Effectiveness of computer-based auditory training in improving the perception of noise-vocoded speech

Five experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of “high-variability” lexical training in improving the ability of normal-hearing subjects to perceive noise-vocoded speech that had been spectrally shifted to simulate tonotopic misalignment. Two approaches to training were implemented. One training approach required subjects to recognize isolated words, while the other training approach required subjects to recognize words in sentences. Both approaches to training improved the ability to identify words in sentences. Improvements following a single session (lasting 1–2 h) of auditory training ranged between 7 and 12 %pts and were significantly larger than improvements following a visual control task that was matched with the auditory training task in terms of the response demands. An additional three sessions of word- and sentence-based training led to further improvements, with the average overall improvement ranging from 13 to 18 %pts. When a tonotopic misalignment of 3 mm rather than 6 mm was simulated, training with several talkers led to greater generalization to new talkers than training with a single talker. The results confirm that computer-based lexical training can help overcome the effects of spectral distortions in speech, and they suggest that training materials are most effective when several talkers are included

RAS gene polymorphisms, classical risk factors and the advent of coronary artery disease in the Portuguese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several polymorphisms within the renin-angiotensin system cluster of genes have been associated with the advent of coronary artery disease (CAD) or related pathologies. We investigated the distribution of 5 of these polymorphisms in order to find any association with CAD development and distinguish if any of the biochemical and behavioural factors interact with genetic polymorphisms in the advent of the disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p><it>ACE </it>I/D (rs4340), <it>ACE </it>A11860G (rs4343), <it>AT1R </it>A1166C (rs5186), <it>AGT </it>T174M (rs4762) and <it>AGT </it>M235T (rs699) gene polymorphisms were PCR-RFLP analysed in 298 CAD patients and 510 controls from Portugal. Several biochemical and behavioural markers were obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>ACE </it>I/D DD and <it>ACE</it>11860 GG genotypes are risk factors for CAD in this population. The simultaneous presence of <it>ACE </it>I/D I and <it>ACE</it>11860 A alleles corresponds to a significant trend towards a decrease in CAD incidence. We found several synergistic effects between the studied polymorphisms and classical risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes and dyslipidaemia: the presence of the DD genotype of <it>ACE </it>I/D (and also <it>ACE</it>11860 GG) increases the odds of developing CAD when associated to each one of these classical risk factors, particularly when considering the male and early onset CAD subgroup analysis; <it>AGT</it>235 TT also increases the CAD risk in the presence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia, and <it>AT1R</it>1166 interacts positively with hypertension, smoking and obesity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>ACE </it>polymorphisms were shown to play a major role in individual susceptibility to develop CAD. There is also a clear interaction between RAS predisposing genes and some biochemical/environmental risk factors in CAD onset, demonstrating a significant enhancement of classical markers particularly by <it>ACE </it>I/D and <it>ACE</it>11860.</p

Transient expression of M-cell phenotype by enterocyte-like cells of the follicle-associated epithelium of mouse Peyer's patches

BACKGROUND &amp; AIMS: The follicle-associated epithelium (FAE) over mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues consists of distinct enterocytes and M cells concentrated at its periphery. The basement membrane composition was analyzed to test whether differences account for the distinct differentiation programs along the crypt-villus and crypt-FAE axes. To determine whether the decreased number of M cells in the FAE apex is caused by premature extrusion, we mapped the site where they undergo apoptosis. METHODS: The FAE basal lamina of Peyer's patches from BALB/c mice was analyzed by immunochemistry. M cells were identified using the Ulex europaeus agglutinin lectin. The cell proliferation and apoptotic compartments were characterized using bromodeoxyuridine incorporation and the TUNEL assay. RESULTS: The perlecan and laminin 2 stainings were different in FAE and villi. Myofibroblasts were absent beneath the FAE. The migration kinetics of cells along the FAE was similar to that along the villi. Apoptotic cells were detected exclusively at the apex of the FAE. CONCLUSIONS: FAE and M-cell differentiation is associated with a distinct basal lamina composition. FAE enterocytes express transient M-cell features as they move from the crypts toward the apoptotic compartment. M cells have a highly plastic phenotype that raises interesting questions about the control of intestinal epithelial cell differentiation

Screening for asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in COVID-19 patients admitted to the medical ward:a cross-sectional study

PURPOSE: Patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk for venous thrombo-embolism (VTE), especially pulmonary embolism. The exact prevalence of asymptomatic DVT is not known, as is the usefulness of screening for DVT in patients admitted to ward with COVID-19. We have studied the prevalence of asymptomatic DVT.METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional observational multi-center study at four university medical centers in The Netherlands. All adult patients admitted with COVID-19 to a medical ward were eligible for inclusion, including patients who were transferred back from the ICU to the ward. The study protocol consisted of weekly cross-sectional rounds of compression ultrasound.RESULTS: In total, 125 patients were included in the study. A significant proportion of patients (N = 34 (27%)) had developed a VTE during their admission for COVID-19 before the study ultrasound was performed. In most VTE cases (N = 27 (79%)) this concerned pulmonary embolism. A new asymptomatic DVT was found in 5 of 125 patients (4.0%; 95% CI 1.3-9.1%) (Table 2). Nine patients (7.2%; 95% CI 3.3-13.2%) developed a VTE (all PE) diagnosed within 28 days after the screening US was performed.CONCLUSION: We have shown a low prevalence (4%) of newly discovered asymptomatic DVT outside the ICU-setting in COVID-19 patients. Despite this low prevalence, nine patients developed PE (7%) within 28 days after ultrasound. This favors the hypothesis of local thrombus formation in the lungs. Based on our findings and literature, we do not recommend US-screening of asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ward.</p

Segregation of FRAXE in a large family: clinical, psychometric, cytogenetic, and molecular data.

During an ongoing study on X-linked mental retardation, we ascertained a large family in which mild mental retardation was cosegregating with a fragile site at Xq27-28. Clinical, psychometric, cytogenetic, and molecular studies were performed. Apart from mild mental retardation, affected males and females did not show a specific clinical phenotype. Psychometric assessment of four representative affected individuals revealed low academic achievements, with verbal and performance IQs of 61-75 and 70-82, respectively. Cytogenetically the fragile site was always present in affected males and was not always present in affected females. With FISH the fragile site was located within the FRAXE region. The expanded GCC repeat of FRAXE was seen in affected males and females either as a discrete band or as a broad smear. No expansion was seen in unaffected males, whereas three unaffected females did have an enlarged GCC repeat. Maternal transmission of FRAXE may lead to expansion or contraction of the GCC repeat length, whereas in all cases of paternal transmission contraction was seen. In striking contrast to the situation in fragile X syndrome, affected males may have affected daughters. In addition, there appears to be no premutation of the FRAXE GCC repeat, since in the family studied here all males lacking the normal allele were found to be affected

Screening for asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis in COVID-19 patients admitted to the medical ward: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: Patients with COVID-19 have an increased risk for venous thrombo-embolism (VTE), especially pulmonary embolism. The exact prevalence of asymptomatic DVT is not known, as is the usefulness of screening for DVT in patients admitted to ward with COVID-19. We have studied the prevalence of asymptomatic DVT. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional observational multi-center study at four university medical centers in The Netherlands. All adult patients admitted with COVID-19 to a medical ward were eligible for inclusion, including patients who were transferred back from the ICU to the ward. The study protocol consisted of weekly cross-sectional rounds of compression ultrasound. Results: In total, 125 patients were included in the study. A significant proportion of patients (N = 34 (27%)) had developed a VTE during their admission for COVID-19 before the study ultrasound was performed. In most VTE cases (N = 27 (79%)) this concerned pulmonary embolism. A new asymptomatic DVT was found in 5 of 125 patients (4.0%; 95% CI 1.3–9.1%) (Table 2). Nine patients (7.2%; 95% CI 3.3–13.2%) developed a VTE (all PE) diagnosed within 28 days after the screening US was performed. Conclusion: We have shown a low prevalence (4%) of newly discovered asymptomatic DVT outside the ICU-setting in COVID-19 patients. Despite this low prevalence, nine patients developed PE (7%) within 28 days after ultrasound. This favors the hypothesis of local thrombus formation in the lungs. Based on our findings and literature, we do not recommend US-screening of asymptomatic patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ward