Neural Dynamics of Phonological Processing in the Dorsal Auditory Stream

Neuroanatomical models hypothesize a role for the dorsal auditory pathway in phonological processing as a feedforward efferent system (Davis and Johnsrude, 2007; Rauschecker and Scott, 2009; Hickok et al., 2011). But the functional organization of the pathway, in terms of time course of interactions between auditory, somatosensory, and motor regions, and the hemispheric lateralization pattern is largely unknown. Here, ambiguous duplex syllables, with elements presented dichotically at varying interaural asynchronies, were used to parametrically modulate phonological processing and associated neural activity in the human dorsal auditory stream. Subjects performed syllable and chirp identification tasks, while event-related potentials and functional magnetic resonance images were concurrently collected. Joint independent component analysis was applied to fuse the neuroimaging data and study the neural dynamics of brain regions involved in phonological processing with high spatiotemporal resolution. Results revealed a highly interactive neural network associated with phonological processing, composed of functional fields in posterior temporal gyrus (pSTG), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), and ventral central sulcus (vCS) that were engaged early and almost simultaneously (at 80–100 ms), consistent with a direct influence of articulatory somatomotor areas on phonemic perception. Left hemispheric lateralization was observed 250 ms earlier in IPL and vCS than pSTG, suggesting that functional specialization of somatomotor (and not auditory) areas determined lateralization in the dorsal auditory pathway. The temporal dynamics of the dorsal auditory pathway described here offer a new understanding of its functional organization and demonstrate that temporal information is essential to resolve neural circuits underlying complex behaviors

Microwave Combustion Synthesis of Silver Doped Lanthanum Ferrite Magnetic Nanoparticles

Lanthanum ferrite (LaFeO3) and silver doped LaFeO3 powders were synthesized by a single step microwave combustion route using nitrates as precursors and glycine as a fuel. XRD analysis indicated the formation of cubic phase with the dopant peaks at 2θ values of 38.3°, 44.1° and 64.4° apart from the peaks corresponding to LaFeO3. As observed from the transmission electron micrographs, LaFeO3 exhibits particles with a larger size (mean size ~57 nm), significant decrease in particle size is observed for silver doped samples. The magnetic measurements reveal weak ferromagnetic nature of LaFeO3, while silver doped samples are ferromagnetic in nature. Lanthanum silver ferrite (x=0.25, A site) shows maximum coercivity (Hci=480.96G) with hysteresis loop at room temperature which is a clear sign of ferromagnetic ordering. The S shape of the curve implies the presence of domain wall movements in nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis of the samples show stable behavior of the products.Defence Science Journal, 2013, 63(3), pp.285-291, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.63.238

A Prospective Analysis of Sources of Referral to a Student Run Free Clinic in Camden, NJ

Background: A center for learning and a haven for minority, marginalized, and medically indigent patients, the student run free clinic (SRFC) has emerged as a cornerstone of care at many academic medical centers (AMC). However, little is known regarding the demographics of patients who utilize SRFC and the manner in which they come to know of the free and quality care available at SRFC . Methods: Participants were administered a survey wherein they were asked their ethnicity, how they came to know of the clinic, and how long they have remained a patient at the Cooper Rowan Clinic (CRC) – the SRFC of Cooper Medical School in Camden, NJ. Results: One hundred and seventy-five patients participated in this survey of which 77% identified as Hispanic, 16% identified as African American, 6% identified as white, and 1% identified as Asian. Participants came to know of the clinic predominantly by word of mouth (64%). Other sources of referral included discharges from the AMC’s university hospital (10%), AMC outpatient specialists (9%), the AMC emergency department (8%), the local cancer screening initiative (6%), and an AMC under-insured program (3%). A majority of patients (57%) reported being patients of the clinic for \u3e1 year, while 43% reported being patients foryear. Conclusions: This data suggests that the predominantly Hispanic population of the CRC came to know of it via word of mouth and remained patients upon initiating care

Leukocyte function in the aging immune system

Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141408/1/jlb1001.pd

Medication Literacy Tool in a Student-Run Free Clinic

Introduction: Low medication literacy can lead to prescription non-adherence and medical errors. The goal of this study was to create an easy-to-use comprehensive medication literacy assessment tool to aid in identification of patients with trouble reading and interpreting medication labels in the primary care setting. The secondary goal was to evaluate the role of primary language and education level on medication literacy and determine if patient reported difficulty with reading labels correlated with a lower medication literacy. Methods: Forty-two patients of the Cooper Rowan Clinic, a student-run free clinic, were given a demographic survey and 7-item questionnaire based on a standard prescription label. The study was limited to patients over the age of 16 who were able to read in either English or Spanish. Results: A significant difference was noted in average scores between the English and Spanish-speaking groups. In addition, a positive correlation was found between education level and assessment scores. The assessment scores of participants who self-reported having trouble reading their label were lower but not significantly different from those who did not report difficulty reading a label. Conclusions: The assessment was easily administered in a student-run clinic and could be used for medication literacy evaluation and quality improvement in other clinics. This tool also shows that primary language and education play a role in the ability to interpret labels. Further testing could be performed to establish the validity of the assessment with longer, well-established health literacy tests

The functional organization of the left STS: a large scale meta-analysis of PET and fMRI studies of healthy adults

The superior temporal sulcus (STS) in the left hemisphere is functionally diverse, with sub-areas implicated in both linguistic and non-linguistic functions. However, the number and boundaries of distinct functional regions remain to be determined. Here, we present new evidence, from meta-analysis of a large number of positron emission tomography (PET) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, of different functional specificity in the left STS supporting a division of its middle to terminal extent into at least three functional areas. The middle portion of the left STS stem (fmSTS) is highly specialized for speech perception and the processing of language material. The posterior portion of the left STS stem (fpSTS) is highly versatile and involved in multiple functions supporting semantic memory and associative thinking. The fpSTS responds to both language and non-language stimuli but the sensitivity to non-language material is greater. The horizontal portion of the left STS stem and terminal ascending branches (ftSTS) display intermediate functional specificity, with the anterior ascending branch adjoining the supramarginal gyrus (fatSTS) supporting executive functions and motor planning and showing greater sensitivity to language material, and the horizontal stem and posterior ascending branch adjoining the angular gyrus (fptSTS) supporting primarily semantic processing and displaying greater sensitivity to non-language material. We suggest that the high functional specificity of the left fmSTS for speech is an important means by which the human brain achieves exquisite affinity and efficiency for native speech perception. In contrast, the extreme multi-functionality of the left fpSTS reflects the role of this area as a cortical hub for semantic processing and the extraction of meaning from multiple sources of information. Finally, in the left ftSTS, further functional differentiation between the dorsal and ventral aspect is warranted

Loxosceles deserta Spider Venom Induces the Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in Keratinocytes

Evenomation by arachnids of the genus Loxosceles frequently results in disfiguring necrotic skin lesions. The cellular and molecular mechanisms which contribute to lesion development are incompletely defined but appear to involve participation of several pro-inflammatory mediators. We have recently observed that Loxosceles deserta venom induces the production of chemokines in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human pulmonary epithelial cells. In the present study we observed that Loxosceles deserta venom induces the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human keratinocytes but little in smooth muscle cells and none in pulmonary epithelial cells. A potent endothelial cell-specific mitogen, VEGF induces angiogenesis and vascular permeability in vivo. RNase protection assay data indicate that VEGF mRNA concentrations in keratinocytes are significantly increased at 2 h following venom exposure. These data suggest that keratinocyte-derived VEGF may contribute to the vasodilation, edema and erythema which occur following Loxosceles evenomation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44528/1/10753_2004_Article_220727.pd

Homocysteine Augments Cytokine-Induced Chemokine Expression in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells: Implications for Atherogenesis

Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis. While in vitro studies have revealed a number of homocysteine-mediated alterations in the thromboregulatory properties of endothelial cells, comparatively little is known about homocysteine-modulated smooth muscle cell function. We observed that exposure of human aortic smooth muscle cells to pathophysiologically relevant concentrations of homocysteine results in concentration-dependent increases in cytokine-induced MCP-1 and IL-8 secretion. RNase protection assays revealed that both MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNA concentrations are increased in homocysteine-treated smooth muscle cells when compared to cells activated with cytokines alone. Homocysteine treatment also increased cytosolic-to-nuclear translocation of the p65 and p50 subunits of the Rel/NF-κB family of transcription factors but had no effect on AP-1 activation. Cumulatively, these data suggest that homocysteine may increase monocyte recruitment into developing atherosclerotic lesions by upregulating MCP-1 and IL-8 expression in vascular smooth muscle cells.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44529/1/10753_2004_Article_297162.pd

Nitric Oxide Modulates MCP-1 Expression in Endothelial Cells: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Granulomatous Vasculitis

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is a pivotal mediator of angiocentric granuloma formation in glucan-induced pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis. Based on the rationale that mononuclear phagocytes retrieved from granulomas are rich sources of nitric oxide (NO) and that the recruitment of mononuclear phagocytes into lesions abates as granuloma formation slows, we tested the hypothesis that MCP-1 gene expression is regulated by a NO-sensitive mechanism. Preexposure of endothelial cell (EC) monolayers to NO donor compounds markedly reduced cytokine-induced MCP-1 expression and cytosolic-to-nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), reversed fluctuations in endothelial reduced glutathione (GSH) pools but did not affect cGMP concentrations. The lungs of mice bearing targeted disruptions of the inducible nitric oxide synthase ( iNOS ) gene exhibited significantly higher concentrations of MCP-1 following glucan infusion than did those of wild-type mice. Cumulatively, these data suggest that NO suppresses MCP-1 expression by blunting the redox changes associated with cytokine-induced EC activation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/44532/1/10753_2004_Article_470375.pd

Formulation and Optimization of Orodispersible Tablet of Loratadine Using Box Behnken Design

In present study Orodispersible tablets (ORDT) of Loratadine were prepared and optimized. Solid dispersion of Loratadine- β cyclodextrin complex were prepared and used in preparation of Orodispersible tablets. Various super-disintegrating agent like Cross carmellose sodium, Cross povidone and Kyron T-314 were employed for faster disintegrating effect. The 24 factorial and Box-Behnken design were utilized to optimize the tablet formulation. The Orodispersible tablet of Loratadine was optimized by Box Behnken Design, where concentrations Kyron T-314, CRP and Pearlitol SD200 were employed and its effect on Disintegration time (DT), Wetting time (WT) and % drug release at 20 min (Q20) was evaluated. Precompression parameters like angle of repose, bulk density, % compressibility, Hausner’s ratio was studies. The different batches of Orodispersable tablets were prepared and evaluated for disintegration time, friability, wetting time and drug release studies. Different batches prepared showed disintegration time in the range of 23 ± 2.52 to 59 ± 2.64, wetting time in between 27± 0.57 to 66.3 ± 3.4, drug release (Q 20) in between 86.1 ± 0.6 to 96.7 ± 0.4 in 20 min., friability less than 1 % and hardness 3.4 to 4.2 Kg/cm2. The optimized formula when compared with marketed product it showed faster disintegration time and rapid drug dissolution in phosphate buffer 6.8. The solid dispersion of Loratadine not only helped improve in solubility but may also help in taste masking. Keywords: Orodispersible tablets, Loratadine, β cyclodextrin Solid dispersio