Dissociation of psychophysical and EEG steady-state response measures of cross-modal temporal correspondence for amplitude modulated acoustic and vibrotactile stimulation

Research examining multisensory integration suggests that the correspondence of stimulus characteristics across modalities (cross-modal correspondence) can have a dramatic influence on both neurophysiological and perceptual responses to multimodal stimulation. The current study extends prior research by examining the cross-modal correspondence of amplitude modulation rate for simultaneous acoustic and vibrotactile stimulation using EEG and perceptual measures of sensitivity to amplitude modulation. To achieve this, psychophysical thresholds and steady-state responses (SSRs) were measured for acoustic and vibrotactile amplitude modulated (AM) stimulation for 21 and 40 Hz AM rates as a function of the cross-modal correspondence. The study design included three primary conditions to determine whether the changes in the SSR and psychophysical thresholds were due to the cross-modal temporal correspondence of amplitude modulated stimuli: NONE (AM in one modality only), SAME (the same AM rate for each modality) and DIFF (different AM rates for each modality). The results of the psychophysical analysis showed that AM detection thresholds for the simultaneous AM conditions (i.e., SAME and DIFF) were significantly higher (i.e., lower sensitivity) than AM detection thresholds for the stimulation of a single modality (i.e., NONE). SSR results showed significant effects of SAME and DIFF conditions on SSR activity. The different pattern of results for perceptual and SSR measures of cross-modal correspondence of AM rate indicates a dissociation between entrained cortical activity (i.e., SSR) and perception.     

Nodular Regenerative Hyperplasia in Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Purpose

Patients with Common Variable Immunodeficiency (CVID) are subject to the development of a liver disease syndrome known as nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH). The purpose of this study was to define the characteristics and course of this complication of CVID.

Methods

CVID patients were evaluated by retrospective and prospective clinical course review. Liver biopsy specimens were evaluated for evidence of NRH and studied via RT-PCR for cytokine analysis.

Results

NRH in our CVID patient population occurred in approximately 5 % of the 261 patients in our total CVID study group, initially presenting in most cases with an elevated alkaline phosphatase level. While in some patients the disease remained static, in a larger proportion a more severe disease developed characterized by portal hypertension, the latter leading to hypersplenism with neutropenia and thrombocytopenia and, in some cases, to ascites. In addition, a substantial proportion of patients either developed or presented initially with an autoimmune hepatitis-like (AIH-like) liver disease that resulted in severe liver dysfunction and, in most cases to death due to infections. The liver histologic findings in these AIH-like patients were characterized by underlying NRH pattern with superimposed interface hepatitis, lymphocytic infiltration and fibrosis. Immunologic studies of biopsies of NRH patients demonstrated the presence of infiltrating T cells producing IFN-γ, suggesting that the NRH is due to an autoimmune process.

Conclusion

Overall, these studies provide evidence that NRH may not be benign but, can be a severe and potentially fatal disease complication of CVID that merits close monitoring and intervention.     

Cognitive-behavioral therapy versus other therapies: Redux

Despite the evidence suggesting that all treatments intended to be therapeutic are equally efficacious, the conjecture that one form of treatment, namely cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), is superior to all other treatment persists. The purpose of the current study was to (a) reanalyze the clinical trials from an earlier meta-analysis that compared CBT to ‘other therapies’ for depression and anxiety (viz., Tolin, 2010) and (b) conduct a methodologically rigorous and comprehensive meta-analysis to determine the relative efficacy of CBT and bona fide non-CBT treatments for adult anxiety disorders. Although the reanalysis was consistent with the earlier meta-analysis' findings of small to medium effect sizes for disorder-specific symptom measures, the reanalysis revealed no evidence for the superiority of CBT for depression and anxiety for outcomes that were not disorder-specific. Following the reanalysis, a comprehensive anxiety meta-analysis that utilized a survey of 91 CBT experts from the Association of Behavioral and Cognitive Therapists (ABCT) to consensually identify CBT treatments was conducted. Thirteen clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. There were no differences between CBT treatments and bona fide non-CBT treatments across disorder-specific and non-disorder specific symptom measures. These analyses, in combination with previous meta-analytic findings, fail to provide corroborative evidence for the conjecture that CBT is superior to bona fide non-CBT treatments.     

β-Lactamase Production in Key Gram-Negative Pathogen Isolates from the Arabian Peninsula

SUMMARY

Infections due to Gram-negative bacilli (GNB) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The extent of antibiotic resistance in GNB in countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), namely, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and Bahrain, has not been previously reviewed. These countries share a high prevalence of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)- and carbapenemase-producing GNB, most of which are associated with nosocomial infections. Well-known and widespread β-lactamases genes (such as those for CTX-M-15, OXA-48, and NDM-1) have found their way into isolates from the GCC states. However, less common and unique enzymes have also been identified. These include PER-7, GES-11, and PME-1. Several potential risk factors unique to the GCC states may have contributed to the emergence and spread of β-lactamases, including the unnecessary use of antibiotics and the large population of migrant workers, particularly from the Indian subcontinent. It is clear that active surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the GCC states is urgently needed to address regional interventions that can contain the antimicrobial resistance issue.     

Principal Dimensions of the Framingham Type A Scale: Differential Relationships to Cardiovascular Reactivity and Anxiety

Abstract

The present investigation sought to identify the principal dimensions of the Framingham Type A scale (FTAS) and then to examine their physiological and psychological correlates. A factor analysis of the FTAS items, which was cross-validated, revealed two factors. Items concerning achievement and competitive-striving loaded primarily on the first factor. Scores on a subscale composed of these items (labeled Competitive Drive) were related to systolic blood pressure reactivity during an interpersonal task but were unrelated to anxiety. FTAS items concerning impatient, time urgent, and domineering propensities loaded primarily on the second factor. Scores on a subscale composed of these items (labeled Speed and Impatience) were not related to cardiovascular reactivity during the task but were related to anxiety. Results are discussed in terms of the psychological heterogeneity of the Type A behavior pattern and possible differences between dimensions of the overall Type A pattern and their association with different manifestations of coronary heart disease.     

Fall-off in Reporting Life Events: Effects of Life Change,Desirability, and Anticipation

Abstract

The influence of event characteristics on recall was examined by directly comparing fall-off in reporting life events as a function of life change, desirability, and anticipation. We collected information from a sample of 1,669 blue-collar workers on stressful life events that occurred in a 1-year interval before the questionnaire was administered. The results indicated no fall-off in reporting events associated with marked life changes (ie, salient events). In contrast, significant fall-off was observed for events characterized by varying degrees of desirability and anticipation. Although ratings of desirability and saliency were not independent, saliency of life events emerged as the dimension most closely associated with accuracy of event reporting. Research on the reliability of measures of life events and the association between event characteristics and illness should consider the kinds of systematic reporting differences observed here.