Different effects of dopaminergic medication on perceptual decision-making in Parkinson's disease as a function of task difficulty and speed-accuracy instructions.

Huang, YT; Georgiev, D; Foltynie, T; Limousin, P; Speekenbrink, M; Jahanshahi, M; (2015) Different effects of dopaminergic medication on perceptual decision-making in Parkinson's disease as a function of task difficulty and speed-accuracy instructions. Neuropsychologia , 75 pp. 577-587. 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.07.012 .

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Feeding Stonehenge: cuisine and consumption at the Late Neolithic site of Durrington Walls

Craig, OE; Shillito, L-M; Albarella, U; Viner-Daniels, S; Chan, B; Cleal, R; Ixer, R; Craig, OE; Shillito, L-M; Albarella, U; Viner-Daniels, S; Chan, B; Cleal, R; Ixer, R; Jay, M; Marshall, P; Simmons, E; Wright, E; Pearson, MP; - view fewer (2015) Feeding Stonehenge: cuisine and consumption at the Late Neolithic site of Durrington Walls. ANTIQUITY , 89 (347) pp. 1096-1109.

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The habenula: an under-recognised area of importance in frontotemporal dementia?

Bocchetta, M; Gordon, E; Marshall, CR; Slattery, CF; Cardoso, MJ; Cash, DM; Espak, M; Bocchetta, M; Gordon, E; Marshall, CR; Slattery, CF; Cardoso, MJ; Cash, DM; Espak, M; Modat, M; Ourselin, S; Frisoni, GB; Schott, JM; Warren, JD; Rohrer, JD; - view fewer (2015) The habenula: an under-recognised area of importance in frontotemporal dementia? J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 10.1136/jnnp-2015-312067 .

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Medicated Janus fibers fabricated using a Teflon-coated side-by-side spinneret.

Yu, DG; Yang, C; Jin, M; Williams, GR; Zou, H; Wang, X; Annie Bligh, SW; (2015) Medicated Janus fibers fabricated using a Teflon-coated side-by-side spinneret. Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces , 138 pp. 110-116. 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2015.11.055 .

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Corrigendum

Endocrinology, Early Release.


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Matrix Dimensionality and Stiffness Cooperatively Regulate Osteogenesis of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells

Publication date: Available online 11 January 2016
Source:Acta Biomaterialia
Author(s): Wen-Ting Hsieh, Yi-Shiuan Liu, Yi-hsuan Lee, Marilyn G. Rimando, Keng-hui Lin, Oscar K. Lee
Osteogenic potential of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is mechanosensitive. It's affected by the mechanical properties of the cellular microenvironment, particularly its mechanical modulus. To explore the effect of mechanical modulus on osteogenesis in the third dimension (3D), this study used a novel polyacrylamide (PA) scaffold whose pores are monodisperse and spherical, the mechanical moduli of which can be tuned across a wide range. It was found that MSCs have similar proliferation rates in PA scaffolds independent of the matrix stiffness. The contractile force exerted by MSCs inside PA scaffolds was strong enough to deform the pores of scaffolds made of more compliant PAs (whose shear modulus, G′scaffold < 4 kPa). Only scaffolds of the highest stiffness (G′scaffold = 12 kPa) can withhold the contraction from MSCs. After osteogenic induction for 21 days, the expression profiles of marker genes showed that PA scaffolds of G′scaffold = 12 kPa promoted osteogenesis of MSCs. Confocal image analysis demonstrated that there are more F-actin cytoskeletons and bundled stress fibers at higher matrix moduli in 2D and 3D. Moreover, the 3D porous structure promotes osteogenesis of MSCs more than 2D flat substrates. Together, the differences of cellular behaviors when cultured in 2D and 3D systems are evident. The PA scaffolds developed in the present study can be used for further investigation into the mechanism of MSC mechanosensing in the 3D context.

Graphical abstract

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meso-Dihydroguaiaretic acid attenuates airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in an ovalbumin-induced murine model of asthma

Publication date: February 2016
Source:International Immunopharmacology, Volume 31
Author(s): Ji-Won Song, Chang-Seob Seo, Eun-Sang Cho, Tae-In Kim, Young-Suk Won, Hyo-Jung Kwon, Jong-Keun Son, Hwa-Young Son
meso-Dihydroguaiaretic acid (MDGA), which is a dibenzylbutane lignin isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Saururus chinensis, has various biological activities, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and neuroprotective effects. However, no report has examined the potential anti-asthmatic activity of MDGA. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of MDGA on asthmatic responses, particularly airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of asthma. Intragastric administration of MDGA significantly lowered the productions of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis-α (TNF-α), eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and immunoglobulin (Ig)E in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), plasma, or lung tissues. Histological studies showed that MDGA inhibited OVA-induced inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production in the respiratory tract. Moreover, MDGA markedly attenuated the OVA-induced activations of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), extracellular-signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Together, these results suggest that MDGA effectively inhibits airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion by downregulating the levels of T helper 2 (Th2) cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, and inhibiting the activations of NF-κB and MAPKs.



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Teachers’ screening estimations of speech–language impairments in primary school children in Nepal

Abstract

Background

The prevalence of speech-language impairments in children have been estimated for several languages, primarily in developed countries. However, prevalence data is lacking for developing countries, such as Nepal.

Aims

(1) To obtain teacher estimates of incidence and overall prevalence of speech–language impairments and its subtypes as a function of gender, age and grade level; and (2) to validate the screening instrument on Nepalese children.

Methodology

The adapted teachers' screening instrument, namely adapted Teachers' Speech and Language Referral Checklist (a-TSLRC), was administered in 2776 (690 and 2086) primary school children aged 5;00–11;11 years (mean = 8;11 years). The screening was conducted at four different points in time, i.e. Incidences I and II, and each incidence consisted of a testing and a retesting phase. Prior to this, teachers were trained in forum meetings, and an information sheet containing an overview of speech–language impairments, and guidelines/criteria for marking the occurrence of speech–language impairments in the TSLRC were disseminated.

Outcomes & Results

Overall prevalence of speech–language impairments in children was estimated as 8.11%. Specifically, overall speech problems were estimated as 4.68%, and language problems as 8.0%. Additionally, the prevalence by subtypes of speech–language impairments as categorized in the TSLRC were reported to be 2.95% for an articulation/phonological problems, 2.09% for stuttering, 3.42% for a voice problems, 4.97% for a receptive language problems and 7.74% for an expressive language problems. The internal consistency among items was sufficient and a good intra-rater reliability was obtained.

Conclusions & Implications

The study indicates that the overall results of speech–language impairments in children via the adapted in-Nepalese criterion-referenced instrument are supported by international studies. In addition, justifiable reliability and validity was obtained. Therefore, based on these overall evidence, this instrument can be useful for the screening of speech–language impairments in primary school children in Nepal.

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Anxiety, depression and fatigue at 5-year review following CNS demyelination

Background

Anxiety and depression are common in multiple sclerosis (MS). We evaluated the prevalence and factors associated with anxiety, depression and fatigue at the 5-year review of a longitudinal cohort study following a first clinical diagnosis of CNS demyelination (FCD).

Methods

Cases with a FCD were recruited soon after diagnosis and followed annually thereafter. A variety of environmental, behavioural and clinical covariates were measured at five-year review. Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety & Depression Scale (HADS), and fatigue by the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS).

Results

Of the 236 cases, 40.2% had clinical anxiety (median HADS-A: 6.0), 16.0% had clinical depression (median HADS-D: 3.0), and 41.3% had clinical fatigue (median FSS: 4.56). The co-occurrence of all three symptoms was 3.76 times greater than expectation. Younger age, higher disability, concussion or other disease diagnosis were independently associated with a higher anxiety score; male sex, higher disability, being unemployed, less physical activity, and antidepressant and/or anxiolytic-sedative medication use were independently associated with a higher depression score. Higher disability, immunomodulatory medication use, other disease diagnosis and anxiolytic-sedative medication use were independently associated with having fatigue, while female sex, higher BMI, having had a concussion, being unemployed and higher disability were associated with a higher fatigue score.

Conclusion

These results support previous findings of the commonality of anxiety, depression and fatigue in established MS and extend this to post-FCD and early MS cases. The clustering of the three symptoms indicates that they may share common antecedents.

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Initial serum thyroid peroxidase antibodies and long-term outcomes in SREAT

Objective

To quantify clinical outcome in patients with steroid-responsive encephalopathy and associated autoimmune thyroiditis (SREAT) after the acute phase and explore potential associations of initial serum thyroid peroxidase antibody titers (TPO-Abs) with outcome.

Materials and methods

Retrospective chart review of patients diagnosed with SREAT between 01/2005 and 05/2014 in a tertiary care center and followed in an affiliated autoimmune outpatient clinic. Outcome was quantified using the extended Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS-E). We calculated Pearson's correlation coefficients to quantify associations with clinical outcome at follow-up.

Results

Among 134 patients with encephalopathy of unknown etiology, we identified 13 patients diagnosed with SREAT. In two patients, the diagnosis was revised at subsequent hospitalization (NMDA-R encephalitis and adult-onset Still's disease). The median follow-up time was 11 months, and the median GOS-E was 6 (range 3–8). Higher serum TPO-Ab-titers correlated with more favorable outcomes (Pearson coefficient 0.65, P = 0.03).

Conclusion

A correlation between TPO-Ab-titers and outcome has not been reported previously and challenges the notion of a mere bystander role of TPO-Abs in SREAT.

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Clinical correlates of memory complaints during AED treatment

Objectives

To investigate clinical correlates of memory complaints (MC) during anti-epileptic drug (AEDs) treatment in adults with epilepsy with special attention to the role of depression, using user-friendly standardized clinical instruments which can be adopted in any outpatient setting.

Materials & methods

Data from a consecutive sample of adult outpatients with epilepsy assessed with the Neurological Disorder Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDIE), the Adverse Event Profile (AEP) and the Emotional Thermometer (ET) were analysed.

Results

From a total sample of 443 patients, 28.4% reported MC as 'always' a problem. These patients were less likely to be seizure free (18.3% vs 34.3%; P < 0.001), had a high number of previous AED trials (4 vs 3; P < 0.001) and high AEP total scores (49 vs 34.2; P < 0.001). There was no correlation with specific AED type or combination. Depression was the major determinant with a 2-fold increased risk (95%CI 1.15–3.86; P = 0.016). When depression was already known and under treatment, patients with MC were less likely to be in remission from depression despite antidepressant treatment (11.9% vs 1.6% P < 0.001). Among patients without depression, those reporting MC presented with significantly high scores for depression (3.3 vs 2; t = 3.07; P = 0.003), anxiety (4.5 vs 2.7; t = 4.43; P < 0.001), anger (3 vs 2; t = 2.623; P = 0.009) and distress (3.8 vs 2.2; t = 4.027; P < 0.001) than those without MC.

Conclusions

Depression has to be appropriately treated and full remission from depression should represent the ultimate goal as subthreshold or residual mood and anxiety symptoms can contribute to MC.

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