Crosslinguistic semantic and translation priming in normal bilingual individuals and bilingual aphasia

The present study examined lexical representation in early Spanish‐English bilinguals using an unmasked semantic and translation priming paradigm. In Experiment 1, participants were divided into two groups based on performance (more‐balanced bilinguals, MB and less‐balanced bilinguals, LB) on the experimental task. In Experiment 2, four patients with bilingual aphasia (BA) performed the same experiment. Results from both experiments revealed that all groups were more accurate for English targets (S‐E direction) than Spanish targets (S‐E direction). In Experiment 1, semantic priming was observed from English to Spanish in both the LB and MB groups although the effect was greater for the LB group. Further, only the LB group showed priming from Spanish to English. For both normal groups, there was no difference between translation and semantic priming effects. In Experiment 2, patients with bilingual aphasia demonstrated different patterns of activation with no clear trends. Two participants demonstrated greater priming from Spanish to English whereas two participants demonstrated the opposite effect.     

The Quality of Life of Family Caregivers of Eating Disorder Patients

Having a relative with an eating disorder (ED) affects the life of family caregivers and may thus affect their quality of life. To study this aspect, 40 caregivers of ED patients filled out a health-related quality of life questionnaire (Short Form-36) and a questionnaire on the impact of the ED on various areas of life domains, and on the relationship with the ED patient and the need for professional support. Quality of life of caregivers was worse than in a normal reference group. Specifically, mental health, vitality and emotional role functioning were reported to be most impaired. ED appeared to affect families’ lives substantially. In response to the ED, caregivers felt anxious, powerless, sad, or desperate. The relationship of the caregiver with the ED patient had also changed. Caregivers were more worried, lost their trust, and reported more conflicts. Seventy five percent welcomed professional support. Caregivers need practical advice, information on ED, and emotional support. Quality of life of caregivers should be addressed in the treatment of ED.     

Surrogate markers for cerebral blood flow correlate with [18F]‐fallypride binding potential at dopamine D2/3 receptors in human striatum

Positron emission tomography (PET) with the high affinity dopamine D_2/3 receptor ligand [¹⁸F]‐fallypride affords estimates of the binding potential (BP_ND) in extra‐striatal regions of low receptor abundance, but the sufficient recording time for accurate measurements in striatum has been called into question. We have earlier argued that transient equilibrium measurements are obtained in striatum with [¹⁸F]‐fallypride PET recordings of 3 h duration, which may be the practical limit for clinical investigations without interrupted scanning. However, the high extraction fraction of [¹⁸F]‐fallypride predicts flow‐dependence of tracer delivery to brain, which may be a source of variance of the apparent BP_ND in regions of high binding. To test this prediction, we conducted a retrospective analysis of [¹⁸F]‐fallypride PET data from a group of 50 healthy volunteers (age 18–58 years [mean ± SD: 32.6 ± 10.6), who had participated in clinical studies without arterial input measurements. We used the initial 120‐s integral (AUC) of the venous confluence (VC) as a surrogate marker for cerebral blood flow (CBF) and tested for correlations between regional estimates of BP_ND calculated by the simplified reference tissue model (SRTM) and the individual VC‐AUC. The magnitude of BP_ND in a high binding region (putamen), but not in a low binding region (thalamus) correlated positively with VC‐AUC, suggesting that approximately 9% of the variance in the [¹⁸F]‐fallypride BP_ND in putamen can be attributed to individual differences in this surrogate marker for CBF, a contribution equal in magnitude to the effects of age on BP_ND in putamen of the present healthy control group. Synapse, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Is There a Role for Visceral Adiposity in Inducing Type 2 Diabetes Remission in Severely Obese Patients Following Biliopancreatic Diversion with Duodenal Switch Surgery?

Background

Severe obesity is often characterized by ectopic fat deposition, which is related to development of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Thus, resolution of T2D may not be linearly associated with weight loss. The importance of ectopic fat reduction after bariatric surgery and T2D resolution is uncertain.

Objective

The aim of this pilot study is to compare body composition and body fat distribution in severely obese patients with or without T2D after biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) surgery in relation to diabetes resolution.

Methods

Sixty-two severely obese patients were evaluated at baseline, 6, and 12 months. Of these, 40 patients underwent BPD-DS surgery. Anthropometric measurements and abdominal and mid-thigh computed tomography scans were performed at each visit.

Results

Before BPD-DS surgery, obese patients with T2D had higher weight as well as greater ectopic fat deposition in the abdomen and mid-thigh level than obese patients without T2D (p?<?0.05). Resolution of T2D was 65 and 90 % at 6 and 12 months, respectively. No difference in body composition changes at 6 and 12 months could be found between patients without T2D, patients with T2D resolution, and patients who remained T2D. Resolution of T2D was associated with a greater absolute loss of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in comparison to patients without T2D (?1175?±?570 cm³ vs. ?729?±?394 cm³ at 6 months and ?1647?±?816 cm³ vs. ?1103?±?422 cm³ at 12 months; all p?≤?0.05).

Conclusion

Ectopic fat mobilization, particularly the absolute loss of VAT, may play a major role in T2D resolution following BPD-DS surgery, regardless of the amount of weight loss.

     

亚麻子水提液对DPP-4及α-葡萄糖苷酶活性抑制实验研究

目的通过观察亚麻子水提液对二肽基肽酶-4（DPP-4）、α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制作用,为该药防治糖尿病提供实验依据。方法①以DPP-4酶、缓冲液、底物建立DPP-4抑制剂的体外筛选体系,对亚麻子水提液进行抑制实验,采用发色底物法测定吸光度（OD）,计算DPP-4抑制率及IC50值;②以蔗糖为底物建立α-葡萄糖苷酶活性抑制模型,采用葡萄糖氧化酶法测定亚麻子水提液对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制作用,计算其抑制率和IC50值。结果①亚麻子具有轻度DPP-4抑制作用,其IC50值738.20mg/L;②亚麻子具有α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制作用,其IC50值为365.9mg/mL。结论亚麻子水提液可一定程度地抑制DPP-4及α-葡萄糖苷酶活性。     

Continuer,limiter ou arrêter ? Évolution des modalités de décès sur une période de 6 ans en réanimation pédiatrique

Since 2005, forgoing live-support (FLS) is allowed by the French law (known as the Leonetti law) for end-of-life patients only. This study aims at describing the variations over time in the use of the following methods to end life: FLS, brain death and cardiopulmonary resuscitation failure (CPR failure). It is a single retrospective study from 2007 to 2012. The Cochran-Armitage trend test is used in the statistical analysis. Over six years, 263 of the 5100 children who were hospitalized in our intensive care unit died, which represents a 5.2% mortality rate. FLS increased yearly from 31% of the deaths in 2007, to 71% in 2012 (P = 0.0008). The rate of CPR failure decreased over the same period (P = 0.0015). The rate of brain death remained constant. Following to the Leonetti law, FLS increase, and palliative cares develop without any increase of mortality.     

广州市荔湾区青少年脊柱侧凸患病率的调查研究

目的了解广州市荔湾区青少年脊柱侧凸的患病率。方法 2011年7月~2012年1月对荔湾区8351名7~15岁在校中小学生进行了脊柱侧凸普查,应用脊柱侧凸两检法（体检、X线照片）,体检阳性或可疑阳性者到医院照脊柱全长正侧位X片,采用Cobb法测量,Cobb角≥10°诊断为脊柱侧凸。结果一检阳性结果 175名（2.1%）,二检阳性为85名（1.02%）,男性31名,女性54名,男∶女患病率比为1∶1.76,其中特发性脊柱侧凸81名,占95.3%,先天性侧凸3名,神经肌肉源性1名。结论荔湾区中小学生脊柱侧凸发病率为1.02%,通过普查,可以早发现、早诊断青少年脊柱侧凸,及时选择适当方法进行治疗。     

von Willebrand factor released from Weibel-Palade bodies binds more avidly to extracellular matrix than that secreted constitutively

Large multimers of von Willebrand factor (vWf) are released from the Weibel-Palade bodies of cultured endothelial cells following treatment with a secretagogue (Sporn et al, Cell 46:185, 1986). These multimers were shown by immunofluorescent staining to bind more extensively to the extracellular matrix of human foreskin fibroblasts than constitutively secreted vWf, which is composed predominantly of dimeric molecules. Increased binding of A23187-released vWf was not due to another component present in the releasate, since releasate from which vWf was adsorbed, when added together with constitutively secreted vWf, did not promote binding. When iodinated plasma vWf was overlaid onto the fibroblasts, the large forms bound preferentially to the matrix. These results indicated that the enhanced binding of the vWf released from the Weibel-Palade bodies was likely due to its large multimeric size. It appears that multivalency is an important component of vWf interaction with the extracellular matrix, just as has been shown for vWf interaction with platelets. The pool of vWf contained within the Weibel-Palade bodies, therefore, is not only especially suited for platelet binding, but also for interaction with the extracellular matrix.     

Hematopoietic defects in mice lacking the sialomucin CD34

Although the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell can only be definitively identified by its ability to reconstitute the various mature blood lineages, a diversity of cell surface antigens have also been specifically recognized on this subset of hematopoietic progenitors. One such stem cell-associated antigen is the sialomucin CD34, a highly O-glycosylated cell surface glycoprotein that has also been shown to be expressed on all vascular endothelial cells throughout murine embryogenesis as well as in the adult. The functional significance of CD34 expression on hematopoietic progenitor cells and developing blood vessels is unknown. To analyze the involvement of CD34 in hematopoiesis, we have produced both embryonic stem (ES) cells and mice that are null for the expression of this mucin. Analysis of yolk saclike hematopoietic development in embryoid bodies derived from CD34- null ES cells showed a significant delay in both erythroid and myeloid differentiation that could be reversed by transfection of the mutant ES cells with CD34 constructs expressing either a complete or truncated cytoplasmic domain. Measurements of colony-forming activity of hematopoietic progenitor cells derived from yolk sacs or fetal livers isolated from CD34-null embryos also showed a decreased number of these precursor cells. In spite of these diminished embryonic hematopoietic progenitor numbers, the CD34-null mice developed normally, and the hematopoietic profile of adult blood appeared typical. However, the colony-forming activity of hematopoietic progenitors derived from both bone marrow and spleen is significantly reduced in adult CD34-deficient animals, and these CD34-deficient progenitors also appear to be unable to expand in liquid cultures in response to hematopoietic growth factors. Even with these apparent progenitor cell deficiencies, CD34- null animals showed kinetics of erythroid, myeloid, and platelet recovery after sublethal irradiation that are indistinguishable from wild-type mice. These data strongly suggest that CD34 plays an important role in the formation of progenitor cells during both embryonic and adult hematopoiesis. However, the hematopoietic sites of adult CD34-deficient mice may still have a significant reservoir of progenitor cells that allows for normal recovery after nonmyeloablative peripheral cell depletion.