Is right angular gyrus involved in the metric component of the mental body representation in touch and vision? A tdcs study

Several studies have found in the sense of touch a good sensory modality by which to study body representation. Here, we address the “metric component of body representation”, a specific function developed to process the discrimination of tactile distances on the body. The literature suggests the involvement of the right angular gyrus (rAG) in processing the tactile metricity on the body. The question of this study is the following: is the rAG also responsible for the visual metric component of body representation? We used tDCS (anodal and sham) in 20 subjects who were administered an on-body distance discrimination task with both tactile and visual stimuli. They were also asked to perform the same task in a near-body condition. The results allow us to confirm the role of rAG in the estimation of tactile distances. Further, we also showed that rAG might be involved in the discrimination of distances on the body not only in tactile but also in visual modality. Finally, based on the significant effects of anodal stimulation even in a near-body visual discrimination task, we proposed a higher-order function of the AG in terms of a supramodal com-parator of quantities

Exploring the potential of NIR hyperspectral imaging for automated quantification of rind amount in grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese

Parmigiano Reggiano (P-R) is one of the most important Italian food products labelled with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). The PDO denomination is applied also to grated P-R cheese products meeting the requirements regulated by the Specifications of Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese. Different quality parameters are monitored, including the percentage of rind, which is edible and should not exceed the limit of 18% (w/w). The present study aims at evaluating the possibility of using near infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI) to quantify the rind percentage in grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese samples in a fast and non-destructive manner. Indeed, NIR-HSI allows the simultaneous acquisition of both spatial and spectral information from a sample, which is more suitable than classical single-point spectroscopy for the analysis of heterogeneous samples like grated cheese. Hyperspectral images of grated P-R cheese samples containing increasing levels of rind were acquired in the 900–1700 nm spectral range. Each hyperspectral image was firstly converted into a one-dimensional signal, named hyperspectrogram, which codifies the relevant information contained in the image. Then, the matrix of hyperspectrograms was used to calculate a calibration model for the prediction of the rind percentage using Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression. The calibration model was validated considering two external test sets of samples, confirming the effectiveness of the proposed approach

Evaluation of the effect of factors related to preparation and composition of grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese using NIR hyperspectral imaging

The present study is focused on the evaluation of the effect of grater type and fat content of the pulp on the spectral response obtained by near infrared hyperspectral imaging (NIR-HSI), when this technique is used to determine the rind percentage in Parmigiano Reggiano (P-R) cheese. To this aim, grated P-R cheese samples were prepared considering all the possible combinations between three levels of rind amount (8%, 18% and 28%), two levels of fat content of the pulp and two different grater types, and the corresponding hyperspectral images were acquired in the 900–1700 nm spectral range. In a first step, the average spectrum (AS) was calculated from each hyperspectral image, and the corresponding dataset was analysed by means of Analysis of Variance Simultaneous Component Analysis (ASCA) to assess the effect of the three considered factors and their two-way interactions on the spectral response. Then, the hyperspectral images were converted into Common Space Hyperspectrograms (CSH), which are signals obtained by merging in sequence the frequency distribution curves of quantities calculated from a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) model common to the whole hyperspectral image dataset. ASCA was also applied to the CSH dataset, in order to evaluate the effect of the considered factors on this kind of signals. Generally, all the three factors resulted to have a significant effect, but with a different extent according to the method used to analyse the hyperspectral images. Indeed, while fat content of the pulp and rind percentage showed a comparable effect on the spectral response of AS dataset, in the case of CSH signals rind percentage had a greater effect compared to the other main factors. However, CSH were also more sensitive to differences ascribable to the natural variability between diverse Parmigiano Reggiano cheese samples

Cortical visuomotor interactions in Freezing of Gait: A TMS approach

OBJECTIVES: Altered cortical visuomotor integration has been involved in the pathophysiology of freezing of gait (FoG) in parkinsonism. The aim of this study was to assess the connections between the primary visual (V1) and motor (M1) areas with a paired-pulse, twin-coil transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique in patients with FoG. METHODS: Twelve Parkinson's disease (PD) patients suffering from levodopa-responsive-FoG (off-FoG) were compared with 12 PD patients without FoG and 12 healthy subjects of similar age/sex. In the "off" condition, visuomotor connections (VMCs) were assessed bilaterally. A conditioning stimulus over the V1 phosphene hotspot was followed at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 18 and 40ms by a test stimulus over M1, to elicit motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in the contralateral first dorsal interosseous muscle. RESULTS: Significant (P<0.01), bilateral effects due to VMCs were detected in all three groups, consisting of a MEP suppression at ISI 18 and 40ms. However, in PD patients with FoG, the MEP suppression was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced, both at ISI 18-40ms, in comparison with the other two groups. The phenomenon was limited to the right hemisphere. CONCLUSIONS: PD patients with FoG showed an excessive inhibitory response of the right M1 to inputs travelling from V1 at given ISIs. Right-sided alterations of the cortical visuomotor integration may contribute to the pathophysiology of FoG

Laser-assisted treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity : a literature review

The purpose of this literature review was to evalu- ate the effectiveness of the laser-assisted treat- ment of dentinal hypersensitivity. A review with inclusion and exclusion criteria was performed from January 2009 to December 2014 with elec- tronic data-bases: MedLine via PubMed, Science Direct and Cochrane Library. Research of paper magazines by hand was not considered. Forty- three articles were selected between literature re- views, in vitro studies, clinical trials, pilot and preliminary studies. The items were divided into laser-used groups for an accurate description, and then the reading of results into various ty- pologies. Laser-assisted treatment reduces denti- nal hypersensitivity-related pain, but also a psy- chosomatic component must be considered, so further studies and more suitable follow-ups are necessary

Factors Affecting the Clinical Measurement of Visuo-Spatial Neglect

The present study examined a battery of tests to evaluate unilateral spatial neglect; the tests included different tasks involving several modalities of spatial exploration mapping perceptual, motor, attentional and personal or extrapersonal space dimensions. The subjects, 121 right-brain-damaged patients with unilateral neglect, were studied in seven laboratories in four European countries. Relationships among the various tests were examined by correlations, a cluster analysis and by an analysis of individual cases. Different sensitivity was found among various tests for detecting neglect performances. Both the cluster analysis and the single case analysis clearly showed a segregation between personal and extrapersonal neglect. Analysis of the large cluster, including a variety of tests of extra personal neglect, together with the study of single cases, suggests the possibility of differentiating the various manifestations of spatial neglect which can be interpreted on the basis of the descriptions of other individual cases previously reported in the literature. Finally, the present study indicated the relative stability of neglect following the acute phase and its independence from age

Radiologists’ Communicative Role in Breast Cancer Patient Management: Beyond Diagnosis

In the landscape of cancer treatment, particularly in the realm of breast cancer management, effective communication emerges as a pivotal factor influencing patient outcomes. This article delves into the nuanced intricacies of communication skills, specifically spotlighting the strategies embraced by breast radiologists. By examining the ramifications of communication on patient experience, interdisciplinary collaboration, and legal ramifications, this study underscores the paramount importance of empathetic and comprehensive communication approaches. A special emphasis is placed on the utilization of the SPIKES protocol, a structured method for conveying sensitive health information, and the deployment of strategies for navigating challenging conversations. Furthermore, the work encompasses the significance of communication with caregivers, the integration of artificial intelligence, and the acknowledgement of patients’ psychological needs. By adopting empathetic communication methodologies and fostering multidisciplinary collaboration, healthcare practitioners have the potential to enhance patient satisfaction, promote treatment adherence, and augment the overall outcomes within breast cancer diagnosis. This paper advocates for the implementation of guidelines pertaining to psychological support and the allocation of sufficient resources to ensure the provision of holistic and patient-centered cancer care. The article stresses the need for a holistic approach that addresses patients’ emotional and psychological well-being alongside medical treatment. Through thoughtful and empathetic communication practices, healthcare providers can profoundly impact patient experiences and breast cancer journeys in a positive manner

Emotional susceptibility trait modulates insula responses and functional connectivity in flavor processing

The present study aimed at investigating the relationship between Emotional Susceptibility (ES), an aspect of the personality trait Neuroticism, and individual differences in the neural responses in anterior insula to primary sensory stimuli colored by affective valence, i.e., distasting or pleasantly tasting oral stimuli. In addition, it was studied whether intrinsic functional connectivity patterns of brain regions characterized by such differential responses could be related to ES. To this purpose 25 female participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning, while being involved in a flavor experiment. During the experiment, flavor stimuli were administered consisting of small amounts of liquid with a different affective valence: neutral, pleasant, unpleasant. The results showed that individual differences in ES trait predicted distinct neural activity patterns to the different stimulus conditions in a region of left anterior insula that a previous meta-analysis revealed to be linked with olfacto-gustatory processing. Specifically, low ES was associated with enhanced neural responses to both pleasant and unpleasant stimuli, compared to neutral stimuli. By contrast, high ES participants showed equally strong neural responses to all types of stimuli without differentiating between the neutral and affective stimuli. Finally, during a task-free state, high ES trait appeared also to be related to decreased intrinsic functional connectivity between left anterior insula and left cerebellum. Our findings show that individual differences in ES are associated with differential anterior insula responses to primary sensory (flavor) stimuli as well as to intrinsic functional cortico-cerebellar connectivity, the latter suggesting a basis in the brain intrinsic functional architecture of the regulation of emotional experiences

The importance of a well defined analytical strategy to solve complex murder cases

Abstract. Forensic techniques are becoming more and more powerful and affordable. This allows labs to utilise precise strategies, permitting multiple analytical approaches on the same evidence, thus obtaining precious information to solve criminal cases. This paper refers to a murder in which we received a plastic bottle and four latex gloves. These items were collected near a stolen car used to perpetrate the murder, and then burnt in order to destroy evidence linked to the murderer. We collected samples of saliva from the neck of the bottle and one glove underwent three different analyses, which were: ! Sampling and genetic analyses of sweat traces taken from the internal surface of the glove, corresponding to the lower palm area; ! Detection of palm-prints from the internal surface of the glove, corresponding to the upper palm area; ! Collection of gun shot residues (GSR) from the edge of the glove. Two full genetic profiles were obtained from the biological traces collected, one from the glove and the other one from the bottle. The analyses were instrumental in permitting the identification of the shooter who had played an important role in the murder. D 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V

COVID-19-Related Outcomes in Primary Mitochondrial Diseases: An International Study

OBJECTIVES: To identify factors associated with severe COVID-19, defined by hospitalization status, in patients with primary mitochondrial diseases (PMDs), thereby enabling future risk stratification and informed management decisions. METHODS: We undertook a cross-sectional, international, registry-based study. Data was extracted from the "International Neuromuscular COVID-19 Database" and collected between 1st May 2020 and 31st May 2021. The database included subjects with: 1) PMD diagnosis (any age), clinically/histopathologically suspected and/or genetically confirmed; and (2) COVID-19 diagnosis classified as "confirmed", "probable", or "suspected" based on World Health Organization definitions. The primary outcome was hospitalization due to COVID-19. We collected demographic information, smoking status, coexisting comorbidities, outcome following COVID-19 infection, and PMD genotype-phenotype. Baseline status was assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and the Newcastle Mitochondrial Disease Adult Scale (NMDAS). RESULTS: Seventy-nine subjects with PMDs from 10 countries were included (mean age 41.5±18 years): 25 (32%) were hospitalized; 48 (61%) recovered fully; 28 (35%) improved with sequelae; and three (4%) died. Statistically significant differences in hospitalization status were observed in: baseline status, including NMDAS score (p=0.003) and mRS (p=0.001); presence of respiratory dysfunction (p<0.001), neurologic involvement (p=0.003); and more than four comorbidities (p=0.002). In multivariable analysis, respiratory dysfunction was independently associated with COVID-19 hospitalization (OR, 7.66; 95%CI, 2 to 28; p=0.002). DISCUSSION: Respiratory dysfunction is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 in PMDs, while high disease burden and coexisting comorbidities contribute towards COVID-19 related hospitalization. These findings will enable risk stratification and informed management decisions for this vulnerable population