Proximal improvement and higher-order resting state network change after multidomain cognitive training intervention in healthy older adults

GeroScience - Prior randomized control trials have shown that cognitive training interventions resulted in improved proximal task performance, improved functioning of activities of daily living,...     

Photodynamic therapy for choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to optic nerve drusen.

The authors describe the use of photodynamic therapy with verteporfin for subfoveal choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to optic nerve drusen. A 28-year-old woman had a peripapillary choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to optic nerve drusen with significant metamorphopsia. Photodynamic therapy using verteporfin was performed. Visual acuity improved to 20/20 with resolution of metamorphopsia and absence of leakage on fluorescein angiography a few weeks after verteporfin therapy. The patient's condition remained stable for 16 months with 20/20 vision. Photodynamic therapy with verteporfin may be a useful treatment option in patients with choroidal neovascular membranes secondary to optic nerve drusen.     

Short-term Outcome and Predictors of Adverse Events following Pulmonary Thromboendarterectomy

p < 0.05). Mild mixed acidosis present at ICU admission resolved prior to discharge ( p = 0.002). The length of mechanical ventilation time was positively correlated with the absolute post-CPB PVR and negatively correlated with the relative change in central venous pressure (CVP) from pre-CPB to post-CPB values ( r = 0.75, p = 0.037). Of the pre-CPB anthropometric variables, only body mass index was significantly higher in nonsurvivors ( p = 0.037). Pulmonary artery pressures and vascular resistance fall significantly after PTE. A lower post-CPB PVR and a relatively decreased (i.e., from pre-CPB values) CVP predict reduced length of postoperative ventilation but not of the hospital stay. Mortality appears increased in patients with a large body habitus.     

Pancreatic β cells synthesize and secrete nerve growth factor

Differentiation and function of pancreatic β cells are regulated by a variety of hormones and growth factors, including nerve growth factor (NGF). Whether this is an endocrine or autocrine/paracrine role for NGF is not known. We demonstrate that NGF is produced and secreted by adult rat pancreatic β cells. NGF secretion is increased in response to elevated glucose or potassium, but decreased in response to dibutyryl cAMP. Moreover, steady-state levels of NGF mRNA are down-regulated by dibutyryl cAMP, which is opposite to the effect of cAMP on insulin release. NGF-stimulated changes in morphology and function are mediated by high-affinity Trk A receptors in other mammalian cells. Trk A receptors are present in β cells and steady-state levels of Trk A mRNA are modulated by NGF and dibutyryl cAMP. Taken together, these findings suggest endocrine and autocrine roles for pancreatic β-cell NGF, which, in turn, could be related to the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus where serum NGF levels are diminished.     

Gap Junctional Communication and the Development of Local Circuits in Neocortex

In the neocotex, as well as in many other brain regions, neuronsresponding to similar stimulus features are usually found closeto one another. Here we examine the possible role of gap junctionalcommunication in forming and defining these local neuronal groupings,examples of which may be the columns found in the neocortexof virtually all mammalian species. We have approached thisquestion experimentally in cortical brain slices using calciumimaging to visualize multicellular activity patterns, and tracerinjections to identify the anatomical pattern of gap junctioncoupling in the developing neocortex. Our results suggest thatdendrodendritic gap junctional communication may be involvedin the formation of local connectivity, most likely by synchronizingelectrical or biochemical activity among neighboring neurons.     

Nefrectomía laparoscópica simple con asistencia de notes transvaginal y uso de instrumentos laparoscópicos estándar

IntroductionNatural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an emerging technique, which allows to performed surgical procedures avoiding any surgical scars. However there are some problems due to the lack of equipment available for these procedures. The aim of these study is to present our initial experience with the transvaginal nephrectomy NOTES using standard laparoscopic instruments.Material and MethodsTwo female patients 23 and 29 years old, both of them with diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infection and renal atrophy. A transvaginal simple nephrectomy was performed using a transvaginal Access for the camera port and two abdominal work ports of 10 and 3mm.ResultsTotal operation room time was 120 min in the first case and 40 min. in the second. with an average blood loss of 200 cc. There were no perioperative complications, and both patients was discharged 36 hours after the surgeryConclusionLaparoscopic nephrectomy with transvaginal NOTES assistance is technically feasible with the use of standard laparoscopic instruments. Special Access trocars and instruments development for this procedure will allow to perform a pure technique without the use of abdominal incisions.     

Increased activity of tyrosine hydroxylase in the cerebellum of the X-irradiated dystonic rat

The exposure of the cephalic end of rats to repeated doses of X-irradiation (150 rad) immediately after birth induces a long-term increase in the noradrenaline (NA), content of cerebellum (CE) (+37.8%), and a decrease in cerebellar weight (65.2% of controls), which results in an increased NA concentration (+109%). This increase in the neurotransmitter level is accompanied by a dystonic syndrome and histological abnormalities: Purkinje cells (the target cells for NA afferents to CE) fail to arrange in a characteristic monolayer, and their primary dendritic tree appears randomly oriented. The injection of reserpine 0.9 and 1.2 mg/kg ip to adult rats for 18 h depletes cerebellar NA content in both controls (15.7±4 ng/CE and 2.8±1.5 ng/CE, respectively) and X-irradiated rats (17.1±1 ng/CE and 8.3±2 ng/CE, respectively). The activity of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in CE of adult rats, measured by an in vitro assay, is significantly increased in neonatally X-irradiated animals when compared to agematched controls (16.4±1.4 vs 6.32±0.6 nmol CO₂/h/mg prot.,p<0.01). As observed for NA levels, a net increase in TH activity induced by the ionizing radiation is also measured: 308.9±23.8 vs 408.2±21.5 nmol CO₂/h/CE,p<0.01 (controls and X-treated, respectively). These results suggest that X-irradiation at birth may induce an abnormal sprouting of noradrenergic afferents to CE. The possibility that these changes represent a response of the NA system to the dystonic syndrome is discussed.