Decision-making and frontoparietal resting-state functional connectivity among impulsive-compulsive diagnoses. Insights from a Bayesian approach.

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) is one of the most widely used paradigms for assessing decision-making. An impairment in this process may be linked to several psychopathological disorders, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), substance abuse disorder (SUD) or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which could make it a good candidate for being consider a transdiagnostic domain. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) has been proposed as a promising biomarker of decision-making. In this study, we aimed to identify idiosyncratic decision-making profiles among healthy people and impulsive-compulsive spectrum patients during the IGT, and to investigate the role of frontoparietal network (FPN) rsFC as a possible biomarker of different decision-making patterns. Using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), rsFC of 114 adults (34 controls; 25 OCD; 41 SUD; 14 ADHD) was obtained. Then, they completed the IGT. Hybrid clustering methods based on individual deck choices yielded three decision-makers subgroups. Cluster 1 (n = 27) showed a long-term advantageous strategy. Cluster 2 (n = 25) presented a maladaptive decision-making strategy. Cluster 3 (n = 62) did not develop a preference for any deck during the task. Interestingly, the proportion of participants in each cluster was not different between diagnostic groups. A Bayesian general linear model showed no credible differences in the IGT performance between diagnostic groups nor credible evidence to support the role of FPN rsFC as a biomarker of decision-making under the IGT context. This study highlights the importance of exploring in depth the behavioral and neurophysiological variables that may drive decision-making in clinical and healthy populations.

Combination Treatment with Antigen-Specific Dual-Sized Microparticle System Plus Anti-CD3 Immunotherapy Fails to Synergize to Improve Late-Stage Type 1 Diabetes Prevention in Nonobese Diabetic Mice.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathophysiology, while incompletely understood, has in part been attributed to aberrant presentation of self-antigen plus proinflammatory costimulation by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs). Therapies targeting dendritic cells (DCs) offer an avenue to restore antigen-specific tolerance by promoting presentation of self-antigen in an anti-inflammatory or suppressive context. Here, we describe a subcutaneously administered, dual-sized biodegradable microparticle (MP) platform that includes phagocytosable (∼1 µm) and nonphagocytosable (∼30 µm) MPs to deliver pro-tolerogenic factors both intra- and extracellularly, as well as the T1D-associated autoantigen, insulin, to DCs for amelioration of autoimmunity. This MP platform resulted in increased recruitment of DCs, suppressive skewing of DC phenotype with diminished expression of CD86 and MHC-II, increased regulatory T cell (Treg) frequency, and upregulated expression of the checkpoint inhibitor programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) on T cells. When administered concomitantly with anti-CD3 antibody, which provides transient T cell depletion while preserving Treg populations, in 12-week-old nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice, regulatory immune populations persisted out to 20 weeks of age; however, combination anti-CD3 and dual-sized MP (dMP) therapy failed to synergistically inhibit diabetes onset.

Transcranial direct current stimulation improves risky decision making in women but not in men: A sham-controlled study.

Behavioral and anatomical sex-related differences have been traditionally found in decision-making processes assessed by Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). So far, the administration of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over orbitofrontal regions has shown an enhancing effect over decision-making. However, it is unknown whether there is a sex-dependent effect of stimulation in decision-making, a key question considering previous differences between men and women in IGT and the influence of individual differences in tDCS. The present study examines, at first time, the interaction between sex and tDCS in decision-making. For that aim, in a first experimental phase, ninety-two healthy participants performed the IGT. In a second phase, sixty-one participants received 20 min of anodal or sham tDCS over the right orbitofrontal cortex (rOFC) in a single-session pre-post sham-controlled study. To support the focality of the montage, a Stop Signal Task (SST) was used as a control task and also a numerical simulation of current flow distribution was performed. According to literature, in the first phase, results showed that men outperformed women in the IGT. In the second phase, the stimulation varied the IGT performance according to a sex specific manner: anodal tDCS increased the IGT performance in women, while in men; the stimulation did not produce any effect. Results were mediated by sex-specific morphological differences. These results highlight the necessity to consider the interaction of sex with the effect of the stimulation in future tDCS protocols, specifically in future clinical studies.

Need for lung resection in patients with intact or ruptured hydatid cysts.

BACKGROUND: Lung hydatid cyst caused by Echinococcus granulosus is endemic in many areas of the world. We aimed to compare the outcome of surgical treatment in intact and ruptured (infected or noninfected) cysts. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 115 patients with lung hydatid disease who were surgically treated between 2001 and 2005 in a tertiary hospital in Lima, Peru. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on cyst characteristics: intact cysts (n = 41), ruptured noninfected cysts (n = 47) and ruptured infected cysts (n = 27). If a patient had more than one type of cyst, the most severe form of disease was recorded. Data related to symptoms, morbidity and mortality were recorded and compared. We also calculated direct patient costs. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 23.6 +/- 15.1 years old. Ruptured cysts were present in 64 % of patients and giant cysts (> 10 cm diameter) were present in 26 % of patients. Hemoptysis was present in 47.0 % of patients and was more frequent in patients with ruptured infected cysts. Lung resection was performed in 58 % of patients. The most common postoperative complication was infection of the operative wound (6.08 %). Perioperative mortality was zero. Patients with ruptured cysts had a longer hospitalization time and higher total cost (12.28 +/- 0.92 days, US$ 890.34 +/- 303.35) than patients with intact cysts (10.17 +/- 0.79 days, US$ 724.81 +/- 14.38). CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of lung hydatid disease is safe, with a good outcome and a low mortality rate. The lung resection rate was higher than most published series and reflects the relatively high proportion of patients with giant and ruptured infected cysts.

Pleural empyema as a late complication of liver cystectomy for hydatid cyst.

Cystectomy without capitonnage is a widely used surgical technique for liver hydatid disease. A residual cavity can be left during the procedure, which can turn into an abscess. We report the case of a patient who developed right pleural empyema as a late complication of this procedure. She was successfully managed with antibiotics and a right thoracotomy.

[Spontaneous extraperitoneal bladder perforation in an elderly patient with genitalia prolapse]. / Rotura vesical espontánea en paciente senil con prolapso genital.

There are many etiologic reasons which explain the bladder perforation. Bladder injuries happen most commonly in poli-traumatisms (traffic accident), blunt trauma, penetrating injury and iatrogenic injury (surgery, laparoscopic...). However, there is not always a vigorous, direct, extern and blunt agent causing the rupture. In the case reported the extraperitoneal bladder rupture started after a smooth perineal injury caused when the patient seated down. The patient already suffered from a cystocele III/IV plus uterine prolapse for a long time ago.

Really does temperature reduction and norepinephrine have similar effects on the energy metabolism in rat brown adipose tissue?

CONTEXT: Heat generation by brown adipose tissue (BAT) in response to temperature reduction seems to be entirely related to sympathetic nervous stimulation. OBJECTIVE: To analyse if temperature reduction and norepinephrine may differently affect the expression of proteins related to energy metabolism in BAT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Isolated rats BAT was incubated with/without norepinephrine (10-6 mol/L, 24 h at 32 °C and 37 °C). RESULTS: In BAT, 32 °C increased the protein expression levels of carnitine palmitoyltransferase-I and -II, mitochondrial uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1) and the expression and activity of lactate dehydrogenase. Mitochondrial F1-ATP synthase α-chain expression was decreased at 32 °C compared to 37 °C. Norepinephrine and at 32 °C exposure, UCP-1 expression was increased but cytochrome-c oxidase and F1-ATP synthase α-chain expression was reduced with respect to 37 °C. DISCUSSION: Sympathetic stimulation seems not to be the only factor associated with heat generation. CONCLUSIONS: Temperature reduction by itself exerts some different effects on the expression of proteins related to the energy metabolism than norepinephrine.

Soluble guanylate cyclase beta1-subunit expression is increased in mononuclear cells from patients with erectile dysfunction.

The aim was to determine in circulating mononuclear cells from patients with erectile dysfunction (ED), the level of expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) beta1-subunit and phosphodiesterase type-V (PDE-V). Peripheral mononuclear cells from nine patients with ED of vascular origin and nine patients with ED of neurological origin were obtained. Fourteen age-matched volunteers with normal erectile function were used as control. Reduction in eNOS protein was observed in the mononuclear cells from patients with ED of vascular origin but not in those from neurological origin. Although sGC beta1-subunit expression was increased in mononuclear cells from patients with ED, the sGC activity was reduced. However, only the patients with ED of vascular origin showed an increased expression of PDE-V. This work shows for the first time that, independently of the aetiology of ED, the expression of sGC beta1-subunit was increased in circulating mononuclear cells; however, the expression of both eNOS and PDE-V was only modified in the circulating mononuclear cells from patients with ED of vascular origin.

Metabolic differences between white and brown fat from fasting rabbits at physiological temperature.

It has been suggested that activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) shows increased glucose metabolic activity. However, less is known about metabolic activity of BAT under conditions of fasting and normal temperature. The aim of this study was to compare the possible differences in energetic metabolism between BAT and white adipose tissue (WAT) obtained from rabbits under the conditions of physiological temperature and 24 h after fasting conditions. The study was carried out on New Zealand rabbits (n=10) maintained for a period of 8 weeks at 23±2 °C. Food was removed 24 h before BAT and WAT were obtained. Protein expression levels of the glycolytic-related protein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and pyruvate dehydrogenase were higher in WAT than that in BAT. The expression level of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (CPT1) and CPT2, two fatty acid mitochondrial transporters, and the fatty acid ß-oxidation-related enzyme, acyl CoA dehydrogenase, was higher in BAT than in WAT. Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase expression and malate dehydrogenase activity were higher in WAT than in BAT. However, lactate dehydrogenase expression and lactate content were significantly higher in BAT than in WAT. In summary, this study for the first time, to our knowledge, has described how under fasting and normal temperature conditions rabbit BAT seems to use anaerobic metabolism to provide energetic fuel, as opposed to WAT, where the malate-aspartate shuttle and, therefore, the gluconeogenic pathway seem to be potentiated.

Evaluation of multicomponent fluorimetric analytical data by use of partial least-squares calibration. Application to the determination of codeine and ephedrine in urine.

A partial least-squares calibration (PLS) method for the simultaneous spectrofluorimetric determination of acetylsalicylic acid, codeine and ephedrine is proposed. The use of PLS for the multicomponent spectrofluorimetric determination is demonstrated by analysing synthetic mixtures. Analyte mixtures can be resolved even in the presence of strongly overlapped fluorescence signals. The method was validated by subjecting experimental data to exhaustive statistical analysis. The proposed method was applied to the simultaneous determination of the three drugs in synthetic mixtures with a urine matrix. The concentration ranges considered are 1.56-10.92 and 25-100 micrograms/ml for the codeine-ephedrine mixture, and 0.8-3.2, 0.1-0.5 and 1.6-4.8 micrograms/ml for the acetylsalicylic acid-codeine-ephedrine mixture. The analytical results were quite good in all cases.

Use of an azo derivative immobilized on an anionic resin for the determination of aluminium in water and dialysis fluids.

We studied the retention of aluminium on Chromotrope-2R immobilized on Amberlite IRA-400 resin with a view to the subsequent atomic spectrometric determination of the metal. The determinative method thus developed allows the determination of aluminium in water and dialysis fluids over the concentration ranges 0.92-19.46 and 0.37-0.74 mumol/l, respectively.

Laser myringotomy versus ventilation tubes in children with otitis media with effusion: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: Insertion of ventilation tubes in children with otitis media with effusion (OME) is an accepted and common treatment procedure. The majority of patients require general anesthesia. Although laser myringotomy can be performed in local anesthesia, evidence is lacking that this treatment modality is an alternative for tubes, and outcome predictors for laser myringotomy are not available. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial. METHODS: We screened 1,403 children with chronic OME that were indicated for placement of ventilation tubes. In the eligible patients, we performed laser myringotomy in one ear and placed a tube in the other ear, both within the same patient. Follow-up was scheduled each month for 6 months. Success was defined as absence of effusion or aural discharge. A logistic regression model was used with success of the therapy as binary outcome. This model was based on base-line variables, asked for in a parent's questionnaire. RESULTS: Two hundred eight children received the allocated intervention, and no complications occurred. The mean closure time of the laser perforation was 2.4 weeks, and the mean patency time of the ventilation tube was 4.0 months. The mean success rate was 40% for laser and 78% for tubes. Ten known variables were found to predict middle ear status after therapy. CONCLUSION: Laser myringotomy is a safe but less-effective procedure than insertion of a ventilation tube in the treatment of chronic OME. The prognostic model enables the otolaryngologist to choose the surgical treatment for the child that benefits most: laser myringotomy or ventilation tube.

Application of principal component regression to the determination of Captopril by differential pulse polarography with no prior removal of dissolved oxygen.

As shown in this paper, multivariate calibration in general and principal component regression (PCR) in particular allow the determination of Captopril by differential pulse polarography (DPP) in the presence of oxygen despite the overlap between their polarographic bands. Electrochemical parameters (pulse amplitude, pulse delay and drop time) are optimized from response surfaces using PCR to determine the relationship between the variables to be optimized and the relative square error of prediction (RSEP), which was adopted as the parameter to be minimized. The proposed method is quite fast and inexpensive as a result of the decreased analysis times and sparing use of the inert gas. It was applied to the determination of Captopril in synthetic samples and a commercially available pharmaceutical preparation, with relative errors and confidence intervals <2.5% and 2.0%, respectively. It should be noted that the sample can be analysed directly following dissolution in water without the need to remove the excipients.

Simultaneous determination of imipramine and amitryptiline by derivative spectrophotometry.

Three methods are proposed for the simultaneous determination of imipramine and amitryptiline by derivative spectrophotometry, one of them using both first- and second-derivative spectra, and the others using the first- and second-derivative spectra, respectively, obtained from a "diode array" spectrophotometer. The methods allow the determination of 0.62-10.14 micrograms ml-1 of imipramine, and 0.63-10.04 micrograms ml-1 of amitryptiline, and have been applied to their determination in blood serum.

[Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the prostate]. / Adenocarcinoma mucinoso prostático primario.

Contribution of a new case of prostatic mucinous adenocarcinoma of primary origin. Diagnosis was established by histochemical techniques alcian blue, PAS and alcian-PAS) processing the fragments from the prostate transurethral resection (PTUR). Neither the existence of extraprostatic tumoration, local infiltration, or metastasis was recognized. No correlation between preoperative prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) (50) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) values (3ng/m) was evidenced. After radical prostatectomy both markers remain undetected one year after surgery.

[Flowmetry analysis in patients undergoing transurethral resection of the prostate for BPH]. / Análisis flujométrico en pacientes sometidos a RTU de próstata por HBP.

Transurethral resection (TUR) is the most frequent surgical treatment for symptomatic benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). Prostate size is a significant factor for choosing TUR versus prostate adenomectomy. Analysis of flowmetry results obtained with TUR in 203 patients, based on weight of resected prostate tissue. Flowmetry was performed prior to TUR and prostate size was estimated with transabdominal ultrasound. Prostate tissue was weighed after TUR and a new flowmetry was performed 6 months after treatment. Mean weight of resected tissue was 31.34 g. When all flowmetry parameters analyzed pre-and post TURs were compare, there were significant differences (p < 0.001). Increased maximum flow (Qmax) and increased mean flow (Qmed) occurred in 91.7% and 96.31% patients, respectively. Mean increase of post-surgical Qmax was significantly higher (p > 0.01) in patients with Qmax prior to surgery lower than 8 ml/s. No significant correlation was demonstrated between prostate volume measured by ultrasound or resected prostate tissue and increased post-surgical Qmax. TUR improves flowmetry parameters, mainly in patients with pre-surgical Qmax lower than 8 mL/s. Extensive prostate resection does not appear to improve the flowmetry results obtained with a sufficient functional TUR.

Love-styles among Latino community college students in Los Angeles.

145 Latino community college students enrolled in Chicano Studies classes in Los Angeles, California were administered a love-attitudes scale. Analysis showed that the mean scores and endorsement patterns were similar to those in earlier research on white-Latino and white-non-Latino students in the United States. Significant gender differences were found. Latino men scored more Ludic and Agapic than women. Researchers might examine the love-styles and ethnic identity in and out of marriage among Latinos, whites, and Asians in southern California.

Love-styles among university students in Mexico.

146 university students from Mexico, representing four different majors of accounting, chemistry, philosophy and arts, and technical subjects, were administered the Sample-Profile of love-styles. Comparisons of magnitude of endorsement and rankings of six love-styles showed differential patterns of love-attitudes. Strong endorsement was found for a love-style profile characterized by a calm, deliberate, and compassionate love.

Love styles among Guatemalans in a local village.

81 participants in a village in Guatemala were administered a translated version of the 1986 Love Attitudes Scale of Hendrick and Hendrick. Analysis showed that the men scored significantly higher on the Ludus love style than the women. Research among other Latinos outside the United States is suggested.