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Even though deficits in social cognition constitute a core characteristic of autism spectrum disorders, a large heterogeneity exists regarding individual social performances and its neural basis remains poorly investigated. Here, we used eye-tracking to objectively measure interindividual variability in social perception and its correlation with white matter microstructure, measured with diffusion tensor imaging MRI, in 25 children with autism spectrum disorder (8.5 ± 3.8 years). Beyond confirming deficits in social perception in participants with autism spectrum disorder compared 24 typically developing controls (10.5 ± 2.9 years), results revealed a large interindividual variability of such behavior among individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Whole-brain analysis showed in both autism spectrum disorder and typically developing groups a positive correlation between number of fixations to the eyes and fractional anisotropy values mainly in right and left superior longitudinal tracts. In children with autism spectrum disorder a correlation was also observed in right and left inferior longitudinal tracts. Importantly, a significant interaction between group and number of fixations to the eyes was observed within the anterior portion of the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, mainly in the right anterior temporal region. This additional correlation in a supplementary region suggests the existence of a compensatory brain mechanism, which may support enhanced performance in social perception among children with autism spectrum disorder.
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Trastorno del Espectro Autista , Sustancia Blanca , Niño , Humanos , Imagen de Difusión Tensora/métodos , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/diagnóstico por imagen , Tecnología de Seguimiento Ocular , Encéfalo/diagnóstico por imagen , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Sustancia Blanca/diagnóstico por imagen , Percepción Social , AnisotropíaRESUMEN
Non-optimal wound management and late referral to specialised units negatively impacts patient prognosis and quality of life, as well as healthcare costs. Healico is a new mobile application (app), created in the wound care field, in response to the challenges and difficulties encountered by health professionals (HPs) who deal with patients with wounds on a daily basis. This article aims to describe how this new app was developed, how it works, as well as the real-life clinical benefits and evidence supporting its use. The Healico App assists nurses, physicians and other HPs by: supporting a holistic approach to patient management; facilitating wound assessment and documentation, irrespective of where care is provided (primary, specialised or hospital services, in either public or private institutions); and supporting consistent and safe clinical practice, as well as reducing variation in care. It also provides a fast, fluid and secure communication channel, and effective coordination between HPs, supporting early interventions. The app has also been shown to improve therapeutic adherence of patients by promoting inclusive dialogue with them.
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Vendajes , Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Cicatrización de HeridasRESUMEN
Medical treatment with chemotherapy is discussed in several situations in the treatment of colon cancer. In the adjuvant setting, chemotherapy with 5FU±oxaliplatin for six months should be considered in the case of lymph node involvement. In the metastatic setting, several protocols exist. The choice of treatments should be based on the expected objectives in terms of response and survival gain, but also of tolerance and quality of life for the patient. A thorough oncogeriatric assessment helps to better define the therapeutic programme. The continuation of geriatric follow-up throughout the treatment process shows a benefit for the patient in terms of quality of life and tolerance of treatments.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales , Calidad de Vida , Anciano , Neoplasias Colorrectales/terapia , Humanos , Oxaliplatino/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
The intra-axonal water exchange time (τi), a parameter associated with axonal permeability, could be an important biomarker for understanding and treating demyelinating pathologies such as Multiple Sclerosis. Diffusion-Weighted MRI (DW-MRI) is sensitive to changes in permeability; however, the parameter has so far remained elusive due to the lack of general biophysical models that incorporate it. Machine learning based computational models can potentially be used to estimate such parameters. Recently, for the first time, a theoretical framework using a random forest (RF) regressor suggests that this is a promising new approach for permeability estimation. In this study, we adopt such an approach and for the first time experimentally investigate it for demyelinating pathologies through direct comparison with histology. We construct a computational model using Monte Carlo simulations and an RF regressor in order to learn a mapping between features derived from DW-MRI signals and ground truth microstructure parameters. We test our model in simulations, and find strong correlations between the predicted and ground truth parameters (intra-axonal volume fraction f: R2 =0.99, τi: R2 =0.84, intrinsic diffusivity d: R2 =0.99). We then apply the model in-vivo, on a controlled cuprizone (CPZ) mouse model of demyelination, comparing the results from two cohorts of mice, CPZ (N=8) and healthy age-matched wild-type (WT, N=8). We find that the RF model estimates sensible microstructure parameters for both groups, matching values found in literature. Furthermore, we perform histology for both groups using electron microscopy (EM), measuring the thickness of the myelin sheath as a surrogate for exchange time. Histology results show that our RF model estimates are very strongly correlated with the EM measurements (ρ = 0.98 for f, ρ = 0.82 for τi). Finally, we find a statistically significant decrease in τi in all three regions of the corpus callosum (splenium/genu/body) of the CPZ cohort (<τi>=310ms/330ms/350ms) compared to the WT group (<τi>=370ms/370ms/380ms). This is in line with our expectations that τi is lower in regions where the myelin sheath is damaged, as axonal membranes become more permeable. Overall, these results demonstrate, for the first time experimentally and in vivo, that a computational model learned from simulations can reliably estimate microstructure parameters, including the axonal permeability .
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Axones/patología , Cuerpo Calloso/patología , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes/diagnóstico por imagen , Aprendizaje Automático , Sustancia Blanca/diagnóstico por imagen , Animales , Axones/metabolismo , Axones/ultraestructura , Simulación por Computador , Cuerpo Calloso/ultraestructura , Cuprizona/toxicidad , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes/inducido químicamente , Enfermedades Desmielinizantes/patología , Imagen de Difusión por Resonancia Magnética , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Ratones , Microscopía Electrónica , Inhibidores de la Monoaminooxidasa/toxicidad , Método de Montecarlo , Permeabilidad , Sustancia Blanca/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Genome-edited donor-derived allogeneic anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells offer a novel form of CAR-T-cell product that is available for immediate clinical use, thereby broadening access and applicability. UCART19 is one such product investigated in children and adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Two multicentre phase 1 studies aimed to investigate the feasibility, safety, and antileukaemic activity of UCART19 in children and adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. METHODS: We enrolled paediatric or adult patients in two ongoing, multicentre, phase 1 clinical trials to evaluate the safety and antileukaemic activity of UCART19. All patients underwent lymphodepletion with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide with or without alemtuzumab, then children received UCART19 at 1·1-2·3â×â106 cells per kg and adults received UCART19 doses of 6â×â106 cells, 6-8â×â107 cells, or 1·8-2·4â×â108 cells in a dose-escalation study. The primary outcome measure was adverse events in the period between first infusion and data cutoff. These studies were registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02808442 and NCT02746952. FINDINGS: Between June 3, 2016, and Oct 23, 2018, seven children and 14 adults were enrolled in the two studies and received UCART19. Cytokine release syndrome was the most common adverse event and was observed in 19 patients (91%); three (14%) had grade 3-4 cytokine release syndrome. Other adverse events were grade 1 or 2 neurotoxicity in eight patients (38%), grade 1 acute skin graft-versus-host disease in two patients (10%), and grade 4 prolonged cytopenia in six patients (32%). Two treatment-related deaths occurred; one caused by neutropenic sepsis in a patient with concurrent cytokine release syndrome and one from pulmonary haemorrhage in a patient with persistent cytopenia. 14 (67%) of 21 patients had a complete response or complete response with incomplete haematological recovery 28 days after infusion. Patients not receiving alemtuzumab (n=4) showed no UCART19 expansion or antileukaemic activity. The median duration of response was 4·1 months with ten (71%) of 14 responders proceeding to a subsequent allogeneic stem-cell transplant. Progression-free survival at 6 months was 27%, and overall survival was 55%. INTERPRETATION: These two studies show, for the first time, the feasibility of using allogeneic, genome-edited CAR T cells to treat patients with aggressive leukaemia. UCART19 exhibited in-vivo expansion and antileukaemic activity with a manageable safety profile in heavily pretreated paediatric and adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. The results this study are an encouraging step forward for the field of allogeneic CAR T cells, and UCART19 offers the opportunity to treat patients with rapidly progressive disease and where autologous CAR-T-cell therapy is unavailable. FUNDING: Servier.
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Antígenos CD19/inmunología , Leucemia-Linfoma Linfoblástico de Células Precursoras/terapia , Receptores Quiméricos de Antígenos/uso terapéutico , Adulto , Preescolar , Síndrome de Liberación de Citoquinas/etiología , Estudios de Factibilidad , Femenino , Edición Génica , Humanos , Inmunoterapia Adoptiva/efectos adversos , MasculinoRESUMEN
PURPOSE: Acquisition time is a major limitation in recovering brain white matter microstructure with diffusion magnetic resonance imaging. The aim of this paper is to bridge the gap between growing demands on spatiotemporal resolution of diffusion signal and the real-world time limitations. The authors introduce an acquisition scheme that reduces the number of samples under adjustable quality loss. METHODS: Finding a sampling scheme that maximizes signal quality and satisfies given time constraints is NP-hard. Therefore, a heuristic method based on genetic algorithm is proposed in order to find suboptimal solutions in acceptable time. The analyzed diffusion signal representation is defined in the qτ space, so that it captures both spacial and temporal phenomena. RESULTS: The experiments on synthetic data and in vivo diffusion images of the C57Bl6 wild-type mouse corpus callosum reveal superiority of the proposed approach over random sampling and even distribution in the qτ space. CONCLUSIONS: The use of genetic algorithm allows to find acquisition parameters that guarantee high signal reconstruction accuracy under given time constraints. In practice, the proposed approach helps to accelerate the acquisition for the use of qτ-dMRI signal representation.
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Cuerpo Calloso/diagnóstico por imagen , Imagen de Difusión por Resonancia Magnética , Interpretación de Imagen Asistida por Computador/métodos , Sustancia Blanca/diagnóstico por imagen , Algoritmos , Animales , Simulación por Computador , Difusión , Análisis de Fourier , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Modelos Estadísticos , Probabilidad , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Relación Señal-Ruido , Procesos EstocásticosRESUMEN
The mesencephalic locomotor region (MLR) is a highly preserved brainstem structure in vertebrates. The MLR performs a crucial role in locomotion but also controls various other functions such as sleep, attention, and even emotion. The MLR comprises the pedunculopontine (PPN) and cuneiform nuclei (CuN) but their specific roles are still unknown in primates. Here, we sought to characterise the inputs and outputs of the PPN and CuN to and from the basal ganglia, thalamus, amygdala and cortex, with a specific interest in identifying functional anatomical territories. For this purpose, we used tract-tracing techniques in monkeys and diffusion weighted imaging-based tractography in humans to understand structural connectivity. We found that MLR connections are broadly similar between monkeys and humans. The PPN projects to the sensorimotor, associative and limbic territories of the basal ganglia nuclei, the centre median-parafascicular thalamic nuclei and the central nucleus of the amygdala. The PPN receives motor cortical inputs and less abundant connections from the associative and limbic cortices. In monkeys, we found a stronger connection between the anterior PPN and motor cortex suggesting a topographical organisation of this specific projection. The CuN projected to similar cerebral structures to the PPN in both species. However, these projections were much stronger towards the limbic territories of the basal ganglia and thalamus, to the basal forebrain (extended amygdala) and the central nucleus of the amygdala, suggesting that the CuN is not primarily a motor structure. Our findings highlight the fact that the PPN integrates sensorimotor, cognitive and emotional information whereas the CuN participates in a more restricted network integrating predominantly emotional information.
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Locomoción/fisiología , Mesencéfalo/anatomía & histología , Mesencéfalo/fisiología , Primates/fisiología , Adulto , Animales , Ganglios Basales/fisiología , Mapeo Encefálico , Chlorocebus aethiops , Imagen de Difusión Tensora , Femenino , Humanos , Procesamiento de Imagen Asistido por Computador , Macaca fascicularis , Masculino , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Aggregation behaviour is the tendency for animals to group together, which may have important consequences on individual fitness. We used a combination of experimental and simulation approaches to study how genetic variation and social environment interact to influence aggregation dynamics in Drosophila To do this, we used two different natural lines of Drosophila that arise from a polymorphism in the foraging gene (rovers and sitters). We placed groups of flies in a heated arena. Flies could freely move towards one of two small, cooler refuge areas. In groups of the same strain, sitters had a greater tendency to aggregate. The observed behavioural variation was based on only two parameters: the probability of entering a refuge and the likelihood of choosing a refuge based on the number of individuals present. We then directly addressed how different strains interact by mixing rovers and sitters within a group. Aggregation behaviour of each line was strongly affected by the presence of the other strain, without changing the decision rules used by each. Individuals obeying local rules shaped complex group dynamics via a constant feedback loop between the individual and the group. This study could help to identify the circumstances under which particular group compositions may improve individual fitness through underlying aggregation mechanisms under specific environmental conditions.
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Drosophila melanogaster/fisiología , Variación Genética , Fenotipo , Animales , Toma de Decisiones , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Femenino , Modelos Biológicos , Conducta Social , Medio SocialRESUMEN
Cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) mediate the entry of L-type cationic amino acids (arginine, ornithine and lysine) into the cells including neurons. CAT-3, encoded by the SLC7A3 gene on chromosome X, is one of the three CATs present in the human genome, with selective expression in brain. SLC7A3 is highly intolerant to variation in humans, as attested by the low frequency of deleterious variants in available databases, but the impact on variants in this gene in humans remains undefined. In this study, we identified a missense variant in SLC7A3, encoding the CAT-3 cationic amino acid transporter, on chromosome X by exome sequencing in two brothers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We then sequenced the SLC7A3 coding sequence in 148 male patients with ASD and identified three additional rare missense variants in unrelated patients. Functional analyses of the mutant transporters showed that two of the four identified variants cause severe or moderate loss of CAT-3 function due to altered protein stability or abnormal trafficking to the plasma membrane. The patient with the most deleterious SLC7A3 variant had high-functioning autism and epilepsy, and also carries a de novo 16p11.2 duplication possibly contributing to his phenotype. This study shows that rare hypomorphic variants of SLC7A3 exist in male individuals and suggest that SLC7A3 variants possibly contribute to the etiology of ASD in male subjects in association with other genetic factors.
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Sistemas de Transporte de Aminoácidos Básicos/genética , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Animales , Biotinilación , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Niño , Cromosomas Humanos X/genética , Epilepsia/complicaciones , Epilepsia/genética , Frecuencia de los Genes , Humanos , Pérdida de Heterocigocidad , Masculino , Conformación Molecular , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Mutación , Mutación Missense , Oocitos/metabolismo , Linaje , Fenotipo , Xenopus laevisRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Deletions and mutations involving the SHANK3 gene lead to a nonspecific clinical presentation with moderate to profound intellectual disability, severely delayed or absent speech, and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Better knowledge of the clinical spectrum of SHANK3 haploinsufficiency is useful to facilitate clinical care monitoring and to guide molecular diagnosis, essential for genetic counselling. CASE PRESENTATION: Here, we report a detailed clinical description of a 10-year-old girl carrying a pathogenic interstitial 22q13.3 deletion encompassing only the first 17 exons of SHANK3. The clinical features displayed by the girl strongly suggested the diagnosis of dementia infantilis, described by Heller in 1908, also known as childhood disintegrative disorder. CONCLUSION: Our present case confirms several observations according to which regression may be part of the clinical phenotype of SHANK3 haploinsufficiency. Therefore, we think it is crucial to look for mutations in the gene SHANK3 in patients diagnosed for childhood disintegrative disorder or any developmental disorder with a regressive pattern involving social and communicative skills as well as cognitive and instinctual functions, with onset around 3 years.
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Trastorno del Espectro Autista/genética , Cromosomas Humanos Par 22/genética , Demencia/genética , Eliminación de Gen , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Trastorno del Espectro Autista/psicología , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/genética , Fenotipo , Regresión PsicológicaAsunto(s)
Neoplasias de la Mama/diagnóstico por imagen , Tumores Fibrosos Solitarios/diagnóstico por imagen , Biopsia con Aguja Gruesa , Neoplasias de la Mama/metabolismo , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/cirugía , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunohistoquímica , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Mamografía , Persona de Mediana Edad , Tumores Fibrosos Solitarios/metabolismo , Tumores Fibrosos Solitarios/patología , Tumores Fibrosos Solitarios/cirugía , Ultrasonografía MamariaRESUMEN
Today, UV filters are found as contaminants in a variety of biological fluids and environment, e.g. in vegetable crops and surface water. This is because UV filters are widely used in everyday products. In this context, we focused this study on cosmetic products, in order to assess the importance of this source of contamination. The study of 742 cosmetic products, excluding actual sunscreen products, but including hygiene, personal care and make-up products and perfumes revealed that the most common UV filters present are butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (90 products or 12.1% of products tested), octyl methoxycinnamate (75 products or 10.1% of products tested), octocrylene (62 products or 8.3% of products tested), octyl salicylate (43 products or 5.8% of products tested) and titanium dioxide (33 products or 4.4% of products tested). Very few UV filters are found in the hygiene products (only in 12 shampoos/conditioners and in 2 shower gels) and deodorants and toothpastes are completely free of them. Conversely, make-up and perfumes are frequently formulated with at least one UV filter. Seventy-five of the two hundred and forty-four (or 30.7%) skincare products studied contained at least one UV filter. 49.1 of the makeup products studied and 74.3% of perfumes contained it.
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Cosméticos , Perfumes , Protectores Solares , Rayos UltravioletaRESUMEN
Organisms that face behavioural challenges can use different types of information to guide their decisions. First, they can use the personal information they sample in their environment. Second, they can use the inadvertent social information provided by the behaviour of conspecifics or heterospecifics (i.e. public information). Currently, little is known about the interaction between genetic variation and the use of personal versus public information in natural populations. Here, we investigated whether a natural genetic polymorphism affects the use of personal versus public information in a spatial learning task in Drosophila melanogaster. We found that genetic variation at the foraging locus interacts with social context during spatial learning. While both allelic variants are able to use personal and public information to improve their navigation during 10 training trials, a probe trial revealed that individuals carrying the for(R) (rover) allele rely mainly on personal information, whereas individuals carrying the for(s) (sitter) allele either use or display more public information than rovers. Accordingly, transfer of social information is more important in groups of sitters than in groups of rovers. These results suggest that a positive feedback loop can occur between alleles promoting group living, such as for(s), and the use and/or display of public information, ultimately providing the opportunity for the joint evolution of sociality and cultural traits.
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Evolución Biológica , Drosophila melanogaster/genética , Aprendizaje/fisiología , Polimorfismo Genético/genética , Conducta Espacial/fisiología , Animales , Proteínas Quinasas Dependientes de GMP Cíclico/genética , Proteínas de Drosophila/genética , Calor , Teoría de la Información , Locomoción/fisiología , Modelos de Riesgos ProporcionalesRESUMEN
We report here on two patients with Xq25 duplication encompassing GRIA3 gene, encoding glutamate receptor, ionotropic, AMPA subunit 3. The first case of Xq25 duplication was identified using genome-wide array comparative genomic hybridization (array-CGH) in a 24-year-old patient with syndromic intellectual disability. Based on similar facial features, we clinically suspected a second case of Xq25 duplication in a 4-year-old boy with intellectual disabilty. This duplication was confirmed by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) of the GRIA3 gene, as well as by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and further refined by array-CGH. We suggest that Xq25 duplication is responsible for a novel clinically recognizable X-linked intellectual disability. Finally, the review of so far published Xq25 duplications support, in addition to the role of GRIA3 gene, a potential contribution of the duplication of STAG2 (Stromal Antigen 2) gene coding for the subunit SA1 of the cohesin complex in the clinical phenotype.
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Anomalías Múltiples/genética , Antígenos Nucleares/genética , Enfermedades Genéticas Ligadas al Cromosoma X/genética , Discapacidad Intelectual Ligada al Cromosoma X/genética , Receptores AMPA/genética , Trisomía/genética , Encéfalo/patología , Proteínas de Ciclo Celular , Preescolar , Cromosomas Humanos X/diagnóstico por imagen , Cromosomas Humanos X/genética , Hibridación Genómica Comparativa , Duplicación de Gen , Estudios de Asociación Genética , Enfermedades Genéticas Ligadas al Cromosoma X/diagnóstico por imagen , Humanos , Hibridación Fluorescente in Situ , Masculino , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa Multiplex , Fenotipo , Radiografía , Aberraciones Cromosómicas Sexuales , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: A number of characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are over-represented among patients with Anorexia Nervosa (AN) as well as among relatives of these patients. Yet the co-occurrence of autistic traits in AN has not been fully explored and no previous study has directly compared self-reported evaluations of cognitive and socio-affective skills in AN and ASD. METHODS: We aimed to determine the degree of overlap between AN and ASD from scores on questionnaires classically used to measure ASD impairments. Fifteen AN participants, 15 ASD participants and two groups of matched controls completed a battery of self-reports measuring: autistic traits (Autism-Spectrum Quotient), empathy (Empathy Quotient-short and Interpersonal Reactivity Index), systemizing (Systemizing Quotient-short) and alexithymia (Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire-B). Univariate comparisons of mean totalled scores were performed on each measure (patients vs. controls, and AN vs. ASD), and a Principal Component Analysis was used to study subject proximities in a reduced-factor space constructed from AQ, BVAQ-B and IRI subscales. RESULTS: These analyses revealed similarities in a few cognitive domains (Attention Switching, Perspective Taking and Fantasy, lack of emotional introspection) and in some nonspecific affective dimensions (depression and feelings of distress), but also marked dissimilarities in social skills (the ability to communicate emotions to others, empathizing). CONCLUSION: The AN and ASD participants reported similar needs for sameness, and similar difficulties understanding their emotions and taking the perspective of another, but contrasting abilities to feel concerned in interpersonal situations. Our mixed findings encourage further exploration of transdiagnostic similarities and associations between these disorders.
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Síntomas Afectivos/complicaciones , Anorexia Nerviosa/complicaciones , Trastorno Autístico/complicaciones , Depresión/complicaciones , Adolescente , Adulto , Síntomas Afectivos/diagnóstico , Trastorno Autístico/diagnóstico , Depresión/diagnóstico , Autoevaluación Diagnóstica , Empatía , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Escalas de Valoración Psiquiátrica , PsicometríaRESUMEN
Carpooling is an integral component in smart carbon-neutral cities, in particular to facilitate home-work commuting. We study an innovative carpooling service which offers stochastic passenger-driver matching. Stochastic matching is when a passenger makes a carpooling request, and then waits for the first driver from a population of drivers who are already en route. Crucially a designated driver is not assigned as in a traditional carpooling service. For this new form of stochastic carpooling, we propose a two-stage Bayesian hierarchical model to predict the driver flow and the passenger waiting times. The first stage focuses on prediction of the aggregated daily driver flows, and the second stage processes these daily driver flow into hourly predictions of the passenger waiting times. We demonstrate, for an operational carpooling service, that the predictions from our Bayesian hierarchical model outperform the predictions from a frequentist model and a Bayesian non-hierarchical model. The inferences from our proposed model provide insights for the service operator in their evidence-based decision making.
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Background: Individuals with Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) present with a wide range of diagnoses: autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability, or schizophrenia. Differences in the genetic background could explain these different neurodevelopmental trajectories. However, a more parsimonious hypothesis is to consider that they may be the same phenotypic entity. Catatonic disturbances occasionally reported from adolescence onwards in PMS prompts exploration of the hypothesis that this clinical entity may be an early-onset form of catatonia. The largest cohort of children with childhood catatonia was studied by the Wernicke-Kleist-Leonhard school (WKL school), which regards catatonia as a collection of qualitative abnormalities of psychomotricity that predominantly affecting involuntary motricity (reactive and expressive). The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of psychomotor signs in three young adults carrying a mutation or intragenic deletion of the SHANK3 gene through the prism of the WKL school conception of catatonia. Methods: This study was designed as an exploratory case study. Current and childhood psychomotor phenomena were investigated through semi-structured interviews with the parents, direct interaction with the participants, and the study of documents reporting observations of the participants at school or by other healthcare professionals. Results: The findings show catatonic manifestations from childhood that evolved into a chronic form, with possible phases of sub-acute exacerbations starting from adolescence. Conclusion: The presence of catatonic symptoms from childhood associated with autistic traits leads us to consider that this singular entity fundamentally related to SHANK3 mutations could be a form of early-onset catatonia. Further case studies are needed to confirm our observations.
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BACKGROUND: X-linked cerebral creatine deficiency is caused by the deficiency of the creatine transporter (CTP) encoded by the SLC6A8 gene. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report here a series of six patients with severe CTP deficiency, four males and two females; clinical presentations include mild to severe mental retardation (6/6), associated with psychiatric symptoms (5/6: autistic behaviour, chronic hallucinatory psychosis), seizures (2/6) and muscular symptoms (2/4 males). Diagnosis was suspected upon elevated urinary creatine/creatinine (except in one of the female patients) and on a markedly decreased creatine peak on magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). Diagnosis was confirmed by molecular analysis that identified four novel mutations not reported so far, including a mutation found twice in two male patients. All patients were treated successively and according to the same protocol by creatine alone then combined to its precursors, L-glycine and L-arginine for 42 months. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: In our patients, creatine supplementation alone or with its precursors L-glycine and L-arginine showed benefit only in the muscular symptoms of the disease and no improvement in the cognitive and psychiatric manifestations and did not modify brain creatine content on MRS of male and female CTP deficient patients. New treatment strategies are required including creatine derivatives transported independently from CTP or using alternative pathways and transporters.
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Trastornos Innatos del Transporte de Aminoácidos/terapia , Arginina/uso terapéutico , Creatina/uso terapéutico , Glicina/uso terapéutico , Proteínas de Transporte de Membrana/genética , Proteínas del Tejido Nervioso/genética , Proteínas de Transporte de Neurotransmisores en la Membrana Plasmática/genética , Administración Oral , Adolescente , Niño , Preescolar , Trastornos del Conocimiento/diagnóstico , Femenino , Humanos , Discapacidad Intelectual/diagnóstico , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética/métodos , MasculinoRESUMEN
Exudate control is important in the management of both acute and chronic wounds. A new category of absorbent dressings that contain superabsorbent particles promises high absorbency. The aim of this multicentre, prospective, non-comparative observational study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy and absorbent capacity of a superabsorbent dressing. Fifteen inpatients and outpatients with highly exuding wounds were included. Most patients (n=8) (53%) had chronic wounds; 20% (n=3) had ulcerating tumours. The superabsorbent dressing was used as a primary or a secondary dressing. Assessment was on day 0 (start), day 3 and day 7 (end of study). The study looked at wound bed and periwound skin condition, exudate production, pain upon dressing removal, reason for dressing removal, and frequency of dressing changes. A clinical visual scoring tool was used, together with digital photographs, which were assessed by the same experienced clinician. All 15 patients completed the study, during which no adverse events were noted. At day 7, maceration had reduced from 46.7% (n=7) at day 0 to 6.7% (n=1). After only 3 days, dressing change frequency was reduced from once daily to twice weekly in 80% (n=12) of patients. The superabsorbent dressing seems to reduce complications associated with exudate production, stimulate wound healing and increase patient comfort; it may also save time and costs for caregivers.
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Vendajes , Heridas y Lesiones/terapia , Absorción , Humanos , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
Next-generation sequencing techniques have accelerated the discovery of rare mutations responsible for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in genes involved in a large number of physiological processes, including the control of gene expression, chromatin remodeling, signaling pathways, synaptic scaffolding, neurotransmitter receptors, and lipid metabolism. Genetic diagnosis provides subjects with an explanation of the cause of their disorder. However, it does not, or at least does not yet, shed light on the psychopathological phenomena specific to the individual. It could be hypothesized that each physiological impact of a mutation corresponds to a specific psychopathological phenomenon of ASD, i.e., "a psychopathological natural kind". We discuss here the difficulties identifying this specificity of underlying psychopathology in individuals with ASD due to a rare mutation with a major effect. A comparison of Newson's pathological demand avoidance and Wing's Asperger's syndrome with Asperger's autistic psychopathy highlights different ways of approaching psychopathological descriptions and diagnosis, by focusing on either common or unusual features. Such a comparison calls into question the principles of clinical research recommended by Falret for characterizing "disease individuality" of ASD due to a rare mutation.