing" (intraindividual difference of successive processing < 0) or not (intraindividual difference of successive processing ≥ 0), and CBF acquired with resting-state SPECT was compared between groups. Three-dimensional stereotactic surface projection (3D-SSP) was also used for topographical comparison of CBF.</AbstractText Of 51 children (mean age ± SD at admission 8.0 ± 2.6 years) who underwent preoperative neuropsychological tests, 43 were included in the CBF analysis. Both standard scores and intraindividual difference of the CAS significantly varied across 4 domains (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively), and those of successive processing were the lowest. Of the children analyzed, 35 (68.7%) were classified as having intraindividual weakness in successive processing. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the severest ischemic grade was significantly associated with intraindividual weakness in successive processing (OR 5.49 [95% CI 1.12-27.06]). Three-dimensional SSP analysis demonstrated a significant CBF decrease in the left dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortexes in the children showing intraindividual weakness in successive processing compared with those who did not.</AbstractText Intraindividual weakness in successive processing typical of MMD might be associated with reduced CBF in the dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortex, predominantly in the left hemisphere. Further studies in this area could contribute to the improvement of long-term social outcomes for patients with MMD.</AbstractText
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Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the second leading cause of dementia. There is currently no effective treatment for VCID. Resveratrol (RSV) is considered an antioxidant; however, our group has observed pleiotropic effects in stroke paradigms, suggesting more effects may contribute to mechanistic changes beyond antioxidative properties. The main goal of this study was to investigate if administering RSV twice a week could alleviate cognitive declines following the induction of a VCID model. Additionally, our aim was to further describe whether this treatment regimen could decrease cell death in brain areas vulnerable to changes in cerebral blood flow, such as the hippocampus and medial septum. We hypothesized RSV treatments in a mouse model of gradual cerebral hypoperfusion protect against cognitive impairment. We utilized gradual bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (GBCCAS) via the surgical implantation of ameroid constrictor devices. RSV treatment was administered on the day of implantation and twice a week thereafter. Cerebral perfusion was measured by laser speckle contrast imaging, and cognitive functions, including the recognition memory, the spatial working memory, and associative learning, were assessed by novel object recognition (NOR), Y-maze testing, and contextual fear conditioning (CFC), respectively. RSV treatment did not alleviate cerebral perfusion deficits but mitigated cognitive deficits in CFC and NOR after GBCCAS. Despite these deficits, no hippocampal pathology was observed; however, cholinergic cell loss in the medial septum was significantly increased after GBCCAS. This cholinergic cell loss was mitigated by RSV. This study describes a novel mechanism by which chronic RSV treatments protect against a VCID-induced cognitive decline through the preservation of cholinergic cell viability to improve memory performance.</AbstractText
|
Eight cyclopenta[b]benzofurans (1, 2, 4, and 5-9) and eight cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans (3, 10-16), including a revised (4) and three undescribed compounds (1-3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Aglaia edulis (Roxb.) Wall. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectral analysis in conjunction with NMR and ECD calculations. Moreover, based on the findings from <sup
|
Lower prefrontal blood flow associated with intraindividual weakness in successive processing: a neurocognitive study of pediatric moyamoya disease. Selective intraindividual weakness in successive processing, which is a unique verbal working memory scale included in the Das-Naglieri Cognitive Assessment System (CAS), is considered one of the intrinsic neurocognitive characteristics in pediatric moyamoya disease (MMD). The aim of the study was to elucidate the association between cerebral blood flow (CBF) and weakness in successive processing, and to identify regions related to the weakness.</AbstractText The present cross-sectional study included children who had been diagnosed with MMD and were assessed using neuropsychological tests before surgery between June 2016 and December 2023. According to the CAS manual, intraindividual difference was calculated by subtracting the mean of the 4 standard scores from each standard score. Each patient was classified as either manifesting "intraindividual weakness in successive processing" (intraindividual difference of successive processing < 0) or not (intraindividual difference of successive processing ≥ 0), and CBF acquired with resting-state SPECT was compared between groups. Three-dimensional stereotactic surface projection (3D-SSP) was also used for topographical comparison of CBF.</AbstractText Of 51 children (mean age ± SD at admission 8.0 ± 2.6 years) who underwent preoperative neuropsychological tests, 43 were included in the CBF analysis. Both standard scores and intraindividual difference of the CAS significantly varied across 4 domains (p = 0.006 and p < 0.001, respectively), and those of successive processing were the lowest. Of the children analyzed, 35 (68.7%) were classified as having intraindividual weakness in successive processing. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed the severest ischemic grade was significantly associated with intraindividual weakness in successive processing (OR 5.49 [95% CI 1.12-27.06]). Three-dimensional SSP analysis demonstrated a significant CBF decrease in the left dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortexes in the children showing intraindividual weakness in successive processing compared with those who did not.</AbstractText Intraindividual weakness in successive processing typical of MMD might be associated with reduced CBF in the dorsolateral and medial prefrontal cortex, predominantly in the left hemisphere. Further studies in this area could contribute to the improvement of long-term social outcomes for patients with MMD.</AbstractText
|
Resveratrol Mitigates Cognitive Impairments and Cholinergic Cell Loss in the Medial Septum in a Mouse Model of Gradual Cerebral Hypoperfusion. Vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) is the second leading cause of dementia. There is currently no effective treatment for VCID. Resveratrol (RSV) is considered an antioxidant; however, our group has observed pleiotropic effects in stroke paradigms, suggesting more effects may contribute to mechanistic changes beyond antioxidative properties. The main goal of this study was to investigate if administering RSV twice a week could alleviate cognitive declines following the induction of a VCID model. Additionally, our aim was to further describe whether this treatment regimen could decrease cell death in brain areas vulnerable to changes in cerebral blood flow, such as the hippocampus and medial septum. We hypothesized RSV treatments in a mouse model of gradual cerebral hypoperfusion protect against cognitive impairment. We utilized gradual bilateral common carotid artery stenosis (GBCCAS) via the surgical implantation of ameroid constrictor devices. RSV treatment was administered on the day of implantation and twice a week thereafter. Cerebral perfusion was measured by laser speckle contrast imaging, and cognitive functions, including the recognition memory, the spatial working memory, and associative learning, were assessed by novel object recognition (NOR), Y-maze testing, and contextual fear conditioning (CFC), respectively. RSV treatment did not alleviate cerebral perfusion deficits but mitigated cognitive deficits in CFC and NOR after GBCCAS. Despite these deficits, no hippocampal pathology was observed; however, cholinergic cell loss in the medial septum was significantly increased after GBCCAS. This cholinergic cell loss was mitigated by RSV. This study describes a novel mechanism by which chronic RSV treatments protect against a VCID-induced cognitive decline through the preservation of cholinergic cell viability to improve memory performance.</AbstractText
|
Flavaglines with anti-neuroinflammatory activity from Aglaia edulis (Roxb.) Wall. and structure revision of related flavaglines. Eight cyclopenta[b]benzofurans (1, 2, 4, and 5-9) and eight cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans (3, 10-16), including a revised (4) and three undescribed compounds (1-3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Aglaia edulis (Roxb.) Wall. Their structures were determined by a combination of spectral analysis in conjunction with NMR and ECD calculations. Moreover, based on the findings from <sup
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40161706
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23800276
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40163116
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Magnetically Labeled iPSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enable MRI/MPI-Guided Regenerative Therapy for Myocardial Infarction.
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T1 and extracellular volume mapping in the heart: estimation of error maps and the influence of noise on precision.
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Carbon Emissions From Patient Travel for Health Care.
|
Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising cell-free approach for cardiovascular regenerative medicine. In this study, we developed magnetically labeled induced pluripotent stem cell-derived EVs (magneto-iPSC-EVs) encapsulated with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles for image-guided regenerative treatment of myocardial infarction, in which EVs that can be detected by both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). iPSC-EVs were isolated, characterized per MISEV2023 guidelines, and loaded with SuperSPIO20 nanoparticles using optimized electroporation conditions (300 V, 2 × 10 ms pulses), achieving a high loading efficiency of 1.77 ng Fe/10<sup
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Quantitative measurements in the myocardium may be used to detect both focal and diffuse disease processes that result in an elevation of T1 and/or extracellular volume (ECV) fraction. Detection of abnormal myocardial tissue by these methods is affected by both the accuracy and precision. The sensitivity for detecting abnormal elevation of T1 and ECV is limited by the precision of T1 estimates which is a function of the number and timing of measurements along the T1-inversion recovery curve, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the tissue T1, and the method of fitting.</AbstractText The standard deviation (SD) of T1 and ECV estimates are formulated and SD maps are calculated on a pixel-wise basis using the Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI) method. SD estimates are validated by numerical simulation using Monte-Carlo analysis and with phantoms using repeated trials. SD estimates are provided for pre- and post-contrast optimized protocols for a range of T1s and SNRs. In-vivo examples are provide for normal, myocarditis, and HCM in human subjects. The formulation of SD maps was extended to R1 and ECV.</AbstractText The measured myocardial SNR ranged from 23 to 43 across the heart using the specific T1-mapping protocol in this study. In this range of SNRs, the estimated SD for T1 was approximately 20-45 ms for pre-contrast myocardial T1 around 1000 ms, and was approximately 10-20 ms for post contrast T1 around 400 ms. The proposed estimate of SD was an unbiased estimate of the standard deviation of T1 validated by numerical simulation and had > 99% correlation with phantom measurements. The measured SD maps exhibited variation across the heart due to drop off in surface coil sensitivity as expected for the variation in SNR. Focal elevation in T1 and ECV was shown to have statistical significance on a pixel-wise basis for in-vivo examples.</AbstractText Pixel-wise estimates of T1 mapping errors have been formulated and validated, and the formulation has been extended to ECV. The ability to quantify the measurement error has potential to determine the statistical significance of subtle abnormalities that arise due to diffuse disease processes involving fibrosis and/or edema and is useful both as a confidence metric for overall quality, and in optimization and comparison of imaging protocols.</AbstractText
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The US health care sector accounts for about 8.5% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reliable estimates of emissions associated with health care-related travel are essential for informing policy changes.</AbstractText To generate a comprehensive national estimate of carbon emissions due to patient health care-related travel in the US.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted from January 2022 to January 2023. Participants were selected using an address-based sample from the US Postal Service Delivery Sequence File. Participating households reported all trips taken within 24 hours by all household members aged 5 years or older. Approximate emissions per mile were obtained from typical vehicle emissions data provided by US government institutions. Data were analyzed between March 11 and May 29, 2024.</AbstractText Estimated annual CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions from patient health care-related travel per year, per patient, per trip, and per mile. A survey-weighted λ regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with higher CO2e emissions per trip. An alternative scenario analysis estimated reductions if 30% or 50% of private vehicle users switched to electric vehicles.</AbstractText The sample included 16 997 participants with a weighted total of 3 506 325 536 US health care trips. Of these trips, 52.0% were reported by female travelers, 80.1% were made in urban areas, and 19.9% were made in rural areas. These trips accounted for 84 057 963 340 miles, resulting in weighted annual estimated emissions of 35.7 megatons (Mt) (95% CI, 27.5-43.9 Mt) CO2e. Each mile traveled generated an estimated 424 g (95% CI, 418-428 g) CO2e. Emissions per trip were higher (exponentiated coefficient [exp(β)], 2.19; 95% CI, 1.51-2.86; P < .001) for rural patients compared with urban patients. However, 69.3% of emissions were attributable to urban patients and 30.7% to rural patients. Patients with annual median household incomes of $50 000 to $99 999 generated higher trip emissions (exp[β], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.09-2.76; P = .003) compared with those with incomes of $25 000 or less. A 30% shift to electric vehicles was estimated to reduce health care-related carbon emissions to 27.6 Mt (95% CI, 20.7-34.6 Mt) CO2e, and a 50% shift was estimated to lower emissions to 22.3 Mt (95% CI, 16.0-28.6 Mt) CO2e.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study estimated that annual patient health care-related travel in the US generated 35.7 Mt CO2e, which accounts for a small but important proportion of total health care-related emissions in the US. These findings are essential for informing health care policy decisions and suggest that strategies such as telehealth and the adoption of electric vehicles may contribute to a small but significant reduction in health care-related GHG emissions.</AbstractText
|
Magnetically Labeled iPSC-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Enable MRI/MPI-Guided Regenerative Therapy for Myocardial Infarction. Stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) offer a promising cell-free approach for cardiovascular regenerative medicine. In this study, we developed magnetically labeled induced pluripotent stem cell-derived EVs (magneto-iPSC-EVs) encapsulated with superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles for image-guided regenerative treatment of myocardial infarction, in which EVs that can be detected by both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic particle imaging (MPI). iPSC-EVs were isolated, characterized per MISEV2023 guidelines, and loaded with SuperSPIO20 nanoparticles using optimized electroporation conditions (300 V, 2 × 10 ms pulses), achieving a high loading efficiency of 1.77 ng Fe/10<sup
|
T1 and extracellular volume mapping in the heart: estimation of error maps and the influence of noise on precision. Quantitative measurements in the myocardium may be used to detect both focal and diffuse disease processes that result in an elevation of T1 and/or extracellular volume (ECV) fraction. Detection of abnormal myocardial tissue by these methods is affected by both the accuracy and precision. The sensitivity for detecting abnormal elevation of T1 and ECV is limited by the precision of T1 estimates which is a function of the number and timing of measurements along the T1-inversion recovery curve, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), the tissue T1, and the method of fitting.</AbstractText The standard deviation (SD) of T1 and ECV estimates are formulated and SD maps are calculated on a pixel-wise basis using the Modified Look-Locker Inversion recovery (MOLLI) method. SD estimates are validated by numerical simulation using Monte-Carlo analysis and with phantoms using repeated trials. SD estimates are provided for pre- and post-contrast optimized protocols for a range of T1s and SNRs. In-vivo examples are provide for normal, myocarditis, and HCM in human subjects. The formulation of SD maps was extended to R1 and ECV.</AbstractText The measured myocardial SNR ranged from 23 to 43 across the heart using the specific T1-mapping protocol in this study. In this range of SNRs, the estimated SD for T1 was approximately 20-45 ms for pre-contrast myocardial T1 around 1000 ms, and was approximately 10-20 ms for post contrast T1 around 400 ms. The proposed estimate of SD was an unbiased estimate of the standard deviation of T1 validated by numerical simulation and had > 99% correlation with phantom measurements. The measured SD maps exhibited variation across the heart due to drop off in surface coil sensitivity as expected for the variation in SNR. Focal elevation in T1 and ECV was shown to have statistical significance on a pixel-wise basis for in-vivo examples.</AbstractText Pixel-wise estimates of T1 mapping errors have been formulated and validated, and the formulation has been extended to ECV. The ability to quantify the measurement error has potential to determine the statistical significance of subtle abnormalities that arise due to diffuse disease processes involving fibrosis and/or edema and is useful both as a confidence metric for overall quality, and in optimization and comparison of imaging protocols.</AbstractText
|
Carbon Emissions From Patient Travel for Health Care. The US health care sector accounts for about 8.5% of national greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reliable estimates of emissions associated with health care-related travel are essential for informing policy changes.</AbstractText To generate a comprehensive national estimate of carbon emissions due to patient health care-related travel in the US.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study used data from the 2022 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), conducted from January 2022 to January 2023. Participants were selected using an address-based sample from the US Postal Service Delivery Sequence File. Participating households reported all trips taken within 24 hours by all household members aged 5 years or older. Approximate emissions per mile were obtained from typical vehicle emissions data provided by US government institutions. Data were analyzed between March 11 and May 29, 2024.</AbstractText Estimated annual CO2 equivalent (CO2e) emissions from patient health care-related travel per year, per patient, per trip, and per mile. A survey-weighted λ regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with higher CO2e emissions per trip. An alternative scenario analysis estimated reductions if 30% or 50% of private vehicle users switched to electric vehicles.</AbstractText The sample included 16 997 participants with a weighted total of 3 506 325 536 US health care trips. Of these trips, 52.0% were reported by female travelers, 80.1% were made in urban areas, and 19.9% were made in rural areas. These trips accounted for 84 057 963 340 miles, resulting in weighted annual estimated emissions of 35.7 megatons (Mt) (95% CI, 27.5-43.9 Mt) CO2e. Each mile traveled generated an estimated 424 g (95% CI, 418-428 g) CO2e. Emissions per trip were higher (exponentiated coefficient [exp(β)], 2.19; 95% CI, 1.51-2.86; P < .001) for rural patients compared with urban patients. However, 69.3% of emissions were attributable to urban patients and 30.7% to rural patients. Patients with annual median household incomes of $50 000 to $99 999 generated higher trip emissions (exp[β], 1.92; 95% CI, 1.09-2.76; P = .003) compared with those with incomes of $25 000 or less. A 30% shift to electric vehicles was estimated to reduce health care-related carbon emissions to 27.6 Mt (95% CI, 20.7-34.6 Mt) CO2e, and a 50% shift was estimated to lower emissions to 22.3 Mt (95% CI, 16.0-28.6 Mt) CO2e.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study estimated that annual patient health care-related travel in the US generated 35.7 Mt CO2e, which accounts for a small but important proportion of total health care-related emissions in the US. These findings are essential for informing health care policy decisions and suggest that strategies such as telehealth and the adoption of electric vehicles may contribute to a small but significant reduction in health care-related GHG emissions.</AbstractText
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38387014
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33185607
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39108543
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White Matter Plasticity Underpins Cognitive Gains After Multidomain Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training.
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Alpha Power and Functional Connectivity in Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
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MATB for assessing different mental workload levels.
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This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training (CCT) on white matter (WM) neuroplasticity and neuropsychological performance.</AbstractText A total of 128 community older adults (64.36 ± 6.14 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a home-based, multidomain, and adaptive CCT for 30 minutes, 2 days per week for 1 year. Neuropsychological assessments, diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and T1-weighted structural MRI were performed at the pre- and post-intervention visits.</AbstractText Eighty-one of 128 participants (41 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group) completed the 1-year intervention, and 61 of them (27 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group) underwent MRI scans twice. After excluding attrition bias, a significant time-by-group interaction on the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT; F = 51.85, p < .001) was found, showing improvement in the intervention group and a decline in the control group. At the brain level, the intervention group exhibited increased axial diffusivity in the left posterior thalamic radiation, and this increase was significantly correlated with reduced SCWT reaction time (r = ‒0.42, p = .029). No significant time-by-group interactions were found for gray matter volume.</AbstractText Our findings suggest that conducting multidomain adaptive CCT is an effective and feasible method to counteract cognitive decline in older adults, with WM neuroplasticity underpinning cognitive improvements. This study contributes to the understanding of the neural basis for the beneficial effect of CCT for older adults.</AbstractText
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Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a stage between expected age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Dementias have been associated with changes in neural oscillations across the frequency spectrum, including the alpha range. Alpha is the most prominent rhythm in human EEG and is best detected during awake resting state (RS). Though several studies measured alpha power and synchronization in MCI, findings have not yet been integrated.</AbstractText To consolidate findings on power and synchronization of alpha oscillations across stages of cognitive decline.</AbstractText We included studies published until January 2020 that compared power or functional connectivity between 1) people with MCI and cognitively healthy older adults (OA) or people with a neurodegenerative dementia, and 2) people with progressive and stable MCI. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed when enough data was available.</AbstractText Sixty-eight studies were included in the review. Global RS alpha power was lower in AD than in MCI (ES = -0.30; 95% CI = -0.51, -0.10; k = 6), and in MCI than in OA (ES = -1.49; 95% CI = -2.69, -0.29; k = 5). However, the latter meta-analysis should be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity. The review showed lower RS alpha power in progressive than in stable MCI, and lower task-related alpha reactivity in MCI than in OA. People with MCI had both lower and higher functional connectivity than OA. Publications lacked consistency in MCI diagnosis and EEG measures.</AbstractText Research indicates that RS alpha power decreases with increasing impairment, and could-combined with measures from other frequency bands-become a biomarker of early cognitive decline.</AbstractText
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Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB) is a computerized flight simulator for aviation-related tasks, suitable for non-pilots and available in many versions, including open source. MATB requires the individual or simultaneous execution of 4 sub-tasks: system monitoring (SYSMON), tracking (TRACK), communications (COMM), and resource management (RESMAN). Fully customizable, the design of test duration, number of sub-tasks used, event rates, response times and overlap, create different levels of mental load. MATB can be combined with an additional auditory attention (Oddball) task, or with physiological constraints (i.e., sleep loss, exercise, hypoxia). We aimed to assess the main characteristics of MATB design for assessing the response to different workload levels. We identified and reviewed 19 articles for which the effects of low and high workload were analyzed. Although MATB has shown promise in detecting performance degradation due to increase workload, studies have yielded conflicting or unclear results regarding MATB configurations. Increased event rates, number of sub-tasks (multitasking), and overlap are associated with increased perceived workload score (ex. NASA-TLX), decreased performance (especially tracking), and neurophysiological responses, while no effect of time-on-task is observed. The median duration used for the test is 20 min (range 12-60) with a level duration of 10 min (range 4-15). To assess mental workload, the median number of stimuli is respectively 3 events/min (range 0.6-17.2) for low, and 23.5 events/min (range 9-65) for high workload level. In this review, we give some recommendations for standardization of MATB design, configuration, description and training, in order to improve reproducibility and comparison between studies, a challenge for the future researches, as human-machine interaction and digital influx increase for pilots. We also open the discussion on the possible use of MATB in the context of aeronautical/operational constraints in order to assess the effects combined with changes in mental workload levels<b
|
White Matter Plasticity Underpins Cognitive Gains After Multidomain Adaptive Computerized Cognitive Training. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of computerized cognitive training (CCT) on white matter (WM) neuroplasticity and neuropsychological performance.</AbstractText A total of 128 community older adults (64.36 ± 6.14 years) were recruited and randomly assigned to the intervention or control group. Participants in the intervention group received a home-based, multidomain, and adaptive CCT for 30 minutes, 2 days per week for 1 year. Neuropsychological assessments, diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and T1-weighted structural MRI were performed at the pre- and post-intervention visits.</AbstractText Eighty-one of 128 participants (41 in the intervention group and 40 in the control group) completed the 1-year intervention, and 61 of them (27 in the intervention group and 34 in the control group) underwent MRI scans twice. After excluding attrition bias, a significant time-by-group interaction on the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT; F = 51.85, p < .001) was found, showing improvement in the intervention group and a decline in the control group. At the brain level, the intervention group exhibited increased axial diffusivity in the left posterior thalamic radiation, and this increase was significantly correlated with reduced SCWT reaction time (r = ‒0.42, p = .029). No significant time-by-group interactions were found for gray matter volume.</AbstractText Our findings suggest that conducting multidomain adaptive CCT is an effective and feasible method to counteract cognitive decline in older adults, with WM neuroplasticity underpinning cognitive improvements. This study contributes to the understanding of the neural basis for the beneficial effect of CCT for older adults.</AbstractText
|
Alpha Power and Functional Connectivity in Cognitive Decline: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a stage between expected age-related cognitive decline and dementia. Dementias have been associated with changes in neural oscillations across the frequency spectrum, including the alpha range. Alpha is the most prominent rhythm in human EEG and is best detected during awake resting state (RS). Though several studies measured alpha power and synchronization in MCI, findings have not yet been integrated.</AbstractText To consolidate findings on power and synchronization of alpha oscillations across stages of cognitive decline.</AbstractText We included studies published until January 2020 that compared power or functional connectivity between 1) people with MCI and cognitively healthy older adults (OA) or people with a neurodegenerative dementia, and 2) people with progressive and stable MCI. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed when enough data was available.</AbstractText Sixty-eight studies were included in the review. Global RS alpha power was lower in AD than in MCI (ES = -0.30; 95% CI = -0.51, -0.10; k = 6), and in MCI than in OA (ES = -1.49; 95% CI = -2.69, -0.29; k = 5). However, the latter meta-analysis should be interpreted cautiously due to high heterogeneity. The review showed lower RS alpha power in progressive than in stable MCI, and lower task-related alpha reactivity in MCI than in OA. People with MCI had both lower and higher functional connectivity than OA. Publications lacked consistency in MCI diagnosis and EEG measures.</AbstractText Research indicates that RS alpha power decreases with increasing impairment, and could-combined with measures from other frequency bands-become a biomarker of early cognitive decline.</AbstractText
|
MATB for assessing different mental workload levels. Multi-Attribute Task Battery (MATB) is a computerized flight simulator for aviation-related tasks, suitable for non-pilots and available in many versions, including open source. MATB requires the individual or simultaneous execution of 4 sub-tasks: system monitoring (SYSMON), tracking (TRACK), communications (COMM), and resource management (RESMAN). Fully customizable, the design of test duration, number of sub-tasks used, event rates, response times and overlap, create different levels of mental load. MATB can be combined with an additional auditory attention (Oddball) task, or with physiological constraints (i.e., sleep loss, exercise, hypoxia). We aimed to assess the main characteristics of MATB design for assessing the response to different workload levels. We identified and reviewed 19 articles for which the effects of low and high workload were analyzed. Although MATB has shown promise in detecting performance degradation due to increase workload, studies have yielded conflicting or unclear results regarding MATB configurations. Increased event rates, number of sub-tasks (multitasking), and overlap are associated with increased perceived workload score (ex. NASA-TLX), decreased performance (especially tracking), and neurophysiological responses, while no effect of time-on-task is observed. The median duration used for the test is 20 min (range 12-60) with a level duration of 10 min (range 4-15). To assess mental workload, the median number of stimuli is respectively 3 events/min (range 0.6-17.2) for low, and 23.5 events/min (range 9-65) for high workload level. In this review, we give some recommendations for standardization of MATB design, configuration, description and training, in order to improve reproducibility and comparison between studies, a challenge for the future researches, as human-machine interaction and digital influx increase for pilots. We also open the discussion on the possible use of MATB in the context of aeronautical/operational constraints in order to assess the effects combined with changes in mental workload levels<b
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40605897
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25999210
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40752704
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Eagle Syndrome as a Delayed Vascular Complication: Carotid Stent Deformation After Stenting for High Cervical Stenosis.
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Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome--Insight into pathogenesis, clinical variants and treatment approaches.
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A novel glucomannan from Bletilla striata ameliorates colitis: Restores intestinal barrier, alleviates inflammation, and modulates the gut flora.
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Eagle syndrome, caused by elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, can present with a variety of symptoms. The vascular variant, stylocarotid syndrome, involves mechanical compression of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and may lead to cerebrovascular complications such as dissection, transient ischemic attacks, or ischemic stroke. While carotid artery stenting (CAS) is widely used for carotid stenosis, mechanical complications related to surrounding bony structures remain rare. We report a case of a 75-year-old woman who underwent CAS for high cervical ICA stenosis. Although the procedure was initially successful, the patient later developed recurrent ischemic stroke. Imaging revealed in-stent restenosis caused by deformation of the carotid stent, which was in close proximity to an elongated styloid process (44 mm). The patient underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, followed by transcervical styloidectomy. After the final intervention, the patient remained free of restenosis or stroke recurrence during a one-year follow-up period. This case highlights the importance of evaluating bony anatomical structures in patients undergoing CAS, particularly for high cervical lesions. An elongated styloid process may cause delayed mechanical stent deformation and restenosis. Early recognition and consideration of styloidectomy may help prevent complications and improve long-term outcomes in vascular Eagle syndrome.</AbstractText
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Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare clinicoradiological entity characterized by typical MRI findings located in the occipital and parietal lobes, caused by subcortical vasogenic edema. It was first described as a distinctive syndrome by Hinchey in 1996. Etiopathogenesis is not clear, although it is known that it is an endotheliopathy of the posterior cerebral vasculature leading to failed cerebral autoregulation, posterior edema and encephalopathy. A possible pathological activation of the immune system has been recently hypothesized in its pathogenesis. At clinical onset, the most common manifestations are seizures, headache and visual changes. Besides, tinnitus and acute vertigo have been frequently reported. Symptoms can be reversible but cerebral hemorrhage or ischemia may occur. Diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging, in the presence of acute development of clinical neurologic symptoms and signs and arterial hypertension and/or toxic associated conditions with possible endotheliotoxic effects. Mainstay on the treatment is removal of the underlying cause. Further investigation and developments in endothelial cell function and in neuroimaging of cerebral blood flow are needed and will help to increase our understanding of pathophysiology, possibly suggesting novel therapies.</AbstractText
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Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and microbiota imbalance. Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) shows anti-inflammatory potential, but its UC mechanisms remain unclear.</AbstractText To purify Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP-1), characterize its structure, and elucidate its multi-target UC therapeutic mechanisms.</AbstractText This study purified a novel structure of neutral glucomannan with a small amount of acetylation (BSP-1). Together with tight junction protein analysis, oxidative stress markers, 16S rRNA sequencing, cytokine quantification, and molecular ecological network examination, the team used a UC mouse model created using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).</AbstractText BSP-1 alleviated colitis by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling (elevating IL-10; lowering IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and restoring integrity of the intestinal barrier via upregulating Occludin, ZO-1, MUC2, and Claudin-1. It reduced oxidative stress (lower MDA; higher SOD) and modulated gut microbiota (enriched Lactobacillus, suppressed Escherichia-Shigella). Molecular ecological network analysis showed that BSP-1 restored microbial community stability by enhancing bacterial competition.</AbstractText BSP-1 exerts integrated anti-inflammatory, barrier-repairing, and microbiota-regulating effects, highlighting its potential as a multi-target UC therapy and intestinal microecological regulator.</AbstractText
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Eagle Syndrome as a Delayed Vascular Complication: Carotid Stent Deformation After Stenting for High Cervical Stenosis. Eagle syndrome, caused by elongation of the styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament, can present with a variety of symptoms. The vascular variant, stylocarotid syndrome, involves mechanical compression of the internal carotid artery (ICA) and may lead to cerebrovascular complications such as dissection, transient ischemic attacks, or ischemic stroke. While carotid artery stenting (CAS) is widely used for carotid stenosis, mechanical complications related to surrounding bony structures remain rare. We report a case of a 75-year-old woman who underwent CAS for high cervical ICA stenosis. Although the procedure was initially successful, the patient later developed recurrent ischemic stroke. Imaging revealed in-stent restenosis caused by deformation of the carotid stent, which was in close proximity to an elongated styloid process (44 mm). The patient underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, followed by transcervical styloidectomy. After the final intervention, the patient remained free of restenosis or stroke recurrence during a one-year follow-up period. This case highlights the importance of evaluating bony anatomical structures in patients undergoing CAS, particularly for high cervical lesions. An elongated styloid process may cause delayed mechanical stent deformation and restenosis. Early recognition and consideration of styloidectomy may help prevent complications and improve long-term outcomes in vascular Eagle syndrome.</AbstractText
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Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome--Insight into pathogenesis, clinical variants and treatment approaches. Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a rare clinicoradiological entity characterized by typical MRI findings located in the occipital and parietal lobes, caused by subcortical vasogenic edema. It was first described as a distinctive syndrome by Hinchey in 1996. Etiopathogenesis is not clear, although it is known that it is an endotheliopathy of the posterior cerebral vasculature leading to failed cerebral autoregulation, posterior edema and encephalopathy. A possible pathological activation of the immune system has been recently hypothesized in its pathogenesis. At clinical onset, the most common manifestations are seizures, headache and visual changes. Besides, tinnitus and acute vertigo have been frequently reported. Symptoms can be reversible but cerebral hemorrhage or ischemia may occur. Diagnosis is based on magnetic resonance imaging, in the presence of acute development of clinical neurologic symptoms and signs and arterial hypertension and/or toxic associated conditions with possible endotheliotoxic effects. Mainstay on the treatment is removal of the underlying cause. Further investigation and developments in endothelial cell function and in neuroimaging of cerebral blood flow are needed and will help to increase our understanding of pathophysiology, possibly suggesting novel therapies.</AbstractText
|
A novel glucomannan from Bletilla striata ameliorates colitis: Restores intestinal barrier, alleviates inflammation, and modulates the gut flora. Ulcerative colitis (UC) involves intestinal barrier dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and microbiota imbalance. Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP) shows anti-inflammatory potential, but its UC mechanisms remain unclear.</AbstractText To purify Bletilla striata polysaccharide (BSP-1), characterize its structure, and elucidate its multi-target UC therapeutic mechanisms.</AbstractText This study purified a novel structure of neutral glucomannan with a small amount of acetylation (BSP-1). Together with tight junction protein analysis, oxidative stress markers, 16S rRNA sequencing, cytokine quantification, and molecular ecological network examination, the team used a UC mouse model created using dextran sodium sulfate (DSS).</AbstractText BSP-1 alleviated colitis by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling (elevating IL-10; lowering IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β) and restoring integrity of the intestinal barrier via upregulating Occludin, ZO-1, MUC2, and Claudin-1. It reduced oxidative stress (lower MDA; higher SOD) and modulated gut microbiota (enriched Lactobacillus, suppressed Escherichia-Shigella). Molecular ecological network analysis showed that BSP-1 restored microbial community stability by enhancing bacterial competition.</AbstractText BSP-1 exerts integrated anti-inflammatory, barrier-repairing, and microbiota-regulating effects, highlighting its potential as a multi-target UC therapy and intestinal microecological regulator.</AbstractText
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35185494
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30420501
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33926267
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Regional Haemodynamic and Metabolic Coupling in Infants.
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Subspecialization within default mode nodes characterized in 10,000 UK Biobank participants.
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Alternative models and randomization techniques for Bayesian response-adaptive randomization with binary outcomes.
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Metabolic pathways underlying brain function remain largely unexplored during neurodevelopment, predominantly due to the lack of feasible techniques for use with awake infants. Broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bNIRS) provides the opportunity to explore the relationship between cerebral energy metabolism and blood oxygenation/haemodynamics through the measurement of changes in the oxidation state of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme cytochrome-c-oxidase (ΔoxCCO) alongside haemodynamic changes. We used a bNIRS system to measure ΔoxCCO and haemodynamics during functional activation in a group of 42 typically developing infants aged between 4 and 7 months. bNIRS measurements were made over the right hemisphere over temporal, parietal and central cortical regions, in response to social and non-social visual and auditory stimuli. Both ΔoxCCO and Δ[HbO<sub
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The human default mode network (DMN) is implicated in several unique mental capacities. In this study, we tested whether brain-wide interregional communication in the DMN can be derived from population variability in intrinsic activity fluctuations, gray-matter morphology, and fiber tract anatomy. In a sample of 10,000 UK Biobank participants, pattern-learning algorithms revealed functional coupling states in the DMN that are linked to connectivity profiles between other macroscopical brain networks. In addition, DMN gray matter volume was covaried with white matter microstructure of the fornix. Collectively, functional and structural patterns unmasked a possible division of labor within major DMN nodes: Subregions most critical for cortical network interplay were adjacent to subregions most predictive of fornix fibers from the hippocampus that processes memories and places.</AbstractText
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Bayesian response-adaptive designs, which data adaptively alter the allocation ratio in favor of the better performing treatment, are often criticized for engendering a non-trivial probability of a subject imbalance in favor of the inferior treatment, inflating type I error rate, and increasing sample size requirements. The implementation of these designs using the Thompson sampling methods has generally assumed a simple beta-binomial probability model in the literature; however, the effect of these choices on the resulting design operating characteristics relative to other reasonable alternatives has not been fully examined. Motivated by the Advanced R<sup A computer simulation study was performed to evaluate the relative merits of a Bayesian response-adaptive design for the Advanced R<sup The logistic regression probability model engenders smaller average sample sizes with similar power, better control over type I error rate, and more favorable treatment arm sample size distributions than the conventional beta-binomial probability model, and designs using the alternative randomization methods have a negligible chance of a sample size imbalance in the wrong direction.</AbstractText Pairing the logistic regression probability model with either of the alternative randomization methods results in a much improved response-adaptive design in regard to important operating characteristics, including type I error rate control and the risk of a sample size imbalance in favor of the inferior treatment.</AbstractText
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Regional Haemodynamic and Metabolic Coupling in Infants. Metabolic pathways underlying brain function remain largely unexplored during neurodevelopment, predominantly due to the lack of feasible techniques for use with awake infants. Broadband near-infrared spectroscopy (bNIRS) provides the opportunity to explore the relationship between cerebral energy metabolism and blood oxygenation/haemodynamics through the measurement of changes in the oxidation state of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme cytochrome-c-oxidase (ΔoxCCO) alongside haemodynamic changes. We used a bNIRS system to measure ΔoxCCO and haemodynamics during functional activation in a group of 42 typically developing infants aged between 4 and 7 months. bNIRS measurements were made over the right hemisphere over temporal, parietal and central cortical regions, in response to social and non-social visual and auditory stimuli. Both ΔoxCCO and Δ[HbO<sub
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Subspecialization within default mode nodes characterized in 10,000 UK Biobank participants. The human default mode network (DMN) is implicated in several unique mental capacities. In this study, we tested whether brain-wide interregional communication in the DMN can be derived from population variability in intrinsic activity fluctuations, gray-matter morphology, and fiber tract anatomy. In a sample of 10,000 UK Biobank participants, pattern-learning algorithms revealed functional coupling states in the DMN that are linked to connectivity profiles between other macroscopical brain networks. In addition, DMN gray matter volume was covaried with white matter microstructure of the fornix. Collectively, functional and structural patterns unmasked a possible division of labor within major DMN nodes: Subregions most critical for cortical network interplay were adjacent to subregions most predictive of fornix fibers from the hippocampus that processes memories and places.</AbstractText
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Alternative models and randomization techniques for Bayesian response-adaptive randomization with binary outcomes. Bayesian response-adaptive designs, which data adaptively alter the allocation ratio in favor of the better performing treatment, are often criticized for engendering a non-trivial probability of a subject imbalance in favor of the inferior treatment, inflating type I error rate, and increasing sample size requirements. The implementation of these designs using the Thompson sampling methods has generally assumed a simple beta-binomial probability model in the literature; however, the effect of these choices on the resulting design operating characteristics relative to other reasonable alternatives has not been fully examined. Motivated by the Advanced R<sup A computer simulation study was performed to evaluate the relative merits of a Bayesian response-adaptive design for the Advanced R<sup The logistic regression probability model engenders smaller average sample sizes with similar power, better control over type I error rate, and more favorable treatment arm sample size distributions than the conventional beta-binomial probability model, and designs using the alternative randomization methods have a negligible chance of a sample size imbalance in the wrong direction.</AbstractText Pairing the logistic regression probability model with either of the alternative randomization methods results in a much improved response-adaptive design in regard to important operating characteristics, including type I error rate control and the risk of a sample size imbalance in favor of the inferior treatment.</AbstractText
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39838260
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34903973
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40777303
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MT1/cAMP/PKA Pathway in Melatonin-Regulated Sperm Capacitation.
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Benefits and Risks of Melatonin in Hepatic and Pancreatic Disorders; A Review of Clinical Evidences.
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A deep learning framework for understanding cochlear implants.
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Melatonin is mainly synthesized and secreted by pineal gland, and plays multiple functions, including its regulating effects on reproductive processes. Sperm capacitation is necessary for fertilization, but the effect of melatonin on mouse sperm capacitation remains to be elucidated. We thus investigated the roles of melatonin on capacitation by culturing the sperms from mouse cauda epididymis in the medium with different doses of melatonin. The results showed that 10<sup
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Melatonin is the "clock factor" produced from the pineal gland dominating regular circadian rhythm in mammalians. It is an indoleamine with potent multifunctional pharmacological effects, both receptor dependent and non-receptor dependent effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this review is to summarize clinical evidence related to melatonin's effectiveness in the treatment of liver and pancreas diseases. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochran Library were searched up to November 2020.Finally, this review has summarized up-to-date clinical evidence to investigate the efficacy and safety of melatonin for the management of liver and pancreas diseases. Melatonin has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the management of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sleep disturbance of cirrhotic patients, prevention of drug/poison induced liver toxicity,and prevention of post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP);more data is needed to recommend melatonin administration in the treatment of mentioned disorders.</AbstractText
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Sensory prostheses replace dysfunctional sensory organs with electrical stimulation but currently fail to restore normal perception. Outcomes may be limited by stimulation strategies, neural degeneration, or suboptimal decoding by the brain. We propose a deep learning framework to evaluate these issues by estimating best-case outcomes with task-optimized decoders operating on simulated prosthetic input. We applied the framework to cochlear implants - the standard treatment for deafness - by training artificial neural networks to recognize and localize sounds using simulated auditory nerve input. The resulting models exhibited speech recognition and sound localization that was worse than that of normal hearing listeners, and on par with the best human cochlear implant users, with similar results across the three main stimulation strategies in current use. Speech recognition depended heavily on the extent of decoder optimization for implant input, with lesser influence from other factors. The results identify performance limits of current devices and demonstrate a model-guided approach for understanding the limitations and potential of sensory prostheses.</AbstractText
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MT1/cAMP/PKA Pathway in Melatonin-Regulated Sperm Capacitation. Melatonin is mainly synthesized and secreted by pineal gland, and plays multiple functions, including its regulating effects on reproductive processes. Sperm capacitation is necessary for fertilization, but the effect of melatonin on mouse sperm capacitation remains to be elucidated. We thus investigated the roles of melatonin on capacitation by culturing the sperms from mouse cauda epididymis in the medium with different doses of melatonin. The results showed that 10<sup
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Benefits and Risks of Melatonin in Hepatic and Pancreatic Disorders; A Review of Clinical Evidences. Melatonin is the "clock factor" produced from the pineal gland dominating regular circadian rhythm in mammalians. It is an indoleamine with potent multifunctional pharmacological effects, both receptor dependent and non-receptor dependent effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The aim of this review is to summarize clinical evidence related to melatonin's effectiveness in the treatment of liver and pancreas diseases. Databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Cochran Library were searched up to November 2020.Finally, this review has summarized up-to-date clinical evidence to investigate the efficacy and safety of melatonin for the management of liver and pancreas diseases. Melatonin has been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on the management of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), sleep disturbance of cirrhotic patients, prevention of drug/poison induced liver toxicity,and prevention of post endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography pancreatitis (PEP);more data is needed to recommend melatonin administration in the treatment of mentioned disorders.</AbstractText
|
A deep learning framework for understanding cochlear implants. Sensory prostheses replace dysfunctional sensory organs with electrical stimulation but currently fail to restore normal perception. Outcomes may be limited by stimulation strategies, neural degeneration, or suboptimal decoding by the brain. We propose a deep learning framework to evaluate these issues by estimating best-case outcomes with task-optimized decoders operating on simulated prosthetic input. We applied the framework to cochlear implants - the standard treatment for deafness - by training artificial neural networks to recognize and localize sounds using simulated auditory nerve input. The resulting models exhibited speech recognition and sound localization that was worse than that of normal hearing listeners, and on par with the best human cochlear implant users, with similar results across the three main stimulation strategies in current use. Speech recognition depended heavily on the extent of decoder optimization for implant input, with lesser influence from other factors. The results identify performance limits of current devices and demonstrate a model-guided approach for understanding the limitations and potential of sensory prostheses.</AbstractText
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28766982
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19807094
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28477891
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Featured Article: Serum [Met(5)]-enkephalin levels are reduced in multiple sclerosis and restored by low-dose naltrexone.
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The effects of C-terminal modifications on the opioid activity of [N-benzylTyr(1)]dynorphin A-(1-11) analogues.
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Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma.
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Low-dose naltrexone is a widely used off-label therapeutic prescribed for a variety of immune-related disorders. The mechanism underlying low-dose naltrexone's efficacy for fatigue, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis is, in part, intermittent blockade of opioid receptors followed by upregulation of endogenous opioids. Short, intermittent blockade by naltrexone specifically blocks the opioid growth factor receptor resulting in biofeedback events that increase production of the endogenous opioid growth factor (OGF) (chemically termed [Met<sup
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Structural modifications affecting the efficacy of analogues of the endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin (Dyn) A have focused on the N-terminal "message" sequence based on the "message-address" concept. To test the hypothesis that changes in the C-terminal "address" domain could affect efficacy, modified amino acids and cyclic constraints were incorporated into this region of the partial agonist [N-benzylTyr(1)]Dyn A-(1-11). Modifications in the C-terminal domain of [N-benzylTyr(1)]Dyn A-(1-11)NH(2) resulted in increased kappa opioid receptor (KOR) affinity for all of the linear analogues but did not affect the efficacy of these peptides at KOR. Cyclization between positions 5 and 8 yielded [N-benzylTyr(1),cyclo(d-Asp(5),Dap(8))]Dyn A-(1-11)NH(2) (zyklophin, 13) ( J. Med. Chem. 2005 , 48 , 4500 - 4503 ) with high selectivity for KOR. In contrast to the linear peptides, this peptide exhibits negligible efficacy in the adenylyl cyclase (AC) assay and is a KOR antagonist. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that appropriate modifications in the "address" domain of Dyn A analogues may affect efficacy.</AbstractText
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The term, cutaneous pseudolymphoma (PSL), refers to a group of lymphocyte-rich infiltrates, which either clinically and/or histologically simulate cutaneous lymphomas. Clinicopathologic correlation is essential to achieve the final diagnosis in cutaneous PSL and to differentiate it from cutaneous lymphomas. A wide range of causative agents (eg, Borrelia, injections, tattoo, and arthropod bite) has been described. Based on clinical and/or histologic presentation, 4 main groups of cutaneous PSL can be distinguished: (1) nodular PSL, (2) pseudo-mycosis fungoides, (3) other PSLs (representing distinct clinical entities), and (4) intravascular PSL. The article gives an overview of the clinical and histologic characteristics of cutaneous PSLs.</AbstractText
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Featured Article: Serum [Met(5)]-enkephalin levels are reduced in multiple sclerosis and restored by low-dose naltrexone. Low-dose naltrexone is a widely used off-label therapeutic prescribed for a variety of immune-related disorders. The mechanism underlying low-dose naltrexone's efficacy for fatigue, Crohn's disease, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis is, in part, intermittent blockade of opioid receptors followed by upregulation of endogenous opioids. Short, intermittent blockade by naltrexone specifically blocks the opioid growth factor receptor resulting in biofeedback events that increase production of the endogenous opioid growth factor (OGF) (chemically termed [Met<sup
|
The effects of C-terminal modifications on the opioid activity of [N-benzylTyr(1)]dynorphin A-(1-11) analogues. Structural modifications affecting the efficacy of analogues of the endogenous opioid peptide dynorphin (Dyn) A have focused on the N-terminal "message" sequence based on the "message-address" concept. To test the hypothesis that changes in the C-terminal "address" domain could affect efficacy, modified amino acids and cyclic constraints were incorporated into this region of the partial agonist [N-benzylTyr(1)]Dyn A-(1-11). Modifications in the C-terminal domain of [N-benzylTyr(1)]Dyn A-(1-11)NH(2) resulted in increased kappa opioid receptor (KOR) affinity for all of the linear analogues but did not affect the efficacy of these peptides at KOR. Cyclization between positions 5 and 8 yielded [N-benzylTyr(1),cyclo(d-Asp(5),Dap(8))]Dyn A-(1-11)NH(2) (zyklophin, 13) ( J. Med. Chem. 2005 , 48 , 4500 - 4503 ) with high selectivity for KOR. In contrast to the linear peptides, this peptide exhibits negligible efficacy in the adenylyl cyclase (AC) assay and is a KOR antagonist. These data are consistent with our hypothesis that appropriate modifications in the "address" domain of Dyn A analogues may affect efficacy.</AbstractText
|
Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma. The term, cutaneous pseudolymphoma (PSL), refers to a group of lymphocyte-rich infiltrates, which either clinically and/or histologically simulate cutaneous lymphomas. Clinicopathologic correlation is essential to achieve the final diagnosis in cutaneous PSL and to differentiate it from cutaneous lymphomas. A wide range of causative agents (eg, Borrelia, injections, tattoo, and arthropod bite) has been described. Based on clinical and/or histologic presentation, 4 main groups of cutaneous PSL can be distinguished: (1) nodular PSL, (2) pseudo-mycosis fungoides, (3) other PSLs (representing distinct clinical entities), and (4) intravascular PSL. The article gives an overview of the clinical and histologic characteristics of cutaneous PSLs.</AbstractText
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22695185
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21519907
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22268094
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Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and its Val66Met gene polymorphism predict tardive dyskinesia treatment response to Ginkgo biloba.
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Motor symptoms of schizophrenia: is tardive dyskinesia a symptom or side effect? A modern treatment.
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Investigation of long-term reproducibility of intrinsic connectivity network mapping: a resting-state fMRI study.
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Tardive dyskinesia (TD) has no well-accepted treatments or known pathophysiology, but low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play an important role in its pathophysiology. Ginkgo biloba (EGb-761) is a potent antioxidant that has neuroprotective effects mediated through enhancing BDNF levels. We hypothesized that treatment with EGb-761 would increase serum BDNF levels and reduce TD, particularly among schizophrenia patients who have the BDNF valine 66 to methionine (Val66Met) genotype (Val/Val).</AbstractText Serum BDNF levels and genotyping for the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism were assessed in Chinese schizophrenic patients with (n = 368) and without (n = 563) TD as well as healthy control subjects (n = 546). About half of the TD patients (n = 157) then participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-control 12-week treatment with 240 mg per day of EGb-761. Serum BDNF levels were measured again at posttreatment. Clinical efficacy was determined using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).</AbstractText TD patients had lower BDNF levels than the non-TD patients and healthy controls. EGb-761 treatment improved symptoms of TD and increased BDNF levels compared with placebo treatment. Moreover, the improvement of AIMS total score correlated with the increase in BDNF levels. Furthermore, improvement in the AIMS score was greatest in those with the Val/Val allele and lowest with the Met/Met allele.</AbstractText The BDNF system may be implicated in the pathophysiology of TD and its improvement with antioxidant treatment. Furthermore, patients with the genetic potential for greater BDNF release (Val/Val at 66) may obtain a greater reduction in TD from EGb-761 treatment.</AbstractText
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Abnormal involuntary dyskinetic movements in schizophrenia patients have been documented for more than 140 years. Clinicians should distinguish between two kinds of disturbances-spontaneous dyskinetic movements and movements induced by psychotropic medications-which may look familiar clinically. As a modern term, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially permanent neurological hyperkinetic movement disorder that occurs after months or years of taking psychotropic drugs. Several distinct forms of TD exist, specifically tardive akathisia, tardive blepharospasm, tardive dystonia, tardive gait, tardive myoclonus, tardive tremor, and tardive tics, and they have different pathophysiologies and treatment. The pathogenesis of TD remains unclear, and the pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial. Moreover, there is solid evidence of a genetic predisposition to TD. This article summarizes recent relevant publications concerning TD and the most recent studies regarding treatment of this disorder with antioxidative agents.</AbstractText
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Connectivity mapping based on resting-state fMRI is rapidly developing, and this methodology has great potential for clinical applications. However, before resting-state fMRI can be applied for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment for an individual patient with neurologic or psychiatric diseases, it is essential to assess its long-term reproducibility and between-subject variations among healthy individuals. The purpose of the study was to quantify the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures derived from resting-state fMRI and to assess the between-subject variation of ICN measures across the whole brain.</AbstractText Longitudinal resting-state fMRI data of 6 healthy volunteers were acquired from 9 scan sessions during >1 year. The within-subject reproducibility and between-subject variation of ICN measures, across the whole brain and major nodes of the DMN, were quantified with the ICC and COV.</AbstractText Our data show that the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures is outstanding, with >70% of the connectivity networks showing an ICC > 0.60. The COV across 6 healthy volunteers in this sample was >0.2, suggesting significant between-subject variation.</AbstractText Our data indicate that resting-state ICN measures (eg, the correlation coefficients between fMRI signal-intensity profiles from 2 different brain regions) are potentially suitable as biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects in clinical trials and individual patients. Because between-subject variation is significant, it may be difficult to use quantitative ICN measures in their current state as a diagnostic tool.</AbstractText
|
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels and its Val66Met gene polymorphism predict tardive dyskinesia treatment response to Ginkgo biloba. Tardive dyskinesia (TD) has no well-accepted treatments or known pathophysiology, but low brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play an important role in its pathophysiology. Ginkgo biloba (EGb-761) is a potent antioxidant that has neuroprotective effects mediated through enhancing BDNF levels. We hypothesized that treatment with EGb-761 would increase serum BDNF levels and reduce TD, particularly among schizophrenia patients who have the BDNF valine 66 to methionine (Val66Met) genotype (Val/Val).</AbstractText Serum BDNF levels and genotyping for the BDNF gene Val66Met polymorphism were assessed in Chinese schizophrenic patients with (n = 368) and without (n = 563) TD as well as healthy control subjects (n = 546). About half of the TD patients (n = 157) then participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-control 12-week treatment with 240 mg per day of EGb-761. Serum BDNF levels were measured again at posttreatment. Clinical efficacy was determined using the Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale (AIMS).</AbstractText TD patients had lower BDNF levels than the non-TD patients and healthy controls. EGb-761 treatment improved symptoms of TD and increased BDNF levels compared with placebo treatment. Moreover, the improvement of AIMS total score correlated with the increase in BDNF levels. Furthermore, improvement in the AIMS score was greatest in those with the Val/Val allele and lowest with the Met/Met allele.</AbstractText The BDNF system may be implicated in the pathophysiology of TD and its improvement with antioxidant treatment. Furthermore, patients with the genetic potential for greater BDNF release (Val/Val at 66) may obtain a greater reduction in TD from EGb-761 treatment.</AbstractText
|
Motor symptoms of schizophrenia: is tardive dyskinesia a symptom or side effect? A modern treatment. Abnormal involuntary dyskinetic movements in schizophrenia patients have been documented for more than 140 years. Clinicians should distinguish between two kinds of disturbances-spontaneous dyskinetic movements and movements induced by psychotropic medications-which may look familiar clinically. As a modern term, tardive dyskinesia (TD) is a potentially permanent neurological hyperkinetic movement disorder that occurs after months or years of taking psychotropic drugs. Several distinct forms of TD exist, specifically tardive akathisia, tardive blepharospasm, tardive dystonia, tardive gait, tardive myoclonus, tardive tremor, and tardive tics, and they have different pathophysiologies and treatment. The pathogenesis of TD remains unclear, and the pathophysiology is complex and multifactorial. Moreover, there is solid evidence of a genetic predisposition to TD. This article summarizes recent relevant publications concerning TD and the most recent studies regarding treatment of this disorder with antioxidative agents.</AbstractText
|
Investigation of long-term reproducibility of intrinsic connectivity network mapping: a resting-state fMRI study. Connectivity mapping based on resting-state fMRI is rapidly developing, and this methodology has great potential for clinical applications. However, before resting-state fMRI can be applied for diagnosis, prognosis, and monitoring treatment for an individual patient with neurologic or psychiatric diseases, it is essential to assess its long-term reproducibility and between-subject variations among healthy individuals. The purpose of the study was to quantify the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures derived from resting-state fMRI and to assess the between-subject variation of ICN measures across the whole brain.</AbstractText Longitudinal resting-state fMRI data of 6 healthy volunteers were acquired from 9 scan sessions during >1 year. The within-subject reproducibility and between-subject variation of ICN measures, across the whole brain and major nodes of the DMN, were quantified with the ICC and COV.</AbstractText Our data show that the long-term test-retest reproducibility of ICN measures is outstanding, with >70% of the connectivity networks showing an ICC > 0.60. The COV across 6 healthy volunteers in this sample was >0.2, suggesting significant between-subject variation.</AbstractText Our data indicate that resting-state ICN measures (eg, the correlation coefficients between fMRI signal-intensity profiles from 2 different brain regions) are potentially suitable as biomarkers for monitoring disease progression and treatment effects in clinical trials and individual patients. Because between-subject variation is significant, it may be difficult to use quantitative ICN measures in their current state as a diagnostic tool.</AbstractText
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19111623
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18985136
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18986335
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Judgment of actions in experts: a high-resolution EEG study in elite athletes.
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Amygdala-frontal connectivity during emotion regulation.
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Diversity of glutathione s-transferase omega 1 (a140d) and 2 (n142d) gene polymorphisms in worldwide populations.
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The present study tested the two following hypotheses: (i) compared to non-athletes, elite athletes are characterized by a reduced cortical activation during the judgment of sporting observed actions; (ii) in elite athletes, a good judgment of observed sporting actions is related to a low cortical activation. To address these issues, electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded in 15 elite rhythmic gymnasts and 13 non-gymnasts. They observed a series of 120 rhythmic gymnastic videos. At the end of each video, the subjects had to judge the artistic/athletic level of the exercise by a scale from 0 to 10. The mismatch between their judgment and that of the coach indexed the degree of action judgment. The EEG cortical sources were estimated by sLORETA. With reference to a pre-stimulus period, the power decrease of alpha (8-12 Hz) rhythms during the videos indexed the cortical activation (event related desynchronization, ERD). Regarding the hypothesis (i), low- and high-frequency alpha ERD was lower in amplitude in the elite rhythmic gymnasts compared to the non-gymnasts in occipital and temporal areas (ventral pathway) and in dorsal pathway. Regarding the hypothesis (ii), in the elite rhythmic gymnasts high-frequency alpha ERD was higher in amplitude with the videos characterized by a high judgment error than those characterized by a low judgment error; this was true in inferior posterior parietal and ventral premotor areas ("mirror" pathway). These results globally suggest that the judgment of observed sporting actions is related to low amplitude of alpha ERD, as a possible index of spatially selective cortical activation ("neural efficiency").</AbstractText
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Successful control of affect partly depends on the capacity to modulate negative emotional responses through the use of cognitive strategies (i.e., reappraisal). Recent studies suggest the involvement of frontal cortical regions in the modulation of amygdala reactivity and the mediation of effective emotion regulation. However, within-subject inter-regional connectivity between amygdala and prefrontal cortex in the context of affect regulation is unknown. Here, using psychophysiological interaction analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, we show that activity in specific areas of the frontal cortex (dorsolateral, dorsal medial, anterior cingulate, orbital) covaries with amygdala activity and that this functional connectivity is dependent on the reappraisal task. Moreover, strength of amygdala coupling with orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex predicts the extent of attenuation of negative affect following reappraisal. These findings highlight the importance of functional connectivity within limbic-frontal circuitry during emotion regulation.</AbstractText
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1. Glutathione S-transferase class omega (GSTO) 1 and 2 are members of the glutathione-S-transferase family, which uses glutathione in the process of the biotransformation of drugs, xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Associations with the age-at-onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases have been shown in the genetic polymorphism of GSTO1 and GSTO2. 2. In the present study, the frequencies of GSTO1*A140D and GSTO2*N142D in Ovambos (n = 163), Turks (n = 194), Mongolians (n = 243) and Japanese (n = 102) were investigated and compared with findings from other studies. Detection of these single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. 3. The allele frequencies of these polymorphisms in Ovambos, Turks, Mongolians and Japanese were 0.040, 0.085, 0.128 and 0.108, respectively, for GSTO1*A140D and 0.583, 0.219, 0.173 and 0.216, respectively, for GSTO2*N142D. Ovambos showed the lowest allele frequency of GSTO1*A140D. Conversely, Africans, including Ovambos, showed higher allele frequencies of GSTO2*N142D than Caucasians and Asians. 4. The existence of a certain genetic heterogeneity in the worldwide distribution of these two polymorphisms is revealed in the present study.</AbstractText
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Judgment of actions in experts: a high-resolution EEG study in elite athletes. The present study tested the two following hypotheses: (i) compared to non-athletes, elite athletes are characterized by a reduced cortical activation during the judgment of sporting observed actions; (ii) in elite athletes, a good judgment of observed sporting actions is related to a low cortical activation. To address these issues, electroencephalographic (EEG) data were recorded in 15 elite rhythmic gymnasts and 13 non-gymnasts. They observed a series of 120 rhythmic gymnastic videos. At the end of each video, the subjects had to judge the artistic/athletic level of the exercise by a scale from 0 to 10. The mismatch between their judgment and that of the coach indexed the degree of action judgment. The EEG cortical sources were estimated by sLORETA. With reference to a pre-stimulus period, the power decrease of alpha (8-12 Hz) rhythms during the videos indexed the cortical activation (event related desynchronization, ERD). Regarding the hypothesis (i), low- and high-frequency alpha ERD was lower in amplitude in the elite rhythmic gymnasts compared to the non-gymnasts in occipital and temporal areas (ventral pathway) and in dorsal pathway. Regarding the hypothesis (ii), in the elite rhythmic gymnasts high-frequency alpha ERD was higher in amplitude with the videos characterized by a high judgment error than those characterized by a low judgment error; this was true in inferior posterior parietal and ventral premotor areas ("mirror" pathway). These results globally suggest that the judgment of observed sporting actions is related to low amplitude of alpha ERD, as a possible index of spatially selective cortical activation ("neural efficiency").</AbstractText
|
Amygdala-frontal connectivity during emotion regulation. Successful control of affect partly depends on the capacity to modulate negative emotional responses through the use of cognitive strategies (i.e., reappraisal). Recent studies suggest the involvement of frontal cortical regions in the modulation of amygdala reactivity and the mediation of effective emotion regulation. However, within-subject inter-regional connectivity between amygdala and prefrontal cortex in the context of affect regulation is unknown. Here, using psychophysiological interaction analyses of functional magnetic resonance imaging data, we show that activity in specific areas of the frontal cortex (dorsolateral, dorsal medial, anterior cingulate, orbital) covaries with amygdala activity and that this functional connectivity is dependent on the reappraisal task. Moreover, strength of amygdala coupling with orbitofrontal cortex and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex predicts the extent of attenuation of negative affect following reappraisal. These findings highlight the importance of functional connectivity within limbic-frontal circuitry during emotion regulation.</AbstractText
|
Diversity of glutathione s-transferase omega 1 (a140d) and 2 (n142d) gene polymorphisms in worldwide populations. 1. Glutathione S-transferase class omega (GSTO) 1 and 2 are members of the glutathione-S-transferase family, which uses glutathione in the process of the biotransformation of drugs, xenobiotics and oxidative stress. Associations with the age-at-onset of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases have been shown in the genetic polymorphism of GSTO1 and GSTO2. 2. In the present study, the frequencies of GSTO1*A140D and GSTO2*N142D in Ovambos (n = 163), Turks (n = 194), Mongolians (n = 243) and Japanese (n = 102) were investigated and compared with findings from other studies. Detection of these single nucleotide polymorphisms was performed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. 3. The allele frequencies of these polymorphisms in Ovambos, Turks, Mongolians and Japanese were 0.040, 0.085, 0.128 and 0.108, respectively, for GSTO1*A140D and 0.583, 0.219, 0.173 and 0.216, respectively, for GSTO2*N142D. Ovambos showed the lowest allele frequency of GSTO1*A140D. Conversely, Africans, including Ovambos, showed higher allele frequencies of GSTO2*N142D than Caucasians and Asians. 4. The existence of a certain genetic heterogeneity in the worldwide distribution of these two polymorphisms is revealed in the present study.</AbstractText
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37819022
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33132408
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36903269
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Non-contrast based approach for liver function quantification using Bayesian-based intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging: A pilot study.
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Machine Learning for Rapid Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting Tissue Property Quantification.
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Caseins: Versatility of Their Micellar Organization in Relation to the Functional and Nutritional Properties of Milk.
|
Liver cirrhosis disrupts liver function and tissue perfusion, detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Assessing liver function at the voxel level with 13-b value intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) could aid in radiation therapy liver-sparing treatment for patients with early impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of IVIM-DWI for liver function assessment and correlate it with other multiparametric (mp) MRI methods at the voxel level.</AbstractText This study investigates the variability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from 13-b value IVIM-DWI and B1-corrected dual flip angle (DFA) T1 mapping. Experiments were conducted in-vitro with QIBA and NIST phantoms and in 10 healthy volunteers for IVIM-DWI. Additionally, 12 patients underwent an mp-MRI examination. The imaging protocol included a 13-b value IVIM-DWI sequence for generating IVIM parametric maps. B1-corrected DFA T1 pulse sequence was used for generating T1 maps, and Gadoxatate low temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced (LTR-DCE) MRI was used for generating the Hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) map. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare IVIM-DWI parameters (Pure Diffusion, D<sub For-vitro measurements, the maximum coefficient of variation of the ADC and T1 parameters was 12.4% and 16.1%, respectively. The results also showed that F<sub Overall, the study highlighted the potential of D<sub
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Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) is an MRI-based method that can provide quantitative maps of multiple tissue properties simultaneously from a single rapid acquisition. Tissue property maps are generated by matching the complex signal evolutions collected at the scanner to a dictionary of signals derived using Bloch equation simulations. However, in some circumstances, the process of dictionary generation and signal matching can be time-consuming, reducing the utility of this technique. Recently, several groups have proposed using machine learning to accelerate the extraction of quantitative maps from MRF data. This article will provide an overview of current research that combines MRF and machine learning, as well as present original research demonstrating how machine learning can speed up dictionary generation for cardiac MRF.</AbstractText
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The milk of mammals is a complex fluid mixture of various proteins, minerals, lipids, and other micronutrients that play a critical role in providing nutrition and immunity to newborns. Casein proteins together with calcium phosphate form large colloidal particles, called casein micelles. Caseins and their micelles have received great scientific interest, but their versatility and role in the functional and nutritional properties of milk from different animal species are not fully understood. Caseins belong to a class of proteins that exhibit open and flexible conformations. Here, we discuss the key features that maintain the structures of the protein sequences in four selected animal species: cow, camel, human, and African elephant. The primary sequences of these proteins and their posttranslational modifications (phosphorylation and glycosylation) that determine their secondary structures have distinctively evolved in these different animal species, leading to differences in their structural, functional, and nutritional properties. The variability in the structures of milk caseins influence the properties of their dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, as well as their digestibility and allergic properties. Such differences are beneficial to the development of different functionally improved casein molecules with variable biological and industrial utilities.</AbstractText
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Non-contrast based approach for liver function quantification using Bayesian-based intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion weighted imaging: A pilot study. Liver cirrhosis disrupts liver function and tissue perfusion, detectable by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Assessing liver function at the voxel level with 13-b value intravoxel incoherent motion diffusion-weighted imaging (IVIM-DWI) could aid in radiation therapy liver-sparing treatment for patients with early impairment. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of IVIM-DWI for liver function assessment and correlate it with other multiparametric (mp) MRI methods at the voxel level.</AbstractText This study investigates the variability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) derived from 13-b value IVIM-DWI and B1-corrected dual flip angle (DFA) T1 mapping. Experiments were conducted in-vitro with QIBA and NIST phantoms and in 10 healthy volunteers for IVIM-DWI. Additionally, 12 patients underwent an mp-MRI examination. The imaging protocol included a 13-b value IVIM-DWI sequence for generating IVIM parametric maps. B1-corrected DFA T1 pulse sequence was used for generating T1 maps, and Gadoxatate low temporal resolution dynamic contrast-enhanced (LTR-DCE) MRI was used for generating the Hepatic extraction fraction (HEF) map. The Mann-Whitney U test was employed to compare IVIM-DWI parameters (Pure Diffusion, D<sub For-vitro measurements, the maximum coefficient of variation of the ADC and T1 parameters was 12.4% and 16.1%, respectively. The results also showed that F<sub Overall, the study highlighted the potential of D<sub
|
Machine Learning for Rapid Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting Tissue Property Quantification. Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) is an MRI-based method that can provide quantitative maps of multiple tissue properties simultaneously from a single rapid acquisition. Tissue property maps are generated by matching the complex signal evolutions collected at the scanner to a dictionary of signals derived using Bloch equation simulations. However, in some circumstances, the process of dictionary generation and signal matching can be time-consuming, reducing the utility of this technique. Recently, several groups have proposed using machine learning to accelerate the extraction of quantitative maps from MRF data. This article will provide an overview of current research that combines MRF and machine learning, as well as present original research demonstrating how machine learning can speed up dictionary generation for cardiac MRF.</AbstractText
|
Caseins: Versatility of Their Micellar Organization in Relation to the Functional and Nutritional Properties of Milk. The milk of mammals is a complex fluid mixture of various proteins, minerals, lipids, and other micronutrients that play a critical role in providing nutrition and immunity to newborns. Casein proteins together with calcium phosphate form large colloidal particles, called casein micelles. Caseins and their micelles have received great scientific interest, but their versatility and role in the functional and nutritional properties of milk from different animal species are not fully understood. Caseins belong to a class of proteins that exhibit open and flexible conformations. Here, we discuss the key features that maintain the structures of the protein sequences in four selected animal species: cow, camel, human, and African elephant. The primary sequences of these proteins and their posttranslational modifications (phosphorylation and glycosylation) that determine their secondary structures have distinctively evolved in these different animal species, leading to differences in their structural, functional, and nutritional properties. The variability in the structures of milk caseins influence the properties of their dairy products, such as cheese and yogurt, as well as their digestibility and allergic properties. Such differences are beneficial to the development of different functionally improved casein molecules with variable biological and industrial utilities.</AbstractText
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17273873
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19900077
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17906619
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Interference to consolidation phase gains in learning a novel movement sequence by handwriting: dependence on laterality and the level of experience with the written sequence.
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Procedural and declarative memory in children with and without specific language impairment.
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Sodium pumps adapt spike bursting to stimulus statistics.
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Practice on a novel sequence of movements can lead to two behavioral expressions of procedural memory consolidation processes: delayed performance gains evolving hours after the termination of training, but also a decrease in the susceptibility of the training-related gains to interference by subsequent experience within a few hours following training. It is not clear what types of experience constitute effective interference for a given task. We recently showed that the handwriting of words in a well-practiced script immediately after training on the finger opposition sequence (FOS) learning task interfered with the expected delayed gains. Here, in Experiment 1, we compared the degree of interference, on FOS learning with the left or the right hand, exerted by writing common words using the right, dominant, hand. Robust interference occurred only when practice in the FOS and the subsequent handwriting were performed with the same hand. In Experiment 2 we tested whether the level of experience with the writing sequence affected the degree of interference on FOS learning. As opposed to writing common words, there was no interference to the FOS gains by writing non-words, composed of the same letters as the common words, even when both tasks were executed with the same hand. Given that interference occurs when there is a critical overlap between the neuronal representations of two tasks, our results indicate that the extent of overlap between the representations is related, at least in part, to motor lateralization and to the level of experience with the interfering task.</AbstractText
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Much evidence has accumulated to indicate memory deficits in children with specific language impairment. However, most research has focused on working memory impairments in these children. Less is known about the functioning of other memory systems in this population.</AbstractText This study examined procedural and declarative memory in young children with and without specific language impairment.</AbstractText A total of 15 children with specific language impairment and 15 non-impaired children of comparable age, gender and handedness were presented with measures of procedural and declarative memory. Procedural memory was assessed using a Serial Reaction Time (SRT) Task in which children implicitly learnt a ten-item sequence pattern. Declarative memory for verbal and visual information was assessed using paired associative learning tasks.</AbstractText The results from the SRT Task showed the children with specific language impairment did not learn the sequence at levels comparable with the non-impaired children. On the measures of declarative memory, differences between the groups were observed on the verbal but not the visual task. The differences on the verbal declarative memory task were found after statistically controlling for differences in vocabulary and phonological short-term memory.</AbstractText The results were interpreted to suggest an uneven profile of memory functioning in specific language impairment. On measures of declarative memory, specific language impairment appears to be associated with difficulties learning verbal information. At the same time, procedural memory is also appears to be impaired. Collectively, this study indicates multiple memory impairments in specific language impairment.</AbstractText
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Pump activity is a homeostatic mechanism that maintains ionic gradients. Here we examined whether the slow reduction in excitability induced by sodium-pump activity that has been seen in many neuronal types is also involved in neuronal coding. We took intracellular recordings from a spike-bursting sensory neuron in the leech Hirudo medicinalis in response to naturalistic tactile stimuli with different statistical distributions. We show that regulation of excitability by sodium pumps is necessary for the neuron to make different responses depending on the statistical context of the stimuli. In particular, sodium-pump activity allowed spike-burst sizes and rates to code not for stimulus values per se, but for their ratio with the standard deviation of the stimulus distribution. Modeling further showed that sodium pumps can be a general mechanism of adaptation to statistics on the time scale of 1 min. These results implicate the ubiquitous pump activity in the adaptation of neural codes to statistics.</AbstractText
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Interference to consolidation phase gains in learning a novel movement sequence by handwriting: dependence on laterality and the level of experience with the written sequence. Practice on a novel sequence of movements can lead to two behavioral expressions of procedural memory consolidation processes: delayed performance gains evolving hours after the termination of training, but also a decrease in the susceptibility of the training-related gains to interference by subsequent experience within a few hours following training. It is not clear what types of experience constitute effective interference for a given task. We recently showed that the handwriting of words in a well-practiced script immediately after training on the finger opposition sequence (FOS) learning task interfered with the expected delayed gains. Here, in Experiment 1, we compared the degree of interference, on FOS learning with the left or the right hand, exerted by writing common words using the right, dominant, hand. Robust interference occurred only when practice in the FOS and the subsequent handwriting were performed with the same hand. In Experiment 2 we tested whether the level of experience with the writing sequence affected the degree of interference on FOS learning. As opposed to writing common words, there was no interference to the FOS gains by writing non-words, composed of the same letters as the common words, even when both tasks were executed with the same hand. Given that interference occurs when there is a critical overlap between the neuronal representations of two tasks, our results indicate that the extent of overlap between the representations is related, at least in part, to motor lateralization and to the level of experience with the interfering task.</AbstractText
|
Procedural and declarative memory in children with and without specific language impairment. Much evidence has accumulated to indicate memory deficits in children with specific language impairment. However, most research has focused on working memory impairments in these children. Less is known about the functioning of other memory systems in this population.</AbstractText This study examined procedural and declarative memory in young children with and without specific language impairment.</AbstractText A total of 15 children with specific language impairment and 15 non-impaired children of comparable age, gender and handedness were presented with measures of procedural and declarative memory. Procedural memory was assessed using a Serial Reaction Time (SRT) Task in which children implicitly learnt a ten-item sequence pattern. Declarative memory for verbal and visual information was assessed using paired associative learning tasks.</AbstractText The results from the SRT Task showed the children with specific language impairment did not learn the sequence at levels comparable with the non-impaired children. On the measures of declarative memory, differences between the groups were observed on the verbal but not the visual task. The differences on the verbal declarative memory task were found after statistically controlling for differences in vocabulary and phonological short-term memory.</AbstractText The results were interpreted to suggest an uneven profile of memory functioning in specific language impairment. On measures of declarative memory, specific language impairment appears to be associated with difficulties learning verbal information. At the same time, procedural memory is also appears to be impaired. Collectively, this study indicates multiple memory impairments in specific language impairment.</AbstractText
|
Sodium pumps adapt spike bursting to stimulus statistics. Pump activity is a homeostatic mechanism that maintains ionic gradients. Here we examined whether the slow reduction in excitability induced by sodium-pump activity that has been seen in many neuronal types is also involved in neuronal coding. We took intracellular recordings from a spike-bursting sensory neuron in the leech Hirudo medicinalis in response to naturalistic tactile stimuli with different statistical distributions. We show that regulation of excitability by sodium pumps is necessary for the neuron to make different responses depending on the statistical context of the stimuli. In particular, sodium-pump activity allowed spike-burst sizes and rates to code not for stimulus values per se, but for their ratio with the standard deviation of the stimulus distribution. Modeling further showed that sodium pumps can be a general mechanism of adaptation to statistics on the time scale of 1 min. These results implicate the ubiquitous pump activity in the adaptation of neural codes to statistics.</AbstractText
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40470497
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25589671
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40465994
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Machine learning applied to mild cognitive impairment: bibliometric and visual analysis from 2015 to 2024.
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"Noncognitive" symptoms of early Alzheimer disease: a longitudinal analysis.
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Relationship between endocardial R-wave amplitude at the apical lead location and regional right ventricular strain analysis.
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At present, the world is in the background of severe aging population challenges. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate state between normal aging and dementia, is a syndrome of cognitive impairment. Early recognition and intervention of MCI have great value for delaying the decline of cognitive function and improving the quality of life in the elderly. Machine learning (ML) is the core sub-branch direction in the field of artificial intelligence. In recent years, evaluating the potential application of machine learning in medicine has been popular, including the field of mild cognitive impairment. However, there is currently no bibliometrics to evaluate the scientific advances in this field.</AbstractText This study aims to visually analyze the current research trends regarding the application of machine learning in the field of MCI through bibliometry and visualization techniques.</AbstractText Using the Web of Science Core Collection database (Wo SCC), relevant articles and reviews of the collection database 2015-2024. Subsequently, the collected papers were subjected to bibliometric analysis utilizing CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the "bibliometric" package in R language.</AbstractText A total of 2056 papers related to machine learning in patients with MCI were retrieved from the Wo SCC database. The number of papers is increasing year by year. These papers are mainly from 9,577 organizations in 498 countries, most of which are from the United States and China. The journal with the largest number of publications is the FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE. Folstein M is an authoritative author from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His paper "Mini-mental state: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician" is the most cited article in this field. Literature and keyword analysis indicate that MCI prediction, automated monitoring of MCI, continuous evaluation and remote monitoring of cognitive function in individuals with MCI, and interdisciplinary data integration and personalized medicine are current research hotspots and development directions.</AbstractText This study is the first to use bibliometric methods to visualize and analyze the application field of machine learning in MCI, revealing research trends and frontiers in this field. This information will provide a useful reference for researchers focusing on machine learning applications in the field of MCI.</AbstractText
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To observe the natural time course of noncognitive symptoms before the onset of symptomatic Alzheimer disease dementia.</AbstractText Using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set from September 2005 to March 2013, data from cognitively normal individuals who were aged 50 years or older at first visit and had subsequent follow-up were analyzed. Survival analyses were used to examine the development of particular symptoms relative to each other on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), Functional Activities Questionnaire, and Geriatric Depression Scale, and to compare the development of individual symptoms for persons who did and did not receive a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) .0 (indicating abnormal cognition) during the follow-up period.</AbstractText The order of symptom occurrence on the NPI-Q was similar for participants who remained at CDR 0 and for those who received a CDR .0 over the follow-up period, although the time to most NPI-Q symptoms was faster for participants who received a CDR.0 (p, 0.001).With the exception of memory, Geriatric Depression Scale symptoms reported by both CDR groups were similar.</AbstractText We found a significantly earlier presence of positive symptoms on the NPI-Q in cognitively normal patients who subsequently developed CDR .0. Among participants with no depression symptoms at baseline, results suggest that depressive symptoms may increase with aging regardless of incipient dementia. Such findings begin to delineate the noncognitive course of Alzheimer disease dementia in the preclinical stages. Future research must further elucidate the correlation between noncognitive changes and distinct dementia subtypes.</AbstractText
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Cardiac implantable electronic devices are widely used today. Therefore, research is ongoing to provide better device implantation in technical terms. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-procedural regional right ventricular strain and post-procedural endocardial R-wave amplitude in patients scheduled to receive an implantable cardiac defibrillator.</AbstractText A total of 112 patients who underwent single-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation were included in the study. Right ventricular strain analysis was performed before the procedure, and the following parameters were recorded: four-chamber strain, free wall strain, septal strain, and apical strain. The relationship between R-wave amplitude, calculated after lead implantation in the apical region, and strain parameters was statistically analyzed.</AbstractText All strain parameters were statistically significantly better in the group with a high R-wave amplitude. Correlation analysis showed that a higher R-wave amplitude was associated with improved right ventricular four-chamber strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.436), right ventricular free wall strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.532), right ventricular septal strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.394), and right ventricular apical strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.814). In univariable regression analysis, all strain parameters were identified as dependent predictors; however, in multivariable regression analysis, only right ventricular apical strain (p<0.001) was found to be an independent predictor of high R-wave amplitude.</AbstractText Our study revealed a relationship between the right ventricular apical endocardial R-wave amplitude and all right ventricular strain parameters, especially right ventricular apical strain. We recommend that clinicians perform regional right ventricular strain analysis before implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation in cases where lead positioning is uncertain.</AbstractText
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Machine learning applied to mild cognitive impairment: bibliometric and visual analysis from 2015 to 2024. At present, the world is in the background of severe aging population challenges. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), an intermediate state between normal aging and dementia, is a syndrome of cognitive impairment. Early recognition and intervention of MCI have great value for delaying the decline of cognitive function and improving the quality of life in the elderly. Machine learning (ML) is the core sub-branch direction in the field of artificial intelligence. In recent years, evaluating the potential application of machine learning in medicine has been popular, including the field of mild cognitive impairment. However, there is currently no bibliometrics to evaluate the scientific advances in this field.</AbstractText This study aims to visually analyze the current research trends regarding the application of machine learning in the field of MCI through bibliometry and visualization techniques.</AbstractText Using the Web of Science Core Collection database (Wo SCC), relevant articles and reviews of the collection database 2015-2024. Subsequently, the collected papers were subjected to bibliometric analysis utilizing CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the "bibliometric" package in R language.</AbstractText A total of 2056 papers related to machine learning in patients with MCI were retrieved from the Wo SCC database. The number of papers is increasing year by year. These papers are mainly from 9,577 organizations in 498 countries, most of which are from the United States and China. The journal with the largest number of publications is the FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE. Folstein M is an authoritative author from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His paper "Mini-mental state: A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician" is the most cited article in this field. Literature and keyword analysis indicate that MCI prediction, automated monitoring of MCI, continuous evaluation and remote monitoring of cognitive function in individuals with MCI, and interdisciplinary data integration and personalized medicine are current research hotspots and development directions.</AbstractText This study is the first to use bibliometric methods to visualize and analyze the application field of machine learning in MCI, revealing research trends and frontiers in this field. This information will provide a useful reference for researchers focusing on machine learning applications in the field of MCI.</AbstractText
|
"Noncognitive" symptoms of early Alzheimer disease: a longitudinal analysis. To observe the natural time course of noncognitive symptoms before the onset of symptomatic Alzheimer disease dementia.</AbstractText Using the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set from September 2005 to March 2013, data from cognitively normal individuals who were aged 50 years or older at first visit and had subsequent follow-up were analyzed. Survival analyses were used to examine the development of particular symptoms relative to each other on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI-Q), Functional Activities Questionnaire, and Geriatric Depression Scale, and to compare the development of individual symptoms for persons who did and did not receive a Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) .0 (indicating abnormal cognition) during the follow-up period.</AbstractText The order of symptom occurrence on the NPI-Q was similar for participants who remained at CDR 0 and for those who received a CDR .0 over the follow-up period, although the time to most NPI-Q symptoms was faster for participants who received a CDR.0 (p, 0.001).With the exception of memory, Geriatric Depression Scale symptoms reported by both CDR groups were similar.</AbstractText We found a significantly earlier presence of positive symptoms on the NPI-Q in cognitively normal patients who subsequently developed CDR .0. Among participants with no depression symptoms at baseline, results suggest that depressive symptoms may increase with aging regardless of incipient dementia. Such findings begin to delineate the noncognitive course of Alzheimer disease dementia in the preclinical stages. Future research must further elucidate the correlation between noncognitive changes and distinct dementia subtypes.</AbstractText
|
Relationship between endocardial R-wave amplitude at the apical lead location and regional right ventricular strain analysis. Cardiac implantable electronic devices are widely used today. Therefore, research is ongoing to provide better device implantation in technical terms. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between pre-procedural regional right ventricular strain and post-procedural endocardial R-wave amplitude in patients scheduled to receive an implantable cardiac defibrillator.</AbstractText A total of 112 patients who underwent single-chamber implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation were included in the study. Right ventricular strain analysis was performed before the procedure, and the following parameters were recorded: four-chamber strain, free wall strain, septal strain, and apical strain. The relationship between R-wave amplitude, calculated after lead implantation in the apical region, and strain parameters was statistically analyzed.</AbstractText All strain parameters were statistically significantly better in the group with a high R-wave amplitude. Correlation analysis showed that a higher R-wave amplitude was associated with improved right ventricular four-chamber strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.436), right ventricular free wall strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.532), right ventricular septal strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.394), and right ventricular apical strain (p<0.001, correlation coefficient=0.814). In univariable regression analysis, all strain parameters were identified as dependent predictors; however, in multivariable regression analysis, only right ventricular apical strain (p<0.001) was found to be an independent predictor of high R-wave amplitude.</AbstractText Our study revealed a relationship between the right ventricular apical endocardial R-wave amplitude and all right ventricular strain parameters, especially right ventricular apical strain. We recommend that clinicians perform regional right ventricular strain analysis before implantable cardiac defibrillator implantation in cases where lead positioning is uncertain.</AbstractText
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38073664
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23662932
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37869282
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Hepatic Arteriovenous Malformation in a Preterm Infant With High-Output Cardiac Failure.
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Complex dural arteriovenous fistula in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.
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Targeted magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) of small changes in the T(1) and spatial properties of normal or near normal appearing white and gray matter in disease of the brain using divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR) and divided reverse subtracted inversion recovery (drSIR) sequences.
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Congenital hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVM) are rare and serious with a known high mortality rate. They are mostly described in the term population and, if symptomatic, present with early-onset congestive heart failure. To our knowledge, there have been no published cases of an affected very preterm infant. Prenatal diagnosis and preprocedural planning are paramount in these critically ill infants. Strategies for management of HAVM differ depending on the size of both the infant and HAVM as well as severity of symptoms. Management may include supportive pharmacologic therapy, transcatheter embolization, and surgical resection or ligation. In this report, we present the case of a 28-week gestation infant with high-output cardiac failure secondary to prenatally diagnosed hepatic arteriovenous malformation. On day of life 3, the infant underwent successful transcatheter occlusion. However, despite maximal medical management and partial embolization of his HAVM, he did not survive.</AbstractText
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In this paper the authors report the case of a complex dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) with high-risk features in a 14-year-old girl with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), a phosphatase and tensin homolog-associated syndrome, presenting with signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) that had previously been attributed to pseudotumor cerebri. This fistula was obliterated following 2 stages of embolization, and the patient experienced immediate symptomatic improvement. At the 2-month follow-up evaluation, the fistula remained angiographically occluded, and her symptoms continue to improve. This is the third reported case of an intracranial dAVF in a patient with BRRS. Because high-risk dAVFs can result in devastating morbidity, early detection with vascular imaging is crucial for patients with BRRS presenting with signs of increased ICP. Goals of treatment should include complete fistula obliteration whenever possible.</AbstractText
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This review describes targeted magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) of small changes in the T<sub
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Hepatic Arteriovenous Malformation in a Preterm Infant With High-Output Cardiac Failure. Congenital hepatic arteriovenous malformations (HAVM) are rare and serious with a known high mortality rate. They are mostly described in the term population and, if symptomatic, present with early-onset congestive heart failure. To our knowledge, there have been no published cases of an affected very preterm infant. Prenatal diagnosis and preprocedural planning are paramount in these critically ill infants. Strategies for management of HAVM differ depending on the size of both the infant and HAVM as well as severity of symptoms. Management may include supportive pharmacologic therapy, transcatheter embolization, and surgical resection or ligation. In this report, we present the case of a 28-week gestation infant with high-output cardiac failure secondary to prenatally diagnosed hepatic arteriovenous malformation. On day of life 3, the infant underwent successful transcatheter occlusion. However, despite maximal medical management and partial embolization of his HAVM, he did not survive.</AbstractText
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Complex dural arteriovenous fistula in Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome. In this paper the authors report the case of a complex dural arteriovenous fistula (dAVF) with high-risk features in a 14-year-old girl with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS), a phosphatase and tensin homolog-associated syndrome, presenting with signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure (ICP) that had previously been attributed to pseudotumor cerebri. This fistula was obliterated following 2 stages of embolization, and the patient experienced immediate symptomatic improvement. At the 2-month follow-up evaluation, the fistula remained angiographically occluded, and her symptoms continue to improve. This is the third reported case of an intracranial dAVF in a patient with BRRS. Because high-risk dAVFs can result in devastating morbidity, early detection with vascular imaging is crucial for patients with BRRS presenting with signs of increased ICP. Goals of treatment should include complete fistula obliteration whenever possible.</AbstractText
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Targeted magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) of small changes in the T(1) and spatial properties of normal or near normal appearing white and gray matter in disease of the brain using divided subtracted inversion recovery (dSIR) and divided reverse subtracted inversion recovery (drSIR) sequences. This review describes targeted magnetic resonance imaging (tMRI) of small changes in the T<sub
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23378899
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23378899
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23157321
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Professional athletes have extraordinary skills for rapidly learning complex and neutral dynamic visual scenes.
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Professional athletes have extraordinary skills for rapidly learning complex and neutral dynamic visual scenes.
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A pilot study on the sexual side effects of finasteride as related to hand preference for men undergoing treatment of male pattern baldness.
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Evidence suggests that an athlete's sports-related perceptual-cognitive expertise is a crucial element of top-level competitive sports1. When directly assessing whether such experience-related abilities correspond to fundamental and non-specific cognitive laboratory measures such as processing speed and attention, studies have shown moderate effects leading to the conclusion that their special abilities are context-specific2. We trained 308 observers on a complex dynamic visual scene task void of context and motor control requirements3 and demonstrate that professionals as a group dramatically differ from high-level amateur athletes, who dramatically differ from non-athlete university students in their capacity to learn such stimuli. This demonstrates that a distinguishing factor explaining the capacities of professional athletes is their ability to learn how to process complex dynamic visual scenes. This gives us an insight as to what is so special about the elite athletes' mental abilities, which allows them to express great prowess in action.</AbstractText
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Evidence suggests that an athlete's sports-related perceptual-cognitive expertise is a crucial element of top-level competitive sports1. When directly assessing whether such experience-related abilities correspond to fundamental and non-specific cognitive laboratory measures such as processing speed and attention, studies have shown moderate effects leading to the conclusion that their special abilities are context-specific2. We trained 308 observers on a complex dynamic visual scene task void of context and motor control requirements3 and demonstrate that professionals as a group dramatically differ from high-level amateur athletes, who dramatically differ from non-athlete university students in their capacity to learn such stimuli. This demonstrates that a distinguishing factor explaining the capacities of professional athletes is their ability to learn how to process complex dynamic visual scenes. This gives us an insight as to what is so special about the elite athletes' mental abilities, which allows them to express great prowess in action.</AbstractText
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To investigate the relationships between pharmacologically induced deprivation of dihydrotestosterone, sexual arousal, libido and hand preference, by comparing the self-reported sexual response prior to and during reception of the anti-androgen finasteride in men undergoing treatment for male pattern baldness.</AbstractText In total, 33 sexually healthy Romanian men participated in this study. Patients prospectively provided information regarding their sexual functioning (over 4 weeks), as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) prior to and after commencing treatment with 1 mg finasteride for male pattern baldness.</AbstractText Overall IIEF scores as well as the erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction subscales showed group, treatment and group by treatment effects. The intercourse satisfaction subscale showed group and group by treatment effects. On most subscales, right-handed men showed no effect or lower sexual function whereas left-handed men reported no effect or improved sexual function, primarily.</AbstractText These results suggest that the sexual effects of dihydrotestosterone deprivation may depend on handedness--a proxy variable that may represent cognitive style--which lends further support to the idea of two distinct neuroendocrine psychosexual axes. They further suggest that detection of such sexual effects may be enhanced by using research methodologies and communication strategies that increase patients' sensitization to such effects.</AbstractText
|
Professional athletes have extraordinary skills for rapidly learning complex and neutral dynamic visual scenes. Evidence suggests that an athlete's sports-related perceptual-cognitive expertise is a crucial element of top-level competitive sports1. When directly assessing whether such experience-related abilities correspond to fundamental and non-specific cognitive laboratory measures such as processing speed and attention, studies have shown moderate effects leading to the conclusion that their special abilities are context-specific2. We trained 308 observers on a complex dynamic visual scene task void of context and motor control requirements3 and demonstrate that professionals as a group dramatically differ from high-level amateur athletes, who dramatically differ from non-athlete university students in their capacity to learn such stimuli. This demonstrates that a distinguishing factor explaining the capacities of professional athletes is their ability to learn how to process complex dynamic visual scenes. This gives us an insight as to what is so special about the elite athletes' mental abilities, which allows them to express great prowess in action.</AbstractText
|
Professional athletes have extraordinary skills for rapidly learning complex and neutral dynamic visual scenes. Evidence suggests that an athlete's sports-related perceptual-cognitive expertise is a crucial element of top-level competitive sports1. When directly assessing whether such experience-related abilities correspond to fundamental and non-specific cognitive laboratory measures such as processing speed and attention, studies have shown moderate effects leading to the conclusion that their special abilities are context-specific2. We trained 308 observers on a complex dynamic visual scene task void of context and motor control requirements3 and demonstrate that professionals as a group dramatically differ from high-level amateur athletes, who dramatically differ from non-athlete university students in their capacity to learn such stimuli. This demonstrates that a distinguishing factor explaining the capacities of professional athletes is their ability to learn how to process complex dynamic visual scenes. This gives us an insight as to what is so special about the elite athletes' mental abilities, which allows them to express great prowess in action.</AbstractText
|
A pilot study on the sexual side effects of finasteride as related to hand preference for men undergoing treatment of male pattern baldness. To investigate the relationships between pharmacologically induced deprivation of dihydrotestosterone, sexual arousal, libido and hand preference, by comparing the self-reported sexual response prior to and during reception of the anti-androgen finasteride in men undergoing treatment for male pattern baldness.</AbstractText In total, 33 sexually healthy Romanian men participated in this study. Patients prospectively provided information regarding their sexual functioning (over 4 weeks), as measured by the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) prior to and after commencing treatment with 1 mg finasteride for male pattern baldness.</AbstractText Overall IIEF scores as well as the erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire and overall satisfaction subscales showed group, treatment and group by treatment effects. The intercourse satisfaction subscale showed group and group by treatment effects. On most subscales, right-handed men showed no effect or lower sexual function whereas left-handed men reported no effect or improved sexual function, primarily.</AbstractText These results suggest that the sexual effects of dihydrotestosterone deprivation may depend on handedness--a proxy variable that may represent cognitive style--which lends further support to the idea of two distinct neuroendocrine psychosexual axes. They further suggest that detection of such sexual effects may be enhanced by using research methodologies and communication strategies that increase patients' sensitization to such effects.</AbstractText
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39508679
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37637168
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39378569
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The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Psychiatric Nurses' Care Behavior, and the Chain Mediating Role of Compassion Fatigue and Perception of Management.
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Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools.
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Multi-contrast image super-resolution with deformable attention and neighborhood-based feature aggregation (DANCE): Applications in anatomic and metabolic MRI.
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To investigate psychiatric nurses' emotional intelligence and its effect on care behavior, while also examining the mediating effect of compassion fatigue and perception of management.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study was conducted in several specialized psychiatric hospitals with 360 psychiatric nurses. Self-report surveys were administered, which included the Caring Factor Survey-Caring of Manager, Caring Behaviors Inventory, Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, and Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and path analyses.</AbstractText Mean score for care behavior was 4.78 (<i Nurse managers should pay attention to the influence of emotional intelligence on care behavior and improve care behavior by strengthening leadership and alleviating compassion fatigue. [<i
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Mental fatigue has shown to be one of the root causes of decreased productivity and overall cognitive performance, by decreasing an individual's ability to inhibit responses, process information and concentrate. The effects of mental fatigue have led to occupational errors and motorway accidents. Early detection of mental fatigue can prevent the escalation of symptoms that may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders. To date, in clinical settings, the assessment of mental fatigue and stress is done through self-reported questionnaires. The validity of these questionnaires is questionable, as they are highly subjective measurement tools and are not immune to response biases. This review examines the wider presence of mental fatigue in the general population and critically compares its various detection techniques (<i
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Multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects information about human tissues from different perspectives and has wide clinical applications. By utilizing the auxiliary information from reference images (Refs) in the easy-to-obtain modality, multi-contrast MRI super-resolution (SR) methods can synthesize high-resolution (HR) images from their low-resolution (LR) counterparts in the hard-to-obtain modality. In this study, we systematically discussed the potential impacts caused by cross-modal misalignments between LRs and Refs and, based on this discussion, proposed a novel deep-learning-based method with Deformable Attention and Neighborhood-based feature aggregation to be Computationally Efficient (DANCE) and insensitive to misalignments. Our method has been evaluated in two public MRI datasets, i.e., IXI and FastMRI, and an in-house MR metabolic imaging dataset with amide proton transfer weighted (APTW) images. Experimental results reveal that our method consistently outperforms baselines in various scenarios, with significant superiority observed in the misaligned group of IXI dataset and the prospective study of the clinical dataset. The robustness study proves that our method is insensitive to misalignments, maintaining an average PSNR of 30.67 dB when faced with a maximum range of ±9°and ±9 pixels of rotation and translation on Refs. Given our method's desirable comprehensive performance, good robustness, and moderate computational complexity, it possesses substantial potential for clinical applications.</AbstractText
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The Influence of Emotional Intelligence on Psychiatric Nurses' Care Behavior, and the Chain Mediating Role of Compassion Fatigue and Perception of Management. To investigate psychiatric nurses' emotional intelligence and its effect on care behavior, while also examining the mediating effect of compassion fatigue and perception of management.</AbstractText This cross-sectional study was conducted in several specialized psychiatric hospitals with 360 psychiatric nurses. Self-report surveys were administered, which included the Caring Factor Survey-Caring of Manager, Caring Behaviors Inventory, Compassion Fatigue Short Scale, and Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive, correlation, and path analyses.</AbstractText Mean score for care behavior was 4.78 (<i Nurse managers should pay attention to the influence of emotional intelligence on care behavior and improve care behavior by strengthening leadership and alleviating compassion fatigue. [<i
|
Understanding mental fatigue and its detection: a comparative analysis of assessments and tools. Mental fatigue has shown to be one of the root causes of decreased productivity and overall cognitive performance, by decreasing an individual's ability to inhibit responses, process information and concentrate. The effects of mental fatigue have led to occupational errors and motorway accidents. Early detection of mental fatigue can prevent the escalation of symptoms that may lead to chronic fatigue syndrome and other disorders. To date, in clinical settings, the assessment of mental fatigue and stress is done through self-reported questionnaires. The validity of these questionnaires is questionable, as they are highly subjective measurement tools and are not immune to response biases. This review examines the wider presence of mental fatigue in the general population and critically compares its various detection techniques (<i
|
Multi-contrast image super-resolution with deformable attention and neighborhood-based feature aggregation (DANCE): Applications in anatomic and metabolic MRI. Multi-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflects information about human tissues from different perspectives and has wide clinical applications. By utilizing the auxiliary information from reference images (Refs) in the easy-to-obtain modality, multi-contrast MRI super-resolution (SR) methods can synthesize high-resolution (HR) images from their low-resolution (LR) counterparts in the hard-to-obtain modality. In this study, we systematically discussed the potential impacts caused by cross-modal misalignments between LRs and Refs and, based on this discussion, proposed a novel deep-learning-based method with Deformable Attention and Neighborhood-based feature aggregation to be Computationally Efficient (DANCE) and insensitive to misalignments. Our method has been evaluated in two public MRI datasets, i.e., IXI and FastMRI, and an in-house MR metabolic imaging dataset with amide proton transfer weighted (APTW) images. Experimental results reveal that our method consistently outperforms baselines in various scenarios, with significant superiority observed in the misaligned group of IXI dataset and the prospective study of the clinical dataset. The robustness study proves that our method is insensitive to misalignments, maintaining an average PSNR of 30.67 dB when faced with a maximum range of ±9°and ±9 pixels of rotation and translation on Refs. Given our method's desirable comprehensive performance, good robustness, and moderate computational complexity, it possesses substantial potential for clinical applications.</AbstractText
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36994091
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30442090
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37402178
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Non-invasive neuromodulation of the cervical vagus nerve in rare primary headaches.
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Cognitive dysfunction and migraine.
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Aerobic exercise reverses aging-induced depth-dependent decline in cerebral microcirculation.
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Primary headache disorders can be remarkably disabling and the therapeutic options available are usually limited to medication with a high rate of adverse events. Here, we discuss the mechanism of action of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation, as well as the findings of the main studies involving patients with primary headaches other than migraine or cluster headache, such as hemicrania continua, paroxysmal hemicrania, cough headache, or short-lasting neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNCT/SUNA), in a narrative analysis. A bibliographical search of low-prevalence disorders such as rare primary headaches retrieves a moderate number of studies, usually underpowered. Headache intensity, severity, and duration showed a clinically significant reduction in the majority, especially those involving indomethacin-responsive headaches. The lack of response of some patients with a similar diagnosis could be due to a different stimulation pattern, technique, or total dose. The use of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary headache disorders represents an excellent option for patients with these debilitating and otherwise refractory conditions, or that cannot tolerate several lines of preventive medication, and should always be considered before contemplating invasive, non-reversible stimulation techniques.</AbstractText
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Cognitive dysfunction has recently gained attention as a significant problem among migraine sufferers. All of the clinical studies show poor cognitive performance during migraine attacks, though, the interictal data are conflicting. Migraineurs show impaired cognitive function interictally in most of the clinic-based studies. Population-based studies did not reveal a difference in cognitive functions between migraineurs and controls. The specific cognitive domains involved are information processing speed, basic attention, executive functions, verbal and non-verbal memory and verbal skills. Neurophysiological, imaging and pharmacological studies support clinical symptoms of cognitive impairment in migraine. Longitudinal studies do not suggest progressive cognitive decline over time in migraine patients. Preventive medications and comorbid disorders such as depression and anxiety can impact cognitive function, but cannot fully explain the cognitive impairment in migraine. In contrast to migraine, tension type or cluster headache are not associated with cognitive impairment, at least during headache-free periods.</AbstractText
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Aging is a major risk factor for cognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise benefits brain function and may promote cognitive health in older adults. However, underlying biological mechanisms across cerebral gray and white matter are poorly understood. Selective vulnerability of the white matter to small vessel disease and a link between white matter health and cognitive function suggests a potential role for responses in deep cerebral microcirculation. Here, we tested whether aerobic exercise modulates cerebral microcirculatory changes induced by aging. To this end, we carried out a comprehensive quantitative examination of changes in cerebral microvascular physiology in cortical gray and subcortical white matter in mice (3-6 vs. 19-21 months old), and asked whether and how exercise may rescue age-induced deficits. In the sedentary group, aging caused a more severe decline in cerebral microvascular perfusion and oxygenation in deep (infragranular) cortical layers and subcortical white matter compared with superficial (supragranular) cortical layers. Five months of voluntary aerobic exercise partly renormalized microvascular perfusion and oxygenation in aged mice in a depth-dependent manner, and brought these spatial distributions closer to those of young adult sedentary mice. These microcirculatory effects were accompanied by an improvement in cognitive function. Our work demonstrates the selective vulnerability of the deep cortex and subcortical white matter to aging-induced decline in microcirculation, as well as the responsiveness of these regions to aerobic exercise.</AbstractText
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Non-invasive neuromodulation of the cervical vagus nerve in rare primary headaches. Primary headache disorders can be remarkably disabling and the therapeutic options available are usually limited to medication with a high rate of adverse events. Here, we discuss the mechanism of action of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation, as well as the findings of the main studies involving patients with primary headaches other than migraine or cluster headache, such as hemicrania continua, paroxysmal hemicrania, cough headache, or short-lasting neuralgiform headache attacks (SUNCT/SUNA), in a narrative analysis. A bibliographical search of low-prevalence disorders such as rare primary headaches retrieves a moderate number of studies, usually underpowered. Headache intensity, severity, and duration showed a clinically significant reduction in the majority, especially those involving indomethacin-responsive headaches. The lack of response of some patients with a similar diagnosis could be due to a different stimulation pattern, technique, or total dose. The use of non-invasive vagal nerve stimulation for the treatment of primary headache disorders represents an excellent option for patients with these debilitating and otherwise refractory conditions, or that cannot tolerate several lines of preventive medication, and should always be considered before contemplating invasive, non-reversible stimulation techniques.</AbstractText
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Cognitive dysfunction and migraine. Cognitive dysfunction has recently gained attention as a significant problem among migraine sufferers. All of the clinical studies show poor cognitive performance during migraine attacks, though, the interictal data are conflicting. Migraineurs show impaired cognitive function interictally in most of the clinic-based studies. Population-based studies did not reveal a difference in cognitive functions between migraineurs and controls. The specific cognitive domains involved are information processing speed, basic attention, executive functions, verbal and non-verbal memory and verbal skills. Neurophysiological, imaging and pharmacological studies support clinical symptoms of cognitive impairment in migraine. Longitudinal studies do not suggest progressive cognitive decline over time in migraine patients. Preventive medications and comorbid disorders such as depression and anxiety can impact cognitive function, but cannot fully explain the cognitive impairment in migraine. In contrast to migraine, tension type or cluster headache are not associated with cognitive impairment, at least during headache-free periods.</AbstractText
|
Aerobic exercise reverses aging-induced depth-dependent decline in cerebral microcirculation. Aging is a major risk factor for cognitive impairment. Aerobic exercise benefits brain function and may promote cognitive health in older adults. However, underlying biological mechanisms across cerebral gray and white matter are poorly understood. Selective vulnerability of the white matter to small vessel disease and a link between white matter health and cognitive function suggests a potential role for responses in deep cerebral microcirculation. Here, we tested whether aerobic exercise modulates cerebral microcirculatory changes induced by aging. To this end, we carried out a comprehensive quantitative examination of changes in cerebral microvascular physiology in cortical gray and subcortical white matter in mice (3-6 vs. 19-21 months old), and asked whether and how exercise may rescue age-induced deficits. In the sedentary group, aging caused a more severe decline in cerebral microvascular perfusion and oxygenation in deep (infragranular) cortical layers and subcortical white matter compared with superficial (supragranular) cortical layers. Five months of voluntary aerobic exercise partly renormalized microvascular perfusion and oxygenation in aged mice in a depth-dependent manner, and brought these spatial distributions closer to those of young adult sedentary mice. These microcirculatory effects were accompanied by an improvement in cognitive function. Our work demonstrates the selective vulnerability of the deep cortex and subcortical white matter to aging-induced decline in microcirculation, as well as the responsiveness of these regions to aerobic exercise.</AbstractText
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38576508
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35743769
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38752382
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Spinal Neurenteric Cyst of the Ventral Cervicothoracic Junction With Klippel-Feil Syndrome as a Symptom of Progressive Myelopathy: A Case Report.
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Pediatric Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury.
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Nanozymes for the Therapeutic Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers.
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Neurenteric cysts are rare and account for only 0.7%-1.3% of all spinal tumors. Spinal neurenteric cysts are associated with spina bifida, split-cord malformations, and Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare congenital disorder characterized by fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae. Klippel-Feil syndrome is rarely accompanied by neurenteric cysts. In this case report, we describe a cervicothoracic junction neurenteric cyst associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome in a 30-year-old man who presented with a 2-month history of neck pain with radiation of pain into both arms and a 1-month history of weakness in the left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed an expansive intradural extramedullary cystic lesion anterior to the spinal cord at the cervicothoracic junction. The neurenteric cyst was removed using an anterior approach, accompanied by C5-C6 corpectomy. The patient's condition improved postoperatively, and he was discharged after postoperative MRI. Spinal neurenteric cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of vertebral developmental abnormalities concurrent with intraspinal cysts.</AbstractText
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Pediatric spina bifida (SB) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are unfortunately common in our society, and their unique findings and comorbidities warrant special consideration. This manuscript will discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention, and management strategies for children growing and developing with these unique neuromuscular disorders. Growth and development of the maturing child places them at high risk of spinal cord tethering, syringomyelia, ascending paralysis, pressure injuries, and orthopedic abnormalities that must be addressed frequently and judiciously. Similarly, proper neurogenic bladder and neurogenic bowel management is essential not just for medical safety, but also for optimal psychosocial integration into the child's expanding social circle.</AbstractText
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Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are chronic, refractory wounds caused by diabetic neuropathy, vascular disease, and bacterial infection, and have become one of the most serious and persistent complications of diabetes mellitus because of their high incidence and difficulty in healing. Its malignancy results from a complex microenvironment that includes a series of unfriendly physiological states secondary to hyperglycemia, such as recurrent infections, excessive oxidative stress, persistent inflammation, and ischemia and hypoxia. However, current common clinical treatments, such as antibiotic therapy, insulin therapy, surgical debridement, and conventional wound dressings all have drawbacks, and suboptimal outcomes exacerbate the financial and physical burdens of diabetic patients. Therefore, development of new, effective and affordable treatments for DFU represents a top priority to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients. In recent years, nanozymes-based diabetic wound therapy systems have been attracting extensive interest by integrating the unique advantages of nanomaterials and natural enzymes. Compared with natural enzymes, nanozymes possess more stable catalytic activity, lower production cost and greater maneuverability. Remarkably, many nanozymes possess multienzyme activities that can cascade multiple enzyme-catalyzed reactions simultaneously throughout the recovery process of DFU. Additionally, their favorable photothermal-acoustic properties can be exploited for further enhancement of the therapeutic effects. In this review we first describe the characteristic pathological microenvironment of DFU, then discuss the therapeutic mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in DFU healing, and finally, highlight the challenges and perspectives of nanozyme development for DFU treatment.</AbstractText
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Spinal Neurenteric Cyst of the Ventral Cervicothoracic Junction With Klippel-Feil Syndrome as a Symptom of Progressive Myelopathy: A Case Report. Neurenteric cysts are rare and account for only 0.7%-1.3% of all spinal tumors. Spinal neurenteric cysts are associated with spina bifida, split-cord malformations, and Klippel-Feil syndrome, a rare congenital disorder characterized by fusion of two or more cervical vertebrae. Klippel-Feil syndrome is rarely accompanied by neurenteric cysts. In this case report, we describe a cervicothoracic junction neurenteric cyst associated with Klippel-Feil syndrome in a 30-year-old man who presented with a 2-month history of neck pain with radiation of pain into both arms and a 1-month history of weakness in the left arm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine revealed an expansive intradural extramedullary cystic lesion anterior to the spinal cord at the cervicothoracic junction. The neurenteric cyst was removed using an anterior approach, accompanied by C5-C6 corpectomy. The patient's condition improved postoperatively, and he was discharged after postoperative MRI. Spinal neurenteric cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis in cases of vertebral developmental abnormalities concurrent with intraspinal cysts.</AbstractText
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Pediatric Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Injury. Pediatric spina bifida (SB) and spinal cord injury (SCI) are unfortunately common in our society, and their unique findings and comorbidities warrant special consideration. This manuscript will discuss the epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention, and management strategies for children growing and developing with these unique neuromuscular disorders. Growth and development of the maturing child places them at high risk of spinal cord tethering, syringomyelia, ascending paralysis, pressure injuries, and orthopedic abnormalities that must be addressed frequently and judiciously. Similarly, proper neurogenic bladder and neurogenic bowel management is essential not just for medical safety, but also for optimal psychosocial integration into the child's expanding social circle.</AbstractText
|
Nanozymes for the Therapeutic Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are chronic, refractory wounds caused by diabetic neuropathy, vascular disease, and bacterial infection, and have become one of the most serious and persistent complications of diabetes mellitus because of their high incidence and difficulty in healing. Its malignancy results from a complex microenvironment that includes a series of unfriendly physiological states secondary to hyperglycemia, such as recurrent infections, excessive oxidative stress, persistent inflammation, and ischemia and hypoxia. However, current common clinical treatments, such as antibiotic therapy, insulin therapy, surgical debridement, and conventional wound dressings all have drawbacks, and suboptimal outcomes exacerbate the financial and physical burdens of diabetic patients. Therefore, development of new, effective and affordable treatments for DFU represents a top priority to improve the quality of life of diabetic patients. In recent years, nanozymes-based diabetic wound therapy systems have been attracting extensive interest by integrating the unique advantages of nanomaterials and natural enzymes. Compared with natural enzymes, nanozymes possess more stable catalytic activity, lower production cost and greater maneuverability. Remarkably, many nanozymes possess multienzyme activities that can cascade multiple enzyme-catalyzed reactions simultaneously throughout the recovery process of DFU. Additionally, their favorable photothermal-acoustic properties can be exploited for further enhancement of the therapeutic effects. In this review we first describe the characteristic pathological microenvironment of DFU, then discuss the therapeutic mechanisms and applications of nanozymes in DFU healing, and finally, highlight the challenges and perspectives of nanozyme development for DFU treatment.</AbstractText
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35357053
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33430634
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25708317
|
Deep learning derived automated ASPECTS on non-contrast CT scans of acute ischemic stroke patients.
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Stroke Imaging Selection Modality and Endovascular Therapy Outcomes in the Early and Extended Time Windows.
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Network activity underlying the illusory self-attribution of a dummy arm.
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Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is considered as a systematic method of assessing ischemic change on non-contrast CT scans (NCCT) of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, while still suffering from the requirement of experts' experience and also the inconsistent results between readers. In this study, we proposed an automated ASPECTS method to utilize the powerful learning ability of neural networks for objectively scoring CT scans of AIS patients. First, we proposed to use the CT perfusion (CTP) from one-stop stroke imaging to provide the golden standard of ischemic regions for ASPECTS scoring. Second, we designed an asymmetry network to capture features when comparing the left and right sides for each ASPECTS region to estimate its ischemic status. Third, we performed experiments in a large main dataset of 870 patients, as well as an independent testing dataset consisting of 207 patients with radiologists' scorings. Experimental results show that our network achieved remarkable performance, as sensitivity and accuracy of 93.7 and 92.4% in the main dataset, and 95.5 and 91.3% in the independent testing dataset, respectively. In the latter dataset, our analysis revealed a high positive correlation between the ASPECTS score and the prognosis of patients in 90DmRs. Also, we found ASPECTS score is a good indicator of the size of CTP core volume of an infraction. The proposed method shows its potential for automated ASPECTS scoring on NCCT images.</AbstractText
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Advanced imaging has been increasingly used for patient selection in endovascular stroke therapy. The impact of imaging selection modality on endovascular stroke therapy clinical outcomes in extended time window remains to be defined. We aimed to study this relationship and compare it to that noted in early-treated patients.</AbstractText Patients from a prospective multicentric registry (n=2008) with occlusions involving the intracranial internal carotid or the M1- or M2-segments of the middle cerebral arteries, premorbid modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2 and time to treatment 0 to 24 hours were categorized according to treatment times within the early (0-6 hour) or extended (6-24 hour) window as well as imaging modality with noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT)±CT angiography (CTA) or NCCT±CTA and CT perfusion (CTP). The association between imaging modality and 90-day modified Rankin Scale, analyzed in ordinal (modified Rankin Scale shift) and dichotomized (functional independence, modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) manner, was evaluated and compared within and across the extended and early windows.</AbstractText In the early window, 332 patients were selected with NCCT±CTA alone while 373 also underwent CTP. After adjusting for identifiable confounders, there were no significant differences in terms of 90-day functional disability (ordinal shift: adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 0.936 [95% CI, 0.709-1.238], <i CTP acquisition was not associated with better outcomes in patients treated in the early or extended time windows. While confirmatory data is needed, our data suggests that extended window endovascular stroke therapy may remain beneficial even in the absence of advanced imaging.</AbstractText
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Neuroimaging has demonstrated that the illusory self-attribution of body parts engages frontal and intraparietal brain areas, and recent evidence further suggests an involvement of visual body-selective regions in the occipitotemporal cortex. However, little is known about the principles of information exchange within this network. Here, using automated congruent versus incongruent visuotactile stimulation of distinct anatomical locations on the participant's right arm and a realistic dummy counterpart in an fMRI scanner, we induced an illusory self-attribution of the dummy arm. The illusion consistently activated a left-hemispheric network comprising ventral premotor cortex (PMv), intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and body-selective regions of the lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOC). Importantly, during the illusion, the functional coupling of the PMv and the IPS with the LOC increased substantially, and dynamic causal modeling revealed a significant enhancement of connections from the LOC and the secondary somatosensory cortex to the IPS. These results comply with the idea that the brain's inference mechanisms rely on the hierarchical propagation of prediction error. During illusory self-attribution, unpredicted ambiguous sensory input about one's body configuration may result in the generation of such prediction errors in visual and somatosensory areas, which may be conveyed to parietal integrative areas.</AbstractText
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Deep learning derived automated ASPECTS on non-contrast CT scans of acute ischemic stroke patients. Ischemic stroke is the most common type of stroke, ranked as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) is considered as a systematic method of assessing ischemic change on non-contrast CT scans (NCCT) of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, while still suffering from the requirement of experts' experience and also the inconsistent results between readers. In this study, we proposed an automated ASPECTS method to utilize the powerful learning ability of neural networks for objectively scoring CT scans of AIS patients. First, we proposed to use the CT perfusion (CTP) from one-stop stroke imaging to provide the golden standard of ischemic regions for ASPECTS scoring. Second, we designed an asymmetry network to capture features when comparing the left and right sides for each ASPECTS region to estimate its ischemic status. Third, we performed experiments in a large main dataset of 870 patients, as well as an independent testing dataset consisting of 207 patients with radiologists' scorings. Experimental results show that our network achieved remarkable performance, as sensitivity and accuracy of 93.7 and 92.4% in the main dataset, and 95.5 and 91.3% in the independent testing dataset, respectively. In the latter dataset, our analysis revealed a high positive correlation between the ASPECTS score and the prognosis of patients in 90DmRs. Also, we found ASPECTS score is a good indicator of the size of CTP core volume of an infraction. The proposed method shows its potential for automated ASPECTS scoring on NCCT images.</AbstractText
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Stroke Imaging Selection Modality and Endovascular Therapy Outcomes in the Early and Extended Time Windows. Advanced imaging has been increasingly used for patient selection in endovascular stroke therapy. The impact of imaging selection modality on endovascular stroke therapy clinical outcomes in extended time window remains to be defined. We aimed to study this relationship and compare it to that noted in early-treated patients.</AbstractText Patients from a prospective multicentric registry (n=2008) with occlusions involving the intracranial internal carotid or the M1- or M2-segments of the middle cerebral arteries, premorbid modified Rankin Scale score 0 to 2 and time to treatment 0 to 24 hours were categorized according to treatment times within the early (0-6 hour) or extended (6-24 hour) window as well as imaging modality with noncontrast computed tomography (NCCT)±CT angiography (CTA) or NCCT±CTA and CT perfusion (CTP). The association between imaging modality and 90-day modified Rankin Scale, analyzed in ordinal (modified Rankin Scale shift) and dichotomized (functional independence, modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) manner, was evaluated and compared within and across the extended and early windows.</AbstractText In the early window, 332 patients were selected with NCCT±CTA alone while 373 also underwent CTP. After adjusting for identifiable confounders, there were no significant differences in terms of 90-day functional disability (ordinal shift: adjusted odd ratio [aOR], 0.936 [95% CI, 0.709-1.238], <i CTP acquisition was not associated with better outcomes in patients treated in the early or extended time windows. While confirmatory data is needed, our data suggests that extended window endovascular stroke therapy may remain beneficial even in the absence of advanced imaging.</AbstractText
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Network activity underlying the illusory self-attribution of a dummy arm. Neuroimaging has demonstrated that the illusory self-attribution of body parts engages frontal and intraparietal brain areas, and recent evidence further suggests an involvement of visual body-selective regions in the occipitotemporal cortex. However, little is known about the principles of information exchange within this network. Here, using automated congruent versus incongruent visuotactile stimulation of distinct anatomical locations on the participant's right arm and a realistic dummy counterpart in an fMRI scanner, we induced an illusory self-attribution of the dummy arm. The illusion consistently activated a left-hemispheric network comprising ventral premotor cortex (PMv), intraparietal sulcus (IPS), and body-selective regions of the lateral occipitotemporal cortex (LOC). Importantly, during the illusion, the functional coupling of the PMv and the IPS with the LOC increased substantially, and dynamic causal modeling revealed a significant enhancement of connections from the LOC and the secondary somatosensory cortex to the IPS. These results comply with the idea that the brain's inference mechanisms rely on the hierarchical propagation of prediction error. During illusory self-attribution, unpredicted ambiguous sensory input about one's body configuration may result in the generation of such prediction errors in visual and somatosensory areas, which may be conveyed to parietal integrative areas.</AbstractText
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38974535
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35898513
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38129133
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Holocord myelopathy misdiagnosed as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD): A unique case of dural arteriovenous fistula at the craniocervical junction along first spinal nerve.
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Plasma Complement 3 and Complement 4 Are Promising Biomarkers for Distinguishing NMOSD From MOGAD and Are Associated With the Blood-Brain-Barrier Disruption in NMOSD.
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Visual Stimuli Modulate Local Field Potentials But Drive No High-Frequency Activity in Human Auditory Cortex.
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Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) at the craniocervical junction (CCJ) involving the first spinal nerve represent a particularly rare and challenging subtype of DAVFs, with holocord myelopathy secondary to cerebrospinal DAVFs being an exceedingly rare presentation.</AbstractText We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with progressive paraparesis over 2 weeks. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed extensive holocord myelopathy, leading to a misdiagnosis of inflammatory myelopathy and subsequent inappropriate steroid treatment at a local hospital, which exacerbated her neurological symptoms. On transfer to our institution and further evaluation with MRI and magnetic resonance angiography, a lower thoracic DAVF was initially suspected. However, comprehensive spinal angiography failed to localize the fistula, prompting cranial angiography, which ultimately identified a DAVF at the CCJ along the C1 nerve root, supplied by a small radiculomeningeal branch of the left vertebral artery. Successful management involved coagulation of the proximal draining vein, with follow-up imaging confirming complete fistula obliteration and resolution of the holocord edema.</AbstractText This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with DAVFs at the CCJ, particularly when presenting with holocord myelopathy. It underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion and the need for timely, accurate diagnosis and intervention to prevent permanent spinal cord damage in such rare and complex cases.</AbstractText
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Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) associated disease (MOGAD) are autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). As the clinical features of NMOSD are similar to MOGAD, diagnostic confusion exists between the two diseases. To better discriminate NMOSD from MOGAD, we investigated whether the plasma levels of complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) are different in NMOSD and MOGAD during the acute attacks of the diseases. We sought to determine whether C3 or C4 has an influence on the features of NMOSD.</AbstractText In this observational study, data from 73 aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG) positive NMOSD patients and 22 MOG-IgG positive MOGAD patients were collected retrospectively. Demographics, clinical characteristics, plasma parameters, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings will be analyzed for comparability between the two groups. Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) and albumin were measured in both plasma and CSF. Plasma levels of C3 and C4 were measured and compared between the NMOSD, MOGAD, and 42 healthy controls (HC). The correlations between plasma C3, C4, and NMOSD clinical parameters were analyzed.</AbstractText The ages of onset were later in the AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD group and females predominated, which differed from the MOGAD group, whose ages were younger and with a slight male preponderance. The AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD patients presented with the clinical symptoms of optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis (TM), whereas encephalitis symptoms were more prevalent in MOGAD patients. CSF analysis shows that slight but not significantly higher white cell count (WCC) and protein were observed in the MOGAD group than in the AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD group. The plasma levels of IgG in MOGAD patients are significantly lower (<i During the acute phase of NMOSD and MOGAD, plasma C3 and C4 may become potential biomarkers for distinguishing the two diseases and reflecting the NMOSD BBB damage.</AbstractText
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Neuroimaging studies suggest cross-sensory visual influences in human auditory cortices (ACs). Whether these influences reflect active visual processing in human ACs, which drives neuronal firing and concurrent broadband high-frequency activity (BHFA; >70 Hz), or whether they merely modulate sound processing is still debatable. Here, we presented auditory, visual, and audiovisual stimuli to 16 participants (7 women, 9 men) with stereo-EEG depth electrodes implanted near ACs for presurgical monitoring. Anatomically normalized group analyses were facilitated by inverse modeling of intracranial source currents. Analyses of intracranial event-related potentials (iERPs) suggested cross-sensory responses to visual stimuli in ACs, which lagged the earliest auditory responses by several tens of milliseconds. Visual stimuli also modulated the phase of intrinsic low-frequency oscillations and triggered 15-30 Hz event-related desynchronization in ACs. However, BHFA, a putative correlate of neuronal firing, was not significantly increased in ACs after visual stimuli, not even when they coincided with auditory stimuli. Intracranial recordings demonstrate cross-sensory modulations, but no indication of active visual processing in human ACs.</AbstractText
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Holocord myelopathy misdiagnosed as neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD): A unique case of dural arteriovenous fistula at the craniocervical junction along first spinal nerve. Dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) at the craniocervical junction (CCJ) involving the first spinal nerve represent a particularly rare and challenging subtype of DAVFs, with holocord myelopathy secondary to cerebrospinal DAVFs being an exceedingly rare presentation.</AbstractText We report the case of a 70-year-old woman who presented with progressive paraparesis over 2 weeks. Initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine showed extensive holocord myelopathy, leading to a misdiagnosis of inflammatory myelopathy and subsequent inappropriate steroid treatment at a local hospital, which exacerbated her neurological symptoms. On transfer to our institution and further evaluation with MRI and magnetic resonance angiography, a lower thoracic DAVF was initially suspected. However, comprehensive spinal angiography failed to localize the fistula, prompting cranial angiography, which ultimately identified a DAVF at the CCJ along the C1 nerve root, supplied by a small radiculomeningeal branch of the left vertebral artery. Successful management involved coagulation of the proximal draining vein, with follow-up imaging confirming complete fistula obliteration and resolution of the holocord edema.</AbstractText This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with DAVFs at the CCJ, particularly when presenting with holocord myelopathy. It underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion and the need for timely, accurate diagnosis and intervention to prevent permanent spinal cord damage in such rare and complex cases.</AbstractText
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Plasma Complement 3 and Complement 4 Are Promising Biomarkers for Distinguishing NMOSD From MOGAD and Are Associated With the Blood-Brain-Barrier Disruption in NMOSD. Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD) and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG-IgG) associated disease (MOGAD) are autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). As the clinical features of NMOSD are similar to MOGAD, diagnostic confusion exists between the two diseases. To better discriminate NMOSD from MOGAD, we investigated whether the plasma levels of complement 3 (C3) and complement 4 (C4) are different in NMOSD and MOGAD during the acute attacks of the diseases. We sought to determine whether C3 or C4 has an influence on the features of NMOSD.</AbstractText In this observational study, data from 73 aquaporin-4 antibodies (AQP4-IgG) positive NMOSD patients and 22 MOG-IgG positive MOGAD patients were collected retrospectively. Demographics, clinical characteristics, plasma parameters, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings will be analyzed for comparability between the two groups. Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) and albumin were measured in both plasma and CSF. Plasma levels of C3 and C4 were measured and compared between the NMOSD, MOGAD, and 42 healthy controls (HC). The correlations between plasma C3, C4, and NMOSD clinical parameters were analyzed.</AbstractText The ages of onset were later in the AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD group and females predominated, which differed from the MOGAD group, whose ages were younger and with a slight male preponderance. The AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD patients presented with the clinical symptoms of optic neuritis (ON) and transverse myelitis (TM), whereas encephalitis symptoms were more prevalent in MOGAD patients. CSF analysis shows that slight but not significantly higher white cell count (WCC) and protein were observed in the MOGAD group than in the AQP4-IgG positive NMOSD group. The plasma levels of IgG in MOGAD patients are significantly lower (<i During the acute phase of NMOSD and MOGAD, plasma C3 and C4 may become potential biomarkers for distinguishing the two diseases and reflecting the NMOSD BBB damage.</AbstractText
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Visual Stimuli Modulate Local Field Potentials But Drive No High-Frequency Activity in Human Auditory Cortex. Neuroimaging studies suggest cross-sensory visual influences in human auditory cortices (ACs). Whether these influences reflect active visual processing in human ACs, which drives neuronal firing and concurrent broadband high-frequency activity (BHFA; >70 Hz), or whether they merely modulate sound processing is still debatable. Here, we presented auditory, visual, and audiovisual stimuli to 16 participants (7 women, 9 men) with stereo-EEG depth electrodes implanted near ACs for presurgical monitoring. Anatomically normalized group analyses were facilitated by inverse modeling of intracranial source currents. Analyses of intracranial event-related potentials (iERPs) suggested cross-sensory responses to visual stimuli in ACs, which lagged the earliest auditory responses by several tens of milliseconds. Visual stimuli also modulated the phase of intrinsic low-frequency oscillations and triggered 15-30 Hz event-related desynchronization in ACs. However, BHFA, a putative correlate of neuronal firing, was not significantly increased in ACs after visual stimuli, not even when they coincided with auditory stimuli. Intracranial recordings demonstrate cross-sensory modulations, but no indication of active visual processing in human ACs.</AbstractText
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30424361
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18344997
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29859296
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Opportunities and Challenges for Single-Unit Recordings from Enteric Neurons in Awake Animals.
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Redefining the serotonergic system by genetic lineage.
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Disentangling representations of shape and action components in the tool network.
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Advanced electrode designs have made single-unit neural recordings commonplace in modern neuroscience research. However, single-unit resolution remains out of reach for the intrinsic neurons of the gastrointestinal system. Single-unit recordings of the enteric (gut) nervous system have been conducted in anesthetized animal models and excised tissue, but there is a large physiological gap between awake and anesthetized animals, particularly for the enteric nervous system. Here, we describe the opportunity for advancing enteric neuroscience offered by single-unit recording capabilities in awake animals. We highlight the primary challenges to microelectrodes in the gastrointestinal system including structural, physiological, and signal quality challenges, and we provide design criteria recommendations for enteric microelectrodes.</AbstractText
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Central serotonin-producing neurons are heterogeneous-differing in location, morphology, neurotoxin sensitivity and associated clinical disorders-but the underpinnings of this heterogeneity are largely unknown, as are the markers that distinguish physiological subtypes of serotonergic neurons. Here we redefined serotonergic subtypes on the basis of genetic programs that are differentially enacted in progenitor cells. We uncovered a molecular framework for the serotonergic system that, having genetic lineages as its basis, is likely to have physiological relevance and will permit access to genetically defined subtypes for manipulation.</AbstractText
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Shape and how they should be used are two key components of our knowledge about tools. Viewing tools preferentially activated a frontoparietal and occipitotemporal network, with dorsal regions implicated in computation of tool-related actions and ventral areas in shape representation. As shape and manners of manipulation are highly correlated for daily tools, whether they are independently represented in different regions remains inconclusive. In the current study, we collected fMRI data when participants viewed blocks of pictures of four daily tools (i.e., paintbrush, corkscrew, screwdriver, razor) where shape and action (manner of manipulation for functional use) were orthogonally manipulated, to tease apart these two dimensions. Behavioral similarity judgments tapping on object shape and finer aspects of actions (i.e., manners of motion, magnitude of arm movement, configuration of hand) were also collected to further disentangle the representation of object shape and different action components. Information analysis and representational similarity analysis were conducted on regional neural activation patterns of the tool-preferring network. In both analyses, the bilateral lateral occipitotemporal cortex showed robust shape representations but could not effectively distinguish between tool-use actions. The frontal and precentral regions represented kinematic action components, whereas the left parietal region (in information analyses) exhibited coding of both shape and tool-use action. By teasing apart shape and action components, we found both dissociation and association of them within the tool network. Taken together, our study disentangles representations for object shape from finer tool-use action components in the tool network, revealing the potential dissociable roles different tool-preferring regions play in tool processing.</AbstractText
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Opportunities and Challenges for Single-Unit Recordings from Enteric Neurons in Awake Animals. Advanced electrode designs have made single-unit neural recordings commonplace in modern neuroscience research. However, single-unit resolution remains out of reach for the intrinsic neurons of the gastrointestinal system. Single-unit recordings of the enteric (gut) nervous system have been conducted in anesthetized animal models and excised tissue, but there is a large physiological gap between awake and anesthetized animals, particularly for the enteric nervous system. Here, we describe the opportunity for advancing enteric neuroscience offered by single-unit recording capabilities in awake animals. We highlight the primary challenges to microelectrodes in the gastrointestinal system including structural, physiological, and signal quality challenges, and we provide design criteria recommendations for enteric microelectrodes.</AbstractText
|
Redefining the serotonergic system by genetic lineage. Central serotonin-producing neurons are heterogeneous-differing in location, morphology, neurotoxin sensitivity and associated clinical disorders-but the underpinnings of this heterogeneity are largely unknown, as are the markers that distinguish physiological subtypes of serotonergic neurons. Here we redefined serotonergic subtypes on the basis of genetic programs that are differentially enacted in progenitor cells. We uncovered a molecular framework for the serotonergic system that, having genetic lineages as its basis, is likely to have physiological relevance and will permit access to genetically defined subtypes for manipulation.</AbstractText
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Disentangling representations of shape and action components in the tool network. Shape and how they should be used are two key components of our knowledge about tools. Viewing tools preferentially activated a frontoparietal and occipitotemporal network, with dorsal regions implicated in computation of tool-related actions and ventral areas in shape representation. As shape and manners of manipulation are highly correlated for daily tools, whether they are independently represented in different regions remains inconclusive. In the current study, we collected fMRI data when participants viewed blocks of pictures of four daily tools (i.e., paintbrush, corkscrew, screwdriver, razor) where shape and action (manner of manipulation for functional use) were orthogonally manipulated, to tease apart these two dimensions. Behavioral similarity judgments tapping on object shape and finer aspects of actions (i.e., manners of motion, magnitude of arm movement, configuration of hand) were also collected to further disentangle the representation of object shape and different action components. Information analysis and representational similarity analysis were conducted on regional neural activation patterns of the tool-preferring network. In both analyses, the bilateral lateral occipitotemporal cortex showed robust shape representations but could not effectively distinguish between tool-use actions. The frontal and precentral regions represented kinematic action components, whereas the left parietal region (in information analyses) exhibited coding of both shape and tool-use action. By teasing apart shape and action components, we found both dissociation and association of them within the tool network. Taken together, our study disentangles representations for object shape from finer tool-use action components in the tool network, revealing the potential dissociable roles different tool-preferring regions play in tool processing.</AbstractText
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39625296
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34662700
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38932531
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External Ventricular Drain Misadministration Events: Systematic Literature Review and Report of a Case.
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The predictive value of DKI in breast cancer: Does tumour subtype affect pathological response evaluations?
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[Precise measurement of human heart rate based on multi-channel radar data fusion].
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External ventricular drain (EVD) is a common neurosurgical procedure with potential complications, including catheter misplacement, infection, mechanical obstruction, and inadvertent catheter pull-out. A less discussed but critical complication is the misadministration of medications into EVD. This project aimed to review the literature on EVD misadministration and discuss preventative measures, emphasizing the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for neuraxial connectors.</AbstractText A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS databases was conducted to identify studies reporting misadministration in EVD systems. We also present a case of misadministration of a blood product into an EVD. Factors contributing to these events were researched, relevant guidelines from professional organizations were reviewed, and preventive strategies, including the novel NRFit® connector designed to prevent such errors, were discussed.</AbstractText The literature review identified 7 reports of 8 cases of misadministration involving substances such as gadolinium-based contrast agents, anesthetic agents, and antiepileptic drugs. In addition, we report a case of an 87-year-old man with multiple traumatic brain injuries, where a blood transfusion line was mistakenly connected to the EVD. This incident is the first reported case of blood misadministration through EVD. Despite immediate drainage and flushing of the EVD system with saline, the patient's condition did not improve, and he eventually died. Contributing factors included unfamiliarity with the EVD system, similarity to IV connectors, and poor visibility during procedures. Importantly, the novel ISO 80369 standard for all neuraxial connectors, including NRFit® connectors that have a 20% smaller nozzle outside diameter than traditional Luer connectors, has been recommended to prevent misconnection errors and mitigate associated risks.</AbstractText Misadministration to EVD connectors is a preventable event that highlights the need for enhanced safety solutions. Adoption of ISO standard neuraxial connectors, thorough training, and the use of distinctly marked equipment are critical steps in minimizing risks.</AbstractText
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To explore the differences in quantitative parameters based on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) between different immunohistochemical indicator statuses and their predictive value for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among different phenotypes of breast cancer.</AbstractText Eighty-one breast cancer patients who underwent NAC were enrolled in this retrospective study. Correlations between diffusion parameters and immunohistochemical indicators were determined using Spearman's test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean diffusivity (MD), and mean kurtosis (MK) in predicting the pathologic complete response (PCR).</AbstractText Correlations were observed between MK values and hormone receptor (HR) expression (oestrogen receptor (ER): r = 0.315 and progesterone receptor (PR): r = 0.268). The parameters ADC<sub MK was correlated with HR expression. ADC<sub
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To achieve non-contact measurement of human heart rate and improve its accuracy, this paper proposes a method for measuring human heart rate based on multi-channel radar data fusion. The radar data were firstly extracted by human body position identification, phase extraction and unwinding, phase difference, band-pass filtering optimized by power spectrum entropy, and fast independent component analysis for each channel data. After overlaying and fusing the four-channel data, the heartbeat signal was separated using frost-optimized variational modal decomposition. Finally, a chirp Z-transform was introduced for heart rate estimation. After validation with 40 sets of data, the average root mean square error of the proposed method was 2.35 beats per minute, with an average error rate of 2.39%, a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.97, a confidence interval of [-4.78, 4.78] beats per minute, and a consistency error of -0.04. The experimental results show that the proposed measurement method performs well in terms of accuracy, correlation, and consistency, enabling precise measurement of human heart rate.</AbstractText 为实现人体心率的非接触式测量并提高其测量的精准度，本文提出一种基于多通道雷达数据融合的人体心率测量方法。雷达数据首先依次对每个通道数据进行人体位置识别、相位提取与解缠绕、相位差分、功率谱熵优化的带通滤波以及快速独立成分分析提取。再将四通道数据叠加融合后，使用霜冰优化的变分模态分解分离出心跳信号。最后引入线性调频Z变换进行心率估计。经过40组数据验证，本文方法的平均均方根误差为2.35次/分，平均错误率为2.39%，皮尔逊相关系数为0.97，置信区间为[–4.78, 4.78]次/分，一致性误差为–0.04次/分。实验结果显示，本文提出的测量方法在准确性、相关性、一致性方面表现出色，能够实现人体心率的精准测量。.</AbstractText
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External Ventricular Drain Misadministration Events: Systematic Literature Review and Report of a Case. External ventricular drain (EVD) is a common neurosurgical procedure with potential complications, including catheter misplacement, infection, mechanical obstruction, and inadvertent catheter pull-out. A less discussed but critical complication is the misadministration of medications into EVD. This project aimed to review the literature on EVD misadministration and discuss preventative measures, emphasizing the new International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for neuraxial connectors.</AbstractText A systematic review of PubMed, Embase, and SCOPUS databases was conducted to identify studies reporting misadministration in EVD systems. We also present a case of misadministration of a blood product into an EVD. Factors contributing to these events were researched, relevant guidelines from professional organizations were reviewed, and preventive strategies, including the novel NRFit® connector designed to prevent such errors, were discussed.</AbstractText The literature review identified 7 reports of 8 cases of misadministration involving substances such as gadolinium-based contrast agents, anesthetic agents, and antiepileptic drugs. In addition, we report a case of an 87-year-old man with multiple traumatic brain injuries, where a blood transfusion line was mistakenly connected to the EVD. This incident is the first reported case of blood misadministration through EVD. Despite immediate drainage and flushing of the EVD system with saline, the patient's condition did not improve, and he eventually died. Contributing factors included unfamiliarity with the EVD system, similarity to IV connectors, and poor visibility during procedures. Importantly, the novel ISO 80369 standard for all neuraxial connectors, including NRFit® connectors that have a 20% smaller nozzle outside diameter than traditional Luer connectors, has been recommended to prevent misconnection errors and mitigate associated risks.</AbstractText Misadministration to EVD connectors is a preventable event that highlights the need for enhanced safety solutions. Adoption of ISO standard neuraxial connectors, thorough training, and the use of distinctly marked equipment are critical steps in minimizing risks.</AbstractText
|
The predictive value of DKI in breast cancer: Does tumour subtype affect pathological response evaluations? To explore the differences in quantitative parameters based on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) between different immunohistochemical indicator statuses and their predictive value for neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) among different phenotypes of breast cancer.</AbstractText Eighty-one breast cancer patients who underwent NAC were enrolled in this retrospective study. Correlations between diffusion parameters and immunohistochemical indicators were determined using Spearman's test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to assess the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), mean diffusivity (MD), and mean kurtosis (MK) in predicting the pathologic complete response (PCR).</AbstractText Correlations were observed between MK values and hormone receptor (HR) expression (oestrogen receptor (ER): r = 0.315 and progesterone receptor (PR): r = 0.268). The parameters ADC<sub MK was correlated with HR expression. ADC<sub
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[Precise measurement of human heart rate based on multi-channel radar data fusion]. To achieve non-contact measurement of human heart rate and improve its accuracy, this paper proposes a method for measuring human heart rate based on multi-channel radar data fusion. The radar data were firstly extracted by human body position identification, phase extraction and unwinding, phase difference, band-pass filtering optimized by power spectrum entropy, and fast independent component analysis for each channel data. After overlaying and fusing the four-channel data, the heartbeat signal was separated using frost-optimized variational modal decomposition. Finally, a chirp Z-transform was introduced for heart rate estimation. After validation with 40 sets of data, the average root mean square error of the proposed method was 2.35 beats per minute, with an average error rate of 2.39%, a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.97, a confidence interval of [-4.78, 4.78] beats per minute, and a consistency error of -0.04. The experimental results show that the proposed measurement method performs well in terms of accuracy, correlation, and consistency, enabling precise measurement of human heart rate.</AbstractText 为实现人体心率的非接触式测量并提高其测量的精准度，本文提出一种基于多通道雷达数据融合的人体心率测量方法。雷达数据首先依次对每个通道数据进行人体位置识别、相位提取与解缠绕、相位差分、功率谱熵优化的带通滤波以及快速独立成分分析提取。再将四通道数据叠加融合后，使用霜冰优化的变分模态分解分离出心跳信号。最后引入线性调频Z变换进行心率估计。经过40组数据验证，本文方法的平均均方根误差为2.35次/分，平均错误率为2.39%，皮尔逊相关系数为0.97，置信区间为[–4.78, 4.78]次/分，一致性误差为–0.04次/分。实验结果显示，本文提出的测量方法在准确性、相关性、一致性方面表现出色，能够实现人体心率的精准测量。.</AbstractText
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25187778
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27750252
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24089390
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Ischemia-reperfusion injury in stroke.
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Optimized Flat-Detector CT in Stroke Imaging: Ready for First-Line Use?
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Herpes simplex virus-1 encephalitis can trigger anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: case report.
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Despite ongoing advances in stroke imaging and treatment, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke continue to debilitate patients with devastating outcomes at both the personal and societal levels. While the ultimate goal of therapy in ischemic stroke is geared towards restoration of blood flow, even when mitigation of initial tissue hypoxia is successful, exacerbation of tissue injury may occur in the form of cell death, or alternatively, hemorrhagic transformation of reperfused tissue. Animal models have extensively demonstrated the concept of reperfusion injury at the molecular and cellular levels, yet no study has quantified this effect in stroke patients. These preclinical models have also demonstrated the success of a wide array of neuroprotective strategies at lessening the deleterious effects of reperfusion injury. Serial multimodal imaging may provide a framework for developing therapies for reperfusion injury.</AbstractText
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Using flat-detector CT (FD-CT) for stroke imaging has the advantage that both diagnostic imaging and endovascular therapy can be performed directly within the Angio Suite without any patient transfer and time delay. Thus, stroke management could be speeded up significantly, and patient outcome might be improved. But as precondition for using FD-CT as primary imaging modality, a reliable exclusion of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has to be possible. This study aimed to investigate whether optimized native FD-CT, using a newly implemented reconstruction algorithm, may reliably detect ICH in stroke patients. Additionally, the potential to identify ischemic changes was evaluated.</AbstractText Cranial FD-CT scans were obtained in 102 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (n = 32), ICH (n = 45) or transient ischemic attack (n = 25). All scans were reconstructed with a newly implemented half-scan cone-beam algorithm. Two experienced neuroradiologists, unaware of clinical findings, evaluated independently the FD-CTs screening for hemorrhage or ischemic signs. The findings were correlated to CT, and rater and inter-rater agreement was assessed.</AbstractText FD-CT demonstrated high sensitivity (95-100%) and specificity (100%) in detecting intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Overall, interobserver agreement (κ = 0.92) was almost perfect and rater agreement to CT highly significant (r = 0.81). One infratentorial ICH and 10 or 11 of 22 subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) were missed of whom 7 were perimesencephalic. The sensitivity for detecting acute ischemic signs was poor in blinded readings (0 or 25%, respectively).</AbstractText Optimized FD-CT, using a newly implemented reconstruction algorithm, turned out as a reliable tool for detecting supratentorial ICH and IVH. However, detection of infratentorial ICH and perimesencephalic SAH is limited. The potential of FD-CT in detecting ischemic changes is poor in blinded readings. Thus, plain FD-CT seems insufficient as a standalone modality in acute stroke, but within a multimodal imaging approach primarily using the FD technology, native FD-CT seems capable to exclude reliably supratentorial hemorrhage. Currently, FD-CT imaging seems not yet ready for wide adoption, replacing regular CT, and should be reserved for selected patients. Furthermore, prospective evaluations are necessary to validate this approach in the clinical setting.</AbstractText
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Relapsing symptoms post herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV) encephalitis (HSVE) usually occur a few weeks after viral therapy and represent either 1) a true viral relapse of HSVE (CSF PCR positive for HSV, new necrotic lesions on brain MRI, and response to acyclovir therapy) or 2) a disorder postulated to be immune-mediated (CSF negative for HSV, no new necrotic lesions, and no response to acyclovir).<sup
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Ischemia-reperfusion injury in stroke. Despite ongoing advances in stroke imaging and treatment, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke continue to debilitate patients with devastating outcomes at both the personal and societal levels. While the ultimate goal of therapy in ischemic stroke is geared towards restoration of blood flow, even when mitigation of initial tissue hypoxia is successful, exacerbation of tissue injury may occur in the form of cell death, or alternatively, hemorrhagic transformation of reperfused tissue. Animal models have extensively demonstrated the concept of reperfusion injury at the molecular and cellular levels, yet no study has quantified this effect in stroke patients. These preclinical models have also demonstrated the success of a wide array of neuroprotective strategies at lessening the deleterious effects of reperfusion injury. Serial multimodal imaging may provide a framework for developing therapies for reperfusion injury.</AbstractText
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Optimized Flat-Detector CT in Stroke Imaging: Ready for First-Line Use? Using flat-detector CT (FD-CT) for stroke imaging has the advantage that both diagnostic imaging and endovascular therapy can be performed directly within the Angio Suite without any patient transfer and time delay. Thus, stroke management could be speeded up significantly, and patient outcome might be improved. But as precondition for using FD-CT as primary imaging modality, a reliable exclusion of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has to be possible. This study aimed to investigate whether optimized native FD-CT, using a newly implemented reconstruction algorithm, may reliably detect ICH in stroke patients. Additionally, the potential to identify ischemic changes was evaluated.</AbstractText Cranial FD-CT scans were obtained in 102 patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke (n = 32), ICH (n = 45) or transient ischemic attack (n = 25). All scans were reconstructed with a newly implemented half-scan cone-beam algorithm. Two experienced neuroradiologists, unaware of clinical findings, evaluated independently the FD-CTs screening for hemorrhage or ischemic signs. The findings were correlated to CT, and rater and inter-rater agreement was assessed.</AbstractText FD-CT demonstrated high sensitivity (95-100%) and specificity (100%) in detecting intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Overall, interobserver agreement (κ = 0.92) was almost perfect and rater agreement to CT highly significant (r = 0.81). One infratentorial ICH and 10 or 11 of 22 subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs) were missed of whom 7 were perimesencephalic. The sensitivity for detecting acute ischemic signs was poor in blinded readings (0 or 25%, respectively).</AbstractText Optimized FD-CT, using a newly implemented reconstruction algorithm, turned out as a reliable tool for detecting supratentorial ICH and IVH. However, detection of infratentorial ICH and perimesencephalic SAH is limited. The potential of FD-CT in detecting ischemic changes is poor in blinded readings. Thus, plain FD-CT seems insufficient as a standalone modality in acute stroke, but within a multimodal imaging approach primarily using the FD technology, native FD-CT seems capable to exclude reliably supratentorial hemorrhage. Currently, FD-CT imaging seems not yet ready for wide adoption, replacing regular CT, and should be reserved for selected patients. Furthermore, prospective evaluations are necessary to validate this approach in the clinical setting.</AbstractText
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Herpes simplex virus-1 encephalitis can trigger anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis: case report. Relapsing symptoms post herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV) encephalitis (HSVE) usually occur a few weeks after viral therapy and represent either 1) a true viral relapse of HSVE (CSF PCR positive for HSV, new necrotic lesions on brain MRI, and response to acyclovir therapy) or 2) a disorder postulated to be immune-mediated (CSF negative for HSV, no new necrotic lesions, and no response to acyclovir).<sup
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40309866
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36056026
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40083034
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The Multifaceted Role of LRRK2 in Parkinson's Disease.
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IRES-mediated Wnt2 translation in apoptotic neurons triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation.
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Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Stigma in Personality Disorder Compared With Anxiety and Depression: A National Cross-Sectional Survey.
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Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a multifunctional protein kinase intricately involved in the pathogeneses of various neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 plays a pivotal role in mitochondrial function and cellular senescence by regulating key processes such as autophagy, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. LRRK2 is also associated with ciliogenesis in regulating neuronal development. In addition, LRRK2 has been implicated as a putative mediator in neuroinflammation via promoting the reactivation of microglia and influencing cytokine production, a factor that may have therapeutic implications. Furthermore, mutations in LRRK2 have been found to impact the production of neurotrophic factors in astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells of the central nervous system, thereby affecting neuronal health and contributing to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases like PD. The multifaceted roles of LRRK2 in cellular senescence, interaction with LRS, neuroinflammation, the maintenance of mitochondria, and astrocyte function highlight its significance as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.</AbstractText
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Reactive astrogliosis usually bears some properties of neural progenitors. How injury triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation remains largely unclear. Here, we report that ischemia induces rapid up-regulation of Wnt2 protein in apoptotic neurons and activation of canonical Wnt signaling in reactive astrocytes in mice, primates and human. Local delivery of Wnt2 shRNA abolished the dedifferentiation of astrocytes while over-expressing Wnt2 promoted progenitor marker expression and neurogenesis. Both the activation of Wnt signaling and dedifferentiation of astrocytes was compromised in ischemic caspase-3<sup
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Self-stigma occurs when a person with a mental illness internalises the negative stereotypes and attitudes associated with their condition, which can lead to reduced help-seeking and social withdrawal. Previous research has demonstrated high levels of professional stigma towards people with personality disorder, but in contrast to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, very little is known about self-stigma in people with personality disorder. We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of 1009 people who had received a diagnosis of personality disorder, anxiety or depression to compare levels of self-stigma and identify associated factors. We assessed self-stigma using the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale-9 and demographic and clinical factors including level of personality disturbance, invalidating childhood experiences and depressive symptoms. In multilevel analysis, people diagnosed with personality disorder did not have higher levels of self-stigma than those with anxiety and depression. Levels of self-stigma were higher among those with higher levels of personality disturbance, depression and invalidating childhood experiences. These findings highlight the importance of personality disturbance in the development of self-stigma and the need for interventions to increase mental health literacy in this area.</AbstractText
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The Multifaceted Role of LRRK2 in Parkinson's Disease. Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a multifunctional protein kinase intricately involved in the pathogeneses of various neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson's disease (PD). LRRK2 plays a pivotal role in mitochondrial function and cellular senescence by regulating key processes such as autophagy, oxidative stress, and protein aggregation. LRRK2 is also associated with ciliogenesis in regulating neuronal development. In addition, LRRK2 has been implicated as a putative mediator in neuroinflammation via promoting the reactivation of microglia and influencing cytokine production, a factor that may have therapeutic implications. Furthermore, mutations in LRRK2 have been found to impact the production of neurotrophic factors in astrocytes, the star-shaped glial cells of the central nervous system, thereby affecting neuronal health and contributing to the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases like PD. The multifaceted roles of LRRK2 in cellular senescence, interaction with LRS, neuroinflammation, the maintenance of mitochondria, and astrocyte function highlight its significance as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative disorders.</AbstractText
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IRES-mediated Wnt2 translation in apoptotic neurons triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation. Reactive astrogliosis usually bears some properties of neural progenitors. How injury triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation remains largely unclear. Here, we report that ischemia induces rapid up-regulation of Wnt2 protein in apoptotic neurons and activation of canonical Wnt signaling in reactive astrocytes in mice, primates and human. Local delivery of Wnt2 shRNA abolished the dedifferentiation of astrocytes while over-expressing Wnt2 promoted progenitor marker expression and neurogenesis. Both the activation of Wnt signaling and dedifferentiation of astrocytes was compromised in ischemic caspase-3<sup
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Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Stigma in Personality Disorder Compared With Anxiety and Depression: A National Cross-Sectional Survey. Self-stigma occurs when a person with a mental illness internalises the negative stereotypes and attitudes associated with their condition, which can lead to reduced help-seeking and social withdrawal. Previous research has demonstrated high levels of professional stigma towards people with personality disorder, but in contrast to mental disorders such as anxiety and depression, very little is known about self-stigma in people with personality disorder. We conducted an online, cross-sectional survey of 1009 people who had received a diagnosis of personality disorder, anxiety or depression to compare levels of self-stigma and identify associated factors. We assessed self-stigma using the Internalised Stigma of Mental Illness Scale-9 and demographic and clinical factors including level of personality disturbance, invalidating childhood experiences and depressive symptoms. In multilevel analysis, people diagnosed with personality disorder did not have higher levels of self-stigma than those with anxiety and depression. Levels of self-stigma were higher among those with higher levels of personality disturbance, depression and invalidating childhood experiences. These findings highlight the importance of personality disturbance in the development of self-stigma and the need for interventions to increase mental health literacy in this area.</AbstractText
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24555871
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17669444
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23535179
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Continuous sedation until death: the everyday moral reasoning of physicians, nurses and family caregivers in the UK, The Netherlands and Belgium.
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The intentional network: how the brain reads varieties of intentions.
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Effects of number magnitude and notation at 7T: separating the neural response to small and large, symbolic and nonsymbolic number.
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Continuous sedation is increasingly used as a way to relieve symptoms at the end of life. Current research indicates that some physicians, nurses, and relatives involved in this practice experience emotional and/or moral distress. This study aims to provide insight into what may influence how professional and/or family carers cope with such distress.</AbstractText This study is an international qualitative interview study involving interviews with physicians, nurses, and relatives of deceased patients in the UK, The Netherlands and Belgium (the UNBIASED study) about a case of continuous sedation at the end of life they were recently involved in. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by staying close to the data using open coding. Next, codes were combined into larger themes and categories of codes resulting in a four point scheme that captured all of the data. Finally, our findings were compared with others and explored in relation to theories in ethics and sociology.</AbstractText The participants' responses can be captured as different dimensions of 'closeness', i.e. the degree to which one feels connected or 'close' to a certain decision or event. We distinguished four types of 'closeness', namely emotional, physical, decisional, and causal. Using these four dimensions of 'closeness' it became possible to describe how physicians, nurses, and relatives experience their involvement in cases of continuous sedation until death. More specifically, it shined a light on the everyday moral reasoning employed by care providers and relatives in the context of continuous sedation, and how this affected the emotional impact of being involved in sedation, as well as the perception of their own moral responsibility.</AbstractText Findings from this study demonstrate that various factors are reported to influence the degree of closeness to continuous sedation (and thus the extent to which carers feel morally responsible), and that some of these factors help care providers and relatives to distinguish continuous sedation from euthanasia.</AbstractText
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Social neuroscience provides insights into the neural correlates of the human capacity to explain and predict other people's intentions, a capacity that lies at the core of the Theory of Mind (ToM) mechanism. Results from neuroimaging research describe a widely distributed neural system underlying ToM, including the right and left temporo-parietal junctions (TPJ), the precuneus, and the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Nevertheless, there is disagreement in the literature concerning the key region for the ToM network. Some authors point to the MPFC, others to the right TPJ. In the effort to make a contribution to the debate, we propose a model of a dynamic ToM network consisting of four regions. We also introduce a novel theoretical distinction among varieties of intention, which differ by the nature of an individual's pursued goal (private or social) and by the social interaction's temporal dimension (present or future). Our results confirm the crucial role of both the MPFC and the right TPJ, but show that these areas are differentially engaged depending on the nature of the intention involved. Whereas the right TPJ and the precuneus are necessary for processing all types of prior intentions, the left TPJ and the anterior paracingulate cortex are specifically involved in the understanding of social intention. More specifically, the left TPJ is activated only when a subset of social intentions are involved (communicative intentions). Taken together, these results demonstrate the progressive recruitment of the ToM network along the theoretical dimensions introduced in the present paper.</AbstractText
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We examined the effects of number magnitude (within vs. outside the subitizable range) and notation (symbolic vs. nonsymbolic number) on neural responses to visual displays in the human brain using fMRI at 7T. We found that the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) responded more strongly to small than to larger numbers (2, 4 > 6, 8), while there was greater activity bilaterally within and around the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) as number magnitude increased (6, 8 > 2, 4). The effects of number magnitude were greatest for nonsymbolic stimuli. In addition, there was striking overlap between rTPJ regions responding to small numbers and those most strongly activated by symbolic stimuli, and between IPS regions responding to large numbers and those most activated by nonsymbolic stimuli. The results are consistent with distinct neural processes recruited for the processing of small- and large-number magnitudes. Contributions due to differences in representing exact number (small nonsymbolic arrays and all symbolic numbers, in rTPJ) and overall magnitude (particularly with large nonsymbolic arrays, in IPS), and the associated theoretical implications of the findings, are discussed.</AbstractText
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Continuous sedation until death: the everyday moral reasoning of physicians, nurses and family caregivers in the UK, The Netherlands and Belgium. Continuous sedation is increasingly used as a way to relieve symptoms at the end of life. Current research indicates that some physicians, nurses, and relatives involved in this practice experience emotional and/or moral distress. This study aims to provide insight into what may influence how professional and/or family carers cope with such distress.</AbstractText This study is an international qualitative interview study involving interviews with physicians, nurses, and relatives of deceased patients in the UK, The Netherlands and Belgium (the UNBIASED study) about a case of continuous sedation at the end of life they were recently involved in. All interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed by staying close to the data using open coding. Next, codes were combined into larger themes and categories of codes resulting in a four point scheme that captured all of the data. Finally, our findings were compared with others and explored in relation to theories in ethics and sociology.</AbstractText The participants' responses can be captured as different dimensions of 'closeness', i.e. the degree to which one feels connected or 'close' to a certain decision or event. We distinguished four types of 'closeness', namely emotional, physical, decisional, and causal. Using these four dimensions of 'closeness' it became possible to describe how physicians, nurses, and relatives experience their involvement in cases of continuous sedation until death. More specifically, it shined a light on the everyday moral reasoning employed by care providers and relatives in the context of continuous sedation, and how this affected the emotional impact of being involved in sedation, as well as the perception of their own moral responsibility.</AbstractText Findings from this study demonstrate that various factors are reported to influence the degree of closeness to continuous sedation (and thus the extent to which carers feel morally responsible), and that some of these factors help care providers and relatives to distinguish continuous sedation from euthanasia.</AbstractText
|
The intentional network: how the brain reads varieties of intentions. Social neuroscience provides insights into the neural correlates of the human capacity to explain and predict other people's intentions, a capacity that lies at the core of the Theory of Mind (ToM) mechanism. Results from neuroimaging research describe a widely distributed neural system underlying ToM, including the right and left temporo-parietal junctions (TPJ), the precuneus, and the medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC). Nevertheless, there is disagreement in the literature concerning the key region for the ToM network. Some authors point to the MPFC, others to the right TPJ. In the effort to make a contribution to the debate, we propose a model of a dynamic ToM network consisting of four regions. We also introduce a novel theoretical distinction among varieties of intention, which differ by the nature of an individual's pursued goal (private or social) and by the social interaction's temporal dimension (present or future). Our results confirm the crucial role of both the MPFC and the right TPJ, but show that these areas are differentially engaged depending on the nature of the intention involved. Whereas the right TPJ and the precuneus are necessary for processing all types of prior intentions, the left TPJ and the anterior paracingulate cortex are specifically involved in the understanding of social intention. More specifically, the left TPJ is activated only when a subset of social intentions are involved (communicative intentions). Taken together, these results demonstrate the progressive recruitment of the ToM network along the theoretical dimensions introduced in the present paper.</AbstractText
|
Effects of number magnitude and notation at 7T: separating the neural response to small and large, symbolic and nonsymbolic number. We examined the effects of number magnitude (within vs. outside the subitizable range) and notation (symbolic vs. nonsymbolic number) on neural responses to visual displays in the human brain using fMRI at 7T. We found that the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ) responded more strongly to small than to larger numbers (2, 4 > 6, 8), while there was greater activity bilaterally within and around the intraparietal sulcus (IPS) as number magnitude increased (6, 8 > 2, 4). The effects of number magnitude were greatest for nonsymbolic stimuli. In addition, there was striking overlap between rTPJ regions responding to small numbers and those most strongly activated by symbolic stimuli, and between IPS regions responding to large numbers and those most activated by nonsymbolic stimuli. The results are consistent with distinct neural processes recruited for the processing of small- and large-number magnitudes. Contributions due to differences in representing exact number (small nonsymbolic arrays and all symbolic numbers, in rTPJ) and overall magnitude (particularly with large nonsymbolic arrays, in IPS), and the associated theoretical implications of the findings, are discussed.</AbstractText
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31306123
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21832829
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30838929
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A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses that Evaluate Risk Factors for Dementia to Evaluate the Quantity, Quality, and Global Representativeness of Evidence.
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Subtypes of dementia: a study from a memory clinic in India.
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Dravet Syndrome: A Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy.
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The translation of evidence on dementia risk factors into clinical advice requires careful evaluation of the methodology and scope of data from which risk estimates are obtained.</AbstractText To evaluate the quantity, quality, and representativeness of evidence, we conducted a review of reviews of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Vascular dementia (VaD), and Any Dementia.</AbstractText PubMed, Cochrane library, and the Global Index Medicus were searched to identify meta-analyses of observational studies of risk factors for AD, VaD, and Any Dementia. PROSPERO CRD42017053920.</AbstractText Meta-analysis data were available for 34 risk factors for AD, 26 risk factors for Any Dementia and eight for VaD. Quality of evidence varied greatly in terms of the number of contributing studies, whether data on midlife exposure was available, and consistency of measures. The most evidence was available for cardiovascular risk factors. The most geographically representative evidence (five of six global regions) was available for alcohol, physical activity, diabetes, high midlife BMI, antihypertensives, and motor function. Evidence from Australia/Oceana or Africa was limited. With the exception of diabetes, meta-analysis data were unavailable from Latin America/Caribbean. Midlife specific data were only available for cholesterol and arthritis.</AbstractText There is a lack of midlife specific data, limited data on VaD, and a lack of geographical representation for many risk factors for dementia. The quality, quantity, and representativeness of evidence needs to be considered before recommendations are made about the relevance of risk factors in mid- or late-life or for dementia subtypes.</AbstractText
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The clinical syndrome of dementia consists of several subtypes that are distinct in their etiology, clinical profile, management, and outcome. Limited specialized services are available for dementia patients in India. We report the profile of dementia subtypes from a clinic-based dementia registry in India.</AbstractText Consecutive dementia patients were investigated with clinical evaluation, neuropsychological tests modified for local use, and brain imaging.</AbstractText In 347 consecutive dementia patients, Alzheimer's disease was the most common subtype of dementia (38.3%), followed by a high proportion of vascular dementia (25.4%). Frontotemporal dementia syndromes were not uncommon (18.7%). Dementia with Lewy bodies was encountered in 8.9% of the patients, and mixed dementia was found in 8.6%. The mean age of the group at presentation was 66.3 years, nearly a decade younger than in developed countries. The proportion of patients with early-onset dementia was high (49.9%).</AbstractText Our results demonstrate that the clinical profiles of dementia subtypes in a clinic population are influenced by the population's demographic profile, cardiovascular risk factor burden, sociocultural attitudes about cognitive impairment, and possibly genetic factors.</AbstractText
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Selective Nav1.1 Activation Rescues Dravet Syndrome Mice From Seizures and Premature Death Richards KL, Milligan CJ, Richardson RJ, Jancovski N, Grunnet M, Jacobson LH, Undheim EAB, Mobli M, Chow CY, Herzig V, Csoti A, Panyi G, Reid CA, King GF, Petrou S. PNAS. 2018;115:E8077-E8085. Dravet syndrome is a catastrophic, pharmaco-resistant epileptic encephalopathy. Disease onset occurs in the first year of life, followed by developmental delay with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and substantially elevated risk of premature death. The majority of affected individuals harbor a loss-of-function mutation in one allele of SCN1A, which encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Na<sub
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A Systematic Review of Meta-Analyses that Evaluate Risk Factors for Dementia to Evaluate the Quantity, Quality, and Global Representativeness of Evidence. The translation of evidence on dementia risk factors into clinical advice requires careful evaluation of the methodology and scope of data from which risk estimates are obtained.</AbstractText To evaluate the quantity, quality, and representativeness of evidence, we conducted a review of reviews of risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD), Vascular dementia (VaD), and Any Dementia.</AbstractText PubMed, Cochrane library, and the Global Index Medicus were searched to identify meta-analyses of observational studies of risk factors for AD, VaD, and Any Dementia. PROSPERO CRD42017053920.</AbstractText Meta-analysis data were available for 34 risk factors for AD, 26 risk factors for Any Dementia and eight for VaD. Quality of evidence varied greatly in terms of the number of contributing studies, whether data on midlife exposure was available, and consistency of measures. The most evidence was available for cardiovascular risk factors. The most geographically representative evidence (five of six global regions) was available for alcohol, physical activity, diabetes, high midlife BMI, antihypertensives, and motor function. Evidence from Australia/Oceana or Africa was limited. With the exception of diabetes, meta-analysis data were unavailable from Latin America/Caribbean. Midlife specific data were only available for cholesterol and arthritis.</AbstractText There is a lack of midlife specific data, limited data on VaD, and a lack of geographical representation for many risk factors for dementia. The quality, quantity, and representativeness of evidence needs to be considered before recommendations are made about the relevance of risk factors in mid- or late-life or for dementia subtypes.</AbstractText
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Subtypes of dementia: a study from a memory clinic in India. The clinical syndrome of dementia consists of several subtypes that are distinct in their etiology, clinical profile, management, and outcome. Limited specialized services are available for dementia patients in India. We report the profile of dementia subtypes from a clinic-based dementia registry in India.</AbstractText Consecutive dementia patients were investigated with clinical evaluation, neuropsychological tests modified for local use, and brain imaging.</AbstractText In 347 consecutive dementia patients, Alzheimer's disease was the most common subtype of dementia (38.3%), followed by a high proportion of vascular dementia (25.4%). Frontotemporal dementia syndromes were not uncommon (18.7%). Dementia with Lewy bodies was encountered in 8.9% of the patients, and mixed dementia was found in 8.6%. The mean age of the group at presentation was 66.3 years, nearly a decade younger than in developed countries. The proportion of patients with early-onset dementia was high (49.9%).</AbstractText Our results demonstrate that the clinical profiles of dementia subtypes in a clinic population are influenced by the population's demographic profile, cardiovascular risk factor burden, sociocultural attitudes about cognitive impairment, and possibly genetic factors.</AbstractText
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Dravet Syndrome: A Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy. Selective Nav1.1 Activation Rescues Dravet Syndrome Mice From Seizures and Premature Death Richards KL, Milligan CJ, Richardson RJ, Jancovski N, Grunnet M, Jacobson LH, Undheim EAB, Mobli M, Chow CY, Herzig V, Csoti A, Panyi G, Reid CA, King GF, Petrou S. PNAS. 2018;115:E8077-E8085. Dravet syndrome is a catastrophic, pharmaco-resistant epileptic encephalopathy. Disease onset occurs in the first year of life, followed by developmental delay with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and substantially elevated risk of premature death. The majority of affected individuals harbor a loss-of-function mutation in one allele of SCN1A, which encodes the voltage-gated sodium channel Na<sub
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29861197
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19223226
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29538329
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Formal thought disorder is related to aberrations in language-related white matter tracts in patients with schizophrenia.
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Pathways to language: fiber tracts in the human brain.
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Update on Immunohistochemistry for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer.
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This study examined the hypothesis that a fronto-temporal disconnection in the language network underpins formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia. Forty-nine patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (27 with mild FTD, 22 with severe FTD) and 26 healthy controls (HC) were included. Overall psychopathology and FTD were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Thought, Language, and Communication scale, respectively. White matter (WM) microstructure was analysed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. In patients, severity of overall FTD (TLC Sum Score) was predicted by decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and severity of negative FTD (TLC Emptiness subscale) was predicted by increased FA in the left SLF and arcuate fasciculus (AF). Notably, these results were no longer significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Compared with HC, patients showed lower FA in all the investigated language-related WM tracts as well as across the whole WM skeleton. No difference in FA was found between patients with severe and patients with mild FTD. Our results are compatible with earlier studies reporting impairments in widely spread WM tracts including those related to language processing in patients with schizophrenia.</AbstractText
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The human language function is not only based on the grey matter of circumscribed brain regions in the frontal and the temporal cortex but moreover on the white matter fiber tracts connecting these regions. Different pathways connecting frontal and temporal cortex have been identified. The dorsal pathway projecting from the posterior portion of Broca's area to the superior temporal region seems to be of particular importance for higher-order language functions. This pathway is particularly weak in non-human compared to human primates and in children compared to adults. It is therefore considered to be crucial for the evolution of human language, which is characterized by the ability to process syntactically complex sentences.</AbstractText
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Immunohistochemistry is a widely available technique that is less challenging and can provide clinically meaningful results quickly and cost-efficiently in comparison with other techniques. In addition, immunohistochemistry allows for the evaluation of cellular localization of proteins in the context of tumor structure. In an era of precision medicine, pathologists are required to classify lung cancer into specific subtypes and assess biomarkers relevant to molecular-targeted therapies. This review summarizes the hot topics of immunohistochemistry in lung cancer, including (i) adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma; (ii) neuroendocrine markers; (iii) ALK, ROS1, and EGFR; (iv) PD-L1 (CD274); (v) lung carcinoma vs malignant mesothelioma; and (vi) NUT carcinoma. Major pitfalls in evaluating immunohistochemical results are also described.</AbstractText
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Formal thought disorder is related to aberrations in language-related white matter tracts in patients with schizophrenia. This study examined the hypothesis that a fronto-temporal disconnection in the language network underpins formal thought disorder (FTD) in schizophrenia. Forty-nine patients with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (27 with mild FTD, 22 with severe FTD) and 26 healthy controls (HC) were included. Overall psychopathology and FTD were assessed by the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and the Thought, Language, and Communication scale, respectively. White matter (WM) microstructure was analysed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics. In patients, severity of overall FTD (TLC Sum Score) was predicted by decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF), and severity of negative FTD (TLC Emptiness subscale) was predicted by increased FA in the left SLF and arcuate fasciculus (AF). Notably, these results were no longer significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Compared with HC, patients showed lower FA in all the investigated language-related WM tracts as well as across the whole WM skeleton. No difference in FA was found between patients with severe and patients with mild FTD. Our results are compatible with earlier studies reporting impairments in widely spread WM tracts including those related to language processing in patients with schizophrenia.</AbstractText
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Pathways to language: fiber tracts in the human brain. The human language function is not only based on the grey matter of circumscribed brain regions in the frontal and the temporal cortex but moreover on the white matter fiber tracts connecting these regions. Different pathways connecting frontal and temporal cortex have been identified. The dorsal pathway projecting from the posterior portion of Broca's area to the superior temporal region seems to be of particular importance for higher-order language functions. This pathway is particularly weak in non-human compared to human primates and in children compared to adults. It is therefore considered to be crucial for the evolution of human language, which is characterized by the ability to process syntactically complex sentences.</AbstractText
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Update on Immunohistochemistry for the Diagnosis of Lung Cancer. Immunohistochemistry is a widely available technique that is less challenging and can provide clinically meaningful results quickly and cost-efficiently in comparison with other techniques. In addition, immunohistochemistry allows for the evaluation of cellular localization of proteins in the context of tumor structure. In an era of precision medicine, pathologists are required to classify lung cancer into specific subtypes and assess biomarkers relevant to molecular-targeted therapies. This review summarizes the hot topics of immunohistochemistry in lung cancer, including (i) adenocarcinoma vs squamous cell carcinoma; (ii) neuroendocrine markers; (iii) ALK, ROS1, and EGFR; (iv) PD-L1 (CD274); (v) lung carcinoma vs malignant mesothelioma; and (vi) NUT carcinoma. Major pitfalls in evaluating immunohistochemical results are also described.</AbstractText
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40476104
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27738099
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37209138
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Neuro Emotional Technique as a Treatment for Separation Anxiety Related to Prenatal Stress: A Case Report.
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The Wisdom to Know the Difference.
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Multi-Level Influences of Smoke-Free Policies in Subsidized Housing: Applying the COM-B Model and Neighborhood Assessments to Inform Smoke-Free Policies.
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Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is increasingly recognised as a contributor to early-life emotional dysregulation through mechanisms such as prenatal stress programming (PNSP). Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common childhood anxiety condition, with limited treatment options for cases linked to prenatal factors. Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a mind-body intervention that targets unresolved emotional stress patterns through physiological and semantic integration. While used clinically in stress-related disorders, NET's application in treating anxiety rooted in prenatal stress is underreported. An eight-year-old girl presented with severe separation anxiety, persistent nightmares, generalised anxiety, oppositional behaviour, and sleep difficulties. The onset of symptoms was hypothesised to be linked to PNMS. Previous interventions, including child psychology and natural remedies, were ineffective. The patient was treated with 11 NET sessions over six weeks. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) was utilised before and after treatment to assess symptom severity. NET treatment focused on identifying and integrating somatically stored emotional patterns, including in utero experiences. The "Somatic Imprint Model" was developed to conceptualise this process, amalgamating concepts we call somatic memory, stress imprinting, emotional conditioning, and trauma echoes. SCAS scores decreased by 25 points (child report) and 17 points (parent report). Improvements were noted in sleep, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse events. This case suggests that NET may offer therapeutic benefit in children with anxiety linked to prenatal stress, particularly when conventional approaches have been unsuccessful. While causality cannot be inferred from a single case, the magnitude of change observed warrants further investigation through controlled studies examining NET's efficacy and mechanisms in early-life stress contexts.</AbstractText
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The ability to regulate emotions is central to well-being, but healthy emotion regulation may not merely be about using the "right" strategies. According to the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis, emotion-regulation strategies are conducive to well-being only when used in appropriate contexts. This study is the first to test the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis using ecological momentary assessment of cognitive reappraisal-a putatively adaptive strategy. We expected people who used reappraisal more in uncontrollable situations and less in controllable situations to have greater well-being than people with the opposite pattern of reappraisal use. Healthy participants ( n = 74) completed measures of well-being in the lab and used a smartphone app to report their use of reappraisal and perceived controllability of their environment 10 times a day for 1 week. Results supported the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis. Participants with relatively high well-being used reappraisal more in situations they perceived as lower in controllability and less in situations they perceived as higher in controllability. In contrast, we found little evidence for an association between greater well-being and greater mean use of reappraisal across situations.</AbstractText
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Smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing are associated with reduced exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS); however, attitudes toward comprehensive smoke-free policies among residents in subsidized multi-unit housing are unknown. In this mixed-methods study, we explored the socio-ecological context for tobacco and cannabis use and attitudes toward policies restricting indoor use of these products through interviews with residents (<i
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Neuro Emotional Technique as a Treatment for Separation Anxiety Related to Prenatal Stress: A Case Report. Prenatal maternal stress (PNMS) is increasingly recognised as a contributor to early-life emotional dysregulation through mechanisms such as prenatal stress programming (PNSP). Separation anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common childhood anxiety condition, with limited treatment options for cases linked to prenatal factors. Neuro Emotional Technique (NET) is a mind-body intervention that targets unresolved emotional stress patterns through physiological and semantic integration. While used clinically in stress-related disorders, NET's application in treating anxiety rooted in prenatal stress is underreported. An eight-year-old girl presented with severe separation anxiety, persistent nightmares, generalised anxiety, oppositional behaviour, and sleep difficulties. The onset of symptoms was hypothesised to be linked to PNMS. Previous interventions, including child psychology and natural remedies, were ineffective. The patient was treated with 11 NET sessions over six weeks. The Spence Children's Anxiety Scale (SCAS) was utilised before and after treatment to assess symptom severity. NET treatment focused on identifying and integrating somatically stored emotional patterns, including in utero experiences. The "Somatic Imprint Model" was developed to conceptualise this process, amalgamating concepts we call somatic memory, stress imprinting, emotional conditioning, and trauma echoes. SCAS scores decreased by 25 points (child report) and 17 points (parent report). Improvements were noted in sleep, emotional regulation, independence, and confidence. The treatment was well tolerated with no adverse events. This case suggests that NET may offer therapeutic benefit in children with anxiety linked to prenatal stress, particularly when conventional approaches have been unsuccessful. While causality cannot be inferred from a single case, the magnitude of change observed warrants further investigation through controlled studies examining NET's efficacy and mechanisms in early-life stress contexts.</AbstractText
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The Wisdom to Know the Difference. The ability to regulate emotions is central to well-being, but healthy emotion regulation may not merely be about using the "right" strategies. According to the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis, emotion-regulation strategies are conducive to well-being only when used in appropriate contexts. This study is the first to test the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis using ecological momentary assessment of cognitive reappraisal-a putatively adaptive strategy. We expected people who used reappraisal more in uncontrollable situations and less in controllable situations to have greater well-being than people with the opposite pattern of reappraisal use. Healthy participants ( n = 74) completed measures of well-being in the lab and used a smartphone app to report their use of reappraisal and perceived controllability of their environment 10 times a day for 1 week. Results supported the strategy-situation-fit hypothesis. Participants with relatively high well-being used reappraisal more in situations they perceived as lower in controllability and less in situations they perceived as higher in controllability. In contrast, we found little evidence for an association between greater well-being and greater mean use of reappraisal across situations.</AbstractText
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Multi-Level Influences of Smoke-Free Policies in Subsidized Housing: Applying the COM-B Model and Neighborhood Assessments to Inform Smoke-Free Policies. Smoke-free policies in multi-unit housing are associated with reduced exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS); however, attitudes toward comprehensive smoke-free policies among residents in subsidized multi-unit housing are unknown. In this mixed-methods study, we explored the socio-ecological context for tobacco and cannabis use and attitudes toward policies restricting indoor use of these products through interviews with residents (<i
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35294611
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29193260
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35074918
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Cardiac involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a meta-analysis.
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RACER-GRASP: Respiratory-weighted, aortic contrast enhancement-guided and coil-unstreaking golden-angle radial sparse MRI.
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Disruption of MeCP2-TCF20 complex underlies distinct neurodevelopmental disorders.
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In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac involvement in patients with COVID-19 using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. A literature review was performed to investigate the left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF), the prevalence of LV late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), pericardial enhancement, abnormality on T1 mapping, and T2 mapping/T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and myocarditis (defined by modified Lake Louis criteria). Pooled mean differences (MD) between COVID-19 patients and controls for LVEF and RVEF were estimated using random-effects models. We included data from 10.462 patients with COVID-19, comprising 1.010 non-athletes and 9.452 athletes from 29 eligible studies. The meta-analysis showed a significant difference between COVID-19 patients and controls in terms of LVEF [MD = - 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 5.11 to - 0.56, p < 0.001] and RVEF (MD = - 2.69%, 95% CI - 4.41 to - 1.27, p < 0.001). However, in athletes, no significant difference was identified in LVEF (MD = - 0.74%, 95% CI - 2.41 to - 0.93, p = 0.39) or RVEF (MD = - 1.88%, 95% CI - 5.21 to 1.46, p = 0.27). In non-athletes, the prevalence of LV LGE abnormalities, pericardial enhancement, T1 mapping, T2 mapping/T2WI, myocarditis were 27.5% (95%CI 17.4-37.6%), 11.9% (95%CI 4.1-19.6%), 39.5% (95%CI 16.2-62.8%), 38.1% (95%CI 19.0-57.1%) and 17.6% (95%CI 6.3-28.9%), respectively. In athletes, these values were 10.8% (95%CI 2.3-19.4%), 35.4% (95%CI - 3.2 to 73.9%), 5.7% (95%CI - 2.9 to 14.2%), 1.9% (95%CI 1.1-2.7%), 0.9% (0.3-1.6%), respectively. Both LVEF and RVEF were significantly impaired in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, but not in athletes. In addition, the prevalence of myocardial involvement is not negligible in patients with COVID-19.</AbstractText
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To develop and evaluate a novel dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging technique called RACER-GRASP (Respiratory-weighted, Aortic Contrast Enhancement-guided and coil-unstReaking Golden-angle RAdial Sparse Parallel) MRI that extends GRASP to include automatic contrast bolus timing, respiratory motion compensation, and coil-weighted unstreaking for improved imaging performance in liver MRI.</AbstractText In RACER-GRASP, aortic contrast enhancement (ACE) guided k-space sorting and respiratory-weighted sparse reconstruction are performed using aortic contrast enhancement and respiratory motion signals extracted directly from the acquired data. Coil unstreaking aims to weight multicoil k-space according to streaking artifact level calculated for each individual coil during image reconstruction, so that coil elements containing a high level of streaking artifacts contribute less to the final results. Self-calibrating GRAPPA operator gridding was applied as a pre-reconstruction step to reduce computational burden in the subsequent iterative reconstruction. The RACER-GRASP technique was compared with standard GRASP reconstruction in a group of healthy volunteers and patients referred for clinical liver MR examination.</AbstractText Compared with standard GRASP, RACER-GRASP significantly improved overall image quality (average score: 3.25 versus 3.85) and hepatic vessel sharpness/clarity (average score: 3.58 versus 4.0), and reduced residual streaking artifact level (average score: 3.23 versus 3.94) in different contrast phases. RACER-GRASP also enabled automatic timing of the arterial phases.</AbstractText The aortic contrast enhancement-guided sorting, respiratory motion suppression and coil unstreaking introduced by RACER-GRASP improve upon the imaging performance of standard GRASP for free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the liver. Magn Reson Med 80:77-89, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.</AbstractText
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MeCP2 is associated with Rett syndrome (RTT), <i
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Cardiac involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging: a meta-analysis. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we sought to evaluate the prevalence of cardiac involvement in patients with COVID-19 using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. A literature review was performed to investigate the left ventricular (LV) and right ventricular (RV) ejection fraction (EF), the prevalence of LV late gadolinium enhancement (LGE), pericardial enhancement, abnormality on T1 mapping, and T2 mapping/T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), and myocarditis (defined by modified Lake Louis criteria). Pooled mean differences (MD) between COVID-19 patients and controls for LVEF and RVEF were estimated using random-effects models. We included data from 10.462 patients with COVID-19, comprising 1.010 non-athletes and 9.452 athletes from 29 eligible studies. The meta-analysis showed a significant difference between COVID-19 patients and controls in terms of LVEF [MD = - 2.84, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 5.11 to - 0.56, p < 0.001] and RVEF (MD = - 2.69%, 95% CI - 4.41 to - 1.27, p < 0.001). However, in athletes, no significant difference was identified in LVEF (MD = - 0.74%, 95% CI - 2.41 to - 0.93, p = 0.39) or RVEF (MD = - 1.88%, 95% CI - 5.21 to 1.46, p = 0.27). In non-athletes, the prevalence of LV LGE abnormalities, pericardial enhancement, T1 mapping, T2 mapping/T2WI, myocarditis were 27.5% (95%CI 17.4-37.6%), 11.9% (95%CI 4.1-19.6%), 39.5% (95%CI 16.2-62.8%), 38.1% (95%CI 19.0-57.1%) and 17.6% (95%CI 6.3-28.9%), respectively. In athletes, these values were 10.8% (95%CI 2.3-19.4%), 35.4% (95%CI - 3.2 to 73.9%), 5.7% (95%CI - 2.9 to 14.2%), 1.9% (95%CI 1.1-2.7%), 0.9% (0.3-1.6%), respectively. Both LVEF and RVEF were significantly impaired in COVID-19 patients compared to controls, but not in athletes. In addition, the prevalence of myocardial involvement is not negligible in patients with COVID-19.</AbstractText
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RACER-GRASP: Respiratory-weighted, aortic contrast enhancement-guided and coil-unstreaking golden-angle radial sparse MRI. To develop and evaluate a novel dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging technique called RACER-GRASP (Respiratory-weighted, Aortic Contrast Enhancement-guided and coil-unstReaking Golden-angle RAdial Sparse Parallel) MRI that extends GRASP to include automatic contrast bolus timing, respiratory motion compensation, and coil-weighted unstreaking for improved imaging performance in liver MRI.</AbstractText In RACER-GRASP, aortic contrast enhancement (ACE) guided k-space sorting and respiratory-weighted sparse reconstruction are performed using aortic contrast enhancement and respiratory motion signals extracted directly from the acquired data. Coil unstreaking aims to weight multicoil k-space according to streaking artifact level calculated for each individual coil during image reconstruction, so that coil elements containing a high level of streaking artifacts contribute less to the final results. Self-calibrating GRAPPA operator gridding was applied as a pre-reconstruction step to reduce computational burden in the subsequent iterative reconstruction. The RACER-GRASP technique was compared with standard GRASP reconstruction in a group of healthy volunteers and patients referred for clinical liver MR examination.</AbstractText Compared with standard GRASP, RACER-GRASP significantly improved overall image quality (average score: 3.25 versus 3.85) and hepatic vessel sharpness/clarity (average score: 3.58 versus 4.0), and reduced residual streaking artifact level (average score: 3.23 versus 3.94) in different contrast phases. RACER-GRASP also enabled automatic timing of the arterial phases.</AbstractText The aortic contrast enhancement-guided sorting, respiratory motion suppression and coil unstreaking introduced by RACER-GRASP improve upon the imaging performance of standard GRASP for free-breathing dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the liver. Magn Reson Med 80:77-89, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.</AbstractText
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Disruption of MeCP2-TCF20 complex underlies distinct neurodevelopmental disorders. MeCP2 is associated with Rett syndrome (RTT), <i
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39822388
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37476313
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39483160
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Acupuncture treatment of restless legs syndrome: a randomized clinical controlled study protocol based on PET-CT and fMRI.
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Reduced Interoception Abilities in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome.
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Network Analysis of the North American Skull Base Society Membership.
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder of the nervous system that is mainly characterized by nighttime leg discomfort and can be accompanied by significant anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. RLS seriously affects the quality of life. Clinical studies have confirmed that acupuncture can alleviate the clinical symptoms of RLS. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS and further explore the central response mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS.</AbstractText In this RCT, a total of 124 eligible patients in Shanghai will be randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: treatment group (acupuncture) and control group (sham acupuncture). Treatment will be given three times per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome is the International Restless Legs severity rating scale (IRLSS). The secondary outcomes are the RLS-Quality of Life (RLSQoL), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The objective evaluation tools will be polysomnography, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain. All adverse effects will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline (1 week before the first intervention), during the intervention (the second week of the intervention), after the intervention (at the end of the intervention), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up.</AbstractText The trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (no. 2022-061). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences.</AbstractText https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2000037287.</AbstractText
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a complex sensorimotor disorder occurring with a typical circadian fashion. Association with additional features, like alexithymia and nocturnal compulsive behaviors further complicates the framework.</AbstractText To assess interoception in RLS.</AbstractText A total of 25 RLS patients and 28 controls underwent the heartbeat tracking task (interoceptive accuracy [IAC]). RLS symptoms' frequency, disturbance and duration, nocturnal behaviors, interoceptive awareness (IAW), alexithymia, depressive and anxiety symptoms were also collected.</AbstractText RLS patients showed significant lower IAC (<i RLS patients presented reduced interoceptive abilities correlating with higher nocturnal eating behaviors. Future studies are needed to explore the role of interoception in RLS pathophysiology, also in relation to other sensorimotor aspects.</AbstractText
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<b
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Acupuncture treatment of restless legs syndrome: a randomized clinical controlled study protocol based on PET-CT and fMRI. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensorimotor disorder of the nervous system that is mainly characterized by nighttime leg discomfort and can be accompanied by significant anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders. RLS seriously affects the quality of life. Clinical studies have confirmed that acupuncture can alleviate the clinical symptoms of RLS. This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aims to investigate the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS and further explore the central response mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of RLS.</AbstractText In this RCT, a total of 124 eligible patients in Shanghai will be randomly assigned to one of the following two groups: treatment group (acupuncture) and control group (sham acupuncture). Treatment will be given three times per week for 4 consecutive weeks. The primary outcome is the International Restless Legs severity rating scale (IRLSS). The secondary outcomes are the RLS-Quality of Life (RLSQoL), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA). The objective evaluation tools will be polysomnography, positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of the brain. All adverse effects will be assessed by the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale. Outcomes will be evaluated at baseline (1 week before the first intervention), during the intervention (the second week of the intervention), after the intervention (at the end of the intervention), at 1-month follow-up, and at 3-month follow-up.</AbstractText The trial has been approved by the Ethics Committee of Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine (no. 2022-061). Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The results of this study will be published in peer-reviewed journals or presented at academic conferences.</AbstractText https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier ChiCTR2000037287.</AbstractText
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Reduced Interoception Abilities in Patients with Restless Legs Syndrome. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a complex sensorimotor disorder occurring with a typical circadian fashion. Association with additional features, like alexithymia and nocturnal compulsive behaviors further complicates the framework.</AbstractText To assess interoception in RLS.</AbstractText A total of 25 RLS patients and 28 controls underwent the heartbeat tracking task (interoceptive accuracy [IAC]). RLS symptoms' frequency, disturbance and duration, nocturnal behaviors, interoceptive awareness (IAW), alexithymia, depressive and anxiety symptoms were also collected.</AbstractText RLS patients showed significant lower IAC (<i RLS patients presented reduced interoceptive abilities correlating with higher nocturnal eating behaviors. Future studies are needed to explore the role of interoception in RLS pathophysiology, also in relation to other sensorimotor aspects.</AbstractText
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Network Analysis of the North American Skull Base Society Membership. <b
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39589841
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36855123
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40287186
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A Direct Chemical Repair of Etheno-Type RNA Damages.
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Caprin-1 plays a role in cell proliferation and Warburg metabolism of esophageal carcinoma by regulating METTL3 and WTAP.
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The Exposure Guide: A Practical Measure of Exposure Quality.
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Etheno damages in RNA represent a unique class of structural alterations that arise from exposure to various environmental stressors or endogenous processes. They significantly distort the RNA structure and affect crucial biological functions, including RNA-protein interactions, ribosome function, and translation fidelity. However, repair mechanisms for those etheno damages in RNA are still being elucidated. Here, a synthetic flavin derivative PS9 has been identified as the first example of chemical repair approach for this type of RNA damages. It efficiently managed the removal of etheno-type ϵA and ϵC damages in nucleosides, oligonucleotides in vitro, and in E. coli RNA in vivo under blue light irradiation. The capacity of the chemical approach relies on a unique cycloaddition activation of the etheno-bridge with singlet oxygen, which is distinct from traditional epoxidation of the C=C double bonds by proteins from the AlkB family. The understanding and effective manipulation of etheno damages in RNA with chemical tools hold implications for deciphering their role in mutagenesis and RNA biology, potentially opening avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions and biomarker development.</AbstractText
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Cytoplasmic activation/proliferation-associated protein-1 (Caprin-1) is implicated in cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis; however, its role in the development of esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) has not been examined.</AbstractText Biological methods and data analysis were used to investigate the expression of Caprin-1 in ESCA tissue and cell lines. We comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognostic values, signalling pathways of CAPRIN1 in ESCA using public databases online. Biological functions of CAPRIN1 were performed by clorimetric growth assay, EdU staining, colony formation, flow cytometry, apoptosis analysis, Western blot, lactate detection assay, extracellular acidification rates. The underlying mechanism was determined via flow cytometric analysis, Western blot and rescue experiments. In addition, xenograft tumor model was constructed to verify the phenotypes upon CAPRIN1 silencing.</AbstractText Caprin-1 expression was significantly elevated in both ESCA tumor tissues and cell lines compared with that in normal adjacent tissues and fibroblasts. Increased CAPRIN1 mRNA expression was significantly associated with clinical prognosis and diagnostic accuracy. The GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis CAPRIN1 might be related to immune-related terms, protein binding processes, and metabolic pathways. A significant positive correlation was observed between high Caprin-1 protein levels and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.031), ki-67 (P = 0.023), and <sup Our data suggest that Caprin-1 could serve as a prognostic biomarker and has an oncogenic role in ESCA.</AbstractText
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Quality monitoring is essential for the use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in both practice and research settings, yet few quality measures have been developed or validated for any treatment. This study examined the initial psychometric properties of a brief, practical measure of quality for exposure therapy (Exposure Guide; EG) in a sample of youth from three randomized clinical trials for pediatric OCD (N = 103 patients and 368 sessions). The EG was initially developed based on the behavioral principles underlying exposure, delivery factors linked to clinical outcomes in prior literature, and with input from both exposure therapy researchers and partners in community mental health settings. Results indicated good to excellent inter-rater reliability (item ICCs = .64 to 1.00). When compared against a validated, time-intensive coding system, each EG item exhibited large correlations with parallel coding system variables; these were significantly larger than correlations with other variables. Variance components analysis demonstrated EG subscale variability at the level of therapists, patients, and time. The EG demonstrates strong initial reliability and construct validity in a clinical trial context; future studies will be needed to establish psychometric properties in practice settings and to elucidate therapist, patient, and treatment course factors that may influence quality.</AbstractText
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A Direct Chemical Repair of Etheno-Type RNA Damages. Etheno damages in RNA represent a unique class of structural alterations that arise from exposure to various environmental stressors or endogenous processes. They significantly distort the RNA structure and affect crucial biological functions, including RNA-protein interactions, ribosome function, and translation fidelity. However, repair mechanisms for those etheno damages in RNA are still being elucidated. Here, a synthetic flavin derivative PS9 has been identified as the first example of chemical repair approach for this type of RNA damages. It efficiently managed the removal of etheno-type ϵA and ϵC damages in nucleosides, oligonucleotides in vitro, and in E. coli RNA in vivo under blue light irradiation. The capacity of the chemical approach relies on a unique cycloaddition activation of the etheno-bridge with singlet oxygen, which is distinct from traditional epoxidation of the C=C double bonds by proteins from the AlkB family. The understanding and effective manipulation of etheno damages in RNA with chemical tools hold implications for deciphering their role in mutagenesis and RNA biology, potentially opening avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions and biomarker development.</AbstractText
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Caprin-1 plays a role in cell proliferation and Warburg metabolism of esophageal carcinoma by regulating METTL3 and WTAP. Cytoplasmic activation/proliferation-associated protein-1 (Caprin-1) is implicated in cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis; however, its role in the development of esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) has not been examined.</AbstractText Biological methods and data analysis were used to investigate the expression of Caprin-1 in ESCA tissue and cell lines. We comprehensively analyzed the mRNA expression and prognostic values, signalling pathways of CAPRIN1 in ESCA using public databases online. Biological functions of CAPRIN1 were performed by clorimetric growth assay, EdU staining, colony formation, flow cytometry, apoptosis analysis, Western blot, lactate detection assay, extracellular acidification rates. The underlying mechanism was determined via flow cytometric analysis, Western blot and rescue experiments. In addition, xenograft tumor model was constructed to verify the phenotypes upon CAPRIN1 silencing.</AbstractText Caprin-1 expression was significantly elevated in both ESCA tumor tissues and cell lines compared with that in normal adjacent tissues and fibroblasts. Increased CAPRIN1 mRNA expression was significantly associated with clinical prognosis and diagnostic accuracy. The GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis CAPRIN1 might be related to immune-related terms, protein binding processes, and metabolic pathways. A significant positive correlation was observed between high Caprin-1 protein levels and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.031), ki-67 (P = 0.023), and <sup Our data suggest that Caprin-1 could serve as a prognostic biomarker and has an oncogenic role in ESCA.</AbstractText
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The Exposure Guide: A Practical Measure of Exposure Quality. Quality monitoring is essential for the use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in both practice and research settings, yet few quality measures have been developed or validated for any treatment. This study examined the initial psychometric properties of a brief, practical measure of quality for exposure therapy (Exposure Guide; EG) in a sample of youth from three randomized clinical trials for pediatric OCD (N = 103 patients and 368 sessions). The EG was initially developed based on the behavioral principles underlying exposure, delivery factors linked to clinical outcomes in prior literature, and with input from both exposure therapy researchers and partners in community mental health settings. Results indicated good to excellent inter-rater reliability (item ICCs = .64 to 1.00). When compared against a validated, time-intensive coding system, each EG item exhibited large correlations with parallel coding system variables; these were significantly larger than correlations with other variables. Variance components analysis demonstrated EG subscale variability at the level of therapists, patients, and time. The EG demonstrates strong initial reliability and construct validity in a clinical trial context; future studies will be needed to establish psychometric properties in practice settings and to elucidate therapist, patient, and treatment course factors that may influence quality.</AbstractText
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36617748
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26303010
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37620893
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Yes-associated protein regulates glutamate homeostasis through promoting the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter-2 in astrocytes via β-catenin signaling.
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Effects of sleep and wake on astrocytes: clues from molecular and ultrastructural studies.
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Development and validation of the Socioeconomic Status Composite Scale (SES-C).
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The homeostasis of glutamate is mainly regulated by the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), especially by EAAT2 in astrocytes. Excessive glutamate in the synaptic cleft caused by dysfunction or dysregulation of EAAT2 can lead to excitotoxicity, neuronal death and cognitive dysfunction. However, it remains unclear about the detailed regulation mechanism of expression and function of astrocytic EAAT2. In this study, first, we found increased neuronal death and impairment of cognitive function in YAP<sup
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Astrocytes can mediate neurovascular coupling, modulate neuronal excitability, and promote synaptic maturation and remodeling. All these functions are likely to be modulated by the sleep/wake cycle, because brain metabolism, neuronal activity and synaptic turnover change as a function of behavioral state. Yet, little is known about the effects of sleep and wake on astrocytes.</AbstractText Here we show that sleep and wake strongly affect both astrocytic gene expression and ultrastructure in the mouse brain. Using translating ribosome affinity purification technology and microarrays, we find that 1.4 % of all astrocytic transcripts in the forebrain are dependent on state (three groups, sleep, wake, short sleep deprivation; six mice per group). Sleep upregulates a few select genes, like Cirp and Uba1, whereas wake upregulates many genes related to metabolism, the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton, including Trio, Synj2 and Gem, which are involved in the elongation of peripheral astrocytic processes. Using serial block face scanning electron microscopy (three groups, sleep, short sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction; three mice per group, >100 spines per mouse, 3D), we find that a few hours of wake are sufficient to bring astrocytic processes closer to the synaptic cleft, while chronic sleep restriction also extends the overall astrocytic coverage of the synapse, including at the axon-spine interface, and increases the available astrocytic surface in the neuropil.</AbstractText Wake-related changes likely reflect an increased need for glutamate clearance, and are consistent with an overall increase in synaptic strength when sleep is prevented. The reduced astrocytic coverage during sleep, instead, may favor glutamate spillover, thus promoting neuronal synchronization during non-rapid eye movement sleep.</AbstractText
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Socioeconomic status (SES) is a critical multifactorial determinant of health and plays a significant role in shaping an individual's health outcomes. While a composite scale has been proposed to measure SES in children, to our knowledge, limited composite scales were developed for adults in different contexts, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and valid SES measure to elucidate the relationship between SES and health in this population.</AbstractText This study aimed to develop and validate a composite scale that measures the socioeconomic status in Lebanon and assess its correlates in a socioeconomic crisis context.</AbstractText An online study was carried out between October and November 2022 across all Lebanese regions. Snowball sampling was used to enroll 448 adults living in Lebanon through a questionnaire created on Google Forms and shared by WhatsApp to a first sample from all geographic areas.</AbstractText The developed composite scale (SES-C) was found to be reliable and valid. It was based on several aspects of socioeconomic status, i.e., participant education level, family head education level, perceived social class, not being in debt, not receiving financial help, crowding index, participant work status, family head work status, monthly household income, and financial well-being. Furthermore, high SES was significantly associated with married status, older age, alcohol consumption, the absence of chronic disease, easy access to healthcare, private insurance coverage, and the number of rooms in the house in the bivariate analysis. In the multivariable analysis, high SES was significantly associated with age (ORa-1.13; p = 0.011) and easy access to healthcare (ORa = 7.81; p = 0.001) and inversely associated with chronic disease (ORa = 0.17; p = 0.002). Similar results with lower magnitude were found for moderate SES.</AbstractText The study successfully developed and validated a composite scale (SES-C) for measuring the socioeconomic status in Lebanon, taking into account the complexities of the Lebanese context. The scale was found to be reliable and valid, and its results showed significant correlations with various factors such as older age, lower risk of chronic disease, and easy access to healthcare.</AbstractText
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Yes-associated protein regulates glutamate homeostasis through promoting the expression of excitatory amino acid transporter-2 in astrocytes via β-catenin signaling. The homeostasis of glutamate is mainly regulated by the excitatory amino acid transporters (EAATs), especially by EAAT2 in astrocytes. Excessive glutamate in the synaptic cleft caused by dysfunction or dysregulation of EAAT2 can lead to excitotoxicity, neuronal death and cognitive dysfunction. However, it remains unclear about the detailed regulation mechanism of expression and function of astrocytic EAAT2. In this study, first, we found increased neuronal death and impairment of cognitive function in YAP<sup
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Effects of sleep and wake on astrocytes: clues from molecular and ultrastructural studies. Astrocytes can mediate neurovascular coupling, modulate neuronal excitability, and promote synaptic maturation and remodeling. All these functions are likely to be modulated by the sleep/wake cycle, because brain metabolism, neuronal activity and synaptic turnover change as a function of behavioral state. Yet, little is known about the effects of sleep and wake on astrocytes.</AbstractText Here we show that sleep and wake strongly affect both astrocytic gene expression and ultrastructure in the mouse brain. Using translating ribosome affinity purification technology and microarrays, we find that 1.4 % of all astrocytic transcripts in the forebrain are dependent on state (three groups, sleep, wake, short sleep deprivation; six mice per group). Sleep upregulates a few select genes, like Cirp and Uba1, whereas wake upregulates many genes related to metabolism, the extracellular matrix and cytoskeleton, including Trio, Synj2 and Gem, which are involved in the elongation of peripheral astrocytic processes. Using serial block face scanning electron microscopy (three groups, sleep, short sleep deprivation, chronic sleep restriction; three mice per group, >100 spines per mouse, 3D), we find that a few hours of wake are sufficient to bring astrocytic processes closer to the synaptic cleft, while chronic sleep restriction also extends the overall astrocytic coverage of the synapse, including at the axon-spine interface, and increases the available astrocytic surface in the neuropil.</AbstractText Wake-related changes likely reflect an increased need for glutamate clearance, and are consistent with an overall increase in synaptic strength when sleep is prevented. The reduced astrocytic coverage during sleep, instead, may favor glutamate spillover, thus promoting neuronal synchronization during non-rapid eye movement sleep.</AbstractText
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Development and validation of the Socioeconomic Status Composite Scale (SES-C). Socioeconomic status (SES) is a critical multifactorial determinant of health and plays a significant role in shaping an individual's health outcomes. While a composite scale has been proposed to measure SES in children, to our knowledge, limited composite scales were developed for adults in different contexts, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and valid SES measure to elucidate the relationship between SES and health in this population.</AbstractText This study aimed to develop and validate a composite scale that measures the socioeconomic status in Lebanon and assess its correlates in a socioeconomic crisis context.</AbstractText An online study was carried out between October and November 2022 across all Lebanese regions. Snowball sampling was used to enroll 448 adults living in Lebanon through a questionnaire created on Google Forms and shared by WhatsApp to a first sample from all geographic areas.</AbstractText The developed composite scale (SES-C) was found to be reliable and valid. It was based on several aspects of socioeconomic status, i.e., participant education level, family head education level, perceived social class, not being in debt, not receiving financial help, crowding index, participant work status, family head work status, monthly household income, and financial well-being. Furthermore, high SES was significantly associated with married status, older age, alcohol consumption, the absence of chronic disease, easy access to healthcare, private insurance coverage, and the number of rooms in the house in the bivariate analysis. In the multivariable analysis, high SES was significantly associated with age (ORa-1.13; p = 0.011) and easy access to healthcare (ORa = 7.81; p = 0.001) and inversely associated with chronic disease (ORa = 0.17; p = 0.002). Similar results with lower magnitude were found for moderate SES.</AbstractText The study successfully developed and validated a composite scale (SES-C) for measuring the socioeconomic status in Lebanon, taking into account the complexities of the Lebanese context. The scale was found to be reliable and valid, and its results showed significant correlations with various factors such as older age, lower risk of chronic disease, and easy access to healthcare.</AbstractText
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30257205
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29234064
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30297731
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Cross-Modal Reinstatement of Thalamocortical Plasticity Accelerates Ocular Dominance Plasticity in Adult Mice.
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Homeostatic plasticity and synaptic scaling in the adult mouse auditory cortex.
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Incidence of notified Lyme borreliosis in Germany, 2013-2017.
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Plasticity of thalamocortical (TC) synapses is robust during early development and becomes limited in the adult brain. We previously reported that a short duration of deafening strengthens TC synapses in the primary visual cortex (V1) of adult mice. Here, we demonstrate that deafening restores NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of TC synapses onto principal neurons in V1 layer 4 (L4), which is accompanied by an increase in NMDAR function. In contrast, deafening did not recover long-term depression (LTD) at TC synapses. Potentiation of TC synapses by deafening is absent in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, resulting in an increase in feedforward excitation to inhibition (E/I) ratio. Furthermore, we found that a brief duration of deafening adult mice recovers rapid ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) mainly by accelerating potentiation of the open-eye responses. Our results suggest that cross-modal sensory deprivation promotes adult cortical plasticity by specifically recovering TC-LTP and increasing the E/I ratio.</AbstractText
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It has been demonstrated that sensory deprivation results in homeostatic adjustments recovering neuronal activity of the deprived cortex. For example, deprived vision multiplicatively scales up mEPSC amplitudes in the primary visual cortex, commonly referred to as synaptic scaling. However, whether synaptic scaling also occurs in auditory cortex after auditory deprivation remains elusive. Using periodic intrinsic optical imaging in adult mice, we show that conductive hearing loss (CHL), initially led to a reduction of primary auditory cortex (A1) responsiveness to sounds. However, this was followed by a complete recovery of A1 activity evoked sounds above the threshold for bone conduction, 3 days after CHL. Over the same time course patch-clamp experiments in slices revealed that mEPSC amplitudes in A1 layers 2/3 pyramids scaled up multiplicatively in CHL mice. No recovery of sensory evoked A1 activation was evident in TNFα KO animals, which lack synaptic scaling. Additionally, we could show that the suppressive effect of sounds on visually evoked visual cortex activity completely recovered along with TNFα dependent A1 homeostasis in WT animals. This is the first demonstration of homeostatic multiplicative synaptic scaling in the adult A1. These findings suggest that mild hearing loss massively affects auditory processing in adult A1.</AbstractText
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Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Germany. In 9/16 states, notification of erythema migrans (EM), acute neuroborreliosis (NB) and Lyme arthritis (LA) is mandatory. We describe incidence measures, time trends, geographical distribution and frequencies of manifestations to better understand LB epidemiology and target prevention measures. We used cases notified in the 9 states and confirmed by local health offices, 2013-2017, to calculate incidences by time, place and person. Altogether, we observed 56,446 cases. Disease onset peaked yearly in July. Incidence ranged from 26/100,000 (2015) to 41/100,000 (2013) with mean annual incidences 2013-2017 on district level between 0.5/100,000 and 138/100,000. Median age was 54 years with peaks in boys (5-9 years, mean incidence 36/100,000) and women (50-69 years, mean incidence 57/100,000). 95% experienced EM only, 2.7% NB and 2.1% LA. 54% were female, but more men had NB (56%) and LA (53%, p < 0.001). Hospitalisation was recorded for 10% of LA and 71% of NB cases. LB remains an important public health concern in Germany with marked regional variation. To facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, health authorities should raise awareness among physicians and promote prevention strategies among the general population: tick-bite-protection, prompt tick removal and medical consultation.</AbstractText
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Cross-Modal Reinstatement of Thalamocortical Plasticity Accelerates Ocular Dominance Plasticity in Adult Mice. Plasticity of thalamocortical (TC) synapses is robust during early development and becomes limited in the adult brain. We previously reported that a short duration of deafening strengthens TC synapses in the primary visual cortex (V1) of adult mice. Here, we demonstrate that deafening restores NMDA receptor (NMDAR)-dependent long-term potentiation (LTP) of TC synapses onto principal neurons in V1 layer 4 (L4), which is accompanied by an increase in NMDAR function. In contrast, deafening did not recover long-term depression (LTD) at TC synapses. Potentiation of TC synapses by deafening is absent in parvalbumin-positive (PV+) interneurons, resulting in an increase in feedforward excitation to inhibition (E/I) ratio. Furthermore, we found that a brief duration of deafening adult mice recovers rapid ocular dominance plasticity (ODP) mainly by accelerating potentiation of the open-eye responses. Our results suggest that cross-modal sensory deprivation promotes adult cortical plasticity by specifically recovering TC-LTP and increasing the E/I ratio.</AbstractText
|
Homeostatic plasticity and synaptic scaling in the adult mouse auditory cortex. It has been demonstrated that sensory deprivation results in homeostatic adjustments recovering neuronal activity of the deprived cortex. For example, deprived vision multiplicatively scales up mEPSC amplitudes in the primary visual cortex, commonly referred to as synaptic scaling. However, whether synaptic scaling also occurs in auditory cortex after auditory deprivation remains elusive. Using periodic intrinsic optical imaging in adult mice, we show that conductive hearing loss (CHL), initially led to a reduction of primary auditory cortex (A1) responsiveness to sounds. However, this was followed by a complete recovery of A1 activity evoked sounds above the threshold for bone conduction, 3 days after CHL. Over the same time course patch-clamp experiments in slices revealed that mEPSC amplitudes in A1 layers 2/3 pyramids scaled up multiplicatively in CHL mice. No recovery of sensory evoked A1 activation was evident in TNFα KO animals, which lack synaptic scaling. Additionally, we could show that the suppressive effect of sounds on visually evoked visual cortex activity completely recovered along with TNFα dependent A1 homeostasis in WT animals. This is the first demonstration of homeostatic multiplicative synaptic scaling in the adult A1. These findings suggest that mild hearing loss massively affects auditory processing in adult A1.</AbstractText
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Incidence of notified Lyme borreliosis in Germany, 2013-2017. Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly reported tick-borne disease in Germany. In 9/16 states, notification of erythema migrans (EM), acute neuroborreliosis (NB) and Lyme arthritis (LA) is mandatory. We describe incidence measures, time trends, geographical distribution and frequencies of manifestations to better understand LB epidemiology and target prevention measures. We used cases notified in the 9 states and confirmed by local health offices, 2013-2017, to calculate incidences by time, place and person. Altogether, we observed 56,446 cases. Disease onset peaked yearly in July. Incidence ranged from 26/100,000 (2015) to 41/100,000 (2013) with mean annual incidences 2013-2017 on district level between 0.5/100,000 and 138/100,000. Median age was 54 years with peaks in boys (5-9 years, mean incidence 36/100,000) and women (50-69 years, mean incidence 57/100,000). 95% experienced EM only, 2.7% NB and 2.1% LA. 54% were female, but more men had NB (56%) and LA (53%, p < 0.001). Hospitalisation was recorded for 10% of LA and 71% of NB cases. LB remains an important public health concern in Germany with marked regional variation. To facilitate early diagnosis and treatment, health authorities should raise awareness among physicians and promote prevention strategies among the general population: tick-bite-protection, prompt tick removal and medical consultation.</AbstractText
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22634739
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17499525
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23293588
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Quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance perfusion imaging: inter-study reproducibility.
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Test-retest reliability of fMRI activation during prosaccades and antisaccades.
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Architecture and development of olivocerebellar circuit topography.
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To evaluate the inter-study reproducibility of quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion imaging and the influence of diurnal variation on perfusion. Data on these are limited, despite being crucially important for performing serial examinations both in clinical practice and in trials.</AbstractText Sixteen healthy volunteers underwent high-resolution 3 T perfusion imaging three times during a single day to evaluate inter-study reproducibility and the effects of diurnal variation. Absolute perfusion was determined in each coronary artery territory and globally by Fermi constrained deconvolution of myocardial signal intensity curves. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and function were also calculated. Eleven full data sets were suitable for quantitative perfusion analysis. Global rest and stress perfusion and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) were 0.6 ± 0.1 and 2.5 ± 0.5 mL/min/g and 4.3 ± 0.9, respectively, for the first scan and were 0.5 ± 0.2 and 2.1 ± 0.5 mL/min/g and 4.2 ± 1.2 for the second (P= 0.1, 0.19, and 0.37, respectively). Inter-study reproducibility was moderate. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 16.0, 26.8, and 23.9% for global rest and stress perfusion and MPR, respectively. The corresponding territorial CVs were 27.5, 35.2, and 33.5%. The reproducibility of LV volumes and function was excellent (CV 4, 7.7, and 4.6% for end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction, respectively). There were no significant detectable diurnal variations in perfusion or LV volumes and function (P≥ 0.05 for all).</AbstractText The inter-study reproducibility of quantitative myocardial perfusion is reasonable and best for global rest perfusion. No significant diurnal variation in perfusion was observed.</AbstractText
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Various studies have investigated reproducibility of fMRI results. Whereas group results can be highly reproducible, individual activity maps tend to vary across sessions. Individual reliability is of importance for the application of fMRI in endophenotype research, where brain activity is linked to genetic polymorphisms. In this study, the test-retest reliability of activation maps during the antisaccade paradigm was assessed for individual and group results. Functional MRI images were acquired during two sessions of prosaccades and antisaccades in twelve healthy subjects using an event-related fMRI design. Reliability was assessed for both individual and group-wise results. In addition, the reliability of differences between subjects was established in predefined regions of interest. The reliability of group activation maps was high for prosaccades and antisaccades, but only moderate for antisaccades vs. prosaccades, probably as a result of low statistical power of individual results. Reproducibility of individual subject maps was highly variable, indicating that reliable results can be obtained in some but not all subjects. Reliability of individual activity maps was largely explained by individual differences in the global temporal signal to noise ratio (SNR). As the global SNR was stable over sessions, it explained a large portion of the differences between subjects in regional brain activation. A low SNR in some subjects may be dealt with either by improving the statistical sensitivity of the fMRI procedure or by subject exclusion. Differences in the global SNR between subjects should be addressed before using regional brain activation as phenotype in genetic studies.</AbstractText
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The cerebellum has a simple tri-laminar structure that is comprised of relatively few cell types. Yet, its internal micro-circuitry is anatomically, biochemically, and functionally complex. The most striking feature of cerebellar circuit complexity is its compartmentalized topography. Each cell type within the cerebellar cortex is organized into an exquisite map; molecular expression patterns, dendrite projections, and axon terminal fields divide the medial-lateral axis of the cerebellum into topographic sagittal zones. Here, we discuss the mechanisms that establish zones and highlight how gene expression and neural activity contribute to cerebellar pattern formation. We focus on the olivocerebellar system because its developmental mechanisms are becoming clear, its topographic termination patterns are very precise, and its contribution to zonal function is debated. This review deconstructs the architecture and development of the olivocerebellar pathway to provide an update on how brain circuit maps form and function.</AbstractText
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Quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance perfusion imaging: inter-study reproducibility. To evaluate the inter-study reproducibility of quantitative cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial perfusion imaging and the influence of diurnal variation on perfusion. Data on these are limited, despite being crucially important for performing serial examinations both in clinical practice and in trials.</AbstractText Sixteen healthy volunteers underwent high-resolution 3 T perfusion imaging three times during a single day to evaluate inter-study reproducibility and the effects of diurnal variation. Absolute perfusion was determined in each coronary artery territory and globally by Fermi constrained deconvolution of myocardial signal intensity curves. Left ventricular (LV) volumes and function were also calculated. Eleven full data sets were suitable for quantitative perfusion analysis. Global rest and stress perfusion and myocardial perfusion reserve (MPR) were 0.6 ± 0.1 and 2.5 ± 0.5 mL/min/g and 4.3 ± 0.9, respectively, for the first scan and were 0.5 ± 0.2 and 2.1 ± 0.5 mL/min/g and 4.2 ± 1.2 for the second (P= 0.1, 0.19, and 0.37, respectively). Inter-study reproducibility was moderate. The coefficient of variation (CV) was 16.0, 26.8, and 23.9% for global rest and stress perfusion and MPR, respectively. The corresponding territorial CVs were 27.5, 35.2, and 33.5%. The reproducibility of LV volumes and function was excellent (CV 4, 7.7, and 4.6% for end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, and ejection fraction, respectively). There were no significant detectable diurnal variations in perfusion or LV volumes and function (P≥ 0.05 for all).</AbstractText The inter-study reproducibility of quantitative myocardial perfusion is reasonable and best for global rest perfusion. No significant diurnal variation in perfusion was observed.</AbstractText
|
Test-retest reliability of fMRI activation during prosaccades and antisaccades. Various studies have investigated reproducibility of fMRI results. Whereas group results can be highly reproducible, individual activity maps tend to vary across sessions. Individual reliability is of importance for the application of fMRI in endophenotype research, where brain activity is linked to genetic polymorphisms. In this study, the test-retest reliability of activation maps during the antisaccade paradigm was assessed for individual and group results. Functional MRI images were acquired during two sessions of prosaccades and antisaccades in twelve healthy subjects using an event-related fMRI design. Reliability was assessed for both individual and group-wise results. In addition, the reliability of differences between subjects was established in predefined regions of interest. The reliability of group activation maps was high for prosaccades and antisaccades, but only moderate for antisaccades vs. prosaccades, probably as a result of low statistical power of individual results. Reproducibility of individual subject maps was highly variable, indicating that reliable results can be obtained in some but not all subjects. Reliability of individual activity maps was largely explained by individual differences in the global temporal signal to noise ratio (SNR). As the global SNR was stable over sessions, it explained a large portion of the differences between subjects in regional brain activation. A low SNR in some subjects may be dealt with either by improving the statistical sensitivity of the fMRI procedure or by subject exclusion. Differences in the global SNR between subjects should be addressed before using regional brain activation as phenotype in genetic studies.</AbstractText
|
Architecture and development of olivocerebellar circuit topography. The cerebellum has a simple tri-laminar structure that is comprised of relatively few cell types. Yet, its internal micro-circuitry is anatomically, biochemically, and functionally complex. The most striking feature of cerebellar circuit complexity is its compartmentalized topography. Each cell type within the cerebellar cortex is organized into an exquisite map; molecular expression patterns, dendrite projections, and axon terminal fields divide the medial-lateral axis of the cerebellum into topographic sagittal zones. Here, we discuss the mechanisms that establish zones and highlight how gene expression and neural activity contribute to cerebellar pattern formation. We focus on the olivocerebellar system because its developmental mechanisms are becoming clear, its topographic termination patterns are very precise, and its contribution to zonal function is debated. This review deconstructs the architecture and development of the olivocerebellar pathway to provide an update on how brain circuit maps form and function.</AbstractText
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25167022
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23192151
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24121659
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High-temperature superfluidity in double-bilayer graphene.
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Observing the drop of resistance in the flow of a superfluid Fermi gas.
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Lack of prion transmission by sexual or parental routes in experimentally infected hamsters.
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Exciton bound states in solids between electrons and holes are predicted to form a superfluid at high temperatures. We show that by employing atomically thin crystals such as a pair of adjacent bilayer graphene sheets, equilibrium superfluidity of electron-hole pairs should be achievable for the first time. The transition temperatures are well above liquid helium temperatures. Because the sample parameters needed for the device have already been attained in similar graphene devices, our work suggests a new route toward realizing high-temperature superfluidity in existing quality graphene samples.</AbstractText
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The ability of particles to flow with very low resistance is characteristic of superfluid and superconducting states, leading to their discovery in the past century. Although measuring the particle flow in liquid helium or superconducting materials is essential to identify superfluidity or superconductivity, no analogous measurement has been performed for superfluids based on ultracold Fermi gases. Here we report direct measurements of the conduction properties of strongly interacting fermions, observing the well-known drop in resistance that is associated with the onset of superfluidity. By varying the depth of the trapping potential in a narrow channel connecting two atomic reservoirs, we observed variations of the atomic current over several orders of magnitude. We related the intrinsic conduction properties to the thermodynamic functions in a model-independent way, by making use of high-resolution in situ imaging in combination with current measurements. Our results show that, as in solid-state systems, current and resistance measurements in quantum gases provide a sensitive probe with which to explore many-body physics. Our method is closely analogous to the operation of a solid-state field-effect transistor and could be applied as a probe for optical lattices and disordered systems, paving the way for modelling complex superconducting devices.</AbstractText
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Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans as well as captive and wild animals. The mechanisms and routes governing the natural spread of prions are not completely understood and several hypotheses have been proposed. In this study, we analyzed the effect of gender in prion incubation period, as well as the possibility of prion transmission by sexual and parental contact using 263K infected hamsters as a model. Our results show that males have significantly longer incubation periods compared with females when exposed to the same quantity of infectious material. Importantly, no evidence of sexual or parental prion transmission was found, even 500 d after sexual contact or birth, respectively. Western blotting and PMCA were unable to detect sub-clinical levels of PrP(Sc) in experimental subjects, suggesting a complete absence of prion transmission by these routes. Our results show that sexual and parental transmission of prions does not occur in this model. It remains to be studied whether this conclusion is valid also for other prion strains and species.</AbstractText
|
High-temperature superfluidity in double-bilayer graphene. Exciton bound states in solids between electrons and holes are predicted to form a superfluid at high temperatures. We show that by employing atomically thin crystals such as a pair of adjacent bilayer graphene sheets, equilibrium superfluidity of electron-hole pairs should be achievable for the first time. The transition temperatures are well above liquid helium temperatures. Because the sample parameters needed for the device have already been attained in similar graphene devices, our work suggests a new route toward realizing high-temperature superfluidity in existing quality graphene samples.</AbstractText
|
Observing the drop of resistance in the flow of a superfluid Fermi gas. The ability of particles to flow with very low resistance is characteristic of superfluid and superconducting states, leading to their discovery in the past century. Although measuring the particle flow in liquid helium or superconducting materials is essential to identify superfluidity or superconductivity, no analogous measurement has been performed for superfluids based on ultracold Fermi gases. Here we report direct measurements of the conduction properties of strongly interacting fermions, observing the well-known drop in resistance that is associated with the onset of superfluidity. By varying the depth of the trapping potential in a narrow channel connecting two atomic reservoirs, we observed variations of the atomic current over several orders of magnitude. We related the intrinsic conduction properties to the thermodynamic functions in a model-independent way, by making use of high-resolution in situ imaging in combination with current measurements. Our results show that, as in solid-state systems, current and resistance measurements in quantum gases provide a sensitive probe with which to explore many-body physics. Our method is closely analogous to the operation of a solid-state field-effect transistor and could be applied as a probe for optical lattices and disordered systems, paving the way for modelling complex superconducting devices.</AbstractText
|
Lack of prion transmission by sexual or parental routes in experimentally infected hamsters. Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders affecting humans as well as captive and wild animals. The mechanisms and routes governing the natural spread of prions are not completely understood and several hypotheses have been proposed. In this study, we analyzed the effect of gender in prion incubation period, as well as the possibility of prion transmission by sexual and parental contact using 263K infected hamsters as a model. Our results show that males have significantly longer incubation periods compared with females when exposed to the same quantity of infectious material. Importantly, no evidence of sexual or parental prion transmission was found, even 500 d after sexual contact or birth, respectively. Western blotting and PMCA were unable to detect sub-clinical levels of PrP(Sc) in experimental subjects, suggesting a complete absence of prion transmission by these routes. Our results show that sexual and parental transmission of prions does not occur in this model. It remains to be studied whether this conclusion is valid also for other prion strains and species.</AbstractText
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40735830
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27090305
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40478716
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Lifestyle Behaviours and Future Healthcare Utilisation for Musculoskeletal Pain in Young Adults: A Cohort Study of Norwegian University Students With Three-Year Follow-Up.
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From gut dysbiosis to altered brain function and mental illness: mechanisms and pathways.
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GRAPHTRIALS: Visual Proofs of Graph Properties.
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It is unclear whether lifestyle behaviours influence use of healthcare for musculoskeletal pain in young adults. This study examined if lifestyle behaviours among college/university students were associated with future healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.</AbstractText Data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT2018) were linked with the Norwegian Registry for Primary Health Care, comprising 31,358 college/university students. We analysed associations of physical activity level, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, smoking, illicit drug use and cumulative adverse lifestyle behaviours with healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain over the following three years, including 'any use', 'high use' and for back and neck pain specifically.</AbstractText High physical activity levels, compared to recommended levels, were associated with a higher risk of 'any' healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 1.14, 99% CI [1.04-1.25]; males: RR 1.20, 99% CI [1.07-1.36]); below recommended physical activity levels were associated with a lower risk (females: RR 0.90, 99% CI [0.85-0.96]; males: RR 0.84, 99% CI [0.76-0.93]). Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.77, 99% CI [0.62-0.97]). Four or more adverse lifestyle behaviours, compared to ≤ 1, were associated with a lower risk of high healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 0.66, 99% CI [0.48-0.90]; males: RR 0.68, 99% CI [0.48-0.97]) and a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.63, 99% CI [0.41-0.97]).</AbstractText Associations between college/university students' lifestyle behaviours and healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain were identified, but with some unexpected patterns. Future research should explore long-term effects of these behaviours on healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.</AbstractText High levels of physical activity among college and university students were associated with a greater risk of seeking healthcare for musculoskeletal pain within the following three years. Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of seeking healthcare for neck pain in females. Surprisingly, the presence of many adverse lifestyle behaviours appeared to be associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain, particularly healthcare contacts for neck pain in females and repeated healthcare contacts for musculoskeletal pain in general.</AbstractText
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The human body hosts an enormous abundance and diversity of microbes, which perform a range of essential and beneficial functions. Our appreciation of the importance of these microbial communities to many aspects of human physiology has grown dramatically in recent years. We know, for example, that animals raised in a germ-free environment exhibit substantially altered immune and metabolic function, while the disruption of commensal microbiota in humans is associated with the development of a growing number of diseases. Evidence is now emerging that, through interactions with the gut-brain axis, the bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbiome can also influence neural development, cognition and behaviour, with recent evidence that changes in behaviour alter gut microbiota composition, while modifications of the microbiome can induce depressive-like behaviours. Although an association between enteropathy and certain psychiatric conditions has long been recognized, it now appears that gut microbes represent direct mediators of psychopathology. Here, we examine roles of gut microbiome in shaping brain development and neurological function, and the mechanisms by which it can contribute to mental illness. Further, we discuss how the insight provided by this new and exciting field of research can inform care and provide a basis for the design of novel, microbiota-targeted, therapies.</AbstractText
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Graph and network visualization supports exploration, analysis and communication of relational data arising in many domains: from biological and social networks, to transportation and powergrid systems. With the arrival of AI based question-answering tools, issues of trustworthiness and explainability of generated answers motivate a significant new role for visualization. In the context of graphs, we see the need for visualizations that can convince a critical audience that an assertion (e. g., from an AI) about the graph under analysis is valid. The requirements for such representations that convey precisely one specific graph property are quite different from standard network visualization criteria which optimize general aesthetics and readability. In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive introduction to visual proofs of graph properties and a foundation for further research in the area. We present a framework that defines what it means to visually prove a graph property. In the process, we introduce the notion of a visual certificate, that is, a specialized faithful graph visualization that leverages the viewer's perception, in particular, pre-attentive processing (e. g., via pop-out effects), verify to a given assertion about the represented graph. We also discuss the relationships between visual complexity, cognitive load and complexity theory, and propose a classification based on visual proof complexity. Then, we provide further examples of visual certificates for problems in different visual proof complexity classes. Finally, we conclude the paper with a discussion of the limitations of our model and some open problems.</AbstractText
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Lifestyle Behaviours and Future Healthcare Utilisation for Musculoskeletal Pain in Young Adults: A Cohort Study of Norwegian University Students With Three-Year Follow-Up. It is unclear whether lifestyle behaviours influence use of healthcare for musculoskeletal pain in young adults. This study examined if lifestyle behaviours among college/university students were associated with future healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.</AbstractText Data from the Students' Health and Wellbeing Study (SHoT2018) were linked with the Norwegian Registry for Primary Health Care, comprising 31,358 college/university students. We analysed associations of physical activity level, sleep duration, alcohol consumption, smoking, illicit drug use and cumulative adverse lifestyle behaviours with healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain over the following three years, including 'any use', 'high use' and for back and neck pain specifically.</AbstractText High physical activity levels, compared to recommended levels, were associated with a higher risk of 'any' healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 1.14, 99% CI [1.04-1.25]; males: RR 1.20, 99% CI [1.07-1.36]); below recommended physical activity levels were associated with a lower risk (females: RR 0.90, 99% CI [0.85-0.96]; males: RR 0.84, 99% CI [0.76-0.93]). Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.77, 99% CI [0.62-0.97]). Four or more adverse lifestyle behaviours, compared to ≤ 1, were associated with a lower risk of high healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain (females: RR 0.66, 99% CI [0.48-0.90]; males: RR 0.68, 99% CI [0.48-0.97]) and a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for neck pain in females (RR 0.63, 99% CI [0.41-0.97]).</AbstractText Associations between college/university students' lifestyle behaviours and healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain were identified, but with some unexpected patterns. Future research should explore long-term effects of these behaviours on healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain.</AbstractText High levels of physical activity among college and university students were associated with a greater risk of seeking healthcare for musculoskeletal pain within the following three years. Illicit drug use was associated with a lower risk of seeking healthcare for neck pain in females. Surprisingly, the presence of many adverse lifestyle behaviours appeared to be associated with a lower risk of healthcare utilisation for musculoskeletal pain, particularly healthcare contacts for neck pain in females and repeated healthcare contacts for musculoskeletal pain in general.</AbstractText
|
From gut dysbiosis to altered brain function and mental illness: mechanisms and pathways. The human body hosts an enormous abundance and diversity of microbes, which perform a range of essential and beneficial functions. Our appreciation of the importance of these microbial communities to many aspects of human physiology has grown dramatically in recent years. We know, for example, that animals raised in a germ-free environment exhibit substantially altered immune and metabolic function, while the disruption of commensal microbiota in humans is associated with the development of a growing number of diseases. Evidence is now emerging that, through interactions with the gut-brain axis, the bidirectional communication system between the central nervous system and the gastrointestinal tract, the gut microbiome can also influence neural development, cognition and behaviour, with recent evidence that changes in behaviour alter gut microbiota composition, while modifications of the microbiome can induce depressive-like behaviours. Although an association between enteropathy and certain psychiatric conditions has long been recognized, it now appears that gut microbes represent direct mediators of psychopathology. Here, we examine roles of gut microbiome in shaping brain development and neurological function, and the mechanisms by which it can contribute to mental illness. Further, we discuss how the insight provided by this new and exciting field of research can inform care and provide a basis for the design of novel, microbiota-targeted, therapies.</AbstractText
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GRAPHTRIALS: Visual Proofs of Graph Properties. Graph and network visualization supports exploration, analysis and communication of relational data arising in many domains: from biological and social networks, to transportation and powergrid systems. With the arrival of AI based question-answering tools, issues of trustworthiness and explainability of generated answers motivate a significant new role for visualization. In the context of graphs, we see the need for visualizations that can convince a critical audience that an assertion (e. g., from an AI) about the graph under analysis is valid. The requirements for such representations that convey precisely one specific graph property are quite different from standard network visualization criteria which optimize general aesthetics and readability. In this paper, we aim to provide a comprehensive introduction to visual proofs of graph properties and a foundation for further research in the area. We present a framework that defines what it means to visually prove a graph property. In the process, we introduce the notion of a visual certificate, that is, a specialized faithful graph visualization that leverages the viewer's perception, in particular, pre-attentive processing (e. g., via pop-out effects), verify to a given assertion about the represented graph. We also discuss the relationships between visual complexity, cognitive load and complexity theory, and propose a classification based on visual proof complexity. Then, we provide further examples of visual certificates for problems in different visual proof complexity classes. Finally, we conclude the paper with a discussion of the limitations of our model and some open problems.</AbstractText
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28756339
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28187778
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32714575
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Whole body MRI for systemic staging of breast cancer in pregnant women.
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Whole-body MRI in pediatric patients with cancer.
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Neuronal Signaling: an introduction.
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When breast cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy, treatment should be as close; as possible to what is used in non-pregnant patients. This requires accurate local and systemic staging: ultrasound (US) is used for local staging and allows adequate evaluation of the liver and pelvis, but chest and bones cannot be explored and imaging techniques involving exposure to ionizing radiation would be needed. However, since imaging techniques involving ionizing radiation and the use of radionuclides should be limited, whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) without administration of contrast agent represents a very interesting alternative, but limited data is available. In this paper we describe the obstetrical and oncological outcome of 14 patients in whom breast cancer was diagnosed during the second or third trimester of pregnancy and that were staged using WB-MRI. Median age of the patient at diagnosis was 35 years (range 20-36), median gestational age at MRI was 30 weeks (range 13-32) and median age at delivery was 38 weeks (range 32-38). At birth, one new-born presented respiratory distress syndrome and one jaundice. We conclude that diffusion-weighted MRI is feasible accurate and safe for the mother and for the foetus. It may represent the staging technique of choice in pregnant women diagnosed with breast cancer after the first trimester of pregnancy.</AbstractText
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Cancer is the leading cause of natural death in the pediatric populations of developed countries, yet cure rates are greater than 70% when a cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging methods have markedly improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, while avoiding the risks of ionizing radiation that are associated with most conventional radiological methods, such as computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The advent of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in association with the development of metabolic- and function-based techniques has led to the use of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging for the screening, diagnosis, staging, response assessment, and post-therapeutic follow-up of children with solid sporadic tumours or those with related genetic syndromes. Here, the advantages, techniques, indications, and limitations of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in the management of pediatric oncology patients are presented.</AbstractText
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There have been a number of advances in our knowledge of neuronal communication in processes involved in development, functioning and disorders of the nervous system. This progress has prompted the Biochemical Society to launch <i
|
Whole body MRI for systemic staging of breast cancer in pregnant women. When breast cancer is diagnosed during pregnancy, treatment should be as close; as possible to what is used in non-pregnant patients. This requires accurate local and systemic staging: ultrasound (US) is used for local staging and allows adequate evaluation of the liver and pelvis, but chest and bones cannot be explored and imaging techniques involving exposure to ionizing radiation would be needed. However, since imaging techniques involving ionizing radiation and the use of radionuclides should be limited, whole body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) without administration of contrast agent represents a very interesting alternative, but limited data is available. In this paper we describe the obstetrical and oncological outcome of 14 patients in whom breast cancer was diagnosed during the second or third trimester of pregnancy and that were staged using WB-MRI. Median age of the patient at diagnosis was 35 years (range 20-36), median gestational age at MRI was 30 weeks (range 13-32) and median age at delivery was 38 weeks (range 32-38). At birth, one new-born presented respiratory distress syndrome and one jaundice. We conclude that diffusion-weighted MRI is feasible accurate and safe for the mother and for the foetus. It may represent the staging technique of choice in pregnant women diagnosed with breast cancer after the first trimester of pregnancy.</AbstractText
|
Whole-body MRI in pediatric patients with cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of natural death in the pediatric populations of developed countries, yet cure rates are greater than 70% when a cancer is diagnosed in its early stages. Recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging methods have markedly improved diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, while avoiding the risks of ionizing radiation that are associated with most conventional radiological methods, such as computed tomography and positron emission tomography/computed tomography. The advent of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in association with the development of metabolic- and function-based techniques has led to the use of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging for the screening, diagnosis, staging, response assessment, and post-therapeutic follow-up of children with solid sporadic tumours or those with related genetic syndromes. Here, the advantages, techniques, indications, and limitations of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in the management of pediatric oncology patients are presented.</AbstractText
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Neuronal Signaling: an introduction. There have been a number of advances in our knowledge of neuronal communication in processes involved in development, functioning and disorders of the nervous system. This progress has prompted the Biochemical Society to launch <i
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34609210
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32057538
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36327245
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Music-reading expertise associates with face but not Chinese character processing ability.
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Face pareidolia in schizophrenia.
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Another unit Burr XII quantile regression model based on the different reparameterization applied to dropout in Brazilian undergraduate courses.
|
A growing number of behavioural and neuroimaging studies have investigated the cognitive mechanisms and neural substrates underlying various forms of visual expertise, such as face and word processing. However, it remains poorly understood whether and to what extent the acquisition of one form of expertise would be associated with that of another. The current study examined the relationship between music-reading expertise and face and Chinese character processing abilities. In a series of experiments, music experts and novices performed discrimination and recognition tasks of musical notations, faces, and words. Results consistently showed that musical experts responded more accurately to musical notations and faces, but not to words, than did musical novices. More intriguingly, the music expert's age of training onset could well predict their face but not word processing performance: the earlier musical experts began musical notation reading, the better their face processing performance. Taken together, our findings provide preliminary and converging evidence that music-reading expertise links with face, but not word, processing, and lend support to the notion that the development of different types of visual expertise may not be independent, but rather interact with each other during their acquisition.</AbstractText
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Faces convey valuable daily life social signals. As in most psychiatric conditions, non-verbal social cognition or its components including face processing may be aberrant in schizophrenia (SZ). Social participation of individuals with SZ is vital for their quality of life, and remediation of social abilities in this population is of high relevance both for society and clinical care.</AbstractText Tuning to faces in non-face images such as shadows, grilled toasts, or ink blots is called face pareidolia. Humans possess high sensitivity to facial signals: even fetuses and infants are well tuned to coarse face cues. Here we assessed face tuning in individuals with SZ and person-by-person matched controls by using a new experimental tool, a set of food-plate images bordering on the Giuseppe Arcimboldo style. The key benefit of these images is that single components do not trigger face processing.</AbstractText The outcome indicates that individuals with SZ exhibit aberrant face tuning in face-like non-face images (χ<sup
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In many practical situations, there is an interest in modeling bounded random variables in the interval (0, 1), such as rates, proportions, and indexes. It is important to provide new continuous models to deal with the uncertainty involved by variables of this type. This paper proposes a new quantile regression model based on an alternative parameterization of the unit Burr XII (UBXII) distribution. For the UBXII distribution and its associated regression, we obtain score functions and observed information matrices. We use the maximum likelihood method to estimate the parameters of the regression model, and conduct a Monte Carlo study to evaluate the performance of its estimates in samples of finite size. Furthermore, we present general diagnostic analysis and model selection techniques for the regression model. We empirically show its importance and flexibility through an application to an actual data set, in which the dropout proportion of Brazilian undergraduate animal sciences courses is analyzed. We use a statistical learning method for comparing the proposed model with the beta, Kumaraswamy, and unit-Weibull regressions. The results show that the UBXII regression provides the best fit and the most accurate predictions. Therefore, it is a valuable alternative and competitive to the well-known regressions for modeling double-bounded variables in the unit interval.</AbstractText
|
Music-reading expertise associates with face but not Chinese character processing ability. A growing number of behavioural and neuroimaging studies have investigated the cognitive mechanisms and neural substrates underlying various forms of visual expertise, such as face and word processing. However, it remains poorly understood whether and to what extent the acquisition of one form of expertise would be associated with that of another. The current study examined the relationship between music-reading expertise and face and Chinese character processing abilities. In a series of experiments, music experts and novices performed discrimination and recognition tasks of musical notations, faces, and words. Results consistently showed that musical experts responded more accurately to musical notations and faces, but not to words, than did musical novices. More intriguingly, the music expert's age of training onset could well predict their face but not word processing performance: the earlier musical experts began musical notation reading, the better their face processing performance. Taken together, our findings provide preliminary and converging evidence that music-reading expertise links with face, but not word, processing, and lend support to the notion that the development of different types of visual expertise may not be independent, but rather interact with each other during their acquisition.</AbstractText
|
Face pareidolia in schizophrenia. Faces convey valuable daily life social signals. As in most psychiatric conditions, non-verbal social cognition or its components including face processing may be aberrant in schizophrenia (SZ). Social participation of individuals with SZ is vital for their quality of life, and remediation of social abilities in this population is of high relevance both for society and clinical care.</AbstractText Tuning to faces in non-face images such as shadows, grilled toasts, or ink blots is called face pareidolia. Humans possess high sensitivity to facial signals: even fetuses and infants are well tuned to coarse face cues. Here we assessed face tuning in individuals with SZ and person-by-person matched controls by using a new experimental tool, a set of food-plate images bordering on the Giuseppe Arcimboldo style. The key benefit of these images is that single components do not trigger face processing.</AbstractText The outcome indicates that individuals with SZ exhibit aberrant face tuning in face-like non-face images (χ<sup
|
Another unit Burr XII quantile regression model based on the different reparameterization applied to dropout in Brazilian undergraduate courses. In many practical situations, there is an interest in modeling bounded random variables in the interval (0, 1), such as rates, proportions, and indexes. It is important to provide new continuous models to deal with the uncertainty involved by variables of this type. This paper proposes a new quantile regression model based on an alternative parameterization of the unit Burr XII (UBXII) distribution. For the UBXII distribution and its associated regression, we obtain score functions and observed information matrices. We use the maximum likelihood method to estimate the parameters of the regression model, and conduct a Monte Carlo study to evaluate the performance of its estimates in samples of finite size. Furthermore, we present general diagnostic analysis and model selection techniques for the regression model. We empirically show its importance and flexibility through an application to an actual data set, in which the dropout proportion of Brazilian undergraduate animal sciences courses is analyzed. We use a statistical learning method for comparing the proposed model with the beta, Kumaraswamy, and unit-Weibull regressions. The results show that the UBXII regression provides the best fit and the most accurate predictions. Therefore, it is a valuable alternative and competitive to the well-known regressions for modeling double-bounded variables in the unit interval.</AbstractText
|
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