Encoding-related brain activity and accelerated forgetting in transient epileptic amnesia

The accelerated forgetting of newly learned information is common amongst patients with epilepsy and, in particular, in the syndrome of transient epileptic amnesia (TEA). However, the neural mechanisms underlying accelerated forgetting are poorly understood. It has been hypothesised that interictal epileptiform activity during longer retention intervals disrupts normally established memory traces. Here, we tested a distinct hypothesis-that accelerated forgetting relates to the abnormal encoding of memories. We studied a group of 15 patients with TEA together with matched, healthy control subjects. Despite normal performance on standard anterograde memory tasks, patients showed accelerated forgetting of a word list over one week. We used a subsequent memory paradigm to compare encoding-related brain activity in patients and controls. Participants studied a series of visually presented scenes whilst undergoing functional MRI scanning. Recognition memory for these scenes was then probed outside the scanner after delays of 45 min and of 4 days. Patients showed poorer memory for the scenes compared with controls. In the patients but not the controls, subsequently forgotten stimuli were associated with reduced hippocampal activation at encoding. Furthermore, patients demonstrated reduced deactivation of posteromedial cortex regions upon viewing subsequently remembered stimuli as compared to subsequently forgotten ones. These data suggest that abnormal encoding-related activity in key memory areas of the brain contributes to accelerated forgetting in TEA. We propose that abnormally encoded memory traces may be particularly vulnerable to interference from subsequently encountered material and hence be forgotten more rapidly. Our results shed light on the mechanisms underlying memory impairment in epilepsy, and offer support to the proposal that accelerated forgetting may be a useful marker of subtle dysfunction in memory-related brain systems.This article is freely available via Open Access. Click on the Publisher URL to access it via the publisher's site.MR/K010395/1/MRC_/Medical Research Council/United Kingdom 203139/Z/16/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom 104571/Z/14/Z/WT_/Wellcome Trust/United Kingdom DH_/Department of Health/United Kingdompublished version, accepted version (12 month embargo), submitted versio

ANALYSIS OF NEUTRON FIELDS GENERATED IN SPALLATION TARGETS OF B-URAN EXPERIMENTAL ASSEMBLY USING MONTE CARLO METHOD

The aim of this paper is to introduce experimental assembly B-URAN and the results of Monte Carlo simulations of neutron fields, which will be generated by using various spallation targets. This experimental assembly was constructed in Joint Institute of Nuclear Research in Dubna, Russian Federation, in order to study accelerator driven systems fundamental characteristics. Beam of 660 MeV protons should be used for that purpose. The MCNP model of such set-up has been developed at Brno University of Technology, Czech Republic. The goal is to get data needed for prediction of reaction rates in detectors placed in B-URAN experimental channels. Such data will be experimentally validated later. Furthermore, simulations of radiation exposure around this xperimental assembly were performed

Knowledge-based automated mechanical design of a robot manipulator

Design methods have been improving with an increasing level of algorithmic support for some time. The most recent advances include generative design and various optimization methods. However, the automated design tools are often focused on a single stage of the design process, for example, kinematics design, mechanical topology, or drive selection. In this paper, we show the whole design process of a robotic manipulator in an automated workflow. The method consisted of two main parts: a genetic optimization of the kinematic structure and an iterative automated CAD design. The method was then applied to a case study in which a manipulator with five degrees of freedom for a handling task was designed.Web of Science1212art. no. 589

On Memory

On Memory is a collaboration between a composer (Whalley), a neurologist (Zeman) and an author (McCall Smith). Explored through music, science and poetry; each movement tackles a different aspect of memory. How are memories formed? What is the power of forgetting, as well as remembering? What part does music play in our autobiographical memory? After an interval, this is followed with a discussion with the authors led and chaired by Professor Catherine Loveday, digging deeper into the special relationship that music has with memory and our sense of self

Short-course radiotherapy as a part of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer – a new standard?

Selection of optimal perioperative treatment for rectal cancer remains a subject of controversies.  Recently established new rationales for use of short-course preoperative radiotherapy (SCRT- 25 Gy in 5 fractions), instead of standard long-course preoperative radio-chemotherapy (LCRT-CT), are presented and discussed in the present review. New data suggest that short-course radiotherapy combined with 6 cycles of CAPOX, or 9 of FOLFOX4 may be considered, at present, the best option for perioperative treatment of high-risk rectal cancer. However, there is a clear need to further optimize preoperative treatment using rapidly evolving markers of treatment response, including microsatellite instability and targetable or predictive tumour mutations

Short-course radiotherapy as part of total neoadjuvant therapy for locally advanced rectal cancer – a new standard?

Selection of optimal perioperative treatment for rectal cancer remains a subject of controversy. Recently established new rationales for the use of short-course preoperative radiotherapy (SCRT – 25 Gy in 5 fractions), instead of standard long-course preoperative radio-chemotherapy (LCRT-CT), are presented and discussed in the present review. New data suggest that short-course radiotherapy combined with 6 cycles of CAPOX, or 9 of FOLFOX4, at present may be considered the best option for perioperative treatment of high-risk rectal cancer. However, there is a clear need to further optimize preoperative treatment using rapidly evolving markers of treatment response, including microsatellite instability and targetable or predictive tumour mutations

Accelerated Long-Term Forgetting Can Become Apparent Within 3-8 Hours of Wakefulness in Patients With Transient Epileptic Amnesia

OBJECTIVE: Accelerated long-term forgetting (ALF) is typically defined as a memory disorder in which information that is learned and retained normally over standard intervals (∼30 min) is forgotten at an abnormally rapid rate thereafter. ALF has been reported, in particular, among patients with transient epileptic amnesia (TEA). Previous work in TEA has revealed ALF 24 hr - 1 week after initial memory acquisition. It is unclear, however, if ALF observed 24 hr after acquisition reflects (a) an impairment of sleep consolidation processes taking place during the first night's sleep, or (b) an impairment of daytime consolidation processes taking place during the day of acquisition. Here we focus on the daytime-forgetting hypothesis of ALF in TEA by tracking in detail the time course of ALF over the day of acquisition, as well as over 24 hr and 1 week. METHOD: Eleven TEA patients who showed ALF at 1 week and 16 matched controls learned 4 categorical word lists on the morning of the day of acquisition. We subsequently probed word-list retention 30 min, 3 hr, and 8 hr postacquisition (i.e., over the day of acquisition), as well as 24-hr and 1-week post acquisition. RESULTS: ALF became apparent in the TEA group over the course of the day of acquisition 3-8 hr after learning. No further forgetting was observed over the first night in either group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that ALF in TEA can result from a deficit in memory consolidation occurring within hours of learning without a requirement for intervening sleep. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2015 APA, all rights reserved)

Novel, self-made and cost-ective technique for closed-incision negative pressure wound therapy

Background: It has been suggested that applying the negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) to a closedsurgical incision may hasten the healing of the incision and decrease the incidence of wound healing complications. The goal of this study is to present the new idea of a simple, self-made, low-cost wound vacuum dressing for closed-incision NPWT that may become an alternative to currently manufactured medicalindustry products.Method: We designed a simple dressing for closed-incision NPWT from gauze pads, polyurethane adhesive film, stoma paste, and a drain tube. Negative pressure was created using a standard 50 ml syringe connected to the drain. First, the dressing was applied to the wound model and on the healthy volunteer. Finally, the dressing was applied to 10 patients after low anterior rectal resection. The vacuum dressing was left in place for 3 days, then changed and placed once more for the next 3 days.Results: We did not observe any adverse effects associatedwith the dressing. All postoperative wounds healed properly. 18 out of 20 dressings were still air-tight 72h post-placement.Conclusions: This simple, self-made dressing for NPWT is safe and effective and may decrease the wound infection rate. However future studies are needed to confirm that hypothesis