Induced oscillatory signaling in the beta frequency of top-down pain modulation

Background: Induced synchronized brain activity, particularly in the beta-frequency range, has rarely been investigated in human electrophysiological studies of attentional modulation of the perception of nociceptive stimuli. Methods: We measured time-resolved brain responses to nociceptive stimuli in healthy subjects (final data set: n 5 17) using magnetoencephalography (MEG). In addition to investigating evoked responses as previous studies, we tested whether synchronized beta activity induced by nociceptive stimuli differs between 2 attentional conditions. Subjects were presented simultaneously with 2 stimulus modalities (pain-producing intraepidermal electrical stimuli and visual stimuli) in 2 different experimental conditions, ie, “attention to pain” and “attention to color.” Pain ratings between conditions were compared using a 2- sided paired-sample t test; MEG data were analyzed with Brainstorm. Results: Pain ratings were significantly higher in the “attention to pain” compared with the “attention to color” condition. Peak amplitudes of the evoked responses were significantly larger in the “attention to pain” condition bilaterally in the insula and secondary somatosensory cortex, and in the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) contralateral to stimulation. Induced responses to painful stimuli were significantly stronger in contralateral SI in the beta-frequency range in the “attention to pain” condition. Conclusions: This study replicates previous reports w.r.t. the attentional modulation of evoked responses and suggests a functional role of induced oscillatory activity in the beta frequency in top-down modulation of nociceptive stimuli

Focal choroidal excavation in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy.

[Purpose]To study the prevalence and 3-dimensional (3-D) tomographic features of focal choroidal excavations in eyes with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) using swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT). [Design]Prospective, cross-sectional study. [Methods]We examined 116 consecutive eyes with CSC with a prototype 3-D swept-source OCT. 3-D images of the shape of the macular area, covering 6 × 6 mm2, were reconstructed by segmentation of the outer surface of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). [Results]The 3-D swept-source OCT detected focal choroidal excavations in 9 eyes (7.8%). The 3-D scanning protocol, coupled with en face scans, allowed for clear visualization of the excavation morphology. In 5 eyes with focal excavations, unusual choroidal tissue was found beneath the excavation, bridging the bottom of the excavation and the outer choroidal boundary. Additionally, 3 of those 5 eyes showed a suprachoroidal space below the excavation, as if the outer choroidal boundary is pulled inward by this bridging tissue. The focal choroidal excavations were located within fluorescein leakage points and areas of choroidal hyperpermeability. Eyes with focal choroidal excavations were more myopic (−4.42 ± 2.92 diopters) than eyes without excavations (−0.27 ± 1.80 diopters, P = .001). Subfoveal choroidal thickness was significantly thinner (301.3 ± 60.1 μm) in eyes with focal excavations than in eyes without the excavations (376.6 ± 104.8 μm, P = .036). [Conclusions]Focal choroidal excavations were present in 7.8% of eyes with CSC. In these eyes, focal choroidal excavations may have formed from RPE retraction caused by focal scarring of choroidal connective tissue

Clinical characteristics of DM-PM ILD

Background : Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) often have association with interstitial lung disease (ILD) which have disease specific autoantibody. Methodology :We reviewed medical records of DM/PM associated ILD from January 2000 to December 2017 according to the autoantibody. Result : We identified 52 patients, of whom30 were antibody negative, 18 had anti aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS) antibodies and 4 had anti melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA)-5 antibody. In high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, area of ground glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, and lung tip consolidation were more extensive in anti MDA-5 antibody positive patients (p=0.051, p=0.026, and p=0.027, respectively). Among laboratory findings, GOT had strong correlations with CPK (r=0.889, p<0.001), and LDH (r=0.910, p<0.001). Among roentgenographic findings, there were moderate correlations between GGO and consolidation (r=0.668, p<0.001), and between reticular shadow and traction bronchiectasis (p=0.633, p<0.001). ILD patients with anti MDA-5 antibodies had decreased survival (1.00 vs 84.3, 22.9 months, p<0.001). Conclusion : ILD patients with anti ARS antibody had intense inflammation, but reversible fibrosis and good prognosis. On the other hand, anti MDA-5 antibody positive ILD patients had shorter survival. Extent of parenchymal shadow and serum GOT were useful indicator of disease activity of PM/DM associated ILD patients in our cohort

Clinical characteristics of DM-PM ILD

Background : Dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) often have association with interstitial lung disease (ILD) which have disease specific autoantibody. Methodology :We reviewed medical records of DM/PM associated ILD from January 2000 to December 2017 according to the autoantibody. Result : We identified 52 patients, of whom30 were antibody negative, 18 had anti aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS) antibodies and 4 had anti melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA)-5 antibody. In high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) of the chest, area of ground glass opacity (GGO), consolidation, and lung tip consolidation were more extensive in anti MDA-5 antibody positive patients (p=0.051, p=0.026, and p=0.027, respectively). Among laboratory findings, GOT had strong correlations with CPK (r=0.889, p<0.001), and LDH (r=0.910, p<0.001). Among roentgenographic findings, there were moderate correlations between GGO and consolidation (r=0.668, p<0.001), and between reticular shadow and traction bronchiectasis (p=0.633, p<0.001). ILD patients with anti MDA-5 antibodies had decreased survival (1.00 vs 84.3, 22.9 months, p<0.001). Conclusion : ILD patients with anti ARS antibody had intense inflammation, but reversible fibrosis and good prognosis. On the other hand, anti MDA-5 antibody positive ILD patients had shorter survival. Extent of parenchymal shadow and serum GOT were useful indicator of disease activity of PM/DM associated ILD patients in our cohort

Zero-bias conductance peak splitting due to multiband effect in tunneling spectroscopy

We study how the multiplicity of the Fermi surface affects the zero-bias peak in conductance spectra of tunneling spectroscopy. As case studies, we consider models for organic superconductors $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$ and (TMTSF)$_2$ClO$_4$. We find that multiplicity of the Fermi surfaces can lead to a splitting of the zero-bias conductance peak (ZBCP). We propose that the presence/absence of the ZBCP splitting is used as a probe to distinguish the pairing symmetry in $\kappa$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$Cu(NCS)$_2$.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Resolvin D2 Induces Resolution of Periapical Inflammation and Promotes Healing of Periapical Lesions in Rat Periapical Periodontitis

Periapical periodontitis results from pulpal infection leading to pulpal necrosis and resorption of periapical bone. The current treatment is root canal therapy, which attempts to eliminate infection and necrotic tissue. But, in some cases periapical inflammation doesn't resolve even after treatment. Resolvins belongs to a large family of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators that actively resolves inflammation signaling via specific receptors. Resolvin D2 (RvD2), a metabolite of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), was tested as an intracanal medicament in rats in vivo. Mechanism was evaluated in rat primary dental pulp cells (DPCs) in vitro. The results demonstrate that RvD2 reduces inflammatory cell infiltrate, periapical lesion size, and fosters pulp like tissue regeneration and healing of periapical lesion. RvD2 enhanced expression of its receptor, GPR18, dentin matrix acidic phosphoprotein 1 (DMP1) and mineralization in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, RvD2 induces phosphorylation of Stat3 transcription factor in dental pulp cells. We conclude that intracanal treatment with RvD2 resolves inflammation and promoting calcification around root apex and healing of periapical bone lesions. The data suggest that RvD2 induces active resolution of inflammation with pulp-like tissue regeneration after root canal infection and thus maybe suitable for treating periapical lesions

World squid fisheries

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