Optogenetic stimulation of the cochlear nucleus using channelrhodopsin-2 evokes activity in the central auditory pathways

Optogenetics has become an important research tool and is being considered as the basis for several neural prostheses. However, few studies have applied optogenetics to the auditory brainstem. This study explored whether optical activation of the cochlear nucleus (CN) elicited responses in neurons in higher centers of the auditory pathway and whether it elicited an evoked response. Viral-mediated gene transfer was used to express channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) in the mouse CN. Blue light was delivered via an optical fiber placed near the surface of the infected CN and recordings were made in higher-level centers. Optical stimulation evoked excitatory multiunit spiking activity throughout the tonotopic axis of the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (IC) and the auditory cortex (Actx). The pattern and magnitude of IC activity elicited by optical stimulation was comparable to that obtained with a 50 dB SPL acoustic click. This broad pattern of activity was consistent with histological confirmation of green fluorescent protein (GFP) label of cell bodies and axons throughout the CN. Increasing pulse rates up to 320 Hz did not significantly affect threshold or bandwidth of the IC responses, but rates higher than 50 Hz resulted in desynchronized activity. Optical stimulation also evoked an auditory brainstem response, which had a simpler waveform than the response to acoustic stimulation. Control cases showed no responses to optical stimulation. These data suggest that optogenetic control of central auditory neurons is feasible, but opsins with faster channel kinetics may be necessary to convey information at rates typical of many auditory signals

Cidofovir for BK Virus-Associated Hemorrhagic Cystitis: A Retrospective Study

Background.BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) is a severe complication after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), but antiviral treatment for this condition has not been evaluated. Methods.We conducted a retrospective survey on the safety and outcome of cidofovir treatment for patients with BKV-HC in centers affiliated with the European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Results.From 1 April 2004 to 31 December 2007, 62 patients received a diagnosis of BKV-HC after a median interval of 35 days after HSCT (range, 3-577 days). Fifty-seven patients (92%) received intravenous cidofovir, whereas 5 patients received cidofovir intravesically. Complete response (CR) was recorded in 38 (67%) of 57 patients with HC treated with intravenous cidofovir, whereas partial response (PR) was documented in 7 patients (12%). CR was documented in 3 patients and PR in 1 patient with HC treated with intravesical cidofovir. A reduction of 1-3 logs in BKV load was documented in 8 of the 10 patients achieving CR. Mild-to-moderate toxic effects were recorded in 18 of 57 patients who received intravenous cidofovir administration. In a multivariate analysis, the factors significantly associated with response to cidofovir were the stem cell source (P=.01) and the use of total body irradiation (P=.03). After a median follow-up of 287 days, overall survival and total treatment-related mortality rates were 63% and 40% for patients achieving CR, compared with 14% and 72% for patients with PR or no response to cidofovir, respectively (P<.001 and P=.001, respectively). Conclusions.Cidofovir may be a potentially effective therapy for BKV-HC, but evidence supporting its use requires randomized controlled trial

Polish Personal Identity Card as a Tool for Identity Theft

This article discusses the changes that are the result of entry the new personal ID card issued in Poland. The new document contains less information about the owner, i.e. height, eye color or signature, so that the risk of identity theft is signicantly greater

Differences in the effects of anti-tobacco health education programme in the areas of knowledge, attitude and behaviour, with respect to nicotinism among boys and girls

Introduction. Health education used for increasing the effectiveness of intervention actions should cover a number of factors which exert an effect on learning. Objectve. Recognition of the extent to which gender may determine the effects of an anti-tobacco health education programme. Material and methods. The intervention study was undertaken in May 2007, and covered 859 first-year schoolchildren in Białystok. The sample was selected by means of two-stage stratified sampling with consideration of two groups: an intervention group and a control group. Results. In the group of girls, the 2-year educational programme resulted in an increase in knowledge concerning the negative effects of cigarette smoking by 21%, and being familiar with anti-tobacco actions and campaigns carried out in Poland by 24.5%. Among boys, an increase was observed only with respect to the knowledge of anti-tobacco actions and campaigns – by 10.7%. Considering the attitudes of girls after the completion of the programme, changes were noted with respect to three from among the six elements analyzed. However, among boys, after completion of the project, no changes were noted in any of the analyzed elements of attitude. In girls who participated in the anti-nicotine programme, the percentage of smokers did not increase, while an increase in this percentage was observed among girls of the control group and boys in both groups. Conclusions. Different effects of the 2-year anti-tobacco programme obtained in the area of knowledge, attitude and behaviour should constitute a premise for the modification of educational programmes from the aspect of the variety of methods, techniques and instruments which would be adequate for adolescents’ predispositions resulting also from their gender

Effect of an anti-tobacco programme of health education on changes in health behaviours among junior high school adolescents in Białystok, Poland

Introduction. School health education programmes are among the instruments for the prevention of tobacco smoking among children and adolescents. Knowledge obtained in evaluation studies of these programmes indicates the degree of their effectiveness and serves to improve their quality. Objective. Recognition and evaluation of the effect of two-year anti-tobacco programme of health education on the changes in the level of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of adolescents. Materials and method. An intervention study was originated in May 2007, and covered 859 first-year schoolchildren from eight public junior high schools in Białystok in Poland, from among 3,318 schoolchildren attending 33 schools. The sample was selected by means of two-stage stratified sampling with consideration of two groups: an intervention group covered with educational actions (417 schoolchildren), and a control group (442 schoolchildren), where anti-tobacco education was not carried out. Before the educational programme and after its completion an evaluation of knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of junior high school adolescents was performed with respect to nicotinism, based on a survey. The educational part consisted in conducting within 2 years, 4 educational classes and 2 competitions concerning tobacco-related problems. Results. After two years, in the group of adolescents covered by the educational programme a significant increase was observed – by 11.6% – in the percentage of schoolchildren who were familiar with the negative effects of tobacco smoking, and an increase by 4.4% of those who were convinced that smoking is harmful. With respect to adolescents’ attitudes, the effect of the programme was noted in only one of six components analyzed. After completion of the two-year educational programme, both in the group covered by this programme and the control group, the percentage of smokers significantly increased (by 12.8% and 12.7%, respectively). Conclusions. It is necessary to evaluate the health education programme from the aspect of both the actual hard effects of the anti-nicotine programme (changes in behaviour), and indirect effects – soft (knowledge, skills) which are a basis for the potential verification of the programme in order to increase its effectiveness

Artificial Intelligence for Knowledge Management

International audienc

Artificial Intelligence for Knowledge Management, 8th IFIP WG 12.6 International Workshop, AI4KM 2021

International audienc

Waiting time for treatment of women with breast cancer in Podlaskie Voivodeship (Poland) in view of place of residence. A population study

Introduction: Treatment delay is a major problem of contemporary oncology. Knowing the time interval between diagnosis and initiation of treatment, together with monitoring this adverse prognostic factor, is an important element of the treatment planning process in the population and can contribute to the improvement of patients’ curability. Objective: To assess the waiting time for first treatment of women diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001-2002 in Podlaskie Voivodeship. Materials and methods: During 2001-2002, there were 709 cases of women with breast cancer who reported to the Voivodeship Cancer Registry in Bialystok. 659 women were diagnosed with a primary invasive breast tumour. A cohort of 499 women who were treated with a curative intent was selected from this group. The waiting time in the created cohort was calculated as the number of days between the date of the breast cancer diagnosis and date of the first treatment. Results: The average time between the date of diagnosis and date of the first treatment was 38 days. The median was 14 days. 28.6% of patients from the selected cohort waited longer than 28 days. The treatment of rural women was initiated faster than the treatment of urban patients