Conditions for view invariance in the neural response to visual symmetry

Symmetry detection is slow when patterns are distorted by perspective, perhaps due to a time‐consuming normalization process, or because discrimination relies on remaining weaker regularities in the retinal image. Participants viewed symmetrical or random dot patterns, either in a frontoparallel or slanted plane (±50°). One group performed a color discrimination task, while another performed a regularity discrimination task. We measured a symmetry‐related event‐related potential (ERP), beginning around 300 ms. During color discrimination, the ERP was reduced for slanted patterns, indexing only the remaining retinal structure. During regularity discrimination, the same ERP was view invariant, and identical for frontoparallel or slanted presentation. We conclude that normalization occurs rapidly during active symmetry discrimination, while symmetry‐sensitive networks respond only to regularity in the retinal image when people are attending to other features.     

Splenectomy reduces lung metastases and tumoral and metastatic niche inflammation

The immune microenvironment plays a crucial role in supporting tumor growth and metastasis. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and neutrophils (TANs) are essential components of this microenvironment and affect tumor growth and progression in almost all solid neoplasms. Furthermore, TAMs, TANs and tumor-infiltrating dendritic cells (TIDCs) are found to infiltrate specific distant organs to prepare them as a site for metastatic cell seeding, forming the pre-metastatic niche. The spleen was identified as a major reservoir and source of circulating and tumor infiltrating immune cells. However, discrepancies about its role in supporting tumor growth exist. Thus, here we investigated the role of splenectomy in primary tumor and metastatic growth, and in the formation of an inflammatory niche. In a murine 4T1 and E0771 breast and Panc02 pancreatic cancer model, our results show that while splenectomy reduces the number of infiltrating TAMs, TANs and TIDCs within primary tumors, it does not affect its growth. In line, fewer TAMs, TANs and TIDCs accumulate in the metastatic microenvironment after splenectomy. Interestingly though, this affected metastatic growth depending on the metastatic route/site. The number of hematogenous breast cancer lung metastases was reduced after splenectomy but no effect was observed in breast or pancreatic lymph node metastases. Moreover, we observed that the immune composition of the pre-metastatic niche in lungs of breast cancer bearing mice was altered, and that this could cause the reduction of metastases. Altogether, our results highlight that splenectomy affects the immune microenvironment not only of primary tumors but also of pre-metastatic and metastatic sites.     

Spinocerebellar ataxia 3 and machado-joseph disease: Clinical,molecular, and neuropathological features

Patients with spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3) and Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) carry an expanded CAG repeat in the MJDl gene. One hundred twenty families of different geographic origin with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia (ADCA) type I were tested. Thirty-four families (126 patients) carried an expanded CAG repeat. The expanded and the normal allele did not overlap and the repeat was unstable during transmission, with variation in the size of the CAG length ranging from ?8 to +5 and a mean expansion of 0.86 repeats without differences according to the parental sex. There was a combined effect of the number of CAG repeats of the expanded and normal allele on the age at onset, which accounted for 70% of its variability. The length of the CAG repeat influenced the frequency of clinical signs associated with cerebellar ataxia, such as abnormal tendon reflexes or decreased vibration sense, whereas the interindividual variation of supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, sphincter and swallowing difficulties, and amyotrophy was mostly determined by different disease durations. We compared the clinical profile of 91 SCA3/MJD patients with 51 SCAl and 32 SCA2 patients. There were striking differences between the SCA3/MJD and SCA2 but not with SCAl groups of patients. Despite their clinical similarities, distinct neuropathological features were observed in 2 SCA3/MJD and SCAl patients.     

Effects of intermittent electrical stimulations on muscle catabolism in intensive care patients

To determine whether muscular contractions obtained by electrical stimulation in immobilized patients are able to reduce muscle catabolism, we studied 10 patients (65-79 yr old) hospitalized in the intensive care unit for postoperative ventilatory failure or cerebral infarction. Artificial nutrition was the same for each patient during the 9-day study period. Two periods of 4 days were defined and randomized for each patient, separated by one day. During the muscular stimulation (MS) period, intermittent electrical stimulation of the muscles of the legs (external electrodes), were performed daily during 2 X 30 mn. During the other period, muscular stimulations were not performed. Urinary excretion of nitrogen (micro-Kjeldhal digestion and Nessler procedure), creatinine (Jaffe reaction), and 3-methyl histidine (3-MH) (gas phase chromatography) was measured every day. (table; see text) We conclude that a significant decrease in 3-MH and creatinine excretion is observed during the MS period. In intensive care unit patients, muscle protein breakdown may be influenced by intermittent muscular electrical stimulation.     

The implications of cytokines in chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome

Although the etiology of chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is unclear, inflammation may explain some of the causative and propagating features. Cytokines may play a role by recruiting inflammatory cells and, ultimately, inducing symptoms. This paper reviews the role of cytokines in the pathophysiology and management of CP/CPPS. The clinical relevance of measuring cytokines in expressed prostatic secretions or semen remains unclear; there is no established diagnostic or management role for measuring cytokines in CP/CPPS at this time. However, further studies in this area are warranted.