Exploring the Association between Amyloid-ß and Memory Markers for Alzheimer's Disease in Cognitively Unimpaired Older Adults.

BACKGROUND: Memory tests vary in their sensitivity for detection of pre-symptomatic Alzheimer's disease (AD). The Visual Short-Term Memory Binding Test (VSTMBT) identifies AD-related performance deficits in older adults who are otherwise cognitively unimpaired. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of this psychometric measure with brain amyloidosis and atrophy. DESIGN: Cross-sectional mixed and correlational. SETTING: Cognitive Reserve Study from Columbia University. PARTICIPANTS: a sample of 39 cognitively unimpaired older adults (Age: M=65.3, SD=3.07) was obtained from the above study. MEASUREMENTS: Extensive neuropsychological and neuroimaging (MRI and amyloid-ß PET) assessments were carried out. RESULTS: Performance on the VSTMBT allowed us to split the sample into Low Binding Cost (LBC, N=21) and High Binding Cost (HBC, N=18). Groups were matched according to age [p=0.702], years of education [0.071], and sex [p=0.291]. HBC's performance was comparable to that seen in symptomatic AD. Groups only differed in their amyloid-ß deposition on PET in regions of the right ventral stream linked to visual cognition and affected early in AD pathogenesis (lateral-occipital cortex, p = 0.008; fusiform gyrus, p = 0.017; and entorhinal cortex, p = 0.046). Other regions known to be linked to low-level visual integration function also revealed increased amyloid-ß deposition in HBC. CONCLUSIONS: VSTMB deficits are associated with neuropathogenesis (i.e., amyloid-ß deposition) in the earliest affected regions in pre-symptomatic AD. The VSTMB test holds potential for the identification of cognitively unimpaired older adults with very early AD pathogenesis and may thus be a useful tool for early intervention trials or other forms of clinical research.

Neurocognitive reorganization of emotional processing following a socio-cognitive intervention in Colombian ex-combatants.

Ex-combatants often exhibit atypical Emotional Processing (EP) such as reduced emphatic levels and higher aggressive attitudes. Social Cognitive Training (SCT) addressing socio-emotional components powerfully improve social interaction among Colombian ex-combatants. However, with narrow neural evidence, this study offers a new testimony. A sample of 28 ex-combatants from Colombian illegal armed groups took part in this study, split into 15 for SCT and 13 for the conventional program offered by the Governmental Reintegration Route. All of them were assessed before and after the intervention with a protocol that included an EP task synchronized with electroencephalographic recordings. We drew behavioral scores and brain connectivity (Coherency) metrics from task performance. Behavioral scores yielded no significant effects. Increased post-intervention connectivity in the delta band was observed during negative emotional processing only SCT group. Positive emotions exposed distinctive gamma band connectivity that differentiate groups. These results suggest that SCT can trigger covert neurofunctional reorganization in ex-combatants embarked on the reintegration process even when overt behavioral improvements are not yet apparent. Such covert functional changes may be the neural signature of compensatory mechanisms necessary to reshape behaviors adaptively. This novel framework may inspire cutting-edge translational research at the crossing of neuroscience, sociology, and public policy-making.

Síndrome de Löfgren en Neiva - Colombia: reporte de un caso / Löfgren Syndrome in Neiva - Colombia: A Case Report

Resumen La sarcoidosis es una enfermedad inflamatoria granulomatosa multisistémica crónica de etiología desconocida, que afecta en su mayoría a adultos jóvenes. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 35 años de edad, que asistió a nuestro hospital por un cuadro clínico de fiebre prolongada asociada a poliartritis y eritema nodoso, que fue diagnosticado con síndrome de Löfgren, entidad poco frecuente en nuestro país. A pesar de la baja prevalencia, la sarcoidosis y su variante, síndrome de Löfgren, se deben tener siempre en cuenta en pacientes con eritema nodoso y/o adenopatías hiliares.

Abstract Sarcoidosis is a chronic multisystemic granulomatous inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which affects mainly young adults, characterized by formation of non-caseous granulomas. Löfgren syndrome refers to an acute presentation of sarcoidosis, characterized by the triad of bilateral hilar lymphadenopathies, erythema nodosum and periarticular swelling. This paper presents the case of a 35-year-old man, who attended our hospital with prolonged fever associated to polyarthritis and erythema nodosum. After medical assessment, laboratory test results, X-ray and CT scans, the patient was diagnosed with Löfgren syndrome, a disease seldom encountered in Colombia. Despite the low prevalence of sarcoidosis and Löfgren syndrome in our country, erythema nodosum and/or hilar adenopathies should increase suspicion of this rare disease, and Löfgren syndrome should be considered in patients with this presentation.

Gist-based illusions within and across stimulus modalities in autism spectrum disorder.

Some studies have reported a low rate of false recognition (FR) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) relative to non-autistic comparison participants (CPs). This finding, however, has not always been replicated and the source of the discrepancy remains unknown. We hypothesised that poor episodic memory functions may account for this finding. We used an adapted version of the Deese, Roediger and McDermott paradigm which presents lists of words, pictures or word-picture pairs to obtain measures of performance which reflect episodic [hits and false alarms (FAs)] and semantic (FR) memory functions. Results showed a decreased rate of FR in ASD individuals with lists of words which rose above the rate seen in non-autistic CPs with lists of word-picture pairs. This increased rate of FR in ASD was accompanied by a parallel increase in hits and a decrease in FA which reached a similar level in the two groups. Poor episodic memory functions may prevent individuals with ASD from acquiring item information which in turn precludes the formation of semantic links between items. This could render them less prone to FR.

Risk factors associated with prolonged postoperative ileus after elective colon resection.

BACKGROUND: There is a coordinated inhibition of motility of the colon after its surgical manipulation that contributes to the accumulation of fluids and gas, in turn characterized by nausea,vomiting, pain, abdominal distension, and constipation. Motility is recovered in the majority of patients within the first 72 hours. A delay in its resolution is known as prolonged postoperative ileus. AIMS: To study the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative risk factors for developing prolonged ileus in patients that underwent elective colon resection.Materials and methods: The association between 25 perioperative variables and the presentation of prolonged ileus was analyzed in 85 patients that underwent colon resection at Hospital Christus Muguerza Alta Especialidad within the time frame of 2011 and 2014. RESULTS: Postoperative ileus occurred in 22.3% of the patients. The statistically significant predictors of ileus were obesity (OR 1.119, P=.048) and admission to the intensive care unit (OR3.571, P=.050). The use of peridural anesthesia during the surgical act was found to be a protective factor (OR 0.363, P=.050). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of these risk factors can alert the physician to the need for a closer follow-up in patients at high risk for postoperative ileus, and the use of peridural anesthesiacan possibly lower the incidence of ileus.

FUNGAL POPULATIONS ASSOCIATED TO NETTING TISSUE OF GALIA MELONS AFFECTING QUALITY DURING STORAGE.

Galia melons are produced in southeast Spain and exported to other European countries. The main problem of melons during transport and storage consists of the development of epiphytic populations of fungi living inside the netting areas located on fruit surface. These areas are natural wounds which are covered by local suberin and lignin secretion induced by the plant in response to the natural skin wounds which occurs during fruit growing. These fungi are growing from the scarce organic matter and nutrients that are either deposited or segregated from the fruit. Several genera of fungi have commonly been associated to those areas such as some species of Fusarium, Cladosporium sp. and Alternaria sp. and a few others. All microorganisms were living in an ecological equilibrium. However, when water was present inside the netting areas, the growth of Cladosporium sp. was exacerbated and then, the ecological equilibrium was broken, therefore these grey areas turned to green-dark colour due to hyphal development of this fungus. This process deteriorated visual quality of fruits, therefore the increase of losses during transport and storage were noticeable. A relative humidity very high, round 100% or a thinner layer of water condensed in these areas were sufficient to increase epiphytic development of Cladosporium without causing decay, even at refrigeration temperature. However, when relative humidity was lower than about 98%, no growth of aerial hyphae of Cladosporium was observed. In contrast, some brown stains round netting areas were developed due to the growth of the fungus through skin layers causing severe decay after 32 days of storage at 7 degrees C. When the affected fruits were transferred at ambient temperature, aerial mycelium of Cladosporium emerged from those brown skin areas exacerbating the losses. In conclusion, water condensation should be avoided to prevent epiphytic development of Cladosporium. If washing treatment of fruits is carried out during commercial handling, they must be dried before storage. In addition, storage period higher than 16 days at 7 degrees C and relative humidity higher than 98% must be avoided in order to prevent Cladosporium rot.

Ambient air levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in a medium size city in Northern Spain.

Ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were measured by means of passive sampling at 40 sampling points in a medium-size city in Northern Spain, from June 2006 to June 2007. VOC and NO2 samplers were analysed by thermal desorption followed by gas chromatography/mass-selective detector and by visible spectrophotometry, respectively. Mean concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, propylbenzene, trimethylbenzenes, and NO(2) were 2.84, 13.26, 2.15, 6.01, 0.59, 1.32 and 23.17 microg m(-3) respectively, and found to be highly correlated. Their spatial distribution showed high differences in small distances and pointed to traffic as the main emission source of these compounds. The lowest levels of VOC and NO2 occurred during summer, owing to the increase in solar radiation and to lower traffic densities. Mean concentrations of benzene and NO2 exceeded the European limits at some of the monitored points.

Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOC) in public buses of Pamplona, Northern Spain.

This study examines the exposure level of passengers and drivers to VOC in public buses in a medium-size metropolitan area (Northern Spain). In-vehicle monitoring was performed on different routes, on peak and non-peak hours, during January and February 2007. A total of 112 air samples were collected onto adsorbent tubes and analysed by thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography/mass selective detector (GC/MSD) technique. Statistical differences were found among route to route concentrations, with those routes with major prevalence in the commercial area of the city displaying higher values; differences between peak and non-peak hours were also observed. A decrease in VOC concentrations was also registered during the weekend. BTEX ratios were estimated and found to be related to traffic emissions and similar for all the surveyed routes. Correlations confirmed traffic as the main emission source for BTEX and trimethylbenzene, their concentrations being highly associated to changes in meteorological conditions.

Spatial and temporal trends of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in a rural area of northern Spain.

Ambient concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured at 40 rural sampling points in Navarre (northern Spain). Air samples were collected by means of sorbent passive sampling and analyzed by thermal desorption (TD) and gas chromatography/mass-selective detector (GC/MSD). A total of 140 VOCs were identified during the study, which was carried out between May to October 2004 for a total of a 10 biweekly sampling campaigns. Concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m/p-xylenes, o-xylene (BTEX) and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene were determined in order to investigate their temporal and spatial distributions. Geostatistical analysis pointed to traffic as the main emission source of these compounds. Supporting this idea, BTEX and nitrogen oxides concentrations were found to be highly significantly correlated (r = 0.495, P = 0.001), whereas a strong negative correlation between BTEX and ozone was also observed (r = -0.355, P = 0.025). The concentrations for the BTEX group were similar to the values that have been previously reported for other rural areas.

Arabidopsis RTM1 and RTM2 genes function in phloem to restrict long-distance movement of tobacco etch virus.

Restriction of long-distance movement of tobacco etch virus (TEV) in Arabidopsis ecotype Col-0 plants requires the function of at least three genes: RTM1 (restricted TEV movement 1), RTM2, and RTM3. The mechanism of TEV movement restriction remains poorly understood, although it does not involve a hypersensitive response or systemic acquired resistance. A functional characterization of RTM1 and RTM2 was done. The RTM1 protein was found to be soluble with the potential to form self-interacting complexes. The regulatory regions of both the RTM1 and RTM2 genes were analyzed using reporter constructs. The regulatory sequences from both genes directed expression of beta-glucuronidase exclusively in phloem-associated cells. Translational fusion proteins containing the green fluorescent protein and RTM1 or RTM2 localized to sieve elements when expressed from their native regulatory sequences. Thus, components of the RTM system may function within phloem, and sieve elements in particular, to restrict TEV long-distance movement.

[Technical solution in kidney retransplantation in a patient with femoro-femoral bypass]. / Solución técnica en el retrasplante renal de un paciente portador de un by-pass femoro-femoral.

Over the last decade kidney transplantation has become a common therapeutic procedure for patients with end-stage renal diseases. Between 1988 and 1998 donors rate per million population has dramatically increased in our environment, thus providing us with more chances to offer kidney transplantation to a larger number of patients. The technico-surgical difficulties that have to be faced however, are increasingly frequent and require a search for new approaches and innovative changes to the usual surgical techniques for our patient's benefit.

[Anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulinemia in autoimmune chronic hepatitis and virus C hepatitis]. / Anticuerpos anti LKM-1 y crioglobulinemia en hepatitis crónica autoinmune y por virus C de la hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Anti liver kidney microsome antibodies (LKM-1) have been recently incorporated to the study and classification of chronic autoimmune hepatitis (HC-A1). The presence of anti LKM-1 antibodies and essential cryoglobulinemia is frequent in virus C associated chronic hepatitis (HC-VC). AIM: To study the frequency of anti LKM-1 antibodies and cryoglobulin levels in patients with HC-AI, HC-VC and cryptogenic cirrhosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients were studied. Nineteen adult women with classic HC-AI with positive antinuclear or anti smooth muscle antibodies. Five patients of less than 20 years old with HC-AI and negative antinuclear and anti smooth muscle antibodies. Ten adult women with cryptogenic cirrhosis, 4 women and 4 men with HC-VC. Serum samples were obtained at 37 degrees C. Antinuclear, anti smooth muscle and anti LKM-1 antibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence using Hep-2 cells and rat tissue slices as substrates. Cryoglobulins were determined by the traditional method and cryocrit. RESULTS: All studied patients were anti LKM-1 negative. All had significant circulating cryoglobulin levels. CONCLUSIONS: In this sample of patients with HC-AI or HC-VC, anti LKM-1 antibodies were not detected but all had cryoglobulinemia.

[Skin lesions of the penis. Prostatic adenocarcinoma metastasis. Report of a case]. / Lesiones cutáneas de pene. Metástasis de adenocarcinoma de próstata. Aportación de un caso.

Presentation of one case of penis-located multiple skin metastasis from prostate adenocarcinoma after hormonal blockade for 11 years. Revision and update of the topic, corroborating the poor prognosis of these patients.

[Clinical and anatomopathological study of 5 patients with vasculitis and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with cytoplasmatic pattern]. / Estudio clínico y anatomopatológico en cinco casos de vasculitis portadores de anticuerpos anticitoplasmáticos de neutrófilos con patrón citoplasmático.

We report five patients with vasculitis and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies with cytoplasmatic pattern. All had severe upper and lower respiratory tract necrotizing lesions. Three had kidney failure due to rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The pathological study showed a crescentic glomerulonephritis, a chronic granulomatous inflammation in the lungs and in the nasal mucosa, an acute nonspecific inflammation or a chronic granulomatous inflammation and focal blood vessel fibrinoid necrosis. All patients with simultaneous involvement of lungs and kidneys had high titers of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. The nomenclature and classification of these diseases is discussed.

[Cryoglobulins in rheumatoid arthritis: exhaustive detection, immunochemical findings and clinical expression]. / Crioglobulinas en artritis reumatoide: detección exhaustiva, hallazgos inmunoquímicos y expresion clínica.

Cryoglobulins were measured in 29 patients (24 female, age 53.8 +/- 9.8 years) with rheumatoid arthritis (70% active). The cryoprecipitate was isolated, characterized and quantified. Cryoglobulinemia, always polyclonal or type III, was found in 83% of patients. The most frequent immunochemical isotypes found were IgG and A. Acrocyanosis was found in 50% and Raynaud phenomenon in 32% of patients with cryoglobulinemia. It is concluded that exhaustive detection of cryoglobulinemia in rheumatoid arthritis demonstrated a higher frequency than previously reported an is important for understanding pathogenesis of the disease.

Anorectal electromanometry in the diagnosis of neuronal intestinal dysplasia in childhood.

The diagnosis of neuronal intestinal dysplasia (NID) is currently established by histochemical procedures. From October 1, 1981, until July 31, 1990, we submitted a total number of 737 patients under 15 years of age with several distinct colonic and anorectal disorders, to clinical, radiological, electromanometrical, histochemical and histological evaluation. 573 had a clinical diagnosis of chronic constipation, and in 38 of these NID could be demonstrated by histochemical examination. Motivated by our own findings with the anorectal electromanometry in these patients we performed a double-blind prospective study to find out if there are any particular and pathognomonic manometric parameters of NID in childhood. 80% of our patients with NID diagnosed prospectively since April 1st, 1986, had a relaxation of the internal anal sphincter which was not proportional to the volume of rectal distention. Anorectal hyperexcitability was also present in these patients, whereas a statistically highly significant (p less than 0.01) increase of the amplitude of anorectal fluctuations (7.27 +/- 1.12 mmHg) as compared to the values measured in our own patients with functional chronic constipation (2.87 +/- 0.33 mmHg) could be demonstrated. Considering only those patients who simultaneously presented all of the above mentioned electromanometric criteria (e.g. non-proportional relaxation of the internal anal sphincter, anorectal hyperexcitability, increased amplitude of anorectal fluctuations) without an increase of the anorectal pressure profile, we could demonstrate that the correlation between the electromanometric diagnosis of NID and the final histochemical diagnosis was 100%. Nevertheless, under these conditions, 30% (9 out of 30) of patients with NID were not recognized electromanometrically because they had been excluded as false negative cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[The determination of immunological parameters in splenectomized patients]. / Determinación de parámetros inmunológicos en pacientes esplenectomizados.

We studied 15 patients submitted to splenectomy. Humoral immunity was studied with protein electrophoresis and quantification of immunoglobulins; cellular immunity was studied by total and subpopulation lymphocyte counts and evaluation of phagocytosis. Increased levels of IgG, IgM and IgA, a decrease in circulating T-lymphocytes and an increased phagocytosis was seen after operation. These findings correlated to the presence of viral and parasitic infections postoperatively. Preoperative antipneumococcal vaccination prevented infections by this agent. Thus, appropriate preventive measures must be taken to deal with altered immunological responses after splenectomy.

Air pollution impact on phagocytic capacity of peripheral blood macrophages and antioxidant activity of plasma among school children.

Peripheral blood macrophages of school children from downtown Santiago, Chile--a highly polluted city--exhibited a lower phagocytic index with higher percentage of killing than those of the rural village of María Pinto. These findings were observed concomitantly with a lower antioxidant activity of plasma in Santiago students. No differences were observed in serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM), secretory IgA in saliva, and complement component C3. White blood cell count was higher in María Pinto residents than in Santiago students, including those cells with phagocytic capacity. It is suggested that particulate air pollution may enhance macrophage activity with impairment of the antioxidant capacity of plasma.