AR2, a novel automatic muscle artifact reduction software method for ictal EEG interpretation: Validation and comparison of performance with commercially available software.

Objective: To develop a novel software method (AR2) for reducing muscle contamination of ictal scalp electroencephalogram (EEG), and validate this method on the basis of its performance in comparison to a commercially available software method (AR1) to accurately depict seizure-onset location. Methods: A blinded investigation used 23 EEG recordings of seizures from 8 patients. Each recording was uninterpretable with digital filtering because of muscle artifact and processed using AR1 and AR2 and reviewed by 26 EEG specialists. EEG readers assessed seizure-onset time, lateralization, and region, and specified confidence for each determination. The two methods were validated on the basis of the number of readers able to render assignments, confidence, the intra-class correlation (ICC), and agreement with other clinical findings. Results: Among the 23 seizures, two-thirds of the readers were able to delineate seizure-onset time in 10 of 23 using AR1, and 15 of 23 using AR2 (

p66Shc Aging Protein in Control of Fibroblasts Cell Fate

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are wieldy accepted as one of the main factors of the aging process. These highly reactive compounds modify nucleic acids, proteins and lipids and affect the functionality of mitochondria in the first case and ultimately of the cell. Any agent or genetic modification that affects ROS production and detoxification can be expected to influence longevity. On the other hand, genetic manipulations leading to increased longevity can be expected to involve cellular changes that affect ROS metabolism. The 66-kDa isoform of the growth factor adaptor Shc (p66Shc) has been recognized as a relevant factor to the oxygen radical theory of aging. The most recent data indicate that p66Shc protein regulates life span in mammals and its phosphorylation on serine 36 is important for the initiation of cell death upon oxidative stress. Moreover, there is strong evidence that apart from aging, p66Shc may be implicated in many oxidative stress-associated pathologies, such as diabetes, mitochondrial and neurodegenerative disorders and tumorigenesis. This article summarizes recent knowledge about the role of p66Shc in aging and senescence and how this protein can influence ROS production and detoxification, focusing on studies performed on skin and skin fibroblasts

Ictal Asystole in a patient with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (pres) and seizures: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Ictal asystole is rare, seen in less than 1% of patients with epilepsy, and typically seen in patients with temporal or frontal lobe seizures, rarely in occipital lobe seizures, and has never been described in a patient with PRES . PRES is a clinical-radiologic diagnosis in which there is a breakdown of the blood brain barrier caused by abrupt changes of blood pressure, or cytokines causing endothelial damage and this creates brain edema. The typical neurological symptoms of PRES include encephalopathy (50-80%), seizure (60-75%), headache (50%), and visual disturbance (35%). Brain imaging in PRES usually reveals vasogenic edema in the bilateral parietal-occipital regions, and may include the frontal, temporal, basal ganglia, brainstem or cerebellum. Most patients with PRES have a favorable outcome but mortality can be as high as 3-6%, persistent neurological sequela in 10-20% of patients, and recurrent PRES in 5-10%.https://jdc.jefferson.edu/neurologyposters/1000/thumbnail.jp

Communities of aquatic insects of old-growth and clearcut coastal headwater streams of varying flow persistence

Abstract: Headwater streams, varying in flow persistence from ephemeral to intermittent to perennial, provide the tightest coupling between water and land, yet they often receive the least protection during forest management. We described communities of aquatic insects in perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral channels surrounded by old-growth forest and 4-to 8-year-old clearcuts in Clayoquot Sound, British Columbia, to determine whether temporary streams have unique aquatic communities and to examine the short-term impacts of harvesting. We measured flow persistence, stream size, canopy cover, organic detritus, and algal biomass in 19 streams. We sampled aquatic invertebrates with a combination of emergence cages and kicknet samples. Temporary and old-growth streams had more organic detritus and a higher abundance of shredders. Perennial and clearcut streams had a higher abundance of some algal grazers, but not higher algal biomass. Insect richness was similar in intermittent and perennial streams of each seral stage but lower in ephemeral streams. Intermittent streams contained four taxa not found in the other stream classes; perennial and ephemeral streams had none. Communities of aquatic insects differed between streams surrounded by clearcuts and old growth, and varied with continuity of flow. Résumé : Les ruisseaux de tête de bassins hydrographiques, avec une persistance de débit qui varie d'éphémère à intermittent, puis à pérenne, constituent l'interface le plus direct entre l'eau et la terre, mais ils sont les moins biens protégés dans le cadre de l'aménagement forestier. Nous avons décrit les communautés d'insectes aquatiques dans des ruisseaux pérennes, intermittents et éphémères bordés par des forêts anciennes et des coupes à blanc de 4 à 8 ans à Clayoquot Sound, en Colombie-Britannique, pour déterminer si les ruisseaux temporaires ont des communautés aquatiques uniques et pour examiner les impacts à court terme de la coupe forestière. Nous avons mesuré la persistance du débit, la taille du ruisseau, le recouvrement de la canopée et la biomasse de débris organiques et d'algues dans 19 ruisseaux. Nous avons échantillonné les invertébrés aquatiques en combinant des échantillons provenant de cages à émer-gence et de filets faucheurs. Les ruisseaux temporaires en forêt ancienne contenaient plus de débris organiques et avaient une plus grande abondance de déchiqueteurs. Les ruisseaux pérennes dans des coupes à blanc avaient une plus grande abondance de certains brouteurs d'algues, mais pas une plus grande biomasse d'algues. La richesse en insectes était semblable dans les ruisseaux intermittents et pérennes de chaque stade successoral, mais plus faible dans les ruisseaux éphémères. Les ruisseaux intermittents contenaient quatre taxons exclusifs qui n'ont pas été trouvés dans les autres classes de ruisseaux; les ruisseaux pérennes et éphémères en avaient aucun. Les communautés d'insectes aquatiques diffèrent selon que les ruisseaux sont bordés par des coupes à blanc ou des forêts anciennes et elles varient selon la persistance du débit. [Traduit par la Rédaction] 1432 Price et al

Apigenin Modulates AnxA6- and TNAP-Mediated Osteoblast Mineralization

Mineralization-competent cells like osteoblasts and chondrocytes release matrix vesicles (MVs) which accumulate Ca2+ and Pi, creating an optimal environment for apatite formation. The mineralization process requires the involvement of proteins, such as annexins (Anx) and tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP), as well as low molecular-weight compounds. Apigenin, a flavonoid compound, has been reported to affect bone metabolism, but there are doubts about its mechanism of action under physiological and pathological conditions. In this report, apigenin potency to modulate annexin A6 (AnxA6)- and TNAP-mediated osteoblast mineralization was explored using three cell lines: human fetal osteoblastic hFOB 1.19, human osteosarcoma Saos-2, and human coronary artery smooth muscle cells HCASMC. We compared the mineralization competence, the morphology and composition of minerals, and the protein distribution in control and apigenin-treated cells and vesicles. The mineralization ability was monitored by AR-S/CPC analysis, and TNAP activity was determined by ELISA assay. Apigenin affected the mineral structure and modulated TNAP activity depending on the concentration. We also observed increased mineralization in Saos-2 cells. Based on TEM-EDX, we found that apigenin influenced the mineral composition. This flavonoid also disturbed the intracellular distribution of AnxA6 and TNAP, especially blocking AnxA6 aggregation and TNAP attachment to the membrane, as examined by FM analysis of cells and TEM-gold analysis of vesicles. In summary, apigenin modulates the mineralization process by regulating AnxA6 and TNAP, as well as through various effects on normal and cancer bone tissues or atherosclerotic soft tissue

Parallel organization of contralateral and ipsilateral prefrontal cortical projections in the rhesus monkey

Abstract Background The neocortical commissures have a fundamental role in functional integration across the cerebral hemispheres. We investigated whether commissural projections in prefrontal cortices are organized according to the same or different rules as those within the same hemisphere, by quantitatively comparing density, topography, and laminar origin of contralateral and ipsilateral projections, labeled after unilateral injection of retrograde tracers in prefrontal areas. Results Commissural projection neurons constituted less than one third of the ipsilateral. Nevertheless, projections from the two hemispheres were strongly correlated in topography and relative density. We investigated to what extent the distribution of contralateral projections depended on: (a) geographic proximity of projection areas to the area homotopic to the injection site; (b) the structural type of the linked areas, based on the number and neuronal density of their layers. Although both measures were good predictors, structural type was a comparatively stronger determinant of the relative distribution and density of projections. Ipsilateral projection neurons were distributed in the superficial (II-III) and deep (V-VI) layers, in proportions that varied across areas. In contrast, contralateral projection neurons were found mostly in the superficial layers, but still showed a gradient in their distribution within cortical layers that correlated significantly with cortical type, but not with geographic proximity to the homotopic area. Conclusion The organization of ipsilateral and contralateral prefrontal projections is similar in topography and relative density, differing only by higher overall density and more widespread laminar origin of ipsilateral than contralateral projections. The projections on both sides are highly correlated with the structural architecture of the linked areas, and their remarkable organization is likely established by punctuated development of distinct cortical types. The preponderance of contralateral projections from layer III may be traced to the late development of the callosal system, whose function may be compromised in diseases that have their root late in ontogeny.</p