How brains make decisions

This chapter, dedicated to the memory of Mino Freund, summarizes the Quantum Decision Theory (QDT) that we have developed in a series of publications since 2008. We formulate a general mathematical scheme of how decisions are taken, using the point of view of psychological and cognitive sciences, without touching physiological aspects. The basic principles of how intelligence acts are discussed. The human brain processes involved in decisions are argued to be principally different from straightforward computer operations. The difference lies in the conscious-subconscious duality of the decision making process and the role of emotions that compete with utility optimization. The most general approach for characterizing the process of decision making, taking into account the conscious-subconscious duality, uses the framework of functional analysis in Hilbert spaces, similarly to that used in the quantum theory of measurements. This does not imply that the brain is a quantum system, but just allows for the simplest and most general extension of classical decision theory. The resulting theory of quantum decision making, based on the rules of quantum measurements, solves all paradoxes of classical decision making, allowing for quantitative predictions that are in excellent agreement with experiments. Finally, we provide a novel application by comparing the predictions of QDT with experiments on the prisoner dilemma game. The developed theory can serve as a guide for creating artificial intelligence acting by quantum rules.Comment: Latex file, 20 pages, 3 figure

Towards an understanding of neuroscience for science educators

Advances in neuroscience have brought new insights to the development of cognitive functions. These data are of considerable interest to educators concerned with how students learn. This review documents some of the recent findings in neuroscience, which is richer in describing cognitive functions than affective aspects of learning. A brief overview is presented here of the techniques used to generate data from imaging and how these findings have the possibility to inform educators. There are implications for considering the impact of neuroscience at all levels of education – from the classroom teacher and practitioner to policy. This relatively new cross-disciplinary area of research implies a need for educators and scientists to engage with each other. What questions are emerging through such dialogues between educators and scientists are likely to shed light on, for example, reward, motivation, working memory, learning difficulties, bilingualism and child development. The sciences of learning are entering a new paradigm

Update On The Brazilian Consensus For The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Rheumatoid Arthritis [atualização Do Consenso Brasileiro No Diagnóstico E Tratamento Da Artrite Reumatóide]

[No abstract available]473151159Lipski, P.E., Rheumatoid arthitis (1998) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, , Kasper DL, Braunwald. E, Fauci AS, et al, International edition, 14th ed, New York: McGraw HillGuidelines for the management of rheumatoid arthritis (2002) Arthitis Rheum, 46, pp. 328-346. , American College of Rheumatology Subcommittee on Rheumatoid Arthritis GuidelinesArnett, F.C., Edworthy, S.M., Bloch, D.A., The American Rheumatism Association 1987 revised criteria for classification of rheumatoid arthritis (1988) Arthritis Rheum, 31, pp. 315-324Emery P, Breedveld FC, Dougados M, Kalden Jr, Schiff MH, Smolen JS: Early referral recommendation for newly diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis: evidence based development of a clinical guide. Ann Rheum Dis 61:290, 2002Van der Heijde DM: Joint erosions and patients with early rheumatoid arthritis. Br J Rheumatol 34(suppl)2:74-8, 1995Dixey, J., Solymossy, C., Young, A., Early RA Study: Is it possible to predict radiological damage in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA)? A report on the occurrence, progression and prognostic factors of radiological erosions over the first 3 years in 866 patients from the Early RA Study (ERAS) (2004) J Rheumatol, 69 (SUPPL.), pp. 48-54Venrooij, V., van de, Putte, L.B., Is assaying autoantibodies useful for diagnosing early rheumatoid arthritis? Nat Clin Pract (2005) Rheumatol, 1, pp. 4-5Avouac, J., Gossec, L., Dougados, M., Diagnostic and predictive value of anti-ciclyc citrulinate antibodies in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic literature review (2006) Ann Rheum Dis, 65, pp. 845-851van der Heijde, D.M., van't Hof, M.A., van Riel, P.L., Judging disease activity in clinical practice in rheumtoid arthritis: First step in the development of a disease activity score (1990) Ann Rheum Dis, 49, pp. 916-920Prevoo, M.L., van't Hof, M.A., Kuper, H.H., Modified disease activity scores that include twenty eight-joint counts. Development and validation in a prospective longitudinal study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (1995) Arthritis Rheum, 38, pp. 44-48Smolen, J.S., Breedveld, F.C., Schiff, M.H., A simplified disease activity index for rheumatoid arthritis for use in clinical practice (2003) Rheumatology (Oxford), 42, pp. 244-257Aletaha, D., Nell, V.P., Stamm, T., Acute phase reactants add little to composite disease activity indices for rheumatoid arthritis: Validation of a clinical activity score (2005) Arthritis Res Ther, 7, pp. R-796-R-806Aletaha, D., Pooled indices to measure rheumatoid arthritis activity: A good reflection of the physician's mind? (2006) Arthritis Res Ther, 8, p. 102Aletaha, D., Smolen, J., The simplified disease activity index (SDAI) and the clinical disease activity index (CDAI): A review of their usefulness and validity in rheumatoid arthritis (2005) Clin Exp Rheumatol, 23 (SUPPL. 39), pp. SI00-SI08Albers, J.M.C., Paimela, L., Kurki, P., Treatment strategy, disease activity, and outcome in four cohorts of patients with early rheumatoid artrhitis (2001) Ann Rehm Dis, 60, pp. 453-458Gotzsche PC, Johansen HK: Short-term low-dose corticosteroids vs placebo and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs in rheumatoid arthritis. Cochrane Database Syst Rwv 2:CD000189, 2000Moreland, L.W., O'Dell, J.R., Glucocorticoids and rheumatoid arthritis: Back to the future? (2002) Arthritis Rheum, 46, pp. 2553-2563Recommendations for the prevention and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis: 2001 update (2001) Arthritis Rheum, 44, pp. 1496-1503. , American College of Rheumatology Ad Hoc Committee on Glucocorticoid-Induced OsteoporosisHelin-Salmivaara, A., Virtanen, A., Vesalamen, R., NSAID use and the risk of hospitalization for first myocardial infarction in the general population: A nationwide case-control study from Finland (2006) Eur Heart J, 27 (14), pp. 1657-1663Suissa S, Bernatsky S, Hudson M: Antirheumatic drug use and the risk of acute myocardial infarction. Arthritis Rheum 55(4):53 1-6, 2006Suarez-Almazor, M.E., Belseck, E., Shea, B., Antimalarials for treating rheumatoid arthritis (2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 4. , CD000959van den Borne, B.E., Landewe, R.B., Rietveld, J.H., Choroquine therapy in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis: The clinical response can be predicted by the low level of acte-phase reaction at baseline (1999) Clin Rheum, 18, pp. 309-372Suarez-Almazor, M.E., Belseck, E., Shea, B., Wells, G., Tugwell, P., Sulfasalazine for rheumatoid arthritis (2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2. , CD000958Sharp, J.T., Strand, V., Leung, H., Hurley, F., Loew-Frierich (Leflunomide rheumatoid arthritis investigators group): Treatment with leflunomide slows radiographic progression of rheumatoid Arthritis. Results from three randomized controlled trials of leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Leflunomide Rheumatoid Arthritis Investigators Group (2000) Arthritis Rheum, 43, pp. 495-505Suarez-Almazor, M.E., Belseck, E., Shea, B., Wells, G., Tugwell, P., Methotrexate for rheumatoid arthritis (2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2. , CD000957Choen, S., Cannon, G.W., Schiff, M., (1984) Two-Year, blinded, randomized, controlled trial of treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis with leflunomide compared with methotrexate, 44. , Utilization of Leflunomide in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis Trial Investigator Group. Arthritis Rheum, 92Suarez-Almazor, M.E., Spooner, C., Belseck, E., Azathioprine for rheumatoid arthritis (2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 4. , CD001461Wells, G., Haguenauer, D., Shea, B., Suarez-Almazor, M.E., Welch, V.A., Tugwell, R., Cyclosporin for Rheumatoid Arthritis (2000) Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2. , CD001083Stein, C.M., Pincus, T., Yocum, D., Combination treatment of severe rheumatoid arthritis with cyclosporine and methotrexate for forty-eight weeks: An open-label extension study. The Methotrexate-Cyclosporine Combination Study Group (1997) Arthritis Rheum, 40, pp. 1843-1851O'Dell, J.R., Leff, R., Paulsen, G., (RAIN): Treatment of rheumatoid artritis with methotrexate and hydroxycloroquine, methotrexate and sulfasalazine, or a combination of the three medications. Results of a two-year, randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial (2002) Arthritis Rheum, 46, pp. 1164-1170Weinblatt, M.E., Kremer, J.M., Coblyn, J.S., Pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy of combination treatment with methotrexate and leflunomide in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (1999) Arthritis Rheum, 42, pp. 1322-1328Criscione, L.G., St. Clair, E.W., Tumor necrosis factor - alfa antagonists for the treatment of rheumatic diseases (2002) Current Op Rheumatol, 14, pp. 204-211Furst DE, Breedveld FC, Burmester GER, et al.: Update consensus statement on tumor necrosis factor blocking agents for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (May 2000). Ann Rheum Dis 59(suppl.I):il-2, 2000Weinblatt, M.E., Keystone, E.C., Furst, D.E., Adalimumab, a fully human anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in patients taking concomitant methotrexate: The ARMADA trial (2003) Arthritis Rheum, 48, pp. 35-45Furst, D.E., Schiff, M.H., fleischmann, R.M., Adalimumab, a fully human anti tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody, and concomitant standard antirheumatic therapy for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis: Results of STAR (Safety Trial of Adalimumab in Rheumatoid arthritis) (2003) J Rheumatol, 30, pp. 2563-2571Moreland, L.W., Schiff, M.H., Baumgartener, S.W., Etanercept therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A randomized, controlled trial (1999) Ann Intern Med, 130, pp. 478-486Weinblatt, M.E., Kremer, J.M., Bankhurst, A.D., A trial of etanercept, a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor: Fc fusion protein, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving methotrexate (1999) N Engl J Med, 340, pp. 253-259Maini, R.N., Breedveld, F.C., Kalden, J.R., Therapeutic efficacy of multiple intravenous infusions of anti-tumor necrosis factor aloha monoclonal antibody combined with low-dose weekly methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis (1998) Arthritis Rheum, 41, pp. 1552-1563Lipsky, P.E., van der Heijde, D.M., St Clair, E.W., Infliximab and methotrexate in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor Trial in Rheumatoid Arthritis with Concomitant Therapy Study Group (2000) N Engl J Med, 343, pp. 1594-1602Perdriger, A., Mariette, X., Kuntz, Safety of infliximab used in combination with leflunomide or azathioprine in daily clinical practice (2006) J Rheumatol, 33, p. 865Mangini C, Melo FAF. Artrite reumatóide, terapia imunossupressora e tuberculose. Ver Bras Reumatol 43:XI(editorial), 2003Hochberg MC, Tracy JK, Hawkins-Holt M, Flores RH: Comparison of the efficacy of the tumour necrosis factor alpha blocking agents adalimumab, etanercept, and infliximab when added to methotrexate in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 62(suppl2):ii13-6, 2003Cohen, S.B., Emery, P., Greenwald, M.W., Reflex Trial Group. Rituximab for rheumatoid arthritis refractory to anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy. Results of a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-contoled, phase III trial evaluating primary efficacy and safety at twenty four weeks (2006) Arthritis Rheum, 54, pp. 2793-2806Popa, C., Leandro, M.J., Cambridge, G., Edwards, J.C., Repeated B lymphocyte depletion with rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis over 7 yrs (2006) Rheumatology, , Oxford, Epub ahead of printvan Vollenhoven, R., Emery, P., Bingham, C., Safety of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis: Results of a pooled analysis (2006) Ann Rheum Dis, 65, p. 332Genovese, M.C., Becker, J.C., Schiff, M., Abatacept for rheumatoid arthritis refractory to tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibition (2005) N Engl J Med, 353, pp. 1114-1123van Vollenhoven, R., Harju, A., Brannernark, S., Klareskog, L., Treatment with infliximab (Remicade) when etanercept (Embrel) has failed or vice versa: Data from the STURE registry showing that switching tumour necrosis factor alpha blockers can make sense (2003) Ann Rheum Dis, 62, pp. 1195-1198Wick, M.C., Lindblad, S., Klareskog, L., Van Vollenhoven, R.F., Adalimumab restores clinical response in patients who have lost response to infliximab (Remicade) or Etanercept (Embrel): Data from the STURE registry (2004) Ann Rheum Dis 63(suppll), 26

Simulação da precipitação diária para Parnaíba e Teresina, PI, em planilha eletrônica Daily rainfall simulation in Parnaíba and Teresina - Brazil, using a spreadsheet

Os estudos envolvendo precipitação pluviométrica são bastante dificultados devido ao fato das séries históricas disponíveis serem, na maioria dos casos, muito pequenas para efetuá-los. Desta forma, faz-se necessário dispor de uma técnica de simulação estocástica que possibilite a geração de valores diários de precipitação, utilizando-se uma planilha eletrônica. No Estado do Piauí, estudos com esse objetivo são inexistentes, razão por que este trabalho tem o objetivo de simular a precipitação pluviométrica diária para as regiões de Parnaíba e Teresina, PI, através de uma planilha eletrônica. O processo de simulação se baseou no método de Monte Carlo. A ocorrência da precipitação foi determinada através da cadeia de Markov, enquanto a sua magnitude foi estimada pelas funções de distribuição de probabilidades gama e empírica. O modelo utilizado proporcionou estimativas com excelente precisão e exatidão, fato comprovado pelos resultados satisfatórios quanto aos índices de desempenho estatísticos.<br>The studies involving rainfall are quite difficult to conduct due to the fact that the available historical series, in most of the cases, are too small to make them. Thus, it is necessary to adjust a stochastic simulation technique that facilitates the generation of daily rainfall values, using a spreadsheet. In Piauí State, studies with this objective are inexistent for its several regions of agricultural importance. This work was executed with the objective of simulating the daily rainfall for the regions of Parnaíba and Teresina - PI, Brazil, using a spreadsheet. The simulation process was based on Monte Carlo's method. The occurrence of the rainfall was determined through a Markov chain, while its magnitude was estimated by gamma and empirical distribution functions. The model used provided estimates with excellent precision and accuracy, checked by satisfactory results of the statistical performance index

Carbono orgânico e nitrogênio total do solo e suas relações com os espaçamentos de plantio de cafeeiro Soil organic carbon and total nitrogen as related with coffee spacing

A densidade de plantio e o arranjo das plantas exercem influência sobre a produção de resíduos vegetais nos agroecossistemas cafeeiros. Esse aporte diferenciado de resíduos regula os teores de C e N do solo. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os teores de C orgânico e de N total em um Latossolo Vermelho distrófico cultivado com cafeeiro com diversos espaçamentos de plantio. O experimento foi conduzido no período de 1992 a 2004 na Fazenda Experimental da EPAMIG, em Machado (MG). Os tratamentos avaliados consistiram da combinação de quatro espaçamentos entre linhas (2,0; 2,5; 3,0; e 3,5 m), três espaçamentos entre plantas (0,5; 0,75; e 1,0 m) e dois sistemas de manejo dos resíduos culturais (entrelinha - EL e projeção da copa - PC), totalizando 24 tratamentos, dispostos no campo em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 4 x 3 x 2, com três repetições. Foram avaliados os teores de C orgânico (CO) e de N total do solo (NT), além da relação CO/NT. Nas amostras de solo da EL, os teores de CO e NT foram maiores do que os da PC. O espaçamento de plantio influenciou os teores de CO, com os maiores valores, em geral, no espaçamento de 3,5 m entre as linhas de plantio, quando a distância entre plantas foi de 0,5 e 0,75 m, na profundidade de 0-0,05 m. O maior acúmulo de resíduos vegetais, o menor revolvimento do solo e, conseqüentemente, os maiores teores de matéria orgânica favorecem a ocorrência de maiores teores de CO e NT na EL. A retirada da mata e o cultivo do solo com cafeeiro por 11 anos resultou em decréscimo nos teores de CO de 26 % a 38 % na EL e na PC, respectivamente, e diminuição média de 25 % nos teores de NT.<br>The density and arrangement of trees influences the production of plant residues in coffee agroecosystems. This differentiated input of biomass regulates the contents of soil-C and -N. This study aimed to evaluate the contents of organic C and total N in a Typic Hapludox, in different spacings of (Coffea arabica L.) trees and tree rows. The experiment was carried out from 1992 to 2004 on an experimental farm of EPAMIG, in Machado (Minas Gerais State, Brazil). The treatments consisted of the combination of four distances between tree rows (2.0; 2.5; 3.0 and 3.5 m), three in-row distances (0.5; 0.75 and 1.0 m) and two management systems of crop residues (interline - IL and canopy projection - CP), totaling 24 treatments, arranged randomly in the field in blocks, in 4x3x2 factorial design, with three replications. The soil organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents were measured, apart from the OC/TN ratio. In samples collected in IL, the OC and TN contents were higher than those measured in CP. The cropping spacing influenced the OC contents; highest values were verified when distance between rows was 3.5 m and in-row distances 0.75 and 0.5 m, in the 0-0.05 m layer. Higher accumulation of plant residues, low soil disruption, and, consequently, higher contents of organic matter favors more OC and TN in the IL. Deforestation and coffee cropping for 11 years resulted in decreasing OC contents from 26 % to 38 %, in IL and CP, respectively, and an average reduction of 25 % for TN

Profile Of The Use Of Disease Modifying Drugs In The Brazilian Registry Of Spondyloarthritides [perfil Do Uso De Drogas Modificadoras De Doença No Registro Brasileiro De Espondiloartrites]

Introduction: Few studies have evaluated the profile of use of disease modifying drugs (DMD) in Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis (SpA). Methods: A common research protocol was applied prospectively in 1505 patients classified as SpA by criteria of the European Spondyloarthropathies Study Group (ESSG), followed at 29 referral centers in Rheumatology in Brazil. Demographic and clinical variables were obtained and evaluated, by analyzing their correlation with the use of DMDs methotrexate (MTX) and sulfasalazine (SSZ). Results: At least one DMD was used by 73.6 % of patients: MTX by 29.2 % and SSZ by 21.7%, while 22.7 % used both drugs. The use of MTX was significantly associated with peripheral involvement, and SSZ was associated with axial involvement, and the two drugs were more administered, separately or in combination, in the mixed involvement (p < 0.001). The use of a DMD was significantly associated with Caucasian ethnicity (MTX, p = 0.014), inflammatory back pain (SSZ, p = 0.002), buttock pain (SSZ, p = 0.030), neck pain (MTX, p = 0.042), arthritis of the lower limbs (MTX, p < 0.001), arthritis of the upper limbs (MTX, p < 0.001), enthesitis (p = 0.007), dactylitis (MTX, p < 0.001), inflammatory bowel disease (SSZ, p < 0.001) and nail involvement (MTX, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The use of at least one DMD was reported by more than 70% of patients in a large cohort of Brazilian patients with SpA, with MTX use more associated with peripheral involvement and the use of SSZ more associated with axial involvement. © 2014 Elsevier Editora Ltda.5413337Sieper, J., Rudwaleit, M., Baraliakos, X., Brandt, J., Braun, J., Burgos-Vargas, R., The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) handbook: A guide to assess spondyloarthritis (2009) Ann Rheum Dis, 68 (SUPPL. II), pp. ii1-ii44Rudwaleit, M., van der Heijde, D., Landewé, R., Listing, J., Brandt, J., Braun, J., The development of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for axial spondyloarthritis (part II): validation and final selection (2009) Ann Rheum Dis, 68, pp. 770-776Rudwaleit, M., van der Heijde, D., Landewé, R., Akkoc, N., Brandt, J., Chou, C.T., The development of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society classification criteria for peripheral spondyloarthritis (2011) Ann Rheum Dis, 70, pp. 25-31Sampaio-Barros, P.D., Gonçalves, C.R., Braga da Silva, J.A., Ximenes, A.C., Azevedo, V.C., Bianchi, W.A., Registro Iberoamericano de Espondiloartritis (RESPONDIA): Brasil (2008) Reumatol. Clin., 4 (SUPPL. 4), pp. 30-35Benegas, M., Muñoz-Gomariz, E., Font, P., Burgos-Vargas, R., Chaves, J., Palleiro, D., Comparison of the clinical expression of patients with ankylosing spondylitis from Europe and Latin America (2012) J Rheumatol, 39, pp. 2315-2320Braun, J., van den Berg, R., Baraliakos, X., Boehm, H., Burgos-Vargas, R., Collantes-Estevez, E., 2010 Update of the ASAS/EULAR recommendations for the management of ankylosing spondyltis (2011) Ann Rheum Dis, 70, pp. 896-904Sampaio-Barros, P.D., Pinheiro, M.M., Ximenes, A.C., Meirelles, E.S., Keiserman, M., Azevedo, V.F., Recomendações sobre o tratamento da espondilite anquilosante (2013) Rev Bras Reumatol, 53, pp. 242-257Gossec, L., Smolen, J.S., Gaujoux-Viala, C., Ash, Z., Marzo-Ortega, H., van der Heijde, D., European League Against Rheumatism recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies (2012) Ann Rheum Dis, 71, pp. 4-12Carneiro, S., Azevedo, V.F., Bonfiglioli, R., Ranza, R., Gonçalves, C.R., Keiserman, C.R., Recomendações sobre o tratamento da artrite psoriásica (2013) Rev Bras Reumatol, 53, pp. 227-241Dougados, M., van der Linden, S., Julin, R., Huitfeld, B., Amor, B., Calin, A., The European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group preliminary criteria for the classification of spondyloarthropathy (1991) Arthritis Rheum, 34, pp. 1218-1227van der Linden, S., Valkenburg, H.A., Cats, A., Evaluation of diagnostic criteria for ankylosing spondylitis (1984) A proposal for modification of the New York criteria. Arthritis Rheum, 27, pp. 361-368Moll, J.M.H., Wright, V., Psoriatic arthritis (1973) Semin Arthritis Rheum, 3, pp. 55-78Kingsley, G., Sieper, J., Third International Workshop on Reactive Arthritis, 23-26 September 1995, Berlin, Germany (1996) Ann Rheum Dis, 55, pp. 564-584Bodur, H., Ataman, S., Akbulut, L., Evcik, D., Kavuncu, V., Kaya, T., Characteristics and medical management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis (2008) Clin Rheumatol, 27, pp. 1119-1125Altan, L., Bingöl, U., Karakoç, Y., Aydiner, S., Yurtkuran, M., Yurtkuran, M., Clinical investigation of methotrexate in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (2001) Scand J Rheumatol, 30, pp. 255-259Marshall, R.W., Kirwan, J.R., Methotrexate in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (2001) Scand J Rheumatol, 30, pp. 313-314Roychowdhury, B., Bintley-Bagot, S., Bulgen, D.Y., Thompson, R.N., Tunn, E.J., Moots, R.J., Is methotrexate effective in ankylosing spondylitis? (2002) Rheumatology (Oxford), 41, pp. 1330-1332Sampaio-Barros, P.D., Costallat, L.T., Bertolo, M.B., Marques-Neto, J.F., Samara, A.M., Methotrexate in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (2000) Scand J Rheumatol, 29, pp. 160-162Gonzalez-Lopez, L., Garcia-Gonzalez, A., Vazquez-Del-Mercado, M., Muñoz-Valle, J.F., Gomez-Nava, J.I., Efficacy of methotrexate in ankylosing spondylitis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial (2004) J Rheumatol, 31, pp. 1568-1574Haibel, H., Brandt, H.C., Song, I.H., Brandt, A., Listing, J., Rudwaleit, M., Sieper, J., No efficacy of subcutaneous methotrexate in active ankylosing spondylitis: a 16-week open-label trial (2007) Ann Rheum Dis., 66, pp. 419-421Abu-Shakra, M., Gladman, D.D., Thorne, J.C., Long, J., Gough, J., Farewell, V.T., Long-term methotrexate therapy in psoriatic arthritis: clinical and radiological outcome (1995) J Rheumatol, 22, pp. 241-245Scarpa, R., Peluso, R., Atteno, M., Manguso, F., Spanò, A., Iervolino, S., The effectiveness of a traditional therapeutical approach in early psoriatic arthritis: Results of a pilot randomised 6-month trial with methotrexate (2008) Clin Rheumatol, 27, pp. 823-826Lie, E., van der Heijde, D., Uhlig, T., Heiberg, M.S., Koldingsnes, W., Rødevand, E., Effectiveness and retention rates of methotrexate in psoriatic arthritis in comparison with methotrexate-treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis (2010) Ann Rheum Dis, 69, pp. 671-676Chandran, V., Raychaudhuri, S.P., Geoepidemiology and environmental factors of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (2010) J Autoimm, 34, pp. 314-321Skare, T.L., Bortoluzzo, A.B., Gonçalves, C.R., Braga da Silva, J.A., Ximenes, A.C., Bértolo, M.B., Ethnic influence in clinical and functional measures of Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis (2012) J. Rheumatol, 39, pp. 141-147Clegg, D.O., Reda, D.J., Weisman, M.H., Blackburn, W.D., Cush, J.J., Cannon, G.W., Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (1996) A Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study. Arthritis Rheum, 39, pp. 2004-2012Chen, J., Liu, C., Is sulfasalazine effective in ankylosing spondylitis? (2006) A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Rheumatol, 33, pp. 722-731Gupta, A.K., Grober, J.S., Hamilton, T.A., Ellis, C.N., Siegel, M.T., Voorhees, J.J., Sulfasalazine therapy for psoriatic arthritis: a double blind, placebo controlled trial (1995) J Rheumatol, 22, pp. 894-898Combe, B., Goupille, P., Kuntz, J.L., Tebib, J., Lioté, F., Bregeon, C., Sulphasalazine in psoriatic arthritis: a randomized, multicentre, placebo-controlled study (1996) Br J Rheumatol, 35, pp. 664-668Clegg, D.O., Reda, D.J., Mejias, E., Cannon, G.W., Weisman, M.H., Taylor, T., Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (1996) A Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study. Arthritis Rheum, 39, pp. 2004-2012Clegg, D.O., Reda, D.J., Weisman, M.H., Cush, J.J., Vasey, F.B., Schumacher Jr., H.R., Comparison of sulfasalazine and placebo in the treatment of reactive arthritis (Reiter's syndrome) (1996) A Department of Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study. Arthritis Rheum, 39, pp. 2021-2027Consensus guidelines for the management of inflammatory bowel disease (2010) Arq Gastroenterol, 47, pp. 313-325. , Brazilian Study Group of Inflammatory Bowel DiseasesD'Haens, G.R., Panaccione, R., Higgins, P.D., Vermeire, S., Gassull, M., Chowers, Y., The London Position Statement of the World Congress of Gastroenterology on Biological Therapy for IBD with the European Crohn's and Colitis Organization: When to start, when to stop, which drug to choose, and how to predict response? (2011) Am J Gastroenterol, 106, pp. 199-212Carneiro, S., Bortoluzzo, A.B., Gonçalves, C.R., Braga da Silva, J.A., Ximenes, A.C., Bértolo, M.B., Impact of enthesitis in 1505 Brazilian patients with spondyloarthritis (2013) J Rheumatol, 40, pp. 1719-172

Parallels between machine and brain decoding

We report some existing work, inspired by analogies between human thought and machine computation, showing that the informational state of a digital computer can be decoded in a similar way to brain decoding. We then discuss some proposed work that would leverage this analogy to shed light on the amount of information that may be missed by the technical limitations of current neuroimaging technologies

Low Prevalence Of Renal, Cardiac, Pulmonary, And Neurological Extra-articular Clinical Manifestations In Spondyloarthritis: Analysis Of The Brazilian Registry Of Spondyloarthritis

Objective: To describe the extra-articular manifestations (cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological), usually not related to spondyloarthritis (SpA), in a large cohort of Brazilian patients. Materials and methods: This retrospective study analyzed 1,472 patients diagnosed with SpA and cared for at 29 health care centers distributed in the five major geographic regions in the country, participating in the Brazilian Registry of Spondyloarthritis (BRS). All patients were assessed for the prevalence of major extra-articular manifestations (cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological), classify ed according to the diagnosis [ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), reactive arthritis (ReA), arthritis associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (uSpA), and juvenile SpA], and according to the clinical presentation (axial, peripheral, mixed, and enthesitis). Results: Of the patients with SpA assessed, 963 had AS, 271 PsA, 49 ReA, 48 arthritis associated with IBD, 98 uSpA, and 43 juvenile SpA. Cardiac involvement was reported in 44 patients (3.0%), pulmonary involvement in 19 (1.3%), renal involvement in 17 (1.2%), and neurological involvement in 13 patients (0.9%). Most patients with visceral involvement had AS or PsA, and the mixed (axial + peripheral) and/or predominantly axial clinical form. Conclusion: Cardiac, renal, pulmonary, and neurological extra-articular manifestations are quite infrequent in SpA, ranging from 0.9% to 3% in this large Brazilian cohort, and affected predominantly patients with AS and PsA. © 2012 Elsevier Editora Ltda. 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