Treatment of Inverse Psoriasis with the 308 nm Excimer Laser

BACKGROUND: The treatment of inverse psoriasis can be both challenging and frustrating. Conventional topical and systemic treatments can be limited in terms of efficacy, acceptability and safety. The 308 nm excimer laser has been shown to be effective in the treatment of psoriatic plaques. METHODS: A patient with chronic inverse psoriasis was treated with 308 nm excimer laser using a 3.5 cm spot, a dosage of 2 minimal erythema doses and a pulse width of 30 ns. RESULTS: Complete clearance of the psoriatic lesions was obtained after 3 weeks of treatment. Remission duration was at least 6 months. CONCLUSION: The 308 nm excimer laser is safe and effective for the treatment of inverse psoriasis. Treatments are well tolerated with minimal side effects.     

Psychopathic traits are differentially associated with efficiency of neural communication

Recent advances in the application of graph theory made it possible to quantify the efficiency of communication within a neural network, going beyond traditional connectivity methods that only identify the degree to which neural regions are connected. Psychopathic traits, namely, interpersonal‐affective and impulsive‐antisocial traits, have been linked to widespread and distinct disruptions in neural connectivity. The efficiency of neural communication for individuals high on these psychopathic traits, though, is unknown. In the present study, resting‐state EEG was used to generate a connectivity matrix (i.e., weighted phase lag index) for multiple frequency bands. These connectivity matrices were examined using minimum spanning tree analysis, a graph theory approach that allows for the examination of neural efficiency, and regressed on Self‐Report Psychopathy‐Short Form scores (n = 158, unselected community sample). Results indicated that individuals with higher interpersonal‐affective traits had significantly less efficient communication within alpha1 (i.e., long‐range neural communication) and gamma (i.e., short‐range neural communication) frequency bands. Conversely, individuals with higher impulsive‐antisocial traits had more efficient communication within these same frequency bands. Overall, elevated psychopathic traits were related to alterations in the basic efficiency of neural communication. Moreover, this unique application of graph analysis provides a new avenue for inquiry into the mechanisms underlying the chronic and severe behavior of individuals with psychopathic traits.     

How does anxiety sensitivity increase risk of chronic medical conditions?

Anxiety sensitivity (AS; fear of anxiety‐related symptoms) is an established transdiagnostic risk factor for psychiatric disorders and is related to a variety of chronic medical conditions. However, AS has not been established as a risk factor for chronic medical conditions. In this study, we review studies on AS and chronic medical conditions (and symptoms/behaviors related to chronic medical conditions) and propose four pathways through which AS may increase risk of chronic medical conditions: (a) increasing fear of medical condition‐specific symptoms, (b) perpetuating avoidance of healthy activities, (c) promoting engagement in unhealthy behaviors, and (d) increasing risk of detrimental pathophysiological and pathomechanical alterations. We also discuss the potential utility of using AS reduction interventions as a means of reducing risk of chronic medical conditions.     

The Granuloma Response Controlling Cryptococcosis in Mice Depends on the Sphingosine Kinase 1–Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Pathway

Cryptococcus neoformans is a fungal pathogen that causes pulmonary infections, which may progress into life-threatening meningitis. In commonly used mouse models of C. neoformans infections, fungal cells are not contained in the lungs, resulting in dissemination to the brain. We have previously reported the generation of an engineered C. neoformans strain (C. neoformans Δgcs1) which can be contained in lung granulomas in the mouse model and have shown that granuloma formation is dependent upon the enzyme sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) and its product, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). In this study, we have used four mouse models, CBA/J and C57BL6/J (both immunocompetent), Tgε26 (an isogenic strain of strain CBA/J lacking T and NK cells), and SK^−/− (an isogenic strain of strain C57BL6/J lacking SK1), to investigate how the granulomatous response and SK1-S1P pathway are interrelated during C. neoformans infections. S1P and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) levels were significantly elevated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of all mice infected with C. neoformans Δgcs1 but not in mice infected with the C. neoformans wild type. SK1^−/− mice did not show elevated levels of S1P or MCP-1. Primary neutrophils isolated from SK1^−/− mice showed impaired antifungal activity that could be restored by the addition of extracellular S1P. In addition, high levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha were found in the mice infected with C. neoformans Δgcs1 in comparison to the levels found in mice infected with the C. neoformans wild type, and their levels were also dependent on the SK1-S1P pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that the SK1-S1P pathway promotes host defense against C. neoformans infections by regulating cytokine levels, promoting extracellular killing by phagocytes, and generating a granulomatous response.     

Time‐frequency theta and delta measures index separable components of feedback processing in a gambling task

Previous work using gambling tasks indicate that the feedback negativity (FN) reflects primary or salient stimulus attributes (often gain vs. loss), whereas the feedback‐P300 appears sensitive to secondary stimulus information. A recent time‐frequency approach has characterized separable theta (3–7 Hz) and delta (0–3 Hz) feedback processes, independently sensitive to primary feedback attributes, specifically loss and gain outcomes, respectively. The current study extends this time‐frequency work to evaluate both primary and secondary (relative outcome and outcome magnitude) feedback attributes. Consistent with previous reports, theta indexed an initial, lower‐level response sensitive to the primary (most salient) feedback attributes (specifically losses), while delta was sensitive to both primary attributes (specifically gains) and assessed secondary stimulus features.     

The Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) Program

Objective: We conducted a randomized controlled trial of the Aging Well through Interaction and Scientific Education (AgeWISE) program, a 12-week manualized cognitive rehabilitation program designed to provide psychoeducation to older adults about the aging brain, lifestyle factors associated with successful brain aging, and strategies to compensate for age related cognitive decline.

Methods: Forty-nine cognitively intact participants ≥ 60 years old were randomly assigned to the AgeWISE program (n = 25) or a no-treatment control group (n = 24). Questionnaire data were collected prior to group assignment and post intervention. Two-factor repeated-measures analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were used to compare group outcomes.

Results: Upon completion, participants in the AgeWISE program reported increases in memory contentment and their sense of control in improving memory; no significant changes were observed in the control group. Surprisingly, participation in the group was not associated with significant changes in knowledge of memory aging, perception of memory ability, or greater use of strategies.

Conclusions: The AgeWISE program was successfully implemented and increased participants’ memory contentment and their sense of control in improving memory in advancing age.

Clinical Implications: This study supports the use of AgeWISE to improve perspectives on healthy cognitive aging.     

The Relationship Between Sleep and Epilepsy in Frontal and Temporal Lobe Epilepsies: Practical and Physiopathologic Considerations

Summary: Purpose: The influence of sleep on the incidence of seizures and the reciprocal effects of epilepsy on sleep were analyzed in 30 patients with intractable partial seizures, all candidates for surgery.
Methods: The patients were classified into two groups of 15 patients according to the documented site of the epileptogenic zone: frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) and medial temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Frequency and waking-sleep distribution of seizures were evaluated by continuous video-EEG monitoring for 5 days, under defined antiepileptic drug (AED), sleep, and sleep deprivation regimens. Sleep organization was analyzed by polysomnography prior to the presurgical protocol.
Results: Significant differences were found between the two groups in sleeping-waking distribution of seizures under varied conditions, and in the quality of sleep organization. In FLE patients, seizures most often occurred during sleep, although sleep organization was normal. In TLE patients, most seizures occurred while patients were awake, and sleep organization was characterized by a low efficiency index. The difference in seizure distribution between FLE and TLE persisted under all conditions investigated, i.e., after AED discontinuation and sleep deprivation.
Conclusions: Sleep recording may be useful for diagnosis of FLE, and monitoring after sleep deprivation for that of TLE. We speculate that sleep-related seizures in FLE may depend on interaction between frontal lobe areas with the thalamus cortical synchronization system and the acetylcholine regulatory system of waking.