Is That Me or My Twin? Lack of Self-Face Recognition Advantage in Identical Twins

Despite the increasing interest in twin studies and the stunning amount of research on face recognition, the ability of adult identical twins to discriminate their own faces from those of their co-twins has been scarcely investigated. One’s own face is the most distinctive feature of the bodily self, and people typically show a clear advantage in recognizing their own face even more than other very familiar identities. Given the very high level of resemblance of their faces, monozygotic twins represent a unique model for exploring self-face processing. Herein we examined the ability of monozygotic twins to distinguish their own face from the face of their co-twin and of a highly familiar individual. Results show that twins equally recognize their own face and their twin’s face. This lack of self-face advantage was negatively predicted by how much they felt physically similar to their co-twin and by their anxious or avoidant attachment style. We speculate that in monozygotic twins, the visual representation of the self-face overlaps with that of the co-twin. Thus, to distinguish the self from the co-twin, monozygotic twins have to rely much more than control participants on the multisensory integration processes upon which the sense of bodily self is based. Moreover, in keeping with the notion that attachment style influences perception of self and significant others, we propose that the observed self/co-twin confusion may depend upon insecure attachment

Intra-arterial CT angiography visualization of arterial supply to inferior vena cava tumor thrombus prior to radioembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma

Unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma has a high frequency of vascular invasion and arterial parasitization. Trans-arterial radioembolization using yttrium-90 (Y90) microspheres is a possible treatment option. Paramount to its success is the meticulous angiographic interrogation of tumor feeding arteries and extra-hepatic supply. We describe a patient with tumor invasion of the inferior vena cava with arterial supply from the right inferior phrenic artery, which was exquisitely visualized using intra-arterial computed tomographic angiography (IACTA) during the planning technetium-99m macro aggregated albumin phase. This technique was useful in planning which artery to administer Y90 microspheres into for maximal brachytherapy. Although patient outcome was poor due to significant arterio-portal shunting, we believe that IACTA is a useful adjunct to conventional digital subtraction angiography in planning radioembolization therapy

Catheter-directed thrombolysis versus percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy in the management of acute limb ischemia: a single center review

Abstract Background Acute limb ischemia is associated with significant mortality and amputation rate. Early restoration of flow can be obtained by various treatment methods that include catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy (PMT). These treatments have been shown to be effective but associated with various complications. There is lack of data comparing these two treatments. We aim to review our experience in the treatment of acute limb ischemia (ALI) and compare CDT with PMT. Results A total of 94 patients [mean age 65 years, 67% male (n = 63)] presented with ALI between 2006 and 2015 and were treated with either CDT or PMT. Outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Primary outcomes were technical and clinical success; secondary outcomes were amputation rate at 30 days, duration of hospitalization and 30-day mortality. A total of 117 procedures were performed in 94 patients: 27 surgical bypass grafts, 31 previously stented arteries and 59 native vessels. Twenty eight procedures (24%) were performed with PMT, and 89 (76%) procedures were performed with CDT. Higher technical success was achieved in the PMT group (68%, 19/28) compared to the CDT group (47%, 42/89), p = 0.056. Clinical success was similar in both groups (75%, 21/28 in the PMT group and 73%, 65/89) in the CDT group (p = 0.837). There was no statistically significant difference in 30-day mortality between the PMT vs CDT groups (4% vs 8%, p = 0.425). The length of post-procedural hospital stay was shorter in patients with PMT (6.0 vs 12.6 days, p = 0.001). The absence of end-stage renal failure appears to be a predictor for clinical succes (HR 3.3, 95% CI 0.809–13.592). Conclusion PMT is associated with higher technical success and significantly shorter length of stay compared to CDT; however, clinical success is similar across both treatment entities. The safety profile is comparable

Neuroethics of Augmenting Human Memory Using Wearable Pervasive and Ubiquitous Technologies

Part 1: Technology Adoption, Diffusion and Ubiquitous ComputingInternational audienceNeuroethics is a field of study that deals with the ethical and moral issues in neuroscience. Memory augmentation approaches and technologies, is rooted in the broad field of neuroscience and brings with it its own set of ethical issues. Memory augmentation is a new emergent field, where the well-being of humans is augmented using pervasive and ubiquitous technologies. Augmenting Alzheimer and dementia patients’ memory with wearable pervasive computing technologies like lifelogging shows a promising memory improvement But, is it ethical to augment memory, if so what ethical issue may arise? The emergent technologies like artificial intelligence, pervasive computing and IoT (Internet of Things) are frequently used in memory augmentation. The consequence of augmentation for treating memory deficit needs a careful look. This paper will highlight the basic ethical issues related to memory augmentation technologies

Radioembolization after portal vein embolization in a patient with multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma

10.1007/s00270-012-0376-2CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology3561519-1523CARA

Radioembolization with infusion of yttrium-90 microspheres into a right inferior phrenic artery with hepatic tumor supply is feasible and safe

10.1016/j.jvir.2012.07.009Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology23101294-1301JVIR