Serotonin transporter gene polymorphisms and brain function during emotional distraction from cognitive processing in posttraumatic stress disorder

BACKGROUND: Serotonergic system dysfunction has been implicated in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Genetic polymorphisms associated with serotonin signaling may predict differences in brain circuitry involved in emotion processing and deficits associated with PTSD. In healthy individuals, common functional polymorphisms in the serotonin transporter gene (SLC6A4) have been shown to modulate amygdala and prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity in response to salient emotional stimuli. Similar patterns of differential neural responses to emotional stimuli have been demonstrated in PTSD but genetic factors influencing these activations have yet to be examined. METHODS: We investigated whether SLC6A4 promoter polymorphisms (5-HTTLPR, rs25531) and several downstream single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) modulated activity of brain regions involved in the cognitive control of emotion in post-9/11 veterans with PTSD. We used functional MRI to examine neural activity in a PTSD group (n = 22) and a trauma-exposed control group (n = 20) in response to trauma-related images presented as task-irrelevant distractors during the active maintenance period of a delayed-response working memory task. Regions of interest were derived by contrasting activation for the most distracting and least distracting conditions across participants. RESULTS: In patients with PTSD, when compared to trauma-exposed controls, rs16965628 (associated with serotonin transporter gene expression) modulated task-related ventrolateral PFC activation and 5-HTTLPR tended to modulate left amygdala activation. Subsequent to combat-related trauma, these SLC6A4 polymorphisms may bias serotonin signaling and the neural circuitry mediating cognitive control of emotion in patients with PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: The SLC6A4 SNP rs16965628 and 5-HTTLPR are associated with a bias in neural responses to traumatic reminders and cognitive control of emotions in patients with PTSD. Functional MRI may help identify intermediate phenotypes and dimensions of PTSD that clarify the functional link between genes and disease phenotype, and also highlight features of PTSD that show more proximal influence of susceptibility genes compared to current clinical categorizations

Multi-sensor satellite remote sensing images for flood assessment using swarm intelligence

This paper investigates a new approach for flood evaluation based on multi-sensor satellite images utilizing swarm intelligence techniques. The swarm intelligence techniques used are Genetic Algorithm (GA) for image registration and Niche Particle Swarm Optimization (NPSO) for image clustering. Analysis of satellite images are applied in two stages: Linear Imaging Self Scanning Sensor (LISS-III) image acquired before-flood and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image acquired during-flood. In the first step, SAR image is aligned with LISS-III image using GA. The aligned SAR image (during-flood) is used to extract flooded and non-flooded regions where as LISS-III image (before-flood) is used to classify various land cover regions. For this image clustering is carried out where cluster centers are generated using the cluster splitting technique such as NPSO. The data points are grouped into their respective classes using the merging method. Further, the resultant images are overlaid to analyze the extent of the flood in individual land classes. The performance comparisons of these swarm intelligence techniques with conventional methods are presented

Split Calvarial Graft to Repair the Large Frontal Bone Defect

The ideal reconstructive material for cranioplasty is autogenous bone, however if it is not available the use of alloplastic materials is recommended. We present a case of 26-year-male patient who sustained compound depressed fracture of the frontal bone and associated anterior cranial fossa fracture following a road traffic accident. He was managed at hospital where the fractured bone fragments were removed but recently presented with watery discharge from nose (CSF rhinorrhoea) and cosmetic deformity of forehead. We describe the utilization of autogenous local frontal bone split calvarial graft for the reconstruction of the defect

Analysis of carotid artery plaque and wall boundaries on CT images by using a semi-automatic method based on level set model

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potentialities of a semi-automated technique in the detection and measurement of the carotid artery plaque. <p/>Methods: Twenty-two consecutive patients (18 males, 4 females; mean age 62 years) examined with MDCTA from January 2011 to March 2011 were included in this retrospective study. Carotid arteries are examined with a 16-multi-detector-row CT system, and for each patient, the most diseased carotid was selected. In the first phase, the carotid plaque was identified and one experienced radiologist manually traced the inner and outer boundaries by using polyline and radial distance method (PDM and RDM, respectively). In the second phase, the carotid inner and outer boundaries were traced with an automated algorithm: level-set-method (LSM). Data were compared by using Pearson rho correlation, Bland–Altman, and regression. <p/>Results: A total of 715 slices were analyzed. The mean thickness of the plaque using the reference PDM was 1.86 mm whereas using the LSM-PDM was 1.96 mm; using the reference RDM was 2.06 mm whereas using the LSM-RDM was 2.03 mm. The correlation values between the references, the LSM, the PDM and the RDM were 0.8428, 0.9921, 0.745 and 0.6425. Bland–Altman demonstrated a very good agreement in particular with the RDM method. <p/>Conclusion: Results of our study indicate that LSM method can automatically measure the thickness of the plaque and that the best results are obtained with the RDM. Our results suggest that advanced computer-based algorithms can identify and trace the plaque boundaries like an experienced human reader