Cognitive Vergence Recorded with a Webcam-Based Eye-Tracker during an Oddball Task in an Elderly Population.

(1) Background: Our previous research provides evidence that vergence eye movements may significantly influence cognitive processing and could serve as a reliable measure of cognitive issues. The rise of consumer-grade eye tracking technology, which uses sophisticated imaging techniques in the visible light spectrum to determine gaze position, is noteworthy. In our study, we explored the feasibility of using webcam-based eye tracking to monitor the vergence eye movements of patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) during a visual oddball paradigm. (2) Methods: We simultaneously recorded eye positions using a remote infrared-based pupil eye tracker. (3) Results: Both tracking methods effectively captured vergence eye movements and demonstrated robust cognitive vergence responses, where participants exhibited larger vergence eye movement amplitudes in response to targets versus distractors. (4) Conclusions: In summary, the use of a consumer-grade webcam to record cognitive vergence shows potential. This method could lay the groundwork for future research aimed at creating an affordable screening tool for mental health care.

Mesalazine dose modification based on faecal calprotectin levels in patients with ulcerative colitis in clinical remission. / Modificación de la dosis de mesalazina en función de los niveles de calprotectina fecal en pacientes con colitis ulcerosa en remisión clínica.

BACKGROUND: Faecal calprotectin (FC) shows an excellent correlation with endoscopic and histological activity of ulcerative colitis (UC) and it is the best predictor of clinical relapse. Our aim was to evaluate the usefulness of modifying the dose of mesalazine based on FC levels, in clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective, single-centre study in UC patients in clinical remission while treated with mesalazine which dosage was decreased (DOWN) or increased (UP) according to FC levels. The main endpoint was the long-term maintenance of clinical remission. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were included (39 DOWN, 17 UP). In the DOWN group, the median baseline dose of mesalazine was 3.6g/day and the median baseline FC was 36µg/g. After a median follow-up of 22 months, 28% required rescue therapy. The cumulative relapse-free survival after tapering was 91% and 82% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. In the UP group, the median baseline dose of mesalazine was 2.4g/day, with a median baseline FC of 524µg/g. After a median follow-up of 12 months, 29% required rescue therapy. The cumulative relapse-free survival after dose increase was 86% and 72% at 12 and 24 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Mesalazine dose modification based on FC monitoring seems to be a safe strategy in patients with UC in clinical remission, with a probability of clinical relapse around 20% at two years.

Appropriateness of routine pre-endoscopic SARS-CoV-2 screening with RT-PCR in asymptomatic individuals and its impact on delayed diagnosis.

AIMS: Endoscopy units are considered to be at an increased risk of infection by SARS-CoV-2. Our aim is to assess the correlation between pre-endoscopic screening with reverse-transcription-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) in asymptomatic individuals scheduled for elective endoscopy and the epidemiological data published by the local Health Administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational retrospective study collecting the results of our screening strategy spanning June/2020-June/2021, the effective potential growth (EPG), an index measuring the outbreak risk, and the 7 and 14-day cumulative incidence (CI). Indication, delay and the findings of the endoscopic examinations were registered for RT-PCR positive patients. RESULTS: A total of 5808 tests were performed, yielding 125 positive results (2.15%). All positive tests occurred in weeks of high/very high risk (EPG>100) with the highest monthly rate being 9.36%, recorded in January/2021. A significant correlation (rho=0.796; p<0.001) between weekly positive rates and EPG was observed, and a significantly lower weekly number of positive tests was recorded when EPG<100. Planning the screening strategy one week ahead according to EPG>100 would have avoided up to 826 tests with only one positive result to account for. One hundred and thirteen individuals tested positive and 89 endoscopies were delayed. The most common findings were colon polyps, colorectal cancer and gastric metaplasia. Oncological diagnosis was delayed 50±3 days. CONCLUSIONS: No positive RT-PCR test were registered out of high-risk periods. Epidemiological administrative data in the preceding two weeks showed a significant correlation with screening results and could be useful to plan pre-endoscopic screening and avoid unnecessary tests.

Vergence eye movements during figure-ground perception.

Figure-ground, that is the segmentation of visual information into objects and their surrounding backgrounds, provides structure for visual attention. Recent evidence shows a novel role of vergence eye movements in visual attention. In the present work, vergence responses during figure-ground segregation tasks are psychophysically investigated. We show that during a figure-ground detection task, subjects convergence their eyes. Vergence eye movements are larger in figure trials than in ground trials. In detected figures trials, vergence are stronger than in trials where the figure went unnoticed. Moreover in figure trials, vergence responses are stronger to low-contrast figures than to high-contrast figures. We argue that these discriminative vergence responses have a role in figure-ground.

Treatment Adherence and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Biological Agents During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of COVID19 evolved rapidly into a global pandemic, forcing hospitals, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) referral units, to change their practices to ensure quality of care. AIMS: To describe the clinical outcomes and the fulfilment of the treatment schedule of patients with IBD treated with biological agents in a single-center of a red-zone of the pandemic, and to report the patients' perceptions about COVID-19 and the measures adopted at our center. METHODS: Therapeutic adherence and clinical outcomes were collected for all patients undergoing treatment with intravenous biologicals and subcutaneous biologicals at our center. A telephone survey was also performed to assess these patients' perceptions of the COVID pandemic and the related measures adopted at their IBD unit. RESULTS: A total of 234 patients were included (117 on intravenous and 117 on subcutaneous biologicals). Only 10% of patients postponed intravenous infusions intentionally and 5% postponed the collection of subcutaneous biologicals at the hospital pharmacy. Only five confirmed COVID-19 cases were registered (2.1%), all of them of mild severity. One hundred and fifty-five patients participated in the survey (77 on intravenous and 78 on subcutaneous drugs). Fear of going to the hospital was the most common reason for postponing biological administrations. Among those on combination therapy, only 7% admitted to have withdrawn immunosuppressants. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to intravenous and subcutaneous biological therapies during the pandemic was high in a single-center cohort of IBD patients even though the cumulative incidence of confirmed COVID-19 was low.

Evidence for a role of corrective eye movements during gaze fixation in saccade planning.

In a three-dimensional (3D) world most saccades are made towards visual targets that are located at different distances. We previously demonstrated that gaze shifts within 3D space consist of two stages: a target saccade followed by a corrective saccade during gaze fixation that directs the eyes to the physical target location. We proposed that, by accurately positioning the eyes on the visual object, the visual system maintains an orderly representation of the visual world. In this study we used a double saccade experiment to assess the function of corrective saccades in humans. We found that, when a corrective eye movement occurred during fixation on the first target point, the direction of the second saccade towards the next target point was accurate. When a corrective saccade was absent, a directional error of the second target saccade was observed. This finding, which cannot be explained by current models of eye movement control, supports the idea of a two-step model in saccade programming. We suggest that the motor system sends a corollary discharge when programming a corrective saccade for maintaining an orderly representation of the visual world. In conclusion, our results indicate that corrective saccades have a role in programming target saccades within 3D space.

Antimicrobial potential of cauliflower, broccoli, and okara byproducts against foodborne bacteria.

The antimicrobial potential of cauliflower, broccoli, and okara byproducts was assessed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b growth behavior was assessed under exposure to 5% vegetable byproducts added to the reference medium, buffered peptone water (0.1% [wt/vol]), at 37°C. Although the byproducts were not effective against L. monocytogenes, they were bactericidal against Salmonella Typhimurium, E. coli O157:H7, and B. cereus. The most promising results were achieved with the cauliflower-Salmonella Typhimurium combination, because the bacterial population was reduced by 3.11 log10 cycles after 10 h of incubation at 37°C as a result of 5% cauliflower addition. Further studies were carried out for this combination, at different cauliflower concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 15%) and at temperatures in the range of 5-37°C. The greatest inactivation level (6.11 log10 cycles) was achieved at refrigeration temperature (5°C) using 15% cauliflower addition. Both temperature and cauliflower concentration significantly (p≤0.05) influenced the Salmonella Typhimurium inactivation level. The kinetic parameters were adjusted to mathematical models. The modified Gompertz mathematical model provided an accurate fit (root-mean-square error (RMSE) [0.00009-0.21] and adjusted-R(2) [0.81-0.99]) to experimental Salmonella Typhimurium survival curves describing inactivation kinetics of the pathogen to the antimicrobial effect of cauliflower byproduct.

A Pilot Study to Improve Cognitive Performance and Pupil Responses in Mild Cognitive Impaired Patients Using Gaze-Controlled Gaming.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may progress to severe forms of dementia, so therapy is needed to maintain cognitive abilities. The neural circuitry for oculomotor control is closely linked to that which controls cognitive behavior. In this study, we tested whether training the oculomotor system with gaze-controlled video games could improve cognitive behavior in MCI patients. Patients played a simple game for 2-3 weeks while a control group played the same game using a mouse. Cognitive improvement was assessed using the MoCA screening test and CANTAB. We also measured eye pupil and vergence responses in an oddball paradigm. The results showed an increased score on the MoCA test specifically for the visuospatial domain and on the Rapid Visual Information Processing test of the CANTAB battery. Pupil responses also increased to target stimuli. Patients in the control group did not show significant improvements. This pilot study provides evidence for the potential cognitive benefits of gaze-controlled gaming in MCI patients.

Splanchnic Vein Thrombosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: An Observational Study from the ENEIDA Registry and Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Thromboembolic events are frequent among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, there is little information on the prevalence, features and outcomes of splanchnic vein thrombosis (SVT) in patients with IBD. AIMS: To describe the clinical features and outcomes of SVT in patients with IBD and to perform a systematic review of these data with published cases and series. METHODS: A retrospective observational study from the Spanish nationwide ENEIDA registry was performed. A systematic search of the literature was performed to identify studies with at least one case of SVT in IBD patients. RESULTS: A new cohort of 49 episodes of SVT from the Eneida registry and 318 IBD patients with IBD identified from the literature review (sixty studies: two multicentre, six single-centre and fifty-two case reports or case series) were analysed. There was a mild predominance of Crohn's disease and the most frequent clinical presentation was abdominal pain with or without fever followed by the incidental finding in cross-sectional imaging techniques. The most frequent SVT location was the main portal trunk in two-thirds of the cases, followed by the superior mesenteric vein. Anticoagulation therapy was prescribed in almost 90% of the cases, with a high rate of radiologic resolution of SVT. Thrombophilic conditions other than IBD itself were found in at least one-fifth of patients. CONCLUSIONS: SVT seems to be a rare (or underdiagnosed) complication in IBD patients. SVT is mostly associated with disease activity and evolves suitably when anticoagulation therapy is started.

Two distinct activity patterns of fast-spiking interneurons during neocortical UP states.

During sleep, neocortical neuronal networks oscillate slowly (<1 Hz) between periods of activity (UP states) and silence (DOWN states). UP states favor the interaction between thalamic-generated spindles (7-14 Hz) and cortically generated gamma (30-80 Hz) waves. We studied how these three nested oscillations modulate fast-spiking interneuron (FSi) activity in vivo in VGAT-Venus transgenic rats. Our data describe a population of FSi that discharge "early" within UP states and another population that discharge "late." Early FSi tended to be silent during epochs of desynchronization, whereas late FSi were active. We hypothesize that late FSi may be responsible for generating the gamma oscillations associated with cognitive processing during wakefulness. Remarkably, FSi populations were differently modulated by spindle and gamma rhythms. Early FSi were robustly coupled to spindles and always discharged earlier than late FSi within spindle and gamma cycles. The preferred firing phase during spindle and gamma waves was strongly correlated in each cell, suggesting a cross-frequency coupling between oscillations. Our results suggest a precise spatiotemporal pattern of FSi activity during UP states, whereby information rapidly flows between early and late cells, initially promoted by spindles and efficiently extended by local gamma oscillations.

New data on the presence of hemocyanin in Plecoptera: recomposing a puzzle.

The specific role of hemocyanin in Plecoptera (stoneflies) is still not completely understood, since none of the hypotheses advanced have proven fully convincing. Previous data show that mRNA hemocyanin sequences are not present in all Plecoptera, and that hemocyanin does not seem to be uniformly distributed within the order. All species possess hexamerins, which are multifunction proteins that probably originated from hemocyanin. In order to obtain an increasingly detailed picture on the presence and distribution of hemocyanin across the order, this study presents new data regarding nymphs and adults of selected Plecoptera species. Results confirm that the hemocyanin expression differs among nymphs in the studied stonefly species. Even though previous studies have found hemocyanin in adults of two stonefly species it was not detected in the present study, even in species where nymphs show hemocyanin, suggesting that the physiological need of this protein can change during life cycle. The phylogenetic pattern obtained using hemocyanin sequences matches the accepted scheme of traditional phylogeny based on morphology, anatomy, and biology. It is remarkable to note that the hemocyanin conserved region acts like a phylogenetic molecular marker within Plecoptera.

Patterns of physiological parameters and nitrogen partitioning in flag leaf explain differential grain protein content in rice.

The grain protein content (GPC) in rice is low, and more efforts with agronomic and molecular approaches were performed to increase them. However, the rice research focusing on the plant physiological behaviour that modulates the phenomenon of grain protein filling is very scarce. This work contains physiological parameters related to photosynthetic activity in the flag leaf in the grain filling period and N partitioning assays of high (Nutriar) and traditional (Camba) GPC cultivars. Results indicated a higher photosynthetic capacity, a better capacity to provide CO2 to the chloroplast and a healthier PSII structure in Camba relative to Nutriar. Chlorophyll fluorescence parameters decreased more steeply over time in the high protein variety, and a strong negative correlation was observed between GPC and PSII structure parameters. N content in the flag leaf at anthesis showed lower values and higher remobilisation during the grain filling period in Nutriar compared to Camba. The results of this work suggested that the inactivation of some PSII structures in higher GPC cultivars is associated with N remobilisation and would contribute to an increase in the free N available to be translocated to the grain.

Altered Vergence Eye Movements and Pupil Response of Patients with Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment During an Oddball Task.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functions and may be preceded by mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Evidence shows changes in pupil and vergence responses related to cognitive processing of visual information. OBJECTIVE: Here we test the hypothesis that MCI and AD are associated with specific patterns in vergence and pupil responses. METHODS: We employed a visual oddball task. In the distractor condition (80%of the trials), a blue stimulus was presented whereas in the target condition (20%of trials) it was red. Participants (23 Controls, 33 MCI patients, and 18 AD patients) were instructed to press a button when a target appeared. RESULTS: Participants briefly converged their eyes 200 ms after stimulus presentation. In controls, this transient peak response was followed by a delay response to targets but not to distractor stimuli. In the patient groups, delay responses to distractors were noticed. Consequently, the differential vergence response was strong in the control group, weak in the MCI group, and absent in the AD group. Pupils started to dilate 500-600 ms after the appearance of a target but slightly contracted after the presentation of a distractor. This differential pupil response was strongest in the AD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings support the idea of a role of vergence and pupil responses in attention and reveal altered responses in MCI and AD patients. Further studies should assess the value of vergence and pupil measurements as an objective support tool for early diagnosis of AD.

Mental health impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: A large cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.

Mental health impact of the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic on Spanish healthcare workers: A large cross-sectional survey.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare workers are vulnerable to adverse mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We assessed prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors during the first wave of the pandemic among healthcare professionals in Spain. METHODS: All workers in 18 healthcare institutions (6 AACC) in Spain were invited to web-based surveys assessing individual characteristics, COVID-19 infection status and exposure, and mental health status (May 5 - September 7, 2020). We report: probable current mental disorders (Major Depressive Disorder-MDD- [PHQ-8≥10], Generalized Anxiety Disorder-GAD- [GAD-7≥10], Panic attacks, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder -PTSD- [PCL-5≥7]; and Substance Use Disorder -SUD-[CAGE-AID≥2]. Severe disability assessed by the Sheehan Disability Scale was used to identify probable "disabling" current mental disorders. RESULTS: 9,138 healthcare workers participated. Prevalence of screen-positive disorder: 28.1% MDD; 22.5% GAD, 24.0% Panic; 22.2% PTSD; and 6.2% SUD. Overall 45.7% presented any current and 14.5% any disabling current mental disorder. Workers with pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders had almost twice the prevalence than those without. Adjusting for all other variables, odds of any disabling mental disorder were: prior lifetime disorders (TUS: OR=5.74; 95%CI 2.53-13.03; Mood: OR=3.23; 95%CI:2.27-4.60; Anxiety: OR=3.03; 95%CI:2.53-3.62); age category 18-29 years (OR=1.36; 95%CI:1.02-1.82), caring "all of the time" for COVID-19 patients (OR=5.19; 95%CI: 3.61-7.46), female gender (OR=1.58; 95%CI: 1.27-1.96) and having being in quarantine or isolated (OR= 1.60; 95CI:1.31-1.95). CONCLUSIONS: One in seven Spanish healthcare workers screened positive for a disabling mental disorder during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Workers reporting pre-pandemic lifetime mental disorders, those frequently exposed to COVID-19 patients, infected or quarantined/isolated, female workers, and auxiliary nurses should be considered groups in need of mental health monitoring and support.

Eye vergence responses in children with and without reading difficulties during a word detection task.

Vergence eye movements are movements of both eyes in opposite directions. Vergence is known to have a role in binocular vision. However recent studies link vergence eye movements also to attention and attention disorders. As attention may be involved in dyslexia, it is sensible to guess that the presence of reading difficulties can be associated with specific patterns in vergence responses. Data from school children performing a word-reading task have been analysed. In the task, children had to distinguish words from non-words (scrambled words or row of X's), while their eye positions were recorded. Our findings show that after stimulus presentation eyes briefly converge. These vergence responses depend on the stimulus type and age of the child, and are different for children with reading difficulties. Our findings support the idea of a role of attention in word reading and offer an explanation of altered attention in dyslexia.

Occurrence of Salmonella typhimurium resistance under sublethal/repeated exposure to cauliflower infusion and infection effects on Caernohabditis elegans host test organism.

Resistant bacteria to antimicrobials are increasingly emerging in medical, food industry and livestock environments. The present research work assesses the capability of Salmonella enterica var Typhimurium to become adapted under the exposure to a natural cauliflower antimicrobial by-product infusion in consecutive repeated exposure cycles. Caenorhabditis elegans was proposed as in vivo host-test organism to compare possible changes in the virulent pattern of the different rounds treated S. enterica var Typhimurium and untreated bacterial cells. According to the obtained results, S. enterica var Typhimurium was able to generate resistance against a repeated exposure to cauliflower by-product infusion 5% (w/v), increasing the resistance with the number of exposed repetitions. Meanwhile, at the first exposure, cauliflower by-product infusion was effective in reducing S. enterica var Typhimurium (≈1 log10 cycle), and S. enterica var Typhimurium became resistant to this natural antimicrobial after the second and third treatment-round and was able to grow (≈1 log10 cycle). In spite of the increased resistance observed for repeatedly treated bacteria, the present study reveals no changes on C. elegans infection effects between resistant and untreated S. enterica var Typhimurium, according to phenotypic parameters evaluation (lifespan duration and egg-laying).

First detection of Aedes japonicus in Spain: an unexpected finding triggered by citizen science.

BACKGROUND: Aedes japonicus is an invasive vector mosquito from Southeast Asia which has been spreading across central Europe since the year 2000. Unlike the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) present in Spain since 2004, there has been no record of Ae. japonicus in the country until now. RESULTS: Here, we report the first detection of Ae. japonicus in Spain, at its southernmost location in Europe. This finding was triggered by the citizen science platform Mosquito Alert. In June 2018, a citizen sent a report via the Mosquito Alert app from the municipality of Siero in the Asturias region (NW Spain) containing pictures of a female mosquito compatible with Ae. japonicus. Further information was requested from the participant, who subsequently provided several larvae and adults that could be classified as Ae. japonicus. In July, a field mission confirmed its presence at the original site and in several locations up to 9 km away, suggesting a long-time establishment. The strong media impact in Asturias derived from the discovery raised local participation in the Mosquito Alert project, resulting in further evidence from surrounding areas. CONCLUSIONS: Whilst in the laboratory Ae. japonicus is a competent vector for several mosquito-borne pathogens, to date only West Nile virus is a concern based on field evidence. Nonetheless, this virus has yet not been detected in Asturias so the vectorial risk is currently considered low. The opportunity and effectiveness of combining citizen-sourced data to traditional surveillance methods are discussed.

Clinical Validation of Eye Vergence as an Objective Marker for Diagnosis of ADHD in Children.

OBJECTIVE: ADHD youth show poor oculomotor control. Recent research shows that attention-related eye vergence is weak in ADHD children. METHOD: To validate vergence as a marker to classify ADHD, we assessed the modulation in the angle of vergence of children ( n = 43) previously diagnosed with ADHD while performing an attention task and compared the results with age-matched clinical controls ( n = 19) and healthy peers ( n = 30). RESULTS: We observed strong vergence responses in healthy participants and weak vergence in the clinical controls. ADHD children showed no significant vergence responses. Machine-learning models classified ADHD patients ( n = 21) from healthy controls ( n = 21) with an accuracy of 96.3% (false positive [FP]: 5.12%; false negative [FN]: 0%; area under the curve [AUC]: 0.99) and ADHD children ( n = 11) from clinical controls ( n = 14) with an accuracy of 85.7% (FP: 4.5%; FN: 19.2%, AUC: 0.90). CONCLUSION: In combination with an attention task, vergence responses can be used as an objective marker to detect ADHD in children.