Hippocampal neuroinflammation, functional connectivity, and depressive symptoms in multiple sclerosis

Depression, a condition commonly comorbid with multiple sclerosis (MS), is associated more generally with elevated inflammatory markers and hippocampal pathology. We hypothesized that neuroinflammation in the hippocampus is responsible for depression associated with MS. We characterized the relationship between depressive symptoms and hippocampal microglial activation in patients with MS using the 18-kDa translocator protein radioligand [18F]PBR111. To evaluate pathophysiologic mechanisms, we explored the relationships between hippocampal neuroinflammation, depressive symptoms, and hippocampal functional connectivities defined by resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) was administered to 11 patients with MS and 22 healthy control subjects before scanning with positron emission tomography and functional magnetic resonance imaging. We tested for higher [18F]PBR111 uptake in the hippocampus of patients with MS relative to healthy control subjects and examined the correlations between [18F]PBR111 uptake, BDI scores, and hippocampal functional connectivities in the patients with MS. Results Patients with MS had an increased hippocampal [18F]PBR111 distribution volume ratio relative to healthy control subjects (p = .024), and the hippocampal distribution volume ratio was strongly correlated with the BDI score in patients with MS (r = .86, p = .006). Hippocampal functional connectivities to the subgenual cingulate and prefrontal and parietal regions correlated with BDI scores and [18F]PBR111 distribution volume ratio. Conclusions Our results provide evidence that hippocampal microglial activation in MS impairs the brain functional connectivities in regions contributing to maintenance of a normal affective state. Our results suggest a rationale for the responsiveness of depression in some patients with MS to effective control of brain neuroinflammation. Our findings also lend support to further investigation of the role of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of depression more generally

2012 ACCF/AHA/ACP/AATS/PCNA/SCAI/STS guideline for the diagnosis and management of patients with stable ischemic heart disease

The recommendations listed in this document are, whenever possible, evidence based. An extensive evidence review was conducted as the document was compiled through December 2008. Repeated literature searches were performed by the guideline development staff and writing committee members as new issues were considered. New clinical trials published in peer-reviewed journals and articles through December 2011 were also reviewed and incorporated when relevant. Furthermore, because of the extended development time period for this guideline, peer review comments indicated that the sections focused on imaging technologies required additional updating, which occurred during 2011. Therefore, the evidence review for the imaging sections includes published literature through December 2011

Robustness a better measure of algorithm performance

Algorithms are an essential part of Operations Research (OR) methodology. Therefore, the efficiency of the algorithms must be a consideration. However, traditional approaches to assessing algorithm efficiency do not always captured the real-world tradeoffs involved. This thesis explored the use of a new measure of algorithm efficiency, robustness, and contrasted it with the traditional "big-O" analysis. Sorting algorithms were used to illustrate the trade-offs. The use of Dr. Genichi Taguchi's robust design techniques allowed us to take into account the impact of factors which would be uncontrollable in the real world, by measuring how those factors affect the consistency of the results. These factors, which are treated separately by big-O analysis, are incorporated as an integral part of robust analysis. The hypothesis was that robustness is potentially a more useful description of algorithm performance than the more traditional big-O analyses. The results of experimentation supported this hypothesis. Where big-O analysis only considers the average performance, robustness integrates the average performance and the consistency of performance. Most importantly, the robust analysis we performed yielded results that are consistent with actual usage-practitioners prefer quicksort over heap sort, despite the fact that under big-O analysis heap sort dominates quicksort.http://archive.org/details/robustnessbetter109453236US Navy (USN) author.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Team 2: Simulation of Technical Aspects in Network-Centric Operations: Results

from Scythe : Proceedings and Bulletin of the International Data Farming Community, Issue 1 Workshop 13The German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement, has been analyzing the influence of networked sensors and effectors on military capabilities. Background for the actual technical evaluations of sensors, effectors and the connecting network is the scenario vignette: Convoy Protection as part of an over all scenario PSO in an urban environment

Team 13: Modelling Technical Aspects of NCO (Convoy Protection)

from Scythe : Proceedings and Bulletin of the International Data Farming Community, Issue 2 Workshop 14The German Federal Office of Defense Technology and Procurement has been analyzing the influence of networked sensors and effectors on military capabilities. The background of our overall scenario is peace support operations (PSO) in an urban environment. The background for the actual technical evaluations of sensors, effectors and the connecting network is the following scenario vignette: Convoy Protection

Floral thermogenesis of three species of Hydnora (Hydnoraceae) in Africa

Background and Aims: Floral thermogenesis occurs in at least 12 families of ancient seed plants. Some species show very high rates of respiration through the alternative pathway, and some are thermoregulatory, with increasing respiration at decreasing ambient temperature. This study assesses the intensity and regulation of respiration in three species of African Hydnora that represent the Hydnoraceae, an unusual family of holoparasitic plants from arid environments. Methods: Long-term respirometry (CO2 production) and thermometry were carried out on intact flowers of H. africana, H. abyssinica and H. esculenta in the field, and short-term measurements were made on floral parts during the protogynous flowering sequence. Key Results: For H. africana, there was no temperature elevation in either the osmophores or the gynoecial chamber in any phase, and mass-specific respiration rates of the flower parts were low (maximum 8·3 nmol CO2 g–1 s–1 in osmophore tissue). Respiration tracked ambient and floral temperatures, eliminating the possibility of the inverse relationship expected in thermoregulatory flowers. Hydnora abyssinica flowers had higher respiration (maximum 27·5 nmol g–1 s–1 in the osmophores) and a slight elevation of osmophore temperature (maximum 2·8 °C) in the female stage. Respiration by gynoecial tissue was similar to that of osmophores in both species, but there was no measurable elevation of gynoecial chamber temperature. Gynoecial chamber temperature of H. esculenta could reach 3·8 °C above ambient, but there are no respiration data available. Antheral tissue respiration was maximal in the male phase (4·8 nmol g–1 s–1 in H. africana and 10·3 nmol g–1 s–1 in H. abyssinica), but it did not raise the antheral ring temperature, which showed that thermogenesis is not a by-product of pollen maturation or release. Conclusions: The exceptionally low thermogenesis in Hydnora appears to be associated with scent production and possibly gynoecial development, but has little direct benefit to beetle pollinators.Roger S. Seymour, Erika Maass and Jay F. Boli

Medication Adherence, Depressive Symptoms, and Cardiac Event–Free Survival in Patients With Heart Failure

BACKGROUND: Medication nonadherence and depressive symptoms predict hospitalization and death in patients with heart failure (HF). Depressed patients have lower medication adherence than non-depressed patients. However, the predictive power of the combination of medication adherence and depressive symptoms for hospitalization and death has not been investigated in patients with HF. OBJECTIVE: To explore the combined influence of medication adherence and depressive symptoms for prediction of cardiac event-free survival in patients with HF. METHOD: We monitored medication adherence in 216 HF patients who completed the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline. Medication adherence was measured objectively using Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS). Patients were followed for up to 3 1/2 years to collect data on cardiac event(s). Survival analyses were used to compare cardiac event-free survival between/among groups. RESULTS: The risk of experiencing a cardiac event for patients with medication nonadherence and depressive symptoms was 5 times higher compared to those who were medication adherent without depressive symptoms. The risk of experiencing a cardiac event for patients with only one risk factor was 1.2–1.3 times that of those with neither risk factor. CONCLUSION: Medication nonadherence and depressive symptoms had a negative synergistic effect on cardiac event-free survival in patients with HF