The spike-timing-dependent plasticity of VIP interneurons in motor cortex.

The plasticity of inhibitory interneurons (INs) plays an important role in the organization and maintenance of cortical microcircuits. Given the many different IN types, there is an even greater diversity in synapse-type-specific plasticity learning rules at excitatory to excitatory (E→I), I→E, and I→I synapses. I→I synapses play a key disinhibitory role in cortical circuits. Because they typically target other INs, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) INs are often featured in I→I→E disinhibition, which upregulates activity in nearby excitatory neurons. VIP IN dysregulation may thus lead to neuropathologies such as epilepsy. In spite of the important activity regulatory role of VIP INs, their long-term plasticity has not been described. Therefore, we characterized the phenomenology of spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) at inputs and outputs of genetically defined VIP INs. Using a combination of whole-cell recording, 2-photon microscopy, and optogenetics, we explored I→I STDP at layer 2/3 (L2/3) VIP IN outputs onto L5 Martinotti cells (MCs) and basket cells (BCs). We found that VIP IN→MC synapses underwent causal long-term depression (LTD) that was presynaptically expressed. VIP IN→BC connections, however, did not undergo any detectable plasticity. Conversely, using extracellular stimulation, we explored E→I STDP at inputs to VIP INs which revealed long-term potentiation (LTP) for both causal and acausal timings. Taken together, our results demonstrate that VIP INs possess synapse-type-specific learning rules at their inputs and outputs. This suggests the possibility of harnessing VIP IN long-term plasticity to control activity-related neuropathologies such as epilepsy.

In-House 3D Printing and Model Processing Technique for Creating High-Fidelity Transparent Craniofacial Models.

SUMMARY: The use of high-fidelity stereolithographic models that accurately reflect patient-specific pathology has become commonplace in craniofacial surgery. Multiple studies have reported the use of commercially available three-dimensional (3D) printers that allow medical centers with limited resources to reconstruct 3D models comparable to industry-made counterparts. However, most models are printed using only a single filament, which portrays the surface craniofacial anatomy, but fails to highlight relevant intraosseous structures. This presents a significant limitation when used for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance in surgical procedures requiring osteotomies, where knowledge of the precise location of critical structures is paramount to avoid injury. The authors report a novel technique for creating transparent 3D models of relevant intraosseous craniofacial anatomy at a cost that mitigates the financial burden of industrial 3D model or industrial 3D printer acquisition. Cases are presented to demonstrate the diverse applications of this technique, with accurate display of the tooth roots, the inferior alveolar nerve, and the optic nerve, to aid in preoperative planning of osteotomies. This technique enables production of low-cost, high-fidelity transparent 3D models with applications in preoperative planning for craniofacial surgery.

Screening and characterization of vaginal fluid donations for vaginal microbiota transplantation.

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), the overgrowth of diverse anaerobic bacteria in the vagina, is the most common cause of vaginal symptoms worldwide. BV frequently recurs after antibiotic therapy, and the best probiotic treatments only result in transient changes from BV-associated states to "optimal" communities dominated by a single species of Lactobacillus. Therefore, additional treatment strategies are needed to durably alter vaginal microbiota composition for patients with BV. Vaginal microbiota transplantation (VMT), the transfer of vaginal fluid from a healthy person with an optimal vaginal microbiota to a recipient with BV, has been proposed as one such alternative. However, VMT carries potential risks, necessitating strict safety precautions. Here, we present an FDA-approved donor screening protocol and detailed methodology for donation collection, storage, screening, and analysis of VMT material. We find that Lactobacillus viability is maintained for over six months in donated material stored at - 80 °C without glycerol or other cryoprotectants. We further show that species-specific quantitative PCR for L. crispatus and L. iners can be used as a rapid initial screening strategy to identify potential donors with optimal vaginal microbiomes. Together, this work lays the foundation for designing safe, reproducible trials of VMT as a treatment for BV.

Racial and ethnic distribution of US randomized controlled trials in obstetrics: a retrospective review.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the racial and ethnic compositions of the participants in obstetric randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and compare them to the US general population. METHODS: RCTs published in two premier US journals, American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Obstetrics and Gynecology from January 2010 to April 2020 were analyzed. The racial and ethnic distributions of the study participants were extracted and expressed as percentages for each article. Obstetrics articles were selected and then further divided into subcategories. Statistical analyses were performed on racial and ethnicity representation in each subcategory compared to a US population norm. RESULTS: Overall, a wide variation of racial and ethnic distribution was noted among studies. However, statistically significant overrepresentation of Non-Hispanic Black population and underrepresentation of White and Asian races were noted while Hispanic population's representation was comparable to the US general population. This observation was persistent across most of the subcategories. CONCLUSIONS: RCTs in the field of Obstetrics showed an overrepresentation of Black population. This observation was unique when we consider the previous reports in other fields of medicine. These findings should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results of RCTs conducted in US.

Fecal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) RNA Is Associated With Decreased Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Survival.

The clinical significance of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) RNA in stool remains uncertain. We found that extrapulmonary dissemination of infection to the gastrointestinal tract, assessed by the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool, is associated with decreased coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) survival. Measurement of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool may have utility for clinical risk assessment.

Caracterización clínica de niños, niñas y adolescentes atendidos en una unidad de neuropsicología de Medellín, Colombia / Clinical characterization of children and adolescents attended in a neuropsychology unit of Medellín, Colombia

Introducción. La neuropsicología es el estudio de los procesos cognoscitivos comportamentales y sus alteraciones cuando se encuentra presente un daño o disfunción cerebral. En el caso de la neuropsicología infantil, esta busca evaluar e intervenir los procesos cognitivos relacionados con el aprendizaje que influyen en el desempeño académico, social, familiar y adaptativo. Objetivo. Caracterización clínica de niños y adolescentes que consultaron en la unidad de neuropsicología del Instituto Neurológico de Colombia entre los años 2013 - 2018. Métodos. Investigación observacional, descriptiva y transversal para una sola muestra de pacientes. Se extrajeron 17.623 registros de pacientes menores de 18 años que consultaron al servicio de neuropsicología del Instituto Neurológico de Colombia. Se analizaron las variables de edad, sexo y diagnóstico, mediante análisis univariados y bivariados. Se empleó la Clasificación internacional de Enfermedades (CIE-10). Resultados. Los principales diagnósticos de la población infantil fueron perturbación de la actividad y de la atención (31.9%), trastorno mixto de las habilidades escolares (2.6%) y retraso mental leve: deterioro del comportamiento significativo que requiere atención o tratamiento (2.6%). Conclusiones. Estos resultados muestran los principales tipos de trastornos neuropsicológicos de la población perteneciente al departamento de Antioquia que consulta para valoración e intervención cognitiva, lo que favorece la implementación mecanismos de prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento para la población infantil con alteraciones en el neurodesarrollo y sus familias, mejorando su funcionamiento social y escolar.

Introduction. Neuropsychology is the study of behavioral cognitive processes and their alterations when brain damage or dysfunction is present. In the case of childhood neuropsychology, it seeks to evaluate cognitive processes related to learning that influence academic, social, family and adaptive performance. Objective. Clinical characterization of children and adolescents who consulted in the neuropsychology unit of a Colombian Neurological Institute, between 2013 - 2018. Methods. Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional research for a single sample of patients. 17,623 records were extracted from patients under 18 who consulted the neuropsychology service of a neurological institute in the city. The variables of age, sex and diagnosis were analyzed, using univariate and bivariate analyses. The International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) was used. Results. The main diagnoses of the child population were activity and attention disturbance (31.9%), a mixed disorder of school skills (2.6%), mild mental retardation: the significant decline of the behavior that requires attention or treatment. Conclusions. These results show the most frequent neuropsychologic diagnosis of the Antioquia department residents that consult for cognitive attention and treatment, this benefits the implementation of prevention, diagnosis and treatment mechanism for the infant population with neurodevelopment disturbance and their families, improving their social and school functioning.