Autistic Traits and Brain Activation during Face-to-Face Conversations in Typically Developed Adults

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviours. The severity of these characteristics is posited to lie on a continuum that extends into the general population. Brain substrates underlying ASD have been investigated through functional neuroimaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). However, fMRI has methodological constraints for studying brain mechanisms during social interactions (for example, noise, lying on a gantry during the procedure, etc.). In this study, we investigated whether variations in autism spectrum traits are associated with changes in patterns of brain activation in typically developed adults. We used near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), a recently developed functional neuroimaging technique that uses near-infrared light, to monitor brain activation in a natural setting that is suitable for studying brain functions during social interactions. METHODOLOGY: We monitored regional cerebral blood volume changes using a 52-channel NIRS apparatus over the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and superior temporal sulcus (STS), 2 areas implicated in social cognition and the pathology of ASD, in 28 typically developed participants (14 male and 14 female) during face-to-face conversations. This task was designed to resemble a realistic social situation. We examined the correlations of these changes with autistic traits assessed using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Both the PFC and STS were significantly activated during face-to-face conversations. AQ scores were negatively correlated with regional cerebral blood volume increases in the left STS during face-to-face conversations, especially in males. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate successful monitoring of brain function during realistic social interactions by NIRS as well as lesser brain activation in the left STS during face-to-face conversations in typically developed participants with higher levels of autistic traits

Staged Sinus Floor Elevation Using Novel Low-Crystalline Carbonate Apatite Granules : Prospective Results after 3-Year Functional Loading

The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes of staged sinus floor elevation (SFE) using novel low-crystalline carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) granules. Patients who needed SFE for implant placement were recruited into this clinical trial. A staged procedure (lateral window technique using CO3Ap granules, followed by implant placement after 7 ± 2 months) was employed in 13 patients. Bone-height increase and insertion torque values (ITVs) were assessed along with histological evaluation. The survival and success rates of 3-year functioning implants were also evaluated. Mean of bone-height increase after SFE using CO3Ap granules was 7.2 ± 2.5 mm and this increase allowed implant placement in all cases (17 implants). Mean of ITV was 25.1 ± 13.2 Ncm and primary stability was achieved successfully in all cases. Histological analyses revealed mature new bone formation (36.8 ± 17.3%) and residual CO3Ap granules (16.2 ± 10.1%) in the compartment after SFE. The survival and success rates after 3-year functional loading were 100% and no complications were found. These results clearly indicate the clinical usefulness of CO3Ap granules for SFE

Two-stage sinus floor augmentation using carbonate apatite

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to elucidate the efficacy and safety of carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) granules in 2-stage sinus floor augmentation through the radiographic and histomorphometric assessment of bone biopsy specimens. Methods: Two-stage sinus floor augmentation was performed on 13 patients with a total of 17 implants. Radiographic assessment using panoramic radiographs was performed immediately after augmentation and was also performed 2 additional times, at 7±2 months and 18±2 months post-augmentation, respectively. Bone biopsy specimens taken from planned implant placement sites underwent micro-computed tomography, after which histological sections were prepared. Results: Postoperative healing of the sinus floor augmentation was uneventful in all cases. The mean preoperative residual bone height was 3.5±1.3 mm, and this was increased to 13.3±1.7 mm by augmentation with the CO3Ap granules. The mean height of the augmented site had decreased to 10.7±1.9 mm by 7±2 months after augmentation; however, implants with lengths in the range of 6.5 to 11.5 mm could still be placed. The mean height of the augmented site had decreased to 9.6±1.4 mm by 18±2 months post-augmentation. No implant failure or complications were observed. Few inflammatory cells or foreign body giant cells were observed in the bone biopsy specimens. Although there were individual differences in the amount of new bone detected, new bone was observed to be in direct contact with the CO3Ap granules in all cases, without an intermediate layer of fibrous tissue. The amounts of bone and residual CO3Ap were 33.8%±15.1% and 15.3%±11.9%, respectively. Conclusions: In this first demonstration, low-crystalline CO3Ap granules showed excellent biocompatibility, and bone biopsy showed them to be replaced with bone in humans. CO3Ap granules are a useful and safe bone substitute for two-stage sinus floor augmentation

Risk factors for initial antibiotic treatment failure in patients with aspiration pneumonia

Sulbactam/ampicillin （SBT/ABPC） and ceftriaxone （CTRX） are the initial antibiotics recommended for treating aspiration pneumonia without risk factors for drug-resistant pathogens. However, the condition of some patients does not improve with these antibiotics. Therefore, we investigated the new risk factors associated with failure of initial antibiotic treatment in patients with aspiration pneumonia. This study included 487 patients diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia who received initial antibiotic treatment with SBT/ABPC or CTRX, and were hospitalized at the Respiratory Medicine Department of the Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital. The outcome was initial antibiotic treatment failure, which was defined as a change from initial to secondary antibiotic treatment. The characteristics of patients with and without antibiotic treatment failure were compared using univariate analyses, and significant independent risk factors for the initial antibiotic treatment failure were selected using multivariate analyses. The mean age of the patients was 84.1 ± 9.6 years; 302 （62％） of them were men and 93 patients experienced antibiotic treatment failure. Logistic regression analysis extracted no restriction of diet on admission （odds ratio ［OR］, 3.23; 95% confidence interval ［CI］, 1.35-7.74）, history of hospitalization due to aspiration pneumonia （OR, 1.81; 95％CI, 1.12-2.93）, the severity of pneumonia （OR, 1.37; 95％CI, 1.01-1.86）, and C-reactive protein （CRP） level （OR, 1.26; 95％CI, 1.09-1.45） as risk factors for initial antibiotic treatment failure. Our results suggested that no restriction of diet on admission, history of hospitalization due to aspiration pneumonia, severity of pneumonia, and increased CRP levels were the risk factors associated with failure of initial antibiotic treatment in patients with aspiration pneumonia. These factors will be useful for determining an effective initial treatment strategy for patients with aspiration pneumonia

Exome Sequencing Reveals a Homozygous SYT14 Mutation in Adult-Onset, Autosomal-Recessive Spinocerebellar Ataxia with Psychomotor Retardation

Autosomal-recessive cerebellar ataxias (ARCAs) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders associated with diverse neurological and nonneurological features that occur before the age of 20. Currently, mutations in more than 20 genes have been identified, but approximately half of the ARCA patients remain genetically unresolved. In this report, we describe a Japanese family in which two siblings have slow progression of a type of ARCA with psychomotor retardation. Using whole-exome sequencing combined with homozygosity mapping, we identified a homozygous missense mutation in SYT14, encoding synaptotagmin XIV (SYT14). Expression analysis of the mRNA of SYT14 by a TaqMan assay confirmed that SYT14 mRNA was highly expressed in human fetal and adult brain tissue as well as in the mouse brain (especially in the cerebellum). In an in vitro overexpression system, the mutant SYT14 showed intracellular localization different from that of the wild-type. An immunohistochemical analysis clearly showed that SYT14 is specifically localized to Purkinje cells of the cerebellum in humans and mice. Synaptotagmins are associated with exocytosis of secretory vesicles (including synaptic vesicles), indicating that the alteration of the membrane-trafficking machinery by the SYT14 mutation may represent a distinct pathomechanism associated with human neurodegenerative disorders