Abnormalities in the EEG power spectrum in bulimia nervosa,binge‐eating disorder,and obesity: A systematic review

To provide a basis for electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback protocols for bulimia nervosa (BN), binge‐eating disorder (BED), and obesity, this systematic review investigates alterations in EEG‐measured brain activity, specifically frequency bands. A systematic literature search with predefined search terms yielded N = 7 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The risk of bias was assessed for all studies. In resting‐state EEG, the beta activity was elevated in fronto‐central regions in individuals with obesity and co‐morbid BED. In food‐cue conditions, both obese individuals with and without BED showed increased beta activity, suggesting increased awareness of food cues and a heightened attentional focus towards food stimuli. The level of beta activity was positively correlated with eating disorder psychopathology in resting and food‐cue conditions. In individuals with BN, there was no evidence for altered EEG spectral power. The results indicate specific alterations in EEG‐based brain activity in individuals with BED and obesity. More high‐quality studies are needed to further confirm these findings and to transfer them into EEG‐based interventions.     

Embolization of the Gastroduodenal Artery Before Selective Internal Radiotherapy: A Prospectively Randomized Trial Comparing Standard Pushable Coils with Fibered Interlock Detachable Coils

The purpose of this study was compare embolization of the gastroduodenal artery (GDA) using standard pushable coils with the Interlock detachable coil (IDC), a novel fibered mechanically detachable long microcoil, in patients scheduled for selective internal radiotherapy (SIRT). Fifty patients (31 male and 19 female; median age 66.6 ± 8.1 years) were prospectively randomized for embolization using either standard coils or IDCs. Procedure time, radiation dose, number of embolization devices, complications, and durability of vessel occlusion at follow-up angiography were recorded. The procedures differed significantly in time (14:32 ± 5:56 min for standard coils vs. 2:13 ± 1:04 min for IDCs; p < 0.001); radiation dose for coil deployment (2479 ± 1237 cGycm2 for standard coils vs. 275 ± 268 cGycm2 for IDCs; p < 0.001); and vessel occlusion (17:18 ± 6:39 min for standard coils vs. 11:19 ± 7:54 min for IDCs; p = 0.002). A mean of 6.2 ± 1.8 coils (n = 27) were used in the standard coil group, and 1.3 ± 0.9 coils (p < 0.0001) were used in the IDC group (n = 23) because additional pushable coils were required to achieve GDA occlusion in 4 patients. In 2 patients, the IDC could not be deployed through a Soft-VU catheter. One standard coil dislodged in the hepatic artery and was retrieved. Vessel reperfusion was noted in only 1 patient in the standard coil group. Controlled embolization of the GDA with fibered IDCs was achieved more rapidly than with pushable coils. However, vessel occlusion may not be obtained using a single device only, and the use of sharply angled guiding catheters hampered coil pushability.     

Advantages and disadvantages of the Amplatzer Vascular Plug IV in visceral embolization: report of 50 placements

Purpose  

We describe our initial clinical experience in artificial embolization with the Amplatzer Vascular Plug IV (VP IV), a further development of the Vascular Plug family already in routine use.     

Negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia severity and marijuana problems in college students

Insomnia symptoms have been linked to problematic marijuana use among young adults, but the mechanism underlying this association and whether sex differences exist, remains unclear. Using cross‐sectional data, this study examined negative mood as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems among male and female college students. Undergraduate students (n = 267; 61% female) reporting marijuana use in the past month completed an online survey assessing insomnia symptoms, negative mood and marijuana problems. Controlling for relevant covariates, negative mood was examined as a mediator of the association between insomnia and marijuana problems using bootstrapped significance tests for indirect effects (n‐boot = 1,000). Results indicated that higher levels of insomnia were associated with greater levels of negative mood (regardless of sex), which in turn were associated with greater marijuana‐related problems. In conclusion, insomnia symptoms are associated with more negative mood among college students who use marijuana, and this effect on negative mood accounts for a large part of the association of insomnia symptoms with marijuana‐related problems. Research is needed to determine if these associations are maintained prospectively.     

The influence of feeding crimped kernel maize silage on growth performance and intestinal colonization with Campylobacter jejuni of broilers

An infection trial and a production trial over 35 days were conducted in parallel to study the influence of feeding crimped kernel maize silage (CKMS) on the intestinal Campylobacter jejuni colonization and broiler performance, respectively. The CKMS was used at dietary inclusion levels of 15% and 30% in maize-based diets. Broilers were orally inoculated with 2?×?10⁵?log?cfu/ml C. jejuni on day 14. Four birds from each pen were randomly selected and killed by cervical dislocation on days 3, 6, 9, 14 and 21 post infection and intestinal contents from ileum, caeca and rectum as well as liver samples were taken. Body weight and feed consumption of broilers were registered on days 13, 22 and 35. On day 35, litter dry matter (DM) was measured and the condition of the foot pads was evaluated. There was no significant effect of CKMS on the colonization of C. jejuni. Body weight of the broilers supplemented with 15% CKMS was comparable with the control maize-based feed, whereas addition of 30% CKMS reduced broiler body weight (P?Campylobacter colonization, but improved the foot pad health of broilers.     

Exome sequencing and CRISPR/Cas genome editing identify mutations of ZAK as a cause of limb defects in humans and mice

The CRISPR/Cas technology enables targeted genome editing and the rapid generation of transgenic animal models for the study of human genetic disorders. Here we describe an autosomal recessive human disease in two unrelated families characterized by a split-foot defect, nail abnormalities of the hands, and hearing loss, due to mutations disrupting the SAM domain of the protein kinase ZAK. ZAK is a member of the MAPKKK family with no known role in limb development. We show that Zak is expressed in the developing limbs and that a CRISPR/Cas-mediated knockout of the two Zak isoforms is embryonically lethal in mice. In contrast, a deletion of the SAM domain induces a complex hindlimb defect associated with down-regulation of Trp63, a known split-hand/split-foot malformation disease gene. Our results identify ZAK as a key player in mammalian limb patterning and demonstrate the rapid utility of CRISPR/Cas genome editing to assign causality to human mutations in the mouse in <10 wk.Split-hand/split-foot malformation (SHFM) is a limb anomaly characterized by median clefts with missing or malformed central rays (Elliott et al. 2005). SHFM is clinically and genetically heterogeneous and represents a paradigmatic genetic disorder displaying different modes of inheritance, variable expressivity, and incomplete penetrance (Birnbaum et al. 2012; Klopocki et al. 2012). Submicroscopic duplications at 10q24 and 17p13.3, TP63 mutations, and deletions of exonic enhancers in DYNC1I1 represent major SHFM-causing mechanisms (Ianakiev et al. 2000; de Mollerat et al. 2003; Birnbaum et al. 2012; Klopocki et al. 2012). Mutations in other genes, including WNT10B in an autosomal recessive form, have been reported. However, in up to two thirds of affected individuals, the causative mutation remains unknown (Ugur and Tolun 2008; Tayebi et al. 2014). One of the key challenges in rare Mendelian disorders is to identify additional disease alleles in unrelated families. CRISPR/Cas genome editing can now be used to create a large number of new alleles in the mouse within a few weeks by creating specific mutations and deletions in a gene of interest (Wang et al. 2013; Kraft et al. 2015). Here we report on the combination of whole-exome sequencing in patients with CRISPR/Cas genome editing in mice to identify and validate a novel disease-causing gene and to assign an unexpected role to the protein kinase ZAK in mammalian limb development.