Temporal Effects on Monaural Amplitude-Modulation Sensitivity in Ipsilateral,Contralateral and Bilateral Noise

The amplitude modulations (AMs) in speech signals are useful cues for speech recognition. Several adaptation mechanisms may make the detection of AM in noisy backgrounds easier when the AM carrier is presented later rather than earlier in the noise. The aim of the present study was to characterize temporal adaptation to noise in AM detection. AM detection thresholds were measured for monaural (50 ms, 1.5 kHz) pure-tone carriers presented at the onset (‘early’ condition) and 300 ms after the onset (‘late’ condition) of ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral (diotic) broadband noise, as well as in quiet. Thresholds were 2–4 dB better in the late than in the early condition for the three noise lateralities. The temporal effect held for carriers at equal sensation levels, confirming that it was not due to overshoot on carrier audibility. The temporal effect was larger for broadband than for low-band contralateral noises. Many aspects in the results were consistent with the noise activating the medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) and enhancing AM depth in the peripheral auditory response. Other aspects, however, indicate that central masking and adaptation unrelated to the MOCR also affect both carrier-tone and AM detection and are involved in the temporal effects.     

CONCENTRATION OF THE GONADOTROPIC HORMONE IN PREGNANT MARE'S SERUM

The gonadotropic hormone of the blood of the pregnant mare has been greatly concentrated by adsorption on active aluminum hydroxide followed by elution. The preparations so obtained gave demonstrable gonadotropic effects within 100 hours in 21 day old female mice following three subcutaneous injections of 0.001 mg. in 1 cc. of physiological saline. As is well known, other gonadotropic substances do not cause conspicuous development of the male gonads but injections of comparatively large doses of these preparations into immature male rats caused marked development of the testes, which in 10 days were trebled in weight. An astonishing increase in the weight of the seminal vesicles resulted, for these organs were approximately 75 times heavier than in controls.     

Acceptability and Feasibility of Examining Physical Activity in Young Children with Type 1 Diabetes

Physical activity is important but may be difficult to evaluate in young children (YC) with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) because of parents' fears of hypoglycemia, difficulties engaging YC in physical activity, and use of assessment devices. This study aimed to explore the acceptability and feasibility of an in-lab exercise session for YC with T1D. Ten YC ages 3 through7 years with T1D participated in a 20-minute exercise session while wearing blinded continuous glucose monitors and accelerometers. High acceptability was found for participation in the exercise session; high feasibility and acceptability were reported for the assessments. Although most children completed the session, it did not produce moderate to vigorous physical activity. YC were found to spend most of their day sedentary, and they had frequent blood glucose excursions. Findings support the feasibility of conducting a more extensive examination of the relationship among blood glucose levels and physical activity in YC with T1D.     

Familial cortical dysplasia caused by mutation in the mammalian target of rapamycin regulator NPRL3

We describe first cousin sibling pairs with focal epilepsy, one of each pair having focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) IIa. Linkage analysis and whole‐exome sequencing identified a heterozygous germline frameshift mutation in the gene encoding nitrogen permease regulator‐like 3 (NPRL3). NPRL3 is a component of GAP Activity Towards Rags 1, a negative regulator of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 signaling pathway. Immunostaining of resected brain tissue demonstrated mammalian target of rapamycin activation. Screening of 52 unrelated individuals with FCD identified 2 additional patients with FCDIIa and germline NPRL3 mutations. Similar to DEPDC5, NPRL3 mutations may be considered as causal variants in patients with FCD or magnetic resonance imaging–negative focal epilepsy. ANN NEUROL 2016;79:132–137     

Sarcoidosis Versus Foreign-Body Granulomas

A 42-year-old man developed a papulonodular exanthema 10 years following an injury from a shell explosion. The differential diagnosis between sarcoid-like, foreign-body granulomas and Boeck's sarcoid was inconclusive by histology, but x-ray spectroanalytic examination revealed silicon particles within the epitheloid cell granulomas.