Auditory steady-state rersponses to click trains from the rat temporal cortex

n order to investigate the mechanisms underlying the generation of steady-state responses (SSRs), auditory evoked potentials elicited by click trains presented at several stimulation rates (30, 40, 50, 60 Hz) were recorded in 7 awake rats by means of epidural electrodes placed over the temporal cortex. Mean amplitude-rate function calculated on the recorded responses appeared almost flat and showed the maximum value at 50 Hz, while mean phases showed a linear increase when increasing the stimulation rate. In each rat, predictions of the recorded responses at 30, 40, 50 and 60 Hz were synthesized by superimposing middle-latency auditory evoked potentials (MAEPs) at suitable time intervals at each rate. Mean amplitudes calculated on the predicted curves decreased linearly when increasing the stimulation rate and appeared higher in comparison to those obtained from the recorded SSRs. Predicted phases showed a linear increase when increasing the stimulation rate and were leading with respect to corresponding phase values calculated for recorded SSRs. Our findings indicate that the MAEP superimposition mechanism does not adequately predict the generation of temporal recorded SSRs in rats. This was explained by admitting that phenomena related to the recovery cycle and, to a lesser extent, to rate-dependent facilitating effects come into play

Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm Ruptured into Duodenum, Associated with Celiac Trunk Stenosis. Case Report and Review of Literature

Pancreaticoduodenal artery (PDA) aneurysm associated with a celiac artery (CA) occlusion or stenosis is an uncommon event. We report the case of a 63-years old man who presented with acute abdominal pain radiating to the back. During the hospital stay, the patient had an episode of severe hematemesis. He had a gastroscopy and then a surgical exploration. However only with arteriography we found a PDA, which had ruptured into duodenum. The aneurysm was associated with a stenosis of the celiac trunk and was supplied by a dense network of collateral vessels from the SMA. The patient was successfully treated with embolization and was discharged on the 64th postoperative day. Short term and mid term follow-up was uneventful. This case shows the difficulty in diagnosing these rare events in time, indicating that angiography is indispensable to establish a diagnosis and enable nonsurgical treatment

UV Light Acclimation Capacity of Leaf Photosynthetic and Photochemical Behaviour in Near-isohydric and Anisohydric Grapevines in Hot and Dry Environments

The photosynthetic and photochemical adaptation of grapevine leaves to high UV radiation, under hot and dry summer conditions, was investigated in near-isohydric Cannonau (syn. Grenache) and nearanisohydric Bovale grande (syn. Carignan). From pea-size stage until harvest, vines with mild to moderate water deficit were subjected to UV-blocking treatment (–UV) and compared to a control exposed to sunlight (C). Canopy light and thermal microclimate, growth and density, maximum leaf gas exchange, primary photochemistry (PSII) and phenols were monitored. Average increments in canopy temperature under –UV tunnels during day-time and night-time were 3.3°C and 0.8°C in Bovale grande and 2.6°C and 1.1°C in Cannonau. Cultivars reached similar leaf area, intrinsic water-use efficiency and stem water potential under C and –UV. Cannonau showed lower stomatal conductance, maximum net assimilation and transpiration rates, but also faster recovery of PSII under heat and moderate water stress. UV radiation induced a stronger and longer impact on leaf assimilation, but the duration of elevated temperatures under −UV induced higher photoinhibition and lower photochemical efficiency. A similar degree of correlation between leaf temperature and gas exchange was found among cultivars and treatments. In Cannonau, leaf anthocyanin decreased due to heat-induced long-lasting PSII photoinactivation under C. Conversely, Bovale grande showed higher phenolic content stability, thus higher photoprotection and recovery of PSII functional units. Agronomical practices affecting leaf phenolic accumulation influence canopy acclimation to heat and high sunlight. Vineyard management must avoid excessive canopy sun exposure and duration of elevated temperatures to favour high assimilation, while reducing photoinactivation and heat damage

Bone health and body composition in transgender adults before gender-affirming hormonal therapy: data from the COMET study

Purpose: Preliminary data suggested that bone mineral density (BMD) in transgender adults before initiating gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is lower when compared to cisgender controls. In this study, we analyzed bone metabolism in a sample of transgender adults before GAHT, and its possible correlation with biochemical profile, body composition and lifestyle habits (i.e., tobacco smoke and physical activity). Methods: Medical data, smoking habits, phospho-calcic and hormonal blood tests and densitometric parameters were collected in a sample of 125 transgender adults, 78 Assigned Females At Birth (AFAB) and 47 Assigned Males At Birth (AMAB) before GAHT initiation and 146 cisgender controls (57 females and 89 males) matched by sex assigned at birth and age. 55 transgender and 46 cisgender controls also underwent a complete body composition evaluation and assessment of physical activity using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Results: 14.3% of transgender and 6.2% of cisgender sample, respectively, had z-score values < -2 (p = 0.04). We observed only lower vitamin D values in transgender sample regarding biochemical/hormonal profile. AFAB transgender people had more total fat mass, while AMAB transgender individuals had reduced total lean mass as compared to cisgender people (53.94 ± 7.74 vs 58.38 ± 6.91, p < 0.05). AFAB transgender adults were more likely to be active smokers and tend to spend more time indoor. Fat Mass Index (FMI) was correlated with lumbar and femur BMD both in transgender individuals, while no correlations were found between lean mass parameters and BMD in AMAB transgender people. Conclusions: Body composition and lifestyle factors could contribute to low BMD in transgender adults before GAHT

Reduced auditory steady state responses in autism spectrum disorder

Background Auditory steady state responses (ASSRs) are elicited by clicktrains or amplitude-modulated tones, which entrain auditory cortex at their specific modulation rate. Previous research has reported reductions in ASSRs at 40 Hz for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) participants and first-degree relatives of people diagnosed with ASD (Mol Autism. 2011;2:11, Biol Psychiatry. 2007;62:192–197). Methods Using a 1.5 s-long auditory clicktrain stimulus, designed to elicit an ASSR at 40 Hz, this study attempted to replicate and extend these findings. Magnetencephalography (MEG) data were collected from 18 adolescent ASD participants and 18 typically developing controls. Results The ASSR localised to bilateral primary auditory regions. Regions of interest were thus defined in left and right primary auditory cortex (A1). While the transient gamma-band response (tGBR) from 0-0.1 s following presentation of the clicktrain stimulus was not different between groups, for either left or right A1, the ASD group had reduced oscillatory power at 40 Hz from 0.5 to 1.5 s post-stimulus onset, for both left and right A1. Additionally, the ASD group had reduced inter-trial coherence (phase consistency over trials) at 40 Hz from 0.64-0.82 s for right A1 and 1.04-1.22 s for left A1. Limitations In this study, we did not conduct a clinical autism assessment (e.g. the ADOS), and therefore, it remains unclear whether ASSR power and/or ITC are associated with the clinical symptoms of ASD. Conclusion Overall, our results support a specific reduction in ASSR oscillatory power and inter-trial coherence in ASD, rather than a generalised deficit in gamma-band responses. We argue that this could reflect a developmentally relevant reduction in non-linear neural processing

From the Archaeological Map of Italy to the National Geographical Archaeological Information System. The Sardinian experience

The Office for the Archaeological Map of Italy was established by Royal Decree in 1889. In 1926, as an ideal continuation of the Archaeological Map, the first volume of the Forma Italiae was published. Subsequently, with the advent of information technology, a new era of archaeological mapping began, adjusting the Forma Italiae to the latest technological developments. Inheriting this solid methodological basis, and benefitting from the latest digital innovations, we present the Sardinian node of the national archaeological computer network. This is not the proposal for the creation of yet another archaeological information system, but a project for the creation of a tool aimed at data sharing and identification of archaeological heritage property. The project intends to be a point of reference for data exchange on a national and international scale and at different levels of detai

Regioselectivity in arene-catalyzed reductive lithiation of acetals of chlorobenzaldehydes

The regioselectivity of arene-catalyzed reductive lithiation of acetals of chlorobenzaldehydes strongly depends on the form of lithium metal employed as a reducing agent. According to previous findings, naphthalene catalyzed reductions run in the presence of lithium powder (high Na content) led to competitive metalations of both aromatic carbon-chlorine and benzylic carbon-oxygen bonds. At variance with these results, naphthalene catalyzed reductions run in the presence of lithium wire (either high or low Na content) led to highly regioselective metalation of aromatic carbon-chlorine bonds. These results disclose new possibilities of selective applications of arene-catalyzed reductive lithiation reactions. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Generation of human auditory steady-state responses

The linear summation of the responses elicited by individual stimuli can be considered the main mechanism underlying SSR generation. Moreover other phenomena become involved so that individual responses elicited at fast repetition rates (LCRs) are different from those recorded at stimulus rates preventing their overlapping (MLRs). First, phenomena related to the recovery cycle can determine parameters of individual responses within the SSR causing a reduction in amplitude and an increase in latency with increasing repetition rates. Second, other mechanisms related to the resonant frequency of the auditory system come into play enhancing the contribution of individual responses during 40 Hz steady state stimulation. Assuming linearity and admitting that the system behaves as a damped harmonic oscillator having resonant frequency of 40 Hz and damping ratio between 0 and 1, one can speculate that, for a given damping value, the output modulus depends on the frequency components of the input as well as on the system resonant frequency. The increase in the input of the frequency components close to the system resonant frequency causes the output modulus to increase and this make more likely the appearance of further oscillations in the system output. In conclusion it seems that the surface recorded SSR results from the linear summation of the responses to individual stimuli and these responses are different from MLRs since they can be enhanced or depressed by resonant and adaptation phenomena. The interplay between these effects is strictly dependent on the stimulus repetition rate

VANTAGGI DELL\u2019USO DI UN ANALOGO DELLA PGE1 PER LA DILATAZIONE PRE-OPERATORIA DEL COLLO UTERINO IN CORSO DI INTERRUZIONE VOLONTARIA DI GRAVIDANZA

In 57 casi di IVG si \ue8 testato un pre-trattamento con un analogo della PGE,per uso topico per la preparazione del collo uterino