Neuroplasticity of Speech-in-Noise Processing in Older Adults Assessed by Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), a non-invasive optical neuroimaging technique that is portable and acoustically silent, has become a promising tool for evaluating auditory brain functions in hearing-vulnerable individuals. This study, for the first time, used fNIRS to evaluate neuroplasticity of speech-in-noise processing in older adults. Ten older adults, most of whom had moderate-to-mild hearing loss, participated in a 4-week speech-in-noise training. Their speech-in-noise performances and fNIRS brain responses to speech (auditory sentences in noise), non-speech (spectrally-rotated speech in noise) and visual (flashing chequerboards) stimuli were evaluated pre- (T0) and post-training (immediately after training, T1; and after a 4-week retention, T2). Behaviourally, speech-in-noise performances were improved after retention (T2 vs. T0) but not immediately after training (T1 vs. T0). Neurally, we intriguingly found brain responses to speech vs. non-speech decreased significantly in the left auditory cortex after retention (T2 vs. T0 and T2 vs. T1) for which we interpret as suppressed processing of background noise during speech listening alongside the significant behavioural improvements. Meanwhile, functional connectivity within and between multiple regions of temporal, parietal and frontal lobes was significantly enhanced in the speech condition after retention (T2 vs. T0). We also found neural changes before the emergence of significant behavioural improvements. Compared to pre-training, responses to speech vs. non-speech in the left frontal/prefrontal cortex were decreased significantly both immediately after training (T1 vs. T0) and retention (T2 vs. T0), reflecting possible alleviation of listening efforts. Finally, connectivity was significantly decreased between auditory and higher-level non-auditory (parietal and frontal) cortices in response to visual stimuli immediately after training (T1 vs. T0), indicating decreased cross-modal takeover of speech-related regions during visual processing. The results thus showed that neuroplasticity can be observed not only at the same time with, but also before, behavioural changes in speech-in-noise perception. To our knowledge, this is the first fNIRS study to evaluate speech-based auditory neuroplasticity in older adults. It thus provides important implications for current research by illustrating the promises of detecting neuroplasticity using fNIRS in hearing-vulnerable individuals.

RESTRICTIVE FLUID RESUSCITATION IN SEPTIC SHOCK PATIENTS HAS LOWER MORTALITY AND ORGAN DYSFUNCTION RATES THAN STANDARD THERAPY.

ABSTRACT: Background : The influence of restrictive fluid resuscitation and the early administration of vasopressors on the clinical outcomes in patients with septic shock are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of restrictive fluid management on mortality and organ dysfunction in patients with septic shock. Methods : This study included consecutive patients with septic shock in need of fluid resuscitation. Based on the fluid management provided in the initial resuscitation phase, a comparison was made between a restrictive group and a standard fluid management group. The primary outcome was in-hospital death, whereas secondary outcomes included organ dysfunction and other adverse events. Results : A total of 238 patients were included in this study. Restrictive fluid management was administered to 59.2% of patients, whereas 40.8% received standard fluid management. Restrictive resuscitation was associated with a lower in-hospital mortality rate (24.8% vs. 52.6%), as well as a shorter median intensive care unit stay (8.0 vs. 11.0 days). The restrictive strategy was associated with a significantly lower prevalence of new-onset acute kidney injury (25.5% vs. 51.5%) and a decrease in the incidence of renal replacement therapy (20.6% vs. 40.2%). The standard group had a higher risk of the need for mechanical ventilation and a significantly lower median number of days without a ventilator than the restrictive group. The median duration of vasopressor-free days in the restrictive group was significantly longer than that in the standard group (25.0 vs. 18.0). The administration rate of inotropes in the restrictive group was significantly lower than that in the standard group. A multivariate logistic regression model showed that restrictive fluid management (odds ratio [OR], 0.312; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.098-0.994) and vasopressor-free days (OR, 0.807; 95% CI, 0.765-0.851) protect against in-hospital death, whereas Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores (OR, 1.121; 95% CI, 1.018-1.234) were independent risk factors for in-hospital death. Conclusions : Restrictive fluid resuscitation and early vasopressor protocol in patients with septic shock are associated with better outcomes, indicating that this regimen is feasible and safe.

Disrupted network interactions serve as a neural marker of dyslexia.

Dyslexia, a frequent learning disorder, is characterized by severe impairments in reading and writing and hypoactivation in reading regions in the left hemisphere. Despite decades of research, it remains unclear to date if observed behavioural deficits are caused by aberrant network interactions during reading and whether differences in functional activation and connectivity are directly related to reading performance. Here we provide a comprehensive characterization of reading-related brain connectivity in adults with and without dyslexia. We find disrupted functional coupling between hypoactive reading regions, especially between the left temporo-parietal and occipito-temporal cortices, and an extensive functional disruption of the right cerebellum in adults with dyslexia. Network analyses suggest that individuals with dyslexia process written stimuli via a dorsal decoding route and show stronger reading-related interaction with the right cerebellum. Moreover, increased connectivity within networks is linked to worse reading performance in dyslexia. Collectively, our results provide strong evidence for aberrant task-related connectivity as a neural marker for dyslexia that directly impacts behavioural performance. The observed differences in activation and connectivity suggest that one effective way to alleviate reading problems in dyslexia is through modulating interactions within the reading network with neurostimulation methods.

Deresuscitation in Patients with Abdominal Sepsis Carries a Lower Mortality Rate and Less Organ Dysfunction than Conservative Fluid Management.

Background: The relation between deresuscitative fluid management after the resuscitation phase and clinical outcome in patients with abdominal sepsis is not completely clear. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of deresuscitative management to death and organ dysfunction in abdominal sepsis. Methods: Consecutive patients with abdominal sepsis requiring fluid resuscitation were included in this study. According to the fluid management given in the later stage of resuscitation, a conservative group and a deresuscitative fluid management group were compared. The primary outcome was in-hospital death, whereas secondary outcomes were categorized as organ dysfunction and other adverse events. Results: A total of 138 patients were enrolled in this study. Conservative fluid management was given to 47.8% of patients, whereas deresuscitative fluid management occurred in 52.2%. The deresuscitative strategy was associated with a markedly lower prevalence of new-onset acute kidney injury and a decrease in the duration of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). There was a greater risk of needing new-onset intubation and the mechanical ventilation duration in the conservative group than in the deresuscitative group. However, the deresuscitative group did not differ from the conservative group with respect to open abdomen and intra-abdominal hypertension or new-onset abdominal compartment syndrome. The conservative treatment was associated with prolonged stays as well as a higher in-hospital mortality rate. A multivariable logistic regression model showed that deresuscitative fluid management imparts a protective effect against in-hospital death (odds ratio 4.343; 95% confidence interva1 1.466-12.866; p = 0.008), whereas septic shock, source control failure, and CRRT duration were associated with a higher mortality rate. Conclusions: Fluid balance achieved using deresuscitative treatment is correlated with better outcomes in patients with abdominal sepsis, indicating that this treatment may be useful as a therapeutic strategy.

Early Active Irrigation-Suction Drainage among Enterocutaneous Fistulas Patients with Chronic Critical Illness: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Enterocutaneous fistulas (ECFs) requiring admission to ICU is a serious surgical complication. A growing number of patients survive ECFs but remain chronically critically ill. The aim of our study was to investigate the risk factors of hospital death in patients with chronic critical illness attributed to ECFs. A retrospective single-center study was conducted in 163 ECF patients between 2013 and 2017. Patient-specific baseline characteristics, outcomes, and process of care variables were collected. Risk factors for hospital mortality were determined using univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients were divided into the following two groups according to the hospital discharge outcome: group survivors (n = 106) and group nonsurvivors (n = 57). Patients who received active irrigation-suction drainage (AISD) within 24 hours after the diagnosis of ECFs had a significantly lower hospital mortality rate than those who received AISD after more than 24 hours (17.9% vs 46.9%, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that delayed AISD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 10.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.03-34.59; P < 0.001) and no rehabilitation therapy (AOR, 4.77; 95% CI, 1.43-15.98; P = 0.011) were independently associated with a greater risk of hospital mortality. The hospital mortality rate in patients with more than or equal to four risk factors was 92.6 per cent (n = 57), compared with a mortality rate of 9.4 per cent (n = 106) in patients who did not have these risk factors (P < 0.001). The risk of hospital death is exceptionally high among patients with chronic critical illness attributed to ECFs. Efforts aimed at early AISD and rehabilitation therapy are likely to be associated with improved clinical outcomes.

[The application progress of fluid de-escalation therapy in abdominal infection-induced septic shock].

After adequate fluid resuscitation in the early stage of septic shock, excessive accumulation of fluid in the body leads to organ dysfunction, which prolongs hospitalization, mechanical ventilation time, and renal replacement therapy time, and is associated with poor prognosis. The fluid de-escalation therapy is an important fluid management strategy performed in the late stage of septic shock. It aims to clear excess fluid by restricting fluid infusion, using diuretics and renal replacement therapy to achieve a negative fluid balance. The fluid de-escalation therapy contributes to improve clinical outcome of septic shock patients and reduce the mortality. This review mainly discusses the current researches and application progress of the fluid de-escalation therapy of abdominal infection-induced septic shock through clarifying its origin, time and endpoint, method of the therapy, the relationship with the control of the source of abdominal infection and its impact on organ function and clinical outcome. Our study intends to provide guidance for the treatment of abdominal infection-induced septic shock in the late stage, and explore the novel research directions.