The effects of memantine on prepulse inhibition.

Reduced prepulse inhibition (PPI) of startle provides evidence of deficient sensorimotor gating in several disorders, including schizophrenia. The role of NMDA neurotransmission in the regulation of PPI is unclear, due to cross-species differences in the effects of NMDA antagonists on PPI. Recent reports suggest that drug effects on PPI differ in subgroups of normal humans that differ in the levels of baseline PPI or specific personality domains; here, we tested the effects of these variables on the sensitivity of PPI to the NMDA antagonist, memantine. PPI was measured in male Sprague-Dawley rats, after treatment with memantine (0, 10 or 20 mg/kg, s.c.). Baseline PPI was then measured in 37 healthy adult men. Next, subjects were tested twice, in a double-blind crossover design, comparing either (1) placebo vs 20 mg of the NMDA antagonist memantine (n=19) or (2) placebo vs 30 mg memantine (n=18). Tests included measures of acoustic startle amplitude, PPI, autonomic indices and subjective self-rating scales. Memantine had dose- and interval-dependent effects on PPI in rats. Compared with vehicle, 10 mg/kg increased short-interval (10-20 ms) PPI, and 20 mg/kg decreased long-interval (120 ms) PPI. In humans, memantine caused dose-dependent effects on psychological and somatic measures: 20 mg was associated with increased ratings of happiness, and 30 mg was associated with increased ratings of dizziness. PPI at the 120 ms prepulse interval was increased by 20 mg, but not 30 mg of memantine. Subgroups most sensitive to the PPI-enhancing effects of memantine were those with low baseline PPI, or with personality scale scores suggestive of high novelty seeking, high sensation seeking, or high disinhibition. NMDA blockade with memantine appears to have dose- and interval-dependent effects on sensorimotor gating in rats and humans, particularly among specific subgroups of normal human subjects. These findings are discussed as they relate to consistencies across other studies in humans, as well as apparent inconsistencies in the NMDA regulation of PPI across species

Prevalencia de anomalías coronarias detectadas por tomografía computarizada en el Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular - INCOR

Objective: To determine the prevalence of coronary anomalies (CA) in patients evaluated by 64-detector computed tomography (CT) at the Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular in Peru between 2016 and 2020. Materials and methods: Retrospective observational study, coronary artery CT scans of 1486 patients were performed on a 64-detector row CT scanner and reviewed in search for coronary anomalies. Results: The prevalence of CA detected by CT was 4.71% (70 cases) of which 64.3% were male. Abnormalities of origin were the most frequent, of which the origin of a coronary artery from the opposite coronary sinus was the most common (48.6%), with the right coronary being the main anomalous artery (31%), and the main path was interarterial (31%). Anomalous origin of the left main coronary from the pulmonary artery was found in 5 patients. Among the anomalies of the intrinsic coronary arterial anatomy the most frequent was the double left anterior descending artery (10%). Coronary fistulas accounted for 11.4% of cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of CA detected by 64-detector CT in a Peruvian institute was 4.71%. The most frequent coronary anomaly was the origin of the right coronary artery from the left coronary sinus with interarterial trajectory.Objetivo: determinar la prevalencia de anomalías coronarias (AC) en pacientes evaluados por tomografía computarizada (TC) de 64 detectores en el Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular en el Perú entre los años 2016 a 2020. Materiales y métodos: estudio observacional retrospectivo, en el cual se revisaron las TC de arterias coronarias de 1486 pacientes, realizadas en un tomógrafo de 64 filas de detectores, en busca de anomalías coronarias. Resultados: la prevalencia de AC detectada por TC fue de 4,71% (70 casos) de ellos 64,3% varones. Las anomalías de origen fueron las más frecuentes, de ellas el nacimiento de una arteria coronaria desde el seno coronariano opuesto fue la más común (48,6%), siendo la coronaria derecha la principal arteria anómala (31%), y el principal trayecto fue el interarterial (31%). El origen anómalo del tronco coronario izquierdo desde la arteria pulmonar se encontró en cinco pacientes. Entre las anomalías de la anatomía arterial coronaria intrínseca, la principal fue la doble arteria descendente anterior (10%). Las fístulas coronarias representaron el 11,4% de casos. Conclusiones: la prevalencia de AC detectadas por TC de 64 detectores en un instituto del Perú fue de 4,71%. La principal anomalía coronaria fue el origen de la arteria coronaria derecha desde el seno coronariano izquierdo con trayecto interarterial

Optimization of a high work function solution processed vanadium oxide hole-extracting layer for small molecule and polymer organic photovoltaic cells

We report a method of fabricating a high work function, solution processable vanadium oxide (V2Ox(sol)) hole-extracting layer. The atmospheric processing conditions of film preparation have a critical influence on the electronic structure and stoichiometry of the V2Ox(sol), with a direct impact on organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell performance. Combined Kelvin probe (KP) and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (UPS) measurements reveal a high work function, n-type character for the thin films, analogous to previously reported thermally evaporated transition metal oxides. Additional states within the band gap of V2Ox(sol) are observed in the UPS spectra and are demonstrated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to be due to the substoichiometric nature of V2Ox(sol). The optimized V2Ox(sol) layer performance is compared directly to bare indium–tin oxide (ITO), poly(ethyleneoxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and thermally evaporated molybdenum oxide (MoOx) interfaces in both small molecule/fullerene and polymer/fullerene structures. OPV cells incorporating V2Ox(sol) are reported to achieve favorable initial cell performance and cell stability attributes

Private 5G Technology and Implementation Testing

69A3551747115/06-006NEC developed a Video Analytics implementation for traffic intersections using 5G technology. This implementation included both hardware infrastructure and software applications supporting 5G communications, which allows low latency and secure communications. The Virginia Tech Transportation Institute (VTTI) worked with NEC to facilitate the usage of a 3,400- to 3,500-MHz program experimental license band without SAS integration to successfully implement a private 5G deployment at the VTTI Smart Road intersection and data center. Specific use cases were developed to provide alerting mechanisms to both pedestrians and vehicles using cellular vehicle-to-everything/PC5 technology when approaching a traffic intersection and a dangerous situation is detected

Smart Work Zone System

69A3551747115/VTTI-00-036In the previous Safe-D project 04-104, a prototype wearable Personal Protective Equipment vest that accurately localizes, monitors, and predicts potential collisions between work zone (WZ) workers and passing motorists was developed and demonstrated. The system also notifies the worker when they\u2019re about to depart geo-fenced safe areas within WZs. While the design supported a successful functional demonstration, additional design iteration was required to simplify, ruggedize, and reduce per unit costs to increase the likelihood of broader adoption. In addition, two new useful components were identified that support a more effective deployment package. One of these components is a Base Station that provides an edge computing environment for alert algorithm processing, consolidates communications of individual worker positions via a 4G link to a cloud computing environment, and can be coupled with a local roadside unit to support the broadcast of WZ information to connected and automated vehicles. The second component is a Smart Cone device that was added to help automatically define safe area boundaries and improve communications reliability between workers and the Base Station. This entire package was developed to support a broader scale deployment of the technology by the Virginia Department of Transportation

Study protocol for the multicentre cohorts of Zika virus infection in pregnant women, infants, and acute clinical cases in Latin America and the Caribbean: The ZIKAlliance consortium

Background: The European Commission (EC) Horizon 2020 (H2020)-funded ZIKAlliance Consortium designed a multicentre study including pregnant women (PW), children (CH) and natural history (NH) cohorts. Clinical sites were selected over a wide geographic range within Latin America and the Caribbean, taking into account the dynamic course of the ZIKV epidemic. Methods: Recruitment to the PW cohort will take place in antenatal care clinics. PW will be enrolled regardless of symptoms and followed over the course of pregnancy, approximately every 4 weeks. PW will be revisited at delivery (or after miscarriage/abortion) to assess birth outcomes, including microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities according to the evolving definition of congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). After birth, children will be followed for 2 years in the CH cohort. Follow-up visits are scheduled at ages 1-3, 4-6, 12, and 24 months to assess neurocognitive and developmental milestones. In addition, a NH cohort for the characterization of symptomatic rash/fever illness was designed, including follow-up to capture persisting health problems. Blood, urine, and other biological materials will be collected, and tested for ZIKV and other relevant arboviral diseases (dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever) using RT-PCR or serological methods. A virtual, decentralized biobank will be created. Reciprocal clinical monitoring has been established between partner sites. Substudies of ZIKV seroprevalence, transmissio

Contribución al diagnóstico de las pielonefritis

35 Control: A total of 100 subjects distributed as follows 21 with pyelonephritis was studied as a single diagnosis; 26 with pyelonephritis associated with other processes; TBC 8 kidney and pyelonephritis probable; and 10 with various diagnoses. In finding all the "cells of pyelonephritis" was performed and in most qualitative urine culture done. In 11 no histopathological report. In the control subjects, the finding was negative cells in all. Urine cultures were negative in 2. In subjects with pyelonephritis as a single diagnosis, the cells were found in 95.4%. Urine culture was positive in 94.1% of cases studied. In the group of pyelonephritis associated with other processes, there were cells in the presence of 88.4% and the urine culture was positive in 91.3% of the cases studied. In TBC kidney and pyelonephritis likely cells was found in 87.5%; and 100% of urine was positive. The "diverse" group in any cell was found in 2 of them the urine culture was positive. Of the 45 positive urine cultures, 50% were Escherichia coli; Paracolon gender 27.2%; 15.1% and Staphylococcus Protsus gender; Klebsiella 9.09%; Streptococcus 6.06%; 3.03% Alcalígenos Diphtheroids faecalis and Bacillus and Neisseria 1.01%.Se estudió un total de 100 sujetos distribuidos en la forma siguiente: 35 de control : 21 con pielonefritis como diagnóstico único; 26 con pielonefritis asociada a otros procesos; 8 con TBC renal y pielonefritis probable; y 10 con diagnósticos diversos. En todos ellos se realizó la búsqueda de las "células de pielonefritis" y en la mayoría se hizo el urocultivo cualitativo. En 11 hay informe histopatológico. En los sujetos de control, el hallazgo de las células fué negativo en todos. El urocultívo fué negativo en 2. En los sujetos con pielonefritis como diagnóstico único, se encontraron las células en el 95.4%. El urocultivo fué positivo en el 94.1% de lo casos estudiados. En el grupo de pielonefritis asociada a otros procesos, hubo presencia de células en el 88.4% y el urocultivo fué positivo en el 91.3% de los casos estudiados. En los de TBC renal y pielonefritis probable, se encontró células en el 87.5%; y el 100% de los urocultivos fué positivo. En el grupo "diversos", en ninguno se encontró células y en 2 de ellos el urocultivo fué positivo. De los 45 urocultivos positivos, el 50% correspondió a la Escherichia Colí; 27.2% al género Paracolon; 15.1% al género Protsus y Estafilococo; 9.09% Klebsiella; 6.06% Estreptococo; 3.03% Alcalígenos Fecalis y Bacilos Difteroides y 1.01% a la Neisseria