Watch brain circulation in unexplained progressive myelopathy: a review of Cognard type V arterio-venous fistulas.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial dural arterio-venous fistulas are pathological anastomoses between arteries and veins located within dural sheets and whose clinical manifestations depend on location and hemodynamic features. They can sometimes display perimedullary venous drainage (Cognard type V fistulas-CVFs) and present as a progressive myelopathy. Our review aims at describing CVFs' variety of clinical presentation, investigating a possible association between diagnostic delay and outcome and assessing whether there is a correlation between clinical and/or radiological signs and clinical outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search on Pubmed, looking for articles describing patients with CVFs complicated with myelopathy. RESULTS: A total of 72 articles for an overall of 100 patients were selected. The mean age was 56.20 ± 14.07, 72% of patients were man, and 58% received an initial misdiagnosis. CVFs showed a progressive onset in 65% of cases, beginning with motor symptoms in 79% of cases. As for the MRI, 81% presented spinal flow voids. The median time from symptoms' onset to diagnosis was 5 months with longer delays for patients experiencing worse outcomes. Finally, 67.1% of patients showed poor outcomes while the remaining 32.9% obtained a partial-to-full recovery. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed CVFs' broad clinical spectrum of presentation and found that the outcome is not associated with the severity of the clinical picture at onset, but it has a negative correlation with the length of diagnostic delay. We furthermore underlined the importance of cervico-dorsal perimedullary T1/T2 flow voids as a reliable MRI parameter to orient the diagnosis and distinguish CVFs from most of their mimics.

SORL1 gene mutation and octapeptide repeat insertion in PRNP gene in a case presenting with rapidly progressive dementia and cerebral amyloid angiopathy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) has been associated with a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, included prion diseases and Alzheimer's disease; its pathophysiology is still largely unknown. We report the case of an 80-year-old man with rapidly progressive dementia and neuroimaging features consistent with CAA carrying two genetic defects in the PRNP and SORL1 genes. METHODS: Neurological examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electroencephalographic-electromyographic (EEG-EMG) polygraphy, and analysis of 14-3-3 and tau proteins, Aß40, and Aß42 in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were performed. The patient underwent a detailed genetic study by next generation sequencing analysis. RESULTS: The patient presented with progressive cognitive dysfunction, generalized myoclonus, and ataxia. Approximately 9 months after symptom onset, he was bed-bound, almost mute, and akinetic. Brain MRI was consistent with CAA. CSF analysis showed high levels of t-tau and p-tau, decreased Aß42, decreased Aß42/Aß40 ratio, and absence of 14.3.3 protein. EEG-EMG polygraphy demonstrated diffuse slowing, frontal theta activity, and generalized spike-waves related to upper limb myoclonus induced by intermittent photic stimulation. Genetic tests revealed the presence of the E270K variant in the SORL1 gene and the presence of a single octapeptide repeat insertion in the coding region of the PRNP gene. CONCLUSIONS: The specific pathogenic contribution of the two DNA variations is difficult to determine without neuropathology; among the possible explanations, we discuss the possibility of their link with CAA. Vascular and degenerative pathways actually interact in a synergistic way, and genetic studies may lead to more insight into pathophysiological mechanisms.

Effects of Anger Rumination on Different Scenarios of Anger: An Experimental Investigation.

Anger rumination has been defined as a repetitive thinking style focused on causes and consequences of anger. Different studies have shown the role of anger rumination as a maintaining factor for emotional arousal and stress that can lead to behavioral dysregulation. The present study aims at investigating whether the role of anger rumination in increasing anger is different with respect to different anger scenarios. Moreover, effects of anger rumination on anger will be compared with the effects of 2 different thinking styles (cognitive reappraisal and distraction). Participants were asked to complete a batch of questionnaires assessing trait and state anger and anger rumination; after that, they were asked to identify themselves in different scenarios aimed at eliciting anger for different reasons. Finally, a specific thinking style was induced by reading some suggestions to each participant. Levels of anger were recorded before and after each induction. The type of scenario did not show any influence on levels of anger. All the thinking styles reduced levels of anger, and anger rumination had the smallest impact on anger measurements with respect to reappraisal and distraction. Scenarios did not show any meditational effect on the predicting power of the thinking styles on levels of arousal. Among induced thinking styles, anger rumination led to higher levels of anger, whereas cognitive reappraisal and distraction led to a greater reduction in levels of anger.

Spatio-temporal patterns of whiting (Merlangius merlangus) in the Adriatic Sea under environmental forcing.

Understanding how environmental factors affect species distribution is crucial for the conservation and management of marine organisms, especially in the face of global changes. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) is a demersal cold-temperate fish, considered a 'relict species' in the Adriatic Sea. Despite its significance to commercial fisheries in the region, the specific drivers behind its spatial and temporal patterns have not been thoroughly examined. Here, we fitted a set of Generalized Linear Mixed Effects Models to data collected in the Northern and Central Adriatic from 1999 to 2019 during the Mediterranean International Trawl Survey to investigate the potential influence of depth, seafloor temperature and seafloor dissolved oxygen on the annual biomass density and spatial distribution of whiting in the spring-summer season. Our results showed that depth, and to a lesser degree temperature and oxygen, are important predictors of whiting distribution in this period, with preferences for depths of ~ 45 m, temperature of ~ 15.4°C and dissolved oxygen > 5.5 ml L-1. We predicted a persistent core area of distribution in front of the Po River Delta, in the Northern Adriatic Sea, while the density progressively declined towards the Central and Southern Adriatic Sea along the Italian coast. Additionally, the temporal trend exhibited high fluctuations over the years, occurring in cycles of 3 to 4 years. Finally, by comparing the biomass density estimates obtained under optimal conditions with those derived from the actual values for each variable, our analysis revealed that temperature had a pronounced and general impact on biomass density in the northern survey area (predictions revealed a density reduction of approximately two-thirds), while oxygen displayed a minor and more localized influence. This work deepens the current knowledge about the ecology of whiting in the Adriatic Sea and provides support for the conservation and management of this species.

Influence of ecological traits on spatio-temporal dynamics of an elasmobranch community in a heavily exploited basin.

Elasmobranchs, which include sharks and batoids, play critical roles in maintaining the integrity and stability of marine food webs. However, these cartilaginous fish are among the most threatened vertebrate lineages due to their widespread depletion. Consequently, understanding dynamics and predicting changes of elasmobranch communities are major research topics in conservation ecology. Here, we leverage long-term catch data from a standardized bottom trawl survey conducted from 1996 to 2019, to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of the elasmobranch community in the heavily exploited Adriatic Sea, where these fish have historically been depleted. We use joint species distribution modeling to quantify the responses of the species to environmental variation while also including important traits such as species age at first maturity, reproductive mode, trophic level, and phylogenetic information. We present spatio-temporal changes in the species community and associated modification of the trait composition, highlighting strong spatial and depth-mediated patterning. We observed an overall increase in the abundance of the dominant elasmobranch species, except for spurdog, which has shown a continued decline. However, our results showed that the present community displays lower age at first maturity and a smaller fraction of viviparous species compared to the earlier observed community due to changes in species' relative abundance. The selected traits contributed considerably to explaining community patterns, suggesting that the integration of trait-based approaches in elasmobranch community analyses can aid efforts to conserve this important lineage of fish.

Parental overprotection and metacognitions as predictors of worry and anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Parental overprotection may have a direct effect on worry through hindering children's exploration experiences and preventing the learning of action-oriented coping strategies (Cheron, Ehrenreich and Pincus, 2009; Nolen-Hoeksema, Wolfson, Mumme and Guskin, 1995) and an indirect effect through fostering the development of maladaptive metacognitions that are associated with the activation of worry and the escalation of anxiety (Wells, 2000). AIM: The aim was to investigate the relative contribution of recalled parental overprotection in childhood and metacognitions in predicting current levels of worry. METHOD: A community sample (n = 301) was administered four self-report instruments to assess parental overprotection, metacognitions, anxiety and worry. RESULTS: Metacognitions were found to predict levels of worry independently of gender, anxiety and parental overprotection. They were also found to predict anxiety independently of gender, worry and parental overprotection. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of a family environment perceived to be characterized by overprotection and high levels of maladaptive metacognitions are a risk factor for the development of worry.

DNA metabarcoding suggests dietary niche partitioning in the Adriatic European hake.

The Northern Adriatic Sea (FAO Geographical Sub-Area 17) is one of the most productive fishing areas of the Mediterranean Sea and it includes a broad diversity of habitats. In the Northern Adriatic basin, the Pomo Pit (200-273 m of depth) is one of the most important areas of aggregation for some demersal stocks shared in the Adriatic Sea and it is an important spawning/nursery area of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius). Through a metabarcoding approach we investigated the feeding habits of European hake, both inside and outside the Pomo Pit, and their temporal variability comparing samples collected in 2016 and 2014. Our analyses proved the presence of an ontogenetic shift from a diet based mainly on crustaceans in juveniles to a more piscivorous feeding behaviour in adult hakes and suggested the presence of a specific niche partitioning and food preferences between hakes living inside and outside the Pomo Pit. The main differences among adult hakes refer to the presence of molluscs in the stomachs of hakes collected within the Pomo Pit and the presence of high depth prey species (i.e., Micromesistius poutassou). Metabarcoding revealed the relevant ecological role played by the Pomo Pit in M. merluccius feeding behaviour and ontogenetic development, promoting a careful ecosystem-based management of fisheries in this area through focused conservation measures.

Non-stenosing Carotid Atherosclerosis and Arterial Stiffness in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.

Background and Purpose: Recent findings suggested that non-stenosing atherosclerosis (NSA) may play an important pathogenic role, especially in cryptogenic strokes. Furthermore, arterial stiffness has been suggested to be a useful tool in identifying patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) with poor neurological prognosis. In this view, the aim of our study was to assess the association between carotid NSA and arterial stiffness in ESUS patients, in order to better define the cardiovascular risk profile of this subgroup of patients. Methods: We enrolled 100 patients with ESUS (52 males, 48 females) and 48 patients with ischemic stroke from atherosclerosis. All patients underwent clinical and neuroimaging examination. A 24-h heart rate and blood pressure monitoring was performed in order to evaluate systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure, pulse pressure, and arterial stiffness index (ASI). Results: NSA was present in 48 patients. In comparison with non-NSA-ESUS, in NSA-ESUS the mean age was higher, neurological deficit was more severe, hypertension, and diabetes were more common; systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, and ASI were higher. In particular NSA-ESUS had ASI levels similar to strokes due to atherosclerosis. Conclusions: Our findings shed light on specific cardiovascular risk profiles underlying different subtypes of ESUS, suggesting the presence of increased arterial stiffness in NSA-ESUS patients with a risk factors profile similar to strokes due to atherosclerosis.

Cognitive Attentional Syndrome and Metacognitive Beliefs in Male Sexual Dysfunction: An Exploratory Study.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and premature ejaculation (PE) are two forms of male sexual disorder with both psychological and physical features. While their cognitive, attentional, and affective components have been investigated separately, there is a lack of knowledge about the role played by cognitive attentional syndrome in their onset and maintenance. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible contribution of perseverative thinking styles and thought control strategies to the development and maintenance of ED and PE. The authors hypothesized that such modes of processing might constitute a cognitive attentional syndrome specific to these disorders and sustained by particular metacognitive beliefs. A semistructured interview was administered to 11 participants with ED and 10 with PE in order to assess their metacognitive beliefs and cognitive attentional processes. The results suggest that individuals with ED and PE adopt a range of cognitive attentional strategies aimed at improving their sexual performance, and endorse both positive and negative metacognitive beliefs about these thinking responses. Overall, their cognitive and attentional patterns worsened negative internal states, reduced sexual excitement, detached them from their bodily sensations, and hindered sexual functioning. These preliminary findings suggest that perseverative thinking, thought control strategies, and metacognitive beliefs may play a key role in the onset and maintenance of male sexual dysfunction.

Large-Scale Spatio-Temporal Patterns of Mediterranean Cephalopod Diversity.

Species diversity is widely recognized as an important trait of ecosystems' functioning and resilience. Understanding the causes of diversity patterns and their interaction with the environmental conditions is essential in order to effectively assess and preserve existing diversity. While diversity patterns of most recurrent groups such as fish are commonly studied, other important taxa such as cephalopods have received less attention. In this work we present spatio-temporal trends of cephalopod diversity across the entire Mediterranean Sea during the last 19 years, analysing data from the annual bottom trawl survey MEDITS conducted by 5 different Mediterranean countries using standardized gears and sampling protocols. The influence of local and regional environmental variability in different Mediterranean regions is analysed applying generalized additive models, using species richness and the Shannon Wiener index as diversity descriptors. While the western basin showed a high diversity, our analyses do not support a steady eastward decrease of diversity as proposed in some previous studies. Instead, high Shannon diversity was also found in the Adriatic and Aegean Seas, and high species richness in the eastern Ionian Sea. Overall diversity did not show any consistent trend over the last two decades. Except in the Adriatic Sea, diversity showed a hump-shaped trend with depth in all regions, being highest between 200-400 m depth. Our results indicate that high Chlorophyll a concentrations and warmer temperatures seem to enhance species diversity, and the influence of these parameters is stronger for richness than for Shannon diversity.

Desire thinking as a mediator of the relationship between novelty seeking and craving.

BACKGROUND: The construct of craving has been shown to play a crucial role in the development and maintenance of addictive behaviors. Both novelty seeking and desire thinking have been identified, respectively, as important temperamental and cognitive predictors of craving. AIMS: In the present study we aimed to explore the relative contribution of novelty seeking and desire thinking towards craving, hypothesizing a sequence of multiple mediating relationships starting from novelty seeking and moving onto imaginal prefiguration, verbal perseveration and craving in serial fashion. METHOD: A convenience sample of 270 individuals completed measures assessing novelty seeking, desire thinking, and craving relating to a chosen activity. RESULTS: Findings showed that, controlling for age and gender, desire thinking components predicted craving over and above novelty seeking. The indirect effect from novelty seeking to craving, via desire thinking components, was significant thus supporting a multiple-mediational sequence. Finally, the relationship between imaginal prefiguration and craving was found to be partially mediated by verbal perseveration. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide support for the conceptualization of desire thinking as an independent construct in predicting craving over and above novelty seeking.

Desire thinking: A risk factor for binge eating?

In the current study we explored the role of desire thinking in predicting binge eating independently of Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. A sample of binge eaters (n=77) and a sample of non-binge eaters (n=185) completed the following self-report instruments: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Irrational Food Beliefs Scale, Desire Thinking Questionnaire, and Binge Eating Scale. Mann-Whitney U tests revealed that all variable scores were significantly higher for binge eaters than non-binge eaters. A logistic regression analysis indicated that verbal perseveration was a predictor of classification as a binge eater over and above Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. A hierarchical regression analysis, on the combined sample, indicated that verbal perseveration predicted levels of binge eating independently of Body Mass Index, negative affect and irrational food beliefs. These results highlight the possible role of desire thinking as a risk factor for binge eating.

The seascape of demersal fish nursery areas in the North Mediterranean Sea, a first step towards the implementation of spatial planning for trawl fisheries.

The identification of nursery grounds and other essential fish habitats of exploited stocks is a key requirement for the development of spatial conservation planning aimed at reducing the adverse impact of fishing on the exploited populations and ecosystems. The reduction in juvenile mortality is particularly relevant in the Mediterranean and is considered as one of the main prerequisites for the future sustainability of trawl fisheries. The distribution of nursery areas of 11 important commercial species of demersal fish and shellfish was analysed in the European Union Mediterranean waters using time series of bottom trawl survey data with the aim of identifying the most persistent recruitment areas. A high interspecific spatial overlap between nursery areas was mainly found along the shelf break of many different sectors of the Northern Mediterranean indicating a high potential for the implementation of conservation measures. Overlap of the nursery grounds with existing spatial fisheries management measures and trawl fisheries restricted areas was also investigated. Spatial analyses revealed considerable variation depending on species and associated habitat/depth preferences with increased protection seen in coastal nurseries and minimal protection seen for deeper nurseries (e.g. Parapenaeus longirostris 6%). This is partly attributed to existing environmental policy instruments (e.g. Habitats Directive and Mediterranean Regulation EC 1967/2006) aiming at minimising impacts on coastal priority habitats such as seagrass, coralligenous and maerl beds. The new knowledge on the distribution and persistence of demersal nurseries provided in this study can support the application of spatial conservation measures, such as the designation of no-take Marine Protected Areas in EU Mediterranean waters and their inclusion in a conservation network. The establishment of no-take zones will be consistent with the objectives of the Common Fisheries Policy applying the ecosystem approach to fisheries management and with the requirements of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive to maintain or achieve seafloor integrity and good environmental status.

Distribution of exogenous [125I]-3-iodothyronamine in mouse in vivo: relationship with trace amine-associated receptors.

3-Iodothyronamine (T1AM) is a novel chemical messenger, structurally related to thyroid hormone, able to interact with G protein-coupled receptors known as trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs). Little is known about the physiological role of T1AM. In this prospective, we synthesized [125I]-T1AM and explored its distribution in mouse after injecting in the tail vein at a physiological concentration (0.3 nM). The expression of the nine TAAR subtypes was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. [125I]-T1AM was taken up by each organ. A significant increase in tissue vs blood concentration occurred in gallbladder, stomach, intestine, liver, and kidney. Tissue radioactivity decreased exponentially over time, consistent with biliary and urinary excretion, and after 24 h, 75% of the residual radioactivity was detected in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. TAARs were expressed only at trace amounts in most of the tissues, the exceptions being TAAR1 in stomach and testis and TAAR8 in intestine, spleen, and testis. Thus, while T1AM has a systemic distribution, TAARs are only expressed in certain tissues suggesting that other high-affinity molecular targets besides TAARs exist.

111In-DTPA-Biotin uptake by Staphylococcus aureus.

The potential of indium-111 labelled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid α,ω-bis(biocytinamide) (In-DTPA-Biotin) as a specific tracer in nuclear medicine imaging of vertebral osteomyelitis has been shown in a large series of consecutive patients. Biocytin is known to serve as a biotin source for a number of different microorganisms and quantitative studies on staphylococci indicated that on a molar basis biocytin seemed to have an activity equal to that of biotin. In this study, we evaluated the possibility of an illicit transport of In-DTPA-Biotin in cultures of Staphylococcus aureus on continued incubation for 24 h. Radiolabelled biocytin was prepared as described earlier and the stability and radiochemical purity was assessed in vitro for 24 h after labelling. Our data seem to demonstrate a passive transport of In-DTPA-Biotin into the cells of the microorganisms.

Time course of Paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in an experimental model of virus-induced breast cancer.

UNLABELLED: Early assessment of the efficacy of treatment is important in patients with breast cancer, whose routine adjuvant regimen frequently includes chemotherapy. Irrespective of the exact mechanisms involved in induction, the common early phenotypic marker of apoptosis is the expression on the outer cell membrane surface of phosphatidylserine, which avidly binds annexin V. (99m)Tc-labeled annexin V has been proposed for in vivo scintigraphic detection of apoptosis, albeit with contradicting results. This study was performed to define the time course of apoptosis induced by the chemotherapeutic agent paclitaxel in a model of virus-induced murine breast cancer. METHODS: The RIII virus induces an estrogen-dependent, slow-growing breast cancer; BALB-c/cRIII female mice with breast tumors averaging 10 mm were studied, both in baseline conditions and at various times after the intravenous administration of paclitaxel (equivalent to a human dose of 20 mg/70 kg of body weight). The biodistribution of (99m)Tc-annexin V was evaluated at baseline and then at 1, 3, 6, and 24 h after paclitaxel administration. Apoptotic and antiapoptotic markers were also evaluated in tumor samples obtained at the same time points: DNA breaks (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotin-dUTP nick-end labeling [TUNEL]), active caspase-3, apoptosis-inducing factor, and Bcl-2 protein. RESULTS: Baseline uptake of (99m)Tc-annexin V in breast tumors was about 2-fold higher than the uptake in normal breast tissue (demonstrating some ongoing apoptosis); tracer uptake increased at 1 and 3 h after paclitaxel administration (to almost double the baseline value) and then declined to levels even lower than baseline. Although no activation of the apoptosis-inducing factor mechanism was detected, a peak in TUNEL-positive tumor cells was reached 3 h after paclitaxel administration (to more than 6-fold the baseline level). The antiapoptotic marker Bcl-2 exhibited a biphasic pattern, with a maximum drop at 3 h, followed by return toward baseline levels at 6 h. CONCLUSION: These results define the time course of various biologic events taking place in this model of murine breast cancer after a proapoptotic insult (single-dose paclitaxel). Although confirming that in vivo uptake of (99m)Tc-annexin V reflects the degree of apoptosis, the study also suggests that the apoptotic response to antitumor therapy may differ from tumor type to tumor type. Therefore, contradicting results previously reported may depend on an inadequate time window chosen for imaging with (99m)Tc-annexin V.