Cortical Processing of Arithmetic and Simple Sentences in an Auditory Attention Task - Dataset

MEG dataset collected for a study on arithmetic and language processing. Full details of experiment design, stimuli and data preprocessing can be found at https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.31.429030. Additional information: Joshua P. Kulasingham - [email protected] processing of arithmetic and of language rely on both shared and task-specific neural mechanisms, which should also be dissociable from the particular sensory modality used to probe them. Here, spoken arithmetical and non-mathematical statements were employed to investigate neural processing of arithmetic, compared to general language processing, in an attention-modulated cocktail party paradigm. Magnetoencephalography (MEG) data were recorded from 22 human subjects listening to audio mixtures of spoken sentences and arithmetic equations while selectively attending to one of the two speech streams. Short sentences and simple equations were presented diotically at fixed and distinct word/symbol and sentence/equation rates. Critically, this allowed neural responses to acoustics, words, and symbols to be dissociated from responses to sentences and equations. Indeed, the simultaneous neural processing of the acoustics of words and symbols were observed in auditory cortex for both streams. Neural responses to sentences and equations, however, were predominantly to the attended stream, originating primarily from left temporal, and parietal areas, respectively. Additionally, these neural responses were correlated with behavioral performance in a deviant detection task. Source-localized Temporal Response Functions revealed distinct cortical dynamics of responses to sentences in left temporal areas and equations in bilateral temporal, parietal, and motor areas. Finally, the target of attention could be decoded from MEG responses, especially in left superior parietal areas. In short, the neural responses to arithmetic and language are especially well segregated during the cocktail party paradigm, and the correlation with behavior suggests that they may be linked to successful comprehension or calculation.This work was supported by DARPA (N660011824024), the National Science Foundation (SMA-1734892 and DGE-1449815), and the National Institutes of Health (R01-DC014085). The views, opinions and/or findings expressed are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as representing the official views or policies of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government

The Traditional Iranian Medicine Point of View on Health and Disease

"nTraditional Iranian Medicine (TIM) or Persian Medicine consists of the sum total of all the knowledge and practices used in diagnosis, prevention and elimination of diseases in Persia from ancient times to present. It is based entirely on practical experience and observations passed down from generation to generation."nTraditional medicine has the advantage of being considered as part of the culture therefore, bypassing cultural issues that may affect the practice of medicine. On the other hand, it can be used in conjunction with and as an aid to the conventional medicine. Development and promotion of traditional medicine could be considered as respect and honor to the culture and heritage of the people all around the world

The effect of the combination of Malva sylvestris L. and Althaea digitata Boiss. on prevention of acute radiation proctitis in patients with prostate cancer

The effect of a combination of Malva sylvestris and Althaea digitata flower powder in prevention of acute radiation proctitis was assessed in patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer. This double-blind randomized controlled study was conducted at three centers in Iran. Before starting RT, patients (N = 65) received a 4 g packet of flower powder or placebo to use 3 times a day as an infusion from the first day of RT and for five consecutive weeks including the three weeks of RT. They were visited by a physician 3 times during this period. Acute morbidity was classified according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Severity of proctitis symptoms was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) with 10 points. Non-statistical significant differences were observed between the groups in relation to RTOG grade criteria (grade 0: drug 22.8 (N = 8), placebo 10 (N = 3), difference 12.8; grade 1: drug 65.8, placebo 64.4, difference 1.4; grade 2: drug 11.4 (N = 8), placebo 26.6 (N = 4), difference 15.2. (P =.059)) According to VAS, the most common complaint was anal burning and diarrhea in the flower powder group showing a significant decrease in these symptoms at the end of the study as compared to the placebo; flower powder (1.56 ± 1.07) vs placebo (3.82 ± 1.67) for burning (P <.05) and flower powder (1.06 ± 0.58) vs placebo (1.95 ± 0.79) for diarrhea (P =.046). The flower powder prevented anal discomfort and diarrhea induced by prostate radiotherapy, although there were no significant differences between the two groups in RTOG. No serious side effects were reported, so the combination could be suggested for patients who cannot tolerate symptoms of proctitis after further studies. © 2018 Elsevier Gmb

The effect of the combination of Malva sylvestris L. and Althaea digitata Boiss. on prevention of acute radiation proctitis in patients with prostate cancer

The effect of a combination of Malva sylvestris and Althaea digitata flower powder in prevention of acute radiation proctitis was assessed in patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer. This double-blind randomized controlled study was conducted at three centers in Iran. Before starting RT, patients (N = 65) received a 4 g packet of flower powder or placebo to use 3 times a day as an infusion from the first day of RT and for five consecutive weeks including the three weeks of RT. They were visited by a physician 3 times during this period. Acute morbidity was classified according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) criteria. Severity of proctitis symptoms was assessed by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) with 10 points. Non-statistical significant differences were observed between the groups in relation to RTOG grade criteria (grade 0: drug 22.8 (N = 8), placebo 10 (N = 3), difference 12.8; grade 1: drug 65.8, placebo 64.4, difference 1.4; grade 2: drug 11.4 (N = 8), placebo 26.6 (N = 4), difference 15.2. (P = .059)) According to VAS, the most common complaint was anal burning and diarrhea in the flower powder group showing a significant decrease in these symptoms at the end of the study as compared to the placebo; flower powder (1.56 ± 1.07) vs placebo (3.82 ± 1.67) for burning (P < .05) and flower powder (1.06 ± 0.58) vs placebo (1.95 ± 0.79) for diarrhea (P = .046). The flower powder prevented anal discomfort and diarrhea induced by prostate radiotherapy, although there were no significant differences between the two groups in RTOG. No serious side effects were reported, so the combination could be suggested for patients who cannot tolerate symptoms of proctitis after further studies. © 2018 Elsevier Gmb

IIS NEWS

Introduction: Traditional Persian Medicine (TPM) was the prevailing practice of medicine in the Eurasia region up through the 18th century, a practice of medicine stemming back to Hippocrates and to the 5000 year old civilization of the region. It is a school of medicine which touches on many a delicate points which may seem unimaginable within the realm of modern allopathic medicine. This practice of ancient medicine besides shedding light on various possible theoretical modern day disorders serves as a vast resource for therapeutics. In this paper, we present study of the manuscripts of this ancient medical practice in search of symptom presentations coinciding with presentation of multiple sclerosis (MS). Material & Method: This paper represents a comprehensive search through TPM texts and manuscripts with the intention to seek possible clues on MS from potentially valuable age-old resources. We predominantly focused our search on the works of five eminent physicians of Medieval Persia: Avicenna (980-1037 AD), Haly Abbas (949-982 AD), Rhazes (865-925 AD), Averroes (1126-1198 AD) and Jorjani (1042-1137 AD). Results: In this paper, the authors attempt a theory and conclude with high probability that a conjunction of a series of signs, symptoms found in TPM texts under the terms khadar, isterkha and falej form the symptoms and the disease pattern of modern day MS. This theory draws upon existent similarities in terms of disease pathology, disease patterns and predisposing factors seen between MS and the related morbidities within Persian Medicine. Conclusion: We recommend further examinations of such potentially valuable long-standing resources, examining the diagnoses and treatments as set forth by Persian Medicine through international collaboration within the global scientific community. © 2018 Bentham Science Publishers

Suicide risk assessment and suicide risk management protocol for the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network

Introduction: Suicide prevention research is a national priority, and national guidance includes the development of suicide risk management protocols (SRMPs) for the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and behavior in research trials. Few published studies describe how researchers develop and implement SRMPs or articulate what constitutes an acceptable and effective SRMP. Methods: The Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) was developed with the goal of evaluating screening and measurement-based care in Texas youth with depression or suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and/or suicidal behavior). The SRMP was developed for TX-YDSRN through a collaborative, iterative process, consistent with a Learning Healthcare System model. Results: The final SMRP included training, educational resources for research staff, educational resources for research participants, risk assessment and management strategies, and clinical and research oversight. Conclusion: The TX-YDSRN SRMP is one methodology for addressing youth participant suicide risk. The development and testing of standard methodologies with a focus on participant safety is an important next step to further the field of suicide prevention research