Figure mining for biomedical research

Motivation: Figures from biomedical articles contain valuable information difficult to reach without specialized tools. Currently, there is no search engine that can retrieve specific figure types. Results: This study describes a retrieval method that takes advantage of principles in image understanding, text mining and optical character recognition (OCR) to retrieve figure types defined conceptually. A search engine was developed to retrieve tables and figure types to aid computational and experimental research. Availability: http://iossifovlab.cshl.edu/figurome Contact: [email protected]

Micosis Fungoide en un perro

Se describe un caso de Micosis Fungoide (MF) en un perro mestizo de 10 años de edad. El animal presentaba una dermatosis multifocal prurítica y simétrica que afectaba a la cabeza, abdomen, ingles, axilas y membranas mucosas., Las principales lesiones eran eritemas, placas, pápulas, pústulas y ulceraciones. Inicialmente se sospechó un pénfigo vulgaris pero los estudios histopatológícos y el test de inmunofluorescencia directa (negativo) evidenciaron que se trataba de una MF.We describe a case of Mycosis Fungoides (MF) in a 10 years old mixed-breed dog. The animal showed a pruritic multifocal dermatosis which affected bead, abdomen, axillae, groins and mucous membranes. Main lesions inciuded erytherna, plaques; papuies, pus tules and ulceration. First a pemphigus vulgaris was suspeaed but histopathology and direct immunofluorescence testing (negative) showed that it was a M.F

The value of early and comprehensive diagnoses in a human fetus with hydrocephalus and progressive obliteration of the aqueduct of Sylvius: Case Report

BACKGROUND: Mutant rodent models have highlighted the importance of the ventricular ependymal cells and the subcommissural organ (a brain gland secreting glycoproteins into the cerebrospinal fluid) in the development of fetal onset hydrocephalus. Evidence indicates that communicating and non-communicating hydrocephalus can be two sequential phases of a single pathological phenomenon triggered by ependymal disruption and/or abnormal function of the subcommissural organ. We have hypothesized that a similar phenomenon may occur in human cases with fetal onset hydrocephalus. CASE PRESENTATION: We report here on a case of human fetal communicating hydrocephalus with no central nervous system abnormalities other than stenosis of the aqueduct of Sylvius (SA) that became non-communicating hydrocephalus during the first postnatal week due to obliteration of the cerebral aqueduct. The case was followed closely by a team of basic and clinic investigators allowing an early diagnosis and prediction of the evolving pathophysiology. This information prompted neurosurgeons to perform a third ventriculostomy at postnatal day 14. The fetus was monitored by ultrasound, computerized axial tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After birth, the follow up was by MRI, electroencephalography and neurological and neurocognitive assessments. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) collected at surgery showed abnormalities in the subcommissural organ proteins and the membrane proteins L1-neural cell adhesion molecule and aquaporin-4. The neurological and neurocognitive assessments at 3 and 6 years of age showed neurological impairments (epilepsy and cognitive deficits). CONCLUSIONS: (1) In a hydrocephalic fetus, a stenosed SA can become obliterated at perinatal stages. (2) In the case reported, a close follow up of a communicating hydrocephalus detected in utero allowed a prompt postnatal surgery aiming to avoid as much brain damage as possible. (3) The clinical and pathological evolution of this patient supports the possibility that the progressive stenosis of the SA initiated during the embryonic period may have resulted from ependymal disruption of the cerebral aqueduct and dysfunction of the subcommissural organ. The analysis of subcommissural organ glycoproteins present in the CSF may be a valuable diagnostic tool for the pathogenesis of congenital hydrocephalus

Functional correlates of response inhibition in impulse control disorders in Parkinson’s disease

Impulse control disorder is a prevalent side-effect of Parkinson’s disease (PD) medication, with a strong negative impact on the quality of life of those affected. Although impulsivity has classically been associated with response inhibition deficits, previous evidence from PD patients with impulse control disorder (ICD) has not revealed behavioral dysfunction in response inhibition. In this study, 18 PD patients with ICD, 17 PD patients without this complication, and 15 healthy controls performed a version of the conditional Stop Signal Task during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Whole-brain contrasts, regions of interest, and functional connectivity analyses were conducted. Our aim was to investigate the neural underpinnings of two aspects of response inhibition: proactive inhibition, inhibition that has been prepared beforehand, and restrained inhibition, inhibition of an invalid inhibitory tendency. We observed that, in respect to the other two groups, PD patients with ICD exhibited hyperactivation of the stopping network bilaterally while performing proactive inhibition. When engaged in restrained inhibition, they showed hyperactivation of the left inferior frontal gyrus, an area linked to action monitoring. Restrained inhibition also resulted in changes to the functional co-activation between inhibitory regions and left inferior parietal cortex and right supramarginal gyrus. Our findings indicate that PD patients with ICD completed the inhibition task correctly, showing altered engagement of inhibitory and attentional areas. During proactive inhibition they showed bilateral hyperactivation of two inhibitory regions, while during restrained inhibition they showed additional involvement of attentional areas responsible for alerting and orientin

Enteric fever: a slow response to an old plague

Man is irremediably embedded in nature with complex interactions with all living organisms. Historically, the establishment of contemporary human societies has been influenced by our coexistence with other microorganisms living in highly interconnected habitats and ecologies. As a result, with the progression from unicellular to multicellular life, bacteria have coexisted with humans. In this biological journey, while there are important benefits provided by bacterial guests to the human host living in complex relationships and becoming part of their microbiome, some organisms are able to cause a wide spectrum of diseases. Among the large Enterobacteriaceae family, the genus Salmonella, a pathotype of Escherichia coli, is one example. Salmonella is further classified into S. enterica and S. bongori serotypes based on its lipopolysaccharide cell wall (somatic O antigen), its flagellar (H antigen), and its surface Vi antigen (present only in S. typhi, S. Paratyphi C, Citrobacter freundii, and S. Dublin) [1]. S. enterica subspecies I, one of the six subspecies of S. enterica, is a major contributor to human disease (Fig 1) [2]. This group of pathogens includes those frequently causing gastroenteritis, such as S. Typhimurium, those causing invasive disease in the forms of bacteremia, such as S. Choleraesius, or the typhoidal Salmonella species causing enteric fever, including S. typhi (typhoid fever) and S. Paratyphi A, B, and C (paratyphoid fever) [1,2]

Slow oscillatory activity and levodopa-induced dyskinesias in Parkinson’s disease

The pathophysiology of levodopa-induced dyskinesias (LID) in Parkinson’s disease is not well understood. We have recorded local field potentials (LFP) from macroelectrodes implanted in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) of 14 patients with Parkinson’s disease following surgical treatment with deep brain stimulation. Patients were studied in the ‘Off’ medication state and in the ‘On’ motor state after administration of levodopa– carbidopa (po) or apomorphine (sc) that elicited dyskinesias in 11 patients. The logarithm of the power spectrum of the LFP in selected frequency bands (4–10, 11–30 and 60–80 Hz) was compared between the ‘Off’ and ‘On’ medication states. A peak in the 11–30 Hz band was recorded in the ‘Off’ medication state and reduced by 45.2% (P < 0.001) in the ‘On’ state. The ‘On’ was also associated with an increment of 77. 6% (P < 0.001) in the 4–10 Hz band in all patients who showed dyskinesias and of 17.8% (P < 0.001) in the 60–80 Hz band in the majority of patients. When dyskinesias were only present in one limb (n = 2), the 4–10 Hz peak was only recorded in the contralateralSTN. These findings suggest that the 4–10 Hz oscillation is associated with the expression of LID in Parkinson’s disease

Physical activity and amyloid beta in middle-aged and older adults:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: One of the pathological hallmarks distinguishing Alzheimer's disease from other dementias is the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Higher physical activity is associated with decreased dementia risk, and one potential path could be through Aβ levels modulation. We aimed to explore the relationship between physical activity and Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and SPORTDiscus was performed from inception to the 28th of April 2022. Studies were eligible if they included physical activity and Aβ data in adults aged 45 years or older. Multi-level meta-analyses of intervention and observational studies were performed to examine the role of physical activity in modulating Aβ levels. Results: In total, 37 articles were included (8 randomized controlled trials, 3 non-randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective longitudinal studies, and 22 cross-sectional studies). The overall effect size of physical activity interventions on changes in blood Aβ was medium (pooled standardized mean difference = –0.69, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): –1.41 to 0.03; I2 = 74.6%). However, these results were not statistically significant, and there were not enough studies to explore the effects of physical activity on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain Aβ. Data from observational studies were examined based on measurements of Aβ in the brain using positron emission tomography scans, CSF, and blood. Higher physical activity was positively associated with Aβ only in the CSF (Estimate r = 0.12; 95%CI: 0.05–0.18; I2 = 38%). Conclusion: Physical activity might moderately reduce blood Aβ in middle-aged and older adults. However, results were only near statistical significance and might be interpreted with caution given the methodological limitations observed in some of the included studies. In observational studies, higher levels of physical activity were positively associated with Aβ only in CSF. Therefore, further research is needed to understand the modulating role of physical activity in the brain, CSF, and blood Aβ, as well as its implication for cognitive health.</p