Contextual signals in visual cortex

Vision is an active process. What we perceive strongly depends on our actions, intentions and expectations. During visual processing, these internal signals therefore need to be integrated with the visual information from the retina. The mechanisms of how this is achieved by the visual system are still poorly understood. Advances in recording and manipulating neuronal activity in specific cell types and axonal projections together with tools for circuit tracing are beginning to shed light on the neuronal circuit mechanisms of how internal, contextual signals shape sensory representations. Here we review recent work, primarily in mice, that has advanced our understanding of these processes, focusing on contextual signals related to locomotion, behavioural relevance and predictions

Surveillance of specific pathogens on mobile phones in aerosol and non-aerosol generating dental clinics during the COVID pandemic

Following COVID-19 protocols implemented globally, it is prudent to extend this to mobile phones, regarded as carriers of microbes, as these are used extensively in clinical settings for learning and patient care. Was to determine types of microbes harbored on mobile phones and related hygiene practices whilst using these in aerosol and non-aerosol generating dental settings. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two parts: A laboratory study to determine the prevalence of microbes on mobile phones and a questionnaire survey to determine the related knowledge and behavior of phone users in both aerosol and non-aerosol generating dental clinics. All proper protocols (consent, ethics) were adhered to. A small percentage (27.2%) of swabs of mobile phones yielded a positive bacterial culture, of these 72% were from the AGP dental setting. Gram positive and negative microorganisms were distinguishable, indicating a diverse group of microbes. Students and staff indicated good mobile phone hygiene practices, but there is place for improvement. Their related knowledge of disinfectants and use were acceptable, but not having mobile phone coverings was problematic. Faculty protocols for disinfecting mobile phones and standardized guidelines for its use in aerosol or non-aerosoclinics is recommended

Discovery of a novel biomarker in the urine in women with endometriosis

Objective: To investigate whether proteins secreted in urine differ between women with and without endometriosis. Design: Laboratory study using human urine. Setting: University-based laboratory. Patient(s): Women with and without endometriosis undergoing laparoscopy, hysteroscopy and curettage. Intervention(s): Urine collection from women with and without endometriosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Proteomic techniques and mass spectrometry to identify proteins secreted in the urine of women with and without endometriosis. Result(s): On average, 133 proteins were significantly different between women with and without endometriosis. Cytokeratin-19 was highly up-regulated in the urine of women with endometriosis. Conclusion(s): Cytokeratin-19 may be a valuable urinary biomarker for endometriosis. © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine, Published by Elsevier Inc

Antibiotic Resistance Pattern and Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Colonization in Burns Unit of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Peshawar, Pakistan

Purpose: To develop strategies for the control of hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (HA-MRSA) which is a serious threat to burns patients with the aid of molecular studies.Methods: Staphylococcus aureus strains were collected from the Burns Unit of Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH) Peshawar, Pakistan from July - December 2011. Antibiotic resistance was determined according to the recommendations of Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI). Molecular epidemiology of the S. aureus strains were determined by pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).Results: PFGE identified 14 clusters which included 29 different pulso-types prevailing in the Burns Unit. Of the 29 types, 11 contained two or more strains of the same pulso-type. These MRSA isolates  were highly resistant to various kinds of penicillin and cephalosporin (85 – 100 %). Among the important anti-staphylococal agents tested, 17 % of the isolates were resistant to fusidic acid and linezolid. All the 54 strains were susceptible to vancomycin.Conclusion: Several of the same pulso-types prevail in the Burns Unit of KTH. Furthermore, 29 pulsotypes  mong the 54 strains suggest the diversity of the MRSA strains collected from burns patients.Keywords: Epidemiology, Pulso-type, Fusidic acid, Linezolid, Vancomycin, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Burn

Learning and attention increase visual response selectivity through distinct mechanisms

Selectivity of cortical neurons for sensory stimuli can increase across days as animals learn their behavioral relevance and across seconds when animals switch attention. While both phenomena occur in the same circuit, it is unknown whether they rely on similar mechanisms. We imaged primary visual cortex as mice learned a visual discrimination task and subsequently performed an attention switching task. Selectivity changes due to learning and attention were uncorrelated in individual neurons. Selectivity increases after learning mainly arose from selective suppression of responses to one of the stimuli but from selective enhancement and suppression during attention. Learning and attention differentially affected interactions between excitatory and PV, SOM, and VIP inhibitory cells. Circuit modeling revealed that cell class-specific top-down inputs best explained attentional modulation, while reorganization of local functional connectivity accounted for learning-related changes. Thus, distinct mechanisms underlie increased discriminability of relevant sensory stimuli across longer and shorter timescales

Age and sex-specific disability-free life expectancy in urban and rural settings of Bangladesh

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024.Background: Disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) has been used to gain a better understanding of the population’s quality of life. Objectives: The authors aimed to estimate age and sex-specific disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) for urban and rural areas of Bangladesh, as well as to investigate the differences in DFLE between males and females of urban and rural areas. Methods: Data from the Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics-2016 and the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES)-2016 were used to calculate the disability-free life expectancy (DFLE) of urban and rural males and females in Bangladesh in 2016. The DFLE was calculated using the Sullivan method. Results: With only a few exceptions, rural areas have higher mortality and disability rates than urban areas. For both males and females, statistically significant differences in DFLE were reported between urban and rural areas between the ages of birth and 39 years. In comparison to rural males and females, urban males and females had a longer life expectancy (LE), a longer disability-free life expectancy, and a higher share of life without disability. Conclusion: This study illuminates stark urban–rural disparities in LE and DFLE, especially among individuals aged < 1–39 years. Gender dynamics reveal longer life expectancy but shorter disability-free life expectancy for Bangladeshi women compared to men, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to address these pronounced health inequalities

Disparities in healthy food zoning, farmers’ market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption among North Carolina residents

Background Context and purpose of the study. To examine (1) associations between county-level zoning to support farmers’ market placement and county-level farmers’ market availability, rural/urban designation, percent African American residents, and percent of residents living below poverty and (2) individual-level associations between zoning to support farmers’ markets; fruit and vegetable consumption and body mass index (BMI) among a random sample of residents of six North Carolina (NC) counties. Methods Zoning ordinances were scored to indicate supportiveness for healthy food outlets. Number of farmers’ markets (per capita) was obtained from the NC-Community Transformation Grant Project Fruit and Vegetable Outlet Inventory (2013). County-level census data on rural/urban status, percent African American, and percent poverty were obtained. For data on farmers’ market shopping, fruit and vegetable consumption, and BMI, trained interviewers conducted a random digit dial telephone survey of residents of six NC counties (3 urban and 3 rural). Pearson correlation coefficients and multilevel linear regression models were used to examine county-level and individual-level associations between zoning supportiveness, farmers’ market availability, and fruit and vegetable consumption and BMI. Results At the county-level, healthier food zoning was greater in more urban areas and areas with less poverty. At the individual-level, self-reported fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with healthier food zoning. Conclusions Disparities in zoning to promote healthy eating should be further examined, and future studies should assess whether amending zoning ordinances will lead to greater availability of healthy foods and changes in dietary behavior and health outcomes.ECU Open Access Publishing Support Fun

Evaluation of two high-throughput proteomic technologies for plasma biomarker discovery in immunotherapy-treated melanoma patients

Background: Selective kinase and immune checkpoint inhibitors, and their combinations, have significantly improved the survival of patients with advanced metastatic melanoma. Not all patients will respond to treatment however, and some patients will present with significant toxicities. Hence, the identification of biomarkers is critical for the selection and management of patients receiving treatment. Biomarker discovery often involves proteomic techniques that simultaneously profile multiple proteins but few studies have compared these platforms. Methods: In this study, we used the multiplex bead-based Eve Technologies Discovery assay and the aptamer-based SomaLogic SOMAscan assay to identify circulating proteins predictive of response to immunotherapy in melanoma patients treated with combination immune checkpoint inhibitors. Expression of four plasma proteins were further validated using the bead-based Millipore Milliplex assay. Results: Both the Discovery and the SOMAscan assays detected circulating plasma proteins in immunotherapy-treated melanoma patients. However, these widely used assays showed limited correlation in relative protein quantification, due to differences in specificity and the dynamic range of protein detection. Protein data derived from the Discovery and Milliplex bead-based assays were highly correlated. Conclusions: Our study highlights significant limitations imposed by inconsistent sensitivity and specificity due to differences in the detection antibodies or aptamers of these widespread biomarker discovery approaches. Our findings emphasize the need to improve these technologies for the accurate identification of biomarkers

Exacerbation of Bloody Diarrhea as a Side Effect of Mesalamine Treatment of Active Ulcerative Colitis

Mesalamine has been used as the first-line therapy for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC) because of its efficacy and fewer side effects. However, earlier study showed that mesalamine occasionally causes diarrhea. We are presenting a patient with active UC in whom bloody diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and fever occurred and the symptoms were aggravated after administration of mesalamine. In order to clarify the reason of symptoms aggravation, drug lymphocyte stimulation test and rechallenge trial with mesalamine were performed. The results indicated the possibility that aggravation was related to allergic reaction and was dose-dependent. Furthermore, we examined colonoscopic views but there was no remarkable change in before and after rechallenge trial. Based on the above result, the patient was diagnosed with mesalamine intolerance. In order to differentiate whether the exacerbation of bloody diarrhea is due to the side effects of the mesalamine or a true relapse of UC, taking careful history before and after increasing mesalamine dosage as well as being aware of side effects of mesalamine are required. Clinicians should be aware of diarrhea as a side effect of mesalamine particularly after onset of mesalamine formulation, change in mesalamine formulation, or change in mesalamine dose