Estimation of gender-specific connectional brain templates using joint multi-view cortical morphological network integration

Brain Imaging and Behavior - The estimation of a connectional brain template (CBT) integrating a population of brain networks while capturing shared and differential connectional patterns across...     

Apport de la simulation dans l'apprentissage de l'examen du fond d'œil.

Introduction: Simulation is emerging as an essential part of health sciences training programs as it provides safer patient care by reducing the risk of error. In the healthcare environment, simulation continues to spread in emergency specialties, but it is still underdeveloped in ophthalmology and there is a shortage of publications on this subject in Tunisia. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of procedural simulation as a teaching tool for funduscopic examination training. Methods and population studied: This was a prospective study including students who underwent procedural simulation training sessions during their ophthalmology internship. The included students were assessed at the initiation and end of each session by a pre-test and post-test. The procedure for performing the funduscopic examination was evaluated by a specific performance score. Student satisfaction was assessed at the end of each session. Results: During the study period, four groups of 12 students were included, for a total of 48 participants spread over 4 simulation sessions. Simulation training improved post-test. assessment scores with an overall median delta of +4.00. It also provided specific skills for performing the funduscopic examination, with an overall median specific performance score of 5.5/8 (5/8 to 7/8). The majority of students were satisfied upon completion of the simulation session. Conclusion: The training of fundus examination using an ophthalmoscopic simulator can improve the skills and knowledge of ophthalmic learners. This type of training can be an innovative addition to traditional learning. methods.     

Lidocaïne test for easier and less time consuming assessment of liver function in several hepatic injury models

Purpose

In this study, we developed an ex vivo functional assay to assess liver metabolic capacity adapted from the lidocaïne test in rats.

Methods

Animals used were subjected to different models of liver injury: hypothermic ischemia (H/I, n = 8), ischemia-reperfusion (I/R, n = 8) and CCl₄ induced liver cirrhosis (n = 11), and compared with sham operated rats (n = 5). Livers were then extracted and a fragment of whole tissue was incubated with lidocaïne for 15, 30, 60, 120, 240, 360, and 720 min at which both lidocaïne and its major metabolite monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A histological study and biochemical assays (transaminase levels) were also performed to further evaluate and confirm our data.

Results

Pharmacokinetic profile of lidocaïne metabolism in sham-operated animals revealed that the maximum concentration of MEGX is achieved at 120 min. Both lidocaïne metabolism and MEGX formation levels were significantly altered in all three models of hepatic injury. The extent of hepatic damage was confirmed by increased levels of transaminase levels and alteration of hepatocyte’s structure with areas of necrosis.

Conclusion

Our method provides reliable and reproducible results using only a small portion of liver which allows for a fast and easy assessment of liver metabolic capacity. Moreover, our method presents an alternative to the in vivo technique and seems more feasible in a clinical setting.     

Prevalence and correlates of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among the elderly in Qatar: A cross-sectional study

Older individuals are more vulnerable to severe coronavirus disease 2019 and medical complications. Vaccination stands as an efficient and safe vanguard against infection. However, negative attitudes and perceptions pertaining to available vaccines might hinder community inoculation. The aim of this study was to assess vaccine hesitancy and its psychosocial determinants among the elderly in Qatar.We conducted a cross-sectional study between October 15 and November 15, 2020, using a composite online survey including the Vaccine Attitudes Examination Scale in addition to questions on sociodemographic correlates and the role of healthcare professionals.The vaccine hesitancy rate was 19.5%. The main reasons for willingness to vaccinate included understanding the nature of disease and role of vaccination, in addition to information provided by physicians. Fears mainly centered around vaccine safety. Vaccine hesitators were more likely to be non-Qatari and having received the influenza vaccine at least once. Gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, educational level, and having completed childhood vaccinations were not associated with vaccine hesitancy.Efforts should be directed toward raising awareness of vaccine efficacy and safety profiles. Physicians should additionally be educated about their pivotal role in advocating vaccine acceptance. We recommend reassessing vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors following a year of campaigning and vaccine administration to identify and target vulnerable groups.     

Quantum chemical study of the reaction paths and kinetics of acetaldehyde formation on a methanol–water ice model

Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) is ubiquitous in interstellar space and is important for astrochemistry as it can contribute to the formation of amino acids through reaction with nitrogen containing chemical species. Quantum chemical and reaction kinetics studies are reported for acetaldehyde formation from the chemical reaction of C(³P) with a methanol molecule adsorbed at the eighth position of a cubic water cluster. We present extensive quantum chemical calculations for total spin S = 1 and S = 0. The UωB97XD/6-311++G(2d,p) model chemistry is employed to optimize the structures, compute minimum energy paths and zero-point vibrational energies of all reaction steps. For the optimized structures, the calculated energies are refined by CCSD(T) single point computations. We identify four transition states on the triplet potential energy surface (PES), and one on the singlet PES. The reaction mechanism involves the intermediate formation of CH₃OCH adsorbed on the ice cluster. The rate limiting step for forming acetaldehyde is the C–O bond breaking in CH₃OCH to form adsorbed CH₃ and HCO. We find two positions on the reaction path where spin crossing may be possible such that acetaldehyde can form in its singlet spin state. Using variational transition-state theory with multidimensional tunnelling we provide thermal rate constants for the energetically rate limiting step for both spin states and discuss two routes to acetaldehyde formation. As expected, quantum effects are important at low temperatures.

Acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO) is ubiquitous in interstellar space and is important for astrochemistry as it can contribute to the formation of amino acids. The reaction mechanism for its formation on a methanol ice grain may involve intersystem spin crossing.     

Detection and characterization of human group C rotavirus in the pediatric population of Barcelona, Spain.

BACKGROUND: The role of group C rotavirus as a cause of childhood diarrhea is not well defined. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of human group C rotavirus in stools of children in Barcelona, Spain, and to describe the genetic diversity of the rotavirus capsid proteins - VP6, VP7 and VP4 - in these samples. STUDY DESIGN: Stool specimens were assayed for rotavirus C RNA by an RT-PCR/southern-blot technique that included controls to indicate the presence of inhibitors of RT-PCR in the samples. RESULTS: Human rotavirus C was detected in 3 of 467 samples. One hundred and forty-five (31%) of these samples showed the presence of inhibitors of the RT-PCR assay. Thus, the corrected estimation for detection of group C rotavirus in Barcelona was of 1%. The entire VP4, VP6 and VP7 sequences were determined for all three isolates, revealing the relatedness of two of them to strains circulating in Europe, while the third was very close to sub-Saharan African strains. CONCLUSION: The low rate of detection of group C rotavirus suggests that it is not an emerging pathogen in children in our region.