MENGA: a new comprehensive tool for the integration of neuroimaging data and the Allen human brain transcriptome atlas

Brain-wide mRNA mappings offer a great potential for neuroscience research as they can provide information about system proteomics. In a previous work we have correlated mRNA maps with the binding patterns of radioligands targeting specific molecular systems and imaged with positron emission tomography (PET) in unrelated control groups. This approach is potentially applicable to any imaging modality as long as an efficient procedure of imaging-genomic matching is provided. In the original work we considered mRNA brain maps of the whole human genome derived from the Allen human brain database (ABA) and we performed the analysis with a specific region-based segmentation with a resolution that was limited by the PET data parcellation. There we identified the need for a platform for imaging-genomic integration that should be usable with any imaging modalities and fully exploit the high resolution mapping of ABA dataset.In this work we present MENGA (Multimodal Environment for Neuroimaging and Genomic Analysis), a software platform that allows the investigation of the correlation patterns between neuroimaging data of any sort (both functional and structural) with mRNA gene expression profiles derived from the ABA database at high resolution.We applied MENGA to six different imaging datasets from three modalities (PET, single photon emission tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) targeting the dopamine and serotonin receptor systems and the myelin molecular structure. We further investigated imaging-genomic correlations in the case of mismatch between selected proteins and imaging targets

Multi-sensor analysis of extreme events in North-Eastern Italy

International audienceThe North-eastern part of Italy is known to be one of the most rainy regions in Europe. In this paper three extreme events are analysed, using a multi-sensor observing system including a weather radar and a dense telemetric network of surface stations, recording precipitation, wind, temperature and relative humidity. The cases examined comprise two long lasting rainfall events impacting two distinct areas, and a vigorous hail-producing thunderstorm event over the plains. In all cases, inter-comparison between remotely sensed and surface observations, including estimates and measures of precipitation and wind, helps to better understand the behaviour of the atmosphere, thus supporting operational fore- and now-casting. In the case of widespread precipitation, a relation is suggested between the wind speed and direction at medium/low levels with the location of the maximum precipitation relative to the mountains. This reflects the dynamical interaction between the mountain barrier and the atmospheric flux impinging upon it. This flux can be estimated by the automatic weather station of Mt. Cesen, a focal point for a now-casting of the rain in the Veneto Region. Analysis of strong thunderstorm activity makes extensive use of radar data. In the examined case the interaction of a sea breeze-like circulation with a mesoscale trough gave rise to a distinct convergence line that triggered a severe and long-lived hail-producing multi-cell thunderstorm. The hail was successfully detected by the radar's hail detection algorithm

Intraoperative electrically auditory brainstem responses to monitor auditory functionality preservation during auditory brainstem implant application.

Background: Perceptual outcomes of individuals with neurofibromatosis type II implanted with auditory brainstem implant are poor, and many factors seem to be involved. Undoubtedly, the preservation of neural functionality is the crucial aspect. The aim of this study is to verify that the use of intraoperative electrically auditory brainstem responses can help to understand if there is neural damage related to the tumor, and / or surgery. Material and Methods: A retrospective case series analysis was performed to review data from 6 adult patients affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 who received an auditory brainstem implant. A correlation was sought between intraoperative electrophysiological data, auditory performance at 1 and 2.5 years of follow-up, and auditory brainstem implant stimulation levels. Results: Patients with a better perceptual outcomes were those with more intraoperative peaks and peaks with wider amplitudes in the electrically auditory brainstem response recordings. Conclusions: Electrically auditory brainstem responses used for auditory brainstem implant placement can be a valuable tool for monitoring the preservation of neural acoustic functionality

Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against drug-induced antigens in L5178Y mouse lymphoma.

In vivo treatment with antineoplastic compounds has been reported to lead to the expression of new antigenic specificities which were not detected on parental cells, and which were transmissible as a genetic character. The current study is concerned with antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxic (ADCC) activity in serum of syngeneic mice challenged with LY/DTIC cells, a subline of LY murine lymphoma, antigenically altered by the drug DTIC. LY/DTIC target cells coated with LY/DTIC-immune serum were specifically lysed by virgin lymphocytes. The genetic background of the effector cells, whether syngeneic, allogeneic or xenogeneic, did not produce significant differences in the percentage of target-cell lysis. ADCC activity was reduced when the immune serum was added directly to the incubation medium, without precoating. Although sera from individual animals exhibited different levels of ADCC activity, they nevertheless followed the general trend of the pooled sera. Peak activity of ADCC was obtained in the sera collected on Days 8 and 30 after LY/DTIC cell challenge. The ADCC activity elicited by LY/DTIC cells may contribute to the rejection of drug-altered tumour cells

The zinc finger transcription factor PLAGL2 enhances stem cell fate and activates expression of ASCL2 in intestinal epithelial cells

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The importance of prognosis in geriatric patients attending the emergency department: a comparison between two common short geriatric assessment tools

Background: The use of short geriatric tools in the emergency department (ED) is increasing, but the literature is still conflicting. The aim of this study is to compare the precision and the accuracy of two short geriatric assessment tools to predict mortality in a cohort of older patients attending the ED. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted including patients ≥ 65 years, attending the ED and transferred to a medical assessment unit from February to July 2022. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and Brief Multidimensional Prognostic Index (Brief MPI) were administered. The association between Brief MPI and CFS and mortality was analysed via area under the curve (AUC) with its 95% confidence intervals (CIs), the C-statistics and a multivariate Cox’s regression analysis, in the latter case reporting the data as hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% CI. Results: Among the 579 patients enrolled (mean age: 77 years), both Brief MPI and CFS showed a good accuracy in predicting mortality (AUC: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.61–0.83 for Brief MPI; 0.754; 95% CI: 0.65–0.83 for CFS). The discrimination of Brief MPI and CFS in predicting mortality was excellent, since the C-index of the Brief MPI was 0.85 and of CFS = 0.84. In the multivariate analysis, the risk for mortality was significantly increased for frailer subjects (HR 4.65; 95% CI: 1.45–15.00 for Brief MPI > 0.66; HR = 9.24; 95% CI: 1.16–76.90 for CFS > 6). Conclusions: Brief MPI and CFS showed a good accuracy/precision to predict mortality in older patients attending the ED. Considering that they are quick to perform, their introduction in ED clinical practice could be extremely helpful

Sedentary behaviours and cognitive function among community dwelling adults aged 50+ years:Results from the Irish longitudinal study of ageing

Background: Sedentary behaviours (SB) are risk factors for poor cardiovascular health and all-cause mortality. However, their role in cognitive health in older adults is unclear. A few studies have examined associations between sedentary behaviours and cognition, but are limited by heterogeneity and insufficient longitudinal analyses. Therefore more robust studies, which would address identified limitations, are needed to accurately determine associations. Method: This study analysed data collected from participants aged 50+ years of The Irish Longitudinal Study of Ageing (TILDA). We conducted cross-sectional linear regression with multivariate imputation analyses of baseline data from wave 1 (N = 8163, weekday-sitting time), and wave 3 (N = 6400, weekday-television viewing); longitudinal analyses between waves 1\u20133 (sitting) and waves 3\u20134 (television). Sedentary behaviours were analysed as both categorical and continuous variables. Outcome of cross-sectional analyses was standardised regression co-efficient of associations between sedentary exposures and cognitive function in respective waves, while for longitudinal analyses was cognitive change (verbal memory, verbal fluency, and global cognition) between waves based on standardised residuals. Result: Study found significant but mild cross-sectional associations between 1-h increase in weekday-television viewing and poorer verbal memory (b = 120.02, CI: 120.04, 120.003, P < 0.05) and verbal fluency (b = 120.02, CI: 120.04, 120.002, P < 0.05). Baseline television viewing of 3.5+ h/day had mild but significant association with a decline in verbal fluency 2 years later in participants aged 65+ years, when compared with a reference category of <1.5 h of TV viewing (b = 120.12, CI: 120.23, 120.001, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study findings indicated some association between increased levels of weekday-television viewing time, independent of physical activity, and poor cognition cross-sectionally and longitudinally in middle-aged and older adults. Intervention studies are needed to confirm the effects of SB on cognition in older adults. Public health campaigns should be targeted at displacing high levels of television viewing, in excess of 3.5 h/day among older adults. \ua9 2020 Elsevier Lt

Human (in)security and psychological well-being in Palestinian children living amidst military violence: A qualitative participatory research using interactive maps

Background Research has widely evidenced the effects of war and political violence on the functioning of children, with a great accord in diagnosing children\u27s psychological burdens related to their exposure to violence. Yet, within this literature, the influence of the chronic sense of insecurity on their psychological functioning during and after hostilities remains unexplored. Methods The present study aimed at exploring interrelated relationships between the perceived insecurity and the children\u27s psychological well-being and their adjustment to trauma. Based on drawings and walk-along interviews with 75 Palestinian children, residents of both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, we offer an analysis of human security-related risks and protective factors that contribute to either promoting or undermining the child\u27s psychological functioning in a context characterized by chronic instability and political violence. Results A complex network of sources of security and insecurity emerged from the narratives depicting an ecological portrait encompassing the determinants of children\u27s mental health and psychological functioning. The TCA led to the identification of eight main themes: school and associativism; social relations and house as a source of security/insecurity; military occupation as a source of insecurity; national and political identity as a source of safety; mosque and spirituality as a source of safety/unsafety; environment as a source of security/insecurity; and mental health. Discussion An approach encompassing human security as an explicative model can help in exhaustively portraying the complexity of the Palestinian children\u27s suffering and their competence in adjusting to their traumatic reality. The study draws attention to social, political, environmental and economic determinants of children psychological well-being