Marr and Reductionism

David Marr's three-level method for completely understanding a cognitive system and the importance he attaches to the computational level are so familiar as to scarcely need repeating. Fewer seem to recognize that Marr defends his famous method by criticizing the “reductionistic approach.” This sets up a more interesting relationship between Marr and reductionism than is usually acknowledged. I argue that Marr was correct in his criticism of the reductionists of his time—they were only describing (cellular activity), not explaining (cognitive functions). But a careful metascientific account of reductionistic neuroscience over the past two decades reveals that Marr's criticisms no longer have force. Contemporary neuroscience now explains cognition directly, although in a fashion—causal-mechanistically—quite different than Marr recommended. So while Marr was correct to reject the reductionism of his day and offer an alternative method for genuinely explaining cognition, contemporary cognitive scientists now owe us a new defense of Marr's famous method and the advantages of its explanations over the type now pursued successfully in current reductionist neuroscience. There are familiar reasons for thinking that this debt will not be paid easily.     

Efeitos Terapêuticos da Tripla Antiagregação Plaquetária em Pacientes Femininas Idosas com Diabetes e Infarto Agudo do Miocárdio

BackgroundDual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is the cornerstone treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).ObjectiveThe present study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT) in elderly female patients with diabetes and ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsWe designed a randomized, single-blind study. Control group A (97 elderly male patients with diabetes and STEMI, whose CRUSADE scores were < 30) received aspirin, ticagrelor, and tirofiban. A total of 162 elderly female patients with diabetes and STEMI were randomly divided into two groups according to CRUSADE score. Group B (69 patients with CRUSADE score > 31) received aspirin and ticagrelor. Group C (93 patients with CRUSADE score < 30) received aspirin, ticagrelor and tirofiban. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.ResultsCompared to the findings in group A, post-PCI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) grade 3 blood flow and TIMI myocardial perfusion grade 3 were significantly less prevalent in group B (p < 0.05). When compared to groups A and C, the incidence of major adverse complications was significantly higher in group B (p < 0.05).ConclusionTAPT could effectively reduce the incidence of major complications in elderly female patients with diabetes and STEMI. However, close attention should be paid to hemorrhage in patients receiving TAPT. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)     

肿瘤性复杂性胸壁缺损的修复策略及对肿瘤治疗的积极影响

复杂性胸壁缺损的修复一直是一项极具挑战性的工作。肿瘤性复杂性胸壁缺损的修复决策及其执行困难是限制胸壁肿瘤治疗方法选择及影响预后的重要因素之一。皮瓣解剖学研究的深入、胸壁支持结构重建技术的进步、显微外科技术的发展、麻醉护理的发展、对综合治疗的重视和治疗手段的进步等,使传统认为不可切除的胸壁肿瘤得以彻底地切除和安全有效地修复,从而使与缺损修复相关的肿瘤切除及辅助治疗的禁忌证缩减到最小程度,有效地提高了胸壁肿瘤患者的生存质量,并很大程度上延长了生存率。作者以湖南省肿瘤医院整形外科15年565例胸壁肿瘤切除后修复重建的临床资料为依据,充实了胸壁肿瘤切除及修复的策略:(1)可靠的胸壁骨性支架重建;(2)有效的软组织修复;(3)麻醉及护理与手术团队的合作;(4)系统有序的综合治疗。并进一步明确了复杂胸壁肿瘤切除及重建的细节理念,包括胸部肿瘤治疗中加强多学科合作的密切性和科学性,整形外科医生参与肿瘤治疗整体规划的主动性和时机前移等。     

改良内固定融合术治疗成人Ⅱ型痛性足副舟骨

目的探讨改良内固定融合术治疗成人Ⅱ型痛性足副舟骨（painful accessory navicular，PAN）的疗效。方法2016 年 1 月—2017 年 12 月，采用改良内固定融合术治疗 29 例（37 足）Ⅱ型 PAN。其中男 12 例，女 17 例；年龄 18～50 岁，平均 41.4 岁。扭伤 24 例，无明显诱因 5 例。患者均行 6 个月以上保守治疗，症状无明显改善。术前及末次随访时采用美国矫形足踝协会（AOFAS）中足评分评估临床疗效；X 线片测量跟骨倾斜角、距骨第 1 跖骨角、距舟关节包容角、距骨第 2 跖骨角。结果术后 1 例出现切口浅表感染，经加强换药后愈合；其余患者切口均Ⅰ期愈合，无深部感染或骨髓炎发生。29 例均获随访，随访时间 12～33 个月，平均 25.1 个月。X 线片示关节面均于术后 2～5 个月愈合，平均 3.4 个月。随访期间未见内固定物松动或断裂。末次随访时，AOFAS 疼痛、功能、力线评分及总分以及距舟关节包容角、距骨第 1 跖骨角和距骨第 2 跖骨角均较术前显著改善，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；跟骨倾斜角手术前后差异无统计学意义（t=1.097，P=0.276）。 结论采用改良内固定融合术治疗成人Ⅱ型 PAN 可有效缓解症状，患足功能恢复良好，并发症少。     

Clinical Study on CT-guided Modified Akupotomye in the Treatment of Lumbar Nerve Posterior Branch Compression

Objective: To observe the clinical effect of modified akupotomye closed lysis under CT guidance on compression of posterior lumbar nerve branch.Methods: Patients were diagnosed by HRCT 3-D reconstruction combined with clinical symptoms and signs.After HRCT three-dimensional reconstruction combined with clinical symptoms and signs, the patients were confirmed as posterior lumbar nerve compression.After CT accurate surface positioning, CT-guided modified akupotomye was used for closed lysis of the posterior lumbar nerve branch.Oswestry Dysfunction Index Questionnaire(ODI) was used for quantitative scoring, 7 days before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment.Results: In 62 cases, 20 cases were cured, with 25 cases markedly effective, 11 cases effective, and 36 cases ineffective.The total effective rate was 90.3%.ODI score: Self-paired t test 7 days before after treatment, P < 0.01;Before treatment and 6 months after treatment, self-paired t test(P < 0.01);Self-paired t-test was performed 7 days after treatment and 6 months after treatment(P > 0.05).Conclusion: With CT precise positioning, the modified akupotomye can be used to do closed lysis, to relieve the adhesion and compression, so that the low back pain can be relieved, with good clinical.The akupotomye closed lysis, combined with modern imaging technology has not only achieved good clinical effect, but also can improve the accuracy, safety and scientificity of akupotomye treatment.     

Interferon-induced Transmembrane Protein 3 Prevents Acute Influenza Pathogenesis in Mice

Objective Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3(IFITM3) is an important member of the IFITM family. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its antiviral action have not been completely elucidated. Recent studies on IFITM3, particularly those focused on innate antiviral defense mechanisms, have shown that IFITM3 affects the body's adaptive immune response. The aim of this study was to determine the contribution of IFITM3 proteins to immune control of influenza infection in vivo.Methods We performed proteomics, flow cytometry, and immunohistochemistry analysis and used bioinformatics tools to systematically compare and analyze the differences in natural killer(NK) cell numbers, their activation, and their immune function in the lungs of Ifitm3-/-and wild-type mice.Results Ifitm3-/-mice developed more severe inflammation and apoptotic responses compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, the NK cell activation was higher in the lungs of Ifitm3-/-mice during acute influenza infection.Conclusions Based on our results, we speculate that the NK cells are more readily activated in the absence of IFITM3, increasing mortality in Ifitm3-/-mice.     

Increase in Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 3 associated parapneumonic pleural effusion/empyema after the introduction of PCV13 in Germany

IntroductionPediatric pneumococcal pneumonia complicated by parapneumonic pleural effusion/empyema (PPE/PE) remains a major concern despite general immunization with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs).MethodsIn a nationwide pediatric hospital surveillance study in Germany we identified 584 children <18 years of age with bacteriologically confirmed PPE/PE from October 2010 to June 2018. Streptococcus pneumoniae was identified by culture and/or PCR of blood samples and/or pleural fluid and serotyped.ResultsS. pneumoniae was identified in 256 of 584 (43.8%) children by culture (n = 122) and/or PCR (n = 207). The following pneumococcal serotypes were detected in 114 children: serotype 3 (42.1%), 1 (25.4%), 7F (12.3%), 19A (7.9%), other PCV13 serotypes (4.4%) and non-PCV13 serotypes (7.9%). Between October 2010 and June 2014 serotype 1 (38.1%) and serotype 3 (25.4%) were most prevalent, whereas between July 2014 and June 2018 serotype 3 (62.7%) and non-PCV13 serotypes (15.7%) were dominant. Compared to children with other pneumococcal serotypes, children with serotype 3 associated PPE/PE were younger (median 3.2 years [IQR 2.1–4.3 years] vs. median 5.6 years [IQR 3.8–8.2 years]; p < 0.001) and more frequently admitted to intensive care (43 [89.6%] vs. 48 [73.8%]; p = 0.04). Seventy-six of 114 (66.7%) children with pneumococcal PPE/PE had been vaccinated with pneumococcal vaccines. Thirty-nine of 76 (51.3%) had received a vaccine covering the serotype detected. Thirty of these 39 breakthrough cases were age-appropriately vaccinated with PCV13 and considered vaccine failures, including 26 children with serotype 3, three children with serotype 19A and one child with serotype 1.ConclusionFollowing the introduction of PCV13 in general childhood vaccination we observed a strong emergence of serotype 3 associated PPE/PE in the German pediatric population, including a considerable number of younger children with serotype 3 vaccine breakthrough cases and failures. Future PCVs should not only cover newly emerging serotypes, but also include a more effective component against serotype 3.