Scanning your body is different from performing body movements: A double dissociation between body representational neglect and apraxia

Body representational neglect (BRN) and apraxia can be found after left hemisphere (LH) lesions. Additionally, both disorders recruit knowledge about certain body parts, their position in space, and their spatial relationship to each other. Hence, the present study examined whether BRN and apraxia can be functionally dissociated at the behavioral and neural level. 23 LH lesioned patients were examined with a standardized body neglect test (Vest test) and a standardized test of apraxia (imitation of meaningless gestures). At the behavioral level BRN and apraxia showed a double dissociation. Moreover, these deficits were associated with specific brain lesions: while BRN was related to lesions in Brodmann areas 6 and 44 and frontal white matter, apraxia was linked to lesions in the superior longitudinal fasciculus and parietal and central white matter. The results are discussed as indicating dissociable representations of the human body within the left cerebral hemisphere.     

Association between TNF-a and IL-1β genotypes vs Helicobacter pylori infection in Indonesia

AIM:To investigate the correlation between the Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori)infection and host genetic background of healthy populations in Indonesia.METHODS:In March 2007,epidemiological studies were undertaken on the general population of a city in Indonesia(Mataram,Lombok).The participants included 107 men and 187 women,whose ages ranged from6 to 74 years old,with an average age of 34.0(±14.4)(±SD).The H.pylori of subject by UBT method determination,and through the polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers(PCR-CTPP)method parsing the single nucleotide polymorphism of interleukin(IL)-8,IL-4,IL-1β,CD14,tumor necrosis factor(TNF-a)and tyrosine-protein phosphates non-receptor type 11(PTPN11)genotypes.The experimental data were analyzed by the statistical software SAS.RESULTS:The H.pylori infection rates in the healthy Indonesian population studied were 8.4%for men and12.8%for women;no obvious differences were noted for H.pylori infection rates by sex or age.TC genotypes of IL-4,TC and CC genotypes of TNF-a,and GA genotypes of PTPN11,were higher in frequency.Both CC and TC genotype of TNF-a T-1031C loci featured higher expressions in the healthy Indonesian population Indonesia studied of(OR=1.99;95%CI:0.67-5.89)and(OR=1.66;95%CI:0.73-3.76),respectively.C allele of IL-1βT-31C gene locus was at a higher risk(OR=1.11;95%CI:0.70-1.73)of H.pylori infection,but no statistical significance was found in our study.CONCLUSION:We reveal that the association between the TNF-a and IL-1βgenotypes may be the susceptibility of H.pylori in the studied population.     

Low level of intracortical inhibition in children shown by transcranial magnetic stimulation

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an established neurophysiological tool to evaluate the integrity and maturation of the corticospinal tract. TMS was used in this study to compare intracortical inhibition (ICI) in children, adolescents, and adults. The paired-pulse technique of TMS with interstimulus intervals of 2 ms was used to determine the ratio of conditioned (cMEP) and unconditioned amplitudes (ucMEP) that measures ICI. In experiment 1 (Exp 1) stimulus intensity was adapted to motor threshold (50 healthy subjects; 24 male, 26 female, median age 13.5 years, range 6.3 - 34 years) and in experiment 2 (Exp 2) stimulus intensity was adapted to the ucMEP (200 - 400 microV). Children (quotient of cMEP and ucMEP: Exp. 1: 0.71 +/- 0.41, Exp. 2: 0.82 +/- 0.25) had significantly less ICI compared to adults (Exp. 1: 0.21 +/- 0.19, mean +/- STD, Exp. 2: 0.35 +/- 0.22, in both experiments p < 0.001). Recently, ICI has been linked to the regulating function of GABAergic cortical interneurons on practice-dependent neuronal plasticity. Therefore, the lower ICI in children points to maturation processes that may have implications for the greater capacity of practice-dependent neuronal plasticity in children.     

Quantification of interventions and outcomes in an outpatient telemanagement and care management congestive heart failure program

The congestive heart failure continuum was developed in collaboration with the medical management committee of our hospital in response to a need to decrease readmissions for this chronic and progressive disease. This is accomplished via a multidisciplinary team that provides education and long-term telemanagement, as well as care management to assist these patients in maintaining an optimum level of functioning and the ability to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Since October 1996 there have been 375 patients referred with a decrease in the 31-day readmission rate from 21% to an average of 5%. Costs are presently $55.00 per month per patient. Evaluation of the congestive heart failure phone management tool revealed a strong 77% positive correlation between the patient's score and the number of interventions needed to stabilize the patient. Care management visits, when necessary, help reduce the need for hospitalization. (c)2000 by CHF, Inc.     

Quinolone resistance in Helicobacter pylori isolates in Germany

We show that quinolone resistance in Helicobacter pylori has reached an alarming level in Germany. Our data suggest that the use of quinolones requires prior antimicrobial susceptibility testing, especially for isolates from patients who have already undergone previous unsuccessful eradication treatments, and also underline the further need for surveillance studies to monitor antibiotic resistance in H. pylori.     

A retrospective study on non-drug related poisoning in the community among children from south India

Objectives: This retrospective study was performed to determine the incidence, demographic distribution, types and outcomes across various non-drug related poisonings among children attending a tertiary care center in south India.

Methods: All children from 0-16 years who presented to the Paediatric Emergency Department, Christian Medical College, Vellore with non-drug related poisoning from October 2004 to September 2013 were included.

Results: Out of the total 997 cases of poisoning, 629 (63.1%) cases were contributed by chemicals and plants: mainly hydrocarbons (kerosene) 309 (49.1%); organophosphates 72 (11.5%); corrosive acids and alkalis 57 (9.1%); insecticides 51 (8.1%); and plant poisons 20 (3.2%). Males (62.79%) and children < 5 years (77.42%) were mostly affected. Although many children developed complications requiring intensive care unit admissions, the total mortality was only 9 (1.4%). The incidence of poisoning showed a decreasing trend over the last 4 years.

Conclusion: This study for the first time gives an elaborative insight on non-drug related pediatric poisoning from a tertiary care center in south India for almost a decade.     

Structure-function relationships in the Bvg and Evg two-component phosphorelay systems

The unorthodox two-component phosphorelay systems BvgAS and EvgAS of Bordetella pertussis and E. coli, respectively, are suitable model systems to investigate the molecular basis of signalling specificity, because, despite their high relatedness on the sequence level, they do not cross-talk to each other. We could show that the two systems belong to the obligate type of phosphorelay systems and that signalling specificity is mediated by the HPt modules of the histidine kinases and the receiver domains of the effector proteins. To gain more insight into signalling specificity on the molecular level, we started a detailed structural analysis of the respective proteins using a combination of genetic and biochemical methods including limited proteolysis and chemical modification of purified proteins and their mass spectrometrical analysis.