Feeling of presence in dementia with Lewy bodies is related to reduced left frontoparietal metabolism.

Funder: University of CambridgeFeeling of presence (FOP) refers to the vivid sensation of a person's presence near oneself and is common in Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB). Based on previous observations on epileptic subjects, we hypothesized that DLB subjects with FOP would harbour 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET hypometabolism in left parietal areas. 25 subjects (mean age 71.9 ± 6.7, disease duration at scan 1.7 ± 1.5 years) were included in the study, of whom nine (36%) experienced FOP. No significant between-group difference was observed regarding dopamine transporters striatal uptake (p = 0.64), daily dopaminergic treatment dosage (p = 0.88) and visual hallucinations (p = 0.83). Statistical parametric mapping showed that subjects with FOP had a significantly reduced glucose metabolism in several left frontoparietal areas (p < 0.001), including superior parietal lobule and precuneus. Interregional correlation analysis of these areas showed specific connectivity with right insula and putamen in the FOP subgroup and right orbitofrontal and superior frontal in subjects without FOP. This provides further evidence about the role of a left frontoparietal network and suggest a possible contribution of impaired orbitofrontal reality filtering associated with FOP

Étude de la dynamique stationnelle des populations des culicidés dans la province de Sidi Slimane (Maroc)

La province de Sidi Slimane (Maroc) par son climat et sa position dans la plaine du Gharb en tant qu’une zone d’inondation, engendre une grande variété de gîtes larvaires culicidiens. Les autorités sanitaires de la province adoptent la stratégie nationale qui vise essentiellement le maintien de l’élimination des maladies parasitaires à transmission vectorielle et notamment le paludisme autochtone qui repose en grande partie sur la lutte contre le vecteur. Cette lutte ne peut être efficace sans la bonne connaissance de la répartition de ce vecteur dans l’espace et dans le temps. Dans ce travail nous avons suivi l’évolution spatiotemporelle de 06 espèces de la famille de culicidae (1 espèce d’Anophèles, 5 espèces de Culex) dans huit (08) stations au cours d’un cycle hydrologique de l’année 2011 dans la province de Sidi Slimane (Maroc). Les différents peuplements étudiés sont largement dominés par Cx. pepiens aussi bien spatialement que temporellement. C’est une espèce ubiquiste et printano-automnale. CX.hortensis est une espèce printanière. Cx. theileri est une espèce qui enregistre son maximum d’abondance en printemps. CX. laticinctus évolue également dans un gîte permanent presque durant toute l’année, An. labranchiae, CX.medestus, espèces qui ont des exigences quant au type de gîtes à coloniser.Mots-clés : culicidae, spatio-temporel, anophèles, culex, Sidi Slimane, MarocStudy of the population dynamics of stational culicidées in the province of Sidi Slimane (Morocco)The province of Sidi Slimane (Morocco) by its climate and its geographical situation in the plain of Gharb,which is known as a zone of flood, engenders a big variety of mosquitos larvae breeding grounds. The sanitary authorities of the province adopt the national strategy That aims essentially at eliminating the parasitic diseases at vector transmission , particularly, the autochtonous malaria , That takes the largest part in the fight .However The fight against this vector cannot be effective without a good knowledge of distribution in space and time. In this work we followed the spatiotemporelle evolution of 06 culicidae family species (1 species of Anophèles, 5 species of Culex). In eight (08) stations during a hydrological cycle of the year 2011 in the province. The various studied settlements are largely dominated by Cx. pepiens spatially and temporally as well ubiquist and printano-autumnal. CX.hortensis is a spring species. Cx. theileri is a species which records its maximum of abundance in spring. CX.laticinctus also evolves in the permanent of breeding places almost during all the year. An. labranchiae, CX.medestus, is species which have certain requirements as for the type of breeding places with colonize.Keywords : culicidae, spatio-temporel, anophèles, culex, Sidi Slimane, Morocco

ADC mapping of the aging frontal lobes in mild cognitive impairment

Normal aging, leukoaraiosis (LA) and vascular disease particularly involve the human frontal lobes. We decided to investigate a population of elderly patients referred for neuroimaging because of progressive minor cognitive deficits but no dementia. They underwent conventional Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using axial T1 and T2-weighted imaging as well as coronal FLAIR sequences in addition to the axial diffusion-weighted MRI. MRI allowed us to differentiate patients with leukoaraïosis (LA+) from those without it (LA-) and mapping of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to investigate local tissular water motion.We observed an increase in the ADC in all investigated patients with increasing age (r=0.326, p=0.002). This increase was observed in both patients groups (LA+ and LA-) . In addition, the LA+ group had significant higher ADC values than the LA- group after controlling for age (p<0.0001

Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability, internal consistency and validation of the Trinity Amputation and Prosthetic Experience Scales-Revised (TAPES-R) for French speaking patients with lower limb amputation

AimThe aim of this study was the French cross-cultural adaptation and validation of The Trinity Amputation and Prosthetic Experience Scales-Revised (TAPES-R-F), in a lower limb amputation population. This self-reported multidimensional amputee-specific questionnaire [1] evaluates with 33 items psychosocial adjustment (3 subscales), activity restriction (1 subscale) and satisfaction with prosthesis (2 subscales).Patients and methodsOne hundred and twenty-nine patients with a mean age of 62 years and with lower limb amputations for at least 1 year were recruited in 5 clinical centers. Translation and cross-cultural adaptation were made according to international guidelines. Internal consistency of each subscale was measured with Cronbach's alpha. Test-retest reliability was assessed by intraclass correlation in a sub- group of 24 subjects who completed the TAPES-R twice with an interval of 7 days. Construct validity was estimated through correlations with 2 main components of SF-36 (MCS, PCS). Correlations were also calculated with 3 scales of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).ResultsCronbach's alpha was high, ranging from 0.85 to 0.95. Reliability was acceptable to high (ICC=0.72 to 0.91) for all subscales with the exception of the Social adjustment (ICC=0.67) and Adjustment to limitation (ICC=0.42) subscales. The 2 component of SF-36 was significantly correlated with all subscales (PCS: r=0.24 to 0.66); MCS: r=0.30 to 0.58), except with aesthetic satisfaction and adjustment to limitation. Regarding the BPI, significant correlations were found for all subscales (r=–0.20 to –0.68) with the exception of adjustment to limitation. Ceiling or floor effects (>15%) were found for all but Activity Restriction and Functional Satisfaction Scales.DiscussionThe TAPES-R-F has acceptable psychometric properties for most of its subscales. Our results may suggest that the French version is more useful in a population research perspective than in an individual perspective. Other studies are necessary to clarify the role and the psychometric properties of this measurement

Acute TNFα levels predict cognitive impairment 6-9 months after COVID-19 infection.

A neurocognitive phenotype of post-COVID-19 infection has recently been described that is characterized by a lack of awareness of memory impairment (i.e., anosognosia), altered functional connectivity in the brain's default mode and limbic networks, and an elevated monocyte count. However, the relationship between these cognitive and brain functional connectivity alterations in the chronic phase with the level of cytokines during the acute phase has yet to be identified. Determine whether acute cytokine type and levels is associated with anosognosia and functional patterns of brain connectivity 6-9 months after infection. We analyzed the predictive value of the concentration of acute cytokines (IL-1RA, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IFNγ, G-CSF, GM-CSF) (cytokine panel by multiplex immunoassay) in the plasma of 39 patients (mean age 59 yrs, 38-78) in relation to their anosognosia scores for memory deficits via stepwise linear regression. Then, associations between the different cytokines and brain functional connectivity patterns were analyzed by MRI and multivariate partial least squares correlations for the whole group. Stepwise regression modeling allowed us to show that acute TNFα levels predicted (R &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; = 0.145; β = -0.38; p = .017) and were associated (r = -0.587; p &lt; .001) with scores of anosognosia for memory deficits observed 6-9 months post-infection. Finally, high TNFα levels were associated with hippocampal, temporal pole, accumbens nucleus, amygdala, and cerebellum connectivity. Increased plasma TNFα levels in the acute phase of COVID-19 predict the presence of long-term anosognosia scores and changes in limbic system functional connectivity

Brain functional connectivity alterations associated with neuropsychological performance 6-9 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Neuropsychological deficits and brain damage following SARS-CoV-2 infection are not well understood. Then, 116 patients, with either severe, moderate, or mild disease in the acute phase underwent neuropsychological and olfactory tests, as well as completed psychiatric and respiratory questionnaires at 223 ± 42 days postinfection. Additionally, a subgroup of 50 patients underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging. Patients in the severe group displayed poorer verbal episodic memory performances, and moderate patients had reduced mental flexibility. Neuroimaging revealed patterns of hypofunctional and hyperfunctional connectivities in severe patients, while only hyperconnectivity patterns were observed for moderate. The default mode, somatosensory, dorsal attention, subcortical, and cerebellar networks were implicated. Partial least squares correlations analysis confirmed specific association between memory, executive functions performances and brain functional connectivity. The severity of the infection in the acute phase is a predictor of neuropsychological performance 6-9 months following SARS-CoV-2 infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection causes long-term memory and executive dysfunctions, related to large-scale functional brain connectivity alterations

Particular distribution and expression pattern of endoglin (CD105) in the liver of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endoglin (CD105) has been considered a prognostic marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and widely used as an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in some cancers. Our aim was to evaluate the distribution and expression of CD105 in the liver of patients with HCC, and to discuss whether CD105 may be used as an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in HCC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Three parts of liver tissues from each of 64 patients with HCC were collected: tumor tissues (TT), adjacent non-tumor (AT) liver tissues within 2 cm, and tumor free tissues (TF) 5 cm far from the tumor edge. Liver samples from 8 patients without liver diseases served as healthy controls (HC). The distribution and expression of CD105 in tissues were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting analysis, and real-time PCR. HIF-1alpha and VEGF₁₆₅protein levels in tissues were analyzed by Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis or ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD105 was positively stained mostly in a subset of microvessels 'endothelial sprouts' in TT of all patients while CD105 showed diffuse positive staining, predominantly on hepatic sinus endothelial cells in the surrounding of draining veins in TF and AT. The mean score of MVD-CD105 (mean ± SD/0.74 mm²) was 19.00 ± 9.08 in HC, 153.12 ± 53.26 in TF, 191.12 ± 59.17 in AT, and 85.43 ± 44.71 in TT, respectively. Using a paired <it>t </it>test, the expression of CD105 in AT and TF was higher than in TT at protein (MVD, <it>p </it>= 0.012 and <it>p </it>= 0.007, respectively) and mRNA levels (<it>p </it>< 0.001 and <it>p </it>= 0.009, respectively). Moreover, distribution and expression of CD105 protein were consistent with those of HIF-1alpha and VEGF₁₆₅protein in liver of patients with HCC. The level of <it>CD105 </it>mRNA correlated with VEGF₁₆₅level in TF (r = 0.790, <it>p </it>= 0.002), AT (r = 0.723, <it>p </it>< 0.001), and TT (r = 0.473, <it>p </it>= 0.048), respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It is demonstrated that CD105 was not only present in neovessels in tumor tissues, but also more abundant in hepatic sinus endothelium in non-tumor tissues with cirrhosis. Therefore, CD105 may not be an appropriate targeting for antiangenesis therapy in HCC, especially with cirrhosis.</p

Myeloablative vs Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) is a potentially curative treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Optimal conditioning intensity for allo-HCT for CML in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) is unknown. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database, we sought to determine whether reduced-intensity/nonmyeloablative conditioning (RIC) allo-HCT and myeloablative conditioning (MAC) result in similar outcomes in CML patients. We evaluated 1395 CML allo-HCT recipients between the ages of 18 and 60 years. The disease status at transplant was divided into the following categories: chronic phase 1, chronic phase 2 or greater, and accelerated phase. Patients in blast phase at transplant and alternative donor transplants were excluded. The primary outcome was overall survival (OS) after allo-HCT. MAC (n = 1204) and RIC allo-HCT recipients (n = 191) from 2007 to 2014 were included. Patient, disease, and transplantation characteristics were similar, with a few exceptions. Multivariable analysis showed no significant difference in OS between MAC and RIC groups. In addition, leukemia-free survival and nonrelapse mortality did not differ significantly between the 2 groups. Compared with MAC, the RIC group had a higher risk of early relapse after allo-HCT (hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; P = .001). The cumulative incidence of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) was lower with RIC than with MAC (HR, 0.77; P = .02). RIC provides similar survival and lower cGVHD compared with MAC and therefore may be a reasonable alternative to MAC for CML patients in the TKI era