Underconnectivity of the superior temporal sulcus predicts emotion recognition deficits in autism

Neurodevelopmental disconnections have been assumed to cause behavioral alterations in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Here, we combined measurements of intrinsic functional connectivity (iFC) from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with task-based fMRI to explore whether altered activity and/or iFC of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (pSTS) mediates deficits in emotion recognition in ASD. Fifteen adults with ASD and 15 matched-controls underwent resting-state and task-based fMRI, during which participants discriminated emotional states from point light displays (PLDs). Intrinsic FC of the right pSTS was further examined using 584 (278 ASD/306 controls) resting-state data of the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE). Participants with ASD were less accurate than controls in recognizing emotional states from PLDs. Analyses revealed pronounced ASD-related reductions both in task-based activity and resting-state iFC of the right pSTS with fronto-parietal areas typically encompassing the action observation network (AON). Notably, pSTS-hypo-activity was related to pSTS-hypo-connectivity, and both measures were predictive of emotion recognition performance with each measure explaining a unique part of the variance. Analyses with the large independent ABIDE dataset replicated reductions in pSTS-iFC to fronto-parietal regions. These findings provide novel evidence that pSTS hypo-activity and hypo-connectivity with the fronto-parietal AON are linked to the social deficits characteristic of ASD.     

Raman study of the repair of surgical bone defects grafted with biphasic synthetic microgranular HA + β-calcium triphosphate and irradiated or not with λ780 nm laser

The treatment of bone loss due to different etiologic factors is difficult, and many techniques aim to improve repair, including a wide range of biomaterials and, recently, photobioengineering. This work aimed to assess, through Raman spectroscopy, the level of bone mineralization using the intensities of the Raman peaks of both inorganic (～960, ～1,070, and ～1,077 cm^?1) and organic (～1,454 and ～1,666 cm^?1) contents of bone tissue. Forty rats were divided into four groups each subdivided into two subgroups according to the time of killing (15 and 30 days). Surgical bone defects were made on femur of each animal with a trephine drill. On animals of group Clot, the defect was filled only by blood clot; on group Laser, the defect filled with the clot was further irradiated. On animals of groups Biomaterial and Laser?+?Biomaterial, the defect was filled by biomaterial and the last one was further irradiated (λ780 nm, 70 mW, Φ?～?0.4 cm², 20 J/cm² session, 140 J/cm² treatment) in four points around the defect at 48-h intervals and repeated for 2 weeks. At both 15th and 30th day following killing, samples were taken and analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. At the end of the experimental time, the intensities of both inorganic and organic contents were higher on group Laser?+?Biomaterial. It is concluded that the use of laser phototherapy associated to biomaterial was effective in improving bone healing on bone defects as a result of the increasing deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite measured by Raman spectroscopy.     

Comparison between short- and long-acting erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in hemodialysis patients: target hemoglobin,variability, and outcome

Purpose

Maintaining target hemoglobin (Hb) with minimal variability is a challenge in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study is to compare the long- and short-acting erythropoietin-stimulating agents such as Aranesp and Eprex in achieving these targets.

Methods

Randomized, prospective, open-labeled study of 24 weeks includes stable patients on HD >3 months, age >18 years, and on Eprex for >3 months. Patients were randomized into two groups: A-(Aranesp group):HD patients on Eprex Q TIW or BIW were converted to Aranesp Q weekly, by using the conversion factor of 200:1 and those on Eprex Q weekly to Aranesp Q 2 weeks; B-(Eprex group):patients continued on Eprex treatment. Hemoglobin target was set at (105–125 g/l). Primary end points were percentage of patients achieving target Hb, hemoglobin variability, and number of dose changes in each group.

Results

This study consisted of 139 HD patients: 72 in the Aranesp and 67 in the Eprex—mean (SD) age 54 (16.2) years, 77 (55 %) males. About 46 % were diabetic. Target Hb achieved in 64.8 % of the Aranesp and 59.7 % in the Eprex (p = 0.006). Hb variability was less frequent in the Aranesp group (p = 0.2). Mean number of dose changes was 1.3 (0.87) in the Aranesp and 1.9 (1.2) in the Eprex (p < 0.001). There was 1 vascular access thrombosis in the Aranesp and 8 in the Eprex (p < 0.001). There was no difference in hospitalization and death number between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

Aranesp Q weekly or every 2 weeks is more efficient in achieving target Hb, with less dose changes and minor vascular access complications.     

A new and automated method for objective analysis of detrusor rhythm during the filling phase

Introduction

There is growing acceptance that the detrusor muscle is not silent during the filling phase of the micturition cycle but displays low-amplitude phasic contractions that have been associated with urinary urgency. Unfortunately, there is currently no standardized methodology to quantify detrusor rhythm during the filling phase. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop an automated computer algorithm to analyze rat detrusor rhythm in a quick, accurate, and reproducible manner.

Materials and methods

Strips of detrusor smooth muscle from rats (n = 17) were placed on force transducers and subjected to escalating doses of PGE₂ to generate contractile rhythm tracings. An automated computer algorithm was developed to analyze contractile frequency, amplitude, and tone on the generated rhythm tracings. Results of the automated computerized analysis were compared to human (n = 3) interpretations. Human interpreters manually counted contractions and then recounted the same data two weeks later. Intra-observer, inter-observer, and human-to-computer comparisons were performed.

Results

The computer algorithm quantified concentration-dependent changes in contractile frequency, amplitude, and tone after administration of PGE₂ (10^?9–10^?6M). Concentration–response curves were similar for all contractile components with increases in frequency identified mainly at physiologic concentrations of PGE₂ and increases in amplitude at supra-physiologic concentrations. The computer algorithm consistently over-counted the human interpreters, but with less variability. Differences in inter-observer consistency were statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our computerized algorithm accurately and consistently identified changes in detrusor muscle contractile frequency, amplitude, and tone with varying doses of PGE₂. Frequency counts were consistently higher than those obtained by human interpreters but without variability or bias. Refinements of this method may allow for more standardized approach in the study of pharmacologic agents on filling phase rhythmic activity.     

Autologous protein solution prepared from the blood of osteoarthritic patients contains an enhanced profile of anti‐inflammatory cytokines and anabolic growth factors

The objective of this clinical study was to test if blood from osteoarthritis (OA) patients (n = 105) could be processed by a device system to form an autologous protein solution (APS) with preferentially increased concentrations of anti‐inflammatory cytokines compared to inflammatory cytokines. To address this objective, APS was prepared from patients exhibiting radiographic evidence of knee OA. Patient metrics were collected including: demographic information, medical history, medication records, and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) surveys. Cytokine and growth factor concentrations in whole blood and APS were measured using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Statistical analyses were used to identify relationships between OA patient metrics and cytokines. The results of this study indicated that anti‐inflammatory cytokines were preferentially increased compared to inflammatory cytokines in APS from 98% of OA patients. APS contained high concentrations of anti‐inflammatory proteins including 39,000 ± 20,000 pg/ml IL‐1ra, 21,000 ± 5,000 pg/ml sIL‐1RII, 2,100 ± 570 pg/ml sTNF‐RI, and 4,200 ± 1,500 pg/ml sTNF‐RII. Analysis of the 82 patient metrics indicated that no single patient metric was strongly correlated (R² > 0.7) with the key cytokine concentrations in APS. Therefore, APS can be prepared from a broad range of OA patients. © 2014 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 32:1349–1355, 2014.     

The single midline implant in the edentulous mandible: a systematic review

Objectives

The concept of a single midline implant retaining a complete mandibular denture is controversially discussed among experts. Studies are rare in the literature, and commonly accepted recommendations for this treatment options are not available. This systematic literature review was performed to give an overview over the current literature on the single midline implant therapy for the edentulous mandible and to reveal whether this treatment option might be an alternative to commonly accepted treatment modalities with more implants.

Methods

A review of the literature published until 24th of May 2013 was conducted to identify in vivo studies on the single midline implant concept with a mean follow-up time of at least 3 months.

Results

From the electronic search, 11 studies were finally included. After an observation period of 3–60 months, the implant survival rate ranged from 62.5 to 100 %. The most frequent prosthetic maintenance intervention was “activation of the matrix” followed by “repair of fractured denture base.”

Conclusions

The concept of one single midline implant to retain a mandibular complete denture can be an alternative, especially for elderly patients. Immediate loading of the implants should be avoided, and the way of integrating the matrix into the denture base should be carefully considered.     

Six-month results following treatment of aggressive periodontitis with antimicrobial photodynamic therapy or amoxicillin and metronidazole

Objective

The use of antibacterial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) additionally to scaling and root planing (SRP) has been shown to positively influence the clinical outcomes. However, at present, it is unknown to what extent aPDT may represent a potential alternative to the use of systemic antibiotics in nonsurgical periodontal therapy in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes following nonsurgical periodontal therapy and additional use of either aPDT or amoxicillin and metronidazole (AB) in patients with AP.

Material and methods

Thirty-six patients with AP displaying at least three sites with pocket depth (PD) ≥6 mm were treated with SRP and either systemic administration of AB for 7 days or with two episodes of aPDT. The following clinical parameters were evaluated at baseline and at 6 months: plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BOP), PD, gingival recession (GR) and clinical attachment level (CAL).

Results

Thirty-five patients have completed the 6-month evaluation. At 6 months, mean PD was statistically significantly reduced in both groups (from 5.0?±?0.8 to 3.0?±?0.6 mm with AB and from 5.1?±?0.5 to 3.9?±?0.8 mm with aPDT (p?p?p?p?=?0.03). Both therapies resulted in statistically significant reductions in all parameters compared to baseline.

Conclusion

While both treatments resulted in statistically significant clinical improvements, AB showed statistically significantly higher PD reduction and lower number of pockets ≥7 mm compared to aPDT.

Clinical relevance

In patients with AP, the two times application of aPDT in conjunction with nonsurgical periodontal therapy cannot be considered an alternative to the systemic use of amoxicillin and metronidazole.