The visual word form area: a prelexical representation of visual words in the fusiform gyrus

Event-related fMRI was used to test the hypothesis that the visual word form area in the left fusiform gyrus holds a modality-specific and prelexical representation of visual words. Subjects were engaged in a repetition-detection task on pairs of words or pronounceable pseudo-words that could be written or spoken. The visual word form area responded only to written stimuli, not to spoken stimuli, independently of their semantic content. We propose that the occasional activation of the fusiform gyrus when listening to spoken words is due to the topdown recruitment of visual orthographic or object representations.     

Involvement of FAK, PI3-K and PKC in cell adhesion induced by microtubule disruption

We have previously shown that microtubule disruption results in an increase in cell adhesion to ECM proteins. In this work we show that this enhanced cell attachment was completely abolished by specific inhibitors of tyrosine-kinases, PI3-K and PKCs. Microtubule depolymerisation was associated with an important increased in tyrosine phosphorylation of FAK and paxilline, as well as with subcellular localisation of PKCgamma, delta and epsilon. We also observed significant alterations in actin cytoskeleton leading to reduced cell spreading. Thus, microtubule depolymerisation appears to activate various intracellular kinases that lead to actin cytoskeletal changes and to an increase of integrin-dependent adhesion. Whether this enhanced attachment is due to intracellular events resulting in changes in integrin affinity or avidity remains to be determined.     

Effect of impaired recognition and expression of emotions on frontocingulate cortices: an fMRI study of men with alexithymia

OBJECTIVE: Although the brain areas involved in emotional response and in the recognition of others' emotions have been reported, the neural bases of individual differences in affective style remain to be elucidated. Alexithymia, i.e., impairment of the ability to identify and communicate one's emotional state, influences how emotions are regulated. Alexithymia has been hypothesized to involve anterior cingulate dysfunction. Therefore, the authors searched for differential cerebral regional activation in response to emotional stimuli in subjects with alexithymia. METHOD: Two groups of eight men each were selected from 437 healthy subjects on the basis of high or low scores on the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the authors compared the two groups for their regional cerebral activation in response to the presentation of pictures with validated positive or negative arousal capabilities. RESULTS: Men with alexithymia demonstrated less cerebral activation in the left mediofrontal-paracingulate cortex in response to highly negative stimuli and more activation in the anterior cingulate, mediofrontal cortex, and middle frontal gyrus in response to highly positive stimuli than men without alexithymia. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide direct evidence that alexithymia, a personality trait playing a role in affect regulation, is linked with differences in anterior cingulate and mediofrontal activity during emotional stimuli processing.     

Direct transoral approach to C2 for percutaneous vertebroplasty

Percutaneous vertebroplasty was performed via a transoral route in a 70-year-old woman with a C2 metastasis of thyroid origin involving anterior vertebral elements. Complete pain relief was obtained after an uncomplicated minimally invasive procedure. This preliminary experience demonstrates that a transoral approach under fluoroscopic control can provide safe access to the upper cervical spine at C2 level.     

PMMA cementoplasty in symptomatic metastatic lesions of the S1 vertebral body

We describe a lateral transiliac direct puncture approach to the S1 vertebral body for polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) cementoplasty of painful metastatic lesions. This approach was performed using a 15-cm-long trocar needle with 3-mm outer diameter, introduced under general anesthesia and fluoroscopic control. A lateral projection was used to center the needle just in front of the spinal canal and subjacent to the superior plate of the S1 vertebral body. Needle progression was controlled using anteroposterior and lateral fluoroscopic projections alternately with a needle course parallel to an axial plane, avoiding conflict with the S1 foramen. After needle tip placement in the center of the S1 vertebral body, diluted PMMA with a setting time of 8 min was delivered. Ipsilateral lesions of the lateral sacral compartment were filled with the same needle by stepwise withdrawal and continuous PMMA injection.     

Bilateral Oxford Meniscal Knee arthroplasty.

Thirty-two patients who underwent bilateral bicompartmental Oxford Meniscal Knee arthroplasty have been followed up prospectively for a mean period of 51 months from the time of their first operation. Pain relief was obtained in all but one knee; walking ability was improved in more than two-thirds. Overall patient satisfaction with the results was good. Two knees failed. The results demonstrate that bilateral knee arthroplasty can be expected to give good functional results.