Food vibrations: Asian spice sets lips trembling.

Szechuan pepper, a widely used ingredient in the cuisine of many Asian countries, is known for the tingling sensation it induces on the tongue and lips. While the molecular mechanism by which Szechuan pepper activates tactile afferent fibres has been clarified, the tingling sensation itself has been less studied, and it remains unclear which fibres are responsible. We investigated the somatosensory perception of tingling in humans to identify the characteristic temporal frequency and compare this to the established selectivity of tactile afferents. Szechuan pepper was applied to the lower lip of participants. Participants judged the frequency of the tingling sensation on the lips by comparing this with the frequencies of mechanical vibrations applied to their right index finger. The perceived frequency of the tingling was consistently at around 50 Hz, corresponding to the range of tactile RA1 afferent fibres. Furthermore, adaptation of the RA1 channel by prolonged mechanical vibration reliably reduced the tingling frequency induced by Szechuan pepper, confirming that the frequency-specific tactile channel is shared between Szechuan pepper and mechanical vibration. Combining information about molecular reactions at peripheral receptors with quantitative psychophysical measurement may provide a unique method for characterizing unusual experiences by decomposing them into identifiable minimal units of sensation.

Impact of an Age-Adjusted Co-morbidity Index on Survival of Patients With Heart Failure Implanted With Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices.

Age is an adverse prognostic factor in patients with heart failure. We aimed to assess the impact of age and noncardiac co-morbidities in the outcome of patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and determine which of these two factors is the most important predictor of survival. The study involved a single-center retrospective assessment of 697 consecutive CRT implants during a 12-year period. Patient co-morbidity profile was assessed using the Charlson Co-morbidity Index (CCI) and the Charlson Age-Co-morbidity Index (CACI). Predictors of survival free from heart transplantation were assessed. CRT-related complications and cause of death analysis were assessed within tertiles of the CACI. During a mean follow-up of 1,813 ± 1,177 days, 347 patients (49.9%) died and 37 (5.3%) underwent heart transplantation. On multivariate Cox regression, female gender (HR = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.62 to 0.99, p = 0.041), estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR per ml/min = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99, p < 0.001), left ventricular ejection fraction (HR per % = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.00, p = 0.022), New York Heart Association class (HR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.53 to 2.20, p < 0.001), presence of left bundle branch block (HR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.87, p = 0.001), and CACI tertile (HR = 1.37, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.59, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of all-cause mortality or heart transplantation. Compared with age and the CCI, the CACI was the best discriminator of all-cause mortality. Inappropriate therapies occurred less frequently in higher co-morbidity tertiles. In conclusion, patient co-morbidity profile adjusted to age impacts on mortality after CRT implantation. Use of the CACI may help refine guideline criteria to identify patients more likely to benefit from CRT.

Smartphone and mobile phone security for the clinician.

Smartphones are near ubiquitous and widely used by doctors in discussing patients. In all communication doctors should take steps to protect confidentiality, yet there is a paucity of available information on how clinicians can bolster cyber security and minimize risk when using their mobile phone.