Autonomic synchrony induced by hyperscanning interoception during interpersonal synchronization tasks

According to previous research, people influence each other’s emotional states during social interactions via resonance mechanisms and coordinated autonomic rhythms. However, no previous studies tested if the manipulation of the interoceptive focus (focused attention on the breath for a given time interval) in hyperscanning during synchronized tasks may have an impact on autonomic synchrony. Thus, this study aims to assess the psychophysiological synchrony through autonomic measures recording during dyadic linguistic and motor synchronization tasks performed in two distinct interoceptive conditions: the focus and no focus on the breath condition. 26 participants coupled in 13 dyads were recruited. Individuals’ autonomic measures [electrodermal: skin conductance level and response (SCL, SCR); cardiovascular indices: heart rate (HR) and HR variability (HRV)] was continuously monitored during the experiment and correlational coefficients were computed to analyze dyads physiological synchrony. Inter-subject analysis revealed higher synchrony for HR, HRV, SCL, and SCR values in the focus compared to no focus condition during the motor synchronization task and in general more for motor than linguistic task. Higher synchrony was also found for HR, SCL, and SCR values during focus than no focus condition in linguistic task. Overall, evidence suggests that the manipulation of the interoceptive focus has an impact on the autonomic synchrony during distinct synchronization tasks and for different autonomic measures. Such findings encourage the use of hyperscanning paradigms to assess the effect of breath awareness practices on autonomic synchrony in ecological and real-time conditions involving synchronization

Emotion Regulation in Schizophrenia : a Pilot Clinical Intervention as Assessed by EEG and Optical Imaging (Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy)

Previous research on Schizophrenia (S) revealed anomalies in brain responsiveness during emotion processing, as shown by neuroimaging and electroencephalography (EEG) measures. Nonetheless preserved capacities to explicitly evaluate the emotional significance of affective stimuli in term of valence have been found. The present study applied functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) and EEG to explore the spatial and temporal expressions of emotion processing in the brain before (T0) and after (T2) an emotional Neurofeedback (NF) training of patients, assigned to the control or the experimental group. Explicit measures revealed correct identifications of stimuli emotional valence before (T0) and after (T2) the treatment, while implicit measures (EEG and fNIRS) showed a modulation and increased competencies only after the NF (T2), with more balanced prefrontal activity

Ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase from Plasmodium falciparum undergoes NADP(+)-dependent dimerization and inactivation: functional and crystallographic analysis

The completion of the Plasmodium falciparum genome sequence has recently promoted the search for new antimalarial drugs. More specifically, metabolic pathways of the apicoplast, a key organelle for survival of the parasite, have been recognized as potential targets for the development of specific new antimalarial agents. As most apicomplexan parasites, P. falciparum displays a plant-type ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase, yielding reduced ferredoxin for essential biosynthetic pathways in the apicoplast. Here we report a molecular, kinetic and ligand binding characterization of the recombinant ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase from P. falciparum, in the light of current data available for plant ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductases. In parallel with the functional characterization, we describe the crystal structures of P. falciparum ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase in free form and in complex with 2'-phospho-AMP (at 2.4 and 2.7 A resolution, respectively). The enzyme displays structural properties likely to be unique to plasmodial reductases. In particular, the two crystal structures highlight a covalent dimer, which relies on the oxidation of residue Cys99 in two opposing subunits, and a helix-coil transition that occurs in the NADP-binding domain, triggered by 2'-phospho-AMP binding. Studies in solution show that NADP(+), as well as 2'-phospho-AMP, promotes the formation of the disulfide-stabilized dimer. The isolated dimer is essentially inactive, but full activity is recovered upon disulfide reduction. The occurrence of residues unique to the plasmodial enzyme, and the discovery of specific conformational properties, highlight the NADP-binding domain of P. falciparum ferredoxin-NADP(+) reductase as particularly suited for the rational development of antimalarial compounds

Sobredosis de Colchicina: Reporte de un Caso. Discusión de la dosis tóxica

La intoxicación por colchicina es una entidad poco común, pero que constituye una emergencia toxicológica extremadamente grave que pone en riesgo la vida del paciente. La intoxicación puede ocurrir por ingestión de tabletas de drogas que contienen colchicina o por ingesta de Colchicum autumnale, que florece en otoño en el Pirineo y es erróneamente colectado en lugar de Allium ursinum. La sobredosis debe ser reconocida tempranamente ya que el abordaje terapéutico debe ser llevado a cabo lo más rápido posible, para lograr un efecto beneficioso para el paciente. En este trabajo se presenta un caso de intoxicación con 50mg de colchicina como tentativa suicida, queevoluciona con falla multiorgánica y posterior buena evolución clínica que genera su alta a los diez días del ingreso al hospital. La falta de relación entre la alta dosis ingerida y la buena evolución de la paciente podrían explicarse por la existencia de polimorfismos en las enzimas involucradas en elmetabolismo de esta droga

The Great Condom Adventure: Analyzing College Students’ Narratives of Buying Condoms

This project analyzes college students’ narratives buying condoms. Research suggests young persons do not consistently use condoms, and this study will provide an in-depth analysis to students affect toward condoms. We analyzed narratives written by 115 undergraduate students of their condom buying experiences. The vast majority of the students’ narratives about their condom buying experience fit a common framework, with elements including: preplanning, walking in the store, looking inconspicuous while wandering, finding the “hidden” condom location, making their selection, carrying and hiding the condoms, selecting a cashier and rushing through checkout, anticipating ridicule, and walking out of the store. Research indicates that the majority of college-aged persons are sexually active and do not always use protection. We speculate that the negative emotions associated with buying condoms, as repeated in their narratives, may contribute to young people inconsistent use of contraception

Event-related alpha suppression in response to facial motion

This article has been made available through the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.While biological motion refers to both face and body movements, little is known about the visual perception of facial motion. We therefore examined alpha wave suppression as a reduction in power is thought to reflect visual activity, in addition to attentional reorienting and memory processes. Nineteen neurologically healthy adults were tested on their ability to discriminate between successive facial motion captures. These animations exhibited both rigid and non-rigid facial motion, as well as speech expressions. The structural and surface appearance of these facial animations did not differ, thus participants decisions were based solely on differences in facial movements. Upright, orientation-inverted and luminance-inverted facial stimuli were compared. At occipital and parieto-occipital regions, upright facial motion evoked a transient increase in alpha which was then followed by a significant reduction. This finding is discussed in terms of neural efficiency, gating mechanisms and neural synchronization. Moreover, there was no difference in the amount of alpha suppression evoked by each facial stimulus at occipital regions, suggesting early visual processing remains unaffected by manipulation paradigms. However, upright facial motion evoked greater suppression at parieto-occipital sites, and did so in the shortest latency. Increased activity within this region may reflect higher attentional reorienting to natural facial motion but also involvement of areas associated with the visual control of body effectors. © 2014 Girges et al

Continuous pulse advances in the negative ion source NIO1

Consorzio RFX and INFN-LNL have designed, built and operated the compact radiofrequency negative ion source NIO1 (Negative Ion Optimization phase 1) with the aim of studying the production and acceleration of H- ions. In particular, NIO1 was designed to keep plasma generation and beam extraction continuously active for several hours. Since 2020 the production of negative ions at the plasma grid (the first grid of the acceleration system) has been enhanced by a Cs layer, deposited though active Cs evaporation in the source volume. For the negative ion sources applied to fusion neutral beam injectors, it is essential to keep the beam current and the fraction of co-extracted electrons stable for at least 1 h, against the consequences of Cs sputtering and redistribution operated by the plasma. The paper presents the latest results of the NIO1 source, in terms of caesiation process and beam performances during continuous (6{\div}7 h) plasma pulses. Due to the small dimensions of the NIO1 source (20 x (diam.)10 cm), the Cs density in the volume is high (10^15 \div 10^16 m^-3) and dominated by plasma-wall interaction. The maximum beam current density and minimum fraction of co-extracted electrons were respectively about 30 A/m^2 and 2. Similarly to what done in other negative ion sources, the plasma grid temperature in NIO1 was raised for the first time, up to 80 {\deg}C, although this led to a minimal improvement of the beam current and to an increase of the co-extracted electron current.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures. Contributed paper for the 8th International symposium on Negative Ions, Beams and Sources - NIBS'22. Revision 1 of the preprint under evaluation at Journal of Instrumentation (JINST

Molecular-biology-driven treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer

Background: Metastatic CRC (mCRC) is a molecular heterogeneous disease. The aim of this review is to give an overview of molecular-driven treatment of mCRC patients. Methods: A review of clinical trials, retrospective studies and case reports was performed regarding molecular biomarkers with therapeutic implications. Results: RAS wild-type status was confirmed as being crucial for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies and for rechallenge strategy. Antiangiogenic therapies improve survival in first- and second-line settings, irrespective of RAS status, while tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) remain promising in refractory mCRC. Promising results emerged from anti-HER2 drugs trials in HER2-positive mCRC. Target inhibitors were successful for BRAFV600E mutant mCRC patients, while immunotherapy was successful for microsatellite instability-high/defective mismatch repair (MSI-H/dMMR) or DNA polymerase epsilon catalytic subunit (POLE-1) mutant patients. Data are still lacking on NTRK, RET, MGMT, and TGF-β, which require further research. Conclusion: Several molecular biomarkers have been identified for the tailored treatment of mCRC patients and multiple efforts are currently ongoing to increase the therapeutic options. In the era of precision medicine, molecular-biology-driven treatment is the key to impro patient selection and patient outcomes. Further research and large phase III trials are required to ameliorate the therapeutic management of these patients

Moderate aerobic exercise (brisk walking) increases bone density in cART-treated persons

Moderate intensity aerobic activity reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome in the general population and has a potential in preventing bone loss. We evaluated the effects of brisk walking, with or without strength exercise, on bone mineral density in HIV-infected treated persons. Twenty-eight HIV-infected, cART-treated, sedentary subjects with VL<50 c/mL were enrolled in a 12-week exercise program, consisting of 3 outdoor sessions/week of 60 min walking at 67–70% of HR (heart rate) max±30 min circuit training at 65% of 1-RM (repetition maximum). Subjects were examined at baseline (BL) and 12 weeks (W12) by 6-minute walking test (6MWT) and by counting the number of repetitions for each strength exercise; and by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) to evaluate lumbar spine and femoral bone mineral density with t- and z-scores - in addition to morphometric (BMI, waist, hip and leg circumference) and blood examination (cytometry, fasting total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, insulin; AST/ALT, ALP, gGT, creatinine, CPK, HbA1c; CD4+ and CD8+, plasma HIV-RNA). Differences over time were tested by Wilcoxon-signed rank test and between groups by Mann-Whitney test. Twenty-seven (96%) participants (19M, 8F; median 48 y-o, IQR 43–54; median CD4+624/µL, IQR 478–708; ART with PI: 13 patients, with NNRTI: 7 patients, and including TDF: 15 patients) completed the 12-week program with a median adherence of 61% (IQR 50–70): 18 in the ‘walk only’ only group and 9 in the ‘walk and strength’ group. At W12, participants showed significant improvement of distance by 6MWT (Table), and of performance in all strength exercises (crunch p=0.023, lat machine p=0.016, chest press p=0.016, leg extension p=0.016, sitting calf p=0.008, leg press p=0.016). DEXA spine z-score improved significantly in the whole group, and femoral z-scores in the ‘walk only’ group. There was no z-score difference at BL between patients with/out PIs, NNRTIs or TDF. However, spine z-score improved significantly in patients receiving TDF. At W12 BMI, waist circumference, and LDL also improved significantly in the whole group, whereas no significant changes were observed for the other variables, The above 12-week program improved fitness and bone density in HIV-infected treated subjects, in addition to some morphometric variables and serum LDL. Brisk walking, with or without strength exercise, might help control the long-term consequences of cART