Rifaximin Prevents T-Lymphocytes and Macrophages Infiltration in Cerebellum and Restores Motor Incoordination in Rats with Mild Liver Damage.

In patients with liver cirrhosis, minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) is triggered by a shift in peripheral inflammation, promoting lymphocyte infiltration into the brain. Rifaximin improves neurological function in MHE by normalizing peripheral inflammation. Patients who died with steatohepatitis showed T-lymphocyte infiltration and neuroinflammation in the cerebellum, suggesting that MHE may already occur in these patients. The aims of this work were to assess, in a rat model of mild liver damage similar to steatohepatitis, whether: (1) the rats show impaired motor coordination in the early phases of liver damage; (2) this is associated with changes in the immune system and infiltration of immune cells into the brain; and (3) rifaximin improves motor incoordination, associated with improved peripheral inflammation, reduced infiltration of immune cells and neuroinflammation in the cerebellum, and restoration of the alterations in neurotransmission. Liver damage was induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) injection over four weeks. Peripheral inflammation, immune cell infiltration, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmission in the cerebellum and motor coordination were assessed. Mild liver damage induces neuroinflammation and altered neurotransmission in the cerebellum and motor incoordination. These alterations are associated with increased TNFa, CCL20, and CX3CL1 in plasma and cerebellum, IL-17 and IL-15 in plasma, and CCL2 in cerebellum. This promotes T-lymphocyte and macrophage infiltration in the cerebellum. Early treatment with rifaximin prevents the shift in peripheral inflammation, immune cell infiltration, neuroinflammation, and motor incoordination. This report provides new clues regarding the mechanisms of the beneficial effects of rifaximin, suggesting that early rifaximin treatment could prevent neurological impairment in patients with steatohepatitis.

Repeatability of the resonance frequency analysis values in implants with a new technology

Background: Assess the reliability (by means of reproducibility and repeatability) of the PenguinRFA system, analyse the ISQ values of different implant types and correlate the ISQ with the insertion torque during the placement of the implant. Material and Methods: 120 rough surface implants were placed in bovine bone (type II and III). The implants were divided into groups, according to its design. Once the implants were in place, the exact insertion torque was registered. Then, primary stability was measured by means of the resonance frequency analysis with the PenguinRFA and the Osstell ISQ devices. In each implant two transducers of each device were used. Three measurements were obtained with each transducer. Results: The mean ISQ (implant stability quotient) of the whole sample is 67,70 ± 5,51. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) is 0,933 and 0,944 for transducers 1 and 2 respectively. The reproducibility is 0,906. The mean insertion torque is 24,54 ± 8,96N. The correlation between the ISQ and the insertion torque is 0,507 p < 0,000 (MultiPeg 1) and 0,468 p < 0,000 (MultiPeg 2) for bone type II and 0,533 p < 0,801 (MultiPeg 1) and 0,193 p < 0,140 (MultiPeg 2) for bone type III

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The hammam effect or how a warm ocean enhances large scale atmospheric predictability.

The atmosphere's chaotic nature limits its short-term predictability. Furthermore, there is little knowledge on how the difficulty of forecasting weather may be affected by anthropogenic climate change. Here, we address this question by employing metrics issued from dynamical systems theory to describe the atmospheric circulation and infer the dynamical properties of the climate system. Specifically, we evaluate the changes in the sub-seasonal predictability of the large-scale atmospheric circulation over the North Atlantic for the historical period and under anthropogenic forcing, using centennial reanalyses and CMIP5 simulations. For the future period, most datasets point to an increase in the atmosphere's predictability. AMIP simulations with 4K warmer oceans and 4 × atmospheric CO2 concentrations highlight the prominent role of a warmer ocean in driving this increase. We term this the hammam effect. Such effect is linked to enhanced zonal atmospheric patterns, which are more predictable than meridional configurations.

Scoring with the Berlin MRI method for assessment of spinal inflammatory activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: a calibration exercise among rheumatologists.

OBJECTIVES: To test the reliability of the Berlin MRI scoring method and the effect of a calibration exercise on the score's reliability among untrained readers in MRI examinations of patients with established ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Eleven rheumatologists read blinded images of 20 AS patients before and after a two-day workshop on the Berlin MRI scoring method. Reliability (intra- and inter-reader) and concordance with the expert (all measured by intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC)) were compared before and after 2 weeks of the training. Feasibility in terms of time and difficulty was also measured. RESULTS: The mean Berlin score increased from (mean ± standard deviation) 5.04 ± 6.41 before to 6.40±7.08 after the calibration exercise (p<0.01). Inter-reader ICC decreased from 0.83 (95% CI: 0.75-0.93) to 0.78 (95% CI: 0.66-0.90), and intra-reader ICC from 0.89 (95% CI: 0.84-0.94) to 0.87 (95% CI: 0.82-0.92). Agreement with an experienced reader improved after the calibration exercise, with ICC = 0.59 (95% CI 0.45-0.76) before vs. ICC = 0.65 (95% CI 0.50-0.80) after training. CONCLUSIONS: The Berlin method is a reliable scoring method for assessment of spinal inflammatory activity by using MRI in patients with AS, even in the hands of inexperienced readers. A calibration exercise can improve feasibility and sensitivity of the scoring method.

Theory of Mind in Young People with Down’s Syndrome

The ability to describe, assign and attribute certain mental states is referred to as Theory of Mind. This topic has been extensively studied in the field of autism, where deficits in social interaction skills that characterize this disorder are thought to be due to a lack of a Theory of Mind. However, there is also evidence that children with developmental disabilities have difficulties in solving tasks concerning the attribution of mental states. In this paper, we present two studies that have been conducted with young people with Down’s Syndrome and developmental delay with a task in which they should report the preferences of a character who is unknown to them in different situations. The results in the first study are variable, and it was difficult for participants to accurately report the preferred options of the character, even after watching that person choosing. However, all the participants in the second study were able to put themselves in the place of the character and accurately report on his/her preferences. The difference between the results in the two studies is analyzed in terms of the subject’s experience with the character and the prompts that ensure discrimination of the most relevant elements in the task (AU)

La habilidad de describir, asignar y atribuir estados mentales a otros y a uno mismo es referida como teoría de la mente. Esta temática ha sido estudiada, principalmente, en el ámbito de análisis del autismo, entendiendo que las carencias en interacción social características de este trastorno se explican por la ausencia de una teoría de la mente, llegándose a proponer este déficit como propio y específico del autismo. También se ha comprobado, en menor medida, que niños con retraso en su desarrollo presentan dificul- tades en tareas de atribución de estados mentales. Se presentan dos estudios en los que jóvenes con Síndrome de Down y retraso en el desarrollo deben informar en diferentes situaciones de cuáles creen que son las preferencias de un personaje desconocido para ellos. En el primer estudio los participantes presentan dificultades para informar correcta- mente de las preferencias del personaje, aún después de haberlo observado eligiendo. En el segundo estudio los participantes consiguen ponerse en el lugar del personaje e informar correctamente de sus preferencias. La diferencia entre estos resultados es analizada en términos de experiencia con el personaje y facilitación de la discriminación de éste y sus preferencias frente a las de los participantes (AU)

[Say-do correspondence to improve disruptive behaviors in adults with Down's syndrome]. / Correspondencia decir-hacer para la mejora de conductas perturbadoras en adultos con síndrome de Down.

The most acknowledged strategies for the treatment of disruptive behaviours are those that are based on direct contingency management. Other procedures allow the therapist, or educational agent, not to be present in the context in which the behavioural change has to take place: the say-do correspondence training procedures, which have proven effective across behaviours and populations. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little evidence of the effectiveness of such procedures with populations presenting developmental disabilities. This study describes the implementation of say-do correspondence training to modify 5 disruptive behaviours present in 5 adult subjects diagnosed with Down's syndrome, showing very positive results. The advantages of using say-do correspondence training procedures in developmental disabilities are discussed.

Correspondencia decir-hacer para la mejora de conductas perturbadoras en adultos con síndrome de Down / Say-do correspondence to improve disruptive behaviors in adults with Down’s syndrome

Las estrategias más reconocidas para el tratamiento de conductas perturbadoras suponen el manejo directo de contingencias. Otros procedimientos permiten prescindir del agente terapéutico o educativo en el contexto en que ha de producirse el cambio conductual: el entrenamiento en correspondencia decir-hacer; que se ha mostrado efectivo con diferentes temáticas y poblaciones, siendo escasos los informes referidos a personas con retraso en el desarrollo. Se presenta un estudio en el que, mediante el fortalecimiento de la clase funcional «correspondencia Decir-Hacer», se interviene con 5 conductas perturbadoras en 5 jóvenes con síndrome de Down y retraso en el desarrollo, alcanzándose los objetivos propuestos en todos los casos. Se discute la funcionalidad del procedimiento en el ámbito de la intervención en retraso en el desarrollo (AU)

The most acknowledged strategies for the treatment of disruptive behaviours are those that are based on direct contingency management. Other procedures allow the therapist, or educational agent, not to be present in the context in which the behavioural change has to take place: the say-do correspondence training procedures, which have proven effective across behaviours and populations. Nevertheless, there is surprisingly little evidence of the effectiveness of such procedures with populations presenting developmental disabilities. This study describes the implementation of say-do correspondence training to modify 5 disruptive behaviours present in 5 adult subjects diagnosed with Down’s syndrome, showing very positive results. The advantages of using say-do correspondence training procedures in developmental disabilities are discussed (AU)

Aspiración endobronquial de cuerpo extraño en adultos / No disponible

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