Monitoring Cognitive and Emotional Processes Through Pupil and Cardiac Response During Dynamic Versus Logical Task

The paper deals with the links between physiological measurements and cognitive and emotional functioning. As long as the operator is a key agent in charge of complex systems, the definition of metrics able to predict his performance is a great challenge. The measurement of the physiological state is a very promising way but a very acute comprehension is required; in particular few studies compare autonomous nervous system reactivity according to specific cognitive processes during task performance and task related psychological stress is often ignored. We compared physiological parameters recorded on 24 healthy subjects facing two neuropsychological tasks: a dynamic task that require problem solving in a world that continually evolves over time and a logical task representative of cognitive processes performed by operators facing everyday problem solving. Results showed that the mean pupil diameter change was higher during the dynamic task; conversely, the heart rate was more elevated during the logical task. Finally, the systolic blood pressure seemed to be strongly sensitive to psychological stress. A better taking into account of the precise influence of a given cognitive activity and both workload and related task-induced psychological stress during task performance is a promising way to better monitor operators in complex working situations to detect mental overload or pejorative stress factor of error

Old World Arenaviruses Enter the Host Cell via the Multivesicular Body and Depend on the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport

The highly pathogenic Old World arenavirus Lassa virus (LASV) and the prototypic arenavirus lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) use α-dystroglycan as a cellular receptor and enter the host cell by an unusual endocytotic pathway independent of clathrin, caveolin, dynamin, and actin. Upon internalization, the viruses are delivered to acidified endosomes in a Rab5-independent manner bypassing classical routes of incoming vesicular trafficking. Here we sought to identify cellular factors involved in the unusual and largely unknown entry pathway of LASV and LCMV. Cell entry of LASV and LCMV required microtubular transport to late endosomes, consistent with the low fusion pH of the viral envelope glycoproteins. Productive infection with recombinant LCMV expressing LASV envelope glycoprotein (rLCMV-LASVGP) and LCMV depended on phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K) as well as lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA), an unusual phospholipid that is involved in the formation of intraluminal vesicles (ILV) of the multivesicular body (MVB) of the late endosome. We provide evidence for a role of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT) in LASV and LCMV cell entry, in particular the ESCRT components Hrs, Tsg101, Vps22, and Vps24, as well as the ESCRT-associated ATPase Vps4 involved in fission of ILV. Productive infection with rLCMV-LASVGP and LCMV also critically depended on the ESCRT-associated protein Alix, which is implicated in membrane dynamics of the MVB/late endosomes. Our study identifies crucial cellular factors implicated in Old World arenavirus cell entry and indicates that LASV and LCMV invade the host cell passing via the MVB/late endosome. Our data further suggest that the virus-receptor complexes undergo sorting into ILV of the MVB mediated by the ESCRT, possibly using a pathway that may be linked to the cellular trafficking and degradation of the cellular receptor

Evaluation of a new automated Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH assay for qualitative detection of rifampicin/isoniazid resistance in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary clinical samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Pilar Ruiz,1 Manuel Causse,2 Manuel Vaquero,1 Juan Bautista Gutierrez,1,2 Manuel Casal1,2 1Mycobacteria Reference Center, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain; 2Microbiology Laboratory, Reina Sofía University Hospital, Córdoba, Spain Abstract: A new automated real-time PCR assay for the detection of rifampicin (RIF) and isoniazid (INH) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) was evaluated. A total of 163 clinical samples (128 pulmonary and 35 extra-pulmonary) were processed using four PCR assay kits: Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH, Genotype MTBDRplus, Xpert/MTB RIF, and Anyplex MTB/MDR. The results of phenotypic drug-susceptibility testing using BACTECMGIT 960 were used as reference. The sensitivity and specificity of the new Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH assay in comparison with phenotypic testing was 96.3% (95%CI 87.32%–100%) for RIF and 100% (95%CI 99.3%–100%) for INH; the sensitivity was 78.8% (95%CI 66.8%–90.9%) and the specificity was 100% (95%CI 98.9%–100%). The Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH test could be a valid method for detecting the most common mutations in strains resistant to RIF and INH. Keywords: Abbott RealTime MTB RIF/INH Resistance assay, M. tuberculosis, mutation

Hyaluronate Gel Stapedotomy

To evaluate hearing results and postoperative dizziness after stapedotomy with application of sodium hyaluronate gel (HG) to the oval window niche during fenestration of the footplate. Case-control study comparing 27 stapedotomies with HG and 32 stapedotomies without HG. Preoperative and postoperative audiometric data, postoperative dizziness (vertigo or dysequilibrium), and nystagmus. Postoperative hearing results were not statistically different for the 2 groups. There were no cases of postoperative sensorineural hearing loss greater than 10 dB. Early postoperative dizziness (chi(2) = 4.08, P = 0.043) and nystagmus (chi(2) = 5.05, P = 0.024) were reduced in the HG group. HG stapedotomy is safe and effective and results in less early postoperative dizziness and nystagmus when compared with the standard technique of stapedotomy. The application of HG to the oval window niche to prevent blood from entering or perilymph from escaping the vestibule during fenestration of the stapes footplate may contribute to a quicker recovery in outpatient otosclerosis surgery

Hearing loss as a complication of stapes surgery

During a 10-year period (1984-1994) 1229 stapes operations for otosclerosis were performed at our respective institutions by experienced surgeons well trained in the various techniques. Procedures included 691 stapedectomies, 234 small-fenestrae stapedotomies, and 304 revision operations. These primary and revision cases resulted in 20 ears with severe sensorineural hearing loss or anacusis noted during the immediate postoperative period. This article will critically evaluate those procedures that resulted in profound hearing loss and attempt to determine possible reasons for this occurrence. It is hoped that these data will allow surgeons to identify before and/or during surgery patients at risk for development of this complication and therefore decrease the overall morbidity rate of this exacting procedure