Chromatopsia

More than half of the cases with complaints of chromatopsia had recent-onset retinal pathology. Erythropsia due to bright (sun-)light is a relatively common finding in aphakia and pseudophakia. UV-coated intraocular lenses do not provide complete protection. Cerebrovascular chromatopsia usually occurs in transient attacks.     

Total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) and exercise

The relationship between physical activity, physical fitness and total radical trapping antioxidant potential (TRAP) was examined in the Northern Ireland Health and Activity Survey. This was a cross-sectional population study (n = 1600) using a two-stage probability sample of the population. TRAP was calculated using the sum of the individual serum antioxidant concentrations (urate, protein thiols, ascorbate, alpha tocopherol and bilirubin) multiplied by their respective stoichiometric values. Physical fitness was determined by estimation of VO2max by extrapolation from submaximal oxygen uptake, and physical activity was recorded by computer-assisted interview. Mean serum TRAP concentrations were significantly higher in males (653 +/- 8.2 mumol/l, mean +/- SEM) compared to females (564 +/- 8.0 mumol/l) (p < 0.0001). Both male and female smokers had significantly lower TRAP values than non-smokers (males p < 0.0001, females p = 0.02). In females, there was a positive relationship of TRAP with age (p < 0.001) and body mass index (p < 0.001) but a negative relationship with physical fitness (p < 0.05). The known beneficial effects of exercise and activity do not appear to be directly mediated through increased antioxidant status.      

The interaction of amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and their N-methyl quaternary ammonium derivatives with subtypes of muscarinic receptors in brain and heart

The interaction of amitriptyline, doxepin, imipramine and their N-methyl quaternary derivatives with muscarinic receptors was investigated in the brain and heart. The potency of the tricyclic derivatives for inhibiting the binding of 11[[2-[(diethylamino) methyl]-1-piperidinyl]acetyl]-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido[2,3-b] [1,4] benzodiazepine-6-one to M2 muscarinic receptors in cerebral cortex was similar to that measured in competitive binding experiments with the nonselective muscarinic antagonist [3H]N-methylscopolamine in the corpus striatum and heart. Moreover, the tricyclic derivatives antagonized muscarinic receptor-mediated inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity with similar potency in the corpus striatum and heart, and there was good agreement between the affinities of the tricyclic derivatives when measured by radioligand binding and by antagonism of the adenylate cyclase response. Our results show that amitriptyline, doxepin and imipramine lack selectivity for subtypes of the muscarinic receptor.     

In Vivo Feedback Predicts Parent Behavior Change in the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up Intervention

Understanding mechanisms and active ingredients of intervention is critical to training clinicians, particularly when interventions are transported from laboratories to communities. One promising active ingredient of parenting programs is clinicians’ in vivo feedback regarding parent–child interactions. The present study examined whether a form of in vivo feedback, in the moment commenting, predicted treatment retention and parent behavior change when the Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-up (ABC) intervention was implemented in a community setting. Observational data were collected from 78 parent–child dyads (96% mothers; M age = 29 years; 81% minority; infants’ M age = 12 months; 90% minority) across 640 sessions conducted by 9 clinicians (100% female, M age = 39; 67% minority) in Hawaii. Parental behavior was assessed with a semistructured play task before and after intervention. Clinicians’ in-the-moment feedback to parents was assessed from intervention session videos. Clinicians’ frequency and quality of in-the-moment feedback predicted change in parental intrusiveness and sensitivity at posttreatment. Frequency of in-the-moment feedback also predicted likelihood of retention. Hierarchical linear modeling demonstrated strong support for these associations at the between-clinician level, and limited additional support at the within-clinician (i.e., between-case) level. Thus, a hypothesized active ingredient of treatment, in-the-moment feedback, predicted community-based ABC outcomes. The results complement lab-based evidence to suggest that in vivo feedback may be a mechanism of change in parenting interventions. Helping clinicians to provide frequent, high-quality in vivo feedback may improve parenting program outcomes in community settings.     

The “silent” imprint of musical training

Playing a musical instrument at a professional level is a complex multimodal task requiring information integration between different brain regions supporting auditory, somatosensory, motor, and cognitive functions. These kinds of task‐specific activations are known to have a profound influence on both the functional and structural architecture of the human brain. However, until now, it is widely unknown whether this specific imprint of musical practice can still be detected during rest when no musical instrument is used. Therefore, we applied high‐density electroencephalography and evaluated whole‐brain functional connectivity as well as small‐world topologies (i.e., node degree) during resting state in a sample of 15 professional musicians and 15 nonmusicians. As expected, musicians demonstrate increased intra‐ and interhemispheric functional connectivity between those brain regions that are typically involved in music perception and production, such as the auditory, the sensorimotor, and prefrontal cortex as well as Broca's area. In addition, mean connectivity within this specific network was positively related to musical skill and the total number of training hours. Thus, we conclude that musical training distinctively shapes intrinsic functional network characteristics in such a manner that its signature can still be detected during a task‐free condition. Hum Brain Mapp 37:536–546, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Association between postoperative mean arterial blood pressure and myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery

Background

Myocardial injury after noncardiac surgery is common, although the exact pathophysiology is unknown. It is plausible that hypotension after surgery is relevant for the development of myocardial injury. The authors evaluated whether low mean arterial pressures (MAPs) after surgery are related to an increased incidence in postoperative cardiac-troponin elevation.

Prognostic value of postoperative high-sensitivity troponin T in patients with different stages of kidney disease undergoing noncardiac surgery

Background

Emerging evidence suggests that postoperative troponin release is a strong and independent predictor of short-term mortality. However, evaluating elevated troponins in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is still controversial and is often disregarded. This study examines morbidity along with short- and long-term mortality risk associated with elevated high-sensitivity troponin T (hsTnT) in patients with different stages CKD undergoing noncardiac surgery.

Pulmonary function and inflammatory markers in patients undergoing coronary revascularisation with or without cardiopulmonary bypass

Lung injury after cardiac surgery is believed to result from cardiopulmonary bypass and its pro-inflammatory effects. To test this hypothesis, we compared the oxygenation ratios, extravascular lung water indices and systemic and pulmonary tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-8 at predetermined intervals in coronary artery surgery patients with or without cardiopulmonary bypass. No differences in oxygenation ratios or extravascular lung water indices were found. Serum values of TNF-α and IL-8 increased in both groups but were higher in the cardiopulmonary bypass group (end of surgery: mean (SD) TNF-α 3.68 (2.5) vs 2.20 (1.2) pg.ml⁻¹ (p  =  0.043 (CI 0.05–2.9)) and mean (SD) IL-8 19.45 (10.8) vs 6.31 (5.3) pg.ml⁻¹ (p  =  0.001 (CI 6.9–19.3)). In broncho-alveolar lavage fluid, TNF-α and IL-8 increased in both groups with no differences between the groups.