Multisensory integration of drumming actions: musical expertise affects perceived audiovisual asynchrony

We investigated the effect of musical expertise on sensitivity to asynchrony for drumming point-light displays, which varied in their physical characteristics (Experiment 1) or in their degree of audiovisual congruency (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, 21 repetitions of three tempos × three accents × nine audiovisual delays were presented to four jazz drummers and four novices. In Experiment 2, ten repetitions of two audiovisual incongruency conditions × nine audiovisual delays were presented to 13 drummers and 13 novices. Participants gave forced-choice judgments of audiovisual synchrony. The results of Experiment 1 show an enhancement in experts’ ability to detect asynchrony, especially for slower drumming tempos. In Experiment 2 an increase in sensitivity to asynchrony was found for incongruent stimuli; this increase, however, is attributable only to the novice group. Altogether the results indicated that through musical practice we learn to ignore variations in stimulus characteristics that otherwise would affect our multisensory integration processes.     

Effect of Laparoscopic fundoplication on gastroesophageal reflux disease-induced respiratory symptoms

Laparoscopic fundoplication controls heartburn and regurgitation, but the effects on the respiratory symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are unclear. Confusion stems from difficulty preoperatively in determining whether cough or wheezing is actually caused by reflux when reflux is found on pH monitoring. To date, there is no proven way to pinpoint a cause-and-effect relationship. The goals of this study were to assess the following: (1) the value of pH monitoring in establishing a correlation between respiratory symptoms and reflux; (2) the predictive value of pH monitoring on the results of surgical treatment; and (3) the outcome of laparoscopic fundoplication on GERD-induced respiratory symptoms. Between October 1992 and October 1998, a total of 340 patients underwent laparoscopic fundoplication for GERD. From the clinical findings alone, respiratory symptoms were thought possibly to be caused by GERD in 39 patients (11 %). These 39 patients had been symptomatic for an average of 134 months. They were all taking H-blocking agents (21 %) or proton pump inhibitors (79%). Seven patients (18%) were also being treated with bronchodilators, alone (3 patients) or in combination with prednisonc (4 patients). Median length of postoperative follow-up was 28 months. In 23 patients (59%) a temporal correlation was found during 24-hour pH monitoring between respiratory symptoms and episodes of reflux. Postoperatively heartburn resolved in 91% of patients, regurgitation in 90% of patients, wheezing in 64% of patients, and cough in 74% of patients. Cough resolved in 19 (83%) of 23 patients in whom a correlation between cough and reflux was found during pH monitoring, but in only 8 (57%) of 14 of patients when this correlation was absent. Cough persisted postoperatively in the two patients who did not cough during the study. These data show that pH monitoring helped to establish a correlation between respiratory symptoms and reflux, and it helped to identify the patients most likely to benefit from antircflux surgery. Following laparoscopic surgery, respiratory symptoms resolved in 83% of patients when a temporal correlation between cough and reflux was found on pH monitoring; heartburn and regurgitation resolved in 90%. Presented at the Fortieth Annual Meeting ot The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, Orlando, Fla., May 16–19, 1999.     

Haemodynamic and volumetric monitoring during haemorrhagic shock in swine.

Various studies have been performed concerning haemodynamics in the shock state. The aim of this study was to examine if a haemodynamic approach based on volumetric indices can offer a new method of evaluation. Volumetric measurements of ventricular filling and cardiac function were compared with classical haemodynamic variables during induced haemorrhagic shock in swine. Twelve hybrid swine were anaesthetized and underwent arteriectomy to induce haemorrhagic shock. Blood was collected in ACD treated bags and reinfused via the same vein after a shock period of 90 min. Haemodynamic and volume measurements were evaluated. Seven swine survived to complete the protocol and reached the final experimental time (90 min after reinfusion), while the remaining five died 1 h after reinfusion. Concerning the haemodynamics, afterload changes characterized the haemorrhagic shock period, while blood volume distribution dictated ventricular filling and ventricular kinetics during the post-reinfusion period. Systemic vascular resistance was different in the two groups. This study suggests that blood volumetric evaluations can offer better comparative data than pulmonary catheterisation for a precise assessment of cardiac output. Preload values have turned out to be of greater relevance than traditional pressure variables.     

Florid cutaneous and mucosal papillomatosis with acanthosis nigricans revealing a primary lung cancer

This is the report of an 80-year-old patient with diffuse brownish hyperpigmentation and velvety thickening of the skin with onset 1 year before. Warty lesions on his limbs were present as well as papillomatous and verrucous lesions on his lips, mouth and eyelid conjunctivae with hyperkeratosis of the nipples. Biopsies, performed at different sites, showed histological pictures consistent with a diagnosis of acanthosis nigricans (AN) with florid cutaneous and mucosal papillomatosis. This type of AN is frequently associated with internal malignancy. In our patient serum levels of tissue polypeptide antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin fragment and squamous cell carcinoma antigen were high and chest computed tomography scan indicated a large tumour infiltrating the right lung and extending to the mediastinum. Cytological examination of bronchial drainage revealed the presence of neoplastic cells, non-small cell type carcinoma. The most frequent cancer associated with malignant AN is gastric adenocarcinoma. Lung tumour has rarely been reported with AN. Malignant AN is sometimes associated with other cutaneous and mucosal warty lesions, as in our patient. These various skin and mucosal lesions are the expression of a systemic epithelial disorder and may help clinicians to suspect a malignant form of AN.     

Risk of maxillary fungus ball in patients with endodontic treatment on maxillary teeth: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Maxillary sinus fungus ball (FB) is a noninvasive fungal disease commonly associated with symptoms of recurrent maxillary rhinosinusitis and/or extrusion of root canal filling material into the sinus. Chronic periapical inflammatory processes of dental origin are believed to be the risk factors in the pathogenesis of FB. The aim of this study was to determine whether endodontic treatment performed on maxillary molar, premolar, and canine teeth was a risk factor in the development of FB. METHODS: We designed a case-control study in which the cases were patients with FB admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Brescia between January 1990 and April 2005. For each case, 3 age-matched controls were randomly selected from the admission registry of the University Dental Clinic. Orthopantomography was used to detect endodontically treated maxillary molar, premolar, and canine teeth in both patients and controls. RESULTS: Of 102 patients with FB who were admitted during the study period, 91 (89.2%) had had endodontic treatment compared with 113 (36.9%) of 306 controls (chi square = 83.6601, P = 0.000; OR 14.13; 95% CI 7.25-27.54). The mean number (standard deviation; interquartile range [IQR]) of endodontic procedures was 1.39 (0.86; 1-2) in patients and 0.53 (0.81; 0-1) in controls (Mann-Whitney U test = -9.138, P = 0.0000). The interval between the endodontic treatment and the diagnosis of FB was available for 37 (36.3%) patients, and the median was 4 years (IQR 2-10). INTERPRETATION: Endodontic treatment on maxillary teeth is a strong risk factor for FB of the maxillary sinus.     

A multicenter phase II study of the combination of oxaliplatin, irinotecan and capecitabine in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer

The triple drug combination consisting of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil (FOLFOXIRI) has demonstrated higher activity and efficacy compared to the doublet FOLFIRI. 5-Fluorouracil could be substituted in FOLFOXIRI regimen by capecitabine, an oral fluoropyrimidine with similar efficacy. Recently, a dose-finding trial has demonstrated the feasibility of the combination of irinotecan, oxaliplatin and capecitabine (XELOXIRI) and established their recommended doses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of XELOXIRI. A total of 36 patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer received irinotecan 165 mg m⁻² and oxaliplatin 85 mg m⁻² on day 1 plus capecitabine 2000 mg m⁻² per day orally in two doses from day 1 to day 7, every 2 weeks. Grade 3–4 toxicities were infrequent, expect for neutropenia and diarrhoea, which were each observed in 30% of patients. Two complete and twenty-two partial responses were obtained, corresponding to an overall response rate of 67% (95% CI 51.4–82%). After a median follow-up of 17.7 months, the median progression-free and overall survival were 10.1 and 17.9 months, respectively.The substitution of 5-fluorouracil with capecitabine, in combination with irinotecan and oxaliplatin, is feasible and does not impair the activity of the regimen. However, the XELOXIRI combination is associated with a high incidence of diarrhoea and, therefore, should be considered as a not preferable alternative to FOLFOXIRI.     

Leishmania infantum leishmaniasis in corticosteroid – treated patients

Background  

The number of leishmaniasis cases associated with immunosuppression has increased regularly over the past 20 years. Immunosuppression related to HIV infection, immunosuppressive treatment, organ transplantation, and neoplastic diseases increases the risk for Leishmania-infected people to develop visceral illness.     

Melasma: Successful treatment with pidobenzone 4% (K5®lipogel)

ABSTRACT:  Melasma (a term derived from the Greek word "melas" meaning black) is an acquired blotchy, irregularly patterned, brown or sometimes gray brown hypermelanosis of the face and occasionally the neck. Its etiology is poorly understood but mainly related to sunlight and genetic predisposition. Melasma seems to be more frequent in darker skinned people, especially women. Its treatment is always difficult and the condition usually relapses. The treatment with pidobenzone 4% (K5^® lipogel), twice per day for 16 weeks has proved to be safe and effective. Pidobenzone 4% lipogel, according to the present study, seems also to represent a useful, reliable, and safe treatment of the different types of melasma.     

Photobiomodulation Enhances the Healing of Postextraction Alveolar Sockets: A Randomized Clinical Trial With Histomorphometric Analysis and Immunohistochemistry

1. Download : Download high-res image (204KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image