Timescale-invariant representation of acoustic communication signals by a bursting neuron

Acoustic communication often involves complex sound motifs in which the relative durations of individual elements, but not their absolute durations, convey meaning. Decoding such signals requires an explicit or implicit calculation of the ratios between time intervals. Using grasshopper communication as a model, we demonstrate how this seemingly difficult computation can be solved in real time by a small set of auditory neurons. One of these cells, an ascending interneuron, generates bursts of action potentials in response to the rhythmic syllable-pause structure of grasshopper calls. Our data show that these bursts are preferentially triggered at syllable onset; the number of spikes within the burst is linearly correlated with the duration of the preceding pause. Integrating the number of spikes over a fixed time window therefore leads to a total spike count that reflects the characteristic syllable-to-pause ratio of the species while being invariant to playing back the call faster or slower. Such a timescale-invariant recognition is essential under natural conditions, because grasshoppers do not thermoregulate; the call of a sender sitting in the shade will be slower than that of a grasshopper in the sun. Our results show that timescale-invariant stimulus recognition can be implemented at the single-cell level without directly calculating the ratio between pulse and interpulse durations

Desflurane induces a first and a second window of preconditioning against myocardial infarction in vivo

Das Phänomen der ischämischen Präkonditionierung beschreibt einen endogenen Schutzmechanismus, der in einer erhöhten Toleranz des Gewebes gegenüber ischämischen Episoden resultiert. Volatile Anästhetika sind in der Lage, diesen Mechanismus zu aktivieren und somit betroffene Gewebe zu präkonditionieren. Die ischämische Präkonditionierung zeigt an Kaninchen ein biphasisches Verlaufsmuster, bestehend aus einem frühen ersten Fenster sowie einem späten zweiten Fenster der Präkonditionierung. Beide Fenster sind durch eine Phase ohne kardioprotektiven Effekt getrennt. Ziel der vorliegenden Arbeit war es, für das volatile Anästhetikum Desfluran ebenfalls dieses biphasische Zeitmuster nachzuweisen sowie die Rolle von Stickstoffmonoxid (NO) in diesem Prozess zu charakterisieren. Wir führten unsere Untersuchungen in einem in vivo-Herzinfarktmodell an Kaninchen durch. Wir konnten zeigen, dass Desfluran ein erstes Fenster der Präkonditionierung induziert, welches bis zu zwei Stunden nach Abflutung des volatilen Agens nachweisbar ist. Weiterhin induzierte Desfluran ein zweites Fenster der Präkonditionierung, dessen kardioprotektiver Effekt nach 24 Stunden einsetzt und bis zu 72 Stunden nach Applikation des Anästhetikums nachweisbar ist. Erstes und zweites Fenster der Präkonditionierung waren durch eine Episode ohne nachweisbaren kardioprotektiven Effekt getrennt. 96 Stunden nach Abflutung des Anästhetikums war keine präkonditionierende Wirkung mehr nachweisbar. Um die Rolle von NO beim zweiten Fenster der Desfluran-induzierten Präkonditionierung zu untersuchen, verabreichten wir den NO-Synthase-Blocker L-omega-Nitro-Arginin (LNA) vor der Koronararterienokklusion. Anhand unserer Ergebnisse konnten wir nachweisen, dass die Desfluran-induzierte Präkonditionierung des Kaninchenmyokards ein der ischämischen Präkonditionierung ähnliches charakteristisches biphasisches Verlaufsmuster aufweist und das endogen synthetisiertes NO als Mediator des zweiten Fensters der Desfluran-induzierten Präkonditionierung wirkt.The phenomenon of ischemic preconditioning (IPC) describes an endogenous protective mechanism resulting in increased tolerance of tissues against ischemia. Volatile anesthetics are able to activate this mechanism of preconditioning. Ischemic preconditioning shows a characteristic biphasic time course consisting of an early first and a delayed second window of preconditioning separated by a period without cardioprotective effects. The aim of the current study was to investigate wether desflurane-induced preconditioning exhibits a biphasic time pattern similar to IPC, and to characterize the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this process. For this purpose we used an in vivo rabbit model of acute myocardial infarction. Desflurane induced a first window of preconditioning which lasted up to two hours after the cessation of the volatile anesthetic. Furthermore, desflurane induced a second window of preconditioning, which was detectable after 24 hours and lasted up to 72 hours after administration of the volatile anesthetic. Both windows of protection were separated by a period without any cardioprotective effect. No cardioprotection was detectable 96 hours after cessation of desflurane. To determine the role of NO in the second window of preconditioning we administered the NO-synthase inhibitor L-omega-nitro-arginine (LNA) prior to coronary artery occlusion. Our results demonstrate that desflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction in vivo exhibits a characteristic biphasic time pattern similar to ischemic preconditioning. In addition, we demonstrated that endogenous NO is a mediator of the second window of desflurane-induced preconditioning

Effects of crystalloids and colloids on liver and intestine microcirculation and function in cecal ligation and puncture induced septic rodents

Background: Septic acute liver and intestinal failure is associated with a high mortality. We therefore investigated the influence of volume resuscitation with different crystalloid or colloid solutions on liver and intestine injury and microcirculation in septic rodents. Methods: Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in 77 male rats. Animals were treated with different crystalloids (NaCl 0.9% (NaCl), Ringer’s acetate (RA)) or colloids (Gelafundin 4% (Gel), 6% HES 130/0.4 (HES)). After 24 h animals were re-anesthetized and intestinal (n = 6/group) and liver microcirculation (n = 6/group) were obtained using intravital microscopy, as well as macrohemodynamic parameters were measured. Blood assays and organs were harvested to determine organ function and injury. Results: HES improved liver microcirculation, cardiac index and DO2-I, but significantly increased IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α levels and resulted in a mortality rate of 33%. Gel infused animals revealed significant reduction of liver and intestine microcirculation with severe side effects on coagulation (significantly increased PTT and INR, decreased haemoglobin and platelet count). Furthermore Gel showed severe hypoglycemia, acidosis and significantly increased ALT and IL-6 with a lethality of 29%. RA exhibited no derangements in liver microcirculation when compared to sham and HES. RA showed no intestinal microcirculation disturbance compared to sham, but significantly improved the number of intestinal capillaries with flow compared to HES. All RA treated animals survided and showed no severe side effects on coagulation, liver, macrohemodynamic or metabolic state. Conclusions: Gelatine 4% revealed devastated hepatic and intestinal microcirculation and severe side effects in CLP induced septic rats, whereas the balanced crystalloid solution showed stabilization of macro- and microhemodynamics with improved survival. HES improved liver microcirculation, but exhibited significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Crystalloid infusion revealed best results in mortality and microcirculation, when compared with colloid infusion

Aromatase inhibition attenuates desflurane-induced preconditioning against acute myocardial infarction in male mouse heart in vivo.

The volatile anesthetic desflurane (DES) effectively reduces cardiac infarct size following experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury in the mouse heart. We hypothesized that endogenous estrogens play a role as mediators of desflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that desflurane effects local estrogen synthesis by modulating enzyme aromatase expression and activity in the mouse heart. Aromatase metabolizes testosterone to 17β- estradiol (E2) and thereby significantly contributes to local estrogen synthesis. We tested aromatase effects in acute myocardial infarction model in male mice. The animals were randomized and subjected to four groups which were pre-treated with the selective aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (A group) and DES alone (DES group) or in combination (A+DES group) for 15 minutes prior to surgical intervention whereas the control group received 0.9% NaCl (CON group). All animals were subjected to 45 minutes ischemia following 180 minutes reperfusion. Anastrozole blocked DES induced preconditioning and increased infarct size compared to DES alone (37.94 ± 15.5% vs. 17.1 ± 3.62%) without affecting area at risk and systemic hemodynamic parameters following ischemia/reperfusion. Protein localization studies revealed that aromatase was abundant in the murine cardiovascular system with the highest expression levels in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Desflurane application at pharmacological concentrations efficiently upregulated aromatase expression in vivo and in vitro. We conclude that desflurane efficiently regulates aromatase expression and activity which might lead to increased local estrogen synthesis and thus preserve cellular integrity and reduce cardiac damage in an acute myocardial infarction model

COVID-19 and the kidney: A retrospective analysis of 37 critically ill patients using machine learning.

IntroductionThere is evidence that SARS-CoV2 has a particular affinity for kidney tissue and is often associated with kidney failure.MethodsWe assessed whether proteinuria can be predictive of kidney failure, the development of chronic kidney disease, and mortality in 37 critically ill COVID-19 patients. We used machine learning (ML) methods as decision trees and cut-off points created by the OneR package to add new aspects, even in smaller cohorts.ResultsAmong a total of 37 patients, 24 suffered higher-grade renal failure, 20 of whom required kidney replacement therapy. More than 40% of patients remained on hemodialysis after intensive care unit discharge or died (27%). Due to frequent anuria proteinuria measured in two-thirds of the patients, it was not predictive for the investigated endpoints; albuminuria was higher in patients with AKI 3, but the difference was not significant. ML found cut-off points of >31.4 kg/m2 for BMI and >69 years for age, constructed decision trees with great accuracy, and identified highly predictive variables for outcome and remaining chronic kidney disease.ConclusionsDifferent ML methods and their clinical application, especially decision trees, can provide valuable support for clinical decisions. Presence of proteinuria was not predictive of CKD or AKI and should be confirmed in a larger cohort

Aromatase Inhibition Attenuates Desflurane-Induced Preconditioning against Acute Myocardial Infarction in Male Mouse Heart In Vivo

The volatile anesthetic desflurane (DES) effectively reduces cardiac infarct size following experimental ischemia/reperfusion injury in the mouse heart. We hypothesized that endogenous estrogens play a role as mediators of desflurane-induced preconditioning against myocardial infarction. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that desflurane effects local estrogen synthesis by modulating enzyme aromatase expression and activity in the mouse heart. Aromatase metabolizes testosterone to 17β- estradiol (E2) and thereby significantly contributes to local estrogen synthesis. We tested aromatase effects in acute myocardial infarction model in male mice. The animals were randomized and subjected to four groups which were pre-treated with the selective aromatase inhibitor anastrozole (A group) and DES alone (DES group) or in combination (A+DES group) for 15 minutes prior to surgical intervention whereas the control group received 0.9% NaCl (CON group). All animals were subjected to 45 minutes ischemia following 180 minutes reperfusion. Anastrozole blocked DES induced preconditioning and increased infarct size compared to DES alone (37.94±15.5% vs. 17.1±3.62%) without affecting area at risk and systemic hemodynamic parameters following ischemia/reperfusion. Protein localization studies revealed that aromatase was abundant in the murine cardiovascular system with the highest expression levels in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Desflurane application at pharmacological concentrations efficiently upregulated aromatase expression in vivo and in vitro. We conclude that desflurane efficiently regulates aromatase expression and activity which might lead to increased local estrogen synthesis and thus preserve cellular integrity and reduce cardiac damage in an acute myocardial infarction model