Introduction of artificial light at night increases the abundance of predators, scavengers, and parasites in arthropod communities.

While recent studies explore the negative impacts of light pollution on arthropods, few studies investigated community-level responses to artificial light. Using an array of landscaping lights and pitfall traps, we track community composition over 15 consecutive days and nights, including a five-night pre-light period, a five-night during-light period, and a five-night post-light period. Our results highlight a trophic-level response to artificial nighttime lighting with shifts in the presence and abundance of predators, scavengers, parasites, and herbivores. We show that associated trophic shifts occurred immediately upon the introduction of artificial light at night and are limited to nocturnal communities. Lastly, trophic levels reverted to their pre-light state, suggesting many short-term changes in communities are likely the result of behavioral shifts. These trophic shifts may become common as light pollution increases, implicating artificial light as a cause of global arthropod community change and highlighting light pollution's role in global herbivorous arthropod decline.

SOD1, ANG, TARDBP and FUS mutations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a United States clinical testing lab experience.

SOD1, ANG, TARDBP and FUS mutations have been associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our goal was to extend molecular genetic analysis to newly identified ALS genetic loci and to determine the frequency of mutations, distribution of disease genes, and variant spectrum of these genes in a large United States ALS-phenotype cohort. We screened 1220 probands with an ALS phenotype, referred originally for SOD1 molecular genetic analysis. 1128 SOD1-negative probands were screened for ANG, and 277 and 223 SOD1- and ANG-negative samples were screened for TARDBP and FUS, respectively. One hundred additional probands were specifically screened only for FUS exon 15. We identified a total of 36 different SOD1 mutations, including three novel mutations, in 92 probands. ANG screening identified three mutations, including two novel mutations, and TARDBP screening identified two previously reported TARDBP mutations. We also identified four mutations in FUS, including the reported FUS in-frame deletion, c.430_447del, p.Gly144_Tyr149del, in a patient with inclusion body myositis, and two known FUS missense mutations. From this study, we estimate frequencies for SOD1, ANG, TARDBP and FUS mutations, in this United States cohort, to be 7.5%, 0.71%, 0.72% and 1.9%, respectively. In conclusion, we identify novel variants in SOD1, ANG, TARDBP and FUS, and expand the FUS-associated clinicopathologic phenotype.

No fry zones: How restaurant distribution and abundance influence avian communities in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area.

Urbanization is one of the most widespread and extreme examples of habitat alteration. As humans dominate landscapes, they introduce novel elements into environments, including artificial light, noise pollution, and anthropogenic food sources. One understudied form of anthropogenic food is refuse from restaurants, which can alter wildlife populations and, in turn, entire wildlife communities by providing a novel and stable food source. Using data from the Maricopa Association of Governments and the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long Term Ecological Research (CAP LTER) project, we investigated whether and how the distribution of restaurants influences avian communities. The research aimed to identify restaurants, and thus the associated food they may provide, as the driver of potential patterns by controlling for other influences of urbanization, including land cover and the total number of businesses. Using generalized linear mixed models, we tested whether the number of restaurants within 1 km of bird monitoring locations predict avian community richness and abundance and individual species abundance and occurrence patterns. Results indicate that restaurants may decrease avian species diversity and increase overall abundance. Additionally, restaurants may be a significant predictor of the overall abundance of urban-exploiting species, including rock pigeon (Columba livia), mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), and Inca dove (Columbina Inca). Understanding how birds utilize anthropogenic food sources can inform possible conservation or wildlife management practices. As this study highlights only correlations, we suggest further experimental work to address the physiological ramifications of consuming anthropogenic foods provided by restaurants and studies to quantify how frequently anthropogenic food sources are used compared to naturally occurring sources.

Vitrectomy With Sequential Internal Limiting Membrane Peeling and Flap Formation in Closure of a Large, Traumatic Macular Hole.

Purpose: We report the use of sequential vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane (ILM) flaps in closure of a chronic, large, traumatic macular hole (MH) in a 32-year-old male patient. Methods: The patient underwent vitrectomy using a sequential ILM flap technique. Results: This sequential ILM flap technique resulted in complete closure of the MH and improvement in visual acuity. In this case, a second ILM flap procedure allowed for successful closure of a traumatic MH. Conclusions: This case suggests that the MH's closure may have been facilitated by both relief of tangential traction on the retina as well as glial tissue proliferation from presence of the ILM flap.

Acute-onset postoperative endophthalmitis after cataract surgery and transzonular intravitreal triamcinolone-moxifloxacin.

PURPOSE: To report 4 cases of acute postoperative endophthalmitis (POE) after uneventful temporal clear corneal topical dropless cataract surgery involving intravitreal triamcinolone-moxifloxacin (TriMoxi). SETTING: Private practice in Peoria, IL, USA. DESIGN: Retrospective noncomparative case series. METHODS: Charts of patients presenting with POE after an uneventful temporal clear corneal phacoemulsification with in-the-bag implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens over a 15-month period were reviewed. RESULTS: Patients presented with typical signs and symptoms of acute POE 3 to 14 days after cataract surgery. The POE resolved after 25-gauge pars plana vitrectomy and injection of intravitreal vancomycin, ceftazidime, and dexamethasone. Two of 4 eyes were culture-positive for coagulase-negative Staphylococcus. The corrected distance visual acuity at the last follow-up visit was 20/40 or better in 3 eyes, and 20/400 in 1 eye because of underlying atrophic age-related macular degeneration. CONCLUSION: Postoperative endophthalmitis can occur after dropless cataract surgery with intravitreal triamcinolone-moxifloxacin.

Thioredoxin1 upregulates mitochondrial proteins related to oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cycle in the heart.

Thioredoxin1 (Trx1) inhibits hypertrophy and exhibits protective functions in the heart. To elucidate further the cardiac functions of Trx1, we used a DNA microarray analysis, with hearts from transgenic mice with cardiac- specific overexpression of Trx1 (Tg-Trx1, n = 4) and nontransgenic controls (n = 4). Expression of a large number of genes is regulated in Tg-Trx1, with a greater number of genes downregulated, versus upregulated, at high-fold changes. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1gamma) gene was among the top 50 significantly upregulated genes. By pathway analyses, we found that genes involved in both mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and the TCA cycle were upregulated in Tg-Trx1. We confirmed upregulation of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) components and mitochondrial transcription factor A in Tg-Trx1. The activity of citrate synthase and COX and the cardiac ATP content were significantly higher in Tg-Trx1. A transcription factor binding-site analysis showed that upregulated genes frequently contained binding sites for nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1). Expression of NRF1 and PGC-1gamma was upregulated in Tg-Trx1, and Trx1 stimulated the transcriptional activity of NRF1 and NRF2 in cardiac myocytes. These results suggest that, in cardiac myocytes, Trx1 upregulates mitochondrial proteins and enhances mitochondrial functions, possibly through PGC-1alpha and NRFs.

Recovery of motor function after stroke.

Improvement of motor activity may occur after stroke. It may be because of recovery of marginally functional neurons. It may also occur by relearning, a process that strengthens existing pathways and may lead to new functional or structural changes- neuroplasticity. Clinical investigation into the treatment of chronic pain after thalamic infarction has shown improvement in motor function when pain relief is achieved with motor cortex stimulation. More recently, laboratory studies in rats and primates demonstrate significant improvement in forelimb reaching tasks in rats and primates after induced ischemic cortical infarction when rehabilitation is paired with stimulation of the injured cortex and cortical margin at low frequency (50 Hz). Structural changes have also been observed. Dendritic density in layer V of the cortex near the lesion increases after cortical stimulation, consistent with a restorative cortical plasticity. Also, stimulation combined with rehabilitation increases the area of the injured cortex from which movements can be evoked in response to stimulation of the injured cortex in rats. Unilateral cortical stimulation reduces secondary cortical hyperexcitability in the impaired hemisphere after stroke. These findings form the basis for the first clinical study motor cortex stimulation after chronic stroke in humans. A prospective, randomized multicenter study of subthreshold motor cortical electrical stimulation during rehabilitation in patients has been completed. The eight patients entered into this study had weakness from a stroke that occurred at least four months before enrollment. Results demonstrate that the treatment is safe. In addition, there was significant improvement in upper extremity function. These improvements persisted through the 12-week follow-up assessment period after completion of stimulation and rehabilitation. Recently, non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex demonstrates improvements in hand function that persist after stimulation for at least 25 minutes. Such work represents a paradigm shift in the approach towards rehabilitation of the stroke-injured brain away from pharmacologic flooding of neuronal receptors, instead towards targeted physiologic stimulation.

Use of functional MRI to guide decisions in a clinical stroke trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An investigational trial examined safety and efficacy of targeted subthreshold cortical stimulation in patients with chronic stroke. The anatomical location for the target, hand motor area, varies across subjects, and so was localized with functional MRI (fMRI). This report describes the experience of incorporating standardized fMRI into a multisite stroke trial. METHODS: At 3 enrollment centers, patients moved (0.25 Hz) the affected hand during fMRI. Hand motor function was localized at a fourth center guiding intervention for those randomized to stimulation. RESULTS: The fMRI results were available within 24 hours. Across 12 patients, activation site variability was substantial (12, 23, and 11 mm in x, y, and z directions), exceeding stimulating electrode dimensions. CONCLUSIONS: Use of fMRI to guide decision-making in a clinical stroke trial is feasible.

Percutaneous balloon compression for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia: results in 56 patients based on balloon compression pressure monitoring.

OBJECT: Percutaneous balloon compression is an effective and technically simple method for treating trigeminal neuralgia (TN). Nevertheless, dysesthesias (10-20%) and masseter muscle weakness (66%) following the procedure have been noted. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the results of testing TN with percutaneous balloon compression aided by intraluminal pressure monitoring. METHODS: In this study the authors review the results and complications associated with percutaneous balloon compression by using intraluminal pressure monitoring data obtained in 65 procedures performed in 56 consecutive patients over 4 years. The mean patient age was 71 years (range 37-92 years), and the mean follow-up duration was 17 months (range 3-38 months). The mean intraluminal compression pressure was (1160 +/- 62 mm Hg), and the mean duration of compression was 1.15 +/- 0.27 minutes. The trigeminal depressor response was observed in 60 (92%) of 65 procedures, and initial pain relief occurred in 92% of patients. The recurrence rate in patients who had initial relief was 16% (nine of 56). The mean time until recurrence in patients who experienced pain relief after surgery was 13 months (range 3-23 months). Mild numbness immediately after surgery was observed in 83% of patients. At the most recent evaluation, 17% of patients reported persistent, nontroublesome numbness and none had moderate or severe numbness. Minor dysesthesia was present in two patients (4%). Mild masseter muscle weakness occurred in 24% of patients and resolved within a maximum period of 1 year. No patient experienced anesthesia dolorosa, corneal keratitis, or other cranial nerve deficits. These morbidity rates are lower than the incidence reported in the literature when pressure monitoring is not used. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that by monitoring compression pressure and limiting the duration of compression, it is possible to reduce the incidence of dysesthesias, severe numbness, and masseter weakness after surgery without increasing the rate of recurrent pain in patients with classic TN.

Cognitive-motor integration deficits in young adult athletes following concussion.

BACKGROUND: The ability to perform visually-guided motor tasks requires the transformation of visual information into programmed motor outputs. When the guiding visual information does not align spatially with the motor output, the brain processes rules to integrate the information for an appropriate motor response. Here, we look at how performance on such tasks is affected in young adult athletes with concussion history. METHODS: Participants displaced a cursor from a central to peripheral targets on a vertical display by sliding their finger along a touch sensitive screen in one of two spatial planes. The addition of a memory component, along with variations in cursor feedback increased task complexity across conditions. RESULTS: Significant main effects between participants with concussion history and healthy controls without concussion history were observed in timing and accuracy measures. Importantly, the deficits were distinctly more pronounced for participants with concussion history compared to healthy controls, especially when the brain had to control movements having two levels of decoupling between vision and action. A discriminant analysis correctly classified athletes with a history of concussion based on task performance with an accuracy of 94 %, despite the majority of these athletes being rated asymptomatic by current standards. CONCLUSIONS: These findings correspond to our previous work with adults at risk of developing dementia, and support the use of cognitive motor integration as an enhanced assessment tool for those who may have mild brain dysfunction. Such a task may provide a more sensitive metric of performance relevant to daily function than what is currently in use, to assist in return to play/work/learn decisions.

Motor cortex stimulation for enhancement of recovery after stroke: case report.

We present a case report of a 65-year-old patient who had a subcortical infarct and a right spastic hemiparesis that occurred 19 months before being treated with an investigational therapy consisting of low frequency subthreshold epidural motor cortex electrical stimulation delivered during structured occupational therapy repeated daily for three weeks. Before treatment the patient's affected arm rested in a flexion posture and he was unable to flex or extend the fingers. After three weeks of treatment, the resting tone of his arm had improved and he was able to grasp a pen and write letters. The Fugl-Meyer motor scale score improved from 36 to 46 and this improvement was sustained for four weeks after the conclusion of rehabilitation therapy. This is the first patient to be entered into a randomized clinical feasibility and safety study assessing functional improvement in stroke patients treated with epidural cortical stimulation concurrent with occupational therapy (an investigational therapy).

Mapping individual brains to guide restorative therapy after stroke: rationale and pilot studies.

Some treatments under development to improve motor outcome after stroke require information about organization of individual subject's brain. The current study aimed to characterize normal inter-subject differences in localization of motor functions, and to consider these findings in relation to a potential treatment of motor deficits after stroke. Functional MRI (fMRI) scanning in 14 subjects examined right index finger tapping, shoulder rotation, or facial movement. The largest activation cluster in left sensorimotor cortex was identified for each task, and its center expressed in Talairach stereotaxic coordinates. Across subjects, each task showed considerable variability in activation site coordinates. For example, during finger tapping, the range for center of activation was 7 mm in the x-axis, 19 mm in the y-axis, and 11 mm in the z-axis. The mean value for center of activation was significantly different for all three coordinates for all pairwise task comparisons. However, the distribution of activation site centers for the finger task overlapped with the other two tasks in the x- and y-axes, and with the shoulder task in the z-axis. On average, the center of activation for the three motor tasks were spatially separated and somatotopically distributed. However, across the population, there was considerable overlap in the center of activation site, especially for finger and shoulder movements. Restorative therapies that aim to target specific body segments, such as the hand, in the post-stroke motor system may need to map the individual brain rather than rely on population averages. Initial details are presented of a study using this approach to evaluate such a therapy.

The neurosurgical treatment of neuropathic facial pain.

This article reviews the definition, etiology and evaluation, and medical and neurosurgical treatment of neuropathic facial pain. A neuropathic origin for facial pain should be considered when evaluating a patient for rhinologic surgery because of complaints of facial pain. Neuropathic facial pain is caused by vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve in the prepontine cistern and is characterized by an intermittent prickling or stabbing component or a constant burning, searing pain. Medical treatment consists of anticonvulsant medication. Neurosurgical treatment may require microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve.

Cyberknife radiosurgery in treating trigeminal neuralgia.

PURPOSE: To assess the short term efficacy of Cyberknife stereotactic radiosurgical treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN). METHODS: 17 consecutive patients with medically or surgically refractory unilateral TN were treated with Cyberknife radiosurgery. Using superimposed CT cisternogram and MR images, the target segment of the trigeminal nerve was consistently defined as a 6 mm length of nerve approximately 2-3 mm distal to the dorsal root entry zone of the brainstem. A radiosurgical rhizotomy was performed with the Cyberknife utilizing a single collimator to deliver an average maximum dose of 73.06 Gy (range 72.91-73.73) to the target. RESULTS: Follow-up data were available for 16 of the 17 patients post-treatment (range 1-27 months, average 11.8 months). Overall, 14 of 16 (88%) patients responded favorably with either partial or complete relief of symptomatology. 11 of these patients were successfully free of all pain at some point in their post-treatment course, with seven patients pain free to the last follow-up visit (average 5.0 months, range 1-13 months). Symptoms recurred in four patients, taking place at 3, 7.75, 9 and 18 months after Cyberknife therapy. Only two patients reported side effects. One patient developed a bothersome feathery dysesthesia while the second patient reported a non-bothersome mild jaw hypoesthesia. There were no substantial complications related to stereotactic radiosurgery. CONCLUSION: Cyberknife radiosurgery is a viable treatment alternative in patients with TN with competitive efficacy demonstrated in our group of patients while minimizing adverse effects.