Predicting segmental substitution errors in aphasic patients with phonological and phonetic encoding impairments

This paper analyses the factors that predict substitution errors produced by four Broca's and four conduction aphasic subjects, all native speakers of Spanish, in reading and repetition tasks. Errors were elicited using a list of words where type of consonant, lexical stress and phonetic context were controlled for and where variables related to frequency of occurrence (word and syllable) and phonological neighbourhood characteristics were assigned using available online corpora. 675 substitution errors were obtained and preferential tendencies to devoice, occlusivise or spirantise were identified. Logistic regression mixed-effect models were performed on these three types of substitution errors to identify the predictors depending on the aphasic profile. While our results lent support to the hypothesis of a concomitant phonetic deficit in fluent aphasia, contrary to the classical claim, it also revealed differential patterns in the phonic behaviour of patients regarding the access to mental syllabary or syllabic position effects. Our results are discussed in relation to the phonetic vs. phonological impairments dimension in aphasia and the seriality/interactivity axis in speech architecturesEste estudio se propone identificar los factores que permiten predecir la aparición de errores segmentales de sustitución producidos por pacientes con afasia de Broca y de conducción en tareas de lectura y de repetición. El corpus utilizado para obtener los errores consistía en 240 palabras en las que las consonantes objeto de estudio -oclusivas, fricativas y africadas del español- se encontraban en distintos contextos fonéticos y acentuales. Posteriormente, se atribuyó a las palabras del corpus los valores relativos a la frecuencia léxica y silábica, así como las características relacionadas con la vecindad fonológica, empleando para ello corpus disponibles en línea. En total, se obtuvieron 675 sustituciones, en las que prevalecen tres tendencias: ensordecimiento de las oclusivas sonoras, refuerzo (oclusivización) de las fricativas y espirantización de las oclusivas. Para identificar los predictores de cualquiera de estos tres tipos de substitución en relación con el perfil clínico de afasia, se efectuó un análisis mediante el modelo mixto de regresión logística. Los resultados son globalmente congruentes con la hipótesis de un déficit fonético concomitante al déficit fonológico en la afasia de conducción, contrariamente a las predicciones de la hipótesis clásica. Sin embargo, el examen de los errores revela también patrones de tratamiento fónico distintos según el cuadro clínico, en relación con el silabario mental y la influencia de la posición silábica. Se propone una interpretación de estos resultados en el marco del espectro de déficits fonético-fonológicos en la afasia, así como en relación con la dimensión serialidad vs. interactividad que los modelos de codificación del habl

Myocarditis as a cause of neonate’s circulatory failure during delivery - case study

Myocarditis (MCI) is a heart pathology characterized by its rare occurrence and a possible fatal course. In the natural history of the disease inflammatory cell infiltrates are present. There are subtypes of MCI depending on the predominant cell type in the biopsy sampls. One of them is eosinophilic myocarditis. In eosinophilic myocarditis more that 50% of the cells are eosinophils. In the later phases of the disease the myocardium is infiltrated by fibrous tissue and the heart vessels are often affected by thrombosis. Cardiomyopathy is a common long-term complication of the MCI.   Reported case presents a death of a male neonate. The neonate was delivered by vaginal delivery. Both prenatal development and all the prenatal tests indicated proper development of the fetus. At the delivery the neonate weight was 3900 grams and was evaluated with only 1 point on the Apgar score. Moreover, the neonate presented a complete acute cardiorespiratory failure at birth. Despite the 2 hour-long cardio-pulmonary resuscitation no return of spontaneous circulation was observed. The neonate’s remains were pathologically as well as histologically examined. The microscopic examination of the neonate’s heart samples contained many inflammatory cell infiltrations. Microabscesses with Charcot-Leyden crystals inside were also observed. Furthermore, the presence of atypical, polynuclear cells was noted. On the basis of the morphological image, it was recognized as an eosinophilic MCI

SGLT2 inhibitors - a breakthrough in treatment of heart failure and their multipotential beneficial role in cardiology, diabetology, nephrology and neurology

Inhibitors of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2 inhibitors) are relatively new andinnovative antihyperglycemic drugs which by inhibiting sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 minimalisereabsorption of glucose in nephrones. Due to this process, SGLT2 inhibitors became a first-choicedrugs in diabetology. Flozins were a turning point in many clinical trials and currently consequentlyconquer pharmacoterapy in cardiology. In the past years, clinical studies proved vast role of SGLT2inhibitors in other fields of medicine. Flosins protect heart muscle and kidneys among patients with orwithout type diabetes mellitus type 2. They have positive effect on hypertension, arteries and braintissue.Cardiological condition with the lowest long-term outcome in patients is heart failure with reducedejection fraction. Until flozins, treatment in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction was based onfour groups of drugs: β-blocker, inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAA),including angiotensin converting enzyme ACE/ARB inhibitors, angiotensin and neprilysin receptorblockers (ARNI) and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA). It was an appropriate HFrEFtreatment over the last years. However thanks to large-scale researches a role of flozins in cardiologyhave been established and they became hope for a change in the course of heart failure.The following article presents aspects of using flozins in treatment of patients with HFrEF,multipotential usage, vast benefits for patients, not solely cardiologic, and side effects of thesemiraculous group of drugs

Indications of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) in Dermatology

Introduction: PRP is an autologous serum containing high concentrations of platelets and growth factors. It is used in dermatology for a variety of purposes, including hair growth, skin renewal, the removal of acne scars, dermal augmentation, and the treatment of striae distensae. The origins of PRP trace back to the 1970s, originating within the field of hematology as a treatment for patients grappling with thrombocytopenia. The subsequent decades, specifically the 1980s and 1990s, witnessed the integration of PRP into surgical procedures, notably in maxillofacial and plastic surgeries. The rationale underlying the employment and therapeutic potential of a concentrated platelet solution hinges upon their remarkable ability to furnish elevated levels of vital growth factors, thus instigating a regenerative impetus that facilitates repair in tissues characterized by limited innate healing capabilities. This comprehensive review delves into the multifaceted facets of PRP, encompassing mechanisms of action, prevailing indications, existing clinical substantiation, safety considerations, and the burgeoning spectrum of potential applications within the domain of skin condition treatments. Aim of the study: To review the current literature on the use of PRP in the field of dermatology Materials and Methods: We reviewed the literature available in PubMed, using the key words “platelet rich plasma”, “prp”, “autologous platelet rich plasma”, “alopecia”, “anti-aging” Results: PRP has a lot of potential in dermatology and its therapeutic uses are growing. Future research should standardize PRP therapy procedures for particular reasons. Summary: The versatile action of PRP has made it the subject of intense research. However, the reports in the literature to date on its use require further studies on larger groups of people to confirm its effects

One step closer – the impact of daily step count on health and how many steps should be taken per day

Introduction: Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle. Walking is an open-accessed form of physical activity that requires no specialized equipment and can be performed at practically any moment of the day. In recent years, it has gained increasing interest and stands out as one of the most widely recommended forms of exercise. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the number of studies focusing on the impact of mean daily step count on health has been growing each year, with a significant surge observed since 2017. Undoubtedly, this topic is relevant to current health trends. Hitherto, there are no evidence-based recommendations regarding the number of steps that should be taken per day. Within this review, we conducted an analysis on the impact of daily step count on the risk of death and the incidence of selected diseases. Aim of the study: The aim of our study is to review of current literature on the influence of daily step count on both physical and mental health. Materials and Methods: We reviewed the literature available in PubMed, using the key words: „daily step count”, „step count mental health”, „ physical activity”, „pedometr”. Results: The daily step count can prominently impact the improvement and maintenance of human health and significant health benefits can be achieved by taking 4000-10000 steps per day. Summary: Research has shown that individuals who take more steps throughout the day are less prone to certain diseases, experience milder symptoms, exhibit better overall physical fitness, and have a lower risk of all-cause mortality. In the upcoming years, we can expect further studies aimed at identifying the most optimal daily step count

Physical activity of patients with chronic kidney disease

Introduction: The main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy. The incidence of civilization diseases is increasing, which also indirectly affects the increase in the incidence of CKD. The patient's therapy after the diagnosis should include the care of a multi-specialist therapeutic team that will remove as many restrictions as possible in everyday functioning and ensure a high quality of life. In addition to the selection of individual renal replacement therapy, i.a. physical rehabilitation. Despite the fact that in the course of chronic kidney disease physical activity is impaired by numerous pathophysiological processes, the patient should be encouraged to undertake physical activity in order to reduce the risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases, as well as to eliminate many other adverse health effects of the disease. The following paper aims to analyze the impact of physical activity on CKD patients and the pathophysiological causes of low physical activity in this group of patients and the possibility of implementing rehabilitation as an element of comprehensive therapy. Aim of the study: To review the current literature on the physical activity of patients with chronic kidney disease Materials and Methods: A review of the publications available in PubMed, using the key words „chronic kidney disease”, „psychical activity in chronic kidney disease”, physical activity”, „kidney failure”, „dialysis”, „renal rehabilitation”, „quality of life

BRONCO: Automated modelling of the bronchovascular bundle using the Computed Tomography Images

Segmentation of the bronchovascular bundle within the lung parenchyma is a key step for the proper analysis and planning of many pulmonary diseases. It might also be considered the preprocessing step when the goal is to segment the nodules from the lung parenchyma. We propose a segmentation pipeline for the bronchovascular bundle based on the Computed Tomography images, returning either binary or labelled masks of vessels and bronchi situated in the lung parenchyma. The method consists of two modules, modeling of the bronchial tree and vessels. The core revolves around a similar pipeline, the determination of the initial perimeter by the GMM method, skeletonization, and hierarchical analysis of the created graph. We tested our method on both low-dose CT and standard-dose CT, with various pathologies, reconstructed with various slice thicknesses, and acquired from various machines. We conclude that the method is invariant with respect to the origin and parameters of the CT series. Our pipeline is best suited for studies with healthy patients, patients with lung nodules, and patients with emphysema

Etiology, Epidemiology, and Therapeutic Approaches for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis in the Context of Concurrent Non-specific Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Introduction: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, idiopathic disease characterized by persistent and progressive inflammation of the intrahepatic and/or extrahepatic bile ducts. This leads to fibrosis, cholestatic complications, and liver failure. In over 70% of patients, non-specific intestinal inflammations coexist, particularly ulcerative colitis, and sporadically Crohn's disease. Aim: Our study aimed to assess current literature on primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), covering its causes, symptoms, treatment methods, and the connection between PSC and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) co-occurrence. Materials and methods: We conducted a PubMed literature review using keywords like "primary sclerosing cholangitis pathogenesis," "primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease," and "primary sclerosing cholangitis and ulcerative colitis.” Results: Our research extensively covered PSC epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment options. Emphasis was placed on the heightened prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases, including ulcerative colitis, among PSC patients. Summary: Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a disease causing gradual damage to bile ducts within or outside the liver. Over 70% of patients also experience inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), mainly ulcerative colitis. The exact causes of PSC and its connection to IBD remain unclear. The theories involve hyperactive "intestinal" T cells or the impact of gut microbiome on their growth. Presently, a liver transplant stands as the sole remedy

Déficits de la composante phonético-phonologique dans l'aphasie et stratégies compensatoires. Analyse acoustique et perceptive des productions consonantiques de sujets hispanophones

El presente trabajo se propone examinar los déficits que afectan al componente fonético-fonológico en la afasia. Su principal objetivo consiste en dar cuenta, en función del cuadro clínico, del determinismo subyacente a las alteraciones observadas en pacientes afásicos hispanohablantes. Nuestra hipótesis principal predice que estos trastornos se organizan en torno a dos polos: el polo fonético, en el caso de los errores observados en los pacientes con afasia de Broca, y el polo fonológico, en los sujetos con afasia de conducción. Nuestro segundo objetivo se centra en estudiar las estrategias compensatorias a nivel fónico en la afasia. Ponemos a prueba la hipótesis según la cual los sujetos afásicos que presentan una dificultad fonética, pero que al mismo tiempo mantienen los mecanismos de selección fonémica, tratarán de establecer un contraste fonológico entre las oclusivas sordas y sonoras mediante parámetros acústicos segundarios, distintos al VOT. Estos intentos se manifestarán en la señal en forma de una diferenciación sistemática en sus características acústicas entre las producciones correctas y los errores (es decir, las transformaciones o sustituciones consonánticas relacionadas con el cambio de sonoridad o de modo de articulación). Los resultados de nuestra investigación ponen de manifiesto, de acuerdo con nuestra hipótesis inicial, la existencia de un déficit fonético en los sujetos con afasia de Broca, que afecta de forma particular a la implementación del VOT, así como a la interacción entre este parámetro y los indicios acústicos secundarios de sonoridad. Además, los resultados muestran que los pacientes con afasia de Broca usan el rasgo fonológico [-continuo], correspondiente al modo de articulación, para marcar la diferencia entre las consonantes oclusivas sonoras y sordas meta, lo que podría interpretarse como un indicador de la existencia de estrategias paliativas en el nivel fonético. Por otro lado, contrariamente a nuestra hipótesis, los datos muestran la existencia de un déficit fonético en los sujetos con afasia de conducción pero sugieren, al mismo tiempo, que probablemente no intervenga el mismo mecanismo determinante en los dos déficits. Efectivamente, los resultados obtenidos en el grupo de afásicos de conducción señalan que estos sujetos mantienen algunos aspectos del control motor, incluida la capacidad de compensación articulatoria vinculada al VOT. Los resultados del trabajo se discuten a la luz de las investigaciones recientes respecto a la dicotomía entre fonética y fonología y en relación con sus repercusiones en el contexto clínico.Le présent travail s’intéresse aux déficits qui affectent la composante phonético-phonologique chez des patients aphasiques. Son objectif principal consiste à rendre compte du déterminisme sous-jacent des perturbations observées auprès des sujets aphasiques hispanophones en fonction du tableau clinique. Notre hypothèse principale prédit l’organisation de ces troubles autour de deux pôles : phonétique, pour les erreurs observées chez les patients aphasiques de Broca, et phonologique, pour les sujets aphasiques de conduction. Notre deuxième objectif est en rapport avec les stratégies compensatoires au plan phonique dans l’aphasie. Nous testons l’hypothèse selon laquelle les sujets présentant une difficulté au niveau phonétique, postérieur à une sélection phonémique préservée, tenteront d’établir le contraste phonologique au moyen de paramètres acoustiques secondaires, autres que le VOT. Il sera possible d’observer ces tentatives dans le signal sonore - elles se manifesteront sous forme d’une différenciation systématique des caractéristiques acoustiques des erreurs (i.e. des transformations/substitutions consonantiques associées au changement de sonorité et de mode d’articulation) et des productions correctes. Les résultats de notre investigation mettent en évidence, conformément à notre hypothèse initiale, l’existence d’un déficit phonétique chez les sujets aphasiques de Broca, qui affecte de manière particulière l’implémentation du VOT ainsi que les interactions de ce paramètre avec les indices acoustiques secondaires. Ils montrent que les aphasiques de Broca utilisent le trait phonologique du mode d’articulation [-continu] pour marquer la différence entre les occlusives sonores et sourdes cible, ce qui pourrait amener à penser à une stratégie palliative au plan phonético-phonologique. Par ailleurs, et contrairement à notre hypothèse, ils révèlent l’existence d’un déficit phonétique chez les sujets aphasiques de conduction, mais suggèrent en même temps que le déterminisme de ces deux déficits phonétiques n’est probablement pas le même dans les deux tableaux cliniques des aphasies. En effet, nos résultats concernant les aphasiques de conduction font état de la préservation de certains aspects du contrôle moteur, et notamment d’une capacité compensatoire au plan phonique associé au VOT. Nous discutons ces résultats à la lumière des recherches récentes sur la dichotomie phonético-phonologique et de leurs retombées sur le plan clinique.The present study is concerned with deficits that affect the phonetic and phonological component of speech in aphasia. Its main objective is to account for the underlying determinism of errors observed in the speech output of Spanish-speaking aphasic patients, according to the clinical type of aphasia. The central hypothesis of our study predicts an organization of these errors across a phonetic vs phonological dimension, with conduction aphasics’ errors situated at the phonological pole and Broca’s aphasics’ errors at the phonetic pole. Our second objective is related with compensatory strategies in aphasia. We test a hypothesis which predicts that the subjects suffering from a motor deficit, with intact phonemic selection mechanisms, will try to establish a phonological contrast using secondary acoustic parameters other than VOT. These attempts will be visible in the acoustic signal, where they will manifest themselves in the form of systematic differentiation between the acoustic properties of on-target productions and those of errors (i.e. consonantal substitutions implying a modification of voicing or manner of articulation). The results of our investigation reveal, in accordance with our initial hypothesis, the existence of a phonetic deficit in the Broca’s aphasic group which affects primarily the implementation of VOT and the interactions between this parameter and secondary acoustic cues. Furthermore, our results suggest that Broca’s aphasic patients use the phonological feature [-cont] to mark the phonological contrast between voiced and voiceless stops, which may be interpreted as indicative of their use of palliative strategies at the phonic level. On the other hand, and contrary to our primary hypothesis, our results reveal the existence of a phonetic deficit in conduction aphasic subjects. At the same time, however, they suggest that these two phonetic deficits may originate from a different underlying mechanism in each clinical group. Indeed, our results concerning the conduction aphasic group clearly show the some aspects of phonic behavior, such as articulatory compensation associated with VOT, are preserved in these patients. These results are discussed in the light of recent research on the phonetics-phonology dichotomy and its clinical impact

Analiza skryningowa czternastu klasycznych leków psychotropowych metodą NACE

In our examinations, sixteen psychotropic drugs from the phenothiazines and tricyclic antidepressants group were studied. For the purpose o f screening analysis, the separation conditions of the drugs were studied using capillary electrophoresis in a non-aqueous medium. The influence of both background electrolyte composition and the kind o f medium used for dissolution o f the drugs on the separation efficiency was examined. Noxiptyline was selected as the internal standard. In optimal separation conditions, the identification parameter - relative migration time (RMT) - and repeatability of the identification parameter for each drug tested were determined