Neuronal Correlates of Empathy: A Systematic Review of Event-Related Potentials Studies in Perceptual Tasks.

Empathy is a crucial component to infer and understand others' emotions. However, a synthesis of studies regarding empathy and its neuronal correlates in perceptual tasks using event-related potentials (ERPs) has yet to occur. The current systematic review aimed to provide that overview. Upon bibliographic research, 30 studies featuring empathy assessments and at least one perceptual task measuring ERP components in healthy participants were included. Four main focus categories were identified, as follows: Affective Pictures, Facial Stimuli, Mental States, and Social Language. The Late Positive Potential was the most analyzed in Affective Pictures and was reported to be positively correlated with cognitive and affective empathy, along with other late components. In contrast, for Facial Stimuli, early components presented significant correlations with empathy scales. Particularly, the N170 presented negative correlations with cognitive and affective empathy. Finally, augmented N400 was suggested to be associated with higher empathy scores in the Mental States and Social Language categories. These findings highlight the relevance of early perceptual stages of empathic processing and how different EEG/ERP methodologies provide relevant information.

Amplitude modulation of the contingent negative variation in psychopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The CNV is analyzed in tasks related to EEG studies, often with participants presenting psychopathic personality traits. A systematic search of the literature was conducted, to solve some inconsistencies regarding CNV amplitude modulation by psychopathy. Nine studies (N = 317) were retrieved for analysis. Three meta-analyses were run - CNV, iCNV, tCNV. A qualitative analysis - reporting CNV amplitudes modulated by psychopathy dimensional features - was also featured. Overall effects for CNV and iCNV were not significant. Larger tCNV amplitudes were found in participants reporting higher psychopathy traits, g = -0.58, 95% CI [- 0.94, - 0.22]. These findings were surprising when confronted with previous assumptions in the literature, especially considering that no significant heterogeneity between studies was found. Neither of the studies' characteristics was a significant moderator. Findings require the need to discuss key differences between adaptive/(mal)adjustment patterns in participants presenting psychopathic traits. Future studies dissociating iCNV and tCNV modulation by psychopathy, especially in community samples and through a dimensional lens, could help to better understand the construct of psychopathy.

Neuronal underpinnings of the attentional bias toward threat in the anxiety spectrum: Meta-analytical data on P3 and LPP event-related potentials.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review analyzes brain responses at later stages of neuronal processing (P3 at 300-500 ms, and LPP at 300-700 ms). Both P3 and LPP are implicated in attentional threat bias in disorders grouped into fear and distress dimensions of the anxiety spectrum described by the Hierarchical Taxonomy Model of Psychopathology (HiTOP), but there are no consistent findings so far. METHOD: Meta-analyses with between- (32 studies, n = 1631) and within-groups design (31 studies, n = 1699) were performed for assessing P3 and LPP modulation in negative, positive, and neutral stimuli, while also considering differences between controls and anxious individuals. Relevant moderators (e.g., age, sex, task) were controlled for and negative stimuli were further decomposed in terms of category (Relevant, Fear/Threat, or Unpleasant). RESULTS: Increased P3 and LPP amplitudes were found for negative and positive stimuli, when compared to neutral stimuli (within-subjects analysis), confirming that both components are elicited by emotionally arousing information. Within-effects for negative and positive stimuli were higher for the anxious groups. Nonetheless, between-groups analyses showed that attentional threat bias occurs only in anxious groups when negative, personally relevant-threat information is presented. The HiTOP fear dimension moderated the findings. LIMITATIONS: Potential missed studies; ERPs time windows' heterogeneity; adult sample only; the uneven number of computed effects; categorical analyses. CONCLUSION: Attentional bias toward disorder-congruent threatening cues can be a transdiagnostic mechanism of HiTOP fear disorders, clustered within the anxiety spectrum.

N2 amplitude modulation across the antisocial spectrum: a meta-analysis.

Despite the accumulated knowledge on antisocial behavior and the positive event-related potential peaking around 300 ms (P3), less is known about the preceding negative electrophysiological response around 200 ms (N2). A systematic search of the literature was conducted to analyze the N2 modulation across the antisocial spectrum. Thirty-seven studies (n = 1199) were retrieved to the quantitative analysis. Reduced N2 amplitudes were found in the more severe antisocial manifestations (violent behavior and antisocial personality disorder), which is consistent with previous findings on P3 alterations and N2 reduced amplitudes in externalizing disorders. Findings on psychopathy were mixed, also in accordance with previous P3 results. From a dimensional lens, this supports the heterogeneity of the psychopathic personality structure: impulsivity features are a closer attribute of antisocial behavior and thus may be associated with N2 reduction, while adaptive psychopathic traits may be associated with intact (or even increased) N2 amplitude. The increased N2 amplitudes observed in impulsive behavior challenge, however, the previous meta-analytic findings. As most of the studies on impulsivity include subclinical samples, it leads to the hypothesis that some compensatory mechanisms can still occur at a subclinical level, reflecting the need for heightened allocation of brain resources to yield similar performances. Importantly, inhibition was the core deficit to explain N2 blunted amplitudes, alongside with deficits in the frontal brain region. From our findings, the reduction in P3 amplitude across the antisocial spectrum may be detected in the previous N2 time window.

Pdr18 is involved in yeast response to acetic acid stress counteracting the decrease of plasma membrane ergosterol content and order.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae has the ability to become less sensitive to a broad range of chemically and functionally unrelated cytotoxic compounds. Among multistress resistance mechanisms is the one mediated by plasma membrane efflux pump proteins belonging to the ABC superfamily, questionably proposed to enhance the kinetics of extrusion of all these compounds. This study provides new insights into the biological role and impact in yeast response to acetic acid stress of the multistress resistance determinant Pdr18 proposed to mediate ergosterol incorporation in plasma membrane. The described coordinated activation of the transcription of PDR18 and of several ergosterol biosynthetic genes (ERG2-4, ERG6, ERG24) during the period of adaptation to acetic acid inhibited growth provides further support to the involvement of Pdr18 in yeast response to maintain plasma membrane ergosterol content in stressed cells. Pdr18 role in ergosterol homeostasis helps the cell to counteract acetic acid-induced decrease of plasma membrane lipid order, increase of the non-specific membrane permeability and decrease of transmembrane electrochemical potential. Collectively, our results support the notion that Pdr18-mediated multistress resistance is closely linked to the status of plasma membrane lipid environment related with ergosterol content and the associated plasma membrane properties.

Calyceal fistula: a problematic, but treatable, complication of renal transplantation.

OBJECTIVE: Calyceal fistula is a rare complication of renal transplantation that may lead to graft loss. This article reports a case of functional recuperation of a graft that seemed condemned to failure. METHODS: 31 year old male patient, submitted to living donor renal transplant, in which was necessary to ligate a superior polar artery found during donor nephrectomy, due to its short length. This resulted in development of a calyceal fistula, unsolved with conservative treatment by percutaneous drainage. A new surgical intervention revealed a large upper pole area of necrotic tissue, corresponding to the obliterated artery irrigation zone. RESULTS: Debridement and calyceal suture were performed and a posterior pyelography confirmed fistula closure. Presently, he is asymptomatic, with stabilized graft function. CONCLUSION: Calyceal fistulas are complications of difficult resolution. However, the present case demonstrates that with an appropriate treatment it is possible to save a graft with no apparent solution at the first place.

Fístula calicial: una complicación problemática pero tratable del transplante renal / Calyceal fistula: a problematic, but treatable, complication of renal transplantation

OBJETIVO: La fístula calicial es una complicación rara del trasplante renal que puede ocasionar la pérdida del injerto. Presentamos un caso de recuperación funcional de un injerto aparentemente condenado al fracaso. MÉTODO: Varón de 31 años, sometido a trasplante renal de donante vivo, en el que fue necesario anular una arteria polar superior hallada durante la extracción del riñón, debido a su escaso calibre. Esto produjo una fistula calicial precoz, sin respuesta al tratamiento conservador con drenaje percutáneo. Una nueva cirugía reveló una granárea de tejido necrótico, correspondiente a la zona de irrigación de la arteria anulada. RESULTADO: Fue realizado el desbridamiento y cierre calicial. Una pielografía posterior confirmó su clausura. Actualmente, el paciente se encuentra asintomático y con injerto funcional estabilizado. CONCLUSIÓN: Las fístulas caliciales son de difícil resolución. Sin embargo, el presente caso nos muestra que con un tratamiento apropiado es posible recuperar un trasplante sin salvación aparente (AU)

OBJECTIVE: Calyceal fistula is a rare complication of renal transplantation that may lead to graft loss. This article reports a case of functional recuperation of a graft that seemed condemned to failure. METHODS: 31 year old male patient, submitted to living donor renal transplant, in which was necessary to ligate a superior polar artery found during donor nephrectomy, due to its short length. This resulted in development of a calyceal fistula, unsolved with conservative treatment by percutaneous drainage. A new surgical intervention revealed a large upper pole area of necrotic tissue, corresponding to the obliterated artery irrigation zone. RESULTS: Debridement and calyceal suture were performed and a posterior pyelography confirmed fistula closure. Presently, he is asymptomatic, with stabilized graft function. CONCLUSION: Calyceal fistulas are complications of difficult resolution. However, the present case demonstrates that with an appropriate treatment it is possible to save a graft with no apparent solution at the first place (AU)

Ultracentrifugation as a direct method to concentrate viruses in environmental waters: virus-like particle enumeration as a new approach to determine the efficiency of recovery.

Some health important enteric viruses are considered to be emerging waterborne pathogens and so the improvement of detection of these viruses in the aquatic environment is one of the most important steps in dealing with these pathogens. Since these viruses may be present in low numbers in water, it is necessary to concentrate water samples before viral detection. Although there are several methods to concentrate viruses in environmental waters, all present some drawbacks and consequently the method should be chosen that, despite its limitations, is adequate to achieve the aim of each study. As the effectiveness of the concentration methods is evaluated by determining the efficiency of viral recovery after concentration, it is important to use a simple and effective approach to evaluate their recovery efficiency. In this work ultracentrifugation, usually used as a secondary step for virus concentration, was evaluated as the main method to concentrate directly viruses in environmental water samples, using the microscopic enumeration of virus-like particles (VLP) as a new approach to estimate the efficiency of recovery. As the flocculation method is currently employed to concentrate viruses in environmental waters, it was also used in this study to assess the efficiency of the ultracentrifugation as the main viral concentration method in environmental waters. The results of this study indicate that ultracentrifugation is an adequate approach to concentrate viruses directly from environmental waters (recovery percentages between 66 and 72% in wastewaters and between 66 and 76% in recreational waters) and that the determination of VLP by epifluorescence microscopy is a simple, fast and cheap alternative approach to determine the recovery efficiency of the viral concentration methods.

[Paraquat intoxication and hemocarboperfusion]. / Intoxicação por paraquato e terapêutica com hemocarboperfusão.

In the northeast of Portugal, paraquat intoxication is common. We report 31 patients, admitted at our institution from April 1997 to June 2004, with suspected paraquat intoxication. Thirty cases had suicidal intention and all have ingested the toxic by mouth. Treatment consisted of skin and digestive decontamination with gastric washing and activated charcoal or Fuller's Earth. The first medical care was performed after 1 h 14 min at median [9 min-11 h 26 min]. By laboratory measurement (n=13) and/or clinical observation (n=11) it was possible to confirm the gastrointestinal absorption of paraquat for 24 patients (17 male-7 female; 49 +/- 17 years). The estimated ingested volume was higher for 15 non-survivors relatively to nine survivors (170 +/- 60 mL vs 25 +/- 10 mL; P<0,001). Initial serum paraquat of seven non-survivors was also higher than the serum level of six survivors (8.3 +/- 6.9 mg/L vs 0.4 +/- 0.3 mg/L; P < 0.01). Remarkably, all patients with serum paraquat higher than 1.7 ml/l did not survived. The paraquat urine level, simultaneous to the first serum determination, was higher for six survivors (38 +/- 37 mg/L) comparing with four non-survivors patients (465 +/- 536 mg/L; P<0.04). Hemoperfusion with activated charcoal was performed after December 1997 until June 2004 for 25 patients. Twenty of the 24 patients confirmed for paraquat intoxication were treated with this technique (12/15 of the non-survivors and 8/9 of the survivors; p=NS). Total number of sessions was identical (2.0 +/- 1.0 vs 1.5 +/- 1.2; P=NS), total time of hemoperfusion was higher (7 h 58 min vs 5 h 37 min; P=0.07) but the beginning of the first session was later (7 h 44 min vs 4 h 18 min; P=0.04) for the survivors. Clinical signs and laboratory analysis were collected at admission trying to detect markers of prognostic survival value. Hypernatremia, hypokaliemia, hyperglycemia and acute renal failure were more frequent for non-survivors (P<0.05) but the variable timing of the first laboratorial determination jeopardize our analysis, perhaps excluding acute renal failure. Rapid evolution to shock, lead to death for seven patients at the first day of admission and to another four deaths at the next day. Median survival of non-survivors was 1.2 days [0.1-13.2]. Evolution to pulmonary fibrosis for the nine survivors was not investigated (median follow-up: 14 days [2-1053]). Paraquat intoxication was highly lethal, leading to a 63% mortality rate of our patients. Hemoperfusion did not reveal any survival advantage for our patients.