Retest reliability of individual alpha ERD topography assessed by human electroencephalography

Background Despite the immense literature related to diverse human electroencephalographic (EEG) parameters, very few studies have focused on the reliability of these measures. Some of the most studied components (i.e., P3 or MMN) have received more attention regarding the stability of their main parameters, such as latency, amplitude or topography. However, spectral modulations have not been as extensively evaluated considering that different analysis methods are available. The main aim of the present study is to assess the reliability of the latency, amplitude and topography of event-related desynchronization (ERD) for the alpha band (10–14 Hz) observed in a cognitive task (visual oddball). Topography reliability was analysed at different levels (for the group, within-subjects individually and between-subjects individually). Results The latency for alpha ERD showed stable behaviour between two sessions, and the amplitude exhibited an increment (more negative) in the second session. Alpha ERD topography exhibited a high correlation score between sessions at the group level (r = 0.903, p<0.001). The mean value for within-subject correlations was 0.750 (with a range from 0.391 to 0.954). Regarding between-subject topography comparisons, some subjects showed a highly specific topography, whereas other subjects showed topographies that were more similar to those of other subjects. Conclusion ERD was mainly stable between the two sessions with the exception of amplitude, which exhibited an increment in the second session. Topography exhibits excellent reliability at the group level; however, it exhibits highly heterogeneous behaviour at the individual level. Considering that the P3 was previously evaluated for this group of subjects, a direct comparison of the correlation scores was possible, and it showed that the ERD component is less reliable in individual topography than in the ERP component (P3).Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España) PSI2016-78133-PAsociación Sanitaria Virgen Macaren

Breeding systems in Tolpis (Asteraceae) in the Macaronesian islands: the Azores, Madeira and the Canaries

Plants on oceanic islands often originate from self-compatible (SC) colonizers capable of seed set by self fertilization. This fact is supported by empirical studies, and is rooted in the hypothesis that one (or few) individuals could find a sexual population, whereas two or more would be required if the colonizers were self-incompatible (SI). However, a SC colonizer would have lower heterozygosity than SI colonizers, which could limit radiation and diver sification of lineages following establishment. Limited evidence suggests that several species-rich island lineages in the family Asteraceae originated from SI colonizers with some ‘‘leakiness’’ (pseudo-self-compatibility, PSC) such that some self-seed could be produced. This study of Tolpis (Asteraceae) in Macaronesia provides first reports of the breeding system in species from the Azores and Madeira, and additional insights into variation in Canary Islands. Tolpis from the Azores and Madeira are predominately SI but with PSC. This study suggests that the breeding sys tems of the ancestors were either PSC, possibly from a single colonizer, or from SI colonizers by multiple dis seminules either from a single or multiple dispersals. Long distance colonists capable of PSC combine the advantages of reproductive assurance (via selfing) in the establishment of sexual populations from even a single colonizer with the higher heterozygosity resulting from its origin from an outcrossed source population. Evolution of Tolpis on the Canaries and Madeira has generated diversity in breeding systems, including the origin of SC. Macaronesian Tolpis is an excellent system for studying breeding system evolution in a small, diverse lineage.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Notas clínicas: estudio de un caso de demencia con afectación posterior

Se presenta el caso de un varón de 64 años de edad que desarrolla un cuadro caracterizado por Alteraciones visuales, agrafia, alexia y acalculia. El SPECT cerebral mostró hipocaptación a nivel de ambas regiones temporoparietales en su porción más posterior, con predominio izquierdo y una marcada dilatación ventricular de astas occipitales. Estos datos identifican un caso de demencia con afectación posterior en la que no se ha identificado aún la naturaleza de la enfermedad causal

Notas clínicas: estudio de un caso de demencia con afectación posterior

Se presenta el caso de un varón de 64 años de edad que desarrolla un cuadro caracterizado por Alteraciones visuales, agrafia, alexia y acalculia. El SPECT cerebral mostró hipocaptación a nivel de ambas regiones temporoparietales en su porción más posterior, con predominio izquierdo y una marcada dilatación ventricular de astas occipitales. Estos datos identifican un caso de demencia con afectación posterior en la que no se ha identificado aún la naturaleza de la enfermedad causal

La neuropsicología del renacimiento: examen de ingenios de Juan Huarte de San Juan

El médico renacentista español Juan Huarte de San Juan en 1575 publicó ¿Examen de ingenios para las ciencias¿, un libro de una gran difusión en su época, donde destaca el modelo ¿neuropsicológico¿ en el que fundamentó toda su obra para explicar las diferencias de las personas como reflejo de diferencia físicas. Concibió tres funciones mentales principales: memoria, imaginación e intelecto. A estas funciones les ubicó un lugar en el cerebro, los ventrículos cerebrales. En el modelo ¿neuropsicológico¿ de Huarte la imaginativa se equipara a los procesos sensoriales y perceptivos con los cuales el hombre capta la información del exterior. La función del entendimiento se correspondería con la elaboración y abstracción de conceptos de dicha información. Finalmente, la memoria es la función encargada de almacenar esa información. Según el autor, para que se pudieran llevar a cabo estas funciones mentales el cerebro necesitaba unas características físicas y anatómicas indispensables: una buena mezcla de los elementos, buena forma del cráneo, gran cantidad de cerebro y la existencia de cuatro ventrículos distintos y separados, cada uno en el lugar que le corresponde en el cerebr

La neuropsicología del renacimiento: examen de ingenios de Juan Huarte de San Juan

El médico renacentista español Juan Huarte de San Juan en 1575 publicó ¿Examen de ingenios para las ciencias¿, un libro de una gran difusión en su época, donde destaca el modelo ¿neuropsicológico¿ en el que fundamentó toda su obra para explicar las diferencias de las personas como reflejo de diferencia físicas. Concibió tres funciones mentales principales: memoria, imaginación e intelecto. A estas funciones les ubicó un lugar en el cerebro, los ventrículos cerebrales. En el modelo ¿neuropsicológico¿ de Huarte la imaginativa se equipara a los procesos sensoriales y perceptivos con los cuales el hombre capta la información del exterior. La función del entendimiento se correspondería con la elaboración y abstracción de conceptos de dicha información. Finalmente, la memoria es la función encargada de almacenar esa información. Según el autor, para que se pudieran llevar a cabo estas funciones mentales el cerebro necesitaba unas características físicas y anatómicas indispensables: una buena mezcla de los elementos, buena forma del cráneo, gran cantidad de cerebro y la existencia de cuatro ventrículos distintos y separados, cada uno en el lugar que le corresponde en el cerebr

Hopelessness in Patients with Early-Stage Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis

Hopelessness; Relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis; SuicideDesesperanza; Esclerosis múltiple recurrente-remitente; SuicidioDesesperança; Esclerosi múltiple recurrent-remitent; SuïcidiBackground: Hopelessness is a risk factor for depression and suicide. There is little information on this phenomenon among patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), one of the most common causes of disability and loss of autonomy in young adults. The aim of this study was to assess state hopelessness and its associated factors in early-stage RRMS. Methods: A multicenter, non-interventional study was conducted. Adult patients with a diagnosis of RRMS, a disease duration ≤ 3 years, and an Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 0– 5.5 were included. The State-Trait Hopelessness Scale (STHS) was used to measure patients´ hopelessness. A battery of patient-reported and clinician-rated measurements was used to assess clinical status. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between patients’ characteristics and state hopelessness. Results: A total of 189 patients were included. Mean age (standard deviation-SD) was 36.1 (9.4) years and 71.4% were female. Median disease duration (interquartile range-IQR) was 1.4 (0.7, 2.1) years. Symptom severity and disability were low with a median EDSS (IQR) score of 1.0 (0, 2.0). A proportion of 65.6% (n=124) of patients reported moderate-to-severe hopelessness. Hopelessness was associated with older age (p=0.035), depressive symptoms (p=< 0.001), a threatening illness perception (p=0.001), and psychological and cognitive barriers to workplace performance (p=0.029) in the multivariate analysis after adjustment for confounders. Conclusion: Hopelessness was a common phenomenon in early-stage RRMS, even in a population with low physical disability. Identifying factors associated with hopelessness may be critical for implementing preventive strategies helping patients to adapt to the new situation and cope with the disease in the long term.This study was funded by Roche Medical Department, Spain (ML42064)