Disconnection Mechanism and Regional Cortical Atrophy Contribute to Impaired Processing of Facial Expressions and Theory of Mind in Multiple Sclerosis: A Structural MRI Study

Successful socialization requires the ability of understanding of others' mental states. This ability called as mentalization (Theory of Mind) may become deficient and contribute to everyday life difficulties in multiple sclerosis. We aimed to explore the impact of brain pathology on mentalization performance in multiple sclerosis. Mentalization performance of 49 patients with multiple sclerosis was compared to 24 age- and gender matched healthy controls. T1- and T2-weighted three-dimensional brain MRI images were acquired at 3Tesla from patients with multiple sclerosis and 18 gender- and age matched healthy controls. We assessed overall brain cortical thickness in patients with multiple sclerosis and the scanned healthy controls, and measured the total and regional T1 and T2 white matter lesion volumes in patients with multiple sclerosis. Performances in tests of recognition of mental states and emotions from facial expressions and eye gazes correlated with both total T1-lesion load and regional T1-lesion load of association fiber tracts interconnecting cortical regions related to visual and emotion processing (genu and splenium of corpus callosum, right inferior longitudinal fasciculus, right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, uncinate fasciculus). Both of these tests showed correlations with specific cortical areas involved in emotion recognition from facial expressions (right and left fusiform face area, frontal eye filed), processing of emotions (right entorhinal cortex) and socially relevant information (left temporal pole). Thus, both disconnection mechanism due to white matter lesions and cortical thinning of specific brain areas may result in cognitive deficit in multiple sclerosis affecting emotion and mental state processing from facial expressions and contributing to everyday and social life difficulties of these patients

Relationship of colour and other quality parameters of sweet cherry during development and ripening

Sweet cherry fruits ( Prunus avium cv. Vera, Carmen, Linda and Krupnoplodnaja) were harvested in different ripeness stages after anthesis 39, 42, 49, 56 days (Carmen); 37, 40, 47, 52, 59 days (Krupnoplodnaja); 32, 36, 44, 53, 58 days (Linda); 38, 42, 50, 52, 57 days (Vera). The colour, total soluble solids, dry matter content, β-galactosidase and polygalacturonase activity were determined. The dry matter content and total soluble solids content (Brixo) increased during development. The L* values significantly decreased as a function of ripening while a* values increased up to 3 rd harvest, then they decreased, b* values continuously decreased as a function of development. The a*/b* values linearly increased as a function of development, indicating reddening of fruits. Hue angle (ho) increased rapidly between harvest one and two. The measured (a*, b*, L*) and calculated parameters (ho, a*/b*, chroma) well represented the colour development of sweet cherries. Linear and strong correlation was found between a*/b*, L* values and the Brixo, exponential correlation was found between ho, chroma and Brixo. Activity of β-galactosidase was different among cultivars and as a function of development. The two maximums might β-galactosidase isoenzymes. The role of PG (polygalacturonase) could not be explained clearly enough, further investigations are needed to find the exact role of the enzyme in the cell wall metabolism of sweet cherry

A Statistical Model for Intervertebral Disc Degeneration: Determination of the Optimal T2 Cut-Off Values.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of quantitative classification in intervertebral disc degeneration using spin-spin relaxation time (T2) cut-off values with regard to morphological classifications. METHODS Lumbar magnetic resonance (MR) imaging was performed on 21 subjects (a total of 104 lumbar disks). The T2 relaxation time was measured in the nucleus pulposus using a sagittal multi-echo spin-echo sequence. The morphological classification of disc degeneration was assessed independently by three experienced neuroradiologists according to the Pfirrmann and Schneiderman classifications. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed among grades to determine T2 cut-off values in each classification. Intra- and interobserver differences were calculated using kappa statistics. RESULTS Moderate overall interobserver agreement was found between observers in both the Pfirrmann and Schneiderman classification schemes (kappa 0.46 and 0.51), while intraobserver reliability was substantial to almost perfect. The interobserver reliability was only fair in Pfirrmann grades III and IV (kappa 0.33 and 0.36), but the T2 cut-off values still indicated a significant difference between grades (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Interobserver agreement of MR evaluation in patients with intervertebral disc degeneration was only fair to moderate on the classification of more severe disc degeneration in the Pfirrmann and Schneiderman schemes. Based on our results, quantitative T2 cut-off values seem to be a more reliable method to define the degree of disc degeneration, which may help staging intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) even if the interobserver reliability is low

Does obstetric brachial plexus injury influence speech dominance?

Objective: Right-handedness and left-sided language lateralization is an unresolved mystery With unknown cause/effect relations. Most studies suggest that the language lateralization is related to a fundamental brain asymmetry: right-handedness may be secondary. We analyzed the possibility of an opposite cause/effect relation: whether asymmetric hand usage (as a cause) call influence language lateralization (as a consequence). Methods: We determined language lateralization by functional magnetic resonance imaging in 15 subjects whose upper limb (UL) had been injured at birth because of unilateral damage of the brachial plexus. These subjects were able to use only one (the noninjured) UL perfectly. Results: We found correlation between the severity of right-sided UL injuries and hand usage dysfunction and the degree of left-to-right shift of language lateralization. There was, however, not a complete switch of language lateralization. Interpretation: Right-sided UL injury can induce a left-to-right shift in language lateralization, suggesting that hand usage can influence language lateralization. These findings may contradict the broadly accepted theory that right-handedness is a secondary phenomenon caused by left-sided hemispheric language lateralization. However, the cause/effect problem between asymmetric hand usage and language lateralization is not resolved in this study. Our Findings may support the theory that gestures had a crucial role in human language evolution and is a part of the language system even today