A Snapshot into Developmental Differences in Attention and Cognitive Control: An Eye Tracking Study

The present study reveals how the presence of relevant and irrelevant spoken language affects the processing for visual information, and if this is mediated by executive function processes that develop from childhood (N = 10, age 4-10) to adolescence (N = 16, age 14-17) and through adulthood (N = 16, age 21-28). Participants engaged in a task in which they looked at visual stimuli organized within Areas of Interest (AOI’s) with no audio (1), with audio to facilitate memory (2), and distracting audio unrelated to visual stimuli (3) and were then asked to remember the visual stimuli they looked at, all while connected to an eye tracker. Results showed that there was no main effect of distraction or facilitation conditions on overall memory performance. However, there was a significant difference in memory performance between age-groups, with the children unexpectedly performing the best, followed by adults and then adolescents. Also, memory performance outcomes were not mediated by executive function. Dwell times, fixation counts, and fixation times between matching audio and visual information and non-matching audio and visual information were not significantly different. However, dwell time and fixation time were significantly affected by age, with children having lower times on both non-matches and matches. Limitations of the study and areas for future research are discussed

Milzruptur: Klinisch-pathologische Zusammenhänge und Diagnostik

Zusammenfassung: Obwohl selten, stellen Milzrupturen die häufigste Splenektomieindikation dar. Bei der überwiegenden Mehrzahl der Fälle (traumatische Rupturen) lässt sich eine klare Kausalität mit Gewalteinwirkung feststellen, bei einem anderen Teil (pathologische Rupturen) liegt eine Vorerkrankung der Milz vor, bei einem kleinen Teil der Patienten (spontane Rupturen) lässt sich kein Zusammenhang mit Traumen oder anderen Grunderkrankungen eruieren. Bei etwa 10% der rupturierten Milzen ist mit Iatrogenie im weitestem Sinne (inklusive Medikamentennebenwirkungen) sowie mit relevanten pathologischen Befunden (die Hälfe davon unerwartet) zu rechnen. Kenntnisse der Pathophysiologie, die Erhebung einfacher makroskopischer Befunde wie Größen- und Gewichtsangaben und Angaben sichtbarer Läsionen sowie die sorgfältige histologische Analyse mit gezielter Suche nach wegweisenden Veränderungen, ggf. unter Anwendung histo- und immunhistochemischer Zusatzuntersuchungen am gut vorbereiteten Material, sind die Schlüssel zur adäquaten Diagnosti

Rapid Detection of Quinolone Resistance Mutations in gyrA of Helicobacter pylori by Real-Time PCR

The treatment of infections by the gastric pathogen Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has become more difficult due to increased rates of resistances against various antibiotics. Typically, atriple therapy, employing a combination of at least two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor, is used to cure H. pylori infections. In case of first-line therapy failure, quinolones are commonly applied in a second-line therapy. To prevent second-line treatment failures, we developed an improved method to detect the most common quinolone-resistance mutations located in the quinolone-resistance-determining region (QRDR) of the bacterial gyrA gene. Biopsy material from the gastric mucosa of infected patients was used to identify quinolone-resistant strains before the onset of drug administration. Two different wild-type and six mutant QRDR sequences were included. Melting curve analyses were performed with corresponding gyrA plasmid DNAs using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. By applying a combination of only two different fluorescent probes, this assay allows wild-type sequences to be unambiguously distinguished from all known mutant QRDR sequences of H. pylori. Next, the T(m) values of patient DNAs were established, and the genotypes were confirmed by sequencing. Thus, quinolone-resistant H. pylori strains can be easily and quickly diagnosed before treatment, which will help to avoid the administration of ineffective drug regimes

Spontaneous splenic rupture mimicking pneumonia: a case report

A 74-year-old gentleman presented with a history of left-sided pleuritic chest and upper abdominal pain. Examination and chest x-ray findings were suggestive of pneumonia. An abdominal ultrasound was suggestive of spontaneous splenic rupture. An abdominal computed tomography scan showed a splenic laceration and large peri-splenic haematoma. The advice from the on-call surgical team was to treat conservatively but the patient's condition deteriorated suddenly and he died. Spontaneous splenic rupture is uncommon but probably under-diagnosed and should be considered in all patients presenting with non-specific abdominal pain. The optimal management strategy for the older patient with spontaneous ruptured spleen is unknown

Nuclear receptor NR2F6 inhibition potentiates responses to PD-L1/PD-1 cancer immune checkpoint blockade

Immune checkpoints blockade (ICB) is a viable anti-cancer strategy. Here the authors show that nuclear receptor NR2F6 acts as an immune checkpoint in T cells and, using mouse models and human T cells, they show NR2F6 inhibition might improve current ICB therapy or work as an alternative therapeutic strategy

[Rupture of the spleen. Clinicopathological correlations and diagnostic procedures]

Though rare, splenic rupture is the most common indication for splenectomy. In the vast majority of cases ruptures are clearly related to trauma (traumatic ruptures); in other cases there is a pre-existing disease affecting the spleen (pathologic ruptures); and in a minority of patients no obvious reason can be identified (spontaneous ruptures). In approximately 10% of cases an iatrogenic cause, in the broadest sense (including side effects of drugs), and relevant histological findings (approximately half of which will be unexpected) can be anticipated. Knowledge of pathophysiological aspects of splenic rupture and assessment of simple macroscopic findings such as splenic dimensions and weight, and information on macroscopically visible lesions are of key diagnostic importance, as is accurate microscopic examination with targeted histological pattern analysis, supplemented as appropriate by histo- and immunohistochemical studies on adequately prepared material