Predicting emotion perception abilities for cochlear implant users.

OBJECTIVE: In daily life, failure to perceive emotional expressions can result in maladjusted behaviour. For cochlear implant users, perceiving emotional cues in sounds remains challenging, and the factors explaining the variability in patients' sensitivity to emotions are currently poorly understood. Understanding how these factors relate to auditory proficiency is a major challenge of cochlear implant research and is critical in addressing patients' limitations. DESIGN: To fill this gap, we evaluated different auditory perception aspects in implant users (pitch discrimination, music processing and speech intelligibility) and correlated them to their performance in an emotion recognition task. STUDY SAMPLE: Eighty-four adults (18-76 years old) participated in our investigation; 42 cochlear implant users and 42 controls. Cochlear implant users performed worse than their controls on all tasks, and emotion perception abilities were correlated to their age and their clinical outcome as measured in the speech intelligibility task. RESULTS: As previously observed, emotion perception abilities declined with age (here by about 2-3% in a decade). Interestingly, even when emotional stimuli were musical, CI users' skills relied more on processes underlying speech intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that speech processing remains a clinical priority even when one is interested in affective skills.

Musical and vocal emotion perception for cochlear implants users.

Cochlear implants can successfully restore hearing in profoundly deaf individuals and enable speech comprehension. However, the acoustic signal provided is severely degraded and, as a result, many important acoustic cues for perceiving emotion in voices and music are unavailable. The deficit of cochlear implant users in auditory emotion processing has been clearly established. Yet, the extent to which this deficit and the specific cues that remain available to cochlear implant users are unknown due to several confounding factors. Here we assessed the recognition of the most basic forms of auditory emotion and aimed to identify which acoustic cues are most relevant to recognize emotions through cochlear implants. To do so, we used stimuli that allowed vocal and musical auditory emotions to be comparatively assessed while controlling for confounding factors. These stimuli were used to evaluate emotion perception in cochlear implant users (Experiment 1) and to investigate emotion perception in natural versus cochlear implant hearing in the same participants with a validated cochlear implant simulation approach (Experiment 2). Our results showed that vocal and musical fear was not accurately recognized by cochlear implant users. Interestingly, both experiments found that timbral acoustic cues (energy and roughness) correlate with participant ratings for both vocal and musical emotion bursts in the cochlear implant simulation condition. This suggests that specific attention should be given to these cues in the design of cochlear implant processors and rehabilitation protocols (especially energy, and roughness). For instance, music-based interventions focused on timbre could improve emotion perception and regulation, and thus improve social functioning, in children with cochlear implants during development.

Relationships between bone mass and dietary/lifestyle habits in Japanese women at 3-4 months postpartum.

OBJECTIVES: The relationships between calcaneal bone mass and dietary/lifestyle habits in women at 3-4 months postpartum were examined in the context of osteoporosis prevention. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. METHODS: We measured bone mass using calcaneal ultrasound in mothers who brought their 3- to 4-month-old babies to healthcare centers in Japan for health examination and administered a self-report questionnaire on physical characteristics and dietary/lifestyle habits to those who agreed to participate in the survey. Valid data were available for 1220 women (valid response rate, 97.5%). RESULTS: Based on their stiffness score, a measure of bone mass, 70.9% (n = 865) of the participants were classified as 'no apparent abnormality (stiffness score ≥78.8)' (low-risk group), 18.2% (n = 222) as 'guidance required (≥70.1-<78.8)' (intermediate-risk group), and 10.9% (n = 133) as 'complete examination required (<70.1)' (high-risk group), according to the criteria for osteoporosis screening test results. The percentage of individuals with a history of fracture was higher in the guidance required/complete examination required than in the no apparent abnormality group (P = 0.016). The analysis of relationships between the consumption frequency of certain foods, such as calcium-rich foodstuffs, and bone mass found that women who reported lower frequencies of milk and dark-colored (beta-carotene rich) vegetables for breakfast consumption had a significantly lower bone mass than those who consumed these foods more often. Furthermore, the guidance required/complete examination required group had a significantly lower calcium intake than the no apparent abnormality group (P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the need to provide postpartum women with dietary education programs to promote healthy eating habits, such as increased consumption of calcium-rich foods, and prevent osteoporosis.

First Record of Euphoria lurida Fabricius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Injurious to Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) (Asterales: Asteraceae) in Brazil.

We present the first report on Euphoria lurida (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) infestation on safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a crop of industrial and medicinal importance. Between September and October 2013-2015 in Paraná State, we observed E. lurida adults feeding on safflower plants from the inception of flower head formation onwards, over an area of approximately 400 m2. Losses in the productivity of infested plants were estimated between 15 and 50%. The damage was characterized by perforations in the upper portion and at the base of the developing flower heads or open flowers, resulting in withering and abortion of the reproductive structures.

Specific HLA genotypes confer susceptibility to acute necrotizing encephalopathy.

Acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE) is a rare and severe syndrome of acute encephalopathy triggered by viral infections. Cytokine storm is considered as the main pathogenetic mechanism of ANE. ANE is prevalent in East Asia, suggesting the association of host genetic factors. To elucidate the genetic background of Japanese ANE, we examined genotypes of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, C, B, DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 in 31 patients. Significant positive association was observed in both the allele frequency and positivity of DRB1*09:01 (P=0.043 and 0.025, respectively), as well as those of DQB1*03:03 (P=0.034 and 0.026, respectively). The carrier frequency of DRB1*09:01 and DQB1*03:03 alleles was higher in the patients (45.16%) than in controls (28.57%). These alleles are more common in East Asian than in European populations, and are reportedly associated with various autoimmune diseases in Japanese patients. Our data provide further evidence that altered immune response based on individual HLA genotypes may contribute to ANE pathogenesis.

The impact of including corticosteroid in a periarticular injection for pain control after total knee arthroplasty: a double-blind randomised controlled trial.

UNLABELLED: There is conflicting evidence about the benefit of using corticosteroid in periarticular injections for pain relief after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We carried out a double-blinded, randomised controlled trial to assess the efficacy of using corticosteroid in a periarticular injection to control pain after TKA. A total of 77 patients, 67 women and ten men, with a mean age of 74 years (47 to 88) who were about to undergo unilateral TKA were randomly assigned to have a periarticular injection with or without corticosteroid. The primary outcome was post-operative pain at rest during the first 24 hours after surgery, measured every two hours using a visual analogue pain scale score. The cumulative pain score was quantified using the area under the curve. The corticosteroid group had a significantly lower cumulative pain score than the no-corticosteroid group during the first 24 hours after surgery (mean area under the curve 139, 0 to 560, and 264, 0 to 1460; p = 0.024). The rate of complications, including surgical site infection, was not significantly different between the two groups up to one year post-operatively. The addition of corticosteroid to the periarticular injection significantly decreased early post-operative pain. Further studies are needed to confirm the safety of corticosteroid in periarticular injection. TAKE HOME MESSAGE: The use of corticosteroid in periarticular injection offered better pain relief during the initial 24 hours after TKA.

X-linked CHARGE-like Abruzzo-Erickson syndrome and classic cleft palate with ankyloglossia result from TBX22 splicing mutations.

X-linked cleft palate (CPX) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the TBX22 transcription factor and is known to exhibit phenotypic variability, usually involving either a complete, partial or submucous cleft palate, with or without ankyloglossia. This study hypothesized a possible involvement of TBX22 in a family with X-linked, CHARGE-like Abruzzo-Erickson syndrome, of unknown etiology. The phenotype extends to additional features including sensorineural deafness and coloboma, which are suggested by the Tbx22 developmental expression pattern but not previously associated in CPX patients. A novel TBX22 splice acceptor mutation (c.593-5T>A) was identified that tracked with the phenotype in this family. A novel splice donor variant (c.767+5G>A) and a known canonical splice donor mutation (c.767+1G>A) affecting the same exon were identified in patients with classic CPX phenotypes and were comparatively analyzed using both in silico and in vitro splicing studies. All three variants were predicted to abolish normal mRNA splicing and an in vitro assay indicated that use of alternative splice sites was a likely outcome. Collectively, the data showed the functional effect of several novel intronic splice site variants but most importantly confirms that TBX22 is the gene underlying Abruzzo-Erickson syndrome, expanding the phenotypic spectrum of TBX22 mutations.

Development of a high-volume air sampler for nanoparticles.

As a tool to evaluate the characteristics of aerosol nano-particles, a high-volume air sampler for the collection of nano-particles was developed based on the inertial filter technology. Instead of the webbed fiber geometry of the existing inertial filter, wire mesh screens alternately layered using spacing sheets with circular holes aligned to provide multi-circular nozzles were newly devised and the separation performance of the filter was investigated experimentally. The separation performance was evaluated for a single-nozzle inertial filter at different filtration velocities. A webbed stainless steel fiber mat attached on the inlet surface of the developed inertial filter was discussed as a pre-separator suppressing the bouncing of particles on meshes. The separation performance of a triple-nozzle inertial filter was also discussed to investigate the influence of scale-up on the separation performance of a multi-nozzle inertial filter. The influence of particle loading on the pressure drop and separation performance was discussed. A supplemental inlet for the nano-particle collection applied to an existing portable high-volume air sampler was devised and the consistency with other types of existing samplers was discussed based on the sampling of ambient particles. The layered-mesh inertial filter with a webbed stainless steel fiber mat as a pre-separator showed good performance in the separation of particles with a d p50 ranging from 150 to 190 nm keeping the influence of loaded particles small. The developed layered-mesh inertial filter was successfully applied to the collection of particles at a d p50∼ 190 nm that was consistent with the results from existing samplers.

Relationship between the number of outpatient visits for hypotension in the springtime in Japan, extracted from clinical electronic records, and global solar radiation levels.

Hypotension is commonly reported in springtime when health changes, such as autonomic imbalance, are common and its symptoms may cause difficulties in daily activities. In this study, medical data from 101 outpatient clinic attendees (mean age 43.9 years; 16 males) making their first visit for hypotension symptoms, were compared with meteorological data from the clinic's location. The main symptom of hypotension was giddiness on standing. The most common coexisting conditions were gastrointestinal; e.g. gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder and irritable bowel syndrome. The 7-day moving average of total global solar radiation correlated significantly with the 7-day moving average of the number of patients with hypotension. Discriminant analysis revealed an increase in hypotension consultations in the total global solar radiation moving average range 11-19 MJ/m(2), consistent with the local spring season. Guidance--such as wearing compression stockings during springtime--may help to reduce the occurrence of clinical hypotension in susceptible patients.

Cleft lip with cleft palate, ankyloglossia, and hypodontia are associated with TBX22 mutations.

X-linked cleft palate and ankyloglossia (CPX) are caused by mutations in the TBX22 transcription factor. To investigate whether patients with ankyloglossia alone or in the presence of other craniofacial features including hypodontia or CLP might be caused by TBX22 mutations, we analyzed 45 Thai patients with isolated ankyloglossia, 2 unusual CPA families, and 282 non-syndromic Thai and UK patients with CLP. Five putative missense mutations were identified, including 3 located in the T-box binding domain (R120Q, R126W, and R151L) that affects DNA binding and/or transcriptional repression. The 2 novel C-terminal mutations, P389Q and S400Y, did not affect TBX22 activity. Mutations R120Q and P389Q were identified in patients with ankyloglossia only, while R126W and R151L were present in families that included CLP. Several individuals in these families were also found to have micro/hypodontia. This study has expanded the phenotypic spectrum of TBX22-related mutations to include dental anomalies and cleft lip.

Glucocorticoid receptor activation is involved in producing abnormal phenotypes of single-prolonged stress rats: a putative post-traumatic stress disorder model.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a stress-related mental disorder caused by traumatic experience, and presents with characteristic symptoms, such as intrusive memories, a state of hyperarousal, and avoidance, that endure for years. Single-prolonged stress (SPS) is one of the animal models proposed for PTSD. Rats exposed to SPS showed enhanced inhibition of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which has been reliably reproduced in patients with PTSD, and increased expression of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hippocampus. In this study, we characterized further neuroendocrinologic, behavioral and electrophysiological alterations in SPS rats. Plasma corticosterone recovered from an initial increase within a week, and gross histological changes and neuronal cell death were not observed in the hippocampus of the SPS rats. Behavioral analyses revealed that the SPS rats presented enhanced acoustic startle and impaired spatial memory that paralleled the deficits in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression. Contextual fear memory was enhanced in the rats 1 week after SPS exposure, whereas LTP in the amygdala was blunted. Interestingly, blockade of GR activation by administering 17-beta-hydroxy-11-beta-/4-/[methyl]-[1-methylethyl]aminophenyl/-17-alpha-[prop-1-ynyl]estra-4-9-diene-3-one (RU40555), a GR antagonist, prior to SPS exposure prevented potentiation of fear conditioning and impairment of LTP in the CA1 region. Altogether, SPS caused a number of behavioral changes similar to those described in PTSD, which marks SPS as a putative PTSD model. The preventive effects of a GR antagonist suggested that GR activation might play a critical role in producing the altered behavior and neuronal function of SPS rats.

Middle-aged and elderly outpatients show lower body temperature responses than the young, even with the same C-reactive protein levels.

The variation of body temperature response and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels with age was investigated. A cross-sectional study on new outpatients between January 2004 and June 2005 was carried out. Body temperature and serum CRP levels were examined for screening purposes in 1081 patients. Mean axillary body temperature was maintained at around 36.7 degrees C in early adulthood, and gradually declined in middle age. Middle-aged and elderly outpatients tended to show a lower body temperature response than the young, even with the same CRP levels. The critical age (boundary age) was assumed to be when the relationship between body temperature response and CRP level changed. This study suggests that the boundary age is about 40 years old.

Hydrogen peroxide increases interleukin-12 p40/p70 molecular ratio and induces Th2-predominant responses in mice.

To investigate the influence of oxidative stress on the immune response, mice were injected with H(2)O(2), and peritoneal macrophages were isolated and stimulated in vitro with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). H(2)O(2) significantly augmented both interleukin (IL)-12p40 and IL-12p70 production and increased the p40/p70 molecular ratio. This was confirmed by mRNA analysis, which showed that H(2)O(2) increased LPS-induced mRNA expression of both IL-12p40 and IL-12p35 subunits with an increased p40/p35 ratio. Analysis of anti-ovalbumin (OVA) antibodies revealed that H(2)O(2) injection significantly increased the production of type 2 helper T cell (Th2)-associated antibody classes [immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1] but not a Th1-associated antibody class (IgG2a). To confirm the Th2-predominant immune response, we analyzed the profile of cytokine production by spleen T cells of OVA-immunized and H(2)O(2)-injected mice. H(2)O(2) significantly increased the production of IL-4 but not that of interferon-gamma. Together, these results suggest that H(2)O(2)-induced overproduction of IL-12p40 promotes the Th2-predominant response through increased production of IL-12p40-homodimers, which could serve as an antagonist of the Th1-inducing cytokine IL-12p70.